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THE NOKTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, DEGEMBER 2S, 1844.
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&o Heaber& mitt i^otrcdpon'ocn t^.
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sereial local TO THE EEGHABITES.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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i > ' kxxlxjcex , —JOffi ^ M ^ Jof associations of Rechabites ' being in existent * , and some of them , as 1 am informed , enrolledby IJie certifying barrister , placed tout case before me in such a complicated Jorm , that 1 preferred taking the opinion of counsel to relying on my own knowledge of the law . There is so question more complicated than those connected with the formation of associations of any kind , from ihelact of onr rulers wishing to guard against a possibility of such a thing as Ike existence of " a thoroughly legal political association . It is not wonder ful , therefore , that great difficulties should stand in the -way of the formation of societies of any" description or character . These are matters which I candidly eonfessihat I neTer hare , and perhaps never
shall , measure by legal criticism , and for this special reason . If a society is ever so legal , and if any member , or any number of members , of such society shall commit an illegal act , the legality of the society ¦ w ill not protect the "wrong-doer ; nor is it now-a-days , nor frill it ever again , be the custom to prosecute members of any society for other acts than those committed by themselves . However different Acts of Parliament may prescribe rules under which societies may be made legal , yet ^ except in very very extreme eases , such as are not likely to occur , and especially in so excellent , philanthropic , and praise-¦ worthy a body as the Rechabiles , the law generally deals with individuals , and not with the society . ¦ Refine : " however , the very great responsibility that
advising on your case would impose , from the fact of a great numberof statutes bearing upon , the-question , and hot repealed by the Combination Act , being yet in existence , I felt that 1 best discharged mv duty to the fieehabites by submitting their case to tne consideration of counsel , who had time to reflect , and was surrounded by the requisite authorities . The foUow ing is the result of his very mature deliberation ; a result which , while it takes ~ some legal technical Directions to the constitution o £ the society , ' nerer--&cless ^ very clearlv and forcibly points out'those steps by "which thelx > dy may be made legal , as it is praiseworthy . Trusting then , that you will believe thai I have discharged my fluty faithfully and efficiently , not allowing my own -vanity or reelings to operate against the interests of the Recbabites ,
I remain , your obedient Sen-ant , Feaegcs 0 Cossoh
opmox . The ostensible object of the members of the order of SecJt&bites seems to t > e ^ to constitute "ihemseJyes into a friendly or benefit society ; and therefore it may be better fbrthemto conform to the provisions of the twoprincipal rtatntes npon the subject , the 10 George IT ., c oG , and 4 ¦* n 35 "William IV ., c . 4 fl . By these Acts societies " may be formed for providing relief to members , their -wives , children , relations , or nominees , in fty-Vp ^^ or oarer natural -state ot contingency , the occurrence whereof is susceptible of calculation by way of average , or for any other purpose \ ckiek u ac-t UleooZ ,- "bnt fbr-aQ such other purposes the contributions must be- "kept separate and distinct from the payments required on account-of relief in case of sickness , or other natural contingency susceptible of calculation , as aforesaid , or be
raised at the tune by extra subscription of the members . It is not compulsory on the Jlechabites to enivl tbem-* elres imder these statutes : lmt whether they do so ot not they most he "les ^ O . in purpose and in oonstitnfiQiv . Therefore , whether they enrol or -not , I sm of opinion that—X . They most disband the general society , and mate each ¦ body a separate society , hating no connection -whatever with each other , and not being a mere branch of the parent association . XL The members must not be required to take any oath ox engagement , not required or authorised by law . ITL Tbenaxnes of all officers , committee , and delegates must be entered in a book , which shall be open to the inspection of all the members isee 39 George-Ill , c 7 ^ , s . 2 , and 57 George HL , c . 19 , s . 25 ) . TV . I fhinV also , the reference to arbitration { mentioned in the rules 41 , 42 , 43 ) must not 'be made compulsory ,
oat be offired as a recommendation and suggestion . T . All secreeT , whether by declaration , engagement , or oath , should be avoldea ; ' and therefore I think it would be "better to omit rule 50 . But the advantages which would accrue to the society ¦ b y conforming to the Priendly Societies * Acts , seem to point to that course as the best one -which can be adopted . Among those advantages are the following : — The rules are thentnndinjr , and can be legally enforced ; protection is given to the members and their families against any fraudulent dissolution of the society , or mis appropriation of its funds ; disputes may be settled ( then Without doubt ) by arbitration ; in case of death , of mm-T > ers jannenis under £ 20 may be made without the expease « f obtaining letters of " administration , and all documents , 4 c , are exempt from stamp duty .
if the society adopt this course , they must , bv one of their rales , declare the pnrposes Sot which ihej are established , . and direct to what uses the money subscribed , &c , shall be appropriated , and impose a penalty on its mis-appropriation { 10 George IT . c 56 , ^ .: ^); and specify the places at which the society is to meet , and provide for the powers and duties of the meml > ers and of committees or officers ( 2 d . s . 10 ) , and state the number of officers , the pofpose and mode of their election ¦ and period of omee { 2 d- s . 3 JJ , and so the number of inem"beis on committee as -n ^ ell as their powers ( 2 d . s . 1 ?} . The rules also must direct in what manner the consent of the society is to be had to authorize the treasurer to- lay out the funds ( 2 d . s . IS ) - and whether in cases of dispute the reference shall be to justices of the peace or to arbitrators ; and , if to arbitrators , the number of them and mode
of election { 2 d _ s . 27 . ) Xoue of the arbitrators to be ¦ benefidaB y interested in the funds of the six-iery ( 23 ) . Prorisiaa umust be made that the treasurer or other principal-officer shall annually prepare a statement of the rands , &C-, for the use of the members : and the sum to be paid for a topy is not to exceed aipeace ( id . s . 35 ) . 1 would advise , however , tliat-the societies should applT for a form of rules by letter , addressed to " The Barrister appointed to certify the rules of friendly societies , Iondon f and then having decided upon them , they must submit to the "barristers appointed two transcripts of the rules . Societies in En ^ iind , Wales , and Berwick-npon-Twee *! , most submit them to Mr . Tidd Pratt : in Scotland to the Lord Advocate or the deputy appointed by him . -, and in Ireland to the barrister appointed there by the-Attorney-General for Ireland . The fee is one guinea ( 4 and 5 ,
"William IY _ , c . 40 ., s . 4 ) . By 10 Geo . IV ., fr . -50 , s . 4 ) , the barrister , if he refused tojnve a « rtifieate , was to point out- in what respect tbe rules were repugnant or unlawful ; and , it appears tome . that this section is still in force , notwithstanding ( 4 and 5 . TTiUiam IT ., c . 4 i > , s . 3 }; or , at aD © Tents , the barrister snould gire reasons for disallowing them , as by s . 5 , of 10 Geo . IT ., c . 56 { Triich section is certainly in force ) , in case the barrister refuse to certify all or an ; of the rnle = » , the society may submit the same to the Gourt of Quarter Sessions , together iri- ! i the rtasom ajrwned by tie barruUr i » tenting for any such rejection or disapproval of any one or more such rules , and the justices may in their discretion < x > n £ rm and allow the xnles . Hx >~ rt' Macxaxaea . Temple , Dec . 17 , 13 i 4 .
It -does not appear that the s-lhjcIj , if enrullt-J , ivill come under the recent Act relating to Joint-Stock Companies ( 7 and S Tic ., c . 130 ) . By s . 2 of tha : art the tei ^ ii Joint ^ tofli Gompany is to comprehend amongst others - every institution euroUcd under anj of the Acts of Parliament relating to friendly societie =, which insntutions shall make assurance * on lives or against anj continyeni-y involving the duration uf human lift-, !¦> an extent up .-n one life , or for anv one person , to an auount exttediap sswr Bepxai . xx Losoos . —^ Thits . sdxt , Dec . 19 , 1644 . —The movement is in st-itr quo here—mt-etiiigs art held , money subscribed , and transmitted to Dublin as nsnaL It is intended to begin the new year with a reorganization of system , as well as vrith more vigour of purpose . Gxat ' s I » 2 f TViio , Albert , Gray ' s Inn Lane . —On Sunday evening last the chair was occupied bj Mr . O'Henesey , who addressed the meeting with much effect . Mr . Collins followed , and several new . Repealers were enrolled .
Faxbisgiw * v > xbj > , TJjnos Aixs , Uoixozs Hill . — At the last meeting of this ward , Mr . Daniel Cocorcan . t **> chairman , delivered an able speech on the wrongs of Ireland . Several other speeches were delivered , and several persons -wrrt enrolled as associates . Loid Fbitscb's "Waid . Fountain aud Sail , Goldenlane , Barbicaa . —On Sunday evening last a numerous and respectable meeting was held in the long room ; Mr . Snrke in the clrair . Dr . Looucy addressed the mt-eting at great length , appealing to them to be ready with their subscriptions for 1 S 45 . JfrrrrsGS were held on Scnday last at the following ¦ wards : —Maro , Deptford , Kensington , Moorfields , Laml > eth , Aldergate ; Smith O'Brien , Harp , Brnrv-lan «? -, Grattan , Drury-lane ; Pilot Sation , Bloomsbury , St . John ' s "Wood , Shoredirch , Dr . Grav ' s , Shannon , Ac .
BlIGBTOX CdXCIXIATIOS HaII n XS . D . At a late meeting at the Thisfle , in Middle-street , Mr . Bo-ioner in the chair , excellent speeches were delivered by ilr . John-Son , Mr . Sntl . r , ilr . Freal , and Ifr . O'Keefe . itr . P . -Campbell , B . ^> V , and Y _ , then stated that it was intended to establish a Kepeal Seadmg-room , and he should begin by giving them siiitable apartments for that purpose rent - free . This announcement iras hailed with enthusiasm . Twelve persons enrolled thenisdves as associates . Espsaxi 5 Ldxdos—Tbtesdat Evesixd , Dzc . 26 . — The meetings of this week have not been many , on idoount of the festivities of Christmas , butat the same " time tlie Repeal VTar&ens have not been less active ; -fcejiave ^ eMtlieirlDcalcomntttteei , and preparations ~ hare beeifinade to carry out the agitation of the new rear ' wJ& renewed vigour .
.. Grit ^ Iss Wabd , Albert , Gray ' s inn Lane . — The Repealers of this ward held their weekly meeting on Sunaay evening last , and but one sentiment animated them , which was , that the most vigorous : exertions should be nsed Tor a thorough organisation of the ward in reference to the collection of the sinews -of war for &e approaching- year . Mr . J . Collins , R . W . anC ¥ . ; , was called to the chair , who addressed the meeting * and was followed by bir . T . R . Reading , ^ RTrF ^ who , in a speech of ^ reat length , Teferredtothe -good tiist arose from agitation . He showed that -KenealwohM benefit the worldBe classes of England
as well as those of Ireland . He referred to the conduct of "the ^ Msrcpns of Londondenr in threatening the "EngBSi colliers with intmdatinf them with Irishmen . He said that he would not nse thatthreat to the honest artizans of Englandif Ireland had a Parliament : He ^ said ^ it was fouy toialk of pntting" Ireland upon the r same footing as En ^ and ^ wneniSigland was crying out For j usticefitan her imperious rulers . The time ¦ was'iastapproaching wientfleinillwns of England and ' 3 nfi £ 3 -wuld demand tiieir" rights in a voice that -wonW nolle refosed ; Mr ^ Reading was loxidly cheered . ; Wr : C ^ aaS ^ i . R ^ Wi' -nerf ^ dresBedtiie'nieetinerin thec ^ rseof " a lengtSened'kJeecbie saidrthat the-Irish bpbn
^ eople / e ^ e ^ fii «^ e ! eteiye ' ' in '<) ral % but that it - ' -was eMi ^ 3 ii 3 fi 6 nal"to'i % 6 i ^ a ^ res 5 ionT " . -camE--froni iiibini&Mif .- " m . & tf € 5 » figkinj B . W . ¦ . ( Cork ) , 1 4 ^~ ibltowe 4 ' aha ' i ^ aar « B ^ dUllein » tingin his usual -eloqnent style . In the course ^ in ^ speechfcestaied -tliwtthefpnncipleahe ha 4 jost adduced might be called ^^ diir ^ st winciples ; if ioiaSliiniitto siy was , they were
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grood . He -was perfectly right in adopting theprinciplea _ of any party to carry oot his own . He bad been advocating the cause for the last eighteen years . He then condemned the Catholic Bequests Act a * a measure franght with injustice towards the Catholics of Ireland . Several were enrolled-MoosrasLDs Wabd , Brown Bear ,: Eldon-street , Moorfields . —On Sunday evening last Mr . J . O'Brien , R . W . and V ., presidea . The whole of the evening was occupied in denouncing the vil tendency of the Catholic Bequests Bill , 'upon which , the chairman dwelt at considerable length ¦ with- his usual eloquence . Mr . Minton will preside on Sunday evening next .
Gkattas Ward , "White Lion , Drnry Lane . —On Sunday eveninglast Mr . Horgan , R . W ., was in the chair After reading the late proceedings of the Association , the chairman dwelt at great length on the benefit that Ireland would receive by the Repeal . Several were enrolled ; after which the meeting adjourned . Joh > - O * Coxsxii Wakd , Temperance Hall , Seymour-street , Somers-town . —On Monday evening last a meeting washeld , but was notso numerouslyattended , on account of its near approximation to Christmas .
Mr . W . J . O'Connell ( Inspector-general ) and Mr . Vf . Bunne , R . W ., attended in the early part of the evening , but did not stay , expecting there would not be a meeting . After a short time Mr . Higgins , R . W ., was called to the chair , and Mr . Rooney , R ~ W ., read the late proceedings at the Conciliation Hall , Dublin , and called the attention of the meeting particularly to the speech of the Liberator on the disturbed state of the counties of Leitrim and Cavan , and Mr . S . O'Brien ' s letter on the same subject . The meeting then adjourned .
Rothxbhithe Ward . —A numerous meeting of this ward was held on Sunday evening at the Rose and Summer , Paradise-street ; Mr . J . White , R . W ., presided . The proceedings of the late meeting of the Association were read by Mr . M . Casserley , It . ., and sixty persons enrolled themselves as associates . A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman , and the meeting separated . Bkightox Coxcujahos Wabd . —On Sunday , the loth , a most numerous meeting of this ward was held
at the Thistle , Middle-street . Mr . Johnson , a Scotch gentleman , was in the chair . He opened the business of the meeting by emphatically caning on those present to rally under the moral banner of Repeal . 3 lr . Bowmer , an Englishman , denounced the Catholic Bequests' Bill . Several extracts were read from the Association reports . And it was announced , amidst loud cheers , that the Repeal Reading Room would be opened on the first Monday of the new year . Mr . Guinness , of Dublin , will preside at the next meeting .
O > - bTFSDAT , Jas . 5 , & large meetingwiQ be held at the ^ Prince ' s Bead , Princc ' s-street , Westminster , at which' Mr . W . O'Connell , Inspector-general , Mr . W . Danne , R . W ., Mr . 0 'Malley , R . W ., and others will attend .
The Nokthern Star. Saturday, Degember 2s, 1844.
THE NOKTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , DEGEMBER 2 S , 1844 .
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OUR PAST POLICY . The closing of the old , and the coming in of tbe Nen-Year , is a period that invariably gives rise ' to much reflection , -whether it runs in the direction of pleasurable reminiscences of the past , or flattering anticipations of the future . Families , friends , relatives , acquaintances , and customers , are at that period brought into closer contact ¦ Kith each other . "Stock is taken , " as it were , of the past ; and a kind of balancing of accounts takes place . Old friendships are revived ; new associations formed ; and fresh alliances made . The present is not , therefore , an inappropriate time for us to talk over past events with our old friends , with whom we have been in weekly communication . TVe have headed this article
OtTB PJ . ST POLICT , as the text whereon we would ground our present discourse . We have selected the theme because it was one that gave rise , not long since , to angry bickering amongst friends , that created sorrow in the minds of our Whig foes , and led the Tory party into the anticipation of results which have not been realized . At the last general election public opinion was wavering between renewed hope- in Whiggery and diminished dread of Torvism ;
while the prisons were filled with the leaders of that section of society upon whose decision the contest between rival factions mainly depended . Little time was allowed to the forgiving multitude for reflection ; and the Star , as the acknowledged organ of the people , was appealed td and fearlessly took upon itself the responsibility of recommending the destruction of the old , the active , the cruel , and unbending foe , without inspiring any , the sligbest , confidence in their vir-toT-inns pne-m \ -
Our polic-v , iluteajd of Iwin ^ t onn Anri-W >» igy n-ae designated PRO-TORY . " The walls of every borough , town , and city , were covered with " Chartist delimquency . " The columns of the Whig press teemed with rabid " denunciation of the Tory Chartists ; " anil the mouth of every disappointed demagogue , " political pedlar , " aud Whig lickspittle , foamed again with froth r rage , against tnos * whom chains had not convinced , whom the dungeon had not enlightened , or the tread-wheel made more pliant . In vain wat another trial besought for those whose whole career was marked by treachery , disappointment , and fraud . In vain was the bugabooism < jf olJ Toryism presented to the affrighted imagination .
In vain was the attempt to reconcile us to what the Whigs had done , by assurances of what the Tories , if in p'jwer , \ could do . We judged positively , and not compar * - tivelv ; tve felt undsaw the positive inflictions under which every class of society , from the monarch to the worhhouse pauper , writhed . We saw in the palace a kind of seraglio , and a very young , and , we believe , a very estimable woman , subjected to the contaminating icfluences of hereditary debauchot-s , reckless speculators in female pliancy , and political traffickers even in a youthful woman's time . We saw class fed upon class—tbe influential classes fed upon the unprotected . We saw the rents made by innovation ' , hatched up , or daubed over ,
with novelties still more startling , to make the thing last our time . " We saw national bankruptcy staring an impotent Ministry in the face . Wv saw the Prime Minister of the greatest nation upon earth lolling in luxurious ease , and relying on the subservient support of a compact and unprincipled section of Irish liberal place-hunters , title-seekers , and hacks , through whose subserviency he vainly hoped to resist the growing genius of the nation . It was at such a time that we were called on to decide between this monster evil and the worst substitute that could be presented in human form . Well , the result of our policy has been canvassed from that period to the present : and we now find those who
were amongst the bitterest of our revilers adopting it a 3 their rule of action . And although we have had more than three years of Tory sway , we cannot finda siugle tongue of the old flattterers to wag in favour of pitiful Whiggery ! Xav _ wore , not a crime charged upon the Tories that is not met by a heavier charge against the Whigs , and in the ¦> er . v same < iirect ion too . Ireland was the hot-l > ed of Whiggerv ; devoted exclusively to the recruiting service of the " patronage administration ¦ " and therefore the acts of Whig and Tory , with reference to that country , may be very fairly relied on as tests of their respective Stne * 5 to govern . If . then , we take a review of Peel ' s Church policy , EdncatioD policy , or Catholic policy , we
find no difficulty in awarding to them a very great advantage over the Melbourne policy in the same depart " ments . Pzel has struck the " heavy blow and deep discouragement " which Mxlbouesx merely aimed at the Protestant Church . He has carried out the national system of education to an extent frightful to the old Kildan .--street grub-worms ; while if we are to believe the Rig ht B . ev . Dr . MniiT , —and upon matters of fact we have no reason to doubt the veracity of that prelate , —we learn that the Catholic clergy of Ireland petitioned the Whigs in 1840 , for a bill similar to that entitled "The Catholic Bequests Bill , " passed during the last Session of Parliament : and as that measure is oue upon which Mr .
O'CoysEiL has endeavoured to establish another " great grievance , ** let us see what the Right Rev . Dr . Mckba-t , a man whose zeal in the faith of his church cannot be disputed , * ays upon the subject : — " Your memorialists therefore entreat that the Board of Irish Charities may be rendered more generally useful and popalar , by the introduction to it of Roman Catholic com - missioners , or by some other measure which may have a tendency to place their charities upon the same footing as thbse of their Protestant fellow-countrymen . "
Thus spoke the assembled prelates of your church in 1840 . Theirprayer could not then be heard ; but the recent Act appe ^ irs to have been intended to grant all that we fben" sought . It admits to the Board of Charitable Donations and Requests Roman Gatbulic commissioners in sufficient number t < 5 check any . adverse Influence which might "be attempted Tegaraing the ' application of Catholic charities ; and it takes wj the dangerouiP power enjovedby tbe former board , of alienating , -under Certain : circumstances . Catholic > tajfaests from the known objects , contemplated T > j the testator , and , pf applying them to : purposes which , if lirmg ; ' he- would abhor , . So : far dun prayer lias "been granteCT ^ elitetB . of jmsecurity m which our charities were phiced ' has ' TOenremovea .
2 row , " -we never interfere in ; mere-matterS of religion j pnt ^ hen \ wfc f ^ d inore " t £ ^\ one / Bo ) 9 ^ 'tot ^ isTreiate , - aad-ereu Repealers , railing at ameasurc which their Aiends tbe "Wbigi lefugeaV-shrely it is not too much to say that eTeiiiattfe"H 5 rpctl 6 ni 3 > e 5 orvJsin of Peelhas gone ferther
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than the liberality of Melboubne : while we may further add , that Mr : O CosvthL B opposition » ' altogether at variance with hi * " instalment principle , " Either that , or toe distinguished Roman Catholic Prelates who havef undertaken the duties of Commissioners must stand charged with apoatacy . Another result which we anticipated from a large Tory majority , was the inevitable contention and strife to which jt would lead in the Tory ranks ; wherea ^ if Sir Robeit Peel had so smalT a . majority that a few sectional Whig triumphs might con / vert it into a minority ,, dread of Whig
restoration would make his supporters as pliant and subservient as those to . whom Melboubne bo . long owed his situation . Do we not then daily find our predictions fulfilled ? and has not , we ask , tbe very ' resolt which' we anticipated been realised in the independence manifested by a section of Tories in the House of GiMnmons on the Ten Hours Bill , the Masters and Servants-Bill , the Poor Law Amendment Act , and though last not least , the Sugar Duties , when Cobden and Go . were obliged to do for PEEt what in bis strength his own supporters refused to do for him ?
Add to these incontrovertible proofs , thefact of Russell ' s altered tone ; the damning fact , that whiie session after Session , the little Lord , with national bankruptcy staring l » m in the face ,, denied the existence of , poverty , now , enlightened by theloss of office , has discovered that the working classes should have not only a larger amoun : of the necessaries of life , but also their fair share of the luxuries . If our "pro-Tory" policy had produced no ofcier result than that ofsueha conviction upon ' such a Milthusian mind , it was worth all , and more , of the vituperation , dirt , and slander that has been heaped upon us for recommending it . And although ,, when such anoticr ocasion presents itself , we shall , in any alliance to be formed , give the preference to candidates of
the most liberal character , —yet we shall not be intimidated from urging the claim , anil pressing : he return of a Chartist candidate , even at the expense of being a colleague of a Tory , if that be the only means to secure him . Hence we sheir that our policy Has pro-Chartist , and not pro-Tory : and that , by recommending it , we sought the means of destroying the active enemy in power , an d' of sowing those seeds of dissension among the Tory ranks which are yearly presenting us with such an abundant harvest of strife in the bod ; . And surely , if " divide and conquer , " has been the maxim on which factions have relied for the subjugation of Democratic principles , we are not much to blamefor having caused no small share of contention in the ranks of our opponents . So much for our much-reviled " pr » -Tory" policy .
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^ ANOTHER NIBBLE AT " NATIONAL FAITH . " THE FCNDHOLDEB AGAIN SCBJXCrZD TO THE MINISTERIAL " SQCZEEZE !" The " screw" is to be put or again . " National faith " is to be kept with the Fundhader , by breaking faith with him , and reducing his rate of interest . The Three-and-a half per Cents , have been reduced to three . A " saving " out of " national faith , " of jome two-and-a-half or three millions , has been effected on one class of the Fundholders : and now another class is to take { Is turn , and experience the benefits of this " cheapening" age in a " cheaper" rate ofpaymenf , even though the " lives and fortunes" of the property holders werepledged and signed , that the lenders of the means to put down " Jacobin pridpUs" should be paid to the uttermost farthing ' .
The warning-note hag been sounded . Intimation , of the approaching " squeejse" has been given . The Minister has sent forth the announcement of his intention , that he may see the effect produced on the "holders" ( under ' national ; faith ! " ) before the time for sacrifice arrives . PtEL is a cxcTiotre man . He generally feels his ground before he Tentures to tread . He tries the temper of the public mind before he dares to strike : and the force of his blow is generally just that which tho ill-conditioned recipient can bear , and no more . Peel adroitly manages to make " events" firs * knock the '' powerful interests" he has to deal with , down- and tJien he hits as hard and as
foully as he can while they are under . He has thus dealt with the Orangemen of Ireland , and the rampant adherents of " Protestant ascendancy . " It is thufe he , lealt with the " Kiluare-street " proseletising crew , by setting aside their exclusive pretensions , and hoisting over their head the really useful and liberal system of Irish national education . It iB thus he has dealt with poor Mother Church in the case of the Catholic Bequest Act , recognising , by- statute , the existence of KoniAxi CckUiolio SioKopo ii » irulunU , and ooufctriitg on the Romish Church in that country advantages in connection with the bequeathment of land for the use of
the Church not enjoyed by the " Holy Mother" " ours" herself ! It was thus he acted towards the " landed interest" in the matter of the Tariff , making them , themselves , the unwilling instruments of their own destruction . It was thus he dealt with the Country-Bankers in 1819 ; and again with them and the Joint-stock Banks , in his Bank Charter Act of last Session , in which he laid down principles which will close every one of them as Banks of issue ; aye , and even the " -old Lady of ThreadnDcdle-strcct'' herself , nnd ultimately establish one only "National Bank" for promissory notes , if any at all . It was thi's lie acted towards the railway companies just beforo the last breaking up of Parliament , when he hurried on the " Railwav
Regulation Bill , " embodying principles which , when " worked out , '' will destroy the huge separate monopolies that now exist , with their arbitrary , unsound , ill-advised , illiberal , selfish and grasping systems of management , and take the whole , direction of internal communication , whether by rail , turnpike-road , or canal , info the hands of the General Executive , to be managed for general and public benefit . It is this course of conduct he has invariably pursued towards all that he has had to deal with , " friends" or foes ; and his " friends * ' have generally had to fare the worst : and this course of conduct lie seems disposed to continue to the end of his tether . His "friends , " the " holders" of the Three-perrCents ., cannot therefore wonder that their turn has at length come !
That turn has come ' . They may writhe , and wriggle , and fume , and sweat , and whine , and complain : but all to no use ! They may prate of " national faith " being pledged to them ; of the solemn engagements marie with them , that , come Weal come woe ; comt tire , come water ; come plenty , come famine ; come national existence or national destruction , Viey should be borne harmless ; tiny shpuld be scathless : they may remind Peel of the signing away to than of the "lives and fortunes" of the nation ; putting the properties of all in pledge : they may da all this , but all in vain ! TJicir hour has come ! They quietly and laughingly suffered and aided the passing of tho Small-Note Suppression and the Bank-Resti-ietion-Abolishing Bill of ldlfi , bv which theie "holdings" have
ever since been doubled tn real value ; and winch bill has , in its operation , reduced hundreds of thousands to beggary , sent hundreds out of existence by their own hand , and caused universal confusion and dismay throughout the land . They " aided and abetted " in the enactment of that measure which has made it necessary to resort to an Inooine-tax in time of peace , causing the Queen on the throne to pay sevenpence out of every pound the nation " affords" her , even when her own private *• calls"demand the money elsewhere ! They administered the poisoned cup to others : the chalice is now returning to their own lips ' . They have robbed , and robbed , and robbed , and helped to rob , others , without mercy or cessation : and now it is THEMSELVES that have to submit to " roV-fry , " however hardly they may take it !
The announcement of the Minister's intention to filch came before the public in rather a queerish fashion . Peei . did not employ his own " organs" to promulgate the facL He did not whisper it in Granny ' s ear , nor tell it to the official Standards He went a more " cautious" way to work . : He got the " ball of horse-dung" to do his bidding —the dirty , stinking Globe . This was discreet . If the threatened onslaught on " national faith" should raise " a pother" before which it might be desirable to retreat , the back-door was open . A hint given , and Grandmother ,: with spectacles high on nose , would have shaken her " mob-cap" at the " unscrupulous Ministerial opponent " who could seek to do damage to the " strong" and " honest" Government at the expense of the most sacred
interests , even that one involving the ' ' -faith of the nation itself!—while the less sedate but more vindictive Standard would have cudgelled away in right good earnest , Irish fashion , giving its own side two blows for the one made to reach its opponent : and the enduring Globe would havel > orne this lecturing and this trouncing with most wonderful magnanimity , never retorting nor even repining , but ' contenting _ itself with faintly hinting that "its source of information was first-rate , " and . ' Mthat the Minister had seen good reason ; to abandon , for the present , the intention he had entertained . " Peet , ' , who is well known as One of the . artful sort , knows this game well enough : and so accordingly he went to his opponent , the Globe , to get the " ice broken' * as to his intention to
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cause " national faith" to fee broken too . This was done ihllie foSo \ ving words : — It is . currently reported , and < generally believed , that the Chancelloirof the Exchequer , having met with up opposition in the-reduction of the Thi-ee-and-a-IIaif per Cents , intends proposing the reduction of the Three per Cents . ' on ^ he meeting of Parliament , It was matter of indifference to the utterers of this notice , that the terms of itwese untrue . It mattered not that the notice itself was to raise tho " report" of which it spoke as being " current , " and " generally believed" when it was not known of at all : it mattered
not all thi& : the authors of it had a work to do ; and they adopted , the means that seemed likely to accomplish it . Your " statesmen" are never nice . A good " white lie '' or two . has been of infinite service when the truth would have been destruction , on many occasions : and those who- can sit coolly down in the Cabinet , and balance human life in myriads- against personal ambition and party ascendancy , giving up sentient beings to sa > criftce to gratify the ambition and maintain the ascendancy , are not the men to boggle at truth when falsehood will serve the purpose better . So far from this same "
report" being : " generally believed , " the first announcement of it came like a thunder-clap on the monied interests , and caused sundry wry looks and ominous shakes of the head " on 'Change : " all , however , accompanied by a mannerism that but too plainly indicated the fear that resistance would be useless . The " men . on 'Change ' know full well that they are doomed ! that their fate is certain , spite of all the cant about " national faith" that can bo raised . They know that it is but a question of time : a few months sooner or a few months later .. They may , and will struggle to prolong that time :
" But come it will for athat : " and the sooner the betteu for the producing millions ^ whose heart-strings have been torn out to keep the bundle of injustice , called " national fiiith , " tied together ! But what are the disciples of " Will . Cobbett " abwit , now that all those things , of which lie so accurately foretold , are coining to pass ? Are they not anxious to uphold the character of their teacher , and vindicate his memory before his countrymen , whose sufferings he could nave averted had his aitvice been listened to ; and whose dangers and difficulties he would have prevented ? Is Peel to be allowed to embody in practice every one of
Cobbett ' s suggestions und plans , without his eyes meeting the GiUDiBON , gilded in token of the triuenph of its master ? Is the feast of the gridiron never to be had ? Or tiro tha Mends of Cobbett content that the statute-book should contain the evidence that their teacher was alone the true-man ; and that after staving-oif as long as expedients would at all serve , to . ftun were the "statesmen" that had sneorcd , and scoffed , and taunted , iu their day of pride and power , obliged to come at last ! Well ! perhaps it is as well that
it should be so ! Unseemly glorification could do little good—and might do much harm : while the "deeds of the day" are the best vindication of the political wisdom and foresight of the author of " Paper against Gold" that could by possibility be furnished . The condemnation of the eniactors of Peel ' s Bill without equitable adjustment , is written in every statute that is now passed affecting finance : and the most just retribution of all is , that Peel , the author of the measure of 1819 , is forced , by circumstances , to be the Registrar ! What more would even Cobbett MmselFhare desired ?
Great sensitiveness was manifested in the year 1833 , in the House of Commons , that the masterly resolution moved by Mr . Cobbett , setting ; forth the facts connected with the enactment of Peel ' s Bill- ; the gross Injustice it had inflicted ; how the course had been persevered in , in spite of warning and carnestful remonstrance ; how caution had been set at nought , and advice insolently rejected : great sensitiveness respecting this resolution was manifested and a motion carried that it should be erased from the journals of the Route—the voters for such motion fondly hoping that by such act they could annihilate all record of the facts ' . And , since then , Peel himself has come down to the House with a measure to tax the Queen ' s salary , and tax the salary of every officer of state . ' Since
then PEEL has proposed a Bank Charter Act , which gives warning to the infringe ™ on " tho Queen ' s prerogative to coin , " that their days are numbered ; and that they must " set their house in order ! " Since then Peel has proposed the reduelwnofthe Three-and-a-half per Cents , to three ; or , in other words , proposed the reduction of the interest of the National Debt U—a good step towards equitable a DJfsTMENT itself . ' and now , at this moment , he is contemplating another step in that same direction , by tackling the greatest section of " holders" there are , — tho T h •¦<•»> p < n- Cuuta . «» ri' [ UininiT rhoin , as wo suppose , to two , or two-and-a-half ! These things cannot be blotted out " of the m-ords of the House" if Cobbett ' s resolution could ! and in them , those who have Cobbett ' s mtiuorj in charge , have more than a triumph !
From all this the people have much to learn . They learn , first , the value of perseverance . The very plans now adopted by I ' eel were persccuted-flown only n few years ago . They learn , second , that THE THING is tottering to its fall ! They learn thnt the several orders of the state who have hitherto battened on the people ' s toil , and devoured up their whole substance , arc now at work DEvouaiNG evcu othkb . ! They learn that the lands are at the funds ; that ( he mills are at the lands ; and that the Minister is at them all ! They learn ,, therefore , to be watchful and ready ; for "THE END cometh like a thief in the night . " Well will it be for those that are prepared !
&O Heaber& Mitt I^Otrcdpon'ocn T^.
&o Heaber& mitt i ^ otrcdpon'ocn t ^ .
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To our Scotch IlKAnERs . — This being Christmas week , it was impossible to make the rcnuired alteration in the despatch of papers for SrofJand . Kuxt week , howeter , we hope to be . able to comply with the request of our northern friends , so that thu Star will arrive in Aberdeen on Saturday ; and in other parts of Scotland at an eurlier hour thnn at present . Aoe , nt 8 a . sd Bookse-lleus will please to notice , that all orders for the Star , and advertisementf * , nws ? be addressed as under ;—" Feakous O'Connor , Esq ., ¦ Northern Star Office , 340 , Strand , London . " Remittances , whether bv Bank or Post ^ offico Moneyorders , must also be addressed in the same manner ; and the orders made payable to Mr . O'Connor . Post-office Orders must be made payable at the Post Office , No . 180 , Strand . Attention to these instructions will prevout disappointment and save much trouble .
Letters to Leeds . —^ overal of tho agents continue to address their orders to Leeds , as though unaware that the paper had been removed to its present place of publication . Their ordurs have been unattended to in consequence . We have given plain directions for them how to proceed ; where and whom to address to ; and it is their fault if thfey do not compl y with them . Lot them remember that oil orders for the paper , and all payments o / -m 0 ) iew , should be addressed to Mr . O'Connor himself , at the Publishing Office , 340 , Strand ; and all Post-office Orders made payable to that gentleman , at the Post-office , 180 , Strand .
Communications fob the Paper should uever be enclosed iu the letters ordering papers , or enclosing money ; nor should orders or money be sent to the Editor . The two departments are distinct , nnd curried on in different and distant places ; and the sending of the communications of the , one to the other necessarily causes delav , and sometimes error . Let our frieuds look to it . All matters for the paper should be addressed to Mr . Hobson i all orders and payments of money to Mr . O'Connor . Frauds on the Workers is the Hosiebv Trade . We have often had to complain of , and expose , the downright robberies committed' ou the workers by the arbitrary system of finiss and deductions that has become so general in almost e \ ery department of
manufacturing labour . Through its operation a workman now . a-days scarcely over kitaws what his income really will be , until he has passed the " ordeal" on Saturday night , and liinrned .-thc amount set down against him in the " bating book . " Instances are not uncommon where the whole expenses of superintending and " overlooking" a large manufacturing " concern" are made up out Of what is niched from the understood earnings of the partifis employed at actual work ; and managers have been known to hare been dismissed from their situations , because their- ' consciences ' would not permit them , to rob as much from the poor slaves under them as the employer demanded . In some instances au average amount , made up as the over-lookers please , — from this or that sourc , this or that man , —is expected . In the factory districts the fraud is
perpetrated by actual deductions from the amount under , stood to be earned : in the hosiery-and-lace-weaving districts the system of charging rent for the frames on which tire poor toilers work , obtains ; Which " reid " is rigidly exacted whether the frame ~ be occupied by tho venter "' ornot . This plan is quite as efficacious as the other for getting directly from the ^ vorkman the wages of labour ,- as'the following facts , ' promulgaie ' d by the chairman of theNotting hani Board of Guardians ; but too abundantly-prove : —" ' "Whejft acting' at the besard of guardians in this town I frequfently take memoranda of the cases of abuse , so conunpn in the hosiery trade , which come under jay notice ^ L consider that all such memoranda W V useful , if there . shwddever be an inquiry- irifo j ^ hese ; matters . l { allude , particularly to the practice of letting frames to the poor workmen at
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s . 3 d ., or lg . 6 d | a-weok , ^ hen il " 19 Un . ting ^ tbeir . emglojment , and still exacting every payment , just as if they were iu full work . I send you two cases—one by way of illustration , and the other because it is the climax of this species of petty larceny . A week's work—One dozen pair of ] drawers , 7 s . 6 d .- —Deductions—frame rent , Is . 6 d . ; taking-in , 9 d . ; winding , 6 d . ; candles , 3 d . ; needles , 2 d . ; fire , Id .: —total , 3 s . 3 d .: —net earnings , 4 s . 3 d . In fullj work the same man would make two dozen pairs at 15 s ., and the deductions would be no more than 3 s . 6 d- ; consequently he would earn 11 s . 6 * d , aweek . Thus jhe operatives are pauperised ' for the advantage of a ] middle-man between the master manufacturer and the workman . The second is what a poor man stated to be his own case last week—I need not say it is one that can very seldom occur . He was only allowed to make two pair of hose at ls . 6 d . ; deductions—frame rfent , Is . 3 d . ; fire , 3 d .: —total , Is . 6 d .: —net wages , 0 s . O . d . I . ! I remain , sir , your obedient servant ,
the Chairman . ! Nottingham , December 17 th . —^ Truly does the chairman of the Guardians characterise the practice , it is larceny ! and if there was not " one law for the rich and another for the poor , " the filchers of the earningsFof the workmen in the frames would . be sent where the filehers of pocket-hankerchiefs and snuff-boxes are sent , when caught . It has been established that all such charges are illegal . The Truck Act requires that the wages of the worker shall be paid iu the current coin of the realm ; and not so much for " rent , " and the rest , if any , in money . Cannot the chairman jinduce his brother Guardians and the rest of the kindly disposed of his class , to form themselves into an association to enforce the law against the robbers ? Associations for the prosecution of felons are common enough amongst the holders of property ; cannot we have one to visit the " penalties of the statute " on those who commit " petty larceny " on the earnings of tbe labourers ?
Subscriptions- eob the Habwei , l Suffeeebs . —We received the following list of subscriptions from Mr . Ttoberts previously to removing from Leeds , but too late to be acknowledged in that week's Star . It was put away among other papers for transmission to London , and has but just now turned up again . We therefore now give it : —W . P .- Roberts , Esq .,. begs to acknowledge the receipt of the fpllowing sums , which he has received by Post-office orders , and paid to Mr . Martin Jude , Treasurer : From Mr . II . Lafarque ' s pupils ( teacher of languages ) , West-street , Wakeflelfl , in addition to £ 3 previously remitted , per Mr . Sutherland , 13 s . < Id . ; from the miners of I ^ arleston , per Joseph Cope , 7 s . 3 d . ; from Cleater Moor colliery , near Wfettehaven , per John Harrison , secretary , £ 1 10 s . Gd . ; Chartists of Bath , 6 s . 5 d .
Case of Mr . Tuo ; mas Pres-ton . —A Correspondent , signing himself J . Jiarl , writes us to say , that " Calling at No . 12 , Shire Lane , Temple Bar , the residence of the long tried patriot Mr . tbotnas Preston , I was surprised as well as hurt ! to find the good old man lying on the flo or without Bed or bedstead , with only a rug to cover him . " He desires us to recommend this case of extreme destitution to the attention of the London Chartists , who lie ! is sure will extend the hand of aid to sooth the sorrows and distress of a brother fast travelling to the grave . The fact as tu his present actual condition is now before them : let them acquit themselves as duty prompts . B . P ., SocTHWAiK , — -If he have a bargain with his landlord that the landlord is to pay the rates , whatever the
amount of them are he must pay . If he has been assessed too Ipw hitherto , he has been favoured at the expense of th ? rest of the parish . Let not R . P , hesitate about enforcing his claim for the vote . By law he ought to have j it ; let him seek for what the law gives him that he may use the power ^ he thus acquires to thi obtaining of a like right and power for every man ] Never mind the landlord and the rates . If these ari higher in consequence , through the splenetic feeling of the parish-officers , the fact will only show him the necessity of supporting Mr . Buncombe in bis endeavour to obtain ajepeal of the rate-paying clauses of the Reform Act , find thus put it out of the power of partizan overseers , or dther parish officers , to restrict the franchise by threats of increased rates to those who seett to
exercise a right the law confers on them . Will R . P . favour Mr . puncom . be with the facts of the ca . se he mentions to us , giving the name of the official who so far forgot his Uuty as to try to intimidate him from getting on the register by a threat of increasing his rate 1 W . Fairbaihn , JWednesbubtt , —The election of churchwardens on any day in Easter week is legal , if due and sufficient notice has been given of the meeting . Such notice however ought to be affixed on , or near to , the door of every church and parochial chapel in the parish Inattention to this [ particular , renders . not only such a meeting , but every vestry meeting , illegal ; and all the business done thereat may be set aside on an appeal against the rate . —When the churchwardens asked for a new rate they ought to have produced their accounts to shew how the old rate had been expended , and to
convince the parishioners that a new one was necessary . They should bave shewn why they deemed it advisable to lay a rate jat so much in the pound . A neglect to do these things would justify the parishioners in refusing to grant a rate . —If the meeting was an illegal one , all the motions , amendments , or resolutions in the world would not make it legal . ^ -A poll can be demanded by any parishioner , after a shew of hands on any proposition has been taken . Indeed , such is the only proper time . It does not rest with the churchwardens to either consent or refuse . The chairman of the meeting Sis the party to take the poll , giving due notice , and making due arrangements , that every parishioner may , if he likes , register his vote . A refusal to grant a poll when duly , demanded , invalidates a rate ; and our correspondent would do well to refuse to pay , and appeal . )
Alex . Chbigh / to . v , Abbroath . —A Jew , if he be naturalized , canjhold property , and will or devise it , the same as any other Englishman : if he be an alien , he can do neither one ' nor the other . Hut a Jew , « o long as he retains the faith of his forefathers , cunndt be a privy councillor , nor fill any of the offices of state . He cannot even jbecome , as we have recently seen , . a member of the gormandizing club , the London Court of Aldermen . Holders of these offices have to take oaths that they will faithfully perform their duties : and this they do " ori the good faith of a Christian . " As the Jew necessarily abjures Christianity as an imposture , faithfulness to his creed will not permit him to swear bv " ours : " and for his faithfulness he pavs the peualtv
of exclusion . Maugre all this , the Jew ha « the high and inestimable privilege of fleecing a Christian whenever he can catch him . As the latter is an infidel to the faith of Abraham , and a dog for being taken in by the . rank imposture of the pretended Messiah , it is only fair to ease ihini of this world's goods , which should alone bo conferred on the " chosen race . " Ever since Moses and bis followers set tho example of getting the gold and silver vessels of the Egyptians , by what tlie Americans would call " sluirp practice , " the Jews in all ages have tried closely to imitate it . They have set their hearts jon obtaining a good share of the precious metals either by hook or by crook ; and pretty successful they have been .
J . G . writes as follows : —For a considerable time I have felt the want of a political library , or books treating on the various ] branches and machinery of government . To supply this want I would suggest that our executive issue recommendations to the ingenious advocates of our cause , requesting them to write a short article on a gi \ en \ topic ; such articles to be subjected to a committee for selection and preparation for the press . Simple and concise articles on logic , grammar , composition , aud perhaps elocution , would be found very useful ; and from numerous enquiries that I have made , I think would ensure a large sale , especially if the pro * ceeds were to be devoted to our cause . Information on the above topics is far out of the reach of working-men . It is generally found in expensive treatises ; and onlv to
be arrived at by a course of reading of old works , not directly applicable to the present position of society iu relation to government or political economy . - Had a just conception of logic been abroad , a better judgment would have ! been t ' ormed of the villanons 'Whig press , and also of jChambers ' s beautiful specimen of unsound deductions derived from false premises . S . Wilson , Qupah . —It is the established rule in all wellordered debates , from the House of Commons downward , that ithc mover of a motion , or introdiu-er of a question , lips the right of reply . It is reasonable that it should bq so . It is fair to presume that when an individual makes a question his mwi , which he does when he takes charge of it in the manner stated , he makes himself acquainted with its nature , its scope , its
relationship ;• and is able to give good reasons why other people should arrive at the same conclusion respecting it that he has . All this he details , or should do , when introducing his question for deliberation : and in the debate that ensues , those opposed endeavour by all the power that in them lies to show that his reasoning is unsound , and his conclusions untenable . If the weight of reasoning be against him ; if the premisos he has laid down are demonstrated to be false ; if the deductions he has drawn are one and all upset , all the " reply" in the world will not establish his case , unless we suppose that the human mind is unable to judge of reason : jind in that case all debate is a farce . But if the opponents , instead of meeting the case , have fought-beside it ; if they have used clap-trap , and not reason : if they have
attempted jto bury the question beneath a mass of sophisms and cajolery ,-it is ri ght that the champion of the que .-tipn should have an opportunity of demonstrating this . It is right that he should be at liberty to examine the reasons adduced against him ; show how irrelevant and inconclusive tht-v lire ; how his points are itnassailed ; how his reasoning remains unanswered : i ' add then the question goes to the vote . If it went before this process was complete , it is possible , and , indeed , probable , that injustice would be done to it . From this [ process no-harm ean arise , unless it be that of having 1 jhe question too-well-debated . We are glad to hear that the society , on whose behalf our
correspondent pUts his question and seeks for information is di « ig well . It is only another instance , us be says , to thousands , proving that the sons of tubour , if properly united , could work out their own salvation , independent of all " aid " whatever . Our correspondent , in conclusion , ! mentions a fact , which we shall let him tell in his orttij language . He says :-U- " The Trades have advanced of late to an extent one would n «» t have expected some years ago , —thanks to the admirable , trinity- ^ Duiidombe ; Roberts , and'O'Connor- ^ and to the organ " of- Labour ' s Rights , the Northern SJar . That is the bodk fronv which the working classes have received 'their itisti * uction . The truly amiable defe . tid . er of truth and hater of superstition , Miss Frances Wright ,
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, nhen . ia DuadeeJast ^ summer ,. told Mp ^^ tea ^ ha * the Star was the only trulyliberal an& independent journal in Europe . This is a high character , and comes from a high quarter : but" tiie paper deserves it . " The compliment is indeed a high one : one that raises just feelings of pride , when passed by one whose tribute to worth is so valuable , because not given as a matter of course , but in accordance with judgment formed after due examination and reflection . One encomianrfrom snch a quarter is worth a sackful ! of empty compliment and common-place praise . We trust to show that we do deserve the high character so unreservedly given us by the gifted lady , by making the Star a better organ for the " men of the Progress " than it has hitherto been . ' ¦ :
Poob CHAETiSTof Staindrop , county of Durham , had better urge his neighbours to engage wM ' himself in hastening the time when the remuneration , or return , for labour , shall be sufficient to procure for the labourer all that he desires , in moderation . Then , neither be nor they will have to depend on the Church . Charity Clothing Club , with its 3 d . a week contributions , and its tickets to the Quaker draper for pasted calicoes and devil ' s dust woollens , some twenty per cent , dearer than at other shops in the regular course of trade . Your " charity" clubs are shocking dear
ones . PiL £ fob the Leaovb . — The following morceau is from the I > uMi » i Weekly Register of Dec . 14 th : —" . The change in . the tactics of this . Association has pr » ved the truth of what we always asserted , that there is but little hope for amelioration in British Institutions till the guides of the popular feeling in England turn a more zealous and honest regard to the necessities of the franchise . We perceive that the . League has at length taken the bull by the horns ; and , like the athlete of old , enters the list to " conquer , or to die . " Inany ease preferring the former alternative for our friends the League—notwithstanding their
unaccountable conduct on the West India Sugar Bill—we fear as greatly the later result will be their portion . There is only one way indeed ; but we don't think tbe League leaders are the men to pursue it with the perseverance requisite to success . Some very honest men there are amongst them , we believe ; but we have a strong opinion that the momentum of the movement tends more to the interest of the manufacturers than to the extension of the people ' s rights and comforts . But time will tell . " Bravo Register !—It was to benefit the manufacturers aud millowners of England that the Union was called for , to ruin the rising trade of Ireland —and for the same reason are the people of England brought to the verge of starvation .
New Poob Law at Leeds . —The election for Guardians in the township of Leeds has just concluded : and right glad are we to announce that not one Whig has there been returned in the whole batch ! The conduct of that base and perfidious faction , while paramount in the Council Chamber of the Corporation , has been so thoroughly partizan ; so exclusive , so overbearing , and so inimical to public weal , that universal disgust has been engendered against Whigs and Whiggery in every shape : and the detestable faction has received its deserved reward at the hands of the rate-payers of all , and several , the wards of the township ! For along time therfehas existed a strong desire to introduce the New Poor Law into Leeds ; but the Commissioners dare not venture , because of the altered state of public feeling
respecting the" Whigs . Seven years ago they issued an order , forming Leeds and some other places into " an Union ¦ " and directing" that an election of guardians should take place . The election was had ; and the resuit was , that every man returned was a Tory : not one single Whig could get the suffrages of the rate , payers . When this was known to be the case ^ the Commissioners withdrew tft « order , assigning no reason ; and Leeds from that time to the present has been under the old law , with a Board of Whig over , seers , chosen by a Whig Benctof Magistrates . When the new batch of Tory Magistrates , created by Sir James Graham , ascended-the Leeds Beneh , they demanded that a portion of the overseers should be Tory too ; and to save appearances , as the
appointing body , the Bench , was not exclusively Whig —( thanks to Jemmy Graham for that . ' )—the Whigs consented ; and a number of Tories , for the last year or two , has been sent into snarl and . fight -with ' ,-the "Whig -Rump . The last Amendinent of the Poor Law Amendment Act having given new and vastly increased powers to the Commissioners to deal with such places as Leeds , and an eftort having been made by the Chartists of Leeds to get into the Board of Overseers at tha Workhouse , through the Select Vestries Act , it was deemed expedient to form the Township into " a Union , " and take it into the charge of the Somerset-House despots . But how to do this with safety was the question . Of late years the Chartists in Leeds hadcarried all before them . They had the whole Church war denship to themselves ;
they liad tbe Board of Highway Surveyors in their Uands ; they had more than broken-way into the Council Chamber , and were indeed rapidly gaining strength there . The body of electors for Guardians were the rate-payers at large . True , there were the plurality of votes : but the main of these were not in the bands of the Whigs . There was great danger then to be apprehended , that if an election was resorted to , a Board of independent men , and not tools of the Commissioners , would be returned . Jfany and serious were the confabs that Sub-Odmmissioner Clements had with the magistrates : and we enow that at those meetings fear of the Chartist strength was uppermost , and all sorts of schemes devised to render it inoperative . Amongst other things it was determined that the qualification for
guardian should be a £ 40 rating , although , in almost every other "Union" in the kingdom a rating of one p ' enny is as good a qualification as a rating of £ 100 . It was judged by the far-seeing Clements , that the Chartists would be able to find few men rated at the amount , £ 40 ; while , if the qualification was a mere rating at all , the Board of Guardians would be , like the Board of Highway Surveyors , all Chartists ; men not disposed to let him play pranks with them or for them . Accordingly , at £ 40 the qualification was fixed , though a ratingof £ 30 is sufficient to qualify for the office of . councillor under the Corporations Act . Another " move " was , to vote in wards . Beforetime the voting was throughout the whole township . There were so many guardians wanted , and every rate-payer in the township voted for
the whole lot if he liked . This was by far the most popular mode . But in it the Commissioners saw- great danger of defeat . The " aggregate vote" they knew would beagaiust them ; but there was a chance . that if they split up the election piece-meal , and let the wards choose so many , and so many , they could manage in 6 ome of them . In one ward the Charfists might be strong ; but if they , were , ' all they could do was to carry their men . Their votes could not go in aid of their friends in another ward , as would have been the case in an aggregate vote ; so to elect by wards was determined on . To fix the qualification at the high amount of £ 40 rating , and to direct the election by wards-, the Commissioners availed themselves of powers recently conferred on them . Well , to work the ratepayers went ; and out of the eighteen elected ,
not one is a Whig ! but on the board appears two of tbe most notorious and leading Chartists of the town ' . Councillors Jackson and Brook . Aye , Master Clements , your fears were not groundless , though your precautions have failed you . The entire of the Board are opposed to the harsh and unfeeling conduct of the Boor Law Commissioners . They have been chosen for that very reason . They have been sent to the Board to stand between the poor and the Poor Law- Commissioners . There is every reason to believe that they will answer the expectations formed of them . To do this effectually , however , it will be necessary that they make a clean m \ eep of the workhouse officials . Out with every man of them : They have been there so long—have been so used to do the bidding of their Whig masters , that they cannot be expected to go easy in gear under their new drivers . Have a veir . «• : (
altogether . 1 his point is of tho utmost consequence . The election of officers by the Board of Uuavdians is the most important work they have to do . Get meu that will serve the Poor Law Commissioners duly installed , and the Board are powerless , The Guardians must remember that though they elect , they cannot displace . Let them therefore look well to it , who they invest vrith power . Above all , and before all , let them bo cautious who they put in as clerk . He is either their servant , or their master , as they choose . With a kindly-disposed staff of officers , they may protect the poor of Leedvand see that every due relief and accommodation is afforded them . But to do this , they must sweep the p lace clean of the present batch . Send every mother ' s son to the rightabout . "Begin at the beginning , " as the clerk at Beeston said . Teach the "Whigs that if tUy will have all the Alderaianships , they are not to have all the offices and' ' ' pickings . " " fit for tat . " Clear the p lace .
Bundle every Whig out . ' Condition of the wokicpeople of Bbadfoed . — We beg to direct attention to a most remarkable letter from 3 working man , " taking stock" of the " creature comforts" that have resulted to the operatives in that quarter from the last two years of " roaring trade . The picture is a painful one , —but alas , " ower true ! We know the man who penned the production in question , which we most glad y print . We have kno * n him for years ; nnd always known him , as he is , a straightforward , plain-Spoken advocate for the rights of bis class . We know that he works amid the scenes
he paints ; that he is , by the cursed system which keepi such men of energy and native talent " down , " force to feel and eudure the wrongs and miseries he detail ? ; we know that what he speaks of is not fiction , but hard , stern , nnyielding reality ; and we ask if it can be wondered at , ' that men with an atom of spirit , situated as the mass of workmen in this besUpaid , best-reguBtea district are , shou ' d be " disloyal , " " disaffected , " dissatisfied t" They would deserve all they get a they were otherwise ? We trust to hear from our Correspondent again and again . " Nabob " thoug h we .. w , we shall always' be glad to hear frosj , and see , one wiw whom , we have toiled in days "lang . syne , " for UK
cause of the labourer . „> T . R ., Abebdeen . — We do not know that the Investigation into the charges of Dr . K'DouaU against Mr . aanie Leach , of appropriating public substinp flunsjo liiso " use . 'feas been made ; by the Otfancfc # er iGon > nutt <* ° , Council / to whom the Dr . propose * to " refer theJ ^ " At the time ^ iamed ^ for theihves ^ atatt ^* e ^^ y > Dr . was / m - O 8 t . imfortanately ; tak * n ^ w 4- ^?^ r scarlet-fever ; and wo have not hearfl that Since Hisre ooveryhe Has beetiin ^ MatJCheiter . for ftie"purpose " aub-cd after bv our correspondent . ' ¦ ' ¦'
Untitled Article
4 THE NORTHERN STAR } j December 38 , 1844 .
Sereial Local To The Eeghabites.
sereial local TO THE EEGHABITES .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 28, 1844, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct839/page/4/
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