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jjJoXXOB , IX COXTiyCATlOX , UPON THE Q UESTION'S OF EXPEDIENCY—JRJlSSFERCOUTBOyilSB—POLITICAL TRAFPIC , AIs'D COiLP £ > "SATIO >* . Compensation , sjpee t e passing of the Eeform BUI , v is become a term very extensive in political use ; but . ^ j i th . o'w that it , tlso , as the terms expediency , cu costromiae , has been misapplied . Compensation mews recompense for loss sustained , a eaniTs ' ec : for service rendered .
¦\ ov the Befoul Bill said , as plain as language ran ggjjfgy m eaning , that the people had sustained great frotn tie old system of representation , and the - ' inn Kii 1 BrM * ° have insured the nearest thing to pgj ^ an , that is , a means of prereiitJcj a n ? cnr-^^ gf £ e evil , and to bsve given compensation by rerdsisl a Tote a * &n < qnivalei , t for taxation ; because , - —rs bear in mind , the one and only jewel of the tjefeem Bill T 8 s the admission ef the principle , that j-j-iioa and repxetfcniition should be co-ex > . ensive and et -tiisteat . Tins people , then , long cheated under a eatru pt Ejstein , were , as a matter of course , the P ortia in this great new compact who were lo have got eoEpens tion . Weil , let aa see .
Xfce first ibas * ¦ which was proposed to be remedied % * 5 £ T » ad jury jobbing in Ireland , and the placing all old to ^ ' 3 &c " i taken under the Road Act , and liaea of road p liced in the hands of trusu . es for repair , out of gjs binds of -i * e who had l ° nS uiade a livelihood out ^ the g = £ c , —it being always understood that road jobbing in Jreland farmed one of the principal means by tr $ ii * h eo ' -iitry gantlenj = n in general , and county iLP . ' a ja psrlicuiar , provided for creditors , servants , bad ^^ ta , poor relation * , and political supporters . In Fvt . t instances , one , two , three , four , and fire thousand j year h ? - > been made by individuals in this soit of ia £ c , vii , not satisfied -with the undisturbed posses-SOBof lucrative abuse , they Lad the matchJess effrontery , fad Gi 3 T = Kua = nt had the matchless audacity , to grant a ^ ncrlr . ? - 'where the demand should hare been for
retauue a . lixe next instance of . compensation ' . always barring Eiiccr un £ S . was the payment cf twenty millions ot pr > ^ iish memj , as compensation to savages , human batchers , whj had made iuinieiiss fortunes by stealing , jciiisf , and wOrtin ^ tnman beings to death . Here , theo , wiere a Bciornied Psrjianifent ihuuJJ hare ordered jfce West iclian pLmters to disiorge and restore all tia proper : ? -which thty had made by the foulest abo-Einidon , the wrong paities step in , and get compenss-J 2 D 3 for thiir own abuse .
It is no ; only to the poor negro that compensation liquid hsTe been r ; T . < le , but to the Eaglkb working { issses also ; as the very principle established by the tire trace i ^ ade those of the mother country siav&s lisa , not czlj in the actual CrEtrvul orer their time and jsbonr , Lai in contronl over tLeir life and pr ^ j-erty . Eesce , impress—en ; for the na ^ y , ballotting for the Ellitis , kidnapping , child-stealing , aLu even mm-sUaling and man-seLing , were ail so many abominauous emsaatng from the parent abuse . Here , then , r -jom - pease as * ( onrraient "Were given to the aigrt ~^ ors , and taid by the aggrieved .
When Mother Cimrca iad dried up tie paps of the poor old miich cow , by continuous miliiDf—wieu the parson t :: d " literally eaten the calf in the cow ' s btHy , led when lie Caiholic people were actually unatie to pay lift Pr- ' icstant worship , the pe * p .. e of England Tere ealkd upon to " lend , " as they cail it , one miilicn of monty to the Iiish parsons , but to Givg , as 1 call it , eTtr two millions in loan , t , ift , law expences , a- ^ justni £ ! it , and disbursement , and management of all jobbing matters . Here , taen , instead of the shepherds who , from time inisemorial , had been fletcicg the fljeis , beicg conjtilrd to sustain those flocks in the hour if need , asa season of calamity , we find the Tery poverty ¦ which ibey had in par ; canted ur ; ed as just grounds for esmp = nsa * . i--n . H = re , again , instead of the aggressors raceiTing Tiv—i , they Ehould haTe paid compensation ? o the aggricTid .
AEiUicr , arl a mar . s-. nguhr case of compensation , \ ras that of the Dachess of Kent ' s ancuity ; she was allowed , J xllzs , seren ttoasanl a year for the education of Ly own child , oar own Queen , and as soon as the w ^ ri irts perfected , and she was reli . Ted of the -onfcle and erpesc * , oise -woiid natsrally ssy that she should hiTi cer' .-cj to reccire an rquivalent for her hbocr . Is : no , sj tax & ± erwise , Pj riiament in its ulsdoii ! ucabitd it , and conunaed it for li : e , tha » is to her : cr life , and upon you and your heirs for ever . The- the Dzchess got the compensation , and I trust , we siill cce Csj have in equivalent in the knowledge yet to be displayed as the fruits of the teaching-.
ILsTe disposed of conntry ^ entlesitn , West India planters , jersoss , and the Qu&sn ' s in-xher , and now I come to the o '; c- " . rp ? raiions . These w = ra considered the most « rrrpt , jotvirg , and eipsBsive instiintions in the CTCTrj , Lid , in flCt , thail corruption -went a great VijiL cle . 3 ' 1 for reform . TLe c-Scers had long fattiaad npoc abuse and plunder , which , as a matter of ecsrse , the rc- ~ r 2 icd iEStitnUoES , the Ejs-s ;! pnrze , " f . ciud have niade them disgorge ; but no , they get Mr . O'C-vnnsTl most heroically demandei corBi > £ ::= a-
ilD 2 f-T th ^ . f ^ - ^ ' -s r \ e t- ^ A Tr ;* n /»^ rTV-. rn * -iri-n ^ tr > . ^ c ^ tioa ..-r tie tfScers of t-e Irish corporations , whose tndrTis iw sufkr from the rtivrmtd system . As an mdmlual instanc * , rot of corporation , bat of loss of PkS : < -n z ~ rz ~ s , S ' j Abrthim Bradey K- ^ ig stationer toti . ; C .-t ^ rs , -sr ^ g , had xasds ihozsan Gs ard a iitle , { A , I tii _ k , c-i ^ p-nsation to the amount uf £ ' 2 , bOii a year . Tbs £ si . It is naturally to be presumed that judges sr = tie ^ fr : s that rank at tie bar in which the
iarces : :. r ; - ^ ic havtbeen made of public aad private E ^ v r-t arts , ^ -d ilurirsg wbicia season of prosperity , fr 33 iciiiu ; g sbccid belaid up f . j » a rainv day , and somethirz i ^ . i-. ir : a-iditicn froin the large salary ot a jui ' ge . Bat * 3 , i-e- bere , -we find , afttr making thousands and Uz 5 of ib josancls , compensation is to be given , aTter f . ^ r ' e ^ z ; years ' receipt of from £ b , iiiO to £ S , 00 ? PET Sin-La ., in case of a Judge retirirj ; and after receipa cf r- _ iriy £ 15 , 000 per ariuni in case of a CSaut ^ - ^ ivtiiiag . Xow , I think , eyen sinking tht
EJi - ; c : : be bar , ^ nj taking the lowest salary of a -f ' . tia : a gentleman may contrive to lay np enongb oat ' .: h \< -jT 3 resourses , of £ 70 , 000 in fourteen ytari , t = lire c . - . fvr . ibiy upon for life-Li : : l < : aciis , as I mean to do here and there , give sasl : > - - iiTi ^ -os .: instance of a gross jab . Spring Rice 152 : - ~ e- ^ -rry into inexplicable d ' -ficulties , and got a P ^ r-- ? i -c ;] . £ 2 : o ? o a year as cc-mp £ ns 3 tioB . ^"' j- = rt I -m going thruagh erarj brascb , and now 1 to-t tj tie most intricate , bat you must follow me , M 1 r ro-i ^ e to make every child of twelve years of * £ * ^ ic r-tixd me . The a ra-. L ^ t us , in ana l ysing the immense and
*^ ut _ - . s niaihinery of a portion of military abuse , KE ' c * as if ire were cow beginning tie fystem , - ^ tai rj haf-par officers . K ;? : ) 5 i- i -- ' another French w-. r , 3 ^ d an angroen-**^ - ^ of any number o : trosps , I care not what , say ~ t ^ izsaad . In the several regiments commissions 'sro ^ ' -i sold , or given away . If sold , the Govern-^^ ¦ s- j- ii ; rsreive the pTirchase moEey , say , according-I ' - ' - ^ atioa / 1 £ 700 for a cornetcy of dragoons , or ej sJS 2 ry o ! foot . Toa r = 7 tie fail pay of the -whole ^ oe Wiiit ... ; iyvieebat a rednct'of the
, , suppose -on ^ -- ^ --i t ^ kes place , vrh 3 t do jou pay ? Why , k = s iLar , from fifteen to twenty per cent for ev ^ r K tti T-ry rc-nues which Government has received , ^ *; « * _ > : Ere is an end to the service . Ton pay ~ " half-pay , and I ssy for eTer . The half-pay , ~ vn the ccionei to the ensign , would amount to from ^ ei to rwtEty i-tr cant upon the original sums of - « . fa » -v lowest ccjujjjjs ^ ^ ^ s have nothing to do with private sales ot torn-^ -yn ^ itv-een isdiTiduals ; they are not governed by ^ f' ^ " f-ri <» > imemnch as three times the regn-° - w . i ; r . g . Tenvery often for an exchange by efficers « »» e qual ro ^ k £ ro » a » slow" toa" crack"
regi-^ w i s . y yOU p , y tMs for ^^ aaa ^ ay ? Bs _ ^ R I-I--ie the ten regiments to have three hundred CCi £ tr 5 r " V . * r ^ -. . ^ - " ^ -tay . aid suppose every man cf them J Oi ^ a Ediitirj- i ^ asnza Bpon ^ gg ^ g njg | i ^ -j ^ ii-se tts Char-ccllonras to make Ms cemand for the tf -ghi i ° geUl : ral £ rPen'iiture upon the following yoa v ^ d not hear one single word of the killed , fe ; v . a a a marginal note . Xo > that would be evr ry t «^ . ^ . ^ ' SeEd ' " 9 rhich woald S ° & * ° P ro ' inis -PP-ners . Let me illustrate this for you . C »^ King Ernest , K ^ vcai W ^^ 5 ton , DEke Sn « x , Duke C ^ ri ^
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Qaeen Adelaide , and Qneen Kent , and all the Royal Family , were to die to-morruw , —do yon suppose that taxes to tbe amennt of what they now receive would be remitted ; or that one far ; Licg of the saving -would go in ease of taxes yet to be laid on ? No , not one penny ; and , g : ve me leave to tell you , that tbough we hear nothing of it , it is this accumulation of ages of abuse , for -which the people are obliged to give compensation , instead of the aggressors making restitution , which is fast hurrying the aristocracy and middle classes to bankruptcy , and the people to beggary and revolt Ton see , then , there is no such thing as annuitants of abuse . When the life interest ceases , the fee reverts back to ths original granters , and becomes traffic-money for new abuses , aid increased support .
Obserre , that with respect to the three hundred officers , it makes no difference to you whether they bare purchased , or have been presented with their commissions . All the purchase money goes into the hands of the Government ; you pay foil pay during- the petiod of service , and half pay in perpetuity . A sophist may say , how could all purchase , as cornetcies and ensiitncies are the only commissions sold ? Suppose we bad now one hundred thousand treops , and no half-pay officers , and suppose that an augmentation of
ten thousand was neqnired for war purposes . The superior officers of the old force of one hundred thousand would get a step , and the new force would be made up from their ranks , while , as all must commence-with carrying the colours , you -would have an appointment of subalterns for the -whole ono hundred and ten tboueand , and even that would be too few ; so the first appointment of cornets aud ensigns would get a rapid step to the rank of lieutenants , and the thing ¦ would be done .
If parties who have power fail in a speculation they receive compensation f > . r their insolence ; hence , the Chinese war was nothing more or less than & -war of compensation for a set of English , and , Scotch jobbers , who took lands in India for the purpose of growing wpium upon speculation and forcing it , as a contraband and prohibited article , upon the Chinese . Had those who lost their smuggled property never complained , you Wvuld never have heard of the war .
See how diff-rently they treat the poor speculator . If a man establishes a private BtiU for the manufacture of nnaduherated spirits , and if it isseiz . ri , he loses his property , and subjects himself to bevvy penalties . So if he smuggles iJ-.-vcs , lace , pictures , brr . rdy , anything , even knowledge , from foreign countries , his compensation is to lose all his property . The flinders got an incmse T .-om £ 60 to £ 30 mjon all amounts in the funds , just at a time when they should have reduced their demand , in consideration of the great redaction npon all the necessaries of life The landlords gave themselves compensation , by raising their rents t 3 n ;; r ) y 3 war price , instead of reducing taxation to the level of a peace establishment Observe well , the people , in this instance , as in all
others , piy for all ; and last , though not lea ^ t , of the let , the parsons will look for their compensation when a repeal of the C'jra Laws reduces tithes by reducing rents ; and John Bail , be he PapUt , Jew , Turk , Protestant , or A tbiest , will cot escape the nicely constructed meshes of the holy and sanctified Church net All U £ sh that comes to that net ; ar , d now , bellive me , good Christians , that nineteen in every twenty State Parsons and Bishops in the Empire , would prefer receiving a guinea for cavilling with a nation of inSdels , to a pound received from a pious congregation cf the very best of Christians . PhilpotU , cfcourEe , won't teli you so ; but , if the honour of the Lords Temporal ccnld be relied npon , and should they hereby pledge it , thty would , one and all , say the " guinea lecallv , ut > on my honour . "
Ajain , in the Excise , when the English and Irish establishments were consolidated , we had many youns gentlemen of twenty-eight years of agr , fox-hunting four diys a week , and half drunk all the weck . placed upon tbe superannuated list for compensation . What a farce . ' : :, Bui so it is in all matters affecting the powerfa : ; and now let us apply tlie rule to the different orders of the lower classes . If I walk in C een-wich Park I am delighted at the- sight of old msn who have spent their youth in firht ' nj the battles of tyrants and misrule . I dont blame the men ; they haye been pressed , and even if volunteers , better that than
starvation . If I foliow th : ni to tbtir abode , I see noce of the machinery of a cold bastiJe . J see a neat acd comfortable sleeping room well furnished for each . I see a content . J family sitting jo vous around a smoking repast I see them well c ! ad . I see their rules and regulations put in operation , by these of their own wdsr and profes : cr , and who hive a fel ' ow feeling fur tht . in , as members of the same profession . I hear of no restraint or punishment b :-yond en c-xchange for a different coloured dress for drunkenness ; in short , I see them r ^ men GiH . it to be in tLe latt » r er-d of their daj-s luppj , i ; df pinjcr . , ant ! comfortable , and I see 5 noble school and college fur tbe education of their children ; this is their jn * : compensation .
Bat when I cosis to louk npon the auturau of the productive labonr ^ r ' s 3 : fe , or rather the summer rrenntnrely turned to winter ; when I rtflect that an operative cf tbe a ^ e cf thirty-five , has done more real service to his country as j society than all the sailors in England , and when 1 sre him stiil willing and able to work , but ma-de _ idle and thrown upon his own resources and handed over for h ; s compensation to the tender merei-s of three rni-n , neither of ids order or profe « k < n , no playground , eo schojl , no tender care , no comfort , bnt looked upon as so much proud flesh slonghed from the general sore ef over-population , then I am sick at heart . Attain , look at the disabled and veteran soldier in Chelsea Hospital—look at the old man ' s Hospital .
Bnt , but , but , and above all , look at the cheerfulness frith which'the unrepresented allow the Government to vote acr . ual compensation to the PulisL patriots , \ rhKe thsy . a'loTV them to vote a larger sum fur the prosecution of their own patriots . Think well over that one poetical tinge in the picture . You cheerfully j .-uy f- ^ r the rapport of the Polish patriots , while your own , for a less crime in tbe eye of the law , are banished , at
your expense , after thousands being expended upon their mock trial and conviction . Again , I s . ny , thiai oi that , and also think , and thick well upon tbis factthat the present generation of paupers , thrown upon tkeir cwn poor resources , are compelled to pay com pfcnsa . tion for every ibuie -which has existed for ages , Si . d bttn trai ^ ferred to them , and th ~ c the liability is / or ever ; hence has tbe evil so multlji ' . kd , that it hasbeconie a moiisttx diiicult to be gr ^ puled with .
A poor girl is seduced and h'f a bastard ; she and her chilil . are thrj-srn upon her ova resources . A rich ¦ woman is seduced Vy a monarch , anu she has a royal bastard , who receives compensation for his mother ' s loss of cliasthy , and distinction to cover the royal d ' sgrsce . Think of that also . Idle country gentlemen got commissions in tbe militia , and -when they vr ^ re disbanded the staffs were kept in fail pay as their compensation . * I couid citeinjtacces innninerabie , bnt I hare said ; enough -to arouse rtfiection and awaken pride . Think , j O think of those thir . gs , jind don't Io 3 e sight of them . And now 1 take a moment ' s rest after this , 1 fear , too long and melancholy letter . j
My next shall be upon Churefl Chartism , Teetotal Chartism , Knowledge Ccsxtism , and Household Char-1 tlim . But till y .. u read all form no opinion ; in the mrtia tiine ,-t-c-r . ^ h I mtan to denounce one and all as ; trick , farce , cheat , or humbug , don't mistake me ; I do j not object to Chartists b « ing religious—to Chartists ; being teetotallers—to Chartists thirsting after know- i ledge , or to Chartists voting out of , and living in , their ; own houses . Xo , no ; I approve of all ; feut I will . show you ths danger of establishing four different me- i thods of srrivicif at tbe same end , ia which , although a i perfect identity and harmony is professed , yet a totally different means of arriving at the end is proposed by one and all , which must inevitably split rankB , dbat sbonld , be united firmly upon a given principle , ) into four different detail sections .
Wor fiing men , stand by your order . Ton have been too oficii Jseeived by those who pro / esssd friendship , ever egaia to trcst , save in yourselves . They have ^ brown you upon your ovrn resourc es ; use them , and yon are free ; abuse them , and you are slaves for life . I am , Tout faithful , devoted , and TJnpnrchasable Friend , FEA . RGUS O'COSKOIU
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monies , pledging roytelf , as usual , that the settlement sfca'l appear against myself , rather than against the country . Send to my credit to the Leeds and West Riding Banking Company your suL . oiiptions at onco ; it shall not be touched , but by my order , and that only given according t , your irstruct'ons ; there shan't be a sticking to the fingers , or deduction of liaJf a farthing . Then , at onc 3 , proc ? -i to e ' . ecfc your defeat . Elect them at public meeliv's ; appoint Monday , the 22 nd , for the election day ; you can give legal notice and need not have t'etrerdousmeet ' ngs ; they may be allin-door , or out-door , as you please , but let them be public meetings , nd not the meetings of any district , or separate bodir-j , and let the people take care that each delegate is a South Shields Chartist , " the whole hos ? , bristiea and all "
Now , vre will havo no fending or proving , or afterclapi about this . 1 Jay down the objects aud uieara distinctly , and simply fe ; you a list of persona » rom whom you may or may noi , select ten to cany out the-se objects . Tbe objects are to release your friends irom hells and mad-houses , and to revive the Charter , and present the addresses , on behalf of Frost , Williams , and Jones . The means are a mite from e -b district ; a rational fund to relea-e our prisoners . The mode of carrying out the object is , by electing *¦ : n persons from tho subjoined list , or any other ten whom you may think proper . The persona whom I name are : — Mr . Moir , Glasgow ; Sir . Morgan Williams . Wales .
They are pledged already by not having re . ased to present the addresses for Frost , Williams , and Jones , which can be done while they are in London . Mr . Pitkethly ; Mr . Binns , or his partner , Williams ; Mr . Arthur , Carlisle . Some one of tho Frost , Williams , and Jones Restoration Committee , from Birmingham . He alao must be chosen at a public meeting . Mr . Daegan ; Mr . Leech ; 3 Ii-. Jonca , of the National Charter Association , residing at Leeds ; Mr . Arran , ditto , Bradford ; Mr . aiavsden , ditto , Bolton ; Mr . Duncan , Edinburgh ; Mr . Dover , Norwich ; Mr . Gill , Sheffield ; - Mr . Charlton , Newcastle ; Mr . Martin , lately released from Col ; Mr . Smart , Leicester ; Mr . Skaviugton , Loughborough ; Mr . Greaves , Oldbam ; Mr . Wilkinson , Halifax :
In fact , thousands , whom I don't recollect at the moment . I dont mention M'Douall , as I find that he will be engage . 1 about his new publication jast at the time . Now , if all tliose named will send in their assent , or dissent , to the Star , at once , the list can be published on the 2 » th , and the elections can take place upon the 22 nd ; and , if more than the ten should be chosen , I proposa that the names of nU chosen should be cent to the Executive , at Manchester , who , from the numbers chosen , shall select ten , the names of which ten they shall submit to ; v public meeting , upon Monday , the - 2 ' , and should the meeting think proper to substitute any of thos . e postponed by the Executive ,
for one chosen , let a show of hands be taken . Always bearing in mind that three are already chosen , viz ., Moir , Williams , aud the Birmingham delega * } , and , I t ' tiofc Pitkethly's presence is absolutely indispensible : ho is the most practical man for such business of our party , and works like a horse -when humanity or principle wove * him ; and here I take the opportunity of saying that whatever credit I may deserve for my exertions npon behalf of Frost , Williams , and Jones , and the Glasgow Cotton spinners , tliat it is my firm conviction , and always liaa been , that but for Pitkethly , Frost , Williams , and Jones , would have been murdered , and the Cotton-spinners would havo been transported . He is the man for work—he knows every one , and never epaTes himself .
Then in London you have Sankey , Pert , Watkins , Neesom , Cameron , Boggis , Wall , Sputr , and the rest of the troops who have so nobly kept watch and ward during the winter , and you will havu the invaluable aid of Lovett , ds far as the remnant of health loft him by the Whigs will admit . In short , London won't bo behind . If these things are worth £ 60 let them be done ; if not , let Martin , the Irishman , continue to shame you , one and all , every w .-ok in the Star . Let the subscription be national , and should there be a surplus , tbe surplus to be given to the Executive of the National Charter Association , to assist in beating and keupins ; down tho cock-tails . Who will send me the first letter announcing t ' ut a lodgement has been made to my credit , as above ? Hudderstleld , Barnsley , Carlisle , or Glasgow ; one of those against the Held . When any sum has been transmitted , iet a letter be sent to me stating the amount .
Chartists of England , here is a new , a safe , and a delightful field open to you , without a single briar in it ; no illegality , no hobgoblin : up then , and let us have a short run , what tfce sportsmen call a " blood run , " for tbe Charter , f or fourt -on days . The SpccUiCor baa asked when the people's business is to come on in the House ? I answer , now , n ^ w , tliis ius ' . ant . ; Boar in mind , that a little from each will do , and will be money well spent , even if we take a mercantile view « f tho case , as success will relieve the country of the burden of the families of the Chartists . We liave seen the eltnct produced upun the House hy humbug agitation ; let us shew them that " the most effective of all insurrections , is that which never actually bvciks OUt , but which is always to be apprehended . " I thank tbe Kov . Mr . Hill for impressing th « maxim of Mr . Bulle" upon my mind , and upon tho niindu of his numerous flock .
Mark , Englishmen , Martin is my countryman , and I am proud of him ; and if I was the only Irishman in England , I hereby pledge mycelf to drag Master Shepherd to the bar of justice uf we cau find it ) , as he dragged Mr . Martin . Again , observe , you have the following Irish Chartists , prisoners , er liberated after suffering : —Tho tchoolmaster , your teacher , O'Brien , Martin , Hoey , Ashton , White , Byrne , Duffjy , Doyle , and O'Connor . " Now , I tell you what : I know they won't ltt me out , and , in faith , I cau scarcely blame them ; and I hsroby release them from all obligation , and will bs satisfied , if they let the others out , and will pledge myself not to send out another despatch during the who . e period of my imprisonment ; so they will be better off than ever .
Now , then , let us put a leg un ^ ler Chartism , and knock Whiggery and humbug otf its crutch , otherwise , believe me , " plain John" will eJ'udcie and say , Well , didn't I put the Chartista down for you , and got the Peers out of tbe Cardigan acrauo '' upon my honour : " lie did , but , upon my soul , he shall not put down Chartism so long as Foargus O Connor lives . I have no nioro to say , but that I will look upon every penny sent as a rich yii % from the poor bul generous aad grateful people . I am , A Beggar , But only for tho Captive , and I am , Your Friend , Feakgcs O'Connor .
P . S . Mr . Hill should give a draft ef a petition with great care , and make it national , so that one will do for all , and then the several districts will merely require to hava it road from the Star , and when adopted , without tiie slightest alteration , ( if adopted at all , ) as any alteration in a particular district would invalidate the signatures from that district , particularly in the form of prayer . Lui the sheets be then signed , and sent at once to whatever address the delegates shall publish as their place of meeting , after arrival in Loniitm . Si : ni on one aide , and have the paper rult . 'd ; one penny worth will contain six hundred signatures , if properly done . Let the men and women Bign different sheets , no that the men ' s aud women's petitions may be presented separately .
I believe that not a man whom 1 have named can be purchased for gold , or corrupted by the influence of the Court , or the cock-tails . Let us hear nothing about dicta tjon . Elect wiom you please , but I liavo thought it ri . ^ nt , as I havo an abundance of time , to assist , rs much aa possible , in simplify ing the arrangements . Aud , again , bear iu mind , that Pitkethly , Moir , Williams , Deegan , G-. 1 L Smart , Skevington , and Marsdcn have been already honoured with public confidence , by their appointaient to the Convention , and Deegan a second time , by being elected to tiie highly honourable and import . nt office of district missionary . L : ich the talentf . d anu honest missionary , has also been honoured with your confidence , and so has Chorltoa , of Neweiistle , as I met him upon the Frost , Williams , ar id Junes' Delegate Meeting at Manchester , and so have the gallant Williams and Binns been honour * d , both by persecution , and election to
sundry u \ issions , and so has Martin , who has just emer ? et \ pure as gold , from his twelve months' tomb in th o hell madhouse , and all Yorkshire will answer for Jones and Arran , and Robert Wilkinson ; as for Do ver , the Bishop of Norwich , and nil the nobility ar . d clergy will testify for him . Lancashire will t .-atify for James Greaves ; indeed , he was a delegate to Leeds upon the glorious 21 st AH Scotland will approve of John Duncan , and all Cumberland of honest James Arthur , of Carlisle . In fact , to me it matters not one farthing , provided you select no cock-tails , cr Household Suffrage men , who would merely take our money and their expencoa , and then sell us in tho London market , while I defy the whole gang to purchase one 1 have named , and that is what you want If O'Brien knows any one in Brighton , er the South , let him name as many as he can think of , and his recommendation -will be enough .
Let all who object to bo put in nomination communicate at once with tiie Star , and let any other person name ten , or twenty , or ten thousand , if they are as honest , as talented , and aa well-tried as I nave ua ' - ned , and as free from cock-tail Influenza , and you cannot go wrong . Fa O O .
Untitled Article
of the land ; none but an -ars vrould have bit upon sucll an expedient , and no wonder that 5 ie found two bur - dens to crouch under . Yet this is tbe e ' rt prototype of the Eoulless conduct of tiie werk producers o ? this country for many years back . TLey Lave labourel to make them rich who now look down with eoverei&ii contempt upon them , and * v > o , from all tbe fruits ef their incessant toil , can afford them no more than a " coarser food" diet , while they are capable of working ; and the cold charity of apoor-houso to solace the remainder of their days .
Thank God , a new state things is approaching : a 8 * ^ te of things in which tbe Bible law © f equity will be , acted upon , and " he that labonreth will he first partaker of the frnitsu" This is , aa all unprejudiced people will admit , nothing more than fair and reasonable . But the present usages of trade must be altered , and altered moat materially , before this state of evenhanded justice can be found amongst us . But we era on the march ; and it is beyoud the power of men . and devils to keep us back . We have next to inquire into what I Lave designated the influence of the . Giiureli ; but , as I have occupied all my space , I must conclude for the present I am , Madam , Your Majesty ' s faithful and oledient subject and servant , NUMA . London , February lltn , 1 S 41 .
Untitled Article
BltONTERKE ON THE MIDDLE CLASS UNION . ( From a letter to a friend in Edinburgh . ) Lancaster Casile , February 18 th , 1841 . MY DEAR M—— , —The more I reflect on it , tho more I am convinced that the new project of uniting with the middle classes" was originated in Machiavelism , and will , if it goes on , eventuate in the disorganisation of tbe Chartist body . With every dispesition to discard prejudice and factious feuling , I can still come to no other conclusion than that it ia the offspring of fraud , begotten upon the body of folly ; the fraud ef th » capitalists who have started it , —the folly of the few
workpeople who Lave become parties to it . If tho former were honest men they would have long ago come to some explanation with the Chartists ; or , at any rate , interposed between them and the late furious prescription in which to many thousands of them have suffered in and out of prison . That they havo not done so prov'T that the despotic conduct of the Government < aud of its instigators , the middle classes ) has had their sanction . It also af !' or < is the strongest possible presumptive evidence that bad not the tyranny of the Government so signally failed to subdue or crush us , we should never have hrird aught of the redoubtable " Fox and Oooto" Union .
I Lave a ' ready obseived t"at I should rot be opposed to a uu'on between the middle and working classes jf I saw any likelihood of an hovest union ; a union having for its- object equality of rights and mutuality of ilterests . But I see no such prospect ; nor do I think such a union possible ia the existing state of parties . Indeed , I regard the proposal as a downright insult to the Chartisti ; for , let them twist and turn it as they may , what is it , after all , but a proposal to us to unite with the very iyranls of ichese tyranny we complain , and
against whom ice demand the protection of self-government ? A union with the middle ci ; wses against the Goverr - ment , forsooth ! A union , as I remarked before , with the Creator against his creature . A union with the oppressor against tho-inslrumcnt he makes use cf to oppresg us ! Is there not folly on the face of it . Forwhatelseia the present Government than a Government of the middle c ' asses ? What else is tbat Government than the tool and creature of the middle classes ? at oace the breath of their nostrils , and the instrument of all their libeiticidnl projects ?
Is net th < 3 Queen the mere puppet of her rr ' nistry for the time b > . ing ? Are not these ministers the mera creatures of tho House of Commons ? Can they hold office a uingle week -without the corsent and support of the House of Commons ? Can any brancti of the public service be carried on without the consent of the House of Commons ? Does not that House hold the purse strings of the conntry ? Does not the officir ! existence of every minister and ether public functional / deptnd on jta votes of credit , and may it not , by withholding tho supplies , suspend the entire action ef the Goveintuent-machine , and make all the constituted authorities march in whatever direction it may choose to dictate ? These questions must be answered in the affirmative . It must be admitted tbat the House of
Commons posstssea all this power , ami admitting that , you must admit the corrollary—that Vie Government of the country resides essetitially iu the House of Commons . But by whom is the House of Commons elected ? By about 700 , 000 usurpers , of whom it is notorious that the vast majority belong to what we call " the middle classes . " Even your leading Whig organ in Kdlnburgh —the Scolsinari—has admitted that ths mi idle class- % constitute upwards of ihree-fourths of the whole
electoral body . I know they form a still larger proportion , but taking it even at three fourths , we have thereby the fact established that the constituency is a middle class constituency ;—that the House of Commons is of middle class creation;— that the representation of the country is but the breath of the nostril 3 of tho middle classes !—and consequently , ( every other department of the Government being dependent on the House of Commons , ) that in the middle classes resides essentially the government of the country .
When , therefore , it is proposed to us to unite with the middle clashes , in order to bring about an organic change in the Government , what else is it than a proposal to unite with the Government , what else is it than a proposal to unite with the usurpers to set a » ido their own usurpation , by helping them to break the instrument of their own despotism—the very instrument by which they uphold their usurpation ! If this be not delusion I know not what delusion is . Why , folly herseif is outfooled by such a proposal !
I might , if I chose , call your attention to the various institutions and local administrations of tho count : / , and shew you , by the irrtfragable evidence of living facts , that the usurped dominion ef the middle classes is even more glaring ( as it is more absolute ) in these departments than in the genera . Gjveiament itse'f . But I know I am writing to a mau of 3 ense and observation , and , therefore , I need not inform you that middle-class influence reigns paramount in all our municipaiities—iu all our Town Councils—and in all our local administrations aud jurisdictions . Are not all our corporate bodies composed almost exclusively of the middle classes ? Ara not the civic authorities elected bf them ? Are not a ! l our borough magistrates ( though nominally appointed by the Crown , ) appointed
at their suggestion , out of lists furnished by them to the Home-office ? And is not the local administrr tion of justice ( or rather of the law ) altogether iu the hands of those authorities and magistrates?—I mean as regards criminal matters ; for the rogues will not trust civil cases ( which concern their own properties ) to other than the regular judges of the land ? And is not the military as well as the civil force of the country-at the permanent beek and call of those authorities , aud obliged ia all times or under all cireumstances , to act upon their requisition—even to tha extent of slaughtering the very people who pay for their maintenance , and towards whom our constitution declares they shall stand in no other relation than as defenders
from aggression ? Ho not the middJe classes effectually control the police , tbrough the commissioners elected by them , as they do the military , through the civic authorities of their nomination . And is not tbe administration of the Poor Law entirely in their hands or in those of their creatures ? Except a few ex-qfficios , have they not the- election of guardians , overseers , masters , and mistresses of workhouses , &c , and ara not evon the ex-efficio guardians , as well as the Poor Law Commissioners . tliemseivts , indirectly appointed by them through theirtools in the General Government ? And , above all , ia it not from tho middle classes that
juries are selected , and hava they not , therefore , aa jurors , a sort of supreme power of life and death , liberty or captivity , happiness or misery , &c , &c , over tbe rest of their follow-subjects ? But it ia only wasting time and words to pursue the subject further . A . single glance at our institutions must ahetr any man of sense that the whole substantial power of the country is wielded by the middle classes . Yet , we ar jrf £ f $ \ j-j ,-. K v iuvitsd to coalesce with these classes for the . dfmwRgl ~; ~ of the fabric of their own power } T defJt-jBb » I- ^ O'Connell himself to stomach the ^ Pj ^^^ j 0 ? ft ^ \ quackery of such a proposal I jr-Hr : . ¦ 4 ^ - ~< ~" ' ^' \ O ^ * •¦* ¦ -. w ^ mm * h
Yours , devotedftwif \ aV : ' -- ¦ "' " ¦ •'
Cpnjmal Corvegponttence.
CPnjmal Corvegponttence .
Untitled Article
TO EVERY WORKING MAN , WOMAN , AND CHILD ; TO EVERY FATHER , MOTHER , SISTER , BROTHER , HUSBAND , WIFE , UNCLE , AUNT , COUSIN , RELATION , FRIEND , AND ACQUAINTANCE OF SUCH IN ENGLAND . Oxe and all I ask , have you read Martin ' s letter in last week a Star , and are the victims yet in the dungeonB , and in the clutches of the lender Shepherds ? I cannot write tamely upon this subject ; who could ? My blood flies through my veins ; my brain is maddened , and my soul is on the rack , that I should be competed to " read , mark , leara , and inwardly digest " this horrid , heart-sickening file , and be debarred tha privilege of flying through the land with my wonted speed , to liberate the captive .
I must be ca ' . m , lttt I writs libel ia the damning language of truth , and , thereby , allow the overz ^ al of the advocate to damage the cause ot his clients . You are all at large ; I am in ons of tbe soli ^ -. ry cells of a felon ' s dungeon ; locked up from morning till r . '^ ht—but what is my sufiering compared to the suffering pourtrayed by Martin , and silentiy endured by poor Carrier an 4 others , who have not even the pilvilege of complaining ? nor indeed hav « I the privileje , but , being in a leions' gaol , I steal it Well , then , you are at large in the sea-bound dungeon ; and my mind is more free , within the precints of my cell , than that of any one of my tyrant oppressors , who , though at large , are bound in mental fetters . Shall we join spirits , if not at hands ? shall we niiugle voices on hcihalf of the friendless , the captive and the oppressed . '
The men of Sheffield say they will follow whithersoever I lead . I thank them , from my eoul , for their confidence . I never will lead them from t / ie path of virtue , or a single hair ' s breadth from the safe and straight road to freedom : not that j freedom which would degenerate into licentiousness , but freedom tempered with reason and discretion . Will they , and you , follow me in the short and pleasing tour through the sweet fields of philanthropy for a little , a very little time ? Will you wipe off the past stain upon your country ' s honour , and prove tliat you will hive
freedom , at all events ? Will you join me in opening the dungeon ' 8 niaisive door , and releasing its virtuous inmates ? 1 ask you in my own same , in your country's name , in God ' s name . I would go down on my knees , and beg , in a voice , more suppliant than ever beggar asked for alms , or sentenced convict pleaded for his life . Your task shall be an easy one ; your duty shall be a pleasing one , the most delightful that man can perform , that of doing good t-j others , of relieving the oppressed , and setting the captive free .
The value of my plans has ever been that they are inexpensive , and , if followed , muat lead to success , while thty close all the avenues against jobbing aud 1 political traffic 1 Here is my plan . Send ten good men to London , to meet there upon Monday , the 12 th of April . Call them " The Political Prisoners' Liberation and Chartiit Poti-1 tion Cunveution . " I must stuff the Charter in every' where , as the means of putting an end to a recurrence i of the evil . London , from our ranks , will add five to i tbe number , making a compact Convention of fifteen . Let their duties ba to receive petitions from all parts of the kingdom , for tbe liberation of all political offenders , and for the Charter—one prayer , and a short one , will auswer for both . Let thtm divide Lendou into
u-n districts , and let a delegat- and a London friend attend somewhere in hia district every night , for the purpose of creating a proper feeling , aud of gettine up petitions . Let tlio missionaries , and all cbiss- leaders , and ali news-vendors , and all barbers and friendly shopkeepers h sve ah : ts for signature , and let notice be given , at the teveral meetings , ¦ where the bhc ; ta lie , and have shests at all the m ; etinvs . Let all tha addresses &n < l petitions in favour of Frost , &C , be sent at the same time . Thus you will have a compact working body of tifteen upon the spot , performing several duties at once . You will have your Transported Victim Convention , your Charter Convention and your Prisoners ' -Kekase Convention all triu juiicUi in uno—three joined in one . 1 now come to tho means .
If every hout&t Ilidical in the kingdom will join me , we will do it at the slight txper . ee of ouo penny . Be . ir in mind that 1 can only rtly upon my own statf , aud what do 1 a * k them fur ? Why , one halfpenny a week , for two-w-etka , and uoHiori ?! If all consent to give one halfpenny for each of the last two weeks in April , it will pay your delegates £ 3 per week a man ; pay for 5 place of meeting , and leave a fcurplus ; but we must pin our frit-ndd to a sum , say £ 30 a wr ; k fur ten conhtry dulfctaUa ; tLe Lundoa friends wiil cu . : rfuljy give a lie .: p ( ii& hmid in turn . I propose That tfce deltgates shall remain in London till Mum ' . ay , the 2 Gth of April , just one fortnight , and arrive , S 3 y on Monday , the 12 th of April ; that tliey shall receive two wetks' Hilary , paid w ; ekly , and tbat each district shall pay ths expence of sending its delegates , and bringing them back from Lendon .
On or before Friday , the 23 rd of April , all petitions should be presented ; and on or before Thursday , 22 d of April , Mr . Duncombe , whom I recommend for the job , sh'UiM give notice thnt on Friday , the 23 rd , ( upon the iio ; ' . 3 :- going into committee upon the Irish llcgi-tration , ) he win m ^ va upon the first part of the prayer of the petition , namely , an address to the tiueen for the liberation of all political prisoners . Whigs and Tories stand by each other better than we do , aud thty buth unite against us ; whereas , if we were to unit * heartily against them , their opposition would be but as the , ripi . le upun the currtnt .
Now let me explain what we get by this . In the first plaee , we occe more bring our question of national right bc . ' ore the world . You ii-d that Lord John HuiS ^ ll ailac . ts grr - . it importance to the tsftect produced by Uuineiticfilings ar . d exviteMtnt , up ; D . ( jUt lurtijll relations , anl unless }" i " . i ul'iciuivly throw yourselves in tht way of tiie j-rc .-s , it vriil not rtpjrt your proceedings . % Yli ~ t mates the lx : ^ h bubble of more consequence ' iLinthe . strong cunei . t of national opiuion throughout U . ' -tai lir ' . t-ihi ? Wiiy , the simple fact Unit tho press keel » i ; ttunnliy boiling and it has its due weight .
K-. cu . lect i :, at Mr . Charles Buller has told you tbat "the must efilctiva insurrection is that which never actux'dy i ) itai . s uu ., tut , which is always to be apprehelrleu . " >* t , w , what do you sain for your £ C 0 ? L-.-tusses . Firitiy , ycu cu ^ ht to have more than two millions of s-i . 'iiaturfci fi . r Uis ( Ji . arter and the release of your priiuuers . Secuii'i . y , instead of allowing the Whk' . i to fi-j-e the se& = ioa , and snap their / ingers at the Chartists , exu ; t : !; g in having for ever put them down , you will have proved your increased resolution ; for , observe , my friends , jou must not lungine that because you aro s ; itii 2 i . d in your own irjnOs , that we have now two > hartuts for every ene we had befure persecution led to tho wider diascniinatijn of our principles , thit , thirefur-j , t . ' -o ^ o who read Whig and Tory newspapers , and who m-. rely judge of questions according to their eli ' ect , -. is stated iu Uie House , are equally well informed upon ll . c fuel of the increase of Chartism .
Th-r-i ia one fact which , I think , ought to settle thu question . It is this . I assure you that nothing could pos » il > . y give the Whigs so nnith pleasure as your total and complete silence upon ihe question of the Charter . O'Connell and his party -wish to make ths Mini . iterial Irish humbug agitation an entinguibher for all others ; let us just put an extinguisher upon his rushlight for a fortnight . Again , if we are to have a dissolution , it is indisp :-nsiWe that yuu should be able to judge candidates by their most rectnt acts , and , believe rue , many will willingly tell you , for the sake of another seven year ' s lease , that they have changed their opinions since the National Petition , and would , if more recently tested , have voted for the Cbarter ; and as for the Chartist prisoners , they never heard of petitions or any great anxiety about them .
Apain , London deserves well at your hands ; our brave and glorious Peats , Neesonis , Walls , Camerons , Spurs , and Boggis ' s bave fought a glorious winter's campaign ; making war to the knife , against the united factions , in the very citadel . They deserve aid , help , and succour from the provinces . I -ft ill , in another letter , prove to you that we were ail to bave been sold , first , at Leads , on the 2 ist of January , and then iu London . Well , you invigorate our noble garrison ; you strike terror and disnny into the amalgamators , and , above an , alnsys bear in mind that Mimstera nt > ver take tbe slightest notxe of progression ; they are governed by results , and such results as wouid be prouueed by my plan would bb mure effective than meeting in thousands and tens of thousands in the provinces , and not noticed by the press .
Again -. the country never has , even to this hour , expressed itseif upon the case of the incarcerated Chartists ; and -well may Jlr . O Connell go to his patriots at the Corn Exchange , and say , " Only just think of the rascally Chartists , with 431 prisoners , for mere political offences ; they ailow them to die in gaois , upon the tread-mill , without an effort for thei ; liberation . O . ' if we had but one repealer in , would'nt lie make the country too hot for any government that dared to k : ; p him there against law and justice , aud against Ireland ' s wilL Oh ! I always told you they were a paltry beggarly set , that did ' ut care for liberty . " Xow could you blame him ? On my soul , I could not .
Recollect that I but preach as I practiced . Again , I ask you to think of my exertions for the Dorchester labourers , the GlfJgow Cotton Spinners , Frost , Williams , and Jones , and ail the Chartist * . I ask you to read over the numerous meetings that I convened for M-D-suaU , Lovbtt , Vincent , Collins , and the Subscrip tion Committees , that I had appointed all over En g . laud aod Scotland , and how I stood by the deck on Frost ' s triad in December , 1 S 3 O , to the close at U yer pool in 1540 . Surely , we have a demand upon every man who has been released , to come boldly forward .
But what is the exper ; ce ? Why , just , a mit < f rom each . Let u * hear England , Scotland and Wales speaking by next Saturday t and thei the Editor will be prepared to lay a more de tailed plan before you ; and , in t ' j 8 meantimi let the mite from each place be collf cted forthwitl throughout the land , and again I ofiV t 0 be the Pri Boner " * Convention Tresscrer , and V . account for tin
Untitled Article
TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY THE QUEEN . Madam , —Having noticed some of the po nts to which the attention of Government should be directed aa to individual reform , we will now proceed to examine tliose institutions of society to which immediate and searching attention should be given , in order to their being brought into accordance with the demands of justice and Christianity , and made to conduce to the general happiness and improvement of the people .
On this subject , I must , notwithstanding its importance , be very brief ; which , howev « r , is of tbe less consequenca , because I must of necessity return to it at consideiable la « i-h , In the copclnnion of these letters . For the sake of order . I will class tbe institutions of society which so imperatively demand re-organisation under three beads , as subjects of observation aud enquiry : —the arrangements of trade , the influence of thoChurcb , and tho constitution of Parliament , including , in the latter , the appointment of Magistiates and other Executive Oncers .
First , I say , tbat nothing like a sound , healthy state of society can be produced , consequently , nothing like a general developement of good and virtuous principles can be rationally expected to pervado the bulk of tbe nation till a BaiHrail Kororm 5 i tfi ' cctcd in thu prevalent customs and arrangements of the trading community . Persons engaged in trade , I include , of course , under this general description , manufacture and commerce , may with strict propriety be divided into three bro- "'y irirked and distinctly recognised sectiors .- — those possessing large capital , and who , by that means , have the power of ruling the
markets , whenever they think proper to do so ; those who have small capital , and who aro , therefore , only prvebasers at such prices as tbe interest or cupidty of the others , may _ permit them , and who , besides , must render themselves the bond aJavea of wealth , by taking long credit , and giving it in return , at the influence of which they are passive to the support of every base and nefarious tcheme which is generated by the graspers of property , for their own use , and the aggrandisement of their famines ; and , lastly , tha working bfes , who are compelled to labour in a state of most perfect competition , against accumulated gold , and untaxed machinery .
Tb © first of these sections would do well to obtain from the Herald ' s Office , a patent to adopt and use , in all their transactions , and to have emblazoned upon every part of their splendid equipages and mansions , the horse leceh , as a crest , and the words " Give , give , " as a motto . To fancy anything more destitute of feeling or humanity ; to suppose any combination of intense selfishness taiA low cunning moro perfrct , than the grasping , weaUh making capitalist , is impossible . The prophet Joel has drawn their picture to the life— " Tlio land ii aa the Garden of Eden before them , and behind them a desolate vllderncss , and nothing c ; m escape them . " The ledger
is their Bible , and the mill , or the counting house , their temple ; they would grasp at every greeu thing , and and would accumulate house to house , and field to field , till they were left alone in tbe midst of the laud . Let your Majesty issue out a commission of enquiry , and let them report faithfully to Parliament how many landed estates , which had been in the hands of t ' . ie nobility ever since the Norman conquest , have , within the last fifty years , by purchase or marriage , pasted into the hands of those wiio have risen from the ranks of the working classes , solely by a system of legalised robbery ; a system which has enabled them to advance to opulenco and
affluence , by coining the life , and blood , and souls of men , women , rnd children , into heaps of shining ore , or to rear up for them places of almost imperial niagniScence . Let the Commissioners also further inquire how mauy thousands of acres of land , once common right , have , during the same period , been misappropriated by the operation of Inclosure Bills , and how much of the said inclosed lands are now in the possession of the same monicd and mushroom aristocracy ; and , in conclusion , let the said commission ascertain , as far as possible , how many families who , in an age which rewarded industry , occupied comfortable hour steads , and brought up their families in habits of useful and productive labour , are now , iu this age of
mills and machinery , of railroads and steam navigation , pining away in cellars , or dying slowly in Union workhouses . Let your Majesty , I say , issue out a commission to report faithfully on these subjects , ( the nation , impoverished as it 5 s , will not grumblo at the expence , ) and I will warrant that you will be corvinced that the very class whose prosperity you are taught to consider as synonymous with the prosperity of the empire , is in truth a vampire , sucking the very heart ' s blood of tbe nation , and seeking to gratify tLe insatiabie craving of its own infernal avarice by at once undermining the legitimate influence of tho landed interest , and tbe comfort , happiness , and iudependenco of the industrious classes .
Turn we now to the second section of the trading population—the men with small capital , who go to niarkot at tho utmost possible disadvantage , and are reduced to tbo necessity of resorting to meaus tbe most disreputable , in order to maintain their station iu society . And even this they cannot effect , as the numerous failures among them abundantly testify . This section , as a section , are as bad as the rest . Their coat of arms should be the lash and short weights ,
quartered with the New Poor Law ,- the suppoitera , a slave driver and a vulture ; the crest , a spaniel ; and the motto , " Legion . " For , to wealth and station they are fawning as a spaniel ; to their dependents they are cruel as Blave-drvvers ; an iuexparienced customer , a greenhorn , as thi-y call him , they will cheat aad bid " God bless him , " as the pious hypocrites of Glasgow have recently testified ; to be Poor Law Guardians , &c . is their heart ' s delight ; and upou an unfortunate creditor they will fasten like a vulture .
We never find these gentry ( I mean as a body , for , doubtless , there are many honourable exceptions ) trying to ameliorate the condition of eociety . On the contrary , the littlo wages of the labourer they make atill less by their base adulteration of goods , and by their scandalous overcharging in price . It would ba an Herculean task to cleanse this Augean stable . The interest of the nation does , however , demand that the river of legislative interference should be turned in among these gentry without delay , especially among the licensed victuallers and beerhouse keepers , and the email shopkeepers . The latter ought to be placed under a salutary system of surveillance , that they might become honest by good looking after ; and the two others should be swept away altogether as an intolerable nuisance , no longer to be endured .
The mannor ia which these small capitalists conduct their business is sufficient to prove that , whatever pretensions they may have to brains , they have none at all to hearts . They employ as . few hands aa possible , and at rates of remuneration , which will not permit them to procure the . means of mental culture , even had they time to make use of them , or to enjoy the more refined amas « ments of society . Time , however , they ha-ve not ; they are now considered only as machines ,
and are used accordingly . Late hours destroy at once their bodily health , and their moral character . Only think of the hundreds of young men and women , who are nightly compelled to travel the streets of this vast metropolis , and every other large town in your Majesty ' s dominions , exposed to all the moral contagion which walketh about in the darkness , and with far more destructive consequences then the most fatal pestilence that ever visited the land . Yet , this is a small matter in their estimation ; the lives , and health
and bouIs of those young persons , aro nothing in comparison with their fancied interests Yea , not a few of them can keep them to an hour in which they would not suffer their own sons and daughters to be abroad , without parental protection and can , in tbe plenitude of their sanctimonious hypocrisy , whine out that their business requires their late attendance ; but they hope they will be safe under the protection ot Providence . The above may serve as a very imperfect sfcetcn of two of the sections of the votaries of trade . Let us for a few moments survey the third .
The portrait of the labouring classes of this country was painted long since by a masterly hand :- " Issacliarisa strong city , reaching down between two- windows , and he saw that rest was good , and the land that it was pleasant , and he bared his shoulders to bear , and became a servant unto tribute . " A likely way , truly , either to enjoy the goodness of teat , or the pleasantness
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 13, 1841, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct846/page/7/
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