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    • THE JN T ORTHEJRN STA&. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1842.
    • I ; PRBPARIAG FOR PUBLICATION,
    • THE PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT-THEY MUST BE EDUCATED.
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      Untitled Article

      TO TH . E EDITOR OP THB K 0 RTHBBI 4 STAR . Sib —1 am desired on behalf ot the Chutists of Salford to give you a summary of events of some imp * rtanoe , which have this day occurred in the township of Salford . I must preface my report by stating that the very excellent letter whicb . was published by Mr . O'Connor in the Star of one of the weeks in last May , directing oar attention to out local government , induced us to give Strict attention to the form of _ overnmerit under ¦ which -we lived in Salford ; and we . found that we had governments for varioui purposes . As Surveyors of the Highways , ' Overseers and Gordians of the Poor ;'

      and for Vhe preservation of the peace , a Boroughree * e , with two constables , and one hundred and twenty Commissioners of police—the whole forming a body corporate for watching , lighting , and cleansing the township , with a power of levying a rate of one shilling and sixpence in the pound , and no more , for the general purposes of the act , which is of course , one passed for the government of Salford alone , and was passed some twelve or fourteen yean ago . The Commissioners are elected out of those persons who are i -aessed at twenty pounds and upwards to the local rates ; and they are elected by the whole of the ratepayers who have paid all poor and police rates of the ? jwnship due in I > ecenjber last

      The township is divided into eight districts , and the election of the Commissioners for tho first four districts took place on Friday , the 21 * t , and for the last four on Monday , October 24 th . Concerning the first four districts , I may merely observe , thit we got in . through , a rttle exertion , four gentlemen who are far Universal Suffrage ; but the chief tug was to be in districts 5 , 6 . and 7 . The members of the association were upon the alert early this morning , as the election of Chairman in each district came on at nine o ' clock precisely ; it was necessary , therefore , to bring up the voters before nine , in order to be ready for the struggle for the chairman .

      In District No . 7 , those well known and indefatigable friends of the people , Messrs , Rankin , Littler , Stork , and Suniaer , assisted by other worthy men , mustered the ¦ working men in goodly numbers ; and just at the hour of nine , one of the Salford Whigs moved " the Boroughreeve take the chair , " upon which , without waiting for the motion to be put . the Boroughreeve , who is a little old man , named William Lociett , who in by-past days was a fustian-cutter , a circumstance , which by the way , he appears by no means anxious to

      keep in remembrance , immediately proceeded to take the chair , when bis ears were rather disagreeably saluted with these words , uttered by friend Littler , " I beg to move , as an amendment , that Mr . Joseph Wainwrlgbt Hodgetts take the chair , " and upon a show of bands being taken , it was found that the Boroughreeve must retire to make way for Mr . Hodgetts , as there was an overwhelming majority of the electors t in favour ol that friend to Universal Suffrage taking the Chair , which , as a matter of course , he immediately txi .

      A list of six names was then presented by Messrs . Stoik and Stunner , as tit and proper persons to represent the interest * of the much abused working-men of Salford , in the Town Hall , as Commissioners of Police . The Whigs af Salford then presented their list of men . more known for their tyranny than anything else , whom they proposed &s Commissioners of Police . The Whigs , not liking the looks of the working-men , declared they would have a BALLOT , which means , in our Police Act , a scrutiny , making every man write Irs name , snd who ha voted for , then seeing by the Town ' s Books whether he had paid his rates or not , to the last halfpenny , for if there was one halfpenny not paid the vote was lost .

      When the actual struggle came on . the Whigs , -with all their evening and power , could not master as many votes as the wooking men , we polled ten for their one ; but owing to the rates not being all paid , they eucctded : n throwing off some hundreds of oar votes , end yet we pined two of our men upon the floor of the Tewn Hall , as Commissioners of Police . Thus , after a fight of eight hours , ended the cimpaign against the Salford Whigs , in District Ke . 5 . District No . 6 was soon ended ; the t demy made a poor fight and owing to the exertions of Messrs . Sanders , Miteheson , Brassington , G-i Hi brand sod others , we succeeded in electing three of the friends of the people on as commissioners for this district .

      Diftrict No . 7 was pretty well managed by Messrs Smith . Roberts , Evans , Capeland ( who by the way had been imprisoeed by them some days for exhibiting * the pl&card of the Executive ) and some few others . Mr . W . Willis moved that Mr . Smith take the chair , which w ?« seconded and carried by a very large majority , upon which Mr . Willis moved and Mr . Piers trended , a list of six sterling men as representa tives of the working men of Salford , which list was opposed by the Whigs most bitterly . They moved su amendment , which , they lost by the Z 3 . il and ability as well as the numben of their opponents . The Whigs of Salfard at any rate will now know that their despised foes , the Chartists , { are neither dead nor ojics , but that they are increasing in numbers and in knowledge , and tbat shortly they will be the rulers cf Balford snd of Slanehester too—Whiggery may 1 :-come defunct . Chartism never .

      A member of our association encloses his remarks with a statement of a few of the facts In this business , therefore if this brief account , together with the enclosed , will serve the cause of Chartism , the Salford National Charter Association will have great pleasure *•» seeing them In this week *! paper , lam , Most respectfully , SilforJ , Oct . 21 , 1842 . J . M .

      ( From another Ctrrespondexi J Some time ago , about two months , on the Sunday , the Coartisti of Salford were assembling as usual , in their own room t- ; r the purpose of listening to a lecture , which would hare been given bad not the " authorities " dared to interfere with them ; bat they did so , snd actually turned them ml of their own room ! assigning no reason for such outrageous conduct . Of course , what eonld a set of poor working aen do against sneb a body of august personages as tba Boronghreeves and Constables , who had given orders to their menials to ' clear out that den of infamy , and send the rascally Chartists home , if they will not go to Church . "

      we , however , determined not to let the matter rest . We called a meeting of the members , to -consider what steps should be taken , and a deputation was appointed to wait upon the Boroughreeve and Commissioners at their next meeting , to know upon what grounds such a flagrant injustice and outrage bad been perpetrated upon ui , and all the satisfaction the deputation could get was , " Oh , we can't enter into such an enquiry at a 1 ; betides , we are a corporate body and can ' t suffer strangers in our presence . " The parties were again r- > ot to a rutr ** qucnt meeting of the Commissioners , but t'l they got . ~ iid to them , after sending in their' memorial and waiting for sometime outside , was " No answer . " W * then thought of taking our case before

      the magistrates , to see if such a shameful trampling down of rights , and such a sweeping destruction of the liberty of the subject , would not render the perpetrators amenable to the law regulating the " civil and religious liberty , " but we concluded that It was likely , as we were poor despised Chartists , we could not get justice , though we went with ready money to purchase it And so the matter rested until the time arrived for the election of n « w Comgiinionm , which was la » t Monday , -when such a tremendous re-action took place that thook the whole fabric of corruption to pieces , acd in walked six of our men h Commissioners ! some of whom were elected in three different districts , with overwhelming majorities >

      Thus , we , the insulted Chartists , have taught the insolent cubs in office a lesson they wont soon forget ; they wil < be cautious for the future how they excite the indignation and hitherto dormant energies and lion strength of the working men of S&lford . We are now more thoroughly convinced than « ver of the troth ai : d value of Feargus O'Connor ' s remarks in a letter some time back , that if we rnui-t succeed in reform ' ng a nrrupt national govemin-nt . ^ e must first K-furm the lor ' 1 governments of the country , and there needs : o argument to prove that

      ? Jow by way n informing and' inducing onr Brother Ch'tHsts all through the country t 9 be up « - > . d doing the same , by which they will not only force the " upper elas&es" to respect them through their p « wer , but they will virtually sut . due the national Government , and bring them upon Iheir knees before the sovereign people ; for really and truly the national Government is only the creature of- the local governments , and the local governments may he viait io consist sf the people , if the people will do their duty ; and the men of Salford , I am proud to say , are detenr ' ned to do theirs . They have been vexed into a sense of their duty during the scrutiny of one of the districts , when the villainous nature of the laws were so forceably illustrated by the dirfranchisement of scores of their friends for the non-payment of a single half-penny of their poor ' s rates ; and tbe brave fellows are further determined never more te live in houses where the owners compound for the rates .

      Cheer up , my friends , for , with all their vatlainous power , we will defeat them , and by this mode of attack we not only disappoint the hateful monster , oppression , from springing upon and seizing with deadly certainty , bis prey , as heretofore ; but by sharing power with them , and being in their company , we can civiOxs and humaruza them , and make them love liberty and justice , when established , because then they will feel the blessings that would flow from the same . Yen 'will perhaps be able to judge of tbe extent of our successful victory , by reading what took place in No . 7 district ; eaily in th « morning ire called upon out

      friends and maraballea them down to tbe Town Hall , and by acting promptly , and strictly in accordance with their own law ( the Police Act ) defeated them in the apoo'afing of a chairman , which so ranch chagrined them that one of the party , named Jenktnson—a bright and exemplary specimen of Whig liberality—jumped np and demanded a Ballot , " for , " says he , " I don't like tbe looks of you ; " and from our strength and determination , he had not tbe smallest reason for liking us ; neither did ha like the tests we had printed and circulated , and which one of our candidates answered In the following t t '" " j which made them writhe daring the while : —

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      Question 1 st Will you do all in your power to resst the incorporation of the borough of Salford ? Yes , because I conceive were we to be incorporated , the majority of the people would lose the few remaining rights they have left unucurpedby the commissioDers of police , wbo , even now set Use people at defiance , sad imperiously trample down , in a shameful manner , all law and justice ; but which they could do with greater impanity under the proposed charter of incorporation , therefore , would I resist its introduction ; and I sincerely believe , furthermore , that none wish for such a char ter but knaves , who wish to bask in some snug roost of office , and thus fatten by placa and pelf ; or rain and weak minded men , who dream and rsveabeut the prospect of shortly seeing themselves pressed np to the height of their own petty ambition , in the gewgaws of office , fluttering in the throng of a lord mayor's show , like a butterfly in a flower garden .

      . Question 2 nd . Will yon do all in your power to obtain a full extension ef the Suffrage in the election of commissioners of police ? Yes , because , as a lover of justice , I would give unto my neighbour , irrespective of rank or station , the same rights which I possessed myself ; for we are all human beings having equal natural rights ; and for me It is no reason why . —because a wicked arrangement of society , has set up conventional grades , and established artificial rights by which the people have been surreptitiously robbed , that such should longer continue ; no , but that all should have equal rights and power , none wishing to take advantage .

      Question 3 rd . Will you move or second a motion for an application to Parliament to grunt to Salford , a new police act giving every male inhabitant of 21 yean ef age and upwards , a vote in the election of commissioners of police ; and making the qualification for a commissioner to be the approval of a majority of the voters ? I will , and for the following reasons , first , because the law of this land recognizes him as a man at that age , and makes him responsible for all his own acts . Secondly . —Because every individual , male or female , old or young , is equally Interested in the good and cheap government of their borough , therefore , we ought to have more mind and interest brought to bear upon this subject than the present franchise allows .

      And thirdly—In reference to the latter part of this question it is the only sensible and rational qualification an honest man would look for . No upright individual would , because possessed of money ( called wealth ) , no matter how got , whether by villany or trade , or any other species of gambling , thereby claim to himself righto which are denied to poor men ; and honest men would scorn to have riches considered a qualification ; they would much more value the good opinion of a msjority of their fellow-townsmen . Question ith . —Will stop all supplies of the police funds to the orders of the boroughreeve and constables , until they are all rightfully elected by the majority of the people in public meeting assembled ?

      Yes , I would do all that lay in my power to stop the working of the present machinery , until full justice is done to the people ; and for this reason , that when a body of men have the power to elect or appoint themselves to important offices , and in defiance of the people too , whose servants they are , and whose business and money they have to manage , there is a strong probability that the one will be badly done , and the other will be recklesily and extravagantly ' jobbed' away . The only seurce of legitimate power is with the people in public meeting assembled , and never could it have been wrenched from them but for their sluggish apathy in not looking after their own affairs , together with that unmanly , that revolting slavishness , that devotional willingness to fall down and worship ' rank , ' that spaniel-like readiness to lick the dust from the foot that kicks them . Is it not a lamentable fact greatly deplored by all men worthy the name , that no sooner have the people appointed one of their fellow-men to

      fill any office , than they fall before it as to an idol , crawling and cringing with servile meanness , and approaching it with hnmble submission ; yet it is but a creature of their own creation ; and no sooner do they find themselves snugly ensconced in office , than they turn round to insult you , and trample upon your rights , and when you want them to do any thing for you , do you not say , " we reverently beseech you" to do so and so , and if you will do it we will " humbly pray t" Out upon such abject slavery ! tell them in a manly voice and manner , stand erect like men before your servants , and tell them you wish them to do so and so , and if they do not attend to it , you will send them about their business . What are your parliamentary petitions but wretched samples of grovelling slavery ? a Tile disgrace to any nation sending such . These things have given arrogant power to wealth It otherwise wauld not assume , but whilst yon are slaves you must be content to be treated as such .

      Question 5 th— Will you do all in your power to give the people their rights in the election of Surveyors of Highways , which is now wrongfully usurped by the body of Commissioners of Police ? I will , as well because they ought to possess them as I conceive they are tbe best judges of the fitness of the men who are to do their work ; and the people ought to repudiate with supreme contempt , scorn and indignation any rcan who offers his services and will not pledge himself to these tests , because they contain nothing that an honest man can object to , and he who does object , I maintain cannot be an honest man .

      The Jn T Orthejrn Sta&. Saturday, October 29, 1842.

      THE JN ORTHEJRN STA& . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 29 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      A very notable instance of tbe contemptible hypocrisy and damnable tyranny of faction occurred last week . Every one knows bow the ignorance " and u brutalitj" of the " lower orders" is harped upon ; every one knows that the grand reason for denying to them the right of Suffrage is alleged to be , not that the right is untenable , but that they are

      unprepared to use it with advantage to society because of their defective education . Tbe grosB habits of thf people—their intemperance and general love of sensual and animal delightB—though certainly not nearly so disgustingly displayed as in the aristocracy and" higher ranks" by whom they have been always most carefully nursed and promulgated—have yet afforded too much appearance of plausibility to . the objection .

      Had there been siHcerity in the objection , and honesty in tbe objectors , every effort would have been made by them to remove the ignorance and ameliorate the grossness which thus operated te the hindrance of justice . But this was not the policy of faction . The end being robbery and the meanB fraud , it was necessary that the * ignorance" and the " grossness" should be perpetuated tbat the pretext might remain . Hence the whole course of that legislation which draws the support of government from the extension of the very " ignorance" and " grossness' complained of . Hence the nine millions yearly , wasted , to a great extent , npon idle and immoral blackguards in the Bhape of

      parsons . Hence the legalization of gin palaces , tippling shops , and all the other , the resorts of idleness , vioe , and infamy : hence the munificent granting to the people of £ 30 , 000 of their own money for education purposes , while a like sum is filched yearly from them to buy breeches and garters for a German boy , and £ 70 , 000 is appropriated to the making comfortable of the Queen ' s horses ; and hence too the fact that the gradual disappearance of that popular ignorance and general grossness of taste and habit before the spirit of intelligence and enquiry fills them with alarm and rage to such an extent as renders concealment of their realj character impossible .

      An application was made lately by Messrs . Hethebisgtqs , Lovrar , and . ' others of the New More" Society for a music license to their Hall in Holborn . It was stated that the object of the applicants was to diffuse the blessings of moral and physical education ; that music was included as a part of tho education laid down in Mr . Lovett ' s book ; and that it was one of the rules of the association that spirit-003 liquors should not at any time be admitted into the hall ; that even those who might hire the hall for

      public meetings , mast take it under that condition . The people of the neighbourhood were in favour of the application . The parties applying had no interest or hope of profit to themselves , from the granting of the license . They gave gratuitously their labours . They had already established classes of their own members for musio and dancing ; but they were desirous of extending these humanizing benefits to all who might choose to avail themselves of them , and they wished todeso in respectful accordance with the law : hence the application for alicense .

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      Now , one would have thought this an application at which the " respectables , " the frienda of order , and enlightenment , and morality , and ameliorated habits , and extended education , would rejoice . It was natural to suppose that the magistrates—the guardians of the peace and welfare of societywould not only at once grant the license , bat subscribe liberally to the objects of such an institution Did they do so ! Not a bit of it 1 The application was refused with contumely . It was characterised by the hired mouther who opposed it M professionally" as " one of the most impudent and profligate applications that had ever been made to a court . "

      Upon this truly " impudent and profligate" observation , a contemporary well remarks tbat "a judge has argued that a Chartist must have violent intentions , because his principles will never be qnietly conceded by the aristocracy ; and so a bar > rister follows up the logio to the conclusion that a Chartist cannot desire the legalization of concerts bat through impudence and profligacy . The one argument it > parent of the other . The gaol , and not the mnsio room , is the place for such people . The hard construction from the bench generates the virulent abuse of the bar ; ! and the spirit of an Abingkk inspires the tongue of au Adolphus . "

      Not only , however , was the application for this license opposed by the hired and mercenary blackguardism of this Mr . Adolphus : it also assumed the more tangible shape of a written document in the form of a memorial from the vestry of the joint parishes of St . Giles-io-the-Fields , and St . George , Blcomsbury . Now , this "joint vestry" would , of course , consist of the respectable" inhabitants ot those parishes ; the middle classes ; the merchants , 'the shopkeepers , and the gentlemen ; those who are most anxious for the improvement , and the education , and the comfort , of the poor . What did it set forth as the ground of objection to the granting of this license ! Let the following extract tell : —

      " The said Henry Hetherington , and also William Lovett , and Benjamin Huggett , two other of the applicants , are members of a society calling themselves' The National Association of the United Kingdom for Promoting the Political and Social Improvement of the Poor ; ' and the said W . Lovett is secretary to the association . " That aome of the professed objects of this association , as set forth In a printed address ' to the political and social Reformers of the United Kingdom , ' are , to establish in one general body persons of all creeds , classes , and opinions , who are desirous to

      promote the political and social improvements the people , to create and extend an enlightened public opinion In favour of the ' People ' s Charter ; ' to appoint missionaries to visit the different districts of tbe kingdom ; to establish circulating libraries ; to print such tracts and pamphlets as the association may consider necessary for promoting its objects ; to erect publio halls or schools for tbe people , such halls to be used during tbe day as infant , preparatory , and high schools , in which the children are to be educated on tbe most approved plans the r-sociation can devise , embracing physical , mental , moral , and political

      instruction , and to be used of an evening by adults , foi public lectures on physical , moral , and political science , for readings , discussions , musical entertainments , dancing , and such other healthful and rational recreation as may serve to instruct and cheer the industrious classes after their hours of toil , and prevent the formation of vicious and intoxicating habits ; to establish normal or teachers' schools for the purpose of instructing schoolmasters and mistresses in the most approved systems of physical , mental , moral , and political training ; and to establish such agricultural and industrial schools as may be required for the education and support of the orphan children of the association . "

      Such are the grounds upon which the respectable middle classes base their opposition to the application of Messrs . Lovett & Co ., for a license to their Hall . Ib any thing now wanting to convince these gentlemen , and all other middle-class-mad New Movers , that the effort to obtain honest assistance in a democratic movement from the middle and higher classes , is as futile as would be the effort to draw down the moon with cords 1 It is not in them .

      They are , as a class , tyrants to the heart ' s core * They would sooner see society involved in all the horrors and bloodshed of revolution than invest the masses with the mantle of that legislative power which belongs to them . Nothing so mueb alarmB , nothing so much infuriates them , as the progress of intelligence amongst the people . With an ignorant , sottish , and brutish people , they could deal easily ; but an intelligent , high-minded , Bober , and moral people , is sure to give them much trouble to uphold their unrighteous domination .

      What lesson , then , should the people learn from this and such like occurrences ! Should it not be the lesson of renewed perseverance and entire selfreliance ? Should it not be the lesson which daring oar whole carer we have inculcated , that their own work must be done by themselves ; for that there is no hope nor prospect of their deriving extraneous assistance ! No mistake is more stupid or more mischievous than that of those who tell us that the working-people cannot work out their own emancipation without aid from the middle classes . Every new incident confirms the truth that he who supposes that the middle elapses ever seriously purpose to assist them , may be a kind-hearted and good-natured man , but is a very short-sighted , unobservant , and ill-reaeOD

      We Bay , then , to our " new move" friends , in whose anxiety for extended education we most cordially participate , go on with your good work Of humanizing , enlightening , softening , and guiding , the minds and passions of your fellows ; permit not the sticking rampa * jcy of power to affright you ; you have testified yonr respect for the law , by appealing to its provisions ; hold your concerts and your baHs without license , for which you have been

      refused the liceose , and let tbe treatment of your middle-class friends teach you how grossly you have miscalculated in making these your " arm of Btrength ! " while we again say to the whole people rely only on yourselves ; acquire knowledge ; exert your intellectual faculties ; let prudence , peacefnlness , and determination , be the characteristics of your patriotism ; and smile contemptuously at the " impudent and profligate" displays of factious ignorance and vice , even though clothed with power .

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      THE EXECUTIVE . PRESENT DIFFICULTIES REQUIRE PRESENT REMEDIES . Wjb direct attention to two documents elsewhere inser . ed ; one from the p - ' -3 pd * , and secretary of the Executive , and the other from the Executive pro . Urn- * in reference to the election of proper per-B « ns to fi'l up the p ' aces of those members of the Executive committee whom tyrarny has driven from their post . It will be Been that , including tbat " most improper person , Mr . Moeling , " nine persons have been nominated—Of them Mr . Watkins declines to serve ; so that only eight remains to choose from .

      We think the suggestions of Leach and Campxexl , that : — " Oat of the whole list of candidates put in nomination , those five tbat have the greatest number of votes shall be held in reserve , and whenever there occure a vacancy , the candidate amongst the five who had the greatest number of votes to be called to the vacant seat , and so on in succession until the last of the five should be called , if there should occur successiv e vacancies ; bat

      in all cases the rightful elected member to resume his seat if he be able and willing to do so ;" is one about which there can scarcely be two opinions . It is the plan best calculated to meet the real emergency . As to its being an addendum to the plan of organization , we suppose no one can object to it on that account , so long as it is evidently called for by circumstances , and accords with the Bpirit of the organization .

      The Executive very properly require the votes of the members as a sanction for this proceeding if adopted ; and we suggest to the members that their votes should be individually carried by each member separately to his class leader , and so returned to the rab-Seeretary for transmission to Mr . Campbell , the General Secretary . In localities where no class leaders reside , every member should himself deliver his vote to the sub-Secretaries . The votes OUGHT NEVEB TO BB TAELEH AT A MEETING 1 every

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      such act being in legal phrase , the act of " a part or division" of tho society ; and therefore an infraction of the Corresponding Societies'Act . One thing tbe Executive and their now assistants , the Executive pro tern ., will , of course , see to ; that no return of votes be given for any candidate who may not happen to be a member of the General Council . We do not know whether all the candidates be on the General Council or not ; but if any man be appointed to act on the Executive Committee who is not a member of the General Council , it will not merely be against the law of the Association , but will vitiate the whole of the proceedings by rendering them illegal .

      Nothing is more important than tbat we should comply with the provisions of the law ; at least whenever we can do so . In hope of making all its meshes obvious to the most simple Chartist , we shall , now that the hubbub is over , go on again with our articles on Organization , making the whole system and working of our National Charter Association plain to all .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE FOXES AND THE GEESE . Elsewhere our readers will find a most interesting report of a Complete Suffrage meeting , for enhancing the National Defence Fund . We give the report from the Evening Star ; and we request particular attention to it . We especially request that all working men who have been by the specious representations made to them by the Stnrgites , induced to run after them , will readjthis report . They

      see in the proceedings of this meeting an exact epitome of the whole Sturgite community . Johnston and Chard are their own representatives , simplei good , honest-hearted men , who think others like themselves , and who , therefore , give the Stdege men credit for sincerity in their "talk" about demo cracy and right ; while Hamments , the master tailor , and Duiton , the gentlemanly President of the Bristol Sturgites , make manifest the . real animus of SiUBGEand his co-workers in the "lead" of this

      Anti-demooratic movement . If any confirmation had been wanting of the deliberate character of the insulting " no " returned to White ' s committee , it is furnished in tbe proceedings ^ this meeting . We defy any man to use his own eyes and watch the movement of the Stcroe leaders , without coming to the same conclusion to which we have been driven ; that the whole thing is a snare , meant to decoy the people into the hands of the " extension of commerce " fleshmongersjand the democratic cause has no enemies more bitter or more watchful than the insidious foes who put on thegarb of friends . Another proof if wanted maybe found in the conduot of Adah , the Sturge Newspaper Man , at Aberdeen , after Mr . Vincent ' s lecture , the report of which we have also given from the Evening Star , I ¦ ¦ ' t ii I ui i ¦ ' II ii in ^ SS ^ fcs^—¦^ ¦^^^ Si'i ^ w . ^ i ii ^ ¦ r i- - - ¦ '

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      NECESSITY FOR THE CHARTISTS ACQUIRING LOCAL POWER . THE MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS . We have often endeavoured to press upon the ChartistB of the kingdom the imperative necessity there exists , if they would make themselves " respectable" p elt , and feared , to obtain possession of those outposts to general government , —the local offices . The present is an opportune moment to repeal and enforce the advice .

      Local Power is the key to general power . Local " authorities" have the administration of general laws . Any law , even the most tyrannical , can be made to bear either harshly or mildly , according to the views and feelings of those who administer it . An expression of sorrow at having to pat in force the infamous provisions of an infamous law goes a very great way indeed to procure the abrogation of the obnoxious statute . There ia all the difference in the world between having reluctant instruments to do the tyrant ' s work , and having these who blurt out : " You have offended against the law ; and the law must be obeyed ! the "VENGEANCE of the law must be satisfied . "

      Whenever the Chartists have obtainedjpossesaion of those outposts of general Government , from that moment may they date the success of their general endeavours to establish right . With unwilling administrators of bad laws , a bad Government canopt exist . Its power ceases the moment administrative support is taken from it ! It must aooomodate itself to the opinions and feelings of those who are to carry into force and exeoutioa its legislative enactments .

      The Chartists can acquire this Local Power . It re 3 ts with themselves to put forth their band , and olutoh it . It offers itself to their grasp . It is fairly before them , and within their reach : let them seize it ! Let them suffer no opportunity to pass o putting a friend into office . Uproot the enemy from his stronghold . Do this generally , and the victory will soon be our own ! The advice we have given respecting this matter has , we are glad to say , been actsd on . Wherever it has been enforced , good , great good , > has } followed . It has brought our principles before the moneymaking sordid portkn of the community in a striking and novel mwqier . It has stirred up

      the cess-pool of 4 ocal corruption , and put the looal birds and beasts of prey into fearful commotion . It has upset many a nest pf thieving vultures , and put the fattening brood to unexpected flight ! It has taught those who have hitherto treated us with supercilious scorn , and lorded it over us with all the airs ot established authority ; it has taught these that we are somebody ; that we have a power within ourselves ; and that we can deprive them of the plumes which they so proudly tOBs and flaunt 1 It has produced a wonderful change of tone towards the Chartists wherever it has been put in operation ! It has even brought those wbo beforetime despised and reviled , to court and

      praise . In this gathering together of power with which to battle the general enemy , we are . happy to say that Leeds has taken the lead . For many months past have the " good men and true , " been on the watch , aud suffered no opportunity of strengthening their position to escape . They have manfully and triumphantly asserted their principles ; and have gathered to themselves power and renown .

      They elected the last Board of Improvement Commissioners . On that Board were several well known and unflinching Chartists . While the Board continued to exist , those men did their duty to the inhabitants who had sent them to administer the law . They refused to be parties to , or sanction inany degree , class or party efforts for distinction or advantage . Under their auspices , publio meetings were holden in the Town-Hall , at which good Chartist measures were almost nightly advocated . At those meetings the old hacks of party were put to the rout ! and the principles of right and justioe boldly and manfully asserted in the hearing of the " great" ones of the town .

      They elected also a Chartist lot of Churchwardens ' These officials are in office now ; and we challenge any party to say that they do not perform the duties of their station with efficiency and in a good spirit . They are , by their conduot in office , heaping honour upon the cause of Chartism , which seated them at the Vestry board . Hub-dkbsfield , too , has followed , in some degree , the exam ple of LeedB . Some weeks ago , the new Constabulary Act came | into operation . The good men of Hmdderefield were called upon to meet , to

      put in force some of its provisions . They did meet . They responded to the call made on them by the Overseers of the Poor ; and , when so met , they did their business ! They passed a list of names from which the Magistrates are bound to choose Constables ; and which list contains the names of well known Chartist friends . But they did more than this : they rejected the police system in all its shapes and forms ! In oonsequenoe of that meeting the Huddersfield people are released from the burden of paid policement which for some years they have had to bear . [ In March next meetings will have to be again holden under this Constabulaet Act ; and we shall

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      in due time give our friends all over tbe country Instructions how to proceed on that occasion . It is a most important measure ; and may be wielded to great popular advantage if we bestir ourselves aright . ] Let the reader , too , refer to the account we this week publish as to tbe noble exertions of oar frienda in Salford . There ia a lesson given to every Chartist in ithe kingdom ! See that it be duly learned f and as duly practised ! 1

      Tuesday next is the day appointed for the taking of the election for Common Cooneilmen , under the Municipal Corporations Act . Every Chartist who resides in a Borough , has a most serious and solemii duty to perform on that day , both towards ! himself and the cause he has espoused ! If he has avote « and gives that vote to swell the ranks of party or , faction , he is a traitor to his principles of right and justice . If he has not a vote , and yet neglects to use all his influence to damage faction and promote the return of firm and undeviating advocates ' of universal justice and opposers of general and sectional wrong , he is no less a traitor !

      In the matter , too , of asserting Chartist principles at Municipal elections , the men , of Leeds have also taken the lead . On this occasion many of the candidates for the " sweet voices" of the electors hare had to emblazon on their banners the motto—Universal Suffrage . Others have contented themselves with singing out M Complete Suffrage : " but in nearly every case , has the " Suffrage" been required as a test . In this read and see the progress of Chartism 1

      The Chartists , however , have not been , on this occasion , satisfied with the mere utterance of the phrase " Universal Suffrage , " by those who look merely to the 1 st of November as the day which is to seat them in the Council Chamber for three years ; and who , when there , conveniently forget all about Universal Suffrage and the Chartists too , except in the way of sanctioning the authorities in their measures of coercion to put Chartism down . They seem' to have become " fly" to the " artful dodge * * of the IbV of Nov . Chartists , and the 2 nd of Nov . Whigs I

      For the right assertion of their own principles , it was determined that , at least , one man who was well known to the Chartists and Chartism : one man who was well known to all as a Chartist ; who had fought and battled for Chartism through good and through evil report ; whose whole life had been devoted to a resistance of oppression , and the advocacy of right : it was determined to bring forward such a man as this , and return him tojthe Council Chamber , as the Chartist representative . Mr . Hobson was the individual selected with whom to fight this good Chartist battle ; and the men of Hunslet had the high honour of being the first to offer to return him for the considerations just set forth .

      This was a step of no ordinary kind . It was of great moment to both the Chartists and the Whigs . On all former occasions the Whigs had contrived . to secure to themselves the Chartist support , under the plea of Union" to " keep out the Tory . " " Merge your minor differences" was the motto ; and the Chartists had faithfully acted on it , and returned for the Whigs Whig Councillors , when , without suoh Chartist support , the Whigs would have had to flounder in the mire . This proceeding , then , of the

      Hunsletlmen was calculated to tot the sincerity of Whig profession , and the honesty of Whig action . If they really had a desire to keep out the Tories ;" and if they were sincere in asking all sections , of Reformers to "sink their minor differences ; " and if they were prepared to " do unto others as had been done unto themselves , " they were bound to cordially " unite" to return the single Chartist , in consideration of the scores of Whigs that had been returned through Chartist support .

      Ah ! no ! Whiggery had jnot so read the call to " Union ! " u Union" was all right when it served the Whig turn , and scoured Whig men ! but ' ' union" to return a Chartist 1—Not so ! The appearance of Mr . Hobson as a candidate threw the whole Whig camp into commotion ! Consternation and alarm prevailed on every side . The Factions had had a sample of Mr . Hobson ' s business talents , and of bis mode of dealing with Faction ' s crimps , while he occupied a seat at the Improvement Commissioners' Board : and from that sample they dreaded the opening-in upon them of

      Chartist eyes in the Council Chamber ! To defeat the efforts of the Hnnslet people was now thesole objeet of that faction , which has hitherto enjoyed the sole and almost undisputed sway in the Leeds Corporation since it was Reformed . To this end every dirty and dishonourable means were used . Misrepresentation and calumny were resorted to . The power of the press to poison the minds of the Burgesses against Mr . Hobson was put in requisition ; and , bo well aud faithfully did the truth-telling Mercury labour in its vocation , that it openly charged Mr . Hobson with acts of incendiarism I whioh charge , we

      understand , he will shortly have to make good in a court of law , or be content to take the consequences . The destruction of Mr . Hobson ' s character , and the prevention of his return by the burgesses of Hunslet , was a matter of so much importance to the Whig faction , whose tool our neighbour Mercury is , that he laid aside his usual caution ^ and brought against the individual whom he wanted to run down , a charge so tangible and so direct * that it can be dealt with in a courtof law ; and that , too , without the possibility of mistake as to the result .

      The following address from Mr . Hobson ' s Com * mittee will enable our readers to see the present position of the Huuslet contest ; and it will alBO point out to every lover of fair play in that Ward the manner in which he should exercise his vote , if he would avert the direst disgrace from lodging on him and his fellow voters 1

      TO THE BURGESSES OF THE HUNSLET WARD . On Tuesday next you will have to exercise the Suffrage the Law has invested you with , in the election of fit and proper persons to represent you in the Town Council . It behoves you to be mindful of the manner in which you exercise your privilege . Theenormons , lavish , and wasteful expenditure of the borough funds ; the infliction of an expensive , unconstitutional , and unnecessary police-force ; the heaping of salaries upon officials of twice the amount asked ; the desperate and disgusting efforts of party to

      obtain party ascendancy in the cosnoil chamber : all these things caH loudly for reformation ; and they never can be reformed or put an end to , ' till the burgesses send men to that Council who will make the general welfare of the borough at large their entire study and sole rule of action , instead of [ seeking to promote class or party iuterests . And , Burgesses , what are the claims and qualifications of the several candidates who have been submitted to your notice , and for whom you are called upon to vote ! There is Mr . Arthington . What do you know of him t Has he been before you , to explain his views on the momentous subjects on wbioh he will be enabled to legislate , should he be returned f Have you had any

      opportunity of learning what he is I of ascertaining what views and opinions he entertains on any question connected with local Government ? Do you know whether he is disposed to vote for the abrogation , or a great reduction , of the unnecessary day pohceforoe ! Do you know whether he is inclined to , put a stop to the wasteful extravagance that has lately been pursued in the Council Chamber ! Indeed , do you know any thing of him ? Has he given yon any opportunity to judge of his fitness or unfitness for the post he aspires to ! None whatever ! You know nothing of him ! He is to all intents and purposes , a pig in a poke ! " Can you vote for such a man t If you do , yon deserve all the evils whioh you will have to endure resulting from bad Government .

      Then there is Mr . Hobson , a man who has been known all hit , life as a firm and undeviating advocate of the rights of the working man ; as an enemy to governmental extravagance , both national and local ;; as an opponent of every measure inimical to the welfare of his country ; as a resiBter of oppression in every shape ; as an asserter of the rights and liberties of his fellow-men , and one who Inas always opposed every attempt at their abridgment ^ In him you have a bold and uncompromising enemy of that unconstitutional » od expensive force which it is a nationaUdegradation for us to submit to ; and in him you have one who will do his uttermost to remove the obnoxious force from off our pockets , and save us at least , some £ 3 , 000 a year ! In him you have one who will not consent to be used as a tool of party , but one

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      who will stand np for , and maintain against all comers , the general interests of the general inhabitants of the borough . ... , .., Lose not sight of the fact tbai Mr . Abthinstoh was brought ont as a candidate tin private neeiing of some half score Whigs , after Mr . Hobson had been unanimously fixed npon by a PUBLIC MEETING of yourselves . Lose not sight of the fact that Mr . Arlington ' s Committee have declared that they would rather see the council chamber JiUed with TORIES than see a REAL REFORMER there , in the person of Mr . Hobson . Lose not sight of the fact that it is the Whigs , those who , are supporting Mr . Arthington , who have introduced DIVISION and DISUNION in your ranks , for the purpose o /

      securing the return of the Tory ! Lose not sight of the fact , that Mr . Hobson publicly offered to leave the decision of the question as to whether he should stand or retire , to a public meeting of the inhabitants of the Ward , called for the espeoial purpose of judging upon the respective merits and qualifications of himself and Mr . Arthington , so as to prevent division and disunion , on the condition that Mr . Arlington ' s Committee should pledge themselves to abide by the decision of suoh meeting , and that " all sections of reformers * should agree to " merge their minor differences" and cordially support the reformer thus fixed upou , to the exclusion of the TORY for Hnnslet from the Council . Lose not sight of the faet that Mr . Arlington ' s friends HA . V& NOT DARED to accept this proposal ! That they have ( not dared to aDDeal in anyone shape , to a public meeting in the

      whole Ward ! That they have not dared to take the sense of the assembled burgesses on their proceedings in any manner ! Lose not sight of { the fact , that this conduct on the part of the Whigs can only arise from a consciousness on their partB , that what they are doing will not bear examination , and that they are afraid of popular opinion ! If their man be a good man ; if he be a known Reformer ; if his qualifications for the office of councillor will bear the test of scrutiny ; if his knowledge of the local matters appertaining to the office ' he aspires to can be made apparent ; if he , ot they , be not ; afraid , why not bring him before tbe publio t Why not accept Mr . HOBSON'S proposal 1 Because their cause is a bad one ! Because they dare not face the day ! Because they know that their : doings have deserved and exoited such strong publio indignation , tbat they dare not look the burgesses in the face I

      BURGESSES ! Will yon submit to be so used in the hands of the Whigs , as to be made instrumental to the return of a TORY for the purpose of keeping a real reforming ferret from putting his nose into the Council-Granary where the Whig and Tory rats are feeding and fattening npon your corn ? Mr . Arlington ' s friends have not a shadow of a shade of success , notwithstanding their impudent and lying assertion that they nave a large majority in their favour ! They know they have not the least chance ; and this is proved by the fact that they are resorting to the most desperate and despicable means of INTIMIDATION to swell their ranks ! Why shoald Whig Masters be instructed to canvass the men in their employ , if the Whigs have a majority to begin with I This has been done I It is true

      that some masters have , to their eternal honour , REFUSED to be thus made the cat's paw of partizans : and those who do so far forget themselves as to do the dirty bidding may rest assured that they shall not be forgotten , but shall be holden up io the scornful gaze and deepest execration of their honest fellow-citizens . With you then , BURGESSES of the Hunslet Ward , the matter rests . If you choose to be sold to the TORIES , support Mr . Arthington . But if you wish to have a man to represent yon who possesses a knowledge of your wantsand wishes ; whose character for straightforwardness and sterling honesty is unimpeachable ; whose whole life has been devoted to the advocacy and advancement of the cause of RIGHT and JUSTICE . Vote for Mr . Hobson .

      During the past week , Mr . Hobson has also been , started as a candidate in the Holbeck Ward , for reasons whioh are clearly set forth in the following address : — TO THE LIBERAL BURGESSES OF THE WARD OF HOLBECK . The Committee appointed at a publio meeting of you * body to secure the return of Mr . Joshua Hebson , as a common councillor for the Word of Holbeck , after he had been nominated as a candidate for that office by the same public meeting , deem it necessary , both as a

      matter of justice to themselves and to you , to explain how it came to pass tbat tbat gentleman was submitted to your notice at all , and placed in such a position as to have a claim on your suffrages . It is quite true that at a former publio meeting , holden in Messrs . Marshall ' s school room , two other gentlemen , Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead , were nominated as candidates . And it in also true that scarcely any one knew of the intention of the parties promoting that meeting to submit tbe , latter gentleman to the notice of the Burgesses of the Ward , fie was , however , so submitted , and nominated as a candidate alone with Mr . Cliff

      After the meeting , the Committee appointed to promote the return of the above two gentlemen , ascertained that a very strong feeling existed in the Ward , amongst the liberal burgesses , against one of the men they were asked to vote for—Mr . Whitehead . This feeling arose , it was stated , from alleged misconduct on his part towards the men in bis employ . That conduct was strongly characterised by those who had votes to give . They spoke of him as a reduces of wages , not only in his own establishment , but averred that he bad also exercised his influence in other establishments to get their wages reduced too * It was averredr ^ Iso , that the conduct of the managers in bis establishment towards tbe employed , was most ; disgraceful . It was asserted that in some instances b ' s own son had actually KICKED those placed under his charge 1 ! and that the father afforded no redress

      for the gross and brutal outrage , when appealed to ! All these things , and many more of the same character , were stated to the members of Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead ' s Committee ; and , as a matter of course , they came to be talked of generally . In fact this feeling against Mr . Whitehead was so manifest , tbat the Chairman of his own Committee felt himself bound to bring the matter before his assembled colleagues ; and declare it as Ms opinion tbat tbe feeling against Mr . Wbitehead was so strong , that he had serious doubts as to the possibility of their being able to carry him at all ; and that it wan a question as to whether it was not the most advisable courseto withdraw that Gentleman from the field , and bring forward another against whom no such objections could be raised , as bad been mooted and advanced against the man they had !

      Under these circumstances the individuals who now " address you deemed it necessary to bestir themselves They knew of the feeling against Mr . Whitehead . They had no reason to be satisfied with him as a politician . They knew him only as a Whig . They knew tkat tbe Ward of Holbeck was decidedly in tbe advance of all other wards in the Borough , in political feeling . They knew that that feeling was essentially radical ; and they knew that if the Burgesses of Holbeck were properly politically represented in thft Town Council , a " Radical to the back-bone" would be their man . They knew also , that if the strong feeling against Mr . Whitehead ended in " his defeat , it would also end in tbe return of a TORY r and anxious to prevent this , they determined to look out for a man whose geuwal and local

      knowledge eminently fitted him for tbe office of Councillor , and whose ability and efficiency none could doubt ; and against whose political and private character not even malicious envy herself could establish a charge ] Such a man we knew that we should find in Mb Hobaon . Aware of the dirty and treacherous conduct panned towards our brethren in the Hunslet Ward by tbe selfish and dishonourable Whig faction , we felt in some degree bound to evince our public estimation of that conduct . AU these circumstances pointed out a line of duty , and we pursued it We applied to Mr . Hobson . In answer to that application be promptly stated that " every citizen is bound to obey the call & bis fellow-citizens , when that call involves the performance of publio duties which every citizen owes to bis fellow-men . "

      Upon this , we appealed to you . We called a pablfe meeting of your body . That meeting was attended by many of Mr . Whitehead's friends , —one of tbe Chairmen of his Committee amongst the number . Thof 9 gentlemen pleaded for Mr . Whitebead ; bat only on the ground ( of his having been nominated at the former meeting . And the result was , the carrying of resolutions , with only three dissentients , tbat Mr . Hobsoo should be placed in nomination ; and tbat a deputation should wait upen Mr . Whitehead ' s Committee , to re * quest them to withdraw that gentleman , on account of the feeling described above .

      The result of that Deputation was this A motion was made in tbe Committee tbat the request ot tbe public meeting should be complied with . When pot to the vote , one-half of the Committee voted for it , and tbe other half against it The Committee were equally divided I Til true tbat the motion was stated to I * lost by a majority of two ; but that " majority" was obtained by two persons voting who were not numben of ihcCommitUe , Since that decision , a placard has appeared , purporting to emanate from Messrs . Cliff and Whitehead Committee , in which those who objeet to the lattet gentleman are designated " a faction" i ! Bather « curious "faction" tbat , which consists of tbe majority of the burgesses and inhabitants of tbe Ward , audio * eludes in its numbers one-half ef Mr . Whitehead ' s o « a Committee ! J !

      In that placard it is stated that " Mr . Whttehesfl despises and defies" those whom he denominate "designing calumniators , " and " challbsgjbs then to meet in public to prove their assertions . '' This i > mere vapouring and bombast Mr . Whitebead cannot both " despise " smd "deft . " The act at "deflator proves tbat be does not " despise" ! He affects , too to " challknge" those who speak against him to " meet in public" This ia mere affectation we fear , of the parties ] putting forth this pompous challenge wwla have called a public meeting , and given all an oppof nity of attending it

      I ; Prbpariag For Publication,

      I ; PRBPARIAG FOR PUBLICATION ,

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      THE POOR MAN'S COMPANION , r' for 1843 . BY JOSHUA HOBSON . ' IT ! HIS Year ' s Companion will contain the greatest X mass of the most valuable Statistical Information on several Questions of Social and Governmental Polity ever yet given at the price . Next week we Ehall be able to announce the day of Publication , and give a List of Contents . The price will be , as before , Threepence .

      The People Are Ignorant-They Must Be Educated.

      THE PEOPLE ARE IGNORANT-THEY MUST BE EDUCATED .

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      _ 4 ^__________ THjE NORTHERN STAR . ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 29, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct911/page/4/