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Northern Star (1837-1852), 1st July 1843, Edition 5 of 5, Page 4, THE SOUTHERN STAR SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1843.

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    • THE SOUTHERN STAR SATURDAY, JULY 1, 1843.
    • 2To 15catrer0 attii <£orrcgponXieut$.
    • iETTERS PROM THB MOUNTAINS. j
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      Untitled Article

      S 1 SG X SKRTRS OF 1 BTTXRS TSOM AS OLD MAS I JS TTT 8 COUKTKT , TO A 1 OTJXG MiJf IS DtTBLIK . i £ Fn > m " The Beauties of tbe 'Eressi '" asser tion of friginal Ariides , Essays , $ c , vckich originally eppeared in Sie " Press" tieiespapsr , established l is Intbad ojf Arthur O'Connor * after the forcible [ suppression of the Korthem Star by Vie Govern- next !

      lETIEB IL ^ If theieart of itPia is as hard Ms nature as malignant , . sad bis talents «« -miap ^ pTQ-nii as someparty-Vfri ters suppose , sues a system as I have described' in xaj former letter , -iraa well adapted to his disposition Sni congenial to Ms talents ; -and may have imbibed sew Tlrnlence in its passage through the medium of his > u-j-ij iitwiiniTTB-mi ^ fi We "will consider the chief governors "with "which he has favoured Ireland , in such a cursory insaner , as if we "were to look at pictures in a -gtSlsxy .. The name of GrenTiHeis ominous to the British empire ; it imparts the oppression , calamity , and alienaiion of its dependencies . Had the noble cousin of the ¦ premier bean as fim snd resolute , rnihe direcrion of the storm , as he had bs * n stUfal and sedulous , in the i&isSng of fiie TrhMsind , Th ™ eonntiy hadb&raetestimony { like sAmerica ) to the separating talents and manumitting hands of a GienvDle .

      ThB eonntiy seemed to thrive underpressme , like She palm , It had manifested some predilection for freedom ; ana in the glorious sera of the Tolunteera , obtained from the fears of the sister country , or , perhaps , from her justice , some relaxation of ancient rigours . The gentry hid , on that occasion , ranged themselves ij the side of the popnlace ; all this -was imputed to Ireland , not as righteousness , bnt as unpardonable guilt . The common modes of injuring the ccnatry teemed t * he insufficient ; new sources of corruption Trere to he opened ; new modes of estranging the aristocracy Jrom tha people were to be deviaed . It appeared to be an effectual expedient , for this end to increase dissipation , extravagance , and consequent embarrassment , among the hither orders of the community .

      A young nobleman this selected for the station of chief geTernor , dissolnte in Ms manner of life and profuse in 2 ns habits of expense . PeurBe levity , and thoughtless intemperance , ranging thro' every form of sensual indulgence , -were joined , in Mm , "with the gloss of youth , a benignity of temper , snd a gracious suavity of manners , that co-operated "srith his exalted rank and situation , to render vice contsjnons and folly fashionable . Thus trss the aristocracy of Ireland corrupted and enslaved , and lenaelessrevelry aidrninous expense , the sure pledges of political prostitution , "were universally disseminated . Ibis noblemani dispoaition -was , I believe , naturally good and upright ; bnt Mb temper , Ms character , and pleasurable pursuits fitted him to become the prey of a violent and grasping faction , -who pressed continually

      on his soft and pliant nature , and persuaded an ineonsder&ts »*»«* believing man , that they alone possessed the golden secret of government , while they flattered his indolence and love of pleasure by promising to relieve Mm of all the caies of Adminstration , and to resign him to the unmolested enjoyment of Ma favourite amuse memta . -How commenced the motley government of -tflprfr * and aid-d&-campB ; and the ftgg i r ' nfli 7 : * tT"T | tr of an individual , a family , and a faction , the most hateful and Jjated this country ever produced . But let ns tread lights on the ashes of the deceased . This nobleman had many virtues ; his disposition -was generous ; his good qualities "were all his own , Mb faults -were mostly thoBo of his advisers—yet he -was the unconscious intrument of incurable mischief to thw i * -nA

      Behold a different character , Plodding , -without a head for brurinesa ; vicions , "withont a taste for pleasure ; fond of company , -without good manners , or goed aatnre ; joyless , yet dissipated ; doll , yet eccentric . He sought to promote , at the same instant , two . discordant objects—the increase of public profligacy by the extension of private luxury , and the enlargement of a slender lartnne by pennrions accumulation . He united the pride and vanity of the insolent uneducated nobleman , vith Ha meanness and vulgarity of the illiterate lowborn peasant , or the scrivener ' s clerk , fie -was a man take him for all in all , most eminently gifted by nature , and accomplished by art , to excite contempt and hatred " .

      The conduct of the person I have now described , -was snch as one might naturally have expected . He reposed iaa entire confidence in * zasn lD-izuTormed , violent , rash , rancorous and vindictive . His measures "was characterised by strange inconsistency—an odious mixture of tyranny and -weakness—irritation unprovoked , and concession -without conciliation . At one , moment the -whole aristocracy of thB country , -with thB first la-w authority of the land at their head were brought forward , to pledge their lives and fortunes in support of the Protestant Ascendency ! A few "weeia rolled airay ; and behold Has golden image ot adoration , thia ProtaZasl Ascendancy , laid prostrate at the feet < X the multitude . Tfoir religions fends Were fomented by high authority , in the Northern parts of this island , at least , no solicitude "was shewn by those "who had the power of repressing outrage at the commencement , to employ the means "which they held in their hands , for the preservation of public

      order . Now the spirit of rigorous coercion began to develops itself—a large stride-was made to the perpetuation of grievances and abuses , and the denial o ! even the poor consolation of complaint , by the Convention EH , which , however it maybe justified on the plea of necessity , inflicts a severe -wound on the precious lights of assembling and petitioning the Throne or the Parliament . Had this thkh been permitted to remain longer in Ireland , the die had been already cast—ihe disorders of the country had reached their crisis . Be -was -called sway—and the evening lustra of faded beauty attended Mb departure ; yet , though recalled , &e experienced such a reception from , a benign and gracious master , as plainly shewed that his conduct in this country was not unplea&ing to the British Cabinet , or file British , since it did sot preclnde Mm from the KffiEhine of his royal master's approbation and countenance . He consoled himself with the golden har-Teei , from a sale of reversions and a lucrative

      sinecore . 31 ie nobleman who "was now nominated chief governor , -was ardently expected in thiB country , as the mesaengersoTpeace and good will among men . He was Jiot a mined gamester , or a beggarly incumbrance of the peerage . He did i » t solicit the "Viceregal situafion to xepair a ruined fortune , or to accumulate anew one ; for Sbfi malntainence of a barren title , by the plunder of a wasted province . The tdgnity was forced upon him ; he accepted it with a proud condracensien ; herelin-^ nisaed Ms hame , and hiB domestic habits with regret . Prom Mm raaonal and good men expected the most salciBTy and healing measures . They saw , that he po » - se » t such a large stake in the country he came to -gorszn as mnxt powerfully lead him to seek and promote its trueinterests—because in the prosperity of this

      nation , Ms own Js closely implicated . This nobleman ; pondered his way before him ; he hesitated so accept the change , like a man , who consenscouly fell its "Weight ] aiiarrapoTtance , andmeant to perform his duty faithfully . He bad the leaders of the Irish opposition in London ; with them he consulted ; he stipulated ibr specific mea- ; gnrs and plenarypowera IJonbts , delays , negotiations , and expianfions sucreeded ; at length the firmnesB of lord "& . ssemefl to prevail He supposed Tmrmelf , and this country , too , supposed Mm , tobe invested with authority mrasaal , ample , and adequate to the pacificat ion of jjfcisnd . He came over fnll of boievolent and patriotic aims . The proposed system of thiB nobleman was to haveiranched out into twe great lines of conduct—the reforming ot inveterate abuses , and the xesuival of illiberal and unconstitutional complaints ;

      tut—Oslexdexi ierris Tome tantum fcAa , neque ultra essesineni-, < How-soon , how fatally were the golden hopes of fee , saiion blasted i The redress and reform projected by i Qjis TinWamaij send those who acted wiUi him in this country , required , and indeed of necessity brought with ! them , the removal from power of a base and obscure , fceSon , obnoxious to all good menj a fecSon which , wlthoat personal dignity , or the weight of wealth or talents , hadgrown old and rich in power , by the basest arts and the most corrupt insinuation ; had lorded it i over the land withont control , and spread its crooked f and entangltd roots , in the dark , even to the basement i

      of the British Throne . The dismissal of the persons j who composed this faction , was not only requisite to . ' fb& safety »« rt permanency of . Lord £ s administration , { hut wss a sacrifice daB to the outraged feelings of an , oppressed and insulted people . Now was felt the-force ) of the maxims of hospitality , * nd the ideas of a sepa- i rate English interest , which I mentioned in the cam- ! jnfcBCfcinent of these letters . The menaced fnetirm h 2 & : adores to represent themselves as the most staunch ¦ Xrienos cftbe Sngltsh . interest in thiB country . Lord T . wa > removed , and ths regret and gratitude of the people : followed Ms sood intentions . I

      11 was plainly seen on what principle Lord F . was re- ) can **! . It was no other than the perpetuation of the ' men and the measures which had rendered the people ' of thiB country dissatisfied . It was seen , that the . blasted faction , which had degraded the aristocracy , ; and made "the honour ] of the Crows cheap and dis- ' graceful hi Ireland , ny an open sale of peerages , and had j boldly avowed in the seat . of Legislature , and in the ' face of the world , that -venality and corruption were , ! asd ought to be , the ruling princiyles and active engines ; of administration ; it was seen , that this wretched and j miaoBs cabal had found protectors in that closet which is the retreat of majesty , and thetnown asylum -of every | princely Tirtne . A melancholy forebeding told us- , that j tbesuccessar of lord T . wonlfl come to fro-an the warm I aspixaxions of the people into silence—and like Ihe tyran- ' KO % * breathing of Ihe Iforih , sftjrf all their budt from ' Vcnring .

      It is to be lamented , that during the short appearance of Lord ¥ . above our horizon , the splendour of his gooa intentions dazzled the public eye . Tha gratitude of a generous nation , full of sanguine expectations , and eutbijijastic sentimente of loyal ^ to thfcir sovereign , ¦ wasMtleipated . A virtuons fracxy prevailed among ; uj , yTwt in the wild paroxysm of acknowledgment , ! for benefltspromised to be conferred , the supplies were i profusely granted ; "vast preparations were ra » de for j hwnB dtfence , and no inconsiderable assistance of men j and money furniBhed to aid Britain in her wad crusade ' asaiBfct the libetBes of France . I will not say that tha \ ^ ratchmen of the public weal were intoxicated at their , posts , by flie Tery oaei © f the draught of power , iefcra the chalice touched their lips . But certainly it wouM have been wise in the opposition members , who

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      then managed for Lord F . hi the House of Commons , had they been less confident and precipitate ; it would have been happy for the conntry had they puusd and waited : so that redress and supply might have advanced hand in hand . Some doubt , some hesitation , some caution , was suggested by one or two of the members ; but how were they treated ? The fact was , that certain distinguished members x > f opposition , one in particular , whose eloquent exertions in her cause , well deserved the liberal gratitude of an admiring country , did not for a moment lose sight of their own principles , fee principles by which they had grown in the esteem of the people—they were seized with all the spirit of alarm that infected England , and worked up themselves to feel the lymphatic terrors of a Burke , and io possess an unlimited approbation of the present wicked and disastrous war

      It was plainly seen that the devoted character who should succeed to Lord Fitzwilliam , at jthis eventful an 3 opprobrious period , would come over manacled with instructions and bound to move in trammels ; that he would be taught his lesson like a school boy , and commanded to do all wMch bis predecessor would have left undone ; and to leave undene all which : bis predecessor would have done—in fine that the i-new Chief GoTernor must ; sell and commit himself , body end soul , by importunity to the foul fiend of that factioa which had rode the harassed iland , like an Incnbus , to the verge of a precipice . Yet a Nobleman was found who willingly devoted himself , and with a hardihood equal to that of Carlius , plunged into a gulf of peril . A private tutor , or Mayor de Palais , was assigned to this Viceroy , Faitiearet , as the Governor of our Chief-Governor , a man of some character for a resolute

      temper and political dexterity . How did the new administration prepare to meet a disappointed and irritated cation ? Not with lenient measures of conciliation , but with unmerited chastisement . andthe menacing brow of stem defiance . Pains were at first taken by tiie Right Hon . Secretary to disseminate an opinion , th 3 t the old task-masters of Ireland were . allowed no influence in the councils of the new cabinet ; but the close and intimate connection wMch subsisted with that party , did not at any time allow fee most credulous to give implicit credit to this assertion , and it soon became impossible to retain the mask .

      I have premised this rapid sketch of some past administrations , that you micht the more easily comprehend the scope and maxims of the present system . With one solitary exception you perceive that an adherence to theEngUsh interest , as itis universally called , is the rnling principle in them all . It is under a pretence of maintaining this interest , that a set of men equally deficient in talent and in honesty , block up the avenues to the castle , retain those who are entrusted with the helm of this country in a state of siege ; keep honest and moderate men at a distance ; stigmatise the warning voice of truth and sincerity as the guilty murmur of discontent and faction , and prescribe many of the most zsalous friends and supporters of monarchy , who have been marked out as disaffected persons , because they will not express a blind and implicit confidence in the -virtue and abilities of the present Ministry . I am years , MONTAXCS .

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      THE PROSPECTS OF OUR CAUSE . Ocb Glasgow correspondent , with the shrewd penetration and cool-headed good sense . for which bis countrymen are famed , takes the following retrospect of tbe state of Chartism in his district : — " To those who hare paid close attention to all the circumstances connected with the Movement from its commencement , it most have been clear that a calm would inevitably follow ihe storm of August last . The people jwere duped . Advantage was taken of their ardour in the cause . Those whose only object -was to live upon the movement through ingenuity and falsehood , succeeded for a

      time ; and as a natural consequence tne enthnsiasm of those who had been victimised was turned into bitter disappointment . In almost nineteen . eases ont of every twenty these were our best men : however , matters are now promising to assume a health ; tone once more . Many who for sometime past have remained inactive are again rallying round the standard of our country's freedom and the poor man ' s only hope . " We take this to be a mo 3 t accurate and welldrawn piclnre of the state of things" not ODly in Glasgow , bnt through the whole country . The

      spirit of the people is rising above the " heavy blow and sore discouragement" which it received from hands who were indebted to the people for their power to wonnd . The object must now be to prevent a similar relapse : to go on steadily , and consistently , and soberly for the time to come . We hope this may be done . It depends on the people's own prndence , Tney shall not lack the best counsel we can give them -. and they have "never yet known os either to give rash counsel , or to " run away" from the consequences of our counsels , — having led them into a ditch , and left thsm in it .

      Our success is in our prudence and pur perseverance . We have great pleasnre in reiterating Mr . O'Coxnob ' s cautions to the peoplo in his letter of this present week . They are necessary , and must be attended to . Had our counsels been heeded in Angnst last , the " backening ' which our agitation has received would have been saved . There are plenty of such fellows as those O'Coknob speaks of , hanging upon the people ' s skirts . There always have been . We know one skulking scamp who lives on the movement—who has long lived on it—and who , though an excellent workman with a good

      trade , tcUlnot work ; who has left more than one situation , for no other reason than because he preferred living on the people to living by his own labour , and who , on the 18 th . of August last , assembled a number of poor fellows , —who thought him honest and valorous enough to be a leader , —on a certain moor ; and after having given them a most exaggerated and lying statement of the doings at the Manchester Conference , said : " Now the first thing yon must do is to go and fire the Mayor ' s house" ; and afier a portion more of like good advice , he appointed them to meet him there at four

      jn the afternoon of the same day , having in the meantime ** beat tip" the surrounding villages and mustered a force of at least four thousand , when he would be there to consult with them , to lead them , and " go to work . " The poor fellows went away to the neighbouring villages ; they" beat up " for recruits ; they mustered a good many hundreds ; they kept their appointment on the moorj but there vfasnoleader ! hiscourage had oozed out in the meantime ! and he had sought the safety of his own scamp ' s-carcase by getting out of the district ; while , instead of the valiant Chartist leader , they found

      ready for their reception a body of police , whom they very wisely spared the tj"onble of dispersing them , by making off as fast as possible . What connection , or whether any connection , might have subsisted between his getting out of the way , and tbe police getting into the way , we neither know nor care : but tid 3 we know , that tbe fool-braggartness which leads a man to love a splutter and spiash ; '' the craven-heartedness ¦ which mafces him desert the men he has brought into danger , and the black -villainy which would indnce him to sell them if he could get a bidder , are

      very near relatives . They are like pleasnre and pain—almost the shadow of each other ; when one is seen yon may be sure the other is not far off . If the people wish success for their cause they must trust no man who has anything to say to them that may not be said in the hearing of the whole world . They must have no secret proceedings—no ; matters to account for which cannot be explained . They must trust no man who fears to take the consequences to which he would invite them—who shrinks from the

      nodding of his own plumes . They must trust no man who shall in any way suggest to them a going beyond fhe law—or any measure whioh mnst lead to it if persisted in . They must ensconce themselves in the firm enclosure of high principle , strict justice , increasing vigilance , watchful penetration , and cool perseverance . If they do this we shall then rejoice that even the Strike Plot and many previous matters have had their uses in the opening of their eyes , and we shall consider our cause in a much more hopeful condition than wehave evev yet seen it .

      It is time that our organization had some attention paid to it . We see that Mr . O'Conkob recommends the election of a new Executive . Several bodies of the people have also urged the necessity of this course . We hope certainly that if we do have a new Execnuve , we shall have one who will

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      organize the people , instead of living on them . W < are for no more paid men , except a Secretary ; wh < must have some little qualification for his office Por our own part , we think the adoption of a plai of organization should precede the election of at Executive . We have no organization , nor we nevei have had one . It is high time we should . We never shall be able to have one , until we cai get into a position to take advantage of the law instead of having always to evade it . Wecannevei do this , in the present state of the law , without making the basis of our Society wider , and its objects

      more comprehensive , and , at the Bame time , more specific , than we ever yet have done . This may be done as well as not ; and this is the thing for the people to consider before they elect an Executive . Organization is a subject of the last importance to onr movement . We have by us a number of communications from a great variety of talented , shrewd men in the Movement , which we hare reserved for the purpose of bringing them at one view before the people , that they may take into consideration tbe mnltitude of counsels , and , if possible , extract wisdom from them .

      We shall next : week give all these communications ; n ot , it may be , in the words of the several writers , but in as small a space as possible , bringing their ideas before the people—and we Bhall hereafter give our own view of the whole matter : of the form which our society ought to assume—the objects it ought legally to have—the organization and government it thus may have—and the results which must flow from them if rightly carried out . We hare no

      purpose to dictate 4 > n the matter ; but we scorn the * ' cry" of dictation . " The people have aright to our opinion , and they shall have it . They may set what estimate they please upon it—that shall not prevent our giving it them . We live not to please them , but to serve them ; with thoir own aid when we can , because' so much the more efficient does our service then become ; but without , when we honestly believe them to be " standing h their own light . "

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      "REBECCA" IN WALES . In another part of this sheet we have inserted , from tho Times ,, extracts from a series of articles , which have appeared in that journal ; and which are worthy of serious consideration . To them we invite special attention . In that paper of Wednesday there is another from the pen of the same writer , revealing more of the causes that have led to the strong manifestations of dissatisfaction -with ** things as they are" lately made in WelsbJand . His details are most important ; showing , as they do , the effects of tho " Free-Trade Tariff" upon the prices of agricultural produoe .

      And we must remember when reading those details , that what the writer describes as tbe effect in Wales of the " Free-Trade" measures , is , in minature , what has taken place all over the kingdom . Before the next winter is over , it is much if we don't see " Rebecca" in other places than Camarthen I Tbe farmers of England can not pay their share of tbe £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year taxation , with fixed rents and tithes , and increasing ralet , while wheat is at 6 s . a bushel ! butter at 6 £ d . perlb ! cheese at 2 } d . per 1 b !! and two-year old cattle , which used , only two years ago , to feteh £ 8 each , selling now for £ 3 111 Rare " Free Trade , this I Rare for the

      taxeater !! But if this state of things be not soon altered , " Rebecca" will have a roviug commission ; and we shall hear of her doings nearer home than Carmarthen in Wales 2 And how can they be altered , but by " repealing the £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year taxation ; and readjusting it on the principle of equity and right ? Bat who , of all our " Statesmend /' , dare propose such a measure ? Who , amongst them all , dare tackle it ? Who dare to propose to deal with the debt ? Who dares advocate an Equitable Adjustment ? Which of them

      wishes any suohfthing ? No one » The £ 60 fi 00 , 000 a-year will continue . The low price of agricultural produce will continue also ; for it is impossible to get prices up again , save by an utter failure of harvests , or by an is $ ue of One PoundNotes , inconvertible into Gold " And who dare propose to take that step ? Who but crack-skulled An wood aud Mcatz , of Birmingham i Dare Peel propose H ? Shade of Cobbett haunt him if he does ! Where is the Gbjdibon 1 O I what a " feast" we will have !

      Lowness of prices must continue . Nay , prices must get lower . It is " tbe spirit of the age" to reduce them . But Tithes are a fixed burden on the Land . Rents cannot be reduced , becauso of the " Mortgages , " and the " Marriage Settlements ;" Rates must increase ; the " recklessness" and " don ' t care what they do" will increase also ; and " Rebecca" will : have " plenty-to-do" I I I The " Free Trade" Tariff will play up before it is done with , nnless the £ 60 , 000 , 000 a-year be reduced to £ 4 , 000 , 000 . This it most assuredly will not be ; and THE THING will either have to go to pieces ,

      like a ship upon tbe rocks ; or the ' * recklessnoss " of " Rebecca" must so operate on the fears of our " Statemen , " as to induce them to give way , not only on the Poor Law , but on all our fiscal arrangements , and " final" state of the Representation ! ** If , " to paraphrase the language of the Times ; "if manifestations of popular vengeance should induce our * Statesmen'to look the difiiculties of THE THING fully in the face , and apply the only adequate remedy , the time may come when we shall have to thank even ' Rebecca and her Daughters '"!! If they should not have this effect , nothing can save THE THING from destruction .

      To the following article we direct the attention of every one who is anxious to know of the causes that are bringing the Farmers of Wales into the fisld of fight , with arms in their hands , to upset toll-bars , and pull down Union Workhouses . He will soon see , that something more than filling Wales wiih troops , must be done , to enable the Farmers to pay Taxes Tithes , and Rent , and live , with Wheat at six shillings a-bushel ! " Since my last communication to you on Saturday night . 1 have met numbers of Rebeccaitea , and conversed with several respectable farmers engaged in the outrage at the Carmarthen workhouse on Monday last .

      One intelligent former , who informed me that he was actually inside the workhouse gates when the dragoons cbarged amongst them , and who got outside m tbe confusion , stated to me that he was compelled , most unwillingly , to go there ; for , having refused to join one of the toll bar expeditions , he had his stable tired , and a threat vras held out to him that if ho did nut join the procession on Monday last , his house would be destroyed . He accordingly did join the procession , but refused to disguise himself by turning his coat and blacking his face , as they wished him . Hie statement fuHy bore out my first communication to you , that the distress of the small farmers is at the bottom of all toe

      xbi&chief . &J . Ms account , never over well off , they have now . by ihe depredation of prices , AND THE TJNaBATED AMOUNT OF RENTd , AND TITHES , AND TAXES , and the increased amount of pooi-rat ^ s and tolls , become at last hopeless and utterly reckless . ' lwo years ago , ' said he , * the price of oala iu thia county was 2 s . 6 d . the Winchester bushel , now the faraitr can only get Is . 6 d . and 1 b . 8 ti . The regular price of barlej was twu years sgo -4 s . a bushel , aud sometimes they were enabled to sell it as high as 5 s . and 5 s . Cd . ; now they can only get 3 s ., and were frequently compelled in winter to sell it for 2 j- 6 . 1 . a bushel . Tha average price of wheat was aboat 8 s . a bushel ; now the price is 6 s . ; butter , 'which naedtosellat 8 jd . and 9 d . per lb ., is now selling at 6 ^ 3 . ; cheese , which used to fetch 4 d . por lb ., now sellt at 2 ^ 1 . Two-year old cattle , which two years ago used

      to fetch £ 8 a-piece , aTe now selling at SOs ., aud you may picfe the very best for £ 3 . Colts ming two years old , -which formerly readily fetched £ & or £ 0 each , now cannot be sold for luore than £ 3 ' Thia state of things he attributed partly to the operation of the New Tariff , but principally to the depressed state of the Glamorganshire iron works throwing numbers of men ont of employment , and -decreasing the amount of agricultural produce required . Whilst THE tithes , which have been very generally commuted in this county under the late Tithe Commutation Act , and which were calculated en * tbe-former price of agricultural produce , ROW REMAIN "A FIXED BURDEN UPON THE LAND , ihe price of produce being decreased one-third and sometimes one-half ; , asd rents have not fallen in amy DEGREE ^ WHATEVER . The cousrqnence is , to quote his own expressive words , THE FARMERS

      ARE GOING TO NOTHING , EVERY ONE OF THEM ! THEY ARE GETTING RECKLESS , AND DONT CARE WHAT THEY DO ! O ^ Monday last , said he , ' great numbers o ! them from thejhilla joined the mob and procession into Carmarthen , armed with scithes fixed on sticks , aud s un . !} an Q -weapons of sll

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      binds , hundreds and hundreds of them ; but they listened to the advice of a respectable farmer , who addressed } them , and prayed them , for God'B sake , to leave them at one of the villages they passed through , or he could not tell what would have been the result when the soldiers attacked them . * But their chief and prominent cause of grievance is the toll-bar tax . It is now impossible to get to Abergwilly , for instance , a distance of six miles from where we were then standing , without paying three turnpikes—a tax on the farmer pho goes there with his cart and two horses with bis market produce of 93 ., when often , ' said he , ' the farmer has not 9 d . in his pocket to pay it with ; jt is too hard ,- we can't bear it . '

      • ' The landlords also must now begin to feel the depression . Another farmer informed me that he was tbe steward of a landowner of Carmarthen , who owns an estate of nominally £ 4 , 000 a year rent-roll , but who , said he , i for the last two years , has not received the greater part of his rents ; he is a good landlord , and did not ^ press his tenants ; bub , said he , ' if he were now to distrain for them , he would get nothing , unless he sold their cows , which they live by , and their working horses . '

      •* I endeavoured te ascertain the cause ef the attack on tfee workhouse of Carmarthen from several of the farmers ,- and from some who . were even present at itn Generality they said , ' Ob , we did not intend it at all , but were urged forward by the Carmarthen mob . ' One farmer who appeared perfectly impartial , aud very intelligent , and of whom I asked the cause of the unpopularity of the workhouse , told me , and from all I can gather IIthink it is the truth , that the poor of Carmarthen are opposed to the New Poor Law because they are badly used ; that they have not enough food ; that they are ( separated from their wives and families , aud kept as in a prison ; but the shopkeepers and farmers of the parish , who have the rates to pay , uphold it because they pay less poor rates . 'I myself , ' aaid he , ' saved last year : £ 27 iu peor rates , vjbien I paid lees thun I

      did formerly for my farm close to Carmarthen , and generally poor-rates for the town of Carmarthen are twenty per cent less now than they used to be ; bnt , said he , ' I have another farm , at some distance from tbe town , in another and rural parish , belonging to the same union , in which the poor-rates are more than doubled , and the farmers there com pi j in that the management of their own poor is taken out of their own hands , and that they are compelled to pay others to do this duty for tbem . But why should I , as ratepayer , ' said he , ' wish to pull down the woikbouse , which has only just been built at the cost of the ratepayers ? There is no sense in doing that . Bub it was the poor farmers , who are grown reckless and can pay nothing , and do not care ; what they do , led on by the Carmarthen mob , who were ready to pull down the workhouse , or do anything else . '

      • 'Theicountry , in the day time , appears per fectly quiescent . At night , however , tho small farmers on the bills assemble together and appear pefectiy organized for any mischief ; and those farmers who have a stake in Ihecountry are afraid that INCENDIAR 1 S M WILL BE COMMON I "On Sunday the Earl of Cawdor and Colonel Powell , lord lieiitenaDt of the county of Pembroke , arrived here at the request of the Government " A bWdy of marines are marching from Pater to Newcastle Emlyn , and Colouel Love is disposing the troops in Various parts of the county , so as to be ready to march on any part attacked .

      " Yesterday the troop of the 4 th Dragoons marched from here to Newcastle , aud I believe it to be the commanding officer ' s intention to be continually moving the troops about , so as to prevent the insurgents from knowing at what spot they may find them . " In the mean time , every day brings fresh accounts of gates ! being thrown down . On Friday night four wore pulled down within two miles of Cardigan , and on Saturday three near Abergwilly . In fact , a general feeling of apprehension prevails that the destruction of private property will follow tho present toll-bar outrages . " A lessee of eleven toll-bars on the Cardigan trust states , that ten of them have been thrown dewn . "

      To the working people we have one word to say in reference to these Rebecca riots . Lot them alone . Have nothing to do with thorn . Let the middle claas men fight their own battles and take their own risk . Those farmers who ^ ow feel " the pressure of the times" are the very fellows who would have ridden down , trodden down , and sabred d&wn , you at any moment , ia any effort for your own rights . They now seek to involve you in the meshes of this lawless struggle merely to make " cat ' s paws ' of you . They will use you to work their mischievous purposes ; and then , whether their project hit or ' miss , they will lend themselves to Government for your destruction—and , as jurymen , will be the first to send * you by scores to prison and to the hulks , for helping them . There is a marvellous similarity between these " Rebecoa" riots and the Strike Plot

      of last year in England * Be not befooled . Let the sorrow and misery of your English brethren ' s experience teaoh you wisdom . Should any of your own rank and party tempt you to have any , the least , communication with " Rebecca , '' be sure that those who do so are knaves or fools , or both at the same time . That" Rebecca" will progress we can have no doubt ; because we know that the hand of faction will not slacken its gripe ; and it ia the nature of all evil to beget its like , though not always in precisely the same form ; but we bid tho people note that they will never get good from violence ; In all battles the blows will come to their share , while their ' friends " the middle class sympathisers , will carry off the prizes , and add , more blows to their portion . Thus it ever was , and thus it ever will be .

      Untitled Article

      PARTS OF THE WHOLE . We are of those who seldom feel surprised at any detail of atrocity committed under the present system of society . A system to be homogenous must have parts in correspondence with its whole . The whole system of class legislation is one of rapine and cruelty . Its necessary results are an extinction of the moral feelings and of all the attributes which ehon ' d distinguish between humanity and the predatory tribes of the ferocious " lower animals ;" superinducing upon man their worst characteristics with all the fearful aggravations and refinements

      of ratiocination . Our knowledge of this inevitable working of the general principle , prepares « s therefore so fully for the instances whioh meet us continually , that they lose much of the effect which they might otherwise produce upon our minds . Such tales of horror ss are brought to light continually by trie records of our Poor Law administration ; and the doings of our factory , farming , manufacturing and magisterial lordlings , though they may excite our indignation , seldom call forth surprise . They are the sort of fungi that will always rise while the ulcer is permitted to remain uncleansed .

      We have given lately some prime specimens of gaol discipline , dietary , and management at Stafford , Northleach , Knutsford , and other places ; we now add another sample at Carnarvon . A poor fellow named Owen Davies was thus treated , according to the inspector ' s report ; from which it appears that : — " Ellen Davies called before the Inspector , deposes upon oatb that her late husband , Owen Davies , a prisoner , complained during bis illness of the gaoler George's treatment of him . It was about the beginning and middle of his illness that be complained that be did not get the meat that was fit for him . " I recollect

      his sending me to Dr . Roberts , the surgeon to the gaol , to say that he , Owen Davies , was very ill , and had great injustice done him in gaol ; that be took a great deal of physic , and bad not such food as a sick person could eat ; that he did not think he should live long ; that he told me , with tears in bis eyes , that George was starving him to death ; that he often said , when I was attending him in the hospital' Ellen , if I die here , remember I die from starvation and ill-treatment at the beginning of my illness . ' Ia her cross-examination by Mr . George her statements were not shaken ; she admitted that her husband bad every attention during the latter part of his illness , and every thing a sick man

      could fancy or require ; but she added , ' If he had been half as well attended to at first , I think he would have been better . ' The surgeon ' s evidence ia confirmatory of this statement . He says : ' Owen Davies frequently complained to me of the treatment be met with from George . George had used harsh language to him , he said . I myself have beard George use harsh language to him : I have heard him say to him , in my presence , ' He is a d—d rascal , and the greatest thief in the country . ' I recollect Owen Davies saying to me , that he considered Geerge's severity would be the cause of his death . After his removal to

      the hospital he complained tome about the diet ; he complained frequently that he did not get the diet I had ordered . I had told George what Owen Davies ' s diet was to be . About six weeks after Owen Davies went to the hospital I said to George , ' tbe man is dying , yon should not speak harshly to him , ' George replied , ' He is a great rascal ! You say he is dying but he is a long time about it' . ' II The surgeon adds : ' I did not enter these complaints in my journal , or report tbem to the visiting justices . I consider that if I had reported Owen Davies ' s complaints about George to the justices , it would only have exasperated him more against Owen Davies . '" l -

      Such is the statement given by Mr . Pigou , in the Morning Chronicle , in his letter bearing date June 27 th , Mr . Pigou adds : — " I understand the gaoler is to be examined on these charges , of cruelty to criminals and lunatics ; of illegal punishment and forced labour to debtors ; of drunkenness ( nine charges in and out of the prison ) ; and of a decided partiality to cock-fighting , at the next quarter sessions , on the 29 th of this month ; that great interest is making throughout tha county in favour of this exemplary gaoler , and that the " Thrashers" count upon as great a majority in , his and their favour as their brethren in Cheshire secured for their champion , and against their chaplain , and as the Northleach " Thrashers" obtained for their surgeon .

      "' Thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just ;' and success is almost certain ; particularly as there fortunately is also a chaplain at Carnarvon as at Knutsford , who may be offered up vicariously for the gaoler ; thus making the precedents tally : for this gentleman , without the fear of the Rev . Mr . Brown ' s fate , has had the conscience to depose that ' he ( Owen Davis ) attributed the origin of hia disease very much to George . Vm victo . Let him not repeat this testimony on the 29 th , or he may chance to lose his chaplaincy , and Mr . George may be confirmed in the exercise of his mild authority . "

      No doubt it will be so . Such gaolers as this George are necessary to the system ; and while tho system lasts there will be a ' ways plenty of them found to anticipate the bidding of the things who desecrate the magisterial bench . When the Charter becomes law , these atrocities will be no longer practicable ; for though the magistrates w ill then , as now , have power to control the gaolers , the people will have power also to control ihe magistrates , and thus keep all right .

      Untitled Article

      THE FACTORY BILL , AND THE HYPOCRITICAL DISSENTERS . As we well knew , and stated at the first burst of holy indignation against the Factory Bill of Government , the battery was nearly masked by opposition to the Educational Clauses ; while the real animus of ihe entire opposition * was directed against the protection clauses , whioh the canting cowards dared not to openly attack . The Educational Clauses have been withdrawn entirely ; but the Bill

      is no more palateable yet ! It is as bad a BUI as ever ! The Mawworms and the Cantwells are as loud in their abuse of it now , as before their withdrawal . " Neddt ; " brother Patriot ; and the Rev . Mr . MAssiE , as tub-thumping corporal , still pipe their whistles lustily ; and Noncon . beats a small tattoo in concert , though he corrects one or two of the most dissonant of their false note ? . Hereafter we we shall take the trouble of giving these " slugs " one more pickling . Por the present this notice must suffice ; just to inform them that we do " see them crawl . "

      Untitled Article

      Ma . O'Connor s Visit to Hull and Lf . eds . —When Mr . O'Coniter wrote to Mr . West , o' / Hull , saying that he would visit Hull on Fride . y next , it was , under the impression that he would have to lecture , according to former arrangement , at Leeds , on Tuesday and Wedrtesday next . These lectures , howrvtr , have had to be postponed , till Monday and Tuesday fortnight , inconsequence of the building where thr , y are to be delivered bc * ng undergoing repair . Mr . O'Connor will , therefore , not visit Hull until after he has been to Leeds ; and of which timely notice will be oiven in the Star .

      Victim Fund . —A bala- / ice-sheet has been forwarded , from Friday , M > j y 26 / A , to Wednesday , June 2 \ st from which it seems that the Omimittee have received , from various- parties , £ 5 16 s . Hid , ; and that their disbursements have been £ 5 11 s . 11 yd . —leaving in the hands of the Trea ~ suret , is . ' 5 d . The Committee request all persons huvi-ng out books to bring or send them in every week , on a Wednesday evening , at eight o ' clock , < it the Hall , Turnagain-lane . Arthur Augustine Magee — We cannot insert the adfirens sent us from the Repealers of Carlisle /• frlr . O ' Connell . It would be better suited to the columns of the Nation , or some other Irish paper . The Northern Star gives as'much intelligence of the Iiepral movement as practicable ; but the insertion of addresses such as this would exclude

      from its columns the reports nf meetings , which are more interesting to the general reader . William Tolbert , Birmingham . —We have a distinct knowledge of the language he quotes having beemised by the Corn Law Repealing FnzwiL- ; liam , in his place in the House ; but cannot aid -: him to the date . The same Fitzwilliam has been enabling his tenantry to meet the Free- Trade Tariff- caused tow price of agricultural produce by increaMnt ; their ren ' a I The reason assigned for this course on the part of the " noble" Burl is that the electors of the West Riding ujocusd his son ut the last election . Parliamentary seals and influence have , it seems , been purchased by lour rente ; at least the " Earl" seema to h . ive deemed fc them low . Unless , however , that Parliamentary hijiuence is submissively afforded , the } .-i . ic * ts to U withheld .

      Untitled Article

      MATERIALS FOR A CA . SE" AGAINST IRELAND . The English Press are circulating the following as " a sample of the poetioal effusions , now in very general circulation among the 'finest peasantry ' : " — ' * Then Luther ' s generation will take a speedy flight , Aud go into Hanover ia lands of sweet delight ; Our enemies must cut their BtickB , and leave this fertile land , For it was decreed that Luther ' s breed should fall by God ' s command . Our clergymen they "will attend , while blood runs in their veins , And Eriu's sons , with pike and guns , will chase them like tbe Danes . "

      Let not tbe reader laugk at this " weak invention of the enemy . " The Whig Irish Coercion Bill was justified , and PASSED , by a House of Commons , having a majority of 200 Reform members , on less grounds than the foregoing " poetical effusion" ! Lord Stanley was then Irish Secretary ; and he brought , into the House the " offioial . Red Box , " filled , as he said , with the evidence upon which he relied for the passing of the Bill which the Whig Government had prepared to put down the Repeal agitation . He opened his box , and produced his evidence . It consisted wholly and solely , of an old song I ! than which the above " poetical effusion " cornains a thousand times more " sedition , " and a

      thousand times more " treason and cause for alarm ! The " old song" game has been tried before ! and it answered ! On the evidence afforded by that " old . song , " did the " Reformed House of Commons , " pass a law making it transportation for any one to be found ou t of his house ( cabin !) after sun-set ! and on the evidence afforded by that same song , did the English " Reforming" Pre 6 s support the Legislative Reformers in their atrocious act against publio liberty ! There is , therefore , more than meets the oye , in this " old song" 6 tory , now so industriously circulated . 1 We have noted , most minutely , the great difference in the tone of the Whig press during the present Repeal agitation , from that which it bore in 1833 . Then it was treason . Then it was

      unjustifiable . Then it must , be put down by the strong arm of the law . Now , it is not even condemned ; pr , if eo , in accents so mild , that they amount to an enoouragf 4 m"nfc » What is the reason of the change ! The Whigs are out ! Were the Whigs in , the Leeds Mercury would again begin to sneer at " King Dan" ; and justify another Irish Coercion Act ! The Whigs are out ; and the Whig press gives the present agitation a sort of countenance , in the hope that it will eventuate in seating ] the Whigs agaiu on ? the Treasury Benches , where they know they will be sure of the aid of the Tories ' in putting the agitation down ; and in sending the inflexible agitators to cool their corns in a dungeon , while the flexible and useful ones are rewarded for their labours !

      THE ONLT HOPE THE REPEALERS CAN HAVE FOR success is to keep the Whigs out ! ! See what excel lent oppositionists they make ! Look at the Arms Bill . That measure would have been through both Houses long since , had tbe Whigs been in , with the Tories at their back to carry it ! Keep them in opposition 1 and you will thwart the Minister , and procure Repeal ! Let the Whigs again into [ office , and awayfgoes every hope for suewss !

      Untitled Article

      "EXTENSION OF COMMERCE " " HIGH WAGES ! AND PLENTY TO DO !" Every week and day that passes over brings with it new instances of the affection of the people's friends among the middle classes , for the amelioration of their sufferings . Every body knows how full of patriotism and philanthropy the Extension of Commerce men have always been ! How anxious they have been to get the Corn Laws off , that the poor might have " cheap bread , high wages , and

      plenty to do ! ' with what earnest eloquence their privations , under the depressed state of commerce , were set forth and insisted on . Well ; the corn laws are not repealed , but trade is better ; much better orders are brisk and mills are required to work full time ; indeed we had it from a large tradesman but a week or two ago , that " there never was a better trade than now . " And what do we now heax of the philanthropists—the " cheap bread and high wages" men ? Why , that , having failed in their purpose of intimidating the

      Government through the Strike-Plot of last year , they are now seeking their " extended" profits in further reductions of the miserable wages of the operatives whose condition they so pathetically deplore at publio meetings . At a recent meeting in Manchester one of the speakers related the fact of Mr . tkCheap-Bread" Gobden having reduced his block printers to the tune of five pence in each one shilling and sixpence th 3 y earn !! This announcement excited a strong sensation of disgust at the conduct of ihe fellow , who during his perambulations through

      the country has been professing the greatest sympathy for the starving operative ; ascribing all their sufferings to the Corn Laws and the tyranny of the aristocracy ; holding up himself and his manufacturing brethren as the very essence of philanthrophy ; and who , in the midst of all this hypocritical whining , unjustly deprives those who are dependant on him for employment of almost one third of their entire earnings ! !

      At Leicester , it seems that simitar proceedings are going on at the same time . On the 19 th instant , a deputation of workmen went , in a respectful and orderly manner , to the different glove manufactories , soliciting their owners to give the same rate of wages as agreed to in the month of May last , which was a reduction of nine per cent , on the wages of last year . Messrs . BAiLEY . CooK , Warner , Mills , Howe , Thorpe , Richards , Pkeston , and Bramp-TON , all agreed to give' the price : but on soliciting the Messrs . Biggs , Mr . William , the present Mayor ;

      —the concocter of the ! "Midland Counties Charter "; the great "Reformer of the House of Lords "; the mighty agitator for a Repeal of the Corn Laws ; the supposed philanthropist ; the great teacher of equality ; the man who , in 1832 , harangued the people on the Reform Bill , and told them to prepare themselves to march to Birmingham : yes ; Ms man told the deputation " he should hold no conference with them !; and if they broke the peace ,

      by committing acts of vagrancy , or anything else , he should puuish them to the utmost rigour of the law . " The deputation wanted to reason with him . He haughtily returned for answer , " you have heard what I have said ; you know what I mean ; you can go . " Our correspondent , from whose communication we have quoted the foregoing setting forth of facts , tells us , that " the reduction HE offers is about twentyfive per cent , less than the hands received last

      year ! " Other Corn Law Repealing firms were visited with no better effect . Thus has it ever been , and thus will jit ever be while the infernal system lasts ! No change of times for letter ever betters the condition of the poor workman ; but he is incessantly made to put his shoulder under the full weight of every extra pressure . Simultaneously with these proceedings of the "friends of the working men" in Cheshire and

      Leicestershire , we learn from another correspondent that a Coal Owner of Staffordshire notoriety—the identical same Coal Owner who produced all the disturbances , in that district , of last year—and for which disturbances poor Cooper is now being immolated—has given notice of a reduction throughout his collieries of fourpence a-day ! ! bringing the poor wretches to wear outjtheir lives in the bowels of the earth , amidst sulphurous fumes , and surrounded by untold dangers , for eighteen-pence a-day ! While the Messrs . Grace , Car , and Co ., in another part of the kingdom—at their immense collieries at

      Reckington , in the Newcastle district—have perpetrated upon their men , one [ of the most heartless oppressions that we have ever heard of , even in the annals of" Friends to the poor " . This matter is deserving of a passing notice , ] and we entreat our readers to give it one . They will all remember the awful explosion in the King Pit , recorded in the Star at the beginning of last April . Just at that time these conscientious gentlemen had contracted with a

      number of workmen for twelve months ; the terms of the agreement being , that those poor men should on no account work for any body else during tbe twelve months ; and also that as many of them as should absent themselves from labour during that period , should forfeit to the masters two shillings and sixpence for every day so lost . After the dreadful catastrophe of the 5 th ef April , the men , of course , felt some hesitation at risking their lives until they should learn that the pit was safe ; they proposed , therefore , the very reasonable expedient of an examination by competent and disinterested parties . This the Christian-minded middle class " friends to the poor" refused to accede to ; and the men have consequently been out from that time

      to the 22 ad inst . ; ten weeks having been lost in the unreasoning , reckless obstinacy of the masters , and four more in ventilating the pit to make it workable ; during all which time these poor men are lying 'die , and thoir philanthropic and Christian-like employers , who would surely have imprisoned them had they taken a day ' s work for any other party , refuse to give them a farthingjof wages for their lost time We hear that the men , who are all now at work , intend to proceed against these fellows at the assizes for the amount of the wages due to them ; or rather for the amount of the 2 s . 6 d . per day profit upon

      their labour , which by their indentures they must have paid to Messrs . Grace , Carr , and Co ., if the time had been lost by their fault : and we do hope most earnestly that jthey will be universally aided by their follows in the struggle . It is only in united exertion that the people can find any efficient substitute for that just power of action which they ougLt to have , and which they must never rest until they do nave ; for until then will they always find their onergies full tasked for the correction of the grievious evils whioh the system brings into operation .

      The Southern Star Saturday, July 1, 1843.

      THE SOUTHERN STAR SATURDAY , JULY 1 , 1843 .

      2to 15catrer0 Attii &Lt;£Orrcgponxieut$.

      2 To 15 catrer 0 attii < £ orrcgponXieut $ .

      Untitled Article

      IRELAND AND REPEAL . We must refer . our readers to our news columns for information of the progress of the Repeal agi " tation . Iu England , the matter is exciting serious apprehension and attention from all classes ; and the cry now is , not "what shall be done with Ireland f " but " what shall be done for Ireland ? " And though , in the debate on the Arms Bill , Ministers made no promises , and the Whig press are , of course , big with denunciation on the matter , we opine that , in all probability , the sincerity of Mr ,

      O'Connell and the Repeal leaders will be tested ere long . It is impossible for things to keep as t . ' aey are : something must be done . And wo shall not be at all surprised to find some means put in operation which it may be thought will servo as a sop to Cerberus . } The people , Enj ^ ish as well as Irish , will look anxiously on , in the meantime , and the result , if it be so ] will shew tho grade and status of the Irish mind . Of this rr . ay the Irish people rest satisfied : that no rem edial measures short of Repeal , nor even Repeal icself unaccompanied by an universal participatioii in the right and power of Government will raach their wrongs and heal the ciyiug wouudsuf thfcir body , social aud politick i

      Untitled Article

      4 THE NO RTHE R N STAR . j

      Ietters Prom Thb Mountains. J

      iETTERS PROM THB MOUNTAINS . j

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 1, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct939/page/4/