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Leader (1850-1860), 20th December 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 1205, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      3 lr . S . Sackett returned thanks . He had novvpre-¦ < ied ' at the Board of Guardians some fifteen years , during the whole of which time his motto had been t carry the poor law out with firmness , yet with humanity—with justice to the ratepayers , and with 1 urnanity to the poor recipients of the charity . ( Applause . ' ) He was happy to testify to what the chairman had remarked—of there being but few ablebodied in the union . "Whenever it could be done work was procured those who could perform , it , and thus the pernicious effect of idleness were prevented .

      To effectuate this , the guardians had taken , ten acres of land to cultivate with the spade , the result of which was most successful , as they obtained from it at the end of the year a profit of £ 50 to the guardians . ( Applause . ) He gave an assurance that it would be his endeavour , while continuing in the office to do all he could to promote economy ; while promoting those ends of humanity that should not cause pain to those who were driven there for shelter . ( Applause . )

      Untitled Article

      BOROUGH BRIBERY . An " ex-M . P . " has been writing to the Times , exposing the bribery system . Of course , he speaks with authority ; doubtless , from experience . A few passages from his last letter will show that the openand gross form which bribery assumes at St . Alban ' s is not the worst which is to be found . The " Edwards " at St . Alban's gives other " Edwardses " lend . " Mr . Edwards has advanced in loans to some hundred electors sums of money varying from £ 5 to £ 300 , and in one or two cases even more than the latter sum . I think there has been £ 7000 or £ 8000 lent ; these sums carry interest at five per cent . The interest of the smaller sums is seldom called for , except to keep the debts from falling under the Statute of Limitations , or to punish an the is

      offending elector . The interest on larger sums generally paid . All the sums have been advanced to electors for their votes and interest , though perhaps not always immediately before an election . Iamsure , Sir , every one must see the difference of this system of bribery to that of St . Alban ' s . There , as far as has appeared in the evidence , the elector , having voted , is again a free and independent elector ; at the next election he is again open to the highest bidder . Here he is under the greatest thraldom ; should he presume to wish to support the other side , the loan , increased by the interest , is called in ; and it is well known persons who will accept such small sums as £ 5 or £ 10 , have seldom it in their power to pay . And the opposite side , although they may make a show of opposition , know the system is too well organized to make it advisable for them to advance mouey . Of course , to work this systemthe ' Mr . Edwards' must be a

      , shrewd , cunning man , not over scrupulous , or burdened with much conscience ; and he well knows that the elector once in his hands cannot escape , should he attempt to do so , he is sure to suffer for it . This loan-lending is constantly s ? oingon , and is charged to the member ' s account . Then , Sir , follows the corruption on every opportunity , a municipal election , a parochial meeting . When ' Mr . Edwards ' considers a dinner necessary there is one . The member sends his venison and game . ' Mr . Edwards , ' to keep his party in good humour , invites the small voters—not only those whom he has caught , but those ho thinks are to be had . They enjoy a good dinner , drink to excess , and are most happy and satisfied , as no payment is expected from them . Their hill is sent by the landlord ( who is one of ' Mr . Edwurda ' s ' agents ) t . i ' Mr . Edwards . ' It is paid by him , and charged in

      the member ' s account . " After stating what special grievances he thinks the new Reform Hill ought to remedy , he sketches in another form the prevailing evil . " The borough I am writing of is a small town , with a few agricultural parishes joined to it by the old Helen m Act " Tlic fanners , in the first place , will be under the command of their landlords , and if one man possesses a large estate in the parishes he will , to extend his influence and make the return of ins nominee certain , commence bribery on the loan system . And , Sir , the farmers arc as needy—are as much in want of moneyas the townspeople . They are quite as willing to accept loans ( I know , myself , at the present moment ., ot a ease where the farmer , who has been hitherto a most determined empower of 'Mr . Edwards , ' has accepted a loan ,

      and , from an enemy , haH become himself and hia connections of ' the party ' ) ; but , Sir , the money was given by a third person , not by ' Mr . Kdwardu ' ; atill it is entered in the member ' s account ; and when they once belong t . o the party' the tradesmen of the village—the blacksmith , wheelwright , harness maker-must go with them , e > r 'Mr Kdwards' will set up another person m the-ir trades and all the farmers' custom goes to the new man . The question ankeel by all men in the town and iu the country parishes who lire iu trade is 'Shall I ofle-nel Mr . Kilwanbi ? ' lie prevails everywhere . I mi ^ ht . name many grosi ; erases of bullying by p . THO . is who are direct . eel by 'Mr 1-Mwards , ' but . the above is Mifhcient . I hen , Sir , look at . the jobbery of the patronage ot the borough , the ( J . iveiim , e ; nt . and the local . In regard to the lorma ,

      the member never listen * to any request , except itcejine-H through 'Mr . Kdwardis , ' and lie always re-commend * bin nominee The- jobbery of the le > cal patronage is a more « eriouH affair fo ' tlie- ratepayer * . The' town eouiicil , lourlilt . hu of it are' ' the party , ' he-ade ; d by'Mr . hdwareln . All the puiilollieer . s of the ; boroug h bele . ng to ' the- party ; anil , lliou h illegal , the-se K ei » llemi-n Ire eiuently have bill * , which are passed by the council ; and il a ge > oel job Jh to be- done , why , ' Mr . Edwards' takes rare a tnidesman "hall have it , who must , ingratitude , velum the ; lundnesH by Huppe > rting ' the- party . ' " it ) il not u ulrong charge iigmiust pant and present

      Governments that they have so long tacitly permitted the continuance of this iniquity ? Depend upon it Lord John Russell ' s peddling next session will not touch the evil .

      Untitled Article

      ASPECTS OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IN AMERICA . [ Some time ago we published a letter addressed to " Ion , " by a gentleman of the legal profession , upon a new discovery in Social Science . The following letter written from " Modern Times" is a continuation of the same interesting subject . The writer obligingly transmits two works by Stephen Pearl Andrews , the chief expounder of the new theory . ] Modern Times , September , 1851 . Dear Ion , —I left England not against my will . Amongst the reasons which caused me to feel happy , rather than distressed , at my contemplated expatriation , was the conviction that in the United States of America the Social problem would be first solved—completely solved ; and that there , sooner than anywhere else , would superior Social arrangements come into being and yield satisfactory fruits .

      I thought this first because here there exist , and have for some time existed , many and various communities of people practising Social moralities altogether different from those of the old world . All manner of Social experiments are going on . Many of them of years and years ' standing . These experiments , I judged , must have a twofold operation , on the one hand preparing the minds of the people generally for fundamental Social reforms ; and , on the other hand , furnishing the thoughtful with materials on which to reason . I believe I may say that these experiments have sufficed already to settle definitely several points . Their

      number and extent are greater than is supposed in Europe . I am informed , on respectable authority , that there are fifty-two Shaker villages in the United States . These prove , at least , on thing , that starvation , or the possibility of starvation , is by no means necessary as an inducement to labour . And more , they prove that neither the pressure of want , nor the incitement of competition , is necessary to spur to production . The Shakers are universally industrious—as industrious as they can be . Their productions are proverbially excellent in the highest degree . Their religious system alone prevents the higher developments of industry — intellectual , artistic .

      On the other hand , not the Shakers alone , but a great variety of other communities , seem to have almost equally well established the fact that systems involving community of property are destructive of personal liberty to such an extent as to render them unbearable , except where either strong religious feeling , or some other dominant influence , exists sufficient to render men willing subjects of despotic power . I know not how many attempts to establish communities on what were supposed to be rational principles , have failed from this

      cause , but the number is large . I shall obtain more exact information on this point in due time , and all I learn you shall be informed of . Every attempt , I believe I may say confidently every attempt , to establish a community on the basis of the annihilation of private , individual property has utterly failed , except where it has been an absolute despotism , and where also some powerful religious influence has been at work , and , still further , where this influence has been absolutely inimical to inquiry and all intellectual progress .

      There is certainly one exception . But this example would not be taken into account at all by the English public ; and you may judge of the extent of dee inquiry in this country as compared with England , when I tell you that here the exception te > which 1 refer is the subject of much attention anel dispassionate cemsuleratiem . It is the ease of certain reliti ; ie ) us . sects , and in particular e > f erne ealleelby themselves " The Free Church e > f Christ , " who have adopted what they call " complex marriage . " This is , in fact , what , would be at . emce stigmatized in 1

      Englanel as the pre > mise ; ue > us intercoursee >( the- sexes , altheiugh really it is not . se > . lint one ^ real . elillicull . y that has hclpcel to assail all iie > n-re > ligious e-. oiiiinunitie-s is at e > ne stroke , cut entirely away . The-abolition of private property , and the- re-t . e-nt . ioii e > f any system hy whic : h erne indivielual has a meinopoly e > f the He > e : ie-t . y and intereemrse e > fany other iiulividual , is a flagrant inconsistency . These ; " Free Church " men have rejeet . e'el that ine : emsist , e'ncy . The ; great leveling principle ! e > f this singular people ; is , that all the aetiems e > f life- e ) ut ; lit to lie uueiertake ; n with a view t . o the ; attainment of perfection—perfce : tie > n in all , perfection in being , pe'rfeetiem in produe ; tion , pcrfectiem in the individual , pe-rfectiem in the ; race .

      JJut 1 ne'cd waste' no more time e > r space ; e > ve-r these ; ptirfcetieuiistH . I will only nay that they ceniKtele-r all inte're-emrse ; with cae : h either shemld be ; in e've-ry re : spe-el regulateel by this perfective ; law ; that , in it . they should Hee-k t . he ; ir own perfection unel each e > lhe-r \ s , as well as that , of their oil ' spring ; that , fe > lh > wing this ielea , and bringing t . e > be-ar upem the- que . st . iem . e : e-rt . aiii alleged physiological facts , the-y aboliNh all manure as be-t . wee'n individuals anel live t . eigeM . he-r as erne ; hiisbanel and one ; wile , the- details of which arrunge-me ; ut 1 need not cnte-r iut . e > . L am infe > rnieel that the-y are- a large and pre > spernUH community ; that , the ,- utmost , h . irmony and aH < e : tion prevail ; that , t . o st . ntnxe ; rs they appear like ; e > ne ; family e > l brothers anel tii .-itcrs ; anel that they are- eiiiihle-el to e : emelueit . t . heii allairs without , the despotism which nt . ainn other communitie-s , while ( ret ? iuepiiry e > n ; ill subje'e : t . n prevails amongst t . heiu , and , eon / -ee | iu nt . ly , a high de ' grec of intellectual and u-sllie-tie ; eailiinc .

      Hut 1 must , pass to aue > t . her of my reasons fur bi ; - lii'viiig that , to the- United . States is 1 Chci-veil i . he ; hemour anel happiness involved in seilving the ; gre-ut Social problem ; and I will adduce the fuel , that here * » he ; lanel the all iu all-in available let the people . This letter in diiteul ( Venn a projected town , whie : h is he ; ing formed fen the purpe ) sc of e ^ uryin ^ ' emt . in all their ' fullneii ;; the )

      principles slightly hinted at in my last . Here we haye been able to secure 800 acres of land available for the erectiem of a town without the actual outlay of a dollar , except for the survey of a small part and the purchase of some half dozen acres to commence upon . The " Cost Principle " I spoke of in my last might possibly be got into operation some other way in a European country ; but a whole city could not be laid out and erected on land kept at one uniform price of less than £ 4 per acre I Again , the habits of this people have prepared them for rapid changes of employment . To any great and successful Social Reform this is very necessary . The problem is to redeem the labourer from the exactions of what is ( wrongly ) called Capital ; a task next to impossible if at the very outset you find the labourer universally degraded into a mere " appendage to some should

      trade , " as Andrews says . That every man De able successfully to follow half a dozen different occupations I do not contend ; but where no man can do anything but just one thing which he has always done , perhaps make the twentieth part of a pin !—a great Social Reform on truly fundamental principles is not hopelei 8 , hut immeasurably difficult . _ # And then there are our political immunities . We have no such atrocious partnership laws as you can boast in England ; no Joint Stock Companies Act ! no Governmental inter

      Combination Laws ! no jealous - ference . And if we had any legal hindrances , we should abolish them in a trice . While on the other hand , the laws are themselves continually recognizing and enforcing more and more of the social rights claimed for the people . It would fill the remainder of this sheet to detail the admirable , the glorious concessions to social advance that have of late years been inscribed on the Statute Book of New York State ! This subject deserves at least one whole letter , and I reserve it accordingly . here

      Another reason , the people are more independent than in Europe ; let foreigners say what they will , the people are more independent both of law and of custom . You may have heard of our talked of new female costume . Now , apart from the fact that an industrial aim lies concealed in this very reform itself , what did we see last 4 th of July ? The factory girls of Lowell setting the fashion ! With perfect decorum and order did these most veritable young ladies parade ^ the streets of that town , arrayed in the new and beautiful Bloomer dress ; and if they attracted attentionthey met with no sign of disrespect .

      , I thought then , a year ago , that to have any chance for living myself in the midst of superior social arrangements , ol- even for leaving my children in such when my own life had passed away , I must come to this country ; and now I think so very much more than I did then ; or rather , I think that the Social Reform will come here not merely sooner than in Europe , but soon . For aught I know , it may be very near at hand . You shall be able ere long to judoje for yourself . But it is time to return to the subject briefly noticed in my last , And I would first observe , in reference to

      Thornton Hunt ' s article on Communism , in the Leader of July 2 G , that the partisans of the new Social Science maintain , that the evil to be combatted docs not , as has been supposed , lie in competition . Upon the Cost principle competition is changed in its nature . It ceases to be in any respect an evil , and becomes an unmixed good , by being simply changed in its direction . On the Cost principle it is " directed exclusively to the point of perfection in workmanship ; not at all to the point of remuneration . But this will probably not be understood with further knowledge of what the Cost principle is .

      Another point ocuurs to me in connection with the same article . The object to be attained in the Social Hcforin , one object at least , is Cooperation—universal Cooperation . Uut we maintain there has been another error here , in supposing Cooperation to involve necessarily cemihination , association of interests , all which we repudiate * . I say we , but merely as representing for the time Mr . Anelrews ' s vie ; ws . It is evident , however , from all the : experiments which have taken place in thin country , that combined interests are an obimxiems interference ; with individual freedemi . In Europe the pe ; ople have so long been accustemied , all e > f you , to endure ; elespotic power , you are ; : se > t . he > niughly Dogberry ridden , that yem elo ne » t see this point ; so ' strongly as we elo he ' . rc . Uul , citizens of the- Unite-el States will ne > t submit to intci fe ; iene ; c with their pe-rsemal indepenelencc—they woulel fight rather , e > r starve !

      And it is impeissible that the impending Social Reform shenild invetlve a retrogression in this respect . The ; people have ; e .-ve-ry where hael to le ; arn the- le-sson linst . e >( Liberty ; the Kquality and l ' 'rate ; rnit . y whie : h legit imate-ly lollenv in the wake of that cannot reeiuire its ele ^ tructiem . 11 . K .

      Untitled Article

      HOW Til ] -: ( iAMK LAWS WORK . ( j iaine ; pivse'rving invedve-s terrible e ; onHee | ue'ne ; e's rural eleinenali / . at . ion for e ; e rt , ain , ele-alh pe ; rhaps . tSomeexamples of beith have' late-l y eiceairre-el iu Netrtolk . For Home months past , the parishes of Letton , . Shipdhaiu , Cranworth , anel their iu-ighbe » urhoe > d , have ; be .-en iiifcsl . e . el by gangs of poachers , whe > se : proce-t .-elin ^ s have- been e >( ;» . ine > st outrage-ous eharact . eu" ; parties of ten e > r twelve ye > eing men g ) ing abe > ut , night after ni ^ ht ., arincet with loaded guns , in pursuit . e > i game-. The-y have e > f late alrao . st cl < ; ue ; el t \ ic e-slale- of l \ l r . Hrampton ( Jurelou e > f L'anie- ; nid even pi eicee-dcd so far as to thre ; ate-ii the life

      e » f his game-kee-pe-r , Mr . Whit ear , if they were not . alletweil U ) eh > ; is t . he-y p leased . Mr . ( hirelon , in ceMiKe-queiice , e : e ) iisielere-el it . ne-ce-sHary te > e . all in the aid of the- pedice-. Late on . Saturday nh . ' , ht , a body of at least eh : ven int n Hurrounele-d the he-line- e > l Mr . White-ar , imel having ex .-ainineel all the : oullmilelingn , whe-re the-y iniagiueel lie nti ^ ht po .-ihibly he ; c . ime : e-ale-ej , anel ransae ; ke'el the wlieile of his preimi . se s without , ( inelin ^ him , the-y dare-el him with hitler ijnpre-e : atie > ns to eonie forth , .-. wearing that , il he- eliel tlie-y woulel shoot , him ; anel tlie-n , be-feui ; leaving , the-y ( ir « -el e > ll their | . miuk lit . his lieuiiie ; . Last . Meuielay week , { Superintendent J . ' arker , with about a dozen of the rural

      Untitled Article

      Dec . 20 , ^ 1851 . ] ffifH ? ? LF , l » f r . 1205

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 20, 1851, page 1205, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1914/page/9/