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Leader (1850-1860), 27th November 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 1131, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      < 5 oain , itis said > wnicn has never formally renounced 9 er right to St . Domingo , will take possession of it , in the event of anything like a hostile expedition from -the shores of America . Would not this bring Spain .. to ^ irect conflict with America ? The object of the Minuted taking of St . Domingo is said to be , that from thence attacks on Cuba could be more easily made . Vogue la galere !

      Untitled Article

      I'KOIHKmVK HMl'LOYMKNT IN POOR-LAW UNIONS . —TJIK ItKCKNT ( JONIWKKNCJ'J IN MANCHKSTKR . ( To tho . ' JSditor of Iho Leader . ) National 1 ' oor-Law AHuoeial . ion , 7 , Norlollf-Mtrcnt , Mimoliostor , Nov . 17 , lHIW . Silt , —As the Editor of tlio ' Daily News hiw thought l » ' » licr to niiHivprmtiit at some length tho principles ' ' "" I ainiH of the National Poor-Law Association , you "will gr < ally oblige , „ ,, | , y giving insertion to the « 'H-< 'li ) H ( ul temperate reply , a « : <> i > y of which was forwarded to him on ( Saturday kdt , but which ho ban uot yol had

      the equity to publish . —I have the honour to be , Sir , your most obedient servant , A . G . Stake , Gen . Sec . N . P . L . A . ( To the Editor of the Daily News . ) Sir , —Before dedicating a column and a half of your paper to the disparagement of the National Poor-Law Association , would it not have been more creditable to yourself and more merciful to your readers , ifyou had endeavoured to put yourself in possession of the principles and objects of that body ? He who has an oppor- ' tunity of ascertaining the truth , and . wilfully shrinks from the inquiry , ha 8 no right to set up the plea of ignorance . You cannot urge a pressure of time , for your article did not appear until Wednesday last , a full week after the Conference was held , and there is not a gentleman who composed it who would not have readily supplied you with ample information of the

      purposes of the Association and the means by which they seek to accomplish them . Nay , if your object were to instruct and not mislead the public , your correspondent here—if you have one—by application at this office , or to any of the numerous and influential gentlemen who constitute the local committee , could have procured and forwarded to you a copy of every tract , circular , and manifesto which have been issued by the Association since it commenced its existence , nearly three years ago . Suppose that in one of the metropolitan police courts what you call a miscarriage of justice takes place , by the magistrate sentencing some ifishionable violator of the peace to a pecuniary fine , instead of sending him to prison—suppose that in some remote part of the country a number of questionable persons are exalted to the petty sessions bench—or that any other comparatively trivial event occurs which seems to call for an exercise of your voice potential , do you commit yourself before inquiring into and mastering the details ? I believe , generally , you do not . And yet here , in the case of an Association , avowedly formed for the purpose of promoting a humane , moral ,

      and economical disbursement of a large portion of the public resources—an Association which gives security for its bond fide character in the long list of its committees , embracing members of two branches of the legislature , clergymen of various religious denominations , heads of corporate bodies , chairmen of boards of guardians , and other " responsible" citizens—you thipk _ it consistent with your character , as " a best possible public instructor , " to write at great length in an injurious vein , without having taken the trouble of inquiring whether your strange surmises and the fabric of abuse you build upon them have any foundation in truth ! What satisfaction can any of your readers —at least any discerning portion of them—derive from a dissertation in which the continual recurrence of such phrases as the following shows how the writer is groping in the dark , and groping after that with which he should have taken care to make himself familiar : — "The resolutions tell all that seems to be known of the views and aims of the Association" — - " the aim of the Association may , perhaps , " &e . — " the Association contemplates , perhaps , " — " these gentlemen of the Conference contend , probably , " &e .

      Having now done what I hope will prove good service to you by a word of rebuke for the past and caution for the future , I will proceed to transcribe from the authorized publications of the Association the following brief and simple statement of its

      : — "The Poor-Law Association has for its object the diminution of pauperism , with its demoralizing consequences , and the reduction of the burthen of poor-rates , by substituting , wheresoever practicable , productive labour for unproductive ' tests , ' and gratuitous relief , and by enabling the unemployed to work for their subsisteuce , without competing or interfering with independent labour . As means to this end , the Association seeks , by publio discussion , the publication of tracts , and all legitimate efforts , to enforce upon the legislature and payers of rates , the acknowledged principles of political economy in favour of profitable employment , in opposition to the mistaken rule by which many thousand able-bodied persons are kept in idleness , or designedly unproductive . And as further means to this end , practical information will be collected and disseminated respecting industrial schools , and the various agricultural and manufacturing operations , by means of which juvenile and adult paupers are- now rondered , in many unions , wholly or nearly self-supporting . "

      Having placed you and your much-abused readers in possession of the real objects of tho Association—with which , if you 1 ) 0 an admirer of ldlencfis and an enemy of industry , you are welcome to quarrel-it will not be expected that 1 should notice all tho imaginary designH you attribute to that body , and the reproaches which you have , in consequence , heaped upon it ,. In the course of your article , however , you liave stumbled against some truths , in behalf of which 1 would desire to nay a

      word . You ask , with a ludicrous air of triumph , " But who wisIioh paupers to bo idle ? And what ' tests' but labour tests are there in our workhouses ? " There are thousands of so-called political economists who will argiio with you by tho hour to prove that the destitute should l > o supported in idleness , on the absurd plea that , their labour might enter into competition with "independent" industry . You oug ht , to know that there are not , a dozen , certainly not , a score , of unions in Hnglaiid and Wales , whoro any system worthy of the inline of industry is pur . siwd . Until within the last , two ' or three years , in oonforinity with tho t . eneU of a false political economy , idleness reigned supremo in all the Irish worldiouses , and iintortunate an the Hister kingdom is , it would have been worse ) bad the irrational and pernicious rJi / inw oonlinued . " Anil what , tests , " you demand , " are tliere . in " our workhouses but , labour tests ? " Tho tenlH you refer to are not , entitled to the iminei of labour tents , as they are revolting , inhuman , and unproductive . Your stone-breaking , onkuinpieking , and mill-turning tests are no great , improvement , upon the "li-enkH of tyranny which , " . you nl , at . n , " were v . rrrciml l > j )

      poor-hi > Hi < c : < in the olden time . " Huch tests may bo very appropriate to tho professional iiieii < liennl , or Iiizy impostor ; hut , supp < iH < - the < -ane- -ii pregnant one in tinie . H ol'di . st ress of a mini reduced to necessity by no win of bis own , and c ipellntl to enter the workhouse . Directly or indirectly , he bus been a rate-payer until now , but having fallen upon evil days , he run no longer contribute to Hie support , of bin indigent , fellowcreatures . You say that the workhouse in only , or ehielly , a p laeo for the help less . Thin inns ! , be a new doel line to thoso IVliillhusian philosophers who have been in the liahit of iiisi . st ing that tho worlihon . se is the best , test , lor ( lie nble-bodied . l « 'or hundreds of years , it , has been the eomnioii-law kiuiit of eviiry ICiiglinhinaii , " when in neeemjil . y , to demand relief on his imlivo Hoil . Anil admitting , then , the ri

      You Ni'i'iu to have been deceived by Iho common error Uiat them lire no able-bodied paupers in the country depending upon rules for relief . I do not , know how mitiiy there urn at , the pi'CHonl . moment , in Ibis un luippy condition , hut , if you I uni to the last , annual report , of tlio I'oor-ljiw (' oiiiiniMHioiicrH , p . ft , you will llnd that , on the IhI , of January of Mm present , your , Micro wore 130 . 101 ) adult able-bodied portions on the bookn in

      receipt of relief in England and Wales , besides an uncalculated number in 600 parishes , under the operation of trilbert s ana other acts . Eeasoningupon one of the discoveries effected by your imagination , you exclaim oracularly , " It will never do—that scneme of supporting a workhouse by a farm . " Granted that the worJihouse cannot be supported entirely by the farm , is that any reason why those who can handle a spade should Bit down in idleness , or he engaged in all but useless employments t - * s " any reason why the Poor-Law Association , or any other seJteible body of men , should be derided for endeavouring to remove from the statute-book any legal restrictions that may interfere with thetaking of land for the purpose of tillage or reclamation j * You make the awkward admission—for a Free-trade journal

      that the present race of English agriculturists cannot make their farms pay , and must give place to others with heavier purses and more polished intellects ; but this should not prevent any board of guardians from attempting to diminish the rates upon their constituents by employing on the land the labour of those persons whom they are bound to relieve . With regard to your assertion that the scheme of profitably applyiug the labour of the poor on land , towards the support , more or less , of workhouses , " would not answer . " I have only to say that the facts are against you . Various workhouse farms in England pay . All the well-managed farms in connexion with Irish workhouses pay , and the guardians , generally ., are able , from the profits of them , to place considerable sums annually to the credit of their respective unions .

      I shall conclude this letter , which is much longer than I intended to make it , with the following extract from an able Liberal journal in this district , the Preston Guardian , which shows that there is a crying necessity for an Association like that which has been distinguished by your animadversions : — " We well remember how soon , upon the formation of the Preston Union , the looms upon which the poor people had been industriously employed at Preston , Kibchester , and Woodplumpton workhouses , were knocked down beneath the order of the London Commissioners , and became of little more worth than fire-wood . And we have before us the advertisement of ' All the valuable stock of wrapperings , bed tickings , sheetings , towellings , sackings , warping mill , looms , wheels , swifts , and calendar for sale , in the Kendal workhouse , and Harden sacking manufactory '—' pursuant to the order of the Boor-Law Board . This was a wanton stroke , and showed how desperately men in high stations may sometimes be led away in pursuit of mere theories . The following statement as to the proceeds of the labour system is from a gentleman in the Kendal union : — first established in 1801

      '" The Harden manufactory was , Judge Chambrie in the chair . The gain to the township of Kendal up to , the formation of the union in 1836 amounted to upwards of 8000 Z . Many of the paupers who were admitted into the workhouse found in a short time that they were earning more money than their support cost in the house , and therefore they would no longer continue , thinking that the parochial authorities were gainers . Many boys were taught the art of weaving , and were able to earn their own bread when they arrived at the age of sixteen or seventeen years . " ' I also give you a statement of our manufactories from the formation of the Kendal union up to tho time they were ordered to be discontinued in 1849 . Mr . Crewdson , who was chairman of the union at its formation , found the capital for the Harden manufactory , which yia&repaid to him with interest in 1839 out of the labour proceeds ; and the total gain during Hi years amounted to 3281 Z . 7 s . 3 J (/ . The twine manufactory at Milnthorpe workhouse was not established until March , 1810 , which realized 51 < U . 18 s . 10 } rf ., making a total of 3 S 01 Z . tis . ' Id . in favour of the common fund of tho union . '

      " Comment is here unnecessary . For Kendal alone the gains up to 1836 had been upwards of SOOOi . ; and from 1 S 36 to 1849 tho gain to the union had been ;) S 01 £ . But at lust the Poor-Law Hoard wearied out the guardians , and all went to destruction . We remember visiting this establishment when in full employ , and a more gratifying sight in connexion with pauper management wo never beheld . Wo hope the idle system will soon receive its doom . " I have the honour to bo , Sir , your very obedient sorvant , AitciuiiALi ) G . Stahk , Gen . Sec . National Boar-Law Association . 7 , Norfolk-street , Manchester , Nov . 12 , 1852 .

      Untitled Article

      AN ACCOUNT OF THE JOURNKY OF BARTH AND OVEUWEG IN CENTRAL AFRICA . In the Times- of Tuesday appeared the following letter . The writer , Mr . I ' eteruinmi , is tho well-known Hydrographer of the Admiralty department . It is a most important contribution to contemporary history , and coming just in the midst of our political and polemical disputes , will allbrd new pasture to our inquiring renders . Sir , --Despatches and private letters have just arrived at the l'Wei ^ n-olIice and M » o I ' ruHsiim Kmlmssy from tho expedition in the interior of Africa , conducted by Hurth and () vcrw <> £ . At Hie request of his . Excellency Chevalier liuiiHcn , I !>

      It will be remembered unit it , ih now three years ago that this expedition left England under the direction of JVlr . James . Kichnrdson , wlio was charged by the . Knglish Government to make commercial treaties with the duels of the countries lying between Tripoli and Luke Tuad . In the lirst year ( IHoO ) l . lie travellers successfully crossed tho whole ; of I lie Sahara in a very circuitous westerly direction , and thus explored a great portion of Northern Africa which had never before heoy . visited b y any European . Their route from ( ihat to Iv ano , in particular , wa . s highly interesting . A long stay witH made in . Air , or Ashen , one of the most , powerful kingdoms of Northern Africa , tho capital of which is Agadez . In the second year , the travellers explored a largo portion of Sudan indifferent directions : for Ibis purpose they separated on their

      arrival at the northern frontiers , of that , country , each pursuing a dillcrciil , route their plan being ultimately to meet at Kukn , the capita . 1 of Kornu . liarth anil Overweg safely readied that place , bill , poor Kichnrdnon , whoso feeble constitution was unable ( o bear ( he fal iguo of such an extonsivo journey , died on tho way lo that place , six days' march ' distant . Tlii . s melancholy event loll hard upon the two remaining travellers , who had already undergone many hardships , and whose at that ti : no very small means had met with unexpected losses by robbers in Iho drserl .. Nothing daunted , however , limy accomplished willit ii a short lime two highly interest ing journeys liiirl hpciml rating iiiO milcii to the south as fur ns Yola , the capital < il" the kingdom of Adamatia ; and Ovcrwog navigating Lake Twiwi in tho boat , which had boon con-

      Untitled Article

      November 27 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 1131

      Untitled Article

      THE MAJORITY FOR PIERCE . -jigE election of General Franklin Pierce as President of the United States by an overwhelming majority , is fully confirmed by the Washington , which arrived at Covves on Sunday . The New YorJc Herald says : — " The following is the table , as nearly as ascertained , or as can be estimated from our scattered returns , of the grand results of the tremendous avalanche of 1852 , includ ing the popular and electoral votes , to wit : — States . Majority for Scott . Electors . 3 fa « sachusetts 7 , 300 ... 13 Vermont ... 10 , 000 ... 5 Scott ' s majority 17 , 300 ... 18 Por Pierce . Maine 11 , 000 ... 8 iNew Hampshire 14 , 000 ... 5 Rhode Island 1 , 100 ... 4 Connecticut 3 , 500 ... 6 ]^ ovr York ... 25 , 000 ... 35 Ifew Jersey 5 , 000 ... 7 Pennsylvania 23 , 000 ... 27 Delaware 100 ... 3 Maryland ... 5 , 000 ... 8 Virginia 8 , 000 ... 15 jtforth Carolina 5 , 000 ... 10 South Carolina ... ( by Legislature ) 8 Georgia 5 , 000 ... 10 Jlorida 500 ... 3 Alabama 4 , 000 ... 9 louisiana ... ... ... 1 , 000 ... 6 Texas ... _ ... 7 , 000 ... 4 Mississippi ... ... ... 2 , 000 ... 7 Tennesse ... 1 , 000 ... 12 Kentucky 2 , 000 ... 12 Arkansas 6 , 000 ... 4 Ohio ... ' 15 , 000 ... 23 Indiana ... 15 , 000 ... 13 Illinois 12 , 000 ... 11 Missouri 12 , 000 ... 9 Michigan 5 , 000 ... 6 "Wisconsin 2 , 000 ... 5 Iowa 4 , 600 ... 4 California 1 , 500 ... 4 Total for Pierce 196 , 200 ... 278 Deduct Scott's majority ... 17 , 300 ... 18 Pierce ' s probahlo majority 178 , 900 ... 260 This is the greatest popular and electoral vote ever given at any Presidential election , as will be seen by the following , from tho earliest record of popular votes , in 1828 , when Jackson was first elected ;—TIIE POPULATt AND ETiECTORAI , MAJORITIES .

      Untitled Article

      -o ., , ^ t- Popular Electoral Premdonts . YcarB . Majorities . Majorities

      Untitled Article

      Jackson ' s ( Democrat ) ... 1828 139 , 4 ( 58 95 Jackson ' s ( Democrat ) ... 1832 104 , 205 152 Van Huron ' s ( Democrat ) 183 ( 5 27 , 542 4 ( 5 Harrison ' s ( Whig ) ... 1840 115 , 921 174 Polk ' s ( Democrat ) ... 1844 64 , 147 05 Taylor ' s ( Whig ) ... 1848 140 , 790 3 ( 5 Piorco ' a ( Democrat ) ... 1852 17 H , 9 ( X ) 2 ( 50

      Untitled Article

      The next striking fact in , that the Whig party 1 i ; ih Klirunk into the dimensions of an association , as will ho hcuii b y the following resolutions agreed to on tho 3 rd instant , by the Webster State Executive Committee of Massachusetts : — _ "That , as friends of Daniel Webster , and faithful < liscijili'H of the political doctrines which it was tho aim of Ills lilo and public labours ( o establish , we hereby constituto om-Kelves an American Union party . ' "That the fundamental principh'H of our party are lidelit y to the Union and the Constitution , and the election ! , o oflieo of men of known political integrity , capacity , und Hound principles . ' That it . \ h our duty as a Union party to sustain any 'I'Uioiml administration ' , of whatever name , which is jiracticiill y conducted according to the maxims of policy laid down by Washington and Webster . "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 27, 1852, page 1131, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1962/page/7/