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THE WORKING CLASSES. ai ¦DECExbER*--3o,=...
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10 THE WORKING CLASSES. ' Words ere thin...
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LYNN ELECTION A>ND CHARTIST TRIUMPH. IHB...
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€bm$i finwugrmen
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Carusl**.—At the quarterly meeting of th...
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:.'Battonai. X»w ¦ ompank
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Birmingham.—Anniversary of the Ship bran...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Working Classes. Ai ¦Decexber*--3o,=...
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10 The Working Classes. ' Words Ere Thin...
10 THE WORKING CLASSES . ' Words ere things , acd a email drop of ink . Falling—like itw—npon a thought , produce * Thst which makes thousands , perhaps millions _tW _*** ' BXIOST . '
THE LAW VINDICATED ! Brother Proletarians , The _assiies are over . A multitude of political of . fenders have been condemned to incaroeration and felon bondage . An _increaae of misery hu been _besped upon a number of bereaved and unhappy {_ . gullet . No aatter , lawyers , and judge * * , and _jnrers . and gaolers hare had their Christmas dinnen _, their feastings , and their merrymakings . And why cot f jIm sot the law been' vindicated V « I know , ' said the judge , when abont to pus ten . tence on the political offender * tried st Chester : —
1 know that moit of yon are dteent persons , that yea ire not like the generality of men who eome befort _joarts of justice—that yoa do not steal —thst yon hare -io * e at yonr homes who will softer by your _condoot . I feel for them and for y » a , bat I mast do cay _dity . j The l _ _Kn-rthitmaieated . A _EEcsnd edition of 'the Han of Feeling !* What s pity that bo tenderhearted a man is a jodge . Bnt then , yon vet , ' thelaw must te _vrndiatted V If I remember _eorrestly it was the same judge who , -when about to sentence another batch oi political WKtims , said ¦ >
If I were to walk into a machine shop , and iee a large iojaantitj- of machinery around me , should I not be a very _Tretamptnotu man to propose to alter any part of it , or to interfere with the construction ot a spinning jenny * Why yoa woald laagh at me in tbe face , if I made snch e proposition , aad tell me that if I altered the wheels I should throw the whole machinery into _oonfoslen . Kowit is fast sueh a thing yoa hare proposed to do with the ** OTtrnment . There are wheels In the _ceantry whleh are pnt into working order by tne _gorern-nentfor the general good ef the country , and if yoa ende * Toa- to alter those wheels or pnt in new ohm , yoa pat oat of order the entire machinery of government .
Sat , Sir Jadge , what ifthe wheelsof your governtnent machine are already ont of order ? What if -that machine , instead of working for the benefit of -sU , is ( like almost every other kind of machine ) " -forked for the benefit of a few , whilst the many are ground , and crashed , and destroyed by ita movements * If snch is the working of yoor machinery , _ghilleot the _Bering multitude question the fitness of the machine aa at present _canstruoted—or . at any rate , the fitness of those * who direct its workings ? The workers ef rnannfacturing machinery understand their work , bnt can the aame be said of the workers of that machine called ' Government ? ' To suppose them ignorant bunglers is the most charitable con _struction their work admits of . Ton talk . Sir Judge , ef the wheels of government being worked fer the general good of the conntry . I will answer yoa from tbe evidence of one ofthe crown witnesses , policeman _BsowinfHvde :
I spoke to them , and asked what thty were doSni there armed at sight ? The man who appeared to be tha leader , said , 'Tea mnst not think we are the only party ont to night . '' I said , ' Oh no , I hare seen another . ' "Wilds then said , * Tbey are ont new OTer Eoglan _* _, Irebad , and Scotland - and before this time to-morrow sight we'll either make it better or worse , for Wfi KAY AS WBLL TUBS OUT AND BE KILLED , A 3 STOP AT HOME ASD BE STARTED TO DEATH / There is pronouEeed the irrevocable condemns * tion ofthe existing politieal machine and those wbo eosduct it A system that forces men ( uu & _"qnunted with the use of arms and physically unfit to engage in revolutionary _str-uales ) tothe conclusion thatit k ' BETTER TO DIE BY THE SWORD THAN TO PERISH OF HUNGER , ' is a curse and a nui--ranee . To _labaar to reform or get rid of tuch t \ system is the boandes dnty of every trne friend to the peace and well being of society .
In the coarse of tbe recent trials , ths town ef Ash * ton acquired an unhappy notoriety in consequence of the trial of RincLim , and the condemnation of a number of poor fellows to transportation for life , nnder the provisions of that blessed Whig' boon . ' the 'Gagging ; BilL * As _regards the unfortunate man condemned to death , it ia certain that he wu not the man who shot Bbioht the policeman . The jnry declared , and the judge _acknowledged his innocence , « _3 far , at least , as regarded the killing of Bright , yet the man has been condemned to die on the scaffold , because' the law must be vindicated . ' * I trust tbat tbe appeal made to ths people sf Ashton in last Saturday ' s Sua , hu before this time been responded to , and that the necessary measures hare been already taken to ensure the safety of the unfortunate man ' s life , by obtaining a commutation cf his sentence .
Oa the trial of _Cossnsicm , Kmswobtbt , Wukcr , Stott , Tissjkeb , and Sz ~ os , the accused men were tried by the jurors who had previously _coavicted Radciifpi , tke man condemned to death . A postponement of the trial had bean refused . In _chains the case , the Attorney General , according to custom , ' expressed a hope that the jary wonld dismiss from their minds any circa *** _stancea connected with the painful inquiry whieh had occupied their attention on the Friday and Satarday previously . ' Toe 'learned gentleman * very consistently concluded his address to thejury . by professing to show that all the prisoners , with the exception of _Seftok , were taking- part in the'rising' at the time that Bright was shot , ' and were amongst those men who _snnoanded him when the pike was used , and the pistol fired . * Sbtioh waa sentenced to be transported for tenyears , and the rest of the prisoners for life . * Ike law mutt be vindicated P
It suited the purpose of the Attorney General to pretend to regard the Ashton men as ' the dopes of designing persons . ' I ean understand that , for once in bis life , that functionary was perfectly afncere when he expressed his regret that the said per-» 2 s had not been trapped and brought to trial . But Sir Johs _Jaims very well knows that thennfortc _* _asta Ashton men are in reality the victims of our oppressive system , social and political . How that _system works in Ashton , I will show . A local publication , the _Abhtos CHBMrira _** , of Veeember 9 tb , contains an article addressed to the Factory Inspector ef tha district , giving a most frightful revelation of the wrongs and _offerings of
the working classes of that town . * Our table . ssjs ihe editor of ths Chbowcx » . 'is covered with amphints from tbe intimidated , cheated , and oppressed factory labourers . ' It appears it is not an occoDtaon thing for the factory kings to compel their hands to work on the Sunday . A oommon trick is to set the hands to work tea minntes before the regular time in the morning , and keep them working inthe evening a quarter of an hour after the proper time . The meal-times are also docked from ten to twenty minutes- Of coone all this over-time is clear gain for tbe _miHocrat _, who genetally gives his slaves no compensation for working them more tban the time authorised by law . ' Last reckoning , * ' says one of the unhappy slaves ,
Wagrumtled at working so many boors . The master give ni » quarter of a d » 3 _* _a wage , bnt said he would nmr give us any more . We told tbe carder we would sot work as many hours as we bad dose , unless we were paid for it . He told tht master , who said he would ~~ ie us _tcorh as ma **/ Hours as U liked , and not pay SH for it . The unnatural and damnable system which tears women from their homes to work in tbe factories , is well known to be the chief cause of the vast mortality amongst the infant population of the manufacturing district * . It appears that the mothers of infant children are in the habit of _destroying the
nourishment profided by Nature for their offspring . 'We hate now before us , ' says ths editor of the Azetos _Chbosicli , 'that unhappily moat common , bet disgraceful utensil , called a nipple-glass , use ! by mothers in the factory for the unnatural purpose of milking themselves . ' The Ashton writer then goes on to state that these glasses when pled with a mother ' s milk are emptied down the factory water closet , ' whilst the infant that abrald hare been fed npon it lies lost in its dirt at tome , or . as in many well-known instances , dies from the effects of the sleeping ttuf given to stop its heartrending « ries !'
Now _. seahnw these women , who ssenfiee wen their children in their attempts to satisfy theirinezorable oppressors , see how they are treated by their taskmasters : — . In another mill It bad been said thst the masters bad nude np their minds to reduce the wages daring the fortnight then running ; although tbere bad been no lawful notice _efttelr Intention to _rtdnoe postea In tbe _feeto-j . A woman , t-fio bad worked _epwards ol _tweatwysars ia this mill , was so un happy at the thought
° 1 wbat might be banging over htr , that _afas coold not Jetp at night , 8 he _Wtat to one tf tbe masters , an _« ¦ aid : ' Will yoa be se good as to tell me whether we are working at _, tbe bated price tbat hu been talked of , nmo wordhas e « r * eenbrougbUe us about it , anil am Tery _oaeuy In m ; _mlailorar it f * The only answer sho got was this : « Toa ara working - at _theories wajbave _ordend ; yon will know what tt is wben the taeoesJ . es * aa if jou don ' t like it then , yoa can leave . ' _ThelredueUonln this case , mvtt announced , amounts _to-no Ust than four tlUUjtgt a reckoning .
The writer in the Ashiok _Caao-acu * asserts that « m tjrant , when applied _totbrfcis ' hands' trtnow So ? thty were to lira on the low wafet ha o _® red them , _raweredt : 'WHY YOU ,. MAT BOIL
BOULDER STONESiFOR WHAT I CARE ; IT IS KO BUSINESS _OF-MiNK . ' _!! ' Another ' s reply Was : « _-I WILL MAKE YOU EAT . ONE ANOTHER BEFORE 1 HAVE DOXiE WITH TOU Mi-Such is the working ofthe admirable _sodal 'machine . ' The Government' is 'a wheel within a wheel' necessary to keep the larger machine going _, and useful to enable _rniUocrats to compel their hands to eat _bculder-itcnee , or detour oae another 1
10 The Working Classes. ' Words Ere Thin...
_n _- _JJl tieio _^ A 8 b t ° n was not the work of the' de . _signup men ' alluded to b y the At » _onioy Sew / Itwas caused by the intole rable _tyrann / _SKd _S _1 IF ™? _*<** _cxs- One more _extracTfrom _MtUpdteim prove the . truth of my _^ P vrt _? " _* ? - " befo , e 1 Iw to ** »¦• _A » _bton oa BlBck \ J " _^ _&& ef ft * lMde " * _£$ _& _JSS _2 _™? ft ? ™ ° _* "J * - ** ' lh 8 f < % 5 their pr _^ ected _nnteutdns , _anatoadrise them to _ooafiue 22 . _*?^ 1 ° ** aot * _«**«« .. « WhaV _« ee a duster of tbose maddened hopelen men « what _doyoameanby _talkiogaboat moralforce ? -fl _^ _aS _WMtngtaveci . _WeconstauiU _nolo- _^ r ; tt ( , S we _taOmm ; i _* Jute tried _cM roads tm w _„/__ Z _^ a _^^ ct _^^ 0 fiti _^» _"WTW \ ! a _^ - _% " _*»«»•* had driven them mad . They had ' tried all roads' till they were ' sick' of u ttat _* ' Md C 0 Uld ' 8 tand ! t n ° _l _0 _D _8 _er _' The _'
• The world wu net their _fslsnd , nor the world ' s Uw . » _sndso they madly arrayed their weakness againBt the Btren _^ h of ttasa _whogwand them to the dust l _*? _" ! « _ey were crushed , and-but we bave alwady _Wd the test- * ft , law ntust he vindl Tbe trial of the Manchester Chartisfs exhibited t dui _^ _tmgspjMtaele of Whig effrontery . AccordiD _* : t » the Attorney General , Got Fawsm was a mereinnocent dealer in ' luciferr / compared with the Chartist defendants . 'Listen to me , * said that _truth-lorine functionary , ' and
I will a tale unfold , whose Hghtest words Will barrarr up your souls , _freexs yonr young (!) blood , Make eaob one ' s eyes , like star * , start bom their spheres , Tour knotted * and combined lodes to part ; And each particular hair to st and on end , Like quills open the fretful porcnp ' jie !' After an introduction intended to belike theabate , but wbich was a long way off being so good , the accuser proceeded to tell a frightful story of cellars hired by designing persons , ' and filled by them with naphtha and gunpowder , for the purpose of blowing up _andsettiag fire to Manchester . The Gunpowder _Plot was a joke compared with the Chartist
conspiracy . Amongst the crown witnesses waa a member of tbe deteotiTOi poliee , named Cook-ox . This worthywhohad been some kind of a counter-jumper before joining the _houeurable corps of' detectires '—read a number of extracts from speeches _deliy-red by _Wbst , WEiTa _. LxacH . and others , which he had taken notes of when attending tbe Chartist meetings in plain _ctotbes . He confessed that heonly noted down parts of tfae KTeral speeches , such parts as he considered most iiflimmatory . The notes hehad taken bad b en so artfully pnt together , by himselfor some *
, body else , that when read from the witness-box , the disjointed fragments sounded like a connected and perfect speech . Gaosoa Whim , who admirably cross-examined this precious witness , desired to test bis memory by reading a speech to bim , which be [ _Whik ) wtended tomske the witness * , after hearing the _wbole . repeat from memory . But here thejudge interfered with : « I ean ' talbv it . * Of course not , it would _neter do to allow a Chartist to save himself by exposing the rottenness of the ewdenoa for the Crown . _GaoHea Wmi * ought to have remembered that the low _tmttt be vindicated !'
After the disposal of another equally respectable detective , * a witness named _Faica was examined . Under cross-examination , this witness confessed tbat , as regarded one of Walls ' s speeches , he ( Whits ] spoke a long time , and he ( witness ) picked out the _worathe conld find ! ' Honest , honest lago I * These witnesses , and soma others 1 bare not nofeoed , had merely deposed to Chartist meetings , speeches of the defendants , and the state of general excitement which existed last summer in the manufacturing diftriots , but notoneof them had deposed to the alleged facts , orSolions . ( set forth in the Attorney General ' s opening address ) concerning the plot to burn Manchester . At last , the great gun was brought forward crammed with . Batt-or , perhaps , it
would be more correct to say that Ball was crammed —who by , a certain gentleman in Manchester could , no doubt , tell . Be that as it may , there has been _nothing—unless 1 exoept ' Washsx ' s lone raneesince the long ahota fired by the renowned BaronMun ckauten , Reproaching to the discharge of this matchlessBaU . Only that his 'fireworks' smsck rather too strongly of ' naphtha' and ' gunpowder , ' Bui , would be sate to get an _engagement at Vauxhall next season . * * * I must correct myself . On second ifaonghis , I doubt If he wonld 'take , ' seeing that his exhibition at _Lirerpoolwas so unqualified a failure . Notwithstanding the immense supplies of ' naphtha' and ' gunpowder . ' the ' grand display , ' promised by the Attorney General at the opening of tha performance , proved to beneither aore nor less than—a bottle of smoke ! Under cross-examination . Mister _Jax-sAbbasav
B _* xii —( bis fall name should be remembered in connexion with the names of _Powau , Davis , asd tbe rest of the holy army of Whig spies)—made a pretty exhibition of himself . Ina miserable wretch , when called upon to identify the defendants , sucoeeded in singling out _Raasor and M'DoNOcse , bat he said that Gascon waa _Dcrotah , and Chadwick was Croppes , nnd _confessed that be . did not know either _Wkst , Whits , Lxach , or _Poaovatr , although he had previously aworn that he had been with the whole of them at a secret committee meeting on the llth of April , and pretended that he had taken an active part with the majority of them on _sereral other occasions . The wretch ' s self-exposure was so complete _, that _; according to the reporter of one of tbe local papers , 'His lordship , with an air of disgust , told Bin . to get out ofthe court , and he accordingly went ?
If in restituting this prosecution the Attorney Ge neral ' s object had been simple justioe , he wonld , at this stage of the trial bare thrown np the case ; but no , ' the taw mutt bs vindicated V The coarse whioh the Attorney General should have taken , would have been followed by a jury oi impartial and unprejudiced men . After _hearing Bail _* 8 evidence sueh a jury would have at once "acquitted the defendants- But so , the defendants were _Chartists , and * the lata mutt be vindicated !' Toe sentences passed upon tbe defendants hare generally beea considered as merciful . No doubt the punishment meted to our friends is muoh less _severe than the punishment ioflioted npon some of thtir fellow victims . But taking the character of
tbs evidence into account , all unprejudiced persons will cone ' _nde that there wss in reality ' no case ' against ths defendant * , snd that , therefore , any sec * t ; _nta _pasied upon them—however compaiatively light—was perfectly uojustifiable . But they were seateaced for the same reason that they were found guilty : because' the law mutt be vindicated ? The Whigs stick at nothing . They bave united with _proMflutioas for political off-wees , prosecutions for blasphemy I A man , named Bowkb . has been sentenced to two years' imprisonment for having uttered » a seditious and _llatphsmovt speech . ' Wa all know that laws exist against that indefinable offence , 'blasphemy , 'bat no one could have imagined that the literal Whigs would have enforced snch laws .
But yeu see , the law mutt be vindicated V ¦ Lst me be understood . I say nothing in justification of the trash imputed to Bowkib . I am _°° admirer of 'Chartist preachings . ' Outpourings of cant , no matter under what pretext , are my abomination . _ ¦ _Nerertheless I lift up my voice , and I am sure that every honest man will join with me , in denuuci * ation of the _reriTal of _pi-oteeutions for blasphemy . A number of victims—many of them mere , ladshave been sentenced at the York assises to various terms of imprisonment . The poor fellows were eonrioted principally npon the evidence ofa set of spies and approvers . Under _erose-examinatioa they con fefsed themselvea unmitigated scamps of the trne Powxii and Bail breed .
_BaoTHss Paoiw _* wANS ,-The law' is -tindicated _. ' and now it is for you to vindicate your cause by throwing over the persecuted the shield of your protection . As regards tbe majority of the victims , yoa can only at present express your sympathy ¦ for them by protecting tbeir families . Wanting tbat protection they must starve or hare recourse to such assistance as Poor Law guardians and relieviog | officers may be pleased to allow them . The 'law' ol tyranny will indeed be ' vindicated . ' if you permit either misery to ore-take the bereaved families ol onr unfortunate brethren .
The imprisoned Manchester Chartists are in a different position to that of tbe other incaroeratedI patriots . They are placed ia Kirkdale prison as firstclass misdemeanants . They not only may , they must provide themselves with food and all other nece * _saries . They can only _doso witb jour assistance Tbey belong ta yonr class and bare been throngs life faithful to their order ; asa matter of _eourse they have always been sharers w yonr privations , and under present eireuBsUnc * _esthv K « _Mturaliy destitute of the means of subsistence . If you aw them not they perish .
Yoa * who bare been so often _ftueiUated by the wit andelogsenca of Johh W * w-jou _trholBOwand admire the ? blunt honesty and _powetfol abilities of _Gaosea _Wmia—you who hare on so many occasions listened to the u _tanswerable arguments of laMt L « icH-yoa who know _andfappreciate the sterling qualities of DiNi _* a ,, Dosov * H and the other wearcerat « d _, patriots—* fw who have applauded and _en-K _* ragtdtihi M _+ tntnjQ tacriJUt aU for _youfyind your cause , you will surely not _^ esert theniyaow . They are permitted _priTilegesjwhichwouldbe regarded by the Wfortunato riotims as a grest alienation of their sufferings if they could-partake of them ; let , than , _irtiottbVsaid thai those priYilegesiaTe been accorded to ' our Manchestarbrethren in vain . Thetfundamental _lawpf Chartism is to Do unto thy feUowmaa * aa thou _* wouldat be should do unto thee , ' that * Law must ba vindicated' . ' _L'Ami du Pkuple . December ? 8 ft ,, ISl _&
Lynn Election A>Nd Chartist Triumph. Ihb...
LYNN _ELECTION A > ND CHARTIST TRIUMPH . IHB ROMUfATIO *' . The _aominatjon took place ou Friday week , and at _Sotb _^ 1118 _* _*^ _- _^ ch 5 ef _^ 8 » trate ' of the £ _a 5 V ? ' _Ss E *< l > , teok his seat surrounded n „ n v u & ° ( the _'cpec _**™ candidates . The it ? a ; t ; _i _^ _l f !! . a e _St * ' bl } iD 8 _« w transm « m « loM . Bnt his partisans mustered in con-* ideraWe numbers , _todohononr to the maa who was to become their future representative , Mr Dixon and his committee were at their posts , and through S ? _^ _rtesj of the mayor , they were , together with Mr Stanley ' _sroppprteni , permitted to enter hy a private way , tn order to eeeare a good position . Tbe members of the press reoeived every courtesy from tbe mayor by the necessary arrangements for their
_^ mmodation , ai . weUaa every person specially interested in the proceedings . Tho _spaeteus hall at the _esmmeneeaent waa far from being full , but by degrees it became well crowded , yet the utmost order and decorum on the whele for an election contest , were well preserTed . ¦ - . .. ¦» The _Towa & iBK having read tte wit asd the act against bribery , R . _BiaoB , Eso ,. proposed , and G . _Hooos , YE * q , seconded , the nomination of the Hon . E . H . _Siahwt _, as in every way qaslifisd to represent this borough in Parliament . ( Loudcheers . ) . Mr Lukk Pours proposed , in a telling speech , and Mr DicKBR _« oM , ' , of _Queen Street , seconded , the nomination of Mr William Dixon , to represent the borough .
Tbe Matob was about to take the vote by show of hands , when Mr Dixon said—Mr Mayor , if there is no party present to address the constituency on the part of ray . honourable opponent , I claim the right of speaking before yon proceed tb take the show of bands . The Mayor asving conceded , Mr Dixon came forward and said—Electors and Non-Electors , iu presenting myself as a candidate for the representation of year ancient borough , and yoor suffrages , it is not from any ambitious views on my part , bnt for the purpose of rendering my assistance towards _carryisg out those great principles _oFprsott . cal refotm , necessary for the well-being of all classes of society . I did not come here from any personal feelings of animosity towards my honourable
oddonent , bnt as an Englishman determined to speak out fearless -- , and do my dnty to my country . Gentlemen . I felt some little surprise when I beard the gentleman who seconded the nomination of my honourable opponent state to you that I was for the destruction of the Protestant Church . I am ignorant of the source from whence he got his informatun . I think he Has not reoeived any information upon the matter , outspeaks on the impulse of the _ccoaent , or , perhaps , he thinks that all reforms means destruction . However , I would give him a little wholesome advice , and that is , never again to make assertions whioh have no foundation in truth . As a Dissenter , I have a right to objeot to what I consider abases—and what _weDisseBters object to
is , tbe making us pay for a religion in whioh we do _ootbelieTe . And this gross act " of tyranny is practised upon us by the unjust interference * of the State in religious matters . I ask , therefore , not for the destruction of the 'Protestant Church , ' but for its separation from the State—believing that , where such connexion exists , it acts in opposition to the best interests of true religion . And in this belief we are supported by the history of the world . Whereerer the Church . has become connected with the State , there haa been a visible declension in those virtues for which the clergy were noted when they were dependant npon their own flock for support . Such has been the history of the Church since the days of Constantine . Not only have they become
lax in Yirtue , but negligent _indnty . (* No , no , ' and kisses from some ofthe gentlemen on the hustings , ) Mr Dixon turned round , and calmly said—Gentle _, men , I have yet to learn that hissing is any mark of superior intelligence , or a successful reply to an argument . Geese on a oommon will hiss if yoa annoy them . ( Lond cheers , and cries of * Bravo , Dixon . ' ) I again repeat the assertion , that State interference bas a tendency to make the ministers negligent in their dnty , and that there has been gross neglect on the part of the dignitaries of tha Church of England . ( ' No , no , ' from some of the gentlemen on the hustings . ) A gentleman says 'No , ' but I will bring forward facts . Some few years '' ago , Mr Mott waa sent on a commission -into
the mining districts to inquire into the spiritual condition of the people , and he fonnd a * gross ignorance amongst them as if they had been the Hottentots of South Africa . He asked ona man if he knew Jesus Christ . The man , in order to enable himself to answer the question , inquired 'if he was a pitman or a browman . ' That is , was he a man wbo got coal at the bottom of the pit , or one who took them off at the top . I ask , in a eountry where so much is paid to the ehureb , whether such a state of things onght to exist ? When the ignorance of the people is COmplo , * _*< * nf , _dnpatfcint i—ll a ? g-Mu _noalanl . a—A the sooner therefore the ministers of religion are all thrown npon their own resources the better . I trost that this statement will not lead you astray . I believe that if a man thinks it necessary to have an
archbishop and a bishop to prepare the way for him to heaven , he has a perfect right to have them , provided be pays for them , but I do not consider that I should be called upon to pay for the service of dignitaries which I do not require . We were told by the gentle _, man who proposed tbe Bon . E . H . Stanley , that be was at present in America , in order to get more knowledge oi the great principles of liberty . He would , therefore , find in that great republio thst there was no lack of religion , and at the same time there was no State Churoh . ( Cheers . ) All men of progress are of opinion tbat reforms _muBfc take place . AU who live by indoatry are tired of things as they are , and therefore demand a change . But what change iB necessary and adequate to meet the emergencies of
the case ? Tbat is tbe question which yon must now decide . Gentlemen , I ask for your suffrages on the broad principles of the People ' s Charter ; government for aad by the people , being the only remedy for destroying the unjust system of class law making , so severely felt by the toiling millions . I believe the time has now come when the great mass of the people are fit to be admitted within the pale of the constitution , and ought , therefore , to be entrusted with the Franchise . We are told that Mr Stanley will be fonnd to be a supporter of the institutions of the _oanntry-some of these are worth _eupportingi bat the sooner others are kicked away the better , and one is the iaw whioh ( taking the borough of Lynn as a specimen , ) allows one man out of seven to vote , whilst
the other six have no voice in the matter . No man has ever been heard to say that there is justice in this . From Sir Robert Peel to Colonel Sibtborp , they all agree as to the jastice , but differ as to the expediency . There are many excuses made why . the Franchise should not be extended—one is the ignorance of the people , but from the amoun t of money expended they ought notto beignorant—if the ministers of the churoh bad done their duty , I trow there would have been no _canse to complain of tbeir ignorancebut our rulers have withheld the means ef instruction , and tben turned round upon ub . But this is a fallacy after al ) , it is no test of a man ' s qualification to be intellectual or distinguished for his virtue or his integrity . but simply to hold a property
qualification . That a msn should have a vote because ne pays a rental of £ 10 a year , besides rates and taxes , is most absurd . In this oountry where intelligence » not the test—how many men are there , who when the dark cloud of adversity comes over them are deprived of their rights of citizenship and filing amongst the enslaved mass . I wish for the enfranchisement of the whole male papulation of this country , of sound mind and untainted with crime . I am of no party but the people , and in asking , for the extension of the suffrage , I ask for . every -man , no matter what may be his creed or political opinions , as I am of opinion that every man who contributes to ihe well-beiog of the commonwealth onght to . enjoy tba immunities belonging to him as a component
-art of the state . There is another point upon which I wish to touch . I ge for the ballot ; there are few reformers bat see the necessity for its adop . tion , and Borne professing conservative prinoiples think it neoessary , thongh they would not _^ extend the suffrage , and why ? because latiaaidation is exercised to _suchran exteht , that there ought to be some protection to the voter . It wnot the working man only that requires it , I have heard of men , _shopbeepew , doing business in Lynn , who dawn ot hod up their heads as freemen , and say they will give their vote * » they liked . I contend . tbat no employer has . a right to interfere with a man ' s voting , that is a matter whieh lies between his country , hw conscience , and his God , and the employer who does so alsowho
U a tjW . There aro some landlords , assume the capacity of dictators , and say _Tftw tenants shall vote as they think fit . Ia the » _uni . oipal matteraof this Borough some landlords have interfered with the votes of their tenants and told them tbat tbey wonld take their names off the ratepayers'list , _beesusethey dared to votei again ** the man of their choice ( lond cries of that ' s 1 toe ) , itis therefore _neeessaTV that in extending the _suffraaB protection should be given the voter to protect binfagainst the tyranny of his landlord or employer . Gentlemen , it is net necessary for me to explain the whole of tbe details of the Charter . Suffice it to « y that they ara all ewntiallj- _neoasary for the eftotusl working of Universal Suffrage , I .
wlitherefore , pass on and give you _»«»• * questions at present _ceoupying the P _« S _? kS ? 4 The first is one of importanoe , namely , Whatiiii to be done with the unemployed labourers I Thu * s a question wbicb must sooner or ator be _decked . Some _saj emgntion , bat I _»» £ ! _W » _£ JS colonisation , in preference to _> transporting man to Aastraliao _4 canads , w : that heir wa ges might be better , and their condition improved . I contend _thattthe surplus population should be provided for at home : ; and I now aakfor an extension ofthe _autj _frae _& _bst hy the united wisdom of the people- _^ ucn ( changes shall _bsmade , and suoh measures into * . Ced as to enable tha working man to lite by hw honest industry instead of becoming a pauper . . 1 believe that the gentlemen in power have done _taeir duty especially to their class , for there always is a
Lynn Election A>Nd Chartist Triumph. Ihb...
_pripci ; 4 p ih mm to _Bpnrihein on to take _enroot their own * interests . I . always find ' tho lawsVate made to benefit the class to which the law-givers " bel ° og ,--leokat'thepei ) Bion list ; yfeu _haye . been re * _preajnled . by men of title , acd _theoocsaquence is that the weight of the taxes falls on to the shoulders of the people , whilst the profits' of their industry , gr . into the pockets of their legislators . A _itain , foes to parliament for the publio good , but as soon as . he gets there , he turns his attention towards _pieeuriag situations for his relatives in some of our homo offices , co ' _onial establishments , or foreign dependen cies , or getting his Aunt _Deborah plaoed apon she pension list if she happens to be in _iadigentoircouuistances , Look at the sinecure _offioes filled hVtha
scions of our aristocracy—wby the political _inftaehae ofthe landed aristocracy is of more value to them than their rent rolls . The _piokings oat of _effioa are pretty considerable ; and . this will always bo the case so long as the HouBe of Commons is constituted as it is . I might enumerate a lot of taxes to show the beautiful working of this system—how the poor man ' s table is highly taxed , while tbe rich man ' s is as lightly . If any reform is to be _aeoomplished in the Honse of Commons , it must not ho by physical revolutions or convulsions—that ii not the . way to cany out . reform ; it must be by moral suasion . If universal suffrage could be carried by physical convulsion to-day , and by waiting fer it twenty years , I could have it without . I would wait ,
because . I am satisfied that more good wonld be effected . If anything is accomplished by physical convulsions , I consider that the working of a oountry is disorganised for twenty or thirty years before it can be restored to its equilibrium . It has baen ssid that I am a man of extreme opinions and that a stop must be put to such democratic principles as I advocate , but what is tha difference ? those who differ from me , carry their princi ples to the extreme , aod it becomes despotism and gives to tho minority the influence over the majority . I appeal to your sense of jastice as to who ought to have the rule . The time has come that some changes , must take plaoe , it iB not for one class tb ride rampant over the people and fatten npon the profits of their
industry . But it is not the working men . only who suffer ; a large portion of tradesmen ara aa much afflioted as they are , and will be so long as we have such a bungling government as we have now—I ask , is . it integrity or their capabilities that placed them in the _position tbey now occupy—look at Sir 0 . Wood , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , who tumbles over a figure of three and knocks hia head against a figure of five , why is he there ? because he is related ,-to ' the house , of Bedford . Now we want a government , by and for the people , a government which shall do the _biddiBg of the people . I always found the WhigB in office a _different set of fellows . when on the opposition benoheg . I reoollect that Lord J . Ruruell , a fa * nights before Sir R . Pee left _bffios ,
maintained that if the hon . baronet was not prepared wih measures for the equal distribution of the products of the country , he . should introduce some ; but as soon as Lord John came into power , we heard nothing more upon the subjeot The Whig government has been acting a moat reckless part during the last few months . I a * k , _aleo , why were not some remedial measures applied in time to Ireland , which would have prevented the sad events that have taken place there 1 How have the millions of money voted to Ireland been disposed of ?—how have they been employed ?—why some bar * gone into thepecketaof the Irish landlords , and the rest has been s _^ _ent in making roads from no plane to nowhere . I contend that if it had been spent
in re-productive labour , it would have been far better . The government gave Ireland a Coercion Bill as a remedy for'her ills , and by aud by they said , we will introduce remedial measures , asd what is their remedy for Ireland now ? wby , they proposeito endow the Roman Catholic priesthood , and send an ambassador to the Pope . What do they mean by _. this f Why they are trying to bind the priesthood to the wheels of government—to the Juggernaut of corruption—and they think when they have got them under _tuBi * thumb , they willnotjoin with the people . Bat if they boy the priesthood , that will not feed the people or find them employment , nor prevent ejectments . Yon knew little of what the Irish peasantry endnre ; landlords osrtaisly have a right to do as
they like with their _o"fn , so long as they do not injure their neighbours , but carry out the maxim _'Dj unto others as you wonld Ihey should do unto you , 'and thus stick to the fundamental prinoip ' _es of our common Christianity . A man may lay a tract of country desolate-he may turn acres into a sheep walk—he may pull down the cottages of the poor man—but is it in human nature to bear this without feeling a spirit of revenge t Every dispensation of Heaven we must Babmit to ; but , to any man , be he the proudest noble in theland , who unjustly oppresses me , I claim the right of resenting the injustice . My remedy for Ireland is , the cultivation of the waste lands ; and government have as much right to take the waste lands as thev have to na * * _ntinlnanrfl » _nia
. and take awav . the common rioht « " * ¦ _»««• _, •"»« «— .-tf" " bet _toemTake the wane lands from the lords of the manors , pay them their present vain * , sterile oa they are , and expend money for their cultivation . ( Mr Dixon gave an outline of his plan for the improvement and cultivation of the bogs of Ireland , which would , he said , mend the condition of the people , and answer the end intended , much better than Coercion Bills , suspension of the Habeas Corpus , or sending dragoons and bullets to a starving peasantry —it wonld , in fact , make Ireland rioh and fruitful , and her people peaceful , happy , ahd comfortable . Mr Dixon continued . —I am hot opposed to the endowment of tbe Catholio priesthood , because they are Catholics—I am against all State
endowmentstbat man who would interfere with me for bowing at a different altar does not understand his position—I bare a right to be what I please . I ask , if in the Church Establishment of this oountry there is concord—no suoh thing—the prayers and responses may be the same , bat then the sermon—in one churoh you find an Arminian—in another a _Calvinist—in another a Baptist , and in this particular they all differ widely . Tbeir theological opinions are as varied as dissenters , the State cannot enforce unity of doctrine . The laws of primogeniture , entail and settlement ) compel our aristocracy to provide situations ior their younger _, sons—ahd henoe the necessity for keeping those little shops open—the churoh , the army , and the nary . If there is a son , a dare-devil fellow , who would _» _b goon
kill a man as spit a frog , he must go Fnto the armyif there ib another deep old fellow , as cunning as a fox , he must wear a wig—if there is another noodle , who oannot speak , he may be sent into the churoh , and there he can get a curate—a journeyman-to do the work , while he will pocket the stipend . ( Uproar and hisses . ) I come here to epeikthe truth , and speak it boldly , and after having done so , I care nothing for the caokling of geese ; these hisses are a poor reply to an argument—gentlemen may hiss as they please . I have a duty to perform , and I will perform it in spite of every opposition . No wonder , I say , that they find it necessary to support the church establishment . With regard to the law of primogeniture—this is a law which was made to keep
the whole ofthe lands in the hands of a fractional portion of the people . Mr Dixon here explained the nature of the law . He said , America had no sueh laws , and propounded a . scheme by whioh , he contended , that the land , if properly distributed , ' was sufficient to maintain all the people of this country . ( A voice , ' You'll make us all paupers . ' ) The gentleman said we should all become paupers—if so , tbe Deity who made the land and the people , knew nothing about it . Mr Dixon—We are told by MrM'Cullocb , the statician . to the present Board of Trade , that out of the seventy-five million acres of land in Eagland , fifteen millions only are not capable of cultivation , conge * quently there are sixty millions of acres left . Divide tbiBb _) three , stives twenty millions—whieh will give
three-acre farms , and I believe this is much better tban 8 s . as an agricultural labourer . The population ef the conntr y is twenty-eight millions , and I have made provision for . ' one hundred millions . ( A voice , What is to become of our grandohildren V ) Ih reply to that , 1 have to say _. _Jthat whoever knews _any-, thing of physical laws , knows that nature herself will provide a remedy , for that man must have a certain amount of oxygen to sustain life . This is a principle of physics ; if the population thicken too fast , then the oxygen cannot be supplied , and that moment some must die ( ff- ( Cries of ' Well done , Dixon . ' ) There ' s land enough in England , and ao long as there ' s land , there ' s little need to transport people ; and I am so fond of her , that I'll never leave her . I
contend that the legislature has a right to think of . the labouring mati , and if there be a redundancy of I population in our large towns , it is not so in our agricultural _dirtriots / and alaW should be passed to divide the land'into smaller occupations . Ths people must-be provided for—any ash whe is born in England , has a right to an existence there , even if it is as a pauper . This is a right acknowledged by the constitution ofthe country . Mr Dixon eaid , bad as the present * poor laws were , this prinoiple was acknowledged in them . He animadverted in strong terms apon the Poor Law terrorism , which he condemned as having about tbem that which drove men to crime ; but if legislators made laws suoh as these , " which were prolific of crime , then it was the electors of England who were to blame , for the House of _Coaamws was the reflex of the electoral mind of this eountry . and the electors should not tend suoh men
there . He repeated bia assertion , that those laws had been the mesas of orime , and powerfully appealed to the passions of tbe working men . The Poor Law Aot is a disgrace to our statute book ; and here I have a word to aay about _* the ohurch dignitaries—whea this law was passing the legislature , what was their eon * duct with referenoe to the elause whioh authorised the separation of man and wile f There were twenty * eight bishops in the house ; and it they have any business there at all , it it to watch over the 0 | vil and religious privileges ofthe people-thei poorpartio _* larly . Out of these _twenty-eight bishops , twentybix voted for tbe separation _olaase , in direct opposition to the words ot the marriage Berviqe of their own church , which -says , whom God has joined together , let no man put asunder . ' Two only , the Bishop of Exeter and another , Btood againat the measure . __ It is then their _conduct-their work—not their _religien * that I look at . 1 believe there we some good " _jit-ft
Lynn Election A>Nd Chartist Triumph. Ihb...
_aflJO B _^ s _y _p . -m ; . 6 _ui we . must not on this account _ehu _* our eves _, to tho abuse , of evils which ara _. iu * exiatenoa-1 Bay j et all the _minivers of religion stand _udou the same footing . Jf w » . afe t 0 have tree trade , let us hare tree . trade in everything . , . There are . many other wags which it might be as well / to mention , which will como before the houae next _Bession _. and whether \ _ ° PPP _* _ent be returned , I think instructions _snouldbo giveaas to the course yonr representative _SMFrt _^ * _^ J wm . i <¦<> tot believe one _Slir _^ _* ofa man going unpledged to _parjament . A man may be untrammelled on some questions , but _Ithink in all great national matters be Bhould pledge himself as to , how he intends to aot . Ihe . representative is but the servantnot the master
, ofthe constituency , and he goes to Parliament not only to represent Lynn , but the great _community of the kingdom . With regard to the questions of Capital Punishments and the Game Laws , I am for their total abrl . tion ; in _thfone case , I contend that man has ne right to take away that whioh he oannot give , and in the other , I regard the Game Laws as sources of great evil and orime . I call on tbe _eleotors to Bay today , if they will elect a man wko pledges himself to represent the whole people—who asks for a vote for every man , be he _Conservative , . Whig , or Radioal , who wears a head and knows how to use it . In conclusion , I appeal to . the eleotors of the : borough of Lynn , te exercise the functions cenferred on them as a privilege , which I ask as a right . At the poll
tomorrow , it will be for you to say who shall be returned ; and reoollect you are voting not so muoh ior yourselves , aa for your brother _non-eleotors—do not consider your own personal views , so much as those around you . I thank yon for the patient hearing you have given me , and trust you will decide impartially . You have heard my opinions folly explained , and I believe that if carried into effect , they will produce ohange for . the good of society . If you think so , vote for me ; if not , vote against me—only aot as conscientious men . This is all I ask , and I fear no defeat . ( Loudcheers . ) , ~ _Tce-MiTOH theu took ihe show of hands , whioh was greatly in favour .. of Mr Dixon , and a poll waB demanded by Mr R . Bagge , on behalf of the Hon . E . H . Stanley . The Matob said , a poll having be ? n demanded , he Bhould appoint Saturday for the polling to take place , but in consequence ofthe expenses of erecting the
booth , he must request that the friends of each candidate weuld deposit tfae sum of £ 50 with him , towards defraying the expenses . © Mr _Dixwthen rose and said—I came here on the principles of Universal Suffrage , and as such have been elected member for this borough . CNo . no . ' ) Gentlemen misunderstand me—1 repeat I have been elected your member by Universal Suffrage , not by the _jugglery which' will take , place to-morrow . By my prinoiples I stand—I protest against the election , and take no further part in the proceedings . The Mavob then rose and said—Mr Dixon having retired from the contest , I declare the Hon . E , H . Stanley duly elected . ( Cheers ) , Mr Dixoii proposed , and Mr _Baooe seconded , a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his able conduct , which was carried unanimously , and the proceedings terminated . '
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Carusl**.—At The Quarterly Meeting Of Th...
Carusl _** . —At the quarterly meeting of the Chartists of this place , held on Monday the I 8 th inst ., \ V . Young in the chair , after . the usual weekly business was transacted , and tbe accounts read over _, and passed as correct , the appointment of a council under the plan of Organisation was discussed . The question was raised ,- that as it would be useless to attempt to get one penny per week subscription here , and , therefore , as we could not act up to the rules , should we be considered as part of the Association , and entitled to nominate persona to act as part of
the general Couucil ? It was ultimately arranged to nominate the number agreed upon at the district delegate meeting , _, and send their names to the executive for appointment if they deemed it proper to do so . A committee was appointed to draw up an address to the Chartist body throughout the country . The following address , was submitted and unanimously adopted : — . _Fanow _CousiBiMw _* , —We address you on a subject of much importance , _^ , the Plan of _Orgsntarhm for the attainment of the People ' s Charter . Wl consider it of importance , because oa the efficient working of that plan depends the success of the
_Ciartist movement . It is an old motto— 'Union is strength . ' Ins great measure it certainly is ; but our strength depends or our numbers as well as on our union ; without numbers our union avails nothing , we are equally powerless without numbers as we are without union . In order to obtain numbers , it iB necessary on account of their poverty . If we make roles which will exclude tbe really poor , our _Asssciation canno ' be national—if our Association is not national , our movement is a mockery . The rules , or—in other words—the plan of orga nisation whioh has recently been submitted to you . is not , in our opinion , calculated to draw numbers to the movement . One penny per week we assertnotwithstanding what may be said to the oontraryis too much for the great bulk of the working population of tbe country to pay . One penny has always
been specified in the rules as the weekly sum whioh eaoh member would have to pay , and nothing , we believe , has tended m > re to keep tbe Association at a low ebb than tbis . It ia useless to attempt to get one penny per week . The handloom weavers of Cumberland—and handloom weavers are nearly the same all over the country—are earning on an average about 5 s . or 8 s . per week , and cannot afford to give one sixtieth or one seventieth rf tbeir earnings . They make little—tbey nan afford little—but thst little is generally ghen freely . . ,
There are many others that cannot conveniently afford to pay one penny per week , persons who , perhaps , are not _constancy employed at their different avocations , and _« nly poorly remunerated _. _whtra in full employment . The man who has 6 s . per week wages , and pays one halfpenny per week to the Association , pays as much in proportion to his weekly earnings as the man who reoeives 12 * . per week , were he to pay one penny . Tbe penny per week keeps many from joining the Association ; they would willingly pay one halfpenny , but one penny tbey consider too muoh . And let it not be said that tbey are lukewarm Chartists who will not pay the penny . We know to tbe oontrary . We know that Carlisle , though not up to tbVraarV is as near * the mark' aa any other place ; and we know tbat mere money can be raided here at tue halfpenny subscription than at the
penny . In conclusion , we would call on the country to take this part of the rules into their most serious consideration . We think it would be better even were we only to obtain the Bame amount of money , if we wou'd get the increased number of members , The rules have never yet been aoted up to throughout the country generally . We want them to be drawn up in such a manner that no one , however poor , can have any reasonable objection . In fine , we want those who profess Chartist prinoiples to give testitaony of their sincerity by joining the National Charter Association . lln-giving ' publicity to the above addres ? , we must observe that the question of payment of funds to the Association is for the time being settled . The laws already adopted will _remain in force until revised by the Chartist Convention , in May next . — Ed . N . S . J - _
_Natiokat . Vicmc asd _Djcfsnoe Fran . —At a meeting of the Way b and Means Committee , held at tbe National Land Company ' s Rooms , 144 , High _Holbotn , on Wednesday evening , December 27 ch , Mr Grey in the chair , ic was resolved , That Mr Thomas Cooper ' s oration in _support of the fund shall be delivered on Tuesday evening , January 9 th ; subject , * The politioal writings of Thomas Paine . ' The committee then adjourned to Monday evening next , January lBt , at eight o _' oleok _, to receive cash , and make arrangements for the tea party of the succeeding evening . __ _...,
_Potics _Tibawht . — The Chartists assembling at Hudson ' s Academy , Cross Street , Hatton Garden , having been refused tbis place of meeting , through the interference of the polioe with Mr Hudson ' s landlord , lately met at _Deadman _' s _Coffee-heust , Clerkenwell Green , when Mr Blaka presented a monster loaf for the benefit of the viotirns , which realised six shillings . After tran _« _M-ing other business _, the meetin g was adjourned ta Sunday evening , al six _o ' eloek , at the same plaoe . ¦ £ iioimv « . -The Executi ve _Oomm-tteemet at the rooms of the National Land Company , 144 . High Holborn , on Friday evening , December 23 nd , when the following gentlemen were present - -Messrs llarnev Clark , and MGrath . Mt Dixon was at Lynn , contesting the representation of _thatborougb and for whioh hs obtained the show of hands . Mr Kydd was reported to be still _successioHy pursuing his missionar y tour inthe north and midland districts . The following resolution , on the motion of Messrs Clark and Harneywas unanimously
, . adopted :- * Thatthe Literary and Scieatifio last-to tion . John Street , Fitiroy Square . be taken for the evenin gs of Monday , the 8 th , 15 th , and 22 nd ,, qt January , 1849 , for the _purpofio of holding publio meetin gs in support of the Charter . ' On the motion of Messrs Harneiand Clark , it _wasi resolved .-•¦ That an appeal be hereby made tothe democrats of Liverpool and Manchester , -to form a fund m erder to supply weekly support U Messrs J . west , J . Leach , D . Donovan and others , now sentenced to a long incarceration as _first-olass miedemeaflanto . Huk-A meeting was held on Sunday last st Mr Hancock ' s , 21 , Bishop Lane , ( where all meetings will be held in future ) , for the _purposs of earrylng out the p lanoforgantofttiea _, and _™ _" | _* _f » _* _ the Victims . Resolutions were adopted tbat a bau and « fr # be held , and that Mr Kydd be commuui * . _wtedwith requesting his attendant )* ; after whioh i lie , mee ""* was adjourned to Sunday evening _Becembev 31 st ,
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Birmingham.—Anniversary Of The Ship Bran...
_Birmingham . —Anniversary of the Ship branch * of the National Land Company and Democratic _DenelH Society . —A number of the members of the abofeSocieties , dined together in the large room of the above house , on Tuesday last , Dec . 26 th . The room was very tastefully decorated , and after , the tables were * removed Mr James Alfred _Fussell was called upon to preside . The chairman opened the business of the evening by reminding the meeting that they were met to celebrate the formation of a branch of . the Land Company , a company wbich was calculated to redeem the working classes of
this country from their present state of degradation , to . happiness and independence , if supported . as ic should be by its members ; after drawing the attention of the meeting to tbe benefits arising from becoming members of the Democratic Benefit Society , he concluded a very instructive address , by giving 'Thepeople , the legitimate source of all power / Responded lo in a very able address by'Mr John Fallows- The chairman then called upon Mr Doyle , one of the Directors of the National Land Company , who sung * Base Oppressors , ' in good style . The chairman then gave tbe ' People's
Charter , may it speedily become the law of the land . * Mr Cooper , in responding to the ( oast of the People ' s Charter , said it had been observed , the toast of the People was a most important to _& bt , but he believed the toast of the Charter , > was more important ; he thought the People had as good a government aa they deserved , as it was nothing but their owa apathy that retarded the progress of universal freedom : he then painted out in a very clear style the different crotchets promulgated by the middle classes , and concluded by urging upon the working men to attend to their own interest . " Tbe chairman then
gave the ' National Land . Company , may it succeed in obtaining the , emancipation of the People from social and political thraldom , ' which was responded to in a very able manner by Mr Martin . 'Song , The Minstrel boy , ' by Mr C . Doyle . The Chairman thea gave tbe' Democratic Benefit Society , may its members increase and realise the anticipations of its promoters . ' ' Mr Roden responded to the above toast , and pointed out in a very able manner the benefits arising to persons joining the above ' society , the funds in this society were placed in the National Land and Labout Bank , and were used as a , means to place the : ao-called surplus population upon tbe soil of their native land , and net as ia
other societies _placed in the hands of tbose who are their determined enemies . Song , 'The Lion of Freedom / by Mr Weeks . The next toast given was , 'Our Chartist brethren who are incarcerated under Whig misrule , and the martyrs of all nations—may their noble struggles be appreciated by all people , and hasten the advent of . universal freedom . ' Responded to by David Potts . ' Feargus O ' Connor , and the Directors of the National Land Company , may they receive that support from the shareholders to enable them to carry the plan out successfully . ' Spoken to bj John Newbouse . Mr Doyle
returned thanks on behalf of himself and brother directors , in a very able speech , in which he entered into a very lengthy and able _exposif'on of the Labour question , and also exposed the conduct of the Press in reference to the Land Company , and sat down amidst great applause . An appeal was then made for the Executive NEW YEAR'S GIFT , and lis . 3 d . collected . ' The memory of Henry Hunt , and all departed patriots / was next given , after which the company enjoyed themselves with songs and conversation till a late hour , when they separated highly satisfied with the evening ' s entertainment .
_Hwh ,, —The subject of Mr O'Connor ' s Letter has had the consideration of this locality , andthe conclusion come to is , that if the rents of the balloted members are remitted it will establish a bad precedent . We recommend that they pay the rent ? after a . lengthened time , to be named by the directory . Neither do we approve ef Mr O'Connor s generosity , as he has had too many calls on his purse and good nature already ; besides , we think it will act as a barrier to tbat carefulness and forethought which is essential to any one starting in the world afresh—besides giving our enemies the advantage of proof that the men thus located cannot live and pay rent . The remaining part we agree with _, except that too long a time is given to purchasers topay their rents
on Sunday , the 24 th instant , tbe subject of Mr O'Connor ' s propositions was warmly discussed , and the unanimous decision of tbe members was , that they consider Mr O'Connor has no right to be sa kind to the allottees , when he has declared in Conference that the real cause of tbeir not getting on was idleness and deception , and it was also stated that some of the located members were able to pay their rent , but would not . We are astonished that Mr O'Connor should support such characters .
when he must be aware that it would encourage a repetition of idleness , and prevent the industrious members from being located ; and it is our decided opinion that Mr O'Connor , has no right to draw his money from the Company for tbat purpose any more than we have . And it is also our opinion , that if they will not pay their rent , they should be discharged , and let some industrious men take their place , because we believe that such indulgence will have a tendency to create dissatisfaction , and tend to the breaking up of the Company .
Hanlst . —At the weekly meetiagof the Hanley and Shelton Land members , it was unanimously passed : — ' That we disagree with Mr O'Connor respecting the rents ofthe allottees , at stated by him in last Saturday ' s Sur , and wiBh to abide by the decision ofthe Conference . ' _Lambstb . —At a meeting of the Land members of _Limbeth , at 115 , _Biackfrinri Road , a discussion arose as to whether it would _nat ba better for the members if Mr O'Connor was te rent Land for a
limited number of years _iastad ' of purchasing it . Ths _disousBion was adjourned to Sunday , December _3 lst , at six o ' clock in the evening . HisDLBT . —At a meeting of the Dodhurst Brow branoh of the _Natior-sl Land 0 _impaoy , the following resolution was passed : — 'That we , the members of this braneh , are ef opinion that tho Direotors ought to stand by the roles of the late _Conference , as regard * the rents due by the members located on the land , in preference to the propositions of Mr O'Con * nor , published in the Star of the 23 rd mat . '
_Smatobd . —Tbe following resolution was agreed to at a mebVmg of the Land members . Proposed by John Towning , and seoonded by Beridgo Cragg . _*—' Thst the members located do not bave tbe rent due given them by tbe Company , but pay it aB agreed to by tbe late Conference . ' -Knarssboboooh . —Mr 0 'Co » nor having called upon the Land members for their opinion ss to for * giving the allottees their year ' s rent : We protest against it , and think , according to hiB former letter , tbey are unworthy of such indulgence . We think the many thouiands who have paid their . hard- a ned pence _ought to be cared for . At tbis time there ara thousands who bave paid part of their share money , out of employment , pini g for want , and they sre to be expelled if they cannot pay , while all the indulgence is to ba shown to those located _.
TS PSAROCS O ' CONNOR , B : Q ., M . P . Respected Sir , —For your kind , generous , and paternal offttr in las * Saturday ' s Star , to the Allottees , I beg to offer you my most heartfelt thank * , ; though 1 am not concerned directly in the advantages of that noble offer , their happiness adds to mine , while their sufferings heap misery on me . Could yon but witness the gleams of joy which that spread over every countenance on this estate , you would b * more tban repaid . ; it has raised them from despondency , and I fear not but it will stimulate them to struggle on . It has been said _tbatsoaie ara idle and slothful : I am now nearly six months hers and I have not discovered one idler yet ; and , indeed ,
this is not my opinion alone , but tbe opinion of ths moat respectable farmers in tbe parish . As I said at the Conference , there was a combination of oauses all tending to depress the located , True , the great cause of depression—the potato rot—no human being oould avert ; however , in all their sufferings 1 never knew one who said the plan was impracticable . Of six who have left the eBUte Bince summer , two left owing to their wives ' illness , two got situations , and two thwugh poverty . At this moment thereare a few on the estate who know not how to exist until tha crops oome in ; withal , thoy are determined to persevere , feeliBg assured that they will succeed . For myself , the more I see of its working , the more certain I am of the praotioability ofthe plan . Truly juat were your remarks regarding those whom yoa
may term' unruly ohildren ; ' though they may oonsider your mode of proceeding not the best , and _sue & Uon it with what may be called malignity , I oan safely aver that n o one on this estate , ( that I could discover ) , ever questioned your honesty of intention _, sincerity of design , " or _noblaneaa of purpose ; not would they allow another to do io , it mattered not who he waa . That jou may live long to struggle fO ! tbe idling masses , is theeamest desire of , Your once unruly child , P . J . _O'Bbibn , Schoolmaster . Lowbands , 26 th Deo ., 1848 . "' ' , p . S . _—Thtre are some truly worthy men at Snie _' s End wbo love the Land , but from want o ! means are incapable ef giving it fair play ; the amount spent io cropping would , I am confident , place then in a fail position to t ? il on ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 30, 1848, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_30121848/page/5/
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