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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.
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GEORGE HENRY SMITH AND THE FOUR KIRKDALE CHARTIST FRISO 2 fERS . TO THE EDITOR OF THE SOBTDERS STAB , Sia , —I Jiave Iom teen the object of calumny and persecution , not only by the government , but by somer-npwafew-rof our Chartist brethren . Let Grocott ' s . letter be inserted , and the cause will be seen . I . . truly spiered to he thus obliged to spend my , time by . writing in self-defence , while my energies , might be more profitably , expended in defending the liberties of our degraded and oppressed countrymen . Still 1 should be wanting in all due respect towardsmy moral character , if I silently sntmltled to ihefhlse statements—and , by ikJs time , false impressions—made by the four designing men , viz ., "White , Leach , West , and Donovan , without an effort on my part to counteract the effect of their
; malignantly-concocted manifesto . Tou are aware . [ Sir , of letters appearing in the Star , dated 11 th f June , under the head of "Kirkdale Chartist Pri-\ . spners , " emanating from White , \ Xorman , and I Donovan , These letters—in addition to some pre "nous ones—caused-the Manchester "Victim Com-; mittee to make an appeal , in the language of com' plaint , to the Chartist Council of this locality , of i TFhicnlajaamembel ' j thereSult was , " anOlhel « letter [ coming from our body , which appeared in the -Star a I fortnight after , the delay was owing , I presume , tu [ your backwardness in not giving it early insertion . [ This letter contained partly the sentiments of the I Counc il , and partly the statements of the "Victim ! Committee , whichi were attached after we , the
} Council , tad appended our names , It is evident that ' this , oar letter , has given great offence to George \ "White , James Leach , John West , and Daniel Dono-\ Tan ; hence their virulent attack , and unmerited abuse upon myself . The "Victim Committee came again to the Council , and threatened to resign their [ functions if we did not consent to convene a special i members * meeting , in order to afford them an opi "gortunity of laying their complaints before the said t members ; to tuereiorc complied with their I request , when all communications were read by \ our secretary , touching the matters in dispute . Jiom what transpired I could clearly observe the baneful effects of calumny , and misrepresentation . Under these circumstances our Chartist Council
deemed it necessary and prudent to transmit to you their conclusive remarks upon the conduct of White , INbrman , and Donovan , as instanced in their letters dated Hth of June . I posted a copy of a letter coming from Grocott on Monday , perhaps you did not receive it till Thursday ; at all events you objected to giving insertion to either my letter or the letter of the Council , not without a few one-sided remarks , which you made in favour of the assailants . I confess yoiir mode of procedure increased my indignation , and Mr . O'Connor being in this neighbourhood I directed my steps to that gentleman . He received me in a cordial manner , and said : " Smith , tout letter , as coming from the Council , shall be in the Star next Saturday , together with
Grocott's , sent to you . " I observed , my object in appealing to him had no reference to the letter signed by the Council , but I solicited the privilege Of replying individuall y to that infamous catalogue of false assertions issued against my character , by White and his three gaol companions . Mr . 0 ' Connor immediately replied , and said : " Smith , anything you may have to say in a letter concerning TOur " character , as an answer io any charge against you , shall be inserted . " Mr . Editor , I shall waste as little of my paper as possible in defending myself in this dirty affair , but be content wllli merely attempting io' counteract the effects which mi g ht accrue from what seem to be serious falsehoods ; in the meantime , I shall pass over many ingenious statements -which these
men have palmed upon the public . Do not , Sir , he afraid of losing them ; man , like all other things , should only be estimated according to their intrinsic TH-orth . Tonr Sii-kdale correspondents question whether I have ever laid them under any pecuniary obligation . 2 To , I do not consider I ever have ; though I must say , I was peaceably at home when two of my Chartist brethren came last year as a deputation , and requested me to solicit a few of my friends to contribute to the Defence Fund . I readily consented , and procured for them near five pounds in one day ; in a few days after I obtained for them another fivepounds ; true , they paid me for my time , as I had to pay other men to do my worfe . I have occasional l y given my mite ; and , as chairman , I
leave others to determine whether I bare not faithfully discharged my duty towards those men , by ad-Tancing every possible argument in order to induce our audiences liberally to contribute on behalf of them and their families . Then they charge me with being the author of the ill-feeling ; as far as they are concerned iMs is bitterly false—I defy proof —our members have appointed a committee to inquire the cause touching its origin and progress . I will abide the result of their investigations . Jmother tale wiU be told by-and-by . They tell the world I have a love for secret intrigues and backdoor plots . . Sow , Mr . Editor , do not you think it would be decent in these men to hold their malicious tonsrues . without thev could manage to tell the
truth ? Let them , if they can , name one instance of my being connected with intrigue , or in a backdoor plot , if they cannot their ill-designed mischief goes for worse than nothing . Their next piece of misrepresentation says I was expelled from the National Charter Association , for creating mischief and dissension . Oh , George White , how can you say so ? John West , what do you know about it ? I thought you were gcipg to sare all your thunder until you came among us again . Why , you will expend allyour gammon , if you go on this way . The ionest truth is here—members in this town can testify to the fact . In 1 S £$ , Joseph Sturge commenced his political career in the complete suffrage movement—though a Chartist , I joined that
association . Our Chartist lecturers , at that " period , dealt In nothing but declamation and denunciation , abusing public men ; Sturge bad his share of esiamuv ; in short , they adopted an obstructive policy ^ * always inviting discussion . I , therefore , * accepted their iuvitations , and opposed openly , not secretly , but on the platform , iheir . want * of systematic practical discourses . Many thought , and even said , I was paid to oppose their proceedings ; they therefore expelled me ; but in two years afterwards a deputation , coming from the members , solicited my return to the National Charter Association , —I consented , and have been with them ever since . "White was in Birmingham ; West ia Maeelesficld at this time ; yet they subscribe to
this allegation , on the word of their companion Doaoran . " These four immaeulate men say I have carried on a correspondence with parties in prison , which , coupled with other circumstances , has caused a separation of prisoners . 2 Tow this is utterly false , and without the slig htest foundation . I admit I have occasionally , when they were altogether , corresponded with ilankin , a man whom I respected , and do still , and trust I shall to the last hour of my life . I lore an honest man , and believe Rankin to be one . In order to put that-suspicion at rest , I iave obtained Kankin ' s consent to submit , at any time , all letters which have passed to and from Ilankin and myself during his past imprisonment ; indeed I shall take sueb of my letters in question to
the committee . I omitted to notice their complaint abGUt a handbill which bore my signature , and -wluch I presented io the members at a members ' meeting . I beg , Mr . Editor , to ask you to insert tie handbill , they complain of . I had my own reasons , together with the advice of many of our members , for publishing this little tickling circular . JN ' o person , except these men , have complained of this document being either offensive or libellous . I -iave every reason to believe that our members now begin to see thfe necessity of a thorough reformation in our ownTiddy , as well as in the affairs of government , and , with God ' s help , we will have such reformation . The letter of complaint of these men ¦ was introduced in an official manner to the Council ;
that Council determined that I had done nothing Imt what as an individual I was justified in doing . If the members require explanation of the handbill , it shall be afforded them . Themoney which has . been afforded these men has been accompanied with insult and calumnies of myself and colleagues ^ this ' ia another fib . Ihave no connexion with the victim Committee , nor hare I been a natty to insult or annovanee ; if thev have been written to in an insultinjj tone previous to our correspondence in the Star , I have nothing to do with that , nor could I helpl-it . All Iknow about insulting letters is , that lir . C-rmesher showed me some abusive letters sent by these men against me . 3 fow I did think Jest was the only man amongst them worthy of my notice , I therefore wrote to him in order to appease . his unmerited anger , a copy of ^ whichi l Kept . He sent a Tery abufive ^ eply . 'Agam , Itold ^^ > y
letter , that I should be with him m " 5 W . W if hethoaght proper , audwould afford any informa . tion : he did not answer this . However , I paid him a visits I leave him to tell what took place between ^ . Mr . Editor ,-1 am tired of wrrtingnpon thisuhpleasant matterybut'I must add another remark ; these Kirkdale gentlemen declare they will not belong to any body of menwith whomImay be eonneete ! Th 6 is Tory prctty . -yould thej ' leave the cause for one man ? Iwould not If ™}** ** nor ten times ten ; if I thought I could W any u > e to the cause of suffering iumanity 5 » JW £ «™ efen faintly believe there is . m our body hope for progress I shall not leave : but this I do say , that the wiseand the good must band themselves together , or the consequences will be prejudicial to the causejof liberty . I now conclude with a sincere wish that . we may all become better men , and arrive at a better understanding . I remain , In the Chartist cause , a Democrat , George Eesm Smith . 47 Upper Medlock-street , Hulme , July ! 7 tb , 1849 .
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™——^—————^^—^—————TO THEEDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR , Dear Sib , —You will oblige us by inserting the enclosed letter in your forthcoming number , in reply to one which appeared in your columns last week , We are , yours truly , George whiie , Daxiei , Dosotan . James Leach , Jons West . Kirkdale Gaol , near Liverpool , July 24 th , 1 S 49 .
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THE KIRKDALE CHARTIST TRISOXERS . TO THE DEMOCRATS OF ENGLAND . Brethren , —Whilst the friends of liberty must feel deeply grieved at the prostration of the hopes of our continental brethren , and the unequal struggle in which the Hungarian patriots are engaged , and deplore the apitay which exists in this country , we , who participate with you in those feelings , and whose -aspirations for the final triumph of democracy are no less ardent than your own , fee ] how humiliating and degrading is the task which is again forced upon ns by some professing Chartists at Manchester . In addition to this , we hare to suffer the natural anxiety which we feel concerning our homes and families , from whom we have still to endure » long separation . but , as the columna of
the £ tar have been opened for ^ renewed attack upon us , we have no alternative but to defend ourselves . We venture ' . to assert , that no political party , in any country , can furnish a parallel to the suicidal conduct of the misguided creatures to whom we refer , as we cannot' perceive what purpose these letters are calculated to serve , seeing that their style and tendency must lower usin the estimation of the public , and bring the very name of Chartism into disrepute and contempt . We should not demean ourselves by noticing their ribald abuse , were it not that there are some insinuations therein to which we shall refer , and then leave the remainder of the incongruous'and disgusting mass to float peaceably into oblivion . : •' ¦ - ' '¦ To those who are not aware of the origin of these
scurrilous attacks , it may . be as well to state that , some tiine _ since ,. one of our . friends , with whom we correspond , published a letter in the Star , in which he Called the attention of the .-Chartist body to our position , and made a few remarks on the insufficiency of the amount , which the Manchester committee were , enabled to allow us , and also urging the claims which he ' eonsidered we had on the people . In the same number of the Sfflr , ' there apwared a letter from one " of our fellow prisoners , Daniel-Donovan , describing the condition of his family , in which he alluded to some nioney being forwarded from London for their ' use , which he supposed was withheld from'them by the Manchester Victim Committee . He wrote several times to that
Committee for an explanation , and received no reply , and he consequently took it for granted ! that his statement was correct . These letters called forth a long and abusive epistle from the Jilanchester Council , in which we were charged with falsehood , ingratitude , and abuse . We replied to this statement ; and gave a description of the ill usage we had received at the hands of these parties , and showed that the facts , contained in the letters of Messrs . Norman and Donovan , were not only correct , but remained undisputed . We concluded , by expressing our determination to live on felons' fare rather than submit to the insults" and slanders of these' parties , and requested our friends to make such arrangements as would release us from their , further annoyance . The epistle which appeared in the Star
of Saturday , last , instead of giving the " conclusive particulars" promised by these parties ^ is a confirmation of all that we hare stated concerning them , and does not even attempt to refute the facts previously referred to ; but as it contains some : cowardly insmuations to which our silence might give importance , we are induced to notice them . ' In the first paragraph they say , "We could a tale unfold , but do not like to wound the public mind . " This is an old , and rather stale trick of cowardly reputation stabbers , who , willing to wound , but unable to strike , endeavour to effect their object by innendo and insinuation ; and , under pretence of no ' t wishingto " injure the cause , " or " create division , " skulkingly dissemmate the -poison of their foul breath . Such characters as these have done more
injury to the Chartist cause than the united opposition of its opponents could accomplish , and many of our best men have had their reputations befouled by such detestable slime ; but it shall not avail these men . We defy them and their tale , which , as far as we are concerned , they may unfold . is soon as it suits their convenience . It may ihen ; keep company with the other " tales" which they have " unfolded " for the last six months . The second paragraph consists of a bitter tirade of abuse directed against White , who , it appears , is honoured by the espeeial hatred of this delectable fraternity ; in which they insinuate that he is regardless ofthe welfare of his family , and also indulge in heartless mockery at the fact of his being confined
for twenty-four , hours upon black bread and water , in a solitary cell . There is but one mode of reply to such ruffianism as this ; but , fortunately for the slanderer , White is in a gaol , and therefore cannot do him that justice which lie so richly merit-3 . Such conduct as this is totally indefensible . It is not argument ; neither is it an attempted refutation of anything at issue , but it is a cowardly outrage on a man ' s feelings , of the most brutal character . Alas for Chartism ! We are sunk low indeed , when such men are permitted to act as councilmen in an important town like Manchester . Well may our organisation be at such a low ebb . The authors of this precious document seem .- desirous ef informing' the public that we are not teetotalers , with a view ; perhaps , of causing some of
the members of that body to sympathise with them in their disgraceful conduct ; but it is to be hoped that they have sufficient self-respect , not 'to suffer themselves to'be mixed up with ' such baseness . All who have known us , or mixed in our company , previous to our imprisonment , are aware that we have used whatever , beverage our means or our inclinar tion would admit of , and , with all submission to our " bexefactoes , " we shall continue to do so . Prom the tone of their remarks , these inen would seem to be a committee ofthe temperance society , instead of being members of the Council ofthe National Charter Association ; but we have yet to learn whether there be a teetotaler among them . We are not aware that it is any part " of these : men ' s
duties to lecture ' us on such matters ; but as the allusion which they make to the " bottle "is done in such an insidious manner , we deem it necessary to explain the limits of our privileges in that respect . According to the rules which refer to first class misdemeanants / we are entitledtb purchase aquart of ale per day each . We have been at times enabled to avail ourselves ofthispriviiege , throughtheassistance of our friends and visitors '; and we leave you to form an opinion of the disposition of those who would thus convert the trifling privileges which the law allows us , and which forms the distinction between our position and that of felons , into a pretext for calumny and cowardly persecution . Wo may he allowed to add , that the advantages which we enjoy have not been the work of lawyers , nor were they gained at the expense of the Chartist body . We personally defended our principles in open court , and foiled the Attorney-General in his attempt to
cast odium upon them , by mixing us up in the same indictment with such characters as Ball the perjurer , whom we had never seenbefore ; and any man who has read a report of the trial , wi ll see that the remarks of Mr . Norman on that head , are perfectly correct , whatever these parties may state to tbc contrary . We conducted our own cases throughout , without creeping behind a lawyer ' s gbwrij and we do feel a proud consciousness that we have performed our duty , and sustained " our characters as democrats . ' If this be the" aristocratic" pride"' alluded to by these revilers , they are right . We feel that we have discharged the duty which devolved onus , both as regarded ourselves , and the principles of democracy , ' manfully , and " nnflincningly ; and it now remains for the people to do'theirs" by protecting our characters . from the malicious attacks "of these nieR until we are at liberty , and once more in a position to defend ourselves .
The allusion to the messenger will be best understood by the committee of investigation lately appointed at Manchester . They are the likeliest party to judge , as ike proofs have been sent to them .. And Mr . Nixon wh ' o was'here on Friday last , and heard us question the party in . Ius presence , can alsabear testimony as ' to which side the term falsehood ap ^ plies .-We are SQry . ty ) seethe feelingsof quiet "ihnoensivie people outraged , by , dragging their ; names befpre thie public , ' and are thoroughly disgusted at being compelled to notice" sueh ' paltry matters , '' but , as we are accused of falsebood , we cannot avoid it . If any additional " proof were necessary , in order to exhibit" the real feelmgs of these , men towards us , " and justify our statements concerning " them
which appearedin the Star ofthe Ttbinst ., it will bo found in the concluding ' part ' of their epistle . ' Here are their words ; "We should meet the arguments of four blackguards , if it was ' worthy of our . attention to answer their abuse in the' ^ tor ' . of the 7 th inst . " ' There , brother ' aeinocrafs . ' Trhat ' thmk you of such language ? ^ We complained of pie scurrilous wmEau ' nicat ' ons whicli tfeo ' se parties sent t 6 y& ~ , and whicHweresread bj ^ the governor' previous t < o being handed to ^ us—you'now see a sample of ^ them " . " Say , then , are' these men fit to occupy , a prominent pp ' sir tion in ihe Chartist body ? and , are we not justified
in bur determination to have nothing . to- ^ do ^ with such characters' ? ' ¦ . . . ¦ ¦ . '< ¦¦; There is one importt int point wWch should not'be omitted , as it tends itoremoYeth ? odium which may attach to theirletter , from the shoulders of thelfcin--che ' stCT Chartists , namely : Thatj at a general meeting ofthe member ' s ofthe ' Xafional Charter Association ; Held at the People ' slnstitujte , on \ Sunday ; My , 8 th a committee , consisting ; of five ,: p > rsons , was anpointed to investigate fie question att issue . . This committee' -Jias written to us in a business-Lke , and creditable manneVand we have . replieato . aU their " questions to the best of our ability . Yet , without waiting for the decision of this committee , duly appointea hy thememhers , tliey teaie their attw * .
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¦ This conduct requires no comment from us . So much'for these oenerous benefactors ! r We wish to state , in conclusion ; that we deeply regret the necessity of having to refer thus publicly to such matters . Yet our friends can scarcely imagine the amount of- annoyaneo to which wo have been ¦ subjected by these " parties . We understand that the delegates who assembled at Todmorden ,: have . made an arrangement by which we shall be'iri future released from further vexation on this score . We are fully aware that our minds , and yours also , should be occupied with subjects of graver importance than that which appears in these letters , but the fact 3 which have been disclosed , tend to show ithe low condition to ' which the' Chartist organisation is reduced , ' and point out the necessity of amendment . We , therefore , trust that the ; real
friends of democracy will renew their exertions in the good oW cause ; and although our present pi' 6 Spects seem dark' and gloomy , let us remember thht truth and justice is on our side . Let each man who professes our principles cast off his apathy , 'and , ' on our release , we ' shall again unite with you in vindication of our . common rights . Remember that though our Continental brethren are conquered , ' and the free interchange of thought suppressed by | the "League of Kinga , " fhe lore of justice and . liberty cannot be expunged from the . human heart ; j Arouse , then , you who still possess " liberty of ispeech , " though in a limited degree , and uphold'the ' red banner of true Democracy . Remember that jthpugh they have been defeated , and a number of : us immured in a prison , vie . are not . yet vaniquished ; for : " ^ Freedom ' s conflict once begun , ' - 'Bequeathed by bleeding sire to son , Though baffled oft , is ever won . " . We are , your Democratic brethren , . ; George WmiE . . James Leacu . ' John West . Danjei , Donovan . Kh-kdale Gaol , July 24 th , 1849 .
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the directors of the national cooperative benefit society to the members : . . ; GESiLEiiES , ^ From notices which have appeared ia tvro recent numbersi of the Northern Star , you will have learned the fact , that we ' did hot deem it prudent that you should send' any . further sums of money to the care of the secretary , Edmund Stallwbed , until the termination and publication of the result of an inquii ' y into' the monetary accounts kept ' by him—arid which' was then pending—should have been communicated to you . The inquiry and result , such as they , were ' ,, have been" placed before youj ' and should have been submitted to the Direc-; ors previous to their appearance in print ; , '"' but the trustees have thought if proper to publish them
without our knowledge , or we , . would have disclaimed them at'the time . ' "As'tlie Directors of the Society , ^ it now only remains for lis to state . what were the reasons which induced us to . caution you against ' making further remittances j and having satisfied you upon that point-, and made you , sensible of the real position , of the Society , which ought to have been , done by the Trustees in their report , we will then make you ' acquainted with the' only conditions , upon which we can consent to further connexion with it . ' In order to the settlement of the first of these points , we give in its entii'ety the onl y monetary document which has yet . been published , and it will , of course , answer for itself . ¦ 3 . . a-ocao-ocDMo >* o co WOrXdOt ^ cso cs W « r-i r-i rH rH r- * _ . rH M a rn at M r-i . io I- ao h | ll f 3 . 0 Si S l . Zii . .- . 1 . 1 a o g -1 st <| & " 5 | ho S « g § 3 . .. « . ^§ Z * "' 111 s " . -aa . si i- | fsf .- * iiai- - . r ^ o B Jj o fe s , > , fl -3 ° j . " 6 t B « -B ' -g -S'll S ^' S « ¦ « . R . fi <^ f , oM »< n •¦^ p : : __ . * " * " ^ ' - - Hti ¦ r ^ i En « 's O ; H * -. o ; o b ra . « sS si'o' '*' ' - ' ' * ' - w cs j ^ u . H i-i R g «^* oococoo » » . . r . w e » ci " fl ¦ ^ O s ...... ^ 3 . A a . 2 . oi a ' ° . £ I ' hJ I ...... § . h ; i-2 I £ ¦ . 1 . ¦ ¦ - * < J . g -d ^ S . . © » s n . . a . o . to q » R -3 ' g . S B ' ° S i = S rH O ' S 2 8 » | S--8- g ' 3 « IiiUHt . I l-i ^ -H *^ a o I a e | 'i s » B rt O Ph ;? W O . The correctness of this " balance-sheet" has been vouched by two persons , who were appointed as auditors by Stall wood , and who had not the most remote connexion with the Society . Repeatedly had we asked for a balance-sheet ; and at the expiration of one year and seven months , the above made its appearance , and it was upon the first perusal of it that we discovered the position of the Society . We looked first to the receipts , and then to the disbursements ; and from the statements contained in the " balance-sheet" we found them to stand thus : —
£ s . d . To Receipts , . . 284 10 3 To Expenditure . , 208 15 5 Balance iu hand . . £ 7 S 3 10 We found that nearly three-fourths of the " whole sum received had been expended , and upon examination into the nature of that expenditure , we discovered . the following amounts to have been spent upon the ostensible and legitimate objects of the society . : — £ s . a . BvpajmentstoSickMemhers . S 3 13 9 £ J > Hto ditto Deaths . . 12 10 0 Ditto ditto Aecouchments . 7 5 0
¦ E 73 S 0 | Thus it appeared that out of the sum of £ 206 los . 5 d . as expenditure , which had been set down in the " balance-sheet" the sum of £ 73 8 s . 95 d . only had been spent in furtherance of the-real objects of the Society . There still remained £ 133 6 s . 7 id . of an expenditure to be accounted for ; and upon further " reference to the "balancesheet" we found that of that sum there had been the necessary outlay of £ 35 8 * - W . for'books , sta- ; tionary , postage , &c . There yet remained £ 9718 s . OJ . of an expenditure , and to our surprise we found that this immense sum had been applied for ¦¦ " management" and " rent of office . " A . equal to more than one-third of the whole receipts of the Society . Here again let the " balance-sheet " speak for itself . ¦ £ s . ci . Agents ' Fees ^ viz ., Entrance and Quarterly . 22 14 Cl Secretary ' s Fees . .. ' . 58 l ( i 0 , Officeltent . . . 10 7 G ;
£ 97 _ _ 0 J The rule with regard to the Secretary ' s fees is as follows : — : llutE 25 . —The Secretary to receive for his services twopence on every month ' s subscriptions received on account of members in this socfety , ^ the memhers to he computed from the names on the book 3 at the' eommenceraent of cacli quarterly meetiDg night of each section . ! ' ; ! To have warranted the Secretary in taking from the funds of the-society . £ 58 16 s . 8 d . . there ought to have been upon , the hooks , from the very first day of its' existence down to the time when he published the above " balance sheet , " no fewer than 370 members , ' and their subscriptions , at od . per week each , a fair average , ' would have amounted to £ 634 and some few shillings over .
, We are aware that there would have been many defaulters ; and if we allow £ 234 on account of their arrears , there ought still to have been' received by . the society £ 400 as " members' contributions ; whereas the sum . which has been acknowledged as " members ' , contributions , " including . the sum of £ 7 3 s . 3 d ., '" unaccompanied with details , " is £ 225 ' 99 : 2 d : If there ever iaid 1 'b ' een 370 members in the society ; howlong did they remain in it , and where are theirsubscriptions ? The Secretary , you must hear in mind , charges'for that number from the very first day of tnejexistence of t&e society j nnd therefore we want to know A' where are their subnumber
scriptions ?" , " Usually , societies do not ; so many as 370 on thefirstday of their anpearance . Ea . ch membe ^ pWs upon entrance a certain fee , the average amount of which per member will be about 4 a ; each , ~ rather over than under . Now n 370 persons had at any time jomed the societyi at the rate of 4 s . per head ,-the " sum for " entrance fees ; ought to have been £ 74 ; the balance sheet sets forth the sum of £ 44 8 s . 6 d . "Where then is the difference pt . . £ 30 ? This , item of .. V entrance fee _ should be an exact index to the numerical strength of the society , and this item of " secretary ' s fees should , also , ghow t he length of time during vrhich
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each member had belonged" to the society . Wtli regardito thftfirat of thesDitem ' s , namely ; '' entrance fees , the balance-sheet gives £ 44 8 s ; 6 d ., Syhich sum shows the entrance of 228 members only , whereas the Secretary has charged for 37 O . meml > ers , --. ueing just 142 tnomberg more than ever joined the society , and he has taken monev for them from the very birth ofthe societv . The * number of 228 members would have given as " members' contributions , for the time over which the balance-sheet extends , £ 380 ,, and the sum that haa been acknowedged under that head by the Secretary , in his balance-sheet , was £ 225 . ' 9 s . 2 d . Is it not clear that the number of members charged for were never in the . society , and that the " ' Secretary , in paying himself , has taken just what he dImswI ? Ho has not been
tied by numbers ; his rule of action has been his j own will . The Trustees ' of tho society say that they iUudU him justly entJtlea to what he took , but per-( i ? j . i W 0 liI ( 1 haye been better had ho set down ; : what he took over and above his wa » es as a " separate item . " We deny that he liad any right to exercise any sueh liberty . with th 0 fund 3 of tho society . Ihe ruleslay down / what he was » justly entitled ; to , and he had no' right to take more . Was he ; not amply remunerated for any extra trouble which lie might have been at in the oarly statre ofthe . society , by the sum which ho has charged lor " vent ¦^ . P ^ H ^ Js . 6 d . ) -the office being his own ^^ J ^ ! Eammersmith ; and the rent charged for the office covering the whole rent ofthe house 4 Weprobstagnirist that item of £ lfl . 7 s . Cd . inraet is
e that ' -the Secretary received all tlic money , and hedidjust " what he pleased with it . The rules proviuY thatthe . monies of ..: tho ' society shall be . p aced ini tae land and Lnbouv Bank , where they vrould ha-vebbrne interest at the rate of £ 4 per cent . P ° . . nnum .: hut out of the suiti of £ 384 12 s . Old . — which the Auditors say had been received up to the time Of theiv ' l'ep 6 l' (^ - £ 80 only had been deposited m-the bank .., . By what authority did the Secretary retain the difference , and thus deprive the members of the interest which it would'have mado had it boon' " placed in the banki Probably the . Trustees were also of opinion' that the secretary was 7 ; justly entitled to do sol" Here wo give the . report . of the trustees , and , like the ' ? balance sheet , " it will speak for itself ;—
. NATIONAL CP-OPEiUTIYE ' BEIfEFIt SOCIETY . We , the undersigned , hayin ;; . accepted the office of Trustees , have ueen appointed ( by the Directors and Members ) to investigate tlie accounts of the ' altovc Society , from the commencement up to the present period . - ¦¦ ¦' . "• - ¦ ¦ " "¦'¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' £ s . d . We find the receipts amount to .. .. 348 12 0 i And the expenditure to .. .. ' .. . 801 4 8 J-. . . Leaving a balance of- .. .. £ 47 8 1 Thirty pounds of whicli is in . thfe Bank , ' and the remainder in hands of General Sewetary and local Agents . Brother members , —The principal objection of the Directors is . the charge for Secretary ' s Fees , andllent for Office , and which we have particularly investigated . We find that the average number of members , as stated , amounts to the number charged - ^ , but from the irregularities of local Agents , ' ' we" find' it 'im ' pos ' sibhvto give correct data when members joined the Society , the Secretary having ' charged 33 fi , to remunerate him for his services as founder , which we think him justly entitled to , but , perhaps ; it would have given greater satisfaction if it had been made a
aeparateitem . ¦ - ¦ .. - .. . The Secretary ' s Fees are now charged in strict accordance with rule , and the Office is now discontinued . . We , the Trustees , in conclusion , call upon all Agents'to send iu their returns immediately , and that , for the future , the rule ' s must be strictly attended to by local Agents and General . Secretary , that a Balance Sheet may be issued quarterly , which will be the means of increasing our numbers , and make it a veritable' NATIONAL BENEFIT SOCIETY . ' ¦ " James Gjussijt , ) - William Shute , > Trustees . , James Peabce , ) * With respect to this " report , " we have to observe , that we do not understand the arithmetic which , at 2 s . per head per annum , for one year and seven months , for 330 members , makes £ 58 lCs . as " secretary ' s fees . "; We make that sum stand for 370 , but deny the right of taking for cither of those numbers . And we repudiate the report in ? which it is set forth , that the secretary -was " . justly entitled " to have taken the money of the members for these fictitious numbers . ; ¦
. This passage from the | ' report' of the "trustees" is valuable , as showing in what a pretty state the . books of the society have been kept . " We . iind that the average number of members , aS stated , amounts to the number charged ; but from the irregularities of the local agents , we find it impossible to give correct data when the members joined tho society . " The secretary was at no loss for such data when ho was taking his Tdos , us he tbDn managed to discover that there were 370 members in the society from the very first day of its existence down to the moment when he issued the above "balance sheet . " '• : ¦ '
We have now stated to you our objections to the "balance sheet , " and we will also state to you what wo propose , to remedy tho inaccuracies which the above two documents havo set forth . Ilithevto tho (¦ Secretary has usurped all the offices of management . Has even paid himself the rent of his own house , as the office of the society , and has kept the money out ofthe bank , which ought to have been making interest for tho members . He has paid himself just what he . pleased , and has got . tho books in such a state—according to the . " report" of the Trusteesthat it is impossible to say when the members joined—and altogether the whole of the affairs are in a state of the greatest confusion .
We therefore propose to you , that power shall be g iven to us to so remodel the rules , &c , as to be enabled to enrol under Act of Parliament , so as to procure the honest administration of the funds . That the present Directors , or any other . persons you may appoint , shall , for the first twelve months , constitute ^ the managing Committee , subject , of course , to removal , by a decision of a majority of the members , and that they shall have the power of employing a competent person to keep the books of the Society , such person to be entirely under the control of the Directors . That Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., be reBpectfully requested to act as Treasurer , as in his hands
the funds would be perfectly safe . ; In putting these propositions before you , we are influenced by no other desire than that of the benefit of the society ; and should you think it advisable to act upon them , after our other avocations have closed for the day , we shall be willing to . devote one or two evenings in each week to tho affairs of the society ; but should you reject them , our connexion with it shall immediately cease , as we would not , upon any account , continue to identify ourselves ; with a society , the management of whicli we do not approve . ¦ ¦ " .. Thomas Clakk , . Christopher Doyle , Phili p M'Gratii .
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..- THE TEX . HOURS ACT . ' PROGRESS OF ' . AGITATION IN .. THE NORTH . OLBHAM . Meetings have recently been holden in most ofthe lar « re towns of-Lancashire for the purpose of manifesting the determination ofthe Factory workers to maintain the . Ten Hours Act , and render it effective in spite ofthe millocrats' conspiracy . At Qldliam , more than 2 , 000 persons attended the meeting , Alexander Taylor , Esq ., presided ,- and the meeting was addressed by the Rev . Joseph R . Stephens , Samuel and Joshua Ficldcn , sons ofthe late John Fielden , Esq ., and several other speakers .-The resolutions incliidodtho following : — . I : That this meeting declares . its decided and entire ' approval of the true spirit of the Ten . Hours Act , and expresses its determination not to accept
any compromise , nor enter into any arrangement by which females nml young ' persons in factories still work ' longcr than ten hours'h , day ; and that wo will do all we can to get the working hours confined betweeii six iii the morning and ' six in the evening . " : 'Mr . Richard OAaTif , a ' qn ' coming forward to adr dress the mee ' ting was received with most vociferous cheering , and an aged woman , leaning on a stick ; hobbled up to " Him , tremulously exclaiming , " God bless you ! Just let- motouch you . " , Mr . Oastler said : —They were beginning a very serious workj and they had begun it in the right-places and inrthe right way . After having toiled for thirty-three years , and settled the question , they were again compelled to take the field to protect the act which
they i had gamed , from violation . Who dared , to say -that tho question- was "not ; settled V The Ten Hours Act was the law , of the land ; ( Much chcer | ing . ) . A ., lawyer , ,. i great , man in : parliament , and'iri a high office ,. met him the other day , and asked him whcrei he was going . ; He replied , " ¦ ! am going to make' the millowriers of Lancashire keep the law . " " Well , " : said the gentleman ,. " I am sure you . are right ; I wish you success . " i-7 But would it not have been a great ! deal better for that gentleman to have gone ¦ ¦ to Lord John Russell , and -saved him- ( Mr . Oastler ) from the trouble of doing ; the work of the government ;? : Ho ; got nothing for it ; r whilst the minister got hisi £ 6 , 000 a year . ¦^ Thcre- was no doubt' how . the agitation would terminate . They should boat , their : opponents ; for they should have on 'their side the . queen , theijudges , the parliament and the soldiers , and . ' as forthe policci hehated
that force : so . ; much : that : he , hoped they would be against us .: Thesagitation had begun well . ' Itrcomlmenced at ; Todm 6 rden , the birth-place , the homeplace , andthej . ' grave-placeofthe victorious champion of the Ten Hours Act '; there the standard was raised , ' and there he received from the Todmorden people acommission to hold fast bytho Ten Hours Actvtillhe died , * and then tcbe . the messenger of their heairts ' . feelings to their victorious champion in a better world . \( Cheers . ) . In the next place . the agitation i . was carried into . the- very heart - of theenemy ' s camp . j Theyiwent from the burial-place of John Pielden to . tlietemple of Miimmom—the Pree TradeHall—the temple dedicated to lies and frauds- , but-forone night it had been-purified fbytnith . Now they were in Oldham , the place which gave their glorious captain the power to win the victory and gain the prize . AH hail to the working men of
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- . ., nrrr Oldham ! / But , though there was no stain upon the name ofthe late member for Oldham , there was a stain on Oldham itself . ( Cries of "Hear , hear , " and " Yes , yes . " ) Let the truthful working men of Oldham take care to scrub out that stain . ¦ Cheers . ) Let every man horo reason with his neighbour ; ask him whether he does not blush , when he reflects that John Fielden , a man of universal acceptation , had' been ejected from the representation of Oldham . ( Cheers . ) He was not going to talk about the merits of that bill , or about compromise ; all argument on the head was . unnecessary . But there was one thought which struck him in Manchester the other day , which lie might perhaps do well to repeat . Hehappened incidentally to make use of this expression , " that the laws of any country were merelv the
reflection of the conscience of tLitosoBtry . " The effect . which this had on the audiixis * Slid tho chairmen was so striking , that-ho thought there must be something in it ; and since then he found that there was a great deal in it . What sort of a conscience must there bo in this cotton district , where the law of England was defied ? ( Hear , hear . ) To scrub that conscience clean , and then smooth and polish it , this agitation would , he thought , be very useful to the gentry , and especially to those who sat upon the henclu Ho would tell them an anecdote in point , to show what sort of a conscience there was in this district . He had the anecdote from an attorney in Manchester , who some years ago settled in that town . A case was brought to this . attorney it was a complaint- against a millo . wner in Preston ,
who was charged with having defrauded his workpeople by altering the machinery of a sort of clock which showed how much work was done . When the finger of . the . clock pointed to 40 , DO , or 80 , it indicated that so many ' yards had been done . The millowner , however , altered the machinery so that the finger pointed only to 70 when SO yards had actually "" been done ; so that out of every 80 yards there was arobbery of 10 . The attorney , who was only a young practitioner in . this county , thought that it was yci'y singular that a man of gveat wealth , piety , and liberality should becharged with such an offence , but seeing that his clients' case . was a very good one , he brought it before the : magistrates ' . They were satisfied with the guilt of the humane and benevolent gentleman , and fined him under
some act . of parliament . Immediately afterwards , to the ' surprise of the attorney , ' . th ' e ; magistrates shook hands in tho court of . justice with the criminal whom they had convicted , ' and the gentleman even : wished to shako hands with the attorney . ' No , " said he " we don't shake hands with the criminals we convict ; " arid all that the gentleman said was . ' laugliing , that "they had been ' too sharp for him . " A system had grown up , which had actually tainted the moral atmosphere ; and if no change took place , what ; could , wo expect but destruction ? But he , had something else to mention . It was only the othcrday that Sir E . Armitage said that ' it was a very improper thingfor the millowners to _ break the law ; that it was a very improper thinff for the magistrates not to convict those who
broke the law ; for , if it was discovered . that there was a law for the rich , and none for the poor , tlie whole country would be thrown into confusion . Still ,, the worthy magistrate did not say ' that the law should be kept ; but that it should be so altered as to suit the will of those parties who hadbrokeri it . Nor was that all . He ; at last stated , forgetting that-the Queen had just knighted him forliis endeavdurs ' . to prevent tlie poor ' man from breaking the law , that inthe course of a little time , if the settlement which he wished for ; could not be obtained , and if the millowners continued to work by relays , lie ,-himself should also begin to work by relays ; that is , if other parties broke the law , be also would break it ! " There they saw' the mind of Lancashire again . Why , ; if he were to search round the'
universe he was sure that he could not find , in the most benighted recesses of heathenism , a national mind so blunted to the truth , so dead to moral convictions , as . the mind of-tho . millowners and magistrates of Manchester , Sir E . Armitage himself being the example '; aud yet he was one ' of the best of them—the very best . ( Cheers . ) He ' ( the speaker ) hoped , when Sir Elkanah read that , ho would see the wickedness of his position . [ After some further remarks , Mr . Oastler ' concluded amidst loud and repeated cheers ' . ] ' • Samuel rrewEx , Esj [ . said he felt much pleasure in coming before the working-men of Oldham , who behaved so kindly to his ' father ' : for . though some did not treat him well at the last election , he was always convinced that he had the hearts of the working-men , and lie died In that belief . He ( the
speaker ) came there to aid them in their just movement against their oppressors , the millowners of that nei ghbourhood . He stood there on very high ground , for he came there'to upholdtho poor man ' s law against the rich violators of that law , who ought , to have been tho first to maintain it . He came there to ask the government to enforce the law on a . set of rich men > vho had had the audacity to break it . He came there to recommend them nbt ' to listen to any compromise with such a ' - sot of men ; ' for ' how could they compromise with , those who had begun by breaking the law . ; What right had they to ' suppose that , if they did agree to a compromise , the millowners would keep it ? ' ( Cries of " Hear , hear , " and " That ' s it . " ) The men who asked the operatives to compromise were the men
who went to Sir George . Grey ; to ask him for an eleven hours bill , who tpld him that they deprecated all' legislative interference , ' and that no ' onehada right to prevent them from working their hands to death if they chose . If this was their opinion , was it likely that they would stick to a ten-and-a-half or eleven hours bill ? He did not ' see with what justice they could ask for any change , or how they mustered up impudence to go to government and ask them to make the ten hours act an eleven hoiirs act . Were not the people satisfied with the bill ? ( Cries of "Yes . " ) It had certainly improved their physical condition . There was much loss sickness amongst them ; the work in all the factories was much better
performed ; there was less spoiled work , arid consequently much less abatement of wages for spoiled work . - And ho could safely say that in Ilia o > vn neighbourhood there was much less drinking . The people , instead of going , as they before did , to the public-house for excitement , stopped at home and read , or went to some literary institution , and at this season of the year many employed themselves in . gardening . ( Hear , hear . ) Sinco the act hadcome into force , too , he believed that the workpeople had had almost constant employment , and there bad not been any material diminution of wages . This had been the caae in his district , and he understood that in Manchester there had been in
some departments a considerable advance in wages . The speaker then proceeded to show that the Ten Hours Acfnever could have been intended to sanction the relay system , inasmuch as that system prevented tlio workpeople from obtaining those advantages which the act was distinctly said by the Speaker of the House of Commons to have been intended to confer . Mr . Hindley had recommended them to apply to parliament , on the ground that the people in his borough were suffering very deeply from the shift system . This was very deplorable
indeed ; but he was convinced that if the workpeople would show that they were determined not to give lip one minute of the act , ' to listen to no compromiso , 'tho Home Secretary would feel it to be his duty to have the law enforced , as it ' was defined by the law officers of the crown . The best-thing they could 1 do , therefore , was to petition the houses of parliament , and to memorialise the Queen for the enforcement of tlie law . For himself , he would never suffer one minute of the Ten Hours Act to be lost , if he could help it ( Groat cheering . )
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. THE MINERS OF THE NORTH . TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sm , —Having left with you for insertion the copy of a petition about to be presented to parliament by the miners of the counties of Northumberland and Durham , praying for immediate legislation on the subject of protection to their lives , whilst following their dangerous calling , but which , not having then arrived in London , I could not givo with accuracy , tho number signing such petition : therefore , 1 now forward the reouisito information , and trust you ' will be enabled to give insertion thereto in your forthcoming valuable journal . The numbers signing the petition to the Commons were 7 , 000 , and that to the Lords 0 , 000 . That to the Commons was presented by Sir G . Grey , and that to . the Lords by tlie right lion . Lord Wharneliffe .
Sir , although it is now self-evident that no measure can pass the British parliament this session , calculated , to ensure tho requisite protection to tho miners , yet , as they may naturally expect that some measure of that- character will bo prepared during the recess , it will be at once obvious that this petition , being a true digest of their feelings and opinions upon a matter , of such , great importance , cannot be overlooked by those to whom may be entrusted the framing of that measure , whether the same emanates from the Lords or the Commons . The miners will , I trust , not lose sight of the great value of petitioning ; and hoping that before the meeting of the next parliament they will begin in good time , and place upon the table of the legislature a petition from every mining district in this country , thereby giving due weight to their feel ' mg 3 and opinions upon this great question , I am yours , < tc , July 30 th , ISiQ . M . Jvdb . TO THE BIGHT HONOURABLE THE LOKDS SPIMTUAT . AND TEM' PORAt OF THE SELECT COJI 3 IITTEE FOB EXQU 1 R 1 SO INTO THE . CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES . The humblo petition of tho Underground Miners of tlie counties of Durham and NortluunuerltiniT , SirnvBTn , —That jour petitioners liavo learnt with much satisfaction tli . it your Lordships' House have appointed , a Committee to inquire into tlie Causes of Accidents m Mines , ns your petitioners and -their felow-workmcn arc perpetually exposed to such tearful accidents . And your . petitioners l ) tliovin i r that your Lordships' Committee are iinxibus to acquire the most exact knowledge of the practical working and condition of the mines , the improvident manner of winch arrangements , ' youv petittonsrs are convinced , frequently load to these unfortunate calamities , . .. i : Your petitioners would therefore respectfully' tender toyour lordships , such evidence liy some of their body , as will demonstrate to your Lordships the condition and exposure of your petitioners in their dangerous profession . Trusting that your Lordships injustice to yourpetitioness , will a * eede to this itfayw * . foi an . oxflnunation of some of their body before your Lordships'Committee , And your petitioners will for ever pray , & ? .
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» , ©• b » -g the past Year the average mortality in the model lodging houses has not been more than £ b £ tf Alt « » t ^ metropolis generally .
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SruimsG . the A > -creNTs . ~ A-, youn ^ f ^ fCT 3 « i ^ of' one of the royal colleges married a la'd /^ ftfi ^ y '! ai % - his senior ; which was said by a wijfty ^ ai ^ . t * ' a proof of his ambition , as h « appeflBjWsHWUS 6 £ studying the « ancients ^ LHfeu ^ U $ ® Z
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. ¦ ; ¦ ' .. . BOLTOX . Ai a . large . meeting at lioltqn , presided over by the IJev . C . Edwauds , ' , ' Mr .- Oastlek , who was received with tremendous cheering , asked why it was that they should have to meet there that ni g ht ? It was to support tho law . But had ; they : no queen , no government , no judges , no magistrates ? Was it to be left to the people to vindicate the law ? Was it safe to excite the minds ofthe people in these densely populated districts ? It- came to this , that ; they must appeal to the sceptre , and not be ruled over by a set of tyrants , who were a disgrace to their country . ( Cheers . ) Who were these law-breakers ? . He could name thonv ; 500 ' there were , of ; them , and some of them sitting upon the bench as magistrates . lie would
ask whether these men had a right to seek a victory over such a vast majority ofthe peop le , in a cause , too , sanctioned by the throne ? He hoped that the millowners would not delude themselves longer , ' but rctraco -thcir . isteps . r -Let- them look _ back for a quarter of a century , -during which period the bdl had been strugg led for , and they would see of what kind pfmetal the ten'hours men wereiinade . ( Hear , hear ) ¦ After emphatically declaring his determination tp fight to his last breatlvih defence of the spotless standard reared . by the hand of that gallant man , Johii Fielden , who had now gone to his rc-i ward , he concluded , ' aiiudst loud and . continued cheering . ! . - ¦ - - ¦' , "" ' : The Rev . Mr . Scott , -Dr . Fletcher , Mr . GAnstano , surgeon , and several operatives , addressed the meetiri / r , ' as did also ! Samuei ; Field ^ n ' , Esbi . yrhft
was'loudly cheered . - 'After retemng'to the ; terms of the bill convening the meeting , , which was ffer the purpose ' of ^ decidingwhether'they " ' ' / were ¦; w « Hng to give up" that wliieh they ha \ i % ' "lon ' g ' struggled for—he said this was exactly the . question at ' issiie . He had been brought out solely to sHb ; w them that his- father ' s sons were riot willing ^© "" desert iho cau 8 e-r ( cheers)—aiid lie assured thenij so % V . as he , was concerned ; the Ten'Hoo ' rs Act should never , be . wrepched from them . IIe then ^ pr pceeded to nsirrate the principal facts . ' cpniiectCd " * ith ' the framing of ; the acti'so'aa ^ tO 8 how ' it 8 '' J intention arid ' meaDJD »; and then "! ho gaye ' aii butlin ' p of the proceedings sub' sequehtlyto'theabt c 0 ming into operation , up to . the t ' ime-when ^ ir George Grey so deliberately an d strangely receded from his promise that he would have a case brought before the judges , so as to ascertain sal settle the law . Be tUeu called upon tbe
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THE . LAJf . CASUIRE MINERS . TO THE EDITOR OF . THE SonTnERX STAR-. Sin . —I am glad to inform youthat tie ' ^ on is still on the increase in this eounty . Oppression is doing its work . Reductions and rumours of reductions of wages are the-order of the day ; consequently the miners are tying to union again , and there is every appearauce of a better and moro exteristvo ' organisatioh ajMongst them than there ever has ' been ; - NumeVoas enthusiastic meetings havo been held ¦ during tbblastfbrtiiig ht at PlattBndgo . 1 iiaaciitt
Hindley , and iotlser places--near : wigan ; Bridgo ; Ileywood 'Arms ^ SSanchester , ;» nd the White Horse . Eochdale . ' Public '• but-door '; ineetirigs . have also ; been heW' at' the Front of the Queen ' s Arms , Ij'ttle . ! Levcr , ; Farmer ' s Arms , 'Dai'Oy . 'LcvGi ' i &hd afc the B 0 at s ' 'Hea'd , aii » 'd Fleece , Inn , Bolton . ' I shall be glad to receive eommunicatibns from any . colliery in ; Lancashire ; - ¦ or'frorii ' any'bf ^^ the ; Mitt ' cirs wcrkij \ g in-the auri-bundihg ' couhties : ; youra T ' espectfulIy , .. .- ¦ ' D :, ' ' 8 iwAi £ ow , 1 , Sidnpy- ' stree ^ . Bolton , July 30 , - '" ' ! : ' '• :. ' ,
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meeting to gay if they were still in favour of Ten Hours . ( Cries of "Ay , eight . " ) Were there nnv in favour of eleven hours ? ( No , no- ) He found " , by a . placard in the hall , that they had tested tho opimon of the operatives in that town by ballot ; that Only five porgOhS had voted for clot-on hours ; and that Of the entire number , four only did not vote . Ihe medical gentleman who moved the resolution declared that ten hours were enough for nnv one to work in a factory ; the opcrativca Vorcd by evidence and by persons ! experience that thev greatly benefitted m liealfn by working for that period only ; they had also proved beyond doubt that they were devotedly attached to the act ; the act was passed for them ; and what earthly . reason
was there , then , for change ? Messrs . Ash worth and Greig were the first parties in tfeat nei ghbourhood to attempt to violate the act ; they were also the parties who sent for agricultural labourers to their works , and afterwards threatened" to send them back again if they would not petition for a repeal of the corn-laws . Would the operatives , then , make a com promise with such men as these i If they did , what guarantee had they that the next step would not be for twelve hours ? ( Hear , hear . ) ' The best thing to do was for the poor men to calf upon the rich to obey the law , nnd to memorialise . fcho queen , to support them in their loyalty . ( Clieera . ) She had received their medal in testimony of-her satisfaction at the passing o ? the act . The Speaker of the House of Commons had alluded to the question as ii settled one ; nnd the intention ofthe legislature had been set forth to the Messrs . Ashworth , in a
letter from Mr . Ilorncr , the inspector , who stated that it was the opinion of the law-officers of the crown that ten hours , and no more were meant by tlie act to be worked . For himself , he would sooner give up business than violate it ; for by relays it was impossible to tell who performed good work , or who performed bad , The shift system seemed to be a scheme invented by the very devil himself .. ( Cheers . ) They were not suffering at Bolton , because their masters kept . to the . act ; but if they permitted tlie present violation of It to go on at Ashfcon , Stalyjbridge , and other places , they might depend upon it that Bolton also would have to concede . The millowners talked of foreign competition , but it was home competition they had to dread , and nothing else . Tho masters of Bolton , however , deserved the highest praise , and in conclusion he shouldproposethr . ee hearty cheers for them . The meeting then « ave three times three cheers , Kesolutions affirming the determination of the meeting to stand by the Ten Hours Act were unanimonsly adopted . iii
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^ MANCHESTER . At a meeting of the factory overlookers of Manchester and Salford , the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting that tho Ten Hours Factory Act is a measure which , if strictly carried out , in accordance with its spirit , is calculated to improve the moral , physical , and intellectual condition of tlie factory workers ; we , therefore , give it our decided approval , and declare our firm determination to resist , by every means in our power , any violation , infringement , or evasion of its god : liko provisions . ; " That this meeting anticipates with horror and alarm the spirit of insubordination whicli will inevitably result from the avaricious and inhuman conduct of a portion of tho law-breaking manufacturers in these districts . This meetinsr , also , cannot too strongly denounce the conduct of those magistrates
who sanction breaches of the poor man ' s law , in open defiance of the opinions of the law magistrates , and tho Queen ' s . Attorney-General and Solicitor-General . " "That the thanks of this meeting are due , and arc hereby most cordially tendered to those manufacturers who havo paid duo deference to the lawrelative to factories ; and we recommend all those whom they employ to be diligent and attentive in promotingthoiremployers' interests ; and wo further most respectfully solicit these manufacturers—in justice to themselves , from feelings of humanity , to preserve the peace of the district , the safety of life and property , for tho' greater stability of the empire , and the mutual interests of all , —to cooperate with , and assist us in our endeavours to annihilate ; at once and for ever , tlie system of shifts and relays which is now being carried oiit by unprincipled men , who by it corrupt the morals of tho factory hands , increase crime , and destroy health and life . '
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BLACKBURN . Another great meeting was holden in the Theatre , Blackburn , on the 27 th of July . Tho Rev . Thomas Sharpies , M . A ., was called to the chair , and delivered an energetic address in support of the Ten Hours Act . Mr . William Fielden moved the first resolution;—" That this meeting disapproves of any attempt to alter or infringe tho Ten Hours Bill , arid we , tho factory operatives and others , will use every constitutional means -in our power to promote it ' s provisions in all their integrity ; and that we also consider that the relay system is unlawful and injurious , and ought to be resisted . "
Mr . Rigby seconded the resolution , which was supported by Mr . Oastler , in a very lengthy speech , which excited tlie greatest enthusiasm . The resolution was unanimously adopted . After speeches from Mr . Ahmistead ,. tho Rev . J . W . Pengeixy , and Samuel Fielden , Esq ., a memorial to the (^ ucen was adopted . The meeting was subsequently addressed by tho Rev . J . R . Stephens , and several other speakers . The greatest enthusiasm in favour of the Ten ITours Act , was manifested throughout the proceedings .
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f- . ..... . . ..-.- . - ¦ ¦ . r ' . '• ¦ ' ' ' - ' ' . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ . : ¦ ; ¦ . ¦¦ . . ¦ ¦ August 4 , 1849 . THE NQ ^ 7
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 4, 1849, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1533/page/7/
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