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THE JN T OETHEE^ STAK. SATURDAY, JULY 16,1842. j
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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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THE BRIGHTON CHARTISTS AXD THE KORTK&RN STAR . TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAB . Dsas Sir . —The enclosed address was introduced at onr -us _ l ¦ weekly meeting , the Brighton Chartists being anxious to express their opinion of yourself _ k 1 our OConaor , earnestly requesting , yon to give"jt iaaation . * ' We , whose naiaes are attached to this address , being "fesmbere of the © aaeral Council , and members of the Kational Charter Association , residing in Brighton ,
having witnessed -with deep regret the divisions < ausea In this to * x , ^ sad thronghont the country generally , by the coadwt of some men whora . we had reason to * rtspect for tbeir advocacy of oar principles , aad being anxious to ~« our influence \ o restrain eithet good or bad mea froa in j ruing that canse -which is as ¦ dear to -us as our lives , as -well as to cheek any " new move " that Kay be made by interested individuals , baTe cod-Kdersi it to t > e our dnty to introduce and support at our ^ weefcfy raaetinz the following resolution , proposed by Hz . Aiien , >« 6 cotded by Mr . Flowers ^—
" Thst ^ we , the Chartists of Brighton , earnestly desi-¦ riBf to- « e that union aad brotherly attachment exist between % 21 those who are « triving to -obtain political freedom ^ r the people , belismng it to be essential to tfas —eeass of the cause , have read with deep regret the ptsnpblefc —titled * A Yia&ieatioii of Mr . O'Brien ' s Gondaetat the late Birmingham Conference , ' and contesting a "variety of otbeJ * articles which , in our epinaec , must , have tbs tendency to cause dissension 'is cur ranks , we . therefore respectfally bat eemestiy , request tiat Mr . O'Brien , "with every « ther friend to our cause , will abstain , according to "On "resolution and recoamendation ef the late Con--rentiMi , from either » riling , saying , or doing any t £ ncg that may have the efcct of causing disunion amove the Cuartist body ; but that through the
uafsir-conduct and abusive language of those who were opposed to this resolution— -sneh as representing onr * esp * cted and venerable friend Flower , as a triitor . _ . d nsi » j language disgraceful to any body of mentfee Chairman 4 issolved the meeting , after five evenings ^ discussion , -withost patting either the above ^ solution , or their amendment , which was an unqualified vote of thanks , from all parties . ADy subseqarnt proceedings we have had nothing to do with , neither do we recognise any ; and we hereby express our entire confidence in Mr . Hill , the editor of the JkOtihern Star , and Feargus O'Connor , Erq ., its noble proprittor , and are fully resolved to stand by and sappoit them , to the utmost of onr power , while they purrns the persevering straightforward course they have hitherto done . "
John Page J 3 mes Agcurn € reorgeV ; ngs John Knight "William Flower" Join Goddard James Williams Thomas Fisher WiUizwjbeffia William Fisher Ceorge Giles Henry Mitchell James Ficxman , sea . John Allen John Pilling George Ramsey Henry Tulett William R ^ ad Edwsrd Fencer William Head - William Stanley Stephen Burton John Rase George Thomson Abram Hunt - - Htory Browne 'Wiilizm ELlis Edmund Potmdesbory Joseph Fileman Bicfeard GoodtTe "William Ixisi Gsorgfr Giles , Chairman . William Flower , sub-Treasurer
There are many ethers of the very best Chartists ia this town who yrlsh to sign it , but we-are afraid of making the list too long for your columns . Brighton , Jane 27 th , 18 i 2 . . £ Tbe above address was duly received in accordance with its date ; but we were desirous to have done with the matter to which it refers . Having "been twice written to by the parties , we give it at their earnest request , and have only now to add to it our owa request that , whatever may be their opinions respectively on matters of inferior consequence , the bouest friends of Chartism in Brighton will at least let tie enemies of freedom know that their private disagreements ' do not separate them from the
coadvocacy of public principles- We thank our friends for the expression of their good opinion ; and trust that they will as readily forget the matter of 'difference ts we have already forgotten it , and forgiven its authors . We are aware that every possible effort ia being made to " keep up thB steam ; " but the fiercest fire will burn out , if no fo = l be supplied : and we are determined that the interested parries to this disgraceful squabble—disgraceful only to its originators—stall drag no more fuel from us . We recommend & like coarse of forbearance to our iriends . Ltt us go straigbt on our way , and treat the bvawlers with contempt . Tbey will be quiet ¦ when they find that their vociferations provokfi-Eo sespunss . —Ed . N . S . ~)
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TKE MANCHESTER MEETING OF THE KEW EXECUTIVE OF THE >» ATiOXAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . On ilcad&y , the -ith day cf July , the Executive assembled to perform those duties vhich have devolved upon them by the suffrages of the members of the KatioE 2 . 1 Charter Association . Tke following subjects were discussed , and the subjoined resolutions unanimously adopted , arjkprdered to be printed in the organ of the movement for the consideration and adoptien of the members of the
Associa-OPFJCE BIaXEES . Is was resolved that James Leach do continue to exercise tae duties of President of the Executive . It was resolved that John Campbell do act as Secretary . It -sraa resolved that the thanks of the Executive be given to ilr . Heywood , Treasurer of the Association . It was resolved that in consequence of tlia removal of _ e Secretary from Manchester to London , Mr- John Cleave be appointed Treasurer to the Association for tte er . mhig year .
ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COOCIL . It was agreed to appeal to the members of the National Charter Association on the question of altering the date of the annual election of the Executive , and to prevent future complaint , to have their sanction to insert ki ths rules and regulations , June , instead of February . ; July , instead of Odarch . The Council an therefore requested to bring this subject before the Association .
ougamzatio * . The aspect of the movement and the strength and position of the A&scciition , "were taken i ^ to mature consideration , and it was resolved to draw up a district plan for the whole nation , to prepare a plan for securing eoci _ odions meeting houses , to recommend ¦ ways and means of defraying the attendant expences of tie moTement , aud for the purpose cf practically " wsrkirjg these measures , and rliscossiug othera of equal imparities , and of devising effectual means < :-f preveoit-3 e ^ divisions and Eqcabbl es f jt tte fu ture in t&e fCjtional Caarser Association , it was resolved to summons
TERSE GREAT CONFERENCES . R ^ oived that each conference do conMst of delegates from each locality , the number of delates tofce Tfcg . n ! at 6 d seewcing to the resource of the localitits , and each delegate to be a member of the Genera ] Council- THE fIRST COSFEKZSCE viTA be Fummcned to meet in ManchrBier on the 16 tb day of August THE -SECO . VD COKFERESCE » iil be samtaoned ii meet in London on the presentatiDn of the National Memorial to the Qaaec .
THE THJEJ ) CO . NFESEXCE ¦ will be summoned to meet in Birmingham . rOUTlCAX ¦ PB . IS 9 SEH 3 . The Exf-cutive are , from the general spp * aratce of the country , and . information received , filly satisfied that the govemnica : t 2 ve resolved to prosecute , arrest , Kid imprison the JeadtK of the movement on the kast opportunity beiag afforded them . The Executive ttierefore caution the members of the Association agai :. st , the adoption of any secret plans of resistaBce , And advise them to discountenance all rfccommeiidatioas to the use cf physical farce . Several of tiie mtmbttrs
Save been -air ^ ady arreet&d aud imp ri 5 oi ! ed , and the Executive therefore recosaaiend a levy to be made upon es ^ h nifcUibw oi oua peBEy , to be paid at ttjp Qifisr ^ ct tya&s ; the wiole amoaBt bo collected to be called the 3 fi . tiunsl Tic&n Fund , and to be applied to the support < € - ^ xi faaiiiits cf all political . prisoners , and more especitiir to the maintenance of -tae family cf the txiled faJeiots , acd of the murdered Clayton ssjA Holberry . The « Ccnnc : l are . therrfore , called upon to Adopt this witii&E . ! delay , snd to forward the amospt to the geoenZ . Tressurer , Mr . Jcia Cleave , speci&Iiy mentianing ihe purpose for which it-ia sent , so < &at distinct fis »; unis may be preserv « J-
FR 05 T , WILLIAMg , JlJJB JJO > T » . The 5 iseative most earnestly call upon the meK&ers « f the K ^ asal Charter Association to bring the « sf feringB cf £ fae exiles and their saprotected f ^ miiit « enstsntly before the notice of the people , sud at sli public meetfegs to testify tfceir sympathy for them , not only by the mkI votes , but likewise by pecno&ry eantribtttioEB . - . - 5 XE XATIOSAI . fiHOXSTBAJ . CE TO THE HOUSE 01
C 0 MU 05 S . Eash locality b * equested to prepare their remon-• traftses , to atticb iks Chairman ' s same to e&oh sheet , ^ sd &nrazd tbs satae jaimediately to T . S . Duneombe , > f J > ., tos Albary , LoB ^ Bi . THE SaTLWIAL BEM 0 SJ 0 . L . The date feed for the pceet&t&tioa cf the laeporial ia Monday , Septeeiber 19 th . X ) a that occasiori , a great procession will accompany , the p > emorial to the Queen's P&lace ; and as the London raerahfya bore the total ecpeciBe attendant « p » a tbe preSEntstian of-the National FeSUou , It i » KsommeriC ^ 4 ihsi the country < iod « fray the etpeaCBtUeadant upon the presentation of tia B ^ BJoriaL 7 fe # SxncnUrs tisrefere recom-
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mend each locality to forwat d , ooe fortnight previoua to ' the presentation , tabscri ptions , not less than five shillings , to the General T eeasorer , particularly stating the object far which , the money is to be expended , .
XEC ' jfUKERS . The Erecntwo took into their serious consideration the noaerotts < oemplaiats which have been made concerning tke present loose and « nBatiBfactory manner is which lectttien are appointed . They are apprehensive of the danger to be incurred ahould unknown and unfialified Tjeen be recognised as belonging to , and holding responsible offices in , the National Charter Association , and have therefore recommended that in fature no person ought to be received as » Chartist lecturer , who does not bear with him a clear aud satisfac tory appointment to that office , issued by the General Council , 'and signed bj the leading members of the locality in which he has resided , and where his character and principles are best known . It was also resolved , that the General Council , after the nomination of lecturers , do forward a list of the appointed lecturers for publication , and to enable the Executive to choose from the -whole men , to agitate the
USORGANIZED DISTRICTS . For which purpose an agitating fund should be established , by devoting the proceedB of one lecture , ball , or soiree for that especial purpose , every Chartist lending his gratuitous aid for that important end .
THE CHASTIST PRESS . The Executive are anxious that every encouragement and support be given to the organs of the movement , and that the Star , the Statesman , the Trumpet of Waies , and every other publication inserting our documents aud advocating our principles , should be read and circulated . The mailer organs have invariably been allowed to die , and it is with regret that the Executive perceive that the English Cbartist Circular is almost about to
expire for- want of due encouragement to such a talented , cheap , aad instructive Bheet . It is important that a halfpenny publication should belong to our movement , if it were for no other purpose than to enable the poorest to read , and the richer to purchase it , and circulate , by an easy medium , the principles of-the People ' s Charter . The Executive therefore call upon the Council and the members to aid them in upholding this the smallest aud cheapest of our Chartist papers , not only oa account of iU merit , but of its utility to the cause .
STATB OF THE COTJSTRT . The Executive have seriously deliberated upon the distress of the people , and deplore tha absence of the Suffrage , which could so speedily exchange comfort for poverty , plenty for starvation , and freedom for submission . They do not see any just or wise remedy in violence or insurrection , neither do they see wisdom in uncomplaining obedience and servile silence . Therefore they are prepared to recommend peaceful and constitutional
UiTERIOH HEASTJRKS , 83 soon as they have gained the legal opinion of an eminent barriEter , at the head of the movement , whose judgment will not be biassed by the fear of government , feut whose opinion will be tempered by anxiety for the success of the cause , and care for the safety of the people , the leaders and the Charter . The Executive "will , therefore , be prepared to recommend measures of peaceful resistance t « the assembled conferences of the Association , where they will have the benefit of the opinions of the leading councillors of the National Charter Association .
FISASCE . The Executive proceeded to examine the accounts of the Secretary , and discovered that every debt of the old Executive was defrayed , and that a considerable sum was due to the present body for cards . It is to be hoped that the- Executive of the present body will meet with the same support , and on the termination of tbeir annual term of office , have as ltttle reason for complaint The strength of the Executive lies in the command of funds , aud their weak-Bess consists in not being supported ; but the experience of the past affords no reason for apprehension in the future ; and the present body throw themselves entirely upon the judgment of a people who will have sagacity enough to protect and ' support them ia the performance of a duty so sacred and responsible . John Campbell , Sec .
The Jn T Oethee^ Stak. Saturday, July 16,1842. J
THE JN OETHEE ^ STAK . SATURDAY , JULY 16 , 1842 . j
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THE MIDDLE CLASS MOVEMENT AND THE RIGHT MODE OF TREATING IT . Nothing can be more important than that the people should rightly understand and duly appreciate the disposition now manifested by & portion of the rniddl * classe 3 to raise an outcry for extended suffrage . We are quite aware that by some ( it may be honest-minded bat we must think shortsighted ) Chartists , we have been thought a little too sceptical of the intentions , and too suspicious of the motives , of the new-fledged middle class " Chartists-in-principle-bnt-not-in-name . " It is
argued by some that the character of the middle classes is not now what it was ten or twenty , nor eTen what it was five or seven years ago ; that whereas they were then universally opposed to the granting of the people ' s rights , many of them , now , admit that the people have rights , and ought not to be dispossessed of them ; that this is to be regarded as a step in the right course—as an advance towards tee recognition cf jusi principles , and that those advances should by no means be repelled , but , on the contrary , encouraged ; that we have nothing to do with their motives : that their sincerftv to do with their motives ; that their sincerity
or insincerity is of no moment to us ; that it matters not whether they mean good to us or whether they only mean good to themselves through our iastrumentality that our business is to accept their advances and proffered aid in a frank and friendly spirit—to give them credit for good intentions while their actB tend manifestly to our good , and to reciprocate such acts by every means in our power that involves no compromise of principle ; shewing ourselves as disposed to conciliate as to be conciliated . Now , we are as reidy as any not merely to admit bnt to insist that whenever their acts tend
manifestly to onr good , those acts—no matter what may have been their motive ^—should be reciprocated and eacoaraged . We merely wish the people to make themselves quite sure , before they fly into the arm 3 of those who profess themselves almost persuaded to be Chartists , that their act 3 do tend manifestly to our good . We have not yet been able to satisfy ourselves that any of the many " new moves " , which have successively enjoyed the sunshine of middle-class countenance , has either had or been intended to have this tendency . We see nothing in The character and conduct of the middle classes now
thatdoasnot designate them clearlyasthesame selfish , grasping , crafty , cowardly , dishonest politicians aad sooietarians that they have ever been . It certainly is not in such details of injustice , and oppression , . and wickedness , as abound in our present paper , and in every honest record of passing events ; it is not in the locking np of the white slaves by the Whig millowners of Bingley , lest they should hear the truth respecting the cause of their degradation , at the late visit of O'Connor to that town ; it is not in the compelling by the master coal and ironstone miners
in Scotland , of their men to sign a Dew code of rules—the very first of which is , that they si all not , during the time of their engagement , attend any meeting , by night or by day , above ground or below ground , and especially the meetings of the "Coal Miner ' s Association , " besides plundering their labour through the medium of fraudulent weights , against whieh the poor fellows are now petitioning ; it is not in the brutally abusing and discharging from its employment of a good man for attending poor Hoiberri ' 6 funeral j it is not in the thousand different forms under which the infamous truck system of robbery manifests itself thronghoat the whole of the mauufacturing and mining districts ; it
is not . ia the heartleseness with which the poor j gricaltoral labourers ( decoyed from their own districts during the transient rampancy of an "increased foreign trade ** by lying promisee for the e . * ke M keeping dowa wages ) are now left to die fit famine ; it is not to the devotion , at a . single breakfast , of nearly £ 2 , 000 to the carrying of words abroad while their next door neighbours are dying of hunger and robbing swill tubs for ood ; it is not in their recent exhibitions of sympathy with us as jury-men , whan our best men were , by Bioals , committed to the dungeon ' s gloom for ibe assertion of our principles ; it is not in the judicial murder of Clayton and Holberry , the all but murder of Daffy and Hoey , and
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the now Blowly perpetrating murder of Peddie and Brook , through the malignity of middle class jurors ; it is not in their utter refusal to co-operate with us in demanding the recall of the an justly and illegally expatriated Welch patriots ; it is not in the sufferings of the savagely and cowardly persecuted , and unjustly convicted and expatriated , victims of their oven riot in the bull ring at Birmingham ; it is not to
any of these prominent marks of middle class character , nor yet to their more recent evidence of sympathy in the case of Mason and his Chartist brethren at Stafford , that we can look for any amelioration of the character which appertained to them in years gone by . It may be that our vision is beclouded , but to us , they wear the same aspect of dogged , unreasoning , and unreasonable , sordid selfishness as they have ever done .
We ll , but " vast numbers of them" now , " not only recognise us as an integral and important part of the body politic , but they have actually , in some instances , paid court to us !" If this had been a new point in their character , we might probably have been more easily deceived by it ; but we are old enough to remember tbat this is not tho first occasion on which these parties , —not simply the middle cIsbs of that day , but the middle class of this day—have thought it necessary , for the attainment of their own objects , " not only to recognise us as an integral and important part of the
body politic , but actually to pay court to us" ; and , knowing this , we are the less disposed to give them credit for any purpose now but that of again playing the same game . While , therefore , we , as well as the advocates of the middle class suffragists , " should deem ourselves criminal in the sight of the people , and traitors to the cause , if we offered them any the slightest obstruction , when disposedno matter from what cause—to give a helping hand towards carrying the Charter " , we wish , before
lending ourselves to them aa tools in their hands , to know that they are giving a helping hand towards carrying the Charter ; and that they are not , while amusing us with talk about the Charter , securing our help for the carrying of their own '' free trade " and "extension" projects , by the attainment of which our bonds would berivetted more firmly , our poverty and degradation made more appalling , and the carrying of the Charter indefinitely postponed .
We have never offered them any obstruction . We have never recommended that the slightest obstruction should be offered to them . : We have never repelled any one of their advances in the right course . On the contrary , we have given them every encouragement in our power . We have continually laboured to show them that their r . eal interests were effectually bound up with ours , and have invited them to join the people in demanding that universal right which must , eventually , issue in universal good . We have been always most anxious to see the middle
classes join the people , and nothing could have given us so much pleasure as the consummation of this great good ; but we see a great difference between accepting the aid of the middle classes and suffering ourselves to Je used by the middle classes ; and hence we have been just as cartful to avoid the latter as to obtain the former . For this reason we have watched always , and watched narrowly , the movements of these middle class gentry . We knew that no jot ot the full measure which was the object of our righteous contention could be abated "without a compromise of
principle , " and that therefore if any honest coalition took place between us and the middle classes , it must be by their coming to us , and not by our going to them . This has alwayB been our ' doctrine of M conciliation . " We know nothing of any "disposition to conciliate " which could induce us to give up one tittle of our full principles , or to slacken one breath of the fulness of our demand for right . Hence our continual warning of the people against ttie " Ballot , " the "Foreign Policy , " the " Household Suffrage , " the "Short Parliaments . " the "Education
Suffrage , " the " Repeal of the Corn Laws , " the "Repeal of the Poor Law , " the " Manhood Suffrage , " the " Universal Suffrage , without details , " and all the other crack moves of the middle class men , whether Whig or Tory . We have sung always one song . We have said to the people , "Keep where you are ; stir not an inch ; and when they see that they can't' fetch' you , they will cOme to you . " The event has justified us . The very same parties who have successively tried all these moves have taken the last position prior to an amalgamation with the people . They have admitted all
the principles for which we contend ; but they still stickle , and would still divide us on the paltry matters of inferior detailB—of leadership—and of a designation . This is , to us , evidence of insincerity ; and we must sea better reasons for it than we have yet seen from its warmest adyocates , before we can consent to regard it otherwise . But it is said that their recognition of our principles , whether sincere or not , tends to the enhancement and confirmation of those principles ; and must , therefore , however it may have been intended , be a great good , if we don't prevent it . Just so . And this is just
what we have always said ; the very doctrine first preached , and often repeated by as on this subject . Immediately on our learning that the Complete Suffragists had admitted all our principles , but yet refused to make common cause with us , we at once stated the opinion which we now repeat , that the conference-men had proved to a demonstration their own insincerity , and that the people ought not by any means to unite with them ; while at the same time we most strongly warned them against
offering any opposition to the new-formed "National " Complete Suffrage Union ; but exhorted them , on the contrary to protect and assist them on all occasions of their public assertion of our principles . In our leading article of the 16 th of April , which we wish every Chartist would again read , after reasoning the whole question and proving the insincerity of the new " new-movers , ' we gave our opinion to the people in terms which we now repeat , having caref nlly reviewed and seeing no reason to repudiate them : —
"The people should have nothing to do with them . They should leave them alone in their littleness , and laugh at them . The people must not oppose them , for they profess to be seeking the advancement of our principles ; let them , therefore , goon their own way ; and if they are determined to go alone—if they are determined to make a foot-road for themselves alongside the people ' s turnpike , in God's name , let them walk on it until their ancles ache , and they begin to feel their loneliness ; but support them against the factions in all their assertions of the great principles of liberty .
If they should be weak enough to take the open field in defence of our principles , relying on their own strength , rash to the rescue , lest the enemy should overcome them ; let them not , by any means > be beaten by the open and avowed advocates of class legislation : on every publio occasion , when the Complete Suffragites muster for the assertion of our common principles , there let the Chartists muster with them to a man ; let there be no such divis ion in our ranks as the enemy can take advantage of ; let them be well protected , and by onr assistance made triumphant , in every publie assertion of our principles which they may attempt : but never leave them
without letting them know to whom they are indebted ; never leave a meeting without a resolution pledging the people to their old leaders so long as these remain faithful , to their tried friends , who have brayed the battle and the breeze , to their own national organisation , which they know to be legal and efficient , and to th « evidence of sincerity to the cause by enrolment in the National Charter Association . This is the adviee we give the people ; we give it ia all sincerity and earnestness ; and we tell them , that if it be not heeded , they are likely to have bitter and abundant reason for repentance . " We wish to recall attention to this advice , and to in treat the people never to lose Bight of it . We do
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so the more particularly , because we hear that during the past week a meeting of Complete Suffragists at Bristol , was disturbed and opposed by Chartists . If this was bo , it was veryv wrong . It was affording , so far as it went , just cause for the very complaints of intolerance and violence which the Complete Suffragists urge as a pretext for dividing the strength of our common body by refusing to unite with us . Again we say , " the people must not oppose them . " They profess to assert and advocate our principles ; and when they meet for that purpose , as seems to have been the case at y
Bristol , ttey should surely be allowed to do bo peaceably , and in their own way . The duty of Chartists in reference te the Complete Suffrage union is very clear . It is their duty , while they carefully avoid joining or in any way actively assisting the union , to avoidi as carefully , the offering of any opposition or annoyance to them . Attend all their meetings ; and , so long as they assert without compromising our principles , take no part in their meetings ; leave them to do their own work ,
unaided , but unmolested ; but if any compromise be attempted— 'any shirking or burking of any of Our great questions , or any making of them subservient to " Free Trade , " or V Corn Law Repeal , " or "Poor Law \ Repeal , " or any other isolated matter- —or if either Whigs or Tories take the field in opposition to the Complete Suffragists , then let the Chartists do their duty ; let every other consideration merge in the great consideration of the assertion aud upholding of the glorious principles of Chartism .
This ia the only way m whioh the Charter movement of the middle classes can be made to subserve the interests of our cause . Let the Chartists thus act , and , if the middle class be sincere in their movement , they will soon discover their own weakness and the absolute necessity of laying aside their fastidiousness and coming to the people ; that they may have power to attain their object ; if they be insincere , they will be fast nailed to the pillory of their own shame , and compelled either to exhibit their true character , or to go on aiding the work of righteousness against their will . In either case , the people will thus make the most of the middle class movement , by merely adopting the right mode of treating it .
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THE NEW EXECUTIVE AND * THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION . We direct attention to a letter from the Hull members of tho General Council upon this important subject , and also to the first official document of the New Executive , which we now publish . Both these documents are important , and deserving of attention . - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦" . ' '¦ - ; We are glad to see the New Executive awake to the importance of their position and the critical character of the times , as evidenced by the following extract : —
"TheExecutive are , from the genera \ appearance of the country , and information received , fully satisfied that the Government have resolved to prosecute , arrest , and imprison the leaders of the movement on the least opportunity being afforded them . The Executive , therefore , caution the members of the Association against the adoption of any secret plans of resistance ^ and advise them to discountenance all recommendations to the use ef physical force . "
We know that the Executive have good reason for their apprehensions ; and while we rejoice to see that the brave fellows who lead on the people are not a whit da oat id by the prospect , but , maugre the " example " Wfore them of Frost , Williams and Jones , Clayton , Holberry , Brook and Peddie , still " hurl defiance at the tyrants'headsj '' we should be ill performing tour duty , did we not give such timely and necessary counsel as may tend , if heeded by the people , to make abortive all the efforts of the people ' s foes . And hence our prayer that the well-timed caution of the Hull councillors may be attended to . Our
organization in its present state ih perfectly legal , and should be perfectly adhered to . We hayenofear of the people being led , by the rascally spies of the Government , into physical outbreak . They have had enough of that . But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact , that the Tory laws against political societies—bo long and so carefully preserved by Whig conseiryatbrsare yet upon the statute book , and that the same party by whom they were enacted , to put down the rising spirit of demooraoy , are now in power ; and we do feel , therefore , that if our organization be not striotly and perfectly adhered to—which it certainly
is not , at present—a handle will be given to the enemy , of which they will not fail to lay hold . We purpose next week , if all be well , to call attention to this subject at some length . We shall reprint the plan of organization , and probably some of the comments we made upon it at its first promulgation in the amended form . We shall point the attention of various localities to practices existing among them , in direct contravention of its provisions , and show them what might be the consequence . We shall endeavour to give plain and clear directions to the General Council , to the sub-Secretaries ,
to the Executive Committee , and to the General Secretary ; pointing out the respective duties of all these parties . We shall give all necessary information to the members for the oondupting of the election and nomination of their officers , so as to escape any legal hazard ; and show how » spite of all the cunning of the factions , the whole society may with the aid of a national organ , be made to work harmoniously and simultaneously ae a national body while every locality shall have all the brigkness and impetus of resident self government and local exertion . /
This , in the present state of the law , is not an easy thing to be so done as to . bid defiance to an Attorney-General ; but it may be done ; and therefore it , by all means , should be done . We never acquit ourselves of duty by encountering needless danger . Meantime , we entreat the Chartist body to beware of any tampering with their organisation . Restless spirits must be ever meddling , and it is not unlikely that in reference to the '' Conferences" recom _ mended to be called by the Executive , mention may be made by some parties of certain alterations in
the plan which they may fancy would work more efficiently and more systematically . The people must bear in mind that the question is not whether a better plan than the present one could be devised but whether any better plan be safely practicable in the present state of the law t We say unhesitatingly "No . " Thet amendment of the plan was the result of the most anxious , careful * and painsful consideration of the whole question , by a large body of intelligent men , selected from the whole nation for the purpose , and having before them every Act of Parliament bearing on the
subject . Let the people be assured that the plan can ot be again amended ^ as to any of its main provisions , for active operation without spoilinaii . We are anxious to see it in full operation ; and as our Hull friends say , adhered to , to thevery letter ; and hence weshould give our individual voice against even the trifling alteration suggested by the Exeostive : namely , the alteration of the period of election from March and April , to June and JTuly . We hoj > 6 that the next election of the General Council will be made all through the country at the proper time , and in due form , as both are specified in the organization , and that the election of the Executive will also be iaken at the proper time . Tae members of the present Execntive have had the best proof they could have of
the people ' s confidence in the fact of the re-election of four of them , after their fornier period ; of service ; there can be little doubt that their services hereafter will be equally estimable to , and estimated by , the peoplei with ihejr services heretofore ; and there can , therefore , be no reason why they should not sabmit themselves t *> re-eledtion at the proper period , though a full twelvemonth may not have expired since tbeir lastre-election ; the more particularly as it will be a twelvemonth since the time when the last election ought to have taken place . There is , to be sure ; one member of the present Executive nevrty elected ; and wbo will not therefore have had his year of office ; but we know that member too well to suppose tbat he will
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not be glad to afford proof of his thorough attachment to the democratic prinoiple by making personal consideration at once bend to pubUcconsifltency . Let us not be accused of denouncing" the Executive . We have an opinion on the matter ; we have a right to Btate that opinion ; and there it is . Every other member has an equal right to have his opinion ; and vfelonly wisii our ' s to be taken for as much as it is worth . It is quite competent for the
people to jnake the alteration the Executive wish ; but it can only be done- properly and legally in one of two ways—either \ by a general ballot , as in the election of the Executive , or ^ by ' " a National Delegate Meeting . It is certainly not worth the expence of a National Delegate Meeting : and a general Ballot would be just the same trouble and expenoe as reelecting the Executive at the right time } so that nothing ; would ^ e gained by that , save a perfectly useless alteration , merely for the sake of change .
With . respect to the "three great Conferences ^ proposed to be called by the Executive , we really think that in the present depressed state of the country the people ought to have more information as to the necessity for these Conferences than we haye yet seen , before they are put to so tremendous an expence . It is a very easy thing to talk of sumtnonino National Conferences ; but the poor people , who have the money to find , and upon whom there are just now so many % many ^ drags , ought to be well satisfied of the absolute necessity for them before they agree to them . Our own opinion is , that there
is no necessity at all for these Conferences ; at least we have not yet seen any ; If the plan of the National Charter Association be duly acted on , the Executive can obtain the opinions of all its members upon any subject much more effectually by proposing the subjeot to their consideration , and requesting ft general vote upon it , than by the much more expensive , and much less general expression of opinion , which might be obtained from a National Delegate Meeting ; because in the former case all could vote , and consequently all opinions would be expressed ; whereas in the latter case , very many localities being prevented , by distance and expence , from sending delegates , would be utterly unrepresented . We trust , therefore , that if
the necessity for these three conferences be apparent to the Executive * they will make it apparent to the people before calling them , and that if by any means the expense can be avoided it may be ; that so the people may be all the better prepared to uphold the hands of the Executive with funds for lecturing , publishing ' , and other absolutely necesmry purposes . We cordially reciprocate their opinion , that" the strength of the Executive lies in the command of funds , and their weakness consists in not being supported . " We trust to see them much better supported in this way than they have ever yet been ; and for that reason we are very anxious that the resources of the people should not bo subjected to needless drains .
In concluding our remarks , we again beg that the spirit of them may not be either misconstrued or misrepresented . The last Executive , in their valedictory address , admitted their publio documents to be fit subjects for observation and comment . We hope the present Executive will not find anything here than fair comment in the few observations wo have thought it our duty to make on this their first publio document .
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THE " EXTENSION OF COMMERCE " GENTRY , THE IB CONFERENCE . THE LATE MEETING OF THE LEEDS
SHOPKEEPERS . "KO FOt ITXC S »! The Extension" men of Leeds are sorely provoked at the remarks we thought proper to make ? pon the recent meeting of tho Leeds shopkeepers ; and more particularly that portion of them where we stripped the * ' no politics" portion of > the ooiicoctors' humbug of its very thin and awkwardly contrived veil . They cannot disguise their chagrin . It peeps out , notwithstanding all the attempts of Mother Goose to smother and hide it ;
It was an adroit attempt on the part of the "Extension men" to turn to their own selfish account ( ho very distress and privation they have themselves caused ! and there is no wonder at their grief and rage at being foiled . " Extensions of Commerce" have done their work . They have reduced the working portion of the population to starvatioa and death 1 and they have brought the middling , the shopkeeping , class to beggary and ruin . But while they have done this , they have given MILLIONS and " HUNDREDS
OF THOUSANDS' ? to our Mabshau . 9 and our Gotts ; our Peels , our Ask weights , our : Strctts , our Boultons , our Grants , our Smiths , our Gregs , ourCoBDENS , our Dyeks , our Walkers ,: and our Dukns . Though they have yeilded such bitter fruit to two entire classes of the community , the above-named individuals and a few others have made "a pretty penny" by them ! ¦ " It is att ill wind indeed that blows nobody good : " and the interested in " Extensions of Commerce" have raked ^ p to themselves immense treasure from the nation ' s ruin I ¦ . '¦ ¦ : ' . '¦ . ¦• .- ¦ , ¦ ¦¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦• '¦ ¦ ¦ - ,- ' -. " .
Their wealth has given them power . That power they have used , and continue to use , to acquire to themselves more wealth . To do this it is \ necessary for the * i to have further " Extensions of Commerce . " The Workings of their own system have brought their trade almost to a stand-still . They have immenee sums " invested" iu mills and machinery . Unless these are " running " , that "investment " makes no " return . " To find employment for their machinery , they want M Extension of Commerce . " They have got it into their noddles that a Repeal of the Corn Laws would give them such
"Extension ; and they , therefore , use every means within the compass of their well-practised art and wile to procure the "Repeal . " One of their means is to pretend to deplore the suffering they have occasioned ; to " SYMPATHISE" with the starviDg ; to counsel and advise the beggared and ruined ; and to press upon the Government the wretched state of the working and middling classes , with a view to the devisement of measures of relief : they taking good care that the only measure brought under the notice of the Minister shall be that one they have determined to carry for their own selfish ends 1—Corn Law Repeal !!
Ever since the dismissal of the Whigs from office , tho ewe of the Extension men has been : tocry up the distress and suffering everywhere abounding . Before that period they denied its existence ! There is lying before us , at this moment , a large " blue book " of 798 folio pages , crammed with " evidence" taken before the ' * Select Committee on Manufactures , Commerce , and Shipping , " in the year 1833 . That Committee examined Marshall , of Leeds , Greg , of Manchester , Lewis Loyd , Kirkman Fiblat , Joshua Bates , Henb . t Hughes , John Brooke , Timothy Wiggin , George deH . Labpent , and a
whole host of other millowners and merchants ; and the -whole point of their evidence was to prove that the condition sf all classes of society neveb was so good aa at that ^ time 4 that wages v > ere as good as they were ever known to be ; and that the workman was able to procure everything that was necessary to enable him to live in comfort and " independence . " Then , ** uever were there Buch prosperous times , " was the cue ; and this continued up to the period of the Whigs being thrust out of power ! Now , it is with these same parties , bankruptoy /''* ruin , ' * « stariratioD /' death" ! of
[ By-the-bye the " blue book' ^ just spoken contains some queer things ; some tbrt jueer ; things . Amongst others it contains the new mode of dibtribution , under the millowners' system . To make ont their then case , Mr . Prosperity Marshall , of Leeds , was imprudent enough to give to the Committee a list of the respective ratea ojwaffeshe paid his mill "hands , " averring that he had paid according to that rate for ittoifl ^ than twea ^ r yeaw previously . This list enables us to see wAo has had the lion ' s share of the wealth produced jn Marshall ' s mill 1 This list lets us into the eecret of " MILLIONS" of money to the " proprietor ^ and of paltry pence to the worker !! This list is
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extremely yaluable . We shall try , some day , to place it before the public in a light Mr . Marshall little thought of wheii he gave it I In the mean time we just barelymention the ^ fact that ; r . th e list , as given in by Marshaxi , himself , gives an average of 6 s . ll ^ d . per week for the vfhoie "hands" he employs!!!—and tbat : i 6 s . 7 | d . is ^ the utmost average he pays to " hands" of tvrenty-one . years of age and upwards I just mentioning this fact , and just reminding the reader that this man , who contended before the ( Committee that his
menweavers , ( who he Bhowed were only receiving 10 a . 6 d . per week ! U I for a whole Week ' s work , ) were " exceedingly well off" I that * 'their wages were as high then as during the war ; and that , as provisions were much cheapened , their wages would produce to them more comfort" ! ; jusfc reminding the reader that the man who thus " evidenced" had then bagged for himself upwardsi of two millioms of money , we leave the subject for the present . Some day or other we shall have a pretty expos * in connection with it . ]
To -accomplish their object—the forcing the Tory Minister either to give them " Repoal " of to quit office , the "Extension ¦ ' men have what they call a Conference how sitting in London . This Conference is composed of parties selected by the members of the anti-Cora Law League . When this move was determined on , it was also determined to get the Shbpkeeping class to squeak ^ out , so as to frighten Peel , if possible ; into the demands of the corifederated Extensiomsta . " Ready tools were set toworkj and , under
the pretext of " serving no party / ' "having nothing to do with politics , " " pointing out no remedy / ' they suceeededi ia one or two instances , to get the shopkeepers to give mouth . Leeds was one instance . Before that meeting some of its concootors had departed for London , to sit on the "Conference" { and after the meeting others of them , who had merely been left behind to do the " humbugging" portion of the business '¦ ¦' no politicsl " y joined their colleagues , an , d used the Squeak so as to forward the ends of the " no politics" Corn Law Repealing gentry I !
In another portion of bur paper will be found a paragraph descriptive of an interview the confederated humbugs have had with the Minister . THERE they used the Shopkeepers' Squeaks in accordance with their present cue ; and although the { ioorbrokensp ]> ited humble TiLL-ocracy ' coHld not presame to point ' out a remedy , * ' { the dextrous pullers of the wires that set the" hwnblt" ones a-dancing , took care to represent it as " their belief that a Repeal ot the 'C ^ in ; Laws / * ! friu ' the ;« nly : / means of relief"J !•! ( O ! how well the " no politics" dodge answers !) Disappointment was the result of this interview ; for they found that Peel too " SYMPATHISED " with the distress occasioned by ' Extensions of Commerce" ! and they determined to " continue their sittings , and to use ' every constitutional f of course ! means for the attainment of their object . "
Now then , for the " Constitotional Means" p £ the confederated Extension men . In their organ , the Sun ) of Thursdayj July 7 th , We find the following : — - : ' ¦'¦ ' ¦ . "¦ - ' ^ ' - " ¦ . :. ;[ -. ' , ';¦¦ ¦ - ¦''•¦' ¦ - ' .- ' :. - ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ ' ; " . - . ¦"«•¦ The proceedings yesterday at the antt-Corn Law Conference speak for themselves / Gentlemen who declared THEY WILL PAY NO TAXES TILIi THE CpRN LAW BE REPEALED , were vocifer * otisly cK « arp $ . The recital ' that workmen have said it was not words would move Parliament , but force ; and they -would have it if they did not change their system , ' waa heard with no disapprobation . In the
manufacturing districts men declare that < no good ead be done until they riot , " and in the metropolis the information is received with approbation . To-day and to-morrow it will be spread throughout the empire , and the ideas of ri $ iva } of rioting , undof refusing to pay tares , will be presented at one and the same time to many thousand persons . The sanctity once ^ belonging to the law , -which prevented Bnch conceptions , In at an ead ; the minds of the people are becoming ; familiarised -with the idea OF REgislANCE ; and , if their misery be not relieved , it will not be long before corresponding DEEPS will spring from thjb IDEAJ / ¦ . r- ' - .-.: : ' . /> -: ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ : ¦ ¦; . ¦ - ¦ / ¦ ¦ ; . " / ::-:: - ' ¦¦ ¦ : /; , ,, ¦ ¦ ¦' , ¦
'f In common with many members of the Conferencet and with the memorialiata from Hinckley , we have become conrinced that it ia Useless to place before the Parliament and the aristocracy evidence of the Bufferings of the people . Politicians rejoice that the unruly workmen of the manufacturing towns are tamed into obedience by hunger ; bigots exult that the half pagan , half free-thinking towns-people are for their sins visited by a judgment which threatens annihilation .: To bigota and politicians , pictures of distress in tho manufacturing districts are not diaagresable ; and we will not contribute to their p ' easwre by repeating them . We turn rather to Mr . Taunton ' s speech , who
said—¦*** . It appeared to him that the time was past for talkiTig , The time was come to do something , and he would tell them what to do—( cheers . ) He thought they ought to proceed at once to appoint a Committee OF PVBplC SAFExir IN THE METROPOLIS , and induce every delegate from the country to pour in such facts as would organise such , a body of public opinion as would create the utmost odium against those in power , and COMPEL them TO YIELD . '" Famous"CoiKSTiTCTioNAL means " gentlemen !
Excellent ! Most excellent !! One could almost fancy We were reading one of the " Constitutional " speeches of the Reform time ! u Pat no morb taxes" ! "Rising " . " Riotimg " . m Committee of public Safety" ! "COMPEL them to yield" ! O what "constitutional means " ' . Where was the Queen Groanefl He ought to have been present . His absence is unpardonable ! There only wanted his one ingredient to make the budget ot' "Constitutional means' ' perfect ! Where , O where ! was groaning Neddy I ;
Reader ! look over the extract from the - « S >«» once more . Repress the almost overflowing indignation that arises from the reflection that these things are said and done by a set of the most cowardly and most selfish miscreants the light of day ever shone upon ; and said and done for the purpose of completely and utterly ruining the nation that they may have an opportunity of picking UP the . spoil , RepresB the choking indignation that the remembrance of this fact calls up , and contemplate fora moment , their ladicroas phrenzy and pitiable antics . Remember tha-t tbe vapouring detailed by the Sun is mouthed out by a party who
dare not call a public meeting in any part of England in support of their measure of relief ! Remember that all the above-reported froth proceeds from those who are obliged to skulk into holes and corners to do their business ; to " humbug" and deceive even the . Shopkeeping class with their " no politics " dodge ; to hire meja to sign their petitions , with vamped up names by thousands ; to send their prowling hireling leotufers over the country , to persuade the people ( where they flan meet with any that willlisten ) that another Extension of Commerce will do ' . all good : remember that the proposala , and threats of ^ not paying / taxes " yoV rising "; of" rioting" ; of " DEEDS epringing from the idea of resistant" : remember that these threats come from a
party who are scouted from the public gsza the moment they show themselves ! The ¦ very day after the above exhibition had been made in " Conference , " they determined to try , in an out-ofthe way place , the publio mind . ; and accordingly appeared before a portion of them aa " SYMPATHISERS ^ with public distress . Lot the reader refer to the report of the proceedings on that occasion . He will find it in the first column of the second page of our present sheet . He will find too , that the whole herd were routed , scouted , driven from public gaze 1 Pretty fellows these to talk of * rising " ' / of " rioting * ' ! of " deeds" / of ^ a > " Committee sf Public Safety " . ! Moderate your temperB , gentlemen ! Persuade youi ? passion J pray do , now . M Do not tear your shibt ! " Take it coolly !
" Draw it mild ! 1 " Ah t baiwhen is the" rising" and the " rioting " to take place I When is the ¦ ** Committee of Publio Safety" to be appointed f And who are they to save ? Let us know these things , pretty gentlemen We will find you a band that shall" save * yoa from even attemping to puf your vapouring threats into executioii ! Will your ^ n ^ t ^ s " and your •* rioting ? be , like yotir meetings , in holes and corners 1 Will you venture to come forth oni of jour hiding places ? If you do , the Chartist army shall keep you " safe " enoagh ! ¦ . ^ ' ^ ' - . . i '¦ ¦ '' . ' . " :- :.: . - - . ¦}¦ : ¦' . '¦ ' - \ " ¦ . '¦ > : : ¦' :: r . y ~
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Bromptos , —On Tneaday evening , considerable local business connected witb the ensuing ball and concert , -was transacted ; the Bum of sixpence per week -was voted to the wives of ttie Staffordshire victims . The Coinmittee appointed to draw up the statement regarding Mr . Stallwood reported , and were ordered to send it to the Northern Star and British Statesman for insertien . This locality will meet on the ensuing Tuesday evenings ( until they haye procured a suitable leetv * room ) at Mr . Wright ' s , the Eagle , Norawrtreet , Newroad , Chelsea ,
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4 . THE - ¦ / nQ ^ . x ^^^ ^^^ . * :-:.. : ____^^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), July 16, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct439/page/4/
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