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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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BROOK OF NORTHALLERTON . 10 THE COUNCIL OF THE BRADFORD CHABTIST ASSOCIATION . Deab . Fbxrsds , —I regret that I have to solicit yon fco take my distressed family into your consideration and protection , bat I understand they have been greatly neglected during tat last year , eith&r for -want of consi deration or some other cause unknown to me . I do not tkink that the Chartists of Bradford hare neglected them wilfully , for I am confident that-they will never allow my family to starve while I am confined for the part I have taken in the struggle to secure the political freedom of nay enslaved countrymen , and lo secure for my self and them a fair day ' s wages for a fair days ynfk ; and at the same time rescue our dear little children from the rapacious jaws of the cruel factory monster , and the aged and helpless from the tares deril tings appointed to starve them to death in the bsstiles .
Pear friends , I earnestly request ycu to take my family tinder your protection . It "will be a source cf umch comfort to me to know that my family are preserved from want daring the remainder of my imprisonment , for I expect no relief from the bloodthirsty fictions , either Whig or Conservative , though 1 wish a memorial to be sent to the Secretsry ef State , to release me from prison . My imprisonment . has not quenched kit spirit , tnongh it has reduced my body ; for please Go 4 to restore me to liberty I shall be * betfe * Chartist than ever I -b-su .
and my imprisonment has furnished me with ten thousand arguments in favour of Chartism , -which , btfore were hid from me ; and I shall nut faii to declare my experience , through the length and breadth of the land , if it should please God to preserve me "in health and strength to do bo : the powers that be from men will not hold tfie check upon me , fcr I am prepared rot enly to mett imprisonment , but dtAth , or secure the political freedom of the labourers of England and their ¦ wives and children from the jaws of tfce factory monster . I remain truly y urs , Wiliiah Brook . House of Correction , KortbaUerton , July 2 nd , 1842 .
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THE YETERAN JOHN GEORGE . The purport cf this address is aa appeal to your generosity in a lamentable ca . B . 9 . "With feelings cf th » deepest regret I am prompted to inform my friends that distress of tke most poignant nature has at length penetrated my humble habnauon . 2 iy poverty has been occasioned by -want of employment , and the great and many sacrifices I have at various times made in tie cause of my compatriots . I am now in my 75 th year , and beins therefore disqualified by age and phyiical debility from procuring a maintenance / or mys = if and partner by the same means which , up to a very recent period , I have employed for that purpose ( manual labour ) , I am now reduced to actual penury . I therefore earntstly solicit the bene-Tolent friends of freedom to take into consideration the oVject of this appeal , and likewise to endeavour as far is in them lie to release me from my present extreme pecuniary thraldom .
For the last fifteen or twenty years , I have encountered a multiplicity of trials of no ordinary description , during all cf ¦ whi ch I never attempted to throw myself upon public notice , as one desirous of receiving cijatitable as sistance , and bYctt now , bet for the persuasion ot a few radical friends upon the snbj ? et , ray own silence thereupon would perhaps accompany me with sheer starvation to the grave . For many years I carried on the business of a paper hanger at the West end of the metropolis , by which I was enabled to maintain a large family in credit I was likewise one of the first members ef the once celebrated Corresponding Society , and I am therefore , with about one exception , the only one remaining of the old stock of Cosmopolites "who figueted among the Tootes , the Hardies , the Thelwalls , the Rickmans , the Joneses , and others whose names grace the annals of democracy .
Sly object in making thi 3 application is to endeavour , as the last resonrce , to keep myself and wife from becoming 'r > t Gf a Union Worktouse . Your distressed applicant , JOHX GEOSGE . 2 To . 1 , Cottage-plaee , Behind the Jolly Gardener , Lambeth-walk , London , July 13 th , 1 S-12 . Subscriptions will be thankfully received by Mr . John Savage , Mechanics' Institution Tavern , Circusstxtet , 2 \ ew-road , Hoiylebone .
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MB . STTRGE AND THE CHARTISTS OF NOTTINGHAM . TO THE EB 1 T 0 B OT THE 50 BTHE& 5 STAB , I bad written an article somewhat at length on the Chartists of Nottingham supporting Mr . Storge , but on second thought , seeing that your columns might bs engaged to better purpose , and concluding that I might as well effect ray intention by asking a question or two : 1 beg room for a line or two in your paper . As I am a Chartist , at Radical , of long-standing , I have too often seen that the people , even after being
often deceived , are too ready to place eonfideEeeiniie-wtt . */ i « converts . It is of importance , t Specially tt present , that tre be cautious in ' receiving and supporting men newly come ever to the profession of our principles from the middle class . And more especially if they have been prominent in the Anti-Corn Law Movement . I wish to know if the Nottingham Chartists suppert Mr . Sturge merely because fee is a Universal Suffrage man ? If so , I would answer , —so is Dan . O'Connell , so is , or at least tu , Mr . Roebuck , so is Moleswortb , Hume , and several ethers , who a . e the worst enemies tfce people have .
Is not Mr . Storge ef the tree trade party ? The Chartists justly deem those principles , if carried out , to be starvation , destruction , and death to the working classes . la Mr . Stnrge friendly to the New Poor Law ? I looked in the papers for a string of questions being put to him by the Chartists cf Nottingham , on various subjects ; but above all , I expected that he would be stringently questioned on that hateful measure . I was disappointed . I believe he was net questioned at all . 2 * ow , if Mr . Starge is a itee trade man , and a friend to tha Sew Poor Law , the Ghartuts of Nottingham would be acting a strange and rery injurious part in helping to return him , I should say , if such should be the case , as I much fear it is , it would be a thousand times better that even Mr . Walter were returned . And further , if such sbonld be the case , Mr . O'Connor has bo business in Nottingham , if he values his consistency-Tours , ( an enemy to Middle Class humbug and deceit , ) A > - Old Chartist ,
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TO THE ED 1 T 0 B OT THE SOBTHSK * STAH . ilT deab Sib , —Allow me through your colnmns to lay before the readers of the Star the following case of rascally oppression , tie subject of which is a worthy fellow , highly respected here , a native of Nottingham , married , and having a famUy of three children . He has been ever Eince iis residence in Sheffield a member of the Cbarter Association , and ef late bAS , at the BXQB £ ST < A the Conucil , made hisiBtlf rathBr active in the performance of certain minor duties assigned him . On the 27 sh of June , he attended the funeral of the deceased Samuel Holberry , only absenting himself from his employment outing the afternoon . He "was employed as sfenker at a eoath-msking establishment . It appears that on the Monday afternoon bis eraployfir
MIDDLE CLASS OPPRESSION . " I would a whip were placed in every Lonest hand , To lash such rascals naked through ihe world . "
visited the manufactory , and finding some of the men absent , directed that they should not be allewed to go to work next day till he bad seen them . Accordingly , next morning the parties presented themselves at the house of the bashaw , but were not seen till the afternoon ,- one of the men who pleaded that he had been drank on the Sunday , and was compelled to leave on Monday , through being too ill to work In consequence of his Sunday ' s spree , was allowed to return to his wotk on assuring his employer that he was no Chartist . AU escaped condemnation but poor , "who , upon ban ? questioned if he was a Chartist , replied he was ; ^ pon which the " gentleman" reffisrSed be would not fcave i Chartist about the place if he knew it , adding tbit the Chartists were the " d 8 t low-lived
SGotm drels in the town i" That Holberry "was » fellow "who bad tried to destroy life and property , and meant to burn tbe town ! Subsequently , our friend was asked if he did not p&y sixpence a week to the Chartists ? be s * id no , jonly a ^ Enny . He was then asked if he had sot better bay a pennyworth of tobacco or bread with the money , and upon bis entering into a defence of his principles and the right to think for himself , the " gen-Uenaa- stopped him short , savagely telling him that after the avowal he had made of his principles , if he * a » JesuB Christ himself he should "work for him no
losg&r ! Hs then asked the tyrant to give him a chasoter . The " gentleman" employer replied that the ^ character he ¦ would give him would be , that he « u 8 ***» , steady man , bat left his work to follow the taar Sits . Tfce following Friday our friend again a 1 ^ on his l&te employer , who , to' reply to hia remonii&nees , replied that he -wanted nose of the d——d Chutist tribe about him , adding , " a lot of yon ought k > be drove into some gnjf md smothered ! " Finally deleft the place , the " gentleman" swearing tkat if he * ss pot sffhe -would have the police tofcim . "
_ There , Sir , there is a- specimen of middle-class justice ! The aa& is a sober * steady , quiet man ; he had * orked for this fellow about two years , sad I believe had never absented himself bam . his work before the afternoon cf poor Holberry ' a funeral ; and then , though absent himself , he lunlike the other absentees ) presented no man from working through his absence , toother man supplying his place . The poor fellow has been compelled to break up his home , and with hia wife * ad children return to Nottingham , where the pariah or death by starvation will in all likelihood be their kt . We collected 10 s . 6 d for him on Monday evening , tt the meeting in Fig-tree lane , to help him on his "way . He left Sheffield on Monday last
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Talk of the tyranny of Whig ot Tory Governmentsfaugh ! These are the iea \ tyrants of society—these fhopecratical scoundrels that thus dare to doom to death their fellow-men . I may mention that this " gentleman" is a roaring Liberal , a Corn Law Repealer , &c I am informed that at the last election this same fellow had a waggon parading the town on which was exhibited tbe " big loaf and little loaf . " What is the remedy for this infernal oppression ? the Charter . Only when we shall have wrested from such fellows as this the exclusive political power enjoyed by j them , can we successfully attempt the curbing of their insolent oppression . So long as tbe working j classes are deprived of their political rights , they must j ba tbe social slaves of the villains who have only to say i Tou shall labour no more for me , " and doom their j fellow-men to misery and death .
Working men of Shtfficid , the fate of this poor tionest man may be that of many more of yon , if , like turn , you have souls that will not bend to tyranny . Rally , then , round the banner of the National Charter Assoeiatfon . Give your support to each other , and protect one anether irom the hiotra ot oppression . "Within the last two weeks our cause has gloriously progressed : above two hundred new members have within that time joined the Association . Let us march onward with the like success for a sfcorl time longer , and we shall C '> ii ! p » l such tyrants to respect us , and think twice ere tbry yu&iBb . ami pfcr * ecutB men for their honest advocacy of ijghteons principles . GEORGE JCLIAJJ HABNEY . Sheffield , July 6 th , lSi 2 .
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TO THE SOUTH LANCASHIRE DELEGATES WHO ASSEMBLED AT MANCHESTER , ON SUNDAY , JUNE 26 th . Gemlemen' , —I have read with feelings of great satisfaction tbt repoTt of your proceedings at your last meeting held in Manchester , mora especially tLat part of your business having reference to a lectnrer beiog stnt to Ireland . It is a subject to which I have , for tee last twelve mocths , directed much of my attention , and I had corns to tfce conclusion of making a kctaring tour in she North of ihat courstry , if my means would aave borne me out , but circumstances arose which prevented tbe fulfilment of my intentions .
From my minuts and intlruate acquaintance "w'th the manners , customs ; habits , and I night add fe *] ings of the people of the North of Ireland , I feel fully confident of much good being accomplished by the carrying out < f yuur resolution in the per&on of a talented , persevering , Snn , and above all , a prudtnt lecturer . The reason why I more particularly refer to ths Nerth is , that by txperietxe gained from personal observation , I kr . ovr that mental despotism and the monopoly of the Diim ! is not sofuJly in exercise , nor so wide spread in tbe N-ortb as in the South and West , asd mereover the Dablin Association is working in the latter places , whereas it has not a chance of carrying its usefulness inte the province of Ulster , and 1 ca ; : not but arrive at the conclusion that tha failure of Mr . LcTery ' s mission
in 18 P 9 , may be attrxbuted to the injudicious selection of Du ' ilin for the commencement of cis labours , instead ot some of the principal towns in the Noithern counties , say Belfast Stilt I am aware that , even there , a lecturer wenid haveinnumerabledifficulties to encounter and obstaclrs to overcome in the prosecution of bis work . The letters which I have been in t ' ae habit of rtctivice wetily . for the last twelvmontiis , as Secretary to the CuttlDitlfce for transmitting Chartists publications to Ireland , from almost every couLty in that country , point out to me ths bazirdous nature of the task , tut at tbe same time thoroughly convince me of the necessity of such a course being pursued . The chitf
obstacle uithe Nirth would be the Orange party , which is strong and bitterly hostile to the spread of knowledge , paiticuisrly a knowledge of the people ' s rights by the peopie ; when I say the Orange partyj I do not mean the poor , ignorant , deluded dupes—the workingmen ; but the magistracy and squirearchy , who together TTilb the will , also possess the po * er to , in a great measure , much impede tbe progress of our movement ; but still taking all things into account , the chances are ttn to one in favour of the carrying out of your resolutions , and I shall be happy to render all the assistance in my po ^ er to £ he accomplishment of bo desirable an undertaJrinr .
The north is especially more peculiarly adapted for the commencement of such a work , inasmuch as the political quacks and gamblers of the Dublin Corn JiXcLjinge , have hhherto failed in using their influence towsrOB that mental debasement , in that quarter which is so much to be dtplored in other parts ot Ireland ; and moreover , history and experience " shew that the inhabitants of iae northern latitude of any country are from geographical and local circumstances , found to be mere attached , generally speaking , than the denizens of other IstHudea , to the principles of freedom and independence , and from the open , candid , and warmhearted characteristics of my countrymen , I argue the
establishment of our principles , and the building up of a tower of strength on the foundation of a deep-seated public opinion , in behalf of the principles of democracy in a space of time incredibly shor t , to those ignorant of the circmstances of that people . Let U 3 but have the confidence of the people of Ireland , on bebslf of the People ' s Charter , or even tha thinking and intelligent , who a : e tod independent to pin their political faith to the sleeve of any hypocritical , canting , political prostitute , who wculd trafiick in the miseries of his fellowmen , and prostrate tbe best energies , mental and physical , of a brave , chivalrous , and confiding peopleand the days of Irish political humbngism are numbered .
I could appeal to many of my Chartist friends in support of the sanguine anticipations which I entertain with " respect to Ireland , amongst others to Mr . Christopher Doyle , for a eorroboration of my opinion , as to the success attending the adoption of the plan ; that gentleman can form something like a true estimate of the people , from the experience of his late vieit to Belfast , Luburn , Newtown&rds , &c , and I believe it will be found to ba Lis opinion that a plentiful harve-t conld be reaped in the field of Irish democracy . The people only require to have true and universal principles enunciated and ushered upon their attention , with an honesty of purpose and a prudence of advocacy to ensure this recognition ; and when recognised by the convictions of the Irish people , a ll tbe political jugglerj of mercenary brawlers , hireling scribes , and base pandering to civic dimities on the
ona hand , ths mthlessne « a of open and avowed oppression On thfi other , cannot stem the wide-spreading torrest Of free inquiry , and its sure offspring , a gracious and well-regulated public opinion ; for history poinls out to us the unparalleled tenacity with which they ( the people cf Ireland ) have ever clung to the last remaining relics of thtir native liberties , bow they have watched with a devotional assiduity hitherto unprecedented , tbe declining day-star of their conntry ' s freedom , until treachery had broken those spirits which tyranny never could bend ; and with the same characteristic avidity wouid they again seiza those trnn and righteous principles which must nltimately secure to them , after a loDg and dreary night tf bondage , the reaVzation of their dreams of the day-dawn of liberty , all their long-cherished hopes of noble and exalted independence .
Trusting that tha . Excecutive will not lose Eiflbt of s--important a subject , and \ hat t ' . ? o cnajr' U generally , will at once see tbe prepriety , nay the necessity , of assisting , by every possible means in their power , tbe prosecution of so laudable an undertaking , I remain , gentlemen , Your fellow labourer In the cause of democracy , BEBJiABD M'CABIXE ? . 13 , Cross Hall-st , Liverpool , July 5 th , 1842 .
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AN APPEAL TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN , IN BEHALF OF THE WIDOW OF SAMUEL HOLBERRY . BB . ETHiESf . —r'We appeal to you in behalf of tbe widow of one of nature ' B nobles , who has at last fillen a martyr for the rights and liberties of mankind . Samuel Holberry is ne more I but , oh , could his dungeon walls find , tongues to describe the anguish they have witnessed , the painful agony he endured , and the acute torture of his mind , when bursting the portals of a prison ' s gloom , his soul left its clay tenement , without tbe kind assistance of a fond wife to minister to hia wants , or to close his dying eyes . Who can pourtray the agony cf hia sufferings ?
Brethren , that wifa he has left tot yonr protection . He has bravely and nobly done his dmy—it now remains for you to do yours . He has sacrificed liberty acd life , that we might be freed from the bonds that bind us . Let us swear that her upon whom his warmest and tenderest affections -were placed , shall never be compelled to taste the tender mercies of a PoorLaT * Bastile , and thus shew to the world in deeds , not words , that we are determined to stand by those who prove firm to our cauee , By so doing we shall encourage future patriots to pursue the same glorious course—to smile at the dungeon and the scaffold , knowing that their wives and children will find protection amongst a grateful band of kindred souls , and also , that they themselves ¦ will live in the memory of every lover or freedom , and hater of tyranny and oppression . •¦ - . ' . - -
Sister democrat * , do you do your doty . Your sister , though young in years , has drunk deeply of the cup of affliction . It is for you to administer the balm of consolation—to sympathise with the afflicted , and to comf « rt the heart-broken . la the soft bosom of angelie woman the fountain of pity always flows for suffering feumanity . Prove yourselves then worthy of your sex , and assist her who has had the staff broken on which the leanea for support . Sheffield has promptly and nobly eome forward to assist in the good work , and to oui townsmen we
return our thanks , for their hearty and generous sympathy so -well proven upon this tnelanchrtr occasion . To tbe Chartirts of Yoris we also return our warmest thanks for their timely and patriotic aid , and to our brother democrats in other part * of the country who without ¦ waiting' for this appeal have already commenced collecting monies for the ropport of Mrs . Holberry . We have purchased the ground where tbe remains of the martyr repose , and intend to erect a plain monument over the grave . To accomplish this , and secure for the widow a maintenance for the future , we expect tbe co-operation and assistance of every
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Chartist in the kingdom . We also suggest the propriety of two separate funds , the one for the support of the widow , and the other for the monument jgwd although we doubt not that a portion of the fuqBfcjftr both objects may be raised in Sneffield , still ' otF account of the depressed state of trade we must look fer the assistance of our brother Chartists throughout the country . ¦ - Monies collected in Sheffield may be paid to the treasurer or secretary of this committee . But , monies collected in other and distant parts of the country , we request may be forwarded to Mr . Joshua Hobson ,
Northern Star Office , Market-street , Briggate , Leeds . We think it unwise to limit each association to any particular sum . Let each and every one give acsording to his or her means , and emulating each other in the good work , place the widow of the martyred Helberry above tbe reach of poverty and any increase of the sufferings she has already endured . Samuel Ludlam , Treasurer , No . 11 . Bad ford-street GfEORGE Julian HaRNEY , Secretary , No . 11 , Hartshead . National Charter Association Boom , Fig-tree-lane , JuJy 4 , 1842 .
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TO SIR R . PEEL , Upon the necessity of an immediate remedy for the present unparalleled distress , and provision against ihe future calamities inevitable to our artificial system . " Bat with respect to you , ye Legislators , ye civilizars of mankind , ye Orpbeuses , Moseses , Minoses , Solens , Theseuses , Lycurgnses , Numas , — -with respect to ycu , be it spoken , your regulations have done more mischief in cold blood than all tbe rage of the fieTcest animals in tbeir greatest terrors or furies have ever done , or could do . " LOKD BOLKVQBROKE ON SOCIETY .
Sir Robert , —Whether the noble writer declared truly in what I have just quoted let the histories of all nations testify , let the poor starving wretched thousands of onr couiitrjmen answer , whilst I en * eavour by my humble pen to rouse you from your professed sympathy —but real apathy—to do your duty to ray perishing feliotvs , whose appalling situation is enough to make the very stones cry out f « r justice . Justice demands that the people should not starve in the land of their birth . God gave them "dominion over the earth : " they have an inheritance in their fatherland . Whohatbtaken it from them ? -who hath the wealth that they have produced in their generation in Britain ? where is the wealth the generations of their fathers produced upon the estates , in the mansions and coffers of the rich ? From these , Sir , make restitution to the long-robbed labourers ; and if you have not the courage and inclination to do this act of justice , then borrow of them Twenty Millions .
Twenty Millions were borrowed upon the labour of these starvins ; thousands and their poor fellows to buy the name of freedom for the blacks of the West Indies . Sir Robert , borrow twenty millions more to give food and labour to your starving countrymen . Will you dare te argue that it ia not enough to permanently relieve the Gistreaa and , therefore should not be borrowed ? If like other creatures of the Honourable House you enouJd answer thus callous and inliuaiane , I answer borrow forty millions ; for if the freedom of some thousands of negroes wsw worth twenty millions , surely tbe lives of thousands of Englishmen are worth at Itaat doable the sum .
But borrow twenty millions , and see what may be done with it You have , with the representatives of the upper and middle class ia your criminal apathy towards the suffering people , suffered the seed time to pass away without making the least provision for the future maintenance of the wretched unwilling idlers ; but it is not now too late to make some provision for tbe present time , and the gloomy winter that it is but too certain will succeed this wretchsd summer . Sir Robert , as the premier of England , yonnriathe duty to make Mish provision ; see to it , and if you would not have your name handed down to posterity laden with infamy as the murderer of thousands of your countrymen—if yon would not be branded thus , you will immediately set about the business of saving youi starving countrymen from this wretched fate , and yourself this lasting ignominy and execration .
To the wort , Sir Robert ; a mighty responsibility is laid upon you by the office you filL Bestoxe to these people their daily bread now withheld from them , not by dearth , for there is plenty of land in our country to produce load tor them withheld by some power , and what greater than the Government of which you , Sir Robert , are the head . Really then in your hands is the remedy—you can restore . Borrow for the present exigency twenty millions to feed and employ the hungry population ; do you ask
how ? take the parks of the aristocracy npon a lease for several years , and place the plundered starving operatives thereon , to cultivate them ; it is not too late to have a crop of potatoes , which , with a portion of corn and some cattle , will support them through the winter whilst they are getting the land ready , and sowing grain / setting plants for cabbage , planting fruit trees , &c There are plenty among the starving to direct these agricultural operations , and tbe thousands will willingly labour for thfcir daily bread npon these pnblic farms .
Therefore let the money be immediately borrowed and laid out in potatoes and corn fur food and for seed , implement * of husbandry and art ; set the poor to work throughout toe country upon tbe nearest and most suitable plots of ground ; let them rear their own dwellings , raise their own food for the time to come ; their labour will amply repay the Government for the outlay thereon , save the rich from poor rates , tbe poor from a most appalling death , relieve the manufacturing market of its iron-made surplus population , spare the fanner from rain by repeal of the Corn Laws and immense reduction of his stock , contribute to the welfare of all classes , and ultimately restore prosperity to our gold-blighted country .
Sir Robert , this is a homely project , an English project , a project wertby of the attention and help of every lover of his species , and doubtless of the Premier of a Christian Government Try this , or eome such fcx ' . ensiva plan of national economy ; give perishing humanity a chance to live on tbe land of its birthright ; gire neglected , insulted , much-wronged mortals actanceto be honourable , free , virtuous , and happy . For your own sake , Sir Robert—for your country ' s sake—for the sake of our many Christian professions , and for our national honour make one noble and necessary aUempt to stay this cruel scourge . Let it not be said the thousands roiled in riches and luxury , and the millions pined in poverty , and perished for want of the coarsest food . Hoping the above letter will not be altogether unheeded by you , Sir , on account of the humble pretensions of the writer , I subscribe myself , Your most humble scrvar * * . ' HOMESPUN .
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We hare many valuable men in Scotland , heart-and soul devoted to the furtherance of the movement , who have shown a deep devotion to its service , and have made many personal sacrifices to uphold it in its intesrrity ; the past services of these men , and present labours , command tha reverence and respect of the people , and the beat of all testimonies of their worth to the people , from their enemies ^ w , that they have had every species of mUreptesentation whioh the vile hirelings of the Whig and Tory press could invent , yet they have nobly set all these efforts at defiance , treated th « m with scorn and contempt , and gone on in ^ the even tehour of their way , exposing the hypocrisy ^ low cuaning , and fraud , and open tyranny of the government class , and Inspired the people with self-respect and confidence In their own power of union , to redress the wrongs they have so long suffered under , and establish in their place the just and righteous principles of the People ' s Charter . Yet there baa been a defect attending their *
opera tions in this glorisua cause , possibly arising as much from necessity as choice ; they have no union among themselves , no co-pperatiori , no oheneas of purpose ; to eome extent it may be said that they are personally unknown to each other ; this might be cited in proof of the excellency of the Chartist movement , that a ihsvement could have been conducted for years by men inculcating the aatue prlnclplea , pursuing the same general plan of actions , and all bearing on one point ; and yet those who are engage-. i in tbese labours are ia many cases personally unknown to each other ; not evenholding intercourse by letter ¦ this view of our movement , and the means by which it is conducted ought to teach an important lesson to every opponent of the Charter , if an agency so scattered and unconnected has through its exertions raised the people to the proud position , they occupy at present , what will this agency not be able to effect when bound together and acting upon a fixed plan of operation ?
Having indicated our present condition without exageratvon or despbndenoy , I will in my next address point out the remedy , and the meana whereby it can be brought into action . David Thompson , Secretary to the Alloa Chartist Association . ' i ^ afcn ¦ ¦ ¦ . '
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THE NATIONAL TRIBUTE AND SPREAD OF CHARTIST PRINCIPLES . TO THK EDITOR OF THE kofcTHERN STAR . Sir , —The proposal made in the Star , June 25 th , for " A National Tribute , " in aid of the Executive , was to Hie quite refreshing , and- the excellent beginning made by yourself and Alessrs . Lonsdule , Hobson , and Ardill , I thought Would have called forth the energies of onr entire Association , in order to raise tke " Wlud , " so that the " tribute" might be made handsome and sufficient . If those who . are already organized will not bestir themselves , how can they ever expact to succeed ? Lv t the four hundred places where bur organization exists , contribute half-a-fcuinea each , and thus we would have two hundred guineas ut once .
In addition to this , it ia not too much to expect that otber gentlemen who profeBs to be friendly to the ultra movement , Bhould Imitate the example , each according to his means , so Bobly set before them . Were the fifty thousand members who co ^ stUut-a our Association to givp one penny each , it would raise upward ^ of £ 20 0 . So easy Is the way where there la the wilL Without any wish to dictate , I would respectfully 8 nRgest to the sub-secretaries everywhere , to bring this before the General Council . Proposals made in newspapers are nothing unless made to assume the Bhape of business , by being put into actual operation among us . And I do think that It devolves upon the sub-secretaries to bring forward such things at the proper
place . : - ¦;¦ . - . ¦' . ¦ ¦ . . . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ : '¦ ¦ ¦•¦ ¦ :. ¦ •¦ . ;• Sir , while reading the Wporfc given in the Star at July 2 nd , of the meeting of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association , Dublin , it struck me forcibly that the forthcoming harvest would afford a good opportunity to the EaglUh Chartists to do something towards the spread of Chartut principles among our Irish brethren . I , thereforej on Monday evening last , brought forward a resolution calling upon the council men of this district to collect as many as possible of the newest copies of the Star , to be given to the Irish labourers , who may happen to pass through thia neighbourhood , on their way into the agricultural districts . The resolution was carried unanimously , and 1 bopo will be pr « nnpfcly acted up » n , and to the fullest extent
It is not necessary to make any remarks upon the above resolution , as its importance aud object innat be obvious . I send it to you for insertion , in order to incite the rest of Eiigland to " go and do likewise . " I would also add , that as the English Chartist Circular is very cheap , the peoplemight , withliUlo trouble and cost , procure quantities of that periodical for the same purpose , and thus do much additional good . I remain . Sir , Very respectfully , . , - ¦ J . Aeran . Yicar-Iane , Bradford , July 11 , 1842 .
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UPON THE POWER AND GENERAL USEFULNESS OF AN HONEST PRESS . TO THE PHlLANTlIHOPJStS , THE TOIMNG MILLIONS , AND TUB CHARTISTS PAUTICULaRUY . Beloved Brethren , —tn ail age when the education of onr youth has been neglected by the State , the adult population oppressed , impoverished , stripped of the meacs of providing a sufficiency of food for themselves and children , and consequently without the means of educating them ; lacking tbe icnuence necessary to get them into the public charities established for the purpose of instructing the rising generation ; the meagre knowledge acquired at these establishments and the schools generally , by those favoured youths who have been able to avail themselvea of those bonnties and blessings of our enlightened system ; a mental
wilderness , is sent forth generation after generation upon the wide world . Unacquainted with it themselves ; or the principles of yirtue that should guide their steps , they travel on ns it were in darkness , falling into trap after trap , that society so called hath everywhere laid for them , until they have learned by dearbought experience , that the natural day-dreams of youth , its pictures of manhood , liberty , and happinesa have no existence in real life ; suad , if theyarefortunate enough to escape the precipices down which numbers fall to execration , misery , or nn ignominious death , they may lunr <) ut a miserable existence in honourable poverty , insulted , calumniated , and punished by the successful gamblers in labour , land , or gold , and the public robber .
Brothers , in this state of things the ptess becomes the greatest schoolmaster , and its purity becomes A subject of paramount importance ; and an honest press ( I use the term implying the ; whole ) would not only be the greatest , but the best schoolmaster of the pre > sent age ; that the pre 88 of our country , with but few exceptions , is detestably hollow , whose only principle 5 uj f « fcy . whose object is money , and the elevation of their » . < : v » mastfci « - »« . » t » » e people , that they may ever he i ;•• - to pay them , is a fact tuat tu- ' " niUnp * . n »\ ii v . itr testtmony to , and feut few , save the potent " we ' s " themselves , will dare to deny . .
And seeing tbis is the case , this mighty engine of instruction and power is used for injury and destruction ; then how accessary for us , the working ciass , tbat we should snpport by all the ' means at our command , a truly honest press to counteract the ppisen the factious prtss diBseminates , and foil its destTuotiye r . nd poisononB influence . Ye have witnessed its effects in the manner they influenced the jury class against you in tha Whie crusade of 1339—40 , which ended in the earning geoning of hundreds' of honest , working men , whoso only offence was speaking the trutb . The base moneyhunters are again at their work ; they seek another onslaught , another sacrifice unto mammon ; they are of the priesthood , and their cry ia persecute , prosecute , blood , blood , for the idol God .
iHy fellows , this engine must be powerfully grappled with ; this can only be done by a similar engine , but an honest one ; it would be useless to rear other factious engints , for this would but increase the evlli by adding power to the already too powerful monster ; aa honest press alone can grapple with this huge servant of corrnptloa , a press based upon principle , Whose editor and proprietors shall be pledged , ttue and tried servants ot the oppressed people ; such meao . Jy can beexpected to strictly and ni-mly advocate the interest of the plundered agwnst the plunderers , for when the proprietor of a paper is a mere xnpnied man , unfenown , or nntried by ths people , though he nitty hire an editor tu udvocato apparently their interest , / there , is no gaarantes tbat when the truth bas served his own , turn , he will gradually rat or veer round to some ' other paity , and then do tuein more injury than all his assumed service did good ;
Tlaertforo , brotHers , ifc is evident ye saould support no piiper excepting y 6 ii knoW the cpntroilws and conductors thereof to bo your true friends , howeveryplau-Bib ' ly they may write ; for : the time iB coining , and now ia , vfheti laaay will eay we are yonr ^ friends , Jind seek to lead you after them , first for your oWix favourite objects , even the Charter , for which ye h&v 0 suffered so much , for which two brave fellowa have perished ia prison , three labour in chains--the ; beloVed Frost and bis compatriots , and several , others pine , in dungeons ; these gold and fame-hunting Editora will sympathise with you , will go with you , till another and ; better paymaster offers . or they have got their master ' s favourite project effected for hini ; then wjll they desert yon . Bay yon ore too violent , want too much , must get a little at a time , call you wild—the rabbie- ^ men they cannot associate with , as did Vincent and others . , ;• ¦
Brothers , be . wise j avoid , them as you would a quack —as you would a serpent ; and if ; the' Star £ s Buch a paper , as we need , an boxfest papei- ^ paper based npon principle , the principle of truth , political and sociala paper that has been tried by you , havibg an editor and proprietor long-tried / servants in the cause of political rights , nndhaa never swerved , but has served you throngh good report and evil report ; then let ; us , in like manner , standby it , avoiding the ^ insinuations / of pretending and changing Wends , especially those wh » run for gold and fame ; but let ris , for the jpurpoae of destroying the power of the factions' press , seek to extend the circulation of the only people ' s paper , the Star , by introducing it into all tha houses and'rooms where the working or middle classes reaort , and whereever else we have the power—into every man ' s house who can afford it , that the upper and middle class may not remain in ignorance of our objects , and political truth . And when our present paper is well circulated ,
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and there is room for another without crippling that , then , and not till then , let ub look for " tried * true friends to " carry on another , for it is useless and Idjurious of bur friends starting papers ; to be in the end sold to moneympngeiB , and men , devoid of principle , as has been the case heretofore , v Hoping , brothers , you will pay to this subject all the attention that its importance demands , - \/; * . \ : I remain , ' ' . ' Yourstruly , : In the cause of Chartism , J . ¦ . Bristol .
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HURRAH FOR THE CHARTER ! TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAB * SiR ,- —I now address you fer the first time , and I do it with a degree of pleasure which I cbhld not at any preceding period have ventured to express . Mypoaition in society and other circumstances naturally linked me with the anti-Corn Law League , though my heart ha « all along been set upon the Charter as the Only means of doing justice to all . My views far twenty years have been , that our
legislative machinery is not competent for the werJc required , and 'Wide men When they ; want any piece of work accomplished ia the best manuer , take care that they begin at the beginning , and set np proper machinery for its execution . The idea of working a vessel of 400 tons burden against both wind and tide with a pair of oars is not more ridiculous than to expect good laws from eur Legislature as at present constituted , and the full , fair , and free representation of the people is the only weane by which proper legislative machinery can be obtained .
My present phject , however , is not to reason on this subject It is already perfectly well understood by your readers . I take up pen to tell you , and t < i tell your readers , that the Charter is now virtually obtained . A little longer peaceable endUTance , if the thing be possible , and the Charter becomes the law of the land . Any violence—any outbreak would mar its accomplishment , and delay ita being perfected , and might ' -tot . a time subject us to a military despotism , and produce suffering to tenfold the extent that it has yst reached . All this has to b 0 avoided , and I tell you that there is a movement in process that will infallibly secure the accomplishment of all we want . I am not atllbwiy at preserit to aay more . You will soon have thV evidence of the truth of my statement from other qua : ters . In the meantime , let us hold on the even tenour of our way , hiaihtaining our position , and fearfully pursuing
our . object . The Government would at this moment rtjoice in any event which should indicate violence ; anything that would alarm men of property , and afford an excuse for transporting our leaders , or any one else that could be brought within the meshes of the laws . Spies are rife ; be od your guard . Tha anti-Corn Lxw delegates were not allowed to meet : without being visited by these gentry , and th&y willmako their way into every other meeting . Do nothing secretly . Let all be abovo board , and legal , that no individual may be exposed to danger , and bur long-continued and powerful agitation and Buffering will be crowned yt'ith triunipb . In the present trying circumstances it onirht to be the buslnesB of all Chartists , all honest and enlightened inen , to nee every effort to keep the peace . If this can be done , we shall soon have a complete and a bloodless victory over bptli Whigs and Tories , and all the enemies of human freedom .
Otice more ,. the anti-Cota Law party are going to try the present House of Commons to repeal that law . It will noV-bo done , auci then comes the hour of out success . Let us be preparod to act wisely when the time comes . Our difflvjulties are not vet over , though onr prospect be brightening , and the utmost caution ought to be observed . Our enemies are fitili numerous and powerful ; but there la discord in / their camp , and desertors are numerous ; fiwm this day forward , they grow weaker and weaker , and . every movement increases our strength . In these circumstances we cannot but
rejoice . Those that ; have long opposed are now eatisfled that nothing else than the Charter era give us any security for good and cheap Government , There is still one point to which men como reluctantly and slowly , namely , payment of membera , but even from this we must uot flinch . Let ns stand fast for the whole Charter whatever efforts way be made to decoy us into alteration . Oar steadings of principle is now beginning to operate with increased effect , and all that is wjvQted is continued perseverance in pursuit of our object . . / . V •¦ . /' . ¦ •;¦ - ¦ ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦¦ ' ¦ , . . ¦ ¦ . , ¦ ¦¦
There will &till be hatdahipa to endure for a little ; but that will soon be over , and it will be even more deiHonstiated before the eyea of the world , that " for a nation to be free it is solfiBient that she wilis it . " This is written not by one who ia a new convert , but by one who has formerly suffered in the cause many years ago , and who now heartily rejoices in the present prospect , and must be known to you at present as mothing more than AN An ti-Cobn Law Delegate . London , 8 th July , 1842 . ,.
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MOBE MIDDLE-CLASS SYMPATHY . —MIDDLETON SILK WEAVERS . Mri , Editob , —We are often told that labour Is pro . lected , and that -the labouring ; classes are represented in the House of Commons ; the following statement of the delegates sent by the silk weavers of Middleton , Leigh , and . otheradjjcent places will show how- far the above asBertion 8 are trne or not The delegates waited on Walker , one of the largest manufacturfs in the Mancheeter trade , who has recently taken the lead in the Bweeping reduction of one penny por ya / d for weaving satins , and one halfpenpy per yard for plain sarsnets . They found him at his Wtrehouse , » nd after making known theii business , the following conversation took p lace-:-r- / •• .: /*/¦' - ' ., ¦ ¦' . ' ¦ ¦ '¦¦ : " . - . ¦' - - . '" ; ' : . ' to if
DeZegatcs^—We are oome see we cannot induce you to retract the steps you have taken relative to the abatement , as the other manufacturers have declined giving out work : nutil they had fully ascertained your intention , and they farther state that it is uncalledfor . / ,. • ¦• . , ¦ ¦ - ¦¦ ¦ ¦ . ;• ¦ ' " ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ¦ ; '¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ . . ¦" - ¦ '¦ ¦ , - Mr . Walker—It iB no hasty conclusion that I have ceme to , but have thought of it for the last two or three montfag . ¦ Delegates—Will the reduction be of any benefit to you' ? ' ¦ - ¦ ¦ ' Mr . Walker—No , not one penny . Delegatea— -Will there be more employment after the redoitton ? Mr . Walker ^ No , not one piece . Delegates—Witt it guarantee the weavers from casual and unjust abatements ? Mr . Walker- ^ No .
Delegatea—Why , then , in the name ef common sense do you make the redaction ? Mr . Walker—I am compelled to do so for self-protection , because two or three manufacHirsrs have , for some time , only heeu giving the price I hays reduced to ; one in particular . / ¦ -...: ' The Delegates asked him if the . one 7 * ~ ' """ »» r * -tJcular wasaMsn ^ - ' - , »; -- « « Mt « fir * Mr . Wiw > -- -answered he could mention names hut did not wish to do . Tbo Delp ? ate 8 then reminded him that iri all classes of society there were unprincipled characters , and tha ' the manufacturing class were not exempt ; that tbe present reduction would not alter such characters ^ and that , consequent ' y , we were bs iiabla to a second , third , or fourth reduction on that ground as we had been to this . : ' " ' . " . ¦ . ' . . ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ - "' . ; ' - ¦ " ' . '¦
Mr . Walker answered no ; there ia a point beyond which we cannot go . [ Can any of our friends tell us what that point is ?) The Delegates then shewed him that nearly all the silk weavers last winter , were reduced to a state of pauperism , and nearly one-fourth of them were receiving parish relief , arid ; i great number were receiving relief from casual charities , the distress that existed last winter , even with the wageB they then . had was great , fa consequence of the scarcity of . employmeat , and they asked bib how he supposed it would be next winter , when , according to his own showing , there would fee the same scarcity to contend with ? Mr . Walker said it would be much worse . The Delegates said , well then the odium of it will rest oh your shoulders , ' . Mr . Walker said he was willing to bear the odiuni .
The Delegates jtnen told him that it was tba general opinion of the workpeople , that there was a combina ' tipn oh the part of the eraployers genorally , and thut he ( Mr , V ? - ) was placed in front to carry out the intentiona of the others . ; , ' Mr . Walter said no , I pledge my werd and honoue that there is nothing of the feind ; what I have done I have done it independently of the others . I am not in anything guided by / them . ; -,. v ' > After having recourse to all the arguments that could be adduced , he was immovable , and they left him as they found him . / ; ¦ - .- '¦¦¦ . ;¦ "¦ . . ' -: ; .-,, "' ¦ Youretruly , ; . - . ' v- ¦ ¦'¦ EDJiuNp Fallows . ; Middleton ^ July lltb , 1842 .
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PROGRESS OF CHARTISM IN CQBNWALL AND DEYONSHIREi ¦ ¦ ¦ ' i * - ^ :-:- ? : ^ / ajr . EpilOB , — -We ^^^ a ^ a fa thi ? loot -F ^' a ^^ - OConnor ' a intention of visiting Cornwall ; we hope that , he wiU yisit ttia part aa welL / Wo have much need or ai lecturer here , and we are , ae 3 ured that he would be received with eye ^ mark , i > l reiBpect by aU olaaaea in the town of Tavtstock . The only lecturer we bay 0 ha 4 'in % e ' two counUes for a long time ia Mr . Powell ; we must say that he has laboured hard and disinterestedly amongst ns , but we are Borry to state that
trade has' been so bad that we have not been able to back him but with that support ^ wu ) id ¦ wisb .: in hia traveia . He lectured it Twgany , one of the old borosgh towns in Cornwall , en the Monday and Tuesday evenings , on the rig&ta of the working oteases . A very fevourable . impreasloa waa made , and several pezBona expressed tbemaelves ready to join the association . On the Wednesday evening he lectured at Garraa Haven , and there gave great satisfaction to all tscept the Lieutenants of the coast guard , who atated he deserved banishing the country .
From thence he proceeded to Movigissey , and lectured there on Thursday and Friday eveninga to very large assemblies . Those places have never beard the sound
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1 I , . ! ¦ - - M ¦ I I ¦ *^^^ W ^ M » M , — - ¦ . ^—»— i l' I ¦ ¦ 3 Lw- ——I , 4 § of Chartism before . At tbe conclusion of each lecture in this phce Mr , P . was received by the fishermen in a moat generous manner . We feel confident could bupplies be raised to keep Mr . P . constantly at the good work , the two counties would soon be up to the mark . Mr . P . lectured here last evening te a crowded audience , and gave a glowing description of the pretientation of the Great National Petition , and ; afterwards contrasted the loud laughter , the bad behaviour , and the mummeries of what is called the Honourable House of Commons with the manly , democratic , straightforward conduct of the People ' s ConvenUon . Ha likewise descanted in a ' beautiful manner on the rise and pro * gress of Chartism in England , the foul-mouthed
epithets thrown put against them , the persecutions and imprisonraerits they had had to endure . Still they hati persevered in their righteous and God-like canss ; and . now the once-stinking natue of Chartism was smelling like a rsse . He was proud to say the middle classes of the metropolis were taking up the cause in a manly manner . He said the day was not distant when the Tari-ff ah ( i > Income Tax would bring those of the middle claaaes , who had hitherto been opposed to U 3 , into out ranks by / shoals like pnehards ; for their friend , Sir Robert , was determined t ? make them all Chartists . He cuncladed sa ableaddresBainidstgreat applause , when a vote of thanlta ¦ was giren to the Chairman , and the Hiefcting broke up . ^
As we do notoften trouble you , by giving iuBeition to thb . ubove , ¦ ¦ - ¦ : ' ¦" .: . ' ¦ ¦ .. - ' }¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ''¦ ,. '¦''¦¦¦""¦ ¦ ¦ ' You would greatly oblige , Yours in tue cause , R . Webbe . Brook-street , Tavistock , July 10 , 1842 .
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TO THE EDIT 9 R OF THE NORTHERN STAB . ' . ¦ SlR .-Tln ; la 3 t-w . aek . ' s - ' ( Stor . . I inserted a route for which 1 was making . every preparation , when the sudden and distracting intelligence reached me that my beloved wife waa in dying circumstauces . After travelling through' a long , ' long ; , sleepless night , and now by her becUide , last the favour of the kindly opinion and indulgence of the Chartists of Bury ; Hey wood , Eccles , Todmordfen , Dewsbury , BlacTkburn , / Droylsd ^ &c , for ibis inevitable rtisappointraent , and tmst thin p « Wicn « ticc will be deemed a sufficient excuse . / Piease , sir , to give this insertion in your next , and you will oblige ; Your Borrowing , but staunch , Brother Chartist , J . 8 , H . Bairstow . Longhborongh , July 12 th , 1842 .
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THE COAL MINERS AND THEIR JGRIEVANCES . \ The rapid strides of tyranny and misrule in thia very populous district have aroused the attention of a class of beings who have not hitherto had the most distent > hadpw ; of a thought that , by uniting with the masses for one common interest , would ever tend to hurl into oblivion a system which preys on the ; yer / vitals of industry , nnd at thiB very era is doing daily , by robbing the poor miners of even the liberty of meeting with each other . After plundering their labeur , by charging over height , ponnd ' aioDey , store ro > bsry , dec ; & 0 ., there ate evon sprue of these law makera who have compelled their men to sign a new code of " rules—^ the very first of which is , that they shall not , during the
time of tb . 9 ir being in his service , attend any / meeting , by night or . by day , above ground , or below ground , and especially the meetings of the "Coal Miner ' s Association . " Oh ' , - the rogues /; they have not said " Chartist mebtings , " bnt we know whstt they mean ; they mean to suppress every exertion of the miners , if possible ; they have , already begun their diriy werk by discharging indMiluals from their , works for being leaders . I have b . en ruado a victim , ; at this time , having a wife and six children , literally driven to want , by those bass bloodhounds , who were ; not aatlafled by diaertiploying me , but tbeir audacious and barefaced efffohtery followed me from work to work , so that I conld not get einployment , till reduced to tha direful necessity of raffling the implements by which
I earned a livelihood at my employment to realise as much amongst my fellow brethren as would support my family a little . Such is the ¦ conduct of these coal and ironocrats . They are writhing like so many halfburned shades , biting and hissing at everything withba their reach , in censequvnee of Lord Ashley's Bill depriving them of one of their most lucrative sources of gain , namely , females working In mines . Likewise they do no 11 tfce by half the plan the mlnere are pur suing , by petitioning Parliament to give them ; just weights , by which their labour may be weighed , and that said weight be at the pit bottom , where the raintra may see their own labour weighed . Thia ia a right they consider the miners baveno right to have , and they are doing what they can to snppresa every plan the miners
may adojit ; but I trust that this night ' s meeting will show them tbatthe miners have now opened thair eyes , and are alive to their own interest , though at the eleventh hour . There were delegates from twenty-six ceal and ironstone pits , wbo were not joined . ' . with . i the movement before , met in Jamlesqn ' s Hall ; Airdrie , at four o ' clock in the afternoon , when JohnM'Lag was called to the chair . He described as well fta hia abilities would a'lmit , the ntility . of their coming into society—bottl miners drawers , and putters—for one common interest ; and ns class legislation was an evil -which pressed alike on industry—a cloak under which all the jugglery of tho tyrant employers could find safety , so that by ttieir aid , that is , the iron miners and their drawers , we
would gain a po-wer over tbe oppressors . A resolution Was brought forward to that effect and unanimously carried . The Miner ' s Journal was brought before the meeting , and owing to its limited circulation it waa difficult to keep it alive , and to increase its circulation every " delegate" agreed to take copies each to all their different constituencies theyalso agreed that a report of their ineetjDK be / sent to the Northern Star , and a copy of the Miner ' s , Journal to the Eslitor , regnesting him to review / the same in the Star for Saturday ; as the circulation of the Northern Star is wide it may tend te cwry with it theinformation into places we are not aware of , and tend to increase the circulation of a work the coal audjrfen masters would be proud to to see put dor / n . ¦'•" :- -: . [¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ . " . ' ¦ /¦ . : ¦ ' . .. ¦ '"' ¦; : - : : - A letter being read from the . Glasgow district union , and auswered , the delegates agreed to meet in Jamison ' s Hall , every Monday at three o ' clock , p . m ., to aid the giorious cause of ttiform , by'doing what lies in their power to work-out their own political salvation . A Coit Miner . Airdrie , July 8 th ; 1842
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John Thompson , said to be a large earthenware manufacturer at Ashby-de-la-Zouch , was brought befora the magistwtes , at the Uxbridge Petty Sea siotiB , charged with presenting what appeared to be a pistol at a young lady , named Bloomfield , whereby she became greatly alarmed . The offence waa commit ted at the Dray ton station , ou the Great Western Railway , On the pistol being examined , it turned out to be only au imitation of a pistol , made of caithenwafe . The prisoner pleaded intoxication . Aliss Bloomfield did not appear , and the magistrates ,: thsrefore v fiued the silly fellow / 40 a . under the Railway Act . - " - ^ :
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ADDRESS ip- -riiE SIX LOCAL CENTRES IT SCOTLAND . At a meeting held in the Universal Suffrage Hall , Alloa , on the evening of July 4 tb , Mr . John Stewart in the chair , to consider the propriety of electing a National Executive for Scotland , the following resolution was aioved by Mr . Jas . Robertson , and , being seconded , was unanimously agreed to : — "This meeting , taking into consideration the beneficial tSects likely to follow the appointment of a Scottish Executive , eaJl upon their Secretary , David ToompsoD , to draw up an Address to the Six Centres , urging to the performance of this duty , and have it published in the next number of the . Star , anil tbat our Secretary be instructed to correspond wiih Mr . Campbell , Secretary of the EngliBh Executive , according to tbe form which the Law prescribes . " t ¦ Signed , John Stewabt , Chairman .
BaoTHER Chartists , —In obedience to the above resolution I addrtBs myself to you upon a matter of vital importance to tbe consolidation and permanent influence of the movement in Scotland , for tbe attainment of the People ' s Charter by peaceful , legal , and constitutional means . It cannot be denied that the movement in Scotland hitherto has been principally influenced by Impulses extraneous to itself ; in stating inis there is no Intention to find f <» nlt with those bursts of excitement caused by some accidental circumstance ukicg place in England , and resulting in a series of demonstrations held over the principal parts < f Scotland . These have given an extension to the knowledge of our-principles
and deepened tbe conviction amon # tens of thousandB of the people of Scotland of the absolute necessity for their practical rtalzition , as the only means to secure good , equitable , and just government to the whole body of tbe people . But this mode of spreading . a knowledge of our principles among the people has always been attended with , this drawback , that . very many places in Scotland sink into a state of inactivity ,. i f not into positive apathy , awaiting a new inspiration from a fresh excitement from England . In one sense , then , it may be said that the movement in Scotland , is created , nourished , and upheld by these means , and whenever they are wanting , tha Chartist Committees in many places act as if they bad no particular duties to discharge in connection with the movement
Every Cbartut will agree with tbe association in Alloa , that if a remedy can be found for this defect it ought to be taken into . considaration , and if approved of , instantly adopted . Jy And here again we must still turn to England , not for tbe purpose of waiting to see what the Chartists there will do for the Chartists in Scotland , but to copy the moie of their movement , so far ts it can be applicable to Scotland . They have had an Executive Committee in existence for one year , and it only requires to trace their progress and calculate the results of their labours to arrive at the conviction that what has wrought so well in England for the extens i on of the principles of the Pwple ' s Charter , that without being charged with anything romantic or ntopian ; there is surely sufficient materials in Scotland to constitute an Executive , and it only requires to be impressed open the people the utility of having such a body to command their attention and secure their cooperation for this purpose .
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THE CHABTISTS OF THE CITY 01 ? LONDON TO THEIR OPPRESSED BRETHREN AND SISTERS Of IRELAND . ' ' V Beethuen , and SiSTEKS , —Having heard with horror and icdignation of the late '' . merciless / polir-e , massacre at Ennis , do most Toeiingiy syrajpaJJ } 1 -- ? - » yu tho poor suffering paorV - "" ¦ ¦¦ "'~' '¦ & + '> . « elii ; 4 * ' Bit , Brethren anfL-Si ''^ - »• ' ^ Jook r ound atiiongst the 3-i ^ - -.-.- ^ 'gTcias 8 (! s generally , what do webebold ?—Able bodied labourers , wiiiirig , nay , anxious , to ' work , but totally unable to find employment , thronging the streets , day after day , in rags , and witU voMUtcnances so . paie , ami framesi so eujaciatcd , that even to behold them ( in this beasted city ) is enough to make humanity 8 hudd « r , whilst thousands who have only partial empioynient , ave barely able to keep np a wretched union betw / xi soul and body . . - ¦¦
Brethren and Sisters , — -There is no natural cause why things should be aa they are . P / oyidence has . ot withheld ita , bouuties—our labourers are proverbkl throughout the civilized world for their willingness to toil—our Boil is good- —ihe bowels of our eaxth yielij everything that is good and necessary for trade and manufacturea—and our geographical position Is such aa 16 command the cointaerce of the world . Beicg tbns situated , we can conceive of but one cause sufficiently blighting to produce the sad state of thiDgs we see around us , and that one is class legisl . iMdn . " ¦ ¦ '¦'¦¦;¦ ' ¦ ¦ . " - . : : ' . ¦ ¦ . " ;¦ : ¦' ..: ¦ . ' ¦ '; ' -
The next question naturally arises , how can this state of tbinsa b ? most Speedily and effectually abolished ? Our answer is this , by agitating for a full measure of justice for all , for we . feel certain that the great mass of the working classes of Great Brititn aud Ireland will never be induced to join in any agitation , except that Which demands for the whole a fair share of political power , as contaiued in the People ' s Charter . ; , Bui we wish to know what laws have been violAted by our brethren and sisters at Eonls . Net tbe laws of God I fi > r he who g ^ ve life gave also the means by which Ufa is to ba sustained . Not the laws of- nature , for she has amply provided for all her children ; but the laws of man . The class-laws of tho stronger imposed upon the weaker—laws made by a class for the protection and enrichment of a class , and by the unaatnral and anti-social operations of Which every other class of society isgrpnnd to the earth , aad trampled upon by those who assume domination . ' :
It then temaina for the working classes to take cara tbat those changes which must take place ( sooner or later ) are for the advantage of themselves ; this can only be done by segUTing political . power , and we hope the time is not far distant when the people of Euglaud and Ireland will , be united like brothers in the cause of freedom ; then we shallshew obt tyraats tbat we . will be free . This measure is sufficient to prove to you and to us , that we can have no hope from any Government txcept formed on democratic principles , and we think this sufficient cause to induce them to come forth as one man for liberty and the ^ Charter . ;¦'• : ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ ¦"¦ ¦/ . ¦/ . ' , •' . ¦ " Signed / ' ;¦/ - ; :. ' : ' : : "¦' ' : ' ' ¦' . : ¦ . '; [ ' ";'"' : " ¦¦' . '" ' ¦ ¦ . '' - / Onbehalf of the meeting , ¦ . ThomasCabet , Cnainnaa . Political and Scientific Institute , 55 , Old Bailey . : ¦ : ' -. : ¦ ¦ : . " - ' . : / . ' •' -
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), July 16, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct439/page/7/
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