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the jn t oetherjn t star. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1841.
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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 ANTI-CORN J , AW LEAGUE . MEETING AT THE CROWN AND ANCHOR Tavern . FROH 0 T 75 "LONDOJi CO £ BE 5 POXDE > T . ^ r ' ednesdtnj Evening , March 31 *? . Tnis Y > e ;< & £ * tbe day appointed for the " great" onesided ditpUyat the Crown and Anchor , -Remade « H » plicaw # a tor a ticket of admission to the meeting , the * « oms" of the League , 448 , Strand , but were informed that all the tickets the Society could spare had % een disposed of : on stating that we were con-Jiecied with the press , the factotum in waiting replied , that they had " sent tickets to the press . " * £ hat Is , " said w » , " to such of the pres 3 as you wish to be present . " On this , a conference was held between the two worthies in attendance , and one of them—we are not quite sure if it were the gentleman who is so great an adept at knocking hat * off , when parties differ from him in opinion—stated , that if we would present ourselves at the Crown and Ancnor ,
he would recollect us , and admit us among the reporters . In a few minutes from this application , the representative of a London contemporary ( the Weekly Dispatch ) , made a similar application ; and we understand , was still worse snubbed . " Are you favourable to the objects of the meeting ? "' was the preliminary inquiry ; the gentleman did not fed bound to answer that ; and as several other question of a similar character were asked , the " jacks-in-office" were told that they made too much " bother" to render it worth while attending the meeting at all , and the applicant left iu disgust . Not * o , however , with us : — we resolved to accept the proffer of the " ^ jick inoffice , '' No . 1 ; so , at one o ' clock precisely , we presented our proper person at the door of the Crown and Anchor Tavern . Mr . Rxock-off Hats lecturer secretary Std-XS . Y Sitrra , read the ( report ) of the committee ; and a thumper it is .
Mr . Villiebs , M . P . moved the first resolution , in a speech full of lamentation for the naughty , naughty Chartists , who wouldn ' t let the Leaguers throw dust in their eyes without rubbing them . He was followed by the Rev . Dr . Pyb Smith , who wa 3 sadly ashamed of his brethren of the cloth , for being so backward in coming forward now , . when snug quarters have been provided for them , by the exclusion of the Chartists . At the moment when the Rev . Dr . Smith had concluded , and before the question wi 3 put , a
gtranjjer in the meeting begged to ask if the object waght to be attained might not be achieved by growing more corn in our own country ! He maintained that there were other and vast questions commingled with this : —he particularly alluded to the currency ; and if he were called upon to choose between the oppression of the two , he would prefer that of the landholder to the wealthy aristocrat . A member of the Committee rose to order , and the Chairman decided that it would be inconvenient , to allow the gentleman to proceed .
Mr . Stewaet moved , and Mr . Ricakdo seconded , the next resolution . These speakers were followed by a Mr . Foster Smith , a merchant , and Mr . Ewabt , who , taking occasion to denounce the Chartists , was stopped by a gentleman in the meeting , who claimed the right of reply , if the speakers were permitted to go on in tins strain . Dr . Wade came next . He seldom attended public meetings now , and he would almost say , he would attend no more , until he saw unanimity among the middle and working classes . It was not necessary
to have at every meeting a cuckoo cry of " The Cnarttr ! the Charter ! " aad he deprecated the hostilky oi' the two classes- He preferred what was practicable and could be had , to what was impracticable , and could not be had , or at best was far distant . The Reverend Doctor , then—( amid loud cries of " question , ")—referred to the Chartist movement in favour of Teetotalism , and urged that men who could take such a step , might be safely looked upon as those who would noi long remain in error , and that they would soon see that the course they were pursuing was not the most likely to conduce to their avowed objects . . .
Mr . Watkiss , from toe body of toe meeting , said that the ligit of tfce League had not yet reached his mind . He agreed with Mr . Viliiers that nothing tended so much to the advancement of truth as a full , free , and open discussion ; he referred to the recent debates in the Commons on the Poor Laws , in proof that the present House would never repeal the Corn Laws ; and maintained , that before tois question eoald be fairly entertained , they must ascertain what is the amount of the export trade , the productive power , and the amount of consumption in this country . Looking at the operation of Joint-« tock Banks , and other moneyed interests , he contended that a repeal of the Cora Laws would be productive of great evil to all classes of the com-IB unity . Mr . pALiSE avowed himself a middle-man , and nrged ' en the public to exert themselves in the terms of the resolution .
Mr . THOE . \ LrT , M . P . for vV olverhampton , moved a resolution pledging the Association to continue its exertions . Mr . Milttk Gibso 5 seconded it . Mr . ? pi »« and Mr . Wilson supported the resolution , which , after some able remarks by a stranger in the body of the meeting , was put by the Chairman to the vote . Mr . WAKBtiaxoT ( the chairman ) could not let this opportunity pa-s without again " harping" « n " the tyranny of the Chartists ; he regretted the position
they had taken up , and expressed his opinion , that if such a course be persevered in , the gagging bills of Lord Castlereagh would be carried into effect to a worse extent than they ever were before . In conclusion , Mr . Warburton said , " Don ' t let us bring this qutjetion before the House so unsupported by the peopie as to render our cause iiieffectual . Remempcr , the Corn Laws are like a game at nine pins (!!!) if you knock down one , the rest will fall . ' ' [ Query—Would not the Charter act as s \ floorer ?] Xne resolution was then put , and carried unanimously .
A Mr . Coates , ( who-certainly did not look as though HE trinted bread , or beef either ; weighing . at a moderate computation , some tw « nty-two stone )! moved the thanks of the meeting to the Chairman , for his exertions on this and other occasions in opposition to the ouZ-dacious , ( twice repeated ; Corn Lvsv * ; which feeing seconded , wa 3 earriec unanimously , and the Chairman having agaii brkfiy touched on the conduct of ; he" naught ] Cnartisis , " by way of admonition , the meeting separated at five o ' clock .
We obtained , su& r ? .-d , a sight of a subscription : list , amoiiaun ^ to aJx > us £ -5 . 0 to begin next year ' s campaign -with ; auiongst the names down , we noticed the following : —Messrs . Warburton and Alcock , £ 50 each ; Mr . Gibson , £ 25 , &c , &c . Mr . Francis Race , chairman of the Business Committee , was on the platform , near the chair ; and the report congratulated tb . e meeting upon the decline of apathy m the middle class , and the cessation , to a eoasiaerable extent , of t ' Ue hostility of the workiDg class . Ta-. s ? eif-gra ? ulaUon-wasBot bad , considering they took tolerable good care to shut out anything like " hostility , ' - iu the shape of working men .
PosUeript , Half-past Seven . Since closing my report , I learn that Messrs . Cleave , wauon , and others , though possessed of proper tickets , were refused admission ; the former geatleman being told that , " n be would promise Dot to disturb or interrupt the meeting , the committee would be happy to admit him / ' This of course , was indignantly refused , as unworthy oi those wco made the offer , and , if accepted , would be etill more naworthy of him who accepted it . Mr . Wat ^ oa declined going up stairs on similar grounds ; aud Dr . Robms Black , one of the very first at the formation of the Association , happening to come up at the moment , wa 3 so disgusted at the conduct of the committee
in refusing to honour their QTra tickets , that he left the place in-dadeeon At this time thrre was quite a troop of polije , -with eeverai inspectors , lining the passages and staircase and a youth , who has lately received admission into ' several Lnarust societies , and partaken of pnbhc subscriptions , was employed by the Leagne to point out the Chartists M they' presented themsK . pearly forty individuals were thus spotted , and not allowed to p * r * the bar . Fortunately , these individuals eTiBced more patience than their opponent ? did prudence , or the consequences might have been a confl . ct . Ua the whole , tne affair is a fine specimen of "free discussion , " and a new node of- promoting public opinion .
PvriTIOX COJOUTTEE . —This Committee held their £ 1 ' u mee : iH * lm evening , at the Dispatch CofiWe House , Bnde-lape , Mr . Murray in the Chair Mr . Parker hanng resigned the office ofSeeretan a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to him for his t = alous exertions and valnable services ; and Mr . Balls was elected as bis successor . Upwards of 80 patiu » as , in behalf ef Frost , Williams , and Jonesof O'Connor , Peddie , Carrier , * n d others ; as well a * of the Charter , were received , and this d » y forwarded to Messrs . Hnme , Duneombe , Ac . for pre Mutation to » be Honourable House .
Thi Fiksbdbt Chabtwis held their weekly meeting on Monday evening last , at Lnnt ' i Coffee House , Mr . Ballg in the chair . Mr . ColverhouBe addressed the meeting at some length , when the following uesolution was ajjreed to : ** That this meetmg fully approves of Mr . O'Connor ' s plan , as recommended in the Northern Star ; and nrge Qpon the Chartists of the metropolis to take the hjobi efficient mft&ng to carry it on ; . " A vo ' of thanks K > the Chairman terminatsd the business of the evening , and the meeting adjourned until Tuesdav text , ihe 6 ; h of April .
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At thb Hcim 5 GD 05 Assizes , on Friday the 26 tl Bit ., James lngiett , a ^ ed ni uoty-four was fount guilty of manflaugUer . He was a cow-doctor , an < Jie bad igaoraErfy administered to his wife an OTer c ? T . » edieme . He was therefon ieateuced to be imprisoned for a fortnight .
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Zephanjah Williams . We understand tb ^ t Zephaniah Williams , one of the thTee Chartists , and who was employed as an overseer at the coal ^ ines , has made his escape from Tasman ' s Peninsula , taking with him fonr men , one of whom , nao > ed Couuty , formed part of the crew who ran aw . * y with the commandant ' s boat some months since . When the Tamar left , two of the party . County and Rooke , had been taken near East Bay Keck . —Hobaii Town Courier , Nov . 17 . Anotheb Noble Blackguakd . —At Marlbornghstreet Police-court , on Friday , Lord George Lot ; us was brought into Court to answer for being drunk the overnight , and refusing to pay a cab fare . The policeman , as well as he could , being frequently interrupted by the noble defendant , said he found Lord George Loftns drunk , and creating a disturbance with the cabman , whose fare his Lordship refused to pay , and he then removed the drnnkard to his
wellknown quarters , the Yine-str « et Station-house . The reply of Lord George Loftns was , that the policeman was a b—y liar . Mr . Dyer , in evident disgust , told Lord George Loftus he should be fined for swearing . Lord George Loftus told Jrlr , Dyer he had no business to beliere that b—y thief , the policeman , before a nobleman . Mr . Dyer said every time Lord George Loftus swore , he would impose an additional fine . Lord George Loftns said the Magistrate knew nothing about law . He had studied the law , and he w&s able to instruct the Bench . The cabman fc&fe his evidence . Lord George Loftus swore he he would give the cabman a b—y good li « king . Gaoler— " Be quiet , the Magistrate will fine you . " Lord George Loftus— B—t you , who are you 1 ' First Usher— " Pray don ' t use such language here . " Lord George Loftus— " Go to h—11 . " After a good deal more of the same sort of behaviour , Mr . Dyer told the Noble Lord that his fine for drnnkennesfi
and non-payment of the cab fare , amounted to eight shillings . There were also eight oaths , at five shillings each , for which he also fined his Lordship . Lord George Lsftus— " You dare not fiue me . 11 you do , it ' s at your peril . " Mr . Dyer— " If the whole of th « fine is not paid , I shall commit you . " Lord G * orge Loftus— " Commit me ! Oh , then ' Normanby' will let me out . " His LordRhip was removed from the bar , and having paid £ 2 8 s . he was released . Extessive PLCSDEa . —Christopher William Davis , a fine-looking young man , who wore the uniform oi the 14 th light dragoons , was charged at Worshipstreet police office , on Saturday , with having stolen property to a large amount from his late employers ,
Messrs . Savory and Co ., the fancy stationers , &c , in Cornbill . The father , mother , and brother of the prisoner , were committed last week , charged with having txtensively robbed the same prosecutors , and they are now in Newgate awaiting their trial . Mr . Knowlcs , the chief clerk to Messrs . Savory , stated that the prisoner had been in their service as errand boy , but he was discharged sometime since , in consequence of beiDg detected in an act of embezzlement . At the examination of the relations of the prisoner , for robbing tho prosecutors , nothing whatever transpired to implicate the prisoner in the transaction ; but a few days after their committal a young person , named Sarah Burford , called at the prosecutors ' , and delivered up a quantity of property , consisting of work-boxes , dressing-cases , and a large assortment of elegant fancy articles , which she had received from ihe prisoner , and wBich -were identified
as being the property of Messrs . Savory . Having received information that the prisoner had enlisted in the H : h dragoons , witness proceeded to Hounslow barracks , witn a sergeant of the Y division of police , who took him into custody : he would have left the country in a few days , his regiment being under orders for India . Sarah Burford , a young woman , of delicate and prepossessing appearance , the daughter of a ¦ warehouseman in the customhouse , stated tba . she had known the prisoner fur about eight years , and he had presented her with tke articles produced . She had not the slightest suspiciSn that they had been dishonestly obtained , until about a week ago , when she happened to read an account in the papers of the examination of his relatives at this court , upon which she immediately proceeded to the prosecutors' , and delivered up all the property he had given to her . He was committed for trial .
The Jn T Oetherjn T Star. Saturday, April 3, 1841.
the jn t oetherjn t star . SATURDAY , APRIL 3 , 1841 .
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CHURCH CHARTISM , TEETOTAL CHARTISM , KNOWLEDGE CHARTISM , AND HOUSEHOLD SUFFRAGE CHARTISM . Wb this week give the promised letter of O'Consojl npan all these sabjects ; and our readers will observe that the far greater portion of the letter is occupied with an attack on what O'Cossoa calls " Church Chartism . " We cannot think that Mr . O'Conhor has displayed his usual acumen in the examination of this subject . He appears to us to have misconceived the whole matter . His reasoning goes entirely on the assumption that the advocates and votaries of what he caU « " Church Chartism" rely on their religious services and ceremonies a 3 an
exclusive means of carrying the Charter—that they adhere to the " Church , " and to tne * Church " only , in distinction from , and in opposition to , all other means of diffusing political knowledge , and of establishing the people in possession of their rights . Now , if any persons have been , absurd enough to form such a notion of a " Christian Chartist Church , " we should be as ready to denounce it for a mischievous will-o' -th ' -wisp as either O'Connor or any one else ; but we cannot suppose that , even in Birmingham , so stupid an idea can have entered into any body ' s bead . Hence , therefore , the premises from which Mr . O'Coxnor starts being erroneous , his reasoning is necessarily all false , because all wide of the Eubject . It stultifies itself , too ; for he says : —
" The very essence of Chartism proclaims civil equality to lead to the universal right of religious worship as each shall deem fit . " Surely , then , the Chartists , insisting upon that * ' civil equality , " have a right to their own forms and modes of worship , either individually or collectively ; ? or does it by any means f jllow that their claiming and exercising of that right is to be understood a denunciatory of those who may not claim and exercise it . Mr . O'Connor asks : —
" Are , - are not communicants Of your church , infidel Chartis-ts ? and if yonr religion is bo jure as to be universally adapted by all , you must differ in faith frum all existing stcts ; therefore produce your articles of rtligioua tilth , because having founded a Church , which is even a more extensive term than a sect , you roust have some peculiar faith or yen are humbugs . " Well , bat you answer either that yoH have no creed , or that yonr creed is so universal that all men ouaht to adopt it . If you have no creed you can have no church-, and , it you have a creed , and if that creed
does not embrace Catholicism , Protestantism , Dissentism , Quakerism , and all the minute ramifications of those several parent stocks ; do yon not exclude all Ireland as coasewntioos Catholics , and all England as conscientious Protestants , Dissenters , Catholics , or Infidels ? So that if you have no peculiar faith you have no title to ttie designation you have taken ; and if you ha-ve a f .-dih , and if it is not a hodge-podge faita , a faith ¦ which conscientious Christians will not subscribe to , you become an txclusive sect of politico-religious adventurers , ready wUb . your pious loaf to pop into the C-iartUt oven tbe moment it becomes heattd . "
We have eo doubt that a litile explanation will set ail this right . Mr . O'Co . nkor , shut up in bis dungeon , has not the opportunity of becoming bo well acquainted with the actual movements of the Chartist world as we are . He speaks of the religious movement , or what LecallsChurchChartism , as though it were confined to the little coterie of a " Christian Chartist Church" at Birmingham ; the fact being that the " Christian Chartist Church" at Birmingham , is one of the very Pmallest spots upon the surface of " Christian ChartL-m . "
That which has been , we think , improperly , ealled " Christian Chartira , ' and which Mr . O'Connoe how calls Church Chartigm , " is nothing more or less than the *» ertion of tho entire principle of ChrUtianity its creed is to be fonsd in the direct teachings of the Lord JeevB Christ , which , while they interfere but little with speculative matter * of opinion , insist always and entirely upon tho practice of honesty , justice , and benevolence one towards another . Such of the Chartists u are conscientious , and not merely nominal , Christiana , find in the
doctrines of Chrbtianitj , as taught by the Lord Jesai Christ , a full recognition of all the pxneiples contained in the People ' s Charter ; they § nd those principles to pervade the whole of the teaching , aud to be enforced by the whole of the practice , of the Lord Jp ^ ub Christ—to be the doctrine of the Bible throughout—while they find much apparent ground fur many differences of opinion on mere opinionative matters ; tfcey find that in almost all churches and cbapela , appertaining to whatever sect , the principle ! of social benevolenoe
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and justice , of civil equality and of political right , though recognised by the Bible ] are denounced by the priesthood ; and hence their determination to erect their own temples , and offer their own worship , to the God of Justice , whom they serve . They find the priests generally , both of the State and Dissenting Churches , to be the bitterest enemies to civil freedom and social right ; and hence their wise resolve to withdraw their future countenance from the enemies of the faith , the wolves in shepherd ' s clothing , who devour the flocks under pretence of feeding them . They find the doctrines of civil
equality and social right universally disdained amongst those who are . called Christians , and affirmed to b « no portion « f Christianity—they believe them to be the very life and spirit of Christianity ; they are told that Christianity and Politics are separate and distinct things—they believe them to be identical with and inclusive of each other ; under these circumstances , what other course is left to them , as honest and conscientious Christians , but that of boldly asserting th » whole truth , and maintaining the practical doctrines of Christianity unvitiated ! If they do this they are
at once expelled from the several religious communities to which they now belong , and cast forth upon the world ; coolly " delivered over to the destruction of the evil one , against the day of wrath . " The Christian Chartists do not choose to be longer thus treated . They adhere practically , as wall as theoretically , to their own principles—they demand the right to worship God after their own fashion , and in accordance with the doctrines which they believe to be true . Their principles have been with one consent declared heretical by tke Church ; but they still adhere to them , and " after the manner which is called heresy—so worship they the God of their
fathers ; " aud , though they are quite prepared to meet persecution and malediction from the pillars ot the Babylon out of which they have come , it 13 a little too hard that they should have it also from Mr . O'Connor , who recognizes all their principles and agrees with all their doctrines . But we are satisfied that Mr . O'Connor never did intend to denounce Christian Chartism when properly understood ; but merely that bastard form of it which he supposes to exist in what is called " The Christian Chartist Church" at Birmingham , and which sets up the establishment of a new religious sect , as a sub $ titute / tr , instead of as an accompaniment to , a political movement .
Mr . O'Connor ' s whole letter does not contain one single argument to show in what possible way the preaching of the doctrines of Chartism OU Sundays—the maintaining of those doctrines oh Scriptural authority—and the proving of them to be part and parcel of Christianity itself , can retard the advancement of the people ' s cause . While , on the contrary , we hold ourselves prepared to prove that , under proper and jodicious management , it is the most powerful lever ever yet employed by the people , for the overturning of the mountain of corruption which stands across the highway of righteousness . No better proof of this can be offered than that which Mr . O'Connor himself offers in the successful . establishment of Chartist Churches in Scotland . He
says : — " , in Scotland -, ( I make what I consider a fair and tenable distinction , ) in Scotland , the establishment of Chartist Church preachers establishes for them a great object , and , inasmuch as they bave not a State Church to the extent which it exists in England , they strengthen themselves by weakening the enemy in the vital point—in the seat-money ; and , further , many of the interested supporters of the Tolontury principle ar * our greatest political enemies . "
Now we take leave to say , that Mr . O'Connor ' s " fair and tenable distinction , " is no distinction at all . That Chartist preaching in Scotland , and Chartist preaching in England , is ( at least so far as we can understand it ) precisely similar , and productive of precisely similar effects . The bitterest enemies of right which society now contains , are those who bawl most lustily for that very " voluntary principle" which , pervading all the Dissenting preaching houses , draws on the pence of the oppressed labourers for the sustentation of the costly buildings and the pampered priesthood , in which , and by whom , their liberties are sacrificed , their characters vilified , and their persons insulted .
They do not choose longer to contribute their pence for this purpose ; they come out , therefore , from the camp of leprosy , and pitch their own tents in the open plain of truth , honesty , and sincerity . By this means they do just the same thing here as in Scotland— " they strengthen themselves by weakening the enemy in the vital point —in the seat money . " In England , as in Scotland , " the preachers assume no distinct religious bearing ; the funds go to advance the political principles , while no peculiar religious faith is preached or attempted to be enforced" beyond that of a distinct recognition of tke Deity of the Lord , and of the truth of the Sacred Scriptures ; without which no man can claim the name of Christian at all .
As to the creed of Christian Chartists being sufficiently comprehensive to admit Catholics , Protestants , and Dissenters , all to meet together—we maintain that that is just what it ought to be and just what it is . These are all matters of opinion ; and upon all these matters of opinion , persons may hold different and even contrary opinions , and yet all agree in the assertion of the great practical truths which constitute the very life and essence of Christianity , and out of which the principles of the Charter grow . We dissent in loto from the sentiment contained in the following portion o £ Mr . O'Connoe ' s
letter : — " Christian Chartism , though appparently all-embracing in its meaning , carries with it exclusion of all other sects from -whom we expect political aid . The Catholics would become our bitterest enemies if you were permitted to establish your heresy ; they have suffered from all new aspirauts , and they would dread you ; so with , the conscientious portion of the Dissenters ; while those of the State Church , who would gladly go with us for civil liberty , see religious tyranny , ¦ which is the worst of all tyranny , in the fore-ground of your Christian Chartism . "
" Christian Cnartism is as all embracing in its meaning as any general term ought to be . It shuts out none , of whatever religious creed or opinioD , but those who are not Chartists ; and from whom else can we " expect political aid " ! We think the call of Mr . O'Connor for a creed of the Christian Chartists is but fair , and we now answer that call by the production of
A CREED , whicu we recommend to the adoption of an Chartists congregated and associated together as religious bodies . Mx . O'Connor will see that it is sufficiently comprehensive to admit conscientious Christians , of whatever speculative opinion , into the Church , and that it is yet sufficiently restricted to shut oat every one , however pious he may be in matters of faith who is not prepared to go the whole hog of social civil , and political , as well as personal , right and virtue . Here it is : — " I believe in one God ; the Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ .
u 1 believe that good actions ought to be doae ; because they are accordant with the will of God and beeasse they are of God and from God . " I believe that evil actions ought not to be done ; because they accord not with the will of Goi . " I believe that the Sacred Scriptures contain the revealed will of God , and that they tet forth what actions are good and what actioni art evil . " I believe that the Sacred Scriptures forbid not only all personal vices and crimes , but all social oppression and political inequality , which are their natural results .
" I believe that order and government amongst men . to be accordant with the will of God , as revealed in the Sacred Scriptures , must be equitable » d t 5 ghteous ; based on that great precept of the Lord , ' whatsoever ye would that men should do unto job , dp j © erea to unto them . '
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"I bolievo that no state of society is governed in accordance with this precept , or with therevealed will of God , as contained in the Sacred Scriptures , in which any member being of sound mind ia excluded from a direct influence in the enactment of the laws . " I believe that no state of society is governed in accordance with this preeept , or with the re > vealed will of God , as contained in the Sacred Scriptures , in wiicn every one ' s right of participation in the legislative power is not protected , to the utmost possible extent , against the
force or fraud of his fellows . " I believa that no state of society is governed in accordance with thi 3 precept , or with the revealed will of God , as contained in the Sacred Scriptures , in which all possible care is not taken to give an equal voice and influence in the legislative power to all its members . " I believe that no state of sooiety is governed in accordance with the precept j or the revealed ¦ will of God , as contained in the Sacred Scriptures , in which the legislature is net amenable , at stated and short periods , to the people ,
from whom its power is derived . " I believe that no state of society ia governed in accordance with this precept , or with the revealed will of God , as contained in the Sacred Scriptures , in which the possession of worldly wealth , or property , is holden to be a necessary qualification for a legislator . ' « I believe that no state of society is governed in accordance with this precept , or with the revealed will of God , as contained in the Sacr « d Scriptures , in which adequate remuneration is
not provided for all services rendered by individuals to the state or to each other . M I believe that it is tho duty of every Christian man to use all his powers of exertion for the carrying into active operation of all those principles of equity and righteousness which accord with the will of God , as revealed in the Sacred Scriptures ; and that the first and greatest means of doing so , is to avoid all crime and vice in his own personal acts and habits , and to live honestly , soberly , and righteously , according to the preoepta of God ' a law . "
Such is the " creed " which we believe tho Christian Chartists universally to hold in principle , put into such a form as we think would render it unexceptionable to all ; we recommend all congregations , forming themselves upon Chartist principles , to adopt it ; and we think it affords an answer to all Mr . O'CoNSOa ' s objections about the shutting out of conscientious Christians of any speculative creed whatever .
We have as great an objection to the name "Christian Chartist Churoh , " as Mr . O'Connor . We believe these to be the genuine principles of Christianity , and we wish to see founded on them a Universal Church , which , in its creed and formulary , shall continue to exist , the very body and substantial form of the pure Christian faith , long after the Charter shall have been so long and so perfectly established , that the name Chartist as a distinctive denomination has been laid aside as useless .
Mr . O'Connor was never more mistaken in his life than in supposing that the Christian Chartists of England abate one jot of their political usefulness or determination because of their religious character or that they have any desire to fritter away our strength by divisions , or allow others to do so . VTe believe that , on the contrary , he will always find them , as a body and as a whole , to be the most determined and the most consistent advocates of the
Charter , and of the National Charter Association , to which they serve aa most powerful right hands ; and of which the proof ie , that nearly all the most able and talented of tha Chartist lecturers and missionaries bave found it neoessary to become preachers . Most heartily do we pray that Christian Chartism may run through the whole length and breadth of the land , and that speedily ; for we see in it the best aud surest prelude that we have ever yet seen to the permanent establishment of right .
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tempt ; they formed no portion of society . We have heard more than one stinking rascal declare that they stank . Very well ; we upon our own part , and the people upon their part , said , " We must show the enemy , for they have declared themselves aueh , that we are somebody ; and the only way in which we can accomplish this , is , by showing our opponents that they are nobody without us . By this means we will force the world , through the ene ones' organs , to acknowledge such a body as the whole people . " This object they have well and
nobly accomplished ; and , in order to meet its effect , the liberal Chronicle proposes that freemen , going to attend free discussion , for the purpose of arriving at just conclusions , are all to be labelled , "ticketed , " like lota . of swine for sale . "O , but , " s * ystheCA 7 w » icfc , * tneydon'tgotodiscuflB , they go to interrupt . " We reply—look back at Liverpool , where the Chartists were actually buffetted and insulted ; look at Mr . Sydney Smith ' s insolence at Bermondsey ; look at the intolerance of the League , and their hired ruffians , wherever they have been able u try the bully with success and impunity .
But how very marvellous it is , and what an ignorant set of beasts the peoplo must be , not at once to comprehend the object , and be grateful to their benefactors . The sole object is to " benefit the working olasses . " Now , how very mysterious that thousands should be spent , confuision created , publio meetings still persevered in , and agitation kept up in aid of an ungrateful " mob , " who thus frustrate the very benigu intent of the disinterested masters .
The people reason thus : — Those masters say they have no hope of a repeal of tho Corn Laws from a House of Commons constituted as ours is at present ; let us therefore unite , and get such , a representative system aa will cure the evil . " Well , they meet , and propose Household Suffrage ; the people listen attentively , and say— "Go ye and get Household Suffrage ; you can do it ; but wo will stand on the firm ground ot the universal rights of man . " " No , " say the patriotio masters , " p erham yovt would oppose us . " Now , here we find that the very anticipation of opposition is sufficient to affright the gentlemen from what they could of themselves effect ; while the reality of substantial drubbing after drubbing won ' t deter them from the pursuit of what , for their own selfish interests , they require .
The fact is clear & the people , that if the Corn Laws were repealed , the masters would require , aye and would soon acquire , a despotic House of masters , with a National Gendarmerie , to confine the whole benefit to capitalists . Does any man , in his senses , for a moment doubt , that the very first effect of a repeal of the Corn Lawa , without a natienaj representation , would be a return to one pound notes
to an unlimited issue of fictitious money to meet reckless speculation , to a depopulation of the rural districts , and a flooding of the already over-stocked manufacturing hell-townr ; to the erection of mills , as if by magic ; to a scene of gambling , unparalleled ; to a short gleam of sunshine folio vred by a long and dreary season of dark depression and servile despondency ! In short , in the words of the old hare hunting
songi * Merry for a moment , and dull for an hour . " ¦ This is not what the matured mind of England now looks for ; it is quite the reverse , the ; are content to
be" Dull for a moment , and merry for an hour . " The Chronicle tried the " ticket" system recently at Leicester , and Messrs . Mahkham and Seal repaid the proprietor and his tail , in a rebuke which insured them the thanks of millions ; and , even now , the Chronicle , in its attempt to mislead , does not seem to be aware , when , in its own columns , it draws the veil from its own delusion . The Chronicle , while speaking of ' * ticketing" English freemen , thus lets the cat out of the bag , on Saturday last , in certainly the best and moBt spicy article we have seen for along time , in that cold and seasonless dish . In referring to the publio auction for popular support , the Chronicle says : — "The poor-law stalking
horse has failed the Tories . The revision of the Bill has unmaeked their hollow pretensions . In whatever mitigation could be effected the lead has beeu taken by their opponents . " This is quite true , it only requires the proper moral to be attached , to turn the trick to valuable account . The Whigs did without any , even the slightest , hope of success , outbid the Tories , but merely outbid them in humbug , not in popular favour ; and Mr . Easthope ' s proposition is viewed by the country in the very light in which , in the few lines we have quoted , his vanity has suggested it , to enhance his value , even by a trick , to a tottering faction .
We again counsel the people , by all and every means , to take advantage of every meeting , and when refused admittance to a ticket show , to meet in thousands outside , and pass resolutions for the Charter , and to exclude from their meetings all obnoxious persons , if the system is persevered in . In fact , if it is made general , we undertake to turn it to beneficial account , and to stop all meetings but Chartist meetings . They have th « ir House ; the least the people can have is their talk . Some eighteen months ngp , we had to pay the " Sun" from £ 30 to £ 40 a week for condescending to notice us ; now , we are the stock-in-trade of the wholo " Establishment . " " That ' s the ticket" for bread and soup , and something more .
If we only stick together , in defiance of open villany and sham profession , Chartism may defy the Devil and all his imps . In fact , the question now is . When are we to have tho change , as change is certain ? But many , very many " tricks of the trades" will be yot tried to persuade us that we aro not yet quite ready ; that we ^ require some pkofitable prepabation . In fact , all will try tho old scheme of makiDg the humbug " last his time . "
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CONFESSION OF THE BOY , MITCHELL , NOW UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH IN YORK CASTLE . The confession of this unfortunate boy , which we give in our 8 th page , will , no doubt , be read with pafnful interest . We are not of the " whole hog " abolition of capital punishment party ; and it is because we wish to see a controlling power , reserved for tho purpose of making examples in the most flagrant cases , that we can , with the greater propriety , and self-satisfaction , turn to the little of a redeeming quality which appears in the case beforo us .
Mitchell is but just seventeen years of age ; has ne > er before been charged with any crime whatever ; his father and mother are most respectable aud industrious people . They have , though poor , brought up a family of , we believe , eleven or twelve children , in virtue and industry ; there being either eight or ten daughters , many very respectably married , and all highly respected for their good conduet .
Robinson and Cherry are each some eight years older than the unfortunate Mitcheix ; and , surely , if his statement bo true , of vrhioh we have not a shadow of doubt , their crime is immeasurably mor « heinous than his ; and , hence it ia , that we see the great necessity of distinction , if any distinction ia to be made . "Malice prepeme" conatUatea the grtvamenot tho crime of murder ; Mitchsll eould have had no malice , because he had never seen hiB Victim before , neither had he received more than ton miuutei ' flOticfl
from his associates of the intended robb « ry in which he was designed to take part . If even , therefore , distinction in such cases becomes warrantable , or indeed justifiable , it is where a glaring difference is manifest in the parts of the several acton in such a tragedy ; and , in our hutubld opinion , the duty of the Secretary of State , is , by all and every means , to eift the case to the bottom , so that if the more damnable wickedness of those , hitherto screened from the Jatro' just vengeance , shall at all purge the crime , of the only on *
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about to suffer , of any of its atrocity , that such course may be adopted as will lead to that humane result . Are the actual perpetrators of the fool deed to remain at large , while their leS 3 guDty accomplice , discharged of the " malice aforethought , " to to expiate the whole offence upon th « gallows t May not the arrest of the real murderera lead to a greater amount of legal and moral satis * faction , than the death of the least guilty , bec ause he happened to be most technically identified . Surely , if there be not sufficient grounds for a commutation of punishment now , there are ample reasons for delay , in hope that those grounds maj be yet strengthened .
It is evident that Mr . Baron Rolpe saw tin guilt of the prisoners , Robijwon and Chebbt , from his observation , that , " he did not envy the f eeling » of his companions . " Baron Rolpe appears , in hi » short judicial career , to have entirely won the confidence of the profession , by his legal acumen , while his sentences , though sufficiently severe to reclaim the criminal , are eminently distinguished by i strong desire to act the part of a just Jud ge , by doing the laws' duty and no more ; and , we &r « confident , that those comparatively mild sentences have the full effect of preventing the criminal from resuming his wicked course , while they are calculated to prevent the perpetration of crime by others , Which should be the two great and ondeviating considersations with all Judges .
We have been furnished with a very interesting narrative of the life of this unfortunate lad , which , however , we withhold , not being desirous to make a Newgate Calendar of the people ' s paper . For the present , we shall merely observe that , from theage of fourteen to sixteen , he lived a roving life with the Derbyshire gipsies , whose society he abandoned about a year since , being averse to their mode of life and has sinco lived with 0 H 6 master , from whom be never received the slightest reproach tor negligence , or bad conduct . It is a remarkabl e fact thai the unfortunate Babdslkt , who was hung at the last March Assizes , had been fora longtime acompani oa of the gipsy tribe .
It will be seen , that the confession of the conviot is signed by the three prisoners apppointed as his companions in the condemned cell . It is but justice to Fox , to state that he had no knowledge of , or hand , act , or part , in the transaction from the beginning to the fatal close . It is also a great blessing that Robinson and Cherry have not escaped the meshes of the law , as they were not tried for the murder , and therefore are still amenable to justice ^ and cannot plead in bar * outre fois acquit . "
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FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE , AND UN
PARALLELED WHIG GENEROSITY . The Right'Honourable F . Baeing , her Majesty ' s Chancellor of her Majesty ' s Exchequer , has com * forward , in the meat liberal and handsome manner , and kindly borrowed John and Judy B \ jia ' & monies , deposited in the Savings' Banks ; and , further , to mark the Right Honourable Gentleman ' s especial regard for the said John andJrar , he has been graciously pleased to consoudatb ( there ' s , a fine word , worth half the money ) the same .
We trust the Right Honourable Gentleman will not distress himself , by any over-anxiety to repay the loan ; we are quite sure that John and Judt , always so pliant , will take shert bills , payable Ihie days after convenience . Now , then , we ask who are the poople ' s greatest enemies ; those who fight them with their own weapons , or those who furnish the weapons ! Had the wise holders of Savings' Bank stock taken the advice of the "foolish" and " plundering" Convention , this extensive fraud could not have been committed .
Will any man tell us that , in the age of unreformed abuse , any Government would have ventured upon so audacious and unconstitutional a step ,. without a single word of notice . No ; the plundering Whi ^ s would have moved England to itl centre , if such a thing was even hinted at . Go it , Fbank . ' that ' s the ticket for soup ! your race is almost run , when yon are obliged to borrow from the lazy poor to pay the industrious rich .
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THE "LAST KICK" OF THE LEAGUE : THE LEEDS MEETING . Never was " heavy blow and deep discouragement , " felt more severely than the League men feel their defeat , at Leeds , the very central camp of Whiggery , and the burrow . of the new brood of foxes ! Poor fellows ! we pity them sincerely ! and the more SO , as we fear the wholesome lesson will be lost upon them . We doubt whether they have enough of virtue to repent , even under the lash of punishment . The Mayor of Leeds had a lesson read to him , on Friday , which should be serviceable to him ; it should bring to his
recollection that a short time ago a most respectable requisition was presented to him , requesting . him to convene a meeting of the inhabitants on business of high moment to their interests , and that he refused either to convene the meeting , or to give to the inhabitants of the town the use of their own room—the Court House—built , and sustained continually , with their own money . He will recollect that h& treated the deputation who then waited upon him most uncourteously ; and he will feel now that the people are such as maybe " reasonably deemed" to have some share of manly spirit mingled with their forbearance , when his second attempt at
insult was repelled with the almost unanimous and firmly expressed , though subdued and well governed indignation which greeted him on that occasion . Let other functionaries lears herefrwn a lesson of becoming modesty , and know their place and station when mingling with their fellow townsmen at a public meeting , dr they will certainly , as we hope at least , receive similar admonitions to that betowed upon the Mayor of Leeds by the fustians on Tuesday last ; while the Leaguers will , we venture to promise , never more venture upon a public meeting , either here or any where else . The poor wretches are laughed out of every society of honest working men , ' in which they dare to show themselves . So
should it ever be with dishonest tricksters I Our neighbour Mercury seems determined to lose no opportunity of earning new laurels in his profession of mendacity . He has in this instance been too impatient of applause to wait for it in due course , tut actually lies by anticipation in his neigh * hour ' s columns before his own can be got ready . In the Sun of Wednesday , we find a most veracious report of the proceedings , quoted from the Letdt Mercury , in which the unspoken speeches of Messrs , Foxes Stanspeld and Plint appear at full lengthas they were no doubt intended -to ha **
, been delivered-or more probably , as the foxes would have been glad if they could hate been deliverei Nobooy knows , however , better than our friend to * Mercury , that the pertinacious love of disorder and confusion manifested by the league f « e » rendered speeches out of the question , and that nt speecheB were beard at all . There were no Reporters on the steps , and not one syllabi * eould be heard beyoni the stepi-the speeches h ** therefore , clearly been h * nded over- < ut and drj-i » even the Mercury himself admiU tot »•
no one could be heard—that no one was he *** " and that the whole proceedings passed in < lnm& show . The resolutions of the Leaguers intended * hwoe been put , but which never wer * putataR y' ** coolly paraded as those of the meeting , whiletW resolutions moved by Mr . Hill , and adopted by « least three-fourths of the whole meeting , are spoke * o { M » farce (/) God help the poor fellows 11 « playera in a farce we never before saw weh loan « n « sorrowful faoes , a 8 the LeaRuers pulled that day « 4 ever since ! We guess tha farce was |» tragw which they will never again bespeak .
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YO ¥ HAVE THE " TICKET FOR SOUP . " HERE'S THE " TICKET" FOR BREAD . Let General Harrison talk of the Republics of old as he pleases ; let the Yankee Doodles revile our Monarchical institutions as they please ; and let Master Froggy call us " a nation of shopkeeping Cssars ' as he pleases ; yet do we defy one aud all to furnish any instance of philanthropy , patriotism , benevolence , and national greatness , comparable with what we can boast of in free and happy England .
Here we have national cooks for the poor , and living in a palace ; hero we have institutions for their sole benefit ; and here we have a fostering , humane middle-class , not like your griping money-makers of the same order in other nations , but men actually spending time and money with no other earthly view than that of Berving their poorer brethren ; men so thoughtful that they lose all consideration of self , aud so fearful lest the poor should want , that they will cram large loaves down their throats whether they will or no !'
The Somerset House cooks give the poor the " ticket for soup , " and our manufacturers , not to be outdone , propose to give them a "ticket" for bread . The Morniny Chronicle , finding that the people have found out " what ' s what , " and that they cannot losger be gulled by the very men who have btarved them almost to death , proposes , that henceforth , admission to " public meetings" shall be attainable only by " ticket ,. " This , from the leading Whig journal , in the nineteenth century , and tenth year of Reform , by which all our institutions wero to have been " submitted to popular , vigilant controul , " is a step in advance backwards , that even we were not prepared for .
Let us now examine the question of right . Is it not as much within the rules of propriety to move an amendment to any resolution at a public meeting , as it is to move an amendment to auy public question in the House of Commons I Is it not as much the right of the whole people to move amendments upon Whig resolutions , as it is tho right of a Whig faction to move amendments upon Tory resolutions ? and when have they abstained when victory was calculated upon ? What nro speeches at publio meetings made for , but to gain converts to certain opinions \
Again , let it be borne in mind , that much abstruse law has lately bt en brought to bear upon the question of legality of public meetings , when called for popular purposes , and that Lord John Russkll ordered the London police to Birmingham , to obey the order of the Magistrates in dispersing constitutional meetings of the people , to which he had himself invited them , even at the hazard of blood-shed and civil-war . Hence , then , the people made wary by subtle constructions of law , best evince their love of peace and obedience to " the powers that be , " by taking all and every opportunity of attending public meetings called legally , because called by the
lawmakers . Here , then , we at once establish the right to attend those public meetings , aud , ia fact , those who censure the course pursued by the Chartists , of moving amendments , do not deny their right to attend , but merely their freedom of action , thereby establishing the iuo « fc slavish of all principles , namely , that publici meetings are not for discussion , but merely for a declaration of assent to the proposed object . If this doctrine is to be npheld , it may , with truth , be said , that all " publio meetingn" are but bo many representations of the same farce , and Committees may . just-as well publish the resolu ^ ions of their respective bodies , as go to the trouble aud expense of bringing large
assemblies together . Let ua now have one word upon the question of policy . While t , ^» e Chartiats met in tens of tbousinds , aud hundredB o thousands , they were a M mere mob , " the M ouiCi * st * of society , " an ¦ *• infuriate ratble , "* ud they Wi ' -re treated with ecorn mu ccn-
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THB NORTHERN STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 3, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct543/page/4/
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