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THE BORTHEBN STAR. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1841. (SATtTRDAY BEING CHBJSTMAS DAT.)
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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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THB ADDRESS OF THB DELEGATES OF SOUTH ' LANCASHIRE TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS , AND THB CHARTISTS THROUGHOUT TH < S UNITED KINGDOM . Tettow-labouen in tbe cam of treth , jwrtlee , and fotttkaltmaooipatiatt , —We , the delegates a » emb ' » d in BwwwteeatCbwtiit Room , Dee . 19 th , 1841 , beR to lay More 70 a oat Tiewi on tbe liae of ooodnet to be por-• Md by you aad u * at this mott important cri . aU ¦ , ana to wan yos agatot tbe cunnlotfy-drvUed aeheares tlfaftdPd to entrap you , at pat forth by a body of men tekcgiag t » the Com law League , whote object is , if ywnble , * te « aia yoor eonadraee , t—iitanee , and rap . port to * hrff mimie , faMtead of a fall meed of jostic A mereelap-tnp , instead of what ire wo entitled to by
teafion , Christianity , iwi the 1 m of God , m filly ex--fiptiffH in tbe wbob ) ejection of nature , which abundantly proves that tttee * wbo us willing to -labour o ^ kl te be tapplied witk go * d **^^» "g , food , and abalter . Tbe ttep they ve now taking it for tbe parye at promoting tbek-own selfish and tactioui interest , « aa not from any deei » e to gain your rights and liberties . *>*»*** £ forward , astbey are , ¦ with new taees , prafew ng unbounded sympathy and good feeling for the starring —"' j ^' i -whom , w tjeliere , bare been as much , if not Blare , the means < x * bringing to such a deplorable con-4 &ton than any other party in existent * , by their greedy , grasping , and grinding propensities ; by their
over-« peculation , competition , improvements in machinery , ledactioa ot wages , taking money oat of circslit ' on , patting the foreign market , and destroying the best aaatket , namely , home consumption , by preventing the people from porehasing hats , food , shoes , stocking * , itarniture , and therneesssarifis . Yet they come forward pretending that they wish to benefit the poor , forxocth , by tbear delusive cry of cheap food , plenty « f employment , and high wages , -whilst they have , la many instances , taken more from the -wages of their workmen at » single reduction than would provide them wit ' a bread for six -weeks . Who , then , are the parties -who hare mnde dear bread ? The cottoa-lorda —memWs of the League ,
We argue that the -working classes have hitherto been crociaed between two kinds ef thieves—the landlords and the cotton-lords—the Whigs and the Tories ; &nd that before they tan be pennaoer . t'y benefitted , they must be recognised by the law ; they must have a power wbkh will fortify themselves against the encroachments of both , and thus set both at defiance ; a power which will better regnlate the distribution of their own produce ; so that whilst the granaries aid warehouses are crammed with food and raiment , those Who labour are starring , and those who do not labour enjoy themselves upon the choice and the fat of the
We wish , in thus addressing you , to invite yonr particalar attention te a " new move , " which originated a few weeks ago , after a meeting of the League , in this tows , relative to the question of the suffrage . The parties connected with this new move , having for the last two years tried almost every scheme imaginable to gain jour co-operation ; and because , jodging from . their actions , we considered their motives were of an exclusive and selfish nature , and would not bear the scrutiny and test of fair diseossiea , we ably met them , and exposed their fallacious statements ; and the result to them was , so far as gaining our confidence sod support , or making converts to their pro Com Law policy bum-Ing , a failure and disappointment .
We have given them , at all their meetings where we could gtta chance , d&us , facts , and figures , and at every feoeesttjr coa-rened meeting whsre wa have had a chance « f laying our arguments before the public ; at every meeting where we have been allowed fair , equal , and free discussion , when the meeting has not been packed , nor surrounded by the blue police , to intimidate , we have ben aile to carry a resolution for the Charter by a large majority against their cry for a large loaf . What has been the cause of oni opposition ? "Was it because we did not want , and were hostile to cheap food ? Because we admired the conduct of the landlords , favourable to the Tones , and did not wish toe free trade and high wages ? No . But because we took a retrospective view of the past , and found that an
extension of trade bad been accompanied with a decrease of wages , and we concluded that no measure that Slight be passed would benefit the working classes so long as tbe prxvueged class had the power of turning every thing resulting therefrom to their own advantage , at > long as one man having a thousand people under his « nph > y had the power of t * Iring ten shillings by way of seduction , from their wages , and they not in a posi ttoo to hold him accountable , and on the contrary , if the working man only took one single ounce of stinking cotton from the mill , he was liable to be sent to prison for a month , And looking at the tyranny practised by the most influential aad leading men of -tile Xeagoe , and believiog that such characters were not sincere in their intention * , and every act proved -and
¦ eoafirmed us in such belief , having many times fairly tried them as to how far they were favourable to liberty at various public meetings . They came forward with jeaolutkms gnnningly worded , to , if possible , escape detection ; and we at Manchester , and in other parts of the kingdom , have onJy taken tbe liberty to * write Universal Suffrage upon it , before we would vote for it , and behold , to our astonishment , » en who -wanted to be Chartists in principle wanted to withdraw it , k > that the simple act of putting Universal Suffrage vpon U has completely spoiled ft in their estimation . What amount of confidence , then , could we place in aeh a paitj ? We had likewise an eye to the rapid improvements thai were taking place in machinery , -which would deprive the working man from reaping
any benefit from an extension of trade , and to use the words of one of the leaders of the League , " There was , " ¦ aid he , " machinery equal to one hundred and fifty mil-Soos of operatives now lying dormant , which could be trcoght into requiMtkm at any moment ; besides , on a moderate calculation , there were two hundred millions » ot yet brought into the market . " We compared the great weight of taxation we have to pay in comparison to those Coni--nentsl nations against which we have commercially to compete . We saw there was no guarantee , that if a bad law of any kind was repealed one day , that the same parties , as the House of Commons is at present constituted , could put it on Again the next , if it suited them . We « oold , from accounts from other nations , see how they were progressing in
machinery , and we concluded that the statement of the Xe&gue relative tq foreigners ceasing manufacturing fu absurd , and that is was foolishness on our part , whilst we fead land which ought to be cnJi ' vatsd , to be dcpeaS&nt on the people of Russia , Prussia , and the burning sands of Africa for a breakfast ; and that it was monstrous to hold out the ridiculous and delusive hopes that in Russia , where there is a population of 52 , 000 , 000 , francs 32 , 0 « 0 , Prussia and Austria each 32 , 000 , 000 , aad the smaller states of Germany 23 . 000 , 000—total , 173 , 000 , 000—would leave manufacturing , and go to the plough tail , to grow corn for a population of 27 , 000 , 060 . What sort of stomachs must they fancy the people of Great Britain to have ? Sarely
this -would be s » ffirieiit to cause our brethren of the distant parts of the world to conclude that we were sothing more er less than a race of gluttons—a compiete insult The foregoing are , then , amongst a few ef the reasons , in addition to one belief tint there is » o hope of relief but in the land , why we deter mined to go for a fell measure of justice , which would protect us alike against the avarice , tyranny , and encroachments of the landlord , cotton lord , Whig and Tory , and every other factions party . Xo mm , or set ¦ of » en , will blame us for our conduct , because - « re lave agitated for equality , willing to Rive the same to others as we claimed for ourselves . The Plague , as a last atlempt , have now come forward , under another cover , is . a o « w face . " A change has come o ' a the spirit of their dream . " They , after all the opposition
which they have from time t j time shown to our movein n \ , by Uxeir plans , press , and speeches , wonid have jca to believe ( good , kind , patriotic souls !) that they Wtre all at ones converted to the question of the SuFfrags , -which they define as complete , hut which we consider vague , indefinite , and unqualified , and show their dishonesty by desiring to b ; ind us as to their real metives ; because , if they meant by that term not to go bc far as Universal Suffrage , as property defined in the Charter , as a test el union , then they call upon ¦ you to make a compromise— consequently uu-woiihy of our and your support . And , if they icean by the term to go further than we mean 1 b our Charter , why of course , they only shew their hypocrisy and cajolery by not earning at oBos to « ur tticCard , having never proved it auy other bat just as £ reasonable .
Iucrderto unite tbe middle and the . working classes for tbe agitation of free trade and the suffrage , makiDg the latter always a secondary measure , the members of the I ^ eajue appointed pasties to draw up a declaration . At this meeting there were deputies from all parts of the Kingdom , and in the resolution they were unanimous . This important document has taken ( according to tbe words of tbe party tcho drew op the same ) , several weeks mosbaeriou consideration , before it was brought before the public , and we are constrained to say , that it has again shewn their cloven foot . It rea'Jy put us in Blind of the fable of the moBntain in labfmr which
farwogtrt forth » moose . AaA for your information and « am » PKwat , we here treat jou with a copy of this most important , this seriously ecosideied , this very elaborate declaration , andjf our remarks are not quite so pleasing as the " PJagoe" eould wish , we beg them to xemembev that they fr » Fjn « t « trim working : men , therelore will deserve their pity for our misfortune instead of censure for our igaoaaee . We t&ko it from » thick aad this supporter of the . League , i . e . the Maachetter Time * of last Saturday , bearing the signature of Mr . Storge , of TWrmtpghatn- Hob your eyes , then , and lead the foiio-jring wonderful production of these great Seeksophers , aad would-be leaders of the people : —
" Deeply impressed with the conviction of the evils arising from class-lerisintion , a-nd of tbe suffering thereby Inflicted upon our industrious fellow-subjects ; the- undersigned affirm that a large majority of th * people of this country are -unjustly excluded from that fair , full , and free exercise of the elective franchise , to which they are entitled by the great principle * of Christian equity , and also by the British . Canatlfcatloa for no eabjeet of Bngisr . d can be eoMtrainfed to pay any aids or taxes , even for the defence of the realm , or the support of the Government , but such as ere imposed by his own consent , or bat of hij representatives in Pariiaaent . "
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. There , then , is a copy of what you will be called upon to give up the Charter to agitate for . As they have given the subject theirBerious consideration , we conceive that is quite at much at It deserves ; at all events , it win take but little efieet upon as , as delegate * j and , so far as our judgment goes of the Char tists generally , we are led to conclude they will treat it according to its merits . It is lame , abort , and does not come up to tbe murk ; to say nothing of tbe « hnffllng and nnma ^ nfng manner they speak of the suffrage . We would ask them what they aeaa for us to do with tbe other points of the Charter , which are highly wwmtfal to make even tbat measure beneficial to the great man of society , namely , tbe Ballot , Annual Parliaments , no Property Qualification , Payment of Members of Parliament , and equal Electoral Districts ?
Are yon , the working Ben of South Lancashire and of Great Britain , willing to compromise you principles for such declaration , after the great struggle yon have made , the persecution and prosecution you have been subjected to , the support yon have given to tbe two Conventions , aad carried on yon cause against all opposition , bidding defiance ( because armed and stimulated by truth and justice ) to police spies , magistrates , Judges ., Juries , and having torn from you five hundred of your virtuous leaders , whs have braved the storm , and in every instance have come out better men , so far as determination was
concerned , than they were when first incarcerated ? Foi our part , we will not , and so far as you are concerned , jadging fr-m y » ur former eondnct , we think we hear you cry aloud , ' hear , hear , and amen . " They must come to the Chatter before we will have anything to do with them ; so far , then , we wish to inform the League , that their last move , if they anticipate gaining the cooperation of the Chartists , will prove a decided failure . We are very dubious of the consistency and intentions of men , who , bat a fhort time ago , because they could not meet us in fair discussion , resorted to the base minded means of hiring a number of deluded men to Dludgeon as into submission .
We wish to put you on your guard against false statements pat forward by the leading members of the League in order to lead you astray , statements which appear at first sight plausible , but when examined they torn out to be like all the rest of their absurdities ; we allude in particular to Mr . Cobden , who bas been figuring away in tbe Midland counties , and where he appears to have found a mare ' s nest , which because believed a something by tbe Editor at the Manchester Time * , bas been paraded as a leader . The gist of the argument put forth by these men is , that tbe Corn Laws alone have been the boIb cause of the depression ot trade amongst the stocking-knitters of Leicester , Hinekley , && < 5 tc- He feels , and appears to feel confident is this position , because there have been no new machinery brought into requisition , nor any improvements introduced for the purpose of superseding manual labour . A child wonld , with a little study , be able to give an answer , tending to the confutation of this newly-discovered theory .
We would ask these gentlemen whether the tens of thousands who have been made surplus population in the manufacturing districts can wear as many stockingB as they could when fully employed ; whether they oould wear as many hats , shoes , and coats , as formerly , and whether even those who are employed , having had their wages reduced , can purchase the same articles as they could before ? and when they answer this question we shall have another to ask . What has been tbe number of stockings imparted ittj this country from Saxony ? the tendency of which has been to cause a competition with the knitters of Leicester and Hinekley .
We cannot give Mr . Cobden credit for his boasted patriotism , having closely watched him for some time . At many of our meetings , he many times said he was as good a Chartist as the best of xa ; bat , before be could join us , we must throw one of our best advocates—one of our most disinterested leaden overboard , tamely , Feargus O Connor , Esq . We wish to inform Cobden that we admire tbat gentleman , O'Connor , because of his consistency , and we discard him , Cobden , and his measures , for his inconsistency . When a number of men belonging tbe late election committee , at Manchester , waited upon Mr . Cobden to ascertain -whether he would stand as a candidate for this town ; he , by way of answer , told them be would not serve amongst such a set , even if elected . He said they talked about things which his grandmother did .
In a short Vim * after , this same gentleman went to Stoekport , and personally canvassed the electors for their votes , and when questioned at the nomination , although he had declared repeatedly that he was a Chartist only six miles from tbe spot ; be said that be would sot vote for Universal Suffrage , nor Annual Parliaments , and hoped they would not * t him down as a five-point man under aay drcunutsnoBS . He at the same time said that if ever the lifting up of his finger wou'd bring Frost , Williams , and Jones back , he would not do that much ! Are we , then , to take this man into onr ranks , and discard Feargus O'Connor , who has done more for those aoSering patriots , than any other man in the Kingdom ? Mr . Cobden cautioned the working classes against men , who would mix the question of free trade with every other . Thus showing that if they could obtain a repeal , we might go to the devil for aay further indulgence .
We now , by way of conclusion , wish to caution you agjunit the Cora Law Repeaters , who boast of obtaining 40 , 000 signatures to a memorial to the Qtzeen , who h&vd taken it into the factories and Sunday schools , and are now representing it as the National Petition . Many have signed this memorial under tbe idea that it was the Chartist National Petition . They have had recourse to that artifice , because they , the ladies who have carried them from house to house , although treated with personal respect , the object they had in view was indignantly spurned . We hope and
trust you will march forward in your glorious agitation for the Charter . Admit of no compromise ; and , as your determined eondnct has moved them one peg , by a perseverance in tbe same line of conduct , yon will compel them to move another and another , until the ; come " the whole hog , bristles and alL" We pledge ourselves to those undying principles contained in the Charter , and call upon you to rouse from tbe routine of your former energies ; and , ere long , we shall , by our united efforts , be able , to wring from a tyrannical Government our sacred rights . We remain ; fellow Countrymen , On behalf of the delegate * , Your ' s , faithfully , James Caetledge , Wm . Geocott . Universal Sufrage , and no Surrender ! [ The Committee request the Editors of the Fitidica tor , Chartist Circular , and Commomcealthsmtxn , to cop ; the address from the Star-l
The Borthebn Star. Friday, December 24, 1841. (Satttrday Being Chbjstmas Dat.)
THE BORTHEBN STAR . FRIDAY , DECEMBER 24 , 1841 . ( SATtTRDAY BEING CHBJSTMAS DAT . )
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WAGES OF LABOUR , AND "EXTENSION " OF COMMERCE . Our article of last week on this subject baa , we are glad to say , been received by the work ing people in the manner -we wished . We have communications from all quarters , informing us that parties are already actively at work in compiling the tables of wages for tbe period named , and which we asked for as most necessary for the grouadintf of an opinion as to whether another " extension" of onr commerce was desirable . This is as it should be . We nave had plenty of
assertion upon assertion from all parties , upon the subject of wages and its relative amount at different periods : it is time we had facts which none can gainsay : and if those who are most interested in the fullest investigation of this question will bnt second our efforts , it shall be placed beyond the power of any theorising political economistto palm his guesses upon the public as to the real condition of the working people , and the effect of onr
present anomalous and murderous system of applying machinery . We will know , and the world shall know , what the real effects of our Commercial policy have been noon the producers of W £ alth ; and then all will be able to say whether we ought farther to extend" it , or not ! Again , therefore , do we earnestly call upon the several Trades to famish us with the facts . Let as h&re the tables of wages asked for ; and then we shall see how the matter really stands !
Meanwhile , we beg to call the most serious attention of all parties to some statements given in another part of our paper under the bead "State of the Country ; " the major portion of which have been culled from the report of a meetings esignated iia the Morning Chronicle , under the head
"CORN LAWS AJCD COMMERCIAL REFORM , " as a " Great Meeting at Manchester on the slate of the Cotton Trade" This meeting is reported to hive been " composed of Deputies from the varions towns comprised within the great Cotton District , ' How these deputies were appointed , or whom they represented , we are not informed ; but from a list of the principal deputies who attended , which is given , we are sure that the " great" cotton lords of the great cotton district were represented ! though we don't by scy means ft el 10 tuie that Tom . an
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Dick aad Habbt had had any share either in the appointment of tiu » 6 great deputies , or that of the lesser ones who may be excluded from tile list . No matter 1 here- we nave the iustsbs themselves , in foil conclave , giving forth statements as to the condition of the population of the district , both employer and operative ; the past and present state of wages ; tbe numbers of unemployed ; and the extent of pauperism . " It is therefore important that we should know who were present at this meeting ; for the statements we allude to are given
by them ; not by some " rascally Chartist , " or "infidel Socialist f they are the evidence of the •* preat" masters engaged in the "great" cotton trade , as to the effects of their own blessed commercial system upon themselves and tbe operatives employed by them . It is important , therefore , that the names of those who thus testify should be recorded , that we may be able to find them another day ; for the testimony they give will have to be often , very often , referred to . That there may be no mistake about tbe matter , we insert the list in full , just as given in tbe Chronicle : —
" The attendance of deputies was large , including—Richard Cobden , Esq ., M . P ., Joseph Brotherton , Esq , M . P ., Mr . B . bcrt Hyde Greg , Mr . John Brooks , Mr . T . Bazley , Jan ., Mr . W . B . Callender , Mr . George Wilson , Mr . William Evans , Mr . Samuel Lees , Mr . William Rawson , Mr . James Kershaw , Mr . John Rawsthome , Mr . William Lockett , Mr . William Resley , and Mr . A . Prentice , for Manchester and Salford ; Mr . Robert Benson , Jan ., Droylsden ; Mr . Charles Jackson , Leigh ; Mr . Timothy Wharmby and Mr . Oswald Moseley , Huelgrove ; Mr . Thomas Thornber and Mr . William Eeroyd , Colne ; Mr . John Bylaods and Mr . John Alien . Warrington ; Mr . John Bright , Rochdale j Mr . Wm . Nelstrop ( mayor ) , Mr . Hollins , Mr . Henry Coppock
( town clerk ) , Mr . Charles Hudson , Mr . Sefton , and Mr . Wilkinson , and the Revda . Messrs . Smith and Waddisgton , Stockpoit ; Mr . Edmund Ashwortb , Mr . Henry Aahworth , Mr . J . C . Darbishire , and Mr . Thomas Tbomason , Bolton ; Mr . Joseph Spencer , Mr . George Southam , Mr . Alfred Reyner , and Mr . George Higginbottom , Ashton ; Mr . Joshua Brooks , Mr . Bradley , and Mr . Pass , Mossley ; Mr . Robert PJatt , Mr . John Cheetham , and Mr . William Bayley , Stalybridge ; Mr . J . H . Roberts , Burnley ; Mr . H . Fletcher , Darwen ; Mr . William HoUiwell and Mr . John Barker , Todmorden ; Mr . Holloday , Oldham ; Mr . Nicholson , Lees , && 1 . Thomely , Esq ., M . P ., was present during the meeting . "
Well , then ; what do these parties say is the " condition of the operative" ! for it is in reference to Aim , that we shall examine and apply their statements . The " great" cotton masters have organs who will take care that their " condition" is fully made known , if it should happen that the working of their own system has turned the screw so as to pinch where it is not wanted ; bat M the operative , " though so kindly taken into the account by these " great" deputies just now , has not many organs in which his condition or his wrongs will be set forth . We shall , therefore , confine ourselves mainly to what was said as to hi * " condition , and the past and present Btate of wages , "
What do these masters say , then f What is their testim ony 1 They were met to promote the cause of tbe w extension of Commerce . " Their meeting was but another move , another shift , to bring the anti-Corn Law agitation into notice ; another attempt to promote the spread of Free Trade principles . " What , then , do they say ! Their testimony is important . Many of them have been engaged in our " great " Cotton trade for a considerable period ; they have had opportunities of observing the actual workings of the system they are engaged in . They have had to do with our " great" Cotton trade , when it was not "great ; " they have lived to see it " extended " over and over again ; they know what the effects of each extension" hare been . These are the parties , then , whose testimony we should seek . What , then , did they say 1
It must be remembered that they were met to promote another " extension . " It will , therefore , be expected by every one that they set to work and demonstrated that every former M extension" had been of benefit to both employer and employed . They , no doubt , shewed beyond the power of contradiction , that tfee profits of the *• great" cotton master , and the wages of the operative had both been increased by each successive " extension , " and in proportion to the extent of the " extension . " No
doubt they did this ; for this is the very first thing that ought to have been done , to make the people in love with the project of another " extension . " What , then , did they Bay f Our readers will read the entire article we have before named for themselves . We shall , however , here give one or two specimens of the kind of testimony given by these w great" masters , as to the effects of their present commercial system upon the wages of M the operative . "
" A reduction of the wages of the factory hands of Hyde , to the amount ef 12 per cent has taken place . in the last two years . All tbe manufacturers have been obliged to work their machinery with fewer hands , and have discharged every person -with whom they could possibly dispense . Many workpeople who bad built cottages have been obliged to sell them . " " The decrease in tbe wages of cotton hands at Mossley , during the last ten yean is 25 per cent . The decrease in the wages of weollen hands for the same time is 45 per cent . There are a many families in the deepest distress . Shopkeepers and tradesmen of all kinds cry out most bitterly ; complaints are universally prevalent , and prospects for tbe future exceedingly dark and gloomy . ''
" Tbe cotton weavers employed at Leigh , have had their wagea reduced about 20 to 25 per cent , since 1836 , and they now receive 5 s . for weaving a description of cloth for which 30 a . were regularly paid in 1816 . An able-bodied and clever workman does not earn more than 5 s . per week in this branch . " " The handloom weavers of W / gan have been reduced since the year 1835 , from 7 s . to 5 s . per piece . The cotton spinners' rate of wagea has not varied much for tbe last six years , except among reelers and mule spinners , whose wages have been reduced one-fifth . The power loom weaver * have been reduced in a similar proportion to the mule spinnen and reelers . "
" The colliers in Wigan and the neighbourhood , in the year 1835 , got 6 b . Sd . for getting three tons of coals . In the present year 1841 , they gtt 7 a . for getting seven tons sixteen cwt . of coals , and there is now more difficulty in getting the coals than there was in 1835 , owing to the depth ot the pits , and the accumulation of water and iDflimabie gaa . " " The people , although in great distress , and in too many instances , positively starving to death , appeared to enjoy momentary consolation from tbe very fact of persons being appointed to inquire into aad sympathise with their sufferings . "
" The wages of spinners at Preston hare been reduced this year about ten per cent , with a probability of a still greater reduction . The wages ef the weaver fell twenty-five per cent , during the present year . Some manufacturers have closed , and many ethers are reguiarly reducing the number of their hands . Weavers are wandering about and willing to take work at any price . Every body's spirits are down ; the shopkeepers are complaining bitterly , and the small farms in the neighbourhood , owing to bad seasons and heavy taxes , are fast sinking into ruin . "
" There are 1 , 177 individuals at Oswaldtwistle , constituting 243 families , whose average earnings pet week is 3 ^ d . No account was taken of any family where the earnings amounted to or exceeded 2 s . per week for each individual , and a great number were just over that limit . The general destitution is great . In some cases the visitors found only one bed for ten persons , without a particle of covering , and in many instances , four , five , and six had to occupy one bed , with nothing to throw over them . A great many whose earnings are more than 2 s . ore almost entirely destitute of beds and clothing . ' * " Since 1836 , the reduction in wages at Qlossop bas been on spinning 25 pet cent , on card-room hands 12 per cent , on power-loom weaving 14 per
" Desirous of eliciting every information . connected with tbe manner in which the working people live both by night and by day , it was found that 1 , 1 * 4 per . sons slept three in a bed ( if sneh it could be called ) , 712 four In a bed , 200 five , 156 six , and 66 seven and eight in a bed , while a very many poor creatures were met with who had neither bed or bedding , nor anything but the bare floor to lie down upon when nature became exhausted . Nineteen-twentieths of the materials termed ' beds' and ' bedding' cannot properly be said te have claim to such like terms , being nothing more ,
in the majority of cases , thanjold straw , chaff , shavings , or some other such like materials , held together by coarse wrappering , without either blankets , sheets , or coverings of any kind , and in many instances where there was covering , it was only a piece of coarse calico pieces . Some had sold , and others pawned all they could spare , even to their beds and bedding , to procure food for themselves and famuhiDg children . However unnatural it may appear , it is nevertheless true , that in some dwellings old age , youth , and infancy , six , seven .
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an J eight in number , of both sexes , are obliged to huddle indiscriminately together in one bed , for want of means te provide better accommodation . Severalhundreda of famL lies , both parents and children , have no change of clothea of any description , the linen of both men , women , and children , has to be washed on the Saturday night , the parties having to remain entirely destitute until it is dried . Hundreds also complain of their inability to attend their respective places of worship on the Sabbath day , for want of decent clothes to appear in ; while many , after relating the appalling difficultlea under
which they laboured , wished " The Almighty might terminate their sufferings before morning , " In several house * , during our visit in the afternoon , the children were cryiag most piteously , and in reply to a question for their so doing , it waa stated they were crying lor bread , not having tasted any kind of food that day . Some of the dwellings contained scarcely anything but the bare walls ; in many of this description , there being no seats or any kind of furniture , we were obliged to write standing with our books upon our knees . " "
What ! and is this the sort of testimony that Messrs . Cobdkn , Bbooks , Gregg , and Ashworth five as to the condition of those who hare been in their employ t Is this the "condition of the operative" enogoged in our " great" cotton trade ? Is this the end of our former " extensions" of commerce t Is there any reason here why we should have more " extension" 1 Have they not revealed too much } Is not their testimony sufficient to make us halt in our course , and ask " where are we going to ! " Have not these " great" masters proved themselves " great" fools to ask the operative to aid
them in further " extending" that system which has already reduced him to starvation , misery , and death ! Could there by possibility have been stronger evidence given by any party that we have already gone too far % than these " great" wiBeacres have adduced to induce us to allow them to go farther ? Really we have had enough of extended commerce" if this be ( he end I It did not use to be so ! There were times wfcen the working men of Lancashire were net in the condition their " great " masters now describe them . They were not always withont beds and linen and furniture ! What is it
that has taken the beds ! What is it that has taken the linen ! Who is it that has gotten the furniture Where is the eight days' dock , and the good bedstead , and the feather bed , and the linen sheets , and the quilted coverlett . and the meal-kist" 1 Where are they gone to ? Who has taken them I Where is the pig , the bacon , the potatoes , and the beer ? Where are they gone to ; forgone they are ! The " great" masters of the " great" cotton ' . distriot describe their workmen as being so destitute of every thing like food or furniture , that they found them in many instances" wishing the Almighty might
terminate their sufferings before morning ! " Again we ask , where is the foodgone to ? Why do the dwellings of working men contain scarcely anything but the bare walls" 1 How is this i Where is the food , and clothing , and furniture gone to ? We want this question answering 1 It must be answered 1 Time was when this state of things did not exist . When was that I Was it before we had " great" masters in our great" Cotton trade , or since ! Who has gotten that which formerly made the workman ' s cottage comfortable and happy ! Has it disappeared since our commerce was " extended ! " Was he as
badly off ; or worse , than his master now describes him to be , before we had the steam-engine , or selfacting mule , or power-loom t Has improved machinery and " extended" commerce bettered bis lot ! Has every new improvement , and every "economical" prooeefl , and every " extension ' of commerce , given him greater command over the necessaries and comforts of life ! These are questions which the " great" masters should hare answered , when they were asking the working men to help them to " extend" the system which has produced the state of things they describe as existing ! They are
questions , too , which must be answered ! We must know why the workman ' s cottage has been stripped , and where the things are gone to ] We must know whether the fact that we have a Gott and a Marshall in Leeds , worth their millions , is sufficient compensation for the destitute condition of the operative , who once had plenty 1 We must know whether the fact that Mr . R . H , Geeq is the M largest" cotton spinner in England , aad that be has large " concerns" in Belgium and Germany , atones for the condition of those who work his machinery ! We must know
whether the score of " large" masters , who have risen up in a short time from nothing , to be worth more than would purchase up the aristocracy of England , is a good exchange for the happy homes and well-provisioned larders of our working men ! We must know how many w meal-kists" there are in MarshALt ' s " floating" and " fixed" capital ! We must know where the beds ar » , and the beef , and the bacon , and the beer 1 Who has them 1 The working man has not . They are gone from him . An adroit attempt was made by these assembled
Deputies to enlist the shopkeepers on the side of an " extended" commerce , by pretending to sympathise with them for their want of custom , and consequent difficulties . With this class the " great " masters will be likely to succeed : for in the first place , they have not " sucked-tbe-hammer" so long nor bo often &b tbe working man has ; nor have they ever yet , unfortunately , been ready or willing to make common cause with him from whose wellrequited industry they live ; but have , on the contrary almost invariably taken part against him , and joined the " great" masters in sinking him in the
scale of comfort and being . With the shopkeepers , we rep < at , the " great" masters will be likely to succeed . The nostrums will be swallowed , and an" extended " commerce asked for by those who have been brought to ruin by the " extensions" we have already had ! It matters not to this class of the community , that the operation of the manufacturing system has been to leave the workman without wages , and consequently the till without pennies ; it matters not that the custom of the cabinet-maker , and the grocer ,
and the draper , and the provision dealer , has declined just in proportion as the wages of labour have been lessened , and both in the same proportion that commerce has been " extended ; " it matters not or these things ; their class prejudices , whioh cannot bear to look upon a working man as a "fellow" mortal , will prevent them joining those with whose comfort and well-being their interests are inseparably bound up . Spaniel-like to those " above them" in the scale of society , they will continue to lick the hand that smites them , and press
destruction to their bosom 1 Shopkeepers are without custom . How could it be otherwise \ Where are the wages \ They are gone ! and custom has followed them % What dolts the shopkeepers have been ! They would not open their eyes to the fact , that when they reduced the working men to a state of starvation , they cut their own throats ! Who are tbe customers of the shopkeeper ; or , rather , who were ? The " great" masters ! Not a bit of it ! but the poor despised , put-upon , reduced working men ! Whose pence filled the till ; and whose pence is now wanted ! The working men ' s 1 O ! ye of little foresight , what fools ye have been ! Just look here ! Take this one fact , and then wonder no longer that you are without custom !
The number of persons engaged in actual labour , in the production of wealth , has been stated to be somewhere about 5 , 000 , 000 . We will take it at that amount . If these 5 , 000 , 000 labourers received wages on an average , ' amounting to 303 . each per week , the amount of money that would circulate through their bands yearly would be £ 390 , 000 , 000 . But if they only received on an average ten shillings per week each , the amount circulating yearly would only be £ 130 , 000 , 000 !
Where do the wages of the labourer go to , when he gets them ? Into the till of the shopkeeper . A working man does not hoard up money . He buys food , and clothing , and furniture with it , ' when ! he gets it . A reduction of his wages , therefore , is so much abstracted from the ehopkeeping class ! And who getet it ! Thosetwho jump from their Lclogs to
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their carriages ! Those who make , or rather get , millions of money in about twenty years I These are the parties who devour the comforts of the cottage and the business of the shopkeeper 1 And then they employ their capital in French railroads , or Belgic factories , or in Foreign " Stock" of some description or other ; and the shopkeepers help them to do this , and will be ready to aid them further ! Will it be always thus 1 Will this class new open their eyes to their true position ? Will they ever continue to kiss the rod ! Let them look here 1 and see the value of our foreign trade ( to"extend " which so much fuss is made ) , as compared with that home TflADE which they have helped the . M great" masters to destroy .
The r # o / value of the whole of British manufactured produce exported from the United Kingdom for the year ending Jan . 5 th , 1841 , was £ 51 , 406 , 430 . For this we received payment in all sorts of things ; a portioryof money , but a great portion of it in t&oj&Afno real value or earthly use . A reduction of the wages of labour generally , of ten chillings per man per week , would ameuntto £ 130 , 000 , 000 per year . Have not the wages of our labourers been reduced , since " extensions" of commerce began to be made , more than ten shillings per man ?
If the average of wages fifty years ago , were 30 a . per week , ( a low amount , ) is the average nova 10 s ! If this reduction has taken place , we have sacrificed £ 260 , 000 , 000 yearly to secure a yearly foreign tirade of £ 51 , 406 , 430 ! 1 * a great portion of which is worth less than nothing 111 !! The loss has been experienced , first by the labourer , and then by the shopkeeper ! Another " extension" of commerce , that will absorb every iota of wages and profit left , must be desirable ! Ofeb&titbs and Shopkeepkbs I what say you 1
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NATIONAL EMIGRATION . We make no apology for again introducing this eabject to the notioe and consideration of our readers . Its vast importance demands that there should be no mistake about it ; and wo hold it as oar duty so to develope it in all its bearings as that let the Government plan of transportation assume what shape it may those most interested may be prepared to meet and defeat it .
We do no ( deny that a ease may occur when it may be necessary as well as desirable that "the hive should swarm . " We are perfectly aware tbat the land is limited ; we also know that a given quantity of food is necessary for a given number of mouths , and that , of course , if mouths multiply faster than food can be provided , the surplus must emigrate or starve . We engage to show , by and by , that this is not at present the condition of this country , nor is it likely to be for many years after our present state tinkers are buried and forgotten .
Before we do this , we will suppose , or the Bake of argument , that this is the case , —that the hive must swarm or the bees periBh , —and we will inquire what , under suoh circumstances , emigration ought to be . Emigration to be really effective must be voluntary , extensive , and well organised . To make this clear , let us contrast it with the thing called emigration , as it has been practised for many yean past ; and which , in reality , is not emigration , but transportation and gambling speculation . Those who have left this country to seek a settlement in our
distant colonies have chiefly consisted of two classes ; speculators who invested a certain amount of capital in colonial land , intending thereby to realise ample fortunes by monopoly and indirect taxation ; and parties , wretchedly poor , sent out for the most part by parochial authorities or by the Government at the nation ' s expence , who , whatever might have been their expectations , soon found themselves reduced to the condition of serfs or bondsmen . Doubtless many families possessing small capitals have left this country , but the larger portion of these have gone to the United States . The rolling tide
of emigration into our own colonies has consisted chiefly of those who had no property , and who therefore , were entirely dependant upon their own industry for support in tbe land of their exile . These , it is clear , were actuated by no voluntary motive : they went because they were compelled to go . Thus ' , then , the first necessary ingredient i 8 wanted . Let us look at the second . We say emf . gration to be effectual must be extensive ; that is , it must be a consecutive band of men , women and children , married and single , having in view one object , and directing their course to one
locality as the point of settlement . This spirit of unity , this combination ot purpose , forme no part of our present system of what is called emigration . We admit that the system has been diffusive , but that very , faot has prevented it from becoming extensive , in the sense in which we here use the word . All has been individualism und disjunction ; scarcely have two families emigrated with the same purposes and designs ; and the reason of this is that the third ingredient necessary to successful
emigration has not been even thought of . So far from judicious organization having been the order of the day , there has been no organization at all . Tbe tidehaB rolled on without let or hindrance ; every man has done that which was right in his own eyes ; no calculations as to supply and demand have been made ; and the consequencs is just what might have been anticipated ; the poor creatures have fled from oppression and distress at home to encounter atill worse oppression , and still greater distress abroad .
Let us contrast this modern abortion with emigration in ancient times . The Phoeaioiaua and the anoient North Men , understood the science of colonization perfectly ; and they were the only people who ever did understand it so as to carry out its principles into actual and succesful practice . Among them the voluntary principle was the ruling spring of action . They moved forth ; not at the bidding of class legislation or when reduced to starvation point by the insane and foolish social arrangement of their kind ; but , feeling themselves piess'd for room , they collected their means together , and
marched in compact phalanx to conquer and subdue a territory for themselves , in some distant and , according to their views of the matter , more desirable region . Here then were two ingredients of the essential pre-requisites for successful emigration ; independence of action and extensive combination . Nor was the third wanting . The necessity for organisation Was duly felt and nndeviatingly acted upon . The capitalist took with him his capital and his arms , and such a number of retainers , together with their amilies and what property they had , as were sufficient for laying the foundation of that new Social
Community , which was the Bummit of their hopes . Those anoient migratory tribes never moved without bearing with them ample means for securing their success . One remarkable feature in those anoient colonies was the entire absence of monopoly , in the ordinary acceptation of the term . Gennine liberty was unknown ; but a commonality of interests supplied its place . The capitalist—that is to say , the daring bandit ( f « r such were all the capitalists of the time ) , shared with his followers the fatigues , dangers , and privations of the enterprise ; and the humbler marauders , who followed him , shared in the triumph
and success . We are aware that these t > and& of ancient emigrants were , for the most part ^ bauds of daring and unscrupulous robbers and cat-throats ; that most of them preferred war to industry ; that they were wild , savage , and determined ; that the arts of peace were unknown to and unprac tised by them ; but as rapine and confusion , had they become universal , would have defeated their own ends , some of the peaceful pursuits must be adopted , to secure existence ; and hence those tribes were ever ready to move forward to a land more fertile and better cultivated than their owe . We have not referred to those proceedings of ages long gone by for the purpose of advocating a
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literal imitation of them in the nineteenth century : we know that our Whole colonial system is a dose copy of the ancient system as to all its vices , without one feature of its redeeming qualities ; what we want to impress on the minds of onr readers is the fact that in these early migrations the various hordes acted conjointly , and not individually ; and that they neglected none of the means necessary to secure their object . They fixed their eye upon a spot which they deemed desirable , and they resolved to obtain it . It might be that it was already appropriated , but arms and
bravery might subdue tbe natives and give their possessions into the hands of the invaders ; arms and bravery therefore were never lacking in an emigrating expidition . But the men who had crossed the ocean in search of a distant home , and had out throats by thousands in order to secure it , Were too " noble , " too M right honourable" to attend to matters of trade and industry ; and thus an inferior race of bondsmen became necessary to provide for the wants of the blood-stained conquerors ; and hence were always , to some extent , snatched from the jaws of death to be manacled with the chains of slavery ; and slavery was ever an ingredient in the ancient
states . Bat , to preserve the state from perishing in its new home , civil government , or rather military government with civil functions , was absolutely necessary . Hence the capitalists , or chiefs , were absolute but not despotic . They might rnle , but , as a condition , they must provide ; to have left the people in want would have been virtually to abandon their right to rule . From all this it is plain that the ancient system of emigration secured to those who engaged in it ample provision agains , want and a due protection for life and property Now , let it be carefully observed that in every system of colonization the spirit which animated the Phoenicians and the northern tribes most role or
its failure—its utter and entire failure—is certain and inevitable . The manner of its developement , however , in the present age , must be essentially different from that which prevailed in times of old . Like the Chartists , the emigrant ' s motto must be" God is our guide ; no sword we draw ; We kindle not wan battle ores . " Their object must be to obey the Divine command j and , taking to themselves yet unappropriated portions of the earth " subdue them" to their will ; and on plains rendered fertile by their own industry , " increase and multiply . "
To this end , it is clear that the emigrants must be organised . They should be formed previous to their leaving their native shores into joint stock companies of at least one hundreds couples with children and dependants forming a society of not less than one thousand souls , with rights guaranteed and privileges secured . Each of these tribes would form the nucleus of a future state ; and it Bhould be , and mutt be provided with all the requisites for its comfort , prosperity , and permanency . To each of these collective joint stock companies should land be appropriated in shares proportionate to the number of
adult emigrants to be their property and that of their successors living in the colony for ever . This would secure the independence of the colonists , who , after the first year , Bhould have the election of their own governor and officers , and the entire control of their internal affairs and the moat hoe and unrestricted rights of trade and commerce with the mother country . One of the most essential requisites to the success of these infant colonies is capital—not accumulated but diffused throughout the whole mass . And this must be supplied in ample measure by the parent state : the
Government being the agent . All sums advanced for this object should be by Way of loan : not a penny should be given without a provision made for its repayment ; and all the loans should , after the first year , become chargeable with interest at five percent ., and be repaid by moderate instalments , as the colony became prosperous through united and profitable industry . Every shareholder would of course , have the right to sell his property after a given time ; subject to the condition of the purchaser becoming a resident ; no absenteeism should be allowed on any account .
This is what emigration Bhonld be when necessary next week we shall try t show that , if this country were rightly governed , no such thing would be needed for ages to come . ^ ft fi r i-i r ^ . j- . i r i ~ r i in ri r m ^^^^^^^^^^ ¦ "> ci ^ i ¦ ¦ ^ ^ - - — _— ^ . . _ .
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JOINT MEETING OF CHARTISTS AND CORN-LAW REPEALERS , AT BATH . Elsewhere we give a report of a large meeting at Bath , which seems justly to have excited much attention . It seems that the Chartists and Corn Law Repealers of that city have coalesced , and thrown into one stock their grievances . We rejoice mosi cordially to see this . It is evidence of onward pro * gress . The " Liberals" are on their last legs when they require Chartist crutches . Let the people but beware . Let them not forget 1830-1-2 . Let them keep their own place , and this Bath meeting may be the initiative of a nearer approximation to a cordial union with the middle classes than
was by many hoped for . But be cautious . Be wary . Do not let us be again cajoled into thinking that we have got them to help ub for universal justice , when , in reality , they have got us to help them for class crotchets , without rendering a quid pro quo . We confess that , though Ikis Bath meeting affords us matter of gratulation / we don't see-lmuch to admire in it . We hope the Petition founded on the joint resolutions of the meeting will be full and strong for the Charter as a fihst and most necessary measure . Our reporter has not informed us how the Petition is to be signedwhether by the
, Chairman " on behalf " or individually ; we hope the latter way . The manner in which this petition is expressed and signed will shew whether Mohammed has come to the mountain , or the mountain has gone to Mohammed . If it represent the repeal of the Corn Laws as the primary , and the Charter merely as a secondary , object , the Chartists of Bath have been done . " If it be well and property got up , and the repeal-mongers hesitate to sign it , the sure inference is—that their attempted purpose was to entrap and not to assist the people . In either oase , from that moment the connection becomes an unhallowed and misohievous One , and should be instantly dissolved .
We have Written on the matter as one of mere expediency , without reference to our own opinions on the Corn Law question . Some of our Chartist friends may and do differ from our opinion on that point ; but there can be no difference oh the jiecesmu « r ^ P ^ P ' keeping their eyes wide open . The Whiga are like pigs with soaped tails ; they are hard to hold when caught . The tenor of the speeches of the Liberals leads us to view this meeting as a stratagem of the Repeal-mongers to steal a march upon the people , who they knew would not permit them to have a meeting to themselves . We shall be glad to find our pinion incoTreot ; but let the people , at all events , look out .
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A MERRY CHRISTMAS . Aftj ? b the appalling revelations of the " great " Cotton Lords above alluded to , with squalid misery , and want , and wretchedness abounding through the whole land of " Merry England , ' * who cansitdown to bid " good-morrow * to his frteuds , and pass coolly round u the compliments of the season . " We cannot . Our feelings . and our religion alike forbid as to mock misery or fawn on vice . We are not fearful of any man ' s mistaking usfor votaries of " rueful superstition , " but we are nowconstrainedtoeschew merriment , and most recommend in place of it amendment . To the rich oppressor we say , M Repent , ere it be to © late , aad the reward of your unrighteousness have visited you /* To the
pooroj pr « ae 4 We 8 ay , « Ardase from torpor and inaotmiy . Cast aside yoitt ^ differences ; lay hand , one and all , on the axe which your sufferings have sharpened } lay ft at once to the - root of the fool tree , and ¦ let corruption fall before you to be no more planted . ' Then shall right be done , and _ peace obtain , and plenty be diffused ; and old England shall again become " merry England , " and the grateful consoiousness that the precepts of our great God and guide are made the law of social life shall pause the widow ' s heart to sing , and the face of the labourer to be brightened as he hails the future celebrations of his advent as the " merry Christmas , " which , as it "comes but once a year , " ia anticipated with delight by old and young .
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4 THE NORTHERN STAR ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 24, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct874/page/4/
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