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Northern Star (1837-1852), 25th August 1849, Edition 3 of 3, Page 1

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    • "Who would be free Himself must strike the blow.**
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    • <Et)Arttet Sittfllto-enre
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      "Who Would Be Free Himself Must Strike The Blow.**

      "Who would be free Himself must strike the blow . _**

      To The Old Guards. Loved Aso Hoxotjke-O ...

      TO THE OLD GUARDS . Loved _aso Hoxotjke-o Cohbades , W hen I address you as the Old Guards of Chartism , you _^ ai understa . ua that I in . elude every man _who Jives b y his indu s t ry , because all such men are interested in the a c comp lishment of our princip les , as the la-Wer can never he requited for his _industry by any other means than the most profitable developement of our national resources , by a fair representation of tho whole people hi the Commons Houso of Parliament

      Old Guards _jf ever there was a time when vigilance , caution , and perseverance was necessary , it is now _Havhig abandoned all pleasures , my every thought is absorbed in your cause and my every hour is devoted to the _reahsation of those principles b y _which alone that cause cau triumph . TOlo you are _workm" with your hands lam workins *; with my head ; and while you are in the rattle-box , _* _$£ * . h _^ _oaxi s or _« the workshop , with addled brains and di stracted _thoughts I am for

      thinking you . I think of you , and I think for yon , not more because I love your order than that I believe that every man bora into this world has been assi gned some duty to perform , and that all will one day have to give an account of their stewardshi p . The duty th a t h a s been assi gned to me or that from choice I have adopted , if man is bora with free wil l , is to "comfort and assist the weak hearted , to raise np themthatfall , " to develope the true pnuciplesof charity , and , if possible , to leave the world better _thau 1 found it

      OH Guards , cast your eyes back upon the difficulties against which you aud I have had to contend for the last seventeen years , dating from the period when I first entered Parliament as an Irish member , but assumed the ri g ht of representing the imperial mind ; aud think of the brutal persecution that I received from the Irish Liberal members , until atlength I was banished from my country , aud adopted by you . And when you think of those past times , aud of the persecutions to which our

      party has been subjected , and that in defiance ofall , wc are now worth the " bid" ofall , you will marvel at the past , and anticipate success . I have told your o ppress o rs , when plain John Campbell—now receiving fi v e thousand pounds a year of your money , for being an Irish Chancellor for twelve hoursdeclared that Chartism was dead , that where it was stricken down by the giant hand of tyranny it wo uld rem a in , and when it aga i n aroused , th a t it would march onward , but never would retreat .

      Old Guards , reflect for a moment that infants , only four years of age at that period , are now full-grown men ; and that they have boon trained from infancy in the cause in which you and I enlisted . This will inform you of our present strength , and will teach y o u the re a son w h y all now consider us worth bidding for . In the commencement we were hut a staff , now we are an army—and an unc o n q uer a bl e army , ifwe are but true to ourselves . And now to the point .

      Thc developement of the Labour Question is now revolutionising the wo r ld , for the mind of America itself is fixed tothe free-soil question , and the onl y fair solution of the Labour Question is , that " the labourer should be the first partaker of the fruits ofhis own industry , " an end that can never be accomp lished until he himself represents that industry ; for as self inte r est is the b a sis of hum a n a ction , the privileged classes—no matter to what order they belong—will never permit the poor unrepresented man to be other than a dependent slave , s o long a s b y class legislation the employers of

      labour can live upon their dependence . But now that thc time has arrived when our system o f government—or , rather , misrule—lias swallowed up all the proceeds of industry , constituting a patronage fund for those whose influence the Corn-Law League soug ht t o destroy by Free Tr a de , but which I have told you over and over again never could be destroyed except by Free Trade in representation . And if we are wise , watchful , _perse--eering , and resolute , that day is at hand , and not far distant ; and my princi p a l object in wr _itingtliisletter , is t o put y o u up o ny o urguard , as to be forewarned is to be forearmed .

      The middle classes—the veritable middle classes , th e sh o p keepers—who havo no patronage to dispense , and who are being eaten up w ith t axa tion , and destroyed by the poverty of vour order , have at length fraternised with - ¦ _** o you , and are ready to co-operate with you for the _accoinjilishmcut of the means by whieh alone you and they can arrive at the desired end . And , as oi yore , that portion of the

      Press representing , not the minds or feelings of the shopkeep ing class , hut the taste and vices o f th e g a y a nd di s s o lute , fear s lest vi r tue an d sobriety—emanating from well-requited industry—should destroy their trade 5 that portion ofthe Press would now make tho abandonment of the Chartist cause by Feargus O'Cosson , the keystone of this new political arch .

      Old Guards , I was firinl y convinced when this movement was originated , that that would be the primary object—if not of its promoters—of those who hoped to make merchandise of it ; and that I have not made a miscalculation you will discover from the article in last week ' s " Disjmtch , " w h erein I am pourtrayed politically and socially—politically , as regards the Charter ; " and socially , as regards the Laud Plan . You will find the jubilee with which my retirement from public life is announced , and the fond expectation of all the benefits of the Land Plan being yet realised by honest trustees .

      Old Guards , o ur life a ud s trugg les will , one day . constitute no short history ; and there is no task more necessary than that of comparing notes . If , then , you turn your mind to 1839 , when thc first Convention sat , and whose labours would have been- crowned with success but for the treachery of men who did uot belong to your order ; you will recollect that then the " Dispctch" was our bitterest enemy , and has continued so down to the present moment . You will recollect that it was tlie first

      _assailant—not of my integrity , but of the impracticability of the Land Plan . Its columns were open to Joshua _Hobsos , and correspondence , communicated from the editorial stool to the printer ' s devil , until , at leng th , the Gravelpit pauper has become Esquire by his industry , aud now the Plan surpasses all others ; but Peaegus O'Coxxon is the only man who cannot practically develope its national value .

      Now , let me ask you if anything could be more presumptuous or foolish than a peraon , sitting from morning till night on his editorial st o ol , and understanding as much about the Land as a p i g does of geometry , and yet undertaking to scan and criticise operations of "which be Las ne v er received any , the slig hte s t , know ledge , except from those wh o were aware that slander of me would meet "with , the best

      reception . Old Guards , I must call your attention to the _]> olitieal tactics of parties , and show you their mode of attack . The first assault is against anv princip le adopted b y the working classes , if its realisation is calculated to serve ± I _* dr order . The promoters and advocates of that princip le a re not ev e n w rthy o f comment until it has taken some hold of the public

      _mmd , aud then the "justice ofthe princip le is admitted-it is a GOOD CAUSE , but has fallen into b a d h a nds , and its adv o c a tes are de s i gnated interested ruffians . _jNow , marK the difference o f my tactics . In the-first Convention of 1839 , the "Dispatc h" andthe Press generally , _assaHcd thepiinciples of Chartism ; while the task of contending with fhe ruffians who songht to destroy it , when our exchequer becameenipty , was left to _me-and it was no easy task . The deserters , however , became

      To The Old Guards. Loved Aso Hoxotjke-O ...

      the pets of the Press ; they were lauded for their prudence then * shrewdness , and their sagacity ; the denunciation of the princip le was abandoned-its justice was admittedbut it bad FALLEN INTO _BAdSdS _^ and , while in the FELON'S DUNGEON * I had not onl y to contend against the vitul peratiou of the Press , but against the malignity ofthe "poor gentlemen" who , having for months

      seven exhausted our exchequer , receiving six guineas a week , were too proud to work , and too poor to live without labour ; they became provincial lecturers—professed to uphold the princi p les of the Charter , but denounced Feargds O'Coxxon for having stopped the supplies when he would no longer be a p a rty to a joggle ; and in the words o f the veteran patriot , Johx Kxight , of Oldham—the last words I ever heard from him

      — "The disappointed * poor gentlemen' then attempted to HURL ME TO DEATH ; " and this farce was attempted to be re-enacted by the last National Assembly , when their exchequer became empty : while it is my boast to say , that , from first to last , the -men-of your order stood nobly b y me , and enabled me to overcome the hostility of the Press , and the vengeance of tho disappointed . Dozens of papers were established to destroy the power of Feaegus _O'Connor and the "Northern

      Star , " and all were established b y the most violent professors of Chartism ; while none having arrived at the existence point were assailed by the Press . The " Dispatch" has ever been in the greatest ignorance of Chartist princi ples and their advocates ; and as if to show a resolution to remain in darkness , it still t a lks of thef . ve points of the PEOPLE'S

      CHARTER . Old Guards , I think I have shown you the political difficulties against which we have had to contend , and , I think , the value now attached to your co-operation , will prove the triump hant manner in which wo have beaten down all opposition . I have always told yon that Chartism was the means , and the cultivation ofthe Land by free l ab o u r , the end ; and the " Disp a tc h " now tell s you precisel y the same , but that I am not the person to carry out cither .

      Old Guards , I have often told you that when your p o litic a l a nd so c i a l principles were _establishedlikejQuiSTUsCixcixxATUsIwouldreturn to my plough ; while I now tell you that the foreshadowing of the future by the "Dispatch , " has confirmed me iu the resolution to still hold the helm of the Chartist vessel . The "Dispatch'' now tells you , that the subdivision of the land is the only means by which the

      country can be saved ; but , in the hope of arresting its progress , it would place the scheme inthe hands of honest , trafficking , jugg ling Trustees . The Free Traders , as I shall one day show you , use their every influence with the Government to prevent the legalisation of the Land Plan . It is the onl y pla n by whi c h the peop le can be elevated into a proper position , and it is the only p lan to which legalisation has ever been refused . Look to the

      railway jugg les , aud see the Parliamcntay opposition offered to any investi gation into that question , because all were afraid of all ; and then , see the manner in which the powerful can resist the making of laws for the benefit of the poor , and how , upon the other hand , they can violate laws—for instance , the Tex Hours Bill . Old Guards , the fault of every Government is , that when an evil is acknowledged , if it confers benefit upon an influential class , they are afraid to arrest its growth until compelled b y pressure , always forgetting the good old ad a ge , that " a stitch in time saves nine . " Now the great difficulty , nay , the only difficulty , against which you have to contend ,

      and with which Government will have to grapple , is the substitution of machinery f or m a nual labour without the enactment of laws to make it a national instead ofa class benefit . 1 told you in 183-5 , when I made my first Chartist t o ur I would not give you a farthing f o r the Charter to-morrow , if the Land was locked up , and the " Dispatc h " now repeats my s tereotyped words , that the fan- and just app lication of the Land , is the onl y means to destr o y illeg itimate competition , t o establish the fair standard of wages , to develope the national res o urces , andthcreby _establishalarge home market for our domestic produce , both iu goods a nd food , thus harmonising society , making the rich richer , and the poor rich .

      All other countries are now improving their machinery , and especially America , our greatest customer , and our Government , instead of making timely and prudent concessions , Avill withhold all alterations until the peop le , roused to madness , will seek to accomp lish b y f o rce what it was the duty ofthe Government to concede to justice . Old Guards , you were told that when one c h a nnel is close d a nother channel is o pened , but this rubbishing theo r y but tends to choke up so many foul channels , that at length they become flooded like sewers with nuisance , and

      the pestilence creates a malady ; butltell you , as * I have told you a thousand times , that the only healthy channel is the Land , and you and I must both rejoice that the "Dispatch , " representing a large amount ofthe mind of this country , has now come to that conclusion ; and the manufacturers will shortly be c o mpelled to adopt it as the means of securing a good home trade , with this sing le proviso , that they must first GET RID OF THE DEVIL , and then , perhaps they could turn ifc to class instead of national purposes . But fear not , Old Guards , I mi g ht have been wallowing in wealth ,

      participating in every p leasure , and living luxuriously , but I prefer frugality and a clear conscience to voluptuousness and haunting reflections , and the very desire to get rid of me onl y rivets the affections of the people more deep ly , and , with God s blessing and your help , I will beat down opposition and overpower all conspiracy . Aye , when I take a cause in hand , lam not easily diverted or frightened from my purpose , and neither the vituperation of the Press , the terror of the dungeon , the transport or the gallows , shall ever compel me to abandon the National Land Plan , or abandon a single point of the PEOPLE'S

      CHARTER . Let me ask you a single question . Did you ever know or hear of any movement in any country successfull y carried out , except that in which the working classes took part ? Your an s wer m ust be "Never ! " and will you , or can you , point out any change from which conquering Labour has derived any , the slightest , benefit ? Never ; as the mere triump h c onsi s ts in the transfer of power from the hands of one privileged class to those of another ; but as the

      ment a l labourer , the shop keeper , andthe manual labourer have now seen their common interest , and have been wedded together for one common object—namely , the most profitable developement of thenationalresources , and the fair and equitable distribution of the produce by a full , free , and f a ir representation in the Commons' House of Pa rliament—those whom God hasjoinedin this hol y union none shall d a re put a sunder , and I rejoice to think that I have performed a portion of the ceremony . , , . , Old Guards , although comparisons may be

      To The Old Guards. Loved Aso Hoxotjke-O ...

      odious , fair contrasts arc instructive ; and let me now contrast the political movements of Ireland with those of England . O'Coxxeli may be said to have commenced his agitation in 1812 , and to have continued it to 184 _G- —a period of _thirtylfour years . No monarch ever possessed more power . His power was in a great measure based upon the antagonism of the virtual Irish to the dominion of the conquerors' Church , and you are aware that , as in Scotland of old , and in England and in all other countries in the world , a people steadfa st t o their f a ith will be most ea s ily r a llied

      under the standard of that faith . Their enthusiasm , their courage , their devotion , and their patriotism was unrivalled and uneq u alled ; and during those thirty-four years will the nicest critic point out one sing le law that has been enacted for the benefit of that country ? while every glorious opportunity has been sacrificed for titles , honours , distinctions , emolument , and profit . Look at the beggarly set of representatives that now undertake to explain and leg islate for the mind of Ireland . Look at the dark cloud that has so long hung o ver her d e stini e s , now * to be dispelled by the

      ENDOWMENT OF THE CATHOLIC CLERGY , and the royal donation of . a thous and pounds _giveni _^ mthe ' Exchequer to clothe tne -naked , and feed the starving . Then see the different position of Eng land ; where Ministers that are , and Ministers that are to be , consider your power worth bidding for . And who raised it ? who prepared it for the day of auction ? "Was it the " Dispatch ? " Was it the "Times' ? " No . It was the RED CAT andthe " Northern Star" th a t prepared it , and the " Daily News" and the " Morning Advertiser " arc now faithfully developing it : and alth o ug h the RED CAT will cautiousl y watch the vermin , yet whatever the slander of the

      Press may be , it shall never make it an instrument in the hands of your enemies to arrest the progress of your triumph . And it is my greatest pride and boast to be able to say , the " Argus-eyed" Press , with the strongest " appetite and the greatest desire to ruin me , in order to ruin your cause , h a s never been able to charge mo with one dishonest , dishonourable , ungenerous , or ungentleman-like act . They hoped that , like Henry Hunt , your ingratitude would prem a tu r el y hurry me to the c old grave ; but the gratitude ofthe millions has extracted the sting of the venomous units , and 110 man has ever more ab un da nt ly partaken of popular gratitude and confidence than myself .

      Old Guards , as I never wish a sing le leaf to be p lucked from your laurels , and although the charge of ignorance is made the p lea for withholding your just ri g hts , I wish to prove to the world that we , the ignorant and muchreviled Chartists , have been in advance of all in p o liti c al , social , and financial knowledge . I h a ve alread y proved from the words of the "Dispatch , " and from the " Times , " th a t although in BAD HANDS , our political a nd social cause is good ; and now let me call your attention to the developement of our financial knowled ge from the following statistical table , published iu the " Morning Advertiser . " Hove it is : —

      THE STATE ASD PROSPECTS OF ENGLAND . Thc following arc extracts from a letter , entitled The Curse Removed , and addressed to tho manufacturers of Manchester , on tlio state and prospects ef England , by " a Citizen of Edinburgh , " ( just published by Mr . Effingham Wilson . ) The writer opens _irith this somewhat startling statement : — If you read this letter witli care , you are likely to discover , that with all your expenditure of time , money , and labour , your work is only begun—that

      almost noth i n g has as yet beon accomplished for manufactures—that a condition of things has now ensued , which will stop the increase of manufactories , and makes it doubtful if those establishments now existing can be maintained . You will farther discover that no desire , however urgent , on thc partof other nations , to possess themselves of your productions , nor any effort , however strenuous on your part , will enable you to comply with their demands * _, that an obstacle stands in the way which no existing project of legislation can remove or surmount .

      1 . —TUE PRESENT STATE OF ENGLAND . While the storm of revolution rages without , it is natural for us to congratulate ourselves on thc tranquillity that reigns within . While scarcely any other government in Europe has security for a day's existence , England is tranquil . All things continue as thoy were , and appear as if more firmly established than ever . Our insular situation in some measure guards us from the continental contagion . More , however , depends on the intelligence of the people —their habits of submission to the law—their hatred

      of violence—and a well-grounded conviction that public opinion is thc best reformer . England is abundantly supplied with every thing fitted to minister to the wants and comforts bf man . In physical science she stands pre-eminent among the nations . Before tlio introduction of railways it was calculated that lier power of production by machinery was equal to thc labour of six hundred millions of human beings , a power e q ua l to a lmo s t tho natural power of the whole population of the world .

      Iler coal mines are nearly inexhaustible , affording every facility for the working of this mighty agent . In addition to the advantages already enumerated there are others . Her capital is overflowing ; at no period of her previous history was it ever so abundant . The soil is well cultivated and productive throughout . Her ships cover every sea . Hor warehouses aro filled with every necessary and luxury of life . In short , there is no want of ' anything that can minister to human enjoyment . "Nor is tliere at the present moment any important obstruction in the way of trade . Money is plentiful , the funds high , the world nearly as open as ever , and her colonies as extensive . The price of provisions is low , and yet trade is languid . Multitudes of working men have nothing to do . Our manufactories arc not fully employed , and some of those in operation not profitably so .

      WnAT IS TO BE DONE _Wlin THE DEBT ? Men of thought and intelligence have long speculated on this subject . Mr . M'CuIloch wrote a treatiso to prove the justice and necessity of reducing the interest of the debt . Sir James Graham wrote a book to prove the justice and necessity of applying the sponge to the principal : in other words , he proposed to rob the national creditor of eight hundred millions sterling , by an Act of Parliament , after the example of Continental despots . The question at length will undoubtedly be raised , what is to be done with the debt . To this question only one repl y can be g i ven , and that is pav it . This can be done now -with greater facility than at any previous period sinco the war with Trance was concluded , and every year it remains unpaid the difficulty of paying it will increase . In fact , if not done soon , it never can be done peaceably—therefore pay it .

      THE rRISCiri . E OF "PATMENT . The charge now standing against the country is stated to be 803 millions . This is the amount as regards the pavment oftho interest ; but not as regards the payment of the principal . Our proposal 15 to lay a tax of 7 i per cent , on the capital debt of the nation , whether funded or unfunded , and to limit the capital on which the charge should bc made to £ 80 for every £ 100 of thc 3 per cents ., £ 85 on the 3 i and 3 * per cents , and £ 100 on the 5 per cents . or , in other words , to pay the whole debt at 7 * per cent , below the prices here fixed . It is necessary , whatever precise sum may be adopted as the basis , that distinct warning be previously given , otherwise

      the gentlemen on the Stock-Exchange would run up the 3 per cent , stock to £ 100 and then cry out robbery . The prices abo _* _w fixed are a fair valuation . In this proposal there is no breach of national faith : neither honour nor justice requires more--The amount to be provided for would be £ 658 , 432 , 04 o A tax of 7 i per cent , on this sum amounts to £ 49 , 332 , 470 , but instead of carrying this to the credit side of the account , it will simplify the matter by at once deducting it from the amount of the charge , as the easiest mode of collecting the tax , and thus fixing the claim of the pubh e cre d itor 4 9 , 332 , 470 Leaving £ 609 , 100 , 475 to he provided , for by the count' *} - at large .

      To The Old Guards. Loved Aso Hoxotjke-O ...

      TnA ., 1 x TnE _^ _" ' S AND MEANS . «»« S _* ° _x meot _t' » _s sum ; 'there can be no _injus'f _, f _™ there be any objection : to th ' _ohpplica-SSfflS F _^ y as yet undisposed : of that l _^^ _exdlan-irely "to - . _the- _^ t- _^ _l _^ _-Ki _^^ _nrioiia 38 _^ ' thp exact valu e of " this prb _*? _ei-tj ? can ?™ J _® _W - ? » ' bufc such »» _approbation to ™ 2 _l _§ _$% _^ , _? as will ' availfor . our'present P u n r n _^ _Mt ° _- Ie us to make the principle under-Ti _^^ P _^ , oscd to proEeed . _deSpas _^^ _ThfSSrtP _* _-frf P V > ro ? t 8 , _' , _^ ted ...... 150 , 000 , 000 _iStS'T and Lancaster ' 2 , 100 000 TXE ° _J _# _^ W-MC England 240 , 000 000 _JteSS _? _-W _^ _cKof Scotland 7 075 000 _I-SfS _^ J _* ° _. : _•* _# ** - of Ma _"d 11 , 250 , 000 A tH of l ( P £ L _' ° v _- _-if'lway property . 10 , 000 000 . -provided for was ,... . ; ... „ ..... 600 , 100 , 475

      - ¦ _**& * i . « f _^ _" - _* -i « rP - . _^ 09 , 124 , 525 _i-frtne adoption of this plan , the curse would be r 0 _^^ d : The people of this country yould once _r _a- _'K _& navd-a'A- Eden in which they might taste the pleasures of life—where they might _shut-thcir doors against the intrusion of poverty , and repose theniselve _£ in peace , Till some ; such plan be adopted , ev _Srfc ? _tteinpttO ; . remedy the evil will fail . _^ Tbe pcopl _^ _'cotmbt _subsist but by a revival _of-trade , ' an'd this revival of trade cannot be bbTained but by an incr ea s ed c on s um p tion o n the part o f the peo ple . Neither party can make the requisise movement . They are come to a dead lock . Every step they take only makes them worse , and as time advances the

      , evils that beset society will be augmented . Frauds and robberies will be multiplied . Men will take the funds where they can , to carry them out of the country . In the mean time , society is every day deteriorating . Very soon the fraction of hope which still exists may bc blasted , only to usher in the horrors of despair . From what is here said , it is not to be supposed that such changes will be effected in a day or a - year . The immense wealth of this country will sustain the government for a considerable time , if we can suppose it possible that the labourers will quietly and contentedly starve . We only say such i 3 the tendency of our present position , and sueh will sooner or later be tho result .

      I shall make but a short comment upon tlie above , but you will bear in mind that I have , more than once , anal ysed the sli g ht advantage that the working classes would derive from a reduction of ten millions a year , if tliey were not represented in the House of Commons ; but you will also bear in mind that I voted for every measure of Financial Keform ; that I never offered it the slig htest oppos i t i on in the House or out ofthe House ; but that I became disheartened with it as a substantive measure , when Mr . Cobden left its adoption to

      the CONVENIENCE OF THE MINISTER . I have frequentl y submitted a much more comprehensive , and a more just , scale of reduction , and a greater portion of which —nay , the p lum—is now advocated "by the able writer ofthe above analysis . In my table I put down the Church Property , or rather your property , monop o lised b y the Church , at eig ht millions a year , and which I showed , at thirty years ' purchase—althoug h it is worth forty years , being th e first ch a rge upon th e land—would fetch two hundred and forty millions , the very sum at which tho writer estimates it .

      Now , I will g ive y o u my Financial Reform table . I estimate the National Debt , exclusive of long annuities , at seven hundred and fifty millions . For every sixty pounds boiwwed , the State is paying one hundred pounds , that is because it was bankrupt when the debt was contracted . Sixty pounds now , with Free _Traded and the cheapness consequent upon machinery , would purchase much more th a n the hundred pounds would when it was lent ; and , therefore , as the St a te was bankrupt then and is bankrupt now , I would pay every fundholder twent y shilli n g s for every pound he lent , that is , sixty pounds for every hundred you aro presumed to owe ; that would reduce your debt to its legitimate standard—viz ., four huudrcdandfifty millions , and I would meet it thus : —

      Church property ( your property ) ... £ 240 , 000 , 000 Woods and Forests ( your property ) 150 , 000 , 000 Scotch Church property ( your property ) ... ... ... 8 , 000 , 000 Irish Church property ( your propertv ) _•• . •¦¦ •¦• 11 , 000 , 000 Poor Kates , £ 2 , 000 , 000 , at forty vears' purchase ... ... 80 , 000 , 000

      Total ... ... £ 430 , 000 , 000 The above sum would leave thirty-nine millions ov er a nd a bov e p a ying the Nation a l Debt , and now I will show you the National Saving . Interest on debt ... ... £ 27 , 000 , 000 Ex pe n se o f collection ( u nd e r the mark ) ... ... ... 3 , 000 , 000 Save to landlords and owners of property , as the present amount is over eight millions ... ... 0 , 000 , 000 Total ... ... - £ 30 , 000 , 000

      Thus the fundholder is placed in a better position than he would have heen when the money was lent ; the expense of collection is done away with ; tho landlords save six millions a year in poor rates , as you need have no poor miller a proper system ; and after the rep ayment of the whole National Debt , upon a fair and equitable principle , you would have a su r plu s o f thirt y-nine millions , or within a fract i on of what w o uld give fivo years' salary

      to every parson in the land , during whicli time he could prepare himself for a more useful , if not a more profitable , occupation . I would then p lace a property tax upon all real property . I would havo neither pensioners , placemen , idle paupers , soldiers , nor policemen , for England would be at peace with the world , and , if invaded , every hamlet would bc a sentry-box , and every occupant would be a volunteer : and to this conclusion we must come at

      last . Old Guards , I have now reminded you of the past and present , and have foreshadowed the future ; and " as the folly of to-day is the wisdom ofthe morrow" you will very shortly find the " Dispatch" adopting our Financial , as it has our Political and our Social , principles , and , before Parliament meets again , those who calculate upon my political burial will have to record my political resurrection . Ever your faithful and attached Friend , Feargus O'Connor .

      .7 . -.. ¦ . -:¦ ¦¦ .? - ¦ . *- - . '¦ ....

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      _Md National Trjdes' Joumaf..: ' '

      _ _MD NATIONAL _TRJDES' JOUMAf ..: ' '

      The Of The * ' ^Jrl-I 0 '618 London, Sat...

      * ' _^ _Jrl-i ' 618 LONDON , SATURDAY , AUGUST 2 U 849 . : _^)««™ _s 7 i __— - ____ ' * - w * v « . _.. , _**»»•»»«•¦ and Sixpence per QimrK ' r

      Mtiomi Haito ©Omimm

      _mtiomi HaiTO _© _omimm

      Hum..—At A Meeting Of The Shareholders A...

      Hum .. —At a meeting of the shareholders and members of this branch , in their rooms , Malt Shovel ,-North Church Side , Hull , to ho a r t h o report of the delegate , Mr . R . Jackson was unanimously called to the chair , when Mr . Oliver gave a general account ofthe proceedings of Conference , dwelling at great length on the general complaints ofthe several allottees , visited by himself , as well as their future prospects . Ho also informed us that tho crops at Snig ' s End did credit to thc allottees ,

      inasmuch as they were superior to any of their neighbours , and far surpassed those at Lowbands . A small sample of the wheat was handed round thc room , and much admired , especially the Egyptian Mummy wheat , being a great curiosity , On the motion of Mr . J . Peck , seconded by Henry Lavarich _, the thanks ofthe meeting were given to Mv . _Oiwev . It was particularly requested that all branches , "ffho have not yet forwarded their shaves ofthe levies for this delegation will do so as soon as possible , and not leave us in the unenviable- position ef last year , * g ™ g « ise upwards- _o £ £ 3 cutft £ the- sm c ,

      Hum..—At A Meeting Of The Shareholders A...

      io ?* * * " ™ * 8 T _™^ " _"™ rAt a meeting held August 10 h , M r ,. . William Ilaltiwell , of South Shields , the delegate to the late Conference attended , and gave an explanation of his report to tho Conference . The report given arose from a statement made to him in a private company , and he said he was misled by _such'statement ; this branch therefore exonerates Mr . William Halliwell from all blame . Leeds . —A meeting ; of members was held on Sunday afternoon , August 19 th , at tho Bazaar , when the f plldJ Y ihg officers' w e re elected : —Willliam Newton , ' ft &* retary .: Samuel Stone , John Gledhill ; auditors : ; --Charles Rayner , treasurer . r _^* It . was resol _vedi- _^ _j _' . -That the members of this ' uranch meet in t he _I _& ianr monthly , the first meeting to take p l a ce o ri the 2 nd of September . " - —All members of the : I < e ' e < ls _| _-branch-ai-e" earnestly requested to attend amectihgvintho .-Bazaar at two o ' clock , on Sunday I

      afternoon , September 2 nd , when business of great i m p ortance will-lie brought before the meeting . Brad % 'Kd ; ( ToRksniBB . )—A meeting of members was h ' _clffoii Sunday , August 19 th , at No . 13 , Hopestreet ; -when business of importance was brought before _inspecting . The meeting was adjourned to Sunday , August 26 .: Edinburg-h . —A meeting of members was held on Monday last in . the Jlall Society Close , Nether _^ bow , to take into consideration the prbceeding 8 / bf the Conference . Mr . Callum was called to ' the _-tobair . Aftercoiisidcrable discussion , it was _resolyjed to adopt _th-jinost efficient means to re-organis _& tn ' e ' branch , •" -anti get the : members to pay up . _sfThe _moeting _^ as adjourned tilLMonday , ScptemW _& ru _, ; _^^^ _Mre _^ _rh _^^ _im _4 _^ dto warn _thCiWhole of theMe _* ln * e _rspB'hether ilrarrears with _thMHldcal levies or not . ¦ *

      Capabilities Of Tiie Land. To Tub Editoi...

      CAPABILITIES OF TIIE LAND . TO TUB EDITOIJ OF THE _NORIUEUX STAR . Sir , —I have this year rented a small allotment of land , about twelve perches . For this I pay twenty shillings , or at the rate of £ 13 a-year , per acre . I took it for the purpose of making a few small experiments in agriculture , and for the good of my health in the evenings . But the soil being light and sandy , with gravel at twelve and eighteen inches from the surface , and no water convenient , some of my experiments have not succeeded as I could have wished . But , notwithstanding a partial failure of my potatoes , cabbages , and carrots , I have seen enough to convince me of the fruitfulness of the soil , and I shall never doubt a statement o f agricultural produce , however great the amount . 1 can believe thc assertion , that no one man can

      thoroughly cultivate one acre ot laud , and , that no man knows what an acre could be made to produce _, ln the " Cottage Gardener" there ia an account of au experiment withonions , and , by calculating , Itindthe weight per acre would be about eighteen tons . Mr . Sinclair obtained only between three and four tons per acre , but , _perh-. vps , there is a misprint in tlie figure . My experiment gives forty-four tons , and upwards , per acre . In the spring I transplanted the onions into a bed containing a quarter of a perch . There were six rows , a link ( or eight _inrhes ) apart , and the rows were twenty-six links long . I set the onions half a link apart in the rows , with the intention of pulling up every other one before they became large , but as the stalks were only small I let them remain . Three of the rows I set much too

      deep , so that somo of the onions rotted off , or did not thrive as well as the other three rows that were set on the surface with only the roots in the soil . These three rows became large onions , some of them foiir inches diameter . I have several times given thc bed a few cans of a brewing of soot , pigs' dung , _soapsuds , anu water ; and , perhaps , this kept oft ' tiie onion maggot that nearly destroyed an adjoining bed of young onions . One evening , last week , I laid "* the stems to expose the bulbs to the sun , and the appearance ofthe bed imidemo feel proud of my success , * but the next morning 1 found more than one row of my best onions gone ; tlie temptation had been too great for the passing plunderer . I have weig hed a middle-sized one from tlie three best rows , and I find the weight exactly eight ounces .

      I believe some of those that were stolen would have weighed near a pound . I think I shall be under the mark if I take eight ounces as the average weight of an onion in these three vows , and this will give one pound to the square link or iorty-four tons to tho acre ; and at four pounds a-penny would be worth about £ 100 . My experiment has been only on a small scale , but the resu l t woul d b e - iropovtionnl for any quantity of land , if a proportional amount of labour and liquid wore applied . I expect somo good parsnips , _mangel-wurtzel , beans , and sunflowers , for they are all thriving well . I would bo glad to change places with any man who has two acres , but who cannot get a living oil'it because his crops fail . The man who grumbles at his position , because his crops fail , mus _" t be an ignorant man , or

      an ungrateful , lazy rogue . As agriculture is the easiest- of things to learn , the ignorant man has no plea against failure ; while the lazy rogue ought to be whipped . Of the hundreds of Irish reapers who pass through the town in which I reside , I will be bold enough to say , thero is not one among them but would think himself too happy if ho had two or three acres of land , well secured , a cottage , and £ 20 or £ 30 to begin with . Their earnest gratitude to those who assist them under their sutt ' erings , or even speak a kind or sympathising word to them , is unmistakcablc , and shames thc Saxon blood . Mr . Editor , I am an enthusiast with regard to the land , and ask for nothing more than to be placed on two acres of land , with a cott a ge , and a few pounds to maintain mc till the crops ate ready . However bad

      thc season , I am sure I could keep myself well and pay a large rent , besides practising many easy and profitable experiments in agriculture . To be free from the bondage of an employer , to bc on two acres of land , is restoring a man in some degree to his natural position—proud of himself as a man . The idea of five persons not being able to get a good living off two acre ? , even in the worst season , is so contrary to authentic facts respecting the fertility of the soil , that it might be laughed at as ridiculous , but that it is used as a bugbear to keep the people in thoir present position—dependent on others for food . The cultivator of a neighbouring garden , of the same size as mine , tells me that his . little patch yields potatoes , vegetables , and fruit , sufficient for himself and family . I have carefully examined Cobbet's statement , that a cow can bc kept on a quarter

      of an acre of land , and I find he has asserted nothing but what can he easily done , especially if mangelwurtzi'l be grown instead of Swede turnips , If a similar statement were made with regard to the keeping of pigs , I think it would be useful . Tiiose who could givethi 3 and other information , are afraid to do so , lest they should enlighten us about our own interests . Full of wordy philanthropy , they extol the small allotment system , while they deprecate the idea ofa working man having two or three acres , because of its insufficiency ; and yet , to encourage him in cultivating a few perches , they give statements of the large amount of produce obtained from small gardens , when well laboured and skiltully planted ; thus disproving their own assertions with regard to thc two or three acres . Yours respectfully , Doncaster . _Edivarp _Waj-dikcto '* *' .

      Chalttebville. An Address T O Th E Me Mb...

      CHAltTEBVILLE . AN ADDRESS T O TH E ME MB ERS OF TUB NATIONAL LAND _GOMl'ANY . _BnoniERS , —In lay ing before you the following acts of gross and illegal injustice to which we have been subjected , we would apologise for soliciting your aid at such a time , when the calls of Immunity are so numerous upon your purses , but the dem a nd s for equity and right are so urgent for the present , and ominous for our future welfare—politically and socially—that we cannot refrain . It would appear that before the mortar was dry that set the foundation stones of our "happy homes , " the well-known Whig tactic " of ruining us by expenses or taxes '" was put in motion by certain gcntlemcn-farincra of this place , the result of which has been that wo are saddled with nearly one-third of the parish rates , although our estate comprises but about a tithe thereof ; that our poundage fov rates is much beyond our rent-charge ;

      1 besides which there are such monstrous irregularities in the valuation of different fields , some of the poorest land being estimated considerably above the best , for which we are rated at nearly £ 3 per acre . These gentlemen-farmers arc not rated at £ 1 per acre , for , in most in *< tanccs , much better soil . These reasonable complaints we laid before them at our vestry meeting , but to no effect . AVe legally elected one of our members as an overseer , with the very laudable object of gaining redress , and looking to the interests of the poor , but the magistrates , at their representation , illegally annulled the decision of the vestry , and put in power one of those gentlemen-farmers , who , although thus dubbed overseer , is not so in fact . We also chose a churchwarden , but were again set aside , contrary to law . Brothers , in effecting this injustice these gentlemen-farmers have outstepped the bounds of prudence most disgracefully , by imputing " dishonest motives ; i raising prejudice on account of our political opi-

      Chalttebville. An Address T O Th E Me Mb...

      _dMain _^** iften _^^ _^^ _Sm _« ht _^ paji _** apt _<&; bu _£ to be _tiius'toominioMfctftm _^^ the nve _^ -o _^ iBcat _*^ iw _^ ry : ; 6 iiHli never' be _? CTi _»^ e ( i . " * We _avedeter * i * -rtii 6 il _5-- ' B ' rftf ' hi » iS .. _„ ¦ _* . ) . _„_ * r . i _"* lai _*; i- - i _^ :. 'a _* . '

      aid , _'toruniatiltfi _jg _& free _ouwelves _^ _rbirsubli unjust . _shackteg _^ iTho Vcn dean war hast ah _' _-cadjr began on thetfirt of these gentlemen-farmers , " ana wo are entaillbg -expoiises ; that will _deiian-itha ; resppnso of men , who abhor tyranny , ' whether local _j Or , _* . national , and 'desire to see . these noblo-inoiiu _* , * m (* hts'bf co-operation the abodo of happy " freemen *; _>; . * -Signed ou behalf of the mooting , : * _•*'" _^¦ v- _vV : ' . ' ' ' :: ' '' Georob Bubb , _Chairmani * f _^ Subscriptions _^ ill' be received by Mr . Win . " Srhit l ij 25 ; Brizeriorton-road , Charterville . " l _* ost _« _office / order *"* made payable-to him at Witney . > " _, ! ' . ' . _' , . — -rr;— . ' . "' _.: ¦ ' ¦¦ ¦¦ » ¦¦ ' * _** ¦ "'Clinch U ; _tUe r nani 8 of the ucting overseer .

      Ar00104

      '' . - ' \'- U 6rpbnnorville. V^-N Ib Kd...

      '' . _- ' _\' - 6 rpbNNORVILLE . v _^ -n _iB _KDIT 0 R . 0 F THE NORTHER !* STAR . Dhir'Sir , —Haying seen an article in last week ' s -star , headed «" . A visit . to O'Connorville , " of whose composition - *! am perfectly aware of , from _proceed-WP-tfiCTi- _^ 0 _** . ' _^? _SW »'' _fW _? _f '' _f" _'* _--- _« _-S-Mpt- themselves of the _^ J ? * ? . ?? _- _^^^ _h' _^*' - _***» mall _* y _& ¦ _*• _* ¦ honi are awara . _9 * . *? _.- ? _3 ! rtM _^ I have laboured ; under , _sinpcvrejnding- here , from many causes , which are a"di _^ _coiftf the- writer of that article , arid _OtherscoMfteied with it ; who it appeara write what they aro _^ _hatt'a' : to . put their names too . ( They went a _*^* _Rqjj'iJ 5 jdisguatcd with the school grounds .- ) . It _^ s a _wau _>^ ovrn fact , stated by our great chief , that the _^ _Ij _^ ound belonging to tho _sehool-housa is „ the _^ m _^ S |» n . the . estate , and from want of _draihajre _. iE _' _r-ra'S _' - _uh'ler _waterthnntrh at . inrfino- unnn

      , a lii &; _* a * i | _U _? t £ ie _^ la ' t _* fer end of May ; and from the bail _tfay'iti . _;*'*^^^^ its containing so nadh _'bf'tft _^< SJU _!^^ having been a _coppiceilitiu _^ _-yiMeSted with wood weeds , roots , _RWd _^^ 9 ' - ' fdr _»^^ ttoh , _graBS , die ., that it will take _UOt _^ m _^ _Jgmfc _^ ftOunt of labour , but it wants a W _* r | _e- ; _-amoJint . oi . ' o _§ * p ital laid out to bring it into cul-$ i _^ _g _< yi _^ rM _? _. _" ¦ y , ° i ) inion onl y * but ' _•* ae _|& _M- ** p _^ wc' * _Amen who have seen it . For mora l MH _*^ _rt _^' arts '" oii ' t > . of eight it is nothing more than _"M _$$ jj _^ i % Y _*' _'Hy ' % * _- ' | oil- _whichgoes down above , _*^ _fei _* it _;^ f _&^ thfe- ' s p r i ng of 18 I s _^ aded ' a quarter of an " aero * of

      tne oesc oi tne land lor a kitchen garden , and manured it with lime and salt , and in the autumn with the refuse from the kitchen and water-closet , in which I planted a fine sort of cabbage , but was nofc able to cut any until the beginning of July . I sowed this spring half a pound of onion seed in drills ( ten large beds ) and shall not get a peck from the * whole . Last year I sowed half an acre of wheat , and a quarter of barley , from which I did not getmuch more than the * seed , whicli was of a very poor quality . And this spring , from having no school , and a sick house , and only a trifle per week coming in from private teaching at gentlemen ' s houses in the neighbourhood , and from executing some penand-ink views of seats in the neighbourhood , to support six children , myself and wife , of which children

      tne oldest is only seven years , consequently cannot bring anything in ; and myself not one of the most robust . But the hist few weeks , from visitors coming down and taking refreshments at the school house , and from my supplying them with hot water , and preparing anything they might bring witli them , has made things a littlebetter with me , and 1 had begun to paw * tho turf to burn , so I niight bo able to get the land to bear the next season ; but from a species of jealousy , on account of the Whittiugton and Cat Club having wrote to me lo provide refreshments , which 1 accordingly did , tho day f ollowing a meeting was got up to memorialise thc Conference for my immediate discharge , by bringing

      charges at that meeting which they could not substantiate , and which 1 met , though I know not of any charges being about to bo brought against me , nor even ofthe meeting , until it took place , and they were obliged to expunge them from that memorial , so that they sent the memorial void of charges . I sentiny defence to that Conference . Trusting your readers will see that 1 am compelled to make theso statements , wliich is a thing 1 would rather havo loft alone , but when a man's character is at stake it behoves him to justify himself when truth is on his side , I am ) dear sir , Your obedient servant , Daniel Chaves .

      P . S . If your readers would wish to havo the memorial to read , I will give you a copy ibr insertion , together with my reply . * ' D . S . O'Connorville School , August 13 th , 1349 .

      Tue Trustees Of The National Cooperative...

      TUE TRUSTEES OF THE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE BENEFIT SOC 1 KTY TO TUB MEMBERS . Gkntleuex , —Being men of unp ' resuming habits ' , wc have no desire to appear iu the public prints , but as Messrs . Clark aud M'Grath appear determined to occupy the columns ofthe Star , to the exclusion of more valuable matter , wo have no alternative but to gi ve a brief re p ly to their very long statement , at the same time protesting against the Chartist body or the public iu general , having anything whatever to do with the matter . We also state that this is tho only communication we shall make through the medium of the public press , our method will be to address the members only by

      circular . On the appearance of tho statement put forth by Mr . Stallwood of the above society , Messrs . Clark and M'Grath called together thc members residing in London . Thc result was the appointment of us as Auditors and Trustees . AVe met ; minutely went through the accounts ; our first statement did nob give satisfaction to Messrs . Clark and M'Grath—( for Doyle ' s name had only been used , he having had no hand in the matter ) , and wc were requested _, to meet again ami give _sv more detailed account . That account we laid before the members in

      Loudon , and published in the Star . We are of opinion that nothing less than the annihilation of Mr . Stallwood would satisfy these gentlemen , who were never appointed Directors by the members , but only solicited to bc so by Mr . Stallwood at its commencement . It will also be remembered that two or three of those ( so-called ) Directors , never contributed one farthing to the funds of the Society . Thomas Clark paid sufficient to constitute him a member , and shortly after claimed and received £ 10 on account of his wife's death ; receiving the money in August , ISIS , and has not contributed one farthing since .

      We , the Trustees , think that the so-called Directors are useless , they having business enough on hand as Directors of the National Land Company , as Directors of a National Freehold Benefit Society , as candidates for seats in _rai'liamciit , Ac . , * and we thought it unnecessary to submit any more of the transactions of this Society to their inspections . Messrs . Clark and M'Grath comment upon tha char-jo for office rents ; they know it is discontinued , if thuir revengeful feelings would allow them to state the truth .

      They say in another paragraph , that this passage from the ' report of the Trustees is valuable , as showing in . what a pretty state the books of tho Society have been kept . Wo can only reiterate , that w e found the books of tlie Society correct—so far as thc General Secretary was concerned , but we cannot make liiiu responsible for the neglect of local agents , we leave that for members themselves . We , the Trustees , have investigated the affairs of thc Society fearlessly . Our report is before youon that report we called upon you to act . lou havo acted . All the _agents ( with two exceptions only ) , their returns to the

      have at the present time sent in General Secretary . ln conclusion , we again call on all friends favourable to the National Co-operative Benefit Society , to .-strengthen the Society by the addition of youugand healthy members ; and _' if Messrs . Clark , Doyle , and M'Grath are anxious to form a Society , they can do so , and those who think fit , will , o _^ course , join it . For ourselves , wc shall adhere to thc original , as we do not consider them at all identified with the National Co-operative Benefit Society , of whieh we have tho honour to be the Trustees .

      ( Signed ) James Gbassuy , William Shut ** , James _Puauci * .

      &Lt;Et)Arttet Sittfllto-Enre

      < Et ) Arttet _Sittfllto-enre

      Ilfdpensrield.—On Sunday Last A Democrat...

      _IlfDPEnsriELD . —On Sunday last a democratic camp meeting was addressed by thc old veteran Benjamin Rushton , of Halifax , and Christopher Shackleton , of Quccnshcad . It was also announced that a meeting would shortly be held in this town for . the purpose of sympathising with the brave ami patriotic Hungarians in tlieir struggle for national independence . National Victim Committek ; — At a _uu-otiug held at 144 , Ui « h Holborn , on Thursday evening , Au- * -. 23 rd , Mr . T . Brown in the chair , Messrs . E . Stallwood and J . M'Veigh , auditors , brought lorward tho balance sheet , extending over a period ot seventeen weeks—viz ., from the 5 th ot April to the _QVT Vll * _. _*** 1 *< v \ 'b > _u » - T . — I

      * * 20 th of Julv , 1849 . The sheet shewed that , during that period * thc receipts had amounted to one hundred and three pounds nine shillings and one penny , and tho expenditure to oue huudreit aud two pounds _eighteen shillings and one penny ; divided amongst thirty families of victims , consisting of thirty grown persons and seventy children . The committee was anxious that thc receipts and expenditure should be published , so that the Chartist friends might be stimulated to renewed exertions ou behalf of the bereaved families of our Chartist victims , and , accordingly , passed a resolution , _requestinsr Mr . Stallwood to write a paragraph for insertion in tho people ' s * organ—the . tionhem Sto . i \

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 25, 1849, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_25081849/page/1/