Star. — London, England, 1817-08-22 00:00:00

posed to him; nay more, while this arrangement of Society shall continue, the best parts, the only va luable parts of Christianity, can never be brought into action; you may as well attempt to unite oil and water; individualised man, and all that is truly valeit'ile in Christianity, are so separated as to be utterly incapable of union through all eternity. Those who art interested for the univet sal adoption of Chris tianity, let them endeavour to understand this, and discover that ...Inch for nearly two thousand years has rendered it impossible to unite their theory with the pr 4ettce t the world. Thirdly, I admit that to purchase a cottage, and let it to a labourer. with land sufficient to support an industrious family, wnula do much to relieve and improve society ; but when all the details of such ar rangements shall be known, it will be found very dif- Ezidi executi 111 l very expensive, and very defec. tin in all the results which are now required to re moralize and improve the working classes; as we advance in this interesting enquiry, it will be disco vered that a limited knowledge only of our physical and intellectual powers, could induce any parties to recommend this mode in preference to united labour, expenditure, and instruction, in conformity to a prac tLal plait suggested I2q years ago by John Bellers, in complete unison with the soundest principles of political economy. Let us now contrast this plan, only somewhat enlarged, with the separate indivi dualized cottage system, which is beyond all compa. ristm the b st that the existing arrangements of so ciety mai offers. In the first place, under the Cottage system, there miust be a separate dwelling, and all the usual sp. pendages for each family, which will be at first strati, name expensive, and far more incomplete than the arrangement proposed in the plans lately submitted to the public ; and all the domestic labour to produce usual comfort, would be double at. least. In the second place, one half mote land would be required to feed the parties on the Cottage system, than on the new plan; and of course one half mote labour would be necessary in cultivation. In the third place, the Cottage system would not admit, without great exyense and inconvenience, of an cf. fictive system to well train and instruct the children of such parents whom we ouw find profoundly ignoe rant under that system. Under the new, the best possible arrangements are maJe not only to prevent the acquirement of bad habits, but to give them good ones, and the soundest and hest instruction ; and all this will be given snore under the eye of their parents, than many way this important object can be now attained ; .except undet constant family tuition, and this in many re• pects will be found greatly interior to it. Fourthly—ln 'lie fourth place, the Cottage sys. te rn offers no obvious ad•antageous mode to employ their enildren, M./ as to render them afterwards either so valuable to themselves, to their neighbours, or to their country, as the plan proposed. Under the cottage system they become stupid, ignorant, and brutally selfish. In the plan now advocated, they will be made lively, intelligent, and rationally sel fisli—tliat is, truly disinterested and benevolent. Under the cottage system the parents are subjected to all the restraints to which ignorance and brutal selfishness must ever be liable; unsles.the Whet now proposed, such injurious restraints may be gradually withdrawn, and in the second generation, punish. meta fit every kind *ill not only be unnecessary, but the 1e;ib..17 why punishment is pernicious will be evi• dent to all. Under this system, kindness, properly directed, will easily and shortly accompli.h that which punishment, if permitted to try its power, could sot effect through all the ages of time. For punishment is the instrument of ignorance and bar barism only. While the working classes shall remain inilividua- 11 reed, the World will be liable to famine from mita vourable seusons. It never can be the interest of the growers of hood, on this system, to raise more than sufficient for the consumption of the year in an ave rage season = and the cottage system will be subject also to this evil. The new arram;enlents will readily admit of granaries, and to have .-.iways on hand at Ilan twelve months stock for each village, in readi ness to prevent the melancholy of of a season of scarcity. The new villages would combine within them all the advantages of the largest town, without one of its innumerable evils and inconveniencies; and with ail the benefits of the country, without any off she numerous disadvantages that tecludedresidences now present. In fact, the entire labour of the country, by the prOposecrarrangements would be directed under all the advantages that science and experience could give, while now it is wasted in the most useless efforts, and generally exerted under the grossest ig norance. This difference in the application of human powers would soon produce as advantageous result In favour of the new system, far weeding the an imal amount in value of all the taxes and Govern- Moot expenditure. But who is yet prepareff to under. staid this kind of political arithmetic cottage system renders each individual of every falsely subject to those evils which ail Lav e witnessed add experienced, or are hOnrly liable to ex perience—the husband, suddenly deprived of his wife, the wile of her husband—parents bereft of their cbil-1 deem, children deprived of their parents. The ties of endemusent are separated in a moment, and, un der your existMg system, what remains to the survi vors ? A wreck and desolation of all that before made life desirable ; often anguish not to be described or imagii.ed, for the irreparable loss of the only loved object in existence ; no friend remaining that feels, or can feel, one particle of intetest in all those name less associations which had been formed by and with the departed object ; and at die same time liable to annul , poverty, and every kind nt oppression, and no one inclin.d to help or to relieve. AU are indivi dualieJ, cold, and forbidding, each being compelled to take one hundred fold more care of himself than would be otherwise necessary ; because the ignorance of society has placed him in direct opposition to the thousands mound him. Under theyropused system, what a reverse will take place in practice when any of these dispensations of life occur. In these happy villages of unity and mutual co-operation, when dos. ease or death AbVIIIS their victim, every aid is near; all the assistance that skill, kindness, and sincere affection can invent, aided by every convenience and comfort, are at hand. The intelligent resigned suf- , CM waits the result with cheerful patience, and, thus most effectually parries every assault of disease, when unaccompanied by his fell companion, death t and, when death attacks him, he submits to a con queror whom he knew from childhood was irresistible, and whom for of moment he never feared ! He is gone ! The survivors lose an intelligent, a sincere, and a truly-valued friend; a beloved child; they feel their loss, and human nature ever must regret it;— but the survivors were not unprepared, or unprovid. ed, for this natural event. They have, it is true, lost one endeared and beloved object; and endeared and beloved in proportion as it was intelligent and excel lent; but they have consolation in the certain know ledge, that within their own immediate circle, within an easy and pleasant walk of five minutes, they have many, many others remaining ; and around them on all sides, As far as the eye can reach, or imagination extend, thousands on thousands, in strict, intimate, and close union, are ready and willing to offer them , aid and consolation. No orphan left without protec tors ; no insult or oppression can take place, nor any evil result whatever, beyond the loss of one endeared friend or object from among thousands who remain, dear to us as ourselves. Here may it be truly said, 0 death, where is thy sting ? 0 grave, where is thy victory?" It may now be asked, ' If the new arrangements 'proposed really possess all the advantages that have been stated, why have they not been adopted in universal practice, during all the ages which have passed ?" Why should so many c?untless millions of oer fel -1 low -creatures, through each successive geseration, have been the victims of ignorance, of superstition, lot mental degradation, and of wretchedness? My friends, a more important gar:iron has never yet been put to the sons of men. Who can answer it ? who dart answer it, but with his life in his hand; a ready and willing victim to truth, and to the eman cipation of the world, from its long bondage of dis union, error, crime, and misery ? Behold that vic tim I On this day, in this hour, even now, shall those bonds be burst asunder, never more to re-unite while the world shall last. What the consequences of this daring deed shall be to myself. I am as indil• ferent about, as whether it shall rain or be fair to morrow. Whatever may be the consequences, I will now perform my duty to you, aad to die world; and should it be the last act of my life, I shall be well content, and know that I have lived for an im portant purpose. Then my friends, I tell you, that hitherto you have been prevented.from even knowing what happiness really is. solely in consequence of the errors. gross errors, that have been combined with the fundamental notions of every religion that has hitherto been taught to men. And, in consequence, they have made man•the most inconsistent, and the most miserable being in existence. By the errors of these systems, •he has been made a weak, imbecile animal ; a furious bigot and fanatic ; or a miserable hypocrite; and should these qualities be carried, not only into the projected village., but into Parake itself; a Paradise would me longer it found. In all the religions which have been hitherto forced un the minds of men ; deep, dangerous, and la-. mentable principles of disunion, division, and sepa• ration, have been fast entwined with all their funda mental notions; and the certain consequences have been, all the due offeets which religions isoksweities have, through all the past periods of the world, in flicted with such unrelenting stern severity, or mad and furious zeal therefore, my friends. you should carry with you, into these proposed villages of intended unity and unlimited mutual co-operation, one single particle of religious intolerance, or sectarian feelings of dlvi. won and separation—maniacs only would go there to look for harmony and happiness ; or elsrahiee, as long as such insane errors shall be found to exist I am not going to ask impossibilities from you—l know what you can do. and I know also what you MR ROI do. Consider again on what ground s eac h man ; • ha, full less real Ige nature know that I cannot think otherwise—that it is not in my power, of myself, to change the thoughts and ideas which appear to me to be true. Ignorance, bigotry, and superstition, may again, as they have so often done before, attempt to force belief against conviction —and thus carry the correct-minded, conscientious victim to the stake; or make a human being wretch edly insincere. 'l'herefore, unless the world is now prepared to dismiss all its erroneous religion, notions, and to feel the justice and necessity of publicly ac knowledging the most unlimited religious Ireedoen. it will be futile to erect villages of union sad mutual co-operation ; for it will be vain to look on this earth for inhabitants to occupy them, who can understand how to live in the bond of peace and unity ; or who can love their neighbour as tltemselves • whether be is Je w or Gentile= Mahminea or Paine s i lte; or Christian ; any religion that cre a tes one put of feeling short of this, is f a k e , and must prove a .curse to the whole human race And now, my friends, for such I will consider you to the last moment of my existence, although each of you were now armed for my immediate destruc tion—such, my friends, and no other, is the change that must take place in your hearts and minds, and all your cunduct, before you can enter into these abodes of peace and harmony; you must be attired id proper garments before you can partake of all the comforts and blessings with which they will abound. Such are my thoughts and conclusions, and I know that you will hereafter ponder them well in your minds, and truth will prevail When you shall be thus prepared, if life be spared to me, I will be , ready to accompany you, and to as sist with all my power in every particular step that may be necessary to secure your immediate happi ness and future well being. Now, my friends, I am content that you call me l an infidel: that you esteem me the most worthless l and wicked . of all the human beings who have yet been born : still, however, even this will not make what I say one jut less true. No name can make falsehood truth. How can any name whatever make truth more true? Of what use, then, can names be, except to give a false cab dity to gross error I Nu one here is implicated in the slightest degree in these sentiments. Ido not wish to pledge any one beyond the most severs scrutiny and investigation, only to approve of what may appear practically be. neficial, and to reject all that may be proved wrong in principle, or any ways injurious in practice. The interest of those who govern has ever appeared to be, and under the present systems ever will appear to be, opposed to the interest of those whom they go. van. Law and taxation, as these are now necessa rily administered, are evils of the greatest magnitude; they are a curse to every part of society; but while man remains individualized they must continue, and both must unavoidably still increase in magnitude of evil. Under the system proposed, both these scourges of society will gradually diminish; and the diminu tion will be in exact proportion as men are made ra tional, moral, and intelligent. Each village will ul timately be governed by a committee of all its own members, from forty to fifty years of age; or should this number be too numerous, it may be corn posed of all from forty-five to fifty years of age; which would form a permanent, experienced, local govern ment, never opposed to, but always in closest union, with each individual governed. This Committee, through its oldest member, might communicate di rect with the Government, and the utmost harmony be thus establisbed.between the executive, the legis lature, and the people. No change whatever in our national institutions need take place for many years, except among the working classes; nor at any pe riod, until the benefits of the arrangements proposed shall become fully evident to all parties. Every great national change hitherto proposed, has rendered it necessary to sacrifice the interests of some p.trties, by which only, the proposers imagined, the welfare of the others could be attained. But, my friends, the im provement I new advocate will remove many evils from all, and not introduce one to any. The change contemplated has no tendency, even in the slightest degree, to remove those who enjoy any supposed ad vantages in eminent stations to which they leave at. tained. No one will envy those privileges, whatever they may be, and every hair of their heads will be securely guarded by the rapidly-improving condition of the great mass of the people. This gradual and well•prepared change now advocated has no tendency whatever to drag down from their stations those whom a course of events far far beyond their controul has placed there. It has solely for its object to raise from abject poverty, misery, and degradation, those whom similar circumstances have now sunk to the very depths of wretchedness. If the principles for which I contend be true, then there can be no per manent and beneficial change in human society that does not enable every one among the working classes to produce his owo subsistence, improve his bodily and mental powers, and secure to him the natural comforts of life; and which by his own labour, pro perly directed, will be found very easily attainable. I hastily notice these particulars, in order that you may understand that a mere change of saffertrs, whether de from out part of a class to antlser,frons one entire class to another—or from one nation to another—is no rowdy for She Feat and Increasing evils asiieh the world nem snfferr. But this is the dilemma to which the systems that have hitherto regulated the conduct of men has re duced them ; and while these principles shall be acted upon, a choir% of severe evils only lies before them. Every intelligent mind will comprehend, that w give the British population now, in its present state, greater freedom than the constitution has heretofore admitted, would put to hazard the safety of the State. The con tending and selfish passions of mankind, irritated, goaded and aggravated by the hitherto unperceived operation of the new and irresistible power of mecha nism—if let loose before ameliorating circumuances could be introduced, would expose all that is value. ble in the country to certain destruction. But not a moment should be lost in applying the proper reme dies to relieve the country, at the present alarming crisis. The plan proposed will effectually accom plisb this object, in a mariner most advantageous to each, and not injurious to any. The objections made against it proceed from a gross misconception cf each of its parts separately, and a total want of knowledge of its effects when combined. The poor will not be required to go into these •illages appropriated for them when they can do better, or to remain in them one hour longer than they wish. But I have no idea that these villages will be oc copied by the present poor only,' for they will be found to afford the most desirable arrangements for all the present surplus working population who can not procure a comfortable support in the present si tuations. I will, as I promised at the last meeting, give directions for a model to be made, and draw up the regulations necessary for the government and management of these villages, on the principles that have been stated, and on which alone they can be successfully conducted. t In the mean time, however, it is highly necessary I for the well being of society, that the whole of this important subject should be immediately submitted to a Committee, composed of the most intelligent, I scientific, and practically experienced individuals the country affords. A few of the most prominent names, from among all ranks and pa r ti es are selected—not 'I that many others equally entitled to this high trust might not be still named; but as it is proposed that power be given to the Committee to increase the num ber, they may be afterwards added. I will not now offer to the consideration and adop tion of this meeting the Resolutions which were read to the last. but not proceeded on to a vote on them. The discussions in a Committee will best prepare them for further consideration on a future day. He concluded by moving for the appointment of a Committee to report Ca the merits of the plan. In the delivery of his speech, Mr. Owia's observa tions in favour of liberty of conscience, and of the abuses of all existing religious establishments, were received with the loudest cheers. Mr. ?ALMCR next presented himself (or the purpose of seconding the Resolutions proposed by Mr. Owen. Mr. J. Rt.rr rose to order. The Meeting was an adjourned one, and therefore was to be considered a continuation of the former Meeting. He, therefore, submitted to the Chair, that the business could not commence ds noon—(hedr)—but must be first put in possession of the Resolutions of the former Meeting. The CIiAtRUAX said, undoubtedly this was an ad journment of a former Meeting, but it was not ne cessary to renew the discussion on Resolutions that were passed Mr. WAITIDIAN concurred in the opinion that the passed Resolutions of the list day ought not to be wilt discussed, but there were other Resolutions not then disposed of ; which it was now the tiUt, nt th e Meeting to renew the consideration Mr. HONE—As it was a quest'. nro Ord. r, .v that the Resoltrions of the former Mee•ii shott A lie first read. Mr. Rowettorr observed, that as he h.a,i de :tour, both snit xneet dly and unworthily to fid the Chair at the last Meeting, he was perk ses hes• en,. bled to submit a t.•i. statement of th preceed•nn •s they passed. C. main lieselutions were read i Mr. Owen to the Meeting. As was his duty, as Chaiini,n, he subsequently proceeded to put each reriaim to its decision. Four of these Resolutions were pe.sed That discussion, therefore, it could n• t h nee s< ry to renew. Tin re remained then of th Mr. Owen, sonic others, wl idi ni th e h• appeared too abstract for decision in Meeting. That those slisiusd he st itie•ra en he si,g. gested. N. O other motion Was made t, •e c'WV them, none, therefore, save that of withd.a.• ..• • m, Vas pet from the Chair. No renewal arty d•sentsi on them now could be necessary, is Mr. 0 I. • im. self had repressed a wish n•n to submit 0 e c • side retion of them at present to a pu'lic meeti n ; :id it would, therefore, be contrary to ail rho sue es of public deliberation, as it wild incoties •se witlt gocd sense and common sense in aut. • tt. r f resort to introduce a discussion upon them. Fur aft diary purpossa est expl toning tile viost of Mr. 0- r, they were before the ryes of evrry an in r. out (being inserted in the pointed papers de livered t ech individual as lie entered). Ile, had been citculati d through the country thr-iiqh the medium of the pub. lic press, and b: tare ih it time lied been reed by thousands. What ether end coalti r.e r. free,cr :o them now have, but to misapply t e ime • ti.e eting from more valuable eurposes r: • on tor reeding the form r Resoluttesses as then put cord negatived by a cornide r eble ej arty. Mr. PA [MLR. resumed. 'Though ht presented hint. self to that tesnectable Medina for tf e pur i ene of se. conding the mow n of Mr. Owen, he begged oat to be considered as the atift,Catt 4.f Mr. Oweit's system. The Resolution which the Meeting had then to con slate, was the propriety of noniMating a Comm nee, to be selected in the manner most likely to produce a cool, candid, and ictelligem 'etermi anon on the merits of that sy stem —(Ther heat) And he thought he might be allowed to assume, that when he related to the public ex, rtions of Mr. Owen, to the neweeried diligence with which that Gentleman devoted him. self to his benevolent pursui,, at the sa:ririce of time and labenr, and expense Mid sCudv, ti at such a man under such recemmendatient, and unli such claims en public attention, might at least hr ~flawed to pro. pose a Resolutien, havieg le r its object o'-t:; ng fur ther, than that tie scheme, of the justice a..J tt,rfttl• ness of which, he (Illr.o wen) was see Wily et...mem:et), might undergo a f sir and impartial ex (Hear, hear).—ln since of the leach, g leo c•plas of that system, he did not befit ye tisere could be a dis sentient opinion. As a peneral principle nii r: could deny that the best meaneof ext, udi, tall those blessing; which were intended by the CIILA 14a, to be enjoyed by his Creature, was to Masse 'lumen knowledge, to improve moral conduct, and secure the means of producing all those convenience's and supports necessary to human existence. Another principle to which he could Oresee no possible objec tion, was, that on the mind and manners of the to. ure generation would most certainly depend the enjoy ment of that freedom, to the preservation of which he believed no man was more attached than Mr. Owen. We would all agree, that well regulated public opinion was the fs untein of tiuble and that as laws were mouldeu by the ma'am of a nation, on the tone and character of the people them selves would mainly depend whether the laws were mild, wise, and beneficial. In fact that Was public virtue, which being grafted on private virtue, was best sustained by public opinion. In these leading principles, most men were inclined to acquiesce, but Mr. Owen has fully declared, that he can realize his virus into a practical and experimental system.— Without professing fully to understand the details of that system, he had a right to give Tor. Oe an credit that he would not throw away his valuable time on an unimportant object, and therefore he simply rose as the official organ of the Gentleman who wished to have the scheme ineestigated, to second the Resolu tion for the nomination of a Committee, to whose impartial examination this plan might be submitted. Major Tonarts said, that in rising to propose an Amendment to the Resolution of Mr. Owen, he begged to renew his declarations of not being me tutted by any hostile feeling to that Gentleman. It WAS impossible not to entertain for such a man the strongest feelings of kindness and respect. When we saw an individual, after a life of unweatied toil, unchecked by difficulty, and regardless of health and expense, persevering in the course he conceived the most beneficial, it was impossible not to feel ad miration and regard. It was a spectacle at which, without any overstrained hyperbole, Angels :night look with delight. He might indeed apply to him what was so justly said of the Philanthropic Howard, The Spirits of the Good who bend front high, Upon this scene of earth a partial eye; When first arrayed fn Virtue's purest robe, They saw our Howard traversing the globe, Mistook a Mortal for an Angel guest, And asked what Seraph step the earth impressed ! But though no man in that assembly was more dis. posed to respect the motives of Mr. Owen, lie must not compliment his system at the expense of sincerity. In the struggle between his feelings and his convic tion, he felt the difficulty of measuring his langnayee It was hard to deny him praise as a benevolent ma but it was still as difficult not to consider his plot P .- the proposal of a projecting politician. Since f:'t days of Plato, speculetists have offered themselves the consideration of the world with systems of else progressive perfectibility of the human mint'. Nor Wallace first announced this project to the moiler:' world, but the obstacle arising out of the ratio it which population increased, forced him to abandc's the delusion. Condorcet ape!ied Lis talents to propagation of a similar doctrine, and finding t principle of population as the objection most opprbed to his system, he suggested the power of counteract ing it by means not deceit oua to comment upan in 4 meeting composed (a number of Ledies being in room) as the present. Mr. Godwi n , th e a d voca te et that system, also Wes so pressed by the ohjectitni arising out of the tendency to a redundant poptel• non, proposed that the blegistrates.thoulJ ]sieve o,c man in existence has a lull right to the-enjoyment tg t o r the most unlimited liberty of conscience. I a not ,your relikou nor of any religio‘e4 in are" worm - I —to me they all appear united wi Nth es, 7.Tur very much Egr o , 1 to r am e inking thus ? those who pos- sess any real knowledge of human nature know that V. , th In te,j te r th e Pit, no t 120