The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-19 00:00:00

STOCKPORT, &c.

On Sunday the rioters assembled in various places in the
neighbourhood of Stockport. On Monday and Tuesday also
meetings were held, but all is peaceable, though every trade
is at a stand, and there does not appear much disposition to
resume work. No further disturbance of any moment has
taken place in any town adjoining Stockport. At one of the
meetings on Monday John Wright was called upon to pre-
side ;. and, after the deputation had stated the result of their
mission, a chartist, named Pilling, of Ashton-under-Lyne,
got up to address the meeting. After stating that the turn-
out had commenced at Stalybridge, in consequence of Messrs.
Bayley attempting.to reduce the wages of their work-people,
he said—l am the originator of this move, and I do not care
what I suffer, so that the point is carried. We began our
meetings at Ashton ; then at Stalybridge and Dukinfield i
and, if at the end, the cause is gained, I du not care if I
suffer within the walls of a prison. The manufacturers had
offered a reduction of 25 per cent., hut all except Mr. Bayley,
a corn-law repealer, withdrew the notice ; and the operatives
swore by the God of Heaven, that they would annihilate him
(Mr. Bayley) and the system, before they would work at the
wages offered. Here he related his proceedings at Ashton,
Oldham, &c., and continued—lf there be even, an honour
attached to a man, I claim the honour for this movement.
All labour is ceased ; and it is spreading like wildfire through
Cheshire, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire. I have
heard a person say, that you ,turned out for an advance of
wages ; but, I mean to.tell you, you did not. You were com-
pelled to leave work by the people of Ashton ; and, if you go
in again, the people of Ashton will visit you, and will again
make you leave off work, and give you a good hiding too. I
have been instrumental in making you all ladies and gentle-
men, and the day I did it was the proudest I ever had. This
movement shows to the aristocracy of the country that you
could annihilate them if you thought proper. You now kndw
your power ; and if you go in as lon came out, , eternal
e—n is your desert. The masters will cut, and slash, and
starveou if you lose : ah ! you had better have staid in, unless
y
you
felt
t boebjPeacnt.g s
ofD übrui nngg
etrh?e
al ansdt , summerg
oa nidn wbienftoerre,
twheieskt.i_menne aiexstydear, you will be labouring for six shillings per
and robbery at the
300,000 people
said' the people of
lie bad attended meetings, and addressed
since the strike. In referring to the attack
had not been led b
workhouse on the previous Thursday, he
telling them, that aIYI Ashton would never have gone in if they
olihers, You have deceived them by
liberated, whilst some
They swear by the God o 7
had been apprehended had been
were detained an sent to Chester.
they will not stand it. We
Ifthe
ent to Oldham, and there was
went to
that, if they come again
framt.
for,
we
eraarnsutrs do not give us the
no damage done there.
wages we are contending
and will have some-
thing to eat, wherever it comes
me yesterday, if we turn thieves and get At
1 a friend said to
into custody,
the soldiers would guard us and cook foran,hile we were
go to work, and the people
being tried ; and this would eat up, the system.
and catch
of Ashton
one-
thing, if you
will give you a d—d good thrashing :
you will 17"
After speaking a short time longer, in a similar strainhe "t
concluded, and the meeting afterwards separated.
On Tuesday three .men named Mortimer, Kershaw, and
Smith, were committed for trial on a charge of rioting, and

on Wednesday two others were committed for intimidating
parties with a •view to compel them to give up work. On
Wednesday evening another public meeting, at which at least
10,006 persons ivere present, a person in the meeting gave the
chairman a 'note. which he read to the meeting, and which
went on to say, it was expected that Mr. Scott, iron founder
would give them one thousand loads of potatoes.