AN, MEMOIRS and CORRESPONDENCE of JAMES ACLAND. Proprietor and Editor— written by Himself. " I LIKE HONESTY IN ALL PLACES.-—. Judge Llayley. Printed anti Published by JAMES ACLAND ( SOLE PROPRIETOR AND EDITOR; at the ERISTOI. IAN OFFICE, Bristolian Court, Bridewell Lane. VOL. IV— No. VII. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1830. [ PRICE I shall have the honor, in a few da^ s of originating a BRISTOL POLITICAL UNION, on the model of that of B I R MI KG HAM, and I hereby cordially invite all HONEST REFORMERS who desire to co- operate with me to such end, to forward me their names immediately. The object of the Political Unions now in course of formation throughout the Country, is, the Reform of all abuses in Church and State— the consequent amelioration of the People, and restoration of the British Consti- tution to its original purity. JAMES ACLAND. BIRMINGHAM POLITICAL UNION- TJre following are the Objects OF THE POLITICAL UNION. Isf.— To obtain by every just and legal means, such a Reform in the Commons'House of Parliament, as may ensure a real and effec- tual Representation of the Lower and Middle Classes of the People in that House. 2nd.— To enquire, consult, consider, and determine respecting the rights and liberties of the industrious classes, and respecting the legal means of securing those which remain nd. recovering those which are lost. 3id— To prepare Petitions, Aidresses, and Remonstrances to the Crown and the Legisla- tive Bodies, respecting the preservation and restoration of Public Rigfi/ s, and respecting the Repeal of Bad Laws and the Enactment of Good Laws. 4th.— To prevent and redress as far as practicable, all local public wrongs and oppres- sions, and ali iocai encroachments upon v rights, interests, and privileges of the com- munity. 5th.— To obtain the repeal of the Malt and the Beer Taxes ; and, in general, to obtain an alteration in the system of taxation, so as to cause it to press less severely upon the indus- trious classes of the community, and more equally upon the wealthy classes. 6th.— To obtain the reduction of each sepa- rate Tax and expence of the Government in the same degree as the legislative increase in the lalue of money, has increased their respec- ive values, and has reduced and is reducing the generalprices of labour throughout the country. 7th.— To promote peace, union, and con- cord, among all classes of his Majesty'ssubjects, and to guide and direct the public mind into uniform, peaceful, and legitimate operations ; instead of leaving it to waste its strength in loose, desultoty, and unconnected exertions, or to carve to its own objects, unguided, un- assisted, and uncontrolled. 8th.— To collect and organize the peaceful expression of the Public Opinion, so as to bring it to act upon the legislative functions in a just legal, and effectual way. 9: h.— To influence by every legal means the elections of members of Parliament, so a to promote the return of upright and capable representatives of the People. 10th — To adopt such measures as may be legal and necessary for the purpose of obtain- ing an effectual Parliamentary investigation into the situation of the country, - and into the cause cf its embarrassments and difficulties; with the view of relieving the National Dis- tress, of rendering justice to the injured as far as practicable, and of bringing to trial, any individuals in whatever station, who may be found to have acted from criminal or corrupt motives, The following are the Rules and Regulations of the Political Wnion. 1st.— The Constitution of this Society is essentially popular. It admits as equal metn » bers, ali persons whatever, whose names shall be registered in the Books of the Union, so long as they shall conform to the Rules and Regulations of the Union. 2nd.— The general management of the af. fairs of the Union is committed to a Political Council, chosen annually at the General 26 THE liRISTOLIAN Meeting of the Members of ths Union, arid: of di ffjrente shall be submitted to the general j Classes, to confirm the Constitutional Piirilrgtr subject only to the control of such annual or meetings. Other general meetings. 8th — The general meetings cbe- ose a Tie** 3rd.— All persons becoming members of surer and Ttustees, in whose hands the Funds tie Union, are expected to contribute such of the Society ar s dep sited, donations and annual or quarterly subscrip- j 9th.— The Political Council meet weekly, tions as thev can conveniently afford, the sub or as often as they m iy deem necessary ; at scriptiom not being less than Is. per quarter^ such meetings five of them a e competent to 4th.— A general annual meeting of the act; they keep a record of their proceedings, members of the Union takes place on the first and they appoint general meetings of the Monday in Jul;'. The members of the Union also meet whenever called together by order of the Political Council, or by a Requisition signed by the Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Political Council, and countersigned by the Secretary ; or by a Requisition signed by any seven of the Political Council, or by not less than 2fl0 Members of the Union. No general meeting can be held unless the Re- quisition is advertised in a Bit mingham news- paper, or otherwise is placarded in fifty streets of the Town. The Secretarv produces the books for inspection at all general meetings, 6th.— The general meetings ofTthememhers of the Union choose annually, on the first Monday in July, the Political Council of not less than' 36 individuals ; into whose hands the disposition and expenditure of the Funds of the Society, and the general management of its concerns for the ensuing " year are confided. 6th.— The Political Council cannot exist more than one year without being re- chosen by the general meetings. At the general meetings each individual is put in nomination separately, ( or in such way as the general jr. eetings may direct). and is declared a mem- ber of the council by the majority of members of the union present. The chairman decides on which side is the majority ; unless a divi. sion is demanded by fifty members present, in • which case a division takes place, and tellers, are appointed on each side.. 7th.— Theger. eral meetingschooseannually society as often as may become expedient. 10th,— The Political Council appoint a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman, a Secretary j Collectors of Contributions, and such other officers, either with or without salaries as may be found expedient. 11th.— The Council employ such solicitors and legal advisers as they may approve. 12th.— The Council employ the funds of the society solely in effecting the objects of the society, to the best of their judgment and discretion ; and no monev can be drawn from ihe Treasurer or Trustees, without an order passed by the Council and signed by five of its Members. 13th.— No part of the funds of the society can be expended in any objeet in which a member of the council is personallj interested, without the previous conspnt of two- thirds of the members of the council present at a meet- ing specially called for the purpose of consi- dering the subject. 14th.— The Council pay their own ex. pences. They hold no secret meetings. They have power to add to their number, and to dismiss from the general meetings any persons disturbing the peace, or violating the rules and regulations of the society. 15th — No alteration of or addition to the rules and regulations of the society can be adopted without being previously submitted to the council and recommended b\ a majority to a general meeting of tha society. 16th.— l'he subscriptions of noblemen and of the Aristocrat*, and to preserve every class of the community from the common anarchy which threatens all. The foilotting art the Dalits of the Members of the Politic- il Union. I st.— To be good, faithful, and loyal sub- jects of the K ng. 2nd.— To obey the La ws of the Land t and where they cease to prtoect the Right?, Li- berties, and Interests of the Community, ' o endeavour to get them changed by just, legal, and peaceful means, owtr. 3 d.— To present themselves at all general meetings of the Political Union, as far as they conveniently can ; to conduct themselves peaceably and legally at such meetings, and to depart to their respective homes as soon as the Chairman shall leave ihe chair. 4th.— To choose onlv just upright, and able men, as membe s of ihe Political Council, and ta dismiss them, and elect others in the'r stead, whenever they shall cease to watch over and defend, the Rights, Liberties, and^ Interests of the Lower and Middle Classes of the People. 5th.— To obey strictly all the just and legal directions oflhe Political Council, so soon as they shall be made public and so far as they can legally and conveniently be obeyed, 6th.— To bear in inind that the strength of our Society consists in the FKAOE, Order, Unity, & LEGALITY, of cur picceedings ; and to consider all persons as en mies who shall, in any way, invite or promote violence, dis- cord, or division, or any illegal or doubtful measures. 7th.— Never to forget that by the exet- ci[ e of the above qualities, we shall produce the peaceful display of an immense organized moral Spower, which cannot be despised or disregarded but that, it we do not keep three Auditors for the ensuing year, who gen lemcn are invited in support of the Po'i- clear of the innumerable and intricate Laws shall pass the accounts of the Council for such tical Unln, the objects of which being strictly which surround us, the Lawyer and the So'- year ; and in case two of such auditors shall' consei vatory, are calculated in restoring the dier will, probably, break in upon us, antli B © t. agree in passing the accounts, the subject just rights and interests of the Industrious render all our oxeitions vain. THE BRISTOLIAN 523 Tie fol/ ou ing are the Duties of tie Mtnfors of tht Political Count it. 1st.— To endeavor to the uimost of their power, to carrv into effect the objects of the Political Union by every jusr, legal, and peaceful means. 2nd.- To use none other than just, legal, and peaceful means* • Srd.— To seek no private objects of their ow n, and to use the funds of ihe Society solely in pi< moting the objects of ihe Society. 4th. — To w atch closely the ptoceedings Of the Legislature, end to present Petitions and Remt r; tranc^ s to the Cioun and Legislative Bodies, whenever the Rights, Libeities, and Intetests of tV e Lower and Mddle Clasfer, of the Community are invaded; or, when ever ihejjcall be restoted oi secured 5th — To endeavor to devise the means of preserving the peace and order of this Town and neighbourhood, duiing any Political con- vulsions which may be brought upon the country, thiot gh the disness occasioned by the mismanagement of public affairs. 6th.— To consider and report upon the le- gality and practicability of'hold: ng Centrical Meetings of Delegates from the:. Industrious Classes, in the same manner as similar kinds of Meetings weie late. y held by the Delegates of the Agriculturalists, assembled at Hender son's Hote'. 7th.— To consider the means of organ^ z: ng a system of operations, whereby the Public Puss may be influenced to act generally in support of the Pub ic Interests. 8th.— In all their proceedings to look chiefly to the recovety and preservation of the Rights and In'erests of the Lower and Middle Cla ses of the People, taking care, never to sanction any measures, which are calculated to circumscribe or endanger anv just rights or immunities of the piivileged orders. Political Union for the Protection of Public Rights. We respectfully submit them to our Fellow- Townsmen, for their sanction and support, and for st ch corrections and im- provements as thev may suggest. To THE EDUOR OF THE BRISTOLIAN Dear Sir, From your known hatred to Slavery, I take the liberty of et closing a Petition in favor of tbi poor Negroes, which I think will interest you, and am, Dear Sir, Y. ur obedient Serv& r.% A Lover of Justice These, then, are the views and objects, and these are the Rules, Regulations, and Provi iions, under which we propose lo form the To the Honorable the Commons of the U/ iiten Kingdom of Great Britain and Inland, in Parliament assembled. The respectful but earnest Petition of tht Congregation of Chris'ians usually assembling to hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ preached at BETIIESDA CHAPEL, in the City of Bristol, Shtweih, That your Petitioners aladly avail ihemsihef f the right, they, as Englishmen, possess, of • tppealing to your Honorable House in behalf ot hi ir enslave d, and ( which is the unavoidab'e consequence of the system of Slavery) debased fellow stbjecis, and fellow creatures now groan- ing ttnder its oppressive yoke in our Colonial dependencies. ' That we address your Honorable House with the feelings of MEW, who are sens ble that liberty of person, anil freedom of conscience, are the inalienable birth right of every human being. That neither King, Lords, or Commons, either separately, or cnlle cttvely, have any right, ( unless for an infraction t f appointed Laws,) to deprive man of these blessings ; and that wherever, and whet ever, that right is usurped, ( save as is before excepted,) it is an exercise e f despotic authority, and contrary to every fundamental ptinciple oi equi y and justice. That we also approach your Honorable House as BRITONS, heartily thankful to God for those invaluable privileges, Magna Charta, the Bill of Rights, and Trial by Jury, which are the corner stones of our Constitution, and which we are de- termiited, by every Constitutional means, un- ceasingly and undauntedly to defend ; remem- bering, at the same time, thai " the weapons of our warfare are not carnal." That deeply prizing these blessings for our- selves, it is our humble but ardent prayer, that your Honorable House will extend them to such of our fellow subjects, as are, as yet. out of the pale of their influence, or, at least, possess little more of them ' ban the name. And lastly, that we approach your Honorable House as professad Chris ians, who brlieve that t'God is Love,'* and that " he hath made < f one blood all the nations of the Earth ; '— thai, re- membering it is one of the commandments of the Lo: d Jesus Christ, whom your honorable IIOKSP, as well as ourselves, profess to acknowledge to be your Lord and Master, that, " whatsoever ye would that men shouM do to you, do ye even s> to them,''— and thoroughly convinced, that to neglect this precep% cannot now, and will not hereafter, be justified by any [ rinciple of e* pe_ dirncy, we humbly but firmly call upon your 1 lonorable I louse, lo wipe off1the direful disgrace which the acts of firmer Legislatures hnv « vamped upon this Country, by legalising a sys- tem of Slavery ;—- thus vir'nally placing the ft on the footing of Law,— authorising plunder, and stibstairia'. ing that most iniquitous axttim, via that might constitutes right.'' Tha » , therefore, we do, as Men, as English- " men, and ac Christian1, most respectfully, - b'tj most earnestly implore nay. as pleading in lh « « acred names of Jils'ice, Humanity, and Religion, we would presume to SHV, demand, res'itution of lights to the injured, compassion for tho'n tyrannically suffering, and the b'essings of Re- ligion freely and unrestrictedly to be dispense' 1 to our oppressed and enslaved fellow subjects throughout our Colonies, That we raise ejur v< ice to' your Honorable House, because the Colonists themselves, but)* at home and abroad, have unequivocally de- clared they never will consent to any meas& ef*' 28 THE BRISTOL! AH proposed, which would grant liberty to the cap- driver's whip to the flames and raise the debased live: and from the contumacious rijection by and prostrate Negro to the dignity of Man. some of the C lomal Assemblies in the Chartered And your Petitioners, & c. and Crown Colonies, of the Resolutions passed by your Honorable 11 . use in 1823, they appear jt { s requested that no person, signing unwilling even to lighten the burden. But it is this Petition, will put his name to any other, not the amelioration of Slavery, ( tho' thankful having th( mme ^ f/) ^ And that „„ to hear of its progress) for which your Petition- F( mak or Mak un( kr , g ^ of ^ ers would solicit, but THE IMMEDIATE AND si„ n this. UTTER ABOLITION of a system built upon fraud, rapine, and injustice ; pregnant with cruelty and To THE EDI FOR OF THE BRISTOLIAN vice, demoralizing to the Slave- holders as will as the Slave, and which most flourishes where the deadly night shade of brutal ignorance most prevails. That influenced by these solid principles and solemn views, we humbly trust your Honorable House will take this subject into your earliest, impartial, and mos: serious consideration— and that you will make such enactments as will prove you are willing to " do justly,'' and afford reason to believe you " love mercy." That on the subject of compensation, the only observation your Petitioners would presume to offer, is, that while we profess ourselves ready to bear our quotas, oppressively taxed as we al- ready are, of whatever sum your Honorable House may determine to be jus'ly due to the proprietors of human blood, we would solemnly protest against any part of that compensation lieirg demanded from the already injured Slave, by making him work out, and thus pay for, that freedom to which he was and is as justly entitled, a? any member of your Honorable House. To Frietid, If thy correspondent, who signs himself ' A Christian." is desirous of information on the subject of his Letter, which appeared in the Bristolian of Wednesday last, and will take the trouble of applying either to me, who is Secre- tary to the Cock. Road School Committe— or to P. D. Tuckeit, of Frenchay, the Treasurer— or to T. Sanders, Bridge- Parade, who is an active member of the Committee, he will obtain such an explanation of the subject of his Letter, as 1 think I may safely say, will satisfy him, if he is a reasonable man, as well as " A Christian." Thy inserting this Letter in thy next Paper, will oblige, JOSEPH FRY, Union- Street. To THE EDITOR OF THE BRISTOLIAN. Minor Theatre, Drawbridge, Sir, Your prompt and obliging attention to my formet communications, renders it an obligation the Slave, a heavy debt is due from both England i incumbent on me, to apprise you of the result and his owners. As the Legislature of this! of the proceedings on the adjourned hearing* Country have given a light which they were un-; before the Magistrates, of the last infornation filed authorised by God to bestow, it is from that, and not the Slave, the Slave- holder is to look fur re- muneration; whether he is entitled to it or not, your Petitioners presume not to offer any opinion. Although my friends and self were fully aware of the utter impracticability of obtaining a con- viction on the evidence adduced in support of this information, when contrasted with that brought forward on behalf ol the defence— yet, inasmuch as no grounds have been stated for the dismissal of the information, the question can by no means be considered as finally decided. I shall therefore content myself with briefly re- marking, that, let the proceedings be renewed whenever they may, my brother performers and myself will be prepared to justify, on legal prin- ciples, those humble representations which the Public of Bristol have been pleased to honor with their kind support. Onr performances have hitherto been almost exclusively restricted to trifling Dramatic Pieces, written for the purpose of representation at Fairs, but we in future hope to be enabled- to present our friends wiih a series of the productions of the London Minor Theatres^ I remember that when you kindly consented to appear as an evidence lor the defence againSj these informations, you expressed a dotibt as to the possibility of an acquittal in Bristol, what- ever might prove the result of a subsequent appeal to the Court of King's Bench ; but Sir, I remember heretofore, to have seen, in print, a statement of the indispensable requisites for en suring success in a Law proceeding;— these were, 1st, a good cause.— 2nd, a good Attorney. — 3rd, good Counsel.— 4th, good witnesses.— 5th and last, a good deal of money. The four precedent requisites we amply possessed, and a » o the 5th and last, the liberal support of the Public has supplied our deficiency— for although the greater portion of our Audience pay only 3( 1. each for admission, and our Theatre whrn completely filled in every part, will hold scarcely more than 200 persons yet the realization of the old proveib, " many a little makes a mickle,'' has hithetro enabled us to exert our strenuous i was appointed for Monday, 25 h cf October Bui we humbly and earnestly intreat, that no when, on attending at the Council House with consideration of expediency will prevent your my Attorney and Counsel, the sitting Magistrate, Honorable House from immediately adop. ing 1 Mr. Alderman Fripp, intimated to ns, that the Vjch legislative enactments as shall knock off the Magistrates having fullyconsidered the evidence i •- tiling fetters fiom Atric's Sons, consign the had determined to dismiss the information. against me, to recover = i penalty of .£ 50. under 10 Geo. 2nd, for actit g a part in a Melo- drame at this Tueatre. The adjourned hearing, as you are aware, j [ hnHgh humb| e effur„ for , he gralifica, jon 0f our kind patrons and fiiends. With thanks for your friendly attention, 1 remain, Sir, Your obliged humble Servants, GEORGE COOKE. i'liated and Published by JAMES ACLANB, ( SKI. E PROPRIETOR ITIS EDITOR) at the BXIITQUAN 3FKICK, BrisUliaa € « art, Bridewell Laae.