| Still almost daily we hear of Breaking Machines, and
Burning Stacks of Corn, Barns, &c. Some of you are
led to join in these things by persons who are unknown to you; these
persons pretend to be your Friends; they only urge you on, they
would have you believe, as a means of obtaining increase of Wages
and Employ. Be no longer deceived, the day will come when some unexpected
intervention of Providence, or the activity of Man, will unmask
these wretches, when their dark designs will be discovered to have
been, to create Confusion and Disorder, in the hope of benefitting
themselves by Plunder, or by overturning the established
Order of Things, and you will find too late, that you have been
the Dupes of their designs. If they, through your means ruin the
Farmer, it is perfectly clear he cannot employ you, and if you are
apprehended for a Breach of the Law, you will be left to suffer,
and your leaders will have Cunning enough to keep their own Necks
out of the Halter. Now as you cannot be acquainted with the length
to which the Arm of the Law can reach you, my friendly object is
to open your Eyes, that you may no longer be ignorant of the risk
you run. Learn then, that the Law says it is a crime even if a man
CONCEAL what he knows in these matters, although he never consented
to the commission of the Crime, and that he can only save himself
from the consequences, by discovering the Offence to a Magistrate,
with all the speed he can. Further the Law says, if a Man, though
not present when the Crime is committed, is discovered to have procured,
counselled (that is advised,) commanded, or abetted, (that is encouraged,
or backed another to commit it,) he is an Accessory before the fact,
and equally liable to Punishment. So again if several Persons set
out together, or in small Parties, upon one common Design for any
Purpose in itself unlawful, and each takes his part: some to commit
the Crime, others to watch at proper Distances, and Stations to
prevent surprise, or to favor the escape of those who are more immediately
engaged in it, they are all (in the Eye of the Law) punishable
for it. Follow then the example of those Fellow-Labourers, who have
respectfully applied to their Employers for increase of Wages, where
they have been too low, and who have obtained Redress. There can
be no doubt but those Farmers who have hitherto paid you too little,
will now see their Error, and be induced by public Opinion, to follow
the Example of those Farmers who pay you what is just for your Labour.
Follow this advice, given by a Stranger to you, who has only your,
and His Country's Interest at Heart, (he is no Farmer) turn your
backs upon your Enemies and Deceivers, pursue your Honest Industry,
and become once more worthy of being respected as MEN OF KENT. |
