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THE NORTH ERN STAR May 17 ' 1841.
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TO WILLIAM HILL.
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If I stood in need of a character, and w...
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CJailtst Intcntaiufc
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LONDON. Mr. Dotle delivered a very instr...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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. West Riding Of Yorkshire. Adjournment ...
TO THE HUSH gffigSJT ™* » Fomw ComtraVM * , —Kis after many , many an en treaty and solicitation I have at length been induced thns pnUidr toaddtessyoa . Theolgectofthepresentaodressistwo-fold—L By a plain , simple statement offsets and circumstances to remove from your minds any prejudices which may have been heretofore entertained against myself . 2 . To submit to your consideration the absolute neces ttty of your forming a cordial union with the working people of England amongst whom you reside , to the end
that your interests , which are mutual and identical , should be promoted ; that differences heretofore existing between Repeaters and Chartists should cease ; thatyou may bear with one another like Christians , or rather as Christians should do . I shall make no apology for thus , apparently , obtruding my advice and opinions upon you , my object being to do all the good iu my power by endeavouring to effect a reconciliation between parties whose interest it is to be , not only reconciled , but firmly united . You know that if a man thinks he can do good he is morally bound to make the effort
1 am aware that I shall stand in need of no ordinary share of that indulgence , for which you , my countrymen , are so justly celebrated . I know and feel that I have to encounter a great deal of prejudice , fostered by long and continuous misrepresentations and calumnies . It , therefore , is a duty I owe to you as well as to myself , to state distinctly , unequivocally , and without any quibble or subterfuge , " the head and front of that offending" which has excited jirejudice against me in the minds Of many whom 1 never saw , aud perhapsTiever shall see . I have been solicited repeatedly , both by letter and personally , to make the statement , which I shall now lay before you as briefly as possible . All I require at your hands is ample , unadulterated justice . In September , 1832 , a society was founded by Mr . O'Connell , which was called " The Political Union of Ireland , " of which I was a member . The ostensible objects of this society
were—1 . The dismissal of the Marquis of Anglesey , Secretary Stanley , and Attorney-General Blackburne . 2 . The total abolition of Tithe . 3 . The immediate Bepeal of the Union . 4 . To petition tlie House of Commons to exhibit articles of impeachment against the Marquis of Anglesey , Attorney-General Blackburne , and Mr . Secretary Stanley . 3 . To appoint in each parish in Ireland a committee of nine to procure signatures to petitions for these purposes . 6 . To collect subscriptions and receive donations for the purpose of carrying these objects into effect , 7 . Such collections to be called the " National Rent . " 8 . That Daniel O'Connell , Esq ., M . P ., John Power , Esq ., and Daniel lynch , Esq ., be appointed treasurers to "The National Bent " 9 . That each person paying one pound shall be enrolled a member of the "National Political Union . "
One of the first acts of this association was to pass a resolution , to which all Ireland , I may say , responded . It was as follows : — " That no candidates shall be supported at the ensuing general election but those who will pledge themselves to oppose any administration that will not make the Bepeal of the Union a Cabinet measure . " In the month of December following , the general election under the Reform Bill came on . A great many candidates took the pledge , and were returned . Several of whom took place afterwards from the pledged enemies of Bepeal . Some time prior to that general election a dispute arose between O'Gorman Mahon and Mr . O ' . Connell , of the merits of which the public knew nothing . However , an cpen rupture took place at the Clare election , O'Gorman Mahon having upon that occasion accused Mr . O'Connell of breach of faith in having given that support to Major Macnamara which he had promised to O'Gorman Malum : the result was that O'Gorman Mahon lost the election and Major Macaamara was returned .
Some short time after this the "National Political Union" was changed in one hour , and without any previous notice , into the "Society of Irish Volunteers . " The chairman who presided at the meeting of the "National Political Union" dissolved that body on the motion of Mr . O'ConnelL The chairman vacated , aud in five minutes afterwards the same gentleman Was , OH the motion of Mr . O'Connell , called upon t 6 i > resme as chairman of the " Society of the Volunteers of Ireland . " Several members were admitted , myself amongst the rest . The rules were read , and adopted . One of which was to theeffect , — « ' That if any member knew of anything derogatory to the character of another member , or of any one to be proposed , he was bound , on pain of expulsion , to make his objections known to the committee . " Now bear this rule in mind ; and also bear in mind
that the sole object of this rule , and of changing tlie society so suddenly and unprecedentodly , was with the view to destroy O'Gorman Mahon , whose popularity was becoming troublesome . None bnt the initiated were aware of the object . 1 did not understand it During the admission of members , O'Gorman Mahon entered the meeting and was loudly cheered . But when he essayed to speak , Mr . 0 'Counfcu . tose to order , and said that none but members had a right to speak ; whereupon O'Gorman Mahon produced his card as a member of the "National Political Union . " The chairman told him that there was no such society ; that the present was a meeting of the " Irish Volunteers . " O'Gorman Mahon then threw a purse of gold on the table , and called upon the secretary to take
his subscription out of it , which request was refused . He then ashed to see the rules , which was also refused , lie said he was a . member of the society that met there at three o ' clock that day , —the 3 rd of January , 1833 , —and it was not then five o ' clock ; and , standing up like a giant , he dared any man or set of men to put him down . To get rid of him the chairman was moved from tlie chair , and Mr . O'Connell jumped upon the table and commenced extinguishing the lights , declaring , at the top of his voice , that the lights were his ; the rooms were his ; thathepaid for both . The scene of confusion baffles description . The best account of this scene is in the . Freeman ' * Journal of the 4 th of January , ! £ » , and is well worth publishing even now . Such a scene never was witnessed , nor perhaps never will again . I
My opinion was that O'Gorman Mahon was badly treated—ill used—and I said so . This gave deep offence . Mind that In the county of Dublin , a short time before this occurred , lord Itrabazon was branded as " a liar" by Mr . O'CounelL 1 did not know that Mr . O'Connell' s object was to turn Lord Brahazon out of the county , and turn his son-in-law , Fitzamou , into it I thought that Mr . O'Connell was imposed upon by a man whom I knew to he a most unscrupulous liar , and that he assailed Lord Brahazon in ignorance of the real state of the case : and as I had been one of a deputation from the Trades' Union Section Committee to Lord Brahazon , upon the subject of the Bepeal pledge , I felt it my duty to defend the character of Lord Brahazon from the charge of being branded as a liar . The charge was false . I stated the real facts of the case at a meeting of the Trades' Union , and at the Committee of the Irish Volunteers . This gave further cause of offence—mind that
At that time there were several tithe martyrs in gaol in belaud , amongst whom were two " patriots "—Costello and Reynolds—one of whom got a place in Gibraltar from the Whigs , and the other a place under the new corporation in Dublin . There was at this time a very general feeling to get up a tbibute for Costello and Reynolds specially . There was a tithe martyr fund ; but this one for Costello and Reynolds was intended by the subscribers to he quite distinct Mr . O'Connell expressed a strong de-*» e to amalgamate both funds with those of the Irish Volunteers , and seemed anxious to become the patron of all tithe sufferers . I opposed this , and for a time succeeded in causing the several funds to be kept separately and accurately . This could scarcely be borne . Bear that in mind .
It so happened that I was the seventh person on the Committee of Irish Volunteers , a part of whose duty it was to pronounce jud gment on any unfortunate wight who should be objected to by any member of the society . I looked upon this as a very arbitrary assumption of power , and said one day , that " we had no right to sit in - ' adgment upon the character of other * , until we should first purify ourselves . " " Have you any objection to any member of the committee V said two or three together . "Yes , I have , " said L "Do you object to me V said one . "To me ? 'said another . "Name ! name ! name !"
roared out several . This I declined . However , a resolution was subsequently adopted , and a copy of it sent to tne , stating , "thatunless I named the person to whom I objected , and proceeded against him , I should be expelled . " I had no alternative but to proceed , which I did not like to do if I could have avoided it The Hon . Pierce S . Butler and Mr . "William Francis Finn , both JLP . ' s for the county Kilkenny , Kindly interposed , aud on my behalf offered to proceed no further , and , for tlie sake of unanimity , to let the matter drop . This proposition ¦ was peremptorily refused , and a copy of a resolution to that effect served upon me .
It was agreed upon that the whole committee , fiftyone in number , should form a tribunal to investigate the matter . I did not fear the result , as my objections were chiefly founded upon documentary evidence , hearing the signatures of some of the most eminent merchants in Dublin and Manchester . Several members of the committee , seeing that some of the charges were of a serious nature , and must be either true , or that I had forged the Barnes to the documents which I produced , withdrew , never imagining for a moment that , in the teeth of such evidence , sentence would be pronounced against myself by that portion of the committee which remained . The pretence for the sentence against me was , that I had not the parties present to admit their signatures to the documents . And tinder this miserable subterfuge
twentythree members of the committee signed a paper pronouncing' the charges to be false and malicious . Had I been a cunning slave , I should uot have had such an atrocious sentence pronounced upon me . It is clear that a certain party were anxious to get rid of me . I was too honest and straightforward for their purpose . To hunt me down was a glorious achievement Not content with this sentence , which they got lithographed , and had copies sent to all their relations and friends , they proceeded to expulsion , which was effected by the foulest means . However , it was some consolation to me that they could not get a layman in Ireland to move or secondmy expulsion ; they were obliged to have recourse to a degraded *& rgjnian of the Church of England , of the name of - ^ "y * * and a Catholic friar , who was under the censure of his provincial .
- " tJLmS * ^^ d "* * remembered , every Catholic priest ? JS i ^ I ? , a ^* Mlme ' ananever foramoment W ™^ S ^ r KiUimm 8 aiatl ^ serievousljwronged ,
V
. West Riding Of Yorkshire. Adjournment ...
This explanation has been often called for , and I think now was alike due to my friends the Chartists ( with whom I am proud to say I cannot be more popular than I am ) , and to you who had prejudices against me without really knowing why or wherefore . Upon this subject , which is already too long , I have nowmerely to add that there never was a charge of any nature or kind brought against me in any society of which I was a member , or in any other society , that I over heard of ; that I never sought to screen , cover , palliate , cloak , or conceal any act or deed of mine ; that I never called upon any human being to do so for me ; and that I am ready and willing to make atonement to any man who wiilshow that I ever wronged him in any respect . Having disposed ( I hope for ever ) of that portion of the subject which appertains to myself personally , I shall now proceed with the second part .
It has ever been the policy of tyrants , in all countries aud in all ages , to keep the people divided either upon political or religious subjects , to the end that they might the more easily keep them in a state of slavery , plunder them of their just rights , andmaintain , by force and fraud , an ascendancy over them : On the other hand , whenever any man had the courage , the honesty , and the patriotism to leave his own rank in society for the purpose of promoting the happiness and securing the rights of the working classes , those who may be called , according to the fashion of the times , the nobility and gentry , were sure to merge all their own disputes aud combine together for the purpose of preventing
the people from even seeing their own interests , in oraertoeffectflieirohjecttheyhave ever been and ever will he unscrupulous as to the means . One mode of attaining theirobject was to excite suspicion in the minds of thepeople against those who , from a pure love of redressing their wrongs and restoring their rights , throw themselves , body and soul , into the movement . Another mode was to send spies amongst the people to lead them Into acts of sedition and treason , in order to entrap those who , from fortuitous circumstances , had time , education , and knowledge sufficient to lead the people . Failing in those modes of dividing the people , they had recourse to other , more insidious and more effectual , means of sowing dissension in their ranks .
The mode usually employed for the purpose of effecting the object in this way was , and in fact still is , by sending out amongst the people some red-hot sprigs of the aristocracy , by way of decoy ducks , whose zeal for the interests and well-being of the people far exceed all their predecessors . They discover some short , easy method of redressing the wrongs of thepeople ; they talk eloquently ; deal largely in loose generalities ; confound the unweary with specious sophistry , which they are sure will not be understood by those to whom their harangues are addressed . They always take care to avoid detail , lest you
should discover their hoUowness and heartlessness . Thenschemes for redressing your wrongs are endless . I shall just remind you of a few of them , and implore you to bear them in mind , and test them by reason and common sense . There was the Anti-Slavery Society , whom you helped to tax yourselves and your children to the amount of £ 850 , 000 per annum ; the Anti-War Society ; the Emigration Society ; the Colonisation Society ; the Anti-Corn Law League , who wanted cheap bread , high wages , and plenty of work for you , iu order to enable them to sell their manufactures in the countries from whence tlie
corn should come ; the Banking Companies—plenty of notes to keep up the prices of all sorts of provisions , rent of land , and better yonr condition by lower wages ; the Reform Clubs , who would only legislate by "instalments , " as the people were not " sufficiently educated" to be admitted within tlie precincts of the constitution through the medium of the franchise ; the religious fanatics , whose total want of religion led them to oppose the granting of civil rights to all who differed from themselves on points of doctrine . AU these , and many others , have drawn vast numbers of the people after them , without knowing why or wherefore . AVhigs and Tories , high and low Churchmen , have one and all combined to scatter and destroy every association of the people , whenever it was discovered that such association was founded on the principle of getting anything which the people could call thenown .
There is a simple rule by which you can always test the sincerity of aU those schemers collectively or individually , and that is by asking them , " What will this scheme of yours give me which I can call my own , and which I can take with me wheresoever I got Will not the elective franchise give me the means of acquiring all those things which you say are so much for my good ? And will not the acquisition of the franchise bring me directly within the pale of the constitution , elevate me in tlie scale of society by placing me on apolitical equality with my more wealthy brethren ! " Tell those schemers , one and all , that he who wiU not join you and aid you to obtain the elective franchise is your enemy , and the enemy of your order . The franchise is your inheritance . It has been filched from you . Trust no man who will not help you to get possession of it .
The English working classes formed an association for the purpose of obtaining , by legal and constitutional means , a restoration of their just rights , which rights were embodied in a document called the People ' s Ciiabtsb . The working people of England , and you , my countrymen , resident in England , were all uniting like oneman for the achievement of those great and just rights , which are the common inheritance of aU , without reference to creed or class . There is no doubt now upon the mind of any rational mau hut the Chartists would have succeeded in forming a cordial union between the Irish and English working classes , and thus have become too powerful for either tlie Whig or Tory faction , or both combined , had not the Whigs , who were then in power , succeeded iu sowing religious and national hatred and animosity between the people of Ireland and the Chartists : and to some extent even amongst the Chartists themselves , "The term "Chartist" was applied in derision to the advocates of the People ' s Charter , in the same manner as Papist was and is applied to the Roman Catholics .
The Corn Naw League tried their hand at dividing the Chartists . The old Orange party put forth their strength for a similar purpose . The Whigs sent their spies to burn Birmingham , and to raise a rebellion amongst the isolated miners in Wales . Religious fanatics were not idle either . They charged all Chartists with infidelity . " Infidels , " " Socialists , " " miscreants , " and " Chartists , " were used as synonymes . In Ireland , the Chartists were denounced as Orangemen . Every means that human ingenuity could invent were employed to deter the Irish , but particularly the Catholics , from joining the Chabtist a axes , just as if there was infidelity in Universal Suf-FBS . GE , Vote by . Ballot , A ^ nvax Pakmamekts , Eqtiat . ItEPBESESTATlON , NO PttOPEBTV QUALIFICATION , AND Patmest or Members . Let me ask you , my countrymen , is there anything-demoralising in these principles ? Are they sectarian ? Have the advocates of them ever ,
directly oriudirectly , raised , sanctioned , or in any nay cucouragedreugiousbi gotry % Onthecontrary , havenotthe advoeates of those ennobling principles always , and upon all occasions , solemnly declared that every British subject , without reference to sect or party , should participate in all the advantages which were sure to result from their adoption S Why , then , have you stood aloof ? Why not exercise that shrewd common sense which God has given you ? Why not try , by the sure test of reason and judgment , the several propositions contained in the People ' s Charter ? Because you were led into error , and your judgment warped by those iu whom you confided , and who had an interest ia leading you after them upon questions which you did not understand , and which they took right good care you should not understand . " Keep the Tories out ! " was the rallying cry of the deceitful Whigs . "Conserve the Constitution!—out with the
Destructives ! " was the counter cry of the Rampant Tobies . The poor besotted Orangemen are the dupes of one faction —aud you were the dupes of the other . Have you or I ever gained any political advantage from the ascendancy of either party ! No : nor shall we ever . They only want to use us up for their own aggrandisement . Then why belong to , or support either faction ? Rest assured that you will always be , as you ever have been , treated with contempt and scorn by Whigs and Tories so soon as your co-operation has served their turn . Are not the great majority of you political outcasts ? AU those who have not the elective franchise are the slaves of those who have it
1 ou are all Repealers : so am I . Few of you have the elective franchise : I am an elector , a freeholder in tho city of Dublin . My wish , and the wish of every other Chartist who has tlie franchise , is to place you on a political footing with himself . I maintain , in common with all my brother Chartists , that every male inhabitant of this empire ( infants , insane persons , and criminals only excepted ) is of common right , and by the laws of God , entitled to political freedom ; that without the elective franchise there can be no political freedom ; that those who arc not electors are outcasts ; and that those who do not seek for the franchise , in season and out of season until they get it , are wilful slaves . Let the people once get the franchise , they can carry it with them anywhere , and be respected everywhere . Without the franchise you are nothing ; with it your influence will be omni - potent
The Repeal of the Union , though of vital importance to the prosperity of Ireland , but of Dublin in particular , wiU be of no use to sou unless based upon universal suffrage , vote by ballot , and annual Parliaments ; because the Repeal of the Union does not embrace or include the extension of the elective franchise . In my opinion we have commenced the Repeal movement at the wrong end . We must retrace our steps . The Union cannot be constitutioually repealed without a majority in favour of it in the House of Commons . It will never- be repealed by agitation , unless that agitation proJucos something bordering on revolution . Bear in mind that all Chartists are Repealers ; that Hie Charter includes domestic legislation but that the Repeal of the Union does not include univer sal suffrage , or any other proposition in which the nonelectors are directly interested .
If the Act of Union were repealed to-morrow we should have a general election in Ireland . There would be no change in the constituency . In the first instance , we should return 103 members to CoBege-green , and no more . There would be 100 Lords , and no more . The Irish Parliament would be opened by the Lord Lieutenant—a Tory . This Parliament would proceed at once to pass an Irish Act for the enfranchisement of several large towns : for the division of counties into equal electoral districts , on the plan published some time ago by Mr O'Connefl . How many members of those called Liberal would be returned to Coflege-green ? It would be hard work to return sixty . Now , that would give but a majority of fifteen in the Commons . WeU , in the Lords , there would inevitably be ninety Tories and ten Whigs , which would give a majority of eighty against any measure passed by the Liberal majority in the Commons .
. West Riding Of Yorkshire. Adjournment ...
How , then , could the franchise be extended ? How could electoral districts be established ? Would there he no corrupt influence exercised by the Irish Executive ? Would not titlbb and bribes bring up the fifteen votes in the Commons ? Myfriends , we have no power to do any good . We have no power to control the House , of Commons . In fact , itis no House of Commons until its members are elected by the common people . Our first duty was to have joined the Chartists for universal suffrage . Had we joined them honestly , cheerfully , ana " heartily , we should have had universal suffrage long ago , and with that political engine , which is our inherent right , I want to know how Repeal could be withheld from us ? It is not Gregory and Grogan that would be returned for the City , nor Hamilton and Taylor for the county of Dublin ; but rouB staunch Repealers . Why not , then , look at once for the possession of the means by which the Union can be repealed ?
The Union could be repealed in another way , by a species of commercial revolution , without the loss of one drop of blood ; a ravolutiou which would do you , and all men who earn their bread honestly , a great deal of good . The President of the United States made the best repeal speech I have read for a long time . He is sure to do all he said . He will annex both Texas and the Oregon . Should England go to war about these territories , the President will most assuredly stop the export of American cotton to Great Britain . The Yankees will hold their cotton fast ; not a pound will be sent to England . This would break up most of your cotton-factories in three months . What would funded property be worth then I Now , tlien , Suppose that in SUCh an event Mr . O'Connell , Instead of threatening to tear down the American flag , should advise his countrymen ( and you are aware that his advice is a command here ) not to allow one single drop of the blood of Irish cattle , sheep , or pigs , to be shed iu England , but
that we should eat the pork , beef , and mutton at home , which we could do if every one who seldom tastes meat now could get but half a pound a day for two hundred and forty days in tlie year . Would not this advice produce a revolution in the North of England ? I have proved upon a former occasion that we could not export a pound of beef , pork , or mutton , if every adult in Ireland , who rarely tastes animal food , got but half a pound each day for two hundred and forty days in the ycav . In addition to these means , Mr . O'Connell could recommend " a run for gold . " He has all these peaceable , legal , legitimate means of repeal in his power ; and should he have the courage to put them in force , I am decidedly of opinion that Peel and Wellington would soon cry out , " Daniel , my darling , let us have beef and gold Tell Mr . Polk to send us the bales of cotton , and we will let you have your Parliament in College-green : take away the Church Establishment : give Ireland to the Irish , and Polk the Oregon and Texas !"
Having now laid my opinions plainly and candidly before you , I trust that , whether you consider them wise or foolish , you will dome the justice of . believing that they are entertained honestly and sincerely . Dublin , May 5 , 1845 . Patrick O'Hwg ins .
The North Ern Star May 17 ' 1841.
THE NORTH ERN STAR May 17 ' 1841 .
To William Hill.
TO WILLIAM HILL .
If I Stood In Need Of A Character, And W...
If I stood in need of a character , and would condescend to make you in any way instrumental in procuring it , I would use you thus : —I was for six years of very troublesome time associated with one William Hill in the management of a popular paper —this William Hill was a knobstick parson , was a wily , artful , cunning , watchful , ungrateful ruffian : I was open , unsuspicious , and confiding . At the end of six years I dismissed him from my service for treachery and hypocrisy . It is nearly two years since I discharged him , and during that period he has published several printed letters , and has been the proprietor of a weekly thing that he called " The Life Boat . " He appears to have treasured up every word I
spoke , and every line I wrote to him , for such future use as heniighfc think proper to apply my words and my correspondence to . And , strange to say , notwithstanding his malevolence , disappointment , and vindictlveness , he has not been able in any single one of his printed publications to charge me with any act , even of inconsistency , at which even a child might not fairly laugh . Now , if I would condescend to establish a character , negatively or positively , upon anything coming from you , I think I might justly lay claim to a good one from your silence . Upon that score , then , I claim a good general character—a character which you would now foolishly assail by falsehood . I have so effectually ripped you open and exposed you upon former occasions , in treating of general matters , that I shall confine this , my very last notice of you , in any way , to a comment upon your version of the proceedings of
the Manchester Conference in 1842 , published in the " Starved Viper ' s" paper , and occupying more than five columns . I shall merely deal with the three greatest falsehoods in that letter , and shall answer one and aU from the pen of William Hill himself . Firstly , —You would now contend that it was not the League that originated the strike . Secondly , — That it was you , and not I , who caused the Executive address to be rejected by Conference ,- and , after a good deal of bounce , you say , in speaking of me upon that occasion , " To me , I repeat , he showed in the light of an arrant coward , shrinking from 'the pinch '—a mastiff cowed and scared by the barking of his own pups . " What a very silly man you must be to attempt to deceive thirty living witnesses , and to put your name to a lie in the very teeth of your printed opinion with reference to this very same
transaction ! You print a speech that you say you made in Mr . Scholcneld ' s chapel , on the Wednesday night , when the Executive document was submitted to the consideration of the Conference . You say that you pitied me for my cowardice , for my pliancy , and for the castigation that I received at the hands of Dr . M'Douall and his supporters ; and then you conclude with an expression of your opinion that I was an " arrant coward . " Now , sir , just listen to the true version of the case . You never opened your lips on Wednesday night in Mr . Scholcneld's chapel . As I am a living man , and as you are a dead parson , you never once opened your lips , while I , the coward , writhing , as yon say , under the castigation of Dr . M'Douall , rejected the address myself . And not one single angry word passed between me aud Dr . M'Douall , or any other man . You say that a committee was nominated , and that you were named as
one of the committee : but , parson like , you tell us that you were " afraid" to act upon the committee . Now , there was no committee at all appointed . I wa-j not afraid to act , and I retired with M'Douall and Campbell to strike out what I objected to in the document : and you went about your business . You say that I shook hands with you after your speech , and told you that you had risen cent , per cent , in my estimation . How could you , when you hadn't spoken a word ? You appear to forget that I slept in Mr . Scholefield ' s house , and that I went direct from the chapel into his sitting room to make the alterations as speedily as possible , so that the document might be corrected before it was struck off , and I never once opened my lips to you . But I have better proof than this , I have sworn evidence . Every man who was at that Conference will bear testimony to the fact that it was I who rejected that document . Every man who was present will recollect my concluding words , which were these : — " I cahe kot
WHAT AMOUXT OF ODIUM THE REJECTION OF THIS ADDRESS MAY ENTAIL UPON ME , BUT I . UI RESOLVED THAT YOB SHALL HOT BE TRANSPORTED LIRE THE Dorchester Labourers . " It was I , then , and not you , who rejected the address ! But you have so often claimed credit for my acts , that I am not astonished at your attempt to change places with me on that occasion . Now for the sworn evidence -. Cartledge swore that Baii-stow told him , that , but for me , the address would have been carried , but that I was the cause of its being rejected . Griffin swore , and the Attorney General made a strong point of his evidence , that when the news of Turner ' s awest was mentioned in the Conference on Thursdayi I said , "Now then , who WAS THE WISEST MAN ? WAS I NOT
RIGHT IN SETTING MY FACE AGAINST THAT ADDRESS ?"—Who do you pity now ? You skulking , miserable wretch , you arc even below contempt . But , not satisiied with the evidence that Ihave so far adduced , I now beg leave most respectfully to present you with a verbatim copy of your opinion , published in the Nortliem Star of the 3 rd September , just one fortnight after the Conference sat ; and read it , I pray you , with your last letter in the National Reformer in your hand , and then ask yourself if ever there was a bigger fool ! Read it especially with reference to your present assertion , that it was the deceitful leaders , and not the League , that concocted the outbreak ; but , above all , mark the heading of the article ! It is headed
"WHO IS THE COWARD ?" What a significant heading , and what an unfortunate article for me to stumble upon in answer to your charge of " arrant cowardice ! " Here is the
article" who is the cow aud !" Were there any link deficient in the chain of evidence to connact the League with the concoction and origin of the " risings" and the " riots , " it is happily supplied by one of themselves . It happens that there is no such deficiency . The chain of evidence is whole and per fect . Therefore , jwhatever is now let out of the bag can only come as corroboration of that which is already established , in this light do we view the public testimony borne to the fact of the League-origin of the " riots" by one of their own hired advocates . We give it here only as testimony bearing out the conclusive evidence we have before adduced .
The League plotted the " riots . " The League plotted the " Stbike . " The League determined on the closing of the Mills . The League determined to reduce wages , and to force the men out . The League hired men , Dcffev for instance , to prepare the way . fle could spsak 0 f the " mill-closing business" before John Brooks , the magistrate ; and be applauded for Msckver ipeech ! The League "did it all . '" and when it was done ; when the people were out ; when they were " rising ; " when they were " rioting ; " when they were doing the work the League wanted doing ; when the people were doing these things , wheke were the members of the League ? Where was John Brooks , who had applauded Duffey , and who had proposed that "THE WHEELS OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE ARRESTED ! " Where was Dickey Cobden , who had proposed " a suspension of labour" to stop the supplies ? Where was Alderman ChappeJ , who
If I Stood In Need Of A Character, And W...
had'declared'that "ttc only plan leftvias'to stop w factories . '" Where was Master Weekly Chronicle with his incitements to " SWING ? " Where was the cowardly dastard of the Sun , with his «* LADIES * HEADS on poles !" Where was the Chronicle with his BARRICADES ? Where were one and all of these ? At " " the head of the movement ? " Taking part with " the mob ! " Leading them on ? Acting as Generals % No ! They were engaged in letting loose the military to shoot and sabre those that had " risen ! " They were engaged in hounding on the butchers and the brutal bludgeon men ! They were engaged in " committing to take their trials" those brought before them , as magistrates , charged with having " rioted . " They were engaged in getting up and in circulating charges of cowardice . ' —against whom , in God ' s namel Against Feargus O'Connor !!!! Because Mr . O'Connor did not prove himself a silly ass , and fall into the trap they had so nicely laid for him , they charged Mm with
cowardice ! The men who had concocted the plot , and who ought to have conducted their own work in its execution , charged O'Connor with cowardice because he would not do it for them ! while they waited with the law in their hands to lay him by the heels if he should have done so !! The whole Whig press has rung with tho charge . They have harped upon it again hud again . Old Bloody , too , has joined in it . The ball has been kept going amongst them for the whole of the last fortnight . Every one who ought to have been " at the head of the movement" seems to have thought it sufficient to screen himself from a charge of coieardiec , if he preferred one against O'Coimov True , none of them shewed wliy O'Connor " ought to have taken the lead . " True , none of them even attempted to do this . But they , one and all , seem to have taken it for granted that wherever there is a mess , no matter by whomsoever cooked , O'Connor ought to jump slap up to the neck into it ; and that if he " looks before he leaps" he is a " coward !"
This , from the Whig and Tory press , was to be expected . It was no more than we had a right to look for . It is over the practice of faction to take advantage of popular excitement to throw suspicion upon the people ' s leaders , if ' the people ' s leaders evince common prudence , and will not throw themselves , neck and crop , into the arms of their enemies . It has ever been so . When Hunt attended the Petebloo MAssAcaE-meeting , and whenhis life was compassed , and the plot only defeated by his own presence of mind and great physical energy , he was accused of cowardice because he had not adsiswl the people t » come armed , and meet force by force ) He was accused of cowardice , because he would not counsel and commit an overt act of treason , so that his accusers might have had the high gratification of seeing his head roll from the
scaffold , and the pure purple life-stream spurt from his headless trunk ! He was accused of cowardice because he defeated the hellish machinations of the compassei-s of his own life , and saved himself to rally his party , and direct their enevgiesin the cause of sight aud justice for a long period , and to a successful issue , in the legislative acknowledgment of the necessity of Reform in the passing of tlie reform bill ! So with O'Connor , When Frost was betrayed by spies into the Newport business , and when he was committed as a traitor , O'Connor was denounced as a " coward" because he did not turn-out , and " head the people" in a mad crusade againstlife and property , to ensure the hanging and beheading of Frost , as well as the ensuring of himself being " cut up in four quarters" to be disposed of as the Queen should , most
graciously , please to direct ! Nay , even when the trial of Frost was proceeding ; when the city of Monmouth was in possession of a strong military force ; when almost every second man in it was a soldier ; even when this was the case , O'Connor was denounced as a " coicard , " because he was not fool enough to go upon the Welsh Hills , organise the hardy mountaineers , and " head them"in an attack upon the Judges and the city ! and because he applied all his powers iu aid of Frost ' s defence to the charge against him , and succeeded in . enabling him to escape from the fangs of the bloody cut-throat Executioner . ' . ' And thus it has ever been . Faction lias always seized the opportunity to spread distrust and sow the seeds of disunion between the people and their friends . It is its vocation to do so . It would be a traitor to itself did it miss the opportunity .
while , however , such a course must be expected and calculated on from the conductors of the factious Press , we have no right to expect that that course shall be joined in by those who wish to be considered as " devoted to the service of the people . " Wc have no right to be called upon to defend ourselves from attacks from within ; while we have a right to expect , and to be prepared for , attacks from without , In the foolish and senseless cry that has been raised by the Manchester Gitardian , and joined in by the Morning Chronicle , the Globe , the Sun , Old Bloody , the Weekly Chronicle , and by every Whig and Whigling paper in the kingdom , against O'Connor , because he did not take Cohden ' s place in the " suspension of labour" business ; or
John Brooks' place in the " arresting of the wheels of Government" business ; or Aid . Chappcl' s place in the " closing oftltemiUs" business ; or Dr . Black ' s place , in erecting " barricades "; or Mui-do Young ' s place in putting " LADIES' HEADS on Poles ; " or George Henry Ward ' s place in the instigating the people to " S WING : " in the senseless and foolish , but desperately wicked , cry of " cowardice , " raised and kept up by the enemy against O'Connor , because he did not do those things , has a professed Chartist Journal , and a professed Chartist Editor , taken part ! In this matter he has ranged himself with the enemy ! In this matter , he ranks with the deadliest foes of the people ! In this matter , he but echoes the slander and calumnies that faction has long since uttered !
What strange phantasies personal malevolence will make us play before high heaven ! What strange bedfellows personal malignity and ungovernable vindictivoness will make us acquainted with ! Who could have expected " THE Statesman" would put up horses with John Edward Taylor , with Old Bloody , with Dr . Black , with Murdo Young , and with the man at the Greenaci-e shop : who could have expected that " THE Statesman " would have been found in such precious company , flinging their dirt at second hand / joining in their war-whoop and savage yells against one who has made the Chartist party what itis , —the only party whose power is courteil or dreaded ! Who could have expected this ? Yet so itis !!!
The letter that appeared in the Statesman of last Saturday , signed " An Old Chartist , " will be found in another portion of this sheet . That letter the Editor has made his own , by his approving commentary . Were we disposed to find out the author of it , we are convinced little difficulty would present itself . He may be ferreted out of the " Old Chartist" Warren in Manchester , in which he has taken refuge . But this is not of moment to us . With the Editor we have to deal ; not with his nameless , brainless , " cowardly" scribe , O'Connor is " a coward . " So says "THE Statesman . " The fact of his " cowardice" we have given above . He neglected to take the place which ought to have been occupied by some member of the League ; and , therefore , he is a " coward ! " He minded his own business , and left others to mind theirs ; and , therefore , he is a " coward ! " He is invited to visit Manchester , to take
part m certain public proceedings . He consents to go . He is elected a member of the Chartist Conference . He consents to go . Before he does go , he is apprised , through Sir Charles Shaw and the Rev . Mr . Scholetield , that if he ventures to show his face in Manchester , he will be instantly apprehended on a warrant granted for the purpose . " The coward" does not avail himself of the opportunity thus given him to decline his visit , He goes at his own cost . ' He publicly enters the town . He goes to the house of the man who had been informed by Sir C . Shaw of the intention of the " authorities " to place him under arrest . He attends the meetings of the Conference . He stays till the last ; and when hisbus ' mess in Manchester is fully ended ; when he has done all that had been arranged for him to do ; he openly departs for London , where he had other business to do . In this consists his " cowardice' /"
O'Connor is a " coward . " So asseverates " THE Statesman . " O'Connor once stood before the Judges to receive sentence . He heard himself adjudged to be imprisoned for eighteen mon & s . When he heard that , he did not snivel , and cry , and blubber , and roar , like a great boy ! He did not "BEG OF THE JUDGE TO BANISH HIM FOR LIFE !! " He did not whimper , and weep , and " IMPLORE TO BE ALLOWED TO BANISH HIMSELF !!" He did not do this : nor did any one else , amongst the hundreds of Chartists who were prosecuted in 1839 , excepting one . Who that one is "THE Statesman" knows !!! O'Connor is a " coward . " So says " THE Statesman . " But O'Connor NEVER DREW A KNIFE !! O'Connor has knocked many a man down ; and been knocked down . But it has been with honest fisting ! HE NEVER DREW A KNIFE , upon any man , much less UPON A FELLOW-PRISONER !!!
We have heard of a Chartist prisoner who did . To the honour of the working men , he was not one of them . There was but one who so far disgraced Chartism , as to present himself in the attitude of a " coward " assassin , with a knife in his hand . Perhaps " THE Statesman , " in his next number , will tell us who it was . " THE Statesman" seems fond of dealing in the history of " cowards . " We may perhaps hereafter gratify him with afew anecdotes . We know some very interesting ones ; such as could not fail to please him , they are so much in his own way . It is characteristic of the starved viper to sting every hand that warms it ; and hence Mr . James O'Brien and his double , the "Old Chartist , " are not more angry with O'Connor than with " the miserable Subterfuges of his editor , Mr . Hill , in attempting to run away from the Movement , and throw all the onus or blame upon the Corn Law League . Such articles at such a crisis were treason to the people ' s cause !"
If we had ever reason to congratulate ourselves upon any part by us taken in a public movement , it is upon that we have taken in this movement . AVe did from the beginning throw the onus upon the League ; we do throw it upon them ; let them get out of it if they can . We , frum the beginning , warned the Chartists to have nothing to do with the Strike . We told them at the first that if they waStered themselves to be mixed up with it they would find muchreason for repentance . In our first artideupon it , published three weeks ago , speaking of the tools em . ployed by the concoctors of this Strike , . these were our words : — " Theirinstructions aretwo-fold . They . are first to get ^ harStT r ^ rp ?^ they are t 0 &* strike a CHARTIST TINGE ! They are to mix the Chartists up with it ; and thus afford a pretext to the Leaguers and the Government to jut Chabtish down , when the former have their own end served ! " Chartists , beware ! Be not mixed up with these proceedings . Keep Chartism distinct from the " risings ''
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and the . " riotings" ! Give your enemies no hold ot you ; and suffer thorn not to use you , and then coerce you !" Had wc been more heeded , and the " up-to-thc-mark " men more prudent , we should not now have had to lament so many of our best men in the ' wolfs den ! Many a Chartist family that now wants bread would have had it ! arid many an amiable wife would have missed the occasion she now has of soddening her lone pillow with her tears ! Ol yes , the " up-to-the-mark-men , "'the " brave fellows , " who talk about" going to the House of Commons , with a petition in one hand , and a pistol In the other , " and who
" dare not belong to the National Charter Association for fear some of its members should do an illegal act - , " these " brave gentlemen" are terribly incensed that the Star did not goad on the people to a position which should have more fully gorged their middle-class free-trading friends with blood . O ' . they are " brave men , " these " up-to-themark" gentlemen ! and honest as they are " brave" ! . ' Hence they think that , " above all , the non-insertion of the Executive address was treachery of the basest description ; and this from the principle oracle of Chartism is too bad !"
Well ! this may be a terrible piece of treason ; if it be , we plead " guilty" to it . We did not publish the address . We never intended to publish it . We regret much that it ever was published . And we fancy that we are not the only parties who now regret it . Mr . O'Connor has thought proper to take upon his own shoulders the onus of this omission . Wc cannot allow him to do so . It was our business to publish or reject it . We chose to reject it ; arid wo are quite ready to « take tho rogponsibility . " It is quite true ' that Mr . O'Connor did , after hearing of the seizure of poor Turner ' s traps , write a note to the editor requesting that it might not be published . We had heard of the seizure before receiving Mr . O'Connor ' s note ; and had , before receiving that note , determined not to publish it . Perhaps our readers will think the reason which
actuated Mr . O'Connor a sufficient one . We should have thought so , if wc had no other reason . But we had other reasons . If Turner ' s types , < fcc , had never been seized at all ; if Turner had never been prosecuted at all ; and if we had no note from Mr . O'Connor , or if Mr . O'Connor had even written desiring us to print that address , we should not have published it . We had reasons of our own for our determination ; reasons arising out of the document itself , and out of the circumstances under which it was put forth . At a proper time we may give those reasons . We will not give them now . It is not the abuse of Mr . James O'Brien , or any of his nameless cowards that shall force us into statements which might be construed to the prejudice of those who have at present enough to battle with ! Wo regret exceedingly that that address was ever published at all . We never did publish it . We never approved it . But if we had chosen to publish it , we would at least have shown less of the
cowardin our daring than " THE Stafesniaii" did !!! We would not have characterised it as " THIS MOST EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENT . " We would not have flown to the " miserable subterfuge" of quoting it from the London papers ! We would not have asserted the cowardly lie , that we "did not know whether it came from the Executive or not" to fence ourselves against the consequences of bur daring ! No , no ; we never yet printed anything iu that way ! Had we approved the address , we would have printed it . We would have sailed boldly in the same boat with its authors , and not have skulked behind a dastard screen , which , after all , is no screen at all ! 0 ! he is a "brave" man , this James O'Brien ! and the words " coward" and "traitor" do sound so pretty coining from him , and applied to O'Connor and the Star ! He is a grateful man ! and makes good use of the people ' s pence , for which , week after week , the Star drummed up so lustily , that the " schoolmaster " and " THE Statesman " might have another paper to destroy !
The most curious part of the charge against O'Connor by " THE Statesman" is , that he did not stay in Manchester , father the acts of M'Douall and Campbell , and allow them to keep out of the way of the police , while he kept in it !! Can the Chartists understand this ? Do they see through it ? 0 ! yes ! O'Connor is to father all ; to stand to all ; to bear all the odium , and all the weight of Government persecution . " THE Statesman" knows that O'Connor has had to stand to other people's doings before now ! " THE Statesman" knows that O'Connor has had to endure sixteen months of solitary confinement , in a condemned cell , for what ? . For his own act ? for his own words ? for his own writings ? for auy
comment of the Star ' s ? for any thing ot this sort ? No ! But for a speech made by James Bronterre O'Brien !!! O ! yes ! " THE Statesman"knows about Mr . O'Connor having had to father other people ' s acts -. having had to answer for them with loss of personal liberty for sixteen months together , under restraints such as no other individual in England ever before had to endure ! Yes " THE Statesman" knows of this . He knows of " other people keeping out of the way of the police , " and of O'Connor keeping iu it , to answer for those " other people ' s" acts ; " THE Statesman" knows of this ; and it cuts him to the heart that he cannot again play tho same card ! But " no more Blue-stone , good doctor ! " one dose of that sort is enough !
Comment upon the above would be useless . It is all , every word of it , your own writing , and with it I finish my comment upon that subject , by congratulating you that you have at length found a fitting time to put the world in possession of your Conference revelations . But . although I have done with that subject I have not yet done with Frost . I copy the following from the second P . S . to your letter in last week ' s National Reformer : — ' ' 2 nd P . S . —May 6 th . Since writing the above , I have seen the Xbrtliem Star of Saturday , containing Feargus O'Connor ' s Ioug letter , entitled " The Destroyers of Frost Discovered , " I shall not waste time and paper in bandying foul words with Feargus . He admits that my letter contains nothing bnt the truth ; that I did communicate
to him Ashton ' s statements the very first time I saw him after they had been made to me . That was all IcoiiW do ; and he knows it . I could not write to him in Ireland ; because I had no clue to his address ; I could not write to Frost , for the same reason ; and , if I had had Frost ' s ad ^ dress , I was not so great a fool as to send such a communication through the post . As to my leaving the Star at such a time as that ( and he absent , too , in Ireland ) , to go on a Quixotic expedition after Frost , not knowing where to find him , and if I did find him , not knowing the man when I saw him , and with nothing definite to say to him when I did see him , I can very well imagine what Feargus would have said to it , if I had gone upon auy such evvand . Besides all which , he is pleased to overlook the fact that I had not the same command of money to roam about with as he had .
Now , you horrid villain ! is it not clear that your confirmation of Ashton ' s letter was a wilful lie—the worst description of lie ? A prevarication—but , merciful Providence ! what could have induced you , just at the moment that you were laying claim to popular support , to have penned such a conviction ; or how came your brother editor to allow you thus to brand yourself , and for ever , as the destroyer of Frost . What!—then , with a knowledge of the fact "that Frost ' s lifestood in danger ; " with a knowledge of the fact "that he was sure to be sold by his associates , " you would deem it a "QUIXOTIC EXPEDITION "
TO GO AFTER HIM , "NOT KNOWING WHERE TO FIND HIM , " AND IF YOU DID FIND HIM , "NOT KNOWING HIM WHEN YOU SAW HIM I " Miserable childish priest . ' Not be able to find Frost in Wales , when Vis ufc was in danger , and not to know him if you saw him . ' Did you look for him ? Didn't Ashton know where to find him ? Could you get no one to find him ? 0 , yes , " but you had not the command of money to roam about as I had , " Ah ! you know full well , and every child in England knows full well , that if the " Quixotic expedition "
cost £ 1000 , that it would have been furnished to you out of my means , without asking my consent , and that when 1 saw it charged against me , 1 should not havo objected to ( it . However , you did not go , although your going would have saved Frost—and , therefore , you are his destroyer ; while , at the same time , you are now obliged to confess that you never wrote to me upon the subject in Ireland , and you say I had xo clue to his ADDRESS . " Why , youpaiWn dog ! there is a paper addressed from the office to my house in Ireland every Saturday throughout the year , and my letters were forwarded to my address from Leeds all the time that I was in Ireland .
I shall now say but little more to you , and that little shall be upon the subject of your new alliance with the " Starved Viper . " If ever there was a bitter hatred cherished towards one man by another it was yonr hatred for O'Brien , and if ever mortal laboured to remove hatred from the breast of man I laboured to remove it from yours , but all failed , and now 1 have lived to see you associated together—I have lived to hear him declare that there exists no shadow of a shade of difference of opinion between you and him ; and yet , knowing you both , and the purpose for which you have sunk all minor differences , I am not in the least astonished , while , at the same time , I am resolved to refresh your memory as to the opinion you once held of your associate . In the Star of the 10 th of September , 1842 , there is an article headed "How to Cosvict Leach , " and in that article you labour hard to throw all the onus of the Chartists' sufferings upon the shoulders of Mi-O'Brien .
In the Star of the 17 th of September there appears the following comment upon my letter : —
" THE US 1 05 THE STARVED VIPER . " Mr , O'Connor's letter will be found in our sixth page . We have just one word to add to it . Mr . O'Connor mi ght have stated an important fact which lie has omitted , for what reason we know not : we shall supply it , as it affords a key to the whole conduct of the « viper" for some months back . "While in Lancaster Castle he told M artin that he saw no other way of getting through tlie world but by opposing O'Connor and the Star . Martin made this statement immediately after his liberation ; and all succeeding events have served to verify it . The people have
now the key to the whole mystery . —It has been dragged from us very reluctantly , we had much rather have shrouded than exposed him ; but since nothing less would serve him , there it is . The people now know " Jemmv O'Brien ; " and we have great pleasure in shaking hands with so disagreeable a subject . He may now befoul his own cess-pool at his leisure . He may rave as he pleases lie as he likes ; we have nothing more to say than "fare ' Well Jemmy O'Brien" ! His name shall never again " if we can help it , be mentioned , even incidentally in our columns . "
I shall now conclude ia your own language " You may both now befoul your own cess-pool " at your leisure . Rave as you please ; lie as you like ; I have
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nothing more to say than farewell Jemniv Q-p „ - and William Hill . Your names shall never a « nin " I can help it , be mentioned , even incidentally ° i > A . " columns of the Northern Star . " '' « e Feargus O'Co . vx P . S . —In taking my leave , I cannot help obsen-L thatonepaper-slayerwasasmuchasany pronertvnn i § stand , while no amount of fortune could lone snathe assaults of two wholesale destroyers . I wi ^" joy of the alliance , and 0 ! may you defend v , country's cause with half that spirit thatyou ti-iiu mar its progress . Farewell to the two " W ° Vipers . " Go , club your spleen , and spit yount » upon the man who fed you when vou Were hnn and when you are both starving , if the world Til frown upon you , turn again to me , and in V 011 r Jr 11 ings , I will forget your treachery , and f orm * , er * malice . ffl e J « tt F . 0 'c
Cjailtst Intcntaiufc
CJailtst Intcntaiufc
London. Mr. Dotle Delivered A Very Instr...
LONDON . Mr . Dotle delivered a very instructive w „ Sunday evening last , m the South London fii » , » - Hall . At the conclusion of the lecture Vxl thanks was awarded to Mr . Doyle . ' 0 ) Marvleuone . —A numerous meeting was hoWr . „ Sunday evening , May lltll , at the Rock Tavc-h Lisson-Grove , it having been announced thatYr ' Bcnbow would deliver a lecture on the " prci ' ' state of parties . " The meeting having waited 2 their patience was exhausted , Mr . Trebilcock ' !• unanimously called to the chair , and , on tlie nioti " of Messrs , Snellus and Munday , after coiisiueral ? discussion , the following resolution was nmnimoJi adopted : — " That some individual or individJf having attracted puttie attention by writing anoi nious letters iu Lloyd ' s newspaper , terming ] ii nJJt or themselves 'Independent Chartist , ' and a ( u ; tisements having appeared in Lloyd ' s newsnaner tu
National Reformer , calling a meeting at this hou ^ for this evening ( May 11 th ) , and no iiiuiv '« iu ! , t having appeared to explain their principles , or , L liver the promised lecture , it is the opinion of \\ Z meeting that the writer of the letters in Lloyd ' s paper is actuated by xoalicc , Tainly attempting to re tai-d the progress of democracy , by causing disunion in the ranks of the working classes , aiid that no such society , calling themselves Independent Chartists really exists . " The secretary of the Emmett Bri gade having announced that he had cards and hand-books of the National Charter Association to dispose of a number were sold , and many applications were made for cards of the Land Societ y ( which were not then ready , but which can now be obtained by appli . cation to Mr . T . M . Wheeler , provisional secretary ) A vote of thanks was given to tlie chairman , and the ' meeting dissolved .
Victim Commitiee .--No . 1 , Tumagain-lane , Sunday , May the llth .--Mr . Milne was unanimously called to the chair . The secretary renorted pwn-es ' s since the last meeting , and read a letter froni ° Mr O'Connor , apologising for non-attendance on account of his absence from London , inspecting some land and promising to be present at the next meeting of the committee . The secretary having been autV riscd to renew his application to the secretary of tho late Victim Committee , and to Mr . O'Connor , the committee adjourned until Sunday next , at five o'clock .
MANCHESTER . The Manciiester Chartists . —Me . O'Connor asd his Enemies . —We know of no circumstance which has produced so great an amount of indignant feeling amongst the working men of Manchester as the vile attack of that precious "trinity in unity , " O'Brien , Ashton , and the parson , on the reputation of Air . O'Connor . Whatever company is met together , no matter what their political opinions may be , they with one accord denounce the base conduct of the above three assassins , There is but Olio opinion as to what is the cause of this base and villanons conduct ; and thatis , that Mr . O'Connor ' s straightforward and virtuous example is a continual reproof to his enemies for their infamous perfidy to the cause of the toiling
millions . No sooner did the vituperations of the precious trio appear in the " Deformer , " than a committee was appointed to examine into the whole of the correspondence . At tho last meeting of the members of the National Charter Association resident in Manchester , the Mowing report of the committee was read and adopted by a full meeting , Mr . John Sutton in the chair— "We , the committee appointed at the monthly meeting of members to examine into the charges made by Messrs . Mosley , Ashton , Hill , and O'Brien , and also the reply of Mr , O'Connor to the charges ; and having carefully , diligently , and dispassionately perused the statements on both sides , have unanimously conic to tlie following conclusion , and resolved , firstlv
-[ " That in the whole course of our experience wc have never read , nor heard of , a more horrible concocted system of treachery , lies , and perfidy than the charges hatched for the express purpose ' of destroying a man whose only fault has been , that he would not allow himself to be made the dupe of the infernal machinations of tlie above-named base and perfidious wretches and their coadjutors , or sutler the working classes of this country to bo brought to ruin and destruction through their means . ' Secondly , 'That we , the members of the Manchester locality of the National Charter Association , do hereby , in the most solemn manner , express our abhorrence and indignation of the wilful , malignant , and corrupt perfidy of the villains concerned in this
J udas-like affair . We , therefore , call upon the Chartists , and every well-meaning man in the British empire , to join us in giving expression to our just condemnation of such demoniac practices . ' Thirdlv , ' That having carefully and minutely scrutinised arid compared the public conduct of Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., with men of the past and present dav—having seen him surrounded by hosts of enemies , " spending his fortune , and undermining his health , imprisoned , persecuted , and unjustly punished , and maligned and personated by protended friends . After seeing and knowing all this , wc do unhesitatingly and unanimously give and express to that gentleman our unqualified confidence : and , furthermore , we are determined upon all , and every occasion , when he nv . w be unjustly attacked , to give him our cordial and ' undivided support , so long as he continues as he hitherto has done , the unpurchaseable advocate and steadfast friend of the toiling millions . "
Lecture . —On Sunday evening last a lecture was delivered in the Carpenters' Hall to a numerous anil respectable audience , by Mr . John Leach , of Hyde , Mr . John Smith in the chair , when tlie above resolutions were put to the meeting , and carried by acclamation , not so much as one solitary voice or hand being raised against them . The Chartists of Manchester are convinced that the time has come when the good men and true in every town must set their faces against this system of abuse to which Mr . O'Connor has so long been unjustly exposed ; and trust that they will give expression to their opinion ? on this subject , and by so doing for ever silence the orowlci-s with the thunders of their indignation . The following resolution was likewise agreed to : — "That the foregoing resolutions bo forwarded to the editor of tlm Northern Star with a request to give them insertion . " John Sutton , chairman of the members ' meeting -. John Smith , chairman of the public meeting .
OLDHAM . Lecture . —On Sunday last Mr . J . West , of Macclesfield , delivered a lecture on " the remedv for national poverty , " in the Working Man ' s ' Hall , Ilorscdge-street . Mr . J . Lawless was called to the chair , and opened the meeting by reading the leading article from the Northern Star of Saturday last ; after which he introduced Mr . West . The lecturer commenced by congratulating the working men of Oldham on their exertions in raising such a noble structure as this hall to meet in , and wished that such a buildine was erected in every town : it would tend to
raise them more in public estimation than anything else . The lecturer said , before shewing a remedy , it would be necessary to point out some of the grievances which led to such an amount of poverty as at present existed . One evil was the monopoly of the land . Everything wo enjoyed both of food and clothing was the produce of the soil , and , this being the case , he contended the great mass of the people would never be better off until they enjoyed the privilege of bavin " so much land as would by cultivation v ield him the necessaries of life . This he contended was the only remedy . Great attention was manifested throughout the address , which gave general satisfaction . "
STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES . Shei . tox . — At a meeting of the newly elected council , held on the 12 th inst ., it was rcsolved" That an adjourned meeting ol the above council be held on Monday evening , May 20 th , at Mr . Jeremiah Yates's , Miles Bank , Shelton , for the purpose of arranging measures to infuse new vigour into the Chartist cause in this localitv . " A number ot tried friends having witnessed the apathv that has existed for some time past , arising out of the tewporary improvement in the trade of that district , have resolved on using their efforts to resuscitate the noble cause of democracy , by calling in the aid of all who bcforetimc have struggled for the Charter . They , therefore , request a full attendance of friends at tte above place , for the purpose of assisting the council to devise measures best calculated to revive the cmtest for political freedom .
NORTH LANCASHIRE . Delegate Meeting . —The North Lancashire district meeting , was held at Bradshaw ' s Tempera ^ Hotel , Curzon-street , Burnley , on Sunday , Mar 31 th . The following places were represented : —Burnley . Hicup , Celne , Haggate , Clithcroc , WhcatIcy-lano ,. tf 3 s ; lnigden , and Marsden . The subject of carrying om a plan of local lecturers to agitate the district w- 'cu ; pied the attention of the delegates , and it was u " ' mately agreed that the subject should he laid betore the members in the several localities , and that ep delegate should come prepared to the next niectm ? with the names of suitable persons to carrv out W plan . The next district meeting for North Lancashire will be held at Bradshaw ' s Temperance CoB «« House , Burnley , on Sunday , June 8 th , when a M " attendance of delegates is particularly requested
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 17, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_17051845/page/6/
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