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October 17, 1846. . THE NORTHERN STAR. *
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From r.early all parts of the world this...
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wflunuj ^EFZSZS** GeHeral K«, who so
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wflunuj wmaucw the movement at Athena on...
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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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Weekly Review. Ireland Still Occup Ies T...
ii Opinions of lonafide working men , whereas its own ;; repori should havejshown that such was not the case . The troth is , the meeting squared with a favourite Crotchet of the Ckronick , and therefore it suited the purpose to give it that ' colour . If the Chronicle wishes to know the real opinions of the working classes , let it send reporters ( and print their reports ) to the numerous meetings now held in favour of political enfranchishment and industrial emancipation by means of the operation of the Chartist
Co-operafivc Land Society . These meetings and that Society arc neither the tools nor the toadies of a set of crafty mill owners and moneymongcrs . " , As to the object itself , there could be no harm in opening the ports , but if the statements be true that there is no corn to be had from foreign nations there could be little rood derived from it . It is , in short , just one of fliose will-o'the-wisps which lead ignorant and ihougbiless people astray , > md land them in quagmires instead of conducting them safely home .
The sentence of the court martial on private Ma-Jhewson of the 7 th Hussars is a proof that the late aeitation on the subject of military flogging has not been without its effects on the military authorities , while at the same time shows it the strong animus of the officers against the poor man who was bold enough to bring to light the torture to which the private soldier is subjected ; the abject degradation to which he must submit . Six months' imprisonment , two of them in solitary confinement , is , in their estimation , only an adequate punishment for a petulant
expression to a non-commissioned officer—an express-on utter . < 1 when tie offender was smarting under esssperfliet ! feelings , and his petition forthesmal ] favour of exchanging duty with a brother soldier , in Older that he might for a short time enjoy the society of lis mother and a brother-in-law , whom he had not seen for nine years , had been contemptuously refused . JTie same man was formerly condemned to one hundred lashes for calling " Holloa" to a High mig htiness of a sergeant I The dignity of sergeants seems an awful and venerable thing ! Though we have not the lash on this occasion , six months does
seem to xts rather a Severe ' pnnishraent for " coming between the wind and the no ' -ility of a sergeant . " The Year Law , as usual , has been yielding a crop of those atrocious offences against all decency and common humanity which has characterised its entire existence . The case of the imbecile pauper in the Kisbridge Union , of which we have given the leadins facte , affords a forcible illustration of the manner in which the fiendish spirit of inhumanity generated i , y that law seems to seize upon all who are brought under its operation . The Jury deserve all credit for tleir bold and truthful verdict on the occasion , and the watchword should be evervwhere—Down with
the infamous Law , -which treats poverty as a crime , and murders those who , as helpless wrecks of ha-Eiaaitv , should claim oar tenderest care .
October 17, 1846. . The Northern Star. *
October 17 , 1846 . . THE NORTHERN STAR . *
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toloninl mxtf ^ brrupt Sfrinrb *
From R.Early All Parts Of The World This...
From r . early all parts of the world this week ' s intelligence Is of a more than ordinary exciting and important character . Simple details will be found in oar seventh page which will well repay perusal . Cape ox Good Hope papers to August 4 th report the progress of the British troops , and it will be seen that some important advantages have been gained ever the Kaffirs . Dad the defence of the colony not been most criminally neglected bv those
who are paid the public money , both in England and at the Gape , for the purpose of securing good government and protection to the Colonists , all the recent bloodshed might have been prevented . Life and property have been destroyed to an immense extent , and now , -when the mischief has been done , we are retaliating upon our semi-savage assailants . The defence of the Cape has been so utterly neglected , that it is morally certain that in the event of an attack from a French or American
force , the Colonists must have surrendered before assistance from England eovld have reached them . Let the British public note this , at the same time remembering the sum paid yearly to our secretarv of state for colonial affairs , and the nice pickings of a colonial governorship . The present deplorable state of South Africa is another signal proof of th mischievous incompetence of our aristocratical •¦ ..
'AMXew Zealand is not yet at peace . A small body of British soldiers have been surprised and cut off by tie natives . The fact Is , the natives hate their English despoilers Hypocritical plundering mission - aries , and other rascally land-robbers , have so aronsed the hatred of the wronged natives , that the colony is cot likely to be at peace until , proceeding from one crime to another , we complete the work of Christian civilizing colonisers , hy adding to robbery extermination of the robbed and wronged .
Ocr French neighbours are faring not one whit better with their colonial affairs—perhaps something worse . To say nothing of their pet colony Algeria , tie peace an < 3 safeiy of trLieh is continually menaced by the indomitable Abd-el-Kader , they , hare just received the anything but gratifying intelligence , that ineir forces have been twice repulsed b y the " barbarian" of Tahiti . The French have placed Tahiti acd = r their own " protection , " much against the will of the natives , who seem to entertain insurmountable objections to a French " protectomte , " = nd would much rather be left alone to protect
them-SJiVes . To force the natives to acknowledge the 1-renek " protectorate , " and give up their arms , a French army , consisting of upwards of 1 , 000 men is May last , proceeded to attack a native town . The natives retired to their mountain fastness . The French troops fcHowedthem towards their retreat , but were soon repulsed , with severe loss , having twenty-seven killed and sixty wounded . It is said that only ten were wounded on the side of the natives -none killed I On their retreat from this expedition , " Governor Bruat andhistroops returned tothebeaeh ,
Flushed and destroyedthevi'lage . felled the breadfruit trees , cocoa-nut trees , orange-trees , « fcc . " This defeat wasfoPowedby another effort equally unsuccessful and disastrous , but avenged by the combustion of more orange , bread-fruit , and cocoa-nut trees , many thousands of which were levelled with the ground and burned -with fire . This is " Glory ; " this is " Civilising ! " How anxious the Tahitians must b for French protection ; Almost as anxious as the Arabs after the burnings and bakings in the caves of Dahra .
On the Spanish question we have given under the head of "Foreign Movements" some lengthy extracts froman article from the pen of the French poet , and deputy , de Lamartixe . This celebrated writer places the Montpcnsier marriage in ita true light , lie shows that " nations are no longer patrimonies or properties which follow their possessors , as a house or a field follows the civil proprietor ; and that no Trince or no Princess can bring as a marriage portion , or bequeath as an inheritance , a people , —a nation , —an empire , or even a geographical Parcel whatever o f a province or a hamlet . Man has reconquered himself ; nations belong to themselves alone . " That this is rot a time for family compacts , it is a time for compacts amongst nations . " Of
course it would be impossible for M . de Lailuitim ; to * rite on any political question without being guilty sf some strange inconsistencies . It is therefore billing surprising to find him applauding the ge-*! £ ra ! " pac-iSc tendencies" and " moderation" of «* Government of Louis-Philippe , and yet blaming wat Government for net engaging in a war against » l iurope on the Eastern question of 1 S 40 . When - ' -de l . amarime approves of the smothering of the
Evolutionary propaganda by Louis-Philippe after we revolution oflSSO , and in the next breath con-C eans same party for not plunging Europe into * en the Syrian question , he expresses ideas es actly fte opposite of our own . The muzzling of the ^ olutionary propaganda in 1830 was a betrayal of rf * f yWchFrance ought not to have permitted . The . fusionof M . DE Lamahmse ' s article paints , in nd colours , the evils which must result to Frap . ce
From R.Early All Parts Of The World This...
as the fruits of the Montpcnsier marriage ; " a sacrifice of the peace and the existing alliances of the country to a posthumous dream of If 13 ; the ascendancy of the worn-out house of Boubbo . v substituting itself in imagination for the permanent ascendancy of France , imperishable and revived by its Revolution . The Cabinet of the Tuileries " has abandoned the alliances of the Revolution , engaged France , risked peace , sowed rivalries , encouraged civil war in Spain , collected clouds on the continent , darkened the future prospect , drawn the diplomatic sword , not for a cause , but lor a dowry of difficulties . This dowry will press as heavil y on the Cabinet of the Tuileries as on the country , and the entire aifair may be characterised in two words—an unfortunate temerity , and a giddy deception . "
^ Vhile , however , poets , politicians , and journalists , have been discussing the probable results of the marriage , the marriage itself has been consummated . The Duke de Montpcnsier is at this moment the husband of the heiress presumptive of the Spanish throne . Amidst the menacing scowls of the enraged Spaniards , and guarded by a formidable army , the French princes entered Madrid ; and in the midst of similar signs of the public feeling and similar precautions on the part of the terrified plotters against Spanish freedom , the marriage took place on the 10 th . It is stated that , previous to the marriage , Mr . Bulwer presented another protest to the Spanish Government ou the subject of the Infanta ' s marriage .
This protest Is to the effect that the British Government will refuse to recognise the claims of the children of the marriage to the Crown of Spain . Wc object to tills protest on the ground tbat it is an attempt to legislate for and bind posterity , this protest looking very like a design to bind the English people to enjage in a war in the event of certain contingencies coming to pass . We can see no utility in this protest , as , most likely , long before the time contemplated by Mr . Bulwer , Louis-Pbilij'pc , or Louis-Philippe s brood , will be kicked out of France , when , of course , tho Spanish will share the fate of the French monarchy . The great feature of this week ' s news is the
GLORIOUS REVOLUTION IX SW 1 TZER
LAND . To comprehend this movement , it may be necessary to remind our readers that the introduction of the Jesuits into Lucerne , and the expedition of the Free Corps , have created in Switzerland a rankling animosity between ike Protestant and liberal cantons on the one hand , and the Catholic and Conservative cantons on the other . The liberal cantons have , since the expedition against Lucerne , elevated to office seme of the most renowned leaders of the
tree Corps . ) The Canton de Vaud has consummated the most ultra-democratic reforms . The Canton of Berne has had a peaceful but democratic revolution , which has invested the people with the sovereignty and masterdom of the state . While the liberal cantons have been thus engaged in founding' the reign cf democracy , the conservative cantons have been busy in forming a league defensive ( aud intended to be , if necessary , ofiensive ) , against the dreaded attack of the radical cantons . The Radical party throughout Switzerland demand the dissolution of this confederacy of
the Conservative Cantons , aud during the last session of the Diet four animated sittings were occupied with discussions on the right of the seven Cantons to form a private confederation within the great confederation—to constitute a new state within a state . The decis-ion was rendered null by the vote of the Deputy for Geneva , who remained neutral . The great Council of that Canton having been called on to explain , prcnouncd a decree in favour of the seven ultramontane cantons . This bold measure was , it is said , suggested by the French Government , and was adopted in order to diminish the influence of Berne , which is about to become the directing
canton . This resolution of the Grand Council of Geneva caused an immense excitement amongst the population . The Radicals appealed to the people . Immense meetings were held , and a protest couched in the strongest language was unanimously adopted . The Government ordered the arrest of the printer ot the protest , and also the parties whose names were attached to it ; the storm now became a hurricane . On Monday , the oth , the popular assemblies had resolve 3 , with cries of " Liberty or Death !" to organise tha armed people for resistance . On Tuesday , the Cth , the attempt to arrest the printer of the popular proclamations was resisted—blocd flowed , and the revolution began .
Geneva is dividea in ; o three districts . There is the Upper Town , which consists of tbe large and handsome hotels of the burgher aristocracy . There i * the Lower Town , which is the seat of trade and democracy , with its streets narrow and its houses lofty . Finally , on the other side of the bridges , there is the Faubourg St . Gcrvais , the seat of the manufacturing and labouring population . On the evening of the Cth , the inhabitants of St . Gervais barricaded the bridges . On the 7 th , early , these barricades were attacked by the militia , and carried af : er a heavy cannonade ; but the militia failed in their atterapt to make good their footing in the Faubourg . They were , however , still in possession of the Lower Town .
Purine the ni g ht of the 7 ih ( Wednesday ) the patriots of St . Gervais set fire to the bridges across the Rbone . The Lower Town joined the insurrection . An auxiliary Radical force from the Canton of Vaud was advancing to their assistance . Under these circumstances , on the Sth the Government—the Council of State—yielded , and gave in their abdication . The heroic working men of St . Gervaise foug ht most nobly . Two hundred cannon shots were fired against the barricades before they were overthrown ; then , however , the militia found the hottest of the
fi « ht was only commencing . The moment the militia attempted to enter the faubourg , they were received with a deadly and unceasing fire of small arms from the windows , house-tops , and every spot from whence musket or rifle could be fired . The occupation of the faubourg was attempted on two points , but at br . th the militia were driven back with great loss of life ; the militia were , therefore , compelled to retreat across the bridges . Finally , as above stated , the population of the lower town rose en masse , and the aristocrats , menaced with certain destruction had they longer resisted , were compelled to surrender .
Our readers wi . l understand the important consequences likely to result from this popular triumph , from the following letter from Berne , of the 9 ih inst . published in the Constitutionnel;—One hundred and one rounds were fired this morning to celebrate the triumph of the Liberal party in Geneva , parties foresee in the changes which have just taken place in the rieheU of the cantons important consequences for the whole Confederation . They are convinced that the half voice necessary to complete the majority of the States required to sanction the expulsion of the Jesuits and the dissolution of the Ultramontane
League , wiU now be secured to them . On the one side Basle-city is agitated by the young generation , which has abdicated the prejudices and rancour of the old possessors of the cantons ; on the other side , the existence of the present order of things in the canton of Friburgh , wheie the French Liberal party had a decided majority , only holds to a thread . Finally , even at St . Gall , the opposition in the Grand Council only wants one vote to turn tlie scale , and enable the Federal Diet to settle the important questions which have been pending during the last two years to the satisfaction of the popular party .
Glory to the herocs ' of St . Gervais . Glory to the patriots of Geneva . Glory and triumph to the democracy of Switzerland Interesting intelligence from Italy , Greece , Russia , and the United States , and glorious news from freedom ' s fastnesses in the Caucasus , will be found in our seventh page . We have no room for comment and none is needed to induce our readers to pray for the continued success and glory of the brave Circassians , and the continued ruin and humiliation of the Muscovite miscreant and his slaves
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Wflunuj Wmaucw The Movement At Athena On...
THE CHARTER AND NO SURRENDER !
PUBLIC MEETING IN ST . PANCRAS . Another of labour ' s gatherings for the adoption of the National petition took place on Tuesday evening , October 13 th , at the Vestry-rooms , Gordon-square , St . Pancras . The meeting was rendered more than usually important from the fact , that tbe chief parochial functionary , tlie churchwarden , filled the chair on the occasion . At half-past seven o ' clock , C . E . Wagstaff , Esq ., churchwarden , was unanimously called to the chair ,
amid loud applause . He said , he believed that the boasted freedom of Englishmen consisted of their privilege of discussing questions affecting thcirrig lits and liberties . Respecting this privilege , the vestry had readily and unanimously granted the use of the suite of rooms in which they were then assembled , and with equal readiness when requested by his nei ghbours , he had consented to preside over their deliberations . ( Loud cheers . ) Seeing the talented men around him , he would not attempt to trespass upon their time ; he would , therefore , call on Mr . Samuel Kydd to address them , ( Loud cheers . ) aamuei ivyiiu to auuress tuem , ( houu enters . j
Mr . ICybd rose , and read tiie resolution as follows : — That whereas the system of representation , as established wider tho Parliamentary Act of 1332 , called the Reform Bill , excludes from the rights of citizenship six-sevenths of the male adult population , and whereas such exclusion is not less injurious to the best inteicsts of the community than unjust in principle , this meeting considers that right and sound policy combine to demand a veritable Radical Reform of the representative system at present existing ; therefore , this meeting resolve to petition Parliament for the enactment of the People ' s Charter—a measure which , embodying " Universal Suffrage , " "Annual Parliaments , " "Vote by Ballot , " "Xo Property Qualification , " "Equal Il-ipresentiiiion , " and " Payment of Members , " will restore to the people the active exercise of their inalienable rights , and thereby afford thein the means of correcting all grievances , and enacting all necessary measures of reform .
He said , he might , with advantage , have divided the resolutions into sections , but he preferred treating it as a whole . He did not know that he could better illustrate his subject than by a reference to ihe past ; and so sure as the past showed us an appalling pic ture of misery , destitution , and wretchedness , so sure would the future , if the resolution he had the honour to submit , was adopted , be productive of peace , prosperity , and happiness . ( Loud cheers . ) So I 011 4 as brute force prevailed , might prevailed oyer rights , and property confined to the few . He pointed their attention to the past in order that , for the future , they might eschew the evil , and choose the good . ( Hear , hear . ) Rome , intormev periods , was great bv the mere brute strength of her standing army ,
which , for a season , overcame the world : yet , so alarmed was she at the approach of reason ' s light , that she immured Gallileo in a dungeon , after he had arrived at the age of seventy years , for merely enunciating a great truth . ( Hear , hear . ) Yet did this great principle of brute force prevail at the present time in England , and by it she boasted that her monarch ruled the world ; but , fortunately , the time had arrived , when mentality would supercede brutality . ( Hear , hear . ) His resolution warred not only with mere falsehood , but something more ; it warred with that system than represents money , and
consequently renders money all powerful under tne reform act , " and that very money power would prove the curse of the country , if the working classes did not unite to carry out the principles contained in that resolution . ( Loud cheers . ) Again he asked , was nat money all powerful ? Go to the Exchange , and ask a money-monger it ' he is executing his stewardship justly , and a policeman would be called in , and tlie interrogator given into custody . ( Hear , hear , ) Money arms country against country—citizen against citizen , son against the father , anu the mother against the daughter ; and so it runs on until the whole of society is contaminated bv its damnable influence . Well ,
what do wc purpose to do by way of remedy , lo enfranchise man . not money . In the words of Julian Ilaniey , we adopt for our motto , " your rights and no more , our rights and no less" ( Loud cheers . ) But some one might say , have you not tried the Suffrage in Aiscrica , and has it not failed , lie answered no . To give America the credit due to her , much had been done there , but unfortunately she inherited tho vices of here forefathers , and they were a money making people . ( Hear , hear . ) But as regards education , the state of Boston alone had devoted £ 30 , 000 for that purpose Ji . sum equal to that the Whigs voted to educate a nation . ( Loud cheers . ) Put that down in your note books , you who rail
asainst democratic institutions . ( Much applause . ) Might we not fairly anticipate , that did we possess the Charter , our mental qualilications would stand much higher than at present . ( Hear , hear . ) In this respect America was a head of us . Lord John Russell talked of Education , and Sanatory Reform , whilst the people raised £ 16 , 000 , purchased an estate , and erected dwellings and a school-bouse , thus improving tbeir ventilation , iliuminiug their own minds , and bettering their own general condition . He had much p leasure in moving the resolution , whose princip les went to the root of the disease , and would prove the only efficient . K * niedy . ( Loud cheers . )
JrxiAX IIarxet , who was received with applause , rose to second the resolution , and said : —This resolution asserts that the system of representation established under the Reform Bill is unjust in principle and injurious to the best interests of the community . It is clearly unjust that six-sevenths of the adult populatisn should be excluded from the rights of citizenship . That they are so excluded none can gainsay , for whereas the adult males of the united kin » don number about seven millions five hundred thousand , the number of electors does not exceed at the utmost one million . Will any one assert tbat this is just ? Will any prince , " potentate , or peer—any one of the privileged , anv priest whose voice is raised to sanctify wrong .
any lawyer whose cunning is devoted to making the worse appear the / - -better cause—will any of these dare to stand here and proclaim the natural inequality of mankind ? For myself , and' for my brother Chartists , I fling down the gauntlet , let any take it up who dare . ( Cheers . ) When I shall see one portion ol mankind coming into the world with saddles on their backs and bits in tbeir mouths , and when I see another portion provided , at their birth , with spurs to their heels and whips in their hands to ride and drive tiio ' ir fellows , thou I will believe in the justice and right of the present order of things , but not before . ( Loud applause . ) To enter into an examination of the question of popular suffrage , fully and completely , to answer all the cavillings and
sophisms of the enemies ot the popular sovereignty is impossible , seeing that my time is limited ; 1 can but notice one or two points . I assert that under the existing system the people are politically slaves : slaves even according to the meaning of the term as understood by our ancestors . Our opponents assert that Universal Suffrage , as we understand that principle , never existed in this country . Tliey say , that in the early period of English history the franchise was confined to that portion of the commonality entitled freemen . The tillers of the ground were for the most part serfs , denied political franchises , which were confined to that portion of the people who bore arms , or were liable to military service in defence of the state . Arms and the Vote
were the distinguishing features ot the freemen as opposed to the serfs . But admitting this we must remind them that serfage has been long abolished ; nominally , at least , slavery is no longer tolerated in this country ; and we ali ' know that no portion of the commonality are now exempted from the liability to bear arms in defence of the country . Thus the existing system imposes upon the people the duties without investing them with the rights of freemen . To be really emancipated from villienage wc must , even according to feudalist ideas be invested with the franchises of freemen , if not , then the pretended abolition of serfdom is a sham . ( Applause . ) But I found my . ' argumentupona broader basis , and I assert that if the English serf was denied the active exercise
of his rights , those rights were still inalienable . ( Cheers . ) God did not make serfs—( cheers)—he made men . ( cheers . ) God madencither privileged tor unprivileged , neither kings nor subjects , neither lords nor slaves ; but men and women , free , and destined to be happy . ( Great cheering . ) As to the worn-out argument , that the people are not sufficiently intelligent to fitly exercise the franchise , that is sufficiently answered by the fact that the people are always iu advance of their rulers in opposing bad or demanding salutary changes . ( Hear , hear . ) In 1815 the Boroughmoncering Parliament passed the Corn Laws against the will of the unrepresented
people , who were hewed down by ruffianly yeomanry cavalry-men on the fatal field of Peterioo , when assembled to protest against those laws , and to petition for Universal Suffrage — ( hear , hear ;) — and now after thirty years experience the legislature has abandoned those laws . Subsequently the people opposed the New Poor Law , but they were unrepresented , they had but few friends in the House of Commons , although amongst those law was that noble of nature and glory to the English name , the immortal William Cobbett . ( Cheers . ) The people protested in vain ; that law was enacted , and now on all sides it ia confessed that the law is a
failure . ( Applause . ) That law is the great English difficulty of the present government , and wc behold at this moment a vast organization prenaring under the direction of the member for St . Albans , for the purpose of superseding that law . Again , for years , a number of reforms were demanded by tho peoplefor instance , the abolition of the slavo trade , the extinction of black slavery , corporation and postoffice reforms—before the government would so much as strfeteh forth a little linger to carry out the popular will . ( Applause . ) Now , the people ' s demand for the Charter is opposed and condemned , and the idea of universal suffrage is scouted as absurd and mischievous , ridiculous and ruinous . But " wait a little longer . " Lord John Russell who now declares tbat he will resist the six points to the last , has been
Wflunuj Wmaucw The Movement At Athena On...
TZl of t re nowto bel'evein the justice and c „ il , i i measures wbich "e had prcviouslvopposed and denounced . ( Hear , ' hear . ) In 1821 , Lord John Russell defended the nomination boroughs , as Z ?? r •\^ - ^ T o ^ ^ part oi mr Wesscd constitution jet m 1831 , he introduced a bill to disfranchise those very boroughs . ( Hear , bear . ) He opposed Corn-law Repeal until he found that Peel was about to offer a more popular bid , and then , but not till then , he declared for total repeal . ( Hear , 1 " ™' - ) .,. " may be , therefore , that Lord John Russell will yet see tlie wisdom and propriety of our demand lor the Charter ; and in a few years hence , acknowledge that the people were more intelligent than himself . ( Loud applause . ) If not . if lie is not to be the minister for whom is destined the glory of
agisting at the birth of a regenerated people , if he be unworthy of that high mission , too coward I v , or too dishonest for the performance of so glorious a tnsk , why , then , never fear , but if once the Chartist twelve arc side by side with Duncombc in the House of Commons , when the hour comes , the man will not be wanting . ( Enthusiastic cheering . ) As respects what is said in the resolution of the injurious results ot the present system , no lengthy argument is needed to pn . ve that . The demoralization and destruction ot life which repay the toil of our factory workers ; the veritable shiverv of our collier and mining population ; the misery of our agricultural labourers , their wretched hovels , their foodless homes , their subserviency to the infamous truck system , their punishment in Poor-law Ibistiles , the temptations held out and punishments inflicted upon them through the accursed Game-Jaws ,
—( cries pt hear , hear)—the cellars of Liverpool and the wynds d Glasgow—all these attest the effects . of class-usurpation and class-misrule . ( Applause . ) Could the so-called ignerant people have by their legislation possibly produced a worse state of things ? ( Cheers . ) Look at Ireland . Would Chartism haveallowed a people to subsist for centuries upon the verge of famine ? ( No !) And now that actual famine has come , that despair and Jrenzy 1 ms seized upon the unhappy people , would Chartism give bullets to the brcadicss , and send bayonets as the means of quieting starving men and hungered women and children ? ( Shouts of "No ! " ) That there are ignorant and slavish men amongst tlie people who would nut exercise rightly , or exorcise at all , the rights the Charter would confer upon them , I do not rifcp'ite , but those are not the many , these are not tbe men who would guide public opinion ; these are not the men who even now elect Dinicombe and
Wnkiey by show of handi previous to the eonfirmatifii of their election by the electoral body . ( Cheers . ) 1 am persuaded that th ? great muss of the people are fully qualified to exercise the rights of citizenship , am ! those who arc not so qualified would speedily become so . ( Cheers . ) What would be said of a man who bavin « a youth placed under his instruction to learn the trade of a carpenter , should tell the youth that ho must not think of handling the tools urtil h « had learned his trade ? ( Laughter . ) If you want to iHiikoaman a carpenter , you give him the axe , the hummer , the plane , the chi-icl , the saw , and other tool * , and he learns how to use them , lie may out his fingers once or twice but he will outlearn that- ' ( cheers ) so , give the most uninformed the suilV . igc , and they willnotcut their fingers very often by returning dishonest or incompetent representafcVes . ( Applause . ) What would bo said of a man who ' would not allow
his ssn to go into the water until he had learned to swim ? Give the people the suffrage , and they will dive to the depths of society , and fetch up "pearls of great price ; '' they will strike out their vigourous limbs and reach iu safety the haven of freedom and happiness . ( Great cheering . ) For the attainment of this great right we must persevere in spite of all opposition , and all discouragement . Tlie press will not report us . The magnificent mooting at the Crown and Anchor was totally burked by the Times , and merely noticed in miserable paragraphs by other journals . The equally magnificent meeting at tin-Eastern Institution was altogether passed over , and this meeting will share the same fate . Thus we are treaied by the press . The people nice * and petition for inquiry into their grievances—they meet and ask
for their rights as men and so long as they do thus legally and peaceably , so long the press stifles their voice . When , however , goaded by despair , and wearied of the contemptuous indilf-rent-e with which their prayers have been treated , the outraged , peopl « write tlie ' ir wrongs upon England's soil in characters of fire and blood ; then the press finds its voice , then it denounces tha people , and invokes the vengeance of the law upon the unhappy masses . The press then demands dragoons and hangmen , to smother in blood that agitation which the base press-gang have mainly caused . If the conductors of the press had done their duty , long before this the people would have
been instructed 111 the dntu-s of citizens , and long before this would have enjoyed the rights of citizens . ( Great Applause . ) The press-writers are infinitely more to blame for the wrongs and misery of the people th-in cither the government or the aristocracy . ( Renewed applause . ) But , in spite of the traitor journalists we will persevere and conquer . ( Cheers . ) Our cause is a cause worth struggling for ; in the words of the Martyr Muir , when sentenced to transportation for defending the principles of Chartismthe riyht of universal citizenship— " It is a goml cause , it shall yet prevail , ii shall finally triumph !" ( Enthusiastic and prolonged cheering . )
Mr . Ensssi Joxks rose amid much applause to support the resolution , and said , Mr . Chairman and Brother Chartists , it appears to me that we are assembled here more for the purpose of proving to the government and to the world at large our firm adherence to the principles propounded by the People ' s Charter , and our determination to carry those princip les into effect than to strengthen our convictions or brig hten our own perception of their truth . Indeed , the propositions it contains are so plain , so conforming with the laws of common sense and common honesty , that I can scarcely conceive how this light has been ke {> t under the bushel for so many centuries . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , what does the resolution before you say ? It says that a man lias a right to his own propertv , and to reclaim it from the
thief who stole it , or the roblwr by whom it wa > taken . Orig inally every man had nn equal right to an equal share in this earth , its produce and government . This is a proposition no political eeonomht can deny . Thus every man must have been , or oucht to have been , possessed of : in equal portion of the soil , wealth and power . Now wo see land , produce and government in possession of a few hands , while the landless , moneyless , and oppressed millions are starving . How did they lose their property and rights ? It can only be reasonably supposed . to have been in one of two ways ; either that they sold them for an equivalent , or that they were forcibly or fraudulently taken from them . ( Hear , hear . ) If the first , we naturally ask , what equivalent did the producim ; classes receive , aud when did they receive
it . Was it in the shape of property ? Hardly so ! Are they not plunged hopelessly into a national debt , the interest of which they are forced to pay with their \ cry blood . Was it in the shape of good governmenc ? Hardly so ! Good government is the greatest possible amount of good to the greatest possible number ; whereas we find a few rich idle men in palaces , mansions , barracks , pleasure yachts , and churches , while we see millions of poor working men in hovels , garrets , cellars , factories , unions , prisons , penal settlements , and bleeding on the triangle . Was it in the shape of education ? Hardly so ! For 1 hey themselves accuse us of ignorance , thus confessing that they never educated us . ( Hoar hear . ) We find , also , that this has ever been the case throughout the course of history , from the time
when Cain , the first soldier , murdered his hroiner , to the preset day , when we have armies of Cains with scarlet coats and glittering bayonets . ( Loud cheers . ) Then it is clear the equivalent has never been given , and the privileged holders of the land , wealth and power of this earth are debtors to the people for centuries of enjoyment and monopoly We now summon those debtors before the tribunal of nations , for wo will have back capital and interest ; aye , and compound interest as well , even to the last fraction , since , not content with defrauding you , they have treated you with contumely , goaded you with the lash , at the ? anietimo that they held back the food from your mouths , so near when you sowed and reaped , that the fnbled punishment of Tantalus of old is turned into a modern reality ,
although their scriptures say , thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn . ( Great cheering . ) But I deny that our fathers ever parted voluntarily with their rights and property . They were surrendered at the call of dire necessity . Self-constituted governments , raised by the hand of violence , or traitor rulers who betrayed their trust , robbed thorn by unequal laws that as they impoverished the industrious enriched the oppressor . Do you not daily hear the cry of " hard times ? " Let us translate the phrase into common sense . "Hard times " means "hard" government and "hard" laws . No times are "bard" wiien governments are just . ( Cheers . ) - Unequal legislation then became the creator of ignorance , for it kn « w that enlightenment was its most deadly foo . Therefore it established bad schools , lest others should come and establish good ones . Therefore ' the working mini ' s child is tiiudit little in those schools but this—" reverence vour superiors ! Ob y your betters 1 " Therefore he
is told to worship the throne aud _ tho altar ! which means insolence and taxation—tithes and idleness ! Therefore he is told , if in this life he consents to be an abject slave—if in this life he allows himself to be degraded below the level of a beast of the field—he has a chance of becoming a cherub in the next . Therefore he is told , if he meets a lady or a gcutlesnen to bow low and step aside , but if he meets a fatmore useful member ol society , n child of toil , he may pass whistling and heedless on his way . Bnt we are going to him , and when he repeats to us the hellish lesson of his childhood . " to reverence and humbly obey his bettcis , " wc will tell him that he has no bettors , and that earth has not a nobler title than tbat of an honest , independent man . ( Great applause . ) Unequal legislation next became the parent of crime ; for hunger makes a thief , and outrage creates a murderer . No man is born with sin in his heart . Then the thief and murderer , that is , the poor man who enacts the crime , is punished , and justly so , for in no case cau a violation of God ' s
Wflunuj Wmaucw The Movement At Athena On...
law be justified ; but what punishment is there for the greater criminal , who , by . his oppressive legislation , has become the creator of that crime , of which the sufferer is but the actor ? ( Loud cheers . J Thus has your property been stolen , thus Jiave your rights been denied you , thus mig ht your hearts have been corrupted , your minds debased and your very sunk infected by laws that you have been forced to upliold at the cost of your lives . ( Hoar , hear . ) These laws still exist in their full force ; nay , their hoaryheaded iniquity grows more rampant , every day , and it is against these laws that you arc called upon in the resolution you have heard to make a solemn protest ; it is against these h \ rs vou are asked to delend yourselves ; it is agstinst these laws vou are oxiiorted to elevate tho holier statute of the Charter
, and what i » the spirit of its principles ? — wiiv , simply tins , smcc we find that unequal Icislatioii lias been our ruin , we ask for ' As opposite—equal legislation . Well may the goddess of justice be depicted as blind . Oh , she has been blind for centuries , and given all to tlie most graspimr . Wow we wili tear tJio bandage off her cyesi , for it U high time she should begin to see . ( Cheers . ) I 11111 prepared to prove , that all , or nearly ail , the institutions of the country are cither unsanctioned by us , or hostile to our interests . We never said we- wanted 5 , standins army . Wc never wished men to bayonet their fathers , and , if ordered , to burn down the eoUnue homes of their childhood . They are of nn servieo- ' to us . "We clothe , feed and pay them , that tliey mav stab , shoot and sabre us at the biddi JWf of monopol
y . Never tell me the men of this country could not defend it against any invader without astamiing army . Make it a happy land for them , give them somethina worth defending , and trust me thev won't let anv mortal take it from them ; bnt you would find a recruit at every cottage door , and a bayonet in every hand . As for foreign conquest , we like not foreign conquest , we see no glory in war , and nothing religious in bloodshed , though it seems to delight the hearts of the Queen anil her archbishops , since in Speeches f ' .-om the throne and prayers from the altar they give thanksgivings to God ' that their fellowbeings have been most gloriously slauuhtered . And as for colonies , there is not a great colony that were nut hapoi .-r itself and move beneficial to the mothercountry , if this very hour it v . orc a mighty , allied
and independent nation . Witness America—what was our commerce with that colony ? What is our commerce with the empire ? ( Loud c-lipers . ) We never said we wanted gaudy bishops . Wc are not , proud ; less splendid ministers of religion would . satisfy us—men who should go to their churches mi foot , as Christ and his apostles did before them . We never said we thought an expensive court indispensable for maintaining by . its ma > tniiicence the dignity of the country . We believe , on tho contrary , that ihe dignity of the conn try is best maintained by the prosperity of its people . We never sent such costly ambassi'dors to foreign despots . Alter all , they have nut the dignify of the Swis-j cnvoy who came bare-footed before Duke Charles and tho mo ' iiiited chivalry of liurirui-dv . which ileel that
very day like diiht before the whirlwind of his countrymen . We never invited Nicholas of Russia , lie was 110 guest of ours . Then why should the food lie taken from our mouths to feast him at the royal banquet board . If the Queen has such reum-d ts-r that murderous barbarian , let her entertain him with sourcrout and " sausages from her jfamily in Germany , instead of taking to feast him the " source of strength from the lips of infancy and the stall * of life from the hands ol age . Then why , why , in the name of justice , should we pay for goods " we never ordered , and gue . ' -ts we never invited ? ( Immense applause . ) And what , 1 ask , are our rulers about in this time of fearful prophecy ? Members are basjginggame on the moors of Scotland , nftrr having made game of us in a much more barren place—the
House of Commons ; though , thank heaven ! they have not bagged us yet . ( Laughter . ) Churchmen are building churches , while those already buiit are but half filled . Uncharitable Chrfctiuns iniglu sup . pose it was to create more living ? , for more parson ' s If the adage be true , " the nearer the church , the further from God , " how far we must all be , since we meet a church at every turning ! '( Laughter . ) The fjueen , mir lovely , gentle-hearted sovereign , is looking out for fresh palaces on the Coruis-h const , while the workhouses of the empire cannot hold the starving population . And we . —we are waiting for the Charter . Waiting ! what for?—For the ' Duke of Norfolk to teach Lord John Itussell how the people ' . uight to be fed . Waiting ! For tho archbishop of Canterbury ' s prayer to avert the famine . Waitim ;!
ror the manufacturer to say to his workman , "I think you work too much , and cum too little : take more and toil less . " Waiting ! For tbe baker to say to his man , " Since the passing of Free Trade bread has risen , therefore it is hut justice your wages should rise too . " Waiting ! For the Qucc-n to say , " My palaces arc too many and too large , mid my salary too high ; I will resign so much of both to the pour . " Waiting ! Mr . Chairman!—Gout ! heaven ! Those men are waiting for that which they could take at once . ( Great applause . ) . If you wait for these , or any of there , you may wait " long enough . Now . for my part , I confess 1 do not like waiting , fori have learned the truth of the adage— " while the grass grows , tlie steed starves . " But while we desire to reform others , we must not
be blind to the fact , that we want reforming ourselves . That it might elevate the mind , and strengthen the frame of men , if they went less to the !» in-palace . Rest assured , a man who drinks , however great his talents may Op , is worth nothing inn popular movement , in which cner » y , presence of mind , clearness of head and promptitude of action , are indispensable requisites . —And oh ! if there be any who cannot themselves resist the degrading vice , —why , oh ! why I ask them will you inoculate your children with the same ? The chiiil is sent to the tavern by its mother , to call the father home , —it is sent for beer or spirits;—it grows familiarised with chesiehtofvice , —it grows familiarised with the way to that accursed door , —and , believe me ! he , that lias been sent there so often for another , when a child , wii :
iiud the way for himself when a man . ( Hear , hear . ) If you ffish to change Chartism into government , you must break its last lingering link with tlie pothousc and the tavern ! I have witnessed publichouse meetings , where the members told muthey could not afford to build a hall , or hire a room . Nay , I have seen them spend more ia gin , beer and tobacco , thai-, would have paid- for a room to contain twice their numbers . ( Hear . ) Again , we must quench envy . petty jealousies and discussion . 1 believe this is well nigh banished from within our ranks , —but the tempter comes from without;—fresh attempts am being made to disunite you , Aa wo have Iicen lately told , theseraiation-crybf Church and State ii being raised under the name of religious liberty , Give us religious liberty , in well as every other , —but do not "ive us religious liberty alone . Will religious liberty
give you a leg of mutton on your spits , or a coat on your backs ? Will religious liberty give you a vote- ? Will religious liberty cut down the pension-list or the civil-list ? Will religious liberty do away with the llon .-e of Lords ? Will religious liberty abolUh a standing army ? Will religious liberty throw open the parks to culture and pass the plough through the preserves ? Will religious liberty give you the land ? Then let us have that thing iirst , which gives us those ! Meanwhile wo will keep reiiaiousliberty sale , and alive within our hearts and brains . They have seized upon that one of our requirements , to disunite and disarm us , which was just tho very one that would not injure them nor benefit us ! No ! wo want social and political liberty as well , and then we will take good care religious liberty shall not be far off . And wc can coin it all , for , to parody the old national distitch : —
Chirlhls no wily toe sliall rM . If Chartists to themselves keep true ' . It may have appeared , my friends ! as though through " past generations , heaven itself had been against the people , and for their tyrants , so many resolutions have been rendered abortive ^ , by trilling and unforeseen events . But , Sirs ' . it was not Heaven that was against the nations , but tho nations that were against themselves ! They fiavc been cowards , —they have been slaves . —ihcy have been unmanly , miserable slaves!—for they have bent with servility to those whom they should have chastised , they have kissed the hand , that smote thorn on the face . It is only those who deserve to ho free , thai shall ever win their liberty . Freedom comes not of herself , —vou must go and seek her . there is
no time to rest , till you have found her . Tfe « corn will grow , while the husbandman sleeps , but he must first have ploughed and sown . You , however , seem to have passed the timoof trial ! you are no longer confounding the right divine of kings with tho divine rights of man ; you no longer < iivo to tho priest the homage that is due to his Ifcdr—you are becoming worthy of your liberty , and therefore om father which is in heaven , permits his mighty famine to visit the nations , —it cwnes permitted by tied ,, but created by man , not l » punish , hut lo stir ihem on , not to crush them , but to give them strennlih , — a dreadful messenger , breathing inspiration through their hearts , —experience through their councils ,, ami power through their multitudes . —for rci-aembuv T the days are past , when manna f alls from hcavt u . Expect nothing but from your own ai timis ! . —Gedaids those , who aid themselves ! J > o this ! and in Hie words of Cromwell : the spirit of the Lord shall be
with the people ' Above ail expect no succour from a government , that although it lias a census taken every ten years , —although it numbers the people as a flock of sheep upon the pastures of monopoly , and finds that they increase by kaif-, i-million every year , —yet takes no pains to seo , whether tlve suppl y of tood increases in - the like proportion ! ( Hear , hear . ) Hut in Ireland the step of the avenger is heard ! Oh ! little did they think , that the very ministers of Heaven itadi ' should be sent to confound thorn ' . Tho rotting of a humble root of tho earth shall tamo their pride , and overturn their sway ! There the thin hs \ nd of famine is grappling with the hearts of men .. Mcthinks I can hear the voice whispering rebellion—see her bony finger pointing to the expovtc . 1 food—while that patient , willing people have b , oen looking on in mute and sorrowful forbearance . , trusting , as with the confidence of a child , to the soothing promises of their magistrates and pas-
Wflunuj Wmaucw The Movement At Athena On...
- ^ .. ^ . . . i-. ^ . ^^ . . . ^ . ^ . _ r-., n 1 , 1 , i ] lS ~ \ r ' P aeinc ' during the hour of dancer , till t leso . diers of Victoria had time to arrive , aini with wifi !? , > , ' ? pieicc their poor , confiding hearts J Well 1 Well ! So be it . Those voll ' es sound the knell 01 more than of the murdered neasant ! W « will . ive Si ? f l m , "" et—but our bullets shall l ; e '" tue balls ot the ballot , rat miilionfold bv the hand of Universal Snlirnao , more eitiraeious in prostr .-i iir- " Olir enemies , that their murderous wcnpoM in . Wnig the charmed life of our Charter ! ( Jshibc-wo cheering ) Irc . an . l , s a Un-ihle lesson held un to vou by thcjjhnnd oM ' od . Oh . ' take w .-. rninL' bv if . t . ; . j s ii too late . \\ hat tjuaiMntue hare vou that , ] - ' ii" ! , v-d may ml soon become the same ? Take pity on Vi ^ poor Irish people ! 1 'ity ? No ! Duiustico . ' jtisnndi'p
the same government—ratcu" by thu same policy—and destined to the same fate , if you do not intcrjiose . and take pity on yourselves . Give them tin ir ' ywii broad to eat—you wili be savin ;! your . * , in the end . Drive famine from there , and yr . u will never t-eo her here . Jln ' tish Uereu ' cs ! strangle the serpent serd of monopoly , ere it has growth enough to j-jan the ehfllinel . ( Great eluc-l-ilig , ) A \\<\ in what more tines famine , that terrible monster point ? To the midnight torch upon the mountain top—to the shattered mansion and the hut-sing cottage—to tho bm .-ened h & ll of a riiiliiin soldier- —to the red blued on iiiu accursed bayonet— and to tho s ; - ; ur of out rayed ivoHianhood f a Ireland . Jluiiiwe—aiill snore ' , that dreadful hand is po ' idli'm hither to Eng ' wnd ! To the prospective of dtserted ileitis , and siornsy patht-i-ings of fierce th » u « aiuls;— Iliumer I ' uv tlisir
uenoral--De-ipaii' for their councillor , and murdsr fur flitir priest . It is this fruit oi' Whiit-nw nv . m-nt— c ! : « ss monopoly , and urn-quit ! laws , tiV . it it wili be our duty to prevent—thi-oiiuli the mear . s r . f i . vr C ' . h . vter . Save U- —save your country—save the caiiH .-oniheriy from this ! You can yet slsj .: \ peaei : fi ! iiy ,. r . ii . rf tb-n " bloodshed over gives to man ! The Charter i-tili mi ! .-Hence the caniii'M and blunt tho bayonet ! Herald of peace am : an ^ ul of redemption , it invites you to serve the sacred cause of buniniiily ; . " . ml while the powers of hell are sharpening tho sword of mn ^ Rcrc in the arsenals of kinus , it comes like the siwrist :. ca ' m , great ., and "lonr-us , sheddim : . - !¦¦ nmniptiteneo of peace on iho 1 . irth ; hdiing the storms of our tempeaiiions siiic :- " , and pcurimi over tin : d : » rkev . eii child ot ^ tiih-c-ry , tin , broad day uf plenty and COiHCntKK'lit- ' . ( Eiitiiii .-ia .-tic ! cheers . )
. \ lr . MMJki . lkty , said is was the first time he had ever addressed a public meetim :. ile h . id . ' . efii'l niseii of the distress in Ireland , h ' . st tliey h .-id y- ; t heard but iitclf ; of die destitution prevailing in the islands and Miihlands of Seotlund , of the thou-amis pei-i ; hin ^' wi thout ; ithci-potatoes or r ., e ;'! , iu the sJurs ' tf that country , l . oek at tho hti . 'iibc ' iS ii : rre-l from 1 heir holdings away front friend ' s and vc-lativts , (/ .- U > the weather or to the roads to ptririi . Tke Quaker pruCtoded to relate several ' clcanu . ecs" or v .- t-vdines out" 01 the . people of the S'isrh'ards , by tho Dnke of Sutherland amli . Unrt ; -v : i :: n ' ; tni Sere ' ii mistocr .-its , which excited tho imiiuuniit I'titeiic ^ oflhe inretin ? . Mr . M'Gel-. 'ty ct . nciuiio ' . l !> y liniiiiimeiisg his intention fr » lecture to the- hlnuiii-h public ou lite wroms ai : il ypiimn . us- of his Ilishhnid amnlrymen . 'iho re .-niutii-n wjss then \ -u > . i ' loni the chair , and carried unanimously . _ Mr . Jiuix Auxi . tt then read and moved the adaption of iln-. Nntioiiiii Petition .
Dr . MmJouaix in soc-OiiiUtii ! tin : moll . n , gr . id he felt as niueli as his cmi ' itryiKeM could do for tlie prevailing distress in tha Wert of Scotland , or as much as any Irisho . cn could do for the esislinj ; t ! if tress in Ireland , but the only eii ' cctual rwiuxiy was to place the menus of prevention in tho ham ' s of the people for the future . Competition sttmd much in the way , giving full granaries tothe rich , and empty cupboards to the poor . ( Hear , hear . ) iio-. v was this I lie thought itmfehtbij traced ioehiss made laws . ( Hear , hoar . ) Tim law of primogeniture allowed the oiikse born to take the estate , and leave the younger son to be provided for by the natim , e-.: ita > tsneutly the blackguards of the family are placed in the army and navy , and the fools were put into the church . ( Loud , cheers . ) We have five ' million acre ? of watte land .
wbv not send the two millions of surpitu ' naiuis out of the labour market or to the land ? ' Suppose that- ii takes six millions of money to support rite two millions surplus hands iu idleness , could not that money thus saved be placed to other purpose- ? i > eh as educating the people . Again . ' would not the two tui'i ' . or . s thiis placed on the soil , w-iut lmts , {¦ hor . * , ciothes , furniture , knives : , field and garden implemenrs , ito . Con-ti ;( if km in tlie labour market would be ie .-s-eued , fifteen mm would he wanted when ouiy five were to be loviiul . of course , wages would rise i . i pr ;> p :. rt : on . You want the power of thiis bene ( k-iaUy employing the waste lauds the Charter would confer upon the people . ( Great cheering . ) The late storm in London blew down two houses in High llolbom , and in so doin- ; it blew away two votes , but had it blew away
two men ' s heads and left the voof of the houses s'anding . the votes would have remained . Such was our present excellent representative system . ( Hear , he -r . ) The Dr . next proceeds to show the evil produced by the manufacture of goods within the walls of prison , when made to compete with out doer lahour , and asks , mast not our system of legislature bo defective when such thin » s are alinwui ? ( Loud cheers . ) Our earth was teautifnl , Cod showered his blessings most abundantly , but the .-irisrocnicy of laud and money had built a wall around this earthly paradise , reason would , however , ore long round her empire , and that wall would fall before : the brilliance of her lightning rays . ( Loud cheers . ) He had told Karon ( iurney , when . scntencitiir him to twelve months imprisonment- for advocating the rights of \ wa \\ , that iiu should live to witness the triumph of ri « iit over might in establishment of tho People ' s
Charter , and he wa < now more than ever convinced that he should . ( Great applause . ) Yes , Chartism shall triumph over tyranny and oppression , and under its rule vice , miso .-y and wretchedness shall not be known , but peace , prosperity and happiness shall cover the eai-ili . ( Vociferous cheering . ) Mr , t , m , WiiKKiiKu rose amidsii cimsidprahle cheering , to support the adoption of thu Petition , lie did so , because it had received the sanction of many millions of his fcllow-jnr-n , ami , because he , like Dr . Al'Doual , believed it was calculated to produce contentment and happiness . ( Loud cheers , ) We are all born live and equal . The People ' s Charter is our right , mid will be ours as soon as wc demand it , with a de-termination to be its possessors , ( itear , hear . ) Oh , said some , its possc-s ^ iop . wi . u ' . vi injure the present state of thu money market , but- ho said , if it is our right , let us have it , and if the present system is so rotten that it will not bear the-
apprtiach of right , let it fall , and we will build un another better suited to the present age , ( Loud ciiecr-The Petition was then unanimously adopted . Mr . Stai . i . wood rose much applauded to move the fallowing resolution ;—" That , in the opinion of this meeting , the return to Parliament of it few patriotic individuals 10 act in eoncurt with the small band of noble spirits ulriradyin the House , and favourable to the democratic cause , wuuid o : a ! i-i-ial ! y strengthen the efforts of thu people for freedom . This meeting therefore approves of the principles and oi-juets of thu Election and Registration Committee , and wiih a view to rendu- it ail the support in their power , htivby elect th-i following persons 10 act as a local committee , in co-operation therewith t—Charles iv . iert W < i : ; st : uV , John Hornby , Ch-. ivlcs l'liRe , Charles Huddrid . se , Alfred lV . tit , William l \ -rry , John Harris , Wil . Mam i ' erris , Charles Hall , and John Araott . "
Ho said , the remedy for our political evils , the Charter , had been adopted , the means of accomplishing the remedy was now before -them , and he thought it was indisputably Ihe best mode ofpiet ' lvJuiv , ami fortunately , isi this disiWut o f the metropolis , they would not have much difficulty to contend with . lie recollected atteudimj some time * since a meeting at the Exmotuli Arms , Lxmotttlistrcct , at wiiich their respected uhairmaii was present , surrounded by his colleagues in ofik-i . ' , when thi-y oiL-reil to place all persons eominir witnin : hc meaning of the Reform Act on the rate book , and see them duly entered on the electoral vols , and lis did not believe they had become less lib' -ni . ( hear , hear , from tbe chairman . ) Hence , if they bi'd not tho votes and they were legally qmililicd , the tauit would be their own , and let thev . i U .:-. \; - in mind . xhat beinir on the rate books qualiiied tlict . -i to act parochially as well as nationally . I'c truMci they wotiltl adopt the resolution he had the honour tusu ' wiut ,
and net on it , with promptitude , vigour , and determination . ( Loud applause . ) Mr . Jons Gathaisd stcoiided the m-.-tiou , w ; i : ch was unanimously adopted . Mr . Jons Houmiy mov-. ' sl , Tlm » the "be . it tlnmks til" this mootiBjr : ir * d : ; . ' . nnd ai'a htrjby jjiven to this Vestrymen , for tins u »< .- of the Rooms , which was carried by acclamation . Mr . Joiix AuNOiT moved , The thanks of the ni' . ctiii !; to the CliHlimau , for 1-U impartial condnei in Vhs vio-. iv , Which was seconded by Mr . ILutiiis , and carried iniiiiiiinously , amid iho ioiulrsfc api .-jaiue . 'Die Chairman said ho should bo unwortiiv tll - iir
esteem did he not highly appreciate ihe compliment ; just paid him . Tho wnrhiiur i-sc-n had decidedly taken the right vo > . d . In !>>];> , they were told the ncople were not intelligent en- u-.- ' u—hovavtr that ini ; . ; ht have been then , it was not so now . if the people of l- ' rnncc lnul lost their ri .-thts after liitinfiiily gaining them , from wind , ol the 5 uiOwh'ds ; u of l . e . w to use those ri . uhts , it was quite evident the people of England were 'better iuiurmed . ( Hear , hear ) As an elector , so far as he was concerned ,, lie p . ei . eci himself never to vote for any wan wnl ^ s lie
y-voraised co extend the elective franchise . ( Loud cheers ) Mo wis happy to Hud the working clashes « ™ Id tot with them at last iu the matter ot registration , ( 1 quitufturo ho was , that bit ^ jf ^ S ^ render tlipni CVOT assistance . ( Much . tppuuse . ) [ " was d lig hted t / fiud the working classes so zealous ^ y cult vatius their intellects , and ho believed ifc would be found the surest T , ay to political power . The Chairman then announced tho meeting dissolved and left his seat amidst rapturous applause . A ! ar » c number of signatures wore obtained to the Petition , aa the people passed from the rooms ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 17, 1846, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_17101846/page/5/
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