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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th May 1848, Edition 3 of 3, Page 6, N T I JLU talked of those dsleii Tho 6 T...

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      N T I Jlu Talked Of Those Dsleii Tho 6 T...

      6 THE NORTHERN _g TAi _gl __ ==: May 6 / 18 _^ J 1 L 1 U

      Mr-Mckir M.P., After * Few '^Jg^Fs Taura...

      _Mr-McKir M . P ., after * few ' _^ _Jg _^ fS _taUrai . Mid that he tad al ways t « n m the habit of _eallii * thins _, by their right M _^ _" _**^ fi ™ tt Comm ans . _Ken ™ e * _= r „ f Commons vrere they were _*»*> w M » _tJe ° oyernffien * for having thieve * . He _cmio , n _«« , j og _been fniht-6 _» a . M « _««? _J « _Sf g f _whtoh ( he said ) he had _^ _irfT n _etrrSe and f . ra . Thereafter tho _tPP 0 _^ ntieman ' w nt on . 0 show the policy and _expofen cfof he people not _king too ultra on either the _Snr the -ther . He had n * objection he said , £ Uni versal _Sufr « e _himwlf ; he saw no' objec t _^ _wh-tever to it , _providing they conld get the _bulot with it- without it there w > uld be all sorts ot bribery and interference -. N . _< w ( continued the hou .

      _Kmtlan-sn . ) can yoa , 33 tbe prople _, get the Ciiarter _without the c-ns nt of _jeople in other _- _phices t Toa all _remember seeing in the payers as account ot a _Beetinff of Eembere of parliament to take into . _con-EideratL certain reform * for which there Mrt new an _aquation in the _c-mntry . At that meeting all the _hearings ofthe quest-on were discussed , aad after a lone and re . _socage discussion it was t ! . (> u _£ nr , Sfter to _» ke no steps whatever iu the matter until after Mr O'Connor '* motion . They did not wish the rmbiic to S 3 e that they were divided on it ; bat the _fe-t was . that of those who were _prfs-ofc at th * _axeliDE tO _WQich he _ws _. referrimr . _hur-Bfthsi would £ » voted _aeainst _Universal Suffir . se : now he put it to them whViier they _we-e prepared , by _pers-stins ihs

      in their _demand for the _suffrage , t- give np _. upport of the one hundred members of parliament who _tran'd under the c * rcnnis-an < e < , _£ _" _**;»» them ? ( Hear ) 4 . very extended Household _Suffrage , with the Ballot Triennial Parliaments , and El . ctoral District ? , would give them such power that r . o _* . amjj wonld prevent their getting Universal Suffrage if fey required it . _U «* deprecated the spirit , that teem _*> a to actuate some Chartists who desired all or none ; it _seemed to him ( he said ) lite the man who ¦ wouldn ' t < _-o to the top of a church nntil be _cu'd jump np it . For his part he was as extreme a radical as _an-vbodv , acd always hai been ; but he should like to know ' what thit party _erer got of them selves , but , when they wera joined _together as tbe ? did in the political union , they made a great demon Btm ' _-onandif they did not get all , they got a great

      , , deal . At the present time the distress in the country was _becominz unbearable . He admitted that the suffrage , perse , wauld not mend the condition Of the people , but it would give them the power of enforcing theadoption of such _measures as would make them _happv . ( Hear , hear . ) His counsel therefore , was for the middle and wortriu _? classes to unite together in one solemn bond of _uhion , and they would obtain a large proportion of that which theywere seeking to obtain . ( Hear , hear . ) In bis opinion , those entertaining extreme opinions were bound to mate a slight sacrifice in order to obtain Household Suffrage ; then it wou'd ba impossible for airj § overnsnentto withhold a more extended reform , ifcb 8 people _required it . For his own part , he had always relit d od the mass of the peuple in his elections , and aa he had told the _Hoo > e of Commons .

      Mr _ScHJLsmU ) , M . P _., who was reoewedwith en _ihusiajtie cheering , rose to address the meeting , lie remirked _, thev knew the extent of his views upon the suffrage question ; they knew that he sincere !} aad deliberately _advocsted the _principle involved in the term _Universal Suffrage ar . d to that principle he now as strongly adhered as he had ever done , snd more sn . He had , however , signed the declaration jd _favnnr of the movement for _Househo'd _Suffrage th . it he might Km in that movement , which he . belifVed WOUld ctU * England from end to end

      Mr G . R . Dawsos , M A ., said the wishes of tbe working classes are well known ; tbe Charier defines them simply and clearlv . The question is , are the middle classes prepared to go that length ? I think they are TlOt . What is to be done ? Are the two clas-es to be regarded as _contracting parties , who mnst each mike concessions , or are the _working classes te insist npon the whole _demand ? Can yon get the Charter if the middle _class-s do not join ? WiU they join * If tot . what will yon do ? Wi ;) JOU _refuie a part because yon cannot set the whele ? To _thoss working men who , though Chartist * , are ¦ willing to join the household moven . ent . I would say — ' Be not deterred by so doing by what may bs said Moral courage 13 never more seen than in doing riEh * when it may be called wrone . ' Many Chartists feel that they _casnot demand less than lhe Charter . So be it ; hut let othere who feel they can , w thnut

      inc _-BsiMsncy , join a household _moveraent , at once do 8 ¦ . ( Immense _cfeemne . ) Mr Joseph Stcbgs next addressed the meetine-He _expressed Ms delight at testes so lar _^ -e and so _haraoTjiois a meeting , and his hopefulness that if tbey could only obtain their object they would not _quarrel about the _neme by which it was _caled . It was be knew their duty to advocate « _q-iality of political rights , hut he did implore them , if they could _BDt agree upon all points , n & t tr » _awasn-e * atv > u details . He trusted they would _Irok up-n those who did not eo ths wb _^ _le way as agreeing w _'^ th th era , and joining in coing a certain distance , as far as thev _coa'd now see their way . But he thonght his _friend Mr _Dawssn was rather too sanguine about the ma ' -ter and he ( Mr Slnrge ) should prefer _ging for the _great principle . ( Cheers . )

      Mr J . _Masox . a Chartist , said that hi ? friends , some of them wbo hsd spoken , had been more can did than he had expected , and he expressed his desire to know whst household suffrage meant . He did not think tbat the Chartists were fanatics . He hsd been a Chartist for years , but no fanatic . He was ene , too , who never called other persons by hard names ; and he _thonaht they shonld not look back opon the error g of the Chartists , or it might rake ud other unp _l easant _reminiscences . He woRld _vay to those who were for obtaining household suffrage , G _» oa . ar . d get as much as you can . ' and Jet the uuiver fal suffragists assist them where th _=. v cou'd . But ie called upon them as men of _principle to _reco'Iect , teat when that bill for granting household suSrase Trent into the houses of parliament , thero would be amerjdment , upon amendment , until the promoters efthe bill would find that the one _passed was not the

      « ae tbey wished for . { Hear . ) They ( the complete _ttnvaze party ) had declared their princip les ; they did not complain of the exertions of _th-we who did Eot go quite so far , but he _wsuld rather say let them get a _« much a 3 they eould . Tbat declaration bad Beea _siirned by men of both parties' ., both working _Bieri tad midd ' ecla 'S men , which showed there was a mutual desire to _oooDerste . Mr Mason then went on to remind the meetins that in a co-operation of the middle and _working _clashes there was much to be forgiven and forgotten : and urged that they should _xatlier unitedly take their stand on the principle of _sniversal suffrase than on the _ficeommotlatin _? _pxpe-Kent _household suffrage , m tlic same time reminding the meeting of tbe fact , that the men _"f Binning-Bam were n _« w _baing led by men who would cause th .-m to work out their object by peaceable and Wit _' rr . ata means , and no other .

      Mr 0 __ _lX £ _iasnoge & teQ that it would be _be'ter to ask distinctly what was the nature of this ' houseiold MitTrage , ' to whica reference hsd been made that day . Mr Mum M . P ., replied that , at present , _tliere "had teen nothing definitive settled by the new Liberal ! ifirl * f in _reference to the extension ofthe _suffrage . Bebad ( he said ) before told thera that th _^ rs wers n _esri-un number of liberal _rnerabar 3 who had _asrepd _toesdfavonrto obtain an 'Extension of the Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , Triennial Parliaments , and Electoral Districts . '

      Mr _HriX , a Chart's _^ , considered the question put By Mr O'Neill in raft r--nce to the fall _meaning of the ¦ words , _'hsuseholdsuffrage' as very proper , mere especially as they should rightly understand the question before the meeting of Wednesday , prior to which be _contended the parties who called the meetxnz _orjsht to define precisely what improvements they were going for . The meeting br oke np without the adoption of any resolution whatever .

      Radical Meztiko Is Manchester.—A Numerou...

      Radical _Meztiko is _Manchester . —A numerous and enthusiastic meetine was held on 'Monday _nit-ht xn the Corn Exchange , _Manchester , in favour of Parliamentary raform and a reduction ef taxation . Between 2 , 000 and 3 000 people were present ; and the chair was taken by Mr John Brooks , late member of the Anti-cora Law League council , and the _unsuceJSsfnl candidate at tbe late election ftr the represeatation of _Bilton . He declared _himself favourable to Universal Suffrage , and , indeed , ti the whole sis points ofthe Charter ; but he was willing to go for _Bimethins less , because be wanted to rally round this _znorementell the strength he could get eat of doors , and then he would do battle with the par . _iameni m uch mora effectually . He was finaly convinced that the same amount of perseverance and determination that abolished the Corn Laws would obtain Pariiamentarv _Reform . There wag , he said , no town

      in England in point of intelligence more fit to bave Universal Suffrage than Manchester . Tbe _working classe s of this city possessed a great deal of good common sense , for which they were indebted chiefly to mechanics' and such like institutions . In many towns household suffrage would do very wdi , but in lame towns like Manchester , Universal Suffrage would do much better- ( Cheers . ) But , thorough Chartist as he was , he was williD _? , forthe present , to gosimoi y for those _reformssousht by Messrs Cobden , Hume ' , and others . Tho other principal speakers were Messrs J . C . D _^ er . A . _Prettire , A . Heywood , and Henry Yincent ; and resolutions were passed declaring that the present House of Common ? , by its _Ttccnt decision on taxation and expenditure , has forfeited the confidence of the people ; that tranquillity cannot exist until tbe industrious _clasfesare relieved from their _tppressire burdens , and properly is made fe » contribute if * juit proportion of the taxe 3 * , and that is order to counteract the _ruinoas _effect of

      pauperism and enme consequent upon the extravagance _**^ dJmbecilityof aristocratii governments , a further * Bf * Mra of reform , consisting of a wide Extension of W _6 Franchise , Equal Electoral Districts , Vote by Billot , Shorter Duration of Parliament , and No _riopxtj _ftaalifcation f or Members , is imperatively _!* aaarJ _3 d fc > saset the exigencies of the times . — Usui .

      The Nationau Petition And Mr O'Connor. S...

      THE NATIONAU PETITION AND MR O'CONNOR . SXTBACT FBOK COLOKII , TH 9 Hr 36 »' _a _LTiTTSB TO HU

      C 0 U 8 TITCKKT 8 . On _Tharsday , the I 3 cb , tha principal incidents were connected with the Special Repwt on the Petition for'Universal Suffrage , & c . ' The Committee on Publio Petitions stated tflem « el re * to have discovered , that the number of _signatures was only one million nine huadred and _seventy-fi > e thousand four hundred and ninety-six . Th _. t on " numerous and consecutive sheets the signatures are in one and the same hatidwrieiag . That thecame 3 of distinguished individuals occur in it , who cannot be supposed to have co-cared in its prayer . That there were names _obviouslv altogether fictitious . And that there were words and phrase ? written in form of signatures , whioh _riVcency prevents from being reported .

      All tbis looks as if there had been a good deal of ne . 'lecfc somewhere ; for everybody knew that facts of this D 3 'ure wonld damage a petition , and therefore _someb > dy should have looked to hindering it . The best advice that can be given to the petitioners , is , that it should not happen another time . _Meanwh- ' Ie tbe allegations must be reduced to their real value . It was slated m the house , that the name of t be _Di-ke of Wellington appeared written sixteen or _seventeen times ; which is tantamount to observing , iha * in one petition with a hundred thousand names , or in one out of a hundred petitions with a thousand names , which is vastly more tiian . too average number to a petition , the name of the Duke of Wellington was tound to be inserted once by W 8 y of joke .

      The same may be said of _thehctilioussignatures and the indecent . It ia plain that no single instance of this kind would be held to vitiate a petition with 6 ve hundred or a thousand names ; though it might be made a handle of against the member who presented it . I have seen indications of a like facetious spirit in petitions put into ray hands _; but should have _th-nis-k _* - _myself an _egregious ass if I nad allowed _trese tares of an enemy ' s sowing to interfere with the honestobject of the body of petitioners . In the present _c-ise , tbe charge of personal carelessness is only formal ; for by the shewing of the cemmiteeit would hate taken , tbe member for Notting _ham three _wt-eks , working twelve hours a day , and resting en Sundays , to examine the names himself . Nothing

      caa be plainer than , that tha things complained of were in the main the work of enemies and not of _friends It ' F ° Hy _* ° _£° before the millions with nonsense on such a subject . Per example , it has teen stated , tbat in one part of the petition waa found written , ' We could not get paid for any more ; ' and there were innocents who lifted up their hands in _arnaZJ at the depravity of the unrepresented classes . The most serious part of the oharge . ia that of sheets of names being written in one hand . It is a thing that has oiten beea heard of _twfore ; and it would be desirable io kn * _-w bow many sheets , and whether the _fcaraes thus suspiciously added , made one in a

      thousand or one in ten thousand of tho whole . I s \ r * _suspiciously , ' because where men of limits' habit * of writing are _coacerned , the proof of fraudulent intention is not absolute . Nothing might mora wily happen thaa tbat the inmates of a . given factoty < rneig _libonrhood , should invi > o the best writer among tbem to write their names as the readiest way . Soldiers in _signing their regimental accounts , have a tendency to the same kind of thing , which it requires _positive exertion to prevent . The petitioner ., or sf > wa of them acknowledged that the thing wm done , but not in fraud . At the same time there is no denying tbat it must not happen again .

      It was charged , tbat among the signatures are those of women . Tbere is no legal objection to wemen signing ; nor any objection at all , except that iraotnnticedu may affect tha estimate of tlio relative _s-t ? ength ofthe _petitioners . Iu the actual case , the _charge ends in the notable discovery , that every t « _flfth name was a woman ' s . Violent a-tempts ware made to fasten a charge on the _Member for Nottingham , for having described his peition as signed , by five millions , when it turned nut to be signed by only two millions . Now every man in his heart knows , that this in tke main is only rant ; thouvh it is undeniab _' e that accuracy of

      statement is always desirable , sad tbat a man risks giving » n advantage to his enemies by not attending to it . Principals make their statements upon the _information of subordinates , and upon the information of anh ra ' _ina-es _there is little to be said , but that it is al _.- nr . Et always wring . There is scarcely a publip m etiig _onansgits ing subject , where _tuennmbe-9 are n » tdoublf d bv thc reports on one aide , and halved _ty the other ; and if a member of _parliament we'e to be t -ken to task , for havirjg stated the numbers of a meeting he never counted , according to the estimate in hia own party ' s journals , he would be in _FDHieN . _iiJi- like the positwn of the member for _Nottingham nn this part of ibe case .

      AU this _wasfolliwed by _ascene _, of which the publio _journals mav be referred to for the facts , and tbe t _« nde _> cy of which may be considered as being _Bisil"l 5 tO increase the _influence and numbers of tbiise who may be in a _diugeronsstate of discontent . Born in a soo ' ety which does not _recognise the duello , and olds' _fJgDis at tbe command of the civil magistrate _, it pan be no desire of mine to meddle unnecessarily with such subjects . But , familiar as I must _meviablv have bf en with erery existing opinion , I see no ohje tion to caving , that uader no code on earth would th « conduct of the member for Nottingham be considered as anything but the crest eminently proper , and that _nothiDg would have justified hira ia _carryine his resentment beyond the _opportunity fir _con-fonatien .

      On the whole , the attack up- _* > n thepetition is wbat i « _technical'y termed 'a mire ' s nest ; ' the fallacy _lyine , in collecting the deaf nuts nut of a shipload , and parsd _.-na- them as if they came oat of a gallon - After erery conceivable deduc ion , itis clearly the petition ofa roiliion and three quarters of earnest men ; and _nobsdy « ili be the better for the way in which it has been treated .

      I am , sir , yonr obedient servant , T . Pbrbosei Tbompsqh _Biaekheath , _London , April 19 .

      Conciliation! John O'Connell's Impudence...

      CONCILIATION ! JOHN _O'CONNELL'S IMPUDENCE . At a meeting of the Davis Clnb , Daan-street , Soho , on Monday week , Mr O'Mahnney , the chairman _, stated that Mr John O'Connell having made a _st _* tem _* nt in the House of ComraonB tbat there were not 2 000 Irishmen present at the late demonstration on Kennington . Common , he ( tbe chairman ) had been instructed to write to Mr O'Connell to know frora what authority he had the information . He had d- neso , and h » had received the _follewing very respectful answer : — Corn _EtcJiasga Booms , 20 U April , 1848 , Sia , —I am directed by Mr John O'Connell io say , in answer to your letter ofthe 17 th inst ., thai , without _meaDine yon any _personal _dtecoartesj , he _utlerlj refuses to _Ecknowlerlge yoar claims to demand explanation cf him with _regard to wh jr he said in tfee Home of Com * mons of tbe pood sense , right feelin ? , and trua patriotism of his and yoar fellow countrymen in London ,

      I have the honour to be , sir , Tour obedient servant , Johh Qdiolet , To Mr T , O'Mahoney , 12 , _Cievelana-street , Fitzroy square . ( The _reading of this letter was received with a tor rent of hisses and groans . )

      Beware Of Spies! Recently A Public Meeti...

      BEWARE OF SPIES ! Recently a public meeting was holden in the Royal Subscription Rooms , Exeter , when Mr _Wilkinsoa delivered an account of his stewardship in the Convention , and was e ' ected lo sit in the National Assembly . One ofthe _Exettr Chartists write * _agfoifows : — ' The next morning one of our bills ( which wag left on the table of the place of meeting ) , waa brought to tbe mayor ofthe city . On the back of the bill the _following words had beeD written : — Our rights or murder , ' 'Death lather than submit , ' * Bloody Queen and _Minis'e-a , ' ' Dawn with tbe Q , ueen . '

      The editor of the Exeter asd Plymouth Gazstte , having inserted tbe above , and _charged the Chartists with writing them , Mr Wilkinson aDplied tothe mayor , who h- ; ard the case . The further hearing was _postponed . I have little doubt but we will be able to Bad oat the party who bas written these sentiments , aDd he is ene of the moat violent opponents Chartism has io this city . I hope we maysueceed , as it will be a means of convincing many of the treachery n _« ed , and , no doubt , show the people how wears maligned .

      Louis Blanc—My First Sight Of Louis B!An...

      Louis Blanc—My first sight of Louis B ! anc was at the Palace of the Luxembourg . 'Voila la petite !' said a Frenchman near me , as he entered . He is , inded _. a little man , with a great distingue—a pigmy of price—a dwarf in body , but a giant in mind . lie stands hardly four feet in height- Ilis air , too , fs extremely youthful , with his smooth , fair , hairless face , and his neat , Blim , little figure . Although he approaches the manhood of forty , he might easily , be mistaken for a boy of eighteen . Although he has a stern strength about him , it might be supposed from his first appearance that he was weak and effeminate _, fjeentered , h _. wever , as one of the Provisional Government of the Republic of FraEce , to deliver ad to _assemblies of

      dresses working-men aad masters , call-cted'together by bim , ia bis function of President of the Commission for the Government of the Workmen , to consult nnd decide on a plan for the organisation of industry . He Bpoke , and the working-men were melted t » tears , and even the masters were moved . His tonea were soft and _shewtry _, or earnest and energetic . With his little figure buttoned up tight in a blue coat with gilt buttons , there he stood , mounted np , evidently awakening , convincing , deciding , with modulated voice and expressive actfrlli There he stood , though so email , not the least of the great men wha now rule over the del * _tinies of the France of the Tbitd _Revolaticm . — Tuife Magazine *

      The London Repealers . Itis Rumoured Tba...

      THE LONDON REPEALERS . Itis rumoured tbat Informations bave been sworn lo _ega ' nst soma of the leaders of tbe Confederates In this metropolis . I should not mention this upon mere hear . say , bat that itis generally spoken of with confidence , at nil events It will have to be seen wliother or not they will be proceeded with . Tbe Old Irelanders Beem _somerfhat emboldened by the letter of tha ' leader' to tho _Esrl of Clarendon ; but with all their boasting , they do not show forth , well knowing tbat tbey have not tke goo 1 eense , right feel _, ing , and true patriotism of the gre * t majority of their fellow countrymen with them . There will _scareely be a district In London , but will , in a short time . hare lis _Confederate dub . ? or tho conduct of tho ' loader' of late blowing bot and cold with the rame _brea-h , bas filled the _expauiatea « onB of Erin here with disgust . For _Courag ? , Forgiveness , and Fraternity must be the watchrferd .

      Tha _rsllowintr _extract on tbe Rights of Labour Is from the United _Ibisdmik of Saturday last . _Reptaleis and Chartists , read ond think on it—and _frattrnise . ' The great Irish a'dt > r and abettor of these English plunderers wns one Diniel O'Connell , throughout his life tbe upholder of middle class rulo in all its _phaoeB , crimes , huxteriea , and _hjpacrlt-leij , and on all occasions the mortal enemy of the Irish working man . tiller and artificer . His was tbe principal agency by which trades unions and combination of workmen were broken In _Irsland , and labour left naked end unarmed to the _merey of capital . He upheld landlordism , and _held down the working farmer to tho utmost Of his power . ' _Bsavo Johk Mitchel . Ba honest and fear not .

      Cobbak _Cokfeoebate CtCB . — The uauil weekly _meatlng of this club , wss held on Sunday evenin _* last _, at the Green Man , B « rwtck-streee . Mr John _Rlnnrose was called to the chair . _Amonit , the company present we observed Mr John Savage of Marylebone , wbo p » id great attention to the proceedings of the ev «; nln ( j Several articles were read from the NATION and _UniTf . D IBHHMAK , Which were loudly applauderl , an _wasnUo the article , the Death of _hibwy , from the _Nomhshh StaB . The Chairman on opening the business Of ta « meeting , read tbe correspondence of Lord _Palmurstoa and < he Duke of _Sotomayer , npon which he ably commented , and said he trusted that the hint _glvett _^ S Lord Patau r . ston regarding Ireland , would aot ho lost on that gentleman . —Mr T . Reynolds , In a well directed and able

      speech , tuored tbe _followln _? _resolution : — ' Tbat , wbil « - we , as British gubjeots , _possessing the _^ rights to _dUcuss tke merits and consequences to society from the effects of bad laws , or tbe mal . _aumimBVra'ion of _f-ood o » e _» , shall not at any of our meetings , make uso of _licf-ntious aad inflammatory language iu debate ; and we further declare , that to repair and build up the political _lustl _tutlons of our country , shall be the motto of this society , and tho attainment of these objects shall be sought for only through the _roediuai ef our Queen , Lords and Commons . ' The speaker went on to say that nothing was to be gained by using _iBflammatorj language , for ths cause which they had all at heart eould not in tho least be bene 8 ted by any of its leaders in London becoming subject lo the Gagging Bill .

      Already the landlord of the home had received notice , tbat if violent language was had resort to , tbat be would be compelled to _clo'o the room against them , he knew it was far from his wish to do so . He most cordially mo _* ed the resolution amidst loud cheers . — Mr Patrick Healey , in seconding the _resolutioa _, aa ! d that the position of Irishmen In this metropolis was widely different from that of their brethren In Ireland ; they ought to he careful in what they saifl bs tbe innocent would be made _tosoff ; r for the guilty , tbey would 8 nd it sueh _conductwas persisted in , that their _ceuntrymou would be discharged from their emp ' oyroent . He thought it wbb the _fceunden duty of bis countrymen , In this metropolis , to prevent such a state of things takllv place , It wss with _thCBB feelings t > . M be seconded Vnere .

      solution . —Mr Arthur Walker Hyde ( of Castle _Hyd .-, Cork ) , iu supporting the resolution read the _speech of Mr Feargus O'Connor , of the 22 nd ult , in the House of Commons , against the Whig Illustrated Treason Act , froni tbe _NoBTHEBK Stab , and » 3 id be for one fully agreed with the policy of that gentleman . He _beliereii he was perfectly right , having got the middle classes on the hip not to let go the grip . He ( Mr Hyde ) had _alwavs supported a union of the oppressed of both England and His native land , and for so doing he had been driven from the ranks of the former agitation by the despots of Conciliation Hall _; ana , although tbe middle _clasnes hud deceived the wnrklng classes at the time of the Reform Bill , he thought their assistance at the present time was _hlnhly valuable , and all differences ought to be burled In

      Obllrioa . He for one believed that the Gagging Act was already s , dead letter , but , at the same time , they ought to bs careful not to give the _Algerlnss an opportunity to _fatten their talons upon them - , he could take the former speeches of the Whigs , wben seeking power , and read passages from them more full » f ledition than any he or they COUld make ; the Infernal Act conld be invaded by reading passages from Ocway , Shakespeare , and Other authors , which would bare as great an effect as any « p » ech ho could make ; thera must ba union , for by unloa , tbe government would be compelled to recede , to ma ! tn ; f . ir _leitir men . Mr Hyde ti a 1 _excluded by reading several extracts from _Micbelet'u History , of the French _Revolution , regarding the position Of tho WOlk .

      lug elasses of England , and sat dowa amidst loud sp _plause . —Ut E . Glass , on supporting tbe resolution ,. _called most emphatically upon all present to support the De . fflDce Fund fv > r tiie Irish patriots . He denounced the ex officios of the Catholic Irish Attorney-General tbat policy had not been had resort to since tbe ' Bottlo Con-8 ) _, iracj . ' There must ba a union of the people , fi > r uot only was Irish , but English liberty in danger ; one false step might place the rights and liberties of the _paople in jeopardy . He agreed with the last speaker ' , that though they wero ready to join with the middle classes , they must not rest satisfied until Ireland bad parliamentary independence , aud England the Charter . ( Cheers . )

      Mr _M'CiBTHT said , that he for one was determined to pursue the same course ns he had hitherto done ; the _Gags ' ng Bill had no terrors for bim . Mr M'Carthy iw i _. roceeding to address tbe meeting in tbis strain when he waa called to order by tb « chairman . The resolution was carried nem con . Tne fallowing resolution wis then moved and seconded — ' That fur the better security of the landlord of this house , ana also for the legal existence of this club , no stranger or member shall be Bllowedto _uddress the meeting without first having permission of tho chairman for the time being , Tbo resolution was carried tiem con . _Several persons having paid to the Confederation and the _Defence Fund , tbe meeting then adjourned to "Sunday evening next .

      Tub _HoJffST JoBM _LlWhESS CtUB . — a . crowded meeting of this club was held oa Monday evening , at tbe Working Man ' s Temperance Hall , _Carteret-street , We » t . minster . Mr T , B . Reeding was unanimously called to the chair , who opened tlio business of the meeting by reading the speech of Mr P . O'Connor against the Gagging Bill in the Howe of Commons , on the _23 _ad ult ., and also an article from the Noetheeh 5 tab , calted , ' A _Roland for an Oliver , ' _which was received with deafening cheers . The chairman then proceeded to txplftin the present position of Ireland , and strongly recommended union _amongst Irishmen , and passed an high eulogy on tba _determinatkn of Mr O'Connor , which was loudly cheered—Mr _Mjles M'Sweeney then read several extracts from the Irish journals , and addressed the meeting

      ct great length upon observing peace , law , and order at the present critical period , and that Irishmen ought to bury their petty _differenets in oMMoh , and unite forthe _regeEerallou of their native land . —Mr Pan le ) Walford addressed the meeting at great ImgtU upon the ru n entailed not only on _Trehnd , feut England , by tbo Act of Union , and said , that ic ought to be looked at and _nrguedbyEugliBhmeu as a labour question . Tin- English manufacturers had availed themselves of that uot to reduce the wages of the English artisan , If Irishmen were engaged at home Englishmen would bavo _moreemplojment and be betttr paid for it . Mr Walford then proceeded to read several extracts from a Chartist circular , shoiviug tbe _stato of Ireland btfore and after the Union ; and that , instead of a drain , os at present , from

      tuac country of £ 32 , 100 . 000 , that a roeumption of ber parliament would ensure to that sea-girt _kingdom aa _expenditure of £ 22 000 , 000 ; ond thatthe only drain ou her _resources would be the net _qbeentecs' rents , namely , £ 4 , 500 . 000 , so long as the receivers prefer paying 5 _i , iri pound rather thaa one In their own country , v « bicn produces tO them their wealth , —a preference which it ia probable every year of the rising prosperity of Ireland will rapidly diminish , until that disgrace bo total _' y removed . Mr W . was , during his speech , loudly cheered . — Mr R . Hussey ( Curran Club , ) on being introduced by the chairman , waB received with deafening cheers . Hu esld he oould not do better than to reaa tlio speech of Mr W . S . O'Brien , at Limerick , whicb was then read , and loudly cheered . _I- * referring to tho _Gagging Act , he said , that the last plank of _tlso constitution had been turned up and _uaUed on the edge , and bad been made a _iumpiugboard forSir G , Grey . Lord John _RujssI ! the most

      contemptible minister that ever existed , would find himself in the wrong box , by attempting to stifle the opinion of the starviDg oppressed people oflreland . Was Jt to bo borne ?—was Ireland to He _qalet under this bill !— was sin to be committed to the ravages of another famine ?—were Irish mothers to eat the flesh of their children ? He said a thousand times no ! Was Ireland to remain a fee farm for tbe relatir « _a of the Whig _plaee-hunter 6 ?—would the government bs allowed to create a bloody revolution in his native land f—were Ireland ' s leaders to be _crusbee _" . by the _« j ; . oj ** c ' o * of _aCalbolic Attorney-General 1 If they were determined that these things Bhould not continue , let them rally for Ireland aud agitato in a voice not to be mistaken by the Imbecile Whigs . ( Loud cbeers . ) Several other persons having addressed tho meetiDg , snd oth « Bhaving paid their subscriptions . A vote of thanka was passed to the chairman , and the meeting was adjourned to Wednesday , the loth loBt .

      The Davis Cicb . —Large meetings of this club were held on Wednesday , ' the 26 th ult , and on Monday evening last , at the Assembly Rooms , _Deao-ttMct . Tho meetings of this truly democratic club are _hsld ou every Mondaj snd Wednesday evenings , A preliminary meeting of the Irishmen resident Jn tbe Birmingham district , was held nt the * King of Prussia , ' _Fair-Btreet , Horselydown , on Sunday evening last . Messrs Hussey and Dunne , attended as a deputation , and explained the objects and principles of the Irish Confederation . Tbey wore well received . The _meeiinj was then _ftttjonraed till _Suadayevemng nest .

      Smaitp

      _SmaitP

      Mat Dai-Thi* Oaflfllro Aor—Thb ' Pbkrab*...

      Mat DaI-Thi * _OAflfllRO Aor—Thb ' _PBKrAB _* rio « _B- — _Chabtism—Thb _Weatssb abd _tbb C » or » . Dublin , May 1 st , 1613 . _jfay-mornlng , bright and sunny , once more shines on our unfortunate laud , ond finds ber . not on ') fltlll * a ca'up of » lavus . ' but more trampled , insulted , aud ' gagyed' tbao ever . May-morning coaiea _nr ; aln , with Its fl . wers and veraal and blushing beauty , but under th _« i glowing beams of that warm vernal sub , thousands of Irishmen and _Irlsbivnmen lie down despairingly to die . May-day usually found the peasantry of Ireland merry aud good-humoured . This _May-morning breaks upon a famished , dying people , and an Insulted , degraded , and miserable lond .

      When will tbis end _t Mu » t we never have anything cheering to say to Ireland ? Will Irishmen Still be slaves and drones ! Will coercion nnd 'GsgRlng ' enactments still crush Irish energy , and bind Irish arms like those of _malefsctflrs on the scaffold ! Oh , Ireland ! Ireland . ' dost thou Still slumber ? Iriahmen , do you say that yon ore _convnt to lick ihe hand of jour tyrants for ever tor do yon not ratber swear that another May morning shall never da _« 'i on Ireland in fetters f Tha ' _Gauging' Aot is the law r . f the lead . People now must not even speck of what burns within them Irishmen must not only bang their hands by their sides , but they rouBt even watch the wagging of their tongues , and , in scripture _Uiigu 4 ge , ' Keep a gate of prudenoe btfore th « ir lips- ' The _scotched snake may wriggle -, the _wounded tiger may howl forth his sense of paia _aod in-Jury ; the wretched Irishmen , alone , must writhe , and pine , and die , without even the privilege of accusing bis tormentors , or invoking the _vengeance of God or men on those who have made him an outcast and a slave in bis

      own green , and beautiful , and fertile hnd . Oh I Ireland J Ireland ! whit a fate is thine . Men of Erin , will you , can you , fubrait to these new , anJ bitter , and blasting indignities ? It connotbe . There iseae _, at all events , who swears that the Saxon shall not bind bis tongue , that gyv < s and penal enactments shall never control bis pen . Wo believe him . John Mitchel Is the man I mean . Had wa a dor . au of Irishmen like tbat bold _Dwter Presbyterian , tbe new Gagging Law would be only a tulg « ct for ridicule—a mere scarecrow In Ireland . There are littlo news in Ireland at present . Ie must be confessed that there Ib a temporary lull to tbutglort ons _whis-lxlnd of agitation , wbich swept tboland evi n one

      _s-iort week ago . This cannot be denied . But the _oircumstanoe is easily accounted for . The grand morem _^ _ntmahlng by tho Repeal Association and tho Catholic clergy for a final appeal to the Queen , in Ireland's r . gard , contributes greatly to this temporary cessation . Tbe pinding trials of the Repeal Conspirators , too , bave considerable share io the matter ; and with pain be It spoken , tbo'leaders' ofthe new agitation , as well as fho demagogue * of tbe old school , _» pem somewhat _panio-Btricken at the new fetters of 8 ir George Grej ' a maiiuf . _'iature Bus » U _w'll pass . Ireland , though seemingly disposed to doze a moment , has no notion nf falling _isieep again . She will wake up' in a week or two . Oh , not & nation will be _redeemed , and an independent people shall _rtrrif ruber 1818 .

      At the _JfoRTaxBN 8 ta & extracts eo much from tht Irish papers of lito , it is unneeeisary for me to detail < nere * ne «« . ' But I will say that wo are on the eve of « _omething great and grand , or terrible and aorrowful , in Ireland . Thousands think thi ra w'll not be any necessity for putting our newly manufactured pikes iato re . _qu-sit _' on at ail , for ( say ib < y ) th" day ts not far distant when England must become embroiled iu foreign con test , « nd then she will he _glnn to flng _Irelnnd off her trident , » nd let the Irish govern their own land or pitch her to Hell or Connaught ! This Is my opinion too . Thero isDo'hing very particularly stirring in Ireland , Tbe pike-waking still thrives In town and country ; and though _thi-y are _proB- 'Cuting _younir men all over the hltwd torri & _- > fihootlnir , _ftlll the 'practice' is continued , a _» d the best _back-woodsmon of tbem _all—i-ven . old ' Hawk . eye' himself—need not sneer at the skill of thousands ef _ouryounif Irish riflemen .

      _S--IU tbe proparationa for' murder on the part of government bave not been allowed to slacken . The Castle is ii regular fortress . _Cannon is mounted and manned _< * ay and night , whilst In almost ever J apartment of the immense pile , a sentinel is constantly on the ' watch , ' ' Oh Mitchel , agrah ' tis you are the boy fer setting tbe fun going in the _neighbourhood of Clarendon ' s snuvgery . ' We have DOW ab « Ot 13 , 000 soldiers—red , blue , and green , as they ar _^—in Dublin . Tho streets swarm witb _f-em , 0 « all _eUes jou hear spoken tht Cockney slang , or North of England jargon , or the' bonoia broad Scotch , ' _« b you saunter along tho streets of Dublin . Tbere are very few Irish soldiers in any ofthe reg _iments at present in town , with the _exception of the 75 th , 46 th , and 81 st . The _rf-st nre foreigners . The dragoon and cavalry corpB mostly English , whilst there are three . btghlaud infantry regiments , tbe others a mixture of En _? _'l 6 h and Scotch . Th _. _aodonot _'fratemlso' with the people . It would be unfair to represent tSern ss doing so , but there has been no fo ' ekerinir or riot between _thepikasmen and red-coats worth speaking of .

      Chartism _is _^ n ' the mere' ia Dublin . Why do not thp great leaders of this principle , try to extend their influence in this country ? Though I do not _regard Mr _O'lliggins ' s late suggestions for o C-nv-ndon iu Dublin , as practicable or _nsefaJ , still I know Chartism wooH find thousands of _supp _^ _rers and adherents , were it _expiuVaed lo the people . Mr O'Coanor , who _fighs so bravely iu tbe ' battle-line' of Sax _« n-Und , should bestir himself in tht _o- > _use _<> f bl _> native Erin . Some Irishmen donot deserve well of Mr _O'Cmnor , but tbe delinquencies of _aome of Ireland ' s sons _should not be revenged on that unfortu nate loud . Chartists 1 awake for Ireland .

      . Thb National Convkntion Proclaim-Id.—D...

      . Thb National _Convkntion _Proclaim-id . —DonLiv , May 1 . —The Lord Lieutenant , in a proclamation cautions tha citizen * against a' National convention o- council , or a council of three hundred , or National Guard' The city of Limerick has also heen pro cliimed . It _omes _i-nder the Crime and Outrage Act , from and after P May ne * t . The county has bam long _usdsr proclamation , Rion in LiMBRiCK—A meeting of the Confederates took _pluce herein honour of _^ raith O'Brien , Meagher , and . Mitchel . Dr Daniel Griffin was moVfd to the cbair , -when the meeting was _suddenly interrupted by a volley of stones from the Old Ire * landers , which smashed tbe windows and door , out side of wh'ch several thousands had _assembled , parading an d &\> y of Mr Mitchel . This they proceeded to burn io a bonfire outside tbe door , through which the smoke made its way into the building . Those

      inside manfully stood ihfir eround at the risk of sharing the fat 9 of the captive Arabs suffocated 'in the caves of Dabra ; but at length fearing to be 6 moked out , and hearing the entreaties of a reverend Gentleman from an upper story , who called out ' shame on you , men ' in vain to the crowd below , the imprisoned _Confederates find some blank shots from tbe interior of the building , which _quioklyf-ent those outside scampering ; Smith O'Brien then went among the crowd , with a view of pacification , when he received a severe contusion from a stone _boneatb fhe left eye , and was , in _consequence , obliged to go home The police now made their appearance , when peace was restored outside , snd those within proceeded to give tho usual toasts , Messrs Meagher and Mitohel being the principal speakers on the occasion . By ten o ' clock tbe military wero called out , no further collision took place , and tbe meeting separated before eleven o'click .

      THE INDICTMENT . In the Queen's Bench , on the sitting of the court , Mr Mitobel appeared at th" side bar , and shortly after IWr Smith O'Brien entered , looking very ill , He had a black eye , and his lips were swollen from some severe contusion . Tbe bar was astonished at the _disfigured appearance of thc ex-member for Limerick , and it was not until the _ex-officio discussi'in bad terminated , thst the Limerick riot became known , and the cau _* e of the _ill-usaga which Mr O'Brioo h _? . d vecevral . Subjoined is a summary of the proceedings :

      Sir Caiman O'Logblen renewed his Application for the appearance of Mr Mitchol by attorney , and dwelt at some _k-ngth on a _ense in 10 Eist . in support of his application _. He alluded to en nffidnvit flitd by the crown , which stated thut Mr Mitcbel after the finding of tbo _origltial bills , had attended a meeting iu Abbey-street , at wbich ChartiBt delegates were present , and whero _Jfr Mitchel waa reported to have » r > _Mten _Innjjn _^ _gi ; as 6 e 1 h » oa 9 a 9 t ! rat uPon _** hloh th . _^ informations wero found . Sir _Colmon arcutd tbat Mr Mitchel might be prosecuted f . > r tbat speech , butlt waa no reason to deprive him ofthe accustomed _privilege of appearing by attorney in ca _^ _cs of _mladomennor . The Attornny . General strongly resisted tbe application , and _justified the _ftfJUavlt ft 8 _SUpp _ljinjf _powtrful reasons _K-by tbo favour of the court sbould not bo _extended to Mr _Miichsl , for

      the applioation was not one of strict right . The court after a brief consultation , decldod that Mr _Mi'cbel _musappear in person . Tbe four . day rule having espircci Mr Mitohel has _ploaJcd a second time "in abatement , namely , tho _peiidenoy of proceedings under tht original information--, which must be _regularly quashed before he could go to trial en the ex officio . Thi ro can bB no doubt that the entry of thc nolle prosequi quashed the informations ; bat then the second plea being upon tho record just as the first , error * ean be assigned , ond tho conviction will hare to undergo an argument before the twelve judgesperhaps before tho Heuse of lords . This will carry Mr Mitchel over tbelong _lacation , even though he should bo found guilty in the after sittings ; and thus ho obtains a far longer day than the _Attorney . _General woul < bo aiFposetl to afford . Vfill Mr Monahan filo another

      ex officio ? Mr Mircbera mntioa _bsiuf settled , the Attornuy-Gtmral _ordertd Mr S . 0 ' Bricn to fee tailed . He _Immedifttely Btood up and stated ti the court his v « _ll . _linguess to go to trial without delay . Conscious of no Oftence , he had no fears for the result , and would not Interpose any dilatory pleadings . Ho asked the Attorucy-Geaeral to fit the day , and servo immediate notice of trial . The _Attorney-General , however , would take time to consider . It is not Improbable that , in _cacne . quenco of the strange tarn political eventa have takentho _resignation of hia seat in parliament by Mr O'Brien , and his withdrawal , together with that of Mr Monghor , from publiollfe , that the _proceedings * may bs abandoned against bo ' . h . Mr Mitchel , having expmaed blB re » olution to persevere In the old course , and stand up through all risks ior insurrection , CBn _expec ; no such favour from the crown .

      The National Assembly. Monday Morning, A...

      THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY . Monday morning , at nine o ' olock , being appointed for the cemmmcement of the sittings ot this body , before that hoar a considerable number of parsons had assembled at the doors of the Scientific Institution , John-street , Tottenharncourt-road , where tho delegates were to meet . A new arrangement , _how-07 er _, waa made upon thia occasion . The admittance , instead of being unrestricted and gratuitous , was confined to the gallery , for whioh one penny was charged ; tho body of the hall was reserved for the delegates , and such parties as might be admitted by tickets granted to them . It was half-past ten o ' clock before any of the delegates _mada their appearance , Mr T . Clark moved that Mr W . Dixon take the _chairjtw tem , until the credentials of the various delegatea were read , and the meeting duly _conntihitvd .

      The motion was agreed to , and Mr Shirron wan appointed secretary pro tem .

      Delegates . John Shaw , Tower Hamlets : W . Dixon , Norwich ; W . Vernon , West London ; Thomas Clark , Sheffield ; John Cro 88 ley , _Stalybridge ; Councillor Thos . _Briggs , Sheffield ; John Mathews , Bury ; Alexander Sharp , Tower Hamlets ; Matthew Steven 3 on , Bolton ; E . _CafldeJefr _, Hyde , - Dr M'Douall and T . _O'Malley , Nottingham , * J . Basset , South London ; — _Firta Lynn * , James Pebardy , Northampton : R . Cochrane , Paisley ; John M'Crae , Dundee ; John Peacock , Greenock ; S . Bartlett , Bristol ; T . M . Wheeler , South London ; John Shaw . Barnsley ; Henry Mitohel , R 3 cbdale ; John Arkell , Swindon ; William Brook ond Joseph Barker , Leeds ; Samuel Kydd , Oldham ; James Adams and Andrew Harley , Glasgow .

      Mr T . Clark announced tbat be bad received a letter from Mr Mitchel , ef Dublin , stating that though he had beea elected for Rochdale , he did not think hia should be able to attend the meetings of the National Assembly . Mr Dixon was then unanimously appointed the Chairman of the Assembly , and Mr Shirron thu secretary . Mr M'Crae , of Dundee , was elected deputy chairman . The Chaibmak said they were met for the purpose of CBBSidoting tbe affairs of a great nation _and a _suffering people . He hoped that the _business woald be conducted witb a calmness and moderation whioh would show that they were in earnest iu tho _gteat task they had undertaken and that they would abstain in the course of their prooeeding 3 from all that could endanger the great objects thej had in view . ( Hear , hear . ) Notwithstanding the sneers that might be made st the proceedings of the late

      Convention , it waa evident that thev had produced a great effect upon tbe public mind . The very columns ofthe _morning papers thit conta ned these sneers contained proofs that the agitation for electoral ref orm was _spreading over the country , and amongst elasses who did not formerly take an active interest iu that question . ( Hear . ) Since that Convention last met , many of ita _memberf- who wero _returned to that Assembly had had an _opportunity of going among their constituencies , and of learning their opinions upon many questions , which prepared them to transact business better than they were before . He trusted that full advantage would be taken ot all these circumstances , and tbar , in their future deliberations and decisions they would justify the choicn of the people , and advance the popular cau-e . The first business would be to deride the name of that bodywhether ifc should be _cilled the' National A . s 8 fimbly , ' or ba designated a ' Convention , ' as all _thsis-previous meetings bad been .

      Mr Shaw ( Tower Hamlets ) said , he bad been elected as a member of the National Assembly , and he thought it would be ridiculous if , to please any individual whatever , they changed that title . Dr _M'Douali , proposed that the title of thebody be the National Assembly of Delegates , principally representing tbe working classes of England , Wales , and Scotland , Mr 'f . Cuhk seconded the motion , which was carried . Dr M'Douaia said , il ; was also necessary , in his opinion , that they should state the manner in which the delegates were elected , in order to keep out ofthe meshes of the law . He would therefore move , that

      to the former resolution it be added , tbat the _delegates were elected at publio _meetinaB duly convened for that purpose , and by a show of hands of th . 9 persons there present . Mr v _? hbeleb did not see the necessity for that addition . The manner in whicb they were elected was already well known loth to the government and the public . The Chairman considered the resolution was net needed . Ue knew little of what was and what was not legal ; but of this he felt certain , that if the gorernmenfc meant to take hold of them , it would not take tho whoie _Assembly , but would pounoe upon a few of them , and ste what weeding would do . ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr r . _Ci / ark said a declaration of the manner in which _thty wore eleoted could do no harm . Motion carried .

      _Oojeets of ihe Assembly . The Chaibman presented a programme ub prepared by a committee , aa follows : — 'To di 8 c » r B wed consider the grievances of the peopio , and to present memorials to the _Queen , praying her to dismiss her minister ? , aud appoint such as wil ] make the Charter a Cabinet measure , and to adopt sueh measures _asshall ensure so desirable a result . ' . The standing orders , _similarto those that guided the late Convention , were adopted . Doorkeepers and Messengers . Messrs Arsott and _Fczzitt were appointed doorkeepers . Mr _Coojpbb waa appointed _meggenger . Admission of Strangers ,

      It was resolved , that persons should ba admitted to the body of the hall on presenting a member ' s ticket , and ta the gallery on payment of one penny . Meaara GUMMING and Rankin handed in their credentials as delegates from Edinburgh , and Mr _Sainton M ' Lean for the western division of Scotland . Mr Wheelkh Baid it was necessary that it should be at once decided how many delegates this Assembly should consist of . Mr H . Child handed in his credentials as one of the representatives ef West London . Mr _M'Gbath was permitted to take his feat for Hanley until arrival of _^ his credentials . Messrs Donovan and Leach received the same permission with regard te Lancashire .

      Mr wheelbb rose to oall the attention of the Assembly to an important question , namely , what number of members should constitute the Assembly . There wero rumours abroad that it was only to _consisfc of forty-nine _delegates , and they should therefore 6 x as soon as possible what was . to be the aotual number . Mr Adams moved that all delegates fairly chosen at _puh'ic _meetings convened'for that purpose , should b i entitled to a seat in lhat Assembly . Mr Rankin seconded the motion .

      Mr E . Jones moved as an amendment : — That all delegates duly elected to the National Assembly he summoned forthwith to take tbeir seats in tbat body , as the Assembly have decided on their session consisting of tbe numbers originally announced . Mr Jones Said it waa absolutely necessary to issue a definite " summons , * " since _lettf rs had arrived from _rtiany delegates , stating they would not come uo as lone as the numbers to sit remained doubtful . That morning ' s debate would set the seal on their position , and therefore it was not enough to fay they were entitled to sit , but that it was imperative they _should coma to perform the duties they had undertaken .

      Mr S Kydd moved , as a sccond amendment , that a committee of _soycu be _appointed to inquire into the legality of the National Assembly , and to report to that _meetinu as fojn as possible . There had bsen much discussion as to whether it was legal for more than forty-nine delegates to meet . He . like many o _' . hei- delegatea , was quite ignorant of the law in this respect . It had b _>; en said tbat they should take a bald stand , but whatever stand they _tosk he thought it waB above all things requisite that they should clearly understand , if possible , wba . t the law was . For his own part ho had no objection to break the law if there was popular power at his back sumci ° ntly strong to sanction his doing so ; but bef re they talked of trampling on tho law they should , at all _evente _, first endeavour to _underhand what it was , and if tbey wero then prepared to violate it , let it be with their eyes open . Mi- Mathews seconded the motion .

      Mr Shaw , ( Barnsley , ) said he was no lawyer , but ho bolieved that their Assembly was perfectly legal , because they were not the representatives of legal bodies , but of public meetings openly called together for the purpose , and , therefore , there might be 500 members instead of 100 . Mr Cooubank believed the government had no intention of _interfering with that meeting in the calm _diaougsion oftho grievances of the people , and the exercise of their undoubted right to memorialise her Majesty . Mr Cumming gave his decided opposition to the appointment of a committee . It was not tbeir business to settle wbat the law was . Let tbem leave

      that to other parties . All hecould say was , that the Anti-Corn Law League had held larger delegate meetings , and had not been interfered with ; and the _Sturge Convention , in Birmingham , seme year * ago , was composed of nearly 500 members . ( Hear . ) He had no wish to come into collision with the _gorernment ; but he trusted none of them were auoh _dults as to have come to that meeting without being prepared to do tbeir duty , by laying before the country and the government the distress under whioh the people laboured , - the cause of that distress , and also the danger to the government itsel f if it did not provide a speedy and an effectual remedy .

      Mr T . _Ciark supported Mr K ydd ' s motion . He bad no objection to take his own share of the _responsibility of attending that meeting ; but when they

      The National Assembly. Monday Morning, A...

      talked of summoning those _dsleiiftteg ( Tho bid bttfi elected , hut had net corns to London , it waa fair they should accompany that summons with an accurate statement ot the law affecting thst Assem bly . Twenty men , wha might with that knowledge obey their _summens , would be m < m lo be rolled on thaa _fiftv who might leave their homes in doubt . Dr M'DoUAiii _, was surprised tbat the question of legality was raised . It was the duty of those who had called them together to ascertain whether it waa legal or illegal . Joseph _Store ' s _BirmiDgijaTi Con .

      ferenee consisted of fire hundred members , and noone had thought of _asking , was illegal or illegal . He said they were delegates from publio meetings , with defined objects in view , ene of which was raemorial / _sifig' the Queen to dismiss her ministers , and this was the principle allowed even by Sir George Grey ' s Bill , - and hence he was uf opinion thej were a legal body . They did not represent organised bodi « _s . but simply the working classes . P erhaps tfce word * summons' waa _tonatrong . He thought if they were * informed' it would b _* _sufficient : andhtj did not believe they would be interfered with .

      Mr _Smanox rose to support the amendment ef Mr Jones . What dependence could tkey place on the word of a man who told them one day the Assembly wan legal , arid the aext tbat it was illegal ? Mr _VsnifON said , he could understand how delegates had waited to see if the Assembl y would ait or not . Head quarters _wArerad , and hence the hesitation , As to Jaw , judges differed , asd goTernment oould twist them to suit tbeir purposes . It wa _» tbeir duty to meet and discuss questions , and plae » them before ths government in such a manner as should be unanswerable , Mr Coohbamb Baid , in allusion to tho ! _aats > pe & k »! , relative to tho bead quarters , the late Convention had unanimously _resolved tbat the Assembly Bhould be held . Mr Vbbkon said he did not allude to the late Comventios _, bat _tt > tbe letters of Mr O'Connor in the _Nohthbrn Stab .

      Mr Kydd , with tbe _Banctioia of the seconder and tha Assembly , withdrew his amendment . Mr Leach would move— 'That the word ' summons' sbould be omitted , and that the persons electing them shall send them , or not , as they think proper . ' Mr E . _Jonbs thought Mr Leach ' s amendment would admit of two explanations—viz ., ' You may come if yeu lik « , or star away— we don't particularly want you ! ' Now , that was a side winded blov at out numbers , and would sanction the _waverem , and lose for us the confidence of the country . Mr Rankin said he had been & member of large assemblies , and it bad not been _aeked if tbey wera legal .

      Mr Habxey said , they were not bere to learn law , but to act on the principle of common sense . lis thought it amply sufficient to request the delegates now _absent to attend . He knew the question hsd been said to be raised by the most popular man in the movement ; but he thought this figure would apply to times gone by , not the present . Mr Sha . w ( London ) thought they had had child's play enough , and hence he hoped Mr Jones would persist in retaining the word ' gammons . ' Mr A . Sharp would support Mr _Johss ' s amendment in its original form . Mr Bartlett said , some places , 'In consequence of certain things that had taken place , had declined to send delegates .

      Mr Adam 3 said , he looked oa this Coavention a ? head quarters , and Mr Dixoa as tbo bead of _tbie Assembly . Without tbe people tbere would be wither movement _nar power . He had heard nothingto cause him to change his mind—hence , he _should press his original motion . He wished the peopio to uridevBtand that they had met is _accordancem & the original requisition . The question was then put , and Mr Jones ' s amendment _wat carried by a _considerable majority . Mr M'Cartht having presented a credential announcing hia election by the Irish _Demnwatift Con ederation , and other inhabitants of _Cripplegatft _, Mr T . Clark objected to receive such a _oredastial , and moved : — ' Th . it it be returned , in order that it might be amended ; and also that Mr M'Carthy Bhould be required to _produce evidencethat the met ting was a public ene , duly _convensd . '

      This lod to another lengthened and somewhat warm debate , which terminated by tbe adoption ef Mr Clark ' s motion . Tbe Assembly thon adjourned at one o ' clock .

      AFTERNOON SITTING . Mr DixiH resumed the chair at half-past two o ' clock . Mr Abkeix gave in hia certificate as delegate for _Swindon .. Financial Committee . Dr M'Douall proposed that Messrs T . M . Wheeler ,. _Coc hrane , and Leach , be euch committee . Mr Stevenson seconded the motion , which _ITSB carried unanimously .

      Agitating Committee . Messrs Shaw ( Tower HamleW , Bassett , and Child , wer 3 appointed . _General Business Committee , Dr M'Douall , Ernest Jones , Philip _M'GratV Tbpmas Clark , James _' iShirron _, and James Adams _, were appointed . i „ . . The Confederates and Chartists . Captain O'BRiEfj said , he was . from the _Confederatjesin response to their kind invitation . There were not many _Charthte amongst their body , bat nevertheless they wished them all success . He

      wi 9 hed to state that his own lawyer had stated that it would not be prudent for him to bo a representative of an Irish constituency in this _assarably . The best way th _^ y ( the Confederates ) could help Chartists , and the Chartists the Confederates , was by each agitating to the utmost for their common objects , and that would prevent tha government from taking sucb steps as they seeraed inclined to do ; further than this they could sot _gi . Some of Ireland ' s best sons were in ( the hands of the government , and that government _appoared determined to try every step to put down liberty and destroy the patriots of Ireland . ( Loud Gripers . )

      Mr _Whrbler moved a vote of thankB to Captain O'Brien for bis attendance , and through him , to the Irish _peoole . Dr M'Douall seconded the motion . The vote was put and carried unanimously amidst loud cheers . Captain _O'Briek responded .

      Report of the Proceedings ofthe Assembly . The Chairman said , the next most important business for the A » 8 emb ! y to take ap , was how they could secure a fail and correct report of their proceedings . Whatever had been said of a ludicrous or violent character in tbe late Convention , had been caught up and sent to the public , while all tbe reasonable and argumentative speeches were omitted or so _condensf-d ns to lose their real importance . Mr _Caupbrll moved that the Assembly should enter into arrangements with the proprietors of aome of the morning papers , to secure a full and correct report of the _proccedines . Mr Shaw ( of Barnsley ) seconded the motion .

      Mr S- _Kydo , after complimenting the press for having upon the whole treated them no _worijethaii it did other _bidies who happened to be unpooular for the time being , proposed that a committee should he appointed to take the necessary steps _tosecurethe-Otyect in view , and tn report to the Assembly . Dr M'Douall thought that the matter should bft left to the general committee . Mr Adam 3 was altogether opposed to dealing witb this question by a committee . Let them make arrangements with a daily paper if they possibly _coukl . Several other delegates having spoken on the subject , the motion was withdrawn . The amendment for remitting the _Ru'ject to a committee was unanimously adopted , ard the General Business _Cimmittea waa instructed to attend to the _businofs .

      Mr Charlks M'CARTirr handed in his _credentiWfl » upon which Mr Clark asked had Mr M'Carthy a copy of th © placard convening the meeting ? Mr M'Cartht said the bill , a large written poster , had be ri torn . Mr Clark did not think this sufficient , and couldj not consent to ha'e bis vote—tbe vote of a very large body—neutralised b y the vote of a person elected by a small body , such as he took it was that by which Mr M'Carthy wa eleoted . Ho would thereforo move ' _ThattlJPOleption of Mr M'Carthy be declared null and void . '

      Mr Adajh seconded tbo motion , and said he thought any nuruber of persona wishing a member wonid not mind the expense of placards ; he had moved in the late Convention that representation should be based or , _population , and be _thouaht it not right thst an assembly of two hundred and fifty persons , should have the ri-ht of neutralising the voioe of half a million . ( Hear . ) Mr Rankin thought sufficient notice bad notbeeii given of tbe meeting at which Mr M'Carthy was elected . Mr Cochrane thought Mr M'Carthy would see tbe policy of withdrawing ; should they reject Mr M'Carthy it conld not be taken as a feeling against Ireland or the Confederates , after the reception they hid that morning given to Captain O'Brien , but & carrying out of the democratic cause .

      After a few words from Mr M'Carthy , who said the _bo-ly who had elected him had waited for tbeir hivsbury friend ? , but as they had not come _forward t j . i had g"ne on hy _themselvea , and he asserted lhat other places had held elections , without notiod by printed placards . Mr E , Jo . _vuj said the instructions issued bad not said the ' bills' should be printed , nor where they should be posted ; behel d th < _-ref » re tbat the election ot Me _M-C _trthv was in conformity with tbe _resololutions issued , provided tbe notice was given five days previous to the eleotion _, and this would boa frivolous technicality to adhere to . He contended , if this assembly were wise , it would take all the _asaistince that was honourably cffe : ed to it , they had

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 6, 1848, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_06051848/page/6/