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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th October 1848, Edition 3 of 3, Page 1, POWELL'S VICTIMS. TO IBB EDITOR OF IHE N...

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    • «cpoWN! DOWN!! DOWN!!! 1 DOWN WITH THE WHIGS."
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      «Cpown! Down!! Down!!! 1 Down With The Whigs."

      _« cpoWN ! DOWN !! DOWN !!! 1 DOWN WITH THE WHIGS . "

      To The Imperial Chartists. Friixdsaxd Br...

      TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS . Friixdsaxd Brother Chartists , Not afraid to adopt the policy of an enemy wben that policy is . good , I adopt the good motto ofthe bad Corn-law League ,

      . " ONE THING- AT A TIME . " In the above motto I have set yoa a task , « _oe oi easy accomplishment , and . one most _necessary to beperformed ; itis , tohurlfrotn office I and from power the " base , bloody , and brutal Whigs ; '' not npon the same principle upon which I have previously urged the necessity bf placing them in opposition , because , utterly " disgraced as they now are , they would be useless even in that state for which nature designed them .

      Last week it was onr painful duty to record the expatriation of Cuffey and four others , for acts originated , fostered , encouraged , and matured by the Secretary of State for the Home Department . Yes , he cannot be absolved of the crime of felony , unless he pleads guilty to the charge of delegation of Ins duty to detectives , police , spies , and informer .- ! . You will -hear in mind that whenever a charge was made -against the police in the Honse of Commons , the flippant official was instantl y prepared with ¦ evidence to establish the virtue , the coHrage , the forbearance and loyalty of his brother

      conspirators . Yon must farther understand that Mallalieu is a superintendent of police , and tlat Marks is an inspector of police , and thatit is the duly of those subordinate spies to make a report or every thing that comes within their knowledge , connected with the duties of their department , to the Spy _General once a day , or oftener , if need be ; that is , if a policeman has information to communicate , he communicates it to _Jhe inspector of his body , the inspector communicates it to the superintendent of his -department , the superintendent communicates

      it to the commissioners , and the commissioners communicate it to the Secretary of State for the Home Department . Hence you find that every link in tie chain is complete ; and you can come-to no other possible conclusion than that Powell and Davis acted immediately nnder the directions of Sir George Grey , or that the inspectors , superintendents , and commissioners of police withheld from , the Secretary of State evidence—the want of a knowledge of which mig ht have jeopardised the peace of the country . And hence we can arrive at no other

      conclusion than that the TFhigs—who fomented -treason and rebellion in 1832 for the purpose of achieving power—organised treason and rebellion in 1848 for the purpose of preserving power ; as every man who has watched their proceedings from the French Revolution down to the close of the Session of Parliament , must admit that their tenure of office depended not upoa the confidence placed in them , but upon

      the amount of fear with which they could inspire their opponents . Whenever a question was debated upon which the "Whi gs were likely to he defeated , the all-absorbing consideration was not , "Is the measure a good one ? " but , " Is it safe in these perilous times to run thehazard of a defeat , and -thus create tbat confusion consequent upon tbe formation of a new administration ?** Now such

      was precisely the genius that preserved the "Whigs . By them the distracted state of the conntry was constantly urgedupontheir middle class supporters as the cause of the depression of trade , and so vital a qaestion was it made with them , that they granted an additional two millions of your money to effect this necessary object _^ while their friendscannot reflect without disgust upon their performances during thepast -session . So much for their English treason , 'which fortunately for the country terminated in "Whig felony : and now for their Irish doings .

      " Trial hy Jury * is said to be the bulwark of the British Constitution—and when a thief or a murderer is tried and acquitted , the Press is loud in its commendation of Trial by Jury , as it is better that ninety and nine guilty persons should escape , tban that one innocent person should suffer . O'Brien was tried for sedition , and was acquitted , and then Trial hy Jury was to he annihilated , and the Habeas Corpus Act was suspended—and , be it remembered , that ,

      from the trial and acquittal of O'Brien , down tothe Suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act , lie is not charged , on his recent trial , with one single Illegal act—but when he discovered that the Suspension of the Constitution in Ireland was intended , not as an amended indictment , hut as : an irrefutable conviction , he had recourse to such means as he presumed would protect him against arrest without conviction or even trial . And here , as in England , we discover the abominable tricks to which the

      Papist Attorney General is compelled to resort to establish the guilt of his victim . The practice in Ireland is , when the evidence for the Crown breaks ? aown , two , three , or so many policemen as may be necessary , are placed in the witness-box , who are prepared to swear anything , and are always at command ; and I recollect , upon One occasion , Baren Foster was most indignant with me for exposing the perjury of one of those witnesses . It is difficult to break them down , for two reasons—firstly , they profess to give their evidence from notes taken at the time , but fresh written ; and , secondly , they feel conscious that the stronger their evidence—whether true or not—the greater their recommendation for promotion .

      In 0 Brien s case the Attorney ' s Clerk , Dobbin , not only broke down , but every word of his evidence was rendered inadmissible by the evidence of Mr Dalton—and then , as is the custom , the Crown has recourse to the police stationed in Mrs M'Cormick ' s house . And here we find that the most distant heard words which those , nearest to Mr O'BrieH did not hear—while we have the damning fact , that the Crown Solicitor , and the chief official to

      the Lord Lieutenant , withheld a number of those police whose evidence would not suit them .. And after such an exhibition as this , the Press , and especially the " Times , " exults in the impartiality ofthe trial ; while the impartial reader will find that , in every case where Counsel for the prisoner appealed to the Court upon the most simple points of law , the ansrrer of the Court , was not" " more water , " tf water again / ' " another drink , " but 'WHAT

      DOES THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAY ?' thus abandoning their own functions to the caprice of the official . However , Smith O'Brien is convicted—his property is confiscated—his wife is widowed—his children are orphansand his country weeps o ' er the fate ofthe descendant of one of her Kings ; while the English people—although by no means as sensitive or patriotic as the Irish people—mourn over the fate of Cuffey and his associates . But whywimper like children ? Why sob like women ? when the combined action of men , who profess to feel , is all-powerful , and capable of avenging the violation of right , the destruction of Trial by Jury , and the annihilation of the British Constitution ?

      $ By action I mean bringing the combined will of the country to bear upon the oppressors j to hurl them from office , regardless as to who shall fill their places , resting satisfied tbat the change must be for the better . It is impossible , wholly and utterly impossible , that even the middle-classes of this country , who were to constitute the National Guard o " f the " Times , " can longer tolerate Whig rule , after the recent exposures at the Old Bailey and Clonmel ; but what will operate still more forcibly upon their

      order is the heavy expense necessary to support "Whi g treason . , Now , I do not set you a hard task when I ask you not to rest until you commence the work of Whig expulsion ; no matter who is to succeed , any change must be for the better , as it would be impossible to select a more dangerous , vindictive , or incompetent government . And I think , after the evidence of Davis and Powell , that many of their associates went armed to Kennington-common , * nd that the co-operation of 60 , 000 thieves

      To The Imperial Chartists. Friixdsaxd Br...

      was relied upon , you can come te no other con elusion than that the anniversary of Kennington-common , the 10 th of April—will be celebrated with as much pomp and solemnity , by the people , as the anniversary of Waterloo is by the survivors tf that battle . You are perfectly aware _. that men , when ; they grow old , will act upon their previous training , instruction , and education ; and you must be aware that the present mind of Ireland owes its training to the Whigs under the tutorage of Daniel O'Connell , who was made their instrument to urge an excited people to the very verge of treason , halting them at that point which secured patronage for himself and power for his

      guilty confederates ; and it is , therefore , to Whig training tbat the present disaffection of Ireland must be ascribed ; and after the recent exhibition in that country and England , no doubt can exist in any man ' s mind that the united people of both countries will solemnly and imperatively demand the expulsion ofthe fomentors of sedition , felony , and treason . Look over the history of Ireland since 1836 , when O'Connell made his compact with Lord Duncannon , then Lord Lietuenant ; reflect upon his triumphant tour through Scotland and the north of England , when he organised the enthusiasm ofthe whole _country for no other purpose than to measure Whig patronage by the value of the barter . Then mark his career

      from that hour to the day of his death . In 1837 , when the Queen came to the throne , the question _' of Repeal was merged in " Loyalty to our lovely young Queen . " His huzza was the loudest of the crowd , his cap was thel highest in the flight , and his tongue was the largest in the left side of his cheek as he bamboozled his gaping gulls . From that election to 1841 , he warmed his poor relations in Government situations , and again the question of Repeal was abandoned , and whoever "divides the liberal party is an enemy to his country" was Ireland ' s aeceptei ' motto . Daring that period ,

      from 1837 to 1841 , there was little agitation in Ireland , none beyond what was necessary to preserve appearances and secure patronage ; the pot was kept simmering until the Tories came into office—when the Whig bellows again set it bubbling—patronage became slack—donbt succeeded zeal—many deserted the ranks who were disappointed of patronage—the monster meetings took place—Clontarf was suppressed by proclamation , but the threatened opposition was not atenth part as great as that by which the _Kennington-common meeting was to be suppressed ; while Dublin , unlike London , represented the national mind and the national

      strength , and yet _, unlike the reviled Chartists of London , the bold defter of Toryism surrendered at discretion , and abandoned the project . Did the Whigs , then , on the bleak side of the Treasury bench , denounce Daniel O'Connell as a traitor ? on the contrary ; after conviction , they hailed his appearance in the House of Commons with a round of hearty cheers , andjfilled Covent Garden Theatre with enthusiastic guests to receive him , and the drama finished by three Whig judges declaring his conviction illegal . But what would he the decision of those judges now , if an appeal were made on behalf of those whohave followed

      his teaching , but not his practice of halting at Whig patronage ? The " Times , " with characteristic modesty , comments upon O'Brien ' s trial and convic tion , and tells its readers that it is not in the habit of discussing . those trials during their progress . But will this pure and immaculate organ point out one single trial that has taken place in England or Ireland , that it has not commented apon and prejudged before trial .

      during the trial , and after conviction , and in every case the trial has been fair and impar . tial , and the sentence has been most merciful and mild ? But we shall be glad to see how this apostate journal will now defend the immaculate Whigs against the evidence of General Napier—against the evidence furnished by Lord John Russell ' s letter tothe Birmingham sympathisers—and against tbe evidence of Powell and Davis , their suborned and paid coadjutors .

      "When Parliament meets again , that clemency extended to Whig rule through the fears ofthe country party , will no longer be extended towards them , the one universal shout throughout the land will be—England wants not , and will not tolerate , the rule of a faction that bases its power upon incip ient revolution and treason , only capable of being checked by conferring patronage upon its Confederates * and never again will the restoration ofthe Whigs to power he tolerated by any influential class in this country .

      Brother Chartists , tbe reign of terror has ended in the unequivocal conviction of its creators , as the reign of middle class policy has been wrecked upon the accomplishment of free trade . And I think I may appeal to every man who has heard my speeches , and read my writings upon the subject of free trade , from the year _1834 to the present moment , that I have not made one false prediction with regard to the effect of that measure ; nor do I think that the manufacturers of England will deny that they have « CAUGHT A TARTAR . "

      The means relied upon for the suppression of Chartism have ended in the destruction of Whiggery- Thev could not , as of old , support the "FAT YOUNG GENTLEMAN , " as thencaterer for support , through incipient revolution , while that power which was O'Connell ' s staff is now to be bribed by State endowment . Tbe Catholic priesthood , it seems , are to be paid by the State , but I will tell you wherein this last crutch of Whiggery will fail . The priests at present have influence with the Irish

      people ; but once pension them , or many way link them to the State ; and not only will their influence perish , but they will become the chief objects of jealousy , suspicion , contempt , and vengeance . They are only influential because they are considered powerful in agitation , and infallible in religion ; but the mo ment that the charm of relig ious infallibility vanishes , that moment will political power disappear , and the Irish priesthood , once pensioned by the Protestant State , will become not only inoperative , but despised .

      The Irish Catholics , like all other sects , look not for toleration or equality , but for ascendancy ; and as they constitute the blood , the race , the numerical strength , and the great power of the nation , as long as the principle of ascendancy is recognised and tolerated , they are entitled to their legitimate position . In 1735 , the Irish Parliament was bought ; in 3782 , tbe Volunteers were . bought by the distribution of patronage , and the bestowal of power upon tbe leaders ; in 1 S 00 , the Irish Parliament was bought ; in 1836 , the Irish representatives were sold to the English

      Minister , and from that period down to the present , the whole international policy has been one of barter and patronage ; and the reader of English and Irish history must acknowledge the fact , that those several changes of administration have been preceded by a reign of terror , until , at length , the policy has militated against its propounders , and now the Whigs have been wrecked by those very means upon which tbey formerly relied for power . And why * because , as of old , they could not barter treason for patronage with the leaders of the Irish people . j _^ When dis content- is natural , and not the mere creation of political jugglers , that dis-

      To The Imperial Chartists. Friixdsaxd Br...

      content becomes irresistible , it oannot be roused and suppressed at the bidding of _s showman—the mind cannot be presented in various forms like the sheet of paper in the showman ' s hand ; it assumes a distinct position , and defies terror , however successful it may be for the moment . ' The exhibitions of Castles and Oliver were forcibly urged against the administration then in power ; but da they not fade into utter insignificance when compared with the . deep laid schemes of our present rulers ? What was the threatened danger in August last to that produced by the Corn Law League in 1842 , when trade was stopped , the hands [ turned out ; and the people were told to quarter themselves upon the

      enemy—the landlords—not like begging men , but like men MARCHING . TO BATTLE ? And yet , notwithstanding the threatened danger , Sir Robert Peel , then in power , gave us a fair trial , a "JUST JUDGE / * and an impartial prosecutor , and ; throughout , notwithstanding the wide-spread disaffection , and the thorough organisation of the Chartist body , not a particle of evidence—nay , not a particle of suspicion , that Sir Robert Feel ' s Government had in anywise fomented disorder , or had had recourse to the subornation of spies and in formers to establish our guilt . We had a fair

      trial , and an honourable acquittal . So with Daniel O'Connell in 1843 ; whatever technical illegalities might have appeared , there was no Government intrigue . And now observe , and mark the fact well , and it will prove to you the unpopularity of the Whigs . During thei r reign , from 1833 to 1841 , was a continuous period of disturbance , political trials , and transportation . They commenced with the Dorchester Labourers , and finished with the" transportation of Frost , and . gaols

      crowded with political victims . Tbey came into power again in 1846 , ' and their recent career has ended in the most bloody persecution ever known in this country . Now contrast those two periods of Whig tyranny with that period , when Sir Robert Peel was in power from 1841 to 1846 . We had within that time a Special Commission , under Abinger— - of whom , being no more , and leaving his acts to be judged by posterity , we shall remain silentand the great State Trial at Lancaster ; , and from 1842 to 1846 there has not been one

      single political offence charged against the Democratic party in this country . And we must attribute the quietness from 1846 to 1847 , to the simple fact , that the Whigs dreaded a recurrence to their old policy as the prelude to . a General Election , but once in power the cloven foot soon showed itself . " Now , brother Chartists , I have to inform you , that no power ' on earth , shall induce me to say a word , or write a word , that will place me in the power of those devils ; and if any man writes me a seditious or treasonable letter . I

      will immediately publish it ; ahd if- any man during my tour comes into my presence and talks sedition or treason to me , in the hope of entrapping me , 1 wiir leave my mark on his face / that will enable me to identify him in the witness box . My family have had a pretty good taste of gratitude . A fellow of the name of Cullanan , who had received numerous acts of kindness from my father , and a Frenchman whom he had sheltered , were the principal witnesses against him in 1798 ; and a fellow of the name of Jack , whom my uncle , Arthur O'Connor , appointed as his sub sheriff in 1793 , and whom he had raised from destitution to

      affluence , was the man—the only man—who proved h _< s handwriting upon his trial for High Treason ; while my reporter —Griffin—in whom I kept the life for years , would ; have convicted me , nay , hung me if he could , at Lancaster . "A live dog is better than a dead lion , " and a man at liberty is better than a caged lien . Daniel O'Connell paid me the high compliment to say , that it was I who drove the Whigs from office in 1841 , though I was then in my dungeon , i Lord Monteagle admitted the justice of the compliment ; and here ' s a sum in the Rule of Three for you : —If an imprisoned Chartist beat the enemy in 1841 , what may a Chartist Representative at large do in 1849 ? Answer—ENTIRELY

      ANNIHILATE THE FACTION . Although I had too much tact to disgust the House of Commons by constant reference to the injustice I suffered at the hands of the present Government , yet you cannot suppose me so devoid of manly pride and feeling , as to imagine for a moment that I have forgotten it . f now stand alone of my order , opposed by every newspaper in the empire , I have arrived at the dignity of being hated , but I am the heart of Nottingham , and surrounded by the confidence and affection of the working classes .

      lam now about to open a new campaign of legitimate agitation , an agitation which shall not jeopardise the life or liberty of a single man , woman , or child ; an agitation which will make neither widows , orphans , nor victims ; but an agitation which shall only end in the annihilation of a party that has disgraced itself , suppressed the free expression of public opinion , and destroyed the British Constitution . I conclude with my old pledge , that I will maintain inviolate every point of the People ' s Charter ; and that if I stood alone , or even if reduced to beggary , that I never will accept of place , pension , or emolument for . my services in or out of parliament . Now ,

      then , Chartists , you have the watchword , it is— " Down with the Whigs . " If there is treason in that , I glory in being a traitor . Raise the standard of legitimate agitation ; abandon the system of class leaders , Serjeants , and general ; never attend a secret meeting ; never affix your name to a seditious letter ; fall back upon the old organisation ; raise the unsulledflag of Chartism once more : let your meetings be open , your speech be according to Whig law , until we drive the Whigs from office . Read General Napier ' s letter ; read Lord John Russell's letter ; read the conviction of O'Brien , and then say , whether as Englishmen you willlonger tolerate the rule—the fierce dominion—of such a'faction .

      I remain , Your faithful Friend and Representative , Feargus O'Connor

      Powell's Victims. To Ibb Editor Of Ihe N...

      POWELL'S VICTIMS . TO IBB EDITOR OF IHE NORTHERN STAR . Sib , —I have received a letter from my brother , Philip Martin , sentenced to two sears' imprisonment en Monday week , acd who pleaded gnilty on that occasion _, lie distinctly states that it was not his own wish to do bo , but the express desire of Mr Roberts , who stated by so doing , it would bs tbe means ol others being discharged , which waB tbe case . I consider it bat an act of justice to him and others that it should not be misconstrued into an act of fear or cowardice , for I well know him to be incapable of either , in confirmation of wbioh I bave received a

      note from Newgate , which states that Martin kept up his spirits and principles to the moment of his leaving that prison ; and the writer states that the severity of Tothill-fielda will not in the least alter bis principles . I consider it bat juat that this ata ' ement should be made publio , as he is now unable to defend an ; aspersion whiob ma ; be cast npon him ; and I also consider that those men in prison are entitled to the gratitude of those discharged on that occasion . By inserting thin _inyour next Star you will greatly oblige , A . T . Martin . 38 , Great Clarendon-street , _Somern-town .

      Birtir, Nsah Dewibtjbt.—A Distriot Meeti...

      _Birtir , _nsah DEWiBtjBT . —A distriot meeting will be held at the house of Benjamin Bromley , opposite the Post-office , New-street , Batley , near Dewabury ) on Sunday , October 22 ad , at two o ' clock

      Birtir, Nsah Dewibtjbt.—A Distriot Meeti...

      TO THE QUEEN OF THE BRITISH : empire ; Letter II . Respected ; Sovereign , My first public letter to your Majesty , pub lished last week , concluded with ' the following paragraph : — These profound , yet all-important subjects , have been , hitherto tabooed by > the ignorance and prejudices ofthe human race ; Their value for the creation of universal goodness , intelligence , and happiness , shall be explained in the succeeding _commun _. _ication _. _'

      To this task I now proceed—a task which no other will perform , although so essential tothe future security , permanent prosperity , and happiness . ' of all countries . The world , through inexperience , has been hitherto taught to call falsehood truth , and truth falsehood , and to imagine , and to call , evil good , and good evil . Hence , the world has , so far , ' been a world Of _dipuhioi and crime _£ _* -6 f ' , war , and its miseries . _''* Until men can be united in real fraternity , there can be no justice or virtue—the names of both are familiar , but the practice has not yet been attained , . at any time , among any people .

      But to unite mankind , " the cause of union and disunion must be known , and the latter withdrawn . . : The cause of all disunion amo ng ' men is the universal error forced , from birth , into the minds of all , that each individual forms himself to be what he is j while those who can accurately observe human nature , through every staee of its growth , from infancv to maturity ,

      and from maturity to old age—know , that the great creating power of the universe first creates the natural qualities of each individual , and that society afterwards , wisely or foolishly , directs the growth of those natural faculties ; and thus , at every moment of the existence of every individual , the character in mind and conduct is unavoidabl y formed for them . ' _'*'

      When this error respcting the formation of the character of all individuals shall be overcome , evil will be overcome , and falsehood and disunion , throughout society will be destroyed . ' Then will truth , unchangeable in its nature , become obvious to every one , and charity , pure and undefiled , will , of necessity , pervade all minds , and be universal in practice . Anger and all-the evil passions will cease and die their natural death ; the propensities of humanity will beunderstood , have a right

      direction only given to them , and then , as intended by _ttheir Creator , contribute through life to increase the health and happiness of all . The acquisition of this invaluable , knowledge will open the eyes of those who have been thus far mentally blind- they will then , for the first time , see human nature as it is , and be enabled to perceive . the causes of good and evil , and to understand how to obtain the one and avoid the other .

      The plain and simple practice will be obvious to all ; by which the causes of evil in human society may be easil y superseded by those only which shall produce good continually . : By the discovery of this knowledge men will be made familiar with a hew world of causes which / hitherto , have , without , ceasing , reproduced the evils which have afflicted the _^ worid _from'the beginning- " They will know that these evil effects must continue as long as those causes shall be blindly allowed to torment the human race . B y the same means they will also learn with how much ease those " causes of evil , may be removed for ever and their effects made to

      cease . Men who have , therefore , had their attention directed to , and who have been absorbed in , a knowledge of effects , but who have been carefully guarded from investigating the causes which produce those effects , will become delighted with the new world of causes which will be thus opened to them . By this mental change they will become a race of superior beings , and will be conscious of the blind , savage , and irrational state of

      past existence—an existence in which all were disunited , opposed to each other ' s prosperity , and essentially , thereb opposed to their own happiness . ¦ From the universal falsehood respecting the formation of the human character , have necessarily emanated the religions , private property , isolated family arrangements , and varied artificial classifications of society , with all the vicious , injurious , and inferior circumstances proceeding from them , as , they have existed through past times in all countries .

      As soon as this universal falsehood shall be removed , the evils which these effects have produced , and are now hourly producing , will become obvious to every one ; all will be anxious to have them quietly and rationally superseded , and causes introduced to create effects which shall be productive to all of real knowledge , goodness , superior circumstances , and happiness . But why , it may be asked , have these most desirable effects not been produced long ago ?

      The only reply which can , be made in accordance with truth is , that the false funda mental principle on which society has been based , has required for its unnatural support institutions which have misdirected the reasoning faculties of humanity , and thus made all to become irrational in mind and conduct . The institutions directly emanating from this fundamental error necessary to maintain it

      in opposition to innumerable millions of facts are , the religions ofthe worid , private property , and isolated and opposing family arrangements , with an individualism which deducts from the happiness of all . These , again , require for their support a most injurious classification of society , to enforce upon all mental blindness from birth , to induce them to maintain these religions , private property , isolated family arrangements , and opposing individualism .

      While _theses arrangements , opposed to the laws of _nature shall be upheld by the authori ties of the _^ brld , it must _^ continue , as . hitherto , in a state of contention , . crime , and misery . Your Majesty , in the position of Royalty , surrounded by excess of splendour , and of all the advantages which ' an irrational system can give to its most favoured subject , " cm form no adequate conception of . the extent and severity of the sufferings which this system 6 f falsehood , deception ; and force . inflicts upon a very large majority of the human race . '

      The religions of ; the world have created more hatted , uncharitable feelings , crimes , and wars of extermination of nations and people , than _) _iny , other single cause ; it is to-day the chief demon of discord and evil over the world ; and charity , real knowled ge , goodnes * s or real virtue , ffill be . unknown as long as any one of these deranging systems of the human intellect shall be forced into the young mind before it has . attained mature powers of judgment . By this * practice , hitherto so general over the world , the judgment and rational faculties are , with very few exceptions , entirely destroyed or rendered useless .

      Ihue have measures for the destruction of wealth ,, for preventing its creation , for keeping the human race in ignorance , or in giving the worst or most artificial and false character to all , been the common practice of all governments and people , while they have been taught

      Birtir, Nsah Dewibtjbt.—A Distriot Meeti...

      that they were well ' _igovernedj , and well instructed . To comprehend the crimes created by the superstitions under the names of the religions ofthe world , and the evils which they have inflicted through so many generations upon the human race ,. every page of the history of man must _bejstudied , and then some small amount of the causes of human misery may be imagined , but to enumerate them , so incessant and numerous have they been throughout all ageB , would be impossible .

      Again , the infliction of private property upon _mankindhas created a cause of disunion , separation , injustice , oppression , crime , and misery , far beyond all possible estimate . It has also given rise to endless institutions for its protection ; to laws , also , which continually render it insecure , ' and create great injurious anxieties to its temporary possessor . Like the superstitions of the world , it divides man from man , and nation from , nation ,, , is . the

      source of continual hatreds , crimes / and disorders , in every society in which ft exists ; and can be defended on no principle of nature , justice , or common sense . It is the cause of continued poverty to the mass , retards the creation of wealth , wastes it to an immense extent , and applies njuch of it to most vicious purposes . Itis so injurious , in almost all its ramifications throughout society , that it can be retained only while all shall be educated and trained to become irrational .

      There would be a much higher enjoyment of wealth under properly constituted arrangements for a system of general public property than the most wealthy can attain under the existing system of private property , or under any other system which can be devised into which private property shall be introduced . Combined with isolated family arrangements , it creates the very essence of selfishness , and . is more calculated to sever even family attach ments and friendships than any other single cause . It is productive of so many injurious feelings , so much injustice , cruelty , and oppression , that no parties will have the least

      desire to retain it longer than to that period when they can be instructed to become rational in mind and conduct , and then they will think and act in accordance with their own permanent interest and happiness . ' Strong as the educated prejudices have been made in favour of private property , it is the . permanent cause of immense evil to all , and with the superstitions of the world , and isolated family arrangements , the chief cause of disunion and separation of feelings among tho human race , without any adequate advantages to compensate for these worst of evils . To these causes of innumerable miseries to

      mankind have been added the isolated family arrangements , which are a link ofthe chain of errors emanating from the same lamentable basis , en which the entire of the existing irrational system has been constructed . Family arrangements presuppose that humanity possesses the power to like and dislike , to love and hate , according to a supposed free will _injeach individual , and yet no such power has ever existed in man ; The unchanging law of humanity is , that man must like and love that which is the most agreeable to his individual nature or feelings and dislike , and if forced upon him , must hate that which is disagreeable to the feelings or instincts which he is compelled to have .

      By mistaking this law of humanity , lawgivers , and the priesthood of the world , have made various ignorant and most absurd laws and ceremonies , differing in different countries , and in the same countries at different periods , to permanently unite in bondage persons of both sexes , in opposition to the laws of Nature or of God . By thus disobeying these now most obvious laws have men sinned against those laws which Nature declares shall be obeyed , or man shall grievously suffer until he shall learn , through increasing pain , to know and obey her just and most beneficent laws .

      Have the lawgivers and priesthood of the world considered the extent of disease , disunion , madness , crime , and misery , which their unhallowed unnatural laws of diseased imaginations have , through past ages , inflicted upon the human race ? Have any of those misguided authorities the slightest correct conception of the magnitude ofthe disease , crime , disunion , and misery , which their unnatural laws are this day inflicting upon poor deluded and _' grievously oppressed humanity .

      No ! They cannot have any conception of the murders and misery thus created , * but their educated ignorance and prejudice must plead their excuse , because it was not in their power to avoid receiving them . From this cause has arisen the senseless cry among those called the re-actionists in Paris , for thesecurityjof private property and family arrangements , as now existing .

      Ihese poor deluded persons know not what they are asking , or are contending for . Many of them are great sufferers through the very principles which thoy desire to have held sacred . They are suffering from poverty , or the fear ofit , and from family separation of feelings , which they know not how to prevent , being totally ignorant ofthe cause of both , and know not the only natural remedy for these evils .

      The greatest of all errors forced upon humanity , is the belief that superstition , private property , and isolated family arrangements , based on the laws of man in opposition to the laws of Nature or of God , can ever produce charity , unity , goodness , or happiness , among any people , or even admit them to become rational beings . Among no people , at this day , can these virtues , be discovered ; nor can any nation be found whose government , population , and laws , have any pretensions to be considered rational .

      In conclusion , may it be permitted to be deeply impressed upon the mind of your Majesty and your Ministers—as a means of diffusing . themost valuable knowledge throughout the world—that the true business of all governments—when they shall be established for the benefit of the whole population , as every government should be—will consist—lstly , in the creation of efficient practical measures to produce the greatest amount of wealth with . pleasure and advantage to its producers , and to have it honestly distributed ; 2 ndly , to have a _goodj ' _. or rational character formed for all ; ahd , / 3 rdly , to have the entire population well

      placed , and , locally and generally , justly governed . These results may be now attained by simple and beautiful arrangements , which may be made to exclude ' every vicious , injurious , and inferior circumstance of man ' s creation—while those only which are superior for each of these departments , separately and united , may be combined to perForm , in a very superior manner , all tbe business of life . New and impracticable as this last statement will appear to ordinary minds , the wellinformed and far-seeing know that the agitation and excitement , now prevalent throughout the civilised world , cannot again cease until this change shall be fully effected .

      It will be utterly impossible to trnnquilise France , ' Germany , Italy , Ireland , and the remainder of Europe , upon the old worn-out system of falsehood , deception , _injusf-ice , and oppression . . It will be true wisdom now in all govern-

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      , - I Vol- Xl No 573- London; Saturday ,...

      VOL- XL No 573- LONDON ; SATURDAY , OCt 6 _BER"J 4 ; 1848 . _V / _r t _^^ _JZIZ _^ _J _^

      , L 4 \Cf7-'^ , «' Ments To Lead* The Ne...

      , _l \ Cf _7-' _^ «' ments to lead * the new _wvolWdtt in progr 4 » to correct principles and beneficial _praotiow , such as have been now described hyy . _^ ¦ Your Majesty ' s faithful _subject v _ftq _? ERT , Owe * . ¦ - Octobers ; 1848 . _V _¦ _ft _¦^• " ¦ , ., ¦ _ _w «< " * _- "" .. _ _ ¦ _*!• v-

      Address Op The Executive ,To;Thb.-.* ......

      address op the executive , to ; thb _.-. _* ... .. ¦ ¦ -people . - .. ; ¦¦ _¦' . ¦ * •¦ ' ¦ ; _•;; .. . ; Daring ; the _< late trials fpr political offences at tht Old Baileyi Sir John _Jermsf her Majesty ' s Attor « hey General / was pleased to state , Jn the hearing o the Oourt , that that Plan of Organisation late .-adopted by tbe Chartist body , was illegal- We ha ? calmly considered the declaration ; and , whilst W . are prepared to prove that similar-plans of organ - sation have been countenanced and supported- bf leading members of both Houses of Parliament ' . " . " and no prosecutions have ensued from the ; adoption of the same , we are , nevertheless , aware that the

      Chartist body are marked objects of political pro * _scriptionand persecution ; and we feel it to be one duty to advise you , as , to our judgment , seems beat * We , therefore , recommend you to abandon ' such parts of tbe new plan as may have been adopted , and fall back upon the old . system of organisation bo well understood by all Of yon , and still practised in many parts of England and Scotland—reminding you that the . old established plan of organisation has been sanctioned by tbe opinions of the highes legal authorities in this land , and no fears or doubt need be entertained thereon .

      Distrust has been freely cast npon your motile by all political parties , and the late trials bave afforded an opportunity for" tne-ignorant and _assigning to renew their hostility . We , who know you best , are aware that you never bave , at any timo * or under , anycircurnstances , countenanced _resortata violence _tfor > the . artainmeiit of yonr objects ; that conspiracies have ever been by you , as a body , denounced ; that secret meetings are alike detestable to you in principle and practice ; and it is with no

      small degree of satisfaction that we refer to all the addresses and public documents issued by the Exe * cutive of your election-who are a direct index to your thoughts and resolves—and challenge even tha ingenuity of . Crown lawyers to point to a single sentence , from which could be deduced the slightest tendency subversive of peace , security , or public order . We have ever spoken and written to yott openly , frankly , and boldly , and hope to be enabled to continue to do so .

      Slanders founded on ignorance or misconceptions , are never long dangerous—the remedy rests with time and tbe character given to your body from your acts .. The excess of infamy resorted to by the Whig administration , to secure conviction against the unfortunate dupes of spies . and informers , bas already carried with it its own condemnation . An administration supported by such means leans . on rotten crutches and will . shortly fall to the ground _. The Whigs have , before to-day , had to learn ' That curses , like chickens , come home to roost ; ' and if you be cautious in your acts and true to the principles you have espoused , we hesitate not to affirm that the day is not far distant when the principles of the People ' s Charter will be tbe adopted creed of the majoritv of all _classe _* . ,

      By a persevering and peaceful propagation of your principles—trusting invariably to the justice of your claims—and using reason , as the only legitimate weapon in political discussion , you will assuredly be ¦ enabled to change tbe opinions of those who now oppose you ; and in due time _^ will _fallow a change in tbe institutions and government of the land in wbich -sn you live . t • . _> . ; , V _'';'¦ '• ¦ " - ¦ _•^ Where truth deigns to _coise , — -. ' ¦ •• _--:- - - i Her _Bhtsr , liberty , will not be far . We therefore call on you , the people of England and Scotland , to renew your energy in the struggle of Bight against Might . Let reason , resolution , and action follow eacb other , and the political destinies of yourselves and children are in your own hands . Signed on behalf of the Executive , Samuel Kydd . October 11 , 1848 .

      The Ashton Victims. To Thb ' . Chartists...

      THE ASHTON VICTIMS . TO THB ' . CHARTISTS OF A . _SHTON-UNDER-IYNE AND _SURUOUNDIKO TOWNS . Brother _Democrats , —Once more is troth and justice laid _prottrate at the feet of falsehood and tyranny _"; again are numbers cf our best _andstaoncheSt men committed to take their trials at the next assizer * , and unless assisted by you in procuring that legal as * _sistance the importance of their case requires , will , no donbt , be consigned to a felon's dungeon . Tha town af Ashton , on account of an unfortunate affair taking place in it wbich all most deplore , has more persona arrested than any other town of the same population ; indeed , the reign of terror exists hero to an alarming _| extent , and no one knows when or wbere it ia likely to end .

      We , therefore , call upon all who have the welfare of our glorious oause at heart , to _assist m with pecuniary meanB to meet the enemy in the coming struggle . We call upon you in the name of those right * yoa profess to hold dear , not to leave the wives and little ones of the viotirns to the tender _' meroics of an infuriated and revengeful despotism " . Do not give the enemy tbe satisfaction of seeing tbat you are indifferent to tbeir fate , or let them exult in the idea that

      they have crushed Chartism , but prove by befriending your brother Chartists that you are sincere in year demand for freedom , and whatever may be tbe fate of those advocates of the rights of labour , our noble cause will again rise with renewed vigour and even * tually triumph . By order of the Defence Comm ' t _' ce , Wm . _Woc'Db _ffs , Secretary . Edward _Hobsoh , Treasurer . P . S . — 'Persons not waited upon can forward sub * acriptions to Mr E . Hobson , printer , Old-street .

      The Manchester Victims. To . The Charris...

      THE MANCHESTER VICTIMS . TO . THE CHARriSrS OP GREAT BRITAIN . Brothers , —Tbe time is fast approaobing when a number of our brother Democrats must take their trial for advocating the olaimB ofthe toiling millions . Charges of tbe most heinous natute have been trumped up against them , for having exerted themselves to prevent a breach of the peace ; acd we can refer with pride to the fact , tha ; their efforts have been successful . We , therefore , confidently appeal to the various localities to assist us in obtaining the best defence for our _urjustly persecuted brothers . Let it not be said , that men who have . long struggled n the cause of justioe are s 'crificed Tor want of pecuniary aid , and thus give the enemies of Chartism a triumph , in their incarceration . By order of the council , Thomas Ormesher , sub-secretaty All money-orders to be eent to Thomas Ormesher , 52 , Bridgewater-Btreet , Manchester ; made payable to Thomas Roberts .

      The Late Cilartisr Trials. Tothe Editor ...

      THE LATE CIlARTISr TRIALS . TOTHE EDITOR Or THE NOtiTHERNSTAB . Sir , —In the report contained in your journal cf last week ot these trials , the Attorney _General is leported to have said , in reference to my clients' Burn and Green-lade , immediately after their apprehension , communicated with tbe government , and gave information , wbich justified the present _oourse . ' And although tbeir counsel , Mr Parry , explained that any statement made was only ia _relation to their own affairs , niany ofthe friends and acquaintances of these parties have formed _unfavourable impressions ) believing that they had no right to he in

      communication with the government at all ; and , unless their true position is made known through your columns , not only thoir immediate friends , but also the general body with whom they have been long associated , may continue unjustly prejudiced against them . I have much pleasure in _stating , on behalf of _Greecslade and Burn , that they never , directly or indirectly , made any Btatemect to the government or any of its members ; and the _Attorney _Goceral ' _d _obseivations in court were grounded upon a letter , addrtssed by me lo the Solicitor of the Treasury on the 12 th of Septemter _, and twenty-seven days after the apprehension , _ap _/ _Bsaingmy _bilief in their entire

      innocence , and alter shortly statu g facts , accounting for their presenee at the Orange Tree , as I was pre * pared to prove , suggesting that Greenslade and Burn should bo _discbarged—a _risult which fortunately followed . 1 should mention , that the letter in _written wholly without the knowledge of and , having made thia statement on to a general meeting of the City of _Londi Sh emakeri _, ' Society , cf which Greenslade have long been _active members , I hope tion in the Star will remove any unfavourable _pression caused by the remarks of tho _Geae ' a ' , and bo as satisfactory to tbo' large aa it was ta the _seuiety m _question vinced that no men more thoroughly abhor like the spy system than my two clients 1 am , sir , your _oWient Jambs _Magaauara 58 , Lincoln ' s Inn-fields , Utb OotQbW , 18 «»

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 14, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_14101848/page/1/