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Onward, ani we OMqaer! Backward and we fall 1 ,gS IHOPL E'S CHARTER ASD KO SURRE5DER1
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TO THE OLD GUARDS. ' Valiant friends and...
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One week after Easter will test the sinc...
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THE KENNINGTON COMMON MEETING. The (Dcb*...
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MR O'CONNOR'S VISIT TO HIS CONSTITUENTS....
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Hbtwood.—Mr Clark Cropper, of Manchester...
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for England, and that in this belief the...
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AND N " ATIONAL TRADES' JgUBM^ _ VOL. XI...
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THE SHAETES km HO SJBEESDER UNIVERSAL SU...
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23T Three aubjeets :-tho parliamentary d...
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>'* '»• ——
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MANCHESTER.—On Sunday week, a monster de...
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&%t IKfttattDi €Mittti£#.
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Loughborough Chartist Demonstration.— On...
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«™ "u ou > ¦ \ Z^Ki^i ' ^y '> C?f ,^mx4x...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Onward, Ani We Omqaer! Backward And We Fall 1 ,Gs Ihopl E'S Charter Asd Ko Surre5der1
Onward , ani we _OMqaer ! _Backward and we fall 1 , _gS _IHOPL E'S CHARTER ASD KO SURRE 5 DER 1
To The Old Guards. ' Valiant Friends And...
TO THE OLD GUARDS . ' Valiant friends and comrades ! It has ever _jjaen my delight to remind you , that , whenever _# jr banner has been struck down by tyranny , _ffe have watched our opportunity again to jjiarch onward from that spot which tyrants _invaded as our grave ; and if ever our glorious _pjuse did make rapid advance , it has been since _jlonday the 10 th , when , armed with the constitution , we laid tyranny prostrate at our feet , and , guided by prudence , we threw the shield of protection over our battalions and iheir children .
Old Guards , It was intended that London j & _ould hare been an unroofed slaughter house , and that tyranny should have its last feast upon the remains of constitutional libertyhut they- -were foiled . Mark , when _^ 1 use the word tyranny , I do so in a more comprehensive fence than is applicable to the mere government of the country . 1 apply it to the pressure of faction upon the Government . I always speak of communities . not ; ofindividuals , andin justice to Sir George Grey , the Secretary of State for the Home Department , I unhesitatingly assert , that no living man would more regret a single get of unnecessary cruelty , than would Sir G . Grev . A more tender-hearted man breathes not ' : hut , as I have often stated . MEN "WILL
COMMIT ACTS ASA BODY , WHICH THE BASEST AMONG THEM _WOl'LB BLUSH TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS AN INDIVIDUAL . However , it is consoling to me , and must he _ri eering to all , that I have received communication s from all parts of the United Empire , expressing the highest thanks and gratitude for my conduct on Monday , the 10 th , while we have even disarmed the Press of the factions ; and n _» w , as I predicted , the Charter fills every mouth , and is the one topic which interests all classes .
Having , therefore , secured this triumph , and having increased your confidence in my judgment and resolution , it becomes my hounden auty to improve the advantage that oppression has given us . Old Guards , without selfishness , or without looking-for too mnch sympathy—having made up my mind to brave the battle and the breeze —I think I may exultingly call your attention to the manner in which , despite of the preconcerted plan to damage my fame and overawe my resolution , I have sustained myself against the howl of faction and the taunting jeers of rampant tyranny .
My veracity was assailed upon two points . Firstly—Upon the number of signatures , and the description of signatures , attached to the National Petition ; and , secondly—as to the numbers that congregated upon Kennington Common . Now , I will divide the first subject under two heads : —Firstly , as to my own responsibility ; and , secondly , as to the conduct of the Government ; and then I shall make a few _general _observations upon those two points .
As to my own responsibility—it was , as I stated in Parliament , morally and physically impossible that I , or any other man , could critically scrutinise the signatures to a great National Petition , and if it had been possible for me to do so , I would have struck out even * # ppressor _' s name , and every obscene word , as , if my knowledge of those forgeries could be presumed , I would hold myself unworthy the name of man if I allowed the constitutional
appeal ofa virtuous people to be thus defiled . \ Secondly , as to the conduct ofthe Government . I charge the Government , upon the most perfect circumstantial evidence , of having conspired to damage your cause , by throwing an unjust , ungenerous , aud unjustifiable disrepute upon your Petition . Now , mark , how I apply the evidence in support of this charge , The forms ofthe House require that fourteen days' notice shall he given of any motion that is submitted to it —that-iSj thatno motion can embrace a longer period . Aware of this fact , I denied myself the pleasure of witnessing the ( to me ) gratifying spectacle of seeing the occupants taking possession of their castles and free labour
nelds on Monday , the 27 th ot March . I was in my place upon that day , to have the first chance of bringing on the motion on the 10 th , as aa amendment upon supply—Monday being , in general , devoted to the voting of taxes out of vour packets ; but , as no question of supply had been entered upon the order book , I was debarred , and purposely debarred , of this opportunity ; meantime , with a hypocritical magnanimity , characteristic of hypocritical _Wfiggery , Lord J « hn Russell would " not give me up the Monday , but pompously conceded tne following Friday , ior the mere purpose , as I stated in Parliament , of discovering and bringing to light those obscenities and forgeries , which had been practised by spies , as I shall presently prove .
On Thursday evening , it was announced to tee House by the Chairman of tbe Petition Committee , that the signatures to the petition were only one million nine hundred thousand four hundred and fifty-two , and there was evidence of a most critical review evinced in the fact that the Inspectors of the Petitions had discovered the several repetitions of different names , as well as the different ridiculous names and obscene words . This , I say , proves a very critical inspection , and yet , we are told that thirteen law-stationers' clerks counted
the whole of the signatures , ' and discovered the whole of the forgeries and obscene names , in the space of seventeen hour ? . Now , I resort to figures in refutation of this assertion , and I find that each clerk , besides the critical inspection of names , must have coHnted about 1 * 7 , 170 names , in round numbers , within the prescribed time ; each clerk must have counted S , GG 0 within the hour , or 150 names in e very minute , for seventeen consecutive hours , or two names and a half in each second , for that period of time . This calculation only applies to the number of signatures stated by the _]< tw clerks ; and my position cannot _^ be
disturbed , or my argument refuted , by the re joinder , that they counted £ them in sheets ; and fer this reason , " because the sheets were not uniform , even , from any one town in the kingdom , while the minute inspection which led to tiie discovery of forged and obscene names , establishes , firstly , the impossibility of performins the work within the time ; and secondly , tiie certainty that those names were inserted _k ) ' the enemy . If they pervaded the wh « le petition — ten , twenty , nay , thirty times , the number of clerks could not have performed the work within tbe time ; while , if those forgeries and obscenities were confined to a few sheets to which immediate attention
_Wa directed by the perpetrators , was it _fair—* _as it just , or honourable , to cast- reproach _^ pon the National Appeal for justice upon so _veak , so disreputable , and so disgraceful a subterfuge . Old Guards , keep the thread of this _argu-] ment before you : —it is , that thirteen law ' stationers , for seventeen consecutive hours , _i counted two and a half names in every second , sand critically inspected 147 , 170 names within t thnt period . Now , I ask , if there is a sane _i man in England who believes such an assert tion ? And then , mark the period of time * within which those seventeen hours were
de-* - voted to the work . I presented the Petition ' at fiv e o ' clock on Monday , and at twelve " ' ' dock on Wednesday a member of the < _Go vernment—as I stated in the House—inf formed me ofthe discovery ; that is , within f forty t } , ree hours after I p resented the Petit tion , as the announcement was made to the 2 H ouse on Thursdav evening , amid such yells f _jU'd atoms as I never before heard in my life i in the most disorderly assembly . Well , in 1 lf " - 'niidat of all I neither lost my resolution I uor my presence of mind , because I was SUS-1 _tained" by my own consciousness of innocence , a _and the guilt ofthe Government , as I wholly
To The Old Guards. ' Valiant Friends And...
exonerate the House and the Petition Committee , the latter merely making the report which they had received from the Clerks , and the former receiving it as proof of my negligence . _jor an attempt te practise a delusion , time not being allowed upon the spur of the moment , to calculate the impossibility of arriving at the conclusion stated to the House . Well , then , I ask , whether or no Friday was pompously given up by the-noble Lord for the purpose of making a parade of this hidden treasure , and thus affording an * opportunity to many mock supporters of the princi ple to creep eut of the dilemma ? ... _ ... ~
So much for the signatures ; and now for the numbers assembled on Kennington Common . I confess that the marvellous coincidence of opinion that pervaded the whole Press on Tuesday morning , led me to the inevitable conclusion that some extraordinary influences had been operating upon their dreams on Monday night ; but , without a single comment of my own , I give the following letter , as proof of the genius b y which this coincidence . _' was produced . Read the following letter , Old Guards . It comes from one . of the most efficient short-hand writers , who is in the habit of attending public meetings , and who was in the car upon the 10 th : —
Deis Sib , —A fact h * s just come to say knowledge , which mav perhaps be interesting ts von , and which will in sone measure expiate how all the daily papers on Tuesday last _statec _* _. that there were only I 5 , CC 0 persons present at tke meeting ea Monday last ; which somewhat surprised me , as I am certain there were upwards of 200 , 000 . The Commisiioners of Police on Monday evening last , sent round to the papers a document marked private , requesting them ta state that there were only 15 , 000 persons present at the meeting . Kow , I think you ought to ask the Home Secretary , whether the police are paid for the purpose of supplying the _newipaptrs with lies .
_Ofcourseldonotwish you to mention my name in connextion with the matter , hut yeu may place the greatest reliance npon my information . I am , dear Sir , faithfully yours , To _Peargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P . Now , then , what say you to the virtue of your government , and the justice of your Press ? I leave those two disgusting subjects of the Petition and the assemblage with _^ this single observation ; namely , that there never has been a large petition * presented to the House
of Commons in which fraud has not been practised in a tenfold degree to that stated to have occurred in the case of your Petition ; and I am aware ofthe fact myself , that parties were employed by the day to affix signatures to Petitions both for and against Catholic Emancipation . A charge of a similar nature was made against the League , and against those who got up petitions for the admission of Jews into Parliament ; but at those assertions the Government sneered as they were in favour of the cause they espoused .
Old Guards , I now leave this disgusting subject , and I come to the consideration of a matter of paramount importance ,
namely—THE DEATH OF LIBERTY . On Saturday next the corpse of the Constitution will come in funeral attire to the House of Lords , to lie in state for a few moments , and . thence to be conveyed to the sepulchre where the remains of the Lord William Russell now lies , and there will the friend of liberty , and liberty itself , rest entombed until the loud voice of an indignant people shall proclaim the honour of the one and the joyful resurrection of the other .
Old Guards , I never addressed you at so critical a period in my life . I have carried you successfully through the turmoil of ' 39 and ' 40 , of ' 42 and ' 43 , and have piloted the good ship safely on the 10 th of April , ' 48 , through the ranks of our armed assailants ; but the voice of knowledge silenced the cannon ' s roar , and the vessel with her crew came safe to harbour . Then , Old Guards , at whom do you think the present stab that killed liberty is aimed ?
Can you doubt that it is at the pilot who has so often steered the vessel between the shoals and the quicksands , and who has stood foremost in the battle , and received the lion ' s share of persecution . I have suffered for the folly and indiscretion of others , but I have ever kept with firm footing upon the constitution , and within the limits of the law—narrow and limited as they were—and now , Old Guards , will you allow folly or indiscretion to drive me from mv vantage ground . I hear vou respond , " No !" "
A THOUSAND TIMES "NO !" Hear me , then , and if you are valiant be discreet . The National Assembly proposes to violate the law , as the law only permits an assemblage of forty . nine persona to sit as a Convention ; and if that assembly meets , it will not only strengthen our opponents , hut will deter the thousands—yea , millions—who are now preparing to join us from entering into our ranks . I bore , and without a murmur , the indiscretion and the folly of some members of the late Convention , and my reward was the payment of 150 / . towards their expenses , and insults , contumely , and reproach in the House of Com * mons for their every act ef indiscretion .
Will you just imagine men getting up _ at public meetings , in London , and announcing that they were prepared for battle ! You remember * how Parson Stevens was prepared . How Peter Bussey was prepared ; and you know what has become of these valiant heroes . Now I tell you , with more courage than they possessed , that I am not ready to " tuck up my sleeves and go at it ; _"' but I tell you what I have done . I have suffered more in health and constitution within the last three
weeks than I have within the ten years previous , and still I am more ready and prepared to " go at it , '' in the right way , than any one of our immaculate heroes . You are aware that I have always told you that the existence of three parties in a state was incompatible with the existence of peace , law , and order—that we would drive Peel and Russell to unite ; and having thus reduced parties to their proper dimensions—the oppressor and oppressedthat the voice of the J multitude brought to bear upon the votes of the representatives , would overwhelm and finally overthrow tyranny .
"Well , notwithstanding the boasted triumph of "Whiggery , its pointed cannon and " specials / ' on Monda _}* , the 10 th . inst , so rarely great is our victory manifest in our consummate courage , judgment , and skill , that one half of my time since has been devoted to reading the most kindly and affectionate letters from shopkeepers , tradesmen , and others of the middle classes , tendering their hearty co operation to the popular cause , and expres sing their determination to urge _^ their rep resentatives in parliament to assume a hold and manly position after Easter , and to propound measures which , six months ago , they would have scoffed at .
Old Guards , have I not always told you thit the shopkeepers would fraternise with you when they understood their real interests ; and now that we have won them by our prudence , our judgment , and our courage , shall we repulse them by our folly , our indiscretion , and our madness ? Old Guards , have not I always £ been in front of the battle , and will you aliowg the madness of the intemperate to baulk us ofthe service of those recruits , and once more throw them u _* o more deadly hostility ?
One Week After Easter Will Test The Sinc...
One week after Easter will test the sincerity of the Opposition . Upon my banner shall remain , THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER AND _~ _ ...
. NO SURRENDER ! But in the name of God ! in the name of Justice ! . of Liberty and of Common Sense ! let us wing the foe , and not scare the friend . Not only from all parts of the kingdom , but in the House of Commons , I have received assurance that the People ' s Charter will be the adopted principle of the Opposition ; and the landed aristocracy of this country having proved themselves the greatest enemies of liberty , a prompt assault will be made upon their unconstitutional and worn-out privileges . Old Guards , you are not aware of the
appliancesat thedisposalofGovernment , especially in London ; but I will give you one significant proof of the fact , it is this—as I was leaving London on Saturday the 8 th , to discharge ! my duties as your bailiff , a man watched me , and followed me from John-street to the Bank . He ran after the eab ; Mr Price , the manager of the Bank , was with me , and he observed , "What does that fellow , dressed lite a navvie , ' mean by running after us ? " When I came
out ofthe Bank , he addressed me thus— " Your honour , you don ' t know me now , but my name is - < -, and you got me into the police when you were member for Cork , and for God Almighty's sake take care of yourself on Monday , for there ' s orders to shout you ; and you should know that half of the devils that ' s cheering in the gallery in John-street is sent there by the Commissioners ; and ould Wellington ( bad luck to his soul ) is to be the Commander-in-Chief on Monday . "
Now , Old Guards , I did not require this statement to convince me of the fact that spies were sent to John-street _; and for this reason—having a sharp eye and a sensible ear , I always found that the most ridiculous and violent speeches were cheered by those wolves in sheep ' s clothing , while the sensitive _Trorking-class-lookingmen shook their heads and hung them down . Old Guards , there is another class who have recently joined us—I mean the Irish Repealers •—but you must never lose sight of the fact , that not many months ago the then leading
organ of that party designated the Six Points of the Charter as an abomination—the editor , Mr Duffy , declaring that his study should be "to widen the breach between the English and the Irish , and that he would be the last to bridge the gulf . " He has only recently become a convert to the " ab 8 minations , " and would now proclaim a very unequal division of labour —assigning to the ABOMINABLES the duty of fighting , and to himself the more easy task of talking about it . This champion of liberty is not quite satisfied with the result of our
Demonstration of the 10 th ; but you will read in another part of the paper , a very different opinion , given by the editor of the Freeman s Journalnpon the subject , and to whom I invite your attention . Add to this the fact , that all the pure Republican French papers declare that valiant Chartism had a noble triumph over armed tyranny on the 10 th ; but , what is more gratifying than all , while oppressed with sickness , with rheumatism , and debility , reflection tells me that the gathering upon Kennington Common was the recruiting service of Chartism .
Thus , I show you that the middle classes , the shopkeepers , and Irish Repealers , are but recent converts to our principles , and that , thus augmented in force , it is our hounden duty to try its pressure upon the House . If you doubt the present temper of the former supporters of Whiggery , you should have been in the House on Friday night last , when every member of the Government , as well as the Attorney General , was received as he rose , with the hootings , the howlings _, and the yells of their former supporters , though not one word of it is reported by the Pi- ass , although they were actually hooted down every time they rose .
Old Guards , I assure you that declining trade , failing manufactures , empty tills , increasing armaments , increased taxation , additional placemen and pensioners , increased pauperism , and growing insolence on the part of the Government , has taken the gilt off the Free Trade gingerbread ; and that the former advocates of that measure are now amongst the most strenuous opponents of the Government .
In conclusion , then , what I have to implore of you , is to postpone your National Assembly , whose enthusiasm may be operated upon b y spies , until you see the effect of this new combination of disappointed hope , when arrayed against an intolerant liberty-slaying Government . You who have followed me so long , and whom I have served so faithfully , will not , I am convinced , for the gratification of any passion , _refuse obedience - to my advice , and should its following fail , then command Your faithful and devoted friend and servant , Feargus O'Connor
The Kennington Common Meeting. The (Dcb*...
THE KENNINGTON COMMON MEETING . The ( Dcb * : ih ) _Weeklt Freeman ' s Journal of Saturday last contains an excellent artiele on the late Chartist demonstration , from which we give the following extract : — We have heard the result of this movement classed by the advocates of _oligarchic domination as a triumph over the people . We hold that the triumph is on the other 6 ide . Had the people _coDiempIa-ci an immediate revolution by force of arms , _tbe-n , indued , might the oligarchy claim a victory in the result , but the hardworking , _boneet people contemplated no BUCh thing ; and , in the fact of their holdiDg the _mesiing , regardless of threats , but still more in the fact of their refusing to be dragged into giring battle where tbey meant not force , and where evea an armed enemy would have to force positions sueh as few ever _suceeded in forcing , they have won a signal triumph for tbemselves and for constitutional agitation .
Mr O'Connor's Visit To His Constituents....
MR O'CONNOR ' S VISIT TO HIS CONSTITUENTS . Nottinghak .-F . O'Connor , Efq „ M . P .. nil ) make a public entry into Nottingham , on Easter Monday , on which day a tea party and ball will be held , ti celebrate the triumph gained by him over the faction that presented a petition against his return to Parliament . Mr O'Connor wi ! l enter the town from the railway station precis . _ly at twelve o'clock at noon , and the people wiil assemble in the Market-place , at half-past ten o ' clock that morning —to start at eleven o ' clock , and proceed down Whteler-gate , _Abert-street , L ' _ster-gate _, and _Carrington-street , to the railway station , where the
procession will await Mr O'Connor ' s arrival . Tbe route Irom the station will be along the Leen-side , Bridge street , _Fisher-gate , Carter-pate , Sneintjn-3 treet _, Hockley , Goose-gate , Broad street , Parliaraentatreef , Cbapel-bar , round the Market-place , where Mr O'Connor will address ihe people . The tea party and ball will be held in the Exchange Hall . Djor » to be open at half-past four o ' clock in the afternoon . Tea to commence at five o ' clock , and dancing at nine . Tickets to be had of Mr W . II . Mott , _G'josegate ; Mr Dowse , Carrington ; Mr Saunders , Kad lord ; and Mr Thornton , Hyson-green .
Hbtwood.—Mr Clark Cropper, Of Manchester...
Hbtwood . —Mr Clark Cropper , of Manchester , will deliver a lecture in the _Chartist-room , Hirtfeystieet , on Sunday evening , the 23 rd inst . Chair to be taken at six o ' clock . Haz .. l Grove—Mr Clark , ofthe Executive , will attend the camp meeting on Sunday aiternoon , at two o ' clock ; and tha Stockport meeting ac sis o ' clock in the evening . Sr Helen '? , —The members of this locality are * _equested to attend their weekly meeting on Sunday , April 23 rd .
For England, And That In This Belief The...
/ // _V _^ wsL y s _/^^? Wj > 1
And N " Ational Trades' Jgubm^ _ Vol. Xi...
AND N ATIONAL TRADES' JgUBM _^ _ VOL . XI . No ~ 548- LONDON , SATURDAY , _APBIL 22 , 1848 . rwe _JgJgi . _'W , 1 t .. .. . '"" _.
The Shaetes Km Ho Sjbeesder Universal Su...
THE SHAETES km HO _SJBEESDER _UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE . ff $ m M E _& LLOT . NO _PROPERTY QUALIFICATION _ANNUAL PARLIAMENTS . PAYMENT OF MEMBERS . EQUAL ELECTORAL DISTRICTS . _
23t Three Aubjeets :-Tho Parliamentary D...
_23 _T Three _aubjeets _:-tho parliamentary debates on the bagging Bill- tho proceedings of the Convention ; and the great demonstration on _Kenninpton Common—occupied thi columns of our laBt _sumbar , to thc almost total sxoluBien of all other subjects . Very unwillingly we wero counselled to leave unnoticed a host of important meetings , hold ih differ ent parts of the country . We now prefix to thia week ' s reports , abridged notices of the meetings oxolnded from our last . It will be seen that wa have adopted an _arrangement by which the reports ofthe people ' s meetings will appear to greater advantage . Let the enemies of Chartism read the contents of the _following columns , and remember that « THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE VOICE OF GOBI '
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Manchester.—On Sunday Week, A Monster De...
MANCHESTER . —On Sunday week , a monster _demonstration , _supposed to have numb ® ed nearly a hundred thousand persons , took place in _Smifchfield Market . The assemblage was divided into two distinct meetings . Amongst the speakers were Mr Grocott , Mr Donovan , Mr Nuttall , Mr Cropper , Mr Rankinc , and Mr John Murray . Resolutions were passed , pleding the meeting to support the Convention inany emergency . ' An immense meeting was holden in the People ' s Hall , in the evening . Thb Special Co » stables .--A numerous body of special constables signed _acquisition to the mayor for tbe use of tbe Town-hall , to consider how far thf y were justified , in case of riot , to _ill-use their customers . Of course the Town- ball was refused . The constables then engaged the Corn Exchange , and held two meetings , and passed resolutions to support the Peoole _' _s Charter .
The Trades . —The trades delegates of Manchester have held two meetings and passed resolutions in favour of the Charter , and protesting against the Gagging : Bill . Thb Unemployed _OrKRATiVES . —A meeting of the 'unemployed _operatives' was held on Saturday evening last , in Stevenson _' _s-square . W . H- Chadwick was called tothe chair . They _v ? ere told that they were not yet prepared to receive their rights , _- that they were too degraded and ignorant . Hc believed they were prepared . Aa a class , they were as moral as any other people in the world ; and it they were not , it was the fault ofthe government . If government changed the laws , they woald also change the conduct of the people . He believed that the people were intellectually and physically
prepared to receive their rights . ( Hear . ) James Abram Ball declared , tbat he was determined to speak his mind , in spite of what the authorities might say . They had , however , had plenty of talking ; and it was now high Una © for acting . They weve _^ told to be contented . But could they be contented in slavery ? ( ' No . ' ) Now , then , was the time for action . He was determined to resist the oppression under which he had suffered . —William Schofield said , the mayor of Manchester had put out a proclamation in wbich he alluded to * unprincipled agitators , ' who were inciting the people to the destruction of property . Had he ever advised tbem to destroy property ? ( No . ) Then the mayor must be a liar , and , as such , stood confounded . The proceedings terminated about eight o ' clock . —Abridged from the ' Manchester Guardian . '
Meetin g at the People's Institute . —On Monday evening last , a meeting was held at the People's Institute , to protest against the 'Gagging Bill' of Sir George tfrey . Mr Burton , umbrella maker , _Oldham-road , was called to the chair ; and after stating that it was the object of the bill in question to prevent the people complaining of their grievances , be said , that if the Chartists were determined to respect persons and property , it was the duty of all the middle classes to join tbem . ( Applauee . ) Tbe interests of the middle classes depended upon the working classes getting their rights ; for thc middle classes depended upon the prosperity of tbe working classes —Mr JameB George Clark then moved the first resolution , _denouncing the bill , now before the House of Commons as tbe most flagrant a'tempt made in this country for centuries to deprive the people of theirright to complain of grievances . This
bill , he said , was an attempt to stay the people of this country from _pacing that Rubicon whieh must , wonld , and should , be passed by the people of this country . ( Applause . ) He then _described the suffering of the working _^ classes , which , he alleged , had arisen from the oligarchy having prevented tbe laud from being opened to them . The bill of Sir George Grey was unnatural , tyrannieal , and oppressive . Should the lion , the fierce tiger , the Iamb , tho sheep , and everything be allowed to send f orth their plaintive cries when distressed ; but should not man have the power to send for'h his plaintive cry ; to send _forthhis wrongs in d _nunciations or imprecations against the tyrants who not only robbed him of the produce of his industry , but were obstacles to the working classes _producing abundance of wealth for _theraselveB , The people cf England would not submit that one million and a half sf them should be sent to death
like tbe Irish . ( 'No , no . ) Rather tban submit to tbis he would proclaim his wrongs , if he were sentenced to transportation for life or for death—Mr _George Archdeacon , in seconding the resolution , said they had not sent a petition against this bill of Sir George Grey , _beoanse , after what had passed with reference to the National Petition , they believed that it would have been of no use . Thero was nothing for them but to enter their strong protest _against it . and to tell these men of blood that they repudiated it . ( A Voice : ' We will never volunteer against Ireland again . ' Cries of _'tfever , ' and great applause . ) Never before were the people of England and Ireland both ud at the same time , struggling for their liberties . He exhorted them in conclusion , to avoid any fereach of the peace , and to putfrom among them all who wished to commit petty crimes . The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to . Mr Thomas Whitaker moved a resolution
expressing joy at the union between the middle and working classes , and pledging that meeting to preserve tbat union inviolate , and to use all the means in their power to obtain the People ' s Charter . The time had now arrived when the middle classes saw that their prosperity depended on the prosperity of the working classes . A committee of shopkeepers and middle elass men had been formed to carry out tbe union which took place in the Corn Exchange , who would exert every means to convince the middle classes who had hitherto entertained prejudices against the principles and opinions of thc working classes ; and to bring about a better understanding between the two classes . —Mr _George _Chambers , in seconding the resolution , said that the people wero wedded to the Charter , and tbat it had become the topic of the day , from the New Cross to the Mayor . The resolution was carried , and a vote of thanks having been given to the chairman , the proceedings terminated about teno'chek .
A Meeting op _Shopkebpubs i . v _favouh op Chartism . —A publio meeting of shopkeepers was held on Monday evening at the _Temperanco-hall , in Jerseystreet , to take into consideration the beat means of carryingout the resolutions passed at the meeting of the Corn Exchange , on the 10 th instant . The chair was occupied by Mr George Chambers , provision ibaler , of _Ancoats-street . Mr George II . Smith , shoemaker , said several private meetings of shopkeepers had been recently held , with _referenca to tiie new _movement now commenced bv Mr Joseph Hume , Mr Cobden , and others , and thsy had come to the resolution that it was _inexpedient to aid that movement , because it excluded principles that were ofthe greatest importance in securing the freedom of he people , and if successful wodd not do away with the _pce 3 etit _sy stem of elass legislation _^ At their last meeting it was resolved , 'That this meeting
form itself into a provisional committee , with power to add to its number , for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of the meeting of Monday , April 10 th , in the Corn Exchange—namely , a union of ad classes for obtaining the rights of the people . ' Several names were then received of shopkeepers present , who were desirous to form a society to carry out theobjeotsmentioned in _fehe resolution . A subcommittee was then appointed consisting of Messrs Thomas Whittakar , William Burton , Thomas Barrow , George H . Smith , and George Chambers , lo draw up rules for the guidance of the society , and submit them to a future meeting . —Mr Thomas Heywood reminded tbo meeting that in - . all probability when tbey next met they would not be permitted to express their sentiments with freedom , and therefore advised them to say what they had to say _floio — Thomas Rankio , m operative , eaid he could answer
Manchester.—On Sunday Week, A Monster De...
for the working _olaBses that they would go on just the same as before , totally heedless of Sir George Grey ' s bill ; and , if the government imprisoned any of them , it would bafor tha people te say whether they would suffer that imprisonment or not . —The _Chrirman eaid the new Jaw had not made a single impros 3 iOB " 'ba his ' mind ; it _se 7 er . for a moment entered his brain j and be should continue to _expresshis'Sentisaeflts _^^ jgi'f _^ _rlosslyiita-eVeK _^ -wThemeet ing thea adjourned , _^ shortly & efdr < i eight o ' clock , to Tuesday next ; _itfeoriaider tho ' rule * to be drawn up by tho _BUb-COratriittes . _—Fcomthe Manchester Guardian . ¦ ¦
OfbNaib Meeiiko . —An open-air meeting _was'held on Tuesday evening , in Oldfield Road , Salford , ' to consider the beBt meant } of opposing the bill now before Parliament j called the' Crown and Government Security Bill , ' and to petition her Majesty to dismiss her present ministers , and call to her councils such men as will give justice to the people . ' At a quarter past seven o'elock , the chair waa taken by a young man named James Hpyle . The Chairman , having stated the objects of the meeting , said that the _Manchbbtbe . _GuAnnuN told . the world , only , last _week that Chartism was dead , but he rather thought that paper would find thai Chartism was not dead , nor yet sleeping . Mr John Flint ) moved the firs '; resolution , declaring that SirGeorge Grey's bill would ' do more
to alienate the affection of the people than any other measure for the last fifty years . What claim hao the crown and _government , upon the people , whom they treated as aliens ? Did the government think that the people would sit quietly down while they plundered them , Tho government eaid tbat tbey were enemies of peace , lawt and order ; but that order was the union bastile and misery . The resolution was seconded by a man named Norris , who said he was an advocate of moral force , and called on the middle classes to come forward a _» d join the working c ' asaeB in gaining the People ' s Charter ; The resolution was carried . Mr Charles Littler nv > ved ths
next resolution , calling on the Queen to dismiss her present ministers , and to call to her councils men who would grant the People ' s Charter and Repeal . — Mr George Archdeacon seconded the resolution . lie said that the government had pretended that they triumphed last Monday , but the people would show them that it was the Convention and the people that gained the triumph . ( Cheers . 1 Let them do all that they could to prevent the carrying oat of the bill , and not put themselves in the ' _pdwer ' 6 f ' detectives ' and spies . —Thanks being voted to the ohairman , the proceedings terminated at half-past eight o'clock . —Abridged from the Manchester Guardian .
Camp Msstkg , —A . Chartist camp meeting was held on Sunday last , at Hurst Green , _Ashton-under Lyne . Many thousands were present . —Mr Richard Pilling , of Ashton , was called to the chair , and in opening the proceedings he commenced by denouncing the gagging bill , and said that if all wero of his mind they would , on the morning that that bill received a third reading cease labour until the government had conceded their juat rights . The bloody and brutal Whigs had most unscrupulously and contemptuously investigated the Naiional Petition ; but although they said that they had found the names of * Pugnose , ' ' Longnose , ' ' _Scubnose _, ' and ' Wellington' attached to it , was it not more likely that these names had been put there by the
thirteen clerks who were appointed by the government to investigate it , than by the Chartists ?—( Applause . )—tie had no doubt in his own mind that that was the faot . If the working and middle classes united together , then the Charter would be the law ofthe land in three months , and that by moral means too . He concluded by adverting to the meetings which had been held , which , in his opinion , showed that the middle classes wore about to join the working classes in agitating for the Charter ; and by calling on the meeting to swear that they would not abandon their agitation till every male of twenty-one vears of age , untainted by crime , had a vote . Mr George Candelet , of Hyde , moved a resolution expressing contempt for the
statements made by the committee of the House of Commons , charging the people of this country with being a nation of forgers , and retorting the charge back on the House of Commons , as it was the opinion of that meeting that if the names had been forged to the petition , they had been forged by spies paid out of the secret service money , that the government might be able to reject the petition altogether , by Baying that it was too contemptible to be taken notice of . The people , said the speaker , were now treated worse than slaves ; they were treated as criminals . Would they submit to be thus degraded 1 Let them tell the delegate whom they sent to the National Assembly that they were determined to continue the agitation in a peaceable
lawful , aad constitutional manner ; that they were prepared to go np to the Queen with a memorial praying her to dismiss her present advisers , and that upon the rejection of that memorial , they were then prepared to say what tho next resource should be . lie then proceeded to denounce the ' gagging bill , ' and expressed hiB opinion that the committee who had found the curious names attached to the National Petition had put them there . Mr Abel Duke called on all those who had signed tho Petition to hold np their hands , in order that ( that meeting being taken to represent the publio opinion of Ashton ) it might be seen what proportion of the population were really in favour ot and had signed
the National Petition . ( A ahow of hands waa then taken , and every hand in the crowd appeared to be held up . )—Mr Robt . Wild , the delegate trom Ash ' . on to the National Convention , next addressed the meeting . He implored them to be united , and not to commit say breach of the peace , because by this they would jeopardise their eause . The resolution was then nut te the meeting , and _oarried . —Thomas Medcalf Jenkins , of Stalybridge , then proposed a resolution denouncing the gagging bill , and recommending that a petition sbould be sent to the House of Commons against it . The resolution was _seconded , and passed unanimously . The _proceedings then terminated . —Manchester Guardian .
Newcastleupon-Tike —Avery large and influential meeting took place on Monday , April 10 th , to adopt a petition to the House of Commons fur the Repeal of the Legislative Union between Great Britaia and Ireland . The petition waa adopted unanimously , amidst the greatest enthusiasm , North Shields . —Two numerously-attended meetings were held here on the 10 th and llth . Resolutions , in Bupportof the Convention and denunciatory ofthe Gagging Bill , were unanimously adopted . Hum . — A splendid meetin ? took place in the Temperance Hall , en the llth . Dr Gordon presided . A resolution was adopted , approving of the coarse taken by tho Convention on Monday , the 10 th ; also a resolution , condemnatory of Sir _Georcc Grey'a _Gagging Bill . The meeting was crowded to excess , and numbers had to goa ? _ray , _nnabl-iti gaiu admission .
Burt . —Oa Monday evening week a lanjc meeting took place in Union-square , in support of the _Peoplb's Charter . In spite of the raging of a pitiless storm about three thousand persons were present . Mr Bowker was _call-: d to the cbair , and delivered an excellent address . Mr Roberts moved the first _resolution , which expressed _eonfisknoa in the Convention . Mr Rankin , from Manchester , and Mr Bell , from Heywood , supported the resolution , in energetic and eloquent speeches , which wert loudly applauded . The _resolution was adopted , and the meeting then _separated , after hiving given loud cheers for the Charta-. During tbe tithe of the meeting the military were kept in the barrack-, the soldiers having been ordered to be ready at a moment ' s notice .
Liverpool —On Friday night a third weekly gathering of the Chartists of tbis town waa hold a . "; the Music-hall . Mr _M'Lean was called to tho chair . He adverted to the unnecessary military preparations made in town , and remarked it as singula ! thit the Peace Society , who had posted a plac . ird on the walls , warning the people against anarchy , should not bave leveLed ic instead at the armed butchers . Being united , neither an armed nor any other force would keep the Charter from them . —Mi Thomas Jones censured one or two of the local papers for thc attacks which they had made upon the Chartist cause . Then were but four honest
papers in the kingdom—the _Noih-uers Star , _Edisn-juoii Express , Nation , and Unitkd Irishman ( A cheer for Mitchel . ) The speaker o _^ ndemncd the commercial system , as' done and gone for ever ;' and _announced that one measure , which would be passed when tho Charter became law , would be the _reposes sion of the enclosed waste lands of this country ol which they had been unjustly robbed . _AlludiD " ' to the _government bill for the suppression of sedition Mr JoueB warned Lord John Russell that the _t e * . n _' c of this country would imitate those of France am send him adrift , like M . Guizot . —Dr Re _y noldaddressed tha meeting amidst loud a _.-plause . '' Th _< meetm _? then _dissolved . "
Whitehaven . — Fraternisation . — _Recently a large meeting of Chartists and Repealers was held in the Theatre Royal . _Ths chair was taken by Alt John Byrne , chemist , and the utmost enthusiasm and order prevailed daring the entire _prouei-dings . A resolution was passed declaring thc belief of tinmeeting , that nothing would satisfy the suited peopli of Ireland and England , oroure theills under which both were labouring , bave a _Repeal of the Union foi Ireland , and the adoption of the People ' s Charter
Manchester.—On Sunday Week, A Monster De...
for England , and that in this belief they pledged themBelvea to bring about both by all the meant io their power . —Mr Ii . O'Hanlon , in a strong and well delivered speeeb , proposed the resolution , and waa meBt heartily greeted by the entire audience , with whom he appeared to be a special favourite , ifc waa _seconded by Mr Swift . Mr Finnigaa from Manchester , who had como thereupon mvitatioH , im _tjn _intioduoed ' amidst great applause . He B » idf aftet ? Bpeaking at length upon Ireland ' s right to _self-goveroment , thafc the industrious classes had more the for England , and that in this belief they pledged themBelvea to bring about both by all the meant ia
powerlul reasons than any others to keep peaoa of the country . He contended for Universal _anifrane , and alluded to the famine still prevalent in Ireiand _, observing that if the people there had a domestielegislature , such would not be thecase . Ha charged the government with taunting the Irish fe-jJ their ignorance , although it had done all in its power to keep them in ignorance . He said a struggle was at hand , and if the government did not aot properly in time , the people might imitate French'fashiocs _. He trusted , however , tbat all would ond . . peaceably , when the full amount of public bpfh'iotfwas brought to bear upon those subjects , he was _confident the people united , _though ,, weal and . woe , i , would mareh , Bhoulderto shoulder , until theUnion was repealed , and the ; Charter . achieved . ; _MrFmnigan _/ _rcsumea hisseafc . whilst _peala of approbation _shcok the roo 2
tree _.-MrH . HahdedCk i oiKirig-8 treet _> a most R &* Jous Chartist and .. Repealer , moved the adoption ofa petition ; asking for the Gharter and Repeal , which was seconded by Mr Valentine Fox , a member of the Conciliation Hall body of Repealers , when the chairman got up and said , he had pleasure in introducing to tbe meeting . Mr George Archdeacon , the othe ? _gentleman whe had been invited there , to assist tho men of Whitehaven . — -Mr Archdeacon ' said ; , Ths march of _Dimoeracy for the last few _wetks was _mosS significant , and if ( it warned not tyrants he knew not what would . He looked at passing events a ~ B if the fingerof the , Altnigbty _. _Ijke _thefire pillar of olden times , was pointing the way _tbjfreedom ; as if , in facte the Godhead was weary , of the persecution of th _$ people and determined to ornsh despotism ali ' over the earth . -He declared the utter abhorrence ol the
people -towards the destroyers af property , street brawlers , and _fetty robbers . He exphined _' the glorious position nf ithe men of Manchester since theirunion , to which happy union he attributed the . stoppage of the intended carnage , ia Dublin upon ihfr Monday after _Patriok ' s-day . Mr Archdeacon thea briefly but energetically adverted to the indeoent and insane manner in which the House of Common ? received Mr O'Connor ' s notice of presenting the Chartist petition . He said as an Irishman , tho Charter had his warm support , and would havethat of all his eountry men , but too long kept from fraternity witb the democrats of England by bad ,. _i-eifish , interested advisers , and by the machinations of a vile , hideouplr tyrannical , and treacherous
government _, lie appealed to the Englishmen there , if it would not be better for the Irish people to be sabred down than have another million of corpsestossed through fioids and in ditches to be devoured by _dogs—threat sensation)—and asked them would ' . they not nledge themselves , like u nto the men at Oldham Edge and Manchester , to shield 1 rom danger the prosecuted patriots—Smith . O'Brien _, Meagher ,. and Mitche _' . ' ( At . this part of the speaker ' s address , all in the theatre stood up , and emphatically cried out We will . ' ) ' Mr Archdeacon concluded by stating that ther prospect for all waa brightening , and that union , such as he saw around him , suoh as he trustei ! should ever more prevail in Whitehaven , would enable them to grasp liberty , and re-model institutions in accordance with the spirit of the age , The lecturer after stating that ho would have the honour of _adddressing them the next evening on 'the necessity and beauty of temperance /
sat down much applauded . A vote of thanks was moved to the chairman , which was seconded by __ Mr Finnigan , who observed , that he would next night move an address to the gallant French people . Three cheers were given few _Repeal , three for the Charter , and three for F . O'Connor , M . P . The meeting indeed progressed and terminated gloriously , notwithstanding the petulance which the _hiarl of Lonsdale exhibited , when infurmed that agitation was about being carried into Cumberland , and up ta the very gates of Lowther _Cattle , notwithstanding the bringing in quietly in twos and threes by his agent and relative , of 250 yeomanry , and swearing in another 250 specials—notwithstanding also this individual ' s direotion to the police , to take down the placards , which the obedient functionary proceeded to effect until warned that he would be prosecuted for felony , when he desisted . As in every other case the people proved themselves the proper special constables .
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Loughborough Chartist Demonstration.— On...
Loughborough Chartist Demonstration . — One of the _greatest-meetiugs ever held iu Lough _& _trtough , took plaee on Sunday . A preliminary meeting was held on Meuat Sorrell Common , about four miles from Loughborough , at ten o ' clock in the morning , at which about 3 , 000 persons were present , 1 , 000 of whom had walked in procession , six abreast , from Leicester . Addresses were delivered by Messra Roberts of Nottingham , Skcvingtonof Loughborough , Timms and Coulson ot Leicester , and Br MDoualL Two or three troops of Yeomanry Cavalry weta oa the common _during the time the meeting was held ,, but their services were not needed . At about half .
past eleven o'clock the people again formed iu procession , and walked to Loughborough . Dr M _Douall walking in front , and Mr Roberts , of Nottingham , in the rear . They arrived at Loughborough about one o ' clock , and at half-past two a public meeting waa commenced in the mnrktt plaee . Mr Skevingtoa was called upon to preside , and firm but temperate addresses were delivered by the Chairman , Messra Roberts and Barber of _Nottingham , Coulson of Leicester , Mr Paasmore Edwards ( a leeturer for the Peace Society ) , and Dr M 'DouaJl . The following resolution waa carried unanimously : — ' That this meeting , representing the Chartists of _Loughb-irough _, Leicester , Nottingham , and various other adjacent places , do declare that whilst they are detetmiued to
agitate for , and accept nothing less than the principles ofthe Charter , they will do so in aleeal , constitutional , and peaceful manner ; that they are , and shall be , the determined opponents of all who may injure or attempt to destroy property . ' A number ef policemen and pensioners , and about 500 special constables , were not far away from the meeting , but there waa not the slightest breach of the peace . There were about 6 , 000 persons present . On Monday evening the women oi _L-aughborough made a spirited demonstration , by walking in procession round the town , and holding a meeting iu the marketplace . —On Tuesday morning information reached Loughborough that twenty or thirty Chartists had been taken into cusfci dy by the police in London on Mondav evening .
A few of the Chartists immediately ran to various parts of the town with the information , asd a meeting waa convened in the Alarket-place , in an incredibly _Bhor-t time , It was here thought proper to send messengers into eome of the neighbouriag village ? , to call a meeting for two o ' oluek in the aftert . oon . This _wsb accordingly done , but before the people haddispersed , a troop of Dragoons rode into the Marketplace , and were received with cheera . They were then _pufc through their various movements with swords and muskets , and the pensioners and special constables who had been on duty on Sunday , were summoned to attend loithwith . Three magistrates , and an armed bodv of policemen , were also in the town before the time far the afternoon meeting . Between
two and three thc villagers began to muster strongly . Amongst _thoae { rom tUe Mount Sorrell side were nearly one hundred quany men , who , on hearing that a number of Chartists had been apprehended in London , left their work to join in a demonstration afc Loughborough , and brought their hammers with them , but did not display them . A large procession moved through a good part of the town , and the _sneoting was held in the Ward ' s End . It would have been held in tha Market-plaee , but Mr Skevington . thought that in tbat case some of the many special _constables who were there might make remarks which would tend to _exasperate the people , and lead to a disturbance . Mr _Skesvington told the people that they were called together to show the government that
they were with the people of London . The rumour that Mr O'Connor was taken into custody was false ; the government had not dared to touch either him or any other member of lhe Convention . iCheBrB . ) While Mr Skevington was reading a paragraph or two from the fourth edition of Monday's Telegraph , Charles March Phillipps _, Esq ., a county magistrate , and brother of the Under-Secretary of State , rode up , and read a telegraphic despatch from Sir George Grey to the magistrates , stating that London waa perfectly quiet , and there had been no disturbances ; ho therefore desired Mr Skevington to allow the meeting to disperse . Mr Skevington said they would disperse in due time . _ar . d in thc presence of Mr _Fhillipps , tested tho Iccling of the people as to their
_detormiEatinn to respect life and property , while seeking their rights , audasked all who would go home when he told them to hold up their hands , a vast number of hands were held up , and there was a cry of' We'll come atrain when you want us . ' Mr Skevington told them that hc learned how to agitato : rom Mr Phillipps and Air Dawson ( another magi _3-sA'iite ) in 1832 . Mr Phillipps said ho never agitated tor tho 'Five Points' of tlw Charter . Air _Stevingtou _j _.-iiei he used more violent , language in agitating ior ' . he Reform Bill , than he ever had done in agitating or the Charter . Mr Phillipps did not appear desirous . i ' going further with thia matter , but again _auggestod .. he _propriety of the meeting dissolving . Air _Skeving'on Ba ' _-I it would probably have been dissolved by -Ji . it tune if Mr Phillipps hud r . _otcomc . Air Phillipps
auvri retired on _hearing this , and the meeting dissolved in a peaceful and orderly _manner in a few minutes _ifterwaids . There were about 2 000 persons at this meeting . During the afternoon the _principal bank n the town , and many of the tradesmen ' s shops were ; _loocd , but no attempt _whatever was made to injure . lie property of any person . Such a demonstration as hat of this day , was , perhaps , never made at short a notice inany other town . ( Ce ; , U 1 itcd to ov rfifth pr q
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 22, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_22041848/page/1/
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