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4 THE NQfJTHEMf STAR. , February 23;;185...
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THE IRISHMAN
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Nonun-JHAH.—J. Sweet acknowledges the re...
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LAND COMPANY. To James Nash. ' Yes. Any ...
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TO THE DELEGATES FORMING THE METROPOLITA...
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Mi*. " W. P. lloitERTS will he at the "C...
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THE JOBTHERN STAB. SATUHDAY, FEBKUAKY S3, IS5(,\
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LAW AND JUSTICE. Mr. Feargus O'Connor is...
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hopeless a condition as when that calami...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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4 The Nqfjthemf Star. , February 23;;185...
4 THE _NQfJTHEMf STAR . , February 23 ;; 1850 .
The Irishman
THE IRISHMAN
Ad00408
TO COBRESFOSDEXM . IT IS now a year and more , since I commenced _thepnUicationofthelrUhnan . _Itrrasadark hour of danger and de * pair when I came forward , at all hazards , to give Irish -Disaffection' a voice-to _rally-mond our prostrate flair tlie Democracy of Ireland—and bid the CelUeheart still to cherish its pitriotic aspirations . Tlie Irishman has now been long enough hefore the country to enable every true wan to form an opinion of the truthful _, _ners , fearlessueES _, * integrity , and determination of _purixae -with -which it has heen condneled , With this Tien-, therefore , I write these lines , that each true Nationalist may ask himself this plain question— ' 2 s ( 7 ie _'iru _' muiH' such a paper as it ismy duly to support ?' Should the answer be in the affirmative—as , without affectation , I believe it _mU—tlien I hare to ask that that _supjU'i-the manifested in a plain , tangible , and practical maimer . Having taking counsel with some friends , I have been advised to state my position plainly and honestly , to my brother Nationalists , and 1 shall do so .
Ad00409
OX SALE AT GREAT DODFORD . AN EXCELLENT FOUR ACEE FAUM , upon which the sum of 65 / . has been already paid , for which an allowance wiU be made in the rent charge . There is already planted with wheat , one and a quarter acres ; ditto , spring vetches , one quarter ef an acre ; dug , cleaned , and ready for planting , one acre ; ditto , breat , ploughed , one-half of an acre . The rest is dug and trenched . There is a quantity of manure upon the premises , besides a quantity of beans and cabbages . _FuU 302 . has been expended in labour , < fcc , upon the farm , hesides the sum ef 65 ' . paid to the Company . The present possessor wiU dispose of all for S-U . Applicaiions to be made to the Directors , at their office , Hi , High Holborn . London .
Ad00410
TO BE DISPOSED OF , AT CHARTERVILLE , A THREE - ACRE ALLOTMENT , in high cultivation : nearly one acre of wheat sown , a quarter of an acre of vetches , the remainder of the land nearly Teady for the seed ; it is fenced in front , and a cowyard at the back of the house , a twenty gallon f arnace in the back kitchen , and many other improvements in tbe house . The price is Thirty Pounds , clear of the Company ' s demands . Also a FOUR-ACRE ALLOTMENT , to be disposed of . As the Buyer and _Seller may agree , all letters to be directed A . B . " ., Charterville Post-office , near Witney , Oxfordshire , with stamp for reply .
Ad00411
PAINS I > TUE BACK , GRAVEL , LUMBAGO ,
Ad00412
BEAUTIFUL ILVIIL WHISKERS , ic . _verstts _BALDNESS , WEAK , asd GUEY HAIR . ONE TRLA . L ONLY is solicited of . ROSALIE COITPELLE'S celebrated PARISIAN POSLADE _, for the certain production of Whiskers . _Eye-Tnrows , ic , in six or eight weeks , reproducing lost Hair , strengthening and curling weak hair , and checking grey aess at any time of life , from whatever cause arising . It has never been known to fail , and will be forwarded ( free ) wS & fuU instructions , ic ., on receipt of 24 postage stamps . _Txsimosijus , ia Mr . Bull , Brill , says ;— "Iain happy to say , a ter ereryihing else failed , yours has had the desired effect , tiie greyness is quite checked . " Dr . Erasmus Wilson : — " It is vastly superior to aU the clumsy _jjreasy compounds now sold under various titles and pretences , which I have at different times analysed , ana found uniformly Injurious , being either scested . or coloubed with some highly deleterious ingredient . There are , however , so many impositions afoot , that persons reluctantly place confidence when it may justly be bestowed . "
Ad00413
RUPTURES _PERMANENTLY ASD EFFECTUALLY CURED WITHOUT A TRUSS !! DR . HENRY _GUTHREY'S extraordinary success ih thc treatment of aU varieties of Single and Double _lluptnres , is without a parallel in the history of medicine . In every case , however had or long standing , a cure is guaranteed . The remedy is quite easy and perfectly painless in application , causing no inconvenience or confinement whatever ; is free from danger , and applicable to male and female of any age . Sent ( post-free ) with _fuU instructions , rendering- failure impossible , on receipt of six shillings by post-office-order er cash , hy Dr . Hexbi GcTnuiiT , o , Ampton-street , Gray ' s-inn-road , London . Hundreds of testimonials and trusses have been left behindb- persons cured , as _trophies of the success of this remedy , which Dr . _Gctheev wUl willingly give to those who requireto wear them after a trial ofit Post-office orders must be made payable at the Gray's-inn-road Office .
Ad00414
RUPTURES EFFECTUALLY AND _PERMANENTLY CURED WITHOUT A TRUSS !! T _) R . DE ROOS' astonishing success ;* - ' in the treatment of every variety of RUPTURE » s ample proof of the unfailing efficacy of his _dis"•" -rtf ' **' " ic * must era long entirely banish a complaint * _4 . « ' ' - so _prevalent . All persons so afflicted should , without delay , « rite _, orp » y a visit to Dr . DE R , wh 0 3 SL _™ consulted daily from 10 _tiU 1 ; and 4 fill 8 . —( Sunaays excepted . ) . « _jS _^* remed _* _k Perfectly free from danger , pain , or _inabfeto m _» t ' ma : " 5 e * lsed _Without confinement ; _« _applic-HTm _«^* , „ " ' ' i _- ' * _tc- * rendering failure impossi ' * _% £ _^^ 2 _£ * _-- _*** office _«&* « _-o _^*^ r _^ t _" , _^ es' _h _** _* _* * * * - ecn left beWnd by _per-^ edy _% dch _Sfc _*^? 48 5 _* nn _* ense success SSL _idta Fa &? ° , ? C < ? , tain two Postage stamps . LoBdo _^ _^ * **¦ E '* f-Place * _Holbom-hui _,
Ad00415
- ** _3 B C _**** 4 H" 3 T * 5 BITI « Kffl > HB n * BLI 8 II ** I > . Priee l _« .. 6 d „ A new * n 48 _legaat edition , < witfc Steel Plate of the AuUi < ar ,-of .: _PAIM _^ POLITICAL WORKS .
Ad00416
. _** cw Ready , a _SswiSdition of P . _O'COHBSR'S WORK M SMALL FARMS
Ad00417
Sold by J . Watson , Queen ' * Seal ! Passage , -Paternoster row , London .- ; A . Heywood , _Qldham-streefc , Manchester , and Love and Co ., 5 , _Nclson-stoaet _, 'Glasgow . And b _* , aU BookseUers ia Iowa and Coumtry .
Ad00418
IMPORTANT TO TIIE CHARTISTS OF SOUTH LANCA . SHIRE . A SOUTH LANCASHIE DELEGATE _t \ MEETING will be held in the CHARTIST ASSOCIATION ROOM , STOCKPORT , back of Waterloo-Inn , Waterloo-road , on Sunday moiiiing , -February 21 th , precisely at ten o'clock , when the following part of a programme-of business _wUlhc submitted for their consideration - — 1 st—To . consider the validity of the -objections to the general and local rules of the Cliartist Association , referred to by theChartists of Stockport , in thc Korthem Stars of Jan . 19 ih ,. and Peb . 9 th , ISaU . 2 nd . —Thc propriety of raising a Local Lecturers plan . 3 rd . —To-cousider the best means of _concentrating the energy of Chartism in this division of Lancashire , giving an impetuous to the movement , and _promoting the success of its objeet Delegates from the following places are particularly expected : —Hyde , Staleybridge , Ashton , llottram , Oldham , Rochdale , Manchester , Bury , Bolton , Middleton Liverpool , _Majclesfield , and other places . N . B . —All communications to be addressed to Tf . Benfold , Xo . S , Cooper-street , Hillgate .
Ad00419
PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT . * PUBLIC MEETING , A . Convened by the Provisioxai . Committee of the XATIOSAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION , will be held at the LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE , JOHNSTREET . TOTTESIUM-COURT-ROAD , ou TUESDAY EVENING NEXT , _Fewjeart 2 < _Jth , 1830 , for thc purpose of Reviewing the Peoceewsgs in Pabhamenx during the past Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P _., G . W . M . Reynolds , Esq ., G . Julian Harney , W . J . Vernon , Ambrose Tomlinson ( re . cently liberated-from his dungeon , at Wakefield , ) and others arc expected to address the meeting . - Chair- to be taken at eight o'clock . ADMISSION FREE ..
Ad00420
.. . _NOTICE ... . NEWCA STLE-UPON-TYNE BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . The members of this'branch arc hereby informed , that the general quarterly meeting will bt held in Mr . Greener ' s long rooni , Cock Inn Side , on Sunday , March 3 rd . The chair to be taken at five o'clock precisely . The members are most respectfully " requested to attend , as business of great importance will be brought before the meeting . . James Nisbett , Sec ., 10 , Gibson-sti'oet , Newcastle .
Ad00421
FOR SALE , TWO FOUR-ACRE PAID-UP SHARES in th & National Land Company . As the Advertiser is about to emigrate , these shares are to be had at a considerable abatement . Address , C . H ., atMr . nills , 21 , Devonshire-place , Keiinington-oval .
Ad00422
EMIGRATION TO NORTH AMERICA . WT APSCOTT AND CO ., SHIPPING and Emigration Agents , Liv *» rpool , continue to despatch First Class Ships—To NEW YORK—every Fire Days . To NEW ORLEANS-every Ten Days . To BOSTON and PHILADELPHIA—every _Fiftoen Days . And _occasionally to BALTIMORE , CHARLESTON , SAVANNAH , QUEBEC , ana St . JOHNS . Drafts for any amount , at sight , on New York , payable in any part ofthe United States Tapscott ' s " Emigrant ' s Guide" sent free , on reeeipt _« f Four Postage Stamps . i _^ y * About twenty-eight thousand persons _sailed for the New "World , in Tapscott ' s line of American Packets . in 1810 .
Ad00423
THE LARGEST , CHEAPEST AND MOST BEAl
Ad00424
TUE TEN HOURS BILL . NOTICE . Early next week wiR be published No . 10 , for March , of THE DEMOCRATIC REVIEW Edited by G . JULIAN HARNEY . The contents mil include an important article on tlie 'Ten Hours Question . ' also articles on tlio 'Taxes on Xnowledge ; ' 'Indirect Taxation ; ' 'Fourier ' s System ;' the' Bloodthirsty Ordermongers ; ' interesting Letters from France , Germany , America , < tc , ore . Fon . Tr Pa es ( in a coloured wrapper ) , Pbice THREEPENCE . London : Published by J . Watson , 3 , Queen's _neadpassage , Paternoster-row .
Ad00425
THE FUND FOR TUE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF WILLIAMS AND SHARP . A TEA MEETING IN AID OF THE J \ above fund ( and to celebrate the second anniversary ofthe memorable 10 th of April , 1848 ) , will take place inthe _NATIONAL HALL , 242 , HIGH HOLBORN , On WEDNESDAY , APRIL 10 m . After the Tea A PUBLIC MEETING Will be held , at which the advocates of democratic and social progress are hereby invited to attend . Tea . on tlie table at Six , and the Public Meeting to commence at Eight o ' clock . Wiliiam Davis in the Chair . Tickets for the Tea , One Shilling each , _mayihehadat Reynolds ' s Political _Instrcctob . Office , 7 , Wellingtonstreet Nor th , Strand ; Land Office , 144 , High Holborn ; the several Metropolitan Localities ; of Mr . Mills , at the National Hall ; of the Members ofthe Committee ; and ofthe Secretary , John J . Ferdinando , 18 , New _Tyssen-street _, Bethnal-green . Admission to Public Meeting : —nail , 2 d . Gallery , 3 d .
Ad00426
TIIE SPY POWELL . : ¦¦ ' \ . ( From the Berkshire Chronicle , Feb . IC . ) We have this week to announce the arrival of tho ship Caroline , from London with 179 passengers ; and the ship Louisa Baillie , from London and Plymouth with 161 passengers . Amongst the passengers by the Caroline is a person whose proper name is ThomasPoivell , but who skipped himself in the name of Thomas Richards . It seems that ,- having been one of the principal witnesses against the Eng lish Chartists , the English government have secretl y provided him witJi the necessary funds for removing himself and his family to _tfiis eohny . Another passenger , named John Morley , from Ashford , Kent , jumped overboard on the 22 nd of May . It was said that he had parted from his friends in anger , and having been subject to bitter compunctions , his remorse became msupportable . _—jMeVaic _' e Observer .
Ad00427
Cultivation of Flax is Ireland . - At the monthly meeting of the Royal Flax Improvement { society , a . gentleman present remarked , that he had sold his crops offlax straw , grown near Carrickfergus , pulled and dried , to a steeping company at Cregagh getting £ 12 per Irish acre for it , which paid him better than any of his other crops . lie had s ce heen told by the purchasers , that the ** were offered £ S for the seed of an acre of this flax ; and he had himself seen some of the fibre , which they had steeped and scutched , and which was of such good quality as to be valued by the spinners at 03 s . per cwt . It was producing from the straw at the rate of about eighty stones of sixteen pounds to the acre , whicli would be £ 28 worth of fibre ; and , adding £ 8 for the seed , the Irish acre would bring £ 30 . ' .. Morrison and
Ar00428
Nonun-Jhah.—J. Sweet Acknowledges The Re...
_Nonun-JHAH . —J . Sweet acknowledges the receipt . of _itae following « _ums ( sent herewith ) _« z , - -Foil _MAiaMMUSA ' s Ac tion . — Mr . Mellbrs , is , ; from Arnold and _Dajj'bi-oo * ' , 8 s . 4 ) d . ; Mr . Lygo , 2 s . 6 d . ; J . S _., 2 s . Cd . ; E . Thurman , Is .. ; _Wintcrtou , Is . Fob Kb . JU'Douaix's Fasiilt . —Recslved by Andrew M ! F « c , Liverpool , a _Tost-office Order for Os . from _JohnSkferrctt _, Nottingham -alsoThirty Postage Stamps fiom 0 . II . &' ., _Jfottingham . . " J . W . Smith , Weymouth . —The lines have come to band . _Sor « i _** _-. _iN * -AsnhELn . —Many thanks . II . M ., Manchester . —The subscription of One round ifor the Eraternul Democrats has beun received . Stockiiqrt . —The three shillings worth of Postage Stamps ! were received by Mr . Hidcr . To Wil Rideb . —Dear Sir , —Having heard to-day of ! tbe deeision of the judge being given against Mr . O'Connorin ' the aetion for libel against . tlie proprietor of the
Not-VLiigkaxttJourml , I take the liberty of writing to you to see ifyou could give me any . advice which wonld _Leslie beet means to raise money _tcaselst him in defraying the expenses incurred by the trial , for I take it to be the duty _ofcveiy Chartist to forward , and do the _utmost in his power . to assits him at this time , for itis pretty evident that thepoH evs that be are determined to act upon the advise given themby Lord Melbourne— " To ruin lain -with expense * . ' * It is a shame for the professing _Chai-tists to sailer him to be ruined in the . maimer directed by Lord Melbourne . —Yours truly , Wat . _Nokman , i !!) _2 , Wingategrauge Colliery , County of Durham , Feb . 18 . _—fAIy advise is—Let eveuy Chartist , and every opponentio perverted justice , do tlieir duty by _subscribing according to their means . If this he done , tlie whole gang of our enemies , from the profit-inongering jury aad that shrirelled _aia-ow { Uoebuck , ) -down to Job . Bradshaw and his lackey , Josh . Hobso ' n , will find that they are foiled in their eftbrts to ' " ruin the poor man ' s friend with legal ! J ] expenses . Ifyou ask why , ( 1 allude to
notorious _JosliJ , I will teU you . lie was dail y iu the Court of Exchequa :, pending the trial , doing the dirty work of dirty Job . I suppose the fellow would call it gratitude towards Mr . O ' _-Coimor for snatching him from thc jaws of starvation , and _enablbig bim to boast of the possession of a second coat . —Wm . I ' _idek . ] J , Fox , llcaton . —You will find the monies acknowledged in another place . We think jou will see the inutility of publishing a letter reflecting no credit on the party . Macnaiiaea ' s Actios . — -Wm , Akdrews _, Arnold , near Nottingham , writes as follows ;— ' If each professing Chartist would pay the" trifling sum of 6 d . in all localities _, ( say on _E & _gter Monday , ) it would relieve Mr . O'Connor from his unjust burthens , and wipe away the disgrace attached to the Chartist body . ' _, Those _ruiiso . vs , subscribers to the Prize Distribution , who have not yet received their books , will have the _kindniss to write and state specifically how they are to be sent . . _jjEwoAsi'LE-upos-Tvi-E . —The MiuM _' s Petition shall be given iu our next Number ,
Land Company. To James Nash. ' Yes. Any ...
LAND COMPANY . To James Nash . ' Yes . Any person-wishing to purchase any portion of the Land at Great Dodford , not built upon , may do so , and . have immediate possession . The purchaser will not be charged more than the wholesale price ; the allotments are measured _iiitb four acres , and the price will be froni £ 3 * 7 to £ 38 per acre . Bricks may be had upon the spot at 25 s . a thousand . Feargus O'Connor .
To The Delegates Forming The Metropolita...
TO THE DELEGATES _FORMING THE METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE OF TUE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . In consequence of certain grave and important , occurrences , it becomes necessary to summon the Delegates to an early meeting . We , the undersigned Members of the Provisional Committee , therefore , give notice ,: That the Delegates are convoked for Wednesday evening , the 27 th of February , at the Coffee-room , John-street Institution , to assemble at seven for half-past precisely . George ' W . M . Reynolds . ' Joiin Arnott . Edmund Stallwood .
Mi*. " W. P. Lloiterts Will He At The "C...
Mi * . " W . P . _lloitERTS will he at the " Cock , " Side , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , to-morrow ( Sunday ) , 24 th February , and the next day .
The Jobthern Stab. Satuhday, Febkuaky S3, Is5(,\
THE JOBTHERN STAB . SATUHDAY , _FEBKUAKY S 3 , _IS 5 ( , \
Law And Justice. Mr. Feargus O'Connor Is...
LAW AND JUSTICE . Mr . Feargus O'Connor is at this time , not only the " best abused , " but the most bitterly persecuted man in the kingdom . It is the penalty which it appears , all mcu must pay , who sincerely and honestly devote themselres to the advocacy of the political and social rights of the masses . Sham patriots and Reformers , who support specious , and skin deep changes , carry the unreflecting multitude with them , and achieve popularity and power . The ruling classes offer them no serious opposition , because they know that their measures , if carried , ivould nofc affect that supremacy ivhich they now enjoy , and are determined to maintain . But with an earnest and
uncompromising opponent of the system by which they enslave and plunder the industrious classes , they wage war to the knife . To such an antagonist no quarter is offered . The mode in which they attempt to crush such men varies with the country , and the state of public opinion ; where it is at all feasible , force , and—if need-be—death are resorted to ; but in this country such moans of destroying
a political opponent would not be tolerated . The method , adopted , therefore , is two-fold : firstly , by means of a venal and prostitute Press to poison the public mind , by the most gross and infamous calumnies on his character and actions ; aud , secondly , to take advantage of the prejudices thus created , and refuse tliat justice and redress which the law avowedly guarantees to every individual in the state .
By these combined influences , tha laws and institutions ; so carefully constructed for tho purpose of dispensing even-handed and _substantial justice , are rendered of no effect . Nay , they aggravate the injustice to which the sufferer is subjected . The world can understand and sympathise with the man upon whom wrong-has been inflicted ; by a lawless and vindictive despot ; but when that wrong is inflicted under all the solemn sanction of a
Court of Justice , the iniquity becomes infi . nitely deeper . We have no hesitation in saying , that the proceedings in tho Court of Exchequer , before Chief Baron Pollock , in the case of _O'CONNOH versus _JUllADSHAW , have cast an ineffaceable stain and disgrace upon the judicial _tribunals of this country ; and thatthe Judge who could play the part of tt hitter and hostile partisan , and exercise all the power of his high position to prevent justice being done , ought forthwith , to be removed from tlie seat he has dishonoured . ' ' It was a piece of refined malice—fai _' : seeing ; . ' thrift— -on the part of the Dependant to retain the services of > Mr .
Roebuck , whose personal animosity to the Plaintiff , and whose unrivalled powers of vituperation , were certain to give far more in return for the fee than , any other ' member of the Bar ; but even Mr . , Bradsiiaw could not have calculated upon the keen and vindictive partisan he had selected being outdone in these very qualities by the Judge on the Bench . He _c-umot be top , grateful for this gratuitous and powerful ' . ' aid . ' Everybody would have made allowance for the more assertions of an advocate , called upon to do the best ho could for his client , and well
known to entertain a deep-rooted enmity to the man he was opposing ; but' everybody will-not be equally- clear-sighted ; as to the prejudiced and partisan conduct of the Judge , who ' most certainly ought to have had the counsel ' s foe for his one-sided and grossl y unjust summingup of the case . All dispassionate persons , however , will discern this bias on the face of the whole proceedings , from tho beginning to the end of the trial . Many of Mr . Roebuck ' s statements ,
as well as the witnesses examined aud thc questions put to them , would have been ruled to be inadmissible by an impartial and upright judge . But the Chief _Baiion evidently luxuriated in them , and hallooed on both counsel and witnesses in their congenial task of defaming and maligning the Plaintiff . In the course of the trial , also , sentences ' continually dropped from him showing that he had prejudged the case before a single witness on behalf of the Plaintiff was examined _, ; aud when those witnesses were produced , he did
Law And Justice. Mr. Feargus O'Connor Is...
all in his power to damage and duouedit their evidence ; -until" at last he reached itbe climax by absolutely refusing to _receive the . unimpeachable _tostiinony of two witnesses , whose evidence would have _triumphantly-established , not only the honesty , but . the unparalleled disinterestedness' _geriei-osifcy , . asd labours of Mr . O'Connor , with reference to the Land Company . Mr . Grey , the . emiaent accountant' who was . employed < _by- the Select Committee of the HouBe ' _- © f Commons to examine the whole of the accounts , books , and vouchers of the Land
_Company , from its commencement , was produced as a witness . After-great opposition to the testimony of a person who came forward literally to state facts aad figures of more _importance and pertinence to . tiie inquiry than all the other witnesses besides , he was , at length , permitted to be examined . Mr . Gray had just deposed that he " had devoted _aigMcen days—fifteen hours each day—to the examination of the accjunts , aud that the result wa &" - —when the Judge interfered , and ( refused to hear his further evidence . In the name of Heaven , was there ever a more shameless and infamous act than this ? Here
was a man who came into a Court of Law for the _pui'poso of clearing his character from an imputation of dishonesty , and the fraudulent misappropriation of public money to his private purposes ; and yet , when the witness is produced who , of all the men in the world , was most competent to state the real facts , the Judgetho functionary whose sworn and solemn duty it is to see that justice is fully and impartiall y done between man aud man—refuses to let the Jury , who are to decide upon the facts , hear what these facts really are ! The same indefensible and monstrous obstruction of the
course of justice was pursued in the case of Mr . Finlaison , the eminent Government actuary , who had also examined the accountsthuspvoving the determination of the Judge to drive the Jury to a verdict against the plaintiff , if lie possibly could . We . believe that this forcible suppression of the most essential and most important evidence tendered by the plaintiff ) constitutes an undeniable claim for a now trial , which , for the honour of ; our judicial tribunals , and the character of . juries , is certainly imperatively demanded .
The JuDGE—having thus , as far as he could , confinedihe attention of the Jury to an incomplete and one-sided statement of factsnext proceeded to sum up , in a manner which excited , if not the indignation , at least-the the astonishment , of those who heard itmany of them , by no means MendB of Mr . O'Connor . In the discharge of that- grave and important portion of judicial duty , it is well-known that every Judge is guided by certain : general principles of equity , and rules of practice . It is distinctly understood that it is . to be what it professes to be , a
simple recapitulation of the facts proved by the evidence , and a statement ofthe law affecting the case at _, issue . The Judge is tb give no opinion himself as to the merits of the case , that is ; left by the Constitution to the Jury . But Chief Baron Pollock did not confine himself within these limits / He made a reply to Mr , Sergeant Wilkins , which Mr . Roebuck himself could not ; havo equalled for malignity and _one-sidedness . He even travelled Out of the evidence altogether to sneer at the politico-economical character of the
Laud Scheme , and to disparage the allotment system as a system . For the sake of producing as unfavourable au impression on the whole case as he possibly could , he first assumed that the whole country was to be cut up into small farms , and then asked , '* what is to become of the children if all the land is pre-occupied . ? '" Having , as ho wished , excited a titter by this capital question , and being determined to push his supposed triumph still further , he asked another— "What is to become ofthe grand-children f "
Apart from tliese unseemly and improper importations into a . grave judicial discourse , the gravamen of his summary was the illegality of tlie plan of the National Laud Company . But who is to blame for that illegality ? Not Mr . O'Connor . From the very commencement lie has done everything that man could possibly do to secure the legalisation of the Plan . The various functionaries entrusted with the administration of the . laws affecting such Associations , have resolutely refused to enrol , or register the Company ; not because it was illegal , but simply because it was promote *! by the . Chartists . We say this advisedly , because wo could produce copies of the rules of other "Societies , similar in principle and construction to those of the Land
Company , which wore certified by the Barrister appointed to enrol the laws of Friendly Socities . It is well-known that Mr . Tidd Pratt received a decided intimation from high quarters , that he was . not to enrol the Chartist Land Scheme , and , to prevent the possibility of its being so , the . Attorney-General even went the length of introducing an alteration of the Acts under which the Barrister was empowered to act— 'taking away the discretionary power formerly invested in him , and rendering the sanction of the Home . Secretary and the Attorney-General necessary in such cases ' .
Baffled in this quarter by the determination of the Government to refuse the Society the protection of the law , Mr . O'Connor and the Directors next , at a very considerable expense , complied with the provisions ofthe Act for the registration of Joint Stock Companies , and experienced in that quarter similar opposition from the functionaries , on the ground that the scheme , involving , as it did , allotment by ballot , brought it within the purview of the Lottery Acts , and made it illegal . Sir . O'Connor believed that there was an essential difference between the ballot and a lottery '; but , when the Select Committee decided
against : him and the Company on this point , immediate steps wero taken to alter the constitution of the Company , so as to bring it within the requirements of tho law . But , even thon , tho Registrar refused to legalize it ,- and un expensive action has had to bo instituted for a mandamus , to compel him to perform what is a mere ministerial duty . That mandamus has not yet been obtained ; for the Government officials procrastinate , and have recourse to all legal _imeans of evading - compliance . Had it been obtained , as it ought tb have been , the Chief Baron ' s phillipic against : the plaintift ' would ; have . had as little foundation in fact as it had . in , equity .
Mr . O'Connor , we repeat , has done all that roan could do to legalize the Company— . the Government and thoir officers have as determinedly refused the right thus claimed ; aiid now the Judge takes advantage of the wrong thus done , to justify , the infliction of further wrong ! - _.--- - '" ¦ > ¦ _-: Passing from the Judge to the Jury , we find the incidents of tiiis memorable trial all in keeping . A verdict , grossly inconsistent and contradictory , followed the exclusion of evidence , and the charge we have commented upon . They voted that white was black and white at the same , time . ; that the Editor ofthe Nottinoltam . Journal tolcl . the-truth . ' when he
said Mr . O'Connor was : _dishonest , and at the same time they . declared , that Mr . O'Connor ' s " honesty was unimpeachable I " Who can explain this , enigma ? Wc shall hazard a conjecture . Notwithstanding the refusal of conclusive and undeniable evidence to prove the honour and integrity of Mr . O'Connor , enough was adduced to show the Jury that the . allegation against him was a gross and unfounded calumny , but they were misled by the partisan prejudices ofthe Judge , aiid not exempt from the prejudices which-have heretofore alienated the middle classes from the Chartists and their leader . Under these influences they availed
Law And Justice. Mr. Feargus O'Connor Is...
themselves of the _alternative so Jes uitically suggested to them by the Chief Baron ; . they satisfied their conscience jby . pronouncing the character ofthe Plaintiff ito be unimpeac hable , while , at the same time , they gratified their prejudices by inflicting upon him the costs of the action . To "' ruin" Mr . O'CONNOR " with expenses "has heen a policy long pursued by classes opposed to him , but the infamous injustice of which he has been tho victim never was so palpable as i-athis instance . The two statements in the Verdict flatly contradict each other . If Mr . O'Connor ' s honesty is unimpeachable , the Defendant was Guilty of a Libel , aud ought to have been punished for it .
Taken as a whole , however , we regard the trial and the verdict as © ne of the greatest victories ever achieved by Mr . O'CONNOR . No other man could have come so triumphantly out of such an ordeal , and extorted such a distinct recognition of his honour and integrity from a tribunal thus fearfully prejudiced against him . Twice has this Verdict been pronounced in his favour . In the one case , it was the result of a patient , protracted , and minute investigation of all the facts ; in the second , even the suppression of favourable evidence , the partisanship ofthe Judge , and the
class prejudices of the Jury , have not established any thingagainst the fairfame of thoTIou . Member for Nottingham . On the contrary that a Jury have also solemnly recorded their opinion in liis favour . We observe that the faction journals are bitterly annoyed at this decision . ' Among the rest , the Morning Chronicle vents its spleen , both upon the Select Committee and the Jury , for not deciding against the facts . The Times—while it expressly acquits Mr . O'Connor of any personal dishonesty—exults over the trial , as a final and conclusive blow to the Small Farm
system of which he . is the advocate . That is a part of the subject which we shall advert to upon another occasion . It is one well worthy of detailed consideration ; ~ In the meantime , let us ask the industrious classes of this country , who believe that political emancipation must precede their social elevation , to calmly review the whole of thc proceedings in connexion with the Land Com pany , and Mr . O'Connor ' s conduct towardsit . From the moment the plan was proposed , discussion was freely invited upon its merits aiid practicability , in every part ofthe country . It was deliberately adopted b y delegates , appointed , not by Mr . 0 ' Connor , but by persons representing tliose , who , after full
consideration , came to the belief , that , if carried out , it would improve their condition . There has never been either deception , reserve , or mystery _, in any of its proceedings . Its affairs have been openly conducted under the sanction and surveillance of successive Conferences of delegates , chosen by the members themselves . The money has been expended with their knowledge and approbation , as was required by the ' laws of the Company . All that Mr . O'Connor has gained by the whole proceeding , has ; been unceasing toil , trouble , and _lanxiety , incessant attacks of the most infamous and calumnious nature , upon his character and motives—and . the outlay of a very large sum of money , expended in the service of the Company .
We make no appeal to public gratitude , for one who has done and suffered so much forthe benefit of liis fellow-men . - Pure , lofty , and disinterested patriotism , must over in' the long run , meet with a due reward . The clouds by which passion and prejudice may dim such a character , arc but momentary in their transit , and it shines out all the more brilliantl y from the temporary obscuration . There is a joy , which the sordid and selfish have no conception of , in struggling for noble objects in the face of ; an ignorant or interested opposition ; and when posterity comes to raise monuments , it does not do so to the idols of the passing hour . The great men whose memories it consecrates , where the despised , persecuted , and maligned Reformers of their own days .
Hopeless A Condition As When That Calami...
hopeless a condition as when that calamity first betel thorn . Tlie only difference is , that emigration , pestilence , ' aud death have somewhat thinned the population ; but as tothe developement of the resources of the soil—by the introduction of new . capital , on secure and simple tenures , or the employment of the people who remain in remunerative and beneficial lahour—that seems to be a task equally beyond tlie power of the Government , and the present landlord constituted Parliament . The pockets of the tax-paying portion of the people pay the penalty for their ignorance , or selfishness , or both combined . If they continue to hold the reins of Government , no end of this expensive and unsatisfactory mode of proceedin < r is to be looked for . The causes of the
PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW . Ministers have recommenced their old and expensive system of doling out money to the " distressed Unions" in Ireland , instead , of initiating measures hy which those Unions might Aids * off the burdon of pauperism that weighs upon them , aud . become self-supporting . Within the last three years Twelve Millions Sterling have been expended by . the present Government , ostensibly . for the relief of Irish distress , and tho permanent improvement of that country . Tho amount is large—the resalts are fli / . . Those districts upon which the famine fell with the most crushing aud deadly severity , are , in all essential respects , in tis
evil being allowed to remain untouched , the results will , of course , continue to afflict the sister country ; and our statesmen , being either unwilling or unable to devise and apply effectual remedies , the people of this , country will have to ** pay the piper , " ' with tbe mortifying consciousness that their money is wasted . If it did , aii _' y real good , there would be some consolation and gratification in paying it , however much the hard-working operative , or sorely-pinched shopkeeper , might feel this addition to burdens already far too heavy ; yet , if they : could see that the millions expended were effecting a perceptible and gradual improvement ill the condition of the people , we arc convinced that theassistance would bo most
cheerfully given . But there is no such compensation or . return offered . The '' thirty distressed unions , " ' of which wc heard so much in 1849 ; are " distressed unions" still in 1050 . After a ' sum ' 'total of- _£ 4 _j 483 . 000 has been : advanced on account of pauper relief alone—not reckoning' " grants , " ' remissions , ' ' and other benefactions to a much greater amount—it is nowproposed to lend £ 300 , 000 more in the same
«* ay . '' Lend !"—why , does anybody over ex pect that money thus lent , and thus expended , will ever be repaid ? ' It would be far better to be straightforward , and propose to make tbe whole of it a present to the landlords , at once ; for , after all , it is to bolster up the predominance of the laudlords and their system in Ireland , and to stave off a radical reform in _i that country , that the money is wanted , and will be spent .
Lord _Jonx is not celebrated for looking very far into futurit y in his financial policy . We have usually had' to condemn it , on the ground of its being a system of make-shifts—a handto-mouth _, mode of proceeding—but on this occasion he has drawn a long bill on posterity . He proposes to add the new loan of £ 300 , 000 to the - £ 4 , 483 , 000 alread y lent , and that the re-payment of tho whole sum shall be made
b y instalments , _sjn'eading over forty years . Some ten years before the date of the Christian era , is written " a . d . 2 , 000 , " '—// nothing occurs to prevent it—this debt will be paid . But , between 1850 aiid 1800 , what a variety of contingencies will _ariso ! We need not , however , speculate upon tho nature , of many of these , sufficient tor our purpose are the immediate facts of the case . Besides this debt duo hy
Hopeless A Condition As When That Calami...
the distressed portioi _^ of _^ the , provinces off Connaught and _Muhster to the Imperial ! Treasury , they owe £ 270 , 000 to their con .. tractors ; and in ten out of the thirt y Union s executions have been already levied j n the I workhouses ; and the very beds in the _inifir- ¦ mary wards seized as security . Besides this there are the current expenses of the mass of ' pauperism which presses upon them , and for absorbing which no practical plan is proposed . The prospect , therefore , of the debt beinw liquidated in 1890 is , under these circum ! stances , a very dubious one . The _probability
are not only that the sum will never be repaid but that so long as the present system _ig allowed to continue in these provinces , tho people , who aro compulsoril y _paupei-ised by it will become annual pensioners on the Impel rial Consolidated Fund , to the great relief of the landlords , who ought either to employ or support the people on what they call " their " estates . The £ 300 , 000 asked for by the Premier , so far from being the last , ig but the precursor of many similar proposals in _futurs years . The only way to stop their _recia-I rence , is to begin resolutely and rationall y to euro pauperism , instead of first makin g and then feeding paupers .
Thc people at large are deeply interested in this question . Apart from the reflex actiou on themselves , arising from moral and social evil , of a vast amount of pauperism , the pecuniary weight of the burden presses almost exclusively upon the poorer and struggling classes . The landlords and the wealth y classes , by various plans , contrive to shuffle the burden off their own shoulders to those of the classes beneath them . In fact , it is the poor
who support the poor . Instead of each person paying according to his ability for the support of those requiring relief , it will be found in this country , that the rates invariably fall lightest upon tho rich parishes , and heaviest upon those mainly occupied by the middle and working classes . This is one of the grievances and inequalities which will never be effectually remedied until the people are fully and fairl y represented in their own Houseof Parliament .
The House of Lords presented an animated spectacle on Monday night . A faction _fipht had been announcedi and the champions on cither side were well known for their mettle and ability . Curiosity ran high : Peeresses thronged the part of the gallery allotted to them—the space between the throne and the table was crowded with sons of Peers , and others , having the privilege of that part of tho House . Below the bar , a large assemblage of members of the other House and of ladies had assembled , and the galleries set apart for members were also fully occupied . The
business in _thenToWn House , was " business . " It was therefore loft to be disposed of iu a somewhat humdrum style , by the few hard-working members upon , whom the burden of all the real work principally and commonly falls ; while the _dtlletanti legislators enjoyed the contest between Lord Stanley and the Lord-Lieutenant-of Ireland , with respect tothe couduct ofthe latter in removing Lord Roden from the magistracy , on account of his participation in thc proceedings which led to the
massacre by tho O rangemen at Dolly ' s Brae . Such was the question ostensibly at issue ; but in reality it was a bold attempt on the part of tho Orange faction to regain their lost supremacy . They ventured upon fighting a pitched battle on the floor of the House of Lords—they selected the ablest Parliamentary orator in the country as their champion—he presented himself armed , as we may say , cap a pie — he came fully and carefully made up on the question , and—was signally _defeated .
Taken as a display of Parliamentary oratory , perhaps Lord Stanley himself never exhibited greater ability . The arrangement of his matter—the gradual developement of his case—the ease , fluency , and force with which , for full three hours , he kept up his hold upon the attention of his auditors , were all proof ' s of the possession of rare and hi gh powers of rhetoric and eloquence . But the speech at thc
same time forcibly illustrated . all the leading defects of the orator ' s intellect . Prejudiced , impetuous , and partisan in its character _,, the whole of a case can never bo grasped by it . Lord Stanley is great as an advocate—as a statesman he is nothing ; in controversy , a brilliant debater—in council , the very worst adviser that could be listened to . Lord
Clarendon , on the other hand , with less of the showy oratorical qualifications of his opponent _,, possesses many of the personal and intellectual advantages which impress favourably and powerfully upon thoso who listen to him . What particularly distinguished him from his noble antagonist , was the greater simplicity aud directness of his style—a calm and equable temperament—possessing at the same time sufficient warmth to redeem it from beingphlcgmatic , and a move thorough aud comprehensive mastery of all the facts ofthe case . In thc course ofthe three hours' speech of Lord Stanley ,
ho constructed' a most ingenious and artistic case of oppression and injustice upon those meek and much injured lambs , the Orangemen . According to his version of the story they were the " meekest , mildest mannered of mankind , " and Lord Roden , a veritable saint upon earth . They did not wish to act illegally , or to get into " rows" with their neig hbours ! not tliey ! It was all the Papist " rebels , ' ( as Lord Stanley called them , ) who would not lit them be " religious'" and 'loyal" quietly , that forced them into this fight . ' And the ** ,
as to the fight itself , what was it ? \ v hy , there was only an idiot lad killed , a couple of women , and a poor old ' man , and some other . * * , with a few people wounded . What was that to make a noise about ? Besides , to show how people had misrepresented and maligned the Orangemen , it had been said , that ih 9 idiot lad ' s skull had been smashed to pieces by a blow from the butt end of an Orangeman ' s musket ; when the fact really was—that tho blow was inflicted by the other cud . Was it not intolerable that people should thus be calumniated ? Still worse was the conduct of
tho Lord-Lieutenant in interfering with theso loyal and amiabl y disposed peoplo , and in instituting an inquiry into their conduct a'ter their protecting brethren , the Orange magistrates , had refused to do so . . Lord Clarendon had no right to issue such a commission . Tho Commissioner himself had drawn up ' * garbled and one-sided report , and the Irish Lord Chancellor had , at the command of tho Lord-Lieutenant , cashiered his somewhat
indiscreet but blameless friend , Lord Eodeiu Such conduct was monstrous , unconstitutional , illegal , and arbitrary — in short , when his Lordship sat down , uimdst loud cheers fvcttt his friends , anybody who had never heard anything of the case before must have had the impression , that a more tyrannical and despotic Government , or . a more cruelly illused , patient race of martyrs than the Orangemen , never existed on the face ofthe earth .
The delusion was not suffered tb last long-One by one , the various portionsof the specions and imposing edifice came to the ground , until at last not one particle remained of it to testify that it had existed . Lord Clarendon demolished it completely ; and the distinct and emphatic manner in ' which ho avowed that the great principle of impartial govern * meut in Ireland , irrespective of creed or party--was in future to be tho policy pursued , m ' _-y be taken as the final downfall of that odious section of tho Irish population , who have i ' or agos proved one of the greatest curses of thai uuhappy . country .
The Party Processions Bill , whicli is now quietly passing through the Commons , aud which will no doubt become law shortly , will put the final extinguisher upon those foolish and irritating displays—whicli , like the exhibition ofa piece of red cloth to an excitabli _)
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 23, 1850, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_23021850/page/4/
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