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When men flatter, sigh, and UngnUh, Think them ftlss ; I found &ea to.
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TO THE FUSTIAN JACKETS, THE BLISTERED HA...
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~^^^ /J ' ^asti*** y . / .A ™ tfcfi trib...
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' ^asti***. y . / . AND • NATIONAL TjADE...
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TO THB MEMBERS TO BE LOCATED ON SNIG'S E...
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AGGREGATE MEETING OF THE TRADES OF LONDO...
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ADOPTION OF THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER AND "RE...
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petition would be forwarded to tbe prope...
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ABRIDGED NOTICES OF CHARTIST MEETINGS. P...
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FORTHCOMING MEETINGS. Stockport.—On Sund...
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TUB LONDON REPEALERS. Pi-tfl0 of Oharifa...
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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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When Men Flatter, Sigh, And Ungnuh, Think Them Ftlss ; I Found &Ea To.
When men flatter , sigh , and UngnUh _, Think them _ftlss ; I found & ea to .
To The Fustian Jackets, The Blistered Ha...
TO THE FUSTIAN JACKETS , THE BLISTERED HANDS , AND UNSHORN CHINS . M y Friends , As I wish the Northern Star newspaper to be a faithful record of my life , and as , by a moderate calculation , my own writings alone in that paper would constitute nearly onehundred Tolumes _, of three hundred pages to a volume , I do not wish its pages to he disgraced or defiled by one enigmatical or suspicious sentence .
I established that paper as the mirror in which Labour should see its interests reflected ; and I resolved upon perpetuating it as Labour ' s legend . I have cast my eye over the several changes wrought throughout the world—all promising benefit to the labouring classes if they would but fight the battle of one oppressor against another ; and I have found , in every instance—America amongst the most recent , extensive , and disastrous examples of the fact—that political power alone , if unaccompanied with social rig hts , becomes as much an article of traffic as any other commodity ; and , seeing this manifest in this country , I have devoted the best years of my life to its destruction ; and , until this week , I
have never been asked for an explanation of a single line I have written in furtherance of this my darling project : and _having not only admitted the great principle of popular control , but having invited popular scrutiny , believing ia the truth of the maxim , ' "that the peop le are seldom wrong , and never very long wrong ; and believing that they would entertain for me as great a contempt , if I surren- ] dered capriciously to error as they would if I _refosed-to confess error when wrong , ' I shall now adopt that course most dignified to myself , most creditable to them , and most beneficial to their cause—namely , the justification of what I have written , with its manly and unequivocal explanation .
. From this introduction you will learn that my letter , in last week ' s Star , has been objected to upon some points ; and yesterday morning Mr Child and Mr Donovan , two members ofthe Convention , waited upon me here , at Snig ' s End , aad for more than tw & _- hours we discussed the points of difference of opinion as to that letter , and it is but justice to those missionaries to say , that a more discreet selection could not have been made . And I will now p lace before you every point of objection urged hy them , and which 1 believe I explained to their entire satisfaction .
I shall take the objections one after the other , and dispose of them . And , firstly , though a verytrifling one , comes the following testimony as " to the character of Sir George Grey . Here it is printed , precisel y as it was in the Northern Star .- — " I always speak of _commnnitiec _, not of individuals , and in justice to Sir G . Grey , the Secretary of State for tie Home Department , I unhesitatingly assert , that no living man woald more regret a single aet of unnecessary cruelty , than would Sir G . Grey . A more tender-hearted man breathes not ; tut , as I have often stated . MEN WILL COMMIT ACTS AS A BODT . WHICH THE BASEST AMONG THEM WOULD BLUSH TO AC"KNOWLEDGE AS AS ISDITIDTJAL . "
Now , any man who reads that passage will eome to the following conclusion—that a government of angels , under an evi . system , are as ereat enemies to liberty as a government of devils could be , and not only the object of that passage , but the only construction thafc could be put upon it , is , that individual good character is of no value , when ifc must be surrendered to the will of others ; and I gave them this further instance ; I said , " Look at Sir "William SomerviUe , without exception one of the very best landlords and best masters in Ireland , and yet look at his Tenant Right Bill , and see how all his individual excellencies are lost amid governmental corruption . ''
Now the missionaries merely mentioned this passage incidentally , and I think a moment ' s reflection proved to them that it was intended as a blow , and was a blow , at the system ; but you will expect me to gauge my writings by some rule and standard , and you will bear in mind that I have told yon , a thousand times over , that I would not give you a fig for a Chartist Parliament elected hy Universal Suffrage for SEVEN YEARS ; andfor this simple reason , because the tenure of office uncontrolled for such a period , would turn angels into devils , and my just estimate of Sir George Grey ' s personal character is a strictly analagous
case . The next point at issue was contained in the three following paragraphs , and which must he taken in connexion with the concluding paragraph of my letter . Here are the three _paragraphs : — " Hear me , then , and if yon are valiant be discreet . The Hatkraal Assembly proposes to violate the law . as the law only permits an assemblage of forty nine persons te sit as a Convention ; and if that assembly __ meet , it will not only strengthen onr opponents , but will deter the thousands—yea , millions—wbo are now preparing to join us from entering into onr ranks .
li I bore , and witnout a murmur , the indiscretion and the foily ofsome members of the late Convention , and my reward was the payment of . £ 150 towards their expenses , and insults , contumely , and reproach ia the House of Commons for _everj act of indiscretion . " WiU von just imagine men getting np at public meetings , in London , and announcing that they were prepared for battle ! You remember how _Tarson Stevens was prepared ; how Peter Bussey was _prepared ; and you know what has become of these valiant heroes . " Now _, _suppose that I had placed the representatives of the working classes in the trammels ofthe law , without warning them ofthe fact , what amount of odium would I have been subjected to as the admitted legal adviser of the leaders of our movement . I think 1 hear some
one exclaiming —• " Yuu must trample upon the law / ' but that is quite another question ; my duty is to instruct you in the law , and if advantage were taken of your position , and if the law punished you , although your intention might have been to trample upon it , yet , such is the caprice of public opinion , if the law triumphed , you would THEN hold me responsible , and justly reproach me for not having defined the law . I will now take the concluding paragraph of my letter , and show you the bearing of the whole subject ; it runs thus : — -
" In conclusion , then , what I have to implore of yon , is to postpone your _Sstional Assimb ' . y _, whose enthusiasm may be op rated npon oy spies , until you see the effect of this new combination of disappointed hope , when arrayed against an in _' _oleront liberty-slaying government . You , who have followed me so long , and whom I have _serv-d 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 " Now in justice to Mr Child and Mr Donovan , I must explain to you critically , and without colouring , how they argued this point . They said thafc the conclusion drawn from the last
paragraph was , that i was opposed to the meeting ofthe National Assembly , presuming that I was aware that that body was to consist of more than forty-nine members , and that I should have warned the Convention of its illegality before . In answer to this , I assured them , upon my word and honour , thafc 1 was not aware that the National Assembly was to consist of more than forty-nine members , until "it was too late to apprise them ; and for this reason , that , during the time that that question was being debuted , I was engaged day and night in the House of Commons opposing thn Whig Treason Act . I told them that they must have been aware of the law ,
firstly—because all previous Conventions consisted ol forty-nine members ; because , although mnst anxious for his admission , I opposed Mr _M'Carthy's taking a seat on the first day of our sitting , because it would constitute the Convention an illegal body , —that I had told them that I could not present their petition in favour of Frost , "Williams , and Jones , if it were signed hy more than forty-nine members ; and I further told them , that Mr Hume Lad called the attention of the Government to the National Cowentian , and that " as long as that Convention was a legal body , I sluuld be able to defy Mr Hume and the Government , but that-tin moment I lost that standing , then i was powerless . These phmt ' wns appeared to _Isztisfr the
To The Fustian Jackets, The Blistered Ha...
missionaries that 1 had pointed out a distinction between the Convention and the National Assembly , whereas they had presumed that I was opposed to both ; the fact being that 1 am in favour of the Convention—the name by which we have always called our gatherings—as I am in favour of preserving the name of the Charter ; and you will find that one of the above paragraphs refers to the Convention , while the concluding paragraph refers to the National Assembly , and my
reasons for , at all events , POSTPONING the meeting of that body , and those reasons 1 shall presently give you . I must also state that , in answer to Child and Donovan , as lo my knowledge thatj the National Assembly was to consist of one hundred , that the firstintimation I had was from Mr M'Grath , who told me that London was to elect eight delegates , and to which I replied— " Then what proportion will the rest of the country have , if it is only to elect forty-one ? " and he then told me that 100 was to be the number .
Now , ifc will be borne in mind , that the Star is only published once a week , and that I could not , on the 15 th , have _published anything that I was not aware of on the . 13 th ; and you must be aware that , during the previous days of that week , I was in a state of perpetual excitement , sitting in the House of Commons day and night , when my bed would have been the fit place for me . I now come to the two latter paragraphs of the above three ; and if the whole three are taken in connexion , you will find from the latter thafc my censure applies not at all to the Convention , nor to words spoken in the Convention , but to speeches made by delegates at public meetings .
The same rule that I have laid down for my own conduct , I am justified in applying to the conduct of others . I have said that I should be a dastard and _^ a hypocrite , if I were capable of using language out of the House that I was afraid to use in the House j and that my boast was that my language in the House was bolder than my language out of the House , andjl hold the man in utter contempt , who was capable of holding one language in the Convention and another language out of the Convention ; and what will you say to a delegate of that Convention , after having elicited the boundless cheers of an excited audience by an exciting speech , say ing to another delegate of that Convention , on their way home , ' DID
YOU HEAR THE D D FOOLS , HOW THEY CHEERED ME ?' Now this to sie is most sickening and revolting . Then , as to the expense of the Convention ; for the legitimate purposes of the people they are welcome to my all , as I told them ; but I confess that I was nettled and stung , when I heard thafc a professional GENTLEMAN from Edinburgh would not return to his constituents untilhegot £ _i of my money ; and . Mr M'Grath , when he informed me of it , did so with feelings of disgust .
Now , working men , havingso far ingenuously and faithfull y explained those points in my letter , and before 1 touch upon the question of the " Nation / ' I will make a few running commentaries . In 1 S 39 I made battle against the poor gentlemen in that Convention for seven long months , and , as soon as our exchequer was exhausted , they took advantage of some violent speeches , delivered at a meeting at the Crown
and Anchor , Mr Sanke in the chair , to send in their resignation , and to abandon our movement , and many of them afterwards took refuge in corporations and other situations . _Douglas , Salt , Hadley , Pearce , Whittle , the Cobbetts , Dr Fletcher , and all that class except Dr M'Douall , were ready for battle when they received six guineas a week , but were the first to run away from the smoke ; while Tom Attwood , their leader on the presentation of the National Petition , contended that ONE
POUND NOTES WAS THE CHARTER . . In announcing the late Convention to you , I asked you to elect none but those wbo would leave their work to perform yours , and who would return to their work when it was done . I have lived long enough to see and taste of the bitter fruits of the representation of the people by POOR GENTLEMEN , who __ are too proud to work , and too poor to live without labour _. Who that does not remember my prediction as to the result of the ulterior measures proposed in the Convention of ' 39 , and which struek a blow at Chartism that it did not recover till ' 42 , and of which I bore the lion ' s share for the folly of others ?
Had the Convention of ' 39 deliberated upon the labour question , and had Attwood and the poor gentlemenremained true to their faith ; the Charter would have become the law ofthe land , because the Convention might have propounded social results from free representation , which would have been worth living for and worth dying for ; hut when the middle-class men left us , they were the first to hound the middleclass jurors upon us ; women were deprived of the protectors of their families , and hence , until the social principle enunciated in the Land Plan was proclaimed , not a wife who loved her children , and had an interest in the little freedom that her husband enjoyed , would allow that husband to attend a Chartist
meeting , while now I find that a majority of women constitute my audiences . I told you in ' 39 that your rulers did not dread the threat of physical force ; and that , if praying with red night caps was more likely to carry the Charter , it would be more dreaded than the cannon ' s roar , and would be made a penal crime by act of Parliament ; and if you will take the trouble of once more reading the concluding paragraph in my lastletter , you will see that I only ask you to postpone the National Assembly until we have tested the virtue of the middle classes as to their proposed union , because they constitute the jury class , and the _electoral body .
Chartists , you must not , however , mistake me upon this question of fraternisation : if we trust them they must confide in us ; and however in our assaults upon the monstrosities of the present system we may aid them , yet I am determined , at the risk of life itself , to keep the noble army of Chartists as a distinct and separate body , acting as an auxiliary force upon all questions in whicii the majority concur , but still keeping
THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER AND
NO SURRENDER ! upon our banners , ar . d for this simple reason because if we abandon the Charter to day , every promised extension of the Suffrage would he buried in the same tomb upon the morrow . Now , mark my predictions of Free Trade unaccompanied by popular representation . They cannot be denied . They are written a thousand times . I told you that the operatives would be the first to suffer : next the
shopkeepers and the trades ; that the manufacturers would find that they had CAUGHT A TARTAR ; that merchants and hankers would go ; that crowded bastiles and increased Poor Hates would be the farmer ' s share ; that he would next go ; then the Church ; then the landlords ; and last the system . I depicted what the state of Ireland would be , _jjand I declared that Free Trade without the Charter meant revolution , and nothing less , Now , if you canDot deny the correctness of
To The Fustian Jackets, The Blistered Ha...
every one of my predictions , as to the Convention of ' 39 , and the result of Free Trade , so far as ifc has gone ; and if you cannot deny that my health , my time , my fortune , and my thoughts , have been ' one and all devoted to the cause of freedom , *! have a right to demand your confidence , and offer you my counsel .-Child and Donovan appeared to agree that forty-nine should" Be selected by ballot , from the number returned to the National
Assembly ; and a more wise and protective course could not be taken , asjit would give the _eause of Labour a security in the wisdom of its friends ; and that the Convention should deliberate calmly upon the whole labour question , as it affects all classes of society ; and , preserving to the letter the principles of the CHARTER , it should propound the social principle of individuality of possession and co-operation of labour ; every 'freeman a National Guardsman , arnied by the Government , placed in his own sentry-box in the centre of his own labour field , surrounded by his own family , and ready to die in defence of his own
rights-Chartists , you cannot be impressed with my feelings . I _Ifeelthat if . y ou _£ r . enot prudent , cautious , and ' braveV ' '' ndt '' th ' " e _^ _mTddle _3-cl a 8 ses , but their leaders , will juggle you . Have you forgotten my letter upon the Prussian revolution , when the reforming despot exchanged the Prussian plume for the peacock's tail of Germany ? Did I not tell you that he would gull the working meri who gained the revolution
by continuous excitement , until he had so augmented his ] physical forces as to enable him to set the victors at defiance ? Well , he has established a national guard of shopkeepers and traders , for the purpose , as he states , of resisting the demands of the working classes , while he has invaded the dominions of the King of Denmark , the only monarch in Europe who conceded a free constitution to his people without violence or even threat .
Chartists , a matter of paramount importance to us is the character of the Parliamentary Leader of this new middle class move ; and I confess to you candidly , and especially since his invitation to the Government to put down the Convention , and from his letter to the Leeds Times , that I have neither faith nor confidence in Mr Hume . He is a rank political economist , and is one of the Fitzwilliam school , who believes tribulation and woe is the lot of the poor here below . I would have much more confidence in the leadership of Richard Cobden , and so would the working classes . However
come of it what may , there is this certain result from the present poverty , that the trades are now with us to a man—that nine-tenths of the shopkeepers , who are jurors , are with usthat the wife of every wort ing man in England is with us—that the young blood of England is flocking around us , while the rotten trunk of corruption only relies for its preservation upon the last blow—the hulk , and the dungeon . J Now , my friends , when we have such an augmentation of force , shall we surrender the proud and vantage ground which we have held against such fearful odds ?
Let the Convention meet—and , in p lain and simple _language , convince the _working classes thafc the Church property belongs to the flock and not to the shepherds , and that that alone would locate one million of families in a free castle , surrounded b y four acres of ground , and give to each £ 50 in capital , thus taking five millions of people from the artificial labour market , thereby establishing the standard of wages in that market , by the united interest of the employer and the employed , instead of by a pauper competitive reserve .
Let the manufacturers understand that they would constitute a surer , a hotter , a safer , and a richer colony than they can find in China or India . Let the laudlords understand thafc they will require less poor-rates . Let the shopkeepers understand that they will be better customers . Let the trades understand thatthey will be better employers . Let the artificial labourers understand that they will be better _producei s . Let the parsons understand that they will be better Christians ; the lawyers , that they will be worse customers . The government , that they will he better tax-payers . The Queen , that they will be better _subjects ; and themselves , that they will he freemen .
The rent of those four million acres , the onefifteenth part of the land of the country , would supply a revenue larger than any government could require ; and under those provisions I would undertake to set every man in England to profitable work ; and herein , Chartists , consists the superiority of our movement over any other that the world ever heard of . _. 1 wouldn't give you a straw for any political change if we were not prepared with our social reform j and upon the acquisition of this political change and social reform , I have fixed my every thought , and for its accomplishment I would risk my life against fearful odds .
Remember Napoleon's character of Murat ; he said , " MARSHAL , YOU ARE A WOMAN IN THE CABINET , BUT A LION IN THE FIELD . " I now turn to the last point of consideration _, namely , my comment upon the " Nation . " Now is there a Chartist who reads tbo Northern Star who has forgotten Mr Duff )' s . letter , and my answer to it , within these two months , wherein he charged the Chartists with violence , and the folly
and injustice of running upon the Banks , and having cited a few rare instances of good landlords and aristocrats in Ireland , he showed that it was folly in the people to attempt to gain anything without a union with those parties ? and is it not notorious as the sun at noonday that until sparred ou by the brave and magnanimous Mitchel—of wliom I think by day and by night—that every Irishman in England was giving up the "NATioN , "and passing _resolutions in strong condemnation against it ?
Well then , was I not justified in my censure , and where is the man vrho has done mere , or who is prepared to do more , to form an alliance between the English Chartists and the Irish Repealers than I have ? or where is the Irishman who would go further to rid his country of despotism ? Have I not told the English people a thousand times , thafc if I could prevent it they never should have their liberty till Irishmen had theirs ? and I wish I was not provoked to write upon the subject of la-land , as the very thought of her condition makes my blood boil and deprives me of reason -, but this il say , that I would rather be found slain amongst tbe vanquished in the struggle for liberty , than he found living in the ranks of tiie _conquaror . I must really hold my pen , for it swells so , that it reminds me of I don't know what .
Irishmen are not made of that selfish or ungenerous stuff that would tolerate years of abuse of me and my parly , and then be over nice in censuring rae for defending myself . In conclusion , I have only to add , that I regret lhat any misconstruction should have been put upon my letter ofthe 22 nd , assuring you , that , in spite ol Gagging Bills , of danger , persecution , or death , you will always find me foremost in the Chartist ranks , holding to my
motto" Onward aud wa _conquor , Backward und we fall 1 * THB PEOPLE'S CHARTER , ANDNO SURRENDER ! And if the sacrifice of life must be the offering to prove my devotion , I beg leave to assure you , thai while the ginger-beer poppers have been faring very luxuriously and sleeping comfortably , that 1 have been suffering pain , debility , and exhaustion , to whicii 1 have heretofore been a stranger ; and , that tbere
may be no mistake between us any longer , I ara for a Convention of purely working men I am for that Convention consisting of forty-nine I am for ' calling it the Convention , as vre call tbe Charter the Charier ; I am for that Convention propounding a code of social laws , not forgetting our political rights ; and I am for waiting to see how far the combination of shopkeepers , trades , and Irish Repealers , led by their legitimate leaders ,
To The Fustian Jackets, The Blistered Ha...
and how far liberals and free traders in the House of Commons will go with the people ; but I ara not for placing myself in the situation of being spurned and reviled for withholding my advice . And now , what I esteem as creditable to myself , and what will be satisfactory to the Chartist body , is , that I regret any misconstruction that was placed upon my letter of the 22 nd , and assuring you that I am , as I have ever been , and ever will be , Your sincere , your affectionate and devoted Friend , and uncompromising and unpurchaseable Representative , FEARGUS O'CONNOR .
P . S . 1 have just received a very striking instance of popular regard . By a letter from Halifax I learn tbat ray absence from the West Riding meeting , on Good Friday , gave great dissatisfaction . On Wednesday 1 was in the House of Commons from twelve o'clock to six . On Thursday I was engaged atthe Northern Star Office , till twelve at night . On Friday morning I started for Manchester , to fulfil an engagement of two months ' standing . Now , suppose that I had attended the meeting at Halifax , I should have travelled all the Thursday night , whieh I am not just now prepared to do , nor will I do : after the _out-door meeting I
_shouldiaye gone to Manchester , where , according io . _jjripial arrangement , a tea party was to take place at live o ' clock , and then I should have left Manchester at six o ' clock on Saturday morning , as I did do , to be in the House of Commons at two o'clock on that day . So much for popular consideration , and I think I have a right to Eay , ' Save me from my friends . ' But it appears that the Secretary of the meeting did not read my letter written some days before , stating the utter impossibility of my attending the West Riding Meeting and the Manchester Tea-party on the same day .
But , I have the consolation to believe and know that you—the fustian jackets , the blistered hands , and unshorn shins—would rather spare me for a day than lose me for ever , as I am your servant . F . _O'C .
~^^^ /J ' ^Asti*** Y . / .A ™ Tfcfi Trib...
_~^^^ / J ' _^ _asti _*** y . / . A ™ _tfcfi tribute of respect paid him , said on the _narfc
' ^Asti***. Y . / . And • National Tjade...
. AND NATIONAL _TjADES _* JOURNAL . . VOL- XI . No 549- _LONDOJ , SATURDAY , APBIL 29 , 1848 . _^ J _& _JSfSSSU
To Thb Members To Be Located On Snig's E...
TO THB MEMBERS TO BE LOCATED ON SNIG'S END . Mr _Fbibhds , —I now steal a moment from the bustle of politics to give yeu some information as to j our fate . Tho weather for the last three months has been one incessant down-pour , which naturally obstructed our operations hare , but , now tho season ha » beeome more genial , I shall commence planting your potatoes aud cabbages , and sowing turnips , and ether things next _wesk , and I think , when you aea the paradise that I bave prepared for you , yon will say that my time has not been mis-spent , even ia the excitement of politics ; and if you would ask _trf-o
or three of the drunken editors of the Dispatch to accompany you here , I think the sight would even convert thm . Had it not bsen for tke rain , yon would have been _located here about the middle of May ; a pleasure , however , which you will have on tbe second Monday in June , when you wiU see your crops _growing , and your houses well aired ; but believe me that it was no joke , in the wettest _season over remembered , to draw bricks and stones four miles for eighty-six houses , and making roads ; sand , five miles ; lime , two miles ; and timber and slate , seven miles ; however , by that time all will be done , and you will be happy . Faithfully yours , _Feahous O'Connor .
Aggregate Meeting Of The Trades Of Londo...
_AGGREGATE MEETING OF THE TRADES OF LONDON .
Adoption Of The People's Charter And "Re...
ADOPTION OF THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER AND "REPEAL . " On Wednesday evening , ameetiag ofthe trades of the Metropolis took plaoe at the National Hall , High Holborn , to receive the report ofa committee of delegates appointed at a former meeting , to canaider and report on the destitute condition of the London trades , as also to define the causes which have led to that destitution , and to state the remedies considered necessary for its removal . ' The _halljwas densely crowded . Shortly after eight o'clock the chair was taken by Mr E . Edwards , president of the delegates .
The Chairman briefly stated tho object of the meeting , as above , and said that they were also met t ¦) exercise tho constitutional right of petitioning thc legislature . The _convenera of this meeting loved the motto of' Peace , _Js _^ and order , ' knowing thai anything which interrupted the natural flow of capital tended to throw workmen out of employment . Thu movement had originated in a conviotion t hat deep and wide-spread distress existed amongst thiindustrious population of Lindon . Out of 200 , 000 workmen , _one-thivd were wholly unemployed , another third had only casual employment , and the remainder were in work , but received , in many cases , _greatly reduced wage 3 . ( Hear , hear . ) In Uie _proviuces things were still worse . Why was this ? to
Men w _^ ro willing work ; they despised pauper aid ; but they were unavoidably idle . ( Hear ) The committee had sought for the causes of this state of hinge , and believed thsy had hit on some cf the principal . ones . First was the monopoly of land _, whioh ought to belong to all ; the want of political power was another potent cause , for the denial oi their rights to the _working classes waa most detrimental to their interests . Another evil was the fixed price of gold , while all other commodities _fluctuated in value . Prison labour competed with many blanches of industry : mats , and articles formed of tin , were actually sold from the prisons at a less price than the materials cost the manufacturers ,
while the nation had to pay M 0 per head per anuum for the maintenance of prisoners . ( Hear , hear . ) The amount of labour now dormant was so great as to be equivalent in value to a _millio- _^ _fi _» _- ' * n < "i niv . Another serious grievance was tho introduction , of foreigu manufactures at a _loirer nuuiitnn cum ol duty . To remedy this evil thc committee had _suggested tho establishment of ' a labour protection _boani , tha members , elected by- the working classes , to havo _seat 3 in tho legislature , and the president to be a member of the cabinet' ( Hear , hear . ) Asa wurkman . he was convinced that the workmen could obtain ail thoy desired by argument and constitutional means alono .
Tha Chairman then read the report . The following are the principal _ponians : — From » 11 the information [ submitted to your _csmmittee it _Hppeaw that the number ot artisans awl _mechunics ( lhat is , persons working at trades ) , at present in London , amounts to at least 200 , 000 men . And from tho statistics furnished' by tiie delegates these 200 , 000 men may be said to be situate as follows ;—One-third tin . ployed ; but nuny of them at _woites wholly inadequate to obtain _i-tr themselves and families a sufficient Biipply of the necessaries of life , Tho next third _nru about lull
_employed ; and vast numbers of _th ; s division are _suffering irom great privations , and obliged to dispose of thtir cl . ithea und furniture , in the _hopn of being able t » avoid absolute _pauperism . The _riinaln-ns third ara entirely out of work , aud havo been so for several months past ; of thia third it may bo truly suid _, that whilst some are _n-jw _living up m credit , after having _dijpotod of thoir effects , thousands are _obliged to accept , _bb a bet resource , the hateful _badgo of uawilltog pauperism _nitliln the walls of union workhouses . Such , your comm . ttee say , is but a faint though decisive _dcEcriptbn of the ac tual state of tho London trades iu March , 1818 .
The causes which have , atep by step , originated this iiiriount of misery are , in the opinion ofyour committee —1 . Tha _usurpation and possession of land , which , being the gift oftho Almighty , as the means ( rom which man was to obtain subsistence , should alwaj a ho helu in sacred trust for lhe ben .-fit of tho peopio at la _/ ge , 2 . The usurpation of political power to make laws that govern _thomaBBSB , thus unenfraucbieing and politically degrading- the productive classes . 3 . tfho fixed price ef gold as tho medium of exchange , 4 . Competition with home machinery , and the introduction of foreign _manufactures , combined with felon and workhouso labour supported hy public and parochial funds . 5 . Tho monopolies aud _protection whi _/ _i'i government _maintains and affords to nil its employes in slate and church , G , Tho cru _^ l and
_reckles * _neglect of tho _legislature not miming the required _arrangements ; first , to usefully employ the dealitute ; and scuo . iciljr , to properly educate tho ignorant _. To _coaimenue the inevitable _c'lnnge needed in the _existing system of affairs and their manngei & ent , jour _committee rocomm . 'tid the following _resolutions , as forming a foundation of principles whereon to construct , cither at onco or ultimately , the measures for tbe _amelioration aud battsr protection of the _labouring classes : —1 , That as skill and labour ara admitted by nil to bo the primary agents in t ' M pr _^ _acU'm of capital , it follows as _acanstquuiico that tha compulsory idleness in which a _lar _^ o portion of tint industrious classes ore _kspt is an unbearable evil to _tliemselvw , alarming to tho _peaceable and well-disposed , _rsiiious to tho national resources , and , If not speedily romodied , must * - _« ad to
Adoption Of The People's Charter And "Re...
crime and anarchy . 2 . That It is a primary _auty of the government to introduce measures that will _immodUtely secure employ ment and education for all ' who require them , with o guaranteed sufficiency of the heces _. _» arle » and comforta of life to oaoh . 3 . Taat , as great Britain and Ireland contain a superabundance of land and ot ' _ier materials , as well as skill and capital , to profitably employ and _comfortably support several tiromne present number of the population ; the government should _introduce a bill establishing _Belf-supportlng noma _colonies , wherein the surplus labour of the country might bs employed , and the social condition of the workers permanently improved . 4 . That for the just protection of the rlghtB of labour , a ' labour-protecting board' be established , tbe numbers of which shall be elected by the working classes , and , In virtue of their appointment , be entitled each to a seat in the House of Commons—the
president being a member of the cabinet—aa tbe representatives of labour and the guardians of Its rights , 5 , That the trades of London should respectfully bat firmly demand of thn legislature to extend the elective franchise to every man of tv > ent ; -onp years of age , of sound mind , and uncontavninated by crime . 6 . That taxation should be equalised , by substituting for all other tases , no matter their character , a graduated property tax That a currency be Issued by the government , based on the credit of the nation , ' and equal to the wealth offered for exchange . 8 . That a measure should be passed to protect the labouring classes from the existing unequal _svstem of competition from foreiun manufacturers and felon and workhouse labour , each trade being called upon to determine what amount of work would constitute a fair _daj ' s _labour , and the law affixing upon that amount a fair remuneration .
In conclusion , your committee have to state that , from all reports which have reached tbem , the trades of London are formed of men of peace , who wish to maintain order . T < _it they cannot conceal the foot that thero is , iu tho progress of every nation , a crisis which must either tend to the _prosperity and happiness of the people , or cause anarchy and decay . That Great Britain Is now approaching tbat crisis ; and , in order to produce _theprospsrity wanted , political rights must be conceded , social degraiation removed , the organisation of labour firmly established , and , as far as possible , a full measure of justice guaranteed to all .
Mr A . CampbelIi moved the adoption of a petition to the legislature , founded on the report . He expressed his canvictioa that the present was ' the beginning of the end , ' and Baid it behoved every ene seriously to reflect on the preRQEt _alarming aipect of affairs , which indicated misgovernment to a sad extent . It was monstrous to talk of tbo population pressing on the means of existence ; the country , cultivated as it might be with our present knowledge of agriculture , wa « capable of sustaining 100 millions of inhabitants . WKat was wanted was a _reorga-. _isation of capital , labour , atd _s-kill , so as to ensure full employment and sufficient wages to all . ( Hear , hear . ) Whatever the composition of the government—Whip , Tory , or Chartist—peace could not be _| maintained
without a reorganisation of our institutions . ( Cheers . ) Seeing the numbers who were pining away , and fast approaching that point at which it became more painful to live than die . the greatest wonder to him was that tho people were so quiet . ( Cheers . ) He hoped tbey would continue quiet , but firm , that was the best aud shortest way of _gaining their end . ( A voice , ' The Charter . ' ) it was well for them to consider wbat thoy most needed , and he thought this was the right to live comfortably by their labour , and the power to educate their children . ( Cheera . ) Tho working millions sought no interference with property ; let those who had wealth keep it ; but let the millions have the power of creating wealth for themselves . ( Hear . ) The land , the birthright of the
people , _ouijht to be the oomraon property of alt ; but they Bought not to tako it by violence or fraud . Institutions mu' _-t be changed ; tho progress of tbe hurnau mind demanded it ; pnd nothing _s' _-ort of a miracle could prevent that _change . __ He exhorted the operatives to do away with all aristocratic feelings among themselves , whereby those who were the best paid ware sometimes led to look _slierhtingly on their les 3 fortunate brethren . ( Hear . ) Let thera seek to elevate labour by union , firmness , and a high moral feeling , and to convince all _classesthat without labour eapital was va _l ueless . If capitalists chose , let them leave the country , and tako their capital with them ; th _; y could not take the land , nor the muscular arms of tho working classes . It was only by doing _jnslice
te those classes that her Majesty scrown and government ciuld be maintained in security . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr Holmes seconded the adoption of the _petition , and said the trades had ample power , if they chose to employ it , to work out their own amelioration . If properly united , they conld paralyse the govern _, ment whenever they thonght proper , without any resort to force , which he , for ono , would sooner emp _' oy than go through such another winter as the la-t . Sooner than be reduced to the state of their brethren in Ireland , he thought it would be better to risk their lives against the s _* ord . ( Loud cheers . ) Petitions like the ono now proposed had already been adopted in Manchester and other towns : and surely government would not turn a deaf ear to the general demand of a united poople . ( Hear , hoar . )
Mr _CnuRCtULu then moved an amendment . He said , although thero were trades , there was little _difference between them and their brethren , seeking ( hoiv freedom from political thraldom . Mr Churchill here paid a _hij-h tribute of respect to the working classes of England , for tho support they had given to their continental brethren , and censured the press for its manifold misrepresentations of _ labour ; charged tho Whi , g government with possessing a desire to embroil this _cjuntry in war , but it was the duty ofthe people to say ' Stop , you are our servants no more . ' ( Great cheering . ) Mr Churchill paid a tribute to the authors 6 f the report and defied the
Houso of Commons to produce ono to equal it , ( Loud cheers . ) The provisional government ot France had alraady adopted Bevernl of their suggestions . Government had hitherto set class against class—acting upon the motto ' Divide and conquer . ' , ( Hear , hear . ) And he wished them to avoid this . Well , others had asked rights , not as to end ail aud be all , but simply as a means to an end . He sincerely called on them to adopt the amendment , he was about to propose . He then read the other five points of tho Charter in addition to tV . e clause embracing Universal Suffrage , and added Repeal of tha Union . Tie amendment was received with
tremendous cheering . He concluded by _atating that they would be a by word for ever and ever if they did not now obtain their rights . ( Cheering . ) Mr Jons Sksiton , ( shoemaker ) said , he _Seconded the amendment . It weuld not interfere with the subject matter of the petition , and would be an improvement on it . Trades hitherto Btood idle , and _allowel their fellow men to bo starved outot existonce . ( Loud cheers . ) It was their duty to sympa thise with their brethren in Ireland , and not allow them to be thrust out of existence either by starvation or by th 8 law . ( Cheers . ) Mr M Sweeny , said a few words in opposition to what hnd fallen from Mr Skelton .
Mr Reynolds said , he could not agree to the amends-lint . If they took in a similar petition to that taken in a fortnight since , they would bo treated in tho same manner . They would all be _wiSlinjr at a proper time to aid _thtim for tha Cu ? . rt 2 r . ( Loud cheers . ) __ Mr Vernon aaid , It had been asserted tha Chartists wished to create disunion . Now he declared that the object of every good Chartist was at the present moment to cause union and fraternisation amongst all classes of the _iadtistridus orders . ( Great cheering . ) He said if tbey adopted thc amendment , such a union would be cemented as even the Emoeror of Russia could not put down ( _tiOud cheers . ) Mr Makis said a few words in favour of tho amendment . Mr _Esserv , ( tailor ) , opposed tbe amendment _.
Mr A . _Camfbht-l said a lew words in reply , and said tho mover , seconder , and supporters of the amendment had agreed with them so far as thsy went ; thus far they were all agreed—with the little addition to that ; he would say their report had been diacussod at a delegate meeting , and by them agreed to , they not being wishful to go into details . The Chairman then put tho question , and the amendment was carried by a very lar _^ e majority ( only a few hands being held up against it ) , amidst iho most enthusiastic cheering ,
Mr _Ri-moN , ( shorm _.-ik _?! _- ) , said they had done their duty , they submitted their report ; thc meeting had been pleased to add tho other points of the Charter , and aa one of a committee of trades , at tho head of a body comprising sixty thousand men , he could drelare solemnly there were uot twelve of them but were in favour of the Charter . ( Great applause ) And further , ho would say that at the present time , it was impossible to call a public mteeting of the trades fairlj and openly , but the majority , a very _lai-.-e majority , would ha found in favour of thoso principles they hid _embodied and carried in their amendment . ( Gre . _ifc cheering . ) Itwas ultimately resolved that the Committee of Metropolitan Trades , should take measures to present the petition just adopted .
Mr L < aac _Wimow moved : —' That steps b ; -taken for organising the metropolitan Grades , in _common with tho other trades of tho country , in favour ol the principles _contained ia their report . ' Seconded And carried unanimously , A vote of thanks was then given . by acclamation to Mr Edwards , tho clninnan , nhoin _acknowledge
Petition Would Be Forwarded To Tbe Prope...
petition would be forwarded to tbe proper authorities and its principles duly maintained . ( Loud , eheers . ) This most crowded and _euthusiaaticmafiting waa thon dissolved ;
Abridged Notices Of Chartist Meetings. P...
ABRIDGED NOTICES OF CHARTIST MEETINGS . Press of matter has compelled the cutting _dowa ofa mass of reports of Chartist meetings . We caa only state that meetings have been held at v Gbeenock , where Mr Peacock was elected tothe Assembly- . ' , . _Dbbdbb , where Mr M'Crae was elected to tha Assembly / V . , _, , . ., . HANLKr , where Mr M'Grath _wai elected tothe Assembly , and the memorial to the _Queon adopted . LmoBWtBR , where resolutions of _confidence in Mr O'GouBor were unanimously _adoptedt Stockpobt . —A succession of splendid meetings were held hare whioh have been addressed by Messrs West and CJark of the Executive . HvLL . —An open-air meeting _wai held on Good * Friday , when Mr _StepaeHS wm elected to the Assembly , and the memorial to the Queen _adoptedt [ Mr Stephens has been deprived of employment ( pr , _sitting as delegate in the Convention !] _^ m
_Grbekwich and _Bzpitoro . —A large meeting waa held on Blackheath , on Sunday morning . Recently , a fraternal meeting of Chartists and Repealers was held at the Druid ' s Arms , Greenwich , when a joint associat ion wm formed , and officers appointed , _KuionLHY . —At an open air meeting Mr R . Whitfield was appointed delegate to the assembly . _Motibam , where Mr Wild addressed a large meeting . A camp meeting will be held at 1 o ' clock , on Sunday , en _Wedensough Green . Walsall . —An open air meeting was held oa Easter Monday , which was addressed by Mr Mason , _OflSwmingham , and other speakers , _^ OiciiHAM . —The anniversary of opening the Workirg Men ' s Hall , was celebrated on Sunday last . Messrs Cooper , ef Manchester , and Tattersall , of Burnley , delivered splendid addresses .
Brainimb , _Essbs—An open-air meeting was held on Good-Friday . Mr Donovan , ofthe Convention , deAiYexed . an excellent _apa « ch . Resolutions ia _Bupp-rt of the Convention and the Charter wera adopted . WAKWiELB _~ -Mr J . Shaw lectured here on the 20 th inst ., and gave great satisfaction . _Huokmomdwickb . —Several meetings haTe been held here . The movement is advancing . _Wditiinoton ahd Cat , Church-row , Tower Hamlets . —On Sunday evening the letter of the Ashton Chartists was read and discussed , when a resolution was unanimously passed that a committee
of fifteen be appointed to carry out the same . Eightythree shares were taken up , and _oeo pound nine shillings and fourpence paid on the same . The eommittee adjourned to Saturday evening , at eight o ' clock ; and en _Ys ' _sdnesday , May 3 rd , at eight for nine o ' elock , when all persons wishing to take up shares can do so en application to the secretary . Hoxro . Y , — -On Sunday evening , April 23 rd , there was a meeting held at the Oak , corner of Old Ivystreet , Hoxton New Town , when a section of the National Charter Association was opened . Mr Dixon will give a lecture , on next Sunday evening , at the above place .
The National Assembly . —Communications condemning tbe postponement of the meeting of the Assembly , as suggested by Mr O'Connor in last we . _k'sSiAR , have been received from Barnsley , Wolverhampton , and Glasgow . In addition to adhesions published in other _columns _. _communicatians applauding Mr O'Connor ' s conduct , and approving of the suggested postponement of the Assembly , bave _baeu received from Hull and Warrington .
Forthcoming Meetings. Stockport.—On Sund...
FORTHCOMING MEETINGS . Stockport . —On Sunday next , Mr John _Weifc will leoture at six o ' clock P . M . Makchbstbk . —Mr E- C . Clark will deliver a lecture in the People ' s Institute on Sunday , April 30 . Chair to be taken at six o ' clock , p m . JSiwcastleon-Ttse . —The members of this branoh of the Land Company are requested to meet in the house of M . Jade , on Suodsy evening , April 30 . Mr JameB Watson will deliver a lecture in the house of M . Jude , on Sunday evening , April 30 , at seven o ' clock . Stratford . —A meeting of the members will ba held at _Morley ' s Coffee House , on Monday evening , May l _* t ., at ei _^ bt o ' clock . Lkick 8 Tsb . —The members of tbe National Land Company _belon-uug to Mr Goodby ' _s branch are requested to meet at tbeir room , Hill-street , on Monday evening next , at eight o ' clock .
_Birmingham—The members of the National Charter Association are requested to meet in the People ' s ilall , on Sunday evening , at six o ' clock . Nottingham . —The next meeting of the Land members will ba held at the Poplar Tree , on Sunday _evening , at seven o'clock . The West Riding Delegate Meeting will be held on Sunday , May 7 th , at Butterworth-buildings , Bradford . Budness to commence at half-past twelve precisely . A South _Laneosh-re Delegate Meetine will be held at Mr Whitaker ' s , Temperance _H-itel , 93 , _Ancoatsstreet , Sunday , April 30 . Chair ts be taken at nine o ' oloek . The following _idealities are requested to ? esd the levy of one halfpenny per head io liquidate expeuses incurred at Oldham Edge—Manchester , Mottram , Stalybridge , Stockport , Ash _' on , Rochdale , Hyde , Failsworth , Oldham , Warrington , St Helens , Liverpool , _Eccles , Newton Heath , and Middleton .
Heckmondwike . —A lecture will be delivered in _tlao Ltetl Ciiapel , on Monday evening , May 1 st , at half past seven o ' clock , by Mr Wm . Newsome , Lbbds . —The members of the National Laud Company are requested fr > bring in their _contribution cards on Sunday , April 30 ; h , at two o ' cleck in the ift moon ; on Wednesday evening , May 3 rd , and Thursday evening-, May 4 th , from S _9 _ven to _nins o ' clock ; and on Sunday afternoon , May 7 ch , at twa o ' clock in the afternoon , in the back end of the Bazaar . _Sowerbt Helm . —A district camp meeting will be
held to-morrow , at this place , at two o ' clock in the afternoon , when Messrs Taylor , _Rushton , Shackleton , and others , are expected to address the meeting . A district delegate meeting will be held at the Association-room , Sowerby Helm , at eleven o ' elock in tha forenooD , when each locality in the district is _requited to send a delegate . All communications to be addressed to Joseph Riley , seoretary , No . 6 , Bankstreet , Cross-field , Halifax . i ; Brunswick Hall , Limkrousb . —Mr FusseU will lecture , on Monday , May 1 st , ou the People ' s Charter . Chair to be taken at eieht o'oloek .
Little Tow . v , sear _Lskds . —The Land members are requested to attend a general meeting on Sunday , April 30 th , at the house of Mr Charles Brooks , at ten o ' elock in the forenoon , Hurrah _i-or tub Cummer . —A meeting - will be held in St _Panoras Fields , Old St Pancras Road , on Sunday afternoon , April 30 * h . Several delegates to ths National Assembly will attend and address the meeting . Chair Co ba taken at _toree o ' clock . Organise!—An _Orjaniaation Committee having been appointed by the * sjmers Town , locality oa Thursday _evening List , hereby solicit their brother Chartists , in London , to send two delegates from each locality to a meeting that will beheld on Monday evening next , at the house where the Democratic Committee met , at eight o ' clock , when the plan propounded by the National Convention will 03 submitted to the _meeting . —Jon . v Arnott ,
subsecretary . Toweb Hamlets . —Mr T . Preston will leoture at the Globe and Friends , Morgan-street , Commcrcialr & ad East , on Sunday , April 1 st . Chair taken at half-past seven oVUck . The _com'aitteu for conducting che Executive to _O'Co-inorviila will meet at seven o ' clock , A Public Meeting ; of the Lind members in London , will be held afc the Assembly _R-j oms _, 83 , D _^ _an-street , Soho , on Tuesday , May Sad , at seven o ' clock in the evening , to investigate into theoharges to ba brought against tbe manager and _direotora for _neglect of duty & c—By order of the WeBtminatet _L-ind Branch . Ja 3 . Gra _^ _by , Seo . _MGTrtor-oLiT . i ! 1 _Meijtisg . —A publio _meeting will bo held oa Sunday next , in Bishop ' s Bonner ' s Fields , Victoria Park . _Ch-iir to ba taken at 3 o ' clock . Ernest Joaes , Dr M'Douall , Messrs Vernon , Sharpe and J . Shaw , will ada ' ross the meeting .
Tower Hamcets . —The Tower Hamlets Agitation Committee wiil mcot at Mr Perry ' s _Cofffle-house , Church-street , Shoreditch , on Sunday morning , April 30 , at ten o ' clock ; and also at the G ' obe and Friends , Morgan-street , Commercial-road , at eight o ' _clock on Wednesday evening , May 3 rd . Somers Town . —Mr George Candelet , delegate to the National Assembly from Hyde , Lancashire , will deliver a public lecture on Sunday evening next , at the _Bricklajers'Arras , Tonbridge-strcet , Newroad j to commence at eight o ' olock . The Metropolitan _Deleqats Committee will
meet on Monday evening next nt IM , Higu tioi bom , on important business .
Tub London Repealers. Pi-Tfl0 Of Oharifa...
TUB LONDON REPEALERS . _Pi-tfl 0 of Oharifat iutd ! i S e .. co will allow us only to . lute tint the usual _enthnsiastfe meetings of the Davis Cub' lha ' _Ciu-ran Cub , ' tbo ' Honest Jack Lawless Ctul / ' _fin-1 clubs In MMylebone , _Wappinjr , and Greea-Wlcl . _; have taken plr . ee . We Bh . ll toy tt Sua room in our nest for _ous of tfcs most recent of tbe _'Oomsitiso of L _' : tr _.. inrb '—namely , a letter from tho would-le _lc-i . ltr , ' John O'Connell . _Meetings fcr tbo ensuing week : — Sbndat . — ' _Victci- _. f , ' _Nercenham . street , _Edgewprci-aad ; ' Groen _Mmi _, ' _Bernick-vr et , Oxford street ; > _Dru _' . d _' s Ann * , ' Gvecuwich ; aad Temperance Hall , Wapping . _MosD » r , —Assembly Rooms , _Bian-atreut ; Wort ' _ag Man '* Temperance Hail , C _^ _i-terot-street _, Westminster . Wednesday , —Assembly Rooms , _Daaa-street .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 29, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_29041848/page/1/
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