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TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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i £ r well belotxd Fmekds , —After such a week 0 f ag itstion , such as I hare never experienced in the aonrae ef my life , I at down to give you a digested re port of my Scotch tour . Too shall hear nothing but the pliio &n ( ^ simple truth from zne . On Saturday , the 9 th , 2 arrived at Greenock , ai j ^ o o'dcok , after a Terr boisterous passage . I gbottld say that I left London at six o'clock on Fri day morning . I am a Tery bad sailor , and was rerj UL Howerer , as you hare learned from the « ar and Scottish Patriot all aboat the Glasgow and
Greenock Demonstrations , I shall pass them over , ghnply remarking that the demonstration at Glasgow is admitted by all , sate the Whig press , to bare keen by far the largest meeting erer witnessed on &e Green ; and if yon wbh for proof , yoa hare it in the fact that the Whig papers gave to the 3 £ DoTAix , White , and Coiiiss' demonstration 3000 , while the same rentable organs gare our jmmbers on Monday last at from 10 , 000 to 12 , 000 . It was a glorious sight , and no pen caa do it justice . The fools are compelled to admit that the Soiree in tie ereiing was splendid ? u brilliant , '" "
magnificent . " Just imagine 2 , 700 persons Pitting down to a Chartist banquet . Two thousand- fire fcnsdred tickets were sold , and aboat 200 more of delegates and anxious friends were subsequently admitted . The arrangements were perfect , the sentiments roasing , and the speeches of the first order ; bat that which justly elicited the most appl&csa was , the presentation of an address and a tery rateable diamond ring , by three lovely girls of jfce Chartist Association , The manner in which Miss Moir read the address , and subsequently eoforced the necessity o perseverance , drew tears
MlMU 9 > U | a > ' ... I now pass on to the Greenock Soiree , of which I find yon hare not had a report . It was held in the Meeh&nics' Hall , a spacious building , erected by the working men , and into which they have just introduced about £ 7 v 0 worth of raluable book 3 . About 750 of the working and middle classes sat down : the house woald hold no more . It was a splendid treat ; and neTer was there a more brilliant speech made tain thai deliTered by John M'Crae , M . P . for Greenock ; the whole wa 3 most glorious .
On Wednesday morning a depntation of the ship car penters waited upon me to say tha . t Mr . Scott , a Bister builder , had turned off 200 of his hands for attending the demonstration on the previous day . Hs toid them to go to Mr . O'Connor for —ork . I inquired wist he was , and was told that he was a tanker ; and I also learned that the socictv ofcarpenters iad £ 509 in his bank , and could probably Busier about £ 500 more of his notes among them . I told them to go with my compliments , and Bay that I re gretted not being able to find permanent work for ; hem , but that I had given them a jjb , to get gold for their £ 1000 of his rags . This seemed to be approied of generally ; and I haYe since learned that a soTereign in Greenock is thosgat to be as valuable as one of Mr . Scott ' s notes .
On Wednesday I went » Paisley , tha most distressed town in Great Britain ; and there we had a BsfcifieeEt meeting in the OJd Low Church , the largest building in the town , which w& 3 crammed to suffocation , thousands having gone away disappointed , ilr . ThomasoD , the people ' s representafcre , wss ia the chair ; our Chartist resolutions were tuuaiiaoasly passed , ' an address was presented to me froia the inhabitants , and also one from the Chartists of Elder&lie , the birth place of
Wallace . The proceedings went off in the EOit pleasing manner . At eight o ' clock , we had a Tery splendid soiree at the great Exchange Rooms , which was densely crowded . About 800 sat down . Sinking of patriotic songs and good speaking , with music and soul-stirring recitations , kep ; us till between twelYe and one o ' clock , when we parted in high spirits at our prospect of speedily relieving the thousands of distressed who are to ba seen pining in the streets , and hourly expressing silent censure upon our tyrant rulers .
Oa Monday I crossed the Clyde to Dumbarton ; and now I come to an important part of my history . Dumbarton , as Greenock , is a noted place for ship building ; and the masters refused the men liberty to turn out ; however , the ship carpenters md apprentices , to a man , struck work . Just one word about the term apprentices . They are not indentured , but are poor broken down fellows , who ibek from Ireland , the Highlands , and the overcocked manufacturing market , who work at the tade for fiT 6 years to qualify themselves as journeyaea . They receive not more than eLx shillings per
week ; and after eighteen months are mide to do eqaal work with a journeyman whose wages are twenty-four shillings a week . Thus the masters , for three ye&re and a half , pocket eighteen shillings a week for their instmction , and thus does machinery tare ; even ihe ship carpenters , as the market is full of apprentices coming from the manufacturing towns ; and this system has made the men entirely dependent upon their employers . I explained this wi ; h great effect to the ship carpentersj and all
row are beginning at long last to discover that steam h ihe inveterate enemy of man . Our meeting was noi to have been in Dumbarton ; it was to hire been in the Vale of Leven , a heavenly valley , commencing about three miles from the town , and forming a beautiful vale embossed in & rising ground , not bills or mountains , but as it were , a radiant boundary of slopes . Our meeiing was to have been held in this sweet spot ; bnt the tyrant masters , after having giTea their men permission -to attend on Tuesday , recalled the leava on
Wednesfisj at noon . la this dilemma , what was to be done ? Tirst , I musi tell you that we held a meeting in Dumbarton , at two o ' clock , to which the ship carpenters' apprentices , and a porrion of the population marched in procession with music and all the insignia of their craft . We had a rexj spirited meeting ; but all looked forward to the night—and now , what iu the dilemma was to be done ! Well , I'll tell yoa ; the brave children of the valley thanked G : > d that at night they were free of their taskmasters , and they instaatly set about making hundreds of torches—aye , in faith , torches !
• Tie nigit wa 3 awful ; bat at six o ' clock , the « fcp carpenters' apprentices , and a number of good Chartists left Dumbarton with a band of music , to *> m the procession about three miles onward . I started wish the Committee about half-past six , and the alsnt rale upon our approach , made the slopes jro and re-teho with the shonts of liberty , whils the brilliant blaze of torch light illumiaed the valley for nil * around . We passed throngh a town called ¦ Kentoa , where we received an accession of
lnffiiaanes , tags , and a band , and thus augttented , we marched on about one mile and a half farther to Alexandria , where we were met by another «^ of torch bearers , a reinforcement of numbers , * 23 another band ; and the procession being thus ^ apleted , the vale presented such a scene as none Oi 1 : 3 inhabitants ever before witnessed . As far as we eye could reach the soiling countenances of the fcffls and daughters of the peaceful ralley were to be *« n sending forth their jocund mirth in spite of * u » d and rain , which fell in torrents . M J friends , I cannot describe the effect which the Bovehy ofsnehascene , and the amazement of the wngregated thousands had upon all around , theretoe they shall speak for themselves . With one
«* ord the working men declared that they would * &t have lost the demonstration for a whole year's *» #£ . Mr . Thoaason , M . P . for Paisley , who is *» located in the rale of Leven , and of whose **** services all bear testimony , nearly lost his ^ ee and was with difficulty restrained from topbgont of tfo earrijge M h weDt on- Tte Wnmittee , a set of the most spirited and fine fcaows I ever net with , were equally delighted , * s * id they bad never upon any former occa-* ° a seen a tenth part of the number assembled at ieven .
Bet cow conies tho " touch tad go . " It was e ittenjioa of the committee to have gone on to
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BonhOl , another town on the other side of the river Leven ; but , alas , the monopolists have built a toll bridge over the water , and a halfpenny toll is paid by each foot passenger . Just as we reached the toll-gate , a prodigious procession , as large as ours , was on the bridge on their way to meet U 3 ; and upon the carriage reaching the gate , the people were thrust back , and not being prepared with halfpence , became desperate . Well , my friends , you can better imagine than I describe my position . Just picture to yourselves a most enthusiastic people intending to join in procession separated by a large iron gate , while I , in the dead of night and in a strange country , found myself surrounded by thousands and tens of thousands over whom I could not have an immediate
control , and where one incautious , or violent , or thoughtless act might have committed me in any mishap which occurred . In this dilemma , and not at all blaming the gate-keeper , the ship carpenters advanced to the gate with their implements ; the two parses met with the gate only between them , and threatened instant destruction of the gate if it was not opened . Thus situated , I proclaimed silence , having first ordered a place to be cleared to the right of the carriage , and directing another party to go to the opposite side and turn the carriage , horses and all , around like lightning . This
macosuvre was performed as quick as thought , and instantly out party left a space of about twelve yards between the carriage and the gate ' at which the Bonhill men still continued to thunder . Hereupon I commenced speaking , having sent abont twenty men to keep order at the gate , and in the space of a few minutes , all could hear , and then I began to reason with them , saying that I would first address those at one side of the river , and then proceed on the bridge to
BonhilL This had the desired effect , and upon the close of ay address I insisted upon all retiring from the bridge ; this order was also promptly obeyed . The gates were thrown open , I joined the procession on the bridge , and thus ended the most anxious moment of my whole life , and one which for some time threatened consequences of which no man could see tb . 9 result . Our second procession soon formed , and onward we marched throngh the whole town , in brilliant style , to a spacious hustings provided for the occasion .
It had been originally the intention that I should hare addressed them in a large church , but it was discovered that one-twentieth of those present could not gam admission , and to the hus . iugs we repaired , where I addressed the vast multitude at considerable length , and apparently to their satisfaction . At -the close the procession again formed , and with torches blazing , colours flying , and hands pl&yiDg , we retraced our steps to Alexandria , where a public supper had been prepared ; as we reached the bridge a second time I made my way in advance to the tate , but the toll-keeper very good naturedly
threw i ; open free to all . I had now—ten o ' clock at night—been at wark for twelve hours ; had addressed three out-door meetings ; and proceeded to take my place at the festive board . The people ' s own room was beautifully decorated with tho Star portraits , laurels , and evergreens ; an excellent supper was tastefully laid upon the table ; that best and most eloquent of men , John M'Crea , was in tho chair ; Mr . Thomason , the people ' s schoolmaster and friend , was in the rice-chair . John M'Crea made s splendid speech , as did Mr . Thomason , and they were
pleased to say that m ; ne was not a bad one . I was fifteen hours at hard work , went to bed at half-past one , got up at half-past six on Friday , and started for Glasgow , about nineteen miles ; breakfasted at GIa ? gow ; and , at twelve , started for Hamilton , in company with the brave , the bold , the indomitable James Moir . The rain fell in torrents , and the prospect of a meeting was nearly hopeless : however , when we arrived within five miles of the place of meeting , Bothwell Bridge , the clouds opened , and the sun sent forth a succession of brilliant beams , which gave us a hope that all would yet be well .
On our arrival at Bothwell Bridge wo were met by a large procession , with bands , and a great number of large and splendid banners . We marched on in procession about two miles , to Hamilton ; and here again the people , who understand the locality , shall speak for themselves . Moir stood up frequently and looked at the moving mass , exclaiming that it was truly wonderful ; and all the people declared that they never saw such a demonstration in Hamilton . The ground is uneven , tho sun shone bright and clear , and the effect of the procession moving in the low ground as we viewed it from the
heights , was truly grand . At length , after traversing the whole town , we reached a well-made and commodious hustings , where resolutions were passed and addresses presented , and capital speeches made by Moir and several working men . The middleclasses attended , aid so great was their anxiety to meet and hear me again , that they offered any reasonable sum for & ticket fur the soiree ; bnt could not procure one . Many , however , had previously provided tickets ; and at half-past seven , we sat dosra to an excellent soiree in the largest church in the town , nearly 1 C 00 in number . Mr .
Hamilton , of Stone-house , was in the chair . Mr Moir and myself were the only speakers . There were sereral amateur , sirgers and clubs in attendance to enliven the evening . Moir made a capital speech ; and I may , from the result , say without vanity , that I did not make a bad one . I say from the result : because many , vary many confirmed Whigs , who were my bitterest opponents , gave in their adhesion to Chartism—and as bitterly as ever they denounced me denounced their organs which they said had grossly maligned me , the Chartists , and their principles .
My friends , I speak of facts , and only of facts , which every working man , in Hamilton , can confirm , namely ' , that some of our bitterest enemies have now declared for the Charter . Let me give you one or two instances : —One gentleman , who was in the habit of denouncing ma and my pany , on his return from the soiree , went to a coffee-house and took up the Glasgow Argut containing a report of our Glasgow meeting , and which represented me ai a wild declaimer ; he instaatly tore the paper ia pieces , and swore he would never read it again , declaring that th 3 Whig press had been the ruin of Reformers , in consequence of its slander of the Chartists . Another gentleman met me and said that he was converted . But hear this : as I was returning from the ont-door
meetirg , a very gentleman-like person , dressed in black , made his way to me , and in presence of those who accompanied me , rushed np , seized me by the hand , burst out crying , and said , "Sir , lam , or rather I was , a high T » ry . I came thirty miles to satisfy myself . Dear Sir , I am satisfied . Gcd bless you—go on with your holy work . " On Saturday morning , as I was about to start for Stratbaven , the whole committee assembled at my hot « l to say good bye , and the Chairman did me the honoir to 'say that my visit had rendered Chartism triumphant —that their old and systematic opponents met them at all cornera , shook hands with them , confessed the justice of their principles , and tendered them their support in their accomplishment .
At twelve o'clock I left Hamilton for Strakhaven , amid the cheers and blessings of the blistered hand 5 . Mr . Gerin , from Strarea , ( as they call it for brerity J came for m '?; and in order toaiako my tour as bene-
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ficial as possible , the good men of Larkhall , who attended the demonstration on the previous day ; and marched first in the ranks with their white Hag , requested me to stop and address them . The whole population was assembled ; and I did-address them in a speech suitable for rural villagers The shopkeepers attended , and I think I staggered their faith in a Whig Government , or Tory government , or class legislation . From Larkhall , we proceeded to Stone-house , another large Tillage , about three miles from Straren ; and there likewise the whole population turned out to hear the " wild Irishman ? ' , I think , I shook their faith also . Here the procession fiomStraven , metua ; and , in truth , a procession it was . The day was cold but fine , and as we reached the town our numbers increased
until at length tho whole population appeared to have congregated . The Irishmen crowd in great numbers to this place to dig the potatoes ; at present there are about nine hundred of my migrating starring countrymen there ; the day not being fit for their work ( as potatoes cannot be safely dog whils the ground js wet ) , they all joined our procession whioh at length reached a Tery excellent hustings .
Mr . Geyix was called to the chair . A resolution to petition the House of Commons for the Charter and one of confidence in myself were passed ; and after I had spoken about an hour , the meeting adjourned again to assemble , as many as could find room , in a splendid new church , capable of holding about eleven or twelve hundred , and of which Mr . Caaipbj : ll is the pastor . This gentleman though very young , is considered the most highly gifted person in the West of Scotland ; he is of Tery prepossessing appearance , and has a countenance beaming with intellect and humanity , which I am told is a true index of his character .
Here an address was presented to me , which I forward with a request to Mr . Hiix , if possible , to make room far it . It is the production of a starring hand-loom weaver who nerer had a rote , and , yt * who is insolently told that knowledge should be tho test . If it is inserted , you will then judge of its merits . I epoke for an hour and thirty-fire minutes . I know that , as the clock was opposite to me . I was the only speaker . Tho bankers of the town , and nearly all the middle classes attended ; and , as at
Hamilton , I converted all our enemies : and lest those who are prone to falsehood themselves , should suppose me to be guilty also , I have to request of the men of Greenock , the men of Paisley , the men of the Vale of Leven , the men of Hamilton and of Straven , to meet and briefly to state tkrongh the Star and Scottish Patriot , the effect which they believe my Yiait to those several towns has had upon the very highest of the middle classes . This 1 ask as a favour , and as a means of producing a similar result elsewhere , and also as au answer to those papers which abuse me and my party .
I remained in the Session House attached to the church for a length of time after the meeting , to get cool ; and the most working of the working men assured me , that I had disarmed every one of their bitterest enemies . It was by far the largest demonstration they have ever had . Thus , my friends , commenced , and thus ended my first week in Scotland , during which I hare been travelling to , addressing , and attending publio meetings , for ninety hours , or fifteen hours a day , for the whole week . In rain and sunshine I hare addressed sixteen publio meetings ; and am now , thank God , very much better in health than when I landed" on ScotcB ground .
On Monday morning , Messrs . Moir , Ross , Cctllek , Millab , and a gentleman whose name I don ' t know , came from Gla ° gow to Straren for me ; and they had an opportunity of hearing and judging for themselves . Whilo they were present , one gentleman came into th 9 room , confessed his former prejudices , admitted his conversion , and declared that he had been a reader of the Glasgow Argus but would now give it up and for erer .
Hare I not now , in part , redeemed my pledge that without stirring a hair ' s-breadth from the Charter , 1 would get the middle classes to join yon ? I now renew that pledge , and promise you ' , that withont going ono hair ' a-breadth to the right hand or tho lefc , we will , in three months , havo three fifths of the middle classes with us . I have expounded the Charter temperately . I haro pointed out your sufferings and their consequent poverty and debasement * I have exposed the vices of tho present system , and the advantages which our system would confer upon all . I have exposed the fallacies of tho Corn Law Repealers , and made manifest the absurdity of the remotest hope of resuscitating the Whigs as a party . I have explained to the middle classes the danger
of aa impoverished people ; and to the working people I have stated the claims which the Irish have upon them for support for the only measure which they consider would render them ample justice . Upon the whole , my beloved friends , I am Tain enough to flatter myself that my visit so far has been productive of great good . I rejoice to tell you that the "Old Gentleman" himself never again will be able to direct public attention from the true and only Chartism . We have resolved , and I think wisely , to allow all the spurious outshots to live and die unnoticed , as we only give them importance by recognition . Chartism has increased in Scotland one thousand per cent , since the English persecutions commenced .
I think there is only one circumstance which I hare omitted mentioning . At Greenock , tho people haro a most talented and virtuous instructor ia the person of Mr . Thomason ; and , prior to leaving that town , I visited his seminary of from 100 to 150 young Chartists , all brought up iu veneration of God and lovo of liberty . I shook hands with every one of them , and blessed them ail . Let not my English
and Irish children supposo that because I am enraptured with the Scotch , I therefore , lore them the less . No , I love all aliko , and will struggle night and day , until I make all happy , peaceful , and prosperous , or I will lose my l \ fe in the attempt . Again > I say that / will break Oppression ' s head , or Oppression shall break my heart . " Onward and we conquer , backward and we fall . " " Universal Suffrage , and no surrender . "
Let no man mention the words " moral force" and " physical force" any more ; we hare in Scotland stripped the hobgoblin naked , and whipped it from the land . I shall next week send you a narrative o the week ' s tour . Meantime , let erery man , woman , and child sign the Petition . It is a " whole hog" petition , and so much iha better . We reserve nothing ; and he who is our friend will sign it . We w&ut no delusion even upon paper . —I am , My dearly belored friends , You true and faithful Friend aad Servant , Feambs O'CosNoa . Blaok Bull Hotel , Glasgow , Oot . 17 th , 1841 . ^^ ..,. I ,. » .
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Ikcekdiaht Fire . —On Tuesday evening , aboat eight o ' clock , a fire was discovered to hare broken oat in the stable-yard of Mr . Clark , a Tery respect able fanner , at K ; rby-HardRick , near Mansfield . We understand that thirty-three stacks , the entire produce of seren hundred acres of laad , were consumed . The fire is supposed to be the work o £ an incendiary . Taa property was insured .
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SHEFFIELD . ( From our own Correspondent . ) Sunday Evening Lecture . —T ^ r . Otley lectured to a Tery respectable audience , on Sunday evening , in the room , Fjg-Tree-lane ; the subject of his discourse -was , " The Wisdom of our Ancaatbrs . " Tne lecturer diTided bis . address into three principal parts , rlz Religion , Philosophy , and Politics , and in each department brought forward most extraordinary , though wellauthenticated facts , Illustrative of the " wisdom , " or rather , the fcroas folly of " oar Ancestors . " Under the head of " Religion , " the lecturer narrated the disputes of the " learned" In the Middle Ages , upon the question of " how many angels could dance &n the point of a needle , " adducing many similar proofs of their wisdom . " Vn&ex the head of " Philosophy , " he
exppaed the absurdities of astrology and alchemy , and the barbarous cruelties inflicted on hundreds of unfortunate creatures tor the alleged crime of witchcraft ; sod under the head » f " Politics , " he examined the boasted " wisdom" of our fathers , commenting upon the well-known mode of settling disputes by " trial by battle , " which the lecturer showed was Um foundation of many of the laws by whioh we are still governed . At the close of tee lecture , Mr . Harney raid a Tery lengthy letter from Peter Foden , at the present time in WakefleU helL The totter , which is ranch too lengthy to insert , breathes throughout a park of unbending hostility to oppression . bconTERSE O'Biuen , Esq . —On Monday last , this ineorraptibls and talented patriot visited Sheffield .
Splendid green placards announced that Mr . O'Brien would leetnre on theerenings of Monday and Tuesday , ia the New Circus . The magnificent green silk banner of the National Charter Association floated in front of the building , while from its summit two beautiful tricoloured fl » gs rerelled in the bretza . Ou the doors being opened , at seren o ' clock , a rush for seats took place , and almost immediately the gallery , pit , and boxes were filled . The Circus will hold upwards of thirteen hundred people . Some delay iu commencing proceedings was occasioned by the v « jry miserable supply of gas ; the stage was in darkness , while it was with the greatest difficulty that the people in tho gallery could be seen , aatl this state of things continued during the whole evening , much to the annoyance and
discomfort of the audience , candles being to be procured to render the lecturer risible , and allow your correspondent to perform his duty . The conduct of the parties connected with the gas works was most disgraceful ; they demanded a sovereign previous to the lecture , which was paid them , and yet , after all , did not supply the gas ; but this shameful work is only another proof of the bitter hostility entertained towards the principles of Chartism by the plundering prontmongcrs , who fatten on the fruits of the poor man's toiL We were similarly tricked by the gas company upon the occasion of tho dinner given to Mr . O'Connor , in the theatre , and it would be most unjust to those who pay their money te hear and see , to allow such scandalous doings to puss unnoticed . On thfa
motion of Mr . Otley , Mr . Gill was called to the chair . Mr . O'Brien immediately came forward and woa greeted with the most tremendous cheering , which , with clapping of hands , and waring of suow-wbi . e handkerchiefs , testified the delight of the people on seeing once more their patriotic friend . When silence had succeeded tho oft-repeated and boisterous applause , Mr . O'Brisa commenced by remarking , that he had been about to sayhe was glad to see them z \\ , but for his suul he could not see them , though they appeared to be glad to see him—( laughter and cheers ) . —and as one good turn deserves another he would have been glad to see them ; for to see honest people was a treat to him , after seeing none but thieves and smashers for eighteen months — ( laughter );—to give us no gas , looks like a plot to
extinguish us —( laughter );—they hare tried their bands at that before , but failed . I am not extinguishedyou are not extinguished—and the flame of liberty , that burns brighter than ever . ( Cheers . ) He supposed they all knew that for the last eighteen months he had been in quod ; that for that time he had been keeping the company of some very honourable persons—Tery like a set of gentry in ft certain house in Westminsterthieves and blackguards —( laughter);—that now he was bound over in some hundreds of pounds to be of good behaviour , and to keep the peace ; his being of good behaviour meant that he was not to expose the bad behaviour of certain of her Majesty ' s servants ; his keeping the peace meant that he was not to denounce the conduct of a scoundrel police keeping the peace
by breaking the heads of the people in the Bull King . Well , be was bound to be of good behaviour ; the best proof he could give of his good behaviour was , that , in sixteen days after his liberation he had attended sixteen meetings ; as he had been keeping the company of thieves and smashers , -it was only proper to tell them why be was sent to Lancaster Castle , leat they should think him as bad as the company he bad been keeping . Well , his oftanoe was , that , on invitation , he had attended a meeting slmi-ar to this in Manchester ; the meeting was strictly legal ; nothing was there said or done opposed to the iaw . But , twelve months after he was dragged to the bar to answer the charge of attending a seditious and illegal meeting , and then and there conspiring with divers persons unknown , if the
number of five thousand or mure , to get up routs , riots , tumults , insurrections , and rebellions against our Sovereign Lady the Queen , her Crown , and dignity . ( Mr . OBexcited roars of laughter by his mimicry . ) Now he bad no connection with the people attending that meeting , yet were they all conspirators . Now , all that be bad said upoa that occasion was approved of by the peoplo , nay , applauded ; but their good opiniuu went for nothing , against the opinion of the miserable wretch who gave evidence against him . Well , they imprisoned him—they confined him in a feion ' s cell ; the cold stone for his noer—the cold stone for the walls of his dungeon , and his only furniture a three-legged BtooL For the first six months he was denied pen , ink , and paper , and allowed to have no books but those giren
him by the chaplain . Now , he must do Parson Rowley the justice of saying t&at he was a very fine fellow , and much good he had reaped from Parson Rowley's prayers . ( Laughter . ) After eighteen months'imprisonment with all sorts of villains , who at the termination of their confinement were let loose upon society without boud , shackle , or restraint , he was liberated ; but before letting him out , be was brought before a magistrate , and asked would he confess he owed the Queen £ 500 ? He replied he supposed he might as well confess thin , for whether he did so or no , be pr « - Burned her Majesty would gay he did . •< Just so , " said the worthy magistrate ; so you see what was the magistrate ' s opinion of our lovely little Queen's honesty . ( Laughter . ) Well , the faction that had imprisoned him had now gout ) the way of all flesh , but we had but exchanged t > rants ; we had gotten another act of thieves to rule us in the place of those we had put down . Now ,
he wanted—and be trusted they wanted the sameto put down thievery and tyranny altogether . ( Cheers . ) He bad an idea that ths days of the present infamous system were numbered : if the people had honest leaders it could bo knocked on the head quicklyleaders * ho would give up their jealousies , abandon their rivalries , and pull honestly together . Left them have such—such to direct and command them , and the infcinnl system would speedily be brought to the dust . iGrreut ; cheering . ) He understood the subjects upon which he was expected to address thorn were—the means of gaining their rights , and the use to make of those tights when gained . ( Hear , hear . ) Upon another occasion he would give them his opinions as to the means of gaining thttir rights , but now would give them his opinions ' as to the use they should make of their rights when once achieved , though with many of their leaden he differed as to the remedies for the
evils of tho present system , yet he contended for nothing but what the law of nature sanctioned , and the law of revelation approved of . ( Cheers . ) If the people had the Charter to-morrow it would be psrfectly nsmess , unless they made use of the legislative power it would confer on them to obtain for themselves—that is , the whole people , a complete and absolute controul over the land , and a similar controul orer the making 8 « d issnlng of the money ef the country . ( Cheers . ) The people had been taught to look to a reduction of taxation , or the annihilation of certain monopolies , as the only things needful to restore what was called England ' s prosperity . Now , he was an anti-Corn Law man ; he was for the repeal of the Corn Laws ; he was for reducing taxation—but they must pardon bis saying ,
for he must speak the truth , whether they liked it or not , that the repeal of the Corn Laws , the repeal of the soap tax , the repeal of the malt tax , or the repeal of any other tax was sheer humbng . In his opinion , if the Com Laws were repealed to morrow , if the national taxes , aye , and tbe local taxes too were all swept away , no permanent bent-fit would be reaped by tbe working classes . Mr . O'Brien then entered on the question of the land , and asked / " What valuable consideration do the landlords gire in return for the sixty millions of rent they pocket f The answer might be : —" They gire the land . " But the land is not theirs to give . Who made it theirs ? Neither reason nor rarelatioa
sanctions the robbery of th » « oil . ( Chews . ) Her than 70 a are robbed of sixty millions per year ia tin shape of rental of the land j you ate robbed of about two honored millions yearly in the shape of usury and profit *—again yon are robbed of yoir occupancy in the land . They had all read Mr . O'Connor ' s letters to the Irish landlords—they would remember that Mr . O'Connor had shown that web the land let out into small allotments of ten , acres each , a man tenting ten acres might support himself , his wife , and children in abundance of food , and would hava at the year ' s end , a surplus of , £ 46 worth to ispese of in the manufacturing niaiktt ; now in Ireland niae-teaths of tbe labourers do not . taking the
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year throngh , get more than sixpence a day ; but we will suppose they get doable this , say a shilling a day , this will be £ 18 4 s . for the whole family the year through , thus instead of living in abundance and having a surplus of £ 45 to dispose of in articles of manufacture at the end of the year , they have to starve the year through upon . £ 18 ; why was this ^ because they are robbed of their right of occupancy in the land . It they had that , and that they would have if they got the Suffrage —( cheers )—they could do what Mr . O'Connor wishes the landlords to letgthem do ; the robbing of the people of their right of occupancy in the land is a robbery trans sending all others ; compared with this the sixty millions of rent is a mere trifle . He repeated that the landlords rob the people two ways ;
first , rob them to the tune of sixty millions in the shape of rent He might be asked would he not take rent if he was a landlord ? He had no doubt he would . He did not quarrel with the landlords receiving rent , if a majority of the people sanctioned it : what he demanded was that the whole people should have a voice in the political and social arrangements of society , and what he protested against was the landlords making use of the power their wealth conferred to prevent tbe people Laving any voice in the formation of the institutions of society . He might be asked would be take the land from the aristocracy , no , he wovld not , but he would compel them to sell their land to the state . ( Cheers . ) Should he live to be & member of the House of Commons , and hemeant to be— ( groatcheeriniri—he should feel it bis
duty to propose that when a man dies , bis estate shall revert to tho state , that is , that tue Government for the people shall purchase tbe estate from the heirs of toe dead man , giving to them the full valuation of the estate ; tbe heirs should not have tho land but the price of it ; for broaching this doctrine , your preaious member , Mr . Ward , bad , in in his miserable , trashy , Greentcre journal , denounced bim as a spoliator ; the charge was a false and lying one ; be was no spoliator , he bad never advocated the taking from any class under the present system—what he advocated was , that under another and a better system every man should have equal facilities of acquiring property . Now , tbe law be would propose would not take effect till the man was dead . Would that be robbery ? Did you ever hear a dead man
cry out that he was robbed ? ( Laughter and cheers . ) Oil ) but then he would rob the heirs . How could they rob a man of what they nerer hod ? How could they be robbed if they had the fair ralue of the land ? But bow are they to be paid the value ? He would answer , out of the proceeds of the land . The devil's in it , if the land , which now returns sixty millions in rent to the landlords , would not then return . that and something more . If the land was allotted into small farms cf ten , twenty , forty , or fifty acres , the occupiers could far better pay £ 5 per acre than 30 s ., as is paid for tuaoy thousands of acres now . The worthy lecturer concluded his remarks upon the land by observing that be was not the inventor of these doctrines , he was only proposing what had been advocated by the great and wise of all
ages , but bad never been yet carried into effect , because the sword bad always been employed by tbe aristocratical brigands to smite and crush those who dared to defend the rights © f the human race . Mr . O'Brien next took up the subject of the currency . In former times it was treason against the sovereign to make or issue money . But as the aristocracy and moneyocracy acquired power they trampled the prerogatives of the sovereign under foot . Up to the time of Cromwell the aristocracy ¦ were compelled to defend the state—to raise and pay troops for the defence of the country , but when they had cutfff tbe tyrant Charles ' s head , they—the greater tyrants—the aristocracy relieved themselves from all feudal services , and compelled the people to perform tboso servicts instead . Now as they held their estates
on condition of performing these services , when they ceased to perform them , they ought to have ceased to hold the estates . Tho moniod classes hare increased in power too , to that extent , that , in conjunction with tbe aristocracy , they now rule tho country—the sovereign is a mere cipher ; they have taken from her her crown lands , they have robbed her of her private income , so that she cannot get even a basin of soap withont a vote of the House of Commons . If you knew a titbe of tha villony committed in the United States by the banking scoundrels , you would say that kings , and priests , and lords , asd thieves of every other description were person i neat ions of virtue compared with these smashers and robbers , the makers and issuers of bank notes . They would , perhaps , imagine that
their burdens had been reduced since the close of the war , if so , they were never more wrong . They were told tha taxes has befen reduced from seventy to fifty millions : the Tories in fifteen years took off sixteen million ' s of taxes ; the Whigs in ten years took off five millions : buC now see the villainous humbug of the thing . In 1812 , a £ 100 stock in the Three per Cents would sell only for £ 60 ; now a £ 100 stock will sell for £ 90 . Thus has the fundholders' property increased fifty per per cent ., that ie , instead of their burdens being reduced , they had increased ; but this is not all . Since 1812 , the prices of goods have so fallen , that every £ 1 of the money monger's £ 90 would purchase twice the quantity of goo < la now the same money would have purchased in 1812 . Between 1812 and 1831 .
Birmingham goods had fallen to one-half , or between that and one-third of their cost in the former year . In Manchester , the fundholder could now buy three , and in some cases four , bales of goods for the . money it took to purchase one bale in 1812 . Things , he believed , were not much better in Sheffield . He was told that for setting , that is placing the blades in the handles , a few years ago the workmen could get 4 s . a dozen ; now they could get but Is . a dozen . ( Several voices , 'Tis true . ') Of course all sorts of cutlery had depreciated in price ; and the fundholders and men of fixed incomes reaped the benefit . When Peel passed his infernal Bill in 1819 , he knew well , that in making money Bcarce he would make it more valuable . Now if money was made scarce
and our means to support the burdens imposed upon us curtailed , it would have been only just , had ihe then Government had one spark of honesty in its composition , that it Bhould have reduced our burdens to the like extent . Peel , Russell , and the Times newspaper have declared over and orer again , that the Legislature is not to blame for the existing misery—this misery , say these worthies , is the inevitable result of the progress of civilisation . ( Ironical cheers . ) " Fools that theso working men are , " says the Times to imagine that the Legislature is to blame on this account : let them show , by legislative enactment , the distress caa bo removed . Let them immediately draw up an Act of Parliament to do away with tho distress ; and
corrupt and tyrannical as these working men imagine the Parliament to be , we have no hesitation in saying the legislature will be most ready to sanction auch an Act" Such has been the language of the Tmes ; but , my friends , this is all humbug . It is not one Act of Parliament that has brought us to ov ? r present slavery and misery ; nor is it one Act of Parliament will restore us to liberty and happiness , He was ready to prove—1 st . That all the social evils we complain of are the results of Acts of Parliament—2 nd . That these Acts were framed for the purpose of robbing the people—3 rd . He wa 3 ready to point out the particular Acts . He would take the statutes at large , and point out , not two or three , but hundreds of Aota , passed for the purpose of
plundering tho people . He was ready to prove that tho people were plundered two ways—1 st . By not being allowed to earn wealth—2 nd . By being robbed of that they do earn . He was ready to prove that large masses of the people were robbed of fire-sixths of their earnings . Mr . O'Brien here stated the wages of the wearers of Cumberland , Lancashire , &c . He might be asked , what had the law and the Parliament to do with that ! His answer was , who are the robbers , and who are the receivers of the stolen property ! They were the patties who live on fixed incomes , whether rents , annuities , pensions , &c . &o . The fundholder who , in 1812 , could only get £ 60 , where he could now gat £ 90 , could also get lour bales of goods now , where he only could then
get one ; this he was enabled to do by the competition among masters bringing down prices ; and the competition among the workers bringing down wages . He would ask , who is it but the Government that gives the fundholder the taxes ! What have Acts of Parliament , indeed , to do with the misery of the people 1 Everything , was his answer . All the loars that have been contracted since 16 * 94 , have been contraoted by Act of Parliament . What had legalised usury in this country ?—Acts of Parliament . It was not till the reign of Henry VIII . that usury was allowed in this country . . Usury is denounced by the common law of the l * ad . Usury was denounced by ihe Fathers of the Christian Churoh . Usury waadenounced by the sacredwntera
of the New Testament . Usury was dejuraneea Dy Moses and the Prophets . Bur Henry ' a infamous Parliament flung Moaeaaud thePropbetfoverboard , and legalised usury eatailiDR npon us ita unspeakable curies . Bat for Henry the National Debt would have bc « n long sine * paid off . As it is , . we pay the debt every twenty years , and yet havtr it always to pay . I before said that the men of fixed uoomes were enabled to plunder the wealth of the / working men—in a great measure through the eaagetiiion in the labour m « k « ts—but what cause * this competition f The cause is , that the people bare been robbed of their right of occupancy in the land . Villains talk of surplus population . Let the surplus population be placed on the land , and see the results . In the first place , thoBe on the land would , as shown by Mr . O'Connor , lire in abundance ; secondly , there would be a far greater amount of food raiwd than , at present , and , aa a matter of
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conne , food would be far ^ keiper and thirdly there no longer being the present competition in tho labour market is our manufacturing districts , the manufacturing artizaa would be able to dictate terms to his employer , and , as a matter of course , his wages would advance- —or , suppose fchia not to be the case , still one shilling then will procure as touch food as- three shillings now . ( Cheers . ) Ia Naples just now the four pound loaf may be got for twopence—in Loadon it coats tenpence . Now , way should not the four pound loaf be purchased a ? cheap in London as Naples ! The answer was , Acts
of Parliament prevent it . He repeated , he attri' bated to Acts of Parliament , aad to Acts of Parliament only , all the social ills that afflict as . ( Cheers . Sliv . OJfirienv baring spoken for above two hoars , ooMJladed by commenting on the Newcastle Election , showing that although the veritable representative of the people , he was , by an Aet of Parfiaraent , prevented taking his seat in the House or Commons . Let then . ' , then , puil together , honestly and determinedly to mako their Charter law , and secure to tnewsehes the earnings of their labour , unSched by the authority of plundering acts of Parliament . H © sat * wn amidst the o&xepeated and euthuaiasiw oheering of the meeting . ¦
TuescAT Evbnino . —A- seleet company of thw friends and admirers of MfcO'Brien entertained thai gentleman to dinner in the large room of the Black bsran , Bu » ge 8 S ^ Btreet . The dinner rras served np shortly after six o ' clock—the provisions made reflected evesy honour on the worthy ht » t , Mr . Parkea , who is an able and zealous advocate of the good cause . On tho eloth being removed , several patriotic ? songs were aoag and toasts gwen , including the > health of the patriotic guest , Mr . O'drien . Uuiversal _ enjoyment pervaded the company , until the swift-winged hears notified ' twas time to make for the _ Circus , whither we proceeded ,, attd found ifcagam thronged rto listen to tho words ot wisdom and instruction from the lips of the people ' s friend .
Shortly after eight o ' clock , Mr . Gill watagain called to the chair , and Mr . O'Brien , who was received with the like demonstrations of applause as the previous evening , immediately commenced his addross by reviewing , the remedies suggested by Paine and Cobbett , for removing the distress- of the people , aad ' establishing .. Ihe prosperity of the country showing that their remedies—reduction of taxation , would be produotire of no perceptible or peraanenfc benefit . Mr . O'B . next entered at great length into the history and vfllaDj of the funding system , and showing the means ,, and the only means by which the National Debt could be paid off . Mr . O'Brien then showed ( he way in . whica the public propertythe crown lands—the church lands—the tithes—th
taxes—the rates , &c . < £ co . were plundered from the people ; and ooncludod a very length ; and truly eloquent lecture by inviting discussion , and express ing his willingness to reply to any question put to him , Mr . Hollyoake , socialist missionary , stepped forward ; in a brief but beautiful address ,, he expressed his admiration of the principles and talents of Mr . O'Brien ; ai the same time , he took eseption , to certain things advanced by that gentleman , as to the impracticability of the means by which the Socialists proposed to achieve their ends . He ( Mr . H . ) maintained that theiff schemes were perfectly practicable , and he believed that it would be found , ultimately ,, that the shortest and surest way of gaining political equality and sooial regeneration , was ia
the adoptionof the schttnes of the Socialists , at thesame time be should be ready , audhe trusted Socialists generally would be equally ready to afford to the Chartibts every help and aid iu theirpower , in their strug gle for justice and rigat . Mr . H . was loudly cheered . Mr . O'Brien rose to reply , but before doing so , noticed a question put to him from one of the boxes , to the effect ofV * Why was he opposed to the Cora Law Repealers ¥ ' Iu answer to this question , he advanced three reasons for his opposition to the repealers . First , that tho Repealers do not propose any measures , to accompany the repeal , which measures would guarantee the benefit of repeal to the mass of the people . Second , Because the repealers hare been the unroienting persecutors of the Chartist
body . Third , because the anti-Corn Law movement was got up to put down Chartism . Mr . O'Brien proceeded to speak at great length in support of the above , exhibiting as he proceeded , the villany and rascality of the repealers . His remarks were responded toby the most tremendous cheering . Mr . O'Brien then . replied to Mr . iioliyoake , with whom , though he differed , he expressed himself as being ; highly pleased . Mr . Otlty then moved the thanks of the meeting to Mr . O'Brien . Mr . Harney seconded the motion , whioh was carried by acclamation , Three glorious cheers were then given for Mr O'Brien , three for Mr . O'Connor , and three for tho
Charter , when the meeting dissolved . The proceedings lasted upwards of four hours , it being past twelve o'clock , wnen tho chair was vacated . The great length of the proceedings and the crowded state of our columns must be oar exoiue for giving but this very brief and imperfect outline of the busi ness of tbe evening . We must not forget to mention that a great number of the fair sex were present each evening , aud appeared to feel deep interest in the truth- telling , statements of the Poor Mari » Guardian . Mr . O'Brien has done an immense amount of good by his visit to Sheffield , the fruits of which we trust will be speedily seen .
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RIPPOmDEN . —On Sunday last , Mr . Vevera , of Huddersfieid , delivered an excellent address to an attentive and numerous audience , after which several persons came forward and enrolled their names as members of the National Charter Association , both males and females . On Monday last , Mr . Doff / related to us the horrors of refined cruelty practised in Nortballerton Hell-hole , and urged on bis hearers the necessity of joining the National Charter Association , for the
obtainment of Universal Suffrage , which alone could save the working classes from the gnawing fangs of Whig and Tory tyranny . At the conclusion of hia address , tHree cheers were given for Mr . O'Connor , three for Frost , Williams , and Jones , and three hearty cheers for a Repeal of the Union ; after which , thirteen more persons came forward and joined the Association . Our room is capable of holding above four hundred persons , and is crammed to suffocation every time we have a lecture delivered n it .
HOWSSN .-Mr . Skovlngton lectured here oa Thursday , the 14 th , in the Market PJace , to a very crowded audience , fully exposing the present eriui bearing on society by the means of class legislation , the Chartists of Howden pledging themseireB to agitate for nothing less thnn the Charter , and to join the Association . WOX . V £ iiHA 2 ZFTON . —Our cause increases , and our principles are spreading far and near in these districts . Our . meeting was well attended on Wednesday evening , and Eeven fresh members were
enrolled . Or Sunday , in the morning , Mr . Candy , lectured at Bilston , to some thousands of the miners and colliers . His exertions have been crowned with abundant success—upwards of three hundred , good members , and a happy spirit of unity a » d love to our holy cause is manifested , and each , member seems to outvie the other in striving to promote the principles of Chartism . We fully reckon oa twenty thousand signatures for the Petition , and are determined to do everything in bur power to induce our noble-minded patriot , Feargus O'Connor , to pay us a visit .
Lass Grave . —Mr . Candy lectured here on Sunday afternoon to an at ten tire congregation ; and likewise read the National Petition , and the Glasgow Demonstration . This little place is quite healthy in the cause of Chartism . Bradley and Halls Greek . —On Monday evening , Mr . H . Candy unfurled the banner of Chartism , here to a numerous audience . It was fully expected that Mr . Mason would have been able to come ; but sot obtaining him , Candy was sent for from YVoJverhampton , a distance of five miles . BAKNSI ^ JTT . —TheBarcsIey Chartists held their usual weekly meeting on Monday last , when 10 s . were agreed to be sent to the Executive , at Manchester . The Secretary read a letter from the Hon . J . 8 . Wortley , M . P ., in answer to a memorial sent to the Home Office , in behalf of Win . Ashton , and Joieph Crabtree , of which the following is a copy : — T& Htt . PK 1 KB . HOST .
Sib , —With reference to a memorial which I received a short time since , to be transmitted to the Secretary of State , in behalf of Joseph Crabtree and William Ashton , I have now to enclose the answer which X hare lately receivtd to that application , which I forward herewith- 1 regret to find that it ia unfavourable . I remain , Sir , obediently , J . Stuabt WoaTiKT . The following is the answer : — Whitehall , 11 th Oct . 1841 . Sir , —Secretary Sir Jamea Graham having carefully considered your application in behalf of Joseph Crabtree and William Ashton , I am directed to express to you hia regret , that there ia no sufficient ground to justify him , consistently with hia public duty , in adviaing her Majesty , to comply with the prayer thereof I am , Sir , Your most obedient humble servant , ¦ ¦ ¦' - H . MaKHERS gWTTON . The Hoa . J . 8 . Wortley .
STONE , Bia ¥ Fordshirh . —A deputation cram Hwk ley visited this place on Monday last , for the parpose of formiag a Charter Association , they woe nut by aa interdict , the Tory magistrate forbade the landlord , on pain of loss of bis license , from peraitting such ebatM * tera s * Chartist * to open ib ? association athiB&oue * and attboagh the room wai ptopetij fiU « d « f te tlft occasion , they were obliged to bare wiUioatb « iagaU » to speak to the people . B » ttbo ^« afi » i « rialtyianny haa prevailed in this ease , yet the visit has bo * beta without good , andtho « ghti ^ miu ( tnot ine « fc a » » p « lK liohoaM , yet such is their determination , that if they « annot meet to pnblte , they wm intet m ^ tatoho « e « , and sow tbe seed of Chartism , even in deflaaf | MM'ft « fi « power of tyrannical and haughty magisttates . ** wgK »* 3 r ^ l * W ¦ :: ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦— «¦ - ¦ ¦ " / : i ^ sill ^ H - -
AsTROMOMT .-Mr . Topham , ( late of ^ ftfflMJMil ^ b = i > College , ) delivered two lectures on astrojjJM ^ i ^ ^ V- ^ y \^ Theatre Royal , Sneffield , on the tTdninatjgBMKae ^ lgn ^ Yf and Wednesday last , to numaotts an ^ pBij |^ fffifX > f | r audiences * ¦ . &m 3 $£ &v % & £ L ^ mm ^ n
To The Imperial Chartists.
TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .
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YOL . IY . ffO . 306 . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 23 , 1841 . ^ ""^ XT ^^^ P ^ - " "
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AND LEEDS GENERAL ^ D ^ EHTISEE ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 23, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1132/page/1/
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