On this page
- Departments (2)
-
Text (9)
-
Untitled Article
-
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1842.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
TvuvsvllThe €ft 2&eatoet0 antr ®ovve0$t>vtoent ^•^ . ^^rt —- ' ^^rir_ — -^m < > . _ 1 ¦ ¦ ^a a> _ d'~a. _ m —w ._ a_ M.
-
Untitled Article
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
7 BIA . 1 BY JURY—1794 . On Saturday evening , a dinner took plow atBadley's Hotel , kt . iclse-atreet , Blackfriara , in celebration of another anniversary of the acquittal of Thomas Hardy , John Home Toske , and John Tcelwall , in 1794 , and in commemoration of the institution of the . " Trial by Jury . " Shortly after sJx o ' clock the chair was taken by T . S . Daacombe , Esq ., M . P . There -were also at the npper table CoL P . Thompson , W . Coates , Esq ., R . Taylor , Esq ., Major Revell , the Canon R ' . eso , A Galloir » y , Esq .. C P . Thompson , Esq ., P . A . Taylor , Esq ., Dr . Kppa , and J . Coppoek , Esq . About ISO gentlemen , well-known for their steady and consistent support ef liberal principles , sat down to dinner . The cloth having been drawn ,
The Chaikmak rose , and was most enthusiastically received . He said he had novr to propose the Erst toast of those which he ahonld have the honour of submittmg to them . It was one of which , out of s meritorious , but mistaken , notion of gallantry , ha 4 of late years been departed frem . It was , "Tha Sovereignty of the People" —( immense cheers ) . He was . glad that eucn toast had been placed first on the list , and he was sure that there iai never been a sovereign wao was more ready to acinnwledss tb . 6 authority by -which she
Teigned than Quata Victoria—{ cheering . Whether the sams disposition was felt by the -wretched- faction Who now unfortunately surround her , and who bad forced theraeelves into power , as much detested by the people ai unwelcome to the monarch , he much doubted —( Cheers ) . But the circumstance that -uch a faction now surrounded the Queen was the best reason Thy they should commence with proclaiming thst which they should always be prepared to assert— " The Sovereignty of the People "—( loud applause , three times three , snd much subsequent cheering ) .
The Chaiemak next proposed , " The Qaeen , long may she live ! to see the condition of her people improved , the laws reformed , and the privileges of the people erectly extended . " { Loud and long-continued applause . ) Tie CH . AtB . MiS aid that perhaps thay -would understand the ntxt toast better than be did ; it was * ' An honest Ministry—consistent men—good measures . ** He -was afraid that , under the present system of representation , * uch a wish was th « day-dream of a political enthusiast , but if any believed that ' such a -wish eonld ever ¥ e realised , no one most think that by the toast they intended to pay the slightest compliment , or to allude in the smallest degree , to her MRi » st 7 ' B present Government—( cbeerg , and langhtfr )
Testing the Government by the rule of the toast , that the ministry was an honest one which was composai of consistent men , and which gave good measures , what were they ? He would mention one instance : the gentleman thit did them the honour to preside over the Home Office —[ cheers , and laughter . ) Hs ( Sir J . Grahani ) had once said , that the very men with whom he now acted , ware " the materials of the worst cabinet that this country had ever produced . ' Such was the consistency of the members of the present Amioistration , and the good or evil of their measures wa ^ proved by tbe present condition of the country—( cheers . ) Whilst the ruined manufacturer , the duped agriculturist , the starving artisan , were crying ' shsinc ' upon them , they were meeting at a handsome hou&s at Windsor—( laughter)—and proroguing the
Parliament for a still longer period . Th « y cared for nothing trot their own csnvtuience- They wished nothing but the enjoyment of country sports . With such men the meeting of Parliament was regulated by the partridges more than by the people—( cheers and laughter . * The Parliament had been prorogued when the shooting season commenced , and it would not meet again until the shooting season was over—fcontinued cheers and lsughter ) Human nature could not Jbe expected to endure evils so intolerable . The only remt-dy however , was with the people themselves ; and if the people exerted themselves boldly , then , and then only , would the wish be fulfilled which was conceived in tha toast be had the honour of proposing— "An honest Ministry—consistent men—good measures . " —( loud aiid long-continued cheering . )
The Chairman again rose . He said he had now the honour to propose the toast which wt-s more immediately the olj-ct of their meeting— " The parity of trial by jury . "— iLond applause . ) "When he saw himself surrounded by gentlemen who half a century ago bad wii . ne&sed the dismay , tag indignation , and natural K » rro w which was excited by the exile of the Scotch patriots . Muir , Palmer and the others , and the exultation which the acqDiital ef Hardy , Home Tooke , and Tijelw . ill had caused , he could not but regret that this toast bad not proceeded from some of them . He , howeTtr . believed -bat tieie never had been a period cf British history in which it was more necessary for the people to stand by that palladium of liberty thaa the present To'be rare the present government came not bo maiiful-y forward
u William Pitt had done , to attack the liberty of the ( object , but he feared they would surreptitiously undermine it in as dangerous a manner . It-was the ( . special dutj then , of the juries who had to try cases of sedition—a charge totally undefined by the ijw of the country—to be on their guard , and to defend thtir oppressed brethren . Persons charged with h- ^ h treason , it had been said , " were cevered with the whole armour of the lav ,- " but ibe defence of the man who was charged with sedition was at the discretion of the judge —( hear ) He alluded to this fact in consequence cf v : )_ . aX had recently occurred at the trials at the Special Commission in the counties of Stafford , Chester , and Lancaster . tt «« -was more there was -not an Individual present who bad not read the charge of one vt the learned judges
» ho bad been selected by the Government for that important duty . If such charges were allowed—if the special juries were to be directed , as the ^ rand jury had been , by Lord Abinger , at Liverpool—he would fearlessly say tkat no man ' s liberty , no man ' s life , -would be safe , if tried bj that individual—iTremtijdoas and lone continued cheerin ? . ) He said , therefore , there never Wai a time in which it had been more necessary to maintain tha independence of tha juries—( applause . ) He doubted not that many persons there bad read Dean Swift's ¦ ' History of Political Lying . ' —( laughter . ) The Daan there said that the Whigs and Toric 3 of hia day were boih celebrated for lying , but which bad the best of it . be found it difficult to say—( laughter . ) If he , however , had lived in these days be would have found
an Abinger and a gentleman silting at the Home Office equal to any of them—( Great cheering and laughter . ) In Illustration of his opinion , he would tell . them what occurred on the evening ef the day upon which the commission waa sent into the country . In the " History of Lying" to which he had alluded , the Dean had styled one lie the " terrifying lie "—( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) This " terrifjirg lie" the Government had studied , for on the eve of the day of the issuing the commission they had ordered arrests to be made in different parts of the country , as * Rell as in London . ( Cheers . ) Several persona vhs were called Chartists , F . O'ConnoT and others , were arrested , a'hd for -srhat object ? Why , to terrify the public mind , and to impress upon the juries the idea that a dreadful
conspiracy was hatching—that a fearful revolution was on foot . ( Loud cries of hear , and cheerE . t These were charged ¦ with offences equal to thosa a'leg-d againat Hardy , Home Tooke , and ThelwalL Enormous bail Was demanded at the police offices . The trials took place , and some of them were transported and many imprisoned , which , under the p . esent state of pmun discipline , was worse than exeeutio -, for it was a long and lingering death , ( Cheers . ) Was not such a system disgraceful to the Government ? The time ¦ would come when it would be important to look ii-to thi * great question . The time bad come 'whfn juries whe had to 07 such charges must not ailow their prejudices to be aroused , and their ju . ' amenta to be warped bj the conduct of the Government . 1 k % them not thiufc that the discontent which prevailed amongst all classes of the peepio arose either from the Chwtists on the one hand , or the Anti-Corn Law League on the
other—( cheers;—but let them , as they in jastica were bound , lay the blame , the guilt , and the culpability , at the dotar of the Hottse of Commons . ( Loud cheers . ) Let them attribute it to that class-legislation which has been the cause of misery to so many thousands of the British people . ( Hear , and immense cheering . ) It traa for thea—it was for the British people—to put an end to this nefarious and iniquitous system ; but above all things , they were bound net to allow the conduct of the Government , or the charges of the Judge , to warp or prejudice their opinion , whilst they wen aitting upon juries . Many members of the Government ¦ w ould say that he now ^ as talking sedition . It \ raj sot sedition—( cheers )—he was ccly exercising his righl as an Eaglisman to discuss public grievances in publi < assemblies . To support , strengthen , and maintain tha 1 tight he now begged to jaropose " The Purity of Tria by Jury . " ( It waa greeted with loud applause , tare . timen three , and continued cheering . )
Major Beyell saia he had to propose " The three Juries who , in 1794 , acquitted Hardy , Home Tooke . and Thelwall "—( Applause . ) He observed that he bad lived in those times , and that such was the reisn of terror then existing , that those who lived in the present comparatively quiet times could have no , or tztj imperfect , idea of what then prevailed . This was a period of repose compared with 1794 , bad as things » ere ; but then if any one ventured to say anything favourable to the claims and rights of man , be was liable to be insulted , or unceremoniously turned out of company—( Hear , hear . ) Every preparation waa made to pack the Juries , in order to hang the parties accused ; and something like impartial Juries were only secured by the names of persons liable to Bexve having been put inio and drawn out of a hat —( hear , hear . ) He bad the greatest satisfaction in proposing the toast— " The three Juries who , in 1794 , acquitted Thomas Hardy , John Home Tooke , and John ThelwalL '' ( It was received and honoured with great applause . )
Mr . Coaxes said that he had been complimented with having entrusted to Mm the proposal of a toast in honour of the memory of those whose , triumphant acquittal they had that day met to oelebrate . He bad attended there to show bis gratitude to the departed , and to support their excellent Chairman—( applause . ) There vu not in the House a more honest , * traightforw&rd , and independent representative of the people than the gentleman who did them the honour " to preside on the present occasion —( cheering . ) In Parliament , he rejected all cold , conventional fems—threwicg tc the winds all points of minor importance—having nothing to do with party ; he spoke plain truth in a Place whe e truth was rather unfashionable . He wished there were more such members in what by & faction was wnned the People ' s House of Parliament— { cheering . )
Untitled Article
In proposing this tout , in recalling the memory of the dead , he could not but observe that he missed many honest faces that used to appear among them ; and it was painful to know that they bad departed for ever . Still all had not gone . He rejoiced to behold that Alexander Galloway still lingered among them ; he had suffered mush from indisposition , but it was gratifying to see that be had so much recovered—( cheers ) . He ( Mr . A . Galloway ) bad not changed , as many others had done , with every changing gale—be bad honourably , steadfastly adhered to hia principles—( great applause . ) Besides the gratification of seeing among them so old and steady a friend of the cause , it was most cheering to witness the presence of bo many young men , ready , he hoped , and was delighted to believe , to carry on the great work in which such men as Hardy , Tooke , and Thelwall had struggled—( applause . ) Those men were , indeed , an honour to their country . Reform had in our time become
something of a fashion ; indeed , it required some courage , even in a Tory , now-a-dajB , to say that he was against all reforms ; but when those men lived , it demanded much boldness and virtue of no ordinary character , to avow the advocacy of reform—( hear , bear . ) PiU at that period panted for the blood of tko Reformers , and had he succeeded . Parliamentary Reform wonld have been Bt&ved off for an immense period—( bear . hear ) . He had to propose the " immortal memory" of those who , by their boldness anil courage , had done so much f » r the cause of Parliamentary Reform—who had been charged , and some tried , but all of whom were found to be " not guilty "—( hear , hear )—and whose memories destrv » d to be embalmed in odours of never-dying praise—( applause . ) He concluded with proposing " the immortal memory of Thomas Hardy , John Home Tooke , John ThelwaU , J . A Bonny , Stewart Kyd , Richard Hodgeon , Thomas Holcroft , Jeromiab Joyce , Tboniaa Wardell , Matthew Moore , John Baxter , and John Richter . " It was honoured in solemn
silence , Mr . P . Thompson proposed , " the memory ef Erskine , the gratuitous and able advocate of the accused patriots of 1794 . " Mr . Richard Taylor proposed "the memory of the London Corresponding Society , " by whose exertions political knowledge had been imparted to the people of this country . They had advocated full , fair , and free representation ; and what did that mean but" Complete Suffrage ? " —( bear , hear ) . He confessed he did not sympathise with those v . ho were satisfied , because they had the franchise ; ' . here ought to be Complete Suffrage ? ( ippLi _ u ? e . ) Property -was not entitled to exciusiveness ofpo » fer ; and es to the land , it had only exercised po ^ &rs to relieve Itself from burdens , such as land-tax
and legacy duty —( hear , hear ) . A landowning Parliament had plundered the people ; it had been an organised body to plunder the rest of the community . That was Ihe plain English of the matter—( cheerirg and much laail-u > r ) . And what had been the consequences of having a landowning Parliameut ? Ono in thirteen manufacturers was a pauper ; and oue in seven of the favoured agricultural class -was a pauper—( hear , bear . ) There were other countries not so happy as this ; they were destitute of the "hfgh" class ; to be sura they were equally rid of the destitute class—( laucliter and cheers)—and those countries had got rid of those blessings called pr . inogsniture , entails , ice . securing a more equal distribution of property among children . To be sire , those countries had not the
happiness of possessing "hizher orders ; " they had not an aristocracy ; so that th 6 y had not the advantages of possessing the Hertfords and the Fran ' iforts , who did so much to diffuse refln&d taste and elevated morals ( tremendous laughter and cheering . ) Therefore all questions had their good and bad sides ; so that he feared if they were to get rid of the destitute classes , thsy would also have to undergo the loss of such ^] -Tated examples as those to which he had alluded—1 great cheering and laughter . ) The toast he proposed with great pleasure . Though ft-w of the society ( which ¦ w as iupprsesed by Act of Parliament !) remained , he had great pleasure in seeing that Alexander Galloway still survived—( applause . ) He concluded with giving " The memory of the London Corresponding Society , " which was duly honoured .
The Chairman added to the toast— " And the repeal of the law that suppressed the society ' —( loud applause . ) Mr . A . Galle-way rose to return acknowledgments , but he was so affected by the kind and enthusiastic manner in which he was rt-ceived , that for Pome time he was uuable to express his gratitude for the notice taken of himself , and the honour done to the memory of the society . He earnestly enlarged on the useful and straightforward character cf the society , and the good U had done . They constituted a large political school , and they were the first who taught the people the value of political information . It , however , had the misfortune to be largely misunderstood ; and , consequently , it had a large s > hare of political odiuni to withstand . It was now . however , well understood , and all who were acquainted with its character and conduct knew that the country , the cause of political information , had been miuch indebted to it—( hear , hear . )
Mr- P . Taylor proposed " Freedom to tradeprosperity to agriculture , "—being doctrines broached by no less distinguished a person than Sir JameB Graham—ilauahter and cheers)—and advocated by Sir Robert Peel —( hear , hear ) The com laws still continued certainly , but all argument in support of them had been abandoned—force alone now maintained them . Mr . Hodokin proposed "The memory of Margerot , Gerald , Muir , and Palmer , the victims of an arbitary and vindictive Scotch court in 1793 j * observing that their prosecution showed how different was the state ol political information in the two countries . In England the spirit of liberty had been assiduoutly cultivated ; in Scotland , at that period , It was not , known . And as to jnries , they obeyed the direction of the judge . —( Hear , hear . ) A free press did not then exist there ; theBpirit of liberty was unknown in Scotland at that time . — ( Hear , hear . ) The toast was duly honoured .
Dr . Epps proposed " The Liberty of the Press , ' which Tras received and honoured with enthusiasm . Dr SJMPSON proposed " Daniel O'Connelland justice to Ireland . " He did not know any reason why this toast had been placed in his hands , unless it was the fact of his bting a native of Ireland . Mr . Dunbar , the present mayor , and lately member for Belfast , was in the habit of boasting that be had been a Protestant , and that he bad sucked in Orangeism with hia mother's milk . Like him , he ( Dr . S . ) had sucked in Protestanism from his mother ' s breast , but , thank God , it was mixed with Christian charity and Ioyb towards his neighbour . Unlike Mr . Donbar , whose bigotry and hatred of Papists increased with hii years , every day ' s experience proved to him that there was as mnch honesty of purpose and goodness of heart among Roman Catholics as among Protestants . He , therefore , felt unmixed pleasure in proposing the toast .
Col . P . Thompson proposed " Radical Reform , " which was greeted with loud cheering , Mr . Horsley proposed "The immortal memory of Washington , Franklin , and other fonnders of liberty in the United States . " A Gentleman suggested that they should add Thomas Paine . The Chairman said the toast put in his hand was , " The immortal memory of Washington , Thomas Paine , Franklin , &c ";—( appiause )— "which was applaudingly honoured . Mr . H . Patten gave " Civil and Religious Liberty all the world over , " which was honoured with warm applause .
The meeting did cot separate till nearly twelve o ' clock . It was one o ? vpsit interest throughout , and so fully occupied tnd deeply interested ware the company , that no singing was required to pass the tiue .
The Northern Star Saturday, November 12, 1842.
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 12 , 1842 .
Untitled Article
THE RASCALLY PRESS AND THE THREATENED SPECIAL COMMISSION . To talk of the jnstioe of this country , or the impartial ad ministration of its laws , has long been a farce disgusting to all reasonable and right-thinking men . But we live in times when faction seems resolved to do its work , and rush to its own destruction over the trampled remainB of British freedom . We submit the following choice morsel from the Dublin Monitor , as a fair specimen of the reckless and devilish career pursued by the whole press of " the establishment : "—
" There ib a report very general that , at the close of the present term , a new commission will be issued for the trial of Mr . Feargtu O'Connor and the other Chartists who have traversed . It is thought that the Government is particularly anxious to have these cases disposed of previous to the meeting of Parliament As to ihe fate of ihe accused , but tittle duubi can be entertained , for tne \ have excited ihe strongest prejudices against : hem $ dvts . The Tories and Whigs rival each other in tfeeir detestation of those moat unhappy politicians . The first fear them , because they believe that the ultimate aim of the Chartista U to destroy property ; the Whig * hate them , because they not only rettued to aid in the Anti-Corn Law movement , but did their utmost to render it unsuccessful . I have heard some anecdotes relative to their " preachers / " which I purposely reserve for another occasion . "
In this deliberate attempt to prejudge the cause of the doomed victims—this crusade against the rights of humanity-the whole press of the factions , from the Times and Morning Chronicle to the most paltry print which their gold can bribe or their threatening terrify , has done its best to close up the remotest chance of a fair trial for the accused . Let the country note well the lacgnage of the scribbler of the Monitor ^ and let them recollect that the Monitor is par excellence , a " Liberal , " not one of O'Coxxell ' s tools , but an advocate of liberty ; and yet this Liberal paper joins with the most
Untitled Article
rascally of thefConservaUve jonrnals in seeking the destruction of those who are endeavouring to " undo the heavy burdens , and to let the oppressed go free . " We especially call attention to the fact that the miscreants of the press are doing all they can to prejudge the case , and to force the jury olass into the coming to a verdict of guilty . We hare seen this to be the game for some time ; but the Monitor has overshot the mark , and will not , we fancy , get much thanks from his masters for thus drawing aside the veil , and admitting us to a peep behind the curtain , We are told that the Special
Commission is to be issued for the express purpose of " trying Mr . Fbahgus O'Conmob , and the other Chartists who have traversed . " So , so ! the law allowed the victims of malicious treachery to traverse , but the Government sets itself abovo the law ; and , by means of a Special Commission , ( for which it is not pretended the state of the country affords the slightest occasion , ) the right of traverse is to be virtually taken away , and those who constitutionally cannot be put upon their trials before March are to be unconstitutionally compelled to endure all the hardships of winter travelling , and all the horrors of winter confinement , if the prosecutors succeed in getting a conviction . Well , we live in an age of improvement , and we suppose this is one specimen
of it . Mr . Feahgos O'Connor must be sentenced ; ( and he will be , and no mistake , if the efforts of one of the vilest of the vile reptiles of " the race who write" can succeed in his mnrderous design . ) But Mr . O'Connok must have the appearance of a trial , and so must all the rest ; and , in order to keep up the form of law , while its spirit is being violated , the country must endure the infliction and ex pence of another Special Commission . The faot is , Government have a ease which will not keep ; they dare not leave it to the decision of even middle class jurors , when calm reflection has had time to operate , so tbey will try the Chartists sow , Jest when prejudice shall have had time to cool , a verdict of acquittal might be the result .
That there does exist in the press , and consequently in the minds of the higher and middle classes , of which the press is the index , a prejudice against the accused , is proved by the above from the Monitor . " AS 10 THE PaTE OP THE ACCUSED » UT LITTLB DOUBT CAN SE ENTERTAINED , FOR THET HAVE EXCITED THE STBONGEST PREJUDICE AGAINST THEUSELVEs" !! ! And has it really come to this 11 Is the fate of the victims of a political persecution so certain that a newspaper scribbler can predict , with almost certainty , the fate of the accused ?! The constitution
holds every man to be innocent until he is proved to be guilty ; but it seems that reform has reversed the whole affair , and the man is to be pronounced guilty and then to be insulted with the mockery of a trial . Yet , judging from the way in whioh Government seem resolved to proceed in reference to those who having traversed and entered into the required securities , supposed their liberties certain until March , it does seem that a conviction , with or without evidence , is resolved on ; and the press of every shade of politics is hounding on the Executive of the country to its work . Mark the
secret way in which this infamous ecribbler tries to influence the jury class . The Chartists " have excited mnch prejudice against themselves , therefore the fate of the aocused is all but certain . " That 13 , in plain English , " the political opinions of the accused are iu opposition to the opinions and supposed interests of those who have to pronounce upon their guilt or innocence . These persons are so much the slaves of prejudice as to let it predominate eveu in the jury box , and , though sworn to give a true verdiot according to the evidence , they will go poiut blank against it if need
be , in order to gratify that prejudice wkich must bo satiated even at the expence of public odium , and corrupt perjury . " If tho words on which we are commenting mean anything they mean this ; and if there be one spark of real English feeling left in the bosoms of the middle claseea , they will feel aud repel wivh indignation the foul calumny thue heaped upon them . Of course it is not for us to gay what will h » ibo result of ihe ootninpf trials ; but vrc do know that a public prosecutor never came into
• ourt with a more despicable or paltry case , and we also kuow that if the jury do really valuo the oaths they take , a conviction upon such evidence is impossible . But the drift of all this is clear enough . The charge if left to itself , must fail ; hence it ib sought to make it a party question , and to excite strong party prejudices against the accused , that the verdict which honest conviotion would never give , may be secured by an appeal to party prejudice and passion .
If our readers doubt this , let them look at the concluding portion of the sentenco we have quoted : — " The Tories and Whigs rival each other in their detestation of those most unhappy politicians . They first fear them because they believe that the ultimate aim of the Chartists is to destroy property . The Whigs hate them because they not only refused to aid in the anti-Corn Law movement , but aid their utmost to render it unsuccessful . "
Come , Mr . Monitor , this is speaking out with a vengeance . The TorieB fear the Chartists , and the WLigs hate them . What for \ Because the first deem them destructives , and the second find it impossible to make them Buch . Thus the picture of Chartism as drawn by the oppressing factious is destructive and non-destructive at the same time . And so it is broadly intimated that , as the Chartists refuse to become the tools of either faction , it is resolved , without evidence , or in defiance of evidence , if need be , to make them the victims of both .
There is much in the few lineB quoted above which should call up the energies of the people , and make them resolve that the came shall be triumphant . We have no doubt that " the Government is particularly anxious to have these men disposed of previous to the meeting of Parliament . " No doubt , Government would be extremely glad so to dispose of the causa , as well as the men ; but , thank God , that is beyond their reach . These Chartists being
at large , and ready to direct the energies of the people at the opening of Parliament , would , no doubt , be extremely inconvenient to the oocupants of Downing-street ; and therefore all decency must be Bet aside , all , even the appearance of " fair-play " violated , justioe insulted , and the ' majesty of the law" once more exposed to the contempt of the whole country , for the noble purpose of precluding the voice of the people from disturbing the sage deliberations of our assemblies of Incurables !
What fools these fellows are 1 Do they think that the incarceration of the leaders in factionruled dungeons will still the Btorm or hush the raging of the tempest ! As well might they expect to frustrate the laws of the universe by one of their Acts of Parliament , or by a lithograph missive from their renegade " man of all work , " Sir James Graham . Ne ; Government may be anxious to get all the people ' s tried friends incarcerated , but the day which consigns them to a dungeon
will sound the death-note of faction , * and the people will take care that Parliament shall not rest upon a bed of down while suffering patriots are doomed to separation from ( heir homes and all they love . This anxiety so evidently displayed by Government , and by the masters of the Government , the Tillanous middle classes , is an infallible Bign of weakness ; they are falling , and they know it . Hence , in their madness , they catch at anything . But their doom is sealed .
After all , it must be admitted that faction fights hard and dies game . It is a most relentless adversary . In its death struggle it can afford to miss no vantage ground , however cruel or dishonourable the means of its attainment . If the purpose of the authorities be rightly surmised by the Monitor and its co-mates of devilism , there is much in this arrangement whi h bespeaks the vigilance and tho anxiety of faction . Much that shews the fell determination of the factious to " put down the movement" at all risks ,
Untitled Article
It was known that arrangements were being made as fast as the crippled resources of industry permit , for the raising of funds for the defence of the aocused , and for the maiutainanoe of their respective families , when the juries "have done their work . " This , the scoundrels for whom the whole of •' Established press" write , would regard as aa evil of no small magnitude . The struggle is for life !; it is to put down Chartism ; this could be effected probably with more ease if the provision of the people for its "doomed" advocates eould be interfered with ; and hence the determination
for a grand effort to get them into gaol now , and starve the victims in prison , and their families out of it . This triumph the rascals must not have . The whole country must now arouse itself , and funds must be instantly raised both to meet the expenoe of the ensuing trials , and to provide for the victims and their families , while enduring the privations and sufferings inflioted by the wicked administratorsV . of class-made law . Let aotive Committees be at once formed in every locality . And let not the members of our association be alone called upon to aid in this cause :
but let every Bhopkeeper or tradesman , especially those who profess to be Liberals , be solicited ; and let the Chartists adopt , as far as it is practicable , a system of exclusive dealing . Let , 'for this once at ell events , the pipe and pot bo abandoned . Let him who thinks it hard to be deprived of his pint of beer , reoolleot that the threepence he pays for it might procure bread for the famishing child of a class-made viotim of oppression . We see in this persecution an infallible test of principle . Let no mau who indulges himself in an unnecessary gratification at a crisis like this , dare to profane the name by calling
himself a patriot . This is no time for talking but for action . Make a bold front , and the reptiles will shrink from you with a bumbling sense of their insignificance . But be supine ai » d negligent ; let them see that they can condemn your best friends to slow murder with impunity , and you may rely upon it , the sentence of condemnation will be of no sparing character , while you yourselves will be the next victims , until not a vestige of your boasted liberty remain . If the people wish to gain their rights , let them them prove by their actions that they are worthy of them .
Untitled Article
influenced by other motives , which they kept a secret from the parties , afforded the strongest presumption of corruption . " This reasoning must hare been conclusive to any Judge on whom reason could make any impression . But it was all lost upon Mr . Justice Patteson , who has evidently made up his mipd to sanction any stretch of power or perpetration of injustice , provided the offenders be Magistrates and the victims Chartists .
•• Mr . Justice Patteson observed , that upon the statement of the Learned Counsel , there appeared to be no evidence of any corrupt motive having influenced the Justices in thoir conduct That be did not mean to state it as his opinion that the conduct of the Magistrates was at all proper in the circumstances . The question upon the present application was not whether the Justices werejuustifled in what they bad done , but
whether they were eo manifestly influenced by partial and corrupt motives as to be liable to the peculiar and extraordinary proceeding of a criminal information . Before be ( Mr . Justice Patteson ) granted such a rule as tbat whioh waa now applied for , he must be satisfied of the corrupt intentions and motives of the Magistrates by rach conclusive and satisfactory evidence as he could not perceive to exist in any degree in the present instance . "
And then , having thus declared his inability to discover that , which is clear beyond dispute to any unprejudiced mind , this decider upon the conduct of his fellow-men , and who is in the theory of the law supposed to be counsel for the prisoner , and is said to be bound to make prominent every point in bis favort proceeded to institute one of the most villanous comparisons which ever disgraced the benoh of justice" The very thing which the magistrates had doue in thecase in question had been formerly done in this court by a learned judge , who rejected a person who was tendered as bail , and who was unobjectionable in reference to the necessary amount of pecuniary qualification , but who kept a gambling house . "
To whioh vile attack upon the characters of honest men , the council for tha application most promptly and properly replied that he "Submitted to his Lordship that there was a great difference between rejecting a man as bail because be kept a gaming-house , or was otherwise liable to the criminal justice of the country for having committed some indictable offnnce , and rejecting hint for no other reason than hia conformity iu political opinions with the party for whom he was to be " bound . "
What the Learned Judge might think of this , it is not for us to Bay ; but we do perceive what the people , who are taunted with their ignorance and brutality , will both say and think about such a villanous comparison . It might be , no doubt , an excellent reason for refusing a man as bail who kept a gambling house , or even a man with the habits of the gambler ; because however rich he might be at any given moment , he might become a beggar within the next half hour . But are men such as these to
he classed with the honest entertainers of political opinions , however unpalatable those opinions may be to those in authority 1 This disgrace must be wiped away , and will be when the people , feeling as they ought to do , their accumulated wrongs , resolve to obtain their rights , and place those whose province it is to administer the law , under the control of publio opinion , by making them really responsible to a freely and fully chosen Parliament .
One thing ia clear beyond question , that is , that if the doctrine be admitted that the magistrates may refuse bail quite unexceptionable on such grounds as these alleged by the ] Stafford authorities , the holding men to bail is a ridiculous farce , and the liberty of the subject a mere name . It is certain that , iu a majority of cases , an accused party must look for sureties amongst those who are of the same opinions as himself , and if this is to be deemed a sufficient ground for refusal , then we may as well be told at once , that it is resolved that no Chartist shall ever be allowed bail . This is evidently , what is intended ; aud the sooner the doctrine is officially promulgated the better .
Another inference from this case is not to be lost sight of . If , ou such grounds , bail may be refused before trial , it may also be refused in oases where sureties to keep the peace are required after the expiration of the sentence . It is no uncommon thing for the Judge to sentence a political offender to a term of imprisonment , and then to find bondsmen in a considerable sum for his keeping the peace fo » a longth of 4 im « » IVoi-trardB .
Now , if Magistrates may thus act in reference to bail , the transition is easy to the bond required after conviction ; snd then it will be in the power of any malignant rascal in the commission of the peace to iuflict imprisonment for any length of time he pleases , by merely declaring that he is not satisfied with the security tendered on the part of the
prisoner . Let the people look to it , for in it they are most deeply interested . There is a deep and deadly , hatred to liberty in the bosoms of all in authority . The movement is to be put down at all risks , and no method , however unjust or tyrannical , will be left untried to accomplish that object . The factions will do their worst iu crushing public opinion ; if the people do not do theirs by a bold , manly , and determined , but peaceful resistance to the usurped authority of their rulers . Let , then , union be our watchword , and by union let us regain our rights , and give a blow to the oppressor from which it will be impossible for him to recover .
After the above article had been printed in our first edition , we received the London papers of Thursday evening , and from them we learnt that at the sitting of the Court on that morning , the Learned Judge ( Patieson ) had given his judgment , and granted a rule for a criminal information against the two defendants . We shall now &ee what answer they will make to the allegations against them .
Untitled Article
THE QUARTERLY BALANCE SHEET OF THE EXECUTIVE . This important document will be found elsewhere inserted . We call to it the especial attention of all members of the General Council , and , indeed , of all members of the National Charter Association . We hope that every man will read it carefully , and that every man will refer carefully to the plan of organization , and read them together . Wise , active , and honest publio ! servants always thank the people for
the exercise of vigilance . Nothing is eo necessary and especially at this time , as that the people should look well to the conduct of those who have the guidance of their movement aad the control of their funds , giving honour to whom honour may be due , and according such censure or admonition , as may serve to keep every foot in the strait and straight path . If the people have a fault , it is that they are frequently disposed to be too remiss in surveillance , whereby small deviations from right prac-
Untitled Article
tice , too often grow at length into frightful aberrations from principle , which compel them to cast off parties who with better watching might have long continued to be good and useful servants . We have neither space nor time this week for the directing of attention to many items in this document which we think specially deserving of regard . Whether wa may do so next week or not , we trust that the people will at all events make themselves intimately acquainted with it ; that they will read it carefully along with the plan of organization , and observQ strictly the degree of faithfulness with whioh tho
funds passing through the hands of their acknowledged servants have been appropriated and expended in accordance with its provisions . We think tha Executive have aright to require this of them ; it ia well and necessary to exhibit palpably the contrast between the mode of management adopted in like matters by the factions over whom the people have no control , and by their own appointed and responsible publio servants . Nothing tends more forcibly to illustrate tho value of our principles than the comparison between reckless class rapacity and stem democratic honesty .
Untitled Article
Robert . — Jlaming "professor' who ; told him that to die of hunger was one of the greatest blessings of Christianity is afooU and something more ' Wm Crany . —That is the right way to meet the " plague " -men . Argument is just the thing they don ' ilike . F . Popplewell . — We have another long letter from W . P ., this week , which occupies all the space tee can now devote to the subject . We will try to find room for him nest week . The Executive . — We give the letters of T . M . Wheeler and Mr . Watkins , omitting Jrom the latter one sentence . We hope our friends will . _ ^
always try to conduct their discussions in good temper and without asperity . Where all are honest and mean well this is important . Dif-. ferences of opinion will probably always exist among us—nor is it desirable that it should be otherwise : the great thing to be minded is to express our opinions without using unnecessarily offensive terms , and to give all good men credit for good purposes . A . G . —His question was answered before . He must pay the rent and taxes to secure ihe settlement . Wm . Blare . —We cannot give him the informationuhe seeks with so much precisehess as he
seems to require . 'Tis not easily found out . Evan Davies . — We believe that Mr . Edwards does not give anything to the Executive . Samuel Clarke—We have no information on ihe matter . He must address the Treasurer . Joseph Morgan . — We have no room . Duckenfield . — We have not room for the long printed address sent . G . A . N ., Sheffield . — We have no wish to axles ' tion the warmth or sincerity of his patriotism ; but we cannot insert his letter . The day of hard words and strong epithets has gone by ; they are lost upon the factions , who only laugh at them t having no sense of shame ; and they are calculated only toemcxte in the people a blind fury
which does much harm . We perfectly and heartily concur in his urging upon the people the duty of alleviating , so f ar as they can , by sub ' scribing money for the purpose , the sufferings of those who have expoted themselves and families to the brunt ef battle on their behalf . This is what the people ought to do , and what we cannot suppose they will omit to do . We are aware that there is much poverty in the country , and that people need all their money to procure the most ordinary comforts for themselves ; but we cannot suppose there are many Englishmen who will for a moment hesitate to sacrifice something , even of their scanty necessaries ^ to aid those who have boldly and benevolently braved on their behalf much greater matters of endurance . Wm . Porkitt , Bolton . — We have no room .
Wm . Lond , of Red- Lion-street , Richmond , Surrey will feel obliged if Mr . Joslyn , late of the Lambeth locality , will communicate his address , as he CMr . L . J has something of importance for him . Bacup . —Any lecturer intending to visit Bacup must communicate with the corresponding secretary t James Pinkerton , to the care of Anthony Marsden , Temperance Hotel , Bacup , and await his answer , otherwise his services will not be accepted . Bradford . —The person who has this week sent us a lot of news from this place will save us much trouble , and himself a great deal more , if he will not cut his paper into such small odds and ends . . Robert Ramsdkn , Salfobd . —Leach teas perfectly right . " I WILL HAVE MERCY , AND NOT SACRIFICE . " shall
appear . Nathaniel Morliko will see that the P ^ . to Mr . Campbell ' s letter , in this week ' s Star , has made his letter unnecessary . James Maw calls loudly on the Chartists of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire to bestir ( hem on behalf of Ellis . P . O'D . —His report of the lecture and discussion is not of a character to suit us ; having no efficient notice of the lecture , only one of the discussionists being reported , and no result of the discussion given : we thank him , nevertheless , for his good will . Wm . Foster . —Yes .
Will Mb . Wm . Thomason , lute of the Vale of Leven , send his present address to John Millar bookseller . Bonhill , ashe wishes to communicate with him ? The Hull Councillors wish to correspond with Mr . West , late of Derby County Gaol . The Letter of Mr . John Campbell in his own Defence . —We feel some apology to be due te our readers for having , by the insertion of this letter ^ permitted our colums to be again polluted with a name which we hoped never again to see in them . The unprecedented villany and brutality of such an attack upon men circumstanced as Mr . Campbelt and his fellows are , must furnish our excuse . It was natural that Mr . Campbell should
feel it . His letter is temperate , mild , and gentlemanly , and by these very qualities , places the hideousness of '" the ' , thing" in a light so prominent that none but like "things " can avoid loathing it . We have received many communications upon the subject , exhibiting a spirit of indignance among the people ; and many resolutions of meetings holden for the expression of opinion on it . To prevent disappointment , we may as well at once inform all parties concerned , that we will have no more of it . The people may meet if they like ; we
think they may find much better occupation for their lime ; but that is their affair , not ours : we have certainly much better occupation for our space ; we know noma ^ to whom we would ha ve permitted any allusion to the matter in our columns but Mr Campbell , and we except him only because of his peculiar position , station , and circumstances . To all other parties we say that it is perfectly useless to send here one word about the starved viper or his stinking cess-pool . We will not permit them even to be named . Samuel Walton , Todmoeden . —Write only on one side of your paper for the future .
The Portrait of T . Duhc » mbe will be given to all our Subscribers on November 19 th . They willbfl in the hands of all the Agents by November 16 tb ; The charge for the Star on the day the Portrait of Daneombe is distributed will be the same as the charge for it on the day the Petition Plate was delivered . Yarmouth . —No : it was another person of that name J . Walker , Cam ? sie . —Not strictly : call upon Mr . D-ivie , and see if you can arrange with him . Duncombe . —Yes .
FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENCE . FUND . £ . s . i From Bristol , per Simeon ... ... ... 0 8 0 „ a few friends at Booking , Essex ... 0 10 9 _ a few friends , Coggleshall , near Kelvedon , per Samuel Harrington ... 0 6 6 ~ a few friends at Cockermouth , per T . Nixon 0 SO _ Hull , per Mr Wall ... ... ... 0 3 9 ~ Hull , per Mr . Padget ... ... ... 020 ~ J . H .. Leeds 0 a 3 ,. a poor woman ... ... ... ... 0 0 1 .. E . Pybus , Leeds ... ... ... 0 l-. Q „ a few Subscribers to the Northern Star and the Evening Star , Bradahawgate . L ^ gb ... ... ... ... 0 3 0 ^ a few Chartists at Golboume ... ... 0 8 0 « Holbeck , per J . Davies ... ... 0 2 10 *» Shrewsbury , per E . Jone * ... ... 0 12 6 « . the Chartists , of-Sawerby ... ... 9 7 9 „ the Triangle , at Sowerby ... ... 0 8 0 M Yarmouth , Norfolk , per W . Trosey ... 0 11 0 „ the Cliartista of Satton , nest Skipton in Craven , per Wm . Foster ... 050 _ a few Chartists , Bingley ... ... 0 5 6 .. Bingley , ( transferred from Contested Beats'Fund ) ... ... ... « 16 6 „ a few friends at Rochester and Stroud 0 8 0 _ a band of brothers , Shettlestone , near Glasgow ... ... ... ... 1 0 0 „ Mr . ForJ , and N . B ., per Simeon , Bris tol ... ... ... ... ... 0 1 0 .. Bramley , per Wm . Smith ... ... 0 3 1 „ the Chartists of Aston-street , Birmingham ] ... ... ... ... 0 18 0 „ a few friends , Berry Brow ... ... 0 6 0
Untitled Article
EXCESSIVE BAIL , AND THE STAFFORDSHIRE AND BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES . Is another part of our paper will be found a letter from Gbouok White , and also a report of proceedings in the Bail Court , before Mr . Jusiica Patteson , in reference to the refusal of bail for Mr . O ' jN ' eil by the Staffordshire authorities , to both of which we beg to call the most serious attention of all our readers .
The proceedings of every day tend more and more to convince us of the intolerable nuisauoe of class legislation , and of those institutions by which it is fostered and supported . The most glaring injustice is constantly perpetrated by the local magistrates , whohavr , in general , been plaoed in the Commission of tho Peace , not because of their fitness for the important duty of . administering the laws ,
but because of their strong party bias , and their ignorant aud f rancorous hatred to everything bearing the shape and semblance of popular freedom aud independence . That this is the case in Birmingham , no one , at all acquainted with the constitution of the Benoh of Magistrates in that town , can for a moment doubt ; and the infamous proceedings in reference to poor White prove that their Worships have no regard either for law or justice .
White tells a tale at which Englishmen ought to blush tbat such a system of flagrant injustice is suffered to exist in a land calling itself free , and boastmg of its Christianity . After stating that he had received two letters , one of which was from the prosecuting attorney , informing him that eight sureties iu fifty pounds each were required ; aud the other from a friend at Bath , stating that ifour in a like amount was demanded , ho proceeds : —
" I am unable to say which statement is correct ; but this I know , that the names and residence * of nino sufficient persons wrre banded to Mr . Griffiths on Wednesday lust , and on Friday he delivered his decision to my friend to tbe following effect : —Messrs . Nurse and Hamming were accepted ; and Messrs . Taylor , Watts , Corbett Follows , Wright and Moule were rejected . Another gentleman , named Grattin who 1 b a press-tool maker , is not yet decided on .
" From the conduct of the Birmingham Authorities , it ia quite clear that tbey an determined to keep me here until the Assteas . From ihe time of my arrest to the present moment they have acted basely towards me . At tbe conclusion of my examination I applied for bail , which- was granted , tbe Mayor informing me that he should require two sureties in one hundred pounds each , which , he said , would do for all tbe three indictments . I had then two respectable freeholders in court , who were well known to be woith ten tfmes the amount , waiting for the purpose of offering themselves as my sureties , and informed the magistrates that I was then prepared ; upon which they said they must have fortyeight hours notice , although the two persons were as well kown as any in tbe town .
" In ten minutes after , I was hurried off to this place , a ] distance of twenty-one miles from Birmingham ; and for some reasons , best known to the magistrates , the men who came unsolicited to tender bail for me , afterwards declined . The next time that my friends applied tbey were told that four sureties , in £ 100 each , would be required , and the Governor of this prison afterwards informed me , tbat from tbe manner in which the commitments were signed , he shvuld
require six sureties in one hundred pounds each , and that the Mayor must have known it from the Jirst , he being the person that signed two of them . They have sincu then refused about fourteen shopkeepers and tradesmen , who are worth a vast deal more than the amount required ; and I am informed that tbe policeman who was sent to inquire into the qualification of some of those who gave their names as willing to become sureties , threatened aud bullied them about being Chartista . "
Certainly no man in his senses can doubt that the Birmingham worthies are ordered to inflict as much hardship aud suffering on their viotim as their fiendish minds can prompt them to invent , and their power enable them to execute . But . it is part of the system , and will continue until the system itself shall have ceased to exist . That the magibtrates , though conscious of violating the most sacred rights of the subject , are encouraged to do so by the certainty of being . shielded by the higher authorities of tbe law , is proved by the proceedings of the Stafford Justices , in the case Of O'Neil , who was arrested on a charge of attending an illegal meeting , land after examination was
committed for trial , but as the law required , held to bail . Bail of the most unexceptionable character was tendered and refused , because they held , or were supposed to hold , similar political opinions with the accused . After considerable delay this monstrous proceeding was set aside on an application to Judge Tindal , and the bail at once acoepted . On this a rule has been applied for to compel the justices to acting to shew cause " Why a criminal information should not be filed against them for having illegally , partially , and corruptly refused to accept bail upon the part of O'Neil , there being no objection made . to the persons tendered as bail except that they were alleged to be of the same political principles which were professed by O'Niel himself . "
No one , we should suppose , could for a moment doubt the propriety of this application . It is as clear as noon day , that the magistrates were actuated by party motives iu their refusal to take bail , and as the Learned Counsel very properly argued : — M That , as in general , it would not be supposed that persons in the situation of O'Neil could procure bail from any other olass of persons except those who sympathise with his political opinions , it would be a most formidable doctrine to lay down that a Justice of the Peace may refuse bail upon the ground of their political opinions being the same as those of the party for whom they proposed to become sureties . " And
that" It would not weaken the grounds of the application , as the Justices had no right , to alter the measure of justice with any reference to the politics of the parties ; and if they ( the Justices ) had soldy acted from political causes , it was impossible for them to contend that they were free from the imputation of partiality ; whilst it may be said iu addition that the faot of their declaring that they were
Untitled Article
THE STURGE CONFERENCE . The people must not let the multiplicity of the * urgent affairs on band prevent any of them from being duly attended to . Cool heads and even tempers do much work with little bustle . This is thespirit we want to see among the people : it is worth all the bluster and rant and botheration of all the mob orators in the world . The feelings of the people may be well and usefully appealed to , and their spirit stirred , in new districts , where our principles may be imperfectly understood , and where an apathy to politics consequent upon an ignorance of their value may prevail , but where our principles are well known , where they are rightly understood , and the
only question is , " How are they to be made operative ! " the faoulty in requisition is cool vigilancethoughtful and constant watchfulness—which turns all circumstances to account . Hence , therefore , while looking to the victims , aud preparing for the trials , let not the Conference be forgotten . We had purposed to say something more upon it this week ; but , as Mr . O'Conkob has written on it , we refer our readers to his letter . We intreat them to read that , and to read our article of last week , and to mind the instructions given . We warn them that if they are not watchful , they will be u jockied j " while the Conference may be made "a great card ' for the movement , if it be but " well played . "
Tvuvsvllthe €Ft 2&Eatoet0 Antr ®Ovve0$T≫Vtoent ^•^ . ^^Rt —- ' ^^Rir_ — -^M ≪ ≫ . _ 1 ¦ ¦ ^A A≫ _ D'~A. _ M —W ._ A_ M.
TvuvsvllThe € ft 2 &eatoet 0 antr ® ovve 0 $ t > vtoent ^•^ . ^^ rt — - ' ^^ rir _ — - ^ m < > . _ 1 ¦ ¦ ^ a a > _ d '~ a . _ m —w . _ a _ M .
Untitled Article
4 * ' THE NORTHERN STAR . . - . V - ¦ . ¦ ; . " , ' , - ¦/
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 12, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1186/page/4/
-