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Northern Star (1837-1852), 24th December 1842, Edition 1 of 3, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      SH £ FFIHZJ > . CHARTISM TRIUMPHANT-DEFEAT OF THE HUMBUGS . A « a-a the green banner floats triumphant over faUcaiaciion prostrated in the dust by the voice of aia-tW iuciznant people . It will be . remembered by ih ^ ' rta ^ rs of the Star , that a public meeting of the inhabitants of Sheffield , convened by requisition , was W-i 6 in I aradise-fquare , on -. he 24 th of November e- ' , a ? which meeting four d-legates were elect- d ro - = ii in the forthcoming Conferesce . thai the

      j r ^ is Ve recollected Complete Suffragists placar ded the town , aEnenncirjg thtir resolntion to take £ ¦> vari in the meeting , aod that any delegates electee at such meeting would not represent their intcTc-ts and op ' nioEs . Wei ] , the meeting passed over : -he Chartists did ihtii work quk-riy and vrtU , and no mre was heard of tl ; e objections or intentions of ihp Srargite 3 until the evening of last Tuesday , ( Dec . 13 iLt ) when a resolution was agreed to by them to held a town ' s inee ' . in ^ on Mond ay , the I 9 h , for the iketion of delegates ; and this in spite of the eleni ^ i ; , which had already taken place How "was this f The Rev . H . G . Rhodes , their Chairman * was present a % tlie last council meeting of the Stur ^ itea held in Birmingham , and from their resolving imaediavlv en his return to Shr . ffi . eid . to held another

      election meeting , we may jusay infer that the Rev . GenLitnsan had been in con-altation with " friend " Starge and Co ., and that the result of their nelibelatioiir w ^ the promts of tie Birmingham Councillors - > back the S " n ? ffi Id Sinrgites in thsir in ; tended jHeijaland anti democratic proceedings , and to aid t ' r . fia in their efforts to" exclude trom the CoD ' tr-nct ihe men-elected by tho publio metlin-r On tb 24 h of November . So futo djd the local Stur ^ ti ^ i \ - 1 of being able to carry all before thfrn , that the . Mr . Barker who figures so couspicucu ^ . y and di . ~ rvi' ^? ubly bslow , -was fool enough to t .-uk » houi " iiv . Ji-uiufnished hononr that awaited him , ( . ' ) and oih r- of their chiefs wLo spoke at the usual met !; .. ;; i fuesday last were m- . j st"valcroa < in th-ir denu :. - . »; vn of O'Connor , the Nor ' . herti S ! ar , < fec ., &c Wc > :, on Friday , December 16 ih , out came their hu .-e pink placards , ( tho colour being that of the e ' r . c , \ . : read shaia-Radic ^ l Ilnckinghani school ) , annu : - " : - u ; e meetius . The Political Iii = iitutiomsis

      hac c ii .--crG with . " them , and t&rj depended on "he aid- * - - tre * hooters to secure ihrm the victoryaid \*\ ¦¦ - 1 . 0 a considerable ex v m : L . y found on the day of *¦ a ' . tle . Now for the other side ; the prooeedin ££ at i . * -. ^ - £ tarfi » ea - In - Gloj- ^ aw and other places , more par . icular : y the infemons coaduei of that iictou a : L-i coster , had excited feeling .- of deep disgust and stivng indigziatuox in the breasts of ib& Steffi , .-. d ueuioer&tg , and bow that it became clearly apparent ihat they Wcrs determined to violate even their <» : i ordinances for tbe purpose of having their own n 3 eu Hiied in the Conference instead of tbe men pre * oui'y elected by th ^ people , oao feeling of resiB " -iu-c « - : muiedi&tely kicdltd in the hearts of all ihe honest iad a-rarmiaed frieads of tbe Charter . A

      Email bill was kiued on Sunday morning , calling on the Cr .- > n : ?> to attend the m- ; eiing , aud id be at their pan . a twelve o ' clock precisely , and as the sequel — h" shew the appeal was not unheeded . Moncay arrived , and at ten minutes before twelve Mesiar ^ . Hiruty . Parkes , Edwin OiH , Fodtn , H ^ ole , ScUo . b . son , Evinscra , and other leading Char isis enltie ^ ir-u rLali ^ aad toik up thei- station on the light o- ihe chair . A number of Complete Suffragist * v » cre already posiea <> n the lefs of tbe chair . We hj » vt iioi the Lf ni > ur of knowing maty of ihe gentlfcni-rn , bus among them we cbo ^ rved the Rpt . Joan Di .-Ls , il ? 5 ars . Birker , iiJieu , and Rent , also

      Mr . Er .-i ^ t urd , of the JjtJ , and Mr . Wm . Gill , of the Political lusutute , together with some minor stars of tLui ^ m iy . At twelve o'clock the Hail -was aearly half fiUicci , andcvfcTj momtn * increased iheuumbere ; and ai abuu ; tweuty laiauies pasl twelve tha Hall was cr » -. v . ic < i in every pan . Proc : e » iini : 8 commenced at tenm i . u es past iwelre , by ilr . Barker proposing ihr R ^ t . Mi . Davis for chairm an ; the non ; nation T 5 i > coc ^ aded by a T > ersun whose name we did not learn . Mr . Jalun Harssy ( who was loudly cheered ) p . ^ posed as an aaaj ;< itnecs , that Mr . George £ tiiis ; D , a womng maD , should take the chiir . Mr . Parkes seconded th ? amendment .

      Mr . . ark- r said he supposed the courtesy of the ineeti :. ^ woul d allo w him to put both ihe motion and the snier-dmejit . Mr . harn ? y said he had no objection trusting to Mr . Bir * era iove of fair play . The : s ~! -..- . v of hands wa 3 than taken , wh ^ n a . lftTge Jftsj - -ri- 'y ^ . pT'OTed in /» tout of . Mr . Ern-OV , bill notwiihiiiuii ^ gthis was sppar . ' ii to ^ vory uuprejndiced p < . rscn ia tba meeting , Mr . Birk-r -j-jcar .-d l&i . D-. ^ is el-Mled . This announerm-.-ri * . v-a * r > - ee : ved w ;; : i cfaeera by the Sturjiit « jj . au \ loud g : . nus and execrit ons on the part of the Cb ^ rtirts . Mr . Harnty pro'e&ied against > uch a decision , and Mr . ETi "> cn proceeded to take th » chair , gicfated by the tLa ^ c . ring cheers of the Chardaia . ^

      Ascece of uproar now commenced which continued for more than ten minntes ; Mr . ETinsou made seTeral jatetcpts to speak , but the apro .-r on thepan of the SVar ^ it « contaniiia , Mr . Evinson remarked that their hooting and ydling woaid have BO effect on him ; he had , at his daily labour , to bear the scoTci . injf summer ' s sob ana tha ibrce wimer ' s blast , ard they were much mNtaken if they suppled th-sr ' TA ^ jal uofces would affect him—( enthusiastic c : crs from lh « Chartists ) . A prep' ^ ation was now made to take the show of hands a second time . Mr . Harney assented to this , hoping lc bring Mr . Barker and bis . friends to reason . Accordingly , the Enow of hands was iaken the second time , and a still larger majority appeared -KLs time for Mr . iTinson . Again tho Sturgiies re : used to submit to the decision of the meeting—i ^ iin th « uproar commence ^ ; groans , hisses , ca . ers , and evuuter-che- ^ rs again occ-apiea about a quarter of an-hour .

      The Ciiairma . il eaolefl upon any gen . leman who had busjnes ? to bxinjj before th « me ^; ' in % t » do so . — { Hisse ^ Trom the Sturgeites and clieers fj om the Caarriit ? . ) After bore time had been spent in tumuli , Mr . Davis Ebc-wing a disposition to address the meeting , the ctairiEan and Mr . Harney exerted themselrea to procure rim a hearing , but so outrageous were tb . 8 respectable 5 ur ^ eitw that it was witii difficulty a hearing eauM be procured for him from his own friends .

      Mr- Davis would assure the meeting his temper was quite curuffl ^ d , and neither the matea nor the groans of ihe opposite party would disturb him ; his party complained not of the ekction . but that the chairmin had not been elected by , but forced upon the meeting —< . "' Tis lalse . " groaas and hisses . )—Mr . Davis cont ; nned in a similar mariner for some minutes , but the uproar r < . commencinx we could hear nothing further . About three-quarters of an hoar had now been

      spettit tuojiut and confusion , durk- £ which time the most ieroci us threats were directed against Mr . Harney by the " cheap bread ' * ruffians , a number of waom hvd congregated below the platform , several brigh : specimens of the political 4 nstitute rivalling their friends , the '' freebooters , '' in their infamons condnct . Again a third show of liands was taken , and the meeting Uais time decided by a tremendous majority that Mr . Evinson w * s the chairman , not less than three tt one holding np their hands in his support .

      A £ ent . who professed to be an impartial spectator , end to beiousi vo neither party , volunteered his ser-Tices to se ; tl-r ihe matter ; & hearing being procured for him , bo acknowiedfied ' * that Mr . Erinson was elected chairai * n by the majority ; ' * but added , " that the Chartists onght cot to have interfered with tbe meeting ; the meeting had been called by another party ; that party had come to do their own business , not aay other party ' s . " ( Oa , oh ! groans , and lao # h *« r . ) This was , of coarse , a settler , asd tbs u impsrdsl gentleman" founu it prudent to " enu ; op . " The Chairman now insisted tbat'ibe business should be pr- > ceedeii with ; the Sturgitss hurg fire , hoping thai as it wa 3 now about one o ' clock , tbe working men would be compelled to leave , !¦> return to their ffork ; bat in this they were disappointrd One o ' clock csme , but Bsemin ^ ly none left their posi . Mr . ETinsoc , as chairmanagain demanded sh

      , th * t tte busiue ^ ould be proceed ed wiib ; but was told by Mr . Davis , " the meeting was doi constitnted . " *• Hosv so ! " demanded the Cbiirmsn . ** Where ' s the rr ^ uisiiion ? " was the reply of Mr . D . ( Cries of " i » your pocket . " ) The Chairman said he ha-d b ^ sn asked a question by Mr . Davi 3 ; he would answer it ; ibe requMtiou was in Mi Davis ' s pocket . ( Caters . ) The rev . gent , replied , that ** the requisition was in hi < pocket , and he would keep it » b * re !!" This w £ 3 their last" card , " but the h urtful dodge " failed tb-m . Mfissengtrs were immediately dispatched for a copy of the placard , asd ia a few minutes one was procursd and exhibited in triumph to the meeting . The humbugs now * &w thai tLelr game was np—sounded a retrea :, and fcolted with the trimephant cheers of the democrats ringing in their ears .

      A Blight attempt st opposition was made by one of the party who had volunteered , to perform the hopeless task of covering the retreat of his discomSued colleagues , bat as he factiously refused io acknowledge the chairman , the meeting very properly refused to hear him . The Chairman then introduced Mr . Edwin GUI . Mr . Edwin Gin on coming forward was received with disapprobation by the Sturgeites , which was eampletely drowned bj the immeuao cheering ot the He delivered a Terr eloquent addre « , showing up the hypocrisy of the middle elas humbug * , not forgetting tha parsons , two of whom figured as xeqnimtionists caliisg the meeting . . Be wai frequently interrupted by the repeated plaudits of the assemblage , and sat down enthusiastically cheered , after proposing the following resolution : —

      That a public meeting of tne inhabitants of Sheffield having been held in Paradise-square , on the 24 ttni * y of K ^ Tember last , atwhioh meeting every instruction of the two circulars of the Complete gafirage Council was strictly complied with ; and thataeeting ha ? ing unanimouBly elected four delesates to represeitthe inhabitante is the fcrthooming

      Untitled Article

      Conference at Birmingham , this meeting considers the present one nnneeef sary for the election of other persona ; and hereby declares that the four delegates elected at PaTadise « squwe—to wit . Messrs . Samuel Parkes , Richard Abbott , George Julian Harney , and William Beesley . are the veritable representatifes of the people of Sheffield . " Mr . William Dyson seconded the resolution . On a show of hands being taken , one vast forest of hands was held np in its support , against it a few hands were upheld in tbe body of the meeting . The chairman declared the resolution to be carried by a tremendous majority . The announcement was hailed wiih deafening cheers .

      Tho chairman having to return to his labour vacated the chair , and Mr . DyBon was installed in his place . Mr . Harney then addressed the meeting for about three-quarters of an hoar . His address was received with repeated and enthusiastic bursts of applause . He concluded by moving the thanks of the menting to Mr . Evinson , for his able and impartial conduct as chairman . Mr . Samuel Parkes seconded the motion , and at some length addressed the meeting . He was loudly cheered . The motion was agreed to unanimously . Mr . Peter Foden briefly addressed the meeting , and concluded by proposing the thanks of the meeting to Mr . Dyson .

      Mr . Pike seconded the motion , which was also adopted unanimously . Tiie meeting was then dissolved , first giving three cheer * , lor the Charter , three for O'Connor , throe for Frosl , Will'atsB , and Jones , three for tho martyr Ellis , and three " for our glorious selves . "

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      TO MR . R , K . PHILP . Sib , —I observe , m the St o / csman , of last Saturday , a letter whh yonr signature , in which occurs the ^ following paragraph : — ' White , Cooper , Harney , and others are playing the part prescribed to ' . hem . They go the whole hog , or lose their ponnd a-week . " I merely notice this to say that I hare neither a p ^ und nor a pe nny s-week , from any source , in the shape of salary . I have never received cr asked one farthing for correspondence to the Star , nor ever thought of doing so . I have no other source of income in the world than my business , as a news agent and keeper of % cofRe-hcuse .

      I trnst , Mr . Philn , that this honest nnd unequivocal statement will draw forth a similar one from yourself , namely , that you hare thrown out eitker a false conjecture , or an aspeTaien taken on hearsay wlth an intent to prejudice me . Thomas Cooeb . Lecicester , December 20 tb , 1842 . [ We would by no moans have admitted this letter had the Statesman been Btill going on . But as the last number of that paper announced its own dtnr ;? e , wo think it only lair to > Ir . Coopor . —

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      TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —Beirjj present at the meeting yesterday for the election of delegates to the Birmingham Conference , I was surprised at the conduct of professed Chirtiils supporting a resolution repudiating tbe appointment of pledged delegates , while the -very men invariably call upon the people to support do man , at our municipal and general election * , who will not pledge himself to " seek the return « f Frost , Williams and Jones . '' How consistent !! D ks there not want a Radical Reform in the Chartist camp ? Observer . Leeds , Dec 20 lh , 1842 .

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      LEEDS . GEAND FESTIVAL AND TEA PART ' S " , IN HONOUR OF T . S- DUNCOilBE , E 3 Q ,, M . P . AND FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . On Monday evening last a brilliant soiree was held at tha iiu # : c Hall , Albion Street , Leeds , in honour of T . S . iMincombe , E ^ q ., M . P ., the presenter of tlie National Petition , and Feargns O'Connor , E ? q , the preparations for which were oa a scale eominensnrata with the importance of the occasion , and were snch as to rtfi .-ct credit upon all parties concerned . For some days the demand for tickets had b ^ -cn such as to leave no doubt that the working mea were alive to the importance of the occasion , but no soon or had it become known that Mr .

      Duncombe and Mr . O'Connor were really in the town , than numbers of the middle class purchased with avidity those tickets which remained on hand , and , am ^ le as were the means of accommodation , soon after the opening of the doors the numerous tables in the spacious saloon were crowded by a r specublo company , a great part of whom were woll-dressed iVraalea . A committee of ladies , indeed , had been indefatigable in their exertions to secure the comfort and happiness of the x . um ? rous guesta , and their tndcaTcurs in this < l < partmrni , » nd their attentions to ti . o honours of the tea table , merited and obtained for them a due meed of praiso .

      The room was neatly , but not gaudily , decorated . Fustoons of evergreens and artificial flowers were tastily arranged ; and in the orchestra , over the Chairman's seat , were suspended portraits of T . S . Duncombe , Es-q . and Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., with the pl&te of tbe presentation of ( he National Petition , in beautiful frames , wreathed wuh evergreens Around the back of the circle of the orchestra was a white scroll , with the motto " The People's Charter , the only measure to secure justice to one and to all ; " while from the wail to the Chairman ' s right

      was suspended a l&rgr and handsome green flag , with a white border , on which was emblazoned " Universal Suffi- j -e , Annual Parliaments , No Property QiaiiScatio : ) , Equal Representation , Vote by Ballot , " and on the left a flag with the emblem of Erin , and ihe motto , Unite aud be free . " Along the whole length of tbe front of the gallery was another white scroll whh the motto , ** T . S . Duncombe , the uvflinching advocate of the People's Rights ; '' and and on each side of it a fog with an appropriate inscription .

      Along the floor of the saloon were placed six tables , seated on both Eides , with space between them for convenience of the company and tho waiters , and under the gallery were placed two tables ; all these were corered with white , and were plentifully furnished with every description of plain and spiced bread of excellent quality . In the gallery was staicntd an excellent band of music , which played a variety of aira during the repast , and at intervals during the subsequent proceedings of tiia evening . An excellent party of glee singers were also stationed ia the orchestra , and contributed by their performances greatly to the happiness and entertainment of the numerous company . The doors of the Musio Hall were announced to

      be opened at half-past five o ' clock , and tea to be on the table at half-past six . Soon after this honr , Mr . Duncombe and Mr . O'Connor were announced , and they en : ered the Hall , accompanied by Mr . Leach , Mr . Bairstow , Mr . Brooke , Mr . Wm . Jones , Mr . Frazicr , and Mr . Joshua Hobson , amidst the most enthusiastic cheering of the audience , who rose from their S 9 a ! s en masse , and welcomed their guests in good old English style . Haring entered the orchestra they took their seats at a table specially appropriated for them . Mr . Wm . Brooke presided , and wa « snDported on his right by T . S . Duccombe , Esq . M . P ., Mr . Jame 3 Leach , Mr . Joshua Hobson , and tbe Rev . Wm . Hill ; and on the left by Feargcs O'Connor , Esq ., Mr . Bairstow , Mr . Jones , Mr . Roberts , and Mr . Frazer .

      Tee proceedings were prefaced by the Chairman oiling open the Rev . William Hill , to ask a bless ng . The Chairman , after some time , rose and said , that although the tea was hardly over , yet as the evening had got so for advanced , they would commence with business , and as there was such a variety of talent on either side of bin } , it would be altogether useless for bin to detain tbe meeting by any TematfcB of bAa own . He woald therefore proceed to give them the first sefttimect of the evening , — " The people , and may they soon erjoy their political rights , as laid down in the document entitled tbe ' People ' s Charter . " *

      Ho hoped the meeting wonM respond to this toast by giving three times three chutrs . [ Here the whole assemblage rose and gavs tbrce times three in the most enthusiastic manner . The ladies joined in the demonstration by waving their handkerchiefs . ] The Chairman resuming said , he begged to introduce Mr . Jones , of Liverpool , to respond to the toast , -whom he believed they all very -well knew . He had been in this quarter about three months ago , and was very much applauded at that time for the manner in -which he enforced the principles embodied iD the Charter . ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr . W . Jones , of Liverpool , on presenting himself , was received with loud and prolonged cheering . He said that in presenting himself to the meeting , be hoped he should be allowed to txpresa , in the first place , tUe peeuiiar gratification which he felt at witnessing so many brigkt and happy faces , assembled on eo importand praiseworthy au occasion . It was a lovely sight to see the smile of gladness and the beam of joy animating the " human face divine , - but more especially ,-when they knew that tfce smile of gladness was Uf hted np with the proud and reasonable enthusiasm In the holiest of caniea in which a human being could b % engaged—( ebeura ) . In reponding to the toast which the meeting

      bad adopted with thm timw thrte , be did not , when peaking of tbe people , confine btoatlf to any particular edaaain the aUto thaa » . bear ) . Be inctaded tbe whole family of man—tie prinee and the peasant , tbe qneea and the pauper—every indlvidmal who was a membtr * t tbe human family —( hear ) . He responded to the toast of " Tbe People , " because be beli « r * d that it was one which ought at all times to be recognzed at every public assemblage of the people . He believed thai the people bad hitherto neglected the opporbrnitiea which had teen afforded thaai ? of aswrting their own sovereignty , acd in oocMqmip of that neglect , they bad hitherto been kept the abjitft slaves of tyranny and oppression . ( Hear , bear . ) He responded to tbe toatl of " The Peoi le , " because he knew that tbe

      Untitled Article

      people were the only source of legitimate power—they werd the only sovereigns whom nature ' s God made ; and the only monarch * whom God ever designed . ( Cheers . ) Tnia was the reason why he responded to the toast ; of " The People ; " and aa he had but a short time allotted to him he should proceed to another portion of it , which expressed a hope " That m < y they soon enjoy their political rights aa laid down in the document entitled the People ' s Charter . " He believed there was no man who knew anything whatever of the principles embodied in tbat great measure , and also at the same lime wished well to the family of man . but would give to that document bis most enthusiastic and vigorous support ; and any man who professed tho principles of liberalism , and who desired to see bis

      feUow-beings free and happy , and yet at the same time would not give bis support to tbe Chatter , was nothing less than a heartless professor—a dissembling , canting hypocrite , wbo merely assumed the position of patriotism for the purpose of deluding the people , the better to enable him to carry on bit * own base design ? to accomplish his own elevation —( loud cheers ) . He knew that many individuals wbo really professed a desire to see tbe condition of the working classes improved and elevated looked with some degree of astonishment at tae proposition embodied in tbe Charter , —that all men oucht to be politically enfranchised . They appeared to think th&t a man without a afiiliing ' s worth of property in bis possession , but wbo obtained an honest livelihood by his own honest industry , to be entrusted

      with political rights and privileges , would bo exceedingly u ' angerous to tbe rest of tee community—( laughter . ) Ht > would ass : the meeting this honest and simple question , —why was the working man excluded from a participation in national affiirs ? Why was he excluded from the pale of the ' Constitution ? Why was be robbed of his natural rights , and deprived of hi » social privileges , converted into a mere drawer of ¦ water , a mere hewer of wood , a mere toiling machine , producing an enormous amount of wealth , which , after its production , be was obliged to band over to others to enjoy ?—( hear , hear , and cheers . ) Was there any natural difference between the rich man and the poor man ? Was tbere any evidence tbst nature

      intended the "Woilting classes to be tbe base and servile slaves of tbe aristocratic and middle classes ? If there was , let it t > e pointed out , bo tfcat in future they misht bow down to those whom God had sot up as tbtir Bcpfriors—( cbcera . ) Thuse patties who oppose the principles of the People ' s Charter , on tbe ground that tho people were not possessed of property , and tbat they were not in possession of a sufficient amount « 'fi intelligence , for tho judicious exercise of the franchise , knew nothing whatever of tbe principles of tbe CbartUU , or they would never make such a &tal objection—( bear . j Show him the difference between the proudest aristocrat and the meanest peasant ; show him tbat nature had established a difference between the two , aud then be would acknowledge tbat tbe poor ,

      birdtoiling peasant ought to be tko slave of the other man , and that be on whose brow was stamped the seal , of aristocracy , shonld ride rough sbod over the rights and piivilfcgfeE . of the other . — ( Load cheers . )—Tuke'tbe chill of the rich man and the child of the puor man , and they would find a complete similarity ; for although money , title , and a gilded canopy awaited the rich man ' s child at its birth , althougu it was favoured by a royal smile cheering its it fant slumbers , and although it might inherit a title when arrived at the years of maturity—yet , after all , it possessed only tbe fame natural capabilities , and the same germs of intellect and morality as a child born beneath the straw roof cl tbe peasant , and which was doomed frem its very birth to be the slave of some proud and oppressing tyrant—( Cheers . )—He knew tbat

      some parties bad assumed tbe position that nature had given a preference to tha rich m : in over the poor man , but ¦ wheru was tbe evidence to ;> rore the truth of such a proposition ? ( Hear , bear . ) Point him to the material universe , or to one single proof that nature ev « . r iattn'led to give a prtftrtnee to the rich man . over tbe poor , and then be would admit the soundness of the proposition . —( hear , hear . )—But how stood tbe fact ? Did nature withhold her bcun'ifuJ J > ifts , because tho soil was tilled by the poor mau ? Did tbe sun refus * e irs genial warmth because the poor uua tilled the cartu ? Bid the windsof heaven sweep with a terrific sound around tbe humble dwellings of the poor man , and yet breathe with gentle softa ^ ss and with a zspbyrs smile around the dwellings of tho rich

      ?—( cheera ) . No ; and until he was put in possession of some such evidence as this , be was resolve : ! to cling to tbe old fashioned opinion , that until be saw ono man born with a eaddie upon his back , and another with spurs upon bia beeis , hu would never belitvo thnt nature cad doomed one man to be the slave of another , aud tbat the other should ride rough sbod ov « r him —( loud cheers ) . He believed that nearly every political party in the state , at the present time , would readily acknowledge tbat there was a necessity for an extension of the franchise—; bear , bear ) . He believed thufc even professed Torie 3 , themselves , wou ' . d acknowledge that a greater portion of the people ought to be enfranchised ; and yet there were some individuals so void of intellect , so destitute cf honesty , of

      discrimination , and of natural justice , us to proclaim tbat tlie franchise was aa fu'ly extended as it ought to be—( hisses ) . That mau moat be a . cruel-hearted scoundrel and an unprincipled wretch , who would stand by and see a fellow man robbed of hU po . itical privileges—( hear , htBJ ) . Hu would brand as a dishonest man him who would witnus » ftHow man robbed of any portion of bin property , when at the same time he had the power to prevent such a robbery—ihssr , hear ) . And y ^ t tht-re were thousands who stood by and saw unprincipled rebberies practised on tbe people—robberies of the most sacred rights tbat mau could possibly possess ; and jot these individuals were accounted honest , honourable , and respectable members of / sooiety— ( hlstes . and cries of " Shame , shame " ) If the fact tbat tbe working

      classes were poor and degraded , and intuited by tbe other classes of society ; if tbe fact that the middle classes wore now crying out thnt trade was ruined , that debts were bad , Uiat tneir trade was gone , and that their pockets and tula were empty , and that they were standing or the verge of bankruptcy and ruin , front the tyranny of the aristocracy—if the fact that abovu . £ 12 , 000 , 000 a-year was Uikau out of the pockets of the peoplo to support a state church , from which they derived no benefit—and if tbe people proclaimed againit this injustice , they were persecuted in thlt world , and threatened with damnation in the next—( laughter )—if tbe fact that Lho people had to pay upwards of £ 20 , 000 , 060 annually for what was called interest on a debt , which thty were-no pwliiS to

      contvacting—( hear , hear )—whilst the nation was in a state of comparative beggary—if all theso facts were not sufficient to convince men that there was a necessity for a change , then be would direct their attention to tbn poor factory child , and to its pale and emaciated features , as furnishing a ready aosror to tbe question , ( Hear , hear . ) And if this was not sufficient , be would ask thousands of unhappy mothers , who were obliged to abandon the comforts of domestic life , to neglect the education of tbeir children , to descend into the bowels of tbe earth , aud work like beauts of burthen in a state of half nakedness—( Cries of " shame , sLame ") —and exposbd to all those hardships and privationi which none but hard-hearteil aud unprincipled wretches wonid submit them to—whether they thought there

      was any necessity for a change ?—( bear , heat ) . These women were possessed of as tender hearts , and of as ane feelings as the wives aud daughters of their proud oppressors . —( hear , hear ) . Were things right as they existed at present ?—( shouts of " no , no ") . No . There was figuratively a voice rising from the gloomy grave , ¦ where the victims of class legiblation were crumbling intoduBt , echoed baek from the desolated dwellings of the industrious poor , ¦ which would aroutse the spirit of justice from its slumber * , and would hurl ii'jnaticeand oppression from their blood-stained throne to the gulf of evarlasting ruin . ( Loud cheers ) The people rauBt not expect to obtain tbeir rights , by sitting caimly down at their own flra sides , and compl lining of the grievances under which they laboured . ( Htar , hear . ) No . Thay

      must make a grand struggle for tbeir rights . Ne nation could be free tmtil it was prepwed to establish ita own freedom . ( Hear , hear . ) They must not allow thv various adverse circumstances by which they were surrounded , to deter them from the exorcise of their moral energies . Let th-ir natural love of freedom animate tbeir hearts uurier ail circumstances , in ail times , and in ail places , and let them endeavour by every honourable , fair , and legitimate means , to accoiupllBh the oYject which tha Chartists bad so long had in view . The Government might attempt to defeat that object , by proseeuVing the people ' s friends ; but he begged to till tbe emissaries of the Government , that the mere prosecution of Chartist leaders would not enable it to accomplish its design by formally

      suppressing j > nbl 5 c meeticga—( hear , hear . )—Ho begged to Veil them tbat he should never be deterred from persevtring in the good cause , simply because hu had to appear next March , befere a judge , who no doubt had already made up his miud wl . at the sentence upou him was' to be . —( hear , and laughter . )—So far from that , he was looking with burning anxiety for tho ar > ival of the month of March , when he should have tbe glorious opportunity of holuing a Churtlat meeting in the Court-house , at Leicesttr , when " My Lord Judge , " would do him the honour to take the chair on that occasion—( much laughter and cheering . ) He should have an opportunity of teliiug the Government , at that time , that although tbe jury might pronounce him guilty , they could not atain fcis soul with crime , — that although they might confine him io a dungeon , they could not chain down tbe aspiring energies ef a

      free-born Kind , and that whatever punishment they might inflict upon him , they coula not suppress tbe soul-inspiring hope within him , that soon a time would come when injnbtice and tyranny would be crushed to ruin , by the virtue and intelligence of an emancipated people , and tbat on ita wreck a temple would be erected to the spread of universal freedom—( loud cheers . ) The Government might employ their spies—soulless wretches , who possessed merely the form of humanity , but tbe disposition of fiends—but they would be defeated in their aim —( cbeew . ) He wai proud to see tbe disposition of tbe people manifested in the way it bad been with respect to such men as GriCo—Griffin by same , and Griffin by nature , — a man who was so despicable in his own estimation as to become a t « ol ia the bands of a corrupt Government , to swear away the lives of bis fellow countrymen fOr tbe sake of paltry g » ld— ( loud cheers . )

      " Oh , for a tongue to curce tbe slave , ¦ Whose Utaron , like a desdly blight , Comes o ' a tbe councils of tbe brave , Aud blasts them in tbeir fcour of migh

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      May life ' s unblessed cup for him Be drugg'd with treacheries to the brim , With hopes that but allure to flf , With joys which vanish while be sipslike dead sea fruits that tempt the eve , But turn ts ashes ou the lips ; His country's curse , bis children ' s shame , Outcast of virtU 3 , peace and fame—May be at last , with lips of flame , On the parched desert , thirsting die ; Whilst lakes which ahone in mockery High , Are fading off , untouchwl , untaated , Like the once glorious hopes he blasted ; And when from Earth bis spirit flies , Just prophet , let tbe damn'd one dwell Full ia thu sight of paradise , Beholding heaven and feeling bell . "

      gueh was ihe language of tbe poet with rsepect to individuals like these . To such language be responded , and he believed every honest heart in the aser mblage he had then the pleasure to address , would do like wise—( cries of " we do , " and cheers ); If there were any middle-class men present , who might act as jurymen in March next , he 'would take that opportunity of informing them that they could not prevent the people obtaining their rights , by pronouncing verdicts of guilty against the Chartist leaders—( cheers ) . They never could prevent the onward progress of democracy , unless they could chain down . the human miad , and to da that tliey might aa well attempt to " pull down the dazz'ing . orV of day , in the full blnza of meridian - ' splendour , to command the ocean to recede ,

      or the heavenly bodies to stand-utill—( Much cheering . ) No . The Government might attempt to put down Chartist meetings , and by tbat means , endeavour to prevent the people from obtaining their rights , but the attempt would . fail- —( bear , ; bear . ) He would advise Government to remeniber the observations of Jwiius on this poiut . That diatineuished writer ,. 'said--V I like these public meetings . They warn us of the approach of tbe thief , and bid us be prepared for bis coming . *"—( Cheers . ) Let them remember this beautiful saying . Let them remember that public meetings ara a safety valve , through which the exeited feelings might escape , but if that channel of escape was destroyed , society would become like a volcano , scattering tbe bvitnvng « lementa--ol destruction , which had long been -accumulating , ' . on-.-: tbe- green . '' valleys beneath . Tney might suppress public meetings , but they could not root out from the public mind , the hatred , the indignation—tbe virtuous indignation , of

      honest men against tho present system- ^( cheera . ) If the Government did suppress public meetings , they would drive tbe people to brood , in gloomy silence , over their wrongs . Resolute men would form secret meetings . The torch . of incendiarism would tinge the sky with a glare tbat would light the despot to Mb grave , and tha steel of the assassin would strike In secret at the oppressor ' s door —( hear , hear . ) He called upon tbe Government , then , to woigh well the consequences of preveatiai ; public meetings ; and lie also called upon the people navex to cease from their exertions , until by every honest and peaceable means they hail established tbe principles of the People ' s Charter . ' . ( Su . out . 8 of " We never will . " ) All opposition brought against them would not be able to prevent them obtaining their political tights . H « believed that even now they were on the eve of obtaining that for which six long years they had been struggling , and , in anticipation of that victory , he would say , in the words of he poet ,. v ' ¦'¦¦' - " ¦¦ ¦ ¦'' . '¦' ¦ ; . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ¦ - : . ' ¦ : . <"¦ ' : ¦

      " Yes , It shall come , High Heaven the decision approves ! Oppression now -struggles in vain ;••' . , \; To the hell she has formed , supVifetitlou removes , And tyranny bites his own chain . In the records of time a new era unfolds , AU nature exults in its birth ; His creation benign the Civator beholds , And graute u new Charter to earth . Oh , catch the high import , ye winds as ye blow { O ? i bear it , ye waves , as ye roll , From regions tbat fuel tbe sun ' a vertical rays To the furtheat extrcuiea of thu pole . Equal rights , eqnal Iav ? s , to tho nations around . Peace and justice their precepts impart , And wherevtr the footiteps of man can be found , May he bind the decree on his heart . " - Mr . Jones resumed his seat amid loud and prolonged approbation . Gl ° e— " As the mbments roll . "

      The CilAlRMiN said he now came to the sentiment of the evening , naineJy , the health of their illustrious guest , Mr . Duncombe . ( Cheers . ) He ( fhn - chairman ) was quite sura tbat if the only service which tho Hon ^ Gentleman bad rendered to tbe people , was the prespntatiun of the Nnlional Petition to the House of Cobiruons , signed by three-and-a-half miHions , it was 6 ufi 5-Cient to entitle him to their heartfelt giatitune . —lloud cheers . )—But he bad also used his exertions to release Dr . M-Douall from tho unjust perstcution which had been Instituted against hiui by a Tory government , and on tbat account also , he merited the thatiks of every honuat Chartist . —( hear , hear . ) Withtut any further ' recbmmendaMon : of hU own ( for tLe sentiment amply rccommen < ied itself , ) he begged to propose "The beatth of our illustrious guest T , S D . mcombe , E-q ., M . P . and may he live long in the hearts of tho British people , for bis noblu exertions in their cause . "

      The toaat was drunk with immense and prolonged cheering . . " ' . . ' ' - . . ¦ :.. ¦'"" ' .. '¦ . .- ¦• .: : ¦ ¦¦ / ¦ .: T . S . BUNCOMBE , E-rq . M P ., In rising , was greeted with tbe most enthusiastic plaudits , deafening shouts , and clapping of hands , in which the ladies moat cordially J oined . These tokens of approbation having subsided , the Hon . Gentleman said he r . olly most sincerely wished that be could , even for an instant , believe that any services that he bad been able to render to the cat > te of the people , in bis place in Parliamont , entitled him to any por ; ion of tbat kindness , ah ., those complimenta , which tbat vast and respectable asHemblagfl had been pleased to pay him . Bui be confessed , a « a YorkBhireman , that be did feel proud to stand ttitre , ad ( ! . resEfug YoTkabiremen , aye , and

      Yorkshirewomen , too , onau occasion like the present . ( Cheers . \ An occasion , not lifee one of those meetings of which they read of as being of frtquent occurrence in the present day—ho meant thoBe meetings between what were calied agricultural constituent * , and their agricultural representatives , where they read in the daily Jour als , that tbose mosb worthy gentlemen were occupied the whole time / whenever they met any portion of their constituents , or any portion of the public , in the vain endeavour of trying to wipe away from their faces and their persons , some of that filth and some of that dirt , into which party spirit and the present minister of the . day , had so unmercifully drigged them during ; , the late session of Parliiiment —( cheers and laughter ) . Ne . t ! . ank God , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) had

      no votes to ezp » ain away—r ( chfers ) . He had no inconsistencies to excuse—( h ^ ar , hear ) . He stood there as an independent representative of the people in Parliament , asono who . he . trusted . had never deviated , and . please God , never would deviate from that course which he f ^ rst marked out for himsftlf , npon his entrance into public life ,- nearly sixteen years ojjo , when he -ranged himself on tbo side of the people—when he went tJitre determined , aa' far a ^ j his bumble abilities would allow him , to protect them from oppressi « -n , and to extend to thuru those rights and those privileges , which be felt R ' s- an Englishmen , as his fellow men , and as bis fellow freeiaei ' i , they were ehtitJed to possess . —( Loud and priloni ( ed cheering . )—He was much pleased . to find that hio conduct , in presenting ; to the House of Cbmiiiona the National Petition ,

      met with the approbation of the-tueetlng . When ho was asked to present the petition , he oonsiMered it one of the greatest honours that could be conferred upou any man —( hear , hear . ) He was prepared for the taunts and reproaches with which he was aware he should , in all probabilityj be met—( hear , hear . ) He was prepared , and he al » o prepared those wbo placed the petition in his bands , for tho probability of intuit being ' , bfivj-ed to tbe working classes of this country— ( hvar , bear . ) He bnew the materials he ha ; 1 to deal with , and he must say he was not dispppointed as to the insults tbat . ^ gejy offered —( hear , hear . ) The people caiue to the ¦ fcge of Commons ( and Leeds , be was proud to say , fonBhed a considerable number of signatures to the petition—he believed some 16 , 000 or 18 , 000 )—( hear , hear . ) Tbe Chairman . —Thirty tbousand-r- ( cheers . )

      Mr . . Buncombe . —Thirty thousand . He was glad tp hear it , 'btcause it was much more to their credit . Well , then , as he was before observing , tbe people can-. o before the Hooee ..-of . Commons , and what was the result of their application ? They came there stating that they bad manifold grievances to complain of , and that even the petition , lonj ; as it was , did not centain a tittle of their grievances —( hear , bear . ) They asked siinply to obtain a hearing at the bar of the House of Commons , in order that they might stiite for themselves , much luore « loqu 6 ntiy than he should bave been able to do , tiieir own griev * ances and their own wrongs . The meeting knew the manner in which that application was treated by the Hbuse —( hear , hear ) . They knew it was treated

      in a manner that if any man , any honest and upright man , bad a > doubt en tbe subject before , must baya gone to bis home satisfied thnt there was no sympathy between the House of Connuons and the people , and that it had no more to do with tae wrongs of the people , or exhibited any debire of removing tb « u , than tV ; e vote they came to on tbat evening—( heat , bear , and cbetts ) . To be sure , they had iifty-one members out of the 658 , who did vote for heuTlng the people at the bar of the House , but be maiutaised that if they wanted an additional proof as to the necesaity of reform in that House , it was to be found in the manner in which they treated the petition of three millions a half of the industrious classes « f the cointry—( load cheers ) . Tftey ,

      to be eurc , admitted tbat the distteas ol the peopw Was great iu the manufacturing districts , but what was the remedy 1 Did they propose to grant any relit * for that distress 1 No . Empty compIimenU wa > oil tbat they drew from tbe Ministry—compliments to tho people for bearing their griefa , their aonows , and theii sufferings , in the most exemplary manner—( loud laughter ) . Very eatlsfaolory , no doubt , to the suffering millions ot this coumxy —( exclamations ot "very , " followed by lamghUr ) . Now , at the coumencement cf tho last session , be remembered tbat one of tke representatives for . Leeds . ( Mr . William Beckett ) , who seconded tbe Address—( loud cries of ?• Oh , oh" ) , an extremely good son of man , if he were not a Tory—

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      ( laughter )—was obliged to admit the existence of distress ; and be said that all tbe accounts that bad been made to Parliament during the preceding Session were not in the aligbeat degree exaggerated ; but , on the contrary , he believed tbat tbe distresi was greatly on the increase—( loud crisa of hear , hear" ) . Ho ( Mr . Bunombe ) wanted to know , was that distress eve : i at the preseut moment in the slightest degree on tbe'decrease ? —( shouts of " no . no : on the increase ") He believed that throughout the manufacturing districts the disdlstresB Which Mr , Beckett then ad ' mitted , to be still on tbe increase ; and if so he wanted to know where it was to atop ?—( hear , hear ) . Wbo was to . atop , it ? .-The House of Coffimons , as at present constituted , would not stop ifc- ^( cries of " heir , bear , heair ); He would

      say universally , that there was not a man in the House of Commons , who would not admit tbe distress of tb' ) people . Naj , be would go futtber , and be-would say that there was not an individual out of t ae House , or in foreign countries / wh » was not aware of the distress under which the manufacturing population were at present suffering —( hear , hear . ) It was only the othar day be was talking to a gentleman ( to besuf » heyas a slave owner of Kentucky ) who had been tbrongh tbe manufacturing districts , and bad visited Lreds , Manchester , and other places , and he said he ' , was ihocked at the distress he bad witnessed —( bear , hear . ) He made use of thlB language : —'' I am a slave owner , but to talk of the misery aridsuffering of my slaves , ! Why it is nothing comparable to the suffering of yemr white

      slaves in the manufacturing districts "— ( bear ) . Kay , ha Went further . He said— "Every ono of my alaves have their cottages and their garden , and they each of them have their dog , and I will venture to say tbat their dogsconsumemore animal food in < t week than the manufacturihg operatives in either Leeds or Manchester consume in itcelvemonths . " —lOries . of "Hear , ' hear , " and ' . ' Shame , shame . ")—He ( Mr . Dancombe ) believed that it wm a true jiieture of the state of the mannfacturiiig population of this country . —( Hear , hear . )— Then what did it proceed from ? What was to be the cure ? They knew that the evils under which the country laboured proceeded from what was very properly designated ¦¦ " class-legislation . " —( Hear , bear . )—It proceeded from the attention of one class of the community to their own

      nterests , and total neglect of all others . —( Hear . )—Taat was what the Chartists , as sensible and honest : men , wished to prevent in future . Several remedied had been proposed to alleviate the public distress , and to remove the existing discontent . They were told— repeal the Corn Laws , and distress will immediately disappear —( laughter ) . But supposing the Corn Laws were repealed , and distrea * shonld disappear with them , would discontent ; disappear also ?—( cries-of " no , no . " ) They were quite right in saying no . The repeal of the Corn Laws might , and wonid , he had . no doubt , give employment'to a few , but if they were repealed tomorrow , -was it to be believed , was it to be supposed , that the peoplo of this country , who now began to know and to appreciate that which was their right , would sit

      down , quietly , and not trek , as they -were-at ptes ^ nt asking , for ft participation In tha electoral francaiea ?—( loud cheer *) . No . Ho was an enemy to monopoly of every kind , and he should vote and give , his strenuous oppositon to the Corn Laws . He haJ , and be should always vote for , their repeal ; but be .-should deceive the ineetiog , and he was satisfied he should deceive those gentlemen who asked simply for a repeal of the Corn Lawa ; if they expected to obtain it from the present House of Commons —( loud cheers ) . The Corn Law was merely a sore on one liuab ol the body poUtis —( bear , bear ) . They ml ^ hfc remove and heal the sore , but unlssa they also removed the disease from which that sore emanated , . fchoy woiiUt only have half done their work—( hear , bear , arid cheeraj .

      Repeal , then , the Corn Laws ; ino * he should be agreeably surprised if the present House of Commons carried such a measure , but he should not bulifev ' e it until he saw it . —| He : ir , hear , and laugUtsr . )—Id . was stated tile ' other ' dsy at Stockport , by a gentleman , that the Anti-CV ' Tii La * Leigu-j would obtain their £ 50 . 000 . H'i ( Mr . B . ) hoped they would ; becaina ba was e . iiisfled at the eud of the next session of parliament that thnt £ 50 , 0 . ¦ would become 50 , 000 additional reasons in favour of the Charier . —( L- ) Ud cheering . )—He hoped tben that tbe Ltague w « uM obtain the £ 50 , 000 , not for : tht ; Ir own sakes alone , but for th < 3 sake of -thu Charter . But tbtn when they bad failed—when they should haw a-iiuitted thai these •* rascally Chartists '' after all were" right , then earns the question , bow weru they to proceed to get tho

      repeal of the Corn L tws ?—( hear ) They ( tlie Chartists ) cauld tell tbeni . -R-jfprin . tWa House of Commons—( great cheering ) . Ttiey wanted ffee trade ; but they must have free franchise in ; tbe first Instance Tben they wou ' . d see the materials that they had to ' deal with in tbe House of Commoiia . There would jump up , perhaps in the first instauce , sonio rampant : T 0 ry , folio wed and seconded by some maudlin Whig , who wauld say to them , " What , is it possible ; are you going to jjin in this CTy for an extended franchiaa—would you attempt to disturt tho sattldhidnt of that great constitutional question as laid down by the Rsform B : il ?"—( laughter ) . Why , no dbuSt , on that point , there was not the slightest difference between the Wbigs and the Tories . Sir K Peel and Lord John Russell were both

      united in considering the R .-form Bill a final mtasure—( hear , hear , bear ) . He ( Mr . DVncorube ) was in the House of Commona , and aeiisted in passing theKefbrHi Bill , and h « should probably be to ' . d that thera was a sort of compact entered into bttw < . eri the supporters of that measure aud tho opponents of itthat it should be a fixed measure , and that it would be a gross breach of faiih on the part of usy indiv ;>! u-. vl to propose to disturb the settlement of that great constitutional question , as it bad Keen called . This language , in point of fact , had been used ovt . r and over u ^ ain . He ( Mr . Puncnube ) as be bad before observed , was a member of the ; House of ( Jouimans , and assisted in passlnj ; the Rt . form Bill . He beard of no such compact , and none was entored into—( hear , hear . ) No rational

      man out of the House would have listened to it for a moment . Ho w was tbe Rufoiin Bill passed ? By the voice of tbe : people . The people expected great benefit * from It , but they bad , been disappointed . ( Loud cries of hear , htar . ) They never entered into any compact , that it should be c-msidered a final measure , and they would have be « n idiots Lad they done so . ( Cheers . ) He should like to know what any ono would thiiik to a min , tho foandatiou ot whose house was giving way , the walls of whion -svtro coming down , and the iuterior of which , from day to day , was becoming more foul and more filthy—what would they think of such a man , if any one remonstrated with him , and said . don't ' you think it would be better to repair and wast your house ? " and tho

      party : was to reply to that reatonattance by saving , " ¦ What yon state [ is very true , but recollect I washed this house eight or ten years ago , and I considered tbat a final washing" ? ( Loud laughter and cheers . ) Why that , after all , was exactly the argument which the Whig * and Tories ustel , when he , and those with whom ho acted sought to effect a Reform in the present Home of CommoDS , whica'be had no hesitation in saying wa 3 much worse than the old . House of Commons , and that it was day by day fee coming more foul and more iiltby than the original Housu ever was —( loud cheers ) . Weil , then , tho question came , what sort of a washing were they to give this filthy place ?—( cries of " Chartist wasking" ) . He knew what they , as honest luen , what they , as good woikmuu , yroulvi

      say . They would say tbe first experiment baviag failed , let us at all events do it effectually j let ua have no bit by bit reform , no more nonsense , no more half measures—( cheers ) , That was what Uiey would say . They would ' examine the ; 'foundation'Of ; the building , and if thi-y found the foundatiun not . sufli-iently . wiiie , as they had already pronounced it ; and believed it to b © i tbey-wp \» Vd : of ¦ couTs-o expand and wiilen that foundation ; having done that they would improve the interior ,. and they would also lay down a rule that tlie interior shou ' . d undergo very frtquent examination unu inspection—nn examination , perhaps , ouce ia year—( hear , heat ); by which means , if any vermin or rats or anythiug of that sort Bhouhl by auy posslbi . Uty . crwp into the building , they migbt t ) Q very speedily expelled ;

      or if any decay was visible in coast qufance of these rats , it might Very speedily be reaovattd and Btrenytuened—( cheers' ) . . ' That was what ti-. ey , as ' hont-bt men and as good workmen , would propose . It was what the Chartists prj-posed . It was what the National Petition proposed ; and when the men of Lst-ds affixed their Bignaturea to thafc petition , tbat was the rational View which they ta < Jt of the question— ( hear , hear , hear . ) Well , then , what wa 3 the great objection to their principle ? It was said that if Uuiveraal Suffrage was to be eatribliahed to-morrow—that if the interior of tbe House of Commons was to be decorated by gentlemen who were returned there by Uaiverfcal Suffrage , that in the . first place tbe House Woul-. i become niore corrupt than at present ; as if thai Were possible—( cheers and laughter . ) Then it was said that a set of people would ba in poss » s 8 ion of votes who bad no stake in the country . Why Lord Abinget had said that tbe idea of a person without . any

      property at all having a vote for a Member of Parliament , or that iinybodj-wiio proclaimed sucb a doctrine , proclaimed that which , fell very little short of High Treaton —( Much laughter and applause . ) Again it was said tlmt such persons having votes would be no exposed to the temptation of bribery , treating , aud corruption , that iu point of fact they would have a more corrupt and wicked legislation thun Ui « y hud at this moment . —( Cries of , "No , no . " )—Now with regard to bribery be ( Mr . D ) bad offered to prove that a vast majority of tho members of tbe present House of Commons , ( and mark he undertook to prove thia before their faces at tbe bar of the bouse ) were tetumed by the grossest bribery , cotruption , and intimidation that bad ever taken place in the annals of electioneering . —( Great cheering . )—Did tha members of the House of Commons deny this?—No ; they abionk from the charge , aadthey passed It over . —( Hear , bear . )—Here , then , they bad a House of Commons which stood self-convicted

      as tbe offspring of groM : bribery and corruption . But it was a » id again , that if the working classes bad vote * , they would become the victims of treating , of dronkenoess and of , Intoxication ; that tbe public house would b « to * muck for tbeir virtue at an election . Ho should like to know if an account which he had tead the other day in tbe newspapers waa correct , and which he believed was correct , tbat at an election going on in tha West Riding for the TCgistrarshlp , there bad been tent in to one ' of- ' th « candidates , a bill , tbe first item of v » biob was eij / Ht thousand gU * wn of Bir . ridy ^ andwater —( Great laughter . ) And for wkose use was this brandy and "watur ? Was it for tho workirigelaases | No ; no man was entitled to vote at an electioa for registrar , unless he : was

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      possessed of a freehold at a hundred a-year so thai in point of fact these 8 , 000 glasses Of brandy and waW were Bupplied to tbat bigbly respectable class of frea . holders possessing property to the amount he had before stated—( hear , hear . ) Could the working classes do more than that?—( cries of " noj no ) . " W . ell then , if treating was what tb « y were so much afraid of , ' cOoU it .-be made worse by admitting the working classei within the pale of the Constitution 1—( loud cries of " no no" ) No , he maintained tbat aooner or later it musk come to that He believed that there would be no happiness ; no peace , and do contentment in this country untjil the working classes were brought within the pala of the Constitution ; and looking at tbeir growing , in . teliigence , they ought not to rest satisfied , and heiwped

      that they would net rest satisfied until tUey hart obtained that which he believed to be their righu w men ( cheers . ) He hoped at the same time that in seeking , their rights , they would conduct themselves- -as he / yj sure they would—peaceably and consiitutionaUy ; but that they would not on any account concede one iota of that which they knew to be their tight—( cheers and cries of " we won't" ) . It was pne of tat-ir inalienable rights to meet ia public and discuss their grievances and strong must be that Government—strong must be that arm of power—and unconstitutionally illegal would that arm of power be whenever it was attempted to be used for the purpose of attempting to put down meetings of the people assembled to express their opinions on the Government of the day—( load cheers )

      He trusted that the people never would concade one iot& of tbat sacred privilege . It had been attempted to deprive the people of it in consequence of what took place during last autumn in the manufacturing districts —( hear , hear ) . An attempt had been made by magis trates and judges , or at all events by one jadge on the benjb , to show that the people bad no right to meet in public—( biases ) . Lord Abinger bad bad tbe audacity to state that it was impossible for three or four thousand Englishmen to meet together , and that that should not be an illegal assemblage—( biases ) . And why did he say so ? Bscause , " in all probability , discussion woull be at an end in meetings of tbat description . " ( Exu-Iamation 8 of " Shame . ") He ( Mr . D . ) conld only say tb 3 t he had attended meetings macb

      tuora numerously ' composed than three or four thousand , and he had seen their conduct , which the pvesent House of Commons would do well to imitate . ( Hear , bear . ) He-bad heard none of those noises and he bad witnessed none cf those disgraceful scenet which be had so often seen in the House of Commona when discussion was going on —( hoar , hear- ; Bad Lord Abinger knew nothing of tbe people , still lea did ha know any thing of their spirit if ha supposed that they would submit to doctrines like this—( cheers . ) And if there was a spark of feeling for tbe people of this country in the House of Commons , although they might refuse an extension of the franchise , they could not he thought refuse an enquiry into tbat Judge * * conduct , when it was asked for ; and moreover .

      that tjhey would not refasa an enaniry into tbe conduct of the magistrates , more par ticularly those of the neighbourhood of Manchester , previous to the issuing of the Special Commission , and during the time that the disturbances were taking place— ( loud cries of " bear , hear . " ) From the informatisn whleh he ( Mr . D ) received when be was at Manchester , be bad no hesitation in saying that he Delievtid more vindictive proceedings -never took place than those which were instituted against certain indi viduals by the magistrates of Manchester , merely and s leiy because tbe men proceeded against passed by the name of Chartists—( cheers . ) Chartism did not yet find a place in the statute law of this country , where it was supposed to be a crime . If it were a crime .

      many of their ancastors wtre equally criminal . Even one of his ( Mr D . 'a ) ancestors , bearing tbe Bamename as himself , and nearly related to his family , who » pre » sauted the entire county of York for many yean , lie believed for seven Parliaments , in conjunction with Sir George Seville and Mr . Wilbsrforca , advocated those very principk-s which bo had then the honour to advocate before that meeting ' . ( Cheers . ) : He knew that tho present generation of his family was well known to aii of them , and they had been represented by some of them who were Tories ; bat for himself , so far from having fallen from the original family politics , ( If polit cs were to go by families . ) he maintained that he wasadhuriug to the politic * which his family originally entertained , and which he bad proviid tp flave existed ia tbat individual who bad Lad the honour of represent ing for seven Parliaments the whole ooutity of Tork—( loud cheers ) . He was proud on this occasion to mett his brother Yorkshiremen , and to receive from them

      this distinguished mark of tbeir opprobation . He was pleased to find that bis services , humble as they woe , should be thus rewarded . They might depend upon it , that if it was possible for him to waut an additional incentive to pursue the course he had hitherto followed , he should find it that evening ititbbir kindness , and in the vote to which they bad then come , and which he could assure them to the last hour of his life never c . ^ uid and sever should be forgotten by him—( load chsers . ) He could only say that , so long as he had a seat in the House of Commena , and they , tha men of Laeds , ba they ChartisU , or t » they what they might , if they fouud their zighU invaded , and they thought that hia Eervices , or any esertiona on his part could be at all effective in protecting them ; they had nothing toi do but to call upon him in hij place in parliament , ana , to tha best of hia abilities , he would serve them . ( Tae Hon . ( gentleman resumed his seat amidst enthusiastic and loud cheering . ) Glee— " Weel may the Uoatle Row . " "

      The chairman Baid he had now to glva the BeaUh of that distinguished and w « sH known individual , who sat on his left , with whom they were all well acquainted , and who , therefore , needed no remarks of his to introduce him to their notice . He begged ( o give— " ¦¦ ¦ '" - ¦ ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ " : ' : ' ..- ¦ : '" : ' : . ' ¦ V ¦ ¦ ¦ . "¦ - . - " Feirgus O'Connor , Eiqt ! , a , nd may he live to triumph over the powers of faction and tyranny ; . aud see OUT . common country bl < 53 t with ! that freedom no Has BO long Btruggled to obtain for her . " The-toast was drunk with deafening applause .

      F . O Connqr , Esq ., on rising , was hailed witbraptiirous applause . He commenced by addressing tha assensblage-. as Brother Cfiartista , EagJIsh mothers , English daughters , Eoglieh women , and English Children . When he cast back a glance to about that day seven years , or ta that time seven years , and when he considered it was then that he . came first among the men of Leeds , though stronger in health and more powerful in constitution , bearing with him the same principles that he bad heard so eloquently advocated there by a Yorkshbeman ; if in the advocacy of those principles he bad lost some health , be could look back upon the services he had rendered , and say that it had been lost in a good cause —( Hear , bear , and cheers . ) If Mr . Duncombe had reason Vo be ptoud—and who should

      not be proud to receive such an approval of his conduct from the lips of those whom he desired to serve ?—If ha , as a countryman ef their own , as a county man of theia own , felt proud at receiving their congratulations ; how much more proud shonld be ( Mr . O Connor ) be , as an ' alien in language , " an ' alien in blood , " a " foreigner " and an Irishman , thus standing before them—( Loud cheers . ) He bad lsng looked for this dayv He wm well aware that although they had been sowing tbeix seed stealthily by the disk of the moon , as the good husbandman always did , yet that there would come a day when they would acknowledge them under the canopy of the broad blue eky- ^ cheers . ) They looked at members of the H « iuse of Commons , like bis Hon . Friend , Mr . Dancombe , to propel the

      power which was passing outside—" the pressure from without "—and tbeyhad ever found him true to his post He had come among them that night to maintainihe glorious principles which he had so manfully and fearlessly avowed in the House—he had before nailed bia colours to tfee mast , and like every true-hearted patriot he was determined to stand or fall by them—( cheers ) Mr . Duncombe had told them he was » Cuartist . 0 ! tvyas a sweet name , though it might striell foul in the nostrilB of faction —( hfcar , tear . ) It was of thtj utmost importance that Mr-. Dancorabe shouV-j thua mix with the people . Arid why ? When ho undtrtopk to be their advocate in the House of Commons , he was not ashamed to read the humble letters uf those : whom , perhaps , others would not

      descend to peruse , —then he spoke only from hear-Mj Now , be could go before tho legislstare and say— "I fpsak from ocular demonstration—from ^ oral tradition . I have witnessed the honesty and sufferings of the people , and I admire the righteous means by which they propose to relieve themselvws ;"—( cheers . ) What ! The dog of a slave in Kentucky " to eat more aniinai- food in a week , than a free bom Knglishman in twelve months ] Ah . he know iomething of the manner in which ) tha slaves of America were treated , and be should like to knowhoW they would feel if called upon to pay £ -20 , 000 , 000 to emancipate the white slaves of Eaglaud —( near , bear , and cheers ) . ; As Chartists , they did not approve < f slavery . He would much rather eee them-in a more

      honourable position , Batiafled that in tha end tbfj vrcu ' ld workout their own social . and pohucal amelioi * ation— ( hear , hear ) . Bu » was it not a degradirg thing that a slave owner should come among . the people ot England , and taunt them whh being in * worse state of degradation than the black slaves , who were kept in bondage by their cruel owhers «( beai , hea »)? What was this state of things to be attributed to ? Not to the Corn Laws , not to any one single sore on tt « limbs of the body politic , but to grasping , destroyinf class legislation— ( chees&y What had class legislation done for them ? Some of them knew "what it was t <> abour for a hard day ' s work at the caprice of a tyrant master—ihear , hear ) . Some of them , too , bad Jbern masters , but class legislation had reduced them almu *

      to paupers . The system oT which the Cbaitato com * plained was so framed as to preserve political po « J in the hands of the few , which enabled them to distrb butethe wealth produced by the industrious classes among tbeir own order , and f # r tbeir o « exclusive benefit and enjoyment , presenting w * atarUing anomaly that fa a eountry , almow boundlesa fn its capabilities of productiveoesianf wealth , the very beings who were the prodtuwB of all wealth , yreie left without the means of . feeeBj * or clothing themselves— - ( cries of ' * sbanie , shaii 9-7 l What w « e tha Cbartiits eDntendlng for nowf B » friend ( Mr . Jones ) bad told them that he was not going to be Intimidated by being locked up in a co //« i ?« »« - a week- ( laughter . ) He hoped that Mt . J ^ f . * " ^ not learn nurch more than he knew , for is waula dw » ( Cdniinwi m $ ur Seventh Fa&eJ

      Untitled Article

      6 THE NORTIIIN ST 1 I , V

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 24, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1192/page/6/