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TO THE OLD GUARDS . r yaliant friends and comrades ! It has ever b een my delig ht to remind you , that , whenever oUr banner has been struck down by tyranny , we have watched our opportunity again to march onward from that spot which tyrants intended as our grave ; and if ever our glorious pause did make rapid advance , it has been since Monday the 10 th , w hen , armed with the constitution , we laid tyranny prostrate at our feet . and , guided by prudence , we threw the shield of protection over our battalions and their children . .,,, _ . _ , it intended that London
Old Guards , was should have been an unroofed slaughter house , and that tyranny should have its last feast epon tie remains of constitutional libertyfcut they were foiled . Mark , when * I use the -srord tyranny , I do so in a more comprehensive sense than is applicable to the mere government of the country . I apply it to the pressure of faction upon the Government . I always speak of communities not of individuals , and in justice to Sir George Grey , the Secr et ary o f S tate fo r the Home Department , I unhesitatingly assert , that no living man would more regret a single act of unnecessary cruelty , than would Sir G-. n ? v . A more tender-hearted man breathes not " : but , as I have ofter £ stated , MEN WILL
COMMIT ACTS AS A BODY , WHICH THE BASEST AMONG THEM WOULD BLUSH TO ACKNOWLEDGE AS AN INDIVIDUAL . However , it is consoling to me , and must be cheering to all . that I have received communic a tions f r om a ll parts of the United Empire , expressing the highest thanks and gratitude for my conduct on Monday , the 10 th , while we have even disarmed the Press of the factions ; and now ,, as I predicted , tfee Charter fills every mouth , and is the one topic which interests all classes .
Having , therefore , secured this triumph , and having increased your confidence in my judgment and resolution , it becomes my bounden duty to improve the advantage that oppression has given us . Old Guards , without selfishness , or without looking for too much sympathy—having made up my mind to brave the battle and the breeze —I think I may exultingly call your attention to the manner in which , despite of the preconcerted plan to damage my fame and overawe my resolution , I have sustained myself against the howl of faction and the taunting jeers of rampant tyranny .
My veracity was assailed upon two points . Firstly—Upon the number of signatures , and the description of signatures , attached to the National Petition ; and , secondly—as to the numbers that congregated upon Kennington Common . Now , I will divide the first subject under two heads : —Firstly , as to my own responsibility ; and , secondl y , as to the conduct of the Government ; and then I shall make ^ a few general Gbservations upon those two points .
As to my own responsibility—it was , as 1 stated in Parliament , morally and physicsilly Impossible that I , or any other man , could critically scrutinise the signatures to a great National Petition , and if it had been possible for jneto do so , I would have struck out every oppressor ' s name , and every obscene word , as , if my knowledge of those forgeries could be presumed , I would hold myself unworthy the name of man if I allowed the constitutional appeal of a virtuous people to be thus defiled . £ ' Secondly , as to the conduct of the Government . I charge the Government , upon the most perfect circumstantial evidence , of having conspired to damage your cause , by throwing an unjust , ungenerous , and unjustifiable disrepute upon your Petition .
K « w , mark , how I apply the evidence in support of this charge , The forms of the Bouse require that fourteen days' notice shall 6 e s ^ ven of any motion that is submitted to it j—that is , rhat ' no motion can embrace a longer period . Aware of this fact , I denied myself the pleasure of witnessing the ( to me ) gratifying spectacle of seeing the occupants taking possession of their castles and free labour £ elds on Monday , the 27 th of March . I was in my p lace upon that d » y , to have the first chance of bringing on the motion on the 10 th ,
as an amendment upon supply—Monday beiDg , In general , devoted to the voting of taxes out of your peckets ; but , as no question of supply had been entered upon the order book , I was debarred , and purposely debarred , of this opportunity ; meantime , wilb . a hypourkical magnanimity , characteristic of hypocritical "irhiir ^ ery , L ° rd John Russell would * not give me up the Monday , hut pompously conceded the following Friday , Jor the mere purpose , as I stated in Parliament , of discovering and bringing to lisht those obscenities and for-. geries , which had been practised by spies , as I shall nresentlv prove .
On Thursday evening , it was announced to the House by the Chairman of the Petition ¦ Committee , that the signatures to the petition were onlv one million nine hundred thousand four hundred and fifty-two , and there was evidence of a most critical review evinced in the fact that the Inspectors of the Petitions had discovered the several repetitions of different names , as well as the different ridiculous names and obscene words . This , 1 say , proves a very critical inspection , and yet , we are told that " thirteen Jaw-stationers * clerks counted
the whole of the signatures , and discovered the whole of the forgeries and obscene names , in the space of seventeen hours , Now , I resort to figures in refutation of this assertion , and I find that each clerk , besides the critical Inspection of names , must have coBnted about 147 , 170 names , in round numbers , within the prescribed time ; each clerk must have counted 8 , 660 within the hour , or 160 names in every minute , for seventeen consecutive hours , or two names and n . half in each second , for that period of time . This calculation only applies to the number of signatures stated by
the law clerks ; and my position cannot ^ be disturbed , or my argument refuted , by the re Joinder , that they counted them in sheets ; and for this reason , because the sheets were not uniform , even . fn > m any one town in the kingdom , while the minute inspection which led to the discovery of forged and obscene names , establishes , firstly , the impossibility of performing the work within the time ; and secondl y the certainty that thuse names were inserted
I » y the enemy . If they pervaded the wh&le petition — ten , twenty , nay , thirty times , the number of clerks could not have performed the work within the time ; while , if those forgeries and obscenities were confined to ' a few sheets to which immediate attention was directed by the perpetrators , was it fair—¦ was it ju « t , or honourable , to cast reproach upon the National Appeal for justice upon so weak , so disreputable , and so disgraceful a subterfuge .
Old Guards , keep the thread of this argument before you : —it is , that thirteen Jaw stationers , for seventeen consecutive honrSj counted two and a half names in every second , and critically inspected 147 , 170 names within that period . " Now , I ask , if there is a sane man in England who believes such an assertion ? And ihen , mark the period of time within which those seventeen hours were devoted to the work . 1 presented the Petition at five o ' clock on Monday , and at twelve o ' clock on Wednesday a member of the Government—as I stated ia the
House—informed me of the discovery ; that is , within forty three hours after 1 presented Jthe Petition , as the announcement was made to the House en Thursday evening , amid such yells and groans as I jiever before heard in my life In the most -disorderly assembly . "Well , in the midst of all I neither lost my resolution nor my presence of mind , because I ^ was sustained " bv ir . y Gwn consciousness of innocence , and Ihe guilt of the Government , as I wholly
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exonerate the House and the Petition Committee , the latter merely making the report which they had received from the Clerks , and the former receiving it as proof of my negligence , ? or an attempt te practise a delusion , time not being allowed upon the spur of the m o ment , to calculate the {[ impossibility of arriving at the conclusion stated to the House . Well , then , I ask , whether or no Friday was pompously given up by the noble Lord for the purpose of making a parade of this hidden treasure , and thus affording an opportunity to many mock supporters of the princi ple t o creep eut of the dilemma ?
So much for the signatures ; and now for the numbers assembled on Kennington Common . I confess that the marvellous coincidence of opinion that pervaded the whole Press on Tuesday morning , led me to the inevitable conclusion that some extraordinary influences had been operating upon their dreams on Monday night ; but , without a single comment of my own , I give the following letter , as proof of the genius b } ' whieh this coincidence was produced . ^ Read the following letter , Old Guards . It ' comea front one of the most efficient short-hand writers , w ho is in the habit of attending public meetings , and who was in the car upon the 10 th : —
Bbab Sib , —A fact lias just come to my knowledge , which ' may perhaps be interesting to yon , and which will in some measure explain lu . w all the daily papers on Tnesd&v last stated that tfcere wers only 15 , 000 persons present ' atthe meeting on Monday last ; which somewhat surprised me , as I am certain there Trere upwards of 200 , 000 . The Comreissieners of Police on Monday evening last , sent round to the papers a document marked private , requesting them to state that there were only 15 . G 00 per-Eons present at the meeting . Now , I think you ought to ask the Home Secretary , whether the police are paid for the purpose of supplying the . newspapers with lie ? .
Of course I do not wish you to mention my name in conneition with the matter , hut you may place the greatest reliance npoa my information . I am , dear air , faithfully yours , To Jeargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P . Now , then , what say you to the virtue of your government , and the justice of your Press ? I leave those two disgusting ; subjects of the Petition and the assemblage with ^ this sing le observation ; namely , that there never has been a large petition presented to the House
of Commons in which fraud has not been prac tised in a tenfold degree to that stated to have occurred in the case of your Petition ; and I am aware of the fact myself , that p a rtie s were employed by the day to affix signatures to Petitions both for and against Catholic Emancipation . A charge of a similar nature was made against the League , and against those who got up petitions for the admission of Jews , into Parliament ; but at those assertio ns t h e Go vernment sneere d as t hey were i n favour of the cause thev espoused .
Old Guards , I now leave this disgusting subject , and J come to the consideration of a matter of paramount importance ,
namely—THE DEATH OF LIBERTY . On Saturday next the corpse of the Constitution will come in funeral attire to the House of Lords , to lie in state for a few mo ments , and thence to be conveyed to the sepulchre where the remains of the Lord William Russell now lies , and there will the fri end of liberty , and liberty itself , rest entombed until the loud voice of an indignant people shall proclaim the b&nour of the one and the joyful resurrection of the other .
Old Guards , I never addressed you at so critical a period in my life . I have carried you successfully through the turmoil of' 39 and ' 40 , of ' 42 and ' 43 , and have piloted the good ship safely on the 10 th of April , ' 48 , through the ranks of our armed assailants ; hut the voice of knowledge silenced the cannon ' roar , and the vessel with her crew came safe to harbour . Then , Old Gunrds , at whom do you think the present stab that killed liberty is aimed ?
Can you doubt that it is at the p ilot who has so often steered the vessel between the shoals and the quicksands , and who has stood foremost in the battle , and received the lion ' s share of persecution . I have suffered for the folly and indiscretion of others , but I have ever kept with firm footing upon the constitution , and within the limits of the law—narrow and limited as they were—and now , Old Guards , will you allow folly or indiscretion to drive me from my vantage ground . I hear you respond , "No !'
A THOUSAND TIMES « NO ! " Hear me , then , and if you are valiant be discreet . The National Assembly proposes to violate the law , as the law only permits an assemblage of forty-nine persons to sit as a Convention ; and if that assembly meets , it will not only strengthen our opponents , but will deter the thousands—yea , millions—who are now preparing to join us from entering into our ranks . I bore , and without a murmur , the indiscretion and the foll y of some members of thelate Convention , and my reward was the payment of 150 l . towards their expenses , and insults , contumel y , and reproach in the House of Commons for their every act of indiscretion .
W i ll you just imagine men getting up at public meetings , in London , and announcing that they were prepared for battle ! You remember how Parson Stevens was prepared . How Peter Busgey was prepared ; and you know what has become of these valiant heroes . Now I tell you , with more courage than they possessed , that I am not ready to " tuck up my sleeves and go at it ; * ' but I tell you what 1 have done . I have suffered more in health and constitution within the last three weeks than I have within the ten years
previous , and still I am more ready and prepared to " go at it , " in the right way , than any one of our immaculate heroes . You are aware that I have always told you that the existence of three parties in a state was incompatible with the existence of peace , law , and order—that we would drive Peel and Russell to unite ; and having thus reduced parties to their proper dimensions—the oppressor and oppressedthat the voice of the ^ multitude brought to bear upon the votes of the representatives , would overwhelm and finally overthrow tvranny .
Well , notwithstanding the boasted triumph of Whiggery , its pointed cannon and " specials , " on Monday , the 10 th . inst , so rarely great is our victory manifest in out consummate courage , judgment , and skill , that one half of my time since has been devoted to reading the most kindly and affectionate letters from shop k e epers , tr ad esmen , an d ot h ers of the middle classes , tendering their hearty co operation to the popular cause , and expres sing their determination to urge , ' their representatives in parliament to assume a bold and manly position after Easter , and to propound measures which , six months ago , they would have scoffed at .
Old Guards , have I not always told you that the shopkeepers would fraternise with you when they understood their real interests ; and now that we have won them by our prudence , our j u dg ment , and o ur courage , sball we repulse them by our folly , our i n di scret i on , and our madness ? Old Guards , have not I alw&ys'been in front of th e b attle , as d will you alW | the madnoss of the intemperate to baulk us of the service of those recruits , aad once &ove throw- them into more dea % keatiHty ? *» o- .
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One week after Easter will test the sincerity of the Opposition . Upon my banner shall remain , THE PEOPLE ' S CHARTER AND
NO SURRENDER ! Bat in the name of God 1 in the name of Justice ! of Liberty and of Common Sense I let us wing the foe , and not scare the friend . No t on l y from all parts of the kingdom , !> ut in the House of Commons , I have received assurance that the People's Charter will be the adopted principle of the Opposition ; and the landed aristocracy of this country Saving proved themselves the greatest enemies of liberty , a prompt assault will he made upon their unconstitutional and worn-out priv 2 ege 9 .
Old Guards , you are not aware of the appliances at the disposal ofGovernment , especially in London ; but I will give you one significant proof of the fact , it is this—as I was leaving London on Saturday the 8 th , to discharge my duties as your bailiff , a man watched me , and followed me from John-street to the Bank-He ran after the cab '; "Mr Price , the manager of the Bank , was with me , and he observed , "What does that fellow ^ dressed ljKe a ' flavvie , mean by running after us : " ^ Wfieiri I came
out of the Bank , he addressed me thus— " Your honour , you don ' t know me now , but my name is — -, and you got me into the police when you were member for Cork , and for God Almi ghty ' s sake take care of yourself on Monday , for there's orders to shoot you ; and you should know that half of the devils that's cheering in the gallery in John-street is sent there by the Commissioners ; and ould Wellington ( bad luck to his soul ) is to be the Comtnander-in-Chief on Monday . "
Now , Old Guards , I did not require this statement to convince me of the fact that spies were sent to John-street ; and for this reason—haying a sharp eye and a sensible ear , I always found that the most ridiculous and violent speeches were cheered by those wolves in sheep's clothing , while the sensitive working-class-looking men shook their heads and hung them down . Old Guards , there is another class who have
recently joined us—I mean the Irish Repealers —but you must never lose sight of the fact , that not many months ago the then leading organ of that party designated the Six Points of the Charter as an abomination—the editor , Mr Duffy , declaring that his study should be "to widen the breach between the English and the Irish , and that he would be the last to bridge the gulf . '' He lms only recently become a convert to the '' abominations , " and would
now proclaim a very unequal division of labour —assigning to the ABOMINABLES the duty of fighting , and to himself the more easy task of talking about it . This champion of liberty is not quite satisfied with the result of our Demonstration of the 10 th ; but you will read in another part of the paper , a very different opinion , given by the editor of the Freeman ' s Journal upon the subject , andjto whom 1 invite
your attention . Add to this the fact , that all the pure Republican French papers declare that valiant Chartism had a noAle triumph over armed tyranny on the 10 th dbut , what is more gratifying than all , while oppressed with sickness , with rheumatism , and debility , reflection tells me that the gathering upon Kennington Common was the recruiting service of Chartism .
Thus , I show you that the middle classes , the shopkeepers , and Irish Repealers , are but recent converts to our principles , and that , thus augmented in force , it is our bounden duty to try its pressure upon the House . If you doubt the present temper of the former supporters of Whiggery , you should have been in lhe House on Friday night last , when every member of the Government , as well as the Attorney General , was received as herose , with the hootings , the howlings , and the yells of their former supporters , though not one word of it is reported by the Press , although they were actually hooted down every time they rose .
Old Guards , 1 assuve you that declining trade , failing manufactures , empty tills , increasing armaments , increased taxation , additional placemen and pensioners , increased pauperism , and growing insolence on the part ef the Government , has taken the gilt off the Free T rad e g ingerbread ; and that the forcser a d vocates o f that measure a re n ow amongst the most strenuous opponents of the Government .
In conclusion , t hen , what I have to implore of you , is to postpone your National Assembly , whose enthusiasm may be operated upon by s p ies , until you see the effect of this new combination of disappointed hope , w hen a rrayed against an intolerant liberty-slaying Govern , ment . You who have followed me so long , and whom I have served so faithfull y , will not , I am convinced , for the gratification of any passion , refuse obedience to my advice , and should its following f a il , then command Your faithful and devoted friend and servant , = Feargus O'Connor
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THE KENNINGTON COMMON MEETING . The ( DcBCirt ) Weekly Fheeman's Journal of Saturday last contains an excellent ariiele or the late Chartist demonstration , from which we give the following extract : — We bare heard the malt of this movement claassd by the advocates of oligarchic domination as a triumph over tbe people , We hold that the triumph is on the oth * r Me . Had the people contemplated Ma immediate revolution by force of urms , tbtu , indeed , might the oligarchy claim a victory in the result , but the hardworking , honest people contemplated no such tiling ; and , in the fact of their holding the meeting , regardless of threats , bat still more in the face of their refusing to be dragged into giving battle where they meant not t ^ rce , aud wSere evea aa armed enemy would have to force positions autn as few ever sneeeded in forcing , they hava won a signal triuaph for themselves and for constitutional agitation .
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Hazsl Grovb . —Mr Clark , of the Executive , will attend the camp meeting on Sunday ai tern dob , at two o ' cloik ; and the Stockpobi meeting at six o ' clock in the evening . Notiisgham . —F . O'Connor , Esq ., M . F .. will make a pub . io entry into Nottingham , on Eatfer Monday , on which day a tea party and ball wjjlbe hild , to celebrate tbe triumph gained by himover the faction that presented a petition against JQ 13 return to Parliament . Mr O'Connor wiJl ejier tbe town from the railway Btation precis ? ly r . i twelve o'clock at noon , and the people trill asaero . ole in the Market-place , at half-past ten o ' clock that morning —to start at eleven o ' cloek , and r coceed down Whceler-gate , AiberE-streat , L ster-g ate , and Car
rinjJton-street ,. to the railway station , ¦ where the procession vrvll await Mr O'Connor's arrival . The route from the Btation will be along the Leen-sida , Bridge street , Fiaber-gate , Carter-satr ,., SneiDti-n-street , Ilockley , © nose-gate , Bjroad-SMreet , Parliamentstreet , Chapel-bair , round the MaiXetplac , where Mr O'Connor , will address the " people . The tea party and ball * dU be held in the Exchange Hall . Doou to be opea at half-pasf . four o ' clmk in 'h s afternaon . Tea to commence at five , ' o'clock , and dancing at nine . Tickets to be had ofMrW . II . Mott , Goose * gate ; Mr Dowse , Oarr ^ gton ; Mr Saunders , RadtftrdiandiMrTko-nt An , Hyson-green . HstwooD -MrCi' / rk Cropper , of Manchester , will delwer a lecture Ca the Chartist-room , Hartleystreet , on Sunday evening , the 23 rd inst . Chair to betaken ats . x e ' tiocfr .
STpcKpoar .-. MrG . J . Clark will lecture here on Sunday evening , at six o'clock . A news room will be opened v * Saturday , the 22 nd inst ., in the school roam of tb e Ljceum , Weliingcori road . Si Heian- 's , —The members of this locality are requested to attend their weekly raeatisg < m Sunday , Aprils ^ , ¦ ¦ - ¦
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W Three subjects s—the parliamentary debates on the Gaging Bill ; the proceedings of the Convention ; and the great deraonatration on Kennington Common— occupied th * columns of our last wraber , to ino almost tufa ! exclusion of aliotber subjects v-ry unwillingly we were compelled to leave unnoticed a ho 3 t ofimportant meetinss , hol > l in differ ent parts of the country . We now prefix to this week's reportB ,. abridged notices of tee meetings excluded from oar last . It will be seen that we have adopted an arrangement by which , the reports oftha people '* meetings will appear to greater advantage . Let the enemies of Chartism read tbe content } of the folloR-in ? columns , and remember that 1 VOICE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE VOICE u OF GOD !'
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MANCHESTER . —On Sunday week , a monster demonstration , supposed to have rumba ed nenrly n hundred thougand persona , took place in Smithfield Market . The assemblage was divided into two distinct meetings . Amongst the speakers wore Mr Grocott , Mr Donovan , Mr Nuttall , Mr Cropper , Mr RanWne , and Mr John Murray , Resolutions were passed , pleding the meeting to support the Contention in any emergency . An immense meeting was holden in the People ' s Hall , in the evening . The Special Cob 9 table 8 . —A . numerous body of BDeeial constables signed a requisition to the mayor for the use of the Town-hall , to consider how far thfy were justified , in cast ? of riot , to il ' -use their customers . Of course the Town-liall was refused . The constables then engaged the Corn Exchange , and held fcwe meetings , and passed resolutions to support the People ' s Charter .
The Tiudbs — Hhe trade ? delegates of Manchester have held two meetings and passed resolutions in favour of the Charier , and proteoling against the Gaseins Bill . Ths Unemployed Opehatives . —A meeting of the ' unemployed operatives' was held on Saturday evening ks , in St vensonVsquare . W . II- Chadwick was called to the chair . They were told that they were sot yet prepared to receive their rights ; that they were too . degraded and ignorant . He believed they were prepared . Aa a class , they were as moral aa any other people in the world ; and it they were not , it was the fault of the government . If government changed the laws , they would also change the conduct of the people . He believed th& ' the peopla were intellectually and physically
prepared to receive their right ? . ( Hear . ) James Abram Ball declared , tliat he was determined to speak hia mifid , in spite of what tha authorities might say . They hart , however , bad plenty of talking ; and it was now high time for acting . They were told to be contented . But could they be contented in slavery 5 ( ' No . ' ) Now , then , was clie time for action . He was determined to resist the oppression under which he had snff red . — William Schofield said , the mayor of Manchester had put out a proclamation in which he alluded to unprincip ' ed agitators . ' who were inciting the people to the destruction of property . Had he ever advised tbera to deslroy property ( No . ) Then the mayor must be a Irir , and , as such , stood confounded . Ttfa Droceedinaa terminated about eight o ' clock . —AbridgeAJrom the 'Manchester Guardian . '
Mektiso at the Pbiflb ' s Ikstittjtb —On Monday evening last , a meeting was held at the People ' s Institute , to protest against the ' Gagging Bill' of Sir George lirey . Mr Burtoa , umbrella maker , Oldham-road , waa called to the chair ; and after Bta ' viBg that it waa the object of tha bill in qsestion to prevent the people complaining of their grievances , re said , that if the Chartists wsre determined to respect persons and property , it was tbe duty of all the middle classes to join them . ( Applause . ) The interests of the middle elns 3 es depended upon the workine classes getting their rights ; for tbe middle classes depended upon the prosperity of tbe working classes —Mr James George Clark then moved the first resolution , denousciDg the bill , now before the House of Commons , as the most flagrant a'teropt
made in this country for centuries to deprive tbe peopleoF their right to complain of grievances . This bill , he said , was an attempt to stay the people of this country from pa ^ s ' iEg that Rubicon which must , would , and should , be passed by the people of this country . ( Applause . ) II © then described the suffering of the working classes , which , he alleged , had arisen from the oligarchy having prevented tbe land from being opened to them . The bill of Sir George Grey was unnatural , tyrannical and op * pressi ^ e . Should the lion , the fierco tiger , the htnb , the sheep , and everything bo allowed to send forth their plaintive cries when distressed ; but should not man have the power to send forth hia plaintive cry ; to Bend forth his wrongs in d nunciations or imprecations against the tyrants who
not only robbed him of the produce of his industry , buti were obataclea to the working classes pro-. ' ucfng abundance of wraith lor ihemsoheB The people of England would not submit that one million and a half ef them should be sent to death like the Irish . ( 'No , no . ' ) Rather than eubmitto this he would proclaim his wrongs , if he were sentenced to transportation for life or for death—Mr George Archdeacon , in seconding the resolution , said they had not sent a petition against thia bill of Sir George Grey , because , af : er what bad pasaed with reference to the National Petition , they believed that it would have been of no use . There was nothin" frr them but to enter tHeii ' strong protest against it . and to t ° ll these men of blood tbat . they repudiated it . ( A Voice : ' We will Dever volunteer
a " aiD 8 t Ireland a ^ ain . ' Cries of 'Never , ' nnd great applause . ) Never before were the people of England and Ireland both uo at tbo same time , struggling for their liberties . He exhorted them in conclusion , to avoid any fcreach of the peace , and to pat from among them all who wished to commit petty crimes . The resolution was then put and unanimously agreed to . Mr Thomas Whitaker moved a resolution expressing joy at tho unioa between the middle and workingclasses . andpledging that meetingto preserve tl : at union inviolate , and to use all the means in their power to obtain the Peeple ' s Charter . The time had now arrived when tbo middle classes b&w that tlieir prosperity depended oa the prosperity of
the working clashes . A committee of shopkeepers and middle e !» s * men bad been formed to carry out the union which took place in tbe Corn Exchange , who would esert every means to convince the middle classes who had hitherto entertained prejudices against the princip ' os and opinions of the working classes ; and to bring about a better understanding between tbe two classes . —Mr George Cbambiro , in seconding the resolution , said thai the people were wedded to the Charter , and that it hi" * hecomo the topic of the day , from the New Croat fe > l i © Mayor , The resolution was carried , and a © 6 »> f thanks having been given to the chairman , tb < j proceedings erminated about ten o ' elcck .
A Mbbiinb op Shopkebper 9 is favour of Char-Tien . —A public meeting of shopkeepers was beld on Monday evening at the Temperance-hall , in Jerseystreet , to take into consideration the best means of carrying out the resolutions passed at the meeting of the Corn Exchange , on the 10 th instant . The chair was occupied by Me George Chambers , provision dealer , of Ancoits-street . Me Georga II . Smith , shoemaker , said several private meetiEgs of shopkeepers had been recently held , with reference to the new aovement now commenced by Mr Joseph Hume , Mr Cobden , and others , and they had come to the resolution that it was inexpedient to aid that movement , because it excluded principles that were of the greatest importance in seenring the freedom ol the people , and if successful wo Id nob do away with thepiejentsystem of class legislation . At their la-tmsetingit was resolved , 'That this mooting
form itself into n provisional committee , with power to add to its number , for the purpose of carrying into effect the objects of tho meeting of Monday , April lOih , in tbe Corn Exchange-namely , a union of all classes for obtaining the rights of the people . Several names were tbon received of shopkaer-ers present , who woro desirous to form a society te carry out the objects mentioned in tha resolution . A subonmmitteo was then appointed consisting of Messrs Thomas WhUtaker , William Burton , Thomas Barrow , George II . Smith , atsd George Chambers , Jo draw up rules for the guidance of the- aociety , and submit them to a future meeting . -Mr Thomas llwwood reminded tho metting tbat in tall probability when tbeyne . ifc met they would not DO permitted , to express their sentiments with freedom , and therefore advised them to " say what they had Jo say now -r , Thomas Rankin , an operativo , said ft& souW anaww
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for the working classes taafc they would S ° on just tbe aatno aa hetpre , totally . heedleBB of Sir George Grey's bill ;¦ and , if the government imprisoned any of then » > it Would ba for the people to say whether t&ey would BvSer thai ; imprisonment or Bot . * -The Chrirman said the nf vr law had not raade-awngle impression on' his mind ; it never for & moment entered hia brain ; and he should continue to express his sentiments as fearlessly as ever . —The meeting then adjourned , shortly before eight o ' clock , to Tuesday next , to consider the rules to be drawn up l > y the sub committee . —From the MancUittr Guardian .
Open-air Mezting :. —Anopen-air meeting waa . beld on Tuesday evening , in Oldfield Road , Saifoid , 'to consider the best means of opposing the bill now before PaiMaraent ; called the'Groirn and Gorernmept Security Bill . ' and to petition her Majesty to dismiss her pieaent ministers , and call to her councils such men as will give justice to the people / At a quarter past seven o'clock , the chair was taken bj > 3 > -&un # man named James , Hoyle . The Chairman having stated the objects of the meeting , said that the MarcnjssarER Guardian told the world only last wet k that Chartism was dead , but be rather thought that paper would find ( hat Chartism was not dead , nor yet sleeping . Mr John Flinn moved the first resolution , declaring that SirGeorge Grey ' s bill would ' do more
to alienate tbe affection of the people than any other measure for the Jasfc fifty years . What claim hao the crown and government upon the people , wbi > n » they treated as aliens ? Did the { . overnment . think that tbe people would sit quietly down while they plundered them . The government >» id tbat tbey were enemies of peace , law , and order ; but that order was the onion bastile and misery . The resolution was seoondtd by amaa named Norris , who 6 aid be was an advooate of moral force , and called on the middle classes to come forward aud join the working e ' aaaes in gaining the Peoulo ' a Charter ; The resolution was carried . Mr Charlea Littlev moved tut
t . ext resolution , calling on the Queen to dismi » a her present ministers , and t ~> call to her councils men who would grant the Peoples Charter and Repeal . — Mr George Archdeacon Beconded tbe resp ' ution . He said that the government had pretended that the ) triumphed ln ? t Monday , but the penplo would show them that it was the Convention and the people that gained the triumph . ( Cheers . ) Lot them do nil that they could t- > prevent tbecarrjingoutof the bill , and not put themselves in the power of 'detective * . ' and spies . —Thanks being voted to the chairman , the proceedings terrain .- ! ted at' fnlf-pasteight o ' clack . —Abridged from tbe Manchester Ouardian .
Camp Mbetixo . —A Chartist camp meeting was held on Sunday last , at Hurst Green . Ashtnn-under Lyne . Many thousands were present . —Mr Richard Pilling , of Ashton , was called to the chair , and in opening the proceedings he commenced by denouncing the gagging bill , and said thatifall were of bis mind they would , on the morning tbat that bill received a tbird reading cease labour until the government had conceded' their just riifhts . The bloody and brutal Whigs had most uns / crupalonsly and contemptuously investigated the National Petition ; but although they said that they had fonuri the names of ' PugnoBe , ' Longnose , ' ' . Snubnose , ' and ' Wellington' attached to it , waa it not more likely that these names had been put tht > re by the
tairteen clerks who were appointed by [ he govern - ment to investigate it , than by tho Chartists ?—( Appiauge . )—He had no doubt in bis own mind tbnt that was the fact . If the working and middle classes united together , then the Charter would be the Jaw of tho land in three months , and that by moral means too . He concluded by adverting to ttm meetings which uad been ield , which , in his opinion , showed tbat the middle classes were about to join tho working classes in agitating fur the Charier ; and by calling on the meeting to swear tbat they would not abandon their agitation till every jaale of twenty-one Years of age , untainted by crime , had a vote . Mr George Candelet , of Hyde , moved a resolution expressing contempt for tbe
statements made by the committee of tho nouse of Commons , charging the people of this countrj with teing a nation of forgers , and retorting tbe charge back on the House of Coramonp , as it was the opinion of that meeting tbat if tha names had been forged to the petition , tbey had beea forged by spies paid out of the secret service money , that tbe government might be able to reject the petition altogether , by saying tbat it was toa contemptible to be taken notice of . The people , said the speaker , were now treated worse than slaves ; th y wer < treated as criminals . Would they submit to be thus degraded ? Let them tell the delegate whom they sent to the National Assembly that they were determined to continue the agitation in a peaceable
lawful , aad constitutional manner ; that they were prepared to go up to the Queen with a memorial praying her to dismiss her present advisers , and that upon the rejection of that memorial , tbey were then prepared to day what the next resource should be . He then proceeded to denounce the ' gagoin ^ bill , ' and expressed his opinion tbat tha committee who had found the curious names attached io ih ^ National Petition had put them there . Mr Abel Duke called on all those who had signed the Petition to hoU up tbtir bands , In ov&tv that ( that meeting being taken to represent the public opinion of A 3 bton ) it might be seen what proportion of the population wero really in favour ot and had signed
tbe National Petition . ( A show of hand 9 was then taken , and every hand in the crowd appeared to be held up . )—Mr Robt . Wild , the delegate from Aah'on to the National Convention , next addressed tbe meeting . He implored them to be united , and not to commit , any breach of tha peace , because by this I hey would jeopardise their cause . The resolution was tben nut to the meeting , and carried . —Thomas Medcalf Jen&ins , of Stalybrldge , then proposed a resolution denouncing the gagnin * b ))) , and reeowmending tbat a petition should be sent to the House of Commons against it . The resolution was aeoanded , and passed unanimously . The proceedicga tben terminated . —Manchester Guardian .
Newcastle upon-Tijve —A very lar # e and innu ential meeting took place on Monday , April 10 th , to adopt a petition to the Hous" of Commons for the Repeal of the Legislative Union bttwetn Great Britain and Ireland . Tha petition waa adopted ananimously , amidst the greatest enthusiasm . North Shields . —Two numerously-attended meetings were held here on tbe 10 th and lltb . Reaolu tiuus , in support of the Convention and denunciatory of the Gagging Bill , were unanimously adopted . Hutu— A splendid rcestin ? took plaoe in the Tem p erance Hall , on tho llth . Dr Gordon presided . A resolution was adopted , approving of the course taken by the Convention on Monday , the 10 th ; also a resolution , condemnatory of Sir George Grey ' s Gagging Bill . The meeting was crowded to exoess , and numbers had to go away , unable td gain admission .
Bury . —On Monday evening week a large meeting took place in Union-square , in support of the Peopk ' s Charter . In sp . ts of the ragicg of a pitiless storm about three ttoas&nd persons were present . Mr Bowker was calkd to the chair , » nd delivered an excellent address . Mr Roberts moved the first isolation , which expresled confidence in the Convention . Mr Rankin , from Manchester , and Mr Bell , irorn Htywood , supported the resolution , in energetic and eloquent speecho , whieh were loudly applauded , The re- olution was adopted , and the meeting then separ-t ^ l , after having given loud cheers for the Charter . Baring tbe time of the meetirg the military pore kept in the barrack * , the soldiers having been ordered to be ready at a motnent ' s notice .
Liverpool —On Friday night a third weekly gathering of the Chartists of ttis town was held at the Musicliall . Mr M'Lean was cailed to tUechai ? . Ha adverted to the unnecessary military preparations made in town , and remarked it as singular thit the Peace Socieiy ,, w '! o had posted a placard on tha walla ; warning tue people against anarchy , should not bave levelled it instead at the armed butcher ? . Being united , neither an armed nor any other forcfi would keep the Charter from them . —Mr Thoma- Junes censured one or two of the local papers for tbe attacks whicli they had nrnde up ' ii the Cuart ' stciuM . . Ther ) were but four honest
papers in the kingdom—the Ni ktiern Star , Edin . nuitofi ExpmLSs ,. Nation , and Umitkd Iiushman ( A . cheer tor Mitclie ! . ) Tki tpeakct condemned the commercial system , as' done and gone tor ever j ' and announced that ouo measare ,. which would be pas ? e ; when the Charter became law , would be thercposses sion of tho enclosed waste lands of this country , oi which they had been unjustly robbed . Alluding to the ( ioverument bill for the suppression of sedition , Mr Jones warned Lord John Russell that tbe | e p ' . < - of this country would imitate tboae of France , ana send , him adrift , Jike M . Guizot . —Dr Reynolds addressed ths meeting amidst loud applause . Tb meeting then diiBolved .
W lUTKHAVaN . — . FRiZKRNISATION . — B , € C 8 Rtly 1 > largo meeting of Chanists and Repealers was feeld in the Theatre ttoyal . Tha chair was taken by Mr Jtihn . Byvae , chemist , and tha ufeost enfchuajasw nnd order prevailed during the nmtire proceedings A reaolatiou was passed dee ' at ' . ng tha belief of tec meeting , that nothing *? onW w . w ' sfy tbe united peopii bt" lYBl&ndandEufr > Hd , or < r . m > to eilJs under wb » cu bath werajabouving . aave r * RepoaJ ol tho Uwoa , tot I rthud , and the adoptfco . « £ sjte Peofla a barter
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I for England , and that in this belief they pl « Jge themselves to brine about both by all the means i their poner . —Mr 11 . 0 'Hanlon , in a strong and we delivered speeeh , proposed the resolution , and wa most heartily greeted by the entire audience , wit whom he appeared to be a special favourite , it wa aeooaded by Mr Swift . Mr Finnigan from Mtmha tcr , who h ' dcome thereupon mvitatun , w « the , ! introduced . amidst great applause . Be said ate speaking at length upon Ireland ' s right to . sett-go veri ; ment , that the indusmoss . classes had mm powerlul raugoethim < M othmto keep the ma of the country . He contended for Universal Suf fraize , and alluded to the famine siill . prevalent in Ireiandojbserying that if the people Were had a
, domestic legislature , such would not be ttfeca * O . He charged the government with taunting the Jnsn 10 their ignorance , although U liaddpne ail in its powt to keep them in ignorance , ... He said a strugg le waa at hand , ai > d if tbe government ditl not net properly in time , the people might imitate Freiich fashions . He trusted , however , tlfafc all would end pe iceably , when the . futt amount ot public opin . ioaw . as brought ' to'b ' ear upon tboae subjects , he was confident tllfl people united tlir » ugh weal and wi . oV would march ,, shoulder to shoulder , until the Union waa repealed * and tbs Charter achieved : Mr Fmnigas resumed hia seat whilst peals of approbatka sfecofe the ro 6 f tree . —Mr fl . liandcock , ( i King-street , a most uaa » - lous Chartist and' Repealermoved the adoption ef a
, petition asking for the Charter < ind Repeal , whiclt wus seconded by Mr Valentine Fox . a member of the Conciliation IJall body of Repealers , when the chairman got up and said , be had pleasure in introducing ? to tbe meeting Mr George Archdeacon , . the other gentleman jrhe had been inviicti there , tQ assist the men of Whitehaven . —Mr Archdeacon said ; The march of Dsmoeracy for tbo lasDtcw wetks was most significant , and if jit wavnsd not tyranta he knew " noi what weuJd . lie looked at pacing Events as if the ringer of the Almighty , like the tire pillar of uldea times , was pointing the way tojfrcedam ; as if , in fact , the Godhead was weary of the persecution of the people and dettrminetl to crutsk despotiaiu all over ( he earth . He declared the utter abhorrence ol the
people towards the destroyers * i property , street brawlers , and petty robbers . Ho exphiiied ^ the glorious position of : tha men of Manchester since their union , to which bappy union he attriluUd thu Stoppage of the intended carnage in Dublin upon tbe Monday after Pacrick ' a-day . Mr Archdeacon thea hrUily but energetically adverted to the indecent and insane manner in which tbe House of Commons received Mr O'ConDor's notice of presenting the Chartist petition , lie said as an Irishman , the Charter had his warm support , and would haver that of all his countrymen , but too long kept from fraternity with the democrats of England by bad , .-elfisli , interested advisee , and by the machinations of a . vile , hideous ly tyrannicaf , and treacherous
government , lie appealed to tbe Englishmen there , if it would not be beuer fur the Irish people to be sabred down than havo another million of corpses tossed through , fields and in ditcheB lo be devoured by dogs— Ureat sensation)— -and asked them would . they not t . ledge themselves , like unto the men at Oldham Edgo and Manchester , to shield tram danger thepVOiecultd patriot *—Smith . O'Brien ^ Meaghar , and Mitchel . ( At this part of the speaker ' s address , all in tbe theatre stood up , and emphatically cried out' We will . ' ) Mr Archdeacon concluded by ttiting that tbe prospect loir ; ill was or ghtening , and tbat union , such as he saw around him , such m ha trusted should ever more prevail in Whitehaveu , would enable them to gra .-p liberty , and re-model institutions in accordap . ee with the spirit of the age , The lecturer after stating that ha would have tho honour ofadddressug them . the next evening on ' tha necessity and beauty of temperance , *
sat down much applauded . A vote of thanks was moved to tho chairman , which was seconded by Mr Fiunigan , who observed , that he would nrxt night move an address to the gallant French people . Thi ea cheera were give" f » kepeal , thres » for the Charter ^ and three for F , O'Jjrinor , M . P . The meeting indeed progressed aa I terminated gloriously , notwithstanding the pettuance which * lk-9 Karl of Lonsdale I'xhibittd , waeu informed . { hat agitation was about being carried into Cumberland , and up to tho very jjntes oi' LowtherCa > tle , notwithstandipgthe bringing in quietly in' twos and times by his agent and relative , of 290 yeomanry , and swearing in another 250 specials—notwithstanding also this individual ' s direction to tbe police , to take down the placards , which the obedient functionary proceeded to effect until Tfarned thai he wou ) d be prosecuted f •* felony , when he desiattd . As in every other case the people proved themselves the proper special constable * .
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Lmjghborough Chartist DKM-iNaTBATioK , — One of the greatest , meeting * ever beld in Louguborough took place on Sunday . A preliminary' mteiing was hi Id on Mount Sorrell Common , about f .-. ur miles from Lougliboroiinn , at ten o ' clock in the motning , at which about 3 , 000 persons werd present " , 1 , 000 of whom had walked in \ r cession , six abreast , from Leicester . Addresses were delivered by Me 3 sra Roberts of Nottingham , Skevington of Loughborough , Timms ami Couison of Leicester , and Dc M'Dcaalb Two or three trorpj of Yeomanry Cavalry were on the common during the time tbe meeting was held , but their services were not n » ed < d . At about
halfpast eleven o ' clock the people igain formed in precession / and walked to Loughboruu ^ h . Dr M Duuall walking in front ., and Mr Robsrls , of N-tii . 3 Kham , ia the rear . They arrived at Loughborough about one o ' clock , aDd at half-peat two a public metting was commenced in the m ;« rkft place . Mr Skeviogton was called upon to preside , and firm but temptrate addresses were delivered by the Chairman , Mes-ra Roberta atd Barbsv of Nittiiighara . Couison of Lei » cester , Mr Passmore Edwards { a lecturer for tlse Peace Society ) , and Dr M'Douall . Tbefollowing resolution was carried unanimously : — ' Tlut this racetiBg ^ epwse&ling the Chartiata of Loughb ^ rouch Leicester , . Nottingham , and various other £ . djaceuC places , do declare that whilst ih » y are deiciixuned tor
agitate for , and accept nothing less than the principles of the Churter , they will do so in a lecal , constitu » tiona ! , and peaceful manner ; that they ave , and shalL to , the deteuriintd opponents of all who imy injum or attempt to destroy property . ' A number of pesicemanand pensioners , and about 500 special coxstnh . ea , were not far away from the meeting , bat there was not the stickiest breach W the peace . There were about 6 , 000 persons present . On Monday evening the women ot L- > ughborcu £ ii made a spirited deraoustra * ( ion , by waking in procession round tbe iov >» , and holding a meeting iu the marliei place . —On Tuisday mvrnicg information reached Lo ! ighboroiK ? h that twenty or tflircy Cliartl 8 t 8 had been tslsen imo enst dy by tbe police in London on Monday eveiriDgr
A tew of the Chartists immediately ran to various parts of the town with the information , asd a meeting wm convened in the jMarkei-plsiee , in . an incredibly short tiaie . It was here thought proper to dendmess . nciers into some of the neighbouring village ? , ticall a meeting for two o ' clock in tbe after , ood , Thia was accordingly dono , but before the people had dispersed , a troop of Dragoons tode into the- Marketplace , and were received with cheers . Tiey were ihen put through then- various movements with : swords and muskets , and the pensioners ar . d special constables who had been on diry on Sunday , were sumaii ned to attend foithwith . Three magistrates ^ aud an armed bod » of policemen , were also in the toiro before the tirao for tl . o aiterncon media !' . Betwteu
two and three the villagers began to muster siron ^ Jy . AaiMng ^ thO 38 from 61 c Mount Sorrell side were nearly one hundred quarry men , wlio , on bearing that a number of Chartist ? , had btien apprehended in . London , left their work to join in a demonstration at Loughborougb , nnd brought their kaaauiers with them , but di < i aot display them . A lasys proeossion . moved through a good part of the town , and the ^ aeeti ^ g was held in trie Ward's En / l .. It would havesbeen held in the Market-place , but Kr Skevingtoa thought that in that case some of sue ninny special constables who were thero might make resaarks wuich would tend to exasperate tha people , and lead to a disturbance . Mr Skfriugton told the psi ^ le that they were called together to show ths go ^ ernmtnt thac
they were with the people of Lofton . Tbe rumour that Mr O'Connor was taken insa , custody was lake ; the governmeat had not dared to totieh either him or any otber flicraier of tbe Cca ^ eiMion . ( Cheers . * While Mr Skestngton waa rcadis-a a paragraph or two from the foarth edition of AfoHes * y ' d Telegraph , Charles March ? hillipps , Esq . * * cwipty miigistrate > and brother of the Un < ler-Secrabi > fl } : of State , rode up * and read a telegraphic < lc 6 p 3 tebi iVem Sir George Grey to the magistrate ? , grafting that London wes perfectly quios , and there had b . een no diB ^ urbancts s he therefor © dtsirtd Mr Skmnstdn to allow th& meeting to disperse . Mr Skevioglon said tbey wonld . disperse in . due time , ani' in , the presence e ? Mr Phillippstested tho feelingof &e people as to their
, , determirjaitisn to mp *«* lite and property .., ' while seeking fiheir ritjhti , audited all who wu'Z gpnovae when he told them to hold up their haotf , a v ^ at number ef handB were atld « p , and there was a cry of * Wellcome again r » b . vn you want us , f ?^* vingtoa told them fthac la learned h »» ; ***»»»**« from Mr PhUhpps ani Mr Dawon ( a »»» er w » rmwate ) in 1 B 32 . M * PM 1 KPP » ««* hef vera / ma ed torilie ' Five Potato * of the Chaiter . . Mr Skwinstoa KeoMd mor * Tioleni l ^ jft in sgit ^ K tor Kform BUI , Sban ho ever bad too in agitating or tbe Charter Mr Tb } MwMv » t W ™***™ matterbut
offfoJns furttowrth this , ngwnBUjkwteti " ucpropriet * « f th « weetingdisaftlvins . Mr &kevinK - tor aa ' d it would probably h 1 Ve been diasoiv . d by thai , than ii Mr Phillipps hMi . oUwo . Mr Pkuhfpa retired on hwrirg this , ami . fche meeting dissolved iu a lvacelul and orderly rmdbp * - in ;» few miustes afterward . There "CfQ &ben ' c 2 QUO peravnB at this meekinsj' During tbe afternoon the princinui bai ; k in the town , and uia . ! iy o . f the tradesmen ' s ahopa were . ji osedjbttt . ao att < « s »' . ' i > i \» h ' . \ tever was tfifule tti iiijuva the property a . &ny person . Such a demonstration aa that of thvjdny , ¦ vw , perhaps , never nude at so short a notion ij » auy other town . i ( Coiiiwtd to mr fifth ' vog * , )
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VOI ^ XI . No 548- LONDON , SATURDAY , APES , BB , 1848 . Tive 8 K !!? Ja JSSSV Qw ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 22, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1467/page/1/
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