On this page
- Departments (2)
- Pictures (1)
-
Text (11)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
DEATH OF LIBERTY.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
¦ ft .£2 K™*£ *«>™. °f Ift tom Windmi!
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
tha evil * under whica the nan g on Epiritof »^ £ j , | SwmS » d triumphofthis Carth p M T ? er fi rot c ^ l back tha « iitt of I the « -Si ^ JB ^ A B Sid S £ ** . attempted it mi g ht » well try to SH ^ ti ^ ASM lS SI " man ? He recognised no one ua tad . dnfee ; or marquis ; because there was no imch uuna : in God ' s creation . ( Laughter . ) He recoguised no man on account of his property or wealth , but oalyat
ie poaEssed moral and intellectual worts . ine map who u « ed hi § power for the purpose of enslaving bis felloe-man fae regarded only as a ferocious savage , because he trampled upon tke rights of his species f Hf ar ) They were apon the ere of a great change in thefiCHial fabric of society . The present roranent was not a party movement , but one in which the ^ t mus of forking men were strugelm ? for the right . He concluded by moring the resolution , which was as foliows : — That this mettles deeply sympttbiies with the Xriih people in their strath for liberty , ana believes that b union between ' . he people of the two countries is essentially necessary for the removal of the one common enemy , and the establishment of that degree of freedom * hick both so earnestly desire .
Mr Wm Ejiheit , of Keighley , seconded the reso-IntioH . He asked whether this was the last meeting they were to hare for the purpose of discussing their grievances . Were they going to meet together that day , and to tell Lerd John Russell that they were going to sit down with hisGagging Bill ? ( 'No . ' ) If they were working men , and were going to do so , they were not prepared for the Charter . _ He hoped that every working man that spoke at their meatings iroald resolre that where he spoke once before the Gagging Bill passed , he would now speak twice or thric ? . ( Cheers . ) If they sst down with the Gag&ing Bill and allowed Lord John Russell to put it into operationtheir liberties were drowned and theit
, ElaTery wa 3 fixed fer ever . The resolution expressed eympathy with tha Lrish people , sad the meeting no donbt sympathised with the whole people of Ireland and the whole werid , in the endeavour to effect their emancipation . They were going to memorialise the Queen to dismiss her ministers . Ths peaple of Ireland were starving in thousands ; and the people of England were in a miserable and distressed condition . He thought it was the duty of the people of England to unite firmly with tha labouring classes of Ireland ; and , if they did so , they might rely upon it no go-Ternnient Vou ! d loEg bs able to withstand their demands ; and the People ' s Charter would become the law of the land .
Mr J . Shaw , ef Leeds , supported the resolution , The resolution he said spoka of the sympathy they had for the Irish people . It was true they did sympathise ^ f ith the sufferings of the Irish people , but whatever sympathy they might haye for those sufferings 01 ¦ whatever sympathy the Irish people might hare for the English working classes , they would never be sufficiently strong to put down the injustice that w « the cause of those sufferings , withonfctney wereunifed and determined as one man to put down tha wrong system which existed in this natisn . If they inquired why so much tufferinp , poverty , and starvation ex isted in the nation , they were told by Borne that it wan the will of God that it should be so . It was his belief that the will of God had nothing tado with it
( Hear , hear . ) ' JVo , man is the cause of it . If they told him tbsfcii wa 3 caused by the exirarag&nee of the ansfocraey—and the base , brutal , and blood ; "Whig government—or by the whole of the idlers that eopsumed the nation's wealth withoat giving any equivalent in retnm—then he might agree with them ; for it was by the taxes drained from societj by those who lived on the industrious that they were made to suffer and to pine . ( Hear , hear . ) He contended that while the upper classes were prepared with physical foree to keep them down , he saw no reason why the working classes should not be physically prepared to repel and drive back the Encroachment upon their liberties . ( Cheers . ) He was aware that he was a marked man . but no matter
for that , he ws 3 determined to speak the truth . In IrelaBd , hundreds of thousands of people had been sent , through want , to a premature grave ; and Id our own country there were thou .-auds who were siowly perishing day by day , for want of the common accessaries of life . He was one that would preserve life and property . lie had a great respect for life and property . Hewou "; d injare the property of no man . He would be sorry to do go . He wanted to protest the property of all men ; and wera he required w be sworn in as a special eon 3 table , he would readily join with the higher and middle classes of Society in protecting their property against the robbers and plunderers who came to invade it ; bat st the same time he would protect his own
property , whieh was his hbour . So he would , try to prelect the property of the labourers of thoce ^ atry . "While , then , they found all parties in society-making common cause against the property of the working classes , he would say again , that it was the duty of the working e ! a ? ses to t » united ? or the purpose of repelling and driving back an invasion upon their property . He had an idea that the middle elas 3 es of society were prepared to assist the working classes to a cer faia extent . He would receive that assistance gladly ; bat , at the same time , he did not think the middla classes came willingly to their assistance . It was because they could not do otherwise : it was ] because while the present system or taxation had reduced the working cIssKstopanperisra , tbe middle
classes were on the verge of bankruptcy . The inte rests of the middle and working classes in society tf ere the same . If the working man was doing well * the middle man would do well ; bat it was quit * dear that If the working man got no wages , the middle man would gat ho profits . It was the duty of middle men , then , to come forward to the aid of the working man . Let tha middle classes remember that the working classes had new nothing to lose ; let them remember that t * ie condition of the working classes could notbs worse . It had been said that to give feenrity to life and property they must yield to the people their rights ; and , if they did so , they ¦ would willingly assist to protect the life and property ofa'l the other Chartiit 3 .
__ Mr — Clisset . of Halifar , moved the nest resolution . He complimented the meeting on their exhibitiss such moral dignity , and standing up as they did that day , in tha proud pnsi'ion of men who showed that they were determiaed to hara their political and Eoeial tighte . After gfttae remark ? deprecatory of the' corrupt and hireling press , ' he concluded by moving the following resolution : That -this meeting , agresing with the National Convention in its general csnduet , and particularl y as regards the election of a National Assembly , pledges jUel / t 9 reader that body all the ispport in its power . Mr 3 jshs 3 Higgles , of Bradford , seconded the resolution .
Mr . Joseph Baekeb , of Wortley , after some coner&talatory remarks , said that their cause might becompwed tothedayon which they bad met together . The night preceded the day , and the dim dawn followed . For some hours they " had still had a threatening of mist and of rain ; but the
lieTed in the all mighty power of aoral force , and that troth , arid ^ benevolence , and virtue , and coursfe _ would go hand in hand , and would overturn e ? tl institutions and annihilate all bad government , and e 3 tatbH 3 h righteousness and freedom in the place of oppression and despotism . They wished the go verement ( f this country to adopt the People ' s Charter , in order to papulariEe tha Hones of Commons . Tha prineip / e 3 of the Charter were perfectly ju 3 t , rational . Had moderate , and he then proceeded to discuss the several points of the Charter in proof off ibis position . He concluded by readiag a memorial to her Majesty , prayiug her t <» dismiss her preEenti advisers , and take into her council mea who weuldS make the People ' s Charter a cabiHet measure . The ! reading of tkis memorial was receWed with loud f cheering . . \ | | |
The adeptiea of the memorial was secosded by Mr Jobs Shtte , of Bradford , who , in the coarse of his remarks , stated , that the toeeting contained 45 . 000 people , as he gaid it covered two acre 3 of ground , wbieh , at eight to tha square yard , would give the abore number . Mr Chable 3 Sssth , of Bsdford , supported the resolution . The memorial wss then adopted smid loud cheers . A vote of tbanks to the chairman wa 3 moved by Mr T , B . Ward , of Halifax , aad seconded by Wr Apgm-fif Haseos , ofEl ' and . Three cheers were then given for 'the strangers who had come to address them , '—' for the Charter / — for F . O'Connor , Esq ., '—for 'tha people , the source of ail legitimate power . ' The profession teen re-formed , snd marched ftrougb . the town again . |
AH passing cS peiceably , the special constable "were dismissed , £ nd the military and yeosanry were reused from the strict guard to w . hich they had t » ea liable for eis or seven consecutive " hours . « w ° J ?* P ° ad ' en 6 informs m that there wore from & > to 90 , sqo persons sst the meeting .
Untitled Article
TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . CONFEKENCE IK DUBLIN . ' % Bbbihrxn , —I have , for sometime past , been turn- -, ine over in my mind , and considering what effect & > CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN would produce open ? the great and hely cause which we have b& deeply ats " n ' looking over , snd taking opinion upon the Irishy Contention Act , 83 Geo . 8 , cap . 29 , 1 find and ainj well-advised that under that act or any other _ act | in existence , a Conference such as that held in [ Dir-h mingham , in December , 1842 , ; cannot be prevented or | interfered with . .. . , ... , .. 1 1
_ Brother Chartists , on wnGse gooa i """" " j- "' valrous sense of justice , IhaTa often staked my life and whosesnmmons I have always obeyed , willyou respond to my summons now ? Will , you place mo , who risked my life for yon and theipnncipleB we ho d dearer thanjli % -place me in a positiontranscendently above that which was ever occupied by any man i « IRELAND before my time ? Let me bs the fiwt to occupy the proud position . Let me te the man who recommended a Conference , a Cenvention , ot English delegates in Ireland to promote Iri » k interests . To sate my country from utter and
inevitable rum ! ... . Let me then implore and beseech yon by the pnnoiples of that Charter , which you hold so desrly , and For which you have suffered so much , to abandon tha notion for holding a National Assembly in LoadoH . And instead thereof , return FIVE HUNDRED DELEGATES TO HOLD A CHARTIST CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN . m This Costerence held in Dublin , will win to our holy cause all the Catholic clergy of Ireland , and the great body af the middle classes . Do this , my friends , and you will place your Minted persecuted brother in a prouder , a loftier , and a holier position than any Irish politician ever occupied . T
_ _ , ____ Patrick O'HiootKS , President ef the Irish Universal SuffrageAssociation . Dublin , 22 nd April , 18 * 8 . [ Mr O'Higgins will perceive that we have struck out a paragraph of his letter . The entire letter was laid before the members of the Convention , but that body having : subsequently determined that the Assembly Bhall commence its sittings en Monday next , weconsidered thatthe paragraph we have omitted , would , if published , have an injurious effect . Doubtless Mr O'fliggins will comprehend our meaning , and understand why we have taken the liberty we have done with his letter . —Ed . N . S . J
Untitled Article
It is this week our painful duty to record one of the most melancholy events of ancient or modern times—namely , the death of an old and valued friend . The loss of a friend is deeply felt in the family circle , or at the social hoard i but how much more poignant must suffering be when the grief applies to the whole human family and the more especially , when it will be seen by the evidence adduced upon the inquest , that the death of deceased was the result of one of the most dastardly conspiracies that has been hatched in the most hellish mind—a conspiracy of so wide-spread and determined a nature as to preclude the possibility of detection until too late .
The friends of the deceased have been m a state of constant alarm since the year 1832 , when the faculty announced a great change in deceased ' s constitution , consequent upon several reforms professed to be made in his household , from whose dissensions and squabbles his health was in the habit of receiving sudden and violent shocks and from that period to the present , the constitution of deceased manifested progressive decline in repeated attacks of spleen , occasioned by the
njuriqus restraints imposed upon him ^ n Ms old age , and which resulted in his demise at two o ' clock , on Saturday last , the 22 nd of April , in the year of our Lord 1848 , and the first of the Keign of Terror . The remains of the deceased were brought up in triumph from the House of Lords , and laid on a table in the House of Commons , and were carried thence to the tomb of one of his ancestors , the Lord William Russell , where the slaughtered parent and the murdered offspring now lie .
On the Saturday and Sunday subsequent to the interment , a rumourIthat deceased came to his death by foul means was extensively circulated ; whereupon T . Wakley , Esq ., M . P ., and Coroner , gave immediate direction for the disinterment of the remains , and summoned 3 jury to hold an inquest at Chesham House , the residence of Lord John Russell . In accordance with the instructions of the Coroner , a highly respectable juiy was sworn at two o'clock , on Monday , the 24 th , and , after a post mortem examination by Dr Charter , assisted by the most eminent of the medical profession , the following evidence was submitted to the jury ;—
Dr Charter was , the first witness ' called , and gave the following evidence;—" I have known the deceased from my infancy , but was not his medical adviser ; nevertheless , we were upon terms of close intimacy , and , since the year 1832 , he has frequently consulted me as a friend as to the medical treatment he had been in the habit of receiving from Drs . Grey , Melbourne , and Russell , who had been appointed physicians in ordinary to the deceased , in the year 1832 . " Corfeer—Pray Doctor are you aware of the age of deceased ? Witness—Not from any parish register or local record , but from tradition ( which ha < s not been contradicted , ) it appears that deceased was born in 1688 .
Coroner—What , then , he must have been in his hundred and sixtieth year ? Witness—Yes , for he had a noble constitution up to the period oi which I speak , and iwas one of those phenomena for which there sis no accounting . ' I Coroner— "W ell , Doctor , and to what do you S attribute his death ? " ... Witness—Why , after . the most minute exa-3 mination I have ; discovered marks of several lexternal wounds upon the . body , as well as Isymptoms of organic disorder , which appeared | fco be the result of repeated fits of spleen and lepilepay . ¦ ¦ ' ' : Z ' / ; . ; . Coroner —But to what circumstance do you lascribe the immediate death of deceased ? -..:
g Witness . —Decidedl y to the stab which-he Ireceived on the evening of the : 10 th ; of aApril . : . ' Coroner . —You consider that stab to have ibeen the immediate cause of death ? , ' Witness . —Certainly-for the other wounds , of which I have spoken , ^ were healed , ' and | must | have been inflicted at different times ; | and although the . internal " circumstances | showed the disordered state of the heart and slungs , yet there is no reason to ' -suppose that they were the immediate cause of death .
Several other witnesses belonging to the medical profession corroborated the evidence , when Mr Equality , a chemist , who was in the habit of supplying drugs to the deceased , and with whom he was upon the closest terms of intimacy , was called . Coroner , to the "Witness . — Pray , Mr Equality , were you acquainted with deceased ? "Witness . —Yes ; I was in the habit of preparing all his medicines ; besides which , I was his nearest relative , and we were upon the most intimate terms .
y Coroner . —Then , Witness , ^ will you have the kindness to detail to the Jury any circum-| stance connected with this important inquirj gfrom your private knowled ge , or your professional engagements ? 1 Witness . —About the year ' 1794 , Dr Grey , gan eminent member of the faculty , and a near ^ relative of the deceased , attempted to alter hie Itreatment according to the new system prescribed bygthe French medical school , in 1793 , land deceased being of a most sanguine and
: exoitable temperament , began to" take more [ exercise , from that period , than he had been previously accustomed ' to . Up to that time ' deceased was of a melancholy and sedative ' temperament , and the sudden changes from the habits thus contracted , to the most gay and dissipated life , appeared to accord best ; with bis disposition } Coroner . —Well , but Dr Grey was not his physician in those days ? Withe s , —Not ale-ajs ; but when Dre . Pitt
Untitled Article
| Castlereagh / or Liverpool , > ere OUT , Dr Grey was occasionally called . IN . Coroner . —Well , upon those occasions , did the treatment of Dr Grey materiall y differ from that ef Drs Pitt , Castlereagh , and Liver * pool ? Witness . —Only to this extent—that , J think , they were more stringent ; but , being a relative , he had great influence over the deceased , and has frequently told him , in my presence , that the remedies administered were intended as a corrective to those applied by Drs Pitt , Castlereagh , and Liverpool ; and that , in order to effect a complete cure , and to restore the patient to perfect health , it was nebe entrusted
cessary that he should with the entire responsibility . Coroner . —From your evidence , it would appear that deceased was afflicted with some serious malady as long ago as 1794 . Pray what was that malady ? Witness . —I did not consider that he had any malady . He was treated for monomania , resulting from an ever-ceasing solicitude as to the welfare of his numerous family , who , he was in the habit of saying , were-ever ill-used by the trustees appointed by his ancestor in the year 1688 . Coroner . —Witness , confine your evidence to what you consider to have been the immediate cause of death .
Witness . —Well , as I stated before , deceased teok a very lively interest in all pablic matters , and especially in the bustle of General Elections . Coroner .- —What had deceased to do with elections ? Witness . —A great deal . The result constituted a board , which had the power of appointing his physicians and trustees ; and , in July last , deceased became very much excited , and was in high spirits till the 23 rd of November , when the physicians appointed ! were called upon to prescribe for his eldest sister , MRS IRELAND , who was then in a most exhausted
state from continuous purging and bleeding , and to whom Dr Russell and the faculty administered , in his ( Witness ' s ) opinion , a dose of rank poison , known to the faculty as powder of ropes and bullets ; and this treatment having caused the death of his sister , deceased continued in a state of violent agitation until the 10 th of the present month , when Dr Russell called in Drs Peel and Wellington , when the previous treatment of deceased was completely altered—those practitioners having decided upon administering a bolus of sulphate of iron and steel filings , mixed with a black powder , to be administered by Dr Wellington on the morning of the 10 th .
Coroner . —Well , was this bolus administered ? . "Witness . —No , it was not . | Dr Charter , hav . ing received intimation of the intent , paid deceased a private visit late on Sunday night ) and cautioned him against the conspirators . Coroner . —Where did deceased live at the time ? ' , Witness . —On Kennington Common ; and the bolus , I should say , was proposed ass SPECIAL remedy . Coroner . —Well , if the bolus was not taken you cannot attribute death to that .
Witness . —Certainly , not directly ; but when the deceased refused to take the bolus , Drf Russell , Peel , and Wellington decided that he should be placed in an asylum , and the result 0 ? which was , that on the night of the 10 th he was placed in St Stephen ' s Mad-house , and . unable to bear the ravings and howlings | of the maniacs , he became daily weaker until [ Thursday , the 20 th , when , being despaired of . he was sent to the House of Incurables , where he remained till two o ' clock on Saturday , the 22 nd , when he expired . j Coroner . —Witness , did decease make a will , and if « o , to whom did he leave his property . ?
Witness . —Yes , he made a will and I am one of the witnesses . He left his property , share and share alike , between his sister , Mrs Ire land , and the descendants of his other favourite sister , Mrs Chartist , and he appointed a person called PEOPLE'S VOICE as his trustee , and ; his last ; words were , though uttered very
feebly"LAND AND CHARTER . " Coroner . —Then , witness , to what do you attribute the death of the deceased ? I Witness . —To a conspiracy to take away his life , as the bolus would have done , if administered , as I have taken the precaution to have it analysed by the ablest chemists , and the result was that they came to the conclusion that it would kill an ox . We did administer a very small portion of it to a horse , and he instantly died ; but the immediate cause of death was the stab under the blade bone , which [ effected the lungs , and the subsequent uneasi ness , occasioned bv the ravings and the
bellowings of the maniacs in St Stephen ' s , and to the dying groans of tbe Incurables . James Fraternity , a reporter , was next examined . —He stated that on Monday , the 10 th , he was sent to St Stephen ' s Mad-house , to furnish a correct report of the state of that establishment ; and persons belonging to his department , being fearful of coming into , collision with the inmates , usually took up their position in a gallery , from which there was an escape by aback door upon hearing a term , in general use , WITHDRAW WITHDRAW ! ! WITHDRAW ! !! Witness was in the gallery when the deceased was lying on the floor ; and when he heard
I'DO LIE UPON THE TABLE' prol nounced by the keeper , he sawDr Russell stab 1 deceased ' under the blade bone , when , in a I state of exhaustion , he was dragged along the 1 floor by two mutes ; further he cannot state Ifrom his own knowledge , but from what helms | heard , he is inclined to believe that deceased lingered from the 10 th to the . 22 nd of April , when he saw the undertaker come , into St Stephen ' s , and he heard him tell the muteslo go up . tp'the Hospital of Incurables for the remains of deceased . ' _ •' : ; Coroner . —What further did you see or hear ? -.. - , - . ,-
Witness . —Nothing .. more ; Deceased being anold and dear friend , I wept bitterly , and retu ' rned . hpme to caution my family ^ and friends against taking any-of the special bolus intended to be admistered to our relative . ( This witness appeared to be much affected , and wept bitterly . ) . • ; . -... ¦ The next . witness called was Mrs Justice , housekeeper to the deceased . ; She was in deep mourning , and much affected . ' She corroborated all that hae been stated by Mr Equality ; . and upon : being asked by . the Coroner , whether the disobedience of numerous members of deceased ' s numerous family had hot occasioned him trouble , which impaired his
health , and injured his constitution , she replied , wi « h a deep sigh— " No ; never ! He always relied upon the wisdom of the sensible to correct the follies of the foolish , and he often said to me : I think I hear him now , 'Mrs Justice ; he used to say : " If you attempt to check the ardour and spirit of those of my family , who think they have cause ' of complaint , by violence or coercion , you will only wed them the more fondly to error and * mistake ; whereas , if you leave them to the good sense of my wiser * children , they'll presently laugh at themselves , and thank their instruc tors as their friends , their benefactors and saviours . " Oh dear ! oh dear ! I see him" sittiris
opposite to me now over the fire , when he used to take his bread and milk at night , and he'd say : ' Mrs Justice , I'm too old to work hard now , but I ' ve earned in youth'the " frugal comforts I enjoy in old age ; ' and then he'd start Oh , bless me ! how he'd start , and look wild around , and say , 'Mrs Justice , is it true that some of my children , who work hard all day , have not enough to eat , or a bed to lie upon ' ; arid is it true , as I hear , that the trustees of my ancestors' property may , one day , allow me in my old ase to be sent to a placethey call the " Bastile , "and just before he died —ior 1 watched him-to the last ~ he clasped my hand , and said ; ' I leved life once , but I
Untitled Article
love death better now , as some one has whis- pared in my ear that my childrea are to be . transported , ifhenceforth they' are not satisfled to die without a murmur , and suffer fa-J mine without a complaint . ' " ( At this point of ] her evidence , the witness fainted away , and ] the Coroner , the Jury , and the Public , were affected with intense sfrief . ) I ; The evidence being closed , the Coroner addressed the Jury as follows : — i « Gentlerr . en of the J ury . '—However important the present inquiry may be , my duty , is | rendered comparatively easy by . the close and praiseworthy attention , which throughout you iave devoted to the case .
" Gentlemen , according to the spirit of pur laws , the preservation of life , or the punishment of those-who take it , constitute the chief duty of the citizen ; and so considerate , and indeed just , is the law upon this subject , that it is held to be . murder in as high a degree to shorten the duration of the life of a baby , whose existence would in all human probability be terminated in the course of a few minutes , as to take away the life of the first personage in the realm , though that person may be in the vigour of life and of constitution .
• 'Thus I show you that the declining state ot the health of deceased is no palliation whatever for the destruction of that life ; and , Gentlemen , your own good sense will at once point out the impossibility of establishing any line of demarcation , by which the living could be constituted as judges of the probable duration of life , as , were it otherwise , each would establish hie own capricious standard of possible , or even probable , existence , and the law , instead of being made the avenger of guilt , would be made the abettor of crime .
" Gentlemen , I have thought it my duty to direct your minds to this branch of the subject , lest the declining state of deceased ' s health , if coupled with a verdict which may not implicate any one in the guilt of his destruction , should lead to an erroneous conclusion . * ' Gentlemen , in my opinion , the evidence of MrEquality , the chemist , and of Mr Fraternity , the reporter , is conclusive as to the fact that a conspiracy against the deceased did exist , and that the . fataf blow was struck by © ne of the conspirators ; but , gentlemen ; another , though not so important a question must be decided by
vour verdict ; because , from the evidence of Equality , the chemist , it appears that deceased made a will and appointed trustees , and therefore yon will have to decide as to his competency or incompetency to perform that act . That is , whether at the time of making his will the deceased was in that state of mind which would lead you to the conclusion that he was cstpable of discharging so important a duty , but , in my opinion , the evidence throughput , and especially the evidence of Mrs Justice , can leave no doubt upon your minds as to the sanity oi deceased .
"Gentlemen , I wish to b ' e ' explicH ' uponthis point ; because / jf the life of deceased was taken by any of the conspirators , who , under the impression that he had not made a will , took his life , in the hope of enjoying his property as riext of kin , this fact would considerably augment the crime of the guilty party . ' _ 1 " Gentlemeri , ' as ' there is much and justifiable excitement throughout the whole country upon
this subject , it behoves you to be particular in your verdict ; meanwhile , " I cannot withhold from you the fact that , in my mind , the mere circumstance of committing deceased to the lunatic asylum of S £ Stephen / 8 furnishes strong ground for suspicion , and for this reason , gentlemen , because , it being frequently my duty to visit that house 91 . unhesitatingly declare that , at times , the confusion is enough to drive a sane niind mad .
" Gentlemen , the inmates have each a mono , mania—money , religion , patronage , neglect , railways , peerage , profession , the army , the navy , and what they call the " civil list , " together ^ vith numberless othe r crotchets , possess the unfortunate inmates of that House ; and , therefore , 1 say , that the very fact of consigning the deceased to such an asylum , while in a state of exhaustion and debility , is strong evidence of a conspiracy—a fact which is corroborated by the attempt of the same parties to administer the . SPECIAL BOLUS
deposed to by the medical practitioner , and to , the effect of which , when administered to a ] horse , he has deposed ; and then the evidence ' is wound up by the testimony of the reporter , who swears positively to having seen the fatal blow struck , thus providentially warning the guilty assassin that no crime can be hidden from Him whose privilege alone it is to give life and take it away . " Gentlemen , I shall now leave this important case in your hands , confidently trusting in your sense of justice , and relying upon you to return such a verdict as will satisfy your own consciences , the ends of justice , and the feelings of the friends of the deceased ; leaving upon their minds no other impression than that a criminal act , whether committed in the dark , or the result of ' OPEN AND ADVISED' deliberation and recommendation
will be promptly met and speedily avenged by the laws of England —the laws of the coun-j try whose people are justly proud of their ! LOVE OF LIBERTY . " j The Jury immediately retired , and , after an ) absence of two hours and eleven minutes , re- ! turned into court , when the foremanj amid a ! breathless silence , returned the following * special verdict : — I " We find , that for a length of time there has existed a deep conspiracy against the life ;
of the deoeased , LIBERTY ; the seeds of which were sown as early as the year 1794 , and continued to increase to the year 1832 , when deceased was placed under the medical super-, intendance of Drs Grey , Melbourne , and Russell ; and that the object of the conspira ^ - tors was , so to overawe deceased as to ' compel him to leave the management and government of his vast estates , at home and . abroad ,.. to those . parties ., , ¦ ,,. ' . ' .. \ i \ -, {~ . < f- : .,: ¦¦¦
"We further-. find , that ; on : thej 23 rd o £ November , 1847 , Drs Russell and Peel , being possessed of the devil , and not having the . fear of , God in their hearts , did upon that day conspire against the life of the deceased ,. and we further find , that on the morning , of the 10 th of April , aiid when the deceased was of sound mind , the , said Drs Peel , arid Russell communicated their evil intentions to Dr' Wellington , and that they , together with ^; he said Dr Wellington , did attempt to administer a dose of . deadly poison to the deceased , and that upon the refusal of deceased to take the said poisoH , and while in a state of perfect sanity , to St
the deceased was committed ^ James ' s Lunatic Asylum , and that while lying there in a state of insensibility , caused , by previous excitement , he received a stab under the bladebone , and which PENETRATED TO HIS LUNGS ; and we find that the deceased lingered till two o ' clock on Saturday last , ' and that the blow go struck by the said Dr Russell was the immediate cause of death ; and we further find , that Drs Peel , Wellington , Grej ' , Hobhouse , Palmerston , Labouchere , Macaulay , Campbell , Lansdowne , as accessories before and after the fact , and consequently principals in murder , together with the said Dr Russell , guilty of the wilful murder of
IMMORTAL CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY . " The verdict was received with loud shouts from a densely-crowded court , and were responded to b y the cheers of thousands from without . The Coroner immediately issued hie warrant for the apprehension of the culprits , who , we understand , have been arrested , and will be I
tried at the approaching Special Commission at the Old Bailey , and whose ^ fate we shall nod attempt toprejudge , as it is the boast of tbef English Constitution that the accused shall ! be presumed innocent until he is found guilty ! by a jury ol his Peers . : I When the proceedings had concluded , the ! remains ef deceased were , deposited in a coffin ! of English oak , and the mournful procession 1 in the order represented below , and in sad and j
Untitled Article
sullen silence , accompanied the remains of their oldest , best , and dearest friend , to his last home . They laid the corpse alongside the remains of the Lord William Russell , and placed the following inscription upon the tomb : — Here lyeth theJbody of LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL , Who was basely saowlered for bis cUvotfoa to LIBBRTT : And here lies LIBERTY , Who was basely murdered By his own Guardian , Thb Lohd John Rcsssm ,,
Untitled Article
THE NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE MIDDLE CLASSES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE , . j Fei&oyt Couhsrtuen , ' We , the representatives of the unenfranchised olasses of the British empire , feel it to bo our duty ; to address you at the . present important crisis . We ! know that you have been led astray by the preaa of this country generally , with regard to the objects we I have in view . We , therefore , are desirous of disabusing your EHuds of the prejudice engendered by ifahe representation . 1 ., '¦ . I This we conceive to be absolutely essential , as your interests must be tqere or less affected by tbe conditioa of the working classes . Ir' they be suffering from poverty , trade must , ef necessity , be bad . If they be driven by misery to desperation , neither lyour lives nor property can be considered seouraj [ and to prevent outrage upon either , you mustresort [ to means which involve a considerable expenditure , j whieh is invariably looked upon as a grief ance . It is a faofc , well known to all , that jails and work * [ houses have been gradually increasing in number .
and likewise that police , forces have considerably increased within the last few years . With suoh a state of things staring us in the face , we appeal to you , as men , if it ba not necessary that something should be dene to stay the progress of crime ; flqvetty , and destitution , a » d we feel that we shall not appeal in vain if reflection be allowed to take the place of prejudice . We knotr that you have been taught to look upon the labouring classes ^ of this country as unwothy of those prlvileges which are enjoyed by the upper classes and yourselves ; and we perceive that it will not be easy to remove this prejudice , unless we point out the injustice of the present system of representation . i
To arrive at accurate conclusions upon the subject , it behoves every privileged man to sqppose him selfa man without privilege , ' and then ask if he should consider himself treated justly . Thi 3 is . a teat . and one that will not deceive any man , if he will apply it impartially ; No man likoa to be a slave ; yet too . of ten the reasoning of the enfranchised portion of the community . tenda to this point—namely , thai some ought to be slaves to the ¦ will of others . This is the sum and substance of BUch an expression as the following :-- ' The working classes , are too ignorant to exercise " the franchise , beneficially for themselves . ' Andaueh is the reasoning of ithe . greater portion of those whom we no ^ y address ; but that it is true or . juet we deny in toto > We ask any oiie ; of you . . if you . consider yourselves ignorant of yeur own interests . ; We
know well that such ia not the case ; why . thep should you suppesB the . working classe 3 ignorant . of their interests ? We . deny . that , they , are more ignorant on that point than , jpuraelrefl , and aa individual welfare is th ^ thing ^ hich regulates the judgments of men ih the' / e&ijfc'ise ' iqf political power , we sky that it must' be injustice on ypur ; parb not to assist tho working classes in obtaining , for themselves the privilege of exercising , a voice In regulating the affairs of the . nation . We , therefore , ask you to co-operate with us in the attempt fobtr . in to by peaceful means the enfranchJsement of . the working classes from political thraldom—and we feel that by gaeh coaree alone can you permanently bscure either peace or prosperity for yourselves .
We are anxious to disabuse youp minda of those ulee impressions engendered by a venal press with regard to the spirit which regulates the movements of the enfranchised classes . . 1 hay desire to obtain , by peaceful and constitutional means , & privilege which they have hitherto been denied , a privilege which is the natural and constitutional right of every British subject , —a privilege which none | but tyrants and oppressors in spirit could consistenly refuse . We gay ' we Ithow that they ideBire to obtain this prhilege by peaceful and ojnstitutional means . We , therefore , ask you to ! assi 8 fctbem in the attainment of their objeclt . Wo request your co-operation , ' because we feel that you influence—if brought to bear upon the governmentwill force them to yield justice to the unenfranchised classes , and , as you are men desirous of freedom
yourpelves , we appeal to you on behalf of the enslaved . ! ^ We wish you to place yourselves in suoh a position , ^ | between the government and the unenfranchised , aal gwill effectually promote the happiness of all , ThisP Syon will do by demanding of your representatives ! atheir support to any measure calculated to removes worn the statute book all laws whicn tend to poli . fticai ^ gr adation and slavery . B y sucll a course , t poa wHi ensure the esteem of your poorer brethren 1 | and strtsgthen the position you now hold in the ! state . ¦ ¦ ¦ ., \ I \ We have £ eea represented as ruffians and destrnc-l Stives by the p'ress—but we ; are mon—and men whoi [ hold both life vnd individual property sacred Wei iwar not wifch individuals but with systems ; We wish ! justice to al / , injustice to ncme . If we hare used ! stroiig expresaioiiB towards any class or party wei would have it bornt in mN that such eSpress ' ionsI have been used by tbV press and by individuals to- ^ ward * us : and though tMs" faot may not bo couside ? ed | as any palliateoa of the > off ^ ee committed by « s , wei
Untitled Article
appeal to yon aa men , if every excuso ought net to ba [ made for those who aim only to obtain that wkioh Is ; duo to all ; snd who find themselves met by obloquy asd contempt from those who oaght to set an example of forbearance and consideration . If we hare repreaentedtbeworfeingolassea as ready to fight fos their rights , if denied t&em by the government , it ia because they almost despair of obtaining them by p eaceful meanB . They have petitioned fora long time [ nvain , and when any allusion has been made , ia tke House ef Commons , to the subject of equal privi .
teges for all , it has generally been met with derision . We ask if such conduct is not enough to drive men to desperation , and oauso them to threaten to take up arms to obtain by forcible means that which the legieli&turereftues to grant them peaceably ; though that wbioh they request is nothing more than a constita . tion&l , just , and equitable adjustment of the power exercised by the few only to the injury of the many . We aok you to reflect upon the present State of af . fairs ere you deny us your co operation in the work na have in hand .
We can positively state , on behalf of tho unenfranchised classes , that they feel certain their social oondition can never be permanently benefited until they are politically enfranchised ; and however erroneous suoh an impression may be in your estimation , we assure you that they are wedded to tbeir faith , and will not be satisfied until political enfranchisament is granted to them by the government . Class legislation , they say , has had its day , and it is time that such a system was broken np ; and we feel that if it be not done by peaceful means , anarchy zniI confusion must of necessity be the result . We wish to point out to you that the only property « of the great mass of the unenfranchised classes is their labour ; and as laws are mostly made for the protection of the property of the enfranchised only , they feel therarselves aggrieved by the
circumstance of hariBg no power to make such laws as would protect the only property which the great mass of them possess . Labour being the source ef all wealth , the labourers can never feel satisfied until labsur is properly represented by those who make the laws to regulate the proceedings of tbe whole people ; therefore it behoves every one of you to strive , by every means in your power , to obtain for the unenfranchised , political power . In conclusion , we have to state most distinctly that it is our intention not ta oease agitating until justice is obtained for the unenfranchised classes of this realm .: Under such circumstances , it must be evident to all engaged in trade that the only way to promote their own prosperity , is to strive to obtain for their poorer brethren those privileges which | t h ' ey themselves eDjoy , and which they value as dearly as their lires .
I Feeling that our appeal will nofc be in vain , w& !« ubscribe ourselves—I ' The Fbiesds op Ma&kihp . 5 . On behalf of the Convention , I Paijup M GaiiH , Chairman * \ April 20 th , 1848 . I ADDENDA . I The measure which we propsHe for ^ our considers-| tion , as tbe one most likely to effaofi the object wa jihave in view , is the People ' s Charter , whioh corn * jprisea tbe following six points : —
§ 1 . Ukitehsal Sufjbage . — AH males twenty-one I years of age , and not disqualified by insanity er I crime , to ba entitled to vote at , the election of a I member of Parliament . I ? . —E < jcal REPHESBNiATroH . —The United Kingdom I to be divided as nearly as may be , into equal elec-3 toral districts , according to populatien . < 3 . — No Pbopbrtt Quazjfioation necessary for a J member to sit in the House of Commons . H >—Vote bt Ballot . —To prevent bribery , or un-; due influence .
5 . —Annual Parliaments . —Parliament to sit foe twelve months only . ' 6 . —PiTMENi of Meubbbs . —Members to hs remunerated for their services .
Untitled Article
| THE NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE 1 FRIENDS OF FREEDOM IN GREAT BRI-1 . TAIN AND IRELAND . . I .... p __ 1 Fellow Men , — 5 Incompliance with the geeneral feeling of the £ country , expressed through the medium of their delegates , a National Assembly ? will meet in Loadoa I on Monday , May 1 st . Each district will make arrangements for the payment of their own representatives , but the general expends of that body , for f place of meeting , printing , stationary , &o , will be , | aa previous experience has demonstrated , very conpiderable ; we bave a government to contend with , ^ possessing an unlimited command of funds' which ? they lavishly expend in misrepresenting and endeavouring to destroy the influence" of our movement s
£ the preparations to put down our peaceful demon-| stration on Monday , April lOfcb , in London alene , : cost upwards of £ 100 , 000 , thus proving that every tmeana will be resorted to by . our unprincipled rulers tto put down the present agitation . To enable tho [ National Assembly to meet and baffle this hostile rarray , \ re call upon yeu to supply your resuBiary Uid . It is imperative that this should be done , &nd ¦ done promptly . Our struggle is for home , for com-Lfort , and for liberty ; surely a pecuniary sacrifice will 'not be denied in aid of saoh a glorious object . We fare aware that many towns have to contribute heaivily towards the support of their delegates , but we 1 are also aware that ih every town there are many | frienda not enrolled in the Chartist ranks , who
would , if properly applied to , contribute towards thesupport of tbe movement . Let Bteps be immediately taken , by issain ? subscription books or otherwise , to insure this desirable result . Many towns ^ and branches are not in a portion to elect delegates , but they are as deeply interested as other portionsof the empire in tbe success of our principles , and we have no doubt that they will" cheerfully respond ; to this call and that a mighty effjrt for the regeneration of the working millions of this empire , and . the classes dependent upon their support foi'mahu tenance , ^ sh all not fail for want of ! pecuniary mean& to meet any expences that a despotic government May entail upon them . All subscriptions to be forwardedto Mr T . Clark , for the Treasurer of the Na . tiousl Assembly , 1 U , High Helborn , London . By order of the Convention , Philip M'Grath , Chairman .
Untitled Article
NATIONAL CONVENTION . This body met in committee at the Land Office ^ 144 , High Holborn , on Tuesday evening , April 25 th . Mr William Ccffat in the chair . The Finance Committee was ordered to report pregreas on Wednesday evening . KK-0 RQANI 8 ATION OF TUB CHARTER ASSOCIATION . A deputation from Marylebone , consisting of I Messrs Godwin and Packer , waited on the Convention to ascertain when and how the election for ; an Executive Committee wsb to ba chosen ? whea tho following answer was . returned : —• That the d « putation from Marylebone , be hereby informed that the Convention will , at the earliest moment , take into consideration the present - Etate of the National Charter Association , with a viewto propoie a better Chartist organisation for the adoption si tao people . . .
I . _ MR o ' cOJJSOB ' s , LETTER . = : ' I A discussion , in which ;« H the delegates took part , 'ensued on this matter , and was ultimately concluded | by the dispatching of ; Messrs Child and Donovan , | a » a deputstion to Mr O'Connor , to confer with | that gentleman . , ; .. ., , ; . • ¦• • • ,. ¦ . § The ^ ollowin V resolution , waa adopted , ' moved by | Mr Shirron and seconded by Mr M'CarChy : — ' That « the Convention immediately transmit intelligence to aevery town and district Bending delegates to the SNatiooal Assembly ,. that it is the determination of Sthis Convention , to abide by tbe resolution of con-Iveninje ; the National Assembly on ihe 1 st of May , | notwitb 8 tanding Mr O'Connor ' s letter in the Swa | of Saturday last , recommending its further postponement . ' . ' ..... . I The Convention then adjourned .
Untitled Article
TO THE FRATERNAL DEMOCRATS , . ' EQOAllTr , LIBERTY , yiUTBRNirr . Bbothbbs , —Itis at fcbis moment more than ever neceaswythat the men who in this metropolis have been foremoatim propagating th&principles of D ' emoerAoy and Fraternity should prove themselves aithful to their mission . Kings may abdicate their thrones , but it is not possible for true DsmooratB to desert their principles , ' : The persecution of our contemptible enemies deprived « 3 © f a place of meeting at the very moment that our assonation was acquiring the strength of numbers , and therawith increased public utility . The want of a rallying place has disorganised the sooiety . Its reorganisation is indispensable . for
| Buch ' reorganisation S ,. and MS E adoption of a manifesto , setting forth the viewa of the association on fhe atrocious law just enacted ,, which has made truth-speaking ' felony , ' the Com-Sektbar ^ i ? ,- f $ ™» SlRhhT , BARBICAN . Jfemben only will meet at halt-past seven o ' clook for the discussion of th& business of tho association . \ TfopuUU wtil he admitted at nine o'clock , when the following members of the association wiUaddrei the meeting v-KEHHHf Jonbs , D 4 e Kate for hX npff , lf ? f n efo / St 0 ckpei ' and J ° ™ M'Cbab ,, 2 SS ? iSt ! ft . ? nSd Delegate 810 thQ * - GEORGE JULIAN HARNET . Sec .
Untitled Article
PEitftGUS O'CONNOR Ess MP » 5 * W » P * W » , ¦ f tKsfiffiswiS&SH ^ !»• ington , in the County of 8 ura at tlJfomJ £ Z ' ,
Death Of Liberty.
DEATH OF LIBERTY .
Untitled Article
Sttfa ^ wl 1805 *? **? " HiLr ,.-On Sunday , th »
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAR . . . '¦ '____ .. A * & ! lj 9 ' jgjg _ O - __ ¦ 1 1 J . » U « iM .. UIM-. . nM'l . .. . m ^ W-. W ; W » ,. V . lM , W ) l . «^
¦ Ft .£2 K™*£ *«≫™. °F Ift Tom Windmi!
¦ ft . £ 2 K ™* £ *«>™ . ° f Ift tom Windmi !
Untitled Picture
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), April 29, 1848, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1468/page/8/
-