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"savK OI *R0M OOR FRISSOI ." TO THE CHARTISTS.
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My Friends , Old Lord Batrymore ( a great ruffian , Trat a good judge of human nature ) said many good things in his life ; and , amongst thereat , was this- " ONE ENEMY CAN DO YOU MORE HARM THAN A THOUSAND FRIENDS CAN DO YOU GOOD "
There was wisdom in this—but , if one enemy can do you bo much harm , what can thousands yea , hundreds of thous ands , do : ' Chartists , your cause has had many narrow escapes—but never ; such an escape as it had from the National Assembly . In that Assembly there were some good men ; in that As-6 embly there were many ^ bad raen ^ -the good men did their duty well ; the bad men performed their duty with morejzeal . They were
not the representatives of Chartism ; they were not the representatives of any principle ; they were the tools of factions , ftom whom they begged support . Never was truer evidence given than that of Powell ' s , when he sad that he would not work for old Smith , for 18 a . a-week , if he could get £ 2 for betraying the Chartists—and mark , I have often told you that the treachery of your leaders has been measured by your inability to pay them .
In 1839 , as long as you could pay the Brummagems , the Cobbettites , the Londoners , and the " poor gentlemen , ' they weie all physical force men . The pike and the blunderbuss were the aims of Carpenter , the Editor of "Lloyds . " « No taxes , " "Resistance to . the death , "and « p hysical force , ** as the ulterior means of accomplishing the ( your ) object , was the motto of the six guineas a-week gentlemen , who paid a p orter—or said they paid a porter , andjgot it from the Exchequer—a shilling for carrying
their bag—t&ree shillings for their fare to the railway station—first-class farej and hospitality at the first-rate hotel—all in honour of Chartism , and for all of which they made you pay ; and as soon as the Exchequer was empty , they discovered that Chartism was a theory , and one and all turned themselves to its abuse . In fact , they should do 60 to justify their desertion ; they did deaSt , and heaped unsparing odium , not upon Chartism , but upon Fear ^ us O'Connor . |
Well , we have had our trials since 1839 to lS 48 , butofallthe unscrupu lous rascals that ever professed to represent Chartism , a portion of those who found their way into the National Assembly were the most detestable . Yoh cannot conceal from yourselves that I was really to be hunted to death , and that the " Xorthern Star" was to be hurled out of existence ; as the destruction of the " Star" was j theobject of the " poor gentlemen" in 1839 , J * 0 , ' 42 , and ' 43 ; and , in short , from the period of its existence , 1 thought that its strangulation
had no little to do with the enthusiasm of the Rational Assembly . And now you shall hear a more detailed account of the facts connected with this conspiracy than I nave as yetjbeen at liberty to give . j Those who knew roe , I have no doubt felt assured that I would give those gentlemen who hare abused me so unsparingly , an opportunity of trying the prisoner before a jury , too large to ; be packed , and too virtuous to be bribed ; and , for that reason , I deferred saying much until I had an opportunity of meeting my accusers face to face , and you shall hear the result .
Shirren and Henry were the representatives of the Chartist mind of Aberdeen j they were both Socialists , and wholly unknown to the Chartist party . Archy Macdonald , a Chartist veteran , was elected by the Chartists of Aberdeen , but Shirron canvassed the shopkeepers , took the Chartists by surprise , and , was retamed . He ( Shirron ) slept with Lowry , tie delegate for Aberdeen to the Convention ; and Lowry told me that he kaew
nothing whatever about Chartism , hut was always descanting on Socialism . He is not remarkable for being trusted a second time . He appeared , as you are aware , as my accuser at Aberdeen , but made such nonsensical statements as were not worth replying too . He read five letters , four were from Messrs M'Gowan and Co ., demanding payment fortheir printing bill , with which I had asmuch to do as the Man in the Moon ; and the fifth was from Mr Wright , urging Shirron TO
URGE UPON ERNEST JONES THE NECESSITY OY AT ONCE BRINGING OUT THE " PEOPLE'S STAR " NEWSPAPER . Mr Wright—one of the best Chartists in Eng ]? nd or in Scotland , and one of as good character as any living—got up and confessed that he wrote the letter , hut that he was induced to do so by the false and criminal misrepresentations of Mr Shirron , which had incited the people of Aberdeen to madness ; but that he ,
like others , had come there that night to proclaim his own folly in having confided in him , and his thanks to Mr O'Connor for having saved him and others from the machinations of their enemies . Now nothing ' couldbemore fair and hontmr-We than this . It was reasonable that Mr Wright , and others , should have been deluded by the misrepresentations of their delegateit was honourable ia Mr "Wri g ht , and others to have confessed their delusion . And now for Mr Henry , the other Delegate .
Chartists , our cause has suffered more from our being associated with vagabonds and rascals than it has from the slander of the Press , the vituperation of enemies , and the law ' s persecution . And now I will paint the second Aberdeen Delegate for you . 1 have not mixed the colours , they have been mixed by those whose names you shall learn . I simplv present you with the portrait . Mr Henry is a Socialist ; you know what you and I have suffered at their hands before . But now for his picture . He was unknown to the people of Aberdeen ; he was elected upon enthusiasm . In Aberdeen there was the most glorious Female Association in Europe , and upon the womea , and their valour , Chartism in a great measure depends . The members of this Female Association held a
soiree m honour of Mr Henry , on his return from the Assembly . The muster was magnificent ; our good and worthy friend Macpberson was one of the stewards , to do honour to the representative ; the women , as a token of their respect , presented him with a Scotch Plaid , and Mr Macpberson expressed a hope that he * ouldhelp himself to airafe , and he bowed a oodest acquiescence * Before tea was over , however , a message came to say that Mrs Henry and her children had arrived in Aberdeen , and wished to see the husband and fetter . She is a sweet young woman , with ™ ° infant children ; he was obliged to obey we summons—he went to her lodgings when ™ festival was over—he abused her for
comln g- ~ rested upon two chairs that night , and ould not go to bed to her , but told her that she had no business to come after him—to go { act to Dundec—TO TAKE A LODGJJG AND TO SET UP AS A PROS £ TUTE UPON HER OWN ACJJJgNT , AND THAT SHE WOULD ** AVE A G 00 D __ » ___ , _ <« This is not storyWith a broken heart
my . ** e sent for some friends to communicate her Jrcnwto . MrFinlay , Mr Wright , and Mr 2 ! * , went t 0 k « -it is THEIR STORY , — Shd « T , adr Permission to publish it—OF JU LR REPRESENTATIVE . On the fol-S ^ g * he was to make his report to a meeting , but he was so drunk that he 11 not stand . When he did make his « Wt he was asked . " If it was true that a
"egate had stated in the lssembly that 6 , 000 T'eu men in Aberdeen were ready to march » Pwi _ London ? " He answered , "It was dia t Andwhenhe was asked , "Why he T no contradict it ? " he replied , "That he lSS * ™« ht deceive THE MEN OF SuS ANDINCREASE THEIR EN '
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No «? what do you think of the two Representatives of the people of Aberdeen ? Did you ever hear of so virtuous a representation ? I now come to Dundee . Graham , who was the Representative of that town , has beenex-, pelled from the Chartist ranks . In Edinburgh , which was represented by Mr Rankin , who was also compelled , from false reports , to be one of my bitterest enemies in the National Assembly , I was met at the station by that gentleman ; he sat at mv rieht
hand during the meeting ; proposed my health at the soiree : remained with me every hour I had to spare , and accompanied me to the station ; and he told Messrs M'Grath and Clark , on their tour , that he never was so deceived as he was by the National Assembly , and never regretted anything more than having given ear to any of their fabrications . He has been one of my oldest and best friends , and I believe that friendship has been increased by the perfidy of my enemies .
! In Glasgow I was to be met by a nest of hornets . Adams , Cochrane , and Hildyard—all I your representatives for Paisley , Glasgow , and [ district—were to have annihilated use . I received a letter from Adams before the meeting I commenced , giving me the alternative of stand-¦ ing my trial that night , of coming again to Glasgow for the purpose , or opening the columns of the " Star" to their correspondence When 1 had spoken two hours and a half , ] stated to the meeting—which was a
bumperthat I would not choose the alternative , but that my accuser should . I said , if they were ready with their charges then , I would sit till daylight to hear and answer them ; that if another meeting was to take place , it should be appointed so as to meet our mutual convenience , as it was a hardshi p feat the accused should be put to the expense and inconvenience of meeting his accusers a second time ; or that the columns of the " Star" should be opened to them . These were his own three propositions , and he , not I , chose the latter alternative .
At half-past eight , I sat down with about 200 to a soiree . On my right sat our old friends James Moir and Duncan Sherrington , as determined as ever to carry out the principles of the Charter ; and I never heard better speeches than were delivered upon the Charter , the Labour Question , the Press , and the women . You all know a half-begotten thing of the name of Cochrane , a kind of toady of Paddy Brewster , both of the Sturge Conference . This abortion represented Paisley in the Convention and the Assembly . Now , was not he
a neat youth to represent the Chartist cause ? The whole correspondence of the Glasgow delegates—the original letters—have been placed in my hands ; and what will astonish you most of all with regard to this Scotch Assembly affair is , that Paddy Brewster—our old FRIEND—and James Bronterre O'Brien , worked the telegraph , and pulled the wires that worked the puppets . Nothing could exceed the enthusiastic reception I met with in ; Glasgow , and throughout my whole tour ; and the only compensation I can offer is , that by the good men I will stand .
In Carlisle we had such a bumper that I was obliged to take off coat , waistcoat , and neckcloth . No opposition there ; my friends were all staunch . They had a taste of deception before , and would not be gulled ; and to show their confidence in the Land Plan , one fine grey * headed old veteran presented me with ten sovereigns , to be placed to the account of bonus . From Carlisle I went to Newcastle , and there , as everywhere else , the Music Hall was
too small to hold the numbers that were anxious to attend . A Mr Macintosh—a little grocer , the nominee of Mr Peddie , the founder of the Democratic League , in opposition to Chartism —was the delegate from Newcastle Ito the Assembly , a man of whom the Chartists never heard before ; he did not make his appearance . My reception was not only warm hut affectionate , and at the conclusion Mr Dickinson presented me with the following address from the Chartists of Northumberland and Durham : —
DEI * AM ) EEWECTED SlB , We , the district delegates of the Durham and Nor . thnmterland CbartUt AsiocUtion b « g leave to offer jon oar heartfelt and gratefal thanks for your long and untiring exertions ! n behalf of the poor and justice . Your itraggles on behalf of labour ' * song—jour onceaiing endeavours to allevUte their impaverlshed condition , the dsep iaterest yon have taken in their welfare , and the unmlstakeable proofs yoa have given of your eelf-devotion , tine rity , and disinterestednses— . all these thing * , dear Sir , have fonad their way to t e hearts of the care-worn children of toil , and are there held in holy remembrance .
We are not unmindful how you have , time after time , devoted yoar pecuniary reFOnreeB to advance thy MU ! e of popular freedom . We have not forgotten bow , many a time , your health bag been injured by yoar seal in our csnse—nsy , we we kcow yoa have given up yoar personal liberty , and become the tesant of a prlion , and mcr : than onee or twica has yoar life beea preserved by & mere accident . We hava not forgtten these things , Sir , and never will forget them until we forget we are mtn ' and Englishmen . If the world , Sir , atk why we are devoted to Feargns O'Comnor our answer is—beeasse every act of bis life prove * his devotion tons .
In conclunon , friend and brother , —If yon have wen the heart * of the people by your exertions te grin them political jastica , yoa have doubly endeared yourself to them by your glorious plan to place them in a position to feed and clothe their families on their own farms , and be f * r ever free from ironhearted taskmasters . Generations yet te come will bleu your name for this , for that name shall survive unstained when the dost of Whig and Tery tyrants bdsU be mingled with the worms that crawl .
Accept ear gratefal thanks for all yoa have dona , and wi'l jet do for a « . May yoar life be prolonged to see jou- wishes falfiltel ; bat , above all , reit assured that oar devotion to yoa only strengthens and grows warmer wltbsgr . Yonra respectfully , - The delegates of Nerthumberlaad acd Durham , ' Thomas Dickissos , John Hudson , Thomas Te&nt , Geohge Elliont , William Gmssos , Tb « uis Richards , Robert Wkghiman , Benj . ? , Embletoh . Edward Sxaeok .
From Newcastle I started in my wet shirt at half-past ten at night , and arrived at Birmingham at half-past ten on the following morning Now , that was a good week ' s work ; but I am more than repaid for the expense and the exertion by the confidence and enthusiasm of the real Chartists . From Manchester to Perth on Friday ; Perth to Montrose , and a public meeting on Saturday ; Aberdeen , Sunday , six hours at Aberdeen Mouday ; Aberdeen to Dundee , eighty miles on Tuesday , and five hours there between meeting and discussion ; Edinburgh , Wednesday , and fire hours therebetween meeting and soiree ; Glasgow , Thursday , and seven hours there between meeting and soiree : Carlisle ,
Friday , andjfive . hours there ; Newcastle , Saturday , and thirteen hours and a half between there and Birmingham . To-day ( Tuesday ) I have been in the Conference , and , as far as I can judge , a good and sound spirit animates the body , so that I think that I have not performed a bad twelve days ' labour ; while you will confess , that it is unjust , unfair , and ungenerous , that I should be put to such trouble , such hardship , and expense , to refute the assertions of a parcel of drivelling hypocrites , that would make merchandise of oar cause , and who hope to live in idleness upon the ruin of Your faithful and acquitted Friend and Representative , Feargxts O'Coknor .
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( From our Third Edition of last week . ) ¦ Edinburgh , Thursday . My Friends , . . I had one of the most glorious meetings here last night ever held in Edinburgh—a bumper . I never witnessed such enthusiasm , or had such a reception , in the most excited times ; and when a vote of thanks was proposed , the meeting demanded that CONFIDENCE should be added , which the proposer truly declared he had —— —*»^—»**_ " ^ " ^*^^^^^^^^ " ^^
embodied in his resolution , and which was carried , not amid cheers , but amid rejoicings that I have seldom seen equalled . And although Mr Shirron , of Aberdeen , threatened me with REAL OPPOSITION in Edinburgh , I made proclamation for my accusers , but not one appeared .. I spoke for upwards of two hours and a half in all , and then sat down at my hotel with thirty three of the Old Guards ( some came thirty-two miles , ) till past one , but no SEDITION .
I have now to tell you that five Chart ists are to be tried here in a fortnight under the new Act , and that Powell-like , one of Sir George Grey ' s FRIENDS , —a Mr JOHN RUSSELL ( is not that an ominous name ?) and one of the LONDON POLieEr * & the principal evidence against them . Now mark ; . ' this VILLAIN came and joined all the clubs ; represented himself as a railway contractor , andthatjhejhad 500 navvies , all ready to come out , and abused them all as cowards for not having arms . Now ask yourselves at whose expense this villain TRAVELLED , and at whose instance he left his DUTY IN LONDON ?
As I predicted , I am now congratulated , even by my greatest revilers , for having k * pt the ship afloat , and the crew together , during the storm ; and as I lose ( not gain ) by Chartism , 1 need not create false hope , but I assure you that their confidence in me was never so great , and I assure you that it is not misplaced , as my motto is
" ONWARD AND WE CONQUER , BACKWARD AND WE FALL , THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER , AND NO SURRENDER . " But when you hear all the treason , you will wonder how I have escaped the deep-laid villainy of professiag friends . Ever your faithful Friend , Feargus 0 "Connor .
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MR FEARGUS O'CONNOR'S TOUR THROUGH SCOTLAND . ( From the North British Emm . )
ABERDEEN . The following addresses were presented to Mr O'Conoor at the Aberdeen meeting : — 10 JEAHQD 8 O CONHOB , EfO ,., U . P . Hohouud a » d Respected Sib , — We , the member ! of the Aberdeen branch of the National Lsnd Company , embrace the opportunity afforded as this ni ght of ten ' - detisg onto yoa oar sincere congratulations , that , owing to your own wiie polioy , jou are itUl at large , and permitted to be amongst tu thisemlng . We are proud to say , sir , that yoa baia laboured hard in oar oaate against every kind of opposition , and we are bound to acknowledge that yeur sterling honesty was brought oat by the late parliamentary investigation into the Land Plan , upon which occasion you displayed coubase , enebqt , and HODEBATioH , whioh wai never ¦• nrpassed , nor even equalled , by any other man . We
ire fally aware , sir , that that Committee met with the fall intent to strangle -he giant that yea had bright into existence , and nuried and fostered from childhood upwards ; bat that Committee—the majority of which wm strenaoosly epposed to the scheme—with the wnolt vile Press in their rear —« oald not accomplish the fool deed when the awx chahmou O'Conno * , armid with hone « ty and Integrity of pat pose , was readj to protect his darling . We are proud in being able to bear testimony to the consistency which baa marked yoar whole political career . Calumny could not move—persecution could not Intimidate—lha malignity of a base Press , pouring forth the vilest slanders—the Incarceration of you coadjutors and friend !—the surveillance of police , men and spies—and tne threat ! of prosecution , coold never induce yon to relinquish your pott , or flag in ;« u exertions . In yoa has been folly verified the faot
that—1 The dungeon ' s gloom no terror gives To him who for his country lives ; Firm as an adamantine rock , Saren » he stands , ' mid every shack . Supported by the patriot ' s God , He laughs to scon the tyrants rod , ' S 3 on , then , in the same noble cause , denounolng tyranny , exposing injustice , recommandiog temperance diffasiog knowledge , and defending our order ; and ' while the greater ponion of your time ia engrossed in the fulfilment of your Parliamentary duties , may the advooaoy of the People ' s Charter , and the National Lwd Scheme , be always paramauat in your mind . We Bin . cerely trust that you will still continue t « watch over
your darling L « nd Scheme , with all the anxie ' y and solicitude of a fond parent . Permit as now , sir , to aoknow . ledge that we ha < -ethe most explicit confidence to plao-In the four gentleman who are at preieBt at the head of tha directorship . The alacrity which they have at all times manifested for the interest of the members have procured for them oar greatest feelings of respeotand esteem , which notbingbut a dereliction from principle or duty can deprecate or destroy . We are wishful , sir , to express our desire that Thomas Singsby Duncombu , Esq . H . P ., may be so far recovered as to be a ble to take hit seat when Parliament re-assembles , to renew yoar hopes and increase your resolve in the pursuit of your onward march to freedom .
Go then , eloquent arid highly gifted advocate of Unl . venal Liberty , Justice , Truth , and Humanity , you will yet conduct the masses to a peaceful and moral viotory ; —theajou may proudly exclaim , Tyranny have I con . ' quered , and the oppression of ages have I levelled in the dust . Then , sir , your name will be handed dona to pos . terity , not as an Alexander , a Cawsr , a Napoleon , or any of these victors who have deluged earth ' s fair creation with the blood of their fellow men and ravaged the « arth with fire and sword , wbile the cries of the be . rca * ed were reading the air for vengeance . No , sir , we believe that the drying up a single tear has more ot honest fame , than shedding seas of gore . Tour name will be found among that nobler band of spirits whe have sought to elevate mankind , taught them to cultivate the arts of peace , and how to live soberly and ja « tly ¦
and when yen shall be callnd upoa to reader an account of yoar stewardship before that great jadge , nnto whom all must bow , you will leave behind yoa a memorial of your greatness , as enduring as time itself . Many thousands of free and happy homes will be a monument of your goodness , more eloquent than language can describe , and more lasting than marble or bronze . Our children ' s children will chant your praise , —and your memory will be enshrined in the hearts of millions . In conclusion , sir , accept our best wishes for your fature welfare ; and , wben at a distance , should your thoughts revert to this plao « , you will be pleased to think that yon are still remembered by the Aberdeen Branch of the National Land Compiny , as the champion of Democracy , and the ben « fsotor of the whole human race . Signed in behalf of the meeting , Geobu Macintosh , President , Wiluah Pobteb , Treasortr , Robebi Rgbtsor , Secretary . ADDRES 8 FROM THE CHARTISTS OF ABERDEEN . 10 FBAKGU 8 o ' cOHKOB , EfQ , M P ., IHB CHAMHOH 0 ? THE JBOFLB ' a JUST EIGHTS . HoIOUbib Sli . —We have , on former occasions , pnb Hcly expressed onr deep gratitude for joar disinterested , fearless , and untiring advocaoy of the Ri ghts of Laboar ; and we again assure yea of oar undlminiBhedadmirat ' , gratitude , and resptot Tou have fought the battles of the poor and the oppressed for many yean , through good report and bad report—yon have suffered persecution , prossoutlon , and imprisonment for boldl y maintaining the eause of the Injured and oppressed sons ef toll—you have travelled by night and by day to defend the cause of
the peeple—yoa have stood between the poor oppressed , and the rich oppressor , as the champion of freedom ; and the corrupt hireling press of the country , almost without exception , have looked on yoa as a target at whioh their envenomed darts have been incessantly hurled . In the House of Common * , as well as throughout the country yoa hava been abused and maligned by the supporters of oppression and injustice ; and every meanB have been ¦ sed to destroy your good same , but they have signally failed ; for we uinre you that the confldenoe of the great mass of the peopli remains unshaken . It is true that some professed friends of the people have made varlou charges against yon ; but we have bow the aat'i . fsotion of knowing that even they were deceived by the base hireling spies of the imbecile and irresponsible Whig
ijrant « , who were sent among the people to exoito the oppressed and deeply injured sons of labour to nets of vloUnoe and premature outbreak , for the purpose of destroying the movement , find miking the triumphs of tyranny more secure . These WKtohes , a dlrgraoe to humanity by their che « rs sna their teeming enthusiasm , deceived the honest and unwary people , and made thtm believe that the nation waB quite prepared fpr a physical force revolution ; and htn they found that jou oould not be entrapped In the snare which they had spread for your destruction , they bad no O'her resource but to attempt the destruction of your influence . wlth the people for fear that you would lave them from the pit whioh they ha i made as the grave of their deluded victims .
In many Instanoes , they snecseded but too well , as the f » teof MrEnwst Jones . Dp MD mail , and others oan testify ; but , thank Heaveu , you are still left amoDgst u » as the champion o » the people and tha friend of justice , and the rights of labour may yet be gained . :: We oannot 'ora moment entertain the idea that you who have saorifloed so much of your fortune—who have abandoned all the pleasures and enjojmtnts which your position In society pltres within your reaoh—who have thrown aside the Harrow- prejudices and the exolnslve ¦ pirit so degrading to the great ma ] : rity of yoar class and rol ^ Iy embraced the principles of true dbhoobaot * condetoending to associate with the humblest operative and to plead the erase of the poorest In the land;—we oannot believe that yon , whose whole sympathies and feelings axe ' wlth the people , oould ever desert that holi cica ^ wWoh yoa have s ? loay , 10 ably , and so fearleul ; maintained .
No ; we dismiss the very ideas from our mindc , and rely , with full confidence , on your wisdom , yeur integrity , and your sternness of purpose , to direct ua is the best coarse to regain the just and constitutional bights , which , as men as oitlBins , and subjects , we ought to enjsy . We pledge ourselves to stand by your side in the struggle of BiOHi against hisht , to cheer you on In that nohle causa which is so dear to all of us , and to share th labour of tbe agitation to obtain the bights of ban , at we expect to share the benefits which will result frum their obtBiameot . Ana that you may be ong spared to enjoy health and strength to aid us In the noble work , and to see your laboura crowned with success , Is the tamest wish , and feivent prayer , of the ChartUti of Abardeeu , DUNDEE . A resolution of thanks to , and confidence 5 b , Mr O'Connor was enthusiastically adopted at the close of the Dundee meeting .
EDINBURGH . On Wednesday evening a publio meeting of the ChartiBtg of Edinburgh and Leith waa held in Greig ' t ( Ridiag School , Nicolson Street , to hear from Mr O'Connor a lecture on the meral and social condition of the people . Mr John Eking , having been called to the chair , ia a fe * words thaaked the meeting for the honour they had conferred upon him , anH although he felt ill qualified to disoharge the du ties , he would endeavour to do the best he could . Mr O'Connor then came forward , amid waving of hate and continued oheering , and said , I too , like your ohairaan , am astonished to see bo many persons present this evening , but yon are to reoollcot that we live in the reign of terror ; but tot the tjrai ts who
wish to oppress ua by suppre sing opinion be told that the Christians . » f old were persecuted , that the Jews of old were presented , and that all who have looked tor and laboured fpr the establishment of & good principle have been persecuted . I assure yoa . my friends , so valuable is my time , so muoh am I engaged in other oooapations juBt now , that , was it not from the faot that the people requite to be reunited and regenerated , I would not be here , I have other work te perform . It is not every man who has the oourage to take op a newspaper and find his oha racter reviled there . It is not every man who has courage to stand against the prejudices of the aristocracy—the malice and vengeance of the middle daises—and the treaohery of some of tbe working
classes as I hayedsne ; . but aa this is the twenty sixth year of my political oareer I trust to live down all Blander . 11 ave abandoned the ties of friendship and home , and I have been driven an exile from my oountry—I am the 1 > st of a persecuted raoe , and I have given up family connexions and friends , and have squandered property for the cause of the people . Asd now , friends , I have been at Aberdeen , at Dundee , and now at Edinburgh , then I goto Glasgow , because in these four towns I have been maligned in my absence . I come here te stand before , not one of your Scotch juries that read the bible through speotaclea , and bribery through goggleB , but I come here before a jury too virtuous to be bribed , ' and too numerous to be packed—and who require ' not the mystery of the ohnrshnor the mvstification of the
, advooate or lawyer to expound simple law to them . I came not upon aBingle const upon any single indict , meat ; but I came to plead innocence to every obarge that may be brought against me , through the whole ootfseofmylife . That It aves a large scope . There isthisconneotedwithiit , that your class is the most moral and virtuous of all olasser . If a noble lord commits forgery , he is insane ; if he gets drunk , he is a fool ; but if a poor man does any of theae things , he is a criminal fellow . But if the crimes of these other parties were blazoned forth to the world , they would be many compared with those of the poor . But hew happens it that there should be bo many traitors among your own ranks—how oan they not be united ? All the persecutions that I receive from
> ll the other classes is as nothing , compared to ingratitude from the workiBg classes—for I look upon them all as my own children . What the others saj of me , I heed it not ; I love , I gloat upon it , because , the moment they begin to praise me , I am unworthy of your gratitude . I love their bias , I invite them , but I don't love your bias , and the . more especially when I do not deserve it . At the time of an awful crisis , 1 came here at great incenvenience—when the Glasgow cotton spinners wern to be tried—for we find , that as soon as the Whigs had gained the ascendenoy in this country , they began to persecute the very men by whose instrumentality they achieved their ascendenoy—so they are geingto try some oi onr friends upon the 7 th of next month . Now , I ask you , whether a severed party , or a united party ,
presenting a firm front , and demanding a fair inter , pretationofthelaw , which is most likely to eesure & fair verdiot for these men ? They always explain the law to suit the jury and satisfy the party in power : but when they see you firm and determined they explain the law as it is printed in the statute book . Then mark—it will be an eternal disgrace to you , if yonr men are convicted for want of the very best counsel Oh ! that I oonld speak to you as f once could have spoken—bat then we had not the Attorney General ' s bill—for the Attorney Gen eral and his puny power , I have no regard , but I have no wiBh to be separated from those to whom I hope to be useful . ( Great applause . ) I dare not do as Mr O'Connell did upon the Calton Hill , when he talked of the Scots ! establishing their liberty upon the mountain aide with the broad elaymore . I dareto '
say anythiug of this sort , beoause the Attorney-General ' s gag is upon my mouth But in the same proportion as the law is trenohed upon , in the same proportion strain you your energies to be united . Ido notknowithafcthereiBaay law againstpublicmeetine /> , proyided you keep within the limits of the gagging act Tou have one paper , and only one that supports your cause . Well , I have been making a little calculation for you ; presuming there are four millions of people in Scotland , if every man in 800 would pay a penny a-week , it would amount to £ 120 a-week . Are you prepared for your liberty , if every man in 800 is not prepared to pay a penny a-week to ohtain it f The government govern the country by the preiB Then bei sure that you have an instrument to meet the perndy of the government , and never say that you are prepared for freedom if every man in 800 i .
not prepared to pay a penny a-week to support that paper . ( Applaiiu . ) There was an old Roman when hesaw his country being sold for gold , threw * ThTfcfe ft ? 8 Cal T ^ ° ? lance U ' ^' exclaimed , That u ^ e ransom I give for my country , ' l now say no suoh thugs for it is easy for you to pay I penny a week to attain your freedom . The WhifiB during this last session of parliament , have passed more bloody , and brutal act ! than have been pSd altogether since 1688 , and I told them in myplwe aws . x-ttasEs i ^ w 'ftftfflSssS JndthJS ^ ^ th 8 t a Mr R »» H ell , belongsffl ^ ter ttasiass
against your tnends in the coming trial . Mr 6 'Connor then alluded to the influence of briber ^ awnTthe mind , 8 > stimnlating to acts which , baffit £ country , no person of a sane mid would ever perform . In England , he said , ten million ! a ff «^ A ^ i ? rt ^*^ tottoS ! ato the people , but lha parsons eat it ; up , and they then 'ftlr ignonm ? eMd *» ¦» refffi pro-2 ? i ?» T . * W '™** ' 1 only wish you iSiSnSL ? - 1118 t 0 gee a oonstituenoy of farmers 'SlJffiSf ?! . 801116 .. 01 oor ED * li 8 h oountie 8 mea more ignorant than the horses they drive . They , however , urequite oanableofvotini ? for » mAmhaf of
E ™ . Why ? Beoaase that man is to be the , w «? 5 h ho laBdlord 8 - Mark me , if you were ignorant , they [ would give you the franohise to-E ^ l * ^ y ° u 8 r too kB » w 5 n B * ° ta duped by them , they will not me you your rights .
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In France , no publio discussion was allowed , and then physical force came like an electric Bhock and now they have adopted every principle of your Charter in Parii . No power on earth , no matter how great , oan shoot a prinoiple , or stab a thought . Thougnt , however , may be pent up , but one single act of Parliament May cause it b burst forth , and then , like a mountain torrent , it wili rush down a mighty avalanoho , to overthrow the whole valley of ignorance below . ( Great applause . ) I am the only man out of the 650 members of Parliament who haB opposed every one of the base measures passed since last session . I commenced with a small minority on tbe Irish Coercion Bill , and continued my opposition until I was left without a seconder : but I was
determined that , in my absence , no measure would pass , whioh I would be ashamed to say I was not there to oppose it . Mr O'Connor then alluded to his meetings in Dundee and Aberdeen , and said , well , it is something in these trying times for a gentleman belonging to what is called the high order of representatives in Parliament-now mark , it is a high order , for some men will give £ 10 , 009 for a seat . t I assure you I would not give a fanning for a seat . I would not hold a seat if I did not think it was foryour benefit . I will tell you the reason why they will give £ 10 . 000 for aeeat . It ia because thejhopeto make £ 50 , 000 out of it . It is like taw < jotton , 7 aw wool , or oold iron , ie can be manufactured , and yields a return of £ S for every £ 1 thev exoend unot .
getting it . Mr O'Connor then alluded briefly to the way iirirhioh tnind is pnronaged in the House of Commons , showing , . that where e . collection of men are , they would be guilty of acts of cruelty , whioh one individual by himself would be horror-struck at the idea of having ever thought of . This accounted [ or a ] l the opposition he had received ; and the last ten rf lobtnjjof suoh a trying session , to be opposed in every measure , was at least a proof of a man ' s sinoentyl Ia it not some test of a man ' s honesty of purpose ? He asked the meeting to point to onevote whioh he had givan , that they would bs ashamed to have given , or ashamed beoause he had given ? ( Great applause . ) I wat in every minority , until at last upon the Coercion Bill . 'I think the
Ayes have it , ' said the speaker . I think tho Noes have it , laid I , but I had no seconder , ano * the measure pawed . Is not that some test of a man ' s oonduct in Parliament to go down to his constituents , as I did to Nottingham , and state that if there was the least dissatufaotien , I would tender my seat ? ( Cheers . ) I come then to unite you , became I believe in my toul , that it is ordained that the Charter ¦ hall pass . ( Great applause . ) Noff , if any of you work for a month as I have done for the last twentysix years , you will have the Charter . But when trade is good , yen say , 'Oh , we don't want , the Charter , we are doing k very well ' . without it ; ' but when the evil day comes , you say , ' Come away and lead us out now , we are all xeady—we are all Chartists , and will fight for the Charter . ' I sayno I thank youI wil .
, , not , lead you now . During the last year ' s disousBion . many men have written to me , and many men have said to me , ' Oh , for God ' a sake , abandon the movement . ' My answer has been . I will abandon my life k . rGre 8 t aPPla « Be . ) Thank Heaven , that although many of yourselves are being traitors , and mfermerB , and spies , that is no reason why I should abandon the body of the people wbb are virtuous , moral , and determined to obtain their rights , and | for that reason IJhave left my home to be here this evening . I Bball not Bay a word » bom the government , but of the Whigi-the Whigs beat me in the House of Commons , but with God ' s blessing I will beat than . ( Cheers . ) Mark the ordeal through whioh a good measure has to go . It k first
laughed at , then it is persecuted , then it is proseouted , then it begim to bo spoken of , then it is discussed , then it is legislated upon , and then it teoomes the law of the land . ( Cheers- ) The reformers of old ( although yeu did not derive much benefit from reform ) were persecuted . Many Scotchmen were put to death , many were transported , and only for doing what the "Whigs wrote to General Napier to do by force of arms . Tou do not suppose that this is going to rest where it is just now . I do not suppose that I will fail in the House of Commons , both to ask the Lord Advocate if he wrote the letter to the provost of Montrore , and to ask My Lord John if any account can be given of the missing envelope But oh ! Bays the Times news paper , and the ohnroh , and the government , that
was but the solitary act of Thomas Toung . Melbourne had nothing to do with it , oh , no . But mark , if one Chartist , if a million of Chartiats do anything , I am expected to know all about it . In faot I am the red cat of Chartism , and every thing that is done , 1 do it . I saw poor Cuffey tried ; There is not a more amiable man in England than poor Cuffey , yet he was entrapped by some men , who would charge me with leading them on to what they did . It was Feargus O'Connor , and the Northern Stab , that led them on . Now it is strange that FeargusO'Connor never heard the name of one of the thirty-one , except that of Cuffey . And yet Mr Young is exonerated for what he did , and I am obliged to be answerable for all that is done . He | ¦
then alluded to the infamous conduot in the oase ot young Meagher ' s nurse at the Irish trials , and then spoke of the folly of attempting to pull down without beingtablejto build up . The French , who gained the Republic in February , beoame the viotims of their own viotory beoause they were not prepared with a substitute The change which he hopsd to see waa a change that would not take one man from Nature ' s board while the feast wsb ample for all . He hated bloodshed ; but let them but try to be united in moral power , and then , my Lord John Russell will aBk ' Is it the Charter you want ? is that all ; ' and Sir Robert Peel will try to outbid him , and will aay ,- ' Is it only the Charter , will you not like a bit of land along with it too V This is the way these [ ( i , I i 1 j 1 t 9
gentlemen would bid against each other . The ; would bid anything for a seat . Edward Stanley , now a member of the House of Peers , told me when I en * tered parliament , that they intended to observe the government praofcice by giving me half the patronage of my county . This , of course would have been worth £ 100 , 000 a year , and then he stated that he hoped I would support the government measure that waa then before them . I told him I had brought in a nominee on my shoulders , and should have all the county , and the Bupport I gave , was when Mr Lambert made his motion against them , I rose up when he had done speaking , and seo ndtd the motion . It is not an easy thing to stand up i the House of Commons , a solitary individual , without one to sup-?
port you . 1 stand up opposed to every man in the House of Commons , asd every man is opposed to me ; but I bear all the inBulta heaped upon me , and return taunt for taunt , beoause I think that by espousing your cause your ; prinoipleB will finally be adopted . ( Applause . ) What I do say in the House of Commons provokes others to reply to me . These wordB go to America—they go to France—they are scattered through the lflngth and breath of the land —and men hear of the Charter who never heard of it before . The idea that on the 10 th of April , 200 , 000 speoial coastables , with the army and the Duke of Wellington at their head , and the artillery and the troopers all caparisoned and dressed for the oocasion—the idea that suoh an array waB called
out to put dewn a mere imaginary thing , a mere ghoBt . A noble lord put the question to Sir George Grey , whether that meeting on Kennington Common would be allowed to take place ? Sir George said it would not take place ; and when he had done speaking , I rose in my plaoe and said , I beg to tell the noble lord that the meeting shall take place ; ' and the meeting did take place . Alderman Humphrey , and fifty others , wrote letters to me , telling me if I went to the meeting I would be ehot . i did go , and eat in the front rank j but that triumph was afterwards destroyed . I hope it wiil be a leBBon to the working classes , atd , bo help me God , that , had I been sure as I stand here , that I would have been shot , rather than allow them to put the
meeting down , I would have none to Kennington Common . ( Great applause . ) But I am not going to _ sacrifice myself and your cause to the whim or caprice of any man , or budyof men on the faoe of the earth . But , suppose that next Saturday the Stab came eut with a flaming artiole in support of Whiggery , do not suppose that I would be leoturing in suoh a place as this . I would be in one of the finest ball rooms , and in the gallery we would have the Queen ' s band to enliven us ; and suppose that I was to deliver a leoture on the rights of capital and the rights of labour , but not the dutieB of labour ; and suppose I were to tell you that it whs the ordinance of God that ' here should be always poor in the land , or suppose , like a certain person , who was going to set all Clyde on fire , who said if you got four days' work you ought
to bless God ; if you got two days' work , you onght to try and live upen it ; and if you got no work at all but had to live upon charity , you ought to be grateful to those who give you tbe soanty pittanoe . Suppose jou saw suoh an announcement , don't you think that noblemen would oome from all parts of the oountry to hear the great patriot . Would it not be hard , then , for me , think you , to lesBen myself in the estimation of the great men ? bat there is something dearer to me than wealth , and that is to live down prejudice . I am now building monuments that will remain when all the monuments built to warlike heroes will have crumbled into duBt , I am building homes for you , and . that whioh I bate done is only an experiment . The labour market is crowded—they want you to expatriate yourselves . They don't like to no
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starring people at borne , bitt yon are arked to got out down forests in order to get lnpd , and when tha is over , you have nothing wherewith to cultivate it Toe man who tells me that the country is over popu , lated , blasphemes bis God , The country waB no over-populated , when , at one time , estate sold accord ing to the number of huases , and according to tho number of persons resident upon them . But now they sell in proportion to the fewness of their residents . I don't want to see your exoise and custom duties going to inorease corrup tion . I want to Bee the money made in Edinburgh kept there for the purpose of recruiting that
to go to corrupt the veinB of the men of power is London . I want to see completn local government , and then when you have this yon will have a centralised government ; Therefore , look to local government . And well , to begin with poor unhappy Ireland . You may rely upon it , that they nuke martyrs in Ireland , but from every drop of blood will spring 10000 martyrs to avenge the martyrs ' death . When a system requires oruelty to support it , it will crumble to pieces . I would state as my . baua of government , self-reliance , co operation , representation and justice . ( Great : applauie ) Make ever ; man rely upon his own exertions as an individual man , and then a community of these
individuals will have a good representative government . Place the surplus population upon the land , then you Will see such a body as no country ever saw tn protect the land of their birth . I am for complete selfreliance—I have struggled for that a great portion of my life . Every soheme that ia taken up is to make profit . Well thtn , many men thought I wps robbing the Land Compuny . I asked a coran ittee to be appointed to make investigation . They got my accounts . I brought four men to be examined before the committee . They said they had nothing to ask them . I took five members of parliament down to the estate . They would not examine them . 'What do you want ? ' I then asked . ' We want to go into
yonr accounts . ' I told them they were mercenaries and tools , &o . That committee Bat" three months , and they bad received receipts for over ; thing down to 2 * . 6 d . A report was drawn up , which stated that the Land Company owed Feargus O'Connor . £ 3 , 298 53 S ^ d . T his would not do . Mr Finlaiaoa the great actuary , was applied to , and having goto over the aooouats , he wrote , stating that be had discovered an error . He was immediately waited upon , and stated he bad discovered that , instead of the Land Company owing Mr O'Connor £ 3 208 , they owed him £ 3 . 400 . ' Oh ! that will do , we don't waut an > more of it , ' wa » the immediate reply , ( Cheers . ) This oertainly shows a difference from railway snecu-
lation , for every railway company in the kingdom i ' " ) has cent out falsa balance sheets in order to "" lead the proprietors astray . ' and railway property worth £ 252 eighteen months ago , is cow worth about £ 99 laas week . I am here to tell you . then , that they , so long aa I live , shall never put down the Land Company if you are prepared support it . And , as I told the men of Aberdeen if Prince Albert had built 300 cottar , all the fashionable ladies and little lords would be asking for cards of adariwion to see the beautiful places , and everything would be in stir to see the happy homes built by the philanthropic German prince in England . It would be— 'Ah ! how lovely ! La !
did you ever V But , when they pass , they draw up the carriage blinds , and say , 'Don ' t look that way , that ' s the plaoa built by that beast Feargus O'Connor . ' ( Great laughter . ) I was delighted with the examination of one gentlemaD , who stated that he had paid £ 236 for two acres of land , and he had paid £ U for legal expenses for conveying it , he bad kept his family , consisting of three children , and his wife , all very comfortable , and , after that , his two acres left an annual profit of £ 51 10 p , This is the evidence of a man not conneoted with the Land Company . Mr O'Connor then said , I am not a monopolist , even in news , and I' will do everything I oan to ic .
orease the circulation of your own local paper . I have embarked in your boat , and until you drive me from it , with God ' s blessing , no other man shall ever take me from it . 1 have avoided Soylla , and will endeavour to keep dear of Charybdis . He then promised to devote part of his spare time , previous to the meeting of parliament , to writing a letter fcr the Expbebs every week , in order to suBtain its interest ; « nd weuld take up one subject , and carry it on ia regular order ; and pledge himself that they wonld see nothing personal , nothing selfish , not one word about him until they oame to the signature , ' I am your warm and faithful representative , Feargus O'Connor . ' ( Great applause . ) Mr Bareness then came forward , and recited the following poem , which he had written for the occasion : —
O'CONNOR'S WELCOME TO EDINBURGH . it 3 . HABEHIBB . When D . > nald , from his mountain home , Proclaimed with joy , O'Connor ' s oome , And left ia silence , forge , and loom . To greet the Frinoe of Chivalry . Bis heart beat light , his hopes were high , Bat who could feel the p&trltVs Joy—; When Labour ' t cbeer , from earth till sky , Pronounced the doom of slavery ? Shall we , lest sanguine in the oanso
' Of equal rights and equal , laws , Withhold our tribute of applause , > Nor show oar sense of braver ; f . We'll hall him as the chieftain brave , ( Whom Heaven hath railed this land to save—, To burst the bonds that bind the slave , r And dig the grave of tyranny , \ We ' ll slog his prase , we'll speak his worth , P We'll rival Donald ef the North—Till Tsy and Tweed , till Clyde and Forth , Resound the joyous revelry .
list scribblers rant and rave and write , And Btrivoto prove that black is white—That tight Ib wrong—that wrong is right , And show their depth in viUany . We'll guard himfrom each base attaok , * Of hlr'd soribe and worthless hack—Of hollow knave end artful quaok , And all their fieroe artillery . Let faotlon throw its polloued dut ) , And reap in turn its jaat deserts ; His shield , a wall of Aoneit fearl « . Sh all quenoh their hottest battery , - As billows , toss'd by tempests roll , His daring spirit so rns control ; The flame , wild bursting through his Soul , Shs . ll light tbs woridt&MWty .
In vain the proud their barriers rear To stop him in his bright oareer : He leads tbe way , the millions cbeer , And earth ihall shont tbe victory . Mr Cribbes , in a brief speeoh , proposed a vote of thanks to Mr O'Connor , whioh was seoonded by Mr Kynnooh , and responded to moat enthusiastically . Mr O'Connor then veplied , and beforesitting down , proposed a vote ef thanks to Mr Eking for his conduot in tbe chair . Three times three were then given for the Chartints , and three groans for the Whigs , and the meeting separated .
GLASGOW . On Thursday a publio meeting was held in Regent Street Chapel , East , No . 100 , for the purpose of hearing Mr O'Connor . The chapel was crowded , and hundreds were obliged to leave for want of acoommodation . Mr Robert Paul was called to the chair . Mr O'Connor then addressed the meeting at great length . A vote of thanks and confidence waa then awarded to Mr O'Connor , and a vote of thanks having been giving to the ohairmic , the meeting
separated . Soirib . —A soiree was then held in the Chartist Hal ) , whioh , like the previous meeting , was crowded to suffeoation . Mr Paul again oecupied the chair . Addr « B « es wete delivered by Mr James Moir , Mr Harrower , and Mr Brown . Mr O'Connor then addressed the meeting at Bomo length , and concluded by proposing a vote ot thanks to the ohairman . A vote of thanks wbb again given to Mr O'Connor , and the meeting separated a little pa » t twelve o ' clock .
Untitled Article
Alterations in Mills ink Penitenturt During the summer four pentagons , in eauh of whioh were fifteen cells , containing in the whule sixty prisoners in a state of complete separation , were all pulled down , and the Bpaoe , with the corridors , has been made into association rooms , containing eighty prisoners eaoh . Thus 320 prisoners now occupy ia association the room that was formerly devoted to the seclusion of sixty . They all Bleep in uammook ? i in the same aisociation rooms , under the surveillance by night and day of warders appointed for that pur * pose . _ There is also a large association ro .-wi , which contains 180 prisoners upon the above principle . Prieonera are now employed in couking in the kitohen under proper superintendence . The alterations have been made entirely under the directio ns of the new inspeotor of prisons , Captain Williams , with the sanction of tne Government .
Soioidb op a Naval Ofpicrb , —A short time sino the Peninsular and Oriental Company were commissioned to purchase a very small steamer for the Pacha of Egypt . There was some difficulty owing to the BmallneBsof theBteamerand the tempestuous weather in getting a person to take her out to Alexandria ; at length Captain White , a very able Be&man who had for many yeaiB commanded eleamers whioh run between Southampton and Havre and the Channel Islands , volunt ered , and took the vessel , after running great risks , safely to Egypt . The Pacha was much , gratified at his skill , and made him a very handsome present , Captain White wag tuea employed by the Peninsular and Oriental Company to take out the Achilles steamer to India from Southampton . This he had successfull y accem - plished , and was returning to England , and while ob board the steamer in the Red Sea , whioh ' waa bringing to Suez the Indian mail , he jumped overboard ia » fit of temporary iaeanity . and perished .
"Savk Oi *R0m Oor Frissoi ." To The Chartists.
" savK OI * R 0 M OOR FRISSOI . " TO THE CHARTISTS .
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^^^ s&J ' " V ' .- ¦ \ / <^ Jr ^ ' ¦ * — ' ^^ ^^ ^^ * >^ ^ v ^ r AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL .
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VOL- XL No 576 LONDON , SATURDAY / NOVEMBER 4 , 1848 . «^^ F ? I ^^ - -a i . : rlTC ahllllMgg and Sixpence per Quarter ^ ™ ^ HBBB ¦¦¦ Bi ^^^^^ ¦ " ' ' **~
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 4, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1495/page/1/
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