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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1842.
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&o iiUaticvjS ant» Covvcgponfcetttg.
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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.
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The iolio-wing is an account of the meeting blinded to in the above document , famished by oar own correspondent ;— PUBLIC MEETING AT BATH . A public meeting was held on Monday evening last , at the room of the Charter Association ; as it was snderstood charges were to be made against Mr . Bartlett , ( be reporter to the Star for Bath , kc , in reference to the reports which were sent by him to that paper , and inserted therein last week . ~ . Mr . Vincent , Ftelp , -Clarke , and Roberts were to make the charges , which were that Mr . Bart ett had been guilty in the reperts of gross falsehoods and misstatements .
Mr . Bartlett appeared to defend himself , though he denied the right of . a public meeting to judge him , as it was composed of persons who were neither at the Conference nor the meeting held in that room the week before , the accuracy of the account of the proceedings at which Conference and at which meeting the present meeting was called upon to deny . Many persons , who knew nothing of the proceedings , and some of tkem interested in Mr . Vincent ' s printing establishment , ssrere there to dacide against Mr . IBartlett . - Mr . Bartleti opened the case by giving reasons why the speeches of the others were not fully reported : -and said he wss prepared t 3 Jcontend that the reports in substance and in spirit were correct .
Mr . MyaiOTT , of Bristol , said he believed it to be true in regard to its spirit , though it might not be in the precise words . He -called upon them * the meeting ) to be trne to O'Connor . and iheStaj ; which were scoffed at , and would be scouted , if some had their way . He hoped the people tec aid not be deceived by the middle classes trho had deceived as before ; who had broken faith -with , and who now wanted to humbug- U 3—( grett cheering . ) What was their conduct at Birmingham and Manchester towards Mr . O'Connor —} man whom they . should not suffer to be abused and spit-epon —( renewed cheers and dapping of hands . ) The middle -classes never moved till their tills were empty : they looked but to their own interests and nothing else—( cheers i There were one sew move , and another ne-ar move , atd another move , and all to ruin the Chartists' struggle— . 'cheer *) He asked for fairness .
Mesas . Clarke , Philp , Roberts and Vincent defended themselves ; but it is not necessary here to give their charges against Mr . Bartiett , nor bis contradictions , as tbe whola matter is to he brought forward in another form ; these geatiemeB , Messrs . Vlnoent , &a , and the meeting not having allowed Mr . BsrUett to have a Mi and fuUJ | t * astigBtionof * £ e facts of the case . ~ A ^ Prhftifc in Mr . YineentfB employ proposed the ieaowing * e « 8 hitloii , written iy K r . Vincent . - jTbe * t ^ S ^ . an given atoore by Messra Vincent , Eoberts , ' Philpy&nd Clark , wae here enclosed . } It ¦»» " ieeeiifled by a person in , Mr . Vincent ' s employ . ' ?"'\~ ± ? .. .
Mr . HOPKINS proposed anamendment : "Ihat a . ecnrmltttee be chosen of thirty persons wSo ; Wete <» V the ^ meeting alluded to , for the purpose of j ^ MmsJ&' ^ the whole matter . V ^ BSiireMiineat was seconded .
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Mr . Philp said he should press tbe original motiou , as it agreed with his feelings . The amendment was put and about thirty bands ¦ were held up for it ; tor the original motion , between thirty-five and forty , and these Included many persons who were at nan * of the meetings referred to . The motion was declared te be carried by the Chairman , the announcement of which , was hailed by Messrs . Vincent , &c , with triumphant cheering . Mr . BjlrClett here read the address to Mr . O'Connor and . the Chartists of Manchester , elsewhere inserted , after which the meeting was dissolved . * We bare received ether communications from both parties , in refsrence to the dispute , between Mr . Bartlett sad Messrs . Vincant , Philp , Ac . Bat we do not think that justice requires the occupation of more space with it .
The Northern Star. Saturday, March 19, 1842.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , MARCH 19 , 1842 .
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THE ADHESION OF MESSRS . VINCENT , PHILP , AND OTHERS OF THE BATH CHARTISTS TO THE STURGE DECLARATION . The events of every day that passes convince us more and more fully of the soundness of the " no surrender ' principle , and of the certainty that thsonly effectual mode of exhibiting that principle is the one we have 8 © often recommended , —of holding fast by our entire Charter , whole and unmntilated , and avoiding eves , the appearance of surrender as to anj single point of it . We cannot recognise this manifestation of principle in the proceedings of these
gentlemen in reference to the Sturge " Declaration . " That " Declaration"is at the best a vague enunciation of one principle appertaining to the Charter ; and that one principle is declared in terms so equivocal and unsatisfactory that they admit of almost every variety of interpretation from Universal Suffrage to a nine pounds nineteen shillings franchise . Of this the best proof that can be offered is the fact that Mr . Sturge himself deems it neccesfcary to furnish his canvassers with instructions as to the meaning of tha " Declaration" ; those instructions being themselves liable t < i endless qnibbl in ^ and disputation as to what they mean ! They read thus : —
" The object in canvassing for names to the accompanying declaration and memorial is to gather together the sentiments of all those favourable to such an extension of Suffrage as will give to every adult male inhabitant of this country of sane mind , and unstained by crime , not being a burden to the State , the right of voting for Members of Parliament , with such protection of details for it 3 exercise as will secure a fair , full , and free representation of the people . Joseph Sturge , Chairman . "—( " For the canvassers' use . "
Nothing can afford stronger evidence than this , that Mr . Sturge is perfectly conscious that his " Declaration" is defective in its expression of principle . If it asserted , in plain terms , the principle of Universal Suffrage , there could be no need for this explanatory accompanying document . That principle , however , is not asserted , neither ia the "Declaration " itself , nor in this explanation of the " Declaration , " nor in the memorial which Mr . Sturge has issued , and with which Messrs . Vincent and Philp would have the Chartists to identify themselves .
What does Mr . Sturge mean , in this explanation of his u Declaration " , by the phrase " not being a burden to the State" ? Who are the parties here pointed at as " being burdens to the State " , and ) therefore , to be excepted from the franchise 1 Whom does Mr . Sturge reckon burdensome to the State ! Are all those persons * ' burdens to the State" who live upon the produce of the industry of others while they contribute nothing by their own exertions to the increase of the wealth of the State ?
If so , then , Mr . Stubgb at once excludes from the franchise the entire of the " upper" and a very large proportion of the middle" classes of society . He must , in that case , give the franchise to none but working men ; and he must exclude from it , out of those working men , every man who is sick , every man who is out of employment , and erery man who is rendered incapable of work by age , accident , or infirmity ; because all these are , of necessity , " burdens on the State "; willingly , or unwillingly , they do " eat the bread of idleness" .
Is this then Mr . Sxurgb ' s meaning 1 Does he intend to exclude from the Elective Franchise all the priests , and ministers of religion , all the lawyers , all the doctors , all the aristocracy , and all their tribe of servants , hangers-on , and dependants , all the landholders , all the bankets , all the rich merchants , manufacturers and shopkeepers , — all who live out of rents , profits , taxes , or tithes ! We scarcely think this the sense that Mr Stubge intends to convey ; and yet it is the sense which not a few would contend that they had a right to gather from his words . Well , then : what
is this being a burden to the State" ! Does it include all the Government officers , placemen , and pensioners ? Does it mean every man who lives out -of the money of the State , directly received ; but without working for it ? Are all these to be excluded from tbe franchise by Mr . Stu&ge ' s " Declaration" ! Not a bit of it . And yet in good faith , they ought to be , if any exclusion at all is to be practised . Well , then ; what is this " being a burden to the state" ? Does it mean the paupers ? Aye ; that's the rub ! The poor paupers ; not the rich ones ! These are they at whom , at all events , Mr . Stubge ' s friends and adherents point
this "burden to the state" story . And to which of these paupers does it apply ! Does it mean simply the man who is note a pauper , or does it include every man who at any period of his life may have been a pauper ? All these and various other meanings may , with equal propriety , be attributed to this vague , indefinite , exception from the franchise , by Mr . Sturge , of every one who is " a burden to the State "; while the memorial to be adopted and signed opens up new fields of dispute , by controverting every one of these positions and maintaining the right of every man and woman , whether criminal , Bane , or otherwise , to the franchise . The memorial reads thuB : —
To Victoria , Queen of Great Britain and Ireland , and the Dependencies thereunto belonging . " Mat it please the -Qokew , —The undersigned memorialists , belonging to aJlolasses of society , and to every part of tae British empire , deeply impressed with the great evils to which this nation is subjected by class legislation , and especially of the sufferings thereby inflicted upon its industrious population , earnestly entreat that the Qneen will be pleased to retain in her service , and take to her
coancus , such Ministers alone as will promote in Parliament that full , fair , and free representation of the people in the British House of Commons , to which they are entitled alike by the great principle of Christian equity , and also by the British Constitution , tinder which , Blackstone says , * No subject of England can be-constrained to pay any aids or taxes , even for the dejence of the realme , or the support of Government , but such as arc imposed by his own . consent , or that of his representatives in Parliament . ' "
Now , the plainest and most obvious sense of this memorial is , that every person who pays taxes ought to vote ; but that is just the sense which the Stubgb men will not allow to be put upon iL This is jnst the sense which Mr . . Sturge himself is anxious to aroid ; and hence his . explanatory instruction about " not being a burden to the state " . We have said so much about this " Declaration" of Mr . StubgeV te draw the attention of our readers to one fact . The Sturge men affect to admit the principle of the Charter , bat say that its " details " axe too complicated and offer too many points for disputation to be offered to the middle classes all at
onee j th&t it is better to win their consent in the first instance to something tangible , clear , and simple and ; that then the " deiwls" may follow more easily . And by way of providing this " tangible , j clfi&r , and simple" something , this " Declaration" is . turned out ; which tarns out to be a thing that will mean almost anything , everything , qT nothing , just as you please . The whole case , as far as Mr . Stergb is concerned is in a nut shell . He is either honest or dishonest . If he b& t honest , he wishes to propose something on the Suffrage question which shaH comprehend the full and ordinary meaning of the terms
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11 Universal Suffrage , " and which Bhall be so clear and simple , that it shall admit of no cavil ox disputation . If this be his idea , he has shown by the production of this contemptible piece of vague and indefinite verbiage , that he is utterly incapable of carrying out his own purposes , and , therefore , however good or amiable a man , utterly unfit to be a pnblio leader in a great national question . If this be not his object ; if his purpose be merely to entrap the people into a by-path , away from the plain turnpike of the Charter Association , he has shown himself , by this same smooth , wily , oily ,
slippery , something , any thing-or-nothing "Declaration '* eminently calculated to flatter and betray . In either of these cases he is the last man to whom the people or their friends and leaders should afford any , the least , countenance as a leader . And yet it is to this senseless , unmeaning "Declaration" of this foolish or bad man that Messrs . Vincent and Philp and their Bath coadjutors would have the Chartists of this great Empire to go over , in the hope of being able , by a severe fight hereafter ; to attach the other principles of the Charter to the one which they suppose to be here recoguised !
We repeat , as we said last week , that we respect these men for the taltmt and the zeal they have hitherto manifested in the people ' s cause ; we respect some of them for the sufferings they have endured in the cause ; but we cannot in this case compliment their judgment . We doubt not that they err from the excess of their anxiety to seize every opportunity of making converts to the Charter , and from their readiness to estimate the motives of others by their own , and so to give the middle-class Sturge men full credit for sincerity in their profession of Universal Suffrage principles : they suppose them
to be sincere in wishing for Universal Suffrage , and that , therefore , they can easily persuade them into tbe adoption of the other points of the Charter . We think them much mistaken ; and we still opine that their error will not be found less fatal for being amiable . We feel some little difficulty in finding out the plane upon which the amiable principles of our friends operate . We are at a loss to know how they discover in this " Declaration , " any distinct and unequivooal recognition of the principle of Universal Suffrage ; and if that recognition were even palpable , we are astonished that
they , some of whom have suffered so much from middle-class treachery to principle heretofore , can have so simple a dependency on their adherence to prinoiple now . We find in Mr . Philps speech , at the Conference , as reported by himself , the following sentiment . " But suppose the worst—that the middle-classes were not honest;—that they signed this declaration as a false pretence ;—could they ever again sit in jury boxes and convict us as traitors and conspirators for contending for that principle which they thomselves had declared in black and white to be the right of the people . "
Now , surely , Mr . Philp most have forgotten , in the goodness of his heart , the experience of all the last five years . Who have been the most forward in the jury boxes , and on the bench , to convict and sentence Chartists » Have they not been the very parties who have , over and over again , in the Reform Bill agitation , testified to , and contended for , tbe very same prinoiple—the principle that representation should be coextensive with taxation 1 What evidemce do the Stubgites now afford us that their u Declaration" is one of principle at all ; that there is any principle but that of selfishness
concerned m it ? Look at all their pnblio acts . Follow them to all public meetings . What reason do they assign for coming out on the Suffrage question now ? Do they even Bay that they do so because they think it right 1 Do they not tell us openly and candidly that they do so because they hope to make it the means of repealing the Corn Laws and turning out the Tories ? Does any one believe that if the Whigs had still been in office , and if the Government had not opposed Corn Law Repeal , we should ever have had this 11 Declaration" of Mr . Sturge ' s , or any of the cry about "Complete Suffrage . " If any man do . think so , we must only ask his pardon for thinking him a ninny . However highly , therefore , we may
respect Mr . Vincent , and we do respect him both personally and for his services to the cause ; whatever opinion we may have of other parties with whom he is associated , we cannot suffer those individual opinions to leid us into so fatal an error as that of suffering tbe people to be misled without warning . We thank God that they need little of warning from us . The resolutions that have been poured upon us from all quarters show them to be alive and awake . We bid them to keep their eye 3 open , and follow no leaders into a quagmire . If the Sturgites want something plain , simple , clear , and unmistakeable npon the question of the suffrage , they have it in the Charter . Let them stick to that , and to that only . No Declaration but for the whole Six Points and all the "details . "
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THE MANCHESTER TIMES AND MR . FEARGUS O'CONNOR . In the Manchester Times of Saturday last , there appears a long list of questions and measures which were discussed during the three years that Mr . O'Connor was in Parliament . Now , verily , it is a pity that the brains of Archy . Prentice , proprietor , editor , fabricator , and spouter for and of the above journal , were not exhibited in a glass case at tho recent Female Bazaar exposure at Manchester . This uncommon jolterhead lays before pAs readers the Baid list , accusing Mr . O'Connor for not having spoken upon the questions therein enumerated , to the number of twenty-six ; while he altogether keeps out of sight the fact that Mr . O'Connor voted upon all , or neatly all of them . But what had he to do with " army estimates , " and " opening the trade with China , " and suon like questions , further than to vote upon the people ' s side , as he invariably did ?
But how foolish for ignorance to go beyond its depth ! Will the public believe , that Archy . Prentice , one of the hired tools of the Bazaarites , enumerates the following questions a 3 some upon which Mr . O'Connor spoke " not one syllable " : —" Repeal of the Union , " and "Irish Poor Law" \ Poor fellow 1 how could he have bo damned his whole list by two such palpable blunders 1 Upon the Repeal of the Unien Mr . O'Connor presented petition after petition , day after day , and spoke to every petition ; while his speech , as seconder of O'Connell ' s motion , occupied nearly three hours in the deli very ! and thi s Arcby . calls "NOT ONE SYLLABLE . " The Irish
Poor Law : does not Arcby . know , that Mr . O'Connor , contrary to the express wish and desire of Mr . O'Connell , was the originator of the measure in the Reform Parliament , and brought it forward again and again 1 and this Archy . calls " sating not ONB SYLLABLE . " Arohy . ! mend your hand , and try again ! To conclude the farce , Prentice gives what he calls O'Connor s speech , in 1834 , upon the question of a Repeal of the Corn Laws . We extract from the 7 frne « asmuch of that speech as it suited the animal to select , and here it is : —
" Mr . Feargus O'Connor said that he represented as large an agricultural constituency as any in Ireland , and he was decidedly of opinion that an unrestricted importation of corn would havo the effact of throwing all the agricultural population , of Ireland , and the greater part of the same class in England , into the greatest distress . Before they determintd upon new-modelling these laws , they must , in just ' oe , institute a new adjustment of all descriptions of properly , tQ that all classes might be equally dealt vith . Though he might insure pspularity by voting for Vhe abolition of the Corn Laws , yet he most avow th&t he could not do so consistently with that which he should always have first in view—the interests of those be represented . The abolition of the Corn Laws would not have the effect , immediate or remote , of benefitting tbe manufacturing interest , while it would utterly destroy the agriculturists . "
Now , eould Mr . O'Connor have been presented by his tbestr friend in a more consistent view than he . has been exhibited by one of the bludgeon organs ! Is not the aboye just what Mr . O'Connor still persersres In saying ? Bat only imagine the above
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dozen lines given as the speech , which if given entire would occupy several columns of a newspaper 1 Let us , then , ask if the above ia the best sample which Prentice could select for his own market , what the sack must have been for the people ' s market I All pearls are lost when thrown before such swine as Archibald Prentice and Co .
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SIR ROBERT PEEL'S BUDGElTi TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS . My beloved Friends , —Is it not a most astonishing thing that the task of explaining the allimportant part of Sir Robbrt Peel ' s Budget shonld be left to me . Yes , the whole press has been nibbling at what they consider the important portion of the question—the Income Tax . Now , that has little or nothing to do with it . Of that portion I would merely say that Peel , finding that he could not reduce expenditure with a prospect of support from the expectants , has in so far put the bear ' s paw into the bear's Own mouth . He nas told them that henceforth they must in part live upon their
own fat . Peel has not made any attempt to reduce expenditure id the nation's capability of paying ; but , on the contrary , he has undertaken to create a surplus over all requirements of more than half a million ; and , believe me , that for this surplus also there will be thousands of gaping months . The press is very angry about the Income Tax , and small blame to them ; but I am delighted with it , and still more so with other portions of his Budget , which I shall presently explain . I am pleased with the Income Tax , because the mode of assessment , —not of lovy * as the press complains , — carries the war into every branch of the enemy ' s
camp , i . - . ¦ . ¦ : r ¦¦ ¦• . •• - ¦ - ¦ ¦ ., -: ¦ , . . ¦¦¦ ¦ . ... ¦ ¦ ;¦ But here is the important part of Sir Robert Peel ' s Budget : he admits live stock into this COUNTRY AT A MERE N 0 MINAL DUTY . . j fil for an OX J 15 s . for a cow ; and 10 $ . for a calf , which , in Parliamentary language , means a young beast . There was a prohibition to this description of stock before , except for breed at an immense high duty . He also admits salt ] and cured meat at a duty of Id . per lb . Now this is the wedge . The fact of thiB will be that cattle , both fat and store , will : be sent from Holland , Belgium , and partis of France , at one half of the present price . A Dutchman or a Frenchman can pay the duty and freight , and send cattle into the English market at a cheaper rate than Scotchmen and Englishmen living at a great distance from the market , and Irishmen can ; and America can
send us store provisions for much less than half the present price . ; Now , the result will be that much more land in the adjacent continental countries will be taken put of cultivation , and turned to pasture for feeding cattle for the English and Irish market ; while as corn is the produce most highly favoured in England , immense tracks of grass land in England , Ireland , and Scotland will be broken up for cultivation . This will reduce the price of home grown corn much , very much below what an eight shillings , or even a four shillings duty would have | cept it at ; and it will reduce the price of all kinds o f meat , butter , and cheese , beyond what any man can at present possibly imagine . This will draw thousands of operatives frem the mill lords , and create a certain competition in tae two labour markets—that of land and steam .
Bat now mark the effect . The landed propei ty will be tremendously reduced -in value , as it ought to be , aud the reduced value will be taxed at three per cent ., as it ought to be ; but this reduction in the price of produce will increase nearly double the value of funded property , and IT ia only to be taxed by the same scale , according to its present net amount . Tithes will fall to one half , and will then be taxed to 3 per cent , on the reduced amount , and even the reduced amount the landlords will kick against paying , while both landlords and tithe lords , will very , very shortly array themselves , first in moral , and then , if requirkd , in physical force array against the fund lords , and every man having a fixed income . All tenants with leases for lives or terms of years , must be rained , as the landlords cannot afford , poor fellows (! !) to make reductions which will be required in consequence of Peel ' s measure . ; ^
In fact , if I was asked to frame a Bill for the complete and entire dissolution of society , as at present constituted , agricultural , manufacturing , commercial , trading , governmental , fiscal , moral , and physical , I should say I make not one single ALTERATION ^ IN THE JBUDGET OF THE RlGHT HoN . Baronet . It will sponge the debt—break the landlords—pay off the creditors—open manufactories abroad for the displaced agriculturists ,-: whose places will be better supplied at home . It will make the smokeooraoy of England more observant of demand and supply , because it will take an immense surplus population , by which they now reduce the wages of their hands . - . ; -:. . ¦¦¦ " ¦¦ '' " - : •¦ . :- ' ; : / . ¦ - ' ¦ •¦ "; ' ' ¦ "¦<'•'¦' ¦ ¦ . * ¦ ¦' ¦/¦ It will cause a shindy among the parsoBsJ andI ; itwill throwr every injured or disappointed man into the Chartist ranks . It will do all these things ;
while , without the Charter , it will net be worth a pin ' s point to the working people , and for this simple reason . If general prosperity should be the result , that prosperity would be taxed by class legislation for the support of a rising generation ofpaupers . But what bashe done more 10 ! glorious—thrice glorious , —he has had the courage to tax IRISH ABSENTEES ! O ! how the devils will scamper home !! and so will I when I get the Charter . Now , believe me ; this was the prophesied earthquake that was to frighten the Irish . Now , my ftienda , bear in mind that while I was in York I told you the Whigs would go mad . Well , they are literallyt rabid--foaming at the mouth . Again , I told you that Peel would propose a far more sweeping measure than the Whigs proposed . Has he not ! Again , I told you that Russell would become a Tory . And Won't he ? ; : '
I should like to know what the Irish farmers will now say to Daniel O'Connell about Free Trade . By Jove , we shall have "the Devil among the Tailors . " Beasts already fallen above 16 per cent . Meat falling every day . A ¦ large quantity thrbwn into the rivers , whila the people are etarving , and only want the Charter to turn it to better account . CoraialliDg , chops falling ^ and the Chartists rising . But nbw ^ mark my words ; sucb > an agitation never was Been as England and Ireland will present in less than one month from the day of the date hereof , 16 ih March , 1842 : Your faithful servant , . Feargus O'Connor ,
P . S . —I have not 6 aid a twentieth part of what I mean to say upon the Budget . The Bombshell Budget . O ! the Abseuteea . Will some one write a song upon them for the \ StarI
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Mr . Rainsley . —We received a letter from this gentleman last week , but too late for notice-in our last , stating that he formally withdrew his name f * om the list of candidates for the representation in Convention of Kent , Middlesex , Essex , and Surrey , before the ballotting commenced , and caused his resignation to be duly notified to the general secretary . A Hegblar Subscriber - —We do not answer in the Star questions of disputed , literature : if we did sowemight ocnupy our whole time with them . A Weekly ' tiUBSGRiBER , Carlisle . —No . A Whole , Hog Chartist strongly recommends the
withdrawal of all money from the Savings ' : : Banks . ¦ ¦; ' '¦'' - ¦ . : ' ' ¦ : ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . . ' . v ¦ - . ' ¦;• - :. ¦• ¦ :- ' William Ashton ^ the newly-liberated victim from Wahefield hell holei requests us to state that all communications for him musthe addressed to the care of George Sedgwick , Railway Tavern , Newroidend , Barnsley . Wm . Crow . —Ail monies sent here by post-order must : be made payable to John Ardill . '• ¦ : . Belfast . — We are compeltedtoreserve the long letter of intelligence from Belfast till next week . Wm . Brelsford may as well sendtoMr . Cleavei G . M ., Barnaud Castle . —Up to the reign of Henry
vii . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - ;¦ : ¦ . . . . .:. ¦ " ¦ . : " - - - ¦ ¦ . ¦¦ : ¦¦ ¦ - The Rev . Mr . STEFHENs ' Bradford Lectures . — Mr . Arran writes tocorrect a misapprehension of our Bradford reporter . He says that the Rep . Gentleman did not ^ abuse" either Whigs , Tories , or&hdrtistsJ Mr . RobshaW , of Dewsbury . t—His communication is an advertisement . - ¦ ; Edward Beedle n »« si write to Mr . Heywood pri * valely . There is no other expence in joining the National Charter Association than that of the card oj ' membership . '¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦• ' ' \ Joseph Morgan .-t /( w address to the friends of the Charter is an advertisement . G . H ., FALMOUTH .- ^ rAawArs for his notice of Mr .
Pbulton ' s lecture . We have no room for its ¦ ¦ ¦ : insertion . ¦¦ ' . - . • '¦ ¦ : . ¦• ; - ; ... " ¦ . . '¦ ' . ' ¦""¦ .. . : ' , '¦ Richard Haslam . —TTe A «» e no room . William Coop 6 r . — We are glad to hear that he has got a summons against the scoundrel who burnt his petition sheet : we shall be glad lo learn how he comes oh before the magistrates . Michael Roberts , Bury ; John Copp , Bristol ; Richard Haslem ,: W . H . Clifton , Gracchus , CharJe 9 Duncan , John Duncan , Dundee , J . Williams , John Campbell , o f the Executive , and our respected Dublin and B-lfast Correspondents
must all excuse us : we would gladlyhave inserted : fome of their productions } had'it beeri possible ; but we-have seldom been more deluged , toiifi mat ' ¦ ¦ ¦ tertfiafi-tfiismeek .: ! ; . . ¦ ¦ : ' ¦¦ ¦ .. ¦ ' . Hhe MAWCHEstER VrcTrMs . —Mr . ffeywdod has sent vs an account of subscriptions received by him uptoWfdniesdaynikniamouniiri ^ ioMis . Z ^ d . "' ..: ; Wit have'not ' room for the particular ^ this tbeek ^ ytas . Frost . —Mr . Cifave has received MhJot this r v lady , fromT . fMiriories . J ¦ : i : \ - :: - ¦ , r Brighton .--- We regret that it is impossible io intert the election address on behalf of Mr . Broo . ' tatiJl ¦ our next . '" - ¦'' . ' \ [ ' ¦ ¦ ¦" " ' .. - . ¦ :- ' ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦
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Convention Sittings . —The Executive Committee of theNaU ( malChattist Associationappointed Mn Cleave and Dr . M'poiuill , to calculate the probable expense attendant upon the sitting' of the Convention in London . It has been ascertained by them that a central and commodious meeting roomt committee room or apartment for petition sheets , $ c , can be obtained for a rental , as moderate ascouldbeexpeciedundtrswhcircumstancest in London ; and they give it as their opinion , ihat the meeting room , doorkeeper salaries , stationeryi &c , would require a sum not less than £ 30 , to % e placed at the disposal of the Treasurers Subscriptions already received will be acknowledged next ipeek . ¦ If John Mowbbay , who left Durham , on Saturday last , will return io Durham , or send his address to his parents , immediately he will hear of sometJangtohisadvantagei ;!
Wb ARE requested to notify that Mr \ William WDouall * bookbindert ; late Secretary ) of ihe Dumfries and Maxwelltown Working Men ' s Association , is no longer -. a member of ihat society , : "¦ : : ¦ ' . - : . ¦ ' v ' ¦/¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ . ' : y :: :: ^' . / : ' ; ' Mr . Beesley , of North Lancashire , will oblige the Chartists of Bolton , by sending his address ; to Mr . William Baira \ No . ' t ' j Flash-street , Bolton ^ as they wish to communicate with him upon business of importance . Mrs . Roberts , the Whig made widow , has received 6 s . -6 . Jrf . from Mr . Startin ; Ss . O ^ d ., collected at the White Swan , Ntu > John-street , and 6 d . from Mr . CoXfLichfield-street , Birmingham . Sheffield . —The resolution in the matter ofOtley v . Harney \ ne ? iwaele . ¦ ' . ; V . . ¦ - A Real Democrat wishes very respectfully to ask if it is mt time , according to the Plan of Organisation of the National Charter Association , that a new Executive should be elected ?
The D elegate Meeting at the Hop-pole Inn , Manchester .- —We have received a letter from Mr . Campbell , the general secretary , stating that the names oj Mr . Cassidy and himself were published without authority or sanction , as though they had approved of the resolutions ; whereas he had himself erased his own name and Mr . Cassidy ' s f rom the list , and refused to lake any part in , or have anything to do with , the meeting , after the refusal to entertain the resolution which he supported , and which was one going for the whole Charter ^ unmixedwithany other question .
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J . J . —The postage of a newspaper for New York , United State ? , is 2 ( J , G . NEWALIi ^—Send lOd . to this office . THOMAS TOMLIN . —Emmett's portrait will cost 4 d . in : postage . J . Kerr , Dumfries— March 5 th , 14 s . 6 d . J . Brook ' - , Bradford . —Yes , Wm . Wildgoose , Mottram . —Apply to A . Heywood . FOR THE CONVENTION . £ s . d . From a Radical of 20 years ... ... 0 10 „ do ., York ... ... ... 0 10 ^ D . Fryer , Halton ... ... 0 1 0 ^ John Bussey , Low Wortley ... 0 12
FOR THE EXECUTIVE . From Roger Plnder , Hull ... ... 1 5 1 U „ the Teetotal Chartista of Lower Moor , Oldham ... V ... ... 0 5 0 „ twelve Chartists at Doncaster t 7 0 TOIB . THE O ' BRIEN'S PRESS FUND . From Dunfermllne ... ... ... 0 0 6 FOR MRS . PEDDIE . From the Chartists of Manchesterroad , near Bradford ... ... 0 5 0
FOR MBS . FROST . From Bradford , per W . Smyth ... 114 . _ .. ¦ Rochdale , per J . Leach ... 1 7 0 M Mrs . Graham , Grindon , Durham ; .. .. i ... w . 0 0 6 MRS . FROST , MRS . WILLIAMS . AND MRS . JONES From Bradford , per Ty " . ? niyth ... 0 1 11 _ W . Young , Witney , Oxford ... 0 6 8 „ the workmen in Mr . Bishop ' s shop , Leicester ... ... 0 5 6
FOR THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THE ;\ INCARCERATED CHARTISTS . From G . Larkin , Wallworth ... 0 0 3 FOR THE MANCHESTER SUFFERERS . From a female friend , Leeds ... 0 0 4 ~ G . Larkin , Wallworth ... 0 0 9 « . the Bristol Chartist Youths , per F- Gibson .. * ... 0 10 o -. S . Stilborn , dyer , Desborough 0 2 li „ four Chartists at Bristoli per Bi Gibson ... ; .. ... 0 6 0 ~ twelve Chartists at Doncaater 0 5 0 ~ the Shaksperean Association of Chartiats , Leiceater , per Mr .: Cooper ' ... ... 2 0 0 ' „ Exeter , per R : Milford ... 0 10 0 „ Hunslet , near Leeds ... ... 0 3 4 ^ W . M . Young , Bath ... ... 0 » 6 „ Staiuton , in Cleveland ... 0 4 0
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HOUSE OF COMMONS , Tuesday , March 15 . The House was for some time occupied in the reception of petitioiis and other miBcellaneoua business . Mr . Ferrand gave notice , that he should move a resolution to the effect , that any person inducing others to give false , evidence before a Committee of that House should receive condign punishment And he should also propose a resolution pledging the House to bear harmless every working man who gave evidence as to frauds in trades and manufactures . He should also move that a select committee should be appointed to inquire into the frauds of the various manufacturers , and also into those which they practice , directly or indirectly , en labourers in their employment
Long discussions followed on the various subjects , including questions to the Minister , on the subjects included in his budget , on all which Sir R . Peel preserved a studied silence . A heavy debate toot place on the Church of Scotland , and a motion for a committee to enquire into its constitution , was lost by i 39- ; to ' 62 ., ; ... ¦' ¦ ¦ , ¦ ' . ¦¦ ¦ ' ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ;¦• ' . " ¦ . - "' ¦ ¦ :. ' .. ¦ - . : . " - : ¦¦¦ ' - ¦ . Mr . Feurand rose in pursuance to a notice of a ihotlon -which he had given . He begged to say a few words relative to a declaration which an Hon . Member , whom he did not see in his place , had lately alluded to in that House . The declaration had been stated by that Hon . Member to emanate from Manchester , and to be signed by seventy-two manufaoturers residing there , who were subscribers to the anti-Cern Law League , who
in that document denied that they had employed the truck system in the payment of the wages of their workpeople , or that taey paid them through any other medium than the current coin of the realm . Now , he ( Mr . Ferrand ) begged distinctly to state ; that the Hon . Member bad been most fully deceived in the representations which had been made with refdrence to this declaration . Instead of those seventy-two signatures being the signatures of seventy-two manufacturers residing at Manchester , they were the signatures not only not of persons residing in Manchester , but of persons who were many of them not manuf Mturers at alL The first name on the list was the name of a man who had been proved to have paid his workpeople in milk , and Who had also been convictsd of gross tyranny towards
his workpeople . In that list , too , were the names of five foreigners . Now , what right bid those foreigners to come over here and subscribe to a fund which Was raiBed for the purpose of stirring up excitement , setting class against class , and giving support to a party which already was endeavouring to overawe the Government ? These persons ought to be aware , that by coming over here and carrying on their business they were depriving the British merchants of their market ; and because our merchants did not wish to dispute the right of these foreigners to pursue " their avocations here , therefore they ought to remember the forbearance whica was shown , and abstain from proceedings like those with which he eharged them . He was q uite sure that if natives of
this country went abroad , and interfered as these foreigners had done , they would speedily come under the operation of tie laws of the countries where they resided , and be obliged to leave . He protested in the name of tha workpeople of the north of England , in the name of justice and decency , against these proceedings . The House , he was sure , would visit with condign punishment persons proved to be guilty of the offences of which he complained , and as he was a living manhe would . --use' every effort to see such Wellmerited punishment inflicted . He begged to read a circular which ; was dated " Manchester , March 5 , 1842 , " and was signed •' J . Hig <{ infl , Secretarr . " The person who signed this letter was the Secretary ef the branch of the National anti-Corn Law League estab- ^
lifihed at Manchester , and the circular was forwarded to the members of the League . The letter was as follows : •^—*« . Dear Sir , —It has been suggested that a declaration by the workmen in each establishment would tend to complete tbe exposure of Mr . Ferrand ' s charges ; and as a discussion is likely to take place during the early part of the week ; it might be wel ) to direct the foreptan of works to obtain declarations signed by a few of the men , on behalf of the whole , and to forward them to us at the earliest opDortunity . " [ Hear , hear . ) " Now , where are those declarations ? " exclaimed the Honourable Member ^ « ' Have they appeared ?" --they have not ; and what is the reason ?—because the
working men have at list shown a proper spirit . They have found that there has been a kind feeling expressed towards them in this House ^ they have , many of them , written to me * , telling me so—they have rebelled against the attempt to make them sfgn what they knew to be false . This I can prove before any cpmraittee that miy be appointed . They have bad too muca respect fot themselves , and the position they hold , even as poor working men ; they would not sign the declarations ^ which haye hdt , therefore , been presented —( hear . ) And if ; they had been presented , I should . have been ready for theoi-- ( hear . j I say to those membersT who belong to the Anti-Corn Law League , you cannot iiove an . inch without my being ready to meet
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you ; and In a way , oerhap 8 , yon may not be aware ot I have received another letter : listen as I read it ; and say if there ever was—in a country professing itself the ; land of liberty—such a system of fraud and tyranny towards tbe pooras that which ; l . vaa exposing . Thisla from a poor working man : — " A statement was put into my hands ( which I enclose ) from one who hold « a station in a cotton mill , which ^ enables him to know that men are compeHed to sign declarationstopwn to be false . Your exposures , Sir , have driven the grind * ing Anti-Corn Law Leaguers frantic , as they know every charge you have brought against them to be true . Your exhibitions of their fraud and tyranny have delighted working men of all politics , for they know hew well founded they are ; and they have gone f « to abelish
the infamous truck system , wblch Is so nptorious that the only wonder is , now Members can be hardy enough to deny it . " Thaye a another letter to read ( continued the Hon . Member , ) still further exposing this aecursed system Which prevails to a frightfol extent , and has been carried on by men holding a situation in society which ought to have made them ashamed of such diagraceful proceedings . And I take this opportunity of repeating that it is my determination fearlessly , in spife of all opposition , to do my utmost to ferret out thewhple of this cruel abominable tyranny , which Is practised upon the working classes . I care not by ' -whom—I care >; : not to * ... « bat party the guilty may belong—I have but one course , a fair and open one , to pursue , —that is lo search out witfc determined resolution—as an inde ^
pendent Member , to search out and expose this systsm : and when the day comes , after Easter , when I shall move for the eommittee of inquiry , backed by the enormous mass of evidence which I am daily receivuig ; and When before that committse iher » shall oeme onfc -, all the robberies , and plunders , and oppressions , which have been and are perpetrated > pn the manufacturing workmen ; the complaints of these unfortunate men will find ; a response , not only within these walls , bat throughout the country— {?? hear , hear , " and cheers . ) Sir , a magistrate of Lancashire writes to me Utius : — "A friend begs to state a few facts : a great many convictions have t aken place in this district within In a very short period for a use of the truck system . Atone village where flannels are made , such is the extent to
which it is carried , that a man has been known to go - to a barber with a piece of candle instead of a penny , not having even that small piece of cein in his possession . It is hoped , that in order to a complete exposure of these practices a committee of inquiry may be appointed ; " I have , Sir ^ another letter from Chorley , where the Hon . Member for Stockport ' s works are situated ( Mr . Cobden ' s ) , and where he must have known —when the other night he so loudly denied the charges made-T-tbat the manufacturers were robbing their men flibst Infamousljr . The writer says—* ' The , maglatrates have convicted some cf the chief manufacturers here in penalties to the amount of twenty-five pbtiiids for robbing their workpeople , by paying them in goods instead of moBey . " The other
night the Hon . Member for Stockpert said he had inquired whether in his mills , or 5 printing works , 'the truck system prevailed , and that he had found it did not ; whereas the fact was , that the Hon . Member himself kept cows , and forced his people to bay milk from him . Sir , after the statements I have madfli I am sure every one will see the propriety of facilitating the inquiry by furnishing the returns for which I beg to m ' ove-- ^* ' Copy of all the convictions in the counties of York and Lancaster by magistrates in petty sessions ; assembled , of persons who have been guilty ; of illegally paying the wages of their workpeople in . goods , instead of the carrent coin of the realm , since the 1 st of January , 1835 , contrary to the provisions of the Act ist and 2 nd c . 37 , William 1 Y . " : Af cer a few words from Mr . Scholefleld , the returns were ordered . —^ Adjourned . ; ^ Wednesdmy , MarchlS . After the presentation of a number of peUtibna on a variety of subjects , and the transaction of some minor business , : : : ¦ . Mr . Milner Gibson said he believed he had the permission of the Right Hon . the First Lord of the Tieisury , to repeat the question this evening which he put yesterday . The question was this : whether it -was the intention of the Government to extend the Income Tax to those pensions which were charged upon the Consolidated Fund , under particular Acts of Parliament ? . "¦ ¦ ' ¦ . "'¦ : ¦ . '¦ ¦ . "'" ¦ . : ¦ ¦ '' - • . ' -. : - ' ¦ . ' " " ¦ ' V " . "' Sir R . Peel apprehended that the measure "which he had proposed would extend to all annuities or salaries received by any of her Majesty ' s subjecls ; and it therefore followsd that any annuities chargeable upon the Consolidated Fund would be subject to a reduction of three per cent . ' . ; : '" . ' ' . ¦ ' . " - ... ; . ;¦ " :- - ,: \ __ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ " :. -- . / . - .
Sir R , Peel then proceeded as follows : —Sir , I may take this opportunity of making a communication to the House , wbichi I think the House will receive with great satisfaction , When upon the part of her Majesty ' s Government , I intimated to her Majesty , that her servants thought that the financial necessities of tbe country were such , that it was desirable for the public Interests to submit in a time of peace thei income of - ' tjiie nation for a limited period to a chaTge of 3 per cent . ; het Majesty prompted by those feelings of deep and affectionato interest-which she has ever shewn in the welfare of her people ^ observed that if the ' necessitiea of the country were such that in a time of peace , Parliament should deem it necessary to submit the income of the cpuntry to a ; charge of three per cent ,, it was her VOLUNTARY DETERMINATION THAT HER OWN INCOME SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A SIMILA& REDUCTION— ( Loud and general cheering . ) v v rBahJ BahJ ! BahJ !! Bih ! ! 1 ! Bah ! 11 !
O ! 01 ! O II ! O !! ! ! O !! ! ! Fudge f Fudge 1 f- Fudge . ' !! Fudge I I III Cackle ! 1 Cackle !!! Cackle !!! Gobble i Gobble !! Gobble !!! Gobble ! I !; i ] Another conversation then ensued respecting the " truck system , " brought on by Mr . Villiers stating that he was in possession of a document from the manufacturers of Yorkshire , denying the " taruck" charges ; but the Speaker informed the Hon Member that it would be irregular to read tie document Mr . Ferrand said he thought he could satisfy the Hon . Member . If the Hon . Member would publish the names of the whole of the Anti-Corn Law League , he would find that tbe majority of them carried on the trade he mentioned . - "" ; - '" ::: ;'¦ ¦ ¦'¦
Mr . VitWERS said it was not in his power to publish the names of the Anti-Corn Law League . He was not « member himself ; but he believed that the majority of them did not practise the truck ; system . ' - ; ' . " . . ¦¦ , ¦ ' . : ¦ -.. '¦ : ¦ " : '¦ -: ' i ' ! '¦¦ \ ' ' : - : : ' "¦'¦ ¦¦ ,-This brought up Mr . Cobden , who , in explanation of the charge made against himself of supplying his workpeople with milk and stopping the price of it out of their wages , observed , that if the House would allow him , be Wonid just state ! very shortly one or two facts with , reference to the business witb . which he was connected . That business could not be carried on
without the consumption of au immense quantity of cow-dang—he was letting the Hon . Gentleman opposite into the arcana of cotton printing—and for this . reason it was often necessary for a manufacturer to keep not less than a hundred cows . It so happened , however , that as his print-works were near to a town , it was more economical to buy cow-dung than to keep cows ; and , therefore , not only was this insinuation not true , butthere > was nota shadowof foundation for it . " He further complained , in an earnest . deprecating tone , of the attacks that had been made upon the manufacturers , and the strong language used respecting them . ; :. ¦¦ .- ¦¦ \ ¦ . ¦ ..- ¦¦ : . '• • ' "; ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ..: ' :- - ¦ . ¦ . ' .
; Mr . Stewart Wortlet observed that these complaints came with a very bad grace from Mr . Cobden ; for Hon . Members could not but recollect the language that that Hon . Gentleman had made use of , when speaking of the agricultural body during the course of the last Session . They could not forget that the words . ' monsters , " "tyrants , " and" demons , " had figured in his speecheF . ] '„ ¦' Mr . COBDEN- ^ r was speaking of your legislation . Mr . S . WORiLEY contended that the Hon . Member had applied those terms to the agricultural classes . The Hon . Member for Sfockport on that occasion had distinctly Baid , that" the landlords interposed like
monsters and demons between the welfare and happiness of the people , and the prosperity which was opening-before them . " While such language was adopted and promulgated through all parts of the country ; while those rancorous descriptions were given of the agricultural interest , Hon . Gentlemen could not be so simple as to imagine that language of that kind could be used with impunity— -without bringing retribution on those who used it . VCVithout ; taking upon himself to justify the charges brought forward by his Hon . Friend the Member for Knaresborough , he would say that the Hon . Member for Stoekport wa 3 the last person in the world who had any right t ? complain of his conduct . ( Cheers . ) ; . . ' ¦¦ ¦ : ¦ ¦ : ^ . ' : ¦ : ¦ ¦/ ' . ' ¦¦ .: ¦' :: ¦ . : : - \ . "V- , ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ' : , ¦ - ;¦ ' ¦ '
Mr . Ferrand said that the House would recollect ; that during the last andpresent session , the Hon . Member for Stoekport had asserted that the Corn - . Lawa . ¦' .:.. caused the distress of the country . It was his ( Mr . Ferrand ' s ) lot to converse with the working classesin his part of the country , who said that they did not consider the Com Laws was the cause of that distress ; but they told him it was caused by the tyranny and the oppression . of their masters ^ and be had used . what he had been told as an argumenium ad honiinurn—( Cries of "No , no . ' , ) He ( Mr . F . » said he had , and he was prepared to give evidence of what he S 3 id ; and when the Hon . Member for Stoekport said he bad brought those charges forward onanonymous authority , he ( Mr . F . ) begged to sayhe had done no such thing . He : naver brought any charges that he was not prepared te prove ; and there was not a single charge which be was not ready to prove btfare a Select Committee . The second reading of the Designs Copyright Bui was then moved by Mr . E . TENNENT , and a discus- ; . sion ensued not at all interesting to our readers .
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- - ;¦ - ' . ' /^/^^ r ^^ wyvsM ^^ pww ^ Awwvvs ^ w . , ' ¦ Hotlmw © oi > . — -Mr . Wm . Bell , of Heywood , lectured here on Sunday evening to a crowded audience . A resolution of confidence ia O'Connor and the Slar , . was passed ; and 6 s . collected for the Manchester BiiffererB , \ - , "' ; ¦ ¦;¦ ¦ ' ¦ :..: ;; . - . ' - "; . '• -. ¦ . ¦ - ¦• . ¦ : ¦ ' :: . / ' \ "; - " ;; . - > Halifax . —The Halifax district delegate meeting will be held in the Charter Association room , Bippon-r den , on Sunday , March 20 th , at two o ' clock in the afternoon j those localities that have not handed in their levy to the Convention Fund , are requeated to forward it by their delegate . All those wishing to subscribe their mite for the support of those who have suffered at Manchester , m&y hand it in at the same time . [ i
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Mkssbs . Vincent , Philp , Roberts , and Clarke , p . our Bath Correspondent . —We have seen in the Sun a statement bearing the names of the four gentlemen first named above , stating that our reporter ' s account of the late "Conference" atBath was entirely destitute oi truth . We feel bound in justice to eay that several letters ft-om highly creditable persons have reached us , fully confirming the reporter ' s statements . We think , also , that these gentlemen themselves confirm them quite sufficiently in last week ' s Vindicator .
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THE BATH MEETINGS & . CONFERENCES . TO THE EDITOR OF TIe NOSTHKRN STAR . Sir . —In a spirit ef frjrnesB -we claim the insertion of these brief remarks in your next paper . In your test number , t ^ ere appeared Teports of two meetings held in Bath on tbe subject of Mr . Sturge ' B deelaration . Those reports "were forwarded to you by Mr . G . M . Bartlett , " who is , we understand , employed 4 by you . We complais tkat those reports -were grossly partial ; that our reealntions trerenot Surly given ; that cur seniiments weje wickedly misrepresented ; and that , in theinain , they are essentially false . - We complain t ? i » t yenr reporter has not only written falsely of us , but that he has given undue importance to his own sentiments ; "While tie few Words he has atfecibut ad to us are interlarded ^ rith the . most malicious insir / nxtioiii .
We contend . that a reporter shcmia stats facts , leaving tiie p « J ) iic to jsdge of the facts he sets forth , and not can ? jb other aea * opinions to be seen through tfaatinga of tss own ttaiioe or ignoraace . WedesiiB to apprise yom?—1 . Th&t Sie ConfereBoe in Ba ? i on Mr . Stnrge ' s DeJaratioJa , -was tbe restdt of a desire expressed by the Bcr . T . Spencer , to aeet a few of the Chartists in fjiendly convers * tk > H « a the sutgeet . 2 . That a meeting-was held which Tesnlted in the issue of one hundred circulars , fifty of which were distributed among Ike Liberals ; and fifty among -tiie Chartists , convening a second meeting . 3 . That the seooad meeting convened by circular is the " Confereoce" professed to be reported by Mr . 6 . M . Bartlett . At thia " Coaference" the Declaration of Joseph Starge was introdaced by the Rav . T . Spencer .
We all avowed eurselves pleased -with the Declaration ; -we stated that we looked upon that Declaration as the recognition of an important principle , that principle being , that " IS ACCOftDASCE WITH CHRISTIAN EQUITY AND THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION , the adult male population ought to be represented in Parliament " While making this expression of " pleasure . " we DISTINCTLY , DELIBERATELY , AND REPEATEDLY DECLARED , THAT WE REGARDED THE CHARTER , "WHOLE AND ENTIRE , AS NECE 5 SART TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE DOCUMENT OF JOSEPH STURGE : ASD THAT WHILE WE WOULD SIGH IHE DECLARATION , WITHOUT ANT SACRIFICE OF PRINCIPLE . "WE , AS CHARTISTS . WE WOULD KEVER TAKE PART JN ANY AGITATION FOR A MEASURE LESS EXTENSIVE IHAS THJS CENSUS . -
Mr . SPESCERStated thai Joseph Sturge had no desire tointeifae with the Chartifit agitation , and taat the details to give effect to his declaration were proposed to be settled by a coDf arence of deputies to be elected by those who had signed the declaration J We then stated that we hoped that a majority of thartists -would sign the declaration , send deputies , and insist upon the dt tills ef the Ckarter as necessary to procure a full , fair , and entire representation cf the people . The resolution moved by Mr . Vincent , was >* ot the one attributed to him by Mr . Bartlett It was as follows : — " That this meeting hails with much pleasure the declaration of Joseph Sturge . " But to enter into a miruie detail cf all the discrepancies , omissions , and positive falsehoods of Mr . Bartlett , would occupy more time and space than ire are 'willing to afford .
At this meeting there were not six dissentients from our " policy , " including Mr . Bartlfitt and his brother . The account of the meeting held the same night at Galloway Buildings , is as garbled in sentiment , and untrue in fact , as the preceding one . Throughout , from first to last , though we recommended cduitesy in the treatment of those -who had hitherto been our opponents , -we one and all advocated the Charter as the only TTipnTiB of obtaining political justice . We may , perhaps , state , that yesterday ( Monday ) a third " conference" was held ; that Mr . Bartlett , and a majority of Chartists wercpresenl , -when the same line of conduct -was taken , and approved of , with only one dissentient voice .
So great \ ras the disgust at the injustice done us by Mr . Bartlelfs reports , that it was thought proper to devote the public Chartist meeting * f last night to their condemnation and denial . The room was crowded beyond all former precedent ; four hours were spent in dissecting the reports and denying the falsehoods expressed and implied by Mr . Bartlett , and in listening to his speeches in defence . The following resolution was moved , seconded , and tarried : — " That in the opinion ef this meeting the two reports in the Sorfhem Star of Saturday last , sent to that paper by Mr . Q . M . Bartleit , the reporter for the Bath and B : istol district , are essentially false , and that they altogether misrepresent tbe speeches , sentiments , and resolutions of those vho took part at the conferences
and meetings to -which those reports refer , inasmuch as all the Chartist advocates at those meetings and confexerences distinctly , emphatically , and repeatedly avo-wed , that -while they hailed -with pleasure the document of Joseph Starge as a simple declaration of a mighty and true principle , they required the six points of the Charter , all and undivided , as Ihe only means of carrying that principle into effect And that this meeting is farther of opinion , that in introducing his own private prejudices and ignorance into what ought to have been a simple statement of facts , Mr . G . M . Bartlett has proved himself unfit for tha offiee of reporter for this district ; inasmuch as falsehood must have a tendency not only to create unnecessary divisions and bad feeling , but to damage the interests of the XorOiem Star .
Ths fallowing amendment had been previouyly put , but the meeting -were determined to close the business that night Twenty-three hands -were held up for it . " That a committee of twenty be appointed to decide upon the truth or falsehood of Mr . Bartlelt's reports . " - We hare thought it rigt . t to go thus far into the matter , in order that the publie may not be misled . We sball answer so more calumnies , come from what quarter they may ; bnt we hereby protest ajainst being bound or judged by any reports that may hereafter emanate from the same source . We are devotedly attached to the People ' s Charter ; Irat while we are determined to persevere until the Chartsr is the law , ¥ e shall hold ourselves free to act in such a dinner as -we deem best adapted to accele rate its triumph .
Difiiring to . be judged by our own actions , and feeling that tdie is the great **™ t ** r of all public men , We are , In the great cause , yours , faithfally , Hesbt Vincent . W . Roberts . Robeet Kemp Philp . Tuesday morning , C Clarke . March 15 th , 1 S-J 2 .
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 19, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct422/page/4/
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