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THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1841.
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VISIT OF THE WEST RIDING AND BOROUGH CANDIDATES TO LEEDS.
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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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SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT .
BY THE QUEEN . A PROCLAMATION , Pot Dissolving the present Parliament , and Declaring the Calling of another . YlCTOElA , R . Whereas ire have thought fit , by aad witii the adfke of oar Privy Council , to dissolve this present Parliament , -which stands prorogued Xo Tuesday , the 29 th day of this instant June : We « * o for that end pnbliah this out R » y * l Proclamation , and d o hereby dissolve the said Parliament accordingly : and the Lords Spiritual aad Temporal , and the Knights , Citizens , and Burgesses , and the Commissioners for shires and burghs , of the House of Commons are discharged from their meeting and attendance on the said Tuesday , tke twenty-Binth 3 » y of thia instant June : and "We , being Sedrooa * ad resolved , as soon as may be , to meet our
people , and to have their advice ih Parliament , do hereby make known to all our loving subject * our Koyal will and pleasure to call a new Parliament : and do hereby further declare , that , with the adTice of our PriTy Cooed ! , we hare giren order that oar Chancellor of that part of our United Kingdom called Great Britain , and our Chancellor of Ireland , do , respectively , npon notice thereof , forthwith issue out writs in dne form , and according to law , for calling a- new Parliament ; anl we do hereby also , by this our Royal Proclamation , under our Great Seal of our United Kingdom , require writs forthwith to be issued accordingly by our said Chancellors respectively , for causing the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons , who are to serve in the said Parliament , to be duly retained to , and give their attendance in , our said Parliament ; which writs are to be returnable en Thursday the nineteenth day of August
next . Given at our Court at Buckingham Palace ,- this Twenty-third day of June , in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-one , and in the Fifth yaar of onr reign . GOD SATE THE QrEEN .
The Northern Star Saturday, June 26, 1841.
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , JUNE 26 , 1841 .
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THE ELECTION . PLAIN AND SIMPLE RULES FOR CONDUCTING AN ELECTION . DCTT OF 50 > ' -ELECT 0 BS . Etebt Chartist in the neighborhood of an election should consider it Ms duty to attend the hustings ^ aeie a Chartist candidate is to be proposed , whether he intends to go to the poll or net . He should be up betimes , and ssy to himself , "the battle to-day depends entirely upon me ; if I am absent , my caose is injured , and I am the willing cause of the injury—the guilty enemy of my country and her liberty . " Every male inhabitant of the loeality should meet at a place to be previously agreed upon , having , in the first instance received the blessing of his wife and family .
The body , when assembled , should then go towards the hustings , as lirge a number as is prudent getting in front , with a good reserve in the rear , and -well flanked . They should not ¦ wear an ? colours , and for this reason , they will be just as well known by the want of them ; and should a row take place , every bird that is plncked of his plumage will , of necessity , be compelled to fall into the Chartis ; ranks , and fight against his feathered brethren in self-defence . Wken the time of nomination comes , they should understand their duty . I wil ] point out the order in which candidates are in general nominated .
They are nominated according to the date of their addresses , if they are all new candidates , and if new and old , that is » old Members , they , the old , are Dominated first , according to the place they occupied upon the last poll , the highest being first pnt . I mention this , for fear of a trick , very frequently practised , ia taking a show of hands twice for the same candidate , some friend telling the returning officer that the people did not understand ; thus it not unfrequently happens that the hands are held up in mistake .
What I rtcommend is tbi 3 . The Chartist candidate ox candidates ahould have a short stick with a flag , and a- man with some distinguishing mark , such as & handkerchief round his head , skould stand behind the candidate or candidates ; and when the Chartists see their candidates and fuglemen hold ¦ np their nags , then they should hold up both haxds ; mind , both hands , and then you cannot be outjockied , for the othere will hold up both . It is a thing of frequent occurrence for soxe old stager to keep the returning officer's attention fixed , for a long time , npon the hands , while such a conversation as the following is going on : —
" 0 , Mr . Sheriff , look at that quarter ; very slack , and there , and there—not near as large as Lord Mobpkth ' s show / ' Now , all this time the hand 3 of those at a distance are bebg lowered , while the practised fellows are well tutored . Now , to obviate any trick of this kind , I recommend that all hands be kept up till the candidate and fugleman shall lower their flags ; that done , dap all hands tirec times , then set up a grcan , dismal , loud , and l « ng for the Whigs , and a funny derisive langh for the Tories , and three rousing cheers for the members ; for mind , they are members for all that day and the next , nil the close of the
poll i Then give nine cheers for the Charter , and as many more for Frost , Williams , and Jones , and tell the two usurpers , who appeal to the ten pound votes against your election , that you will have them back-That done get your men and chair them all over the town ; and when they are elected , get them to sign an agreement to restore their trust whenever called npon by a committee to attend a public meeting of the non-electors , with sufficient notice , provided that meeting shall call upon them to do so . Above all things don ' t lose sight of this , for , believe me , the time ia coming when your representatives will have more power than the representatives of walls .
Trust no man too far . Make no disturbance upon any account ; but if you are attacked , you must fight like devils . In the evening get up cheap tea parties and dancing , and be jolly , and go to bed happy in the thought that you have done your duty .
SJTLES FOB TBS C&A . ETIST CANDIDATES . The first rule which I shall lay down will be for the conduct of the Chartist candidate who goes to the poll upon a coalition with either a Whig or a Tory . In his situation of candidate , he must have no fear of wounding feelingB where no offence is intended ; and in his desire to avoid the thing , he must take care that his party ' s cause is not ez .
cnficed to his timidity or oTer delicaey . Tee eoaliuon being agreed upon , he must instantly say to his adopted colleague , " Now , you and I are the only parties who can give the stamp of real ralue to ¦ wha t , from profession , appears to be our mutual object , namely , a coalition to serve our cause , as we both best caa ; and for the purpose of giving full effect to the agreement we j&ust sign the following undertaking : —
" I , A . B ., Whig candidate" ( or Tory , as the case may he ) , " do hereby pledge myself to vacate my seat , by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds , within ten days after Parliament shall be Bert assembled , in the event of twenty voters , who vote for me , net giving tatir jeooBd rote to C D ., Una Chartist candidate . " Let the execution of this document be witnessed by twelve Whig electors npon the Whig committee , asd by twelve non-electors upon the Chartist * ' committee , ud let it be thai oodidUi . — "We , the tw « aty-four witnesses whose Barnes appear ksxmsio annexed , do pledge ounelves to the performa&ce Of tbe above agreement , recording to tie simple ntWTfng , upon the part of oar respective priccipais . "
Now , if you do not do this , you do nothing , and for this reason , when all the Chariist force shall be uud ttp according to good faith , the Whigs will split with the Tories , to keep out the Chartist , and the Whig candidate , in the most honourable and indefatigable manner , will have used all hii exertions , in vain , to induce bi 3 supporters to split ; sn what could he do ! be could surely do no
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more than beseech and impJere ,-b * st then the prejudice was so strong against the Cfcartist principles that he , poor fellow , found ft impossible to overcome that prejudice ! Now jost make his seat depend upon his overcoming it , and youil very soon find that the mere announcement of the terms of agreement will , pro tanto , enlighten the igo « rsnt and explain away the prejudice . Mind , and mind well , that no contract can be made with a whole body of electors .
Well , this done , kt every Chartist Elector , and every elector pledged to support a Chartist Candidate , assemble in a place agreed upon before the polling begins , on the day of election . Let the whole non-electora' committee remain with them , and let the polling committee have two in each booth , that is , one to relieve the other , and , every heur , let the members of the polling committee meet and compare notes as to the manner in which the terms of agreement are kept , and in the event of all being right and
proper , let the members of tho polling committee come up at & quarter to three to the place where the Chartist reserve is kept , and let them go to their respective booths and perform their part of the covenant ; but if two Tories be in the field , which is most likely , there being no likelihood of catching split votes , and in the erent of the terms of the contract being broken , then let the Chartist voters vote for the two Tories , if the contract has been made with , and violated by , a Whig—and for the two Whig 3 , if made with a Tory , and violated by him .
Now , I ask , can any one suggest any more simple plan than that 1 and let me advise every Chartist to insist upon his man insisting upon the agreement before the day comes , else , believe me , they will fling yon 1 I tell you that men , otherwise kind-hearted , lose their nature , and become very savages in the heat of an election . Father , son , uncle , nephew , friend , relation , and all ties of affection , merge into the one endearing term—partisan . Trust no man ' s word , if you can faster bind him . Even Dr . Philpotts would tell a lie to ensure the
return of a Tory ; and , surely , what would be pardonable in a Right Reverend Father in God , would be doubly pardonable in a limb of the Devil , as we poor Chartists are called . Some one once charged me with having said that I would tell a lie to carry the Charter . I never said such a thing in ray life . But now I tell you what Bishop Philpotts would do to get one Tory ; and , believe me that I would " go the whole hog " to get one Chartist . I would not say so immoral a thing , as that I would or could even bring my mouth to tell a lie for the Charter . However , if I
was to swear myself black in the face , Bishop Phiipotts would not believe me ; so , therefore , I wish they would just TRY ME , and see whether or no I could beat the fellow that said he drove a nail through the moon . Just let the holding of office and the consequent distribution of the sweets depend upon the respective parties pledging themselves to tell lies , and you would have truth proclaimed as a crime , and lying as a virtne !
- Well , all the above arrangements , or rather preliminaries , being arranged , the Chartist candidate should then meet his Committee " the last thing on the night before the ncnninatioD , and , of all things , make their arrangements perfect . They Ehould have two committees , one working the electors , the other the non-electora . The non-electors' committee should never stir from the spot where they shall be po 3 ted , after they have assisted in forming the procession to escort the candidates to the hustings .
If any row is got up by the factions , the nonelectors' committee should instantly go for their candidate , and placing him si their head , rally round him , and when excitement is once got up , never try to allay it , as such a practice has lost more elections than any other folly . I have been knocked down . I have had two bayonet ataba upon the same day . I have been trampled upon by dragoon horses . I have been , knocked
down in the gutter with an elector on my back . 1 have stood for hours opposite the 4 th Dragoon Guards , and other regiments , with their drawn sabiea within a jaxd of mv face . I have been assailed with porter pots in a room with closed doors , 1 have been nearly stripped in the street ; and I have invariably found that when the factions are getting the worst of it , they resort to physical force , and then if the popular candidate gets frightened , the electors get frightened also .
The candidate should inform his committee of all his arrangements and plans , and hold no secrets . He should be very alert upon the following day , and for some time after the election , till excitement subsides , and he should take care that none of his voters are bullied or intimidated ; this is , firstly , right ; and , Eecondly , will insure success another time .
THE EXPESCES OF AS ELECTION . If a candidate does not go to the poll , he is not liable to any expence- I have noticed this before , and again I notice it now . Lord Abi ^ gek , in the case of the Returning Officer of Birmingham against Stcbge , has decided the point . The legal expences of taking the poll are defined ; and in justice to the reformed Parliament , I must say , that the only department in which they have made any retrenchment is in that alone where they were most interested . They have considerably reduced the expsnee of taking the poll , and they have relieved themselves of all those annoying fees paid by members to officers of the House of Commons , by transferring the obligation to the country .
I stood for the County of Meath in 1831 , in assist Grattan ; for Mallow , in 1832 , to assist Daunt ; for Dungarvan , in 183 * , to assist Jacob ; for Yooghal , in 1835 , to assist John O'Conneil . I stood for Preston in 1837 ; and for Glasgow in 1839 ; and not going to the poll , I never paid any thing . la 1837 the Boroughreeve of Manchester refused to allow O'Brien to be put in nomination , without first giving security for the hustings' expences . I wrote a protest for him against the election , but I rather think it was not served , nor would there have been much use in it , as it would not have attained our object in time , which was to let Poulett Thomson and Phillips see the blistered hands .
I have never lost an election that I conducted for a friend ; and I attribute success to my resolution never to think eaough was done , or that the battle was over till the time for polling had expired . If ray m * n was 400 at the head of the poll two houra before the close , I would gallop five mile 3 for one voter . Above all , mind that ! never think you can do enough , and never rest while work is to be done . It is most fortunate that I am here now , for , if at
large , I should positively kill myself this election . I work like a horse , and when the blood is up I am as strong as any dozen men . You should have seen me flooring two gentlemen right and left in the streets of Dungarvan , who wanted to steal an elector from me , because he was tenant to one of them . I assure you I made them epin right and left like two tops ; and before they were well upon their legB , I had my , man polled and another upon my back . Believe me that that ' s the way to go to work .
Having said so reach upon arrangement , let bo sow advert for one moment to those particular elections iu which we have any interest , while I classify the interest according to value , I begin with
. NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE . To the result of this election I attach the very greatest importance , and for this reason , because it will , Firstly , ( should O'Bkien be returned ) work into practice one of our mo 3 t beautiful maxims , " The labourer is worthy of his hire . " Secondly , it will strongly establish the claim of the brave and virtuous working men of England to the title for gratitude .
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Thirdly , it will give to the ignorant Irish revilers the best possible denial of the charge that the English people are opposed to Irish interests and to the Catholio religion , and a Repeal of the Union . O'Brien is an Irishman , a Catholic , and a Repealer . Fourthly , it will prove the spread among our own party of O'Brien ' s principles , and the principles , of Chartism . Fifthly , it will prove that absence of a friend does not insure forgetfulness of him . Sixthly , it will be a powerful incentive to other teachers , orators , and leaders , to go and do as O'Bbikn has done .
Seventhly , it will , above all other oirenmstances , prevent the enemy from again resorting to torture and persecution , from a hope , or expectation , that they will destroy the influence , character , and prospects of the leaders and supporters of democracy . Eighthly , it must not be lost sight of that Mr . O'Connell made a great handle , in 1835 , of the people of Newcastle having returned an enemy to Ireland ; and though he always confounds the people and their oppressors , and talks and writes more nonsea&e than any other living man , let us , nevertheless , knock the leg from under his lies and nonsense , as we have from under his blarney .
I could go on to one thousandtbly , shewing stronger and stronger reasons why O'Bbien ' s return is to us of paramount importance ; but with you must rest the means of making the experiment as successful as possible . Let a general four counties' subscription be instantly entered into by Northumberland , Cumberland , Durham , and Westmoreland ; and this night '
that is the night on which you read this , let every man who spends a shilling with a shopkeeper say " I'll thank you for & trifle to give moral effect to my principles , as I am not represented in the House of Commons . " Also , let a general subscription be entered upon ; and , if you can get a coalition , ask the friends and supporters of tho colleague of O'Brien for their mite . Believe me , they will now give it . Lose no chance .
Meet every evening after work , and parade the streets , peaceably and orderly , in your tens of thousands , cheering at the door of every friend , and not noticing the foe . My principle , you see , is to save you from trouble . The affirmative , that is , supporting and applauding your friends , confers a negative upon your
enemies . Let all my instructions be read over and over again , and improved and correoted where found faulty ; but have a plan and act upon it . In short , to insure his return , you must werk like madmen tvith method , and like wild men with discretion . Of all things avoid tumult—keep you the peace , but to preserve it , let the officers of war know and understand that you will stand NO NONSENSE . Then , Hurrah , for O'Brien and Newcastle , For O'Brien and Newcastle , hurrah . '
NORTHAMPTON . Here we have M'Douall , and lest I might , in my classification , be supposed , by placing him before Vincent , to hint at a distinction in point of public interest and Chartist importance , I beg to say that one must come first , and M'Douall being first in the field , I observe the rule which I have before observed , when setting forth the nomination of candidates according to the dates of their respective addresses .
M'Douall is as fine a little gentleman and Chartist as ever lired ; he is very yoang , but not indiscreet ; he is very brave , but not imprudent ; he did us much , very much service , by his vigorous , manly , noble , and talented defence . He bore his incarceration like a Chartist , and came purified from the Whig furnace : he has since preserved a most manly , consistent , and straight forward course . He is a good rea&oner , a good writer , and a good speaker . He is a man in every way trustworthy , and who can sav that too much can be done for such
& friend to the glorious cause ! Then , in point of general importance , he introduces the practical illustration of Northern Union and civilization into the great agricultural county of Northampton , under the very no 6 e of Earl Spencer and the high Whigs . They never read of us , but what is written in derision ; but having M'Douall before them , as a living proof of our policy and line of action , will open their blinded eyes and expand their contracted brains . Here you must make a tremendous muster upon the day of nomination , as the feudal system still lives in Northamptonshire , and the vassals will follow the Lord to the hustings , leading their will and commanding their support .
Here , also , let subscriptions be entered into at once—and , above all , make sure of the show of hands , and read all my instructions over aad over again . Then hurrah for Northampton and McDouall—For McDouall and Northampton , hurrah !
BANBURY . Here we have the Benjamin Franklin of Chartism . Here we have the brave and gallant Vincent . Here we have the Chartist General Gaol Inspector , sent , like a felon , through the gauntlet of Whig improved cruelty , and impervious to the oppressor ' s lash and the proud man ' s scorn . Here we have the only man honoured with a private visit from the
Gaoler-General , ( Lord Normanbt , ) paid , no doubt , for a certain purpose , which , however , failed . Here we have one of the most exciting and animating speakers belonging to our ranks . Here we have the establisher of the Vindicator , and its resuscitator , in double size , transformed from a mere local sheet to a national organ , the first number of which , for twopence , of immense size , appeared on Saturday last .
Now then , men of Gloucest ershire , march , every man within twenty miles , in good order , and mark the difference between the knowledge of a non-elector and a qualified representative ; mark it well . This is what 1 have long laboured to effect—to bring unrepresented knowledge aud representative ignorance cheek by jowl upon the same stage . 0 , what fun ! 0 what a glorious day for the world here ! Let every town meet and send in its mite , and think if we can get O'Brien , M'Douali ., Vincent , Sanket , Mom , and Dcncan into the House . If we can smuggle the contraband gootjs in , who will dare to seizs the cargo , and send them back for an excise informality in the permit ! I hope Lord Normanby saw the first number of the National Vindicator , and that he admires Vincent ' s " IMPROVED STYLE . " Then hurrah for Banbury and Vincent—For Banbury and Vincent , hurrah I MARY-LE-BONE . Here we have the noble Sankey , another Irishman , son of one of the gallant Irish members who refused to commit suicide by votiDg for a legislative Union with England . Here the electors are at sea , having , as the first fruits of the ballot , been experimentally handed over , in a flock , from the advocacy of a candidate with one set of principles , to the advocacy of a gallant candidate with another set of principles .
Now , what say you to the ballet , non-electors Will this prove to you that , under its provisions , you could not have any opposition ; that the minority should , for the personal and interested objects of individuals , merge in the majority , and thus appear to mix elements , discordant elements , in close fraternity , leaving the minority no organ —buried , all buried in the silent tomb of expediency , in the dark recesses of the ballot-box I However , to the poll Sakxet goes J and you electors of Marylebone , take care and make your triumph as complete as possible , while the nonelectors , I pledge myself , will do their duty nobly .
Sasket is a Master of Arts , that is , A . M ., of Cambridge , and 0 'Bhien is A . M . of Trinity College , Dublin ; therefore , let the rotten colleges of
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England and Ireland be fairly represented , by sending the eoieno « of Chartism into the classic edifice about to be built for the expression of public opinion . Men of London , will you not subscribe 1 will you , in the midst of surrounding misery , be backward ? No , I don't believe it . Whatever is Sankby ' s fate , let him be assured that according to his conduct will be his future position in Marylebone ; and that that conduct will be open , frank , straightforward , and honourable , no man can doubt ; he will put no one feature of our lovely Charter upon his banner ; the fall face of the Charter must there be presented in all its splendour to the naval hero and his rivals .
Then hurrah for S&nkey aad Marylebone I For Marylebone and Sankey hurrah
ROCHDALE . Next comes more of a legitimatist , but not less of a Chartist , another Irishman , the bold and manly Crawford—the only man who has had honesty enough to prefer retirement to prostitution . The value of such a return must also speak in the voice of thunder to the closed ears of Ireland , and prove that Newcastle and Rochdale know no distinction in the Irishman ' s creed .
One great advantage of Crawfobd ' s return would be this—that he would give an impetus and spur to the drowsy balance of power , or such of it as may be again returned in the event of a Whig majority . Duncohbe , Wakley , Leaoer , Hume , and Warburton will be made more forward when pushed behind by such a man as Crawford . Mind that ; for we must attach the distinct and proper value to every one of our acts , and assign a good and satisfactory reason for each . So hurrah for Crawford and Rochdale , For Rochdale and Crawford hurrah i
HULL . Here we have the great gun of Chartism , the physical-force gallant Colonel . Of him you will not require me to say a word more than I have often repeated , namely , that he ia the best Radical of his class to be found ; he too will act as a rowel in the spur to prod the Bleepy energies of the slothful . But mind , men of Hull ; mind Chartist 9 of Hull ; read last week ' s Leeds Mercury , and mind , or else . Don't poll till the last moment ! and on the first trick , give them two thumping Tories . I would strongly advise you to insist upon Mr . Clay signing the conditions . But be watchful ; And hurrah for Thompson and Hull ! For Thompson and Hull hurrah l
HALIFAX . Here we have a man with whom I have had the honour of sit ting and voting for three years in the House of Commons . A more amiable , upright , honourable , intelligent man breathes not , than Mr . Gullt . No power on earth would induce him to violate a single pledge , or hold your trust for a moment after you required its resignation into your hands .
Read you also what the rascally Mercury dares to say of one of nature ' s gentlemen ; and , when you see Mr . Gully , as working men and Chartists , feast your eyes by looking upon one who has raised himself to be ft protector of the poor by his own merit . Upon the other band , look at the protegees of the Mercury , Wood and Prothkkok ; the one who has voted for the incarceration of your friends , and who has been a orutoh for hia brother-in-law , Lord Howick , in their hobbling to power ; while Psotueroe has disappointed your every hope .
Don ' t you mind Attorney-coroner-brewer-coalmerchant Stocks . Rely upon it , you have nothing to expect from that quarter . Vote for Gully , every man of you ! he is for the five points of the Charter and will be another rowel in the spur . So , Hurrah , for Gully and Halifax , For Halifax and Gully , hurrah ! TOWER HAMLETS . Here we have an hereditary patriot in the person of Col . Thompson ' s son , and we learn that the people are doing their duty , while the leaders are hanging back ; and all I have to say is—to the devil with the leaders ! cut the traces and let them tumble over , while the shaft-horses drag the Chartist waggon npthe hill in fustian ! I knew it would come to that , in rotten London . But , fustians , down with the leaders ! down , down , down , down with the leaders t they will be good company for the bloody Whigs . 1 know nothing of young Thompson beyond the character which the fustians give him—it is enough . So , Hurrah for young Thompson and the fustians , For the fustians and young Thompson , hurrah ! BATH . Some of my readers may suppose it strange that I should attach any importance to the return of John Arthur Roebuck but I do , and very great importance . In my comment upon Roebuck , I shall speak of him as a whole , and not in his character of a political economist and supportor of the Poor Law Amendment Act . If the question the only question to be decided in this next Parliament was Poor Law or no Poor Law , I should , at once , select the only foul blot in
Roebuck ' s escutcheon for exposure ; but , inasmuch , as I never have used the measure as a clap-trap to give the Tories support or preference which they do not deserve , neither shall I now allow myself to place mole-bills between the people and mountains . The Whi g * are the fathers of the monsUr ; the Tories are god-fathers—sponsers , aud pledged to its training , and for which they have promised and vowed three things in its name . Firstly , that it shall renounce the people , and all that can get work . Secondly , that it shall renounce all claims to their estates . And , thirdly , it shall walk in
the same all the days of their political existence . Now ^ that ' s the plain and Bimple way of putting it ; and if to-morrow , we had to choose bet ween Walter and Roebuck , the Poor Law being the question at issue , I would at once , and without hesitation , vote for Walter—not supposing that the repeal of one bad measure would be any guarantee against the enactment ' of as bad a one by the 6 ame parties , but merely to show popular hatred to it when that hatred could be effectually directed to hit
the mark . But I look more extensively into the whole political mirror , and 1 ask which , in the present state of opinion and parties , is the most likely to forward the cause of democracy , Walter or ROEBUCK ! and who , fop & moment can hesitate in coming to a conclusion 1 The rt peal of the Poor Law Bill would not advance the cause of democracy by a hair ' s breadth , while every step in advance by democracy , puta a nail in the devil ' s coffin .
I served for two years with Roebuck , ( and always barring the damning spot , ) he was the most efficient democrat in the House ; he has since served , and he alone stood op against all the crotchet mongers and sliding balance oj " power , and by his democratic principles lost all hold of the time-serving electors . I owe Roebuck no great compliment—he has tried to injure me ; but I owe the public and the cause a duty which no personal motive on earth shall induce me to svrerve from , and especially just
now . I am not one of those puling sycophants who would lose such a glorious opportunity as the present , for the mere purpose of gratifying personal feelings , or injuring a too by injuring my cause . No , no ; when it comes to that I shall retire . Now , if the contest was between Waltjcb and Hobhousk , I should , npon the other hand , have as little hesitation in voting for Walter ; because here I test the whole question at issue , and all tho little good being on Walter ' s side , I vote for the one fair spot , and against the mass of putrid corruption . Hobbouse is a rotten thing , neither good for manor beast ; and , therefore , I would vote for Walter ; snd the eame holds good in all lastances . For these reasons , do I moBt unhesitatingly
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declare , that Roebuck would be 'the very sharpest rowel in the democratic spur . He is naturally a democrat , and the more so , from vanity ; and , as I before said , if he would bind himself for biz months to a Scotch farmer , and then for six months to a Manchester cotton lord , he would speedily discover , whether population presses npon the means of production , or the landlord ' s condition of non-production annexed to leases , presses hardly upon population .
If I was not a good farmer , knowing the fall capabilities of mother earth , and if I had not entered Lancashire College , at Oldham , six years ago this month , and , in the course of my education discovered agricultural neglect made manifest in every pale face , I might also hare been a political economist , " which means nothing more or less than an ignorant booby , who , while he speaks of production , wouldn't know how to-get any dinner bat grass from the land , if he had it .
OLDHAM . Here we have John Fieldew , the only master manufacturer in England in whose return the white slaves have any the slightest interest ; but , on the contrary , in the ousting of every other they have a great interest . A poor man being a Chartist , and a physical-force one , I can understand , without difficulty ; but a man wallowing in wealth being even a moral-force Chartist , I cannot understand ,
otherwise than that he is the very best of men . In facti when the poor begin to think of Fieldbn ' s wealth , position , opposition to monopoly , and support of their order , they must look upon him as the rarest novelty of the age ; and so be is . There breathes not the breath of life in a more thorough philanthropist , kind-hearted , shrewd man , than Mr . John Fiklden : personally I owe him no great compliment , but I do owe him a duty .
There can be no doubt but that Fielden will be returned again , along with his excellent , and in every way fitting , colleague , General Johnson . Now , then , I have done so far , but I have not yet done half my work ; So for all ,
Hurrah , for our aide , For our aide , hurrah I Now , then , EVERY WORKING MAN , WOMAN , AND CHILD IN ENGLAND , IRELAND , SCOTLAND , AND WALES . Mr dear beloved Children , —Ayo you are every ono of you , old and young , my children ; and never was fond father bo doatingly fond of an only child . Never did parent look with joy for the first fruits of his union , with more intense and heartfelt anxiety , than I nowloek for an heir to our union . It is just twelvemonths since the Star warned faction of the approaching tempest which is now about to rage , — in these words : —
" BEHOLD THE STORM COMETH . " My children , for long before , and ever since , I have been on the watch tower to keep the ship " from foes or wreck , " ready to warn the crew of approaching danger from whatever quarter it may threaten us . In that time , though apart , we have fought many battles together in spirit : and now I tell you the HOUR COMETH !
when the crew must remain on deck , and when " England will expect every man to do his duty !" I have done mine ! This is the week before the battle ; tho very ere of battle ; and I have given you all tho instruction that I thought necessary for your guidance . This week the Star should be a chart to guide you in your perilous course . — Study it ; follow it ; and you are safe 1 I have scarcely slept since Saturday last . My mind has been on the rack as to the best means of serving you .
In addition to what you will see from me this week in the Star , I have written an address of b ' ixteen large pages of M . S ., to the Frieze coat electors and non-electors of the County of Cork , bearing upon Irish affairs . I hare had it published on a sheet by itself , and sent over to bedistributed among the soldiers with whom I bav « fought and conquered , and who still love me . I cannot forget Ireland ! and in my dungeon I have done my duty to all !
The result of the present contest wilt test the value of tyranny and the increase ot Chartism since the general election < of 1837 , and will inform the new Lord Chancellor of Ireland , our old persecutor-General , Sir John Campbell , that he was in a dose when he thought he had put Chartism to rest ! Hk is to be a Peer and a Chancellor ! and thus hare the Whigs rewarded one and all of our persecutors ! But no matter ! we will soon be in a situation to tight ourselves I
My children , the Chartist tree > s growing rapidly , and spreading its luxuriant foliage over the shoots that daily and hourly spring from its fertile roots . It is deep sown , but nevertheless springs like good seed soattercd in rich soil . 0 1 how I long to walk among you , when we shall hare killed tyranny ; and to see you what nature intended you to be , freemen ! every man with the key of his own store house Jilted with the produce of his own labour , in his own pocket . These are my politics . I am for a return from an artificial , to a natural state of existence .
Mothers , for this make your sons work for the next week ! Wives , for this make your husbands work for the next week ! Sisters , for this make your brothers work for the next week ! Sweethearts , for this make your lorers work for the next week ! All , all , work for this , next week ! I am now tired and weary , and leave you with my blessing , and the blessing of God implored in your behalf : and that you may overcomo every foe to liberty , and every obstacle that stands between you and your just and righteous cause , is the sincere and the earnest , the devout and nerer ceasing prayer of Your fond and affectionate father , Fbargus O'Connor .
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MR . O'BRIEN , O'CONNOR , AND THE NORTHERN STAR . In our last number , we promised to reason with Mr . O'Brien on the subject of the policy which we have thought it our duty to recommend to the people at the coming elections . We felt sorry to lack , on any subject , the approbation of O'Brien , and were in hopes of being able to show him that his position on this matter , had been taken np more hastily than is
usual with him . However , as O Connor Was equally concerned ia the matter with th « Editor of the Northern Star , he has thought proper to take it up ; and on reading orer his two letters to Mr . O'Brien , we at once laid aside an article which we had prepared upon the subject ; satisfied that it unnecessary to occupy space with more than he has said upon the matter . To those letters we refer Mr . O'Brien and the people , and rest contented to abide the issue .
We this week gire another letter from Mr . O'Brien , following up his former ones . To that letter then we now request the attention f our readers , in conjunction with bis former ones , and with the two letters of O'Connor in reply . It is not our practice to treat the ** reasoning" of any man , least of all that of Mr . O'Bribn , with affected contempt ; we desire to give to it all the weight and influence to which the long labours of inch a man entitle him ; we would subtract nothing from it , by inuendo or otherwiu ; and we beg to assure him , that whatever may hare been hia impression ,
nothing was further from our purpose than , in the few remarks We last week appended to his letters , to place his opinion or our own in toy undue position . We do not presume to "dogmatize to our brother Chartists , " or to set up our opinion " as the established faith of the Chartist body . " But we do think eurselres bound in duty to place our opinions on all great matters of policy honestly and fearlessly before the people—to gire our reasons for holding those opinions—aud we think we have a right to ask the people not to make up their minds " beforehand" to pay no attention
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to those reasons . Again , regretting that we cannot hare in this matter Mr . O'Brien ' s approval and concurrence , we leare the whole matter with the people , reiterating our deliberate opinion , that if they suffer the present opportunity of effectuall y orerthrowing the " Bloodies" to pass by , they will bitterly repent it .
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On Tuesday morning last , this town atanearlv hour , exhibited all the bustle and excitement of an electioneering contest , it haring been announ ced that the whole of the candidates for both the borough and the West Riding , would make their appearance and addresd the people in the yard of the Coloured Cloth Hall . The factions were early on the alert . Bands of music , bhie and yellow Hags and banners , borne bv hired dupes , and small and large loaves of bread decorated with blue and yellow ribbons wera marched in procession through the street * "making morn hideous , " and arousing thn lethargic from their heavy slumbers . But in the midst of all this , there was a part * moving in all the dignity of conscious superiorit / who needed not the aid of pomp and ceremony" to
eniorce tneir claims on the public attention Tha Chartists ,, though not fearing a comparison , con ! contented themselves by appearing without either colours of music , conscious that they were not a whit behind either ot the factions ia the ability of the candidates Whom they had freely chosen , or in thejus tice of their cause which they espoused . Mr . George Julian Harney and Mr . Pitkethlv were the Riding candidates , and Mr . James Williani and Mr . James Leech the borough candidates of tha Chartists ; theHon . J . S . WortleyandMr . Beckett Denison the Riding , and Mr . William Beckett and Lord Jooelyn , the borough candidates Of the Tories ; and LordB Morpeth and Milton the Rididr , and Messrs . Hume aud Aldam the borough candidates of the united corps of Foxes and Geese .
Each party invited their candidates to a public breakfast . The Chartists had a numerous party to a good substantial repast , at their room , in the Fish Maiket . The Tories feasted their friends at the Muaie Hall , in Albion-street , where a large party assent , bled under the presidency of Mr . Henry Hall . Of course the great and mighty of the land were there" where the carcase is , there will the vultures be gathered together . " Tho Whigs occupied the large room of the Commercial Buildings , and if we could believe the extraordinary liar , we might suppose that ther far
out-Heroded Herod in numbers , respectability , wealth , talent , grandeur , show , and every thing else , but we hare learnt to place a proper ralue on Neddy ' s statements . The good things of this life haring been done ample justice to , some time was spent by each of the factions in raising their spirits , and preparing them for what might cross their path in the course of the next few hours . Neddy ' s ^ Extraordinary sayg the speeches of the " Bloodies , " after the gormandizing was over , were " extraordinary" indeed , and " extraordinary" must hare been the stomachs of the gulls who swallowed them . About half-past nine o ' clock , a more was made towards the Cloth Hall Yard .
The Chartists , conscious of the purity of their principles , were the first who arrived , in procession , certainly , but unaided by decoration , or the least display . Their numbers were , as they always are , formidable ; and , though slighted and insulted by the " Liar Extraordinary , " were strong enough to make him quail when he looked upon them . We ought to remark here that a commodious hustings , in two divisions , had been erected by the two great parties , without any seeming provision for the greatest party of all—the party of the people . The candidates and leaders , however , were supplied with tickets of admission to the hustings , and thev took up their position iu the centre . The Ulues arrived next , after paradingthestreetsin procession , with their bands and banners , and took up position at the far end of the yard , the candidates and their supporters occupying that end of the huntings .
These had no sooner taken their places , than the Whigs arrived and occupied the vacant part of the hustings allotted to them—their supporters apparently filling the end of the yard from the steps to the gates . We Bay apparently , because we happen to know that it was not really so , notwithstanding certain extraordinary statements which hare been since published . The fact is that in this , as in everything else , the Whigs must hare some trick ; they had planned to hare the entrance to the yard allotted to them , knowing that they would be sure of all the droppers-in , who would thus be made to swell their numbers . And this was more easily effected , and
made more apparent , by the fact that the Chartists wore no colours , and that those Blues who arrived late , and in straggling divisions , dispensed with their usual insignia also . But their veil was torn aside during the addresses of the candidates , and was made particularly apparent eren to the cxtrardinary optics of the M Queen-groaner , " when , during the spirited and effective address of Mr . J . G . ' Harney , the cheers of those who were thought to be yellow told so effectually in favour of the candidate of the people ' s choice , and placed beyond all doubt the opinions of the great majority ot those who occupied the first portion of the yard . The Mercury knows the fact ; "Let the galled jade wince . "
The number of persons assembled to listen to the proceedings could net be fewer than fifteen thousand ; we should say more . The greater part of the persons with orange cards in their hats consisted of men hired for the occasion ; and of lads of from sixteen to eighteen ; the latter were , occasionally , very noisy aad unsteady ; but on the whole , the crowd behaved extremely well .
THE WEST RIDING CANDIDATES . Lord Viscount MORPETH addressed the multitude at considerable length , in one of bis usual carefully prepared and deliberately conned " themes , " on which we imagine that some boarding school miss had bestowed no small amount of feminine taste and pains taking , in the nicely stringing together of neat fisting representatives of nothing . The Noble Lord ' s speech was a tolerably " correct composition , " by whom written we , of course , know not ; but , as a literary tffort , it might be considered passable from a fourth form boy in the Leeds Free Grammar School . His harangue , of course , gave much credit to the Government fur their determined efforts against " monopoly , " and predicted sad things-for the country if the said Government
should be " thrown on their own lesouTces . " He began by stating that the very echoes lingering in the Ciotb Hall Yard Were , charged with the diath-knell of monopoly—that lie had heard from that place in 1830 war proclaimed against the monopoly ot representationthat he had afterwards heard condemned in that place the monopoly of traffic in human flesh—that these monopolies were now at an end , and be eoafidentlj augured the same fact for the monopoly of corn , commerce , and trade . After some left-handed compliments to his Tory opponents , which were too palpable to be well received , he went on to say , — " 1 believe . Gentlemen , the Supreme Ruler of event * has so formed this world , with all its diversities of land and of sen , separating land from land , and island
horn Island , (> y waters , and rirera , and oceans , endowing one portion of the earth with exuberant richness of soil , aud with the genial influence of climate ; appropriating another portion to more hardy enterprise by giving to it stores of mineral wealth ; making the cotton plant , the tea plant , and coffee plant , thrive in another region , making iron harden , coal blacken , or diamonds blaze , in another region . ( Cheers . ) I humbly coftetiee that in making these , the Supreme Architect of nature intended that man should enjoy , and that in order to enjoy , be should work , and he should exchange . ( Loud applause . ) I need not sik you whether you have not proved yourselves willing to work . ( Cries of we have . ' ) There haa been no failure with you in this respect . It cant be pretended that you nave not done your duty to the utmost , hi working honestly for your livelihood , and for the comfort and maintenance of your families . " ( Hear , hear , and cheers . " ) Then came a great lot of declamation
about the scarcity of manufacturing employment and the driving of our trade into foreign countries by the naughty Cora Laws . The Noble Lord proceeded then to argue that'Inasmuch as the public revenue U not equal to the public expenditure , the Tories , If they take office must increase the revenue by imposing fresh taxes , whereas he and his friends were disposed to do t by taking off taxes I Not a word about reducing the public expenditure to meet the revenue : In that part of the tune , the performers are too well studied to let a jarring note U » heard . After adverting to thedesperate circnmatanoes of bis faction , which had rendered it necewary for them . to inreke the power of the " House ot Wemworlh . " The Noble Lord wound up hia recitation with the following pithy words which we fancj he will find to be truer than he ever intended they should be . "The word fau goat f » rth against prohibition * , agalnat exclusion , and afainat undue preference to faronwd elaaut . ( Cheers . ) The band-writing is o « ths wall—the cause of monopoly hat had lu day . "
Lom MILTON , baring been introduced by Ja « M B * own , Jut ., Esq ., next pieaented hinuelf , and a pitiable exhibUioait was . The poor lad was evident !/ frightened at the unusual position la which he found himself . Some careful grandmother had put down let bim a string of ordinary mean-naughtJ about hia frtbtr and free trade , which the luckless youth in trying to repeat from niemory , stuck repeatedly fast in , and then referring to his prompt book , lost the line of his leason , and , reading wrong , made all sorts of rediculoui blunders—talking about "driving the free-trad e gentlemen from the field , " Ac—bis friends behind and ammnd him on the hustings , several times interfered to keep the Noble Lordling right in his lesson ; but to no purpose . We suppose that such an exhibition of impudent purse-calculating imbecility was scarcely eret before made , as that which bis "friends" are now making of this' unfortunate young man .
Visit Of The West Riding And Borough Candidates To Leeds.
VISIT OF THE WEST RIDING AND BOROUGH CANDIDATES TO LEEDS .
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4 THE NORTHERN STAR . _____
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 26, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct555/page/4/
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