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LANCASTER , CONGRATULATORY MEETING ON THE LIBERATION OF JAMES BRONTERRE O'BRIEN , ESQ-, FROM TYRANNIC WHIG IMPRISONMENT IN LANCASTER CASTLE . As Friday last vu the termination of Mr . Bronterre O'Brien ' s eighteen month ' s iacarceratinn , the friends of the people in Lancaster , and the admirers of a
pa" Who dare * be honest in lie 'mast of times " rwolved opon giving a public demoBstation of the grateful feelings they entertain towards him for the noble Barrices which he has rendered to the cause of bamaaitr and freedom , as well as to testify to him how deeply their hearts sympathise with him in the snferiags &nd wrongs which he has endured . Mr . Pillingi splendid room was ecg * ged for tie occasion , in which , previously to the more important business of the d * y bein ? sons into , about a hundred of both sexes af the isdostriosa classes partook of tea , &c At halfpast seven o ' clock , Mr . O'Brien entered the room , accompanied by a number of friends , who , with hands willing to labour for their livelihood , haTe hearts deterraiced upon hiring thsae rights which the commands of God , as well as the dictates of reason , alike declare ooght Eerer to haTe been wrested from their possession . On Mr . O'Brien ' s stepping npon the platform he was greeted with lond clapping of hands , which lasted for a considerable time .
Mi . J . T . Lcsd , of Lancaster , being nnasimouily called to the chair , briefly opened the proceedings He £ &i 4 they had on that ereniag met to congratulate » gentleman , who was second to none in the cause of humanity , npon his liberation from a long and infamous imprisonment Ee hoped that those present , to whatsver party in politics they migkt belong , ¦ would pay attention to what might be said—that they would reflect upon whit they heard ; and net be -disposed to receive any thing which might appear extraordinary dangerous and wrcrg upon the mere ipte digit cf those who were enemie 3 to tie rights of the people . Mr . James Ma"wso > t rose to moTe the first resolution ; he said he perfectly w ^' ssced in the sentiments embodied in it Mr . Jobs PAiKixsos seconded the resolution , which wsa carried amidst the most enthusiastic acclamations , and dapping of hands .
• ' Tfeat , in the oplniea of this ni&eting , the practice ef persecuting men for their political principles is not rmf j inconsistent with justice , but a manifestation of the worst species of tyranny j we , therefore , hail with delight the liberation of Mr . Bronterre O'Brien , from a cruel and unjust imprisonment of eighteen months , for cdvocsting the rights of the poor and unrepresented part of the people of this country . " J . B . OURZES , Esq ., then came forward , when the cheering was long aB > l loualy resumed . He said , my good friends of Lancaster , I ara extremely sorry that npon this occasion I feel so physically weak as to be enable to d « you and myself that justice which your kindness to me entitles from me at your hands . I return you my most sincere thanks for the honour you
bare paid to me ; aid it delights me to behold the sympathy which , through me , you hare shown for the public cause . Tour presence here to night fully convinces me that political knowledge has penetrated the ¦ w orking classes even tf Lancaster : and that the threats for you to absent yourselves Live been thrswn away by your employers . lAppis ^ se- ) It is a true gratification to ms to see so greata body of honest men and women ready , in spite of them , to do this great act of public JosSee . I am not Tain enough to suppose that it is Barely-to do me all possible boaour that you are here to-night- I cannot t > " ^* so vainly of siyself , and I will not think bo meanly of you . I feel that you are present to-night to tell the Government that instead of baring yonr support of their recent recreant conduct , they have
your mqualified undisguised , detestation of their oppressive proceedings . ( Cheers . ) Many of you may be ignorant of the real circumstanees why myself and others have undergone imprisonment during the last two years . I will tell yen what mine waa for , and it wiil then be for you to say if you ever heard of so afroeioc 3 a piece of injustice before . I was incarcerated eighteen months on the felon ' s side of Lancaster Castle ; hariag b * en accused cf having made a good speech . ( Cries of Sksme and laughter . ) In the body of the indictment were set forth sundry charges against m =. But it was for nothing more than appearing before an assemclaee of my countrymen at Manchester by iscvitaiion , preckriy in the sase manner as I appear before yen on the present occasion : so that if they
were conspirators then , you are conspirators how ; and If I were a conspircdor then , so am I now j for I am here again , as you see , is precisely the same capacity as I WS 3 then : as that meeting , in its character , -vra * literally and identically tho same as your own . The 8 entim ££ t 3 which I shall deliver to-night , are exactly those which I delivered then : for none shall escape from ms this evening vliich are net in strict tccordance ¦ with those for which I was imprisoned . ( Cheers . ) Prom the framing cf that indictment many haTa been tao ^ ht to believe that I was tried for something like a Cato-Btreet plot—for scmathiag done in the dark—for some secret diabolical act , -n-hcre the magistrates could not come to tike cogniaisce of it . Aye , and- if the Government of the country , isd the magistrates of
T > Tira . K >> iy could cfiia lay hold of m ! to-morrow , upon the saaie fabricated pretext ¦ _ £ having made a speech in Lancaster tending lo rouse you , its loyal inhabitants , to routs , rioW , tumults , insurrection , and rebellion a gttrngt the peaee cf oar Sovereign Lady the Qaeen , as the big-headed lawyer said ( such being some , of the ¦ words in £ ta indictment , they would most gladly do so . Neither do I dcubt that they would have any difficulty in fineing twelve of fee shopocracy ready to find me guilty upon the testimony of a poor reporter ; who , tpoB the trial coafessed to me , that he ¦ was only learnixg reporting . ( Laughter . ) Now it is a Tery curious thing that it neTer occurred to this bigbeaded lawyer , who has £ 20 * 0 a yearfor prosecuting the people , that 1 have addressed upwards of two
BdHioB 3 of my eoKntrrmca , at meetings consisting of from 50 to 10 « , 0 w 3 , without either rout , riot , tumult , insurrection , or rebellion against the peace of our Soverekn Lady th ? Qnaen being produced amongst them , and without the least tendency to any sush a thing likely to be pr ^ iuc ^ d . To judge of a man's acts ought to be from the tticdeacy which arises from them . \ Hear , bear , hear . If no breach of the peace did take p \ ace ; if every meeting wa 3 ss quiet and peaceable as any thai erer was held within four walls ; if those present , sanctioned £ 7 = ry sentiment which I uttered ; if I appeared there only at thtir ova request ; is it not nionstrous that a crown lawyer , living on the taxes Trrung Iron the vzcvle wl-ihon : their consent , should make me t conroiiator u ~* e -. he evidence of a silly-Whig reportes bel . - ^ -ir ¦ - to i iiliv VTL \ z newspaper ? That this feiiow ;
whj ~ i& a notorious ^ . "big hack , should tavs been : allowed to have given evidence against me : test of six ; thousand persons ready to have come f arwasd to- deposa ) to whit I uttered should go for nothing—that this con- j temptible : VJow should point out a conspirator against ; the Qu ' .-rn . her cro'sni and dignity , in direct opposition ; to tLa .: which actually took place ? If this is the re- i ward for fiiitiag the batUes of yonr rights and liberties i for so many months , is it to be wonatred at by your eremies " . lit you sbouid feel for tiose who , on that accoiii :, have bten imprisoned for so miay menths . ¦ Ch-:= is . ' Lst me tell you the charac : ir " of n ; y speeches , even acci-rdisg to the evidence of this Whig reporter , rather thin reply to them to-night . TLs dcitrins which I blJ doTa . was ; ; S , i ; :
That every msu hzs is good a right . is every other nian to the protection cf the state in wbich he lives , and of —iucfc he fr-rms s part . That every muster oi a cotmauuiry called upon to pav taxes t- ' s state , bec- ~ sies rightfally entitled to his Ehire cf tqu ^ i pro ^ cucn frcm that state . - Ttit every man , cHlid cpon to ocry ali'K , has a rkht to have a to : re in miking thst law . ~ Thit every TT- ^ r ; w ~ o paid taxes to support a GoT ^ n ^ ient . iLz-11 Live a shut in fording that G" T ^ rn ™ ent . Above all—That if asr clsss r ! n :-s cu ^ r . i to bo esclndcd from pi : % -H 5 c ; s , it ouEhi no : » 5 be the elass rr . ore useful than all fe rest . 'T-. ae =. i- ; ciapving of har . dj , ¦
Snch urc- the Ac ^ ' -. rir . i-. —Llch I a .: iTociirc ! at ilanchester , and such are th = ¦ 1- . < . ' j :-z .-s "which I ocntend for here ; for not only is : hc- class ¦ . ' the people the most useful buttenthi . es the u . ' . it i-u ^ ieroua . Then why . shouli that class -the useful and cuin-rous ic all countries is prevented , by the :. Uc and fe ~ , from forming z portion of the G-jvcrcEiiit which they labour to support , and of assisting in frauxi ^ j the nature of the laws by which they are to be governed ? ; L-5 ud dapping of bands , ; Who is i : 1 i& , who buiids the bridges , cats the cassis , lays the railways , forms the roads , raises the houses , plarts the garden , rears the flower , som-s the seed , reaps the n = ld , mans tae navy , recruits the army , tnd fights the battles of our country , tut the PEOPLE the poor abused , despistd , degr aded people .
Yet . for advecatirs their rights , the knave of a Whig reporter swore that I was advocating routs , r iots , tumults , insurrection and rebellion , against-the paw oi our Boverim laiy the Queen , her CroTm and dignity —but Ectling cf the kind was likely to occur , any iBoretlniii : is new . There is one tiiag -vrhich has some-hing extremely contemptible abc-ut it- It is the pr *; ex * cf which the Government availed themselves , in ' . ' - ¦ ir trc * c . rioa of me . " It ^ - - -3 said that my Epeecii ^ s were seditious and violent— that 1 advised the peopietoarm ; but I was no party-concerned in such advice , if any s ^ ch was ever given to them by others . Bit as to arming—the scoundrel who r , ave evidence
acrinst me , forget te UH the jury tiat , for twe yean t " -Tious the country tad feeconio familiar , with the notion of arming ; for Oastler , Stephens , and O-Connor , h ^ d stated that to arm was the people ' s coi ^ titutiona right—that the lime had come , when they would be called upon to proled life and property ; but they aevei advised them to arm to destroy ! fa and picperty , They merely said " We are menaced by tyrsney ; it is right , therefore , that every t ^ in England should arm in B * lf cefaace ; the law of England entities-him to have * rms fct thai purpose ; and for thai purpose the Ian of "RngiftTiri compelled b *™ to hava them , when Uh CoistiUi ^ oo iu modi more pore tbec tt it no *
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J 35 nes Bronterre O'Briea neTer did advise the people to arm . I was much more anxious to fill their minds with political knowledge ; imt I did not tell them not to aim . In such matters I was but a silent spectator of what wm adTised by othei of thsir le&dtrs .. That charge should have been brought against Lord John Rtts * elL For when he found that he was pecked at by the millions—when be fonnd the House of Commons met with most indignant feelings by a bridge of the . people ' s petitions—when he found that the people woald not be pot down by proclamations—( for proclamations are sot law)—he commenced a system of persecution , he commenced a system of spying , and sending persons into their houses in search of arms , which was certain to make them desperate ; he al *
called npon the Lord Lieutenants of the counties to issue their rescripts , and call upon certain of tie inhabitants to arm to defend life and property ; and he would find them with arms . Mind , it Lord John Russell had then advised them to arm ; every man has a right to arm—for no man has more right to do so than another . I hope that there is not a man nor ft woman in this room , who will not be ready to sacrifice life and limb before any class of men in this country shall have the exclusvre right of arming . I knew that it was every man ' s right to haTe arms to defend life and property , and I knew that that was the law when I saw Lord John Russell making these invitations to thoje certain classes to arm ; making no ssch invitation to another class more useful and numerous—tolliDg them
that he would find them with arms for that purpose , although they had the least likelihood to get th < : in . When I fonnd out this' dodge , ' as they say in Lancaster Castle —( laughter )—I worked a dodge another way . I issued my rescript to the principal inhabitant ? , but there was this difference between us—he meant his to the drones , I meant mine to the bees . ( Applause and laughter . ) The Attorney-General did not tell the Jury that the Government there had ad-Tised the people to arm . But still , if , I say , they haTe a right to arm , a man must keep his arms at home , unless when opposed to tyrants should he © Ter be threatened to bo invaded by them : for It la the duty then of every man to carry his musket out of his house when called upon , to driTe hU enemies out of the
country . That is what I call sound constitutional doctrine —( a voice in the crowd , so do I);—and here am I , after an eighteen months' imprisonment , for its advocscy , ready to advocate the same doctrine apain . ( Loud clapping of hands . ) "But , O ! " cries the Whig fcpy , "ilr . O'Brien ' s language was sumdeat to alarm her Majesty's peaceable subjects . ( The tone of voice in which ' peaceable' was pronounced produced roars of laughter . ) Nothing of the kind ; I made them all a * merry as sky-laiks . " Oh . ' but you did alarm some persons , " they say . No doubt of it at all—every rogue in the country . ( Continued laughter . ) If a farmer goes out with his gun loaded with powder and shot to drive away the rooks stealing his crop , is the farmer to whom the field belongs to drive away those rooks , or
they are to drive away him—( universal laughter )?—and and if he knows how to do the former without alarming them , he is a great deal wiser man than I am . ( Renewed laughter . ) Well , then , if I did alarm any portioa of her Majesty ' s subjects , it was the worst portion of thea—that portion of them which should have been long transported beyond the seas for the term of their natural lives . ( Hear , and cheers . ) Alarm such of her Majesty ' s rabjects , indeed ! Have not I as much right to alarm tkem , as they to make acts of Parliament to alarm ycu and me . I mentioned this to the prosecutor , Mr . Dandas , and the judge , at Newcastle , and the counsel ; but as they did not succeed there , they sent me OTer to Liverpool , and from thence to Lancaster Castle , although no « ne ever went
away from any of my speeches alarmed ; although no breach of the peace ever occurred at them , or followed asy of them—they weut away under the impression that they had heard right principles , entitled to weight from every thinkiEg man in the community . But Mr . Dondas , said I , if I did alarm a few rogues , had I not as much right to Kike a speech to alarm them , as you have to make one to alarm me , for I never was so alarmed in all my life as I was by your opening speeches . Never was an article in the Times , against the Whig Government , when in Dowaing-street , the Whig Lord Chancellor , the ten Whig judges , or the three Whig ambassadors , without alarming them , — ( laughter , )—and still more would they have been alarmed if they knew that they were to have been taken up and prosecuted on a charge of wronefully
pockeiting ths public money . Is it not monstrous then , that such men should have the power of making criminals of others , when they themselves should have been placed iu the dock . It is the same ease now ; there is no difference between Whig and Tory . They have made a law proclaiming trial by jury , and that no man shall be trie ! but by a jury of his peers ; and yet , by the law , keeping a working man from being a juror . They had no right to make such a law ; I waa not tried by a jury of my pe « rs ; but by a Jury of that class , the tools of that odious and despised administration , the members of which , during the last nine yeare , have cast inta prison more of their fellowcreatures than any other . I was tried by twelve rich men ; cot by those who toil , " neither do they toil ,
neither do they spin , " yet they make others for them , " gather into bams " ( Applause . ) Now , my friends of Lancaster , so long aa the people have no v « ice in making the laws , and no share in administering the lairs . So long as they have no power over the magistrates who deal out those laws , they never , never , never will , as a class , be possessed of any property . In this country , England , Ireland , and Scotland , according , to the census just taken , there are twenty-seven millions of people . Out of these , there are full twenty millions whose property , when gathered together , after all their debt * had been token from it , wculd net leava beyond as much as wonid pay for a lawyer ' s wig . Now , if out of these twenty-seven millions , twenty millions make all the property , the devil ' s in it if they have not been
most egregiously humbugged by some one . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Now , no one will be a beggar , if he can help it ; no one ¦ mil work for another if he can help it ; no one will grow poor if he can help it The government says the people have not sufficient knowledge to be entrusted with political power . The Scriptures ray , " The people die because of their want of knowledge . " How does the British Government offer to teach the people ? By a prooass cf crooked w * y& . I wanted to make them equal to their rulers themselves by straightforward inaaxLs . ilv place , therefore , was in the House ot Commons , amongst the "Honourable Gentlemen , " and not in Lancaster Castle among thieves . ( Loud clapging of hand * . ) I have referred to Acts of Parliiment
' , on political economy to see what the landed interest ' , derive from the land . Were I to offer to enter into ¦ details now , I should keep you four times twenty-four : hours . But if yeu will just go back for eighty years you will find that rents were not then one-fourth of ' ¦ whit they are now . At present the amount is sixty millions . You will find , in like manner , that the i amount cf funded property has increased fourfold during the last forty years . The taxes in the eighty years have been quadrupled ; whilst in the same period ' ¦ the funded debt has been ssven tunes increased . The funded property increasing is only through the increase of the produce of your labour—30 also with regard to rents ; for each is the abstraction of what should be your funds : so with labour , your taxes increase , fcr
the Government vriil then have more palaces for them-: Belves , and more soldiers to put you down , if , after listening to their spies pint out to entrap you , you are unfortunately led into outrages , such * s at Bristol and I Nottingham , and into other " riots , tumults , insurreci tions , rebellions , " and so forth . ( Applause . ) Then j sgsin , the more wealthy tke rich , eo many more game-| keepers and tenters do they keep to administer solely I to their own gratifications and sport There are eight I thousand keepers , e-ich computed to hava two tentera , , to secure that gume to tLe aristocracy , which was i formerly any body ' s property , and food for any body . ! God Almighty h ^ u ^ ivtn it as such . But tbe aristol cracy made a lav , saying that no one should kill it but ' themselves ; and they gave the ugly name of " poacher " i to ssy poor fellow for merely doing that "which they ' did : if under that epithet a poor fallow "was brought up , i although in other rwp ~ cts he received the best cbarac-! ter that man ever rot , as sure as God made Moses .
: tae rsagrstrates ttguM transport him . ( Load ap-I p ' . ause and laughter . ) Then , again , there was the prej ventive service to ke ^ p the poor man from tasting a I foreign luxury . The local rates have increased four times -what they used to be—whilst less goea to the : relief cf the pi-yr , the rest goes to retain persons shut j rp in workhouse , while , \ rith ail his ext'itisns , the ' labouring man is daily becoming poorer . The lanel-| lord gives Eothirg as a quid pro quo . He does not give i JQ 3 your malt : the soldiers are cot cal ' cd out by . him to defend you , but oftener to shoot you . ( Hear . ) ¦ As ris is . r-1 is limited in extent , the landlord can i rn : ke it wiat lent he likes ; he can give it out in
ullotm-i / j , taking from the little farmers , wheia be tLcs driYes out of the country , to consolidate several small ones into one large one , and small fanners are thus sent into tbe towns to compete "with your labourite manufacturers , and this increases the landloids gros rental , for , cs the consequence of his sending the s . nali jankers , and their servants into the tovnis , in the lovering of wages , he makes manufactures cheaper ; and thus he gets out of thai cheapened produce of your labour , an increase to his income , by obtaining the same quantity of i / ood- t f or much lest money , or a viuch grea ' er quantity fur Vie same money , than he did forty years ago- This is , ih-2 co £ e with muslins and calicos , silks , and cottons , i If tho farmer , the tenant , gives them the Bame rent , the I iai . dioid' 8 income , by the depreciation in the price of 1 niauufactnred articles , will be increased ten-fold . It is ; the same with other articles in Birmingham , Shcfield , i and other places ; so that not only is the income of the
i lauJlerds , but also that of the fundlords increased—as j taxes have likewise increased ; the more you , tke pro-I duoers , have to pay , consequently tbe poorer ycu must j become . The fundholder has some advantage over the landlord , cot only as to his income increasing , but also as to the value of that income . In 1812 , if an individual held stock in the Three per Cents , he could only get £ 60 for it ; but if he sold out the same stock now , be oouid get £ 90 for it , so that he could get ss mnch money and a half for it But net only that , that money is increased twofold . Why ? because your labour has become cheaper , so that he can buy more of it for less money . This is property increased in one way , whilst Government increases it in another . These are the things -which I want to show the cotntry . I cannot enter into them new : I am only stating to you things into which , at some more fevturable time I hope I shall have an oppor-
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tunity of entering folly into an the minutiae . ( Hear . ) As machinery has : iqueMed ^ the potflfra ^ ment , \> J granting Acts of Parliament , has increased canals , railroads , mine * , and so forth , without the people baring tbe slightest property benefit in them . Woald that hare been , had they had a share in making the laws ? No ! not for a moment As the landlords bAre the power of making laws , the statute law ia tbe law of usurpation . They have also made the produce of the land smaller . Out of a farm of 500 acres , there is not bo much produced as there ued to be oat of one of fifty , which everybody knows . Large farmers employ as few hands as possible : and will throw their land into pasture for beeves , oxen , sheep , and -so forth . Bnt if the 500 acre farm
was divided into smaller ones , more woald necessarily be produced than bow , u more hands would be employed in their cultiTation ; consequently there wonld be a greater demand for yonr labour ; and then you will have better opportunities of making more faTourable tern \ B for yourselves with your employers . If a thousand persons ont of Manchester , Bolton , or Blackburn were on farms , they would be increasing food . But this chance for them has been knocked oa the head by the monopolist , and this great evil is increased by the money-monger . Speak of these things to the great farmer , it is nothing to him : through it , he supports his farm , for he aids in the great deadly competition in the towns ; and thus will th » evil continue increasing till you are completely ground down ,
which never could have taken plaoe , if a portion of you had been upon the land . It is the interest of every man who has money to keep down him who has none ; and this will go on , so long as tbe people have no share in the administration , producing riots , tumults , disturbances , insurrections , and rebellions , until the poor man is as rotten as Mark Anthony . ( Hear . ) If 2 lt men out of employment go into a town , where 200 men are employed belonging to that town , wages always become lower , for ihey who have entered the town must consent to take under wages , kefore they who have money in their pockets will engage them . Every man who owns money has a deep-rooted interest in cheapening labour , consequently in cheapening whatever labour can produce , and why
do you stand in this predicament ? It is because you have no power in making the laws , that jou have no property . What a damning piece of impudence then it is for the scoundrel money-mongera to say " you shall have no Toi& ia the legislation , because you have no property . " That beats Bannagan , as Bannagan beats the d 6 vil . ( Cbeers and laughter . ) The right of the people to vote is admitted , but then the Govern ment rays they have not intelligence enough to be entrusted with that power . Why , from the oppression of the laws you are left little enough to obtain food to eat , much less to have any wherewith to educate your children . ( Applause . ) But then if you buconie possessed of a certain amount of property , however uneducated you are , you can vote . I deny the right of
property to qualify a man to vote . The most ignorant man amongst you has intelligence enough to vote at an ejection . The ri ? ht of property does not give it—a man knows his friend from his foe—he knows when he goes up to the poll for whom he intended to vote , and whether the name of Jem Thempson or Tom Styles is the most fit fer the ballot-box , for without acy political knowledge he knows that one man is wiser tb » g another man . If your wife or child be ill , without having studied maieria medica , or pharmacopoeia , you find out a good doctor from a quack . In this town , though a Btranger , I could soon find tut the good lawyer from the bad one , and the good master from the bad one . I could soon get in a list of the pinch-paupers , wko would shave a mouse
asleep and a cat awake , a cow-headed bog or a devil . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Some of you could famish me with the list You know who are the clever men . Now you think me clever among the Chartists ; but I am not so : but supposing I am , then you know many things which I don't know ; yet if opposed to pinch pauper—a Poor-Law scoundrel , you would choose rue instead of him—not for my sake , but your own . You would be great fools if you did not As want of knowledge does not prevent you from finding out a good doctor , the not knowing bow to draw out Acts of Parliament would not prevent you from selecting a clever man as your representative . The moment you elect me for Lancaster , if you should do bo , I will Btand by you , and would go up to the House and face those
half hypocritical scoundrels who reject a Ten Hours ' Factory Bill , and in tho next breath tell you to go tu Cnurch and believe all that the parson says . ( Laughter . ) Tnen again look at those setting up to instruct the country , Brougham , Birkbeck , and Knight The doctar talks about the increase of the capital of the country . He says , " tho more the stock in the country , the more tbe capital "—the more means he should have said to increase the despots of the country . He tells the people , too , in a letter , when there is a greater demand for labour than can be supplied , lor them to go out of the labour , and turn capitalists I recommends men , who have not a penny to buy s red herring with , to turn capitalists ! ! ( Great laughter ) Another dissemination of intelligence is the Penny Magaaine , and what
does that consist of ? How high is the ball of St . Paul ' s in London , and how much higher ia the dome of St Peters at Rome^—what ' s the extent of the parish of Laguana in Jamaica—what ' s the distance from the base to the > top of the Andes—what waj tbe difference between a camel and a dromedary : bow tbe first hod got two bumps on its back , and the latter but one ? It stated how spiders had been lately discovered making diving bells ia the sea in tine weather—how the kangaroo hopped on ita hind legs , and in time of iianger took its young into its paunch—how a caterpillar before changing had eighteen legs , but that when it became a butterfly it had only ten ; but with all the cleverness of writers they cannot discover what becomes of the other six . Now , is it not enough to make a Quaker
kick his mother , or a parson swear like a trooper at such trumpery trash . ( R » ars of laughter , ) And , this too , called educating the people . ( Hear . ) Why Chartism h&s only made a partial way in enlightening the people in true political knowledge , has been through want of union in the leaders . [ After having gone thus far at full length , necessity forces a generalization ] Mr . O'Brien , in proceeding , stated that he could have been elected at Newcastle by 11 , 000 against either of the present members if he had . the necessary qualification : that either of them just as much represented the men of Newcastle as he did the Great Mogul . It was not till the reign of Henry VI . that any property qualification \ ras introduced ; and there was never any going to the poll , unless the show of hands was so nearly
balanced that a preponderating majority could not be determined on . and then they went to the poll ; that was to count heads . As to Mr . Ord ( said Mr . O'Brien ) , although not a bad hearted man , was amply different in the head . In the House be was called the silent member ; and , as Sir Robert Peel had said of the late Chancellor , if he attempted ts look for brains , or ideas for a speech , be would find himself fishiBg in a bottomless sea of deficiency . There was one most important point upon which 11 r . O'Brien most anxiously dwelt , considering it the very life-breath of Chartism . He wanted four hundred of the best men in the couutry to ba elected as the representatives : then for them to meet in some central place , suck as Manchester , being vested with full plenipotentiary powers to act ou
behalf of their kody . They shall proceed with petitions to the House of Commons as times should call forth . If fivd hundred thousand of the people would then stand by them , they could speak out a good old-faahibned constitutional language to the different members . If it were thought not necessary for so many to go , the project wculd be given up , and the business be transacted by a petitioning body . He was of opinion that all other labour ought to be givm up U look after so great a national regeneration . If the Chartists followed this -will-o ' -the-wisp and that -will-o ' -the-wisp —if their leaders were not indissolubly united , whatevtr exirtions were made , or plan * 1-j . iil down , they would Etver succeed , ilr . O'Brien then described his imprisonment , as lie sat upon a three-legged stool , made
of part of ft gallows , and his c ^ -ll was the oiie in which convicted murderers used to be placed . He then asserted it waa class legial-ition that waa the country ' s bane . He was able to prove tLat under a just system of laws , such aa the people wouid make for themselves , every man could get the comforts ot life by fair and moaerate labour . He complained of monopolies , especially of raiireads , which would be a tax of ten per cent , upon the country . Since the pvoptistors vrere protected by Act of Parliament , only certain persons were benofitted by them . If they pay the Companies ten per cent , they could have paid the Government , and then all classes would havs been benefitted . He begged of no one to go away under the impression that he wished to say cr even to
insinuate that they had a right to take away a man ' s property , even , by law . ( Hear , hear . ) He advocated no Agrarianisni . If he had the assisting in making laws as to propcity iha richest mau in the country should remain hi undisturbed possession of hLs wealth : bat as soon aa his breata Y ? as out o fhis body , then ail his estates , whether land , funds , or bank stock , should be brought into the market to ba sold . His heirs should get for the property what in the market it would bring ; but it ( the property itself . should go to government By his plan every man in the community would be comfortable ^—not rich . he would shew men how to got bread by honest means , without grinding their fellow-men down . He was willing to protest that they who have all the wealth , he cared not how disignated whether as money in the funds , bank stock , or whatever it might be called , ( though there was no sues things in ancient times , for the Pope would have
excomumnicattd the possessors for usury ) should keep it ; but he should not be allowed to add any more to it At present , a person having £ l 0 , 00 » stock in Threadneedle-street , receives it back again every twenty years . The national debt was one hundred and forty years old . The first lenders got fiva per cent , upon their loan : and they to -whom they Bold it also gets five per cent bringing back the criginial Bum every lwenty years j so that what was borrowed one hundred aad forty years ago has been paid seven times over ! and this too by a government borrowing money without the consent of the people . It was not until Henry Till ths time that there were no laws against usury ; bo it appeared that if one Parliament made a law , ii was not inviolable but that another might alter it In conclusion , with glowing animation Mr . O'Brien said , "Although for wishing that a ruffian Parliament might turn to tbe ¦ w ays of humanity , the laws of God , and the causa of common sense , I haTe been sent to Lancaster Castle . Ho GoTernmeot , however , shall pat ma down , not
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make me bead the knee at the shrine of Mammon . CraeIftyrtBtS ' mayT ) ros « Birt , an * base traitors be sent to corrupt , but Tfrtue and courage protect themselTes . ( Loud eheen . ) My kind friends of Lancaster , for I hope yon will allow me to call you bo , your act ef this night sweeps away from my mind the terdiot of the Jary , and obliterate * for ever from ray heart the sorrow it occasioned—deep-seated joy is now beating there instead ; for yon haTe proved to me that liberty is imperishable ; and that each surrounding day she is more loudly called npon ; on ^ at las t she will come , rejoicingly , to overshadow onr land with her « now-white wiagftV' After thanking tbi company , Mr . O'Brien sat down amidst deafening cheers and clapping of hands . Mr . John Harbison moTed the seconded tbe resolution : — ¦¦ ••• ¦ - ¦ : ¦ . ¦
"It is the opinion of this meeting that tbe misery , destitution , poverty , and slavery endured by the industrious millions of this country is caused by claas legislation ; and the only effectual means of removing these evils from amongst us , is , by making the principles contained in the People ' s Charter the law of the land ; and that tbe . tbanka of this meeting are due , and hereby given to Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., the dungeon-prsof patriot , and all the other brave man who have suffered imprisonment for advocating the the cause of the poor oppressed ; and we pledge ourselves to give them all the assistance in onr power until the principles of universal liberty be firmly established as the iawa of the British nation . " Mr . Wm . Fothergill seconded it , and it was carried by acclammation .
Mr . Beaoley , delegate from Accrington , then spoke very effectively . He condemned the Tories to perdition , and said that he would rather go to the bottomless pit , to rake up one of the vilest of its imps , to send into Parliament , sooner than vote for a Tory . No corrupt GoTernment should ever pat him down , for he would stand up the advocate of liberty , uniTersal liberty , to his last hour . He then ranged < rrer the points of tbe Charter , with the principles of which the readers of the Charter are by this time so familiar , that it is not necessary to follow the worthy delegate . He was loudly cheered at the conclusion , as well as frequently daring his very excellent speech .
Mr . O'Brien then arose , a » d most feelingly exhorted the Chartists not to be entrapped into overt acts , such as had taken place at Nottingham and Bristol , through the infernal machinations of Government spies , who were sent oat under the guise of friends , to lead the people into outrage , so that a pretext might be given for butchering them , whilst gagging bills , and other measures , were passed to enslave them . Thanks being given to Mr . Lund , for his able conduct in the chair , the meeting broke up . The room throughout the proceedings was crowded almost to suffocation .
Although long confinement has evidently much debilitated Mr . O'Brien , the friends of the noble uncompromising patriot will be glad to hear that his spirits are as good as ever ; his courage is uBsubdued ; bis mind seemingly , if possible , more activo ; and his determination to battle even unto death , until the People ' s Charter becomes the law of the land , indomitable . Oh ! it is a glorious sight thus to behold the Heavencalled leaders of tbe people with renewed energies and resolution . Sir Robert has succeeded Lord John . But let him turn away with indifference at the presentation of tbe people ' s petition for the Charter , and his downfall from that moment is doomed ; and he and his party shall stink in tbe nostrils of men . From thence Tories and Toryism are banished the Kingdom for ever , whilst their very names shall- become a bye-word and Bcotn amongst men .
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GRAND CHAETIST DEMONSTRATIONS . O'CONNOR AT MANCHESTER . In the last week ' s Star we reported at great length the interesting proceedings of the Chartists of Birmingham in doing honour to tho man of the people ' s choice—Feargus O'Connor . This week we nave a repetition of his triumphant progress , if possible on a greatly extended scale at Manehester ; in face , the oldest man living remembers not a scene even in that important town equal to what was presented on Monday last . In proceeding to narrate the occurrences of the day we must begin at the beginning , and not omit due honour to even a country village , occupying , as it did on that day , the post of pioneer to one of the most glorious demonstrations ever held ; and proceeding thus , we first notice the
PUBLIC BREAKFAST AT ECCLES . Mr . O'CoNUoa was met at Eccles at ten o ' clock in the morning , at which place he arrived by railway-train , by hundreds of the brave lads of that village . The bridge at the railway station was crowded to excess , and no sooner was the wellknown form of the noble patriot recognised , than a shout which rent tbe air was raised ; the cheering was continued throughout his entire route to the Hare aud Houads Ino , in the most enthusiastic inanoer , and it was indeed a sight calculated to inspire tho coldest hoart , when O'Connor , surroundad by a host of the recently liberated patriots , was hailed as the head of al ) . Au excellent band of music was in attendance which struck up the air , "Sao the conquering herocomee , " and the whole mass formed into procession , accompanied by the banners and music .
The breakfast waa provided by Mr . Catterall , the worthy host of tho Hare and Hounds , upon whom it reflected not onl y credit but absolute honour . It was a most substantial repast , and was served up in a style , which few even of the first-rate houses eould excel , and all without tho slightest confusion . The number of tickets sold amounted to nearly two hundred and the discussion of the good things occupied the party nearly two hours . During this time , tho band paraded the village , and a commodious hustings having been erected , thousands were assembled to hear O'Connor ' s address . It had rained heavily during ihe night , ' but tho day was beautifully fine aud the scene exhilarating .
Mr . O'Brien arrived at half-past eleven o ' clock by the train from Preston ; the appearance of the " schoolmaster" o » ce more " abroad , " called forth renewed plaudita . Wo were sorry to observe that he was in a very delicate state of health , and had a care-worn appearances ; his spirit , however , is unbroken , and his scholars are threatened with the terrors of his tongue , if they do not progress rapidly in their educatioii . The fault will be none of his , ii they do not know how to agitate for their rights . At twelve o'clock , Mr . O'Connor and the other patriots , accompanied the Eccles Chartists to the hustings , and Mr . Wm . Norris was unanimously called to tho chair .
The Chairman said be would not detain them from the pleasure of hearing the addresses of those patriots who were about to speak , further than to congratulate them upon the glorious rise and progress of the principles of Chartism in Eccles , and on tho numbers then assembled in honour of tho brave O'Connor and his worthy compatriots . Mr . George Lindsay said he was happy to have the opportunity of meeting so goodly au assembly as he saw before him on the present occasion , when they were met to do honour to those who bad sacrificed their liberty in defence of thc-ir principles—principles which he hoped ali present were determined to assist in carrying out . ( Hour , hear , hair . ) He regretted his inability to do justice to the nierita of
thoBe brave , uioss noble patriots , by whom he was surrounded ; but though be was at a loss for words to express his feelings , he would yield to no man in zeal and determination in the promotion of that cause in which they were engaged , and in the success of which they all felt so warm an interest . ( Cheers . ) He hoped that all would see the propriety of uniting heart and hand in encouraging those who had suffered persecution and prosecution for the sake of the cause ; and that they would come forward and lend a willing hand in obtaining the Charter . ( Cheers . ) They would then have no cause for furthur agitation—tbe way would be paved for good government , and equal justice to each and to all . An address had been prepared to present to the patriots , the adaption of which he had great pleaiure in moving , and which he read , as follows : —
Most Noble and undaunted Patriots , —We , the Chartists o lEcele-s , and surrounding districts , meet you on the present important occasion with hearts full of gratitude and esteem for having the moral courage to brave storms and persecutions of Whig tyranny , with that Bpirit of fortitude , seal , and determination , which becomes you as honest and disinterested philanthropists . It is not our intention of pointing out the many proofs of your sincerity and attachment in advocating the cause of suffering humanity , which is apparent to
every lever of his species , and which would take volumes to do justice to your worth . Suffice it to say , that you have nobly and manfully defended our rights , and for so doing , have suffered Whig vengeance and persecution unparalleled iu the history of this onr oppressed country . While you « r bodies were entombed in the loathsome and silent dungeon , your spirits soared aloft to cammune with those of former ages , in order to restore peace and comfort to the industrious peas » t , and wrest frcm our tyrants' grasp those rights and privileges which God gave to man in the beginning , as " a punishment for his disobedience .
Yes ! noble patriots , you have sacrificed everything dear to your physical enjoyments in the search after comforts to the human family ; but , thank God ! you are now nmongBt us once more , to cheer « s on in the gf ^ od work of human redemption . We , therefore , heartily congratulate you « n your return to breathe the fresh air of heavon ; hoping yon will live to erjoy many happy days under the Charter tree of liberty , and sincerely thanking you for your past services , having fall confidence in your future ooune , we are determined , at all hwswlB , to give you oar aa-
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dlvlded support in all your constitutional endeavours , until the whole Ckarter , and nothing less than the Charter , crowns as with success . We remain . Noble Patriots ,-Yours , in the cause of freedom , In Dthalf of the National Charter Association , ( Signed ) Georgh LiNDSAT , Sub-Secretary . The addrew was beautifully written on an embossed sheet of paper , and was neatly edged with green ribbon and decoroted with the portraits of O'Connor and O'Brien . Mr . David Morrison , in a few words , seconded the address , which was put by the Chairman , and carried unanimously amidst tremendous cheering . The Chairman said that Feargus O'Connor , the celebrated * advocate of the people ' s rights and popular Eberty , weald next address the meeting .
Mr . O'Connor , in coming forward , was received with enthusiastic cheering . On its subsiding , ho said , Mr . Chairman and brother Chartists of Eccles , I think I now stand in & better position than does Sir Robert Peel , the Prime Minister of England . ( Hear . ) He te only a quack called in by a faction to care their disorders ; bit I stand here with my diploma —[ exhibiting the Eocles address . ]—and called in by the men pf Eccles to cure their disorders . ( Laughter . ) Now , without saying one word about the sacrifices which 1 have made , as stated in the address , which I deny ; but if I had , the expressions in thU document is my best reward . ( Hear . ) When I came amongst you at first , I found very few adults advocating the principles of the Charter , bat that you were split into sections and
factions ; bat what did I find this morning?—not only the congregation of men grown grey in the good cause , but a youth , a mere strippling , addressing yon upon the principles of democracy . ( Hear . ) I listened to a portion of his observations with some interest ; and to one thing I beg to differ , which was , that when the Charter became the law of tbe land , that we should have neither Btanding army , Hor police . Now , when the Charter is passed , every man will become a sort of national soldier , and the sons of placemen and statesmen would receive promotion acaccording to their merits—( hear ) , —and that policemen woald be the first to promote tho peace of their country instead of breaking it ( Hear , hear . ) It is one of the tactics of a gaod general , before he storms a
garrison , to get possession of tLe outposts ; and really , if Manchester was backward in the good cause , which , thank God , is not the cose , why , 1 should certainly take it from the Eocks side , and fall back upon some of the other villages near thereabouts . ( Cheering . ) In those villages fortunately for us the enemy has not got so valuable a footing even with the aid of their splendid bouses . There are plenty of huts ; and may be they will pass into one of those huts , and from thence into the workhouse yet ( Laughter and hear . ) Bat they begin to smell a rat They have no objections to the Charter . ( Hear . ) " Oh no , " they eay , " we have no objection to the Charter , not we , indeed , provided we can derive more benefit from the working classes , than by means of the Charter . " ( Hear , hear , and That's
true . ) The working classes have now been robbed by both the Whig and Tory factions ; and the working people now come forward and say , " all that we waut is , to let all classes live honestly and at peace . " ( Much cheering ) We do not want vrar—we do not desire bloodshed—we do not threaten violence . AU that we want is Universal Suffrage . ( Hear , hear . ) Yet , those whose rights we wish to share , would , after all , have recourse to physical force rather than yidd up any of their monopoly . They have thrown you upon your ewn resources ; and I suppose the workhouse is the next thing . ( Hear . ; They have picked the bones aud then they say that the Chartists may come in and pick them—just a day after the fair . ( Laughter . ) God has left us sufficient for our wauts , if all of you had what
belongs to you , I mean common justice and honesty ; and in advocating which , there are not many who have suffered more than myself . ( No , no . ) But we must all be bref . 1 have got to speak agaiu to day : I have also to address the people of Manchester , Leeds , and Sheffield ; and therefore I'd better save my breath to cool my porridge with there . ( Laughter . / Besides , there are others who wish to say something to you , in respect to the address . As fur myself , the assembly I see before me , will , it' I have been at all short , propel me to greater exertions . 1 advise you to look 10 tne corn and tne chuff , and to getrid of the chaff as soon us may be . You all know about slippery Bobby . Welt- ; now , we would not take the Russell purge , and I am sure you will never swallow tbu Peel elixir . ^ Cheurs and laughter . ) When 1 was in the House of Commons th « other day , I thought I never saw such a set—regular
nincompoops—considerably worse than those who sat in the House when 1 was a member . ( Hear . ) Peel knows very well that although he may butly the Whigs ; that it is of no use bullyiag us . We ara not rnadt ) of that sort of stuff It is a remarkable fact , and to the credit of the Chartists be it spoken , that out of nearly SUO persons incarcerated by the Whigs for advocating the People ' s Charter , we have not had a single traitor . Will not this convince them of the righteousness of our cause . But we see plenty of traitors both amongst the Tory and Whig factions —( tear )—yes , Wakity , the Coroner , has turned traitor . We Chartists do not intend to commit suicide , so that we snail not want the services of Mr . Waklcy for an inquest ; but both the Whig aud Tory factions may commit self destruction and therefore may require Wakley , the Coroner . ( Applause and hear . ) We have turned out the Whigs , and the IVries have succeeded them until we have an
opportunity of turning them out also . ( Hear . ) Our struggle is the cause of the suffering millions—it is the cause of right against might ; it is the causa of the blistered hands , the fustian jackets , and the unshorn chins . ( Cheers . ) Yeu have only to fee determined—to be united—and the Charter is ours . What man dare do for your cause , I dare ; I cannot say more ; and wherever you go , I will go with you . ( Hear , hear . ) That I suppose is all you want , and I will go for whatever you want We vf ant the Charter for every male of sound mind , at tbe age of 21 . Tbis is what we want , and we will not give way one single inch . United , together we stand—divided we fall . ( Cheers . )
My brother Chartists , there are other individuals named in the address , and therefore I must retire and make room for them . So my friends , I , mu 3 t conclude ; bat before doing so I must again congratulate you that we have defeated the Whigs , and we have now got our feet upon them . ( Hear , and hurrah . ) We have provided their coffins and laid them decently in ; at any rate they cannot now get into our pockets . ( Hear and laughter . ) But wind what I eay ; the Chartists will also put down the Tories . We will then pui them under the Whigs , aud if the weight of the Whigs won't keep even the d—1 down , why then I am no judge . ( Much laughter , which was succeeded by reiterated hurrahs , amidst which Mr . O'Connsr retired .
Mr . Benbow was received with loud cheers . He thanked them cordially for tho proof of their affection conveyed in ths address which had been just read , and hoped ever to ra-. tit their confidence . In the course of a few brief but excellent observations , Mr . Benbow contrasted the condition of the mass ai the people with that of their oppressors , and ably exposed the iniquity of class legislation , to the existence of which tbe evil was mainly to be ascribed . The rich oppressor enjoyed everything in abundance , white the poor oppressed , who toiled and produced everything , were clothed with rags , and were on the very verge of starvation . But the day was not fax distant when Englishmen would be free . They had already betn taught how they were to obtain their liberties , aad , with G-od ' s blessing on the means , they would not long be deprived of their enjojment . ( Cheers . ) If th 9 working classes were not happy it was their own faults ; they alone were to blame if they became indifferent to their own rights
and liberties . Ho should be ashamed of them if they did not work out their own political redemption . ( Cheers . ) The time was not distant when they must have a national holiday ; but it must be general , not partial . It must not be a ' . oue a holiday at Manchester and Eccles , but throughout the whole land , from tha ctntre even to the circumference . Their honour as well as their happiness was involved-in the issue , and he called on them to make their voices heard . He asked them if they were prepared to go with him , to he ! p him by the sacrifice of one day to gain the Charter of universal liberty . If they were determined , so was he , but he would not work with a traitor ; they must have none of them . If they were willing to help him in this , he called upon them to hold up their hands . ( A forest of " blisters' , " was at once elevated . ) He thanked them for that ; he sincerely and hsartily thanked them not only for the address which they bad presented to him , but for their determination to bafree . ilr . Benbow retired amidst loud cheew .
The Rev . Mr . Jackson , of Manchester , was next announced , and was received with great cheering . He said that along with the preceding speakers he thanked them cordially and sincerely for the address in which his came was associated . He agreed with his friend Beabow iu the propriety of a general national holiday , and hoped they would never cease their agitation till the Charter becamo the law of the land . The greatest enemies against which they had to contend were the ministers of the Gospel ;—( bear , hear , )—and to bring them to , he advised them to stop the supplies , and they would soon either be driven from their pulpits , or be led to join the ranks of the people . ( Hear , hear . ) He called upon them to unite as one man . He had come out to advocate the Charter , and he was prepared , if necessary , to lay down his life in the cause . The speaker retired amidat great cheering . Mr . John Barker cordially thanked them for including his name In the list of patriots .
Mr . Whebleh , the aged veteran of Manchester , returned thanks on behalf of hia son-in-law , John Livesey , who , though present was so very modest that he dare not show his face . ( Loud cheers and laughter . ) Mr . T > xviD Moiunso * , alter a few brief remarks proposed the following resolution : — " That this meeting is of opinion thai justice will never be done to this country until the whole people be faithfully represented in the Commons' House of Parliament ; and that we pledge ourselves never to cease agitating in the glorious work we have began until our exertions have been crowned with success , by the Charter , the whole Charter , aad nothing lest than the Charter becoming the law of the tend . " : **• Shbiebb seconded fte resolution , and Bald , that had there been move time ho had intended to »
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have administered a little wholesome advice to ttrtr dear friends , the middle classes , particularly some of the publicans , who reviled the Chartists , and applied to them all kinds of opprobrious epithets , mailagtheni thieves and firebrands . If , h « wever , they would coma forward and meet him , be would endeavour to convince them , by fair argument , that the Chartists were in the right ( Hear and cheers . ) He . congratulated them on their noble position , and hoped they were determined to join hand in hand ; and stand side by aide until they obtained the Charter . ( Cheers . )
Mr . O'Brien , who had only arrived a short time before , here came forward , evidently labouring under declining health . He was received with tremendeoi cheers , and addressed the assembly in very few words , expressive of his pleasure at meeting them ; tint , because it was a proof that he waa not a prisoner ; second , because he saw they were glad to aee him ; and thirdly , because he saw before him so many happy faces—a sight to which he had long been a stranger , aa within the dungeon walls there were few happy fcces to be seen . He rejoiced in the opportunity which waa afforded , to him of returning thimfcg foi the excellent address which had bees presented , and congratulated them on the noble position they had in so short a time attained , and which he had so doubt they wonld impreve . He retired amidst cheers .
Mr . Wm . Guthrie proposed that ' the thanks of the meeting be given to the joint friends of Manchester and Salford , for the assistance they had given , and the attention they had paid to the interests of the Eccles Chartists , since they had formed their Association , The resolution was seconded by Mr . Shearer , and unanimously carried . ' " Three times three hearty cheers were then given for Frost , Williams , and Jones , and , after a few observa tions from Mr . Bond , of Chester , thanks were proposed to the Chairman , and the meeting broke up .
Mr . O'Connor , Mr . O'Brien , Mr . Benbow , and the Rev . Mr . Jackson , then entered an open carriage , which had been prepared for them by the Manchester friends and the procession having been formed , it proceeded beaded by the Eccles band of music , towards Manchester . The Eccles men had provided several banners which were carried in the procession , the men walking four abreast , and extending a considerable length . The curiosity of all classes on the road was very great , and the patriots were everywhere received with the greatest courtesy . Amongst the mottos on the Eccles flags we noticed the following : —
" More pigs and less parsons . " "The People ' s Charter ; it is built npon justice , and against which the gates of hell and the world shall never prevail . " " Universal Suffrage , Annual Parliaments , and Equitable Adjustment ;" Aai en the obverse side" Repeal of the New Poor Law Bill . " Down , down with class legislation , Wherever it reigns it ' s a curse to the nation , " - " For a nation to be free , it is sufficient that she wills it . ' " " Middle classes ! make common cause with the industrious millions , and give freedom to your country . ' " Equal rights an * equal laws for all classes . " ' The memory of Emmett , and those who have died for * the cause . " " Frost , Williams , and Jones most be free . "
According to the arrangements of the Demonstration Committee , the Manchester procession formed in Steven * son ' B-square , where the different trades contributed their numbers towards the immense throng which moved by a route laid down by the marshals and under whose direction they were led through the crowded streets . About two o ' eleck , the procession met the one from Eccles at the Crescent , Salford . The scene was here almost without parallel in the history of Manchester , both for denseness and enthusiasm . The demonstrators , on catching a glimpse of either Mr . O'Connor or Mr . O'Brien , wormed their way to the carriage as fast as they could ; and greeted tbe patriot ! with warm and fervid congratulations . Nor where the fair ones behind the sterner sex in their anxiety to tender
their tribute of partiality , and respect , and confidence in the wearer of tha suit of fustian , and his equally consistent compatriot O'Brien . The presentation of several young Fearguses to the devoted leader , by their enthusiastic parents was no less amusing than interesting ; and the congratulatory part of the business was co& siderably heightened by the oft repeated and cordial cheering which sprung from different parts of the Manchester procession . The processions having united , they proceeded on their prescribed route towards Manchester ; and in its progress , was like a saowbalL which gathered by its motion , until the numbers were
to us absolutely incalculable , and its length may be imagined whan we state that it occupied twenty-five minutes in passing a certain point , a great number of vehicles bringing up the rear . It was indeed a noble sight to behold ; and worthy of such a cause . Even the balconies , turrets , windows , and house-tops were all crowded with persons anxious to satisfy themselves of the bona-fide existence of the patriots , after so long a p « riod of incarceration in gleomy dungeons ; and « 13 the tributary applauses reached the ears o £ those gentlemen in the carriage , Mr . OC » nhor , in his usual courteous manner , acknowledged tho compliment very frequently , with
" A spirit yet unquelled and high , That claims and keeps ascendency . " The procession moved along Salford , over Victoria bridge , by the Exchange , up Market-street , through Piccadilly , London-road , up Travis-street , down Ancotes-lane , and Lever-street , into Stevensons-square Of the number of those amongst the flags and emblems borne by the " blistered hands , " were tho following : Emblem of unity—A bundle of sticks . Three national flags—The harp , rose , and thistle . A green silk banner of the calico printers , bearing the motto , "Union is strength ;" Reverse : — " United we stand : divided we falL " Another green , silk fl ^ g : — Motto , — " Labour is the source of all wealth . " Beneath which was painted , The rose , shamrock , and thistle . Reverse side : — " Liberty and equality
Luge green silk banner , bearing the bricklayer's coat of arms . Bricklayers four-a-breast Another large and splendid banner representing a man falling from a scaffolding of a building , ove « which was written " The accidental burial society . " The Chorlton-upon-Medlock Band . White flag— " May they who make the chains of slavery ever want employment , '' surmounted by a cap of liberty . Men four-a-breast Splendid green silk velvet banner , white border , "Fustian cutters , " large gold letters . Motto— " Improvement association ; United wo coLquer , divided we fall . " A stage was erected upon a cart to bear this banner . Large green silk
flag" For a nation to ce free it is sufficient that ske wills it " Splendid highly-executed painting , representing the three Welsh Patriots in full length , bearing their names in gold letters . Reverse , the Six Points of the Charter . Large scarlet flag of the Royal Arms of England . A blue banner of the operative dyers of Salford and Manchester , and their coats of arms . Beautiful green siJk flag , geld letters , —National Charter Association . This was succeeded byau elegant flag from Glossoft bearing the following inscription : 1 ' The Charter , the bulwark of English liberty . " On tha reverse : — " Freedom ' s battle once begun , Bequeathed from bleeding sire to son , Though baffled oft , is ever won . "
Blue silk banner , carried in a cart , " Prosperity to the productive classes , the foundation of a nation ' s greatness . " Ancient Foresters' band . Banner— " Fxost , Williams , and Jones . " Reverse— "Universal Suffrage , Annual Parliaments , and Vote by Ballot" ' Men—funr a ^ east Droylsden band . Green silk banner , bearing the Six Points of the Charter upon it A large white banner— " Welcome to the patriots ; may . they see the sons of industry prosperous and free . " On the reverse— " Universal Suffrage and the other pointa of the Charter . " A variety of small banners . Manchester concert band . A young Feargus on horseback , carrying a smell & 4 >
with the names o iFearjjus O'Connor , Frost , and other patriots . Large flag , commemorating the deeds at Petetloo . A splendid oifpainting of Feargus O'Connor , with Henry Hunt pointing from to clouds , and giving him the folle-wiDg charge"Welcome , Feargaa ! thou hast been found faithful ; now lead my people on to victory . " Reverse— " National Charter Association . " Large banner . Motto— " Universal Suffrage and no surrender . " Reverse— " We have set our lives upon the cast ; s > & we will stand the hazard of the die . " Large green flig . Motto— " The husbandman that laboureth shall be fiw pirtaker of the fruits ; uni he that will not walk neither shall he eat The Charter and no surrender . " Reverse— " Down with every faction that is opposed *»
the tights and liberties of the people . " Here followed a variety of small flags and baansft bearing appropriate inscriptions . " Flag— " More pigs and less parsons . " Large highly finished oil painting of Bronterre O'Brfeo . with his name in letters of gold , represent * sitting in his library , with "The Poor Mss * Guardian" in bis hand . On the reverse was—" cling to this transitory life only through my 1 <> of country ana my thirst fer justice . The ni « eager the monster to terminate my career nert below , tbe stronger do I tetl the necessity of fillitf up every hour that remains to me with actions ua * f aJ to my f ellow creatures . " ( OonHuued in our Htmth pagt . )
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Untitled Article
6 THE NORTHERN STAR . . ¦ — — , — ; " - - ¦ — . -. *
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 2, 1841, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct569/page/6/
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