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TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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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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My well belotkd Fbiends , —After such » week of ag itation , such as I have never experienced in the eonrse of aj life * I at down to give you & digested re port of my Scotch tour . Yon shall hear nothing bat the plain and simple truth from me . On Saturday , the 9 th , I armed at Greenock , at t ^ o o'dook , after a Tery boisterous passage . I jtouJd say thai I W * Lond <» at sax o ' clock on Friday morning . I am a Tery bad sailor , and was Tery HL However , as you h » Te learned from the o ar and Scottish Patriot all about the Glasgow and
G reenock Demonstrations , I shall pass them orer , gimply remarking thai the demonstration at Glasgow is admitted by all , aaTe the Whig press , to hare keen by far the largest meeting erer witnessed on fce Green ; and if jou wish for proof , yoa hare it in the fact that the Whig papers gave to the jpDorAix , White , and Collins' demonstration ^ 00 , while the same Teritable organs gave our DDjnbers on Monday last at from 10 , 000 to 12 , 000 . Ii was a glorious sight , and no pen caa do it justice . The fools are compelled to admit that the Soiree in tie evening was " fpknt&i , " " brilliant / 3 "
migjsificent . " Just imagine 2 , 700 persons sitting down to a Chartist banquet . Two thousand- fire fcnadr&d tickets were sold , and about 200 more of delegates and anxious friends were subsequently admitted' The arrangements were perfect , the sentiments roasing , and the speeches of the first order ; bat that which justly elicited the most jppl&cse was , the presentation of an address and a very valuable diamond ring , by three lovely girls of Slb Chartist Association . The manner in which Miss Moir read the address , and subsequently enforced the necessity o perseverance , drew tears
BTM 1 tUJtJ aJSvCSJS- ¦ I now pass on to the Greenock Soiree , of which I find yon hare not had a report . It was held in the Heeh&nics' Hall , a spacious building , erected by the working men , and into which they have just introduced about £ 7 v 0 worth of rateable books . Abont 7 M of the working and middle classes sat down : the house woald hold no more . It was a splendid treat ; and neTer was there a more brilliant speech made than that deliTered by John M'Crae , M . P . for Greenock ; the whole wa 3 most glorious .
On Wednesday morning a deputation of the ship car penters waited upon me to say tha . t Mr . Scott , a Bister builder , had turned off 200 of his hands for attending the demonstration on the preTious day . He told them to go to Mr . O'Connor for ~ ork . I in quired wkat he was , and was told that he was a banker ; and I also learned that the society of carpenters kad £ 500 ii ) his bank , and could probably muster about £ 500 more of his notes among them . I told them to go with my compliments , and Bay that I regretted not being able to find permanent workfor them , but that I had given them a jjb , to get gold for their £ 1000 of his rags . This seemed to be approied of generally ; and I have since learned that i sovereign in Greenock is thosg ' at to be as valuable » s one of Mr . Scott ' s notes .
On Wednesday I went to Paisley , tha most distressed » wn in Great Britain ; and there we had a aafuifieeut meeting in the Old Low Church , the largest building in the town , which wa 3 crammed to suffocation , thousands having gone away disappointed . Mr . Thomason , the people ' s representafcre , was ia the chair ; our Chartist resolutions jrere unanimously passed ; an address was presented to Q 9 from the inhabitants , and also one from tie Chartists of EldenJie , the birth place of
"Wallace . The proceedings went off in the cost pleasing manner . At eight o ' clock , we had * Terj spieadid soiree at the great Exchange Rooms , which was densely crowded . Aboat 800 sat down . Sink ing of patriotic songs and good speaking , with music and soul-stirring recitations , kep ; U 3 till between twelve and one o ' clock , when we parted in high spirits at our prospect of speedily relieving the thousands of distressed who are to b 3 seen pining in the streets , and hourly expressing silent caisare upon our tyrant rulere .
Oa Monday I crossed the Clyde to Dumbarton ; and now I come to an important part of my bistort . Dumbarton , as Greenock , is a noted place far ship building ; and the masters refused the men liberty to turn out ; however , the ship carpeaters md apprentices , to a man , struck work . Just one word about the term apprentices . They are not indentured , hut are poor broken down fellows , who ixk from Ireland , the Highlands , and the overcocked manufacturing market , who work at the trade for five years to qualify themselves as
journeyaaa . They receive not more man six saillings per ¦ sreek ; and after eighteen mouths are made to do eqtal work with a journeyman whose wages are twenty-four shillings a week . Thus the masters , for three years and a half , pocket eighteen shillings » week for their instmction , and thus does machinery » Sm even the ship carpenters , a 3 the market is full of appren ; ices coming troni the manufacturing towns ; and this system has made the men entirely dependent upon their employers . I explained this who great effect to the ship carpenters ; and all
row are beginning at long last to discover that steam is the inveterate enemy of mac . Ocr meeting was noJ to have been in Dumbarton ; it was to hire been in the Yale of Leven , a heavenly valley , commencing about three miles from the town , and forming a be&utiful vale embossed in a rising ground , not hills or mountains , but as it were , a radiant boundary of slopes . Our meeting was to tare been held in this sweet spot ; bnt the tyrant masters , after having giTea their men permission -to attend on Tuesday , recalled the leave on
Wednesday at boob . la this dilemma , what was to be done I lirst , I must tell you \ h& % we held a meeting in Dumbarton , at two o ' clock , to which the ship carpenters' apprentices , and a por : ion of the population marched in procession with music and all the insignia of their craft . We had a very spirited oeeiing ; but all looked forward to the night—and now , what in the dilemma was to be done ! Well , I Ii tell yoa ; the brave children of the valley thanked G ^ d that at right they were free of their taskmasters , and they instaatly set about miking hundreds of torches—aye , in faitn , torches [
• The night wa 3 awful ; bat at six o ' clock , the ship carpenters' apprentices , and a number of good Chartists left Dumbirtou with a band of music , to Join the procession about three miles onward . 1 Btarted wi ; h the Committee about half-pa 3 t six , and the silent rale upon our approach , made the slopes around re- > eho wkh the shouts of liberty , whils the brilliant blare of torch light illumined the valley for asles * roaad- we passed through a town called ttentoa , where we received an accession of
InEiaanes , flags , M [ j a band ) aEd thu 3 aug . nsented , we aa&rched on about one mile and a half £ mher to Alexandria , where we were met by another * et ^ of torch bearers , a reinforcement of numbers , » ai another band ; and the procession being thus wapieted , the vale presented such a scene as none fc la inhabitants ever before witnessed . As far as we eye could reach the smiling countenances of the was and daughters of the peaceful valley were to be seen sending forth their jocund mirth in spite of * u » d and rsin , which fell in torrents .
» J friends , I cannot describe the effect which the fiovelty ofsnebascene , and : he amazement of the wngregated thousands had upon all around , therefoe they shall speak for themselves . With one " corn the working men declared that they would *« have lost the demonstration for a whole year ' s *>** . Mr . Thoaason , M . P . for Paisley , who is **» located in the vale of Leven , and of whose *«** services all bear testimony , nearly lost his ^ es and was with difficulty restrained from toping ont of the esmsge as it went on . The w&mittee , a va of the most spirited and fine ««>*> I ever met with , were equally delighted , said they had sever upon any former occa-*> a seen a tentk part of the number assembled at « ven .
But now cones tho u touch and go . " It was e ittentioa of the committee to hare gone on to
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Bonhfll , another town on the other side of the river Leven ; but , alas , the monopolists have built a toll bridge over the water , and a halfpenny toll is paid by each foot passenger . Just as we reached the toll-gate , a prodigious procession , as large as ours , was on the bridge on their way to meet ns ; and upon the carriage reaching the gate , the people were thrust back , and cot being prepared with halfpence , became desperate . We ]] , my friends , you can better Imagine than I describe my position . Jost picture to yotirselves a most enthusiastic people intending to join in procession
separated by a large iron gate , while I , in the dead of night and in a strange country , found myself surrounded by thoviEauds and tens of thousands over whom I could not have an immediate control , and where one incautious , or violent , or thoughtless act might have committed me in any mishap which occurred . In this dilemma , and not at all blaming the gate-keeper , the ship carpenters advanced to the gate with their implements ; the two par : ies met with the gate only between them , and threatened instant destruction of the gate if it was sot opaaod . Thus situated , I proclaimed
silence , having first ordered a place to be cleared to the right of the carriage , and directing another party to go to the opposite side and turn the carriage , horses and all , around like lightning . This maucEavre was performed as quick as thought , and instantly our party left a space of about twelve yards between the carriage and the gate ' at "which the Bonhill men still continued to thunder . Hereupon I commenced speaking , having sent abont twenty men to keep order at the gate , and in the space of a few minutes , all could hear
and then I began to reason with them , saying that I would first address those at one side of the river , and then proceed on the bridge to BonhilL This had the desired effect , and upon the close of my address I insisted upon all retiring from the bridge ; this order was also promptly obeyed . The gates were thrown open , I joined the procession on the bridge , and thus ended the most ansions moment of my whole life , and one which for some time threatened consequences of which no man could see ths result . Our second
procession soon formed , and onward we marched throngh the whole town , in brilliant style , to a spacious hustings provided for the occasion . It had been originally the intention that I should have addressed them in a large church , bat it was discovered that one-twentieth of those present could not gam admission , and to the hustings we repaired , where I addressed the vast multitude at considerable length , and apparently to their satisfaction .
At -the close the procession again formed , and with torches blazing , colours flying , and hands pl&ying , we retraced our steps to Alexandria , where a public supper had been prepared ; as we reached the bridge a second time I made my way in advance to the fcate , but the toll-keeper very good natuxedly threw i ; open free to all . I had now—ten o ' clock at night—been at wirk for twelve hours ; bad addressed three out-door meeting 3 ; and proceeded to take my place at the festive board . The people ' s own room was beautifully decorated with tho Star portraits , laurels , and evergreens ; an excellent supper was tastefully laid upon the table ; that best and most eloquent of men , John M'Crea , was in tho chair
Mr . Thomason , the people ' s schoolmaster and friend , was is the vice-chair . John M'Crea mada a splendid speech , as did Mr . Thomason , and they were pleased to say that m ; ne was not a bad one . I was fifteen hours at hard work , went to bed at half-past one , got up at half-past six on Friday , and started for Glasgow , abont nineteen miles ; breakfasted at Gla ? gow ; and , at twelve , started for Hamilton , in company with the brave , the bold , the indomitable James Moir . The rain fell in torrents , and the prospect of a meeting was nearly hopeless : however , when we arrived within five miles of the place of meeting , Bothwell Bridge , the clouds opened , and the sun sent forth a succession of brilliant beams , which gave us a hope that all would yet be well .
On oar arrival at Bothwell Bridge wo were met by a large procession , with bands , and a great number of large and splendid bsnuere . We marched on in procession about two miles , to Hamilton ; and here again the people , who understand the locality , shall speak for themselves . Moir stood up frequently and looked at the mo ving mass , exclaiming that it was truly wonderful ; and all the people declared that they never saw such a demonstration in Hamilton . The ground is uneven , the sun shone bright and clear , and the effect of the procession moving in the low ground as we viewed it from the
heights , was truly grand . At leDgth , af ' . er traversing the whole town , we reached a well-made and commodious hustings , where Tcsalutions were passed and addresses presented , and capital speeches made by Moir and several working men . The middleclasses attended , and so great was their anxiety to meet and hear me sgain , that they offered any reasonable sum for a ticket for the soiree ; but could not procure one . Many , however , had previously provided tickets ; and at hslf-past seven , we sat down to an excellent soiree in the largest church in the tewn , nearly 1 CO 0 in number . Mr .
Hamilton , of Stoae-house , was in the chair . Mr , Moir and myself were the only speakers . There were several amateur , sirgers and clubs in attendance to enliven the evening . Moir made a capital speech ; and I may , from the result , say without vanity , that I did not make a bad one . I say from the result : because many , very many confirmed Whigs , who were my bitterest opponents , gave in their adhesion to Chartism—and as bitterly as ever they denounced me denounced their organs which they said had grossly maligned me , the Chartists , and their principles .
My friends , I speak of fact 3 , and only of facts , which every working man , in Hamilton , can confirm , namely ' , that some of our bitterest enemies have now declared for the Charter . Let me give you one or two instances : —One gentleman , who was in the habit of denouncing ms and my pariy , on his return from the soiree , went to a coffee-house and took up the Glasgow Argus containing a report of our Glasgow meeting , and which represented me as a wild declaimer ; he instantly tore the paper in pieces , and swore he would never read it again , declaring that tb 3 Whig press had been the ruin of Reformers , in consequence of its slander of the Chartists . Another gentleman met me and said that he was converted . But hear this ; as I was returning from the ont-door
meetirg , a very gentleman-like person , dressed in black , made his way to me , and in presence of those who accompanied me , rushed up , seized me by the hand , burst out crying , and 83 id , " Sir , lam , or rather I was , a high T » ry . I came thirty mile 3 to satisfy myself . Dear Sir , I am satisfied . God bless you—go on with yoar holy work . '' On Satur day morning , as I was about to start for Strathaven , the whole committee assembled at my hot « i to say good bye , and the Chairman did me tho honoar to "say that my visit had rendered Chartism triumphant —that their old and systematic opponents met them at all corners , shook hands with them , confessed the justice of their principles , and tendered them their support in their accomplishment .
At twelve o'clock I left Hamilton for Strathaven , amid the cneer 3 and blessings of the blistered hands . Mr . Ge-rin , from Straves , ( as they call it for brevityJ came for me ; and in order tomako my tour as bene-
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ficial as possible , the good men of LarkhalJ , who attended the demonstration on the previous day , and marched first in the ranks with their white Hag , requested me to stop and address them . The whole population was assembled ; and I did -address them in a speech suitable for rural villagers . The shopkeepers attended , and I think I staggered their faith in a Whig Government , or Tory government , or class legislation . From Larkhall , we pro * ceeded to Stone-house , another large village , abont three miles from Straven ; and there likewise the whole population turned out to hear the " wild Irishman f and , I think , I shook their faith also . Here the procession from Straven , met ua ; And , in truth , a procession it was . The day was cold bnt fine , and as we reached the town our numbers increased until at length the whole population appeared to have congregated . The Irishmen crowd in great numbers to this place to dig the potatoes ; at present there are about nine hundred of my migrating starving countrymen there ; the day not being fit for their work ( as potatoes cannot be safely dog while the ground js wet ) , they all joined onr procession whioh at length reached a Ten excellent hustings .
Mr . Geyin waa called to the chair . A resolution to petition the House of Commons for the Charter and one of confidence in myself were passed ; and after I had spoken about an hour , the meeting adjourned again to assemble , as many as could find room , in a splendid new church , capable of holding about eleven or twelve hundred , and of which Mr . Caiipbell is the pastor . This gentleman though very young , is considered the most highly gifted person in the West of Scotland ; he is of very prepossessing appearance , and has a countenance beaming with intellect and humanity , which I am told is a true index of his character .
Here an address was presented to me , which I forward with a request to Mr . Hiii , if possible , to make room for it . It is the production of « starring hand-loom weaver vxho never had a vote , and , yt * who is insolently told that knowledge should be the test . If it is inserted , you will then judge of its merits . I epoke for an hour and thirty-five minutes . I know that , as the clock was opposite to me . I was the only speaker . Tho banker * of the town , and nearly all the middle classes attended ; and , as at
Hamilton , I couverted all our enemies : and lest those who are prone to falsehood themselves , should suppose me to be guilty also , I have to request of the meu of Greenock , the men of Paisley , the men of the Yale of Leven , the men of Hamilton and of Straven , to meet and briefly to state tkrongh the Star and Scottish Patriot , the effect which they beiievo my visit to those several towns has had upon the very highest of the middle classes . This 1 ask as a favour , and as a means of producing a similar result elsewhere , and also as an . answer to those papers which abuse me and my party .
1 remained in the Session House attached to the church for a length of time after the meeting , to get cool ; and the most working of the working men assured mo , that I had disarmed every one of their bitterest enemies . It was by far the largest demonstration they have ever bad . Thu 3 , my friends , commenced , and thus ended my first week in Scotland , during which I have been travelling to , addressing , and attending public meetings , for ninety hours , or fifteen hours a day , for the whole week . In rain and sunshine I have addressed sixteen public meetings ; and am now , thank God , very much better in health than when I landed on ScotcB ground .
On Monday morning , Messrs . Mont , Ross , Colles , Millab , and a gentleman whose name I don ' t know , came from Gla ° gow to Straven for me ; and they had an opportunity of hearing and judging for themselves . Whilo iheywere present , one gentleman came into the room , confessed his former prejudices , admitted bis conversion , and declared that he had been a reader of the Glasgow Aram but would now gire it up and for ever .
Have I not now , in part , redeemed my pledge that without stirring a hair ' s-breadth from the Charter , 1 vf ould get the middle classes to join you \ I now renew that pledge , and promise you ' , that without going ono hair ' s-breadth to the right band or tho left , we will , in three months , havo three fifths of the middle classes with us . I have expounded the Charter temperately . I havo pointed out your sufferings and their consequent poverty and debasement * I have exposed the vices of tho present system , and the advantages which our system wtmld confer upon all . I have exposed the fallacies of tho Corn Law Repealers , and made manifest the absurdity of the remotest hope of resuscitating the Whigs as a party . I have explained to the middle classes the danger
of aa impoverishod people ; and to the working people I have stated the claims which the Irish have upon them for support for the only measure which they consider would render them ample justice Upon the whole , my beloved friends , I am vaia enough to flatter myself that my visit so far has been productive of great good . I rejoice to tell you that the " Old Gentleman" himself never again will be able to direct public attention from the true and only Chartism . We have resolved , and I think wisely , to allow all the spurious ontshots to live and die unnoticed , as we only give them importance by recognition . Chartism has increased in Scotland one thousand per cent , since the English persecutions commenced .
I think there is only one circumstance which I have omitted mentioning . At Greenock , the people have a most talented and virtuous instructor in the person of Mr . Thomason ; and , prior to leaviDg that town , I visited his seminary of from 100 to 150 young Chartists , all brought up in veneration of God and Iovn of liberty . I shook hands with every one of them , and blessed them ail . Let not mv English
and Irish children suppose that because I am enraptured with the Scotch , I therefore , love them the less . No , I love all aliko , and will struggle night and day , until I make all happy , peaceful , and prosperous , or I will lose my life in the attempt . Again 1 I say that / will break Oppression ' s head , or Oppression shall break my heart . " Onward and we conquer , backward and we fall . " " Universal Suffrage , and no surrender . "
Let ao man mention the words " moral force" and " physical force" any more ; we have in Scotland stripped the hobgoblin naked , and whipped ic from the land . I shall next week send yoa a narrative o the week ' s tour . Meantime , let every man , woman , and child sign the Petition . It is a " whole hog" petition , and so much tha better . We reserve nothing ; and he who is oar friend will sign it . We w&ut no delusion even upon paper . —I am .
My dearly beloved friends , You true and faithful Friend aad Servant , Feabgbs O'Cosnok Black Bull Hotel , Glasgow , Oct . 17 th , 1841 . ¦ M- ^^ . 1 |
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Ixcexdiart Fire . —On Tuesday evening , aboat eight o ' clock , a fire was discovered to have broken oat in the stable-yard of Mr . Clark , a very respect able fanner , at Kirby-Hardwick , near Mansfield . We understand that thirty-three stacks , the entire produce of seven hundred acres of la-ad , were consumed . The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary . Tas property was insured .
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SHEFFIELD . ( From our own Correspondent . ) Sunday Evening lecture—a $ r . Otley lectured to a very respectable audience , on Sunday evening , in the ream , Fig-Tree-lane ; the subject or nts discourse waa , " The Wisdom of our Ancestors . " Hie lecturer divided hifl address Into three principal parts , viz Religion , Philosophy , and Politics , and in each department brought forward most extraordinary , though wellauthenticated facts , Illustrative of the " wisdom , " or rather , the trow folly ; of onr Ancestors . " Under the head of " Religion , " the lecturer narrated the disputes of the " learned" in lie Middle Ages ; upon the question of " how many angels could dance * n the point of a needle , " adducing many similar proofs of their wisdom . " Un £ er the head of " Philosophy , " he exposed the absurdities of astrology and alchemy , and the barbarous cruelties inflicted on hundreds of
unfortunate creatures for the alleged crime of witchcraft ; and under the head at * ' Politics , " he examined the boasted " wisdom" of oar fathers , commenting upon the well-known mode of settling disputes by " trial by battle , " which the lecturer showed was Um foundation of many of the law * by which we are still governed . At the close of the lecture , Mr . Harney toad a very lengthy letter from Peter Foden , at the present time in Wakeflett helL The letter , which in much too lengthy to insert , breathes throughout a park of unbending hostility to oppression . BaoNTEaiiE O'Brien , Esq . —On Monday last , this ineorrnptibto and talented patriot visited Sheffield . Splendid green placards announced that Mr . O'Brien would leetnre on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday , ia the New Circus . The magnificent green silk banner of the National Charter Association floated in front of
the building , while from its summit two beautiful tricoloored flags revelled in the bretze . Oa the doors being opened , at seven o ' clock , a rush for seats took place , and almost immediately the gallery , pit , and boxes were filled . The Circus will hold upwards of thirteen hundred people . Some delay iu commencing proceedings was occasioned by the very miserable supply of gas ; the stage was in darkness , while it was with the greatest difficulty that the people in the gallery could be seen , and this state of things continued during the whole evening , much to the annoyance and discomfort of the audience , candles being to be procured to render the lecturer visible , and allow your correspondent to perform his duty . Toe conduct of the parties connected with the gas works was most
disgraceful ; they demanded a sovereign previous td the lecture , which was paid them , and yet , after all , did not supply the gas ; but this shameful work ia only another proof of the bitter hostility entertained towards the principles of Chartism by the plundering profitniongers , who fatten on the fruits of the poor man's toil . We were similarly tricked by the gas company upon the occasion of tho dinner given to Air . O'Connor , in the theatre , and it would be most ui'just to those who pay their money te hear and see , to allow such scandalous doings to puss unnoticed . On thfa motion of Mr . Otley , Mr . Gill was called to the chair . Mr . O'Brien immediately came forward and won greeted with the most tremendous cheering , which , with clappi tig of bands , and waving of Bnow-wbl' . e
handkerchiefs , te 8 tiQed the delight of the people on seeing once more their patriotic friend . When silence had succeeded tho oft-repeated and boisterous applause , Mr . O'Brien commenced by remarking , that he had been about to say he was glad to see them all , but for his suul he could not Bee them , though they appeared to be glad to see him —( laughter and cheersi , —and as one good turn deserves another he would have been glad to see them ; for to see honest people was a treat to him , after see-Ing none but thieves and smashers for eighteen months — ( laughter );—to give us no gas , looks like a plot to extinguish us—( laughter );—they have tried their bands at that before , but failed . I am not extinguishedyou are not extinguished—and the flame of liberty , that burns brighter than ever . ( Cheers . ) He supposed
they all knew that for the last eighteen months he bad been in quod ; that for that time he had been keeping the company of some very honourable persons—very like a set of gentry in t , certain house in Westminsterthieves and blackguards —( laughter);—that now he was bound over in some hundreds of pounds to be of good behaviour , and to keep the peace ; his being of good behaviour meant that he was not to expose the bad behaviour of certain of hex Majesty's servants ; bis keeping the peace meant that he was not to denounce the conduct of a scoundrel police keeping the peace by breaking the heads of the people in the Ball Ring . Well , he was bound to be of good behaviour ; the best proof he could give of bit good behaviour was , that , in sixteen days after his liberation he had attended
sixteen meetings ; as he had been keeping the company of thieves and smashers , 4 t was only proper to tell them why he was sent to Lancaster Castle , lest they should think him as bad as the company be bad been keeping . Well , bis oftence was , that , on invitation , ha bad attended a meeting similar to thia in Manchester ; the meeting ma strictly legal ; nothing was there said or done opposed to tho Jaw- But , twelve months after he was dragged to the bar to answer the charge of attending a seditious and illegal meeting , and then and there conspiring with divers persons unknown , t >> the number of five thousand or more , to get up routs , riots , tumults , insurrections , and rebellions against our Sovereign Lady the Queen , her Crown , and dignity . ( Mr . OBexcited roars of laughter by bis mimicry . ) Now he had
no connection with the people attending that meeting , yet were they all conspirators . Now , all that he had said upoa that occasion was approved of by the peoplo , nay , applauded ; but their good opinion went for nothing , against the opinion of the miserable wretch who gave evidence against him . Weil , they imprisoned him—they confined him ia a felon ' s cell ; the cold stone for his floor—the cold stone for the walls of bis dungeon , and bis only furniture a three-legged stool . For the first six months be was denied pen , ink , and paper , and allowed to have no books but those given him by the chaplain . How , he must do Parson Rowley the justice of saying that he was a very fine fellow , and much good be bad reaped from Parson Rowley ' s prayer * . ( Laughter . ) After eighteen
months'Imprisonment with all sorts of villains , who at the termination of their confinement were let loose upon society without bond , shackle , or restraint , he was liberated ; but before letting him out , be was brought before a magistrate , and asked would he confess he owed the Queen £ 500 ? He replied he supposed he might as well confess this , for whether he did bo or no , be pr » - Burned her Majesty would say he did . " Just so , " said the worthy magistrate ; so you see what was the magistrate ' s opinion of our lovely little Queen ' s honesty . ( Laughter . ) Well , the faction that bad imprisoned him had now goue the way of all flush , but we bad but exchanged t > rants ; we had gotten another setof thieves to tule us in ttie place of those we had put down . Now , he wanted —and he trusted they wanted the sameto put down thievery and tyranny altogether . ( Cheers . )
He bad an idea that tb 9 days o £ the present infamous system were numbered : if tha people had honest leaders it could bo knocked on the head quicklyleaders < vho would give up their jealousies , abandon their rivalries , and pull honestly together . Let them have such—such to direct and command them , and the infernal system would speedily be brought to the dust ( Great cheering . ) He understood the subjects upon which he was expected to address thorn were—the means of gaining their rights , and the use to make of those rights when gained . ( Hear , bear . ) Upon another occasion be would give them his opinions as to the means of gaining their rights , but now would give them his opinions ' as to the use they should make of their rights when once achieved , though with many of their leaders he differed as to the remedies for the
evils of tbo present system , yet he oontended for nothing but what the law of nature sanctioned , and the law of revelation approved of . ( Cheers . ) If the people had the Charter to-morrow it would be psrfectly nsi'icsa , unless they made use of the legislative power it would confer on them to obtain for themselves—that is , the whole people , a complete and absolute controul over the land , and a similar controul over the making ? ' < d issnlng of the money ef the country . ( Cheers . ) The people had been taught to look to a reduction of taxation , or the annihilation of certain monopolies , as tho only things needful to restore what was called England ' s prosperity . Now , he was an antl-Curn Law man ; he was for the repeal of the Corn Laws ; he was for reducing taxation—but they must pardon his saying ,
for he must Bpeak the truth , whether they liked it or not , that the repeal of the Corn Laws , the repeal of the soap tax , the repeal of the malt tax , or the repeal of any other tax was sheer humbng . In his opinion , if the Corn Laws were repeated to morrow , if the national taxes , aye , and the local taxes too were all swept away , no permanent benefit would be reaped by the working classes . Mr . O'Brien then entered on the question of the land , and asked , " What valuable consideration do the landlords giTe in return for the tixty millions of rent they pocket ? " The answer might be : —" They gin the land . " But the land is not their , to ghr « . Who made it theirs ! N either reason nor rerelatioa
sanctions the robbery of th « soil . { Chews . ) Here than yoa are robbed of sixty millions per year iath shape of rental of the land ; yoa are robbed of about two hundred million * yearly in the shape of usury aad profits—again you are robbed of joir occupancy ia the land . They had all read Mr . O'Connor ' s letteis to the Irish landlords—they would remember that Mr . O'Connor had shown that was the land let out into small allotments of ten , acres each , a man renting tea acres might support himself , his wife , and children in abundance of food , and woutd hava ut the year ' s end , a surplus of £ * B worth to ispcae of in tbe manufacturing market ; now in Ireland nine-tectoa of the labourers do not , taking the
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year throngh , get more than sixpence a day ; -bit we will suppose they get double this , say a shilling a day , this will be £ 18 ia . for the whole family the year through , thus instead of living in abundance and having a surplus of £ 45 to dispose of in articles of manufacture at the end of the year * they have to starve the year through upon £ 18 ; why was this ^ because they are robbed of their right of occupancy in the land . If they had that , and that they would have if they got the Suffrage —( cheers)— -they could do -what Mr . O'Connor wishes the landlords to letfthem do ; the robbing of tbe people of their right of occupancy in the land is a robbery trans sending all others ; compared with this the sixty millions of rent is a mere trifle . He repeated that the landlords rob the people two ways ;
first , rob them to the tune otsixty millions In the shape of rent . He might bo asked would h » not take rent if he was a landlord ? He hod no doubt he would . He did not quarrel with the landlords receiving rent , if a majority of the people sanotipned it : what he demanded was that the whole people should have a voice in the political and social arrangements of society , and what he protested against was the landlords making use ef tbs power their wealth conferred to prevent tbe people having any voice in the formation of the institutions of society . He might be asked would he take the land from the aristocracy , no , he would not , but he would compel them to sell their land to the state . ( Cheers . ) Should he live to be & member of the House of Commons , and hemeant to be— ( groat cheering)—heshould feel it his
duty to propose that when a man dies , his estate shall revert to the state , that is , that the Government for the people shall purchase the estate from the heirs of the dead man , giving to them the full valuation of the estate ; tbe heirs should not have tho land but the price of it ; fur broaching this doctrine , your preaious member , Mr . Ward , bad , in in his miserable , trashy , Greenacre journal , denounced bim as a spoliator ; tbe charge was a false and lying one ; he was no spoliator , he had never advocated tbe taking from any class under the present system—what he advocated was , that under another and a better system every man should have equal facilities of acquiring property . Now , the law he would propose would not take effect till tbe man was dead . Would that be robbery ? Did you ever hear a dead man
cry out that he was robbed ? ( Laughter and choera . ) Oa , but then he would xob the heirs . How could tuey rob a man of what they never hod ? How could they be robbed if they had the fair value of the land ? But bow are they to be paid the value ? He would answer , ous of the proceeds of tbe land . The devil ' s in it , if the land , which now returns sixty millions in rent to the landlords , would not then return . that and something more . If the land was allotted into small forms cf ten , twenty , forty , or fifty acres , tbe occupiers could far better pay £ 5 per acre than 30 s ., as is paid for maoy thousands of acres now . The werthy lecturer concluded hia remarks upon the land by observing that he was not tbe inventor of these doctrines , he was only proposing what bad been advocated by the great and vrise of all
ages , but had never been yet carried into tffect , because tbe sword bad always been employed by the ariBtocratical brigands to smite and crush those who dared to defend the rights © f the human race . Mr . O'Brien next took up the subject of the currency . In former times it was treason against the sovereign to moke or issue money . But an the aristocracy and moneyocrooy acquired power they trampled the prerogatives of the sovereign under foot . Up to the time of Cromwell the aristocracy were compelled to defend the state—to raise and pay troops for the defence of the country , but when they had cut { iff the tyrant Charles ' s head , they—the greater tyrants—the aristocracy relieved themselves from all feudal services , and compelled tbe people to perform thoso services instead . Now as they held their estates
on condition of performing these services , ¦ when they ceased to perform them , they ought to have ceased to hold the estates . The r&onied classes have increased in power too , to that extent , that , in conjunction with the aristecracy , they now rule tho country—thu sovereign is a mere cipher' ; they have taken from her her crown lands , they have robbed her of her private income , so that she cannot get 6 ven a basin of soup without a vote of the House of Commons . If yon knew a titbe of the villany committed in the United States by the banking scoundrels , you would say that kings , and priests , and lords , and thieves of every other description were personifications of virtue compared with these smashers and robbers , tbe makers and issuers of bank notes . They would , perhaps , imagine that
their burdens had been reduced since the close of the war , if so , they were never more wrong . They were told th « taxes has beten reduced from seventy to fifty millions : the Tories in fifteen years took off sixteen million ' s of taxes ; the Whigs in ten years took off five millions : buC now see the villainous humbug of the thing . In 1812 , a £ 100 stock in the Three per Cents would sell only for £ 60 ; now a £ 100 stock will sell for £ 90 . Thu 3 has the fundholders' property increased fifty per per cent ., that is , instead of their burdens being reduced , they had increased ; but this is not all . Since 1812 , the prices of goods have so fallen , that every £ 1 of the money monger's £ 90 would purchase twice the quantity of goods now the same money would have
purchased in 1812 . Between 1812 and 1831 , Birmingham goods had fallen to one-half , or between that and one-third of their cost in the former year . In Manchester , the fundhoider could now buy three , and in some cases four , bales of goods for the . money it took to purchase one bale in 1812 . Things , he believed , were not much better in Sheffield . He was told that for setting , that is placing the blades in the handles , a few years ago the workmen could get 49 . a dozen ; uow they could get but Is . a dozen . ( Several voices , 'Tis true . ') Of course all sorts of cutlery had depreciated in price ; and the fundholdeis and men of fixed incomes reaped the benefit . When Peel passed his infernaVBiU in 1819 , he knew wellthat in making money scarce he would make it
, more valuable . Now if money was made scarce , and our means to support the burdens imposed upon us curtailed , it would have been only just , had the then Government had one spark of honesty in its composition , that it Bhouid have reduced our burdens to the like extent . Peel , Russell , and the Times newspaper have declared over and over again , that the Legislature is not to blame for the existing misery—this misery , say these worthies , is the inevitable result of the progress of civilisation . ( Ironical cheers . ) " Fools that theso working men arc , " says the Times to imagine that the Legislature is to blame on this account : let them show , by legislative enactment , the distress cab be removed . Let them immediately draw up an Act of
Parliament to do away with the distress ; and corrupt and tyrannical as these working men imagine the Parliament to be , we have no hesitation in saying the legislature will be most ready to sanction auch an Act" Such has been the language of the Times ; but , my friends , this is all humbug . It is not one Act of Parliament that has brought us to our present slavery and misery ; nor is it one Act of Parliament will restore us to liberty and happiness , He waa ready to prove—1 st . That all the social evils we complain of are the results of Acts of Parliament—2 nd . That these Acts were framed for the purpose of robbing the people—3 rd . He wa , 3 ready to point out the particular Acts . He would take the statutes at large , and point out , not two or three ,
but hundreds of Acts , passed for the purpose of plundering tho people . He was ready to prove that tho people were plundered two ways—1 st . By not being allowed to earn wealth—2 nd . By being robbed of that they do earn . He was ready to prove that large masses of the people were robbed of five-sixths of their earnings . Mr . O'Brien here stated the wages of the weavers of Cumberland , Lancashire , &o . He might be asked , what had the law and the Parliament to do with that ? His answer was , who are the robbers , and who are the receivers of the stolen property 1 They were the patties who live on fixed incomes , whether rents , annuities , pensions , &c . &o . The fundhoider who , in 1812 , could only get £ b' 0 , where he could now get £ 90 , could also get
tour bales of goods now , where he only could then get one ; this he was enabled to do by the competition among masters bringing down prices ; and the competition among the workers bringing down wages . He would ask , who is it but the Government that gives the fundhoider the taxes ! What have Acts of Parliament , indeed , to do with the misery of the people ! Everything , was his answer . All the Ioars that have been contracted since 1691 , have been contracted by Act of Parliament . What had legalised usury in this country ?—Acts of Parliament . It was not till the reign of Henry VHI . that usury was allowed in this country . ¦ Usury is denounced by the common law of the l » na » Usury was denounced by ihe Fathers of the Christian Church . Usurv was denounced b » the sacred writers
of the Now Testament . Usury was denounced by Moses and the Prophets . Bur Henry ' s infamous Parliament flung Moses » ud the ProphetiOTerboard , and legalised usury entailing upon us its unspeakable curies . But for Henry the National Debt would have been long s . ia «« paid off . Aa it if , we pay the debt every twenty y « ar » , and yet havet it always to pay . I before said that the men of fixed incomes were enabled to plunder the wealth of the / working men—in a great measure through the competition iu the labour maikots—but whav causes thin competition f The cause is , that the people have been robbed of their right of occupancy in the land . Villains talk of surplus population . Let the surplus population be placed on the land , and see the re-BUlts . In the first place , those on the land would , as shown by Mr . O'Connor , live in abundance ; secondly , there would be a far greater amount of food raised than , at present , and , as a matter of
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v ¦¦ ¦;¦; ^^ t fM- ^ cMM ^^ - course , food would be fa *^ k « &pet ; and thirdlythere no longer being the present competition iu the ) labour market ia our manufacturing districts , the manufacturing artizaa would be able to dictate terms to nis employer , and , as a matter of course * his wages would advance— -or , suppose thia not to be the case , still one shilling theu will procure as touch food a * - three shillings now . ( Cheers . ) In . Naples just now the four pound loaf may be got for twopence—in London H costs tenpence . Now , whj should not the four pound loaf be purchased as cheap in London as Naples f The answer was , Acts
i of Parliament prevent it . He repeated , he attri ' bated to Acts of Parliament , aad to Acts of Parliament only , all the social ills that afflict ns . ( Cheers . ) Sir . O'Brien , baring spoken for above two hoars , oonoladed by commenting on the Newcastle Election , showing that although the rentable representative of the people , he was , by an Act of Parfiaraent , preheated taking hia seat in the House of Commons . Let then :, then , puil together , honestly and determinedly to mako their Charter law , and secure to thensehes the earrings tf their labour , unSched by the authority of plundering acts of Parliament . He sat down amidst the oft-repeated aad enthusiastic ) cheeriag of the meeting .
_ TuesoAT EvBJasa . —A seleefc company of th * tnends and admirers of MftO'Brien entertained that gentleman to dinner in the large room of the Black bwan , Bargess ^ rtreet . The dinner was served ap shortly after six o ' clock—tbe provisions made reflected . evesy honour on the werthy ht ** , Mr . Parkea * who is ah able and zealous- advocate of the-good cause . On tho cloth being removed , several patriotic songs were soag and toasts given , including the * health of the patriotic guest , Mr . 0 'flriea . Universal enjoyment pervaded the company , uutil the swift-winged hears notified 'twas time to make for the Circus , whither we proceeded , and found it again tbronged rto listen to tho vnrda of wisdom and instruction from the lips of the people's friend .
Shortly after eight o ' clock , Mr . Gill wmagain called to the chair , and- Mr . O'Brien , who- was received with the like demonstrations of applause aa the previous evening , immediately commenced his addross by reviewing , the remedies suggested by Paine and Cobbett , for removing the distress-of the people , and establishing the prosperity of the country * showing that their remedies—reduction of taxation , would be productive « T no perceptible or pest&anens benefit . Mr . O'B . next entered at great length into the history and villany of the-funding system , and showing the means ,, and the only means by which . the National Debt could be paid off . Mr . O'Brien then showed the way in which the public propertythe crown lands—the church lands—the tithes—tha
taxes—the rates , &c . < feo . were plundered from the people ; aad concluded a very length ; and tralj eloquent lecture by inviting discussion , and express ing his williugneBS W reply to any question put to him , Mr . Hollyoftko , socialist missionary , stepped forward ; in a brief but beautiful address , he expressed his admiration of the principles and tateata of Mr . O'Brien ; ao the same time , he took eseption , to certain things advanoed by that gentleman ., as to the impracticability of the means by which the Socialists proposed to achieve their ends . He ( Mr . H . ) maintained that their schemes were perfectly practicable , and be believed that it would be found , ultimately ,, that the shortest and surest way of gaining political equality and social regeneration , was ia
theadoptionoitheschtme 8 oftheSociali 8 ts , attkesame time he should be ready , audhe trusted Socialists generally would be equally ready to afford to the Chartists every helpaud aid iu theirpower , in their struggle for justice and right . Alr . H . was loudly cheered . Mr . O'Brien rose to reply , but before doing bo , noticed a question put to him from one of tfeeboxes , to the effect of- * - " Why was he opposed to the Cora Law Repealers . 1 " Ia answer to thia question , he adranoad three reasons for his opposition to the repealers . First , that tho Repealers do net propose any measures , to accompany the repeal , which measures would guarantee the benefit of repeal to the mjisa of the people . Second , Because the repealers have been tha unrelenting persecutors of the Chartist
body . Third , because the anti-Corn Law movement was got up to put down Chartism . Mr . O'Brien proceeded to speak at great length in support of the above , exhibiting as he proceeded , the viilany and rascality of the repealers . His remarks were responded to by the most tremendous cheering . Mr . O'Brien then , replied to Air . Holiyoake , with whoa * though he differed , he expressed himself a 3 being highly pleased . Mr . Otlty then moved the thanks of the meeticg to Mr . O'Brien . Mr . Harney seconded the motion , whioh was carried by acclamation . Three glorious cheers were then given for Mr O'Brien , three for Mr . O'Connor , and three for th ©
Charter , when the meeting dissolved . The proceedings lasted upwards of four hours , it being past twelve o'clock , wnen tho chair was vacated . The great length of the proceedings and the crowded state of our columns must be oar excuse for giving but this very brief and imperfect outline of the business of tbe evening . We must not forget to mention that a great number of the fair sex were present eaoh evening , aud appeared to feel deep interest in the truth-telling . statements of the Poor Mari » Guardian . Mr . O'Brien has done an immense amount of good by his visit to Sheffield , the iruita of which we trust will be speedily seen .
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RIPPOWDEW . —On Sunday last , Mr . Vevers , of Huddersfield , delivered an excellent address to an attentive and numerous audience , after which several persons came forward and enrolled their names aa members of the National Charter Association , both , males and females . Oh Monday last , Mr . Duff / related to us the horrors of refined cruelty practised in NortbaUerton Hell-hole , aud urged ou his hearers the necessity of joining the National Charter Association , for the
obtatnment of Universal Suffrage , which alone could save the working classes from the gnawing fangs of Whig and Tory tyranny . At the conclusion of hia address , three cheers were given for Mr . O'Connor , three for Frost , Williams , and Jones , and three hearty cheers for a Repeal of the Union ; after which , thirteen more persons came forward and joined the Association . Oar room is capable of holding above four hundred persons , and is crammed to suffocation every time we have a lecture delivered n it .
HOWDEN " . —Mr . Skoving&ou lectured here on Thursday , the 14 th , in the Market P . ' ace , to a very crowded audience , fully exposing the present evils bearing on society by the means of claas legislation * the Chartists of Howdou pledging themselves to agitate for nothing less thnn the Charter , and to join the Association . WOLVBRHAaiPTON . —Our cause increases , and our principles are spreading far and near in these districts . Our meeting was well attended on Wednesday evening , and seven fresh members were
enrolled . Or Sunday , in the morning , Mr . Candy , lectured at Bilston , to some thousands of the miners and colliers . His exertions have been crowned with abundant success—upwards of three hundred good members , and a happy spirit of unity a » d love to our holy cause is manifested , and eack member aeema to outvie the other in striving to promote the principles of Chartism . We fully reckon on twenty thousand signatures for the Petition , and are determined to do everything in bur power to induce our noble-minded patriot , Feargus O'Connor , to pay usa visit .
Lads Guave . —Mr . Candy lectured here on Sunday afternoon to an attentive congregation ; aad likewise road the National Petition , and the Glasgow Demonstration . This little place is quite healthy in the cause of Chartism . Bradley and Halls Green . —On Monday evening , Mr . H . Candy unfurled the banner of Chartism here to a numerous audience . It was fully expected that Mr . Mason would have been able to come ; bat not obtainiug him , Candy was sent for from VVoJrerhampton , a distance of nvo miles . BABWStETT—XheBaroaley Chartlstaheld their usual weekly meeting on Monday last , when 10 s . were agreed to be sent to the Executive , at Manchester . The Secretary read a letter from the Hon . J . 8 . Wortley , M . P ., in answer to a memorial sent to the Home Office , in behalf of Win . Aahtoa , and Joseph Crabtree , of which tbe following is a copy ;—TO * Ma P& 1 SB HOST .
Sib , —With reference to a memorial which I received a short time since , to be transmitted to the Secretary of State , in behalf of Joseph Crabtree and William Asuton , I have now to enclose the answer which I have lately received to that application , which I forward herewith . I regret to find that it is unfavourable . I remain , Sir , obediently , J . Stuabt Wortlkt . The following is the answer : — Whitehall , 11 th Oct . 1841 . Sir , —Secretary Sir Jamea Graham having carefully considered your application in behalf of Joseph Crabtree and William Asbton , I am directed to express to you bis regret , that there la no aafficient ground to justify him , consistently with bis public duty , in advising her Majesty , to comply with tbe prayer thereot I am , Sir , Tout most obedient humble servant , ¦ ¦ ¦' - H . Manners 8 vitom .
The Hob . J . s . Wortley . STONE , Staffordshire . —A deputationfcoaHaa-Iey visited this place on Monday last , for the parposa of forming a Charter Association , they were a « t by aa interdict , tbe Tory magistrate forbade the Isadlord , oa pain of loss of his license , from remitting inch churn ten aa CbartisU to open any association at bis house * and attbooga th * room ma properly fitted « p te Urn occasion , they were obliged to leave withoatbsl&f abs » to speak to the people . Bat tho » gh au * fci « rial tyranny baa prevailed in this ease , yet the visit has aotbesa without good , and Uxo « gh they mast not meet at » p « b-U * hoaae , y » tsuch ia theirvtotarmiaUion , tbattt tbty cannot meetin public , they will nwet inpsifatohoMesi and sow the seed of Chartism , even in deflaaMMkH * ff jf »* power of tyrannical and haughty magistrates . *^ SP 2 J » Wf »** W ¦ : ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ——— /¦ : ^ iO ^ H „
A 8 TBONOMT .-Mr . Toph&m , ( late of MBmmi ^ mS \ College , ) delivered two lectures an astro # jsili « WifcrV > -- ^ y \ is Theatre Royal , Sneffield , on the tTenin < aLtiMBHi jid ^ i ^ p > V ^ and Wedntaday last , to natations an ^ HHM ^^ if ^*!? audience s * ¦ " ¦ ¦ && 3 B&W % &
To The Imperial Chartists.
TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .
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VOL . IY . JTO . 206 . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 23 , 18 A 1 . ' "" p ^ ^^ g ^ T' "
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AND LEEDS GENEEAL AD ^ ERTIiSElt .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 23, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct571/page/1/
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