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Northern Star (1837-1852), 23rd April 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      H ATIONAL COSTVEITTSON " . PB 1 DAY , A Phil 15 . M ? , Ihrnean -was aletted to the cfcair . Mt . Le ^ ch to the Tice , and Mr . Campbell Stcrat 3 ry , wi : o having called tbe ^ oll , 1-Iessre : Campbell , Ltach , M'Phersan . Dancan , M'D-r osll . Morgan R ~ i . i ; anis , Kid ; 37 , S » li wood , Beesley , and HdIpoh "were present . The minntee having been read and confirmed , Mr . L ? ach deliveredinpetltic-n-iheets from the following places : — Tuiddleton , with 3 200 signatures . Lsagh , do . SA 00 do . K . ocliiF-3 , do . 2 . . 009 do , . CiiuwlfciiJ , do . 2 , 2 ( iO do . -leywood , do . 6 . 450 do . O ' . cham , do . y 970 do . Drojlsden , do . 2 6 'iO do .

      x-: lnionta , do . 1 . 200 do . E ^ eles , do . 2 , 600 do . H- > Uis Green , dc . SvO do . B-jltoa , do . 15 50 U do . K-.-ehdale , de . ID GOQ do . As-Jtjr , do . 3 . 000 do . Piikington , da 3 G 6 S do . Pvestwicb , do . 1 200 do . Wigsn , do . S . 5 U 0 do . S ^ lford , do . 19 5 " 0 »! o Asaton , da 14200 do * Manchester , dc . 92 2 SO do . 2 si > rrii Lancashire , do . 52 . 000 do .

      Xcw : on H = aUi , do . 1 . 300 do . Wilmslo-sr , da l . SoO do . H .-Je , do . T . os ) d do . KszkgroTe , do . 1 b" 00 do . Xcff iiills , do . 1 4 " 0 do . CoEgletou , do . 2 , 400 do . Chester , do . 2 , 374 do . G ' - 'Sz o- p , do . 5 , 600 uo . 2 ,-iecsz ^ T , dc . 15 600 do . l . aghiwrongli , da 7 . ( 500 do . l > rjby , do . 3 700 do . >> ..-Cos-oa-Trent , do . 3 . 400 uo . D-kiimold , uo . 3 , 609 do .

      SI-. Morgan "VCilliiiaa presented petitions from ilerthyi Ty&vil , wkk ly 200 signatures . Trtdezar , tic . lv 000 do . Jiliidare , qo . 4 166 do . ^ - ¦ srbriageandDiuias , do . 3 550 do . Cardiff , do . 2 , 000 do . Kr . Write pi-: sect . a petition h :-m Binmughaai , with 32 , 000 signatures . From 2 f- _ 'tts eciniy , "si " -h 40 ( -00 signatures . -Boston , do . 1 400 dc . f ' -.-cfeport , da 14 . 0-0 do . ' „ r-iacciesSeid , d- > . 9 .-P 0 no . ? Jorthwich , do . 1 ( = i'ii rlo . lipstall Bridge , do . 1 , 000 do . During the day many other pttkisBS vere reccive . 1 , btL' i-T . s Euxabcr of si- . u - itcs they c ^ L ^ ined , oii-3 ih ~ diitr . crs they wsrc retired fr .-ii :, Lars sot yet te * . a repor " ti

      liners -were read froa M ^ srs . Shanaaa Crawford and D ^ nccmbs , 31 . P . ' s , in answer to conininnications &an : hr Secretary . Mt . Sroxmsn Crawford ' s Vtter £ t 3 trd he baa c « iht ! Unicatcrvl -with , a bo ^ . y of his C-h ^ -tis' ; rr . sVituents at R . chd ^ Ie . snd had statr . l his wf : ! i- - - ; : i ; -ss to rectify any Cv 2 u rpr- ; ication from ^ r , j C . ¦ > 2 Tis £ : i < n of tfceir body , rut thai h- - > could r- ^ t d-.-lay h's motion , later than Insist ¦ f April , proTiceri the i . rrus of the H ' -iUse T ? c / u ' . d admit of it coniinj on r . ; : L ; c p ? ri :-d . He thcug't it dcsir-M ? to inform the :: ; tlii- h := njoti .-ii -srouid include the s x points , of the Ch : r := r . Mr . i ) TBco ; iib «' 5 itfxT .--rated that he sijnld be fc-zv py to recsiTa a dcrxitati-jn froni \ Le Contention s at 11 o'cloci . Mc . irs . Lc-icli . > . I'Djosli , acd ii'Ph ^ rson . who were the (?¦ pntitkn aypylnted . rtciiTfd ! c& 7 e of abseEcs at tbat i eriod , fr the

      A R poii tr ^ s i > tn r ^ coiTPfi -j m Co mmittee for Dra ^ iuj up the Rules a : < i R ^ guiat ^ o- sfor the guManre ox th = ConTeaticn , "which war read and discaised , teri > - tfm and ^" cre ordered t j be traught up for coiifii-mation 3 Monday iHvTDi " . »' . ilr O'Connor m = Ti .-d iL ; a ; the d-. putation sent to ilr . Diizzi aibe be paid their cu ' r . h ' -re , they LaviEg a conaificiaVt distance to 1 , 0 , laj being pressed for tims , he iruUi-it it fcrward thas publicly , rather than it should be br . ci ;*; i forward priTateJy iii cr-mmittee . Mi . Bairstow s&eonded tbe motion . He ttbs in faTonr ¦ -. * all r > ins . £ btin . ^ tLus publidy graxttd .

      Mr Hiultj movea tL-it i 3 ti ^ degatati ^ n might Lave startr i it an sariirf peri . d , tbat their exT > cEces be not dfcfraje ' . iLr S-ilivriiO-i s ^ ccr > de < l the motJCLn . Hi Thompson i : ' -ii ^ h ; tLat as rainy of ihern ^ rere strm ^ trs in London , that , when on the business tf the C ' aTr-Etlcn , the ts ^ ect ^ s of the delegates iLould be il-.-srs . Loirrle , ilsson , and PMlp supporlel the T ^ ft ' . ! : ^ . 2 £ r 3 Ioii and Mr . S ^ sley , thought that delegates sh-. ii : ' be " ? ciy cai' -fal ao ^ tbty tniticU into any txpenct ^ of this description . It was decided thit upen this c-.--. ^ ion the zzpencss of the dspntation be paid . CrcI-iniLils-were TtC ^ iTcd from JMr . Moir , of Gla 3-gOTF- " .

      2 ar . Jicberis read a portion of a private letter f rein Brunt-: re 0 " 3 nen , staUng thit bs should be nnabit tj atten-. ' . during the whole of xhe sittiug of tbs Convention , : iii £ b . DU ~ : d bs able to deYote a portion of his time to it . A statement had been prevknaly made by Mi . O C-i . uor to the same eSect from Mr . Pitiethly . Mr P ' uiip ni : 7 cd th 2 t each delegate do sow report the st * te of Charliiiu in -hs district which he represents , and £ Te his opinion of ths best method of a .-sweiiEg the SEcceas ot the canst-. Hr TiiOHiasscn seconded the motion , which being accedfe . to , it srs arracged tiial tie deiega ^ e 3 should deliTrr their le&crts in the order in whicu th = ir nam ^ a stooQ <; -n the loll c ^ iL

      Jlr . AhTaniDnncinTC'preser . ted the men cf the "Western and . Midland districts of ScotLuid ; he Wa . 5 happy tj state dia . i . their organisation -waa in an excsedingiy f % tisfactc-y state ; in tins bzmilbSt "Tiliages . listy had hills f 'I tLtJnBel 7 es , in 'which lectnxas tcere delivered generally ¦ ¦ ¦ resa week . Benight almost say th 3 i iheirorganiraiion iras complete ; they -were in possession of a ¦? aat -.. nioiint cf public opinion , indeed they nrsht say that no other public opinion existed , sare that iniaTcnr of Chartism ; their nnmber of signatures \? ere doab ' tj those they had ccctribnted t ~> the last petition . In Arbr- * ilithe eacsewas progressing -well , - they had ' a hall , c ., cable of holding six or B 6 T « n hundred persons , ¦ which - ^ as their own property . They had two

      excellent meetings in their h 3 l ! last wees , and had tent f-. ur then ^ -nd signatures to the petition . In Fcrfzr their prt > 2 T-s 3 -iras net so satisfactory ; they had "been deluded by tb ^ idea of a repeal of the Com Z . 1 W 2 ; since then , they Md progressed t- Mr . Sturge ' s Declaration , and ¦ were beginning to perceiTo the finperiority of Chartism : for tt-. is clace he bid brought three thousand five hundred t-isiatnres . TaMcg his district as a who : * , thert spaa as ^ sceilect spirit manifested in the good cuuss : thcV had everywhere toimnphsd ovtr opp c ^ ' ulon , ant had " removed all obstructions from ihsir path ; ons good feature in their agitation was , that they ob 3 trvec ¦ peac * - . law , and order ; they bad been guilty of no folly bnt had aeted -wisely , pradsntly , and firmly .

      2 dT . Beesley represented the district of ? f orth Ian es £ Ki- = , -which he -was happy to inform them was in fi ^ arishing state . Th = j had withstood ten : j . tjdr , n ii every form ; and thtir nnjabers were great . y increased The onposition they had receiTed from the middli class ^ as being rapidly remoTed ; and prejudice wa fast dyisgaway . A . short time back they were not nbl to pr-jcore places of meeting , now , in Biost districts they Tpre allowed tae use of Sucday schools to 10 I their meetings in . The agitation for the cero } sw& wa . dyiBj ; away . Instead of men being now turned awa ; for joining the Chartists their employers now actuali ; a < iTir .-d the men to Ime nothing to do with humbng but to Seep to their Charter . He was sorry to hear tha in zn :, ny places tie nii--. d 2 .-s class liad been demmcced aj

      their enemies . Be knew not how they were in othtj parts but , in North 1 uiei&hire he be ieYfed , the middlt clasi-t ;; were honest :.. their profeision 3- There hac been soms little disousskn resptcticy the conduct o some » E-iiTidua ' . s attending tie Birmingham Conferences Imt Jt -war noir the st . era ! opinion of those who hat deucTi -ced tb ^ ni . tbs ^ they ha ^ Cone them injustice and ti ^ it they had I era ictuated by the purest motives He c- -uid cot state lh- esaet nn- ^ &er of signaturds froa his d "tr : ct ; He h-a brought 52 . 000 and he expectei to Tt-svrive 50 , 000 -more . The petition would receiv the s-jnstnres of tL ^ - ? rtst m 3 joriry of the whole ma . \ prrouTa-. Ion . TfcfJ i - ' penetrated al&o into the sui TOUB ^' iDg distri £ t 5 . and had opened localities in Cum berlaud , and at Uivtrstone sad KendaL They ha

      receded inviteiticuR fr ^ m various ru ountauiGus aiitric ^ . in WssUnorehiEd . and he trasted that by the aid c Ibc + v-s iracts , it , zhey should speed ! . ? - be enabled t orga ^ xi the'ffhols of Westmoreland . Mi . Beesl ey the detaimi the alarniins d-. 'tltution acd misery which p « vailci in Xorth Lancashire . They yere comptile-i t Jib on shavings ; tLey had no covering for the n ; gl save the racs which thpy wore dnring the day , and wei ccnv elied to have th- - ir shirts -wasted on a Saturda mgb * , to at > Dear dtcent on a Sunday ; and wei destitute of fooa cuiDg a considerable portion ( the week . In some places the anthorities ha dont 3 U that laid in their power to imt Chartism down they had threaten-d to stop the relief cf all who wei Charusts ; one individual , who was in the receipt < 3 s . 6 - .. per waek from tse authorities , was informed "b

      them that they a&d bear < i lie had subscribed' to t Cfcarrist fund ; if hu continued this they would gi Tvm no more relief : but be boldly told them that ¦ wou ld support the C-arier until they had gained th tights as Englishmen , and if they stopped his reli they Bhould take him and his wife and five child * into the -wotkhousa . This showed the determiu spirit evinced by the men of North Lancashire ; som ^ ibing was not s-peedily done to remove the prea dUtre- ?* , something would take place which "would Tery disastrous to the caus 9 of Chartism ; for the ni affirmed tiat it was better to-risk everytbJDg than dia vi hunger . In prvx . f of the feeling evinced "by 1 middle class , he would instance , that in BLiekbuin tl allowed them the use of the Music Hall on aay evi ing ; in Cli&erua-anA other places , they had the Infi Sfihovls ; aad thty had an Infant School capable

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      holdini ; 1 , 800 persoas . let to them for 20 s . per quarter . He trusted that they would unite firmly together for the Charter . Mt . StaiiwooQ was one of the representatives of Middlesex , Surrey , Kent , and Essex . He would commence with Middlesex : in .-L " . niiop , Chartism was in a hea ! tby state ; the Tower Hamlets district , which last year enly furnished 2 400 signatures , had already procured upwards of 4 i ) , 000 . He was not aware of the numbers obtained in the o t ) jer districts ; but he bel : evef ; that they were preportionably large . TJnfortunateW , in the other parts cf Middlesex , they had but few associated bodits : taiB arose not for want of a proper spirit , but from a deficiency of means , to tend lecturers " to them . In Surrey , a great deal remained to

      b < s dona ; tbsy ha-A about nine localities , but these lay chit fly in the metropolis . They had made a good opening atCroydon ; and if they c-ulu raise the necessary funds , might effect great good in Kent They had a good locality at Greenwich and at Chatham , Cantertury , and he beiiuved at Tnnbrldge ; bnt still a wide field was here open for thtir exertions . E ^ stx was in a fctill worse position ; with the exception of Stratford an > l West Ham , no place appe . ired to be making any tSorts . They had on thu previous evening held a large meeting there , and an enthusiastic fueling was exhibited . He believed they Were also arousing themselves at Chelmsford . Tfiroughouc ths grtattr portion of these districts diBtrtss prevailed

      amongst tbe working classes to an unpreceaeuted extent . In the Si : ta " . nclu £ ( iistrict distress was equally prevalent as in ihr ^ f , districts spoken of-l-y . Ur . Beesley . Tue tailors , printers . thue-iti&Scrs , and other bodies hail rt-vcr ix-f-irc exp-rifci : ceu : U : h a state of tetal desticuticn . Th ' s ttate tf ihiLgs dejrif ed them of the necessary n ? earjs to support the aiitniiun ; the spirit "Roa gooi . but the pecuniary c ; Sculties deprived them of the means of ' . -xerting it . In London , whatever differenced uf opinion might rxist , they wt-re always unauinious when their oppon ^ iit ^ were before thsin ; at every pu :-iic juettmg the Chartist flag li ^ d wav ^ ti triumphant . We have ever met aiid carried in ail meetings the National ( J ; : irier Association in opposition to the C-. tu Law humbug , the Sturte . or any othtr huiubu ? .

      . Mr . R bfcrts prottst ^ d against ba 3 raotives or iasin-&-rit > being attributed to any paity . Tha Chairman stated tuat he hoped Mr . Stallwood ¦ vv r / Qiti n < : make use ' . f the word humt-ug , neitLer "was ts juiizS ^ . l in Lttribistiiig insincerity to auy p rty . . ilr . Sta'lvfot'd said he should bow to the decision of the chairman , but he was a working man , a \ d he expsviStd his fe-lings in tj : ^ language of working m-.-n . He fih- - -nM cv'nclude by infonning them that in London they had ujiwards ef forty localities , ami they only wjir&i t . e necessary means to spread Cliutltni through xh-- f-.-ur cuuntits .

      3 : r . Lracb said he -vras the delegate for the South Liiicashird district . Chcj-tisin never stoou bttter in this district than it did at present ; this would be confiinicd by t ? -e 25 ( i 000 sitraturL-s Khithhehad brought attache j to the peiitioirj and be tx . iitud to huve aoout 60 , 1 ) 00 rnl > rts stBt him prtvic-. in to - -ti preser . tn ' . <»!' . Like other districts t ey l ! E . ; l rvr .- « r , veti mu U oppts-it -.: n ; tti \ -ir mest V > OJ-tr 'l or > uonrnt v .-as th « Anti-Curn L-, w Lr-nnin districts t-ey badrvr .- ^ , vea m u . U oppt . s ; t .-. in ; tfeeir mest poi-tr i . l opponrnt v .-as the Anti-Cur / i L- . vW League ;

      ' v-.-ncion , for thvy mi ^ ht with propriety be cal'od so . This body , in connection ¦ wi ' . h the- Surrey Couucil , was "R"ht : h- ^ their inol : " -- ' wtre good or b 3 ii , he would ; the c ^ utre from vi heuoe recruiting parties issued . tj icava to ti . L-niselvet ; r Lry had f ^ uiht tht-in under " agitate the various districts . Tae Metropolis was iu a c ^ ver , an . nut in an <¦ -. t-r . n-. acly nunr . ri ; but tbty' better state than , it b ;; d ever ytt been , arid in a few Lad uTricc-me all ui-positioa , and the auti-Com La . w : months time h « had no doubt but Lyndon would Conrzrty c . u :- ! not n > . . v i ^ i-1 a m-et-tin ^ , unltss it -were by Ui : a qmte as many active intelligent Chartists a 8 al > y ticket Ta " : s aiist-s frc : u a ieeling that ve h . ive uj-si . ' : . btht-r district of the same number of popul . ttio ;) in the and i . is > turbed tht ' r niieliv . as ; but , for the cre-. Ut oi k :: > k - : i-m .

      Li " -ci- ; :: re , f deny that we eT .-r attended one of thtir niett ; ic- ; to give ;; faciiuus opp ' . ^ it ' un . "We hav gonu for the purpose t-f di ^ cuisiuj tLe subji-tt . Tneir rernsii to d- > t ' ais hastened to ui-roar . Our cause progresses weli in * iianchtste . SVo tavt s ; s uittting pL .: rf- Th <* Carct-ntc-is have lat-ly jolnc : ! ua aj a Ki . ' y an ; , vie -, rc to have il-. e u . a of thtir Us . )] , "ffhich is c - . et .-f - . r- 3 : r , e-i i . u : liii :. i' 3 in isiaiichei-ter , free oi = s pcr . ce , Ti-. ft CLartis * . s hr . ve also ti 3 gaj ; : d it on Sunday mornings x ^ t sis months . In the whole of South Lsncashiie the cai . s « i Joak ^ trcll , but at tit- Sanaa time 1 am directed to drav ? the attention of the Convention to dt ^ Lss such methjcs as s ^ all stl v ! further iucrea-e cur p- -i . ; s .--tnty by crciitLa ^ a uuion amongst all jr ^ sks of Kff--.-ii . er . ' . r c - > - g a if 1- a e n e s

      iii M-Phcrson , < ie egate from Aberdeen and the £ nrToa :, t ' . ing dutricts , said—W ith respect to so :: ; e pa / t of his tiutiict , he had not btcn previously much acqua : c-. r-i v ( ithit ; but if he might jui ^ e of their ttrec . "J : from their ability to c ; pe with otLer partis , th ^ y -Vt-re tue tiinuip ' . ant party . They c ;> riud thtir o ^ j-cis at every public nie ; tinjj . Iheir greatest uupwitioTi tra . ? from parties professing to att on fifriiibr principles . These wtre originuiij snti-Ccrn Law hh-d , n-jw th y were Siuri , iU 3 : but , nntiing wa Wtre ti :. BiTc-nzn .: party , they agretd to u i ; e with us en cu : unio :. g : onnu ; - anu , to ihow we were not ac . u _ : eil by iartk'Hj i ^ . ' * . ivta , we u ^ reed to meet them ; but I . ain s-rry to say thirj- did cot act in ti . e f . iir , candid vray ttc exp- -iti-d . Frcin -what has fiilen from the Chaumm , "We

      are n- - . allowed to rtfl-ct on othtr pa ; t , yet , I must ? ay , tceir conduct has 2 ) cLn anything but f ^ ir . In Inveri . ?^ . Mfcath , &c , Chartirm is cut .-o fl . uriahing . Thc- _ r pi -c- a have net yet been proptiiy vr ^ auised , but in = cLt ? 3 w-ra lsii . g t&ktzi for that parpen-. If missloBr-rits could nut be ^ upportetl in thfese tLinly populatti . dlitiicts , tractjm . ght , v . ith rr ^ at advautiige , be distritat-id as forerunners . Iu Abi-rdetn , Chuttism w ^ s in a very very nourishing st-te , and they were ? ndevouriiig to increase th's Ly a svstein of co-cptratioa ; E glishrcen ECouid tiideavuur bj a ! i means to brii ; g aboul a greater intimacy of fetiing with their Scottish brethren , tha ; thi .-y might act with greater uranimity bo a £ to givu more force and vigour to their proc-. edings ; ho w ^ i instiueteJ by his coLtt ' . iutnts to rtqurst their iXl-i- tion to

      the issuing of tracts showing the- prestnt distressed state of the country , and pointing out sm efficient remedy . ju 7 . Harrison rdprtsented , with hio coUoague , 2 vlr . Bair ^ taw , the citmties of Nottingham , Leicester , Lincp ! n . and Rutland ; with Rii ' . lanii h-= \ ra ^ ui acq-. ^ inted , ' never having visited that district . In Lincolnshire vtere were but three associated boJks ; fro ; u Bostoii he h _ l brc u ^ ht 1 , 400 signature ? . "With . Nottingham he was niore acquainted than with Darby or Laioesterahirt ; he should therefore confine himself more to that district , leaving the others to his colleague . In Nottingham , to say the- lowest , thty had eight or nine fcnn-ired lnembirrs -, he thought Le thould cot even f-xigfjeme the numbers if he estimated thtm at one thoaajnd two hundre'i , bus on this subject he had written for information .

      They were iu possession of a chapel which would hold ' injro lhan eight hundred persons ; in this place lectures \ ¦ Wrre delivered during the week , and preaching on the ] S -. ' - ' batli . We here perhaps carry on our agitation j different to what they do in some parts of th 2 country ;! we tno ^ s the stroBg religions feeUcgs -which actuate a large portion of the community , and wo endeavour 1 to prore to them that our principles are these advocated ' in ihe Bible , and hitherto we have done so with com- ¦ plete success . We have eight localities meeting in i different public-houses , besides our chiptl . We j have associadons In bvtfreen twenty snd thirty villages ' in tha county , each of them having on an average fifty members altogether . We have between two and three i thousand members in the coar . ty . He had brought up

      40 . " 4 i'O signatures to the petition . We have now regu- ; larly employed one missionary for nine months , who has been of the greatest utility ; if we had means : we have plenty of opcaiuK fjr three kctuiera ; poverty aloue keeps us back . As soun as we have inean 3 we intend organising Rutland aDd Lincolnshire ; we are ¦ aU unanimous , discord is out of the question . We keep on in one straightforward minner , endeavouring to cause the People ' s Charter to b&come the law of the land . . j - 3 Ir , Bairstow said , far the lart thirteen months he ; had been iabouring in D rbyslare and the furrounding country . When he couimc-ncsd his labours there were only three localities in D = rhyshire , now there were

      fourteen ; tho numbtr of members was then one hundred and fifty , hot , in Derbyshire , was b ; x hundred-The old aduge of DwbjsLdre W : is , " Derby bred , thicfc in t e head , " and considering the harJutss of the material upon -which they had to work , he must congratulate thum upon the pleasing aspect of Chartism in this part of the country . Leicester occupied the proudest positisn of any town in the tingdom ; the seeds of Cnarusin were early sown in this town by the immortal Robert Hall , and the result was that the different sects of religionists in this town were more liberal t > an in any other part of the kingdom . The RiV . Mr . ilurcell , and Mr . Miall , Editor of the Nonconformist , wese exam pies of this . Mr . Bairstow then read extracts from n letter he had that day received

      from Leicester , giving a glowing account ol Chartism in . that town , and alluded to the words of one John Winks , ; who might be regarded as » he tnermouitter bf middic-. class opinion and feeling in Leicester , and his advice to ¦ the working men , at the late meeting , wr . s to remain ' . arm to their Charter . They had two associations iu j Ifcicfeitfer , the one Ecmbering about 40 & , tbe othi-r about , 1 . JU 0 menib'jrs . Their organiaaUwi was the most p ^ r-: feet cf any he bad yet witnessed . Their bcoks were ; kept w : th the most scrnpuJous txactness . The state of " . fueling between them and the middle class was very ! qood , and he could give no better proof of their power : than the manner in which Mr . Biggs ' a midland Coun'; ties Charter fell , still-bom , to the ground , ilr . Biggs ' was one of the largest and most opulent gloveis and

      : stocking-m : ikers in the town ; he was reBpected by all : parties ; he had always endeavoured to . kef p up the 1 wages cf the working men ; y .-. t , with all this influi ence , with the aid of his talentxl brothers , and the j ipprobatica of the dissuuticg Hiiiisters , to "Whom he j committed his bantling , with all , it fell -without I a struggle before the genius of Chart ^ rn- He had established & Sunday school in Leicester , and the last I time he was there be waited upon Mr . Biggs , who gave r £ 1 for that object , as did likewise each of his two j brothers , snd they then told him that if -we would not j go to the middle classes , they must eome to us . They \ had also established s library , curtaining many volumes > j of books , and an adult female school in Leicester , and

      taken as a whole , they held a proud position . With , regard to the Corn Laws , if they held a meeting , they . came to them and begged them not to oppose them , L 1 thus abowiDg that as a party , they only existed by suf'] feranoe . 3 tlr . Bairstow then gave instances of the great ; distress endured by tbe working classes of these diss I tricts . It was impossible for woids to describe or pen 1 j to pourtray tbe destitute condition of many districts ; > j but amid all , they remained true to the Charter . They t had extended their association into two oi ihe most aristocratic towns ; Slatlock , famous as a fashionable watering place ; and Melton-Mowbray , equally celebrated for its foxhunting . From Leicester he had f bright 16 , 0 C 0 signatures , Lougb . borough , 7 , CCG ; Derby ,

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      3 , 700 ; the majority from this ' place had been washed away by the great flood ; in tbe whole he had brought 32 . 000 signatures to th « petition . .--. Dr . M'Douall was one of the delegates for the Metropolitan Counties -, the position of Middlesex , and more especially London , was better than it had been at any former period ; still many impro vements might be effected in its organisation , He was averse to Riving a nattering report , bat from his own experience , it was in n , better position now than at the last Convention , and much better than at the first Convention . Tliey were now forming Central Monthly Conncils , to which delegates frum the whole of the four counties could be deputed . This , in his opinion , would materially assist in hpreading the cause in the country districts : some

      difference cf opinion existed , but it was founded on such trifling circumstances that were ifc not for the irritation it producad , he should not have mentioned it ; iu fact , it was founded upon nothing ; and ho trusted tliis monthly council , by anivicg them , would allay thia unpleasant feeling when fairly er ^ aniaed . There was a great body of munin London devoted heart and eoul to the Charter . He had the honour of giving the first lecture ia Canterbury ; a large number of the middle class town councillors and otkera assembled in the Town HalL Since then a Rood association had been formed at Chatham . TueY had formed an association , and got up iarge meetings at Dsptford , and at other places there were associations . In Essex they had only one ; but they were raisins ? oue at

      Chelmsford . . All bid fair , if a plan cf central agitation could b-j c . rried ont . With resF . rd to the trades , five or six . traces had came out , as trades , iu favour of the Charter . He had ;> . « idxcssgd a trades' meetics on the Charter by merely voting " th * chairmau out of the chair and voting him in agair . They were all aware of the suppoit they had received from the masons in the last presentation of tho petition ; ami the masons wei-e how determined to vaik &s a trr . de in procession to the House . Boilies of the shoemakers , the tnilors , the basket makers , the hatttrs . and a body of carpenters were now actively TFcrkiue- in fiuppurt of the Charter : he need not dwell upua thbsulj . ct , for be was happy to announce teat a dbputatic-n from these trad-. s vvculd lay their views before this Convention . With regard to the middle classes in London , he was fearful they coulu not look

      ' to them for much support ; they had many electors who : * vere Chartists , bur the g ; eatbody of the liberal bhopj kept-id were in favour of Sturge ' a plan ; another large ! body in favour < . f I . ovetl ' 3 plan ; but taking them as ' a whole , a vast number entertained Chartist principles . } Thi-y had in connection with the National . Charter i Association , a gooil LoUy of electors , more especiiiliy in Suu ! h « 'ark and . Yiarylebone . Ho had thu'pleasure of ud-• iirfstu-ig a iaT ^ e meeting in Southwaik attended Dy i i : iit :: y o [ the juiddle class , waere the natiu . ual petition : ¦ vraa u . Iopttd wkil two dis ^ tiitieuU . They had a large ' ¦ bu-Jiy of the tiaut 3 , and ihoy had tbe great majority of th 3 workiiijj c . asses . They had a body of delegates ; aieeticg weekly at 55 , Old Bailey , who , for inteliig « uco ; and ii . ^ Uitry , wcru noi inferior to any body of men . : Tkia body uiglit . be . said to form a ' sort of weekly

      Con-; Mr . Dvtyle sail , in tlie district which hereprcsuated , ! previons t <> L : m ili ^ ru h ; : d bten no lecturer . S ive in two or thite places t ; ire had been no oTganizitiim . Stock' pnrt Lad long b ^ en a Radical town , but th : 3 was the only p : ace where Chartism was in a flijui'ishijig contiition . About . br ^ t : im . nths ago , he went among them bias a 1 cUirer ; it vras alniust purely an agricultural district , and they wire mest . ' y of the oid Tory tcbool t-f \ politic ^ , imbutd with thoso arisiocrp . tic no"i « na which our pririciples are calculated to remove . 1 louud the farmers iu the district , altbou ^ h thty Wi re electors , very ignorant , y > t they were anxious to obtain infor-¦ nsatioa , and u good supply of tracta , if tht > y could be procured , ¦ would be calou ; ited to product a gocd result We hr . ve now fourteen districts in Cheshire seniiinc

      delegates to , 1 County Council , held once a month . At our last nv ; eti : ) g we tr > ok steps efficiently to organise tho whole county ; ai : d I have no doubt but in nine or ten months Chart-sin will be in the . ascendant in this cwuuty . In tbe t > wn of Chester we are gc-ttia ^ on pretty well . Wo have considerable opposition , and have eo men ~ ho are bold enough to face the Whigs nnd Tories of tho town , or wa ihouU progress faster . In Stockport Cfiart'sm is in a fl uri .-hing c . onditiou We huVeiiVo ' . i ; 7 uO nitmbers . At tvtry public meeting we have succt-sifu ' iiy carried our principles , tsccpt 01 s one oiviis . pn ' , when thtir cowardice , led them to call ni' etiuj . 3 at an hour ^ f the day when they were wtll aware that the working men . were locked . up in the factor .- ;?; f iifui uf trusting to argument , and reason ,

      they h . iV .- then rtsotted to cunning . ' The more it was pofsiMe for their princ . ' ples to bl mnde knuwn ., the f asttr would they be enabled to yet on : nothing could r . t , ^ ist the movement more than the distribution of ct-jap tracts and publications , and he Loped the Con-Ventic-n would l : » y down a plan upon this subject , or Ret the Executhe power to doit The physical condition of tha population in the lar ^ e tow ; ia was truly deplorable : in H-jz ' egrove the silk-weavers only obtiunvd 13 e . 4 d . for weaving eighty yaxds , and out of this they had to pay 3 s . for rent of loom , ic . i leaving theiu only 10 s . 4- ' . , and to tarn thia they were compelled to work fuurtetn hours a day for a fortnight , X . ver b . - . d he seen faiuiiies worse off than in this district . If Cheshire was Well agitated . Chartism would

      be triumphant ; but if the nre web allowed to go outif it was not continually renewed , they would lose ground . The oppositjoa the ? niet within this cwunty was generally very weak ; more was to ba dreaded from the ab-thy of the paoi ^ e themselves . In Stockport they had attempted to put them down , but they had signally failed . la Conskt'sn , owing to the tyranny of tte masters , they werw weak ; tut in Maccksfleid , and other large toT-ris , they vrere triumphant Mr . Morgan Williaiua nud the district he represented was S . uth Wales ; he had also been nominated in Hereford and Monmouthshire , but they hid not proceeded to the election . Oi North Wales he cculd say cothiiia ; , He weu ! rt commence with Pembrokeshire . There was no Afsociation in that county ; be t > eii yed

      that a let turer had never been there ; in the lower part there were many English , but in the upper part tho population was chiefly Welsh . A lecturer here wouM do much good , tut nothing could be done without one . In CdfcrtuartLenshire , at one time , Chartism was flourishing-, but new it had quite declined . Mr . Hugh Williams , - who once loused it vip in these parts , ha 4 lateiy taken no active steps . The population was chiefly agricultural , and were living in a state of dehtitution surpassing all belief . In Cardiganshire , the popula ' ion wis also chitfly agricultural , and -were very bad off . Mr . Huijh Williams hail fjrmeriy employed'at his own exp . iice a lecturer to travel through this county ; but though a good spirit was raised , yet he had jn t succeeded in establishing any associations on a firm

      footing ; he feartd not a singie signature to the petition would ba obtained from Cardiganuhv . e , yet it was not from the -want of proper materials , for the people were more intelligent ttem the generality of their neighbours , and only wanted to be properly agitated . In Brecknockshire they had not a single association , it had not been visited by a lecturer , save just on the confines ; the population was chitfly agricultural , and in intelligence -were far behind the other counties ; he feared that if a lecturer was ser . t among them be would not be ah !<; to raise an association , they were ; -o bound to the aristocracy that they weuliV not listen to aDy one their employers might choose to denonnce—their word was entirely law . In Glamorganshire , they had only one association , at Merrhyr Tyiivi ); formerly they had one

      at Swansea , but though they had fi large nitetiug there with the . Mayor in the chair , a short time back , a : ul carried tae six points of the Charter , yet they had a ! lo"A-td it t > rest without forming an association ; they s-idly wanted lecturers nr . d the means to puy them . In ihis district they had difficulties to contend with which did not exist in England . They -vrc-re compelled to have two lecturers , one who spoke Welch and tbe other English , or cne who spoke both languages . Merthyr Tydvil was the only place were Chartism could be said to exist , and in no place in the kingdom did a better spirit prevail ; the signatures from this place were 3 G . 0 OO , and before the petition was presented he ahould receive some thousands more . They had a great desire to bear and see some

      of ths Executive or other friends ; himself and Messrs . Vincent and Philp , were tha only persons who had visited them ; they werapretty we ; l off for lecturers , having eight or nine who were capable of addressing a public meeting ; they commanded the whole of public opinion . The middle classes , in fact , had never trieil their hands ut getting up public meetings ; when _ any had been called to congratulate ber Mnjesty , &c , they had always carried their : anendmutts by immense majorities . They bad totally annihilated all other parties It -would not avail to tulk to tb < = m about Complete Suffrage ; they were for the whole hog , snout , bristles and all . ai : d desired him to express the same to the Convention . They entertained strong feelings regarding the three men who had been transported . This wasnatural

      as two of their wives resided in that town ; with regard to the support which they received , Mrs . Williams was as well supported in her business as could be expected . It had fidien off lately , but that was owing to the slackness of employment ^ bich prevailed , and in supporting these persons , they were only doing tlieir duty . Williams was a man that was generally liked . He had had upwards of a thousand men under his direction , and there was not a single man who did not say that he ¦ vras a good man and a goocl master . —( tear , hear ) . They also entertained the most reverential respect for Mr . Frost as far as satn could do so ; they might be said to adore him ; they desired me to express this to you , and

      urge yeuto employ every means to procure their return . Chartism here is in such an excellent state . tnflt if any of say brother delegates coulrl visit us we could get a meeting of fifteen hundred or two thousand men at a few hours notice . At least ten thousand men aicompanied him to the railway station , carrying their petition in front . In Absrgavenny , there was a little division existing , but any one not connected 'with them could be sent among them much good w « -: uid be done . They had a good association , and were very active in spreading thtir principles in the villages around . In Po :: typool , at which place there were many large iron viork . s i ; harti £ mi 3 not in so good a state aa -when ! last v : siUj i them ; there has been sorna little divisions which

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      have been prejudicial to the cause , but with a little discretion and the . aid of a lecturer , the causa would abundantly prosper . He now came to Monaiputhshire ; there had used to be a good association , at Nuwpdrt ; this town , they tne » > had been the residence of John Frost ; here the feelinir in his behalf was equal to that at Merthyr ; his name Would be respected in that place na long aa Newport shOiiUi exist . He-WES regarded with filings of tbe deept at reverence by man , woman , and child , who all bore testimony that he ever took the part of the poor man against that of the rich

      oppressor , and yet with . this . ^ irbn ( ifeeling existing , be was sorry to say that he found no association in existence , and they had not obtained a ^ single signature to the petitio ^ . Oh the night J lectnisd bete 1 had a most numerous attendance ; I get thtra to rako petition sheets , and we shall eventualiy , I believe , ha , vo ia | 000 signatures from Newport . Tee great , and the only want , throughout the districts which I represent is , that of Jecturcra who . nnderntand the Wo languages ; it was not so ipaterial that they should be eloquent men , as that they ahould be able to lay down the principles in language all could understand .

      Mr . Philp said he was , with his cdllengue Mr . Koberts , the representative Of the men of Gloucester , Somerset , and Wiltshire > they had been elected at lnvge jutstings , and were , be believed , the real representatives of tlioao counties . In Batn they had -many intelligent and influential persons who' bad espoused their priacjplfis ; in this place there had been some disunion between the . ' -different ranks of Keforriiers ; but stJips had been taken to toconcil © this division ^ to caug'J a firm union between the two classe ? of society , and . in a . feW webks time , he believed that Bath would present a favourable example to th « ' aurfou ' mling districts . In Bristol they had great ; divibions ; . he had endeavoured , but in vain , t © discover the cause . It appeared to be caused by ptrscnal jealousies . In Gl < ucester , Ghartiem was almost unknown . In Stroiid

      they wtre progressing . In Cheltenham there were many , prifaasing their principles , and it only wanted union and exertion to render it a fl jurishing association . Tiiere were numerous 'to ' wn ' s . iji the neighbourhood which would i ' orm excellent auxiliaries , if proper lutjins Were taken to iirouse them , ff the- persous who lit present were devoted to our- ' principles would but unite to rtmove all obstructions , immense go ^ d luiKht be -eflfveted . ' ¦ He hoped thnt the Conventipii , during its sitthi x in London , ¦ would adopt measures to beal the divisions v . hich had occurred , and would also consider the propriety of arru : i ^ in 4 { an organized ssjslfem of distributing tracts , che » p publioationg , trc Ho feiixu . i there was somuiliitig-wrong'in ouv pre&ent systdin c-f organizutiou . He had aiways disctivereft that in those pl : > ces where ChfU'tisni had been lately planted , it flourished to a greiiter degree ; th ; ui in the largo towns whi ^ re it l : ad Zone existed . These new districts were

      enabled , in many instances , to surpass the -outer and better organized towns , hut-scarce were they established <> u a nrni basia , thun divisions rose up among them . This was the case in the--DsveriHa , ami other places in his district : instead of being as tbey Onco were , united , liu found one party espouning the cause of one man , and another . party ' . the cause of some other man , ihereby falling into the &ame divisions which existed iii the pldtr localities . He was . sorry to bu obliged to make this statemttnt ; it would be far more pleasant to him to be ablo to give a pleasing account , and would rttt-ct more credit on himself vu \ d bin colicogueSi But it -was f > r the best to giye a correct statement of the district , and to adopt measures to remedy . the .- evils he complained of . He should not say moro on this subject at present , but previous to tbe Convention disjaolviuy he f-hould propose some means to be ; il the mflerfcnees and divisions which existed . This \ ni 3 ! i duty nt . t only incuuibuit ) on him but on them all .

      Mr O'Connor moved , and Mr Robert ; seconded , thr . the deputiition appointed to wait on Mr . Duncombe , do now rtport . Carried . Dr . M-Douall state' } that in the interview with Mr . Duncombe , they hwl infanneii him of their int 6 r . tion to piesent the ] Vatioi ; a ] Petition to the House of Commons on Monday , May 2 nd , and they likewise requested liim to move t-hat a deputation , on behalf (/ f the working classes , should be -hoard at tbe liar of the Hcme , iusuj - port of its allegations . Mr . Duucoihbe informed theai that Monday being ; i Oruvernuieat day , it . wonld be impossible foi ; him to . | . > r ^ ent it ou that day . They then explained to him that Monday was the best day for the pructssipn , and that they had finally agreed in favour of that day . The deputation aud Mr , Du- ! - combe then arranged , thr . t the procession should tako y > iac « on Monday , and . that on tliat day lie would , ( if

      the Heato . did not prevent him , ) ^ o into thti premises , of the question ; ntid on Tuesday he would niovo thiit a deputation from the working classes be heard at the har of the House . With regaul to the procession , it waa Ilr . Duucowibu ' s opinion that unless it w : i 3 a splendid one , it would not benefit the Ciuse . ( Me ; : of London , ' rally rv . mnd it ! and m .-vke it , aye , evun more th « n splendid !!) Mr . Duncombe also " udvised the deputation to wait on Sliarniau C > : iwford , and request him to pa-tpotte his motion until after the presentation of the National Petition ; he bad 110 doubt ha would consent . Dr . M- 'Douall stated thru lie informed him of th « c . outvjits of fcihariiiait Crawford ' s note , hut -Mi . Duncombe was . still of opinioii that , from the friendship Mr . Crawfonl professeu to enti vtaiu for Mr . O'Connor , if a deputation , consisting of that gentleman and others , waited on him , he would withdraw his motion , until their petition was present

      jd-Mr . M . oir-niovud a d Mr , Tfljniason seconded , that the deputation which waited on Mr . Duncombe should also now v ,-ait on Mr . Sharman Crawford Carried unanimously . Dr . M'Douall expressed his opinion that if Mr . Crawford did not -acciHlb to their ' request ; it would prove the hoil 0 Tfiw . s 3 . of those professions of union ¦ chieh of late they bad so loudly piofessed . Mr . Crawford , of course , would abiiie by the instructions of the Birmingbam Corf T-.-nce Cimimit ' . ee . It was quite consistent with the forms . of the House of Commona to postpone his motion . Mr . O'Connor also coincided with the sentiments expressed by Mr . M'Douall . A member of the Hcuie cuuld , if , he thought proper , pobtpone any motion . The Secretary -having called the roll , and the whole of the members bein < j present .

      Mr . O'Connor moved that- the Convention be adjour eii until nine o ' clock on Monday morning— -then to proceed with the reception of the reports from the various delegates . > 3 r . Roberts seconded the motion , which was carried unaninu m ! y . The Finance and other Committees remained until the evening transacting their several duties .

      Saturday , April 16 . This dt \ y having been set apart for the transaction of business by tho CominiUees , the suveral gentlemen composing these Committees were busily engaged in consideriuij and arvangiog the various plans necessary for the facilitating of business duviog the ensuirg week . We arc happy to state that the greatest unaniinity and cordiality- of feeling exists : every personal foling hiis been cat aside , and all are intent on the one grand object of adopting the btst inesins to promote the welfare , and ensure the freedom of their comaioh country .

      Monday , Apnllo . Mr . Duncan was called to the chair , Mr . Leaeii to the Yice-cli ' air , and Mr . Campbell as secretary . The roll beinfe called , Messrs . Campbell , Leach , M'Pherson , White , Bairstow , Duntafl , M'Douall , Woodward , O'Connor , Morgan , Williams , Ridley , Doyle , Beesley , Halson , Lowry , Mason , and Thomason were present . Mr . ' Roberts was called upon to report , but not having arrived , tho Chairman called upon Mr . White to repoVt ,

      Mr . White said h-3 vfas the representative cf tha men of Birmingham and the . ¦ surrounding ' , district .. He would commence ' ¦ with Birttiiuglium . The civuso in this pl . ice v < as curiously ciriunibtancud . Tiio Chartiits cf England we ' re greatly misled regarding tha p'jlitieul position of this tov . n . They had supposed it to be < ut-aud-out IiiuUcnl ; but ha bad found that although , at" the tiinja of- thu Jteforni Biii .- 'the working men had been raised to a pitch of entliuaiasm by . " the masters , yet tliey bad in reali ' yno politicnl character of their own . Ever since the establishment of the National Charter Association , tl . ey had moV with oppcisition froni all parties , even from those where they had least right to expect it . The old Radicals were bitterly opposed to them . The Christian Chartism party , and

      their own ,:. was continually clashing . All attempts to unite them liad hitherto failed . True , they had held large meetings , at v / hich they promulgated their principles ; they were sadly disorganised , but steps h-ive been tiiken to remedy this , and he believed that if the spirit of the people was properfy concentrated , it would-bo t ' ound to bo as good as th ^ t of any town in the kingdom . In Worcester a great number of tbe men were what wsro called frefcmen , and they never troubled their heads with politics , eavo at the time of an election . ; .- ' Since au association had been established there , sometimes they had gone on -well , sometimes bad ; bnt They hail nover made event progress . At a large public raeeting , Ciilled to consider the distress of the country , with the mayor in the chair , they had refused him a hearing ;

      but Btill they had carried the Six Points of the Charter , and the mayor refusing to put the National : Petition ,-they voted in another chairman , and passed the petition amid great cheering . This showed that a good feeling existed in Warwickshire but little , bad been done . Mr . Donaldson and Mr . French were the only active Chartists in the town . Messrs ; O'Neil . -. ' and Collins had lectured in the theatre , but with no permanent result No associarion had leen founded in Bromsgrove , the 'inhabitants were : chiefly nailers , an * they \ vere in ii moat wretched state ' of poverty .: Men , Women , and children-were compelled to work for the merest trifle . He had seea women hsmmeriDg at n 3 ils with their children hanging to their breasts , they not h&ving time , to

      suckle , afraid of the loss of time further reducing their scanty pittance . They had held several public peetings , anA the general opinion was in favour of C hartism ; , teut the association had not greatly progresBedi Stcurbndge was ft great iron district ; they had held iBfcveral ineet- . ings , and obtained 3 , 500 signatures to the National Petition , lime waste was an adjoining village , inhabited by colliers ; there was a good feeling In- 'this place , feut they greatly . Wiittted a lecturer , which tbey had ; not yet been ab ! e to supp ly , them with . Dudley was a place of a similar deficriptlon ; here their principles had progressed rapidly ; they had formed an association ; but it was yet in its infancy . In Coventry they had carried their principles ufc several large meetings ; the

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      men at the head of the association in thia town were a intelligent and asactiv&rrien asi ' . werc to be found in tb kingdom : in this place they were power / ut In Nun eafcon they were simiiar to Coventry , chiefly rjbbam wcavera , arid were favourably disposed to the Chatter At Leamington , noted for its fushionible spis , theii association was progressing , in Redditob , they mighi judge of the state of CbartiBhi , when be told then ; that they had built a ^ all for themselves , and the majority of the population were zaalous for th < Charter : these were the ten towns of his district ; the

      cliief thing was the -want of lecturers ; but the grand point-was the payment of them ; they were immors' ; d irisuch poverty , and some , were so apathetic , tloat they found it difficult to raise , funds for this purpose at present j and unless some otlier method was devised they would not make thut . rapid progress which other ^ wise might be dste . Hecould not sit down without test'fying to the great ^ ood : Mr . Mason '" - . cad' deno in the two counties ,. Warwick and "Worcester , since he had been their lecturer ; he had added much to their strength . " : . ; ' ' ' - . ' , . ' - .. .. ' ' : ' . ' .. ' : : ' . ' -

      Mr . O'Connor said if he understood the matter right , they Were to lay down , the best means of advanciiig the cauas , aa yrell as to . report the State of their districts . If tho humbps of persons who had voted for the election of dolegates , or the signatures to : the petition was any criterion of their strength , Lancashire and Yorkshiro might be Baid to be thie hotbed of Chartism ,: ail who had watched the progress of the cause , who had traced it step by stap , to its present position , liiust ackno ^ wledge that , until thpy met with opposition f roin the Corn Law Iecturera and others , they were nsver enabled to maintain so hi . ch and so flourishing a position ; from the date of this opposition might a new ] era in phu ' rtis ' ii : be traced r previous to then , they were supposed , tis a

      party ,, to be -without union , to have iio boniVof sympathy or concert ; this struggle had ^ brought . forthail their latent energies , and enabled them to read such a lesson to that nnd to all other parties , as would not speedily be forgottei ); it had Shawn to themselves and to theii- enemies the powers which , by union , they were enabled to wield ; every atteiujt to break up their agitation , come from what quarter it might y had failed ; let them nevertheless beware how they allowed ' that strength to be frittered away . Let them be careful to counteract every scheme calculated to divide and disunite them . Let them hold firmly to ; ' principle ; ¦ Fo his own part . hu would Kot abandon ons ainsle point of tho Charter . Ke would not tvbti . abandon th-. it mmi

      Which h ; id weather : d the storm and the calm ; but whily he looked ' upon , the orgarizsd Chartists to be tha main army in iha avt ^ . ck upon the citadel of corruption , yet he recognised ail ks . allies who bore- ' dow-n .. -upon tin ; sanie \ 10 rJka—who combined in att&tjuag the evils which existed ; ami in this view ot the question , so long as the party c . nneet'ul with Joseph Sturge kept to the line of conduct they h ;; d lain do \ vn , they deserved their thanks and their co-operation . All ' sections of reformera , whether inontiary , local , Or of wbfituvor tirscription , were abeitiuA' the grand cause by distrac « 5 f »^ ami l . arriissing the common , enemy ; but he feared that-, the efii cts of a lar < rc party woiil-i be more directed to the restoration of tby Whigs to office , than to assist in pro-( iuoing beiu . '&t to the whola community . He was sure

      that the present deleg ;> t >; d body , representing the intt-rests of vast masses of nien , niust have heard with satisfaction the various reports ' which had been laid buiWe them . Tutro was only one report , at the hearing of which he experienced any tkin ^ like a fetling " of dis--satisf'tction , he alluded to the report of Mr . Philp . 'Ha was sorry he was nut prs-sent , but still , in his ., public duty , be shaiild proceed with his remarks . If tho district which he represented was in the < Ms '< init > . d , the miserable state , in which he represented it—if his statement did not savuui" somawhat of disaupointnu . i . t , jt ceitsiiiiy did not rent . ct much credit ujv-n those who had been leaiiing men iii that district . If you look in any ; district yon w'iH usually fisicl that if it is apt-. ihetic , or'disorganized , it proceeds from a want of energy and union ann » ny the leaders and not among the mass . When working men delegate that power to leaaera , which they L : ive not time individually to exert , they

      sire too apt to allow themselves to be lulled into apathy if tbose leaders do not act With : sufficient energy to arouse them . This did net , however , . a ^ p ly to the wliDle country . In the past annals of this or any oLUer nation , -thp ' re never exit ted a more intelligent , honest ; and determined beriy of men than the present Chartist leaders , or lecturers . As a party the Gha ' rtista hnd ^ iifflcient powe r , virtue , aud energy , to--command the respect ¦<¦ £ any Gov > . rnB !> "nt , -whether it was coniposctt- of Whigs or of T : ) ric £ i . aiid having obtained . this . j > --aitlcn he again '' warred them not to allow their , energies . to bu fritter id aw-ay—to hold out the h ^ . nd of -fvutewbbip to all in ? n , but to form no union which was not based on their own gJorloiw . -in .-ippavab ' e principles , in defence cf Which tbay l : ; id fought , had suffered , and had . bieci . For hi ? own part ha would not abandon ona iota cf the six points . He woa ' il never fi g hb unfler any banner which had m > t the Gtnrtyr inscribed upon it .

      Mr ; Roberts— ^ He with his colleague , Mr . Phvlp , represented the district of Somerset and Wilts . In Mr . Piiilps' statement ho recogiiized tbe true position of those Ct uv . tif-s ; nut he would refer to a few pKcss which My . Philp hrid not noticed . There was Dav'Zes , a place famous , or infamous , for the treatm&nt which h « and others -had there experienced , It was situated in the centro of nn agricultural district ^ , tiio papu ^ ation cf ¦ which was deplorably ignorant , vrho were vri ] Ht > g to act in the pay of either party who would best remunerate them . By the an ! of these men they had driven Chartism out of Ddv : z ? s , and iniprisoned him and others f ; r a riot , of wliicli they were the victims and not the creators ; but h ( 3 was proud to inform thtm that a better spirit now-existed' in this place ,

      produced , perhaps , by a recollection of the injustice , tlvjy had be-on guilty of . Mr . Vincent had sinco leetiirtni in tl'is town . A Fpirit of inquiry was abroad , and if Mr . O'Connor -thought is worth his while to visit that district , let hivn have a short notice to beat up -the 8 urro . uu . diug districts , and he would procure him a ¦ warm reception . At Snlisfcury they had an association , which'tfaiu ' usrh few in number was composed of as determined and" good men as any in the kingdom . A largo mass , too , only wanted the excitement of a public meeting or two to dtscliire- 'boldly in their favour . If some lecturer of noto , some one whose name was calculated : to arouse their dormant energies , was to visit thorn , great good would fee effected . . Sa . Iiab ' ui . 7 was in thg centre of a lot of small villages where Chartism

      was unknown , whero they . were taught by the parson to live ; and ( - ; ie content in poverty . This neighbourhood , he thought , was deserving not only of Jocal but general agitation . A better spirit now existed than ¦ when the late riots occurred ; , they would then have thought it good sport to stone a man to death at the bidding of their masters . He would now refer to general nv . itteis , and he would say that it was theiv duty to look their ' -evils' in the face ; they wore not assembled far tho purpose of praising each other and of giving flattering reports . From some of the reports given on ' Friday his only surprise was . that the Charter was not the law of tho land . Ftusu those statements it would appear that it wanted a drag to hihiier it from progressing too fast . He lookeii

      upon Chartism as a thing yi-t to be won . If the only obj-cfe of their assembiiny ; -was to present the petitioa oue half thb time » ml one half the aumbtr of delegates would be amply sufficient ; he thought it to be their province to consider the best means of reuioviog obstructions from their path . There was evil that permanently ' .. and . progressively impeded thecauso of Cb . n-tism , and if they had pot been vaided more by circumatancas than by tbfeir own exertions ,, it would have ai'till- more hindered th « prepress of the cauas . He ailudud to tho general disposition on the part of tiia Chartists to interfure" wilh the sanctity of . ' private opinion ; hea'mittert that if they approved : of a iiisn ' s conduct they would ho justifiedIn . expressing it ^ if -they thomjht a man not honest , they had a fight to say so .

      So far so goovS ; but they were not content With this , they -gathered t' > gether knots of individuals , arid immciliacefy p ; isss < i vo * . ts of cerisu e . Theso were immediately sent off to the Northern Star , the only public organ th ' - 'y . possessed ; and by this me / . iis a man who , on Monday vpaa considtred of sterling honesiy , on Saturday , founil himself denounced ov < r the whole kingdom as a spy and a traitor . IndiviiiuaHy , perhaps , this WBs not so important , for when a ninn truly entered theiaiiksof the people , he should be prepared to sacrifico even his life in the ciuse ; but the mischief-. did did-not rest here , it drove good men from tho ranks— it caused bad blood among those who ought to be united , anil hindered many from joining our ranks . Mr . B . tfeen went into a long detail cf the circumstances connected

      with his election , and the election for Bristol of'Meesrs . O'Connor aud Leach , and stated other circumstances connected with the subject . ^ The chtapa-i and the readiest way of obtaining popular f-. ivqiii was by Sayirji ; hold of some prejudice and' fiddling oil that string , —( laughter ) . —heat leastfcralfcundivso . TueT ' eadtest way to raiso your , own fame was by denouncing tbe coi :-duetof your brothtr Ch ' . \ rti ? ts .: Mr . Roberts then referred t > his being quest ! onp < 2 at Birmingham for ( joing to the Chartist Church . . If he was asked to what-he ' should attribute this interf -reuce with public ' . opinion ' , he knew not what to answer . For three years the leaders had no jealousies among themselves ; . they wore everywhere received with equal warmth ; but about a year and a half ago , this feeling sprung up ; whether it

      camo by intuition or by atm'ospheric agency , he knew not , but from that time the feeling had existed , that all who did not think siniiiartp the NQr'Jie 7-n Star vtQifi traitors , . dec , to their country : He did not so much find fault with this specks of despotism : ; if the time was oj : « of action , it might , by circumstances , then be necessary , but the present was the time not of action but of thought ; coincident with the origin ofthis feeling , was the Sfenvmciation p » cieti ont againat those who signed Mr . Lovett ' s document . M : irry sighed that without : a thought perhaps of its tendency . ; -The conduct pursued on that occasion gave him great grief ; he felt that many Uffe the ranks whom a little courtesy

      vvonld have retained . If opinions were to be interfered with to this extent , let : ifc be done by a deiiberatti assembiy like the present ; let them lay down a ralo of what wp ate to think , how far we are to go , and when to stop . If this assembly decided that a Chartist should not join another ' association ,, he should to a great extent bow ! to it ; this would be far better , than leaving your conduct to be judged of by the ever-varying state d £ public feeling . He wished t ; is to be fairly considered , he -wished that when Mr . Buiratow had given his report , he had alluded to the quarrel between Messrs . Cooacr and Mai'kbam , and in conclusion be should like to -see a map cf Ghatt ' . snL diivsn up , fif ^ iB g ; the vrutticv \\\« shades cf ouinion in each distrieV To some they could

      Untitled Article

      then send leOv urers , who would h \ y do wn the first broad ' . principles ; et ^ er districts would require the services of men of a raort Philosophic cast . He would conclude by giving them thfc' words Mr . O'Connor had expreesed in his report , vT ^ at ^ e was . willing to co-operate with any section whO held the principles of the Peeple ' s Charter . " . . ¦¦ •' - . ' ¦ ' : Messrs . Bairtow urifl ¦ " Wt- ' stated that as Mr . Roberts had alluded to BirmiESban . ; and Leicester they would explain at a fitting qppottunii . Y * , : Mr . Wood ward , was the reprey ^ nktivc of the Sussex district ; with the more Soatherly cortion of Shropshire he was not bo well accquainted , b . ^ he should leave th : it to . Mr . B : irtlett , his colleague , wliv > he trusted would arrive in time to report . Chartism in-M * district must

      not be estimated by the amount of U ^ population ; his district was the retreat for the arK '» ocracy > and the residence of royalty ; except at BrigbU ^ n they ; had not any body cf great atrength ; in Brighton they had no diiferences or division ; if any occurred t . ^ 7 took care to sottle thtm , and not to niake them public . Tim " population of Brighton was 50 . 000 , and . oqrfe ° this iiumbur one half was composed of tne aristocracy , ^ ^ servants , and dependants ,, and ihe wtaltby shopuerat " 7 ¦» thty hid not therefore the materials to work on whit ' ^ existed in other phices , but . still no public meeting ' could . be called afc which their principles were not advocateil , andChaitLsm rdiidered triumpharit . Pctiviaua to . the establishmdut if their association , maay : of the middlts clasa proftastd to ; be Radicals , but thoy enly

      niade uso of the wo-jfc . Dg men for their own purposes ; when they choose to rest quiet all was dormant until they ? g 4 n wishtn to raise an enthusiasm for tbe . attainrnent of »>> me . local or other bentflt From this Radical body of niid ' . iltmen they had experienced great opposition Tiiey had only i > ne place of meeting taken . A . member took a lar ^ e room for the Hieeiiugs . He wits turned out a » d ruined . They could get no place .. They were thfn forced to adopt tho ouly plan left , that ef , at-¦ te ui'Jing aL maeiijigs and convwting them to their o :, ? n ends . This hn- 'l answered so completely , that they vrere new glad to let them ha 7 e the use of tie Town Hull . At the Town Hall thsy hid aduplivV the National Petition , all ' txpeucea being paid out of the t&wn funds . To this petition they had 10 ., 000 'signatures attached . In the villages rbundj they had a . < a > 8 C 0 signatures . To the last petition , ihcluJiug tha villages , tiiey , h > d only 3000 . ; AtXewes , which was the most ccjrrapt . town in England , they had

      1200 signaturea ; to tho ia » t , only 200 . At this place there was a rtal contest at elections as to who should give to the voters ; it was truly a paradise for the vott-rf . Tliey , had spent many pounds in . agitaVin * the villages round ; yet sunh was theoi / po-Bitii ' ii , tli . tt they we : e fearful whether greater evil than £ ooii was not the result . Mr . Woodward then dfetaiit-d many instances of dreadful revenge taken agrtiiiit partifcd in these country districts who dared to t--rkft . any part in the agitxti'sn . At Chichester , a meeting having been called to find some means of relieving 'tie . destitute poor , a ger . tlemaa of the town proposed tbe six points » f the Charter , and told them they did not -want charity but justice . This was responded to by loHti . cheers , and the six points were unanimously c ^ rri ^ d . This showed that even in this Purs on-ridden tow a a stroag feeliag existed . Mr . W . Ci / ncluddd by iilluding to their approaching : . election oo .. test . they having proposed a strong : Chaitist .

      RuSy Kuiley coincided with his brother delegates in their statement regarding the four counties . As far as the country dittricts were concerned Chartism was almost unknown . They had associations iii Canterbury , Chatham , r . nd Ocher p h ' . ces , but they were so crippled for means that unless the Convention could . lay down some plai-u of agitating them , he feared they would not progress . In Surrey , Chartism was established in a few towns , but a wt extent of ground was yet entirely unoccupied . Iu Middlesex they were 1 in a similar position , and lik * wisa in Essex . Id that hot-bed : of corruption , London , at ail public meetings tho working classes attended and expressed their sentiments , and ws're always triurupkact ; still Chartism was far from being so flaurishin ' g .. a 3 . it ought-to'be .. We were deficient

      in Halls and places of meeting in which to assemble . Tiicy inighc in some degrt-. e be S 3 id to resemble what tho working classes l ; ad been taunted with . th ; . t of being pot-house politicianB . But had they not entered these houses and .. . drawn . men from the pot and the pipe ' , to a knowledge of their true posit ' on , they Wnuid never have numbered the large body they did at present A good spint existud among all their advocates . He iVui . d -tven tee t- < taili : rs , much as they abhowed beer and tobacco , & ¦;• ,. entering these bouses for the purpose of promul ting Ctartist prinuiples . A . strong fee-ling aSs . o ' existed f > r' the ^ Welsh : maktyrs and other p-. ilitical prisoiers , atid urged some decided steps to ' hc t ,: k . a to procure their release . Upon the whole , though . net fljurishing in the counties , in London it occupied : v pruud and promineivt position .

      31 r . Pc / Wfcil i delegate for , Cornwall , Dorset , and Devon , said , that with Dorset he was not acquainted . Afc Truro , ' in Cornwall , th ' .-ybad got up several meetings , raid had done much gopti . This town was a hotbed ot Toryism . At B * druth he iiad met tne great Corn Law imitator , Mr . . Pimltou , aarl , in a set Giscussipn , completely defeated him—not twei : ty hands being held up in his favour . Previous to this they cbuld obtain no place to mett in . At Cambourn , wheri he first went , they had not a single Chartist . Now he had left them upwards of seventy itroag , and had received a cheering letter from them on that morning . At Hay they were ( ioiiij ; ncthicg , There wera a few liberal men , but they wtra connected with Mr . Lovett ' s party . At Ptinzanca , St Columbs ,. Weybridge , Padbridge , Newby ,

      Elsione , and other villages round , good had been effected , and small localities raised in . most of them At St . D . iy ami Si . Ann ' s there was a prospect of h'iving an .. abundant : harvest . At Plyiiiouth -tisey were going on successfully . At AShburton they were in a veiy destitute-condition . Many were leaving their own soil to till that of other lands .. At Buckley there w ; is a good spirit ; ,-but thoy wanted enrolling . At Tiverton they had many good members /; and the whole of these counties , cy--exertion , might be made to stand in a prominent position in the Chartist cause . If a manibsr of the ExaCuUve , or a man of note , could go amongst them , much ; good would be effected , more

      especially among the miners—mar . y of these -were now on strike for wages . Another party had struck againat the tyranny of their niaster . '; He had se > eral times lectured to them , and showed the inefficacy of combinations without . political power . He had at first expofie . nced much opposition and much ill-treatment . He ceuld get no oho to print his bills , nor the crier to cry His meetings—so that be was impelled to cry them himself ; but opposition was noMr vaniahing ; he had only to teli the bovs , and they would soon get him up a meeting . He hoped some friend from the Conventicn would visit that district ; he would ensure him a good reception . . v ¦ " ,

      ?> Ir . Mn 8 orij delegate'for Staffordshire , had chiefly laboured in Stiifford , Wolverhampton , Dudley , and 33 ilston . With the Potteries he was not so well acquainted ; but he knew that they had excellent , meetings , that a good disposition was evinced , and that the feeling of ¦ this district was decidedly democratuj Their organizition was fat from being -perfect ; . in very few places was it so perfect as to give taem that command of public : opinion , to which , if it was , they might uttain . There is a want of some method of concentration , which defect , he trusted , would be remedied . At Bilston the organizition was mpr& perfect than that ot any town in the kingdom . Previously to the formation of an association in this place , it was enveioped in the grisaest ignorar , ca and political delusion ; they : had

      been debased by their brutal toil , and the ignorance ia which they tact been kept Few could read or write ; but thay w-ere animated with the true : Chartist sphit . At -WDlTerhampton the . ' organizition was not good ; but . at public meetings , their ; principlesf were triuinphant ¦ At Wtdnfisbury the cause progressed well . At St ' iiffjrd the . fesling was good ; but they were not organizsd sufficient to command public opinion . They had lately a larga public meeting . Divisions had been ailuded to ; he- must say , that there was a want of a . feeling of charity ; in : iny who had dared -to ; give vent to / feeUuga contrary so the majority had been denounced in the Potteries ; there had bfeen some paltry differences , hut to no extent ; but in the other districts we have not the least division . The manner : in w ) : ich the working classes have been treated baa made them very jealous of every action , the object of which they cannot clearly ascertain ; this he . considered : tb be one of the greatest

      buiwancs to the wurLing classes it prevented them from the danger of being deluded ; but at the Kimb time ,-he disapproved of any : interference witii private opiniona . He would have signed Sturge ' s declaration , and lnvo attended the Conference ; the Bien :. pf Coventry-we ? e uuxiousio [ elect him ; but he feated if he tsoik this step lae siiouid have been denounced ; and knowing how essentialit wag " -that a lecturer should possess the confidence of the people , he tad : twarted his inclination and had not ' attended the Conference : ; be hud also been elected for Shropshire ; but ; bad not visited that district ; but from information lie had rec&ivtdi they Were essentially democratic in ; principle . Mr . Prow had several times visited that district ; at his first visit . be . had been much illused , but now he was every where received with respect ; With respect : to his district as a whole , Staffordshire was well-organised , and in spirit was not inferior to any district in England .

      Mr . Lowery , delegate froni Edinburgh—He was delt-^ ated from a very aristocratic town ; one-half of the population were parties ; living upon their means , ; it was divided into two towns , the old and the new , and contained a population of 250 , 000 , of whom 150 , 000 -w ere living without any business . They had few public works : or manufactories ; and therefore there was not that discontent exiBting frptti which the desire for Chartism arose . . They wiAVld perceive that in Edinburgh tliey had not the same material to work on as in Glasgow , or in other large manufacturing towns . In Edinburgh they rented a large chapel , in which lecturts

      were given once a week . ' A discussion was also held once ti week ; and on Saturday- evenings they had a sccial festival , at which they usually eleared a profit of £ ' 2 10 s They had associations at Musselburgh , Dalkof'h , Gvlashiels , Lasswade , and other places , and in each phice they were capable of comniancling publio opinion . The profits of their festival they devoted to the Spread of Chartism in the surrounding viliageft They ; Were pot able to « sariey , their prlaciples to any grtwt extent of distance into the country fto . n want of sufl > cientfunds . The ; villages were in most instances iso-Uted , and locked np between hills and mountains ; and bsing a , thinly scattered agricultural district ; laying " *? && , f Continued in our seventh page . J

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      6 . THE N O RT HE R N S T A R , - ^ C ^~ ~ " ' ¦¦•¦ * - ' : : - , - . ¦ _ _ "«•¦ -: . ¦ '¦ " . .. , ¦ . . .... - ;„ . . ^^ 1 ^ - - - ¦ — . . ^ -ja—_^__ ... ... ' , ' . - _ ; . „

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 23, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct595/page/6/