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MANCHESTER.—The Cnartist Youths opened a* new Association Room, in bpear-streefti
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THE CONFEEBNCE.
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THE A T OB.THE11N STAii. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1842.
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©o Mttitw® aim ®*rr^ott&ent0.
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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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JIOBE TRICKERr OP THE MIDDLE CLASSES AT SOUTHAMPTON , AND THE TREACH-1 ..-DS CONDUCT OF SOME , ONCE THE
> - < T ACTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION TO TBB EDITOU OF THB KOBTHEBN STABI > rA 3 . Sib—On reading frequently your remarks in the fading articles of ibe Northern Star , on the jnidd ' e elapses , I have been led to believe that they were har . b and unmerciful : yet at the same time I could i -r jj-tify the belief with Ftffiwent argument io cw . rwek them . The events of the past fortnight in thi- < own , hare confirmed me in the opinions you enter : a > : ; and in -giving you a report in this letter , of a PDbiio meeting held here on Tuesday evening last , for * ne election of two delegates to the National CsnftrtnM at Birmingham , I will accompany the repor : with such comments as I think necessary for tijeor ^ -ion . In the first plaae I must state that the e ; u :: c ^ of the Association resident nere , came to
the ecr . S . u : cn of effscting , if possible , a union of all Bhaif ? of reformers favourable to the principles of &e Pccpc ' s Charter . This , then , was sought to be done & ; . * every available meaus in our power , and riehlr we Jeserre , for our truckling , the treatment we ha'e experienced at their hands . A deputation waited ui on the most active and prominent men in the Comp ' eie Suffrage movement , to know whether they nuei >< Jc <~ i to take any part in sending delegates to the B-. rrEiaghaTn Conference , to which they replied , they h-i-i not considered i ; , bni that they would call together a few friends and let us know . Mr . Bartlett war aot admitted to the presence of the . conclave . We nex : sent to them to know if they wouid call a public meeting . At the meeting alluded to above , they «' .-cided tint that they would call no meeting .
Tfir Complete Suffragists knew if we called the neetiij ^ . the ch agrin of defeat would not be so great , and t ' nn . s they coqueted with some of our members to get n- to call it , which they did , on a promise to pay a por . r-of theexpenoep . They had , previous to them ; -. T'Dg , beenusing every means to secure two deleave- of their own . Many master tradesmen attended with their men on purpose to defeat nB . Win ;* ; they were thus engaged we were engaged also ia ^ getiing up tbe meeting , and neglecting to rally ocr ps « y . ...
We 33 , 7 ; ow to the meeting . I . was called , and but poorly -:-enicd , not above 300 being present ; and on a motion beln £ made that Mr . Goodman ( Chartisi ) r " o late the chair , an amendment was proposed in f » T 3 \ ir of Mr . Whslesby ( Complete Suffragist ) . It ws > par to the vote , and Mr . Whsle-by carried . A reWimion having been moved and seconded , that this mating do elect two delegates to the National Conf « -.- *» ir e to ba held » t Birmingham , on the 27 th infant , was put Md carried . The following persms were th- ^ n nominated as delegate ? : Mr . Jv B 3 r tlett ( Char = ?> : ) . Mr . F . Cooper ( Complete Suffragist ) , Mr . Ekles ? ( = ; itro ) , and Mr . Philip Brennon ( Chartist ) . On a fhow of hands being taken for Mr . Bartlett , the C : airman could not say whether he had a majority - ¦»¦ not . and he left it undecided , till he took a show &rhands for theothers , wbJch being done , the
election fell on Mr . F . Cooper and Mr . Esles 3 ; the basest means having been resorted to- fo gain a majority , which only was accomplished by tho masters " of different shops attending and heading their men , telling them when to vote , which they have ^ ne most willingly ; one , a large coaehbuild-r , has obtained a most enviab .-e notoriety at this meeting . He is better known now by the cog-Domfn -if the " Above Bar Bully and his white bIstt-v' A resolution was then put to the meeting , B That the delegates be instructed to vote for and Fnpp-jn ? h ^ six principles contained ia the People ' s Hv r " which was pot and carried . Through : \ is j - - uiion being passed , one of the delegates , Mr . Ekless has resigned . Another meeting will be ¦ illed to elect another individual in his stead . Thus : are we been beaten by the treachery of some and . ae duplicity of others . —Correspondent . ¦
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WBkT IS A BASE COMPROMISE . " 10 TEE EDITOR . 9 P THE NORTHERN STAB . Sir , —Mr . O'Connor , in his letter inserted In last weef 3 Star , accuses Sunderland of having been guilty of a base compromise . " I don ' t tbiuk it worch while to waste words , and occupy your columns with a charge which seems as foolish as it 13 urju ? : ; but for the purpose of discovering what meaning or justice there may be in the accusation . J weuld like an . answer to the following quesucas : — 1 . 'A hat prineiple , or principles of the Charter , were compromised in electing any one , or all , of the four representatives chosen at Sunderland ! 2 . " WUh which of the delegates was the compromise made !
I tii ; . k it could not be Joseph Mnrge , whom Mr . O'Coiir or admits to be ** honest , " and whom also he oWm ^ well worthy and qualified to represent the people of Nottingham in Parliament , certainly a nra * -h more important trust than that of a member of the coining Conference . That it was not Roberts vrith whom the compromise was made is also evident from the testimony Mr . O'Connor now bears to his v ? orth and character . Mr . O'Connor could notfafr-y as 36 it that a compromise "was made in supporting Mr . Thompson , because he ( Mr . O'C ) is ignorant of bis personal character and public conduct . I can tell him , and the people of Sunderland Kn > w these to he facts , thai Mr . Thompson is not a mushroom professor of the principles of the
Charier—that for six years he has repeatedly and pu ' uiio y declared his attachment to , and advocated th . s ^ principles , that his parse has ever been opened to a . uf appeal made to him for assistance , in dissemis& ' . u z its principles , or defending the victims ; that fee nobly proposed that brave cbaoipion of freedom , Mr . George Binna , as the representative for SDnderland f in opposition to -ihe faotfooa candida-e ? . Waa the base compromise made in supporting me ! —if so , what have I done ] Sorely the opinion of the people of Sonderland , who know me best , and have witnessed my career , ought to be taken . They have jjuged me . Their opinion is shown by my eleet : « -Ti .
That I have enemies is true ; who has not ! but I defy any one , or all of them , to prove me unworthy of the Chartists' confidence , in a fair public meeting . I wn . Sir , - Yours respectfully , J . Williams . Jfc ^ IJIIIMP I jT f * j * HJl a Jfc ^^^^^^^^^ fc ^ fc ^ fc rfN M ^ ¦ I -
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BHEFf I hi i"D . Mk . O'Coiwoa viated Sheffield on Tuesday la * l , and ju 'he evening addressed a crowded and enthusia ?* ic tnteting in the Circus . Ai ft : trht o ' clock , Mr . O'Connor entered ihe meeting , ssd wss received with the most deafening applause . ** Well Tally around iim , " was immediately Fuiit : in gallant style , the people chorusing most hcaraly . Mr . Edwin Gill proposed that George Evinson siionid v « ice the chair . Mr H oolb Eeconded the motion , which was agreed to unanimously .
Mr . tvmsos , on taking the cnair , expressed the pleasure ne felt MX the honour conferred npon him . He wou-d askfoT Mr . O'C . a hearing ; he knew they wer < -ai .-xioosly waiting to hear him —( chffrs ) . The Chairman conclnded by introducing Mr . O'Connor . Mr . o'Cokkob , on . comiKS , forward , was received ¦ wito rt pea ted and thundering cheering . He thanked thcsi for the reception they had giTeis him . It had been sa : d men change every seven years ; his pres ^ ucf there to-nigbt was a drnial of the assertion . He was ihe same man now that he was when , exactly seven years ago , he stood before- them in Paradiae-rquare , and was greeted with theory of ** ilur *' Pat , who sent you here ? " ( Cheers . ) He ¦ was > nl" the man he was teen , but the people had
advanced . Was evidence required , he would say look 'it ; he glorious triumph or the working men of Shtffi lo jesterday . ( Loud cheers . ) That victory wa ? t > ui tte precursor of a greater victory . ( Cheers . ) p-jverty , rapidly on the increase , would ensure that Ticiorv . The middle class were fast learning what were the na'nral fraits of the present system . Thr . MJSth indirect taxation , the Parliament had Bqu-.-. z-i the people ; by direct taxation they were now ?^ ae ' . zing the middle class ; bn : squeeze as they iruul-i 'hty wou . d shortly bo unatla to squeeze any more , tor though Samson was a strong man , and Solomon a wise man , yet neither of them eonld pay money if they bad it not—( cheers . ) So long as the in'o-. U classes conld squeeze you , we heard
coih ug sbont nnion . iie was for union—he hau preached union , —but what sort of union Uni -n among the working men themselves—( ion i cheers . ) All the legislative and social changes o '" ih ? last few years had done the working classes no got » d —( hear , hear ) See how the Reform Bill had w ri j ; after ten years of reform we have novr a H-u ? e nf Commons who would repeal the Reform Bii '; whereas before that period we had a borougb-! D < jj ! g-riDg Honse-of Commons who were willing to , and oid pass the Reform BilL All the schemes of amelioration and-improvements proposed by themid-~ die ciase at the present time , were-calculated < wlv to give increased power to the speculator and capitalist , at the expense of the working classes . He was foi free trade , bat he was for a freo trade in legislation
first . Under the pretent system they were making kn 5 ve ? , forkB , spoons , razors , fenders , pots , kettles , &c for the Chinese and other naUona , while all the to or- * h # y were in want of these absolute necessaries tbem ^ ives- ( Cries of" True . " ) The present sjetem ¦ wa - not only mining the working classes , but also the small manufacturer . A struggle was approaching oi immense importance , a struggle between the agrcci'nral and political Luid- 'ords—( cheers . ) The Corn Law RepealerB talked about free trade ; they would get it when they ltt $ tie people mto the H » ose of Cemmons , and net beforer- ( eheers . ) In opposing the iree-traders now , he was bet acang oon ^ it enily . In 1834 he voted against a repeal of the Coin Laws , aud also voted against the riew Poor Law . Though an Irish Member , he always ad'vvAU-. liif rights and istereMs of tfae English
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people . He bad toiled seven years in their service , and now that he had made Chartism respectable , now that he saw a man like Duncombe—one of the aristocracy , allying himself with the people , and declaring that the Charter was the only tiling worth struggling for ; when he saw this , he would ask , shall calumny and tyranny drive them from the pursuit of their object t No ; for himself be would Bay , come weal come woe ; come prosecution or persecution ; oomo Blander , come calumny , come bonds or death ; he would persevere for < the obtainment of the Charter , nor be satisfied with less than it entire—name and all . ( Immense cheering ) Ah ! but they say , " yon don ' t go the right way . " He would answer , show him the right way , and he would walk in it ; bnt so union with those who have played the part of betrayers before . ( Cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor next entered at great length into the question of
taachinery , the operation &nd effects of which he explained in a masterly manner . He next took up the Peel tariff , showed how it affected the landlords , and that his prophecies respecting it had been more than verified . After speaking at great length on these Etibjects , Mr . O'Connor alluded to the calumnies that had been circulated respecting himself , suoh as that he was paid by the Tories , and that the Evening Star was supported by the Carlton Ciub . Mr . O'C . ably replied to these calumnies , lashing the slanderers most siverely . His defence was responded to by the most he&rty and repeated cheering . He challenged the Corn-Law repealers to discussion , and concluded by declaring that no matter what he ^ offered at the hands of his slanderers and persecutors , he would break oppression ' s head , or oppression should break his heart . Mr . O'Connor resumed his seat amid loud and repeated cheers .
Mr . Otlet waa glad to have an opportunity of stating to Mr . O'Connor bis opinions . He approved of much that had been said by Mr . O'Connor that evening , but he condemned the pro-Tory policy recommended by Mr . O'Connor at the last election . He deplored tho disunion existing at the present time ; the people , instead of denouncingeach other , should denounce the Whigs and Tories . ( Cries of " and humbugs too . " ) He condemned the Chartists for not giving the Siurgeites a hearing in the Town Hall , and concluded by expressing bis hopes that in future the people would unite with each other and battle only with the common enemy . Mr . OtJey was at the commencement received with partial applause , but his remarks elicited considerable disapprobation .
Mr . O ' Connor again rose and was received with enthusiastic cheers . His reply to Mr . Oiley ' s objections to the pro-Tory policy was received with general applause . Mx . Otley talked about union , he ( Mr . O'C ) was anxiouB for union , yet there were those who professed to have adopted our principles but would not unite with us because of a name . Mr . O'C . defended the working classes from the charges brought against them by Mr . O ., and again alluded to the glorious victory of the previous day . Mr . HiuRNEY alee replied at some length to Mr . Otley . Mr . Samuel Paekes moved the thanks of the meeting to Mr . O'Connor , for his able and talented address . The motion was seconded by Mr . Simon and carried by acclamation , Mr . O'CorooR replied , and concluded by proposisg three cheers for the Charter , name and all .
The meeting enthusiastically responded to the call . Mr . O'Connor then retired amid tho oft repeated cheers of the meeting . Mr . Hahhet proposed the thanks of the meeting to the Chairman , which having been awarded , the meeting dissolved .
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The Northern Star of Saturday next will contain a FULL REPORT of the important proceedings of this National Body during their sitting , up to the latest possible period before going to press with each edition . This report will not be by the u Reporter of the Northern Star ; " but by a gentleman , specially engaged for the occasion , whose talent is second to none in the provinces , and who has held situations in the establishments of the two leading provincial newspapers , ( excepting our own . ) HiB instructions are to furnish a faithful account of each day ' s proceedings . The reader may rely on it that ho will do so .
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MR CAMPBELL'S RESIGNATION . We call attention to the following paragraph , attached by Mr . Campbell to the end of his statement of Executive receipts for the week : — " J . Campbell is no longer secretary . I will publish the Balance-sheet for the quarter in the Star of Dec , 31 st , 1842 , and from the appearance of thus notice I entirely give up the secretaryship , referring the c&untry to my pamphlet for the cause of my resignation . I also resign the office of Executive Councillor . I have done so long ago : (!) and in taking faiswell of my brother democrats , I hope they may secure some person who will be , as I have been , an honest and faithful servant" !!!
Mr . Campbell has managed his resignation in the same manner as the whole business of his office has been m&raged ; as blunderingly and as insultingly to his constituents as possible . He had no right to resign , without first giving notice of his intention to do so , and calling on the people to appoint Borne person in whose bands the books , cards , public documents , and other property of the Association holden by him should be placed . This was his duty . As usual he has neglected his duty . We now call upon the people to remedy the blunder in the best way they can .
We call upon them to determine immediately in their respective localities upon some person in whose hands these things may at once be lodged , with an instruction not to give them up to any person but a new General Secretary of the National Charter Association , elected by the members of the whole Association . "We suppose that there will not be two opinions
upon the fact that this is a necessary thing to be done , and to be done immediately . The man may perhaps excite eome discussion . We think John Cleave a man who has as much of the confidence of all parties aa any other man we know . Ho also happens to be the General Treasurer to the Association ; and , therefore , from that circumstance is tho most proper person to be entrusted with the custody of Uw property of the Association .
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TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN . MrFsiBffDS , —lam oneof those who think that " an accuser should eome into court with clean hands . " I think that we should exhibit consistency in oar character and in oar conduct . Straggling with and for each other , for common rights , against a common enemy , no other virtue is so neoessary and important to us as that consistency of character which may give the lie to the most plausible and most frequently reiterated objection of that common enemy to oar righteous demand .
The objection is that we are unfitted for the exercise of our rights ; that to invest the people with the immunities of freemen , and to give them a due voice in governmental matters , would be to establish a despotism more terrible than any that has yet been known . The only way , successfully to answer thiB , is to exhibit , in all our own conduct , and in the management of our own affairs , a olose attention to the sacred principles of justice which we advocate ; shewing thereby that we are Chartists not merely in name but in character ; that we
revere the just requirements of our Charter , and practise them so far as we have opportunity . It ill becomes men to find fault with that in others which they themselves practise . Now you bad never a better opportunity of proving how much of genuine Chartism enters into the composition of your character than is just now afforded you . Tho opportunity is a painful one , no doubt ; it is One that every true lover of tho cause will deplore ; but it is still one that ought not to be passed by ; and that cannot be passed by without Btultifying
ourselves and inflioting an injury upon oar cause still more serious than that which it has already suffered from the occurrence of the facts out of which it rises . As Chartists , you have aa Organization which for Chartist purposes is your constitution ; you have officers whose duty it is to see to the enforcement of that Constitution in all its principles and details ; those officers are appointed by , and responsible to , you ; and if they violate tho trust reposed in them the remedy is in your hands . Now the head and
front of your just complaining , on the score of political grievances , is that publio servants have the power to trample underfoot the avowed principles of the constitution , and you have no remedy . This complaint may be taken to be valid or factious , just as you give proof of your disposition to remedy the grievance if the power were in your hands ; and nothing exhibits this disposition so strongly as your own manner of conduo'ing the affairs of your own association and its movements .
If in these you evince a disposition to permit reckless disregard and defiance of all the principles of your constitution to pass , without stamping it with censure ; if , having elected men to office , you leave them to do therein just what they please , without looking to its justice or its injustice ; if you permit the sanction of your name and authority to actBby which every principle of right and of common justice is disregarded and defied ; you afford to your enemieaaveryforcibleoonfirmationof their only feasible argument against iMt-concession of your rights . *? £ For these reasons , and for these reasons
onlybecause 1 love justice under all circumstancesbecaase I would not wink at that in our own body which I denounce in others , I have thought it my duty to call year attention to certain gross and flagrant violations of our constitution by our own officers- The duty was a very paiufal and a very unpleasant one ; but I saw it to be a duty , and therefore I did it . I ne ^ er yet shrunk from duty , becaase it might happen to be more pleasant or more profitable to evade it : I trust I never shall . I never yet slunk from my post , b cause it had become difficult or dangerous to maintain it : I trust I never shall * ¦
For the performance of my disagreeable duty in commenting honestly and boldly , giving my reasons for every thing I said , upon the publio documents of the Executive Committee , I have been loaded with every species of abuse and vituperation by all the respective members of the Executive , save Mr . Williams . Not one of my allegations has been met ; not one of my argaments has been answered ; but I have been
abused , vilified , and slandered . Counter accusations of the moat malignant character have boon got up . The most atrocious falsehoods have been asserted about my being concerned in divers plots and conspiracies . I have demanded the proofs : no proofs have been offered ; bat the parties have travelled from place to place , repeating the statements , as though they were true . Thus has the real question , of whether the Executive have or have not abused the
confidence of the people , been kept , to a certain extent , oat of sight ; and yon have to that same extent suffered yourselves to be amused with denunciation of me , iastead of looking to jour own-affairs . Tijis is not right . It ib not fair . After the proofs of the 11 plots" and conspiracies" in which I am alleged to have been concerned , had been demanded , it was not right in any Chartist audience to listen to a repetition of the statement , until those proofs had been furnished . " Fair play is a jewel , " and I hare as much right to it as any other man .
IP THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME CAN BE PROVED . lot them be paovED . And then the question stands just where it did . Call me " assassin , " " villain , " " rogue , ** " traitor , " and every other choice name which has been applied to me ; and what thtn 1 Does that prove that the Ej ocutive have not violated the principles of our constitution , and of Chartism ; that they have not neglected the single one duty they were appointed to perform ; that they have not mappropriated the hard-earned pence of the poor people committed to their care : that they have not manifested a contempt of Chartist
principle by disregarding the remonstrances and respectful enquiries of their constituents 1 These are tho matters to be answered ; and they will not be answered by mere abuse of me ; and if you permit abuse of me to be substituted for an answer to them , or if you permit them to pass unanswered , you forfeit the consistence of your own character , as a publio body ; and yon give your enemies thereby a pretoxt , for the argument that your outcry against their violations of the sacred principles of justice , and fAeirmalapproprlations of the people's funds , is mere factious and unprincipled clamour .
The qiestion is one of national interest and of universal import . The sacred principles of our Charter are involved in it . It is the affair of the whole people j and it is the people ' s daty to see to its settlement . In the hope of averting public observation from the real question , and from the real magnitude and importance of that question , it has been represented as a private quarrel between m 9 and the Executive , arising out of some pique , or personal consideration . Not a siadow of a reason has been assigned for this representation ; and yet the members of the Executive have been seconded in it by some persons
in different parts- of tho country . What reasons these persons may have for their share of this dUrepatablo business , they perhaps , best know . I know , at all events , that a determined effort is made to help the Executive to fasten the enquiry upon me as a personal quarrel . The complaints and investigations which have been made by many of the Chartist body in different parts of the kingdom for months back are ingeniously kept out of sight , and the whole matter is represented as a dispute between me and the Executive ; and not a matter between the Executive and tLe whole Chartist body .
Some members of the Executive , not content with venting their abuse at me through the columns of my own paper , have " bounced" and " swaggered' ' not a little about " dragging me before a public meetiDg '—about " walking barefoot" for the purpose of doing so—about " following me to the gates of Hell "—and such like rubbishly bombast . This may * take , " when delivered , in my absence , to the people , while their blood ia just warm from a one-Bided speech—fraught perhaps with misrepreseatatioa and faLehoad—and while they are thus pre-
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— ¦ ' ¦ ' . ' . . r ^ - " ^;— _ ' ¦ - ¦ - ¦ — ¦¦¦ Tented from reflecting fairly on all sides of the matter . It may serve , under such circumstances , to bring down a clap ; and , perhaps , in some minds to excite a prejudice against me . But the reflecting and discriminating will estimate it at its true worth . They will know that it is intended merely to close their ey # s td the faot , that though ample opportunity has been given tor every allegation against the Executive to be answered , they have not answered one of them . : . ¦ ¦ ¦' . ¦" ¦ ¦ ¦ . \ ' ¦ . - . . f ; ...- ; : ¦ , '¦ ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦'' . . ' ¦ . ' ¦'¦
These blusterers about public meetings and abbot my "facing them man to man before the people , " &o . know that they have here a great advantage over me ; they know that I am peculiarly situate ; they know that my health is delicate and rery uncertain —that I baa never calculate upon being well from one day t » another ; they know that my physical strength is unequal to great publio exertion ; they know that my ordinary duties are so many and laborious , that any addition to them is a very serious inconvenience ; and hence they think themselves perfectly safe in daring me to " come out
before the people . " They think that I shall not meet them in discussion . They commit a small mistake here . I shall not suffer them thus to escape . They have no right to force me into this position . The people had no ri ght to permit them to do so , I deny the right of either the Executive , or anybody else , to represent the inquiry now going on into the conduot of the Executive as a quarrel between me and them . It is no suoh thing . lit the Northern Star I have merely , as a journalist , given honest comments npon publio facts and documents . I had a right to do this ; and no man had a right to complain of it .
I ask nobody to take my opinions for more than they are worth , and I have as much right to express my opinions as any other man . I have done more than most journalists would have done in giving freo admission to coarse and scurrilous vituperation in reply . I hava given the free use of my own columns to the Executive , not only as a body , but to every member singly , to reply to every thing I said . They have used them for that purpose . They have said and written
in the Northern Star both collectively and individually whatever they liked . What more do they want I What more have they a right to f I have already given them much Vnore liberty for defence than they were at all entitled to ; because my observations on their conduct were general and direoted against the body : while I have given free room to them to reply in both capacities ; both as a body and as individuals . And I deny the right of any man or set of men to expeot me after that to waste time in publio discussion with them .
But to leave no room : for escape ; and lest it may be said that I am valiant only in the Star , and that I fear discussion , I am quite ready to meet either Mr . Leach or any other member of the Executive , as an authorized representative of that body , at any mutually convenient time and place ; and then and there as a member and councillor of the National Charter Association to make good my charge AGAINST THE EXECUTIVE OF HAVING VIOLATED THE PLAN OF ORGANIZATION WHICH THEY WERE APPOINTED TO ENFORCE , - AND OF HAVING THEREIN MANIFESTED A DISREGARD ' OF CHARTIST PRINCIPLE
AND OF MORAL AND POLITICAL HONESTY . I make that charge against them now ; as a body . I have proved it itt the Northern Star ; and I am ready to prove it before a public meeting ; stipulating only for a free , open , and fair discussion before * the people—a clear stage and no favour . Fair play is all I ask . If Mr . Loaoh be prepared to meet me upon that question , having authority from the other members of the Executive to appear as the champion of the body and to defend the acts of the body , be will find me quite ready . I will meet any other
member of the Executive , or any other man in England , on the same conditions . But mind : I deal with the Executive , as a body j not with Mr . Leach aa au individual . I have brought no charge against individuals ; and my time is a little too valuable to be wasted in individual squabbles . Who does not see that after the discussion with Mr . Leach , Mr . Bairstow might put in a similar claim for his share of the defence ; and that I must then begin again for M'Douall , and so on for ' the whole ; and that then when every one had had his " go , " the Executive , aa a body , might disclaim all the individual disputation , and begin ie- novo > This might very well suit the brawlers , because it would sicken and
nauseate all decent men of the broil . For that reason I shall not be party to it . I deny the tight of the Executive , or any of them , to claim from meany other opportunity of defence than that they have already had , I repeat that even that has been made more ample than they had any right to . But if public discussion of the matter will gratify them—and they talk loudly about it—I am quite ready . Let them appoint their man ; no matter to me whom : Leach , M'Douall , Bairstow , Campbell—or even any volunteer , in whose powers of eloquence and tact they may have more confidence than in their own ; I am ready for any man , let him be but duly authorized , the arrangements fairly made , and the , discussion fairly and openly conducted . [¦ - ¦ ¦• ¦ ¦ ¦ • . : ; - ' ' . "" . - . ' : ' •¦ ' ¦ . ¦ . : ¦ ¦' .
. Whenever either or any op them may bb ready , authorised to appear for the executive , he has only to apprise mb . i will then name a few friends , and the executive shall name alike numbett , by whom all the preliminaries FOB ; THE DISCUSSfON SHALL BE AGREED ON J and I fancy I am quite able to give them enough of it . tr the " bouncing" of M'Douall and © f Leach have been authorized by the Executive , they will take this as the acceptance of their challenge ; if it have been only individual "bounce" I have something else to do than notice it .
v Ahdinow mind ; let us have no misunderstanding , and no shirkings nor shufflings . I have been forced into this position , very unfairly , and very much against my inclination ; I am not now to be forced out of it again . If the Executive mean disoussion , I am their man ; and whether they mean it or not ! do . I have been Challenged , * and I accept tho challenge . As the challenged I have a right to fix the place of meeting ; and I fix it at Manchester , where the Executive will surely have every advantage ; where Mr . Leach , if he be their champion , will be at home and have no expenoe in travelling \ where the Executive should be best known and have most influence ; where Chartism has a' stronger hold on the population than in
any other town in England ; where they have had the full opportunity during all this time of making a party for themselves by telling their own tale their own way , with none to contradict them ; where Mr . Leach has had full swing at me in my absence , to vent whatever fabrications and perversionsIhe pleased , in private circles or public meetings , ad libitum ; at Manchester ; in the very midst of his own friends , disciples and admirers ; where the people have at their own command a spacious building in which they have been so long used to be delighted with his eloquence , and to hear his denunciations of me , I am quite ready to ^ meet Mr . James Leach , or any other champion of the Executive , and there
prove—1 st . That the Executive have neglected the duties of their office . 2 ndly . That they have violated ^ 4 hfl organization they were appointed to enforce ., jV ^ 3 rdly . That they hav ^ done so wilfully , after repeated caution ws ^ monstranoe . -t ' . hly . Thatf they have wrongfully appropriated the ' monies of the Association to their own use and benefit . . ' " . - . " ; . ¦; ' , ' . - . ' ; - ' ' ; . ¦ ¦ - . ' . ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ .. : \ . ' . ¦ fivhly * That they have both manifested in their own conduct , and countenanced in that of others , a disregard of Chartist principle .
I offer to prove all thoso thing 3 against them in Manchester--their own town ; where their sittings have been holden ; where thoir popularity as lee turers is greatest ; and where , as an Executive , they should be be best known . I ask only " a
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olwtf jBtage and ! no favour / ' that one full week ' s notice , in tb . 9 Northern Star , and by whatever other meant the Executive may please , shall be riven of the meeting ; that it shall be holden in either the Hall of Soienoe , or Carpenter ' s Hall ; that free admission be given to the people ; that no effort at " packing" shall be made , bat that the meeting be fair , free , and open . I will pay one half the rent of the room , if held in the Hall of Science , ( if held in Carpenters' HalJ , I presume there will be no rent ) , and my own travelling and personal charges out of my own pocket ; I will
advertise the meeting in the Northern Star at my own cost ; the other half of the room rent ( if in the Hall of Soienoe ) , their own travelling , if any , and personal expences , and whatever other mode of advertising they choose to adopt , to be defrayed by them ^ alBO out of their own pockets ; not touching the people ' s funds for it . The meeting to be at sime time mutually convenient for attendance ; . All other matters relating to the discussion to be settled , without either their interference or mine , by a committee of five friends on eaoh side to be named for the purpose .
Now ; is this fair ! I repeat that they have no right to expect this . My meeting them in discussion at all is a pure work of supererogation ; But notwithstanding that , as they talk much about itand as they would fain have it believed that they attach much importance to it , there ' s the chance for them . Let them appoint their man ; ( I care not who it may be ;) let him tell me when he is ready and I will instantly name my friends , and the arrangement shall be made .
After this matter is settled , let them bring their counter aocusations if they dare . I am ready to answer in like manner to ANY OH 4 RGES which they , or any of them , or any man in England , may be disposed to bring against me . "A public meeting is the Justice Hall for me : " and to that tribunal I dare the whole pack of yelpers whenever they have the manliness to put their charges into a tangible shape , as I have done , and come fairly out" 11
And now , my friends , as far as the Northern Star is concerned , this matter is for the present at least done with , save what may be neoessary to this meeting , if ever it take place . I will not insert another word u pon it , pro . or con . from any quarter ; unless twftcommnnicatzona whioh I expect in reference to a dirty rascally trick played by a Mr . Frazsr should happen to be too late for this week's . paper : if they be , I shall probably give them next'week . Earnestly desiring to see consistency of character among Chartists ; and to see our movement purged of the ranting mouthing locusts , who have done it much harm , I am , my FriendB , Your ' s ^ fai thfully , William Hill . Northern Star office , Leeds , Deo . 20 , 1842 .
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TO DOCTOR PETER MURRAY M'DOUALL AND TO JAMES LEACH , In a letter written by you Dr . M'Douall , and published in the Evening Starot Thursday , Dec . 1 st 1842 , 1 find these words : — "The Executive received letters from various parts , informing us that a conspiracy was being formed against them , and particularly a letter from Leeds , which stated that Mr . Hill and others agreed there in a certain house , to pursue a certain course of conduot against the Executiva . the basis of which w&a—thal the character of the Executive was to be sufficiently shaken first in private , and then by a simultaneously public assault . *
" Wnere are tne men 1 oh ! both men and letters can easily be forthcoming , and my respected colleagues can have no difficulty in producing them if they are wanted , an event which certain parties will not demand to be realised . ' * " This letter waa written for publication in the Northern Star and was published in the Northern Star , of December 10 , in which paper I demanded the publication of those letters . They have not yet been published . At the South Lancashire delegate meeting , on Sunday , Nov . 27 th , you , James Leach , are reported to have made a similar statement , and also to have said that : * -
"In the month of July last , the Hull Chartists wore about to pa&a the Balance Sheet , when Mr . Hill entered the room and put a stop to i , t , and a friend that was present at that meeting wrote to Mr . Campbell stating that there was a plot hatching against the members of the Executive , of which he would receive the first attack in a short time . ' . ' In the Northern Star of the 10 th of December , the Hull Councillors , of whom I am one , demanded
the publication of that letter , and the name of the writer . It has not yet beeu published . I now reiterate the demand that these letters , and all of them , be published , together with the writers ' names—that tha writers may substantiate their statements if they can . I offer you tho free use of the Northern Star for their publication . I deny the truth of these statements , so far as I am concerned . ¦ -... -...
And until thosk lstters which too bat con ? TAIN AND CONFIRM THESE STATEMENTS ( and Which you have been required to publish , but have not done 80 ) BE PUBLISHED , TOGETHER WITH THE WRITERS NAMES , T 0 O 1 VE MB AN OPPORTUNITY OF MEET 1 NO THE charges fairly , I BRAND YOU , Dootor Peter Murray M'Douall , and YOU , James Leaoh , each AND SEVERALLY , BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE , AS A LIAR AND A SCOUNDREL !! At the samo Delegate Meeting on the 27 th November , you James Leach are reported to have said : —
" When I was at Leeds I had some conversation with Mr . Hill concerning a man in the movement , whose wife lives not far from this ' place , and he is leading a common prostitute about the country with him . Mr . Hill asked me what was to be done 1 I said drive him from the ranks . Mr . Hill thought it would not be advisable to do so , as in a short time a great number of the advocates would be in prison , and the movement would want all the assistance that could be got . I thought that was the very
reason that we should drive suoh scamps as him from amongst us . When the honest friends of the people were locked up—the greater the necesssity of the few that remained at large being unimpeachable in their moral character . But , Mr . Hill thought if it could be kept quiet it would be better . I said that that was impossible , as six different diatriota had already exposed him—and yet at the very time that he was talking to me thus he had an article wrote to darno four of us . "
You , James Leach , know this to be a wicked perversion of that conversation . You know that it is nothing like what was said on that occasion . I will not place my assertion against yours ; because there were witnesses to that conversation , who heard what was said ; and who can confirm your statement if it be true . I dare you to call those witnesses and to ask them to publish a correct statement of what really was said . And until you have done this , I FURTHER BRAND YOU , JAMES LEACH , BEFORE THE WHOLE PEOPLE AS A BASE AND WICKED
CALUMNIATOR . We will publish this letter in the Northern Star every week , till the 9 e statements are either proved or retracted , aa far as they concern me . ¦ . ; ¦ . ; ; - - '¦ ¦ '¦ Yours , :. - '' . - . ¦ ' ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦¦ . . ' Atrueman , anda Lover of Fair Play , WILLIAM ; HILL . NorthernStar , Leeds , Deo . 24 , 1842 .
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F . P . —We wish , in all friendliness , to remind him that we might of ten find room far a short letter , voiien a long one stands no chance at all . His present one , in answer to W . P ., necessarily excluded by its great length , which far exceed ) , the space we can spare for such a discussion . We think ail the points might have been put into a much shorter tetter than the one he has sent ¦ us . ¦ / ' ¦ ¦ . ¦ - ¦ - ..- . . - ¦¦ . ¦ : :. - ¦ ¦¦ - ;; Nobthampton . —In the report from this place , inserted in our last , it was stated thai Ss . Gd . had been collected for Mrs . JJolberry : it should have been ^ i . for Mrs . Edis . R . T . Mourwon . ' —We regret much that we didmt . ftecevoe his ; suggestion last week : it might then have been acted on . ; but cannot now . There w not time for it ; and , indeed , upon the whole , we see very little utility in it .
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Stars to lEEtAN » .--4 genuine Scotch Chariist J the right school writes us as follows : — J * ' Considering every friend of the cans © ahonld do aU to nte power to forward the same . I have made tta practiw to oend my Stars to Ireland for two year . part ; and seeing notice in the Star someTfflS ago , and which notice was often repeated , from « real ot pretended J . C . Grady , whose address wu r ' near French Park , Conner of Rosoommbn , 1 & ¦ ' ¦ land / wishing for a little Slar-Vghi , I accordlnglT have sent a many papers to that address ; andqS be wished those who « ent him papers to write to \ him , I sent him the enclosed letter , 'which ; W been returned to me : » nch a person as J . C . Cfrady could not be found I This wears an ugly look , if there Is no J C . Qrady , at French Park , who hag received all the papers which have been sent thare to his address ? It ( in my opinion ) looks very like a plot Do , my Dear Sir , in your next , gin us your opinion on this matter , so that your readeti who have been in the habit of sending papen there may be pat on their guard , and Bend them where a better nse may be made of them . "
We advise parties sending Stars to send them to Mr , Dyott , who is secretary to the Irish Universal Suffrage Society , and who is a printer and stationer , residing in King-street , Dublin . By sending them to him they may be sure of their Being redistributed to advantage to the cause . An old and tried Democrat , who has seen more than twenty years'service in the cause , writes ut that an old friend of his , a thoroughgoing Cham tist , and one of the " eight honest men" who sat in the first Convcntion , and faithfullydischarged his duty as " Chancellor « f the Exchequer , " paid him a visit the other day , and , among other subjects of conversation , the peculation oj \ and slovenly method of doing public business by , the present Executive came upon the carpet , when heobserved : —
" Well , you may be surprised at what I am going to tell you ,-rrb " ut it is nevertheless true . —that there are in H—— a set of fellows wh « call themselves Chartist * who absolutely tell us that we have nothing whatever to do with the aeta of the Bxeea * tive—not even to call their conduct into question ; that they are appointed to tbe office , and they have aright to do as they think properl JJ " The writer continues . •—"Sir , I was not surprised to bear of moh cousnmmate nonsense emanating from professed Ohartlsta . " After a quarter of a century ' s service In tbe army one ought to learn something ; and in that time X have learned the faot that many have marched with us who cannot learn discipline . Some know
nothing bat the enemy ' s tactics j some look only for promotion ; and some , for fickle fame , are ia . cessantiy sporting their tinsel , and . parrot-like , ate ever chattering about " foaming cataracts , mighty avalanches , and cloud-capp'd mountains . " Saebt Sir , are the bane of tbe cause ; and I am glad ybq have the coorace to give the alarm , like s faitofal and trust-worthy sentinel . Leave not your po « b ; but keep a strict look out , and inspect well oof own ranks , until the awkward squad are compelled to desert . Mind not their blarney about " creating disunion ; " for they , whom yon justly denounced , are the only authors of disunion , and are an lnsn > perable barrier to our progress . Until such remora are removed we cannot enter the haven of our .
hope . " ' : -V . V ¦ . ' . '¦ ¦ . '¦ ¦ '" ; . ' . ¦' .-:- .. - ' : ' . ' :. ' ¦ ''¦ . We need scarcely say that we reciprocate the writer ' s sentiments about the mouthers . We have never ceased to warn the people against them ; we never shall do while we retain the power . If the people choose to be gulled , cheated , sold , and taughei at , we cannot help it ; but we will at least do our duty .-THOif as Allen . —We think hot ; but woald not he iw sure about the matter . ^ '' - .. '¦ G . t . —ffis remedy would be an action against the gaoler ; but we fear it would be a remedy worse than the disease . Peter Rigby . —Next week , if possible . A Reader op the Stab , —/!/ " he wish ( o remain , on the roll he must pay the shilling , if demanded .
John Ward . —We have not room for his letter , nor would it be at all pleasing to the gentleman on whose behalf it is written if we had . We admire his honest feeling ; but it would be vnwue to publish his letter . - ' ~ - . ' ~ ' . . ¦¦ . B . A . Dbomgoole . —Nextweekfifpossible .. Samuel Allinson . — We cannot insert his letter . Veritas must of necessity stand over for the present We regret it , but cannot help it : our space is full . . . ¦ ¦ - ¦ ... ' ¦•¦ . ¦/ ¦ ¦ - , : . ¦ . ¦ . ¦ : . :. ¦ ¦¦ u The Bath Chartists . "— We have received a long objurgation in the shape of an address , adopted on Wednesday ^ the Wh , by nine persons , in Bath , and impudently subscribed " The Bath Chartists 1 " We have heard of people beinp " more R . than F . " : we suspect the parties-iothu u Bath Chartists' Address" to be a little more F ,
than R ., even . Daniel DiGGLE . —TFe cannot give any " opinion" oh the matter ; but we will give his letter as soon as we have room , and let it tell its own tale . ¦ Barber , ; Nottingham . —Want of space compels us to emit his letter . Indeed , it comei too latftthe mischief being done . , V ' . "' ; ' . ,- ¦' „ ' ¦' •¦'' . '¦ V . —We have not room for ' huyjel ( ei . ; : ' ^ we ' jfum agree with him in the opinion that , jhe . , dqesngt deserve much pity , y . _ ; ^ " . ;• ' ^ 1 . V \ 'V ; . S . 3 . —The answer to his first question . dependsxn the terms of the lands in question . To , his second question , * 'No . " To his . third , Qur opinion « that the pond might be dragged or the gasometer
removed without the permission of the 6 wner-- > that it must be done at the expence oj"ihe' fnnir dred—and that the owner would have his remedy for damages against the hundred . . John Cain . — We Have no room . . John Lewis . As ; a right to his opinion . We neither , envy it nor ask him to change it . We beg only to be permitted to keep- our oven . Perhaps we . have a little more knowledge of the matter than he has . Atoll events * when we need his' * scho 9 l ing" we'll send for him . N . B . S . —Certainly not : he must give you sis months' notice , and he must so give it as that you quit at the exact year of your tenancy . Thomas Railton . —His letter next week .
WoLVERHAMProw . —Was Mr . Candy present when the resolution sent here was passed \ Has he had any fair opportunity of meeting and explaining the churgei In the absence of anv information on these points , we should not think ourselves justifiable in publishing the resolution . W . M . C . wishes to inquire wtelher . il be Mr . Watkins ^ purpose to publish his Essay on the System , in a seperate form ? We have several other like inquiries . ; Geo . FEhousoN . —A meeting held on the 7 th would be'rather stale hews now . - : Geo . Greensladb . —We have sent his letter in re * ference to the Victim Fund to Mr . Cleave . John Trurman . — What were the resolutions ? we dp
npt recollect them . " , Calvebton , Notts . —Their list of Council is incomplete—the residences Ore not given . When theg forward it right it will be inserted . Stboud . —All letters and communication in future must be directed to Mr . James Newman , of New Mills , Stroud . To THE LeCIORERS ON THE SpUTH LANCASHIB 1 Plan . —The lecturers appointed on the plan far Roy ton are hereby informed , that they need not go , ds the Chartists of the above place cannot make it convenient to have any peelings at present , . Wm . Dixon , district secretary . P . S . If the parlies appointed for Royton would take up James Ashley ' s appointments , as he is in prison , they would greatly oblige the Chartists of South Lancashire . W . D .
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H . Pkitchard , Stroud—Tbe persons who took thi Star up to the 19 th of November are entitled to Dancombe-, but not the others . . C . Harrison . —To the Star Office . - W . LiNDSLEY , Leeds . —Tbe " P * otes 1 ant Dluentinj Minister " , and "Poor French Btfogee Clergy ; See ., receieyd £ 3 , * 94 7 s ., and the •* Protestant Dissenting Ministers , " Ireland , received £ 34 , 28 < out of the Taxes raised by Government in tho yea * 1841 , —as per Annual Finance Account for the yeat ending 5 th January , IS 42 . ¦ ' Hameb , oldham . —Please say what thejatamps art ' for . ,. - ¦ ¦" ' . .. . ¦ : ;¦ ' . . ¦ V ¦' .. '¦ ¦ . - ¦ . ¦ '¦' ¦ . ' . Ot . Esplin , Sunderland , does nor say what the Pwfr office-order ia for . ;^« .
FOR THB NATIONAL jDEFENCE FOKD . ' . ¦ ¦ ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦• ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ - . ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ : ; £ . ¦» . : d From Huddersfleld , per J . Broadhead i . 0 4 8 \ . W . Hood and A . M . Jedburgb , ... 0 6 0 ^ . HunsleS , by Longbottom , ... ... OS 0 3 a 'eiir '" ends at Newcaatleton , per WalterCrczler ... ... ... 0 Si FOB THE CHARTIST DELEGATES TO THE BIRMINGHAM CONFERENCE . From a few friends at Heckmondwike , per J . Penny ... ... ... ... 0 3 ; FOR MRS . ELLIS . ; , From Northampton , per C . Harrison ... 0 8 0 i
Manchester.—The Cnartist Youths Opened A* New Association Room, In Bpear-Streefti
MANCHESTER . —The Cnartist Youths opened a * new Association Room , in bpear-streefti
on . Tuesday evening last , when Mr » wm . *»» " * delivered , a lecture upon the : occasion to a crowdea audience of both youths and adults . The thanks of the meeting wore given to the chairman andleotureif and the people retired in a peaceful and orderly manner . \ ¦ - ¦ ' . ¦ '¦ ¦ ' ; ¦ . '¦' - ' . - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ .. ¦ ¦" - ¦ :- . ' '¦¦ ¦ •/ : - '; New Eadpord . —At a meeting of the CharH ^ ff here it was determined to send a delegate to tnfl forthcoEiing Confeterice at Birmingham , and apobf lie mee = ii )« will be held in the Primitive Methodiw Caapel , Wonh-row , Bottom Buildings , on ^ W evening , at seven oolook , to elect a delegate for tnai purpose .
The Confeebnce.
THE CONFEEBNCE .
The A T Ob.The11n Staii. Saturday, December 24, 1842.
THE A OB . THE 11 N STAii . SATURDAY , DECEMBER 24 , 1842 .
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THE CONFERENCE . OtJfi space is so full of the news of the elections that we are unable to do more than barely refer to them . Our readers will perceive that they have gone on gloriously ; that M whole hog" men have been returned iu almost every instance . We have now some solid ground of hope that the Conference will be a great means of effecting good ; that it will cement together all the good men in both movements to form a phalanx against tyranny , while it will drive oat the worthless from both to find their own place . Bat thongh in all the large towns and important districts Chartism has
triumphed , the men of Humbug will muster a strong body from the small places . There wUl also doubtless be every " dodge" resorted to for annoying that free spirit of the people which they hare been onabie to delude . We shall doubtless have plenty of disputed elections , plenty of protests , and other means of delaying business and of shewing the sweet conciliatory spirit of the Stnrge men . We hope that our former advice upon the subject will be kept carefully ; in mind that where any Chartists delegate ' s
election is at all likely to be disputed , a full written statement of tte circumstances will be not only transmitted to the council at Birmingham , bat also confided to some other good Chartist , whose election is undisputed , and who can therefore see that justice be done in the matter- Any communication of thia sort sent here to-morrow , addressed Mr . J . Hobsok , Star Office , Leeds , or sent to Hull , addressed Rev . Wm . Hill , Hull , will be sure of being attended to . But remember that we shall be off on Monday
morning . Above all things , let every Chartist delegate take care to ba in Birmingham on Monday night , ready for business at the very opening of the Conference on Tuesday morning . The nssT business will * e the settling of dispdted seats . Every Chartist delegate who , not being detained by Borne absolutely uncontroulable circumstance is absent from his post when his aid is required for thiB business , will grossly betray his trust .
©O Mttitw® Aim ®*Rr^Ott&Ent0.
© o Mttitw ® aim ®* rr ^ ott&ent 0 .
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¦ A THE NOB THEHN STAB ;
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 24, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct630/page/4/
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