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VOLTAIRE'S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY. The first Volume of this yd»' orateu ia
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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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—o ^ th of mind ^ bo rare aa the inarch f ossa's intellect is onward : and forward , so * ure « 5 I 1 these principles go on , conquering ana to eonqner ¦ ya , la theJanguage oTtte martyred Mnir , « it & a tood ^ as sej it staflaltBnately : pterrilj it ^ allfinaiij i jBjn ^ . "—3 Cfae ; convietion that cheered tlat -patriot « i toe € tb of banishment from M * loved bad , is my ^ Bjpjxttai oa Hie threshold of a daageon . Gentle-^ en , lbave done ; 1 leave my case in jotu handii ; 1 -j are a right to .: ^ > ect ; afc yoor hands a » eidict of Jgm&t&i * aiX yonr -retdirt should tie tfifi Opposite W ttB ^ 1 2 » rea ^^ to anticipate , 1 tratf 1 ahall . jueet toe consegnenoes of a verdict of Guilty -with ^ a t Jotfitnae ¦ whicD . jwni 'become me as a man , and - » , 5 t oEfliBclnBf eonsSteney of conduct , and unyielding .
ietd&ito to prmoplB , -which should ever characterlxs ^ jnsn -who , as a hare done , devotes Ma life to the ^ riee of his fellow-men , and the promoUoh of the -jjgppmeBs and "welfare of the whole human &mlly . SiarosL P . lbxbs next addressed ihe Jury ; The ^ efeod&nt commenced by a narrative of his life , jrom his youth , upwards , showing the difficulties he j ^ d had to struggle against , in consequence of poverty * n 3 other adverse circumstances , all of £ hich fie had been utterly unable to resist , not-^ jjlistendmg that he had laboured with nnwearied iidn stry , and * had invariably conducted himself with mbriety and integrity * Finding himBelf unable to
jetter his conainon in lire , ne began , to suspect that there must be something radically defective in the fOTenung system , and , after a careful examinafion ^ f facts , he arrived at file conclusion that the jfortrtj ot the people was caused by a vieioui Byslem nf representation , which could only be cured by the ^ nfoag e being made universal . The defendant was proceeding in this strain , when The Jddob interposed , and said—I must call your jtiention ^ o the-charge against jon . The observajjons jon have beenmaking are quite irrelevant . If . ^ rerj defendant is to give an acconnt of his birth , parentage , and ^ dneation , I am afraid I shall hare le sijheretill next week . ,: :
j ^ juryman—I "understood from an observation jaade bjyour Lordship , that -we ihbuld have laid before us the evidence as affecting each defendant . I -wish to ask your LordsMjs whether It is necessary fans to sit hereto listen to speeches such as have % ecn delivered by the two last speakers , which have pojiuyr whatevei to do tctth the question ! The Judge—Beally , Sir , 3 can give no answer to any sach ouestionas that . It is one , Altogether new joins . " Jlr . O'Connor—My Lord , I beg to make sn application to yoar Lordship , to have the question of the jnror inserted npon your notes . ! Che Jodge—Certainly not s 1 can take no notice of . ft whatever . I never iad sneh an application
Bad ? Jo me in my Ufa . tib . WQvibnj—It appears tone , my Lord , that Jhh qnestion will go forth to the world . Tae Judge—I must interrupt yon . I can't hear ycm on any such matter . ~ The Defendant then resumed Mb observations , and was proceeding to advoeate the Charter , and recommending its adoption , when The Judge again interposed , sayings that the mom ent you adopt _ suoh a line of argument as this J can ' t hear you , because I should not be justified in jistening to a discussion as to what would be the best means of relieving the present distress . Defendant—Then I abandon that . Ti » Judges-There is evEry disposition to give the almost attention to anything that has the remotest reference to too issnen but 2 cannot aQow the public jia » to he occop j ed frith matter which is wholly irrelevant to this inquiry .
Toe defendant resumed his address , and denied altogether the charge of conspiracy , Those parties with whom he was said to have' conspired , he £ new nethmg about them , either personally 4 > r in any -other way . Richard Otley next appeared . —Be viewed ihe evidence which had been offered in support of the prosecution as resembling a very beautiful flower , found on the banks ' of the Dead Sea . It appeared very beantifol to Ihe eye , but the moment it was touched by the hand it crumbled into pieces . So it Was with the Attorney General ' s evidence . It appeared io be very specious , bnt when it came to be tested by the application of troth and common sense it was found io be ef no effect . The defendant was about to read from a manuscript , which he had in his possession , but on the suggestion of some friends irho sat near him , he was induced to forogo his intention , and to content himself by d ? R <\ iMmin £ ever iaring had the intention of conspiring with any portiBB of Ms fellow snWBeLs .
George Johnson was aboni io address the Court , when . The ATTOKSBT-GgyKTUT . intimated to his Lordship that he did not think there was BufBcient evidence ajfiiast Johnson to induce him to proceed further with the charge . A verdict of acquittal was accordingly taken . Defendant—Then 1 have not an opportunity of » ying anything morel ( Great laughter . ) Charles Storer , in his defence , said he had only recommended a strike fox wages , and he believed £ be sole reason why he was prosecuted was , ihat he had been a strenuous opponent of the Anti-Corn law League . Ab a Chartist , he had a right to eaieriain whatever political opinions he thought proper . He had advocated Chartism , and he . should do S > again , notwithstanding that he might be inearcen ied in a dungeon . If the Jury did him justice , iwweTer , they must acquit him , for hfi copld nost conscientiously say , that lie bid dons nothing
wrong . Barnard M'Cartney , in answer to ihe charge igiisst him , appealed to the past actions of his life , all of which , especially during ihfrlate disturbances , htdbeeuregulated by a regard for the Bacredness of froperry , and inviolability of person , and the iaculea ^ ion n pon ^ ie minds of the political party with Trhom he associated , to respect the opinions of those yho might happen to difler with him . In allusion to the « Tidence which had been offered by the Adorney-General , tbe defendant then . inquired ^ > y the witnesses who had given evidence against Km before the magistrates had sot been pot into the box to state to the jury what they knew of tea . If they had been produced , they would
disfiactly and unhesitatingly have declared that at the Ksei&gs he had attended , he recommended the people to protect every blade of grass , and every tgoare of glass in the country . Waa this con-« Eivy ! Hb trusted &ey -were not sioni to be pitted under a inilitery despotism , but thai ibe jirj by their verdict of acquittal would confirm tJd sell some of those privileges , in the enjoyment tf which th ; y wer « on All occasions priding ibemitha aa being superior to all the other nations of &e world . If any attempt was made to arrest the tptiaate expression of public opinion , they wonld iote the people to desperate remedies , which he treaed would never be found to be the result of a radietof a British jury , impannelled for the
purym of putting a legitimate construction upon what tiffisatated the liberty of ihe Bubject . The defeadant denied that any inference could be drawp tea ihe recent turn-out favourable to the suppoa-Ssa that the people intended to conspire together fc fiie destructioa of property , for no sneh thing hi taken place ; on the contrary , it had been admitted that from ihe holding of the Conference tip to Represent feuej things had been tranquillising &i » a to their former peaceful character . Mr . JPCartaey then alluded to the witness Griffin , whom b deacmnced as a man who had banished au tao lo ^ a- ieeifaigg ot human nfttore from las Breast , * k o had violated every principle of bononr and ^^ nde , for , after having visited him _ { Mr » tfGsitney ) in the prison , sympathised with him in fe confinement , congratulated him on his release ,
jaw * him warmly by the hand , on separatig from each other , and then this very ** a turned round , and furnished the informtjtai , on ihe strength of which , he was ^« n wre sted . With regard to the oharge , the osfendant designated the evidence which had been jWnced in support of it , as flimsy , trifling , and confeffiptible , and such as they eonld not foond a verdict « palty upon . Mr . M'Carfcney justiSed his attendee « the meeting of delegates , which he mam-^ was perfectly legal , and with regard to his ™ " « proceedings , he said he Bhould feel xt his 4 uty wpetsevere in the advocacy of the ^ ame principles , «*« ess ] y and boWly , though at the same time , *? i * unar « Jj , and he hoped with that respect for the ^ awn of others -which all men claiming freedom of ^* Wb . Uifl thought , ought honestly to accord . ftrtsn tbe
< Alinson , next proceeded to address Jury w i > 8 wa 3 relieved from the the necessity of doing t , by JOfc Attornej'General consenBng to 4 ake a ver-° « of Acquittal , the evidence being insufficient to ^ aainthe ehargs . - Mi- Beesiet , in addressing the Jury , said he JoaW not occupy much time , as he was conscious we Jury -would already be fatigued and weaned "P 1 lhe inoesant attention which this case had ref ^ &t their h andB so long a time . He would " ^ J aHnde to those circumstances of it which "Beenied himself , and he trusted they would re-^ iroBi the Jury that consideration which-might P * ole them to give an impartial verdict . It waa ^ ked difficult to see in what wav ihe evidence bore wast him at all ; he should perhaps best hare coniii interes he
^^ t by saying nothing , ior really ^ a not conceiYe that there was any evidence at ^ . ^ JHis thinu Eoflilng liad ima . hronfiht homa ffa ta connection with the case j he had not | 5 ldenfified in or with it . Ho charge had even f ^ Prefened against him , for he had never been J ^^ d on the char ge contained in this indictment , S- kd ke ever pleaded to it , Gmlty ' or ** Guiity , never having been required to , do tn ? *^ it had been . sworn by Cartledge ihat % WI' Beeslev ) was at the Conference , but no F ^ t had been made to bring home this evidence £ 2 * - It had not been shewn tfcaf he was ^ he S * aey meant . There were many Beesleysheside 3 ^ anahe-was not hound U > assist the Government J au admissionB in securing his conviction . But * hfn ? - was aware of this , he had no wish to ^ iauseif of ^ n irks or quibbles . He was not the * aa to thdver himself under thefalse mantle of eva-
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sion ; he would assert the truth always witW fear was at the Conference s but hewasnot going tedeny ^ rl ^ i *^ ^ * ^ eatati ^ ** the inhabiteots Sutt apdif- mother sneh Conference should be caUedi having Bfeepnrpewes in view , md ? ^^ eighbours and frieate should again elect htm , heshould a ^ in ^ feel ithi » dutyto a ^ . ^ lVta ^ V * 1 ? ?^' ie trOBMihai f »» their verdict heahonld not learn it , thaifeo bare Act of his attending that meeting eonld be ^ eonstrned as a crime ; for he was there , he took part in th& poceedinga of the Conference , and the par iie took was in opposition to the : strike-r
am oecaase ne considered the-strike to be mrrastifiable or . -illegal , but becanse in hia judgment it ^ as impolitic to mx np tbe Chartist movement with it . Me thought it calculated to retard that movement , which his heart held dearest of all things , and hence big opposition to ibe proceeding of those who saw no such danger , and who sought therefore i ?^ ! ^ S m ? an B of advancing that movement , u heJiad thonght that the Chartist movement could bejaereby accelerated , he would have upheld the Btnfce , though he might for so doinghave been called conspirator or branded with any other epithet which the Crown lawyers might have thought fit to apply to him . In his own district he had laboured to repress violence and to cause life and property to
to be respected . He was too poor to bring witnesses to Bpsak to these facts , but he knew them to be within the knowledge of the Attorney'General , and he might appeal to him as his best witness . The Learned Gentleman had sent out a commission to enqaire into the Btate of his neighbourhood , and he knew that the commission had been informed that tbe preservation of peace had been mainly owing to his exertions . Tbe Attorney-General knew this , and it would bnt have been candid in him to have told it to the Jury , and have saved him CBeesley ) the trouble of doing so . -The only other matter of evidence against him was that ef Superintendant M'Cabe , who deposed to having found in his carpet bag , when taking him into custody uDon a former charce .
several printed papers , purporting to be passed by the Conference . He had no recollection of these papers , he was not aware that they were in his carpetbag at all , nor had any proof been offered to the Court or Jury that these -were the same papers that were alleged to have beea found in Mb carpet-bag . But , supposing them to be so—and he had no disposition to be nioe about the matter—what then 1 What was there in the possession of these documents to criminate any man ! He was sorry the ; had sot left . Mm an © dd one , or he would have read it to them . ( A laugh . ) Ths Attorney-General proenred one of the documents from off the Judge ' s bench , and handed it to the defendant .
Mr . Beesley read it to the Jury , and then went on to say , that though he had opposed that resolution at the Conference , he was prepared to defend it now . He maintained that there was nothing in it to merit the character which had been endeavoured to be fastened on these proceedings by the prosecution . The Conference had been sufficiently demonstrated by the learned counsel , who Ipreeeded him , to be a legal meeting , and the resolution was one which any legal meeting was competent to pass . Mr . Beesley then went on to some other matters , not perhaps quite revelant to the issue , and which we , therefore , omit . He eondaded bj reminding the Jury that they had an important duty to perform , and that thongh some , or perhaps all of them , might entertain political opinions different from his own , they were not to permit those opinions to pervert
judgment , and te warp the cause of justice . He claimed at their hands such verdict as the dream--stances and the evidence required against him , and he felt quite confident that that verdict would beu Not guilty" in any case . His principles would remain unaltered , and his determination to assert them equally so ; he was a Chartist : and whatever amount of persecution or imprisonment it might subject him to , he should remain a Chartist . Their verdict might consign him to a dungeon for a season , bnt the time would pasa over ; and when the gates should be again unbarred to Mm , and he emerged into the free air of heaven , he would be the same man . Ten thousand prosecutions could neither hurt nor harm him , for he was determined , while life lasted , to s # nnd the tocsin of the Charter as the death-note of tyranny and faction
Chbisto ? H £ B Dotle , in addressing the Jury , denied that the Chartists were the authors of the late strike , and he referred to the meetings of the anti-Corn Law party for the purpose of showing that the language used by those parties , was far more violent than that employed by the ChartistB . He ( Mr . D . ) had always stood up for his rights , but he had done so fairly , honestly , and legally . On all occasions , he had recommended the people to obey the law , even though it was a bad one , so far as then interests were concerned , and during the late strike , he had inculcated the same peaceful demeanour , and he himsaif prevented violence being offered to both person and property . With respect to the Charter , the defendant said that some of its principles had been ad Treated bj tbe I > nke of Richmond , Charles James Pox , and the Marquis of Lansdowne , and it was solely on account of prejudice that those principles were not generally
acted _ npon now . Mr . Doyle maintained that it "Was owing io unjust laws that the people were discontented , and he believed that bo 1 ob % as a system continued which allowed one portion of the community to riot in unbounded luxury while the-other portion—the producers of all wealth —were in a state of destitution , and left to pine for the common necessaries of life , the people never would be contented , and order roald not be preserved in the country . With respect to the indictment , Mr . Doyle maintained the legality of the Delegate Meeting , and the resolution which had emanated from it , and concluded by saying that he should feel bound , in justice to Ms own convictions , to continue his advocacy of the Charter in future . Jonathan Baibstow defended the legalitv of all hiB actions , with respect to the meeting of delt gates , which he maintained was merely an assemblage of freebom Englishmen , met together to discuss a great principle .
_ ... _ .. . Wnxuar Woijbsdsn adopted a similar line of defence , and denied having attended the meeting at Mottram Moor . JaKSS Lkich addressed Qie Jury ai considerable length . He show « d most inoontestibly that the late strike was the result of deep-rooted discontent on the part of the working classes , occasioned by unjust laws and oppressive taxation , which subjected them to unceasing toil , to the lowest amount of remuneration for their labour , to great physical endurance , and to ail the misery and privation which such a state of things was calculated to produce . Mr . Leach justified Mb attendance at the delegate
meeting ; and as to the charge of conspiracy , ne cheerfully appealed to those parties by whom he was best known , to say whether he had not on all occa sions enforced obedience to the law , and an abstinence from every thing approaching to outrage npon either person or property . At the dose ol Mr . Leach ' s address , Mr . O'Cosmob stated to his Lordship that he was the last defendant who had to address the jury , and , therefore , he had to ask for an adjournment till the following morning . ,, « _ .. The Learned Judge consented , and the Conrt rose at seven o ^ elock .
WEDNESDAY—SEVENTH DAY . Mr Baron Boixe took his seat on the bench at nine o ' clock . Mr . ( yCowjroB then rose , and addressing his Lordship and the Jury , Baid , that before he entered into a consideration of this case he hoped he might be allowed in the first instance , to add hia meed of praise to that wMch had already been bestowed npon the manner in which this trial had been conducted , from the beginning of it up to the present moment . The defendants had no right to complain—they had no fault to find , and therefore they did not complain . He did not look upon tMs prosecution as an act of kindness , or as an act of justice , or as an -act of conrtesy . He went further—he looked npon it , as
regarded himself , as an act of grace . After the evidence they had heard , if their verdict upon it was one of gailty , it would not convey to the public mind of this country half the criminality wMch before this trial attached to his character . When the occurrences wMchhad been made toe subject of investigation first commenced , the press of all parties teemed with the importance of the case , —that it was one little short of high treason , and that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was the prime mover in the various transactions connected with it . He was well aware thatit wonld be impossible for him altogether to remove those prejudices which for yeara had been engendered in their ro - He did not seek to perform any such Herculean taskbut if they left that box with those
, prejudices against his characterless than when they entered it , then would he have acMeyed a greater triumph than even their verdict of acqiiital could give him . They had heard several of the other defendants defend themselves , and Bpeak disrespectfully of their verdict—he meant disregarding it . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) only comparatively disregarded it . If he destroyed their prejudices , and if the law told them that they ought to find Mm guilty from the ; evidence , let it be so ; but , provided he destroyed their preindices , again lie would say that he should bail their verdict as a trinmph . Ihey were *© w to coma back after this long and rambling
investigation to something like a consideration of theieal Question , and ont of the multiplicity of evidence which had beenthrown before the jury , aUmixed up together it would he Ms duty , although conaderably relieved by the analysis of the evidence which his LordsMp had made , to bring their minds back to the consideration of the real charge , if any there existed , against Mmself and the other defendants . They mast naturally suppose that in a prosecntjeffofttus kind the Attorney-General , on behalf of the Crown , would la y his whole case before them . They must natnrally conclude ihat he -would rapport this prosecution b y all the evidence which he could possibly produce . He admitted that the opening speech of the Attorney-General yras what the opening speech of a
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lawyer and agentleman seeking justice ought to be . It was a very different spewh from those which , under sanlar circumstances , he had been aocustomed ^ tp hear j bat taking it without any contrast atall it ws »" the ^ speech of a law yerand a gentleman . He agreed with the Attorney General that investigatfon was not only necessary but indispensible . After the stater winch had ; been represented to them —after the State whioh had been proved to them that this opaoty was in for a considerable time , the Attorney General would have' been justly charged with a dereliction of doty if he had not made this solemn enquiry in a Court of Justice . But another question followed that , namely , whether the rijcht parties were before them : and
that was a questiott which he should have to submit * o them by-and-by . What was the nature of the crime with which the . defendants were charged 1 Did anybody untferstaad it t What was the reason taat , in the course ef these proceedings , the Jnry had been compelled te confess that they were somewhat paaded with" the meaning of the indictment t What was the reason that Mb Lordship had found it necessary to relieve , if pos&bhs , the mist which surrounded it , and t » place it in a clearer and more simple manner before the defendants ? Why , it was because the Attorney-General had heaped together bo many different charges as to make it impossible for any defendant to understand to what specific charge he was to apply Mmself , If this indictment had been
brought before them in a legitimate form— -if rioters had been indicted for ariot . if those who had caused tnamltuoas and illegal meetings had been indicted for that , if those who had been guilty of a conspiracy had been indnfted for that , then his trouble wonld have been comparatively light , and the labour both of his LordsMp and the Jury would have been much contracted . This , however , the Attorney-General had not done ; having ferretted throughout the country for evidence—having produced that evidence before the magistrates—and having so far substantiated their case as to obtain a committal , and not a Bingle witness b y whom it was substantiatedhaving appeared in that Court to reiterate Ms testimony , another perambulating tour was
was made to rake up fresh evidence in order to snbstantiate these several charges . What did they want I Conspiracy was a definable thing . The moment that an agreement took place to do an illegal act by legal means , or to do a legal act by illegal means , that moment the crime was perfect ; it did not require two months to oomplete the crime , nor was it necessary to prove overt acts to substantiate the oharge . In order to prove the oharge of conspiTacj , not only mast there b « a common design , but there must be a privity of knowledgeand that common design , and all the acts arising ont of it , must go in furtherance of it , and 0 Q 4 conspirator must go to the extent that the others did . These were facts whioh would
shortly be laid before them by his LordsMp , and therefore it was the less necessary for him to trouble them at any considerable length . But let them see by whom in the first instance , this case was proved . The Attorney-General , in the opening of Ms case , stated that the charge against the defendants was that they had conspired together to force a change in the law , by tumult and riot . There might have been some doubt as to the complexion which this prosecution bore op to the acquittal of Wild . There was a desire on the part of the crown to avoid evidence relative to the strike for labour . He had not for the life of him been able to discover why and wherefore it was that the Attorney-General sought to gloss over the case , and to put a new face npon it .
Bat when he found the Attorney General consenting to a verdict of acquittal in favour of Wilde , because he did not stand to the Charter , then he discovered for the first time that this was a political prosecution . Then he came to the conclusion that the Attornev-General had determined , whatever the evidence might be , —nay not the Attorney-General , for let it not be supposed that he laid this at his door , —but those who had been engaged in gettiBg ap the evidence which was presented before ihe magistrates , in the first instance , seemed determined to obtain a conviction , and they now proposed to do this by calling an entirely different class of witnesses , to prore a totally different case of conspiracy . That was an important fact ,
and one which he hoped the jury would bear m mind . The defendants were charged with a conspiracy on the 17 th of August . On thiB branch of the case , as he was more immediately connected with it than any t > ther t he thought he might very briefly deal with it . He Was charged individually with having excited the continuance of a strike then in existence . Facts were stubborn things , and thanks to the Attorney-General , —thanks to that ingennouraess which had ever marked Ms character through life , he had acquitted him ( Mr . O'Connor ) of every charge in the indictment . Up to the time of the strike , not only bad the Attorney-General acquitted him of any cognizance of , or participation in it , but he had gone further , and fee tad borne honourable
testimony to the fact , that he had resisted it . But iet them see what tMs conspiracy was ; let them see how it had been carried on , let them see what the ¦ documents referred to by the Attorney-General iu Ms opening speech , were ; let them Bee what the nature of them was ? whether they were justifiable or not , and whether they were legal or not . They had the evidence « f the two principal witnesses for the Crown—men from whom the poor defeudan s would not consent io receive a character , because they would have felt themselves degraded and lowered in their own estimation , if they had done so , —it wa 3 -upon the evidence of these Siamese youths that this charge mainly depended . What had they got out of them ! Finding the state in
wMch the country was , who ought to have been there to prove it ! Ought it to have been left to policemen , —to the garbled reports of men who were sent out as spies , to take notes of all that was connected with these transactions ! or should it be the men who were interested in the preservation of tbe peace ! Above all , where were the authorities ! Where was the Mayor of Manchester ! Where was Sir Thomas Potter ! Where was Mr . Maude Whtre was Colonel WeymBst Where was Sir Charles Shaw ! Where were all those who saw these transactions , and could have spoken to them ! Why , they were nowhere ! The crown could have produced them . Taey had failed to do bo . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had done so . The evidence wMoh
ought to have been brought to substantiate the case , he had hroaght to answer the case . Now what was the charge ? The defendants were charged with a crime , which , if it were true , he should Slash to stand up and defend Mmself against . There was something so appalling to the feelings of every honourable man , in a charge of conspiracy , that the mind recoiled from it with horror . Conspiracy ! what was it 1 It was the Becret machinations of a bad man to destroy something belonging to a good man . It was the most abominable of all crimes . He never had been a conspirator , and be hoped to God he nerer should . But what had they proved by these " Siamese youths 1 They had proved that the meeting of delegates was called two mouths before the strike took place . They had proved from the witness
Car tledge that it was an open meeting . They had proved that reporters were admitted : not reporting for the Northern Star alone , bat for other papers ; and they had proved that no interruption had been offered to the admission of any one . What did Cartledge say ! He admitted that the meeting of delegates was projected before tbe strike took place . IJotn he and Griffin admitted that the meeting was called to consider the reorganisation of the Chartist constitution . And they had a right to their constitution , if it was legal . He would not support it if it was illegal . Here , then , they had the character of the conspiracy . Here they had men who were known to differ , met to conspire . Here they had men differing among themselves met to conspire . Bat , then , they had combined . Yes , and
" When bad man conspire , good men combine . " It waa true that the great political party with which he was connected , had combined . Combined I For what t For the furtherance of their ovra principles . —Not to conspire . It had been truly said by a vary high authority , that never did good men meet for a good purpose , without being thoroughly well acquainted with each other ; and never was an instance known of bad men conspiring ; together for a bad purposp , without being well known to each Other , and having entire confidence in each other . Here were men met for the purpose of healing their dissensions , and he had proved that a reporter who was dimissed from his service , and who had , in consequence , some pique against him , was allowed to be
present at the meeting , at Ms especial request . Did tMs show conspiracy ! After the character of some of the evidence that had been adduced;—after the fact of the notes of policemen being preferred to their own recollections j after the fact that those noteshad been taken in running hand in a crowded meeting , —their elbows jogged;—after all tMs he did hope that something more substantial would have been offered on the part of the prosecution . He had hoped that if the notes of a policeman were better than the recollection of a policeman , that the notes of a reporter , taken before he [ had consented to give evidence , if they had been produced , might have been purged of much that was waged against the defendants . But the reporter had not been asked for those notes . Where were the y I In hia depoa *
tions they were—here they were not . If the Attorney-General had been anxious to obtain the best evidence that the case would admit of , why were not these notes read ! If there was anytMng in them proving the crime of conspiracy , —if there was anything proving a charge against the conspirators , why had they not been produced 1 It was said that tbe speeches made at the meeting were to be suppressed . Bat the notes were not . snppressed , and therefore , not having been produced , he was justified in concluding that there was nothing in them wMch could make against the defendants . Why what was the fact ! A deputation from the trades had requested admittance to the Conference , in that character ; but in consequence of Ms opposition , their application was refused , though at tbe same time tiev were told that either they or | any other parties
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Sr § $ i ! £ I * and form P ** «* " the audience . ^ « Aad they heard from Griffia ! He said that ^ obtained two eopies of the address adopted by the-delegates ^ one of wMoh he sent to the British Statesman . Why ^ id he not send jbis notes ta the Slat / man ? Here they had the conspiracy developed , so faras he was concerned . The , Attorney Generaj had B&W that he ( Mr . O ' Connor ) was op . ? £ E | ? L j he ' stw'fee . The Jury had only to deal W i"Ltef 1 ' * $ ** ? t 0 the 17 th w August . lbey _ nwst bB made perfectly aware of the manner in wni 0 , 5 » charge of conspiracy conld be got at . It would be their doty to lookat all the magic with whioh legal ingenuity had surrounded this charge of conBp : raoy . War . he had thoiishfc frnm * . Ka
pioture which had been . drawn by the Attorneytreneral that he was one of an audience listening to some melodramatic iperformance . He looked for the propertiesy—he looked for the masks , —he looked for the dag gersHie . looked for the blue fire ,-he looked for the torches , the bayonet ? , and the pistols , by which , this conspiracy to upset the Government was to be earned lout . Horrible conspirators ! Why , i 6 wa % absolutely true that he had travelled by night , m a train , with three hundred other persons . He then went in a cab by himself , because nobody happened to be going his way —( laughter . ) He left at half-past five o'clock in the morning , because tbat ^ the timo ^ helttabBtartedUaughtei' . ) He lett his own houses-he got to the Euslon
-square station , and as he passed under the tunnels , he thoqght he heard amidst tbe rambling of thewheels ythe ecHo iof the conspirators voice ringing in his ears- ( A laugh . ) He arrived at the scene where the conspiracy was first to be hatched . He . went to bed at six o ' clock in the morning , and he never awoke till three o ' clock in the afternoon . On going to Noblett ' S ; house , he so cottoealed himself m a cab that all the people came to see and flock round Mm —( Laughter . ) They knew from the appearance of the cab , and the smell of brimstone , that there was a very coaBpirator within it . The wheels knocked blue fire out of the stones , and in ; the midst of the glare might oe Been— " Peterioo—Hunt's Monumentstrike for wages—tumultuous
meetings—riots—turnout the hands and carry the Charter by tumult and violence {"—( laughter ) . He passed down to the Sherwood Inn because he was sent for . Why ! to ascertain whether he would go > to a tea-party , which was to be held in one of the most public parts of Manchester . A crowd gathered round . He requested them to disperse in order that : it might not be said that he had done anything calculated to lead , to a breach of the peace . Thus they would see that his first appearance produced a erowd . What did he do ? He drove to the houae of Mr . Scholefield , one of the defendants , whom he had known for eight years . Why did he go there ! Because he had not heard that the meeting whioh was announced to be holden that very dayj had been
put off , and when he reached the house , he found that Mr . Scholefield had completed the good work before him . He had not remained long , before Mr . Scholefield came from the printer ' s with a bill . He was now stripping this indictment of its technicalities . He was now showing them in what manner they were going to carry on a conspiracy . Mr . Soholefiold showed him the bill . He grasped his hand and said , 'thank God . " He told Mr . Soholefield that if he bad known ibis , he heed not have come at all . Bat after having been elected two months before for a specific purpose , be thought that if he had refused to attend , ( his motives might have been misconstrued , and , therefore , he was determined to appear , and throw his weight , such as it
was , into the fcale , and to use the best means he was capable of employing , to turn this from a disastrous strike into a peaceful strike for the Charter . Well ; then he was seen no more till the 17 th of August . In the meantime circumstances had arisen which called for their'interference as a political party , bat they were not to be found guilty of that . if he had too much popularity , let them find him guilty of that . If the party to whieh he belonged , had no right to interfere , let them say so ; but let it be general , — that no other political party ia the state should interfere . Tbe conspirators met , and they remained in conclave for four houra , conspiring against the peace of the country . What did they do ! They
passed an address , and they passed a resolution . What was the character of that resolution ? Why , it pledged the delegates that tbey should continue the struggle until the Charter became the law of the land . Struggle } said the Attorney-General . What did that mean ! Why , what did an election struggle mean ! What did any political struggle mean ? What did they mean by a struggle on any question in the House of Commons ! Did it mean that parties should catch each other by the throat and strangle each Other ! No . It meant that they were to unite and stand together . TMs all-important resolution , —this damning resolution , — 'this dark-lantern resolution , — what did it refer to ! To have the Charter , then I Not a word about it . What they meant was
to continue the struggle for the Charter—not for the strike—until it became the law of the land . Bnt then , said the Attorney-General—" Tumults and riot are not legal . You have a right to contend , if you contend peaceably , but : p ot ° y tumultuous meetings . " There was no one in that Court more anxious to have a proper definition of the law on all matters connected with agitation , and with Hieetinga , and with politics of e-rery description , than he wan ' himself . Nor did he think he could produce to the Jury a higher authority than the Learned Attorney-General himself as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not ask them to take the law from Mm . He had attended more public meetings than
any man living , or than any man that ever lived before Mm , and he was never yet oharged with committing a single breach of the peace . On the contrary , ne had often prevented it . The Jury should hear what was the opinion of the Attorney-General as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . In addressing the court at Newport , in an important oase , this was the opinion of the Attorney-General on that branch of the law . The Learned Gentleman said Gentlemen , the law cannot be altered by the conduct of those who are called upon to obey it ; and I make that admission to my Lords upon the bench , because , in the few remarks that I am about to make npon this part of the oase , 1 do not mean to sav that anv change of . the law has occurred by
reason of the relaxed discipline of society that has prevailed for same time past . But 1 do mean to say this distinctly , that from what has actually taken place , from that which ; has been permitted , perhaps , Gentlemen , in some instances even sanctioned , a very different estimation is to be held of public meetings , ay , gentlemen , and even of armed meetings , from that which might have been formed some twenty or thirty years ago , and that the object and the intention of the parties may justly reoeive at the close of the year 1839 , a construction far more favourable than , perhaps , could fairly have been ooaceded in earlier periods of the history of this country , that you and 1 are familiar with : for 1 do not go back to very remote periods . "
This was the opinion of the Attorney General * explicitly laid down as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . Now , the Learned Attorney General was at that time engaged in a proceeding whioh he might well suppose would go through the length and breadth of the land , and as if to give time to public meeting ? and strengthen their character , the Learned Gentleman went through the details of a large public meeting of no fewer than 200 , 000 persons , in London , and then addressing the Jury in the oase to which he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had referred , he said , M Gen . tlemen , under the name of agitation , what has not been done almost in every town and in every corner of this kingdom ! And if we pass—and ,
gentlemen , 1 shall do this lightly , because 1 do it reluctantly—if we pass for one moment , and take a glance at th » sister kingdom , there familiarly we hear talk of a petition from 51 ) 0 , 000 fighting men . Gentlemen , 1 say no more upon this point , but 1 call upon you to remember these transactions when you come to deliver your verdict on the guilt or the inuocencQ of tbo prisoner . And let it be understood that so far as permission , if not actual encouragement has been afforded to such proceedings , that it would be most unjust to use the aame measure that was formerly in use as to the motives of parties . It would not be justice to weigh in the same scales as were formerly need the trans * actions about which you are making inquiry to-day . "
The Attorney-General told the Jury , at Monmouth , that the Reform Bill had altered the character of the constitution . They had heard of a petition from 500 , 000 men in the Sister Kingdom ; but they were not to look upon that as a tumultuous meeting . True , it was , that the penal code had been relaxed , bat the political code had been contemporaneously made more stringent . The Attorney-General charged the defendants with attempting to upset the constitution and to change the law , by tumultuous meetings . Let them see whether this did not come late and with a bad grace . Let them see if , independently of what they learnt from the acquittal of Wild , there was any- thing more lurking at the bottom of this trial . The Jury had ] received evidence there , but there were other sources from which they had received it '¦» well . They took the law from the legislature . Were they not bound in
a transaction of this kind to defer with respect to SHuh high authority as the Lorda and Commons J Let them see what was the opinion entertained there as to the origin of the late occurrences . He would give them some of the best names , and the highest authority of this or any other country . He would give them the name of the most finished man , taking Mm all in ail , of \ which England could now boast . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) differed with him in polities , but a man with such a mechanical head , with such combination and power of mind , as Lord Brougham , there was not another . [ Mr . O'Connor here alluded to a recent speech of the Noble and Learned Lord , m which his Lordship expressed an earnest hope that the proceedings of the anti-Corn League might be elicited at the now pending trials . ] Some persons had sought to make Lord Brougham appear a madman . Would that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) were such an one . Now . let thorn see whether the
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House of Lords and the House of Commons agreed inonethiog . Bat before he did that , and to show what misrepresentations . feaaed from the press , he would just say that he hail tbe unqualified contradiction of the Attorney-Gem > ral toja statement which had appeared in the ne wepap « ers , that he was coming down U > Lancaster to prosecute the leading offender . Tile Learned Gentleman assumed ) Mm that he had * never used those words at all , and that he had been grossly misrepresented . i [ Ihe Reporter teas obliged ! los&yi off his packet before the whole of his notes «>/ Mr . O'Connor ' s address wer 3 transcribed . Ti ^ Se remainder will appear in our next Edition ; , and will be inserted in our early Editions de ^ t week : so that each reader will have a full report of these important proceedings . ] . '¦
EVIDENCE FOtt DEFENCE . Mr . William Soholefield , examined by Mr . Cobbett . —liana son of tbe defendant , j I reside with my father . Oh the 16 th of August last , Miv O'Connor came to my father ' s honee . Wa slept at our house that night . He was called up at half-past t wo in the afternoon .. We did not expect Mmi My fat . her went out of the house very early in the morning of that day . Hb went to eet some placards printed . It was very near six o ' clock , when hej returned . The placard now produced ia one announcing the postponement of a meeting . Mr . I&arnan was the printer . F was sent by my father to get the bilfs . 1 placed some on the wails . \ By Mr . 0 » Connor—I remember ] jour telling my
father to go down to the tea party at the Carpenter ' s Hall , and make an apology for y $ nr not attending , inconsequence of the excited state of the town . 1 recollect there was a long conversation in the family as to whether it would be prudent for you to attend . It was ultimately agreed that my j father should go and make an apology . ; By the Attorney-General—I don't know how many persons were in- my fathers chapel on the night of the 16 th of August . Idid not go in . I know there were some there , bee&ose I heard them passing the surgery window . I went to bed at ten o ' clock . There was a light in the ] ohapel . I don ' t
know any person who was in the ohapel , except Mr . O'Connor . 1 don ' t know who- furnished the candles , except it was my brother . He is not here . Mr . O'Connor went into the chapeli , jwhen my father went to the Carpenters' Hall , whieh would be a little after seven o ' clock . I can't say . how many persons passed the surgery window . Theso ' might be a dozen . When my father returned from . Carpenters' Hall , he came into the surgery to me . He was not in the ohapel during . that night .-. 1 did net seethe address of the Executive Committee before Thursday , the 18 th of August . I do not remember any person coming to tell my father that Turner , the printer , had been arrested . i
John Northcott—I am servant to Mr . Kearnan , printer , of No . 5 j Georgleigh- 'treeti , Manchester . In the month of August last , 1 remember my master printing some bills for Mr . Soholefield , the defendant . I took some of them te h ' is house on the morning of the lftth . He did not at that time give orders for them to be posted , but he appeared extremely anxious to have them out as early as possible , 500 of the bills were printed , ' wMoh were sufficent to post the whole towo . j By the Attorney-General—My master printed the placard now produced—^ Rsn for ; Gold . " It was printed before that for Mr . Scholefield , 1 think on the Monday . 1 can ' t say who ordered them . By Mr . Cobbett—My master prints all sorts of placards . There may be half a dozen sorts printed in one week .
John Brook—I am brother-in-law to Mr . Scholefield . I am a joiner . On tbe 16 th or 17 th of August I was at work at his premises . ] On the 17 th I frequently went into the surgery to receive instructions concerning the work . I was engaged in painting some gates . The ehapel is situate between the gates and the house . Mr . Soholefield came down to me several times daring tbe time . He came through the chapel , not out of the surgery , j By Mr . O'Connor—I remember | your coining to Mr . Soholefield , at half-past fire in j the morning of the 16 th . You waited till Mr . Scholefield came from the printers . I know a man named Griffin . I remember that Mr . Scholefield once gave him . a job out of charity . Griffin and I had repeated
conversations about you . He said he had lost his situation as reporter , and that he would " walk iatO you . " He said he would be revenged upon you . 1 told him he could not . He replied that he could , and that I should be astonished when I knew how it was done . This was before you came to the houBe . John Cock 8 hott—I am a butcher j in Manchester . I was in Mr . Scbolefield ' s house on the If ch August , between ten and eleven in the morning . I went to get a bottle of medicine . I saw Mr . Soholefield . He was in the surgery . He had a few patients that he was giving bottles to . There were a : number- of poor people there who were begging tickets for soup . He gave them some . . j Henry Holland , examined by Mr . O'Connor-r-I
reside at Burnley . I lam a block-cutter to calicoprinters . I keep a temperance coffoe bouse . I am a tee-totaller . Previous to the beginning of August last , the factories were working short time . There was great distress and excitement amoag all classes . In consequence of that there was stroag apprehension of danger . 1 remember many ; meetings being held about that time of an exciting character . 1 communicated with you about the latter end of July , as to the state of ithe district . 1 requested you to come down , and toiallay the angry feeling which existed . You came down . I attended the meetings yon addressed on that occasion at Barnley and Colne . They were very j numerously at * tended . That at Burnley was numerously attended by all classes in the town . The general tendency of your address at both meetings , in my hearing was calculated to allay the excitement , and 1 am happy
to say that it did allay it . A mill was burnt before you came , and 1 believe a reward was offered for the perpetrator of the crime . You referred most emphatically to the transaction , and told the people that the surest way to impede the Charter , was to resort to aots of violence . 1 remember a meeting of shopkeepers being held at Blackburn , at which all the points of the Charter were adopted . I attended a meeting , at Burnley , and your temperate exposition of the Charter reconciled all classes . By the Attorney-General—The meeting at Barnley , was held in a tent erected for the purpose . There were from 15 , 000 to 20 , 000 persons present . To tbe best of my recollection it was jheld about the latter end of Jane . 1 was at a meeting held in the Town Hall , in Colne . It was densely crowded . I went there in consequence of my anxiety to allay the excitement which prevailed , and to hear Mr . O'Connor . Notice was given of the meeting . 1 was not a delegate . j
Sir Thomas Potter , examined by Mr . O'Connorl am a magistrate residing at Bewley-hill , near Manchester . 1 remember the excitement which prevailed in Manchester , in August last . 1 conceive tbe general character of the strike , in the first instance , was for wages . 1 heard that a procession was to have taken place on the 16 : h of August last . 1 believe the reason why it was abandoned was , that the magistrates informed Mr . Scholefield , that it would not be allowed , and he said he would do everything in his power to prevent it . 1 consider that the deportment of the people , at the time , was peaceable . 1 heard ot the procession on the previous 16 th of August . 1 never remember | a more quiet
16 th of August in Manchester than the last . About the time of the strike , two men came to me , and said that several manufacturers wtro paying lower wages than others , and they wished for an equalisation . They wished me to try to procure * a meeting between the men and their masters . A man named Bell made a report to the magistrates , at the Town Hall , that Mr . O'Connor had arrived , but we did not think it necessary to take any precaution in consequence . The impression upon my mind as to the disposition of the people was ; that it was peaceable . From my knowledge of Manchester , 1 think the condition of the people was | most deplorable , in consequence of the high price of provisions , and the low rate of wages .
By the Attorney-General—I don't remember what number of special constables were sworn in in August , but I should think 400 or 6 "Q 0 . Tne first week we had SOO troops , and after that we had a considerable re-inforcement . We probably got 1 , 500 more . I attended at the Town Hall . The Magistrates attended there day and night , for fall four weeks . Tne commander of the district was at the York Hotel , which is close by . The special constables attended there , too , day and ) night , for at least a month . Oa Tuesday the 29 th of August I saw nothing particular . On Wednesday , there appearedjjto be a great deal of excitement . 1 once headed the troops to tbe railway , as we had heard there was an intention to destroy the line . 1 can ' t
give the date , but I think it was sometime the following week . I think there ] was a general advice given to the millowners by the Magistrates not to resist the mob . Individually I was not afraid . Toe hands in the mills appeared to be quite ready to torn oat . There was no force required . I can't say why this advice was given . One young man came and asked if he could fire upon the mob , as he had a cannon , and could destroy a great many of them . We told him to do no such thing . Mr . George Royle Chappell examined by Mr . O'Connor . 1 am an alderman of Manchester , and have lived there more than fifty sears , i 1 remember
my mill being stopped . There was not a vestige of damage done , nor a square of glass broken . The mob said they did not wish to damage property , and the hands appeared to be quite willing to turn-out as those who went to the mill , were i desirous they should turn out . 1 conceive myself , from what 1 saw io the course of the proceedings in whioh 1 was personally engaged that the people had struck for wages , and 1 must say that having been in every mob in Manchester , for the last fifty years , 1 never saw any mob behave themselves better , or more respectably than they did . There has been a reduction From the year 1836 , up to the present time of fifteen per cent , on the raw material ; but the reduotionin the price of manufactured goods in that time has been ft ) percent .
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The depression of trade and the falling off in profits does not enable the manufacturers to give the fcame rate of wages ; but still 1 think the destitution which prevailed arose more from those who were unemployed being thrown upon those who were m employment , than from any absolute insufficiency in the rate of wages paid , supposing the means of employment to have been general , instead of , as was the fact , very partial . I am no member of the Anti-Corn Law League , nor have I subscribed a single sixpence to any political partywhatever . 1 went as a delegate to Sir Robert Feel , at the request of a number of my fellow townsmen , for the purpose of laying a statement of facts before Mm , and expressing our opinion .
The Attorney General—1 must really object to tMs evidence . We are not here so disouss the existing distress , or the remedy which is to be found for it . The Judge—I think we can't hear statements of this-kind ; they are not evidence . Mr . O'Connor—Then I ask no further questions . James Kersbaw , Esq . —I am Mayor ef Mancheater . I was » magistrate in August last . I have resided in Manchester all my life . I have a great interest in the preservation of the peace . There ha » usually been a procession in Manchester on the 16 th of August , i remember the time about which the magistrates isstred a proclamation last year ^ I understood it was intended to have had a procession on the last , 16 th of August . The magistrates said
it should not take place , and those engaged in getting it up complied with this wish . I am a calico printer . My works were stopped on Thursday , the 1 lth of August . There was no-damage done to the works . I believe the hands went but willingly . The last I&ih of August passed off mach more peaceably than wa had anticipated , and , as- compared with the previous days , much more- peaeeably . I think the greatest excitement prevailed oa the 9 ; h , 10 th , llthv and 12 th . The working classes were suffering great diBtresa . Speaking of them generally , I think their conduct was good . There were * some exceptions . Mr . O ' Connor here stated that Sir Ralph Pendlebury had been subpoened as a witness , but that he had sent a-certificate to say that ifl consequence of labouring under indisposition , ha could not attend .
Mr . Isaac Cleak Pray examined &y Mr . O'Connor —la August last , I wash the registered proprietor of the Evening Star newspaper , published in London . I remember the suppression of public meetings in London , in the month of August last , about the 23 rd . Yon were Editor of the Evening Star . Yea would not receive any remuneration for your serviees—not a penny . You gave notice that all letters , whether private or not , addressed to you in London , should be opened in yoar absence . 1 have opened hundreds of letters marked **• private . " Your instructions as to what was-to appear in th& >> Even ~
ing Star , were that we should- not admit anything in favour of the strike , or of aa exciting character . I always thought it was your desire to make th » country , as peaceable as-possible , and I thought yoa sincere . 1 know Griffin , the correspondent . I gave orders for the payment of his salary . 1 considered Griffin ' s matter so inflammatory , that sometimes I cat the whole of it oat , and sometimes a part , la fact 1 * thought he was aimiag to entrap me aa proprietor of the paper . £ remember reading a letter iroa < Grifnn , in which he asked you for money to take-Mm to America . !
By . the Attorney-General—The Evening Star commenced at the latter end of July last year . 1 presume Mr . O'Connor lived in London or the neighbourhood . Mr .. O'Connor—1 wish your Lordship to ask the witness whether the Evening Star was not principally supported by the operatives , and circulated throughout Lancashire . Judge—Was that so ! Witness—It was . Mr . James Holliday , examined by Mr . O'Connor
—1 ana a manufacturer residing at Oldham . 1 haveknown yoa einde 1835 . 1 have attended variousmeetings at which you have addressed the people . The general tendency of those addresses was not calculated ta lead to a breach of the peace . 1 have heard you complain that you had been much misrepresented , and that consequently much prejudice had been created in consequence , la the speeches which 1 have heard yoa make , 1 have thought that theywere distinguished by great zsal and energy , and considerable physical strength .
By tee Attorney-General—1 have been accustomed to make speeches-myself , on various topics . Mr . Titus Brooke , of Dewsbury , examined by Mr . O'Connor . —I have known you as a publia man for ten years , and personally , for six or seven years . The neighbourhood of Dewsbury has frequently been ia an unsettled state- I have heard yoa address public meetings , and make exhortations to peace , when there was a disposition to be turbulent . That has been the fact on all occasions . I never heard you say one word which was calculated to lead to a breach of the peace . Among the working classes your character is generally admired as a lover of peace . Among the middle classes you-are not « o much admired ; but 1 think they are prejudiced . I think , taking the whole of the population , that they would accord to you the character I have given .
John Far , examained by Mr . O'Connor—I am your steward in the county of Cork . 1 have lived in your family upwards of thirty years . I have Iked with your brother . He left me ten pound a-year , in consideration of my character . 1 have frequently seen yoa stand in the fields for awhole day with yoar labourers , J 30 in number , conversing with them . From all that 1 have known and seen of yoa , 1 can conscientiously state that yoa were always for peace . 1 remember the disturbances in the County ef Cork , and the violence offered to the Magistrates and the military . You induced the people to give ap their arms , and deposited them in the servants' hall . With respect to your tenantry , you have built stone houses , where formerly mud cabins existed , and yoa have given the ground rent free . Yon paid a higher rate of wages than any other landlord .
Mr . O'Connor—My Lord . 1 am merely eliciting thiB to remove an insinuation which 1 thought the Attorney-General had thrown out , that I had employed the NorthernStar as a medium of agitation , for the purpose of pecuniary gain . The Attorney-General—1 beg la assure Mr . O'Connor that 1 imputed no Buob . motive . I wan far from insinuating any such thing . I would not have the Jury to imagine me capable of doing so . For if the testimony just now . given had not been elicited , the Jury could not fail to witness the creditable deportment of Mr . O'Connor in their presence . He had met Mr . O'Connor before . He had met him at Monmouth on a very important occasion ; ' and what he there saw would alone have prevented him from even entertaining any disposition
to disparage Mr . O'Connor . Mr . John Ardill examined by Mr . O'Connor—I have been your olerk ever since the commencement of the Northern Star , 1 know that large sums have been paid by you to parties who were incarcerated for political offences and to their friends . 1 have frequently written to you to say that 1 could not honour your drafts they have been so numerous in this way . During the time that you were in York Castle , yon paid money to the Northern Star office . 1 believe that scarcely ever any party- applied to yoa for money , when 90 a did not ^ We them Borne , or authorise me to do bo . 1 have attended some ,
meetings at wMch you have been present . 1 should say that your character is far from being an agitator for anything bat peace . 1 have beard you denounced many times by working men , for stopping the physical force movement , and 1 have seen letters to that effect , lknow you have paid a higher amount of wages than any other newspaper proprietor in Leeds . 1 have known men be absent from the office for a considerable time , in consequence of indisposition , and their wages were paid , just the same as if they had been at work . Mr . O'Connor—This , my Lord , 1 urge from no motive of vanity . The evidence is important to me in point of character .
A person named Chamberlain , living at Manchester , was called to prove that he had placed a copy of the Address of the Executive Committee on a board s at the shop door of Mr . Leach , one of the defendants , without his permission . The defendant received an excellent character from a partiy who bad known him for many years . Mr . O'Connor here announced that this wa 3 the whole of the evidence wMoh it was intended to offer on the part of the defendants .
Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. The First Volume Of This Yd»' Orateu Ia
VOLTAIRE ' S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY . The first Volume of this yd »' orateu ia
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 11, 1843, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct641/page/5/
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