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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1843.
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3fo Beatrerg anfir ^wve^omm^
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Ctjantet ftnuiltoence. I
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TO THE PEOPLE.
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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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WILL BE PUBLISHED On Saturday Nbxt , April loth , 18-13 , HYMNS FOB WORSHIP , SUITED to the present state of the Church . May be had of Hobson , Northern Slar Office , Leeds ; Heywood , Manchester ; Cleave , London ; & . O ., &C .
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102 TD 0 . N € HJ _ £ TIST MONTHLY MAGAZINE COMMITTEE , ' JSATES HEAD , DB . XJB . T-I . iSE . This CjmmltteeieH ita weekly meeting on Saturday evening last , at eight p . Tn _ Mr . Thos . Carter in the chair , ifbsn the following address "was agreed to , and ordered to ce sent for insertion to the SorLhtrn Star : —
ADDRESS . The' time has come , brother Chartists , when the publication of a Monthly Magtz =-ne Is imperatively called for by our glorious cause . Such a magazine will * how , not only that Cli 3 itiam is rising in the -world , but that we Cfcartfsts are able to compete even -with those ¦ who value themselves upon their respectability , and -who consequently Effect to despiBe us as poor and ignorant . We certainly have not much rank and wealth on obi aide ; but we haTe " something far more and better ;" " We hare truth and talent , and by virtne of these we xan enforce our claims to the nafrre superiority dne to the nobles of nature . . . .
The battle of the Charier 5 s to be fought with the press , as all great national battlss are : and a magazine , properly managed , will be a piece-of artillery like the « debrafced Turkish gun , -sriuch wm bo laiga and wellshotted that , though fired bnt periodically , it , Itself , did t he execution of a whole battery . 3 "he XvrOiern Star , to well sored as it is by its uniHnching and undeTiating Editor , has effected a wide breach in the citadel of corruption . The Kalla begin to totter : let us have a magazine , and we enter , and Itoist the standard of the Charter in place of tie stricken fh « of faction . While a ne-wspsper is chuflv devoted to
tha "oolitical rerrice of our ram * , and is the organ to report the wteklyprogress of onr movement—a monthly magazine will more particJuiarly store n ? the literary and Ecientfie aids of Chartism , and will be found especially serviceable to jonvg men and women , £ r ~ m the -variety and condensed txcelleaee of its centents , consisting of essays , tilts , narratives , memoirs , anecdotes , reviews , poetry , a = d miscellaneous instructive and entertaininj : articles , all having a direct tendency to nourish democratic strength and republican freedom . The nnmtsrs bound up at the ead of the year would form a valnable library book , aad -would do the work
of many tr-cts . We are happy to state that this project will have the fostering and auspicious light of the Sor&eni Star shed upon it—and such a favourable conjunction cannot but bode good fortune to the people's cause . By order of the Committee , John " Watkiss , Sec 2 i , B . —All orders and ccmosnnications tu be addressed pro tern to the Secretary , at the CraTen Head , Drury-laue . The committee expect to be able to com-Bience theIdastzine by the beginning of May .
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NOTTINGHAM . GRAKD DEMONSTRATION , IS HONOUR OF T . S . DUKCOMBE , ESQ ., M . P . In another place iri 3 be found a report of the proceedings at the nomin&uon of candidates for the representation oi the borough of Nottingham , which , however , though of itself interesting , merges into comparative insignificance when contrasted with the reception of the Poor Man ' s Friend and England ' s Glory . Mi . Dancombe had been invited by the nonelector ' s committee to visit the town of Nottingham , and , as is that gentleman ' s invariable practice , he instantly complied with the wishes of the unprivileged HHwashed . Wednesday evening , a : half-past five , was the
hoar appointed for thearrival , aad up to that moment all was bustle , anxiety and hope . At four the producers of wealth began to assemble in the spacious market , and before half an hour had passed away the nnmber 3 congregated , and the amount of flags waving in the breeze far surpassed in amount any thing of lhe kind that had been witnessed witLin ike memory of man in the rotten electoral hola . We cannot guess at the numbers , suffice it to ray that Nottingham market , perhaps the largest in the kingdom , was covered , in marching order , by the countless thousands on their return with Mr . Dancombe . Shortly before fire o'clock , the joyous poor fellows , headed by asplendid band , and joined bv some hearty souls from
Sutton-in-Ashfield , and Mansfield , Chartist districts , that are no churl 3 of their population when the cause requires a helping hand , proceeded to the Station , where Mr . Dnneombe was expected to arrive . When the cavalcade reached the destined spot , every eye was cast along the line of railroad , is the hope of catching the first glimpse , till at length , the wished-for moment came and one general shou * of ** He ' s coming , * ' ran ihrough the multitude j when the train _ arrived "Sad with it the woplo ' s champion . In a moment , Duncombe made his appearance among his admirers , escorted by O'Connor and Cooper , to a carriage drawn by four splendid grey Worses , and the shouts from the assembled thousands sounded and resounded through the air and made the Station ring again , We shall not
call it a procession , it was no such thing , for every one ¦ would see Duncombe , indT if possible , ail would have leapedinto the carriage . 1 % had none of the r-oldnebs , nor jet the formality of a procession ; it was - jumping , Joyous mass , moving on as best they conld through the crowded streets , and , as it moved its slow length along , Dnnooaibe was cheered from the windows and roofs , and every standabls place from nine in ten of eTery house ; so the thing moved on till the ilarkei-place was reached , where Dancombe was to
speak , Mr . Dunae kindly offering his spacious building as a hustings . ^ Vben the multitude reached ihe Market-place tie scene wa- * grand and imposing in the extreme . There was scarcely any moving room in the spacious ground ; and vrben all came to ¦ ffedge into hearing spsee , the numbers astonished l » ih Whigs and Tories , ail adnfitting that even the O'Connell procession was insignificant in comparison . One gentleman who stood near us exclaimed , Where the devil did th * y all come from ?"
Kot much tim » was lost in preliminary matters , Mr . O'Connor , in . a few words , introducing Mr . Dancombe to the meeting , and his reception was cheering in the extreme ; in * hort , nothing could ~ he more so , and language could not describe it . When the echoing tumult had partially ceased , he spoke as follows : — Working men of Nottingham , having understood that exceptions have been taken to my coming among yon , or interfering in your local affairs ; but having been flattered by yonr confidence , communicated to me through a desire to ascertain my opinion ¦ with reference to the relative merits of twe eandi--dates claiming the honour of jonr support , I should consider myself waiting in respect to yon and to myself , if I had withheld my opinion from you—{ cheers)—and how could 1 more perfectly discharge
the onerou 3 duty imposed upon me by your confidence than by accepting your kind invitation , vrhereby the present pleasing opportunity would be afforded of giving yon my opinion in person ?—( loud cheers , and ** your ' e welcome . ") Mr . Gir-born ? and Air . Walter , jun ., are now in the field . Of Mr . Gisborne I will frankly say that I consider him in every way qualified to serve the cause of tho working man in Parliament—( cheers)—and I hare ventured to-pledge myself upon his behalf that he will not fall short of your most sanguine expectations—< lond cheers ) . Of Mr . Walter , however , I know nothing ; and , as to the old gentleman , I have a great personal regard for him , and , as a Tory , consider him as good as Tory could be—( laughter)—bat I liked him better when we used to ai and vote on the Rsxii ~ al side of the House
together—( hear , hear ) . But if he was the best man in the world , a committee oF the House of Commons has sealed his doom , and put his nomin&tiod ont of the question , and it is for you , the . electors of Nottingham , to say whether or not yon are satisfied with this Eyatem of hereditary legislation attempted to be imposed upon yon— ( cheers and- * no ") . Is ihe mantle torn from the father to descend upon the son as a light 1—( no)—or hare we not already had enongh and more thai eneDgh of hereditary legislation in one of the Houses oi Parliament ! ( Cheers and ** aye . " ) I am told that Mr . -Gjsborne has been charged with a desire to get into Parliament for the purpose of Enpporung tte Whigs ; but Mr . Gisborne is a shrewd man , aud a man of talent , and
no friend to sinecariste—( laughter)—and he knows well that the support of Whiggery , now-a-days , "would be but a sineenre—( laughttr ) ; he knows , and yon know , that the Whigs are defonet , that you killed them while they hoped to destroy yon—{ loud cheers and laughter ) . If then yon give Mr . Gisborne credit for shrewdness and talent , you musi also accord to him your belief that he will ose Ma talent shrewdly , and not stnltify himself by supporting a nonentity —( laughter ) . Mr . Gi 9-borne knows , as 1 have long known , that all reforms are now valueless , Eavethe one reform , and that is the document entitled the People ' s Charter —( loud cheers and waving of hats ) . The English mind has busied itself npon this one great and vital point , and persecution will hut rivet it still more closely in yonr affections—( loud cheers ) . Why , will any man deny thai the House of Commons requires reform i —( no ) . Wiaidoyon think the House were
occnpied aboafc during siae hours of precious time last night 1 discussing , like mandarins , whether opium was good for the stomachs of the Chinese or not—( laoghter ) . Some declaring that it was—others that it was sot , and others that they , the Chinese , should be allowed to judge for themselves ; an opinion to "Which J mast own ! subscribed as the most rational . Then when all the other Mandarins iad shaken their ieads , the great Mandarin—Peel —( laughter)—got up andsheok his head , and informed the House ibat as important negotiations Tvere now pending between his Government and ihe jjbinese Government , that it wonld lie better to postpone any farther discussion upon the subject ; andjio little ilandarin wagged a head after that—( . laughter ) . Uow , working men wouldn ' t waste their predPBsttmeinsnchafrivoulousdiscus 2 on ? - ( cbeersO 3 ! he speaker then adverted to the verse than folly of the free iradershoping to force a repeal of the corn laws from a Bouse of Commons constituted as at present : hnt . widlie . iftL'syare sincere let them
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invest the whole people with the means of carrying out their objeci—( renewed cheers . ) However distasteful my interference may . be to some , the cheering reception I have met with assures me that I was neither an intruder nor yet an unwelcome guest—( " No , no , we'd Tather see yon than the whole batch of them , " and cheers . )—and , continued Mr . Duncombe , the honest pleasure which 1 have just reason to feel , can be communicated to other hearts . I am sure it will he felt and participated in by the
independent electors of Fiasbury , who hare honoured me with their confidence npon more occasions than one—( cheers , and shouts of "Come to us , we will have you . ") Mr . D . continued to address the meeting at further length , again assuring them that he would also count upon the unswerving support of Mr . Gisborne , and with an earnest appeal to the people not to be bullied out of their course by judges , jurors , er magistrates . He retired amidst shonts followingahoms , * ad cheers succeeding cneers .
Cooper being recognised by the meeting was loudly called for , and upon his appearance was as loudly cheered . He addressed the meeting with animated energy , as did G . J . Harney , when the living mass departed in peace and joy , to prepare for the strt 3 »« ib of the morrow .
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PHENOMENON GREATER THAN THE COMET . The csmet without head or tail , without definable dimensions or proportions , is a phenomenon of no ordinary character ; the earthquake under our very noses , that frightened all who heard its rumbling , save one sturdy policeman , had its shake and passed away—we hope to come no more ; " Cold water cures the gout , the cholic , and the pbthysic ; And it is for all men the very best of physic ;"'
monamama is having its turn , new policy , new moves , new inventione , new tricks , new schemos , new men and new measures , are all passing before us in quick succession . All have their day , and fleet away . But of all the phenomena that have been presented to the curious in those wondcrous times of wonderful things , we know of none that can stand in fair comparison with the " People ' s Charter . " It is not more than three years since the headsman of his day proclaimed the decapitation of the monster , when lo ¦ ' as by magic , it presented itself , as if in
mockery of the boast , in increased size and vigour The Tories taunted the Whigs with their pigmy attempts to pnt the giant to deatb , and besought the privilege of entering the lists against it . No claim BO stroDg to middle class affection as that which promises to annihilate the defence of labour against capital ; and to no circumstance did the present administration more owe middle-class toleration of Tory rule than to that hope which was strong in them , that a " strong Government " wonld accomplish what the Whigs had failed to effect .
The first Tory tournament at Lancaster was looked forward to as an extinguisher of Chartism , or at least as a meass of deterring all good subjects from any avowal of this " damnable doctrine . " Before the principle had gained strength from persecution , the advocacy of it by an overseer , a shop boy , or a bankrupt shop-keeper , was hailed with unbounded enthusiasm , when behold , after the many attempts to subjugate it , and in spite of revilings , ravings , and persecution , we find noblemen of talent
boastingly arraying themselves under its banners . What should we have thought if , four years ago we had read the speech of Lord Rakcupfe , which appears in our present number ? We , like others , would doubtless have looked upon him as a monomaniac , and as a fit and proper subject to bo handed over to the tender keeping of Dr . Sutherland . Sure we are that those who else would have considered a nod of recognition from his Lordship , as food for a week's gossip , would have cut him . dead ; while , npon Wednesday last , the declaration of the Noble Lord
was received with one universal burst of acclamation , testifying not merely his sanity but his foresight . We are not in the habit of attaching any great importance to the declarations of our nobility ; but when we find a Nobleman of character , of talent , and of stake , not for any personal object , nor with a view to his own aggrandisement , boldly and manfully proclaiming his approval of the despised and persecuted principle , even with the fresh Btripe 3 of Government persecution on its back , we see in that something to value , to admire , and to rejoice at . Lord
RiKCLiFFEhas declared himself a Chartist , unequivocally a Chartist ; and upon an occasion , too , when policy wonld have dictated a more cautious course , to a less honest politician , Lord Rancltftb knew that Mr . Gisbohsb had been forced by the Chartists upon the Whigs , and that the less said about Chartism the better , for the immediate purpose ; bat no , says Lord Rancliffe , it ia not
to be the question of a day , it is to be the principle of the age , and I will not damn it with the brand of Expediency . Lord Rasclifp , as a landed proprietor , or as an English nobleman , is not afraid to cast his land and his title npon the waters of Chartism What a rebuke to thOEe pigmy revilers who oppose the principle upon the false presumption , that by its adoption their superiority over their fellow-men would be lost .
From the lateness of the hour at which we received the proceedings at Nottingham we have not this week been able to say eo much upon the subject as its intrinsic merit demands in our next we may recur to it , in tha hope of making the conduct of an honest English nobleman , a pattern tor the " shoy hoys , " who would receive a nod from his Lordship as a favour not to be forgotten .
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MR . BUNCOMBE'S MOTION ON THE TREATMENT OF UNTRIED CHARTIST PRISONERS . Elsewhekb we give , as promised in our last , a lengthened report of the debate on this most important motion . We had purposed to accompany it by some remarks in exposure of the horrible system , of entire absence of all law proved by the facts developed in Mr . Dukcombb ' s speech , and of tho miserable subterfuges lo which the Attobnit-Gesenal was driven in his endeavour to screen the unpaid" from the odium to which he must have felt them to be well
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entitled . Upon again reading the whole thing we desist ; for two reasons : it would be an insult to tha understanding of the simplest man in England to attempt a demonstration of that which is so manifest that nothing can hide it ; and tho whole defence of the learned Attorhey-Generm , is so palpably dishonest , so rife with falsehoods , assumed , insinuate i , or asserted , that to expose them would occupy considerably more space than the speech itself . We caunot pass by the most unfair reference to Mr . W iittb , whom he affirmed to have been convicted almost a
week before his trial came on . Was the Learned Gentleman speaking by anticipation ! Had the Government " made } all right" before the Judges went down—and was the trial , after all , a mere mockery and farce ! If it were not so , how in God ' s name came tho Attorney-Generai , to be so well informed about the matter as actually to speak of White ' s conviotion , as confidently , several days before it happened , as it if had been always a thing of history ! There is also a most petty and ungentlemanly attempt to fix upon Mr . Leac a charge of falsehood , that coming from the ArroRNEr-GENEHAL deserves especial notice . Leach ' s petition stated : —
• " That your petitioner appeared at Liverpool , when the first charge upon which your petitioner was arrested , and after suffering thirteen days' confinement under the circumstances mentioned , the indictment against your petitioner was abandoned , and , as he believes , from a knowledge the prosecutor had that hia witnesses were most grossly and foully perjured , and that your petitioner bad ample means to prove them so . ' * He ( the Attorney General ) did not know whether tha witnesses had been peijured or not , but he knew this , that in Liverpool the indictment was found , upon which Leach appeared at Lancaster , and so far from the charge having been abandoned , he was convicted on the clearest evidence . *'
Now , a more beggarly , insidious , and unfair mode of dealing with a [ matter was never had recourse to than is here instanced ! Leach never said that the indictment to answer which he appeared at Lancaster , was not found at Liverpool . But Leach did say , and the Attorney-General knew it to be fact , that " / Ac first charge" against him WAS abandoned at Liverpool . Bat the whole is of a piece . We only call upon people to read it , and then to ask themselves if ever man and advocate cut so
miserable figure as the poor Attorney-General while dragging through this filchy mess , in which tho temer ity of middle-class mill-owning magistrates had involved him . We are not willing to take his defence of the magistrates as any fair portraiture of Sir Frederick Pollock . It is merely the necessity imposed upon the office of Attorney General ; from which we have no manner of doubt that the man and the . gentleman reroltod with a Joathing as perfect as the nasty mess was calculated to
inspire . But what a hsson does this teach of tbo . ^ yatem Talk of one law for the rich and another for the poor ! Why the whole tenor of the debate on this motion and of the facts stated by Mr . Duncombe , prove conclusively that tais \ is a most mistaken sentiment ; aud that tn reality , wo have no law , either for rich or poor : but that the rich do whatever they please , and protect each other in the doing of if Thus it is ; and thus it must be till the people take the power of making and administering the law into their own hangs .
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MR . GEORGE WHITE'S TRIAL . Tas impossibility of our having , in every part of the Empire , reporters , specially engaged for this paper has laid us under great disadvantages in , getting anything like a fair statement of the various trials . In the matter of Cooper ' s trial , though the London press gave the evidence at great length , and the opening speech of the prosecutor , the defence was shorn of its fair proportions most unduly , aud we had no means of remedy . We havo this ( Thursday ) morning received from Mr . White the following letter : — 38 , Bromsgrove Street , Birmingham , April 5 th , 1843 .
Dear Sir , —The reports of the daily press , concerning my trial , are exceedingly meagre , and in most cases incorrect , aud as it wo * utterly impossible for me to supply a correct one , I trust that you wiil not publish the Times version of it The beat that I have seen is contained in the Morning Post , and Morning Chronicle , in both of wh-ch the most important poiuts of my defence are overlooked ; of course they took their report to suit themselves . I have been acquitted of the charge of riot and unlawful assembly , and found guilty of seditious language , which language waa never uttered by me . I shall have to appear , with the rest , at the Queen ' s Bench , next term . , Yours truly , George White .
This was intended merely as a private letter ; but , under the circumstances , we think it no more than justice to Mr . White to publish it ; as we had before getting the letter taken the trial from the Times ; thinking it the fullest report . In a later edition of tbo Times , we find also a report of the proceedings , so far as they went on , in the other indictment against White , which was stopped on the delivery of the verdict in the first case , and the Jury discharged by consent . After which it is stated that : — " Mr . Baron Alderson intimated that he was disposed to pass sentence at once .
" The defendant expressed an earnest desire that it should be postponed , and that he should be permitted to come up for judgment in the Court of Queen ' s Bench next term . That had been the course adopted with those tried like himself en the civil side iu the Lancaster and Staffordshire cases . He had expected to be dealt with in the same way , and should be taken unawares by sentence being now pronounced . His wife wm expecting him borne . " Mr . Baron Alderson said , that a recent Act of
Parliament gave the Judge of Asslza the power of passing sentence with the view of preventing public inconvenience . He foresaw that the Court ef Queen's Bench would be stopped np . and the public business much impeded , and this should be avoided . The prisoner , too , would else be put to expense and trouble in attending the Court of Queen ' s Bench day after day , perhaps for a considerable time ; and he thought that it would be better for him that sentence should be now pronounced .
" The defendant said that he would rather come np to the Court and take his share with the rest , as his recognizances provided that he should do . V Mr . Baron Alderson—Does the Crown desire judgment to be now pronounced ? " Mr . Sergeant Adams— No , my Lord ; we leave it entirely with your Lordship . " Mr . Baron AlderBon—Well , the Crown doesn't press it . There is a reason operating with me , which is , that I understand that at Warwick Gaol , to which place alone I could commit , there is no provision , for persons like yourself . The Court above will have the power to send you to the Queen ' s Bench , or any other in England . I will accede to your request , and eo I shall get rid of the inconvenience of having to execute any judgment in the rattter .
" The Defendant—My Lord , of course you'll have a voice in it * ' Mr . Baron Alderson—No , I shall not , or I'd give you the benefit of It " The defendant was proceeding to express his thanfeB to the Learned Judge generally for the manner in which he had presided at these trials , when he was stopped by the Court , " Mr . Baron Alderson observing , it ia much better that Judges should not be thanked ; they only de their duly to the beet of their ability , which does not call for thanks ; were they to do less , they ought to be punished .
" [ It is due to the defendant to mention that be evinced no disposition vexatlously to protract the case , and behaved himself extremely well throughout , and so as to obtain the good opinion of the Judge and Jury , and of the Counsel for the prosecution . ]" Let it be noted that the paragraph last quoted is the Times opinion of Mr . White ' s conduct at the trial . Surely the rabid physical force man whose Irish brogue" called forth the sneers of the Ttmes in the early part of his defence must have produced a powerful impression upon decent men when the ribald sneerer makes this admission on his behalf .
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ORGANIZATION . MR . O'CONNOR'S NEW PLAN . " refer with great ; pleasure to the plan of Mr , O ' Connor for a New Executive , detailed in his letter . It is well deserving of public attention and consideration . Let the people read and ponder well upon it . Let them exercise their judgments freel y . It is a matter of vital importance to our movement and Mr . O'Connor will not , we are quite sure , regard any section of tho people as paying him any compliment if they should adopt it , simply because it his , without examination . He wisb . 6 « only that some mode should be adopted calculated effectually
to serve , the object of concentrating our energies and of preventing the people or the cause from being sacrificed by any folly or treachery that might possibly arise among those who , as the Executive , would be entrusted in a great measure with the keeping of tho people ' s interests . Without at all reviving or wishing to revive any matter of disoussion on the conduct of the last Exeoutive , we may advert to the fact that many circumstances have combined to evince the necessity of some such
regulations as those which Mr . O'Connor here proposes in the Council of thirteen and in the public Treasurer . We think also that past experience has quite sufficiently demonstrated the necessity of some check upon the amount of "responsibility , " which so small a body as an Executive Council of five might bo disposed to assume in the putting forth of documents by which the whole body might be compromised , and the liberties of our best men endangered .
We have read with some degree of care Mr . O'Connor ' s plan ; and we have no hesitation in avowing our conviction that its arrangements ore admirably adapted for the remedy of some very serious mischiefs from which we have before suffered ; and for which remedies must be provided before the Organization can be again put into that state in which the people either can or ought to have confidence in it ; while at the same time we thiuk there are ; parts of it which require to be carefully reconsidered , and , perhaps , to be considerably modified . We think also that there are Borne
matters for which it is absolutely necessary to make provision , and for which this plau of Mr . O'Connor ' s does not provide We fear also that some of the arrangements contemplated by this plaa might , because of the stringent character of the law , be attended with some considerable difficulty , if not doubt . And though it might be thought that we are stepping off our proper ground , and invading the "legal territory" which comes more naturally under Mr . O'Connor ' s own inspection , wo are yet certain that he will take kindly our solicitude that any new effort whioh the people
may now make may be quite sure to be all right and safe . " Upon all these matters , we shall , in all probability , speak more fully horeafter . We now point attention to them as proper subjects of deep and anxious consideration for the people . We would gladly hear the people ' s own thoughts upon them , before we enter into details We hare never been disposed to sot up our own opinion with any undue prominence , though we have always conceived the people to be entitled to its honest expression whenever we imagine that we can t ' . ius serve them .
Tho spirit in whioh Mr . O'Connor has put forth this " Skeleton of a Plan , "—his anxiety that it should bo canvassed and sifted by the peoplehis wish to receive the suggestions and assistance of all , that tho plan may be improved , if possible , may be corrected , if in any point illegal , —and made in every respect practically efficient—cannot be too much admired : It is the very spirit in which all propositions for publio acceptance ought to be made , and which the importance of the subject especially demands in this matter . We rejoice to see the care with which Mr . O'Connor seems to regard the legality of every
point . " We think with him that it is most important to make Chartism a thing of whioh none need be legally afraid . There can be no doubt that our cause has derived an impetu ? , especially in certain quarters , from the proceedings connected with the late trial . That advantage is owing not more to the exhibitions of talent whioh were made than to the proofs which were afforded of iho earnest determina .-nation on the part of most of those who have led the movement , while they took every opportunity of asserting and enforcing their principles , to abide
by such moans as might comport with and conduce to the peace and good order of society . We have made thus an advance in publio estimation ; our causa has received an advantage , but it has been purchased at a doar rate , and we cannot afford to repeat the purchase . Besides any further exhibition of ( he same kind would only tend to lessen the advantage we have gained by this . We must now , therefore , endeavour to proceed safely . We must t ^ ke care that our organisation be within tho law , and we must take care to abide by our organisation , when established , and to Bee that it is enforced on all ;
no more tampering with it by our own officers—no more involving of the causo and the party in the " responsibility" which individuals choose to take upon themselves . Each man must now learn to know his own place and keep it . It is quite possible so to direct our movements as that the law shall be compelled to work with us and for us ; and this must be done . Every publio act , every movement of the body , must be made conformable to rule , while the rule is made conformable to law . We shall then , as a body , be safe ; our onward progress , at whatever speed , will be onward ; and not as it has hitherto been , circular , coming back always to the same point whence wo started . We see much in this " skeleton of a plan ; " that will go a long way towards
securing those desirable objeots . We wait anxiously forthefilling-npof the " skeleton , " which we trust will be found to effect it fully , and also to lay before the people something in the shape of an immediate aud practical application of our own principles , to cheer and aid ns in our struggle , to make them ultimately triumphant on the broadest scale . We are most happy to see in several of the master-minds of the movement a craving , simultaneously , manifested after something practical—some present embodyment in useful results of our principles and energies . We claim attention on this hiad to the following extract of a private letter , written in February last , from one of the most intelligent , as well as honest , of our leaders , to a person whom it will be seen he was wishful to put in nomination for the Executive : —
" My deau Sir , —With the contents of your letter I am highly gratified . It tells me that if you can be prevailed upon to accept the office of one of the Executive , and if the people will only elect you , that the best results will flow from your appointment . " I have for a considerable time past been of the opinion that Chartism needs reformation—that nearly all we are how doing is labour lost . We appear to go the round of one oirole over and over again . Behold the round we tread : agitation—EXCITEMENT—OUTBREAK — PERSECUTION—APATHY
}aud then , when the imprisoned get free , we have more agitation , more excitement , until we finish off with persecution and apathy again . We are doing nothing practical . Why should we not 1 The Socialists , if they move slowly , are doing something . We are doing worse than nothing , I am not quite so wild as I was four years ago ; and though equally as good a democrat , I now see , what I could not see then , that roaring multitudes will not of themselves ever bring the Charter . As yet we ( as a people ) have neither the virtue to get the Charier by moral means , nor have we the courage nor means to take the Charter by force .
It is circumstances , backed by the increasing intelligence of the masses , to which I look for the carry ing of the Charter . Could we not , then , ( without leaving anything undone we are now doing calculated to accelerate the obtainment of that measure , ) do something practical in the meantime ; something whioh would shew the world we wonld know how to apply legislative rights whoa we got them for the removal of the social misery existing ! I believe we could . I believe we must come to some ' thing of th& sort ; and the sooner the better too . Now , I believe you are just the man calculated to commence that reform of the movement : and so
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thinking , it is my earnest desire to see you at the Executive Board . I am weary of Chartism as at present conducted . Let us prove by acts and deeds that we are fitted to legislate , and depeod upon it , so far from retarding , wa shall greatly accelerate the triumph of the Charter . " More I cannot say now ; when the gods permit I willi on these matters , by letter or otherwise , say something more . " Aneht the same matter , we have also , this week , received a letter from a gentleman whom , though he be not very prominent in the movement , we know , and feel proud to know , as one whose strength of mind and sterling honesty deserve much attention . He writes ! as follows : —
" Sir , —1 hope you will allow me a small space in the columns of the people ' s pvper , it is the first time I ever asked you the favour , and the reason I do so now is , because I believe that the time has now arrived for ns , as Chartists , to make a farther advance , in order to accomplish that which you and I , in common with the rest of our Chartist brethren , have so much at heart—jthat is , equal justice to all , and happiness to all the human family . I feel convinced thai oar long and arduous agitation must have proved to evtij reflecting
individual , as well as to the world at large , that when the people are properly united , their pawer is omnipotent Who is be that bas beheld , and has not admired , the noble conduct of our unwashed and illiterate artisans sallying f-rth from their workshops , and mounting the hustings for the purpose of discussing our glorious principles with the classic and refined aristocrats , and proving unto them , and to the world , that our principles are based upon ju&tice , and therefore they are immutable ?
" I am not aware ot any meeting having heen properly convened for the purpose of discussing our principles , jwhere they have not boen always triumphantly carried , ] save and except in that small market-bouse of incurables situated upon the basks of the river Thames , where they make errors by hundreds , and squander the people ' s money by millions . " As Chartists wefdo not profess to have the pi ft of prophecy ; nevertheless , we always knew that certain causes would produce certain effects , and knowing , as we did ,, that the mai-administration of class legislation , and the improved and still improving state of machinery would ultimately bring on national distress ; knowing this , we asked for oar political rights to be conceded unto us , in order to empawer us to alter the
institutions of our country , so as to enable us to prevent so dreadful a calamity ; but instead of our just rights being conceded unto us , our petitions have always been treated with contempt by a large majority of the members of that House which is falsely called the people ' s House ;! and also most of those out . of that House , who move in rather a higher sphere of society , as they term it , have treated us and our principles somewhat uncourteously . The reason why some of them have done so , ; I believe , is because they have been quite ignorant what our principles are ; others have misrepresented us , because they thought it were tLeir interest to do so ; but , if I am not greatly mistaken , such individuals are finding it out that they reckoned without their hoist .
• ' Well , let us persevere onward , and as sure as two and two make four , if we only unite our agitation with a firm eo-operation , we shall prove unto the slanderers and the waverers that we are still progressing in the right course . i | jf No w , Sir , for our onward movement Daes not our great champion , and virtuous patriot , O'Connor , cry out " TH H LAND , " and you echo to the cry , and I fellow in the train , and say " THE LAND ; »¦ but the question which new arises is , is the land to come unto us , or we are to go unto the land . I say tve must go to the land . Well , then , if we ate to ro U the land , some plan must be adopted to come at the means . " Well , Sir , we all know that many pence mak-es a ponnd , and one million pence a week will realise a sum of four { thousand one hundred and sixty-six pounds , thirteen Jghillings and fourpence weekly .
" Now then , brother Chartists , If this sum could be placed in the Bands of an Executive , every week , for the purpose of being judiciously laid out , wonld it , I ask , weaken our present position ? I unhesitatingly say it would make us doubly strong ; but anxious as I am to see either this or some more improved plan carried Into operation , I know it cannot be accomplished in one week ; it will have to be the work of time ; but if it be taken up iu the same spirit that the Trades' Uuion was , the time will be short , and I say he that has it in his power to subscribe and does not do bo , I cannot
believe him to be sincere when I hear him wishing that society was regenerated . Talking is very good in its place ; but , in my opinion , the time has now arrived when it { behoves us to act a » well as talk . Now , if it be advlseable that an experiment should be tried , some plan toast be bit upon in order to set it agoing . I would beg to suggest the propriety ef calling a small conference ; such conference to be composed of a few of the beat minds that can be selected from the Chartist ranks ; say one from Yorkshire , ana from Lancashire , and one from each of the other counties ; the said delegates to meet in some central place .
•* WeJ your friends at Keightef , ware amongst tha foremost to form a political union previous to the passing of what was falsely called the Reform Bill , and we are now ready to assist in placing Chartism upon a more solid basis than it hitherto has been . Let us hasten to pace ourselves in this formidable position , and then , if we fcneck at the door of St . Stephen ' s , whether : Peel or Russell be the gate-keeper , they will politely let us in . i " I remaiu , " Yours in the cause of Democracy , " Joseph Firth . " Keighley , March 21 , 1843 . "
These ] sentiments are worthy of earnest considera ^ tion , coming , as they do , from one of labour ' s nobles . These ; are evidences of the turn the publio mind is taking . We rejoice to see them ;• they are proofs that our labour has not been iu vain—that the seed which we have sown ia showing itself already in ; he blade , and will yet ripen in the full ear . We have yet much to say upon this subject of remodelling our movement . We shall return to it again and again , aud lay our own thoughts before the people . Meantime we commend it to the careful
consideration of Mr . O'Connor iu the filling up of his " skeleton ; " we have had no communication with him on the matter , but should be glad to have . We feel earnestly desirous that our new Organisation should be perfect ; that it should embrace ove ^ y advantage , andtguard against every disadvantage ; hence , we advise the people to take time , to deliberate , to weigh well every point , to give , through the Star , the benefit of their opinion , to those who may be occupied in preparing measures for their consideration and
acceptance . Let , it however , be noted , that whilst inviting from all the expression of their opinion , we do not offer general license , and promise general indulgence , to every man who can spin out a letter of a column or two in length . What we want are not writers and essays , but hints and observations ; short , pithy ^ and to the point—telling what the letters mean , without waste of words . Unless this caution be observed , our space may be unduly occupied , aud we may be ; obliged to offend many by suppression or curtailment .
We think no steps should be taken for appointing an Executive until the re-organisatiou of the people has been agreed to and determined on .
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My BjRiENBS , —Every moment of time which a state of continual ill health leaves at my disposal is , in one way or other , so fully devoted to , and occupied in , your service , that it is impossible for me , without negleoting other aud more important duties , to reply to half the letters I receive . I hope , therefore , that those to whose favours answers may be long deferred , or never sent at all , will accept of this general apology , and not think themselves slighted : I have since the trial received many invitations to visit various places . Most of them I
have been obliged to decline . My health will not now bear hard labour ; save in regular and usual circumstances . Many circumstances combining the operation through a length of years have shattered my constitution , and left me but M the shadow of my former self . " However , I am not yet quite finished j ; and what I c&n , I am willing to do . I have ] great pleasure in acceding to the request j of my Manchester friends to attend their meeting and tea party in Carpenter ' s Hall , on Good Friday , the Hth instant , and to preach their anniversary sermons on Easter Sunday , the 16 th ; if my Stockport friends , whose invitation
has lain ! by me since before the trials , can arrange a meetingjfor Easter Monday , I will try to visit them at the same time . On the Sunday following , the 23 rd , I purpose , in accordance with the request of my Bury friends . to preach their anniversary sermonB for the Sunday School ; and if my Blackburn friends can do with me on Monday , the 24 th , I will pay my long promised vieit there . If a Monday evening will suit the Rochdale people I will try to see them on Monday ^ May 1 st . My Scotch friends must excuse me . I dare not travel northward till the warm weather come . About the middle of June I hope to grasp the warm hands of my hearty friend ' s in Edinburgh . ] God save you all and speed the Charter , William Hill .
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Mary Ann Abbott . — We cannot spare room for the rules she mentions . John Smart , Abikdetm . —His letter to Mr . O'Coh . nor must stand over till we have room . Cleave's List . — We have been obliged to keep this document back these two last weeks : we hope tn publish it in our next . This will , perhaps , satisfy several enquirers . . * We have once more to request the continued patience of our numerous and esteemed Correspondents . The trials have claims upon our notice , which urn cannot lay aside ; they furnish matter for serious deliberation , and we are sure they would not be made sufficiently publicexeept through our columns .
D . C , Dublin . —The papers leave Leeds on the Friday evening , the same as they have always « fone . T . B . G . —The task is no easy one ; nor ao we think the people just now prepared for Us accomplishment : when they are , they will find our plan before them . Our Welsh Friend with the unreadable Sibsa . tube is delayed for want of room . Repeal of thk Union . —The rejection of Mr , Clancy , by the Golden Lane Repealers , next week . H . Joxes—The address is received : but we have no room for it at present . We shall call attention la the subject shortly Mesmero-Phrenology . — W . Raspin , of Bradford . writes thus : —
" There are a great many persons of talent iu the Ch : * tist ranks , who are sufficiently qualified to lecture upon this most important subject , who have made Phrenology their peculiar study . let such indivf . duals be immediately selected from amongst u& Let the price be such that all our brethren can attend , and after defraying all expences , give the surpins to aid in the promulgation of our gloriom principles . " John Wake— Nothing can be further frm . our in . tention than f identify Mr . Robert Owen and his peculiar principles and crotchets mith Char-1 tism . We did not imagine it possible that an $ 1 person could have formed such a conclusion . We
dislike the in fidelity of Mr . Owen as muck , anil disclaim it as earnestly as Mr . Wake , or anj other oj our readers ; but we do not let the ah- i surdity of the Socialists' metaphysical dogmai blind us to the excellence of their economical } arrangements ; or to the proof which their expe-1 rimenls afford of the power of united industry /< J provide physical and intellectual comforts for ( kg f masses . We have ever regretted , as a national I evil , the infidelity with which Mr . Owen and afl I the principal leaders of Socialism interlard I their whole system , because we know its tendenc ; I to ikut out even from enquiry many ardent mindi I who would go entirely with them , so far as thev % system is political . £
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" " » FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENCE FUND . W - £ B . d . fe From John Bull , Marple 0 2 3 m „ the Chartists of Newport , Isle of p Wight 0 10 0 If „ Joseph Smith , Hunalet t 0 6 || ^ Mr . Driffiild , Spilsby , proceeds of If Crow aud fyrell ' s Beverage ... 0 3 0 K „ Mr . Jones , Northampton , ditto ... 0 1 t | | „ a few Chartist friends at Potovens , | | near Wakefleld 0 10 J fi « Trowbridge , Wilts , per J . A . Mar- § chant ... ... 0 16 4 W „ Wm . Drayson , Eastry 0 0 J p ^ a few friends at Pendleton , per . J . ff Millington , Manchester 0 4 i fi FOR MRS . ELLIS . M From Mr . Jarvis , Mansfield ... ... 0 0 «| f FOR MRS . H 0 LB £ RRY . H From Mr . Jarvis , Mansfield 0 G II % FOR THE VICTIM . FOND . If From Mr . Drifneld , Spilsby , proceeds of p Crow and Tyrrell ' s Beverage ... 0 3 0 jf From Mr . Jones , Northampton , ditto ... 0 1 1 W
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ABERDEEN . —On Thursday last , our racc-oouBe which had lain dormant these ten years past , was a that day ocenpied from one o'clock to five in the era ing , to the very high gratification of some few sciini of our landed aristocracy . Tee day being exceeding !) fine , although somewhat cold , and as the factories wen closed , as well as most of the public works , the gattaing was rather extraordinary ; in fact , we never witnessed so vast a multitude congregated together on tia same ground ; there were certainly between thirty to
forty thousand persons present . The Chartists haVfaj | bad a wish to take the advantage of this meeting , wi a view to spread their principles , had previonjlj invited Mr Abram Duncan , from Arbroath , la assist them on tbat occasion , and had given notfa accordingly Jast as the races for the day closed , 1 band of music was seen advancing from the south ii of the race course to a hustings which stood in a hollow space on its north extremity , and which was shorty surrounded by a vast body of people of both sm Mr . James M-Pherson was culled to the chair . Kt
Archibald M'Donald moved tfee first resolution :-» That the inhabitants of Aberdeen , in public meetitj assembled , view with astonishment and regret , tit conduct of the aristocrats of the country , the map trttes of this city , and others connected in getting ij the frivolous and costly display exhibited this dij before us , as also their prcligate Waste of the weal and substance of the toiling millions , at a time wbs so much distress is prevailing , and destroying the vitai of this unhappy country / ' The resolution was seconfld
by Mr . Snerron , and carried with ace ! amation . It Abram Duncan moved the next resolution , which to " That this meeting adopt the Charter , and use £ legal means to make it become the law of Grat Britain . " This resolution was ably supported by & Duncan , and carried . The meeting then disperse , after having given three lusty cheers for Fwp O'Connor , the same for the Northern Siar i anduW for our banished patriots . Mr . Abram Duncan is featuring here by engagement , and will continue to dot ) over Sunday next .
DUMFRIES . —On Monday evening last , Mr . A > drew Wardrop lectnred to a crowded meeting , in Ife room of the Working Men ' s Association , on Jereaj Bentham ' s maxim of " the greatest happiness ta & greatest number . " NEWCASTLE .- Mr . Thomas Dickinson lectured ^ the Chartist Hall , Goat Inn , Cloth Market , on Soo ^ evening , on the evil tendency of the law of Primogsr tute . On Monday evening , according to announeemsii Mr . Beesely gave a splendid lecture on the capability of the land , and the rights of the people to the 1 * A Several names were enrolled after the meeting . I * weekly business meeting was then commenced . ® minutes of the previous meeting having been read i » confirmed and the weekly contributions paid in , & Fleming m * ved , and Mr . Young seconded , " That 1 * Secretary be instructed to announce through the S ! 0 that a district meeting s-f delegates from all partis Northumberland and Durham , will be holden at Sm ciiffo-bUl Top , on Saturday , 15 th April , Tor the p * pose of making arrangements fox the suppott of » Beesley as lecturer for the counties of NorthumbBrW and Durham ; the hour of meeting to be two in w afternoon , when it is hopod tbat llorpeth , Alnwi * Bidcliffe , Blyth . Bedlingcon , Cowpen , CramlingW j < Ettt and West ); Seaton DslavalSegbiiiSoitb &
, , South Shields , Suoderland , Durham , Houghtonf Spring , Hetton , Rainton ( East , West , and MiddKj Tooniley , Wingate , Stockton , Darlington , Bishop »» West Auckland , Staindrop , Barnard Castle , ShoUf Bridge . Hesham , Blaydon , Winlaton , Swall «?> Sheriff-Hill , Keaton , Tawdon , and every other loem in the two counties will see the propriety of attends * either by delegate or letter , stating the part they ** willing to take in that laudable object . Any letters W be addressed t « the Secretary , James Sinclair , new
agent , 25 , High-bridge , Newcastle . LEICESTER . —Mr . Cooper delivered W addresses ia the Skaksperean-room , last SunaJJ ' The brigade received their " general , " on hisreWfJ from the gallant fight at Stafford , with unboun ^ enthusiasm . Mr . Cooper assured his audience «* the ten days trial had only made him «* S l t ? S tried again , and gave out a meeting for two 0 w *" on the following day , iu the Market-place . . H ? Monday afternoon , the Superiutendant of PohcftR * the " general" a courteous visit , and informed ^ that the Borough Magistrates could not permiMf intended meeting . " My dear sir , " said Mr . W * reply , " tell the Mayor aad Magistrates that «*? mnsf ^ r . Tnrton ErsfeinA . tolH mv Special Jury » J " ;
days ago , what Judge Tindal told told the bW » r Grand Jury at the preceding assizes , —that thft |* l pie of tbis country have a right to meet wnenw ^ like , and where they like * for the discuBaonoi ^ Charter—tell the magistrates this , and asaure , * " ^ that I shall hold the meeting . Let them arreaJJ m if they dare , for I have not the slightest o bjecu » to be tried agaia to-morrow . " Two o ' clock ^ and 5 i 000 people were assembled in Leicester j » ket-place . Mr . Cooper addressed them , and ^ out as boldly ia defiance of sneaks and ttran » £ ever—but the Magistrates did not fo& iJZ arrest him . Mr . Cooper delivered »?^ address ia the Shakspeiean room » tnight , ou ? - *^ obliged to desist , from weakness » nd over exew ^ The Shakspereau and AU-Sauits Chartists , , g unitedly purposing to get up a public meetin& « ; j ^ Market-place , nesfc Monday , for petitioning ? g menfc relative to the unjust treatment and !^* j 2 j tutional trial of poor Jones , who is in box ooroMsj Gaol . Mr . William Biggs , author of the epneffl ° » "Midland Counties' Charter , " who is 3 «* g year , says ho disapproves of the intended mee ^ j and will see Sir James Graham about iu ™ Z lack ! twhat singular notions of liberty J ^ S jj gentleman must hava ; and still more wnav »« ^ notions of hia owns authority he must W ® . _ tjoo imagines he can affright Chartists from tfte . as ^ f ^ ori of their constitutional right to meet and pew parliament !
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DURHAM . —City Election . —On Monday , the nomination took place . The only candidates , up to the morniog of nomination , were Viscount Dungannon , on Tory , and Mr . James Williams of Sunderiand , on Charlist principles . Unexpectedly , on the morning of nomination , Bright , of Rochdale , came forward . A little before the hour of nomination , an interview took place between him and Mr . Williams , in the presence of their respective
friends . The Chartists not being so well prepared as was desirable agreed , on condition of Bright declaring his attachment to an < J readiness to support their principles , it was agreed that Mr . W . should retire . To this Bright consented . The candidates having been nominated , they addressed the people , about 2 or 3000 , atgreat length . Bright . inthe course of his address , declared his views on the suffrage question sufficiently clear to bind him to the support of the principles of the Charter , but did not dwell upon them . The show of hands was immensely in his favour . On the following day ( Tuesday ) the polling commenced at eight o ' clock . Bright took the lead and maintained it till twelve o ' clook ; afterwards Duagamion had the majoniy , and at the close the numbers
were—Dungannon 0 O 0 Bright 406 BIRMINGHAM . —On Wednesday week , a lodge in connexion wiih tho Independent Order of United Brothers , Leicester Unity , was opened at WardalTs Temperance Coffee House , 35 , Ludgatehill , being the third lodge ot this order opened in thia town within six weeks .
The Northern Star. Saturday, April 8, 1843.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , APRIL 8 , 1843 .
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ORGANIZATION . We have recei ved several communications on the subject , of Organization , as brought before the people in Mr . O'Connor ' s letter of last week . We reserve them . for the present : we shall probably got more , and give them all ; it may be next week .
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The Gazette of Cracow announces the death , on the 14 th nit ., at the age of eighty years , of Count Stanislas Wodziski , who had filled the poBt of President of the Republio during fifteen vears .
3fo Beatrerg Anfir ^Wve^Omm^
3 fo Beatrerg anfir ^ wve ^ omm ^
Ctjantet Ftnuiltoence. I
Ctjantet ftnuiltoence . I
To The People.
TO THE PEOPLE .
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4 T H E N 0 R T H E R N < STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 8, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct645/page/4/
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