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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th June 1841, Edition 4 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE .NORTHERN STAtt SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 1841. THE ELECTION.
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      SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT . BY THE QUEEN . A PROCLAMATION , Poi Dissolving the present Parliament , and Declaring the Calling of another . Tictoria , R . Whereas we bare thought fit , by and with the adtics of oar Privy Council , to dissolTe this present Parliament , which stands prorogued to Tuesday , the 29 th day © f this instant Jm * e : We do for that end publish this oar JUyal ProeJamatJon , and do hereby dissolTe the said Parliament accordingly : and the Lords Spiritual sad Temporal , and the Knights , Citirana , and

      Bbtgtoses , and the Commissioners for shires and berghs , of the Houe of ComniOBs are discharged from their meeting and attendance on the said Tuesday , tie twenty-Binfli day of this instant June : and We , being desirous and resolved , as soon as may be , to meet our people , and to bare their advice in Parliament , do hereby make known to all oar loving subjects our Royal -will aad pleasure to eaQ a new Parliament : and do hereby further declare , that , with the advice of our Privy Council , we have given order that o * r Chancellor of tint part of our TJiAted Kingdom called Great Britain , and oor Chancellor of Ireland , do , respectively , upon notice thereof , forthwith issue out writs in due form , sad according to law , for calling a new

      Parliament ; and we do hereby also , by this our Royal Proclamation , under our Great " Seal of our United Kingdom , require writs forthwith to be issued accordingly by our said Chancellors respectively , for causing the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons , who are to serve in the said Parliament , to be duly returned to , and give their attendance in , oar said P * rliament ; which writs are to be returnable « n Thursday the nineteenth day of August next Given at our Coart at Buckingham Palace , this Twenty-third day of Jane , in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Porty-one , and in the Fifth year of our reign , GOD SATE THE QTEEN .

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      PLAIN AND SIMPLE RULES FOR CONDUCTING AN ELECTION . DCTT OF 505-KLE . CTOES . Every Chartist in the neighboHrhood of an election should consider it Ms duty to attend the hustings where a Chartist candidate is to be proposed , whether he intends to go to the poll or not . He should be up betimes , and say to himself , "the battle to-day depends entirely upon me ; if I am absent , my eanse is injured , and I am the willing c&nse of the injury—the guilty enemy of my country and her liberty . " Every male inhabitant of the locality Bhould meet at a > place to be previously agreed upon , having , in the first instance received the blessing of Ms wife and family .

      The body , when assembled , should then go towards the hustings , as large a number as is prudent getting in front , with a good reserve in the rear ^ and well flanked . They should not wear any colours , and for this reason , they will be just as well known by the want of them ; and bhould a row take place , every bird that is plucked of his plumage will , of necessity , be compelled io fall into the Chartist ranks , and fight against his feathered brethren in self-defence . When the time of nomination comes , they should understand their duty . I will point out the order in which candidates are in general nominated .

      They are nominated according to the date of their addresses , if they are all new candidates , and if new and old , that is , old Members , they , the old , are nominated first , according to the place they occupied opon the last poll , the highest bebg first put . I mention this , " for fear of a trick , very frequently practised , in taking a show of hands twice for the same candidate , some friend telling the returning officer that the people did not understand ; thus it not unfrequently happens that the hands are held up in mistake .

      What I recommend is this . The Chartist candidate or candidates should have a short stick with a flag , and a man with some distinguishing mark , sneh as a handkerchief round his head , should stand behind the candidate or candidates ; and when the Chartists see their candidates and fuglemen hold np their flags , then they Bhould hold up both ha > ds ; mind , both hands , and then you cannot be outjockied , for the others will hold up both . It is a thing , of frequent occurrence for so _ e old stager to keep the returning officer ' s attention fixed , for a long time , npon the hands , while such a conversation as the following is going on : —

      " 0 , Mr . Sheriff , look at that quarter ; very slack , and iherej and there—not near as large as Lord Moepeth ' s show . " Now , all this time the hands of those a ; a distance are being lowered , while the practised fellero are well tutored . Now , to obviate any trick of this kind , I recommend that all hands be kept up till the candidate and fugleman shall lower their flags ; that done , clap all hands tkrec times , then set up a grcan , dismal , loud , and l » ng for the Whigs , and a fanny derisive laugh for the Tories , and three rousing cheers for the members ; for mind , they are members for all that day and the next , till the close of the

      poll ! Then give nine cheers for the Charter , and as many more for Frost , Williams , and Jones , and tell the two usurpers , who appeal to the ten pound votes against your election , that you will have them back . That done get your men and chair them all over the town ; and when thej are elected , get them to sign in agreement to restore their trust whenever called upon by a committee to attend a public meeting of the non-electors , with sufficient notice , provided that meeting shall call upon them to do so . Above all things don ' t lose Eight of this , for , believe me , the time is coming when your representatives will have more power than the representatives of walls .

      Trust no man too far . Make no disturbance upon any account ; but if you are attacked , you must £ ghi like devils . In the evening get up cheap tea parties aod dancing , and be jollj . and go to bed happy in the thought that yon have done your duty .

      KCLES FOB THE CHiRTTST CAKDIDAXES , The first rule which I shall lay down will be for the conduct of the Chartist candidate who goes to the poll upon a coalition with either a Whig-or a Tory . In his situation of candidate , he must have no fear of wounding feeliiigB where no offence is intended ; and in fcis desire to aToid the tiling , he mast take care that his party ' s cause is not

      sacrificed to his timidity or over delicacy . The coalition being agreed upon , he must instantly say to nis Adopted colleague , " Now , you and I are the onlj parties who can give the stamp of real value to what , from profession , appears to be our mutual object , namely , a coalition to serve our cause , as we both best caa ; and for the purpose of giving full effect to the agreement we must sign the following undertaking : —

      "I , A . B ., Whig candidate" ( or Tory , as the case may be ) , " do hereby pledge myself to vacate my seat , by accepting the Chiltern Hundreds , within ten days After Parliament shall be next assembled , in the event of twemty Toten , who rote for me , net giving their second vote to C D ., the Chartist candidate . " Let the execution of this document be witnessed by twelve Whig electors vpon the Whig committee , » od by twelve non-electors upon the Chartists ' . cornsuttee , aad lei it be thma *> dieUed . ~—"We , the ftwsBty-fovr witnesses whose names appear fcerranto annexed , do pledge ourselves to the performance of the above agreement , according to the simple TBWBing , upon the part of our respective priuripala . " .

      Now , if you do not do this , you do nothing , and for this reason , when all the Chartist force shall be tued up according to good faith , the Whigs will split with ihe Tories , to keep out the Chartist , and fee Whig candidate , in the mo % i honourable anS indefatigable manner , will have used all his exertions , in Tain , to induce hia supporters to split i * vi whax cofld hb do ? he could rarely do do

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      more thaa beseech and implore , but then the prejudice was bo strong against the Chartist principles that fee , poor fellow , found it impossible to overcome that fr ejadice ! N # w just make his seat depend upon his overeoaing it , and youil very Boon find that the mere announcement of the terms of agreement will , pro Undo , enlighten the ignorant and explain away the prejndice . Mind , and mind well , that no contract can be made with a whole body of electors .

      Well , this done , let every Chartist Elector , and every elector pledged to support a Chartist Candidate , assemble in a place agreed upon before the polling begins , on the day of election . Let the whole non-electors' committee remain with them , and let the polling committee have two in each booth , that is , one to relieve the other , and , every heur , let the members of the polling committee meet and compare notes as to the manner in which the terms of agreement axe kept , aad in the event of all being right and

      proper , let the membsrs of the polling committee come up at & quarter to three to tbe place where the Chartist reserve is kept , and let them go to their respective booths and perform their part of the covenant ; but if two Tories be in the field , which is most likely , there being no likelihood of catcMng split votes , aad in the event of the terms of the contract being broken , then let the Chartist voters vote for the two Tories , if the contract has been made with , and violated by , a Whig—and for the two Whigs , if made with a Tory , and violated by him .

      Now , I ask , can any one suggest any more simple plan than that ? and let me advise every Chartist to insist upon his man insisting upon the agreement before the day comes , else , believe me , they will fling you ! I tell you that men , otherwise kind-hearted , lose their nature , and become very savages in the heat of an election . Father , son , uncle , nephew , friend , relation , and all ties of affection , merge into the one endeariDg term—partisan ^ Trust no man ' s word , if you can faster bind him . Even Dr . Philpotts would tell a lie to ensure the return of & Tory ; and , surely , what would be pardonable in a Right Reverend Father in God , would be doubly pardonable in a limb of the Devil , as we poor Chartists are called .

      Some one once charged me with having said that I would tell a lie to carry the Charter . I never said snch a thing in my life . But now I tell you what Bishop Philpotts would do to get one Tory ; and , believe me that I would " go the whole hog " to get one Chartist . I would not say so immoral a thing , as that I would or could even bring my mouth to tell a lie for the Charter . However , if I

      was to swear myself black in the face , Bishop Philpotts would not believe me ; so , therefore , I wish they would just TRY ME , and see whether or no I could beat the fellow that said he drove a nail through the moon . Just let the holding of office and the consequent distribution of the sweets depend upon the respective parties pledging themselves to tell lies , and you would have truth proclaimed as a crime , acd lyiDg as a virtue 1

      Well , all the above arrangements , or rather preliminaries , being arranged , the Chartist candidate should then meet his Commit-• tee the lasi thing on the night before the nomination , aud , of all things , make their arrangements perfect . They should have two committees , one working the electors , the other the non-electors . The non-electors' committee should never stir from the Epot where they Eball be posted , after they have assisted in forming the procession to escort the candidates to the hustings . - If any row is got up by the factions , the nonelectors' committee should instantly go for their candidate , and placing him it their head , rally round him , and when excitement is once got up ,

      never try to allay it , as such a practice has lost more elections than any other folly . I have been knocked down . I have had two bayonet stabs upon the same day . I have been trampled upon by dragoon horses . I have been knocked down in the gutter with an elector on my back . I have stood for hours opposite the 4 th Dragoon Guards , and other regiments , with their drawn sabres within a yard of my face . I have been assailed with porter pots in a room with closed doors . I have been nearly stripped in the street ; and I have invariably found that when the factions are getting the worst of it , they resort to physical force , and then if the popular candidate gets frightened , the electors get frightened also .

      The candidate should inform his committee of all his arrangements and plans , and hold no secrets . He should be very alert upon the following day , and for some time after the election , till excitement subsides , and he should take care that none of his voters are bullied or intimidated ; this is , firstly , rixht ; and , secondly , will insure success another time .

      THE £ XPE * CES OP AS ZLKCTJO . f . If a candidate does not go to the poll , he is not liable to any expence . 1 have noticed thi 3 before , and again I notice it now . Lord Abijtgeb , in the case of the Returning Officer of Birmingham against Stcege , has decided the point . The legal expences of taking the poll are denned ; and in justice to the reformed Parliament , I must say , that the only department in which they have made any retrenchment i 3 in that alone where they were most interested . They have considerably reduced the expsnee of taking the poll , and they have relieved themselves of all those annoying -fees paid by members to officers of the House of Commons , by transferring the obligation io the country .

      I stood for the County of Meath in 1831 , to assist Grattan ; for Mallow , in 1832 , to assist Daunt ; for Dungarvan , in 1834 , to assist Jacob ; for Yonghal , in 183 o , to assist John O'Connell . I stood for Preston in 1837 ; and for Glasgow in 1839 ; and not going to the poll , I never paid any thing . la 1837 the Boroughreeve of Manchester refused to allow O'Bkiek to be put in nomination , without first giving security for the hustings' expences . I wrote a protest for him against the election , but I rather think it was not served , nor would there have been much use in it , as it would not have attained our object in time , which was to let Poclett Thomson and Phillips see the blistered hands .

      I have never lost an election that I conducted for a friend ; and I attribute success to my resolution never to think enough was done , or that the battle was over till the time for polling hid expired . If my man was 400 at the head of the poll two hour 3 before the close , I would gallop five miles for one voter . Above all , mind that . ' never think you can do enough , and never rest while work is to be done . It is most fortunate that I am here now , for , if at

      large , I should positively kill myself this election . I work like a horse , and when the blood is up I am as Btrong as any dozen men . You Bhould have seen me flooring two gentlemen right and left in the streets of Dungarvan , who wanted to iteal an elector from me , because he was tenant to one of them . I assure you I made them epin right and left like two tops ; aad before they were well upon their legs , I had my , man polled and another upon my back . Beli « ve me that that ' s the way to go to work .

      Having said bo much upon arrangement , let ne now advert for one moment to those particular elections in which we have any interest , while I classify the interest according to value . I begin with

      NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE . To the result of this election I attach the very greatest importance , and for this reason , because it will , Firstly , ( should O'Bkies be returned ) work into practice one of our most beautiful maxims , " The labourer is worthy of his hire . " Secondly , it will strongly establish the claim of the brave and virtuons working men of England to the title for gratitude .

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      Thirdly , it will give to the ignorant Irish revilers the best possible denial of the charge that the English people are opposed to Irish interests and to the Catholic religion , and •> Repeal of the Union . O'Brisk is an Irishman , a Catholic , and a Repealer . Fourthly , it will prove the spread among our own party of O'Brien ' s principles , and the principles ^ Chartism . Fifthly , it will prove that absence of a friend does not insure forgetfulness of him . Sixthly , it will be a powerful incentive to other teachers , orators , and leaders , to go and do as O'Brien has done .

      Seventhly , it will , above all other circumstances , prevent the enemy from again resorting to torture and persecution , from a hope , or expectation , that they will destroy the influence , character , and prospects of the leaders and supporters of democracy . Eighthly , it must not be lost sight of that Mr . O'Connkll made a great handle , in 1835 , of the people of Newcastle having returned an enemy to Ireland ; and though he always confounds the people and their oppressors , and talks and writes more nonsense than any other living man , let us , nevertheless , knock the leg from under his lies and nonsense , as we have from under his blarney .

      I could go on to one thousandthly , shewing stronger and stronger reasons why O'Bhien ' s return is to us of paramount importance ; but with you must rest the means of making the experiment as successful as possible . Let a general four counties' subscription be instantly entered into by Northumberland , Cumberland , Durham , and Westmoreland ; and this night '

      that is the night on which you read this , let every man who spends a shilling with a shopkeeper say " I'll thank you for a trifle to give moral effect to my principles , as I am not represented in the House of Commons . " Also , let a general subscription be entered upon ; and , if you can get a coalition , ask the friends and supporters of the colleague of O'Brien for their mite . Believe me , they will now give it . Lose no chance .

      Meet every evening after work , and parade the streets , peaceably and orderly , in your tens of thousands , cheering at the door of every friend , and not noticing the foe . My principle , you see , is to save you from trouble . The affirmative , that is , supporting and applauding your friends , confers a negative upon your

      es . Let all my instructions be read over and over again , and improved and corrected where found faulty ; but have a plan and act upon it . In short , to insure his return , you must werk like madmen with method , and like wild men with discretion . Of all things avoid tumult—keep you the peace , hut to preserve it , let the officers of war know and understand that you will stand NO NONSENSE . Then , Hurrah , for O'Brien and Newcastle ; For O'Brien and Newcastle , hurrah !

      NORTHAMPTON . Here we have M'Douall , and lest I might , in my classification , be supposed , by placing him before Vincent , to hint at a distinction in point of publio interest and Chartist importance , I beg to say that one mast come first , and M'Docall being first in the field , I observe the rule which I have before observed , when setting forth the nomination of candidates according to the dates of their respective addresses .

      M'Dodall iB as fine a little gentleman and Chartist as ever lived ; he is very young , but not indiscreet ; he is very brave , but not imprudent ; he did us much , very much service , by his vigorous , manly , noble , and talented defence . He bore his incarceration like a Chartist , and came purified from the Whig furnace : he has since preserved a most manly , consistent , and straight forward course . He is a good rea&oner , a good writer , and a good speaker . He is a man in every way trustworthy ,

      and who can say that too much can be done for such a friend to the glorious eause ? Then , in point of general importance , he introduces the practical illustration of Northern Union and civilization into the great agricultural county of Northampton , under the very nose of Earl Spencer and the high Whigs . They never read of us , but what is written in derision ; but having M'Doiull before them , as a living proof of our policy and line of action , will open their blinded eyes and expand their contracted brains .

      Here you must make a tremendous muster upon the day of nomination , as the feudal system still lives in Northamptonshire , and the vassals will follow the Lord to the hustings , leading their will and commanding their support . Here , also , let subscriptions be entered into at once—and , above all , make sure of the show of hands , and read all my instructions over and over again . Then hurrah for Northampton and McDouall—For McDouall and Northampton , hurrah !

      BANBURY . Here we have the Benjamin Franklin of Chartism . Here we have the brave and gallant Vincent . Here we have the Chartist General Gaol Inspector , sent , like a felon , through the gauntlet of Whig improved cruelty , and impervious to the oppressor ' s lash and the proud man ' s scorn . Here we have the only man honoured with a private visit from the

      Gaoler-General , ( Lord Normakbt , ) paid , no doubt , for a certain purpose , which , however , failed . Here we have one of the most exciting and animating speakers belonging to our ranks . Here we have the establisher of the Vindicator , and its resuscitator , in double size , transformed from a mere local sheet to a national organ , tbe first number of which , for twopence , of immense size , appeared on Saturday last .

      Now theD , men of Gloucest ershire , march , every man within twenty miles , in good order , and mark the difference between the knowledge of a non-elector and a qualified representative ; mark it well . This is what 1 have long laboured to effect—to bring unrepresented knowledge and representative ignorance cheek by jowl upon the same stage . O . what fun ! O what a glorious day for the world here ! L « t every town meet and Eend in its mite , and think if we can get O'Bbien , M'Douall , Vincent , Sankey , Moib , and Dvjhcan into the House . If we can smuggle the contraband goods in , who will dare to seize the cargo , and send them back for an excise informality in the permit !

      I hope Lord Normanby saw the first number of the National Vindicator , and that he admires Vmcent ' s " IMPROVED STYLE . " Then hurrah for Banbury and Vincent For Banbury and Vincent , hurrah ! MARY-LE-BONE . Here we have the noble Sankey , aaother Irishman , son of one of the gallant Irish members who refused to commit suicide by voting for a legislative Union with England . Here the electors are at sea , having , as the first fruits of the ballot , been experimentall y handed over , in a flock , from the advocacy of a candidate with one set of principles , to the advocacy of a gallant candidate with another set of principles .

      Now , what say you . to the ballot , non-electors ! Will this prove to you that , under its provisions , you could sot hare any opposition ; that the minority should , for the personal and interested objects of individuals , merge in the majority , and thus appear to mix elements , discordant elements in close fraternity , leaving the minority no organ —buried , all buried in the silent tomb of expediency , in the dark recesses of the ballot-box ! However , to the poll Sanket goes ! and you , electors of Marylebone , take care and make your triumph as complete as possible , while the nonelectors , I pledge myself , will do their duty nobly .

      Sankey is a Master of Arts , that is , A . M . of Cambridge , and O'Bbien is A . M . of Trinity College , Dublin ; therefore , let the rotten eolleges of

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      England and Ireland be fairly represented , by sending the science of Chartism into the classic edifice about to be built for the expression of publio opinion . Men of London , will you not subscribe 1 will you , in the midst of surrounding misery , be backward t No , I don't believe it . Whatever is Sanket ' s fate , let him be assured that according to Mb conduct will be his future position in Marylebone ; and that that conduot will be open , frank , straightforward , and honourable , no man can doubt ; he will put no one feature of our lovely Charter upon his banner ; the full face of the Charter must there be presented in all its splendour to the naval hero and his rivals .

      Then hurrah for sankey and Marylebone For Marylebone and Sankey hurrah !

      ROCHDALE . Next comes more of a legitimatist , but not less of a Chartist , another Irishman , the bold and manly Crawford—the only man who has had honesty enough to prefer retirement to prostitution . The value of such a return must also speak in the voice of thunder to the closed ears of Ireland , and prove that Newcastle and Rochdale know no distinction in the Irishman ' s creed .

      One great advantage of Crawford ' s return would be this—that he would give an impetus and spur to the drowsy balance of power , or such of it as may be again returned in the event of a Whig majority . Duncombe , Wakley , Leader , Hume , and Warburton will be made more forward when pushed behind , by such a man as Crawford . Mind that ; for we must attach the distinct and proper value to every one of our acts , and assign a good and satisfactory reason for eaoh . So hurrah for Crawford and Rochdale , For Rochdale and Crawford hurrah f

      HULL . Here we have the great gun of Chartism , the physical-force gallant Colonel . Of him you will not require me to say a word more than I have often repeated , namely , that he is the best Radical of his class to be found ; he too will act as a rowel in the spur to prod the sleepy energies of the slothful . But mind , men of Hull ; mind Chartists of Hull ; read last week ' s Leeds Mercury , and mind , or else . Don't poll till the last moment ! and on the first crick , give them two thumping Tories . I would strongly advise you to insist upon Mr . Clay signing the conditions . But be watchful ; And hurrah for Thompson and Hull ! For Thompson and Hull hurrah !

      HALIFAX . Here we have a man with whom I have had the honour of sitting and voting for three years in the House of Commons . A more amiable , upright , honourable , intelligent man breathes not , than Mr . Gully . No power on earth would induce him to violate a single pledge , or held your trust for a moment after you required its resignation into your hands .

      Read you also what the rascally Mercury dares to say of one of nature ' s gentlemen ; and , when you see Mr . Gully , as working men and Chartists , feast your eyes by looking upon one who has raised himself to be a protector of the poor by his own merit . Upon the other hand , look at the protegees of the Mercury , Wood and Protherob ; the one who has voted for the incarceration of your friends , and who has been a crutch for his brother-in-law , Lord Howick , in their hobbling to power ; while Protherob has disappointed your every hope .

      Don t you mind Attorney-coroner-brewer-coalmerchant Stocks . Rely upon it , you have nothing to expect from that quarter . Vote for Gully , every man of you ! he is for the five points of the Charter and will be another rowel in the spur . So , Hurrah , for Gully and Halifax , For Halifax and Gully , hurrah !

      TOWER HAMLETS . Here we have an hereditary patriot in the person of Col . Thompson ' s son , and we learn that the people are doing their duty , while the leaders are hanging back ; and all I have to say is—to the devil with the leaders ! cut the traces and let them tumble over , while the shaft-horses drag the Chartist waggon up the hill in fustian ! I knew it would come to that , in rotten London . But , fustians , down with the loaders ! down , down , down , down with the leaders ! they will be good company for the bloody Whigs . 1 know nothing of young Thompson beyond the character which the fustians give him—it is enough .

      Hurrah for young Thompson and the fustians , For the fustians and young Thompson , hurrah

      BATH . Some of my readers may suppose it strange that I should attach any importance to the return of John Arthur Roebuck but I do , and very great importance . In my comment upon Roebuck , I shall speak of him as a whole , and not in his character of a political economist and supporter of the Poor | Law Amendment Act . If the question the ' only question to be decided in this next Parliament was Poor Law or no Poor Law , I should , at once , eoleot the only foul blot in

      Roebuck ' s escutcheon for exposure ; but , inasmuch , as I never have used the measure as a clap-trap to give the Tories support or preference which they do not deserve , neither shall I now allow myself to place mole-hills between the people and mountains . The Whigs are the fathers of the monster ; the Tories are god-fathers—spongers , and pledged to its training , and for which they have promised and vowed three things in its name . Firstly , that it shall renounce the people , and all that can get work . Secondly , that it shall renounce all claims to their estates . And , thirdly , it shall walk in

      the same all the days of their political existence . Now , that ' s the plain and simple way of putting it ; andifto-morrow , wehad to choose between Walter and Roebuck , the Poor Law being the question at issue , I would at once , and without hesitation , vote for Walter—not supposing that the repeal of one bad measure would be any guarantee against the enactment ' of as bad a one by the same parties , but merely to show popular hatred to it when that hatred could be effectually directed to hit

      the mark . But I look more extensively into the whole political mirror , and I ask which , in the present state of opinion and parties , is the most likely to forward the cause of democracy , Walter or Roebuck 1 and who , for a moment can hesitate in coming to a conclusion ! The repeal of the Poor Law Bill would not advance the cause of democracy by a hair ' s breadth , while every step in advanee by democracy , puts a nail in the devil ' s coffin .

      I served for two years with Roebuck , ( and always barring the damning spot , ; he was the most effioient democrat in the House ; he has since served , and he alone stood up against all the crotchet mongers and sliding balance of power , and by his democratic principles lost all hold of the time-serving electors , I owe Roebuck no great compliment—he has tried to injure me ; but I owe the publio and the cause a duty which no personal motive on earth shall induce me to swerve from , and especially just

      now . I am not one of those puling sycophant ! who would lose such a glorious opportunity as the present , for the mere purpose of gratifying personal feelings , or injuring a foe by injuring my cause . No , no ; when it comes to that I shall retire . Now , if the contest was between Waltkr and Hobhouse , I should , upon the other hand , have as little hesitation in voting for Walter ; because here I test the whole question at issue , and all the little good being on Walter ' s Bide , I vote for the one fair spot , and against the mass of putrid corruption . Hobhouse is a rotten thing , neither good for man or beast ; and , therefore , I would vote for Walter ; and the same holds good in all instances . For these reasons , do I most unhesitatingly

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      declare , that Roebuck would be'the very sharpest rowel in the democratic spur . He is naturally a democrat , and the more so , from vanity ; and , aa I before said , if he would bind himself for six months to a Scotch farmer , and then for six months to a Manchester cotton lord , he would speedily discover , whether population presses upon the means of production , or the landlord ' s condition of non-production annexed to leases , presses hardly upon population .

      If I was not a good farmer , knowing the fnll capabilities of mother earth , and if I had not entered Lancashire College , at Oldham , six years ago this month , and , in the course of my education discovered agricultural neglect made manifest in every pale face , I might also have been a " political economist , " which means nothing more or less than an ignorant booby , who , while he speaks of production , wouldn't know how to get any dinner but grass from the land , if he had it .

      OLDHAM . Here we have John Fieldem , the only master manufacturer in England in whose return the white slaves have any tbe slightest interest ; but , on the contrary , in the ousting of every other they have a great interest . A poor man being a Chartist , and a physical-force one , I can understand , without difficulty ; but a man wallowing in wealth being even a moral-force Chartist , I cannot understand ,

      otherwise than that he is the very best of men . In fact ' when the poor begin to think of Fiblden ' s wealth , position , opposition to monopoly , and support of their order , they must look upon him as the rarest novelty of the age ; and so he is . There breathes not the breath of life in a more thorough philanthropist , kind-hearted , shrewd man , than Mr . John Fielden : personally I owe him no great compliment , but I do owe him a duty .

      There can be no doubt but that Fielden will be returned again , along with his excellent , and in every way fitting , colleague , General Johnson . Now , then , I have done so far , but I have not yet done half my work ; So for all , Hurrah , for our side , For our side , hurrah 1 Now , then , KVERY WORKING MAN , WOMAN , AND CHILD IN ENGLAND . IRELAND , SCOTLAND , AND WALES .

      My dear beloved Children , —Aye you are every one of you , old and young , my children ; and never was fond father so doatingly fond of an only child . Never did parent look with joy for the first fruits of his union , with more intense and heartfelt anxiety , than I now loek for an heir to our union . It is just twelve months since the Star warned faction of the approaching tempest which is now about to rage , — in these words : —

      " BEHOLD THE STORM COMETH . " My children , for long before , and ever since , I have been on the watch tower to keep the ship "from foes or wreck , " ready to warn the crew of approaching danger from whatever quarter it may threaten us . In that time , though apart , we have fought many battles together in spirit : and now I tell you the HOUB COMETH ! when the crow must remain on deck , and when " England will expect every man to do his duty !" I have done mine \ This is the week before the

      battle ; the very eve of battle ; and I have given you all the instruction that I thought necessary for your guidance . This week the Star should be a chart to guide you in your perilous course . — Study it ; follow it ; and you are safe ! I have scarcely slept since Saturday last . My mind has been on the rack as to the best means of serving you . In addition to what you will see from me this week in the Star , I have written an address of sixteen large pages of M . S ., to the Fri « ze coat electors and non-electors of the County of Cork , bearing

      upon Irish affairs . I have had it published on a sheet by itself , and sent over to be distributed among the soldiers with whom I have fought and conquered , and who still love me . I cannot forget Ireland ! and in my dungeon I have done my duty to all ! The result of the present contest will test the value of tyranny and the increase of Chartism since the general election k > f 1837 , and will inform the new Lord Chancellor of Ireland , our old persecutor-General , Sir John Campbell , that he was in a dose when he thought he had put Chartism to rest ! He is to be a Peer and a Chancellor ! and

      thus have the Whigs rewarded one and all of our persecutors ! But no matter ! we will soon be in a situation to right ourselves ! My children , the Chartist tree fs growing rapidly , and spreading its luxuriant foliage over the shoots that daily and hourly spring from its fertile roots . It is deep sown , but nevertheless springs like good seed scattered in rich soil . 0 ! how I long to walk among you , when we shall have killed tyranny ; and to see you what nature intended you to be , freemen ! every man with the key of his own store house filled with the produce of his own labour , in his own packet . These are my politics . I am for a return from an artificial , to a natural state of existence .

      Mothers , for this make your sons work for the next week ! Wives , for this make your husbands work for the next week' Sisters , for this make your brothers work for the next week ! Sweethearts , for this make your lovers work for the next week i Alt , all , work for this , next week . ' I am now tired and weary , and leave you with my blessing , and the blessing of God implored in your behalf : and that you may overcome every foe to liberty , and every obstacle that stands between you and your just and righteous cause , is the sincere and the earnest , the devout and never ceasing prayer of Your fond and affectionate father , Feabgub O'Connor .

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      MR . O'BRIEN , O'CONNOR , AND THE NORTHERN STAR . In our last number , we promised to reason with Mr . O'Brien on the subject of the policy which we have thought it our duty to recommend to the people at the coming elections . We felt sorry to lack , on any subject , the approbation of O'Brien , and were in hopes of being able to show him that his position on this matter , had been taken np more hastily than is usual with him . However , as O'Connor was equally

      ooncerned in the matter with the Editor of the Northern Star , he has thought proper to take it up ; and on reading over his two letters to Mr . O'Brien , we at once laid aside an article which we had prepared upon the subject ; satisfied that it unnecessary to occupy space with more than he has said upon the matter . To those letters we refer Mr . O'Brien and the people , and rest contented to abide the issue .

      We this week give another letter from Mr . O'Brien , following up his former ones . To that letter then we now request the attention f our readers , in conjunction with hie former ones , and with the two letters of O'Connor in reply . It is not our practice to treat the " reasoning" of any man , least of all that of Mr . O'Brien , with affected contempt ; we desire to give to it all the weight and influence to which the long labours of tnoh * man entitle him ; we would subtract nothing from it , by inuendo or otherwise ; and we beg to assure him , that whatever may have been his impression ,

      nothing waa further from our purpose than , in the few remarks we last week appended to his letters , to place hia opinion or our own in any undue position . We do not presume to " dogmatize to our brother Chartists , " or to Bet up our opinion " as the established faith of the Chartist body . " But we do think ourselves bound in duty to place our opinions on all great matters of policy honestly and fearlessly before the people—to give our reasons for holding those opinions—and we think we have a right to ask the people not to make up their minds " beforehand" to pay no attention

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      to those reasons . Again , regretting that we cannot have in this matter Mr . O ' Brien ' s approval and concurrence , we leave the whole matter with the people , reiterating our deliberate opinion , that if they suffer the present opportunity of effectuall y overthrowing the " Bloodies" to pass by , they will bitterly repent it .

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      VISIT OF THE WEST RIDING AND

      BOROUGH CANDIDATES TO LEEDS . On Tuesday morning last , this town at an early hour , exhibited all the bustle and excitement of an electioneering contest , it having been announced that the whole of the candidates for both the borough and the . West Riding , would make their appearance and address the people in the yard of the Coloured Cloth . Hall . The factions were early on the alert . Bands of music , blue and yellow flags and banners , borne bv hired dupes , and small and large loaves of bread decorated with blue and yellow ribbons , were * marched in procesBion through the streets "making morn hideous , " and arousing the lethargic from their heavy slumbers .

      But in the midst of all this , there was a party moving in all the dignity of conscious superiority who needed not the aid of " pomp and ceremony" to enforce their claims on the public attention . The Chartists , though not fearing a comparison , coacontented themselves by appearing without either colours or music , conscious that they were not a whit behind either of the factions in the ability of the caa . didates whom they had freely chosen , or in the justice of their cause which they espoused . Mr . George Julian Harney and Mr . Pitkethlv werelhe Riding candidates , and Mr . James Williams and Mr . James Leech the borough candidates of the Charti 8 t 8 ; theHon . J . S . Wortley andMr Beckett penisonthe Riding , and Mr . William Beckett and Lord Jocelyn , the borough candidates of tbe Tories and Lords Morpeth and Milton the Riding , and * Messrs . Hume and Aldam the borough candidates of the united corps of Foxes and Geese .

      Each party invited their candidates to a public breakfast . The Chartists had a numerous party to a good substantial repast , at their room , in the Fish Maiket . The Tories feasted their friends at the Music Hall , in Albion-street , where a large party assem . bled under the presidency of Mr . Henry Hall . Of course the great and mighty of the land were there"where the carcase is , there will the vultures be gathered together . " The Whigs occupied the large room of the Commercial Buildings , and if we could believe the extraordinary liar , we might suppose that they far ' * out-Heroded Herod" in numbers , respectability wealth , talent , grandeur , show , and everything else , but we have learnt to place a proper value on Neddy ' s statements .

      The good things of this life having been done ample justice to , some time was spent by each of the factions in raising their spirits , and preparing them for what might cross their path in the course of the next few hours . Neddy ' s Extraordinary says the speeches of the " Bloodies , " after the gormandizing was over , were " extraordinary" indeed , and " extraordinary" must have been the stomachs of the gulls who swallowed them . About half-past nine o ' clock , a move was made towards the Cloth Hall Yard .

      The Chartists , conscious of the purity of their principles , were the first who arrived , in procession , certainly , but unaided by decoration , or the least display . Their numbers were , as they always are , formidable ; and , though slighted and insulted by the " Liar Extraordinary , " were strong enough to make him . quail when he looked upon them . We ought to remark here that a commodious hustings , in two divisions , had been erected by the two great parties , without any seeming provisien for the greatest party of all—the party of the people . The candidates and leaders , however , were supplied with tickets of admission to the hustings , and they took up their position in the centre . Th . e Blues arrivednext , afterparadingthe 8 treet 8 in procession , with their bands and banners , and took up position at the far end of the yard , the candidates and their supporters occupying that end of the hustings .

      These had no sooner taken their places , than the Whyjs arrived and occupied the vacant part of the hustings allotted to them—their supperters apparently filling the end of the yard from theT steps to the gates . We say apparently , because we happen to know that it was not really so , notwithstanding certain extraordinary statements which have been sinoe published . The fact is that in this , as in everything else , the Whigs mast have some trick ; they ha ? planned to have the entrance to the yard allotted to them , knowing that the ; would be sure of all the droppers-in , who would thus be made to swell their numbers . And this was more easily effected , and made more apparent , by the fact that the Chartists wore no colours , and that those Blues who arrived late , and in straggling divisions , dispensed with their usual insignia also . But their veil was torn aside

      during the addresses of the candidates , and was made particularly apparent even to ths extrardinary optics of the M Queen-groaner , " when , during the spirited and effective address of Mr . J . G . Harney , the cheers of those who were thought to be yellow told so effectually in favour of the candidate of the people ' s choice , and placed beyond all doubt the opinions of the great majority of those who occupied the first portion of the yard . The Mercury knows the fact ; " Let the galled jade wince . " The number of persons assembled to listen to the proceedings could not be fewer than fifteen thousand ; we should say more . The greater part of the persons with orange cards in their hats consisted of men hired for the occasiou ; and of lads of from sixteen to eighteen ; the latter were , occasionally , very noisy and . unsteady ; but on the whole , the crowd behaved extremely well .

      THE WEST RIDING CANDIDATES . Lord Viscount MORPETH addressed the multitude at considerable length , in one of his usual carefully prepared and delibeaately conned " themes , " on which we imagine that some boarding school miss had bestowed no small amount of feminine taste and pains taking , in the nicely stringing together of neat fitting representatives of nothing . The Noble Lord's speech was a tolerably " correct composition , '' by whom written we , of course , know not ; but , as a literary effort , it might be considered passable from a fourth form boy in the Leeds Free Grammar School . His harangue , of course , gave much credit to the Government for their determined efforts against " monopoly , " and predicted sad things for tbe country if the said Government

      should be " thrown on their own resources . " He began by stating that the very echoes lingering in tue ClotB Hall Yard were charged with the death-knell of monopoly—that he hart heard from that place in 1830 war proclaimed against the monopoly of representationthat ho had afterwards heard condemned in that place the monopoly of traffic in human flesh—that these monopolies were now at an end , and he confidently augured the same fact for the monopoly of corn , commerce , and trade . After some left-handed compliments to his Tory opponents , which were too palpable to be well received , he went on to say , — ' 1 believe , Gentlemen , the Supreme Ruler of event ! has so formed this world , with all its diversities of land and of sea , separating land from land , and island

      from island , by waters , and rivers , and oceans , endowing one portion of the earth with exuberant richness of soil , and with the genial influence of climate ; appropriating another portion to more hardy enterprise ij giving to it stores of mineral wealth ; making tne cotton plant , the tea plant , and coffee plant , thrive ia another region , making iron harden , coal blacken , ot diamonds blaze , in another legion . ( Cheers . ) I humbly conceive that in making these , the Supreme Architect of nature intended that man should enjoTt and that in order to enjoy , he should work , and he should exchange . ( Loud applause . ) I need not «• you whether you have not proved yourselves willing w work . ( Cries of we have . ) There has been no failure with you in this respect It cant be pretendea that you have not done your duty to the utmost , ™ working honestly for your livelihood , and for the comfort and maintenance of your families . " ( Hear , betf ' and cheers . " ) Then came a great lot of dedamattoo

      about tbe scarcity of manufacturing employment and the driving of our trade into foreign countries by ti » naughty Corn Laws . The Noble Lord proceeded then to argue that inasmuch as the public revenue is not equal to the public expenditure , the Tories , if they take office must increase the revenue by imposing freso taxes , whereas he and his friends were disposed to do t by taking off taxes ! Not a word about reducing tbe public expenditure to meet the revenue : in that part Ot the tune , the performers are Wo well Btudiedto let * jarring note be heard . After adverting to the desperate circumstances of his faction , which had lenAereo " necessary for them to inveke the power of the "¦**<* ' * of Wentworth . " The Noble Lord wound up his recitation with the following pithy words which we ttaej he will find to be truer than be ever intended tney should be . "The word has gone f « rtn against prolubitions , agajnst exclusion , and against undue preferenM to favoured classes . ( Cheers . ) Tbe hand-writiflgj * ^ ths wall—the cause ot monopoly baa had its day . " __

      Lord MILTON , baring been introdnoed by Ja «» Brown , Jan ., Esq ., next presented himself , and pitiable exhibition it was . Tbe poor lad was evident !? frightened at tbe unusual position in which ha fonaa himself . Some careful grandmother bad put dowai ftf him a string ot ordinary mean-naughts about hi * bum and free trade , which the luckless youth in trying M repeat from memory , stuck repeatedly fast in , and then referring to his prompt book , lost the line of hisles on , and , reading wrong , made all sorts of redkulool blunders—talking about " driving the free-trade gentlemen from the field , " &&—his friends behind ana arround him on the hustings , several times intenerea to keep the Noble Lordling right in his lesson ; but to no purpose . We suppose that such an exhibition oi impudent purse-calculating imbecility was scarcely ever before made , as that which bis " friends" ate no * making- of this unfortunate young man .

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      4 THE NORTHERN STAR .

      The .Northern Statt Saturday, June 26, 1841. The Election.

      THE . NORTHERN STAtt SATURDAY , JUNE 26 , 1841 . THE ELECTION .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 26, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct712/page/4/