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'HATXOXAXi CONVENTION . FRIDAY , Apkil 15 . Mr . Duncan was elected to the chair , Mr . Lsach to the ¦ vice , and Mr . Campbell Secretary , -who haying called tiie roll , Messrs . Campbell , Leach , M'Pherson , Duncan , STDouall , Morgan WTUttms , Ridley , SUllweod , Beesley , and liaison were present The minutes having been read and confirmed , Mr . Lsach delivered in petition-sheets from the following places : — iliddleton , "with 3 , 200 signatures , leigh , do . 8 , 400 do . Kitelifie , do . 2 , 006 do . Chowbent , do . 2 . 200 . dr \ Hey wood , do . 6 , 450 do .
Old ham , do . 9 , 970 do . Droylsden , do . 2 600 do . Falmoutli , do . 1 , 200 do . Ecclea , do . 2 , 600 do . Hollis Green , do . 800 do . Bolton , do . IS , 500 do . Rochdale , da . 19 . COO do . Astley , do . 3 , 000 do . Pilfcington , do . 3 , 365 do . Prestwica , dc . 1 , 200 do . Wigan , do . 8 , 500 do . Salford , do . 19 , 600 £ a Asfeton , do . 14 , 200 do . Manchester , do . 92 . 250 do .
2 \ orth Iancashire , do- 52 , 000 do . Newton Heath , do . 1 , 900 do Wilmslow , do . 1 , 200 do . Hyde , do . 7 , 000 do . Hazlegrove , do . 1 . G 00 dc . yew Mills , do . 1 , 400 do . Condition , do . 2 , 400 do . Chester , do . 2 , 374 do . GTcsscp , do . 5 , 000 do . Leicester , do . 15 . 600 do XiOughborongh , do . 7 , G 00 do . D ; rby , do . 3 , 700 do . Borton-on-Trent , do . 3 , 400 da ThiViTvSeld . do . 3 . 6 L-0 do .
Mr . Morgan Williams presented petitions from Merthyr Tydvil , with 19 , 200 signatures . Tredegar , do . 10 , 000 do . Aberdare , do . 4 , 156 do . JJawbridgeandlJinnas , do . 3 , 550 da Cardiff , do . 2 , 000 do . Ur . White presented petitions from Birmingham , -with" 32 , 000 signatures . From Notts county , with 40 , 000 signatures . Boston , do . 1 . 400 do . S ' cci-port , do- 14 , 000 do . Micclesfield , do . 9 . ( 00 do . North wich , do . 1 000 do . -Cap-stall Bridge , do . 1 . 000 da Daring the cay many other petitisns vrere received , Ini the number cf sijnntures they contained , and the districts they trere received from , h-Te not yet been
xeporjedletters were read from Messrs . Shaman Crawford andDarcorabe , 21 . P . " s , in answer to communications from the Secretary . Mr . Shannon Crawford ' s letter stated he had cftiBmnnicated with r . body of his Chartist constituents at Rochdale , and had fctated his vriiliiBroess to receive any communication from any Convention of their body , but that he could not delay his motion later than the 21 st cf April , provided the forms of the House -would admit of it coming on at that period . He thought it desirable to inform them that Ma motion "would include the ex points of the Charter . Mr . Dancombe's letter stated that he should be happy to receive a deputation from the Convention , at 11 o ' clock . Messrs , Leach , M'Donall , and M'Pht-rson , -who vrere the deputation appointed , received ieave cf absence SI that TjcrioJ ,
A R-p - tT 7 . is '»> en received from the Committee for Drawing up the Rales and Regalat ' orsfcr the guidance of the Convention , "which were read and discussed , serkdhn , and "were ordered to be brought up for confirmation on 2 Ienday mornii > * . Mr . O'Connor moved that the deputation s ~ nt to ?> Ir . Duncombe be- paid their cab hire , they laving a considerable ristsnee to to , an <\ being pressed for lime , he brought it forward thn 3 publicly , rather than it shonld be brought forward privately in committee . Six . Boirstow seconded the motion . He "srss in favour of all sums be : ag thus publicly gra"te . Mt . Ridley moved tuit a 3 the deputation might have started st an earlier period , that their espence 3 be not defrayed . Sir . SL ? . llwood seconded the motion .
3 > Ir . Thompson thtujat that as many of them -were stnnso-s la London , that , when on the business cf tfci-Convention , the e . xpftnet 3 ol the delegates should be paid . Messrs . Lowrie , Mason , and Philp supported the motion . Mr . Moir and Mr . Beesley , thought that delegates should be very careful how they entered into any expence 3 of this description . It "was decided tnst upon this occasion the experjces of the deputation be pr . id . Credentials "were received from Mr . Moir , of Glasgow . Mr . Roberts read a portion of a private letter from Bronierre O'Brien , stating that he shonld ba unable to attend during the "whole of the sitting of the Convention , but shcu'd be able to devote a portion of his time to it . A statement had been previously made by Mr . O'Connor to the same effect from Mr . Pitkethly .
Mr . Philp moved that each delegate do now report the state of Chartism in the district which he represents , asd give his opinion of the best method of a :: sweiinj ; the success of * the cross . Mr . Thompson seconded the motion , "which being acceded to , it was arranged that the delegates shonld deliver their reports in the order in which their names stood on the roll call . 2 ir . AbrsmDuncanrepresented the men of the Western and Midland districts of Scotland ; he was happy ti state that their organisation was in an exceedingly satisfactory state ; in the fcmailest villages , they had halls for themselves , in which lectures were delivered generally ones a "week . He might almost say that their organisation was complete -, they were in possession of a Yast amount cf public opinion , indeed they might Bay that do other public opinion existed , save that in'favonr of Chartism ; their number of signatures were double
those tbey had contributed to the last petition . . In Aibroath the causa was progressing well ; they had a hall , capable of holding six or seven hundred persons , ¦ which , wastbeir own property . They had two excellent meetings in their hall last week , and had sent four thousand signatures to the petition- In Forfar . their progress was not so satisfactory ; they had been deluded by the idea of a repeal of the Corn Laws ; since then , they hid progressed tr Mr . Sturge's Declaration , and were beginning to perceive the superiority of Chartism : for this place he had brought three thousand five hundred signatures . Taking his district as a whole , there "was an excellent Fpirit manifested in the good cause ; they had eTerywhere triumphed over opposition , and had removed all obstructions from rh \ eir path ; one good feafare in their agitation -was , that they observed peace , law , and order ; they iad been guilty of no folly , tut had acted "wisely , prudently , and firmly .
Mr . Bfesley represented the district of > orth Lancashire , which he was happy to inform them was in a flourishing state . They had withstood temptation in every form ; and their numbers were great : y increased . The opposition they had received frcm the middle clas 3 was being rapidly removed ; and prejudice was fast dying away . A short time back they were net able to procure places of raeeting , now , in most districts , they were allowed the use of Sunday tchoo's to hold tiic-ir meetings in . The agitation for the corn Jaws was dying away . Instead of man being now turned away for joining the Chartists , their employers now actually advised the men to have nothing to do "with humbug , but tokeep to their Charter . He was sorry to hear that in many iJaces the middle class had been dencunced as
their enemies . He knew not how they were in other parts , bat , in Xorth Lancashire he be ieved , the middle classes -were honest in their professions . There had been Earns little discussion respecting the -cocdcct of some individuals attending the BLrminghiin Conference , but it was now the general opinion of those who had denounced them , that they ha 4 done them injustice , and that they bad been actuated by the purest -motives . Ha could net state the exact number of signatures from iis distr ' c : ; He had brought 52 , 000 and he expected to receive 50 , 000 more . The petition "would receive the signatures of the great majority of the whole main population . Ttey had penetrated also into the surrounding districts , and had opened localities in Cumberland , and at "Clverstone and KendaL They had
xeceiyed invitations from Tarions mountainous districts in Westmoreland , and he trusted that by the aid of lectures , tracts , &C-, they should speedily be enabled to organize the whole of Westmoreland . Mr . Beesley thsn detailed the alarming destitution and misery which prevailed in 2 f orth Lancashire . They were compelled to lie on shavings ; they had no covering for the night save the rags -which they wore during the day , and were compelled to b . 3 ve their shirfc 3 washed on a Saturday night , to appear decent . oa a Sunday ; and were destitute cf food during a considerable portion of the week . la some plaees the authorities had done all that laid in their power to put Chartism down ; they had threatened to Etop the relief cf all who were Chartists ; one individual , who -was in the receipt of 3 s . 6 d- per "week from ths authorities , was informed by |
them that they had heard he had subscribed to the Chartist fond ; if he continued this they would give "him no more relief ; bat he boldly told them that he ¦ wou ld support the Charter until they had gained their rights as Englishmen , and if they stopped bis relief , they , should take him and his wife and five children into _ * fr » workhouse . This showed the determined spbifc evinced by the men o ! Xorth Lancashire ; if something was not speedily done to remove the present distraffi , something "would take place which "would , be Very disastrous to the cause of Chartism ; for the men affirmed that it "wis better to risk everything than to die of hunger . In . proof of the feeling evinced by the ttiddte tISM , be "would instance , that in B " , ackbuin they allowed tbesa the 3 se of the ilusic Hall on an ; evening- in Clitheroa aa 3 other places , they fead the Infan Schools * --tod $ & ! k ^ an Iafmit School capable of
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holding 1 , 800 persona , let to them for 20 ? . per quarter . He trusted that they-would unite firmly together for the Charter . 1 Mr . Stall-wood was one of the representatives of Middlesex , Surrey , Kent , aud Essex- He would comi mence with Middlesex : in London , Chartism "was in a I healthy state ; the Tower Hamlets district , which , last ! year only furnished 2 . 400 signatures , had already pro-\ cured upwards of 40 > , COO . He was not aware of the numbers obtained in the other districts ; but he believed that tbey were prop oitionably large . Unfortunately , in the other parts of Middlesex , they had but few associated bodies : this arose not for want . of a I proper spirit , but from a deficiency of means , to send i Jecturtrs to them . In Surrey , a great deal remained to
be done ; they bad about nine localities , but these lay ch iefly in the metropolis . They had made a good opening at Groydon ; and if they could raise the necessary funds , might effect great good in Kent They had a good locality at Greenwich and at Chatham , Canterbury , and he believed at Tunbridge ; but stiil a wide field was here open for their exertions . Essex was in a still worse position ; with the exception of Stratford and Wes > t Ham , no place appeared to be T"i <"" g any efforts . They had on the previous evening held a laTge meeting there , and an enthusiastic feeling was exhibited . He believed they were also arousing themselves at Chelmsford . Throughout the greater portion of these districts diBtrtsa prevailed amongst the working classes to an unprecedented extent .
i In the Spitalfields district distress was equally preva-> lent as in those districts spoken of by Mr . Baesley . The \ tailors , printers , shoe-makers , and other bodies had I rever before experienced inch a state of tetal destitu-\ tion . This state of things deprived them of the neces' i sary means to support the agitation ; the spirit was I good , but the pecuniary difficulties deprived them of I the means of exerting it . In London , whatever differj eace 3 of opinion might exist , they were always unanij-mous when their opponents vrere before them ; at every ) public meeting the Chartist flag had waved triumphant We have ever met and carried in all meetings the Xa-] tional Charter Association in opposition to the Corn ! Law humbug , the Sturge . or any other humbug . j Mr . Roberts protested against bad motives or insin-; ceritr being attributed to any paitr .
The Chairman stated that be hoped Mr . Stallwood would not make use cf the word humluj , neither was he justified in attributing insincerity to any party . Mr . Stallwood said he should bow to the decision of the Chairman , bat he was a working man , and he expressed his feelings in the language cf working m % n . He should conclude by informing them that in London they had upwards of forty localities , and tbey only wanted 12 e necessary means to spread Chartism through the fuur counties . TOr . Ltach said he was the delegate for the South Lancashire district . Cbnrtisni never stood better in this district ft ™ it did at present ; this would ba confirmed hy the 250 , 000 signatures which he had brought attached to the petition , and ho txptcttd to h : ive about UO . OOO
more stEt him previous to its presentation . Like other districts they hnd received nsu-.-h oppssiticn ; their most powerful opponent was the Anti-Corn Xuiw Xeagne ; whelh-j ; their motivts were good or bad , he would leave to themselves ; they had fought them under cover , a : ul not in an open manly manner ; but they had overcome all opposition , and the anti-Corn Law party coul-l not now call a meeting , unless it were by ticket . This arises from a feeling that we have upset and disturbed their meetings ; but , for the credit of Lancashire , I deny that "we ever attended one of their meetings to give a factious opposition . We hav j gone
¦ lor the Durpose of discussing the subject . Tneir refusal to do this hastened to uproar . Our cause progresses well in Manchester- SVe have six meeting places . The Carpenters have lately joined us as a body , and we are to have the u « e of their Hall , which is one of the largest buildiDgs in Manchester , free of expence . The Chartists have also engaged it on Sunnay mornir . gs for six months . In the whole of South Lancashire the cause looks well , but at the same time 1 am directed to draw the attention of the Convention to devise such methods as shall still further increase our prosperity by creating a union amongst all ranks of R-. f jrmer ? .
Mr . M ^ Phersan . de ep . ite from Aberdeen and the surrounding districts , said— "With respect to some part of his district , he had not been previously much acquainted with it ; but if he muht judce of their strength from tteir ability to cope with other parties , they were the triumphant party . They carried their oljects at every public meeting-. I heir greatest opposition was from parties professing to act on similar principles . These were originally anti-Corn Lvw men , now they were Sturgites : but , finding we were the strongest p- . rty , they agreed to u-. ite with us on common giound ; and , to show we were not . actuated by factious motives , we agreed to meet them ; but I am sorry to say they did not act in the f . iir , candid way we expected . From what has fallen from the Chairman , we
are noi allowed to Teflc-ct on other pait : es , yet , I must Eny , their conduct has been anything but fair . In Inverness , Meath , ic ., Chartism is not so fl- urishing . These plac-s hr . ve not yet been properly organised , but means were teing taktn for that purpose . If missionaries could not be supported in these thinly populated districts , tracts might , with rreat advantage , be distributed as forcmnners . In Aberdeen , Chartism was in a very very fl iurishlng stats , and they were endevouring to increase this by a system o ! co-operation ; Englishmen should endeavour by all means to bring about a greater intimacy of feeling with their Scottish brethren , that
they might act with greater unanimity so ae to give more force and vigour to their proceedings ; ho was instructed by his contt-tuents to request their att ^ tion to the issuing of tracts showing tne pressnt distressed stateof the country , and pointing out an efficient remedy . Jfr . Harrison represented , with his colleague , Mr . Bairste'sr , the counties of Nottingham , Leicester , Lincoln , and Rutland ; with Rutland h ^ was unacquainted , never having visited that district . In Lincolnshire there were but three associated bodies ; from Boston he had brought 1 , 400 signatures . "With Nottingham he Was more acquainted than with Darby or Leicestershire ; he should therefore confine himself more to that district .
' leaving the others to bis colleague . In ISottiBgham , to 1 say the lowest , they had eight or nine hundred menii bers ; " he thought he should not even exaggerate the | numbers if he estimated them at one thousand two hnnj dred , but on this subject he had written for information . ! They were in possession of a chapel which would hold ! rnore than eight hundred persons ; in this place lectures ! were delivered during the week , and preaching on the ' ' Sibbath . We here perbapB carry on our agitation i different to what they do in some parts of the country ; ! we know the strong religious feelings which actuate : a large portion of the community , and we endeavour 1 to prove to them that our principles are thoBe advocated in the Bible , and hitherto we have done so with
complete success . We have eight localities meeting in different public-houses , besides our chapel . We have associations in between twenty and thirty villages in the county , each of them havirjg on an average fifty members altogether . We have between two and three thousand members in the county . He had brought up 40 , 400 signatures to the petition . TTe have now regularly employed one missionary for nine months , who has been of the greatest utility ; if we had means we have plenty of opening f it three lecturers ; poverty alone keeps us back . As soan as we have means we intend organising Rutland and Lincolnshire ; we are all -unanimous , discord is out of ttie question- We keep on in one shaightiorward manner , endeavouring to cause the People ' s Charter to become the law of the
Mr . Bairstow said , for the last thirteen months he hnd been labouring in Derbyshire and the surrounding country . When he commenced his labours there were only three localities in Derbyshire , now there -were fourteen ; the numbtr of members was then one hundred and fifty , now , in J 3-rbyshire , was s ; x hundred . The oJd adage of Derbyshire was , " Derby bred , thick in the head , " and considering the hardness of the material upon which they had to work , he must congratulate them upon the pleasing aspect of Chartism in this part of the " country . Leicester occupied the proudest position of any town in the kingdom ; the seeds of Chartism were early sown in this town by the immortal Robert Hall , and tte result was that the different Eects of religionists in this town were more
liberal tlan in any other part of the kingdom . Tho Kev . Mr . Murcell , and Mr . Miall , Editor of the Xon-¦ con / onnist , we ^ e tsnmples of this . Mr . Biiritow then read tx ; racls from a letteT ho had that day received from Leicester , giving a glowing account of Chartism in thit town , and alluded to the words of cne John Winks , who might be regarded as ths thermometer tf middleclass opinion and feeling in Leicester , and his advice to the working men , at the late meeting , was to remain firm to their Charter . They had two associations in Leicester , the one numbering about 400 , the other about 1 , 140 members . Their organization vras the mest perfect cf any he had yet witnessed . Their books were kept witb . the most scrupulous exactness . The state of feeling between them and the middle class "Was veiy
good , anil he cculd give no better procf of their po-wer than the manner in which Mr . Biggs ' s Midland Coun-^ ties Charter fell , still-born , to the ground . Mr . Biggs , wa 3 one of the largest and most opulent glovers an > l stocking-makers in the town ; he was respected by nil ; parties ; he had always endeavonred to keep up the : vra ^ es cf the working men ; yet , with all this influj ecce , -with the aid of his taletted brothers , and the j approbation of the dissenting ministers , to whom he ; committed bis bantling , with all , it fell without ; a struggle before the geniu 3 of Chartism . Ha had established a Sunday school in Leicester , and the last j time he was there he waited upon Mr . Biggs , who gave ' £ 1 for that object , as did likewise each of his two i brothers , and they then told him that if we would not go to the middle classes , they most corns to us . They
j , had also established a library , containing many volumes j of boois , and an adclt female school in Leicester , and ' taken as a whole , they held a proud position . With j regard to the Corn Laws , if they held a meeting , they ' . came to them and begged them not to oppose them , I thus showing that as a party , they only existed by sufj feranee . Mr . Bairstow then gave instances of the great j distress endured by the working classes of these dis' ; tricts . It was impossible for words to describe or pen j to pourtray the destitute condition cf many districts ; j but amid all , they remained true to the Charter . They ; had extended their association into two of the most aristocratic towns ; Matlock , famous as a fashionable watering place ; and Melton-Mowbray , equally celebrated for its foxhunting . From Leicester he had brcn 2 htl 6 , 000 sigrature ? , Lorigb . borcugh , 7 , 000 ; Derby ,
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3 , 700 ; the majority from this place had been washed away by the great flood ; in the whole he had brought 32 , 000 signatures to the petition . Dr . M'Douall waa one of the delegates for the Metropolitan Counties ; the position of Middlesex , and more especially London , was better than it had been at any former period ; still many improvements might be effected in its organisation , He was averse to giving a flatter ing report , but from his own experience ; it was in a better position now than at the last Convention , and much better than at the first Convention . They were now forming Central Monthly Councils , to which delegatea from , the whole of the four counties could be deputed . This , in his opinion , would materially assist in spreading the cause in the country districts : some
difference of opinion existed , but it was founded on such trifling circumstances that were it not for the irritation it produced , he should not have mentioned it ; in fact , it was founded upon nothing ; and he trusted this monthly council , by uniting them , would allay this unpleasant feeling when fairly organised . There was a great body of men in London devoted heart and soul to the Charter . He had the honour of giving the first lecture in Canterbury ; a large number of the middle class town councillors and others assembled in the Town HalL Since then a good association had been toimed at Chatham . Theyhad formed an association , and got up large meetings at Deptford , and at other places there \ were associations . In Essex they had only one ; but they were raising one at
Chelmsford . All bid fair , if a plan of central agitation could be carried out With regard to the trades , five or six trades had come out , as trades , in favour of the Charter . He had addressed a trades ' meeting on the Charter by merely voting the chairman out of the chair and voting him in again . They were all aware of the suppoit they had received from the masons in the last presentation of the petition ; and the masons were now determined to walk as a trade in procession to the House . Bodies of the Bhoemakera , the tailors , the basket makers , the hatters , ; and a body of carpenters were now actively working in support of the Charter : he need not dwell upon this subject , for he was happy to announce that : i deputation from these trades wtuld lay their views before this Convention . With regard to the middlo
classes in London , he was fearful they could not look to them for much support ; they had many electors who were Chartists , but the great body of the liberal shopkeepers were in favour of Sturge ' s plan ; another . 'l arge body in favour of Lovett ' s plan ; but taking them as a whole , a vast number entertained Chartist ' principles ; They had iu connection with the National Charter Association , a good body of electors , more especially in Southwark and . MaTylebone . He had the pleasure of addressing a large meeting in Southwark attended by many of the middle class , where the national petition was adopted with two dissentients . They had a large body of the trades , and they had the great majority of
th « working classes . . Tbey had a body of delegates meeting weekly at 55 , Old Bailey , who , for intelligence and iiASuitry , were not inferior to any body of mtn . This body might be taid to form a sort of weekly Convention , for they might with propriety be called so . This body , in connection -with the Surrey Council , was the centre from whence recruiting parties issued tJ agitate the various districts . The Metropolis waa in a better state than it had ever yet been , and in a few months time he bad no doubt but London would contain qu . te as many active intelligent Chartists as any othtr district tf the same nu \ nber of population in the kingdom .
Mr . Doyle said , in the district which he represented , previous to him there had been no lecturer . Save in two or three places there had been no organization . Stockport had long been a Radical town , but this was the only place where Chartism was in a flourishing conr dition . About three months ago , he wtnt among thtm a 3 a lecturer ; it was almost purely an agricultural district , and they were mostly of the old Tory school tf politics , imbued with those aristocratic notions which our principles are calculated to remove . I found the farmers in the district , . ' ilUiough they wtre electors , very ignorant , yet they were anxious to obtain inforiaat 5 i .. E , and a good supply of tracts , if thcy . '" c 6 uld be procr . T .-.-d , would be cakuh . ted to produce a good result . We have now fourteen districts in Cheshire sending
delegates to a County Council , held once a month . At our list meeting we took steps efficiently t ) organise the whc-lu county ; and I havs no doubt but in ' nin . e-or ten months Chartism will be in the ascendant in this ceuritr . In the tswn of Chester we are getting on pretty well . We have considerable opposition , and have bo men Vfho are bold enough to face the Whigs and Tories of the town , or we should progress faster . In Stockport Chartism is in a nourishing condition . We have about 700 members . At every public meeting we have successfully carried our principles , except on one occ : ision , when their cowardice led them to call meetiugs at an hour of the day when they were well aware that the working men were locked up in the factories ; fearful of trusting to argument and reason , they havi ' then resorted to cunning . The mora . it waa possible for thfcir principles to be made known , the faster would they be enabled to get on : nothing could assist the movement more than the distribution of
cheap tracts and publications , and be hoped the Convention would lay down a plan upon this subject , or get the Executive power to do it . The physical condition of the population in the large towns was truly deplorable : in H ; z " . egrove the silk-weavers only obtained 13 s . 4 d . for weaving eighty yards , and out of this they had to pay 33 . for rent cf loom , ic , leaving them only 20 s . -Id . ; and to earn this they were compelled to ¦ woik fourteen hours a day for a fortnight . Never had he seen families worse off than in this district . If Cheshire was well-agitated , Chartism would be triumphant ; but if the fire was allowed to go outif it was not continually renewed , they would lose ground . The opposition they met with in this csunty ¦ y ras generally very weak ; more was to be dreaded from the apathy of the people themselves . In Stockport they had attempted to put them down , but they had signally failed . In Conglttun , owing to the tyranny of the masters , they were weak ; but in Macclesfialdi and other large towns , they were triumphant .
Mr . Morgan Williams said the district he represented -was South Wales ; he had also been nominated in Hertford and Monmouthshire , but they had not proceeded to the election . Of North WaJes he could say nothing , He would commence with Pembrokeshire . There was no Association in that county ; he believed that a lecturer had never been there ; in the lower part there -were many English , but in the upper part the population was chiefly Welsh . A lecturer here would do much good , but nothing could be done without one . In Caermarthenshire , at one time , Chartism was flourishing , but new it had quite declined . Mr . Hugh Williams , who once roused it up in these parts , hart lately taken m active steps . The population was chiefly agricultural , and were living in a state of
destitution surpassing all belief . In Cardiganshire , the populaion was also chiefly agricultural , and were very bad off . Mr . Hugh Williams had formerly employed at his own expence a lecturer to travel through this county ; but though a good spirit was raised , yet he had net succeeded in establishing any associations on a firm footing ; he feared not a single signature to the petition would be obtained from Cardiganshire , yet it was not from the want of proper materials , for the people wtre more intelligent than the generality of their neighbours , and only wanted to be properly agitated . In Brecknockshire they had not a single association , it had not teen visited by a lecturer , Bave just on the confines ; the population waa chiefly agricultural , and in intelligence wtre far behind the other counties : he feared that
if a lecturer was seut araoDg them he would not be able to raise an association , they wero eo bound to the aristocracy that they would not listsn to any one their employers might choose to denounce—their word was entirely law . In Glamorganshire , tbey had only one association , at Merthyr Tydvii ; formerly they had one at Swansea , but though they had a large meeting there with the Mayor in the chair , a short time back , and carried the six points of the Charter , yet they had allowed it to rest without-forming an association ; they Sidly wanted lecturers and the means to pay them . In this district they had difficulties to contend with which did not exist in England . They were compelled to have two lecturers , one who spoke Welch and the other English , or one who spoke both languages . Merthyr
Tydvii was the only place were Chartism could be said to exist , and in no placa in the kingdom did a better spirit prevail ; the signatures from this place were 3 G . U 0 O , and before the petition was presented he should receive some thousands more . They had a great desire to hear and see some of the Executive or other friends ; himself and Messrs . Vincent and Philp , were the only persons who had visited them ; they were pretty well off for lecturers , having eight or nine who vrere capable of addressing a public meeting ; tbey commanded the whole of public O f inior . The middle classes , in fact , had never tried their hands at getting up public meetings ; when any had been called to congratulate her Majesty , &c ., they had always carried their amendments by immense
majorities . They had totally annihilated all othoT parties It wcu ' nl not avail to talk to them about Complete Suffrage ; they were for the whole hog , snout , bristles and all . and desired him to express the same to the Convention . They entertained strong feelings regarding the three rnen who had been transported . This was natural , as two of their wives residtd in that town ; with regard to the support which they received , Mrs . Williams was as well supported in her business as could be expected . It had f . dlen off lately , but that was owing to the slackness of employment which prevailed , and in supporting these persons , they were only doing their duty . Williams was a man that was generally liked . He had had upwards of a thousand men under his direction , and there was not a single man who did not say that he was a good man and a good master . —( hear , hear ) . They
also entertained the most reverential respect for Mr . Frost as far as men could do so ; they might be said to adore him ; they desired me to express this to you , and urge you to employ every meats to procure their return . Chartism here is in such an excellent state , that if any of my brother delegates could visit us we could get a meeting of fifteen hundred or two thousand men at a few hours . notice . At least ten thousand men accompanied him to the railway station , carrying their petition in front . In Abergavenny , there waa a liltle division existing , but any one not connected with them could ba sent among them much geod weuld be done . Theyhad a good association , and were very active in spreading their principles in the villages around . In Pontypool , at which place there were many large iron works , Chartism is not in so good a state as when I last visited them ; there has been seme little divisions which
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have been prejudicial to the cause , bat with a little discretion and the aid of a lecturer , the cause would abundantly prosper . He how came to Monmouthshire ; there had used to be a good association , at Newport ; this town , they knew , had been the residence of John Frost ; here the feeling in his behalf was equal to that at Merthyr ; his name would be respected in that place as long aa Newport should exist . Ho was regarded witb : feelings of the deepest reverence by man , wonjan , and child , who all bore testimony that he ever took the part of the poor man against that of the rich
oppressor , and yet witb thia strong feeling existing , he was sorry to say that he found no association in existence and they had not obtained a single signature to the petition . On the night I lectured hereM had a most numerous attendance ; ;¦ -i get them to take petition sheets , and we shall eventually , I believe , have 10 , 000 signatures from ^ Newport ^ The great , and the only want , throughout the districts which I represent is , that of lecturers who understand the two languages ; it was not so material that they should be eloquent men , as that they should be able to lay down the principles in language all could understand .
Mr . Philp said he was , with his colleague Mr . Roberts , the representative of the men of Gloucester , Somerset , and Wiltshire ; they had been electod at Jarge iiiGotiDgs , and were , he believed , the real representatiyes of those counties . In Bath they had many intelligent and influential persons who had espoused their principles ; in this place there had been some disunion . between the different ranks of Reformers ; but steps had been taken to reconcile this division j to cause a firm union between the two classes of society , and , in a few weeks time , he believed that Bath would present a favourable example to the surrounding districts . In Bristol they had great divisions ; ho had endeavoured , but in vain , -ta discover the ' eause . it appeared to be caused by personal jealousies .. In
Gloucester , Chartism was almost unknown . In Stroud they were progressing . In Cheltenham there were many professing their principles , and it only wanted union and exertion to render it a flourishing association . There were numerous towns in the neighbourhood which would form excellent auxiliaries , if proper means were t : ikcn to arouse them . If the persons who at present were devoted to our principles ' -. would but unite to remove all obstructions , immense goad might be effected . He hoped that the Convention , during its sitting in London ; would adopt measures to bear the divisions which had occurred , and would also consider the propriety of iirrangini an organized system of distributing tracts , cheap publications ,. &c . He foared there was something wtong in : our present system of organization . He had always discovered that in those places where Chartism had been lately planted , it flourished to a greater degree than in . the large towns where it had long . existed . ' These new districts were
enabled , in many instances , to surpass the -older , and better organized towns , but scarce were they established on a firm basis , than divisions rose up among then ) . This was the case in the Doverills , and other places in his district : instead of being as they once were , united , ho found one party espousing the cause of one man , and another party the cause of some other man , thereby falling into the same divisions which existed in the older localities . He was sorry to be obliged to make this statement ; it would be far more pleasant to him to be able to give a pleasing account , and would reflect more credit on himself and his colleagues . But it was for the best to give a correct statement of the district , and to adopt measures to remedy the evils he complained of . He should not say more on this subject'at present , but previous to the Convention dissolving he bhcuUl propose some-means ' to heal the differences and divisions which existed . This was a duty not only incumbent on him but on them all .
Mr . O'Connor moved ,. and Mr Robert 3 seconded , that the deputation appointed to wait oil Mr . Buncombe , do now report . Cn ; ried . Dr . M'Douall stated that in the interview with Mr . Duncombe , they had informed him of their intention to present the National Petition to the Houae of Commons on Monday , AJny 2 nd , and they likewise requested ' 'him to move that a deputation , ^ on behalf if the working classes , should be heard at the Bar of the House , in support of its allegations . Mr . . Duncombe informed them that Monday being a Government day , it would be . impossible , for him to present it on that day . They then explained to him that Monday was the best day for the procession , and that they had finally agreed ie favour of that day . Too deputation and Mr . Buncombe then arranged that the procession should take plnco on Monday , -and that on that day he would , ( if
the House did not prevent him , ) go into the premises of the question ; and on Tuesday tie Would move that a deputation from the working classes be heard at the bar of tho House . With regard to the procession , it was Mr . Dancorabe ' s opinion that unless it was a splendid one , it would not benefit the cause . ( Men of London , rally round it ! and make it , aye , even more than splendid . ' !) Mr . Buncombe alap advised the deputation to wait on Shnrman Crawford , and request him to postpone his motion until after the presentation of the National Petition ; he had no doubt he would consent . l > r , MM > ouall stated that be informed him of tho contents of Sharmau Crawford ' s note , but Mr . Duncombe was still cf opinion that , from the friendship Mr . Crawford . professed to entertain for Mr . O'Connor , if a deputation , consisting of thnt gentleman and others , waited on him , he would withdraw his motion , until their petition wa 3 preseitgd ..
Mr . Moir moved aud Mr . Thomason seconded , that the deputation which waited on Mr . Duncombe should also now -wait on Mr . Shannan Crawford . Carried unanimously . \ . . Dr . M'Douall expressed his opinion that if Mr . CrawfpTd did not accede to their request , it would prove the hollowness of those professions of union which of late they had so loudly professed . Mr , Crawford , of course , would / abide by the instructions of the Birjningbiim Conference Committee . It was quite consistent with tbe forms of the House of Commons , to postpone hia motion . Mr . O'Connor also coincided with the sentiments expressed by Mr . M'Douall . A member of Xh& Hcwse could , if he thought proper , postpone any motion . The Secretary having called the roll , and the whole of the members being present ,
Mr . O'Connor moved that the Convention be adjour ., ed until nlno o ' clock on Monday morning—then to proceed with the reception of the reports from the various delegates . .. •' . Mr . ' Roberts seconded the . motion , which was carried nnanimcujly . The Finance and other Committees remained until the evening transacting their several duties .
Saturday , April \ Q . This day having been set apart for the transaction of business by the Committees , the several gentlemen composing these Committees were busily engaged in considering and arranging the various plans necessary for the facilitating of business during the ensuing week . We are happy to state that the greatest unanimity and cordiality ' of feeling exists : every personal feeling has been cast aside , and all are intent on the one grand object of adopting tne best means to promote the welfare , and ensure the freedom of their common country .
Monday , April . 18 . Mr . Duncan was called to the chair , Mr . Leachto the vice-chair , and Mr . Campbell as secretary . The roll being called , Messrs . Campbell , Leach , M'Pherso ' n , ' . White , . Bafrstowv Duncan , M'Douall , Woodward ^ O'Connor , Morgan , Williams , Ridley , Doyle , Baesley , Halson , Xp wry , Mason , and Thomason were present Mr . " Roberts was called upon to report , but not having arrived , the Chairman called upon Mr . White toxepoit .
Mr . White said be was tho representative of the men of Birmingham and the surrounding district . He would commence with Birmingham . The cause in this place Was curiously circumstanced . . The Chartists cf England were greatly Hilsled regarding the political position of this town . They had supposed it , to be cut-ar . d-out Radical ; but he had found that although , at the time of the Reform Bill , - . the working men hnd been raised to a pitch of enthusiasm by the masters , yet they had in reality no political character of their own . Ever since the establishment of the National
Charter Association , they bad met with opposition from all parties , even from those where they hud least right to expect it . The old Radicals were bitterly opposed to them . The Christian Chartism party , and their own , was continually clashing . All attempts to unite them had hitherto filled . True , they had held large meetings , at which they promulgated their principles ; they were sadly disorganised , but steps have been taken to remedy this , and he believed that if the spirit of the peopJo , was properly concentrated , it would be found to be as good as t-bs-fc of any town in the kingdorji . In Worcester a great number of tke men were what w « ro called freemen , and they never troubled their heads with politics , save at the time of an election . Since an association had been ' established there , sometimes
they had gone on well , sometimes bad ; but they had never made great progress . At a large public meeting , called to consider the distress of the country , with the mayor in the chair , they had refused him a hearing ; but still they had carried the Six Points of tho Charter , and the mayor refusing to put the rfatioiial Petition , they voted in another chairman , ¦ ¦ „ - ' and passed the petition amid great cheering ; This showed thata good feeling existed in Warwickshire ; but little had been done . Mr . Donaldson and Mr . French were the only active Chartists in the town . Messrs . O'Neil and Collins had lectured in the theatre , but with no permanent result No association had teen founded in Bromsgrovc , the inhabitants were chiefly nailers , ; and they were in a most wretched state of poverty . Men , women , and children were compelled to work for the merest trifle .
He had seen women hammering at hails . with their children hanging to their breasts , they not having time to suckle / afraid of the '' ioC * of time further . reducing ; their scanty pittance . They h . id held several public meetings , and the general opinion -wi . ^ in favour of Chartism ; but the association had not grea sy progressed . S tourbridgc was a great iron district ; th \ ' v bad held several ineetings , and obtained 3 , 500 sigt - ^ tures to the National Petition . Lime waste was an i . vd joining village , inhabited by colliers ; there was agoou ' feeling in this place , but they greatly wanted a lecturer , which they had not yet been able to '¦ supply them wit ^• Dudley was a place of a similar description ; here thy > ir ^ rinciplea h " aS progressed rapidly ; they had formed . an association . but it was yet in its infancy . In Cove 'itry . they had carried their principles at several large m eetiugs ; the
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men at the head of the association in this town were as intelligent and as active men aa were to be found in the kingdom : in this place they were powerful . In Nunsaton they wero rimUar to Coventry , chiefly ribband weavers , and were favourably disposed to the Charter . At Leamington , noted for its fashionable spaa , their association was progressing . In Redditch , they might judge of the state of Chartism , when he told them that they had built a Hall for themselves , and the majority f the population were zealous for the Charter : these were the ten towns of his district ; the
chief thing was the want of lecturers ; but the grand point was the payment of them ; they were immersed in such poverty , and some were so apathetic , that they found it difficult to raiso funds for this purpose at present ; and unless some other method was devised , they would hot make that rapid progress which otherwise might be dene . He could not sit down without testifying to the great good Mr . Mason had done in the two counties , Warwick and Worcester , since he had been their lecturer ; he had added much to their strength .
Mr . O'Connor said if he understood the matter right , they were to lay down the best means of advancing the cause , as well as to report the state of their districts . If the number of persons who ha 4 voted for the election of delegates , or the signatures to the petition was any criterion of thek strength , Lancashire and Yorkshire might be said to be the hotbed of Chartism : all who had watched the progress of the cause , who had traced it step by step , to its present position , must aeknowledge that , until they met with opposition from the Corn Law lecturers and others , they were never enabled to maintain so high and so nourishing a position ; from the date of this opposition might a new era in Chartism bo traced { previous to then , they were supposed , as a party , to be without union , to have no bond of
sympathy or concert ; this struggle had brought forth all their latent energies , and enabled them to read such a lesson to that and to all other paities , as would not speedily be forgotten ; it had shown to themselves and to their enemies the powers which , by union , they were enabled to wield ; every attempt to break up theiragitation , come from what quarter it might , had failed ; let them nevertheless beware how they allowed that strength to be frittered away . Let them be careful to counteract every scheme calculated to divide and disunite them . Let them hold firmly to principle . For his 6 wn part he would not abandon one single point of the Charter . He would not even abandon that name which had weathered the storm and the calui ; but while he looked upon the drganizsd Chartists to be the
main army in the attack upon the citadel of corruption , y . tt he recognised all as allies who bore down upon the same works—who combined in attacking the evils which existed j and in this view of the question , bo long . as the party connected with Joseph Sturge kept to the line pf conduct they had lain down , they deserved their thahka and their cOTOperation . All sections of reformers , whether monetary , local , or of whatever description , were abetting the grand cause by distracting and harrassing the common enemy ; but ho feared that the effects of a large party would be niore directed to the restoration of the Whiga to offijo , than to assist in producing benefit to the whole community . He was sure that the present delegated body , representing the interests of vast masses of men , must have heard with
satisf ; iet ) on the various reports which had been laid before them . There was only one report , at the hearing of which he experienced any thing like a feeling- of dissatisfaction , he alluded to , the report of Mr . Philp . He was sorry he was not present , but still , in his public duty , he should proceed with hia reinarkB , If the district which he represented was in the disunited , the miserable state , in which he represented it—if his statement did not savour somewhat of disappointment , it ceitiinly did not reflect much credit upon those who had been leadiug men ia that district . If you look in any district you will usually find that if it is apathetic , Or disorganizad , it proceeds from a want of energy and union among the leaders and not among tho moss . When working men delegate that power to leaders , which they have not time indiviiiuilly to exert , they are too apt to allow themselves to be Julled intoapathy
if those leaders do not act with sufficient energy to arouse them . This did net , however , apply to the whole country . In tho past annals of ; this or any other nation , there never existed a more intelligent , honest , and determined body of men than the present Chartist leaders , or lecturers ' . As n . party the Chartists had sufficient power , virtue , and energy , to command the respect if any Government , whether it w . is composed of Whigs or of Tories , and having obtained this position he again warned them not to allow their energies to be frittered away—4 o hold out the hand of fellswshiu to all men , but to form no union which was not based on thoir own glorious , inseparable principles , in defence of which they had fought , had suffered , and had bled . For his own part he would not abandon one iota of the six points . He would never fight under any banner which had not the Chaiter inscribed upon it .
Mr . Roberts—He with his colleague , Mr . Philp , represented the district of Somerset and Wilts . In Mr . Philps' statement he recognized tho true position of those Couq ties ; but he would refer to a few pl-ices which . Mr . Philp had not noticed . There was Davizss , a place famous , or infamous , for the treatment which he and others had there experienced . It was situated in the centre of an agricultural district , the population of which was deplorably ignorant , who were wiliitg to act in the pay of either party who would best remunerate them . By the aid of these men they had driven Chartism out of Devizes , and imprisoned him and others for a riot , of which they were the victims and not the creators ; but he was proud to iufjrm them that a better spirit now existed in this place ,
produced , perhaps , by a recollection of the id justice they had been guilty of . Mr . Vincent had since lectured in this town . A spirit of inquiry was abroad ; and if Mr . O'Connor thought IS worth bis while to visit that diatrict , let him have a short notice to beat up ; the surrounding districts , and he would procure him a warm reception . At Salisbury they had an association , which though few in number was composed of as determined arid good men as any in the kingdom . A large mass , too , only wanted : the excitement of a public meeting or two to declare boldly in their favour . If some lecturer of note , some one whose name was calculated io arouse their dormant energies , was to visit them , ereat good would be effected . Salisbury was
in the centre of a lot of small villages where Chartism was unknown , where they were taught by the parson to Jive and cUe content in poverty . This Beighbourhood , he thought , was deserving not only of local but general agitation . A better , spirit now existed than when the late riots occurred ; they would then have thought it good sport to stone a man to death at the bidding of their masters . He would now refer to general matters , and he would say that it was their duty to look their evils in the face : they were not assembled fer the purpose of praising each other and of giving flattering reports . From some of the reports given on Friday his only surprise was , that tho Charter was not the law of the land . From those
statements it would appear that it wanted a drag to hinder it from progressing too fast . He looked upon Chartism as a thiDg yet to be won . If the only object of their assembling was to present the petition one half the time and onehalf the number of delegates would be amply sufficient ¦ he thought it to be their province to consider the best means of removing obstructions from their , path . There was evil that permanently and progressively impeded the cause of Chartism , and if they had not been aided more by circumstances than by their own exertions , it would have still morehindered the progress of the cause .. He alluded to the general disposition on the part of the ChartiBts to interfere with the sanctity of private opinion ; he admitted that if they approved of a man ' s
conduct they would be justified in expressing it if . they thought a man not honest , they bad a right to say so . So far bo good ; but they were not content with this , they gathered together knots of individuals , and immer diatelypassed votes of censu e . These were immediately sent off to the Northern Star , the only public organ they possessed ; and by this means a man who , on Monday was considered of sterling honesty , on Saturday , found himself denounced over the whole kingdom aa a spy and a traitor . Individually , perhaps , this Was not so important , for when a man truly entered , the ranks of the people , he should be prepared to sacrifice even his life in the cause ; but the mischief did did not rest here , it drove good menfrom the ranks—it ' caused bad blood aniong those who ought to be united ,
and hindered many from joining our ranks . Mr . R . then went into a long detail of the circumstances connected with his election , and the election for Bristol of Messrs . O'Connor and Leach , and stated other circumstances connected with tho subject . The cheapast and the readiest way of obtaining popular favour was by laying hold of some prejudice and < fiddling on that string , — - ( laughter ) , —ho at least had found it so . Tee readiest way to raise your own fame was b y denouncing the conduct of your brother Chartists . Mr . Roberts then referred to his being questioned at Birmingham for going to the Chartist Church . If he was asked towhathe should attribute this interfereDce with public opinion , he knew not what to answer . For three years the leaders had no jealousies aniong themselves ; they were
everywhere received with equal warmth ; but about a year and a half ago , this feeling sprung up ; whether it came by intuition or by atmospheric agency , he knew not , but from that time the feeling bad existed , that all > yho did not think similar to the KorlKern Star were traitors , Ac ., to their country . He did not so much find fault with this species of despotism ; if the time was one of action , it might , by circutastances ,: then be necessary ^ but the present was the time not of action but of thought ; coincident with the origin of this feeling , was the denunciation , paured ; out ; . against * those who signed Mr . Lovetfs document Many signed that without a thought perhaps of its tendency . The conduct pursued on that occasion gave him great grief ; he
felt tflat many : Mi the ranks whom a little courtesy would have retained . If opinions were to be interfered with to this extent , let it be done ; by a deliberate assembly like the present ; let them ; lay down a rule of what w « ate to think , bow far we » re to ; go , and -when to stop . If thia assembly decided that a Chartist should not join another association , he should to a great extent bow to it ; this would be far better than leaving your conduct to be judged of by the ever-varying state of public : feeling . : He wished this to be fairly considered , he wished that when Mr . Bairstow had given his report , he had alluded to the quarrel between Messrs . Cooper and Markham , and in conclusion he should like to see a map of ChartiBm drawn up , showing the particular shades cf opinion in each district "To spine they could
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then send lecturers , who would lay down the first broad principles ; ether distilcta ^ oold requi re the ^ servicea of men of a more philosophic cast . He would conclude by giving them the words Mr . O'Connor had expressed in his report , ¦ " That ne was willing to co-operate with any section who held the principles of the Pea * ple"a Charter . " ; •' . > . •; ¦ ¦ : .: ¦ . ¦ '¦'¦ ¦' - ¦' ; ' - ' / Messrs . Bairtow and White stated that asMr . Roberta had alluded to Birmingham and Leicester they would explain at a fitting opportunity . : : ' . v Mr . - Wood ward was the representative of the Sussex district ; with the more Southerly portion of Shiopsbire he was hot bo well acquainted , but be should leave that to Mr . Bartlett , his colleague , who he trusted would arrive in time to report . Chartism in his district must
not be estimated fey the amount of the population ; Ms ' dislricfc Was the ; retreat for the aristocracy , and the residence of royalty ¦;; except at Brighton tbey had riot any body of great strength : in Brighton tbey had no differences . or division ; if any occurred they tool care to settle themi and not to make them public The population of Brighton was 50 , 000 , and out of thia number one half was composed of the aristocracy , their servants , and dependents , and the wealthy shopocxacy ; they had not therefore the materials to work on which existed in other places , but still no public meeting could be called at which their pruiciples irere hot advocated , and Chartism rendered triumphant . Previous to the establishment of their association , many of the mlddler class professed to be K 8 dicals , but they enly
made use of the working men for tneir own purposes ; when they choose to rest quiet all was dormant until they again wished to raise an enthusiasm for the attainment of some local or other benefit From this Radical body of middlemen they had experienced great opposition They had only one place of meeting taken . A member took a large , room for the meetings . . He was turned put and ruined . They could get no place . ' They were then forced to adopt ihe only plan left , that ef attending all meetings and converting them to their own ends . This hadanswered so completely , that they were new glad to let them have the ; use oC the Town Hall . At the Town Hall they had adopted the National Petition , all expences being paid out of the town funds . To thia petition they had 10 , 000 signatures attached . In the - ''' villages round , they had . also 800 signatures . To the last petition , incJuding the villages , ^ they ha d only SOOQ . At Leweiij which was the most corrupt town in England , they had
1200 signatures ; to the last , only 200 . At this place there was a real contest at elections as to who should give to the voters ; : it was truly a paradise for the voters . They had spent many pounds in agitating the villages round ; yet such was the opposition , that they were fearful whether greater evil than good was not the result . ' Mr . Woodward : then detailed many instances of dreadful revenge taken agiiinst parties in these , country districts who dared to take any part in the agitatieri . At Chichester , a meeting ' having been called to find some means of relieving the destitute poor , , a gentleman of the town proposed the six points of the Charter , and told them they did not want charity but justice . This was responded to by loud cheers , and tho six points were unanimously carried . This showed that even in this Parson-ridden town a strong feoling existed . Mr . W . concluded by alluding to their approaching election contest , they having proposed a strong Cimrtist .
Ruffy Ridley coincided with his brother delegates in their statement regarding the four counties . As far as the country districts were concerned Cbartianv was almost unknown . They had associations in Canterbury , Chatham , and other places , but they were so crippled for means that unless the Convention could lay down some : plan of agitating them , he feared they would nofc progress . In Surrey , Chartism , was established in a few towns , but a vast extent of ground was yet entirely unpc ' cu ' pied . ; In Middlesex they were in a similar position , and likewise in Essex . In that hot-bed of corruption London , at all public meetings the working classes attended and expressed their sentiments , and were always triumphant ; atUl" Chartisim was far from being so flourishing as it ought t » be . We were deficient
in Halls and places of meeting in which to assemble . They might in some degree be said to resemble what the working classes had been taunted with , that of being pot-house politicians .. But had they not entered these houses and drawn men from , the pot and the pipe , to a knowledge of their true position , they would never have numbered the large body they Sid at present ; A good spirit existed among all their advocates . He found even tee-totallers , much , as they abhorred beer and tobacco , &c ., entering these houses for the purpose of promulgating Chartist principles . A strong feeling also existed for the Welsh martyrs and other political prisoners , and urged some decided steps to be takenio procuro their release . Upon the whole , though not flourishing in the counties , in London it occupied a proud and prominent position .
Mr . Powell , delegate for Cornwall , Dorset , and De-¦ vo n , said , that with Dorset he was not acquainted . At Truro , in Cornwall ^ t hey had got up several meetings , and had done much good . This town was a hotbed of Toryism . At Redruth he had met the great Com Law agitator , Mr . Paultorj , and , in a set discussion , completely defeated him—not twenty hands being held up in-his favour . Previous to . this they could obtain no place to meet in . At Cambourn , wheii he first went , they had not a single Chartist . Now he had left them upwards of seventy strong , and had received a cheering letter from them on that morning . At Hay they were doing nothing . There were a few liberal men , but they wtre connected with Mr . Lovett ' s party . At Peri ? ancey St . Columbs , Weybridge , Padbridge , Newby
ElsSone , and other villages round , good had been effected , and small localities raised in most of them . At St . Day and St . Ann ' s there was a prospect of having an abundant harvest . At P / yniOuth tkey were going on successfully . At Ashburtori they were in a very destitute condition . Many were leaving their own soil to till that of other lands . At Buckley there was a good spirit , but they wanted enrolling . At Tiverton they had many good members ; and the whole of these counties , by exertion , might be made to stand in a prominent position in the Chartist cause . . If a member o £ the Executive , or a man of note , could go amongst them , much good would be effected , mora especially among the miners—many of these were now on strike for wages . Another party had struck against
the tyranny of their master . He had several times lectured to them , and showed the inefficacy of combinations without ; political power . He-had at first experienced much opposition and much ill-treatment . He ceuld get no oneto print his bills , nor the crier to cry his meetings—so that he was compelled to cry them himself ; but opposition ' - was now vahishing ; he bad only to t « ll the boys , and they would soon get him up a meeting . He hoped some friend from the Convention would visit that district ; he would ensure hinia good reception . Mr : Maaon , delegate for Staffordshire , had chiefly labeured in Stafford , Wolyerhampton , Dudley , aid Bilston . With the Potteries he was riot so Well acquainted ; but he knew that they : had excellent
meetings , that a good disposition was evinced , and that . the feeling of this district- was' decidedly democratic . Their organization was fat from being perfect , - in very few places was it so perfect as to give them that command of public opinion to which > if it was , they might attain . There is a want of some method of concentra-. tion , which defect , he trusted , would be remedied . At Bilston the organization ^ was more perfect than that of any town in the kingdorn . Previously to the formation Of an association in this place , it was enveloped in the gressest ignorance and political delusion ; they had been debased by their brata ] toll , and the ignorance in which they had been kept Few could read or write ; but they were animated with the true Chartist spirit . At VVolverhampton the organization was riot good -
butat publio meetings , theiir princ ! pie 8 were triumphant . At Wednesbury the cause progressed well . At Stafford the feeling was good ; but they were not organizsd sufficient to command public opinion . They had lately a largo public meeting ; Divisionshad been alluded to ; he must say , that there was a want of a feeling of charity ; many who had dared to give vent to feelings contrary to the majority had been denounced in the Potteries ; there had been some paltry differences , tut to no extent ; but in the other districts we have not the least division . The manner in which the working classes have been treated has made them very jealous of every action , the object of which they cannot clearly ascertain ; this he considered to be one of the greatesfc bulwarks to the working , classes it prevented them from the danger of being deluded ; but at the
same time , he disapproved of any interference with private opinions . He would have signed Sturge ' s declaration , arid have attended the Conference ; the men of Coventry were anxious to elect him ; but he feared if he took this step he should have been denounced ; and knowing how essential it was that a lecturer should possess the confidence of the people , he had twarted his inclination and had not attended the Conference , ; he had also been elected for Shropshire ; but had not visited that district ; but from information he had received , they were essentially demccratw in ^ prmciple . Mr . Pxow had several times visited that district ; at his first visit he had been much illused , but now he was . everywhere received with cf i V ,.. Witl 1 res P ecfc * ° his district as a whole Staffordshire was well-organised , and in spirit was not inferior to any district in England .
Mr . Lowery , delegate from Edinburgh—He Ayas delegated from a very aristocratic town ; one-half of the population were parties living upon their means ; it was divided into two towns , the old and the new , and contained a population of 250 , 000 , of whom 150 000 were living without any business . They had few public works , or manufactories ; and therefore there was not that discontent exiating from which the desire for Char * tism arose . They would perceive that in EdinburgH ¦ they had not the same material to work on as In Glasgow , or in tfher large manuficturine towns . In Edin «
Burga tney ^ rented a large chapel , in which lecture * were given once a week . A discussion was also held once a week ; and on Saturday evenings they had a social festival , at which they usually cleared a profit of t il r , , 7 bad JwsoetoHpas afc Manselbargh ; Dalkeith , Cralashiels , Lasswade , and other places , and in each place they were capable ; * f commanding public opinion . The profits of their festival they devoted to the spread of Chartism in the surrounding villager . They were not able to carry their principles to any great extent of distance ; into the country from want of surEcient funds . The villages were in most instances iso-. lated , and locked up between hills and mountains ; and beinga thinlyscattered agricultural disfcriefc , layingwide ( Continued in our seventh page , j
Untitled Article
g . THE NORTHERN STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 23, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct751/page/6/
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