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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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SHEFFIELD . CHAHTISil TRIUMPHANT—DEFEAT OF THE HUMBUGS . Again the * reen banner floats , triu mphant over fallen faction prostrated in the dust by the voice ; of ffiBBE& ^ g was held in P » rs < ibe-fqn * rfi . on the i 4 tn 01 isovemba iSt , aVwhich meeting four delegates were 3 LtodT » « t in ^ e foithcominK CoEference , that the Complete Suffrais
B will be rSecred > s riaearded the . town , announcing their resolution to S 2 SSoV « rtin the meetin * , and that any delegates SSe ^ rt Faeh meetta * woul d not repres en t their Srerests and opinion ? . Well , the meeting passed orer the Chartists did tbeir work quietly and well , and n ' o more was heard of the objections or intentions of ihe Sturgit « s until the evening of last Tuesday , f I > »* - 13 : h ) wnra a resolution was agreed to bj them la hold a town ' s meeting on Monday , the 19 : h , for the election of delegates ; and this in spite of the election , which hid already taken place . How was this ! The Rev . H . G . Rhodes , their Chairman' was present at the last council meeting of the Sturgitea held in Birmingham , sod from iheir resomug
immediately on his return to Shtffiold to bold another election meeting , we B . a-3 justly infer tfcittae Rev . Gentleman had been in con . ^ aJration with "friend " Sturge and Co ., and that the result of their deliberations was the premise of the Birmingham Councillors to back the Sheffield Sturgites in their intended illegal and anti acmocratic proceedings , and to aid them in their efforts to exclude from the Conference the Ben elected by the public meeting on the 24 . n . of "November . So sure did the local Sturgites feel of being able to carry all before them , that the Mr . Barker who figures so conspicuously and disreputably below , was fooi enough to talk stoat the distinguished honour that awaited him , ( J ) g-rrd- t » r t » ' » b » f ' tfagir- pbi g fa -rrho spoke a . % the ¦ nonal
meeting on Tuesday last were most valoron « m their denunciation of O'Connor , the Nor thern Star , &c , -& . c Well , on Friday , December 16 ih , ' out came their huge pink placards , ( the colour being that of the cheap bread sham-Radical Buckingham school ) , announcing the meeting . The Political XnsiitutionisEs had coalesced with them , and they depended on the aid of the freebooters to secure them the victoryaid which to a considerable extent they found on vhe day of battle . Now for the other side ; the proceedings of the Sturaitea in Glasgow and other places , nrore particularly the infamous conduct of that faction a ; Leicester , had excited feeling' of deep dis-¦ gusv and strong indignaiiox in the breasts of the JShrfneid democrats , and dow that it became clearly apparent that they wer <» determined to violate even
their own ordinances for the purpose of having their own men ssaied in the Conference instead of the men previously elected by the people , one feeling of resistance immediately kindled in the hearts of all the honest and determined friends of the Charter . A small bill was is ? ned on Sunday morning , calling on tho Cnartisis to attend the meeting , and t *> b 9 at their posi at twelve o ' clock precisely , and as the sequel wiii shew ihe appeal was not unheeded . Monday arrived , and at ten minute ? before twelve Messrs . Harney . Parkes , Edwin Gii ] , Foden , Hoole , Sutton , Dyson , Evmson , and other leading Charists entered the Hall , and took np their Ftaiion on the light of the chair . A number of Com ? le : e Suffragists were already posied on the lefc of the chair .
We have no > the honour of knowing many of the gentlemen , but among them we observed the Rev . John Davis , Messrs . Barker , Allen .- and Rent , also Mr . Bndgford . of the ins . and Mr . Win . Gill , of the Political Institute , together with some minor stars of ih '_ : party . At twelve o ' clock the Hall was nearly halt tilled , and every moment increased theinunb-r <; and at about twenty minutes past twelve the Hail was crowded in every part . Proofedinss commenced at ten minutes past twelve , by Mr . Barker proposing ihe Rev . Mr . Davis for chairman ; the nomination was seconded by & person whose name we did not learn , Mr . Julian Harney" ( who was loudly cheered ) proposed as an amendment , tnat Mr . George Evinson , a working man , should take the chair . Mr . Parkes seconded the amendment .
Mr . Barker eaid he supposed the courtesy of the meeting woald allow him to pu ; both the motion and the amendment . ^ Mr . Harney said he had no objection trnsting to Mr . Barker ' s love of fair play . ' . The show of hands was then taken , when a large majority appeared in favour of Mr . Hvinson , but noiwiihstanding this was apparent to every unprejudiced person in the meeting , Mr . Barker declared Mr . Davis elected . This announcement was reeeived with cheers by the Sturgites , and loud groans and execrations on the part of the Chartists . Mr . Harney protested against such a decision , and Mr . Evinson proceeded to take the ehsir , greeted by the thundering cheers of the Chardsts .
A scene of oproar bow commenced which continued for more than ten minutes ; Mr . Evinson made several attempts to speak , but . the nproar on the part of the Sturgites continuing , Mr . Evinson remarked that their booting and yelling would have no effect on him ; he had , at his daily labour , to bear the scorching summer ' s sus ana the fierce winter ' s blsot , acd they were much mi-taken . if they suppr = « d thei ? brutal noises would affect him —( suthusiastic cheers from the Charti ? t ?) . t A preposition was now made to take tha show of hands a second time . Mr . Harcey assented to this , hoping to bring Mr . Barker and his friends 10 Teason . Accordingly , the show of hands was taken the second time , and a still larger majority appeared this time for Mr . Evinson . Again the Slurgites Teased to submit to the decision of the meeting—a ^ ain the uproar commenced ; groan ? , hisses , cheers , and counter-cheers again occupied aioai a quarter of an-boor .
The Chairman called upon any gentleman who had business to bring before the mealing to do so . — ( Hisses from the SSurgeites and cheers from the Chartists . ) After more time bad been spent in tumult , Mr . Davis shewing a disposition to address the meeting , the chairman and Mr . Harney exerted themselves to procure him a hearing , bat so outrageous were the respectable Smrgeites that it was with difficulty a hearing could be procured for him from bis own friends .
Mr . Davis wonld a ? sure the meeting , his temper was quite unruffled , and neither the hisses nor the groans of the opposite party would disturb him ; his party complained not of the elec : ion , brat that the chairman had not been elected by , bnt forced upon the meeting— l * "Tis false . " groan * and hisses . )—Mr . Davi 3 continued in a similar manner for some minutes , but the uproar recommenc . ng we could bear nothing further . About three-quarters of an hour bad now been
speLt m tuiaait and confusion , during which lime the most feroci : u 3 threats were directed againss Mr . Harney by the " cheap bread " ruffians , a numbrr of whom had congregated below- the platform , several bright specimens of the political . lnstitute rivalling their friends , the "freebooters , " in their infamous eondnet . Again a third show of hands was taken , and the meeting this time decided by a tremendous majority that Mr . Evinson was the chairman , no : less than Ihres to one holding up their hands in bis support .
A gent , who professed to be an impartial spectator , « nd to belong to neither party , volunteered bi 3 services to settle the matter ; a hearing being procured for him , he acknowledged " that Mr . E ^ insan was elected chairmw by the majority ; " but added , " that the Chartists ought not to have interfered with the Meeting ; the meeting had been called by another part ;; that part ; had come to do their own business , not any other party V ( Oh , oh ! groans , and laughter . ) This was , of course , a settler , and the M impartial gentleman" founu . it prudent to " shut np . "
The Chairman now insisted ihat the business ehould be proceeded with ; the Sturgites hnng fire , hoping that as it was-now about one o ' clock , the working men would be eompeiled to leave , to return to their work ; but in tbis they were disappointed One o ' clock came , but seemingly' none left their post . Mr . Evinson , aa chairman , again demanded that the business should be proceeded with ; bnt was iold by Mr . Davis , " the meeting was not constituted . " " How so V demanced the -Chairman . u Where ' B the requisition V was the reply of Mr D . ( Cries of " in your pocket . " ) The ChairmaE
Eaid be had been asked a question by Mr . Davis ; h < would answer H ; the requisition was in Mr . Davis' ! pocket . ( Cheers . ) * The rev . gent , replied , that " the requisite was in his pocket , and he would keep it there !!" This was their last" card , " but the " artful dodge ' failed them . Messengers were immediately di = patched for a copy of the placard , asd in a fev minutes one was procured and exhibited In-triumpl to the meeting . The humbug now taw that the ; : game was op—sounded s retreat , and bolted witl the triumphant cheers of the democrats ringing h their ears .
A slight attempt at opposition was made by one o the party who had volunteered to perform the hope less task of covering the retreat of his discomfitte < colleagues , but as be factiaoaly refused to acknow ledge the chairman , ihe meefcicg very properly refns ed to hear him . The Chairman thea introduced Mr . Edwin GUI . Mr . Edwia Gill on -owning forward was receive -frith disapprobation by t&e Sturgeites , which wa eampletely drowned bj th « immense cheering of th ( Chartists .
He delivered a very eloquent address showing up the hypocrisy of ihe middle class nombugs , not forgetting the parsons , two of whom ^ figured as reqoi&iiumiste - calling the meeting . He was frequently interrupted by the repeated plaudit * of the assemblage ,, and sat down enthusiastically cheered , after proposing the following resolntion : — " That a public meeting of tne inhabitants of Sheffield having been held in Paradise-square , on the * 24 th day of November last , at which meeting every ttshruetion « f the twr cfrculaTB of the Complete Suffrage Coimn ^ vu « trietly complied with ; and that meeting having nnaaimonsly elected four delegates to repreMnt the iohabitaniaia the forthcoming
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Conference at Birmingham , tbis meeting consi dels the present one unnecessary for the election of jther persons ; and hereby declares that ths four del abates elected at Paradise-Square—to wit , Me ^ re . ' iimuel Parkes , Richard Abbott , George Julian Hari jey , and William Beesley , are the veritable repreeen' stives of the people of Sheffield . " Mr . William Dyson seconded the resolu' ,-iOn . On a show of hands being taken , one v ASt forest of hands wss held up in its support , agai nst it a few bands were upheld in the body of the t meeting . The chairman declared the resolution to be . carried by a tremendous majority . The annor jicement was hailed with deafening cheers . The chairman having to return to bj 8 labour vacated the chair , and Mr . Dyson wr ^ installed in his Place . ¦ _
Mr . Harney then addressed ^ tb a meeting for about three-quarters of an hour . ^ His address was received with repeated and enthusiastic bursts of applause . He concluded by moving the tb . anks of the meeting to Mr . EvinEon , for bis able and . impartial conduct as chairman . Mr . Samuel Parkes seconded the motion , and at some length addressed , the meeting . He was loudly cheered . The motion was agreed to unanimously . Mr . Peter Fodea . briefly addressed the meeting , and conceded by proposing the thanks of the meeting to Mr . Dyson . Mr . Pike seo # ndcd the motion , which was also adopted unanimously . The meeting-was then dissolved , first giving three cbeors for the Charter , three for O'Connor , three for Frost , "Williams , and Jones , three for the martyr Ellis , and three "for our glorious selves . "
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TO MR R . K . PHILP . Sir . —1 observe , in the Statesman , of last Saturday , a letter with your signature , in which occurs the followsa * paragraph : — * ' "White , Cooper , Harney , and others are playing the part prescribed to vhem . They go the whole bog , or lose their pound a-week . " I merely notice tbis to say that I hare neither a pound nor a penny a-week , from a * y source , in tho shape of salary . I tave never received or asked one farthing for correspondence to the Star , nor ever thought of doine to . 1 have no other source ofincomfc in the world than my business , as a news agent and keeper of a cofite-house .
1 trust , Mr . Philo , that tbis honest and unequivocal statement witt draw forth a similar one from yourself , namely , that you have thrown out either a raise conjecture , or an aspersion taken on hearsay , with an intent to prejudice me . Thomab-Coojer . Leicester , December 20 tb , 1842 . [ We would by no means have admitted this letter had the Statesman been srill going on . Bat as the last cumber of that paper announced its own demise , v ? e think it only fair to Mr . Cooper . — Ed . A . S . 1
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LEEDS . GRAND FESTIVAL A 2 TX > TEA PARTY , IN HONOUR OF T . S . DTJNCOMBE , ESQ ., M . P . AND FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . On Monday evening la ? t a brilliant soiree was held at the Music Hall , Albion Street , Leeds , in honour of T . S . Duncombe , l ^ q ., M . P ., the presenter cf the National Petition , and Fear ^ us O'Connor , E q , the preparations for which were on a scale comrnen ? urate with the ire ports nee of the occasion , and were sueh as to rtflct credit upon all parties concerned . For some oays the demand for tickets had been such as to leave no doubt that the working
men were alive to the importance of the occasion , but no soonor had it becomr known that Mr . Dancombe and Mr . O'Connor were really in the town , than numbers of the middle class purchased with avidity those tickets which remained on hand , and , ample as were the means of accommodation , ' soon after the opening of tbe doors the numerous tables in the spacious saloon were crowded by a r ppectable company , a great pan of whom were w « li-dre 6 sed females . A committee of Iadic 3 , indeed , had been indefatigable hi their exertions to secure tho comfort and happiness of the x . umeroas guests , and tbeir endeavours in tbis department , and their attentions to the honours of the tea . table , merited and obtained for them a due meed of praise .
The room was neatly , but not gaudily , decorated . Fes ' oons o : " evergreens and artificial tiowers were tastily arranged ; and in the orchestra , over the Chairman ' s 5 eat , were suspended portraits of T . S . Daocombe , E ^ q . an d Feargus O'Connor , Erq ., with tbe plate of thi * presentation of ihe National Petition , in beautiful frames , wreathed with evergreens . Arouad the back of the circle of the orchestra was a vr ' aite scroll , with the motto " The Peoplt ' s Charter , the only me » sure to secure jus : ice to one and to all ; " while from the wall to the Chairman ' s right
¦ was suspended a l ^ rg ~ and handsome green flag , frith a white border , on which was emblazoned " Universal Suffrage , Annual parliaments , No Property Qualification , Eq-ial Repfeeentation , Vote by Ballot , " and on the left a flag with the emblem of Erin , and the motto , " Unite and be free . " Aloug the whole length of the front of the gallery was another white scroll with the motto , " T . S . Dnneombe , the uv flinchiDg advocate of the People ' s Rights ; " and and on each side of is a fiag with an appropriate inscription .
Along the floor o the saloon were placed bix tables , seated on bo'h rides , wtth space between them for convenience of the company and the waiters , and under the gallery were placed two tables ; all these were covered with white , and were plentifully furnished with every description of plain and spiced bread of excellent quality . In the gallery was staioned an excellent band of music , which playe-i a variety of airs during the repast , and at intervals during the subsequent proceedings of the eveniiiij . An excellent party of glee singers were also stationed in the orchestra , and contributed by their performances grratly to the happiness and entertainment of the numerous company . The doors of the Music Hall were announced to
be opened at half-pa . ? t five o ' clock , and tea to be on the table a ; half-past six . Soon after this hour , Mr . Duncombe and Mr . O'Connor were announced , and they en-ered the Hill , accompanied by Mr . Leach , Mr . Bairstow , Mr . Brooke , Mr . Win . Jones , Mr . Frazier , and Mr . Joshua Hobson , amidst the most enthusiastic cheering of the audience , who rose from their seats en masse , and welcomed their guests in good old English style . Having entered tho orchestra they took their seats at a table specially appropriated for them . Mr . Wm . Brooke presided , and wa ? supported on bis riijht by T . S . Duncombe , Esq . M . P ., Mr . James Leach , Mr . Joshna Hobson , and the Rev . Wm . Hill ; and on the left by Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., Mr . Hairstow , Mr . Jones , Mr . Roberts , and Mr . Frazer .
The proceedings wtre prefaced by the Chairman calling upen the Rev . Wiliiam Hill , to ask a blessing . Tbe CnAis . XAX , after some time , rose end said , that although the tea -was hardly over , yet as the eveninj ? bad got so fsr advanced , they would commence with business , and as there was snch a variety of talent on either side of him , it "would be altogether useless foi bin to detain the meeting by any remarks of his own . He -would therefore proceed to give them the first sentiment of the evening , — " The peoplo , and may they soon enjoy their political rights , as laid down in the document entitled the 1 People ' s Charter . ' *
He hoped tbe meeting would respond to this toast by giving three times three cheers . [ Here the -whole i ossemblaga rose and gave three times three in Ifce most I enthusiastic manner . The ladies joined in the demon-! str . tion by waving their handkerchiefs . ] The Chair-; man resuming Baki , be begged to introduce Mr . Jones , of Liverpool , to respond to the toast , -whom he Relieved | th * y all very -well knew . He had been in this quarter I about three months ago , and -was very much applauded j at that time for the Banner in - which be enforced the ! principles embodied in the Charter . ( Hear , bear . )
; ilr . W . Jot : es , of Liverpool , on presenting himself , j was received -with loud . and prolonged cheering . He i Eaid that in preaexting himself to the meeting , he hoped ' he Ehould be allowed to express , in the first place , the | peculiar gratification which he felt at witnessing BO I many bright and happy faces , assembled on eo import-! and praiseworthy an occasion . It was a lovely sight to I sea the smile of gladness and the beam of joy animating the " human face civine , " but more especially , when they knew that the smile of gladness was lighted np with the proud and reasonable enthusiasm in the holiest of causes in which a human being could be engaged ( cheers ) . In reponding to the toast which the meeting bad adopted with tone times three , be did aot , when
speaking of tbe people , confine hi ' mtft if to-any particular class in the state—( hear , hear ) . He included the -whole family of bus—the prince and tbe peasant , tbe queen and the pauper—every individual who was a member of the human family —( hear ) . He responded to the toast ot " Tbe People , " because he believed that it was one which ought at all times to be recognized at every public assemblage of tbe people . He believed that the people had hitherto neglected the opportunities which bad been afforded them , of asserting - tbeir ovn sovereignty , acd in consequence of that neglect , th&y bad hitherto been kept the abject slaves of tyranny ' and oppression . ( Hear , bear . ) He responded to the tout ci " The People . " because he knew that tbe
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people were the only source ot legitimate power—they were the only sovereigns whom nature ' s God made ; and the only monarchs wbom God ever designed . iCneeis . ) This was the rea » on why ue responded to the toast of " The People ; " and as he bad but a short time allotted to him be should prooaed to another portion of it , which expressed a hope " That may they won enjoy their political r ight * as laid down In the document entitled the People's Charter . " He believed tbere was no man who knew anything whatever of the principles embodied in that great measure , and also at the same time wished well to the family of man , but would give to that decumeifc nis most enthusiastic and vigorous support ; and any man who professed the principles of liberalism , and who desired to see his and at the time
fellow-beings free and happy , yet same would not give his sap port to the Charter , was nothing less than a heartless professor—a dissembling , canting hypocrite , who merely assumed the position of patriotism for the purpose of deluding the people , the bettor to enable him to carry on his own base design ; to accomplish bis own elevation—( loud cheera ) . He knew that many individuals who really professed a desire to see the condition of the working classes improved and elevated looked with same degree of astonishment at the proposition embodied in the Charter , —that all men ought to be politically enfranchised . They appeared to think tbat a man withont a i > hUlini ?' s worth of property in his possession , but who obtained an honest livelihood by bis own honest Industry , to be entrusted
with political rights and privileges , would be exceedingly dangerous to the rc 3 t of the community—{ laughter . ) He would ask the meeting this honest and simple question , — -why was the working man excluded from a participation in national affairs ? Why was he excluded from the pale of the Constitution ? Why was he robbed o ! hl » n&turid rkhts , and deprived of his social privileges , converted into a mere drawer of water , a mere hewer of wood , a mere toiling machine , producing an enormous amount of wealth , which , after its production , he was obliged to hand over to otbera to enjoy ?—ihear , hear , and cheers . ) Was tbere any natural difference between the rich man and tbe poor man ? Was tbere any evidence that nature lutended tha working clauses trt he the bflBe BJld ¦ erVile tlavfes of the aristocratic and middle classes ? If there
was , let it be pointed out , bo that in future they might bow down to those whom God had set up as their superiors—( cheers . ) Those parties who oppose the principles of the People ' s Charter ; on the ground that the people were not possesstil of property , and that they were not in possession of a sufficient amount i , t irrelligt-nc" ? , for the judicious txtrcise of the franchise , knew nothing whatever of the principles of the Chartists , or tbty would never make such a fatal objectionil' « -ar . ) Show him the difference between the proudest aii&tocrat ( and the meanest peasant ; show him that nature had established a difference between the two , aud * . L ^ -n he would acknowledge that the poor , hardtoiling peasant ought to be the nlave of tha other man , and tbat be on whose brow was stumped the seal of
aristocracy , sbonid ride rough-shod over the rights and privileges of the other . —( Loud cheers . )—Take tbe chill of the rich man and the child of tbe poor man , and they wonld find a complete similarity ; for although money , title , and a gilded canopy awaited the rich man ' s child at its birth , althom >! i it was favoured by a royal smile chef rins its infant slumbers , &nfl although it might inherit a title when arrived as the } ears of maturity—yet , afier all , it possessed only the * ame natural capabilities , tnd the same germs of intellect and morality as a child burn beneath the straw roof of the peasant , and which w ; n doomed frwm its very birth to be the slave of wine proud and oppressing tyrant—( Cheers . ;—He knew that some parties bad assumed the position tbat nature bad given u preference to th » rich man over the poor man ,
but where was the evidence to prove the truth of such a proposition ? ( Hear , hear . ) Point him to the material univsrso , or to one single proof that nature ever'intended toijivea preference to the rich man over the poor , axul then he would admit tho soundness of the proposition . —( hear , hear . )—But how stood tbe fact ? Did nature withhold her bountiful gifts , because the soil was filed by the poor man ? Did the sun refuse its genial warmth because the poor nuin tilled the earth ? Did the -wtaiAs of heaven sweep with b terrifio Bound around tbe humble dwellings of tho poor man , and yet breathe with gentle softness and with a z ? pbyr ' a smila around the dwellings of the rich?—( cbef rs ) . No ; and until be was put in po = s < -8 s : on of some snch evidence aa this , he -vraa resolved
to filing to the old fishioned opinion , that until he saw oDf man born with a saddle upon his back , and another with spurs upon his heels , he would never believe that nature had doomed one man to be tho slave of another , and that the other should ride rough shod . over him—( loud cheers ) . He believed that nearly every political party in the state , at the present time , would readily acknowledge that tbere was a necessity for an extension of the franchise—( hear , bear ) . He believed that even professed Tories , themselves , would acknowledge that a greater portion of the people ought to be enfranchised ; and yet tbere were some individuals so void of intellect , so destitute of honesty , of . riiEcrirain » tion , and of natural justice , as to proclaim that the franchise was as fu'ly extended as it ought to
be—( hihsei ) . That man must be a cruel-hearted scoundrel acd an unprincipled -wretch , who would stand by and see a fellow man robbed of his political privileges— ( hear , hear ) . He -would brand aa a dishonest man him who would -witness a fellow man robbed of any portion of bia property , when at the same time ho had the power to prevent such a robbery—( hear , hear ) . And ytt thtro were thousands who stood by and saw unprincipled rebh-eries practised on the people—robberies of the most aacred rights that man could possibly possess ; ami yet ti . ese individuals were accounted h' / nest , honourable , and respectable members of society —( hisses and cries of " Shame , shame . ") If Ihe fact that the working classes were poor and degraded , and insulted by the other classes of society ; if the fact tbat the middle classes were
now crying out that trade was ruined , that . debts were bad , that their trade was gone , and tbat their pockets and tills were empty , and tbat tht-y were standing on the verge of bankruptcy and ruin , from tbe tyranny of tbe aristocracy—if the fact that above £ 12 000 , 000 a-year was taken out of the pockets of the people to support a state church , from which they derived no benefit—and if the people proclaimed against thU injustice , they were persecuted in this world , and threatened with damnation In the next—( laughter )—it the fact that the people had to pay upwards of £ 20 . 000 , 080 annually for what was called intereit on a debt , which they were no parties to contracting—( hear , hear )—whilst the nation wa 3 in a state of comparative beggary—if all these facts were not sufficient
to convince men that there was a necessity for a change , then he would direct their attention to the poor factory child , and to its pale and emaciated features , as furnishing a ready answer to tbe question , ( Hear , hear . ) And if this was not sufficient ,. he would risk thousands of unhappy mothers , who were obliged to abandon the comforts of domestic life , to neglect tbe education of tbeir children , to descend into the bowels of the earth , and work like beasts of butthen in a state of half nakedness —( Cries of " shame , sLanie" ) —and exposed to all those hardships and privation * which none but bard-hearted and unprincipled wretches would submit them to—whether they thought there ¦ was any necessity for a change ?—( hear , hear ) . Thtae woinen were possessed of as tender hearts , and of as fine feelings as tbe wives and daughters of their proud oppressors . —( hear , hear ) . Were thinga right as they
existed at present?—( shouts of " no , no ") . No . There was figuratively a voice rising from the gloomy grave , where the victims of class legislation were crumbling intoduBt , echoed hack from the desolated dwellings of the industrious poor , which would arouse the spirit ot justice from its slumbers , and would hurl injustice and oppression from their blood-Btained throne to the gulf of c-verlastiue ruin . ( Lnud cheers ) The people must hot expect to obtain their rights , by sitting calmly down at their own fire sides , aud complaining of tbe grievances under which they laboured . ( Hear , hear . ) No . They must make a giand struggle for tbeir rights . Na nation could be free until it was prepared to establish its own freedom . ( Hear , bear . ) They must not allow the various adverse circumstances by which they were surrounded , to deter them from the exercise of their moral energies . Let their natural love of freedom
animate their hearts under all circumstances , in til times , and in all places , and let them endeavour by every honourable , fair , . and legitimate means , to accomplish the object -which the Chartists had so long had in view . Tiie Government might attempt to defeat tbat object , by picKe 6 uting the people ' s friends ; but he begged to tell the emissaries of tbo Government , that the mere prosecntiou cf Chartist leaders would not enable it to accomplish its design by formally suppressing public meeting ' s . — ( hear , hear . )—He begged to tell them that he should sever be tiettrred from persevering in the good canse , simply because he had to appear next March , before a judge , who no doubt had already made up his mind wbat tbe sentence upon him was to be^—( hear , and laughter . )—So far from that , he was
looking with burning anxiety for the ardval of the month of March , when he should have the glorious opportunity of holding a Chartist meeting in the Court-house , at Leicester , when "My Lord Judge , " would do him the honour to tuko the chair on that occasion—( much laughter and cheering . ) fie should bave an opportunity of telling the Government , at that time , that although the jury might pronounce him guilty , they conld not stain his soul with crime , — tbat although they might confine him in n dnngeon , they could not chain down the uplting energies ef a free-born mind , and that whatever punishment they might inflict upon bini , they could not suppress tbe soul-inspiring hope within him , tbat soon a time
would come when injustice and tyranny would bo crushed to ruin , by the virtue and intelligence of an emancipated people , and that on its wreck a temple would be erected to the spread of universal freedom—( loud chem . ) The Government might employ their spies—soulless wretches , who possessed merely the form of humaoity , but the disposition of fiends—but they -would be defeated in tbeir aim—( cheers . ) He was proud to see tbe disposition of tbe people manifested in tbe way it had been with respect to such men aa Griffin—Griffin by name , awd G . * iffin by nature , — a man who -was so despicable in his ovvp estimation as to become a tool in tbe bands of a corrupt Government , to swear away the lives of his fellow cou . ntrymen for tbe sake of paltry g « ld— ( loud cheers . )
" Oh , for a tongue to curse tbe slave , Whoee treason , like a deadly blight , Comes o ' er the councils of the brave , And blasts them in tbeir hour of migb
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Ma y life ' s unblessed cup for him . Be drugg'd with treacheries to the brim , With hopes tbat bnt allure , to fly , Witb joy « which vanish while be sips-Like dead « ea ftnlta that tempt the eye , Bat tutu U ftBbes ou Vhe lips 5 . His country ' s curse , his children's shame . Outcast of virtna , peace and fame-May he at last , with lips of flame , On the parched desert , tbiwtf . og . die- ; ' . Whilst lakes whioh shone la mockery nigh , Are fading oft-untouched , untastod , Like tbe once glorious hopes he blasted ; And when from Enrtb his spirit flies , Just prophet , let the damn'done dweU Full in the sight of paradise . ....
Baholdlng beaten and feeling helL " 8 uek was the language of the poet with respect to individuals like these . To such language he teaponded , and he believed every honest heart in the assemblage be had then the pleasure to addrew , would do likewiseiwto » -of" « . do . " and cheera ) . If there -were any middle-class men present , who might act as jurymen m March nt xt , he would take tbat opportunity of informing them tbat they could not prevent tbe people obtaining their rights , by pronouncing verdicts of guilty against the Chartist leaders—( cheers ) . They never could prevent the onward progress of de / nocracy , unless tney could chain down the human mind , and to do thai tliey might as well attempt to pull down the daazling orb of day , in the full blaze
of meridian splendour , to command the ocean to recede , or the heavenly bodies to stand-still—( Much cheering . ) No . . The Government might attempt to put down Chartist meetings , and by that means , endeavour to prevent the people from obtaining tbeir rights , but the attempt would fail—( heur , hear . ) He would advise Government to remember the observations of Junius on this point . That diatincuiehed writer , said- ^ "I like these public meetingH . They , warn us of tbe approach of the thief , and bi <( us be prepared for his coming . '—( Cheers . ) Let them - ' remember this beautiful saying . Let them remember that public meetings are a safety valve , through which the exeited feelings might oscape , but if tbat channel of escape -was destroyed , society : would become like a -volcano .
scattering the burning elements . of destruction , which had long been accumulating , on the green valleys beneath . They might suppress public meetings , but they could not root out from the public mind , tbo hatred , the indignaticm—the ' virtuous indignation , of honest men against , tho proaent system— ( cheers . ) If the Government did suppress public meetings , they would drive the peop ' o to brood , in gloomy silence , over 'their wrongs . Resolute men would form secret nu'totingB . The torch of inceniiiaxiuny would tinge the sky with a glare that would light the despot to bis grave , and thj steel of the assassin would strike
in secret at - -the ... -oppressor ' s ., door —( hear , hear . ) He called upon the Govemuitnt , then , to weigh well the consequence * of preventing public meetings ; and he also called upon tho people noyer to cease from their exertions , uutil by every honest and peaceable means they had established the principles of the People's Cbtuv ter . . - . ' . ( Snouts" of "We never will . " ) All opposition brmiRht againet them . would not be able to prevent them obtaining their political rights . He believed tbat even now they were on the eve of obtaining that for which six long years they had been struggling ; and , in anticipation of that victory , he would say , in the words of he poet , -. ¦ ¦/
"Yes . it shall come , High Hwiven the decision approves I Oppression now struggles in vain : To the hell she has formed , superstition removes , And tyranny bites his own cbala . In tho records of time a new era unfolds , All nature exults in its birth ; His citation benign the Creator beholds . And grants anew Charter to earth . Oh , catch the high import , yo winds as ye blow { Oh . bear it , ye waves , as ye roll , Fn > m regions that feel the sun ' s vertical rays To the furthest extremes of the pole . Equal rights , eqnal laws , to the nations around , Peace and justice their precepts impart , And wherever the footsteps of man can be found , May he bind the decree on his heart . " Mr . Jones resumed bis seat amid load and prolonged approbation . Glee— " As the moments roll . "
The CHAin . MAN said he now came to the sentiment of the evening , namely , the health of their illustrious guest , Mr . Duncomba . ( Cheers . ) He ( the chairman ) w » 8 quite sure tbat if the only servicB which the Hon . Gentleman ba 4 Tendered , to tbe people , was the presentation of the National Petition to the House of Commons , signed by three-and-a-half millions , it was sufficient to entitle him to their heartfelt ( fratitude .- —( loud cheers . )—But be had also used his exertions to release Dr . M'Douall from the unjust persecution which bad been instituted against bini by a Tory government , and on that account also , be merited the thanks of every honest -Chartist .. —( hear , hear . ) Without any farther recommendation of bis own ( for the sentiment amply recommended itself , ) he begged to propose " The health of our illustrious giiest . T . S . Duncotnbe , E . 'q ., M . P ^ and may he live long in the hearts of the British people , for bia noble exertions in tbeir cause . "
The toast was drunk with immense and prolonged cheering . T . S . DUNCOMBEj E » q ., M P ., in rising , was greeted ¦ with the most enthusiastic -plaudits , deafening shouts , and clapping of hands , in which the ladies most cordially joined . These tokens of approbation having Bubaided , the Hon . Gentleman said " he really most sincerely Wished tbat he could , even for tin instant , believe that any services that he had been able to render to the cause of the people , in his place In Parliament , entitled him to any portion of that kindness , ana those compliments , which that vabt and respectable assemblage had been pleased to pay him . But he confessed , as u Yorkehlreman , that he did . feel proud to stand there , addressing Yorksbiremen , aye , and
Yorkshirewomen , tos , on an occasion like the present . ( Cheers . ) An occasion , not like one of thpBO meetings of which they read of as being of frequent occurrence in the present day—tie meant those meetings between what were called agricultural constituents , aud their agricultural representatives , where they read in the daily jour , als , that those most worthy gentlemen were occupied the whole time , whenever they met any portion of their constituents , or any portion of the pub lie , in the . vain endeavour of trying to wipe away from thuir fr . ceB and their persons , some of that filth and some of that dirt , luto which party spirit aud the present minister of the day , had so unmercifully dragged them during the late session of ¦ " ¦¦ Parliament— ( cheers and laughter ) . No , thank God , he ( Mr . Duncombe ) had
no votes to explain away- —( cheers ) . He bad no inconsistencies to excuse—( hear , hear ) . He stood there as an independent representative of tho people in Parliament , asonewho , he ttustedLhad never deviated , and please God , never would deviate from that course which he first marked out for himself , spon his entrance into public life , nearly sixteen years' , when he ranged himself on tllu side of the people—when he went there determined , as far as his humble abilities would allow him , to protect them from oppression , and to extend to them those rights and those privileges , which he felt as an Englishmen , aa hia fellow men , and as his fellow freemen , they were entitled to possess . —( Loud and prolonged Cheering . )—He was much pleased to find that his conduct , in presenting to the House of Commons the National Petition ,
met with the approbation of the meeting . When he was aBked to present the petition , he considered it one of the greatest honours that could be conferred upon any man— - ( hear , bear . ) He was prepared for the taunta and reproaches with which he was aware be should , in all probability , be met —( bear , hear . ) He was prepnred , and be also prepared those who placed the petition in his bands , for tho probability of insult being offered to tbe working classes of this country—( hear , hear . ) He khe-w the materials he had to deal with , and he must say he was not disappointed as to the insults that were offered —( bear , hear . ) The people came to tho House of Commons ( and Leeds , be was proud to say , furnished a considerable number of signatures to the petition—he believed some 16 , 000 or 18 , 000)—( hear , bear . ) : :
The Chaikman . —Thirty thousand —( cheers . ) : Mr . Duncombe . —Thirty thousand . He was glad to hear it , because it was much more to their credit . Well , then , as he was before observing , tbe people came before the House of Commons , and what was the result : of their application ? They came there » tating * that they bad manifold grievances to complain of , and that even the petition , long as it was , did not contain a tittle of their grievances —( hear , hear . ) They asked simply to obtain a bearing at the bar of the House of Commons , in order that they might state for themselves , much more eloquently than he ehould have been able to do , their own gtievauces and their own wrongs . Tbe meeting knew the manner in which that application was treated
by the House—( bear , hear ) . They knew it was treated in a manner that if any man , any honest and upright man , had a doubt on the subject before , must have gone to bis home satisfied that there was no sympathy between tbe House of Commons and the people , and tbat it had no more to do with the wrongs of tbe people , or exhibited any desire of removing them , than the Vote they came to on that evenbg-r ( heiur , hear ; and cheers ) . To be sure , they bad fifty-one members out of the 658 , who did vote for hearing the people at the bar of the House , but he maintained that if they wanted , an additional proof as to the necessity of reform in that House , it was to be found in the manner in which they treated the petition of three millions a half of the
industrious classes of the country —( loud cheers ) . They , to be aure , admitted that the distress of the peopte was great in the manufacturing districts , but what Was the remedy ? Did theypropose to grant any relief for that distress ? No . Empty compliments was all that they drew from the Ministry—compliments to the people for bearing their griefs , their sorrows , and their sufferings , la the most exemplary manner —( loud laughter ) . Very satisfactory , no doubt , to the suffering millions of this country—( exclamations of " very , " followed by laughter ) . Now , at the commencement of the last fieaaien , he remembered that one of the representativesfor teeds ( Mr . William Beckett ) , who seconded the Address —( loud cries of "Ob , oh ") , an extremely good sort of man , if lie were not a Tory—
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( laughter)—was obliged to admit the existence of dlstress- and he said that all the accounts that had been made ' to Pariimnent during the preceding Session were not , in ttiB-rifgheat degree exaggerated ; but , on the contrary , he believed that the distress was greatly on tba Increase—( loud crrss of " hear , heat" ) . He ( Mr . Duncombe ) wanted to know , was tbat distress-even at the present moment in the slightest degree on the decrease ? Yghouto of " no , no : on the increase . "; He believed that throughout tbe manufacturing districts tbe digdistress which Mr . Beckett then admitted , to be' still on the increase ; and if so he wanted to know where it was to stop T— ( hear , hear ) . Who was to stop it ? The House of Commons , as at present constituted , would not stop it—( cries of 'hear , hear , hear ) . He- woald
say universally , that there was not a man m the House of Commons , who would not admit the distress of tho people . Nay , he would go further , and he would say that there was not an individual out of the House , or in foreign countries , who was not aware of the distress under which the manufacturing population were at present suffering —( hear , hear . ) It was only the other day be was talking to a gentleman ( to be sure he was a slave owner of Kentucky ) who bad been through tbe manufacturing districts , and had visited Leeds , Manchester , and other places , and he said he was shocked at the distress he had witnessed—( hear , bear . ) He made use of this language : — " I » m a slave owner , but to talk of the misery and suffering of tny slaves ! Why it is nothing comparable to the suffering of yenr white
slaves in the manufacturing districts "—( hear ) . Nay , he Went further . He Baid— "Every one of nvy Blaveshave their cottages and tbeir garden , and they each of them have their dog , and I-will venture to say that ' ttefr dogs consume more animal food in a week than themdntt ' facluiing operatives in either Leeds or Manchester consume in lii'etvemonths" —{ OtieB , of "Hear , hear , " and " Shame , shame . ")—He ( Mr . Duncombe ) believed that it was a true jneture of the sUto-. of the inanufecturing population of tfels country . —AHear , hear . )—Then what did it proceed from ? What was to be the cure ? They tnaw that the evils under which the country laboured proceeded from what was very properly designated ' class-legisiation /'—( Hear , hear . )—It proceeded from the attention of one class of the community tj > their own
nterests , and total neglect of pll others . —( Hear . )—That was " what the Chartists , as sensible and honest men , wished to prevent in future . Several remedies had been proposed to alleviate the public distress , and to remove the existing disepctenk They were told— repeal the Corn Laws , and distress wiil immediately disappear—Slaughter ) . But supposing the Coirn Laws were repealed , and distress should disappear with them , would discontent disnppear x ! so ?—( cries of " no , no . " ) They were quite' right in eaying no . The repeal of the Corn Laws rnight , and would , he had ho doubt , give employment to a few ; but if they were repealed tomorrow , was it to be believed , was it to be supposed , that the people of tbis country , who now began to know and to ( ipprecia-.-s that which was their right , would Bit
down quietly , and not ask . as tb . 6 y were at present asking , for a participation in the electoral franchise ?—( loud cheera ) . No . He was an enemy to monopoly of every kind , and he should vote and giyehia strenuous oppositbn to the Corn Laws . He had , and he-should alwajTB vote for , their repeal ; but he Bhould deceive the meeting , arid he was satisfied he should deceive those : gentlemen who asked simply for a repeal of the Corn Laws , if they expected to obtain it from the present Housa of Commons—( loud cheers ) . The Corn I . aw was merely a sore on one limb of the body politic —( hear , hear ) . They might remove and heal the sore , but unless theyalso removed the disease from which that sore emanated , they would only have half done their work—( hear , bear , and cheers ) .
Repeal , then , the Corn Laws ; a , tid he should be agreeably surprised if the present House of Conimons carrUd such a measure , but he should not believo it until he . saw it . ^ - ( Hear , heur , and laugutar . )—It was Btated - t ' ae other day at Stockport , by a gentleman . that the Antl-Coru Law League would obtain their £ 50 , 000 . He ( Mr . D . ) hoped they would , because he was satisfied at the end of the next session of parliament that that £ 50 , 000 would become 50 , 000 additional reasonB in favour of the Charter . ^ - ( Loud cheering . )—He hoped then that the League would obtain the £ 50 , 000 , not for their own sakes alone , but for the sake of the Charter . * But then wheii they ix-Aii failed—when they should have admitted that these •« rascally Chartists" after all were right , then came the question , how were they to proceed to £ et the
repeal of the Corn laws?— ( hear . ) They ( the Chartists ) could tell them . : Reform tbe House of Commous—( great cheering ) . Tney wanted free trade ; bat'they must have free franchise in the first instance .. Then they would see the materials that they hud to deal with in the House of Commons . There would jump np , perhaps , iu the first instance , some rampant Tory , followed and seconded by some maudlin Whig , who weuld say to them ; " What , is it possible ; are you going to join in this cry for an extended franchise—would you attempt to disturb the settlement of that great constitutional quieBtion as laid , down by the Reform Bill ?"—( laughter ) . Why , no doubt , on that point , there was not the slightest difference between the Whigs and the Tories . Sir R Peel and Lord John Russell were both
united in considering the Reform BUI a final measure—( hear , bear , hear ) . He ( Mr . Duncombe ) was in the House of Commons , and assisted in passing the Reform BUI , and hq should probably be told that there Was a sort of compact entered Into between , the supportera of tLat measure and the opponents of itthat it should be a fixed measure , and that it would be a gross breach of faith on the patt of any individca ! to propose to disturb the settlement of that great constitutional question , as it had been called . This language , In point of fact , had been used over and overagain . He ( Mr . Duneombe ) as he had before observed , waa a member of tbe Honse of Commons , and assisted in passing the Reform Bill . Ho heard of no such compact , and none was entered into—( hear , he » r . ) No rational man out of the House would have listened to it for a
moment How was tho Raform Bill passed ? By the voice of the people . The people expected great benefits from it , but they had been disappointed . ( Loud cries of bear , hear . ) They never entered into any compact , that it should be considered a final measure , and they would'have been idiots bad they done so .-. . . { Cheers . ) . He should like to know what any one . wonld think to a man , the foundation of whoBe house waa giving way , the walls of wbiub . were coming dowu , and the interior of which , from day to day , was becoming more foul and more filthy—what would they think of such a man , if any one remonstrated with him , and said " don't you think it would be better to repair and wash your house ? "and the party whs to reply to that remonstrance by saying .
"What you state is very true , but recollect I washed tbis house eight or ten years ago , and I considered that a tiniil washing" ? . ( Loud laughter and cheers . ) Why tbat , after all , was exactly the argument which tbe Whiga and Toriet > used , when he , and thoae with whom he acted sought to effect a Raforin in- the present House of Commons , which he had no hesitation in-Baying was much worse than the old House of Commons , and that it was day by day becoming more foul and tnora filthy than the original House ever was —( loud cheers ) . Well , then , the question came ; , what sort of a washing were they to give this filthy place ?—( cries of " Chartist -wUhing' ^ He Knew what they , as honest men , what they , as good workmen ) would say . They would Bay the tirat experiment . having
failed , let us at all events do it effectually ; let us have no bit by bit reform , no more nonsense , no more half measures—( cheers ) . That was what they would ' say . They would examine the foundation of the building , and if tbvy found the foundation not sufficiently wide , aa they bad already pronounced it , and believed it to be , they would of course expand and widen that foundation ; having done that they would improve the interior , and they would also lay down a rule that the interior should undergo very frequent examination and inspection—aa examination , perhaps , ' . once a year—( hear , hear ); by which means , if any vermin or ruts , or anything of that sort should by any possibility creep
into the building , they might be very speedily expelled ; or if any decay was visible in consequence of thesi . rats , it might very speedily bo renovated anil strengthened —( cheers ) . That was what they , as honest men and as good workmen ^ would propose . It waa what the Chartists proposed : It was what tho National Petition proposed ; and when the men of Leeds nffixed their signatures to that petition , tbat wns the rational yiew- which they took of tbe question—( hear , hear , hear . ) Well , then , what was the great objection to their principle ? It was eaid that if UuivtrBal Suffrage was to be established to-nioiTOw—that if the interior of the House of Commous was to be decorated
by gentlemen who were returned there by Universal Suffrage , that in the first place the House would become more corrupt than at present ; as it that were possible— ( chifers and laughter . ) Then it was said that a set of people would be in posBeEsion of votes who bad no stake in the country . Why Lord Abinget had said that the idea of a person without any property at all having a vote for a Member of Parliament , or that Bny body who proclaimed such a doctrine , proclaimed that which fell v « ry little short o ! High Treason— - ( Much laughter and applause . ) Again it was said that such persons having votes wriujd be so exposed to the temptation of bribery , treating , and corruption , that in point of fact they would have a more corrupt aud wicked legislation than they had at this moment . —( Cries of * " No , no . " )—Now with regard to he
bribery ( Mr . D . ) bad offered to prove that a vast majority of the Members of the present House of Commons , ( and mark he undertook to prove this before their faces at the bar of the house ) were returned by the grossest bribery , corruption , and intimidation that had ever taken place in the annals of electioneering—( Great cheering . )—Did the members of the House of Commons denythia?—No ; they shrunk from the charge , undtkey passed it over . —iHear , hear . )—Here , then , they had & House of Commons which stood self-convicted aa the offspring of gross bribery and corruption . But ; it was aaid again that If the working classes bad Totes , they would become th » victlmB of treating , of drunkenness and of intoxication ; that tbe public house would be to » much for their virtue at an election . He should like to know if an account which he had read the other day in the
newspapers was correct , and which he believed was . correct , that at an election goir . g On in the West Riding for the registrarshlp , there ha < l been Bent in t 9 one of tbo candidates , a bill , the first item of whloh was eioht thousand glasses of brandy and water —( Great laughter . ) And for whose use was this brandy and water ? Was it for the working classes f No ; no man was entitled to vote at an eleotioa tox reglatrar , unless he was
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possessed of a freehold of a hundred * year so tw in point of fact these 8 , 000 glaMea of ^ S ^ f ^ SS w « e . « uPpiied to that bigbly-iajM ^ ble ^/ fr !!! holaers poswBairig property to the amount be hatf before stated-fhear , hear . ) Could the wSg Jlassedo more tban that ? - ( crle . of « , no ,.- Weifflj f treating was what th « y were so much afraid of , conM it be made worse by admitting the working clame * within tha pale of the Oonstitutiottz—( loud erils 6 f « n 6 no" ) No , he naiotained that woner Of Ia . ter it must come to that . He belieted that then would be no hanpmess , no peace , and no contentment ia ttuacountw until the working classes were brought within the VJL of the Constitution ; and looking at their growing in . telligence , they ought not to rest satisfied , and he hoped that would
they net rest ¦ atiafiud until they had obtained that which he believed to be theii rijhtsaa men ( cheers . ) He hoped at the same time that mseekini ? their rights , they would conduct themaelves-as nefelt sure they would—peaceably and conslitatlonally 5 but that they woald not on any account concede one iota of that which they knew to be th « i « right —( cheera and cries of " we won't" ) . It was one of their malien * blft rights to meet in public and disctus tbeir grievances ; and strong must be that Government—strong must be that arm of power- ^ -and unconstitutionally illegal would tbat aim of power be whenever it w * b attempted to be used for the purpose of attempting to pnt down meetings of the people assembled i to express their opinions on the Government of the ^ ay —( loud cheers ) . He trusted that tbe people never would concede one iot »
of that sacred privilege . It had been attempted to deprive the people of it in consequence of what took place during last autumn in the manufacturing districts —( hear , hear ) . Aa attempt bad been made by ffiagig . trates and judges , or at all events by one judge on the bench , to show tbat the . people had no right to meet in public—( hisses ) . Lord Abinger had had tbe audacity to state that it was impossible for three or four thousand Englishmen to meet together , and that that should not be an illegal assemblage—( hisses ) . And why did he say so ? Because , " in all probability , diacassion would be at an end in meetings of that description . " ( Exclamations of "Shame . ") He ( Mr . D . ) could only say that be had attended meetings much more numerously .: composed than three or four thousand , and he had seen their conduct , which the
present House of Commons would do well to imitate * ( Hear , hear . ) He had heard none of those noises and ha had witnessed none of those disgraceful scenea which he had s » of ten seen in the House of Commons when discussion was going on —( hear , hear- / But Lord Abinger knew nothing of the people , still less did he know any thing of their spirit if . he supposed that they would submit to doctrines like this—( cheers . ) And if tbere waa a spark of feeling for the people of this country in the House of Commons " , although they might refuse an extecaion of the franchise , they could not he thought refuse an enquiry into that Judge ' s conduct , when it was asked for ; and moreover , that they would not refuse an enquiry , into the conduct of the magistrates , more
particularly those of tbe neighbourhood Of Manchester , previous to the issuing of the Special Commission , and during the time tbat the disturbances Were taking place— ( laud cries of "hear , hear . ' ) From the information which he ( Mr . D . ) received whenhe waa at Manchester , he had no hesitation in saying that ho believed more vindictive proceedings never took place than those which were instituted against certain individuals by the magistrates of Manchester , merely and S ' leiy because the men proceeded against passed- by the name of Chartists—( cheers . ) Chartism did not yet find a place in the statute law of this country , where it was supposed to be a crime , if it Were a crime , many of their ancestors were equslly criminal ., Even one of his ( Mr D . ' s ) ancestors , bearing the same name
as himself , and nearly related to his family , who represented the entire county of York for many years , he believed for seven Parliaments , in conjunction with Sis George Siville and Mr . Wiiberforce , advocated those very principles which he had then the honour to advocate before that meeting . ( Cheera . ) He knew that the present generation of his family was well known to ail of them , aud they had beeorepreseated by-some of them who were Tories ; but for himself , so far from haviDg fallen from tha original family polities ' , ( if politcs were to go by families . ) he maintained that he was adhering to the polities which his family originally entertained , and which tie had provad to have existed in tbat individual who had bad the honour of represent * ing for seven Parliaments the wboWcounty of York—¦ ( loud cheers ) . He was proud on this occasion to meet his brother Yqrksbiremen , and to receive from . them this diatiuguiahed mark of their approbation . He was
pleased to find that hi 3 services , humble as they were , should be thus rewarded . They might depend upon if , tbat if it waa possible for him to want aa additional incentive to pursue the course he had hitherto followed , h « should find it that evening in tbeix kindness ,, and in the vote to which they had then come , and which he could assure them to the last hoar of his life never could and never should bo forgotten by him—( loud ch 9 ers . ) ' He could only say that , so long as be bad a seat in the House of Commons , and they , the men of Leeds , be they Chartists , or be they what they might , if they found their rights invaded , and they thought that his services , or any exertionB on bis part cauid be at all effective in protecting them , they had nothing to do but to call upon him in hii place in parliament , and , to the best of bis abilities , he would serve them . ( The Hon . Gentleman resumed his seat * amidst enthusiastic and loud cheering . ) Glee— " Weel may the Boatte Row . "
The Chairman said he had now to give the health of that distinguished and well known individual , who sat on his left , with whom they were air well acquainted , and who , therefore , needed ho remarks of his to introduce him to their notice . He begged to give— " ;¦ . ; . ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ' -: ' ¦ ¦ ' ' ¦ ' ' . "" ¦ - ¦ : - - . ¦ ¦ ¦/ . ' r . y : ' ¦ . "¦ , -. ' Eeiigus O'Connor , Esq ., and may he live to triumph over the powers of faction and tyranny , and see our common country blest with that freedom he has so long struggled to obtain for her . " The toast was drunk with deafening apptause .
F . OConnok , Esq ., on rising , was hailed with raptarous applaute . He cbramenced by addressing th « assemblage as Brother Chartists , English motbenr , English daughters , Eoglish women , and English children . When he cast back a glance to about that day seven years , or to that time seven years , and when he considered it was . then that he came first among the men of Leeds , though stronger in health and mere powerful in constitution , bearing with him the same principles that he had heard so eloquently advocated there by a Yorksbireman ; if in the advocacy of those principles he had lost some health , he could lock back upon the services he bad rendered , and say that it had been lost in a good cause —( Hear , he » r , and cheers . ) If Mr . Duncombe had reason to be proud—and who should
not be proud to receive such an approval of his conduct from the lips of those whom he desired to serve ?—if he , as a countryman ef their own , as a county man of theis own , ffclt proud at receivirg their congratulations , how much more proud should he ( Mr . O'Connor ) be , as an " alien in language , " an " alieu in blood , " a '' foreigner '" and an Irishman , thus standing before thenr— ( Loud cheers . ) He bad long looked for this day . He was well aware that although they had been sowing their Beed Btealthily by the disk of the moon , as the good husbandman -always did , yet that there would come a day when they would acknowledge them under the canopy of the broad blue sky- ^ Ccheers ;) They looked » t members of the House of Commons , like his Hon . Friend , Mr . Dancombeto propel ths
, power which was passing outaide— " tbe pressure from Without "—and they had ever found him true to bis post He had come among them that night to maintain the glorious principles which he had so manfully and fearlessly avowed In the House—he had before nailed his colours to tbe mast , and like every tiue-heatted patriot be waa determined to stand or fall by them—( cheers . ) Mr . Duncombe bad told them he w * s « Chartist . O ! 'twas a sweet name , though it might smell foul in the nostrils of faction—( hear , hear . ) It was of the utmost importance that Mr . Duncombe should thus mix with the people . And why ? When he undertook to be their adyocate in the Home of Commons , he was not ashamed to read the humble letters of-tb ' nie ' whom , perhaps , others wonid not
descend to pei se , —then he spoke only from hear-tay Now , he could go before tne legislsture and say— "I speak from ocular demonstration—from oral , traditioDt I have witnessed the honesty and ^ sufferings of the people , and I admire the righteous means by v ? hica they propose to relieve themselves , "—( caeera . ) What ! The dog of a slave in Kentucky to eat more animal food in a week , than a free born Englishman in twelve months I Ah ! he- knew eomething of the manner in wbich the fllavt-a of America were treated , and he should like to know how theywould feel if called upon to pay f'ZO ^ i OOO to emancipate the white slaves of England —( hear , hear * and cheers ) . As Chartists , they did not approve cf slavery . He would much rather see them in a inore
boneurable position , gatisfled that in the end they would work out their own social and political amelioration— ( hear , hear ) . Bui was it hot a degrading thing that a slave owner should come among the people of England , and taunt them with beiDg in worse state of degradation than the black slaves , who were kept in bondage by their cruel owners- ( hear , hear ) T What was this state of things to be aWributed to ? Not to the Corn Laws , not to any one single sore on the limbs of the body politSb , but to graspingi destroying class legislaUon —( cheers ) . Wnat bad class legislation done for tbem ? Some of them knew what it was to labour for » hard day ' s work at the caprice of a tyrant master—( hear , hear ) . Some of them , too , had been masters , but class legislation bad reduced them almott
to paupers . The system , of which the Chartists com ' plained was so framed as to preserve political power in the hands of tbe few , which enabled them to distri . fcute the wealth produced by the industrions ctessea among their own order , and . / . ' . tor their own exclusive tehoflt and eujoymest , presenting the starUing anomaly that in a country , almort boundless in its capabilities of productiveness an « wealth , the very beings who were the prodncew of all wealth , were left without th » means of feeding or clothing themselves—( cries ' .-of ^^ " ebame , fshajne . " ) What were Hhe Chartists cantendlng for now ? Bi » friend ( Mr . Jones ) bad told them that he was not gotag to be intimidated by being locked up In a -p ^ ltgt for a week —( laughter . ) He hoped that Mr . Jones would not learn much more than he knew , for it wonld brew ( Cmtinuedin § ur Seventh Page . )
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c ' ¦ " ' ' THE TTnTTTrTKr * « T ** - : :.. ; _ ' .- ; . : .
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE XORTnERX STAR . Btr , —Being prer 3 nt at the meeting yesterday for the ejection of dtV ^ atcs to tbe Birmingham Conference , I was surprised at iha conduct of professed Chartists supporting a resolution repudiating the appointment of p ! e < i ; ed de ' ie ^ ates , while the very men invariably call up n the people to support no man , at our municipal an-. i ptiieral elections , who w : ll not pledRo himself to " eetk the return of Frost , Williams and Jones . '' How consistent !! Djcs there not w ^ nt a Radical lleforoi in the Chartist camp ? . Observer . Leeds , Dec 201 b , 1 S 42 . .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 24, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct783/page/6/
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