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SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED BY MR..; ¦ , . " . ¦¦ ;.;;. ¦ .:. - ¦ : ¦ CLEAYE. ;- • ¦¦:•; ¦ . . ¦ .
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U » fcno » iBgn » andBg , bat ii m negatived by a Urge Mr . W . Beogs . Kottinsham , wai received -wiUi cheers . He tfeod there for no idle object , and for so trifling purpose . Th « y » w thousand- of their fellow JSHrSnHoirn to the lowest piteb < rf moral and pWal debasement by deregulation and therefore , S ^ oDjht the time had come when they ought , to toect their energies to deliver the people from the rSZerr and the oppression by which they were snr-^ Sd-Hbear , be £ - > Wten he tot took up this Clement , the principles « f radical reform were not in tbe ascendant fie had been connected with the old political unions , and although at one time he contemplated devoting- hiB time and energies te the promotion of temperance , and the spread of education , hia attention -was at length directed Tery forcibly to the state of the people , and he saw that there was so prospect whatever of obtaining political justice , excepting by eivin * to them the franchise—( bear , bear . ) He there b ^ *¦ ^ _« _> * _ , _„ ¦ 1 I "I . . ¦ . — ¦ mmi Twrkfi WfL l _ - » -TO
* __ _ _ _ * ^ _ _ ^ . ^ fore signed the declaration ef Mr . Stnnte , and he was fluxions to see the Six Points involved in the bill , to pass into a law—( beer , hear . ) Every day impressed in a strong degree npon hia attention the necessity of conceding that great meed of jwtice to the people . At the last Conference many crotchets were introduced , tjoVhe rejoiced to say tbat the people were now more ocited , and he believed that no opposition conid pre--reiit the Six Points bong carried—( hear , hear , hear . ) He bad the same confident reliance aa he ever had that ¦ what was true would prevail , and that what was false would perish , because it was the nature of tenth to flemish under the most discouraging circumstances , and it was the natnre of errorto destroy itself . —( hear , bear . ) He bad seen a BUI which had been prepared for recognising the Six Points , and it became his duty to direct their attention to the four resolutions which were alluded to in the fourth paragraph of the programme . Jlr . Beggt then read the following resolutions : —
1 _—Tbat tins Conference convened in e » nfonnity with a resolution passed at the first Complete Suffrage Conference , held at Birmingham , April 4 th—8 th , 1842 , and having for its paramount object the consideration of the necessary details of a bill embodying the principles then agreed npon , vi _ : —The extension of the Suffrage to all male adults , not deprived of the rights of eilixtnship by a verdict of a jury of their countrymen—vote by ballot—equal electoral districts—abolition of a property qualification for member * of Farliaujent—payment of members for their services—and n-rmimi Parliaments ;—do sow declare its adoption of these principles ; pledges itself to employ such means only for obtaining the legislature recognition of them as are of a strictly just , peaceful , legal , and constitutional character ; and Trill forthwith proceed to fulfil the mission with which it has been entrusted , resolved ta support its <*« irma « jn preventing the introduction of any proposition not in accordance therewith .
2 . —Tbat as this Conference will resist the introduction of any topic not obviously relevant to its main design , so it also darinim * all interference with existing organisations , recognising as its paramount duty , the arriving , if possible , at a cordial agreement in reference to the object towards which pea ceful agitation may be directed . 3—That this Conference , agreeable to resolution 17 , passed at the first Conference , is prepared to receive and to consider all documents which may be laid before it , and which may be supposed to contain an embodiment of the necessary details for working oat the principles already recognised .
i—That the documents so to be presented to this Conference , be taken into consideration at the openi : g of our next Session , by a Committee consisting of the whole body of the delegates ; and tbat the Committee be instructed , to observe the following rules : —1 . That the bill to be presented by the Cornell of the "National Complete Suffrage Union , " be taken as the basis of discussion . 2 . That each clause as it is read shall be considered pern" possu , with the correlatiTe clause of the two documents . 3 . That all amendments be handed
op to the Chairman in writing . He might state that the Sill would occupy four hours in reading—( laughter)—but he had read the Bill himself , and bo far as he wu able to judge , the provisions appeared r ^ ' 1 *^ to accomplish the object they bad in view . —{ hear , hear , and " no , * " no . *;) He would sot then g » into an abstract of the Bill , because it would come under discussion at a future stage of the proceedings . He begged , therefore , to move the resolutions . Mi . Drerop , of Glasgow , seconded the resolutions .
Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Lovett rose at the same time , bat the former gavu way , and Mr . Lotett said , that previous to any amendment bein g moved , he rose with considerable pain and anxiety to impress on tbeir friend , Mr . Beggs , the necessity of ¦ withdrawing a portion of the fourth re-Bolution , and to substitute other -words —( hear , hear . ) The part that he wished to be withdrawn , and which , for the sake of unanimity , he hoped Mr . Beg ^ s wonld consent to do , was . thaftbe bill to be presented by the Council of the National Complete Suffrage Association be taken aa the basis of discussion "—( bear . ) He wished that Mr . Beggs wonld substitute the ¦ words , that the bill , or the document entitled the People ' s Charter , Bhall be considered as the basis of
discussion . —( lond and prolonged cheerine . ) Impressed with the conviction , that the present object of the Complete Suffrage Union was bo effect , if possible , a cordial union between the middle and the working classes , and not merely to conciliate one class aod neglect the other , he had joined that union . H e had done his beet to promote that union , believing that the great object they hsd in view mieht be ace&mpiished , bnt , at the same time , he had declared bis opinion , that his definition of Complete Suffrage was founded on the People's Charter—( loud cheers ) He attended the last conference in Birmingham , and he impressed on the gentlemen then assembled the necessity of going for the full measnre of jnstiee , if they wonld have the great ina ? sfs of the
people along with them—( bear , hear . ) He was very happy to find , that at tbat conference , although many persons came there strongly prejudiced against the Garter , yet the calm and rational manner in which the different points were diseussed , convinced tbe gentlemen objecting of the propriety of the principles contained in tbat document , and one after another they were cordially and almost unanimously adopted —( hear , hear . ) After the Conference had affirmed these different points , he impressed upon them that it was still necessary to go a step farther , and in onler that then principles should not be marred in tbe Honse of Commons , that it was necessary for them to agree upon some clear and definite mode for earrfinr the principles into practice ^—( hear , hear . )
Bat some of tnem said , ** Many of our friends are prejudiced against tbe Charter ; some persons witf think we have gone too far a * it is ; don ' t press the resolution at present . " With tbe understanding , then ,, that the People ' s Charter should be brought forward , and have a prior claim to discussion before all othtr documents , he consented to waive the resolution , or to bring it forward in the Ehape it was eventually agreed to ; that shape being , that at the next Conference they should consider tbe necessary details for working out these principles . —( hear , hear . ) He eertainiy thought now that they had met , that that document "would have had the first claim , —( hear , bear , )—but judge hiB BurpriEe to find that although he was a member of the council of tbe
Complete Suffrage Association , be never heard of the bill until he saw it in prin ; . —( Lond cries of "hear , hear . ") He mentioned this fact with a great deal of pain , as he bad the highest respect for the council , and especially for tb « r esteemed Chairman—( hear , hear . ) He thought they bad committed an error on this point , that they had yielded to prejudice , and that they would feel the injurious effects of their ¦ co nduct if they pressed this bill—( hear , hear . ) He hoped , however , that they would not press it , or rather that they would not place him in a position to put forward an amendment in opposition to the original motion . The effect of their pressing it would be to split the Conference into two parties , whereas he Lad hoped that they should know nothing
of party during their discussions— ( hear , hear . ) He hoped tbat Mr . Beggs would allow the Charter to be brought forward before the bill prepared by the Complete Suffrage Association—( hear , hear . ) He was not so bigotted in faTour of tbe Charter , as to say that h was perfect , and that no improvements coald be made in it . Let it be brought before the Conference , —let its details be examined and discussed , with a view to see whether any improvements could be made in it , and if so , to adopt them —( hear , hear . ) Bnt he maintained that the darter had " a prior claim . In the first place , it had borne the brunt of the present agitation , for five years , asd in order lo seenre its enactments , T&st numbers of their fellow-countrymen had
suffered imprisonment and transportation—( loxd cries of ** hear , hear . ' ) In the next place , when they were about to draw up the People's Charter , they applied to Mr . Roebuck—no mean authority—for the purpose of ascertaining from him whether an Act of Parliament could not be drawn np , free from those legal and perplexing technicalities which characterized the laws of this conotry—( hear , hear , hear . ) Mr . Roebnck recommended them to draw np the document in such plain and simple language , that all who could read it , and been able to do so , would be able to appreciate it—( near , tear . The Charter had been drawn up in accordance with this recommendation , and it had carried conviction to the minds of thousands—( cheers . ) On the other hand , the bill of the Complete Sufiiage Association J * d been draws np with all the forms of law .
He supporters of the Charter were opposed to all such bewildering nonsense—( cheers . ) What ! after appealing to the common sense of the people for five years , now to allow themselves to be bewildered by £ c teof Parliament , -when for fire years they had fiea coiamitting it to the eommen sense of the people W Englaid ! ( cheers . ) He was one , aa the Confer * enoe mi gat probably be aware , who had differed maten * -1 J with the great body of the Chartists as to the mode of carrying that Charter into law . He had C 3 ndaat ed the conduct of many of them . He thought skej bad inflicted considerable mischief , &nd had Peadj maided the cause ; and he also thought , * ha : it was owing to thi- cau ^ e that a considerable degree of prejudice had been created in the minds oi tac micdle cla-sees against the Charter ( hear , hear . Bnt after al ) , it ^ 3 prejndice , and thonld ttey yield Principle to prejudice \ ( So , no . ) They might b {
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told that the bill preferred by the Cenncil of the Complete Suffrage movement embraced all the prinraplesof&e Charter . Ifii were » o , then it was areason why the bill should not be introduced , seeing that the Charter embraced alljthat the people desired to obtain- < hear , hew ) . Whyshonld the association introduce s measure of that description -which could ° TZ . ^ erTe t 0 maJie ™ the Jine ° t demarcation winch at present unhappily existed between the various classes of society?—< hear , bear ) . Why should they be pitted against each otn * , like cocks in a pit , to be langbed at by those who looked in !—( hear , hear ) . He implored their friends , irbo , per-\ ^( f tlie be 8 t P ossible motives , ha * prepared this bill , to reconsider their steps , in order that as far t- ** . 1 A 4 > V _ a _ . _ , t _ . 1 ^ : 11 _ t _«« . * — _ . _ ¦
as possible they might preserve union , and not by wasting their time in triflia / j distinctions , gnre their enemies an opportunity to triumph at the expence of the Conference—( hear , hear ) . He wished to have an answer from Mr . Beggs , before he sat down ,-because if that gentleman declined to make the alteration proposed , he should feel it his duty to pursue the course he had pointed out by proposing an amendment . He hoped that their friends of the Suffrage Association would not place him in that unpleasant position—( hear , hear ) . He hoped tbat he should not be accused of having taken this course from factious motives—( No , no ) . He was induced to take this course becanse he thought that a complete union was the only mode of accomplishing their common object— ( hear , hear ) .
Mr . O'CONKOR did not think tbat he bad any reason to regret hiB aet of courtesy towards Mr . Lovett—( hear , bear . ) Never bad ne ( Vr . O'Connor ) been more pleased in his life than to give way to Mr . Lovett , and never was he more repaid than in listening to the admirable trplanation which Mr . Lovett had given —( bear , hear . ) When he heard the resolutions read , he intended to have taken the aame objection as that which Mr . Lovett bad new made—( bear , bear . ) It had been his intention to-have contrasted the merits of the small bill , with tbe demerits of the larger bilL It had been bis intention to have shown that the bill of the Complete Suffrage Association hsd not been drawn np with legal acumen , and ?*»¦* from the preamble , through every clause of it , whatever it contained that was valuable , had been taken from the Charter , and that it was only
that part of the document which was of any value at all If the Complete Suffrage Association admitted that all tbat was contained in the Charter , was contained in the bill itself , -why-were they not prepared to Bnpport it ?—( hear , hear . ) Was there bo much attraction in a name that they were ready to sac ifice their principles in order to please the unmeaning scruples of those who were always ready to sacrifice their convictions to the mere time-serving expediency of the day—( cheers . ) What abuse bad been poured out against him ( Mr . O'Connor ) and those who supported tbe Charter . Why , when he beard of the physical force of the working classes , —when he heard of their obtaining their rights by their rude and rough manner of addressing individual * , to what did he attribute all this ? To the
conduct of those wbo reviled the working classes instead of teaching \ bem better , by potting them in pos session of those civil rights to which by tbeir birthright , and not by a mere abstract theory , they were entitled—( hear , bear , and cheers . ) If they wanted to make the Chartists physically weak , let them make them morally strong—( cheers ) . Why was it that the working classes held aloof from the middle dascei ? Because the middle classes had compelled them to do so —( hear , hear , and cheers ) . When the middle classes wished to carry the Reform Bill , they found it convenient and , indeed , necessary , to ask the co-operation of the' working classes '; but having accomplished their object , they kicked away the ladder by which they mounted to their elevation , and left the great mass of
the people to fall to the ground —( hear , hear , and cheers ; . Things , however , had now taken a tnrn . The working classes were no longer tbe tools of a party—( cheers ) . They had acquired a moral power in the . country , which would ultimately destroy all the efforts of faction to deprive them of tbeir just demands —( cheers ) . The middle classes were now calling upon tbe working classes to assist them oat of the difficulties into which class legislation had plunged them—lbear , hear ) . But the working classes would not help to destroy either the Whigs or the Tories . Why ? Because they would not derive any benefit from it —( hear , hear ) . What the cupporters of the Charter sought for was an union between tbe two—( the middle and working classes )—
and thtn no system of tyranny could long stand before it . They talked cf a " Complete Suffrage Association . " He would have them to form such a " Complete Union " as this , and within six months from that day they would drive the present Government out of the field ; and then they would establish another on tbe principles which Mr , Lovett had laid down . Some persons seemed to think that an union of the middle and working classe * would destroy his power—( no , no ) . They were also told that their sgit 3 tion was injurious —( laughter ) . It that were so , why were they -worth ¦ being courted ?—( cheers . ) They knew the degree of hostility which had been opposed to them , by the press , and fey a large portion of the working classes , and yet in spits « f all the taunts and jibei thrown out
against them , they stood there aa a party worthy the courtship of all parties—( bear , bear , and cheers ) . Those ' who supported ike Complete Suffrage Union , aid tbat there was nothing in a name . Then why not surrender tbeir little prejudices to the great scruples of the advocates of tbe Chutei ?—icheers ) . If they got rid of evt ry single leader that they now had , in less than two hours afterwards they would have as many more . Let them not say that be ( Mr . O'Connor ) led tbe people . It was the people who drove him—( hear , bear ) . He was only able to maintain that itfloeiice among the people which consistency would give to every man who preserved it—ibear , hear ) . Then how consolatory it must be te himself and Mr . Iiovett , and to every man who had heard him , to find that they were still Btacdins ?
up for tbe Charter , name and all—( cheers ) . And now , to show how capable they were of generous acts , and that if they had committed mistakes , it was in consequence of the intermeddling of third parties , and to prove to the Conference that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) -wfctttd never be a stumbling block in tbe way of preserving union among their best friends , he begged to express to Mr . Lovett his sorrow for ever having mistaken hia honesty and integrity—( cheers Xbe advocates of tbe Charter were asked why they did not support free trade ? They did support it—( hear , bear . ) They were for free trade in everything , but they wasted free franchise first , and then they weuld repeal every law which militated against the interests of the people —( cheers ) . He would work for it ,
acd be wonld conform to all the rales adopted by this Conference , and he would undertake as much trouble as any man could take , bnt he never would undertake that trouble unless for theacccomplishment of thePeople ' s Charter—( loud cheers ) . They were told by some that it was necessary for the country to have a strong government , or a government that would tickle the people by fanciful frauds . They had a strong Government . What constituted taeir strength ? The -weakness of the people —ibear , bear ) . What constituted the weakness of tbe people ? Their disunion —( bear , hear ) . Then he called upon them to be united . It had frequently been urged that the middle classes carried the Reform BilL That might be true , but it was the working classes who spurred them on—( bear , bear ) . The middle classes were tbe tools , and tbe working classes constituted the machinery by which the Beform Bill was obtained
—( hear , hear ) . Tbe time bad arrived when they must stand upon pr inciple . Never were the sufferings of a people borne with so much heroic and Roman fortitude , and he should like to know whenever the people had achieved such a position aa they now occupied , with so little disturbance to public tranquillity or with so little destruction to any thing which was valuable to the community —( cheers . ) Fueling strongly , aa he did , on this question , he could not help congiatolating himself that what had been imposed on him as a task , was left to Mr . Lovett as a duty . He was glad that Mr . Lovett had availed himaelf of that opportunity of vindicating his principles , and leaving him ( Mr . O'Connor ) to follow htm , for bis own part , be should adhere to tbe course he . had hithtrto followed , and he declared tbat he would rather be a private in the ranks of principle , than a general leading on an inconsistent army in a battle of ecpediency—( hear , hear , and cheers . )
Mr . Bsggs was about to address the Conference , when ; ¦ Mr , Lovett rose and moved that an adjournment should take place until the following morning , in order that Mr . Beggs might have an opportunity of consulting his friends on the proposition which he ( Mr , Lovett ) had made to him . Mr . OConsob , seconded the motion , which was put and carried . Tha Conference rose at eight
o'clock-WEDNESDAY—SECOND DAY . The Conference in pursuance to previons arrangements , assembled at nine o ' clock in the morning , when there was as large a number of the delegates present as on the first day . Mr . Robebts , as Secretary to the Disputed Elections Committee , reported their decision on the Worcester election , and eaid they bad come to the conclusion that the gentlemen elected at both the contested elections should be received as delegates . In making this announcement , he was requested to aak the concurrence of the Conference .
Mr . O'Coksor thought that a worse precedent than that hinted at by Mr . Roberts could not be established —{ hear , hear ) . If there had been two elections at Worcester , one of them must be wrong—( hear , hear ) . It might appear to be an exceedingl y l iberal measure to admit the whole of the delegates elected , but it had an ultra-democratic tendency , and the decision to which the committee bad come , mi exceeding the powers given to them—Ibear , bear ) . Mr . PaRRT . entirely differed with M » . 0 Connor in
his construction of the law . lithe committee had been a strictly legal body , and if thsir decision waa binding legally as well as morally , tbemaerbapB ttiwe migntbe some weight attached to Mr . CFConnor ' a observations He recommended them to act in a conciliatory spirit Mr . OConnor kadspoken of the disfranchising tendency cf the committee's decision . Now , how could the fact of giving a larger number of representatives to tbe Council , instead of a smaller one , be diafranchlsstnent ? It was tbe most extraordinary definition of tiie EDglish language he bad eiei beard—Ittar , beat ) .
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The Chairman pat tbe motion for tbe reception of the report A Delegate row for tbe purpose of proposing an amendment , bat This was objected to by Mr . O'Cojnou , on the ground that as a point of order , an amendment could not be made on the reception of the report , j ^ The report was then put and agreed tov ^ flP The Secbetakt read tbe minutes o ^^^ previoua evening ' s business . m . Mr . O'Connor moved that they be confirmed . Mr . Wilkinson seconded the motion and it was agreed to .
Mr . Lovett now suggested tbat it would be desirable to have the answer of Mr . Beggs with respect to the question which he ( Mr . Lovett ) had put to Bim tbe previous evening . —( bear . ) It would be remembered that he asked Mr . Beggs whether he would consent that the words contained in the fourth resolution he had moved , namely , that the Bill to be presented by the National Complete Suffrage Association , be taken as tbe basis of discussion , " be omitted , and that the words " tbe document called tbe People ' s Charter be taken as the basis of dixenssion , '' be inserted instead thereof , —( hear , hear . ) If he ( Mr . Lovett ) received an answer in tbe negative , be should feel it his duty ' to move an amendment- —( Cheers . ) Mr . bkbwsiee contended that Mr . Lovett could not move an amendment They had not come there te consider the People ' s Charter in particular , but other documents that might be laid before the Conference—( disapprobation )' .
Dr . RITCHIE thought It was contrary to the order of debate for" one delegate to put a question to another—( hear , hear , and laughter ) . Mr . Lovett said tbat not having received an answer from Mr . Beg $ » , he should feel constrained to move an amendment —( hear , hear ) . With respect to the objection that bad fallen from Dr . Ritchie , ha did not think it possessed tbe least weight , because he ( Mr . Lovett ) bad distinctly made tbe proposition to Mr . Beggs , with the view to maintain union , and to avoid the necessity of his moving an amendment —( hear , hear ) . He thought it would have been well if jfc * Beggs bad consulted bis friends aa to how theggpud agree in their mode of proceeding , but as they aKned disposed that the question should come beforXf the Conference , be begged to move the following amdRiment— ' :
" That the document called the People ' s Charter , embracing all tbe essential- . details of just and equal representation , couched in plain and definite language , capable of being understood and appreciated by the great mass of the people , for whose government and guidance all laws ought to be written , —that measure having been before the publio for the lost five years , forming tbe basis of tbe present agitation , in favour of the Suffrage , and for seeking to secure the legal enactment of which , vast numbers had suffered'imprisonment , transportation , and death , —has , in the opinion of this meeting , a prior claim over all other documents proposing to embrace tbe principles of jast representation ; itia therefore resolved , that weproceed to discuss the different sections of the People ' s Charter , in order
to ascertain whether any improvements c&n be made in it , and what those improvements shall be ; it being necessary to make that document as clear and perfect as possible " - —( loud cheers ) . : This was the amendment he had to propose on the motion of Mr . Beggs . He had expressed his views so folly when he rose to request his friend Mr . Beggs to consent to the alteration proposed , that it waa not necessary that he should trouble them with any lengthened observations . He bad boped tbat Mr . Beggs and his friends would have been induced to make this alteration without forcing upon him ( Mr . Lovett ) the necessity of moving an amendment , because he feared that it would end in forming the Conference into three parties , instead of two— ( hear , hear , and no no ) Two parties already existed ; and instead of having only tbe violence and folly on one aide , and the
wisdom and justice on the other , tbey would now be constrained to form three parties instead of two , and he feared tbat tbe line of demarcation between the midAle and tbe working classes would be widened , and tbat the agitation in favour of equal representation would be prolonged , in consequence ef the policy which their friends had thought fit to adopt—( hear , hear . ) He thought that course was merely adding to tbe prejudices of the middle classes —( bear , hear)—and be doubled very much whether tbey wonld obtain any great accession of that class by this movement—( hear , hear . ) What they ought to seek foi was , the spirit and enthusiasm of the working classes , combined with the wisdom and moderation of tbe electoral body—( hear , hear . ) They were bound in jostiee to tbe great mass of tbe people who bad taken up the question for so many years , not to sacrifice the principle for which they were contending —( hear , hear , and
cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor in seconding the amendment , said that if he thought its adoption would divide the Conference into three parties instead of two , he should not have supported it—( hear , hear . ) But so far from having that effect , be beiieved it would resolve the two parties into one strong party , determined to go for principle , and another weak party opposed to all principle—( cheers . ) 1 / , . too , the amendment bad gone to make any alteration in tbe principles of the Chatter , be would not have supported it , but the construction which he put upon it waa , that it merely went to discuss the details , and consequently he gave it his most cordial consent —( hear . ) Bnt let the Conference look at tbe position in -which tbey would place tbe people
if they sanctioned the original motion . When they had consolidated all their movements , when all their machinery was perfected , before whom did tbey go to get tbe Charter recognised as part of the constitution , if he might to call it ? In 1 & 39 , in 1840 , in 1841 , and in 1842 , they went to the Honse <> f Commons . For what ? Praying tbat the document entitled the People ' s Charter should be the law « f land—( loud cries of hear , hear . ) Now , were they going to be so inconsistent as to go to tbe House of Commons in 1843 , and to say— .. Whereas in 1839 , 1840 , 1841 , and 1842 , we prayed yonr Honourable House to enact tbe Charter , approved by three millions and a half of the people , we now pray tbat a mass of mystifications , which would lake four hours to read through , be
substituted in its stead "—( hear , hear , hear , and laughter . ) Why , he theught the House of Commons would be placed in something like tbe position of the priest in Kildare . A great number of persons went to him , one praying him to give them one sort of wwather , another another sort , and another wanted a different kind atilL " O ! ( said the priest ) go away with you , and agree among yonrselves what sort cf weather jou will have , and , ween you are unanimous , be sure that I shall agree with you "—( laughter and cheeia ) . So it "would be with the House of Commons . When tbe people were unanimous In demanding their rights , the Huuse of Commons muld be unanimous in conceding thbiu —( cheers ) . Were the Conference going to throw overboard the people of Ireland whom tbey had
invited to join this agitation ?— ( hear , bear . ) Here they were going to Bay to the House of Commons , and to judges and juries— " Well done , ye good and faithful servants—ye have punished these men whom ye have imprisoned and transported , righteously , for they have confessed tbeir error , they acknowledge themselves to have been in the wrong , and they now aak for a different thing under a different name "—( bear , hear . ) Tae Complete Suffrage Association said that their bill was the same in principle as the Charter . Then wby did they not coma forward , and support the Charter ?—( bear , bear . ) Xt acem&d tbat although tbe Association
were asbamvd of tbe name of tbe Charter , they were not ashamed to adopt its principles , in erder to get their own measure carried—( cheers . ) It was for the Conference to say whether they would surrender their principles to the prejudice of a few , and tbrow overboard a document whicb bad become a part of every man's political creed in the country —( cheers . ) They might as well attempt to stop tbe rolling stream of the ocean as to stop tbe agitation for the Charter under the name of the Charter—( cheers . ) He did not wish to dragoon them inte tbe support of the amendment , but it was rendered necessary by the motion made by Mr . Begcs—( hear , hear . )
» r . Ritchie , of Edinburgh , should support the original motion . He could see a great difference between Caartists and the Charteriats—( laughter ) What was this meeting ? Was it a Kadical one ? Nu . Was it a Whig one ? As little . It waa as jiiuch a Tory meetiug as either of the other two—( laughter ) He maintained tbat it was a Complete Suffrage meeting and not a meeting of any party , It was a meeting based on the principle of sending parties " to tbe tomb of all tbe Capulfcts . " If it waa said—take the Charter , be told them he could not swallow it—daughter . ) Why ? He objected to the name of it—{ " On , ob . " i He objected to it as the symbol of a party , and he would have objected to it equally if it bad emanated
from tbe Complete Suff .-ago party . He could not expect this movement to go on if tbey adopred the Charter as the basis of the disenssion . — ( hiss-. * . ) He denied that tbe document which had been drawn up was the People ' B Charter—I" oh , oh ");—but it -was the Charter of a great nnmber , and it might be of the wisest number for what he knew —( laughter , and cries of " question . '") The course he should take would be to accept good principles , even from a Tory ; and on the same grounds he would extract all that was valuable from tbe bill of tbe Association , the Cnarter , or any other docament ; be wonld throw them into a crucible , and place a good fire under them , and he would bring ont a metal fit for tbeir n * e and for tbe people at large—( laughter . )
MrJ Hethbriwwon , of London , should support the amendment , notwithstanding the objections which had fallen from Dr . Ritchie , whicb he thonght were extremely sophistical —( hear . ) He ( Mr . H . ) was strongly in favour of the Charter , and those on hia aide of ihe question had the consolation to know , that the eloquent "writer of the Non $ onformist , when speaking of the great good sense displayed in the People's Charter , admitted tbat the prejudice against that document was an unworthy one—( hear hear ) . When they had a gentlemen like Dr . MiaU compelled to admit this , and "when their Chairman himself acknowledged the truth of the principles enunciated , were the Conference to pander to these prejudices by abandoning the name of the Charter ?( loud erica of no , no ) . At the former Conference , the justice of the principles contained in tbe People ' s Charter were verified , and why were they to be called npon to give up the details by -which those principles TOre . to be carried
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into effect ?—( hear , hear . ) He thonghe that such a course would be stultifying the Chartist ? body , and , therefore , they ought not to listen to any mch argu ment * as those which were urged by the Complete Snffrage AasodaHcn , uulm e&ey would show that there was that in the Charter which wonld not enable them to cariy out those principles —( hear , hear . ) The advocates of the Charter did not seek to thrust that document down the throats of the Association , as had been insinuated . They only ksked that it shonld be the basis of discussion —( hear , hear . ) If there was naything omitted la the document , let it be inserted , and if there was anything that could be considered of an
objectionable character , let it be c&anged—( hear . > What were they called npon to do by the Association ? To support a document about which they knew nothing , and which might not be so effective for the purpose as the Cbarter j- < hear , hear ) . On the other hand , they bad a document drawn uo in such plain and simple language that a-child , might comprehend it —( hear , hear ) . Tbey bad got rid of a bnshel of whereases and aforesaids , and all such rubbish ae that , and they had given to the country a model of Parliament act-making—( hear , htar ) . Under these circumstances he should most cordially support the amendment —( bear , hear ) .
Mr . Smith , of Liverpool , called upon the Conference to support the Charter , though he " admitted that there was much that was excellent in the bill of the Complete Suffrage Association ^ The Kev . T . Spekceb saw no reason why they should be bound to a particular document , because it happened to have been introduced five years a ^ o— - ( hear , hear ) . He wished that every delegate had read auother dqcument , which he would call the " People ' s Bill of Rights , " and he thought they would find it an improvement upon the Charter ; more liberal , more generous , more for the people's ^ ood , and more lor the protection of their rights , than the Charter —( hear , hear , and . no no ) . He contended that th « iy had as much right to a name asany body else —( hear , hear ) . It waa said that there was a prejudice on the part of the association in favour of
a name —( hear , hear ) . He certainly did not eee why any person should be compelled to call himself a Chartist—( hear , hear , hear ) . He waa in favour of complete Suffrage , arid be would do his utmost to carry out the details necessary for its enactment , but he objected to a body of men coming there and saying , that they should not consider the principle under any other uamo than the People's . Charter . ( Hear , hear , and hisses . ) He was present at the : last Conference , and the members of the Complete Suffrage Association conceded almost every thing to the advocates of the Charter which could be asked of them , but nothing was conceded in return ; ( Cries of "No , no . " ) He repeated the truth of the (? sertion . But did they repent what they had done ? No . They thought that what they had done was right . He trusted that he had theintorest of the
working classes at heart as much as any man living , and his hops for them in this movement was the union of their own body , with the electoral bod ]?; the infusion of fresh energy , fresh life , and fresh blood from another claes —( cheers . ) ( Let the working classes have their own field . He thought the members of the Complete Suffrage Association could render them much service indpfrrking separately } but if they remained one party , and that a divided one , the effect of the new movement would be lost for ever . —( hoar , hear , and no , no ) . He had heard the Bill to which eo many allusions had been made , read over , accompanied with the explanation of the accomplished barrister who had drawn it up , audhe was surprised at the opinion expressed by one
gentleman who advocated the Charter who could not have seen much of the Bill ; that it was bad in the preamble and in its clauses —( hear , hear , from Mr . O'Connor ) . He ( Mr . Spencer ) had brought his common-sense to bear in judging of the bill ; and ho must say that he did not think the opinion he had alluded to , was a correct one . He had read the Charter , too . He had heard it explained , and if gentlemen would only consent to have the bill of the Association , which had been drawn up with great care and at a great expense , and if they would consent to have it discussed , then , at the end they would be able to say whether they thought the b ' . ll or tho Charter the most valuable —( hear , hear , hear ) . He could not understand why it was
contended that cfaa Charter should be the basis of discussion . Every body knew what the Charter wae , but every body did not know what the bill of the Complete Suffrage Association was—( hear , hear ) . If they condemned a measure about which they knew nothing , he would ask whether they would not be blindly following blind leaders , and whether they would not be vouu « in the dark ?—( hear , hear , and disapprobation ; , if the Conference were determined to act in this way , he felt bound as an Englishman , and claiming a right to think and act for himself , to say that rather than he would give up his independence , he should henceforward recommend that there should bo two parties , and that they should carry on their Conference under different
names —( hear , hear , and disapprobation ) . It ought to be borne in mind that the Charter was only an outline of the proposed bill , aud that it wanted filling up . On the other hand , the bill had been filled up with very great care , and if adopted , it would be the gl » ry of the land —( hear , hear , and no , no ) . Why not allow the members ot tho Association the same , privilege which the advocates of the Charter demanded for themselves \— ( hear , hear ) . Hit was to basaid— " you must come to us first , " he must say no—( hisses ) . As a clergyman of tho church of England , he could converse with a disseuter on the principles of Christianity , without any sacrifice of his own coavictiona , but if the dissenter asked him to turn to his way of thinking , he would not do Bo . Neither on the other hand would
ho ask the dissenter to como to him . He wanted liberality in rclrgion as well as everything else , and he rejoiced , to say that with respect to the brethren in tho Church , there was a disposition , when they saw a man determined to think for himself , to allow him to do so . He wanted to lower the taxes , but he would do it in a fair way . Ho wanted to reform the Church , but ho wished to do it in accordance with scriptural ' reason . He wished to extend the elective franchise , and put every man in possession of his civil rights , but he sought to do that by peaceable and legitimate means , and he would be no party to any thinx that could lead to disorder or to destruc tion of the national institutions—( hissing and much confusion ) . He did not mean to say —( Renewed hissing ) .
A Delegate hoped that Mr . Spencer would confine himself to tho question , and not insult the Conference by Buoh insinuations —( cheers , and cries of order ) . The Chairman believed that Mr . Spencer had been misunderstood—( hearj hear ) . ; Mir . Spenceh was only wi&bing to show the Conference that the Six Points might he held by different parlies , and he had no wish whatever to offond the feelings of any delegate —( hear , hear ) . He was not unaware that parties had been accused oi improper conduct , but he was not there to repeat the charge—( hear , hear ) . It was sufficient for him if such a party had seen his error , and had repented of it . He would only say , in conclusion ,
that he took his stand on the principle he had laid down , and he would not be one of those who would go for the Charter and nothing but the Charter—Ibear , hear , and hissing ) . Mr . WEst , of Oldham , differed entirely with the gentleman who had last addressed them . There were two documents before the Conference , and the question was , which of them should have the priority , as forming the basis of the discussion . Now , it' the council , calling this Conference together , considered that they were the parties who were to draw up a bill for the consideration pf the Conference , why then thoy would be the mere nominees of the council —( hear , hear . ) But t ey did not come there as the nominees of any party , but to take
principle for their guide , which they knew the document , the People ' s Charter , to contain , and to go to work in a proper majmcr . He thought that Mr . Spencer had furniihtd a very good argument in favour of the priority of the Charter . He said that the bill of tie Association was filled up , but thattheCdaxter was only au outline . Well , then , that was a very good argument why the Charter should come under discussion , in the first instance , so that they might introduce such provisions aud amendments as would make it a perfect document—( hear , hear , ) Much lad been said about a name . He supported the Charter , because it recognised the rights of the people , and therefore they called it the "People ' s Chsrcer—( hear , hear . )
Air . R . SujiMtK 3 , Kirkcudbright , begged to say that his attachment was in favour of the Charter ; bat he did not agree with those who contended for tho Chapter and no other document—( hear , hear , and Hisses ) . He thought the Council offthe Complete Suffrage Association were justified in preparing a new bill , and he considered it was the duty of the Conference to cuter into a candid examination of it , as well as of all other bills—( hear , hear . ) It should bo borne in mind that the document called the " People ' s Charter" had never been presented to any meeting like that—( hear , bear . ) U vras trae that it had been adopted by tho great mass of tie country , in consequence of the grandeur
and nobleness of its principles , rather than from any knowledge of its detaila—( hear , bear , and loud cheering . ) The question was , bow far they could enter into a discussion of the bills . He thought that neither of them should have the priority . Some delegates argued for priority inUavpur of the Charter , because it was tha oldest . Now , he believed a bill had been introduced by Major Cart " wright , wbiob was older than eit ' aer of the documents before the i Conference , and » therefore , he thought there was no weight in the argument that bad been urged . He had an amendm ent to propose which he thought would get rid of \ he difficulty experienced . It was— . \ ¦ ¦ " . ' - , ..: '¦ ¦ . ¦ -,. ' . . : ¦ . ¦ ¦• - ¦ - ¦ .. - . ¦ . ¦ ¦ . . '¦ , ¦ . ¦ .
" That neither of thfj billsbe exclusively made the basis of discussion , b ' jt that both bills , and all other bills of asjmilar description-be at the ^ disposal of the Conference , aud laid on the table , and thai parties be appointed Ko read and defend the correlative clauses of these bills , and the clauses to bo read seriatim and submitted'to the meeting . " ilr . W , Bbodie . " cf Aidrec , supported tho amend .-
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ment , and in doing » \ he thought that both bills should be taken togeth er . A man had no right to say that tbe Charter eh oold be taken first , because he had suffered from its advocacy—( hear ) . Mr . Roberts , of Batt , oegged taut whether if it had been thought tha . * the bill of the Complete Suffrage Association was . to be the basis of discussion , a single Chartist won . 'd have been present at the Conference!—( hear , heai " )• Dr . Ritchie had told them that he could not swall * ? w th , 9 Charter . What the Doctor's swallow might be , h ^ ( Mr . Roberts ) coul < l not tell , bat it seemed l ather v > dd , that whilst be could Hot swallow a small docume nt which would sb through the penny-post , he couk'l bolt , a
document which filled forty pages oi print- - ( hear , hear , and laughter ) . He ( Mr . Roberts )^ ha ' -d . seen the bill , and , as compared with the Charter , it was not to be named in the same breath —( hear , h ear ) . He pledged himself , as a gentleman and a law . Ver , that it was not to bo compared with the Chapter for legal accuracy ; and , more than that , he pledged himself to the truth of this statement , th' ** onehalf of the clauses were entirely inapplic aWe to the purpose—Xhear , hear ) . Dr . Ritchie rose to order—( hisses ) . He ttwnght that Mr . Roberts was entering upon the critic - » rn of a- bill which was not before the Conference— ( frriesr of " it is before us" ) .
Mr . Parkt wished to ask the Secretary whoibw the bill was not before the Conference \ The Secretary answered in the negative . Mr . Roberts beggedi . to . remind the Conferer . «® - that Mr . O'Connor had offered to withdraw hia proposition if Mr . Beggs would withdraw his ; ani ; had the latter complied , neither of the bills woul * have taken precedence , and the Executive Committee could then have determined to which priority */ should be given—( hear , hear ) . He was sorry that this discussion should have arisen . He had hoped that they could have worked side by side . But it seemed he was mistaken . The members of the
Complete Suffrage Association might make ; the augustean boast of the Roman Emperor , that he found Rome of brick and left it of marble ; but after they had found the Charter a maBa of erode legislation , with nothing but simplicity to distinguish it , with nothing but principle to support it , and with nothing but the people ' s valftur to carry it , he hoped they wonld follow oat . the example of the Roman Emperor , who , although he left the edifice of marble , did not change the name under which the glories of tbe eternal city had been gained—( bear , hear , and cheers . ) ¦ ' . v V . ; . ' ; ' ¦ . / - . .. . . . , ;; .: . ¦ -.. . ; . ¦ . ¦; ¦ " '
The Rev . P . Brewster supported the original motion , and proposed the following amendment : — " That the Bill which this Council is met to consider and discuss , being founded on the ] People ' s Charter , and actually embracing its great principles , it is not expedient and not necessary to discuss any Other documents , excepting in connection with the Bill , until we have disposed of the Bill itself submitted to our oousideratioa . " Mr . Bbewstbb approved of the conduct of the Council in drawing up the Bill , and thought that tho Conference were bound , in fairness , to consider its provisions . :
Mr . Johnson , of Bristol , seconded the amendment , and in doing so , he said he was not prepared to vote against the Bill of the Complete Suffrage Association , until he knew the nature of its provisions . He had hoped that the speeches of Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Lovett would have offered something ; tangible to discuss ; instead of which they bad been wasting their time in disenssiug- mere trifles , by leaving out everything that Was valuable in principle—( hear , hear , and laughter ) . Mr . Davis , of Hawick , suggested that the question of priority should be referred to the Executive Committee .: : .. / ¦ ¦ ' .-. ¦ . ; ' . ;¦ ' ¦;;¦ ' . " ' . •¦¦ ; - : ¦ . ¦ ¦ : '• . /^ ¦ ; ¦] ' . / . / ; Mr . Allbrioht moved that neither of the documents take precedence . The proposition was not seconded . Mr . Williams , of Sunderland , hoped that some common ground would be taken , and thought that the amendment of Mr . Summera included every * thing . ¦¦ ¦ ;
Mr . P . O'HiQGiNS , of Dublin , was certainly of opinion tbat the proposition brought forward by Mr . . Beggs , was one of the most extraordinary be had e---. heard of . What was it 1 It was that a bill of whi i hey had never before heard , should form the buais of discussion !; and he would appeal to any member of the Conference whether they ever heard of such a proposition before—{ loud cries of " No , no ") . What he wished Mr . Begga to have done was , to have brought for ward the Charter in one hand , and the bill in the other , and that they should both form the basis of discussion—( hear , hear , aud loud oheers ) . ' ' .. ' . [ ' :- \ . ' ¦ ¦ '¦ ' ;¦ ' ¦ : ¦ .. ¦ - ¦; :-.. - ¦
Rev . Mr . Mull , supported the original motion , claiming honesty of intention for the members of the Complete Suffrage Association , and contended that the struggle carrying on by the advocates of the Charter was hot for the sake of principle , but merely for the sake ' of precedence , which amounted to nothing . ~ : Mr . M \ cPHERsoN , of Ip 3 wich , spoke in . favour of the amendment . Rev . Mr . Leeson , of Frome , sapported the original motion , and amidst much hissing , said that if they adopted the Charter as the basis of discussion , instead of the bill , the movement would be damned . It being now one o ' clock , the Conference adjourned to three o ' olook .
AFTERNOON AND EVENING SITTING . The Conference re-assembled at three o ' clock . Mr . J . Wilson , of Aberdeen , supported the original motion . : , Dr . Wade called upon the Conference to support the amendment . In his opinion it was not the name of the Charier to which the middle classes whom the Comnlete Suffrage party wished to conciliate , objected , but the principles it contained ^ - ( loud cries of " hear , hear ") . He believed that if the advocates of the Charter consented to change the same of the document , that the very next day the members of the Association would contrive some other loop-hole out of which to escape—( hear , hear ) . , ; :.
Dr . Glover , of Edinburgh , thought the Conference ought to take for its text the Six Great Points , and that delegates should be at liberty to advocate either the Charter , or any other document which recognised them—( hear , hear ) . Mr . Jas . Dixon , of Northwich , was decidedly in favour of Mr . Lovett ' e amendment . He strongly recommended them to go to the vote , for he was sick and tired of the proceedings , and he was afraid he should have a very bad account to give his constituents—daughter ) . Mr . VicKEEs , of Helper , advocated the amendment . - .- '¦ " .-. '¦¦ ¦ ' '¦ ¦ ' ¦ '• ¦ ¦ '¦ ¦¦ . ' ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ .: •' ¦ : ¦
Mr . Macqonald , of Aberdeen , supported the amendment , and he did so , not on accoiiut of the antiquity of the Charter , but from principle Mr . Vinikg , of Reading , recommended a union with the ex-members of the Association , as he thought that the adoption of any other course would be fatal —( hearj hear , and no , no ) . Mr . J . H . Pakrv , of London , should support the amendment proposed by Mr . Lovelt , and he did so on the ground that the working classes were attaohed to the Charter ; from strong , abiding , aud natural reasons—( hear , hear . ) It was not the name of Charter which those of the middle classes whom the mem . ber . 3 of the Association , desired to conciliate objected to , but its principles—( hear , hear . ) They
had no right to yield to the paltry prejudice of tho middle classes , against the just demands of the People—¦( cheers . ) Why , what had their respected chairman himself said , with regard to this 1 He had said that all the prejudices which existed against the Charter were unworthy and unfounded , and that the soundest basis on ^ which a radical reform could rest , was theCharte !"—( loud cries of "hear , hear , " and cheers . ) H < j ( Mr . Parry ) belonged to the middle classes . He mixed muoh among them , and he was bound to admit that there existed on their parts a . profound indifference to politioal principles —( hear , hoar ;) But at the same time he was bound to state this fact , ( and he hoped the members of the Complete Suffrage Association
would bear it in mind , ) that those of the middle class with whom he had mixed , were in the habit of saying to him , " Oh 1 wo can easily understand why you support the Charter , because you are a Chartist . We oppose it because we think the principles ic advocates are dangerous , but tve protest against those principles being thrust down our throats under another name , " '—( loud and continued oheers . ) That was a growing feeling among the middle classes , and he would ask the council whether they thought it likely that their advocacy of the Six Points of the Charter would enlist the co-operation of the middle classes , because they supported them under another name ?—( loud cries of " hear , bear . " ) He believed
the Association would defeat its own objeot , and why 1 Because they would not have honesty to recommend them , —( hear , hear . ) Mr . Mjall had said , ¦*» . Take the bill . " If Mr . MiaU was the minister of a despotic government , and that government would givo them the bill to-morrow , he would take it , —( hear , hear . ) But the government would not give them the bill , and therefore , the question for the Conference was , bow were they to force it upou the attention of the government t —( hear , hear . ) How coult this be done ! By union , —( hear , hear . ) Who carried the Reform Bill ? Not the middle classes alone , but the ; and the working classes united , and if such an union existed now as
prevailed then , they would exhibit a moral power and a strength of demand , whici neither Sir Robert Peel or any other minister could resist , —( cheers , j The ; bad heard something of the leaders in thja movement deceiving the people . He would ^ ot enter into any question of that character , b ^ t jf they wanted to destroy the power of those 1 / aderja let them do complete justice to the people , »/ jd then the people , appreciating their own rights , a ^ d knowing now to maintain them , would be too irdependent to be led by any man , except so far as iiia honesty and consistency gave him . a olaiai to th vir confidence . ( Hear , hoar . ) For the reasons he Aad stated , he bhould support the amendment , arxi ha called upon the Conference not to stultify itself , by surxoaderwe
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the glorious principles of the Charter to paltry p » - judice , and to a wretched and temporizing expedienoT ( load cheers . ) . - ¦¦ . ¦ . ^""^" J Mr . L . UiYwoBTH , of Liverpool , would mipnori the bill , because both it and the Charter were ihe same in principle . He considered that the Charter had been injured by those who called themselves the leaders of the people . ( Shoots of ** No , no , " and much hissing . ) Hehad aright to maintain this opinion , and if the reporters would only report what he said it should go from one end of the kingdom to the other , ( great confusion . ) When he joined the Complete Suffrage movement , he was determined * hat Mr . Sturgeehould be his leader . He had come frost Liverpool to declare his opinions , and if they would not aliow him to declare them , he denoanced them »*
themost arrant tyrants' on the face of the earth ; ( hisses ) and although ^ they mi ^ ht call themselTas ( Jlartists , tfcey would be the most despotic tyrants ufi ~ IS * d ¥ ra c , ^ ° atur « ( Sreat hissing . ) He loved to be identified with the Charter , but ha never wonld be identified with its leaders ttremendous hissing . ) Aye , let them hear him if they dare . fKenewed confusion , and an exclamation of " Put him out . " . Some one said , " put him out . " < " Order , order . ?) Re could understand them . It toachel tieir feeling * . ( Hisaes . ) It came home to them . ( Kisses . ) But they should hear him , and thecoantryBhould hear him from Land ' s End to Jonn
^ O Groats . ( Laughter . ) He would not be identified With the leaders of the Charter , vrhen he had seen with ] iis own eyes and had heard with his own ears languaaewhich iever on ^ ht to have come out of the mouth of any toon . ( JShouts of " Name , name . " > - He woald mentian the circumstances . C * Name , aame . > If they wanted to hear truth , let theml listen to what he said . ( Crie * ot '' Hear him . he ' s so amusing . " ) ' ' A DELzaATa . —Is the whole Conference to be insulted by such a man as thi * I (; ' * Chair . chair . ' ik Order , order . " ) The Chat « man . —Hear .
A DEi ^ caTE . —Heair rhear ^ _ Mr . HsywoaiH . conceived that tiie object of this Conference was to call over the working men to tlioae leader * who woirid carry tliem on in a h ^ ly , righteous , aad peaceable agitation * , which would secure the pe « ple their jhst lights . They would not lead them on to bloodshed , to massacre , to anarohy , and to plunder , —( great hissing . ) They Wdnldaot do ihis , neither did be say that anybedy else had d . oaVit , r ^( muoh hissing . > If any body had done so . they were guilty , and -not him , —( great disorder . ) Mr- Roberts . —You 8 aid you had both seen and heard of suoh things , and now vou denj 3 t , —( shame , shame . )) . ¦ .: ¦ ¦ • ¦ ¦¦ : ¦ . . ;;; ¦ - . ¦ :, ¦ ¦¦ ¦ :..- ¦ . - .. . Mr . Hetwohth ! . —Yes , and I have seen them , — ( name , name . > : Mr . JONK& , delegate from Liverpool i begged to inform the Conference that Mr . Heywe > th was not the representative of Liverpool , —( hear , hear . ) ¦ . Mr . HEYWoaTHr-No : I am the representative of Heading .
Mr . HoBsoN , of Leeds . —I move that Mr ] Heyworth oe allowed a quarfer of ah hoar longer , — ( hear , hear . ) He is a sample of his class , and I hope the Conference will have the benefit of the specimen , —( hear , hear . ) A Delegate seconded the proposition , and it was carried , but Mr . Hey worth did not avail himself of the privilege and having expressed a hope that tha Charter would succeed , ho retired amidst hisses , groans , and every species of disapprobation . Mr . Skelton , of Westminster ; Mr . Rowland , of Dundee ; Mr . Beesley , of BJaokbnni ; and Mr . Jones , of Liverpool , generally addressed the Conference in support of Mr . LoveU ' 8 amendment .
Mr . Beggs , the mover of the original resolution , replied to the various arguments addressed in support of the amendment , expressing his regret at being compelled to differ from those for whom he had the highest respect , aud stating bis intention to press the motion to a division . The Chaibman here announced that , as according to the rules , he had a vote , independent of his casting vote , he should record his opinion in favour of the original resolution . The Chairman then put the amendment moved by Mr . Brewster , for which only two hands were held up . The ; next amendment put was that of Mr . Sumners , for which probably twenty bands appeared . Both these amendments , therefore , were lOSt . ' . ¦ . ¦ . ' . • ¦' . ¦ ¦¦ . ¦ .:. ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦¦ : - . "¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦¦ . ¦" ¦ ¦ ' " .
The Chairman next put the amendment moved by Mr . Loyett , which was carried by a large majority and amidst great cheering . The original motion was then put and of course negatived in a similar
manner . . - , Mr . Hobson moved that the votes in favour of the original motion and the amendment , Bhould ba recorded . / . A Delegate seconded the motion and it was agreed to . , Tho result was as follows : — For the original motion ............ 94 For the amendment .................. 193 -Majority for the amendment 99 Fourteen of the Delegates remained neutral , and 73 were absent , on their names being called . The announcement was received in silence .
Having made the formal announcement that tbe amendment was curried , Mr . Sturge 8 iid the time for adjourn ment bad / arrived , and it became his' duty , while be gave credit to the parties who had manifested so much attachment to that very excellent document , the People's Charter , for having conducted their business in a manner that did them credit , and -while he hoped . that credit would be given to hinv for sinceiely wishing to bring the . principles of that Charter fnt-i opefation—to say that he thought he should not beat serve thair cause by contiiining to occupy tbat chair after to-night . He trusted that whatever little warmth of temper might-have been manifested on either side in the heat of debate would De now forgotten , and that tbe parties , if they could not agree to work together , would work harmoniously in parallel lines . They , the majority , who had determined for the
Charter , would meet to-morrow morning in that place , and go on ¦ with their business , while he and those -who thought withhimwould meet in some other place , to prosecute their business in their own way . As theywere all aiming at one and the same end , he trusted they Would ] be no hindrance to each other . In this statement of the purpose of his party to withdraw from all further connection'with the Conference , he vraa supported by the Rev . Mr . Spencer . The announcement seemed to excite much surprise , and produced a jtreat sensation . Mr . Sturge having left- the chair it was taken by the Rev . Mr . Spencer , and a vote of thanks to Mr . Sturge for his patient and impartial' discharge of the duties of the chair up to tbe present time , waa proposed by Mr . Lovett , and seconded by Mr . O'Connor . On its being put in the affirmative it was received with considerable cheering , and many hands were held up—the negative was not called for . The Conference then adjourned .
Prior to the dispersion of the delegates from the room , Mr . Pierce , from Newport , Isle cf Wight , a genuine specimen of the old school of " Frienda" or Quakers , as they are mostly called , eame forward , and mountidg on a form , disclaimed the doctrine of Messxa Sturge and Spencer , that the minority of 93 were to meet next morning in the Complete Suffrage rooms , separate from the Conference . He had come from tbe Isle of Wight—he had been sent to the Conference—he . had voted for the motion ; bnt he . considered the majority the Conference , and should continue -with , them—( hear , hear , and cheers ) . . Mr . Sturge , the Rev . T . Spencer , and other members of the Council , adjourned to tho rooms of the Association , in Waterloo street , for the purpose of considering the provisions of their Bill . In the evening of Wednesday , a large tea . party took place in the Hall of Science to celebrate the liberation of Mr . Mason .
Mr . O'Connor was present , and addressad the meeting in a speech of considerable length , whioh was listened to with deep attention , and at the close was followed by great applause . '
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rohinc ' xh victim , defence , aud family suppobi - \ . ¦ '¦' ¦ : ¦ ' .. ¦ ¦' . ;;/ . , ¦ .. ¦ '¦ ' ; .,. £ ' b d Previously acknowledged . ... ... 160 6 6 A . B . C .... ,.. ... ... ... 0 1 0 Mr . Waterworth , ( shc < fca » fcer ) ... 0 5 0 Birkenhead , Cheshire „ . ... . « 19 0 A Christmas box , frem 3 rd Division City Bootmakers .... ... ' ... 0 8 5 A few " Flax Dressers , Broadford Works , Aberdr ^ i ... ... ... 0 8 0 JoSnaUone , Scot ' juid .. * ... 0 10 0
163 7 H Note . —The F ^ oretary of the Chartist flhoemakenr . Golden-lane , L ondon , has required from Mr . Cleave an account ot ; the expenditure of the above . To this Mr . Clea ? e replies , that it is questionable whether such a jalance sheet could be published pending the trip j a traversed from the Special Commissions ; and . besides , Mr . € . has nob the alighteab controal ' jver the fund , further than to pay , » s ba has fron ? . time to time , the subscriptions received by him to Mr . O'Connor , who has hitherto acted as treasv jer , & * . It may , however , be aa Well to > intiir iate that several of the London delegates hav e Deen specially instructed to introdacB thft ^' . estion of a "National Defenoe and
Sapr « rt Fund" to the attention of the Binuinfihani Conference . In the event of the Conference declining to accede to the motion for that purpose , the Committee nominated by the Great Metropolitan Meeting at the Crown and Anchor ( of whicb Committeo Messrs . O'Connor , Cleaive , ; Dr . Black , &o ., aro members ) will doubtless suggest some effective plan for the adoption of the country generally . la the mean time , no true Chartist will , —as the Goldcxt Lane Secretary asserts , —withhold hi 3 contribution to the Fund . Mr . O'Connor ' s honour , as treasurer , ought to be held a sufficient security for ihe propec application of every farthing subscribed . It Baouti also be borne in mind that enough hai not jefc been subscribed for the defence , much less forfuia support of the familiea , of the victims .
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^ THE NORTHERN STAR ; . ¦ ' . - ¦¦" . "¦¦ . - ¦ ¦ . ¦ .-,. - I ¦ " " . .. . ' ¦ ~ * ' . " ¦'"¦ ¦ ¦ . . . * " ~~ - ¦ . ' .-. . . , ' ' ' ~ ' ¦ ~ ' - -J ^—M ^__— .- — -. - ; , '
Subscriptions Received By Mr..; ¦ , . " . ¦¦ ;.;;. ¦ .:. - ¦ : ¦ Cleaye. ;- • ¦¦:•; ¦ . . ¦ .
SUBSCRIPTIONS RECEIVED BY MR . . ; ¦ , . " . ¦¦ ; . ;; . ¦ .:. - ¦ : ¦ CLEAYE . ; - ¦¦ : •; ¦ . . ¦ .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 31, 1842, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct784/page/5/
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