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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th July 1843, Edition 4 of 5, Page 1, Untitled Article

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    • Cfearttjst %ntelli$ence
    • TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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      Untitled Article

      3 Jt BEiS Fsjesds , —After having Been entrusted -fgjthe fceepsig and administration of your funds * u ihelasi Jen months , -srifiioat ^ our expressing any ^ jie ty as to ffifr jnanner I have used them , it - teeomes my pleading o * uty to submit my "balancej jeetfor jour perusal . - You 'mH ituo * thai } lave jjjgfnllj abstained from "raixfag up in the account iBj angle-stein connected Tritli my pirn defence .

      3 } is a ibrlnnate ^ ircumstanca that I am enabled , yr toot good opinion , to awaitine proper time for jgjgpns toall the slanders of my eneiaies ; and that jafl-50 strongly iobsffln honesty as i © -feel so OTBrjjjjjsy xa Tefatjug toe falsehoods of Mred scribblers , ^ tgSute politicianB , and . jealous sdf-tomentois . One chsige against me has been that liaye escaped jgsathed from the recent prosecution because I ^ afcle to ^ sTaO myself of the service of lawyers 5 j £ 3 fr those -Whom the ignorant are pleased to call pj dupes have : snffered from a want of the -joe means . Sever- was ihere a more donbly

      Ignorant asserfion than ^ his- Krsflyj because it yis against my consent , and against the consent of jju leaders of the CharJiBt body , ' that any man , gjis ^ h ever bo tumble , l > elonjjing 3 o our party , ^ jonld 50 to trial "without i ^ Terjrbesi legal assistance . And this taunt has been thrown out In con--jeguenee of the adoption of a plan against which I Jjjtb invariably protested . I mean the system of jssns separate local defence Tuna ' s , and giving jieunoant-collected either to the party accused , or ioa committee fos ihe purpose ol Mb defence TJow , if it goes to ihe party , it is generally made

      p irate property of , while ihe accused supposes that be best consults Ms own feelings and lie interest of M 3 party , by making his own defence- ; or , if it is legitimately expended by a committee , some griping Attorney grasps ihe whole , jnd afterwards ^ eomes dowD upon the committee Jora balance : thus , in either « ase , comniittirgc jan injustice npon ihe-contributors , f Sa ^ a ^ jy iiiA yoeounsel ^ while , aa I was the principal party attjcted , all my brother conEpirators had the advantage

      af the testimony of all my witnesses , as well as of , jij poor legal inowledgs . It is extraordinary , iewe ver , to see the manner In which political Bcribjjjgrs blow hot and cold . With one breath they charge me with not defending my poor -dupes ; while roth the other they associate Chartism with pickpockets andihieves , and blow upon me when , in the general eofonsjon , I am not able to distinguish bettreen them , and consequently prefer defending both .

      It wasa charge against us , Chat at the recent Special Commissions , prisoners were defended who trere charged with moral guilt ; while had they not been defended , I should hare been charged with the crime of neglecting my poor dupes . Agim , in 1389 and 1840 , almost every man charged with political offences had a local fund subscribed fytlas own defence ; while not one , or scarcely one , of item applied one single farthing to the purposes

      for -which the monies were subscribed : and I , as treasurer , was in consequence out of pocket between JSDOand £ 300 . ~ Vxdons gnnw from ^ 3 , 060 and upwirds , to 40 s . 50 s . and 100 s . hare been thus sibsenbed , without conferring the intended benefit spoil ihe accused or the party : while more than 400 prisoners hare been defended for little more than ftorly sh 31 ing 3 each , by a proper application of the people ' s monies .

      Ilis now five years since 1 urged upon yon ihe indispensable necessity of keeping np a National Defence Pund . In 1837 , when the Glasgow Cotton Spinners were prosecuted , the want of such a fund imposed upon me a month ' s labour in ihe depth of winter , —which I would not again undertake for £ 5 , 000 , —and put me to an expense of £ 200 . That trial - was made a great f usa about 5 it-cost between , 23 , 000 and , £ 4 , 000 ; was swallowed np by law sharks , and did the cause not one particle of good ; far ihe men were convicted ; whereas , had my aavioe been , tton taien , the whole of the monies Ewa&ovred np "by' law sharks , delegates , and witnesses -would have been saved , and ihe men wonld have been acquitted .

      As it is worth while now and then to refresh jonr memories upon these subjects , I will direct your attention to the position in which fiie Cotton Spinners stood . They were charged inan indictment with several offences ; and instead of pleading and going to trial upon the indictment as it stood Uiey lock legal exceptions to it , in which they were BieeessfuL "That 5 s , ihey gained a great defeat at a great expence . When I went to Edinburgh , and heard the indietment Tead , I all but went down on Hj knees , and implored the solicitor and the

      committee to withdraw the objections that had been jssed , ana allow the trial to proceed upon the infieiment , a 3 it then stood . Bat no ? " I was a ibol f snd -was destined to fool away my time and my amsj in supporting the iblly of others . The result , iowever , proved that I was light , for the Lord Advocate immediately framed such an indictment as eomselfor She prisoners argued would have einineed ihe offences with which they stood charged ; and iky vere fried -upon ihe fresh indictment , co-f "nciED epos thk 5 KW cousts , and -aegtatted upon * tav count contained in ihe first indictment HI

      What would yon have said , if Mr . itoberte , our * Bb adviser , had iecommended ns to demur , or , jlaMy speaking , to take exceptions to ihe second , i&fc , and seventh counts in the " Monster IndictjBad ? - in none of which there was any venue at » 1 L "Why , you wonld have rejoiced for a . moment atJn 3 pnny triumph j whOeiJ won ^ d have been folinred by sneh corrections as could leave no hope of eseape . 3 dr . Soberts inew of every obj « sc-Bon to ibe iztdichnent in sufficient time for taking snch course : bnt ^ S > f > a ^ ood General , be waited the iifeijr opportunity for taking complete advantage of fheenfinvv ' s indiFtr ^ iffli .

      IFcS , there ' s a Scotch instance foryou ; aod I must in justice say that ihe Ssoich people have not very fairly returned the compliment then paid to the Cotton Spinnersby ihe English "Working classes . J will now give yon a Welsh instance . In 1839 , ¦ wh en Frost was arrested there was sot a angle Isthmgio apply to his defence . I had to pay dowD jnne hundred sovereigns ont of my own pocket to commence the defence before a farthing was subscribed ; sad again in the depth of winter , 1 was compelled to take a month ' s tramp by night and by fr flo procure a Defence Fund . If I have before spoken of the apathy of ihe Scotch people with inference to the recent trials , 1 must do ihem the JBSee to say that in Proses case , they far onts&ippedtheir "RwpjKA brethren in liberality .

      A 31 hope not to be again compelled to enter npon Jaaful discussions of ibis nature , 1 embrace the Jresent opportunity of being very explicit npon all ifioney matters . A rumour has been orculated , then , by some of Jbt . good friends ibat I borrowed a large amount of Honey from Mis . Plrost to enable me to defend her husband , and that : I never repaid it , 1 iake tins opportunity of stating clearly , how that matter stands . I never saw Mrs . Frost , until December 1841 . 1 never had communication with Mrs . Prost

      for a Tery long time after ihe trial of h ^ r husband . Ibetq- applied to her ibr a farfhing . I never reeavsdaiaxihnig from her , direciiy 01 indirectly ; ^ s never became security , in any shape or form , fot * sjTiioney that 1 received ; and therefore I never 2 ad to pay any back . So , and just so , am I able **> answer the vile and villainous report which has ken industriously circulated of my indncing Mrs . Erosi to give me a large sum of money for her hnsium ' s defence , upon the condition that 1 would xefamii .

      "iSe 1 siate thus much upon my own behalf , I ua bound in justice to Mr 3 . Frost , to Bay that she ¦ fcasmost inhumanly and unnaturaQy choused out of ^ TEral hundred pounds for the purposes of the dEfenee , by one who should have put a guinea into ia pockeiTaJhEr than take a penny out of it O I Ikw often havel sghed 3 and Borrowed , and regretted , ^^ I was not acquainted with Mr- Bobertsatibe

      inns that that fatal occurrence took place 1 for had 3 heen eo fortunate I have not the Bbadow of ^ itnpon my mind that ihe amiable John Frost " * ° ttH have heennow living amongst ub , and aiding ^ -srahhiscouncIL But enoughs thiBpainfolBub-***• ihaTeBaidasmuchas wasTeuxdred foryour ^^ rocfion and my own defence . However , I must ^ cneientencetothisnarative . The only money ^ w 2 il borrowed condifioually , "was mosthonour

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      ably thrust upon me by two honest stonemasons living at Cheltenham . They were deputed to hand me a Eubecription from their locality , when they asked me how the funds stood ; and npon my replying " very Black , " one of ihem took twenty sovereigns out of aJittleleathern bag which they had « eraped together to take them io America in the following spring , and handed it io me saying : " Here , Sir , take this , and if we don't want it in spring , we won ' t require you to repay it . " I took the money ; and when they applied for it afterwards they got it by return of post . That ' s a Welsh case foryou .

      I will now give you a Mstoiy of the state ot your affairs just before ihe last Special Commissions . Hundreds , say 1 believe thousands were arrested and amongst ihe rest Ellis was arrested , and committed for high treason . In minor cases we could rely upon the attendance of junior counsel at Special Commissions , who wonld be quite capable of defending Chartists against the usual charges of conspiracy sedition , riots , ronts , tumults , and so forth . High treason , however , is a different thing . A Junior Barrister ve , not supposed to understand the term " allegiance" as well as a veteran ; and therefore could

      not be safely entrusted an a case of treason with the defence of one of our party . I received scores of lett ^ al » & £ nu ; aaa kwng resolved thai no yteOL ing man ' s life should be sacrificed io this undefined and undefinable law without a struggle , I went to Serjeant Talfourd ( before £ 30 was subsribed ) to retain him at an expenceof 300 guinea 0 to defend EUis . 1 learned , however , from his clerk that he had been retained by the Crown , where there was money enough to pay , and for which ihe Queen had neither to beg , borrow , or traverse the country , as 1 had . 1 then went to Charles Phillips ' s ; he was at Brighton ; and I learned from his clerk that in

      consequence of some expectation of government patronage * he could not be had . I then went to Serjeant Shea ' s ; but it being long vacation he was out of town . I ihsn wert to Sergeant Murphy ' s ; he was in Ireland * with his constituents . I then went to the Crown Office , where the business is done better than in any other office , and where the very clerks understand more practical law than one half the banisters ; there I was reminded thai Ellis mast have ten dayB notice , if he was to be tried for high treason . So I rested satisfied , knowing that I should have ample time io prepare in suA an event , and thus I saved you three hundred

      guineas . Before I offer some closing observations upon thi 3 Bubject , I must here observe , that in every disturbance in Ireland I was subjected to a like inconvenience . "Wherever the poor people required to be defended , whether at Bathoormac or any where else , there was always a subscription raised at head quarters , which was swallowed up by the patriots ; while for years the drudgery and expence of defending the people invariably fell to my lot .

      You see then I have suffered in England , Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , from the non-performance of that' duty which belongs to the people themselves If however , the frequent scaldings that neglect has given ns shall have ihe effect of making the people more alive to their own interest in future , I am quiet ready to forgive the past . And HOW , yon dear , good , honest , and virinoaa fmtian -jacket - blistered - hands-and-nnshorn - chim-Chaxtists ; you for whom alone I work , and with whom I will continue to the latest day of my exist ence to straggle until I make you what you ought to

      be ; how can I thank you , the omnipotent people , sufr £ ciently for the confidence that you have reposed in me , and the protection which that confidence throws around me 1 Having struggled throngh seven criminal prosecutions within the last six years , I must have fallen under the weight of prosecution * made heavier by ihe slander of the press than by the vengeance of the lav , if your good opinion had not supplied a shield against the many arrows that have been shot at me ! While my every act has been ; open and unconcealed ; "while I have suffered taneh pain of mind lest I should in any wise be considered in- ;

      strnmental in bringing about and continuing the Revolution of last autumn ; and while its result has entailed a heavy expence upon me : yet even all these considerations have not saved me from ihe venom of the slanderer . After I had boldly fought and fairly beaten the Government what think you of the Liberal rascals asserting " that it had been all arranged be tween Feargns O'Connor and the Tories" 1 In faith it was arranged that 2 was either to die in a dungeon or be mined by escaping it ! whQe I had arranged to beat ihe Government or to advance my cause , if I fell in the contest . What fools these

      drivellers must be V . Did they never think ot ihe Jnry who could cot be brought into * our arrangement" !! Above all , did they lose sight of ihe fact that not only I , but all of my poor * 'dupes , " as they are pleased £ 0 call them , escaped as well as myself ?! It usually happens that where a flight of duck ? are io decoyed , ihe decoy duck alone escapes ! while the remainder of ihe flight find themselves under ihe net . Without much circumlocution , however , yon will believe a plain

      tale from a plain man . Firstly , allow me to tell those scandal-mongers , and self-tormentors that the Government would not have suffered the exposure that they received by the Lancashire trials for one million sterling . There ' s not on legal record an instance of bo big a blander ; nor in history one of so great a trinmph ! I never consider myself humbled by entering into the most minute explanations with you ; and especially do I fed myself called upon now , not to undeceive you , but to thank you tor not allowing yourselves to be deceived .

      Hear my answer then , you working men , given with all the solemnity of ihe most solemn oath : throughout my whole life I have never conspired against any single individual ; nor have I ever betrayed any confidence reposed in me by the most humble ! I have never held correspondence , conversation , or communication with any man in office upon any other subject than that which may have been in fulfilment of your commands—such as making one of a deputation , or presenting memorials in your behalf ! while I would have suffered any length of imprisonment , transportation , or even death , rather than condescend to hold communication with the Government , any portion of which I should be ashamed to withhold from the public

      ear . I tell you now that I have been bid for , and highly bid for , by the Whigs ; but never , in the course of my life , have I bad any such offer from the Tories ; and for this simple reason , because they know well that I would expose the insult . They know , as yon know , that all the money in their coffers could not pnrchase my support : while all the patronage at their disposal would be but poor compensation for betraying tbe meanest of onr party .

      I trnst that I have now sufficiently explained the whole transaction about which I write ; that I have embraced the several subjects of most vital importance to our party , and given a faithful account of my stewardshi p . Allow me then to say a word or two by wav of comment upon the manner m which our legal business has been transacted ihrongbont this arduousandprotracted struggle , byMr . Roberts . It is always most pleasing to me to find myself in the wrong when tiw discovery of error has the have

      effect of doing justice to those whom I may injured , or to whom I may hare caused % angle p 4 g . Atone ' periodMr . BcberteandIweresofar unknown to each other , as not thoroughly io understand each other . I was foolish enough to entertain a sort of prejudice against him , without knowing why or wherefore . However , it has since fallen io my lot to be on a little closer intimacy , and by which I have been led to a knowledge of my former error . At Birmingham , where

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      his support of Sturgeism would have been a heavy blow at Chartism , I was ' -first made acquainted with the real merits of the man as a politician , and his capacity as a scholar . I discovered that the difference betweenhim andme 5 as regarded Sturgeism , was just this : I snspected and denonnced the party upon suspicion ; while he thought it more beneficial to the cause of democracy to act with them while they professed a desire to serve it . He . was the first to desert and expose them npon the commission of -an overt act of treachery ;

      It is not here my intention to offer one single encominm upon the manner in which Mr . Roberts has discharged his dutieB to our party during onr ten months struggle with the Government . Suffice it to say , that his conduct is ; above all praise : while his zaal , anxiety , and watchfulness have characterised him to my mind as one of the soundest , the ablest , andsincerest politicians that ever I met in my life . In conclusion , then , my friends , allow me , once for all , to impress ¦ npon your minds the neoessity of keeping up a General Defence Fund ; and of abandoning the ruinous system

      of flying to local attornies , and of raising individual defence funds . I know that you are poor ; and that , —thanks to the infernal blasted machinery ,- —you are likely to be still poorer ; and after all my trials , persecutions , and expenses , I am richer than a nation of paupers ; and therefore I lay the fonndation-stone of a permanent defence fund , by presenting yon with the balance of between £ 300 and £ 400 now in my hands as treasurer , as a nest egg for those who can spare a little , now and then , to lay npon . I Bay that I present you with this balance as a free gift : because , by all the rules

      of trade , of commerce , and of justiee , I Bhonld have a right to set off about the same amount over-paid by me , settled , audited , and allowed , in 1841 , in my balance-sheet as treasurer , for 1839 and 1840 . I do not do so , however ; as I ' can better bear that loss than suffer you to repay it , to tbe great injury of our cause . The amount set down in the credit aide of my b&lance-sheet , as paid to Mr . Roberts , has been expended , and I believe more ; while Mr . Roberts himself has not , as yet , received a guinea for his services : nor will he render me his account nDtil the battle is finished . In the event of things taking a turn ; should ihe Court of Queen ' s Bench decide in favour of the validity of the fourth count ; we shall ,

      in such a case , be driven to a writ of error , by which ifl meant the re-arguing of the whole case before ihe fifteen judges ; When thorn who have subscribed their pence remember what the Government blunders have cost' the country , they will surely be astonished at the comparatively trifling amount at which Mr . RobertB haa exposed them ; while I have no hesitation in saying that , had the several parties been defended by separate attorniea . £ 50 , 000 wonld not have covered ihe expence , while not a particle of service would have been rendered to th « cause . Here follows my balanceiheet ; and I am your friend and servant , F . O'Connor .

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      his attendance there , at Lancaster , at Manchester far a considerable time { getting up his case , and in London for some months , } he also attended at . York and at Derby to arrange the defence of the Chartists in those places . " { E—A portion of the sum , I believe £ 5 , was also returned by the honest working man who got it , to the Manchester defence committee . Frr-This amount was paid by me to MeBsra . Yatea and Tamer , in two sums of £ 40 and £ 31 . G-Jhe several sums paid to tbe defendants at Lancaster waa owing to the length of time that the trial

      H—As I understand some bickering has taken place about this item , r feel myaelf bound to state tbe circumstance precisely as it occurred . Mr . Ridley called upon me on tbe Sunday morning previous to his departure for Gloucestershire to take his trial . He asked ue for £ 110 s . to defray his expences there . I told him that in no instance had ' any of the funds been appropriated to such a purpose . ! 1 said , if you wish to have council you shall have thfe ; best that the circuit affords . No , he replied , ! mean to defend myself ; and I then advised him as to bis course . He then said , how am I to get there ? and I replied , ' What man , can't you walk there if" and be smiled . "Come , "said I , "here ' s a sovereign to take you down , and if it is objeoted to when I am passing my accounts , I'll payjit out of my own packet . " There is tbe little peg upon which a great story baa been bung . i

      I—The several sums paid to the defendants when in London , was in consequence ot the idea entertained in the several localities , that they wonld be sent back to the respective gaols to which they were committed , at the expense of the Government ; and they , were not therefore furnished with tbe means of returning . By reference to ray balance sheet it will be seen that I have not charged anything under the usual and comprehensive head of " sundries ;" althonghlf I had time and inclination , I [ have no doubt that I could put from £ 80 to £ 100 together . I have charged nothing for my own expences , although I was obliged to send my physician and two bondsmen to Liverpool , where they remained for several days . In mentioning this Item I must state , in justice to Mr . Cleave , who was one of my bail , that although . ! I pressed him to receive

      compensation forlosa of tio > 3 , ho declined accepting more than merely covered his travelling expences . There is no charge for my witnesses ; though I brought two from Ireland , and others' from different parts of the country . Mr . Pray was snbpbned not for me , but to break down the character of Griffin . There is no charge for a large expenditure paid on account of all by me at Lancaster . Mr . Roberts paid h ^ is own expences ; neither do I tak e into account the large sum that it cost me in travelling expences to lecturejin aid of theJond . I do not however complain of any of those small looses , as the " £ 2 that I fobbed at Nottingham , out of the £ 5 that I received to pay a delegate , " will much more than cover them . I have now rendered my account aa Treasurer of tbe National Defence Fund ; and tinstit will be found satisfactory to those who hafe so repeatedly honoured me with their confidence . F . Q'G .

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      DUBT . IN—Theilrish Universal Suffrage Association held their usual weekly meeting on Sunday last , at six o ' clock in { the evening . Mr . John Keegan was called to the chair . Mr . Drorr , the Secretary , read the rules and objects of the Association ! and several letters from various parts of Ireland , congratulating the Association on the good sense and discrimination it had displayed respecting the object of the leaders of the Rspeal movement ;; and expressive of sympathy and sorrow for the poor , innocent , warm-hearted and confiding dupes who have been , and still are , cheated out of their money under the pretence of Repealing

      the Union . A very sensible and well written letter from Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , was read , and gave great satisfaction to the whole meeting—strangers as well " as members . Mr . Self requested to be informed as to the fact whether Mr . O'Cpnuell had voted for the Whig Coercion Act , and stated that some people in Newport maintained that Mr . O'Connell voted against the Coercion Act in every stage ; while others hold the opinion that he voted in favour of it . The parties ultimately agreed that a letter should be written to Mr . O'Higgins upon the subject , and that his decision upon the point Bhould be conclusive—( hear , hear ) . ?

      Mr . O'Hig ofns said , that before he should answer the question , be should propose a gentleman for admission , as a member of their association , who was well known as an honest , indefatigable , and talented member of the National Charter Association of Great Britain , anil who had also been a member of the Working Men ' s Association , before the Chartist organisation ; a gentleman who had always identified himself , as { every true-hearted man ought to do , with the working classes ; a gentleman , who in his correspondence with Mr . O'ConneH relative to his treaohery against the Glasgow cotton-spinners , had done honour to his head and his heart : he should , without Baying more upon that occasion , move that Mr . George Julian Barney , of Sheffield , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association . ' ( Hear and cheers . )

      Mr . Joseph Brihrlt rose to second the motion . He said that Mri Harney had , to his credit , been endeavouring to effect a Union in Sheffield between the Chartists , who are all Repealers , and those who assume the exclusive right to agitate that question ; and who , in theirlfolly , reject the aid : and oo-operation of their real friends , the Chartisto , and meanly beg and pray and fawn for thgit of a miserable handful of bigotted , besotted Orangemen—( cheers ) . Mr . Harney was admitted by acclamation .

      Mr . O'Higgins said he had another member to propose' ; and in doing bo , he should complain of one gre&t Bin of omission by Mr . O'Connell . He had often heard him say that Catholic Emancipation would have been obtained some twenty years sooner had it not been for the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Sooieties , Well , one would expect that when Mr . O'Connell had his friends , the Whigs , in power , with their commanding majorities of ISO to 17 ^ , — "tyrannical majorities , " as Lord Stanley called them , —that he would hare made an effort to repeal those obnoxious statues . But , no ; he did nothing except get good places for all his sonsin-law—three ] of them ; a place for his son , who ia not a Repealer ; places for his nephews ,

      who are not Repealers : bat to do anything , or to propose to do anything for the benefit of his country was jout of the question . " Keep the Tories out till the Whigs provide for my progeny and kinsmen , and you will be all true patriots and good Christians . This was the whole service be rendered his country from the time he entered Parliament up to the present period . Let any one who can do it , tell him , Mr . O'Higgins , anything ; he did , orj proposed to do , for the benefit of his country duringi his whole parliamentary career ; and he would give Shim credit for it . Look how his track is marked with the blood of his countrymen at every Btep , from the period of the Tithe slaughters

      at Nowtownbarry , on the 18 ; hof June , il 831 , down to the murder of Mr . Caffrey , tbe Repeal dupe and victim , at Clones , in 1843 . Had he made an effort to have the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Societies Repealed , he , Mr . O'Higgins , would have been spared the pain of alluding to the man at all , *—a man who had done more mischief to his country than aay man ever did before ; a man who" had sold counties cities , towns , and boroughs to the enemies of Ireland , "the perfidious Whigs ; " and at the ssme time had the talent to make his [ countrymen believe that it was

      all for their good ! l It ia necessary that this Association should beion its guard . When the Whigs were in power , Mr . O'Connell called ; upon the Whig Attorney-General to prosecute us . He called as " midnight ! assassins ; " and , in his speech , ia Dundalk the other day , it appears that jhe had the face to tell the people there that which he knew to ba false . He said that " the Chartists were covertly and insidiously aiding and abetting secret societies , that they are bound together bj unlawful oaths , which is not true ! and from that spot he ( Mr . O'Higgins ) begged to refer Mr . O'Connell to his catechism , where he will find it writteu , by authority of the church , " that no reason or motive can justify a lie . " It is clear , from the malignity of this slander , that we must be cautious ; for the

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      man who would thn 9 , in the face of Heaven , tell his assembled countrymen a base , blood-thirsty , and brutal lie , would not hesitate to swear to it if the Tories would just give a place to his dear little son Johnny . In order to guard the association against an ? infringement of [ those penal statutes , and to put it out of the power of any particular informer to swear away the lives or liberties of their neighbours ; he should then state for , the guidance OF ALL THEIB . ENGLISH CORRESPONDENTS , THAT THOSE WHO WHITE SHOULD ALWAYS BEQUEST TO BE PBOP 0 SED MEMBERS OF TUB ASSOCIATION J AND WHEN ONCE ADMITTED MEMBERS , THE SIMPLE

      CIRCUMSTANCE OP WRITING TCJ THE PRESIDENT qR SECRETARY COULD NOT BE CONSTRUED INTO A VIOLATION op anv penal law . ( Hear , hear . ) Iu moving that Mr . Thomas Self , of New port , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member , he should take that opportunity of answering the questions respecting Mr . O'ConnelPs votes on the Irish I Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against the first Coercion Bill in the year 1833 . But he voted in favour of the renewal of it in 1835 ; and ] when Mr . William Smith O'Brien moved a clause to the effect that the act should be limited to two years , Mr . O'Connell moved an amendment that it ] should continue for Fiva years , on the ground that it was necessary "to put down agrarian disturbance in Ireland . " Mr . O'Connell ' s amendment was carried ; and the Coercion Act remained in full force for Jive pears afterwards I In the next session of parliament Mr .

      Win . Sbarman Crawford brought forward a motion for the repeal of the Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against the motion ! On the 1 st of July ^ 1836 , Mr . Crawford brought forward a motion to the effect that all tithes and composition of tithes should cease and determine in Ireland ; and that the clergy of the several religious sects should be left for their support to their respective flocks . Can it bs believed that Ailr . O'Connell voted against this motion . His name will be found recorded ia the votes and proceedings of the House of Commons in company with English and Irish Tories upon those divisions . Let there be no mistake about this : he voted against the abolition of tithes in Ireland , while he led bis dupes to believe that he was the strenuous opponent of tithes . A baser Whfg hack never crossed the Irish channel than the loud talking patriot Daniel O'Connell .

      Men of Newport ! Chartists of England ! bear in mind that while Mr . O'Connelljwas thus supporting the Whigs through thick and thin , he took care to provide for Me family . His son-in-law , Christopher Fizsimon , a Repealer , sold the ( County of Dublin to a non-Repealer for a Whig place in the Hanaper office . Another son-in-law , Mr . French , was appointed a stipendiary magistrate . Another son-inlaw , Mr . Charles O'Connell , ( a Repealer , gave » p the County of Kerry to Mr . Blennerhasset . ia Tory . Mr . Morgan O * ConneU , Uhe Repeal Member for Meath , delivered up that county to a non-Repealer for a clerkship iu the j registry -office . But then this was " an instalment" ! of " Justice to

      Ireland ! " After having gone through the whole history of Mr . O'Conuefl ' s political career , Mr . O'Higgins oonoluded by moving that ! jMr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association ; Mr . John Lynbam seconded the motion , ] which was carried unanimously . Mr . Dyott , in a very able speech , explained to the meeting , the difference between the Repeal of tbe Union with the present limited [ constituency of Ireland , and the Repeal of the Union after the constituency , should be extended agreeably to the

      principles of the People ' s Charter . ' He proved to the satisfaction of all present , but three , that the Repeal of the Union , unaccompanied j by an extension of the franchise would confer no real benefit upon the working man . j Mr . Woodward said that he should prefer the right to vote to a Repeal of the Union , if it were for no other reason than that the people would then get rid of the atrocious Church Establishment —( Great cheering ) . Several other members gave their opinions , and good reasons too , for preferring Universal Suffrage , as a matter of choice , to a Repeal of the Union unaccompanied by Universal Suffrage .

      The petition against the Irish Arms Bill was postponed , as Mr . O'Coonell was not in his place to present it . j Mr . Dsvitt wished to know whether Lady Elliott or Lady Stanley , or both , should be appointed to brand Irishmen ' s guns ; and ware they to derive all the profit of the operation —( great laughter ) . Mr . Burley was calied tojthe ohair , and the marked thanks of the meeting { were given to Mr . Keegan for his gentlemanly conduct in the ohair . after which the meeting separated . BRIGHTON . —At a publio meeting holden at the Cap of Liberty , Portland-street , on Monday

      last , of the members of the National Charter Association , residing at Brighton , Mr . Page in the chair , it wa 3 proposed by Mr . Trower , seconded by Mr . Flaxman , " That we approve of the suggestion that Mr . Wheeler be appointed } General Secretary , pro . tern , to the National Charter Association . " STOCKPORT . —Oa Sundayjlast , Mr . C . Doyle , of Manchester , addressed a camp meeting twice ; first , at two o ' clook in the afternoon , and again at six o ' clock in the evening . Onjboth occasions they were well attended , and the auditory highly satisfied with Mr . Doyle ' s method of exposing the existing system . 1

      8 TROTJD WATER . —The Chartists of this locality are forming themselves into classes . No . 1 class meets every Monday night , at Mr . Pritohard ' s , near the Cross , High-street , Stroud , ] where true friends to the cause of liberty are earnestly solicited to attend . Members of the Council are requested to attend on Monday evening , July 10 th , at eight o ' clock precisely , on business of importance . NEWPORT , Isle of Wight .. —At the weekly meeting of the Chartists of Newport , held at the King's Head' Inn , the following resolution was unanimously passed : " That our beat thanks be given to Patrick O'Higgins , Esq ., for i the very able and straightforward manner iu which he advocates the

      principles of the Charter ; and we would also beg to intimate that we fully agree ( with the resolution passed at the Dublin Chartist meeting on Jane the 18 th . j ROCBDAXiE . —On Sunday last a camp meeting was holden on Sabden , which was not so well attended , owing to the wetness of the day . The police as usual were in attendance ; one , an inspector from Bury , and another , said to be of a higher rank , from Bolton ; there were besides some fall privates . All , however , passedj { off as orderly as if there had not been a policeman there . At the close of the proceedings it was announced that another camp meeting would take place { that day fortnight , oa Crohkeyshaw . In the evening Mr . J . Mills lectured iu the Chartist Room , which was very well attended . I

      On Tuesday last Mr . James Leach , of Manchester , lectured in the Theatre , t ' o a numerous and attentive audience . Mr . Miles Hodson was calied to the ohair . In a fow appropriate remarks he introduced Mr . Leach , who was ! received with loud applause . Mr . Leach commenced his lecture by remarking on the mole-like position of the "free traders / ' attacking their fallacies , especially their darling one , wherein they invaViably instance the year 1835 as a year of great prosperity , in consquence of bread being " cheap "; and that if we bad " cheap bread" trado would always be in a prosperous condition , and oar poor comfortably situated . Mr . L . contrasted the price of provisions at the present time

      with their price in 1835 , remarking that they are " cheaper" this year than they ! were in 1835 ; yet , he a 3 ked , where was our " ¦ prosperity , " or the " comforts of the poor V Was it in the increasing amount of poor rates ? or in the amount Jof parochial relief which they ( the poor ) received in the Bastiles ? He snowed that oppression and misrule were at the bottom of most of tbe felonies } committed in this country ; that the working clashes had been so far neglected and degraded by tho ^ e above them , that 8 oraa of them had ceased to respect themselves , and therefore could not bo expected ] to respect others . He then dilated on the tyrannical and avaricious disposition evinced by most of our present

      manufacturers , and instanced their respective codes of striDgent rules , which in nearly all instances ended with so much of a" fine . " He concluded by remarking on the present position of the Government ; that it was anything bat a bed of roses . Ireland was doing something for herself in her own way— " Rebecca ' s daughters" ( amon ^ whom he thought were some stout men ) were doing something for them ' wfr ^ M& jMid were saying little about it ; and England Wiifler'millions of Chartist ' s yet , who would not let sup an opportunity of procuring justice .

      IiONOON . —Mr . Mantz lectured , on Sunday last in the Britannia Fields , to a respectable and numerous audience , who then adjourned to the Star , in Golden-lane , and had a conversational meeting in which Messrs . Bolwell , Dwain , and several others joiaed . The following resolution was passed - ~ 'That we send no more money io any fund exeent a general one formed by a body eleoted by t £ a country ; and that we agree witih the suggestion , that Mr . Wheeler should act as secretary , prj tern . jTmuiTXtot ^ 6 e ^ p ^ dmmi £

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      AfiERDBEST—On Friday weefc , the Chartists held an eut-door meeting ' at OM Aberdeen . A buad of music conducted tbe New Town Cbsnists to the place of meeting , and returnei with them . The business of the evening was an inquiry into the causes of the universal distress prevailing in England , Ireland , and Scotland ; as also the backwardness of the Government to listen to the cries of a starving people , who in too many instances are driven to tbe commission of crime through the actual want of the necessaries of life , and who are then panithei for not eaomitting coolly to be fomished to death . The meeting was well attended . :

      HAWICK . —On Wednesday last , the 28 th nit Mr . Dickinson , from Manchester , gave a long and interesting address to a numerous and attentive meeting , in the Market-place , on " the wrongs of Ireland , and on Repeal / ' Mr . Dickinson gave a rapid sketch of the numerous oppressions and persecutions inflicted on "the sister country $ ' * and pointed out the benefits whioh would result from a native legislature elected by the people . NEWCASTtB . —Mr . Kydd lectured In Che Chartiat Hall , Goat Inn , Cloth-market , en Sunday evening last , on « The probable effects of a Repeal of the Corn and provision Laws under present circumstances . " He clearly showed that the wealth producers would derive no benefit from such measure , so long as labour was unrepresented . He contended that even an increase of demand for manufactures was no guarantee that the condition of the industrious classes would be rendered more comfortable . In proof of this he adduced

      statistics which showed the amount exported from 1797 to 1841 ; which proved that In proportion as the quantity exported was increased , in like proportion had the wages of the producer been reduced . Let labour , the only wealth of the industrioav classes , be sufficiently protected by the enactment of the People ' s Charter , and he . ( Mr . K . ) would bo one of the first to advocate a total repeal , not only of the Com Laws , but of all obnoxious laws ; but until then , he was prepared to discuss the snbject with any gentleman in England , and undertake to prove thata repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws would be a curse , and not a blessing , to working men . The chairman said , if any gentleman differed ! from Mr . K . in opinion , he would procure a fair hearing for him , and Mr . K . was prepared to answer any questisnsrespecting the subject of his lecture . No one came forward . It was then announced that Mr . Kydd would lecture in the same place on next Sunday evening , at seven o ' clock , and the meeting dismissed .

      Tap Chartists of Newcastle and Gateshead held their weekly business meeting on Monday evening , Mr . Thomas RopBon in the chair . The minutes ot the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , a discussion took place respecting tbe Rsv . W . Hill ' s risifc to Newcastle , whereupon Mr . Young moved , and Mr . Embletou seconded , — " That the Rev . W . Hill be corresponded with , requesting him to spend a Sunday in Newcastle , on his tour to Scotland . " " Agreed to unanimously . Several other resolutions were likewise agreed to , merely of a local tendency .

      QLDELAM . —On Sunday last , Me . Oammage , ot Northampton , delivered two lectures io the ChartiBt Rsom , one on the subject of " The Land , " the other on " The Wrongs of Ireland , and Repeal . " The lecturer depicted the wrongs of Ireland in glowing terms , and showed np the evils created by a at&te church establishment under tbe sanction of law ; and argued that no sect , or party , had any just right to domineer and tyrannise over another ; but that religion ought to stand or fall on its own merits . He likewise made a powerful appeal to the Irish Repealers , not to deceive themselves with the expectation that if Repeal were granted , ifc would cure all the evils the ?

      are labouring under . They would still have class-legislation as now ; and a Parliament emanating from a middle-clflSfl constUnency , without tbe Jaboariag class being represented , wonld be more liable to bribery , and might , as before , sell their country's rights . He urged on them not to rest satisfied without their political rights , viz . a voice In electing tue man who is to represent their wants and interests . He hoped tha Repealers would not think the Chartists their enemies ; for he could assure them they were their most sincere friends . The lecturer was listened to with great attention by a respectable audience , and gave general satisfaction .

      MANCHESTER . —Caepentee ' s Hall . —Two lectures were delivered in the above Hall , on Sunday last , by Messrs . Donavan and Leach . The audiences were large and respectable . At the close of the evenings lecture , a collection was made for M'DoaaU , which amounted to £ 2 . The thanks of the meeting having been given to the lecturer , Mr . J . Lane proposed : — " That we do now form ourselves into a public meeting , and tint Mr . D . Donavan preside , " Catried unanimously . Mr . Dixon in a few words moved tbe following resolution , whicb was seconded by Mr . Edward Clnk , and supported in an able manner by Messrs . James Clark and James Leach . The Chairman put it to the meeting , and it was carried unanimously . Resolved , " That we , the people of Manchesterto

      , publio meeting assembled , do solemnly declare our utter abhorrence of the infamous policy pursued by the present Tory Administration ia their attempts to pat down the agitation for a Repeal of the Legislative Union , by means so utterly repugnant to tbe spirit of the : Constitution as the enactment of Arms Bills , removal of magistrates , and exhibitions of military force ; and we farther declare our firm determination to co-operate with the people of . Ireland in their peaceful straggle for the attainment ef a Domestic Legislature hoping , however , that it will be based upon snch an extension of the suffrage aa will rend er it subservient

      to , and UHder the controul of , the whole people ; that notwithstanding' tha denunciation of Chartism by tbe Irish leaders and their malignant misrepresenta tion of oar motives , we hereby pledge ourselves , ia conjunction with out Chartist brethren generally , t « resist by every legal means in oar power any unconstitutional aggression that may be made upon the people of Ireland , while peacefully endeavouring to raise that long oppressed country from astate of vassalage and dependency , to such a position among ihe nations as her numerical strength , internal resources , and every principle of justice , so eminently entitle her to maintain . "

      South Lancashire Delegate Meetiko . A special meeting of the South Lancashire delegates was held in the Chartist Room , Brown-street , on Sunday last , to ascertain the opinions of tbe Coartiste ot this division of the cotmty , as to who were to be the parties to represent them in tbe contemplated National Conference . The various delegates having handed - in -their , credentials , Mr . Houghton , delegate from Warrington , was unanimously called upon to preside . The-Secretary read the minutes of the last meeting , which were confirmed . The chairman then called the attention of the delegates to tbe business for which they were met , viz ., the recommending of two fit and proper persons to represent their interests in the forthcoming conference , whenever that c «

      nference should be called . Mr . Nuttall said that be was eorry that the question had not been taken up by the country with that spirit which its importance demanded . It was still his opinion , and the opinion of those whom he represented , that the first step that they could take was the calling of a conference ; snch conference to agree to a plan of organization , and then to elect an executive committee that would carry its provisions into operation . This was the opinion of all the delegates present They , at tbe same time , hoped that their Chartist brethren would not look upon them as dictators , but give the subject that consideration which its importance demanded . They were also aware that the 17 th . instant would be too soon ; but they earnestly recommend to the country the necessity of such

      conference as early as possible . Several persons were then pat in nomination , out of which two were to be balloted for , the successful candidates to be recommended to the various localities in South Lancashire as fit and proper persons to be elected at public meetings to represent the division . On the ballot being taken the votes were in favour of Mr . Christopher Doyle and Mr . Wto Dixon . Mr . Chadwick rose for the purpose of moving a resolution . His object in doing so was to prevent , as much as . possible , one person representing two or more places in the Conference . It would be remembered that in tbe last Conference held in Birmingham , that some of ; the members represented two , and some of them as many as three places , yet they were only allowed one vote , which might have proved fatal to

      onr cause bad it not been for the large majority of our frfendu who were present In order therefore to provide for the representation of all places , he would move the folio wing resolution . — " That we , the South . Lanca shire delegates recommend to ( hose counties who think proper to elect delegates to the contemplated Conference to avoid as much as possible from electing those that have already been returned for other places . " The resolution waa seconded by Mr . Miller , and carried unanimously . Mr . Miller . said he Was instructed by the Chartists of Oldham ts bring the case of the political prisoners , now confined in Kirkdale , and other gaols , before the meeting .. He ( Mr . Miller ) thought that if they were to petition for one man , the ? ought to do the same for all . There was many good and honest Chartists in

      now prison who were not speakers ; but they were men—and therefore had as much right to our assistance as those who were in the habit of speeclMnakirig . He would , therefore , move the following resolution : — " That we , the South Lancashire delegates , in County Ceuncil assembled , d * recommend . to the Chartista in the various localities of this district to call public meetings forthwith , for flie purpose of petitioning Parliament in behalf of the polltical prisoners at present incarcerated in Kirkdale , and all other of her Majesty ' s prisons . " The resolution waa seconded by Mr . Gre&ty , and carried ^^ without a dissentient . The delegates then took into consideration ihe letter of Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., which appeared in tfte Star of SaturdayJast , July 1 st : and , with all doe

      deference to that gentleman ' s opinions , they begged leave to differ with him npon the propriety of electing an Executive Committee under present aircamatances . They thought that it is indispensibly necessary thai the Chartist body should have an Organisation before they proceed to the election ot a governing bead , They therefore give it as their opinion , that the first step towards so desirable an object , Is the calling of a National Conference , to agree to a good and efficient plan of Organization ; after which it will be necessary t » elect an Executive to carry out the provisions of the plan agreed to by the people ' s representatives . The thanks of the . delegates were given to the- Chairman and Secretary , and the meeting adjourned * nntil Sunday , the 16 cn of July , at one o ' clock in the afternoon .

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      ANt ) LEEP eEMBA-L ADVERTISER . | VOL- VI- NO . 295 . SATURDAY , JULY 8 , : 1843 . ~ "" %£ "Sgg . ftggST or

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      p $ t ydM ^ ta ^ (^^ c&ifftTHs <^ %£ *^ fe > y /^ if& > /(^ . ft / tor ^*^ - ^ ^ &c& 7

      To The Imperial Chartists.

      TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .

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      THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED , PRICE SIXPENCE , No-1 . op a PRACTICAL WORK ON THE - ' ¦ ! J management of small faems ; Giving fall Instructions respecting Rotation of Crops , Management of Cattle , Culture , &o . ; BY PEASGTJS O'CONNOR , ESQ ., FARMER AND BARRISTER , l Also , now on Sale , in Two Numbers , at Fourpettce each , the H STATE OF IRELAND , " written in 1798 , by Arthur O'Connob . A compendium of Irish History , and a more-correct Account of the Grievances of that Country , than any that haB appeared npon the subject . : ,, , , ' . Cleave , London ; Heywpod . Manchester ; Hobson , Leeds .

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      FEARQTTS O'CONNOR IN ACCOUNT WITH THE DEFNCE FUND . Dfi . £ 1 d By John Cleave ( A ) 485 0 0 From Mr . Pray , through Evening Star ( B ) 234 0 0 Meeting in the Hall ot Science , Manchester 25 0 0 From the Chartists of Preston ... ... 4 0 0 Lunn , Xancaster ... ... ... ... 1 OO Birmingham , by Mr . Roberts 2 0 0 Manchester , do . ... 5 11 0 From two men , at Hail of Science ,

      Manchester 0 8 0 Received at Northern Star Office ( C ) ... 178 4 5 Receivedself , from Manchester 4 15 O post Office Order tent front Birmingham , and made payable to ine 2 0 0

      £ 931 18 5 Cb . To Peplow , Stafford ... ... ... ... 50 0 0 Do . ... 10 0 0 Manchester Committee , fer Liverpool Special Gommiuion ... ... ... £ 6 0 0 Shee , for Chester Special CommlBilon ( E ) 28 0 0 Cash paid In fees of office , for removing the trial into Queen's Bench ( F ) ... 71 0 0 Returned Campbell ... 110

      Paid White ' s Committee ... 5 0 0 To Peplow , for Cooper's last trial 25 0 Paid for do ., for two SabpanaB 0 12 O P ^ id Council , self 16 10 0 To W . P . Roberts , Esq . 310 11 0 Paid on registration of money letters ... 1 8 0 Doyle , at Lancaster ( G ) ... 10 0 Leach 10 0 Tnrner ... ... ... 10 0 Bairstow .. i 1 10 0 Beesley 1 10 0

      M'Cartney ... ... ... 10 0 Pray , with subpoena to attend trial ... 1 * 0 0 Ruffy Ridley , for defendants , when in London ( H ) i .. ... 10 0 Ditto , to bear his own expences to Gloucester 10 0 Doyle , when in London ( I ) 1 10 0 Riilton , ditto ... 1 10 0 Harney , ditto ... ... 10 0 Parkes , ditto ... ... 10 0 Taylor , ditto 10 0

      Amn , ditto 10 0 Skevington , ditto ... ... 12 0 Beintow , ditto 0 15 0 White , ditto 07 6 M'Caxtney 0 6 0 Fenton 2 15 0 Durham ... ... ... •»• ••• 0 5 0 Mundin and witnesses , per Cleave ... 0 10 0 Peplow , by ditto 2 0 0 Cuffsy , by ditto 2 10 0 Total £ 597 11 6 Balance in Treasurer's bands , to meet unsettled accounts ... 334 6 11

      £ 931 18 5 NOTES . A . —The nm of £ 50 tot the victim fond added to the amount received by me from Mr . Cleave , will make tbe amount of £ 532 the total received by him . B —There may be some errors , but most of them in my favour , In the Evening Star's account , because Mr . Pray paid several sums , on account of defence fand received by him , and which are included in the £ 234 ; while I have not taken credit for any of them . When I have more time , however , any errors that may appear on either side under this head » h » ll be corrected . C—Not one fart ^ fag of the money received at tbe Northern Star office has ever been used , or placed even to my credit , thongb I have often been hard enough pressed for money .

      D— £ 2610 s . of the above sum was returned by Peplow , and makes a part of the £ 234 credited from tbe Evening Star , where It was acknowledged ; and Icannot withhold from Peplow those thanks which I now tender him , and to which he is pre-eminently entitled from tha whole country for the BeaT . the ability , and honesty he manifested throughout the Special Commission , Coopert recent protracted trial , an * upon all occasions whenMm services were required . I mart farther Btate that he is a real working ; man ; and that lie has not received one farthing for : the low of between thirty and forty days . I do not wiBhto ; ertablish a bad precedent , and one which may subject me to very great inconvenience ; but at the same time I admire honesty and love justice , and therefore if it is the wiah of the Chartist body , I shall have much pleasure in remunerating Peplow fer Ma lots of time . I most also observe that Mr . [ Roberts has never received one farthing for Mi services at the Special CommiasioD : and that independently of

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 8, 1843, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct809/page/1/