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THE ^ OETHEEN STAK. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1843.
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PORTRAIT OF W. P. ROBERTS, ESQ.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Mr . O'Coskob has received communications from many districts in all of which a very great desire is . expressed to have a pob . tb . aii of Mr . Roberts , the people ' s Attorney-General We cannot wonder that a strong wish should be entertained to possess a Likeness of so truly amiable , talented , and true a man ; and although we know that Mr . O'Connor had determined to givt no more Portraits , yet we have the pleasure to announce that all Subscribers for Three Moiithsjrill receive A POBTBAIT OF W . P . ROBERTS , THE PEOPLES ATTORNEYGENERAL ,
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To which Mr . Aft wood replied : — " Httbonre , 2 nd Oct . 18 * 3 . " Sra , — -I lose no time in ssying , in reply to your letter , that tbe movement-which I have in view baa no reference wfe&tevee to any itslorm of the Parliament , dot to the Currency , or the Corn Laws ; bot to any other subject ithieh h&vyfct been brought before tbe public mind . It is confined solely to an attempt ' form a KaQonaJ Union , or general confederation of all classes , for tbe purpose ol holding tbe Ministers of the Cnnrn legally respondble for tbe welfare , prosperity , and contentment of tbe people . Certainly I Em not disposed to alter this determination . " After this explantkm , if yon should be desirous of deETering Hie an address , from any portion of my fello'sr-townsmen , I shall be ready to receive tbe deputation cf foar , here , to-morrow ( Tuesday ) , at my house , convenient to yourselves , between two and six o ' clock , or on Wednesday , between two and lour o'clock . ' 1 am , Sir , youi obedient serraat , " Thomas "Attwootj . "
«• Mr . J . Follows , Monmouth street , ' fiJTmi ^ pJyiLTn ** In accordance with this arrangement , the deputation waited oa Mr . Attwood on the Wednesday evening , and hid an interview or nearly two hours . Is the conversation , Mr . Attwood declared that every Parliament elected by the Refora Bill constituency were even worse in their composition than the old rotten-borough Parliaments . Yet he said there "was , in Ms © pinion , & possibility of creating a strong ¦ power oat of the present electoral body , sufficiently disinterested sod patriotic to hnrl any Ministry from office who ether weald n&t , or eonld not , deme measures of legislation to secsre gksebax pbospbkitt . It was on the electoral classes aloae he rested his hopes of success , as immense fond 3 wonld be required , which coald only he contributed by the richer
elasses . On them he -would rely . With regard to the suffrage , the real object of the interview , he said that he could see no means , under present circumstances , of doing any good by coming oat on th&t question . If he called together a Convention , which he would have to do in undertaking a sew suffrage movement , he expected two-thirds of such a body would be wild enthusiastus and spies , who , instead of consulting upon measures to advance the movement , wonld , by their / oily and extravagance , destroy even chance of snccess . He was determined on the course he had projected . He would neither approve nor repudiate in his measures the principles of any party . I ? or wonld he SBggestarm ^ fy- The Ministers , no matter of what party , shonld find their own remedies , and if they were incompetent' then out trith them .
Mr . Masos , one of the deputation , reqnested Mr . Attwood to read a paragraph of his mannscript document which specified the objects of his projected movement . Mr . Attwood then read several parts of the docn - pent , the import of which was that so far as human industry and enierprizs eonld contribute to the vealih of society , thai the labouring classes had created , superabundantly , fGod , clothing , and habitation ; yet they were without food , clothing , or homes in tens of thousands of instances ; and even those who
were not so sitnated had not an hoars security . That therefore the miseries and suffering of the people were chargeable on the Minsters of the down , who were responsible to the people for the proper dispensation of the comforts of life , through jusi measures of Government ; and if they -were incapable ofceTiglngsnch , then were they at once disqualified to hold the high trust ef adminigrative power . By mis means Mr . Attwood contemplates keeping their Ministerial noses to the popular grindstone . He expresB-d a hope that the depntation wonld esteem tos motives , whatever might be their opinion , snd ofS" theyB" £ tl « L&rfrom him on other matters
i ^ w ?? ' after all » t ° T dfeest the S ; S ^~ - " - ^ - ^ ! S # ^ S ~! s imm ^^ To Hit Editor of Oie Biradaghmm Journal . Harborcs , 5 th October , 1 S 4 X .
-Sr ,-3 request the favour of you to insert in I 0 M Jcm&d the enclosed communica tion between ! £ jw Chartists and ajKlt The depntation called ttp ^ me jerter tay , vHen I repeated to them thedetermiSn ¦ espressedinmyletterioMr . FoIlo-sra . The deputation sead tome a long adare £ 3 , giving me a good deal of * dTice , and urging me to take Bp the cause of what « - « e 21 ea . the j ? eople *« Charter . 1 tdd them in reply that 1- fcsd never approved the Peopis ' s Charter , but that 3 iid alwayi expressed the strongest disapprobation o | thai part of ft which proposes tochii ^ e th 9 framework of the eonstitKilon , by working the elective franchise throngs a new process vt electoriaJ districts , Instead of the ancient constitutional . system of ccacties , t itles , and ~ ~ boroughs , a part cf which I had always considered Si calculated , and protably intended , to rendti the szccao of any large measure of reform cot crilj more difficult and dangerous , but liiercily impossible . 1
farther explained to them that J hail nfeTer approved the sacdnctof Cfear&ta , whoie prcccedJs ^ s , I tfcongbt , Iftd be $ B * wh a » » o repulse Ijom their ranks eT&iy
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man in EnrUnd who has the sli ghtest power to serve the public cause ; that I w * s in no waat of advice ; thjt , * if I interfered at alt , in any pnblic movement , it would be my duty to tesssb and to guide , and not to be taught and guided ; « ad that , although I should by no means slight or neglect the working classes , for whose relief my humble labours have been principally directed , yet I shoald mainly rely upon the support of tbe electors auS richer classes of society , who alone possess the peiitical power to influence the House of Commons , aad the wealth absolutely necessary to defray the -expenses of any great and useful movement of the people , " I thinfe it desirable that these circumstances should be made public . " I am , sir , your bedient Bervant , 11 Thomas Attwood . "
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GREAT PUBLIC MEETING In 4 he Mechanics' Institute to receive the report of the Deputation to Mr . Attwood . "On Wednesday evening , an immense meeting was held in the above place to hear the report of the deputation elected for the purpose of presenting the public address adopted on the 8 > h of August . Tbe greatest anxiety was manifested to ascertain what had been the result of the interview . Mr . Fnssell was called to the chair , and after a few remarks introduced Mr . Mason to detail the principal matter of the conversation . Mr . Mason then rose and addressed the meeting at great length , aad was loudly applauded throughout . Mr . Follows next spoke , and expressed his opinion that Mr . Attwood had not stood by his old declarations . Mr . Masok then moved the following resolation , seconded by Mr . Welsfobd : —
" That this meeting , after hearing the report of the deputation , are of opinion that , as ilr . Attwood contemplates only an organization of those classes who possess electoral power and the pecuniary means of effecting the measures he proposes , they feel sound from every principle of justice and necessity to abide by the paramount straggle for the People ' s Charter ; and though we may not doubt the honesty of Mr . Attwood's motives , yet as his movement does not aim at the establishment of public liberty , we resolve to organize our power more firmly than heretofore , to secure the legislative enactment of the universal right of electoral power as tbe only means of attaining permanent national prosperity . " Mr . Hras came forward from the body of the meeting , and addressed the meeting in opposition to a part of the resolution .
Mr . Hill also came forward , and warmly supported the motion , and entered into a history of the Birmingham Political Union . He was loudly cheered . The resolation was pat and carried unanimously . Yo : es of thanks were given to the Deputation and the Chairman , and the meeting dispersed . : Mr . Mason observed , in acknowledging the thanks of tbe meeting , that ever ; means which pradence could suggest to prevent ill feeliog , in the event of
Mr . Attwood coming before the public with his plans , had been taken ; and every measure proposed by the Council had been submitted for the approval and confirmation of a public rote . They were , therefore , now fully authorised in taking any future steps necessary to preserve the Btruggle for the Charter paramount . Mr . Attwood might organize an electoral confederation , and they had neither the right nor the power to interfere . The duty of the Chartists was to take care they did not interfere with them .
The ^ Oetheen Stak. Saturday, October 14, 1843.
THE ^ OETHEEN STAK . SATURDAY , OCTOBER 14 , 1843 .
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IRELAND AND REPEAL . WHAT WILL O ' COSNELL DO ! AND WHAT MUST THE PEOPLE DO ? We doubt not that many Eage politicians were astounded by the electric promptitude with which the Government have strnck the first blow at the Repeal agitation . Their conduct , however , npon that occasion was in strict conformity w th , and bears a strong resemblance to , that which they parsued during the last session of Parliament . Throughout the whole period they * at and spoke , and sat and spoke again , for fully six-sevenths of the time ; and closed their career by a succession of rapid actions
unparalleled in the history of legislation . The question of Ireland was one brought frequently under their notice . The state of popular feeling in that couatry was significantly conveyed to them , and they professed to have a thorough knowledge of all that was going forward , as well as a perfect reliance npon the ordinary law to suppress commotion or disturbance . To tbe ordinary law , and to such alone , without any auxiliary support from a straining of the law io meet any emergency that might arise , Sir R . Pefl said he would have recourse . Every project devised by Mr . O'Coiotkll for effecting his object wa 3 well known to the Minister , and was
debated in his presence ; but still "he would rely upon the ordinary law . " The " monster demonstrations " had been held ; language more violent than any used since the prorogation had become matter of every day comment ; the aid of America ; the sympathy of France ; the " spontinuity" meeting of the three hundred native legislators elect ; the defiance to interfere with pablic meetings of the people ; the declaration of the inability of the Saxon Parliament to do justice to Ireland , even if so inclined : all these circumstances were known to the Minister , who Baid that " to the ordinary law alone he would have recourse for the preservation of the peace . "
If the Agitation had presented any sew and more alarming phase since the prorogation of Parliament , there might have been come palliation for the abandonment of the Minister's constitutional pledge ; while in the absence of any such change , he is chargeable with a gross violation of tbe constitution , by having had recourse to those means for arresting the progress of Repeal , which , although justifiable upon sudden emergency , cannot be defended under the circumstances of the case . A proclamation , and such a proclamation , and issued so shortly before it commanded obedience , was not in accordance irith "the ordinary law . "
Before we point out the disastrous results to which this tardy proclamation , — -tardy in its appearance , if not tardy in it 3 execution , —might have led , we are called particularly to notice one signature , —and , officially speaking , not an unimportant one , —attached to this document . We there find the name of Sir E- SrGDKS , the Chancellor of Ireland ; and we are at a loss to reconcile its appearance in that place with his former declaration , that 'the Irish meetings vere perfectly legal , and could not be legally suppressed , " Custom is the foundation of common law ; and an unchecked course of tbe people of a whole nation , continuing for months without the interference of law to arrest or interfere with it :
and backed by the opinion of the Lord Chancellor ; in our opinion , establishes a precedent for a continuance in that course as strong as any that eustom can , sanction . Independently , however , of the individual opinion even of the Lokd Chancellor , therigattrf every BritUh subject to meet to petition for the redress of grievances , in gaaranteed by the Constitution . Moreover in the case of Ireland , the of tb
n £ t e people t £ > meet and tifln r £ st 8 S ? w = iw- ^ srs zm ^^ m people itfo ih * p ^ to - ^ Uck L ^ ilZ
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stitute coercion for the promised relief . We may infer this fact from the following short passage from the Standard : — " Much must be connived at in the beginning , which it may be necessary to repress in the end . " Wholesome Tory dootrine ! We shall now proceed to consider the q-aesfcion in all its bearings . A mere passing ; commentary upon so large and important a subject , would be unjustifiable .
the rosmon hb . o connell we shall first treat of . We cannot too highly commend the use that he made of the short time that was allowed him between tbe notice and tbe projected revolution . Of course , all the aeoessary ** information "; all the required " affidavits , " of " fear , " " alarm , " and " anticipated danger , " were legally furnished to the authorities , and did not rest upon the oaths of policemen or persons procured for the occasion . No doubt but Government had all these necessary materials , before they determined on their step ; and no doubt the " advertisements , "
respecting the H Repeal Cavalry , ' and " troops , " and " musterings , " will form no unimportant portion of them . Having these , then , as the groundwork , they struck the blow . That blow might have turned out a bloody one . This Mr . O'Cojwell prevented . He made the best use of the little time he had , to avert that evil . But , notwithstanding his success in that particular , the Government step teas a blow ! And it was one which Mr . O'Connkll ought to have been prepared for . It was one ho has been asking for , or
rather provoking , for a long period . In Yorshire , if a father chastises a child , after a long perseverance in misconduct , he follows the oastigation with " you have been asking for that for a long time , and now you ' ve got it . " When we come to comment upon the nature of the step taken by the Government , we shall Bpeak of it as it deserves ; but here we cannot refrain from reminding Mr . O'Connell that "he has been asking for it a long time , and now he has got it . "
We have approved of his prudence in having suppressed the projected meeting ; while after his many darings of the Government to interfere with their meetings ; after his repeated defiance , hurled at the Government " to go to war" with him , or " to go to law" with him , we had a right to expect , and the country had a right to expect , from him a prompt , immediate , and unequivocal DEVELOPEMENT OF THOSE MEANS BY WHICH
HB rfiOPOSKD TO MEET AN ATTACK , WHICH , HAVING INVITED , HE MUST HAVE EXPECTED ! When We fonnd that he had summoned tbe Repeal Association for " an extraordinary meeting , " on Monday , we looked forward with no little curiosity for the announcement of his future operations : but alas ] we were doomed to disappointment ! So far from the assurance that he was prepared to protect the people against the threatened danger , we find him transferring all thought of passing events to a consideration of himself ! and imploring of the Irish people to smother all sympathy for him io the event of a prosecution , and to testify their loyalty by a continuance of their confidence ! 1 " Fakx ouem facietnt aleina pericula cautum . "
" That man is happy who profits by other men ' s misfortunes . " So we say to Mr . O'Conhell ; while we are Borry to find tbat the misfortunes of others , instead of furnishing an example to him , have served but &s matter for jest and angry inveotive . He now Btands upon the brink of a precipice ; while those , over whose misfortunes he has rejoiced , are tremblingly alive to his danger .
It would appear from the weak effusion of which he delivered himself last Monday , that he has been floating from the commencement upon the troubled waters , without rudder or compass ; tbat all the " Monster Meetings" were only intended to be subservient to the M finance department" ; and he has formed no plan whereon to found the promised resistance to oppression . If ever there was an instance of full opportunity being afforded to a Statesman or a General , for the organization and completion of his plans , that
opportunity his been afforded to Mr . O'Connell . He was aware of his own strength . He has told us to surfeiting , that be was aware of the enemy's weakness . He told ua so , till we believed it . He was aware of the people ' s devotion , patriotism , and heroism : and yet , upon the first feeble attempt at resistance , the ** ' legal position , " the secure possession , the vantage ground , " is abandoned 1 and the scene of action is io be changed to the floor of the Saxon Parliament ! I there to contend for "justice to Ireland" £ i 2
How soon the language of defiance has been softened into mild criticism upoa the grammar and the phraseology of a Proclamation , which , though imperfect in one , and inelegant in the otber , appears , nevertheless . in its rudeness to have taken him by surprise ! 1 ! How often have we told Mr . O'Connell , while revelliflg in Whig patronage , that he was creating for their Tory successors , the most perfeot means for suppressing Irish liberty . We not only warned
him of the coming storm , but we announced the hour at which it would burst . We told him that Peel woald pass all his measures with railroad speed ; would prorogue the Parliament , and then throw npon the Irish Executive , and the Irish Orange faction , the responsibility of tranquilising Ireland , after their own approved fashion , backed by the assurance that the Commons would grant indemnity for the enforcement of measures justified by necessity !
Mr . O'Connell must have been aware that some such course would have been adopted ; and nhere , tee ask , is his plan OF defence ? Not defence jor himself ; but defence of the millions of brave ENTHUSIASTIC , DISABMEB , ^ PROTE CTED IRISHMEN who have , as it were , placed their lives in Mr . O'Connell ' s hands !! This is not the first time that we have had a " Proclamation war . " We have not yet forgotten the year 1839 , when Whig spyism and foul treachery concocted and effected the Newport , Bradford , Sheffield , and Dewsbury riots . Nor can Mr . O'Connell
have forgotten those times . He has reason for remembering them I and the recollection of his own conduct then , will not be calculated to add much to his comfort now . He knows that the doings of the English Chartists were made into a stalking-horse for Irish loyalty . Their meetings were held to petition for a redress of grievances , at the only hoar that their taskmasters would allow them to assemble . Those meetings were suppressed by proclamation ; and their enemies were armed against them . Then the " tranquillity" of Ireland not only enabled Mr . O'Cohsell to tender the services of the Irish
military force to do "justice to the Chartists , but he further offered the services of F 1 YE HUNDRED THOUSAND IriBh Volunteers to fight the battle of Whig despotism and proclamation law in England !! Sergeant Dal 7 was an Irish boy and the soldiers , who bo bravely slaughtered the unarmed people at Newport had all the honour of being mere " Irish recruits . " We mention these circumstances now as warning to Mr . O'Connell : to teach him for the future that the man who plays the tyrant will assuredly himself come ono day or other under the tyrant ' s lash . Had he fortified Ireland when the
existence of the Whig * depended upon his breath , instead of preparing all the machinery for her sub ' jugalion , she would have now had fewer truck Baronets and Ca holic placemen , but more power to resist her present oppressors . Mr . O'Connell may have derived some consolation , in the midst of all his troubles , from the spewy trash vomited by his Saj ^ cho Pakza : but we would assure the redoubtable " pacificator" that he , too , will be called to account , and a clo > e one , by the Irish people , for some better value for their money than ho appears as yet to havo given them .
Having disposed of Mr . O'Connell for the present , we shall now consider the
POSITION OF 1 HE GOVERNMENT . If a Cabinet Couucii had been assembled for the purpose of ensuring a retreat for Mr . O'Counsil , and had Mr , O'Consell himself being con-
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sulted as to the means , be would have said : — " The meetings having been generally held ; the dispute as to the propriety of holding a second one in the county of Waterford , convinces me that a repetition of Demonstrations would but evince weakness . I am now about to hold the last ; but in the quarter where the Gathering is to take place ,: we have already experimentalized to the utmost upon their generosity .
I have got all that Monster Meetings' can yield : you must change my position : suppress our Demonstrations by proclamation ; and let its appearance be £ 0 late that I can justify my course upon the groundsihat I was compelled from the shortness of notice to act upon my own responsibility . " Had they consulted him , and had he wished to secure for himself a retreat , this would have been O'Connell ' s language to the Ministry .
The Ministers must hare been aware that had the Proclamation appeared sooner , they would have had all Ireland to contend with ; while , as matters now stand , thty have only to contend with an individual . Whether they will be satisfied with sharing the triumph over Ireland with Mr . O'Connell , we know not . Their share will be disgrace ; his will be increased contributions , and perfect indemnity for inaction . 1 In the consideration of this question we must not , however , forget tbe most important characters in the drama—thb irish people . For months their enthusiastic minds have been led to an almost
fanatical belief in the success of a project which was ensured to them upon the performance of certain conditions ; every one of which they fulfilled beyond even Mr . O'Connell ' s most sanguine expectations . Will they , then ; will the 1564 brav Irishmen , who went from Manchester to Dublin to manifest their devotion to their ; unhappy country ; will these be satisfied with the postponement of their case , so ripe for hearing , to the next meeting of the Saxon Parliament 1 Even so , their disappointment may arrive sooner than they anticipate : os it is by no means impossible that the saxon parliament MAT MEET IN LESS THAN TWENTY DAYS
FROM THE PRESENT TIME ! If Sir ROBERT PEEL feels his hands strengthened by the boasted "improvement ef trade , " and the further improvement anticipated from the treaty of poaoe with China , he will be emboldened , in connection with foreign allies , to make a deeoisivo stand against the principles of democracy generally , and against the Irish agitation in particular . Should such be his course , th&re can exist but very little doubt , that a Coercion Bill for Ireland will be the first measure proposed ! and Whig precedent will' stand as a barrier to Whig opposition !!! In midst of all , it appears that a gleam of reason has beamed upon Mr . O'Connell .
"Misfortune , " we are told , ' ¦ makes strange bedfellows : " and , in hia distress , Mr . O'Connell now proposes to court the very party who in hia presumed strength he kicked out of bed . " Ireland is able to do all for herself . " "France is with us ; America is with us ; " " but the English to a man are against us" " We refuse ( he co-operation of the Saxon . " Saoh was the boastful language of Mr . O'Connell , when his unopposed sway allowed him to choose his " bed-fellows" ; but now that misfor tune has come upon him , we Sad him at the Repeal Banquet , which took place oaj Monday last , silent upon American and French sympathy , and imploring the assistance of the
ENGLISH PEOPLE to arrest the despotism of the present Administration . Ha , ha , Mr . O'Connell . Have you forgotten our words ? Did we not tell you , as early as May last , that in tho hour of danger , and upon the day ot trouble , you would at last find more sympathy and protection in English working men ' s patriotism and love of liberty than in foreign sympathy 1 Did we not tell you that at last you would come to that \ We did ; and there at last we find you ! and , in them rests your Beoiirity . Yes , ** Liberator ; " although
a very small extinguisher has extinguished your large Irish fire , yet you may rest assured , that the English people , for they are nearly all Chartists , will . distinguish between you and the Irish people . What they do will be for " Ireland and the : Irish ; " and thus will they rescue themselves from the foul aspersions you hare cast upon them for the last seven years , since you so far degraded the Irish nation as to identify the IriBh name with trick and jobbery of erery description .
Your " pals" hare attacked tho English Chartists and their " Cowardly Leader ; " but we must remind you that when the Magistrates of the Wedt Riding of York issued their proclamation for suppressing " Monster '' Chartist meeting 9 in 1839 , just upon the eve of the great meeting to be hold at PeepGreeu , the '" cowardly Feargus" issued a counter proclamation to hold the meeting , and said Chat ht would attend . The meeting took place . The "Cowardly Feargus" and the "Cowardly Feargusites" did attend ! Again , when the Whigs issued a Queen ' s proclamation to suppress torch-light meetings , tbe " Cowardly Feargus'' attended the Bury torchlight meeting , and there , upon the spot , took . , the sense of the people as to the propriety of obeying the proclamation .
Mr . O'Connell will now learn from the tone of the English and French press , that , as we told him , Government will not rest satisfied with extinguishing the match ; they will , if they can , scatter the Pile . In this he will find us correct : and to meet it be has but one course , that is , to throw himself upon men's minds instead of upon their pockets . Paid patriots sooner or later discover the fact : "that to win men's hearts , you must win
their minds . " We doubt not that he will reap a goldeu harvest from the seeds that Government havo sown : but we much doubt that the Irish people will be partakers in the yield . Flattering the vanity of the Queen , who Mr . O'Connell himself says can do nothing , will serve no good purpose . His boast of having yoted £ 20 , 000 a-year to Prince Albert more than the Tories would give him , will , with the English people , tend to approval of Toryism , and to his own degradation .
We have given copious extracts from the several English and Irish newspapers upon the question , together with the reports of Mr . O'Con . nell ' b several speeches ; and from all we learn that the Government hare been working while Mr . O'Connell has been talking , boasting , and collecting : and between both , tbe Irish peopie hare been taken by surprise . We foretold this hasty step . We told Mr . O'Connell more than a month ago , that " with Wellington it
would be a word and a blow : that execution would follow upon the very heels of design . " It has been so ; while , with Mr . O'Connell , it has been met by extra loyalty , aud an appeal to the rejected Saxons !! with aa - . auxiliary slap at the Chartists by his " man ef peace , who assured us that 1 , 000 , 000 pikes could be manufactured in Ireland in au hour . Henceforth this bantering of public opinion must cease in Irtland ! The u rag flay" \ must be struck , and the standard of principle must be raised in its place .
The sympathy of other nations , strong in the belief that Mr , O'Connell was prepared for any emrrgency , will speedily fade before the present gloomy aspect of affairs . He must now shake himself , throw off the rust of Whig brass , and stand before the world as the champion of liberty , or the dupe of faction . In the shook of surprise , he may for a time purchase indemnity for inaction ; but when the thunder shall have passed away , those who have paid the purchase-money of Irish liberty will expect to see his genius shining through the breaking clouds as the sun of national glory .
If Ministers attempt to coerce Ireland , 5 , 000 , 000 of English Chartists will remonstrate against this attempt : but they will not again place themselves in the position of being marked ' as " wketches deserving NOTICE OF THE ATTOKNIlY-GENERAL . " No J they have profited by experience , and will perish to a man before they will allow 500 , 000 of their fighting nra to enlist in the despots' rank .
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We told Mr . O'Con ^ bll tw ; o months ago , that under the legal construction of conspiracy , he would be implicated in every aot committed by his more enthusiastic followers ; and , in fact , both the Attorney and Solicitor-General weat as far as they could to establish & precedent for the conviction of Mr . O'Connell , when the point of law , arising out of the Lancashire rerdict , was argued in the Queen ' s Bench . ¦ From us Mr . Connell has but little to expect ; and should rejoice ae receiving ** good for evil : '» while the Irish people erer have bad aud erer shall command , our sympathy and support .
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ANOTHER OPENING FOR " PROSPERITY . " Our merohants and manufacturers hare high cause for gratulation in the news of the confirmation of the Chinese Treaty , just brought to England , direct , by the Akbar steamer . In it they will see another field for "foreign } trade , " inasmuch as there is embodied iu that Treaty a New Tariff , said to be highly advantageous to the speculators . The Manchester Guardian of Wednesday contains the following 6 hort review of the principal changes effected by the New Tariff , in the duties previously charged upon European shipping , and upon the principal articles of merchandise exportedlfrom this country to China : — :
" In the first place , the reduotion in the shipping charges are very large and important . Prior to the operation of the New Tariff , there were several duties levied under different names , upon European vessels entering the port of Canton . Amongst these the largest and most bartheasome , usually called ' the present , ' was the [ same ( upwards of 2 , 300 dollars ) upon every vessel , large or Ismail ; and the entire charges upon a vessel of five or six hundred tons was 4 , 000 dollars , or nearly £ 1 , 000 sterling . All these separate charges are abolished by the new regulations , and one uniform , tonnage duty , amounting to about 33 . 4 d . per ton , is substituted for them ; the result of which is , that a vessel of 600 tons , instead of being taxed £ 1 , 000 in port charges , will be required to pay only about one-tenth ot that amount . \
"The reductions in the duties upon ] the ! different articles which compose the bulk of our export trade to China , which are also important , are exhibited in the following { statement : — w Cotton Yarn . —The djny on cotton yarn , formerly about two dollars par pecul of 133 jib ., is now reduced to one dollar forty cents , or about fire-eighths of a penny per pound , j " Cotton Goods . —The duty on Jbleachedrshirtings , formerly about ninety-twolicents , is now reduced to twenty-one cents , or a shilling per piece . The duty on unbleached shirtings ; ( which were formerly arranged iu two classes , { chargeable with a duty of forty-two cents and ten cents respectively , and subject to the caprice or corruption of the Mandarines or Custom House officers , as to the class in
which they should be placed ) is now fixed for all qualities at fourteen cents , or about eightpence per piece of twenty-eight to forty inches wide , aud thirty to forty yards in length . The duty on printed goods , formerly about j two to two-and-a-quarter dollars per piece , is now fixed at twenty-eight cents per piece of twenty-four to thirty yards long , and twenty-six to thirty-one inches wide . " Woollens . —The duty on woollens , snch as Spanish stripes , habit cloth , and middle and superfine cloths , formerly twenty-five cents per yard is now reduced to six cents , or threepence per yard . The duty on long ells , formerly about two dollars tea cents , is now reduced to seventy cents per piece . The duty oa camlets and bombazetta , formerly about twelve to thirteen dollars , per pieoe , is now reduced to seventy cents .
" Raw Cotton . —The : duty on raw cotton , which was about 9 mace per pecul , is now 4 mace , about id . per 1 b . j " Unenumerated Articles . —The duty on unenumnrated articles of import is fixed at 5 per cent , ad valorem . At the present low value of cotton goods , the duty may be called about 7 ^ per cent , oa the value in this couutry . \ On grey shirtings about 1 \ per cent . Ou white shirtings , about 10 per cent . Oa woollens ( Spanish stripes , &o . ) , 6 to 8 per cent . 1 Oa long ells , about 10 percent . On oamlets , about 4 per cent . Ou printed cottons , about 10 per cent , ( on the class of goods suited to the markets of China ) .
"" Export Duties . —ThSi duty oa the export of tea , though nominally fixed by the new tariff at two taels and fire mace per pecul , will , it is supposed , amount ( with the various charges formerly included in the duty ) to about four taels and eight mace , or nearly 3 d . per 1 b . This is about \ i . per 1 b . more than the amount of duty levied : during the last six or eight mouths . The duty on the exportation of raw silk is fixed at 13 dollars 89 cents per pecul , or about 34 per cent , on the average value . " Here then is another opening for " Prosperity . " Having also done ourselves out of every other market in the world ; having ruined our character every where by devii's-dust 1 woollens , paste-daubed cottoas , and cast-metal knives ; having arrayed against us " one unbroken lino of hostile tariffs , from the Guadalquiver to the Neva ' : having had " ominous
warning of the precarious position in which stands our traffic in the South" ; having seen that " on the Baltic opposition is rendered formidable by extensive and increasing combination" ; and that"Peteiai YVescphalia , and Saxony , have each erected their forges , and had the protective care of their respective Governments paternally extended to their newborn interests "; having " the Russians now completely independent ot us , though England at one time furnished Russia with her cottons , and with the greater part of . her woollens "; having seen too , that " oar hold upon America is fast melting away "; knowing oi all these ; things , our merchants sad manufacturers will , no doubt , see salvation in this new Chinese Tariff , aad endeavour to draw dreams of" Prosperity" out of it .
They will act wisely however , if they look at the matter soberly . Undue expectations may be excited ; and cruel disappointment may be found ! We would commend to their attention the following observations of the cautious dog of the Manchester Guardian : — ' / ' ¦ These important reductions , coupled with the extension of the trade to the ports situated in the most fertile and productive provinces , instead of being confined to a single- coraer of the empire , will , no doubt , greatly increase the commercial intercourse with China , aad lead eventually to a large export to trm country of the principal fabrics of English manufacture . Ic is necessary , however ,
to keep in mind , that this increase must necessarily be very gradual ; tor , bowerer great may be the desire of the people j of China to purchase British manufactures , the extent of the trade must necessarily be limited to the value or" the returns which th ^ t country can furnish , which cannot be immediately increased to ! any very large extent ; and , therefore , any sudden and extensive shipments which might be made hence , under the idea that a greatly increased demand will closely follow the promulgation Of the tariff , WOULDJ MOST LIKELY ENTAIL SERIOUS LOSSES UPuN THE PARTIES MA-KING THEM . Some increase will no doubt take place immediately ; but , wh n it is recollected that the shipments of
shirtings to China daring the present year amount to about a million ofjpieoes direct from ( his country , aud about ISO 000 pieces forwarded from Singapore and Manilla , against about 400 , 000 pieces at the corresponding period of la * . t year ; whilst the shipments of yarn amouut to 5 600 , 000 lbs ., being also a very large increase upon the previous year ' s business ; it mii-it be obvious that the probable increase has been fully anticipated , and that great Cxutiok WILL BE NtCbSSARY ilO PRfeVENT THE MARKUT FROM BEI > G GREATLY OVKRLOADtD . T 6 thOBB of OUT
readers who remember the disastrous consequences resulting from the j overstocking of newly-opened foreign markets , edme thirty years ago , little need be i-aid on this subject ; but a new race ot merchants and manufacturers : hare eprung up , to whom the calamities of those days are comparatively unknown ; and we have been sorry to see slight indications of a feeling of excitement , arising out of the recent iritetligencc , calculated to inspire some feab op a KiPtTlTlON OF THE ERRORS IK WHICH THOSE CALAMITIES HAD THEIR 0 B 161 S . "
Our merchants and manufacturers will do well to pause , and act , on the caution here given . It comes from one who is their M friend" ; one who seems anxious that the delirium of joy , which the news of the probability of an extended" trade is likely to inspire , Bhould not ) lead to too " extended" operations . Whether the advice he gives' will hare effect or not , remains to be seen . If it hare , some good may come of this new market ; if it hare nor , it would hare been bettor that we had never found it . But the news of the week is net all joy , not even as far as Tariffi aro concerned . Though the Chinese one may bo deemed to be favourable to us , and promotive of "j prosperity , " yet there arc other uatioas contemplating measures of a contrary character , for the purpose of crippling our " foreign trade . " T ' aey aroj contemplating manufactures fot themselres ; aud ihey are asking for pbotectioh
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against " foreign competition . " There is in fact , m contemplation against as , and some measures taken for proouring ,
ANOTHER HOSTILE TARIFF . The Times of Wednesday gire 3 the following : — " The Frankfort Journal , announces , that a meeting of manufacturers was held at Stutgard ou the 27 th ult ., with the sanction of the Government , whea the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — l . "Tfaat the honour and independence no less than the prosperity of Germauy , require a system of Protection agaiuss foreign manufactures .
2 . " Tbat such a system is nofc only justified but rendered necessary by the heavy duties to which German manufactures are subject ia foreiga countries , aad thai Englaod is now supplied from her colonies with produce which she formerly imported from Germany . 3 . " That this protection should be moderate , and not calculated to encourage indolence amongst the German manutacturers . 4 . "That this protection should extend to the raw materials as well as to the manufactured goods .
5 . " That the duty should be levied ad valorem , and not by weight , to prevent articles such as fine muslins entering into Germany , on paying only the duty to which coarse fustian ib subject . 6 . " That it is absolutely necessary that a bounty should be paid by Government to the exporters of German manufactured goods . u That all the manufacturers throughout Germany should be invited to joiu in the abore resolutions . "
Here , then , as old Dicky Bbrkett used to say ; "here is a weight i ' th 'tother pocket . " In our joy at tho Chinese Tariff and prospect of " extended " Trade , let aot this threatened Tariff be overlooked 1 What a queer thing it is , that no nation on earth can be made to beliere in , or apply , the doctrines of free-trade , excepting England ! Bat Englishmen were always kuown to be " the most thinking people on the face of the earth" !
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A THE NORTHERN , STAR i _
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MT . ATTWOOD ^ KEW ' ^ oTf . Considerable interest las b 3 e ^ manifested in Birmingham , l > y all clashes of ^ lOrmers , from the first intimation of Mr . Attwood ' intention to return to pnblic iife ; and this reelr ^ g ^ ias been greatly heightened by the mysreiip ^ g character which curtained "his measures and TO ^ gn 3 , even whea his intentiom had been publicly T ^ yealed , thatlie was about , once more , to enters the vast theatre vf British politics The ardent awoipated a new Rxfobm ek > ch , as the » tchole Bi 3 * lad been a . failure ; and the 8 UO . O 0011 proved .-b > . xkq corrupt than the 200 rich boroughHioHJters , Hi ~ £ na exercise of their most sacred rights . But tisorpation is still usurpation . What matter to tbe ^ tPsrjKM , " whether 200 oligarchs , or 800 , 000 nrer-* iless profit-mongers , make statctb laws , and rch
thea out ef their kghia&te earnings ? Suffering Imnsanity doth list ealrolate on ibe pro 2 res 3 of ¦ cmlisa ^ nn , in iais lesxtifnl expansion of po ^ Uical : p 0 sver—this nicety of politic arithmetic Human tears still flow—hnmaa hearts still bleed—the mil-Sons still groaa and murmur , asd toil and sweat , "withont hope or happiness— though the Reform Bill Juis been carried . Political Economy has not yet taken account of labour , though the bili . has been in operation these twelve ^ ears . Though Macculloch . and Porter have Treiiten volosies on ~ &is icctoanr , the working me * will not believe in starvation . Brougham too hie laboured to establish an enlightgned opinion on "the scientific advantages of maximum production of wealth , and mininnnn production
of tee operative speties ; bnt all in Tain ? the work ' ing millions yiiii not subscribe to the science of Malthnsianism as defined by the jdle tlvf . dbbsrs tf society . J ^ ree Trads ia next . On it marches . Desolation , ruin , reYolntior , follows . It inscribes the epitaph of ** expirrag empire . ' It is the alternative of national despair , under the present order of Slings . StQl . it fails 5 matters grow worse . How <» ttld it be oiaerwis&—it was only Refokm . What a prospect for our vaghtg country J Our tyrants have conquered tb& world- thtj have coiHjDered ns too . What an appsiite hath victory ! Yet oar hopes trere high . The < i « rk and gloomy clouds which hovered o ' er them must scon dissolve , and resolution lise with public expectation , hope and -confidence .
Attwood -will returs—( he has said so)—to the people and their « aase . Be oace spoke fiercely for the millions . Be will never abandon them in the open field , come when he may . Confiding slaves 1 "When will you relj on ycur own omnipotent power Attwood will set redeem yon j yon must redeem jour&elves . New , to the business of the deputation , and let Mr . Attweod answer for himself . At the time t&e puoiie aodress was adopted by the inhabitants of Biraungham , it was not known that Mr . Attwood wasabseat from town . ; and therefore all further steps were suspended till his Teinrn His friends hare not , howefer , been idle during this period , as tkey have , whether real or fictitious , Taised Bignateres to the requisition , to the amonnt of 10 , 000 . This requisition was presented to him by
a deputation « f forty , elected at the pnblic office abooi a week ago . Mr . Salt figured at this meeting , ( which , by tbe way , was & very meagre one } , in the character of a philosop her . He dilated with % horrifying -gravity on the national debasement of the English people ; that Governments were frequently better thin those they governed ; and that after all , he believed , we had as good a Government as we had public patriotism , and intelligence to SHstsin , Ti * -a very eonsoRns doctrine irilhal \ o thehordegof plunderers , -who rob the poor of the last cms * -of their hard-earned bread , and -who do it with such utaffnaniatiiy as to command the philoso phic admiration of * uch politicians as Salt . and Co . Onlftarniagof Mr . Attwood ' s return , Mr . Follows forwarded the following note : —
" Monmoath-street Birmingham , Oct . 1 , 1843 . " Sib , —A public meeting of the Inhabitants of Birmingham was held on the 8 th of August , for the adoption of an address to yon , expressive of their sentiments , and to convey their desire that yon might again stand forward as tbe avowed and eminent advofj > tt > . of tiie xmiteisal PT ) fntTn » yn « BTOp riY of all classes ef && > powerful , yet zeffering ani degraded nation . The ddress -was pissed by an almost unanimous vote of yeur . feUow-townsmeB , and a deputation of four appointed to present it to you , at your earliest convenience .
" On behalf of tbe deputation and the public , I shall , therefore , feel greatly obliged hy an intimation from yon when S win be convenient to receive t&e deputation , and fcelieve me , " Yours , most respectfully , 11 Follows . " "T . Aftvood , Esq . -
Portrait Of W. P. Roberts, Esq.
PORTRAIT OF W . P . ROBERTS , ESQ .
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TIDD PRATT CAUGHT . —SQUEEZE HIM WELL . The Enrolment is not yet had . Turn Pbatt skill refuses . But bis refusal has , at last , assumed a more definite shape . He has h % d another , and a " fail trial "; and this last trial has caught him . Hehai put himself between the " Knippebs . " The following communication , froin the General Secretary , will put the Chartist body in possession of ihe new facts that have transpired since ou last : — London , October 11 , 1843 .
Bbother Chartists—Since Tidd Pratt refused to certify the Plan of National Organization , as adopted by the Conference , we received from Mr . Hobson a copy of the Plan , in juxta position with which was pasted , on slips of paper , the Communitarian Plan which Tidd Pratt has already certified . On Monday last we called at the office of the legal fanotionary , and lefi the altered Plan with hia clerk for inspection . The clerk in answer to questions put by us , said , — u He knew that Mr . Pbatt ' s mm was kab * HP BKLATITE TO THE PLAN ; THAT "E WOULD NOT ENROL IT ; and that the very designatton of our Association implied different objects from the Communists . "
We called to-day , according to appointment , for the opinion of the learned and liberal Tidd Pratt . We received it from his clerk , written on tho margin of the Plan . The following is a verbatim copy : — " I am of opinion that the objects and means of the National Charter Association are not within the provisions of the 10 Gee . IV ., c . 56 , and 4 and 5 Wm . IV ., c . 40 . I consider the rules of the Community Society very different from those of tho National Charter Association , although I had some doubt at the time J certified them , whether they came within the provisions of the Friendly Societies' Act . My
attention has likewise being called to the provisions of the 39 Geo . II I ., c . 79 , and 57 Geo . III ., 0 . 19 , which provides that every society , except of a religious or charitable natubk only , which shall be composed of different divisions or branches , or of different parties acting in any manner separately or distinct from each other , or of which any part shall have any separate or distinct president , secretary , or any other officer elected or appointed by or for such party , or to act aa an officer for such party , shall be deemed and taken for an unlawful combination and confederacy . For the above reasons I refuse to certify these rules . ¦ ™ „ „ " Oct . 11 . 1843 . " J . Tidd Pbatt . "
We have not yet been able to obtain the opinion of GouHsel as to the probable result of bringing the matter before * he Court of Queen ' s Bench , in consequence of Counsel being on circuit . J . M . Wheeleb , Seoretary . Now this opinion fixes him . It happens most unfortunately for his "judgment" and his "determination , " that | ho has certified every portion of the pl \ n , from the beginning to the end , to be " according to law . " In the document laid before him this last time , this was distinctly shewn to be the case . Every section of our plan had , in juxta-position with it , the section of another plan , embracing every particular embraced in ours ; and that other plan he had himself certified to be in accordance with law
on the 7 th of August , 1839 ! There was not a particular differing . The " Objects" were the same ^ expressed iu the very same language . The "Constitution" was similar ; the " Organization" was precisely similar ; Conventions ; Execntive ; Districts , with Distriot Councils ; Branches , with Branch-Boards ; Classes , with Class-Leaders : a // , all , were contained in the plan he has already certified . The " Funds" were similar ; oae'for Gkhekal purposes ; and the other for Land purposes . Indeed there is no difference between the two codes of rules ,
excepting in the application of the Land , when it m pur ' chased : the one code of rules providing that the Land shall be held for , and devoted to % Community purposes ; i . e . held as common , and not as individual property : the other code providiag that tho Land shall be divided , when purchased , into equal portions , and held by each member , individually , fot his individual benefit . That is the one , the sole , the only difference , in the application of the Land Benefit : and Tidd Ppatt has wisely , and as a lawyer , come to the conclusion that the former mode is in accordance with law ! and that the latter
mode is not ! Here is a discovery in law ! Communism is lawful ! Individual property is not !! Well done , sage Tidd Pbatt ' . !! To combine together , in Conventions , 'Executives , Districts , Branches , and Classes , for the purchase of LaHd to hold as common properly , and to use in common , is " in accordance with law : " to combine together in a similar manner to purchase Land to divide equally among the members of such combination , to have and to hold for ever , for themselves and their heirs , is not in accordance with law ! ! Famous discovery ! Will not the Communitabians present the discoverer with a cap 7 They assuredly ought : and we know another party that will adorn it with bells !
But let us dissect the " opinion" of Mr . Tidd Pbatt . " I am of opinion that the objects and means of the National Charter Association ate not within the provisions of the lOch Geo . IV . c . 56 ; and 4 arid 5 Wm . IV . c . 40 . " It happens that the " objects " and " means" are precisely such as he has already pronounced to be within such provisions . They are set forth in the very language which he ha 3 before approved of , and certified ! Therefore Tidd Pbatt is fairly trapped . He cannot get ont of the mess If they were not illegal when he certified them to be in " accordance with law , " they certainly are a ** illegal now : and this , we fanoy , the . Court above
will soon let him know . / He then sayg M I consider the rules ot the Community Society very different from those of the National Charter Association . " We have pointed out the only difference : a difference in the appliealion of the Land . "Whether Mr . Tidd Pbatt ' s discovery , that Land held in common is the only l&wfi " principle of possession in England , will have weigh * with the Judges remains to be seen . If ' * b » 9 ' we would advisa Tidd Pbatt to look out ! Tne es&to he " calls his own" will be in no small danger ! , '
But he vouchsafes a piece of most important " *• formation . When he enrolled the Rules of W Community Society , he " had a doubt , at the time , whether they came under the provision of tha 1 » " . But we opiuo that that" doubt" was set aside ; was removed , by the act of Enrolling \ You surely doM *
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 14, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct823/page/4/
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