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THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, JANUARY 30. 1841.
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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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There is nothing iu the papers "worth presenting to our readers under this head . We prefer , therefore , to fill the space with good Chartist intelligence .
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BXRMmCHAM . —The National Charter Association held their weekly meeting in the Hall of -Science , Lawrence-street ; . the cliair was takes by Mr . Smallwood . The minutes of the last meeting being read wi confirmed , the address to the inhabitants of Blrnringbaja and surrounding districts was read to the meeting . The correspondence was also read , iacludinji a letter fronf the Rev . Mr . Hill , editor of the Star , to the great satisfaction of all present . Mr . T . P . Groea then addressed the meeting for some time , in an able manner , when it wa 3 carried unanimously that the address be sent to the Star , praying for its insertion . 4 £ auy applied for cards of membership , bat eould not- be supplied , the card 3 cot haying arrived , frotn Manchester . We hope to be able to supply them aext week .
RESToai-nos Committbb . —By the weekly report of the proceedings of ihis body omitted from our last , it appears that a aumbsr pf new honorary members were added to the committee at ita sitting on the JS : h instant ; ifla ; memiriKls from Oldham , Notiingnam , Manchester , Banisiey , Forfar , aad Aberdeen , had been received by ihe committee since its previous meeting . The committee have determined , a 3 soon as sufficient funds are in their hands , to C 3 use the memorials t-o be prelected . All memorials , funds , and comsauiiicanoHs to bs addressed for committee , to Mr . Gusst , bookseller , Sadhouse lane . Tfle committee meets every Tuesday ereniog , at half-past six o ' clock , at the Hall of Science , Lawrence-s ; reet . Admittance free .
IxPOBT . jk . ST PvBUC Msetisg . — ( From our ovm Correspondent , j—At ih « conclusion of the service at the Cnriaiian Chartist church , on Sunday evening last , it was announced that a meeting "would be held on ibs following Tuesday , to hear Messrs . Collins andO'Nriil deliver a rsport of their mission to Leeds . At the appointed time , hundreds iiocked to the Jdac e of inL-eung , anxion 3 to hear the result of the ong-talkeu of demonstration . The place was crowded long before tbe lime for commeuciag business Lad arrived , and a vast number had to go away , unable to gain admittance ; and such was the eagerness of those present to hear an account of tne late transactions at Leeds , that a working min , iu the gallery , eomtaenced reading an account of the proceedings from a Leeds newspaper , and was listened to attentively . When tbe time for opening thff meeting had arrived , ilr . Stjle 3 was called to the chair . He opened the business by seating that they had met there thit evening , for tbe purpose of hearing Messrs . C-jII-us aad O'Naii deliver an account of
the result of their mission . Mr . O r « tiJ , then arose , and proceeded at considerable length , and with great minuteness , to detail the whole of the circumstances that had taken place , from the tims of his arrival at Leeds to his departure . He described his meeting with the other delegates—thie conference between the Charrist delegation aud Messrs . Hume , Roebuck , & . c . —the excited ' state of Ls-ecLs—; he Chartist procession as J meeting—the meeting at Marshall ' s mill —* . he ctfrct prodncud on the audience by the Chartist speaker-, & . c . and concluded amid great applause . Mr . Colhiss then came forward , amid the hearty plaudits of the assembly , and proceedtd . in his usual s : yle to exp a . n the more important features connected with the important proceedings thit had taken place at Leeds . He said he had no doubt but
thai good would result from it to the Ciarnst cause ; he also read extracts from the Leeds newspapers , in torroboration of his statements ; he likewise described what took place at the public cinner , beld at the Music-hall , on Friday evening , and commented on the expressions used a ^ that meeting by Daniel O'Connell and ilr . R > ebuck . After fnlly recounting to his constituents the part he hid taken in the Tarioas transactions , he j-at down amidst loDg and loud cheering , the meeting being highly delighted with the account thsy had received . Mr . Hill then moved " That the thanks of the meeting be given to Messrs . Collins and O'Ne'U , for the praiseworthy manner in which they had performe-d the duty entrusted to them . " This was seconded by
Several in the body of the meeting and passed unanimously . The Chairman then read an accountof the money received for the purpose of defraying the expences of Messrs . Collins and O'Neil to Leeds , and also the expendnure , from which it appeared that a Burp ! u 3 remained , which was orderedio be handed to the Observational Committee . A vote of thanks was then proposed for the chairman and carried unanimously . Previous to the separation of the meeting , a large number of females determined that a Chartist tea drinking should be got up , and retired into th&vestry , for the purposa of forming themselves into a committee to carry oat that object . An excellent spirit prevails here at present , and it is hoped tha ; the Chartist cause will ere loEg be stronger than ever it yet was in Birmingham .
Frost , Williams , a > d Joxes . —Tne General Committee for these viet m 3 held their weekly meeting on Tuesday evening , at the Hail of Science ,-Lawrence-street , ilr . Barratt in the chair . The correspondence for the week was read , and the following resolution was moved by Mr . Smsllwood , seconded by Mr . P . H . Green , and carried unanimously : — " That Messrs . Moir , Lovett , and Morgan Williams , be communicated with by this Committee , to know whether they are willing to act for the presentation of the memorials to the Queen , as laid down in the Northern Star" The Committee intend completing their arrangements for the presentation of the memorials as soon as they have sufficient funds m hand . Memorials have been received this la * t week from Manchester , Carlis-e , Brighton , Swurbridge , and Kinross . The arr » . igement 3 of the Committee , respecting Secretaries , ia as follows : —Financial Secretary , Mr . William Barlow ; Corresponding Secretary , Mr . J . P . Green - , and Committee Secretory , Mr . Thompson .
BRIGHTON . —A meeting of tbe members of the Hationai Charter Association took place here on Monday last , ia the Large Kooei , 110 , Gloster Lane , to take measures to secure the retmrn of Frost , Williams , and Jones ; Mr . Councillor Frederick Page in the . chair , Mr . Coancillor Woodward moved the first resolution : — . " That tui * meeting ia of » pinioa that John Frost , Zepbaniah Williamt , atd William Jones , were illegally triad &n 4 banished from their native land ; and it hereby fctedges itself to use every c « n * tituUonal means in it * power , to effect their restoration to their country , aad their -distressed aad sorro-wing families . "—He proceeded t « show that sae local authorities bed endeavutred to do all tiey could to prevent the holding of tbe lueetisg . They must know ( he said ) that every eadeavour had b » en made by their Council to get the Town Hall . ; and that the authorities were , snd are determined , 'se "they * &ts not in any way to countenance
¦ er ailew any Chartist meeting to tata place in Brighton . He vras one ef a deputation who waited on the Cmstsfele with a requisition , signed by eighty elector * , and about twenty householders of the borough , te request of him to call a pubfic town meeting , for tbe purpose far -which they tb&t -evening met The Constable tbongbi St . in the exercij « of bis prerogative , te refuse the lisa of the Hall for each a purpose , altering thatihey inteodedio hold a < Chartist metting ; foH he , in coivj unction with the magistrates , had recesred a circular from the Home-Office , some time back , . net to allow any -Chartist meetings to take place in Brighton , if -they could prevent them . " Well , " aaid Sir . W ., " oar next attempt ti get the Hall-was fey a requisition to the Clerk to the ¦ Commissioners ; he ( Me . W . ) having been informed , . that if tweaty « lectoa applied fur tne use of the Hall ,. and the Hall iras-not previously « £ ngaEed , there -was a -jesolutirn on the CommiEsi&DeK" books , that the Hall should be
grxnted . Well , the-Coaacj ] got op a regc * fition , and , to make sure , they got appended to it . twenty-five electors' names , i&ste&d of twenty . They . again met ¦ wi th a rtsfotal , notras the Clerk said , that . EErel used the Hail , bat that he bad no powsr to grant it for such a purpose , non partiaolarlv after their bei ^ g refused bf the Coastat > le . Mr . William FU-werg aeetnded the Teaolotioa , a&d , in a shott but eSWc ' . Vve address , Tifi ^ iest ^ d Frcst and hi < companion * . The . K » olution ¦ was then pot t * the meeting , and unanimously carried . Mr . Coancillor Colling propoeed the atrt resolation : — " That , agreeable to the fist resolution , a memorial be KDt to her Majesty the Queen , praying fcer to ^ cercise her prerogaUve , bf eaosiog Frost , Williuos , and J « nes to be liberated , and rertoeed to their homes , their f ^ TniiiMi . Aad country . " ill . Colline thea read to the
ifteetjng the memoriai to t « r Jijjesty , ai eeeommeoded \ rj tbe Birmingham Committee , and coedsdad by moving iti adoption ia eocjauction with the ruokttion . Hr . Councillor Allen Meo&d&d tbe resolctioa , and the adoption vrf the memorial , aad after an eloquent addrua , onclnded , amidst thtea , by saying , -when the naaoee of a Rassell , a Normanby , aod a Maule would be tor . gotten , and rotting in the graves with their bodies , loaded with the execration and det « tati » n at after jeneration * . the namw of Frost , Williams , mdJone * , O'Connor , Vincent , and O'Brien , would be revered and respected . After generations would ting , in songs of joy , to the memory of the persecuted patriots at bygatm dajs . Tbe resotetioaaadaddiese were then put to the meeting , and carried amid load acclamation Mr . Coeneillor John PsceKwe to propose the next
nao-UUon : — " That three of tbe dd Convwtion be ap-I ^» "Vr 1 fry th * "fiirnirf *^ " nnwmto— , top ^ rt . our address to the Qaeen , U xtpnaeatodTeaof on feeUa g * . < wr rau , aad grievaneea , a » d on eaate ; aad that oarLeadosi brethren be requested to attend oardepatBttsa io the gates of the Palace ; and we recommend t > the Birmingham Committee , Janw Moir , William Lovett , and Morgan William * , a * the deputation to present the address to hex M * je * ty . " Mr . George Papvoth steoodei the resolution , which was nnanfmotuly adopted . Mi . Allen proposed the following Mcotolioa . _ u xiiat this raeeting , deeply sensible oft tbe almost SKpedurcuaa exexUoaa of that detezmiaed and nrfH » fhlag patriot , Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., before and doling the trial of tLe exiled patriots , and of the Rev . Wa . Hill , Editor of the A ' « rflUm £ <«¦ , in hit fesrioM expo-• ne of the illegality of the trial , aad injustice of the mtaoM , Uadm Uwa < m aoet siaeere thaoks for tkeir
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truth , and being thereby converted J The reason of this stoppage was . most UDblushiqgly made public . However , after a short lapse of time , and when the snovr and intense cold promised to operate as a bar to the attendance of the Ctartists from a di-tance , —( it being well understood that none at home would venture , under the employer and overseer , to go to the parley in any other capacity than that of hearers and applauders , )—after this lapse , about 700 more tickets were issued , and of which the Chartists bought np the number of 500 . Upon this second brisk sale , orders were sent by the Secretary to the several vendors of tickets , to Bell them to members only , and not to sell one to a Chartist . In pursuance of thiii order , the Chartists ¦ were at a
stand ; and upon one of the body applying at the shop of a liberal newsvendor , at Bradford , he was told that there were none in the shop . In a short time afterwards , however , the same Chartist saw the same liberal news-vendor packing up two parcels of twenty-five tickets each ; and when reminded that those were 6 d . ticketB , the liberal news-vendor replied , " Aye , I know they are , but they are going back to the Secretary , as you want them to oppose the Association . " Now , to the truth of this we pledge ourselves . We canDOt for one moment suppose that either Mr . Marshall or Mr . Stanspkld would have countenanced so pitiful a trick ; and therefore we lay it at the door of the overdiligent unscrupulous Secretary .
So much for tbe positive hindrance offered to tho attendance of the ignorant , while the great array of Nobility , Gentry , and Membera of Parliament , which the programme promised , was of itself sufficient to awe the unwashed into obedience , if not into absence . In fact , had all the expected guests arrived , Mr . Marshall might fairly have been said to have stolen a march upon her Majesty , by opening tho Parliament in his Flax Mill , on the 21 dt , instead of allowing her Majesty tiie nsual privilege of doing so in person , from the throne of the House of Lords on the 26 th .
TicketB , as was unblushingly stated , were to have been furnished , in the first instance , to the members , and 4 , 000 places were let at the various prices , ot from Is . 6 d . to 5 s . —a sum much beyond that which either Mr . Marshall or Mr . Stansfeld , even with Household Suffrage , will allow their men to spare for an intellectual entertainment . The feast was originally to have been on Wednesday the 20 th ; but , inasmuch as Thursday is the Market-day in some parts of the West Riding , and , as those Cbartists who are most independent of mill lords have occasion to attend their market towns , it was , therefore , " reasonably deemed" prudent to alter the day to the 21 st .
With such obstacles , and many others , such as the intimidation of masters and overseers , the (^ harti 3 ta went to work ; and , upon the eve of battle , the enemy struck ! The object ; the one , the sole , the only object , for which the meeting was called , and upon which nearly £ 2 , 000 was expended , was abandoned . Every thing wag conceded to the despised delegates of the despised Chartists ; and mercy , even mercy , was asked for , and generously conceded . The preliminaries were agreed upon , and a resolution was unanimously adopted as the only test of principle to be proposed . That resolution we here onoe more insert . It runs thus : —
" That the great experiment made by means of the Reform Bill , to improve tho condition of the country , hath failed to attain the end desired by the people ; and , a further Reform having , therefore , becomo necessary , it is tbe opinion of this meeting that the united efforts of all Reformers ought to be directed to obtain tuch a further enlargement of tbe franchise , as should make tbe interests ef tbe representatives identical with those of the whole country , and by this means secure a jiut government for all classes of the people . "
Now , we a-k if a Republican of the ultra school could , by possibility , desire a wider field for the exercise of his imagination , than the boundless space which this positive negative , or negative positive , ( which yon please , my dears , ) presents ! Where , in this resolution , are to be found the strong , the defined , the practicable , the intelligible , the enfranchising , the improving , the educating , tbe equalising principles of the Association , according to the several letters of Messprs . Marshall aud Stansfeld ; and where are the rules for the government of the body , which were to bs submitted for the adoption , not for the consideration , but for the adoption of tho apostolical meeting , which was to have consecrated the flax mill by the recognition of our new " Magna Charta'M
The day arrived , and behold ! instead of a five shilling platform , groaning under Peers , M . P . 'e , and aristocrats , come to feel the pulse of England ' s young pride , the pageant , as far as regards the aristocratic representation , is turned into a puppetshow , where Punch and Judy Hume , Strickland , and Williams , in their own proper persons , represent the English aristocracy ! The first speaker who presents himself , Mr . Hume , is mistaken for Mr . Daniel O'Coxyell , who was to have been the " great gun" of the night ; and poor Mr . Hums is assailed with that warmth of bursting indiguatiou
which for weeks had been bottled for the destroyer of the poor man ' a liberty , and the re viler of English women ' s fame . The " destructive Chartists" interfere , explain the mistake , and Mr . Hume is heard ; and thus the business goes on , a Sham-Radical and a Chartist in turn addressing the meeting ; the shams fencing and talking nonsense , the Chartists laying on the whip , and actually electrifying the ignorant platformites , the twoand-sixpenny , and the one-and-sixpeuny audience ; while the sixpenny visitors evinced their delight and approbation at the triumph of their champions , in cheers both hearty , loud , and long .
The Chartists ( and the club know it ) were strong enough to have chosen tleir chairman , and to hav « carried any resolutions declaratory of their principles ; but they could have hit upon none more sweeping , iu recognition of their right , and their cause , and their Charter , than that in which all so happily , and so unanimously agreed . No attempt , from the commencement , was made , by one of the eight thousand pereoiiB , to introduce the question of Household Suffrage , to advance which the meeting was called ; whiie friend and foo declared that Universal Suffrage was the only just principle of franchise .
Let us now ask if such a result could have been contemplated , would the experiment have been tried ! No , never ' . We look , then , upon the viotory of the 21 st of January , 1841 , as being , in the expressive language of the Mercury , the oompletest of all triumphs . We consider it as the first step in the last stage of our moral warfare—as the first" direction " of public opinion . Pnblic opinion must have been well created and thoroughly and soundly organised , before the first attempt at its direction could have been bo triumphantly successful . One false step on the 21 st , jud Chartism would hare received a " heavy blew ; " whereas , prudent management has dealt d&zth aad dismay in the ranks of the enemy .
The utiil meeting was to hare been followed , by transplanting the healthy shoots of young opinion from the suireery to all parts of the Empire . That project has , however , been abandoned , and the Association , -which , but ten dayu since , was brim-full of hope , aow lies prostrate , — " UNHOUSED , " " unamwinted , " u unanneaUd , " — perished in ita infancy , . strangled in its cradle , and sent , " with account unsettled , " before the tribunal of publio opinion .
The Chartists have been k ld , insolently told , that they were onlj potent for ei ^; but he who said so dared not witness their potex ^ 7 for good . From all parts of tie country , and . from Scotland , they selected their delegates , far out -numbering those of the Club . "They came , —they « au , —they conquered *' There vu no bullying , no blaster , D 0 declaration , of war ; no torch , no dagger , bat with tb e Bcjthe of common sense they mowed down every I 'lade of opposition . And singular , moit singular , i '&& * * i * h the
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— m - » mm ^—— - — - - ~ .-i if ^_ . services , in t ' : e reuse of freedom and hun . an ty , on that occasion , " Mr . Alien paid a Li ^ h-nifcn te < l compliment to tie character of the noble Peargus , tho friend of the poor , and the vindicator of their right " . Sir . Flowers , seconded the resolution , and said the greatest honour that be ever felt had been conferred on him , was when the noble O'Omnoi toot him by the hand at their first Chartist meeting in their Town HelL Mr . Veness could not tet the resolution pats without laying claim to a little honour , that he should ever hold in remembracce . He bad the pleasure ef riding with tbe noble champion in his carriage , from Brighton to Worthing ;
he shomld never forget it as long as he lived . A more feeling , a more fatheriy-like man , he never had the pleasure of conversing with , than Feargua O'Connor ; be was kind , generous and noble—he was a real noble —a noble of nature . In nobility O'Connor stood above Ifermanby , Russell , at Co ., as St Paul's above a mushreom . The resolution was then put and carried , with a loud hurrah , that made the very building shake again . Thanks were voted to the Chairman , and three cheers were proposed for Frost , Williams , and Jones ; for the Charter ; for Feargus O'Connor , and tbe other imprisoned Chartists , which were loudly and enthusiastically responded to .
PERTH . —On Wednesday week , a toiree and ball was held here , in aid of the wives and families of the imprisoned ChartiBts , when the meeting was addressed by various friends ; and at the conclusion three cheers were given for Frost , William ? , and Jone 3 ; for Fearges O'Connor ; For Richardson and Collins ; and for the Charter . After clearing all tbe expences , thirty-two shillings remain , and will be forwarded to the proper quarter . HEBDE 3 C BBJDGE .-Mr . Doyle lectured here a few evenings ago . At the conclusion of his lecture three cheers were given for O'Coanor , the Charter , and for Frost , Wiiliams , and JoneB . DBOTXaSDZar . —On Tuesday evening last , Mr . Doyle lectured here to the great gratificat ion of a numerous auditory , by whom he was rapturously applauded .
SHEFFIELD . —Chartism wears here a more than usually favourable aspect . At the last weekly meeting , thg members determined to have nothing to do with the Household Suffrage party in any way whatever , and to support neither men nor measures , short of the entire right of TJmver .- < al Suffrage . WXG&N . —Mr . Bairatow addressed a meeting here , on Monday evening last , at great length , in which he detailed the proceedings at the Leeds meetings . At the conclusion , three cheera each were given for Feargus O'Connor ; for the speaker ; for tbe Charter ; fur Frost , Williams , and Jones ; and a vote of thanks to the Chairman ( Mr . Hyslop ) . Mr . B . ' s visits have given a great impulse to the cause .
SOUTH LANCASHIRE .-Mr . Leech , the South Lancashire missionary , will deliver lectures at the following places , during the next forruight : On Sunday , the 31 » t , Ratcliffe-Bridge ; Monday , Feb . let , at the Carpsuter ' s-hall , Manchester ; Tuesday , the 2 d , at ac a room , near Droylsdc-n ; Wednesday , the 3 J , at Piikington ; Thursday , the 4 th , at Mottram ; Friday , the 5 ; h , at Rawden-lane ; Saturday , the o " th , at JN ' ewtou Heath ; Sunday , the 7 ih , at Brown-svrcet ; Monday , the 8 th , at Bolton ; Tuesday , the 9 ih , at Wigau ; Wednesday , the 10 th , at Liverpool ; and on Thursday , the 11 th , at Warrington . The various associations are requested to make the necesjarj preparations tor his reception . BATH . —On Monday evening last , an interesting meetiug was held at the Charter Association Room , Mr . Clarke in the chair , when several addresses , alluding to" The Labourer ' s Employment Society " of Bath , and the conduct of the police , were delivered . Mr . Aleuander of Newport , also addressed the meeting . ^^
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Chabtist Adhesives , or Stickers . —We have received samples of two adhesives for letters , from Manchepter . On one is printed the sentence , — " Remember Frost , Williams , and Jones ; '' and on tbe other , — "The Charter , and No Surrender . " They are neatly engraved on green paper , ready for pasting , and we would recommend tbe use of them as a good mode of calling attention to the Chartist victims and tbe People ' s Charter . IsHCMAJf Gaol Treatment . —A long investigation took place the other day , a : Brixton House of Correction , touching the death of Ehiibeth Banks , aged 35 , who died just after having descended from the treadwheel . A fellow-prisoner stated , that the poor woman was much troubled in bed with a cough all night previous , and tbat she said the clothing was very thin npon her . The poor creature was put on the treadwheel twice the following morning , and the witness gave the following account
of her death : —I was sitting on my seat waiting for my turn to go , there were four or five persons on the wheel at the same time , when the deceased , who had been np the last time about five minutes , told iwo of the girls to get oui of her way as quick as possible , when she got down and sat on the seat . She looked very ill , and turned quite blue in the face , and never uttered a single word . 1 ran to her assistance , and supported her upon the seat , when she expired in my arms . " An attempt was made to clear the prison functionaries of any alleged neglect , but tbe foreman of the jury remarked , — " that there was no doubt tbat tbe death of the woman was accelerated by the hard labour and prison regulations , at a time when her frame was debilitated by illness . " He added that the surgeon could not be aware of her illness , as she never mentioned her congh to him . Verdict— " Death from Natural Causes . "
More Railwat Accide-tts . —On Tuesday last , two men lost their lives on the Bolton and Pregton Railway ; one from a quantity of eanh suddenly giving way , aud the other from being knocked down , and run over by some soil waggons . Inquests have been held over them , and verdicts of " Accidental death" returned . Uawattkal Pabevt . —The m&gistrates of the Manchester Borough Court , were on Monday engaged in investigating into the eondnctofa brute named Mary Soloman , towards one of her children .
It had been found in the cole-hole , lying on a few shavings , and so black that it could Btarcely be recognised as a human being . The prisoner , it seemed , lived with a person named Cox ; and the reason assigned for their inhuman treatofcnt of the poor ohild was , that they had entered it into a burial club , and would be entitled to a pirn of money shonld it die . The surgeon deposed that the child was not in immediate danger of losing its life , and the prisoners were discharged with an admonition .
Unwholesome Mkat . —On Monday , the carcases of two sheep , and three pigs , were publicly burned in the Free Market , Leeds . The Commissioners appear to be more vigilant in the execution of the duties ef their important offioe , than they have previously been .
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WHAT EVERY OKE SAYS MUST BE
TRUE . We take it &s an admitted fact , that what gvery oae says must be true ; nor do we apprehend that even the concurrence of " tbe Great Liar of the North , " will shake the maxim , when applied to the Crioinph of Chartism , on Thursday the 21 st of January , IHI . Every person , and all authorities , concur in admitting that neTer was there so complete , 60 entire , and bo aioble a victory . But if upon ih& -mar * face of facts presented fo the pnblic eye , all .-agree in the completeness of our triumph , what most be the public surprise when all the facts « f the < case are laid bare '
Be it remembered , then , that education was one of the great principles of the * " Leeds Parliamentary Reform Association , " and from the operation ol which apoa the sound judgment of the industrious classes e «* y hope of an alliance between them and their masters was fully anticipated . " The people were deluded , and * nly required teaching ; the people were ignortet , and only required instruction . " To bring about m desirable an end , nothing was so necessary as * paiiey between the rival partiesthe philanthropic : matters aad theur aisled slaves
The magical effect of eloquence is almost unbounded , and it bat eequired the ratorical powers of tbe rich oppressor t » persuade the fteor oppressed ( hat grievancee were eeatlly felt b j the capitalist , who from others' labour iad amassed minions , and by thoee whose very sweat Jtad been ooiaei into gold to fill their coffers . * Equal justice for eaefc and for all , ** was , we beliBTe , a point in th » principles of the Association . How far tail point hm bees observed , and how far , and by what mean * , the light of knowledge was to have dispersed the dark cload ot ignorance , let u * j in the fiat place , eon * ider , before we proceed with oar general review .
A parley was to hare taken place , whereat all grades of intellect , from id . to 5 t ^ were to have been represented . The firtt i * me of ticket * took place ; aad out of 1 , 500 of tbe nnintellectual sixpennieg , the knowledge-thirsting Chartuts , of themselret , purchased no fewer than 1 , 309 of the number . This fact wm communicated to the Seeretarr of the Club , when , to our surprise and disgust , the farther issue of ticke t * was stopped , lest the ignorant people should pnrehMe a ch * o « e of hearing the
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single exceptioa of something which Mr . Marshall readfroin a piece of paper , and which , as Chairman , he wt . 8 bound to do , not one of the members of the " Leeds Parliamentary Reform Association . " appeared in the contest . It was the com pie test representation of Hamlet , without a Hamlet , we ever heard tell of ! Where was Mr . Stansfeld , with his Biblo , and Traveller ' s Tales , and Joe Miller 1 Where was Joshua Bower , Esq ., and where was Charles Cummins , Esq ., and , — " Where , and O where , is my Highland laddie gone ?" Where was the thrilling eloquence , the soul-stirring patriotism , the undying flame , the untiring energy of the Doctor ?
We could not have had a more happy illustration of the several parties of which society is composed , than that which the Mill was intended to represent on the 2 lst . Tho platform for the peers ; the 2 s . 6 d . for the upper class ; the Is . 6 d . for the middle class ; and the 6 d . for the class that pays for all . And let us , a 3 a finisher to the dispute between tne H-o-u-se and the intellect , clearly show the advantage which the enfranchisement of the latter must , of necessity , have over the enfranchisement of the former .
Universal Suffrage would be the advocate of the meritorious soldier , who had seen service , and who understood his duty , against the hairy-lipped monkey who slips from his mammy ' s apron-string to command his betters . Universal Suffrage would place merit , genius , and talent , instead of patronised prejudice , folly , and ignorance upon the bench ; and thus make reason aud justice , instead of caprice and fancy , preside over men ' s lives , men s liberties , and men s properties .
Universal Suffrage would protect the capitil ol him with one hundred thousand pounds , against the capital of him with one million thousand pounds , by so ordering demand and supply , that a man shall neither stramp the market , or overhold his goods upon tiie strength of his largo capital , to the destruction of his poorer neighbour . Universal Suffrage would protect the shopkeeper
against the truck system of the feeding mongers , and against the monopoly of government purveyors , at the lowest wholesale pries , for the worst description of food , for unwilling idlers who , under a good system , would become tho best customers of the shop-keeping class . They would wear more hose , more shoes , and more clothes ; they would use more furniture , more coals , and more of the manufacture of their own hands .
Universal Suffrage would protect the banker and the merchant , from all losses consequent upon unnatural trade . Universal Suffrage would protect the landed proprietor from the Jew-jobber , the tax-eater , and the money lender . Universal Suffrage would protect the peerage as a distinction for merit . Universal Suffrage would protect the large capitalists from that crash , that awful crash , which the present system must inevitably subject them to . Universal Suffrage would protect tbe Ministry from too great a responsibility .
Unirer-ial Suffrage would protect the Monarch from a Republic , and Universal Suffrage would protect the cottage from ruin , while Household Suffrage would place it in the power of the wealthy to erect monuments to his own temporary greatness and grandeur , to the immediate ruin of his poorer neighbour , to his oivu ultimate and certain destruction , and to the country ' s ruia . In Bhort , we cannot improve upon our former position : that Universal Suffrage would disfranchise the vicious
and eafrauchise the virtuous of all classes , from the aristocracy to Mr . Baptist Noel ' s " without-God-and-without-hope" staff ; and that if the principle of exclusion is to be admitted , the industrious would represent all other classes more honestly and efficiently than all other classes unitedly could represent themselves ; aud tbat ninety-nine in every hundred labourers , who never can hope to live independently of industry , would have , if possible , a greater interest in upholding the cmDlovers' capital than the master himself .
Now , can any sound judging man deny these facts , without first proving that the working classes aro all mad t Why , we shall be asked , in years of as great distress , have not these things been urged by , or on behalf of , the toiling millions ! Why has the mere question of abstract riqht , to be forcibly carried , constituted the sum and substance of political agitation ? The question is easy of solution . Till the reductiou upon newspaper stamps ,- ( the greatest revolution ever known ia this or any other country ) , —the people could only think ; they could not express their thoughts ; and York and
Lancaster , the centre of the hive , the marrow of England ' s back-bone , were represented , exclusively , by the Leeds Mercury and the Manchester Guardian . These two political rips collated , what they were pleased to call , the public opinion of the millions ; and there being no organ to dissent from their falsehoods , they became the salesmasters of provincial feelings in the metropolis ; hence , London , which is a citadel , always either taken or defended , according to the weakness or strength of the garrison , fell into the prevailing notion , would not stir against Lancashire aud Yorkshire , and , in short , took the epidemic .
iVbw how is it ! The Mercury and Guardian now only represent " the wreck of old opinions . " They have not , unitedly , the power to call a single meetiDg , or carry a single resolution , for any one purpose ; they cannot assist where they before administered ; they cannot procure a voto , where they before conferred seats . Thus has the freshness of popular provincial opinion given a freshness to metropolitan opinion , and taken off the rust of ages .
A keen sportsman once remarked , that he never was so well carried as when he had only one horse , one saddle , and ono bridle . The horse was always in wind , without sore mouth from strange bridle , or sore back from badly fitting saddles ; whereas , when he had ten , all were out of order and out of wind . Now , such is precisely the case with tho people . Formerly they wero delighted with a pleasant Tide
upon the local hobby-horse ; and we had as many crotchets as journals , and as many journals as crotchets , aad as many officers as soldiers . Now we have one organ shining with equal brillianoy upon the hovel and the palace—equally illuming the peasant as the peer—a national finger-post , pointing out the one straight road to freedom ; and hence we find all the passeugera going the one way upon the great thoroughfare of life .
Again , then , do we congratulate ourselves , our friends , their delegates , and their cause , upon the victory of victories gained upon tbe 21 st ! By that , the ChartiBts have proved to the world that they require but a clear stage and no favour ; and that physical force baa only been mentioned in consequence of the unjust and cowardly suppression of moral strength . How could a victory be more decisive ! Without striking a blow Ihe ; enemy capitulated , surrendered at discretion , and marched out without their arms , leaving their principles , as Sir Peter Teazle left his character—behind them . In fact , the Household troops weresurrounded and made prisoners of war , by the Terr first charge of the Universal brigade .
But let not our troops suppose that this viotory is to be the signal for repose ! No , no , we must go on , adding triumph to triumph , until the Charter becomes the law of the land . Again do we most cordially thank the people and their delegates ; snd it now only remains for us to lament the" mill of troubles , " which a covetous old gentleman has allowed an indiscreet young boy to bring upon him . The people came—they saw—they wnquered . This all admit—beeaute none can deupit : and what every one s » yt jaiist be true . "
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O'CONNOR , O'CONNELL , THE MERCURY , AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE 21 st . We give the following bit from the journal of the man of veracity ; he says : — . « The assemblage of Chartists at Holbeck Moor on That 8 day ¦ waa to the last degree meagre and miserable . Mr . Feargus O'Connor , who barns With hatred to Mr . O'Connell , and who considered the latter as coming to Leeds to triumph over him , did every thing tbat fierce personal rancour , as well as political animosity , could suggest , to procure an overwhelming attendance . of Cbartists , wsfib a view to oppose , if not to insult and silence him . "
Only one Word upon that portion of the bit which refers to the triumphant ( and , therefore , to the fallen god , " meagre and miserable ") gathering which took place on the 21 st . The " thieving god , " as the honey-lipped O'Cownell called his friend , gave us 10 , 000 for the '' Great Peep Green Meeting , " at which all admitted there were from 300 , 090 to 400 , 000 persons ; and he give ? us 3 , 000 for " The Welcome to Dan" Meeting , while the space occupied , before the thousands had fully assembled , was three thousand square . yards . Now , all persons are aware that an out-door
meeting , and especially in cold weather , packs much more closely than an in-door meeting . In a room there are angles and corners , and other obstacles , to the complete occupation of the whole space . However , a part of the meeting covered 3 , 000 square yards ; the procession filled Briggate , perhaps the largest street in any provincial town in England , as full as an egg ; and having dispatched thousands to their homes , we contrived to find room for nearly 5 , 000 of the 3 , 000 in Mr . Marshall ' s Mill ! Why , even old weekly Green acre Chron . gives us 4 , 000 . How is this , Cocker ?
Oh ! Neddy , if it had been a Whig meeting , how many pairs of spectacles would you have had . on 1 The whole staff of the establishment would have counted tach man twice over , and then would have multiplied all the numbers severally counted , and the product would have been the amount , announcud thus : —'* We are always delicate in venturing a guess at large masses of persons , and therefore prefer taking the opinion of an old officer , who was on tho ground , and who paid particular attention to the space occupied , and the position of the audionoe , and he assures us that there could not have been fewer than from two to three hundred thousand persons present at the period when the greatest number were together . "
So much for Mercurial accuracy , delicacy , and arithmetic ; aud now a word for the " gentleman" in his capacity of champion for the sucking dove , the injured innocent , poor Dan . The Mercury forgets who called for , aad obtain « d , three groans for the Queen of the Reforming King ; he forgets that within the month he and the sucking dove have been pelting each other with " swindler , "" thieving God , " and so forth ; ( but , politically speaking , these are lumps of love ;) and then he turns upon O'Connor for having implored the working men of Yorkshire to give O'Connell such a reception as he deserved !
When did age , sex , rank , friendship , or fellowship screen man or beast from the filth of the venomvomiting wretch , who , for twenty years has lived upon the wreck of character , regardless whether of friend or foe ! and this is the " sucking dove , " on whose behalf the Mercury pleads ! Had the first victim to the tyrant ' s rancour met him with the same bold and manly front that O ' Connor has presented to his every charge , many a fair fame would have been spared the soil of
his dirty tongue . O Connor met him on the threshold ; and the Mercury appears to forget that he challenged him at his own expence , and without any reference to personal feelings , to meet him in public discussion : but no , darkness and cowardice shrunk from light and courage . O'Connor is the first man who has triumphantly made the tyrant ' s friend cry " hold ! " "enough ! " " spare ! O spare your victim I "—Yes , the victim in bondage has beaten the beast at large .
But let us take the question upon its merits ; O ' Connor was expected in Dublin , and the " sucking dove " said , " If he come , the boys will give him a swim in the Liffey . " At ono of the palavers of his creatures , some blustering coward said that " he met O'Connor at a meeting at Preston , and that he had a great mind to kick him . " What was the pacificator ' s reply 1 1 am glad you did not , my friend ; that would have been physical force , which we discountenance . Did he say so ! No ; but the valiant gentleman said , " you never would have been more right in your life thau you would have been had you kicked him well . "
The beast marked O Connor out for the notice of the Attorney General ; called him a-destructive , torch-and-dagger man , and so forth . Now * what did O ' Connor aay ? Did he say kick him ! No ; he said , "let there be no drunkenness , no riot ; if any should attempt it , let him be instantly restrained . ' Well , but popular feeling and disgust ran eo high that tho strongest manifestation of dislike could not have' been possibly restrained , had Dan shown his
nose in Leeds , as promised ; and it was O'Connor did it all !!! although , it was all done before he knew anything of the arrangements . Why the Chronicle even saddles a placard upon O'Connor , which O ' Connor never saw , or probably never heard of ! Let it , however , be a consolation to O'Connor to know , tbat the coward who would not have dared to face him , was prevented by a fair-play-loving English community of blistered hands , from striking him while he was down .
The poor Mercury make 9 a leader of a most foolish and enigmatical epistle o ( Lord Fixzw illiam , forgetting that the said Lord Fjtzwilliam , while Baines was groaning the Queeu , was declaiming , publicly , the very expressions which the bloodthirsty O'Connor procured to be expunged from the Convention Manifesto , as being illegal . The fact is , that O'Connor , the Star , and the people , have beaten O'Connell , the whoie Whig
Establishment , the Whigs , tho sham Radicals , the Fox and Goose Club , aud the whole community of rich oppressors . Again , we say , there never was such a triumph , when the Mercury is compelled to head his report thus : —* Great Household Suffrage Demonstration , converted into a Universal Suffrage Meeting ; " and in his leading article he maintains that " the Chartists obtained the com ' pletest of all victories—they took captive the entire army of the enemy "
The Intelligencer , a far honester and more efficient organ , speaks thus of the demonstration : — " The ' Great Demonstration' of the Whig Reformers of the Reform Act , iu Leeds , has turned out , as we predicted it would turn out—a decided failure . Of the announced stars , only a few of the second magnitude were present—such as Mr . Hume , Mr . Roebuck , Col Thompson , Mr . Williams , ( from Coventry , ) Mr . Sharman Crawferd . and Sir George Strickland . Mr . O'Connell was not present ; but arrived yesterday in time to get
a bit of dinner . Sir W . Molesworth excused himself ; he is jealous ot Mr . Roebuck . Mr . Baines refused , and left Leeds to show his contempt for Mr . Stansfeld ' s agitation . Letters were read from various parties ; but we did not hear any thing of one from F . H . Fawkea , Esq ., of Farnley Hall , who wrote to decline on tbe ground that the only point on which he agreed with the managers , was that * Reform * was at a very low ebb . Surely it was not quite fair to burk tbe opinions of so active and respectable a local Reformer . :
"The Chartist' Demonstration' wasafarmore effective exhibition , and shows much greater power both as to numbers and the feelings of the working men . They evinced a determined aad well-founded hatred of the trickster O'CoaneU , and were SKccetsful at > U points . The Whigs , in fact , made an abject submission to them ; they literally sued to them , in bondsman ' s key , for forbearance ; assigned to them equal rights on Messrs . Marshall ' s costly hustings ! accorded them man for man in the settled li » t of orators ; and the working .
men Chartists waged the battle of argument with the Whig nobs , aye , and '' beat them too , inasmuch as if there be any arguments good for Household Suffrage , the same arguments most be still better for Universal Suffrage . The solitary resolution moved , was also squared to Chartist toleration . It simply affirms that further re / ana is required . In this the Cbartists of course agree . So the Whigs have actually taken nothing by their movement ; in all respects playing second fiddle only . We repeat that the tflair mi an utter failure , tbomgh an Immense sum of money has
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been lavished upon it ; the greater part of \ ji .: no doubt , vill fall te the share of the Messrs . Maj ^ S It is an old maxim that foolish persona nlw&ji for their hobby . ** "But although the Whigs have broken down in ii . attempt to enlist under their banner the great bo *]^ the working men of Leeds and its vicinity , taeji ' shewn plainly enough that they are ready to join tt ? Chartists , or any body of complainants , as soon u Conservative and constitutional Government slJti ! formed . Were Sir Robert Peel and the Duke oT * * lington In office , these sticklers fer Household Snftwf would swallow any other nostrum for the sah ^ influence over the minds of the masses . They vbiJ altogether devoid of honest principle . We qn « £ however , whether the Chartists will ever again j ZJJ them as leaders . If they enlist , they must be eS to take the lowest rank . They have petsacut&w ? old pupils ; and to trust them again would btn * making a bosom companion of the viper . TheJ ? quent arrival of O'Connell , and his attendance yi * night ' s dinner , will not contribute to smooth tha ^! towards a reconciliation . ^ 1
" Oar report of tbe proceedings embraces all tfcu . Ing points of the slightest importatee or interest t £ speaking was below mediocrity . Mr . Hume r ^ if from subject to subject , and scarcely ever finuj , sentence ; Mr . Roebuck is tiresome } Col onel Thonw prosy ; Mr . Williams a mere chatterer . Mr . Sha *! Crawford appears to be a clever man , but the S " evinced » strong indisposition to listen to hun * many persons left the mill as soon as he began to ^ i ? The greater portion went to see O'Connell , and ^* disappointed . Sir George Strickland put himself J j ? itefence as to his conduct as Chairman of the Hull E ' tion Committee : it would have been better for him , 5 | he kept silence , for his explanation only makes th « niJ still blacker . DUt *
" We shall have to return to this and other ¦ om , the day's exhibition , when time and place arenW disposal . We have said enough , however , to she » o » this Demonstration' was merely an affair of | J j The mountain laboured , and brought forth a verj « mouse indeed . " J Let the " thieving god" and his " injured innoceat " take their change out of all these proofs of Cha ^ triumph , and add to them the fact , that all wbo ^ nessed the procession admitted that it waa t ' . Iarge 5 t , the mo ^ t orderly , and the most injposjj . ever teen in Leeds .
But , says the Mercury , they had no pi ^ i' we always fought it out , even with FeahgciI himself . Indeed ; let ub see . Fbakgus him £ «! f ^ at Leeds for three years , during the hottest period ^ of excitement , and when a good meeting wouldha ^ I teen nuts to the poor Whigs in Leeds , bo cejj . brated in olden times forgiving tho tone toEng }^ , \ " how many out-door meetings did the redoubt !! ables call ? Why , just one , in three years , and ai
which , though the Mayor was in the chair- " and the M . P . Baines and all his family , and " all the masters , overseers , place-hunters , m { toadies , that could be mustered , congregated , Mr . O ' Connor , after a journey of a hnndied miles , and with a ruptured blood-vessel , met th whole army singly and alone ; not a man appointed C to second bis amendment ; no arrangements made for « opposition . Yet , did O'Connor carry his arnendneni , g and that too upon the vital question of the' I repeal of the Corn Laws , in the centra of the pt « i I manufacturing county of York , and in defiaaceof = the whole muster , though the Whig Mayor mi . f
tended , in the very teeth of the meeting , that the if majority was for the original motion ; knowing well % the contrary to be the fact . | So much , thea , for the courtesy , civilization M pluck , and politeness of the gallant Queen-groans || —the veracious politician—the consistent jownalist § —the polished gentleman—defender of the sucking §| dove , and so forth . We pity those leetle abortioa |§ who sneak after and crouch before the moving nua p of filth , that has nocked their very size , and rerijedil
their every act , while we commend the manly bearingpi of the Gallant Napiee and the brave 0 'Connob , hW p have made the bottle-holders of the great vo * -j § valiant slanderer cry , "Hold ! " " Enough ! " M
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LEICESTER . 1 EVEN A GREATER CHARTIST TRIUMPH THi * j | THAT OF THE TWENTT-F 1 RST . M From Leeds to Leicester did Dan . nt and Jon g in company start . The object of the Leicester i > m was , to give to Lord Acre and Bombshell I ( Easthopk ) all the advantage which sympathy for cobblers and church-rate "martyrs" could ¦ bestow , previously to another election . Admission only by ticket ; and Chartists , and even their friend ; , IS positively refused entrance . Police , to phisiognomia M every unwashed applicant , and all the avenues well f ! guarded . | l Well , says the reader , and where was the tiiaa ^) m Why , hear , and you shall confess . tl
Daniel and Joseph vouchsafed au autognpi 5 - ¦ letter to Messrs . Sbal and Markham , two leading ^ Chartists , in which the writers requested the honon ^ of an interview at their hotel , after the meeting , top have a little chat ; and when the said DASHrandlw Joky would answer any questions which the saidk Seal and Markuam might choose to propose . * Well ; what of that ?—where is the triumph \ Why , here , in these few words . Messrs . Sui £ and Markham presented their compliments , tail begged to decline the honour which they could not : accept without DEMEANING THEMSELVES !;; Now , then , was ever so great a triumph ! Wh en z before did two M . P . ' s receive such a slap on tl «| j face from two of the unwashed ? Two liberate ;; ' ;
political pedlarsjhawking their wares and volante « ring to bo catechised by Chartists , —and the Chartiiti If declining the honour , leBt they should DEMEAN - THEMSELVES ! This , we say , iaa greater triumph than even tit ^ 2 lst ; because , until the working men aretanght :. the vaiue of self-esteem , their rulers will never hold % them in better estimation than as so many nose-led ^ brutes . " We decline the honour , because , by &S IM acceptance we should DEMEAN OURSELVES ! " ! Well done , Leicester . We confess iu these twe words you have outdone us . In proof , we gwe the . letter of John Mahkham to Feahgos O'CowotM and which O ' Connor transmitted to us : — p " Leicester , January 23 rd , 18 * 1- fc
" Mr Dear Sir , —The great church rate meeting J « p held here this evening ; Dan . and Hume , Eastbopft h and Ellis , are all here . Admission only by ticket , m& so scrupulous have tbe fellows been that they nave had f a person at each of their offices who they thought baa , a knowledge of the Chartists and their friends , vA they positively refused to sell a single ticket to any out J who was known to be friendly to us . Dan and Hob' it sent for me and Seal to night , to go to their inn , " w j bave a little chat , or to answer any question we mi * b * ]
think proper to put to them . " We Bent s letW instanttr , to say we should be wanting in self-respw and a due consideration to the honour of our fri endii after such a gratuitous insult offered to our body , U * accepted their invitation . _^ id ¦•* Poor , but yet faithful , " I remain , dear Sir , ?• Yours truly , J . IIarkham . "To Feargus O'Connor . Esq . "
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The Northern Star. Saturday, January 30. 1841.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , JANUARY 30 . 1841 .
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THE ELECTIONS . There are now five of these things upon the tap * to wit , Canterbury , where the contest ia b etween * Mr . Wtuo * < Whig ) and a Mr . Smttue ( Tort ) Here the betting u twenty shillings to a F ^ either way ; and it needs little comment , as it is » very pretty quarrel as U stands : the Whig h » < blackguarded the Tory most awfully ; the Tcrj having challenged him ; the Whig has made * copious discharge of gentlemanly eompenaati * for political language . The letter of apology ru * thusi-i
" Mr . Frederick TUUen , oa the put of Mr . Bern * ker Wiiwtn , disclaim * having had th * intention in & above-mentioned sentences of laying anything per **' ally ofiafcsiTe to Mr . Sraythe , or what would be -p ^* to hU foUnga as a gentleman . Mr . Villiers mate «• same disclaimer as to any other part of ids speech . H * VUlierm further expresses Mr . H . Wilson ' s regret & » his speech should have been understood by any one » personally offensive to Mr . Smy the . ¦ " Frederick Villibb * - "Frbdbrick Suitor" January J » , 1841 . "
Now , from the words , feelings at a gentleman it is quite clear that the most upright gentlem ** may be the most consummate political vagabond and vice versa . Well , so much for the gentlaoanlj heroes !
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T AW wt i 4 - . THE NORTHERN S I _^_
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 30, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct842/page/4/
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