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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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RATION AX , CONVENTION . J FRIDAY , APSIL 15 . Mr . Duncan was elected to the chair , Mr . Lsoch to the "rice , and Mr . Campbell Secretary , who having called j the roll , Messrs . Campbell , leach , M'Pherson , Duncan ,-i M'Douill , Morgan Williams , Kidley , Stallweod , Beesley , ' and Halson ¦ were present . i The minutes having been read and confirmed , Mr . Lsach delivered in petition-sheets from the following places : — Jd / iddleton , with 3 . 200 signatores . Leigh , do . 8 , 400 do . Bilcliffe , do . 2 , 008 do . CiowbenS , da 2 . 200 d <\ Eeywood , da 6 . 4 S 0 do . Oldham . do . 9 970 Co .
Droylsden , ' do . 2 600 do .-Pilmouth , do . 1 . 200 do . Ecde 3 , do . 2 , 600 da Hollis Green , do . 800 do . Bolton , do , IS . oOtf do . Kochdile , de . 19 . C'jO da . Astley , do . 3 , 000 < 3 a . Pilkington , do . 3 . S 6 S & >• Prestwich , do . 1-200 * o-Wigan , do . 8 500 fio . SaUord , do . 19 . G 00 < 2 o . Askton , do . 14 . 200 do-Manchester , do . 92 280 do . ^ orth Lancashire , do . 52 . C 00 do . Ifewton Hezth , do . 1 , 900 do \ TTilmslow , da 1 , 200 do . Eyde , do . 7 , 00 ? - do . Eiizlegrove , da 1 , 600- do . yewilills , do . 1 . 40 * do . Coagkton , do . 2 , 490 do . Chester , do . 2 . S 74 do . GIossop , da 5 . 6 « 0 do . Leicester , do . 15 . 000 da lioushboroush , do . 7 . GOO do . Derby , do . S . TOS do . Bnrton-on-Trenfe , do . 3 , iOG do . Dakinfieid , da 3 , 000 do .
Mr . Morgan "Williams presented petitions from Merfchyr Tydvil , -with 13 , 200 signatures . Tredegar , do . 10 , 000 do . Aberdare , do . 4 . 165 do . Tfewbridge and Dlnnas , do . S . 550 do . Cardiff , do . 2 , ouO do . Mr . White presetted petitions from Birmingham , "with 32 , 000 signatures . Frotn Notts county , -with 40 . 000 signatures . Boston , do . 1 , 400 do . Srcckport , do . 14 . 000 do . Macc ; es 5 e ! d , do . 9 , 000 do . 2 * oriiwich , do . 1 000 do . Capstall Bridge , do . 1 , 000 do . During the day many other petitiens were received , tut , the number of signatures they contained , and the districts they "were received from , have not yet bteu reported .
Iretiers were read from Messrs . Sharmnn Crawford and Dnncmbe , M . P . ' s , in answer to communications from the Secretary . 3 Ir . Shc . nnzn Crawford ' s letter stated he bad communicated -with a b : > dy of his Chartist constituents at Eccbdale , and had stated his ¦ willingness to receive any commuiacation from any Convention of their body , tnt thai he could not delay his motion later than the 21 st cf April , provided the forms of the House -would admit of it coming on at that period . He thought it desirable to inf-j-m them that his motion -would include the six points of the Charter . Mr . Jtencemba's letter stated that he sbonld be happy to receive a dtj u : st : on from the Convention , at 11 o ' elock . Messrs . Leach , M'Douail , and M'Ph rscn , who -were the deputation appc-inted , received leave if absence-at that Verio J ,
A Keto . t "R"is then received fir-m the CoiEmitt-es ft , r 3 > rawinj up the Biles and Kecnlat . ozsfcr the . jeniJance of the ConventitS , -which were read n :: J discu = sed , seriatim , ana -were ordered to be brought up for c-ulBjiuation on llcnoay morning . Mr . O"C jnnor moved , that the deputation s-. nt to Mr . " Hixzcom-hz : be p 3 id their cab hire , they having a considerable cistmce to so , and bdng pressed . for timt , be iri , nr . flt it forward thus publicly , rather than it shield l > e brought forward privately in committee . Mr . Bairstow seconded tte motion . H :- wis in favour of all sums be ng thus publicly cra ^ t-. d .
^ Ir . Kidley moved zo ' xt as the dep-ata . ti-.-n might have started at an earlier period , that their eipencts . be nut defrayed . Mr . Szallwcol seconded the motion . Mr . Thomas- - ^ thcu ^ ht that as ininy of them -were Etnnrcrs is London , that , when on the business if th- j Convention , the expei ; cs 3 of the delegates should fce _ paid . Messrs . Lowrie , Mason , and Philp Enpported the motion . Mr . Moir and Mr . B—sley , thought that delegates should be very circf ol how they entered into any expesces of this description . It tras decided that upon this occasion the espences of the deputation be paid . Credentials w ^ e received from Mr . Moir , of Glasgow .
Mr . Roberts read a portion of a private letter from Uronierre O'Bnen , slaiiag that he should be unable t ^ attend during the -whole of ths sitting of the Convention , but shcuid ba able to devote a portion of bis tirce to it . A statement had been previously mace by Mr . O'Connor to the came effect from Mr . Pitkethly . Mr . Philp moved that each delegate do now report the state of Chartism in the district -which he represents , Bad . gtve his opiaicn . of the best mttioS of ajsvrciing the success of the causa Mr . ThoHiissGn seconded the mcv . on , - which being acceded to , it -was arranged that the delegates should deliver their reports in the order in -which " their names stood on the roll call .
Mr . AbramDanciii represented the men of the Western and Midland districts cf Scotland ; he was happy ti state that their organisation was in an exceedingly satis-1 factory state ; in the smallest villages , they had halls lot themselves , in -which lectures -were delivered gene- i Tally ones a -week . He might almost S 3 y that their or- j ganisation"was complete ; they were in possession of a fast amount c-f pnblic opinion , indeed they might say that no other public opinion existed , saTe that in favour of Chartism ; their number of signatures were doable those they had contributed to the last petition . -In Arbroath the cause waa progressing -well j they had a hall , caDable of holding six or seven hundred persons ,-whieh was their own property . They had two
excellent meetings in their hall last week , and had sent four thousand signatures to the petition . In Forfar . their progress -was net so satisfactory ; they h 3 d been delnded by the idea of a repeal of the Corn Laws ; since then , they had progressed t ? Mr . Sturge " s Declaration , and "were beginning to perceive the superiority of Chartism : foT this place he had brought three thousand five hundred signatures . Taking his district as a whole , there ¦ was an excellent spirit manifested in the good cause ; thev had everywhere triumphed over opposition , and had " removed all obstructions from their path ; one good featBrs in their agitation was , that they observed peace , law , and order ; they had been truilty of no folly , but had acte-i wisely , prudently , and firmly .
Mr . Beesley represented the district of is orth Lancashire , -which he was happy to inform them was in a ficurjibing state . They had vritbstwti triBT-taticffi in every form ; and their numbers were greaty increased . The opposition they had received frcm the middle clas 3 was being rapidly removed ; and prejudice was last dying away . A . short time back they -svere net able to procure place 3 of meeting , now , in xiost districts , they wpre allowed the use of Sunday schoo ' s to hold their meetings in . The agitation for the com laws was dying aw 3 y . Instead of men . being now turned away for joining the Chartists , their employers now actualiy advised the men to have nothing to do "with hnmbng , hut to keep to their Charter . He was sorry to hear that in many t'lac * s the middle class had been denounced as
their enemies . He knew not bow they were in other parts , but , in North Lancashire he beitved , the middle classes were honest in their professions . There had been soms Htils discussion , respecting the conduct of some individuals attending the Birmingham Conference , bzt it was now the general opinion of those who h . 'j'j dest ^ inced them , that they had done them irjostice , and that they had been a-etuated by the purest motives ILg .-could net state the exact number of signatures fivm his dictric : ; He had broajrht 52 , 000 and tie expected to tsetive 50 , 000 more . The petition would receive the £ : £ QEtnres of the great majority of the whole siz ' ik popultu . cn . They had penetrated also into the sutroundisg districts , and had opened localities in Cii : uberland , and at TJlvcrstone and Kendal . _ They hxd
received invitations from various mountainous districts in Westmoreland , and he trusted that by the aid of lectures , tKU ± 3 , ic , they should speedily be Enabled to organ ? zi the whole of Westmoreland . Mr . Beesley- then detailed the alarming destitution acd misery which pre-Tailfcd in North Lancashire . They were compelled to lie en shaviECs ; they had no covering for the night save the rags which they wore during the day , and were compelled " to hsva their sMrt 3 washed en a Saturday night , to appear decent on a Snnday ; and were destitute cf food during a considerable portion of the week . la » a » places the authorities had < lone all that laid in their power to put Cnartism down ; they had threatened to Btop the relief cf all who were Chartists ; one individual , who was in the receipt of 3 s . 6 d- per week from the authorities , was informed by
them that they had heard he had subscribed to the Chartist fund ; if he continued this they would give him bo more relief ; but he boldly told them that he ¦ would support the Charter until they had gained their rights as Englishmen , and if they stopped his relief , they should tike him and his wife and five children into the workhouse . This showed the determined spirit evinced by the men of North Lancashire ; if . something was not speedily dona to remove the present distress , something would take place which would be Yery disastrous to the canse of Chartism ; for the men affirmed that it was better to risk everything than to die uf hunger . In proof of the feeling evinced by the middle class , he -would instance , that in Blackburn they allowed thesi the use of Use Music Hall on any eveniagi in Clitheroe and other places , they kid the Infan Schools ; and they had an Infant School capable " of
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holding 1 , 800 persons , let to them for 20 ? . per quarter . He trusted that they won ) d unite firmly together for the Charter . Mr . Stallwood was or ^ e of the representatives of Middlesex , Surrey , Ksnt , and Essex . He would commence with Middlesex : in London , Chartism was in a healthy state ; tho Tow . w Hamlets district , which last year only furnished 2 , 400 signatures , had already procured upwards of ' , 0 , 000 . He was not aware of the numbers obtained in the other districts ; but he believed that they were propoitionably large . Unfortunately , in the other parts of Middlesex , they had but few associated bodies : this aroEe not for want of a proper spirit , but from a deficiency of means , to send fect ' ercrs to them . In Surrey , a great deal remained to
be done ; they bad about nine localities , but these lay chiefly in the metropolis . They had made a good openir . g atCrojdon ; and if they could raise the necessary funds , might effect great good in Kent . They had a good locality at Greenwich and at Chatham , Canterbury , and he believed &t Tunbridge ; but stiil a wide field was here open for their exertions . Essex was in a still worse position ; with the ^ xception of Stratford and TTest Ham , no place appeared to be making any tffortf . They had on tho previous evening held a large meeting ther ^ , and an enthusiastic feeling was exhibited . He believed they were also arousing themselves at Chelmsford . Throughout the greater portion of these districts distress prevailed
amongst the working classes to an unprecedented extent . In the Spitalfields district distress was equally prevalent as in those districts spoken of by Mr . Beesley . The tailors , printers , shoe-makers , and other bodies had rever before expt rienced tu : h a state of tetal destitution . This state cf things deprived them of the necessary means to support the agitation ; the spirit was good , but the pecuniary difficulties deprived them of the means of exerting it In London , whatever differences of opinion might exist , they were always unanimous when their opponents were before them ; at every puMic meeting the Chartist flag had waved triumphant . We have ever met and carried in . all meetings the National Charter Association in opposition to the Cjra Law humbug , the S turge , or any other humbug .
Mr . R-iberts protested azainst baa motives or insincerity King attributed to any patty . The Chairman statvd that he hoped Mr . Stallwood wonld not make use cf the word hum ! u : » , neither was he justified in attributing insincerity to any pirty . Mr . Stailwosd said he should bow to the decision of the Chaimian , but he was a working man , and he expressed his feelings in the language of working nitn . He should ceneJ'Jiie by informiDi ; them that hi London they had upwards of foity localities , snd they only wanted toe nectssary means to spread Chartism through the f _> ur conntiff .
Mr . Leach said he was the delegate for the South Lancashire district Chartism never stood better in this district than it did at present ; this would be confirmed l-y the -50 . 000 signatures which he had brought attached t > the petition , and ho ixpecttd to have about GO , 000 more sc ^ t him previous to its presentation . L ' . ke oLhei districts ttey h ; id received ) i ; u h oppesiticn ; tht-ir most powerful oppoutnt vr : \ s the Anti-Corn Law League ; whether their motives were good or bad , he would leave to themselves ; they had fought them , under cover , a : i « . i not in an open manly manner ; but they bail overc . 'jue all opposition , and the ami-Corn Law party coul-1 sot now call a meeting , unless it were by ticket This arises from a feeling that we haveupsirt and disturbed their meetings ; but , for the credit of
Lancashire , I deny that we ever attended one of tbeir ¦ n . fcetiriga to give a factious opposition . We h . iv - gone fur She purpose of discussing the subject Tneir refusil to do this hastened to uproar . Our cause progr = sse 3 well in Manchester . We have six meeting places . Tha Carpenters have lately joined us as a body , and we are to have the use of their Hail , which 5 s one of the largest buildings in Manchester , free of txpence . The Chartists have also engaged it on Sunray incrn ! :: £ s for six months . In tho whole cf South Lancashire the cause lovks well , but at the same time 1 am directed to draw the attention of the Convention to doviss such methods as shall btiU further increase onr prosperity by crt- ^ ting a union amongst all Tasks o ' f Kif jrmeT ? .
Mr . M-Phtrson , dt ' epr . te from Aberdeen and the surroa-uing districts , said—With respect to s-ome pait of hid district , he had not been previously much acquainted with it ; but if he mirht judge of their strength frcm tht-ir ability to cope v » ith other parties , ttey were the triumphant party . Thty carried tbeir cljrcts at every public meeting . Iheir greatest opp jiltioa was from parties prefes ^ ng to act en similar principles . - These were oripinally snti-Corn Law men , now they were Sturgites : but , finding we were the strongest pariy , they agreed to u : ite -with us on common giounii ; and , to show we were not actuated by factions motives , we r . rreed to mtet them ; but I am sorry to say they did not act in the fair , candid way we txpu ' eted . From -what has fallen from the Ctairman , we
are no : allowed to TtfLct on other paities , yet , I must say , thfir conduct ha 3 bten anything but fair . In Tnverresa , Mtath , it , ChaHUin is not so flourishing . These places have net ytt bften properly organised , but mciM wtre being taken for that purpose . If missionaries could not be supported in these thinly populated districts , tracts might , with great advantage , be distributed as forerunners . In Aberdeen , Chartism wiis in a very very flourishing state , acd they were cmlevouring to increase this by a system of co-operation ; Englishmen should endeavour by all means to bring about a greater intimacy of feeling with their Scottish brethren , that they might act with greater nnanimity so as to give more force and vigour to their proceedings ; ie was instructed by his constituents to request their att-s-.-tion to
the issuing of tracts showing the present distrtssed stateof the country , and pointing out an efficient remedy . Mr . Harrison represented , with his colleague , Mr . Bairotew , the cennties of Nottingham , Leicester , Lincoln , and KuttanS ; with Rutland ho was unacquainted , never having visited that district . la Lincolnshire there were but three associated bodies ; from Boston he had bronght 1 , 400 signature ? . With Nottingham he wa 3 more acquainted than with Djrhy or Leicestershire ; he should therefore con fine himself more to that district , leaving the others to his colleague . In Nottingham , t : > say the lowest , they had eight or nine hundred members ; he thought he shcnld not even exaggerate the numbers if he estimated them at one thousand two hundred , but on this subject be had written for information .
They were in possession of a chapel which -would hold more than eight hundred persons ; in this place lectures were delivered during the week , and preaching on the Sibbath . We here perhapg carry on our agitation different to what they do in some parts of the country ; we know the strong religious feelings which actuate a large portion of the community , and ws endeavour to prove to them that our principles are those advocated in the Bible , and hitherto we have done so with tomplete success . We have eight localities meeting in different public-houses , besides our chapel . We have associations in between twenty and thirty villages
in the county , each of them having on an average fifty members altogether . We have between two and three thousand members in the county . He had brought up 40 , 400 signatures to the petition . We have now regularly employed one missionary for nine months , who has been of the greatest utility ; if we had means we have plenty of opening f jr three lecturers ; poverty alone Seeps us bsck . As socn as we hnve means we Intend organising Rutland and Lincolnshire ; we are all unanimous , discord is out of the question . We keep on in one straightforward manner , endeavouring to cause the- People ' s Charter to become the law of the lind .
Mr . Ba-. rstow said , for the last thirteen months he had been labouring in Derbyshire snd the &um > undirg country . When he commenced feis labours there were only three localities in Derbyshire , now there were fourteen ; the numbfr cf members was then one hundred and fifty , now , in Derbyshire , -was six hundred . The old adage of Dsibyshire was , " Derby bred , thick in t '; 8 head , " and considering the hardness of the material upon which they , had to work , he must congratulate them'upon the pleasing aspect of Chartism in this part of the country . Liicetttr occupied the proudest positisn of aDy town in the kingdom ; the Seeds of Chartism were early sown in this town by the immortal Robert Hall , and tie result was that ' the 'iiSVrent sects of religionists in thi 3 town were more
liberal tl-an in any other part cf the kingdom . The-Rev . Mr . Murcell , and Mr . Miall , Eilitor of the Xoncon / onnis' , were examples of this . Mr . ] J . urs-to " . v then read exrracls from a letter he bad that day received from Leicester , giving a glowing account of Chartism in that town , and alluded to the Words of one John Winks , who might be regarded as the thermometer tf middleclass opinion and feeling inL-icesier , and his advice to the working men , at the late meeticg , was to remain firm to their CLaner . They had two associations in Leicester , the one-numbering about 400 , the other about 1 , 140 members Their organization was the most perfect cf any he had yet witnessed . Their books were kept with the most scrupulous exactness . The stnte of feeling between them and the middle class was very
f- ? od , m . & lie could give no better protf of their power than the manner in which Mr . Biggs ' s Midland Counties Charter fell , still-bom , to the ground . Mr . Biggs was one of the largest and lsost opulent glovers an'l stocking-maters in the town ; he was respected by all parties ; he had always endeavoured to keen up the wajesif the working men ; yet , with all this infiueEce , with the aid of his talettid bro hers , and the approbation of the dissenting ministers , to whom he committed his bantling , with all , it f , Ml without a stinggle before the genius of Chartism . He had established a Sunday school in Leicester , an * ^ the last time he wa 3 there he waited tipon Mr . Biggs , * ' ho gave £ 1 for that object , as did likewise each of i ^ us two brothers , and they then told him that if we won . ** not go to the middle classes , they must come to us . They
had also established a library , containing many volui ues of hooks , and an adult female school in Leicester , ai ''d taken as a whole , they held a proud position . With ' regard to the Corn Laws , if they held a meeting , they came to them and begged them not to oppose them , thus showing that as a party , they only existed by suf- j feranoe . Mr . Batrstow then gave instances of the great > diitress endured by the working classes of these districts . It was impossible for words to describe or pen to pooxtray the destitute condition cf many districts ; but amid all , they remained true to the Charter . They had extended their association into two of the moat aristocratic towns ; Matlock , fiinous as a fashionable watering place ; and Mblton-Mowbray , equally celebrated for its foxhunting . From Leicester he had brcu ^ ht 16 , 000 slgcature ? , Longbborougb , 7 , 000 ; Derby ,
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3 , 700 ; the majority from this place had been washed away by the great flood ; in the whole he had brought 32 , 000 Bignatures to the petition . Dr . M'Douail was one of the delegates for the Metropolitan Counties ; the position of Middlesex , and more especially London , was better than it bad been at any former period ; still many improvements might be effected in its organisation , He was averse to giving a flattering report , but from his own experience , it was in f \ better position now than at the last Convention , and much better than at the first Convention . They were now forming Central Monthly Councils , to which delegates from the whole of the four counties could be deputed . This , in his opinion , would materially assist in spreading the cause in the country districts ; some
difference of opinion existed , but it was founded on snch trifling circumstances that were it not for the irritation it produced , he should not have mentioned it ; in fact , U was founded upon nothing ; and he trusted this monthly council , by uniting them , would allay this unpleasant feeling when fairly organised . There was a great body of men in London devoted heart and soul to the Charter . He had the honour of giving the first lecture in Canterbury ; a large number of the middle class town councillors and others assembled in the Town Hall . Since then a good association had been formed at Chatham . They had formed an association , and got up large meetings atDeptford , and at other places there 1 were associations . In Essex they had only one ; but they were raising one at
Chelmsford . All bid fair , if a plan cf central agitation could be carried out With regard to the trades , five or six trades had come out , as trades , in favour of the Charter . He had addressed a trades' meeting on the Charter by merely voting the chairman out cf the chair and voting him in again . They were all aware of the suppott they had received from the masons in the last presentation of the petition ; and the masons were now determine ! to walk as a trade in proctssion to the House . Bodies of the shoemakers , the tailors , tho basket makers , the hatters , . and a body of carpenters were now actively working in support of the Charter : he need not dwell upon this subject , for he was happy to announce that u , deputation from these trades wuild lay their views before this Convention . With regard to the middlo classes iu London , he was fearful they could not look to them for much support ; they had many electors who were Chartists , but the great body of the liberal shopkeepers were in favour tf Sturge ' s plan ; another large
boay in favour of Lovett ' s plan ; but taking them as a whole , a vast number entertained Chartist principles . They had in connection with the National Charter Association , a good body of electors , more especially in Southwark and Marylebonr . He had the pleasure of addressing a large meeting in Southwark attended Dy many of tne middle class , where the national petition was adopted with two dissentients . They had a large body of the trades , and they had the great majority of thd working- classes . Tbey had a body of delegates meeting weekiy at 53 , OKI Bailey , who , for intelligence and ii : « 2 uitry , were net inferior to any body of men . This body might be said to form a sort of weekly ConventioD , for they might with propriety be called so . This body , in connection with the Surrey Council , was the centre from whence recruiting parties" issued -ta agitate th « various districts . Tho Metropolis was in a better state than it had ever yet been , and in a few months time he had no doubt but London would
contain quite as many active intelligent Chartists as any othtr district tf the same number of population in tho kingdom . Mr . Doyle said , in the district which be represented , previous to him there bad been no lecturer . Save in two or three places there had been no organization . Stockport had long Ken a Radical town , but this was tho only place where Chartism was in a flourishing condition . About three months ago , he went among them as a lecturer ; it was almost purely an agricultural district , and they were mestly of the old Tory school t-f politics , imbued with those aristocratic notions which our principles are calculated to remove . I found the farmers in the district , although they w < re electors , very ignorant , yet they were anxious to obtain
information , ami a good suppfy of tracts , if they could Le procured , ivoul- ;! be calculated to produce a good result . We have now fourteen districts in Cheshire aending delegates to , i County Council , held once a month . At our last meeting we took stej > s iffi ; iently t ) organise the whole county ; : ind I have no doubt but in nine or ten months Chartism will be in the ascendant in this ceui-tf . In the town of Chester wo are getting on pretty well . We have considerable opposition , and have ko men who are bold enough to face the Whigs and Tones of the town , or we should progress faster . In Stockrort Chartism is in a flourishing condition . We have about 700 member ? . At every public meeting - vre have successfully carried our principles , except en ono occision , -when their cownrdico led them
to call meetings at : m hour of the day when they were well aware that the wcrkiDg men were locked up in the factorits ; f-aiful of trusting to argument and leason , they havt .-then resorted to eunning . The more it was possible for their principles to be made known , the faster -won ' . d they be enabled to get on ; nothing could assist the movement more than tho distribution of cheap tracts and publications , and he hoped the Convention would lay down apian upon this subject , or get the Executive power to do it The physical condition of the population in the largo towj ; s ¦ was truly deplorable : in Hiz ' . egrovo the silk-weavers only obt . iintd 13 s . 4 d . for weaving eighty yards , and out of thia they hud to p : iy 3 s . for rent cf loom , &c , leaving them only 10 s . 4 tl . ; and to earn this they were
compelled to work fourteen hours a day for a fortnight . Xever had he seen families worse off than in this district . If Cheshire was well agitated , Chartism would be triumphant ; but if tho flre was allowed to go outif it w ; is not continually renewed , they would lose ground . The opposition they met within this county was generally very weak ; more was to be dreaded from the apathy of the people themselves . In Stockport they had attempted to put them down , but they had signally failed . In Congkton , owing to tho tyranny of the masters , they were weak ; but in Macclesfield , and other large towns , they were triumphant Mr . Morgan Williams said the district he represented was Svu ' . h Wales ; he had also been nominated in Hertford and Monmouthshire , but they had not
proceeded to the election . Of North Wales he could eay nothing , He would commence with Pembrokeshire . There w . is no Association in that county ; he belie ved that a lecturer had never been there ; in the lower part there were many English , but-in-the upper part the population was chiefly Welsh . A lecturer here would do much good ; but nothing could be done without one . In Caermarthenshire , at one time , Chartism was flourishing , but new it had quite declined . Mr . Hugh Williams , -who once roused it up in these parts , had lately taken no active steps . The population was chiefly agricultural , and were living in a state of destitution surpassing all belief . In Cardiganshire , the population was also chiefly agricultural , and were very bad off . Mr . Hugh Williams had formerly employed at
his own expence a lecturer to travel through this county ; but though a good spirit was raised , yet he had net succeeded in establishing any associations on a firm footing ; he feared not a Bingle signature to the petition would be obtained from Cardiganshiie , yet it was not from the want of proper materials , for the people wire more intelligent than the generality of their neighbours , and only wanted to be properly agitated . In Brecknockshire they had not a single association , it had not been visited by a lecturer , save just on the confines ; the population waa chiefly agricultural , and in intelligence were far behind tho other counties ; - he- feared that if a lecturer was sent among them he would not be able to raise an association , they were so bound to the aristocracy that they would not listen to any one tbeir
employers might choose to denounce—their word was entirely law . In Glamorganshire , they had only one association , at Merthyr Tydvil ; formerly they had one at Swansea , but though they had a large meeting there with the Mayor in the chair , a short time back , and carried the eix points of the Charter , yet they had allowed it to rest without forming an association ; they sidly wanted lecturers and the means to pay them . In this district they had difficulties to contend with which did not exist in England . They were compelled to have two lecturers , one who spoke Welch and the other English , or one who spoke both languages . Merthyr Tydvil was the only place were Chartism could be said to exist , and in no place . in the kingdom did a better spirit prevail ; the signatures from this
place were 3 G , 000 , and before the petition was presented he should receive some thousands ruoro , They had a great desire to hear and see some of the Executive or other friends ; himself and Messrs . YinceLt and Philp , were the only persons who had -visited them ; they were prttty well off for lecturers , having eight or cine who were capable of addressing a public meeting ; they commanded the whole of public opinion . Tlie middle classes , in fact , had never tried their hands at getting up public meetings ; when any had betn called to congratulate her Majesty , fcc , they had alvrays curled tljeir amendments by immense ms .-juriti .- ; = . They bail totally annihilated all otherparties It would not avail to talk to them about Complete Suffrace they were for the whole hog , snout , bristles and
all . and desired him to express the same to the Convention . They entertained strong feelings regarding the three men who had been transported . This wasnalural , : as two of their wives residtdin that town ; with regard ; to the support which they received , Mrs . Williams was 1 as well supported in her business as could be expected . '¦ It had f . ; l ! en off lately , but that was owing to the ; Blackness of employment which prevailed , and insup' porting these persons , they were only doing their duty . Williams -was a man that was generally liked . He bnd ! had upwards of a thousand men under his direction , ¦ and there was not a single man who did not say that he I was a good man and a good master . —( hear , hear ) . They ' also entertained the most reverential respect for Mr . j Frost as fir as Eien could do so ; they might be said to
! adore him ; they desired me to express this to you , and j urge yeu to employ every meaus to procure their return . I Chartism here is in Buch an excellent state , that ¦ if any of Kiy brother delegates could visit us we could g et a meeting of fifteen hundred or two thousand men at a fe-w hours notice . At least ten thousand men a « c . impanied him to the railway station , carrying tbeir petit ion ™ front . In Abergavenny , there-was a little divisi in existing , but any one not connected with them could . ^ sent among them much good weuld be done . They ha . "I a good association , and were Very active in Bpreading their principles in the villages around . In Pontypoel , at whieh place there were many large iron ¦ works , Chai "Mas * is not in so good a state as when I last t . eited them ; itete has been scmo little divisions which
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have been prejudicial to the cause , but with a little discretion and the aid of a lecturer , the cause would abundantly prosper . He now came to MonBiouthshire ; there had used to be a good association , at Newport ; this town , they knew , had been the residence of John Frost ; here the feeling iuhla behalf waa equal to that at Merthyr ; his name would be respected in that place as long as Newport should exist . He was regarded with feelings of the deepest reverence by man , woman , and chHd , who all bore testimony that he erer tbok the part cf the poor man against that of theiicb
oppressor , and yet with this strong feeling existing , he was sorry to « ay that he found no association in existence , and they had not obtained a single signature to the petition . On the night I lectured here I had a most numerous attendance ; I got them to take petition sheets , and we shall eventually , I believe , have 10 , 000 signatures from Newport The great , and the only want , throughout the ' districts which I represent is , that of lecturers who understand the two languages ; it was not so material that they should be eloquent men , as * that they should be able to lay down the principlesin language all could , understand .
Mr . Philp said he was , with his colleague Mr . Roberts , the representative of the men of Gloucester , Somerset , and Wiltshire ; they had been elected at large meetings , and were , he believed , the real representatives of those counties ; In Bath they had many intelligent and . influential persons who had espoused their principles ; in this place there had been some disunion between the different ranks of Reformers ; but steps had been taken to reconcile this division , to cause a firm union between the two classes of society , and , in a few weeks time , he believed that Bath would present a favourable example to the surrounding districts . In Bristol they had great divisions ; he had endeavoured , but in vain , to discover the cause . It appeared to be . ' ... ; caused , by personal jealousie ? . In
Gloucester , Chartism was almott unknown . In Stroud they were progressing . In / Cheltenham there were many pnfessing their principle ' s .-and it only wanted union and exertion to rentier it a flourishing association . There were numerous towns in the neighbourhood which would form excellent auxiliaries , if proper means were t . tken to arouse them . If tho persons who at present ' were devoted to bur * principles would but ujiite to remove all obstructions , immense goad might be effected . He hoped that the Convention , during its sitting in tondon , would adopt measures to heal the divisions which had occurred , and would also consider the propriety of , arranging an organized system of distributing tracts , cheap publications , &c . He feared there was something / wrong in our present system cf organization . He had always discovered that in those places where Chartism had been lately planted , it flourished to a greater degree tbau in the large towns where it-had , long existed . These new ' - districts were
enabled , in many instances ; to surpass tho older and better organize ! towns , but scarce were they established on a firm basis , than divisions rose up among them . This was the caso iu the DeveriUs , and other places in his district : instead of being as they Once were , united , he found ono party espousing tho cause of one man , and another party the cause of some other mau , thereby fal { ing-into the same divisions which existed iii the older localities . He was sorry to bo obliged to make this statement ; it would be farmore pleasant to him to be able to give a . pleasing account , and would ' reflect , more credit on himself uiid his colleagues . But it . was ' far the best to give a correct statement of the district , and to adopt measures to . , rerusdy the : evils he -complained of . He should riot say more on this subject at present , but previous to the Convention dissolving he fahi . uld propose some means to heal the differences and divisions which existed . This was a duty not only incumbent on him but on them all .
Mr . O'Connor moved , and Mr . Robert 3 seconded , that the deputation appointed to wait oil Mr . Duncombe , do now rJport . Carried . . Dr . M'Dou . 'iII stated th . it in the interview with Mr . Buncombe , they had informed him of their intention to present the National Petition to the House of Commons on Monday , May 2 nd , and they likewise requested liim to move { hat a deputation , ' on behalf tf the working classes , should be heard at tho Bar of the Heuse , in support of its allegations . Mr . Dunoombe informed them that Monday being a Government day , it would be impossible-, for him . ' to present it on that day . They then explained to him that Monday was the best day for the procession , and that they had finally agreed
10 fivour of that day . The deputation and Mr . Duncombo then arran ged that the procession should 'take phice on Monday , and that on that day he would , ( if the House did not prevent him , ) go into the premises of the question ; and on Tuesday he would move that a deputation from the working classes be heard at the bar of the House . "With regard to the procession , it was Mr , puncombQ ' 8 opinion that unless it was a splendid one , it vrould not benefit the cause . ( Men of London , rally round it ! und make it , aye , even more than splendid !!) Mr , Duncombe also advised the deputation to wait on Sharman Crawford , and request him to postpone his motion until iiftev the presentation of the National TV-tition ; he had no uoubt . be- would consent . Dr . M'Douail stated that he informed him of the
contents of Shaman Crawford's note , but Mr . Duncombo was still tf opinion that , from the friendship Mr . Crawford ' pro . fessed-. t ' o ' entertain for Mr . O'Connor , if a deputation , consisting of that gentleman and others , waited on him , he would . withdraw his motion , until their petition was presented . Mr . Moir moved a-id Mr . Thomason seconded , that the deputation which waited on Mr . Duncombe should also now wait on Mr . Sharuian Crawford . Carried unanimously . Dr . M'Douail expressed his opinion that if Mr . Crawford did not accede to their request , it would prove the hollowness of those professions of union which of late they had so loudly professed . Mr . Crawford , of course , would abide by tho instructions of the -Birmingham Conference Committee . It was quite .-consistent' with the forms of the House of Commons to postpone his motion .
Mr . O'Connor also coincided With tho sentiments expressed by Mr . M'Douail . A member of the Hum could , if he thought proper , postpone any motion . The Secretary having called the roll , and the whole of the members being present , Mr . O'Connor moved that the Convention be adjcur . ed until nine o'clock on Monday morning—then to proceed with the reception of the reports from the various delegates . Mr . Roberts seconded the motion j which was carried unanimously . The Finance and other Committees remained until the evening transacting their several duties .
Saturday , April 16 . This day having been set apart for the transaction of business by the Committees , the several gentlemen composing these Committees were busily engaged in considering and arranging the various plans necessary , for the facilitating of business during the enBuing week . We are happy to state that the greatest unanimity and cordiality of feeling exists : every personal feeling has been cast aside , and all are intent on the one grand object of adopting the best means to promote the welfare , and ensure the freedom of their common country .
Monday , April 18 . Mr . Duncan was called to the chair , Mr . Leach to the vice-chair , and Mr . Campbell as secretary . The roll being called , Messrs . Campbell , Leach , M'Pherson , Whito , Bairstow , Duncan , M'Douail , Woodward , O'Connor , Morgan , Williams , Ridley , Doyle , Beesley , Halson , towry . Mason , and Thomason were present Mr . Roberts was called upon to report , \ : \ fr not having arrived , the Chairman called upon Mr . White to repoit . . ' . -: . '¦ ¦ '
Mr . White said he was the representative of the men of Birmingham ami the surrounding district . He would commence with Birmingham . The cause in this place was curiously circumstanced . The Chartists cf England were , greatly misled regarding the political position of this town . They had supposed it to be out-and-out Radical ; but be had found that although , at the time of the Reform Bill , the working men had been raised to a pitch of enthusiasm by tho masters , yet they had in reality no political character of . their own . Ever since the establishment of the National Charter Association , they had met -with opposition from all paYties , even from those -where they had least right to expect it . Tho old Radicals were bitterly opposed to them . The Christian Chartism , party , and
tbeir own , was continually clashing . All attempts to unite them had hitherto filled . True , they had held large meetings , at which they . promulgated their principles ; they wera sadly disorganised , but steps have been taken to remedy this , and he believed that if the spirit of the people was properly concentrated . it would be found to be as good as thsvt'of any town in the kingdom . In W orcester a great number of the men wero what . ' were called freemen , and they never troubled their heads with politics , save at the time of an election . Since an association had been established there , sometimes they had gone on well , sometimes bad ; but they had never madei great progress . At a large public meeting , called to consider the distress of the country , with the mayor in the chair , they had refused him a hearing ;
but still they had carried the Six Points of the Charter , and the mayor refusing to put the National Petition , they voted in another chairman , and passed the petition amid great cheering . This showed that a . good feeling existed in Warwickshire ; but little had - 'been done , ilr . Donaldson and Mr . French were the only active Chartists in the town . Messrs . O'Neil and Collins had lectured in the theatre , but with no permanent result No association had been founded in Bromsgrove , the inhabitanta were chiefly nailers , and they were in a most wretched state of poverty . Men , women , and children were compelled to work for the merest trifle . He had seen women hammering at nails with tbeir children hanging to their breasts : theyuot haying / time to
Buckle , afraid of the loss of time further reducing their scanty pittance . They had held several public meetings , and the general opinion was in favour of Chartism ; but the association had not greatly progressed , Stourbridge was a great iron district ; they bad held several ; meetings , aud obtained 3 , 500 Vsignatures to the National Petition . Limewaste was an adjoining 'village , inhabited by colliers ; there was a good feeling in this place , ' but they greatly wanted a lecturer , which they Lad not yet been able to supply them with . Dudley > vas a place of a similar description ; here their principles b&t ' progressed rapidly ; they had formed an associatib u ; but it was yet in its infancy . In Coventry they ha . * i carried their principles at several large meetings : the
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men at the head of the association in this town were as intelligent and as active men as wero to be found in the kingdom : in this place they werepoweifuL In Nuneaton they'were similar to Coventry / chiefly ribband weavers , and were favourably disposed to the Charter . At Leamington , noted for its fashionable spas , their association was progressing . In Redditch , they might judge of the state of Chartism , when he told them that they had built a Hall for themselves , and the majority of the population were zaaloua for the Charter : these were the ten towns ofhia district : the
chief thing was the want of lecturers ; but the grand point was the payment of them ; they were immersed in such poverty , and some were so apatheticy that they found it difficult to raise funds for this purpose ? at present ; and / unless some other method was devised , they would not make that rapid progress which otherwise might be dene . He could not sit down without testifying to the great good Mr . Mason had done in the two counties , Warwick and Worcester , since he had been their lecturer ; he had added much to their strength .
Mr . O'Connor said if he understood the matter right , they were to lay down the best meana of advancing the cause , as well as to report the state of their districts . If the number of persons whohad voted for the election of delegates , or the Bignatures to the petition was any criterion of their strength , Lancashire and Yorkshire might be said to be the hotbed of Chartism : all who had watched the progress of the cause , who had traced it step by step , to its present position , must acknowledge that , until they met with opposition from the Corn Law lecturers and others , they were never enabled to maintain so high and so flourishing a position ; from the date cf this opposition might a new era iri Chartism be traced /; previous to then , they Were supposed , as a
party , to be without union , to have no bond of 8 ym . pathy or concert ; this struggle had brought forth all their latent energies , and enabled them to read such a lesson to that and to all other pai ties , as would not speedily be forgotten ; it had shewn to themselves and to their enemies the powers which , by union , they were enabled to wield ; every attempt to break up tbeir agitation , come from what quarter it might , had failed ; let them nevertheless beware how they allowed that strength to be frittered away . Let them be careful to counteract every scheme calculated to divide and : disunite them . Let them hold firmly to principle . For hia own part ho would riot abandon one single point of the Charter . He would not even abandon . that name
which had weathered the storm and the calm ; but while ho looked upon the organized Chartists to be the main army in the attack upon the citadel of corruption , ytt he recognised all as allies who bore down upon the game works—who combined in attacking toe evils which existed ; and in this view of the question , so long as the party connected with Joseph Sturge kept to the line of conduct they had lain down , they deserved their thanks , aid their co-operation . All sections of reformers , Whether monetary , local , or of whatever description , wero abetting the grand cause by distracting and harrassing the common enemy ; but ho feared that the effects of a large party would be more directed to the restoration' of the Whigs to office , than to assist in producing beiibfit to the whole community . He was sure
that the present delegated body , representing the iuterests of vast masses of men , nmat have heard with satisfaction the various reports which had been laid before them . There was only one report , at the hearing of which he experienced any thing like a feeling of dissatisfaction , be alluded to the report of Mr .. Philp . He was sorry he was not present , but still , in his public duty , he should proceed with his . remarks . If the district which he represented was in the disunited , the migerable state , in which he represented it—if his statement did not savtur somewhat of disappointment , it ceitiinly did not refldct much credit upon those who had been leading men ia that district If you look in any district you will usually find that if it is apathetic , or clisorganizjd , it proceeds from a want of energy and union among tho leaders and not among the mass . When working men delegate that power to leaders , which they ha . vo not time individmUv to exert , they
are too apt to allow themselves to be lulled into apathy if those-, leaders do not act with sumcieiit energy to arouse them . This did cot , however , apply to the whole country . In the past annals of this or any other nation , there never existed a more intelligent , honest , and determined bedy of men th ; in the present Chartist leaders , or lecturers . As a party the Chartists had mfiicient power , virtue , and energy , to command tho respect cf liny Government , -wheth . tr it was composed of Whigs or of Tories , aud having obtained this position he again warned them not to allow their energies to be frittered away—to hold out the hand of fellowship to all men , but to form no union -which was not based ou their own glorious , inseparable principles , in defenco of which they had fought , had BuiF-. red , and had bled . For his own part he would not abandon one iota of the six points . He would never fight under any banner which had not tho Charter inscribed upon it .
Mr . Roberts—He -with his colleague , Mr . Pbilp , represented the district of Somerset and Wilts . In Mr . Pnilps statement he recogn i zed the true position of those Counties ; but he would refer to a few places which Mr . PhLIp had not noticed . There was Devizes , a place famous , or infamous , for the treatment which he and others had there experienced . It was situated in the centre of an agricultural district , the population of which was deplorably ignorant , who were -willing to act in the pay of either party who would best remunerate them . By the aid of these men they had driven Chartism out of Devizes , and imprisoned him and others for a riot , of which they were the victims and not the creators ; but he was proud to icf / rm them that a better spirit now existed in . this place ,
produced , perhaps , by a . recollection of the injustice they had been guilky of . Mr . yincent had since lectured in this town . A spirit of inquiry was abroad , and if Mr . O'Connor thought it worth his while to visit that district , let him have a short notice to beat up the surrounding districts , and he would procure him a warm reception . At Salisbury they had an association , which though few in number was composed of as determined and good men as any in . the kingdom . A large mass , too , only wanted the excitement of a public meeting or two to declare boldly in their favour . If some lecturer of note , some one whose name wa / 9 calculated to arouse , their dormant energies , was to visit them , great good would be effected . Salisbury was
in the centre of a 1 ot of small villages where Chartism was unknown , where they were taught by the parson to live and die content in poverty . This Eeighbourhood , he thoughtj was deserving not only of local but genera ! agitation . A better spirit now existed than when the late riots occurred ; they would then have thought it good sport to stone a man to death at the bidding of tbeir masters . He would now refer tq general matters , and he would say that it was their duty to look their evils in the face ; they were not assembled for the purpose of praising each other and of giving flattering reports . From some of the reports given on Friday his only surprise was , that the Charter -was not the law of the land . From those
statements it would appear that it wanted a drag to hinder it from progressing too fast . He looked upon Chartism as a thing yet to be won . If the only object of their assembliDg was to present the petition one half the time arid one half the number of delegates would be amply sufficient ; he thought it to be their province to consider the best means of removing obstructions from their path . There was evil that permanently and progressively impeded the cause of Chartism , and if they had not been aided more by circumstances than by / their own exertions , it would have still more hindered the progress of the cause . He alluded to the general disposition on the part of the Chartists to interfere with the sanctity of private opinion ; he a-Vmitted that if they approved of a man ' s
conduct they would be justified in expressing it if they thought a nian not honest , they had a right to say so . So far bo good ; but they were not content with this , they gathered together knots of individuals , and immediately passed votes of censu e . These were immediately sent off to the Northern Star , the only public organ they possessed ; and by this means a man who , on Monday was considered of sterling honesty , on Saturday , found himself denounced over the whole kingdom as a spy and a traitor . Individually , perhaps , this was not so important , for when a man truly entered the ranks of the people , he should be prepared to sacrifice even his life in the cause ; but the mischief did did not rest here , it drove good men from the ranks ^ it caused bad blood among those who ought to be united ,
and hindered many from joining our ranks . Mr . R . then went into & long detail cf the circumstances connected with his election , and the election for Bristol of Messrs . O'Connor and Leach , and stated other circumstances connected with the subject . The cheapest and the readiest way of obtaining popular favour was by laying hold of some prejudice and fiddling ou that string , —( laughter ) , —he at least bad found it so , The readiest way to raise your owji fame was by denouncing the conduct of your brother Chartists . Mr . Roberts then referred to bis being questioned at Birmingham for going to the Chartist Cinireb .. If he was asked to what he should attribute this inteifireDce with public opinion , he knew not what to answer . For three years the leaders had no jealousies among themselves ; they were
everywhere received with equal ; warmth ; but about a year and a half ago , this feeling sprung up whether it came by intuition or by atmospheric agency , ho knew not , but from that time the feeling had existed , that all who did not think similar to ! the Northern Star were traitors , Ac ., to their country . He did not so much find fault with this species of despotism ; if the time was one of action , it might , by circumstances , then be necessary , but the present was the time not of action but of thought ; coincident with the origin of this feeling , was the denunciation paured but against those who signed Mr . Lovett ' s document . Many signed that without a thought perhaps of its tendency . ! The conduct pursued on that occasion gave him great frief ; he
felt that many lefi the ranks whom ^ little courtesy would have retained . If opinions were to be interfered with to this extent , let it be done by a deliberate assembly lite the present ; let them lay down a rule of what wo ate to think , how far we are to go > and . when to stop . If this assembly decided that a Chartist should not join another association , he should to a great extent bow to it ; this wculd be far better than leaving your conduct to be judged of by the ever-varying ; state of public feeling . He wishedtbis to be faitly considered , he wished that when Mr . Bairstow bad given his report ^ he had alluded to the quarrel between Blessrs . Cooper and Markham , and in conclusion he should like to see a map of Chartism drawn up , showing the particular shades cf ooiniou in each district . To some they could
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then send lecturers , who ¦ would lay down the first broad principles ; ether districts would require the servicea . of men of a more philosophic cast . He would conclude by giving them the words Mr . O'Connor . had expressed in his report , ' ' That he was willing to co-operate with any section who held the principles of the Peapie ' s Charter . " ¦ ' . . : ; ¦ ¦ .. ¦'¦ ¦ .. : ' ; : . :. - ¦ ' Messrs . Bairtow and White stated that as Mr ; Roberts had alluded to pirmingbam and Leicester they would explain at a fitting opportunity . Mr . Woodward was the repregentatiTe of the Sussex district ; with the more Southerly portion of Shropshire he was not so well accquainted , but he should leave that to Mr . Bartlett , his colleague , who he trusted would arrive in time to report ; Chartism iii hia district must
not be estimated fey the amount of the population his / district was the retreat for the aristocracy , and the residence of royalty ; except at Brighton they had not any body cf great strength : in Brighton they had no differences or division ; if any occurred they toolf care to settle them , and hot to make them public . The population of Brighton was 50 , 000 , and pnt of thia number one half was composed of the aristocracy , their servants , and dependents , and the wealthy shopocracy ; they had not therefore the materials to work on which existed in other places , but still no public meeting could be called at which their principles were not advocated , and Chartism rendered triumphant . Pravlo-oa to the establishment of their association , many of the middle class professed to be Radicals , but they enly made use of the working men for their own purposes ; when they choose to rest quiet all was dormant until they
again wished to raise an enthusiasm for the attainment of some local or other benefit From this Radical body of middlemen they had experienced great opposition * They had only one place of meeting taken . A member took a' large room for the meetings . He was turned out and ruined . They could get no place . They wera then forced to adopt the only plan left , that ef attending all meetings and convei ting them to their own ends . This had answered so completely , that they were new glad to let them have the use- of the Town Hall . Afc the Town Hall they had adopted the National Petition , all cxpences being paid Out of the town funds . To this petition they had 10 , 000 signatures attached . In the villages roundi they had n ' s > 800 signatures : To the last petition , inducting the villages , they bad only 8000 . At Lewes , which was the most corrupt town in England , they had 1200 signatures ; to the last , only 200 . At this place
there was a real contest at elections as to who should give to the voters ; it was truly a paradise for the vpterjp . They' b « -id spent many pounds in agitat-ing the villages round ; yet such was the oppo * sition , that they weve fearful whether greater evil than good was not the result . Mr . Woodward then detailed many instances of dreadful revenge taken agiiintt parties in these country districts who dared to ¦ taks auy part in the agitatieu ^ At Chichester , a meeUng having been called to find some means of relieving , the destitute poor , a gentleman of the town proposed the six points of the Charter ,, and told them they did not want , charity but justice . This was responded to by loud cheers ; and the six points were unanimously carried . This showed ; that even in this Parson-ridden town a strong feeling existed ; ¦ Mr . W * concluded by alluding to their approaching election contest , they having proposed a strong Chartist .
Ruffy Kidley coincided with his brother delegates in their statement regarding the four counties . As far as the coimtry districts were concerned Chartism : was almost unknown . They had associations in Canterbury , Chatham , and other places , but they were so crippled for means that unless the Convention could lay down some plan of agitating them , he feared they would not progress . In Surrey , Chartism was established in a few towns , but a vast extent of ground was yet entirely unoccupied . In Middlesex they were in a ; similar position , and likewise in E ^ sex . In that hot-bed of corruption , London , at all public meetings the Working classes attended and expressed their sentiments , and were always triumphant ; still Chartism was far from being so flourishing as it ought t » be . We were deficient :
in Halls aud places of / meeting in which to assemble . They might in some degree be said to ; resemble what the working classes had been taunted with , that of being pot-house politicians . But had they not entered these bouses and drawn men from the pot and the pipe , to a knowledge of their true / position , they would never have numbered the large body they did at present A good spirit existed among all their advocates , He found , even tee-totaUers , much as : they abhorred beer and tobacco , < fcc , entering these houses for tho purpose of promulgating Chartist principles . A strong feeling also existed for the Welsh martyrs and other political prisoners , and urged some decided steps to be taken to procura their release . Upon the whole , though not flourishing in the counties , in London it occupied a proud / and . prominent position .
Mr . Powell , delegate for Cornwall , Dorset , and Devon , said , that with Dorset he was hot acquainted . At Truro , in Cornwall , they had got up several meetings , and had : done much good . This town was » hetbed of Toryism . At Redruth he had met the great Corn Law agitator , Mr . Paulton , and , in a set discussion , completely defeated him—not twenty hands being held up in his favour . Previous to this they could obtain no place to meet in . At Cambourn , when he first went , they had not a single Chartist . Now he had left them , upwards of seventy itrpng , and had received a cheering letter from them on that morning .: At Hay they were doing nothing . There were a few liberal men , but they were connected tnth Mr . Lovett ' s party . At Penzaiice , St . Columbs , Weybridge , Padbridge , Newby
Elstone , and other villages round , good had been effected , and small localities raised in most of them . At St . Day and St . Ann ' s there was a prospect of . having an abundant harvest . At Plymouth tUey were going on successfully . At Ashburtcn they were in a very destitute condition . Many were leaving their own soil to till that of other lands . At Buckley there was a good spirit , but they wanted enrolling ; At Tiyerton they had many good members ; and the whole of these counties , by exertion , might be made to stand in a prominent position in the Chartist cause . If a member of the Executive , or a man of note , could go among&t them , much good would be effected , more
especially among the miners—many of these were now on strike for wages , Another party had struck against the tyranny of their master . He had several times lectured to them , and showed the ineificacy of combinations -without political power . He had at first experienced much opposition and much ill-treatment Heceuld get no one to print his bilisi nor the crier to cry bis meetings—so that he was compelled to cry them himself ; but opposition was how vanishing ; he had only to tell the boys , and they would soon get him up a meeting . He hoped some friend from the Convention would visit that district ; he would ensure him a good reception . ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ ¦ \ .
Mr . Mason , delegate for Staffordshire , had chiefly labeured in Stafford , Wolverharapton , Dudley , and Bil 8 ton . With the Potteries he was not so well acquainted ; but he thew thai they bad excellent meetings , that a good disposition was evinced , and that the feeling of this district was decidedly democratic . Their organization was far from being perfect ; in very few places was it so perfect as to give them that command of public opinion to which , if it was , they might attain . There is a want of some method of concentra * tion , which defect , he trusted , would be remedied . At Bilston the organizition was more perfect than that of any town in the kingdom . Previously to the formation of an association in this place , it was . enveloped in the gressest ignorance and golitical delusion ; they had
been debased by their brutal toil , and the ignorance in which they had been kept . Few could read or write ; but they were animated with the true Chartist spiritl At Wolveihainpton the or ganization was not good ; but at public meetings , their principles were triumphant . At Wedhesbury the cause progressed well . At Stafford the feeling was good ; but they ! were not organized sufficient to csmmand public opinion . They had lately a large public meeting . Divisions had been alluded . to ; he must say , that there was a want of a feeling of charity ; many who had dared to give vent to feelings contrary to the majority had been denounced in the Potteries ; there had been some paltry differences , but to no extent ; but in the other districts we have not the least division . The manner in which the working classes have been treated has made them very jealous of every action , the object of which they cannot clearly ascertain ; this he considered to be one of the greatest
bulwarks to the working classes ; it prevented theni from the danger of being deluded ; but at the same time , he disapproved of any interference with private opinions . He Would have signed Sturge ' s declaration , and have attended ' the Conference j ' tha men of Coventry were anxious to elect him ; but he feared if he teok thia step he should have been denounced ; and knowing how essential it was that a lecturer Bhould possess the confidence of the people , he had -twar'ted . his inclination and had not attended the Conference ; he had atao been elected for Shropshirej but had not visited that district fcut from information be had received , they were essentially dtmccratic in principle . Mr . Prow had several times visited that district ; at his first visit he had been much illused , but now he wa 3 everywhere received with respect . With respect to his district as a whole , Staffordshire was well-organised , and in spirit was not inferior to any district in England
Mr . Lowery , delegate from Edinburgh—He was delegated worn a very aristocratic town ; one-half of the population were parties living upon their means ; it was divided into two towns , the old and the new , and contained a population of 250 , 000 , of whom 150 009 Were living without any business . They had few public works ^ or manufactories ; and therefore there was not that discontent existing from which the desiro for Chartism arose . They would perceive that in Edinburgh they had not the same material * to work on as in Glasgow ,, or in other large manufacturing towns . In Edinburgh they rented a large chapel , in which lecture *
were given once a week . A discussion was also heM once a week ; and on Saturday evenings they had a social festival , at which they nsually cleared a profit of ^ . i ° , They had associations at Musselburzh , J > alkeithj Galashiels , Lasswade , and other places ; and in each place . they were capable of coramandinf publifl opinion . . The profits of their festival they devoted to the spread of Chartism in the surrounding village ? . They were not able to ca * ry their principles to any great extent of distance into the country from want of suff . cient funds . The -yillagea were in most instances isolated , and locked up between hills and mountains and being a thinly scattered agricdltnraldistricfc . layiDg wide ( Continitid in our seventh page . )
Untitled Article
6 > THE NORTHERN STAR . .., ; . . ' . ¦ v ' ^ :: '' " : v . - ______
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 23, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct887/page/6/
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