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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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JK . &TXOH ' . &I * CO 2 TVE 2 tTIOIT . Friday , April 22 . 2 > 1 t . Itaican in the chair , Mr . Leach , vice chairman . Mr . Campbell , Secretary , called the roll , ¦ when Messrs . B ^ esley , Jl ' -Pherson ,. Stall-wood , Harrison , B-irstow . Bartlett , Powell , Thomason , Ridley , Leach , Diyle , Morgan Williams , Mason , Moir , Woodward , O'Cennor , Campbell , and Duncan were present . . The Hiinutes were read and confirmed . Mr . O'Connor gave in a report of his journey to If orthaTnpton , and stated that he had addressed in that town one of tsel&rgsst assemblies ever kno-vra in tbat district , and gave a most cheering account of the state Of feeling in trie sgri cultural districts . " Mr . Ridley reported from two . meetings he had attended . Mr . Morgan Williams reported bis reception at a meeting , called for the purpose of forming a committee in aid of Frost , Williams , and Julias , -which passed off in an exctHent manner . "
IiIt . Doyle reported that he attended a meeting Where Mr . SMney Smith lectured , but finding that Mr Smith wouH not discusa the question , he and the friends -with him retired and left Mr . Smith lecturing to seven persons . Mr . Mason reported from the Trades' Delegates Heeling , that they were wellrectfive ! , and that a re- * oiTTnon , pledging themselves to assist in carrying the Charter aad join in the National procession , "wa 3 unanimously adopted . Messrs- > J D ; u"fJ . 31-Pherson , Stall wco 3 , and Wood-Ward , alsor : p ^ r t ? d on the same subj ect . ha had
Mr . Powell T- jpjiUd frj ^ i a meeting attended . A quantity of Petition Sheets ¦ were t ^ en handed-in . Mr . Ciaspl * . - !! reported from the English Executive . They hid teen in existence now a ^ ouc twelve months . At the period they came into office there "was but seventj or eighty towns in the Association , now they had aboai three hundred and fifty towns ia the Association . In the London District , at that period , thry had seventeen or tigMeen locality s in London , now th > -y bad aboat forty . In the Northampton district , at that period , they had net one , now fiev had seren or eight . In Birminiham they hid aa increase , he believed , in numbers , but not in associations ; they tad not COH ' txibutcd much to the support of the . Executive . In
Lc-iceitir they had at that period only ab-jut one hundred Ei ^ mbfeTS . now they had upwards of twelve hundred . In Nottingham they had a large increase of numbers , and they save good support to the Execntive . Id theD ^ rsy district tbey xtid ozdr two ) oc 3 ! : tit ? s , now they had twelve ; they did not p 3 y so welL In the Potteries they got en ¦ well , gave good .--upport to the Executive , and ¦ were animated by an excellent spirit . In Cheshire , until lately , within t ' . is four or five months , they had suarceiy any localities ; since Mr . Dale ' s txertions they were progressing well , but had not been in existence Ions ; enough to afford much support to the Executive . In Lancashire they had then twenty assocations , now they had between fo : ty and fifty in existence , and their ntunbrrs were rapidly progressing ;
tsken as a -whole they paid -well to the Executive . In Yorkshire , at that _ lime , there was oniy twelve or fifteen luc ^ lities , now there w ^ re not less than one hundred . S-ime of the districts , as Huddersfield , Hebdtn Bridge , and other places , wcre the best paying parts , in the kingdom , with the exception or London , which bad paid equally "well . In Northumberland , Durham . Cumbi ' rlaEd . and Wes t moreland , fee could not say much progress had been made . In Devonshire and in Corn-Wall , until these last few months Chartism was almost unknown ; there had been five or six fresh localities established , but being new localities they could not yet
expec : from these placed mnch support . In Brighton they hid a good association -which paid well . In Norfolk , Cambridge , and . Suffolk , one year since , only one locality was in existence , now they had tight or ten Of Monmouthshirethe conl 4 say but little . In Walts Lfee Association was extending itself ; within a short p riod th-re had been four cr five localities opened . Of Ii-irsdoa be could speai very favourably ; within this penod ihfcy had contributed between £$ v or , £ 70 . This district , end that of Yorkshire , had nobly fuifiiled its duty , ihe other districts had not done their auty in regard to the contribution cf funds ; ia some places they had not even paid for their cards .
Dr . > l -DvoiaU should , more especially for the infor _ - Ei 3 tion of the Scottish delegates , give them a sketch of their present orgatpz ition with rve ^ rd to the Executive . It ' was exclusively formed by the working men . A delegate meeting "was called at Manchester , iiany of the delegates new present "were then in prison , as he himself was at that period . When he first read the phn . he thought it was too extensive to be carried out by the "woikins classes ; bnt he w : ts happy to state thai it succeedtd fir beyond his most sanguine expectations . They had not been in office twelvemonths , and they had heard from Mr . C anphtdi the extensive progress they had made . Wkere they "were at first met with great opposition , bow they were received Vith oj > en arms . Mr . Bairstow could corroborate that
the opposition he ( Mr . Biirstow ; had met with in Derbysiiire , "was not of the most pleasant description . Drad ca's , brick-bats , &a , were plentifully showered upon him—even fire arms were trough ! into requisition to intimidate him ; bat througk all he bad persevered ; and when he ( Dr . M'D-.-uai ]) last visited Derbyshire , he had splendid meetings ; and , instead of the people fighting against the Chartists , they would now fight for them . He was not for granting any great esteni ? ioa cf power to the Executive , but enly such an extension as would contribute to their utility m carrying out the organizition . He di 4 not think that the Executive should have the power of appointing lecturers to those places already organized , and capable of KQBDOrting iaem , bu % only to those districts -whtre
Chartisji ! it present was dormant In the Counties of Devon ana CornwaL the Chairman and Mr . Powell could bear wkness X » the great wish expressed for lecturers , and . also to the great good which they would produce ; in Wales also it was of great and paramount importance tsat lecturers should be appointed . H « ¦ was entirely for local government—he did not wish to feave any power over those places which eould appoint their own lecturers . He should oppose any proposition of . that description . The Executive bad never interfered in any local business—they had looked only to the general business of the Association . He thought the present organisation would cairy out every object they had in view ; but he thought that the plan of paying a regular sum for each fifty members would he superior
to tfee present method : it would ensure a regular supply of funds , and would be less expence to the localities than even now . They had met "with a few pecuniary difficulties , bni they had no reason to complain : they bad been better Eupported than tven could be exptcttd considering the destitution which prevailed . From the metropolis they had met with great pecuniary support ; and though some members might complain of their meeting in pot-fconses , ia , yet if they looked at the manner in ¦ wh ich they had supported the Executive , and the manner in which they had supported this Convention , tiey would see that they could afford to lo- > k ever aEy drawbacks in this district They had progressed rapidly . There -were thirty or forty- localities in connection with the council at the Old Bailey ; aiid ¦ when the central committee was brought iat <> action he bad no dsubt they would have an hundred localities .
He could give the same good account of Yorkshire . and Lancashire . From the density of the population in this district ; from the sufferings the hand-loom -weavers bad endured ; and from the moral tone of the people , these districts were almost unanimously in favour of the Charter . Taking the position of the Executive as a ¦ whole thty stood is a good position—they Were not above - £ 5 in debt , including everything ; and by issuing a circular they could raise immediately £ 30 , which ^ as owing for cards . With regard to his colleagues the greatest unanimity prevailed . He believed this was one cause why they had been so well supported . If division had existed among them ; if they had evinced a _ feeling of hesitation or suspicion against each other , it would have re-acted to their disadvantage in Shu public mind- He was proud that he had such excellent colleagues
The Chairman then read a note from Mr . Mason , stating , that in Bilrt - -n , where there were only 100 members , there are now 1000 ; that an Association ha < 1 bfeen raised at Darlaston , and at other places ; an * d that at Birmingham and at Wolverhampton , their numbers bad greatly increased . " . Mr . Campbell explained that he was * very happy to be corrected "with respect to tht progress in StaS ' ord-Bhire . > Ir Leach thought that it would be proper , in order to arrive at their true position , to look to the condition of the body previous to the estabiishment of an Executive ! At the first J > rlegate meeting he ] d at Manchestrr , finding that the Chartist body was completely broken up , as fax as organiz ition was concerned , ht moved
that they laid down a plan fur thu guidaccv at the Chartist body . Dr . Taylor opposed this on the ground that it might prejudice the triai of Mr . Frost , and Jie ¦ withdrew tis motion . As soon as that trial was concluded he wr&ts a letter in the Northern Star . prt&sk . g this subject on * he attention of the C . ^ artiyts . This wa > responded to , and seventeen towns sent delegates to a conference at Manchester . At this meeting , a plan of organization "wasagreed upon , nearly sinnilarto the prt-BtHt » This plan met with much opposition . Many ¦ who bad previously been in the Chartist ranks objected to ^ he plan , on the ground uf legality and clamoured loudly foi them to alter it . . and then th ^ j ¦ would join and assist them . They called another dtlegats meeting at great expence , to remove tnis squabble
of legality . They invited those to attend who bad objected to it , but they never attended ; neither when they-had altered the plan did they join ihem . The plan then adopted was their present plan , and it bad ¦ work ed so well , tbat now they ha * between 3 and 400 towns in the Association , and 600 tueetiogs were tt id on the same night every -week , to discuss the principles ofdortism . In some parts of the country the plan had not been properly -worked out . and the funds consequently not raised . He had received letters from , all parts of the kingdom , stating their approval of the conduct of the Executive , On that moraing -. bejiad received a letter from the female * - > - "l pC-jO | dWajfe-, " ' Containing a vote of thanks and ?¦; - ¥ £ 1 ^ BflfejRsBjention , in addition to their full quota .
HwjrpberaonTras far superior t « that . f the first ConfetSOB ^ That body was two or three years in advance < j ¥ "ti $ g nReiBgence of . &e country : there wascr ? Lainly a Yiat ^ HieBBfc cf . entbj g JftBm exhibi ed . hut it had no foundation , and burst lute a bubble in the day of trial . 3 &dr : « £ gloittfciqn was now of a different cast ; it
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"wa 3 characterised by a spirit of steady intelligence Notwithstanding the vast amount of destitution which existed among their body , there had not been a single act of violence committed—not a single transaction "which could jeopardise their cauBe . During this period they had defeated the Whies , the Tories , and the Complete Suffrage scheme , Tbis he attributed to having a bead to direct the movement , not to contreul , but simply to direct public op inion . Baa it not been for this , each town wonld have had a nostrum of its own , and they wonld have been split into sections . Now , even if the Executive -went astray , the cause would not be ruined , though it would caase a temporary disorganisation ; their place would speedily be supplied . It had been insinuated tbat the Executive bad done
nothinst ; if they bad not exercised an affirmative , they bad exercised a negative power , and if they were properly supplied with funds , they -would shortly be in jsossession of an affirmative power . In Manchester the present plan had worked welL Manchester , though supposed to be Radical , was the true seat of Whiggery . In that town the anti-Cora Law League had spent i' 50 . 000 in one year , their chief object being to break up ihe Chartist organisation , and get the people to follow unreflectingly in their wake fer cheap bread , bu ' . with their poor penny per -week they had so organised the town ; that at evtry public meeting whtre they eould gttatthem , they dtfeated their schemes by a majority of f > rty to one . This party issued for about six weeks running , forty or fifty thousand tracts weekly , the Chartists only issued one tract which completely >; ruke the i ^ ck of all the othi-rs . In Li ncashire , D ^ rby , Gheshtre , Birmingham , ai ; d other distress , they had reirular lt-cturers in their eiupicv ; in Yorkshire they
had three lecturers tmplvO ' fcd . in-sides supporting their local expences and the Executive , or more properly speaking the orisnifati'in , for in s : > me weeks it had cost them £ -20 foT stationery , printing . &c . Thismi ^ ht appear a iarge turn , but if the present . p-: in was carried out . ifc would enable thtm to tltiray all txpt-nces , to tmploy thirty talented u cturers , ami to carry on sue ? GcSifully the present aeit-ition . He thought that the present Convention had no puwer to alter either tlie plan or the spirit of the organization . He trusted they would carefully peruse it aad if defective in any point , take measures more fully to carry it nut . He had derived niueh pleasure from being a member of the Executive boay ; it had procured hini much personal friendship , and he had received from the puhhc a character that he should scarce dare to give hinu-eif , that tf beir . ;; au honest man . He would say for hia colleagues that they had earned a character wiiich would be tninsmitttJii wita applause to posterity .
-Mr . Pmlp gave his support to the present orgaivzition . He believed that , notwithstanding all its difficulties , it had worked Well He was one of the iltlegates who assisted at its formation in Manchester , at a period when their ranks were so broken that they could Circe collect any force at any given point . They k : icW not what measures to aJopt , or to what snl . ject they should next direct their a ' . untiou . To remedy this stite of disunion , they had laid down the pr > sent pian , aad they could now carry out any given object better than any Association in the kingdom . Messrs . i = ach . Ciuipbel " . and M'DjuiI had been more active members of the Executive than himself or Mr . William * . By the original psan he did not c-insioer that they were all required to be permanei . tfy employed ; but whenever auy iiiipurtxat bnsiness was to be brought forward , he always attended their sittings . He had been lectariDg tiironi ; h a large district of the kingdom , and he bad seen the good effects of the g-sstnu : and he tru > tcd
they wtuld ni 3 ke no alteration m it . If they were . continually -altering or amending it every year , it wouid give a sort of unflxeiiness to their acitation , which it Wis very undesireabie to produce . He had not he ^ rd any sufficient argument adduced to enable him to conseat to an alteration in thu mode of collecting the funds . The present pian only wanted to be- properly carried out At present many parties not only contributed nothing to the fuDds , but did not even pay regularly for their cards . This kt ^ t them short of funds . It was of srvat importance thai ttie counties of Cornvrail and Divon should be "well agitated . He had promised to attend there , and endeavour to assist in doing this ; but when prepared to stirt , he found that it was impossible for want cf funds ; and he was reluctantly compelled to disappoint the men of those districts . He thought it would be the duty of this Convention to urge upon the people the necessity of well-supporting the Executive , and of supplying them with funds to employ lecturers in the unagitnted counties
Mr . Morgan , Williams said he should make but few remarks , as he had never taken an active part as a member of the Executive , bul on all important occasions he had promptly attended . Tiie manner in which the Executive bad transacted their business gave great satisfaction to bis constituents . He trusted they would devise some means to employ a larger body of lecturers , more especially in Wales . In his own district they -were not so much needed , but in others the ¦ want of them was severely feit . He could take but little credit to himself for the good the Executive had effected ; but he must state that they hat ever been uuiuinious , and th : ; t when absent he never had occasion to disapprove of their measures . Mr . O Connor moved , and Mr . Moir seconded , that the report of ths Executive be referred to the Committee appoin ted for that purpose . Carried .
Mr . Djyle moved a resolution calling upon them to n quest their constituents to send the Xorihern Star and other < emocratic journals to Ireland . This , if carried into general operation , would greatly benefit the cause in Ireland . It would shew to the Irish people the manner in which they bad been calumniated and abused , and t ' aat their principles were calculated to do more good for them than even those promulgated by men whom they had s /> loni ; looked up to as leaders . He had great pleasure in informing them that while in Ireland he hari atte : n 1 ed six meetings . At Belfast he addressed a laTgr ; K < -peal meeting . They pledgei him to keep to the Repeal question , and not to broach the Charter ; but somehow he was compelled to bring in the
Charter , and on being called to order , promised better behaviour for the future ; but before the close of the meeting he believed he made a considerable impression . He was sure tbat if proptriy supplied witfe political knowledge in the shape of tracts , &C-, they would no longer pin their faith to the sleeve of any political leaQer , but would aet and think for themselves . He hoptd ttat in the address they were about to issue they Would recommend the sending of Stars , ( Jcc . to that prut of Ireland : most of those at present sent were sent to Dublin . The part he alluded to was the North of Ireiand . They had rtquesttd him to act as delegate to the Conventionfor them , but as the law did not allow it , be could act only as their friend .
lir . O Connor would gladly second tbe resolution , if the words Sorthern Star was left out He thought it ¦ w ( . u ; c 3 btr better worded if they said democratic papers , without nominating one in part ? euiar . Mr . Stallwood seconded Mr . D' > yk- ' s motion ; he approved of it as at present worded . Mr . O'Connor stated that , from his peculiar position , he couid not have seconded Sir . Doyle ' s motion consistently with his principles . During the whole course o' his agitation he had never , at any meeting , even occe mentioned the Northern Star . He defied contradiction on that point ; ami be would take that opportunity of replying to a few observations which , during their sitting , had been made respecting the Northern Star . The votes of censure in it had been alluded to
as thcugh they had been concocted by the Editor , or some pa : ty connected with the paper , instead of which they well knew that they were inserted ; y order of tbe people . He well knew that the Northern Star was watched by both friend and foe , and Hint there was a strong desire , on the pan of Bome parties , to put down the " Slur . " It bad been stated , that his reporters were hired tools , while the reporters of other papers wers public spirited individuals . He could positively assert that he never wrote a line to Wheeler in his life , that be never wrote a line to White , or any one of his correspondents ; ^ ie had been particularly careful on this point , tbat he mi ^ ht be enabled to rebut any such charge ; they had been entirely free and unshackled from any restraint ; they had been appointed to the office , not from any acquaintance with him , but at the desire of the body of people where they were labourin ? . The Editor of the paper he had known many
years , and haa never written a hue to him to influence his condnet , during the four years the paper had beeD in existence . He defied them to point out a single line where he had denounced any man . or to prove that he had ever attempted to fritter away any man ' s character . Great latitude must always be allowed to a puohc newspaper , bnt this should never be extendtd b « yond the bounds of propriety . He was giid to think that the paper had been of some service to the cause . Mr . Stallwood could bear him out in stating -hat several persons . Irishmen , in Hammersmith , had shewn him letters stating the great service it had uone to tLe cause , and tbat it had caused the formation of several Associations in that country . He had . by application to individuals and ¥ y public recommendations , endeavoured to send newspapers , tracts , &c , to Ireland , and he was happy tbat parcels of Stars of s-vcral cwts . each , had bt-en seut to parties who were too poor to purchase them .
> lor ^ an Williams stated that he believed great advantages wouid accrue to Ireland from sending a large supply of Stan , && , it would also be found to act very beneficially in Wales .. From Merthyr Tydvil , where a considerable number of Stars were taken in , they sent them through the agricultural districts . If one was Bent into a parish in generally went the tour of the whole piace , and in many instance be bad known that it produced a great amount of good . He trusted they would do all that lay in their power not only to send them to Ireland , but likewise to Wales—all would be glad to receive them , and by the truths thus inculcated the good seed would be sewn , and tfee lecturers would only have to follow aiid reap the harvest-Mr . Moir slated that for some length cf time he had appreciated its advantages , and sent those which he c « uid procure to Ireland .
Mr Beesley said that for some length of time he bad taken six Stars -weekly , and that with what be collected fron others , be usually sent twelve to Ireland , besides Circulars , tracts , &c Mr . White had taken a great interest in that subject , and bad been enabled to send hundreds of Stars to Irelaiid . With regard to tbe agents of the Northern Slar being the paid tools of . Feargus O'Connor , as one of those agents , he could assert , that he -was in the same position for doing his duty fearle .-sly as before he accepted that office ; bis actions were equally free as
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before . It was well known that when be was employed in Yorkshire , be weuld never be controlled in his opinions or bis actions by bis employer , and he should act now in a similar manner . So far as O'Connor supported the cause be should support him , whether he was called a tool or no ; and , if he { Mr . O'Connor ) deeerted the cause , be won ) d be one of the first to oppose him . He had been sorry ta Bee a certain littleness of feeling prevailing amongst little knots of individuals , which induced them to attempt to put down the - Slar . not that the public might be . benefitted , but that they might be enabled to raise their own fame upon its ruins . The . Star had been the main
cause for keeping the agitation alive when there were many of them in prison , and when all their prospects were dark and gloomy . When he was in prison , he recollected being asked by thirty ot forty in tbe Court yard what would , become of the cause ? he asserted that the Northern Star would keep tbem together It had dona this ; and tbe people owed to it a debt of gratitude . He did not assert tbat h had no faults ; but taken as a whole , the good that it had done would amply recompence for any errors that it might Lave fallen into . He bad supported the paper strenuously previouly to his connection with it , and bo long as the Northern Star did its duty , so long should it have his ht-nrty support .
Mr . Harrison was of-opinion that this motion bad been in a great . measure antici pated . Hehadeentoff several packets of Stars , weighing ^ ewt . each , to Ireland ; but if it came as a rtcomniundation from the Convention , it would have more weight . Mr . Campbell said there was another little publication , the English Cliarlist Circular , which would effect great fjoad if well circulated . He thought that instead of sending packages of old Stars to Ireland they should sell them for waste paper , and purchase sucb tracts as " Wha : " ' s a Chartist " Circulars , &c . Irishmen liked to see the news of the day much better than old papers . Hs advised them to send their new papers by all
means . 31 r . Pew * 11 had seen the good produced by the silent working of these ageuts . He had found them in little isolated' vi ' iliges by tbe sea side ; aud as his occupation led him from door to dour , be was often asked how the Chartists get on ? TI . ey h : id read a eood deal about them in a paptr called the Northern Star . This opened a door for further conversation on the subject , and information vras thus elicited . They formed excellent forerunners , breaking up the ground , and clearing the prejudices tu , of a lecturer ' s path , and thereby effecting much good .
Mr . M'Pheraon—In his district the A ortkern Star had been much blamed by several parties ; but as these had since turned out mere Whigs their v ) ject was plain , and therefore thtir aoids wero not attended to . - The Star as an organ ot the society could not be dispensed with : it was an index to thi . ' general state of Chartism throughout the kingdom . For general information , tracts and oth ? r \ ubacations were more adapted . Tracts -wtre excellent auxiliaries in places -where Chartism was unknown—they containe- ' information which it was impossible fjr tbe Star to give . * Mr . Morgan Williams statedtbat they had translated the tract " What ' s a Cb . irtiat ? " into Welch , and it had done much good .
Mr . Wooaward stated , that they had sent one week , 200 b 3 ck Stars to Ireland , whieu were duly acknowledged . They had since sent 450 , but bad not received any information of their reception ; this disheartened them , for they were fearful they had fallen into the bands of the Post-office authorites . He thought that a monthly regiete had ought to be inserted iu tbe Star , of their reception . Mr . Doyle explained ' that his motion alluded to all democratic papers , the Circular included , but hethought the Northern Slar dest-rvt-d the pre-eminence ; it was the-oniy paper which defended their interests while in prison ; under persecution and prosecution it had never deserttd them . His motion did not allude so much to back Stars as to . the cur-ent numbers of the day . He was -well aware that Irishmen liked to see freah , in preference to stale news . . The motion was then unanimously passed .
A letter was then read by tbe Secretary from Bronterre O'Brien , in answer to a communication which he had been instructed to make to him ; the purport of the letter tvas , that hoTiad not taken bis seat in the Convention , owing to bis not having received from Xewcastio or elsewhere in the district , any official notice of his election ; unless Mr . Campbells letter could be regarded in that light . He hud written to the Secretary at Newcastle , Mr . Sinclair , upon the subject , stating that bis circumstances would not allow him to devote more than a week or ten days to the Convention ; yet at whatever injury to himself , be would attend if they furnished him with tbe necessary credentials ; to this let ' . tr he had not , at that period , received any
answer . The Secretary also read a communication from John Leacb , of R > chda ' . e , in answer to a letter which be had been authoriz d to send him . The letter stated that the deputation had not an opportunity , owing to the shortness of the time , to communicate with Mr . Sbarman Crawford , but from the statement he made to them on the last occasion , he bad not the least doubt but be would postpone his motion until after the petition bad been presented , and that lie would also vote for the petition , the on y clause to -which be objected was tbat respecting the Repeal of the Uuion . Mr . J . Leach observed that Mr . Sharman Cra , wford had two seta of opinions , one for his constituents at Rochdale , and another for the lobby of the House of Commons . ..
Mr . Lowery brousjbt up . on behalf of tbe Committee , the address to the Chaitists of thu Kingdom , ordered to be written on the preceding d : iy . The address having been read , Mr . Bairsjow suggested some trifling alterations and the Committee retired for that purpose . On being brought up in ita amended form , it was unanimously agreed to . Tbe members were requested to append their signatu : es , and the address ordered to be printed . Some discussion took place respecting strangers leaving tbe room while some private business was being transacted . Messr ? . O'Connor , Biirstow , and many other members objected to any business being transacted , With closed doors .
Dr . M'Douall explained that it was . business cennected with the Finance Committee , but tbat the object wou d be answered if the members would stay in tbe room for a short time after the adjournment . The following resolution being received from Birstal , > lr . O"Connor moved , and Mr . White seconded , tbat it be inserted in the miutes : — " That this meeting having maturely considered the proceedings of the Birmingham Conference are of opinion that the recommendation to establish a new association for Complete Suffrage is only another scheme of our enemies to break up the present powerful organisation of tbe working classes , and being fully convinced that
our present association being legal and constitutional is well calculated to effect tbe object for which it was formed , hereby declare that we have no confidence in any set of men that would cause disunion among our ranks ; and that we will abide by our Charter in name aud substance , and have confidence in our Executive and the honest leaders , who have stood by the people in times of danger and persecution , and will neither countenance nor support any man or set of men Wbo would throw our Charter over board , even though they should affirm the truth and justice of its principles ; and further , that we have confidence in the present Convention , and will carry out its recommendation Dy all means in our power . "
The roll was then called ,- and the Convention sittings adjourned until Monday morning , ut nine o ' clock . During the sitting Mr . O'Connor read the debate in the House of Commons on Mr . Crawford ' s motion , and likewise tbe editor's remarks , but it elicited no
dis-. Saturday , April 23 . The committees were buBily engaged on this day in making arrangements respecting the theatre , and in forwardina tbe presentation of the petition .
Monday , April . 25 . Mr . Duncan was called to the chair , and Mr . Leach to the vice-chair . . . ¦ - . The Secretary called the roll , and Messrs , Beesley , M'Pherson , Harrison , Williams , Powell , Ridley , Leach , Doyle , Pbilp , Moir , Woodward , Bartlett , Lowery , Duncan , and Campbell were present . Minutes read and continued . Mr Moir reported that he bad received letters from Glasgow , instructing him to -wait on their M . P . ' s . He bad written to them , and they bad requested his attendance at half-past eleven o ' clock tbat morning . Mr . Bairetow reported a good account of a meeting he and Mr . Stallwood had attended at Twickenham . .
Mr . Harrison reported he-bail preached a sermon in the Shepherdess Fields , on Sunday morning About sixteen hundred persons were present . They obtained 1000 signatures to the petition , sold 5 » . worth of tracts , and collected 9 s . towards the demonstration . They had a similar meeting in the afternoon , at the tame place , but not quite so well attended as that in the forenoon . He also attended a large meeting in the evening , at the Albion Coffee House , and many members were enrolled . A discussion then took place respecting the theatre not proving an advantageous speculation . Mr . O'Connor suggested a plan for their adoption . Mr . Lowery moved that the members of the Convention write to their constituents for information upon tbe truck system , and its bearing upon tbe interests of the working classes .
Mr . O Connor seconded the motion , and Btated it as bis opinion tbat no man was scarcely aware of the evils inflicted by the system , and he thought it was their duty to render tbe committee all the evidence which lay in their power . . ; Mr . Leach read a document , showing the scandalous manner in which the truck masters overcharged their werkmea for goods purchased from them . The resolution waa then carried unanimously . Mr . Pbilp moved the following resolution : — Tbat , with a view to the most speedy enactment of tbe People ' s Charter , this Convention recommends the people of Great Britain to totally abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks ; and also to abandon the use of tobacco and snuff , and refrain as much as passible from the use of all exciseable articles—that by these means the revenue may be afi » cted , the people be improved by sobriety , and the funds of the Chartist As-
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sociation , be made more ample ; and the Convention cannot refrain frem expressing its opinion that every man enlisting In the army or the police , whilst the present corrupt institution exist , becemes a slavish tool In the hands of . tyrants , is ' a ' ' disgrace to his country , and a dishonour to the name of mail , " " Mr . Phllp , in an ablemanner , supported the resolution , aud instanced many persons who had contributed the funds thus saved to the cause of the Charter in Ireland . The effect had been : entirely to deprive the Government of-the power of enlisting soldiers . Not a man could row be found -to enlist'in the army ,. He trusted they would come to aunanimous vote uponthis question ...,: . . .. . ¦ : ; , ; ' . ' ' ; ' '' - .. ¦ : ¦ . ; ' . - . , ' ¦' . ' . ¦ ' •¦;¦ ¦ ¦ . '¦ ¦ '¦'¦' .. . . "¦ ' ' ;•/ .: ' ; . Mr . Bartlett seconded the resolution , and inBtanced a recent case in which an active rueiriber of their body had injured the cause by not being a total abstainer . '
Mr . O'Connor etated that riothing would give him greater pleasure than to see this carried eut into practice . He acknowledged that temperance had done much good in Ireland , though at the same time this was not the true reason of their not enlisting in the army ; it was the same line of conduct as they once previously adopted , they would not enlist until they had attained the measures they : were struggling for . 11 was with them a-patter of policy . He could not agree with their mixing this up with the agitation .-of . the Charter , be thought it . Would embarrass their proceedings . He trusted th ' ey would form a committee to consider the subject .
Mr , Beesley in a long and able addrees supported Mr . Philp ' s motion , he thought Mr . O'Connor was acting inconsistent-in-opposing . ' the motion , ho had recommended the constituents to pledge the delegates to be Teetotallers during the sitting of the Convention ; if it was good during that period it was good at nil-other periods . Much barm Lad feeen done-by their lecturers not being Teetptallerfij they after their features had perhaps taken only a single glass , but tbosu who entered the bouse with . them , perhaps not haying equal command over themselves , got intoxicated , and thereby more harm was done than the lecturer had done good ; it would allay the prejudices of in any of the females against them if they came home f ram their meetings entirely sober . Mr . Thoinason supported the motion in a lengthy address . Hia constituents were highly in favour of it j it would also allay the prejudices which certain teetotallers entertained against them .
Mr . O'Connor moved the following amendment : — " That we tbe delegates sitting in this Convention , iu order to set an example to the people at large : and to prove our approval of the principle of temperance do hereby pledge ourselves to abstain from the use of all intoxicating drinks , as well as from the use of snuff and tobacco , and this resolution wo adopt in order that we set an example in our persons , which we trust the people generally will consider worthy of adoption , and that both the recommendation and amendment be submitted to a committee who shall report to the Convention . "
Mr . Roberts in a long speech , seconded Mr . O'Connor ' s motion for a committee ; it was a question of principle ,, expediency , and law ; he was not sure that the latter part Of the resolution respecting enlisHng wtuki not subject them to a charge of sedition , seeing that according to the law an ignorant jury were the judges of what constituted sedition . He , however , thought for these reasons it had better be referred to : a committee , that it might be -well considered . ' He adr mired the success that attended t ^ etotalism , but he believed the man who took a glass of liquor , was
equally as , good a man as the one who do < iirt not , Mr . M'Pherson thought the motion not called for ; its every object would be obtained by advocating Chartism . Tneir lecturers were compelled to be nien of high moral habits , and if they made Chnrtiats of them , they would speedily be sober men . With respect to the army ,: the ad vice to Chartists was unnecessary ; they would not enlist ; to those who were not Chartists , the advice would be entirely useless ; they must first make them Chartists . If a man became a Chartist , it was a guarantee to their Wives and families that they would become sober moral men . ¦ . - .. Mr . Lowreyably supported Mr . Philp'a motion .
Mr . Bairstow should be willing to adopt not only the principle of total abstinence , bub , if it was practicable , from all taxable articles ; but he should protest against this Coavention paasingtne resolution unless every man was pledged to the principles . He had seen in Leicester the ill effects of separating themselves into Teetotal Chartist Societies distinct from the main body * If the motion had been made to recommend sobriety instead of total abstinence , he should have had no objection to it- . / . . ' - ¦ , ' ' ' .. . ; ''¦ ; : " ' : ;;"" . ' ' " .. ' ' ' . - ¦ ¦' . ' . ' " Mr . White thought the motion was very premature . If the House of Commons rejected , as no doubt they would , the National Petition , it would then be a duty for them to lay down some line of conduct , teetoialism or something else ; by which 1 they might operate on the Government ;
Mr . Ridley was surprised at tbe motion being broughi forward . He admired enthusiasm , but was opposed 'o fanaticism ; he thought that it would be calculated to divide rather than to unite . Mr . White moved that the question be deferred . Dr . N'Douall admired the principle in the abstract , but he thought that it would be calculated to raise a prejudice against them in parts where their principles were not at present known . They would be known only as Teetotalers , —as a Chartist , the ouly standard to which , he would bow should bn the six points of the Charter . If their object was to conciliate the Teetotal body , he believed it would fail . They were more of a religious than a political body . He believed that the part respecting enlistment would infringe upon the law . Mr . Stallwood was compelled to differ with hia two colleagues , and perhaps this was well , as all their constituents would then be represented . Mr . Stallwood then ably defended the principles of total abstinence .
Mr . Campbell would never allow his conduct to be regulated by the opinions of any body tf men . If they passed this resolution he should not fuel bound to adopt it . ' - ¦ ' . ' ' ¦ ;¦ .. ¦¦"¦ ¦ ' ¦' ¦ . ' Mr . Harrison had two bodies whom he represented , the one teetotal the other not , but they were both good Chartists . His own opinion was against the motion . Mr . Mason was willing to adopt any line of conduct which would give a high nioral tone to society . He was fearful that they would be laying themselves open to the charge of sedition , if they recommended the , npn enlistmeut proposition . The foreign policy of the
Government was such that they would immediately pounce upon any body of men who attempted to deprive them of the means of raising soldiers , and also they would look with an eye of suspicion upon those who , in addition to this , recommended them to refrain from fcxeiseabie articles and thus cripple their funds . It would be raising up a new standard cf Chartism which would involve them in difficulties ; he likewise hoped they would -pot ; lay down any' line- o ! ' conduct which they were n 6 t certain would be carried into effect . He thought- it bad policy to lay down any p lan which they were not certain would be very generally adopted .
Mr . Wood ward was opposed to the motion . The majority of the Chartists of Brighton were . not teetotallers , but he would not a low it to be asserted that they were not as good Chartists as any body of men . He could state the good effect which they had produced in bis neighbourhood by recommending the plan of non-Hilistment ; but if it interfered with the law they would be wrong in recommending it . Mr . Powell thought if this motion was carried into effect , it would be raising up a spirit of despotism—a fueling towards -which waa already too prevalentin some parts of the country . Mr . Pitkethly could not support the motion , much as he approved ef the principle of sobriety . If , at a future tiiue , it could be shewn that it would advance the cause , then he might be inclined to support the plan . :
Mr . Bairstow moved tbat the consideration be postponedsine die . M iv M "D . uall seconded the motion . Mr . Leach : stated that at the first Manchester delegate meeting a similar plan had been ^ brought forward , and be had then been told that he was not a good Chartiet because be had opposed it He bad since seen those men bo drunk that they bad run their heads against a lamp-post . This savoured somewhat of inconsistency . He thought that if they passed it , no good would be effected : the Chartist bouy would still take a glass of ale if they thought fit He as an individual should not leeV bimself bound by it , even if tbey passed the resolution . A Paine and a Washington , and other great men , wha would be immortalised by their actions , had been none the worse men for tafciag a small quantity of drink . He thought that the principles of Chartism were of sufficient weight and foree , without mixing them up with any other question whatever .
Mr . Djyle , in a humourous speech , oppossd the resolution . ' ¦ ' ' -.. ¦ ¦ - ' '¦ '¦ . ' , ' ¦ : - ¦ ¦ : 1 . : " ¦¦ ' " . - . Mr . O'Connor ^ withdrew his amendment-. ; Mr . Phiipi in an eloquent manner , replied . It was not for the purpose of raising up any new test for Chartism ; it -wasonly for the purpose of / giving a high moral tone to the people ; it would aiya * ; . tham a wish for intellectual ^ pursuits ; it would teach them to think ; and if recognized by such an important body as this Convention , it would greatly tend to promote its adop tion . It had been said that Sir Robert Peel would pounce upon them if they adopted this resolution . He
was rather surprised to hear this from men who had weathered the buttle and the breeze ; He thought that the Whigs had so far proved , the inefflclency of imprisonment , that it would not again be adoptedr . They had by those trials spread far and wide the principles of Chartism , and he knew tbat , if necessary , they would again dare air that a government could do against them , Mr * Philp then Btated , that Beeing the names of Messrs . Leach and Bairstow attached to a paper as pledged teetotallers , he trusted they would support the resolution . . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ : " ¦ ¦ ¦ . ' .- ;' :: - . '¦¦ . ' ' /¦••¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ ¦' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - ' ... ¦' . ¦ ' . ' ¦ - ¦ . '¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ' - Mr . Leach explained that his name was a forgery .
Mr . Bairstow stated that his name had been sent by a teetotaller , without his consent Mr . Bairstow ' s amendment was then put , and seven persons voted for it . ' , . Mr White s motion , that the subject be adjourned until after the presentation of the Petition , received nine vdteE , ¦ .. ; : " . . '¦'¦ . ' ... ¦'¦ ¦¦ ¦ ' . '¦ . ¦ .-. .- . ¦" . ¦ The resolntionwas then put , and five persons . voted for it , and sixteen against it . : The subJKct was , according to this decision , deferred until after the presentation of the Petition .
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A deputation from the Tower Hamlets was then received . . . :. ¦ ¦ ¦ , . . - "• . - . - ¦ : -:- ' - ' - / - - - < : ¦ ¦ ¦ ' - ' '¦ ¦ ¦ : ' . ¦"' Mr . Tread well hating explained their view * to the Convention , ¦ ; Mr . ' - 'O'Connor moved a vote of thanks to the depctation , and that the subject be referred to the agitation committee ^ . ' . . ; - : ; ¦ -: " \ . ' ¦ . ' . . . ' , •/;;¦ ,, ,- . : . ¦ :. '• ¦ • ' - Mr . Powell seconded the motion . - Mr . Stallwood moved that the Convention recommend the formation ; of Chartist . Registration Societies throughoutEngland , Ireland , Scotland , and Wales , for the purpose of placing all persons holding our opinions on the borough and county registries , with the view of returning as many Chartists as possible to the next Parliament , V . ¦ .- • ' , I . - ; . - '¦ . ¦ Mr . White seconded the motion . ; He -was in favour of either having a sure friend or an open foe j and not a quantity of ha f and half men , like Messrs . Warburton , Hum ^ , and C <» . ¦ : ' ,. ¦¦¦
Mr . Pitketbly perfectly agreed with the resolution , but they had failed in carrying it out at the last election , and he was fearful they would now . Public opinion bad not progressed much during that period . Mr . Woodward supported the motion , and showed the good effect it had produced in Brighton . ¦;¦ Mr . O'Connor thought the present a very important motion ; they might date their present position from their conduct at the last election . He agretd with Mr . Stallwood that thirty , twenty , or twelve persons in the House of Commons , and backed by the pressure from without , would do much to gain the Charter . There was but twd ways of acting upon the Government— . by moral and by physical force ^ -they had denounced physical force , and determined to carry it
by nioral means . He beliiived that notwithatanding the manner in which they had been denounced , that they were the true safety valve of the nation . The strength of the pt-ople shoul * lalways be directed against the party in powdr ^—their battle niust now be directed against the party in power . He thought that new they were in a much bttter position as regarded organisation than they ever had been previously . Ireland , as at present situated , would be an efficient ally to them . There was hot a Repealer in Ireland who was not a Cha'tist and they would sooner unite with them than with the Tories . It was the opinion of some that it was necessary to have upwards of half the House in their favour to constitute a majority . If ¦ thirty Chartists were in that House ,, and banded firmly together , they could so paralyze the Government that It would be impossible for the business to be transacted . If the forty-two Repealers bad remained firmly banded together they would long ere now have placed that
question in a prominent position , They should always look to their locat position . Government might be considered as a wheel within a wheel . They must look to the machinery of the corporate bodies , and they wsuld find that the Whigs -would aooner coalesce with them than with the Tories . Once get possession of this machinery , and they would tben be able to influfence the jurymen and the magistrates . They Would not then be enabled , as they had done previously , to call out the militia , and to imprison and convict you from the jurybox . They would then be enabled to make a general attack upon the citaderof corruption . Werecognise no difference between WhigB or Tories , but between them and the Chartists . They were now bound to make their grand attack upon the Tories , as they were the party who now occupied the garrison of corruption . If they carried out this plan , instead of being compelled to attack the enemy in an undiscipliiieu sta e , they would be able to attack them , well disciplined and marshalled , and then they would be certain of
succesp . Mr . Biirstow seconded the motion ; he thought that if carried out , even by the present limited constituencies , they would be able to return thirty or forty Chartist members to the House of ComnWri ;?; Mr . Thomason thought with Mr . 0 ! Connor , that if they intended to carry out the object , they ought to array themselves in an organized form ; if they had been fully organized they would have been enabled to place themselves in a much higher position at the last election * and yet , at the last election , he believed , they had done greater good to the cause than they would by two years of agitation . If the Conventi » n decided upon this step , they had many honest electors who would come forward and support them , and they would be enabled to return men of . tbeir own ranks , who would devote their talents to the cause of the people . .
Dr . M'Dtfuall admired the spirit of the resolution ; but after they had formed these Electoral Committees they must le-ive * it entirely to their own judgment , and not trammel them with any recommendations as to whether they should coalesce with Whig or Tory . If he again stood for Northampton , as most ptobab ' . y he should , he should stand on Chartist principles alone , discarding both , Whig and Tory and from the manner in which their representatives had acted , and from Peel ' s tariff scheme , he had no doubt he would be supported by the great majority of the Northampton tradesmen . The motion was eventually deferred until after the presentation of the National Petition . Mr . O'Connor stated that he received a letter from Loughrea , ( the place which could no where be found in the map , j and they stated that their petition was signed by 600 persons .
Mr . Pitkethly presented a petition from Hull with 7 , 400 signatures . He requested that the report of Hebden Bridge signatures should be corrected . It stated in the Star 3 . 400 signatures ; it it had onght to have been 5 , 400 . Mr . Moir reported that he had had aninterview with Mr . Danistown , M . P . for Glasgow , but could get no satisfactory answer from him as to Whether he would support the National Petition . Hei stated that he had no objection to every man having a vote , but those who possessed property should be entitled to more than one vote . A letter was received by Mr . Morgan Williams , from Wales , with an inclosurefor the use of the Convention , on the condition tbat not one farthing should go to any one who was not a whole-hog Chartist . Mr . Beesley moved the following resolution : —
" That the Convention recommends to the country the necessity of bringing forward Chartist candidates at the next general election ; and if there is no possibility of carrying them by votes , that they be carried by a show of hands ; and that they take their seats in the House of Commons , and only be ejected from there by force . " Mr . Beesley ably supported this motion . Let them take their seats in that House , and let them be ejected by force ; and if they thought proper , carried to the Tower ; they would then see whether the people would allow them to be quietly in prison . It was useless to carry their candidates by a show of hands , unless they were prepared to go farther . If they did this , they would place the Government in a very awkward position ; they-weuld then see tuat the meiti were determined upon attaining , their rights , and they , as leaders , would know who they could rely upon .
Mr . Ridley seconded the motion , he thought it idle to have any more child ' s play , petitioning was a mere farce —( " No" )—a , person said no , it was useful for creating public opinion , but it was a mere farce upon the part of the Government ; this would be a test whether they were longer determined to be contented slaves , or whether they were determined to be free ; it would show whether the Government would longer be allowed to ride rough-shod over tkem ; he expected they would have to endure prosecution and perseution for the principles he advocated . Mr . White entirely agreed in the spirit of the resolution , but thought it best to postpone it until after the presentation of the petition .
Mr . O'Connor entirely agreed with the resolution ; it was necessary that they should adopt this species of passive rtsi&tauce , it might appear a -wild scheme to some , but he hau spent sixteen months in a stone cell , and he was not daunted , but would for one carry it out even at the risk cf again meeting that fate ; there was no prospect of their being ejected from that House , for they would never be abie to obtain admission , but he trusted Mr . Beesley would postpone his motion , and after the fate of the petition had been decided he should be happy to support it . Mr . fieesley then withdrew his motion . Several notices of motions were given , and the Convention adjourned .
Tuesday , April 26 . Mr . Duncan in the chair , Mr . Leach in the vice chair . Present—Messrs . Beesley , M'Pherson , Harrison , Bairstow , Thoniason , Powell , Ridley , Roberts , Leach , Doyle , Philp , Williams , Mason , Moir , White Woodward , O'Connor , Campbell , Pitkethly , and Duncan . Minutes read and confirmed . Mr . Thomason reported that ha had attended a trade meeting , and they were unanimous in coming out to support the procession . Mr . Bairstow reported that he had attended a large and enthusastic meeting en Stepney-Green .
Mr . Philp wished to have a rnistake corrected which occurred in the report of his speeca in the Northern Spar , it appeared from the statement in that journal , that he asserted that divisions existed in the Doverilis ; he had stated that the greatest unauimity prevailed iu those villages , and that they were more united than the older towns in the association . The reporter asserted that ae still believed the report in , the Star to be correct !¦ . ' . '• '' . ' -: ¦' . - ¦¦ . " . ¦ , '¦ ,. '"¦ ¦ ¦' . ' . ' . '¦ ; '¦ Mr . Ridley affirmed the same . - Mr-, O'Connor btated thalt an error might easily occur . Mr . Roberts bore testimony to the general correctness and fairness of the London reporter to the . Star .
A deputation was heard , from the locality of Stepney Green ^ respecting the attendance of delegates at public meetings , which gave rise to considerable discussion . The deputation also requested the Convention , according to a EUggestion thrown out by them , that they would take means to procure bannera for the ensuing procesaion . : ..- ' ¦ . ¦ . / ' , ¦' : ^ ' ¦ ' ¦ - }' . V ' ' ¦'¦ . ^ ' - ¦ : ' .-.-The thanks of the Convention was then given to the deputation . ' ; .- / : ¦ ' . . -,.: . '" . ' . ¦ . ¦ " ; .. . :. . . " ; ¦¦' . : . _ ' - : Mr . White reported that he had attended a meeting of shoemakers at the Pitt ' s Head , Old Bailey , and was favourably received . Mr . Woodward reported thathe had attended a meeting of shoemakers , at the Golden Lion , and that they were unanimous in joining the procession , and gave orders to their Secretary to warn a I their body to attend ^ . / . , ' . ' .. ' ¦ " , : ' " ' . ' . - .:. ' : - ; ' ¦' . Mr . Mason reported in a similar rranner from a body of joiners
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Mr . Doyle gave a satisfactory repon ft ©^; a body of bricklayers they intended to form a Chartist ' locality . A considerable number of sheets of petitions were received from various places , but we did not . ascertato their correct number . . ' . J ' A petition was presented by Mr . Stallwood , from Great Mariow , containing 400 signatures . Alii White stated that he had received accounts that the people around Stourbridge were going in masses of twenty or thirty , taking food where they could find it and that they ware in the greatest difetreas . '
Petitions were presented from Liverpool , with 32 . 000 signatures ; from Cheltenham , Wolverhampton , Dunfermline , Stileybtidge , Curencester , Darlington ' Bingley . TPotton-under-Edge , Bury , Bradford , Newcastie-under-I . yne . Norwich , London , Harleston , Bury St Edmonds , Bath ,. Woolwich , and various other places , from the agriculturists of the North and East Riding \ 6 > f Yorkshire , with J 4 . 840 si ^ natores ; Northampton 2 500 ; Kettering 2 066 ; Davehtry . 1 , 052 ; bundle 350 ; Long Buckby 800 ; Eye 200 ; Pitiford 400 . ¦'¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ "¦¦• . " , , ¦¦¦ . - ' ' . . . ; . ; . " . ' . ¦ ' - . ¦ . ' .
Mr . . O'Connor . read a letter respecting the East and North Riding of Yorkshire , explaining the separate ¦ districts , and stating the petitions came from places . where no sighatnres had previously been obtaiued . ' Mr . Mason read a letter " from the Council , at Coventry stating that they felt jjreatiy dissatisfied with the statement made by Mr .: Mason , that the men p ? Coventry were desirous to sect him as a delegate to the Sturge Conference . The letter was directed to ^ the secretary of the Convention ^ , They were ciesi i-ouai for him to cail upon . Mr . Mason to state the naiiiea of the parties who bad been desirous of electing him , as no such subject waB ever brought before them . Mr .
Mason explained in connection with that letter that he had been in conversation with six of the most inflaential persons in Govehtry : ha could , if heceiasary , state their names ; but he would simply state that they considered it would be no violation of principle ; but that , by attending at that Conference they would be enabled to effect much good . He thought there could be no violation of duty in so doing ; they bad elected six men in Biriningnam for a similar . purpose . The reporter would most probably state to tbe country this explanation . He bad not been invited to attend the Conference by a public meeting or by the Council of Coventry . . ¦ ¦; - . ¦ . ; . ;
Letters were read from Salford , expressing a desire that they should procure copies of the People ' s Char * ter , and furnish the members of Parliament with them , that they might not be ab ^ e to plead ignorance of what the Charter really was . Also from Bradford , stating , that they had sent the petition sheets to Mr . Dancombe ; and likewise stating that the Whigs in the town bad now deserted Mr , Stutge on the plea that he werifteo far for them ; that the Chartists were determined upon aahering to their prinoijples , and standing by the Charter name and all . Also from Newton , enclosing £ 1 for tbe use of the Convention ; and from Ddwsbury , enclosing £ 2 > . / : / ¦ ¦ Letters were read from , Yorkshire showing that the greatest excitement prevailed , owing to a report that Government intend interfering with the Convention ; from Rippondale requesting information resptcting the bill-poster who had b . eun arrested and fined for porting Chartist bills , and wiehing to know whether he was the
only victim ; from Nottingham , stating that they had divided the town into t « 'alve districts , and were procuring signatures to a requisition of electors calling upon the Members for the borough to support Mr . Duncombe ' s motion , that a deputation from the working classes be heard at the bar of the House of Commons ; from Worcester , stiting that they had forwarded their petition to London ; from Ashton , stating that the Rev Mr . Stephens bad been grossly libelling them , and that they appointed a deputation to wait upon him respecting she calumnies in the Manchester and Salford Advertiser—he avowed being the author of them , and said if they wanted their principles ridiculed , he could do it for them : be . ' also ' stated in bis serHion , that if the holding up of his little finger would obtain the Ctiarter he would not do it : the Convention , he asserted , was not composed of working men ; and that these statements of Mr . Stephens had done them great injury in the obtaining of signatures . \ "
A petition was received from Mr . John Hini'ta , of Shoreham stating that owing to his having taken the chair at a Chartist meeting , which was conducteu with tbe greatest decoium , hehad beeu deprived of a pension , which be had well earned in facing the battle and tae breeze . He had applied to the Lords of the Admiralty on this subject , but had received on answer from tbe secretary that he was riot a fit pewon to receive a government pension . He had presented a petition to Parliament on the subject , but it had been laid on tbe table , and no notice taken of it . He had a wife and nih 6 children , and was entirely deprived of procuring a livelihood for them * He hoped the Con Tension would enter into . a subscription for the purpose of procuring him the means of purchasing a boat , nets , &c , that he
might , by this methodi gain a liying . Mr . O'Connor moved thefollowine resolution , " That the Convention take into consideration the / beat means for protecting labour against those employers who apply it to artificial production , and ' for ensuring to the working classes a supply of all the necessaries of life , independent of foreign countries or mercantile speculaUon . " He did not wish to infringe upon the rule laid down with regard to the length of time : allowed to speakers . When they thought he was infringing oh their time ; ho hopecTtaey would call him to tima He thoHght that the motion Was one of great importance / and that at this period it was more than ever necessary . The Charter was a new system of government . It was nects « sary to secure the continued , approbation of the public .
that they should produce before them , in a tangible shape , the benefits to be derived from the adoption bl the Charter . The public mind was noiv prepared for great changes ; the Charter would be the means of giving them a power of increasing the productive reaonrces of the empire ; and secondly , the Charter would give them the means of more equitably distributing that wealth . Tbe representation of the country , as at present constitued , was a mere nullity ; it was confined almost exclusively to the landed proprietors . The feudal system wras still practically carried into effect in the laws of the country he considered the land to be the raw rnaterial of England ; they had often been told that the land of England was hot sufiicient to afford the means of subsistence to its
popalation ; but he could show to that Convention , and through them to the country , that the land of this country was sufficient to support in prosperity one hundred millions of inhabitants ; ana here he could not help adverting to the Corn Law Repealers ; their plan was a bad substitute for the removal of all restrictions on the land . The country had been divided into two great parties , the landholders and the newly sprung up mauufactnring interest , The manufacturers in the large towns bad combined , and | by the aid of money , had obtained a toleration , and now they were struggling for the ascendency . They united all their forces for the attainment of the Reform Bill , and , aided by the masses , they produced such a pressure from without as enable d them to carry that measure ; but it
had bsen useless to the great mass of the people , and would continue to be so unless they removed all restrictions on the cultivation of the land , let them consider the number of acres in Great Britain , and ask themselves why they Bhould be dependant upon other countries for a supply of food ? This was the moat fertile country in the world , and yet we were by these restrictions compelled to purchase food from fo . eign lands . In the Cekstiar Empire ( China ) , with its immense population , they had for the last fifteen years , only trix millions of acres of ground in cultivation for grain ; there the Princes of the land , the Nobles of the country were engaged in the purguit of agriculture They considered this occupation as one of the most honourable to wbich the labour and the mind of man
could be devoted , Lord Monteagle , the other nteht in the House of Lords , dilated on the old exploded doctrine of tbe political economists , that our population pressed upon the means of subsisteuce ; never was there a completer fallacy uttered ; it / was the restrictions upon land ; it was the old feudal power which laadlords possessed over tenants it was the pewer of distress which they possessed , arid the system of granting leases which pressed hardly on the means of subsistence , and not the incapability of the Jand to produce a snfaciency of food . Lord , Monteagle stated that it was the increase of our population which caused us to be dependent on other nations for a supply of corn . Withia the last fifteen years , our population had kcreased two millions , yet : the same restriction as ever
was . imposed upon the land , it had been the custom when a tenant rented a f . rm , that he was bound by the lease only to break up two acr s , the remafader -was to be laid down in grass which he considered only to be the chief weed of creation ; if this restriction waB adequate to the production of a sufficiency of food at that period , it was net so at the present period ; EUppose for instance that America , with a population of seventeen millions , passed a law prohibiting the exportation of foreign grain they would only break up such a quantity of iand for the growth of wheat as would be sufficient for their present population , but if the popii . lation of America increased to one hundred millions of the inhabitants , the demand would consequently be greater ; and if their laws prohibited the breaking up
of more land , they would be placed in a similar situation to ourselves . They could not interfere with / the power of machinery , ;¦ every man was affected by its working ; if it displaced manufacturinglabburers in the country , they immediately " -worked ^ their way up to Londobi arid thus created a surplus population for the masters to- fair back upon . They were not aiming for the restriction of machinery , it would be a violation of reason and of justice if they did so . The Land wits the only resource the working man had capital sufficient to engage in profitably worldng upon It hlmselt It had been stated that ^^ ¦ they '" "were employing their
energies on the waste lands of the country ; this was not correct Ha conaidered the wasie land te be the cold meat in the larder , which might be left in ' -reserve for a century to come . The lands already in cultivation would be amply sufficient for oar populattoii , if cnltivated in an Improved manner ; they raight be brought to a degree of fertility equal in comparison to the finest linen over the undressed fliX . The land was not cultivated to one-fiith of its power ef production . Land was the only raw material which appeared from their conduct not to be worthy of an improved cultiyation , and yet this was the only raw material on which they could rely for all the necessaries ( Continued in our fifth page . )
Untitled Article
6 ^ THE NORTHERN STAR . . ; " . V ..- .. ; -.. . ¦ ¦ ¦¦¦ - ; ' - . X _ . ^ . ^} C :
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 30, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct888/page/6/
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