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Northern Star (1837-1852), 3rd October 1846, Edition 2 of 3, Page 5

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  • Departments (3)
    • FAMINE RIOTS IN IRELAiND.
    • The iate Fatal Accident ox the Eastern.
    • TUE CHARTER AND NO SURRENDER.
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      Accounts To July Slat Have Come To Hand ...

      tyranny of the agents of the detestable Louis Philippe : — GEA 5 D D 3 M 0 CRATIC DEUOXSTATIONS 15 PARIS . In franc ? , government seem determined not to allow anybody to have banquets , to give toasts , or to sp «& publicly their sentiments , except M . Guizot , and his creatures . Zoey may meet together , and tbe police themselves go about and invite tbe citizens to come and hear the eloquent speeches of Guizot and Co . Here they pro-Claim that France waa never mora happy and prosperous than , at the present moment—that entire liberty exists , that political factions and corruption are things for . gotten . But the znomeat the political reformers , or the ¦ communists , wish to have their banquets , to give their toasts , to make known their grievances , and to show that Prance is really neither free nor happy—that government

      only maintains itself by corruption ; that moment the prefets issue proclamations , tbe soldiers are called out , the-whole police is on foot , and the citizens who do not tjeheve in Louis Philippe , and II . Guizot , are not allowed to dine together . ¦ MMam , department de la Strike , five hundred political reformers intended to havebad a public dinner , on tbe 2 Dib of September , but tbe moment tbe prefect was informed of their intention , he issued a proclamation forbidding the banquet , and declaring that if they persisted he would employ to jor « amee—orate -force . Soldiers were marched into Mans , guns arrived , and the town bad the appearance-of being besieged by -some terrible enemy . And for what was all this fuss , for ¦ the purpose of preventing five hundred reformers from peaceably dining togeth . tr . Strange liberty this I

      However , government had it not all their own way . for when La Tif / brme heard of the strange doings of -V le Prefel d « li Sar'fie , it proclaimed that banquets should take place on the 20 th of September , in all the twelve -arrondisjements of Paris—and tbe reformers have kept -their word in spite of the government . About sixty banquets toot place in Paris , on the 20 tb , at which more than three thousand citizens , of all ranks and classes -assisted . The greatest order reigned during the proceedings , -and the speeches and toasts were enthusiastically cheered . AVe subjoin several of tbe toasts given in the

      different arrondissemenU : — 1 . Eletorai reform . 2 . Political probity . 3 . The sovereignty of the people . 4 . The resurrection of Poland . 5 . The union of all Democrats . G . The destruction of tbe Bastiles . 7 . The deliverance of Italy and Spain S . Universal freedom . 9 . Education of tbe people . 10 . The Revolution of 1838 . 11 . The liberty of the press , etc .

      At the b ., nqnet of working men the following toasts -were given , and most enthusiastically received . They show us that our brethren on the other side of the channel are not behind us . 1 . To equality , the noble aim towards which we march ; the noble aim of all our wishes—to equality , -which shows in every man a brother ; learns us to love him , and teaches us that all have a right to the bounties "Which nature has given us . 2 . Thefraternity of nations , and the union of all the democrats of the earth . 3 . The extinction of ail superstitions . 4 . Political equality the means , social equality the end .

      At several places the police entered the rooms after ; the banquet had been concluded , and commauded the assemblages to disperse . The reformers obeyed , having -previously accomplished the purpose of their re-unions . In no caie , as regards Paris , did the police succeed in breaking up the assemblages until the banquets -were over , and the good work done . In the first arrondissement , the president of the Reformers made application to the proprietors of three Hotels for the use of their saloons , bat in . each cass was told that tbe propristors regretted to be compelled to close their doors , but they were forced to this by the police , who had that very morning warned them against granting their salsons to the Reformers , threatening them with vengeance if they disobeyed this tyrannical mandate . Notwithstanding these repulses the banquet -was held , in this , as well as in tbe other arrondissetnents .

      Since the above was -written we have learned that the Reformers of Dole have been subjected to similar treatment to thatwhich the Reformers of Jtfanus were subjected to . They bad assembled to hold a large banquet -when they were interrupted by tbe armed force . They accordingly dispersed , but immediately re-assembled in different groups , and held a number of small banquets , which passed off with the greatest enthusiasm . The proceedings were similar to those described above . We are glad that the French Democrats have taught their government such a lesson . They have

      shown that the spirit which animated their fathers 13 not dead ) and we are convinced that in spite of all Bastilles and all Marshal Bugeauds to command them , they will rise once more and assert and maintain their rights , —the rights of man . —In the Jtefornasles and Communists Is the strength of Prance and the hope for a better future , they will free her from corruption , they will regenerate her ; let them , therefore , unite ; let all the Democrats in France -unite , and they -will form a party great and strong enough to conquer .

      We fully and entirely agree with the sentiments given at the banquets in Paris , and we recognise CTCry Frenchman , who struggles for political and social liberty as onr brother . We , therefore , would advise the Reformists , and especially the editors of la Reforme , to lay aside their prejudices against England—the Communists have already done sonot to cry out against l ] perBuioua Albion , ' when ttey believe the English government has insulted France , but always to make a distinction between the people and the government , and to look also upon those Englishmen , wjjp iu their country struggle for political and social freedom , as their friends and brothers . Let the governments of the two countries

      quarrel about an obscure isbmd in the Pacific Ocean , or about the marriage of a Spanish princess , -we wiii not espouse their quarrels ; our principles are the same , wewant to extinguish national hatred , we want the fraternity of nations . Let the friends of freedom in both countries bear always in their minds , and follow the glorious words pronounced by the leader of the English Chartists , Mr . Feargus O'Connor , at the banquet of the Fraternal Democrats : — "I have never sought to limit the Struggle for liberty t * country , Creed or colour , for I have invariably declared that 1 eared not where the country , -what the colour or which the creed of the patriot was—that if he loved liberty and struggled lor it , I would call him brother , and take him by the hand . "

      The progress of the Spanish Marriage question will -be found reported in our 7 th page . It will be seen that in spite of the " protests" delivered by the Marquis of Normanby and Mr . Bulwcr , to the French and Spanish governments , the Duke de Montpensier left Paris for Spain oa . Monday last , an « 2 thut every preparation was being made at Madrid for the double ? eddkg , which is to take place on the 10 th instant . Rumours of insurrections in Spain , commenced or about to commence , continue to obtain publicity in the French metropolis , but as yet the threatened exp losion has not taken place . We are glad of this , because if Spaniards must shed their blood for progress , "we would at least not have them bleed in such a quarrelasthepresent . Both the views of the French and the fears of the English government as regards Montpensier being seated on the throne of Spain will

      bC proved to be futile . Should the marriage take place , and should that event be turned to the account Louis-Philippe desires , he will find the establishment of French domination in Spain not attainable , either by force or fraud . The Spaniards are quite capable of protecting themselves , when once their national prejudices are roused . An army , French «» English , might over-run the country for a moment , but certain disgrace and destruction would be tut issue of any attempt to imitate the example so foolishly set by Napoleon . We de not yet despair of Spain . Pilapox and " The Maid ot Sara-4 > ossa , " lived teo recently for us to doubt the national prowess of the ^ Spanish race , would to leaven that that prowess was more wisely directed than in siding with this op that prince or princess ; or knocking down one set of tyrants only to allow another , and as vile a set , to fill their places .

      The " scarcity" is beginning to be severely felt in France , but in Flanders the state of things is truly awful . Misery equal to the worst now raging in Ireland is desolating a large portion of the Belgian kingdom . Anarehiai mendicity floods the land before which tbe " proprietors" flee as from adelnge . ' £ hemostappallingwretchednesseverywhere prevails , and the " beggars" formed into bands with chiefs at their head levy contributions , and grant or refuse protection to residents and travellers . In fiiis frightful state of things Leopold is taking his pleasure in Germany and the Tyrol , and the Belgian Parliament in imitation of a certain house of bad repute nearer home , is separated for the " sporting season I "

      Accounts To July Slat Have Come To Hand ...

      In imitation of England the Americans are seizing upon California , and the Dutch are extending their conquests in the East Indies . In the Circassian fastnefres of freedom more worth y struggles —worwy at least on one side—claim the . attention of Europe . The Russians report more j victories over the glorious Circassians , but for two or three reasons—including this all-sufficient one , that the Russian Gazettes always liemost infamously —there is no difficulty in seeing that the gallant mountaineers have been again inflicting a deserved chastisement upon their barbarous invaders . Success to the Circassian heroes , may the Muscovite hordes still fall beneath their conquering steel 1

      ^ October S, 1846. Ttte Ngrrhernnstar '"...

      ^ October S , 1846 . TttE NGRrHERNnSTAR ' "A -

      Famine Riots In Irelaind.

      FAMINE RIOTS IN IRELAiND .

      Peasantry Shot Dead By The Military. Unh...

      PEASANTRY SHOT DEAD BY THE MILITARY . Unhappily the patience of the unfortunate Irish is at length exhausted . We have now before us that most appalling spectacle of national agony—a people driven to desperation by the pangs of hunger , and braving a violent deith rather than endure the bitter torments of a more lingering dissolution ; After sustaining the direst woes of starvation with a moat noble fortitude , after pining in their hovels under ar . accumulation of all human miseries , pemiry , inanition , neglect , and despair / and after bearing these extreme sufferings -with a meekness and a tranquillity beyond all praise , the labourers of

      Ireland have been tasked to tbe uttermost limits of endurance , and have now risen against their more affluent neighbours . Towards the conclusion of last week a slight glimmer of the approaching insurrection was observable in the vicinity of Crookhaven , where a vast concourse of the emaciated peasantry assembled together in the village of Golan , to proclaim that their wretchedness was no longer endurable . The sullen anguish depicted on every one of those melancholy faces is described by an eye-witness to have attested sufficiently the extremity of their distress . "A more appalling spectacle could not be witnessed , " writes one correspondent ^ Want and despair were the pervading characteristics of the multitude . That dark promise of violence and

      insubordination has been fulfilled . At the very commencement of this week , namely , on Monday morning , the peasantry at Duugarvan assumed such a threatenins aspect , and congregated together in such dangerous numbers , that the military were called out—several shots were fired upon the crowd—many of the starving rioters were wounded , and on Tuesday two of them died from their mutilation 1 By the context of this miserable intelligence from Waterford , we are informed that brickbats and other missiles were hurled at the dragoons ; and that notwithstanding the recent discharge of musketry , a dwell , ing-house at Cappa was assailed , and that knots of the insurgents were scattered over the country inter * venins between that locality and Cork .

      What is this insurrection but the struggle for selfpreservation ? What is it but the outgushing of the domestic affections—of that awful and enduring love which is stronger than death ? The peasant has experienced the pangs of inanition himself , yet he has valour enough to continue peaceable and uncomplaining . His household is one nest of misery and destitution—his potatoe-field is a waste of corruption , poisoning the very atmosphere he inhaleshis swine are sold to satisfy immediate cravingshis future is all poverty—his present existence is one of intense desolation;—still he submits with an admirable fortitude , and remains silent and impassive while his very heart-strings are breaking with grief . When , however , he sees his children and his wife grown haggard with the duration of their penury ,

      and finds no probability of allaying their sufferings by remaining inactive and " biding his time , " his mind is impervious to reason , hia heart is hardened againstjustlce , and his arm is nerved by the potency of despair . Factors are hoarding up wheat any barley in their cellars , with the diabolical hope of extorting " famine prices" in the market—farmers and cattle dealers have their stalls filled with oxen —pigs and poultry are not unplentifully furnished—a resoluie heart and a strong hand arc alone necessary to feed the starving creatures at home , and the peasantry rush out together into the streets and byeways to seize by violence what they cannot in any Other manner obtain . While endeavouring to save themselves and those endeared to them by nature and association they are repulsed by the soldiery and shot like malefactors .

      The Iate Fatal Accident Ox The Eastern.

      The iate Fatal Accident ox the Eastern .

      Coustibs Railway.—On Imday, William Wave...

      Coustibs Railway . —On imday , William Wave , late an engine-fitter and driver on the Eastern Counties Railway , was put on his trial at the Central Criminal Court , " on an indictment charging him that he , having the care , management , and direction of a certain locomotive steam-engine on the Eastern Counties Railway , unlawfully drove ifc against a carriage containing passengers travelling upon the line , and assaulted William Bind , and by the concussion caused him divers mortal irjuries of which he died , and that he did thereby kill and Slav him . After a lengthy trial , the Jury returned a verdict of —Not Guiltv . The Poiskhxgs is Essex . —Another child , supposed te have been poisoned by Sarah Chesham , has died at Clavering .

      Tue Charter And No Surrender.

      TUE CHARTER AND NO SURRENDER .

      Great Metropolitan Meeting For The Adopt...

      GREAT METROPOLITAN MEETING FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE NATIONAL PETITIOJS . On Monday evening , Sep . 28 th , a public meeting for the purpose of adopting the National Petition , praying the enactment of the People ' s Charter was held at the far-famed Grown and Anchor Tavern , Straud , and such was the public anxiety to be present on the occasion , that the " Great Hall" of that Tavern was filled to overflowing long before the time announced for opening the meeting , and so densely was the mass wedged together that it was with the g reatest iliHieulty the committee made their way to the platform . On the motion of Mr . Clarke , Mr . Dennis Dwane was called to the chair ,

      The Chairman said it was with feelings of pride and gratitude that he responded to the call made upon him , to fill that high post © f honour , the chair , at a great meeting like the present ; great not only from the numbers present , but from the intelligence , respectability , and influence » f those present , as well asfo .-iheholy object for which theyhadassembled , the sacred "rights of man . " ( Loud cheers . ) it waa a disgrace to Eng land to see so many ^ of her sons pining in want and misery whilst the indolent nonproductive few revelled in luxuries . ( Loud cheers . ) When he saw a meeting like this , he was too proud to say in the words of the late Lord Grey , " 1 will stand by my order "—( loud cheers)—and the working man who would not stand by his fellow working man for the obtainraent of his just political and

      Social " rights was a knave indeed . ( Hear , hear . ) He , as an Irishman , should feel himself degraded if he did not assist his English brother democrats in their manly struggle of " right against might . ( Cheers . ) AVe don't call on the people to go to the p hysical battle field , no , our field is the field of argument , and our weapon reason , edged with common sense , backed by poliiicaljustice , ' tis thus we would gain the political and agrarian " Rights of Man . " ( Great cheering . ) This chair , in days of yore , was occupied by the Burdett ' s , Ilobhonse ' s , and men of that class , some of them have now gone to the realms of immortality to give an account oi their stewardship to a higher power , whilst others are reaping the reward of their perfidy from the per-! fiduous patronage of a Whig government , ( llear ,

      here . ) But this meeting was held to vindicate the g lorious principles of liberty , formerly professed by those apostates — ( loud cheers ) — thanks , eternal thanks , to the great Chartist body for the proud position they now hold ; ( Immense applause . ) He was proud to find that Rome had at last obtained , a liberal and sensible Pope ( Pius the 9 th ) who had dispensed with the sse ol tbe army and was about to grant a constitution to the Italian States . ( Hear , hear . ) He too , had hope for his unfortunate conntrv , and he was sincerely of opinion that nothing short of the " six points" of the People ' s Charter ought ever to satisfy the peop le . ( Loud cheers . ) At this moment , Mr . Feargus O'Connor entered the meeting and was greeted with the most hearty plaudits of welcome which continued until he had reached the platform . ,, , „ . .

      The Chairman said , he would entreat a fair hearin " for any and every one who mig ht present themsefves , and he would now call on the Secretary to Wad JettWl frOm several of the gentlemen who had been invited , the / were as follows i—Birmingham 9 th Month 23 , 1846 . E 3 teemedFrleua , _ I am obliged by thine of tbeWth nit ., with an invitation to attend a meeting ot the Crown una Anchor , Straud , on the evening of the 28 th instant . Though Inm not likely to be in town at that tun ., » , conviction that ths claims of the people to an equality of political rights are founded upon immutable justice re . main as strong as ever , as well as my confidence m their ultimate triumph , if none but Christian and peaceable means are resorted to for their attainment singly during that your meeting on the 28 th instant may assen . tiaUy promote that great object . 1 am very sincerely and respectfully , Joseph Stobge .

      Tewtree . near ^ Liverpool . Sir , | it would have afforded me much sincere satisfaction to have given my testimony , at the public meeting , to be .-held on the 28 th current , at the Crownand Anchor Tavern , to the sscredW righteous cause of complete . national suffrage ; but my other engagements will SOi admit of my being pwsent with yon on the occasion . Tours truly , Law & bsce Heswqbth .

      Great Metropolitan Meeting For The Adopt...

      Hotel du Mord , Boulogne , Sept . 24 , 1846 . Colons ! Thompson is under the most decided conviction that the elective franchise will end by being extended to the whole community , upon the ground that it will be discovered to be just , and consequently prudent , and he is unmoved in his belief , that the document which has got the name of the People ' s Charter , as it is the latest , so it is probably the best and completes * exposition of the requisites for tbe existence of popular freedom . But he has doubts whether the circumstance of this document having been made an instrument by the enemies of all popular rlghU , for resistance to the progress of common sense and justice in the matter of Free Trade , has not thrown so much of publie odium about the name as to make it impolitic , and , in fact , a playing into the hands

      of the enemy , to insist on advancing under that particular name and banner . The case would have been the reverse , if the supporters of the Charter generally could have claimed a share in the victory just obtained . But tbe condition of human life is , that men and parties must take the consequence of their steps . He trusts that nothing in this will be construed into coldness to the popular cause . lie is certainly ill favour of everybody ' s taking the prime minister's ndvico to " regist » r , " and does not sec the smallest reason fur concluding that , because a bad road has been taken oi . e day , a better will not be taken another . If the meeting at the Crown and Anchor , om the 28 th of September , ends in the collection oi funds for the purpose of registration , lie will be glad to be set down for a donation of Five Founds .

      Centre Vale , Todmorden , Sept . 27 , 1 S 1 G . Sir , —I am obliged by the invitation to attend the meeting at the Crown and Anchor to-morrow evening , but the preseut state of my health requires that I should avoid excitement and crowded public meetings . Tlio petition however shall have my support . I am , Sir , yours truly , Johw FlSMXEN . Brighton Sept . 24 , 1818 . Dear Sir , —Your kind invitation has been forwarded to me at Brighton , where I am staving for ( he benefit of

      my health , having been suffering very severely for some time past from indisposition , and which I regret to say , will prevent me baring the honour of attending the meeting at the Crown and Anchor on Monday next , ! 1 have also to thank you for a copy of the resolutions init-nded to be submitted to the meeting , I need not tell \ 0 U , that I fully concur in the sentiments they express , and wishing you every success , in your meritorious endeavours to emancipate and protect labour . I have , the honour , to remain , yours very faithfully , Thos . S . Buncombe .

      Mr . Pmii ? M'Grath then rose amidst great applause to move the first resolution as follows : — 1 st . Resolved , That it is the solemn conviction of this meeting that the elective franchise is the natural inheritance of man without distinction of class or pecuniary circumstances , and consequently that no man or corporation of men can be justified for one moment in pre . venting its exercise by the people . This meeting likewise considers the exclusion of six-sevenths of the male adult population from the rights and immunities ot citizenship to be an enormous grievance ; and , therefore , that every Ivgat agency should be immediately put into operation by the friends of freedom to effect such an organic change in tbe constitution of the Commons House of Parliament as shall guarantee to every male inhabitant of this empire of mature age and sane mind a voice in tbe composition of that body .

      He said , Mr . Chairman , ladies and gentlemen—it is often the custom of public speakers on presenting themselves to their audiences , to declare the high degree of pleasure which they experience , while at the same time their appearance and manner indicate anything but that blissful state of feeling for which they claim credit . I can , however , sir , say to this magnificent assemblage in the unsophisticated language of truth , that never in the wholecourse of my experience , have I felt so proud or so happy as at the present moment . ( Cheers . ) The honour of submitting the first resolution to your consideration has devolved upon me . I would that I had the necessary qualifications to do justice to the stupendous theme involved in it . I am sure that your indulgence will allow the anxious will to do a duty , to compensate for any impotency in its performance . Tbe resolution

      pledges you to a recognition of tbe principle that political justice is due to the millious ; that freedom is nature ' s great Charter to tbe human race . ( Cheers . ) The resolution decries the political extinction of six-sevenths of the men of Britain as an enormous grievance , and proclaims that their investment with tho immunities of citizenship IS » n act , of which right and justice demand the immediate performance . ( Cheers . ) ft is a monstwis anomaly to see the great majority of the men of England , crouching in servility at the foot of a faction / contemptible in everything hut bigotry , intolerance , and injustice . ( Cheers . ) The resolution claims the right to vote , as the right of man , and asserts the principle thatage , integrity , and sanity , are the only qualifications esscntir . l to its proper exercise . The system which we seek to reform throws these qualifications to the wind , as wild and

      visionary , and sets forth the payment ot a ten pound rental , as the grind criterion of electoral fitness . ( Hear . ) * I will , gentleman , suppose a ease , the reality Of which may be found everywhere , wliich will forcibly exhibit the corruption of the present injustice-dispensing system . Let us imagine an honest , sober , and industrious man occupying a house for which he pays a rental ot £ 10 . minus a few shillings or pence , he likewise pays out of his hardearned wages , directly or indirectly , money to meet the exigencies of tbe state , ( Hear . ) In the neighbourhood resides some infaisrus pimp , or brothel keeper , whose rent amounts to £ 10 . Now behold the morality and justice of the system , which elevates the wretch to the eminence of freedom , while it stamps the honest man with the stigma of serfdom . ( Cheers . ) Take another case into your consideration , you have read some months since

      of the infamous Parson Vfhetherall , who was convicted of the horrid crimes of adultery and incest . He was wealthy and influential ; the penalty intiicted by the Court was n fine of £ 3 , 000 ; hereagain I impugn thejUSttCC Of the pre sentor-fer » f things . This monster pays . the iinw , he leaves the Court odious aud repulsive with the blackness of crime , and is permitted to exercise every right and privilege of freedom , while niiUious of intelligent , virtuous , and industrious men , are doomed to clank the chains of political annihilation . ( Cheers . ) Thus docs the . Whig finality system enrobe vice with the habiliments of freedom , while it covers virtue , if poor , with the rags of political degradation . ( Cheers . ) It is a most monstrous spectacle to see millions of intelligent human beings submitting to the arrogant dictum of a few thousand I ( Cheers . ) I know not which to express roost

      surprise at , whether at the glaring injustice , the palpable tyranny of tbe domineering few ; or at tbe meanness of mind , the servility of soul , the . prostration of the godlike attribute of reason shown bf the many who remain criminally passive while they are being lacerated and goaded by the lash of merciless misrule ? Let us hojie , for thS honour of human nature , for the sredit of the national character , that the minds of the people will SO 0 I 1 cease to be deluded into a toleration of such a corrupt and tyrannous order Of things . ( Loud cheers . ) The Charter has the broad basis of truth for its support , hence our hopes of success . None dare deny the justice of universal suffrage in these days . Formerly our Tory foes used to tell us that we had no right to the franchise , because providence ordained that a privilged class should rule , and a helot class should submit ; this insult : s

      no longer uttered , this blaspheming doctrine is no longer preacftrd . Fe have exorcised thatghost of anargument , it basiled for ever from the intellectual blaze of the lOlit century . ( Groat cheering . ) The resolution urges thepropriety of using every legal agency to accomplish our righteous object . To those agencies subsequent resolutions will refer . On this topic I would merely say that the people hold their political destiny in their own hands ; they can equally gratify their desires whether theybeforfteedom or slavery . ( Hear . ) Union is the great element of success wliich we have hitherto desiderated , let that want be supplied and our victory is sure . 1 tell you that you do not . do your duty by merely attending meetings like the presont , you must aet each for himself and all for each , if you would achieve your country freedom . ( Cheers . ) Let the good and the patriotic

      fraternise and discomfiture is impossible . I appeal to you to-night to commence the good work , if there be in this room men who think themselves living under free and glorious institutions , who fancy themselves iu the enjoyment of all the blessings which they are entitled to ; who deem politics the province of the few alone ; to such I appeal not ; to do SO would I fear be a waste of time . But on the other hand if there are before me men who arc conscious of their political and social abasement , if there are here men who can appreciate the advantages of liberty , men whose proud souls scorn subserviency to the will of a fellow creature to , such I say rally at once to the standard of your country's rights . ( Loud cheers . ) That man who looks abroad on our social horison and sees tbe torrent of poverty

      rolUng over tbe land , overwhelming millions in its destructive course , and then turns to tbe political world and hears the chains of Slavery clanking on the limbs of millions of bis fellow creatures , and who notwithstanding remains inactive and unconcerned , is in my opinion a traitor to the laws of nature and of God . ( Cheers . ) let the watchword of the patriot be unite , agitate , persevere , aud let them prove to tha world that the homage that they offer at liberty ' s shrine is not the mere cold expression of the lips , but the sterling devotion of the heart . ( Cheers . ) Show the nation ' s foes that your patriotism is not the evanescent thing which they would wish it to be * , let theni know that there is flesh , Mood , bone and muscle in it , and then may we hope soon to see the branches of the tree of liberty waving over a bold brave and happy people . ( Immense applause . )

      Julian Habsei seconded the resolution , and said , Brother and Sister Chartists : ^—Veariy fifty years ago Charles James Fox advocating the principles , if not the precise details , we meet this night , in support of , observed " None wiH dispute that man has a right to be well governed , and , therefore , it was impossible for a people to be satisfied with a government from the constituent parts of which they were excluded , " Of course Fox said this when in opposition , and as a matter of Course , wlltn he he got into power he , like a true Whig , forgot his opposition principles . ( Hear , hear , ) Men may change , but principles never ; and those principles which Fox abandoned , and those rights which th » Whigs of ' 34 defrauded u « of , we meet this night to vindicate , and demand as our bi « hriHu » , ( Chstts . ) Obsei re , in claiming out

      Great Metropolitan Meeting For The Adopt...

      own rights we do not question or proscribe the rights of others . we are not moved b y tbe thirst of congest , 1 »! L T ' ! ? ired b * the lust of revenge ; we do not pror ° * " * ° y th « Privileged orders they have dealt ? nhh ^ , . they eitab » shed their usurpation they Mnrf « S . ? risht 8 ' and b > forco and cunnin s <*» " - bm ed . reduced us to slavery . But we will return them good lor evil , the establishment of our rights shall be the " vo nTvt ° , ? f To th 0 Privileged- classes wo sa , your rights and no more—our rights and no less . " fi ??? a E plaus 8 - ) This resolution declares that tbe Jiiectrve i ranchiso is the natural inheritance of man , that is , we say that men have all equal rights at birththat they havonot , ot do not exercise those rights through life is tho crime of some and the fault of others . Let those who deny this equality of rights show , if they can , that the infant

      of the aristocrat , and tho infant of the labourer , when born into this world bear distinctive marks imprinted by nature ' s hand , showing that the one is destined for soverei gnly and the other for slavery . If they cannot show this , then , I say , our opponents are bound to admit the natural equality of mankind . True this Jnw of nature has been fvr ages violated , Vutno matter , no length of time can sanctify a wrong , ( Applausv . ) What was robbery and usurpation in the days of the bastard Norman or the tyrant Stuart i * Jjnual ' y robbery and usurpation now . ( Great applausf . j 3 sacred ri ghts of man , whether wrested from our & i . * on sires at the bloody orerthrorr at Uastings , or a see mrt time filched from our ' fathers by the scoundrelly amtocraej in the Wars of the Hjses , or the last shred © i them despoiled from us by the infamous Whig Si . itcmial Act , still are sacredstill are our rights

      , , W uch we mustdemand and reconquer . ( Greatchecring . ) li it even granting thelabstract ri ght , our Opponents take their stand on the ground of expediency . It is inexpedient , say they , and would be mischievous to the state and to themselves , to confer political franchises upon millions of men who are without property or education . Why are the people without property , and how is it they are uneducated ? Simply because they have been at the mercy of the privileged orders , whose interest it was to plunder them of the fruits of their industry . andkeep them in ignorance , lest they should learn the causes of their slavery and the remedy for their wrongs . ( Applause . ) For want of the law ' s protection , the people hare beeu kept poor and untaught , and now this is made the protext for withholding from them the ir just share in the government of tho country ; yet so long as they are denied that share , so long as

      "Laws grind the poor , and rich men rule the laws , " so long must the people remain poor and uneducated . Thus tyranny creates the pretexts for continuing the disqualification , and the continuance of that disqualification conserves the tyranny . ( Cheers . ) But I deny that the people are absolutely without property or intelligence . Tliey have a sacred property in their labour , the foundation of ull accumulated and accumolntiug property in society . The mansions , tbe shipping , the factories , the wines , the fields of grain , the plethora of manufactercd productions of every kind , the very capital of the capitalists would be ail non-existent but for labour , yet this labour , this veritable property , is the prey of every profitmonger , rent-sucker and tax-eater in the state , ( Great Applause . ) As regards education , I might ask , does wealth confer sense , or do those whose education is supof

      posed to be guaranteed ^ the possession property or the payment ol a certain amount , of rent and . taxes , elect such representatives as by their acts prove their right to the arrogant title of " the collective wisdom" of the country % But I Say that the people are at this time proving their fitness for the franchise on the ground of intelligence , by showing themselves ripe for po'icical , social and moral reforms . ( Hear , hear . ) > Yho stands in the way of the repeal of the law of primogeniture—the reform of the Established Church—the abolition of naval and military flogging—the emancipation of the infant victims of factory labour—the repTSu of the new Poor Law—the reform of our criminal code—the abolition of death punishments —the reform of our colonial administration—who stands in the way of these reforms ! Not the people . ( Cheers . ) They are ripe and ready for these and other . changes

      which would make England really '' happy England , " " merrie England , " the homo of the great and the free . ( Great applause . ) Let but the young blood of democracy be infused into our political system , and England will attain a majestic greatness such as mankind hath never yet imagined . ( Cheers . ) And it shall be so . ( Cheers , ) England shall be free and happy " Though slavery ' s cloud o ' er her morning hath hung , The full noon of freedom shall shine on her yet . " ( Enthusiastic cheering . ) I am glad to hear that Colonel Thompson will give us his aid , although I think bis reproof of the Chartists for their conduct in relation to the Free Trade agitation is quite uncalled-for . ( Hear , hear . ) The Chartists were right , and Colonel Thompson was wrong —( llear , bear)—and future events will show the Wisdom of the course pursued by Wie Chartists . Even

      now the predictions of the Charnsts are being realised . Look at Keighley where the tyrannical Free Trade capitalists are doing their utmost , by the oppri esion of their unhappy combers and Weavers , to prove h ' ree Trade " a mockery , a delusion , and a snare . '' ( Applause . ) Already tho Free Traders are outbidden for popular support by the Protectionists who are now bidding the abolition of the Excise duties on all home productions ' , and the reduction of duty on tea and tobacco to oi e shilling a pound . This is not all , a grand scheme is in the course of concoction for the repeal of the new Poor Law under the superintendence of the new member for St . Moan ' s , who has almost declared himself a Chartist . When , in addition to these movements , we observe the operations of tbe Poor ifati's Guardian Society , and the extension ot the Allotment system , we may assume that the

      aristocracy begin to understand that the people are enlightened , and that unless helped will speedil y In gin to help themselves . ( Cheers ) Success , sny I , to these parties . Let them aid the poor , let them annihilate the accursed Poor Law , let them ameliorate the condition of the people as much as they please , but let the people , always rcmemberitig that , the amendment of a bad system is a verydifferent uftVir to the removal of wrong by the substitution of right , insist upon justice . ( Hear , hear . ) Let the people seek justice , not charity ; let them demand right , not patronage ; the power to protect themselves instead of craving the help of classes who have brought them to slavery and misery . ( Cheers ) In short , m the people demand the justice set forth in this resolutionthe right of every male inhabitant of the British empire , of mature age and sane mind , to a voice in the election of the law-makers of the land . ( Greatchecring . )

      The resolution was then put from the chair , and unanimously adopted , amidst loud applause . Mr . Ebnbst Jones rose to move the next resolution , and was loodly cheered on coming forward . The resolution was as follows : — 2 nd . —Resolved , That it is the opinion of this meeting , that the bill entitled the People ' s Cliarter , is an embodiment of the princip les of equal representation with details for securing tlwh" efficient operation . And , believing that the enactment of the said Charter would be followed by measures which would ensure peace , prosperity , and contentment among all classes of the community , this meeting therefore agrees to tho presentation of a National petition , praying Parliament to render the document a ? ore » ° aid a statute of this realm .

      The speaker , after alluding to tho moral power of so magnificent a meeting , and its offect upon the publie and government , continued : In the resolution which I rise to propose , you are called upon to vindicate a cause that has no partfllel in the history of nations , Since it embodies a spirit of pure justice and liberty , such as has never yet been evolved out of ttlO Strife of hostile classes , 1 say , you are called upon to vindicate , though the resolution says , to petition . Hut when millious petition thousands , it is something like a command . The niiiudate . may be disregarded for a time , but , if given in the voice of truth and justice , it will ring at last upon the echoes of history , as the living law of an emancipated realm . ( Cheers . ) And so is will be with the Charter . What has it not resisted ?¦—What has it not undergone 1—What has it nut

      suvvivedl—And what is the supernatural spell of inimor . tality , that has brought it Hving and mighty down to this very hour—into this very room ?—What raised it up from under the hoofs of charging cavalry , bruisedbut Unbroken ?—What drew it from among the bayonets of an nriny , bleeding , —but strong of heart »—What saved it from the truncheons of the police , stricken—but not crushed ?—What vindicated it froin the louguo of calumny , and the falsehood of the secret spy % —And , worst of all , what rescued it from the courts of law , those graves of reputations , and pitfalls for liberty 1—What , but the justice of the glorious cause ! ( Continued cheers . ) Justice—the soul of success ! Justice—the immortalisor of action ! Justice—the ultimate conqueror of tyrants ! ( Loud applause . ) And what is it thstt has again so suddenly culled forth this

      fiery action—this solumn thought—this steady resolve ? Oppression—that fosterer of resistance . Tyranny—tbe nurse of freedom . Monopoly—that father of revolutions . True , many in this assembly may nut have felt the lash of power , or tho goad of want us keenly as the poor mechanic in tho factory-town , or the pauper labourer oh the wealthy farm . But is there a man here , who has not himself experienced , or seen on others , the withering effects of class government 1 ( Hear , hear . ) Who hasnev , er been thwarted in an houestcnrevr by tho hand of monopoly . ( Hear !) In this metropolis of sptuadour , head-seat of government and court , nod church , under tho immediate eye of all whose duty it is to elevate and bless a people , are there no sons of povtrly , WOO haV 8 guftC nltllQUt li Bie . 'lJ this day , while the shops havo been piled with provisions ' and the tables of tho rich groaning with food ! Is there not a man in this city who knows not where to lay his

      head to-night ,. while beds of lightest down in sumptuous chambers aro waiting to receive tho man WhOSO wealth hu has contributed to ornate ! Yes I misery giidas iu myriad shapes beneath tho walls of the palace , the cathedral , and the parliament house ! It will rally , to a man , round any honest cause , that offer . * its netlrcss and justice , and thoso here , who may be better off , if they SrO Christians , if tbuy are men , in anything more than name , will join them with an equal heart , lo rescue their brethren from Mils gulph of wretchedness . ( Cheers . ) This misery should not be in a country like ours , when there is wealMi enough for all . Wh » n every pauper >» England mi ^ ht have a sufficiency of food , shelter and raiment , / , Vnd What is tho cause thnt he has not % —class government , —unequal representation ! lloyolty Jsprissperous , ii ! . all its pensioned ^ fast-increasing branches , because there are nlenty to represent its interests , and vote its annnat thousands for Its palaces , and hounds and horse ?/ , KiechOroh is prosperous : the Bishops In the U 0 US 4 of Lord ? , take good ( jare of that , —and of tho ten

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      millions per annum tho church receives from you . — Aristocracy and miilocraey » re prosperous , because they are represented in thegovernment , —because they can piss acts of Parliament for the most trivial individual interests : turning railroflds that come too near a mansion—en ablin 2 wealthy men to build upon Common lands , or covering the gambling transitions of coronetted swindlers , But you nre unrepresented . You have no » pv > k «* mati at the Royal Council Board ; you have no spokesman in that house , whose noble members are supposed to suck hereditary wisdom with their nurse's milk : —und what in that other house , which , in this age lor building upon Common lands , is one of the only Commons J'ou can ever build upon ! ( Laughter . ) Then if there arc none to watch over yonr interests , how can your interests prosper ? ( Hear , hear . ) JJc- wonder the working classes are

      sunk in su < jh a gulph of wretchedness . Non-representation of those classes , then , is the cause , why there « re so many empty stomachs , shelterless heads and aching hearts . To this evil the Charter sujrg . Bts the remedy . The resolution before you insists that the paramount object , to be secured , is equal representation . The very words involve a law of nature . There is no edict of God , no fiery tongue , that made proclamation through the world , saying , one part of mankind should be enslaved by the other . The right of having a voUe in the creation of the government he supports is the first Charter of every man . And what title has tyranny to show for its ^ od-likepossessions ? Its possessions of the strength , the wealth , the hope , thejoy , the intellect , the vt-ry souls , of toiling millions 1 Craft cstablishss that which force supports . Tyranny found man asleep , and . chained him before be woke . But centuries have eaten into the iron of

      those rotton fetti-rs ; give but a blow , one hearty English blow , aud they will crumble to jour bawds , Thevesolution further tells us , that the Bill for the People ' s Charter contains the details for working out its enactment . So it does , and I > belicve those details to be some of the best that human wisdom , long deliberation and experienca could produce . Yet they are but faint shadows of the IlieailS , tO Which they point . You are the means ! The details are your hearts and brains ; your arms and tongues ;—your energy and action;—your resolution and your thought . These jour country claims in the cau « c of freedom . These positively claim who would sc . 'rii the graves of father * , willingly leaving them but misery as their legacy . These are claimed by every UllCUiani'ipated people on the earth , since Englishmen arrogate th » proud title of deliverers of nations , yet have not been

      able to liberate themselves ! This resolution tells you , in coaleusion , that the enactment of the Charter would be followed hy penee , prosperity and contentment among all classes of the cemmunity . And when did you know of good measures , that had not such a tendency ? AnO does not the Charter embody such measures ? It ruturns stolen property to the rightful ownur , for it girrs back his vote to the disenfranchised , of which he bad been robbed by the monopolist . It preserves the hones ; y of man , and saves the weakhearted from temptation hr the ballot . It says men , and not money , bags , shall be the repiesentatives of men , —the soul and not the purs * - shall be measured as their standard ; it enables the poor

      as rveii as the rich to sit in that house , when the interests of tho poor-rst should stand proudly by the side of the most wealthy . It merges local influence in universal right;—it ends the enslavement of man by man , a state , which even Whig governments have recognised as unjust in principle , when applied to tho black slavi-, while their incomprehensive minds could , or would not , see , that the same rule held good with the white . ( Loud cheers . ) Where is the man , who can advance a single argument ngninfi any cne of tbe propositions ? The o ! 3 , stale raven song of ignorance and want of education is worn out , even to its last echo . We want no Whip educational measures . Freedom is the best educator o !'

      the soul , —the ennobler of tho heart— -the expander of the intellect . A slave can never be fully educated , but the electric thought flushes across the mind of the freeman , like an inspiration from heaven . If they want to begin he education of a people , the first step is to make them free ! ( Continued cheering . ) What they will not do for you , yon must do for yourselves . And you can do so . Por all power is your own , if you would but waken io the knowledge . You build the church ; you raise the palace ; you erect tbe prison and the fortress ; you make the artillery , the bayonet and the sword ; you f . jrm thp army ; the man the navy ; you dig the mine ; you plough tho field ; from y » ur despised ranks how often have you gone forth the kings of mind : philosophers , poets , painters , sculptors , musici .-ins , generals and s'atesmen ; before your very bnath dynasties have perished ; you are the creators and destroyers of kings ; the founders and annihilators of empires , at the biddina : and for the benefit of others ! and all the while vou havo

      been abject slaves , unconscious of the mighty things that you achieved . But now , now that you know your own power , now that the anatomy of class-faction is bared before your eyes , will you bow any longer to the rod held by the pawilysed hand of Antiquated fallacy , or the g old grasping members of modern monopoly ! Or will you not far rather support the leaders you yourselves have chosen ? ( Yes and cheers . ) WiH you not far rather carry out the resolutions of a Conv-. ntion you yourselves elected to counsel fur you ? ( Yes !) You assembled therein rain , if you do not . If you do not , in vain will the great pulse of the Chartist have beat on so bravely against the manacles of thraldom . You will have < oiled and enduredin vain , and in vain will jour martyr , Prost . have hoped on through the we « ry days of his long exile Tho thought that upheld his strength of , " Oh ! they are

      a gallant race at home They will never give up in their struggle with the oppresnr ! but they will call me back in the hour of triumph !"— -that thought will die upon his broken heart , and lonely and hoplessly will be sink into an >» utcast ' s grave . —But no . ' I see the uimillit . '' ! banner aloft ! Thank heaven ! the army of the Charter is in the Held again !—( ehm's )— aud behold the glorious sight of universal union strengthening it * energy . Jfavoyou heard the cry of Devon and the West , as it joins hands with Lancashire and the North * It is . "The Charter and the Land !"—Have you heard tincry of Herts and Norfolk , of the East Blld StUltll , ulukiltp common cause with Yorkshire and the Midland ?* ' It

      is : " The Charter and the f . and ;"—while industrious Scotland sees no barrier in tho old . king-dividing Tweed , when called upon to the rally of : " The Charter and the Liind I" ( Prolonged Cheering . ) Now , then , let misrule < iO Its utmost , Now , then , let Lord John Russell place himsfelf before the advancing tide of the people . L « . t him cry , " Stay ! " and see if it will stop a single wave . ( Loud iheers . ) Let him promise , and see if they will trust ; let him threaten nnd see if they ivill fear ! for thoy have beheld the finger ot progress fast advancing on the dial of time , and it is near that mighty hour , that tolls the death peal of old fallacies , and rim ; s in the new era of freedom and the Charter ! Mr . Jones resumed his seat amid loud and continued cheering .

      Mr . Sa » fUEh Kydd seconded tho resolution , and said , Mr , Chairman , ladies and fellow working men . 1 have this evening listened to speeches , clear hi expression , correct in d ' eion , consecutive in airargcnien ; and pow . criul in argument . We have had a recapitulation ot the objections ol all parties to Chartism , the objections have been fairly stated , and sfiMiige as it may seem , yutnot the less true , the identical reasons stated hy tinobjectors to our movement are synonymous with those that impress me with tho truth , policy , and soundness Of the principle of Chartism , It is an admitted truth that every political theory implies a niOl'al principle , 1101 V the theory of Chartism implies the morality of intelligence . It is the very converse of brute force , and men who contend for the establishment of peace on earth and moral power , must tiroye the errer of this argument ,

      give up their opposition to us , or drc ' . are that the representative intelligence is not understood by them , or that they have resolved to act in opposition to right . ( Applause . ) In a state in which the minority govern the niioovily , tbe government must alone exist by physical or moral power separately , or , as in this eoustry , canjointly , for if the Executive government acted in concordance with the will of the governed , the enfranchisement of nil would not only not be objected to , but conceded , for two reasons , first , the security of the povevneiJ , second , the easy facilitating of all governmcmiil arrange , ments . ( Hear , hear . ) This , however , is not the case , the government , is , in essence and actum , a government of brute and money power , tho banker effecting what tile soldier cannot restrain . lam a Chartist , because . tinprinciples of the Charter are opposed to thin brute am )

      money influence , while it saves me tho gi oss absurdity of declaring how a nation shall or shall not exercise its physical power , conscious that there is no existence without physical power , aud that a nation ' s will is . the best security for tha exercise of IIS CIKT gies , and that a people will just use these energies as their judgment directs . ( Applause . ) " l . utjou have no proprrty . " Men who use theoVjtc tion aforesaid call themselves political tcotiomisrs . ITow I do know that the fathers of their ficllOOl state that every man who labours , produces as much real wealth as maintains-himself and two or thrse others , an d with the knowledge of such a fact , I am surprised tha t"uy can us , ! SUCu an objection . If their tw . chirs spea k truthfully , I claim the iniNchise for the labourer on t he ground of property qualification , and ifpropertv

      qualification constituted the right for representation , then would the working classes and the woikine classes alone be entitled to it . "You have no capital . " I answer we have , and grant me your attention , and I will prove where our capital is . If an employer pay mi fifty pounds per annum for the exercise of my mental and physical power , be hires the use of my capital , and JlS paj' 9 , ne interest for one thousand pounds at five per cent . W " c » nn ° t , he does wot , buy my praparty ; he merely rents it on the very principle that I may rent from him a house . Whim I pay rental for a house , I buy ths use of that house on certain conditions , and when I leave the house , the property Mill remains , The-truth of juy position is proved by the application of machinery , for , if my employer desires to dispense with

      my labour and use mechanical invention instead thereof , ho must sink money or the represent ativc of wealth , to buy the . machine required ; now £ 900 on property at five pvr cent , paying rates and taxes entitles tho possessor to n vote , and if that capital ho sufficient as a " capital " qualification , why refuse a vote to tho possessor of capital injthe shape of labour , value one thousand pounds sterlipg . ( Loud cheers . ) I could prove there are many shopkeepers who are electors , who never possesed JE 1090 , and wh" > se incomes do not average £ 50 & year each , and wWe only reeonmu'inhitinns to t )) i > powers that be are apparently getting regularly drunk , and being wi-liknouuby tbe sitting magistrates . ( Laughter . ) An-Bwefr these arguments , you writers for the press , meet them fairly . And mentally we will meet you , sword to swosd , sud tilt to hilt , ooaSvWus that error alone

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      needs artirical support , and that tnith can st » nd [ y it *« K . ( Great applause . ) Colonel Thompson dedans wo havo injured our morement by our „ p <» . t . on to the Aati-Corn law league , I belie ve he tbmfcs ao ma I never blame a man for thinking indifferently from me but really * we must not take it > br granted , because the gallnnt colonel says so . It is true , Mr . Chairman , thnt W 0 ( lid OppllSO the . anti-corn law league . We tola our fellow-working men that the evils of so & iaty wera both organic and circumstantial , that we required the removal of political and social moniipvly , we said to them , the price of labour is tbe chief cose of every manufactured commodity , and whether cfcrn Or cloth it can only be nominally low priced hy being cheaply produced . ( Hear . ) We told them that no fi . u-al or commercial change would be beneficial to them short of complete

      change of the cxistintr political ami social arraRjreim r . t <> . Tho Anti-Corn-Luw League told them cheap food and high wages would follow their measure , and hew have their anticipations been realized ? ( Hear . ¦ ¦ hear ) Vr ' o have short hour . s , short wages , bread ri .-ing in prioe , children crying with hunger . Ireland in a state of mendicity . Lord George B ? ntitick and the 7 'jmes animblinji iind disputing alH'Ut whether or no 3 , 000 . 000 of quarters of Irish wheat should be returned , ivhout that was drained out of Ireland— "Bought cheap to he sold dear , " nut to feed the English labourer , but to till tho aristocratic glutton . The Kepeal of the Cum Laws Ii .-js not satisfied the English working Classe > . Thomas / Slingsby Du . combe was right , « hcn he ' said in the House of Commons , that the working ehisaoB looked ' on the agitation of the League as " s \ pull devil pull baker "

      question ; the baker lias now become the devil , and I assure Colonel Thompson that the people have no difii-Ctt'ty in . tfscriminating between the vague aud foolish assumptions of the League , and the COl'I ' i'Ct prognostications of the English Chartists . ( Cheers . ) Tllflff ar « unpleasant associations connected with jour namo change your title and the middle classes may join you " IVell , this is a request I cannot eondcsccid t" lionour " I think it is a sorry compliment to pay the middlo classes for their intelligence to Mjppvsu that ihry would not know our principles by another name , and if so , why change the name from Charter to any other 1 It shall not be changed , and I cannot suppose our middle class neighbour * to ne so stupid or so prejudiced as to require it . ( bond cheers . ) "Oh , you area combination of revolutionary rebels , what could working mill

      do in the Houso of Commons ? " These are serious and grave words , but there is truth in the first part of the indictment . I plfad guilty to it . Wo are rebels—When we looked abrottd in'l saw our country rit'll iii all the greatness of capital , find thelabour » -r starving amidst what he had produced , when we-saw a prison-workhouse instead of protection for helpless youth and hoary age , when we saw crime inrrenSi * , prison * ' " iistend of schooMiouse . « , hangmen instead of schoolmasters , then did we say the law of r-nture is thwarted—then did we rebel—then did we resolve tc > revolutionize—thtn did we resolve to rectify ,. —( groat cheeriiur . ) The history of England told of one rebel , of Kusssll , the only good one of the Bedford family—( cheers ) Lord John Russell is a rebel to honour , to truth , to nature , and justice . We are rebels to falsehood , injustice , wrong , and error . Mr . Kydd here entered into tht- question of working men sitting in the House of Commons , also the services workins men had rendered to that house . He cited Benjamin Franklin , a printer j

      and William Cobbett , a gardener ; as apt illustrationsand continued . AfUr all , wlwn is it they get the knowledge thry do possess ? If they wish to know the condition of ihe handloom weavers , how do they proceed ? Firot , they appoint a commission , titen the commission vui'R into thi- district where the information can be acquired . Jfow , 1 ask , whether is the commissioner who gathers the knowledge , or the commoner who dues not possess the knowledge , the wiser of the two 1—why tho Commissioner , to be sure . And whether is the commissioner who desires to possess tllO knowledge , Of the weaver who gives him the knonJed ^ e , the niter of tUe three ?—the weaver , of course . 'Loud cheers . ) Tell me , n <» w , you very clever cavillers about narking mer . ' s acquirements , which of thepe three are best able to legislate on handloom wearing ' i The Charier tritely implies tht enac ment of no special law , but is the key to ail improvement—it is the rrflex of the people's intelligence on nil questions , therefore do I second the resolution . ( Great applause . )

      Mr . O'Coxsoiion rising was received with several rounds oi ' clieprfi and waving of hats ; when tlie applause had subsided , he said , Sir , all who can remember the meetings of September , 1 S 35 , anil wl ) 9 now witness this gathorir . g of 1 S 46 , must come to the cone ]«« ion that our ennso and principles have progressed , and that my labour has not been in vain . ( Cheers . ) I must now call your attention to the purpose tor which we are asssembled , and state my reason for assenting to another National Petition , to ft' ])!?!] , as well-as others , I had been opposed . My reason then is , because my leader , in whose discretion , wisdom , and talent , I have tho most unbound ) d confidence , has scin the prudence of changing his opinion . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Buncombe , the only man in the House of Commons who can bo considered tilt ?

      representative of Chartist i ' i'inci"les , has seen that-this i ? the propcrscason for testing the courage of Chartism am ! the principles of the House . With this view I most cordially agree , but then we must be upon our guard , lest the necessity of faction may one « more convert us into an army of recruits lor faction ' s purpost's . ( Cheers . ) Already the tocsin has been soundcJ , and the nest move to which the expediency ol party will summon us will be , the cry of reii < : MUS freedom , o be fought under the banner ot separation of Church and State . ( Cheers . ) I repudiate all coalitions , which have for their object the strcnethentnR of faction ' s hands , ami which have ever had for their res-nit the postponement of the pcoplu ' -s cansc . ( Cheer ? . ) . Moreover , the realisation of the principle for which wo contend , can alone lead to the fuliilnient of the

      sectional promises of moderately pfofi . 's .-ing friends , lam not prepared tO IVASte the national strength in a struggle for a mere speculative change ; I am not prepared to engage in any political war , but the war of all and for all—for the People ' s Charter . ( Loud cheer ? . ) Mr . Harney has told you truly , that Charles James Fox nnd others , over scvontv years ago , seduced the peojvle of his day into the deceptive err of popular rights , hut when he had achieved his own object , he melted the principles of Chartism down to thedi . squ . alifieatron ol government contractors holding a seat in Parliament , so that the people ' s reform stopped alius own door . ( Cheers . ) Such has ever been the deceptive course of Whisgory from the major device of the revolution nf * 1 CSS down to the minor trick of Vree Trade in 1816 . Emancipation , Reform ,

      and Free Trade , have been the great measures ot Whiskery during that interval ; but tho emancipation of influential Catholics , but tended to tighten the bunds of the unrepresented , while by a fcw accronmodating details the oppressors so nicely divid . 't ! oppresmn between parsons and landlords , that the oppressed were divided in their hate , while the oppressors wore united in their power . ( Lond cheers . ) The reformers denounced taxition wichont representation as a tyranny that should be resisted , while their measure has so complicated taxation a : id re-. preee-ntation , that the one is irresistible however mysterious or unjust , while the other is difficult of Requirement , and wrested in its i ' l'CO 1130 wild ! . Achieved —( cheers)—while Free Trade , 1 ho bait 111 the Russell Edinburgh trap , has c : > me without those

      prudent nrkl timely c «» c <» sio )> s which K 3 » st VOiomniGhded it , si ) thnt if the Reform Bill was the RusseII puree , Free Trade is the Ku .-sell stringent tluit has corked the bowels of the poor and closed the purse stones of the rich . ( Cheers . ) My friends , pclitie ? , iike cisthec , have got their fashion , and tha gav . i . ents ' of Wliigsicry havebeen so tvivi cd and altered to suit existing " tastes , that it would be difficult to Cud one sound spot whereto a new princi p le ussy be tacked . However , mayhap , some ingenious Moses ami Son may AUcivvcv a Mmnd spot in the . collarot the Whig coal-, to . stitch some n & w drapery to ci . ver the corrupted t )! -dy . » . nd recreant iimbs of WhigL-evy , and thus masqi \ aded in t' -e shape of tvlijjious freedom for another succe sfnl delusion . _ l > ut , I u-ll them , that neither mask nor domrmi drvipiry

      <>!• outward guise can longer concei . l the iuwrn-d devil from Emancipated ifcfl'nnt'W Five TnuUi scrutiny . ( Loud cheers . ) Thus , 1 have traced the consumptive course of Whiten- from its physical elevation in 1 CSS to its moral decay hi ISiO . ( Loud ciieera . ) Yon may then ask me if 1 would refuse to accept rprogressive efY-vm , niyTuiswcr is No , 1 will he thankful for tho merest modicum of uood , while 1 caution you a » ainst p lacing trust in tse promises of men seeking power to be used for tlu-ra-8 clvC 9 i Believe me that there is ft groat HaVreine between the tliim ; con tend , d for and the tiling achieved—the one is painted to the fervid imasimviion in all the romantic charms that eloquvnee tan dress it , while the other possesses tho sad-reality to

      wliich the C-unilhig of faction can turn it . O-.-ud cheers ) . 1 am now cautioning you ajiainsS sny union with parties having religious freedom as-their rallying crv . "We have had religious refarms before . The reformers all sought the Lord ,, and were regardless whether they extracted hlia- from the affrighted imagination of the yieldingaonvcit , > r who ther they consumed obstinacy in t !& e-bones of the unbending ' herctic by the faggot . ( Grea t , cheering ) . Harry , Luther , Calvin , Cr-atiniw ,. John Knox , Wo ! - fey , and even Cromwell , were ajVieugiousvelVvmevs , and all , of course , sought the Lofd , cither in tho terror of the frown , the balm of conscience , or the protruding bowels of tha obstinate . Well , then , is it for such another rcfoim tk ; v ( s « e are to contend ?

      Have we not always found Sh-a-t ihe oppressed sects pray humbly for toleration , beg mercifully f » r equality , contend stoutly for asce »(! ancy , and ii ? e their supremacy to perpetuate tbe inferiurity of ail ^ b *^ sects , proclaiming their own as the true relishm : and denouncing as heretical al ' . -opposir-g uoemr . es . ( l . oml cheers . ) Mavhap . vou have not seen two hunarv paeV . 9 of hwuuls fed at one wess troug h : I have , and 1 could always controul and m »" ; 'S !! f 20 i « ed , but the hungry would devour me- J he state " church , then , is the Roi-gcd pack , and dissent w vho hnncrvpnek , and take heed , 1 say , bow you ebr . ugo Your battle from tbe gorged and blown parsq . ll to the well-willded and active dissenter in full training aud readv for his round . I object to tua systctnot one down and the other come on , 1 have been a victim to it before , for it has cost me many a sound thrashing at school . ( Loud cheers aud JangUtcr . ]

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 3, 1846, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_03101846/page/5/