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Northern Star (1837-1852), 9th February 1850, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, M-JpO ; 642. ; IflHDOK, SAT OBDA^ gl> . ...

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    • «pfi TH^ ciSRTliSTS /Qi : tbde west X BIDING OF YdBESHIRE.
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      «Pfi Th^ Cisrtlists /Qi : Tbde West X Biding Of Ydbeshire.

      « pfi TH ^ ciSRTliSTS / Qi : tbde west X BIDING OF YdBESHIRE .

      $&: Dear Friends; X Submit To Y *On The ...

      $ & : dear Friends ; X submit to y * on the followhig- admirable letter—together with , the resolution ^ tuaaiumoualy adopted by the dd ^ iM H ^ MohtiDg * /^ e- bold Nor therns ) who have-don e as ranch tQ fcrward the pwpleY causeMas any v &} V \ e in England ; and I would ask you | o 4 them , whethtt ihelcbjai ^ * w justly make can be-more mortif ying jq them than it is to me ? I ask

      youand think of it- ^ wheiher ; any other proprietor of a newspaper in the world would allow ins conduct not to be criticised ,, but censored and reviled , as I hare allowed mine to be in the Northern Star ? , ^ I asky oa whether anycircumstance is so -pre-eminently calculated todisturb and destroy anion in your ranks , \ as the promulgation of disunion among your leaders ? The dismissal . of 3 fr . Hobsox , for the abuse of the men of Somers Town , cost me nearly , fire hundred -pounds , while my honest clients , whose character I wouldnot allow to be reviled , paid not a farthing of the amount .

      Mr . Hill ' s abuse of Dr . M'Douaia , while 3 refugee , cost me a good editor , and inflicted much damage upon our cause ; while the publication of my own resolution that the Chartists of 1848 should not go undefended—together with the exemp tion from oakum picking- —cost me five hundred pounds : thus showing that -what is published in -the " Star is always legally construed against me , when liberty or anoney is the penalty ; while the publication -of violent and ridiculous speeches has been the

      < cause of my incarceration and heavy pecuniary loss . But now , in answer to the wise and dis- ' -ereetresolution ofthemen of the WesfcRiding , I g ive it under my hand THAT THE , JfOBTHERN STATt SHALL SEVER AGAIN B * MADE 5 PHE ORGAN FOaCmCULATINGASY PERSONAL OR PRIVATE SQUABBLES OR DISSENSIONS . IT SHALL REMAlJf WHAT IT EVER HAS BEEN-THE TRUE REFLEX OF THE POPULAR MIND OF THIS COUNTRY . Tour faithful Friend . Feargus O'Connor .

      Bradford , Toiishire , Feb . 4 th , 1850 . Deui Sib , —I forward you the foHowing resolution unanimous !* adopted at a WestRiding delegate meeting , held in the DeaocratieSchool-lioom , Croft-street , Bradford , Feb . ^ nl 1 S 5 0 Jtoradby George Webber , secondedby Edward Smith : — That we , the delegates of the various towns in the West Kidinj , assembled at Bradford , February 3 rd , 1850 , are of -mnmon that the Northern Star ought not to he made the medium for persons to advocate and slander each other ;

      and we request Mr . O'Connor , as the proprietor of that paper , not to allow the Star to he used for any such pur pose , as we consider such proceedings to be highly injurions to the cause of liberty . " Delegates present who signed the above : —Joseph Eastwood , Bonier ; Thomas Holt , Keighley ; George Webber , BaBfix ; Henry ilarsden , Holmfirth ; Edward Smith , Bradford ; Joseph Smith , Huddersfield . —Henry Ilarsden , Chairman ; Richard Gee , Treasurer ; Henry WUcock , ^ Secretary .

      '•" United We Stand, Divided We Felt" To...

      ' " United we stand , Divided we felt " TO THE WORKING CLASSES . MyFbiesds , Ton now have the foreshadowing of your nope from the present session of Parliament , -and as I predicted for you , the subtleness of the ministry is based upon your supineness and presumed satisfaction . A majority of forty-nine in the House of Lords , gave Lord -Jbffif Susseii . such confidence in his power over the Commons , that in repl y to Mr . Htme , the nohle lord repeated and adhered to his

      "HXAHTr" principle : he told the hononr--able Member for Montrose , in bold and unmistakeable language , that it was not the intention of Her Majesty ' s Government , to propose any extension of the suffrage j and he was Ti ght , quite right , so long as he can draw his -quarters salary , and base his enormous patronao-e upon your justl y presumed satisfaction . I say justlypresumed , because he knows , -as well as you inow , that ' had there , during the recess , been a resolute manifestation : of the popular mind , that the Qtxeen ' s speech would have been framed in accordance with

      the popular will ; and there being no such manifestation , the royal speech naturally presumed that you are satisfied with the present ^ system . In that speech there is not a word of hope for you , nor from the speeches of any member connected with the Government can yon anticipate any , the slightest benefit . Am not I , as well as the Government , justified in pre--suming , that a great majority of the people -are satisfied with the present system 1 And acting npon the princip le of Universal Suffrage , would Ibejastifiedinnrging the dissatisfaction of the minorit y as grounds for ie « sisting the satisfaction of the majority ?

      Working men , it would be fan * m me to base my opinion npon sneb . a presumption , was I not aware of the troth of the maxim , that " self preservation is the first law of nature , " and that your preservation depends not upon your natural , but upon your nnnatural dependence npon yonr employers . I am not so wild a politician , as to censure the father who would rather suppress , or even deny , his political feeling , than consign his wife and little children to beggary , starvation , or the bastile , by the avowal of his princip les . And it is not at all unnatural that the master should endeavour to preserve his ascendancy , by thus holding his slave in bondage , when his wealth and power is based upon that bondage .

      It is , therefore , because I do not measure your apath y by your presumed satisfaction , but by the masters ' power , that I do not believe that the majority—or even a large minority—ofthe worMng classes are satisfied with their present position . Working men , however I may sympathise with the sufferers in forei gn countries , it has ever been my desire to keep the English eye steadily fixed npon English policy ; ami nothing grieves me more , or irritates me more , than to hear speeches , at meetings of working men , wholly and entirely devoted to foreign

      matters : whereas , if the mind of England was kept steadily fixed npon English affairs , and was so framed as to mould English Government in accordance with that mind , then England would be able to express something more than sympath y for foreign nations . At the present moment the promised Constitution of France , based npon the blood ofthe French people , is being moulded down to aristocratic « 6 nvemence . 'If the suffrage is not to be altered , giving the vote is to be made more difficult ; and lest the vote should be the reflex of the national "will , not onl y is the free

      expression of opinion suppressed b y the prevention of public meetings , but the Press which circulates it is prosecuted . Workmg men , let me now furnish yon with the strongest proof that the capitalists , who live upon labour , do not desire any alteration in the present system that would increase your power On Wednesday next , the 13 th inst ., there is to be a large gathering of Parnamentary and Financial Reformers in the Free Trade Hall at Manchester , and on this day week you "will leiarn how many mill-owners and employers of labour will have taken part in that

      meeting , the object of which is to increase your political power . I predict the sprinkling of that class will be small ; whereas , if ths Electing -sras held far the mere purpose of re- " dueing taxation which fells npon them , and enabling them to increase the taxation that Jails npon you , the vast edifice would be far "P small Jo cpntahi them . Working men we have now had one week of the present Session . of Parliament—that is , * twenty-fourth part of the whole Session , presuming that it will last six months , and will Bold its meetings each day—and I cannot X eitherfrom the S peech * from the Throne , * from any speech delivered in » th £ ^ House , W «? " "tt * 11 ^ to . confer one particle - of "went upon your order .- We hare had Pro-

      '•" United We Stand, Divided We Felt" To...

      tectiori and Free Trade , Greece , Ceylonj the Colonies , Ecclesiastical Commissions , and several other questions—in which , until you possess the vote , yon are in no way interested —criticall y discussed . So the Session commenced ; and , if you are apathetic , ' so it i ^ ll end . " Working men , yonarelike an other animate —yon are dull and sluggish . in winter , when the blood flows coldly in the veins ; but when it waxes warm , you are not behind any other class ,, in any other country , in vigour and . energy ; and here goes to prepare you for the change . . . . ¦ ^ In April , ' the Parliamentary and Financial Reformers are to hold a Conference in London

      —then the blood will be up . Ton remember the 10 th of April * 1848 ; and what I now propose is , that a Conference of English , Irish , and Scotch delegates shall be held in London at the same time , and I will undertake to say , that the brave Irish people will elect shrewd , firm and intelligent patriots to represent them , and will cheerfully defray their " sbjare of the expense ; and as the British ministeiFhas gver based' his power upon Irish resistanttojtbe English pooEh ^ ti ^ Bothcountries , wulfleaeh 3 mw 1 hat " he canno longer maintain his power upon so frail a pretest .

      This has been the darling object of my life , to destroy that horrible prejudice entertained against the English by the Irish ; and in order to overcome it , I have withstood all slander and persecution . It would not be fair for me to publish what I hear privately in the House of Commons ; while I may tell you that the general feeling is , that the people are supposed to have abandoned the Charter altogether , in consequence of their not subscribing funds to support the cause . You see the amount , subscribed by the Parliamentary Reformers upon a . platform at one meeting : it amounted to over 1 , 500 / ., while presuming

      our Conference to consist of forty-five ; England , Scotland , and Wales , electing thirty , and Ireland , fifteen ; and setting down the salary of each delegate at 21 . a week , and assigning three weeks for the period of its continuance , the whole amount—apart from the travelling—expenses to be paid by England , Scotland , and Wales would amount to 180 / ., or less than a shilling a piece from four thousand individuals , or about one penny a piece from forty thousand ; and let me ask yon whether , if the people are not prepared to make such a sacrifice , the Government is not justified in resistingtheir every appeal ?

      I have often told you that nothing was more injurious to a cause that was paralysed and struck down by tyranny aud persecution , than an attempt to arouse it from its slumber while thus paralysed : and I have also told you—as I told PLAIN JOHN—that where Chartism was struck down b y the tyrant's arm , it would there remain until the day of resurrection came ; that it would not retrograde ; but , holding the ground it had gained , would still march onward . And Chartism having been in a state of lethargy for the last two years , what I now propose is , that that Conference shall

      assemble in April , and that upon theday that I make my motion for the PEOPLE'S CHARTER there shall be a peaceable demonstration of the Chartist mind upon KENNINGTON COMMON . And to prove to you that I am not afraid to take the lion ' s share , of danger , if elected , I will act as Chairman of the ; Conference , and as Chairman of the Meeting ; and I undertake to pledge myself , that no man shall be victimised by my rashness , intempe ranee , or folly ; but that I will so marshal and direct the mindj at tooth . Conference and Meeting , as will prove to our opponents that we require something more than is promised in

      the Royal Speech , but nothing more than is just . Working men , I know not whether you will consider me . rig ht or wrong when ( however the proposition may be repudiated by thousands ) I again appeal to you to prepare a NATIONAL PETITION and local petitions as well , to be presented to the House of Commons ; and for this reason—because Government and your op * ponents base their opposition upon your indifference ; and I would appoint discreet men to seek veritable signatures , and not the obscene signatures of spies and informers , whereby my power and yours may be weakened , and the power of our opponents strengthened .

      In conclusion , let me tell you now as I have told yon to surfeit before—that the working classes of this , or any other country , will never derive benefit from a p hysical revolution ; while nothing so much tends to weaken their cause as violent language , which is calculated to intimidate thousands who would . otherwise co-operate with them . My day-thought and nig ht-dream have been devoted to reflection

      upon those means b y which I could best serve the interest of all classes—making the rich , richer and the poor , rich—living down prejudice , and leaving the world better than I found it : and the greatest opposition against which both yon and I have had to contend , has been the violent language of poor gentlemen , who are too proud to work , and too poor to live without labour .

      M y dear friends , does it not make your heart sicken—does it not almost drive you to despair , despondence , and madness , when you read of the dissensions that exist between parties and individuals professing the same princip les ? And what would you think of me if I attempted to base my popularity upon the spouting of mere " airy and metaphysical nothings , " sinking all thought of people in self , and being more satisfied with clamorous applause than substantial reform ? Do not you think that I have suffered enough , from Government persecution . and POPULAR INGRATITUDE , to prove to yon that I aim at something hig her than personal ambition and mere popular applause ?

      Working men , twenty-eight years of steadfast adherence , and the expenditure of a large fortune in your cause , imprisonment without conversion , and slander without desertion , should be asufficient testimony of my character ; and what I have ever endeavoured to accomplish has been the union of leaders , to insure the union of . followers—for , believe me that , when officers disagree , soldiers are likely to mutiny . And now , what I most ferventl y imp lore of yon is , at once and for ever to put the

      extinguisher upon all dissensions—to let those who differ fig ht their battles , not upon the public platform , or in the Press , but in a private - conversation—as I am resolved that your organ , the NORTHERN STAR shall never again contain one column or line of party or personal squabble ; and I believe you -will admit , that no other proprietor of a newspaper in this world would have allowed his own organ to be the medium , not of censure only , but oi abuse of himself . <

      These remarks do not refer to the present , or even to recent times only—they refer to the period when the first Convention was held in 1839 , when the poor gentlemen , having expended-your money , sought to make a living by . your disunion , and for which I was the sufferer and the paymaster . ' U r . " . , ; Workihg men- ^ -United you . Stand ; Divided you Fall ; .. and " . scout from youi ranks every

      '•" United We Stand, Divided We Felt" To...

      man who would make you fall : ; b y your own disunion . - ^ # ; Tour Faithful and Uncompromising Friend and ' Representative , Feargus O'Connob .

      The Mathon Estate. To The Depositors For...

      THE MATHON ESTATE . TO THE DEPOSITORS FOR THE PURCHASE OFTHE MATRON ESTATE . ; My Fbiends , ; ' .: , •« , ¦ -I have had three or four applications ; for the return of a portion ofthe funds subscribed for the purchase ofthe above estate . . In twe instances where the amount required was stated , I repaid it by return of post ; in two other instances , where questions were asked and upon the repl y to which the withdrawal depended , I stated to the applicantsthat if not

      , satisfied with my response as- to the probable time of completing the purchase ^ that they also should ^ eceive their money by return of post ; and nofr I have to inforhi the several depositors in that - fund , of , : to them , a most important event , . ~ ' : ¦ ^ "T ^ When . fix . purchased the estate , as I then ^ tated ^ jt : wjaaAiable io-a-jointure of 3 WW . a yeartoMrs . ^ CLKT , tho owner ofthe estate , that is , the purchasers during her life , would be : liable to . a rent of 12 s . an acre . This charge upon the ¦ estate reduced its value to

      the purchaser by from 3 , 0007 . to 4 , 000 / . ; that lady , however , has departed this life , and the property has consequently increased in value to that amount , the purchasers now not being liable to any rent whatever , a circumstance which , I dare say , willlead to the very speedy completion of the purchase of the property ; vvhile I beg to state , that all parties who have paid up the amount of money , representing the number of acres that they wish to purchase , shall receive back their money if inclined so to do .

      Some . complain that the purchase has not been completed as speedily as they expected it ; while they seem ignorant ofthe , fact , that title deeds connected , with the purchase of a large estate , cannot be concluded so easil y as they imagine , and especially during a period which is called the " long vacation , " when conveyancers are generally out of town—arid that vacation lasts during August , September , and October .

      I trust that the parties who . have deposited monies for the purchase of this estate , will be satisfied with this explanation ; while ! may further add , that if it is not full y purchased , I shall apply the proceeds from the sale of the Minster Lovel and Snig ' s End estates to the purchase ofthe remainder for the Land Company , and those two estates will be sold in April by the mortgagees ; and I , have handed over the PROPRIETORS of the Lowbands Estate to the tender mercies of Mr . Roberts , who has advanced l ^ OOOZ . b y way of mortgage , and as the occupants at O'Connorville are , generall y speaking , the best conducted upon any of the estates , I will deal

      more lenientl y with them ; and the strongest proof that I can give of the confidence and gratitude of the people is , that the men of Bradford—among whom the dissatisfied Mr . Obdy has again gone to reside—sent a larger amount for the Land Fund last week , than has come from all England for many weeks past . But . to furnish you with the strongest evidence that men sometimes do wear : two faces under a hood , I request your perusal of the following letter , written three months since by the most violent and wil y obstructor of the Land . Flan , and the man who has endeavoured to do it more injury than Mr . Bum Beatiie of Minster . Now p lease to read the letter : —

      Deab Sm , —If you see Mr . O'Connor , please to tell him that Squire York , of Forthampton , near Tewkeshury . has employed ma to draw up - a plan of three-acre aUotments , best m » de of cropping , buudine , < 6 c ., & c ., which I purpose to bring to Squire Tort , on Wednesday next . I understand that he is about to put . all his farms , that maybe given up , of which he has a great number , into smaU allotments . Squire York and I have had two or three hours conversation on the subject Messrs . Dovle and Cullineham

      kindly gave me their assistance . I feel assured of pleasing . Mr . O'Connor ' s phophecj is beginning to ho verified . Yours truly , P . J . CBmen , Schoolmaster . Reader , what think you of the sentiments of this p hilanthropist ? and do you not wonder how I withstood the slander , the villany , and ingratitude of such follows , - Faithfully yours , . Feargus O'Connor .

      &Ught-N6ne^^ I That He Had Contributed ,...

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      To Feargus O'Connor , Esq., M.P. Dear Si...

      TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . Dear Sib , —I learnt promiscously to « day that a deputation from the Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association , consisting of Sir J . "Walmsley , George Thompson , Esq ., and Mr . Atkinson , would be . in Nottingham during the present week ; not feeling satisfied with respect to the report , I , set to work and learned for a positive fact that the Mayor had been applied to , and had granted the use of the Exchange-ball for the above object . Having learned this much , I deemed it my duty to call a meeting of the Chartist Council , and inform them of what I had learned . ' The parties getting up the meeting

      are keeping it very still , as yet ; the meeting will be held on Friday evening next , but they have not issued any bill publicly , yet ; calling the meeting : we think they are doing this toprevent us from sending for you . Having laid the facts of the case before the council , they instructed me / to write to you immediately , and request you to attend at the abovementioned meeting . The council are of opinion , that the parties in Nottingham getting up the meeting , wish to exclude you from taking part in the proceedings , so as to give the public press a chance

      of saying that a meeting of this kind had been held by your ctnstitutents , and that you had never been invited , so as to make it appear to . the . world that the people of Nottingham had become , disgusted with your conduct , » s their representative . Such not being the case , we are very desirous you should attend the meeting , if possible , and thereby convince our enemies that so long as you continue to discharge your duties in the praiseworthy manner you have hitherto done , we—at least—the , working men of Nottingham know how to appreciate such

      services . . Have the kindness to write by return of post , so that we can give as much publicity as possible if youattend . Iremain , Tours respectfull y , on behalf of the Chartist Council , John Skbbbiit , Secretary . Lewis ' s-square , Rancliffe-street , : Nottingham , Feb . 5 , 1860 .

      24 , Notting-hili Terrace , London . February 7 th , 1850 . Dear Skerkitx , — . In consequence of your letter being addressed to the • Northern Star office , and not to my residence , I did not receive it till this ( Thursday ) morning * when I beg to tell you that I full agree in every sentence it contains , but , nevertheless , no power of any party will be able to shake the confidence of those who returned me , and whose feelings and interests I trust I faitbidlly-represent .-. — ¦ _ -

      I regret , however , that it will not be in my power to be present , as you will learn , from the enclosed letter , that I am to attend a consultation at seven o ' clock to-morrow ( Friday ) night , - with respect to my action for libel against the Notting ham Journal , which it is supposed will be tried on Saturday ; and ' had it not- been that my attendance , at that consultation is indispensable , ' nothing , would give me greater pride'or pleasure than to meet friendand fbenpori that battle-field where my bloodTias b ^ iished ^ but ; wbere the vjgpiu : of , tha i people . ' nobly aBwrt ^ U 8 ; tOump lri . ¦¦ ' ZL

      To Feargus O'Connor , Esq., M.P. Dear Si...

      Before I received your letter I was mad acquainted with the " dodge , " but the strata gem of faction shall never turn my cb-opera tion into hostilit y ^ so long as I feel convince thaMhOi princi ples of my personal opponents if adopted , would serve the cause of thi people . Lhave every reliance and , confidence in th < brave men of Notting ham , with whom / Ihay < h ad- ^ ° manv struggles , and to whom g ive nrj kindest ^ love and affection , with the assurancf that , i ore long , I win again meet them in then native town . . ¦ ' •;; ;; . ••; , ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ; .::. Your Faithful Friend and Uncompromisin ¦ f . Representative , ¦•• - "• ¦ Feargus O'Connor . P . S . —Read this oh the platform .

      '•For A Nation To Be/Free, 'Tis Suffleie...

      ' For a nation to be / free , 'tis suffleient that she wills hi " TO THE IRJ ^ i / PEOPLE . ( fy . 9 & the 7 rafan « wjf |&^ ;• v :.: ' ¦ FMEHps ' AND G . 6 ^ ilR ^^ Spi | ^ -In con ^ uence ^ f 4 ifalt » nlB ^ ^ in mm ^ m ^^ mmmm out of njy ^ ^ power W mvm ^ w ^ abssmS ^ S you appear , . once more , to have a sufficient number of irons in the fire ,: perhaps * ypu sustained no disappointment ; meantime ,. allow me to assure you , that however any of those irons may be heated or struck , you will not receive one particle of benefit from the WKT / n .

      I have been invited to attend the first grand demonstration of the Democratic party , which is now being organised for the purpose of cooling all the irons ' . . ; bf the several tinkers , and making such a furnace as will thaw and dissolve all humbug , and for ever ; and as it is to the union , to the voice , and to the power of the veritable people alone / that I look for a veritable change in their condition , all other business laid aside , I shall consider it my duty to . be present at the inauguration , of

      Ireland ' s regeneration , and her new birth unto rig hteousness . Irishmen , the old policy was , enlist every man who is willing to enter your ranks as a willing soldier , and drink his health in the Boyne Water j now the policy is to divide Ireland into five parties—Protectionists , Free Traders , National Alliance , ' Conciliation Hall , and Democracy ; and believe me , that if the Democrats are onl y true , zealous , and energetic , the other four parties will merge into utter insignificance .

      Can anything be more absurd—hay , treasonable—than the fact of one party , basing its power upon an opposition , to Lord Gxengall and others , who nibble at Repeal ; while those who base their power upon that opposition declare Repeal to be their darling object ? Again , can anything be more absurd than the fact of Mi * . John O'Connell basing his opposition to the principles of the National Alliance , upon the grounds that Mr . Duffy has spoken slightingly of the Pope ; while the Italian people , all Catholics , as well as Mr . John O'Comeli , and all eye-witnesses of the

      Popes doings , have rebelled against , him ? And can anything be more absurd than the fact , thatthe . Free Traders of Ireland are now being marshalled , not as mere opponents of Protection , but as the presumed supporters of ftat very Government which for yeai's they have been denouncing ? , / / M-ycbuhtrymeni although I never have despaired , and never shall despair , of establishing such a union of hardy and determined Irishmen , as will ultimatel y , and for ever overthrow the knavery of their several cunning opponents , yet you may rely upon it , that in the course of a very short time you will hear

      the old cry , " Whoever divides the Liberal interest is an enemy to his country . " And yon may depend upon it , that the' leading cuckoos in that cry will be Government toadies and lickspittles , who will endeavour to use your presumed satisfaction , in the House . of Commons ,. for the purpose of gaining patronage for themselves ; as the cause of battle between the contending parties : will now be Protection or . Free . Trade , while , if you are wise , you will contend for Free Trade " in its entirety— -namely ^ Free Trade in Legislationas the only means b y which Free Trade hi corn or anything else , can be turned to national instead of class benefit .

      Could the most ingenious or subtle men in the world more fully prove the full y anticipated' results from L'ish agitation . than Mr . John O'Connell has developed in his threat to resign his seat in Parliament ? Was not the plainE . ng hsh of that threat—lanticipated the hope of being able to live comfortabl y upon the proceeds , of a more paying profession than that of the law ,- namely , the profession of agitation , and from which agitation I anticipated the liberation of my country ; but how , that I anticipate greater profit from my legal than from my agitating profession , I abandon my country ' s cause , and wrap myself in

      selfishness . . . irishman , you are not to augur ill , or to anticipate defeat ,, or even difficulties , from such secessions ; i > ut , on the contrary , they should inspire you with hope , as they are purel y based iipori the GREAT FACT that the Irish mind can no longer be used for individual selfishness . ... / You know but little of England or of England ' s power , and you know as . little of England ' s weakness . England ' s power is based ; upon her machinery , and the control that the griping capitalist has ' over labour ; her . weakness is based upon her enormous debt ; her colonial difficulties , and the hatred of all continental powers ; while her greatest

      difficulty would be a thorough union of the Irish industrial mind . , And it is to prepare you for such an union , that I beg ^ to subscribe my name as a member of the Irish Democratic party ; and to establish , such a union that I shall once more be amongst my countrymen at the proposed meeting of that bod y ; and then I shall subscribe something more than my voice to aid you in the accomplishment of your object , which I believe to be the regeneration of your country . ;¦ .. ¦ ¦ Good God ! how it must sicken any true patriot ' s heart to read the dissension'between Irish exiles in the United States ; and how it must raise the hope of those who have ever lived upon your disunion .

      I was aware that your first labour would be to destroy the old arid rotten system of Irish agitation ; but I still had the hope , that those who clung to the old arid , broken fragments would be so few and insignificant , that your new edifice would rise and tower to the admiration of the world : and I confess that what I learn of the materials of which your new . Democratic Association is composed inspires me with no-little hope , and animates me with no slight courage . <

      .- ) My ; countrymen , ifc . was ¦ my- > intention tohave written-ypu a series of letters upon the land , and the means of converting it it © national instead of class purposes , but the pressin g urgency compels me to prepare you for the ' coming act ion , as , it ivould be npnsense / to developethe value of / the land without first preparing y ou' with the means to acquire it j and ¦ the / principalobjeet that I hav < un now addressing you is to caution you against , the old . " dodge?!—namely , thatyy . ou ; , should not . be again enlistod to struggle nbqahtbw against the

      '•For A Nation To Be/Free, 'Tis Suffleie...

      influencp of the opportents of the Government , but affirmatively for the accomplishment of your own rights . ' :. r Toflknow the old saying , when ' . ' rogues fall out , bojrrotjgjen come by their own ; " and ; you knowlull ^ ell ; that all the rogues , who live and fatten , upon your labour and subserviency , hare now fallen outj and you ought to know that if yon are not used by the rogues , you will come by your own . I am writing to you on Tuesday , ahd , therefore , am not aware of the result of the Free Trade gathering ; but you mayirely upon it that it has received , not only the countenance of the the Gaolbr-Gbnbral or Ireland , - J > ut also of the British Government , and that your independent member the Worshipful Lord Mayor , will . trumpet it in the llouse of Commons , as the strongest proof of Irish confidence in the Whig Government !

      ^ Now , my countrymen , if such a meeting was called for the purpose of passing censure upon the Government , and however beneficial its results might bo to the country , . it would either be put down by proclamation ,, or . it would , be . surrounded By the GAOLEK-GENEBAL . and his staff . All rows that take place at Protectionist ' uieetirigs are lauded alid , luxuriated in by the Press rwhile , during the £ ' 3 i ^ de agitation ; if any Chartist undertook to $ ^^ 10 q « estwa /; fairly {* aria ;/ te ' mperately , and 2 P 5 ^ ° opposition ; butd 6 # oisOTS « oh , the police IM ^ red ' ff wn ^ I ^ d | BgK . iheiplatfovm , fMm < W $ K 4 PJm iM & mmMmvm ^ hemadKeoa

      thrpugh - th ' e furious " Free 'Traders , and was > denounced by the press as a . Chartist iiuFFiAN , an INTRUDER , AND REVOLUTIONIST , Now , this will show you the difficulties against which men who advocate the true cause of democracy , have to contend , while , nothing despairing , and sti ll unintimidated , I rely upon the growing mind of Ireland to trample upon the tyranny of despots and the rascalit y of the press . In my invitation to be present at the inaugural ' Democratic meeting , I am requested to invite some of the popular English leaders to accompany me ; and I shall have the more pleasure in compl ying with this request , in order to convince riiv

      countrvmen of the injustice , of the slander and denunciation to which those talented men have been subjected ; , and I do hope that their introduction to their Irish fellow working-men , all rowing in the same boat , will be the means of cementing such , a union between Celt and Saxon ; as no Government can destroy ^ no artful dodger can weaken ; as , rely upon it , that upon the union of the people of both countries , and upon that alone , the liberties of both countries can be securely based . ' . - ¦ . ' ¦ > Your faithful friend and countryman , Fearous O'Connor . P . S . —To showyou thatlshall not appear at your meeting as an intruder , I present you with the following lnvitation .- ^ -F . O'C .

      Irish Democratic Association , Anglesey Buildings , ; 38 , Lower Abbey-street , Dublin . Sib , —lam directed by the Committee of the Irish Democratic Association to inform 3 oil that an aggregate meeting of their body will be held on an earl y day . Knowing the deserved nfluence which your position necessarily gives you ; they deem it of the greatest importance to secure your attendance , if possible , at that meeting , in order that you may have an opportunity of explaining to the Irish people those sound political principles which have tended to enlighten our English neighbours , Hoping that it will suit your convenience to send an answer in the affirmative ; and anxiously awaiting your reply ,

      I have the honour to he , sir , your devoted servant , Andkew English , Secretary To Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P .

      Parliamentary Reform In Aberdeen. Visit ...

      PARLIAMENTARY REFORM IN ABERDEEN . VISIT OF O . W . M . REYNOLDS , ESQ . A' crowded intelligent and enthusiastic meeting was held in Bon-Accord Hall on Monday night , to receive an address from G . W . M , Reynolds , Esq ., in favour of constitutional reform . The large hall was well filled before the hour ofmeeting , and was densely packed during the whole proceedings . Mr . Reynolds , who appeared on the platform , accompanied by his lady , was loudly cheered on making his appearance . Mr . George Smart was by acclamation called to the . chair .

      ' . The Chairman ' [ returned thanks for the honour which had . been conferred upon him . . The subject upon which the speakers were to address the meeting was second , to none in importance . He had applied his mind , though a working man , to this subject for the last eight or ten yeavs ^ and had been daily more and more convinced , that unless working men proceeded to demand reform , based upon sound princi ples , their condition must become worse and worse . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . David Wright moved the first resolution . — "The downward tendency of the affairs of the country was evident from the decline which had taken place in the remuneration for labour . ( Hear . ) It was further evident in the appalling increase of

      pauperism , and in the amount of social degradation and wretchedness which prevailed throughout the country . " Mr . Wright proceeded to point out the anomalous inequalities of the representative system , and the gross corruption which prevailed in the Financial department of government , and which was well and emphatically indicated by the declaration of Mr . W . Chambers , "That the financial concerns of the country were conducted in such a mysterious and unbusiness like manner , that it was impossible for any human being to understand them . '' ( Loud applause . ) It had been urged by their city member ( Captain Fordyce , ) that the People ' s Charter would give a preponderance of influence to the ' working man . But , did they over

      hear of any one grudgtnj a preponderance of labour to the working man ; And if a working man could manage affairs of vital importance to himself , if he could vote for a minister to attend to his soul , was he not also fit to vote for a representative in parliament ? ( App lause . ) And had not the working man a preponderance of taxation on his shoulders ? Mr . Wright concluded an eloquent , and loudly applauded speech , by proposing the following resolution : — " That in the opinion of this meeting , the alarming und downward tendency of the labouring and general commercial interests of the united kingdom , is the result of the present unjust and unequal system of representation , promoting as it does , the corrupt interests of a small faction , at the expense of the

      nle at large ; and that this meeting expresses sliberate conviction , that the only safe , effectual , and permanent remedy for this state of affairs , is such a change in our representative-system " as will p lace the House of Commons under the direct control of the nation , by the admittal of the : entire male adult papulation within tho palo of the electoral franchise , under the plan laid down in the document entitled the People ' s Charter . Mr . John Braik seconded the motion , which was put by the Chairman , and carried unanimously ; ¦ Mr . William : Lyndsrt moved the second resolution . He had never met a working man who after calm consideration did not admitthe perfect justice andfairnessof the principles of the Charter ; but it was not sufficient to be convinced of the truth of

      these principles—they must be carried into effect . He would not throw obstacles in the way of any narty that mig ht he agitating for a less measure bf reform , but all who considered that the Charter contained only a necessary measure of reform , were at the same time bound to agitate for it . ( Applause . ) Mr . Lyndsey . 'in conclusion , moved the following resolution : — " That in order to make effectual the demand for the People ' s Charter , it is necessary that tho friends of that measure should forthwith form themselves into an association , for that purpose ; and that thii meeting therefore earnestly calls upon—especially the working classes—the unrepresented masses of the United Kingdom , to join the National Charter Association , as organised at the late Metropolitan Chartist Conference . "

      Mr . Arch . Macdonald seconded the resolution . The princip les of the Charter had been in part contended for since the first dawn of civilisation , though it could not be expected that they should have reached the same maturity in ancient Greece . or Rome as in this country , with an enlig htened ; press , and such noble advocates of reform as their friend Mr . Reynolds . ( Loud applause . ) In every page of the Bible these principles were inscribed . That book told them that God had made of one blood all nations of men upon tho earth , and that all things were given to man for his enjoyment . But class leg islation had uprooted and reversed the laws of

      Heaven , and trampled upon , common humanity . ( Loud applause . ) Ho was , however , as anxioua as anyone present to hear Mr . Reynolds , and would not detain the meeting . ; The Chairman then called upon Mr . Rsinolds ; who stood forward amidst a storm of applause . After apologising for his having been rather late , owing to his having lost his passage once , or twice on his way ,- Mr . Reynolds returned thanks , for the very cordial reception , which he . had just taet , and which he considered to ' 'he '" mo > e / than ; : ateward for any trouble which' hisr / journoy north , might'have cost-him . ' < Heknew wellthouterita / bf the working man ; and sympathised deeply withhim , ; under his privations . While labouring' in the 'causes of / the vrorkfaff man . he ) iad . l eaped . « o / rewar . d ; wd . had

      Parliamentary Reform In Aberdeen. Visit ...

      & ught-n 6 ne ^^ I that he had contributed , his . mite on beFalf " of tha oppressed . All men werooriginally " on > equar ' ciroumstances , and why was it , tha . t"now the bulk of their fellowmen were robbed of their natural ri ght —< the franchise ? - It could . only , be by iniquitous tyranny . ' The result of the imperfect representation of the county iii parliament was evident , in the fact that they found the institutions , of the barbarous middle ages still existing . ' and standing out ' in ' glaring contrast with the enlightenment o the present f ^ n ¦ Ajia ifc wa ^ preposterous to expect the House 01 Commons to reform itself without ' . a vigorous pressure from without . Tho theory of the . British cwfsutution was that the country i * governed by that he had contributed , his . mite / on beFalf of tha nnnramaA All mpn-wpre oriffiriallv '' oritpflHnlv ' nir .

      Kingsy Lords , and Commons . But it was found that the afistueraey , who were of course solo rulers in the House-ofLords , had also largely encroached upon the ' prerogatives ,, and rights of the crown , and though he did hois lament tho abridgement of the rights ' ofthe crown ' ,, he thought that anything taken from it should be given , not to a tyranical , indolent , and bloated arisfrooracy , but to tfie people .. The aristocracy had afeo- managed to engross ther House of Commons itseifl . as well as the Apmy .-Kavy , Church , and other appointments , and they could , through the House of Commons ,. put their hands- into the pockets of the people , and hel p themselves to ' what ? ever they wanted , so that the property and interests of the country werejentirely at their mercy . And

      who were these aristocrats?—either'descendants of that ruffian William the Conqueror , or descendants-of gay ladies who prostituted themselves toGharles IT , ; these were the individuals , who with a ; face ; of . brass , and a heart of iron , se themselves against all reform , and whom it was therefore the duty of the people effectually to knockdown . The Queen ' s speech , delivered theofffter day , gave oat ,, that the ? country was in a very fluvonrable state . Now , they had already heard , that upwards of a million of paupers , existed in England ;; and he knew for » fact , that on last Chistmas day , one hundred thousand persons in London afexe were dependent upon charity for their , Christmas dinner , while the poor labourers in the aericulturad ' districts , were

      starv-^ ing on five or six shillings a week : many of the mill-hands in the manufacturing towns were / but half employed , and the most deplorable ignorance , . wretchedness , and demoralisation prevailed .. But J ^| c , <^^ t ^ feife ^ n ^ Ma ^ ed ^ jn ^ hfepresehoef < w !& goWr'hmeto : - am ^ mow them . down the moment they attempted to show an hostile attitude ? He did not mean to encourage any attempt at violence . He believed that in the English : constitution , bad as it was , there existed elements of freedom sufficient to accomplish their purposes : One of the ' great principles ' which he held with respect to land , was , that every one who heeded sustenance out of it , should have that sustenance before any other man should haV 8 '

      more than sustenance , and that the industrious should be well fed before any one could be permitted to eat the bread of idleness , ; but this regulation had been reversed under the present system . Mr . Reynolds then took up in detail the different points of the People ' s Charter . Why had the supporters of that document been vilified and abused ?—simply because the aristocracy constantly strove to throw scandal upon those who were devoting themselves to the work of dragging the people out of the mire . It is said , that the mass of , the people could not be entrusted with the franchise , owing to their ignorance ; but it was the intelligence of the people that was in reality feared . Whether did the occupation and works of the aristocracy , or of the working

      man , produce more to benefit society and to prove intelligence ? Everything for convenience * comfort , and luxury , was furnished by the working man ; and , if the working classes were ignorant , what had those who threw their ignorance in their teeth done to enli ghten them ? On the continent , in several quarters , the people last year were for some time , in possession 01 full powers : and was their conduct such as the opponents of universal suffrage would have predicted ?—were they not on the contrary , everywhere great , generous , and magnanimous?—Yes ; too magnanimous in some cases , for they allowed the aristocrats again to assume power , and what was the policy which was immediately adopted ?—they lacerated and scourged women ,

      slaughtered children , filled their dungeons , and sent hundreds to the scaffold . A " party of order , " as it was called , arose to complete the ruin of the cause of liberty . Let the friends of reform see to it , that ho such party of order arise in this country . The government and parliament told' the people of Britain , that they were frec ^—yes , they were free to set off to work very early in the morning , and to continue very late at night , to take small wages for much work , to give the aristocracy everything , and to retain nothing ; and then the press and the aristocracy would laud their condition as " freeborn Britons ' , the greatest people on the facoof the earth , " Ac . They were also told of the immense extent of the British empire ; but what was

      this to the working man?—the colonies were nothing else than a series of lucrative sinecure posts for the scions of the aristocracy to be paid by taxes wrung from working men . Another principle of the Charter was the ballot , which would be required to g ive the working mau protection after he had obtained Univeral Suffrage . It wag objected that the Ballot was ' un « English—was it un-English to secure fair play ? But the plea especially coming from the aristocracy , which imported French millinery , cookery servants , < fcc , and which upheld the system of flogging soldiers—were any of those measures decidedly-English ? Again , at present many persons speculated largely in borough seats in parliament . There were 666 members returned to the House of

      Commons , and at any general election there were about 1 , 000 candidates . It had been calculated that thecost of the entire constituency averaged apoundi per head—not that every elector ' s vote was purchascable , but reckoning the sum paid for purchased votes alone . The expense of contesting these elections was about two millions of pounds . But the investment—costly as it appeared to bewas one of the best that a man could put his money into , considering the numerous pensions and places and honours that might be obtained—particularly by those who thought fit to vote with government . It was with the working classes . that the hopes of the Reform Movement lay , for it was evident-that the middle classes did not want to do away with

      the House of Lords ; indeed , they were interested in upholding the aristocracy , as they might expect to fill posts in it themselves . Mr . Reynolds then dwelt at length , and with striking effect , on > tho absurdity of the Property Qualification , and rebuked the disposition to worship money , which ( he said ) prevailed even amongst the working classes themselves ; and he concluded an eloquent and repeatedly cheered speech of nearly two hours' donation—of which the above is necessarily a very imperfect sketch—by appealing to the working men of Aberdeen , as they valued their own rights , the rights of their families , and of their fellow men—to lend themselves honestly and earnestly to the-movement . Mr . Reynolds sat down amidst loud

      andilong-continued cheering , which had repeatedly ; interrupted him during his address . Mr . John Smart moved the following resolution , which ( he said ) required no remark or recommendation of his : — " That this meeting rofcams its most cordial thanks to G . W . M . Reynolds ,. Esq ., for tho strai g htforward and able manner in . which he advocates the works of labour in his writings , and also for struggling so zealously for its . emancipation ;; while grappling with tyranny before the public on the platform ; but , in particular this , meeting would ; beg most respectfully to thank hira and his lady for their kind and generous visit tothis city—solem undertaken at their own expense- ^ to promote thooausa of freedom , and the elerafcioa of the human ; race . "

      The motion was earned asaidst rapturous cheering . A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the chairman , and three times three ' cbeers having beea given for Mr . Reynold & and the Charter , tho Ifcsge assemblage dispersed .

      On Tuesday Evening A Supper Was Given Si...

      On Tuesday evening a supper was given sit tho Caledonian Hotel , in honour of the visit of- Mr . and Mrs . Reynolds to Aberdeen . The festival W 93 served up in excellent style ,, and presented ! aJil the succulent substantialities oi ? a real Scotchi sufper . Mr . Lyon presided ; and araongst those who . spoka to the various sentiments , proposed , wer , e- Messrs . D . Wright , Smart , Branik , Lindsey ,, Alexander M'Donald , && ., & o , Tho sentiments were- of the usual appropriate natus * . Tho healths of Mr . and Mrs . Reyaolds were drunk with " -tee times three , " as was thai of Mr . Fewigus- O'Connor ,

      M . P . Mr . Reynolds , returned thanks , for fiimseit and Mrs . Reynolds , aad likewise fonhis . absent friend Mr . O'Connor , ^ hoso unwearied ,, honest , and staunch patriotism he eulogised : in a manner which elicited immens * applause . Sentiments in honour of the " imprfeaned exiled victims ^ "the Red Republicans of France ; ' * " ^ » Snt 8 , * people ; " " -iho Democratic press ; and other appropriatfrsubjects , wexe duly proposed ; and ; tho assembly taoko up at about on » in the morning ; the wholfe proceedings having been conducted to tho . entire satisfaction of all present .

      To Drive Awat Rats.—Got A Paper Bag Fvil...

      To Drive awat Rats . —Got a paper bag fVill of human hair from a barber ' s shop , and stuff the rat holes with it ; they will never appear there again . — Commmcated to the Qardmesr' Chronicle . In anticipatiok of the intended reduotioa in tho army which is about to take place , several recruiting parties have been called in , particularly those connected with the reserve battalions , : ; .- , Weights ©? iub Hdnah BRAW . r-The brain of Cuvior wei g hed 04 } ounces . ; this was the largest on record . That of Dr . Abercrdmbie was 6 * ounces ; that of Dupuytreri : a wlebrated surgeon ^ rfFrance ; 63 *; Dr ^ Chalmers , 53 ( skiiH very tk « k ){ 8 * Walter Scott / nbt'large ; perhaps / average ; but not weighed j Lord Byron , oTourioes . ' : ¦ -. ! i ' -

      1

      1

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 9, 1850, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_09021850/page/1/