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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th February 1845, Edition 2 of 4, Page 6, CJart(0t IntfUigntcft

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      ' ' Fie Industrious One Of The Council.—...

      6 ¦ THE NORTHERN STAR . February ^^ k —— - ———^— —~ m —'^ ^ SI ^ S ! r ^^^ ~~ ' ————————————— 1 /

      Cjart(0t Intfuigntcft

      CJart ( 0 t IntfUigntcft

      Mdoualus Charges Against ...Me. O'Connor...

      MDOUALUS CHARGES AGAINST . .. ME . O'CONNOR . isvsBiicjmox bv the suxcuesikk oocxcii . Tie Chartist readers of tlie Nortliern Star arc aware thatat'the recent investigation before tie Manchester C < iuhdlitm the case of M * Douall and Leach , certain charges were brought to light , which , if true , placed Mr . O'Connor in the position of a " traitor' to the people . Such a revelation left that gentleman no alternative but to demand a siftin g investigation ; and , as'the Manchester Council hadoeen selected by Dr . M'J ) ouall as the party to mqmre into the comnlainta he had preferred against Mr . Leach , Mr . O'Connor called upon that body to institute inquiries in his case ; and either pronounce him guilty or innocent , according tothe evidence brought before them . The'Council responded to the call made on them .

      They fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 th , as the day on which they would investigate ; and accordingly they desired all the parties concerned to appear before them , at ten o ' clock in the forenoon of that day . The Council met at the time appointed in the Committee Room , under the Carpenters' Hall ; but owing to the excitement produced throughout Lanc . ; siilfe , parties had come in from Bolton , Chorley , Bury , Ashton-nnder-Lyne , Oldham , Stalybridge , Mottram , & c , & c to witness the moceedings . The Council , therefore , being desirous that the investigation should be as public as possible , adjourned to the large anti-room of the hall . The names of the Councilmen were then called over . Each one answered to his name ; and Mr . Thomas Rankin was called upon to uresidc .

      Mr . Smith being the person appointed to wait upon Dr . M'Douallafterarecentlecture in the Carpenters ' Hall , gave in his report , which it is unnecessary to insert , as it has already been made public through the Star . The secretary then read the following correspondence which Lai taken place betwixt the Council and the parties concerned : —

      so . I . Hulme , Feb . 1 st , 1815 . Dear Sir , —The Council having seen in the Star of January 26 th , 184 S , the charges purportbig to _ have been made by you against Mr . O'Connor . and wishing to pnt an end to crimination and recrimination in the ranks , have fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 th , 1845 , at ten o ' clock in the morning , to hear all charges brought before them , and to decide on their merits or demerits with imparBalHy and without prejudice - holding all parties innocent until proved guilty . They have desired me to correspond with you , and to intimate thatTHEV WIIX TAT XOUB EXPENSES , THAT TOE MAT XOT be a ? Axr loss n « TiuvELLixc . They therefore request that you will be in attendance at the above stated time . * By answering this letter definitely , and -with promptitude , you will oblige , for Mr . O'Connor will attend at the before named time . I must also intimate that the Council have determined to go on with the investigation , even if you are not there , after giving you this notice .

      1 am , yours sincerely , - Rich . Radfobd , Sub-Secretary Mr . P . M . M'DoualL

      xo . II . To the Secretary of the Manchester Committee Sir , —Having promised to write you concerning Mi-. O'Connor's case , I Lereby inform you that I cannot fix any time for meeting tho Committee until after a complete settlement of Leach' s affair ; and that 1 do not consider closed until your report is published , and the balance of money due to me paid into the Committee , and through them forwarded duly to me . I hope the Conmiittec will see tho propriety of finishing that business , and bringing it to a speedy conclusion at once . I am , yours trulv , Mr . Richard Radford . P . M . M'Doi * all .

      50 . HI . Hulme , Feb . 5 , 1845 . Dear Sir , —The Council having read your letter in the Star , in which you express your willingness to submit your conduct to the judgment of the Manchester Council , having perfect confidence that they will , with impartiality , award such a verdict at their tribunal as your case and justice from man to man demands , the Council have ordered me to write to Dr . M'Douall , desuinghim to he present on Sunday , Feb . 9 , 1845 , at ten o'clock in the morning . The have also directed me to write to you , informing you that they have determined to proceed with the investigation at the before-mentioned time , lam , sir , yours sincerely , Richabd Radfobd , Sub-Secretarv . F . O'Connor , . Esq . xo . iv .

      London , Feb . 6 , 1843 . Sir , —I have ihe honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday ' s date ; and in reply , beg to say that I shall be prepared to meet any charge to be brought against me before the Manchester Council at the appointed hour on Sunday next . I am , your obedient servant , Jlr . Hichard Radford . Feargcs O'Cojjnor .

      no . v . 52 , Waleot-square , Lambeth . Dear Sir , —From the announcement you have made me of the intention of the Council to proceed without me , I do not see that any answer of mine was at all necessary ; but since you desire it , I can only say , without wishing to treat the members of it with disrespect , that I have sent a letter ^ to the " Star" in answer to that of O'Connor , in which I intimate my intention of demanding a public investigation by a more national body , or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds . I conceive that my wishes have as much right to be consulted as those of O'Connor . I also fully expected that the Council would have suggested and enforced some plan of having the balance of money due by Leach paid to them , and thence to me ; so that all future correspondence and communications on that head , might be effectually prevented . I am , yours sincerely , Mr , R . Radford . P . M . M'Douall .

      SO . VI . The foUowing letter from M'Douall came bv the Sunday morning ' s post , and was delivered to " the Council after the business commenced—it bears the London post-mark of Februarv 8 th , 1845 .

      To the Manchester Council . 52 , Waleot-square , Lambeth . Gentlemen , —My k-tter in reply to JVir . O'Connor was sent to the Star for publication . It was addressed to the people , and not to vou . Mr . O'Connor has forwarded . that letter to you * and I demaud its publication in justice to myself , or its immediate return , so that it may fee published . In thai letter 1 have explained all I know In reference to -Mr . O'Connor . I have likewise given my reasons why 1 do not choose to submit my case to you , and referred Mr . O'Connor to a public meeting . Had I had either time or mone y to spare , I might nevcrthelcsshavebeen present . [ The . Council offered to pay M'DoiialTs expenses to and fi-om London , in order that he might have an opportunity of

      substantiating lis charges . ] I content myself in the meantime with a distinct and positive denial of the truth ef th ? following assertions of Leach—viz ., that I ever said or wrote that Fcargus O'Connor "had sold the Chartist cause at Lancaster to Government ; " or "taatnehad received money for many years from Government for destroying the Chartist cause ; " or "that I had good and irrefutable authority to substantiate those charges . " You have my word written in denial ; and you mav take it , and use it as you think proper : while I at the same time do not admit your authority as judges , nor do I desire to have anything more to ' do with yon on the subject . I do this nrfthout meaning the slightest disrespect to you or any of the Chartist body . Tours resnectfullv , P . M . M * D 0 UALL .

      The Secretary said that as Dr . M'Douall had denied therightoftheCouncil to investigate into the matter , it became his duty to read a portion of a letter from Dr . M'Donall , bearing tne Carlisle post-mark * Noib by the Editor . —The writer seems to have a very confused notion of his own position in relation to this said letter . It was addressed to its , and was therefore , when delivered to us , " ours " to all intents and piirposes , to be dealt with as we should deem fitting . This is accordant with reason and common sense ; and the law of the land is founded on that plain and just principle . No man , not even the most powerful in the land , can lawfully obtain possession of a letter he has written , when once it has passed from his hands into the post-office . It is an offence punishable with a heavy fine for a post-master to deliver up to a writer any letter that he may have confided to his charge , no matter for what purpose , or how important soever the occasion to hiin for which he may require it . ^ And this is on ihe just principle , that the letter is , when once out of the Lands of the writer , no longer his property , but the property of the party to whom it is addressed . Precisely so in this case ; and therefore the "demand " of Dr . M-DonaII to the Manchester Council , that they should " return" what neither belonged to him nor them , was either dictated by profound ignorance of social duties and the amenities of life , or by assurance as impudent as it was glaring . The letter was sent by vs ( not by Mr . O'Connor , as Dr . M * Douall states ] to the Manchester Council , with a note intimating wh y it was sent , and a direction that when it had been read before them at the investigation determined on , it should be returned to us , to whom it bdci-ged . It was not without reason that we so sent it We saw through the trick which it was attempted to make ns a party to ; and we properly foiled it , bv wno ^ tne document to be first nssdby those who had determmed to investigate into the charges "which that document pretended to explain away . Now we publish it , every word , excepting the P . S .. which Kiatp BOldy to another and difierent party , and anotherjmd different affiur—the Glasgow proceeding . We publish it just as received—making in it neither aKeration , addition , nor omission , other than the one just mentioned . Such as it is , we leave it to speak fontaelf . - *

      Mdoualus Charges Against ...Me. O'Connor...

      eK iith 184 A - "I shall attend , provided the IfstuVconceriik ^ or third investigation is to be entered mto , alter tiu settlement of the original . I mean to say simply , that if there is anv question affecting Leach ami myself , let ( fa t * be entered upon first , And if any shall be entered into betwixt O'Connor and myself , LET THAT BE ENTERED INTO ALSO * . but let each DC considered and decided on their respective merits . Bv this , said the Secretary , Dr . M'Douall admitted the authoritv of the Council : hut now he denies that they have thWigh ' ttojudgehim . The Secretary then read the letter sent by Dr . M'Douall to the Nortliern Star for publication .

      10 Teh Chartist Nod-Y Gekebam.I. Friends...

      10 TEH CHARTIST nOD-Y GEKEBAM . I . Friends , —You must all have observed , for some time past , a strong , disposition exhibited m different quarters to represent me , my opmionsandmy character in the worst possible light When a simdanty appears in the niodeand method of attack in different places and by different persons every tight flunking and calmly judging mind wiU amve at the conclusion that a common design has been worked out tbe aim of which is to put me down by a succession of charges each wcroasing in weight from the private letters oi Mr . Smith up to the imperial charge of Air . O'Connor I at least as the party assailed , have a right to think so and tliinMu o- so I hate surely a right . to defend myself and repfy The course pursued by a hostile government towards a persecuted Chartist , or by

      aprosecutin" counsel towards the very basest ot criminals is always to lay the full charge and evidence before the Jurv so that the accused party may after hearing all be able to prepare himself to answer all . that may have been brought against him . Ihave waited , contrary to mv interest , for the second impression of the Star , knowing from past experience that in our ranks democratic though our principles may be , something is generally reserved in the locker to be discharged against the party denounced , even after his defence is concluded , and new charges preferred to which he cannot of course be permitted to reply . I am glad to think that in the Star of February 1 st the old ground has only been re-trodden and Mr . Smith a second time introduced on the stage . I may now therefore safely take up the whole of the matters and irv what a relation of facts has to do

      with mens conviction . Mr . O'Connor states— " Gentlemen you have heard that I have been extensively charged with high treason by Dr . M'Douall , this f ? ct being spoken to by Mr . J . Leach , as honest , as upright , and as useful a member as ever belonged to the Chartist ranks . " Where did Leach prefer this statement ? before a committee by whom he was being tried on the charge of misapplying the public money and at which meetin" Mr . O'Connor was present contrary to the wish of the Manchester council . I protested against Mr . O Connors name , character , or correspondence being introduced until after Leaches case was fairly settled , 1-ccause I knew that it was Lcachcsintention to prefer some charge against me concerning O'Connor and because I was fully sen sible that Leaches interest lay in setting O'Connor and myself by the care so that in the confusion of a counter-charge the original question might be lost sight of altogether .

      Therefore it wa s that I contented myself by mcrcly giving a flat contradiction to his assertions and brought the committee back to the real business of the meeting . For the same reason I took no notice of Leaches declaration that O'Connor had told him that I was in the pay of the league in 1842 and that I received money from them . Mr . O'Connor explained and I to show up the attempt of Leach read his written opinion of O'Connor which he wrote when I was in France \ k "The letter of the Dr . has given me great pain He has it is true a right to complain of the way he has been treated aud M I wish he was the only one that had cause to do so . Such , I am sorry to say is not the case I have bee - ? foull y aud grossly deceived in a quarter I least expected , I read the whole of the letter and O'Connor was there to hear it read whilst he only heard Leach declare that he had heard me say something against O'Connor . Now any man in his senses must know that Leach would find it his best game to alter , amend liis story for the ear of 0 ' Connor , as a species of revenge against

      me . Everything is based in Leach ' s word—Is that authority sufficient for impartial men to proceed upon ? Leach states that I accused O'Connor of being in the pay of government and that O'Connor accused me of being in the nay of the league . Does Mr . O'Connor after that join issue with Mr . Leach , the honest and upright to rum mc in public estimation ? Is it ' evror of judgment or is it design ? no matter what it is , tome it is neither fail- straltforward nor gentlemanly on the point of O'Connor who says "that for now nearly 6 years I have been Dr . McDouallsfriend . " Why did not Mr . O'Connorthen insist on investigation 6 r after that why address tlie same meeting with myself ? Why could not Mr .

      O'Connor have demanded from mc personally , as I have always demanded from him , an explanation ? Why above all tilings with precipitation launch out bis charge in damaged authority thereby causing several localities to be guilty of a gross injustice to me and to the cause . It would be truly Laughable to compare the notes of censure in some localities with the numbers present—as laughable as the petition of the three tailors in Toolcy street did not the joke assume a most serious aspect when we reflect that the thoughtless condemna tion of men by certain bodies involves the character of the whole of the working men as far as understanding , fair play , and principle are concerned—one week I am a Patriot , in eight days I am a traitor , In the estimation of some . Will not the enemy take up that as a proof of lickless , want of reason and justice , and

      therefore a niost powerful argument against the suffrage . I hold Mr . O'Connor responsible for that , because from past experience he well knew what was likely to be the result ; at all events a bad beginning in this instance is likely to Jiave a worse ending . Nothing is dearer to man than character , nothing more sacred to a cause than principle . Upon what principle have I been condemned without a hearing by men whose cause I have faithfull y advocated for years at every risk and hazard . Is it because I differ with a man or forsake a principle , or is it because in some minds persons and princip les are inseparable . O'Connor and I may differ because men are changeable , but if I do differ with O'Connor I am not less a Chartist , nor he a greater one , on that account . I deplore at the same time that I despise irrational censum I shall now consider the charge

      preferred—Leach states that— "Dr . M'Douall told him that O'Connor snapped his fingers and said ; "there is no money for you at Manchester . " If Mr . O'Connor ever said so to any one it was most assuredly the truth ; but Leach represents that 1 reported Mr . O'Connor as having advised me to publish Leaches delinquency to the world . Mr . O'Connor on the other hand writes mc a note on his return from Sheffield , in which he says " Cleave informs mc that Lcacli says I advised him to spend your money . You may present my compliments , and to that give this answer , never was there a more dastardly lie . " At the very time Leaeh reports me as making use of the assertion against O'Connor 1 found it necessary to request from Mr . O'Connor an explanation of certain expressions used by him in Carpenters Hall which Leach reported as having been aimed against me It certainly would be rather a singular course

      for me to pursue viz that of at the same time abusing a man and demanding an explanation from him for abusing me . In proof of my declaration I give Mr . O'Connors remarks in answer to my letter " I cannot understand the gist of your notenor am I aware that any portion of it save one requires an answer I mean the communication of your informant as to the terms or some passages of my first speech at Manchester , I can only tell you to convey my respectful compliments to him , whoever he may be and from me say he is a liar" Mr . O'Connor to whom I did not mention the informants name could not know it was Leach , because he remarks in the same letter that he in a lecture given In the benefit of Leach he applauded his gratitude and remarked " those whom he had most served had been amongst his most bitter enemies " but says Mr . O'Connor " I do not think you ( myself ) have been of that class and therefore my observations had no reference to you "

      I make those extracts to show that as far as my character for openness is concerned no man can lay any charge ' of hypocrisy to my door because I fairly and justly placed before Mr . O'Connor my views therefore if Mr . O ' Connor has been aware for 4 years of the artful manner in which he has been denounced such a charge cannot rest at my door , and shall not , unchallenged . I have no secret places , nor private letters and as I shall shortly prove I never left that strait and open course which I have ever pursued towards all in the movement . The next statement of Leach is to the effect that I reported that '' 0 ' Connor had sold the Chartist cause at Lancaster to Government and that he bad received money for many yeais from ihe Government for destroying the Chartist cause "

      A pretty charge indeed to make : If true it could never be proved therefore folly if false it could not be disproved therefore mischievous . If I had entertained such opinions O'Connor as he knows well would have been the first to hear of them—In proof—When in France I had reason to believe that some one connected with the denunciation of the executive either was serving the government or wanted to do so , and I frankly said bo to Mr . O'Connor . In reply Mir . O ' Connor said " That every pang which the mention of my name in the Star had cost me , had cost him a

      thousand" but he declined he said " takingpart in the present contest unless forced into it" now says he " as to your insinuation about Hill and the Government of course you could not make so broad an assertion without authority and I can only say that if your assertion can be proved that my condemnation would not be wanting in exposing such hellish treason " Ihave therefore pursued in all cases that course which a manly and gentlemanly feeling would dictate . In the Star denunciation of the executive as well as during the trials , in regard to Mr . O'Connor ' s

      10 Teh Chartist Nod-Y Gekebam.I. Friends...

      speeches , in fact in reference to all ; and sundry representations , misrepresentations anderroneous opinions ' niav ^' s ^ generally to him alone . ¦ - , _ , . '• In two instances alone have I had sufficient reason to be distrustful and disatisfied the first was in reference to Hills denunciation , the second was during tlie Trials and now a third arises to confirm the Impression of the two previous ones—Ihave always been of opinion that Mr . O'Connor laid himself open to a charge of exciting Hill so long as he had the power , and did not use it , to check him in his career of abuse . I always was of opinion , and the Trials prove it that , a lawyers compromise was made to throw the whole

      odium of the indictment on my shoulders—Mr . O'Connor denies that he accepted the compromise , although he proves that it was offered . It is enough for me to know that others even my own counsel did act upon it , and said that it was quite usual and pro = fcssional to throw all on tho shoulders of . the absent to save the persons of those present . Not being a lawyer I have a different opinion as to its justice , because such heaping on my back of every bodys charges might have been a sentence of perpetual banishment . The case broke down and with it the matter too o compromise and no compromise . Such I presume is the source from which has sprun « - the chftrgejof high treason and being in the pay of the government If Mr . O'Connor and Leach

      can throw anymore light on the subject I shall be happy to meet them but as the affair has been made nahral I shall decline local investigation . As it has been made public I shall object to private inquiry . I shall meet Mr . O'Connor in two places cither before a council composed of openly chosen delegates from different parts of the country or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds , his two strongholds . I shall compel Mr . O'Connor to prove the truth of Loaches assertions and when he does so he will have to answer the charge he is said by Leach to have preferred against mc viz that I was in the pay of the league . I do not care which case comes first or last , O'Connor and the government , or M'Douall and tho league , both must be considered and examined or none . We

      are both I presume ready for trial and both nave it appears declined attending all chartist meetings for a time . Let the affair be then settled . It cannot fail to do mischief either way consequently those who started it will find their prudent hopes realised . Before I proceed further I may ; remark that Mr . Lonsdale who is really all Mr . O'Connor says ot hlin will be able to explain that which Mi-. O'Connor makes obscure , and give a meaning where none is to be found now . He will prove the high opinion which I expressed of Mr . O'Connor as a man and as a , gentleman as well as the reasons why I entertained a different op inion of him as a Politician . If Mr . Lonsdale declines this Mr . West and others who were present can supply his place . At the time I spoke to Mr . Lonsdale I knew him to be O'Connor ' s friend , that was not going round the bush . I also wrote to O'Connor about Mr . Moirs

      case of pressing my opposition to his views—that surely was open enough and being disatisfied still I neither wrote to spoke to nor saw Mr . O'Connorthat surely docs not look like the crawling , sneaking , shoctic licking of some of O'Connors dear friends . After these events I returned to London where in a short time I received through Mr . Cleave a note from O'Connor requesting to see him . I wish to know the purport the visit Mr . Cleave told me to go and see . I did go when O'Connor said lie had heard from Mr . Cleave of my intention to enter into some business and he then voluntarily offered his services . He wished te know how much money would be wanted at the same time saying he had no ready cash . Both Mr . Cleave and myself told him that nothing less than £ 100 could possibly answer—Mr . O'Connor thought otherwise at least he said he would put his name to a Bill for £ 50 and give an advertisement 0 months free .

      I have had reason to regret that I ever accepted either , because Mr . O'Connor very cooly says I showed you that I had given him the small sum of £ 50 . That is -writing for effect with a vengeance and I am not surprised that the effect has been produced amongst men who do not know what a bill is and who never saw one in their lives . The Bill is not yet due consequently Mr . O'Connor has not paid out of his pocket one single farthing of the £ 60 alluded to . He may say _ that he will have to pay it . If he has to do so his denunciation of me is the very way to make mc unable to do so ; but it would have , at least , been more prudent in Mr . O'Connor to have

      paid the money first and boasted of it afterwards . No man thinks anything of a bill . ' It is a mere accommodation for the day and a Tory would do for a Whig or a Chartist that which Mr . O'Connor has considered such a great favour for me , without considering that the vote or opinion of either was to be at his disposal . If such a principle was admitted in society the Jews and money lenders would monopolise the whole of the representation of the kingdom . In regard to the second demand alluded to I remember writing to Mr . O'Connor stating the outlay and informing him that as Mr . Cleave and I had anticipated the £ 50 would be insufficient . So that no answer was returned nor was one expected .

      The next money transaction has reference to Chester Castle . During the height of the agitation I had occasion to sell some property , belonging tome , in Ncwtonstewart county of Wigton Scotland and when thrown into Prison I found that some delay would ensue in the payment of the balance due . I was in some alarm concerning my home and as the People of Ashton were in my debt for the salary due to me for services in the convention I wrote to my friend and companion Atke ' n stating my position as I could . do to him without much circumlocution . I wished to avoid any tax on the People and merely desired accommodation for the time not for myself but for my family . Mr . Atken mentioned the case to O'Connor who instantly offered to get me out of the diffieulty by seeing that my family did not want . I immediately wrote to Mr . O ' Connor that I would accept of his aid on one condition viz that the loan was to be a

      private one and was not to affect in the least tho independence of my opinions he and I having frequently and materially differed in and out of the convention . Mr . O'Connor agreed to that and gave his word that all should remain private and nnknown as a simple debt How far he has kept his promise his letter can best testif y . The third instance of money matters occurs when I was in France . A committee was appointed to secure me a certain allowance during my absence . I expected a supply with the last boat of the . scason but none came and during a period of nine weeks I was thrown on my own resources . I wrote to different parties O'Connor amongst the rest . : He was the only one that forwarded me any money and that is the

      only instance , during our six years acquaintance that I ever asked Fcargus O'Connor for ono farthing of money . Everything else he did of his own accord and whatever thanks I owe him for that I owe it to him as a man , but I owe him no gratitude as a Politician nor shall any money ever secure me or bind down the freedom of my opinion . If I owed Feargus O'Connor any gratitude he has dispelled that by proving that real friendship was not the moving agent in his generosity but vain glorious notoriety . Who regards that charity which is preceded by kettledrums of sounding self-praise , and followed by a flourish on the trumpet of vanity . There is no generosity , no charity , no praise due , where the end is discovered to be popularity .

      Mr . O'Connor expects gratitude therefore he gave his money for a selfish end , for a political advantage , not for personal pleasure . The merit of his actions is then torn away and self adidation assumes the place of generosity . The person served becomes a more foil to show off the qualifications of the donor and the act is the reflector of huzza-hunting praise-seeking self esteem . Private esteem will always follow charity when buried , public contempt reward charity when boasted—Whatever Mr . O'Connors object may have been his private act g have always ended in political quarrels and he seems to have had considerable ingenuity in fixing upon tho objects of his benevolence as every one without exception has found it necessary to remind Mr . O'Connor that however much a man

      may be personally bound down by circumstances he ought to be politically free and if I am not in error one of the chief ends of the ballot was to protect the debtor from the influence of the Jewish money-lender . Mr . O'Connor boasts of bis friendship in advancing me money . He has a peculiar way of showing it because it appears on the face of his charge against me that whilst doing me the greatest service he was at the same time employing his clerk to note down my conversation . He has beside informed me that he has preserved scraps of letters and pieces of conversation , odds and ends of evidence , after , the manner of government prosecution who never give thepre-Tr » l -V or succeeu 5 n £ passage of a chartist speech . 11 Mr . O Connor brings these friendl reminiscences

      y before any committee I can only say that I have no letters save those which concern money matters and legal affairs . At least my rule is to destroy all others and if any escape , it is more by chance than intention . On the general question at issue no mans lottter or conversation can compromise me as I am fullv determined to speak my mind . What is true I shall admit . What is false I shall deny . M y Friends I have now I think ran over all the matter at issue and m concluding thc ^ subject I may remark that a long and systematic attack has been kept up against me . You remember Hills long continued abuse which receded on the originator ; you have heard of the private letter writing which I detected and exposed

      you nave beard of the Executive address which failed in ite ami ; and now you have O'Connor ' s charge based on the clear and philosophic grounds of—Feargus O'Connor writes , that Leach said that M'Douall told him—On these grounds O'Connor demands inquiry and a verdict on a case of his own creation-Suppose he acquits himself and condemns me on the evidence of a man particularly interested in doing me a mischief then the People loose one advocate through the machinations of unprinci pled men . O'Connor seems afraid of loosing the leadership and Leach takes care to touch him on , the tender point of having the movement taken out of his hands . Let me inform both Leach and O'Connor that no man has a right to say , suppose , or aim at having a national movement under indiyidua guidance , . The day for

      10 Teh Chartist Nod-Y Gekebam.I. Friends...

      kin"S ; and subjects , officers . and soldiers , Leaders and followers lias passed away from the mind at least and ] intcll ect ^ ndsroprescntfttion'oceupydihei & place ^^ he combined energies of a whole People can alone direct' our movement and if Mr . O'Connor seeks to stand alone at the helm he must first prove himself the . monarch of mind and tell us by what compass he is to guide us , and to what Port he is steering . If we may judge of the future by the past , what from desertion , mutiny , and walking the piank , the ship runs a serious risk of being leftto herself andthe helmsman . 'At all events there is no movement and therefore I am astonished at the fears of Mr . O'Connor . He may calm his apprehensions and Mr . Leach lay aside his probe as far as I am concerned because Ihave resolved to retire altogether or until there are better men and better times . By doing so I remove one cause of iealousv and prevent my name becoming a bone of .... _ .

      contention amongst the Chartist ranks . 1 stated my intention everywhere in Scotland and England therefore Mr . O'Connors letter came a day too late for the van . I have little interest in the verdict which may be g iven because whichever way the people give it , they only sentence themselves to a loss ; but let it be So . I care little about it and if a verdict against me will sooth one who has taken a violent pet I have no objections that my hair be pulled to bring liim into a better humour . My Friends , the consolation I have is that I have done my duty and if faction , cabal , private letter writing and denunciation will not permit me to continue in the service It is not my fault as I retire with regret and almost hopeless , at the same time most fervently-wishing your specdy perfect and unbounded success , in the attainment of a , cause so closely allied with the dearest and best int erests of humanity . I remain though censured and denounced the faithful friend of labour

      P . M . McDouall . Mr . O'Connor ' s letter from the Star , detailing the charges , was then read ; after which Mr . O'Connor requested the chairman to give notice that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was there , not only to meet the charges made by Dr . M'Douall , but that any person having anything to urge against him was at liberty to bring charges forward . One of the Councilmcn observed , that M'Douall ' letter objected to the authority of the Council , and the writer demanded that the case should be brought before a public meeting . Mr . Donovan said that . Dr . M'Douall might-have been present if he would ; for the Council had offered to pay the whole of his expenses to attend this investigation . He had also acknowledged the authority of their tribunal , and had himself offered , in his letter

      from Carlisle , to refer his dispute with Mr . O'Connor to it . They were met for the purpose of entering on the business which had called them together ; and they were not to be prevented from doing their duty because Mr . " M'Douall thought proper to absent himself . As to the demand for a public meeting , they had nothing whatever to do with it . Their duty was to proceed with the case ; and if , after their decision , Mr . O'Connor and Mr . M'Douall thought proper to go before a public meeting , they could do so . The Council had nothing to do with it whatever . Mi . William Smith said , if there was any person present that had any charge to make against Mr . O'Connor , now was the time . No one presenting himself ,

      Mr . O'Coxnor rose and said—Gentlemen of the Council , now is the fitting time for me to state the course that I mean to pursue . You have allowed a latitude to the prosecutor , which under no other circumstance than your desire for a full , free , aud searching investigation , would have been tolerated . Making , I presume , allowance for our different positions , you nave made a tender of his expenses to the prosecutor , while you have compelled the accused to come and go back ) whether guilty or not , at his own expense . Gentlemen , anomalous as such a course is , I do not object to it , because it cuts every ground of complaint from under the prosecutor . Before I enter on the merits of this case , I must give a public answer to many private communications which I have

      received , expressing regret that I should have thought the charges worthy of investigation ; and others , expressing fear that the inquiry may lead to disunion . Gentlemen , if I could be influenced by such representations , the effect must be a tame submission to every slanderer , and a complete surrender of every feeling . As to the constitution of the tribunal to whose jurisdiction the prosecutor now demurs , I shall say a single word . It is not an " innovation , " nor is it even a great novelty . The first brief I ever held was for John Lawless , in the case of O'Connell against Lawless , when the latter was charged with havin g betrayed the interests of the people . The second case which I adduce was that of one Watkins , who was charged with peculation and treachery by a union

      to which he belonged . O'Brien , Bell , and others were members of the tribunal that tried him ; and I was chairman . The next case is that of the late Executive , which , was referred to the Chartist delegates of the Sturge Conference in 1842 . The next is the case of the memorable Conference that assembled at Manchester in 1842 , and which was elected to inquire into all matters in dispute between the Chartist body and the then Executive . Now , gentlemen , such are the " precedents" for such an inquiry as the present ; and I shall next apply myself to the necessity of proceeding , in cases such as you have now entered into the consideration of . With persons ' in my situation it is this—either voluntary banishment from your cause , slowly but systematically produced by .

      that impression which unchecked slanders inevitably leads to , or a timely investigation to ascertain their truth or falsehood , Gentlemen , it will be for you to say whether or no the charges are of that magnitude and character to demand any inquiry ; and if so , what tribunal other than that emanating from the people , I could appeal to . I have been tried in Ireland and in England ; Ihave been tried by Whigs and Tories ; and now I am about to be tried by the Chartists : and in order to place my prosecutor in the very best position that his conduct admits of , you have had read to you his long and rambling letter , sent to the Star for insertion , but properly forwarded by the Editor to you ; and you must consider it . ^ either as the indictment preferred against me , or in that

      light hi which alone I can view it , as a rigmarole of lying hypocrisy , evasive shuffling , and cowardly slander ; not against me , but against James Leach , upon the supposition , no doubt , that the whole of the present case was to rest upon his unsupported testimony . Gentlemen , in Dr . M'Douall ' s letter , his last letter to the Council , there is a dash of importance , a swagger of the bully , which you will find itdifnV cult to reconcile with his original approval of the tribunal to whom his conduct was to be submitted . In a previous letter ifc appears that he was ready to proceed ; but when he discovers that I am ready to plead , he turns round upon himself and denies your authority , until you have first added the duties of an Executive to vour judicial functions . In short , he

      tells you that he cannot recognize your authority until you have first collected , and sent to him , a balance of money which heavers is due to him . Gentlemen , was there over a more dastardly attempt made to escape that condemnation which he was aware must sooner or later be the penalty of his lying treachery , ingratitude , and deceit ? Gentlemen , his long shut ; flng epistle was evidently written with the intention of damaging the testimony of James Leach ; and , however pure and unhurt Leach may have come out of the-recent inquiry , and however my opinion of him may be unchanged " , yet 1 frankly admit that I should not , under all the circumstances of the case , have proceeded to public notice upon the mere unsupported testimony of James Leach . But , gentlemen , it so

      happens that his evidence is now the least important . It certainly may have led in the first instance ' to a more extensive development of tho prosecutor ' s systematic villany ; but v now I am prepared to adduce testimony from various parts of England : —testimony unsought for , but all corroborative of that given by James Leach . Gentlemen , I have not come here for the mere purpose of . answering the whisperings and the libels- of a disappointed gentleman ; but I- have invited you now , in the thirteenth year of my public service , to make , proclamation for any man who has aught to urge against me : and if you can find it in England , you can find it in this room , because I understand that the excitement is as extensive as

      the publication of the slander , and that nearly every town in Lancashire is here represented by delegates with instructions to bear back your decision . Gentlemen , they must not only hear the decision , but , as you have wisely decided , they must bo cognisant of the whole proceedings , and must bo satisfied that purity and fair play prevails throughout . Now , gentlemen , suppose that I had not taken notice of the prosecutor ' s treachery , must not the result have been—first , the destruction of my character ; secondly , the destruction of the Executive—as honourable and efficient a public body as ever held office ; and lastly , the reward which faction would bestow upon the individual who had thus nerved its aim by destroying the popular opposition which is its most inveterate foe ? Gentlemen , can I be valuable to you if I am valueless in my own estimation ? And is it not notorious that my influence was being undermined ; and if the causes were not checked , would

      have been destroyed ? Let it not be supposed , then that this is a private inquiry , and one which ought to have been confined to private explanations . Gentlemen , you have already seen , by the flippant denial of every one of the proeeoutor ' s oft-repeated assertions , that the answer that I should have received to any private application would have been an indignant contradiction , while day after day his venom would have been increasing . But what strikes me , and what will doubtless strike you , as the most inconsistent portion of the prosecutor ' s conduct , is this—he conceives that a matter of private account between himself and James Leach , is of sufficient imfiortance to wan-ant newspaper publication and pubic trial , while he doesn't see what you or the public can have to do with the destruction of public character . Gentlemen , when I . appeared as a witness in Leach ' s case , I did not stray from the question , or allow my mind to be . biased by the disclosures made by Leach ; while I do con « fess the diaguat that I felt at beholding the would

      10 Teh Chartist Nod-Y Gekebam.I. Friends...

      be-gentleman pnoSKCunifo fie poor industrious j man who had actutdlg perilled his existence i Mtk 6 Y ^ ihmjwsakAMi . ftiauLm jtA what could 1 expect from a jealoui Yam-glorious man , after his bosom companion , who haaworkedfor nimby ; night and by day , and who had refused to separate his j name from a charge brought against M'Douall by ^ Mr . Hill , was made the victim of hia wants ? That was matter of sufficient importance to warrant public exposure , evena / ter the " debt" hadbecntentimes over , paid by me , and even after the prosecutor himself had told me that on his giving Leach the receipt in full , , Leach had offered him all the stock in his shop , aud j all theprope- * ty he was possessed of , to pay himself to ! . ., _ „• ., „ ....,,., •„„* .

      the last farthing . But , gentlemen , that did not save his former friend : and what had I to expect ? I shall now deal . seriatim with the several passages in the prosecutor ' s letter . With a cunning peculiar to little minds , the prosecutor would seek to make hiinself the injured party , and says that he will meet me before a- public meeting at Manchester or Leeds to make me prove that he ivas in the pay of the League . Now , was ever such petty cunning , such disgusting fabrication ? He knows , and the Council that tried the question know , that Leach ' s answer to my question , as to whether I overwrote a line or spoke a word derogatory to the character of Dr . M'Douall was , that I had told him that one of my reasons for dismissing Mr . Hill was because he asserted that he had reason to

      believe , from a statement of a Quaker living near Ashton , that M'Douall was in pay of the League during the sitting of the Conference in 1812 in Manchester ; and Leach further added that I always said that I believed M'Douall . to be one of the most useful and talented men in our ranks . Now then , what do you think of the man who would thus endeavour to turn iny gratuitous support of him into an accusatory charge ? Gentlemen , great as is the respect that I entertain for you , I entertain a still higher respect for the right of trial by jury : and I at once admit the right of appeal from your verdict , whatever it may be , to the whole people in public meeting assembled . And in order that both the prosecutor ' s rights and the ends of public justice may be maintained , I now

      proclaim my willingness to meet my accuser or accusers on , the public platform at Manchester and at Leeds , any tune they may enter into proper arrangements for me to do so . Gentlemen , in another passage the prosecutor assures you that upon all occasions of personal difference between bun and mc he had recourse to personal explanation only ; and he instances two cases—the one with reference to something that somebody told him that I had hinted about him , in one of my public lectures at Manchester and the other bearing upon my letter to Mr . Moir . Now what was the fact—that the two cases were below ridicule—rubbish , rank nonsense : the first of which I answered by telling him that I had something else to do than correspond about ' a repetition of hints that I never made , and telling him to give my compliments

      to his informant , and say from me that he was a liar . With reference to the second , Mr . Moir ' s case , he never wrote me a word about it until he had tried his hand to make it matter of dissension at Huddcrsfield , - and when the honest fellows there rebuked him , aye , and rated him soundly too on the subject , he then wrote to mc intending to anticipate the truth which I was likely to hear . The prosecutor says , that nothing is dearer to man than character . I wish he had thought of that before ; and then I shouldn't have been here to-day . But , gentlemen , what follows this piece of untimely sensibility ? Why , the most curious admission that ever came from the pen of devil himself , and one upon which he no doubt relied for protection . He asks you " to what end the investigation can tend" ? "because , " says he , " IF ALL MY ALLEGATIONS ARE

      FALSE , THEY NEVER CM BE DISPROVED" !! Now , did you ever hear of villany equal to that ? A man goes about the country attempting to destroy our cause , and then insolently tells us that he has the protection arising from the impossibility of Disruoyixo his assertions ! Why , gentlemen , HE made his assertions and charges ! and it was and is for MM . to prove them , and then it is for me to meet his proofs . But see what a situation he would place his victims in' "I charge you , " says he ; " and even if my charges arc fa lse I defy you to disprove them" !!! Gentlemen , he would charge me in this letter with exciting Mr . Hill to denounce him ; while the world knows and he himself acknowledges the fact , in a letter which I hold in my hand

      , that I quarrelled with Mr . Hill upon his account , and upon his account solely . In this letter he thanks me for my defence of him . Gentlemen , he next refers to money matters , aid most consistently deals with credit as he docs with character . It would appear that I forced one pound a week on him while he was in Chester Castle , and that he wrote mc a very valiant letter , stating that " his hi g h sense of independence would not allow him to accept it unless it was to be considered as a private loan , and was not intended to trammel lus opposition to me . Gentlemen , to this I can only say that every word is a PURE AND UNMITIOATED FABIUCATIOX . He 11 CVC 1 * Wl'OtC me a line on the subject ; and it would appear that the gift was lessened in value from the fact of

      its being cheerfully given without pressing . But it wasa"loan ; " sucha "loan" asinine havealwaysbeen : for of the thousand such that I have made , I have never received the fraction of a farthing in return : unless , indeed , I am to consider the INDEPENDENT EXERCISE of my debtors' own opinions as payment in full . Indeed , it would appear as though every man who has . partaken of my bounty-had to prove his "independence" b y the amount of abuse that he bestowed in turn . 01 course , gentlemen , the money that he wrote for from France , and got too , £ 15 , when he said he had no other friend on earth , was " a loan forced on him ; " and then the £ 60 , that it would appear I hunted him up and down begging of him to accept , was another "loan ; " and one

      to which he refers in most unfortunate and pitiable terms . In speaking of this " loan , " he says it was " ONLY A BILL , " and that Mr . O'Connor should have paid it , before he considered it a " loan , " or before he mentioned it . And then he goes on to say " NOBODY THINKS ANYTHING OF A BILL ! " ( great laughter)— "it ' s a mere thing of accommodation ; and if such an accommodation was to shackle public opinion , the Jews would-control all political power . " ( Renewed laughter . ) Gentlemen , I think a great deal of a" bill , and a great deal about the bill in question , as Dr . M'Douall very candidly admitted this day fortnight before the Council that tried Leach ' s case , that mine was . thc only good name on the bill : and that of corn-so I'd have to pav

      it . Jows are generally particular to whom they lend money ; and 1 much doubt that a customer who introduced himself as one who thought " nothing of a bill , " would receive much grace in their sight . And then , as to not mentioning it until it was paid , I never should have mentioned it at all , had it not been given to cover any damage that Dr . M'Douall might have suffered from the non-payment , or from the postponement of the payment , of t tic balance claimed from Leach , and had not the receiver of it broken faith with me and Leach . I have given thousands that people have never heard of ; and thev never would have heard of the £ 55 , the £ 15 , or the £ 50 , all " loans , " of course , but for the baseness of the wretch who received them . The . prosecutor sneaksof mv clerknotin-r

      down scraps of conversations . Wh y , gentlemen , the man who is always with me couldn ' t have clone much less when he saw my confidence so shamelessly abused ; and ' what he did say he declares his readiness to swear to . But he did not " note" down scraps of conversation . He saw the infamous attempt of the prosecutor , and he then reminded me of facts to which he was privy , and bore testimony to their truth . With regard to letters , tlie gentleman says that he keeps no letters . Singular enough that he should have . ' * kept" the only one that he thought would damage Leach . And now , gentlemen , just mark the concluding passage of this thirty-nine sheet letter . He says that he doesn't care what your verdict is ; that it can't affect him . because ho

      appeals to all the public meetings that he addressed upon his recent tour both in England and Scotland , to prove that he mformed them that he had abandoned the Chartist ranks altogether . Now then I ask you , has not this man unwittingly sealed his own condemnation ? He mattes a tour to announce his abandonment of the Chartist ranks , when Chartism had become too poor to furnish idlers with support : and , determined that the principles shall not survive his desertion , he resolves upon leaving a poison behind which he hoped no antidote would destroy . But , gentlemen , thanks to Providence and to justice , that punishment which sooner or later overtakes delinquency has come upon him before Leach was destroyed — before tlie Executive was

      destroyed—before O Connor was destroyed . If it was my business to defend the Executive in their recent attempt to rescue the cause from this man ' s malice , could I do so more effectually than he has done in this letter ? Had they not a right to be watchful , nav suspicious ; and yet although lenient in rebuke , theinalcontents would have charged them with precipitancy . Gentlemen , it has been too often the custom to expect a tame submission on my part , whilst the greatest latitude in "denunciation" is allowed to others : but I will bear it no longer . This is not the last piece of persecution to which I am to be subjected ; I am to face another battery armed with all the freshness of martyrdom : and you shall know it , and through you the people shall know it ; lest I should be expected to remain silent , until in an accumulated form it too render public inquiry necessary . Gentlemen . I have

      seen a letter , —not a copy of a letter , but the original letter , —written by Mr . Thomas Cooper of Stafford . signed with his own name , and ever y word written by his own hand , inviting Mr . Mason and others to join him on his release , \ in the final overthrow of Feargus O'Connor . This letter , and it is but one of many that have come from the same dep 6 t , breathes the most malipant spirit . It taunts Mi-. Mason with backwardness to join in the sacrifice ; and expresses an anxious desire to see Dr . M'Douall , in whom the writer has more confidence for the work than even Mason and all others beside i Two tilings this modern regenerator had resolved upon accomplishing on his release : the one might be comparatively easy , —the " final overthrow of O'Connor ; " the other is , I fear , somewhat more difficult , —his detennination "to get into Parliament and no mistake . " ( Roars of laughter . )

      10 Teh Chartist Nod-Y Gekebam.I. Friends...

      One of the Council . —Arc you acquainui T *' Cooper ' s writing , and was the letter inT Bltk hand ? . ius « m Mr . O'Connor . —Yes . ' "Every word' was h » t ,- - hand-writing . I have received so many hn ° * n moncy , beginning with . " my beloved O'Connn . ^/ 01 I am perfectly acquainted with his hand wW- at though not with his present style . GentW . % me now ask you where is the inducement f 0 P I' * - toil as I have toiled ? where the reward f at < twelve years' labour in this country ? where thT ^ pect of the only remuneration that I ask for f - 1 V < 13 " future exertions ? Is it come to this , that ' s ft fogging perambulator is to live upon niVr « n . ? until he thinks he can make larger profit of n n ? sympathy than private charity ? Is all that ft done , and all that my struggling family w ? fered for the regeneration of your order , to foal '" be forgotten , before the pigmy breath of a new if n 4 raHAnmAK ? nna ivlinoa A »/ ,,. n 4 . «„ -1 _ . . . " * ' 10 rn ivuiiuvi / iiv imusu ilUK Ono n ? tliA Conneil .. —Aiv > vi „ , " ^

      ^ ; v WKIJ U . S 111 CC hlS rpt from France has been marked by a littlcno ^ ' mind corresponding with the magnitude of m , i ° * lence ? What ! is it come to this , tfiat I andfift , T "" others were to jeopardise and peril our verv r " rather than hurt a hair of this ungrateful ' , '"' ? head ? and , as if enough had not already been dn the man the most guilty , if there was " <* uilt" at ^' —altera tour of pleasure , through wlrioltha was I ported by my purse and the contributions P f others , and through whose exertions he cscanoi punishment and might have received apphm now tells us that "he has been comp vomBcil 1 Lancaster "—that "he has been sold to the GovcmT ment : " but , gentlemen , ho fails to tell you that t , rnici- of that compromise has been com plete ' imrm nity !! Is there not something too ridiculous to ' ul mit of argument iu the notion of escape from

      sei'ilmenarges being advanced as the terms of comnromisf . s Ah ! gentlemen , it is ever thus with the ¦« « , ] V men" in your ranks ; they suck you till you arc drv and then proclaim their " grievance" if they cann ' o ! get their own price for your withered carcases' What is proof of honour and integrity ? Is it a willing to stand before public opinion , boldlv to meet ever ? charge , or is it to be found in the dissemination of falsehood , and a shrinking on the day of trial ? I 5 in having come to you a rich man , and standin » to fore you now as a poor man ? Is ifc in havin » h curred the rancorous hatred of all , save labour ' ^ sons ? Isit to be found in over-confidence and gem ; , rosity ? If so , I do merit your confidence ; but if , ™

      tiicotncr Hand , you look to the swaggering bully , fo theurnnethodiseddeckimer , who measures his polio by his wants ; who has enthusiasm for the enthusiastic declamation for the ignorant , slander for the eves ! dropper , and " sacrifices" for the generous awl eoii . tiding , then , gentlemen , I am not the man worthy of your confidence . But if character is of value , an if its value is enhanced by coining from an interested party , let mc call the prosecutor into court , nnil j lS shall speak for me even after he had received hfc documentary evidence establishing my crimmalitv , Gentlemen listen to this passage : " I shall have no nonsense this time , with drums and rags , unless tlie people are determined to kick up a row : and in thai

      case I shall not march witu a . \ t oxe of the trooi except youkself ! I want no Collins and White , I had enough of that folly . " That letter commences " my dear friend , " as it acknowledges the receipt of money . r { ow then , gentlemen , if I stood in need oi evidence to character , where could I find more conclusive ? I abstain from reading any portion of thU extensive correspondence which I hold in my himi though it would astonish you . I abstain , ' became even yet I value it as private * nor should 1 have mi that one sentence , was it not strictly in point . Gentle . men , I have now done .., I have only further to add that I have never written a line to oiic of the Council —that I do not know five men upon it : that I have

      catered for no evidence , except what chance threw in ray way ; that I thus give a practical proof of mj respect for public opinion , while my innocence em ' boldens me to _ rely on the only decision that you can give , which will be a verdict not onl y of acquittal , -. for it appcare I am charged with nothing , —but , ¦« opinion as well as to the conduct of the prosecutor . I shall simply rely on such evidence as I shall adduce in support of the charge of reckless and extensive slander , propagated by the prosecutor for malicious and evil purposes ; and as you , cannot swear the several witnesses , I shall propose as a substitute the following declaration : — "I declare , on my honour , as an honest man that I will tell the truth , the whole truth , touching this inquiry ; and that and

      I will true answers give to such questions as may be put to inc . " Mr . James Leach was called , and stated as follow : —Dr . M'Douall told me that Mr . O'Connor had sold the trial at Lancaster to Government . That he was leading the people astray ; and had been in close connection with the Treasury Benches for years , lie said that his informant was an officer of some stand * ing , belonging to the English Government , whom lie met in Paris . He further added that the Chartist movements were all known by Government , who reccived their reports from a number of men connected with tho body , at the head of whom was Fcargus O'Connor ; and that in Manchester every step ire took was known by tho authorities as soon it was

      taken ; that Mr . Abel ITeywood , or OJciJiam-s ' ctw , was one agent , and the other was Mr . Jan Wheeler , who went to the police office , and repom twice a day . He ( Mr . Leach , knew that after wlut had taken place , they of course would not think his testimony of much weight ; but they would remember that he had told Dr . M'Douall to his face , and he did not deny it . Had he done so , there were plenty in thcroom at that time who could have corroborate ! what he had said . He did not see them present on this occasion ; but if Mr . Charles Taylor was present , hecould tell them much . However , if they wanted evidence , they had but to ask for it in Toilmordcu , Halifax , Leeds , Huddersfield , Bolton , Hebden Bridge , and other places .

      By Mr . O'Connor . —Were there other persona present when these statements were made ?—That part concerning the Government officer in Paris was told to me alone in the Grove Inn , on the road to Keixal Moor ; the other part was said in company . Did M'Douall tell you that it was my wish that he should denounce you ?—He did . Did M'Douall tell you that I sent him two letters + o France denouncing you ?—He did ; and said when he left Manchester that lie would send them b y the

      first post . After his first letter in the Star I wrote for them , when , in reply , he said I did well first to " blackguard " him ancl then ask for a favour ; that he had the letters , but would not send them . I ! c aba said that when he came to Manchester , lie worn bring them with him . He , however , did not do » . Mr . O'Connor . —No , he could not , for he never had thcm . _ No such letters were ever sent ; awUhe Council will bear in mind that , when I appeared t *' - forc them befoi'O , I asked M'Douall if I had overstt him such letters , and he said I never did .

      Mr . AV . Buttcrworth called . He remembered the time Dr . M'Douall came to Manchester after coining from France ; and from statements which he made to me , I thought Mr . O'Connor was a rosea ! 1 knew Leach ' s circumstances ; I knew that he was i poor , but honest man . When I met the Doctor , 1 knew that Leaeh was not able to pav him . 1 ashed him what he intended to do in Lc ' ach ' scase ? ht said , " nothing ; he would not so much asspeakaW it , for the purpose of disappointing O'Connor . " fact , he said , that Feargus O'Connor had sent mm ( M'Douall ) to Manchester to damn Leach , and ttat O'Connor exuected that Manchester was in ablaze

      about it by that time . He didnot recollect him saymg that Mr . O'Connor was in the pay of the Government . He saw the Doctor have two letters : they were on tne table of the room in which the Doctor and him 3 Clt were sitting ; and such was the impression which tne statement of M'Douall had made on his mind , ttej he believed it to be true , and that Mr . O'Connor «» a very bad man . In answer to Mr . Donovan : He did not read the letters . Could not sav whether they were in '" j hand-writing of Mr . O'Connor . In fact , he did nM read above a line of them . The impression on W » mind , produced from what the Doctor said , was , - they came from O'Connor , denouncing Lcaoh .

      Mr . Donovan said his reason for asking thosiHi'i' " tions was that the Doctor at th e last examin \ y denied ever having received such letters from "•• O'Connor . , Mr . Gray was examined and declared that be te * never heard M'Douall state anything disparaging ' tho character of Mr . O'Connor . Mr . O'Connor said : This will be the proper ti « - tohandin the evidence of Mr . Hewitt of Lond M He out in the statement of that gentleman , which *** published withMr . O'Connor ' s letter of the 26 tn January , 1 S 45 . The following letters and documents were the " handed in , as evidence .

      NO . I . Millwood , near Todmorden , Feb . 7 , H to ' My Dear Loach , —This is the first time that I ® xl took pen in hand to write anything concerning any " ? connected with our movement ; but as the Co-uj " of Manchester are to sit on Sunday next , Miicer * the Doctor and O'Connor , I think it my duty to » " quaint them with one or two facts . If you W ^ they will be of anv service , you can lay them bejWJ the Council . The first time M'Douall Iwti'f-, * Todmorden , after he came from exile , about tlie ^ ginning of hist summer , he told mc that he had \ g > authoritv to nrove that Mr . O'Connor had ottc 1 ^

      to sacrifice him for his own liberty and the liberty his brother conspirators ; and that he would w him smart for it yet . The last time the Doctor *" at TodmOrden he told me and several others tn he had learned something by the committee ot quiry in Manchester . That Mr . O'Connor , *« j lloberts , and the Attorney-General had an » n «! rV' * j with each other when they were at Lancaster , w that the Attorney-General wanted them to let » . lay his hands on the Doctor , but O'Connor w >* , not . He then said that it so far proved that the- ** been fa compromise offered , but it did not piw something else that he ( the Doctor ) knew . » oj ^ see there is something more to come out by-a ""* *' I am , « tc ., yours in the cause , Enoch Hors ^' ( Continued in our seventh page . )

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 15, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_15021845/page/6/