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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th April 1848, Edition 3 of 4, Page 4, JUST PUBLISHED,

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    • JUST PUBLISHED,
    • THE NORTHEKN STAR, SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1848.
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      The Northern -Star.-.- _ . April 8, 1848...

      THE NORTHERN -STAR .-.- __ _. April 8 , 1848 . '

      Wednesday, April E. , (Ica. House Op Com...

      WEDNESDAY , April _e . , ( Ica . HOUSE OP COMKON 3 . _ Ooiaolsa TWAW \ bid ) Bim . The adjourned debate on this biU was samea by measure because it Mr _Kakct , who objected to thw »•« . , Bi „ TO Sn _reaUty _^ _dsubsuneea 'F wty o A and nothing else . Itproee _edeoon _hefaliw « _? _^ that all tbe landlords in W _^*^ _Jft _,. f 8 Ct that _teaanu vtetuou . . and took ¦ n ° °° _^ _^ _^ . _" _£ » _rS _rSlandlord and tenant . The principles on gation between _«« only useless but _mis-SSi " t _^ otia i _« d the peile of Irelanl to _wS _« t the amelioration of their condition could be _Sp llshed by legislation when it must ba the work of their own industryenergy , and improved morality .

      , Mr J . _O'CojnrBLU considered some sueh system as that proposed by Mr S . Crawford essential to ths safe . y snd prosperity of the people iu a very extensive portion oflreland . Whatever modification _^ _^ eUon Of tkis bill in committee be hoped that n _» oheUon would bo Offered to its « cond reading . Mr Nap had given the house a l _£ » « _g _»^ _™ _°£ lX Vicious _propensity' ° * * V _^ _Lln « I to disorder _„ _eu of Ulster wero _Ucensed to commit any outrage they pleased . ( Cries of ' Oh , oh ! ' ) _" _dentin the

      _Sin W *» _W- _»^ £ tie Statement of the hon , member for Limerick city that the Orangemen were licensed to _^^^ rage . He was not surprised at the soreness exhibited bvthe hon member towards the Orangemen , for they _SdaLays _' _iodignautly repudiated _"W ** _™* _* the Repeal party , and tbe hous _emlg i t _^ dt that there wero 100 , 000 Orangemen _**«« _£ * _*™ _£ land ready to stand forth at any moment when cai . _eu uToa In defeBce of order , and to crush the pmsonous S pring oftho agitation led by _theboa . member . lord clanEEMOH was very unwilling to vote ago nt this bul , _necause he saw reason to object to _« n » of _** _clauS . He should be 0 lad to see it sent to a _com"STJfSSt wished It te be understood that in voting against , this bill he voted against tenant right altogether . .

      .. .. Mr Fsabous _O'CoBKon , in apnljiag himself to tne merits of tho biU _. ssid there were thos . who thought tenant-right of paramount impertaHCe to a repeal ofthe union . He was not of that opinion , but he quite ap . proved of the conduct of . those who , entertaining aDy opinion whatever with respect to the people of Ireland , expressed that opinion openly . The true way to deal _rrith the people of Ireland was to be perfectly frank . With respect , in the first place , to the manner in whioh tbe present discussion baa been carried on , he _ffiUltnot only express his strong dissent from the sentiments which the house had heard from tho hon . member for Limerick , but he must also take tho liberty ef saying that the speech of the hon . and learned member for the

      University of Dublin _coatnbnted httle to assist tbe honte in arriving at a sound conclusion . That hon . and karned gentleman jumbled up tho measure of the-hon . _jnember for Rochdale with that of the Chief Secretary to the _Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland ; it was , therefore , scarcely necessary for him to do mora than call their attention to that circumstance , as of itself , it seemed to him , _gnScient to _Beatralise the entire effect of the hon . and learned gentleman ' s _gpsech . He shonld ventnre to put one or two cases which _mijht be urged in tha nature of a reply to the hon . member , if , in fact it could bs said that any formal reply were needed . He would _ssy , suppose tbat a tenant had taken land st 10 s . an aero for tsea ' y years—suppose that within that period he had so greatly improved the land , that at the end of his term it tras worth £ 110 s . an acre ; it became quite evident that hs had by his _iu-provements augmented the value ofthe landlord ' s estate to the extent of £ 400 ., aad yet the land .

      lord could , if he theught proper , oust him from the soil which he had thus greatly improved . The causes of this State of things were to be found in s very obvious historical truth , _—Aat the laws which regulated relatione between the owner aad the occapler cf ihe soil had all been made by the landlords , and they took a very different view of tho _subject from that which presented itself to the mind of a tenant . The result of their lawmaking was this , that if a tenant , by means of bis capital and his skill , obtained a profit of £ 100 a year firom a farm that had been originally worth £ 10 , the remaining £ 98 though it ought to belosg to him , conlcl never under tha old feudal system become his ; according to that , the landlord was entitled not only to tako advantage of every

      fortuitous event , but of every exertion of industry or application of capital . He _hope 4 ths house would not allow themselves to be too much carried away by the speech of the hon . and learned member for the University of Dublin ; it was a speech full of sophisms ; feat in one respect , at least , the hon . and learned gentleman could not be accused of any intention to lead the house astray ; because it could not but ba obvious that the hon , and learned member had mistaken cause for e & ci . As he understood the _hoa . and learned gentleman , he objected to the bill because tha _tenant-at-• wiil was supposed by it to have a vetted right . But the bill of the hon , member for Rechdale provHed for that , anil theio was so one interest that would ba vio - lated by his measure . "What was the great grievance

      in the south oflreland ? It was this , that there was no _Senant Right ; such a state of the law offered a bounty upon idleness , But tbe hon , and learned member for the University of Dublin thoughthimself entitled to com . pliraent the Irish landlords . Few persons would consider them entitled to any compliment . who knew the feet , that sixty-one laws for the benefit of landlords were _passedinthe reign of George III ., while only sis laws of a 3 iailar description were passed for England . Such laws were unnecessary in England ; and he was as ready as any man to bear testimony to the excellent spirit in which the English landlords administered the trust which society reposed in them . They required no law beyond the influence of public opinion to coerce them : audhenceit was that the objections to the

      present _measure did not so much corns ( rem them as it did from the Irish landlords . Then the practice of squatting formed one of tha topics of the hon . and learned member ' s spate ! : ; but for that practice , and to meet the evils to wbich it gave rise , the measure before the house made , as he conceived , ample provision ; but , ac cordisgto the hon . and learned member , there should be eo legislation at all on the subject , everything should be left to the laws of nature ; yet ia the same breath he told the house that in Dawn and Antrim they J were governed by the aucieat laws and usages in Ireland ; that tenants were prosperous and landlords not tyrannical — a pretty good proof , by the way , that the Irish ought to be allowed to govern themselves and then from his argument it waa not easy to

      discover whether he thought that the existence of _s . yeomanry in the north of Ireland produced those good results , or whether he thought that the relations there subsisting between landlord and tenant had tbe effect of producing a good yeomanry . In this instance , probably , the hon , and learned member , SB he had done in other cases , confounded cause and effect . He would not , however , further waste the time of the house by discasEicg minute points . His hon . friend , the member for Rochdale , would net Insist upon having the hill , the whole bill , and nothing but the bill , he , on the contrary , was wj _llisff to go into committee and calmly consider Qie several provisions of the bill . In disposisg of such a question as tbe preseHt , they should not forget that the Legislature had frequently interfered

      with the existing relations between landlord and tenant , especially in Ireland , In the course of the discussion which led to those measures , the enormous abuses ofthe middlemen system were frequently referred to — n « abuse could be greater : but the hard treatment which the labourer experienced atthe hands of the farmer was also an evU of the highest magnitude—for one tyrant in broadcloth , there were one thousand in frieze . The _fiuty whicii he owed to his country aud to that hease _, demanded of him that ba should deprecate any attempt to trifle with the feelings ofthe people upon this subject . If the house thought any legislation necessary , let them S 3 y so , —if not , let them say the contrary ; but , let not the Irish people be carried away by false expectations , —let them aot be told tbat there waa

      ' nstice on their side , and then be informed that the Legislature lacked tha machinery for carrying out the Bound principles which they recognised . They might talk as they pleased about difficulties with a bill of this kind , but they found no difficulty in bills for Imposing taxes ; there was not oae of the supposed difficulties about tbis bill which could not at onee be easily overcome ; undue or unfair modes of improvement might easily bo prevented , and a board might be established to declare how many years' rent might be expended in Improvements . Having commented somewhat freely _cpon the _speech of the hon . and learned member for the University of Dublin , he should not say much more ol the speeches of other members , but he could not help observing ; , that by tbe _speech of the hou . member for Limerick , he had been _shockedjdis _^ _asted , and horrified ;

      that hon . gentleman talked of the Irish members being oppressed in that house by the English ; but , to him , it appeared that the kind of members sent to that _heute from Ireland were equally oppressive . Ee would conclude with this advice to the Irish landlords . He called en them to beware , and he would tell them that the most to Is done was to be dene by themselves . It was a weakness for them to ba eternally coming to thin house to assist them . Ireland was a country that might be made a garden , if the landlords only did their iuty . But they _were'tob proud , and disdained _agricultural pursuits . _(* 2 Ja , no . ' ) Us _TViis glad to hear that denial , but he knew that in his time they did ( a _lau ; h ) , and he feared that what Sheridan said of the Irish was too true , that * they were a poor aus proud neonle . ' .

      Sir G . 6 b . ev . opposed the bill . Every _dtseuBsion on the subject showed moro snd more convincingly thi _difieulry of settling by legielatioa _thetelations between _lanuloid and tenant in Ireland . He controverted the proposition that the difficulties bad arisen from imp ' lc _T _^ _L _? _? _? v _?* ' of P ° P a- _Illation by Iris * _, landlords in the house . ito Qifflculty was inherent in

      Wednesday, April E. , (Ica. House Op Com...

      the oircumstances of the _oaie themselves . He agrei d with the hon . member ( Mr F . O'Connor ) in his last observation , although _incanlidtent with 80 m 8 of thfl other remarks whicii that hon , member made to that house , that the real remedy for these evils was to be found , not in acts of Parliament , but in the parties themselves , —not merely in tha landlords , hut in the landlords and tenants conjoined , and iu the mutual agreements whioh their united interests might lend themtomako . Iu reference to ejectments and the law of distress the legislature m ' ght regulate the exercise of the rights both of tbe landlords and of the tenants , and might prevent to a certain , extent acts of hardship and oppression ; but if it attempted bylaw to make agreements _between landlords and tenants which should apply to every case , whatever the wishes of the parties might be , tbe task would be absolutely impossible , nnd , if possible , the law would be evaded . ( Hear , hear . ) The said great deal

      bon . memfeer ( Mr P . O'Connor ) bad a about a tenant taking lani at 10 s . an acre , and improvine it so aa to make it worth 30 s . an acre , and had observed tbat the _lasdlord in such caso , without any expenditure of capital , rasped the foil benefit of the tenant's exertions and industry . But . under those clr . _cuma _-ances , the real security of the tenant was , bBfore taking the land at 10 s . an aero capable of being im proved to 30 _» . an aire , aud before expending capital on the land , to stipulate wiih his landlord far such fixity of tenure for a limited period oa wonld reimburse him . ( Hear , bear . ) No law could be passed , in justico to nil parties , whioh conld g ive such fixity of tenure as might be volun tarily agreed npon between landlord and tenant _. When the landlords of Ireland sere spoken of aB being the originators of all the evils existing there frith reference to the tenure of land , he thought it fair to state any exception — and he hoped the exception would become the rule — that might exist to such a _genenl

      assertion , and to show tbat the principle of making an agreement mutually beneficial was acted upon by somo ofthe best landlords in that country . Since he had eoms Into that houso ho bad had put into his hand aa _advertisement in reference to the Queen ' s County , relative to certain farms to let from tbe 25 th ifarch , by ( dr Price . These were tho terms of the advertisement for letting several large farms belonging to Mr _Fitrpatrick and tbe Marquis of Lanedowne , in tha Queen's County — Proposals in writing , or applications personally , be received and attended to by Mr John R , Price , _Westfield-farm , _Mouutrath , ' who will be prepared to satisfy all reasonable tenants on the undefined and vexed questions of 'tenant-right and fixity of tenure , ' by the only remedy calculated to remove the difficulty and to perpetuate a good understanding , between

      landlord and tenant that is , by providing the fixed Capital required for all permanent improvements , on certain , just , And equitable conditions , to be previously agreed upon ; and by granting a substantial les . se for twenty _, one or _thirty-ono years , ea the condition of the farm may require er suggest . —March 9 , 1848 . ' If landlords offered sueh termB , calculated to improva the relation _between them and their tenants , such a made of _proceeding would be found much better than anjtfaing _elsoi and most productive of a sound feeling amongst the parties . As to lha proposition that every tenant who fulfilled the conditions of ordinary industrial occupation was to be entitled to compensation from the

      landlord , over and above tbe profits wbich he might have realised from his outlay , it seemed quite preposterous . There were of course , ewes in which a tenant was equitably entitled to some consideration in this respect , on surrendering occupation—as , for _iBstance , where he had erected permanent farm buildings at his own cost . He should be quite read y , howevor to refer this measure to the serious consideration of any committee up . stairs to which the government measure might be submitted . fHear , hear . ) As to the statement tbat bands of armed orangemen were wandering about lha north of Ireland , it was scarcely worth his while to giro the statement a denial .

      Mr _Fasan said that the English tenant was much better off than the Irish occupier of the land , _notwithstand . ing a far greater proportion of tho population of his country depended wholly on the _cultivation of the soil . The bill of the hon . member for Rochdale was much wanted in order to restrain the cruel system of eviction that was pursued in Ireland , and he sbould give it his hearty support . __ Col . BLAcKwAtL said he should offer his decided opposition to the motion of the hon . member for Rochdale . . Mr P . _Scsope was oi opinion , speaking as an English member , that the speedy settlement of the Tennnt-Ri _^ kt question in Ireland was most essential to the tranquil _, lity of the empire . The hon . member f 0 r Rochdale had , it seemed to him , bronght forward tbe measure before the house with the best possible motives , and also in

      accordance-with the general sentiments of the agricultural classes in Ireland . The relations between landlord and tenant in that country called for the immediate and most serious attention of the legislature ; and in his opinion no permanent tranquillity could be looked for in Ireland until the tenant farmers of that country were placed ou a more equitable footing than they had at present with regard to the landlords . A large number of the agricultural population of Ireland had declared their determination not to endure any longer the frightful evils in . flicted on them by thc present defective system , aud perpetuated by the defective state of the law . All the agrarian outrages which had prevailed in Ireland for so long a period could te distinctly traced to tbe insecurity of Tenant Bight ; and it was generally admitted by al _( writers on the social condition of Ireland , that the evils observable in that kingdom were solely attributable to the defective laws which regulated the relations between landlord and tenant . If the question was not settled

      satisfactorily by _somesueh bill as the present , there would be a frightful scene of convulsion witnessed in Ireland , ivhich the landlords would bave much more reason to deplore than they would to regret the concessions tbat the measure before tke house proposed to grant . He should , for the reasons he had stated , support the second reading . Col . Rawdon regretted the course the government had taken in regard to the bHI before the house , which should have his support , subject to any modification that misht be deemed necessary in the _committae , Mf S . Ceawford reiterated his former arguments in favour of the bill , and declined to withdraw the measure upon the offer of the government to take it into consideration , in conjuBctisnwith the Tenant Right bill , brought forward by the hon . baronet the member forDrogheda . He should persist , therefore , in dividing the house upon the second reading . The house then divided . Por the second reading .. 29

      Against it 145—1-23 After the _transaction of other business , tbe house ad _journed at half-past five o ' clock .

      THURSDAY , April 6

      THE NATIONAL CONVENTION .-Mr F . O'Connor pressnted a petition from forty-nine dele gates in National Convention assembled , and _representing five millions of people , praying for the liberation of Frost , Wi liams , and Jones . __ The _Atiornkt-Gehkral apprehended that the petition could not be received , inasmuch as it stated that it came from thc * Nat'onal Convention . ' MrF . O'Connor reminded the hon . and learned gentleman that similar petitions were allowed to be received under Sir Robert Peel ' s government , and as a Convention of 49 delegates was _raco _^ nised by the law , he could not see wbatobjecticnthere could be to the reception of tbe petition . The _ATTORNEY-GrENiiRAL was decidedly of opinion that the petit on was net legally , worded , but he hoped the hon . { . eat nun would n-1 _presa its _reception till In had had time to look into the authorities upon the subject .

      MrF . O'Connor said then quest of the hon . and learned gentleman , . coming as it did from the first law officer of the Crown founded very much like a command , bnt as a matter of courtesy to the hou , and learned gentleman , he would tot pri ss it . The petition was _accordingly withdrawn .

      CHARTIST DEMONSTRATION . . — Sir J . Walsh wished to know , from the Right Hon . the Secretary ef State for the Home Department , whether he had received any information with respect to a number of persons called Chartists , to meet at Kennington Common . on Monday nest , for the ostensible purpose of forming a numerous procession to move through the streets of the metropolis , and presenting a petition to this house in favour of what was called the six points of the Charter ; and if the government had had its attention called to these circumstances , -were they prepared to take those measures which mi g ht be necessary to secure the independence of the house from being overawed by any meeting calculated ta intimidate them , and likewise to aid in the protection of the peaceable and loyal people of London .

      Sir G . Grey said : I now hold in my hand a notice , which I believe was published yesterday , signed by three individuals , one of _vrliom declares himself the secretary , I presume , of the Chartist Association , in which he states that a Convention , consisting of forty-nine delegates , will assemble in a particular place , upon a given day , and some following days , for the purpose of superintending the presentation of a petition to Parliament , and to advise the adoption of such other course as they may think fit for the purpose of securing the ' enactment of the People ' s Charter . A great metropolitan demonstration will accompany the petition , persons are invited to attend at _Kesnington-common , where

      the route of the procession would be prescribed . The attention of the government having been called to this notice , and other information having reached me respecting the intended proceedings upon Monday nest , the government have directed a nntice to be issued , which they hope will he published in the course of half an hour , pointing out that , by the Statutes of the Common Law of these realms , such procession is illegal , and warning all loyal and peaceful subjects of her Majesty to abstain from taking any part in the proceeding *! , and to give their best aid in maintaining order and preventing any breach of the peace that may ensue . ( Loud cheers . )

      Mr F . O'Connor said , that the course pursued by the government would be taking the people utterly by surprise . There were several precedents in favour of these processions . In the year 1831 a procession of 100 , 000 or 150 , 000 persons marched down to this bouse , and presented a petition' in favour of the Reform Bill . In 1834 a procession of 100 , 000 also marched down to this house while it was sitting ; and presented a petition : " i . favou » of the liberation of the Dorchester labou er large demonstration

      Wednesday, April E. , (Ica. House Op Com...

      of sailors also walked past this house a short time since . Those persons who have put their names t <» he document referred to by the ri ght honourable baronet , have this day passed resolutions tbat every man who joined the procession should be a special constable himself , and they pledge themselves not only to preserve the peace , but to take any man into custody who might attempt to violate the rights of property . It was not the intention of the people to come down to the door of the bouse , they were to have gone over Westminster-bridge . He had never in his life attempted to palm a falsehood upon that house ,

      and bad he thought that the parties had any sinister motive or view , or any ulterior design , he would not for a moment have lent his sanction to the proceeding , or joined in that procession . He believed that it was a constitutional ri ght of the people to assemble in that manner / and he trusted that thc government would not further interfere upon the occasion than to preserve peace . He hoped that the people would be allowed to come down in procession as was intended to the house . He should consider himself unworthy a seat in that house if he lent himself to any demonstrations calculated to incite the people to the slightest infraction of the peace .

      Sir G . Gkey : With respect to the people being taken by surprise , I can only say , that at the earliest moment at which the government could deliberate after they received the information , they directed the notice to which I have before referred to be issued , and it may no doubt be in the possession of the hon . member for Nottingham this evening . ( Cheers . ) That notice will state what , in the opinion of the law advisers , the law of the land i 3 upon the subject , and , without reference to precedents , I am sure , after having avowed the opinions he bas , with resped to the good conduct of the people , he will , I am sure , be the last man to encourage any body of men summoned to join an assembly to violate the law .

      Mr Hume said , that on a former occasion it bad been asked if a peaceable procession was illegal , and Lord Melbourne's government stated that it waa Rot , and they refused to interfere , He ( Mr _# urae ) thought that it would be dangerous for the government to interfere at the present time , and he hoped that they would be induced to withdraw this notice . ( Cries of'No , no . ' )

      PROTECTION OF THE CROWN AND GOVERNMENT . SirG . Grey—I beg , Sir , to give notice , that I shall , _to-morrew , move , before the other Orders of the day , for leave to bring in a Bill to provide for the better security of the Crown and Government of the United Kingdom . ( Loud and long-continued cheering . )

      Government Proclamation. Tho Following I...

      GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION . Tho following is the Proclamation alluded to above : — NOTICE !! « Whereas the _asremblage of large numbers of peo ple , accompanied with _eircumatanees tending to excite terror and alarm in the minds other Majesty's subjects , is criminal and unlawful ; ' And whereas not only those persons who take an active part in sueh assemblage , but those also who by their presence wilfully countenance it , are acting contrary to law , and are liable to punishment ; and whereas an Act of Parliament , passed in the

      13 th year of the reign of his late Majesty Kiiig Charles IL , intituled' An act against tumult and disorders , upon pretence of preparing or presenting public petitions or other addresses to his Majesty in tbe Parliament , ' it was enacted , ' that no person or persons . whatsoever , shall repair to his Majesty or both or either of the Houses of Parliament , * upon pretence of presenting or delivering any petition , complaint , remonstrance , or declaration , or other addresses , accompanied with excessive numbers of people , nor at any one time with above the number of ten persons ;

      * And whereas a meeting has been called to assemble on Monday next , the 10 th inst , at Kennintjton Common , and it is announced in the printed notices calling such meeting , that it is intended by certain persons to repair thence in procession to the House of Commons , accompanied with excessive numbers of people , upon pretence of presenting a petition to the Commons House of Parliament ; and whereas information has been received that persons have heen advised to procure arms and weapons , with the purpose of carrying the same in such procession ; and whereas such proposed procession is calculated to excite terror and alarm in the minds of her Majesty ' s subjects ; ' All persons are hereby cautioned and strictly enjoined not to attend , or take part in , or be nresent at , any such assemblage or procession .

      ' And all well-disposed persons are hereby called upon , and reqnired to aid in enforcing the provisions of the law , and effectually to protect the public peace , and suppress any attempt at the disturbance thereof . ( Signed ) 'C . Rowan , ' R . Mavkb _, « Commissioners ofthe Police of the Metropolis 'Metro _politEii Police _fffice , iteliall-place , April 6 , 1848 . ' HOUSE OP COMMONS . —FRIDAY , APBit 7 .

      THE NATIONAL PETITION . Mr H . UncimoMD -. Set ing the honourable merahor for Nottingham in bis place , I beg to nBkhim what , is the course meant to be pursued with regard to tho presentation of the petition on Monday next , of which ho had given notice . I have seen in the public papers that it has been a question agitated at a meeting at which that honourable gentleman was present— What should be done in case of this houso refusing to _reotivo the petition then presented ? I have road the petition myself ,, nad 1 believe there is not one human being ia this house that would say ' Nu' to tbo _reccplion of it . ' ( Hear . ) There is no doubt tbat the petition wiil bo received aa a matter of course ; and —( Cries ol order . )

      Mr F . O'Connob ; In reply to the honourable . _gentleman , I beg to aay that on Monday week last I gave notice tbat J would move a resolution , founded upon tho principles in this petition , as an amendment upon tha order of tho day for going into committee of supply ou Monday nest . I now find thero is no supply for that night ; therefore , _unlesB the noble lord at tho head of the government will bo kind enough to allow me to bring tt forward the first question on _ifondoy , I caunot give the _honsuroblo gentleman any answer as to the time when I shall he able to do 80 . Tbe noble lord is aware that the petition Ib one of great _impartanco to some _milHoaaoi the people ; and I ask tbia from him as a privilege , upon the undertaking tbat I at least shall not detain the house long upon it . If the honourable member bad not put the question to me , I should myself bare ashed tho noblo lord fcr _psrmisslon to _bricg the measure forward—a

      measure upon . which , as a matter of course , tbere is great excitement both in and out of this house . If the noble lord does not grant the indulgence I ask for , then I must look fer another open night ; but on Monday I shall present the poticion . ( Hear , hear . ) Lord J . Russell i I should ba very unwilling , sir , that a petition so numerously signed , ae tho honourable gentleman has declared the petition be has to _prsaent will ba , should not be received , and meet with every consideration from the house . I do not , however , think that government sbould give up Mosday to the consideration of the petition . But considering the importance of a petition presented by suoh numbers of the peopio , and that a petition ao signed ought to havo early _considerat . on , I shall be ready , having at tho same _regard'topublie convenience , to consent tbat the hoa . gentleman sball bring on bis motion ou Friday next . [ Loud _ChflfH . ]

      Mr F . O'Connob— . 1 nm moat thankful to the noble lord . [ Hear ] TBE GREAT DEMONSTRATION IN PATOFR OF

      THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER . Mr Bbioht—I wish to put a question to tho government with regard to the notice that has been published , touching the meeting- proposed to bs held on Monday , I wish to know whether It is intended to refer to both tho meeting and the procession , or only to the procession . If tho people may meet quietly it , is ono thing ; if they are permitted , er not permitted , to come through the streets in immense numbers , it is a very different thing . I think , then , there should be no misunderstanding , for if there be , there mightprobably be risk of _colllson and disturbance , which every member of tbis bouse would be _nniinna tn nvotd .

      Sir Q . _Gbei Sir , the honourable gentleman , asks me if I understood him rightly , whother the meeting as convened to assemble on Kenningtpn- . Oommon , separate from , nnd independent of , the proposed procession , would be illegal ? That would depend entirel y upon the oircumstances under whioh tho meetlBg was held . ( Hoar . ) 'If auy meeting should be held , for whatever purpose , if it be accompanied with circumstances such as I have before allnded to—circumstances calcn . lated to Inspire terror and alarm—just terror and alarm

      —in the minds of her Majesty ' s loyal ana peaceable budjeetg , then , I apprehend , it would be _ngninit th _» common law . ( Hear . ) But If the meeting is held , or is convened to be held , for the express purpose of _feaming out of it a procession for the purpose of proceeding , contrary 10 lho Statute _lR-ff ) to either house of Parliament , to ac company thc presentation ofa petition in excesaive num . bers then I also apprehend that a meeting identified with 'he _prooosBion would com © within the provisions oftho law , ( Henr _. hear , )

      ... Lord It . Grosvehob put a question to the ri ght hon , baronet respecting tho meeting , not one word of which was audible in the gallery . Sir G . Gbey : All I know of the Intended mooting on Ke 2 Dington-cominon l _» stated in thb notices published throughout England , thnt such a meeting was convened . I take my knonledge from tbe published announcements

      Government Proclamation. Tho Following I...

      ofthe Chartists Association , signed by _threegeniltmen , ono of whom colls himself « secretary , ' which have not been disavowed by tho hon , gentleman _opposlto ( Mr F , O'Connor ) , who is considered one of the leaders of that association . In those announcements it is stated that tbe object of tho meeting is to marshal tho _psople for assembling In large _numbors—to the number of 300 , 000 It has beeu stated—and that physical force may accoai pany the petition to the door of the House of Commons . Mr F . O'Ookmob : I wish to ask the rigbt hon , gentleman if he haa received a deputation to-day from parties who have issued a notice en the subject of th * meeting .

      Sir G , G _»»* * . I was very muoh engaged with public business tbis day when I received an intimation that three gentlemen , who stated themselves to be a dopntatlon from ' _theNatlonalConvention , ' _werent theHome-effioa . They saw the Under Secretary of State , in the presence of the Attorney-General snd Mr Hall , I was not present , I will read to the bouse the letter which they addressed to me , ( Sir Gtorgo here read tbe letter . ) Sir B , _Inolis : I wish to ask the Secretary of State for tbo Eome Depar'mcnt whether , _through his under secretary , ho has acknowledged a _ffat ' oua' Convention sitting in London . ( Ob , ob , and hear , hear . ) Sir G , Gn & t . ' I have no hesitation in answering _&? _honourable friend . Tbe three gentlemen who went to tho Home Office were not received or recognised as delegates from the National Convention . I bavo received a note from tho rJnder-Seoretary , informing me tbat he distinctly stated to tbem bo conld not receive them in tbe capaolty of delegates from the NationalConrention . ( Hear . )

      Mr _Wakiey _: I wish to ask a question . The meeting on Kennington Common has been publicl y adver-Used during tho last month . I want to know , If it were known by the government that such a meeting and such a _proaession were Illegal , why tho people had not information on the subject before this Iato period ? Sir G . Gbev . - . Because I hud not the information whioh the right hen . gentleman , better informed than he Seoretary of State possessed . ( Cheers , and _laugher . ) It waa my duty to know , and from Information which it waa my duty to obtain I did ascertain , that at meetings

      held in certain parts of the metropolis speeches were made to small _nambets of men In which such an intention ' was announced , In whioh it was aaid that upon the 10 th oraith there would be a great demonstration to attend the presentation of the people ' s petition to tbe Ilouse of Commons , But the first public advertisement I have seen of any such intention is that which now _iies before me , which I received the day before yesterday _. The Cabinet deliberated upon it , and after their deliberation the notioe was published , the nature of which 1 havo stated , ( Loud cheers . )

      Hr w 4 K « t . —The ; right honourable baronot , in the first part of hia reply to my question , intimated that I had better knowledge upon this subject then he possessed . I can _stato _positively that I have attended no meetings whatever In relation to the petition which is to be presented to this house on Monday . I have not attended any public assembly regarding it , and I have had no direot commuication with the persona calling tbemselveB the National Convontion in relation to it . I _derive my information from a public newspaper , tbe property of an honourable member ol thia house . I gut it from no other _sourco whatever . I _eonsldtr that ehe people aro unjustly treated by being lured into the supposition that tbey can safely assemble in large numbers , and can attend a _procession to tbiB bouse In large numbers alto , during so loBg a period as haB transpired since the announcement was made in tho pubfie journals .

      Ur _Feabqus O'Connob : I beg leave to state that I have not atteuded any public meeting in London in connexion with tho getting up of the demonstration ; though I have attended , as a delegate , the Convention which ia now _Bitting . Thohon . gentleman has given me credit for having some influence with those parties . I have had that much inflaenco to show them they should not come down to the House of Commons to present the petition , but go Over Westminster-bridge , whereas the Inst time they _marchod in procession ths petition was brought o the door , and I myself laid upon the floor ef the hous \ The conclusion , then , which I come to is , that the _people have the same right now , when a Liberal governmtnt is in office , to avail themselves efa _privillej-e which wss never denied to them by former administrations . I declare solemnly , If it had been known before the _meeth g

      was announeed that It was the intention of government to suppress it , the _peoplts would not have held it ; but when millions aro petitioning for their rights , when w © have been told tbat taxation without representation is tyranny , and sbould be resisted , by gmtlemen now on the Treasury bench , It Is hard that tke government should punish them for obeying their own instructions . . I have always said , _andX say again , thnt I never shrink from any responsibility that may be ImpcB A on ma , and therefore I sbould be Borry to bo a party to getting up a procession and then shrink from the consequences . It is my intention to attend _thomeeting . ( Hear , hear . ) It is my intention to como down to the House ot Commrns with the procession , but tho procession will pass over _WestminBter-bridge ; and it will be my duty to use all my powers , as I have hitherto done , to prevent tbe slightestinfroctlon of the pence . ( Cheers . )

      Sir James Qbauah : I desire , te say one or two words or two words en this occasion . The honourable gentlewho has just sat down bas said , and tanly said , there aro precedents In favour of the course which he Is about to tako . I understood bim , however , to say , that in 1813 , when I had the honour of _filling tbe situation of Home Secretary , that thc honourable member for Fiosbury . _v-ho , at that tloio , I think , presented a petition moat _nmrnerously signed on the part os the _Chassis , presented it ia a mvhner identical with the p ' an proposed to be adopted on Monday next . Alderman _THowrsai * * . Sir , I rose for the purpose of expressing tha astonishment with which I hoard the honourable member for Nottingham declare that he had not attended meetings for the purpose of promoting this _assamblnge of the peopio , and that he had no idea of any dispasitiou to break thopecce , Mr P , O'Connob : No publio meetings .

      Alderman Thompson : Does the honourable member remember the meeting on Monday night , at tho coffeehouse iu Cripplegate ? [ loud cries of' hear , hear , ' in the midst of which ] Mr F . O'Connob hastily rose and said : Sir , I went from this house to a tea party of some dozen or so , that was all _. Alderman Thompson : I am aware that it _nas not a '' public maetiag- " I have hero in my _hasd a report of his speech [ loud cries of ' read , read , ' ) communicated through a person of the utmost respectability , and on whom I can place perfect reliance , and let the house mark the contrast between tho honourable member ' s speeches in this house and out of it Sir , it was not a meeting of the Irish confederated delegates ; and the honourable member said 'tbey must put down royalty , and all titles aa in France . Remember the 10 th of April , It would be a glorious day , ' Such was the speech of an honourable member ,

      Mr F , _O'Cokkob—I repeat , en my honour , I declare before God , that I never mentioned titles on tbe occasion ; and to the beat of my belief , never mentioned France , It is notorious tbat I have always been against _republicanism , I challenge the alderman to prove tbis speech , which has been trumped up . He had deeounced mote than any other man in tho kingdom the American form of republicanism . Mr Huns said that it was of the utmost importance for the house not to allow its attention to be diverted iowards what took place at _meetings held out of doors , for they wero _. all aware bow liable such proceeding's wero to misrepresentations _. Members ought to be more Guarded in receiving nnd re . peating such statements , Tbr government ought iu

      particular to be very _roserveu in anting upou any _iniormation save that wbich they proceed upon affidavit . Sir D L Evaks had never yet been found on the side of those who would restrict public meeting * of the people , but he was pound to say on the part of his constituents , the inhabitants of Westminster , that there wera _cu-cumstances which rendered the contemplated procession of Monday a peculiar cage . He could asssre the house that not only had there been great alarm created at those comparatively small meetings , but also that numbers of bis constituents bad suffered materially in their business . He concurred with the hon . member for Cockermouth that tbe hour was come when every honest _man—icheers ) —was bound to declare what side he was prepared to \ ri \ ie , In that spirit be was prepared to state that he gave his willing assent to the measures adopted- by the

      government . Mr J . _O'Conneh hoped his countrymen , particularly such of them as might be _contemplating the taking part in the Kennington-common meeting , would not be led away by the hoa . member for Nottingham . He ( Mr O ' Connell ) hoped they would take the warning given by their best _fi-iends in Ireland , and have nothing whatever to do with the meeting . Lord J . _BUBSELl said : The hon , member for Nottingham had told the house that ho did not intend that this procession should come to the House of Commons ; but we find it stated in a printed notice , signed by three porsons , who , I suppose , belong to the party iu favour of this petition— ' Wo propose ' that a metropolitan demonstration shall accompany the people ' s prayer to the door of tLe House of Commons . '

      ( Hear , hear . ) I quite admit that there are occasions wben it is unnecessary ior the government to Interfere , and enforce the Blrict letter of tho law ; these are times of singular peace and quietness . But a contrary _coui-Be must be taken ia times of great disquiet and alarm , and I put it to the houso whether the present time is not such ? ( Hear , bear . ) The hon . gentlemen ( Mr O'Connor ) must know tbat recent events have raised guilty designs and guilty hopes ; and in proportion to these , have been alarm and terror experienced by tho peaceable and loyal subjects of Her Majesty . The hon . gentleman tells us himself that he is reproached and roprobated , and for what ? ( Hear , hear . ) Is it for any disloyal conduct ? Is it for any behaviour worthy of a man or a member of parliament ! Is it for expressing his attachment to the monarchy ? ( Hear , hear . ) No , said the hon . member the political society with which he oonsorts reprobates him because he is in favour of a monarchy and against a republic . ( Laughter . ) The government havo thoucht luanueiawis

      against tne intended procsssion , and feel ittMvAutS J O Warn all the loyal and peaceable subjects of her Majesty against It . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , sir , has there not been suffic ient warning given ? There nre three days before that announcement for _holding the meeting , during which interval the _hM , _WHttaulaB , Mlfi every one else , c « n reconsider their _decisien . ( Hear , hear . ) They may have thought that the proces ! sion would not be illegal ; , tbey may have thought that it would not be a transgressiod of the letter of _tmvlaw , and that custom and precedent . would havo authorised them in expecting tbat such anvocession would have been permitted . They now know thatthe governmeat has declared the meeting illegal ; thoy ara now aware that the notice of such a meeting has produced terror-. and alarm among her Majesty ' s subjects ; and iait not , then , the duty ofthe hon . gentlemen to join iu such a procession , but to tell them , a * . d he may tell them , witb truth , that thou- petition will be received with respect ,

      Government Proclamation. Tho Following I...

      and that a fair opportunity will be afforded for . the calm discussion of the people ' s Charter . Let him advise them to proceed properly and constitutionally in their effortfi to nave the prayer of their petition conceded , and not by illegal means endeavour to terrify and overawe the deliberations of Parliament . ( Cheers . ) sir U . Psel _gaid _, ne recollected no act of tbe government 011813 which ought to fetter tbe discretion of her Majest y ministers . He knew it had heen said that there were occasions in former years when processions of the people were allowed to approach the House of Commons _, nut that was onl y by indul gence ot tbe executive government , fhe present was the time when the government might properly express its intentions ; and , he must say that considering the circumstances ofthe times , as well foreign as domestic , and taking also into regard th * 5 state of the public mind at present , if lOO _. _ouo people were to be permitted to parade the streets , it waa impossible to foresee the consequences , and , in his opinion , the government had acted ri ghtly in taking the course they had done .

      Tbbason-a nd SEomofr Bill . —Bir 6 . Grey then moved for _leavo _toii-ine ; in a bill forthe better security J ? _tf > e crown and government , to apply equally to the United Kingdom , the principal feature ofthe measure being the substitution of the punishment of the transportation for that of death incases enumerated in the existing acts , but not comprehending the crime of compassing or _designiug tfee de ath or imprisonment ofthe sovereign , and the imposition of the penalties imposed by the bill to aHfiucft . persona as should , by open advised speaking , compass , imagine , or promote tho said treasonable designs . After some debate , in which the latter proposition was condemned ns a gaggling clause , and calculated to interfere with the discussion of political subjects , the house divided , when the motion for leave to Bring in the bill was carried by a majority of 259 , the numbers being 289 to 24 . [ We shall give nn account of this bill , and tho debate upon it next week . ] -The Landlord and Tenant ( Ireland ) Bill was read a second time after some discussion , and referred to a _selectcommittee . The Mutiny and Marine Mutiny Bills were reported , and tbe house adjourned .

      Just Published,

      JUST PUBLISHED ,

      Ad00411

      rules _BixrsNcii NO . XVI . OF " THE LABOURER , " CONTEKTS , 1 . The Marseillaise and Mourir pour la Patrie , translated by Ernest _Joneo . 2 . Insurrections of the Working Classes . —Tho _Hus-3 . The Poor Man ' s Legal Manual . —The law of Riot . i . Ths Boy ' s Song . 5 . The Pirate ' s Prixe . ( Concluded . ) 6 . The _Parting Guest . 7 . Tho Romance of a People . 8 . Our Charter . 9 . The Mealmonpers—An . Irish Sketch . 10 . The < Jerman Youth . Letters _ipro-paldl to be _addressei to the Editors , 16 , Great Windmill Street , Haymarket , London . Orders received by . ill agents for the "Northern Star " aud all _bookseUers in town and country .

      Ad00412

      TO REFORMERS ! _Joat Fub ; 87 ; ed _, Priee Twopence , OUR INHERITANCE : LAND , COMMON PROPERTY !! London : J . _Wjison , 3 , Queen ' s Head-passage , _Paternoater . rew _, ' and ( by order ) of all Booksellers .

      Ad00413

      JUST PUBLISHED REVOLUTION IN PARIS . A narrative of the recent _Revolution in Franee , containing a full account of ts Causes , Incidents , and Effects , together with the Abdt . cation of Louis _Philippe , the fall of Guizot , and the triumph of the Popular Cause . —By a Barrister .- Prico Sixpence . IS ' ohthibn Stab Office , 16 , Great Windmillstreet , London ; Watson , Paternoster-row ; Cleave , Slioelane ; Berger , Holyweii-street ; Manchester , Abel , Heywood ; and all booksellers in _Toivn and Country , to whom aU orders should be immediately seufc .

      Ad00414

      THE LAND . A FOUR ACREE ALLOTTEE wishes to DISPOSE of HIS ALLOTMENT , at Snig ' s End , having other engagements to attend to _. All particulars maybe had by applying to Nicholas _Canning , 8 , Stuart-street , Wigan . —All Letters to be pre-paid .

      Ad00415

      O'CONNORVILLE . W KEEN hags to inform the Chartists , and Public genet-ally , thnt he has a license to convoy passengers to and from the Railway Stations , at any time , by giving due notice , at moderate prices . Persons can avail themselves of this opportunity hy applying to 31 , O'Connorville , near Rickmansworth , Hertfordshire . N . B All kinds of Work done hy Spring Van , or Carts .

      Ad00416

      IP so , send One Shilling and a Stamp to J . _WIL-^^^^ _K _^^ _ra _^ tig , 4 , Bell ' s Buildings , _fflteflSr _^^ _w _*\ i Salisbury Square , London , / _pSSsJ / _iSSsSSl _ybJwm an < receive by return ( with-/| S « / _ifSlwV u 5 « ll fail ) _RRANDE'S ENmm _kP _^ WI lliyi AMBL for _fillinS the decayed HSI ™ jr / fJiv Wl iBz _*§ s P ' _^ instant and per-V _^^ _v . ' (/ ff \ Wl / J _^ fi manent cure . Charged by ' _^^^) I ' lA _^ _S !// Den tists 2 s . 6 d . Enough for _N & s _^ _ias _^ - _^ _gfiSI _^ three Teeth . One Thousand _^^ _MF _^^^ Boxes posted weekly . Agents _^¦§ g *| y | _lg ! 2 _^ wanted .

      Ad00417

      TO TAILORS . By approbation of Her Majesty Queen Victoria , and H , R . H . Prince Albert . NOW READY , THE LONDON AND PARIS SPRING AND SUMMER FASHIONS for 1818 , bv Messrs BENJAMIN READ and Co ., 12 , _Kart-street , Bloomsbury-square , _nearOxfordstreet , London ; and by Q . Beeher , Holywell-street , Strand ; and all Booksellers , an exquisitely esecated and superbly coloured PRINT . The elegance ef thia Print excels any _beforepublislied _, accompanied with the _Nswest Style , and extra-fitting Frock , Riding Dress , and Hunting-Coat Patterns ; the most fashionable dress Waistcoat Pattern , and an extra-fitting Habit Pattern of «• he newest and most elegant styre of fashion . Every particular part explained ; method of increasing and diminishing the whole for any size fully illustrated , manner of Cutting and Making up , and all other information respecting Styl e and Fashion . Prico 10 s . post free lis . READ and Co . ' a new scientific system of Cutting for 1818 is ready , and will supersede everything ofthe kind heretofore conceived . All the Plates are numbered and lettered , and on the scale of Eighteen Inches ; Whole size , never before attempted , containing twenty-three square feet : particulars , post free . Patent Measures , with full explanation , 8 s , the set . New Patent Indicator , for ascertaining proportion and disproportion , illustrated with Diagrams , price 7 a . Patterns to _Measurs ( aU registered according to Act of Parliament ) , post free , Is , each , The whole sold by Read and Co ., 12 , Hart-street , Bloomsbury-square , London ; and aU Booksellers . Post-office orders , and Post Stamps , taken as Cash . Habits performed for tho Trade . Busts for fitting Coats on ; Boys ' figures . Foremen provided . — Instructions in cutting complete , for all kinds of Stylo and Fashion , which can be accomplished in an incredibly short time .

      Ad00418

      ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND . _Pme-Lists and Printed Forms of Certificate for the en . try of Live Stock aud Agricultural Implements , for exhibition , at the Couutry Meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of England , to be held at the City of York , in tho week commencing Monday , the loth of July next , may ba obtained , on application , either personally or by letter , oftho Secretary of the Society , 12 , Hanover-square , London : —with whom all entries for Implements must be made on or before tho 1 st of May , and all entries for Stock on or before the first of June .

      Ad00419

      NO 17 PUBLISHING . THE POLITICAL WORKS Oi' THOMAS PAINE Complete m one Vhiek _. YoVunie , price 5 s ., in which will be found several pieces ne _» er before published in England ; and an appendix , containing tho 2 Vio 5 or * Thomas Paine , with n portrait of the author _. Just Published , iu Penny numbers and Fourpemw parts . VOLTAIRE'S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY-. May bo had , complete , in two volumes , handsomel y bound , 12 s . The Urst _rolume has a medallion likeness of the author , and the second , a full length portrait , as he appeared in his 70 th year . To the first volume is prefixed a copious Memoir of his Life and Writings . Every care has been taken to keep tbo text correct , so that it may remain a lasting' monument of the genius and indomitable perseverance of the author in enlightening and liberating his fellow creatures . The two volumes contain 1 , 276 pages , clearly printed , crown 8 vo . VOLTAIRE'S ROMANCE AND TALES , in one vol , price Ss . Cd . THE DEVIL'S PULPIT . By the Rev . Robert Tatlok . two vols , price 5 s ., published at 9 s . THE DIAGESIS . By the same author , price 5 s ., published at One Guinea . THE MANUAL OF FREEMASONRY . . _*? y _CarlUe , published at 15 s . and now reduced to 6 s . This is the only edition that contains the celebrated Introductions , being a complete Key to tho science and mystery of Masonry . Three parts in one volume , handsomely bound . THE MIRROR OF ROMANCE , one thick vol ., 400 pages , 4 to ,, double _columna _, price 58 „ containing the fol . _lowing ;—Leone Leoni , by George Sand—Physiology of Matrimony , fifty cuts , by Paul de Kock—White Ilouse , a Romance , and the History of Jenny , by the same author—Simon , the Radical , a Tale ofthe French _Rerolutlon-Memoirs of an Old Man of Twenty . five , an amusing tale , drc . W . Dugdale , 19 , Holywell-street . Strand .

      Ad00420

      NATIONAL LAND AND CHARTER HANDKERCHIEFS . Price 4 s . each , and may be sont by post for 4 s . 4 d . THE above iB a Rich Satin _russols , for a man ' s neck , _thirty-fivo inches square , with tricoloured border and plain green middle , entirely composed of tha best China silk , soft shuts and warp . Also the LADIES' HANDKERCHIEF , eighteen inches square , price 2 s . 0 ( 1 ., by post 2 b . 18 d \ , beautifully ligweu ' _wifo the Rose , Thistle , and Shamrock , forthe border , interspersed with groups of barleycorns in the middle , with the Charter and Land shield at e « ch corner , tlio whole surrounded by a fringe of one and a half inches ; this handkerchief is composed of fine Italian silk . The advertiser is a nine years' Chartist , arid a Land member from tho commencement , who respectfully solicits the support of his brothers and sisters in tho cause . . N . B To prevent an inferior or spurious article being offered to our body , they can bo had only on application at tbe Office of the National Laud Company , _ih , High Holborn , Loudon ,

      To The Imperial Chartistsfbienps And Bro...

      TO THE IMPERIAL _CHARTISTSFbienps and brothers—The time haa at _ierigth arrived , when those who hold your confidence must appeal to your wisdom ; when those who have struggledfrom the infant ' s birth to the giant ' s maturity , will have to rest their claims and confidence , not upon one solitary act , but upon their everyact . Perhaps there never was a time in the

      history of this , or of any other country , when the fate of millions , living and yet unborn , so entirely depended upon the prudence , the wisdom , and the courage of those whon # he people have selected to conduct the mind ' s volition to a successful issue ; fand while many will tell you that they are tired of agitation , and now demand the looked-for change , ask those men where they were when we braved the tyrant force of persecution , and were solaced with a dungeon as our reward ? of

      The mighty mind of England—ay , and Ireland too—is looking to us all , and especiall y to me , for the promised fruits of our long and incessant labour ; and , as far as I am concerned , I am resolved , that , whether my days in this world be long or short , not to abate my ardour —not to diminish my demands _^—or to peril the cause which is nearest to my heart—by throw _, ing away a single opportunity which may lead to its accomplishment . If I had trafficked in your confidence , and made merchandise of your credulity , I might , perhaps , be induced to cry WAIT ! WAIT !! WAIT ! I !

      But your poverty — your destitution and misery—and my own 3 feeling and sense of humanity—the love of truth and justice—would not allow my lips to utter the delusive words ; and , therefore , it is that I tell you , that in my soul I believe the propitious hour has arrived , when our long suffering and martyrdom may be crowned with the laurels of victory . . On Saturday morning you will receive , this letter , and still continue to send up your twigs to increase the bundle representing the National Will , and let him who refuses to sign be looked upon as a traitor to freedom ' s cause . Old Guards , spur the recruits to the proper performance of their duties , and tell those whose names are not to be found in the

      national muster-roll , that they are not deserving of their freedom . With the many , the arduous , and anxious duties , now imposed upon me , and the varied occupations that you have assigned to me , together with the crowded state of our columns , and after my fifteen years' incessant preaching * , you will not require a longer letter from me this week ; and , in conclusion , I have only to add , that if the peace is broken on Monday , the Government , and not the people , will be the aggressors , as the Convention has passed a unanimous resolution to respect property , and observe perfect PEACE , LAW , AND ORDER I Ever your Faithful Friend and Representative , Feargus O'Connor .

      The Northekn Star, Saturday, April 8, 1848.

      THE NORTHEKN STAR , SATURDAY , APRIL 8 , 1848 .

      "The Cause Of Justice Is The Cause Of Go...

      " THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE IS THE CAUSE OF GOD . " Such were the memorable words with which Arthur _O'C 0 nnor _, now in the fiftieth year of his exile , concluded his memorable speech in the Irish House . of Commons , in May , 1786 ; and , presuming that the cause of the English people and the Irish people in their present struggle for liberty is just , their cause is God's cause , and for it they must struggle though present defeat should be their portion . We have nursed , have nurtured , and trained the mind of this country to a religious belief in its own omnipotence ; we have silentl y rocked it in the cradle—have anxiousl y _patched its growth , and now exultingly rejoice in the giant strength it bas achieved .

      We cast an anxious but not a desponding g lance to the history of the past j we count over the names , and feed upon the valiant deeds of departed heroes , and , in silent commune with ourselves , we ask , whether we would rather participate in their posthumous fame and eternal glory , or passively and submissively crawl through life , evading the oppressor ' s foot , and the tyrant ' s * yoke—our path beset with the law ' s snare , and the tyrant ' s

      pitfall—and we exclaim , " What is life but liberty ? and what is liberty but the fullest enjoyment of life ? We look upon the past as the damning evidence of willing slavery , and we look to the budding future as portentous and promising , if we but avail ourselves of passing events to absolve us from bygone transgressions , and to lead us to a new birth unto _righteousnoss . The world rocks around this sea-bound

      dungeon—the howl of famine , of vengeance , and despair , rages throughout the sister Islethe people of both countries—always identified in interest , but divided in feelinghave at length awakened to a knowledge , of the great facti that " United they eland , Divided they fall . " and , though divided by the ocean , the electric spark of freedom has passed from breast to breast , and fthey have sworn to achieve their liberties . And is the resolve unnatural or illegal ? Reason answers , that it is not unnatural—power answers , that it is not illegal ; because the Will of the majority should be the law of the land and the basis of the constitution .

      On Monday next the matured Will of the producing classes of this country will be carried in triumph to the Senate and will be presented to the Representatives of worn-out prejudices and exploded privileges—prejudices and privileges which allow the idle few to lord it over the industrious many , and to live sumptuously upon the sweat of the producer . This mighty monster may be , and probably will be , rejected by those who feel strong in the possession of power ; but we would warn them gravely , and warn them in time , ofthe fallacy and follv of anv attemnt to resist the flood of

      mind and fixed resolution manifested in this , the people ' s last appeal . It may be _thafc sacrifices — bloody sacrifices — may be demanded by the confident and self-rel ying oppressor ; but , should it be so , the hot blood flowing in the veins of freemen , will contend for the prize and the honour of martyrdom , and the greater the number of victims the more profuse will be the seeds of freedom , for from every drop of the martyrs' blood will spring ten thousand ! patriots to avenge the martyrs' death ; for " Labour ' _a battle once begun , Bequeathed by bleeding sire to eon ,

      - . Though baffled oft is ever won ;" so will it _hewiththi noble army of Oh & r _- - tists , who have sworn to bequeath liberty to their successors . They look to the voice of knowledge to silence the cannon ' s roar ; they demand their just rights , and all their rights and liberties , without trenching upon the rights or liberties of others . And , whilst engaged in this holy and god-like undertaking , should lewd power let slip the dogs of war , power must take the consequence ; and great and dreadful will the consequence be , if vengeance and despair should once possess the minds of the millions of freemen who pant for liberty , and demand the restoration of their long-withheld rights .

      Ihe right to petition—to commence the petition humbly and conclude it with a prayer , and to convey that petition to the Senate House—is a right that has never been disputed , and a right which | the people , as trustees to their successors , are bound to preserve —a - ri ght which they have exercised legally , peacefully , and constitutionally , at all times , and , as recentl y as 1843 " under the _Goyern-

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 8, 1848, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_08041848/page/4/