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Northern Star (1837-1852), 13th May 1848, Edition 3 of 3, Page 1, ./ I *S\ *SV\ then be made. The principl...

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    • Ofiward, and we ooiqeer! Batkwtid rod *e foil 1 THE F£0FLS*S CSARTER ASD k'O SURRENDER .'
    • f3Wm ^mmmut
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      Ofiward, And We Ooiqeer! Batkwtid Rod *E Foil 1 The F£0fls*S Csarter Asd K'O Surrender .'

      Ofiward , and we _ooiqeer ! Batkwtid rod _* e foil 1 THE F _£ 0 FLS _* S _CSARTER ASD k'O SURRENDER . '

      To The Old Guards. I Fkiesds, Comrades, ...

      TO THE OLD GUARDS . I Fkiesds , Comrades , Brothers , Last week I felt invigorated and strong -, because I was unjustly persecuted . This _s-eek I feel oppressed and overcome by your kindness , your confidence , your protection , and love . I waited for your response to my accusers , beeause , _though conscious of ray own innocence , I was nervous and excited until your judgment _Should have affirmed my convictions . How trul y I hare said that the people are seldom wrong , and never very long wrong ; and henceforth , what sustenance , comfort , and support the virtuous and honest must , _though afflicted , derive from the tribunal of public justice .

      Old Guards , mine has been no ordinary career , and my task has been one of no ordinary difficulty—nay , of no ordinary peril—as he who undertakes to dethrone licentiousness , and establish the supremacy of industry , will be beset by the malice of the strong , and the art of the cunning ; , who are ever at the command of the privileged and wealthy . I look , with no small amount of interest , to the day when I shall see you assembled around me . proclaiming Labour ' s victory , and the downfall of tyranny * . when we shall talk over our many battles , " fought in the cause of Freedom , and laugh to scorn the puny efforts of the tvrant .

      It is not my intention to rub oid sores , or * o fret those which are yet « reen ; but if my character is of _valuer—as you seem to thick it—it would have been destroyed had I submitted to the despotism and domination of those whose object was my _destruction ; and now , that your coura _ge and confidence have sustained me through a struggle , which no public man has ever had to contend atrainst , and emboldened by your reiterated confiderce , 1 shall again venture to map out tbe policy by which our movement should be governed .

      Old Guards , when 1 opened my commission at Stockport , in 1835 , I told you that my duty was to marshal the public mind for the day of auction , when Russell and Peel would bid for it , _according to the value that courage , union _, and resolution would stamp upon it ; and I told you that 1 would knock down that Public "Will to the bidder who would offer Annual Parliaments , Universal Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , Equal Electoral Districts , No Property Qualification , and Payment of Members ; and , having been party to several agitations in Ireland , and being acquainted with the constitution and feelinir of the House of Commons , I

      warned you that , as we approached the goal of victory , the middle classes—accustomed to use the people for their own purposes—would baulk us of our triumph if we were not watchful and resolute . In the outset of every movement they are seductive , caressing-, and kind -, but when the strength of the people is unconditionally surrendered , they are tyrannical _, _oppressive , and harsh . For , believe me , that if economists were to write 10 , 000 volumes , the whole would never erase from my mind the fact , that so long as Capital legislates for Labour , so long will the Labourer be the slave of the capitalists .

      Old Guards , cast a glance at ths odium 1 have encountered from the commencement of the Free Trade agitation , for propounding these doctrines , and let it confirm you in the belief , tbat if I were now weakened by the withdrawal ofyour confidence , I should be again sacrificed to middle class tyranny . In what has the failure of Free Trade altered the propensities , the desires , and the anticipations of the party ? Had it succeeded to their utmost expectations , as far as regards tbeir own profits , would y our poverty and disappointment ever have induced them to fraternise with you for

      an extension of y our rights , or for the remission of your burthens ? On the contrary , has not class after class been shifting the burdens of taxation from their own shoulders to yours , until the dried pap has failed to give sustenance to the luxurious idle ? and is it not a notorious fact , thatthe law of primogeniture , with all the other anomalies that are part and parcel of the feudal system , annually increases the burdens of the poor r Well , if vou read

      the debates in the National Assembly , you will discover that the maxim propounded by Mr Lawrence Heyworth , at the Sturge Conference at Birmingham , was to have been the rule of action . " It is not so much a name , " said that gentleman , *' ' as your leaders , tbat we want to get rid of ; " and some ofthe Scotch delegates , who were of the Complete Suffrage party at that Conference , acting upon precisely the same principle , said— ' * "We want to get rid of Feargus O'Connor . "

      Oid Guards , can any man deny the increased strength and vigour that the Cbartist movement has acquired since the glorious 10 th of April—the day when we marched through the armed battalions of the enemy , and held our _meetisgin defiance of an unconstitutional proclamation ? And as it has been my aim and object to circulate those principles by all and every means , the terror created by osr resolution that day , and the respect created by our courage , our prudence , and forbearance , bas set all men , of all classes , inquiring about the

      Charter ; and those who laughed at our pre-: sumption and { ignorance , now admit that the consummation of our victory is but a question i of time ; and y ou may rely upon it , that I at ] least am not prepared to adopt the old maxim < of " Live horse , and you'll get grass . " I have j never thrown away any opportunity of _tetrengtheningour position , and much less am 1 j prepared to parly with assassins when I see the 3 life ' s bluod sucked from the pallid cheek of the i innocent babe ! when I see woman a slave , and iman a shadow !

      This move in the Assembly was one upon tthe part of of the middle class , which my posi ttion in the House of Commons , as your reprettative , prevents them from making openly ; eand had you not come to the rescue , and hud t confidence in me been destroyed or _weakened , j you would have been juggled , as you have been aaforetimc , b y the shadow of Reform , and the f fascinations of Free Trade .

      Old Guards , " come weal , come woe , " it is nmy resolution , and my fixed determination , to _Lkeep our banner straight , and our flag unfurled aand unsullied , and to preserve the noble army oof Chartists as a di _> . tinct and separate battalion , nneilher turning to the right hand nor to the ltleft , but marching onward till labour is fully _aiand fairly represented in the House of Comrr aions .

      Old Guards , some of your representatives iirin the Assembly disdain to consider the ques-Itition of Labour ; that is to be the secondary _cicousideration . Put 1 tell you that it ever lias _bheen and ever shall be , my primary considerattition . It is my thought bv day and my -ire ; im Ib'by night . And now mark me , and mark me wwell , when I call your attention to the present pposition of parties in France . Labour , op-] p ) pressed by despotism , made its revolution , _stutnd _gained its triumph ; hut the question ot

      iLliabour never having been discussed , it has for _Iteten long weeks been the vexed question—the ¦ alali-absorbiiig question—the one and only quesit ' _tt ' on uith the Provisional Government and the NNational Assembly , * and they are now as far _ifrtrom its adjustment as they were upon tiie ifirfirst day of the revolution . And why : Be-( _cacause their theories are all based upon the _farartincial principle , and the farther we stray ffnfrom nature ' s Jaws the deeper we get into tlw [ laiabyrinth of confusion .

      Old Guards , had 1 been deposed , and had _ILrtLabonr ri * en in arms and _gained its _revolu-( tittion , the fir _^ t men who would have fallen a 3 a 6 acrifire to popular fury and disappointment _Rvovould have been those who were instrumental iin in destroying the old system , without beixg _nrorepared with a new system as a _subj-titute . _•\ fAfctT a revolution , whether it be obtained b y mmjral or physical means , tiitre must be a com mananding head , and before a revolution there

      To The Old Guards. I Fkiesds, Comrades, ...

      must be the universal adoption of a new system : —one so self-recommending and easy of practice as that the satisfied majority , who glory not in idleness , shall be capable , and at once , of overawing ihe idle , the refractory , and lascivious , who would rather live on disorder than earn their bread by labour . Old Guards , I now invite you to call the attention of the people to the Labour question ; to debate the subject at your meetings , and without much loss of time , to elect such a representation of the National Will and improved mind , as will defy oppression , and command

      respect . And although not now belonging to the Legislative body , the Executive of your choice shall have my hearty co-operation and support ; you must supply them with funds . And I contend now , as I ever contended , that the more extensive we make local representation the better , and the more vigorous we make the movement ; as the several localities are the best judges of character , efficiency _^ , flnji t . _ fitness ; and the less those Iecturersi . _^ pjWrougbt into _coIirsi _^ _aT-vvita the Executive the "Better for the cause , and the better for the Executive . This course prevents the possibility of jealousy arising from the

      disappointment of rivals , or tbe dismissal of inefficient parties . I am now speaking from long experience , and I have found it to be invariably the case , that in any disagreement between the locality , the lecturer , and the Executive , if the Executive refuses to dismiss the lecturer , the locality refuses its contribution ; if the Executive dismiss , the lecturer becomes its enemy—therefore I say , pay your Executive honourably , and not stintiagly ; appoint your own lecturers , enable your Executive to print and circulate tracts , and when an Assembl y is called , be prepared to support your delegates .

      Old Guards , as to the appointment of a new Executive , I assure you that it has been a question long mooted by me as to the propriety of the Land Directors resigning their trust ; and , from the dissatisfaction very generally manifested , it is a subject tbat we bave thought over , and talked over , and , had the last Convention been convened in the ordinary course of I usiness , the Land Directors would have resigned ; but , after the French Revolution , we thought it would have tliesem blance of cowardice if we abandoned our post in the hour of danger .

      I have always thought that the safe guidance of the Chartist movement required the undivided attention ofthe Executive Council ; hut , from the lingering state of Chartism until the establishment of the Land Company , and taking into account their empty Exchequer , I think he will be a bold man who will venture to charge them with any dereliction of duty—in fact , the position of the late Executive—every hour of my time otherwise employed—Mr Doyle always absent—and Mr Wheeler attending to his farm—rendered it impossible for that budy to devote proper attention to the Chartist cause : —just as I held

      it inconsistent with Mr Harney ' s duties as editor ofthe " Northern Star , " to devote his time to the National Assembly , and just as I should hold it inconsistent to continue Mr Jones , as Mr Harney ' s as _> istant , now that his whole time must he devoted to the cause of Chartism . It is impossible for any man to devote Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday , and till twelve o ' clock on Friday , t » the business of a newspaper , and to do justice to those by whom he is paid . Apart from this consideration , 1 would hold it to be very impolitic that any officer , whose duties are of a _peramhulatory nature , sbould be tied by the leg .

      Old Guards , I have now discharged a duty which 1 owe to myself , as far as I am personally concerned , and now I shall discharge another , which I owe you as a journalist . A charge has been made against the " Star" for not publishing a more lengthy report of the proceedings of the Convention and the Assembly . On the first day that the Convention sat , so anxious was I to have a verbatim report of the proceedings , that I asked Mr Reynolds to recommend me to the best reporter inthegallery . Hedidso ; and I agreed with that gentleman to give me full reports—besides having my own reporter always in attendance ; but so hostile are the whole of that class to tbe

      '' _northern Star , ' that , when too late , I learned that this gentleman had not sent a word to the office . I then requested Mr M'Gowan , the printer , to engage a special reporter for the " Star , " and he did so ; and thus 1 answer the charge of indifference as to reporting . Old Guards , tbe " Star" has now been nearly eleven years in _existence , and hear my boast . It is—that I have , never interfered

      with editor or reporter , unless I found just cause for expostulation or dismissal—that , though the Northern Star has sometimes conspired against me , it has never conspired against any one else ; and now I will prove to you , from past events , beyond the power of refutation , that the main object of some of the Assembl y was to destroy the " Northern Star , "

      Old Guards , when did you ever before hear of the proprietor of a newspaper rejecting advertisements , and returning the money , in order to make room for denunciation and _censure of himself , as I have done ? Old Guards , judge of the future from the past . The first dissension in our ranks was created hy the " Champion , " the " Charter , " and the "Birmingham Journal , " trying to make parties against the " Northern Star . '' Subsequentlv . when the first Executive was

      elected , Mr Philp—who was one of the Executive—made a tour , not to establish Churiism . but to establish the " Western Vindicator , ' in opposition to the " Northern Star , " and which paper completely divided us in the West of England . Then came the Convention of ' 43 , when the " Statesman" was purchased to oppose the " Star ; then came the " Southern Star , " and then the host of Scotch paperstbe " True Scotsman , " tbe " Dundee Chronicle , " the " _Pi-rth Chronicle , '' and _numberless others , all of which the reviled *¦ Star' has

      seen out of existence , and all of which , in turn , attempted to pander to the middle classes for support . _? Sow can this be denied er contradicted ? And to prove that I have always stood b y the Executive of your choice , can it be denied that 1 dismissed Mr Hill for having traduced the characters of Dr M'Douall and the then Executive?—and , _nhile _sneaking of Dr M'Douall , allow me to do him tbat justice which be deserves at my hands . I understand that he conceives the term " poor gentleman " t _<» apply to him , but I beg leave to assure bim that it wa ? neither intended to apply , nor is it

      at all applicable to bim , inasmuch as there is a difference between him who is too idle to work , and the man who has generousl y abandoned a class with whom he mi g ht have been popular , and g iven up a profession from wbicb be might have amassed wealth , to devote bis energies and his talent tothe popular cause . And 1 further beg to assure him , tbat there is not one man in the movement for _ixliom I have a greater affection and regard . As a voung man lie was placed in trying circumstances , and he has bad bis full share of persecution , which lie lias borne like a mar . : and , although be and I have differed , he never , during his _absence from the ranks , spoke a word or wrote a word calculated to damage the cause , and , therefore , 1 hailed

      To The Old Guards. I Fkiesds, Comrades, ...

      his return amongst us with pride and satisfaction . Old Guards , it is a maxim with our enemies to magnify the virtues and suppress the vices of their party ; but it has , hitherto , been the practice in our ranks to suppress the virtues and fabricate the vices of our party . Old Guards , change of circumstances never alter my resolution . Some feel proud and vain when they gain admittance to the House of

      Commons , and they immediately become surrounded by Conventionalism , to which weakness compels them to surrender ; they » _'e fascinated by ministerial and lordly invit ations and soon forget tbe power to which they owe their position ; but I as fondly clasp the blistered hand of the honest operative when I require no favour from him , as others condescendingly do in return for his vote at an election .

      Old Guards , 1 have abandoned family connexion and friends ; I have given up the luxuries of * society and the profits of professiGa ; . 1 have surreutdered the amusements of the ball room , the racecourse , and the chasethat 1 may make myself more serviceable to tbe cause of labour ; I live frugally , honestly , and abstemiously , that my character may be valuable to the labouring classes from being unassailable by their enemies ; 1 have seen , 1 have read of , and heard of , the many revolutions that bave taken place throughout the world , but in no change has hbour had its , share , and have sworn that from the next i ' sh all have the linn ' s share .

      Old Guards , I am one of a persecuted family and an outlawed race . And I am impelled by generous motives , which new men cannot feel , in seeking retribution for that class , for fighting whose cause my family have been persecuted , banished , and dispersed . Old Guards , as the indictment against me was long , your love of justice and of English fairplay will tolerate somewhat of a lengthy defence ; and let me , therefore , remind you of mv oft-repeated maxim ,

      " Moral power is the deliberative quality in each man ' s mind , which teaches him bow to reason , how to endure , and when forbearance becomes a crime ; and should that fail to achieve for him all the rights to which as a freeman he is entitled , and should physical forcejbe required—which God forebid—it will come to his aid like an electric shock ; but the man who marshals it destroys it by forewarning the enemy , and will be the first to desert it , "

      Now such was my motto in tbe most boisterous times , when mouthing bullies filled the gaols to suffocation , and then deserted their colours and tbeir cause . Did the Frenc * ? , did the Prussians , did the Milanese , shout" We'll fight ?' ' Is it not an invitation to the enemy to prepare them for the coming event ? Old Guards , let me go through some of my campaigns . In 1822 , I stood alone by the Whiteboys , who fought two p itched battles for tlieir liberties , in the county of Cork , and wben all was over I was obliged to fly my country for thirteen months ; and go to that county ,

      where I was born , and ask them " Whether FARGTJS is to be relied upon t'' In 1831 , as Mr Grattan stated in the House of Commons , I charged a regiment of cavalry with a voter on my back , and was tramp _' ed upon by the cavalry . In 1832 , I had marshalled such a resistance to Tithes tbat the tyrants were obliged to persecute me . In 1834 , for seven long days and nights , I fought the battle of freedom at the Dungarvan Election , the soldiers defending me against the policebreaking through their ranks single-handed _, in 1834 , 1 conducted John O'Connell ' s

      election at \ oughall , addressed the people in the presence of three regiments and 1 , 200 police , the drawn swords within four feet of my face , and the priests requesting me for God ' s sake to desist ; and about the close of the election , when the soldiers were placed as sentinels over the doors ofthe voter , I rushed through a double file of fixed bayonets , smashed the back door , took the voter out at the front door upon my back , polled him , and gained the election . At the Rathcormac slaughter , I preached the funeral oration over the slain in the midst of three armed regiments , denouncing them as murderers . I have conducted more contested elections in Ireland than any living man , never

      accepting my professional fees , normy travelling expenses . Did I fly in Preston in 1837 , when I stood in the middle of the street , in front of a troop ofthe loth Hussars , refusing to leave it until the Mayor ordered tbem into tlieir _q-iarters ? Did I fly at Manchester , when attacked by 5 , 000 in the Hall of Science ? Did I fly in the Town Hall in Birmingham , when seized by nine Free Trade ruffians , hallooed on by 1 , 500 of their associates ? No , I jumped from their grasp over the Mayor ' s head , and made my speech . Did I fly in the Marketplace at Nottingham ? And , Old Guards , remember that I sought no triumph for myself in any one of the struggles , but I looked upon the result as indicating tbe popular triumph .

      Old Guards , I have been Jour times engaged in duels , and have been fired at , but never showed the white feather ; and yet there are mouthing braggarts who talk of arms , of wars , and of bloodshed , that would sink into the earth before any of the scenes that I have gone through , and who would yet dare to call me coward . At Coventry , when the freemen thought that I was interfering with their privileges by seeking to put down bribery , when I stood almost alone , and for the first time , in a waggon , a hired bully broke through thc meeting , and struck a poor man in the face ; in an instant I was out of the waggon , returned the compliment with interest—dragged him through the meeting , and gave him up to the police .

      Now these are some of the dangers I have encountered on behalf of our cause , not to speak of walking alone through the memorable tea party at the Crown and Anchor , amid the jeers and hisses of 450 Complete Suffrage delegates , assembled from all parts of the country ; and on the memorable 10 th of April , did I not take the p ost of danger when the Chartist army was passing through the enemies' ranks ? Believe me , tbat the man who is the most ready to fight , is the most cautious in talking about it , and that the man who talks most about it hostile least stomach for it .

      Old Guards , when you lay your heads upon your pillows ask yourselves these questions—* ' Where would O'Connor go , wbat would he do , or what would become of bim if he turned the prayers of the poor into the curses of the disappointed ? Is there one act of his life , and we have watched him for sixteen years both in and out of Parliament , which merits our censure , our condemnation , and reproof ? Did ever man of his class , or of any class , defy tyranny and brave oppression as he has done ? Wben have the poor called that he has not .

      answered ? When has the oppressor struck that he lias not returned the blow > Where is the fortune tbat lie lias amassed out of our confidence ? Where is the blot in his character that makes us , his friends , bis comrades , and his brothers blush ? Where is tbe man who so feels the agony of the infant , the suffering of tinmo . her _, or the poverty of tbe father ? Where is be who would so cheerfully rush into battle against so fearful odds , to see industry requited , tymnny demolished , and virtue In the ascendant ?" Old Guards , I swear by Heaven , there is not

      To The Old Guards. I Fkiesds, Comrades, ...

      a man sjiongst you who would rather share his _last-y _^ _ust—nay , give it alb to the hungry child , the famishing mother , or starving maii , tban I would . Nothing but your love , —your confidence and affection , has charms for me ; and ten thousand times would I rather perish than accept of bauble titles , wealth , or gaudy honours , as the price of mv desertion of that causejwhich is dearer to me than life itself , and rendered doubl y dear b y 'the shield of your protection thrown over me this week , and the maddening enthusiasm that I witnessed at Leicester on Monday . It is very easy to lead me , but very difficult to drive me . I now know my position and that position I will maintain and uphold as long as I possess your confidence , your affection , and esteem .

      Everything I have of power , of constitution , of position and talents , I hold in trust for you , and I think I may turn with pride to the course I have pursued in 1833 , ' 34 , and ' 35 , and ' 47 and ' 48 , in the House of Commons , and during the whole period out of tbe _HpujBi . _® f Commons , _lnrny _pjrevious parliamentary career , when l wja _^ : independent \; of your support , 1 took a part in every English Labour question , thus proving to you that 1 have ever acted upon stern principle , and not upon expediency . Upon the ballot—upon the

      Dorchester Labourers—upon the _persecution of the True S « n newspaper—upon the damnable Poor-law Act—I stood by you wben I was an Irish member ; and now that lam an Eng lish member , I will stand hy Ireland and Repeal—by John Mitchel , fer whom my heart bleeds , and wbo is foully oppressed—and by England , the Charter , and the Land ; and 1 will never relax my exertions until I see the Land Plan national , and the standard of wages in the artificial market established by its value in the free labour market , and the Charter made the law of the land .

      Old Guards , _ctment the Union that is nowforming . You have strength which you little know of , " it was manifest in the fact of tbe wolves in the Assembly , being unable to change the name of our movement . I will make that strength irresistible . Let nothing divide it . Let nothing disunite us . — ' Unite ! we stand , divided we fall . " Our disunion is the only title upon which tyrants can much longer establish their right to rule .

      Old Guards—my beloved Old Guards —you have given me new life , new vigour , and new courage . I am well again . Your confidence and approval is the medicine that I want . My heart bursts with joy when I think that 1 have not laboured in vain , or spent mv life _unprofitable . Old Guards , by tbe God of Justice and of Battles . 1 will stand by you till the last . 1 have nurtared many vipers > n my bosom , wbo would have stung me but for you . I'll cast them all off and breathe again . And now

      let mo implore all , that disunion may cease , and that Chartism may be itself again . I harbour malice against no man . Let us forgive and forget ; shake bands , and be friends—and in less than a month . from this date , I promise you thatthe flood of Chartist mind will compel the middle classes to fraternise with us for the animal , name and all . I am , and till death will remain , Your fond , your faithful , your affectionate , and unpurchasable leader , Feahgus O'Connor .

      ./ I *S\ *Sv\ Then Be Made. The Principl...

      " ' y _^^^ fe / i / then

      " ' Y ^^^Fe/ I / And National Trades' Jo...

      AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL . VOL- XLNo 55 L LONDON , SATURDAY , MAS 13 . 1848 . _~~ _«* _J _^ _$ _& 8 _^" « _aT _. - . _. . — — — _: , ¦ .,,.. ¦• .- > -. - ¦; - _';¦' - '¦ :- .. . I ,., , ' _.. ; ' - , * _# _. _Vi-v " _" - ' - ' _, —' _^&* — " " ' " - - ¦¦ ¦¦¦ ¦ — — - - ¦ - _'¦ _- _*> --- ' - ' - ¦ . ' _-i . _t ' . i , ' .- ..-r _. _^ - _^ i : _^ . _' _i _.. _^ - _^ _. — - __ ¦ _¦ ¦ ¦ . _~^ r

      The " Democrat," Daily Newspaper. To The...

      THE " DEMOCRAT , " DAILY NEWSPAPER . To the Chartists , Having received numerous applications from different parts of the country , as to the propriety of establishing a daily newspaper , for the support ofthe _Democratic cause , and _havinsr , from my first introduction into public life , felt the _necessity of such -in organ , seeing that the Press of the factions is sternly opposed to us , and knowing the absolute and

      indispensable necessity of conveying intelligence while it is fresh and feteri _.--h , a / id before excitement shall have passed away , and well understanding the value of being able to answer the false hoods and fabrications of the morning journals before the mri shall have set , and knowing the vitality that the " Evening Star" newspaper gave to the cause , while under my _management , i am willing lo accept the proposition made from several parts of the countrynamely , to undertake the man ; _ig-ement ol such an organ , upon the following onditions : —

      That the _nesessary amount shall be raised , in shares of one shilling each . That no individual shall hold more than one hundred shares . That I shall have the entire control of the paper . That the ablest accountant shall be kept . That be shall furnish a half-yearly balance sheet of the accounts . That every hundred shares shall be carried to the credit ofsome one person appointed b y the other ninety-nine . That the accounts of the hundred should be opened with him , as it would be _impossible to keep a separate account for every shilling subscriber . And ,

      That the profits should be divided every half-year between the subscribers . I have now got the weekly artillery and the monthly reserve of the Chartist lorce . Give me this rifle brigade , and I will promise you to silence a iew of tbe batteries of the enemy . I can t ery soon make the necessary arrangements for my staff . I can devote pavt of my night in the country to writing articles upon

      general subjects , and I will take care to be surrounded by men wbo will strike the iron of faction while it is hot , and administer the antidote before the poison bas worked . M y services , as ever , shall be gratuitous and unpaid for , and even unthanked ; but I promise you that such ; i power would make C . _' _j'jrljsrn in a month , what its present power could not make it in twelve .

      We know the value of a lie which remains uncontradicted for six days , and we know the value of its immediate correction . The people , at their meals , would ask for the Democrat as their desert . It shall be as well conducted as any paper in Europe—it is what 1 havo idways panted for—what I have always asked for —and when you see what the freshness oi lies can do forthe enemy , will you not be convinced of what the freshness of truth enn do fur the cause ? The Times lias turned Whig , and the Chronicle has turned Tory , but tbe Democrat shall never turn its coat—its principles snail

      be"THE CHARTER AND NO SURRENDER . " " The Castle and the Free-labour-field for every man who chooses to enjoy them' ' - — " The Rights of Labour and the means of achieving them . " Up , then , Chartists . The man who is not willing to give a shilling , is not lit to be a freeman . The man who will m _» t lend one to his poor brother , who is notable to supply it , is only lit for a slave . Smash your porter pots and tobacco-pipes—you can break the government by abstinence , and they would more dreKil the resolution to be sober than the thunder ofyour defiance . If I '"" J & hundred thousand teetotalers around me , I'd carry the Charter without a Wow heing _^ truck , lor 1

      tell y 6 u that the vice of a people is the power of the tyrant . The question is now In y _^ ui hands—deal with it as you think proper , ahd then , neither the country Chartists , nor the National Assembly , would complain of not being _represented . Such an organ would make us respected by the good , and feared by the bad * and while preparing the locations for my land children , I could , after my day ' s labour , write with a freshness and a vigour that I cannot possess amid the smoke of your towns . Give me that , and J don ' t care how soon it kills the Star . Your faithful friend , Feargus O'Connok .

      F3wm ^Mmmut

      f 3 Wm _^ _mmmut

      Monday, May 8. Hotfse Of Lords,—Relatiod...

      MONDAY , May 8 . HOTfSE OF LORDS , _—Relatiodb with Spain—Lord STiHLET brought under consideration tha _correnpondence relative to tbe late Spanish dispute , laid on tbe table of the house , witb tbe view of obtaining explanations of tbe contradictions wbich tbat correspondence gave to the declarations made by the Lor . ! _President of the Council on Friday hlgn ya * t . . While tbe Lord Ere-Bl 4 ent _"*&" n" * f _tfienalffgta lha " t _* _ffi _^ Utter-written by . _Lori _Palmerston to Sir H . Bulwer _ffafl a private _insnuciion for Sir II . Dulwer ' a private guidance , and not intended to be communicated to the Spanish Minister , tbe despatches laid before parliament _t-hotred tbat not only bad Sir H . Bulwer satisfactorily followed hia instructions ,

      but that on two diuiact occasions Lord Palmerston had written to him conveying to bim the entire approval of her Majesty ' s government for the communication be had mado to _t-e Due de _Sotomajor . Itwas right that the _country shoald know whether Sir II . _Balwcr'a conduct hid boen indiscreet and indefensible , as _declared by tbe Lord President , or whether , according to the despatches of Ljrd _Palmernton _, it was deservlng _^ of the imiro _approbation of the government . Lord Stanley strongly con . demned the undignified and un worth ; way in which Lord _Pjlmerston cloa _^ d this correspondence— . ' generous ! ' df _clarlng lhat the British government was not at all _ofitinded at tbo result which thry had drawn on tbemselves—thatthey entirely approved of the kicking ibat had been inflicted on tbem .

      The Marquw of _Lanbdowne admitted that , juiging of the circumstances In England , ho had expressed bis regret that Sir 11 . Bulwer had written tho note he had forward nd to the Due d « Sotomayor . But after the _answer _returned by tho Spanish Minister , it was _necos-* _ars unless the recall of Sir H . Bulwer was determined » _a to give to _bina evn assurance that the government had approved of his conduct ; it that wire not done , it would be giving the Due de Sotomayor a triumph . A _npirit oi amity had been re-established between our Minister at _Madrid and the _Spanish government ; Sir II . Bulwer ' _s recall was not demanded , and it was better to let the matter re _< . t _.

      The Earl at AriEhDEEN _agreed that it would havo been unjust to have abandoned Sir H . Bulwer , who had acted according to the letter of bis instructions . The explanation just g iven by the Lord President was not borne out by tbe _ficw , because the approbation communicated _fc-y Lord _Prtlmtvston to Sir H . Bulwer was sent before the _n-ible lord could have heard ofthe Due de _S'tomayor ' _a answer . Thc noble earl indignantly remarked upon the _ignominious insult provoked by tbe Foreign Secretary , ami forthe Grot time endured by a British government . Lord BBOUGriAH deprecated any further discussion of the matter , seeing that a friendly understanding had been re-established between Mr Bulwer and the Spanish authorities—a fact wbich wag to him n matter of great satisfaction .

      The Marquis of Clakbic 4 bde _observed that , in bis opinion , the only error committed by Mr Eu ! wt . r consisted in his having sent almost tu _exteiuoto the Spanish Kovernmcct th- ; comcounication , which was only intended for hia own guidance . Such an error was not sufficiently grave to justify _tithtr bis censure or recall , Tho subject then dropped . The Encumbered Estates ( _Irelafed ) Bill pa 5 Bed through committee , and was amended _. Their lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OP _COHMONS . —The eamo _nurject was maoted in thi * house . Mr _UfiQCHaflT inqu _' red If it were true , as reported to have been stated by the _Maiquls ol _Linsdowse , that Sir II , _Balwei's conduct had been disapproved of b y the _government ? Lord _PADHEKsro : ' replied that the papers laid on the table showed tbutSir H . Bulwer ' s conduct bad been approved of .

      Mr G . Bi . vs . zt inquired if it were true , as intimated by Lord _Linsdowpe , that the Spanish correopondinec had been sent to a French newspaper by the Due de Sotomayor , or some of his colleagues ; also bow it happened that tbe correspondence just laid on the table hadbeen » ent to n London morning paper twenty-four hours before it was in _th-hnndg of members' ! Lord Palmerstok said , that he had no distinct proof that the Spanish correspondence hod been Bent to La _PaEssE by any member of tha _Spanish governm . nt , though tbat _publishe _* . correspondence bore internal evidence of having come from Madrid . With resppct to tiie eecond question . It was the customary courtesy cf the government In this country to send to tbo _principal journals papers laid before Parliament .

      Public Health Bill . —Lord J , _Rdsbell , in moving that tho orders of the dity be now read , availed himself ofthe opportunity to 6 _tata , that In tbe clause if the Public Health Bill which constituted the _superintending board , tbe government intended to introduce an _im-P'Ttant alteration , Instead of a paid commission , bo _propgsed that the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests ( should be tbe president of the board , and tbat tbere should only be two others , and those unpaid _commissioners . Mr _Spookeel admitted that this was a great Improvement In the bill , but regretted that Lord J . Ilui 6 cu had

      left the obnoxious principlo of it untouched . The centralisation principle was left in full force ; and to that principlo he bad the most deeided _orjaction . The Board of Health would still retain its control over thc rights ol towns ; and he protested against tbe interference of government in the iocul administration of our corporate and municipal boroughs . Somo measure ef sanitary re-I ' orm was unquestionably necessary ; and be hoped tbat be sbould not be considered as objecting to all sanitary reform , _because he objected to this bill . The _claaso appointing tha superintending board should be postponed until every other detail of the bill was settled . He recommended Ministers to refer thc bill to a committee

      upst & irs , Mr Slanev regretted that those gentlemen who opposed tbis bill had not read tbo _rtpirts upon which it was founded . lie then entered into aitatement of some length to _fcho'v that Mr H . Drummond had committed several grave mistakes in tbe precis which he had given of it on a f _^ _rm-r evening . Your drainage never could be ffaciual , until jou had a good _supp-y of water ; and iu many of the Lrg _^ towns such a supply of nnter wan _absolutely _dcnioil to tha poor at present . This bill , which he defended with great ability , would give them that supply of water for tho first time , and was , _therefore , _dtstrvin _? of support . Ho waa convinced that if _th » house consented to _g-i into committee , it would be able to render this bill an efficient _instrumept for improving tbo condition of hundreds of _thousandB of our fillow men .

      Mr C . Peaebon objected to this bill , because It placed iho time-honoured institutions of this country , like ricketty children , In thc go-cart of government _supetin--eadence . It was an extraordinary circumstance that Scotland , _Irtlsnd , the metropolitan _boroughs , anA the city of Loudon , were exempt frt m it * _regulations ; and heBu » pectid lhat they were exempted now to be _sacrifieed hereafter , when isolated . He analysed the reports of the Health of Towns Association , and deduced from his analysis this _conclusion—tbat a greater mass of misrepresentations bad n ver before bee » huddled into the sumo numbT of pages . Though not in favour of thii bill , he was in fav ,. ur of a measure for effecting _k _-reat _snnltaiy improvements .

      Lvrd ABiiLET wasnniiouito _impreBD upon the honse the absolute and indispensable necessity of making a commencement in some measure of legislation for ihe relief of tbe _working classes from those grievances wbich pressed heavily upon then * . As n proof tbat ihe la bvurers of England had this munsure greatly at heart , i _. e ktited that iho other day , when thu traded delegates met , at a time of great excitement in that metropolis , the first point on _fvhieb tbey addressed him wbb the _^ a to lu _wbic'i _tl' . tirfamilies were loft by waut of _sanitcry reform . He gave govermn nt endit for tho boldness vith which it hud faced tho _diflicultica of thiir case ; but he _nleo told ministers tbat their measure was sus .

      _C-pilule of improvernmt . He , therefore , implored lhe » o \> 8 o to lei It go Into committee to obtain that improvement . Ho was _surprised to bear it t , aid , that the law , as it now st _iod _, wa » sufficient to put au cud to existirg nuisances . He dmied the assertion ; but , admitting ii o b «! correct , ic whs a most tedlouk imd eKpensive process , which no poor man , or aggregate mass of poor men , _c-. uld put in execution . Besides , t e law ouK'ht not on _' y to be _cup'xb ' c of removing abuses , but 6 hunld _, "ho . bo _oapablo _t > f instituting improvements . Un insisted tbat fur more than half the Intoxication which -isgracod eur lnrg _» townp _, and led to much crime , arose fr . m the wietc / _ied condition of iho t _,-ncmcnts iu wliich th < - _labouring ulns & es were obliged tw live .

      Mr _MuHii _. _'iii ti ,-t intend io _oppouo t ' nc notion for _Rising iuto committee , because he _hopsd that such improrements as rrould nndur it useful to society would

      Monday, May 8. Hotfse Of Lords,—Relatiod...

      . / I * S \ * SV \ then be made . The principle of centralisation made tb tbi bill in many respects a very _ol-jtctlnuhMe m _^ _sure . Mr StoaBT concurred in the view taken of this bilbill by Mr Henley . Th « pilneiple f >< e & _ntrnidation _wfc _' _cl-. ' cl ' pervaded it was _suffie ' ent to rnin Jt or any other me . aie . ai sure . It was ( i _libel on every _town In the kingdom ti tn assert , as this bill _ntscrted , that their inhabitants _«•<¦ _,.- <¦ , ¦ _tneapable of _carrying a system of sanitary reform in : n : n _eieoutlon _wlttout the superintendence of a _central board in London . I be made . The principle of centralisation made tb tbi

      After some inrther discussion the house resolved it it : self iBto committee upon tbe bill , and the remainder ol ov tho _sitting was spent in discussing the clauseB , The house _adjourned at ono o ' clock . _y _& v _s _^ _' _-r . _^ _-j . _. - ¦ . -T . _tfJG'JSBAV Mai 9 . Bdtf 8 ig _" _Wf ' _- * S ! i ! tfj _^^ ' _^ ' _^ tl « RT A « 80 CIATION * K «! _FflarjB PBSVfifif id » Silt , . _—Tbfi > 6 iJl , _4 f / teo < Jed for _thehei protection of tha Odd Fellow / , _ihtf F < l » stm ' , snd _sUU mllar societies , was on th * motion of Lord _Bienmonr _^ r _,, read s second time .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . Lord G . Bentinok wished to ask the noble lord _attbaaai head of the _government a _question of the greatest im-nportance as connected with the tree trade principles ofof which the n _< _- 'ble lord was one ofthe stauncheKt advocate * . * . , lie need not remind tbe house of tho royal _commanrliaV which had _vone _ii-rth to the ladies of England , in _conae-e . ' quencc of the present depreciation of trade and msim . il .. facturt 8 , to appear at 'he _approaching _drawimr-ruoms andid , royal assemblies in no _attire—igreiit'aughter)—except ihe » ie » products of British _hidm-try . The question he had too ask the noble lord was , whether that royal command had d been dictate J by the impulses uf her M aje » ty _' _s own heart , t . beating for the di-tress of the _pt-ople in Spitalfields , inn Lei , ester , in Nottingham , and elsewhere , or whether tt it had been icsued at tiie suggestion of ber Majesty ' s re . s-

      _spoMsible adviser * ? Had It come , to her Majesty ' i know , _k ledge that , within the first three months of the present t yeur , French silk goods , to the value of £ _-lOo , on , _t , audi wbich , if manufactured in this country , would give em-.. _p'oymentto 31 , 00 i ' wearers , had been imported into thee port of London alone ? Had ber Majesty heard _th-jt . _t » during the same period , lata to the value ot £ 'h ' , _' l ) 0 , find 1 needlework to tho value of £ Ji ' , 0 'iu more , sufficient too employ 4 , 00 " needlewomen ; and 7 , ' . < I" pairs of bouts and 1 shoes , sufficient to employ l ? , 0 ( i" ci _> rdwainern ( 6 _, « _U-j of £ whom wtre at this moment out of employment in I on . . don ) hnd nl « o been imported ? ( Hear , bear . ) He asked 1 whether the royal command wns the result of her Ma--jesty ' s _haviiifr been made _acquainted with all these mat--te rs , or whether it was that the noble lord at the head 1 of tne government had determined that the free doctrines s wcrotO ; be put aside with dismny , and no Iongar to b _»» tolerated or « -nconra _>; ed -by _Euftlit-hmen or _Euglishwa- .

      men t He asked his noble friend -nether tWs command * was to be taken as an indication that her Majesty's ini--ni k ters were about to abandon a policy whicii _hadi brought the trade and manufactures of this _couutry to J beggary and ruin ? Lord John Russell said the cumnnind in _juestio _^ j had I been issued through thc Lord _Chamberlain , as had been _t frequently the case under former sovereigns . It was ( merely intended us an a t of kindness , for the benefit of f persons engaged in the manufacture of articles of dress . . Although he believed that there might be _particular ' classes of persons in this country who suftcred incoiive- , nienco by the introduction of _foreign Rood-, jet , _in-tsliiueh as their introduction stimulated thc production of other goods , whicb were exported in return , he sheuld be the last person to advise her Majesty to return to tho old system , very much doubting even were be thus to act contrary ti , his convictions , such advice would bi so acceptable to her Majesty as noble lurdb and Somo gentlemen on the opposite benches seemed to think .

      Mr Bright hail been under the impression tbnt the Lord Chamberlain was a political _ufflccr , and that whatever he did was the act of the Queen ' s responsible advisers . He did not attach inuun importance to orders respecting dross , but hu very much regretted that any . thlwr sbouid have been _doiw to delude the _worhinj elasses into the belief that they could be served by driving away the products of other countries . ( Hear , hear . ) He feared it would be looked upon abroad as an act of retaliation for the expulsion of English workmen from France _, ( llear , hear . ) Ae to the great quantity of _French _xilka imported during the present year , it should be recollected that , in consequence of recent political eventd , that sto . k

      was very much depreciated , and , consequently , a great quantity had been brought over by speculators . Now , it was useless tote prettnding to do u kindness to the weavers of Spitalfields by a curse which mun involve others in loss and injury . ( Hear . ) He was fur ihe fullest freedom to enable all these peri-oiis t .. better themselves by any kind of _tratlic they chose . On the other rand , he had uo objection to a number of noble , titled , but not very wise _wumiu , forming an _association _among them _, selves _against French silks , but he protested against the government doing anything calculated to create an iiiwill bet wet n this country and other nations , and to foster feelings amoni ; the working classiS which must end ia disappointment .

      A conversation followed , in which the Protectionists ana Free-traders as usual amused thc house by denouncing each others nostrums . Mr Ubqchabt moved an _address to the Queen , condemnatory of the ministerial policy towards _Portugal , but was counted out _thortly after the commencement of his speech , and the house adjourned . _WEDNESDAY , Mat 10 . TIIE HOUSE OF COMMONS met at twelve o ' clock , and sat till four . The business wa * of a very uninteresting character .

      A discussion arose as to thc proposed postponement of tho bill , for disfranchising the corrupt electors of Horsham . In the course of the discussion Colonel Sibthorp said , there had been sume talk of patronage , audi he , for one , thought if the house wished to get rid ofthe evils attendant upon patronage , it would at uuce set to work and scour the Treasury bench . The house was , perhaps , uot aware that there was a sum of money Voted annually for secret services . He _ttrongly suspected that a good deal ot money was spent in returning Members to the Treasury Bench ,

      Ultima' . ely the government succeeded in postponing the bill . FRIDAY M » Tl 2 . ' HOUSE OF _COMMOSS . _—Fbibndl ' t SociniM Bar , —Mr F . _O'Cokncr moved that this bill _r-e n ad a first time , which was agreed to . Thc _sseund _read _. ng waa fixed for _Wednesday , June 11 , HfF _. _tRjc—Mr _IIi-jik read tha _tirms of tho resolution he _intended to move on Tuesday week . The motion he would propose was— 'Tfint tbisbou _^ f _, as nt _pres _. nt _cuostituted , does not fairly represent the population , the proper'v , or the industry of the country , _wLeucehas arisen if rent and increasing discontent in the minds ofa large portion ofthe _psople . That , with a liew to amend the national rtpre » tn _> iitlon , leave be given to bring in b : lU for the _puiputH of _providing—ilrnt tho elective franchise 'hall he so t » tenicd as to include _householrem that votes shall be taken by _baliot ; that the durauon ef Parliaments shall uot _exceed three years ; and that the _apportionment of members to population shall bo made more equal . '

      Ths National Land Compakt —Sir B . Hail said he wished to put a question to thc honourable and learned member for * \ _* otcing ba _™ ( Mr P . _O'Connor ) witb reference to the National L » nd Company , xbe Company had , asyet , bven onl y registered n » a prnvi » l .. ual Cjinpauy . He wished , therefore , to ask the honourable mtmber for _Nottingham whether , as one of the origi muors tf this Company , it was hi * intention t . > _plaea tbo Company in a position to obtain a certificate of complete registration ? Mr _O'CojiNoa said , that as soon as the Comrauy wag established , he applied to the certifying barrister , Mr Tidd Pratt , for a certificate of _registration ; but ' Mr Pratt then declared , in cons-queue , of a judgment which-, had been delivered by ilr Justice Wignrman . ibat ho coiuidend it wa » not In bis power toctmt ' y tht Comp-ny He ( MrO'CJnnor ) . therefore , had the Company provisionally _registered . Having proceeded to a certain point , he ( Mr O ' Coanor ) found that tb » expense of com .

      plete registration would be _enormous . Ho Lamed that many companies wero only provisionall y registered , as that save ibe members of tho companies eatcient prot ction ; but he was most anxious that this Company should bo completel y register , d . Ha was , however , _recommesded to bring in a bil to do away with the necessity fur complete reglstra i n in this case . He brought in _s-jch a bill at as early a period _aj possible ; it had i een presented to tho house , and had been ordered to b _, piinted ; nnd he ( Mr O'Conn- r ) Had named tho curliest day he could for the _sccecd read-ID ? . He mlgbt also _utatethnt , in tbe event of the houso refusing to sanction the _biL _, it _wau his _deternrnatiun , cost what it might , to procure the complete registration of the Compiiny , fer nothing ir _.-uM give him more _eatUfaetlou than to be _hitojjether dUeharged from the o-. _erous responsibilities nhich _noturally " attached to a person who held tbo position ko held rtit ' h regard to a _society _nuniborlog 100 , 01 , 0 persons .

      i > ir B . Hall unritrbteod tbat tho hon . gentleman had fixed thc second _reading of his bill for the llth of Jane , and he _Righed di . _tlnctl y to _underhand tfee hon . number that , if the bill did not pass , lie would proceed to obtain the complete registration of the Company . Mr O'Connor said it was his determination , if the house retused to sanction his bill , at ouce te obtain the complete registration of theCompany .

      Tue London Repealers. We Bave Received F...

      TUE LONDON REPEALERS . We bave received from our reporter an account of the usual meetings of the London Cor _. fcdcrnte Onibs . . it whicii resolutions were _passed condemning the Linerick _outrages and _expressing « ympathy with _MessiM O ' Brien , Meagher , and _Milclul . An _a-iartg _^ te meeting of the London ltepealera was held in t ! ie City Theatre , on Saturday last , which was densely _ciowdtd . Mr Dohenv delivered an cl > quenfc _addiossiu favour of Repeal . ' Mr Daly and _Baveral other _speakes _aUo addressed the meeting .

      Tub Ciuntkr Versus -Cue Nkw Reform, Move...

      Tub CiunTKR versus -cue Nkw Reform , Move _, mint —At a _Hineti-if , ' or tho _WtB'minjter Debating Society bold at the rooms of tins Charter C . ffeehouse . Strutton Ground , on Saturday evening , May 1 st , Mr Cattoy in the chair , Mr Stall-rod _brru ; bt forward the subject of the ' Now Reform M- vcment ' now in opcrati ' ii _ninler the _auspices of Mr Joseph Hume , Mr Richard OnbuVn , and fifty other n _etube-o of Parliament . He _vi-rv narrowly scanned their ' four points _'—Ilousth hi _Suifrnfr-N H . _il'or , Triennial Parliament .- " , » _n (! _E-j'ial Electoral l ! i . _» _tiiets — snd showed _thsir _mt-ins . their value , ard the nit ana at

      the disposal of their advocates for their attainment , —coinpared th eir Hl . ort comings , _^ _wit-h these prin . cil ) lt' 8 con ' a _inttl in tho People ' s Charter , and as _n oeople ' _n poller rec ommended thatthey _sliou . 'd stand firm to _Clm _' _-Vm , whilst they a ' lowcd the fVuw Reonii Movement io _pi-ig : tss onward , free from any adverse amen'inieiits or any obstructive policy , lie was fo lowed in able _spjeche-s by Messrs _Rf adin ? ,

      Dalnmpie _, tie B _ht-, ;* w Cafer Watford and _Bvfltcid . The d ebate was _ultmiatW Dalnmple _, He r > .. _* _- ' _' . _C'tfer _ttatord Md _BVfltCld . Ti . C d ebate was _ultunatW ¦ be motion of Mr Irviuc _, uir . il ¦ v . " ) . May _lo'h , nteifbto ' clock . A Skuct IIa :. v . Mt : _:: _,-.- » _ir- _Miirq-ii : * of _UtiUlvwUl's , _W'irri | fin -re . on Monday , May 22 d , Mr Street , a llefcrmer of lorty ) c 11 il lull

      , Y Adjourtm' Pi. , Y Adjmirtm Pi^ Katur...

      , y _adjourtM' pi . , y adjmirtM pi _^ _Katur _' _^ _AhU _^^ , _^ r . \/ X _< - - ~' y <\ _iwill l _>§» - _$ / _$ a _^ :.. atr _^ tp _;^ _K | _avWfA -or _^ _f _^& oi _^ fttJr _^ * : rB * ' _^ ju | r / . r 7 _^ P , ., auu _tur' _^/ ahj _^ _ref . _^ ¦ il i > f _» _iU _§ _J - ¦ or _HhfmxaMM * : W ¦ _£ _& fi ••• ¦ ' _«; _tf _^ i « _ . ' <¦ Y _jV

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 13, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_13051848/page/1/