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National Victim Committkb.—A special mee...
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The National Assembly. Saturday, Mai C. ...
, _-fl , ! in _jlautUCv _Uluin Mr _i - , hild . _jojtcced to the Ki-in _^ _« _fiictttioris . .. j _nAi mean to read it , ¦ _tueCim _^ _s said , hedi _ntf _^ _^^ to feat simply to _stMe-h-y caiieu v disperse . ( Laut _* hter . ) , t _^ i deal of Mr _Cnni »» d 1 b _^ V _« _enTin _^ rlrioa 8 par . 8 of En - Roney had bsen lately _»^ V _° _^™ that Asse _^ _a-2 nd by certain parties nmdertohnn | _^ _^ _bly _intodisgraca _<*** ¦ lh _^ ™ ; t _K mi 1 Jht add that ennr _* ed stsuch letters a » « , efc - " - _werQ as _that As-embiy . they wonld s _< . on be tne _nhmkie and _weik country m th ] world , _" On Mr ErSB _, tJo 5 KS bringing forward the ne * part of the orgauisation-the duties cf local 0 J ? _rtssx saidbefore gains t » that qu « t . r . n . be
M , tkruehttbeyShnldmore _% rpHaily define the du-S _ommis _sioners - he would , therefore _, _mov-• Thatitb 2 theduty ofthecomra _™>> Y _% _^ f _™ Executive in carrying into practical effect trie new _5 S _™ _oSanisation _. » 1 «> to collect _statistical _^ _inf _. _xrr , ati , n up ™ the _CDnditionof the _^ _unngand _mddie _elates , the number of inaiviiuals in « iff > rent _b-anehes of trade and labour , out of emp loyment also the operative causes that have p _roduce-i sucb want of employment ; increase cf _pauperism and _pr > r rates : a _' _so to concentrate public . pinion on tne various nwe _questions of policy that may spring into _f- < ri .-tenee from different classes of Ret _' _irmers . _
' Several delegates opposed the motion , as beim / _« nt of orier . the Assembly having already decided the question . gec £ m ( kd tbe motion aS _-acutely _necessary , in order to g ive the commissioners proper instructions as to what tbey bad te do Mr _Ersest Joses objected , that _tiw collection ol the information referred to by Mr West wou _. d be attended with great expense , and req uire , _» mmedi . _attlv . the whole of their time . Tbe Assembly had cot the funds te _d-i this ; and he must say , with _, out any imputation upon the patriotism of Mr west , thit those who were so exceedingly anxious ior minute instructions did not show any great zeal for _tV duties of thc office . What the _corcmissioneM were exoected to do , was to obey the instructions of the Exscative _, and to do their best to promote the Chartisfc cause , according as circumstances might arise . _Th-y _* _-onld , in fact , be lieutenants of tbe Executive _chared with carrying out the instructions which
thev might receivefrom time to time . Messrs _Hssby and Mr Child opposed Mr West s motion . . . j . t , Mr _DotovAS really did not see woy any doubt Sheuld rest upon this matter , and what mBeaiyy there would ba in fixing the duties of the c . immis-Several members protested agaiESt the whole discussion as _beins irregular . ... . Mr West said , that to obviate the objections to his motion , he would add , that ' it Depart of the duties mertiosed in his _motion . The discussion _uprm the question was continued for fome time further , but no new point was eii-B 4 ted
. Mr West replied . He did not expect tbat the _commissioners were to be immediately paid , or put en duty ; buthe did _sav , that they ought to takesteps _, immediately on their return to their different dis tricts _, to collect inch information as he bad pointed out . They esald do so in the manu f acturing distots , and he could only S 3 y , that one of the most powerful _a-tfocifttif . n _* ever known in this countrythe Aat > Co-B-Law League—had materially aided its popularity and power by the collection and diffusion of such information . The motion was then put , and declared to be lost . The duties of _lr-cil and district officers were , after
a d ' i 5 CU % _sion ju whieh mauy ofthe delegates too * part , agreed to be 2 s follows : — ' To keep an account of the names of _members in their respective localities ; to furnish a _weekly re _gister of the increase or decrease of members ; and to forward a _financial account of tre localities to the Executive . ' The duties of district offieers were _agrea-l to be * . — 'To keep au active superintendence ever tha localities , and to furnish a weekly report to th : Executive , stating the number of members in eaeh locality , tbe total in each district—likewise , the _stste of trade , the general feeling of tbe _people , aa d the movements t . f all public bodies .
' Ail local and distriet officers to furnish a certia cation of their election to the Executive , together with tbeir respective residences , as soon as possible ; that they U 3 e their best endeavours to carry ont the _instrnctiorjs of the latter body . ' The Victim Fund , Defence , _Registration , and _Elecfinn Committees , are confirmed as at pre * ent Constituted . ' It « as _aisaresolved , ' Tbat an _offise in the metre po : '; s te immedi _etely taken . ' Mr _Shahpe moved , ' Tbat the plan of organisation be adoDted as a whole , printed , and circulated _throash ths _csnntrv forthwith ' Mr _Wheum _seconded the _reaolution _, which was earned by a large majority _. Standing Army .
Mr Rankis moved , * That this Assembly it of opinion , that a standing army is contrary to tbe pr _inciples of tbe British Constitution , and inimical to the liberty of the subject ; we therefore _recomc-erjd to fhe country the-necessity _oflarse public meetings in favcur of a gradual abolition of the finny , by _allowing the men to retire _nnori giving timely notice ; also , in favour of the abolition of _fiogoing ; an equalisation of pay , raising officers from the rar , ks ; and a better provision for veteran ? —the provision to b 9 in _proportion to their services , and to be given either in _inor-ey or land . ' He said , it was not his intention to waste the time of the Assembly by anv remarks upon tfce _ration , because he believed there was not a delegate present who was not as well _acquainted with the system by which the "British army was recruited and enslaved , as -ie was _Jti-QSelf .
Mr _ils- _' uT briefly seconded the motion ; The pri-Tate soldier had all the fi _^ _htins acd tha danger , ¦ w hile the officer _ha-1 all the pay and the honour ; and the position of a private _foldi-r in the British army was one of the most miserable ar , d deeraded that conld be conceived . Whatever miuht be his talents or abilities , he could never rife in the army . The _positions of power and emolument there were all reserved for _tte scions of aristocracy . Besides this , he contended thet the people cf this enuiitry should be armed , and bs trained ta the de ence of their . iv ? 3 and _properties , and _thU 3 supersede the _cecessity for a standing army ,
Mr Ktdd supported the motion because he believe : * with Mr _Rsnkin , that it was _opposed to thB principles of tbe British constitution , and had ever been the great strength of tyranny . The tenure by which the old feudal fcarons held their lands was , that they should r . iise a certain number of armed men for tbe d _« ience of the country ; but they now held these lands , and threw npon the taxes raised from the people , the burlen of supporting the army—while , in addition to tha lands tbey formerly possessed , there had been ns less than 2 , 600 enrfasure bills passrd . by which Six millions of acres of common lands , which used to be the _property of the people , had been taken from tbem , and the whole tendency of the government of the fr-udal aristocracy bad bsen to oppress tbe middle and working classe ? , and it _ivas time for theai to Unit-- _tf > oppose this _system .
Mr _Wkst _fa 3 glad the motion had been _brought _forasr ' , and , after a few observations upon the financial burdens and injurious political tendencies Ofa _lar _^ e _standing army , concluded by giving it his Cordial support . Messrs Pilling , Child , M'Carthy , Shaw ( Tower Hamlets ) , Basset , Dixon , and other delegates , supported the motion , not because they wished to use any c _' _ao-trap to secure the sympathies * f the soldier ? , but in order to show that the Chartists were de _« rou 3 th 3 t all their fellow subjects should enjoy the Tieht » of citizens ; and the brutality of flogging , as well a 3 the system fey which the poor man was _precluded from rising ia the army was strongly condemned . The motion was carried _uajnimously , and after a short discussion ,
Oa the motion of Mr IIekbt , it was resolved , — c That an address , explanatory of ihe enslaved and degraded position of the British army Ehonld be issued , 33 an antidote to the inducements oifeied by tbe recruiting sergeant . Deputation to Mr 0 ' Connor . Mr Adams , on behalf of the deputation to Mr . O'Connor , reported tbat they had been appointed to wait upon that gentleman to ask when he would bring forward a bill in the House ot Commons , _founded npon the People's Charter . Mr O'Connor had stated that Mr Hume had _^ iven notice of his intention on tht 2 l _st of May , to bring forward a motion for Universal Suffrage , based upon a year's residence , Vote by Ballot . Triennial Parliaments , and Equal Electoral Districts . ( Hear , heir . ) This being tbe case , Mr O'Connor was of opinion tbat _heshould not bring
for-¦ _WHld aBT motion until that was decided , but _attsr _th--t he should ba ready to bring forsvard such a _mctioij as would embody the whole of the principles Of the People ' s Chatter . It was necessary for him to give fourteen davs' notice of his iBteDtion to da so , which he would tike the earliest _apportunit ? of doing ; and it was also his wish that the people in the various _towBBtnsoughoutthe country should be prepared tn _sapper , him by means of petition , which wou . d _mattrbtliv strengthen him in _bringing _forw-ird ths . motion . ( Hear , hear . ) He prop-. sed that tho townin _- cotiand , for instance , should _taue np a particular p _iM-t _^ n of the reoi _. le ' s grievances , and also meet the _obje--t ; on * that had been made to toe Peoplr . ' . GUTi .: . e . r , especially that which was based upon tne w . _iut of education , and to show tbat if ths people were uot properly educated , it was because the large Church revenues which were left tor ths _purpose o
¦> uu _> _- ahon , had been wre .-ted from tbe people , aDo oneh " . to bs restored to tbem . ( Hear , bear . ) li _' each town « _hu- ; con-ecutively took up different parts of tb _penes ' * grkvancs , and forwarded them to theirowi members , these _petitions would form a history _c their grisvances ; aad though members were precluded
The National Assembly. Saturday, Mai C. ...
from reading tha petition , when p esen ' . icg them , he could avail himselt of his privi e . e of moving that tbey ba read by the clerk at the table , and tbu 3 the question would be forced upon the attention of the honse in a most powerful manner . They had been talking much of a conciliatory policy , bnt th'S was _whatmitht be termed a perplexing policy . ( Hear and laughter . ) This report _wasrecp _' ived with loud applause , and , on the motion of Mr Rankix , seconded by Mr M'Lkan _, was received . Several notices of motion were then given by various _delei-ates . Mr _Harorbavei moved , ' That the _Assembly re commend to che country the total abstinence from all inioxieating drinks , as a means of crippling the government in its finances . '
This motion e ; ave rise to an animated debate , in which _Messrs Stevenson , Mathews , Carvkk , Shaw ( _rotrer _Hamlets ) , and Adams , took part , the _gener-J opinion being that while such amotion , if adopted , would _n-t ba _generally acted upon , it would have no effect _whatever in crippling the government , _because , if it failed to raise the revenue in ene way , it bad ample means ib its power to do so by others . Tbe _debate was not concluded when tbe hour for adjournment arrived , and it was accordingly adjourned until Thursday .
THURSDAY , Mat 11 . The Assembly met at nine o ' clock , Mr Dixon in tbe chair . _Standinq Army . Mr M'Grath rose to move to rescind so much of the minutes ol yesUrdav ' s business aa _referred to tbe resolution pissed -. b-ut tbe standing army . lie had not the advant _^ te _<« f bring _present at tbe _discussion eif tbis resolution ; but he was _obliged to suppose tbat the _Assembly had not adopted it without csnsideration . _F-r himself , be had the opportunity of knowinn the opinion if the _wirkinu classes , and he knew that they were opposed entirely to the principle of a standing army . The 6 _r- « t use which they were
inclined to make of th _^ Charter , aa tbe law of the land , would be to di-b _md the standing army and to replace it by a _rational Guard ; but wbat did the _violation adopted by the Assembly mean ? Why , one part _con-rjdicted another . The first portion declared tor the abolition of tbe standing army . But having declsrtd for the abolition of the army , the _Assembly then declared fer a modification of it . Hecould tell them tbe people _R-ould never be induced to seek and to uo 'or a modification ofa bad system . In one part of the resolution they carried the abolition of the army , but in another they went to make the army more attractive , tbat m < _-n _mhiht be induced still furclser to come f < rward and join it . Mr _Doxofanseconded the motion .
Dr M'D _a-ALLhad heard nn reasons why a portion of the _resolution should _fee rescinded , because in it the Assembly _tud passed certain recommendations _sb'iut tbe army as it was . Mr _K'Gbath said , if he had the Charter he would abolish ihe standing array ; and he agreed tbat thore ou _,-bt to be no standing army in England itself . But wben tbey looked to the colonies and to the commerce of _tbs _couDtry , ha felt that eney mast hsra a _standing army of one kind or ano'her to protect these colonics and that commerce . Tke first portion of the _resolution recommended the abolition of tbe standing army in _Eaglan- _* , and tbe second portion _recommended certain medifieutions ot the array as it now was _. Alter some further discussion the motion was put to the vote and _rejected in favour of the resolution of yesterday , by a msjority of twenty against seven , _Teetotalism—Adjourned Debate .
_MrAssi _said _. be had bten a _teetotaller of thirteen years although he held tbe principles , to fit that instead of being but there to discuss Mich a question , tbeir busineaB was to ico forward as _fpeedlly as possible with the _organisiiiin nf the country , MrTEBSnN was anxious tbat they _Ahould come tothe practical questions that affect the Chartir ; although they negatived tbi 3 motion , no one conld suppose tbey approved ef men _abusiog theraselTcs , Ultimately , the vote having betn taken , the amendment , that no such question be _entertained , was _declered _carriel with two diBSentientP . Dr il _D-.-rAIiIi _fitatrd , the _correspondence was exceedingly cheering . The organisation of the eonntry was pnee ding very rapidly ; thst in the Newcastle district _tb-y _exp'Cted t _* enrol 20 , 000 _membera in two or three weeks , atid ia _C-rnwall the Chartists were r _. ry strong . The letters _eipreseed a strong wish tbat they should go at _onea « ith the memorial .
Memorial to the Queen . Mr _Easssi J 0 SE 3 moved , — ' That immediate Pt _; p 3 be taken t 9 present tho memorial to ths Que- , n in person . Tbe sooner they know who was the ruler of this _couo . _t-y . whether tbe people or the Sovereign , or _tner < _. ly a faction , the better . There w . ib no law _compelling them to _transmitic _throuik the Home _Secretary . After the treatment which lhe National _Patitioa met with from that _tresf onable minister , he would have nothing to do withhim . Sir George Grey had betn gniity oftreaEonto the people , to bis Sovereign , aud to the country ; in bringing ia the G -gzing Bill , and treating their petition in the way he had done .
Dr _M-Douall thought nothing could be added to what had fallen fr _.-m Mr Janes . But he did assert in the name ofthe w <> mtii , of the Assembly , of the c untry , and nf Ilis profe _.- » ion , that it « as a cruelty to the Q letn in hnrryinz hr > r _awsy to Osborne , which the poorest msn wonld not soff r to bs esercised towards bis wife . Aud thit , was donab ' . _canse the Chartists _wonM hurt a woman ! He repudiated this , and seconded the motion . _Tfe » motien was carried nnanimously . Mr Adahs moved , — ' Tnat th * _Executive be instructed to write immediately to the Lord _Chamberluia , to inquire when her Majesty will receive the deputation entrusted wi'h the mem- rial Mr Child _arcandedtfcis . The motion was carried unanimously . _J / _etrenoKtan Demonstration .
Mr Leach moved , ' That a metrop ditaa open-iir meeting be _ht-ld , for the purpose of adapting the _National _Memorial ' Mr _Vebkos- said , that one meeting would Rot give the sense of the metropolis . They must bave at _leatt four meetings—tas * , west , nortb , and _s < mtb . Mr _EesesX Jokes was most _aaiious that they should have one great and magnificent _demanatrasion of the men of London , in order tbat those who assembled on _Kannin / _rtoo Common might show themselves again in as Ijrge , or Btill larger _numbers , and prove tbeir _devotion to lhe c » _ose , and answering the _disparaging remarks of the press . He was decidedly opposed to four 8 < _-ctiotial meetings . It on _^ ht to be one great and imposing _ussemblage , snd he would suggest that they ought to resolve npon that , andl'ivete a committee the duty ol mailing the _a- _> c _** sary arrangements . MrLBAca ssid , that met hi * views—and he would , therefore , rcove bis motion with that _addition .
Mr Wheeler wished to know If a procession was to _accompany the _presentation of the memorial , because , if so , that would be the _3 _emonstralion . Mr West said , ihey bad already passed a resolution to write to tbe _Lird Chamberlain , requesting to know when a deputation could ba received . Noiv ha did not understand that there wbb to be any procession to accompany that depntation , and he fjr one would not be tnaie a fool of again by voting for a procession vthieh after all woald not take place . _HrM'CaiE said , the view ofthe Business Committee was the following ;— . They understood that not mere tban foar persons coil I present a memorial , and , therefore , did n t propose that any larger number should present it . But the memorial had not been adopted by any aggre-gate meetlog ia the metropolis , and they considered that before ihe delegates went back to the ceuntry t ! = _* y ehonld hava an opportunity of judging for _themEeVres the state of public f-. elia _^ in London .
Mr Piuino said , they hed been told in Lancashire that the London people were quite up io tbo mark , and be being now iB _Londnn wished very much to judge with his ona eyes si to the _tru-. h of that _Btatement . Mr Cartes , wss of opinion that they ought to have _otte large _mtetiivg , aad that shortly , for they would many of them bave to ret-urn home soon . ( Hear , hear . ) There certa ' nly was a feeling ia tbe country , that the meu of London were not animated by the enthusiasm and determination which It had bsen represented ty some pzrties they were . He wished , therefore , to see tGr himBelf , and _iftboywereeo enthusiastic , tbat he might _hovetbe _pleisure of _tahing back the views to the country .
Mr J . Shaw ( Tewer _Hiuilet _*) wbb of opinion thatthe city ot London bad never yet been fairly tc _sted on the _qd-stion , and h _* fur one , was incst desirous that tbey should have a meeting in the centre of the city . He would therefore _propose tbat they should ask the Lord Mayor for tho use of tbe Guildhall —( oh , and laughter ) — it might sound ridiculous , but previous Lord Mayors bad acceded to requests for the use of that hall , thongh they did not agree with the party who asked for it . If the Lord Mayor refused , they could then with more propriety bold ameeting in Smithfield Market . Mr _SHiaaoN moved , — ' That they should first decide how the memorial should be presented . ' Mr Wheileb seconded this , MrMAasDEN said , the _people ought to have a public demonstration and a procession through tbe streets of London , in order to show the gentry tbat they were it-Vrmvae 4 to _rsun their rights .
Hr Yebnoh said they should bring this question to an issue . Hi wat watching very carefully the decision ot - . he _Awaixbiy oa this pant . It waB tho policy of the _go-F-. _rjment to wear them out _tvith _dtlav , but tb ' 3 policy mast ba put an end to —( cheers ) —they ought to fix a day for fairly trying tbe question at _iBiue , and he said that 111 ; _people ol England should go in a body , and present th = ir memorials themselves , ( Sear , hear ) Mr _ERt- ' £ ST Jones considered the discussion . cf tbi _< qnaniou was quiie premature . They were not at _present in a position to decide _whether tbey should have fl
procession or uot . Individually , ho was _received if he ever eitaia took part in any procession , that it would be one from _whicii ho would net draw back . _H- _? implored . ' u-Assembly to a _£ opt no _meaBuna they weuld not be ¦ ibie to cany through , but when _tdopted , tbey would stand b- ; it , I ; had been said that tbe meu of Loudon * _-ere » unk iu apathy : they might , tberotorr , huld the T . _rviinr and it would then be time to think of a proces . sion , Mr Kidd said that in the _prssent state of public feel . , sg aad the relations of the government to the people , re .
The National Assembly. Saturday, Mai C. ...
_mutnberiag the _lOih of April , tne _resolution ot iun > - A _» - oembly to hare another procession , would be tantamount te a declaration of war . Their hst procession was avowedly one of peace . They Issued an express instructlsn that the people wero ts come unarmed , and took every means in their power to impress tbe public witb the { act that they intended to have recourse to no other than peaceable ond constitutional meanB , yet the press and tbe government took the mutter up as one which was intended to be a physical force revolt , and had taken _precautions agslnst snch a revolt of which they
now _boatted as a proof that tbe institutions of this country wero firmly rooted in thegreat miss _of _/ _trwpeople . He therefore s Ad , that btfore again _resolvin _* upon holding a procession , tbey should _noe their way clearly , and satisfy themselves that they would be really backed by the people , and also that . nob . a demonstration had a reasonable chance of effecting the object for which it was intended . For his own part , if ever the people in tbe mas . _revived to hold 0 procession he Bbould not shrink from taking , as on individual , his place in it , and he bade the government and tho upp _. r _clasi . 08 to _bewvre . for the people would not consent to be
trampled upon . Mr _M'Ihtosh said , if the peopio of London were prepared , tbe people of the country were quite prepared to march or act in any way that that Assembly might resolve upon ; as to want had been said by Mr Kydd about the peaceable inj unctions cf the late Convention , they never would have had thofle VdlmntmeB , the specials , come out in such numbers . If they had expected the people would be armed , but as it was , they had get a cheap reputation far courage , ( Hear , hear , ) Dr M _DaDAlt- deprecated the discussion of this question , in _ordtr _thu the government might not bavo any reason for interfering with them , until they were pre pared for euch interference . Wiih respect to the real queation before them , they _raUBt have public meetings , _because they all know that there had boen divisions both in and out of tbat Assembly , and they needed public meetings , to know to what extent , or whether nt all , that _divisioa had weakened them , and what was tbe
real strength at their command . Mr _M'Cabtht considered that having meetings would not prevent tbem from having a procession also ,. Mr Adah » moved as an amendment : — 'Tbat _lurgo public meetings of the people bs coovencd ia the several great divisions of the metropolis , to ti > Bt thorn aB te their willingness to have a procession on the occasion of the presentation of the National Memorial . That these _meetings ba held on _seveml successive nighU , and tbnt tbe members of this A < semb ! y attend these meetings , and from the attendant circumstances be able to dtcidu as to the propriety of holding a procession on that _occasion , He would oppose the risk of another prccesBijn until he saw _th-y were fit for it . I- would be a most foolish , dangerous , and rash proceeding for tbom to have anotier procession , until they had ascertained tbe readiness of tho people to carry out the object for which alone auch a procession could be instituted . The mo _' . ion having been _seconded ,
Mr Child said , they were seBt thor * to decide what was to be done , and not to ask tbs peop le tbat question . The people locked to ih & m as thtir ekctod representatives , to lay dotvn wbat were the best means to adopt for obtaining the People ' s Charter . It was of no use for them tt » ask tb . 8 people of London sucb questions at pnblio _meetings . The people of _London were prepared to tike any means in their power for that purpose which were not likely to be fatal to the cause , and to bring them iiito premature and unnecessary collision _wl _^ h the governtKent . ( Hear , hear . )
In the discussion which followed this amendment , Messrs _Hargrt-aves , Stevenson , Mitchell , Arkell , Ernest J > nes , Thomas Jones , Donovan , and other delegates took part , and Mr Leach _having replied , tha original motion for a large _metropolitan demonstration , wns car . _rieiJ , and a committee of Seven delegates appointed 10 make tho necessary arrnngementp—Messrs _M'Gr . _'th . Snaw , r _' trnon , _Daeset , _TViieeler , Child , nnd M'Cirthy , The Assembly then adjourned till _balf-past two o ' clock .
AFTERNOON SITTING . Repeal of the Union . Mr West said , that he might give the members an opportunity of expressing their own , and the opinions of their constituents , on the _questiou of Repeal , he rose to make his motion on the subject Ths people of Ireland won id also see that the people of this country were not invo _' vod in the _mmorem ment of the _neighbouring island ; that they were not mixed up with the English nobility in their abuse of the Irish . The parliament whioh concluded the Union were no mere the representatives of the nation than the parliament which entailed on thi * nation the National Debt . The people were unanimous in that country that the time was come when that Union ought to ba repoa ' ed ; and he _trusted that , however Lord John Russell might say he _wouH _resit-t Repeal to the death , he would noS lone have
an opportunity of doing so . He , therefore , moved'That this Assembly records _i's deliberate _conviction _, that tbe so-called 'Union' between Great Britain and Ireland is m just in _principle , inasmuch as it abrogates tbe first and greatest _right of the people of all nations—namely , the right of self-government , and also because it is notorious that such _'so-callco Union * was _accomplished by th _? basest of fraud ond force , aed was never _sasctiont d by the Irish people ; and it also declares that , aa a connexion , it has proved injurious and unfortunate to the people of both countries , inasmuch as it has increased English taxation , and multiplied Irish grievances ono hundrcdfo'd , and , _thcrelorp , those _comro ' _-ssionera who may bs sent into the country by tbe Executive , ba _inatructed to advocate tbe repeal of the law known as the Act of Union , and on all occasion * to conciliate and fraternise with onr Irish brethren . '
Mr _Ktvd _sconded this motion , from no so-called national _feeling . He did so because ho considered self-government was the right of tho people . From the Romans the English people inherited their _municipal governments , and one efthe grand _charaeteristica of good _gavernment waa a _repve & _eHtative adm i nistration . Ha might refer tbem to the case ot Norway . That _country , so long as it formed an _integral part of Sweden , was poor and miserable ; hut sixty years after it had been severed from _Sweden , it had become greater and more _prosperous tban Sweden itself . Solone as they bad Ireland and _Sci'tland poor and miserable , being integral parts 0 ' a centralised government , and while they had Norway in batter condition than Sweden , they were compelled to advocate the Repeal ofthe Irish Union . Before that Union England was in tbe habit of importing Irish linen , because the manufacturers there could make a better article , but notv 'hat trade was entirely destroyed .
Mr Lbach wasbappy this question bad _hifin taken up . It had beea said that a famine had occurred last year . Ye » at the same time it was tbe fact that the country bad produced as much as two quarters of grain per head for man , woman , and child in that c un ry , and vegetables in asimi . ' ai- paragraph . He rhen read returns of exports from tbe port ol Drogheda , acd asked _whether , in sigbtof these fac s , they were not guilty of blasphemy in calling it a famine , a visitation from heaven ? Mr T . _Civark _agreed that this question was important to _Emr _' aod and Scotland , where the _population had _exce-sively increased by the influx of tbe Irish . Mr Henry supported the motion .
Mr Adams felt himself called upon to aid the Irish _, who were in the habit of aiding the Chartists of Glasgow . The Union was an evil , procured by corruptisn . The present _antagonism of Protestants and Catholics arose from tbe Irish Church , upheld by the English government , and it would never cease till the Union had been repealed , and the nation were allowed to express its own will in it * legislation Mr _Ramiin _opposed the Union , because all mon had a right to self-government . Mr M'Grath , in supporting tbe motion , said there never had been an Irish parliament Till the time of the Volunteers they could not draw a bi 1 lieae ! , _anel even after they had framed the bill the Lieutenant _rnifjht quash it . Such it was before the Volunteers had _achieved their liberty ; but shortly niter came the parliament which raised £ 1 , 500 , 000 to pay themselves , to bribe themselves , for _paasin _» tb 8 Act of Union ; The Union was consummated , and thc _misery of the Irish made complete .
Mr llosovAtf assured them that neither the English nor tbe Irish had anything to do with the _Un-on , it was completed by the aristocracy of both countries . Messra Mackintosh and _M'CARiav supported the motion . Dr _M'Duuau . recollected the time when _inGallowayshirethey hf . d to send round _drumi and fifes for Irish reapers , and gave them Si . or 3 _i . GI- a day , now wages were come dewn to Is . and Is . 61 . The _Chartisw had already presented a petilion with 8 , 000 , 000 signatures for the Repeal . But Ireland , with Repeal , would yet require Universal _Suffrage . It yet required a proper tenure of land . Now a new cat on the farmer ' s back was the signal to the middlemaa to wring out additional rent- All hope was thus taken from men . Messrs M Crae , _Mathers , and Vernon supported the motion .
Mr Marsden * thought there was a good dealof coaxing practised on the Irish members of tho Assembly . lie believed that one government for Great Britain and Ireland was the object of all of the members , and he would have them say at once to the Irish , ' You wish for repeal , the same repeal an we wan _* - _Universal Suffrage , andthe other prinoiples of the Charter , made the law of the land . Tho same L 'overnment tbat oppresses you , oppresses us . ' Now he believed that one government f _$ r both countries « ouid baa good , if that government were based on proper prinoiples . Ireland would be r one th 9 better lor repeal if it was still governed by the aristocracy . After a few _ebservation _^ from the Chairman , Messra Sbaw , Stevenson , Basset , Shirron , Coch _ranc , aud Peacock , in support of the motioD , it was 1 ut to the vote , and carried unanimously . Church and State .
Mr Casveb movdd ' Tbat the present connexion be _' _-weau Church and State is Anti-Christian , and the sooner it is abrogated the better for tiie people , tbat tbey may receive an interest in the property whcli bad been so _wicktdly wrested irom the people to whom it was _feiven at firat . ' ' Mr West seconded it .
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Mr _I ' _ilunu move 1 , ' That no men question be entertained . ' If any motion on the subject was brought forward , it ought to be f . » r the confiscation of Church property , in favour of the people . _, . , t . Several members deprecated tbe introduction ol any suoh question _before the Assembly . _^ Tbe vote _having been taken , the motion was carrel by a considerable rnejority . The Assembly adjourned at the accustomed lioor .
FRIDAY , Mat 12 . Teetotalism , Mr S _lRTBKSON said , ho was _« nder the necessity of obeying his constituents , by _bringing under the attention of the Assembly , a motion somewhat similar to one moved yesterday , but goinj ? further and placing the _Chavtiat body on a broader basislie hoped tbat the _ChartistB were prepared to make any sacrifice to gain for tbem their rights . It would be a very small sacrifice , comparatively , if they abstained from tbe use of all spirituous liquors , ale , brandy , wine , & c , tea , coffee , snuff and tobacco . He moved a resolution to that effect . The motion being seconded , Mr West moved , — ' Tbat the Assembly having twice negatived a similar motion , do notentert ' lin it , ' _, . .... The amendment of Mr West , on being put to the
vote was carried . Chartist Paper . Mr _Verson _tose to bring the propriety of getting up a daily newspaper , to advaEce the views of the _Chartit-t' , before tbe Assembly . Several districts , and especially D _^ _-an-sireet , had passed resolutions , that the 1 p inion of the Ass- mbly should be taken , _respectint : the starting cf a daily newspaper , aB an organ of the Chartist body . He was sure of it , that it could be placed on such a basis as would make it profitable , as well as a means ef advocating their views . Ha moved , therefore , that a committee of three persons should be appointed to make inquiry , and to report to-morrow if possible .
Mr Shaw ( Tower Hamlets ) seconded this , and expressed his sorrow that Mr O'Connor should have abandoned tbe proposal of starting the Dkuoobat . Ever since tbat time many of his friends had _commencvdaubscnbng their money , and were prepared to eater upon some scheme for such an object . Mr Djnovan would rather leave it to the Executive . Something very like to * hat Mr Vernon meant appeared in tbe Nobtherij Stab of _¦*»? m > in . ng , frora which he womd read a few _s _atonceS : - ltt . ' Tbat the necessary " amount , s _^ ail be raised in shares of cue _ahilliag each . ' That was low enough . 2 t _; d . * That no individual shall hold more than 100 shares . ' And some other propositions which met with hisapproval . As these propositions were already put in a tangible shape , as well as entertained bj Others OUt of doorshe telt he could not do better than move , —
, ' That the matter bf lett in the hands of tbe Executive . Mr Vermos said there was one part of the proposition read from the _Nobthbbs Stab , from which ne d tiered , lie refe rred to the preposition , That I shall have the entire control of the paper . ' By approving any such proposicion , he thought they would stultify themselves . A great many of the Chartists , especially tbe Loodon Chartists , were not satisfied now , and would noc be satisfied with the paper if it were conducted on the game principles aa the Northern Star .
Mr Child said he rose , when he could sit no longer—he rose to defend tbe Northern Star from the charge of a want ef independence _maoe against tbe Northern Star . It waa the only independent paper to which the _Charticts had access , and which had all along consistently _advocated their views , and when he _hvard that paper stigmatised as _noe independent , he hoped first to have come proof thai it was corrupt , ( llear , hear ) Mr SnAW ( Tower Hamlets ) considered this was not the question . Toe Chairman said , if they allowed one man to _m-tke a _charge against the paper another uTU 3 t be allowed to dctend it .
Mr VkbnuN assured the Assembly he did not mean tojLiarge tnac paper with corruption , or to cast any _retk-ctioa upon it whatever , lie had net menticned _tlm Northern Star , —his allusion waa quite general . Mr D . mo « an ' 8 _amendmei _. t having been seconded by Mr 'i \ _JoNus , was carried by a majority of five . Poor Laws . Mr S . Kydd rose tu move tne following resolution : ' That it is a clear right , sanctioned by _just _' ee , and warranted by humanity , thit an unenfranchised and unrepresented _peiple have a claim for a maintenance in the land of their birth , without being sub jeot to in .-ult or injury by any member of so ieiy . or by any government , and we call upon tbe _thinkinit numbers of the British Legislature to consider the propriety oi _fiuding industrial _employment for our abl j bodied labourer * , and to profitably develope our national _retources . ' lie moved this resolution in
reference to the Poor Law 3 of England , because it o . re upon the _prtseut condition ol me population ot Scotland and Ireland . _The _^ e Poor Laws were tbe subject of constant diicussion and disagreement Sumo men contended that , according to tbe fcor Law of . _EJjzabe-h , tbo poor , tbe able-bodied poor , bad a right to public maintenance . Others con tended lhat such maintenance was necessary , in order to prevent _vagrancy . For _hiresiilf , he _took higher _grounds , —he held tbat it was the right , the absolute . right of every man who cannot otherwise obtain it , to receive public maintenance in the land of his binb , ' 1 hia was the right , and none could deprive him of it . There was _to necessity for any such attempt if proper means were taken
to put the poor in possess on of the fire or six millions of acres of land thit were ieft in England uncultivated . As it stood , the New Poor Law _was the shame and the _disgrace of British history and ofthe British legislature ' . Yet let them consider the costliness of this law . From the year 1834 to the year 1842 , the expense entailed under it upon the nation waB £ 60 000 , 000 , and he had bo doubt tbat to this lime that , was _increased to £ 90 000 000 . Such a sum , if it bad be _* n laid out under the principles of humanity , would have provided 45 , 000 families with a cottage worth £ 100 , t _* o acres of land worth o £ 60 , besides 4 M 0 to commence life with . The number of individuals thus supported wonld have amounted to 225 , 000 , besides the occupation given to _locksmiths , brickla ) _ers _, carpenters , and all the other tradesmen _.
who , ior the occasion , and eome permanently , would be profitably employed . It was no theory to which he was referring , circumstances had occurred in Holland , wliich made it necessary t » open up _res _.-urces for the > t irving population . They determined on _establishing industrial colonies on certain portions of waste land . For 23 years tbese colonies nad now existed , and were the admiration of every writer of _reapectabiii-y who had visited tbat country . They succeeded bvyond expectation . Since , then , idle men consumed without _producing , and became vagabonds and criminals ; since laad uncultivated was profitless , the course was cleir . The British government ought to send tue unemployed to the ivaate land of England and _IVaies . Men had a right to live , and that right could not be neglected . Mr Stbvknson seconded the motion .
IVr Marsden said , it might deli « hfc some men , such as M . Liniartineand Mr K * dd , the Lamartine ofthe National Assembl y , to talk about the revolution of ideas , but there was very lutle _change _meanliuie being _effected in the _pieient oondition of the working ela-ses . When be was a boy , thirty years ago , the winking masses lived for them -at part h villages , and every cottage had a _garden , and in every garden a _flj-yer tho most beautiful , at least the most useful the _working raan could look upon—a styo and a pi » in it . By and by tbis state of things changed , the working men were drawn lo the towns , and thej became dependent upon trade . That could not be
depended on becauso ofthe fluctuations . He then entered into details of these fluctuations . Now , a girl of sixteen years cf _sae could , by _mi-ans of the steam loom , do as much aa two or threo men once on a time could have done . Such improvements were made in the machinery of the card room , that six persons could do as much as twelve could have done , A _spinner now could _dod'uble the quantity of work done ten _yca- _'S ago . A friend of his , a spinner in Preston , in 1838 , attended 400 spindles , and received 9 _* . for lOOlbs . turned off , but now he _s _» as attending in Manchester to 700 spindle ? , and received but 4 s . f » r 100 bs . The _saruo could ba said of other trades .
Fluctuations and machinery were depressing the condition oftho working classes . The _govert . ment , however , did nothing to remedy this . They were introducing _C'linpetiiion , for example , into the West Indian market by Hill coolies . It was high time _ttias they had protection fer their labour , and be wished nt once _shutihi" Chartists would proceed with the Memorial . Messrs D hot ah , Cochrane , _Wrbt , Child , Vbrnon , and Adams , having expressed their opinion Mr K . _YOD replied , and the motion was carried .
Armmg of ihe PeopU , Mr Ernest Jones Baid , ho had given notice of a series of eleven resolutions . The two first of these had been already unanimously carried by the Assembly . The succeeding eight were necessary for carry . ing the prinoiples ot the Charter into _eifeot , aud would ba found worthy of tbe adoption of the Assembly . But tbe last , the eleventh resolution , bore directly upon tbe organisation ot the country . When they had gat 5 , 000 , 080 people enrolled _arasm * their number they then might have hope of ge ting their bjecfc . Their great task was the physical organisation ofthe country . He would , therefore , previous to the ber resolutions
_o-. eight , more the last , to this _t-t fect . ' Inatinasmuoh as we live in turbulent times . 13 a Luropean war in imminent , as Great Britain has already been maiked to take part in the Bamo , as we are likely in tbat case to be _exposo . 1 to descents trom enemies possessed of powerful fleets , and as tog government themBelvea appear t . i expect in-Ureal _commotion , it ia cecessary that every man « _hon-d be prepared to protect his life and property . the _moresia-8 the force at the disposal of government » _, as proved by the military and polico returns , wholly inadequate to the repression el arj y movement ; it w , thcroforo , recommended that every man supply _hitmelf w . th arms , in the execution of hia
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_congti'ucioDa' right and for the maintenance of peace , law . and order . ' Ue might be permu ted to say distinctly , that in the resolution he hadjust read there was nothing at all but what was strictly legal-But why propose it ? Did tbe people not have sense enou / _rh to see what was necessary in the _cfrcumstances ? It was not his wish to excite alarm _; but he was prepared to recommend the use of physical force for the protection of their property and their life . In doing so tbe people but exercised a right , ' . he right of possessing arms and , where it was necessary , of using them . They would have them always in readiness against the coming time . When waiting and passive endurance eould no longer bo submitted to , why let them look to tbe prospect opening to them . The Advertiser of that morning recom-___ . . ____ i __;^ l , _* . _~« .. _i < _a « * h _^ _moinh _nnnnfl « f
mended the Chartists as a foody to give up their ex tretne views and promised them success if they would join the Household Suffrage movement . So it seemed that the other par < : y ceuld not do without thera _, * but he oould tell them that the Chartists could rery well do without them . Join tbeir party with Mr Hume atthe head ' , that waa pant hia Ilum-ati endurance ( Laughter . ) No , he brought forward a _resolutinn _tt'hich proposed a courso proper for tbe Chartists , and he hoped the Assembly would positively state their opinion concerning it . It was a resolution that would show the country and the government that in tho Assembly and with the Chartists there waa still ft manly heart and a manly intellect . Mr Shaw { Tower Hamlets ) , seconded the _resotttion , as in perfect accordance with his own opinion , land that of his constituents .
Mr Child was glad the resolution bad been _brouslht forward . It was quite similar to a recommendation made by the _Reiormers of 1832 , some of them at that moment the ministers ofthe country . Mr _Dosovas had a similar resolution piepared . It was the following : —' Inasmuch as tbe peope of this country have a perfect right to have arms in their _possesion , we , the National Assembly , do recommend to the whole of tbe people of the British _fcles to _get arms as soon as 'they possibly can . as the best means ot opposing foreign enemies and d <>
_mestic tyrants ; and in connexion with the moral iEfluence ofthe people , the means of _gaining the People ' s Charter' He hoped that Mr Jones would consent to embody the latter part of his resolution in his , ns otherwise he would be obliged to more it as a dis'inct amendment-Mr Henri said , in adopting thia resolution they were actiogon the principles recommended by Loid John Russell , Sir Robert Peel , and the Duke of Wellington , who continually said the only way to maintain peace was to be prepared for war .
Mr Richards said , the resolution was snch as had his support , and was nece ? _saiy to the protection of their rights ard their labour . Hia const jtuents were quite prepared for it , to go the whole hog forthe Charter and tbeir rights . Messrs _Raokin , Shaw , and Adams supported the motion . Mr M'Crae thought they had been studying the passage of scripture he had given out shortly after _enterinn tae Assembly , ' Those who have no sword let them sell their garments and buy one . ' Ic was an old _principle aud an old right . But some , in _speakinir of physical force , deprecated the use of it . What
had been gained without it ? The whole of the immense empire of the Queen of Britain had been obtained by physical force . The circumstances of tbe Chartists reminded him of a story in hia own district . A lonely widow was _e-ne night visited by a villain , who , understanding she was alone , demanded food , clothes , and money . She , under pretence of getting money for him . brought an old pistol without a luck a . d _presented it . The villain ran , and she pursued , and her visitor did not stop fir three miles . But the widow , seeing the tffect of her pistol , had a lock put on it , and ammunition purchased , for any emergency . He begged to say ' Go , and do likewise . '
Mr Vernon supported the resolution . He felt tbere was no occasion for his speaking upon it , but hoped Mr Donovan would withdraw his amendment . Dr _M'Dotjau said , it was an old recommendation , similar to one h ? had made in 1839 . The rules of the Life and Labour Assurance Company had been drawn up on the same principles . But he had alwaysgiven this advice , tbat no one need Bay what was the purpose he meant the arms for . Mr Wheeler hoped the 60 , 000 or 80 , 000 members of the Land Company would provide themselves , and have a shot at noxious animals , and such like . Messrs Mathews , Carver , Macintosh , Mitchell , Sharpe , and other delegates , supported the motion , in very animated and strong speeches .
Mr Pilliko gave a graphic account of the massacre at Peterloo , wbich he _said he believed would not have taken place bad not Henry Hunt recommended the people to have come unarmed . The cowardly yeomanry , soldiers , and magistrates , toek advantage of that , and cut them down . Mr Pilling also described , in a humorous manner , which excited repeated a _« d hearty laughler _. _^ the conduct ofthe specials of 1839 and 1842 , which was characterised by equal cruel bluster and cowardice . He gave his cordial support to the motion . Mr Arkell eaid , he had no objection'tostate that tbe _mht of every man was to possess arms . If the motion merely went tbat length , it should bave bis support , but if Mr Jones meant to make it a positive recommendation to obtain them he must oppose it .
Mr Ernhst J 0 NR 9 said , he meant to giro the positive advice contained in the scripture command ' He thai hath no sword , let him sell his garment and buy one . ' Mr _AnKBLLsaid , the Assembly had no more right to issue such instructions to the people with respect to a-me , than they had as to the purchase of any ochTartiole . The discussion , whioh occupied the whole of the remainder of the _iorenooa sitting , was & A length closed by the withdrawal of Mr _Demovan ' _s motion , and the adoption of the resolution proposed by Mr Jones _, and the Assembly then adjourned for dinner . On re assembling tbe _Chairman read a letter from Mr Harley , resigning his situation as a commissioner and also stating that he was no longer a member of that Assembly .
Mr Shirron moved , ' That the resignation of Mr Harley be accepted . Mr Shaw ( Tower Hamlets ) , before such a motion was adopted , wished to know the causa of Mr Harley _' a resignation . Mr Adam * said , as the colleague of Mr Harley , he could state that the real reason was the appearance of Mr O'Connor ' s letter in the Northern Star .. MrHARLET stated , he had beon requested to resign , net by his constituents but by a committee , aud when he returned to Glasgow , he hoped he should he able to set himself right both with _lespeot to Mr O'Connor and his constituents . Mr Adams explained , that the committee by which Mr Harley was recalled hai been appointed at the public meeting to correspond with and to watoh over the conduct of the delegates . Mr Carter wished distinctly to know , whether it was the letters of Mr O'Connor which had caused tbis recall ?
Mr Adams replied , it was because the _peoole had been deceived by the course taken by Mr O'Connor . Mr Donovan believed that the real causa was tobe foui . rj in the very correct report of their proceedings on Friday , which appeared ia last Saturday ' s Stab , and not on account of Mr O'Connor ' s letters . ( Hear , atar _. ) Mr Rankin , and one or two delegates , denied that thoy had been correcty reported , and seme of tbem had not been reported at all . [ It is only _necessary to state , with reference to this statement , that the report , as far as space would permit , was a most impartial one ; but to report all that is Baid in daily sittings of seven hours and a half , would require the whole space of halfado 28 n _Siaus instead of one /| Mr MAckmiosn having been named for the vacant office of commissioner , as being the next on the list , declined to act , and Mr M'Carthy was _appointed . At the afternoon sitting some routine business was disposed of .
Repeal of thc Poor Law . Mr Arkell moved— 'That the Assembly should take into consideration the best means of repealing the New Poor Law , aud determine _whelbertbey should petition parliament or _memorialise the Queen on the subjeot . It was their duty to show how the peope can be fed , and especially the manufacturing millions . It was all very well to talk of physical force , and other thing 3 of that kind , but , after all , the real question was , how the people were to be employed and fed . He had that morning carried a petition three yards and a half long , and eixMeen inches ide
w , for the repeal of this law , to Earl Stanhope ; but thit noblo earl had assured him , that if he were to make a motion upoa it he did not believe he would find a seconder in the House of _Lnrda , and suoh wari the obloquy with ivhich eyery man who opposed the Poor Law system in the country was covered , that it was almost impossible to make any head against it . Thoy ought to make a vigorous demonstration against such a law , not by means of physical force , but by supporting the members of both houses of the legis . latore who wore disposed to aid the people , and _thuB procure , not a physioal , but a moral revolution . ( Hear , hear . )
Mr Mitchell seconded tke re-solution , which , he was certain , would give great > ati aotionto _hiseonsutuents . The people of Lam _ijft -a had made great eff > rtB to repeal the law , with _wnich they were quite disgusted . Mr Adams said they were only wasting their time . They had appointed an Executive , aud ta them they _ous-ht to look , now , for any business ; and if they had no business , he would move—* Thut thU Assembly be dissolved , and return home . ' ( Hear , hear . ) The ¦ ui . _ation against thu _Pcor Law waB as old as that for tue Charter , and he did not sue any use in _introducing any such question . Tbey ought to do their business at once , and go home . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr J . Shaw ( Tower Hamlets ) concurred in this view , as did several other _ingnibers , ana Mr Arkel ! was earnestly advised to withdraw his motion .
Mr Akksll said , he was determined to maintain his rights . Some said te waa Mr Cochrane _' _a man _—athershewas . V •¦ _Xl'Xaii . Hq was no tafia's
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man . ( _Landmen ) He was lwt auy other person ' s 'mart , but an h « ne _* t defender of his own principles , and as to popularity , to did not care for it . Ha must insist _upaa the people being fed , and would have no hesitation in getting rid of the aristocracy in order to effect that object . Uo could tot consent to _withdraw the motion . / 1 , _)»> _.., » , _„ .. 1 a t \ . if . nt finnan * . ) -
Memorial to the Queen , Mr _EstNKsr Joses stated , that in accordance with tbe instructi ons of the Assembly to tbe Executive , he had written tbe following letter to the Lord Chamberlain : — Literary Institution , _John-ntreet . _Tottenham-courtroael , 12 th May , 1848 . My Lord , —Memorials _having been adopted to her Ala . jesty at public meetings held throughout tbe United King _, _dotn , I am instructed by tbe memorialists to inquire when her Majesty will be pleased to receive the dep utation intrusted with the presentation ofthe same . I have the honour , etc , _Eenest Jones . To that communication he had just received this reply : — St Jame . _'' a Palace , Mar 12 I 8 _i 8 .
, Si r , —I have the honour to receive your letter ; in reply to which I hare to acquaint you , that ye ur application must be made to the _Secretary ef _Sta-e forthe Home . Department , whoso duty it is to take the Queen's _pleaBure in canes In question . . t „ 1 am ' _* our obediont servant , Ernest Jones , Esq . _Spencbb ; Ho did not knew what was meant by the words in ease , dee ., but it wag not _ypry good English at all _evunta . ( Laughter . ) It now rested with tbe
_Assembly as to the next step to be taken , whether they w mid address the Home Secretary or not . ( N % no . ) If they did s _¦• , they would no doubt in duo course receive a polite repl y , requesting tbem t <> send the Memorial to the Home Office , and tbey would never hear ot it any more . It rested with them , whether they would not seek to address her Majesty through the medium ofthe great officers of tho Court , rather than to ask anything from the minister against whom he hoped ere long to see an impeachment for _tieason in the House of Commons .
Mr Child said , the Memorial ought to be presented in the way prescribed by the usual etiquette iu such matters . Mr E . Jokes _9 Md , there was no present objection to etiquette , though bag-wigs , knee-breeches , & c . were very _ridiculous thines , but the question was , whether they were to be allowed to present the Meraorial at all . The Queen was the chief magistrate ofthe country . Tbe people were _starving ; they had a right to persjnally make known their grievances to her , and no one should stand between them and that right .
Mr Child , with great warmth , said , he would move that they should comply with the usual etiquette , and act like men ot sense and loyalty . Mr Donovan _remarked tbat bt could not understand ihe law laid down in that Assembly , by those who pretended to be acquainted with these matters . Yesterday they h _^ d been assured that the Queen must receive them and their memorial , by an application to the L"rd Chamberlain , but to-day Lord Speneer informed tbem that that was a mistake , and that they must apply threugh a diiferent channel . Wbo was _rinht he did not know , but he thought it would be b 9 st for them to leave the matter in the hand 8 of the Executive , to take the proper steps , and would move a motion to thateffect . Dr _M'DnuALL seconded the motion .
Mr J . Shaw ( Tower Hamlets ) said , they had been sent tbere to take such step * as wou'd procure the enactment of the People ' s Charter , and to present the memoriaU of the people to her Majest y , and the question was why all this matter about etiquette and the mode of _presentation bad not _baen _sealed a fortnight since . It was not a question that should be left to the Executive , the Aa _« embly should settle it themselves ; tbe delegates were understood by their constituents to aw to tbe _presentation of the memorial personally ; and they had also declared , that they would sit in London until it was _fresented , but if they left it in the hands of the Ereou ' tive it ) might be six months before they heard any more of it . Mr _Richauds concurred in this view , and strongly denounced the abandonment of the du y which had been entrusted to the Assembly by their congtituents .
< The Chairman said , the question was really a very simple business matter . They had sent a letter to the Lord Chamberlain , requesting to know when her Majesty would be pleased to receive a deputation , witb the memorial , Ti _> y had received for answer that application , in sucb cases , mu _? t be made to the Home Secretary . Their next step , therefore , was to write to that functionary . Mr Ernest Jones moved That the Executive be instructed to write to the Home Secretary , requesting to know when her M ;> _ji-s'y would reoeive a depution to present tbe Memorial . ' If that course did no more , it would elicit a correspondence on the subject , whioh could not fail to have a great _influence od the country .
Mr Wbbslsb delivered a speech strongly condemf natory of the idea of submitting to send the Me . _morial to the Hume Office . He would rather that the _Assembly sheuld abandon it altogether , and re . Jira in _sulien silence , leaving the matter entirely in tho hands of tbeir constituents . _MrlluNKY _suggested that it would be judicious to write to the Lord Cbamoerlain , stating that the Assembly had no confidence in the present ministry , and therefore requesting that the Queen would hear her loyal subjects _persoually . Mr Basset agreed with this _sugse 3 tion . It was evident the government was determined to crush ther a , but he , for one , was determined to meet them . Mr Lbach said , it was nonsense to ta k in _thiswoy _. Their course was a clear one ; ic was simply to write to Sir George Grey , to know when the Memorial could be presented , aud leave all such foolish bravadoes alone .
Mr Vernon took the same view as to the next step to be taken . When they got the answer they would then know what course to pursue nest Messrs Macintosh and Stevenson having expressed their views upon the question , Mr Arkell _suggested that it would be well to ask Mr _Fisldeu to present the memorial ; that heshould get Lord Stanhope to introduce him , by exercising his ri ght as a peer ot the realm . ( ThiB question waa received with derisive laughter in tbe gallery , which gave rise to some confusion , and a sharp _skermwh between one or two of the delegates , on the ground that they did net treat each other with proper courtesy , Messrs West , Child , Kydd , and T . Clarke _having spoken ,
Mr Adams rose to protest against the proposed course of leaving the queation in the hands of the Executive as a dereliction of duty , and in faot , showing the white feather . He and his constituents had been told by one , who spoke as if he was a high legal authority , ihat they could get immediate access to the presence of tbe Queen . Upon this assurance he had been brought to London , . and he now found , after sitting : there a fortnight at a great expense , tbat the information was false . He could not be a party to any motion which would place the management of this matter iu the bands of the Executive : on the oontrary , in order to put an end to this temporising policy , he would move , — ' That the great meeting to be held at Clerkenwell-green on Mondav , should form itself into a procession , and proceed with the Memorial to Buckingham Palace , and demand hi immediate audience with the Queen , and that the _Mecutvre Committee maroh at the head ofthe precession . ( Laughter . )
Mr Rankin seconded this motion , and warmly condemned the policy of calling the Assembly together to present s memorial , which it now appeared they were not competent to do , and whicb could have been better presented by a small deputation , without all the expense wbich had been incurred . Several other Scottish d * _legates supported with much warmth this view of the matter , and a very animated , though not very friendly , debate ensued , in which Messra Carver , Filling , M'Crae , _M'Lean , M'Carthy , T . Jones , M'Grath . Cumming , Macin . tosh , Donovan , West , and others took part .
Mr _Ebnusi Jones , with reference to what had been said b y Mr Adams , admitted that ho was the lawyer who had told the people that tbey could present their memorial and have a procession , but the oircumstances had since altered , and what he now recommended wa 3 a _thorough organisation of the _country before they attempted to come into collision _witn those . rebels . in high places , who " might _aN tempt to rise against the principles of tha British _lionstitution and the advocates of People ' s Charter . Mr _AnAJH s motion was then put and nogatived , whereupon Mr Macintosh moved ;—' That the National Assembly , before breaking ?!? ' _w PP oint an earlv day for the presentation of the Memorial to the Queen by a deputation , followed " _? a Procession , and that the people be instructed to noia urge open air _demonstrations _| n every town throughout the kingdom on the day when the Memorial is to le presented . '
The debate was continued with great warmth until five o ' clock , when there were loud cries of ' vote , vote . Mr S . Ktdd moved the suspension of the standing orders fjr half an hour , to come to a decision upon the subject , but the motion was negatived , and the Assembly adjourned until nine o ' clock on Saturday
_morivag . Mr Adams gave notice that be would move on Saturday , that the Assembly should _difsolve . _Baiurdat _Atternocin . We stop the press ta announce that the National Assembly dissolved this day , with the view of taking _Bieps tor the immediate carrying out of the Finn ol Organisation adopted . The Es ; eoutive _sre entrusted to take the necessary steps forthe presentation oftho Memorial .
Be Uci Ht And For The Maintenance Ofman(...
THE NORTHE RN _STA-R . y Mav 18 . I _? 4 _^__^ A — _. _^ a _^ _^ t _^ _mm—^ a _«^———^—^¦^^^? f - _,, - " „ ¦ ¦ - — , ,., _^ — - . ! _Lun ) 4 u w < i _nntr hop
National Victim Committkb.—A Special Mee...
National Victim Committkb . —A special meetiD ofthe National Victim Committee frill be held a No . 83 , Dean-streat ,. Soho , on _Tu-sday evening next Mayl 6 ; h , at e _^ _vfe o ' _cjockpewuely . _© - _^ 5 ,:
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 13, 1848, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_13051848/page/4/
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