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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th February 1845, Edition 3 of 4, Page 6, * Note by the Editor. — The writer seems...

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      6 The Northeedx Star, February , 15 ^ ^

      6 THE _NORTHEEdX STAR , February , 15 _^ _^

      ©Sarttdt Ittwitteme

      _© _Sarttdt _IttWitteme

      M'Douall's Charges Against , Mr. O'Conno...

      M'DOUALL'S CHARGES AGAINST _, MR . O'CONNOR . _i-wssnoAiios _bt ihe _iiaxcussieb gocxcil . Tiie Chartist readers of the Northern Star are aware that at the recent investigation before tie Manchester Council , in the . case of M'Douall and leach , certain charges were brought to light , -which , if true , placed Mr . O'Connor in the position of a " traitor" to the people . -Such a revelation left that gentleman , no alternative hut to demand a sifting -mvestigation ; ana , as the Manchester * Council had been selected by Br . M'Douall as the party to inquire into the complaints he had preferred against Mr . Leach , Mr . O'Connor called upon that body to institute inquiries in his esse ; and either pronounce Mm guilty or innocent , accordin _*; tothe evidence brought before them . The Council responded to the call made on them .

      They fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 th , as the day on which they would investigate ; and _accordbglr thev desired aU the parties concerned to appear before them at ten _oV-loc-c in the forenoon of that day . The Council met at the time appointed in thc < . , := ij 3 iitteeRoom , under the Carpenters' Hall ; but vwi _:.- _^ to the excitement produced throughout _Lan-« as :. _^ * e , parties bad come in fix » m Bolton , Chorlcv , Bury , _Ashton-under-Lyne _, Oldham , Sfcrfybridgc , _Siottram , & c ., & c , to witness the proceedings . The Council , therefore , being desirousthattheinvestigation should be as public as possible , adjourned to Sic large anti-room ofthe hall . Thc names of thc Councilnieu were then called over . Eaeh one answered to Ms name ; and Mr . Thomas Rankin was called upon to preside .

      Mr . Smith being the person appointed to wait upon Dr . M'Douallafterarecent lecture in the Carpenters * Hall , gave in his report , which it is unnecessary to insert , as it has alreadv been made public through the Star . The secretary then read the following correspond ence -which had taken place betwixt the Council and the parties concerned : —

      HO . I . Hulmc , Feb . 1 st , 1845 . Dear Sir , —The Council having seen in the Star of January 26 th , 1845 , the charges purporting to have been made by you against Mr . O'Connor , and wishing to put an end to crimination andrecrimination in the ranks , bave fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 tb , 1845 , at ten o'clock in the morning , to hear all charges brought before them , and to decide on their merits or demerits with impartiality and without prejudice : holding all parties innocent until proved guiltr . They have ' ,

      - desired me to correspond with you , and to intimate _thatlHET WIU . FAT T 0 UK EXPENSES , THAT T 0 IJ MAY XOT be sr _asv toss ix IBAVELUXG . They therefore request that you will be in attendance at the above stated time . ___ By answering this letter definitely , and with promptitude , you -will oblige , for Mr . O'Connor will attend at the before named time . I must also intimate that the Council have determined to go on with the investigation , evenif you arc not there , after giving you this notice . ' I am , yours sincerely , Rich . Radfoiu ) , Sub-Secretary .

      Mr . P . M . _M-DoualL

      so . n . To the Secretary of the Manchester Committee . Sir , —Having promised towriteyou concerning Mr . O'Connor ' s case , I hereby inform you that I cannot fix anytime for meeting the Committee until after a complete settlement of Leach ' s affair ; and that I do not consider closed until your report is published , and the balance of money due to me paid into the Committee , and through them forwarded duly to me . I hope the Committee will see tiie propriety of finishing that business , and bringing it to a speedy conclusion at once . I am , yours trulv , Mr . Richard Radford . P . M . M'Douall .

      XO . IU . Hulnie , Feb . 5 , 1 S 45 . Dear Sir , —The Council liaving read your letter in tiie Star , in which you express your willingness to submit your conduct to thc judgment ofthe Manches ter Council , having perfect confidence that they will , -with -impartiality , award such , a verdict at their tribunal as your case and justice from man to man de mands , the Council have ordered me to write to Br . M'Donall , desiring him to be present on Sunday , Feb . 9 , 1845 , at ten o ' clock in the morning . The bave also directed me to write to you , informing you that they have determined to proceed with the investigation at the before-mentioned time _, lam , sir , yours sincerely , Richjlbd Rabford , Sub-Secretary . F . O'Connor , Esq .

      ao . v . London , Feb . G , 1845 . Sir , —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday ' s date ; and in reply , beg to say that I shall be prepared to meet any charge to be brought against mo before the Manchester Council at the appointed hour on Sunday next . I am , yonr obedient servant , Mr . "Richard Radford . Feargus O'Connor .

      so . r . 52 , Walcot-square , Lambeth . Dear Sir , —From the announcement you have made me ofthe intention ofthe Council to proceed without -me , I do not see that any answer of mine was at all necessary ; _butsinceyondesireit , Ican only say , without wishing to treat the members of it with * disrespect , that I have sent a letter to the "Star" in answer to that of O'Connor , In which I intimate my intention of demanding a publie investigation by a more national body , or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds . I conceive that my wishes have as much -debt to be consulted as those of O'Connor .

      I also fully expected thatthe Council would have _snsgested and enforced some plan of having the balance of money due by Leach paid to them , and thence to me ; so that all future correspondence and communications on that head , might be eff ectually prevented . I am , yonis sincerely , Mr . R . Radford . P . M . M'Dofall .

      xo . vi . The following letter from M'Douall came by the Sunday morning ' s post , and was delivered to the Council after the business commenced—it bears the London post-mark of February 8 th , 1845 .

      To the _Manelfcster Council . 52 , _AYalcot-s quare , Lambeth . Gentlemen , —My letter in reply to Mr . O'Connor -was sent to the Star for publication . Itwasaddressed tothe people , and not to you . Mr . O'Connor has forwarded that letter to you , * and I demand its publication in justice to myself , or its immediate return , so that it may fee published . In that letter / have _explained aU I know in _reference to Mr . O'Connor . 1 have likewise given my seasons why I do not choose to submit my case to you , and referred Mr . O'Connor to a public meeting . Had I had either time or money to spare , I might neverthelesshave been present . [ The Council offered to pay M'Douall ' s expenses to and from London , in order that he might have an opportunity of substan

      tiating bis charges . ] I content myself in thc meantime with a distinct and positive denial of the truth ef the following assertions of Leach—viz ., that I ever said or wrote that Feargus O'Connor "had sold the Chartist -cause at Lancaster to Government ; " or "thathe had received money for many years from Government for destroying the Chartist cause ; " or "that I had good and irrefutable authority to substantiate those charges , " You havemy word-written in denial ; and you may take it , and use it as you think proper : while I at the same time do not admit - yonr authority as judges , nor do I desire to have anything more to do with you on the subject . I do this without meaning the slightest disrespect to you < jr any of the Chartist body . Tours respeetfully , , P . M . M'Douall .

      The Secretary said that as Dr . M'Douall had denied the right ofthe Council to investigate into the matter , it became his duty to read a portion of a letter from Dr . M'Douall , bearing the Carlisle post-mark

      * Note By The Editor. — The Writer Seems...

      * Note by the Editor . — The writer seems to bave a very confused notion of his own position in relation to this said letter . It was addressed to «*? , and was therefore , when delivered to us , " ours " to all intents and purposes , to be dealt with as we should deem fitting . This is accordant with reason 2 nd common sense ; and thc law of the land is founded -an that plain and just principle . No man , not even i & e most powerful in the land , em lawfully obtain possession of a letter he has written , when once it haa passed from his hands into the _post-ofliee . Itis an offence punishable with a heavy fine for a post-master to deliver np to a writer any letter that he may have confided to his charge , no matter for what purpose , or how important soever the occasion to him for

      which he may -require rt . And this is on the just principle , that the letter is , when once out of the Bands of the writer , no longer his property , but the property of the party to whom it is addressed . Precisely so in this case ; and-therefore tho "demand " of Dr . M'Donall to the Manchester Council , that they should "return" what neither belonged to him northern , was _eithor dictated by profound ignorance j f _r-Tcial duties aud the amenities of life , or by assuvaiwx : as " - _^ pudent as it was glaring . The letter was a-c- ' jj us [ not by Mr . O'Connor , aa Dr . M'Douall _-St _^ _t-esj to the Manchester Council , with a note intimating why it was sent , and a direction that when it

      nad been read before them at the investigation determined on , it should be returned to us , to whom It _belonged . It was not without reason that we so sent It . We sawthronghthe trick whieh itwas attempted to make us aparty to ; and we properly foiled it , by sending tne _aoKDiwuttobefiTst _nssdby those who had determined to investigate into the charges which that document pretended to explain away Now we publish it , every word , excepting the P . S . ' , which . relates -solely to , another and different party , and : another and different affair—the Glasgow proceeding "We publish it jnst as _received—makuig m . it neither alteration ; addition , nor omission , other than the one _jnrtmentioiiea . Such as it i % we leave it to speak , for itself . _.,- _; . - ¦ c -

      of ' Not . 19 th , 1814 : "I shall attend provided the question concerning money matters is to be considered oil its own merits . I shall attend also if any second or third investigation is to be entered into , after the settlement of the orighisd . I mean to say simply , that if there is any question affecting Leach and myself , let that be entered upon first . And if any shall be entered into betwixt O'Connor and myself , _iet that be _ExiunEn ixio also : but let each be considered and decided on their respective merits . " By this , said thc Secretary , Dr . M'Douall admitted the authority ofthe Council : but now he denies that they have thc right to judge hhn . The Secretarythen read the lettersentbyDr . M'Douall tothe Northern Star for publication .

      - Xo The Cjubxist Body Gli.Vkballr. Frie...

      - XO THE CJUBXIST BODY _Gli . VKBALLr . Friends , —Tou must all have observed , for some time past , a strong disposition exhibited in different quarters to represent me , my opinions and my character in the worst possible light . "When a similarity appears in the mode and method of attack in different places and by different persons every right thinking and calmly judging mind will arrive at the conclusion that a common design has been worked out , the aim of which is to put me down by a succession of charges each increasing in weight , from the private letters of Mr . Smith up to thc imperial charge of Mr . O'Connor . I at least as the party assailed , have a . right to think so and thinking so I have surely a right to defend myself and replv . -The course pursued by a hostile govern ment towards a persecuted Chartist , or b y a prose cuting counsel towards the veiy basest of criminals is always to lay ihe full charge and evidence before thc Jui-yso that the accused party may after hearing all be able to prepare himself to answer all that may have been brought against him . I have waited , contrary to my interest , for the second impression ofthe Star knowing from past experience that in 6 m * ranks democratic though our principles may be , sometliing . is generally reserved in thc locker to be discharged against the party denounced , even after his defence is concluded , and new charges preforredto which he cannot of course he permitted to reply . I am glad to think that in the Star of February 1 st the old ground has only been re-trodden and Mr . Smith a second time introduced on the stage . I may now therefore safely take up the whole of the matters and try what a relation of facts has to do with conviction

      mens . Mr . O'Connor states— " Gentlemen you have heard that I have been extensively charged with high trea son by Dr . M'Douall , this feet bciiig spoken to by Mr . J . Leach , as honest , as upright , and as useful a member as ever belonged to thc Chartist ranks . " "Where did Leach prefer this statement ? before committee by whom ne was being tried on the charge of misapplying the public money and at which meet ing Mr . O'Connor was present contrary to thc wish of the Manchester council . I protested against Mr O'Connors name , character , or correspondence being introduced until after Leaches case was fairly settled because I knew that it was Leaches intention to pre fer some charge _againstnie concerning O'Connor and because I was fully sensible that Leaches interest Jay in setting O'Connor and myself by the ears so that iii - the confusion of a counter-charge the original ques tion might be lost sight of altogether-Therefore it that contented merel

      was I myself by y giving a flat contradiction to his assertions and Brought the committee back to the real business oi the meeting . For the same reason I took uo notice of Leaches declaration that O ' Connor had told him that I was in thc pay ofthe league in 1842 and that I received money from them . Mr . O'Connor explained and I to show up the attempt of Leach read his writ ten opinion of O'Connor which lie wrote when I was in France viz . "The letter of theDr . has given me great pain He has it is true a right to complain of the way he has been treated and M—— I wish he was the only one that had cause to do so . Such , I am sorry to say is not the case I liave been foully and grossly deceived in a quarter I least expected , read the whole of the letter and O'Connor was there to hear it read whilst he only heard Leach declare that he had heard nw say something against O'Connor Now any man in his senses must know that Leach would find it his best game to alter , amend his story for the ear of O'Connor , as a species of revenge against me

      -Evcrything is based in Leach ' s word—Is that authority sufficient for impartial men to proceed upon ? Leach states that I accused O'Connor of being in the pay of government and that O'Connor accused me of being in the x » ay of the league . Does Mr . O'Connor after that join issue with Mr . Leach , the honest and upright to ruin me in public estima tion ? Is _iterror of judgment or is it design ? no matter what it is , to me it is neither fair straitforward nor gentlemanly on the point of O'Connor who says "that for now nearly 6 years I have been Dr . McDouallsfriend . " Why did not Mr . O'Connor then insist on investi g ation or after that why address the same meeting with myself ? Why could not Mr . O'Connor have demanded from me personall y , as I have always demanded from him , an explanation ? Why above all things with precipitation launch out bis charge in damaged authority thereby causing several localities to be guilty of a gross injustice to me and to the cause . It would be truly Laughable to compare the notes of censure In some localities with the numbers present—as laughable as the petition of the three tailors in Tooley street did not the joke assume a most serious aspect when we reflect that __ the thoughtless condemna tion of men by certain bodies involves the character of the whole ol the working men as far as understanding , fair play and principle are concerned—one week I am a Patriot , in eight days I am a traitor , in the estimation of some . Will not the enemy take up that as a proof of _fieklcss , want of reason and justice , and therefore a most powerful argument against the suffrage . I hold Mr . O'Connor responsible for that , because from past experience he well knew what was likely to be the result ; at all events a bad beginning in this instance is likely to have a worse ending . Nothing is dearer to man than character , nothing more sacred to a cause than principle . Upon what principle have I been condemned without a hearing by men whose cause I have faithfully advocated for years at every risk and hazard . _^ Is it because I differ with a man or forsake a principle , or is it because in some minds persons and principles are inseparable . O'Connor and I may differ because men are changeable , but if I do differ with O'Connor I am not less a Chartist , nor lie a greater one , on that account . I deplore at the same time that I despise irrational censure . . I shall now consider the charge preferred—Leach states that— "Dr . M'Douall told liim that O'Connor snapped his fingers and said , "there is no money for yon at Manchester . " If Mr . O'Connor ever said so to any one it was most assuredly the truth ; but Leach represents that I reported Mr . O'Connor as having advised me to publish Leaches delin to the world

      quency . Mr . O'Connor on the other hand writes mc a note on his return from Sheffield , in which he says " Cleave informs me that Leach says I advised him to spend your money . You may present my com pliments , and to that give this answer , never was there a more dastardly lie . " At the very tiine __ Leach reports mc as making use ofthe assertion against O'Connor I found it necessary to request from Mr . O'Connor an explanation of certain expressions used by him in Carpenters Hall which Leach reported as having been aimed against me It certainly would be rather a singular course for me _. to pursue viz that of at the same time abusing a man and demanding an explanation from him for abusing me .

      In proof of my declaration I give Mr . O'Connors remarks in answer to my letter " I cannot understand the gist of your note nor am I aware that any portion of it save one requires an answer I mean the communication of your informant as to the terms or some passages of my first speech at Manchester . I can only tell you to convey my respectful compliments to him , whoever he may be and from mc say he is a liar" Mr . O'Connor to whom I did not mention the informants name could not know it was Leach , because ho remarks in the same letter that he in a lecture given In the benefit of Leach he applauded his gratitude and remarked " those whom he had most served had been amongst his most bitter enemies " but says Mr . O'Connor " I do not think you ( myself ) Lave been of that class and therefore my observations had no reference to you " make those extracts to

      I show that as far as my character for openness is concerned no man can lay any charge of hypocrisy to my door because I fairly and justly placed before Mr . O'Connor my views therefore if Mi * . O'Connor has been aware for i years ofthe artful manner in which he has been denounced such a charge cannot rest at my door , and shall not , unchallenged . 1 have no secret places , nor private letters and as I shall shortly prove I never left that strait and open course wliich I have ever pursued towards all in the movement . The next statement of Leaeh is to the effect that I reported that" O'Connor had sold-the Chartist cause at Lancaster to Government and that he had received money for many years from the Government for destroying * the Chartist cause "

      A pretty charge indeed to make : If true it could never be proved therefore folly if false it could not be _disprovedtherefore mischievous . If I had entertained such opinions O'Connor as he knows well would have been the _fii-st to hear of them—In proof—When in France I had reason to believe that some one connected with the denunciation of the executive either was serving the government or wanted to do so , and I . frankly said so to Mr . O'Connor . In reply Mr . O'Connor said " That every pang which the mention of my name in the Star had cost me , had cost him a thousand" but he declined he said " taking part in the present contest unless forced into it" now says he " as . to your insinuation about Hill and the Government of course you could not make so broad an assertion without authority and I can only say that if your assertion can be proved that my condemnation would not be wanting in exposing such hellish treason " I have therefore pursued in aU cases that course which a manly and gentlemanly feeling would _dictate . -. In the Star denunciation of the executive as well as during the trials , in regard to Mr . O'Connor ' s

      - Xo The Cjubxist Body Gli.Vkballr. Frie...

      speeches , in Fact in reference to all and sundry representations , misrepresentations and erroneous opinions I have sent mine strait to O'Connor himself , and generally to him alone . _, In two instances alone have I had sufficient reason to be distrustful and disatisfied the first was in ref erence to Hills denunciation , the second was during the Trials and now a third arises to confirm thc impr ession ofthe two previous ones—Ihavc always been of opinion that Mr . O'Connor laid liimself open to a charge of exciting Hill so long as he had the power , and did not use it , to check him in his career of abuse .

      I always was of opinion , and the Trials prove it that , a lawyers compromise was _^ madc to throw thc whole odium of tho indictment on my shoulders—Mr O'Connor denies that he accepted the compromise , although he proves that it wasoffcred . It is enough for me to know that others even my own counsel did act upon it , and said that it was quite usual and professional to throw all on the shoulders of the absent to save the persons of those present . Not being a lawyer I have a different opinion as to its justice , because such heapingon my back of every bodys charges might have been a sentence of perpetual banishment . The case broke down and with it the matter too o

      compromise and no compromise . Such I presume is the source from which has sprung the charge of high treason and being in the pay ot the government If Mr , O'Connor and Leach can throw any more light on the subject I shall be happy to meet them but as the affair has been made natural I shall decline local investigation . As it has been made public I shall object to private inquiry , I shall meet Mr . O'Connor in two places either before a council composed of openly chosen delegates from different parts ofthe country or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds , his two strongholds . I shall compel Mr . O'Connor to prove the truth of Leaches assertions and when he does so ho will have to answer the charcc he is said by Leach to have preferred

      against me viz that I was in the pay of the _league . 1 do not care wliich case comes first or last , O'Connor and the government , or M'Douall and thc league , both must be considered and examined or none , Wc are both I presume ready for tri . il and both have it appears declined attending all chartisfmeethigs for a tune . Let the affair be then settled . It cannot fail to db mischief either way consequently those who started it ' will find their prudent hopes realised . Before I proceed further I may remark that Mr . Lonsdale who is really all Mr .. O'Connor says of him will be able to explain that which Mr . O'Connor makes obscure , and give a meaning where none is to be found now . He will prove the high opinion wliich I exDressed of Mr . O'Connor as a man and as a

      echtleman as well as the reasons why I entertained a different opinion of liim as a Politician . If Mr . Lonsdale declines this Mr . West and others who were present can supply his place . At the time I spoke to Mr . Lonsdale I knew liim to be O'Connor's friend , that was not going round the bush . I also wrote to O'Connor about Mi * . Moirs case of pressing my opposition to his views—that surely was open enough and being disatisfied still I neither wrote to spoke to nor saw Mr . O'Connorthat surely docs not look like the crawling , sneaking , shoetic licking of some of O'Connors dear friends . After these events I returned to London where in a

      short time I received through Mr . Cleave a note from O'Connor requesting to see him . I wish to know the purport the visit Mr . Cleave told me to go and see . I did go when O'Connor said he had heard from Mr . Cleave of my Intention to enter into some business and he then voluntarily offered his services . He wished to know how much money would be wanted at the same time saying he had no ready _^ cash . Both Mr . Cleave and myself told him that ' nothing less than £ 100 could possibly answer—Mr . O'Connor thought otherwise at least he said he would put his name to a Bill for £ 50 and give an advertisement G months free .

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

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

      The next money transaction has reference to Chester Castle . During the height of the agitation I had occasion to sell some property , belonging to me , in Newtonstewart county of Wigton Scotland and when thrown into Prison I found that some delay would ensue in the payment of the balance due . I was in some alarm concerning my home and as the People of Ashton werc in my debt for the salary due to me for services in thc convention I wrote to my friend and companion Atken stating my position as I could do to him without much circumlocution . I wished to avoid any tax on the People . and merely desired

      accommodation lor the time not lor myself but for my family . Mr . Atken mentioned the case to O'Connor who instantly offered to get me out of the difficulty by . seeing that my family did not want . I immediately wrote to Mr . O'Connor that I would accept of his aid on one condition viz that the loan was to be a private one and was not- to affect in the least the independence of my opinions he and I having frequently and materially differed in and out of the convention . Mr . O'Connor agreed to that and gave his word that all should remain private and unknown- as a simple debt How far he has kept his promise liis letter can best testify .

      The third instance of money matters occurs when I was in France . A committee was appointed to secure me a certain allowance during my absence . I expected a supply vyith the last boat of the season but none came and during a period of nine weeks I was thrown on my own resources . I wrote to different parties O'Connor amongst the rest . He was the only one that forwarded me any money and that Sis the only instance , during our six years acquaintance that I ever asked Feargus O'Connor for one farthing of money . Everything else he did of his-own-accord and whatever thanks I owe him for that I owe it to him as a man , but I owe him no gratitude as a Politician nor shall any money ever secure me or bind down the freedom of my opinion . If I owed Feargus

      O'Connor any gratitude he has dispelled , that by proving that real friendship was not the moving agent in his generosity but vain glorious notoriety . Who regards that charity wliich is preceded by kettledrums of sounding sell-praise , and followed by a flourish on the trumpet of vanity . There is no generosity , no charity , no praise due , where the end is discovered to be popularity . Mr . O'Connor expects gratitude therefore he gave his money for a selfish end , for a political advantage , not for personal pleasure . The merit of his actions is then torn away and self adulation assumes the place of generosity . The person served becomes a mere foil to show off the qualifications of the donor and the act is the reflector of huzza-hunting

      praise-seekmg sell esteem . Private esteem will always follow charity when buried , public contempt reward charity when boasted—Whatever Mr . O'Connors object may have been his private acts have always ended in political quarrels and he seems to have had considerable Ingenuity in fixing upon the objects of his benevolence as every one without exception has found it necessary to remind Mr . O'Connor that however much a man may be personally bound down by circumstances he ought to be politically free andif lam not in error one ofthe chie f ends o f the ballot was to protect the debtor from the influence of the Jewish money-lender Mr . O'Connor boasts of his friendship in advancing me money . He has a peculiar way of showing it because it appears on the face of his charge against

      me that whilst doing me the greatest service he was at the same time employing his clerk to note down my conversation . He has beside informed me that he has preserved scraps of letters and pieces of conversation , odds and ends of evidence , after the manner of government prosecution who never give , the proceeding or succeeding passage of a chartist speech If Mi ' . O'Connor brings these friendly reminiscences before any committee I can only say that I have no letters save those which concern money matters and legal affairs . At least my rule is to destroy all others and if any escape , it is more by chance than intention . On the general question at issue no mans lettter or conversation can comnromise me as I am fully determined to speak my mind . What is true I shall admit . What is false I shall deny . My Friends I have now I think ran over all the matter at issue and in concluding tho subject I may remark that

      a long and systematic attack has been kept up against me . You remember Hills long continued abuse which recoiled on the originator ; you have heard of the private letter writing wliich j detected and exposed ; you have heard of the'Executive address which failed in its aim ; and now you have O'Connor ' s charge based on the clear and philosophic grounds of—Feargus O'Connor writes , that Leach said that M'Douall told him—On theBe grounds O'Connor demand- * inquiry and a verdict on a case of Wb own creation- * - Suppose he acquits himself and condemns me on the evidence of a man particularly interested in doing me a mischief then the People loose one advocate through the machinations of unprincipled men . O ' Connor seems afraid of loosing the leadership and Leach takes care to touch him on the tender point of having the movement taken out of his hands . Let me inform both Leach and O'Connor that nomanhas a right to say , suppose , or aim at having a national movement under individua guidance . The dav for

      - Xo The Cjubxist Body Gli.Vkballr. Frie...

      khi » s and subjects , officers and soldiers , Leaders and followers has passcd ' away from themihd at least and intellect and representation occupy their place . The combined energies of a whole People can alone direct our movement and if Mr . O'Connor seeks to stand alone at the helm he must first prove himself the monarch of mind and tell us by what compass ho is to guide us , and to what " Port he is steering . If we may judge of the future by the past , what from desertion , mutiny , and walkiug the plank , the ship riius a _perious risk of being left to herself and the helmsman . At all events there is no movement and ther e f ore I am astonished

      at the fears of Mi * . O'Connor . He may calm his apprehensions and Mr . Leach lay aside his probe as far as I am concerned because I have resolved to retire altogether or until there are better men and better times . Dy doing so I remove one cause of jealousy and prevent my name becoming a bone of contention amongst the Chartist ranks . I stated my intention everywhere in Scotland and England therefore Mr . O'Connors letter came a day too late for the van . I have little interest in the verdict which may be g iven because whichever way thc people give it , they only sentence themselves to a loss ; out let it be so . " I care little about it and if a verdict against me

      will sooth one who has taken a violent pet I have no objections that my hair be pulled to bring him into a better humour . My Friends , the consolation I have is that I have done my duty and if faction , cabal , private letter writing and denunciation will not permit mc to continue in the service It is not my fault as I retire with regret and almost hopeless , at the same time most fervently wishing your speedy perfect and unbounded success , in the attainment ol a cause so closely allied with the dearest and best interests of humanity . I remain though censured and denounced the faithful friend of labour P . M . _McDouall .

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

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

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

      receivea , expressing regret tnat l snouia nave tnougnt the charges worthy of investigation ; and others , expressing fear that the inquiry may lead to disunion . Gentlemen , if 1 could be influenced . by such representations , the effect must be a tame submission to every slanderer , and a complete surrender of every feeling . As to , the constitution of the tribunal to whose jurisdiction the prosecutor now demurs , I shall say a single word . It is not an "innovation , '* - nor is it even a great novelty . The first brief I ever held was for John Lawless , in the case of O'Connell against Lawless , when the latter was charged with having betrayed the interests of the people . The -second case which I adduce was that of one Watkins , who was charged with peculation and treachery by a union

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

      - Xo The Cjubxist Body Gli.Vkballr. Frie...

      bo- « entleman prosecuting the poor industrious man who had \ ¦ ¦ actually ' perilled his existence rather than forsake his friend in exile ? Gentlemen , what could I expect from a jealous vain-glorious man , after his bosom companion , who had worked for him by night aud by day , and who had refused to separate his name from a charge brought against M'Douall by Mr . Hill , was made the victim of his wants ? That was matter of sufficient importance to warrant public exposure , evenafter the " debt" had been ten times over paid by me , and even after the prosecutor himself had told me that on his giving Leach the receipt in full , Leach had offered him all the stock in his shop , and all the _property he was possessed of , to pay himself to tho last farthing . But , gentlemen , that did not save

      his former friend : and what had I to expect ? I shall now deal seriatim with thc several passages in the prosecutor ' s letter . With a cunning peculiar to little minds , the prosecutor would seek to make himself the injured party , and says thathe will meet me before a public meeting at Manchester or Leeds to make me prove that he was in the pay of the League . Now , was ever such pettv cunning , sucli disgusting fabrication ? He knows , and the Council that tried the question know , that Leach's answer to my question , as to whether I ever wrote a line or spoke a word derogatory tot _' ne character of Dr . M'Douall was , that I had told hini that one of my reasons for dismissing Mr . Hill was because he asserted that he had reason to believe , from a statement of a Quaker living near

      Ashton , that M'Douall was in pay of the League during the sitting ofthe Conference in 1842 in Manchester ; and Leach further added that I always said that I believed M'Douall to be one of the most useful and talented men in our ranks . Now then , what do you think ofthe man who would thus ende avour to turn my gratuitous support of him into an accusatory charge ? Gentlemen , great as is the respect that I entertain for you , I entertain a still higher respect for the right of trial by jury ; and I at once admit the right of appeal froin ' your verdict , whatever it may be , to the whole people in public meeting assembled . And in order that both the prosecutor ' s rights and the

      ends of public justice may be maintained , 1 now proclaim my willingness to meet my accuser or accusers on thc public platform at Manchester and at Leeds , any time they mav- enter into proper arrangements for me to do so . ' Gentlemen , in another passage the prosecutor assures you that upon all occasions of personal difference between him and me he had recourse to personal explanation only ; and he instances two cases—the one with reference to something that somebody told him that I had hinted about him , in one of my public lectures at Manchester ; and the other bearing upon my letter to Mr . Moir . Now what was the fact—that the two cases were below

      ridicule—rubbish , rank nonsense : the hrst of winch answered by telling him that I had something else to do than correspond about a repetition of hints that I never made , and telling him to give my compliments to his informant , and say from me that he was a liar . With reference to the second , Mr . Moir ' s case , he never wrote me a word about it until he had tried his hand to make it matter of dissension at Huddersfield ; and when the honest fellows there rebuked him , aye , and rated liim soundly too on the subject , ho then wrote to me , intending to anticipate the truth which I was likely to hear . The prosecutor says , that nothing is dearer to man than character . I wish he had thought , of that before ; and then I shouldn't have been here to-day . . But , gentlemen _, what follows this p iece of untimely sensibility ? Why , the most curious admission that ever came from the pen of devil himself , and one upon which he no doubt relied for protection . He asks you " to what end the investigation can tend" ? "because , " savs he , "IF ALL MY ALLEGATIONS ARE

      FALSE , THEY NEVER CAN BE DISPROVED" !! Now , did you ever hear o f villany equal to that ? A man goes about the country attempting to destroy our cause , and then insolently tells us that he has the protection arising from the impossibility of disproving liis asiertions ! "Why , g entlemen , HE made his assertions and charges ! and it was and is for HIM to prove them , and then it is for me to meet his proofs . But sec what a situation he would place his victims in ! "I charge you , " says he ; "and even if my charges are false 1 defy you _tODispnovu them" !!! Gentlemen , he would charge me in this letter with exciting Mr . Hill to denounce him ; while thc world knows and he himself acknowledges the f act , in a letter which I hold in my hand ,

      that I quarrelled with Mr . Hill upon his account , and upon his account solely . In this letter he thanks me for my defence of him . Gentlemen , he next refers to money matters , and most consistentl y deals with credit as he does with character . It would appear that I forced one pound a week on him while he was in Chester Castle , and that he wrote me a very valiant letter , stating that " his high sense of independence would not allow him to accept it unless it was to be considered as _» private loan , and was not intended to trammel his opposition to me . " Gentlemen , to _, this I can only say that every word is a PURE AND UNMITIGATED FABRICATIOX . He _nCVei' Wrote me a line on tho subject , * and it would appear that the gift was lessened in value' from the fact of

      its being cheerfully given without pressing . But it wasa"loan _* , " sucha "loan" asminc have always been : for of the thousand such that I have made , I have never received the fraction of a farthing in return : unless , indeed , I am to consider tho INDEPENDENT EXERCISE of my debtors' own opinions as payment in full . Indeed , it would appear as though every man who has partaken of my bounty had to prove his "independence" by-the amount of abuse that he bestowed in turn . Of course , gentlemen , the money that he wrote for from France , and got too , £ 15 , when he said he had no other friend on earth , was " a loan / _orccc ? on him ; " and then the £ 50 , that it would appear I hunted him up and down begging of him to accept , was another "loan ; " and one

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

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

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

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

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

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

      - Xo The Cjubxist Body Gli.Vkballr. Frie...

      One of the Council . —Arc you a cquainted _^ _aT Cooper ' s writing , . and was thc letter in hu lllk hand ? . 0 w _» Mr . O'Connor . —Yes . Every word was in hk ft . hand-writing . 1 have received so many letter , r money , beginning with " my beloved O'Connor ' ¦ thi I am perfectly acquainted with his hand-writil though not with his present stylo . Gentlemen ?; me now ask you where is the inducement for maiiT toil as I have toiled ? where the reward for Jr twelve years' labour in this country ? where the _nm pect of the only remuneration that I ask for for _„ " future exertions ? Is it come to this , that a p _ettf fogging perambulator is to live upon my _i _* csoUwL until ho thinks ho can make larger _pvolit of puhi ; svmpathy than private charity ? Is all that ij " done , and all that my struggling family have suf fered for the regeneration of your order , to fade ami be _. forgotten , before the pigmy breath of a _iieiv-hni-h

      1 ft — l . _Ar . _n > _v . * ... _r J- —„ ,. l _ ,, * 1 - " Jill redeemer ? one whoso every track since his return from France has been marked b y a littleness Hi mind corresponding with the magnitude of miilevn . lence ? What ! is it come to this , that I and fifty-se ven others were to jeopardise and peril our very liVc ' rather than hurt a hair of this ungrateful \ viun » , head ? and , as if enough had not alread y been iW the man the most guilty , if there was " guilt" _^ _A —after a tour of pleasure , through which he was sun ported by -my purse and the contributions 0 _] others , and through whose exertions he _mmi punishment and might have received applauS 0 now tells us that "he has been compromised at Lancaster" —that- " he has been sold to the Govern , ment : " but , gentlemen , ho fails to tell you that the

      _PKicK of that compromise has been complete imnu . nity !! Is there not something too ridiculous to ai mit of argument in the notion of escape from s erious charges being advanced as the terms of compromise ? Ah ' , gentlemen , it is ever thus with the " gentle ! men '' in your ranks ; they suck you till you are dry " and then proclaim their " grievance" if they cannot get their own price for your withered carcases ! What is proof of honour and integrity ? Is it a willingness to stand before public opinion , boldly to meet every charge , or is it to be found in the dissemination of falsehood , and a shrinkin < r , on the day of trial ? \ _% _\\ in having come to you a rich man , and standing be . fore you now as a poor man ? Is it in having in . curred the rancorous hatred' of all , save labour ' s

      sous ? Is it to bo found in over-confidence and geno . rosity ? If so , I do merit your confidence ; but if , on the other hand , you look to the swaggering bully , to _themimcthoniseudecluimer , who measures his policy by his wants ; who has enthusiasm for the enthusiastic , declamation for the __ ignorant , slander for the eves ! dropper , and " sacrifices" for the generous and coii . tiding , then , gentlemen , I am not the man worth y of your confidence . But if character is of value , and if its value is enhanced by coming from an interested party , let mc call the prosecutor into court , ami lie shall speak for me even after he had received life documentary evidence establishing my criminality . Gentlemen , listen to this passage : " 1 shall have no nonsense this time , _ with drums and rags , unless the

      people are determined to kick up a row : and in that case I shall not march wmi ant oxe of the _trooi except : _YouusELr ! I want no Collins and White . I had enough of that folly . " That letter commences " my dear friend , " as it acknowledges the receipt of money . Now then , gentlemen , if I stood in need oi evidence to character , where could I find more eonelusive ? I abstain from reading any portion of this extensive correspondence whicli I hold in my hand though it would astonish you . I abstain , _liecause even yet I value it as private _f nor should I have read that one sentence , was it not strictly in point . Gentlemen , I have now done . I have only further to add that I have never written a line to one of the Council —that I do not know five men upon it : that I have

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

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

      taken ; that Mr . Abel Heywood , of Oldlmm-siivf , was one agent , and the other was , Mr . Janii Wheeler , who went to the police office , and reported twice a day . He ( Mr . Leach , knew that after what had taken place , they of course would not think his testimony of much weight ; but they would reniom . ber that he had told Dr . M'Douall to his face , and lie did not deny it . Had he done so , there were plenty in thcroom at that time who could have corroborated what he had said . _^ He did not see them present ou this occasion ; but if Mr . Charles Taylor was present , lie could tell them much . However , if thev wanted evidence , they had but to ask for it in Todmonlcii , Halifax , Leeds , Huddersfield , Bolton , Hebdcn Bridge , and other places .

      By Mr . O'Connor . —Were there other persons present when these statements were made ?—That part concerning the Government officer in Paris was told to mc alone in the Grove Inn , on the road to Kcrsal Moor ; the other part was said in company . Did M'Douall tell you that it was my wish that he should denounce you ?—He did . Did M'Douall tell you that I sent him two letters to France denouncing you ?—He did ; and said when he left Manchester that he would send them by the first post . After his first letter in the Star 1 wrote for them when , in reply , he said I did well first to " blackguard" him and then ask for a favour ; that hehad the letters , but would not send them . Ue also said that when he came to Manchester he would bring them with him . He , however , did not do so . Mr . O'Connor , —No , he could not , for ho never had them . No such letters were ever sent ; and the Council will bear in mind that , when I appeared bef ore them befor e , I asked M'Douall if I had ever sent liim such letters , and he said I never did .

      Mr . W . Butterworth called . He remembered the time Dr . M'Douall came to Manchester after coming from France ; and from statements which he made to me , I thought Mr . O'Connor was a rascal . I knew Leach ' s circumstances ; I knew that he was » poor , but honest man . When I met the Doctor , 1 knew that Leach was not able to pay him . I asked him what he intended to do in Leach ' s ease ? He said , " nothing ; he would not so much as speak about it , for the purpose of disappointing O'Connor . " h f act , he said , that Feargus . O'Connor had sent him ( M'Douall ) to Manchester to damn Leach , and that O'Connor expected that Manchester was in a blaze

      about it by that time , ne did not recollect him saying that Mr . O'Connor was in the pay ofthe Government . He saw the Doctor have two letters ; they were onthe table of the room in which the Doctor and himself were sitting ; and such was tho impression which the statement of M'Douall had made on his miud , _tW he believed it to be true , and that Mr . 0 'Contior v _® a very bad man . In answer to Mr . Donovan : He did not read the letters . Could not say whether they were in the hand-wtlting of Mr . O'Connor . In fact , he did »?» read above a line of them . The impression on his mind , produced from what the Doctor said , was , that they came from O'Connor , denouncing Leaeh .

      __ Mr . Donovan said his reason for aski »< r those _options was , that the Doctor at the last cxaminati _* denied ever having received such letters from Mr . O'Connor . Mr . Gray was examined and declared that lie had never heard M'Douall state anything disparaging to the character of Mr . O'Connor . Mr . O'Connor said : This will be the proper time to hand in the evidence of Mr . Hewitt of London-He put in the statement of that gentleman , which _wns published with Mr . O'Connor ' s letter of the 20 th January , _1845 . The following letters and documents werc then handed in , as evidence .

      NO . I . Millwood , am * _Todmovdcn , Feb . 1 , 1 U 5 . My Dear Leach , —This is the first time that I ever took pen in hand to write anythingconcerninganyman connected with our movement ; but as the Council of Manchester are to sit on Sunday next , concernin g tho Doctor aud O . _'Connor _, I think it mv ' duty to acquaintthem with one or two facts , ' if you thins they will be of any service , vou can lay them before thc Council . The first time M'Douall lectured at Todmorden , after he came from exile , about the heginning of last summer , he told me that he had good authority to prove that Mr . O'Connor had _offers to sacrifice him for his own liberty and the liberty <»

      his brother conspirators ; and that he would _niase him smart for it yet . The last time the Doctor was at Todmorden he told me and several others that he had learned something by the committee of inquiry in Manchester . That Mr . O'Connor . Mr _* _Huberts , and the Attorney-General had an _interview with each other when they were at Lancaster , and that the Attornev-General ' wanted them to let Inn } lay his hands on the Doctor , but O ' Connor wouW not . He then said that it ao far proved that ther e haa been [ a compromise oflered , but it did not proT e _* something else that he ( the Doctor ) knew . So you see there is something more to come out _by-and-oy-s . I am , & c ., vours in the cause , Enoch Hobsi _*^ i » ( Continued in our seventh page . )

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 15, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_15021845/page/6/