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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th February 1845, Edition 4 of 4, Page 6

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    • J^art fet Jtttelligeiitc.
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      ' T/ Industrious One Of Thecouncil—Are I...

      tf TH « _WOKTsBEiRN STAR . ' ' ' _Febuqarv . 13 ,

      J^Art Fet Jtttelligeiitc.

      J _^ art _fet _Jtttelligeiitc _.

      Mfi)01jall's Charges Against Til T Mr. W...

      Mfi ) 01 JALL'S CHARGES AGAINST Til MR . _WCtigSSOll . _JSfS & n & _SSlOS BY THE _naSOUiSXEK COUSClX . The Chartist readers of the Nortliern Star are aware that at the recent investigation before the Manchester GouneiJ _^ in the case of M'DouaU and Leach , certain _chaiges vert- brought to light , which , if true , placed Mr . _O-X ' _omior . iu the position of a " traitor to the people ; -Such a revelation left that gentleman no alternative but to demand a sifting investigation ; _andVas the Manchester Council had been selected by Or , M'Douall as the party to mqwreinto the complaints he Lad preferred against Nix . Leach , ' Mr . O'Connor called upon _thatlwdy to institute inquiries in his case ; and either pronounce lum guilty or innocent , accordiiigtothe evidence brought before them . The Council responded to the call made on them . They -fixed ou Sunday , Feb . 9 th , as the day on wliich they would investigate ; and accordingly they desired all the parties concerned to appear before thein at ten

      « v o _= _s-m the forenoon of that day . TJ _* s Council ' met at tlie time appointed in the ' •"• _.-nrcittee Room , under the Carpenters * Hall ; but •¦ whig to the excitement produced throughout Lanc— _'isire , parties had come in from Bolton , Chorley , I 5 sry , Ashfon-imdei _^ Lyne , Oldham , Stalybridge , Mot-tram , & c , & c ., to witness the proceedings . The _Councilj therefore ; being desirous that the investigation should be as public as possible , adjourned to the large anti-room of the luul . The names of the Council-men were then called over . Each one answered to his name ; and Mr . Thomas Rankin was called upon to preside . Mr . Smith being tlie person appointed to wait upon Dr . _M'DouaUaftcraiHjeentletture in the Carpenters ' Hall , gave in his report , which _itJs unnecessary to insert , as it has already been made public tlirough the Star . _Tliesecivfeay then read the following _comsjiondtT . ce which had taken place betwixt the Council and The _oarties -concerned : —

      no . IUulmo , Feb . lit , 18 _A 5 . Dear Sir , _—TheCoimeil having seen hi the Star of _Uimj-ary 2 § th , 1845 , the charges purporting to have ' _ocen made by you against Mr . O'Connor , and wisliing to put an cud " to crimination and recrimination in the ranks , have fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 th , 1815 , at fen o ' clock iu the morning , to hear all charges brought before them , and to decide tn their merits or demerits -with Impartiality and without prejudice : holding

      ail parties innocent imtu proved guilty _, i'hey have desired mc to correspond with you , and to intimate that shut win , vav tock ExrexsEs , that you juy xot BE' at JAT tosi : is teavkluxg . They therefore fcquesi that yon will bo in attendance at the above stated time . By answering this letter definitely , and with promptitude , you will oblige , for Mr . O'Connor wiE attend at the before named time . I must also intimate that the Council have determined to go on with the investigation , even if -j _« m are not there , after giving vou this notice .

      I am , yours sincerely , Rich . Kabford , Sub-Secrctarv Mr . P . M . M-Donall .

      so . 11 . To the Secretary of the Jhnchcster Committee . Sir , —Having promised to write you concerning Mr . O ' Connor ' s case , I hereby inform you that I cannot fix any time for meeting the Committee until after a complete settlement of Leach ' s afl ' air ; and that I do not consider closed until your report is _published , and the balance of money due to mepaid into the Committee , and through them forwarded duly to me . I hope ihe Committee will see the propriety of finishing that business , ami bringing it to a speedy _conelaaen at once . ' I am . _voura truly , Mr . Richard _Eadfoi-d . " P . M . M _* Dgi _* all .

      so . iu . lluinie , Feb . -5 , 18 io . Des ? Sir , —The Council having read your letter in the Situ ; in tyhich you express your willingness to submit your conduct to _thejucfgnient of the 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 demands , the Gouueil have ordered me to write to Dr ; M'DouaU , desiring him to be present on Sunday , Feb . 9 , 1845 , at ten o ' clock in tho morning . The have also directed mc to write io you , informing you tliat they have determined to proceed with the inve £ - tigation at the before-mentioned time _, lam , sir , yours sincerely , Richard KADi - oni » , Sub-Secrctarv . F . O'Connor , Esq .

      xo . IV . London . Feb . 6 , 1845 . Sir , —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of--par letter of yesterday ' s date ; and in reply , beg to say that 1 shall foe prepared to meet any charge to be -bronghfc against me before the Manchester Council at the appointed hour ou Sunday next . I am , your obedient servant , Mr . _Sichard Radford . _Ieamus O'GWob .

      xo . v . 52 , _Walcot-square , Lambeth . Dear Sir , — -From the announcement you have made mc of the intention ofthe Council to proceed without me ; I do not see that any answer of mine was at all necessary ; but since you desire it , I can only say , without Trashing to treat the members of it with disrespect , that I have sent a letter to ihe " Star" in answer to that , of O'Connor , in which I intimate my intention of demanding a public investigation'b y ' a more national body , , or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds . I conceive that my wishes have as much right to be consulted as those of O'Connor . . ' _. ' - '

      I _afeofully expected thatthe Council would have suggested- and enforced some plan of having the balance of money due by Leach paid to them , and thehee to me ; so that all future correspondence and communications on that head , might be effectually prevented . I am , yours suicerelv , Mr . II . Radford . P . M . _M'DoirAii ..

      SO . VI . The followiug letter fi-om M'Douall came by the Sunday morning ' s post , and was delivered to the Council after the business . _commem-ed—it Leaps the Lodea post-mark : of February 8 th , 1845 .

      To the Mancliester Council . 52 , "Walcot-square , Lambeth . Gentlemen , —My letter in reply to Mr . O'Connor whs sent to the Star for publication . It was addressed to the 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 he published . In that letter I have explained all I know in refer ence to Mr . O'Conuor . I have likewise given my reasons why I do not choose to submit my case to yon , and referred Mi-. O'Connor to a public meeting . _flad-I had either time or money to spare , I might nevertheless have 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-Uanngliischarges . _1 I content myself in the meantime -with a distinct and positive denial of ihe truth * f 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 "thatbe had Teeeived money for many years from Government for destroying the Chartist cause " or " that I had good and irrefutable authority to substantiate those charges . " You have my word written in denial ; and you may take it , and use it as you think proper : wMle I at the same time do not admit your _au & ority as judges , nor do 1 desire to have anything more to do with you on the subject . I do this without- meaning the slightest disrespect to you or any of the Chartist body . Tours _resi'ectfuily , P . M . _M-Doualt ..

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

      Mfi)01jall's Charges Against Til T Mr. W...

      of Nov 19 th , 1844 : "I shall attend , provided the ( luestion concerning money matters is to be considered K own merits . I shall attend also if anysecoiid or third investigation is to be-entered into , alter the settlement of the original . I mean to say simply , that if there is any question affecting Leach and myself , let ihat be entered upon first . And if any shall be-entered into betwixt O'Connor and myself , LET THAT BE _ESTEREU INTO ALSO * but let _Cicll be considered and decided on their respective merits . " Bvtuis , 5 R \ u the Secretary , Dr . M'Douau admitted the authority of the Council : but now he denies that thevhavethei'ighttojudgehim . The Secretarythen rea _& the letter sent by Dr . M'Douall tothe Northern Star for publication .

      * Note By This Editor, —Tkt\. Write; _Se...

      * Note by this Editor , _—Tkt \ . write ; _ se _£ _* n-ts to have a very confused notiori _' of his own position in relation io this said letter . It was addressed to us , and was thereforo , when delivered to us , "our *' lo aH intents anil purposes , to be dealt with as we should deem _-fitting . This is accordant with _rc-ison and common sense ; and the law of the land is founded on that plain and just principle . No man , not even the -most . ' , powerful in the land , can lawfully obtain _possession of a letter he has written , when oi . ee it has passed from liis hands into the post-office . It is an offence punishable with a heavy line for a post-master to _delh-c _^ up to a writer any letter that he may have confided to " jiU ; eharge , no matter for what purpose , or hGW important soever the occasion to hiin for

      which _kfr may require it . And this is on the just p rincipH " that , the letter is , when once out of the hands of the writer , no longer his propertv , but the property of the party to wlibin it is addressed . Precisely so -in ibis case ; and therefore the "'demand " of Dr . M'Douall to ihe Manchester Council , that they should " return" what neither belonged to liim nor them , _was-cilLer dictated by profound ignorance of social duties and ihe amenities of life , or by assurance as impudent as it was glaring . The letter was sent bj us { not by Mr . O'Connor , as Dr . M'Douall states ] to the Manchester Council , with a note intimating _wlyit was sent , and a direction that when it had been read before them at the investigation

      detertaiwi ! -in , it should be _returned to us , to whom it _fedangeu . It was not without reason that we so sent it Wesawthroughthetrickwhichitwa _^ attempted to make us a , party to ; and we " properly foiled it , by sending thedoenment to be first _ussdby those who had determined to investigate into the charges which that document pretended to explain away . Now we publish _Itijereiy word , excepting the P . S ., which relates _^ _BdJelyr ' _jto-another , and different party , and _ffiOHMR and _( _fiffossrt affiur—fhe Glasgow proceeding We _^ uhuah , it 3 nst : as receiTed-rmafang in it neither ¦ ut eraboni addition , nor omission , other than the one j _« rti _* o _** atone _& z _:-Snch as it is , we leave ! it . to . speak _foritaelf . . ¦¦ , _..-. ¦ . . .=. -

      To The Cmnnst Body Gexebally. Friends,—T...

      to the cmnnsT body gexebally . Friends , —Ton must ail have observed , for some tune past , a strong disposition exhibited in different quarters to represent me , my opinions and my character in the woret possible light . When a similarity appeare in the mode and method of attack m different places and by different persons every right thinking and calmly " judging iniud 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 _tberprivate letters of Mi ' . Smith up to the imperial charge of Mi * . O'Connor . I at least as the party assailed , have a right to think so and thiiikmgso I have surely a right to defend myself

      and reply . The course pursued by a hostile government towards a persecuted Chartist , or b y a prosecuting counsel towards the very basest of criminals is always to lay the full charge and evidence before the Juryso 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 our ranks democratic though our principles may be , something is generally reserved in the locker to be discharged against the party denounced , even after his defence _i-Tconcluded , and new charges preferred to which he cannot of course be permitted to reply . I am glad to think that in the Star of February 1 st the old ground has only been re-trodden and Mr . Smith a second time introduced on tile _staire .

      - I may now therefore safely take up the whole of the matters and try what a relation of facts has to do with mens conviction . Mr . O'Connor states— " Gentlemen you have heard that I have been extensively charged with high treason by Dr . M'Douall , this f"et being- spoken to by Mr ! i . Leach , as honest , as upright , and as useful a member as ever belonged to the Chartist ranks . " Where did Leach prefer this statement ? before a committee by whom he was being tried on the charge of misapplying the public money and at which meeting Mr . O'Connor was present contrary to the wish of the Manchester council . I protested against Mi * . O'Connors name , character , or correspondence being introduced until after Leaches case was fairly settled ,

      because I knew that it was Leaehes intention to prefer some charge against me concerning O'Connor and because I was fully sensible that Leaches interest lay in setting O'Connor and myself by the c . _ii-s so that in the confusion of a counter-charge the original question might be lost sight of altogether . Therefore it was that I contented myself by merely giving a flat contradiction to his asser'io . is and brought the committee back to the real business of the meeting . For tho same reason I took no notice of Leaches declaration that O'Connor had told him that I was in the pay ofthe league in 1842 aiid that 1 received money fi-om them . Sir . O'Connor explained

      and I to show up the attempt of Leach read his written opinion of O'Conuor wliich he wrote when I was hi France viz . "The letter of the Dr . has given me great pain He has it is true a right to complain of the way he has been treated and M I wish he was tlie only one that had cause to do so . Such , I am sorry to say is not the case I have bee ** foully and grossly deceived in a quarter I least expected , I read the whole of the letter and O'Connor was there to heai- it read whilst he only / ic « i _* _c { Lcacll deciaf 0 th .-iihehad / _'carc- ? me say something against O'Connor . Now any nian in liis senses must know that Leach would find it liis best game to alter , amend liis story forthe car of O'Connor , as a species of revenge against

      me . Everything is based in Leach ' s word—Is that authority sufficient for impartial men to proceed upon ? Leaeh states that I accused O'Connor of being in the pay of government and that O'Connor accused mc of being in the pay of the league . Docs Mr . O'Connor after that join issue with Mr . Leach , the honest and upright to ruin me in pubhc estimation i Is itcrror 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 . McDoualls friend . " Why did not Mr . O'Connor then insist on investigation or after that wh y address the same meeting with myself ? Why could not Mr .

      O'Connor have demanded from mc personally , as 1 have always demanded from bun , an explanation ? Why above all things with precipitation launch out hia 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 condemnation of" men by certain bodies involves tlie character o ; f the whole of the working men as far as understanding , fair play , and principle are concerned- one week lama Patriot , in eight days I am a traitor , in the estimation of some . Will not the enemy take up-that as a proof

      of fickless , 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 princi p le . Upon what principle have 1 been condemned without a hearing' by men whose cause 1 have faithfully advocated for years at every risk and hazard .- Is it because I differ with a man or ibrsakc a _principle , or is it because in some _rnhuW persons and _}) rinciples are inseparable . O'Connor and I may diner because men are changeable , but if I do differ with O'Connor I am not less a Charc-ist _, nor he 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 you at Manchester . " If Mr . O'Connor ever _-Miid 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 delinquency to the world . Mr . O'Connor on the other Land writes me a note OU his return from Sheffield , in wliich he says " Cleave informs me that Leach says I advised him to spend your money . You mav present my

      _compliinente , and to that give this answer , never was there a more dastardly lie . " At the very time Leach reports mc as making use ofthe assertion against O'Coimor 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 havim _* _- _; been aimed against mc It certainly would be rather a singular course for me to pursue viz that of at the same tune abusing a man and demanding an explanation from liim for abnsinff mc .

      m proof of my declaration I give Mr . O'Connors remarks hi 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 _eoiamunicatiou of your informant as to the terms or some passages ' of ray first speech at Manchester . I can only tell you to convey my respectful compliments to him . whoever ho may be and from me say he is a liar" Mr . O'Connor to whom I did not mention the infbnnaiits name eould not know it was Leach , _because he remarks in the same letter that he in a lectin e given In the benefit of Leach he " applauded hisgratitudeandremarked" those whom he had most served had been amongst his most bitter enemies " but says Mr . O'Connor " I do not think you ( myself ) _diaveheen of that ckss and therefore mv observations

      had no _rden-nce to you " 1 make those extracts io show that as farashiy character for openness is concerned no man can lay any charge of hypocrisy to my door because I fairlv and justly placed before Mi * . O'Connor my views therefor-- if Mr . " O'Connor has been aware for 4 years of the artful manner in which _he'h as been denounced such a charge cannot rest at my door , and shall not , unchallenged . 1 have no secret places , nor private letters and aa I shall shortly prove I never left that strait and open-course which I have ever pursued towards aii in the movement . The next statement of Leach is f o the eflcct 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 Govcnunent for destroying ¦ the Chartist cause "

      A pretty charge indeed to make : If true it could never be proved therefore folly if false it could not be disproved therefore mischievous . If 1 had entertained such opinions O'Connor as he knows well would have been the first to hear of them—In proof—When m France 1 had reason , to believe that some one connected with the denunciation of the executive cither 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 iav name in the Star had cost me , hao 7 eost him a

      thousand" but he dechned ne said "taking part in the present contest unless forced into if' now says he "as to your insinuation about Hill and the Government of courseyou could not make so broad an assertion withoutauthority ; and I can only say that if your assertion tan be proved that my condemnation would hot be wanting in exposingsuch hellish treason " ' I have therefore' pursued in all cases : that : course which a manly and : gentlemanly feeling w * ould dictate . ; In * the Star _^ enunciation . of the exebutiTe as well as during the trials _/ _in . regard _ttf Mr ; O ' Connor ' s

      To The Cmnnst Body Gexebally. Friends,—T...

      speeches , in'fact in reference to all and sundry 'representations , misrepresentations and erroneous opinions I have sent miue 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 reference to Hills denunciation , the second was during the Trials and now a third arises to confirm the impression of the two previous ones—I have always been of opinion that Mr . O'Connor * laid himself open to a charge of exciting Hul so long as lie had tho power , and did not use it , to check him in his career of abuse ;

      I always was of opinion , and the Trials prove it that , a lawyers compromise was made to throw the whole odium of the indictment on my shoulders' —Mr . O'Connor denies that he accepted the compromise , although he proves that it was offered . It is enough for me to know that others even my own counsel did act upon it , and said that it was quite usual and professional to throw all oh 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 heaping on my back of every bodys charges might have been a sentence of perpetual banishment . The case broke down and with it the matter too o

      compromise ana no compromise . Such I presume is the source from " which has sprung the charge of high treason and being in tho pay ofthe government If Mr . O'Connor and Leach can throw anymore light ' on the subject I shall * be happy to meet them but as the affair has been made 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 beforo 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 go he will hare to answer the charge he is ' said'by Leach to have pre for red against me _-viz-that I was in thepay ofthe _league " . ! I do not care which case-comes first or last-, O'Connor and the eoverniuent ; or M'Douall and the league ,

      both must be considered and examined < ir none . ; » c are both Ipresiime ready for trial and both have it appears declined attending all _chavtiBt'meetings for atimo . Let the afl ' air be then s . tiled . It cftimot fail to do mischief either way _conscijiicntly those who started it will find their prudent hopes realised . Before I proceed further I may remark that Mc . Lonsdale who is really nil Mr . O'Connor says of him will be able to explain that - whieh" Mr . O'Connor makes obscure , and give a meaning where none is io be found now . lie will prove tho high opinion which I expressed of Mr . O'Connor as a man and as a gentleman as well as the reasons why I entertained a different opinion of him as a Politician . If Mr . Lonsdale declines this Mr . West and * others who were present can supply his place . At the time I spoke to Mr . ' Lonsdale I know him to be _O'Counor ' s friend , that was not going round the bush . I also wrote to O'Connor about Mr . Moirs

      case of pressing my opposition to Ins views—that surely was open enough and being disatisfied still I neither ' wrote to spoke to nor saw Mr . O'Connorthat surely does not'look like the ' crawling , sneaking , shoetie 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'Conhor requesting ' to sec hiin . I wish to know the purport the visit Mr . Cleave told me to go and see . Idid go whcn . O' Connor said he had hoard from Mr . Cleave of my intention to enter into some business and he then voluntarily offered his services . lie 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—Mi ' , O ' Connor thought otherwise at least' he said he ' would put his name to a Bill for £ 50 and give an advertisement 6 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 Mm ihe small sum of - £ 50 . That is writing for effect with a vengeance andl am not surprised that the effect has been produced amongst men who do not know what a bill Is ami 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 lie will have to pay it . If he has to do so his denunciation of me is . the-very-way to make me unable to _do- _^ o ; but it would have , at least , been more prudent in Mr . _OlConuor to have

      paid the money hrst [ and boasted of it auerwai'ds . No man thinta ; ' ; inythjugvof a bill . It is a mere accommodation forthe 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 lungdom . 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 . ; .

      Ihe next money transaction lias reference to Chester Castle . During the height of the agitation I had occasion to . sell some property ,: belonging : tome _. _-in Newtonstewart county of Wigton Scotland find when thrown into Prison I found that some > delay would ensue in the payment of the balance due . I was in sonie alarm concerning my home and as . the People , of Ashton were in niy debt for the salary due to me for services . in- the : convention I wrote to my friend and companion Atken stating my position as 1 eould do to him without much circumlocution . J : wished" to avoid any tax on the People and merely desired

      accommodation for the time not for myself but for my family . Mr . Atken meutidned tlie case . to 0 ' Connor who instantly offered _td-getine out of the difiieulty by seeing that my family did not ivant . 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 iu the least the independence of niy opinions lie and I having frequently and materially differed in and out of the convention . Mr . O'Connor agreed to that and _gaw his word that all should remain private , and ' unknown as a simple debt . How -far lie has kept Ms promise his letter can best testify . ' ' ' "' '<¦ '

      inc third instance of money matters occurs when I was in France . A committee was appointed to secure me a certain allowance during my absence . I expected a supply with the last boat ofthe 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 ; lie was tho only one that forwarded me any money arid that is' 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 _hinr for that I owe it to him as a man , but 1 owe . him no gratitude as'a Politician nor shall any monev ever secure me or bind down the freedom of my opinion " " If'I owed Feargus

      O'Connor any gratitude he has dispelled'that by provingthat real friendship was hot the moving agent in his generosity but vain glorious notoriety ! ' Who regards that charity which is preceded by _^ kettledrums of sounding self-praise , inid followed by ii flourish on the trumpet of vanity . Tliere is no generosity , no charity , no praise due , whore the end is discovered to be popularity . Mr . O'Coimor expects ' gratitude therefore he gave his ' money for a selfish end , for a political advantage , not for personal pleasure . Tlie 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-hHnting

      praisc-seekmg self esteem . Private esteem wiK 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 und he seems to have had considerable ingenuity in fixing upon the Objects ef his benevolence as every one without- exception has found it necessary to remind Mr . O'Connor tliat however much a man may be personally bound down by cu'eumstaneeshe ought to be politically free and if I am not in error one ofthe chief ends of the ballot was to protect the debtor froni 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 ; thc face of his charge a _/ minst

      me that . whilst ' doing me the greatest sen-ice he was at the same time employing his clerk to note down my conversation . lie baa boside .-iuformcd . _* me that lie has preserved scraps of letters , and pieces of conversation , odds and ends of . evidence , after-the manner pf government prosecution who never give the proceeding or succeeding passage of a chartist speech . If Miv O'Connor bringsthese 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 destroyall others and if any . escape , it is . niore by chance than intention . On the general question at issue no mans lettter or conversation can compromise 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 rain over all the matter at issue and in concluding the 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 whicli -I 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 these grounds O'Connor demands inquhy and _^ verdict * on a cas e of his own creation—Suppose he acquits himself and condemns me on the evidence of a man' particularly interested in doing me a mischief then the People loose one advocate through 'the ; machinations 1 Of unprincipled : men . -O'Connor seenls afrhid of loosing the leadershi p and Leach takes _carii'to touch him * on the tender poirit of having the movement taken out of _hishandsi - ' Let me inform both Leach a ' ndO- Connor that ribmari has a right tosay _^ _'Bupgose , or aim at having a- ' national movement vmdcv _mdividua gmdance . The day for

      To The Cmnnst Body Gexebally. Friends,—T...

      Uiivs and subjects , officers and soldiers , Leaders and followers has passed awayfrora the mind at least and intellect and-representation occupy their place . The com bined energies of a whole People can alone direct our movement and if Mr . O'Conhor seeks to stand alone at the helm he ' must fet prove himself the monarch <; of mind aiid tell us by what compass he is to guide-us , and to w hat Port he is steering . If we may judge of the future bv the * past ,-what from desertion , mutiny , and walking * the plank ; the -ship runs a serious risk of being left to herself and the helmsman . At all events there is ho movement and therefore I am astonished at the fears of Mr . O'Connor . He may calm his apprehensions and Mr . Leach lay aside his probe as far as I am concerned because I have resolved to retire altogether or until tliere are better men and better times . By doing so I remove one cause of _oaimisv and nreveiit mv name becoming a bone of

      contention amongst the Chartist ranks . I stated my intention cvcrywiiere in Scotland and England therefore Mr . O'Connors letter Game a day too late forthe van . I have little interest in the verdict which may be given because whichever way the people give it , they only sentence themselves to a loss ; outlet 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 tactum , cabal , private letter writing and denunciation will not permit" nie'to continue hi the service It" is not ' my thult as I retire with regret and almost hopeless , at the-same time most fervently wisliing your speedy perfect and unbounded success , in tho attainment ot 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 . McDoPAi _. r . fifr . O'Connor ' s letter from the Star , detailing tho charges , was then read ; after which Mr . O'Connor requested the chairman to give notice that he ( Mr . O'Coimor ) was there , not only to meet the charges made bv Bi \ M'Douall , but that any person having iiiiythihgio urge against Vtim was Jit liberty to bring charges forward . One of the Councilmen observed , that M'Douall ' s letter objected to the authority of the Council , and tlie 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 ; forthe Council hud offered to pav the whole of his expenses to attend this

      investigation . He had also acknowledged the authority ol their tribunal , and had himself offered , in his letter from Carlisle , to refer his dispute with Mr . O'Connor to it . Thev were met for the purpose of entering on the business which had called them together ; and they were not to lie prevented from doing their duty because Mr . M'Douall thought proper to absent himself . As to the demand for a public meeting , they had nothing whatever to do with it . Then * duty was to proceed with the case ; and if , after their decision , Mr . O'Connor and Mr . M'DouaU thought proper to go before a public meeting , they could do so . The Council had nothing to do with it whatever . Mr . William Smith said , if there was any person present that had any charge to make against Mr . O'Coimor , now was the time . No one presenting lumself ,

      Mr . O'Connor rose and said—Gentlemen of the Council , now is the fitting time for me to state tlie course that I mean to pursue . You have allowed a latitude to the prosecutor , which under ho 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 te 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 g ive a publi * answer to many private communications' which 1 have

      received , expressing regret that . I should have thought the charges worthy of investigation ; and others , expressing fear that the inquiry may lead to disunion . Gentlemen , if I could be influenced by such representations , the effect must be a tame submission to every slanderer , and a complete surrender _^ of every feeling . As to the constitution of tlie 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 , " iu the case of O'Couneil against Lawless , when the latter was charged with haying 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 winch 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 hi 1842 . The next is the ease of the memorable Conference that assembled at Mancbester in 18 i 2 , and which was elected to inquire into all matters in dispute between the Chartist body and tho then Executive . Now , gentlemen , such arc the " precedents " for such au inquiry as tlie present ; and I shall next apply myself to the necessity of p roceeding in eases such as you have now entered into the consideration Of ; With persons in my situation it ; is' this—either voluntary banishment from your cause , slowly but systematically produced by

      that impression which unchecked slanders inevitably leads to , or a timely investigation to ascertain their truth or falsehood . Gentlemen , it will be for you to say _lvliethcrorno 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 for insertion , but properly forwarded by the Editor to you , * and you must consider it , either as the indictment preferred against me , or in that

      light 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 , thatthe whole of the present case-was to-rest upon his unsupported testimony . Gentlemen ; in Dr . M'Douall ' s letter , his last letter to the Council , 'there is a'dash of -importance ,.-a swagger of the bully , which you will find it difficult to reconcile with his original approval of the tribunal to whoni his conduct was to be submitted . In a _previourletter 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 , untilyou have ' first added the duties of an Executive to your judicial functions ; In short , he

      tells you that he cannot recognize your authority untilyou have first collected , and sent to him , a balance of money wliich he aVcrs is due to him . Gentlemen , was there ever a more dastardly attempt made to escape that condemnation whicli he was aware must sooner ' or later be the penalty of his lying treachery , ingratitude ' , and deceit' ?! . Gentlemen , liis long shufflng epistle was evidently written with the intention of damaging ihe 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 r iot , under all the circumstances of the case , have proceeded to public notice upoivthe mere unsupported testimonv . of Janies Leach . But ; gentlemen , it so

      happens that his " evidence is now the least important . It certainly may have led in ! the' first instance to a . more extensive development of the 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 , . 1 have not come , here for the mere purpose of answeriug tho whisperings and the libels of a' disappointed gentleman ; but I have invited you now _. _rin , the . thirteenth . year . of . mypublic service , to make proclamation for , any man who has aughtitourge against , me :: and if you can find it in England , you can find it in this room , because I understand that ; the excitement- is as _extensive as

      the ' publication of the slander , and that nearly every town in Lancashire is here representcd . by delegates with instructions to bear back your , decision . Gentlemen , they mustnot only hear the decision _. but , as yoii havc _. wisely . decided , they must be cognisant of the whole proceedings , and must be satisfied that purity and . fab- play prevails throughout . Now , gentlemen , ' suppose that I had not taken notice of-the prosecutor ' s treachery , must not the result havebeen _^ -first , tho destruction of my character ; secondly , the destruction ofthe _Executive—as honourable and efficient a public body as ever heldollicc ; and lastly , the reward which faction would bestow uponthc individual ; who had thus nerved itsarm by destroying ttuvpopuiar opposition wliich is its most inveterate _^ foe *? , * Gentlemen , canl be valuable to you if I am valueless inmy - own estimation ? And is it not notorious that my influence was being undeiinincd ; and if the causes were not checked , would

      have been destroyed ? Let it not be supposed , then , that this is a pr ivate inquiry , aud 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 bft-repcated 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 , liufc what strikes meand 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 importance to _wairant newspaper publication and public trial , while he _doesh't see what you'orthe public can have to do with the _> destruction of public character . ; Gentlemen , when ; I appeared' as a witness in Leach ' s case , -Idid _/ nbt stray from the question , '; or allow ' my mind 'to' be biased by the disclosures J _* made _; by '' Leach ; ; while ' I- ' _- _'do ' ' ' _confess the disgust that I felt at beholding the would-

      To The Cmnnst Body Gexebally. Friends,—T...

      be-gciitic ' man _... _MiosECU'riNO _.- . t / _je poor industrious man who had actually perilled his existence rather _thanfprsoJte his friend in , _att 7 e ? . Gentlemen , what could l . ' expcct from a jealous vain-glorious man , after his bosom companion , who had worked for him tonight and by day , and who had refused to separate lus name from . a ' charge brought agamst M'Douall by Mr . Hill , was , made the victim of his wants ? That was matter of sufficient importance to warrant public exposure , even after the" debt" had been ten times over paid bv . me , and even after , ' the _ln'oaecutqr _lumsc t had told me that on his giving Leach the receipt in lull , Leach'had offered him all the stock in his shop , aud all tiieproperty'he was possessed of , to pay himself to thelastfarthing . 7 But , gentlemen , that did notsave

      his former friend : and what had I to expect ? 1 shall now deal seriatim . ' with the several passages m the prosecutor ' s letter . With a ' cuiining peculiar to little minds , the prosecutor would seek to make himself the ! injured party , and says that he will meet me before a public meeting at Manchester or Leeds to make me prove that he ivas in thepay ofthe League . _JNow _. was ever such petty cunning , such disgusting fabrication ? He knows , and the Council that tried the question know , that Leach ' s answer to my question , as to whether I ever wrote a line or spoke a word derogatory to the character of Dr . M'Douall was , that I had told him that one of my reasons for dismissing Mr . Hill was because he asserted that he had reason to believe , from a statement of a _Quaker living near

      Ashton , that M'Douall was . in pay of the League during the sitting , of the Conference in 1842 in Manchester , * and Leach further added that I always said that I believed M'Douall to bo one of . the most useful aud talented men in our ranks . Now then , what do you think of the man who would thus endeavour to turn my ! gratuitous support of him into an accusatory chavge ? Gentlemen , great as is the respect that I entertain for yon ,. I-entertain a still higlicr respect for the right of trial by jury : and I at once admit the right of appeal from your verdict , whatever it may be , to the whole people in ' public meeting assembled . And in OVtler tliat both the prosecutor ' s rig hts and the ends of public justice ' inay be maintained , I . now proclaim my williiiirncss ' to , moot , my accuser or accusers

      on the public platform at Manchester and . at' Leeds , any time they may . enter' into proper arrangements for mo to do so . Gentlemen , in another passage the prosecutor assures you . that ui _> oii all occasions of personal difference between him and me he had recourse to personal explanation only ; and lie instances two cases—the , one with reference to something that somebody told him that 1 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—tliat 'this two cases were below ridicule—rubbish , rauk nonsense : the first ofwhich I answered by telling him that I had something else to do than correspond about a repetition ot hints that I never made , and . tellinfr . him to give my compliments

      to his informant , and say irom me , that he was a . liar . Witli reference to the second , Mr . Moir ' s case , he never wrote me a word about it until he had tried his hand to make ifc matter of dissension at Huddersfield ; aud when the honest fellows there rebuked him , aye , aiid rated him soundly too on the subject , he 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 piece of untimely sensibility ? Why , the most curious admission that ever came from the pen of devil himself , and one upou wliich lie no doubt relied for protection . He asks you "to

      what end the investigation can tend" ? "because , " says he , "IF ALL MT-ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE , THEY NEVER CAN BE DISPROVED" !! Now , did you ever hear of villany equal to-that ? A man goes about the country attempting to destroy our cause , and then insolent y tolls us that he has the _pi'otection . arislhgfrom the impossibility of wsi'iiovixq his assertions ! Why , gentlemen , 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 ho would place Ida victims in ! "I charge you , " says he ; "and even if my charges arc fahe I defy you to Disrsovi' . them" J !! Gentlemen , he would charge me in this letter with exciting Mr . Hill to denounce

      him ; while the world knows and he himself acknowledges the fact , in a letter whieh I hold in my hand , that I quarrelled with Mr . Hill upon his account , and upon his account solely . In this letter he thanks mc for my defence of him . Gentlemen , ho next refers to money mutters , and most consistently 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 mc a very valiant letter , stating that " his high sense of independence would not allow hhn to accept it unless it was to be considered as n private loan , and was not intended to trammel his opposition to mc . " Gentlemen , " to this I can only say that every word is a IMjnE AND _UNMITIGATED _FABRICATION . He _HCVCl * Wl'OtC me a line on the subject ; and it would appear that tlie gift was lessened in value from the fact of its being cheerfully given without pressing . But it ¦

      was a "loan ; sucha "loan as nunc havcalways been ; for of thetliousand such that ! have made , I have never reecived'the fraction of a farthing in return : unless , indeed , 1 am to consider the INDEPENDENT EXERCISE of my debtors' own opinions as payment in full . ' Indeed , it would appear as though every man who has partaken of my bounty had to prove his "independence" by the amount of abuse that ho 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 forced on him ; " and then the £ 50 , that it would appear I hunted hhn up' and down begging of himto accept , was another " loan ; " and one to which he refers in most unfortunate and pitiable terms . -Inspeaking of this "loan , " he says it was " ONLY A BILL , " and that Mr . O'Connor should have piiul 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 accommodarjon ; and ii ' sueh an ' accommodation was to shackle public opinion ' -- the Jews would control all political power . " ( Renewed laughter . ) '" Gentlemon ; 1 think-n great deal of a bill , and a" great'deal about the bill in question , as Dr .: M'DouaU very candidly admitted this day fortnight before the Council that tried Leach ' s case , that mine was the only good name on tho bill : and that of course I'd have to pay it . Jews arc generally particular to whom thoy 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 tlieir sight ; And then , as to not ' mentioning it until it was - paid , I should have

      never mentioned it at all , had it not been given to cover any damage thatDr . M'Douall might have suffered from the non-payment , or from the postponement of the payment , oftbe balance claimed from Leach , and had not the receiver of it broken faith with me hlld Leiteh .. I _' have given thousands that people have never heard of ;•• and they never would have heard of the £ 55 , the £ 15 , or the £ 50 ,-all " loans , " of course , but for the baseness of the wretch who received them . The prosecutor speaks of mv clerk noting down scraps of conversations . Why , gentlemen , the nian who is always with mc couldn't have done much less when he saw my confidence so shamelessly abused ; and what he cud say he declares his readiness to swear to . But ho did not '' note" down scraps of conversation

      . He saw tho infamous attempt of the prosecutor , and he then reminded me of facts to wliich 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'' the only one . that he thought would damage Leach . And now , gentlemen , just mark ' the concluding passage of ' this-thirty-nine sheet letter . lie _says-. thKt- -he doesn't care what your verdict . is ; that . it can't _i-fluei * him , because he appeals to all the * public meetings that he addressed upoii 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 this 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 which he hoped no antidote would destroy .: Biit , gentlemen , thanks to Providence and to . justice , that punishment- which sooner or later overtakes delinquency bus come upon him before Leach was . uestroyed 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 eauso from this man ' s malice could I do so more effectually than he has done in this ' letter ? . Had they not a right to-be watchful , nav

      3 uspicious ; andyetalth (> ughlonieiifcinrebuke , _themalcontents would have , charged fchcui with precipitancy . Gentlemen , it has . becntoo 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 ani to be subjected ; I am to face another battery armed with all the freshness of martyrdom : and , you . shall'kiibw it , and through vou the people shall know it ; lest I should be expected to remain silent , uutil in an 'Accumulated form n- too render public inquiry necessary . Gentlemen , Have seen a letter , —not a copy of ii letter , but the original letter , —written by Mr . Thomas Cooper of Stafford signed with his own name , and everv wbrd written W

      his own hand , mvitmg Mr ; Mason arid" others to join him on his release , in the final overthrow of lfeavus , 0 'Connor . This lettor , " . ' aad it is biit one of many that have come from the same depot , breathes the most ' malignant spirit !; .. It taunts , Mr . Mason with backwardness to join iii the sacrifice ; and . expresses an anxious desire to see Dr . M'Douall , in whom the writer has more confidence for the work than even Masoiv and all others beside ! Two things this modem regenerator had resolved ! upon' aceomplishing on his release : the 7 ; one . might be comparatively ea _^ y , —the '' finaloverthrow of O'Connor - . _'' the other is , I fear somewhat more ' difficult , —Ms deterihmation "to get inte Parliament and ' -no mistake . " ( _RoarsTof laughter . )

      To The Cmnnst Body Gexebally. Friends,—T...

      One of the . Council . —Are yon _acim-iint i _^~ _^ Cooper ' s writing , and was the letter ir . m _" _^ hand ? - n _^ _owr' Mr . O'Connor . —Yes . Every word was in l , ; hand-writing . I have received so many _letfl _^ money _. beginning with " mv beloved _O'Conrm ,. » J ** ¦ I am perfectly acquainted with his handniV _** - though not with his . present style . * Gentlcmol % mc now ask you where is tho inducement for \ . toil as I have toiled ? where the reward _fif" ' * twelve years ' labour in this country ? where tC _^ pect of the only remuneration that I ask f 0 r fj _^ future exertions ? Is it come to this , that _-i n _i * fogging perambulator is to live upon inv 3 until- he thinks he can make larger profit of m n _* sympathy than private charity ? ¦ Is all tint ij ll ° done , and all that my struggling family WtJ fcredforthe regeneration of your order- , to fade j be forgotten , before the pigmy breath of a new ii redeemer ? ono whose every track since his wu a from France has been marked by a littlencsw mind corresponding with the magnitude oi niiin _^ lence ? What ! is _ it come to thta | tibiit land n _^ v ! _S _» _^^

      others were to jeopardise ana peril our voi _' v " ]; , rather than hurt a hair of this un grateful" ' , 5 head ? and , as if enough had not already been don theman . themost guilty , if there was " guilt" > . l , } —after a tour of pleasure , through which he _waaJ _, ported by my purse and the contribution .- '; others , and through whose exertions \ K _we ' ° punishment and might have received app ! i | , | 5 now tells us tliat "he has been _compromised \ l Lancaster "—that "ho has been sold to the Govement : " but , gentlemen , he fails to tell you th \ t If 1 , _VRiCKof that compromise has been complete hn _^ nity !! Is there not something too ri diculous to 3 , 1 ' iuit of argument in the notion of escape from serbt charges being advanced as the tonus of coniproni : _^ Ah ! gentlemen , it is ever thus with the " gcjiyV ' men" in your ranks ; they suck you till you arc d > v

      and then proclaim their " grievance" if they _<¦•„ .,, ; get their own price for your withered carcase * ¦ C is proof of honour and integrity ? la it a willhjfii _^ to stand before public opinion , boldly fu meet lv _% charge , or is it to be found in the disseniiiiatioi , "' _^ falsehood , and a shrinking on the day ot" trial ' , [ s _* j in having conic to you a rich man , and slamlin _^ _^ fore you now as a poor man ? Js it in having _^ _curi'cd the- rancorous hatred of all . save la ! « m {* sous ? Is it to be fhund in over-confidence and jj ; er _^ rosity i If so , I do merit- your confidence : but it ' ,,. tho other . hum ! , you look to the swaggering bully , jj the uiimcthodiscd dcclaimer , who measures " his p \ by his wants ; who lias enthusiasm for the eiitliusisi _| j ' declamation for the ignorant , slander for the iW

      dropper , and " sacrifices" for the generous and t _^ tiding , then , gentlemen , I am not the man worthy _$ your confidence . But if character is of value , an - il its value is enhanced by coming . from an iute / _e-jW party , let nie call the prosecutor into court , _ai'ii ' o shall speak for me even after lie had received J , *! documentary evidence establishing my criuiiiudifr ' Gentle men , listen to this passage : ' * l ' shall ii . _'ivem nonsense this time , with drums and * sags , _mfe ti _, people are determined to kick up a row " : and in % case I shall not march with anv o . \ l * or tub moo ? _uxuni'T votntsKLi *! . I Want no Collins and IV'liitf I had enough of that folly . " That letter comm _as " my dear friend , " as it acknowledges tlie receipt oi

      money . . Now then , gentlemen , it 1 stood hi need of evidence to character , where coidd I find more cos ! elusive ? I abstain from reading any portion of this extensive correspondence which I hold in my _\^ though : it would astonish you . I abstain / because even yet I value it as private ; nor should 1 have read that one sentence , was it not strictly in point . Gentlf . men , I have now done . I have only furllier to aii that I have never written a line to one of th e _CoHiitU —tliat Ido not know five men upon it : that I haT ? catered _for-no evidence , except what chance throwin my way ; that I thus give a practical proof of _mj respect for public opinion , while my innocence cm . bolilciis me to rely on the only decis ' ion that vou can

      give , which will be a verdict not only of acquittal ,-for it appears I am charged with nothing , —but , _ic opinion as well as to the conduct of tiie prosecutor-. 1 shall simply rely ou such evidence as I shall _a-ldute in support ot' the charge of reckless mid extensive slander , propagated by the prosecutor for _lnalieiwi * and evil purposes ; and as you cannot swear the several witnesses , I shall propose as a substitute the following declaration : — " I declare , on w _" honour , as an honest man , that I will tell tiie truth ' , the whole truth , touching this inquiry ; and that and I will true answers give to such questions as _niayte puttomc . ' Mr . James Leach was called , anil stated as folk" * -: —Dr . _M'Douall . _toldmethat-Mi _' . O'Connor had sold

      the trial at Lancaster to Government . That he was leading the people astray ; and had been in close cotnection with the Treasury Benches for year *! , lie said that his informant was an officer of some stand . ing , belonging to the English Government , whom !» met in Paris . He further added that the Chartist movements were all known by Government , who received their reports from a number of men connected with the body , at the head of whom was _Ifearae 0 'Gounor ; and that in Manchester every stt _« w took was known by the authorities as soon it •¦ taken ; that Mr . Abel Heywood , of _C-Jdham-slrei was one agent , and the other was Mr . _Jsiuv

      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 'lis testimony of much weight ; but they would remember that he had told Dr . M'Douall to his face , and he did not deny it . Had he done so , there were plenty in the room at that time who could have corroborated what he had said . _ Ho did not sec them present on this occasion ; but if Mr . Charles Taylor was present , he could tell them much . However , if they wanted evidence , they had but to ask for it in _Todmoi'dcii f Halifax , Leeds , Huddersfield , Bolton , Ucbdcn Bridge _,

      and other nlaces . and other places . By Mi * . O'Gonnor . —Wero there other persons present when these statements were made ?—That pi concerning the Government officer in Paris was told to iv . 0 alone in the Grove Inn , on the road to Keral Moor : tlie other part was said in _cc-mp & ny . Did M'Douall tell you that it was my wish that h should denounce you ?—He did .. Did M'Douall tell you that I sent him two It-tie's to France denouncing you ?—He did ; and said when he left Maischcstcrthat lit ? would scud them bv tlie

      farst post . After his first letter in the Star 1 wrote for them , when , in reply , he said 1 did well firstf _* " *! _ackgiuu'd" hiin and then ask for a favour ; tliat he had the _letters , but would not send them . lie _ala said that when he came to Manchester lie ivoiiH bring them with him . He , however , did not do so . Mr . O'Connor *—No , he . could not , for he never Id them . No such letters were ever sent ; anil tiie Council will bear in mind that , when I appoint- ' ! before them before , I asked M'Douall if I had evcrsen ! him such Iettere ,, aud lie said I never did .

      Mr . W . _Buttcrv-orth called . He remembered the timci / r , M'Douall came to Manchester after coming from France ; and from statements whicli lie made to nie , I thought Mr . O'Connor was a rascal . 1 knew Leach ' s circumstances * 1 knew that he was » poor , but _lienest man , < When I met the Doctor , I kllOW that Leach was not able to pav htm . 1 asked him what he intended . to do in Leach ' s case ? He said , '' nothing ; he would not so much as speak about it , for the purpose of _dis ' appointlnc * U Connor . " la

      met , ne said ,: that beargus 0 Connor had . sent mm ( M'Douall ) to Manchester to damn Leach , aud that O'Connor expected that Manchester war , in a blaze about it by that time . ¦ He didnot recollect _himsfiy _ing that Mr . O'Connor was in the pay ofthe Government-He saw the Doctor have two letters : they were _mitiis table of the room in which the Doctor and himsel f were sitting ; and such was the impression wlueli _tte statement of M'Douall had made on his mind _tte he believed it to be true , and that . Mr . O'Conuor v _* : _* a very bad man .

      In answer to Mr . Donovan : He did not rend _tw letters . . Could not say whether thev were iu the hand-writing of Mr . O'Connor ! * In fact , he did _» read above a line of them . The impression on '" ; mind ,. produced from what the Doctor said , was . f _*' they came from O'Connor , denouncing * - Lead ? . __ Mr . Donovan said his reason for asking those questions was , that the Doctor at the last cxaminatio ' - denied ever having received such letters from M ' O'Connor . ¦ ¦ - ¦ Mr . Gray was examined and -declared that he had never heard M'Douall state anything ¦ _disnaraging $ the character of Mr . O'Connor : 7

      Mr . O'Connor said : This will be the proper tiffi » to hand in the evidence of Mr . Hewitt of London . Ho put inthe statement of that gentleman , whieh was published with Mr . O'Connor ' s letter of the 2 W January , 184 !> .., The following letters and documents were t-hei * handed in , as evidence .

      NO . I . ¦ Millwood , near Todmordeu _, Feb . 7 , H _+ _JMy Dear Leach , —Tliis is the lirst time that I ever took pen in hand _, to write anything concerning anymaC connected with bur . movement ; but as the Couucu of Manchester are . to sit on Sundav next , concerning the Doctor and O _. _' Connor , I think it my duty to acquaint them with one , or two facts . If you thmK they will bo of any service , vou can lay them before the Council . The . first time , ; M'Douall lectured at Todmorden , after he came from exile , about the _>«* ginning . of last summer ,, he told mc that he had _goo < j authority tb . prove , that ' Mr . O'Connor bad offeroo -- — ¦••» — _- ¦ - ¦ , » ' _^ _uv * _witv _T _% * , VUtlU 1 TJ _. I 1 \ J _WHllVl _»»»»• r

      t » sacrifice , him for his" own liberty and the liberty •» his brother _COlrapirators ; and that he . would i _^ 10 him smart for . it yet . ' The last time . the Doctor wa _3 at . Todmbrden he told me and several others tip he had learned something by the committee or inquiry in Manchester , That Mr . O'Connor , Mr-Roberts , and the _Attorney-TScnGi-al had an interne * with each other when . thev were at Lancaster , a « that the Attorney-General ' , wanted them to let hun lay * his hands oh the Doctor , but O'Connor _ww not . He then said that it so tar proved that there hao been fa compromise offered , but , it did not piw _* _** something else-that he ( the Doctor ) knew , _ao yo « see there is something more to come out-by : and-D ) . li , _•;¦ lam , & c , yours in the cause , > :. '<;• " E . V 0 CH _HOHSPAM " { 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/ns4_15021845/page/6/