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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th April 1839, Edition 1 of 1, Page 6

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      Ok£A L 1 Rau1ual Mil-Fa. 1lnu At T-Eeds....

      _OK £ A L RAU 1 UAL Mil-fa . 1 LNU AT T-EEDS . Oa -Monday last , a meeting was _convene-l at Rchmond Hill , near the Railway Bridge , for the fjp . ri _* _se of testing tbe confidence of the _working classes of Leeds in the National Contention . _feargus O'Connor , Es _% ., J . Frost , Esq .. aad Dr . John Taylor , were announced to at ; e ; _'d . From halt-past two rill about three o ' clock , a lar _* : e procees-on passed through several of tbe principal ¦ _tevet * ol the town , accompanied by nuraiT- us "beaners and bands of music At about three o ' cl _> ck , the business of the meeting comm-rrcr-d , a _la-ge Cda-tcocxB 8 of persons having at that rime-

      _assem-The Rev . William HtLL , Editor of tie Northern Star , was _unanimou-sly called to the chair amid lou'i - _« -nd continued _cheers , la _opfniiiji tb . H business ol _< be -m eeting he said—He was . _giad to see- Leeds alive ; she had long been asleep ; he _terfthotight almost dead . He was glac to see the working men * ol Leeds fer once mani esting some degree , of re _*« _rti fer their own interests , and their own rights . Tbey -were assembled there to ask _merely-for thoir rights . Thev wanted _nerhiEg for tbeaselves , if he _imder-Stoot tbem rightly , which tbey were not willing to _Bsc-ord to-every body else , ( Hear , beer .- ) In a _Christian _eoontry , and amongst honest men _> right -shook ! be withheld from so man ; and « s _^ oug a * -it _wsta so , be who was _sjtpine and inactive in

      _£ _esna * nding its restitution was so far criminal ; and _1 » was sorry to be compelled to _believe That a largshare of that crimmality * nd of that inactivity baa lees attached to the _nteaof Leeds for a considerable - Bember of years . He beped , ho ¦• revejytba . t the time kad n » w ceme when tbey were all d _* w _** tni & ed to be Uat which he had -ao doubt they were ready to _arwwThfraaelres—hosest men . ( Cheers , ) There wa- * « fr » st deal more iao ) _-aded in the term , * - * an honest * _aaam . " than people were generally disposed to _-admits and not tin ; least imrAmant—perhaps e _* _- «* the most important _paint in all honesty , was political _fconesty , npon the enforcement of which depended _, ta a _£ reat extent , whether social and private _in * e * tv could exist iia aocietfv or _nat . I Hear , bear . * -

      Be shonld not _-oecnpy much of their rime wits . _ve & ark * of his own , as there «« ra those te -address them ** ho had _re-sokuwas to move . He ¦ should therefore conclude his few remivfc' bv eadhng upon Mr . _Blask *> move the first resolution . Mr . Davjb B _& ack _then-stepped lor ** -. rd , and sail Ids _ob-servatiosts should be as "brief as possible , in - _rder that he might make way for their tried _fnenw , _J-eargus O'Cotmor . ( Loud cheers . ) The resolution i * was about to _propose embodied sentiments essentially necessary for the forwarcmg of _theircanse—a -cause which he was _confident was as dear _to God as "toman—the freedom and happiness of the whole of "dre human race , { -Cheers . ) And whe * e was the coward that would net stand by such a -cause ? If tbey would only take a , glaxce at the present prosipect of aJrairs , they woukt see that they were either « eb the verge of obtaining , -or were about to eater

      - _* ppeu-, a most _determined _struggle for , the po > _s »»* sion _« f those rights of which themselves and their ance » - -tors had been deprived . ( Hear , hear . ) Their t \ _ran-~** dcal oppressors might seem to treat them with contempt and disdain . ; but in their very souls thev tesnbled . ( Cheers , and " They do . " ) They did _^ _et merel y believe , but they really _Jtaa * ; and they _-shsdd-ered at the idea ef the working man _demano"ing the fnll enjoyments which were decreed him by Uk Creator of the world . ( Cheers . ) Full well might loth "Whig and Tory tyrants tremble at the ' position which they were now -main tain ing , _knawing , as they did foil well , that tbey were progressing towards the attainment of that which alone could secure them cheap bread , with ail its necessary accompaniments — "plenty of > joad eld English fare , beef and good beec { Cheers . ) Entertaining these sentiments , ne would not detain tbem longer , but would merely move tbe _reaalarioa . ( Cheers . )

      Mr . " * m . _Eujce then _seconase the _resolution-Mr-FEARsc * O'Coksob was then _introduced _* o fire meeting and was received with several rounds -of enthusiastic cheering . He said , Mr . Chairman and brother Radicals" _Sccmer * _noir eomua , _eauld winter ' _sawa , Aad well hae ths Suffrage is spit * e' tbem a ' . " T > eafesiing cheers . Again , -said he , at tbe _oom-XBPncement-of summer were the bees beginning to warm to spend six months more in making honey -which the dranes * won 3 d live upon during the winter . ( Hear , hear . ) He agreed with their Chairman ., that Leeds had for along time been apatbetie ; but sh < - was now _beginning to arouse from her slumbers . There was an indirect current working for than as

      veil as the march of deaaocracy to which the r _> soludon adverted . All their own energies in th * _caose of freedssi aad democracy , were as nothing compared to the rapid stride * wbich the tyranny and jolly of their enemies were _uaconiciously making in tbeir behalf , not only as regarded England , but -also as regarded foreign nations- The Autocrat of Rnsaa was grinning at our weakness ; the democracy trf America were laughing at our _pusillanimity . Trance had enough to do to mind her own business ; for the citizen King _wzs about to be driven from the throne , and , with the blessing of God , a republic _•* a _** _aaU heestabhshed . ( Cheers . ) Spain " was divided 'be tween priests ef different sects , all professing to S _ghtibr liberty , while , they all' secretly"hated that

      XS-e-rty _Jor which they _proiessed to fight . Por ' _ugal *«» not lesa successful India was in turmoil ; and _iisg-craft and priest-craft with all its expensive corte ge whould soon be doomed to destruction throughout the enure world . _^ Cheer s . ) The Go" _enuaeait were talking of manning their navy and XHcreasiBg the army to meet the exi gencies of the Fre * sent rimes . He would give them at once a _panaceaj fa- afl their _evits , and that was by allowing _everj man to have an interest in the property-which _^ e _^ treated . ( Loud eheers ) If they ware as stsenaous in their exertions foi obtaining and pos-* w * i _« _ig their rights , as tbeir enemies were in _withlttjUng than , they might laugh to scorn-all the emctta of the _£ reat northern antocrat , or all the

      cabals that might take place in all the other courts ia Europe , But it was the debt , the debt , the debt ; the mortgage , the mortgage , tbe mortgage , upon their -marrow , their bones , aid their - sinews-{ _Cheesa . ) What was it to them whether they were governed by the autocrat of Russia or b y a _comrrmftriaa -of factions , if the same amount of- labour were required for the same remuneration ? What - « - & s _ it to them whether they were _tributary to a foreign power , or to pensioners , and placemen , and _droEfis , who , as he had said before , lived in winter upon the produce of their labour during tbe summer ? It was equally alike to them ; and be had often told them that there was onl y one remedy—Universal _Scffrate . They _wowlo have

      Universal Suffrage , they _xtrs-r have Universal Suffrage , _*¦ & _£ tfeey SHOULD have Universal Suffrage . ( _Tre-Bte & _dous cheering . ) Some allusion had been made ta the inarch of democracy . He had served them sad worked for them in that march . For three years be had served them in the House of Com-7 _aao , but he had done no good : for two months , _^ _owerer , he had served them in the people ' s Hoase of Commons , and he stood before them » 6 w to give aa account of his stewardship , and to tell them that he hoped that he , in connexion with others , imd been able to do much good . He had no doubt tbat their enemies might laugh at their infant ache-mas ; let them laugh on ; they would in thnefind eet their error , and perhaps learn to reprnt of their folly before it was too late . What he Dlamed

      ae Racicals for was , that while they inveighed against die Whigs , they did not give the Tories a -r ap « a the side of the face at the same rime . Some ' -psnau said , " Let us have a Tery Government _ra _& ax thaa a Whig Government" They had tried a Tory Government before : and a great deal cf good they had got from it . ( Hear , hear . ) - Now ie always said if the Whigs were _denls , the Tories werethe devils in hell —( mud cheers and laughter ;) - audif they were not able to beat both parties at the same rime , they were notable to beat one , _because they would unite against the people rather than the people should establish tbeir rights . He had alluded to the Convention . They had had a few _deaertions : but thev knew that a farmer before he

      could get hisland into good order , _mtut eradicate the ¦ weed * . They had had four resignation * during the last week . Dr . Wade , a clergyman of the established church , had taken alarm at the physical force men in ihe Convention , aad he has resigned . Three of & a Barmingbam men had also _resigned—Messrs . ' Bj _dnmj , _SalL , * a & T > iraglas . ( A V 0 ice"lptthcm 5 o . " ) _"Letfikemgo . So they said . How weak must that cause be which cannot find three to fill the situations of three wbo are afraid of _goins a little too far . I ia » e always told them as I tell you , that the Whigs ¦ axe no more to be depended on than the Tories . I 3 taFe » o faith , as things now are , iu any Government . -whatever may be its designation , Whig , Tory , or TUdtcsJ . The whole contention " is the rich op '

      pres-* ur . _afaiast the poor oppressed . " They did not _conider their own dissensions when meeting over the people ' s wrongs—but with the blessing of God _^ er e long , * cry shonld be raised in this country for liberty or death . ( Lond and continued cheers . ) The "Whig Government had done every thing they ceuld -to centralize povertv , —by the passing 0 f the _Kew Poor Law , and by tiieir Municipal Corporations to 'keep down feat poverty , and thus tbe public mind was kept iu subjection , while their factory system Lad the same tendency to accumulate poverty io sxaases . But it had this advantage , that it

      centralized opinion at the same time . Every town was x * to- _» agarrisor , every workshop a forlorn hope , the _rnmatffs of which would rather perish nndettherrriiis , than lose their prospect of liberty . Hehadbeen asked iris opinion ef physical force—his opinion was , ihat every crown in __ Europe was supported by physical force—his opinion of physical force was , that as the people were told they were the source of all wealth snd power—they ought therefore to be tiie best Judges when physical force could step . _^ ip 4 o that ¦ whi ch moral po wer had _^ been una . pie Co accomplish . Than , was he to be told to name , the day -when £ hey _» ere to fight—or -was he going to tell £ _tea to _nreaeat their naked breasts to an armed

      Ok£A L 1 Rau1ual Mil-Fa. 1lnu At T-Eeds....

      -vnuiny . ' ?> o , _i-ewa _.. _t-ue t > e > l & - i . tlai « no niaue the most of his position * Let them mark what O'Connell said in his last letter to the Irish pecple . Now , what was it ? He said , si _.-eakiug of the Tories , * the enemy are crying , hurrah for tbe _fight—l-t us CTy hurpih for the resistance "—that was his position . Tbey were upon the defensive , and as when aa invading en _** my has passed the relonbt of a citadel , the garrison will blow up tbe mine that the whole may not fall into their hands , ro the moment an unconstitutional war is waged against the people , they will wage war upon their own property . They would say that the _properly _they bad cTe & ted had _bren made instrumental lor _thi-irowu _destn-ctio-a , and they would bbw np that property which ihey were not allowed the nse of for ttre-. Town _urei"t * rvation . He was not going to create a

      civil war in England . He was going to protect them as far as one ma * could protect them by his counsel and his advice , « nd if ever the _daj sL « _-ald come when tke people should be called upon to range _themselves upon -one ride or npon tbe other side , he pledged himself to that meetiag that , if ever tbe battle came , he would be found iu the rank of the people and "fighting at their head . ( Cheers . ) Tbese follows ( the Whigs and Tories , ) would d <* sire no better s ree _' than to see the people in warfare . If they were ta thoot a thonsai , d of them , which tbey _

      them an army not of offence , bot ot reserve , wnicn . tboughit might not aggress , wool * be _qriick to return aa assault ; and the _wadoing oi the _^ _rst _cannoa _wjiichmipht be tired upon tbe people would ignite suddenly all the -property of the country . At the last npeu air me * ting which he attended at Leeds , ¦ and which _wason the Corn Laws , the mayor , or the horse , ass , or whatever eise they nsight choose to call him vlaughter , and a voice " The mule" ) , the mayor told them that upen their strength depended their _success . 'He appropriated tbe sentiment , aud _npplied it to the present agnation— - ' upon your srrength , " he would sny , "de _^ _efcds your success " What was tbe _lauguage of tbeir enemies ? Because the people did not barn _> tacks and destroy life and

      property they werenotdiscoutentr < i * iin tueir presei _^ t circumstances . His _language was , aud his udvioe wa-, ihat -they should protect property and life ; aad this hu waa sure would best be uuue by Riving us a fair constitution , by wbich ev .-ry mau would receive due protection for bis labour . ( Cheers . ) See how they were backed by tbe press . Look at the specimen of an orator which Leeds had afforded in the . person of Mr . Pliut , wbo had gone frum town to _towa . _representing himself as a Radical , aud as the representative of ttie opinions of the men-ot-Leeds . Look at another of tueir fraternity , a Mr . _-Cuarles Cummins , wno occasionally made *• poetry " up _.- _'n the disasters ot the _people , -and yet neither of tkem eame lorward to help them , or to

      save lb-am . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) iney did net want snch helps- , tbe Convention was _sufficient for them . It woald support their rights , and would die iu maintaining liem . ( Lond cheers . ) Tt . ere was not a man in the middle classes who would not shortl y be foreed to join them in their demand lur the Suffrage . A-starving people would make en . pty tills . "A _lellow feeling njace us _wond'ron » kind ; " aud when we were all starving to death , we should all be very willing to work in harness together . ( Cheers . ) They were how asking for _Household Suffrage ; but their cry for _Household Suffrage was merely to divert the attention of the _people lrum Universal _Suffrage ; and if to-morrow they were to obiaiu Household _^ Suffrage , it would be clugged with all the restrictions and all the mte-pajini : _clauses wbich

      so pre-emiuently _distii'guisried u . e euttrage _granicd under the Reform Bill . It , however , the people swerved from their claim to the _Suffrage , they would be driven _ftrtuer back , and the present franchise would probably be taken _trorc theni , il the Government hart sufficient energy to take it . Tbe present Government had by their wits centralized all tht-* ea . th of the country , and they were now _senirn liz . ng ail tbe power ot the country . They had their Poor Law Amendment Act ; they bad their Corporations & ad their Normal Schools . And they were nt > w preparing tbeir "Rural Police Biil , " in order that thr . y mvght more _effectually carry out their _scrif-m-- * . What bad that Government conceded to them , except what had been wrung from them by

      force ? They _carried the Reform Bill , because it was their Universal Suffrage , and by it the y had given evrry © ne oi _those ruffians a vote . — Could they find a more ignorant , btsotted , brutal _, beggarly set of fellows in the world than thosewho were daily making _maney from tbe people ' s labour ? Tbey were certainly trying to ape tbe aristocracy , while at the same time they were tryibg to make slaves ef those who made the wealth in which they luxuriated . ( Hear , hear . ) It was their gambling propensities and the endless abstraction of wealth from its natural source , wbich _caused all the suB ' eriug and di » eotitent of the _people . ( Hrar , hear hear . ) It could not however long go on witbontleadiHg to its legitimate result , or , at lep . _st , wiikout an _attetcpt

      being ma'ie on the part of the people _toputit down . ( Cheer * . ) He had hoped , and tbey had hoped too , that tbey would tnat d » y have had a specimen of an independent English " Magistrate . Mr . Frost would have been there but hehadgou _^ down to Stroud to canvass the electors against Lord John Russell ( loud cheers ) atth _*? next election . In every instance if a mau showed a boldness aada '! etr-rmi : ; aridn of ixind , he was attacked by those fellows who ro-merrow would dmtr .. y tbe properly o ! the fanners , and put the people into the stables ; and *» hen tbey came to tbem in tbe morninK would yoke them in harness , and make them work not for " cheap bread" but for _^ low wages . " He wanted for the people a repeal of the Corn Law _»; but in

      sucn a way as wouia ensure me _oenrnt to tne people , and not to those fellows who were fur opening another channel for _speculation as they had speculated on labour . The House of Commons had _n *> vr _? at for two _moc'hs . What bad thi-y done for the people ? ( Nought ) The devil il hadu ' t ! ! It had raised the army _estimates , and the navy estimates _, in order that the rich man might be protected against the poor man . ( _Ch- * ers . ; The whole if ot tbis battle was a battle of pounds , shillings and pence , audit was natural that it should be so . The monied party woald not give up tbeir rights while tbey had tbe means of ceiendmg them , and they laughed at the people if they should ever happen to talk about protecting t / ieir rights . If , however , the

      people were called upon to fight , the battle would be of short duration . The soldiers would not fight without pay ; tbey could not be paid with out taxes ; and the p _ople would not pay taxes to pay the soldiers for fighting ajrainst ihem . ( Cheers . ) They would fiud there was the National Debt , which tbe labourer would blow up in twenty-four hours ; and if they were not aware , they might be aware , _to at he for one would never counsel the people to present tbeirnaked breasts to an armed soldiery that is offensively * whereas , be would alto tell _thc-m , that they ought rather to k * die freemen than live slaves . " ( Continued cheering . ) They were pow about to present tke Petition . Mr . Attwood or Mr . Fielden would Dresent it , and would propose that the Charter

      should be the law of the land . Ihey were about to hold large meetings in Manchester , Newcastle , Birmingham , Nottingham , Edinburgh , Glasgow , aud Carlisle , and other p laces , and if all this exertion should fail to accomplish Universal Suffrage , he did not know what woald succeed . ( Cheers . ) The Whigs carried the Reform Bill with half the exertion ; and having carried that Reform Bill , they ( the people ) wonld carry their Reform Bill also . ( Renewed cheer _^*^ _J The Ministry were talking of resigning . _^^^ _Bkbed they weul d resign —( hear , hear)—for _^^^^^ _knge would be benefi cial tothe people , ar- _^^^^^^ _fc the country to have a worse set of _men _^^^ Hd of affairs than they had now . fContinne _^^^^^ _B Lord John Russell had moved thority

      for a rene _^^^^ _Hau of the Commissioners under _the _^^^^ _Vr Amendment Act . He ( Mr . _O'ConnorJl _^^ Bd the Whigs for passing that Act , for it had m _^^ Hadical * of them all . ( Cheers . ) The moment men _^ _Blcame unc omfortable , they united in one common bond of fellowship for their mutual protection . They now had the Scotch people with them , and they never had them before . ( Hear , hear . ) The oldest agitator in Ireland had moved that the Irish people should join the English Radicals . ( Continued cheering . ) He knew rery well that the Irish people , who were * . the bravest npon earth- ( hear , hear , and . cheers)—would not be leng ere they would see on which side of the channel lav all their _erievances . ( Hear , hear , and

      cheers . ) He was well aware Viat they aid not expect to obtain anything from Mother Church ; and that they were now beginning to look to the Chartists . ( Loud Cheers . ) Now should he divide tbem ? ( Ne , no . ) Yes , he would ; and he would tell them how . They should be the moral power , and Ireland and Scotland should be the physical power . They shonld be the main-spring of the watch ;—the Irisha war-like people , and the Scotch—a war-like people , should be the outer works ; and when they ( the mainspring ) moved , with their moral force , the Paddies and the Scots would begin to move with something else . ( Deafening cheers . ) Paddy had been for a long time more disciplined than they were , and knew better how to deal witLthe parsons and the army :

      the Scotch , who fought for the great covenant , Defore , would fight for their rights now . ( Chei-rs . ) They might he sure that the people of Scotland were determined that henceforth , that all their money shonld be spent in the great wen ot the nation . II they had not Frost there , they had one of Scotia ' s sons ( loud cheers ) , a man who had travelled thousands of miles , and spent thousands of pounds in the cause of the people , and who now felt as real a pleasure in associating with the tried friends of the People ' s cause , as with the greatest and wealthiest of the land . ( Renewed cheering . ) He was a gentleman cf education , aud of family too , if that was of any . use to them ; and they had him there to _* P _« \ the language of Scotchmen . Ha ( Mr . O'C . ) had heard them speak their language in their owi _, country ? _andiav-also had spoken , his language to

      Ok£A L 1 Rau1ual Mil-Fa. 1lnu At T-Eeds....

      ihem , and there was no difference between tbem . ( Cheers . ) Now , having given them ah account of his stewardship , and when he told them that he was that night going to Birmingham to rouse the people there , and to endeavour to have them send three good men to the Convention , in the place of the three that had deserted tbem , he was sure he needed not to say more than to reiterate the pledge he had so often given them , that until Universal Suffrage was the law ol the land , he would not accept any remnneratioa for any services he might be able to render the cause of the people ; nor would he ever accept pension , place , power , or favour under any Government fDeaJening cheers . ) But on the other band , when the struggle came , he would bv ready to die with them , if necessary . ( Renewed

      cheering . ) It inigbt perhaps be said that these were great professioos _^ but wha t guarantee had the people that he would carry them into effect ? He had served them for three years in _ParUament , and though he was a Member for Cork , and might , therefore , be _sopposed to advocate merely the interest of his Irish _constituents , he had never forgotten the necessitous case of tbe English people . ( Loud cheers . ) He had served them tor four years as unpaid _agkator in their cause , sacrificing both _property aud health , and time ,, and domestic quietude ; he had served ' them for-the last fifteen months in the capacity of leading Radical journalist , which all the efforts of neither Whig , Tory , nor sham- Radical bad bees able to jrat down —( cheers )

      —he had served them for two months iu the Convention , -and while he had been there , he had _alwayg done his dntv to the utmost extent of his ability —( cheers , and " you bave" )—and if this was not a-sufficient guarantee , for the future let them tell htm what more he must do to earn their confidence . As he had worked , so he would work , ( Cheers . ) Those men wbo thought physical force was necessary , let them eay so ; but he begged them te bear in mind that every mau who recommended physical force should be "able to say that he ha * gone as far with moral force _es his neighbour . ( Cheers . ) Physical force would be resorted to he bad no doubt ; but he was not goir . g to make them an aggressive body but a _defensive body ; he was going to make them an army of reserve wherein , if they attacked the people , the people wonld attack them . i ( Loud and _continued cheerine . ) He had lived with them

      now in Leeds for some time ; and it the day should ever arrive that tbey should be called upon to part , he should be able to lay his hand upon his heart and to declare before them and God , tbat he had thought by night end b y day , aud worked in every wny he could so far as bis thought—his endeavours were likely to conduce to the advancement of their interests . ( Loud cheers . ) He should persevere in doing as he had hitherto done ; and would not be laughed out of their rights by either Whig , Tery , or sham-Radical . ( _Renewed cheering . ) He was ready to go with them as far as ever it was necessary for them to go . ( Cheers . ) He was ready to take it as it came , whether it was rough or smooth ; but so help him God he would have Universal Suffrage , or he would die in the attempt to obtain it . Mr . O'Connor _concluded amid tho most deafening _eheer-s _.

      The following resolution was tben read b y the Chairman and carried unanimously : —• ' That we view with feelings ol satisfaction the rapid progress that democracy is now making in the country , and we are determined never to cease our agitation until we have attained our inherent and _inaueuable right —Universal Suffrage—which w « resolve to obtaiB peaceably if we can , and forcibly if we must . " Mr . _Ceorce White was then called upon ta move the next _ret-olution . After dealing very severely with a class of men calling themselves 'Operative Conservatives , " he said since he had been an inhabitant of the borough of Leeds , he had sometimes come in contact with men who called themselv- 'S Whigs ; but on asking them th <*

      reason why they were Whigs they were not able to assign one that was worth a farthing . Now he would give them some of the reasons why he was a Radical , and not so much a Radical as a " Revolutionist . " ( Loud cheers . ) Although he had been _cennured by some of the press , for what he had said at the last Peep Green Meeting ; he had como there to say tue s . mie things . He cam © there to repent that he was a _Rerolutionist ; and to assure them they never need to expect any thing from the Government of the country , unless they got it b y force ;—( hear , hear , and cheers;)—and if they thought they would obtain anything by any other means they were greatly deceiving themselves . ( -Right , " and _"true . " ) He would ask the question , and he would answer it too—what sort of a svstem was it under which they were now living ?

      It was simply this , that these who did the most work , should hare the least pay for that work . ( Hear , hear . ) _Thdre were thousands of honest , upright , and hard-working , men , living in that _neighbourhood , who were enduring the greatest possible misery and privation , while thousands here aud elsewhere were living upon the very wealth which they , by their labour , were creating . ( Hear , hear . ) And were they to put up with' all this ? ( No , no . ) Did they think that talking would * lter it ? ( No , no . ) Well , then , suppose the government ol the country were to think proper to seize upon their members , whom they _hadehosen by Universal Suffrage to represent tbem iu the Convention , and wnom they had _promised to support , not only with

      their good wishes , hut with their pockets also , what would they do ? ( Rise , rise , rise , rise . ) " What . ! witu their little fingers ? ( No , no , " with something better , ") Well , then , he hoped they would nofput their friends in a false position , and forsake them in the time of need . If they did so , they would onl y the more effectually rivet the chains of their present bondage ; and if they _intnsaetHo have that enjoyment of their labour , and that freedom for which thty were _strujrglmg , _theyniust make a harder and a greiter effort than any they had yet made . ( Hear , hear . ) It was no use blindiug their friends , and deceiving themselves , while the Government of the country was robbing and plundering them on every hand ; and when he spoke of the Government , he

      meant all those who supported the present system ; every man who had a vote was one of them who mace up the whole bulk ef their oppressors . He had suffered _soruly and sadly from the present system . There were hundreds of men in that meeting who knew him , and who knew also that he kad suffered much from the present damnable system ; and he therefor * had a right to feel _opposition and enmity to those devils who were oppressing him , who _tiad driven him from pillar to post , and had obliged him to leave his home , and to walk upwards of 1 , 400 miles in quest of employment , because he had opposed their damnable tyranny . ( Hear , hear , bear . ) But would this make him cringe and bend the knee to hia oppressors ? No J

      he was poor , DUt ne never would worsmp tyranny —( bear , hear , and loud cheers)—and as soon as eTer the day arrived there waa one among them who would go forward cheerfully even to the sacrifice of life itself in support ef the great princi ples which tbey were met to support . ( Loud and continued cheers . ) The speaker then alluded more particularly to the object of the meeting , viz ., the support of the Convention , and said that were it not for the manner in which they were misrepresented b y such mock representatives as Baines and his crew , they would have Universal Suffrage without having occasion to strike a single blow . ( Cheers . ) He would tell them , in conclusion , in about halt adozen words , what was the meaning of Radicalism . It meant

      more to eat for every industrious man ; more clothing for his back aud the backs of bis family ; more education for that family , and more of those comforts and enjoyments which the creator of the universe had intended that all meu should enjoy ; for God had instituted means for all these things , and under a good government they ought to be enjoyed by every industrious man . ( Loud cheers . ) But the pieseut was a damnable system which was founded aud supported in nothing but robbery , plunder , and the shedding of blood . ( Hear , bear , hear , and cheers . ) They had petitioned long enough against these things , and had they ever got any good from their Delations ? ( No , no . ) Would the Petition which

      they were now going to present beoi any advantage to them ? ( No , no . ) The only way to do , then , with au impudent thief , was to take him by the collar aud to shake him so completely that he would be glad to g ive up the spoil of which he had unceremoniously plundered his more honest neighbours . ( Hear , hear , hear , cheers , aud laughter . ) The speaker then concluded by moving his resolution , and recommending the meeting to join the association , and thus to contribute to the- success of their cause both by their pecuniary aid , and by the communication and interchange of such knowledge as they might possess . ( Lond and continued _cheeriiie . _}

      Mr . Henry Hancock seconded the resolution . Mr . William Rioeb , delegate to the Convention , was theu introduced iu support of the motion , and was received with _cheeis . He said , there were some good Radicals who would tell us that the times were now coming that would try men ' s souls . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , he believed that those times were already come . ( Hear , hear . ) It was now that they must put forth , in reality , all their energies , if they would frustrate the machinations of their enemies , and destroy tbeir nefarious and tyrannical _projects . ( Hear , hear . ) It was now that they must sedulously devote themselves to the attainment o ! those rights wbich were aud had been unjustly and

      lorcibly withheld trom tnem _oy a Dana ot D & se , selfish , unprincipled , and deservedly execrated rulers , whose only object was to enrich themselves at the expense ef a poor , a miserable , a wretched , a starving , and an insulted people . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) It was now tbat they must emancipate themselves ; it was now that they must destroy the whole Bystem of oppression ; it was now they must " work out their own salvation , " nat " with fear aud trembling , " but with boldness , and by the power ol their own right arms . ( Loud cheers . ) They had neretofore , and particularly in Leeds , been too supine ; they kad _manifested too mnch _indifference ; they had been too patient under their , accumulated sufferings ; thev had listened , too attentively to the

      Ok£A L 1 Rau1ual Mil-Fa. 1lnu At T-Eeds....

      mighty professions and the _laithless promises of ttie W hia and Tory factions . Had it not been that they had - been-thus indifferent , that infamous tribe , that "base , bloody , brutal , and damnable" " oligarchy would not have dared to prosecute their ants of tvranny , as tbey had done against the people . But he _believed that the present hour was the time ; he believed that in this year , 1839 , they must accomp lish their salvation , or go down to the grave bound hand and foot , as they bad ever bf * en . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) This was the propitious season in which they must eradicate the noxious weeds of tyranny and misrule , that the fruitful tree of freedom may grow and flourish through the land . ( Cheers . ) And when he saw meetings like the presentand when he

      , considered the spirit that pervaded the length and the breadth of the land , he was satisfied that they would , and must ere long , be a free , and , consequently , a happy people . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) The people were now determined to do their duty , and to leave to posterity a legacy worth enjoying ; a patrimony of greater valoe than all the gold and silver , or the cattle upon a thousand hills ; and that patrimony was "freedc * m . " ( Cheers . ) He had no doubt that the Whigs and Tories woHld use every stratagem , and artifice to divert the people from then- great object—Universal Suffrage . They might war one against another , in order to make the credulous portion of society believe that they had some desire to promote the imblicinterest : but thev

      had tried both factions ; they had both been weighed in the balances , aud found wanting . Tbey were not disposed to work fer the common interest of the people , but were onl y anxious to continue their trade of tax-making , because by it they got much gain , and they were confident that if their trade tailed there , they would find no employment _elsewhere . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Both Whigs aud Tories were well convinced that the power possessed by the people was sufficient to annihilate the whole rotten fabric of corruption . ( Hear . ) They were well aware that when the people willed to be free that will must be accomplished . ( Hear , kear . ) They would be quite content and comfortable in tVn * _* r ft _' _riljir _' rmn if _J-liPV fmini _} llm > til ., ilivinl _^ v . rrt

      disposed to go before " them and to continue praying to them . ( Hear , hear . ) But they found that the people were beginning to be wearied of petitioning ; the people were beginning to find that it was allfo ly to _thiuk that the _citadel of corruption could ever be overthrown by pap _.-r bullets . ( _Cht-ers . ) There was , therefore , acrew of " physical force" men ; he did not know , whether he was one of them or not ; and those men were _drsirous of doing away with petitioning and of adopting some harder arguments . ( Cheer * . ) This caused the Whigs and Tories a great deal of uneasiness . Even the ' Great L—r of the North" was beginning to quake . The fact was that they must begin to think of packing off to

      anothorcouutry ; he did not know , and he did not caTe whether it was to France or to Russia ; to Holland or fc » Hell . ( Laughter . ) The Whigs and Tories thought there was only one plau left ; and that was to adopt the fashions of tbe times . They liked to be in the fashion , and they were therefore bringing French fashions into England ; they wire now going to honour England with a Frenchified Rural Police . Mr . Rider then adverted at _considerable length to the proposed Rural Police Bill , communting upon it sometimes in a very severe , and sometimes in a very ludicrous style . He then alluded to his conduct in the Convention , and assured the meeting that he should ever act in the mo _.-t _titraightforward manner . ( Cheers . ) He concluded bv _savinr that as th _« v h .-irl

      seen that the despicable Whigs , since they had ascended into power upon the shoulders of the people , had cast down the ladder by which they had ascended , and trampled them under their feet—since they were determined to add links upon links to those chains with which they alread y bound the people—since they were now endeavouring to institute this damnable police bill , which would create a force that would be as _s- » many spies upon every man and woman in the country ; let them like ahold uud _brava people determine to cast thtir chains to the earth as a liou would shake off the dew that had fallen upon him while he slept . ( Hear . ) Let them determine like men that they would be

      free ; or let them perish in the attempt to gaiu it . ( Renewed cheering . ) The following resolution was then put and carried unanimousl y * . — " That we have heard with indi gnation that it is the intention of the base and bloody oligarchy , who have so long lorded it over the people , to establish a Frenchified Rural Police , for the purpose of overawing the people , and perpetuating the iniquitous system under which the inhabitants of this ill-fated country now groan . But we are determined to resist the establishment of snch a force , aud to perish in such resistance , rather than see our country thus disgraced . " Mr . Thos . Bottom ley then and Mr . Jas . Illinuworth seconded the uext resolution which

      wasu That this meeting considers it necessary that unanimity should pervade the great body of Chartists throughout the country ; and also , that it is necessary to render every possible support to the Convention , so long as that ussembly faithfully discharge their duties to the people , and it is expedient that the various Unions do their utmost to collect the National Rent , and the funds for the support of the Delegates during their stay in London . " Dr . John Taylor was then introduced to the meeting in support of this resolution , and was received with the most deafening cheers and clapping ef hands . He said he was glad to bave an opportunity of seeing the men of Leeds . ( Hear ,

      hear . ) They had heard a bad account ot them in tbe South , lor they were told that they were sleepy and indifferent . He was glad , however , to see something like a meeting that gave the lie to this assertion . ( Cheers . ) He had left London the previous morning , at nine o ' clock , for the purpose of coming to see the men of Leeds awake out of their sleep ; and he should go back confident that if all the rest of Yorkshire was asleep in the same way , it was a funny kind of sleep . ( Hear , hear . ) They hud been told by their friends , O'Connor and Rider , what were the views which each of them entertained . He confessed tbat for himself his opinions remained unchanged . Ridor had told them that when all moral means failedthey must resort to

      , physical means . He thought the people did not need to be told that . The only question was , when had moral means tailed ? In Scotland they thought that when a government dared even to dictate what shonld bo the form of national worship , then it was time to take ! the broad sword and the mountains - brow . When the Government dared to impose upon them those obnoxious bishops under a pretence ef their being ministers ef religion , they raised a spirit of oppositiea that , alter many battles , and after dyeing their native plains with blood , secured the religious freedom of the country . ( Cheers . ) He was somewhat inclined to think , that this Rural Police Bill would not be a better boon to the people of England than were the

      Bishops to the people of Scotland . He would tell them that such an attempt in Scotland would set the heather in a blaze , and would leave every field a field of battle . But the tame spirited English would bear it no doubt . ( "No , no , " and indignation . ) He thought he saw how they would cringe beneath those police gentlemen ; and heard them even asking leave of them to be allowed to take a walk with their wives and sweethearts . ( Great indignation , and lond cries of "Never , no never . " ) They said " never ; " well , tbey would shortly have au opportunity of trying it . But while he would not speculate how far man should go , or how far human endurance should be carried , he would say that the passing of a Rural Police Bill ought to

      be the I signal for rebellion all over the land . ( Loud cheering . ) They were going to try it in London first , and then in the surrounding counties . However , the London people were alive . He was at a meeting the other night , and , without the interference of the Convention—without any one of them taking any part in the meeting , even there the middle men , who bad hitherto been their enemies , were now becoming their friends and supporters ; aud he had no doubt that they wonld soon have with them much of the wealth and influence of the land . They ought to regard these accessions of the middle men to their ranks , not as any evidence of their love' and affection , or of their anxiety for justice and right but simpl as the natural

      , y effect of a little wholesome terror . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) He thought , therefore , thatthe cause w hich had wrought effects _sogratifying , should be continued in operation . ( Cheers . ) He had come there with an intention rather to hear , and to make observations upon the state of feeling manifested b y them , than to . be himself active in their meeting . Their kindness had called him forward , and he was certainly happy to have the Opportunity of renewing an acquaintance with the people of Leeds . He had heard much in the South of their apathy , but O'Connor , who knew them better , had explained much of that appearance of indifference to his

      satisfaction . He was informed that though there were thousands of genuine Radicals in Leeds , the circumstances attendant on their respective employments , rendereditnot so easy for them to make large displays at meetings as could be done by smaller bodies of Population who were not so thoroughly trammelled by social and commercial tyranny . ( Cheers . ) However , he should be happy to bear with him the intelligence that Leeds was neither dead nor asleep —that the watchword of liberty was passing from mouth to mouth , and tbat her sobs , when needed , would be found at their post . ( Loud and continued cheerinff . _l ,

      The resolution was then put and carried _nnanimonsly , amid cheers . After which The Chairman briefly complimented the meeting on the order and peaceful demeanour which had marked _theirproceedings , and exhorted them togo on demanding their rights ,- steadily , peacefully , but determinately , which must ensure their _Deine obtained . _, The business of the meeting was now concluded , and alter thanks voted te the Chairman , and three cheers for Dr . Taylor , the ajjemblage separated .

      Clekkenwell Meeting Pkoposfcd Introducti...

      CLEKKENWELL MEETING PKOPOSfcD INTRODUCTION OF THE FACTORY SYSTEM . On Wednesday last , at three o ' clock , a numerous meeting was held in the Vestry-room of St James ' s Church , Clerkenwell , " to make a listof eight fit and proper persons to be returned to the magistrates , for them to appoint thereout overseers of the _Jjoor of the parish for the year ensuing , and to appoint other officers , < fec . " Mr . Cropley , churchwarden , in the chair . The usual routine having been gone through , and a poll demanded , Mr . Josephs , an overseer of the past year , of the Jewish persuasion , rose , and , addressing the meeting , appealed to them as fathersas Christian- * and

      , , protectors of the hel pless and orphan poor of their parish , upon a subject which demanded their deepest consideration and determined resistance , The subject he alluded to had been discussed and con .- _, demned in both houses of Parliament—he meant the factory system , which was about to be introduced into their parish . ( Hear , hear . ) He said that a person named Cr * cker , a cotton-winder or spinner , of Wood-street , Cheapside , and also of Brixton , about three weeks ago applied to the board of guardians of Clerkenwell parish , in consequence of a notice on a board outside tbe workhouse , announcing that apprentices could be supplied . On application for a certain number of children to be bound apprentice to the above trade , who were to serve from the

      ages of 12 to 21 , the guardians called a meeting ol the committee to consider the subject , and it was arranged that Mr . Crocker should send in his plan upon which the children were to be treated and instructed , and the following plan was forwarded : — The children were to ge on liking for one month , when they were to be bound apprentice . Tbey were to get up at half-past five in tbe morning , and be at work by six o ' clock , and continue at work until eight ; and have half an hour to breakfast and read prayers , and then work until twelv ** o ' clock , dinner ? time , after which they were to work until six in the evening ; during their w . _^ rk they were to speak to no one , and they were to be under the control ot a matron , who was to be selected from the Epsom

      Union , and she was always to be with them . Their parents were not to see them withput an order from the guardians , but no stipulation bad been made as to their diet or lodging . Alter several _meetings of the guardians , it was agreed npon and directed that on the 1 st of April the matron was to call at the Clerkenwell Workhouse , in Coppice .-row , and take 14 children , aud six more were to be taken from Mr . Auburn , who farms the Clerkenwell children , at Norwood , which would make up 20 , which were agreed to be taken bj the board of guardians . He ( Mr . Josephs ) protested strongly against such a proceeding , as did some others , but their opposition had no effect , and thus the poor pauper children were to be consigned to a factorv for a series of v ' _enrs . tinder

      the discipline he had referred to . He had made inquiries , and had found that Mr . Crocker had appliai to other parishes tor children , bnt had been refused . The cotton-spinning could be learned int > ree weeks , and why , he asked , should those children be confined in a factory from the age of 12 until 21 , when a premium of £ 4 was to be given with each child— £ 2 to be laid down at the binding , and the other half in a given time . He said , that after the children _w-. re out of _^ their time they would not be enabled to earn a subsistence at the cotton-spinning . The act of Parliament said that the children might marry , and theu their apprenticeship would cease ; but , he would ask , how could girls meet with y oung men to marry them , when they would be confined in a

      factorr , end strictly governed by . a matron , and when it would be to the interest of others to prevent their union , until they were out of their time ? The children were to be transported from Clerkenwell to Carshalton workhouse , to a state of slavery . He enumerated the following as having been selected from the pauper children : —Harriet Haines , aged 16 ; C . Guy , 15 ; Ann Jones , 14 ; Eliza _Colchet , 14 ; Eliza Bryant , 14 ; Ann VVoottou , 14 ; Ann Turner . 14 ; Ann Wilson . 12 ; Eiiza Bradford , 14 ; Ann Jackson , 13 ; Ann Willis , 14 ; Ai ; n _Ra-iford , 12 ; J . Spinkes , 15 ; Eliza Bartlett , 12 ; Ann Page , 12 ; Jane Smith , 12 ; Jane _Ressiter , 14 ; Eliza Chantrel , 13 ; Eliza Scott , 12 ; Sarah Mullins , 13 ; Ann Hansard , 12 ; Ann Sheen , 12 ; Sarah Cameron , 13 : Marv

      Glynn , ia . Twenty out of ths above number ( the _youngeit ) were appointed to be sent a _* w _» y . The children aud inauy of their parents were in grief und affliction under the iiea that they were to be separated from each other . Mr . Josephs with considerable energy and indignation , asked the meeting , as rate-payers , who were rated as high as £ 22 , 000 per year for the support of the poor , whether they would give their _sanction a . nd approbation to such a measure ? ( Cries of "No , no ; never . " ) He _ctilli- ' d upon them not to suffer the fatherless and orphan children of their parish to be sent into a state of slavery . The gnardians _, had no right to agree to the proceeding ; they ( the rate-payers ) were the common guardians of ihe

      poor , anu me children cried to them tor protection . The reports they received from Manchester and other places of the treatment of factory children was sufficient to arouse their _energi-i to oppose the introduction of such a system into their parish . He read the following letter from one of die girls , aged 12 years * to her mother , verbatim : — " My dear mother , —I send my kind love to you . My dear mother , 1 ham a goin to be sent a way for Life the same as transports , if yon take me out of the house they well let my three Sisters remain at Norwood . If you please mother will you send me answer if you mean to take me out of the house or not , for Mother I will do the best I cau for you . Mother I ham the onl y one that is a eoins . Noo Mor at Dresent . Excuse All Men .

      takes . From yonr _Afectnate Dearest Mary This is my riting . " Mr . Josephs said , whether he was in office or not he would make it his business to visit the children constantly , to ascertain how they were treated . He opposed and condemned the proceeding , and he called upon ths meeting to use their best efforts to prevent its luture existence . __ He sat down amid great _appUuss . Several parishioners spoke in terms of censure of the matter , and , after a long discussion , the meeting separated . We had an interview with the mother of the girl who wrote the above letter , and she was almost heart-broken at the idea ef her daughter being about te be sent to the factory , as it was against her will and her daughter ' s inclination .

      Chartist Recruits For The Army And Navy....

      CHARTIST RECRUITS FOR THE ARMY AND NAVY . Few years have elapsed since it was considered an imperative duty of the British Government to train the adult population of this country to arms . They were drafted into the Militia , and annuall y for weeks together were subjected to the disci pline and instructed in the habits of regular troops . To save expense the practice of calling out the Militia was discontinued , by the Marquis of Lansdowne _, in 1827 ; and we suspect it is not likely soon to be revived . There have been rumours recentl y of an intention to re-assemble the Militia : but what Minister would venture now to put muskets into the hands of the labouring classes and teach them military discipline There is alread y some alarm in consequence of tbe purchase of pikes by probably

      ne great number ot tbe working men ; and Magistrates are directed to watch the proceedings at Chartist assemblies , and take note of the speeches delivered , " that it may be considered whether the parties concerned in such an illegal transaction should not be prosecuted . " But tbe grounds of apprehension would be far more serious , were many thousands brought into close contact with each other for weeks together with arms in their hands and Chartist doctrines in their heads . Every billettiugbouse would contain a club of _Conventionists ; and it would not be surprising were the effectual proceeding of the Irish Volunteers imitated , and petitions for Universal Suffrage forwarded to the Legislature by citizen-soldiers resolved not to lay down their arms till the object was achieved .

      It is not unusual to hear men speak slightingl y of the power of the Chartists ; and their Influence on Parliament is small indeed . Neither is there much reason to apprehend outrage from them on the other classes , notwithstanding the menaces uttered by the more reckless and impatient But a time may come when , almost without an effort , they shall take all which is now refused to them . It may happen , and soon too , that the country will require a huge army for foreign and domestic service . That army must be raised from the classes whom we are now afraid

      to trust with a pike or a pistol . Not a few recruits , who might be awed by established discipline , and rendered powerless in a mass of obedient _Soldierr but _trnsof thousands would be needed . - Suppose another struggle resembling the last , against _Euroae and America combined : would the labouring classes in England and Scotland shrink from the defenteof their country ? Far from it ; bnt , as eure as the opportunity occurred , they would use it to establish their own _claim a . " **

      A mighty change has been wrought in the _cbrai racter _^ f the British population . They are no longer _theignorant serfs who could be stimulated b y cries of '< Church and State , " 'God save the King , " and "Down with Bonaparte . " They demand / hy ' _sical and intellectual improvement , and a participation in the most esteemed rights of citizenship . Thev swell with a sense of indignity and wrong . That their present movement has proved a failure , what , ever may be the cause , _ig no balm to their wounded feelings . It will only strengthen the resolve to coerce their adversaries when the means are with them . They wfll bide their time . From a population so minded , the British Army must be recruited in time ef war . The process is

      Chartist Recruits For The Army And Navy....

      even now _guiag on . As strr _« as _£ ae _generatst * dies off and another _sue _^ _eds , the { fc-gnfef arav j _aoi navy of Great Britain : will , before many years bar * pa 8 sed * -av « y , 1 i « _T-omposeff- oT _CbaTtists ' r ( _^ Mark that . Lord John Russell and , _$ r Robert Peel ! Toof Finality doctrines will soon be preached to men armed and disci plined , and claimmg te be citizens as well as soldiers . : Take care tbey don ' t" purge " your House | , Political fanatics may perform tike feat as effectuall y as Cromwell ' s reli gions myrmidons did upon your predecessors .

      These unwelcome reflections are sug gested h events of the day . There are threatening prosn-rS m every direction . The necessity of angmentin * the military force of the country is asserted by those _wha act upon their opinions . The army navy and ordnance Estimates are increased ; and none offar the slightest available opposition . _f'The Great Captain" declares that we must bare war establish ments—that is , more soldiers and sailors , who _wiU be taken from a class almost universall y inoculated with political opinions adverse to tbose of the

      _Government . YVhat miracle if , instead of makin * terms with a petitioning people , the nuality men become fain to sue for merciful consideration from a Chartist army?—who may not be aa . easil y satisfied or duped as the Irish Volunteers were by the whi * Marquis of Rockingham . —Spectator .

      Preston, March 27th , 1839. Sir,—It Is V...

      Preston , March 27 th , 1839 . Sir , —It is very unpleasant to me to have occasion _S _. 'S . _W ¦ *? a ? . egkct and indinerence of the M _anchester Pest Office servants . Last week mv nape ™ were not forwarded by the mails in themorninT Messrs . Bancks & Co . booksellers , apply at the _offiS every Saturday morning for the pnrpese of forwarding them as a parcel ; _Stey , however ,, could not get them out untiiqmte late , because the responsible per son , who sees the bags opened , had not come to business ; and it was five o ' clock in the afternoon when they got here . They told Messrs . Bancks that thev would not again deliver them to them unl di

      , ess - rected to that effect . You will please to say " after my direction thus- " If loo late to be forwarded bw the _morntntr mail to Preston ,-to be delivered le Messrs Bancks and Co ., Manchester . " These late arrivals . ' 1 am afraid , will have the effect of destroyinjr my country customers for the Star . The country people have all gone where they arrive , and they lancy the lault rests with me . Some of them send some pithy complaints , and tell me if I don ' t be more feeular they will tell the Editor . - 6 * I remain , your obedient servant , ..... _ji-..: i ¦ - . _- ' ..- ¦ W . Bateman .

      Northern Circuit—Liverpool, Friday. Tbs ...

      NORTHERN CIRCUIT—Liverpool , Friday . tBS NEW POOR LAW IN TODMORDEN—IU

      UlUTJtKN'l ' . ( Nisi Prius Court , before Mr . Baron Alderson . ) THE Q 17 EEW V , CROS 8 LEY AND ANOTHER . This was an indictment against William Crossley and William Robinson , overseers of the townshi p ol Todmorden and _Walsden , and theindictment sotfortb that the townshi p , together with Hve others , had , b y tbe orders ol the PoorLawCommissioners been formed into an union for the purposes of the administration ol the laws for the relief of the -poor , that b y an ordei * pf the Poor Law Commissioners a Board of Guardians had been appointed for that union , and by _another order an auditor had also been applied to audit the accounts of the union , and that the defendant had disobeyed these orders , and also ths Poor Law Amendment Act . Mr . Lawrence Peel opened the pleading ? . Mr . Starkje , Queen ' s Counsel , _-dlfced the case for the p rosecution . ¦' .. '¦ ¦ '•'

      The defendants had disobeyed the Act , in noi having produced their accounts , as by law they were directed to do ,, before the auditor of the Todmorden Union , in order to be subjected to his inspection . _Such was the charge upon the record , but it involved a charge of a far more serious nature , viz : — whether the Poor Law Bill was to be carried inte execution in this district or county , or it was not because it was certain that tbis was only a very small part of a systematic opposition to the carrying of this statute into effect , which had been pursued for , a very leng time past .

      the several orders of the Poor Law Commissioners were then put in . Mr . Stan 8 field , Solicitortothe Board of Guardians , Mr . Johnjjledhall , Auditor , and other witnesses were afterwards examined . Mr . Dundas , for the defence , took a variety ol legal objections to the indictment , all of which were overruled by the Learned Judge , who observed that if he was wrong he could be set right by the Court above . - The Jury , under his Lordshi p ' s direction , then found the defendants' Guilty , and leave was given to tbe defendants to move to enter a verdict of Not Guiltv .

      Summary Of Thursday's Proceed , Ings In ...

      SUMMARY OF THURSDAY'S PROCEED , INGS IN CONVENTION , March 28 . [ By an accidental delay in London , which our Reporter has satisfactorily explained , this did not reach us in time for our last . ] Mr . BurtNs , delegate from Dundee , was appointed chairman . The nroceedjngs commenced by Dr . Wade , in a long and affectionate speech , intimating his resignation unless his constituents shonld insist upen hii rttturo ; 'he intimated that his heart ' s best wishes would always be with the Chartists , and that as a minister of Christ he would ever consider it his highjest boast to be tbe defenderbf the poor and the minister of the

      oppressed . He thought that perhaps he wonld be able to do more good out of the Convention than in it , because mixing in society it wonld be in bis power , as it would be his boast , to bear bis humble but unhesitating testimony to the honestry . integrity , and _high-mindedness of those with whom he had hitherto acted , and with whom , if he did differ on some minor points , ha yet fully agreed upon the great principle of Universal Suffrage ; Dr . Macdouall made'his report of the meeting which he had been deputed to attend along with Mr . Taylor and Dr . Taylor , and which had been the greatest in-door meeting yet held in London , when the Chartists triumphantl y carried then - views in the midst of _tremendous cheers .

      One of the most extraordinary debates then took place and lasted the whole day , upon a motion by Dr . Taylor to suspend the standing orders , in order that he might bring before the Convention the conduct of some of the Birmingham delegates , as communicated to him in a series , of letters from _Mn . Donaldson , and went to convict these gentlemen oi unequivocal Wbiggery , in which , ace irding to Dr . Taylor , Mr . Douglas had been exceedingly _cousis > ent , since he had occasion to attack Mr . _Douglas foi the same thing in Scotland . Dr . Taylor concluded by making a motion to the effect that a _deputation of three be sent to Birmingham to attend a meeting to be called there at Holloway Head . An amendment was made by Julian Harnev foi

      six to be appointed , another amendment by Lovetl for seven , to proceed immediatel y for a committee ol inquiry as to the accusation against Mr . Salt and others , of having spoken in contemptuous terms ol tho Convention , and endeavoured to destroy its usefulness by lessening the confidence of the people in it . Mr . Sankey , of Edinburgh , moved the previow question , and , after much discussion , the previoui question was carried by a majority of one . Dr . laylor intimated his intention of proceeding to Birmingham on Wednesday , in order tc have a meeting _^ with those gentlemen wbc were said to have become lostile to the Convention , and to take the sense of their own constituents . The lettera leading to this and tin

      _aeoate we snail publish next week ; it is enough for . the present to say , that in defiance of man ] efforts on the part of various members of Convention to make it appear that the character for _integrity of the Birmingham men rwas attacked , bj speaking to that point alone , it was evident that they failed in their object from the manner in which his reply to the mover chained them to tht point of repeated convictions of Wbi ggery proved against the Birmingham Journal , and hot protested against by any of the party . It was attempted k be made arule that because people were not present the Convention had no right to take up such a question , and defend themselves against tbe imputation ! said to be thrown upon them by theirown member **; but thia was very aptly answered by a delegate , wb * observed that one of the chief faults of the

      Binningham men waa , that whfle giving themselves all th * aire imaginable , they never attended with any regularity . Collins and Pearce were excepted from this as being absent by the . oiders and doing the work of the Convention ; and ; in fact , while all were regretting that none of the Birmingham men wen present there , and that the greater number seemed to think it not worth while to attend , the direct 'attacks , were levelled against-Messrs . Salt and _i Dooglas . v We think it much belter that this matter should be _brought to issue at once , than that , week after Vjeek , the false articles of the Birmingham Jovrnm should give rise to carping animadversions ; and w _« feel confident that , as the time now approaches w a dangerous : crisis , all parties will be equally anxiooJ to set themselves right with the party with whoa they intend to stand or fidl . _JeiiN Taylob .

      Thb Pun Senatorial.—An Hon. Member W»* S...

      Thb Pun Senatorial . —An Hon . Member w »* speakine the ' other evening of the various exp « n > ments which had been made for lighting the Bon » e » and expressed Ms regret that the adoption of gal had not taken place ] _T "The objection to that w _«* S SS _^* _7 exPe » we , " _» ays another Hon . _Memff . _^ Tlie advantage 0 f candles , then , " said the Wit Hon . Member , _'Ms , that cost what they may , J <* consider them a light expense . "

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 6, 1839, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/nss_06041839/page/6/