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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st April 1838, Edition 1 of 1, Page 6

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      BAD 1 CAL MEETING AT DEWSBURY v » ( Continued from our Third Page . ) _ ¦ lm-TyC < Mr ? ro * wSTlSiS iotroSiesS ^ to tiie meet-Ing amidst lond aH 3 ^« Silrniie < l < jSifering . He said ^ Uns ^ aii a hfcEday , and a least after a fciig fast . He nbaiked G od , however , that thongh the ; were met "fur tie most important pnrposes , lheirjjaTiBon had uot cost the Radicals £ 395 , as the pavilion at Leeds iad cost for the entertainment of the Tories . ( Hear , hear . ) They vere met again to repeat the claims for those rights which , weretlie natural rights of all men , that £ hey should have a voice in the legation ofthe country , and that the industrious artiam shoald enjoy that protection for hi * labour which was the » nly legitimate means of sustaining : HAD 1 CAL MEETING AT DEWSBURY

      Tib Mej-witlioul which liberty was a mere nirmp , and in wh » ii'CSjjgisted the best and only property for whichhsc ^ dclaim th . ^ protection . of a govemmen ^ ( C 5 »§[ & ) / BeforeilieweTer , lie proceeded to analysejflwae p&dtJonswflich they assunvnlas the ¦ only " bass of their rights , lie must make-a passing observation on a portion of Mr . Taylor's speech . Hfe rfttifw ^ g ^ fp hrmTif ar \ pp - $ s jnnch . honesty , £ aith Mness ,-rirtne , and perseverance , as belonged to any manlrving , who joined in . their ranks as an advocate ofthe people ' s right j but lie eid -dissent from the manner in -which he had put the cart before the horse , "when he stated that he should prefer Annual Parliaments tQ Universal Snfirage . ( Hear , hear . ; He agreed that Animal Parliaments was a valuable

      principle , rather an adjunct than & principle , ( hear , hear , ) but Annnal Parliaments would not give Universal Suffrage , -while Universal Suffrage -was ^ rore to secure Annual Parliaments . ( Cheers . ) GSe the people Universal Suffrage first , and he srould answer for Annual Parliaments ; after for in -feet the Universal extension of the Elective Franchise was the object for which they had hitherto been straggling , and which ought to be the dearest of all their principles inasmnchasit -vronldlead to the certain attaiment of all those other valuable results on which the people based their hope of future happiness and comiort . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Taylor had shown them the different manner in which " the vices of the poor were estimated in comparison with

      tue same vices of the rich . He had very well remarked if a poor man got intoxicated as a temporary relief Iraqi an oppressive load of care , he was'tantaUzed , and * teeKBed to infamv 5 while , on the contrary 3 honld has trealtbveniiJoyer indulge in intoxication he would be conducted home as carefully as a man would carry nbasketof egg's to the market ( Cheers . ) And why -was it thus ? ^ t'he answer to the question was simple and brief-rit was because the laws were generally made by the rich , and for their own projection , while the labourer was riot considered -worthy of a thought in the matter . ( Loud cheers . ) He would ask if they " had their rights would there be that disparity between the circumstances ofjnaii and man which iiow existed , and which had been of so

      long continuance ? What did he care akrat trifling legislation , which was a mere matter of every day's course , and of every day ' s hnmbng . What ' did he care for professed reduc&ons of taxation , which , as yet , had yielded no permanent benefit to the bnlk of the people ; what did it matter to him if taxation were reduced fire millions , when there were already five xmiaons of locusts to eat it up ? It was Ms olgect 10 alter the whole of their political creed , and establish a new one ; and not that thepresent race should he governed by the maxims , laws and decrees of ihose who have gone before us . ( Hear and cheers . ) So far from such being thepracticein goneral society , rhe first thing which a young Aristxrrat does , when he comes of ase to inherit his patiimony , istomak ^

      an entire change in the affairs of his household ; and thus he dispenses entirely with old customs as being unry worthy of those who pay little regard * o the ! asb . ions of the times . ( Hear . ) He would not sire the value of one farthing for the whole of the acts passed during the last fifty years ; because , those acis -vrere based -upon the assumption of the present state of society being the most calculated to produce social happiness , —v . pa < ition which not only refnted itself , but which every day '? experience pioved to be as mischievous as lalse . " ( Hear , hear and cheers . ) His object therefore , —the object which he considered most worthy of attainment , and the only one which he had in view as the ultimate result of all their exertions , was the establishing of

      society on such a footing th . it the comforts of the poor man might advance ~ in the same proportion as the luxuries i » f the rich . ( Loud cheers . ) There was , however , as had often been said , one way , only one way , in which they could ever hope to accomplish their end—the obtaining of such a representative system as would secure to every man that share of influence in the making of laws , as his position in society entitles him to demand . ( Hear , hear ^ hear . ) A great deal had been said , both on the present and similar occasions , respecting the folly and absurdity of the present representative system ! The fact was obvious , that it both tended to encourage ignorance and foster vice , on the part of those at present in possession of political rights : for it scarcely needed

      to be pointed ont , now little they read , and how much less they thought , on those subjects which involved tie deepest interests of the nation . Mr . Taylor had shown up the system in its true colours , and had proved that so far as real representation was con - cerned , it was do better than a barefaced mockery of the working classes . ( Loud cheers . ) " Whatwns ' the fact in reference to this matter , and what was the position in which the Whigs had placed themselves by the Reform Bill and then- other bungled attempts at legislation ? Why , they were now reduced to ¦ such a state that , having no- substantive merit of their own , they were obliged to live on Tory hatred . ( Hdar , hear . ) They never once ventured " to point out to the people , any good which they profess to have

      done ; but their universal cry was , when seeking the support of their < £ 10 constituencies , *» What would ihe Tories have done ? " It was , in point of fact , a ¦ hoice of evils which they present to the people ; and : heir invariable language was , " If vou will not let ns do the devil , the Tories will do worse . "" ( Hear Lear , bear , and cheers . ) There were , in the House of Commons , 658 men who professed to be the representatives of the people ; but it was not necessary lor binl to tell that meeting how little those gentlemen regard the interests of those whom they professed to represent . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) What , for example , was the course they pursued with the people ' s petitions ? Many of them were never read , and . wben read they were thrust into a bag nd for

      a -ever forgotten . For his own part lie was weary of petitioning , and " he would recommend that the next petition sent from that place should be to this effect : — "We , the worMngmen of Desrsbury consider that we are entitled to Universal Suffrage as a right , and we therefore demand it" ( Hear , hear , cheers , and laughter . ) -The right of petitioning , whichBrougham had designated as the greatest right , was now little better than a mere farce , apd zhe right of appeal had virtually been taken from the people ; ( Hear , hear . ) But was it to be supposed that the people of this free soil would have £ orn all this ignominy and injustice , had thev not thfen hnddled up in those infernal rattle boxes ? Had the light of day been allowed to shine unon

      nein , and had they had opportunities of exercise 1 : iat w ould make them feel , and think , and act like : nen : would they have borne so patiently the worst » f insults : ^ so , ( no , no ) -. no—but their minds had income enervated and their bodies -were reduced to inere pigmies under the workings . of the Factory iy-tem . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) It was because , ^ nen their task-masters asked them to do what they hid . their slaves , and because they felt not the fire of Ireedom burning in their bosoms , that they were - > i y iged to do whatever their oppressors bid them . < He _ .-r . hear . ) By this infernal system our social :: abitshad been completely changed . ( Hear . ) > ihe men of one factory could not converse with the men of another factory;—nay , even men in the same

      fjictory could not converse with each other , and it was partly in consequence of that silent system ihat had been the necessary result of these " rattleboxes , " that we had been so lone ; made aprev to ijotb . uf the "infernal terfls . " ^ f . O'Connor pro-« -eeded to address toe meeting on a great variety of interesting points connected -with Radical . Reform . He deprecated [ in the-most unsparing terms the ¦ - " eeeltral conduct of fli ' e Whig&and the oppressivemea -ures of the Tories , and showed that without aregular ^ stem of < jrgani « a 6 on . tiereiieveT could be anything done on thepaftol the people . Heaayerted to the Radical -Associations of HochaalB , Halifax , Huducrsheld , Bradford-, Dewsbiirj »* and other places , as junrishing ^ ecimens of united'determinarion : but stuiit

      was necessary tonare a airibn ba ^ ed-on sticti pnnaples as would not ^ only enable Radicals to think Make , but ako , to know that they , did ithint alike . . Nothing , ae said , was so necessarFas &at-1 fcey ^ '" li . * 11 , ^ 110 ^ each other thought ' and with v . atlnwwledge they might almost attain toy object ¦ H . on which they set their wisnes . tCheef&J . They ¦ n irt ¥ T f ? ° ofof what ™ S » ° - « wl * ' -ao : llie Dorchester Labourers were in all probability pas ^ igm . tnumphm their carriage ao £ fciir , p « t s ^ btc-pbens ^ anQbiddmg dpfianceto thedemuiaa tioTis of toe tyrants who had concurred in the sentence of expatriation , and thus teaching them that mijni : a gainst right would never prevail with iinpuuitj- ^ nong the-woridng men of England- But he was now gnihg'to ^ mietnce to theineefing -what he uoahtednot , would be received with astonlshmentr hut which would-. be . feofed . spon henceforth as

      ' aethingmore visible nil it shonld ripen into ' ttcooroptishment . They Ijai heard pf the manner in w : dcb theyli » i fceeh bought and sold by tBe respect able constituenciescreiteai ) tr theHeform J 3 DL We ^* - ^ Wakefield a ^ w months ago . ' a" miserable exhMfionof-fire patriots corxadg to cheer onmeir cwiauiste & flie ^ oonry election . He had canvassed a Tanrii larger county than the conntf of York , nni ^^ Y 1 ^^ 1 ^ ^ ftoni the ^ rasp of Tories in / whose > os ^^ ott : itMd"BMna ; fqrj 50 eare , ( Hear , hear . ) it ga nil the anstocfacy oppo « d to him he had jsjened tha ^ . county ; and he now" proclaimed from -Siafrspdr v aafon toe ne st oc ^ sibii "he should dffeJ taBi « U aft ^ ndm ^ te fat the representation of ttis goata ?* \ hati a ?» d continued cheering and clapping > f Bands . ) . He aaould-defy both the WMg and Tory ari || f £$ 5 Cyi , iM ? -sroold trftveae theconnty bofc-by

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      night and by day , and would shew them such a specimen of union and ngitati « n ns they had never known before . ( Hear , bear . ) He shoud expect tlioin-tQ . do iiieir-. duty , uud joiiiiug-keartiuiil hand together , " where was the power tlyit could utop or resirt flie nnited power of the people . ( Hear , iear , and . cheers . ) They had heard of exclusive 'dealing , and they would teach the-middle classes , that as they joined exclusively in maintaining their political pnvileges ^ to the exclusion of the working chafes , they ( the working classes ) would deal exclusYely in . goods . ( Hear , hear . ) They would teach them they ¦ were dependant -wholly trpon the working classes whether they have votes or not ( Hear , hear . ) They would show them that as they night and l ) y day , and would shew them such a

      had neglected their duty to the non-electors , and as they prefer empty tills and political ; distinction to full tills and political , equality he would upon the first occasion give them a test of what the working classes really are . ^ Loud cheers . ) Whe » he first mentioned his intention to stand as a candidate for the representation of this great county , it wasinet with a scowl and a laugh ; but he was not afraid to meet Morpeth , or Strickland , or Wortley ; he had no objection to place his qualification in connexion with theirs , and then let that horse win the race which could run the best ( Loud and continued cheers . There was in fact now no other means of the labouring ^ classes protecting themselves against Whig and Tory oppression than by going to them in

      bodies and saying that as you live upon our resources you must either vote for our man , or we will desert your shops . ( Hear , hear . ) This is the manner in which they ought to be treated withont ceremony or reserve ; and when the people have firmly resolved thus to treat them , he was satisfied that they would soon be equally independent of both Whig and Tory . ( Loud cheers . ) What was it to them who were the members of the county so long as those who were the members opposed the peoples best and only interest ? ( Hear , hear . ) What h&l th ? y got from the "Whigs , and what did they expedt from the Tories ? ( Hear , hear . ) Their whole system , as ie had often told them , amonnted to nothing more than this- ^ it was ihe rich oppressersTanked in deadly

      hostility against the poor oppressed . ( H « ar , hear , and cheers . ) He had shown them that fashion and change were going on apace amoir . sc the higher classes , while the old fashion of legislation still went on , providing protection for the rich and oppression for the pnor . ( Hear , hear . ) He had shown them that the Aristocracy had no sympathy in common withthe people ; that they selected the worst des cription of men to make laws for them , and to rule over them ; that they dreamt not of electing charitable men to place them over charitable institutions , but tyrants to grind them to the dust , and , eventually , to send them to prisons and bastiles as a part of the overpopulatiou of the country . ( Loud aud continued cheering . ) When he told them , then ,

      that it was his intention to offer himself on the next occasion as a candidate for the representation of the West Riding , he came not to ask their confidence in him as aay favour they would thus personally conferupon bin . He onlydesired to establish such an order of thiugs as would make them altogether independent of the good acts of any "individual . ( Hear , hear . ) In conclusi on , joining heart and soul together , they were determined to make every struggle against the bad laws now in existence , having always in view as the endof that struggle the ' poUtical improvement of the people , remembering that as

      we now live in new tunes , "we require a new order of men-to govern them ; and determining that " they would not have Lord J . Russell , and with him the few dribblers who vote away the money , ruin the comfort , and sport with the lives of the peeple for the sake of obtaining emolument for themselves and their Mends . ( Loud cheers . ) They must , therefore , place upon Jieirbanners the mottos of " Union , " ** the rights of labour , '' and "liberty ordeatb ; '' aud under those banners they would go " to work in srood e : irnest , resolved rather to die the glorious death ot freemen than live to be tantalized as slaves , ( Loud and continued cheer ing . )

      Mr . Joseph « hitelet moved , and Mr . Like Firth seconded , the next resolution , which was ably supported by Mr . Cbjibtree , of Barnsley ; but a storm of hail and snow coming on , the people beyan to disperse , and his speech was cut short The following is the resolution ^—" That the possession of property by a representative being no proof of his ability to serve his constituents , nor any jruarantee against bis corrpptibilitv , that property be not considered a requisite qualification for a representat ive , and that each representative be paid for his attendance in Parliament , " —wlrich was carried , as were all the rest , unanimously .

      The last resolution , which was not commented upon , is as follows : — " That it is the opiuion of this meeting that these kingdoms eught to be divided into electoral districts , each being so bounded as to contain , as near as possible , the same number of inhabitants , and that each district ought to send one representative ; and that nil male persons arrived at their majority ( insane persons and criminals excepted ) , ought to be entitk-d to vote in the election of representatives . " Thanks having been voted to the Chairman , at four o ' clock the meeting broke up .

      THE DINNER . At six o clock those who had taken tickets sat down to a very good and substantial dinner in the school-room before mentioned . The eatables consisted of old English fare , roast beef and plum pudding , and a variety of other good things , served up in a manner much to the credit of the provider , Mr . Ockerby , of the New Inn . Mr . Todd again acted as chairman , the duties of which office he discharged with great ability , and to the perfect satisfaction of the company . After the cloth had been removed , the bnsiness of the evening commenced . The first toast given from the chair was , «¦ The People , the legitimate source of all power ; " and in proposing this toast ,

      the Chairman remarked , that it became them to enquire how it happened , if the sentiment contained in the toast was true , that nine-tenths of the people had no political power whatever ( hear hear)—had 110 voice or vote in the election of a representative . He had heard a very odd doctrine promulgated of late , which had much anlused him , namely , that property must have its influence , and must be represented . Now it so happened that property always had a great influence , and instead of property -making a mau defenceless , it was a source of great power ( hear , hear ) . But tue ideas of these people differed very much from those of Solomon . He said , " the strength of the wealthy is their riches , whilst the destruction of the poor is their

      poverty . " A man with his pocket full of money wields ten-fold more power than a man who has no money at all . ( Hear . ) Government ought to seek to advance the interests , and to grant the rights , of every man ; and ' he contended that to make a ( jovernment strong , the base must be as wide and as extensive as possible ; taxation itself , now most enormous , should t > e reduced in amount , and laid on in an equal manner . ( Hear , hear . ) But whilst a few returned Members of Parliament , it wonld press with undue , weight npon the many , because the representatives would study the interests of the represented . Was h not upon property and riches , and upon articles of luxury , rattier than upon the necessaries of the poor , that taxes should be laid r He contended that

      it was . w bat was the situation of the people of this country ? -Why , the greater part of the labouring classes had to pay a portion of their incomes in taxes incomparably greater than the rich man had to pay upon his superfluities and article *; of luxury . Political power then , according to all the arguments of reason , is most wisely when most widely distributed , and ought tc- be given as a means of defence , and not as a weapon of offence . [ Cheers . l Whyshould the poor be taxed for the protei&ion of the rich as they were at present ? For instance , a man mightliave £ 100 , 000 , and if he possessed nothing in this country he paid no taxes , excepting for what "he consumed , whilst the great bulk of the people hare to be at the expense of the protection of that man ; for as regards the poor the police was useless , as he had nothing tobe robbed of . { Hear . ] The game laws too , for instance , were supported at the public expense , for-the amusement of tile rich .

      the chairman next alluded to the church , and whilst quoting a passage from Solomon , beginning u on the side of the priests there was power , * % drunken man ( a hatter we understood ) , who had shortly before obtained admission into the room , interrupted him , and it was found necessary to eject theindiriduaL As soon as order was restored , the ChaiTman proceeded , and after remarking that the working classes had the greatest interest in the maintenance of good laws and order , and in general conducted their public proceedings with more regularity than the 5 * - collective wisdom"' of the nation , he gave the toast , which was drunk with loud applause . The Chairman again rose and gave " Thefive great Radical principles—Universal SuSraee , Annual Parliaments , Vote by Ballot , no Property Qualifications for Members of Pailiament aud equal Representation . " ( Loud cheers . ) The toast was drunk : with loud applause , and r

      Mr . TaoBXTex , of Halifax , in a very humourous speech , in which he pourfrayed the character of the ¦ Whi gsnot very much to their advantage , responded to the same . ' - •• : ; The Chaihmax again rose and gave > ' The memory of those patriot * who sacrifice their lives in the defence of freedom ; and may the recollection of their virtues animate ns with the same sacred love of liberty , " Drank in solemn silence , being in remembrance of the great dead . : :. Mr . Robert ATxixsox ,, of Halifax , responded to the toast . - ¦ " -

      The next toast given from the chair was , " The liberty of the Press , " to wliich Mr . O'Connor responded . He said he looked upon the press as the master © f ceremonies ; as omnipotent , without which neither-Uietineen , Lords , or Commons could hold thjeir «* tatfc . He spoke at great length regarding the influence of the press on the minda of the people , and the power -which it -thus had over the whole nauOD ^ -

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      The next toast given by the chairman was , " Tlie rights of man , and let those wHo . now oppose them retrace their steps and enjoy the rights 01 freemen . " DrankwitUgreaL ^ utlaMiWHm . w ; : ; ^ ^ Mr . ~ Titi . OR felt greatpleasure in having to speak to the toast which they had so cordially and heartily responded to . He did'this on twogrouudsi the o » e was the justice and the importance of the sentiment , and the other was because it appeared to be so much in accordance with the sentiments of the men , of Dewsbnry , and of the West-Riding of Yorkshire . ( Cheere , ) Man had his natural rightsin every nation * despotic as well as free ; they were born with them , and he ought to possess them , and never to part with them but with his life also . The possession of The next toast given by the chairman was . " Tlie

      their liberties , and life , and limbs and the free expression of their opinions , was the nght ; of every man , and ne \« r ought to be taken from him , and any institution which infringed upon these principles , infringed upon the rights of man . ( Hear , hear . ) He did uot entertain opinions merely in theory , he was one of those politicians who looked at the " practical to be effected . He did not entertain the principles of the rights of man merely as visionary theories ! he wonld not give a button for them all together if he did not think they would produce good . He wanted to see the pig in the sty , the court besides the house well filled with coals , " the back well clad , and the belly well fed . ( Hear , hear . ) He was not of the same opinion as Lord Brougham , who was for having the head filled and the belly empty . Let the working classes get a good robusi round corporation , then th ^ y would look after the head , and

      without this , there could be no intellectuality . They , the Radicals , were charged with being destructives , and vith wanting to wipe off the national debt , and he was sometimes asked what they would do if they had the power . He replied that every person wboleht £ 60 to the nation during the war , it was called JEIOO , and they the Radicals , would , in the first place set that down at the original price , £ 60- then they would see what was the difference in the price ; of corn then and now , and by this means he , thought they would be able to reduce the national debt one-third , which would be something . ( Hear , hear . ) With regard to the suffrage , he went further than Mr . Oastler , and would rather have no suflruge at all thau the present suffrage . The Chairman next gave , " The working men of England , Ireland , and Scotland , and * speedy repeal of all laws established to lessen" the wages of labonr . "

      Mr . Quarmbv , of Oldham , spoke to the toast , which was drunk with loud cheers . The Chairman said , there was a person of the name of Mapston present , from Oxford , in the room , who wished to give them soine account of the operations of the New Poor Law iu that distr ict . Mr . Maxstox then presented himself , and told the following story .: . — . 1 am a native of Oxford , and -here ; has been a lastile there for four years ; it is the production of more of the good deeds of the Whigs . But as so much has been snid about these poor men , I think it is a pity to snyinore ; they are so bad that even the Tories disdain them . ( Laughter . ) I have lived near a bastile pr ison ; 1 iiaveT > eeii in tliis pr ison , and have seen the introduction and working of the bill . I liavtf seen a living skeleton—I could call it nothing else—it was u man

      who had once been in better circumstances , a weaver who was reduced for want . of employ . He came into this bastile , his health declined and with his health his faculties declined , his eyes were sunk iu their sockets , and he was so reduced that lie did not know his own child . He went in but to die ; he was a dying man when he went in . More liave died in that prison than in nil Banbnry besides . Two men went in , and they did not dispute , but they were actually poisoned . One Hf them said , I had not been thure inanv days before my mouth got sore , and my teeth got loose ; the other man said , and so did mine . One young woman went in from a parish about seven miles . off ; . and also another female and a child—the young woman said thp child would not last long , as it was always crying—you . see " --the bonds of natnreeven in a child—in a few days the child died . The Wliigs are as bad as the Tories , and ten times worse ; their deeds are worse than ever Pharaoh ' s

      were . Mr . Oastler : Will you sny whether the working people in your district like the law , as they say they do in Parliament ? Maxstos : There is part resentment ; but there is no Oastler or O'Connor there , but the spirit lies in every man ' s breast . Mr . Oastler—Does it affect only working men ? Manstox—It affects the shopkeepers and b « kers ; they detest the law , they hate it , and 1 have heard farmers say they have more taxes to pay than they had under ' the old law , and the people wore harder done to than -they even were before . After the new law is put into execution , then follows a rural police

      you have your police magistrate , who never did a day ' s work in his lLe , and he has a salary for it . I hnve given you a few hints , and there have been a few marks of God ' s displeasure . One guardian was very officious , he wenthome , and soon died ; tvnotlper man , who wsus also very officious , went backwards and forwards , and his circumstances were either embarrassed or something , and hecut hi * throat . At Southampton , a man who whs chairman , a lawyer , ha I made his arrangements and plans to force the widow ' s pay off ; and when he got up to say a few wordv he said J feel myself poorly , sat down , and died almost immediately . I consider these in ; irks of the displeasure of God , and I believe them to be such , ( This is very nearly all that the man said . )

      The Chairman then "again proceeded vfitlv the toast * , and gave iv Civil aud Religious Liberty , " which was responded to by Mr . Crabtree , * of Barnsley . The next toast given was " The Health of the Rev . Joseph Rayner Stephens , the bold and fearless advocate of the rights of tlie oppressed poor . — ( Drunk with lond cheers and clapping of hands . ) Mr . Oastleu , in acknowledging the toast * apologised for the nbsence of Mr . Stephens , who was prevented from attending by domestic affliction , and

      passed upon his character a very high eulbgiuin . The Chairman then gave "Arthur O'Connor , Esq ., the exiled patriot of persecuted Ireland , and may he be speedily restored to his country , and live to see justice done to it . "—( Three times three ) in a speech which had great effect upon the meeting . ) Mr . O'Connor returned thanks . The health of Mr . O . Connor was proposed as the next toast , and was drank with tlie most enthusiastic applause . Mr . O'Connor made a suitable reply to the compliment ,

      The next tonst , which was very indistinctly given , was acknowledged by Mr . Pitkethly , of Huddersfield . The Chairman then gave " the health of Richard Oastler , Esq ., and may he live to s ? e the poor iu the full enjoyment of liberty and life . " —Drunk with cheers . Mr . Oastleii returned thanks in a lengthy speech , wliich was well received . He adverted to a variety of topics which interested the meeting , ainongsi which he alluded to the opinion of the value of Universal Suffrage . He said he confessed lie did not entertain the same opinions on this question as his fr iends O'Connor , Stephens , and others ; but if he thought Universal Suftrage was the thing to do iuK wouia vote lor it at time

      peupie gooa ; ne any as being much preferable to the present franchise . His opinion , however , of the Sulfrage was , t ^ zi it ought to send to Parliament such persons as would represent ALL classes of the community fairly and evenly ; and that the House of Commons ought to be a miuiature representation of every class in the country . ( Hear , tstr . ) If he were an M . P ., he told them there that his first motion should be for a committee to consider what kind of a sufirnge wonld be the best for the equal representation of every class . ( Hear , hear . ) He then alluded to the New Poor Law , and laid great stress on the appalling fact lately stated in some of the metropolitan papers respecting the sixty deaths that had * akeu .: Blace in the Bridgewater Union Workhouse , witniu .-ihe short space of twenty-six days ; and lie could not nd his mind of the impression that these poor paupers must haA'e been poisoned ; They had already heard from the person from Oxford that the paupers

      in mat tinon complained that with the > ^ 7 / ey ' their , mouths were score and their teeth loose . That was a strange and suspicions circumstance and and certainly demanded careful investigation . Mr ; Oastler proceeded to shew from the coi-respondence between the tramping Commissioner Power , and the Poor-Law Commissioners , that the latter , at the request of the former , had , without the consent and in opposition to the wishes of the magistrates , sent down to Bradford several of the Metropolitan police in plain clothes . The healths of Messrs . T . S . Brook , of Dewsbury , Robert "Wilkinson , of Halifax , L . Pitkethley , of Huddersfield , J . Crabtree , of Barnsley , J . Taylor , of Rochdale , J .. L . Qaarmby of Oldham , and others ; and were received with loud cheers . Mr . O'Connor pronosea the health of the Chai& man and paid him a-high , compliment for his political honesty and intelligent worth to thowprking classes . . .-.. ' ¦

      Mr . Oastleb seconded the motion . The company separated about twelve o ' clock . Every , thing iwas conducted in the most orderly manner , and no one appeared to have indulged to exce ' ggl excepting , one iudiudual who was consequently put out oT the room . . ¦ "' ¦ . - .

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      GREAT RADICAL MEETING AND DINNER AT BARNSLEY . OnTuesday last , a meeting convened at the May-Day Green , at Barnsley , for ; the purpose of petitioning Parliament for the people's rights . The meeting r , was convened at two o ' clock , and long before that time the Green was filled -with thousands of persons anxious to hear the gentlenien who were expected to address the meeting . ; " Mr . J . Cbxbtree was ' ca ^ ed to the chair , and opened the business of the meeting by reading the placard by which it was called . He then related

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      to the people ^ what ^ transpired at ^^ Dewsbury , on the prBceQiugjdajyand hoped -thattheir prqeeedinor * Ayoiud ^ otiiii 'less : ¦ ammatexlr aiidtluittliey might accomplish the object lor ; which the meeting was called . He explaihed thS object of the meeting ; pnd stated ; that it vras ( 6 ..:.. shbW to the Radicals of tverytoiwuin England , that tlie meti bfBstriisley were still alive to their dearest iriterektsy and that they werie determined to itgitnte the / question of the people's rights more and moreVnotwithstanding the great 4 epreBsioij which they had felt in their trade for several monthspa' -t . He related a circumstanqe that had occurred a few : daya before . A gentiemeu had asked him what they meant to do at their forthcoming meeting ; and thmkiiig the question an odd to the people what had fcrarisDired at Dewsburv . on

      one , he thought it merited an answer ; and the answer he gave him was that they intended to meet and remain together till they got Universal Suffrage , Animal Parliaments , Vote by Ballot , and every thing else that the people thought necessary tut the protection of their rights . ( H ear , hear , aud uuigbter ;) He then proceeded to explain the meannig ; of the extension of the Suffrage , and to show the - results tljat might be fairly expected from it when obtained . He took into consideration the several objections which the enemies of the peo-§ le frequently urge agaiast the extension of the Uective Franchise , such , as " their ignorance of pplictical subjects , their moral debasement ^ their ; incapacity to exercise a proper judgment in

      the use of the franchise , even if they possessed it : < fec . " and successfully refiited them , as beingpnl y worthy of the ihen ijrho raised them , and urhose only obj . ect was to raise themselves at the expense of honesty labour , and induatry , They heard much about the ignorance of the working classes , but he would veiitiireto make the assertion , that a more ignorant set of men man the privileged order could not be found and he would not hesitate for one tnement in saying that he hoA _ no doubt he could : find 658 mett jy ^ jy luanufacturing town in Englana ^ Ireland , or Scot ^ laud , and merely ^ by ^^^ pointing but ' with / his finger to each man , and saying " You-re one , and you ' re one , and you ' re one , ' till he had got the whole number . But really , he could scarcely say the people had anv

      right to cdmphun , for they had tanieW submitted to be robbed ' of their dearest right * . ( Hear ^ hear . ) It liadbeen said , on the preced nig day , thatcivil liberty consisted in every working man , in whatever part of the world , having the free exercise of his o \ Kn conscience , and doing , at his own disposal , every thing which interested himself . Ther < j could be no civil liberty when they were liable to be dragged from tiieir homes , and sent to Botari y Bay , for endeavouring to protect themselves against the influence of p ; id laws , by uniting as a brotherhood . Could there be any ciril liberty when they were compelled , as on Occasions like these , to come forward and demand tliei ' r rights , without the least prospect of eyer getting them ? exposed , as they were , to every calumny—to

      the tauuts of oppressors , the sneeris of friends , and , what was still worse ; to the club-law of a riumber of hired ragamuffins , in the shape of rural police ¦ and on whose testimony , perhaps , they might be summoned to the bar of their country , and after the prer tension and mockery of a trial , be transported for seven years . (" Shame , shame . " ) Was not this done to the Dorchester labourers ? And had they committed any crime against th » law beyond the crime of often ding the grinding capitalist , who sought to live upon tlie blood and sinew * of those who wrougM for Us maintenance ? That was the crime for whieh the Dorchester labourers were traiisported j but now they had returned : and what was it that brought them back ? ( Hear . )

      certainly it was not the charity of the - Whi ^ s , nor the liumnnity of Lord J . Uusseil" ; -butit : was the people ' s exertions that brought them back ; and they have now returned to bless the people for those exertions . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) The VV higs , however , were t \ v 0-handed , and were , seemingly , determined if they could not take their prey with one hand , at lyiistthey would have it with * the other . They had , with the out ? hand , . r estored ,, the ' -Dorchester labourers , whom their impudence aud iiijustice sentenced to expatriation , but they had , with the other liaud , taken the five cotton spinners of Glasgow . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) And why was it , he would ask , that the people had submitted to such despotic acts as Uiese ? Simply because , through innue 01 Dact laws

      me nce , they had become languid and nerveless , aiid thoughtless and despairing . ( Hear , hear . ) And they knew hot their own strenglli und dignity , and , therefore , they yielded the power into the hnnds of the first who claimed it , without ever making an effort for themselves . ( Hear , nnd cheers . ) He , for one , was satisfied that Lord John Russell and his Whig companions would never have insulted the people in the manner they have doiw-yif the people only respected themselves , and their situation , half as much as Lord John r-jspected himaelf and his situation . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Mr . Crabtree ) knew very well that Lord John would not chaiigehis place in the Cabinet for the very best reed that the best and most kind-hearted

      manufacturer in Bamsley could give . ( No , no , hear , hear , and much laughter . ) Mr . Crabtree proceeded in a lengthened and animated address to point out some of the most particalar acts of Whig legislation , from which the people were more particularly suffering , and amongst these he deprecated , iu the most unqualified terms , the slavery apprenticeship system , the Reform Bill , and the New Poor Law . ' During the time of his address , several very heavy showers of' hftil and snow fell ; and , notwithstanding this , and the severity of the cold , the people manifested ¦ a -degree of enthusiasm almost unparalled . The chairman ' s address being finished ,

      Mr . Peteiv Hokv moved the first resolution . He thought it necessary to nuike an observation or two to the meeting in proposing this resolu 4 on . They were met once more to recognise that principle which was the groundwork of the creed of every honvst Radical" that taxation . without representation was nothing better thau tyranny . " ( Hear , hear , hear , and cheers . ) If it wen * necessary to give a definition of representation he ! would say it was simply " that the people who were , the producers of all the wealth of the nation ought to be represented in the House of Commons . Were they represented ? Certainly they were .-riot . And why ? Merely because that in that House that had not a single man that supported their cause . ( Cheers . ) Why , therefore should the people be bound to obey laws which they had no voice in making ? It was for this-reason ; because thepresent mock representatives said "We will rule yon , not by common senVe , ( because you have

      none ) , but bv such laws as will learn you to submit to the will of those wno occupy higher stations in life aud who are tlu ; rfore more fit to ride oyei you . " Such was the language of present 'despots ^ ; and even of those who occupied seats in the House of Com 7 nons—Q \ e People *( Hmtse , He now boldly catinj forward at that meeting , and declared before the thousands then assembled , that he would never be content to be a slaved ( Luud cheers . ) He felt uli-ead y the brand of slavery had been . narked upon him , as well as millons of his fello > v-men besides , biit his soul told him that freedom was its untive 0 fcm ( jnt s and he sighed , to throw off his fetters and rise to the dignity of a freenian . ( Continued cheers . ) For tliis purpo e he was determined to exert every nerve ; and hie had no hesitation in saying that if the people were determined to be free , they had only to determine it manfully , and freedom would be th « irs . ( Hear , hear , hear , and cheers . )

      Mr . Qreen seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . _ Mr . LiNGAiip , ot Sheffield , moved the iiext resolution with w ^ ich he said he cordially agreed . Mr . Ironsides , from tlie same place seconded it ; aud in a short speech addressed themeeting on the importance of continuing to claniour for their rights till they were eventually obtained . This resolution was for the adoption of a short petition to the following effect :- . - . ... . ;¦• To the Honourable the Gommons , Ac . ' . - The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of . Barnsley , in the County of York .

      Humbly Sheweth , That your petitioners feel that under the existing state of the laws they are depr ivedof those pplitic ! ii rightSvWhich contribute to their political ' advancement and their social happiness ^ They therefore require those rights from the hands of those who profess to be their repreaentativetf . ¦ And your petitioners , &ci The motion was ' then put by the Chairman ^ y hich was carried unanimously and accompanied with three cheers . Several letters were then read from gentlemenwho had been invited to attend the meeting , among which were one from John iFielden , Esq ., M . P ., one from Thoa . Wakley , Esqr , ; M . P ., one from General Johnson , M . P ., R . Oastler . Esq ..,- Mr . Elliot , and others . : . ¦ j

      Mr . Templeton was then inyited to address the meeting . He complied with the invitation and began ; by reading the letter , of Mr ; ' Elliot . He stated that there were one or two statements in the letter of Mr . Elliot , which he felt bpun ^ l to present to the attention of the meeting , aa they involved matters of great importance ,, and one in particular , which exhorted them to beware of how they engaged gentfemenin the " advocacy of their cause , as their enemies had aeveral agitators in tUe field whom they had-chbsen with great judgment . Mr . Templeton th ' ought the adrice , so far as the caution was concurned j was both ; . igood and ; necessary ; but ut the ^ aine time he wasJof opinion th ' at if Mr ^ Elliot was

      aware of their being in the field of Radical agitation , those men who were employed by theenemies of the people , " he ( Mr . fiHiot ) ought for the sake of preservmg the people ' s interest , ; to haye pointed them out more explicitly , so that the people might be more fully oh their guard . It was frHn . unfair and anwise to make a statement of that kind withont affording spine' proof i to substantiate it ; ^ : and there waaVtop much need of close and determined union to ruffle thij-naauds of the people by hinting at any tWng wkich was qalculated to ; excite pe ^ ty jealousies , and continual feats without givingsonie ; proofof iixereed existence of a cause . ( Hear . ) "He was ho ; advocate for working men depeiddmg t » o much on the assistance of gentlenien : his advise was , that working men

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      should conduct their own meetings , do every thing iii their power to instruct each other , and , though they might still bccagio . iKilly be indebted to the class of men whom Mr- Elliotr ; chose to term * gentl ? riietti it would always be . most conducive to their interests , to consider them notin theMcapacity ., . of . leaders , but hi " that of benevolent indiyiduais who vie » e | i the miseries to why : h . the working elates were subject , with such an eye of abhorrence , that they were willing to descend from what inight be considered 4 higher station to lend the aid of their influence in attempting to relieve the sorrowa of the oppressed . ( Hear , hear . ) He congratulated the meeting on theirfortitude and patience ; and was proud to seethe men of Barnsley feel such an interest in the Cause of Radi-. should rnhdiint their own mewtrnW An . n > nr ti , ; nrr

      calism as to stand for hours ; amid the pelting storm , and the piercing cold , to listen to the addresses of their fellow working men . He knew one case in which the same fortitude and determination had been exhibited , and that was . at a great meeting at Halifax , about three months ago , when between three and four thousand men ; stood in mow , nearly to the depth of their knees , for the space of three hours and a half , to ; listen to the addresses ot weavers , tailors , shoemakers , and others in the same humble professions . ( Hear , hear . ) Such was their enthusiasm in the cause ; and he was proud to see aii . enthusiasm ' - . 'in Barnsley equally a& gteat , and equally as deserving the . approval of all who felt desirjous for the success of Radical principles . Mr .

      T . then preseuted to the meeting a comprehensive and affecting summary of the wrongs and miseries of the labouring portion of our population which" he said they knew much better than it was possible for him toaescribe , and felt more keenly than , any but themselves could conceive . ( Hear , hear . ) He ascribed these ; evils to their proper source , an bvefamount of taxation without tnefeast means of raising i ^ except by the direct plunder of labour ; and that since labour was nowhere represented and had no friend on its behalf in the legislative assemblies , —at least with very few exceptions—there could be little hope of ever obtaining a redress of our grievances

      exceplthrough the instrumentality of an extended franchise . In order therefore to accomplish this - he recommended the formation of such , a society as would unite the working classes on one common principle , so as to enable them to know each other as were the members of other societies ; and if this wen ? done , he was decidedly of opinion the Radicals would become such a formidable body as by their number and unity to command from government as much respect and attention as they now ohtain of its insolence and contempt , ( Hear , hear . ) A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman , and the meeting shortly afterwards separated . '

      THE DINNER . At six o ' clock a number of the friends of Radicalism sat down to an excellent dinner , which was served up in creditable style in the Odd Fellows ' H all , A public meeting was afterwards held in the Hall , when Mr . Crabtree was again called to occupy the chair . He gave a number of the usual democratic toasts , ^ hich were heartily responded to . ' Mr . O'Connor , Mr . Pitkeijily , and Mr . CrabtiiEK addressed the meeting in able and energetic hich eu cited the

      speeches ^ w warmest responses of nyprobation on the part of the assembly . At the conclusion of the addresses , votes of thanks were passed to Mr . O'Connor , Mr . Pitkethley . Mr . Crabtree , Mr . Stephens , and several others , who are known to take an active part in the cause of the people ; and three times three cheers , and one cheer more , were given to the patriotic women of Ellandj who set such a noble exnmple of resistance to the infernal New Poor Law . Alter these entertainments were ended , tlie meeting broke up about eleven o'clock . v .

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      GREAT PROCESSION IN HONOUR OF THE DORCHESTER LABOURERS . This being the day appointed for the celebration of the liberation and rfiturn of the Dorchester labourers by a public procession through the metropolis , and a dinner at " White Conduit House , various members of the different working classes began to assemble , as previously arranged , on Kemiington-common as early as seven o ' clock , but up to half-past eight the numbers were very small . Before nine , however , several thousands of operatives , all attired in their holiday clothing , had arrived on the common , and takfcUrip their stations according to the order of the trades to which they belonged , a placard having been laced at the head of each

      p line , in order that all might know exactly where to place themselves , and thus avoid both delay and confusion . Several of the trades arrived on the ground in procession , preceded by their coIouts and bands of music . Amongst those most distinguished for the gaiety of their display were the farriers , the whitesmiths , the bricklayers , the blacksmiths , the tiflplats workers , and glass-blowers . About a quarter before ten a general huzza announced the arrival of the Dorchester labourers . They were in an open carriage ^ drawn by four fine grey horses ; and as they- were drawn through the lines , acknowledged the congratulations of the assembled thousands of their brother labourers py remaining uncovered and repeatedly bowing to all within view . About a quarter past ten two rockets were discharged as a ' signal

      that all was ready for departure ; after a short delay the procession began to move forward towards their destination . There was not a policeman to be seen on the common , and the presence of any was certainly p . ot required , lor good order , decorum , and respectability of deportment characterised all preseut . Indeed , the manner in which every thing was conducttd was highly creditable to all the parties concerned , and may be taken as one of the njany proofs of the advancement of "the people . " The numbers were computed at from five to six thousand , but this was rather above the mark , when they left Kennington . They , however , were joined by many on their way to Islington , who preferred falling into the ranks on the way-to waiting several hours on the common , where the cold chill winds were felt rather severely by many . —Globe .

      DINNER . 9 " OTir admittance to the gardens of White Conduit House , we found the appearance of the pavilion singularl y beautiful , and as the space which it covered was interspersed with trees , its magnificent awnjftg was most convenientl y supported by the branches . Atone end it was terminated by the stage of a fanciful little theatre , and upon this occasion served as a platform for the tables at which the chairman an . t guests , were to be entertained , and who were thus distinctly seen by the whole company . Nine lines of tables for the general guests were placed down the whole length of the pavilion and smaller tables occupied the vacant spaces at the iae

      a , wwes were , so disposed , that nothing could be possibly added to increase their convenience or eftect . A number of chandeliers were suspended liom the roojj by which a profusion of li ght * could have been instantly supplied , if required . At about half-past two o ' clock the procession arrived at the principal entrance , and the Committee having been admitted , . the . rush of the multitude towards ' the gate * was most tremendous . It was with the utmost dvlhciilty that the tickets could be collected from those demanding admission , so intense was their anxiety and arduous their struggle to advance forward . At length , however , the whole of those fortunate enough to possess tickets for the dinner were admitted

      , aud in a few minutes afterwards hot a single vacant place was observable at any Of the fS hn Wf ? th \ '• b 0 le com P n of more than 1 , 500 , had -taken their seats , tke general view was really admirable . ¦ . . ¦ ¦ ° Dmner paving been concluded and the cloth removed , Mr . Wakley ( the Chairman ) accompanied by tbe Dorchester labourers , advanced to the front of the stage , and were greeted with long continued cheering . As soon as it had subsided , ^ Mr . WAKtEy , the Chairman , advanced to the edge of the platfonn to propose the first toast . He said that he came forward to propose the toast that had beennkced aMhe head of the Jist . . by the directioii ot the Committee , and ; upon whom he lbbked as their juost zeaious irienas

      and co-operators . They all stood in irihmate relation to that toast ; for * "in fact ityasthemselves- ( Cheers ) -and for the purpose 6 f do « g . entire ^ honour to ^ it , he took that oppprtuity otbringing forward five men whom many of them ^^ w-nevw - ^ e n before , but whom , " he trusted m God , they should frequently have the pleasure of seeing again . TCheersJ These fivef men were the five Dorchester labourers . ; ( Cheers . ); Now he asked the meeting with confidence , did not the heart of every man who heard Of saw himleap with jov at the sight they witnessed ? ( Loud cheertf In ii ? daV he ( Hie Chairmeua ) had seen many popular exhibit tions ; he had seen many a concourse of a character ' to exalt the imagination and toWcife rtio m ; nA =

      but upon any occasion he had never before beheW a spectacle so inspiring ^ and so delightfol . ( Cheers . ) Look at these men who stood beside him . Did any ef . them look like a dishonest man ? ( Che ^ rsi and J ? ° ; ^ t ^ - ^ MtoM thesVSen ncS stood ; before them in the simple grandeur Of upright integrity— -still there were creatures- ^ -base monsters , pjidei'thehumanappearance , 'whpnadmanacled these mM . rGroan 8 . ) If the ( people of England ) hadiiad their . pohtical . nghte , would ithave been possible that human nature should be so disgraced MNo , no . ) Ihe toast he had to jirppese was * * VThe People , " and there were five of them " beside him—and

      therest were a good many more of' them . Now , did not the treatment which these fire men had suffered teach them a lesson wMch they ought never to forget ? ( Cheers . ) If they had their rights , if they had the power of electing Members ot FarUament ^ would the couimuiiity have been thus disgraced—Would it have been so aegradei ? -r- ( Cheers . ) No , and let them ^ assured tl ^ at in ; pomt o | fact these fivemen had neither been disgraced nor degraded ^ and seeing them : so honoured , he ( the Chairmaii ) woQld now ask them ; all ^ who would not be aretarn-

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      ff ^ ^ MLa « ghter , and cries of ^ brav ^ WaT ^? ll > * W * ¥ WMte&Vbo tad sent tfil % F 22 ££ & E ° gl «» nd , now beHeve tntrt they w ^ Asgrtee ^ tod degtatfea ?;^ nytl ^ iial Sc ^ spectacle m ^ onoo ^ ftep ^^^ t , fw ^ Sfe " ; pruicejrmighth&ve beenproua ; - : HehW aever ^ fo . rtf . f « lt so Much gratification ^ in ^ eetiag JSS& hu coontrymeiu Here were five men esct £ rfX > ^ et alomaaatheiietce designs SSTpS tors , and . now : standing in : tSe heart ^ fe mefropolifi , boooured , respected , and beloved ^ millions of their countrymea Yfispnt vk 2 ™ ^ Oh public occasions of th ^ naturT they onSTl topc-rmit the event of the day to die wti tKi ^ they ought to store a ^^ recollection of theri renmsfe conne ^ ea ^^ itin theirminds ; and SgSSgffi auic i itior tne ~ a ^ - - , , . ^ »

      . . « rev en xo . purpose of itrnxn ?; the good of their fellow-creatarS . ^ What S ? history Of these five men ? What wa ^ thi caSf eVwhich they had suffered r They all kiew ^ W ? theyear 182 * the Combination kSSJ and he would remind them , they we ^ v £ f 1 T flirough ttie exertions of AS ^ heer ? TO the year 1825 the A 5 t of the preretogyaV ^ i ^ modelled , because it had been found to be S ^ T hberal . a construction . JSince that time they ^ knew that it was lawful for men to combine- a « i there was no statute to prevent them from combining either to rednce their wages or to raise them Wplf combination took place in all parts of England «*!? Scotland , aud , he believed , in several pans of Ire ^ rand . somehow or other the working men felt fee advantage of combining for self-p rotecHenith ev hadexpenence thfttwhen they were anih , of' ^ I

      or were working one body ; against another , the ^ masters could oppress . them as they pleased with impunity . But when they found out that uuibn Was strength-Twhen ^ they formed their Uniens then the masters trembled and found their impotency . ( Loud cheers . ) Strikes took place in London , as well as in other parts . A body of carpenters struck in London , and they nobly gained their object . ( CheersA And the tailors also struck . ( Laughter and cheere ) Though he knew it was generally said that nine tailors were required to make a man , he must do them the justice to say that every one individual in . this strike showed hunself an excellent man . In fact the nine tailors proved that they were to the frill

      nine ^ good men . ( Laughter and cheers , ) Well , the London trades struck , and did the Government in ~ terfcre ? No . Did the magistrates interfere ? No . Did the police interfere ? Oh , no . And why not ? Why , because they heard that the trades amounted to _ hundreds of uiousands , and they were afraid v Tmmderinjg' cheers ^) That was the only reason for meirnon-interfefence—because they were afraid He need not say more upon that point ^ for that was the sum total of the affair . Well , these excellent men , the five Dorchester labourers ^ alter the example of the trades of the inetropoUs—the central seat of Government—thought that a little Unien of their Own would be anice comfortable snug thin » in Toll .

      puddle , in Dorsetshire , where one of them , by the power of hismoratory , and his religious practices , had acquired great and just influence over the minds of the working people . But a Tory magistrate sent a spy amongst them —( groans )—and this rascally spy gaye information against his brother labourers , so that the magistrates sent a constable to tell them they were Wanted at Dorchester . : One constable came to take six strong and lusty labourers . Why , they could have smashed the miserable carcase of the gin-sodden constable , but they knew themselves to be innocent , and said , " We are not afraid--we have nothing to care tor , and therefore we will go . " They , therefore , accompanied the miserable denl to

      L » orcbester , to hear what the base-born , foul-mouthed spy hud to say against them . Tlie magistrates pretended to exitmine them , and they heard evidence against them from the filthy-mouthed spy , and having heard this base-born Wretch , they sa ' id that the case was not quite clear , so they must reuiahd them for fuEther examination . The six men Were , thereforej sent to gaol . Another examination took place , but Would it be believed , that ' that examination took place in private and in the gaol- ^ - ( lood execrations )—such infamons conduct would not fora moment be tolerated in London , but unfortunately at that time the people in the country had no Unions . They were ; prevented from pursnin

      g their usual occupations , The Magistrates then , after another examination , made put the commitment of the Dorchester labourers to gaol , where they were not only deprived of the society of their families and friends , but they were even denied the use of pen , ink , and paper . ( Shame . ) Their trial , their inock trial , came on before a Whig judge and a packed jury . ( Execrations . ) He advisedly said a packed jury , for the Tory Parsons' agent went out and made enquiries as to the names and occupations of the forty-ejght who formed the jury h > t , and so manoeuvred that he got twelve who , he said , were * &fe and good men for his purpose . ( Groans . ) They got a jury of farmers to try men for endeavonr .

      ing to raise their wages . Surely they were not fit men for . such a purpose , except it was in the same way as the Tory agent- meant . They found them g uilty ^ and then the Judge raked up an old Act of Parliament , which made it illegal to take or administer any path not required by law , and a punishment of seven years transportation was to be inflicted ^ if any jury could be found infamous enough to return such a verdict . Their friends were then sent on their travels , and not at their own expPDse—and he believed that they were nonii the worse for it , and would be better . ( Loud cheers . ) Did their miscreant prosecutors ever anticipate this , meeting ? Did they expect that the men would be back before four years ? ( Loud cheers . )

      When he brought their case into Parliament there , were nearly 41 ) 0 Members in the House . He told the case of the men in an Bhvarnished tale : and , would they believe it , the devils cried in that House when they hsard it . ( Laughter . ) The great paunclibelliedj whiskered fellows were to be seen sobbing in all directions . They said it was a most afflicting , a dreadful case , but still they must support the Executive Government . Being then inexperienced in Parliamentary tactics , he thought bis motion would p _ ass ; but when the Hjmse divided , out went 300 against the motion and 82 for it ; and : amongst the 300 . went the sobbers . ( Laughter and groans . ) He could not acconnt for it until he recollected that ¦

      crocodiles shed tears before they devour their prey Still , notwithstanding the misfortune of the motion , an impression was inade Upon the Heuse and upon the country , and ultimately , through the exertions of the indefetigable Doichester Committee , whom he ( the Chairman ) had been glad to aid , the results of this day had -been achieved . ( Loud cheers . ) He made personal inquiries as to the characters of these inen , in their native village of Tallpuddle ; the neighbours of the six men said they had the inost unbounded confidence in their integrity . But a clergyman became raricorous against the rival preachers ( LovelesSes ) , endeavoured to get them pnt of the opposition shop , when het found that their common sense would be the ruin of hinii and so te

      joined the Tory magistrates agains ^ theni , And this - was England ! This was the country where j ustice was purely administered , arid where the laws were the admiration of the world ! Revertiiig totbe triumph , ho hoped h « would resolve not to let its results end with the festivy . Let them resolve that the labourers should be labourers no longer—¦( Cheew . ) - While- they were enjoying thems elves their enemies , \ vere " eating galr and . wormwood , and he ( Mr . Wakley ) would give them enon ^ J of it . But revenge was not their object It was now for them to consider what was to be done for the men . Let them make farmers of them , aDTr ifling contributions thrmioftniit -tlife mnntrv ffOold

      make them quite independent . Their appearance was already respectable . Look at : their hoofr' - ( Laughter ) --they had no cloven feet , bnt we ? honest men . There was a good sum of nioner m hand already . ( £ 600 , we were informed ) , and they would sooii have th * rest ; Well , it being determined that they were ; to be fanner ? , where ff ^? . they to live ? He would say let them have a gow sum of money , withont restraint ; but if one of than wished to live near the foreman of the jury ^ foun . 1 them ^ guilty , in God ' s name let him . Bn ] allowing the men to Uve where they liked , they ^ iwo great objects—the first wfts , to make them completelyindepenaent—the next was , to convince tneff tn

      dastardly , cruely tiger-hearted persecutors , that « r base and unjust designs had failed , and that pe labourers had been-secured in the means of mifcff thehiselyes and then ^ families comfortable to P . latest hotir of their existence . ( Chee's . ) ' ¦ ¦ The toastwa ^ passed with all Uie honours . Mr . TobMYpropbiied ^ that the ^ next toast— . W Porchesfe ? rLaDourersV and may the sympatnO their fellow cotintrVmen aJTord consolation f < r { 4 * unmerited persecutions hiflicted on ' . fiieni by a vim Government—irresponsible to ; the . peeple- ' . '; AW four years : agb ^^^ hehia& proseda siinnar toast » " ?• niitfertoflerent circuinstances . ' They had now # « to be conyiviaT , and to" congratulate themselv . es on the eirelat work tKftv ' had nr . r . bmtilished . fCbeeW

      It was always a source of great gralification to ! . *? wprkingman tblay his hand . upoii his hew , *?? sayfi ^ had acted tmrightly to his . feUow i ^ ni ^ working men ^ could do sd ill ; the 1 presen t insw ^ l for ; bntfbr their ^ xertiottsV the Dorchester Labooffi * wofuld still be ^ in lh ? lsai of the felon and the »!»« [ Cheers ;! It was nnriecessdry ; for him , / after the aDie speech of the Chairinan v to . ¦ tatetothem totoW Of the Doiicnester labourers ; ' - ' . if was" siifficipntn hiin-to' say that they hai been torn by the haid 3 oppression from' their ; wives and children , wfiow ther loved betterthan their lives . TGreat cheenpH

      Could it be ; said with truth that it was the , wi % ^ these men to do wroni ? [ Gn ' eers , aiid cries ; of : ; ^* no / 5 ]; Certainly ^ npt . Then : % dsnotthe epumtB ^ had beenpdrsued towards them an eternal aissra ^ to Great Bnlain ? , [ Cheer ? , and cries , of " Y ^ vJ ¦ He felt prood ^ of ^ 1 > eing one of the Dorcfester Co » mittee , iad as ' to < A instrumental , in a slight degre ^ in the great # drks that had T > een : accqTnpul 2 e ( 1 ' £ : whichthey-were met that day to celebrate . Thetoa ^ he had proposed emressed a wish , that the Porcnes ^ . labourers should rjicgiVe the ^^ sympatliyof their cpuan ^ men . ( Cheew . ) That sympathy had in ft g ^ TT greebeen shown to ¦ them that day , butit wouitt » -

      Untitled Article

      S had ¦*' ' ¦ ¦ THE NQRTaEB STAR . APHa ^ i 83 # ? ^ j 5 H *~! SSB

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 21, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1002/page/6/