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    GEEAT RADICAL MEETING AT HALIFAX . . ^ On Saturday last , a meeting was convened in a ; 3 eld Tiear Church-lane , Halifax , for the purpose of ¦ irst , considering the best means to be adopted in -obtaining a ^ repeal of the New . P oor Law ; second , - ^ &e establishing the Northern Union in that tow n - ^ aad third , to adopt the Birmingham , petition . J . -Kelden , Esq ., M-P-, F . O'Connor , Esq ., Richard ¦ Oastler , Esq ., Rev . J . R , Stephens , Dr . Fletcher , < € Bnry , James Taylor , Esq ., of Rochdale , and Mr . Crabtree , of Barasley , -were inrited to attend the proceedings ^ The Theatre was engaged for the -evening to give the viators an opportunity of again ¦ addressing their Mends . When the Easiness of the

    "aseetmg commenced an immense concourse of people were assembled , which could not consist of less « han from 6 , 000 to 8 , 000 persons . Mr . Robert Wilkessos was unanimously called it > the chair . After stating the objects of the meeting , he . . observed that it was unnecessary ibrhim to <« 8 er any remarks by way of introduction to the pro-« eedings , as he doubted not that all present were stilly sensible of theparamoont importance of the 'objects for which they had frequently assembled on "former occasions . Suffice it for the present to say 33 zst he , as an individual , appeared before them in ^ fe same capacity as he alw&yB appeared on such - ¦ occasions , — -a firm * u ~ oorter of Universal Suffrage , and the fellow- and lnifljnchmg Mead of- the working

    classes . ( Loud cheers . ) He could not avoid « gretting , however , that they Tiad liot elected a sore efficient chairman ; for though , as they all iaew how warmly he was attached to this cause as " fceihg peculiarly the cause of working men , they -ssight as in * aH probability they ^ wonld , be taunted by 1 he Halifax Express as having only a working man in the chair .. This fact , however , if viewed as it ought to be , was , in reality , an honour , rather than a disgrace , both to himself , and the class to which he was proud to belong , for he hesitated not to say that working men were , not only the most honourable , but the most valuable members" of the commuraity , —those , to whose industry . the wealthier classes owed not only all their comforts , but Upon whom

    they were daily dependent for the very means of -existence , and without whose toil all their luxuries - ¦ and enjoyments would be exchanged-for want , and misery , and death . ( Lond cheers . ) The working classes , then , were not only the most valuable in theiT capacity of producers of all the means of subsistence , butthey were truly themosthonourable and patriotic , for when they had , as it were , nothing at ^ 11 to lose , they still without hesitation feared not to £ ake upon them all the responsibility of the national protection in times of . war i but even at the cost of -cheir lives , which were certainly as deaf to them as those of the most wealthy could be , they used every energy to repel alike the common foe , and to protect and preserve the common weaL ( Cheers . ) It was lie working classes who ploughed the earth and

    threw the seed into the fields , thatthe rich and luxurious and idle might enjoy the full benefit of an abundant harvest . ( Cheers . ) It was they who toiled from morning t » iiieht , at the loom or the spindle , to . clothti alike the rich and the poor—the industrious and the idle—the monarch and the beggar—the freeman and the slave . ( Hear , hear . ) It was they who built the splendid palaces of princes , as well as the lowly and humble cottages which they themselves inhabited . ( Hear , hear . ) la short , eve ' rythingtrulv -valuable , so far as the frail existence of man was concerned , was effected by the labouring classes and- if one character was more truly honourable than another , it certainly was he who broaght the greatest ^ share of the necessaries and comforts " of life into the

    common stock of society . ( Load cheers . ) Who , tbeu . ¦ would Care to taunt them with being only working men ? ( Hear , hear . ) Let _ those only do it -who lieeded not the good opinions of mankind— -who "knew not how to be grateful for the blessings which they enjoyed , without conferring any service to society in return , and who were , therefore , not only Insensible to every principle of good , but fit onlv to associate -with tnat class of animals of which they srera the lowest and most worthless species . ( Loud -cheers . ) With these remarks , he called -upon Mr . William Thorxtox to move the first resolu-Son . He said that so much at one time and another liad been said about the New Poor Law , that little more could be said by him which had not been often

    repeated concerning the Tinspeakable . baseness of that measure . It was" a B 21 founded onlheprin--ciples of Malthus , that most infamous of all philosophers ; it was , in short , an inroad -upon everything < nbiime in morals , excellent in virtue , or sacred in Teflon . ( Hear , hear . ) The essential principle of that law was _ evidently to do away with all relief to ihe poor , forits wannest advocatesurged as an argument in its favour , that it was necessary that the ^ people should be taught to rely npon their own re--sources . Their own resources ! What resources bare they J What resources could they have , when the fruits of all their toil were either . shallowed * xp by our present grinding system of comzaaerce , or were grasped "b y . the all-grasping iand f

    oa greedy and "unprincipled government . { Hear , hear . ) Lord Brougham , himself , had adtnitted that the present New Poor Law was ultimately , intended to do away with poor laws altogether , for he had declared that the very principle « f poor laws was bad . If , however , the government « f ths country would concede to the people their inalienable rights , there would be no necessity ¦ far poor laws . Hence if Lord John RusselL and assuy others of the same fraternity who-had become ¦ so rich by robbery , would restore to the country what had been taken from it by " a licentious monarch to gratify the pride and avarice of their ancestors , if , he said , Lord John RtmeU and others of his fraternity would restore to the people that

    property which had been taken from them by force , poor laws , poor rates , * nd basrfles would be -nnkeard of and ttiLkno-Kn . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) It was often = aid by the Mends of this infernal liw _ in Halifax , that the people had no prejudice = agarast it ; nay that they -were beginning to think 5 i a good measure , and that it would ultimately be carried into effect in a peaceable mannei . But ' why Tras it said that the ^ people -were not prejudiced against this measure ? What more ' proof was wanting of their -utter detestation of it , both in its . prin-< aple and its detail ? Could any thing of this kind he inferred from such meetings as the present when every heart seemed to burn with indignation at its iorrible provisions ? Could any thing be inferred from their speeches that could at all lead to the

    supposition that their -minds were not merely prejudiced against it , but that their judgment were convinced that it was infamocs ? Could any thing !* e inferred from the condition of the inhabitants of "feat neighbourhood , why , from the extreme privations they had to endnre in consequence of the ¦ want of employment on the one hand , and the ^ stre me lowne 53 of wag es on the other , were daily ssd hourly exposed to the necessity of applying for relief ? _ Why was it said that there was no prejudice against it ? Had they not met again andagain t » petition for its repeal ? Had they not again and again skuddered at the horrors which were perpetrated "Wilder it , and which yet were sanctioned by the same of law ? Why , then was it said that there

    » a . « -iio prejudice against it ? Was it not because saere was no millJjurning , no house destroying , no assassinations whicb . could j > rove the tremendous -state of exasperation to which the minds of the people had arrived ? But the men of Halifax had too much good sense to give way to their desper-, T * ion in 3 ucha manner ;—( hear , hear);—andbecause they were in possession of this measure of good 3 ease , they were belied and imposed on by a ? et of tcoundrel * who thus took a temporary advantage of their wisdom to mislead those to whom they ought 5 n all common sense to make known-the truth . The object of thei / opponents was evidently to in-- rt ^ ee them to attack property , that the legislature Eight thnshaye apretext For enJforcin gonthemwithou t

    ceremony , this and many other measures equally as sbnqxious . But when they were -at last compelled "to rid themselves of this obnoxious measure , they Tyould take surer , wiser , and mere effectual means -3 f tioing it than by destroying houses and burning 3 iHs . ( Hear , hear . ) Earl RtzwDfiam , with his ^ sw system of theology , by which he had discovered " £ hat to supply the wants of the poor was to rob -tJod of one of-Hs best attributes , and others who iad made nse of expressions equally as blasphemous "to accomplish their devilish and . traitorous designs , saight think and speak of ihe New Poor Law as 3 sey pleased ; but for Ms part he could not regard it in any other light than as a declaration of war against the people of this conntry : —( hear , hear )—

    i I ^ evidently toe intention of the Govern-?^* L V ^^ V 4 at &e > ° mt of t 06 bayonet . tShame . ) The bayaoet was a Tery handy ibol in sSlf ^ T-s ^ yw ^ aad Corporation Bills ? The « Sier " -irS tW-^ imply because they managed to ept a t / ft ^ M ,, share of the plunder . WXSnry&AJXSS according to our present ebcumstanceg . »*« Vt ^ peni-ble evil & our coTmtry ^^^^^ « f taxation was so « normous as to prevent a t > oor jsiaa from providing "properly for his family rpfpar iear . ) And yet wHle this was the case , wbitSS ¦ niore natural and reasonable than that the land which

    gave him birth , in which he had been nursed ram his infancy , and which had become endeared - - * o him during a long life of toil and" labour , —the dand wiuchr-wps to receive his bones for ever as in an - _ - # verlastme " sepulchre , —what -was mote Bataral and - -s wwonable ftan that fliai land , in the coloration- of " ^ SS \^ ^ ^ sted ^ ^ mmly eoergie * ,-8 hould If ^ T * a gnl ) 31 * tence ^ en oppressed by the hand - : " £ J : i ness 7 P ° rert 7- ( HearV hear , hear . ) The - ¦ ¦ ¦ £ && £ & ? < £ * ^ ew ^ Law ^^ not a " ^ l l ^ ftS ^ , himin ^? doomeTto 1 ™ S -. ^ cce , airdsafttchedness , and death without « m o ™ ¦ Q" * i&na >* hm a to- feel for the sSne ^ of hifwS & 3 g $ S **** W Resign of the STpSIS " - ¦ 7 " * £ . 'hat i ^ as all this .- It was to deter the poor

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    from seeking relief . And what then ? Why , they might go and rob on the highway , and then the law would , transport them . Or , if they met and associated together , to devise means to redress their wrongs , srjll the iron hand of the law would follow them ; either ^ with imprisonment or transportation . They inight in . early life perhaps save a few pounds , and put it into the savings' banks , and then they stood a chance of being cheated and robbed by Government paper money . ( Hear , hear . ) And what were they to do ? If a poor man scraped together a few shillings , and ventured to purchase a few articles to hawk them , then they would fine him for hawking without a licence . ( Hear , hear . )

    If he ventured to beg the aid of the sympathetic and compassionate , they would imprison him as a vagrant , and if he applied for relief out of the rates which he "himself contributed to raise as a kind of safeguard against actual starvation , they would bastile him for a pauper . ( Hear , hear . ) What then were they to dor ( A voice " shake off our chains at once . " ) Yes , if that were possible . But the time for that has not yet come : _ In the meantime , he recommended them to be vigilant in pre paring for the end , which must com&sooner or later ; and to use every constitutional means to rid themselves at once of a burden of oppression which they were no longer able to bear . ( Loud cheers . ) With these remarks , he proposed the leaolutum .

    Mr . Wm . Smith , of Colae , seconded the resolu tion . He said he had come more than twenty miles to have the pleasure of attending that meeting , but , as there were Mr . O'Connor and Dr . Fletcher still to address them , he would not prevent them by any thing he might have to say from enjoying a pleasure which , he was satisfied , would be equally as gratifying to them as it would be to himself . ( Cheers . ) The resolution was carried unanimously . Mr . Benjamin Rushton then rose , to move the second resolution . He would not detain them by making any remarks further than b y stating that it was his opinion that the Radicals shortly intended to divide the power between Lord Melbourne and

    themselres—( a voice , " No , no ; no divudon with the "Whigs ; we ' ve had enough of 'em , )—for they did not mean to let him and Lord John Russell go on much longer the way they had been doing without having a finger in the pie themselves . ( Cheers . ) They werq | determined to unite with the men of Birmingham ; and then if the Whig Government was still determined to withhold their rights , let them stand by the consequences . He moved " That the Birmingham petition be adopted as the petition of that meeting . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . NcNi of Sowerby , seconded the resolution , observing that Mr . Feargus O'Connor —( loud cheers , ) would next address them .

    Mr . O Connor then rose , and was greeted with several rounds of cheers and clapping of hands . He said it was not forty-eight hours since he had been addressing the people of Scotland in reference to their rights ; _ aDi this was the eighth meeting he had attended during that week for the purpose of uniting the Rndieals of Scotland with those o [ England " and in the doing of -which lie had travelled upwards of 800 mibs . ( He . tr . hear . ) He saw before him the people of England tmiting with the people of Scotland , and , ere long , the people of Ireland would -unite with them too ; and , when they were fairly united , they would bid farewell to the corruption of Bronaham , to the rabid dominion of Russell , and the whole power of the House of Commons . ( Loud

    cheers . ) His old and tried friepd , Wilkinson , had told them that he was the same in -principle that he was the last time he saw them ; he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was the samo when hejirsl met them as he was now . ( Cheers . ) The facts stated by Thornton were str iking and important ; lie , too , said he had nothing new to tell them on the subject , and then he told them a volume of new things . There was one new thing , however , which he had forgot to tell them , viz ., ' that dur ing the last week £ 54 , 000 had been voted to the Commissioners for plundering the people . ( Shame , shame . ) This was t ' ue way in which the fruits of the people ' s toil were squandered . Every necessary of life was taxed to the highest possible amount , and for what ? To give f . ftv-lour thousand

    pounds to these gentlemen ! ( Hear , hear . ) But how were they to oppose this ? Why , the only means that remained in the hands of freemen was to join together in the bonds of indissoluble union till they fairly obtained Universal Suffrage . ( Cheers . ) It was all folly to suppose that taking away this grievance or that grievance to confer upon them anv substantial and lasting benefit so long as the constitution gave an exclusive p rivilege to the majority of their enemies . ( Hear , hear . ) While this was the case ,, they would still be the victims- of the same corruption until they determined at once to put themselves in the possession ot the stronghold of Universal Suffrage . ( Cheers . ) He was glad to be able to inform them that the Deoule of So . ntlAn < l

    were as much alive to their principles as were the people of England . Parliament T > eing now what was denominated an JmperialJE ' arliameilt , could not inflict any grievance ou anjpjgne country alone . There conld be no grievanceinmCted on Ireland which would not be almost as sensibly felt in England , and there could be no grievance inflicted on England which would not be felt with the same degree of acuteness in Scjtland , and when the people of Scotland found that they could not shut the toll bar against Whig oppression , they would join with the people of England in their crusade against this infernal Poor Law Bill . ( Loud cheers . ) He was proud to say that while in the House of Commons

    during the progress of that bill , he had voted against every clause of it —( cheers )—and did not fail to tell wtat were his impressions both with regard to the design of . the measure and the measure itself . ( Loud cheers . ) This however was but another specimen of the Whig system of patronage—a system by which the salaries of the commissioners were to be paid out of the life ' s-blood and marrow of the people . ( Heat , hear , and cheers . ) It would be fonnd , however , by investigation , that all those portions of society who were represented in the House of Commons , too"k care that their own interests should be represented . Thus in case of any disorder arising from war , or in any kind of disappointment , whether from bad harvests or bad money speculations , they were

    never allowed to operate long either against the interests of the landlord or the monevlord , . because the landlord always took care to represent himself and the monevlord , and the moneylord took equally as good care to represent Simself and the landlord . ( Hear , hear . ) No one , "however , was there to represent the poor man ; and even when their petitions were presented in that House it was only as a mockery of their sufferings ; for no sooner were they hastily read , than they were bundled into a bag and thrown under the table , and when the proper time came they were ioisted . np into a garret above the table . ( Shame , shame . ) He should , therefore , be as sorry to see _ an even , number of Radicals in office without Universal Suffrage as an even number of Tories . ( Hear , hear . ) From the principle * of

    human nature , without Universal Suffrage , men woHld be placed in tiie way of temptation , and would be constantly liable to be led astray . ( Hear , hear . ) Universal Suffrage therefore was the only change from which they had any thing to hope ; without it all tbeir struggle * would end in nothing ; with it they might be rid of all their grievances at once . ( Loud cheers . ) He copld not help repeating to them a famous toast which he had once heard , it was " The King ; his right , and nothing more . The people ; their rights , and nothing less . " ( Tremendous cheers . ) They were not , then , those wild destructive animals which the Whig and Tory press had represented Them to be . ( Hear , hear . ) He sought not to assail , or to destroy , or to plunder anv

    portion of society ; on the contrary he pleaded tha ' t in all the resources which nature had put into our hands , if not limited in their application , there was sufficient for all to live tipon in happiness and peace . ( Loud cheers . ) It was because he saw the state story of the difficulties of our foreign competition placed before them as the great grievance , that he spoke thus . ( Hear . ) Their attention was withdrawn from the real source of their miseries , and they were told to look for the remedy not in the correction and amendment of our laws and institutions , but to look to Russia , to Africa , to China , to India , and even to the moon , for a leap , or any where but in the House of Commons . ( Cheers . ) " They would tell us where our grievances didnot exist , they would tell that they did not consist in this

    us or in that , but they would never tell us where they really were . ( Cheers . ) And in this "both factions were alike . There was not the value of a pin to choose between me Whigs and Tories in this respect . ( Hear , hear . ) They were not therefore , because they despised the » Mgs , to expect any thing better from the Tories . ( Hear , hear . ) They , in fact , had laid ihe old nest egg on which the YV higs had laid the whole batch of their grievances . ( Cheers . ) . The Whigs had but two faults . They were like the Connaught-man's torse , which he had sold to a gentleman . " Well Pat , " said the gentleman , " since the bargain is struck , you may as well tell me if he ' s got any great faults ; you know it will make no difference now that I'have bought him . " " Och , yer honor , " said Pat , "I ' m sure he ' s got no great faults ; he ' s only got two little ones . " " Well , " said the gentleman , " tell me what they are . " 4 v First , " said Pat , " when he ' s

    out at grass he ' s very bad to catch . " " Well , " said the gentleman , " that ' s no great fault . " " Second , " said Pat , " when you ' ve catch'd him , devil ' -a bit o ' good there ' s in him . " ( Laughter . ) So it . was with the Whigs ; they were bad to catch ] and when they were caught , devil a bit of good was in them . ( Loud cheers and mnch laughter . ) On former occasions tne Radicals bid fought with the Whigs nader treasonable banners . Thev had . heard of Nottingham , ammngham and Newcastle being in flame ? . They lougntjor them v . ith mighty energy : they placed them in the plenitude of their power over the Tory corruptionists ; they put down the old Tory Parliament for them , and the Whigs gaid " Now we will protect labour , and it shall no longer be oppressed . " But the policy of the Whigs since that time was too well known to be again repeated by him . ( Hear and cheers . ) The very last session of Parliament , as indeed every other session had done , proved that there was no confidence placed in the Whigs . They

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    Telied not upon their good measures , but upon the power of their army , their bayonets , their cannon , and their swords . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Witness their foul attack upon themeeting atNewcastle —( shame , shame)—just at the very time the Queen was about to be crowned . Artillerymen , dragoons , and infantry pervaded the meeting , and divided it into three parts . ( Shame , shame . ) The press would tell them , as it had often told them , that Feargus O'Connor was a dangerous leader , but he thought he might say without deviating fromTthetruth . that had it not been for his interference , there might probably have been thousands of persons left dead npqn the field . ( Hear , hear . ) They were told by their enemies they ( Messrs . O'Connor , ' Stephens ,

    and others ) recommended physical force ; but so far from that being true , he told them that never did the people use physical force without being greatly the sufferers . ( Hear , hear . ) He said , with Thornton , that the constitution laid down certain principles , and in the heart of man there , were certain feelings which would operate in unison with those principles . There was amoral power in each man's mind : but that moral power looked always to something beyond it when necessity required other force . ( Hear , hearO O'Connell himself , in one of his h&rrangues , had made use of the words of Lord Byron , and » aid Hereditary bondsmen ! know ye aot , they ^ wno would laefree , themselves must strike the blow . " And Harry , Slashing Harry , ahad said

    that ' the day would come whe , n kings' heads would become footballs for boys to kick into the gutter . " . O'Connell on another occanon had said that " rather than » ee Ireland governed aa she had been , he would see her streams reddened with blood , and her fields covered withgore ;—( hear , hear and cheers )—that though he was then old , his arm would not only draw the gword , but wield it . in the cause of liberty . ( Cheers . ) What was his last declaration at White Conduit House ? Why , that with five hundred thousand fighting men he would demand justice from the House of Commons . ( Cheers . ) These were O'Connell ' s words . And what was a fighting man ? He resembled the petitionerof Gil Bias , who went with the petition in

    one hand and a blunderbuss in the other . ( Loud cheers , and laughter . ) Notwithstanding all this . Mr . Stephens , wno merely spoke hypotheticany on all occasions , was branded as a fiery demagogue , while those men who spoke positively were called excel / entmen because they supported the shopkeepers . ( Cheers . ) But the Bible was a better authority than either O'Connell or Brougham , and it said " They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger ; for these pine away stricken through , for want of the fruits of the field . " Mr . Attwood when in Scotland said that the men of Birmingham were ready either to lead the men of Scotland , or to follow ( hem to the death . ( Cheers . ) WLat did he mean by these words ? Was it that they were ready to put their hands into their pockets , and run their heads against a wall . ( LanghtPr . ) These words had meaning . ( Hear , hear . ) But there was no use in arguing crotchets : they req uired

    union ; and witu union and organization they would not be a long time in thoroughly and effectually driving the drones from the hive . ( Cheers . ) The people of Scotland were ready to co-operate with them ; and they would do tlieir duty . ( Cheers . ) Thus united , nothing could resist them ; their demand would be law , and Universal Suffrage wouldbe their demand . ( Cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor then introduced Dr . Fletcher to the meeting , to whom he paid a high compliment as being a zealous and unflinching Radical . He then stated that he should shortly be at Birmingham , where , if they were willing he would represent them at a meeting which he expected to atftind . On requiring that those who were willing to have him as a representative , at thai and other meetings , every hand * was held up , and the vote was fallowed by a loud cheer uud much clapping of hands . Air . O'Connor then withdrew , ainiust loud uud continued cheers .

    Mr . Robert Sutcktfj-e then moved the-next re-Solution . He delivered a short but interesting address , full of lively anecdote . He said the present position of things reminded him of the Irish soldier while on the Pyrennees , under Wellington , who shot a Frenchman , and then plundered him . The circumstance coming to the ears of Wellington , he was tried by a court-martial , and ordered to be shot . Just before the fatal moment arrived , a brother soldier asked him what wax his crime , when be replied , that he had killed many a score of Frenchmen on Wellington ' s account , but now that he had ventured to kill on ^ on his own account he must be shot himself . It was just so with the people ; they might do all they could for the Aristocracy ; but when they came to do any thing on their own account , they were robbers and incendiaries . ( Cheers . ) They would find , however , that they would never be better off till they began on their own account . ( Cheers . )

    Mr . Crosslaxd seconded the resolution , and , in a short speech , recommended the necessity of every working man joining the Radical Associatioxi , because it was not one association that could obtain the right for them , but the united efforts of many associations . ' Dr . Fletcher was then introduced to the meeting and was received with loud cheer * . He should hare been glad to meet the working men of Halifax had it not been for the thrilling consideration which was everj'where placarded on the walls of their town , requiring £ 6800 for the erection of a bastile . ( Hear . ) This was too fearful a consideration even to allow him to indulge in that degree of pleasure which he would otherwise have enjoyed in coming amon « r < t

    them . ( Hear , hear . ) This fact furnished another among a thousand proofs of the baseness , hypocr isy , falsehood , and fraud by which the government of the country was carried on . ( Hear , hear . ) The first resolution of the cwnmitee appointedfo ? taking evidence during the last session of Parliament as to the working of the New Poor Law for the purposeofpropoundingsomeainendments , reconimended that henceforth the guardians should be permitted , uncontrolled by the commissioners , to give out-door reiief to all those who were married previous to the passing of this act , while they saw at the same time , the commissioners commanding the guardians of this and other towns to build prisons which could riot possibly be necessary if even these recommendations

    were carried into effect . ( Hear , hear . ) But they would be convinced that it was merely a base and hypocritical delusion to endeavour to lull the people asleep and put an end to the agitation , which he was happy to tell them their enemies admitted was not only efficient in keeping out this accursed law , but had also had the effectof obliging them to treat their poor victims of the South with much more kindness , , and with mnch . less of devilish cruelty ) thari . they would otherwise havp been . This was a gratifying fact ; for even if they should fail in their efforts to repeal this accursed measure , ( which they certainly would till they obtained Universal Suffrage , ) it was something to know that a dozen agitators had had the power of drawing some of the

    tangs of this monster . But it was not a dozen agitators , but a dozen thousands—yea , hundreds of thousands of agitators that had struck terror to tke hearts of the people's tyrants , and thus another useful lesson had been taught them—that the people when united -were irresistible . After the recommendation above-mentioned , they were led to hope that the bastardy clauses would be repealed . And what was the only recommendation which received the least attention of this Committee ? Why , that the poor girls who had been seduced should have damages for seduction , and they were to be left to get them as bftst they could . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) After some other recommendations with regard to the lessening the size of the unions , and with

    reference to medical relief and other matters , thev recommended that the Gnardiang should have the power of relieving persons who had large families . ( Hear , hear . ) And how was this to be done ? By taking part of their children into the workhouses . ( Groans . ) And all this was in England , the boast of which was only a few years ago that it was the only country in the world which had a word really expressive of all the feelings which we attach to the word home . ; ( Hear , hear . ) They-were not content with degrading the people to the condition of brutes , but they seemed as if they were determined to destroy those feelings which they had in common with brutes . ( Cheers . ) There was not an animal in nature which would not . stand by its parental

    feelings . 1 here was not one so tame tliat would not bristle up to defend its young when attacked . And yet they thought , fools and madmen as they were , thatthey could be guilty of these outrages against human nature , and thatthe people would submit to them . After some remarks on the insufficiency ol the bastile allowances , find the horrid cruelties which were practised upon the paupers , the speaker adverted to an Act of Par&ument passed in the reign of Elizabeth , by which it was enacted" that every person who built a cottage should attach to it four acres of land for the maintenance of the occu- ' pants of such cottage . This they kept in cultivation , which , in addition to . their , labonrs af the loom , rendered them a comfortable subsistence . ( Hear , hear . ) Had this law continued to be enforced they would have no barren wastes as they Have no w , and would

    they have had still less necessity for . locking up their poor in the bastiles on the one hand , or transporting them on the other . ( Cheers . ) _ He would not detain them longer than by impressing upon them the-necessity of uniting for the accomplishment of their . rights . ( Hear , hear . V They must have universal Buffi-age j this war the only means by which taey could ever expect to Have their ^ wrongs redressed . ( Cheers . ) Without Universal Suffrage they might meet and speak and petition til doom ' s-day , all would be ineffectual . ( Cheer ? . ) They must , threfore , be determined , one and all , to unite for : the accomplishment of this object : and they must not allow themselves to be put off with . this excuse or that excuse , but their demand must be determinate , and their language must be " Universal Suffrage is our right , and have it we will . " ( Loud p heers . ) He asked them not to shed the blood of their fellow-men ; he asked them not to join in producing civil discord : but it

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    did not follow that the people should not be prepared for that constitutional resistance which every lawyer of eminence admitted j : o be legal , if they should come to thetibsolute ' necessity of appealing to phy- Hical force . ; ( Hear ; hear . ) Neyer , never , never ought they to have recourse to this except aa a last resource . ( Hearj hear . ) The horrors of civil war were Buch that he must not onl y be a bad man but ? ri > l \ ° t - ¦ utge ^ People on to thein ( Cheers . ) la a great manufacturing country like thiS v where the people were amassed together in such jarge towns as they were now amassedin , it would , in case of civil war , be impossible to obtain food and manypother things equally ^ necessary j and themiseryajidwrechedness . aswenasthedestructiori oi

    property and We would be horrible ; . ( Hear , hear . ) But the tyrants knew this as well as the people ;' and it was a ? much , if not more , their interest to prevent anything like civil war , as it was the interest of the great bod y of thepeopie themselves . ( Cheers . ) They had in fact much more to lose by aeivil war than the people , and therefore he would ijiever preach the slavish doctrine that the people must trust altogether and alone to inoral force . ( Cheers , ) Moraf force would ' in time redress all their grievances ; : but it must be backed by _ the possibility of appealing to physical force ; and if the people once possessed , the means , he must be a bold minister who would urge them on to use them . ( Cheers . ) But to be , in possession of armsV so as to be ready in . cases of mrp * .

    gency , was a right which the people do and ought io possess , and he . could " not understand a right which had not a duty attached to it . ( Hear , hear . ) Besides , thei government did not trust to moral force , and why should the people ? It was hot by moral force that they attempted to carry the New Poor Law in Bradford . ( Loud cheers . ) He wished however to be distinctly understood that he did not advise the people to use physical force , but merely recommended them to avail themselves of the provisions which the law allowed . ( Hear , hear . ) The proper position of the people was to be prepared ^ strike andnot to strike ; and it was then only when they were prepared to overthrow everything that they would need to overthrow , nothing , The gentl « manthen concluded amidst loud cheers . . . ¦

    Mi \ Robert Wilkinson again addressed the meeting in a short but excellent speech ; and after three cheers had been given for the five Radical principles , three for Mr . O'Connor , three for Dr . Fletcher , and three for their chairman , the meeting was adjourned to beheld in the theatre at half-past seven o ' clock , the people then dispersed in quietness and good order .

    MEETING IN THE THEATRE . At seven o ' clock , according to announcement , the theatre was Opened , and at half-past it was completely filled , so as scarcely to be able to contain another visitor . Mr . Henry Rawson was unanimously called to the chair . He said it was with peculiar satisfaction that he took the chair of that meeting , seeing that they had been convened that day for the purpose of considering and speaking of some of th e greatest and most important topics that could concern the nation at large , and especially the working classes . ( Hear , hear . ) Orieof the greatest topics that now daiined their attention was that of the franchise , for it mattered but little how they met , and declaimed , and petitioned , except they had the power of

    returning such men to parliament which would do that work which had never yet been done for thepeopie . ( Cheers . ) There were many other topics to which their attention would be directed ; and he could not forbear adverting himself to what had passed the other day iu another assembly in that town , where they had resolved to spend not less than £ 8 , 000 out of the people's , money for the erection of a bastile , before the people would receive one farthing out of the rates . ( Shame . ) Such was the doing of the Board of Guardians . But it was his opinion that there was no other way of controlling that Board except by returning such Guardians as would not only sympathise with the people , but would act with determination on their behalf . ( Hear , hear , hear . )

    Their attention would also be directed to the general politics of . the day . He , for his own part , felt thoroughly convinced that they had met and petitioned , and done every thing that could be done consistently with a peaceable and forbearing disposition ; but it had been all to no purpose ; and it was , therefore , now high t ime to arouse themselves arid say with an imperative tone of voice , " vre demand our rights as Englishmen . " ( Loud cheers . ) He would no longer trespass upon their patience , but would introduce to them Dr . Fletcher of Bury , ( c . heers ) - ^ -who' was a valiant advocate of their cause . Dr . FLETCHKft then rose and was received with loud cheers . He said they had been told that they were met partly for the purpose of discussing the

    passing events of the day ; arid certainly they were pregnant with meaning , and calculated to excite the strongest feelings of anxiety and indignation m the breast of every one who had any regard for the prosperity and honour of his country . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) The only argument which we were accustomed to hear some years ago in opposition to the cry of Radical reform was that the then system of legislation worked well- He would ask even the supporters of that faction of Which Canning was at the head , whether they would dare to say now that the system , worked well . But he would more especially ask the other faction , for factions they certainly were , whether the system now exists ing worked well ? He would ask them whether that

    which had abrogated the power of the King—whether that which had invested the power of all our executive officers in three Comniissioners , worked weE ? employed as it was for the purpose of compelling the working men of England to subsist on a diet which was not sufficient for them , and which even the Commissioners themselves had not declared to be sufficient to support thenain ordinary health and Strength , or to maintain their lives to the ordinary duration of human existence . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He had had some practice as a medical man , but he challenged them all to prove that the supply , according to the dietary scale , was sufficient to maintain human life in its ordinary course . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) But he would not now dwell so especially

    on the sufferings of the poor ; but as he saw that there were a few of the wealthier clashes present , he would appeal to them , and ask whether the system worked well for them . He would ask them whether if they had looked at the balance-sheet for the last two years , ihe result was very gratifying ? He needed nottq answer the question for them ; the state of our coftimerce during the last two years , would be a sufficient answer . ( Hear , hear . ) The Learned Doctor then entered into a long discussion of the state of our commerce for the last few years , taking up the various ..-. question ' s , ¦ which had been agitated under that head " , as the East India monopoly , the trade with the United States , < fcc , with a . view to illustrate the excessive labour which Englishmen imposed upon themselves for the sake of obtaining an honest

    livelihood—labour which amounted to a state olslavery to which Englishmen could never have been induced to submit till they had been gradually worn down until they had forgotten the thing in which liberty consists . He bid them look at the state of the hand-looni weavers . In his profession he was called out at all hours ; and he really must say that his heart bled for ' the pitiable condition in virhich these men were placed . It mattered not at what hour lie visited his patients , he was sura to hear somewhere the rattling of the loom . Often in the winter time had he heard the noise of the shuttle at two , three , and four o ' clock in the morning , as well as at twelve o ' clock at night . Many poor creatures were thus detained froin their beds , or called from

    them , before they had obtained half the rest which would recruit the worn out energies of nature , that he might be able , on the takiiig-in dayi the only time that he could deposit the fruits of his industry , to receive that miserable pittance which was not his reward , arid not sufficient to maintain his strength , but barely sufficient to sustain so much muscular power without which he could not perform so much labour as would enable his employer to live in luxury and debauchery . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) " A few weeks ago , he happened to be called to a miserable family who were labouring under typhus fever , ( arid this , by-fhe-bye , was a very convenient term to express the la $ t expiring state of nature , brought on by starvation ) . He found there six people , without a

    mprsel of lood . in their house , without any furniture , except two or three stools , with something called a bed , covered with a heap of filthy rags . Had he been a furniture broker , he would riot have given half-a-crbwn for all that was in the house—the whole produce of three working people . And such was the insufficiency of their wages , that a few weeks < i > £ non-employment obliged them to sell all their few sticks and rags to the pawnbroker to purchase two or three wretched and unsubstantial meals . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) He . 'liked ' . to . illustrate principles by such facts as these ; and he would tell them that there was there a whole row of cottage which he reniembered to have been occupied by comfortable and really respectable and worthy

    men , s 6 me of whom were cultivating their four- or five acres of land . But how as he rode by he saw those cottages crumbling into ruins . ( Hear , hear . ) He saw no longer the blue smoke curling up from the happy hearths which were once surrounded by these happiest of families ; but in the place of these cottages he sa ^ ir one of the spIeHdid palaces of British manufacturers , which had beep built , out of the ruins of the !• ¦ ' fortunes of these once happy peasantry . ( Hear , ; hear , hear , and groans . ) Me asked was this working well ? ( Heari hear . ) And what was the condition even of the middle class of society ?

    What was it but one desperate struggle to maintain i their respectable appearance , each trying to prey upon the ; interests of his neighbours , a state of tbirigs which in a sound state of policy never needed to exist , but in which , on the contrary , there would be amply sufficient to supply , the wants of every class ,: ( Hear , hear . ) At this moment Mr . Richard Oastler entered the Theatre ,, and wa » received with tremendous cheeriag and clapping of hands . ¦ Dr . Fletcher observed that , having now got the assistance of Mr . Oastler , he would make his subsequent remarks very brief ; and after some further observations relative to the distressed state of the

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    working classes , the Wghta which they ; ought to possess , and the means which they ought to adopt i 6 ; accomplish those rights , he concluded a long and well received address , which seemed to make great impression upon the : minds of the meeting * by adverting to the presentExtremely distressed and agitated state :. drIreland , remarking ; . that it was evidently the intention : of ihe aristocracy to adopt eyery means to bring the labouring people of England into as low a btate as the people of Ireland . Rather , however , than see this , he would See and assist in the wildest revolution that ever swept a guilty land . ( Tremendous cheers . ) The chairman : henintroduced ¦• - . ' ¦ ¦'¦¦ ' :

    Mr . O'Connob , who was hailed with three loud cheers , and continued clapping of hands . After expressing the satisfaction which he felt in being present at such ; a glorious meeting , and-complimenting the Radicals of Halifax on the progress they appeared to make , and ihe undiminished zeal which they continued to manifest in their oyfn cauHe , Mr . O'Cennor proceeded in his usual impajisipned style to address the meeting , showing them' the purposes for which they were then

    assembled , and ought always to assemble , entering info an able exposition of Hie real rights of the people , showing how they had ; been plundered of those rights both by Whigs and Tories , andpointing oiit the best and most effectual means fpi- obtaining that restitution which . alone could place a Government on a sure basis , and reader the people contented and happy . His address , which Was prolonged for upwards of an hour , was received , as his addresses usually are , in the most enthusiastic manner , and seemed to infuse new life and hope into the hearts of the immense assembly . His address being finished , ' ^

    Mr . Oastler next came forward , arid was very loudly cheered for a length of time . After-alluding to Mr . O'Connor ' s address ^ which he designated as onei- of the best speeches he had eyerheardhim make , he said it would ill become him at that lqite hour of the evening to trespass long upon their time and attention ; and he would , therefore , endeavour for a very short time to ask their serious consideration upon the position in which this country now stoed . He would not endeavour to picture to them the horrors of the New Poor Law , as seen in the metropolis , while Englishmen were dragged to the police station to die of hunger—he would not endeavour to harrow up their feelings by directing them to listen to the sighs of those fathers ^ and mothersand

    chil-, dren , who were immured in these damnable hellholes called bastiles—( loud cheers )^ -nor would he ask them to look at the shell in which the naked bodies of Englishmen , Eughshwomen , and the orphan and helpless children of English men and women were carried , sometimes in a wheelbarrow , and sometimes in a filthy cart , to their' long and silent home —( hear , hear , and great emotion )—but he would ask them all , rich and poor , VVhig ^ Tory , and Radical , churchman arid dissenter—he would ask them all , before they permitted that parish ( Halifax ) , to be damnified by the erection of- the Devil ' s temple—lie asked them to pause , for their own sakes , and consider what they were about ^ for the New Poor Law was not surely less opposed to tue interests

    and comlorts or well-being of the inhabitants than it was to those of the miserable occupiers of the bastiles , which provides for their reception when poverty compels them to seek relief . ( Hear , hear . ) That law interfered with the rights of poverty , but it equally interfered with the rights of royalty . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) It said to the pauper " Thou hast no right to live , " but it also said to the monarch , " Thou hast no right to reign . " ( Hear , hear . ) It was the inalienable right of : a constitutional monarchy to kuow what are the laws by which its people are to be governed . The law of the laud , according to the constitution , of England , was not law unless ifwas known to be the will of the monarch . And yet this accursedlaw had absolutely her

    pushed Majesty on one side , and said to her , "We want none of thy interference , " and it had appointed three scoundrels , under the name of commissioners , to make laws for her people . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) This was a law which interfered with all their local rights . Mark it ; he would not care if this law did make paupers happy ; he would oppose it . ( Hear , hear . ) He " would not care if the bastiles were palaces , and the people were fed like princes , still he -would oppose it . ( Loud cheers . ) rle would notcareif this law gave the commissioners liberty to _ command princes to be pauper ' s lackies , and ordained that paupers should ride in princes ' carriages , he would oppose it still , because it interfered with every local right , and because it attacked

    every man m every corner in the land . ( Loud cheers . ) Let them take tlieir own case . He lived in a part of that union ; the rate-payers of Fixby had always managed their own parish affairs , and their paupers and rate-payers had always been contented , and happy together . ( Hear , hear . ) They had never refused to pay any thing that had been required of them from . any other township , and yet they were deemed of being unworthy of being trusted with their own money , and their paupers were deemed unworthy to reside in their own townships } and among their own neighbours and friends . ( Hear , hear . ) They had their poor relieved without interfering with their liberty . They opened their door when they liked and they shut it when they liked .

    Ihey received their several allowances according to circumstances , and they went round in the township to see their old neighbours and friends , ( tiear ^ hear . / , They were formerly rate-payersr ^( hear , hear)—and though they were poor , they " had not lost their character —( hear , hear)—and they ought not , therefore , to lose their rights . ( Loud cheers . ) They went to see each otter sometimes ; aud sometimes they came to his house , where , occasionally there might be a few ribs of mutton , or something of the kind , which they did not use , and they took it away with them -with- all good will . ( Hear , hear . ) . And whohad a right to interfere with them ? ( "Nobod y ^" from several voices . ) Aye , and nobody-should ( Tremendous cheering . ) This law was such a direct

    interference with all their local rights , that he . would rather die than see it established . ( Continued cheers . ) They were told that the Guardians were popularly elected ; but what was the use of their popular election , when the Guardians themselves were wholly powerless . ( Hear , hear . ) The Chairman of the Dewsbury Board , the other day said he had been to London to receive his instructions , and if he could get two Guardians to act with arm , he would act as he thought proper . ( Hear , hear . ) If there was a Guardian before him , he certainly would recommend him to iriake his will —( laughter ;)—and lie was going to tell them what was coming to pass . All sorts of deception had been practised upon the people by the friends of this cursed law . All sorts

    ot misepresentation . had been carried to the Houses of Commons and Lords by the friends of this law , and one and another got up in these Houses ' , and said that the people were favourable to it . ( H ear , hear . ) Even Earl Fitzwilliam had declare ^ that the people of the West Riding had approved of it , and had found out that it was a very beneficial measure , (" Shame , shame . " ) If these gentlemen thus deceived themselves , the people could not help it ; but he had often told therri of the perilous state to which , they were driving this country . ( Hear , hear . ) He . hated blows and Woodshed and assassination ; but- if : blood was to be shed , he would rather have it done openly than on the sly . ( Hear , hear . ) If the friends of the New Poor Law were determined to defy the power

    of the Omnipotent , whythen , he would say "Have at ye . " ( Tremendous and deafening cheers ) He was tot long ago in London , and a noble Lord told him that he had been conversing with another nobleman on the dis > atisfaction occasioned by the ; New Poor Law , when that nobleman replied '' . Oh d—m them , a regiment of dragoons would put theni'dovm directly . " ( Hear , hear . ) But he ( Mr . Oastler ) knew better than that . ( Hear . ) He had been talking with an old sergeant in her Majesty ' s service and he had said to him " King ( laughter ) when they bring us out among the people in single troops we are forced to seem to do our duty . But depend upon it that if all the British army was fairly marched against the people on that question , they would die

    before they would fight against them for that measure . " ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) If , then , the friends of the Poor Law relied upon the army , they would rely upon a sword that would pierce them through . ( Hear , hear . ) But what were they to do ? ( " We wont have it" from scores of voices ; " ) Well , if they chose to be the tools of theTHBEEScouNDnELs , they would do it as scoundrels , and they would soon discover all the consequences of their folly . All he could say to the Guardians was that , if they were determined to try to build bastiles , he wonld try to pull them down . ( Tremendous cheers ;) But what should they do I He knew what the friends of the New Poor Law wanted : they wanted to spread a net for the whole land : they wanted to destroy . our

    local governments , and to infest the land with prisons belonging to government , and they would become government slaves in the hope of advance ^ ment . ( Hear hear , and cheers . ) But that should not be . ( Cheers ;) He knew that in the agricultural districts the people would not stand it , nor would they petition anymore against'it . ( Hear , hear , and continued cheers . ) They had petitioned already till they were tired and government had only laughed at them . ( Hear , hear . ) He ( Mr . Oastler ) said " Petition no More . " ( Deafening cheers . ) In the agricultural districts they were arming . ( Cheers . ) They were doing it in secret . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not like that . He hated secrets above all things .

    But if that secret system of arming went on , the people of England must become assassins , because the man who bought arms secretly was ashamed to use them publicly , arid he would be driven to use them privately . ( Hear , hear . ) Novr he would recommend them every One before next Saturday night , to have a brace of horse pistols , a good sword , and a musket , and to hang them up en their m ^ tle pieces ( riot by any means to use them ) and they would petition for them . ( Loud cheers and laughter ;) Did any one tell him that he had no right to these tools ? If he said so he was neither Whig , Tory , nor Radical . 11 was the right and the ^ duty of every man to have them , for the law required that if under any circumstances , a man should hear a cry ot mur-

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    der , he should repair to tha spotnamediateW ; w well armed . Now , ho * wdAiQteT do m ' nriSZ There could be no harm in Vml And if rt » ¦ U practised a little straight walffir <^ tW ^ $ aoon fifid that the' Glard ^ Sd the WJSF& and the three scoundrel CSigsidners ^ oo llSSfit soon be veryrcml to them / CHear , hear , ^ andcS l But he wished ; to «* ke a serious impression ^ 1 ttie . mmds of Aose who were present . ' tRS PoorLaw was too horrible ameaaure to allow them to . indukem anythmg , like . mirth : and hewl ^ lam inai ibere was an to

    ^ endeavour enforce itfe these district , there wpuli as ! certainl y be a S ( Hear , hear . ) Heknew that the people woud not submit to it : and , therefore , as the Guardian , 2 been so mad ^ to attempt , to spend the peonW . money ux buflding a bastile , he solemnly warh « 5 fiiem to take careof what tiiey . were Si YHeaf hear . ) It mattered not to tell him that the NmJ Poor Law was the law of the land ? there could h « nalaw to separate husbaridfrom wife ^ parent from child , aster from , brother , and fnend Jrom fS ( Hear , hear . ) There could be no law fordng thS me ' ¦ ' *>' } # * & * ^ rs in ^^ this free and once ^ app land . ( Hear , hear . ) When such treasons as ffl were incorporated ia theistatuUs of England ? tZ sut ^ ce ^ ecessarnybecame ; thelaw Ofthe ^ land a ^ ior

    ue one woma resist it to the dtath- ( iouA cheerti ^ -afid . here were hundred * of thousands who S ] ¦ Tl % 'J ^ T' X ^ ? «??^ tes had forgotten nS V <^ f , -f f 5 ? \ JKnglishmeri , the Ahad not forgotten it-- ( cheers )^ and he would tell the magistrates , and the three commisaoners , and th » Queen upon the throne , that the mob of'S and was not going to be sneered at , nor have their Sghts taken away by an act of treason —( cheers > -3 > ut rather than the ^ people of England should thus be depnvedofall their constitutional rights , why , then the three commissioners should be sewed , as two of their torefathers

    were in wiser and better days ( Cheers . ) If \ he magistrates and the government think that the people will submit to that law , they are greatly mistaken ; and if the army be relied on , they will ^ be ^ grossl y deluded . ( Hear . ) What * as the army ? Some twenty-five thousand men ! And when the people had got their mantel-piece Ornaments ready- ( laughter ) -the army would not be called out to meet them , but Lord 'John Russell wpald meet them at the door of the Home Office , with cap in hand , and say , ' ^ Gentlemen , I am really rery sorry that I made a mistake , but I mosthumbl T : beg your pardon . " Mr . Oastler sat down amid loud cheers , and hearty laughter , and clappins of hands . ¦ rr ° ¦ ¦ "

    The Chairman , after expressing his satisfaction at the orderly conduct of the meeting , said that he was sure they had had a great treat . It mattered not apin to him whether a naan was a AVhi " , Torv or Radical , provided he advocated the rights of every man . \ S ith such a man it was the duty of every man to join . They had heard three of the most excellent speeches that could have been made , and he challenged any one who might be preseut to come forward and confute what had been said , if he could . Six tremendous cheers were then given for the five great principles of RudicaliKm , and for the speakers who had addressed them ; and the clapping of hands , and other noise 3 of approbation , were such as almost made the building tremble . After thanks had been given to the chairman , the meetine separated at nearly eleven o'clock .

    The following were the resolutions adopted : — l . —ltwasthe command of Heaven that the ox should not be muzzled in treading out the corn The labourers of England produce all the wealth and all the conveniences and luxuries of life , but their masters are of opinion that they have not the same title to live as the Beasts that perish , and hence they passed the coarser ibodbill , which is none other than a declaration of war against the rights , imrimnities , andinterestsof the labourer ; againsisuch unfeeling and ungenerous conduct we cannot but express our utmost indignation . We have petitioned for its repeal , and they have sneered at and dispised us , and our petitions- ^ we therefore pledge ourselvesman to man , -to use all the means that God , nature , and law , will allow of m order to rid u ' s " of . their unholy and unjust measure .

    2 . That this meeting is of opinion that the objects pointed out in the Birmingham petition would , if carried out , lead to national prosperity and happiriew and that these objects are to be attained by the united and persevering efforts of the people , and do therefore adopt the Birmingham petition . 3 . That in order to carry the preceding resolutions into effect , this meeting do adopt the rules and objects of the Northern Union , established at Leeds , and the people at other places are recommended to follow the same course , and act in unison , like men determined not to be diverted from their point in the achievements of their natural and inalienable rights , and the victory will be ours .

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    RADICALPROCEEDrNGS AT KEIQHLEY ^ AND DINNER TO $ . O'CONNOR , ESQ . ^ Gri Monday lasty according to announcement , the Radicals of Keighley and its \ icinity got up a demonstratwnm fayour of the five radical principles . w . r ? ' ^ npt soo » 'he forgotten in that part of the west Kiding . It was announced by placard as well as by other means of advertising , that the Radicals 0 t toe .. North would hold a pubh ' c meeting in the New Market Place , Keighley , to take into consideration the best means of obtaining Universal Suffrage , Annual Parliamenis , Vote by Ballot , Equal Representation , and no Property Qualification for Members of Parliament . That at the conclusion of the

    meeting ^ the friends of Reform would walk in procession to the Radical Association and the Temperance Hotel , where . a public dinner would be given to ieargus O'Connor , Eso ,. ; and that J . Fielden , Esq ., ^^ ard - OasUer , : Esq . the Rev . J . R . Stephens , Rev . William Hill , Mr . Crabtree , and others , were invited to attend . At a little before one o ' clock , aa immense concourse of people had assembled , accompamed with six bands of music , from various places in the _ neighbourhood , and bearing a number of beautiful flags , on most ef which there were inscriptions suiting the occasion . The Keighley new banner was a large sheet of beautiful green silk , havmg a splendid inscription , in gold letters , of the five Radical principles . There was also the Goh

    banner witix a similar inscription ^ and several others , ' among . whica was a representation of a covetons vicar , having one foot on the steeple of one church , and another foot on the steeple of another , whilehis ^ rms were extended to reach the third . On another banner was the factory lords' arms , and a serpent crushing a ; child to death : on another was seen the representation of a graye-lookirig personage carrying a small coffin under his arm , but we did not exactly perceive the , design . of it . About one o ' clock the mass of people began to move , beingled by the bands along the Bradford road , to . meet Mr . O'Connor , who was then ; within a mile of Keighley . As soon as he was seen approaching , the bands stopped , and the : ¦ multitude gave three immense cheers . They

    then made their way to the New Market Place , where a platform was erected for the speakers . . In a few-second ' s the whole Market Place was filled , and a great part of some of the adjoining streets . : \ Vhen Mr . O'Connor ascended the platform , the meeting again gave three loud cheers , / which * s . eemed fo rend the air . Mr . Joseph Firth was then unanimouslj movedinto the chair , who , after ashort bnt excellent speech , called upon Mr . Isaac Constantine to move the first resolution , which was as follows : — ¦ '• ' That the history of all past ages and our own woeful experience has iully proved , that it is the hei g ht of folly for the labouring class ; to expert justice frond a body of legislators whose wealth and and station in society , make . them opposed to the

    mterest ol the wealth-producers , and , totally unacquainted with . their real situation . That consequently their distress must continue to increase until they obtain a full share in the representation , which can only be done b y making the Suffrage Universal , the Parliaments Annual , the Voting secret , arid the Representation equal ; with the Abolition of 4 Property Qualification , but substituting inits stead reasonable wages for the services of the member * . " Mr . David Weatherhead seconded the resolutions after which Mr . O'Connor was requested to sopport iti As soon as that genfleman , rose to address the ^^ embl yj a tremendous shower of rain came on whicn , lasted upwards of half an hour . I 3 ut notwithstanding that it fell in complete torrents during the whole of that time the people ; kept still closely

    packed together , and apparently regardless of " wind or : weather ' Vkept cheering on with th « greatest vehemence at the end of every , sentence' wftich bore home to their minds the irresistible fercef ^ bf tratt . Mr . O 'Connor managed his part with ; equal ze » I and patience ; for , almost uncovered , arid directly facing both wind and rain , he seemed altogether B > exceed every expectation of the people , and to & $ even , the " warring elements , ' for the fester it rained , the faster and more warmly he talked ! The effect of his speech upon the meeting appeared to be such as to banish all thoughts , of the ^ storm , and to lead the minds of the greai multitiite only to the consideration of those great principles for which they had long and often s truggled , arid to which alone they seemed to look as the consummation of ail ih ^ was truly excellerit and valuable in pontical

    GoverDment . ¦ . . - . ''' .- ¦ . v . . > : V . /;; i > : ¦) - ¦ : ; .-: £ ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ,. ' ... "¦ Mr . JamesWalton moved the second resolution , which hfe ^ accompanied by i short bufrfitting speech . . The resolution was— ; ¦ . : : f 4 That intb * opinion of thisi meeting , that horrid arid unnatural measure called the New Poor Law Bill , is the natnral pffspring of the present system of representation , and is a proof quite sufficient w itself to-show what the labouring-classes have ; . to expectfrom a Parliament constituted like the present , and that it is the determination of this meet " ( Continued'in the 1 th pagt . )

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 4, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1017/page/6/