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AT BXBUXKGHAIff . On Monday last Binningaam was the scene of one of the ' most splendid and enthusiastic demonstrations in favor of Radical principles , that nave ever been , witnessed in the country—a scene which death alone mil be able to erase from the memories of tens , yea . hundreds of thousands of staunch and unflinching Radicals . Foe some time previous it had been widely maaelmownth ^ tademonstranonwonld -fce got op m farom of Raaicafism on the day above mwi tioaed ¦ and as Birmingham had signalized itself ¦ on account of the determined support which it gave to the passing of the Reform Bill , tn * e demonstration "Has looted forward to with no small degree of anxiety , not only by the inhabitants of Birmingham ,
_ £ GRAND ItADICAL DEMONSTBATIOT
and th « Huroxmdiae districts , but- by the whole eoentry at large . Early in the morning of Monday parties were observing thronging to the town in au cirectioas , accompanied with bands of music , and fith »» r > p < " gT'i yL ) ¦ which"are used as the distinction of the party . At ten o ' clock the members of the political "union were admitted to the Town Hall , a spacious * nd splendid building , fbr _ the purpose of receiving 4 & £ delegates who came from different parti" of the country , and alto for the purpose of electing a council to transact-the affaire of the union for the ensuing year . ^ in a ^ short time all tire galleries , and the body ^ rf fii Mall ware omnpletEly filled , and several approjinate flags -were . suspended irom different parts of the room- - Abeut hall past ten o ^ clock , Me Attwood ,
-aceompaoiad i > j the gentlemen who were deputed f ^ other town * to attend the meeting , made their appearance and . were received with three times three cheers and one cheer more , after which the clapping of hands , and stamping of Jhe feet , and other sign * of approbation that succeeded had the most thrilling and heartstifring effect . When the first "burst of -applause had subsided , three cheers were proposed for P . O'Connor , Esq ., who was there as tie representative of several large public meetings in Yorkshire and Scotland , when seven loud and hearty cheers , accompanied withmuch clapping ofhands , < fec . were given to that gentleman . Three cheer * each , with much clapping , were then given to the delegates , irom Scotland , for Dr . Wade , and Messrs . Vincent
and Hetherington , of London , and Mr . Richardson , of Manchester ^ The applause being ended , three groans were proposed for the trickster Whigs and tyrant Tories . The proposition was immediately allowed by the most hideous yelk , hissings , and hootings , the effects of _ which , after the cheering , produced ^ the most striding and fearful contrast . A communication from Manchester , relating to a meeting which is to be held on the 16 th instant , in com-• memoTaiion of the bloody scenes of Peterloo , was then read , which seemed to excite the deepest sympathy on the behalf of the unfortunate persons who suffered on that melancholy occasion , as well as feelings of the deepest abhorrence and detestation towards the merciless perpetrators of that muderons
"transaction , -which will live for ages in the memories of posterity . Three cheers were then given for the Irave Radicals of Manchester . The gentleman who read the advertisement , intimated that he had -come from Oxford , a distance of sixty miles , to attend their meeting . ( Cheers . ) He was a member ofthe Reform Association of that place ; and though he had come to witness this demonstration , he must say that he was not deputed by that body to attend this meeting , but-had volunteered , without being solicited in any way . ( Lond Cheers . ) A deputation from Liverpool was then announced and received "with , cheers , after which the meeting proceeded to elect a ConncU , _ to conduct the affairs of the Birmingham Political Union for the ensuing- year .
The following members of the Union were then chosen as a Council , Messrs . T . Attwood , banker , iNew-street ; Isaac Aaron , surgeon , Deritend -JoseDb . Abbott , brass-fcrander , Suffolk-street ; Win ' Blaxland , draper , Bull-street ; Thos . Aspinau , lamr > maker , Lower Temple-street ; S . N . . Blunt , merchant , Charlotte-street ; J . H . Cutler , wire-worker , Newton-street ; R , K . Douglas , gentleman , Journal Office ; Geo . Edmunds , attorney , St . Marys-square ; J . Ernes , button-maker , Lionel-street ; John Evans , surgeon , Paradise-street ; John field , bone-toy-^ naker , Moseley-street ; Wm . Giles , engine-tamer , Great Hampton-street ; B . Hadley , button-maker , Sly-cottage . ; Wm . Gammon ,-jun ., glass-maker : Wm-Hadow , printer ; Wn . Button , plater : Rich
HolUs , gumnaker ; Joseph HoB , japanner : W ; i-Jennings , brass-founder ; P . Lnckcock , linoe-merl chant ; G . F . Muntz , merchant " ; P . H . Muntz , -ditto s JohnMacdnsh , varnish-maker ; John Pierce thixible-maker ; T . C . Salt , lamp-maker ; W . H . Smith , factor ; Charles Sturges , com-facror ; Wm ! Trow , rope-makeT ; John Winfields , factor j A . Attwood ; John Collins , steel-pehmaker : John Hanckes , plater ; W . B .. Whitehonse , Studley Charles Trueman , pawnbroker ; George Horton-W . H . Ashmoore , button-maker : W . C . Younge japanner ; T . Griffiths , Smithfield ; W . Monk , of Selly Oak ; J . Hart , of Harborne ; T . SteeL of Dentend ; C . H . Smith ; H . Watson ; T . Baker , Stafford-street . '
TheTreasnrert'heiiTeadan . abstTactofMsaccO'Qnti ~ bj which it appeared , that he had a " considerable ¦ balance of cash in hand . Some arrangements were ¦ then made respecting the ordtr in which the several parties should proceed to the place o £ mating ; after the completion of which , the meeting at the Town Hall separated to proceed to Holloway Head , the place o ? general rendezvous . From twelve o ' clock till about half-past one , the streets were thronged -with processions moving towards-Holloway Head ¦ while flags and banners Trere . hung irom hundreds of -windows-waring , as it were , " a welcome" to the ¦ dense mass of people as they passed along . The place of meeting was well chosen . It formed a kind of amphitheatre , at the bottom of which was erected
a large and commodious hustings , in a line with ¦ which were placed a great number of cart 3 furnished "with seats , which were let for a small remuneration to persons anxious to be out of the crowd , and to nave a full view of the immense assembly . From one to half-past , the place began to fill , and towards two o ' clock there appeared not standing room to be obtained for another individual within several hundred yards from the ^ hustings . The assembly was immense , and ^ waa said by many to surpass anv congregation of the people ever witnessed in Birmingham before . For a considerable time after the proceedings began , processions came marching to the field , accompanied by their bands and banners and * hns the asssmbly , already grown to an enormous size , iept continually on the increase . To see such avast assembly congregated . together , and bearing
: avtnumpn then- tokens not only of sincere and undeviating patriotism , but also of fheir full and feed -detenxuBatian to obtain their rights at all hazards , — to . see a-mnltibide like that , so full of inteHigencp and . yet so patient under suffering , which their intel-Jigenee told them was altogether unnecessary , bein " the result only of oppression and plunder , —to see * uefcan exiubuion might have afforded , and doubtless would afibrd , one-of the most useful lessons which it is the interest either of&e statesman or the philosopher toieariL .. Thai immense assembly could not consist of fewer than between two and three hundred thousand persons . - -.---. When the speakers ascended the platform , -they W « re haled with loud cheers , which were prolonged lor-a considerable length of time , and followed by tmmreal clapping of hands throughout the immense multitude .
Thomas Attwood , Esq . -was unanimously called to the-chan-, and again the cheers were literally astounding . . He said—Friends , countrymen , and toothers , upon thu great and solemn occasion it is fcutjBaa andn gir t that ^ e should implore thebless m ^ of Jthmghtj God upon our cause , and therefore I request that you will all take off tout hats and . TBpe&t-witii mea shortprayer . ( The whole of the men present freni took off their hate , ^ and the hundreds of ^ hoasand i of bare heads -which were then to be seen , presented 8 spectade the most Bolemn and interest ang that we ever remember to have witnessed , ) Mr : Atrwoodfiieapit > ceeded ^ ifli his prayeTjmthe follow-Mgwor ^ theineeiin ^ tOTtsfer&er 3 tD <) un 4 aries , echoang the solemn invocation in , the mogt reverent and in"
teresting manner ^ : Ok € od , we thank thee for the manifold bksings which thou hast bestowed upon ¦ our country . We are now engaged in the great work of-obtakang good government for the people , and we , therefore , implore thy blessine upon ns and out righteous cause . —Amen . 5 ' A demand solemn Amen ^ wasieaTd-fromeTeTypartoftheimineose maltitud ^ , after which- a dead' ^ ence for a few ^ conds gavea grandeur and solemnityt 6 a -scene ^^^ Vwzs quite sufficient toarrcst the atten-S ^^ it * ^ . §« interest even" elthe . ^ nost SS ^^ L ? ^ r ***^ Mr . AiWd MHn
lmtthay ai *« r ^ iio ^ to ^ ou 7 SL ^ » - iear . ) HSiwI ^ Mafsh ^ &St wS ^ e 1 ?^ how dife ^ fcw it from Ihat way U which they , cBnooered Ma fj > m ^ t iear , an ! cheerio TX& Bad no weapon * btjtaOr& ^ onj 1 > ut theyliacfa ffooH «? nnby- ( Q ^» . )'' 0 b ^^ givm | n 8 ^ blessing 8 ' ¦ Mjrot W ^ iliai ^ 3 Ti * MHSiiif - < h \» od . they wxrald chaifge I ^ it ^ ai ^ of uiatGovenv ^ t ^ . ( Hear ,-, heari zxvt ' . daeepcX / He went with ^ wmmkmA
S . aa $ 6 at Commoni ibTimv ^ h ^ r tai »\^§^ f-i ^ ^'
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change . ( Cheers . ) A small change had been made seven years iigo , butit had disappointed the expectations of the people ^ they how came for a total change ,, and no mistake . ( Cheers . ) They had tried the Whigs in the balances and found them wanting . ( Hear . ) They had given , them six ¦ weax y years , and they had done nothing ; they had digged about the tree ani used every means to make it bear fruit , and all without effect ; and should it not now be cut down and cast into the fire ? ( Loud , tremendous and continued cheers . ) They saw that it produced no grapes—nay that it produced nothing but thorns , and it should now he cut down and cast into the fire . ( Continued cheers . ) He rejoiced much on all occasions when he came among
the people of Sinnisgnam ; they had sent hfm to Parliament for Universal Suffrage ; and he had held that situation for six years , subject to the call of the non-electors , and even to the women and children ( for he would not represent men unless he had the confidence and affection , of both men and women Cheers . ) As therefore lia had already possessed that confidence he had nothing to gain in the way . of beine more secure of his seat ; for he was sure if they &ent nim bow , when they had only a £ 10 . suffrage , theywould continue to send him ifthey had Universal Suffrage . ( Cheers and " We will . " ) . ,- Hefelt a great interest in the cause of the working classes ( Hear . ) When he was in the House of Commons he was weak ; but when he was among the people
of Birmingham he was strong . ; ( Cheers . ) They gave Mm strength with a hundred thousand right arms , bold hearts , and sonnd heads . ( Hear , hcjur . They gave him a strength that it was the honour and happiness of no man else to pouess . That strength wasvery great ; but the mildness , the integrity , and the quietness of their conduct doubled that strength . For six years they had waited with patience ; they had waited , waited , ; . waited , till it was jtime they should wait no longer . He was no agitator ; he had nothing of personal ambition to gratify ; he sought only for liberty and prosperity infullmeasure , even to overflowing . ( Cheers . ) TheiT conduct had been so bold , so brave , and so patriotic , that their friends had come from every Vart of the United
Kingdom to behold their proceedings . There were gentlemen there from Manchester and London and many parts of Yorkshire , as well as from Scotland and Ireland . They had given proof that they were able to lead the way in the good canse ; therefore their strength was deservedly great . Thus had they met to speak the downfall of a faction like honest Englishmen . They would speak tne downfall of both Whigs and Tories , and would raise up the people and place the management of their own House of Commons in their own hands . ( Cheers . ) Ifthey had Universal Suffrage they would then be able to coutrol their representatives , which they ought to be able to do ; and if with Universal Suffrage they had AimualParh * aments , theirmemberswoTildcoine * back
to them once a year , and if they had not done their duty as they ought to do , they would then have it in their power to say to them , " begone thou unjust steward of thy country , we will have no more to do with thee . " ( Hear . ) They . would be all right if they only obtained Universal Suffrage and Annual Parliaments . For they would then not only be able to benefit themselves- , but their masters too would be benefitted b y the change . They would then compel the House of Commons to adopt measures that would be calculated effect to the promotion of the common benefit of all . ( Cheers . ) Theyhadbeen told by a great man , who was now no more , ( Lafayette ) that for a nation to be free , it was sufficient that she willed it ; undoubtedly that was true . But
how was their will to be made known ? He said , show to the world twenty such meetings as tharT and he would show them the governors of England . Cheers . ) That meeting of itself had no right to dictate to the country : they must , at least , have twenty such meetings . ( H «? ar , hear . ) They had had one in Glasgow , and several in other parts of Scotland ; they had had one in Northumberland , where the soliiers passed through amongst them ; they had had several in Yorkshire ; and they expected meetings in Manchester , Liverpool , Sheffield and other places ; and , if the working men of other districts would rally round them , as he expected they would do , he shonld like to see the Government refuse their demands . If they did , they would put a
little gentle compulsion upon them . ( Cheers and laughter . ) What the women call sweet compulsion ; but they would not hurt a hair of their heads . They would , . however , turn them out of their places , and put the people of England in those places , in their stead . ( Loud cheers . ) Very often had £ hey petitioned , and they were about to petition again . Mr . Attwood thus continued . Kow my friends petition , petition , petition . ( Loud cheers . ) I know many object to petitions . Yon cannot expect to get much from the petition of two , three , or five hundred , they will not regard me with such a petition ; but when I have 100 , 000 , about me , when 1 produce two millions by next Christmas-day , banded together —( immense cheering)—ay , banded together in one solemn and
holy league , acting with one heart , one mind , one head , and one hand , you shall see that the voice of the masses will make iuelf heard and respected . We shall have no blood—no blood . Far from me be the guilty ambition of wising to be a Robespierre — -far from me be snch a feeling . No blood shall be shed by ns ] but if our enemies shed blood—If they attack the people—they must take the consequences upon their own heads . ( Creat cheering . ) 1 will take care , as long asl possess the confidence of my countrymen , and I will never forfeit it . ( Loud cheering . ) I will take care that that two millions of men shall act as one man—shall act peaceably , and never break the law ; but woe unto the man who breaks the law against us . ( Immense cheering . )
My mends , we will haye the national petition brought forward . You will find that it claims all your just rights . It will claim them , ay , and demand them . Many people shrink at the word "demand . " It is a constitutional right , which has existed for centuries . ( Cheers . ) In thepetition of rights which was delivered into the hands of William the Third , our forefathers used these word ? , " We claim demand , and insist of . " ( Loud cheers . ) Shall we not use the same language ? ( Cheers . ) / Shall we not claim , demand , and insist of ; and "when we number two millions of men we have-a right to insist upon the liberties and the happiness of the people . ( Cheers . ) My friends , unless we act together we are weak . If the people of Birmingham act one
way , and the people of Glasgow another , and we move for one object , and the people of Glasgow for another , we are weak ; but let us move at onetime , for one olyect , with one heart and one hand , and we are omnipotent . ( Loud cheers . ) Let us all agree to send delegates to London . We shall propose to you to nominate six or eight from this great meeting . ( Loud cheers . ) These men wQl superintend the national petition . Yes , forty-nine delegates of the people , meeting under the law , will knock at the gates of Government , and at the doors of every member of the Honse of Commons , and will tell them that 2 , 000 , 000 of Englishmen demand justice and liberty , andif they deny us that demand , they will meet again , and have a simultaneous meeting on one and
the same day throughout England , Scotland , and Ireland . { Immense cheering . ] We will have five millions of men next [ Tremendous cheering . ] They will get no good by delaying . They might hate got off by an honourable sacrifice in the first instance , bat they will not mind themselves , and if they do not care they will make bad worse by the mending . [ Loud cheers . ] But again , 1 say , we must act together , we want to take possession of our own house . [ Loud cheers . ] When we have a Parliament of our own , what must be our firnt object ? We must first abolish Corn Laws . [ Cheers . ] We inustbring down food to a level withlabour . [ Cheers . ] And by abolishing the Money Laws we will bring do-wn labour to a level with food . We will tails
profit all classes of the community . Then we will deal with the Poor Law . It shall not be allowed to standone month . > ( Cheers . ) A plough-share shall be passed over the bastiles by act of Parliament . ( Loud cheers . ) This is our great object . The Factory System must also be considered . We will make them do justice to all in one session , and if thfij do not do sowe will send them about their business and get better men . Mjrfriends , wemust dnve £ he House of Commons .. [ Cheers . ] We will not say a word about the House of Lords or about the Crown . We will stand by the Crown —( cheers )—aye , and by the House of Lords in its proper place . But we win not suffer the House of Lords to encroach upon our House . ( Lond cheers . ) The House of
Commons shall be a House of Commons —( hear ) —a real _ House of Commons . I will read to you an extract from the works of a geod man and a patriot , who died many years ago—John Home Tooke . He said he "believed the people of England , if justice were done to them , would not be discontented with the Government of King , Lords , and . Commons . " I do not object to King and Lords- ' taking . care that they , do not exceed their bounds . I do not object to give the King and the Lords their fair and respective shares in a properly-condncted Government ¦ but would objecsto tlieir having their own'fights and thenghts-ofthe Commons too . ( Tremendous cheers : ) Srica a situatibn ' pf King and Lords it is impdssible but that every man- in the country should abhor as Ida . ( Cheers . ) We triB ^ mt that to rights , wa will put the-Crownind the Lorda in possessien of th « ir own fair righfe : but we will take care that they shall
no longer nave ours . ( Cheers . ) How are we to Idcure that ? . Wemust take care thatjour own house stands righteous and " clear before ttye country . ' If . we ~| obeyond onr . bwir house we will' get into" difncul&e ? . - We will 1 !* ^ stwpected of' revomtidnary designs . We must , tberWbrey stand -by -atif . own ' hou «« -They may gayi that' we trouble them / No - ^ T- *^ ' "" ^ l trouble-them , . keeping ! , - 'however , ^ ttw ^ oondft ,-until we get . justice ; * ndinwhea / we to , then wd ; will * M * ible them' jao more . ' , I- wSl not de ^ jOTLmnchj ^ g ^ Yon ;^ an expetf J » attain , ¦ ^ m e j ^ Ptl 51 ar ^ nj ^ ujp . ;/( Cheei 8 . - iT ? 3 ? . ! £ ? - " » ^ M ** the Ve 51 neans . we can W ^^ « gt Ml objects ? , ^ ou haw hea rd ' £ l */ £ 2 | 2 * * " ( toua cheers-fiYo ^ all faiow ^?^^ meang ; ceh ? er 8 . ) - ; i would not rewrh - mend that the toatSAi and men shomd ' act aga ^ tt eachrotherj bttttlietiiiMJ is comine when wesfiol all hav&-a strike mgainst the House of Commons .
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( Cheers . ) Suppose we establish a sacred week for ne week . You can all spare a day . ( Loudcheers . ) Suppose the forty-nine delegates in London should pronounce that there shall be a sacred week , when no beam er shuttle shall move , and no anvil shall sound througliout England- a sacred week , during which every man shall Forego labour God forbid that he should be driven to this .. ( Loud cheers . ) " If there should be occasion for it , the forty-nine delegates had but to stamp on the earth and two milhons of men would answer the call , and if that did not do , five millions would answer it . ( Loud cheers . ) But there would be no occasion for a sacred week . We will get all we want without the necessity of having recourse to that ; but if not , let
me enemies of the people take the consequences . He had only one thing to say ;• he had heard the ministers of the late Eng charged in the / House of Commons with having gfren instraction to the Poor Law Commission ^ rs , that the great considered that law as the means of bringing the labourers of England to live upon a coarser description of food . ( Great groaning . ) His blood shuddered to hear of such a charge , and he would hot have believed it if he had not heard it , and if he had not seen th « ministers preserve silence . [ At the suggestion of a person in the crowd three groans were given for the ministers j- - Four or five years ago these men complained of overproduction . Now we have famine in the land . and alow uricAfor lnKnnr . tKanrArVninn
athalf his wag « i , and pays the full price for bread . Ye « , there ^ waa ^ alf wages , half work , and doable the pnee , of food . We will bring down food to the level of wages . ( Cheers . ) Yes , and we will lift up wages to the level of food . We do hot want tphurt the agricultural labourer : we wish to have him fully occupied ; theporM shall be throyrn open , in order mat millions oi hungry mouths may be filled with agricultural produce . We will open millions of markets for agricultural produce . The people , perfectly happy and contented , will rejoice , and each man , under the visitation of Divine Providence , will live in amity with his brother , no man making him afraid . We have tried the present government six years , and we find they have done nothing . We
now , therefore , appeal to you ; we call upon you to support us firmly , warmly . Stand round your country . Look at Glasgow . We have men of high intellect and character from thence to see and judge of the feeling 3 that animate the _ people of Birmingham ^ We must bind the people of England , Scotland ; and Ireland in one solemn and holy league , until we complete the happiness andprosperity of the country . ( Cheers . ) 1 have not another word to say , but have to read to you a letter from my good iriend George Frederick Muntz . ( Loud cheers . ) It is dated from North Wales , and is as follows : "My dear Sir—If I could with any degree of propriety have left home , I should not have needed your second invitation to attend the meeting on Monday .
My zeal in the good cause alone would have been quite sufficient to have induced me to go , without the additional aid of my personal regard for you . There are , however , bounds to the family sacriHces made for the public good beyond which one ought not to go , and which can only he judged of by the party called upon to make them . Unfortunately , I am now so situated that nothing would justify ray now leaving home , and 1 can most sincerly assure you that no one regrets it more than I do . I have served many years in the ranks of the Reformers , and 1 hope done some good . I also feel convinced that 1 shall again frequently aid them in their meritorious exertions to emancipate themselves from tli . e tyranny of party , under every and any name or title . The ignorance of the aristocracy is much more the bane of the people than their infamy , although there is much , too much , of the latter ; and the bad effects of either are the same to the industrious classes . The people never had more cause than they now have for exerting themselves ; they have no hope but from
themselves . Infamously robbed by the corn-laws , because prevented from raising their wages of labour in the same proportion by the equally iniquitous money-laws , they have nothing to expect but quiet starvation , periodically , when thousands die , without the public being aware of it , from want . "So long as the landed interest and the moneyed interest have the power they now have in the House of Commons will the industrious classes be oppressed and pillaged . Their only chance , therefore , is by every legal and peaceable means to effect such a change in the constitution of that house as shall make . it work uprightly for the good of all the different branches of society ; and this they must effect if they will persevere like honest and good men . Nothing ever could , or ever will , eventually withstand the united exertions of an honest , act ive , and persevering people .
" Most sincerely wishing you every success , " Believe me yours very truly , "G . F . Muntz . " Mr . Attwood then sat down amidst enthusiastic cheering . The advertisement calling the meeting was then read . Mr . P . M untz came forward to propose the tyrst resolution , and was loudly cheered . He said that if those cheers betokened energy and activity he was glad to hear them ; but , if not , he would not thank them for all the cheers they could offer . They were there met to endeavour , by iall peaceable and legal means , to obtain what he believed the people were determined to have . ( Cheers . ) Lord John Russell
had told them that they were to have no further reform ; but ^ the people of England , of Ireland , and Scotland , with one voice demanded reform . The people of Birmingham had met before at Newhallhill . Theymetin 1832 ; 200 , 000 voices then demanded reform , and 200 , 000 hands would have been held up to enforce the demand , if it had not been acpeded to . ( Cheers . ) Were they not prepared to act in 1838 as in 1832 ? ( Cheers . ) He would not insult and degrade the present meeting by comparing it with that of Newhall-hill—that meeting was for a trifling purpose in comparison with the present . ( CheersV ) They now met for the first time in Birmingham upon the sacred principle of Universal Suffrage . ( Loud cheers . ) The pptition which he would have
the pleasure of proposing for their adoption contained the three ^ reat cardinal points of reform , equal representation , protection in the exercise of the the representation , and a- frequent appeal to the constituency to know whether those appointed had done their duty . This petition , this national petit ion , had already bwen adopted by many hundred thousands of their fellow-subjects , and before any long time had elapsed it would be adopted in every town and village by the industrious classes , thosemen who make the wealth of a nation . ( Loud cheers . ) Ay , by those industrious classes whose petitions have been hitherto disregarded , who have been laughed , at , spurned , and called a canaille , unfit for being entrusted with the franchise . Thev
nad to look to their own resources , and those onlyi The people of England , without regarding the two great Houses , thegreat lords and the little lords , were determined to enjoy theirrights , Look to the state of the country ! They were laughed to insult by foreigners—the colonies were in revolution and anarchy—the Exchequer was insolvent—the workman was starving , anil bread was raised to stervation price by that most wise and excellent measure , the Corn Law ? , while from the same cause the farmer was ruined . Hewas no friend to revolution or distarbance , there would be no necessity for them if Government did its duty . What had the Whig Government done ? He had never been a friend to the Whigs , but nevertheless , within the last eighteen
months , in Birmingham and elsewhere , he had drawn odium upon himself because he defended them . But what had they done ? The very men whom they had forc- 'd-into the King ' s CouncilF , against the King ' s will , now turned round and insulted them by telling them that they were not fit for reform , and their subsequent conduct made the industrious classes quite disgusted with them ; -The present Government was entirely under the thumb of Sir -Robert Peel . Sir Robert Peel governed this country , while the Whig Ministers had all the res . ponsibility . If they were to have a Tory Government , he protested against having one without the responsibility attaching to Government . But they must get rid of both Tories and Whigs . They must g « t up . a general system of agitation . They must not agitate any paltry question . And above' all , they must beware of the old motto , " Divide arid conquer . " They must make their stand upon the national
position , throwing wide all minor points that caused disunion . _ ( Cheers . ) The question of Corn Laws must belaid aside , as well as every other question that set the manufacturer against the farmer—the man against the master , and the landlord against the tenant ; These must all be laid aside , and they most join hand and heart in one great and general effort . ( Loud cheers . ) Let them once get a fair and jost representation of the people , and , they would ultimately secure the peace , the happiness , and the permanent welfare of the peopled ( Cheers . ) Let not the attention for a moment be withdrawn from the mainpoint of Universal Suffrage . All other evils , the Corn Laws , the Poor Laws—forget all these for an instant—let nothing be thought of butthe principle which will give you the power of returning such men as ; -when returned , will repeaVa dozen * uch laws in a' single day . ( Cheers , )! He had ^ sincere pleasure in proposing the' fttllowihK r esolution : —» ¦ ,. p .- . - ¦; . --. ®
' -That the national petition now read , claiming from the ^ ustiee of PaptianSent the -nndeniable riiihte of Universal Suffrage , Annual Parliaments , ' Voteby Ballot , Wjages of-Atfendance , and the AboUtibn ' of property , Qualifi <} atio » yx . Members of the Houne of Sffll ^ -if ^ ^ approved by thw meeting ^ and thatit be recommended for , sicn ^ turetto bU -tS ^ S ^ S ^ & ^^ ssff ^ Ssssh& ^^ m ^^ Thel fiKt . greit top-irtke national petition was , tt ^ «? e » 75 ia ^ fc ^ ga ^ flge ^ f untonvicted of crime and of tatte-nandv sliodld have a free voice iaSS ing those men who made the lawa to which -e ^ mania the community was subject , and who , imposed taxes which , m a ' gftater ^ or leps proportion ,
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every man in the community must pay . The next point was to give every man so situatedthe power of exercising the ri g ht conferred upon him , that wag the power of delivering his vote by ballot . Tl > e next point was annnal Parliatrients , that is , givme the elector frequent opportunities of calling Jus 4 presentatiye to account . The next point was the doine away of the qualification for Members ; and lastly , ti ^ l ^ M , Ml- . refluuienitirai-for tkeir labour ^ they shouttfully remunerate those whom they employed , ; and the man who gavetup his time , his ¦ ? T il * I , ™ , mtelHgence , for the general good , should , be fairly remunerated . These were the paints for wh , ch they were that day assembled , and which , with God ' s Providence , they ^ ere determined to have . ( Loud cheeVs . ) He did not seek change out or any sickly or diaeased love of rarity , but he WH f changebecause there
^ , was nothnig ni ^ the present system ; which should induce a wise and good man to , seek to perpetuate it . They wer ^ assembled there to-day because as lonff as the people remained quiet there was no hone of redresH . ; TCheers ^ The present , wris an unnatural state ^ ofthmgs . Let any man look round on this good land , and see how Providence has blessed it . Beyond any other country in the world , it possessed the means of agricultural , manttfacturing , and commercial greatness . It yiras evident that - Providence intended that the people should be haDDV but how was the case ? They found that instead of a man earning bis bread by the sweat of Jiis brow he sweated from morning to , night , and ekmed » oZ }? ij } F ^^^ U ? fortunatel
^ »< r y , man had but dors on the circulation of those beiie- nt » with which Providence had blessed the land It was their tirst duty to get rid of those clogs- ^ -to get ndof their . badlaws l and the only way in which they could dp this was by returning men to Pariia ^ ment who would give them good laws . Let them be acUve , iirm , and united if they ^ wished to attain the objects they had in view . We do not , iny Mends , contend for mere abstractions of liberty-, which is to bnng nothing to us but a name . The state ofliberty is a sweet Phe , even in an abstracted sens > e . He would say with the poet— " One day , one hour of liberty is jvorth a whole eternity of bondage . " ( Cheers ) but , at the same time , we go for the fruit as well as the tree . ( Cheers . ) We want a tree HVe th « t
spoken of by the Psalmist , which was planted by the river , and which yieldeth fruit in due seasonaye , and whose leaf never fadeth . We do not want the tree which we at present possess , yielding sickly fruit one day and no fruit at all the next , which is tantahzing us with something like fruition one moment , and then something like the apples of Sodom the next . The fruit we want is an ample supply of food * clothing , and shelter , in return for the capital we expend and the labour we give for its cultivation . Willyou go for that tree or not ? ( Yes , we will . ) They tell you that you are ignorant ; and with whose ignorance , forsooth , is your ignorance compared ? I asked some honest men the other day , who occupied £ 10 houses , whether they could tell
me the difterence of understanding between them and their neighbours who paid only £ 9 19 s . 6 d . rent ? There was the difference of sixpence only in the value of their understanding , but that sixpennyworth makes a great political difference . ( Cheers , ) The man of £ 10 has the power of moving in a poluical sphere , it erects him into a political agent , while the want of 6 d . degrades another into a political slave . The ignorance of the classes is at least a more selfish iguoraiice than the ignorance of the masses . You . who wear the shoe know a great deal better where it pinches than the men who ask you to wear it . If you had your own men in Parliament you would know how to deal with them if they did not perform their duty ; you would send them about
tneir Dusmess . w hen 1 employ a man , my wish is to pay him well , but I also wish not only to have the power of selecting him , but of dismissing him also if he does not dp his duty . Are you capable , or are you not , of performing that function ( we are )? Will any man tell me that a journeyman , a labourer , or a mechanic , who has the power to execute the most dulicate pieces of machinery , who can make his own nnvate ^ contracts with his mastui , who can discuss his social rights in his club , and in fact can manage every thing relating to his private affairs , with judgment—will any one tell me that such a man is incapable of judging whether Mr . Attwood and Mr . Scholefield are honest members * of Parliament , merely because that man does not occupy a £ 10
house ? Our excellent friend Mr . Murphy , who . mI regret I do not see here , told us an old story related by Franklin , of a man having a qualification to vote by possessing an ass of the value of forty shillings . The man happened one day . to lose his ass , and at the same moment he lost his vote . " I should like to know , " said Franklin , '• 'whether the franchise existed in him or in his ass . " ( Laughter . ) He would ask whether the man who rents a house of £ 10 , and lets it out in lodgings , is better entitled to vote than the lodger , who pays not only the rent , but often the taxes into the bargain ? Is it the house or the man who has the vote , for that is the question ? If you
believe it is themau , and not the house , then you will with one heart , and with one accord , sign this petition . ( Cheers , and cries of ^ we will . " ) The object of this petition is to erect the man , the sensitive and reasoning being , iuto a political agent , and to leave brick and rnprtar where they always ought to be—the shelter of man from the inclemency of the seasons—instead of investing such objects , which know as much of law and members of Parliament , as stone and lime can do , with attributes that belong only to intelligent beings . ( Loud and continued cheering . ) ¦;¦ ¦ ¦ ' The resolution was adopted with acclamation .
Mr . Scholefield then came forward to move the second resolution , and was received with loud plaudits . On no occasion on which he had , he said , addressed them , did he consider the subject which they had to discuss of such importance as that concerning , which they were then met . The difference between the former occasions of their meeting and the present was this : —In the year 1832 , when they made that great demonstration which did Birmingham and England honour , they supposed that they had attained their great object in getting a Parliament that Wo uld . do j Ustice to them . They were then going on credit , but that credit was now exhausted ; and they must at length be convinced , as . he was , that the Parliament had done nothing for them
, and never would dp anything . ( Groans . ) They had had the benefit of experience—the best of all advantages . He himself entertained a very different opinion of the House of Commons from what he did before he belonged to it . When they sent him and hishon . friend Mr . Attwood to represent them in Parliament he didsuppose that they were , atleast , going into a society of intelligent and honest men . He felt as they , the honest men of Birmingham would feel , when going into a jury-box , . where each juror took an oath that he would do justice before God and his country ; he thought there ceuld not be much wrong when men so pledged their consciences . But ifthey should find that the jurors were nearly all of them feed up by one ofthe parties , they could nolloneer
expect justice from them . Now , he had found in Parliament . so- many men who had an interest in doing wrong : to the people that he could hope for no good frottl them . To seek a mania Parliament who looked only to the public interest . was , like . hunting foraneedlein a bundle of hay . ( Laughter . ) If you spoke to them of the general good , u they did not absolutely laugh in your face , they would at least affect ignorance , and ask , what particular interest it was you wished to serve ? And if your reply was " Why the general good , " they would declare ¦' that they did not understand what you could mean . ( Groans . ) But if you spoke to them of particular interests , they were all alive like a bed of fleas . ( Laughter . ) He had left them about a fortnight
ago lieartily sick of what he had to do ; for in . fact there was so little to dp that concerned the people , who alone were his friends , that he might as well have been at Birmingham three parts of hi * time . The subjects of discussion iii Parliament were such merely party ques'tions , arising out of the personal jealousies of the 'opposite factions , that meu , of common sense would be ashamed of them . ¦ they were all ill pursuit pf private interests . Onl y look at . theiriast measurethe lamentable question of the Irish church . ( Cheers ?) . They had given to the clergy of that church a million of money , as coolly and quietly as jypu would throw an old hat away ; and for what ? Because there was scarcely a man in either House
that had not a relation connected with the church . They pretended a regard for religion ; but it was a falsehood ; an abomination ; it was not religipn that they cared ¦ ¦ . for . ( Cries of no ! ¦ ' ) What , besides , had the present Parliament dbue ? He had a long list of their deeds in his handi which were anything but creditable to them as men of commpii sense arid common honestVi ¦ The other ttigbi there was a quarrel as tpywhether a Mr . Turtonwas a fit and proper person to go to Canada . > Vihat did it matter to themjthe men of Birmingnaanf whether IVlr , Turton went , to Canada or into the sea ? ( Cheers and laughter ?) Theni again , a night or two since , thereJwasa , discussion ^ 'bether a . parson , by thename of Sampson , should be a rnagistraie or not . Why , QQtook it was-a matter pf utter iridifiererice . But such . was the shaineful waste of public time ! The last matter which they had dealt with was the penaon'list ; And here one would blush for the name
s of many to think therfe could be any brie who would stand up in ParKanient ^ with the knowledge of so many thousandsrof his fellow-men wanting food , ^ and ye . tshould advocate giving tens of thousands of pounds away to persons who had plenty . There was one peri 8 ion ; paid to a woman who / but a ; little while ago had ni » wards j > f ^ ipo , OQp , left , he * . and . whose hqsband was ppssessed ^ of £ 18 , 000 a year , -. and yet the c (? nimitlee had not struck off her pension . ( Shame . V The last act of the Duke pf Wemrigtpn , before he weritout of office , was / the foulest piece of plunder that ever was transacted . H « gave to a lad of the name of Holmes an inepnifi of je 600 . And for Wjhat ? ' He had never served the' country ^ but his father had done the country great disservice . This was reviewed ; by th « committee , and they decided that the boy must have the pension as long ai bis father lived . Then there was the King of Hanover ' s pension . ( Deep groans were uttered at the mention
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of this name . ) If this did not ' ifll their bearto With indignation ,. those hearts must | be of stone . That man had gprie to Hanoyer , where the whole « f its revenues were | his own , still some f ^ j OOO © i j £ 27 , 000 a-year was paid to him by this conntry . ( Cries of "Shame / 1 " shame . " ) While Parliament hadbeen doing these thmgs , which they ought not to have done , what have they been doing for the people •?¦ ¦ ¦ Abspltitely nothings When their excellent representative , Mr . Attwood , attempted ( as he frequently did ) to bring before the House of Cpmmons the grievances of the people , he nerer could obtain attention . / The members either sat > listlessly by , disregarding hitf appeals , or they took np their hats and walked away . ( Groans . ) They were afraid
tPhear the truth . It was his belief that thelast Parliament was riot worse than the preaentr-if it was , then was it bad indeed ^ Theywould-Derhaps , say that he was going along way in the spint of condemnation , when he should have uttered' what he wais now abput to say ; bat ne would most deliberately declare to tliem that he did not think they could find , out of the whple 658 members that constituted the House of Coinmoris , 50 men who had-any community of feeung in the people at aU . rHe boldly staked hispharacter for truth that there were not w men in Parliament who cared a curse for the people at all . wf , hat was it that the people ss ^ d ? "We cannot get sufficient ' wages ; " and then their friends , looking about'for the cause , beheld the com-lawsv caiiea ior inei
ana rrepeai ; put no , said rarliament , ¦ wre will riot Tepeal them . When that exeeUentinah and member of Parliament , Mr . Villiers , br ought forward the question , the great landed ; aristocracy of the House would not deign to discuss the matter with him . And wh y would they not repeal those laws ? Because then * own rentals would be diminished . Their whole property , depended ' on keeping up the rests . How then could they be expected to have any consideration for the people ? They must be angels instead of men to do so . Itwias then said to them— " If you will not repeal the corn-lawsj put on a property-tax . " Nothing could ' be fairer . Every one knew that theinen of property could spare apart of what they possessed . ( Hean ) But no , the men of property laughed at you . Well , you
said to them— "Make just money laws , that profits and wages may be duly and steadily maintained . " " Oh ! " they exclaim , 'Vthat is all nonsense , we shall do nothing of the kind , " everything which did . riot immediately promote their own interests was nonsense with them . The more he saw of them the more he was convinced that there Was no hope for the people , until they obtained a better representation in Parliament . In fact , they had no representation at all . There were but 4 , 000 persons to elect the two Members pf the town of Binnirigham . Was not that a shame ? ( Cries of " yesi" ) The only remedy for the evils which they suffered under was a better system of representation—that was to say , a fair representation of all classes . It was his humble
opinion that they would . giiiri this if they resplutely adhered to their determination of obtaining it . ( We will . ) Take no denial . Repeat your claims ' . You cannot be too firm . But act peacefully , be Uniformly in the right , but act with all the vigour that becomes men and Englishmen , and you will be sure to attain your end . Let him who looks to violence be considered your enemy . YCheers . ) I deprecate all quarrels between mastft-s and men , and violence is the worst mode that can be adopted to adjust such unhappy differences . 11 is the defective state of the law which generates these quarrels . Itis no interest of the masters to oppress the men . If they could obtain sufiicient profit upon their capital , they would rejoice tp give higher wages to those who labour for them . Therefore , master and man ought to unite
and not look with jealousy upon each other . Theirs is one common cause . We depend arid live upon the exertions of each other . This is my honest view ofthe matter . Before I conclude I beg to contradict an assertion made by a very great scoundrel , Edmund Burke , who had the audacity to say that the people had nothing to do with the laws but tp obey them . Of all the impudent things thatevercame from the lips of man that was one of the most audacious , and uttered too by a scoundrel who robbed the country of a pension of £ 300 a year . It is said that the working classes are reckless of change , because they have no stake in the country . This is a monstrous fallacy . There is not one of von whn ha *
not as great an interest in the well-being of the country as the greatest Lord among them all . Why , your all is at stake . ( Cheers . ) When the peace and prosperity of the country are disturbed , your property—which consist in labour—ia [ most seriously affected , and tiie evil that threatens you is " starvation . If you lose a week ' s wages starvation stares you in the face ; yet I know it is one of the m 63 t popular errors tp say that the working classes have no abiding interest in the country . He has a stronger interest than the richer classes can possibly have , because he has no resource but in the peace and prosperity of the land . ( Cheers . ) The Honourable Gentleman concluded by moving tiie following resolution : —
" That George Frederick Muntz , Philip Henry Muntz , Robert Kellie Douglas , Thomas Glutton Salt , George Edmonds , B . Hadley , J . Pierce , and J . Collins , be appointed delegates from this meeting to attend a general convention of the industrious classes , not exceeding forty-nine in number , to be assembled in London for the purpose of adopting every legal measure which may t > e necessary to induce Parliament to carry the great objects of the national petition into a law . " . . Mr . O'Connor was the introduced to the meeting and was received with three times three cheers and waving of hats and clapping pf hands . He said that when he saw the wealth , the strength , the power , and the virtue of the people before him , herecognised them as the signing , sealing , and dehierinff
ot the great moral covenant which had that day been entered into between the people . ( Cheers . ) He was not a little proud to meet that which he had long wished for—a pure , > free , incorruptible , and virtuo'is jury of working men : he was not a little proud to seethe infant that he had travelled with for six years , almost alone and unsupported , now grown to the giant form in which he ' beheld it , ( Cheers . ) He was not a little proud tp think that the good men of Birmingham , who gave -us the poison were now abput to give us the antidote . It was now nearl y seven years since they met -under that flag —( pointing to a large flag of the Union which was held upin the crowd )—sent to them from Somerset House , to induce them to do the dirjy work of the Whi
gs . Upon this occasion they ^ were met ; as a jury to consider whether or not these ; Whigs had rendered them justice for their services . •| They were now met to indict that factionv and to take a verdict upon every count of the indictment . As each session of Parliament would furnish ^ npre than sufficient matter for a separate indictment , they ^ would confine that indictment to six couritgy each session forming a count , and if they took it from the Irish Coercion Bill , to the passing of the Arms Bill ; or whether he lpftked to the injustice done . by them tp thej ) oor of England , ot tp the injustice done to the nation at large by their acts of this last session , hefelt he had the strongest grounds for appealing to therri ^ the people—whether the Whigs Were ^ guilty
or not—[ Loud and tremendous criesof " guilty ! " ] . Thus then they had returned tltieit verdict \ and the next thing for their consideration was hpw th 6 y could best correct and remedy that guilt . ' ( Cries of V Turn them out' throughout the whole meeting . ) 'They had been told by their Whig leaders at the passing of the Reform Bill that all they required was the power of Government ,, and then all their demands' should be immediately conceded . From that day t 6 this they had made everything / more ; corrtij > tr conveying theircorroption even to . all their munici'Dal institutions . ( Hear , hear and cheers . ) > They Ead boasted of their municipal acts , they had boasted of the great amount of information they ¦ ,. had acq ^ uired by their numerous commissions : and gee at wnatan exnense
it had been acquired ; see what < they had , gained by establishing a , weak , truckling and vacillating goyernment in the country , while there was un irresponsible government behind it more powerful than even the Whig government itself . ( Cheers . ) Thus the Whigs , top weak in themselves , and not having the people to back them , had recourse to the tortuPus means which were alone open to them for dealing with the public purse . Being no longer able to put their creatuxea into office ^ they devitwd anPther mode of providing for them , and they accordingly issued their various commissions of inquiry . r ^ They had commissioner ^ i . p ' f education , commission era Piuifarit prisoners , commissioners of fisheries , in sho ^ . commissioners of bibles , of potatoes , —flauJhterj-T- ' 6 Xthe
blacks arid of the whites , for their friends and kindred , and thus they had created a kind of secohaary patronage , and established an imperium ih imp&rio W the country . ( Cheers . ) The vWbigs declaiined against the House of Lords for not allowing them to carr y ^^ ^ out their ^ full measurei of re fpnn j they , asked the people to back them , and proinieed , aa , their reward that tjiey would bring forward gopdmeasures The pepple did back fheiri , but Vaef . did not ^ api ih ' em for the Irish Coercion Bill , and they' asked &ern njot for the New Poor Law . ( Cheefsl > They did not pray the VVhigs instead of reforining-: the Church , to give them two new bishops to sit vat the House of Lords , nor did they ask ttfem it > empty the exchequer by handing , the > public money over to the pockets pf the rich' while : they replenished their exhaitHted tresunirv hv omincrintn t . hA ' nnekete
of the poor . ( Loud xheers . ) Tbepeople were told that , the Lords were a great obstacle , and acpordingly the , Whigs paraded the country like baboons , talking about the 170 old women ( the Bishops ) who sat in :. the House , of Lords wearing pantaloons v but as ; the mountain ¦ would not go to Ma&binedV ' ; Maho nied vfent to the mountain ; ( Cheers arid ; laughter . ) j And when the Whigsjfound that the Lords wouldnot bestow their privileges upon themoior ^^ allow the £ 10 ifianchise to be disturbedj they tm » ed ' . # ta * p -M »* . P ^ inlsedV torbe better cook ? for th * fotra ^ ^ B 4 tl ^ ajt they would make their measures so palatablerAa next time that the Lords should . meyjtably relish Aem . This worked well enouga . for themj for -in exac % the same proporAon iJtatrthe people lost their ; power , Mi £ ep \> wM became increased , by favouring the House of Lords
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Mnchhad been formeiJy raid offlte great etn ^ S SfS ^^ P J ^ w of the ¦ ¦ BiaS « te-Wjak ! dedareatliat ^^ tWc 5 « ild net do juK * *^ peTe ¦ - * S 5 » W Mt ^ BMboi hadseifaS ^ meat . : Ti » sense of the aatirirw * riT , ^ , * % ? & ?* ms& 8 e ^ rAcrotdiets , wMcaliad ^ lbrS ^^ tracted the Peoole , and , obstructed tne ^ ffi ^ coorse - He hadjeard thenj ^ weonnnended to& * away those crok ^ ets vand join widihe «^| to in the great objeetWhich they ^ outfit ttTacromnT ??* **¦ iujpvssioie ior nim toft
""^ «•• ""^ " « to S 7 ^ muchhe was rejoiced . He cared ? not , how ^ wl ^' farthing for alltW measures of reft ^ 3 SS ¦ JWB to ^ be ^ ^^ btained - ; ^^ by-Universal : SufiVage l 2 them abolish the Pen ' sidn List ,-it yro ^ t ^ Mdoubled m commissioias , He haa heard r 1 < . ^ v « aidaboritthe ^ iduity k ; tne Com ity"& fnend ^ Muntz hadVeU observed ; that if the pVoS obtamed . UnivertalcSofiage ^ tne repe « Mgg& k ^^ ? " ** y ?** ^* mttttdBi to then ? ^ S ^ t ^ impc ^ ible ^ re ^ bf tho ^ laws'S . J ? ™* $ e to . ? rk ^ for the . 4 > enent of ^ the people Jb-S as Universal Suffrage was witbJaeld . " The efocfS any ^ ar « e ^ ould ^^ to ^ ve % ^ aS 2 mass of the oommtnntti -He Tiail nlW « ri ™^ S ^
consent to any of the ^ ^ rotcl ^^^^ H ^ a ^ ffl representing tne wishes and feSngs ^ lm > m % deterauned minds and ^ stalwari annft ^ ^ few ? not .. a man among thea ^ ho ^ Kot : , *®^ trust _ the moral power of the natiori , eventodS bendmg , even to submission , even in tifimivSrF * biUty thatmightbe capable of beSSlrfe taught man how to reason , and when to bear ^ M whentoforbear , ( eheers . )' But he ^ wai So ^ understood .. -to- imply that he was content to Hvel slave , rather than die a freeinari . No' *
" Come he slow or come he fast , It is but death that comes at last . " ( Tremendouscheering . ) But when the moral strerigtl . was expended , and the mind draWn out at 1 ml then , as Mr . Attwood had Baid , if Vrono ihS come from ^ ny party , cursed be that ySuSus 2 who refused to meet force by force . ( CheeS loS andloiig-conunued . ) Heliad a mora } Creed knS political creed ; his mor-. l creed was « to do unto other ^ as he would they should do unto him - " 3 & wS ^ ir ¦;> * ° ? r wa ^ ^ aays work . 1 hey did not seek to abstract tfe ^^ ° ^* « i ^ y ^ id / not S eek to take ^ Sw « \ hl - ^ b «» given them by Q laws ; but they sought to prevent the rich frott applying the national resources to the purpose ^ 3 ^ ™^!^ ^ ? - They « ought to wiu yi uniu
" »"""" y « re , ana apply the natural resources . of the country to the beneHt of au . ffl knew well thatthere was no such thing as poverrt mthis country ; tut when they spoke of poverty S meant the accumulation of wealth in the hands of I j- » » « u « ¦ ¦ > *» wllereasj if there were a prow , distribution of that wealth . ' there Would be no sue * thing as poverty . . Yes ,. the wealthy had assumS & o p 0 * r i ^^^ andpf action ; and whaUaS been thelastacts of theirs ? Not satisfied with < t £ station which legitimatel y belonged to hhn , th « found Lord John Russell constituting himself < S gaoler of the infants of the country . ( Cheers . ) N * eatishedynth the old system of Poor Laws , they £ 2 consututed mto one Cerberus-one monsterJthrS devil-kings , who had in them power to rob both th .
poor anov tne rich , not onl of their money , but of al ttie attributes of mercy and justice , while they attha Same time ga ^_ their ^ upport to a corrupt Govern ment .. The Whigs and O ^ ConneU had talked about ^ Justice to Ireland . " He also had agitated f « justice to Ireland , and they could hardly ^ pect it h fcngland _ Wl the oppressed people of ( Ireland had received ltm full measure . He did not seek fori ^ nsfer of power from one faction to anbthe He did not seek to take the tithes from the paras ' and to give them to the landlord , nor to pun dow one corrupt . system of corppratipns and to establisfc another ^ TheyheardmuchtalkoftheignoranceofuB people , What was that ignorance ? flit Was indeed ignorance , it would be trusted ; for ifimorance wa « th
tyrant s best title to power ; but it waslbecause ther had that description of knowledge that Vas hostile to Qrranny , that they ; were not allowed to use thai knowledge . ^ ( Loud cheers . ) How were they hot governed ? Was it not by Acts of Pariiament whi 4 had been passed b y men who could riot write their own names ; and if they coritrasted the increasint knowledge and resources ofthe present ! day andthS towhichhehadjustreferred , they would geehowmuch J ? u ^ «?^ be had been turned in favour of the peopk V . . ^ S 8 ¦? ern ^ enable tolive upon any ^ real merit of their own ,, asked" Are we not better than tl » lones ? ' Tms reminded him of the dandy who wanted to take the taste of unions out of Ms monflt when hsa friends told him to swallow a clove of
» ™ - ( A laugh . ) Now , he would ndtswallow tlie onions of Whiggery , nor yet the clove of Toryism . H ^ 'J ? -4 ? '' •¦ He / would recommend ^^ such a dose rf Radicalism as would take the smell of both out of their noses . ( Alaugh . ) He Was not for joiningia that crusade of Tory against Radical , | when it yrti well known that a Tory Goyernment : 'had , in Ire ., land , a power above the law . When he spoke « i these men , did he arraign their judgment ? Na liut he objected to those calamities which either » want or a misapplication of judgment could brim upon ^ the peopW But ; they dared not be honest The Wlugs . might judge fairly , but to jndge fairly and to act fairly were very different things . Th « were so beset by pensioners and titled oauDers . thii ittn
. py wished tney could not keep in the right path . ft the natipn demanded relief , if they cried out for justice With : a loud voice , the Whigs would go aboiit it with a feverish , slow , unineaaured step ; bnt if th » nafaon was to be coerced , whether in Canada nr in Ireland , there was a party in the cabinet , who exhibited untiring energy and activityi But when relief was to be afforded , oh ! they must proceel with the utmost " caution . They must have com . missioners , reports , and debates , session after se > sionvasto what Jneanaipr description ^ bf reU « f wit to be afforded to a starving people . ! Witness the poor laws in Ireland , ^ hefe would Be na chanw tot the better until the masses were ^ seiliu motiontul they were made acauainted with their n * n
strength . In Yorkshire and Lancashire they we » as one man- ; ^ Loud cheers . ) He hadiiraveUed ov » 2 , 000 niiles withia the last six monfibs . He had ' seen the soldiery intrude upon the ml itings of the people , and , as if . prepaijBd for better ! day ^ , even man stood xm ^ wed , ( Cheer 8 . y He : had told the soldiers to give , them notice ^ hen they would have a held day .. He told them that if they ^ were going to begin the wprk , of carriage tp give him tiime tpmnsfe ittas battolidn , and if ty ? p milhpns wereript SufficieDt nve ttiluona would stand up to dq !' ju 8 tice . ( Lond cheers . ); This fact he ? wished to brmg their mindj jtp ^ bear tipon . ; 'When he spoke of Yorkshire aid Lancashire , ' he ^ ^ tipoke of 3 , 400 , 000 of the ^ population , sendmg sixty Meimbersi to ^ ^ Parliament I to
misrenresent them . 'There were " there men whom the rite press , of Londonv hid designated as fibry madnieni Who would leadthe country ^ irito ruinland-warfare . fThere ^ were Stephens and Oastler —( cheers > -wlio for declaring ; that ^ he ; New ^ Poor ' ' Law shpuldriotb brought ? into operation- m-these counties , wert fookeduponaa incendiaries , and were spoken of M raomniending th 4 " people to ^^ te » ort to annsi- A piore ^ roBS libel bb the characterg- of men of tb » ^ ost sterh ^ g . werth- —( hear f hear ^ and loud cheraH could not be uttered , for he nadattended almost every nieeting ofimportance ^ attwbiei they ^^ had beeo , pw $ ent , and he dedAyed before . that asseiribly thatto riever heard them recornmend the use pfannjupo 0 occasion flfr
any *; ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) ' WJien recomTn ^ nded ' tfie ' useojf afmiihe wpuldlbear arnni ' ket at the : head bf the tieople hin ^ eh ' . ( Tretnendiiui cheers . ) Inthai ^ CTtidri r therefore , ^ heyhad the best ^ ossitjle ^ : gnararitee ' that" he would not recoip mendtheni rasrdy tpthSnse of arinB . ;; The mi ^ nent they resold to-arms-they would set all parties against each ; other ; ¦; ( Hearj ^ hear . ) Theyiad be » called bjthe editor of -The-, Morning ChrwMt ^ practicable fellows . / When 24 ^ 999 ^) pepple in tbe * kingdoms had no power , ; it must appear impractica Wetjb . at tw « j hundre d fihpidd have the / poweroj « oerjcingtiiein . Was itinotmeet and proper w the people , ^ hp ul d have theppwer Pf coritfolpf ? worui
mKuwn . ananrar , me oniy ^ prmcipie . w ^; ten . A ^ S for w as Universal Suffrage . He : baA \ m themyeaM ' andiyear ? ago that'ffousetiold Suflrage was put forward mefel y ^ a ' an anfidbte ] to Ui ^ 'ei ? " Sufrrage . : if tnej gave up ymversal Sunr » jre , Jn J ' would find that the riext day Hbtisehpld SpB ?? VQuld be buried in # ie game grave . . ^ hep fiDap of Universal Snflrage Was . worth living : for anidjiiii for ,: ( Lond cheers . ) , He :. was ; infav 6 i » of an fig * ditary monarchyj but be : Wpnld have s | responsible power , behind . the , , thrpne more powerful than tw throne itself . ^ ' - $ ia ^ Iieii . did : uiey , everjhave suok * batch of niinisteir ?; as the : present They had utt » Lord Jbh ^ arid I ^^ Hdwick , tod " th * great state * - manvLbi'd Palmerstpn , ai » dS&Jonn CaJn'Hobhoiisfc ah ^ a sti n 6 t ' 'le ^ ti ^ elhbWeeDeT ^ erieral of ^?
natiPii , Spring' Ribe . ' ( A ' -laugh . J / He never saw sueha boxof ^ ticifers ? Tne > 'WhigB had deoehed taegeDple . -tt the * Whigs'had tpld « 'Ae people tn » the Reform Bill was to be a imal nteasore , the peo * pie / w » aldih % veithro ( wni <) ut the flafomj Bill and the Whiga ^ tpgethesirii ( fcoaghand , . ^« t ii »» ed' ^ fie " ^ There wwnpusei hpyreve ^ intalking , about mor * i power , for . the , more . strpngly , lit had heen e ™*^* " thelessrit Iiadiaccpmpliislhedfgr / ithe ; people , T ^ p eople had' i ft thenoselwes Immerise moral PP ^' bnt it required to be t » iiuntQ , a ( jtU > fi . fcft thenvw » tHelr moral pbweTi ' ana nhe sabstiaiice Votrld fouw ' When- ¦ jfliejr Wfortyrnine delegates , ia ^ Xofadon , ** them attend tnem % the ^ ttnJbeT off 800 , 000 . ot 400 jOOO ; % ithiti i « 6 tiSpd on A ^^ ilMHaders to w * dPor iofHief'Hbnse of OoBtaaons ^ « nd let them teu ! K ¦ ' ¦ ¦ - ( Continued in * he > 7 ihpag * j
Untitled Article
6 THE NORTHERN STAB . " ¦ : i- v ^^* ^ il'lj
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 11, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1018/page/6/
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