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Northern Star (1837-1852), 1st June 1839, Edition 1 of 1, Page 8, Untitled Article

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    • MANCHESTER MEETING, Fkiday, May 24,
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      Untitled Article

      CHARTIST MEETING AND TEA-PAE . TY AT LEICESTER .

      { Abridged frosTtte ^ Leicesters / irrc Mercury . ) On Slonca-y morales ; , at nine o ' clock , the frKuds of the Charter assembled in Wharf-street , where they formed into a procession headed feytri-coioarc'd tanners and a band of music , the Marshals carryicp ¦ white WRnds , andmarchedoatonthe l . onghborough ' road for the purpose of meeting the del < guttv , w ! io shortly after arrived in aa open carriage . The cortege then proceeded along Bclgrave-cate . through the Ewt Gates into Hieh-street , and then by High-Cio ? s-stieou To-sa Hall-lane , Loscby-lane , Hotel-BtaeeUandMarketrStreet , to a p ieceof waste ground , enrrounded bv a wall . in B . ' lfoir-strt-et , at the ccroer of Alhloa-itreet , and the property of John Biggs , E = q .

      in wfcieh a hustings was erected . Mr . MarkhaK , who was received with cheer . * , ssid that , before the business of the met'ing was entered upon , there was a fecal matter to -which he ^ fished to direct their attes . rion . Aa crderbad been seat to the Soard of Gaariians from the Pcor Law Commissioners to cxclt-fie reporters , and tVms to prevent the public from obtaining a knowledge of their darfe deeds and atrocious raandates . He thought it right— as the Guardians kad Tesisted this interference , to thanfc them for the conrsa they bad adopted , hoping that they would proceed with their eppaition to the'Cernmissioners until the mandates of the latter became ef no effect . Mr . M . then moved the following resolution : — ** That the persons now a ^ mbled return their ¦ warmest thanW to the Guardians of the f , pi < v *! ter

      Union for the determined manner ia which they have resisted the order of the Poor Law Coaniissionersto exclude reporters from their meetings and thns to prevent the" public from knowing what is done ; and that they have full confidence in the . capacity of the Guardians elected by the ratepayers to manage the affairs of the Union without the interference of that despotic , arbitrary , and tmconstilntioEal body , the Poor Law -Commissioners . " Sir . Swats l > ri fly 9 ? aond " ed the motion observing thit the Guardians had nobly come forward to Tesistthe mandates of the irresponsiWe tyrants of Somerset Honse . Thfe -motion having been put , and nrisnimonsly agreed t « , Mr . Marl-ham was called to the chair .

      The Chairman , slier referring to the -evils under which , the poor ward groaning , and denouncing uon-Tepresentation a * the principal cause of those evils , proceeded—I fear no evil—because I mean to keep within the law , and that will disarm the tyrant ? who wish to pervert the law in order to oppress us . TLis course I recommend to you . Be ¦ calm , be di :--pa-= > -Son ; i * e , he orderly . Mr . M . then called on thejwlico , if th . y saw any man rnalusg a disturbance , to apprehend him , and he himself would prefer a charge against him 5 and concluded "by assuring 1 te meeting that the intentions of the Chartists wi-re to secure peace and plenty for every man . ( Cheer . * . )

      Mr . Cnow th ^ -n moved a reflation condemnatory of Sir Robert P « el's attempt to disturb the Ladies of the Queea' ? Bedchamber . Sir . Weeks seconded the resolution , wLich was carried anEnimonsly . Air Dceg . is . member of tie National Conveniien for Stuiybridg .-, who was received with thrre hearlv cheers , addr .-s * ed the afelicg as follows : — Jlen ' of Leicester , —The object for which you are assembled is to petition herMajesty todismi < s tho ; e mm frosa tier councils who have oppressed the people , and to call in those who understand theaflair * of the nation , wd who are determined to do justice to the people . Wh ? n yen look at the administration of Melbiurnc and Kussell , aud at the administrations -which have preceded them , yon can scarcely point ¦ out a single set which has bet-n parsed to better the

      condition of the p-ople ; therefore , it is your dut y to meet in hundreds of th « usai ; ds , to tell " her Majesty that you are discontented , because you are robbed of thejast reward of your labour—to ask her to dismiss the men who will plunge the country into confusion and revolutioa . It is your duty to tell her that she hes men about her who are dt-stroying life and property , and that if there ' u to be arming , it ought to t > e amongst the people of Great Britain , in order to prevent the Government and those they patronize from pursuing a course which will l- > ad to destruction . They are destroying lifa and property everyday . The government , and the corrupt institutions which they nurintnin , are destroying the peace , the welfare , and the happiness of die labonriog classes of England , Ireland , and Scotland . I wis ' . i you to bear in mind that yr . n mnst prrsprve ppace , and obey the

      laws . I mention tins , bec ^ u ^ e , while I always have recommended , now recommend , and always shall recommend th ^ people to possess such anus as the government put into the hands of the military ; at the same time it is important that we should impress upon yon tte necessity of preserving peace ; and tons givirjg our tyrants no pretence for slaughtering the people as they did at Peterloo . ( Hear , hear . ) When we look into the history of England , we find that King Jam"s II . abdicated the throne , and the Prince of Orange was called to occupy it . How ¦ was James compelled to abdicate—to res- ' gn his throne ? and who called in th « Prince of Orange ? Why , it was what was termed in those days a National Convention , assembled in London . And I beg of yon to rt present to her Mpjesty that it inay happen in her days—though I hope it never

      willjet it may happen , even in her days , that another Convention—if the Queen dot-s not dismiss her advisers— auotler Convention may be compelled to remove those men . ( Loud cheers . ) I wish , on this occasion , while addressing you , to desist from what we are accused of by our enemies—the use of all -violent and inflammatory language . I wish t 3 shew y on the necessity of such a referm , in order , that the working classes may have " a fair day's pay for a fair day's work . " That is the object which we srek . Our enemies say that we are fsr destroying life and property . They talk about life and property . Who are destroywg tens of thousands in the cotton factories ? ( Hear . ) Whj are compelling women and tender babes to procure the means of subsistence in the ccttoa factories—to be nipt in the bnd , to be

      sacrificed at the shrine of Moloeh ? TLey are the richthe capitalists—who , when yon are nnable to work , send yeu to the poor-honse ; who are sending hundreds of thousands of you every year to the grave , for the want of good food , and clothing , and comfortable cottages . ( Hear , hear . ) The unjust laws vhich give power to men of wealth , to tyrannise over yon and rob you , are constantly destroying life and property ; and it is the daty of all good and honest men , of all Christians , to unite to prevent that Government from destroying life and property any longer . ( Loud cheers . ) Talk of destroying property ! They are destroying property every jear , by keeping bands of soldiers and police ; for vte should have no need of them bnt for the cruel and tyrannical laws which the Government pasieg . / Hear . ) If the Government did its duty to the

      people , it would immediately set those soldiors and police to work , and create property . They are doing nothing useful ; they are destroying the property yon create—property which the Government robsybaof . ( Hear , hear hear , and loud cheers . ) && the evils yoa suffer , in a great degree , originate -with tie Government . It is for the purpose of endearouring to remove that Government that -we are met to-day , therefore , let your voice * be heard so tremendously as to force the Queen to dismiss those men—who are traitors to the people- and to the living -God . No man can be a good mas who supports the present system . It is a system of robbery and murder . They are robbing you every day . Everything you ccnsnme , everything yon put on , everything tiat you have anything to do with , is taxed by the Government—and what for ? For the

      Benefit ef the people ? ( No , no . ) It is to give Lord John Rnssell his £ 8000 a year . ( Hear , hear . ) It xp to give Queen Adelaide her £ 100 . 000 a year . ( Hear . ) Itis to give Queen Victoria her £ 300 , 000 or £ 400 , 000 a jear—ta give her one hundred and -thirteen most honourable privy councillors—most notorious robbers —( loud cheers)— £ ( 358 , 000 a year . ( Shame . ) If you were acquainted with the manner in which ycur money is disposed of , I am satisfied yoa would not allow such a system to contiaue . I atk those in comparatively good ciictmsiancesto aid ¦ as . I ask the rich and the p oor to unite to prevent bloodshed asd revolBtion —( hear , )—and if such iMage do occur the fault will be with the Government . It is impossible for the people to tear their sufferings mnch longer . It is impoiable for yoa always to be . leaving your homes to attend the se

      meetings , reur blood will boil , and your feelings ¦ will impel you to destroy the present system . ( Cheers . ) We are paying from the taxes no less than £ 30 , 000 , 000 a jvar as interest for the national debt . We never contracted that debt . The Whigs and Tories contracted it for the purpose of suppressing liber tyabroad . andRadicalism at home . ( Hear . ) I teU the capitalists that they had better mind what they are about—that they had better do justice and lore mercy—and do it quickl y , or it may be too late . They may do it now -with a good grace —( a vcice , " hardly" )—bnt if they do not , we may perhaps get principal and interest too . We are now abent to petition her . Majesty , thocgh not individually , for the people never mean to petition again , except in a way that will not be subjected to the flimsy and

      shallow sophistries of Lord John Russell . And yet Berer give up the right of petitioning . It is an ancient rijrhr , and de not give it up . Bnt you must do BometLing more to make vonr petitions effectual . Oar petitions have no effect " upon the Government at present . They will not even give ns a patient Leering ; bnt if we complain , they represent us as a set of unruly , dissatisfied blackguards , who are bent cm thp destrection of prcpeny . Yon know the faleehooi of the charge . Thure is not a more patient , attentive , and indnstrioca people in the -world than we are . I can fay confidently that all lint Englishmen want is a cottage clean and comfon&blr . some good furniture , good bedding , a good eoic of clothre , and not to see their wives going down into ihe coal-pits , and not only working there , l } Bt Wing polluted by- the lick-spittles who are

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      p laced over them in the factories and ccal-pits . I s-ish the time would allow me to detail some of the ¦ 'n-. rmities which are , perpetrated in these plftces . (•* Go on ; let ' s have a little . ") The object of the . oeetiiis is p . ot to expose the factory system , or the < ni ! s of the Poor Law . If trmt were to be done , it wonld cause a revolution immediately —( hear)—but , whatever may happen , the Govemnssnt deserve all lhat lhey can be made to suffer . I heva referred to ihe military , and their u-elessoess ; but they had better be working for 16 s . a-week than be ready to rut the throats of their neighbour ;! for 13 J , a-day . But there are hospitals atChekea and Greenwich , for iufirm and disabled soldiers and sailon 1 , where ( hey have everything they wrint . These men , while they vrere able to work , received what was thought an adequate remoiieration . Yet the soldier or the

      sailor , when he was incapacitated from exertion , gets a pension or a home . Now , how does Government treat the labouring man ? If bis leg is taken iff , who gives him anytbiffig ? Does the Government prepare a place for him ? Yes , they send aim to the bastifes , which areeiegant-looking buildings , butdismal placssinside . I was telling agentltfnau with whom I was talking about them on the coach last night , and I told him I should like to pull them dewn . He said , ""Oh ! the people in them . ire happy , —they never complain . ' Why don ' t they cemplain ? Because they are like the children in the factories , who , when they are beaten , if they should tell their pwents are beaten again . ( Heat , hear . ) They £ 0 not complain about the- " skilly , " and the gruel , and the rusty bacon- < A voice , rosih iucj iui

      ' Ana me . '}—ueunuoc auu » < luuugu they nava little enough now , tbey would then have less . ( Hear . ) I « ighlcculdinspectthesn : all . I know I could find as many comyVrinls to lay before Lord John Russell as would takeJ ^ im till doomsday to to examine . Many of you ^ re kept from joining us because roiir fmast ^ s tyrannically deprive you of thut privikgoif If there arejtfiiy masters hert ' , 1 wonld not Efbnsejthem . I woalfflfeason with thrm , and say to thea " How can yof aspect your men to be quiet ano / fttisfied , while y& refuse to item the privileges ; you claim for ya | Tselves T" Your masters go to iny church or chnpll they like ; they join * any association they like . ; Aiey " spend their money astLeylihe : and you neveH&ink of

      interfering with them . Yet these very men , who call themselves enlightened and educated , who profess to be brimful of religion , and to be guided by the precepts of Christianity , who pull long laces , nnd wto make long prayers—if any of yon . join a Radical Association , will tum you awa- frW their employment , and net only do that , But prevent yon from getting employment anywhere else . ( Shame . ) If there was a Radical Reform in the House of Commons , weslio-nU alter this ; I woVid have a . law maile to punish any man who shcild interfere with the rights and privileges which -God has given his creatures . God has given you mind s and reasoniiig faculties , but you are prevented from exercising them for the benefit of yourselves and of your country . God has given you these povrer . s and why should any puny creature , why should man , who is

      no more in the sight ot God than a worm , interfere with their exercise ? Why should any one attempt to -wrest from y * 2 the powers which God has gjvt-n you ? ( Hear , hyar . ) Yoa musiput onabold front : " It will b-3 in vaiu to expect any goad from the Convention , unless you are determined to help y : or-.- elves . Don ' t treat your masters disrespectful ; y— I do rot couEtenanca impertinence—but I woiJc reason with them , I would tot be a cringing or a willing slave . In conclusion , te resolved thst you will have yourjnst rithis—that if you cannot obtain them by n-agon and by argument , you will obtain them forcibly ; that , while the rich have their palaces , their mansions , their gerdrns , and their

      fields , whila they wear snperhue clothing and thiir wives dress in silks and satin?—that wMle they have all this , the poor man may have a decent coat , his wife may have a decent cap and gown , his children may have shoes and stockings to wear , and he m > iy have good furniture , and good bedding . ( Heat , hear . ) fhe pcor are wilbng to labour hard ii they can obtain these , comforts , bat they will not endure excessive toil if they cannot procure sn adequate subsistence , ncdif , after they are in capable of workine , they are to be thrust into th ^ se dismal , damnable dungeons , which the base , bloody , and brutal Whigs have prepared for them . ( Three rounds of app ausf . )

      Air . Burden moved the second resolution , which was as follows : — " That while thismeetingexpresjesirs admiration of the cocdurtof her Mcje- 'tr in discarding the faction who wonld have made her a prisoner in her own palace , it would respectfully recommend to her Majesty t ' 'e necessity of calling to tr . T council .-sucii men ot-ly as will promote the passing of that great n ^ Rsure the People's Charter which is alone calculated to prevent any faction from infringing on the prerogative of the Sovereign or the liberty of the subject , and sufficient to secure the permanence 0 ' her government nnd the happiness of ber people . " Mr . J . Wixdlet seconded the resolution . Air . Smart ( Delegate to the Convention for Longhborocgh and Leicester . ) in supporting the resolution , said that he and his colleagues had come

      among them to ask whether they approved of the course which the Convention had adopted—whether they were willing to continue their confidence in them during that eventful crisis which was arriving , and - ^ hich would b . ' bnt the beginning of the end He wished them to remember that they were the only true and veritable representatives of the people , and if they were at the post of duty , they should be also at the post of danger . It was rather curious that the Radicals and Whigs in Leicesti r should both have a meeting in the same week , and both for the purpose df addressing her Majesty . Bnt they would address her in different ways , The Whi g * would throw a little " soft sawder" over her , and thank her for taking the Whig Ministry into cilice again ; the Radicals would request her to throw the Tories to the right , and the WLigB to the lelt , and

      to take honest men into her councils . ( Hear . ) You have seen two men travelling by means of what they call " ride and tie" on one horse . One rides a certain distance , and then dismounts , and tits the horse to a gate , and when the "other comes up he rides the some distance , and then gets ofl " , and so on . So itis with the Whigs and Tories . For more than 200 years have they ridden in this way , and you are the horse , or rather the ass . ( Hear . ) I don ' t know how you feel , bnt rny shoulders are sore with bearing them , and my sides with the pricking of their spurs . When we have forwarded our petition to the Queen , it will meet with the same fate as ihu National Petition . That will not be attended to in the House of Commons . Yon will never succeed , as Mr . Deegan his told yon , until you take your affairs into your own Land * . Yon have heard the fable of Hercules . He undertook to cleanse on t the filth from the stable of King Auges , in which stood

      30 , 000 oxen , and which had not been cleaned for twenty years . The Tory would have said to him , as he looked at the vast quantity ef filth , " You mnst not touch a bit of it : it is old , it is sacred . If yon carry out one morsel you will endanger the stability of the whole building . " The Whig would Lave said , " There are a few bnmps and inequalities which look unsightly . Those you may remove ; but you must not meddle with the mass . " ( Hear , near . ) Now Hercules was a Radical , and so _ he turned through the stable the ^ course of a neighbouring river , end cleansed it " out at one tell swoop . ( Cheers . ) Now we may suppose this Augean stable to be the two Houses of Parliament , with all the accumulated fifth of one hundred and twenty years . For the Hercules we will take the National Convention . Then all we want is the river to turn through the stable . That must be comprised of the operatives , and you at Leicester must form a part . 1 hey must come from the north and from the south , froni the ( ast and from fhe west—the torrent znus

      beponred through , and the building renderea clean nntt fit for fresh occupant * , for better and honester men . ( A voice , " You ' re a good old chap . ") You must go on unitedly in your own strength . Neither be led away by the threats of the Tories , nor by the sophistries of the Whigs . Both are your enemies . If they promise yon any extension of the suffrage , they will modify it a < they did the Reform Bill , by some wily enactment . Let your cry be Universal Suffrage and no surrender . If you are too ignorant to vote , you are not too ignorant to fight when kings fall out and send you to beshot at 13 d . a day ,

      to settle their vi ] e disputes . I conjure you , if you love your families , if you are concerned not enly for your own welfare bnt for theirs , and that o ! generations yet to come—to go on in your great cause , and God , who brought bis chosen people out of Egypt will help yon—you will go on nrosperonslyand under all circumstances you will be sustained by the conscious rectitude of yonr intentions . — ( Cheers . ) , , The resolution having been unanimously agreec to , Mr . Bowman moved the memorial , and stated that Mr . F . O'Connor would present it to the Queen , having declared that he would pay £ 50 for a court drew for that purpose .

      The address wns seconded by Alx- J . oea-i , and carried unanimously . Mr . Skevix ' gtos , delegate to the Convention from Looghboroogh , said he was proud to appear amongst them , because it would give the he to the calumnies of the enemies of freedom . Some of the supporters of the present system had circulated a report that himself and his colleague , Mr . Smart , were in Warwick gaol . ' He should neverTorget their disappointed countenances , and blue visages , when he on Friday last , nroudly walked through Loughbro '

      streets . Since then , it had been said that Hams , one of the Longhborocgh police , would have him before Monday ; but though he had seen him since he did not fear . After referring to the disappointment caused by the Reform Bill , the desertion of the people by their former leaders , and the unwilliDgness of profrssed Reformers to advance , because they were enjoying every comfort , and did not feel the miseries to which the poor were exposed , —Mr . Sfcevingtnn exhorted the people to support the Convention in their efforts , observing that the aristocracy wished to sot discord among them , as they began to

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      feel now that there was something the matter , that there was a screw loose . The Jamaica Bill had been the pretext for the resignation of Ministers ; but it was remarkable that they resigned on the very day on which the National Petition was taken to Mr Attwood for presentation . If they allowed a bit of paper with names on it to frighten them , would not the men who had signed it akrm them ? They would perhaps propose Household Suffrage , or the Ballot , but their schemes would end in smoke . Let the working classes go on ngitating for the Charter , and be satisfied with nothing short of Universal Suffrage . Mr . Skevingtoa then related the wellknown anecdote of Dr . Franklin and the Voting Jncka-s ; and having eulogised Mr . O'Connor , concluded amidst three cheer * . Mr , J . C . Simmons moved and briefly enforced thu following resolution :

      " That this meeting is of opinion that the "Convention of the industrious clus . » esis entitled to the confidence of the working classes generally , and this meeting pledged itself to render them ail the support in their power . " Mr . J . Weston seconded the motion which was curried unanimously . Mr . Woodhouse , of Nottingham , who had enly a short time before arrived , then addressed the meeting at some length . Mr . Swain wouldmove the thanks of the meeting to John Biggs , E > q ., for the use of the ground . Mr . J . Seal seconded the motion . The Chairman ; in putting it to the meeting , confirmed what Mr . Swain had said with regard to the kind and courteous manner in which they had been received by Mr . Biggs . The motion was carried unanimously . A vote of thanks to theCinirman was then moved by Mr . Weston , seconded by Mr . Simmons , and carried Enanimously . The Chairman having replied , the meeting broke up .

      In accordance with the arrangements of the day , upwards ot 200 individuals , male and female , nas < . 'inbleJ in the Town Hell at five o ' clock in the afternoon , for the purpose of refreshing themselves with a cup of tea , the ' Mayor having kindly allowed the use oi ' the Hall for the occasion . The management uud arrangements were entrusted to Mr . Mellt-rs and Mr . Crow , and were made on a scale sufu . 'ient to have accommodated more , there being no lack ot plum-cake , the finest Hyson , or the . strongest Gunpowder . After each had been satisfied with the repast provided , and the crockery had been cleared from tha table . * , Mr . Markhtim , who presided as chairman on the occasion , addressed the meeting at seme length , ( the Hall haviug been thrown open for the admission of strangers , ) observing that on no former occasion had he witnessed so exhilarating a scent- —the presence and the smiles of tbe ladies

      giving a charactf-r and a ieehug to the meeting which it was difiicolt to describe ; he urged upon all the necessity of a striet observance of the social and moral duties of life , as particularly calculated to promote the great cause in which tliey were engaged , and strongly pressed tbe females to lend tlu-ir aid , assuring th 5 in that it was nfics ^ ary to complete ssucce <> .- - , nothing , in his opinion , being able to effect so much in the art of persuasion as the " silver tongue of lovely woman . " Tiie several delegates from the Convention also delivered addresses on the state of the country and the aspect of political affairs , more especially Mr . Det-gnn , tho delegate from Stalyhndge , who dre * a heart-rending picture of the misery nnd destitution existing among the handlcoin . weavers , urging that a great and fearful judgment awaitei the Government which could permit such extreme distress to exist without ac effort to

      relieve it . The chairman ani delegates retired about ( en o ' clock , ( thanks having bsen voted to the Mayor lor the use of the Hall . ) when the meeting broke up , the utmost order acd good humour having been preserved throughout the entire evening . Tie only refreshment allowed in tbe Hall after tea was that of oranges , which were much in request , the room being very warm and crowded . This may be considered a new feature in political meetings , and is an example of temperance and sobriety worthy of general imitation .

      A quantity of cake and other necpssarfos being lelt on hand , a party of nearly seventy ( principally ieinale . s ) sat down to tea in the large room , All Saints' Optn , en Wednesday evening , when the addresses of the difi ' erent > peakers at the previous meeting became the subject ot conversation , many of the kdiw evincing an anxiety to assist in the present politijal agitation , and it was ultimately agreed to hold a meeting on Monday evening n > xc for tho purpose of forming a Pemale Political Association .

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      ¦ inne . anatUinptWfeg fimt raade upon the territorial poMessions of the people . At that tim « theie were 11 VMt nomtwr uf common lanUs-not wild waste * , lut fertile corn-growing commons-on which the poor man raised fan comforts and necessaries , and evary one was contented ana happy . In the reisn of Queen Anno , the first Inclosuw Bill w » s . passed , which tock 1 . 43 P acres of common land Irom the jicople ; in tbatof Georue I ., 16 acts were ! passed ; in that of . Ueorge II ., m actsTwero pasVd for enclosing 318 , 0 ( 0 acrca ; in-that of George 111 . ' , » 6 less than 3 , 800 uct 3 were passed , and upwwds nf three millions uf acres enclosed . The spoils of Ow poor we n Klnped upon the rich . When the poor ;» . »>« , « U cultivate as much ground as he p ' . eased , he cared but little about wages ; now tho rich man had obtairud all the and , and gave tb » labourer just what he pleased . Rxwtly in proportion as the common lands had been taken from the Veoplo , had the people full ™ back on the poor s-ratca . ( Hear , hear , hear . / In U 8 S , the p oorV-ailM were * 1 912 , 241 ; in 1820 , they were j « 7 , 320 , » 94 . The people had heen entireW desDniled of their common rights , and

      yet thev were ( old that th « y were eating up the «»«« ' » ' " « r . ch . Good God ! was it not the fact that the rich had teen mating up the estates of tho pnor . Was it list true that tho commons ol tho pojrhad been walled into parks and pleasure grounds , and gardens and fields , yielding all the profit » no hleatnre to the rich ? And yet they were told that the poor had no claim for assistance from the rich . E ^ en Parson Malthus preached tliia doctrine ; and yet the rich took away all the property of the poer . Why if the rich would give the people the Crown > lands and thfi Church-lands and the Common-lands , the people would not ask the rich for support . ( Cheers . ) That peasantry , however , which , in ilv ' i was England ' s'bulwark and England ' s pride , was now England ' s iliagroce . Englishmen were now honoured by every other Government in the world but despised by their own . The people of England were degraded and insulted in ( he Ponse of Commons and House of Lords . Even Brougham , the very man who strode Radical rampant from Edinburgh to St . Stephens , told them that they were too ignorant ana debased to be entrusted with the management of their own parochial

      affairs . What , after the establishment of Sunday schools , educational boards , and mecha : iic ' a institutions , wera they to be told that the people et England were an idle , dissolute , criminal people ? Yet Brougham was not far from being right after all . Kor in 1792 there were only 43 gaols in Enghnd , now there wore above 142 . Crime and education had increased together , and lunatic asylums had kept pace with both . And what was the cause of this increase of crime and insanity ?—what but the misery of the people , occasioned by debt , the tares , and the paper money ? There must be a change , and that change must be a return to the Constitution . He asked—bad the Radical Reformers , who asked for Annual Parliaments , Vote by Ballot , an ;} Universal Suffrage , a right to those things ? If the reply was ' -no , they had no rL'ht , " ret those who made that raply , man the army and navy , let them def-nl their country , and do tbe work , and tho people of England could goto soino other conntry , whero their ri g hts would not be disregarded . It lud always been his opinion that the elective franchise was a trmt , and he hoped that ( hose who now held it , would , while they pos .

      sessed it exclusively , use it on behalf of those who did not posae-sn it . Mr . R . then observed that he never saw an assembly of men who conducted themselves with more decorum , or more as friimdsof enlightened discussion than the one which : he had now the honour to address ; and he hoped it wenid go . forth that tbe people of Brighton could meet in public without violence , csmmotion , or riot , to deliberate on what wasbest to be done for the rescue of their country . Something must he (' . one , or their whole social fabric would tumble to theground . Government might hurry on thn thing , even tillneither Universal nor any thing alae wonld bo of any avail . Mr . Richardson in concluding his addrtw , expresied a hops that the erisis would be averted peaceably and without the shedding of blood , and thanked the meeting for the attention with which they had listened to his remarka . TheCiMiRJMN tlunput thomotinn which was carried nnanimouuly carried amidstlondcheers . Mr . SUTTON then moved that the High Constable be requested to charge the expenses of the meeting in hia accounts .

      Mr C . F . C . BARNS secomlftd , and the motion being put from tlii ! chair was also carried unanimously . Mr . WOOD WARP moved , and Mr . FlESTseconded , a vot ; of thanks to the two delcgateawho had so ablv ad 4 r rascally fellows ( order ) who hadgone before the magistrates , and said the Chartist wi-re aset ¦ if riotous in-lividiiuls . And he hoped that antiquated old ladyt the Brighton // er « W , vi'ould this day pay them proper respect ,, and nut indulge in misrepresentation . Afr . Dt' . AN , in returning thanks , said the people of tho north were determined to have the " tVopie ' a Charter , " peaceably , if possible , and without a contest ; . hut if the powers tlia t bo should break the law and enmmtntion against the .-u , they ( thopeople of thuNerth ) would up and defend the law , the constitution , an 4 themselves . ( Cheors . ) If they would only act determinedly , no power on earth conld lnng withhold irom them their just and constitutional riohts .

      Mr . RICHARDSON also returned thanks . He said that after all the imaginary dangers that had been alluded to he did not suppose there was one of thirn had got so mush as an empty pnwdor il isk -about them . ( Laughter . ) Hb was happy t / t find thi ! High Constable nf the town presiding over them j itprevented their running riot , and getting into ' strange sayings . It was too , a much more economical mode of conducting meetings , for he understood that the expense of the preparations of the MagistraUa at Manchester amounted at every meeting tejc * 500 , in calling out the military , swearing special constables , plaiitinjf artillery , &o . Mr . 6 ood proposed a vote of thanka to the High . Constv blc , for hU excellent conduct in the chair that day . His ( Mr . Good ' s ) day ' s work was done betbre he came there ; and much trouble he had had to calm the fears of some old ladies , and some old gentlemen who had become old ladies , at the idea of a Chartist meeting being held in Brighton . He really believed some of them thought they were sitting on squibs and crackers whilst in his shop , so uneasy did tney seem . Tlif High Constables , a conservator of the peace , had a difficult task to perform , with regard to this meeting ; but be as well as the magistrates , were eotislied with his ( Mr . Good ' s ) assurance that the meeting would be a peaceable one .

      Mr . REEVE seconded the resolution , which was carried by acclamation , followed by nine cheers for the Chairman ,, and the same . number for the success of the Charter . The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the compliment paid him , and the meeting separated .

      Untitled Article

      ( Concluded from our lasi . ) This was truly a glorious day ; the race ground presented something like its former appearance , there being at least four times the number of people present as on either of the two former days . The country towns contributed largely ta the company . The sports commenced with—The BROUGHTON STAKES of 15 sovs each , 5 ft , with 25 added . St . Leger Course . 12 subs . Mr Meiklam ' a br g , Wee Willie S Templeman 1 1 ftJr Walker ' s ch c , Sir flfark 2 ' 2 to 1 on Wee Willio . Wen in a canter .

      The Tradesman ' s Cup , valne 100 sovs , with 60 sovs in Bpecie , added to a Sweepstakes ef 20 aovs each , h ft .. Two miles and a distance . 24 subscribers , 9 of whom paid onl y 5 sovs each . Sir T Stanley ' s be Gasparoni Cartwrieht 1 Lord Eglington ' s b f Bellona T Lye 2 Lord Westminster ' s ch c Sir Ral ph Holines 3 Mr Meiklam ' s b m Modesty 4 Mr Philips ' s ch m Th « Maid of Monton ...... 5 Mr G Cook ' s brh Red Rover fi 5 te 4 on Gasparoni , 7 to 2 agst Sir Ralph , 7 to 1 acsfc Bellona , 9 to 1 agst Motleity , 10 to 1 agst Maid of Monton , and 12 to 1 agst Red Rover . Modesty took the lead at starting , followed b y ( iaspanni , Bellona third , Rtd Rover fourth , and Sir Ralph elogu at hand . On coming home the last time round , Gasparopi changed places with Mudesty , and led them , on . When within about fifty yards of the winning-post ,. Bdlona made a . tremendous rush , but it was too fate to overtake the winner , and Gasparoni came in half-a-head before her . It was a spirited and well-contested race .

      SIXTY POUNDS , for horses of all ages . Heats , two miles and a . distance . The second reeeired ji' 10 . Lord Kglington ' s b g Potentate T Lye 1 1 Mr Barrow ' s b m Catharina 2 d Sir J BosweH ' a b f Anna Maria 3 d

      5 to 4 on The Potentate . Won easj . SATURDAY , MAY 25 . SlVEEPSTAKESof 3 eovseach , with a handsome Silver Cup added , lor ponies not exceeding 14 hands high . Heats , one mile and a distance . Mr Jones's bay pony Cupid ... W Junes 4 11 Mr James Longshaw names dun pony Wagtail 14 2 Mr J Barrow ' s bay pony Lady 2 2 3 Mr Woodward ' s pony Rat-tail , aged 3 8 4 TROTTING Race . —Sweepstakes of 10 aovs each , with 100 sovs added , lor trotting horses of all ages . Two mileheats . The second to save his stake .

      Mr Batty '» br h Alexander .......... Smith 1 1 Mr Massey ' s roan h Jack . - 4 2 Air Jamos Lanishaw ' s bl h The Unknown ... . 23 Mr Chester ' s ch ' the Bald-faced Cob 3 4 Mr J Corns ' n bm Miss Morgan dig . Hurdle Sweepstakes of 5 soverei gns each , with 4 ft sovereigns added . The hurdles to be lour feet high ; and . to have three leaps in each rouud . Heats twice round . Mr Stepheiison ' sch g True Bluo , „„ .,. Barker 1 1 Mr Hobsun s Kubin Adair -. ..., « ,,,,.,,,,,,, ' £ 2 Mr Korrest ' s b m Maid of the Kails "V 3 3 Mr Blackahaw's Dust Pan 0 d

      ASCOT RACES . Tuesday , May 28 . The ASCOT Stakes of 25 sova eaoh , 15 ft ., and only five if declared < fcc , the g ^ coRu to receive fifty sovs out oJ the Stakes , with too added . Two miles and a half . Mr Fortle ' s f by Merchant . Turquoise 1 Mr V . Dol phin ' s The Skater 2 Mr Dixon ' a HylluB 3 Twelve ran . Tho Queen ' s Plate . Captain Pettit ' s St . Francis 1 Lord Westminster ' s Sleight of Hand » a Lord Albermarle ' s Domino & ¦ Grey filomus and fuurothors ran . The Ascot Derhy Stakes of SO sovn each , h ft . From the Swiuley i \* t , in . Mr W . Ridsdale ' sBloomsbuty I Lord Licliliild ' s ThcCersair 1 ' Lord Exeter ' s Macremma ....,.. > . ¦ .,,..,. $ Won by half a length .

      Untitled Article

      Leeds : —Printed for the Proprietor , FEARGUS O'CONNOR , Esq ., of Hammerrtmith , County Middlesex , by JOSHUA HQBSON , at his Printing Offices , Nos . 12 and 13 , Market Street , Briggate ; and Published by the said Jo . hba Hobson , ( for the said Fmrusus O'Connor , ) at Ms Dwelling-house , No . 5 , Market-street , Briggate ; an internal Communication existing between the said No , o , Market Street , and the said Nds . 12 , and 13 , Market Street , Briggate ; thus constituting tha whole of the said Printing and Publishing Oflice one Premises . All ComnvmicationB must be addressed , ( Postpaid , ) to J . Hobson , Northern Star Office , Leeds . ( Saturday , June 1 st , 1639 . )

      Untitled Article

      GREAT MEETING AT BRIGHTON . ( Abridgedfrom the Brighton Patriot . ) The Hi g h Constable in the chair . A public meeting of the inhabitants of Brig hton and Hundred of \ Vhalesbone was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday lr . st , " for the purpose of considering the propriety of addressing che Queen in the present eriiical state of political affairs ; and in such address to impress upon the mind of her Majesty ( ho necessity of calling to her council men of constitutional principles , whose every effort should be characterised by a love of justice and humanity , and a determination te protect the inalienable rights of the poor . " At two o ' clock , the hoar appointed for the meeting , on tbe motion of Mr . Mott , the High Constable was unanimously called to the chair .

      The High Constable then rose and said—I have called this meeting , fellow-townsmen , in compliance with a numerously-signed requisition ; and though I cannot but be aware that this meeting in composed chiefly of persons calling themselves " Chartists "—( hear , hear )—and I am sure that every person , prcse : it will regret with me , that any tumultuous proceedings should have occurred with the " Chartists "—yet from the constitutional terms in which the requisition is couched , I feel I may safely rely on tin- right feeling and discretion of you , my fellow-townsmen , and of all who may this day address tbe chair , that nothing disloyal or illegal will take place . To this remark I will only add that it is my wish that every person , whatever his political creed may he , may have an opportunity of expressing his opinion ; and I conceive that in no place can he so properly do so , as at a meeting like thi . « , called and presided over by one eleeted by

      yourselves , as the chief conservator of the peace of this town— ( cheer *)— where it must ever be renumbered , that one great cause of complaint among our fellowcountrymen—I mean the New Poor Law—has not been introduced . ( Loud applauje . ) Itwasbutlast week , that two Guardians of Essex went over our workhouse , with which they were so much delighted that they expressed an opiDioa that there was not its equal in the kingdom . ( Cheers . ) Every Brightonian ought to feel proud at having taken the lead in providing a comfortable home foi those who , in in their old age , were unable to provide one for themselves . I believe also that two strangers , who will address you to-day , have visited the house . I have n w only to request that a patient and attentive hearing wfll be given to all who may address you , and that you will all remember that this is not a hole-and-corner meeting , but a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Brighton . ( Loud cheering . )

      Mr . W . E . Mott calleJ on the meeting not to suffer themselves to be led away by the supposition that anj particular measure would & ive them relief ; denounced the New Poor Law as an iniquitous measure ; said he was not a Chartist , nor a Tory , nor a "Whig , nor a Radical , but an honest Reformer ( laughter)—having for thirty years advocated such a Reform as would restore the people their legitimate influence in the House of Commons , Mr . Good said Mr . Mbtt had told them he was not a Chartist . They all knew that ; but he ( Mr . Good ) did not fear to tell them that he was a determined Chartist . ( Loud eheers . ) He didn't doubt Mr . Mott's sincerity , and he toped Mr . Mott did ' nt doubt the sincerity of the Chartists .

      Mr . Sandy then rose to propose the first resolatioE , and handing the resolution with the address annexed to the Vestry Clerk , requested , that gentleman to read them prior to his making a few observations thereon . Mr . Clarke accordingly read tbe resolution and address . Mr . Sandy said , we are told that a faction in the State bad dared to insult her Majesty ; now he trusted there was not a man in existence more ready than himself to resent any insult which should be offered to his Queen—but he would ask , if one faction had insulted the Queen , had not another trampled on the rights and liberties of the people P Yes , a faction with liberty on its lips , but with tyranny in its heart , had attempted to stifle public opinion—a faction , which having already made the petitioning of the Legislature almost a farce , now issued proclamation . ' denouncing the public meetings

      of tbe people . Yes , having sent their " Popays " and police spies throughout the conntry , they at length issued a manifesto declaring it to be their intention to arm one class of the people against another . Did not ray Lord John Russell , at Liverpool , declare that he was ever anxious to see the people give public expression to their sentimentsyet be took the earliest opportunity of putting a stop to such meetings as soon as he found public opinion wa ? decidedly opposed to him . Have we not seen the working classes arrested , and held to excessive bail for drilling themselves without arms although fencing academies aud professional men are existing in ihis and every other town for the purpose of drilling young gentlemen , and now my Lord Joha hvd issued a manifesto— -not to the honest and industrious artisans , —who might not be enabled to purchase arms to repel the aggressions of the enemies of their

      country . —but t o the respeetaUle men , —yes , to the factory lords , the pawnbrokers , the gambling-house and brothel-keepers , to the adulterators of the food , co the poisoneru of the beveragepb the conupters of the morals of the people , yesj to any , and all those who can in any way become the accumulator . - ; of properly , however infamous may be their conduct . My Lord John has in the first p lace declared them to be the only fit and proper persons to be entrusted with the franchise , and he now declares that if they will form themselves into associations for the purp ose he will , at tbe public expence , supply them with arm * , in order that they may keep the supplicating industrious classes in subjection . Truly has it been

      often said that with some men history is but as an old almanack , and surely my Lord John must consider that hictory is hat an old almanack ; or he must have known that it was condact such as this which first raised the cry that ultimately resounded from end to end of France— " Peace to the cottage , destitution to the mansion . " He , ( Mr . S . ) hoped and trusted that no deadly conflict would be produced by any party or faction in the country , but if it was not to be avoided , if there was uo middle course left , theH he declared that his whole energies , bodily and mental , should be devoted to the cause of his Queen and his country ; to the cause of humanity and justice ; and he would only say in conclusion , may God defend the right . ( Loud cheers . )

      " Mr . Flowers , in a brief but energetic speech , in which he called on the middle classes' to come forward and assist the industrious classes to obtain their rights , as the latter once assisted tbe former , seconded the resolution . Mr . Dean , a delegate to the General Convention of the Working Classes , then came forward and was loudly cheered . He dwelt with much force on the destitute condition of the hand-loom weavers in the north of England , and drew a melancholy piciure of their helpless condition . He accused the Government of conniving with the upholder * of the system , instead of exerting itself to better the condition of the great bulk of the people . The Charter contained the only principles which would g ive security to life and property ; and he heartily supported the motion for an address to Her Majesty .

      Mr . Richardson then rose , amidst loud cheers . The constitution , he said , which they were called on to admire , said that every man had an inalienable right to the soil which gave him birth , and if so , he surely had a right to epeak . In most parts of the kingdom , however , there was a disposition shown by mm . endowed with " a lictle brief authority , " prevent a Radical from addressing la-ge meetings , a disposition to which the conduet of the High Constable of Brighton formed an houourable exception —( hear , hear ) . The power which elected the magistrates ought to be vested in the people ; as was the ease with the Chairman , win , had proudly boasted that be directly received his authority ^ from the inhabitants—( cheers ) . Having been greatly

      malignod by the press , —whom he forgave , sremg that they were paid for it—he ( Mr . Richardson ) might , perhaps , be permitted to say a fear words relative to himself . He was not a paid political advocate , perambulating the country to excite the peopk- to disaffection ; he was an elector of ths township of Salford in the county of Lancaster , and a freeholder of the same county ; and he held a station in society which enabled him to employ his time and his humble talents in endeavouring to ameliorate the condition of the people , by making them acquaioted with thtir duties to their neig hbours and themselves . The requisition stated that the meeting was called to consider the present critical state of

      political affairs in ths country . Heaven only knew what was reserved for thtm ; but God forbid that they should ever be p laced in a worse situation than their present one ! They were called on to address the Queen , to call to ber council men of sound constitutional princi p les . He was a constitutional Radical Reformer . ( Hear and laughter . ) They might call him a " Chartist" if the ) pleased , but he was a Tory-Radical —( laughter , )—a Tory by education , and i Radical from principle . ( Cheers . ) His Toryism , which he learned from his father , taught him to respect all those rights and privileges which were guaranteed to us by the Constitution of England . Although it had been said that there was no written Constitution—that there was ' no

      no guide-p ? st to shew its limits—yet there was a Constitution , drawn from the laws of Nature , and ratified by the laws of God , existing in the spirit of tbe English laws and in the hearts of the people , which could not be destroyed . Upon that Constitution , as exhibited in the Bill of Rights , he would take his stand ; and the reason of his doing so was that the present reigning dynasty of England pledged themselves to support and maintain it inviolate against the Stu * rt family , who were driven from the throne for attempting to subvert the British Constitution . "When James II . declared that all lawwas " vested in his power and will , it was not only the aristocracy , but the middleocracy and the democracy of England combined , that told him it was in

      vain to talk of stopping the arming of the peopleof abolishing the ancient militia , and the tight of petitioning , or of having taxes without the consent of Parliament . He , however , chose obstinately to adhere to his previous declaration ; and the consequence was , his abdication of the throne . The declaration of Rights was then drawn up , and presented to the in-coming Monarch—the ancestor of the present Queen—who was told , " If you swear to preserve it iuviolate , we will preserve your throne to you . " Tbe first clause in the Bill of Rights ran thus : —" That the late commission established for Ecclesiastical purposes , ar . d all other commissions of ths like nature are illegal and pernicious , and ought not to be allowed . " What was the present mode of conducting the business of Government ?

      First , sending out Boards of Comnwsioners , forging blue-backed volumes of lies , laying tbem on the table of the House of Commons , and then legislating upon them . A celebrated anonymous writer might almost be supposed to have foreseen the present Whig Administration , and that the country would be inundated by commissions , for eighty or ninety years ago he wrole— " The Government of England is a Government of lavv . We betray ourselveswe destroy the spirit of our jurisprudence , when we entrust a discretionary power over the lives , the liberties and the property of the subject , to any man or set of men , upon the presumption that it will not be abused . " Yet the present Administration , the fathers of the Poor Law Ameudment Act , had actually erected a Board of Commissioners—a sort of

      triune Pope , whose laws were , he dared to say , as inviolate as those of the Pope ; and they would perhaps maintain that tbe Poor Law Commisjioners were constitutionall y exercising a discretionary power over the b ' ves , liberties , and property of the poor . Not over the rich , let it bs understood ; for the Poar Law Amendment Act , after giving power to the Commissioners to examine into all charity estates belonging . to the poor—into all property belonging to the poor—added this proviso— " the Court of Commissioners shall not act as a Court of

      record , nor enquire into the title deeds of any property not belonging to the poor . " ( Hear , hear . ) The next clause of the Bill of Rights was , " that theVKing should not levy _ taxes without the consent of Parliament ; " and Sir John Fortesque , in his " De Laudabus Leges Anglicas , " said , the king , powerful as he was , could not raise taxes on tlio people without the consent of Parliament , and he placed this in juxtaposition to the tyrannical power of the French Government . Notwithstanding this , the 25 th seetion of the Poor Law Amendment Act gave power to the Poor Law Commissioners—not the Parliament , nor the monarch—to levy taxes without consent of Parliament , by authorising them to build union workhouses without the consent of

      parishes , and to pay for them by draughts on tbe Exchequer Loan Commissioners . It might be said that it was by consent or Parliament , because the Act was passed by Parliament ; but it was a maxim of law that Parliament would not delegate its powers . ( Cheers . ) The next point was that no standing army should be allowed in time of peace ; and what was the fact ? Why , after nearly twenty years of peace , they had of horse and foot 108 , 000 men in arms . ( Hear . ) Wasn ' t that a breach of the Constitution ? And yet , the present Government , in spite of Joseph Hume's economy , bad beeD endeavouring to increase the number . A rural police was also about to be established for the same Object as the keeping up of the army—the subversion of the liberties of the people ; and this , notwithstanding the Constitution said that a conservator of the peace should not bold his office for pay .

      The High Constable had styled himself the chief conservator of the peace in this town ; but although he wa * sorry to contradict that gentleman , he ( Mr . R . ) must say that the chief conservators of tbe peace were Lord John RusteH and the blue gentlemen who walked about the streets . He granted , however , that the chairman ' s conservacy of the peace was ri ght and constitutional , and Lord John Russell ' s wrong and unconstitutional . The 1 st . George I ., —the most oppressive measures of tbe Tories , —which bad given rise to so many heart-burnings among the people , which was the cause of the slaughtering at Peterloo and other places , did not transfer the power from the head constable to tbe Home Secretary , but mtrely said that if any breach of the peace was probable , the head constable should call out the people to help them to keep the peace , and if that

      were ineuffioitnt , he should apply to the Sheriff to call oat his posse eomitatis . But nothing was said about the standing army ; and be would dely any lawyer to point out an ace in the whole of the statute book which authorise the calling out of the military . ( Cheers . ) The military did not exist in the laws and constitution . The conservacy of the peace was formerly Tested in the people ; but the Government could not now tru-t them , and were therefore seeking to introduce , in imitation of tbe people across the channel , a gens d ' armeric . He hoped , however , that the attempt would be resisted , and that Eng lishmen would then rally round their Constitution , which in the wars of the Plautagunets , at the revolution , and in all Eugland ' K troubles , had proved her sheet-anchor . Freedom of Election was also mentioned in the Bill of Righto , —not only of Parliamentary elections , but elections of all kinds . The Anelo-Saxons elected all their officers , from

      the Hig h Sheriff to the common constable , annually — ( hear , hrar ) -believing that frequency of elections was the quintessence of \ iberty . Even the Queen was elected ; for after swearing to preserve the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Bills of Rights , Magna Charta , and other charters , the Archbishop brought her to the front of the platform and called aloud , " All you people of England , will you have this woman for your Queen ? ' Mark you , said Mr . Richardson , he asks the people . ( Cheers and laughter . ) And what d oes heask the people for if the peop le have no voice in the matter ? Then all the people , the speaker continued , shouted " Aye , " and cried " Long live the Queen . " There was " the election , and this was the election of the highest character . The lowest ivas that of the constable . ( Loud laughter . ) He meant the low , not the hig h constable . The Sheriff was formerlv boutd to summon a shiremote in the shire bull to elect all

      the officers of the county , members of parliament as well as others , for at thi * time all the members were county members , and were elected by the whole of the peiple , rich and poor . And this would eive the lie to those who S 3 id that the people of England never had Universal Suffrage . ( Cheers . ) A poor man might be elected as well as a rich one to serve as a Knight ; and this answered to the " No property qualification" of the " Charter . " But in the reign of Henry VII . an aat vva 3 passed , the preamble of which was to this effect , — " . Whereas of late , the elections of Knights of the shire had been carried on by tumultuous assemblies , by men of small means and no value —( laughter)—each pretending to be equal with knights and esquires . " The Act Ihen stated lhat the qualification of an elector ahonld thenceforth be the pufeefdiok of thi ! value of 40 i ) . The modi- of election WiiJ this : —The nherifl ' s . iid to the electors present , " all who urn ol opinion that John Straw bo elected , say' Aye ; ' and the

      pi'raun that had the greatest number of ' Ayes ' was elected unless his opponent wt ! 3 not satisfied with the Sheriff ' s decision . In that case , the Sh . irilT said" we will have a poll j " butnotai'lfl franchise . " Stand buck in thisShmmiott ! , " said the Sheriff , " anil I will count your p ilU" or heads . The greatest miaiber ol heads carried tn « election ; thea no ballot was needed , but every man gave his vote as an Englishman ought to do . The Hill of it ' ights also said that Protestants might possess arms . Lord John Russell hail lately offered loliirinnharma to a particular party : but all armud aasuciationa were illegal . ( Hear , heur . ) The Yeomanry Cavalry wcri ! onl y authorised to arm when there wjs danger anticipated from the French iljtilla , but the act which authorised them to do so was itself unconmi' . utional , if the arms were to be confined to the cavalry . What is the law of arms ? Why that every person was bound to have anus according to his degree . ( Luutl npnlaowj . ) ' The bill of KightN ulsu gave the right of petitioning—the most sacred of all rights . That was the legitimate wav of making known the grievmi

      ances under which any portion of her Majesty ^ ljects laboured ; but the present G .-ivi-rnmcnt slighted the People's I ' etition , because they said they had p lenty of mon who , for a guinea a day and the post-chaise hire , would travel about the CHUntry and collect Ihe information which they wanted . Were they to petition , as they had done , for a repeal of the 1 ' oorLaw , and be toldbyLord Hovrick , a scion of the House of Grey , that the people were contented , because they did not now burn ricks and destroy property ? Was not that enough to mnke the people do so to convince him ? But tho people had a greater respect for lifts uud property than had Lord Howick . A quarter of a million of people had a 6 ked for arepenl of the New I ' oot Law , nnd ail thai they got was , thuir petition laid on ( he table and ( hi > votes ot sovuntoen members in their farour . Mr . Vielden , who pranentcd the petition , sent people through Lannashire to ascertain the condition ol the people . They were found to be in the most wretili » d condition , the amount of their earnings amounting to only 2 | d . a dav for each member of their fumilit .-s ; and these

      were the people who were called dralecwili ( Minme . J Ought they not to be disafiV ' ctod ? ( Hear , hfar . ) When they saw tbe luxuries and splendours of the rich and compared lh » ui with their own wretched condition , when they observed the princely mansions of the rich and contrasted them with their own hovels , when they read of costly banquets ami then turned to their own oatmeal porrid ge , when they heard of drawine-rooms aud levees and contrasted them with their own rags and wretchedness ! , it wan enough to bear these things in quiet , —( hearJ—b-ut it was too much to expect to bpar them long . ( Cheers . ) HU wonder wan that these poor people , hurried 6 n to rebellion ' s verge by the wretchednc-L ; which surrounded thtm , did not plunge the whole mass of anciety in the Bam « caw \ -. on ruin wvlh thems'lves . These wer « the men who were branded as physical-force men ; as dagger < and-torch men ; and who were said to be unlit for the suffrage ; but the fact was that they were the most patient men on earth . He had heard them say that rather than th >> y would see anarchy and c infusion prevail in the land , and a

      portion of the people cut nfl by the military , theywou ^ db :: content a little and a little longer , to drink the bitter draught of t'ilsomc drudgery and wretchedness ; nay that they would rather drink it to the drop , than sutler their holv cause to be injured by listening to the advise of wicked incendiaries . ( Cheers . ) Well , those people set ferth their grievances in si petition , and what were they told ? Mark Phillips , member fur Manchester , said that if Parliament presumed to interfere between the labourer and the employer , he shonld think it no crime to take away hi * capital to some other country where he could employ it as he pleased . And what Bald the Honourable House ? " we don ' t believe a word of the ; complaint ;" asd Mr . Fielden and three others wer « all that could be found in the House to listen to the prayers of the starving handloom weavers . ( Shame . ) Was n « t this enough to make people to domand Universal Stifliage ? The people of London and the people of the South would not submit so long in the saimi condition . He trusted that tho right ef petitioning would be restored . What were the effect * of the svstem of

      legislation which has been adopted ? They had a paper currency , they hid Peel ' s Bill , they had a Savings' Bank , they hid Exchequer Bills , and they bad a Kank of England They were eaten up with Sanks ; and let them see whether a minister , who could pander to u Bunk director , was lit to hold oflice at thU critical period ? Previously to 17-tf , the . country was not curbed to tho same degree as at present with paper money , and thej w ; re comparatively free , comparatively easy in their circumstances , and comparatively happj ; but the rouutry H' : is now in such a position as to dely all the powers of the present House of Common * , and of tho Government , to rescue it from its coadilion . Tbe present Legislature , and the present Government depended on the accursed system fur support , for the maintenance of the standing army , the pension lint , and all the affairs of tho state ; for without that , thp dead wei ght , the sinecures , and all the machinery of Government would , go to the ground . When the Government saw that the country was inundated with paper money ; that it tras impossible to go on without getting gold ; they s it

      plu ueorge Kosc , who had a salary ot - £ . 5 , ^ 00 a .-year , to invent a scheme to get hold of people s gold without taxing them—they being at that time so oppressed and overburlhened with taxation —( hear , hear)—that the Government could not impose a fresh ohe well—and old George Rose invented the Sayings' Bank sjHtem ; and a very good system of saving it wasyhe could assure them . ( Laughter . ) A better system of saving never was invented : it waa the very perfection of financial legislation ; and he would now show how the people had been gulled . First , they were told that this Savings' Bank System would be the means of correcting all the evils of the social system . If men would but put by thoir shilling a week in the Savings' Bank , they wouldn ' t go and get drunk with it . ( Laughter . ) The system , they said , offered a great many advantages , and among others , tho payment of three per cent . Another advantage wa 9 , the gratification of pride ; every man who paid in fivo shillings to the Bank , wo uld . bave a book , and be able

      to say " I keep an account at the Bank ; I have a Banker ' s book . " ( Laughter . } Well , the Government obtained , by these means , something like ^ " 22 , 000 , 000 of money from the people of the Savings' Banks ; not that they had it now , but they had some time ago . ( Laughter . ) The Government received the money , and the depositors might wish to get same of it back again ; bat in order to do that , ' they must give notice . Then there waB a saving clause , that ho more thaM ^ 5 , 008 should be taken ent at a time , unless tho four trustees signed a check for the amount ; aud it was very odd that these trustees could never be found when the monev was wanted . Then there was another saving clause , which was , that no morn than . £ 10 , 000 should be paid in a day ; so that in cas .- of a run upon tho Banks , it would , at that rato , take * ix years before the whole ol" the money could ue paid , and then there " would be a little difficulty in getting the . trustees to sign the checks , seeing that some of them were shipped to tbe Mediterranean by the Government for the benefit of their health . ( LauehUr . ) The A « t of Parliament

      gave the Commissioner * for the Reduction of the National UeJ ) t , power to apply the Savings' Banks money to the reduction of the debt ; they had received the money , and how were tfitpeople to get it back sgiin ? App ly to the Bank ol England—for the Commissioners of the Savings' Banks were . compelled to deposit their money into the Bank of England , and pa ? n handsome sum for its management . Well , the Bank of England , in November last , declared that they had invested eight millions odd of the Savings' Banks money in the three per cents ., between 13 and 14 milliouH in the throe and a half per cunts ., ^ 790 , 000 in Exchequer Bills , making together ^ " 22 , 899 , 792 ; and that they had in hand jCH ^ U This latter sum , ^ ' 47 , 000 , wan all that Ihe Savinga' Banks Commissioners had to pay the people 22 millions . The Bank of England could not pay the 22 millions , for they had little more than six millions of bullion in their coflnrs . They said , to be sure , that they had securities for a large amount ; hut of what did those securities consist ? Why , of pawned p late , mortgaged estates , and so on—things which it would take

      time to convert into money . But then , the Bank of Kngiund had 26 millions of their own to pay . ( Hear , heir . ) But some one would ask how had tho money been disposed of . He would tell them . j \ jr along time the Government had been very badly off for money ; but they had been oblWd to keep up the army and navy ; to make contracts fur the supply of provisiuns , forage , arms , &c . The contractors had , of course , at « 7 J > a 8 ked for the " ratmey " i and Government replied . ' My dear sirs —( laughter)—monoy is rather short just now ; jerhaps you will take Borne , of our Exchequer Bills ; they will ) e . ar interest in a few days . " Well , in this they had succeeded , but a pay day came at last ; and the Government had met the day by falling back on the Savings' Banks . ( Hear , hear . ) What hod the . Savings' Banka to fall back upon ? Nothing . The people had been enabling thn Gorernment to keep up the atannintr army against themselves . ( "Hear . } At thu verv

      moment , tho Government hm \ between 70 and 80 millions floating about ( he country which ths / had no means of paying . Was not this a state of things which called for some chnngo of system ? The Whig * wanted to get out , and let the Tories into their diuicullics . But tho Tories did not like office with nn empty Exchequer . They liked full coffers ; the Whigs popularity . Now the Whigs had lost their popularity , and the Tories ( old them they might keep heir empty Exchequer jnto the bargain . ( Laughter . ) Land was the only thing which tho people cauld cling to , when commerce trade , manufactured , aud everything elsi ! lai ' ed ; ari'l from it , the 43 r-l Elizabeth gave the people a right to aupp ^ . Ti . The Anglo-Saxon laws compelled every mau to be a freeholder ill-id the sytteiu continued through the Norman dynasty . Then every man had Bcini'tliinR to tight for ; now the people had no freeholds , but they were compelled to protect the freeholds of the rich . In the xeiun o ! ' Queen

      Manchester Meeting, Fkiday, May 24,

      MANCHESTER MEETING , Fkiday , May 24 ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 1, 1839, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1059/page/8/