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Northern Star (1837-1852), 3rd August 1839, Edition 1 of 1, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      ^ &T BIDIN G- RADICAL DELEGATE MEETING . ( Recvlr * . ! jm late for ir . srrliou fciiiccck . ) Ou Mosd . w , July 22 nd , a jnecarg of D » ler » t ? i f rets . if I « 3 . " * : c ^ i A ssc > ciA-ioiis in th ^ \ V $ g » . Ridinir , < f . ; Le C ; -- . ; of York , was > -e-i t : tie bou-e of ^ :. vr i ' : a 2 ia ^ Viff , grocsr , «; .. bottom of Ileckcfai " - !^ . Th ? meeting cos ; HLenc-. > d a ; trn o ' clock if . tae a « -a ! rr . Mr . Stephen Dictin ^ o-. of Hc ^ de .-.- - - ¦ fielj . w - ' vnb -,:,-soc . ! T callej to ti . fe ckair , sifter ¦* L : c :: t- "^ : \> . io"irig Do ; ej : afc ~ caiae fj'u . ird Tt : fe ' perin ; a : f . ^ rcrn the ItAlowiag ? ! iccn which FKTi . T "rthtv .-t . -Rj-nrru . D 7 T TiT-xtr

      Kiliix Hr . Kob « p . t TrTLtT . Lcei- C ; iir * i Northern L ' nicc . Xir . . ' . Jc . nes . 3 Lrs : ; u Mi . Wilujlm Fox . JIucder- - - - -.-i -.. Mr . Sijiltl Bix ** . Q ^ erE-ilrfij Mr . JoXiTHAJ , - lii . If . STOW . L ^ -prcr Mr . Thomas Yzvxrs . . Alir ^ iiibur- .... Mr . SaxvelDickixsox . Kirkb-= a : jn " .. _ Mr . James Dkoxsrirt-D . Brai ' or * Mr . Jons Smith Sbackletto " . Qssett tt Ga ^ rUiorp » ... Mr . Vm . Mosei . ey St « tt . Bttley— - li' . Bewihix Beomley . Holer .- * -i Mr . John Wo ^ d . Hotlev- _ _ .. Mr . Edward Haigh . Live-sedge Mr . Morsitt M atthfts . ^ iirSt-13 -.. Mi . Thomas Clakksox . Eliani Mr . Richarb CROssLrr . Heekmond-rike —Mr . Wt . Li . iiv M ' ass . Bevr ^ br . r' - Mr . Suirst Healet . The : V ' " : 3 i ? u ! ES c ! rroO'T trere receirei for io " «"«; rV . a - . n * N&u-.-nai Jtenc ' Fcud : —

      £ s . c . Almondbtay . per Mt . S . Dickiusop ... 10 0 Kirkheilon . ' p ^ r Mr . J . Dronstield ...... 2 0 £ Qeeru : ie&i . per Mr . J . Bairstovr 2 2 0 Lrp :: n . per Mr . J . Vever- 2 0 6 ( jfcssett and Gawthorpe , per Mr . W . M . Stor : -.. 2 0 0 Hoimrirth . per Mr . J . Wood 0 12 S Bonl-y , perMr . E . Haigb 2 0 EtmleT Tjij . near Hoaiey , per Mr . E . Haiga .. " - 13 9 Liversecrge . per Mr . M . Matthews 1 W 0 Bradford , per Mr . J . S . Shackleton ... 8 0 0 Miriielvi . per Mr . T . Clarksoo ..-. 0 10 0 Ye-ff Green . Hudderifieid , per Mr . S . Binns .. ' . I 0 0 Linthwiite . per Mr . S . Bin £ i -.. OH 6 Th ? following g f ^ ' of money ¦ were re ceived fo ; tit vres :-H : dinc National Defence Fund : —

      £ s . d . Ahnonc'b-rv . pe- ^ ir . S . JDiriiiwon ... 10 0 K * t-La ^ , " -Alaondbnry , per do Oil d ' t Broken C- ^ ss , AbtondV ^ ry . per . do .... 0 1 S Hc-ln-fL-i h .. ' . -.- ' 0 22 1 isini . ~ 5 ll . De-ffibnTj . per Mr . Heaiej 0 15 0 A : V ^ Prieni = irom ' tHe Hill ' .. 0 S In acc ^ riancs wiih ths resolutions of the last delegate meeting relative to tha electiou of tkree Tretr d-Ieet-e ; io the General Convention , for ihe " VTessiUci ^ jf . to be ready 10 inppij lie piaces of the prs .-eit silting deleg&t ?? . ia ca < a of necessitr ; the vovs cf the varlcci Radical Associations m the 'Vi ' esr-RidiEf ~ ere brotignt in , waen Mr . Benjamin Rohzcii . c : Oveaden ; iJr . Tiionias "V ' eTers , of Hniier * Sili ; and \ ii . Samnel Hiiiley , of Dewibcrv . » rro ceclarc'i the e ! ec : ed candidates . Ti . e foiiD-sring resoJatieBj were then brosgbt 3 e : r-re ir _? -rneetinE : —

      Moved bj Mr . S . Binps , and seconded bv Mr . B . Broni > T , — ' That p-ublic meetings be keld " in xzii ocs para of t ' -ie West Ridi :: ? , bn ; psrricalf-rlj in Hili-as .. Hzddersfirid , acd Dewsbiiry . ; o confirm tfce elecd ? n of Messrs . Rnshtor . Versrs , andHealey , tte reser . 'rd deit ^ ates ta the General Convennon for Us "n ~ e . i-Riding of Yciiilure . "—Parsed Tanaiii-Mvv-d bv Mr . Bairsto'w , and seconded by Mr . B . Br ^ ffilrj ^— "That in the event of one or * more of the p * r < is : delegates in the General Convention for the Wt »< r-RidiE . g be arres ' ed or resisn , that the Te *? rxsi ce ' . etitcs Vho hsva bep-= i elected ? upp'v

      sees M-. ria-y cr vacanc :-- ~ . Tn : e ; y . 1 ie cr . ; - Erne wh : > hiis the Isrieit number of ' r-. t ^ s to take ihe pr-.-cedc-ncy . and » o on £ » they < umc on the t-, ~' : " —?• - < - > ' nnaT-i ^ on-lv .

      Moved by Mr . J . JJrlr-iow , and " seconded ? y ^ Ir . S . 3 ir .-. — '•¦ That the variety Radicil A's-ciarioa . * in the V . " e--t-Ri ^ B . s of Yorkshire be rr qr-sted to rpsi : £ "i mo _ ies in fctnre tbit ij ' or the National Defenc ? Fc ^ d . to th ; Ws « t-Ri = . i : i delesr ^ remeetings , rr to Mr . J . iir . es Penny , of Millbride ? . the West-Ridirs Ir .- ^^ rrr for that : « nd . —Pis-ed tiaaiii" ~ MoT , ' i bv Mr . E . Hsijh . and seconded bv Mr . J . iJair-: ? . ^ . — " Tha : a . delerate neenng of the TP . riot ;? Riiirai A ^^ eciidQiis of th . e V \"« s =-:-Hv . i = z of

      tae c-:- - _ n ; y o : icric oe iei ; a : tie nocse ? : 31 r . Wra . vr ? ii . crtc-r . ecc . bot : om cf Hectmoad ^ ike . on Monday . Au-us : 5 : b . ' 1 ^ 3 i \ to eoaiffier . c ? precisely s : ten o ' c . jc ' e in the forenoon . "—Pas ^ rd imini * - Mr . ' Prrr ? . BrssET , meinber of the General Coa-TeEtion lor the '• Vest-R \ diEe , ¦ w ho Va « present at the meeting &r . spe c ial Ousiness ., gave sr . ise Terv inter ^ dnj int : ll . gen ce respe-cdn ? the Canvrnrion end * rC pre ^ nt r-tate oi tL-e c-j'e . ntry , atier "which the f jiic-Tin ? ressiutions were agreed te . Movrd by " Mr . S . BLius , ar . i secordtd b y Mr . £ . Haigb . — - "That ihis meedn ? betring : ioi Mr . Bcjsey . cne © f ocr -woniy r-presentatives in th « General Convention , taa : thai Dody has come io i re-clu-ion th * r tie lCihcay of Ajiethz next * ba"J be the cay en which the sa . - rsd month shall commence , co dfc ' : 2 re that Tre -sriU pn : all scFjesaorfrom t " -s .: body in * . o f ' ull operations for tarryin ? oui csir B : incJT >> s . and trcs : that everv nifa-ns Tiil bs ror

      prryy .- m ^ nece- ^ arv compivm e r ^ e « =-. We . t ^ t-rcfori , S-iillicriza Ml . iillSifiJ- to > toc * e « ::-.-: ' --xith to the Convention , and inform that becy uf ; h . e staia in Titich he has found this district , and likewise to n ? e his influence in caxrving ont ell that is necessar " . ' to effect this resolution " . ' 'Pfwed . Mov ; -d bv ? . lr . Healey , and seconded bv Mr . Yerer ~ . — "Ths .: a TJte of thanks be riven io Mr , Pci-r B-s > ry . f _> r - . te intrrestihr inteilig-enc * which ne ;;? c- ^ nreyed to th ; - n ? sUi > z . ~' - —Carried uuaaim—n > : y , Arrrr trars-cnn ^ some other business of minor in ^ porti-. n : ? . a vote of tha-ks -sra < civeu to the ctairman , tor th's v ? rv able manner in - vrbdeh he had fclti . led h : s oidce . Arter vrhich the m ? etisg Eeparared . SamueuHiulet , Secretary . TJ > e- = b = ry . Jn ; y 23 rd . ] S 3 ? .

      Untitled Article

      foverned , and erants the taxes be bu to pay . Dear sisters , ve know thus the adrojates of vbe Pc ^ plr '« Charter have bi ^ n denounced as levellers . anaTEnist * . Lafidijls , and naa 7 other hard an i bad names ; bat \ re know tba . t nil tbey »? ek i * a ! air dr . y ' s wages for a fair day ' s work , " a ' ad ve know tbat ' less * ill not appeare , aad more is not Teqtiirei by them ; and it is for this taa : we hara banded Bnrselvs * toeeth&r in union to assist them , and ^ re call upon von , oar fell ^ w-cosntrrToiaiTJ , to J » in us ia this fresica ^ fe of fr ? -dotn , jasticc , bonestf , a&d tratito drive povenj rvnd icnorKice irvra onr land , » ad c- ' . abll ^ b happy home * , trae region , rigEtoous Government , and good law ? . We remain . roTcmp .- I . fin <* . prR-it < th * t ^ -c ^ s ha ba . < to dh . Tienr

      ; Your . * , Ac . The Bristol Female PiTR ?< rrie Association . Sigued by the Committee , on their beb&lf , 3 > lrs . Lw ) to , Mrs . Rke , Mrs . Mathews , Mrs . Miles , Mrs . Lewis , Miss M . Taylor . Mrs . Chetebs , Treasurer . Miss Taylor , Secretary . A public n : e ? cin ? is Ijeld erery Monday evening , at the Rooms of th ? Working Men ' s As . « ociurion , nprosite the Bell Yar 4 to wbicb we affectionately invite von .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE HADICA 1 . 5 Of ENGLAND , SCOTLAND , AMD STALES . " There is a world wliere SDnii a-e free "Where tvraats taint i : ot nataro ' s ^/ liai . If death ti . &t world ' s bright ojeninz te , Ah 1 Trio would lire a ^ ' are ia tiiia . " —MOORE . Brothees as tet is adtbrsity , It -wouldbe too difficult a task to reply personally to the many pledge ^ of your iindsess and support , almost from every city , and tosm in Englaad . from various Bssociatijns . and many private friends . 1 therefore tddre-s one letter of gratefal acknowledgment to you all : I claim your iadclgeace , 1 call your attention , I tnank your magnanimity . Mafnanimous indeed i * tbe anly - word 1 can discover to give &n idea oi the greatness of ycur souls , of your ¦ unbounded love for liberty , of the inviolable

      attachment yon have at heart for tb « brjad basis of pure democratic principles on ^ which you stand , namely , Liberty to fill , exclusion tonone ! As one who has spent some time imongst you , 1 have had means of observing the tbrobbiDgs of y » cr hearts , y ° ar loTa of liberty ; tmt above all your -willling readiness to coalesce , in any measure calculated to benefit Ireland , or to eleTate her from her present degenerated and degraded station amongK the nations of the world . I have been in the heart of Enjirad , 1 have been amongs : the braye men of Birmingham , and I can bear testimony to their bsarts beating high when responding to the call of Justice for Ireland ; but if any thing were vrantingto test yonr sincerity cr to prove your concomitant fidelity " it is bcrr tendered in the frankness aad opei . nes * of soul vfith which yon give the right hand- •; " fellowship , and the noblest gilt of mas—to man . an "unpaid , nnd an

      ucpurcbasable free pre =-s to your broie .- ^ ia bcadage ; by tbe press wbicb you send us , Iri-h ^ cen shtJi be taught to forget their p ; iriy feuds & : id animosities , to unite ia holy broiheric-od for the i ^ lvarion of our corcmtn cotinrry . Let every aas then wbe can ? pare a paper send it here , you will set how I shall dispose cf it ; thru you will give Ireland , that panacea draught , the elixir magnum , ¦ wbicb will bestow health , emergy , and-rigoration to her-whole frame ; yoar press amongst us will be tbe Hvgrist that will apply natural remedies to her weaknesses , denouncing alike those quacks and speculative physicians , trho like leeches sack the vital blood of our country . How is ittbatin tbe midst of plenty , some of our counties are in a state of starvation which yon have often aided by your money ? vea isit net iifict that the party wbo " call you blood * thimy miscreants , are this moment a ^ kins your assist-&nco for the pe ^ . p ' e of Mayo r . nd K-rrv ! !

      " Oh ! icria p . o wc-ad ? T , tial tbec art compb . ^ iac NYhsn like tk- wUd PeVieaa " . life ' s flf-. rir . ? fast . Till there ' s inugh : ba ! thv besutful y . amkge reiuaininz , To be pluc ' Ked tv the tr ^ od thit : say c ' . icg ts tht last . " Tory rnisrule and Whig domination have long held tke lash to cur backs . While the advocates of tbe former bare been employed in crimsoning our rivers vriib tbeir blood , tke latter have starved us with their promises , go : fat 03 our hope » . and drained every current of our country ' s resources . The J = egTaadiz aiei ! t of the fess- at the degradation of the many , has been tbe favourite motto with both : — ' ¦ To l . e '; l er Connaught' . says tae one . Coerce them ! says the other . '" Thus what hope can Irishman bava for the salvation of tbeir country while they - ¦ ddtf vritu either

      Tne \\ nigs are kept in office , because they ars better at _ making false promii-s than the Tories . The Tcries arc kept out b ? cn ; se they ars more ferocious though les ? trmculent thnn the Whigs . I- IriihTnen would but j nn now in T «> "rholy caus ^ , we irouli cut the gordiV . n kn jt tb ? * t tifs the golden cnain of their brigand power . :: ca svouid thetrenicis of t , ur country stand , "free , regenerat-. d . and disenthralled , !" . "¦ 5 y yousg blood boi ' . s wirh indignation at the attempt that has been m ^ . de to make Eugiitbmen believe that a band of Irishmen could be found who wo ^ ld sully the _ sacred recrds of ow cotntrv , by dipping their bands in the b ] ocd of Ecglishmen engaged ia ths holy caiise of freedom . If 1 tboufbt tny countrymen w ^ ro cspaile of s-econdisg scch an airc-cious motiDC , I would , from that mnuent . cirse the country that gave mo birth , hold my pretest to the God or heaven , and wish my hand * from suci a foul conspiracy ! but "Judgment kas not fled to British hearts , " nor "hare we lost our reason . "

      There are men wbo accuse yon of a wantonness to » bed blood , while they know full well tbat they themselves are an accessory parry , by standing aloof : rom tout cause and supporting ? . n oligarchical administration thit wqBld not stand forty-eight noers but for tbe secession of agitation designedly caused in Ireland ; they know full well tbat if agitation was the order of the day in Ireland , that the rei coats should be drawn back , and th-n dare the Government trust to their own English troops to butcher their countrymen in chain ? ? Thus Englishmen will gee , and * I hope Irishmen will see , if blofdisto be sbed , about which some moralists are so tenacious , on whose beads it ought to fall , Alas , fcr my country ! " OW whjra is thai ^ p idt of yore The spirit that treathec 02 thy " dead , ¦ Whan gallantry ' s siar vras the' bsacon before , And honor the passion that led . Thj storms hare a-K-akened thv dead .

      The ? sfTecn { rosa tho place of tiiair rest , Aiii wratifuily murmur ^ iA silr-ntlj weeD , To Bee the foni stain » n thy breast ; }' or where is the slcry they l « ft theeiD trust ? 'JU sc » tt ? r& 3 in dariiitES , ' tis trampled ia dnst . " Havir-g said so mucb about those moralists , permit me to call your attention to the fact , that Irishmen only want to know the real object you have in view to be with you to a man . The moment they g : t to know this , down go the Whigs , down go thy Tories , acd hurrah ! for the Charter . Let us , thec , exert ourselves to extend a -well-directed source of political information through tbe land , and then the Irisb people will ? ee that tbe best possible means of gaining 5 peaceable , instead of a . bloody , revolHtion—o ' gaiaiBg a speedy repeal ef tbe legislative nnioa—ofprerenting toe cfnes and toirasefEngland from becoming a desolate - wild , is at once and unkesitntingly to become tbe life and body guard oi tie Convention .

      I remain , for a little -while , Your brother in cbains , L . T . Clasct , Honorary Secretary to the Chartist Association Dublin . Dublin , July 15 . 1 S 39 .

      Untitled Article

      CHARTIST PROCEEDINGS IN BRISTOL . ( Received too late for our last ) On tne evening of 'Wednesday , July 10 , the Working Men ' s Assoiiation removed * from their old quarters in Thomas-street , and took possession of th . ir ne-w place of melting in Temple-street , whick -was formerly the synagogue of the Jews . It L » a moxt convenient place , and capable of containing between 400 and 500 persons , and has a gallery for the acceKnsodaticn oi females . Tke members , en iheir way to tbeir oe v qaarrers , presented such a formidabi * appearance , that taa police were jfrsatlv oltrmed

      ior taeir personal ; r . ety , fearing , of coarse , tha : it ¦ fas notbing more cor less than a troop ef ' rumanly Chartists' coming to take the oiry by gtorm . Ti : i immenss trunk in which they bad " packed their papers and other valuables , excited gr-at sensatioa , it being settled that it contained a quantity oi pikes and other wep . pors of a lie nature . However , with thoir usual order and regularity , the As « - c . ation marched qiirtiy on , and Bristol presents tbe « me appszrance as before . Several Iviters of iiaportanca Tep read , and a determined spirit oi united action prevailed .

      Oa Friday evening , Mr . Henry Viacent deliver ; d a lecture at the chavel to an immense assemblage , numbers being uaable to g ^ in ainiissioa . notwithstanding tha committee had deemed it prideat t& charge threepence ( the proceeds to go towards ; bi De ' ence Fend ) for . idnis «? n to prevent the t- "> e : eat infiox of visitors . Ti ^ is was Mr . Vis cent .-rir icce . L : s iibrrstiou fn m M ^ onmouth . guol oa bai ' . Tbe enthus- ' asia w : rwhich he was £ Teet = d surpassed evervfuing we tver ¦ Ki tnesssd . Ha delivered a in .-. st aimL-able and aaiiMtrng addrss ? , in which he showed that he nid ion uoae of that spirit of d-fc . jrmiim . rion and noae * ty of purpose be has exit BboT-n , notwith-

      Untitled Article

      rtanding bia incarceration irt gaol . We regret our inability to give even , an cu'iine of hLs address . Suffice it , tbat throughout , it was responded , to in . a manner wbicb shows the men of Jprj ^ ol'a nf ma ( 6 of mtterial wbicb . ttxII greatly advance the cause in which they arc eacsged . On Sunday afternoon , after liavinz preBched a . « eraon in Bath ia the morningv Mil Vincent made his appearance on Brandon Hill , to deliver a discourse to the Bristolians ; It had been well advertigftd during ; tfee week , to the great discomfiture , Terror , and -alarm of tbe arL ^ ocrats of tlie city , whu thought lo be rate , " chat Vincent must be a dtsii incarnate ! " We regret to have to record , that two Mettodist preachers endeavoured to " come oat" in opposition , and took their stand at a quarter before three , a quarter oi an honr T > efoTO the time advertised for Mr . Vincent to preach , their object being to dr » w all tha peresns lrom tha' ruffianly Charittaniin ? bis incarceration irv eaol . We regret our

      tist , "" and preient them from listening to him . They conld not , however , have played themselves a sillier trick—for eo sooner had Mr . Vincent make hi * appearance , than they found themselves without a congregation , the anxiety to hear Mr . Vinoent being by far the ereatest , as might reasonably hftvp been expected . There were not less than between 12 » nd-13 , QO 0 perssns assembled . Mr . Vincent bids fair to take his stand begides the Rev . Air . Stephens , and is a most admirable expounder of scripture . The divine precepts and injunctions of the Saviour wer * shown tp be paid but little or no attention to by cur present spiritual pastors , and" the bishops came in for their share of well-merited cassation . After thr aennon , this indefatigable man took a , conveyance to the viillage of Tiverton , where be pr ached Ms Ikird sermon of that same day . Between twenty and thirty pounds were , we believe , collected towards tbe Defence Fund at tha three

      sermon . On Wednesday , July 17 , Mr . J . Frost delivered an eloquent address at th « Rooms , and was responded to with great enthusiasm . On Thursday , the Association held a public meeting , at wMck they adopted the following resolution : —•• That this meeting , convinced that nothing calculated to advance the liberty , or in anywise protect rhe rights of ( be people of England , can be expected from tbe Housa of Commons as at present constituted , ufter their refnsal to go into committee upon a petition signed by a million and a kalf of

      people , and also aisgusted at tbe base and tyrannical proceedings of the Government , in sending armed policemen to bludgeon , and soldiers to intimidate , the people , -whilst peaceably , though firmly , expressing their grievances at public meetings ; and believing tbat the said Government is dstermiaed to crash the agitation of the unrepresented millions for the franchise , do solemnly pledge itself to abide by the instructions of the General Convention as laid down in the bills issned by chat body and extensively circulated in the city of Bristol . "

      We are exceedingly glad to find this Association in such an excell ^ nt ' prosperous condition ; and not the least pleasing intelligence we have to commtnicate is , the formation of a Female Association , which holds its deliberations in the same place , and we have no doubt will soon become a very formidable body .

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      — iiatm ADDRESS OP THE GENERAL CONVENTION TO THE MIDDLE CLASSES . Fellow-Couxtrymek , —We , tbe Members of tbe General Convention , deeply impressed with a derire to allay all party feuds and class animosities , address yen , at tha present alarming crisis of our country ' s fate , to solicit your aid in the righteous struggle in which we tre engaged . We are struggling to restore to the industrious millions their long-withheld political rights ; to promote tbe causa of emci-nt reform ; and t 5 secure to the industrious working people of England permanent prosperity and happiness . We believe taess glorious objects can all bs easily obtained by a wise application of tbe vast resources of our beloved country for that purpose ; and we , therefore , call upon you , who are invested with the elective Iranchise . to co-operate with us in establishing , aa the law of the land , the People ' s Ctarter , which Charter confers upon every honest a ; id intelligent Englishman ' a voice in the election of the legislator * of his country .

      Yo-j , the middle classes , a 3 well as ourselves , dsciare that you de = ire good government . It is asserted tbat you are aaxious the people of England i-hould have just laws impartially administered ; tbat rational liberty should be the distinguishing characteristic of onr country ; that trade and commerce should be free , and encouraged by the removal o : all unjust restrictions ; thnt all monopolies should be a jslished ; and , in short , that one class—and that the rcost -wealthy class—should no longer be allowed to cast the -whole burden of the state from their own shoulders to those of their more humble b'it more deserving fellow-countrymen .

      If . than , you honestly de > ire tha accomplishment of these things , why lie ^ jtate to join our ranks ? Disunited , both classes are comparatively power . le .-s ; united , every just object is attainable . Many of you , it appears , are opposed to ns on account of the violence of language -which is said to have characterised tha speeches of come of those who hare taken an active part in tbe present Chartist movement . It thuulil be recsilected , however , that it what you deem strong or intemperate language did characterise tbe speeches of some individuals in our ranks , * -uch language was , accordicg to your » wn admission , confined to a few who were , perhaps , excited by their own urgent necessities , or by their string sympathies with , the sufferings and oppressioes which they have witnessed around them ; but it b \ no means warrants tha deduction * that our

      enemies have go pertinaciously dr vwn from it . The great b pdy of the working classes—the Lonmfc and industrious toilers of this conatry—are as mneb . opposed to invading the rights of others , or to the inflicting of injustice of any kind upon any portion of society , as the £ are determined to persevere in their peaceful agitation for political emancipation . They "trill , you may rest assured , never abandon tkeir efforts till they have placed tbemsehes on a footing of political equality with the other classes of societj . If , therefore , your professions are sincere , we are in pursuit cf co « imon object * , namely , Rational Reform , AND PERMANENT PROSPERITY AND HAPPISESS for ocr country . How , then , are these righteous objects to bs accomplished ? There are bat two modes . The first is—By Force ; which , as it is the worst mode of accomplishing a rational object , we

      have nev * r sanctioned , excopt as a last resort , or in self-defence , against nncoEstitutional , unlawful , and atrocious attacks upon the people wben peaceably and legally assembled for public purposes , suck as have been recently made upon the people bv the Mayor and Magistrates of BirmiugUam . The second is—By legislative enactments emanating from a House fullt representing eveuy class OFTHEPEorLE ; which is the only just and legitimate mode of making those alteration * and improvements called for by the progress of human events . Hence it is evident that yon , the middle c , as * es , are highly culpable in longer obstructiog the attainment of those changes in th ; representation that will confer upon the people nt large ths elective franchise . Whatever , therefore , may be ths consequences of your refusal , thej will be riirecriv

      charg < -abie upon yourselves . It is extremely difficult , if not impossible , for either the working or middle c ' . asg to obtain any substantial reform , fay peaceful and rational jneans , while their common enemy can keep them disunited ; bnt l « t a union tike place , for ths purpose of carrying into effect the principles of tie People ' s Charter , and then those progressive improvements in the condition of the people will immediately cornrn'mae that ultimatel y will make onr beloved country free , prosperous , and hippy . It unfortunatel y happens that the credulous among your class stiil hope for some amelioration of t ^ e evils that afflict our country from the House of Commons , ts a . t present coaatitaLed . But experience doe ? not justify their hopes and expectations . Docs tha recent oonduot of the Members afford them any encouragement ? Did not mora than

      onehalf of them voto against any alteration in ths Ccrn Laws ? Did not 335 Me ' mbers of the House a ' : ; o vote against the Billot ? Audif thosa Members who did not vote on tha occa-ion wero all in favour of the Ballot , aud had attended and voted , that qn-siion would , notwithstanding , hara been hopelessly rejected . Will a bettsr late attend your endeavours k > procure the repeal of tho ; e obnoxious ! a- «" s which aro considered as peculiarly affecting the interest of your class ? It is absurd , to expect it . Th < 3 same painful re flection attends us upon every questicn » f iaywrtnace . Mark the opposition wkichk grant cf £ 30 , 000 for educational purposes receives , a < compared wuh a gran : cf £ r 0 , 000 for tho Que-n ' s stables . Observe , also , how unequal is the taxation i » p «« ed by a House of Commons repr- g -mius ; bat a miulII portion of tha pe'p ' e . Ja kmnm ? r = kble iustKJo . * the nubility and gentry of the land escapa . Trhile ( he indusn-iaH * artisan and tradesman are tasai U the utmost limit of endurance . \ To see , by !* v , probate duly rkidly exacted from the

      intelligent and skilfcl crn / iesman oa all personal proptrty disposed of by will ; while , with great partiality end injustice , the real estat .-s of the nobility and gentry , under tbe same circumstances , are exempted Jrcm payment . Middle classes ! It i « our anxious dasire that you sbcuid not misunderstand th ^ pressut important movement . Be as .-ured that it is not a transiccry ebullition of fueling ; it does cot belong merely to this year , nor does it drpend upon any set of indiv : dc : L- - . however influential . It is nosr more than s- . x ' y yean since the movement began with a declaration ot principles almost identical r . ith those embodied ia the ' Peopb ' s Charter . Endeavours sc-re then made to snpprrss the movement by prosecutions , P-ad by positive enactm-rnts ; but all attempts to suppress it were vsin , for each atteaipt to crush it ¦ wasioLlDvrei by its re-appearance— ar more broadly spread and deeply rooted than it hai besa—till it ha ? n « w assumed i t * present formidable character . It u the resnlt of the march of iifclligface in this great

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      m ^ A ^^^ p ^^^^^^ tjEZwII nation , and ne power on earth can arrest its progress . It is uttarly impossible , in a great national excitement }^ ttfat all V » hp * t <» keflh ] aS 5 f&'& part should at first perfect Ij agree , of thai fce ^ niguaKe of individual ! should not occasionally boindiscreetandindefenniTe ; but much that ^ deemed objectionable , there can bo little ' doab ' t ,,, ' was' never uttered , the '' reports of which have been in most cases fult of misrepresentation and exaggeration ; and if objectionable lairgnage were uttered , that afford * no fair' ground of opposition to th ( s justrights of tut ) people . . if our brethren of tke middle classes would calmly nation , and ne power on earth can arrest ite

      and fairly consider the slender opportunities for information possessed by the working classes , and all th « adverse-circumstances under which they haw laboort *) , they wi" be compelled to admit that the dissensions and errors they complained of are infinitely less ths . a could have bepnexpected . We . therefote , invite your co-operation . Be reasonable , be just . Aid the , present movement to invest with the elective franchise every honest and industrious man , and then mntaal good-will and confidence will displace the distrust and suspicion which now unhappily exist . Then will the peaceful and moral efforts of a united peoplo compel the adoption of all their reasonable and just demands . By order of the Convention , R . Hartwell , Sec . pro tern .

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      CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF THE 1 PEOPLE . I . LEGISLATIVE . "Quod omnes tangit , id ab omnibus approbari coquum est . " It is but just that , what cancerr . a all , should be approved of by all . Maxim of the Ciril Law . N » truth is more evident than that the majority of this nation should bft well versed in those glorious liberties , which have been dpclared by their , ancestors to be the birthright of freemen . They should clearly behold what have been their undoubted privileges ; whether these have in any manner been restrained ; how and under what circumstances , the violation took place ; what reparation should be made , and what they have a title to demand . We call particular attention to the form of government

      during the rule of tho ancient Britons and Saxon * , as that is the fount , whence conclusions regarding the present epoch are generally drawn . Let all minutely inspect the basis of our laws and customs , so that they may better comprehend the superstructura raised _ by succeeding architects . Ia perusing or meditating on subjects of this kind , we should always bear in memory this principle ;—that when men first assembled and formed a united state , each yielded so much of his natural liberty , ( v 7 hichis , a power of doing anything , save whore restrained by reason ) as was necessary for the good of the community , and no mote . The whole of these natural , and also anciently Required , rights exist unless they have beenej'jw-M . s / j' limited orextingnished , aad even then , if it can be shown that such a restraint was contrary to the interests of the

      majority , the people are entitled to demand their restitution . This general rule will be found of groat practical nse ^ , not only in the succeeding articles on this subject , but also in testing all existing lawa . After men had united and togethef formed a natioc , it would be natural for the whole of them to assemble and to determine upon tho species of government , which they would adopt . After this was fixed , they would then also meet and consult upon matters of general interest , and decree sach us might be beneficial to the community ; This would be one of those natural rights , which they need not surrender , as it would bs >/ i » - the good oft / ie majority that they should all take part , in what so nearly concerned their interests . Nevertheless they would probably agree among themselves , that in order to prevent tbe inconvenience of so niuny assembling , a few should

      bti chosan by all to represent the interests of all , in this manner continuing their right under a different form . Thug we shall find it to have been with Britain . From the earliest account * of tho ancient Britons , as described by Csesar , their form of Government appears to have been republican . " Their original constitution , " says Russell , " was a kini of military democracy , in which the protection of the state was th >; voluntary care of its members , as every free man hud a share in the Government- ; and conquest was the interest of all , as all partook in tie acquisitions . " In ihi * opinion all historians concur , and Gold * inith adds— "Upon great or uncommon dangers , a commander-in-chief was chosen Uy common assent , in a , general assembly , and to him was entrusted the genernl interest , the power of making peace , or leading ta war . "

      Under this Government , wo shall endeavour to prov « that Universal Suffrage ami Annual Parliaments were guaranteed to the people of this country , that they are the inherent rights of every Briton , and have been discontinued wuhoat cause , without reason , without justice . Many -writers who have wished to uphold the privileges of a class against the welfare of a nation , have asserted that the people had no share in the legi .-datnrs , until admitted to it by tbe favour of Henry the Third . In order to refute this assertion , we shall bn obliged to adduce semi arguments 0 ! an old date , which , however , are replete with instruction and benefit .

      Dion Caasins , in the life of Severus , assures us that—'' Apud Britanos Populos magnet . < M parte principatum iembat "—(" the people in a grea , ' . easure rule in Britain . ) We wouldask , how could they exercise tliis rule , save by having a voice in the regulation of general affairs , in which act alone sovereignty consists ? From time immemorial , a general council had besu h « lti , aud tha various ! titiei bastowod upon it , give a « afe clce to its natura . It wss knosvn by . tho several names of Mychol Sjnoth , or Kirithin , er great council , and Mychel Gemote , or great meeting . Of these Lord Coke ( preface to ninth report ) considers the commons were constituted members .

      It was also styled— "Commune concilium regni . " The common coumcil of tho kingdom ; ' sissixa genernlin "—general meeting—and communitas regni ang / ia ; , the community of England . In these terms there is no limitation . They refer to the whole of the nation and apparently consisted of every member , meeting wiihin the several districte and consulting for ths general good . Glanville Sharp , Dr . Wilkins , and others incontestibly prove that every freeman had a voice in the commune concilium . We also meet with th » words tcittena gemote or meeting of wiss men ; magnum concilium regis —great council of the king—conventus magnatum vel procerum , assembly of chiefs . On these words our adversaries lay j ; re--U dependaxce , but ithas been declared by many learned antiquarian , that tht y refer cither to distinct meeti » C 8 tur more limited

      purposes , than those of the g-neral assembly , or tiat the words , whiok sig&ify eliiefs and wissmen , only mean those persons of the body of tho people , who even at that time w » re sent in their ste * d , and thus were deneminated , ay dignified by tha authority of those who sent them . The mirror informs as that the Great Alfred ordained for a perpetual- usage , that' those councils , inoludiug all which we have mentioned above , ihould meot twice in the year or oftener if need be , to treat o' the government of God ' s people ; koir they should keep themselves from sin , should li » e in quiet , and should receive right . __ There was also a very ancient practice among the Saxons called a Shiremote , which , was " a . yearly astiei&blage of the people ef all ranks in the nature of a . n'un . nualparliament , where they consulted for

      tho public security aud gjod . " ( S ^ e preface to Raffhead ' s Statutes . ) From these auth » ritie *> , we may easily gather that the Britons , undsr a military repnblic , aad the Saxon ? , under a monarchy , wi > re accostoined themselves to decide on matters aiL-eti pg the common w * al , and thi « duty they performed , first in person and afterward * by representatives . The ancient custom of election wan to summon the tmndreds and tithingn in roll county court to elect a number of representativee , whose only qnalifisatioa was the affestion and respocl of their co » rltry » en , » nd whose nmmber was to be in proportion to the amount of the represented . ( Oldfisld on Parliament" ! . ) We tnd taat this right was left i » vi « late during the reigns of Saxon Kings . In a wittenagemots held Vy Ethelwolf a tentn was gir-n to the Church by the King rum Thmtiit , Baro » ifois clmmdo

      with , the Thanes , the barons , * a d ths . people . The commonslty is again expressly nam « d in the 8 th law of Edward the Confesssor , aad in the 25 tW law their a * senti » thus declared— "Hoe e * im fmetwnfuit per commune omicilium etassensum omnium Bpiscopmum , Principum , Proterum , eommunium , et omnium sapienium , senior urn H Popiibrum lotitti regni , '~ (« ki * wna enacted by the Common Council , witk the absent of all Bisliops , Prinoes , Chief * . Commons , wise ani tged m » n , and the paopl * of the w > nl < - kingdom ;) « md ia the celebrated work , M < , d ** tanendi parliament-urn , " it is declared thai oitizaas n . * i burgawes tf « ra eleotod at tki » period . Lombard , in hji » giag proofs of the * ame nature , adds one grr > it lorce . u Muy anciont aud long d * cayed ttoronghs , " he » ay # , " send burgesses t * Parli » m » Bt , ihougk U o « nnot be shoarn that those boreuglks h&fo bevn of any reputation since the conquest , muck lesy

      that they have obtained tke privilege by the grant of any successive King . So , on the contrary , they of ancient domesue do prescribe ia not sending burge ? s < & to Parliament , which prescription prove * that there wtire same boroughs before the conquest , which did send bargewes . " Thus were tho people cared for by oar British and Saxon ancestors , and from their times we Jearn our privileges . No on * woulj think of looking for the materials of freedom in the Feudal system , as established by tho Norman i j a « well might he lojk for flowers on . the ranSdeserts of Arabia . Here we must notice a s ' . ryjjg argument ia Gur f-ivaur . Wha Wflhani the Conqueror demanded the cro ^ n , by virtue of r . pretended t'rant from Edwnrd the Coafrssor . HUruld r <* f » ied : —* . at even if mi-ie . it w . 13 t » tallj invalid , a * it was " absuue ge > wrali Senutus , el populi c + itvcnlu et ejicto "—( witkeut | he general

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      consent and decree of the senate and people . ) This erincos thnt tho will of the people wan respected by the monarch . Despotic as the Conqueror was , yet he did not dare entirely to still the voice uf the majority of the natio « in tho legislature . Universal Suffrage , continued , and was annually exerted , as before , but tho number of representatives were gradually { limited ,- instead-of be ) ag , as of old , in proportion to the represented ,.. Soon , after the Conquest , ( 1066 ) a couBcilr . Vss keld , when twelye representatives were elected for each , county . \ t )» Grew , c . 85 . ) Eicheucceeding king generally reduced the number of representatives , though still they appeared in , tb * place of tht ? whoje peopl * . Thus , when all ha i a tote , the glorious Magua Charta , . was obtainedi Henry III ., ordered four knights to be chosen for evorjr county ; and there is also extaut a summons in Ms reign for deputies from the boroughs . The representatives were to be paid , by their electors , all reasonable expenses for coming , going , and staying . consent and decree of thn gpn&ta and n /> nn />» i Tfii «

      Ths naming of " knightB" to be chosen was the first severe innovation « n electoral custom , as a qualification of land to the yearly valuoof £ 20 was necessary for all of that rank , linn power was thrown into the hands of the land proprietors at the expense of others . Edward I . issued write to the sheriffs enjoining them to send two knights of the shire and two deputies from each borough , " a * it is a most equitable rule , " he sayc , in the preamble , " ¦ that whatever concerns all should be approved by all and common dangers be repelled by united efforts . " —( Bradjr ' s treatise on boroughs , from the records . ) The number is here greatl y limited , but this could not be of very great consequence , as if onW two men were to be retumed-for this whole of England , yet if they wer * elected by all , as at that time , they would represent the interests of all * as much as two

      thousand members would be capable of doing . The knight ' s pay was now defined to be four shillings per Hay , and that of tke burgesses to be two . By th « 25 th Edward I ., an ancient indisputable privilege was declared , namely , that the king shall not take any aids or tasks but by common assents of the realm . A few years afterwards it was again declared that no talliage or tax * hall be taken withor f 'he comeni of every freeman of the land . This principle of the English constitution plainly asserts and enforces the right of every man to influence the election of his representative , as every man is taxed . " No man shall be taxed Rave by his own consent , " has become a maxim in our laws , but alas ! lives only in theory . By the force of the above statute alone , anyinan deprived of a vote , would apparently be in contribution

      justified refusing to imposis fixed without kis consent . In the reign of Edward III . we find a statute whick declares that the Magn ' a Charta , and tho former statutes which it confirms , were made " par . le roe , sespiers , et la communalte de la terre pur cummun profit de people . " By the king , the lords , and commonalty of the land , for the eeneral benefit of the people . —( Appendix to Ruffhead ' s Statutes . ) Thus , then , these graud and lasting acts aro owing to the power of the people , in union with the barons ; and those who are apt to declaim against Universal Suffrage should look back into antiquity , and there behold that the noblest raid most excellent enactments that have ever beun framed , the wisest declarations that were ever formed emanated from all , and were the fruits of a universal representation .

      Fariiamentgstill remain annua ! , but as an alteration was sometimes attempted , the 4 Ed . 3 c . 14 declares that a " Parliament shall be hold-in every year once and more often if need bo . " Will itbe believed that this act ha , i been evaded by an artful quibble , v-hicb made ths words if need be" refer to the first clause of the sentence , as well as the second—thus " every year once if need be , and more ofton if need be , " an interpretation evidently contrary to the intentioa and spirit of tha Act . The 36 th Edward 3 styled by Lard Coke " an excellent law" enacts " tor the redress of divers mischiefs and grievac ce * which dail y happen , a Parliament shall be holden every year . " There never was a Parliament holden in those days which -was not a new Parliament , and it is notorious that writs were issued for new elections almost every year durinp this whole reign , nnd tbev

      are tor taa mo . st part still preserved . Therefore , this statuto also ordered Annual Parliaments . Tke enemies to true Reform assert that such a coars ? must be attended by insuperable difficulties and inconvenience * , but the exact converse will be found the truth ; " there not being above two or three cases of elections questioned or complained of from Elenry the Third to Edward the Fourth ; nearly throe centuries !"—( Prynne . ) Behold the present endless litigation , the enormous expense , bribery , corruption , and contests , which are chiefly the offspring of unjust distinctions , and an absurdly complictted system . In tbe first ye « r of Richard tke Secand , tho Commons petitioned that a new farlia . merit should ba held once a-year at the least— " un foefzparsnau meynz . " The king answered , "As to that Parliaments shall ba held eviirv year , let

      thfl statues thereupon be kept aad preserved . " In these d : iys new Parliaments were sometimes called and elected two , three , or even four times in one year—a . plain proof that the people only delegated the trust for one session . Tue celebrated Prynne discovered among the records of the Tower , and publi > lwd in his Brevia Parliamentaria radiviva , " priuted in 1662 , an 4 dedicated to Charles the Secoed , copies of most of the original writs to the Sheriffs , - which werei » ssed annuatty for election of a new Parliiment , and in nil ttio Sheriff is commanded to call together the whole community of his shire in the County Court oa the same day , aud there to elect two knights of tbe shire , two eidz . 'ns of each city , aud two burgesses for each borough . The following is a writ Sranscribed from this famous work : —

      " Kent . In the twelfth 7 e « r of Henry IV , Indenture for the knights of Kent . " This indenture , made at Canterbury on Monday , the next before the feast of tke Apostles Simon and Jude , next following after' the receipt of the writ of the lord , the king , annexed to this indenture , between ( many names kere inserted ) , who , to choose knights and citizens for the Parliament of tke lord , the king , to be holden * t Westminster , are nnpowered by virtue of the writ of the sans lord the king , ia his behalf addressed to the same sheriff , by the assent of all that count § , have chosen Reginald Pympe and William Notcbem , knights for the community of the city of Canterbury ; Roger Sandford , and John Everard , citizsns for tho community ' of the city of Rochester ; in witness whereof , &c . " There is one exactly to the name effect in tbe reign of Henry V . In his reign also the Commons thus petitioned the king : —

      "Oure Soverain , your humble and trewe lieges tkat ben eojne for the comens of your lond , by seeekyme on to your ri ght wisssnegse . That soo as liit hath evere ben thair lib rtie and freedom , that thair should be no statut , no Uwe be made of lasse than , chey guf thereto thair assem , " « fec . We now come to one of the most flagrant aad unjust iafringements of constitutional liberty , tbat ever was attempted by tyrants , or submitted to by slaves . It was left for the last and the m » st imbep f- J he Piaw . gellet race to offsr this insalt to the English . The people apparently had become apathetic or servile ; those noble patriots who had obtained the Great Charter , uword in hand , slept in the dust , and liberty was downed to sleep with thejn . But the day may come when the noble deeds of those men will animate tkeir posterity to

      like actions of glory and wake them to a sense of their ignominious state . It was during the miseraklo reign of the pugiUanimous and foolish Henry the Stxththat a statute ( 8 . Hsnry VI . ) was passed , enacting tbat all . electprs for knights of tho shire shall have a freehold ( an estate fer life , at least , ) to the yearly value of forty skillings . Thus at one blow w »« Universal Suffrage for knights « f the county destroyed , and the right -was taken from the whole nation to be vested in a class . Even this statute by its recital or preamble confirms our position " Wh » r # as the elections of knightg of shires have how of latsbeen made by very great , outrageous , and excessive numbers ef people dwelling withio the same counties , < fec . —of which m » st pan was people of smxll substaaee and of bo value , whereof every of them pretended a voici , equivalent an to such lection

      e s te be made with the most worthy knights and esquires ; whereby manslaughter , riot * , batteries , and divisions among tho gentlemen and other peopls of the same counties shall very likel y rise and W , unless convenient and due remedy be provided , " < fcc . ( See this statute given by Roffhead . ) ihu preamble not only acknowledges that the right of Universal Suffrage was claimed and exerciBwi b y the people , but also dec ' ares that these ' msn 8 lw )| hter « " had net taken place , but wrre liKt-iT to do » o , and on this sappositiou of a probability , tke sapient worthies proceeded m on positive eerta' » ry . Moreover , the " worthy knighta" were *• * » ke part in these affrays Dmich iui any " of no rain * , wid , therefore , th «* logical gentlemen dr . w tie conclusion , tkat the tatter only were to be excluded from this general right . Trul y a fit ca « g » tor d-prmng ?> aiany of their birtkright ! a soli .-f

      * uost «« t « i rwisoa . for defrauding thousands and ten * ot thousands of a p . wer , sanctioned by reason and by tim-, transmitted by their ancfstore , and gaar ^ ate , Kliy Ue constitution ! Behold wny the people fcrw lost the s . flrag . ! This was a dirLt infringe ment of oar constitution withott the slightest cause aad not for the good but the lasting disadvantage ot the mnjonty . All , however , still had a vote for tte-uiembf rs of ckies and towns . In tk . reign of Elward IV ., ' w * meet with a tJ nL TZ ™ ??™ - Ohn Strac 6 ^ Member cr Donwich , an * his constituents , in which th ., Member covenants , « whether the Parliament h « P . = ong cr snort , or whether it fortune to h * nrnm ™ .. ^

      T" * fcr Li nage * Duly a cad& ani ' hVft 1 ba rrel of hsmngs , to be delivered by Christmas " Annual viectwns were olarn discoatiaued in the -lays of opprps . jion and injnscic , under tho cruel Henry VIII . and the despotic Elizabeth . This ong-sstabhsbed csstom , whicb promised tecurity to the electors , and qbtai . aA good faith fro » tho elected , had receded its deatablovr . Whether par-

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      liament assembled or" not , p . nd how long was to be its duration , were ques' . ions now left to the Kingi * 8 merey . The Parliameat extorted from Charles 1 . an act for holding a parliament every three years . After the execution of Charles , the Common ' s-voted the House of Lords a useless and dangerous nssembly , and abolished it altogether ; an event that should never bs omitted i * the histon- of Parliaments . It was at this time tbat Members ceased to receive wages ; and . Andrew Marvell , the immortal patriot , was the last person who received pay from hig constituent * . By the lst , W . and M ., s . 2 , c . 2 , it is declared to be on «« of the rights of tho triple , that for redress of all gri- vances , _ aud for ths amending , strengthening , and preserving the law . * , parliaments oughtr to be held . When , —deen the reader snspose , after easing this exordium ? Froqueatlv ! A more U » m » T , t a .. ™ ki . j ,,. ¦ . „ , ji , !__ . ,

      indefinite tei » could not possibly have been found in this or any other language ; but it is the custom of kings and parliament * to speak in parables , especially when they wish to do wrong . This is again adverted to by 6 th W . and M ., when being mo » securely seated on tbe throne , they could change their indefinite into bold and certain words , and it is then enacted tkat a new parliament shall be called within threa years after a dissolution . This act entirely destroyed annual , and substituted triennial parliaments ; thus taking away the greatest « heek which can be placed on the dishonesty of legislators , and leavingno lure remed y for a violation of this sacred tr » st ,-as they were fixtures for three Years ; but oven worse consfquences followed , for by 1 st Geo . I ., the term of a parliament ' s existenceis prolonged to seven-year . *—a mo . ^ t unjustifiable

      wierlionof authority , aud one-that ought not to have the slightest validit y . The same men to whom waa delegated , by others , a power for a limited period , more than double the term by their own act alone ! Thus , Annual Parliaments gradually were changed to Septennial . - These are tho men that seemed shocked at the idea ef innovations , as they call them . ' . Ihe general unlimited mode of voting for members for towns continued for a very loug period , but waa , at length , mada to ' depend " on the several charters , custom * , and constitutions of the respective places . Ihe customs were allowed in too many districts to expire in silence , wbila the chanersbeiag granted by the king , _ and the bye-laws made by the corporation ^ the decision of what made a voter was at the pleasure of one branch of the government , the monarch , or at the will of a body of men , a corporation which

      , originating m the spirit of monopoly , were interested in keeping all power to themselw . fi . By 3 Geo . 3 , mo freeman of any city or borough , ( other than by birth , marriage ; or service ) shsll be entitled to a vote , unless he has been admitted to his freedom twelve months before . The right of voting was now in a miserable' state . Fox , in the last debate of 179 ( 5 , declared that' ^ under the pretext system peace eoold never be procured ; the constitution must 60 restored ; tbe voice of the representatives of the people must prevail over the executive ministers of the Crown ; and the people must be restored to their jastrightf . " About this period the Dnke of Richmond brought in a bill ' for declaring and restoring the natural , unalienablc , nnd equal right of the Commons of Great Britain , ( inisint :-, insane persons , and criminals onl 7 excopted ) to vote in

      elections of their representatives in Parliament . " This bill was for Universal Suffrage and Annual Parliaments , but was rejected . In 1832 a great change was effected by the Rpfoim BiU ; in introducing which Lord John Russell eaid— " The ancient constitution of the country declaring that uo man shall be taxed for the snpport of the state who has not consented by his representatives :, or himself , to the imposition of a tix , " Lo ! now how ^ . ro the mighty fallen ! " This Bill was the first instalment paid to the people of their vast dues , and lo be hereafter followed by a payment in full . Many Boroughs which had greatly diminished in numbers and sue , were disfranchised—an act of great injustice ; while many that had increased in population were enfranchised , or allowed to send a Member to Parliament . The electors of counties were to be possessed of freehold or copyhold of the yearly value af £ 10 , or of

      leienoia , to the same value , provided it had originally been made for sixty year / , or if made for twenty y ^ ars , to bet made of yearly value of i . 00 . For Borough electors were to be householders of yearly rent cf £ 10 . Before this act . it had be > -n declared that members for counties should have an estate with £ 600 per annum , aud members for Boroughs £ 300 . And thus remains our mode of representa-£ 300 . And thus remains our mode ot representation at the present day . The electors are merely a class , and { he elected only men lot fortune . Cempare this limited , this miserably narrowed condition with the once universal , glorious birthright , of Englishmen . Once all had a voice in the egislature , now it i » computed ttat one sixth of ihe population in England , and one twenty-fi thin Ireland , form the body of electors . Once ail could bn elected—How wretched a minority is now presented for choice >

      Ths prosperity of this nation depends upon tbe Parliament . If the source be tainted , the stream to which it gives birth cannot bn j . ure—a bad tree cannot produce good fruit . II 0 . 9 c : ra we expect laws to bo enacted for the welfare of tho community when the law makers are not connected in interest or feeling with those for whom they are to legislate ? It was a trne saying of Lord Burleigb , that" Englind could never be ruiuc-d but by a Parliament ;" for that i . i the lnninsp ' riDg of nil those 1 ules of action , which , guide and direct millions . How important , how jus :, then , that tho majority of tbe state should havtf a voice in' a matter which may c ; tu ? a their prosperity or their ruin ! Hjw vmroasonuble that any Brito « should be entirely excluded from effairs on which depend the rise or fall cf Britain ! When tiiis inherent prerogative of freemen Ls destroyed , the

      noblest part of our constitution , tbe Democratic intlnence , is like-wise destroyed . Our moutrchy is do longer limited ,, but is eitner renden-d absolute , or giv » . nuptoan oligarchy , composed of tho landed and -wealthy class . Blackstone . thoEj » h a Tory lawyer , is forced to acknowledge this flaw in oar present mode . " " In a . free state , " he says , " every man , wbo is supposed a free agent , ought to be in same measure his own governor , and , therefore , a branch , at least , of ths legislative power should reside in the whotg buly of the people . " And again' If an alteration might be suggested or wished in the present frame o ! Parliament , it should be ia favour of a compute representation of the people . " H e have now viewed the gucd- 'Hsive innovations on th « most important branch ot our State . We have seen how aanu J have yielded to septennial election ?; how qualifications have been imposed on representatives and represented . Can it be credited that in 1839 , when tbe people petitioned to have these holy

      news investigated , a committee was refused ? What ! after suck changes , are we now to titop ? Are w * to bo told , that after the liberties of England have been destroyed , alteration is to ceage ? Thosa who support these abuses are the true inno-Tators . Bat the time is now approaching when the enligktenod mindg of men will no longer endure tbia base subjection . The nation will rise in all its strength , and resume its ancient power . Truth and iustico are on the side of freedom . These rights of Universal Suffrage and of Annual Parliaments toe inUrwoven with tke constitution ; they are declared by the old statutes , they have been transmitted by our ancestors , and are strengthened by th ? principle that no man shall be taxed save fey his own consent . They are consistent with reason , and will be fea » - lessly claimed by all Englishmen , who are interested m the welfare of their country , or feel anxious for tke happineg ' K of themselves , and the security of succeeding generation * .

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      Embarking of Tkoops . —During the last weefc , the East India Company hare embarked from Brompttn Barracks upwards of three hundred of their troops for the East Indies , and it ia expected that five hundred m » re will embark before the end of Augwt . Thb Present Minktut A few days since , as a country gentleman wa » reading a newspaper th a Coffee-house , in the City , he said to a frieRd who sat next him , " I hara been looking gome time to see what the present MinUtry ars about , but I oannot find where those articles are put , not being used to the London papers . " " Look among the robberies ! " replied the other .

      Sudden Dhath . —Oa Thursday morning week , between ten aad leren o'clock , as a waggon drawn by trr » horses , belongiag to Mr . Smith , of Wa * ford , farmer , was passing through the village ' ¦•' Kdgware , the driver , who vras asleep on the shafts of tht waggon , fell off , and before he had time « o ¦ ave himself botk tha off-wheel * pa-sed over Ms kead , killing him on the spot . The body was » emared t « the Swan , to await a c « ronerV inquest . March or EHFmaMBNT . —At Queen-sqoaie P «« iic « OfiUe o « Thursday , James Morris , a sweeu , about twelve years of age , was ckarged with stealing * ha » oomptund of lettuce leaf and saltpetre , denominated a - " penny Cuba" cigar . He said he dtt it for a " lark ; " ¦ aud Mr . Gregorie , the Magistrals , beiig inclined to believe this , discharged him , brCt remarked , that if persons in his situation of life wo » ld smoke cigars , the least they could do would be to pay for them .

      Heatt Rain . —A very heavy rain has flooded various parts of Ireland , and considerable damage has been done . The grain crops , however , haw not yet experienced any eerieu * injury . Four or five we * ks of dry warm weather would issure at l .-ast average , if not abundant crops of wheat and oats throughout Ireland . O-ring to the high prices of the la < t two year * , a much greater breadth oi wheat has been » wn than u .-ual . 'VYhii .-t the la tB rain coai » utd , people here were becoming much alarmed . Potatoes promise weli almo . 't everywhere The most distressing accounts of the state of tie poor » till continue to be received from Mayo , Gal , way , Limerick , Clare , and Kerry .- Times' Dublin Correspondent .

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      ^» APDHE 5 S OP TEE BRISTOL FEMALE PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION TO THEIR SI 5 TEF . 3 OF THE WEST OF ENGLAND and south wales . Dkak Sisters , —The * e are the times that try Ek « n ' ^ jduL < . Oar country is ou tbe ver ^ e of the D 2 ! gari £ > it r » ro : ution taat eTer occurr ? d in tbe annals of history , ancient or modem ; and we call upon von to join u ^ , and help oar husband . * , fathers , brothers " and cbilirea . to frpe'lhtmselves aud us from our pre = ? st political , obysicaL aadm-ntal bondage . Yi " e iiivs been told tf . at the science of politics belongs not to wcsian—tbat her province is her home ; bnt hava we cot been compelled to leave that hem . ? , and toil within the walls of a manufactory . Dot because ourhusbm-s , fathers , and brotkers

      refused t 3 1 ? -Dour . but in consequence of tte legislative enactments oi the drones of society—the great landowners end moneymonjers—depreciating the va ' ue of their labour , on tbe one baud , aad by a system of jugglery and trickery , increasing the value of the ceces'sari ? " of life on ths otber , thus diminishing our E . eans , and iucreaang our burdens , at tbe same tias . Ye . * , sisters and fellow-eouutrj-woruen , it is tie present he-artless system that prevented your lusbaads and fathers , -sritli tieir many hoars ef sla-rLi toil , providing food and raimfcrit sumciept to satisfy Nature ' s cravings—tkat gava yonr children tattered eansT-ts and psllid countenances , and yoTir 5-: v ? 3 the dismal pro « pect of being sepiralwl , in your oil age , from ail tbat 13 near &ai dear to * vz . Is it " no : tree tbat th ? interests of our hu > -

      D&nct . fathers , and brothers ougkt to be oars . - I ! they are oppressed aud iEopav .-Tish . ed , do not we sbare tho ** e ' rils with thec ? Let uj , then , resent tbe ^ kiiictisn of those wrcngf » pon them . Cunning sal dr » i £ uice man have enlisted our sympathies in fttvour of ths abolition of negro slavery in our coloniei : -s ^ e rai--e-i cur roises in denunciation of their tyrant * . r . ud nfver rested undi tbe de iler * ia htHian bis&j vr - ^ c ; n : pelied to abandon tbeir bell-born traiac . B ^ t - we kave le « rES-i , by bitter exprri-Mice . &u : * iiTerT is mot c » Efuied to colour or cliaefss . t « ven in Eugli ^ d cr uel oppr *»< io 2 rei ^ : * . Wa inT ? 5-pu the vsnd&ES of ii . e hmsiacd iaadeqaHs to > La s- ^ pp ^ rt of bis family—*» i « . Te kden tne wifs Wmpslled to laarsb-er kozSe negleevd . and witbber lttfaci ciildrsc , work at a Oul-aQd-body-cegradicg tail , to laiks up the loss sustained by legal r » bbery . We b-T ; ? e ? n s . Yi » ce = t , a Taylo ' r , a Lovett , ' a Ceiiin-s . a Frost , acd minr otEer coble-minded men

      persscutea aaa prose cnted lor tnieavonrUg to amend the present -unholy state of things , and we havf . been told ' . h » t we outh : not to interfere in tbi < * uit cni f . ghisz-zs struggle . But , dear sister ? , if it was J 3 * t acd la » dabie to enlii ; our svrapaiuie .-. acd secure our co-opention . iu tbe ca »/ e cf cegro ecnaEci p ^ 'doE . it mu * t-be ocr interest , u veil as duty , tj aid in ocr o i" 2 enrrancbiseni -n : fram a s : ate of worse than Ejrypdaa bandage . If , a . * our ene-Eie « « . sr . wo « ian h * as no rixbt to intrr : ' rre with poSti : * . -R-h ; ,- jbculd her Mai-sry recrive more th ; u £ J , COJ p ' ^ r cay iron ou r turd raming ? , as the poliacii b-ud cf thit great tmoir ? ? He : t » is tbo right ac '^ no-s-. ^ isei : in ter *» t acd Cuty call upon us to eaLsrt taat ngit . by « dm ~" iitiiit- 3 y all mains iu our jjower , our bxsb&nds . fathers , L ' rothers , and children , in tbeir . endeavour to obtain the People ' s Chartrr , or in other ¦ word * , tte j *< t risriit » f cVerj atizen of tke'United Kingdom to vata tor M-mbeM « C Parliijieat , wio s&ifce the Uwg by silica te is

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      " ^^ w . . . -. -. . .. .. ,, ¦ - .. ...... . . _ . M . . . . . . .. . I THE NORTHEK ^ STAR . August 3 , 1839 . I

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 3, 1839, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1068/page/6/