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THE NORTHERN STAR. SAf»RDAY, JUNE 26, 1841.
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VISIT OF THE WEST RIDING AND BOROUGH CANDIDATES TO LEEDS.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE OF WEDNESDAY NIGHT . BY THE QTJEEX . . , A PROCLAMATION , Tor Dissolving the present Parliament , and Declaring the Calling of another . YICTOBIA , R . Whereas we hare thought fit , by wd "with the ad"viee of our PriTy CouncE , to dissolve this present Par-Hament , which stands prorogued to Tuesday , the 29 th day of this instant June : We do for that end pnWisb this oar R » yal Proclamation , and do hereby dissolve the saidParBamentaeeordingly : and the Lords Spiritual and Temporal , and the Knights , Citizens , and
Burgesaes , and the Commissioners for shires and burghs , of the House of Commons are discharged from their meeting and * fcten £ aoee on the said Tuesday , the twenty-ninth day of this instant Jnne : and We , being desirous and resolved , as soon as may be , to meet our people , and to hare their advice ia Parliament , do hereby make kno" » n to all our loving subjects our Royal will and pleasure to call a new Parliament : and do hereby farther declare , that , with the advice of our Privy Couidl , we have given order that onr Chancellor of that part of our United Kingdom called Great
Britain , and our Chancellor of Ireland , do , respectively upon notice thereof , fo / th . * ith issue out write in due form , and according to law , for calling a new Parliament ; and we do hereby also , by tiiis oar Rojal Pioclamation , under our Great Seal of oar United Kingdom , require writs forthwith to be i ssued accordingly by our said Chancellors respectively , for eansing the Lords Spiritnal and Temporal and Commons , who are to serve in the said Parli ament , to be duly returned to , and give their attendance in . our said Partis . ment ; whieh writs are to be returnable an Thursday the nineteenth day of August
Given at our Court at Buckingham Palace , this Twenty-third day of June , in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty-one , and in the Fifth yaar of our reign . GOD SATE THE QUEEN .
The Northern Star. Saf»Rday, June 26, 1841.
THE NORTHERN STAR . SAf » RDAY , JUNE 26 , 1841 .
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THE ELECTION . PLAIN AND STMPLE RULES FOR CONDUCTING AN ELECTION .
DUTT OP XOX-ELECTOBS . Evebt . Chartist in the neighbourhood of an election should consider it his duty to attend the hustings where & Chartist candidate is to be proposed , whether he intends to go to the poll or net . He should be * p betimes , and Bay to himself , " the battle to-day depends entirely upon me ; if I am absent , my cause is injured , and I am the willing cause of the injury—the guilty enemy of my country and her liberty . " Every male inhabitant- of the locality should meet at a place to be previously agreed upon , having , in the first instance received the blessing of Ms wife and family .
The body , when assembled , should then go towards the hustings , as l&rge a number as is prudent getting in front , -with a good reserve in the rear , and well flanked . They should not wear any colours , and for thi 3 reason , they will be just as we ll known by the want of them ; and should a row take place , every bird that is plucked of hi 3 plumage will , of necessity , be compelled to fall into the Chartist ranks , and fight against his feathered brethren in self-defence . Wien the time of nomination comes , they should understand their duty . I will point out the order in which candidates are in general nominated .
They are nominated according to the date of their addresses , if they are all new candidates , and if new and old , that is , old Members , they , the old , are Dominated first , according to ihe place they occupied upon the last poll , the highest being first put . I mention this , for fear of & trick ., very frequently practised , in taking a show of hands twice for the same candidate , some friend telling the returning officer that the people did not understand ; thus it not unfrequently happens that the hands are held up in mistake .
What I recommend is this . The Chartist candidate or candidates ifcoidd have a short stick with a flag , and a mas with some distinguishing mark , gach as a handkerchief round his head , should stand behind the candidate or candidates ; and when the Chartists eee their candidates and fuglemen hold up their flags , then they Bhonld hold up both haxds ; mind , both hands , and then you cannot be outjockiedj for the others will hold up both . It is a thing of frequent occurrence for soise old Etager to keep the returning officer's attention fixed , for a long time , opon the hands , while such a conversation as the following is going on : —
u , Mr . Sheriff , look at that quarter ; very slack , and ; here , and there—not near as large as Lord Mokpeih ' s show . " Now , all this time the hands of those at a distance are being lowered , while the practised fellsws are well tutored . Now , to obviate any trick of this kind , I recommend that all hands be kept up till the candidate and fugleman Bhall lower their fl . igs ; tha ; done , clap all ha > -ds tfcree times , then setup a grean , dissal , loud , and i # ng for the Whigs , and a funny derisive laueh for the Tories , and three rousing cheers for the members ; for mind , they are members for all that day and the next , till the close of the
poll ! Then give nine cheers for the Charter , and as many more for Frost , Williams , and JoneB , and tell the two usurpers , who appeal to the ten pound votes against your election , that yon will have them back . That done get your men and chair them all over the town ; and when they are elected , get them to sign an agreement to restoie their trnst whenever called upon by a committee to attend a public meeting of the non-electors , with sufficient notice , provided that meeting o ^ n call upon them to do so . Above all tilings don't lose sight of this , for , believe me , the time is coming when your representatives will have more power than the representatives of walls .
Treat no man too far . Make no disturbance upon any account ; hut if you are attacked , you must fight like devils . In the evening get up cheap tea parties and dancing , and be jo lly , and go to bed happy in the thought that you have done your duty .
XITI . ES FOB THS CHABTTST CAJrDIIUTES . The first rule which 1 Ehall lay down will be for the conduct of the Chartist candidate who goes to She poll upon a coalition with either a Whig or a Tory . In his situation of candiiate , he must have mo fear of wounding feelings where no offence is intended ; and in his desire to avoid the thing , he muss take care that his party ' s cause is not
sacrificed to bis timidity or over delicacy . The coalition being agreed upon , he must instantly say to "his adopted colleague , " Notv , you and I are the only parties wio caa give ihe stamp of real value to what , from profession , appears to be our mutual object , nionc-iy , a coalition to serve our cause , as we both best eaa ; asd for the purpose « £ giving full effect to tfce agreement we ausj sign the following undertaking : —
» I , A . B ., Whig candidate" ( or Tory , as the ease may be ) , " do hereby pledge myself to vacate my seat , > y acoeptlBg the Chiltem Hundreds , within tea days after Parliament shall be next assembled , in the event « £ twenty voters , who Tote for me , net gnriag their ¦ eecttd vote to C . » ., the Chartist candidate . " Let tse « xe * ati » B of this document be witnessed Vy twelve Whig electors » pon the Whig committee , ab 4 by twelve ion-electors upoa the Chartists' eoaa-Mitte * . a * d let it be this —dmied . — " We , th # twaty-fosr witaeases whose na&M appear lereanio annexed , do pledge ovselvee to the performare of tbe above agreement , according to the simple waning , « pon the part of oar respective principali . "
New , if yon do not do this , yon do nothing , and * fer this reason ? when all the Chartist force shall be % Hd up according to good faith , the Whigs will gplit with the Tories , to keep out the Chartist , and iHMjS | fe ; candidate , in the most honourable and in-JEpnprefe manner , will have used all tug e . xer-HMK a tub , to indue * hjj supporters to split ; : Wn Vttk owls hi bo ! he oould surely do so
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more than . beseech and implore , but then the prejudice was so Btrong against the Chartist principles that he , poor fallow , found it impossible to overcome that prejudice . ' Now just make bis seat depend upon bis overcoming it , and you'll very soon find that the mere announcement of the terms of agreement will , pro tanio , enlighten the ignorant and explain away the prejudice . Mind , and mind well , that no contract can be made with a whole body of electors .
- Well , this done , let every Chartist Elector , and erery elector pledged to support a Chartist Candidate , assemble in a place agreed upon before the polling begins , on the day of election .. Let the whole non-electors' committee remain with them , and let the polling committee have two in each booth , that is , one to relieve the other , and , every hear , let the members of the polling committee meet and eompare notes as to the manner in which the terms of agreement are kept , and in the event of all being right and
proper , let the members of the polling committee come up at a quarter to three to the place where the Chartist reserve is kept , and let them go to their respective boothB and perform their part of the covenant ; but if two Tories be in the field , whioh is most likely , there being no likelihood of catching split votes , and in the eren , of the terms of the contract being broken , then let the Chartist voters vote for the two Tories , if the contract has been made with , and violated by , a Whig—and for the two Whigs , if made with a Tory , and violated by him .
Now , I ask , can any one suggest any more simple plan than that 1 and let me advise every Chartist to insist upon his man insisting upon the agreement before the day oomes , else , believe me , they will fling you ! I tell you that men , otherwise kind-hearted , lose their nature , and become very savages in the heat of an election . Father , son , uncle , nephew , friend , relation , and all ties of affection , merge into the one endearing term—partisan Trust no man ' s word , if you can faster bind him . Even Dr . Philpotts would tell a lie to ensure the return of a Tory ; and , surely , what would be pardonable in a Right Reverend Father in God , would be doubly pardonable in a limb of the Devil , as we poor Charti 3 ts are called .
Some one once charged me with having said that I would tell a lie to carry the Charter . I never said . such a thing in my life . But now I tell you what Bishop Philpotts would do to get one Tory ; and , believe me that I would " go the whole hog " to get one Chartist . I would not say so immoral a thing , as that I would or could even bring my mouth to tell a lie for the Charter . However , if was to swear myself black in the face , Bishop Philpotts would not believe me ; bo , therefore , I wish they would just TRY ME , and see whether or no I oould beat ths fellow that said he drove a nail through the moon . Just let the holding of office and the consequent distribution of the sweets
depend upon the respective parties pledging themselves to tell lies , and you would have truth proclaimed as a crime , and lying as a virtue ! Well , all the above arrangements , or rather preliminaries , being arranged , the Chartist candidate should then meet his Committee the last thing on the night before the nomination , and , of all things , make their arrangements perfect . They should have two committees , one working the electors , the other the non-electors . The non-electors' committee should never stir from the spot where they shall be posted , after they have assisted in forming the procession to escort the candidates to the hustings .
If any row is got up by the factions , the nonelectors' committee should instantly go for their candidate , and placing him at their head , rally round him , and when excitement is once got up , never try to allay it , as such a practice has lost more elections than any other folly . I have been knocked down . I have had two bayonet Btabs upon the same day . I have been trampled upon by dragoon horses . I have been knocked
down in the gutter with an elector on my back . I have stood for hours opposite the 4 : h Dragoon Guards , and other regiments , with their drawn sabres within a yard of my face . I have been assailed with porter pots in a room with closed doors . I have bean nearly stripped in the street ; and I have invariably found that when the factious are getting the worst of it , they resort to physical force , and then if the popular candidate gets frightened , the electors get frightened also .
The candidate should inform his committee of all his arrangements and plans , and hold no secrets . He should be very alert upon the following day , and for some time after the election , till excitement subsides , and he should take care that none of his voters are bullied or intimidated ; this is , firstly , right ; and , secondly , will insure success another time .
THE EXFEKCES OP AN HBCTIOH . If a candidate does not go to the poll , he is not liable to any expence . I have noticed this before , and again I notice it now . " Lord Abingkb , in the case of the Returning Officer of Birmingham against Stusge , has decided the point . The legal expenceB of taking the poll are defined ; and in justice to the reformed Parliament , I must say , that the only department in which they have made any retrenchment is in that alone where they were most interested . They have considerably reduced the expence of taking the poll , and they have relieved themselves of all those annoying fees paid by members to officers of the House of Commons , by transferring the obligation to the country .
I stood for the County of Meath in 1831 , to assist Grattan ; for Mallow , in 1832 , to assist Daunt ; for Dungarvan , in 1834 , to assist Jacob ; for Yooghal , in 1835 , to assist John O'ConnelL stood for Preston in 1837 ; and for Glasgow in 1839 ; and not going to the poll , I never paid any thing . In 1837 the Borougkreeve of Manchester refused to allow 0 'Bb . ien to be put in nomination , without first giving security for the hustings' expences . I wrote a protest for him against the election , bat I rather think it was not served , nor would there have been much use in it , as it would not have attained our object in time , which was to let Poulett Thoxsow and Phillips see the blistered hands .
I have never lost an election that I conducted for a friend ; and I attribute success to my resolution never to think esough was done , or that the battle was over till the time for poDing had expired . If my man was 400 at the head of the poll two hours before the close , I would gallop five miles for one voter . Above all , mind that ! never think you can do enough , and never rest while work it to be done . It is most fortunate that I am here now , for , if at
large , I should positively kill myself this election . I work like a horse , and when the blood is up I am as strong as any dozen men . You should have seen me flooring two gentlemen right and left in the streets of Dungarvan , who want ed to steai an el ector from me , because he was tenant to one of them . I assure you I made them spin right and left like two topa ; asd before they were well apoa their legs , I had my , man polled and another upon my back . Believe me that that ' s the way to go to work .
Having said so naeh apoa arrangement , let me bow advert for one moment to those particular elections im which we have any interest , while classify the interest according to value . I begin with
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE , To the result of this election I attach the very greatest importance , aad for this reason , because it will , Firstly , ( should O'Baias be returned ) work into practise ose ol out moss beautiful maxims , " The labourer is worthy of his hire . " Secondly , it will strongly establish the claim of the brave and virtuous working men of England to the title for gratitude .
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Thirdly , it wil ] give to the ignorant Irish ' revilers tha best possible denial of the charge that the English people are opposed to Irish interests and to the Catholic religion , and a Repeal of the Union . O'Brikr is an Irishman , a Catholic , and a Repealer , Fourthly , it will prove the spread among oar own party of O'Bbixn ' s principles , and the prinoipleslof Chartism . Fifthly , it will prove that absence of a friend doea not insure forgetfulness of him . Sixthly , it wQl be a powerful inoentive to other teachers , orators , and leaders , to go and do as O'Bkikn has done .
Seventhly , it will , above all other circumstances , prevent the enemy from again resorting to torture and persecution , from a hope , or expectation , that they will destroy the influence , character , and prospects of the leaders and supporters of democracy . Eighthly , it must not be lost sight of that Mr . 0 'Cojwkll made a great handle , in 1835 , of the people of Newcastle having returned an enemy to Ireland ; and though he always confounds the people and their oppressors , and talks and writes more nonBease than any other living man , let us , nevertheless , knock the leg from ander his lies and nonsense , as we have from under his blarney .
I oould go on to one thousandthly , shewing stronger and stronger reasons why O'Bbibn ' s return is to us of paramount importance ; but with you must rest the means of making the experiment as successful as possible . t Let a general four counties' subscription be instantly entered into by Northumberland , Cumberland , Durham , and Westmoreland ; and this nig ht * that is the night on which you read this , let every man who spends a shilling with a shopkeeper say " I'll thank you for a trifle to give moral effect to my principle * , as I am ntt represented in the HouBe of
Commons . " Also , let a general subscription be entered upon ; and , if you can get a coalition ! ask the friends and supporters of the colleague of O'Brikn for their mite . Believe me , they will now give it . Lose no chance . Meet every evening after work , and parade the streets , peaceably and orderly , in your tens of thousands , cheering at the door of every friend , and not noticing the foe . My principle , you Bee , is to save you from trouble . The affirmative , that is , supporting and applauding your friends , confers a negative upon your
enemies . Let all my instructions be read over and over again , and improved and corrected where found faulty ; but have a plan and act upon it . In short , to insure his return , you must werk like madmen with method , and like wild men with discretion . Of all things avoid tumult—keep you the peace , but to preserve it , let the officers of war know and understand that you will stand NO NONSENSE . Then , Hurrah , for O'Brien and Newcastle ; For O'Brien and Newcastle , hurrah . '
NORTHAMPTON . Here we have M'Douall , and lest I might , in my classification , be supposed , by placing him before Vincent , to hint at a distinction in point of public interest and Chartist importance , I beg to Bay that one must come first , and M'Douall being first in the field , I observe the rule which I have before observed , when setting forth the nomination of candidates according to the dates of their respective addresses .
M'Douall is as fine a little gentleman and Chartist as ever lived ; he is very young , but not indiscreet ; he is very brave , but not imprudent ; he did us much , very much service , by his vigorous , manly , noble , and talented defence . He bore his incarceration like a Chartist , and came purified from the Whig furnace : he has since preserved a most manly , consistent , and straight forward course He is a good reaaoner , a good writer , and a good speaker . He is a man in every way trustworthy ,
and who can say that too much can be done for such a friend to the glorious cause ! Then , in point of general importance , he introduces the practical illustration of Northern Union and civilization into the great agricultural county of Northampton , under the very nose of Earl Spencer and the high Whigs . They never read of us , but what is written in derision ; but having M'Docall before them , as a living proof of our policy and line of action , will open their blinded eyes and expand their contracted brains .
Here you must make a tremendous muster upon the day of nomination , as the feudal system st ill lives in Northamptonshire , and the vassals will follow the Lord to the hustings , leading their will and commanding th » ir support . Here , also , let subscriptions be entered into at once—and , above all , make sure of the show of hands , and reao . all my instructions over and over again . Then hurrah for Northampton and McDouall—For McDouall and Northampton , hurrah !
BAN BURY . Here we have the BeDJamin Franklin of Chartism . Here we have the brave and gallant Vincekt . Here we have the Chartist General Gaol Inspector , sent , like a felon , through the gauntlet of Whig improved cruelty , and impervious to the oppressor ' s lash and the proud man s scorn . Here we hare the only man honoured with a prirate visit from the
Gaoler-General , ( Lord Norma .. nby , ) paid , no doubt , for a certain purpose , which , however , failed . Here we have one ot the most exciting and animating speakers belonging to our ranks . Here we have the establisher of the Vindicator , and its resusoitator , in double size , transformed from a mere local sheet to a national organ , the first number of which , for twopence , of immense sise , appeared on Satnrday last .
Now then , men of Gloucest ershire , march , every man within twenty miles , in good order , and mark the difference between the knowledge of a non-elector and a qualifiedrepresentative ; mark it well . This is what I have long laboured to effect—to bring unrepresented knowledge and representative ignorance cheek by jowl upon the same Btage . O , what fun ! 0 what a glorious day for the world here ! Let every town meet and send in its mite , and think if we can get O'Baisw , M'Douall , Vincent , Sanket , Moib , and Duncan into the House . If we can smuggle the contraband goods in , who will dare to seize the cargo , and send them back for an excise informality in the permit ! I hope Lord Normauby eaw the first number of the National Vindicator , and that he admires Vincent ' s " IMPROVED STYLE . " Then hurrah for Banbury and Tincent—For B&Dbury and Vincent , hurrah I MARY-LE-BONE . Here we have the noble Sanket , another Irishman , son of one of the gallant Irish members who refnsed to commit suicide by voting for a legislative Union with England . Here the electors are at sea , having , as the first fruits of the ballot , been experimentall y handed over , in a flock , from the advocacy of a candidate with one set of principles , to the advocacy of a gallant candidate with another set of principles .
Now , what Bay you to the ballet , non-electors ! Will this prove to you that , under its p revisions , you oonU not have any opposition ; that the minority should , for the personal and interested objects of individuals , merge in the majority , and thus appear to mix elements , discordant elements in close fraternity , leaving the minority no organ —buried , all buried in the silent tomb of expediency , in the dark recesses of the ballot-box t However , to the poll Sanket goe 3 . ' and you , electors of Marylebone , take care and make your triumph as complete as possible , while the nonelectors , I pledge myself , will do their duty nobly .
Sanket us a Master of Artg , that ia , A . M ., of Cambridge , and O'Bbien is A . M . of Trinity College , Dublin ; therefore , let the rotten colleges of
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England and Ireland be fairly represented , by sending the science of Chartism into the olassio edifice about to be built for the expression of public opinion * ^ Men of London , will yon not subscribe f will yon , in the midst of surrounding misery , be backward No , I don't believe it . Whatever is Sankby ' s fate , let him be assured that according to his conduct will be his future position in Marylebone ; and that that conduot will be open , frank , straightforward , and honourable , no man can doubt ; he will put no one feature of our lovely Charter upon his banner ; the full face of the Charter must there be presented in all its splendour to the aaval hero and his rivals .
Then hurrah for Sankey and Marylebone I For Marylebone and Sankey hurrah !
ROCHDALE . Next oomes more of a legitimatist , but not less of a Chartist , another Irishman , the bold and manly Cbawford—the only man who has had honesty enough to prefer retirement to prostitution . The value of such a return must also speak in the voice of thunder to the closed ears of Ireland , and prove that Newcastle and Rochdale know no distinction in the Irishman ' s creed .
One great advantage of Crawford ' s return would be this- —that he would give an impetus and spur to the drowsy balanoe of power , or such of it as may be again returned in the event of a Whig majority Dvncokbb , Wakley , Leader , Hime , and Waebuhton will be made more forward when pushed behind by such a man as Crawfoed . Mind that ; for we must attach the distinot and proper value to every one of our aots , and assign a good and satisfactory reason for each . So hurrah tot Crawford and Rochdale , For Roohdale and Crawford hurrah t
HULL . Here we have the great gup of Chartism , the phyaieal-force gallant Colonel . Of him you Will not require me to say a word more than I have often repeated , namely , that he is the best Radical of his class to be found ; he too will act as a rowel in the spur to prod ' the sleepy energies of the slothful . But mind , men of Kill ; mind Chartists of Hull ; read last week ' s Leeds Mercury , and mind , or else . Don't poll till the last moment ! and on the first trick , give them two thumping Tories . I would strongly advise you to insist upon Mr . Clay signing the conditions . But be watchful ; And hurrah for Thompson and Hull ! For Thompson and Hull hurrah !
HALIFAX . Here we have a man with whom I have had the honour of sitting and voting for three years in the Honse of Commons . A more amiable , upright , honourable , intelligent man breathes not , than Mr . Gully . No power on earth would induce himlio violate a single pledge , or held your trust for a moment after you required its resignation into your hands .
Read you also what the rascally Mercury dares to say of one of nature's gentlemen ; and , when you see Mr . Gully , as working men and Chartists , feast your eyes by looking upon one who * has raised himself to be a protector of the poor by his own merit . Upon the other hand , look at the protegees of the Mercury , Wood and Pbotherob ; the one who baa voted for the incarceration of your friends , and who has been a crutch for his brother-in-law , Lord Howick , in their hobbling to power ; while PaoTHBBOS has disappointed your every hope .
Don't you mind Attorney-ooroner * brewer * ooalmerchant Stocks . Rely upon it , you have nothing to expect from that quarter . Vote for Gully , every man of you ! he is for the five points of the Charter and will be another rowel in the spur . So , Hurrah , for Gully and Halifax , For Halifax and Gaily , hurrah !
TOWER HAMLETS . Here we have an hereditary patriot in the person of Col . Thompson's son , and we learn that the people are doing their duty , while the leaders are hanging back ; and all I have to say is—to the devil with the leaders ! cut the traces and let them tumble over . while the shaft-horses drag the Chartist waggon up the hill in fustian ! I knew it would come to that , in rotten London . But , fustians , down with the leaders ! down , down , down , down with the leaders ! they will be good company for the bloody Whigs . I know nothing of young Thompson beyond the character whioh the fustians give him—it is enough . So ,
Hurrah for yenng Thompson and the fustians , For the fustians and young Thompson , hurrah !
BATH . Some of my readers may suppose it strange that I should attach any importance to the return of John Arthur Roebuck but I do , and very great importance . In my comment upon Roebuck , I shall speak of him as a whole , and not in his character of a political economist and supporter of the Poor Law Amendment Act . If the question the only question to be decided in this next Parliament was Poor Law or no Poor Law , I should , at once , select the only foul blot in
Roebuck ' s escutcheon for exposure ; but , inasmuch , as I never have nsed the measure as a clap-trap to give the Tories support or preference which they do not deserve , neither shall I now allow myself to place mole-hills between the people and mountains . The Wbig 3 are the fathers of the monaUr ; the Tories are god-fathers—sponsors , and pledged to its training , and for whioh they have promised and vowed three things in its name . Firstly , that it shall renounce the people , and a ll that can get work . Secondly , that it shall renounce all claims to their estates . And , thirdly , it shall walk in
the same all the days of their political- existence . Now , that ' s the plain and simple way of putting it ; andif to-morrow , we had to ohoosebetween Walter and Roebuck , the Poor Law being the question at issue , I would at ones , and without hesitation , vote for Walteh—not srppo&ing that the repeal of one bad measure would be any guarantee against the enactment [ of as bad a one by the same parties , but merely to show popular hatred to it when that hatred could be effectually directed to hit
the mark . But I look more extensively into the whole political mirror , aud I ask which , in the present state of opinion and parties , is the most likely to forward the cause of democracy , Walter or Roebuck \ and who , for a moment can hesitate in coming to a conclusion ! The repeal of the Poor Law BUI would not advance the cause of demooraoy by a hair ' s breadth , while every step in advaiiee by democracy , puts a nail in the devil ' s coffin .
I served for two years with Roebuck , ( and always barring the damning spot , ) he was tho most efficient democrat in the House ; he has since served , and he alone stood up against all the crotchet mongers and sliding balance of power , and by his democratic principles lost all hold of the time -serving electors , I owe Roebuck no great \> omplimeat—he has tried to injure me ; but I owe the public and the cause a duty which no personal motive on earth shall induce mo to swerve from , and especially just
now . I aa not one of those puling sycophants who would lose such a glorious opportunity as the present , for the mere purpose of gratifying personal feelings , or injuring a foe by injuring my cause . No , no ; when it oomes td that . I shall retire . Now , if the contest wai between Waltbe and Hobhousb , I should , upon the other hand , have aa-little hesitation in voting for Walter ; because iere I test the whole question it issue , and all the little good being on Waiteb ' s side , I vote , for the one fair spot , and again&t the maB 3 of putrid corruption . Hobiiouse is a rotten tiling , neither good for manor beast ; and , therefore , I would vote for Walter ; and the eame holds good in all instances . For these reasons , do I most unhesitatingly
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declare , that Roxbuck would be the very sharpest rowel in the democratic spur . He is naturally a democrat , and the more so , from vanity ; and , as before said , if he would bind himself for six months to a Scotch fanner , and then for six months to a Manchester cotton lord , he would speedily discover , whether population presses upon the means of production , or the landlord ' s condition of non-production annexed to leases , presses hardly upon population .
If I was not a good farmer , knowing the full capabilities of mother earth , and if I had not entered Lancashire College , at Oldham , six years ago this month , and , in the course of my education discovered agricultural neglect made manifest in every pale face , I might also have been a " political economist , " whieh means nothing more or less than an ignorant booby , who , while he speaks of production , wouldn't know how to get any dinner but grass from the land , if he had it .
OLDHAM . Here we have John Fieldkm , the only master manufacturer in England in whose return the white slaves have any the slightest interest ; but , on the contrary , in the ousting of every other they have a great interest . A poor man being a Chartist , and a physical-force one , I can understand , without diffioulty ; but a man wallowing in wealth being even a moral-force Chartist , I cannot understand ,
otherwise than that he is the very best of men . In fact * when the poor begin to think of Fielden's wealth , position , opposition to monopoly , and support of their order , they must look upon him as the rarest novelty of the age ; and so he is . There breathes not the breath of life in a more thorough philanthropist , kind-hearted , shrewd man , than Mr . John FiEXDBir : personally I owe him no great compliment , but I do owe htm a duty .
There can be no doubt bat that Fielden will be returned again , along with his excellent , and in every way fitting , colleague , General Johnson . Now , then , I have done so far , but I have not yet done half my work ; So for all , Hurrah , for our side , For our side , hurrah t Now , then , EVERY WORKING MAW , WOMAN , AND CHILD IN
ENGLAND , IRELAND , SCOTLAND , A . ND WALES . Mr dear beloved Children , —Aye you are every ona of you , old and young , my children ; and never was fond father so doatingly fond of an only child . Never did parent look with joy for the first fruits of his union , with more intense and heartfelt anxiety , than I now loek for an heir to our union . Ii is just twelvemonths since the Star warned faction of the approaching tempest which is now about to rage , — in these words : —
" BEHOLD THB STORM COMETH . " My children , for long before , and ever since , I have been on the watch tower to keep the ship " from foes or wreck , " ready to warn the crew of approaching danger from whatever quarter it may threaten us . In that time , though apart , we have fought many battles together in spirit : and now I tell you the HOUR COMETH !
when the crew must remain on deck , and when " England will expect every man to do his duty !" I have done mine ! This is the week before the battle ; the very eve of battle ; and I have given you all the instruction that I thought necessary for your guidance . This week the Star should be a chart to guide you in your perilous course . — Study it ; follow it ; and you are safe ! I have scarcely slept since Saturday last . My mind has been on the rack as to the best meanB of serving voh .
In addition to what yon will see from me this week in the Star , I have written an address of Bixteen large pagos of M . S ., to the Frieze coat electors and non-electors of the County of Cork , bearing upon Irish affairs . I have had it published on a sheet by itself , and sent over to be distributed among the soldiers with whom I have fought and conquered , and who still love me . I cannot forget Ireland ! and in my dungeon I have done my duty to all ! The result of the present contest will test the value of tyranny and the increase of Chartism since the general election k > f 1837 , aud will inform the new Lord Chancellor of Ireland , our old persecutor-General , Sir John Campbell , that he was in a dose when he thought he had put Chartism to rest ! He is to be a Peer and a Chancellor ! and
thus have the Whigs rewarded one and all of our persecutors I But no matter ! we will Boon be in a sitnation to right ourselves ! My children , the Chartist tree ? s growing rapidly , and spreading its luxuriant foliage over the shoots thafc daily and hourly spring from its fertile roots . It is deep sown , but nevertheless springs like good seed scattered in rich soil . 0 1 how I long to walk among you , when we shall have killed tyranny ; and to see you what nature intended you to be , freshen 1 every man with ihe key of his own store house . filled with the produce of his own labour , in his own pocket . These are my politics . I am for a xeturn from an artificial , to a na tural state of existence .
Mothers , for this make your sons work for the next week 1 Wives , for this make your husbands work for the next week ! Sisters , for this make your brothers work for the next week ! Sweethearts , for this make your lovers work for the next week ! All , all , work for this , next week ! I am now tired and weary , aud leave you with my blessing , and the blessing of God implored in your behalf : and that you may overcome every foe to liberty , and every obstacle that stands between you and your just and righteous cause , is the sincere and the earnest , the devout and never ceasing prayer of Yonr fond and affectionate father , Fea rqus O'Connor .
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MR . O'BRIEN , O'CONNOR , AND THE NORTHERN STAR . In our last number , we promised to reason with Mr . O'Brien on the subject of the policy which we have thought it our duty to recommend to the people at the coming elections . We felt sorry to lack , on any subject , tho approbation of O'Brien , and were in hopes of being able to show him that his position on this matter , had be 9 n taken np more hastily than is
usual with him . However , aa O'Connor wa 3 equally concerned in the matter with the Editor of the Nortliern Star , be has thought proper to take it np ; and on reading over his two letters to Mr . O'Brien , we at once laid aside an article whioh we bad prepared upon the subject ; satisfied that it unnecessary to occupy space with more than he has said upon the matter . To those letters we refer Mr . O'Brien and the people , and rest contented to abide the issue .
We this week give another letter from Mr . O'Brien , following up his former ones . To that letter then we now request the attention f our readers , in conjunction with his former fljMgb and with the two letters of O'Connor in reply . ^ H is not our practice to treat the " reasoning" of any man , least of all that of Mr . O'Brien , with affected contempt ; we desire to give to it all the weight and influence te which the long labours of aueh a mu entitle him ; we would subtract nothing from it , by inuendo or otherwise ; and we beg to . assare him , that whatever may have been hit impression ,
nothing was farther from our purpose than , in the few remarks we last week appended to bis letters , to place his opinion or our own in any undue position . We do not preeame to "dogmatic to our brother Chartists / ' or to setop our opinion 1 : as the established faith of , the Chartist body . " But we do think urselves bound in duty to place our opinions on all great matters of policy honeBfly and fearlessly before the people—to give our reasons for holding those opinions—and we think we have a right to aBk tho people not to make up their minds "beforehand" to pay no attention
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to those reasons . Again , regretting that we cannot have in this matter Mr . O'Brien ' s approval and concurrence , we leave the whole matter itittttfw people , reiterating our deliberate opinion , that if they suffer the present opportunity of effectually overthrowing the " Bloodies" to pass by , they will bitterly repent it .
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On Tuesday morning last , this town at an early hour , exhibited all the bustle and excitement of an electioneering contest , it having been announced that the whole of the candidates for both the boroogh and the West * Riding , would make their a ppearance and address the people in the yard of the Coloured Cloth Hall . The factions were early on the alert . Bands of music , blue and yellow flags and banners , borne by hired dupes , and small and large loaves of bread , decorated with blue and yellow ribbons , were marched in procession through the streets " making morn hideous , " and arousing the lethargic from their heavy slumbers . But in the midst of all this , there was a party moving in all the dignity of conscious superiority
who needed not the aid of " pomp and cere mony" to enforce their claims on the public attention . The Chartists , though not fearing a comparison , concontonted themselves by appearing without either colours or music , conscious that they were not a whit behind either of the factions in the ability of the candidates whom they had freely cho 3 en , or in the justice of their cause which they espoused . Mr . George Julian Harney and Mr . Pitkethlv were the Riding candidates , and Mr . James Williams and Mr . James Leech the borough candidates of the Chartists ; theHon . J . S . Wortleyand Mr . Beckett Denison the Riding , and Mr . William Beckett and Lord Jocelyn , the borough candidates of the Tories ; and Lords- Morpeth and . Milton the Riding , and Messrs . Hume and Aldam the borough , candidates of the united corps of Foxes and Geese .
Each party invited their candidates to a publit breakfast . - The Chartists had a numerous party to a good substantial repast , at their room , in the Fish Market . The Tories feasted their friends at the Muaio Hall , in Albion-street , where a large party assembled under the presidency of Mr . Henry Hall . Of course the great and mighty of the land were there" where the carcase is , there will the vultures be gathered together . " , . The Whigs occupied the largo room of the Commercial Buildings , and if we could believe the extraordinary liar , we might suppose that the ? far
• out-Heroded Herod" in numbers , respectability wealth , talent , grandeur , show , and everything else , but we have learnt to place a proper value on Neddy ' s statements . . The good things of this life having been done ample justice to , some time was spent by each of the faotions in raising their spirits , and preparing them for what might cross their path in the course of the next few hours . Neddy's Extraordinary says the speeches of the " Bloodies , " after the gormandizing was over , were " extraordinary" indeed , and " extraordinary" must have been the stomachs of tha gulls who swallowed them . About ha'f-past nine o ' clock , a move was made towards the Cloth Hall Yard .
The Chartists , conscious of the purity of their principles , were the first who arrived , in procession , certainly , but unaided by decoration , or the least display . Their numbers were , as they always are , formidable ; and , though slighted aud insulted by the " Liar "Extraordinary , " were strong enough to make him quail when he looked upon them . We ought to remark here that a commodious hustings , in two divisions , had been erected by the two great parties , without any seeming provision for the greatest party of all—the party of the people . The candidates and leaders , however , were supplied with tickets of admission to the hustings , and they took up their position iu the centre . The Blues arrived next , after parading the streets in procession , with their bands and banners , and took up position aft the far end of the yard , the candidates and their supporters occupying that end of the hustings .
These had no sooner taken their places , than the Whigs arrived and occupied the vacant part of the hustings allotted to them—their supporters appa ~ rently filling the end of the yard from the steps to the gates . We say apparent !; , because we happen to know that it was not really so , notwithstanding certain extraordinary statements which have been since published . The fact is that in this , as in everything else , the . Whigs must have some trick ; they had planned to have the entrance to the yard allotted to them , knowing that they would be sure of all the droppers-in , who would thus be , made to swell their numbers . And this was more easily effected , and made more apparent , by the fact that the Chartists
wore no colours , and that those Blues who arrived late , and in straggling divisions , dispensed with their usual insignia also . But their veil was torn aside during the addresses of the candidates , and was made particularly apparent even to the extrardinary optics of the " Q , ueen-groaner , " when , during the spirited and effective address of Mr . J . G , Harney , the cheers of those who were thought to be yellow told so effectually in favour of the candidate of the people ' s choice , and placed beyond all doubt the opinions of the great majority of those who occupied the first portion of the yard . The Mercury knows the fact ; "Let the galled jade wince . "
The number of persons assembled to listen to the proceedings could net be fewer than fifteen thousand ; we should say more . The greater part of the persons with orange cards in their hats consisted of men hired for the occasion ; and of lads of from sixteen to eighteen ; the latter were , occasionally , very noisy and unsteady ; but on the whole , the crowd behaved extremely well .
THE WEST RIDING CANDIDATES Lord Visconnt MORPETH addressed the multitude at considerable length , in one of his usual carefully prepared and deliberately conned " themes , " on which we imagine that some boarding school miss had bestowel no small amount of feminine taste and pains taking , in'the nicely stringing together of nest fitting representatives ol nothing . The Noble Lord ' s speech was a tolerably " correct composition , " by whom written we , of course , know not ; but , as a literary effort , it might be considered passable from a fourth form boy in the Leeds Free Grammar School . His harangue , of course , gave much credit to the Government fur their determined efforts against " monopoly , " and predicted sad things for the country if the said Government
should be " thrown on their own resources . " He begajl by stating that the very echoes lingering in the Cloth Hall Yard were charged with the death-Knell of monopoly—that he had heard from that place in 1830 war proclaimed against the monopoly of representationthat he had afterwards heard condemned in that place the monopoly of traffic in human flesh—that these monopolies were now at an end , and he confidently augured the same fact for the monopoly of corn , commerce , and trade . After some left-handed compliments to his Tory opponents , which were too palpable to be well received , he went on to say , — " I believe , Gentlemen , the Supreme Ruler of events has bo formed this world , with all its diversities of land and of sea , separating land from land , and island
from island , by waters , and riven , and oceans , endow * ing one portion of the earth with exuberant riohnesiof soil , and with , the genial influence of climate ; appropriating another portion to more hardy enterprise by giving to it stores of mineral wealth ; making the cotton plant , the tea plant , and coffee plant , thrive in another region , making iron harden , coal blacken , or diamonds blaze , in another region . ( Cheers . ) I humbly conseive that in making these , the Supreme Architect . of nature intended that man should enjoy , and that in order to enjoy , he should work , acd ie should exchange . ( Loud applause . ) I need not ask yon whether you have not proved yourselves wi lling to work . ( Cries of * we have . ' ) There has been no . failure with you in this respect . It can't be pretended that you have not done your duty to the utmost , in working honestly for yonr livelihood , and for the comfort and maintenance of your families . " ( Hear , hear , and cheers . " ) . Then came a great lot of declamation
about the scarcity of manufacturing employment and the driving of oar trade into foreign countries by Ou naughty Corn Laws . The Noble Lord proceeded then to argue that inasmuch a » the public revenue is not equal to the public expenditure , the Tories , if they take office must increase the revenue by imposing fresh taxes , -whett - as he and his friends were disposed to do t by taking off taxes t Not a word about reducing &e public expenditure to meet the revenue : in that part of the tune , the performers are too well studied to let * jarring note be heard . After adverting to the desperate circumstances of his faction , which had rendered « necessary for them to Invoke the power ol the " House of Westwotth . " . The Nable Lord wound up hU redtatlon with the following pithy words which we hitf he will find to be truer than he ever intended they should be . " The word has cone f « rtb against prohibition * , against exclusion , and against undue preferew * to favoured dosses . ( Cheers . ) The hand-writln | r i * ot Ui « wall—the cause of monopoly bat had its day . "
Lord MILTON , having been introduced by J *«* Bbowx , JwL . Eaq ., next presented himself , and < pitiable exhibition it was . The poor lad was evideattf frightened at the unusual position ia which he ( oarf himself . Some earefol graadmotber bad put downfo * him a string of ordinary mean-nanghts about his b&f and free trade , whioh the luckless youth in trying to repeat from memory , stack repeatedly fast In , and then referring to bis prompt book , lost the Uae of his ieswn , and ; reading wroagy » ade all sorb of ledienloui blunders—talking about ?? iiriving the free-trade gentlemen from the field , " ia—hia friinds behind ana ai-round him on the hustings , several times interfered to keep the Noble Lordllog right in hia lesson ; but W no purpose . We suppose that such an exhibWoH « impudent porae-calculating imbecility was scaroely eve * before made , as that which bit " frienda" art &Q « making of tnla unfortunate , young man , ;
Visit Of The West Riding And Borough Candidates To Leeds.
VISIT OF THE WEST RIDING AND BOROUGH CANDIDATES TO LEEDS .
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4 THE NORTHERN STAR . ' _________
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 26, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1115/page/4/
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