Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 4th September 1841, Edition 1 of 3, Page 7, Untitled Article

Page 7
Page 7
7 of 8

On this page

  • Text (2)

      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.

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

    • Untitled Article

      Untitled Article

  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Untitled Article

      ( Continuedfrom our Sixth Page . J azried forth by the trumpet of fame to every land a&d every dime . ( Cbeen . ) Yon have beard the wsoln-Ban proposed by oat friend Mr . Mark . Itoontsina lamentation for the various sufferings that pervade the working sad mdastrkus millions of our arantryaten . These lamentation * certainly call into exercise ttie feeling * of philanthropy , and the anxiety of erery patriot , —( applause , )—and it is s sublime feeHng of o ar satare that has dfet&ignished the whole character of oar leaders in seeking to establish the People ' s Qtarter . ( Applause . ) It is the possession of those feelings that has brought into operation those principles that hare subjected them to imprisonment , banish ment , and , in some instances , to death . Mr . Clayton

      for instance . ( Applause . ) Bnt to come more immediately to the object 'which has been the eaose of out assembling together this day—namely , to demonstrate the joyful feelings of the people of this country on the liberation of that great—that distinguished patriot , Feargus O'Connor , Esq . —{ cheers , )—from York Castla I most say , that it affords me the sincerest pleasure to peroerre the rays of light and liberty extending their inflnence OTer such a vast multitude of intellects ! and lensitiYe beings . ( Cheers . ) I can almest conceive that , when Mr . O'Connor was brought to the dungeons of York Castle—when he -was immured within the walls of that ttrong and impregnable citadel—liberty had not preTiously dawned amongst the inhabitants of York . But during this state of things , I can readily

      tonceive that when Mr . O'Connor entered within the fortress walls , the lore of freedom became impregnated among the people , and this love has gone on « ver since increasing . ( Loud cheers . ) Let then the name of O'Connor—that honest , that strennons , that unflinching adTOcate of the rights of the men of England and Ireland , witkoat distinction of birth or class let his name , 1 say , be written on out hearts , let it be engraven ob the tablets of our memories , and let it produce all that lore , all that unanimity , and all that devotion , which the cause of Chartism demands , and which it must bare before Britain is emancipated , and before Ireland and Scotland are set free . ( Loud cheers . ) I beg leave most cordially to second the motion . ( Loud applause . )

      Mr . Wheeiee , of Manchester , was called upon to support the resolution . Be said—You have called upon an old veteran in your cause ; and it may be some apology for my trespassing thus early upon the meeting when I state that I come here the representative of 200 women of Manchester , and of 1 , 500 brare men—( eheersj—who hare empowered me to congratulate and welcome Mr . O Conner on his release from the dunleon ' s glotm . They hare also empowered me to tell the Whigs and the Tories that we are determined to have our freedom , i Applause , j What hare they gained by

      sending us to the dungeons ? Have they frightened us ? No ; we bid deSince to their dungeons . ( Loud cheers . ) They sent that uncompromising champion Mr . O'Connor te the dungeon ; yet here he is unsubdued and as hearty in the cause of the people as ever , and our noble champion he shall be , so long as he continues to fight for the Charter . ( Applause . ) I cannot speak my sentiments to you on this occasion , because there are so many persons to follow me , but as an old man I congratulate yon ; ( and 1 will yield to no man in England in the skoerity of mj sentiments ) on the liberation of Mr . O'Connor from York Castle , iApplause . /

      The resolution was put by the Chairman to the meeting , and carried unanimously amidst tremeadeus cheering . TbeCHAiBJtAS next introduced Feargus O'Connor , Esquire . FEABGTTS O'CONNOR , Esq ., then came forward , and was received with immense cheering . When it had subsided , he said—Mr . Chairman , Ladies , and Brother Chartists , I caa scarcely give my entire assent t « the first resolution which has been proposed , although I agree in part of the terms of it , yet I cannot come to the conclusion that that is " cruelty" which has produced the result that I now Bee before me . ( Loud cheers . ; I may have suffered unjust persecution , but if my persecution , though more unjust if possible , were

      to lead to results like the present daily , then T should clasp my hands , and say , " welcome , persecution ! ' i&re&t cheering . ) Uo doubt many persons svppoBe teat I am going to indulge in a vituperative phillipic about York C&stle . No ! this day opens to me a fnture which makes me look with contempt upon the past . ( Cheers . ) I hare dona with York Castle—but not with those who seat me there , iContinued cheering . ) Those who sent me there , my friends , are like myself this ¦ very day . I am OUT , and bo are the Whip ! iI-Mighter and cheers-: They haTe lost the sting , and they have left none of the poison behind—( laughter)—and 1 trust 1 am too Tnagnsnimoos to break the last joint of putrid Whigrery cpon the rack of Chartism , i Cheers . ¦ Let fb » Tn limp , and hop , and hobble through the cps and

      downs of life as best they can . ' . Laughter and cheers . ; Let them noft deep upon the bed that they hare made for themselves , as best they can . ' . Cheers . ; They night have been in the position which I have now the pleasure to occupy , if they had rdied upon the aSectionB and rapport of those whom they promised to serre instead of relying upon those who hare watched them like the rat-catch = rt dog , to snaffle them the moment they come out of their holes . iLond cheers . ) My friends , I sppear before you to open the seventh session of Chartism in person—ihear and cheers;—and although my physicians warned me against the effect of &Ey excitement which my appearance here might produce upon Hiy health , yet I was not willing to open this session by proxy . Cheers . ) I hare come

      before yoa merely to tell you that others wooJd and will follow nsore fresh from the scenes where those daily occurrences are taking place than myself . I belirre thty will submit to you a series of resolutions depicting the present state and condition of the working classes , and laying before you the means for their fnture benefit and advantage . Cheers . ) I have no hesitation in saying that these resolutions—and I have read them all—iheai—do breathe the sentiments of humanity . 'Hear . ) 1 have no hestatlcn in saying that the principles contained in these resolutions will be met no . by an amendment supported by a majority of ninety-onethat they will be met by no amendment , bet meet the approbation of the millions . Locd and repeated cheers . , These resolutions will be spoken to by

      persons who have themselves fe ) t the grievances complained of , and I have no hesitation in saying that the working classes of this country will contribute theii little sseans in support of the Executive Council , in order to enable them to carry into effect , in proper strength , these resolutions . Cheers . > I have no hesitation in szjicg thst the working classes of this country , oppressed and enslaved as they are , will cheerfully contribute the means in order to work out their own and thfcir fellows' salvation . Loud Cheering ., We have teen subjected to all kinds of taunts and insults , —( hear , —at one time we tare been called Whig-Chartists—at another time we have be * n called Terj-Cfczrusts , —and again the epithet of Destructives has been aptlied to us , — hear , ;—bnt , as your chairman

      Well observed , in opening the proceedings of this day , the condner of this meeting wili prove , whether or no , we £ je the dEstraftives and levellers we are represented to be . ( Cheering . We are n ot 1 mil era . ! H ear ., God knows we would be Borry to reduce the meanest alive to the level of an English workman . Cheers . ' We are not levellers ; we are elevators . We wish to laise the people in the scale of existence . Instead of gending the people to Poland , Russia , Prussia , Dsntzic , the Porte , or to America , for their breakfast , dinner and supper , we wish to give them the means &f prodsticg their breakfast , dinner , and supper at home . - , &reat cheering . . We are for free trade ; but we are above a ) l tlings for free trade in legislation . . Cheers . ; We are for no quackery or humbug—we are not for

      standing on the green sward devoted to the race-horse , aa < i not allowed t « be cultivated 1-y the poor man , thereby providing him with the means of producing his breakfast , dinner , and supper , that the rich Eian might bet with greater accuracy aa to the amount of e ' siticity contained in the sod . Cheering . ) No , the land ought to be made to yield to the heel of the working man , instead of yielding to the hoof of the lace-horse . < Great cheering . ) But we are frequently ailed Tory Chartists—ihear/— and the-Whigs say we have to thank Feargus O'Connor for having a Tory Government , j Cheers ; Let them take it ; they are welcome . ; Cheers . ; Thank God the Whigs are too few for a party , and too many for a faction . If I were to say iETthiag of Whiggery—I am not going to deal in party

      Titoperations—but if I were to say anything of Whiggsry , and allowed the same course of free-trade tWEBlaSon , that Mr . Cotton Twist thought fit to take in talking to the working meD , I would say de morlxU fci ^ niji fcc-. Mi—tnd 1 would take the libeity of translating it thus , " there is netting left of Whiggery bnt tfce bones . " ¦ Loud cheers and laughter , i They are gone ! and , thank God , no one kept up a more constant fire fcpon item than I did / or nice rears . ¦ Cheers . | Sappose , tev friends , during the period the Whigs were is office , and when they were Separating the utf&Bt from the bosom of its mother—suppose , * hea they were dragging the Bged wife from the home of the aged husband—suppose , my friends , that at that ™ e , when they were filling the country with an armed P ° £ « , a sort of sendormerie—suppose 1 had come forward

      * nd supported them in carrying cut such measures , * on 2 d not my conduct have deserved the execration of heaven and the curse of every honest man ? ; Loud and wntinrjed cheers . ; Suppose I had assisted them in thai bit-aad-bit Beform— putting all the bits , by the bye , into their own mouths—slaughter and cheers;—* ° PPose I had lent them my assistance , what would « a people have thought of my conduct ? . Cheers .: l thank God , in my morning thoughts , and in my f rottDg musings , I can look at the glass without blush-Ch ~ L C 0 DdBc : - I ksTe not betrayed the people . ' > wT ' ^ ° > mJ fries < i *» I have stood by you . Now , f " me for the future ; 1 have spoken only of what f ™» goae by . Recollect , that lore of pleasure , love of ~ r" 7 > and all those attractions which fascinate the r" ** 00 ** of the day have no charms for me . I am

      Zrj ?~ i } patient , I am unassuming . ; Cheer * . ' 1 imaged ayself to the people of my own country , that 1 » " ! I * r * ° ; uld accept of place , pension , or emolument from •* 7 wrernment that might hold the reins of AdminisfTZ 00 "" € IeePt one based upon Universal Suffrage . of f * 00 * one of tbose altogether unaccountable persons IlT ^ SAtaie haart , who , after being forsaken by the i ^ f Tie , and jugUy so forsaken , oiuld still linger through Poia £ / * £ * at ^^ finfc « r of KXJTa ^^ ** aicJT ? " r ' E > y fjiend * , ray principles are too well m £ ~*?~ i !? manner in which I have hitherto aivocated ^^ * ""¦ COEtinue to pursue to ¦ . ¦ fee last day t-f mj

      Untitled Article

      life . { Load cheers . ) Now , my friends , we an told that we are destructives , and that we should unite with the middle classes . We might as well be told that we should unite with this aan or that man—this party or that par ty—because they an ai multifarious aa black sheep and white sheep . ( Laughter and cheers . ) What clan should we unite with ? If we unite with the Whig middle classes , the Tories would aj that we ought to unite with the Tory middle classes—and if we united with the Tory middle classes the Whigs would say , yon ought sot to unite with the Tories who an tout natural enemies ; but if the Tories be our natural enemies , the Whigs are our artificial enemies . ( Cheers . ) I ara net one to lead you on to Bxart ' al etiifc , bat on the contrary I have ever denounced the shedding of human blood;—I hare ever been oppeaed to leadhnr

      the people against a weu-diaciplined , and a well-organised army;—I have always set my face against that ;—( hear )—but , suppose when the legislature , while the Whigs were in office , were perpetrating those things , some of which I have named to you , and suppose I were to come and say " DoHt mind firing at the front rank that fires upon you , direct the fire over the heads of the Whigs in the front ranks and fire at the Tories in the rear , "—now , you would come to the conclusion that if I did so I should be acting the part of a bad general . Would you not say that the party in advance were the party that ought to be first destroyed ? { Hear , hear . ) Now , thank God , we have triumphed over the party in advance , and the Tories having triumphed over the Whigs , and taken up their positien in the front rank , and shew me the man that

      ¦ wfllkeep up upon the Tory party a more continuous fire than I will . ( Loud cheering . ) I am not for giving the Right Hon . Baronet another trial —( hear , hear 1—he has not given my country a fair trial 'Cheers . ) But , my friends , I was speaking of the middle classes , of which both the Whigs and the Tories are the representatives . Now , whom does it behove to join the ranks of . the people ? Why , who are the greatest sufferers from the present system—not in the political so much as in the social system 1 Why , the shopkeepers . ( Hear . ) Who are the great and voracious sharks that eat up all ? Why , the manufacturers —( hear)—who like so many gamblers , store up all the capital which ought to be daily circulating , as long as they please , during the time the poor working classes are starving . ( Applause . ) Why , my friends , if the shopkeepers

      kt . ew their own interest , and would no longer submit to that' disgusting system of long credits , they would see the propr iety of allying themselves with the people . My Lord Wenlock , or any other aristocrat , may purchase a hundred pounds' -worth of goods , but they are not to be depended upon for the payment of the bill ; the shopkeeper , * however , may depend upon having the poor man ' s penny on Saturday night , tCheera , i They ( the shopkeepers ) know perfectly well that the Bill or bond of the rich man may be a good security against the future , but the thing that enables them to go on and make up profits , and lay up against the bond of the rich man is the poor man ' s ready penny . ( Loud cheers . ; That is the next battery we are to assaultwe must tell the shopkeepers that we are not their enemies . We have not said to the people , " Go and

      shoot your brother , and fire his house . " True the Whigs h * . ve charged this upon us [;—and why was it that the Whigs brought false charges against us ? Because they could not oppose ns by any other means-for this reason , that they had men to oppose who would not bend beneath their ignorance and intolerance Cheers . ) I have been blamed for many things —( bear ; —but I stand before the people with a bold front to account for all . ( Cheers . ) I have been placed in a position which few men could have survived— ( hear , hear)—but this day more than compensates me for all I have suffered . ( Cheers . ) If I have spent four days of the seven in anguish and sorrow , I have been compensated en the fifth by the visits and reports of my faithful , amiable , and trust-worthy friend , who saw me on the Thursday—I mean my publisher , Mr .

      Hobson—( cheers )—who never failed to bring along with him good tidings in reference to the progress of our cause iHear . ) On the Fridays I read the first edition of the IferihernSiar , and on the Saturdays I saw it one vi > rw ail England and Scotland , and the intelligence I then received gladdened my heart . [ Hear , hear . ) This being Vbe position of affairs , 1 was confident that we were able , as we have shewn the Whigs , to work out our own salvation . ( Hear . ) Many is the time , my friends , in the depth of winter , I have been propped u > on pillows , and in anguish I hare written letters to you , as if I were in the enjoyment of the best of spirits . . ' Hear , hear . ) I was determined that the sufferings which I endured I would not communicate , lest it should have the effect of spreading the plague of despondeney amongst my working friends . ( Loud cries

      of heai . ) " The time , my friends , is at hand when our cause shall became triumphant The great , the indomitable , the brave Sharman Crawford has hoiBted the standard of the people in the House of Commons , and thirty-nine have nobly responded to the call made upon them . And proud am I to think that it was sn Irishman and the representative of an English constituency , that first obliged thirty-nine members of the House of Commons to tell her Majesty that before the people eould have comfort , they must have TniveTsal Suffrage . ; Cheers . ) Those men who supported the motion of Mr . Crawford represent the tLirty-niDe articles of our political belief . ( Hear . ) We will keep these men to it ; and let the two ravage factions fight like tbe Kilkenny cats . ( Laughter and cheers . ' What do they discass ? la it how they may benefit the people or

      better their condition ? No , but how they can best promote thei / own selfish interesta ( Applause . ) One of the bugbears they have raised to frighten the working people from the scent , is the cry of " too-mueh population ; " but I have no hesitation in saying that we are in adversity for want of population . If we had men there is land enough in the country , the gift of God , and labour enough , the inheritance of man , to make in England a perfect paradise . ( Cceers . ) I am not one of those men that want you to be idle ; I am not one of those that want you to live in luxury . No ; tbe value of my politics is this—that they are suitable to the poor man ' 8 interests and principles . ( Cheers . ) I do not watt to Ke you driving in carriages or riding on horses— ! be * r >; but I do not want to see you driven to the bastile , as one poor fellow was lately

      driven from his cottage by Lord Grantley—( hear );—and I have been told of a cz&e of a similar character , which lately occurred near Stockton , where a psor man was driven from his cottage . No , the land was given to man , —labour is his inheritance and capital . God told him tfeai the land was his heritage ; that he was to possess , and be fruitful , and multiply , and replenish the earth . 'Hear . ! The man that says otherwise is the enemy of the working classes—is an infidel , and nst a Christian . Hear . ) I never took scch an airing as I took to-day . (\ laugh . ) I thought I should have fallen before the excitement ; but , thank God , 1 rise equal to the emergency before ma iHear . j 1 ihall go forth to the proceedings of the future with less preparation than I at first thought , to work a union amone our own ranks . You must recollect that

      union is a great thing—it is by union that the Whics , though a small band , have been able to hold an unjust supremacy , even by a minority , for a length of time . Yoiinnst recollect , if union be good for a minority , it is doubly so for a ruajority . Htar , hear , and lomii cheering . ! The Irishman asked , when eating an applepie that contained one quince— " If one quince makes an apple-pie so good , what would it be if it was all quinces ? " Langbter and applause . ) If union for the Whigs was so goad , what must union be for the whole country ? Shame upon me , then , on my release from the Castle of York , if 1 forget the gratitude I owe to the men , not for getting np this grand demonstration , but for having attempted , and successfully attempted , to wile away my tedious hours of imprisonment . ( Hear , hear ., 1 am glad to find ttat on my being twice

      convicted without the examination of a single witness , a feeling was raised in the people of York against so grinding a system of oppression . iHear . ) There were no Chartists in York this day two years—now , behold the Chartists of York . 'Hear and cheers . ) There you are , and where is the other party of your opponents who could get up such a demonstration ? ( Loud cheers . ) They are not in existence . ( Chews . ) They suppose that they have trinmphed over us , because they have sent me to the dungeon , and many others to the cold grave , yet I trust in God that there is spirit enough among us so long as the cause is righteous , and just , and honourable , to maintain that position to which we have attained . iHear . j I trust that we have those amongst us capable of distinguishing between a future and present time . ( Hear . ) I do not live for

      to-day—I live for futurity— I do not live for any particular moment—1 hope to live for all time—( hear , hear )—and how cas any man ' s time be better devoted than to the advancement of the improvement of the working classes . ( Cheers . . ' It will not do to tell you Uiat you produce all and have something—thear )—the thing that you must have must be defined . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) You ought to know what you ars to ' have , to make you independent of the caprice of the Crown—independent of the caprice of the House of Lords , and independent of the caprice of the House of Commons ;—( hear . )—so that when you seethe majority in the Heuse of Lords or in the Honse of Commons , yon may know there is no majority that can prig your pig from your corner in the shape of taxation . ( Cheers , ) Where is the man that will deny you

      that right ? Wherever he exists he is an enemy—a man that opposes the legitimate rights of the working classes—he is a man that does so , in order that he may hoard up millions out of the labonr of the working classes . Look at Mr . Marshall , of Leeds ; he , with two millions -of money , wants a repeal of the Corn Laws , in order that he may board up more riches . ( Hear . ) Well , if I had two millions I would purchase land , and let it out at a fair rent to the poor for cultivation . When I see Mr . Marshall give up one million to tbe poor , and then look to Poland , Russia , or other centinential countries for-Ms breakfast , dinner , and supper , I will Bay "_ well dtne , good and faithful steward . "

      iCheering . i But I must look at him and his class with very different feelings so long as I find them trying to scraps all they can from the working classes . They come and ask as to let them have another pull ; but they have had too many pulls already , as we say in Ireland , at grannyweal . ' Cheers and laughter . ) These fellows have had too many pnlis at the poor of England and Ireland . , Hear , hear . ) There is one resolution in particular to be proposed to yen to-day , which raises every particle of sensibility in my composition—it is that which pledges you to devote yourselves to consort in a bond of union and affection with your Irish brethren . It has been said that the English people are

      Untitled Article

      opposed to the interests of the IrUh— I deny it . ( Applause . ) There is no such feeling existing in the English mind . Those who an opposed to the interests of the English people an opposed to the interests of Inland , and those who are opposed to the interest * of Inland are hostile to the interests of the English people . ( Cheers . ) If 1 were to canvass this mighty meeting now I should not find one individual opposed to the interests of the Irish people ; bnt as I am not a nan who would lire upon sectarianism , so I am not one that would live upon applause obtained by inculcation of bad feeling and religion ! prejudice , and I am read ; te prove to my countrymen that the English people are with them to a man . ( Cheers . ) They may suppose a burnt child dreads the fin—they may imagine they have scorched me , and that I dread entering York Castle again . No —( cheers)—they can never make me suffer men than I have suffered , and what

      I have suffered I am ready to suffer again if it would prove benerkial to your cause . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Now , then , you will think I have rather trespassed on the order of my physician . ( Cries of "Go on ; " "Go on . " ) Aye , gs on , but there are a great many to go on after me ; and there is yet a duty resting upon me to enter more into detail this evening than I have done on the present occasion , in conclusion ( hen I must say that so long as I can hoM a hand to my head—so long as I have existence—so long aa I can aid the cause—so long as I have a pen to move—so long as I have an arm to wield in defence of your rights , I will stand by yon —( cheers)—and if any man goes before me in advocacy of those rights , he must go at a quick pace , or I will pass him hop , step , and jump . ( The Learned Gentleman sat down amid immense and longcontinued cheering . His speech occupied twenty-five minutes in the delivery . )

      Mr . Georce Wbite , Birmingham , moved the second resolution . He said he had . been sent there by tbe men and women of Birmingham , in their name to congratulate P . 0 'Connor , ^ q . on his release from the fangs of tyranny and oppression ; and net only to congratulate him on being once more ' in the enjoyment of the greatest of all blessings—liberty , but to assure him that both the men and women of Birmingham were determined never to rest satisfied till tbe Charter had become the law of the land . ( Great cheering . ) He would tell them that he had taken up tbe cause of the Charter , because he h * 4 witnessed the sufferings which were endured by the working classes—( h / jar)—and because he thought it was the only means calculated to put an end to those sufferings ; because

      he siw tbe drones rolling in affluence and plentybecause he saw that there was plenty and to spare in the land , while the very men who produce all tbe wealth axe starving in the midst of it ( Hear , and cheers . ) He knew then wen those amongst the working men who did not agree with him in his viewswho saw no utility in the Charter ; but if they were willing to be amused , and to go with a ragged coat , they were quite welcome to do so ; for his own part , he was determined , and he hoped they were the same , not to rest satisfied an til the fall measure of his birthright—of the birthright of every Briton—was granted to him . ( Loud cheers . ) He had heard it asked—what if they had the Charter , wbat goo * would it do ? He would tell them . The Charter would give

      them all that was necessary to secure the full measure of their rights . ( Cheers . ) What had they , or any other working man , to expeot from either Whig or Tory ? He would tell them : just nothing . ( Cheers . ) Who promised them a fair week ' s wage for a fair week ' s work 1 Neither of them . ( Hear . ) Neither of the factions would do anything for the working man ; and if working men any longer submitted to be the slaves of either party , they were not worthy of the name of men , much less of the name of Britons . ( Great cheering . ) Then was not even a pig in existence which would not grunt if his breakfast were taken away from him ; and if they would not do the same , be would tell them at once they were worse than the pigs . ( Hear . ) There were thousands of men living at a great distance from York

      who would have been there that day to testify their devotion to tbe patriot and to the cause , but they could not afford it , —( hear . )—for they could not obtain the necessaries of life ; there were hundreds , he knew , who were actually perishing for want , because they had no means of getting anything to subsist upon ; and these wen charitably told , by the possessors of great wealth , that if they had not enough to feed on they must starve , and that it was the decree of providence they should starve . ( Shame . ) He did not think that providence had decreed anything of the sort . ( Cheers . ) But how could these things be remedied ? He would tell them they never would be remedied until every man bad a voice in the making of the laws by which they were to be governed—until

      Universal Suffrage was the law of tbe land ; and he called upon all to unite and follow the example of Birmingham , of Gl&i ^ ow , of London , of Manchester ; he called upon every town in tbe kingdom to come forward and unite in favour of that measure . ( Cheers . ) He could tell them that he c&me there as the representative of the Chartists of Birmingham , who were determined to do their duty ( Load Cheers . ) He bad so doubt the deputies present represented eight or nine millions of people ; and if they were determined to have their rights , who could resist them—who could compel them to live a * slaves and serfs , or keep them in the state of starvation , in which they were ? ( Hear , and cheers . ) Theymight think he was alluding to physical force ; but if the people were united , and go hand in hand together , there would be no need of physical force ; their iuor % ) force would be a more powerful agent . ( Cheers . ) What did they want with physical farce ? They wanted no

      man ' s property ; they were not desirous to uijure any one ; but while they would respect another ' s rights , aa too sacred for their interference , they were determined to have justice for themselves ; and before they could haTe justice for themselves , they must have tbe Charter . He hunself was one who bad been prosecuted , and he would ask if they thought persecution had broken his spirit iHear , hear , and " No , no . ") No ; he was if possible , rendered firmer in his resolution , and more impatient in his demands . Dirt they tbink persecution would put O'Connor down ? Iso : he would lead them en to victory , and that victory ¦ would not be obtained till they had established truth , freedom , and justice for all . ( Cheers . ) He thanked them on behalf of the men and women of Birmingham for the kindness ¦ which had been shown to bim , and for the patient manner in ¦ which he had been heard whilst tendering their gratitude to their invincible champion— O Connor . The resolution he meved was as follows : —

      " That this meeting—reviewing the past persecution of their leaders in 1 S 3 U and 1 ^ 40—remembering the gross violations of law and constitutional usages in the trials of their friends—ami forgetting the barbarous cruelties that have been inflicted , and are in course of iiifliction , upon the patriots -whose only object was the establishment of the people ' s rightscalls upon their countrymen to watch with the most unwearied vigilance the slightest attempt at a revival of persecution on the part of the oppressors . And this meeting solemnly appeals to the people of Great Britain and Ireland to protect for the future , by every means in their power , those who risk all and dare all for the common good . Let the people act upon the principle that where one of the community is oppressed all are oppressed , and let them be prepared to carry the said principle in o practical effect . "

      Mr . Bi-ack , of Nottingham , seconded the reso ' . ution . He had been sent there to represent tbe people of Nottingham and its vicinity , and to cungratuhte , on their behalf , their tried friend and champion , Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., on his release from captivity , and his restoration to the people of his choice . ( Cheera ) He had witnessed with pride and exultation the glorious spectacle which had been exhibited within the -walls of the city ef York on that day ; but be bad beard , as h& passed along , exclamations from some of those wbo styled tbtmstrlves nobility— "Aye , there goes some of the poor deluded followers of that miscreant O'Connor . " ( Hear . ) All he would say would be that if they were deluded they were not by themselves , for there "were many , many thousands , in various parts of the country ,

      who were deluded also . But was it so ? ( Cries of " no , no . " ) No ; they were not deluded by Mr . O'Connor ; they bad been deluded by those -who had so long denied them their rights ; and now , so long as O'Connor was determined to place himself at their head— £ 0 long as he was determined to take the lead in the mighty struggle for freedom , so long would tbty stand by bin to the death . ( Great cheering . ) Mr Black then alluded to the others who had been incarcerated for the advocacy of their principles , and remarked that since their imprisonment they bad become much more effective ami indefatigable teachers of tbe people : the Whig College education qualiSed them better to give instruction to the people . ( Laughter and cheers . ) He rejoiced in the number of those wbo-were so -well qualified to give instruction—who had received their College education , and trusted that they would go on , and never rest satisfied—never , for a single

      moment , withdraw their hand—never cease agitation till the object of their wishes was obtained—till the Charter was the law of the land , and until they had realised the full measure of justice to each and to all . ( Choers . ) He viewed the conduce of the Whig ministry with disgust for having carried persecution to the extent they had done . The Chartieu had been spoken of as levellers , and had been represented as destructives ; and all because they did wbat these very ministers had left undone , and followed tbe advice that had been given to them to the letter . Those who received salaries had forsaken the people , and therefore the people would forsake them . \ Hear . ) He expressed his determination , and the determination of his constituents , to persevere till death in their efforts to obtain tbe full measure of their rights , —tbe Charter , and concluded , amidst loud cheers , by seconding the resolution .

      Mr . Georg » Julian Ha . R 5 ET , of Sheffield , supported the resolution . He had the pleasure of standing before them as the delegate from the brave Radicals and Democrats of Sheffield and Barnsley—men of sterling sttel and hearts of oak , who were ready to suffer all and dare all , until the Charter should become the law of the land . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) He was happy to stand on that day , before such a most respectable assembly of his countrymen and . countrywomen ; respectable , net because they were attended by their servants in rich liveries—respectable , not because they were accustomed to luxurious living—respectable , not because they resided in expensive and magnificently furnished houses—but respectable because it was their principle to give unto others all the privileges they Pos-

      Untitled Article

      sessed themselves—that those who worked for all might abundantly enjoy alL ( Great cheering . ) It was f ^ Sf 8 ° l ™ aeei * Pteaaore and congratulation to him that they had that day assembled-to welcome onoe more amongrt them Feargns O'Connor . ( Loud cheers . ) They welcome * him in York on that day . but every town In England , Inland , and Scotland , would en long meet and welcome the noble patriot amongst them . x baet t ) ,. ? e had beeB ejected to support the nsolntioa which had been a& ably submitted to them by the worthy delegate from Birmingham , and which had been no leBS ably seconded by the delegate from Nottingham , andin doing so he would not waste their time in detailing the deeds of devilish darkness which had been enacted by the Whigs in their futile attempts to put down Chartism . ( Hear , hear . ) He remembered that

      Sir John Campbell—lucky plain John—had boasted that he would put down Chartism ; but now he thought he might tarn the table and Inform Sir John that the Chartiatattia put down the Whigs . ( Cheers . ) He took credit to himself for ibe part he had taken In putting dow hip 8 : err - ( Hear ) Tn « Chartists had put down tbe Whigs , when they gave the Tories the majority , at least so the Whigs said , and he was happy in having to thank them for the admission ; for previously they had been told that they ( tbe Chartists ) were of no use bnt to put down and disturb corn law meetings . I Cheers . ) O yea , those Whigs now acknowledged that the Chartists had put them down— IcbeersOr- they now acknowledged that they were the third party In the state—and not the smallest party either— ( cheers . )—and he would venture to predict that an they had tut

      down the Whigs , so wonld they put down all parties who refused to give tbe people the rights which belonged to them , and to which they had a title so clear at to admit of no dispute . —( Cheers . ) He did not congratnlate them « n the Tory majority , for he detested the Tories equally with the Whiga—but as he had worked to put down the Whigs , bo would he work to put down tbe Tories . —( Cheers . ) The lories had proclaimed , in the debate on Mr . Sharman Crawford ' s motion , that they would maintain all their own old prejudices ; but the glorious minority of . thirty-nine on Sharman Crawford ' s motion—the prophetic people ' s parliament—would henceforth sit in St . Stephen ' s chapel , prepared to maintain fot the people the extension of their rights . ( Cheers . ) The Tories . had avowed all their old prejudices and principles , and be called upon them not to rest from their labours till they had driven them from poweras they had done the Whigs . ( Cheers . ) TheTories

      were tbe party who had involved the country in ruinous and-expensive wars , wbo had abstracted from the country the bravest of her sons , who had murdered Thistlewood and Brandreth , who bad killed their thousands at Waterloo , and who would now attempt to farther deprive the people of the few righto they already had , and compel them to become doubly serfs and slaves ; but in spite of this—in spite of the Toriesthey would have their rights —( cheers)—they wonld not rest satisfied until justice , and nothing less than justice was done to them . ( Cheers . ) Had the people done their doty , neither O'Connor , O'Brien , nor hundreds of others would have been incarcerated in Whig dungeons , and he called upon thtm , by all they held sacred , to resist such another attempt at tyranny ; not because they might attack O'Connor , for that they would not dare to do ; but because they might attack others . He concluded amidst great cheering .

      The Chairman put the resolution to tbe meeting ; it was received with great cheering , and was carried uunimottsly . Mr . Binks , of Sunderland , waa next called upon to move the third resolution . He said he had been deputed by a large assembly of the united trades of Sunderland , to congratulate Mr . O'Connor on his release from confinement , and to swear on their behalf renewed alliance to him and to his holy cause —( cheers)—to assure him that it was only the extreme distance between Sunderland and York that prevented thousands of honest men and women from being there to welcome him in person , and to assist in filling that extended space ot green-sward which he saw before him . ( Cheers . ) Tbe resolution which had been put into his hands was framed so as to Bave him a great deal of trouble ,

      and them a good deal of time—it spoke for itselfibe * r)—it called a liar , liar —( hear)—and it proclaimed that they , whilst adopting every fair and legal means for the aalvatioa of their own country , would not rust satisfied until they had broken tbe bonds of other countries , and given liberty vo & 1 L ( Cheers . ) Dan © Connell had told his deluded countrymen that they ( tbe Chartists of England ) were tbe enemies of Ireland—( cries of " liar ! " ) but if there were any Irishmen in that assembly , he would ask them who it was that murdered Emmett . ( Hear . ) The factions could best tell them that ( Cheers . ) Were they to examine they would not find the portrait of that lamented patriot bung upon the walla of the great and noble , but upon the walls of the poor man ' s cottage . ( Cheers . ) They had tried both the Whig

      and Tory factions , —the latter were the advecatea and supporters of murder , rapine , and bloodshed , and the former were the same ; they had also tried Chartism , which they had found every ibing that was noble . ( Cheers . ) Their friends bad been impriaoned , but they had not been defeated—they had always returned to their liberty firmer and more determined in their actions than they were before . ( Hear , and cheers . ) He called upon them to swear allegiance to the men who had done all for them , and to go boldly forward in tbe demand for their rights ; he wonld do this ; he vowed never to cease his exertions , and so long as the breeze waved amongst tbe green trees , bo long as the sun shone in tbe firmament , so long would he contend for tbe rights of tbe whole people , so long would he agitate , until all be made free , and until the poor man ' s cottage

      was secure without a lock . ( Great cheering . ) He did not know what influence Chartism bad in York ; but in Sunderland , be could assure them tkat no longer was wealth looked up to as supreme—a " bit of a lad" had been brought forward there to maintain the rights of tbe people , and though the factions might wonder at bimBelf presuming to take the lead at an election , and suffering himself to be brought forward as a candidate , he had taught them that their wealth did not command for them respect ; for while the electors—the tenpounders , who are entirely under the influence of the wealthy , —bad given tbeir votes in support of tbe present system , the non-electors—tbe people—the unpurchaseable—had by their ^ voices declared by a tremendous majority , that he alone waa the object of their choice , and that he alone should be their

      representative . ( Great cheering . ' ) He was rt joiced to see the numbers—the thousands—who were assembled under the shade of the green banner , on the broad green turf before him ; it rejoiced him to see their numbers , and to know that they , individually , were determined to bave their rights ; but the delegates who had met from all parts , were tbe representatives of thousands more , who were determined to nail their colours to the mast , and , convinced that tbeir principles were true , were resolved neither to turn to the right hand nor to tbe left , never to let their tongae cease in the praises of those wbo stood so nobly forward in their behalf , until tbe Charter , tbe whole Charter , and nothing less than the Charter , had become tbe law of tbe land . Mr . Binns concluded , amidst rapturous cheering by reading tbe resolution which he bad to

      propose . " That this meeting feels bound to express , in the strongest terras , their disgust at the conduct of these wbo have represented tbe people of England as being the enemies of the people of Ireland . With scorn and contempt this meeting throws back the vile calumnies uttered agninst their country and themselves . This meeting repudiates the charge brought against them , of being averse to the liberties of tee Irish people ; they solemnly declare that tbe charge is false and calumnious in the extreme ; in seeking their rights , as embodied in their Charter , they seek that justice for their IrUh brethren which they demand for themselves ; they declare that they never will accept any measure of

      reform which shall not be fully acceptable to the Irish p -ople , and shall guarantee to them all the righto which may be conferred upon themselves . This meeting , acknowledging and asserting the right of tbe people of Ireland to constitute and legislate for themselves , pledge to tbe people of that country their every support in their present righteous struggle for a Repeal of the Union , believing that only will tbe people of both islands enjoy real prosperity when the legislature of tach country shall be responsible to the whole people ; and we further call upon the Chartists of Great Britain to embody , in their next national petition , a demand for the Repeal of the Legislative Union of England and Ireland . "

      Mr . Fi'ssell , of Lendon , said be bad been deputed by the men of London to heartily congratulate Mr . O'Connor en his release from the Whig dungeon . ( Cheers . ) He came to thank him for the stupendous exertions -which , he had made on behalf of the people I Cheer * . ) He bad instructions to declare tkat the London Chartists were tbe advocates of equal laws and tqual justice to all ; and that they were , at tbe same time , determined to obtain equal laws and equal juBtice for themselves . ( Cheers ) They had shown , by their acts , they were not only willing , but able , to assist Ireland in obtaining that justice which they wanted to

      secure for their own country . ( Cheers . ) They had always stood up in support , not only of tbeir own liberties , but of the liberties of all mankind . ( Cheers . ) They hud always been the defenders of Ireland ' s liberties ; they bad always worked with the Irish ; and they had always found them ready to werk with all wbo would support them . ( Cheers . ) He hoped the resolution would pass unanimously , aa he was convinced that the Irish people had been deceived ; and he trusted that tbe resolution of such a meeting , at such a time , would show them that the English Chartists were not their enemies , bat their friends . ( Great cheering . ) He had much pleasure in seconding tbe resolution .

      Mr . Doyle , of Manchester , supported the resolution . He said he had been sent by his countrymen to bear their thankB to their countryman , Mr . O'Connor , for the manly and determined conduct which he had manifested . ( Great cheering . ) The men of Manchester , he cculi assure them , weie . determined that the Charter should become the law of the land . ( Applause . ) He had been fifteen years in England , during which time be had been associated with English working men , throughout five counties ; he bad always found them intelligent ; he had always found them anxioua for the possession of the same political power which they saw in the possession of others . ( Hear . ) If be had not found them so—if he had not found that they were all unanimous , be wonld long ago have ceased his agitation , and weald sot speak another word in favour of the Charter—' . hear , hear)—bnt believing , as be did

      Untitled Article

      believe , that this feeling was universal , that the people were determined to possess their just rights ; be came forward to advocate the Charter , as the only means to obtain the end which they had in view . ( Great cheering . ) Would Mr . O'Connor haTe endured sixteen months * imprisonment u patiently afl he had done , if he had not thought so ? ( Hear , hear . ) He would not detain , them longer , but merely thank them for the patient beating which they have given him , and he assured them he took hie leave of them hoping that they would render all the assistance in their power in carrying out the holy object which they bad in viewnamely , equal laws and equal rights to all classes of tbe community . ( Cheers . ) Tbe Chairman put the resolution , which was received with great cheering , and was carried without a dissentient voice .

      Mr . Wm . Martin , of Bradford , moved the fourth resolution . He said he appeared there on that glor ious and ever-to-be-reroembered day , in a different capacity and under different circumstances to those in which be was when he was arraigned in tbe dock at York Castle , in 183 d . ( Hear , hear . ) He waa placed in the dock a poftr working man , with nothing bnt the integrity of his principles to support him , and Sir John Campbell , Attorney General , was brought specially from London to assist in his prosecution , and in obtaining his incarceration . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Bnt he should like to know in what shape bis ghost had appeared to Sir John Campbell , when it was announced to him that he had been returned , by the free and nnbought voices of the people , as tbe real and only true representative of

      Bradford . ( Cheers . ) He wag there to congratulate them not onjy on the liberation of Feargos O'Connor , though that of itself was an event sufficiently important , but be came to congratulate them on the spread of glorious principles of Chartism , throughout the length and breadth of the land . ( Hear , and cheerb . ) The Whigs when they imprisoned Feargus O'Connor , thought to destroy him . ( Hear . ) Had they done so ? No , nor they never would do so . He was there that day to tell them that he would never cease the agitation in which he was engaged till the Charter had received the sanction of the law , and till liberty was proclaimed to tfie entire people of the country . Hear , and cheers . ) It was clear now that the people weie determined to place confidenoe in men of tbeir

      own order —( hear , hear)—they placed confidence in O'Connor , because he was an honest aristocrat ( Hear . ) The politics of the aristocracy were simply made stepping-stones for themselves to political power ; and when the people wished to go farther than tbe aristocracy were disposed to do , they were met with tbe cry of , " Oh , yon are revolutionists . " There was not one amongst tbe whole class of the aristocracy that -would go with Mr . O'Connor , if it was not to serve their own selfish purposes . ( Hear . ) Not even Mr . Roebuck , wbo was for sending working men to the Canadas , would compel them to eat a certain kind of food , auk would do all he could to prevent an increase of the population . But Mr . O'Connor said that they had not population enough , and in that remark he folly concurred .

      ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Tbe resointiou he had to propose was a very long one , and the time was fast spending ; he wonld not therefore take up their time in reading it , but would hand it to the chairman to read when he pat it to the meeting , and thus save their time . It was not every Irishman that wonld think of that . ( Laughter . ) He called upon some of them to propose Mr . O'Connor , as a candidate for their borough , and to carry bim as their representative to Parliament . ( Hear , hear . ) The Speaker would then have to say " Hark from tbe lobby the noble iion ' B roar , " and might have to ask for advice as to whether or not he ought to admit him . ( Hear , and cheers ) Th « y had let the lion out of York Castle , and Lord John Russell

      would give his ears now if O'Connor would turn a Whig . But he would not do so , for then he would turn traitor like his countryman Dan , and that he knew he never wonld do . ( Cheers . ) They had met that day over the grave ot Whiggery , and if the people did their duty the day was not fas distant when they would follow to tbe tomb the bearse ef Toryism . ( Cheers . ) He appealed to the ladies of York not only to come forward themselves , bnt to compel their husbands and brothers to unite with tbe men and women of Bradford , in the good cause in which they were engaged ; and they would enable them to tame the hyena , and make him as useful as a household sheep . ( Great cheer in r . ) The resolution he moved was : —

      " That this meeting , remembering the specious promises of the faction who acquired power in 1830 , bearing in mind how infamously they were deceived , bow bitter have been tbe fruits of the so-called measure ot reform proposed to tbe country at that period , bave no confidence in those who pretending to be the people's friends propose to remove their miseries by bit-by-bit reforms ; at the same time we avow our hostility to the present House of Commons , it having already declared itself , by its decision upon Mr . Sbarman Crawford ' s motion , the enemy of the liberties , and , consequently , the happiness of the toiling millions . Seeing tbe misery in which the working classes of this

      country are steeped—the ruin faBt overtaking the middle classes—the increasing and alarming emigration of all who ean fly from a country that no longer afford 8 them protection—that guarantee ' s not to the toiler the fruits of his labour : this state of things so deeply to be deplored by every lover of his father-land is to be attributed to the present unjust legislative system which affords to capital , every facility of preying upon laeonr , and solemnly pledging themselves to stand by tbeir rights , thiB meeting calls upon the people to give no countenance or support to any agitation which has not for its object the enfranchisement of tbe whole people as defined in tbe Charter . "

      Mr . Lewis , of Oldham , seconded the resolution . He said he had been sent by the men of Oldham , who were generally called " Oldham rough-heads , " to congratulate not only Mr . O'Connor on hisre ' ease , but the country also . In Oldham they bad seven hundred Chartists , good men and true , besides ninety-fire females . ( Cheers . ) He had to congratulate them also that the Whigs , as well as O'Connor were out . Both factions had been grinding the faces of the poor for 450 years back —( hear )—it was that time since the Tories first laid the foundation , which had since been gradually progressing ; and though the Whigs had been in office ten years , they had not done any thing for the cause of the people . ( Hear and cheers . ) It was only by the spread of the

      princip lesof the Charter that this state of things couW be remedied—it was only the Charter that would depose them from their loug-abuted power . ( Cheers . ) There were fifty counties and places in England where Charter associations were already established , —( hear)—and if the factions wore determined to grind the faces of the poor , they would find that it was too powerful to permit them to continue their inglorious work . Mr . Lewis alluded to the ministerial conference at Manchester , and said that as a proof of the spirituality of these gentlemen , their ledger was their bible , and the only spirit they worshipped was a bottle of brandy . ( Cheers . ) He concluded by earnestly calling upon them to support the Charter , and not to cease till it became law . The resolution was unanimously carried .

      Mr . Mooney , of Colne , moved the fifth resolution . It was as follows : — " That this meeting , consisting of many thousands of tbe inhabitants of the city and county of York , and delegates representing the most important districts of Great Britain , tender their warmest thanks to William Sharman Crawford , Esq ., Gen . Johnson , John Fielden , Esq ., Thomas Duncombe , Esq ., and the other members of the Commons * House of Parliament , who gave tbeir support to the following motion of the patriotic representative of Rochdale . — "That we further respectfully represent to your Majesty , that , in our opinion , the distress which your Majesty deplores , is mainly

      attributable to the circumstance ef your whole people not being fally and fairly represented in this House , and that we feel it will be our duty to consider the means of so extending , and regulating the Suffrage , and of adopting such improvements in the system of voting , as will confer on the working classes , that just weight in the representative body , which is necasary to secure a due consideration of tbeir interest , and which their present patient endurance of suffering gives them the strongest title to claim . " And this meeting also beg to express their gratitude to the noble and independent constituency of Rochdale for returning so bolt ) , nnfiinohing , and talented an advocate of the people ' s rights . "

      He said he had the honour to represent Colne , the bravest and most patriotic constituency in the kingdom , who were determined to sacrifice life and limb to secure the Charter becoming the law of the land . ( Great cheering . ) He had been sent there to congratulate their tried friend and champion on his release from the dungeon ' s gloom ; and the men of Rochdale on having returned such a representative as Sharman Crawford . ( Cheers . y O'Connell's tail was not quite lopped off ; but if they did their duty as men , they would make the pressure from without so powerful aa not to be resisted , and

      Dan must be content to walk in the rear . ( Hear . ) The streams of public opinion are continually pouring into one vast reservoir , and if the factions did not mind , it would burst , and overwhelm them til in irrecoverable ruin . ( Hear , and cheers . ) Ihey could not be told , after this demonstration , that the working men were not fit for the suffrage ; their conduct on that day had been a . suffioient refutation to such an assertion , and they might throw back the impudent falsehood in the teeth of those who made it , with all the contempt it so "& £ * ¥ ****• H f would not trouble them further , but begged most cordially to propose the resolution . seconded th

      Mr . Andbew Gabdneb ? of Leeds , e resolution , and said thattnough he coald not congratulate them on the town of Leeds holding that provid and prominent place which it was the good fortune of other townB to enjoy , yet he was happy to say they were greatly on the increase , and had recently received an addition of seventy members , and an infusion of fresh sp irit . He hoped Leeds would rise in the scale , and be ready , ere long , to occupy a front rank . Mr . Tatlok , of Rochdale , supported the resolution . He said he came there to congratulate them on behalf of the constituency who had returned Sharman Crawford—( great cheering)—on behalf of the constituency who had returned as their representative in the House of Commons , Mr . Shaim&n Crawford . ( Renewed cheering . ) There were men

      Untitled Article

      in Rochdale who were equally as fit to represent them as Mr . Crawford—( hear , hear , hear)—bat it was in answer to Daniel O'Connell , who said that the Eadieik were not friendly to the Irish , that they returned Crawford by a triumphant snajorwy . ( Cheers . ) He hoped they wonld not let th » cause drop with the proceedings of that day , bat that they wonld reflect on the principles of the Charter , by which . » knowledge of those principle * woold be spread abroad , and that great measure of justice to one and to all must become the law of the land . ( Cheers . ) If they did not do this , but suffered themselves to fall into apathy ana

      indifference , they would become » bye-word to the country , and would be pointed at by tbe finger of scorn . ( Cheers . ) ' The resolution was put and carried unanimously . It be ing now six o ' clock , the hour at which it had been announced the tea would be served , the sixth resolution , which embodied a vote of thanks to tht York Chrrtists , for the pains they had taken in getting up the demonstration , waa withdrawn , and thanks haying been voted to the Chairman , three cheers were given for Frost , Williams , and Jones , three for O'Connor , three for the Charter , and three for the Northern Star , and the immense assemblage dispersed .

      Untitled Article

      ' - THE SOIREE . After the interesting , though laborious proceedings of the public meeting had been brought to & close , those who had been fortunate enough to make early application for tickets , ascended iBto the epucious baloon of tbe Grand Stand , and took their seats along the well-stored tables . We cannot commence our description of this elegant entertainment without at once paying the tribute which is justly due to Mr . Beli , the occupier of the Grand Stand , for the splendid , the excellent , the substantial , the really el'gant

      repast which he served up . Along the entire length of the large and beautiful room were placed six rows of tables , so set out that there Was a comfortable passage left for the waiters . Tbxse tablos were pleatit ' uUy spread with various cold meats , and every kind of bread and butter , with tarts , cheesecakes , and ornamental confectionary—every thing of the best kind : and such were the arrangements for the waiters , that the numerous guebts , amounting at the first course to about four hundred , were comfortably and plentifully served without the slightest confusion .

      A cross table was placed at the head of the room at which sat the Chairman , Mr . Cordeux , of York , the patriot in whose honour the Soiree was held , the Editor ! and Publisher of the Northern Star , Mr . Fleming , the Editor of the New Moral World , and other gentlemen . . All being comfortably seated , the tea was served up , and was discussed in the most friendly and social manner possible—e ^ ch striving with the other in his efforts to do honour to tbe occasion , and to make the entertainment one of pleasure to the numerous ladies by whose presence the Soiree was graced . Indeed , had the most fastidious scrutineer of good breeding and good order been present , he could uoi have found any thing to carp at—the entertainment was worthy of the people ' s champion—the people were worthy of the entertainment .

      Such was the demand for the tickets , such the desire to be present ^ that the spacious room , lar ^ e as it is , waa not sufficient to contain all the company at once , nay , nor twice , for the tables were thrice replenished , and thrice nearly filled with guests , before all could be accommodated ; and it was eight o ' clock before all the tea equipage was entirely removed . The company having been re-admitted , the room was speedily filled to overflowing , and Mr . Cordeux

      having taken the chair , an announcement was made that the delegates present were prepared with addresses from their constituents to Mr . O'Connor . These were then . presented , and occupied some time , each delegate present being either furnished with a written address , or being deputed by his constituents to express their gratification at the release of the noble champion of their rights ^ and their anxious desire to have & visit from him at his earliest convenience . These having been all presented ,

      The . Chairman then said—Brother Chartists , and fellow citizens , you will all , I am sure , agree with me , that this day ' s proceedings affords abundant cause for congratulation ; and , 1 think I may say , that the men of York , witb the assistance of our brother Chartists , have acted as became ihemxelrea t and no mistake . ( Cheers . ) I think the display we have witnessed this day fully supports this Bentiment . ( Cheers . ) It would ill become me to detain you any longer ; but I cannot sit down without expressing my sincere hope , that the glorious sun of liberty is not shedding his light abroad in vain ; I

      trust tbe day is not far distant when it will shine out in all its glorious brightness , and illumine the hear - of every individual in the empire . Then -will the language of Scripture be fulfilled — " and the people shall beat their swords into ploughshares , and their spears into pruning hooks ; nation shall not lift op sword against nation , nor shall they 1 < u . m war any more . " " Then shall every man sit unuer his vine and under , his own fig-tree , and none shall make them afraid . " ( Loud applause . ) The first sentiment of tbe evening is ** The sovereign People , the only source of legitimate power . "

      Mr . Hick was called- upon to respond to it . He said—Mr . Chairman , Ladies , and Gentlemen , much has been said , much has been written , and much has been sung , on the subject of sovereignty ; Kings have been congratulated , and Queens have been praised . Drydc-n , the poet ; Sauthey , the renegade ; and Butler , theauthor of " Hudibras , " and many others , liavo done their best in celebration of royalty . I have sometimes thought that it was a subject worthy of my own poor ability ; but the fact is , I never yet could entrr upon a consideration of ifc with anything like gratified or interested feelings . ( Hear j I never yet could find the contemplation of sovereignty , when placed in one individual at all pleasing to me . But I never look

      upon that subject when in the mass—I never lcok upon sovereignty when possessed by the people , but I finnd my whole soul" stirred within me . ( Cheers . ) O ! I long to see the time arrive when the real sovereignty of the people will be established in our own country . ( Applause . ) I am not , Mr . Chairman , prepared to make a speech upon this occasion , and therefore I shall not attempt it . There are doubtless mauy present this evening who are qualified , and who are much more disposed to address the meeting than I am . I never considered myself a speech-maker , although I am proud to consider myself an honest and zealous worker in the cause of Chartism . ( Cheers . ) With these few remarks , I beg to respond to the toast , and to sit down . ( Cheera . )

      The Chairman then said , the next toast is one which will find an echo in every heart . It is " Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., the persecuted and unflinching advocate of universal liberty ; may he ! iva to be a terror to the tyrant , and the champion of the free . " ( Tremendous cheering . ) Mr , O'Consor then rose and wbb received with great cheering . He said , — Mr . Chairman , and my dear friends , both male and female , 1 think I might , without affectation of modesty , follow the excellent and laconic example of my good friend Mr . Hick ; and I might , id truth , offer an apology for brevity . I may say , " unaccustomed , as I am , to public speaking , " — icbeers );—nay , I may go further , " and say , " unaccustomed as I have been to speaking at all" — Ihear );—but there is a

      something—I don't know whether it is the scintilla of speaking power j 1 don't know wheth er it is the flint of Chartism ; I don't know whether it is the lucifer match of patriotism ; but you have struck a light in my bosom , and I feel that you bave resuscitated all those dormant energies which the Whigs would gladly have extinguished . ( Loud and continued cheers . ) Allow me , in the first instance , to return those delegates , who have come from a distance to attend this meeting , my warmest gratitude , and heart felt thanks , and through them allow me to return thanks to those who sent them here , —( hear , hear . )—the fustian jackets , the blistered handa , and the unshorn chins—the poor , — xheers , )—those who are , in fact , an ornament to their country ; who b * ve stood forward like Christians , like

      freemen , in advocating the sacred cause of freedom . ( Loud Cheers . ) You have placed me in a proud , but hazardous position this night The numbers whom I bave this day seen assembled out of respect to the principles which I have steadily advocated , shows me that that respect does not come merely from within the City of York—( chesrsj ^ -but from the people of this empire at large . ( Cheers . ) Those several addresses which I have received I look upon as so many retaining briefs , with the amount of the fees marked on the back of them —( bear)—and in reference to the request made by Mr . Martin , I have to say that I will take particular care of the address , as a retainer , paying strict adherence to the principles contained within the document ( Cheers . ) I trust , my friends , after

      I have received sueh an assurance of support for my past conduct , that , whenever the time shall come acain when I may be forced to be long separated from you , I trust , my friends , that I shall receive yonr renewed thanks , not so much tor what Ii ^ suffered -for no man has a right to receive thantafor " f ^ e that fot which he has done for the benefit of the cauae--tTremendoua cheers , which drowned " the - «» fg 2 * the sentence . ) I am not yet quite with tb « J ™«* ( Cheers . ) I look upon this day as a deughtfol rewardhof my long imprisonmenfr-r l look with delight nppntfae Bcene now presented before me on my emerging from have recelTed from

      tba dungeon ; and the addresses I m 7 friends reassure me of having their eonfidence . jCon-Unued cheering . ) The day has at length y arriTed when the Chartists every where will be ablei to d » that which has been bo forcibly described by mj friend from Dumfries , when they will have _ OTery thine their own way—( cheers )—not , aa I understood the sentleman from Dumfries , that liberty in our hands should degenerate into licentiousneBS . but having liberty , in our hands we will not Infringe upon or abridge the rtebte , privileges , and liberties of other people . ( Loud cheers . ) By liberty we mean liberty tempered with discretion . < Hear . ) The Whigs speak of liberty as some * ( Cirntinned in our Eighth Page . )

      Untitled Article

      _ THE NORTHERN STAR . 7

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 4, 1841, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1125/page/7/