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Northern Star (1837-1852), 27th November 1841, Edition 1 of 6, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      BRIGHTON . A public meeting of tie inhabitants of Brighton nsheld on Monday evening-week , at the TownHall , to take into consideration the prop riety of tASreaaagn petition to the Commons Honse of Parliament in txK > vi of a document entitled the " People ;* t Charter , " sad to adopt such measures as the said meeting might deem expedient The meeting ni convened by the High Constable , oa a requisition being presented to him , signed by & numerous and respectable portion of tbe inhabitants of Brighton , In the absence of the High Constable , who -was frrff ~»<* to bis house by asreze indisposition , the tttii vat taken by - Mr . John Good , Delegate for Brighton in the first Conventian .

      Busmen oommenoed by the Vestry Cletk reading the requisition , dozing which we believe both the Members for the Borough entered the room , and took their seats en the right of the Chairman ,- amidst long continued applause ; in fact the applause for Captain Pechell , one of ' the glorious thirty-nine , was tremendous . Hardly had the cheering subsided , bat the old hall rang again and again on the entrance of Charles Brooker , ' Esq . ; peal after peal vibrated through the hall on the appearance of the Honourable Gentleman on the platform , beside the Members for the Borough . Silence baring in some degree been gained , the Vestry Clerk finished reading the requisition , the Chairman britfly requested the meeting to preserve order , and give , as he had no doubt they would , a fair and impartial hearing to evwry speaker . Hr . Alleh rose to propose the following resolution : ^—

      " Th&t in the opinion of thii meeting , the rapidly increasing tide of distress , which is involving all the industrious and commercial classes of society , is attributable solely to the existing inequalities of a system which essentially protects particular classes at the expense of the rights and interests of the great body of the people . " That till all classes of men be placed on a foe-ting of equality before the laws of the country , the evils now so universally complained of will continue to grow , and at last to threaten a national convul aioa . " That , in the opimion of thii meeting , nothing snort of the adoption of the ' People ' s Charter' can effect the desired object , and that we , therefore , adopt the petition eall » d | the ' National Petition , ' praying for this object "

      Hr . ALLEK , in a long and eloquent speech , spoke to the resolution with a fervour and admiration that called down upon him the repeated applause of the meeting . An incident occurred , during his address , that placed the meeting in such a spirit of delight , that for i few momenti all order wu at an end . Every man and woman were standing , waving hats and handkerchiefs , shouting at the top of their voices—the very building seemed to tremble with the weight of their loud hurrahs . One man had entered the hall from one of the ante rooms , followed by a few trusty and fslthful friends . He mounted the platform—passed in front of the borough members to the left of the chairman—he was recognised—it was their beloved schoolmasteryea , it was Bronterre O Brien—he whe had passed the

      fiery ordeal of Whig persecution ; nearly two years since he had been in Brighton ; yet with all , he was the same man ; though there is not that smiling countenance—yet the same features are there—the same undssnted spirit—tho mse dfttflr ^ fnatiTn ot mind ; eighteen months' persecution has not damped the ardour of his soul—the same inspirations to free his country exist is his manly breast ; yes , with al l the bnrtal persecutions of his oppressors—he is the same andannted—the s&me determined advocate and teacher of the millions of his persecuted and oppressed fellow-¦ objects . O'Brien in Brighton , is surrounded by a host of friends—men who have stood bj him in the days of adversity—men who have braved and treated with contempt the contumely of the proad and haughty , the

      rich and titled , and rallied round one of the noblest of nature ' s creation ; such 'was the the enthusiasm of the meeting , as we have said before , for the time everything was at a . trtwdsHH . Mr . Allen resumed his address , by appealing at once to the people to discountenance the brutal Whigs . " See" said he , " a victim of their crnel and brutal treatment—look at your brave O'Brien . Men of Brighton , look at your noble teacher —Whigs of Brighton , avaont from the withering glance of the man your party have to brutally treated ; hide yourselves for ever from the sight of your honest Chartist neighbours ; look with shame at the victim of the bloody despotism of your party when in power who ,

      thank God , exist no longer as a party of any eense-< raenee to be worth noticing . Men of Brighton , forget not the sufferings of poor Holberry , Peddle , and numerous others of your friends , who have been and some of whom are still confined in the loathsome dungeons of your oppressors , in which the despotism of the late Whig Ministry placed them . And will you , can you support such a party ? ( Loud cries of " no , no , never . " ) No , never said Mr . Allen ; their day is gone for everthey had now a fac'ion who will try their best to put them down ; but they will fail . The rising intelligence cf the people wiil in the end prevail , and the Charter become the law of the land . Mr . Allen resumed his seat amid the most tremendous applause , and -was

      followed by Mr . Collisg , who , in -a neat and most effective speech , seconded tie resolution ,- which , after being read by the Yestry Clerk , ww put to * be meeting by the Chairman , and carried with loud cheering . Mr . Woodward rose to propose the adoption of the National Petition . He congratulated his brother Chartists on the progress their cause has made in the town of Brighton , and the county of Sussex . It was nearly four yean since the Charter was introduced into this town ; since whkh time Chartism and its advocates had borne a terrible persecution ; still the principles of the Charter are all paramount ; hundreds of their best and noblest compatriots had suffered long and lonesome incarceration . Although barricades had been erected at previous meetings in this townsoldiers under arms—their fellow-townmeu sworn in as

      special constables , to bludgeon them—vile coastrguardmen were introduced in the body of the meeting with naked cutlasses— with all these against thtm , they bad triumphed , and seethe consequence ; no tumults , nor no rioting . Mr . W . impressed on the meeting the fact , that whenever a new sect sprang . up among the peeple , whether in politics or religion , persecution was sure to follow ; they had been persecuted—their friends had been torn from them ; still cut of a fiery and cruel persecution , Chartism came more pure—the spirit burned stronger and more determined , and nothing but the sincerity and resolution of the peopie is wanted to lead them to a successful conclusion . ( Cheers . ) The

      good seed sown by Mr . Feargns O'Connor three years since , and the doctrines be had promulgated among them , had not been forgotten , bat on all and every occasion they bad responded to them , and in spite of a Tile and corrupt press they were at last recognised as a powerful party in the state . Mr . Woodward then entered in : oa history and defence of the Charter , seriatim , pointing out the differences that existed in the various boroughs , comparing the s-jiall wiih the large , instancing small boroughs with a population of two or three thousand sending as many members as

      a population of three hundred thousand . He then drew a picture of the state of the poorer classes of this country , and -with considerable feeling read extracts from th ? Times newspaper , givicg an account that at the same time her Majesty was delivered et a Prince , tkree poor women were confined in one bed and two in another , at the same time , on the same day , at SiTenoaks Union workhouse . ( Great sensation was evineed by the meeting ) Mr . Woodward urged upon -every man to sign the petition , if agreed to , and returned his seat amid loud continued cheering .

      The T £ 5 TRT Clerk having read the National Petition , Mr . Flowers , in a speech of some length and apir it , seconded its adoption . The venerable and good old mac spoke with an energy we have seldom witnessed . The cheering of the meeting told us th&t his feelings wert responded to . ant ! oa resuming his seat , the meeting gave him one load and long round of applause . Mr . Bronterre O'Bkibh was called for , and or she-wing himself to the roeeting , the cheering was tre mendous . After it had subsided , he thanked them for thi manner in which they had received him that evening and said h « ought te be grateful , forthe people of Brigh ton never forgot hiai in his time of trouble . He ha < never solicited their support , yet they came forward t <

      his assistance when most needed ; It was gratifying to hin to see fifteen or sixteen hundred honest faces , afte hiring se = ? n n-thing but the faces of thieves am smashers for the last eighteen months . - Mr . O'Briei gave an account ef his companions , which elicitec repeated outbursts of the meetings indignation at sucl abominable treatment He said he would undertake U prove tliat the misery of the people was the result o acts of Parliament , and be would undertake not only t < shew that , bat ths $ the men who made those acts o : Parliament , made them for the purpose of robbing anc enslaving the people , and more than that he woulc undertake to show , in opposition to any one , what thow acts of Parliament were ; or if there were evils existing which wer « not the result of acts of Parliament , thej

      weretbe- remit of the want- or Fuch acts , which the ; would have if other acts of Parliament did not protec them . He thought it necessary to make this remark because it had been frequently said in the Home o Commons , that the distress of tbe people was not o win , to legislation . Lord Jobs RosfceU had made a state ment to that effect , and so had 8 ir Robert Peel ; and th Times , the organ of the monied etass , on the occasloi of the great meeting in Pilaw Yard , to elect delegate to the Convention , after abasing the Chartists , fo their folly and presumption in thinking they had an ; elaim to the suffrage , said , "What , do you mean to skei

      n * that Parliament could do anything to hetter your con dition ? Draw up a Bill , which if carried into afoi would ameliorate your condition , and present it to thi House of Commons , and we will undertake tossy that however meanly yon may think cf that Ho » bs , it wii not hesitate one moment in passing , that bill into a law . ' TbatwtfiU delation , or to use a stronger expression itwsaatflmnibng , in the first place , it was not b : one ae » 4 * Parliament that the people were brougbt inU theirpwaattf Rendition , and they had no right to expte tfeat anajwt flf ^ Parliament would bring them ont of it maealess ooe ^ pcoceeding from that Hous e , as at preseatooastttuted . ' Ko < if they were to remedy the evili

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      of the country , they most have power in the hands of those wbo suffered from the evils , and net exclusively confined to the classes , who , either did not suffer or were interested in the system that caused the evils . But , perhaps ] there might be persons present who thought that the distress was exaggerated , and that the decline of wages alluded to in the petition was not trae . Ha knew that the 2 > nke of Wellington sot ) oag ago said , " The talk about distress was exaggerated , for all men willing and Able to work could find a living . " Mr . O'Brien adverted to the distress that existed in Stockport , when there were spinners , who four weeks ago were earning only 17 s . per week , while three years go , these same men were in the receipt of £ 3 a week . Hundreds -were walking the street , and could get no

      employment at all ; and he never witnessed a sight that appalled him more than the sight of thousands of gaunt half-starved looking men , who were walking the streets of Stockport , almost in rags , -and with every appearance of mental and bodily suffering . In the same town , there were power-loom weavers earning 10 s , per week , who not many years ago were earning twice that cum . Mr . O'Brien also adverted to the distress existing in Carlisle , in Wigan , Blackburn , Burnley , Todmorden , and various other parU of Lancashire ; and even in Yorkshire , where the people were generally better off , he bad found them living at the rate of 5 s . to 6 s . a-week , and some of them were at is . ( Shame . ) The men of Brighton bad the g « od fortune to live in a part of the country where the

      mass of the people did not depend on aay particular branch of trade ; and they , therefore , bad no experience of these things-, but if they had been in the districts he had been la , and witnessed the sights he bad witnessed , they would see at onoe how it was th&t the people thronghontthe northern districts were calling so londly for the People ' s Charter , and for a total change in the present system of society . It might be said that this was the result of machinery , of the Corn Laws , and of the want of free trade . Bat all these things he would assert , were caused by bad laws . ( Hear , hear . ) In all the towns he had visited , he found the wages of the hand-loom weavers to have declined in the proportion he had stated . In Hnddersfield they were now getting 2 J 4 . a-y&rd for weaving what they got 5 d . for in 1828 ;

      and in Barnsley they were getting 7 s . a-piece for what they got Its . for ten years ago . The only class of handloom weavers wbo -were earning as much as 6 s . per week were a certain number who had been many yean La the employ of Mr . Fielden—a Member of Parliament , and a man whom he respected , and whom he believed was honestly inclined towards the people—and he had kept up the wages by 2 s . a-week higher than the wages of all around them since 1833 . He asserted that those men whose wages had been reduced had been robbed of five-sixths of their earnings ; that the man who got 6 a , where his father got 33 s . fer lew work ( and the father got less than be ought )—he asserted that that man was robbed of five-sixths of his earnings , because he continued to give the same wealth to society , while

      five-sixths of the wealth be eugbt to receive w&s taken from him by a power he could not resist Then , the next question was , who were the robbers , and who were the receivers of stolen goods ? Now , there happened to be two honourable gentlemen then present , and bo one felt more respect for them than he did , seeing that they were not ashamed to show themselves to the people , and he should be ashamed if he did not repeat what he said in other parts of the country , that the receivers were those who lived on fixed incomes , and for which they rendered no service to society , and that the robbers were those who made the laws by which they continned tor eeeive those fixed incomes -without giving aa exchange . Now , observe , he made no charge against the PBESEM House of Commons . All the preceding

      Houses were robbers and receivers of stolen goods , but he was not going to apply that to the present one , because , according to the laws ,. he could treat a dead Parliament like a dead dog , but not a living one , because if he did they would send him again to Lancaster Castle . ( Langbter and cheers , ) It was a hard name to give a Parliament to say that they were the receivers of stolen goods , and the man who did it ought to give his proofs ; and here he was to give it in respect to ali past Parliaments , and excepting only the PRESENT Parliament , which was composed of honoura £ / e aad ri ^ W Awwurs&fe gentlemen . v Laughter . ) Well , then , they bod accompanied him in bis statements to show that the poor man had been robbed of at least five-sixths of his earnings ; and the next question was , who were the receivers of the stolen goods ? When a

      police man heard of a robbery , the first thing was to look after the stolen property , and if he got that be was certain of getting at tha thief . This waa the course he should take , and then , having got at the property they would get at the honourable and right hoiowobU penile men , all belonging to previous Parliaments . Well , then , men of fixed incomes received those incomes because the law was strong enough to give it them , not for any value which they gave in return to society . He would take one case at a time . By men living on fixed incomes he meant fondholders , living on the dividends ; he meant also men living on rents derived from land , men living on rent-charges , no matter how they got them , during the time the wages of the hand-loom weaver had declined . Begin with the fundbolder , going no fuither back than ! 810 or ) 8 l 2 . The fundbolder

      would receive about £ C 0 for £ 100 stock in the three per cents , but if the same man were to sell out now be would receive £ 90 . and in the meantime he would have received £ 90 more for usury . Here , Ihen , after receiving £ 9 ft without doing anything for it , the value of their capital wu increased £ 50 per cent : bntit did not end there , for they conld go into the market and buy four tines as mnch of the produce of the handloom weaver as the same money would purchase at the former period ; they conld purchase four times the amount of Manchester goods and three times that of Birmingham goods . ( Hear , hear . ) Here was the fundbolder taking the usury given to him by Act of Parliament , which , if Parliament was elected by the people , would be put an end to , because it was forbidden by Moses . Here was £ 90 received for usury , contrary to the law of Moses , and the common law of England —here was property

      raised from £ « 0 to £ 90 , and in addition to that every pound in that capital was worth £ 3 compared to the former time ; so that here was a three-fold robbery , every one by Act of Parliament It was Parliament that contracted the debt without the nation's consent , and then there was the interest of the debt , which was far worse than the debt itself . Now , then , compare the different facts he had stated—tbe workpeople being robbed of ~ five-sixths of their earnings , and tken the men of fixed incomes receiviBg more by fifty per cent beside the usury , and every pound of that being three or feur times more valuable . The fundbalders could , therefore , command five or six days' labour of tbe handloom weaver where before they conld only command » ne ; and he wbo could command tbe labour of another rendered biiH his slave . ( Loud applause . ) Now , then , tbe receivers of fixed incomes had received what the

      hand-loom weavers bad lor * , and consequently they were the receivers of the stolen go * ds . Then the next question was , who were the robbers ? He answered the Parliament of England , and those who made that Parliament . The reason why he used this language was that they ( the Chartists ; had been again and again denounced by Members of Parliament and by a corrupt press . The fact was , he never , in the course of his life , penned a sentence which went to say that a farthing of the property of the rich should be taken from them and given to the poor , though be had written hundreds of . sentences to destroy the power they had of taking it . He should be Berry to use any language with a view to give any unnecessary insult to the two Hon . Gt-ntlemen -who were there , and who were Members

      of Parliament . ( Applause . ) But it was one thing not to insult them , and another to blink the truth . It was his opinion that the People ' s Charter would produce nothing bat bloodshed from one end of the country to the other , nnltss the people pos essing property , no matter bow th y got it , were secured in the possession of it . ( Hear , hear . ) The repeal of the taxes would not relieve the people . No doubt , the taxes -were a burden to tbe people , but they were nothing compared to other grievances . Mr . O'Brien then stated that ke believed he was the legally elected member for Newcastle-npon-Tyne ; he was chosen by 11 , 000 people who held up their hands in his favour , while the Whig had only 200 , and the Tory 120 ; bul though , no poll was demanded , the

      Returning Officer declared the others elected . Mr . O'Brien stated to the meeting the tyrannical treatment he had received when in prison ; he was not allowed to write for tha press , by order of Lord Normanby , as he was termed the " most dangerous man of the whole party . " Mr . O'Briea then gave a mimic description of the reading of the indictment by which he was tried , and the manner in which be illustrated the reading—of " routs , " " riots , " and " tumolU , " " tending to disturb the peace of the country , " "creating insurrections against our Sovereign La ; y the Queen , her Crown , and dLjnity , " ( po ^ r dear little creature ) , called forth peals of decisive laughter . Adverting to the accession of the Torus to omce , &c Mr . O B . continued , that if they attempted to append the habeas corpus against the majority of the people of tbe country , that the people would ris 9 as one mxss and put down the conspirators . ( Tremendous applause . ) He w&s as willing as aHy man

      to obey the laws , even if they were bad , so long as the law left him the means of raising public opinion to alter the laws ; but if tkat Ja < v ( referring to the habeas corpus act , ) was put an end to ; if the present Government should tfriak ic necessary to suspend the law , and govern by military commissions , then bo , for one , should feel himself relieved from all obligation to Parliament , ami he would not hesitate a n . ojienttLong-continued cheering . ) Mr . O'Brien concluded by exhorting every person preteot to bold op their bands for the petitien , and not to leave the Hall till they had appended their names to tbe petition sheets , and resumed his seat amid long continued and rapturous applause . Chables Brookes , Esq . rose , but owing to the lateness of the evening he should not deliver any address to the meeting . He had intended to have done so ; bat if the sense of tbe meeting was such that he should proceed , he would do so .

      A short diaewssion ensued between the Chairman and Mr . Brooker , when Mr . B . said be fully agreed with the petition , and resumed his seat amidst great applause . The motion for the adoption of the petition was then put to the meeting , and carried with loud cheers . Mr . Sandy moved" That tbe thanks of this meeting are doe , and are hereby giveD . to Captain Pechell and J . N . WIgney ,

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      Esq ., Members for tbe Borough , for their attendance here this evening . " Mr . Woodward , in a few observations , seconded the resolution . ¦ A little squabbling arose between Mr . Woodward and Mr . Wigney , owing to » misunderstanding arising on a promise , which Mr . Wigney made to Mr . Woodward , to vote for the release ot Frost and his gopatriots . Mr . Wignet did not deny , in toto , the promise ; bat be considered' that , if he did so , it must have been privately , and so ought to have been kept by Mr . Woodward . After tbe squabble had somewhat ended .

      Mr . o * BsrEN tow and again Bhoitly addressed the meet ing . He complimented Captain Pechell on his vote on Sharman Crawford's motion , on the motion for the release of the political prisoners , and many other votes he had given in Parliament . That proved to him that ' he had a mind not to be ledfaway , and that he had voted ftOMcientiously . Mr . O'Brien said both their Members were entitled to their thanks for their attendance that evening . . It was not common to see Members of Parliament at meetings like this , and therefore he did consider that thanks were due to them . The motion was pat and carried unanimously .

      Captain Pechell rose and said , in compliance with tbe invitation he had received , he bad attended that meeting . He considered it to be his duty to pay that mark of respect and attention to them , when he knew tbe many acts of kindness which they had conferred upon him , and the many sacrifices many of them bad made in his behalf . He congratulated them on the manner the ? had conducted tbe meeting . He did not think It necessary for their honourable and talented visitor , Mr . O'Brien , to guard himself that he did not intend to cut any insult upon their representatives ; he did not think that the Hon . Gentleman wished to cast any insult upon them , well knowing that he bad

      received from the hands of his friends of Brighton most efficient support , and in such service he was an humble instrument With reference to the language he bad used upon former Parliaments , 4 c , he knew it waa language that must be applied , and which in many eases was strictly applicable . ( Loud cheers . ) They must do himself and colleague justice in believing that they should certainly not submit to allow the petition wbioa had emanated from that assembly to be treated with disrespect in that place where they had a voice , and that they would mention the intelligence in which tbe petition had been argued at that meeting . After a few observations , the Gallant Captain resumed his seat amid load applause . .

      J . N . Wigney , Esq ., M . P ., next presented himself , and said in consequence ot an invitation received by him , he had attended the meeting , and received great pleasure in his attendance , as he bad the honour of being one of the representatives of the town ; it was always his pleasure to attend meetings like these , and hear tbe sentiments of others upon all occasions . Sentiments such as had been there spoken were well worth hearing , and well worth the consideration of the public at large , —( cheers )—and whilst he could not fully accord with all that had fallen from tbe talented speaker , Mr . O'Brien , stiU he cohW not re / rain frpm saying he had spoken many wholesome truths . Taking the statement of Mr . O'Brien as correct , as to what be suffered in . bis imprisonment he should say it was a disgrace to a

      free country like this . He should not take upon himself to judge tha case ; bat , taking tbe statement ot Mr . O'Brien , he thought the punishment far more than commensurate for the alleged offence . With regard to what bad fallen from Mr . "Woodward , be would say , he had never given one pledge privately or publicly that he should be ashamed to acknowledge either on those or any other boards , and he should be ashamed to state In a private room what he could not publicly acknowledge ; he hoped , therefore , that he should stand at all events , fairly before that meeting , and that it was not to be supposed , * for a singlo moment , that he should at one time say one thing , and at another time

      another thing . With his Honourable and Gallant Colleague , he should have great pleasure , if he were to hear anything derogatory in the House of Commons , to a petition Jike tbe present , in showing tbe House tbe erroneous views they took of it The sentiments of Mr . O'Brien had given him great pleasure . They contained many wholesome truths , and the only thing he might find a little fault with , was that he was rather too sweeping in his observations on late Houses of Parliament , ( Mr . Wigney formerly representing Brighton . ) He should be most happy to see Mr . O'Brien in the House of Commons , and if Mr . O'Brien got there , he would not , he thought , come out and s » y be had left behind him an assembly of thieves and robbers .

      The following resolutions were severally proposed , seconded , and carried : — ' Resolved— " That a Committee be appointed to obtain signatures to the petition , and that the following persona do form such Committee , with power to add to their number , vie : — " Messrs . Woodward , Allen , Flower , AUcorne , Morling , Lansaell , Giles , Colling , John Good , and John Rose . " " That the expences incident to this meeting be defrayed by the High Constable , and charged in his account " " That tbe thanks of this meeting are due , and are hereby presented , to Charles Brooker , and James Bronterre O'Brien , Esquires , for their attendance this evening . " " That the thanks of this meeting are due , and are hereby given , to Mr . John Good , for his able and impartial conduct in the chair . "

      The meeting lasted four hours and a half . Mr . O'Brien ' s address lasted about two hours . The meeting broke up by giving three cheers for the Charter , three for O'Brien , O'Connor , Frost , WlliUma , and Jones , and all tbe incarcerated victims .

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      working people were starving ; but they felt that all endeavours to remedy this state of things would be useless so long as the aristocracy remained in possession of their present power ; and therefore they wished to assail the master spirit of monopoly ( hat had called forth the Corn Laws . The Chartist * were not opposes to free' trade : anything that levelled the restrictions on it would indeed be a glorious achievement , and optn the way for others ; but the aristocracy feared this , and strove to keep the people divided , in order that they might thus have it in their power to plunder them . The interests of the aristocracy were so wound up in these restrictions , that they would rather risk a civil war than giVa ttp one of them . ( Hear , hear . ) The aristocracy looked upon the people as their

      serfs , as their property ; they dreaded free trade as an encroachment upon their rights ; and therefore they opposed , and would oppose , every approach towards this . This being the case , he would put it to the Editor of the Chronicle , whether it would not be far more benevolent in the middle and upper to aid the working classes in obtaining their just rights , than to waste their strength in getting up such a mighty revolution for the mete Repeal of the Corn Laws : if they got the former , they would soon get the latter ; but it was very doubtful if , with all their efforte , they would get the latter without having first obtained the former . Mr . Vincent then again referred to the Charter plan of Universal Suffrage , and showed it would be more efficient than Household , because the

      latter would exclude all lodgers , who were among the most Intelligent class of the community . It would not be wisdom on the part of tbe Chartists to waste their strength in endeavouring to obtain a repeal of the Corn Laws as things now wer «; tbe attempt bad been made —by Hunt at Peterloo , and by others since then—and it had failed . The working classes had taken part in the agitation for the Reform Bill , and what had they gained f Nothing . Past experience showed that whenever the aristocracy were beaten on one point , they endeavoured to regain strength in another . Mr . Vincent then at some length showed how the aristocracy have ever sought to keep the people in ignorance and debase their minds , because in tikis ignorance their great security consisted ; and instanced the state of the

      rural population , who are still the least educated , and who are taught from their childhood up to reverence mere wealth and rank , without asking whether their possessors are good and virtuous , and deserve their respect He ( Mr . V . ) liked civility , but not servility , because he saw under it the . fruits of the slavish system that enslaved and debased them . He was not there to flatter the working classes ; and he must toll them , that though there was mere intelligence among them than among the agricultural , yet they were too much caught by mere glitter and show , and their minds too much turned towards the aristocracy by the raree show and " good old sports" they so generously provided for the people , in order to keep up their " manly character "such as boxing , bull-baits , and cook and dog nphts

      ;all to debase the minds of the multitude , so that they might change tbe Bport when they pleased , and turn the dog-fight into a national one . To the working classes , he had a few words of advice to give : —they must obtain greater knowledge in every department of trade , and this was to be got by increasing their intelligence and general knowledge . An intelligent man was a courageous man ; and he would not rest contented with a pig-sty white there waa a palace open for him . But though they were not yet so intelligent as th « y might and ought to be , yet they were intelligent enough for the exercise of the franchise , and those who veto not so at present , would soon acquire knowledge . But if the middie and working classes were all intelligent , and were divided among themselves , they would do no

      good . If government saw that they were resolved on obtaining an object , the first thing it would endeavour to do would be to sow dissensions amopg them : and for this purpose would employ , as it had done before , the press and the pulpit also , besides other means . In the Chartist Convention of 1689 , many bad men took put in the movement , and spies were paid by Government , to introduce themselves into the society of Chartists . [ Of this Mr . Vincent related an instance he himself knew of . J If tne government saw the anti-Corn Law League and Chartists united for the attainment of Universal Suffrage , they would fear and tremble , and would seek to destroy its effect by the means he had just spoken of . In some places—in Bath for instancesome of the middle class had professed themselves in

      favour of the principle * of the Charter ; but the Tory press said nothing of it , and strove to revive the old prejudices : —this procedure , however , though it might defer for a time , would not i > ut off the day of reckoning . Mr . Vincent then went on to speak of the misunderstandings existing between the middle and working classes , and to show their folly : —there was not a working man wh » would sot like to be a master to-morrow if he could , and rightly so ( hear , hear ); and if the working classes were well paid , the middle classes benefited thereby , for the people were their best customers ( hear , hear)—better than the majority of the aristocracy , who , if they did give grand orders , were often excessively indignant if the tradesman should presume to send his bill . ( Laughter . ) It must be plain to

      all that no state could stand long , if the people were not comfortable , for their hatred of property was engendered by the existence of distress , while their neighbours were rolling in wealth ; and they looked upon the rich among them as the cause of their distress ; but if they were uncomfortable , they would have no cause for this feeling of dislike to property . ( Hear , bear . ) If the working classes had been to blame in disturbing meetings called by them —( and he did not wish to palliate ali their conduct)—the middle classes were also to blame for the way in which they had been accustomed to speak of the working classes—saying they had rather be governed by St . James ' s than St . Giles's , which was an insult to the people . Now St . James ' s had been tried and found wanting , but St . Giles's had not ; and ,

      besides , what had made St . Giles's and placed a wall of adamant around it but the conduct of those in St . James's ? ( Hear . ) But England was not all one SL Giles' , but had some intelligent men in whose hands the power of government would be safer than in the present hands . This language produced recrimination , and thus the breach was widened ; while they pursue a contrary course and mix and converse with each other , the more they would find ia each other to like . ( Cheers . ) Ke ( Mr . V . ) wished to see this state of things come to pass—when both classes should meet each , other on mutual grounds ; and though he did not venture to hope hia humble efforts had done much towards it , yet he hoped he had said nothing to widen the breach . — For what , then , were the two classes to unite ! For

      the obtainment of a mere childish change ? No 1 rather let them go on for a while endeavouring to convince each other of the justness of their respective views ; and meanwhile the wish to promote the good of all should animate us all . Mr . Vincent then referred in terms of high commendation to the Nonconfsrmisi which was edited by a gentleman formerly resident iu that town [ Mr . Miall , ] and which ably advocated the necessity of great changes iu our political institutions . Speaking of what we were to expect from the present Government , he ofked what could we expect from Sir Robert Peel , who , at a dinner given to him at an university , said that , if ever the time came when the multitude should seem likely to get the upper hand , would the aristocracy submit to it ? No ! they

      would remember their past glory , their castles , their ancient families , and splendour , and they would rise and put the multitude down ! Pretty doctrine this , ( said Mr . V . ) for an advocate of passive obedience and non-reaiatance , and the person who gave it waa now Prime Minister and principal adviser of the Queen I But the people would teach such men there was virtue and greatness among them , and that they also had something to look back upon with pride . He ( Mr . V . ) thanked Sir Robert Peel for this doctrine ; for if the few had , ob he said , a right to resist the will of the many , how much more tight had the many to resist the will of the few ? ( Loud cheers . ) Let the people teach Sir Robert Peel that they , too , had a memory ; and that no pretended legislation , no canting sympathy for

      the distresses of the people , no tricks , ne old follies of ttie Whigs , dressed up afresh , for 1811 , would satisfy them . ( Cheers . ) He did not wish to offend any one by thus touching upon the fallings off of the Whigs ; but e ? en their friends must acknowledge that , as a party , they had sadly fallen off Bince tbe days of Charles James Fox , who waa very much like a Chartist , and was for Universal Suffrage . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir Robert Peel might think , perhaps ,, to carry on the Government in the see-saw way of the late administration ; but be hoped their supporters , though lenient to their own Government , —( laughter , )—would not be bo

      to the Tories . Sir Robert was a good disciple of modern Whiggery : —there would doubtless be , on the opening of the Parliament , a good Queen ' s speech , plenty of promises , but no performance . ( Laughter . ) Middle men ( aald Mr . V . ) let us unite to prevent thisunite , not against Sir Robert Peel , but against the system that gives him power—and let ua seek to obtain ita overthrow . ( Loud cheers . )—Mr . Vincent then expressed his readiness to answer any questions , and after a few observations on the spread of liberal principles among the people , and thanking the audience for the patient hearing he had had—sat down amid loud cheering .

      The Chairman then made a few remarks , and said he hoped that in the central town of England—a town -where the gieat doctrine of Universal SuStage bad been advocated in the magnificent dietion of Robert Hall , and had been urged by the fervid eloquence of a Mursell , and the glowing patriotism of a Miall , —the present happy occasion would not pass without some advocate for the broad rights of man , present lu that ball , rising to express his consonance with Mr . Vincent ' s views . He knew that the working-men were thirsting to hear the voice of an eloquent friend of liberty then iu that room , and he trusted they would not be disappointed . The cry here became almost general for" Mr . Mursell , Mr . Mursell , " and the room raag with tremendous plaudits oh tbe mention of that gentleman ' s name . After tbe lapse of a minute or two ,

      The Rev . J . P . Mursell ascended the platform , when he was received with loud cheering . He had not ( said tha Rev . Gentleman ) come to the meeting with tho intention of sajing auytliiDg—he came merely aa i listener . With Mr . Vincent ' s lectures he bad been much pleased : he had never listened to more able ones in that hall ; and he had only to regret that every person of every class had hot been present to listen to them . He hoped they would do good , and thought they must do good . Ho had not been converted to any nevr opinion by them , for he had always been an

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      advocate of Universal Sttf&ager- ( ioud cheers)—and .. . not all the arguments brought against it by some of the middle class had been able to convert him from hi < opinion . Some of ttem objected to it because of the ignorant of the working clasi ; but thiswasnoargumeht , becauBfltiw ilraAchu ; class were not more ignorant than their rulers , and their ignorance was but a reflection of what wa » in ; Mghjptoces— ( cheers ) ; --nad they been more virtuous , the working and middle classes wxmld have been more so . He ( Mr . M . ) was In favour of electoral districts , and longed for the day when the great principles of the Charter should be carried into Meet . tl « o »**!> plm «» e .- ) Referring to tbe aHustoh made to M * . Miall , M * . Mursell said they bad both long entertained the same principles , and talked over the

      question in their little family circles . Mr , Miall had done great good , and had made many , converts to Universal Suffrage by his writings among the middie classes , who were before afraid of the word . What was now wanted was union ; and he hoped that would be carried into effect by the lectures of to-night and last Tuesday ; it must be Drought about by necessity . Those wbo composed the Anti-Corn-Law league / when disappointed in their object , would come and unite with them ( the Chartists . } They wished to get rid of the Com Laws , and say to the Chartists , Unite with us for this purpose : butwhen they got these laws repealed , they would not unite with the working classes in favour of Universal Suffrage . But the working class who have studied Euclid , say , the

      greater involves the less , and if you will unite with us for Universal Suffrage , then we will unite with you for the repeal of the Com Laws . And he ( Mr . M . ) would say to the Chartists , Do not give up your tights , but demand the great principles of the Charter . ( Loud cheers from the Chartists . ) The straggle now was not between mere parties , but between Aristocracy and Democracy ; the struggle , if he mistook not , was soon to be made ; and let them be ready to unite in the work , to advance the great principles of the Charter . From henceforth , this arm ( said Mr . M ., raising his right arm ) is bared in defence of Universal Suffrage . ( Tremendous cheering . )

      There was next a call for Mr . Winks , who addressed a few words to the meeting . He cordially approved of much that had been said by Mr . Vincent , and he would beg to propose a vote of thanks to him for his lectures . ( Hear , hear . ) The general tendency of his remarks had been to promote a better feeling between all parties : there were some other things he could have wished had not been said , or had been said differently ; but upon those he would not touch , for fear he might say something not so agreeable to the feelings of the assembly as what he had said . He ( Mr . W . ) was in favour of an extension of the suffrage , though he might not go quite so far as Mr . Vincent . He cordially moved the Vote of *) mnfrR .

      Tbe Rev . Mr . Mvbsell seconded it . Mr . Baibstow moved as an amendment , a resolution he had written in the course of the evaning , embodying the previous one , to the following effect : — " That this meeting , in expressing its thanks to Mr . Vincent for his able and eloquent lectures , likewise feels that the sole bond of union between the middle and working classes must be based on the right of the latter to a full , free , and righteous representation in Parlia ment . " Mr . W . Kempson , manufacturer , begged , before the amendment was put , to be allowed to make one remark . There was one sentiment he had heard expressed tonight , which he did not think could be correct : he therefore -wished to know if he heard aright . It bad been said , that if the Cora Laws were repealed , the

      working classes Would bo in a worse situation to obtain an extension of the Suffrage than before . Surely , if we got that measure of Reform , and thus diminished the power of the aristocracy , we thereby gained extended power to get fuller privileges . ( Hear , hear . ) The middle class have ever struggled for every measure of liberty hitherto obtained ; why , then , should the Chartists , though they may be of opinion that the Repeal of the Com Laws is not so important as the Extension of the Suffrage—why should they try to repress that movement T Meetings bad been held to promote that object , and had been put a stop to ; yet the people had not been prevented from endeavouring to obtain their object ( Hear , hear . ) Such conduct was neither just nor wise . Surely , if the Corn Laws were repealed , we should be in a better position to obtain an extension of our privileges . ( Hear , hear . )

      The Rev . Mr . Mursell rose to say he wished to withdraw the original resolution . He thought Mr . Kempson must have referred to a sentiment expressed by him . He was not wanting in solicitude for the Repeal of the Corn Laws < but if he was right in his assumption , there were many gentlemen la favour of tbe abolition of the Com Laws , but not in favour of an extension of the suffrage . Those who ' were against the extension of the suffrage would not be converted , because they had obtained a Repeal of the Cam Laws ; and many connected with the anti-Corn Law League were directly opposed to extension of the suffrage . For instance , he knew Mr . Cobden very well , —and he did

      not hesitate to say , that Mr . Cobden was for no such thing as Universal Suffrage . ( Loud cries ef hear , hear , and mark that !) He would say to the working classes , " Support the Repeal of the Corn La ws ; but never at the expence of your own right" ( Cheers from the Chartists . ) He regretted the interruptions at former meetings , alluded to by Mr ,. Kempson , but he hoped the pacific manner in which this meeting bad been conducted might be taken as a sign that a better spirit was gaining ground : indeed , it would be a shame if at any future meeting any person were prevented from expressing his sentiments . The eloquent gentleman sat down amidst the most rapturous and long-continued cheering .

      After a little hesitation , Mr . WINKS ( who regretted much the introduction of Mr . Baintow ' s amendment ) consented to the withdrawal of the original resolutionat the same time stating he quite agreed with Mr . Kempson that the first and best thing would be for the working classes to get a good bellyful , and then try their theories . ( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) Mr . Mabkham seconded the amendment , which was put by The Chairman , who , before deing so , justified his conduct in having proposed the amendment at the meeting to address the Queen ; and stated that , with all

      respect for Mr . Mursell , he was not convinced that he should not be justified in so doing at any future meeting for the nitre repeal of the Corn Laws . He also said that the disturbance at that meeting was not commenced by the Cbartists , but by the other party . He frankly confessed be had been more bitter in bis personalities than he should have been , owing to the fierce opposition he met with . , The resolution was carried unanimously . Mr . Markkas ! also disclaimed having gone to the Anti-Corn Law meeting on purpose to disturb its proceeding . * .

      Mr . Vincent returned thanks for the handsome manner in which the vote of thanks bad been carried , and tbe meeting dispersed at about half-past ten o ' clock—a collection being made at tbe door to defray expences . Before the meeting dispersed , the Chairman proposed three cheers for tbe People ' s Chatter , Feargus O'Connor , Mr . Vincent , and Mr . Mussell , which were given con spirito . This meeting has raised great excitement among the middle classes . Mr . Mursell is being denounced by some of them ; but be and bis friend , the Editor of tbe Nonconformist , are believed to have " nailed their colours to the mast . "

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      NEWPORT . —MON M OUTHSHI RE . GREAT AND GLORIOUS VICTORY OF THE BLISTERED HANDS OVER THE BROAD CLOTH GENTRY . On Friday , the 19 th , in pursuance of a requisition signed by upwards of 80 persona , a public meeting of the inhabitants took place at the Police Court , for the purpose of expressing to her Majesty their feelings of loyalty and attachment to her royal person , and of joy at the auspicious event of the birth of a prince . Twelve o ' clock was the hour named by the gentry ( no doubt thinking the greater portion of the working classes would be then engaged at their work ) but , to their utter discomfiture , they found that self-interest was of little Consideration when placed against the expression of public opinion , therefore at the hour appointed the Court was full .

      Mr . Townsend proposed the ex-Mayor as Chairman , on account of bis having been in power and office at the time of the event which caused the present manifestation . . Mr . Wells seconded tbe proposition . There was a dispute about the policy of appointing Mr . Hughes in preference to the present Mayor , and a show of hands was called for , when the meeting unanimously concurred in Mr . Townsend ' s proposition . The Chairman , in his usual iuminous manner , stated the object of the present meetisg , and hoped the public would strictly confine themselves to it . Mr . Hawkins then read tho address , which contained the usual quantum of adulation and flattery with which our liege Lady the Queen has been so pestered by her loyal and dutiful subjects . He moved that it be adopted .

      Mr . CBONIN , the Secretary of the Chartist Association said , he had an addition which h © Intended to propose by way of amendment ( Cheers . ) Chairman—Are you an occupant of this town , and what is your name ? Crosin—I am , Sir , my name is Wm . Crontn . Chairman—I hope you will strictly adhere to the sulject for which this meeting is called . Cro . n in—Mr . Chairman and fellow-working men , before I commence reading the addition that I intend proposing to the address , I wiU beg leave to offer a few remarks , and but few . ( Cheers . ) 1 dare say you are all well aware and fully convinced that there have

      been insinuations and foul calumnies set forth by our enemies—that we have been denominated physical force men , torch and dagger men , or destructives of property , and God knows how much beside . We haver been designated disloyal subjects ; but they would show thU day that they vrero as loyal and true as any of the gentlemen present . He , for one , loved his Queen as much as any man , and therefore they would place no obstruction in the way of the address ; they would merely add a little to it by way of amendment Mr . Cronin then proceeded to show the utter poverty and misery in which the working classes vote placed throughout the laud . .

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      CHAmHAH-I cannot allow you , Sir , to nr < x » il L this % Ie of language . f 10 **^ Mil DowtiNQ , Editor of the famed Mo nmuOat Merlin , arose , and appealed to the better sense of » Cronin , and tried 6 y alternate coaxing and thnaLiT to intimidate him . , "" Mlenls , Mr . Cronin—I wfl ! not be bullied or coaxed by u Bowling or any other gentleman present . ¦ Mr . Dowlinq appealed to the meeting to nwiki him against Mr . CronlnV attacks , and said it was * ? his intention to bully any person . ¦* Mr . CBONnf-i-rihInk you haVe ' done so . inssmucn „ you : had no business to interrupt ' o > Contradict me WW addressing the chair , it being the business of the Cta ? man to call me to order if : necessary . ^ Cha irman—Your observations are totally fordni . the object of the meeting and the terms of the re «? sition . ^*

      Cronin—I think , Sir , yon wiU find my , ems quite consistent with the addition which I am about ? introduce / If you look , Stt , at tb * manufacturing * trlcts , you Will find the condition of the working i worse , if possible , than that of Newport / 2 will find starvation and misery in the public stre * and the slave , brand mark on the pate-faced w emaciated form of our fellow subjects . ( Loud che »! The Chairman Interfering , Mr . Cbonw bow submission , and proceeded to read the amendme * amid frequent and vociferous cheering , as follows- ?

      We , yeur Majesty ' s loyal and dutiful subjects L to congratulate your Majesty on the event of ' y 2 haying given birth to a prince , and an heir to ttt kingdom , and " also your recovery from the same . We desire at the same time t » aerare jour Sfsto , that we do this , not in compliance with the estabujjy form , or custom—not as an homage due to your ml andstation—but in obedience to those great and ssaj principles which teach us to regard with- feeling ^ affectionate sympathy , every member of the hofe family ; for , whatever may be the distinction of i 2 and power which necessity may permanently , or cask and expediency temporarily require , we are all e % dally of one nature , have one common interest , « . Master to serve , and one God to adore .

      We rejoice that you Majesty is now placed ink responsible situation of parent to our future uoasjt and we humbly hope your Majesty will see the m £ sity of ameliorating the political condition of j people , as a certain means of securing their devote and loyalty , when it may please God to call him tofe throne . Believing also that it is our duty to endeaiti to render your Majesty ' s reign happy , we in aUfc cerity vesture to point oat a few means by which fa power vested in you for the good of the people mat k used for that righteous end .

      We beg , therefore , to represent to your Majesty ^ urgent necessity of appointing wise and just nutd inquire into the serious and lamentable condition offe people of this country , who , though more e&HgbW skilful , and industrious than any other people , art m in a state of dreadful poverty and misery . We bent * this state of things to be caused by exclusive legislate —that is , power placed in the hands of a few to tin great detriment of the many , and the peeple , to irkfe such power properly belongs . We beg your Majesty also to consider the feelinptf the bereaved families of Messrs . John Frost , & . phaniah Williams , and William Jones , and alw is other political prisoners who are now exiled or iw soned , through : endeavouring fearlessly and hooNth to point ont a remedy for those evils ; and we nw # » spectrally entreat your Majesty to grant them fat pardon * , and a remission or the remainder « f their » speotive sentences , that they may be restored to feiir wives and families . ( Long and continued cheers . )

      Mr . W ^ lls , provision merchant , considering tfe addition just and reasonable , would second it ( Cbm Mr . Cronin—This course will be adopted in em towa throughout the length and breadth of the land . Mr . DowLlNG—Addresses have been carried h Bath , Cheltenham , and several other places , wbMb named . Mr . Townsend said , it was a delicate « ukj « et to deal with . He concurred with Mr . Bowling thsttn difference of opinion would seem as a want of loyitobut he wished to know if there was any inconsijiaaw in stating the distress of the country to her Majefeit the same time aa the congratulation , as it was «** to appeal where there was no power , but to « tm there was power , and a will to use it justly . M chetra . )

      Mr . Wm . Edwards said , he admired the Isbjcm ot the gentlemen , and especially that of Mr . Towiaeed , but Wondered that Mr . Bowling abould allow lift off to be carried away by the warmth of bis terapersMt It was of vital importance that they should tsittti present opportunity of addressing her Majesty for tassel ves ; they never could have a better one , Ht Edwards then proceeded to show the great and terrible distress which prevailed , with considerable tict and ability . He said the working classes were itoriy destitute * the middle classes on the verge of banknpfcj , and that in four years time , it would bring dontb *

      ar istocracy . ( Loud cheers . ) He would suggest Hat I few of the gentlemen would reconsider the addnsiiad amendment , and endeavour to form a proper tUttk out of both , so as to gain unanimity , and carry ctfdw object of beth parties . ( Hear , hear , and ebeea . ) Mr . E . alluded also to the paragraph In the tdditloa concerning Frost , Williams , and Jones , and uft&tbt meeting strenuously to seek for a remistisn of tttir sentences , and concluded by wishing the qnm tartness during her life , but at its close , he hoped Mobarchial Government would be dosed for ever is inland . ( Cheers . )

      At this stage of the proceedings the constenatin visible in the countenances of the tithe-fed parson m ludicrous in the extreme . One of them left tbe won accompanied by a few would-be-thought over-lojilBd weak-stomached gents . Mr . Jones then rose and Bald , Mr . Chairman udGfr tlemen , I wish to say a few words in bebslf of my Mov working men , and the course which we have thii dsy adopted . Some may think it presumption in oi tornrect your proceedings , or break the unanimity of thii meeting ; but , gentlemen , we will shew you ttutmb is not our intention , as we wish to see unanimity ud cordiality prevail in every public meeting . We do not intend to say anything against the original addresi u far as it goes , but wish to see those things coutatotdl

      the amendment added to it ( Cheers . ) Some major it ia not our place , as working men , to interfere k * cause when so many men of wealth are engaged itii , but permit me to say , Mr . Chairman , that icomMff the man who would apply his wealth and iniiaeneeto retard the progress of liberty , a tyrant whom all oa should hold in abhorrence and contempt Irejiflj every rich man in proportion to tbe good use he mite of it . Whenever a public meeting is called toKoi an address or petition to-either the Houses of Pwli * ment or to royalty , as a Briton I claim the right of expressing my opinions on the subject , it being a leptf bequeathed to us by our ancestors . The Queen tatt entered into a solemn covenant with her people , i » by virtue of that covenant she has a heavy call upon

      us , that is to defend the territories at home and sbrow , and to support her Government ; also , we , on tbe otto hand have got a great demand upon heT , i . e that i > should listen to our grievances , and do all that lib her power to redress them , and , therefore , we can * let slip the present opportunity of laying before bB » few of the heavy bnrdens , under -which -we bi * & and I cannot possibly see how the amendment itrafl proposed should diminish the loyalty and congrttt * tions of the original address . The royal babe i » cW the Prince of Wales , and I have no doubt many Wei * men are proud of it , but they would be infinitely of ' so if they feund , that such an happy event should w the ' sHeans of her Majesty paying ^ . aT little » tttDli ( ® 5 the grievances of the people . I beg leave to snpjxsj tbe amendment , because it contains tbe opinion 1 "

      the great masses of the principality of W * le * _^ - The gentlemen endeavoured by promises to prew on Mr . Croniu to abandon his addition , but witW " effect They held out promises to call a meeting to "" express purpose of considering the distress of w country ; the Mayor and others promised their sap P ^ and encouragement , and tried every means in »*• power to put off the amendment , bat Mr . C- and fl » friendB remained firm . The Chairman then endeavoured to put tne orifj * address without the amendment , when he was worn respectfully by Mr . C . that if he did not P « ° » amendment , he would take the liberty of aoug *> himself . After sitting for a length of time and looldar |* utterable things , the Chairman declared tne meeo" dissolved .

      Mr . Cronin immediately proposed three cbeen ^ Frost , Williams , and Jones , also for Feargus O'CoW and the Northern Star , and the Charter , wbieh w «« "J sponded to in such an enthusiastic manner sswobWB * gladdened the hearts of the exiles had tbey neara »

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      All the Mills at Chorley , near ; BoltoD , * e » S a stand last week , and the workmen tap ^ t * upon the masterMSotton-spinners attempting *" duce their wages twelve-and-a-half per cent . Conviction of Sik Epwabd Knatchbdt * gjj Evading a Tan . —On Sir Edward Knftten »» accepting office , last September , ia Sir ¦»» ' ^ Miui 8 try , a new election of coarse took p lace " * j county of Kent . A Monday was the f » I * Wjp for the nomination , and Sir Edward KaaU ^ j ; who lived twenty miles from Barham Doffu ^ , " - ^ the election waa to take place , left his W" ^ SUurday , in order to arrive in time on Mon « J » S avoid travelling on Sunday . The KJ « ht HonoWJJ

      an election , and on that account he "fa * * " mi the tolls . For refusing at a gate near Can ^ p he was bummoned before the magistrates oi wj *^ j , on Monday . The court was ; crowded to "fzLpl Counsel attended on both sides , and , after » Pjj . investigation , the magistrates decided ttt » * ^ ward had unlawfully claimed the ex ^ T ^ J * fiaedhint in the eum of £%% U * 5 . P ^ CrtfJ * Tn « Right Hod . Baronet announced * % ? ° z £ & tion to appeal from the conviction . 1 ff | rB | jseJ involved is of considerable im portance m J ^ ji of turnpike roads , and persons •»/> " *; t f , jr > elections . It will tend to mulct the foro ^ " !^ electors of a county may leave their nowi Jb | , Saturday to attend a Monday ' s election , »» great convenience to many freehol ders .

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      LEICESTER . Mr . Henry Vincent ' s Second Lecture in the New Hall , on Monday evening , the 16 th inst , will be long remembered , as having resulted in bringing out the Rev . J . P . Mursell , the eloquent successor of the immortal Robert Hall , in a bold and unshrinking position , as the advocate of Universal Suffrage . Mr . Cooper was called to the chair , and gave out the " Chartist National Anthem , " which was sung by the immense company , standing and uncovered . Tbe Chairman , in his opening address , defended tbe Chartist

      coalition with the Tories at Nottingham and Leicesteraiid it wu the greatest act of statesmanship that « ver engaged the minds of the people : they were forced to it by the conduct of the Whigs—it was a step exoeedingly repugnant to him , one which it was long before he could make up his mind to take—and he sincerely hoped tbe Whigs would never force them to the same measure again . If the Middle Classes would come out for tbe Chartists , the Chartists would come out for the Middle Classes , who , he hoped , would forget all that was past , as they listened to the eloquence of his friend . Henry Vincent ( C&eers . /

      Mr . Yincem then came forward , and was received with loud cheering . He proceeded to recapitulate at some length the main points of bis first address ; and then went on : —Tne fact that the people feel interested in questions of a political nature , is anything but pleasing to those interested in keeping things as they are . It may be that our demands are listened to when the passions of the people have been roused ; for when our rulers have seen our strength they have dreaded the monBter , and have granted it something to keep it quiet : —but we have never obtained anything till matters have proceeded thus far . But I am here to speak upon the divisions of the people , and the means of healing them . I think we may take it for

      granted , that whatever our differences are , we have but one common view—all are deeply interested in the annihilatiun of everything that mars tbe beauty of tha whole political system . 1 have shown that the government should represent and be for the good of the people : the first thing , therefore , to be contended for , is the power of controlling the government Now , the House ef Commons possesses such a vast amount of prerogative , in spite of the great prerogative of the Crown , the Church , and the Aristocracy , that most of tbe evils of which we complain would cease if that House were composed of upright men . Therefore , the true philosophic method of remedying the evils under which vre labour would be , to extend among the people tbe power of choosing the House of Commons ;

      at present , we may say , that all the members are returned by little more that 300 , 000 electors 1 What a monstrous anomaly this—the idea of only 300 , 000 electors out of somewhere about 5 , 000 , 000 male adults being allowed to choose the representatives of the whole people ! ( Loud cheer j . ) It is indeed a monstrous anomaly , for this small body of electors can be so ncted upon by the Aristocracy in various ways , that it cannot be said to represent the wishes of the people . ( Hear , hear . ) The lecturer then glanced at the composition of the preseut House of Commons , and asked what would be done ? There was a majority of ninety-one Tories , who , of course , would oppose anything ef a liberal nature ; and when tbe question of Free Trade was brought forward , the supporters of the late government

      would make long speeches in its favour , and vote for it —the Whig papers would say with great exultation , ' See the progress of liberal principles See how mnny more voted for Free Trade than nave ever done bef are V —and there would be the end of it . ( Langliter . ) Such being the case , ( continued Mr . Vincent ) will it be wise to call into existence a mighty revolution merely for the purpose of endeavouring to obtain the repeal of a measure that can be re-enacted the next day ? Will it not be the wiser way to see if there be not some way of promoting a union between the two classes—the middle and working—and thus placing ourselves in a position for effectually carrying the measures that are necessary ? ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Mr . Vincent then referred to the

      observations made by the Editor of the Leicester Chronicle last week , with respect to what he considered the one-sided view of union taken by him , and tbe absence of any statement as to what ^ the amount of co-operation was to be on the part of ths Chartists in aid or Commercial Reform . With all due respect for the Editor of the Chronicle , he would say , let those who think it practicable to obtain the Repeal of the Com Laws petition by all means ; but if the middle classes wished to prove the honesty of their intentions towards the working—if they wished to open the doors of trade freely—let them do so by showing they were ready to assist in obtaining for them their rigLts . The Chartists admitted that trade bad been def . iojc rt by tic fetters pnt upon it by tbe aristocracy—they admitted that the

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      g THE N ORTHERN S T A R . __

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 27, 1841, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1137/page/6/