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

• 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

    TEE POLITICAL VICTIMS . GREAT MEETING AT THE CROWN AND - ANCEOR TAYEKN , STRAND . On Thursday night , th 9 men of London and its adjacent parts—tbe friends of hninanity and justiceassembled in their thousands at the Crown and Anchor Tavern , to testify by tbeir presence tbe sympathy Wbicfe they experienced witb those m fete snd patriotic individuals who b&ve been recently made tha Burbots of pfTsecution at tbe late Special Commissions , to take ¦ into consideration the proceedings which bad

    characterised those Commissions , and to adopt such measures ss Eii ^ bt be deemed requisite to ensure a fair , patient , and impartial trial to i :-li . ? iduals yet to be indicted , as participating in t- ¦ I ;; u is . ra ? ntable disturbances in the northern and . . ji j counties ; and to iSord-relitf to neaiiy 300 f-iii . ' .. es , ¦ who , by tbe cor . ? - . ons and sentences already passed , bave been i : tvrived of their natural protectors , and are thereby ieft bo other alternative than to sett refuge in onion workhouses , or to become houseless and destitute wanderers through the

    land-Tfce meeting -was called for half-past ssven -o ' clock , but long before that hour the magnificent hall in which the meedng was held was crowded to txctss , with a respectable an * an intelligent aucience . Tiie orchestra . ! galle */ was fl . led with ladies , and on , the piatform tre noticed Miss M . A . Wa ' . kcr , > Iiss Inge , Miss Miles , and a lar ^ e r . uinber of the leading members of- " Tbe Perns . © Chartist Association . " Shortly after haif-pa * t seven o ' clock , T . S . Duncymbe , Esq ., il . P ., accompanied by F . O'Connor , Esq , W . P .

    Roberts . Esq ., J . Cleave Esq ., J . Dane ^ mbe , E « q , Dr . Black , Dr . B ^ wfcett , J . Dancr . n , E * q ., Messrs . Campbell , Shaw , Ridley , end a host of other well-known advocates of the people ' s rights find privileges entered the room , and proceeded on to the platform amids ; the most enthusiastic cheering and waving of hats and bane kerchiefs . Having entered npen the * platform , Mr . Duncombe was sainted with three distinct reuiids of applsuse , bo hearty asd so unanimous , as could not fail to make prond the honest and deserving recipient of tbe people ' s favour .

    On the motion of Mr . Cieave , T . » - Doncombe , Esq . M . P . was called to the chair . As boos ss silence was in come degree obtained , the Chairman rose to address the meeting , but the plaudits Were again and again renewed , so that it was some minutes before be could proceed . At length , be said : —The truly independent and patriotic Englishmen who originated the proposition for c . lling this meeting , must feel highly gratified a : the neble manner in which their call has been responded to . Too numerous attendance of *? " « evening nrn » t afford them the highest gratificatic > n—( cheers ) . But for myself t * be unanimously elected , to preside upon an occasion so interesting—concerning a cans 9 so connected with the rights and liberties , and I may say , the distresses of the working daBsts

    of this country—I consider it highly honourable , notwithstanding , that a learned Judge of the land , in bis Blast unconstitutional charge to the Grand Jury , kad the andacity to assert that three or feur thousand Ea $ - lishHitn sould not . meet together for the purposB of delit erating and discussing political grievances . w ; thont such association being , guilty of committing that which , in lie eye of the law , or rather in the eye of « he Judge , is an unlawful assembly . His Lordship said , tost no man in his senses could believe , that an assembly of three or four thousand persons could be convened for any useful legal pvirpjs ^—( groans and hisses ) . Bnt I am perfectly satisfied that the assembly which I see before me , and which would be five timts as large if the room would contain them—( hear , hear)—I say that

    this assembly wiil give a practical contradiction to the assertion of the Cfeief Justice ; and if any difference of opinion Bhould occur among yon , you will hear "With patience and attention any person who may wish to express such difference— ( hear and cheers ) . There may be those , I trust not here , bnt elsewhere , who may endeavour to misrepresent our motives ; but it is my especial duty to inform you of the purposes for which you are assembled , rather than express any opinion of my own—( hear , bear ) . —We . are here not to sympathise with crinvj or justify any disobedience or resistance to the law —( hear , hear )—or to advocate any violence to property or perscn—( hear , hear , bear )—bat we are bere for tbe legitimate purpose of publicly discussing our griev&noes—in exercise ef a privilege

    "Which is the birthright of Englishmen . And if the adminiatratien of public affairs , or any portion of that ad-, ministration , deserves that condemnation , we are here , ' aa Englishmen , loudly , firmly , and boldly to condemn it , ( Loud cheers . ) In the first pUce , you have methere to discuss—to listen to the statements that may be made , and to judge whether , in the late unfortunate ! disturbances which took place in the manufacturing districts , and in consequence of which a commission ! was appointed , strict justice , and no more , was ad- ' miniaii « vid ^« hf . iher that commission had done its duty fairly and impartially , and whetner against those who have been already put on their trial , and those ' . ¦ who are to be put on their trial , any unfair prejudices have been disseminated , o ? any advantage taken of the

    party feelings which prevailed , in the prosecutions of such persons ( Hear , hear . ) ijistly , we ' are met to ex- ; press our sympathy wiih the widow and the fatherless —with the 300 poor families who are at this moment in the greatest s { fiction in consequence of the sen-. tenceB which have been already pnmd . Doubtless there may be some among the individuals ' who bave suffered , and who are about to suffer , that may have committed aims , but surely even in their eases , tbe particular circumstances ef the country should be considered , end the distresses arising from class legislation , ! and the sordid , narrow views of the House of Commons , and the state of misery in which the lower ' classes are , and for some time have been , should not be forgotten . ( Loud cries of hear , and great cheering . ) i

    At all events , it is tbe duty of Englishmen to meet and ' inquire whether the laws have not been overstrained ¦ to meet tbeir cases , and for a still more' benevolent purpose , vis ., to excite others to contribute to the sup- ' port of , and to console the families of the poor men who are in so deplorable a condition , and to create a ' fund not only to meet the exigencies of tbe present case , ¦ but to serve as a protective fond for tbe liberty and \ constitutional freedom of tbe subject , ( Hear , hear . ) ' I mean , a fund so arranged and so distributed , that it might be applied to tbe defence of those individuals j who may be persecuted by tbe Government , and may not have the power of coping with the Treasury—who j seed assistance , and who will have the consolation of '

    knowing , that everytking will be done to give them a j fair and impartial trial—an honest Jury and an honest : Judge . There were many instances , uflfortunately too many , where oppression was practised , and should be : resisted . In tbe disturbed districts , in South Stafford , I a poor man , named John Mason , and seven other \ working men , were imprisoned on the representations ; of police constables . They were tried at tbe Quarter ] Sessions , and Mason was sentenced to six months ' imprisonment ; and the other workmen ordered to be imprisoned from two to four months—( groans . ) But previous to their convictions , the magistrates sent to Mason and ths others , to tell them that if they pleaded guilty , of unlawfully attending a Chartist meeting , the recora against them would be -withdrawn . But Mawm

    and hie companions nobly said , tb&t as they were innocent , they could not plead guilty , and hence they were punished for not being base enough to tell a lie—{ loud cheers and cries of Shame . *) They said they had met in public to discus 3 public matters , and the authorities had ne right to interfere with them . They spoke constitutionally , and the authorities acted otherwise . What was the conduct of tbe people of Stafford ? To tbeir credit be it recorded , the members of all classes , and , I believe I may say , parties , thought those individuals so ill used , that they entered into a subscription , which be believed still existed , for tbe purpose of maintaining the families of these poor men . Precedents are of great Talue in the House of Commons—( lauehter . ) This one

    should be so with us . I again repeat that it is our bound en duty to enquire whether the men who have been tried have been tried fairly , and whether the prejudices of others have not been appealed to and awakened , in order to exaggerate their " gnilt—if guilty they were , A case wsa lately communicated to me by Mr . Boberta , a soUcitor residing at Bath , which I will relate as much for the purpose of showing the spirit of fair play which actuated Lord Chief Justice Tindal , as to exhibit a specimen-of the paltry prejudice by which magistrates are actuated against the Chsrtists . Some men were tried at the Stafford Cemmission for offences , et imagined offences , connected with tbe late diFturbancec Mr . William Peplow , in order to obtain information for Hie solicitor who defended taem , Mr . Roberts

    , and which was absolutely necessary for the defence of the poor men , was obliged to go in and out of the court . Tbe second or third time he attempted doing so , be was stopped at ths door , and forfcidd » n admission . We always thought that at least into courts of justice the people had free admission , and so Peplow expressed himself to tbe doorkeeper . " That may be all very good , " said tbe official , but I have strict orders from tbe High Sheriff not to allow you to pass , because you are a Cnartisti" Mr . Roberts being informed of the matUr , communicated it to the Judge , Lord Chief Justice Tindal , who said , "Let the man go is and out as often as be thinks proper , we know nothiag of Chartist * bere . " How different has been the conduct of Lord Abinger at Iiiverpool and etber places . With aim a n ^ n has only to be proclaimed a Cbartut , and hisgMli was supposed ; if tbe slightest suspicion of Chartism attached to * man , there was no mercy for him , not eren the benefit

    of clergy . Does lord A binger know that fbrmariy men as high in station as the Duke of Bedford aed tbe Duke of Richmond were Chartists , and advocated principles which his Lordship now proclaims as rebellious and treasonable ? You have all beard of that brutal and blood / Judge of former days , JuAgu Jeffries . ' There is passage related In bis life which reminds us of the mode of saoertaining the guilt of the accused in LiverpooUnd Manchester lately . An individual was bronght Mm that Jndge , and it appeared that the crime with wmwMwpi charged really had no foundation ,- but tt »« m * el employed against him said , that thepri-< ooer sometim es west to church , and sometimes went £ f !^ 2 ? tm ? lticle ; in » bort J my lord , said tbe counsel , ») M ? mi u e * t * toMwnet Oh , a trimmer sai «! JCnjat ls . ift a trimmer then ? I * t the monster stand KPtaUlIaBe a trimmer . Tba poor man was so frigh-**» gj «* w knew net what to say ; in short be was Wwtiiitedj sot bscao&e he was guilty of tbe crime

    Untitled Article

    ch ^ rjj- 'd sr . u . &t b . im ; hv , \ bec-. iuse he it-a ? a trimmer . Toere wt-re niiny icdiriduais now languishing in prison whose only real ( . fierce was their being Chartists As I said befure , lay duty chit fly is to explain the object , of the meeting , others will make such statements as suit the occtsion , and are founded on truth . 1 feel satisfied that this metting will give a fl . it contradiction . to Lord Abinijer ' s ^ pinion , that three or four thousand Englishmen could not mett without committing the slightest breach of the law , and diBcuss those grievances which the Parliament or Government of tbe day have inflicted upon ttiis country . The Hon . Gentleman took his seat amid tiie saute deafening applause which greeted his rising .

    Mr . Ball proposed the first resolution , bnt was for a iength of time inaudible . He was understood to say that class legislation was the cause of the majority of the evils under which the lower classes was groaning . I it was five years ago since he subscribed to the People ' s | Charter , and then , Mid sinco then , he believed that j nothing w « u ' . d remedy their evils , except the adoption of the People ' s Charter . It was useless to talk of ! partial remedies—there was no remedy but a fair re-; prestnaation . The aristocracy complained , because the j people were discontented , but he told the aristocracy . that the people woul . l , atd ought to be , discontented as | long as tbeir juat rights were wi ' . held from themihi-ar . hear , and cheers . i

    ' Doctor BuWEETi i-f-xt arose , amid groat cheering , to I Eeoccd the reioluuon . Jr . tbe first instance be caHec * j apuii thobe present to express their Ejmpathy not only I it the degraded condition of tbe victims at present ! incsaceiated in the gao ' is , but likewise of the humbler I classes of tbtir countrymen generally . Patience was ' preached to them Sanclsy after Sunday from thousanls of pulpits , but he was of opinion that tbeir text should i be " Tbou fcbalt do no murder . " When a man committed murder , the greatest horror was expressed ; and ; if the authorities did not at ouce arrest him , they were considered negligent and iuuttenlive ; but be toki them i that by the abominable svstt-m of class legislation , ¦ tb&usands , aye , millions , were annually murdered , ; which could not be too much deprecated—| hear , h * ar ) Dr . Bowktlt Lhen adverted to tbe reports of the sanatory condition cf the people of England , which ex : hibited the melancholy comparison between the

    comparative ages i > f the aristocratic and the working classes—the ages of the former averaged forty-three year 3 , whilst that of the lower classes was twenty-two ! ( Cries of " Ob , ofc . ) The speaker then dilated upon this appalling fact , and gave a vivid description of the distresses of the poor ; illustrating his statement by appalling instances of destitution . A shoemaker whom he knew , and who was an hcEi-st iniiustriouB man , had been recently very unwell—be advised him to exercise a little , in order to improve Iiis health , but the poor man said his convalescence should bo empUyed in working for his children , to save them frcm starvation . Dr . Bowkett then remarked that his life would be abridged if he did not exercise ; upon which the poor man said that death would be a relief to h m , aud that

    the E «» oner be got out of this life the better , for he was weary of it . Tba learned doctor , in continuation of tbe harrowing picture which he had drawn of tbe working classes , and of the degraded condition into which they were brought by " Class Legislation , " alluded , in further illustration of . their -wretchedness , to o case of in - dividual EierKDarinetB in his own neisbbuurhood . which might , for its recklessness and . eelflslincjs , be regarded as emanating from , and in keeping with , that base " Oafs Legislation , ' to which he bad alluded , and which they wtie then met to denounce . Tiie person who figured so little to his credit in ifeis business , was supposed in tha neighbourhood ( Poplar ) to be a most " exemplary and religious" man , and yet he had let a number of small " hovels" to tbe labouring poor , the utmost extent of those hovels being six feet by eight , and out of which , while tbe wretched inmates were withont water-butt , or any other accommodation ( they being obliged to drag witer from tbe Thames . ) he was

    drawing at the rate ef 75 per cent ) At the end of the row of houses in Question , the said individual had a " stable , " tbe accommodations and conifoits for hia "horse" which were fsr beyond what he afforded these " human beings" bis poor tenants . ( SLame . ) He ( Dr . Bovrkett ) mentioned these circumstances in order to shew how little the aristocracy—and even tbe " reputed relkious" amongst them—felt for " tbe poor " and bow much more tbey Uiungh . t of their horses than of their ffcllow-creatwfcB . ( Hear , bear . ) And it was right , he fell , if such doings should not be preached against and denounced from the pulpit , that they should be told in , and go forth from , such places as the meeting which be was then addressing was assembled in . ( Hear . ) With these observations , regretting that they bad neither " pure religion" nor " pure charity * in the country , he would content himself with seconding the resolution . ( Loud cheers , amidst which the resolution was put and carried unanimously . )

    Mr . OCosxoa then arose to address the meeting , and was received with overwhelming and tumultuous cheering , which lasted fur a considerable time . Silence fcavinz been restored . Mr . O'Connor spoke as follows : " Mr . Ohaiman and brother Chartists , now I am on my legs I don't know what to say—( cheers . ) I am afraid there may be some of tbe noble Graham Judges present— ( cheers )—and perhaps , though I may in my estimation make use of language perfectly legal , some of their Iordship 3 may , by perversion of the law , constiue l ! into constructive treason—( cheer * and laughter . ) I'll tell you a story—there ' s nothing illegal in that ichetrs . ) I think we were talking abtut Juries aud Judges . There was once upon a time a man of the namu cf Curly Mulligan—he was an Irish Caxholic and

    conjeque . ntly an outlaw—he held abGut foity acres of land from a Mr . Trevors , a Protestant landlord , and Curly had raised the value of the land frem about forty shillings to fifty shillings an acre , ar . d his landlord was very anrious to get hold of hia piece of land ; but Curly had a little impediment called a lease ; Trevers had determined , however , that that should be no impediment ; and Abinger , I beg pardon , Lord Norbury , soon after tried poor Curly Mulligiin ; and Curly could not speak a word of English , so when they asked him whether he would submit , or whether he would traverse , he di 4 not understand what they meant At last , however , it was battered into his head , and he always barf Travers in his mind ; and be said in his native tonguo , " I don't know wh&t this Smith is . but to the devil

    I giva Ttavc-rs . " ( Chetrs and laughter . ) He was tried in Eaplish , and be was found guilty , and the first intimation that be bad of what was going on was the Judge putting on the black cap , then the crier of the cwuit told him he was guilty , and asked him if be had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed upon him . " Whai the devii is that ?' says Curly . " Tell him , " said tbe Judge , " that tbe jury kave found him guilty , and ask him what he has to say . " " Oh , " says Curly , " to the devij I give the jnry—I'm going with none of " em" —( cheers and laughter . ) That is my pesition , jufct muialis mutandis , say what you like ; but neither Judge nor jury cart * for what you say . Bat I am here not to appeal to yflur charity ; I am here to lay before you , as E ^

    elishmen , the truth regarding a certain - circumstance , and to expound to you that which cannot . be kept in ( ' . arkness by tbe Judges . I am one of the victim ^—( lou'i etieers . ) This is my sixth criminal prosecution within these five years . Six of tLem . ' and here I aru as larf e as life —( cheers . ) Well ! but , now , what is the object for which you have been convened hero to-nigfct ? That ' s the question . TLis is a meeting of : ili classescf all shades of politics—of all lovers of justice—( cbtcTs . )—Tou are not here to express your approbation of any political principle , for the aiding of which your friends have been committed ; but you are here to express your abomination of laws being stretched to put down the expression of sentiment—you are here for the purpose of showing , tbat fritter away as they

    may the British Constitution , there jet remains in it a spirit which no Judge can destroy , which no jury can efface . '—( leud cheers . ) If you pronounce me innocent , what care I for the verdict of a packed jury ? —( loud chf-ers . ) RUher would I carry the impress of their infamy into my lonely cell , being con « oUd with your verdicfe of innocence , than walk about with their verdict of acquittal whilst you pointed with the finger of scorn , and designated me " guilty "—foud cheers . ) I am a conspirator—( cheerc ) I v as cited to appear on Saturday last before the Qaeen ' s Bench , to answer for a conspiracy—( cheers . ) Why , the law has conspired against me , not I against the laws—( cheer .-. i What is the meaning of conspiracy ? Conspiracy means consulting togetbtr in stc : et to destroy what is

    legitimate and ought to exist Why , I never aoted in secret—I never held secret communion or consulted secretly upon politics in all my lifa ; what I have done I have done openly—I have done bolaiy , f-t I knew that I b&d jn 3 tice on my side—( loud cheers . ) Bat they arrtsved sixty-two of us , and as Mr . Duncombe observed at the last meeting at which he had the honour to preside—for theugh a member cf that august assemblage— the House- of Commons—I say it is an honour to b 9 calkd on to preside at such a meeting as this —( cheersj— that there was an oi ject in our arrest , and so there \ ras ; it was to give a tone to the subject—to give importance to th ^ suJ ject—an old hat is mended by cockiDg it ; there must always be an addition to it ; and what do you thiik that cock cost

    us ? Why , £ 331 . Sixty-two laborers were served with , notices on Monday to appear , either personally or by _ proxy , at the Queen ' s B-nch ; for that they paid £ 5 8 s . each . But there must be taother cock in the old Lat ; that fashion would not la * t beyond the term ; there was an invitation to appear before her Maj-sty wherever she might be . I was in bed when I received my invitation , and I was near about getting up and starting off for Walmer at once—( cheers and laughter . ) We entered an appearance , however , and we must plead next term , and tbat will coat as all £ 5 8 s . more We must all pay our traverse fees , £ 600 more . Men , to aToid remaining in custody , are obliged to find bail , and tbeir expenses are Tery heavy , amounting , at least . 400

    to jgs . ; £ 2 . 400 before convicttonl Before a magistrate . If a man is fined £ 2 for a petty larceDT , And cannot find bail , he goes for two months to the House of Correction . How siaay months should we have to be in prison for tbe large amount of money which these proceedings have cost as i —( cheers . ) The indictment charges with—what ? Meteing on the 17 th of August , and creating certain rows and riots on the 1 st of August—( cheeis . ) Aye , but then yon don't see this ; you don ' t fcnow what this means . The law has nothing to do with this . It it a political take . What do you think thia new move was for ? Chartism was going out of the mindaof the landlords—it was going out of the minds of the Income Tax payers , and that was wby we were to be prosecuted . " SaUoo , " says Peel , " the

    Untitled Article

    fires are about ; tbis won't do ; we must reconcile the Income T-x payers to the Income Tax ; we must let t ' nem see what we wanted the Income Tax for ; to put down the Chartists to be sure—( loud cheera ) Wo must keep Chartism up as a bugaboo to frighten them , and convince the aristocracy that they are all going to be murdered "—( cheers , and a voice , " The Chartists don't want that . ") Ws do not not want you to tell us tbat , my friend—( cheers ) Here , then , is that wonderful charge brought against us . We met on the 16 th August at Manchester , we met openly ; we threw open our doors ; we interposed an authority to prevent bloodshed , and we published every thing that wob done . But there was a placard upon the walls—a placard of which we knew nothing ; but I knew every *

    thing > at least , they said so . Roebuck said I drew up tbe National Petition ! But there was a placard stuck up , and I declare that I never saw it , I take my oath , till it wasatuck up—( cheers ) . It was put there by tbe enemies to the Chartist cause—( cheers ) , I am not going to appeal to the charity of you , gentlemen , at all —lam going to appeal to your pockets—( cheers ) . Here it is ; here is the little book ( " The Poor Man ' s Companion" ) These prosecutions have cost us £ 2 , 400 . Now , Government prosecutions , since the year 1800 up to tbe paasing of tbe Reform Bill , averaged about £ 50 , 000 a year ; since tbe passing of tbe Reform Bill it has cost as much as £ 350 , 000 a year for Governmental prosecutions —( cries of " shame , shame . " ) And I find in every year since ths Chartist persecutions , an

    increase of 30 per cent , in the secret service money—( shame ) . And every year when there is an election , the expence is doubled . So you see , gentlemen , you not only pay for prosecuting us , but you afterwards—at least the generous portion of you—pay for defending us ( cheers ) . Now , as a matter of course , we shall be tried ; perhaps we shall be convicted—What of that ?—( cheers ) I Lave been convicted before —( loud cheers ) . — If we go to jail , what of that ?—( cbeere ) . We will come back again —( loud cheers ) . And then we'll meet you hire again—( renewed cheers ) . Aye , but we have the Whigs now ; and , by the bye , our friend , Mr . Duncombe . spoke of precedent—our friend wrote on behalf of White to Sir James Graham , and Graham replied that he had not departed from the rules laid down by

    Rubsell and Normanby . Here you have them ; Tones acting upon Whig precedent , and Whigs upon Tory miBrule- Some people « ay " You have the Whigs , now is tbe time to form an alliance between the worliiug men and the middle classes . " I am ready—I always was ready—for that , bnt if we have a union it shall be a union of principle—( loud cheers ) . Not if it were to Bave my life to-morrow , much less to save myBelf from imprisonment , would I g ive up one single point of tbat Charter by which I have so long stood—( eheers ) . It tbe Whigs wnnt me , be-e I am ; they know where to find me . To them I wou't move an inch— ( cheers ) . Jf they think to # ag me by Bny humbug of . Free Trade , they may just as well thick of turning the sun from his course—( loud cheers ) . If they wish to

    form a free trade , so that it shall D 9 a blessing to all , let them look to us for the means of establishing it—( loud and continued cheers . ) Not when I Bm hunted by the Tories am I to form a base coalition with the Whigs—( cheers ) . The Whigs prosecuted mo five times , and no doubl the Tories will do so as often . ( Some confusion ypus here caused in the body of the hull by a woman fainting . ) Now , my'friends , I'll tell you what—the present struggle is to mar the reality of reform . The great fanlt of our Legislature is , that they are never forced into a measure but they ritstroy the effect of it themselves— ( cheers ) . The higher orders never wanted reform themselves , and it is we who must struggle for the true principla Destroy Chartism , and another system of agitation

    springs up for the progress of tbe mind of man will not be arrested till the object of tbat mind is gained ( cheers ) . We ought almost to rejoice in the recent outbreaks , for they have proved that the people in tne possession of power do not create anarchy—the ptople rose enmasse , and no blood was shed—no greater barm was done than the pulling out of a plug or two —icheers ) . Well , I thank God tbey huve attempted to poiut the finger at me , and have selected a hired informer for that purpose , and have treated us with a special jury , apprehensive lest a union migLt take place between the Wbigs and the Chariists—( loud cheers ) . Now we ' ve got a special jury—that is , suppose to-morrow a kindly feeling sbou'd ariao in favour of Chartism , tbe Crown baa the

    power of appointing forty-eight jurors fiorn the uiicontaminated class to try us . ( Shame ) I bave been tried by two special juries before , and , as a matter of course , they both found me guilty of being— a Chartist . ( Cheers ) There was no evidence at all required before a modern Jiffries—the modern , Jtffries who deeply sympathised with the suffering people—he would like to see the streets paved with penny loaves , and to see rendered happy every weeping advocate of the poor and desolate of their kin . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Aye , the cause ef our disorder lies aoi in tbe Tories , not in the Whigs , but , as our excellent friend baa said , in class legislation . ( Loud cheers . ) But let them do what they can , let them judge as they please , till the great Tamwortb doctor can discover by what chemical process

    he cm make gold out of paper , he cannot keep tbe Cbartists down . ( Cheera . ) He must get pure gold out of paper first , and be cannot do that . We must go onsuffer , suffer , suffer till we see an end to it ; we must not dishonour ourselves in the hour of trouble by a compromise of our principles . ( Cheers . ) Could there be anything more inviting—could there bo a moniunt more precious—an opportunity more seemly than the present , for me to move from my principles ? But I will not—not one jot or one point . ( Loud cheers . ) No , no , " Whistle , and I'll come to you , my lad , " won't do . They are the men that prosecuted us , and now they act upon the old system—courting the widow coming froin her husband ' s funeral ; find now they think to court tbe Chartinta when their friends are confined .

    No , no , we are going to have a large augmentation to onr ranks . All the shopkeepers are on the point of bankruptcy . ( Cheer * . ) All the cotton lords are beginning to squeak—( cheers )—every man of them . ( Cheers . ) All those who would make cheap bread by substituting iron , and wood , and sUam for flesh , and blood , and sinews—by substituting machinery for manual labour , they are coming to the dungeons like yourselves . ( Cheers . ) And when we are all engulpbed in general ruin , then out of cbaos will spring life , and shape , avid form . ( Loud and continued cheers . ) But I am not the man to hasten that , nor am I the man to avoid it , to place you in greater jeopardy . ( Cheers . ) The Government will shortly be without the means of paying their soldiers and their sailors if you don't

    replenish the exchequer . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) I have now laid before you the whole case . Everything we did in Manchester we did with open doors—we have published it all , and yet we have been sticmatised in the public press as " conspirators , " and I am the man who , like the trumpeter , should be buD £ upon the tree . That was what the Sunday Times said . ( Hisses . ) And , my friends , whenever you go into a coffee house , and see tbat paper , put it into the fire . ( Cheers . ) Now , tbat is a leaf out of their own book ; tbey told Peel to bang me up lite the trumpeter , and now I tell you to put that paper on the fire whenever you see it ; it is a demoralizing , beastly paper , and panders to tbe worst passions of its readers . The mail who writes for you must write virtue and morality , for

    none other will receive yonr support . ( Chenre . ) I h ive an opportunity now of speaking to you daily . There was a good article yesterday in tbe Homing Advertiser , and I am thankful for email mercies , though they come too late . But the Advertiser forgot Bometbing ; I bave been hammering away every day for two weeks , and the Advertiser ssid that none of the press had touched upon it , whilst I have positively blistered my hands in writing upon Lord Abinger ' s conduct . What would you say of the press that would repudiate the idea of calling Suisse a valuable servant , end yet would refuse to animadvert upon the unjutt conduct of such a servant of the public as a Judge ? Why should the pres 3 take upon itself to hunt down individuals ? The day is not far distant when public

    opinion must hold its sway , and I thank my God that I have now a shield to guard me from the weapons uoiated at me by sucb papers as the Sunday Times . ( Loud eheers . ) I have the little tome . ' and 1 have the great bull-dog . ( Cheers . ) I have the terrier that stops at the door to bark when he hears tbe footstep of the enemy , and I have tba bull-dog to fctop off the intruder . ( Loud cheers ) I have the pistol , and I have the blunderbuss . I have- tbo little Evening Star—( tremendous applause)—and I have the great Polar Bear , established this day five years , sounding in thoir' ears tbe thunder of democracy . ( Loud cheers . ) And do you suppose that in oe ^ Stng us there was no intention to put down those papers ? ( Cheera ) The Evening Star is losing £ 80 a week , and

    i £ it lost £ 100 or £ ' 2 W every week , all the combined powers of Wbics and Torios shall never put it down iLoud cheers | There is none of the Duke of Buckingham ' s money hf re . We receive not a farthing from ihe Carlton Club , not a rap of the £ 50 , 000 from tbo Leaguers . I dare say tbey would give £ 20 a column for a Corn Law article ; but I would not give them one stickfull for the whole £ 50 , 000 . ( . Clieers . ) Now it rests with sou to say whether wo bave committed those enormous ofionces ^ hich would justify the country to send us to trial without tbe prosptct of a defence . ( Caeere . ) That is the question . ( Cheers . ) That is a moral for Chartism ; tbat is appealing to your judgment ; it is not excitiDg your paasion , not exciting your charity , but asking for working men , who , in their attachment to yonr cause , bave submitted themselves to be entrapped by the law , that they may be tried whether they are guilty or not ( Cheers . ) They have families dear to them as the families of the aristocracy

    —they bave wives and children depending on their labour for support ( Cheers . ) I feel confident that this appeal will not be made in vain . I ask not this for myself ; my defence has sot cost tbe country a farthing , nor have I received a fraction &om a living man . ( Cheers . ) In 1839 and 1840 , I gave ^ 300 to the Defence Fund , which has never been paid to me , and I have never asked for it ( Loud cheers . ) I have now enough to do to pay for myself . This has cost me £ 206 as far as it has gone . I had to send my physician and attorney , and both my bondsmen down to Liverpool , and to keep them there for many days , and yon may be Eure professional gentlemen would not go there for nothing . If I am guilty I bave paid the penalty , aud if I am not , who will pay me back what I bave lost ?" ( Caeers . ) I cannot speak so long now as I used to do ; I have not spoken In pnblic for two montlm , and I feel tbat I bave exerted myself too much ; but I cacoot conclude without congratulating the meeting

    Untitled Article

    and the Chartists generally , on the fact of . our excellent friend Mr . Duncombe beiug here?—( cheers . ) I do not disregard rank , title , and honour , if honour , rank , and title sit upan honourable shoulders—Cheers ) . I do not honour Mr . Duncombe the less because he is not a working man , but I do honour him the more , because , belonging to a higher order of society , be can take his place amongst them , and can yet participate in the feelings of the working men j—( loud cheers ) and though the proud aristocracy may attempt to point at him the finger of scorn , or may attach to bis name the title of Demagogue , the honours which shall devolve upon him will be more than sufficient to shield him from their shafts , which will fall harmless against him —( loud cheers ) . I have now

    performed my part of the duty , and as it is likely that attempts will be made to form a union between the woiking and middle classes , I say do it not at the sacrifice of your principles . I know that there are emissaries about . I know that the police are at work , that the spies are in . employment ; but if in the course of ten days or a fortnight , God restore me to such health and strength as will enable me to take field once more , I will challenge the new order of democrats to an every night meeting , and will prove to them tbat their principles are humbug , and that nothing but the Charter will accomplish the freedom of the people . Mr . O'Connor resumed his seat amid tremendous applause , and the waving of hata and handkerchiefs .

    Mr . Fussell , who may be looked upon as one of the " Political Victims , " having suffered persecution and incarceration at the hands of the Government , rose to move the second resolution , which be read to the following effect : — " That while thismeotini ? readily admit that persons convicted on true and sufficient evidence before a just Judge and honest Jury , of any real crime connected with the lamentable outbreaks referred to , were deserving oi punishment , they think that such punishment should have been awarded only in proportion to the wrongs proved to have been inflicted on society , and with a due regard to that mercy with which tbe administration of the law should tuve been tempered , especially under the peculiar circumstances . "'

    In proposing that resolution , be could not but explain what be had witnessed with his own eyes in the disturbed midland districts . He assured that meeting that the Chartists , far from being the fomenters or enoountgers of those disturbances , employed themselves in giving advice to tbe people NOT to violate any law ' , or be guilty of any destruction of property , or injury to person , ( Hear , bear , and applause . ) This he witnessed with his own eyes in Staffordshire ; and it was for instructing the poor uninstruoted , uneducated colliers in the right path that Ellis , and most of their friends , were incarcerated . The people were uneducated , and if they violated the law , much allowance should be made in their favour . ( Shame ! shame !) He assured the meeting that in many iDstarces the inspectors of

    police bad waited on Mr . George White ( referred to by Mr . O'Connor ) , aud represented to bim , tbat if the meeting would be allowed to be held , they would not disturb or interfere with it But notwithstanding all this , net withstanding that no &tep 3 were taken by the authorities to prohibit the holding of such a meeting , notwithstanding that Ha objects were peaceable , and that it was convened for the legitimate discussion of tbe people's grievances , the magistrates , on Thursday before the meeting , issued a proclamation , " That any person who should attend the . meeting ' would be guilty df a violation of the law . " ( Groans , and cries of shame . ) The Government had persons , police -spies , and others , employed to misrepresent the actual state of those things in that district . Independent of those wrongs , their Chahman ( Mr . Duncombu ) had justly

    alluded to the case of Mason . Mr . Fussell then detailed to the meeting , whose feelings were shocked by the narration , that one of the witnesses employed under Sir James Graham , to swear away the liberty of the Staffordshire prisoners , has since been indicted for " stealing ducks . " So much for Sir J ^ mes Graham ' s witnesses . ( The announcement was followed by exclamations of disgust . ) Tbe meeting would also hear with disgust , that In the case of George White , sworn to be at the meeting , although in reality be was not , tbe Government bad emyloyed a "vile woman" as witness ngainst him—( cries of hear , hear )—who , it turned out . was " keeper of an infamous and notorious brotheL ( Loud bursts of indignation . ) Mr . Fussell , after some further observation , in which he explained the unprincipled causes and motives which led Sir Robert Pe « l to have recourse to the harsh measures of

    the Special Commission , and to tbe connection which that minister would doubtless attempt to establish between the failure of the Tariff and the disorders which led to those barsh measures which he had adopted , concluded amid loud cheers by moving the resolution , and expressing bis anxious trust that a real union of all good men was about' to take place for the carrying of the People ' s Charter . Mr . Westerton , of the Parliamentary Reform Association , suggested that the speakers who were to follow him would confine themselves as closely as possible to the question , and to ten minutes in the delivery of their sentiments , for the meeting had still a multitude of business to get through . He rose for tbe purpose of seconding the resolution proposed by Mr . FuBsell . He ( Mr . Wcbterton ) bad been always Riven

    to understand that tbe reason wby the British Constitution was called " the envy of surrounding nations , and the admiration ef the world , " was , that it threw the shield of its protection over the weak aDd oppressed as well ai over the strong and mighty . ( Cheers . ) But the fact , and the result of the Special Commission bad led him to think otherwise . ( 'Hear , hoar . ) _ The proceedings under that Commission , he dared to assert , were a violation of the first principles of tfee British Constitution . ( Hear , hear , htar . ) He called npon that meeting and upon the country to raise tbeir voices in a t # ne of thunder against such proceedings , and , by a well-combined effort , to strike a death-blow to a system at once so unjust and tyrannical , recollecting that " he wbe allows oppression shares tbe crime . " ( Loud cheers , and cries of "Hear , hear . " )

    Colonel Thompson stood before tne meeting to support the resolution which they had just heard read , and 'would engage to keep within the limited time . He once told a speaker in " another house , " that he thought " two miuutes" enough for any man to convey whatever he had to say in . ( Laughter . ) He ( Colonel Thompson ) was of opinion that the people were not impressed with the necessity of supporting the victims yet waiting for trial . Ik was a pity , that when large masses of men were cast into prison for their adherence to public liberty , as on tbe present occasion , the gublio did not are use themselves and come forward in their support . ( Hear , hear . ) They bad bad sufficient warnings on this head in bye-gone periods of history . ( Hear . ) There was no worse things on earth than political judges .

    ( Hear , hear . ) No man could bave a " fair" trial , no man could be considered secure , when the judicial bench was stained , and the scales of justice were influenced by political prejudice . Peace , happiness , and security , it -was well known , depended upon a juBt administration of the law . Bat instead of weighing and impartially examining the evidence , political judges gave way to the worat passions . ( Hear , hear ) No man would deny tbat there was dire and general dissatisfaction with the manner in which the law had been administered on this occasion . ( Hear , hear . ) What every man &ays must be true . ( Hear . ) Wby should it be so 1 ( Hear , hear . ) The people were ground down , and he saw no remedy for them but the Charter . He was sure that in the assembly which he saw before him ,

    there were scores who , for years , had been in the same profession as himself ; and he would put it to those meu , whether when complaints were made , they did not know tbat it waa the officers who were to blame . ( Hear , hear . ) And so it was in this instance ; those who wti' 6 administering tbe afi ' uirs of tbe country were to blume . ( Hear , hear , with loud and long-protracted cheers . ) Did not the people see before tbeir eyes that all thiB was the effect of class legislation ? which implies in particular , those who exercise it . ( Hear , hear , and cries < jf" True , true . " ) No class by itself , was fit to govt'rn . all clasaes . < Cries of " Bravo ! " )'¦ - That waa the great secret wbich men wished to learn , bnt had not learned yet . Men , however , were coming round—they must coma round {—( Hear , hear , hear J renewed cries of " Bravo ]•• and cheers . ) They mutt find it out , and it must one day , find Us way into the head of the Government— ( Reiterated , loud , and long-continued-cheers . ) He diil not deapair of the Government What , he

    would abk , would they think of a Government like the present , if . it- ( even .- 'it- !;—and he did not despond at presentr-should correct its error , and do something humane for those unfortunate men who bave recently been prosecuted , and those who are yet awaiting trial I Such an act would be a work worthy a statesman—( Hear , and applause . ) It would be well if the Government would hear the voice from that ball , and do something- ^ ( Hear and cheers ) The people were alvviys grat-ful , and would be deeply so for such anact > - | hear , hear .- ) Would then , that the Governirient would , in that hour , make the experiment ! would that it would redress the wrongs and sufferings of the poor men then in prison f arid see whether it would not reap a glorious harvest of honour to its name— ( Loud and long continued cheering , intermingled with " Bravos , " amidst which the gallant Colonel concluded , intimating that he felt great satisfaction in giving hia heartfelt support to the resolution . )

    Mr . Cleave rose to move the thud resolution , prior to reading which , he observed , being one of the Subcommittee , who bad been concerned in the getting up of that meeting , be would let them into a secret , namely , that the committee had unanimously come to the determination of reminding every speaker that he should confine himself to fifteen or twenty minutes at the outside ( Laughter ) He ( Mr . Cleave bad been applied to to move the resolution which he then held in bis band ; and on the committee he had been appointed to another duty—tbat of holding a " plate" at the door—( hear , hear , and laughter . ) The resolution which he held in bis band , and which he would read related to it : it was to theeffect— /

    " That nearly three hundred families having by tbe sentences passed during the late Special Commission , been deprived of their . natural protectors , and reduced thereby to a condition which presents no other alternative than to seek refuge in Union Woikhousea , or to become houseless and destitute wanderera ; and such enormous expences having been entailed upon the individuals indicted , who have traversed their trials , as to demonstrate tbat justice ( which should be freely dispeoee dj to be procured , most be dearly pur . cb . a 86 d ; it

    Untitled Article

    therefore now behoves the . ' ftienda | generally , of humanity , apart from all reference to individual , political , or other opinions ; to testify tbeir sympathy for the unfortuuate families of the men already sentenced , and at the same time their desire to Bee justice secured in future , by establishing a General Defence and" Support Fund . " They should remember that " friends" and « foes wouid draw an indication of the public feeling from tbat meeting , and be ( Mr . Cleave ) hoped tbey would do their duty by subscribing that night —( hear , hear . ) They would remember that every man who ( ocknowlodging the Charter ) was taken up , had done bw duty —( hear , hear , bear and enthusinstio cheers . ) He ( Mr , Cleave ) felt assured that tba brave men who had taken

    tbeir trial , an * who were still to take their trial , would not rely on Englishmen in vain—( load cheering . ) And if there were a man in that room who was fond of "his pot and bis pipe , " let him , if be be poor , make a generous saenflee of both , and by an act of gelf-denial , giva the amount to the " Victim Fund , " to such an extent as the Chancellor of the Exchequer would feel , and aa would make the hearts of the " oppressors " tremble—( ckeers , cries of" Hear , hear , " and " Brave ! " ) Mr . Jenkins , m a speech replete with classic learning and allusions , displaying an intimate know . l 6 dge of the wisdom and abstruse lore of the philosoi which

    phers , seconded the resolution , n doing ne remarked that he once knew of a man , who lost his liberty through consequence alone , of a want of money . He was found guilty of a roffence a ainst the-Iawsof his country , aud would have been acquitted , had he had means wherewith to get up h ! s d&fenca . That fact , alone , spoke volumes to the present meeting ; for precisely so was it with " the victims , " in the present case—( bear , hear . ) It needled no rhetorical fcfibrt of speech to support the cause thfty were then advocating ; and in tbat conviction he would merely call upon thsm as Liberals , " and as Englishmen , to support the objects which the meeting had in view—( hear , h < jar , and

    applause . ) Mr . SpTJRR , in supporting the reBolution , begged to call the attention of the meeting to the condition of tho families of tae men who had suffered in the cause of the people—( hear , hear . ) He felt pained by stating that tbc-y were not supported as they ought to be ; : but he trusted that they were not to be neglected , now that their only providers were taken from them by a corrupt and inhuman system of clasa legislation—( bear and cheers . ) He would not say to the people what they onght to do , but this he would say , that it waa contrary to the law of the Creator to starve in the midst of plenty—( cheers . ) He thought a man could not be guilty of a greater erime than suieide—( hear , hear . ) And he thought that that crime was to be committed

    without cutting throats ; for instance , if the industrious raau was driven to starvation , he ( Mr . Spurr , ) would like to know whether it was his duty to starve or assist himself from the stock which be had assisted to accumulate }—( loud cheers . ) He hoped every man would ask himstilfa few questions , upon the rights which he ought to possess , and not-to run away with the blind doctrine of—no liberty , no struggle—( hear , and cheers . ) He bad struggled in the cause of the people , and bad stood at the bar of a metropolitan police office , with all the horrors of a prosecution before hia eyes , end yet he had not been diverted from the path he ought to pursue—( cheers . ) He hoped every man would come forward in the great cause now a % issue , and join heart and soul without bickering , which would be sure to strike terror into the . enemies

    of freedom—( loud cheers . ) In conciu' -ion , he ( Mr . Spurrl would recommend the working men not to throw away their money in defending state presecutions , for if the Charter was to be bad , it was only by suffering in dungeons that it was to be attained ; and hejthought if it was worth having , it was worth a struggle , though that struggle would be painful , and it may happen fabil'tq aome—( eheera . ) He thought no man should fear a prison , when that alone was the way to achieve the liberty of the enslaved English working-men ; and he would advise every man to be prepared to suffer in the great and glorious cause of the People's Cho ^ pr , as it was the only remedy for the great , tbe mighty , and overwhelming evils of bis nnfortunate and long unhappy country . Mr . Spiur then aat down , amid loud and protracted cheering .

    Mr . ROBERTS , of Bath , after repeated calls fr » m tbe vast assemblage , then rose and addressed the meeting . He ! felt happy that night in beholding the cltizans of the first city of the world , assembled to record their detestation of a base Tory cot spiracy—( loud cheers ) . Ho * vas , indeed , happy to have the opportunity of recording bis feelings upon the acts of that base , malignant , ahd bloodthirsty conspiracy , which the enemies of the people had been guilty of—( bear , hear , and cheers ) . He was indeed almost deprived of the power of utterance , when the scenes he had witnessed rushed upon his already affrighted mind-: —( sensation ) . What , said Mr . Roberta , when the unhappy victims were not only entrapped but caged , they were to be denied the right of defence —( loud eries of shame ) .

    He would inform the meeting that when he applied to Bellamy , a gentleman whom they bad all heard of , about the copy of indictments against bis clients , bo ns to prepare their defence , that gentleman had the humanity to shudder at the idea of him ( Mr . Roberts ) attempting to defend Chartists —( cries of shame ) . He ( Mr . Roberts ) , would assure the meeting that he was not mis-stating , for it was notoriousthatnotouly were the prisocera tried by packed juries , but they were denied the liberty of a messenger having ingress and egress at the Courts —( cries of shame ) . He ( Mr . Roberts ) bad every impediment thrown in his way—( hear , hear ) . He would just mention that the Hieh-Sheriff , writing Sheriff with two r ' s , a man who could not spell the designation of bis office , bad given orders to

    the doorkeeper of the Court , not to allow any messenger on the part of the " blackguard Chartists / 'to enter there—( loud and reiterated cries of "shame ) . *' And it waa not until counsel rose and claimed ths interference of the judge , that he ( Mr . Roberts ) was allowed the right of a messenger to assist him in his duty to bis clients . Bub if one thing more tfean another shocked him , it waa that of the treatment of the martyred ElUa . [ A deep and lasting thrill of painful sympathy followed the announcement of the name of that all but murdered patriot , which , had my " Lord Abinger" witnessed , would bave pierced bis adamantine heart ] He ( continued Mr . Roberts ) was marked out for tbe political sacrifice ; he bad , at a certain time , given offence to my Lord Ingestrie , by ousting him from

    the chair at a public meetiDg , and now hia turn was come ; and bitter indeed did that noble lord mix the poisoned draught for bis helpless victim . He wbuid tell the meeting , that in the whole course of his life , in all that he bad read , and all that he had witnessed , ho had never found a parallel to this same Lord Ingestrie . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) When he , the noble Lord , heard the foreman of the jury pronounce the word "G uUty , " be rose from bis seat and smiled upon him , —tho foreman , who happened by the greatest chance in the world , to be his ( Lord Ingeatrie ' a ) tenant ( Loud and angry bursts of indignation followed the announcement . ) In fact , he ( Mr . Roberts ) looked upon that truly good and most amiable of men ( William Ellis ) as a sacrifice at tbe sbride of freedom . ' . A deep

    and mournful sadness pervaded the meeting at thia part of Mr . Robert ' s speech ; and when he alluded to tbe family of the expatriated man / and pourtrayed their last aad parting , the melancholy was painfully expressed upon every face , ' and relieved Were thosu whose tears obeyed the noblest feelings of the heart ) Mr . Roberts then alluded to the noble conduct of Mr . Feargus O'Connor , who , in the strongest manner , ordered him to defend every prisoner , whether Tory , Whig , or Chartist , as long as he was a working man , which drew down- the hearty applause of the meeting ; and concluded by a heart-stirring appeal on behalf of the suffdring families of the victims . The learned gentleman took his S 9 at amid loud and long-continued applause , previously to which ha offered the following resolution , which was unanimously passed : —

    "That , James Scarlet , Lord Abinger , Chief Baron of Her Mojesty ' s Exchequer ; © ne of the Judges appointed to preside on such Special Commission , did deliver certain charges , which , the opinion of tbis meet-Ing would humbly represent , were improper , aa proceeding from a Juuge upon the Bench , being oi an unfair , unjust , and political tendency ; calculated to prejudice , mislead , and exasperate the minds of "the Juries to whom such charges were addressed , ami by whom the individuals indicted as participating in the late disturbances were to be tried . " .

    The resolution was supported by Mr . Frszier , who said that the grand object of thoir assembling together was to make known the grievances of ih-ir fellow men , to tell the hardships under which they h : Vd suffered , until the last remnant of liberty was takan away from them , by that abominable system cf class legislation , and an oligarchical government—( chee / t ) . A . - bold attempt would havs to be made to ' put an end to such systems ; it would not do for them to sh « w that they were mere jackalls ; something more wa 3 wanted . Tbey must prove themselves to be slap-up roaring lions—( eheers ) . The poor victims had suffered much , —their sufferings had been considerably augmented by that modern Jeffries—( groans ) . Yes , he ( the Bpeaker ) would not finch in saying that the conduct of that man bad caused the heart of many a friend to bleed . Hisposition was not enviable . He , for one , would not like to occupy Wb place . He had heaped upon Chartism all that was

    degrading and insulting . He had even gone so far as to aay that Chartism was illegal— ( hear ) . Yes , he had , also said thac it muot be put down : but that could not , ant ? never would be done —( cheers ) . The- best means that could be done , would be for that great mass to assist their cause—to assist the cause with their pounds —to assist the cause with their shillings—to assist the cause with their pence . He ( the speaker ) could not help alluding to the great npatky that exists in the hearts of many persons ; he would have them bestir theincelvea , nd go up as one man to the help of the weak against the mighty—( cheers . ) Look at the justice of this counwy ; see how it is meted out . If an individual with '¦» "tarvin * family goes out , and in the freniy of the moment , while seeing his children starving , takes means to prevent their death , be is immediately put down as a blood-thirsty Chartist—( Hear . ) His ( the speaker ' s ) object-was to assist the woridng man ia getting what had been so long denied him—his right and nothing

    more . . Dr . Black next said he lose ' - 'to perform * a grateful duty . Although the hour -. was Lite he could not refrain from saying a few words with respect to in ? , conduct of Mr . Duncombe , their worthy chairman . Shortly after tbe Convention was called a number of friends wa cd

    Untitled Article

    upon Mr . Duncombe and requested him to use his ! nfl > ence throughout th « Houso to get all the support he could to the People ' s Petition . He had dene , so much ; he was enabled to do what no other man could do , and he ( Dr . Black ) was persuaded that no person could have exerted himself more than Mr . Duncombe had , even if his own brother bad been confined in prison , and by his exertions he waa aware would have procured bis liberty . No ; no man ^ could have done more than he bad done . He would therefore move that the meeting would tender to tbe worthy chairman their united thanka— ( cheers . ) ,

    Mr . Smith Baid , he would wish to correct an error that fell from the lips of one of the speakers ; it wag with respect to each person paying one penny , which he said would bring a large amount into their exchequer . Now he knew perfectly well that one penny from each person would not pay the current expences of the ni ^ ht he therefore hoped that they who were In a condition to give more would not withhold it , bnt , at the same time , he hoped that those who could not afford to give more than tbepenny , wouldgiveit . It was fora nobla object—it was for the support of the poor wives and families of the victims—( cheers . )

    Mr . John Campbell rose to second the vote of thanks to the chairman . He , for one , had great pleasure in doing so . The conduct of Mr . Dun . combe had been most praiseworthy . He had carefully watched hia conduct through the House of Commons , and bad always found him to be tha bold advocate for the rights of the people . He ( Mr , Duncombe had presented that document , the People's Petitien , before the House . —he had brought forward the Deptford affair ,- ^ , he had likewise brought forward the case of their old . tried , and much respected , but persecuted friend , Dr ^ fll'Douall . ( Immense cheering . ) He was so satisfied with the conduct of Mr . Duncombe on every occasion , that he ( Mr . Campbell , living in his district ) would vote for him at the next election , providing he wo * entitled to a vote . ( Cheers . )

    Mr . DUNCOMBE next acknowledged in a neat speech , the compliment passed upon him . He said the meeting had nobly done its duty , and it remainsd for him to dp his . He waa to be intrusted with the petition , which be should lay before the House of Commons , and he need not tell the meeting that he should give it all the support in bis power . ( Cheers ) He conceived that the Members of that House ought to be made acquainted with the views of Chartism . They were ignorant of the real otyects the Chartists are attempting to aecempiish . It tbey were to examine the document called the People's Charter—if they were to peruse it carefully , and withont prejudice , they would discover that Chartism is not that hydra-headed monster it has been represented . ( Hear , bear , hear . ) When the petition and resolutions are brought before

    tbe house , and the conduct of Lord Abinger looked into , if he mistook not , they would say , that his conduct had been , t ^ say the least , most intemperate sad quite unconstitutional . In his opinion , Lord Abinger ought not to remain upon the bench . He , for one , would by every possible means exert himseif in presenting the petition to get his lordship dismissed : and more th < m that , he would not refuse to put his ( Mr . Duncorabe ' s ) name to the petition . He would not detain them any lontjer , but conclude * by saying , that tbe conduct of tbe name . rous persons who had met together that night had been most circumspect—bad been most praiseworthy . Their conduct was worthy of the bench at Liverpool—worthy of the House of Commons , and be ( Mr . D . ) hoped that when he goes to address the House of Commons on the prayer of that petition , tbat the honourable members will behave as well . —( Great ckeering ;)

    -Mr . Duncombe then vacated the chair , and was saluted with three most vociferous cheers . Mr . BROWN said , he hoped before the meeting separated that he should be allowed to propose a vote of thanks to Mr . Roberts , who was so nobly engaged in conducting the defence of the Political Victims in tha North . He felt with Mr . Roberts , that it was an honour to be acquainted with Ellis—I cheers . } H « must say , that Mr . Roberts had done that which will redound to hia glory , and be remembered when he ( Mr . R * jBerta ) is known only by name—( cheers . ) His conduct bad been such , that he bad exerted himself in every way , not only for Ellis , but the whole number of persecuted victims . He should , therefore , make no apology in proporing a vote of thanks , which being done was seconded and carried , amidst the most entlm . siastie marks of approbation . Mr . Brown then proposed three cheers for Mr . Duncombe , three for Mr . Feaigus O'Connor , ' . and three for the Evening Star , after which the meeting separated in in a quiet and orderlj

    manner . The following was the first resolution : — Resolved—" That this meeting most deeply regraj and sympathize with the degraded and distressed condition of the labouring portion of their fellow subj ? cta , shown particularly throughout the ¦ late unfortun&ta disturbances in the Northern and Midland Couuties . " The following persons , with power to add to their number , were elected a committee to conduct the fund to be raised for the defence of the victims , namely , Messrs . O'Connor , Ridley , Westerton , Pray , Wheels , Dron , Frazier , Sankey , Cleave , Harris , Blackmon , Shaw , Balls . Swaiue , Campbell , Dr . Bowkett , Dr . Black , Norton , and Rogers .

    In connection with this meeting , the Evening Star d the following day ( Friday ) has the following comment * , which , to make our report of the proceedings conv plete , we bere insert i — " Tbe meeting to which the public has looked forward with more tban ordinary interest , was held last night in the great room of the Crown and Anchor , Thomas S . Duncombe , Esq , M . P ., in the cbair . The hour appointed for commencing business was half-past seven , but long before that time the room , and every approach leading to it , was crammed , while scare aftet score were compelled to turn their backs in despair before they hadevan reached the outer door . Shortly after the appointed hour , Mr . Duncombe entered tha room , attended by the office-bearers , carrying wands , and the committee of management . To attempt any * thing like an account of his reception , however , would bat subject us to the ridicule of these who Witnessed tbe real thing , and therefore we shall merely say that

    it was in every respect what grateful thanks for the honest service of a public man should be . Ic was cordial , long , and heart-felt ; but when be had wedged his way through the fbshy mass , and presented himself in front of the platform , then it was astounding . The huge mass appeared to be animated simultaneously by some sudden impulse , and literally jumped up together , as if put in motion by machinery . This part of the business gave us great pleasure , because it is right and proper that public men should be honoured for honest public service—and none have done their duty more faithfully , nay , half so faithfully , to the working c assel as Mr . Duncombe . The advocacy of some Imperial Patriots smells of a change of circumstances ; and many who spat upon Coartism during Whig ascendancy , would now willingly court tho outcast , to make it s

    " put the Tories out" " scapegoat : " not bo with Dancombe ; he battled the Whigs in their hottest rase , and when their very existence depended upen the strength that put the Chartists down , Duncombe plagued his own party night after night , and in the worst days of persecution defended tho persecuted , in spite of the fashion of his order . It is a remarkable fact , that Doncombe has bean courted by the people , not the people by him ; and that in tho 3 e days when Attwood and Fielden were playing " pitch aud toss" with the working classes for a bit : of popularity , Duncombe never bid against them , nor yet , like others , from spleen , opposed them . It is also remarkable , tbat Dnncombe has never stepped out of his way to gain Chartist applsusd whilJ the Chartists were strong , but has invariably throws himself into the fire when lewd authority has threatened Chartism with its vengeance .

    " These are facts , and striking facts ; and facts whicb { as bis reception last night proves ) have struck the ereat mass of the people as they have struck ourselves . Duncouibe ia now , by election , THE MAN . OF TBS PEOPLE , and , consequently , the envy of the sho ? boys -who bid , but bid in vain , for those honours to which they had no real pretentious . We have given the proceedings at considerable length , and therefore criticism upon th » mere speeches is . rendered unnecessary ; the more so , rs our sagacious readers , whatever WE here say , will read and think for themselves . To those , however , who were not behind the scenes , and who eaw nothing of the by-play or the performances

    before the curtain was raised , we will say a word of two . In speaking of speculations , none of our remark * apply to the general committee , nor yet to the very excellent managing sub-committee , fey whom the arrangements were completed ; they apply to the " Long stop" Whigs , who bad smelt a rat that savoured strongly of a Whig and Chxrliit pie , and in which the Chartists were to play the crust . There were a number of Lurchers , keen as a rat-catcher's dog upon the watcn for bolting vermin . We do not speak upon mere surmise , wo speak from facts . The several recruiting companies in Whiggery were all on the qui vive , and i » the most modest manner possible tbe experiment wai to be tried .

    " The meeting , as announced in the bills , was intended to have been a gathering of all orders of p » H " ticiauB ; and the consequence was , a strong muster d WhigB , flanked by the several sftirraffihiBg parties » that routed force . Sympathy is a fine rallying word , justice a seducing recruiting sergeant , and charity •» unputoffable beqg&i ; and sympathy , justice , 8 & charity , " Iria jundo in uno , " were emblazoned upon the banners of the company . Ah , but then tnese thing * in general-come too late , and then th « y are looked npo » as alrained , not free—not a 3 the " quality of mor ^ r * but as the trick of faction . The things halve been lon < felt

    by the poor and persecuted Chartfatt They i » J leaxnea Ma . t men ate , eten upm the alert to fly-e » w * those who would tender brass as the price of prf * ciple . They know that hitherto the poorest of tbVpo < have bad the honour of supporting the victim * » faction . Such , then , were the respective feelings « w positions of the respective parties last night , »» J boldly and nobly did the Chartists do tl » # duty . Applause waa bestowed where applause **" due , but the words charity ond undefined union "P flat Upon the anxious ear . Tbe speech of Mr . Fear * * O'Connor ( whose position in the Chartist rsnks even »• enemies are now beginning to acfenoPledge , —all J ^ tempts to pluck him out of Labour's heart having proT *" futile ) was hailed by all parties with marked & * ( ConiintteiirieurSevenMPaee . )

    Untitled Article

    a THE NORTHERN STAR . _ .. : ¦ ¦ : / . : ; . : - '¦ : ¦¦ ' ¦ ' - - - : ' ___ . __ . _ , :

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 26, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1188/page/6/