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VOLTAIRE'S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY. The first Volume of this cel»-
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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-growth oF mind : and bo sure as the march g | mart inteUeet is onward and forward , so sure ^ qj tfcese principles go on , conquering and to conquer . yes , in the language of the martyred Muir , "it ig . » cod cause ; it shall ultimately prevail ^ It aball finally triumph . "—3 &e conTiction that cheered that patriot 0 H the eve of banMhnient from his loved land , la my gOBSoli&Mi on the threshold of a dungeon . Gentlejjjai , lha-ra donej 1 leave my case in your hands ; 1 have a right to expect at jons hands a Terdicfc of acquittal ; bnt if your Terdict should be the opposite of what 2 have a right to anticipate , 1 trust i shall jneet the consequencea ^ of a Terdict of Guilty -with 2 iit fortitude which "will become me as a man , and Qab unflinching consistency of conduct , and unyielding devotion to principle , -which should ever characters tae ^ nan sr ho , as 2 hare done , devotes his life lothe jerrice of hlB f ellow-men , and the jaomotkni ol the happiness and -welfare of the "Whole linnum family . == = _ —[ rtrfli ol mind : and bo sure as the march
Siotel Pabkes next addressed the Jury . The defendant commenced by a narrative of his life from his yonth upwards * showing : the difficulties he tad had to strnggle against , in consequence of poverty and other adverse ¦ circumstances , all of -irHeh ne had - been niserly unable to Tssist , notwithstanding that ± e bad laboured with nnwearied industry , and had invariably conducted himself-with Bobriety and Integrhy . Finding himself unable to better his condition in life , he began , to snspeet that ihere mast be something radically defective in the governing system / and , after a carefol examination of facts , be arrived at the conclusion that the poTerty of the people was caused by a vicious system cf representation ,-which could only be cured by the suffrage being made universal . Tie defendant ¦ was proceeding in this strain , when
The Jtm&E interposed , and said—I must call your attention to the charge against you . The observations y&u haTe been mating are quite irrelevant . If every defendant is to give an account of bis birth , parentage , and ecuca : ion , I am afraid 3 shall hare & si ieresll next treei . A Juryman—3 understood from an observation made by your Lordship , that we shonld nave laid beforens the evidence asaffecting each defendant , I wish to ask yonr Lordshir . whether it is necessary for vstosit here to Tislen to speeches such as have been dekvered ly the two last speakers , which have inching vhatcvei to do tnth the question / lie Jadge— -Really , Sir , 3 can give no answer to any such qnestion as that . It is one altogether new tome . __ _
Mr . O'Connor—My Lord , I beg to make an application to your Lordship , to have tht question of the juror inserted upon yonr notes . The Judge—Certainly not : 1 can take no notice of it "whatever . I never had sucb an application jaad > to me 5 n my life . Mr . M'Oubray—It appears to me , my Lord , that fiib question "will go forth to the world . Tne Jndge—1 must interrupt you . 1 can't hear jon on any snch matter . The Defendant thsn resumed his observations , and ¦ was proceeding to ^ adTocatetne Charter , and recoiamending its adoption , when
The Judga again interposed , saying , that the momeD ; you adopt snch a line of argument as this I ean ' t hear you , because I should not be justified in listening toa discussion as to -what would be the best Beans of relieving the present distress . Defendant—Then labandon that . Tb 3 Judge—There is BTery disposition to give the utmost attention to anything that has the remotest reference to the issne , but I cannot allow the public time to be occupied T ? ith matter which is wholly irrelevant to this inquiry . Tee defendant restuaed his address , and denied altogether the charge of conspiracy . Those parties with whom ie was said te have conspired , he inew nBthing about them , either personally or in any other way .
lUehard OSey next appeared . —He viewed the evidence which had been offered in support of the prosecution as resembling a very beautiful flower , found on the banks . of the Dsad Sea . It appeared Tery beautiful to the eye , but the moment it was touched by the hand it crumbled into pieces . So it iras with the Attorney General ' s evidence . It appeared to be Tery specious , bnt when it came to be tessed by the application of truth and common sense it was found to beef no effect . Tee defendant was about to read from a manuscript , which he had in his possession , but-on the suggestion , of some friends who sat near him , he was induced to forogo his intention , and to content himself by disclaiming ever having had the intention of conspiring with any portion of his fellow subjects . George Johnson was about to address the Court , when
The Attobset-Geseiui , intimated to his Lordship that he did not think there was sufficient evidence against Johnson to induce him to proceed further irith the charge . i - * ~ " A verdict of acquittal was accordingly taken . Defendant—Then 1 have not an opportunity of saying scything more f ( Great laughter . ) Charles Sterer , la his defence , said he had only recommended a strike for wages , and he believed the sole reason why he was prosecuted was , that he had been a strenuous opponent of the Anti-Corn Xaw League . As a Chartist , hs had a * right to entertain whatever political opinions he ihoaght proper . He had advocated Chartism , and he should do 3 D again , notwithstanding that is might be incarcertted in a- dungeon . If the Jury did him justice , however , they most acquit him , for he could mod conscientiously say . that he had done nothing
wrong , - Barnard Jl'Cartney , in answer to the charge against him , appealed to the past actions of his life , all of "whith , especially during the late disturbances , hid been regulated by a regard for tie sacredness of propeny , and inviolability of person , and the icculotion upon the minds of ihe politaca ] parly with wiom he associated , to respect the opinions of those trho might happen , to differ with him . In allusion to the evidence which sad been offered by the Attorney-General , the defendant then inquired why thaTritneeSea Trtio had giTSi eTideiice against Mm before the magistritea had not been put into fee box to state to _ the jury what they knew of Mm . If diey had been produced , they wonld disfinethjand unhesitatingly hare declared that at the meetings he had attended , he recommended the
people lo protect eyery blade of grass , and every " wpare © f glass In ihe ^ onntry . Was this eon-Jpimy ! He trcsted Qtej were not aboafc to be placed under a military despotism , but that the jay by iheii Terdict of -acquittal would confirm VDd seal some of those privileges , in the enjoyment « f . which th y were on ail occasions priding themjdresasbeiDg superior to all the other nations of fee world . If any attempt was made to arrest the legitimate expression of pnblic opinion , they would tore the people to desperate remedies , which he tr&sted would never be found to be the result of » Tadiet of a British jury , impaunelled for the purpose of pnttinKslegiumate construction upon what constituted the liberty of the subject . The
defeidim denied that any inference could be drawn fena ihe recent turn-out favourable -to the suppoaiticn that Jbe people intended to conspire together 1 st fee destruction of property , for no Hneh thing lad taken place 4 en the contrary , it had been adaiaed thai from the holding of the Conference up touhe present time , things had been traognillising iwra to their former peaceful character , Mr . H'Caxtney then almded to the witness Griffin , whom fie denounced as a man who had banished all the Kgbar feelings of human nature from his breasf , ¦ "bo had "violated every principle of honour and Sautude , for , . after shaving Tisited him ( Mj-Jd'Csrtney ) in the prison , sympathised whh him in ms confintment , congratulated him on his release , * aook hini warmlv bv the hand , on
separattog from each other , and then this Tery JBan turned Tcundj - » nd furnished the infort * fc » n , on the strength of which , he was «« n arrested . With regard to the charge , the pendant designated the fc-ridenee whieh had been ^ -WJaeed in snpport of it , as flimsy , triflmK , andcons ^ nu > ia > le , and * B cn as they could not foaijd . a verdict sp , i i « n % upon . Mr . M'Cartney justified his attend-5- juice at « ie meeting of delegates , which he main-1 amed trts perfectly legal , and with regard to his « to » proceedings , he said he should feel it his dnty toperseTere in the adTocacy of the same principles , wkssly and boldly , though at the same time , j kfjjjffiw ely , and he hoped with that respect for the epmaa of others-whieh all men claiming freedom of 8 I »« haad thought , ought honestly to accord . ? oim the
Afinson , next proceeded to address Jmry ^ « " he wasTelieved from the the necessity of doing Ua Attorney-General consenting to take a Ter-** ° * jLcgititial , the ovidence heing insufficient to ^ awi the charge . ^ - Beeslet , in addressing the Jury , said he * ouid not occupy mnch time , as he was conscious we Jnry would already be fatigued and wearied *? a tie incessant attention wMch this case had restorf « their hands so long a time . He wonld teeflj aliude to those cirenmstances of it which *?«« nied himself , and he trcsied they would re-**** from Ihe Jnry that consideration -which might ]^ r ! ^ to & ™ •» impartial Terdict . It was «« ieed difficult to see in what wa ? the e-ridence bore "Swast him at all 5 he ghonld perhaps h ? st have con-^ d lis interest by savin g noshingfor he leallj
, tofw not conceive that there was any evidence at f-fsainst him- Nothing had been brought home ? * & » in connection wiih the case ; he had not £ 2 identified in or wiih it . No charge had even ^ aprefened against him , for be had never been j ^ ed on the charge contained in this indictment , f * he ever pleaded to it . Guilty or t * * Guilty , never having been required to do fTm , e ' ^ been sworn by Gariledge that * £ U ] r . Beesley ) -Tras a * tbe Conference , bnt no 7 *? n had been made to bring home this eridence jS ^ It had not been shewn that he was ihe C ^ : UaeaBt . There were many Beesleys besides Wr . ^^ he was no $ bound to assist the Government * 7 * U 3 » dBaesiDnsin secsamg ins eoaviction- Bnt ^^ . iewas awaTe of this , he had no wsn to « £ i bUBsdf of quirts or qaibblas . He was not the " ***> shdtei hliasdf nndei tli » false manile of eta-
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Hont he would assert the truth always without fear of consequences . It had not been proved that he TV * *• ¦ < ? S ? S ^ ^ e was not going to JeSv it ; he was at that Conference . He went there at the request and as the representatire of tbe iSftants SKB ^ V ^ aSS SS'f . ^ - s- ^ s l ? £ rtF' ?\ be * t ^ ^ at from their verdict he should not learn it , that tho bare fact of his attending that meeting could beconstrned as a crime : ror he was there , he took part in the proceedings of the Conference , and the part !« f * T * ^ opposition to the strike ; not because he considered the strike to be uujustifi . able or . illegal , bni because in his lud ^ mfent it sion * bAWMiM «« = « ,+ « , „ t , v -i _ ... .
T * as impoxitio to mix up the Chartist movement T * itn « . He thought it calculated to retard that movement , which his heart held dearest of all things , and hence hiB opposition to tha proceedings of those who saw no such danger , and who sought therefore tonse it as a means of advancing that movement , if hehadthonsjbt that the Chartist movement could oe thereby accelerated , he would have upheld the strifee , though he migh for so doing have been called conspirator or branded with any other epithet which the Crown lawyers might have thonght fit to apply to him . In his own district he had laboured to repress violence and to cause life and property to to be respected . He was too poor to bring witnesses to speak to these facts , but he knew them to be withm the knowledge of the Attorney-General , and he might appeal to Mm as his bebt -witness . Tho ¦ Learned Gentleman had sent out a commission ta
enquire into the state of his neigabonrhoodi and he £ new thai the commission had been informed that tbe preservation of peace had been mainly owing io his EXer i ^ ° v s * The -Attorney-General knew thisTand it would but have been candid in him to have told it to the Jnry , and fcave saved him ( Beeslej ) the trouble 01 doing so . The only other matter of evidence agamst him was that ef Superintendant M'Cabej who deposed to having found in his carpet bag , when taking him into custody upon a former charge , several printed papers , purporting to be passed by the Uraference . He bad no recollection of these papers , he was not aware that they were in his carpet-ba at all , nor had any proof been offered to ihe Court or Jnry that these were the same papers that were alleged to have been found in bis caipet-bag . But , supposing them to be so—and he had no disposition to be nice about the matter—what then J What wss there in the poosession of these documents to
criminate any man ! He was sorry they had not leu him an edd one , or he would have read it to them . < A laugh . ) Tfc < 3 Attorney-General procured one of the documents frcm off the Judge's bench , and handed it to the defendant . Mr . Beesley read it to the Jury , and then went on to say , that though he had opposed that resolution a * , the ConfereEce , he was prepared to defend it now . He maintained that there was nothing in it to merii the character which had been endeavoured to be fastened on these proceedings by the prosecution . The Conference had been sufficiently demonstrated by the learned counsel , who [ preceded him , to ie a legal meeting , and the resolution was
one which any legal meeting was competent to pass . Mr . Beesley then went on to some other matters , not perhaps quite revelant to the issue , and which we , therefore , omit . He concluded by reminding the Jury thai they had an important dnty to perform , aid that though Bome , or perhaps all of them , might entertain political opinions different from his own , they were not to permit those opinions to pervert jadgment , and te warp the cause of justice . He claimed at their hands such verdict as the circumstances and ihe evidence required against him , and he felt quite confident that that verdict would
be—-r » ot gailty"in any case . His principles would remain unaltered , and his determination to assert them equally so ; he was a Chartist : and whatever amount of persecution or imprisonment it might subject him to , he should remain a Chartist . Their verdict might eonsign him to a dnngeon for a season , bnt the time would pass over ; and when the gates should be again unbarred to him , and he emerged into the free air of heaven , he wonld be the same man . Ten thousand prosecutions could neither hurt nor harm him , for be was determined , while life lasted , to ssund the tocsin of the Charter as the death-note of tyranny and faction
Christopher Dot ^ e , in addressing the Jury , denied that the Chartists were the authors of the late strike , and he referred to the meet : ngs of the anti-Corn Law parly for the purpose of showing that the language UEed by those parties , was far more -violent than that employed by the Chartists . He ( Mr . D . ) had always stood up for his rights , but he had done so fairly , honestly , and legally . On ail occasions , he had recommended tbe people to obey the law , even though it was a bad one , so far as their interests were concerned , and during the late strike , he had inculcated the same peaceful demeanour , and he himself presented Tioknce being oS ^ red to both persoiSiand property . "With respect to the Charter , the defendant said that some of its principles had been advocated by ihe Duke of Richmond , Charles James Fox , and the Marquis of Lansdowne , w vmm ^ j 11 ¦ r ^ fe v ^* 4 m ^^^ A wj ^ w ir . i u ¦ w aaA ^ v * ^^ jm . m * o ** w ii *^^* m
and it was solely on account of prejudice that those principles were not generally acted upon now . Mr . Doyle maintained that it was owing to unjust laws that the people were discontented , and he believed that so long as a system continued which allowed one portion of the community to riot in unbounded luxury , while the other portion—the producers of all wealth —were in a state of destitution , and left to pine for the common necessaries of life , the people never would be contented , and order rould not be preserved in the country . With respect to the indictment , Mr . Doyle maintained the legality of the Delegate Meeting , and the resolution which had emanated from it , and concluded by saying that he should feel bound , in justice to his own convictions , to continue his advocacy of the Charter in future .
Josathas Batestow defended the legality of au his actions , with respecj to the meeting of deh gates , vriiich he maintained was merely an assemblage of frceb-arn Englishmen , met together to discuss a great principle . Wiuluh Wolfkndkh adopted a similar Dne of defence , and denied having attended the meeting at Mottram Moor . Jaxks Ljeach addressed the Jury at considerable length . He showed moEt iacantestibly that the late strike was the result of desp rooted discontent on the part of tbe working classes , occasioned by
nnjast laws and oppressive taxation , which subjected them to unceasing toil , to the lowest amount of remuneration for their labour , to great physical endurance , and to all the misery and privation which such a state of things was calculated to produce . Mr . Leach justified his attendance at the delegate meeting ; and as to the charge of conspiracy , he cheerfully appealed to those parties by whom he was best known , to say whether be had not on all occa sions enforced obedience to tbe law , and an abstinence from eveiy thing approaching lo outrage upon either person or property . At the close of Mr . Leach ' s address ,
Mr . O'Cossob stated to his Lordship that he was the last defendant who had to address the jury , and , therefore , he had to ask for an adjournment till tbe following morning . The Learned Judge consented , and the Court roBe at seven o ' clock .
WEDNESDAY—SEVENTH DAY . Mr Baron Rolpb took his seat on the bench at nina o ' cloek . Mr . O'Cosxob then rose , and addressing his Lordship and the Jury , said , that before he entered into a < xrasideration of this case be hoped he might be allowed in the first instance , to add his meed of praise to that which had already been bestowed upon the manner in which this trial had been conducted , from ihe beginning of it up to the present moment . The defendants had no right to complain—they had BO fault to find , and therefore Ih&y did not complain . He did not look npon tbi 3 prosecution as an act of kindness , or as an act of justice , or as an act of conrtesy . He went further—he looked npon it , as
regarded himself , as an act of grace . After the evidence they had heard , if their verdict upon it was one of gailty , it would not convey to the public mind of this country half the criminality which before this trial attached to his character . When the occurrences ¦ which had been made tbe snbject of investigation first commenced , the press of all parties teemed with the importance of the case , —that it was one little short of high treason , and that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was ihe prime morer in the various transactions connected with it . He was well aware that it would be impossible for him altogether to remove those prejudices which for years had been engendered in their minds . He did not seek to perform any such Herculean task , but if they left that box with those
prejudices 3 £ ain . st Mb character less than when they entered it , then would he have achieved a greater triumph than even theirverdiet of acq- « ital could give him . They had heard several of the other defendants defend themselves , and speak disrespectfully of their yerdiet ^ -he meant disregarding it . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) only comparatively disregarded it . If he destroyed their prejudices , and if the law told them that they ought to find him guilty from the evidence , let it be bo i but , provided he destroyed their prejudices , again he wonld say that he should hail their verdict as a triumph . Tney were now to come back after thi 3 long and rambling investigation to something like a consideration of the real multi of evidence
bnestion , and out of the plicity which had bsen thrown before the jury , all mixed up together it would be his dnty , although considerably relieved by tbe analysis of the evidence which his Lordship hid nisde , io bring their . minds bask to the consideration of the real charge , if any there existed , against himself and tbe other defendants . They must naturally supposa that in a prosecntion of this kind the AtiorneyVGeneraL . on behalf of the Crown , would lay his whole case before them . They must natu-: rSly conclude that he would support this prosecn-5 otT by all the evidence which he could poaablj mo-SL Es Admitted that the opening epeeeh of the Attorney-General was what the opening speech of a
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lawyer and a gentleman seeking justice ought to be . It was a very different Bpeech from those which , under Bimilar circumstances , he had been accustomedto hear ; but taking it without any contrast at all it was the speech ef a lawyer and a gentleman . He _ asreed with the Attorney General that investigation was not only necessary but indispensible . After the state which had been represented to them —after the state which had been proved to them that this county was in for a considerable time , the Attorney Ganeral vVould have been jastly charged with a dereliction of duty if he had not made this solemn enquiry in a Court of Justice . - But another question followed that , namely , whether the right parties were before them : and
that was a question -which he should have to submit to them by . and-by . What was the naturo of the crime with which the defendants were oharged 1 Did anybody understand it ? What was the reason that , in the course of these proceedings , the Jury had been compelled to confess that they were somewhat puzzled with the meaning of the indictment ? What was the reason that his Lordship had found it neeassary to relieve , if possible , the mist which surrounded it , and to place it in a olearer and more simple manner before the defendants 1 Why , it was because the Attorney-General had heaped together so many different charges as to make it impossible for any defendant to understand to what specific charge he was to apply himself . If this indictment had been
brought before tnem in a legitimate form—if rioters had been indicted for a riot , if those who had caused tumultuous and illegal meetings had been indioted for that , if those who had been guilty of a conspiracy had been indicted for that , then his trouble would have been comparatively light , and the labour both of his Lordship and the Jury would have beeD much contracted . This , - however , the Attorney-General had not done ; having ferret : ed throughout tbe conatry for evidence—having produced that evidence before the magistrates—and baviDg so far substantiated their case as to obtain a committal , and not a single witness by whom it was substantiated having appeared in that Court to reiterate his testimony , another perambulating tour was
was made to rake up fresh Evidence in order to stibstantiate these several charges . What did they want 1 Conspiracy was a ai finable thing . The moment that an agreement took place to do an illegal act by legal means , or to do a legal act by illegal meai ; s , that moment the crime was perfect ; it did not require two months to complete the crime , nor was it necessary to prove overt acts to Bubstantiate the charge . In order to prove the charge of conspiracy , not only must there bo a common design , but there must be a privity of knowledgeand that common design , and all the acts arising out of it , must go in furtherance of it , and on « conspirator must go to tho extent that tbe others did . These were facts which would shortly be laid before them by his
Lordship , and therefore it was the less necessary for him to troable them at any considerable length . Bat lot them see by whom in the first instance , this case was proved . The Attorney-General , in the opening of his case , stated that the charge against the defendants was that they had conspired together to force a change in the law , by tumult and riot . There might have been some doubt as to the complexion which this proBecution bore up to the acquittal of Wild . Tnere was a desire on the part of the crown to avoid evidenoe relative to the strike for labour . He had not for the life of him been able to discover why and wherefore it was that the Attorney-General sought to gloss over the case , and to put a new faca upon it .
But when he found the Attorney General consenting to a verdict of acquittal in favour of Wilde , because he did not stand to the Charter , then he discovered for the first time that this was a political pro 3 eoution . Then he came Va the conclusion that the Attorney-General had ^ Determined , whatever the evidence ^ might be , —nay Hot the Attorney-General , for let it not be supposed that he laid this at his door , —but those who had been engaged in gettiRg ap the evidence which was presented before the magistrates , in the first instance , seemed determined to obtain a conviction , and they now proposed to do this by calling an entirely different class of witnesses , to prove a totally different case of conspiracy . That was an important fact ,
and one which he hoped the jury would bear in mind . The defendants were charged with a conspiracy on the 17 th of August , On this branch of the case , as he was more immediately connected with it than any other , he thought he might very briefly deal with it . He was charged individually with having excited the continuance of a striko then in existence . Facts vrcre stubborn things , and thanks to the Attorney-General , —thanks to that ingenuousness which had ever marked his character through life , he had acquitted him ( Mr . O'Connor ) of every charge in tne indictment . Up to the time of the strike , not only bad the Attorney-poneral acquitted him of any cognizance of , or participation in it , but he had goue farther ^ and he had borne honourable
testimony to the fact , that he had resisted ) t . But let them Bee what this conspiracy was ; let them see how it had been carried on , let them seo what the documents referred to by tbe Attorney-General in hisopening speech , were ; let ihem see what the nature of them was ; whether they were justifiable or not , and whether they were legal or not . They had the evidence of tho two principal witnesses for tbe Crown—men from whom the poor defendan s would not consent to receive a character , because they would have felt themselves degraded and lowered in their own estimation , if they had done so ,- —it was npon the evidence of these Siameso youths that this charge mainly depended . What had they got out of them 1 Finding the state in
which the country was , who ought to have been there to prove it ! Ought it to have been left to policemen , —to the garbled reports of men who were fent out as spies , to take notes of all that was connected with these transactions 1 or should it be th& men who were interested in the preservation of the peace ! Above all , where were the authorities ! Where was the Mayor of Manchester ? Where was Sir Thomas Potter ! Where was Mr . Maudef Where was Colonel WeymsBl Where was Sir Charles Shaw ! Where were all those who saw these transactions , and could have spoken to them ! Why , they were nowhere ! The crown conld have produced them . Tney had failed to do so . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had done so . The evidence which
onght to have been brought to substantiate the case , he bad bronght to answer the ca-e . Now what was the chaTge * The defendants were charged with a crime , which , if it were true , he should blush to stand up and defend himself against . Tnere was something so appalling to the feelings of every honourable man , iu a charge of conspiracy , that the mind recoiled from it with „ horror . Conspiracy ! what was it ? It was the secret machinations of a bad man to destroy something belonging to a good man . It was the most abominable of all crimes . He never had been a conspirator , and he hoped to God he never should- But what had they proved by these Siamese youths ! They had proved that the meeting of delegates was called two months before the strike took place . They had proved from the witness
Cartledge that it was an open meeting . They had proved that reporters were admitted : not reporting for the Northern Star alone , but for other papers ; ard they had proved that no interruption had been offered to the admission of any one . What did Cartledge say * Rq admitted that the meeting of delegates was projected before the strike took place . Both he aad Gdffin admitted that the meeting was called to consider the reorganisation of the Chartist constitution . And they had a right to their constitution , if it was legal . He would not support it if it was illegal . Here , then , they had the character of the conspiracy . Here they had men who were known to differ , met to oonspire . Here they had men differing among themselves met to oonspire . But , then , they had combined . Yes , and
" When bad men conspire , Rood men combine . " It -was true that the great political party with which he was connected , had combined . Combined ! For what ! For the furtherance of their own principles . —Not to conspire . It had been truly said by a vary hfgh authority , that never did good men mset for a good purpose , without beiBg thoroughly well aoqaainted with each other ; and never waB an instance known of bad men conspiring together for a bad purpose , without being well known to each other , and haviDg entire confidence in each other . Here were men met for the purpose of healing their dissensions , and he had proved that a reporter who was dimissed from his service , and who had , in consequence , some pique against him , was allowed tone Did
present at the meeting , at his especial request . this show conspiracy ? After the character of some of the evidence that had been adduced , —after the fact of fhe notes of policemen being preferred to their own recollections ; after the fact that those notes had been tak « n in running hand in a crowded meetiflg , —their elbpws jogged j—after all this he did hope that something more substantial would have been offered on the part of the prosecution . He had hoped that if the noteB of a policeman were better than the recollection of a policeman , that tbe notes of a reporter , taken before he had consented to give evidence , if they had been produoed , might have been purged of much that was waged against the defendants . Bat the reporter had not been asked for those notes . Where were they ? In his
depositions they were—here they were not . If the Attorney-General had been ahxiouB to obtain the best evidence that the case would admit of , why were not these notes read ! If there was anything in them proving the dime of conspiracy , —if there was anything proving a charge against the conspirators , why had they not been produoed ? It was said that the speeches made at the meeting were to be suppressed . Bat the notes were not suppressed , and therefore , not having been produced , he was justified in concluding that there was nothing in them which conld make against the defendants . Why what was the fact 1 A deputation from the trades had requested admittance to the Conference , in that character ; but in consequence of bis opposition , their application was refused , though at the same time they were told that either the ? or any other parties
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might enter the room and form part of the audience , u t * ^^ ey heard from Griffin ! He said that IM i * * two ^ ° Pies of t address adopted by the delegates , one of which he sent to the British Statesman . Why ; did he not send his notes to the statesman ! Here they had the conspiracy developed , bo far as he was concerned . The Attorney General had said that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was opposed to the strike . The Jury had only to deal mi th Lln \ ( r <» B the 13 th to the 17 th of August . They must be made perfectly aware of the manner in , 5 v * « ° f ; conspiracy could be got at . It would be their duty to look at all the magic with winon legal ineenukv had smrrAimffoH . thia « Ihm . » a
of conspiracy . Why , he had thought ftwn the picture whioh had been drawn by the Attorneytienerai tnat he was one of an audience listening to some melodramatic performance . He looked for the propertie 8 -he looked for the m » sks ,-he looked for the daggers , —he looked for the blue fire , —he looked for the torches , the bayonets , and the pistols , by which this conspiracy to upset the Government was to be carried oiu . Horrible conspirators i Why , it was absolutely true that he bad travelled by night , m a train , with three hundred other persons . He then went in a cab by himself , because nobody happened to be going hia way-daughter . ) tie icit at
halt-pfist five o ' clock in the morning , because that was the time theltrain starteddaushter . ) He Jett his owu house—he got to the Eustonsquarestation , and as he passed under the tunnels , he thought he heard atnidst the rumbling of the wnee ? 8 ,-the echo of the conspirators voice ringing in his ears- ( A laugh . ) He arrived at the scene where the conspiracy was first to be hatohed . He went to bed at 8 ix o'clock in the morning , and he never awoke till three o ' clock in the afternoon . On going to Noblett ' s hou = e , he eo concealed bimsoif ma cab that all the people came to Sf 5 e and flock round him —( Laughter . ) They knew from the appearance of the cab , and the smell of brimstone , that there was a Tery coaeDirator within
it Ihe wheels knocked blue fir © out of the Btones , and in the midst of the glare might be seea— Peterloo- Hunt ' s Monumentstrike for wages—tumultuous meetings—riots—turnout the hands , and carry the Charter by tumult and violence !"—( laughter )' . He passed down to tho Sherwood Inn because he Was sent tor , Wh \ J to ascertain whether he would go to a tea-party , which was to be held in one of the most public parts of Manchester . A crowd gathered round . He requested them to disperse in order that it might not be said that he had done anything calculated to lead to a breach of the peace . Thus they would eee that hia firat appearance produced a crowd . What did he do ? He drove to the house of Mr . Scholofield ,
one of the defendants , whom he had known for eight yearp . Why did he go there Because he had not heard that the meeting whioh was announced to be holden that very day , had been put off , and whence reached the house , ht found that Mr . Scholefiold had completed the good work before him . He had not remained long , before Mr . ScholenVld cama from the printer ' s with a bill . He was now stripping this indictment of its technicalities . He was , now showing them in what manner they were going to carry on a conspiracy . Mr . Scholefiold showed him the bill . He grasped his hand and said , " thank God . " He told Mr . Soholefield that if he had known this , he need not have come at all . But after having been elected two months before for a specific purpose , ho thought
that if he had refused to attend , his motives might have been misconstrued , and , therefore , he was determined to appear , and throw his weight , such as it was , into the scale , and to use the best means he was capable of employing , to turn this from a disastrous strike into a peaceful strike for the Charter . Well ; then he was seen no more till the 17 th of August . In the meantime circumstances bad arisen whioh called for their interference as a political party , but they were , not to be found guilty of that . If he had too much popularity , let them find him guilty of that . If the party to which he belonged , had no right to interfere , let them say so ; but let it bo general , — that no other political party is the state should
interfere . The conspirators met , and they remained in conclave for four hours , conspiring against the peace of the country . What did they do ? They passed an address , and they passed a resolution . What was tho character of that resolution ! Why , it pledged the delegates that they should continue the struggle until the Charter became the law of the land . Struggle ! said tho Attorney-General- What did that mean i Why , what did an election struggle mean ? What did any political struggle mean ? What did they mean by a struggle on any question in the House of Commons I Did it mean that parties should catch each otlior by the throat and strangle each other ? Ho . It meant that they were to unite and Bt&nd together . This all-important resolution , —this
damning resolution , —this dark-lantern resolution , — what did it rofer to I To have the Charter then ? Not a word about it . What t ^ ey meant waa to continue the struggle for the Charter—not for the strike—until it became the kw of the land . But then , said the Attorney-General— " Tumults and riot are not legal . You have a right to oonteDd , if you contend peaceably , but not by tumultuous meetings . " There was no one in that Court more anxious to have a proper definition of the law on all matters connected with agitation , and with meetings , and with politics of every description , than he was himself . Nor did he think he could produoe to the Jury a higher authority than the Learned Attorney-General himself as to
what constituted a tumultuous meeting . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not ask them to take the law from him . He had attended more public meetings than any man living , or than any man that ever lived before him , and he was never yet charged with committing a single breach of the peace . On the contrary , he had often prevented it . The Jury should hear what was the opinion of tho Attorney General as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . In addressing the court at Newport , in an important case , this web the opinion of the Attorney-General on that branch of the law . The Learned Gentleman said " Gentlemen , the law cannot be altered by tbe conduct of those who are called upon to obey it ; and I make that admission to my Lords upoa the bench ,
because , in the few remarks that I am about to make upon this part of the ease , 1 do not mem to say that any change of the law has occurred by reason of the relaxed discipline of society that has prevailed for same time past . But 1 do mean to say this distinctly ^ that from what has actually taken place , from that which has been permitted , perhaps , G ntlemen , in some instances even sanctioned , a very different estimation is to beheld of publio meetings , ay , gentlemen , and even of armed meetings , from that whioh might have been formed some twenty or thirty years ago , and that the object and the intention of the parties may justly receive at the close of the year 1839 , a construction far more favourable than , perhaps , could fairly have been conof
ceded in earlier periods of the history this country , that you and 1 are familiar with : for 1 do not go back to very remote periods . " This was the opinion of the Attorney General , explicitly laid down as to what constituted a tumultuous meeting . Now , the Learned Attorney General was at that time eugaged in a proceeding which he might well suppose would go through the length and breadth of the land , and as if to give time to public meetings and strengthen their character , the Learned Gentleman went through tho details of a large publio meeting of no fewer than 200 , 000 personS jj ^ in London , and then addressing the Jury in the ease to which he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had referred , he said , ?'
Gentlemen , under the name of agitation , what haa not been done almost in every town and in eveiy corner of this kingdom \ And if we pass—ana , gentlemen , 1 shall do this lightly , because 1 do it re luotantly—if we pass for one moment , and take a glance at tho sister kingdom , there familiarly we hear talk of a petition from 500 , 000 fitting men . Gentlemen , 1 say no more upon this point , but 1 call upon you to remomber these transactions when you come to deliver your verdict on the guilt or the innocence of tbe prisoner . And let it be understood that so far as' permission , if not actual encouragement has been afforded to such proceedings , that it wonld be most ucjust to use the same measure that was formerly in use as to the motives of parties . It
would not be justice to weigh in the same scales as were formerly used the transactions about which you are making inquiry to-day , " The Attorney-General told tho Jury , at Monmouth , that the Reform Bill had altered the character of the constitution . They had heard of a petition from 500 , 000 men in the Sister Kingdom ; but theywero not to look upon that as a tumultuous meeting . True , it was , that the penal code had been relaxed , but the political code bad been contemporaneously made more stringent . The Attorney-General charged the defendants with attempting to upset the constitution and to change the law , by tumultuous meetings . Let thorn see whether this did not come late and with a bad grace . Let them see if , independently of
what they learnt from the acquittal of Wird , there was any thing more lurking at the bottom of this trial . The Jury had received evidence there , but there were other sources from whioh they had received it as well . They took the law from the legislature . Were they not bound in a transaction of this kind to defer with respect to such high authority as the Lords and Commons 1 Let them Bee what was the opinion entertained there as to the origin of the late occurrences . He would give them some of the best names , and the highest authority of thia or any other count ? y . He
would give them the name of the most finished man , taking him all in ail , of whieh England could now boast . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) differed with him in politics , bnt a man with such a mechanical head , with such combination and power of mind , as Lord Brougham , there was not another , f Mr . O'Connor here alluded to a recent speech of the Noble and Learned Lord , in whioh his Lordship expressed an earnest hope that the proceedings of the anti-Corn League ought be elicited at the now pending trials . ] Some persons had sought to make Lord Brougham appear a madman . Would that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) were such an one . Now . let them see whether the
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House of Lords and the House of Commons agreed in . one thing . But before he did that , and to show what misrepresentations issuedj from the press , he would just say that he had the ? unqualified contradiction of the Attorney-General to a statement which had appeared in the newspapers ; that he was coming dowa to Lancaster to proseoutethe leading offender . Tae Learned Gentleman assured him that he had never UBed those words at all , and that he had been gro = sly misrepresented . j { The Reporter was obliged to send off his packet before the whole of his notes of Mr . O'Connor ' s address weri transcribed . \ The remainder will appear in our next Eiition , ¦ and will be inserted in our early Editions nest week : so that each reader will have a full report of these important proceedings ] !
EVIDENCE FOB DEFENCE . Mr . William Scholefield , examined by Mr . Cobbetc—1 am son of tbe defendant . 1 reside with my father . On the 16 thof August ! last , Mr . O'Connor came to my father ' s house . He slept at our house that nigbt . He was called up ac half-past two in the afternoon . We did not expect him . My father went out of tho house very early in | the morning of that day . He went to get some placards printed . It was very near six o'clock , when he returned . The placard now produced is one announcing the
oostponoment of a meeting . MrJKearnan was the printer . 1 was sent by my father to get the bills . 1 placed some on the walls . : By Mr . O'Connor—1 remember your telling my fathar to go down to the tea party at the Carpenter ' s Hall , and make au apology for your not attending , in consequence of the excited state of the town . 1 recollect there was a long conversation in the family as to whether it would be prudent for you to attend . It was ultimately agreed that my father should go and make an apology . :
By the Attorney-General—I don't know how many persona wero in my father ' s chapel on the night of the 16 th of August . |[ did not go in . I know there were some there , because I heard them passing the surgery window . I went to bed at ten o'clock . There was a light in the chapel . I don ' t know any person who was in the chapel , except Mr . O'Connor . 1 don't know who furnished the candles , except it was my brother . He is not here . Mr . O'Connor went into tbe chapel , when my father went to the Carpenters' Hall , which would be a little after seven o ' clock . 1 can ' t say how many persons passed the aurgery window . There might be a doz . n . When my father returned from Carpenters' Hall , he came into the surgery to me . Ho was not in the chapel during that night . 1 did ) not see the address of tae Executive Committee before Thursday , the 18 . a of August . 1 do not remember any person coming to tell my father that Turner , the priater , had been arrested .
John Norihcott—I am servant to Mr . Kearnan , printer , of No . 5 , Georgleigh- treec , Manchester . In the month of Auguss last , 1 remember my master printing some bills for Mr . Scholetield , the defendant . I took some of them to his house on the morning of the 16 ch . He did not at that time give orders for them to be posted ; but he appeared extremely anxious to have them put as early as possible , 500 of the bills were printed , which were suffioent to post the whole town . ; By the Attorney-General—MyS master printed the plaoard now produced— " Run f , or Gold . " It was printed before that for Mr . Scholefield , 1 think on the Monday . 1 can ' t say who ordered them . By Mr . Cobbett—My master { prints a . l sorts of placards . There may be half a dozen sorts printed in one week . ¦ John Brook—I am brother-in-law to Mr .
Scholofield . I am a joiner . On the 16 ch or 17 th of August I was at work at his premises . On the 17 h I frequently went into the surgory to receive instructions concerning the work . I was engaged in painting some gates . The chapel is situate between the gates and the house . Mr . Soholefield came down to me several times during the time . ! He came through the chapel , not out of the surgery ; By Mr . O'Connor—I remember your coming to Mr . Scholefield , at half-past fire in the morning of the 16 tb . You waited till Mr . Scholefield came from tho printers . I know a man named Griffin . I remember that Mr . Scholefield once gave him a job out ot charity . Griffin and I had repeated conversations about yon . He said he had lost his situation as reporter , and that he ] would " walk into yon . " He said he would be revenged upon you . I told him he could not . He replied that he could , and that I should be astonished when I knew how it was
done . This was before you oamelto the house . John Cockshou—I am a butcher in Manchester I was in Mr . Scholefield ' s house on the 17 th August , between ten and eleven in the morning . I went to get a buttle of medicine . I saw Mr . Scholefield . He was iir the surgery . He had a few patients that he was giving bottles to . Taerc were a number of poor people there who were begging tickets for soup . He gave them some . j Henry Holland , examined by IMr . O'Connor—I reside at Burnley . I [ am a block-cutter to calicoprinters . I keep a temperance coffee house . I am a tec-totaller . Previous to tbe beginning of August last , the factories were working short time . There was great distress and excitement ; among all classes . Inconsequence of that there wasistrong apprehension of danger . 1 remember many meetings being held about that time of an jexotting character . I communicated with you ; aoout the latter
6 bd of July , as to the state of the district . requested you to come down , and to allay the angry feeling which existed . You camejdown . I attended the meetings you addressed on jtiiac occasion at Bnrnloy and Colne . They were very numerously attended . That at Burnley was numerously attended by all classes in the town . The general tendency of your address at both meetings , in ) my hearing was calculated to allay the excitement , and 1 am happy to Bay that it did allay it . A mill was burnt before you Came , and 1 believe a reward was offered for the perpetrator of the crime . You referred most emphatically to the transaction , and told the people that the surest way to impede tho Charter * was to resort to acts of violence . 1 remember a meeting of shopkeepers being held at Blackburn , at whieh all the points of the Charter were adopted . I attended a meeting , at Burnley , and your temperate exposition of the Charter reconciled all classes .
By the Attorney-General—The meeting at Burnley , was held in a tent erected ! for the purpose . There were from 15 , 000 to 20 , 000 j persons present . To the best of my recollection ic was held about the latter end of Juue . 1 was at a meeting hold in tbe Town Hall , in Colne . It was densely crowded . 1 went there in consequence of my anxiety to allay the excitement which prevailed , and to hear Mr . O'Connor . Notice was given of the meeting . 1 was not a delegate . i Sir Thomas Potter , examined by ) Mr . O'Connor—1 am a magistrate residing at Bewley-hill , near Manchester . 1 remember the excitement whioh prevailed in Manchester , in August last . 1 conceive the Reueral character of the strike , in the first instance , was for wages . 1 heard that a procession was to have taken place on the 16 th of August last . 1 believe the reason why it was abandoned was , that the magistrates informed Mr . Scholefield , that it
would not be allowed , and he said he would do everything in his power to prevent it . 1 consider that the deportment of the people , at tho time , was peaceable . 1 heard ot the procession on the previous 16 th of August . 1 never remember a more q&iet 16 th of August in Manchester than ] the last . About the time of the strike , two men came to me , and said that several manufacturers w < jre paying lower wages than others , and they wished for an equalisation . They wished me to try to procure a meeting between tho men and their masters . A man named Bell made % report to the magistrates , at the Town Hall , that Mr . O'Connor had arrived , but we did not think it necessary to take any precaution in consequence . The impression upon my mind as to tho disposition of the people was , that it was peaceable . From my knowledge of Manchester , 1 think the condition of the people was most deplorable , in consequence of the high price of provisions , and tbe low rate of wages . i
By the Attorney-General—I don't remember what number of special constables ; were sworn in in August , but I should think 400 or 5 tiO . Tne firat week we had 500 troops , and after that we had a considerable re- inforcement . We probably got 1 , 500 more . I alteuded at the Town Hall . The Magitstratee attended there day and night , for full four weeks . The commander of the district was at the York Hotel , which is close by . The speoial constables attended there , too , day an'd sight , for at least a month . On Tuesday the 29 th of August I saw nothing particular . On Wednesday , there apbe of
peared ^ to a great deal excitement . I once headed " the troops to the railway , as we had beard there was an intention to destroy the line . I oau ' t give the date , but 1 think it ws . 3 89 me time the following week . I think there , was a ) general advice given to the millownerg by tho Magistrates not to resist the mob . Individually I was not afraid . The hands in the mills appeared to be { quite ready to turn out . There was no force required . I can ' t say why this advice was given . One young man came and asked it he could fire upon tne mob , as he had a cannon , and could destroy a great many of them . We told him to do no sneb thing .
Mr . George Boyle Chappell examined by Mr . O'Connor . 1 am an alderman of Manchester , and have lived there more than fifty years . 1 remember my mill being stopped . There waB jnot a vestige of damage done , nor a squaTe of glass broken . The mob said they did not wish to damage property , and the hands appeared to be quite willing to turn-out as those who went to the mill , were desirous they should turn out . 1 conceive myself , from what 1 saw in the course of the proceedings in Which 1 was personally engaged that the people had struck for wages , and 1 must say that having been in every mob in Manchester , for the lastfitty years , 1 ; never saw ans mob behave themselves better , or more respectably than the ? did . There has been a reduction from the year 1836 , up to the present time of ' fifteen per cent . on the raw material ; but tbe reduction in the price oi manufactured goods in that time has been 50 percent ,
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The depression of trade and the falling off in profits does not enable the manufaotm-ers to give the tame rate of wages ; but still 1 think the destitution which prevailed arose more from those who were unemployed being thrown upon those who were in employment , than from any absolute insufficiency in the rate of wages paid , supposing the means of employment to have been general , instead of , as was the fact , very partial . I am no member of the Anti-Corn Law League , nor have I subscribed a single sixpence to any political party whatever . 1 went as a delegate to Sir Rube-re Peel , at the request of a number of my fellowtownsmen , for the purpose of laying a statement of facts before him , and expressing our opinion . The Attorney General—1 must really objesi to this evidence . Wo are not here eo discus 3 the existing distress , or the remedy which is to be found tor it
. Tho Judge—I think we can't hear statements of this kind ; thby are not evidence . Mr . O'Connor—Then I ask no further questions . James Kcrshaw , Esq . —I am Mayor of Manchester . I was a magistrate in August last . I hare resided in Manchester all my life . I have a sreat interest in the preservation of the peace . There has usually been a procession in Manchester on the 16 t . h of August . I remember tfae time about which the magistrates issued a proclamation last year . I understood it was intended to have had a procession ou the last 16 < , h of August . The magistrates s ? d
it should not take place , and those engaged m getting it up complied with this wish . I am a caiico printer . My works were stopped on Taussday , the 1 ( th of August .. There was no damage done to the works . I believe the hands went out willingly . The last 16 > h of August passed off much more peacfaoly than we had anticipated , and , & 1 compared w : ? h the previous days , much more peaceably . 1 thiuk the greatest excitement prevailed on the 9 h . lOch , Ihh ^ and 12 th . The working classes were suffering great distress . Speaking of them generally , I think their conduct was good . There were some exceptions .
Mr . O ' connor here stated that Sir Ralph Peiidlebury had been Biibj . ee aed as a witness , but tha . he had sont a certificate to say that in consequence of labouring under indisposition , he coaid not attend . ¦ ¦ . ^ . Mr . Isaac Cleak Pray examined by Mr . O'Connor —la August last , I was the registered proprietor of the Evening Star newspaper , published in Londun . I remember the suppression of publio meetings in London , in the mouth of August last , about tho 23 rd . You were Editor of the Evening Star . You would not receive any remuneration ; or your services—not a penny . You gave notice that all letters , whether private or not , addressed to you
in London , should be opened in your absence . 1 have opened hundreds of letters marked " privat e . " Your instructions as to what was to appear in the Even ' ing Stor , were that we should not admit anything in favour of the strike , or of an exciting character . I always thought it was your desire to make the country as peaceable as possible , and I thought you sincere . 1 know Griffin , the correspondent . 1 gave orders for the payment of hia salary . 1 considered Griffin ' s matter so inflammatory , that sometimes 1 cut the whole of it out , and sometimes a part . In fa'ifc 1 thought he was aiming to entrap me as pro * prieior * of the paper . 1 remember reading a letter irom Griffin , in which he asked you for money to tako him to America . '
By the Attorney-General—The Evening Star commenced at the latter end of July last year . 1 presume Mr . O'Connor lived in London or the neighbourhood . Mr . O'Connor—1 wish your Lordship to ask the witness whether the Evening S ( ar was noc principally supported by the operatives , and circulated throughout Lancashire . Judge--Was that so 1 Witness—It was . Mr . James Holliday , examined by Mr . O'Connor
—1 am a manufacturer residing at OWnam . 1 have known you since 1835 . 1 have attended various meetings at which you have addressed the people . The general tendency of those addresses was not calculated to lead to a breach of the peace . 1 have heard you complain that you had been much misrepresented , and that consequently much prejudice had been created in consequence , la the speeches whioh 1 have heard you make , 1 have thought that they were distinguished by great zoal and energy , and considerable physical strength .
By the Attorney-General—1 have bean accustomed to make speeches myself , on various topics . Mr . Titus Brooke , of Dewsbuvy , examined by Mr . O'Connor . —I have known you &s a publia man for tcu years , and psrsonallv , for six or seven years . The neighbourhood of iJewsbmy has frequently been ia an unsettled state- I have heard you address public meetings , and make exhortations to peace , when there was a , disposition to be turbulent . That has been the fact on all occasions . I never heard you say one word which was calculated to lead to a breach of the peace . Among the working classes your character is generally admired as a lover of peace . Among the middle classes you are not so much admired ; but 1 think they are prejudiced . I think , taking the whole of the population , that they would accord to you the character I have given .
John Par , examained by Mr . O' ^ jwraor—I am your steward in the county of Cork . 1 have lived in your family upwards of thirty years . 1 have lived with your brother . He left me ten pound a-year , in consideration of my character . 1 have frf quently seen you stand in the fields for a whole day with your labourers , 130 in number , conversing with them . From all , that 1 bave known and seen of yon , 1 can conscientiously state that yon were always for peace . 1 remember the disturbances in the County of Cork , and the violence offered to the Magistrates and the military . You induced the people to give up their arms , and deposited them in the servants' hall With respect to your tenantry , yon have builfc stone bouses , where formerly mud cabins existed , aud you have given the ground rent fres . You paid a higher rate of wages than any other landlord .
Mr . O'Connob—My Lord . I am merely eliciting this to remove an insinuation which I thought the Attorney-General had thrown out , that I had employed the Northern Star as a medium of agitation , for the purpose of pecuniary gain . The Attorney-General— 1 beg to assure Mr . O'Connor that 1 imputed no such , motive . I was far from insinuating any such thing . I would not have the Jury to imagine me capable of doing so . For if the testimony just now given had not been elicited , the Jury could not fail to witness the creditable deportment of Mr . O'Connor in their preaence . He had met Mr . O'Connor before . He had mot him at Monmouth on a , very important ocoa * sion ; and what he there saw would alone havo prevented him from even entertaining any disposition to disparage Mr . O'Connor .
Mr . John Ardill examined by Mr . O'Connor—1 have been your clerk ever since the commencement of the Northern Star . 1 know that large sums have been paid by you to parties who were incarcerated for political offences and to their friends . 1 have frequently wriitcn to you to Bay that 1 could not honour your drafts they have been so numerous in this way . During the time tha ' . you were in York Castle , you paid money to the Northern Star office . 1 believe that scarcely ever any party applied to you for money , when you did not give them some , or anthori&e me to do so . 1 have attended some meetings at which you have been present . 1 should say
that your charaoter is far from being an agitator for anything but peace . 1 have heard you denounced many times by working men , for stopping the physical foroe movement , aud 1 have seen letters to that effect . 1 know you have p ? bid a higher amount of wages than any other newspaper proprietor in Leeds . 1 have known men be absent from the office foT a considerable time , in consequence of indisposition , and their wages were paid , just the same as if they had been at work . Mr . O'Connor—This , my Lord , 1 urge from no motive of vanity . The evidence is important to me in point of character .
A person named Chamberlain , living at Manchester , was called to prove that he had placed a copy of the Address of the Executive Committee on a bo ^ rd , at the shop door of Mr . Leach , one of the defendants , without his permission . The defendant received an excellent character from a party who had known him for many years . Mr . O'Connor here announced that thU was the whole of the evidence which it was intended to offer on the part of the defendants .
Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary. The First Volume Of This Cel»-
VOLTAIRE ' S PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY . The first Volume of this cel » -
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 11, 1843, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1203/page/5/
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