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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th July 1843, Edition 1 of 5, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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  • Departments (3)
    • CftatJtijSi intelligence.
    • TO THE IMPERIAL CHAHT1ST3.
    • THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED, PRICE SIXPENCE, No- I. OF A PR AC TIC A-L WORK
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      ON TfiE - ' ¦ ! : management of smaIl faems ; Giving fall Instructions respecting Rotation of Crops , Management ef Cattle , Culture , &o . ' BY FEAHGUS O'CONNOR , ES 9 , FARMER AND BARRISTER , j Also , now on Sale , in Two Numbers , at Fourpebce each , the M STATE OF IRELAND , " -written in 1798 , by Abthub O'Connob . A compendium of Irish History , and a more > correct Account of the Grievances of that Country , than any that has appeared upon the subject . : ,, , , ' , : Cleave , London ; Heywood . Manchester ; Hobaon , Leeds .

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      3 Jt B £ i 2 3 ? sies 3 S , —After having T > een entrusted -gs the fclxping and administration of yonr fimds to iheJsst Jen months , -Jrithoafryour expressing any ^ jjejj as to ffie- jnVanner I hare use d them , it veeni es my jleasiayjduty to submit my "balanco-Ag ^ for your pernssL - Yon-mil Jino that I lave jjjgfullj abst ^ iied frorQ -mrnng up m iiae account nj angle Item connected ; m 1 ih my pirn defence .

      jjis s fortiuiate ^ ircnnjstaiics that ^ I am enabled , ^ jonr good opinion , to awaitine proper time for jgj jjjng teaJl the slanders of my enemies ; and that f as-so stronjgly wib&d In honesty as 4 k > -feel so © verjjp e ^ in Tefathjg the falsehoods of hired SCribDlerS , ^ jgSu te politiciana , and . jealous sdMormentois . Qpe charge against me has been that liave escaped jss atbed from the recent prosecution because I ^ asafcl e to ^ sTafl myself of the service of lawyers ; jgfe those -whom ihe ignorant are pleased to call Pj dupes nave snfiered from a -ir » nt of ihe ^ jue m eans . Never- was "there a more doubly Ipj crant assertion than ^ his . Krsflyj because it y > s a gainst my consent , and aj ? ainBt the consent of fa leaders of the ChariiBt body , ' that any man , bo

      gjoj ^ h humble , belonging io onr party , ^ inia go to trial-without theTery best legal asastjace . And this taunt has been thrown out in con--jeguenee of the adoption of apian against which I isTB inTariably protested . I mean the system of ulan ? separate local defence funds , and giving gie amount eollected either to the party accused , or jo a committee for the purpose of his defence . Json 3 if it goes to the party , it is generally made pirate property of , while ihe accused supposes that he best consults Ms own feelings and ihe interest of ii 3 party , by making his own defence ^ or , if it is legitimately expended by a committee , some griping Attorney grasps the whole , snd afterwards ^ comes down upon the committee

      jora balance : thus , In either « ase , coHiputtngc jn injustice np ^ n 4 ha , coiTlribntors . f SeconxDyf 4 naii w « ounsel ^ wha « , a 81 was the principal party atjj ^ ed , all my brother conspirators had the advantage © f the testimony of all my witnesses , as well as of 3 Bj poor legal knowledge . It is extraordinary , iewe ver , to see the manner In which political scribj&rs blow hot and cold . With one breath they ihsrge me with not defending my poor . dupes ; while with the other they associate Chartism with pickpockets aadihieves , and blow npon me when , in the gener al eofuusion , I am not able to distinguish between them , and consequently prefer defending both .

      It was a charge against n 3 , { hat at the recent Special £ ommisaon 3 , prisoners were defended who were charged with moral guilt ; while had they not been defended , I should hare been charged with the crime of neglecting my poor dupes . Agiin , in 1389 and 1840 , almost every man charged with political offences had a local fund subscribed fytias own defence ; while not one , or scarcely one , ofihem applied one single farthing to the purposes

      for which the monies were snbscnbed : and I , as iressnrer , was in consequence out of pocket between JJ 2 D 0 and j £ 330- ~ ¥ xdons sums from a £ 3 , 060 and jspHUds , to 40 s . 50 s . and 100 s . hare been thus sOscnbed , without conferring the intended benefit spun the accused or the party : while more than 400 prisoners hare been defended for little more than fiarry shSling 3 each , by a proper application of the people's monies .

      Ilia now five years since I nrged npon yon ihe Mispensablc necessity of Ireeping np a National Defence Pond . In 1837 , when the Glasgow Cotton Spinners were prosecuted , the want of such a fund imposed npon me a month ' s labour in ihe depth of winter ,, —^ which I would not again undertake for £ 5 , 000 , —and pot me to an expense of £ 200 . That inal wasmade a great fosa abont ; it-cost between £ 3 , 000 and , £ 4 , 000 ; was swallowed np by law ^ arfc * -, and did the cause not one particle of good ; for the men were convicted ; whereas , tad my aaviee been . -Star-taken , the whole « f the monies swallowed np by' law sharks , delegates , and witnesses -would hare been saved , and ihe men would lave been acquitted .

      As it is worth while now and then to refresh yonr memories upon these subjects , I will -direct your attention to the position in which fiie Cotton fanners stood . They were charged inan indictment with several offences ; and instead of pleading and going to trial upon the indictment as it stood . Siey lock legal exceptions to it , in which they were Eieeessfal . ^ Otai is , they gained a great defeat at a great expence . When I went to Edinburgh , and heard the indictment tread , I all bnt went down on sy knees , and implored the solicitor and the

      com-E&tee to withdraw the objections that had been nifeed , and allow the trial to proceed upon the in-Se&nent , a 3 it then stood . Bat no ; " I was a ibol f snd was destined to fool away my time and my Bonsy in supporting the / oily of others . The result , ifflireTer , protedthat I was right , for Ihe I ^ rd Adlocate immediately framed SQoh an indictment as omnselfor ihe prisoners argned teotdd have « miaeed the fences with which ihey stood charged ; and fhr » vere fried upon ihe fresh indictment , cos-TirTFT » ipos tftk- 5 KW ooests , and -acguitted upon istn count contained in ihe jftrst indictment ill

      What would yon have said , if Mr . Roberts , our * ble adriser , had recommended us to demur , or , plainly speaking , to take exceptions to Ihe second , ifih , and serenth counts in die ** Monster Jndictjsaiif' in none of which there was any venue at * U . "Why , yon wonldhaTe rejoiced for a moment j Jid 3 pnny triumph i while it won'd hare been followed by sneh corrections as could leare no hope of eseape . Mr . "Roberts knew of every objection to the indjchnent in sufficient time for taking sncheonrsei bnt i ? frf > a good General , he waited the it&g opportunity for taking omplete advantage of theenemr ' s indiscretion .

      "PTda , there ' s a Scotch instance foryou ; and I must in justice say that the Scotch people have not very fairly returned the compliment then paid to the Cotton 5 pinBersby the English Working classes . I wIQ near give yon a Welsh instance , in 1839 , i * hen Frost was arrested there was not a single isfiangto apply to his defence . 1 had to pay dowD line hundred sovereigns ent of my own pocket to commence the defence before a farthing was subscribed ; and again in the depth of winter , I was compelled to take a month ' s tramp by sight and By fcjio procure a Defence Fund . If I have before spoken of the apathy of the Scotch people with reference to ihe recent trials , I mnsfc do them the JESee to say that in Frost ' s case , they far ont-Snpped their "RwpKsh brethren in

      liberality-A 31 hope not to l > e again compelled to enter npon Janfnl discussions of this nature , 1 embrace the present opportunity of being very explicit npon all ifioney mattes . A rumour has been tircnlated , then , by some of Joy good Mends thai I borrowed a large amount of Honey from Mis . Frost to enable me to defend her husband , and that : I never repaid it . 1 take tins « pportanity of stating clearly , how that matter stands . I neTer saw Mrs . Frost , until December 1841 . 1 never had communication with Mrs . Fro 3 t

      for a very long timB after ihe trial of h <* r husband . laeTerappBea jo her for a farfhing . I never recaTed aiarthing irom her , directly or indirectly ; sbs sever became securi ^ , in any shape or form , for * sj money that 1 received ; and therefore I never i « i to pay any back . So , and jnst so , am I able * o answer the vile and vihainou 3 report which has ken industriously circulated of my indncing Mrs . ^ osi to give me a large sum of money for her hnsi * an ' s defence , upon the condition that 1 would refamit .

      ^ hDe 1 state thus much upon my own behalf , I uq bound in justice to Mr 3 . Frost , to say that she ¦^ asmost inhumanly and nnnaturaQy chonsed out of * Kral iinndred pounds for the purposes of ihe dEfenee , by one who should have pnt a guinea into i'apockei rather than take a penny ontof it O I iwr oftenhavel sghed , aad sorrowed , and regretted , ^^ Iwasnotacgnainted with Mr- Bobertsatthe

      * te that that fetal occurrence took place I for had 3 been so fortunate I have not the shadow of ^ ibt-npon my mind that lie amiable John Frost ^ ° ttld have heennoir living amongBt nB , and aiding ^¦ srahhis counciL Bnt enongh of thiBpainfol sub-?**• ihaveBaidasmnchas waBTegniredforyonr ^^ ruction and my own defence . However , I must ^ onejsentencetothisnarative . The only money ¦ sifc al borrowed condinoi » 31 y , Tras mosthonour

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      ably thrust upon me by two honest stonemasons living at Cheltenham . They were deputed to hand me a BubeeripMon from their locality , when they asked me how thefunds stood ; and npon my replying * very slack , " one of them took twenty sovereigns out of alittleleathern bag whioh they had scraped together to take them to America in the following spring , and handed it to me saying : " Here , Sir , take this , and if we don't want it in spring , we won't require yon to repay it . " I took the money ; and vrhen they applied for it afterwards ihey got it by return of post . That ' s a Welsh case for yon .

      I will now give yon a histoiy of the state of yonr affairs just before the last Special Commissions . Hundreds , nay I believe thousands were arrested ; and amongst the Test Ellis was arrested , and committed for high treason . In minor oases we could rely upon the attendance of junior counsel at Special Commissions , who would be quite capable of defending Chartists against the usual charges of conspiracy sedition , riots , ronts , tumults , and so forth . High treason , however , is a different thing . A Junior Barrister ib not snpposed to understand the term " allegiance" as well as a veteran ; and therefore could

      not be safely entrusted in a ease of treason with the defence of one of onr party . I received scores of letters iionilJlis ; and Wng resolred thai no \ maSL . ing man ' s life should be sacrifioed io this undefined and nndefinable law without a struggle , I went to Serjeant Talfonrd ( before £ 30 was snberibed ) to retain him at an expence of 300 guinea 0 to defend EUis . 1 learned , however , from his clerk that he had been retained by the Crown , where there was money enough to pay , and for which the Queen had neither to beg , borrow , or traverse the country , as I had . I then went to Charles PhUlips ' s ; he was at Brighton ; and I learned from his clerk that in

      consequence of some expectation of government patronage * he could not be had . I then went to Serjeant Shea's ; bnt it being long vacation he was ont of town . I then went to Sergeant Murphy ' s ; he was in Ireland * with his constituents . I then w ent to the Crown Office , where the business is done better than in any other office , and where the very clerks understand more practical law than one half the barristers ; there I was reminded that Ellis mast have ten dayB notice , if he was to be tried for high treason . So I rested satisfied , knowing that I should have ample time to prepare in suefe an event , and thus I Baved you three hundred

      gnineas . Before I offer some closing observations upon this subject , I mnst here observe , that in every disturbance in Ireland I was subjected to a like inconvenience . ^ Wherever the poor people required to be defended , whether at Bathoormac or any where else , there was always a subscription raised at head quarters , which was swallowed np by the patriots ; while for years the drudgery and expence of defending the people invariably fell to my lot .

      Yen see then I have suffered in England , Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , from ihe non-performanoe of that' duty which belongs to the people themselves If however , the frequent scaldings that neglect has given ns shall have the effect of Tt | a ) p 7 ig the people more alive to their own interest in future , I am quiet ready to forgive the past . And now , you dear , good , honest , and "rirtuona fn 3 tian -jacket -blistered -hands-and-nnshorn - chiHChartists ; yon for whom alone I work , and with whom I will continue to the latest day of my exist ence to straggle until 1 make you what you ought to

      be ; how can I thank you , the omnipotent people , sufficiently for the confidence that you have reposed in me , and the protection which that confidence throws around me 1 Having straggled throngh seven criminal prosecutions within the last six years , I must have fallen under the weight of prosecution made heavier by the slander of the press than by the vengeance of the law , if your good opinion had not supplied a shield against the many arrows that have been shot at me ! While my every act has been open and unconcealed ; while I have suffered much pain of mind lest I should in any wise be considered

      instrumental in bringing about and continuing the Revolution of last autumn ; and while its result haa entailed a heavy expence upon me : yet even all these considerations have not saved me irom the venom of the slanderer . After I bad boldly fought and fairly beaten the Government what think yon of the liberal rascals asserting " that it had been all arranged be tween Feargus O'Connor and ihe Tories" 1 In faith it was arranged that I was either to die in a dungeon or be mined by escaping it ! while I had arranged io beat the Government or to advance my cause , if I fell in the contest . What fools these

      drivellers must be ! . ' Did they never think of the Jury who could not be brought into " our arrangement" !! Above all , did they lose sight of ihe fact that not only I , bnt all of my poor"dnpes , " a 3 they are pleased to call them , escaped as well as myself ! It usually happens that where a flight of duckf are to decoyed , ihe decoy duck alone escapes ! while the remainder of the flight find themselves under the net . Without much circumlocution , however , yon will believe a plain

      tale from a plain man . Firstly , allow me to tell those scandal-mongers , and self-tormentors that ihe Government would not have suffered the exposure that they received by the Lancashire trials for one million sterling . There ' s not on legal record an instance of bo big a blander ; nor in history one of so great a triumph ! I never consider myself hnmbled by entering into the most minute explanations with yon ; and especially do I feel myself called upon now , not to undeceive you , but to thank yon lor not allowing yourselves to be deceived .

      Hear my answer then , you working men , given with all the solemnity of the most solemn oath : thronghont my whole life I have never conspired against any single individual ; nor have I ever betrayed any confidence reposed in me by the most humble ! I have never held correspondence , conversation , or communication with any man in office upon any other subject than that which may have been in fulfilment of your commands—such as making one of a deputation , or presenting memorials in your behalf ! while I would have Buffered any length of imprisonment , transportation , or even death * rather than condescend to bold communication with the Government , any portion of which I Ehould be ashamed to withhold from the public

      ear . I tell you now that I have been bid for , and highly bid for , by the Whigs ; but never , in the course of my life , have I had any such offer from the Tories ; and for this simple reason , because they know well that I would expose the insult . They know , as you know , that all the money in their coffers could not purchase my support : while all the patronage at their disposal would be but poor compensation for betraying the meanest of our party .

      I trust that I have now sufficiently explained the whole transaction about which I write ; that I have embraced the several subjects of most vital importance to our party , and given a faithful account of my stewardshi p . Allow me then to say a word or two by wav of comment upon the manner in which our legal business has been transacted throughout this arduousandprotracted struggle , byMr . Roberts . It is always most pleasing to me to find myself in the wrong ^ rhen the discovery of error has the have

      effect of doing justice io those whom I may injured , or to whom I mayhare caused a ffln | le pang . At one period Mr . Roberto and I were so far unknown to each other , as not thoroHghly io understand each other . I was foolish enongh to entertain a Bort of prejudice against him 3 without knowing why or wherefore . However ithasHncefallentomyloito be on » little dosei intimacy , and by which I have been led to a knowledge of my former error . At Birmingham , where

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      his support of Sturgeism would have been a heavy blow at Chartism , I was first made acquainted with the real merits of the man &s a politician , and his capacity as a scholar . I ' discovered that the difference betweenhim andme , as regarded Sturgeism , was just this : I sospeoted and denounced the party upon suspicion ; while he thought it more beneficial to the cause of democracy to . aot with them while ihey professed a desire to Berve it . He . was the first to desert and expose them npon the commission of -an overt act of treachery .

      It is not here my intention io offer one single encomium upon ihe manner in whioh Mr . Roberts has discharged his duties to our party during our ten months' straggle with the Government . Suffice it to say , that his conduct is ; - above all praise : while bis zaal , anxiety , and watchfulness have characterised him to my mind as one of the soundest , the ablest , andsincerest politicians that ever I met in my life . In conclusion , then , my friends , allow me , once for all , io impress upon your minds the necessity of keeping up a General Defence Fund : and of abandoning the ruinous system

      of flying to local attornies , and of raising individual defence funds . I know thai yon are poor ; and that , —thanks to the infernal blasted machinery ,- —you are likely to be still poorer ; and after all my trials , persecutions , and expenses , I am richer than a nation of paupers ; and therefore I lay the foundation-stone of a permanent defence fund , by presenting yon with the balance of between £ 300 and £ 400 now in my hands as treasurer , as a nest egg for those who can spare a little , now and then , to lay upon . I say that I present you with

      this balance as a frae gift ; because , by all the rules of trade , of commerce , and of jostiee , I should have a right to set off about the same amount over-paid by me , settled , audited , and allowed , in 1841 , in my balance-sheet as treasurer , tor 1839 and 1840 . I do not do so , however ; as 1 can better bear thai loss than suffer you to repay ii , to the great injury of our cause . The amount set down in the credit side of my bjjance-sheet , as paid to Mr . Roberts , has been expended , and I believe more ; while Mr . Roberts himself has not , as yet , received a guinea for his services : nor will he render me his accOHnt nntil the

      battle is finished . In the event of things taking a turn-, should the Court of Queen ' s Bench decide in favour of the validity of the fourth count ; we shall , in such a case , be driven to a writ of error , by which iB meant the re-arguing of the whole case before the fifteen judges . When thoM who have subscribed their pence remember what the Government blunders have cost' the country , they will

      surely be astonished at the comparatively trifling amount at which Mr . RobertB has exposed them ; while I have no hesitation in saying that , had the several parties been defended by separate attornies £ 50 , 006 would not have covered the expence , while not a particle of service wonld have been rendered to tho cause . Here follows my balanceiheet ; and I am your friend and Bervant , F . O'Connor .

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      hia attendance there , at Lancaster , at Manchester for a considerable time jgetting np his case , and in London for some months , } he also attended at York and at Derby to arrange the defence of the Chartists in those places . ¦ E—A portion of the Bum , I believe £ 5 , was also returned by the honest working man who got it , to the Manchester defence committee . F—Thls atnounlj was paid by me to Messrs . Yatea and Tomer , in two sums of £ 40 and £ 31 ^ G-Jhe several Sams paid to the defendants at Lancaster was owing to the length of time that the trial

      H—As 1 understand some bickering has taken place about this item , r feel myself bound to state the circumstance precisely as it occurred . Mr . Ridley called upon me on the Sunday morning previous to hia departure for Gloucestershire to take his trial . He asked ne for £ l 108 . to defray his expenoes there . I told him that in no instance hadiany of the funds been appropriated to such a purpose . \ 1 said , if yon wish to have council yon shall have thfc ; best that the circuit affords . No , he replied , I mean to defend myself ; and I then advised him as to bis course . He then said , how am I to get there ? and I replied , ' * What man , can't you walk there ? " and he smiled . "Come , "said I , " here ' s a sovereign to take you down , and if it la objected to when I am passing my accounts , I'll pay . it out of my own pocket . " There is the little peg upon which a gnat story has been hung . 1 ¦

      I—The several sums paid to the defendants when in London , was in consequence of the idea entertained in the several localities , that they would be sent back to the respective gaols to which they were committed , at the expense of the Government ; and they , were not therefore furnished with the means of returning . By reference to my balance sheet it will be seen that I have not charged anything under [ the usual and comprehensive head of " sundries ; " although if I had time and inclination , I juave no doubt that I could put from £ 80 to £ ioo together . ¦ I have charged nothing for my own expeuces , although I was obliged to send my physician and two bondsmen to Liverpool , where they remained for several days . In mentioning this item I must state , in justice to Mr , Cleave , who was one of my bail , that although | I pressed him to receive

      compensation for loss of tio > 3 , ho declined accepting more than merely covered his travelling exponces . There Is no charge for my witnesses ; though I brought two from Ireland , and others from different parts of the country . Mr . Pray was subpi » ned not fox me , but to break down the character of Griffin . There is no charge for a large expenditure paid on account of all by me at Lancaster . Mr . Roberts paid bis own expences ; neither do I take into account the large sum that it cost me in travelling expences ' to lecturejin aid of the < fond . I do not however complain ot any of those small lotses , as the " £ 2 that I fobbed at Nottingham , out of the , £ 5 that I received to pay a delegate , " will much more than cover them , I have now rendered n > 7 account as Treasurer of the National Defence Fund * and trtutit will be found satisfactory to those who hare so repeatedly honoured me with their confidence . F . O'C .

      Cftatjtijsi Intelligence.

      CftatJtijSi intelligence .

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      DUBLIN—Theilrish Universal Suffrage Association held their usual weekly meeting on Sunday last , at six o ' clock in 5 the evening . Mr . John Keegan vras called to the ohair . Mr . Droxr , the Secretary , read the rules and objects of tho Association , and several letters from various parts of Ireland , congratulating the Association on the good sense and discrimination it had dieplayed respecting the object of the leaders of the Rspeal movement ; and expressive of sympathy and sorrow for the poor , innocent , warm-hearted and confiding dupes who have been , and still are , cheated out of their money under the pretence of Repealing

      the Union . A very sensible and well written letter from Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , was read , and gave great satisfaction to the whole meeting—strangers as well ' as members . Mr . Self requested to be informed aa to the fact whether Mr . O'Connell had voted for the Whig Coercion Act , and stated that some people in Newport maintained that Mr . O'Connell voted against the Coercion Act in every stage ; while others hold the opinion that he voted in favour of it . The parties ultimately agreed that a letter should be written to Mr . O'Higgins upon the subject , and that his decision upon the point should be conclusive—( hear , hear ) . j

      Mr . O'Hig gins said , thai before he should answer the question , he should propose a gentleman for admission , as a member of their association , who was well known as an honest , indefatigable , and talented member of the National Charter Association of Great Britain , and who had also been a member of the Working Men ' s Association , before the Chartist organisation ; a gentleman who had always identified himself , as [ every true-hearted man ought to do , with the working classes ; a gentleman , who in his correspondence with Mr . O'Connell relative to his treachery against the Glasgow cotton-spinners , had done honour to his head and his heart : he should , without B&ying more upon that occasion , move that Mr . George Julian Barney , of Sheffield , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association . {( Hear and oheers . )

      Mr . Joseph Bkikrlt rose to second the motion . He said that Mri Harney had , to his credit , been endeavouring to effect a Union in Sheffield between the Chartists , who iare all Repealers , and those who assume the exclusive right to agitate that question ; and who , in theirlfolly , reject the aid and co-operation of their real friends , the Chartists , and meanly beg and pray and fawn for that of a miserable handful of bigotted , besotted Orangemen—( cheers ) . Mr . Harney was admitted by acclamation .

      Mr . CHiggiks said he had another member to propose' ; and in doing po , he should complain of one gresit sin of omission by Mr . O'Connell . He had often heard him say that Catholic Emancipation would have been obtained some twenty yoars sooner had it not been for the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Societies . Wol ) , one would expect that when Mr . O'Connell had his friends , the Whigs , in power , with their commanding majorities of 150 to 17 tf , — "tyrannical majorities , " as Lord Stanley called them , —thai lie would hare made an effort to repeal those obnoxious statues . But , no ; he did nothing except get good places for all his sonsin-law—three ] of them ; a place for his son , who ia not a Repealer ; places for his nephews , who are not Repealers : but to do anything ,

      or to propose to do anything for the benefit of his country was jout of the question . " Keep the Tories out till the Whigs provide for my progeny and kinsmen , and you will be all true patriots and goad Christians . This was the whole service he rendered his country from the time he entered Parliament up to the present period . Let any one who can do it , tell him , Mr . O'Higgins , anything he did , or proposed to do , for the benefit of his country during i his whole parliamentary career ; and he would give { him credit for ifc Look how his track is marked with the blood of his countrymen at every step , from the period of the Tithe slaughters at Nowtownbarry , on the 18 : hof June , 1831 , down to the murder of Mr . Caffrey , the Repeal dupe and

      victim , at Clones , in 1843 . Had he made an effort to have the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Societies Repealed , he , Mr . O'Higgins , would have been spared the pain of alluding to the man at all ;—a man who had doti / s more mischief to his country than aay man ever did before ; a man who had sold counties cities , towns , and boroughs to the enemies of Ireland , "the perfidious Whigs ; " and at tho same time had the talent to make his countrymen believe that it was all for their good ! l It ia necessary that this Association should beion its guard . When the Whigs

      were in power , Mr . O'Connell called ; upon the Whig Attorney-General to prosecute us . { He called as M midnight ! assassins ; " and , in his speech , in Dundalk the other day , it appears that he had the face to tell the people there that which he knew to ba false . He said that " the Chartists were covertly and insidiously aiding and abetting secret societies , thai they are bound together bg ? unlawful oaths , which is not true ! and from that spot he ( Mr . O'Higgins ) begged to refer Mr . O'Connell to his catechism , where he will find it written , by authority of the church , " that no reason or motive can justify a Lie . " It is dear , from the malignity of this slander , that we most be cautious ; for the

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      man who wonld thu 9 , in the face of Heaven , tell his assembled countrymen a bae ' e , blood-thirsty , and brutal lie , would not hesitate to swear to it if the Tories would just give a place to his dear little son Johnny . In order to guard the association against any infringement of [ those penal statutes , and to put it out of the power of any particular informer to swear away the liyea or liberties of their neighbours ; he should then state for , the guidance op all TttBiB English correspondents , that THOSE WHO WElTE SHOULD ALWAYS BEQUEST TO BE PHOP 3 SED MEMBRR 9 OF THE ASSOCIATION ; AND WHEN ONCE ADMITTED MEMBERS , THE SIMPLE

      CIRCUMSTANCE OP WRITING T ( J THE PRESIDENT qK SECRETARY COCLD NOT BE CONSTRUED INTO A VIOLATION op ant penal law . ( Hear , hear . ) Ia moving that Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member , he should take that opportunity of answering the questions respecting Mr . O ' Connell ' s votes on the Irish I Coeroion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against the first Coercion Bill in the year 1833 . But he voted in favour of the renewal of its in 1835 ; and when Mr . William Smith O'Brien moved a clausejto the effect that the act should be limited to two [ years , Mr . O'Connell moved an amendment that it ] should continue for five tears , on the ground that it was necessary "to put down agrarian disturbance in Ireland . " Mr . O'Conneira amendment was carried ; and the Coercion Act remained in full force for five years afterwards I In the next session of parliament Mr .

      Wm , Sharman Crawford brought forward a motion for the repeal of the Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against ihe motion ! On the 1 st of July , 1836 , Mr . Crawford brought forward a motion to the effect that all tithes and composition of tithes should cease and determine in Ireland ; and that ( he clergy of the several religious sects should be left for their support to their respective flocks . Can it bs believed thai Mr . O'Connell voted against this motion . His name will be found recorded in the votes and proceedings of the House of Commons in company with English and Irish Tories upon those divisions . Let there be no mistake about this : he voted against the abolition of tithes in Ireland , while he led his dup ' es to believe that he was the strenuous opponent of tithes . A baser Whfg back never crossed the Irish channel than the loud talking patriot Daniel O'Connell .

      Men of Newport ! Chartists of England ! bear in mind that while Mr . O'Connelljwas thus supporting the Whigs through thick and thin , he took care to provide for his family . His son-in-law , Christopher Fizsimon , a Repealer , sold the County of Dublin to a non-Repealer for a Whig place in the Hanaper oflice . Another son-in-law , Bjlx . French , was apfiointed a stipendiary magistrate . Another son-inaw , Mr . Charles O'Connell , { . a Repealer , gave up the County of Kerry to Mr . Blennerhasset , a Tory . Mr . Morgan O'ConnelU the Repeal Member for Meafch , delivered up that county to a non-Repealer for a clerkship in tho | registry-office . But then this was " an instalment" ! of "Justice to Ireland ! " After having cone through the whole

      history of Mr . O'Connell ' s political career , Mr . O'Higgins oonoluded by moving that Slttr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association ; Mr . John Lynham seconded the motion , ! whioh was carried unanimously . ] Mr . Dyott , in a very able speech , explained to the meeting , the difference between the Repeal of the Union with the present limited [ constituency of Ireland , and the Repeal of the Union after the constituency , should be extended agreeably to the principles of the People ' s Charter , He proved to the satisfaction of all present , bat three , that the Repeal of the Union , unaccompanied J by an extension of the franchise would confer no real benefit upon the working man . I

      Mr . Woodward said that he should prefer the right to vote to a Repeal of the Union , if it were for no other reason than that ihe people wonld then get rid of the atrocious Church Establishment —( Great cheering ) . Several other members gave their opinions , and good reasons too , for preferring Universal Suffrage , a 9 a matter of choice , to a Repeal of the Union unaccompanied by Universal Suffrage . The petition against the Irish Arms Bill waa postponed , as Mr . O'Coonell was not in his place to present it . ! Mr . Dbvitt wished to know whether Lady Elliott or Lady Stanley , or both , should be appointed to brand Irishmen ' s guns ; and were they to derive all the profit of the operation —( great laughter ) . Mr . Purley was oalied to j the chair , and the marked thanks of the meeting were given to Mr . Keegan for his gentlemanly conduct in the ohair . after whioh the' meeting separated .

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      FEARGUS O'CONNOR IN ACCOUNT WITH THE DEFNCE FUND . Da . £ B d By John Cleave ( A ) 485 0 0 From Mr . Pray , Through Evening Star ( B ) 234 0 0 Meeting in the Hall of Science , Manchester 15 0 0 From tie Chartists of Preston 4 0 0 Xnnn , ^ Lancaster ... . J 10 0 Birmingham , by Mr . Raberta 2 0 0 Manchester , do . ... 6 IX 0 From two men , at Hall of Science , Manchester 0 8 0 Received at Northern Star Office ( C ) ... 178 4 5 Received self , bom Manchester 4 15 O Post Office Order tent from Birmingham , and made payable tome 2 0 0

      £ 931 18 5 Cn . To Peplow , Stafford ... 50 0 0 Do . ... 10 0 0 Manchester Committee , far Liverpool Special Commission 58 0 0 Shee , for Chester Special Commission ( E ) 28 0 0 Cash paid in fees of office , for removing the trial into Queen's Bench ( F ) ... 71 0 0 Returned Campbell ... 110 Paid White ' * Committee 5 0 0 To Peplow , for Cooper * BlaBt trial 25 © 0

      Paid for do ., for two Sabpsnas 0 12 0 P « id Council , self 16 10 0 To W . P . Roberto , Esq . 310 11 0 Paid on registration of money letters ... 18 0 Boyle , at Lancaster ( G ) ... 10 0 Leach 10 0 Turner 10 0 Bairstow * 1 10 0 Beesley 1 10 0 M'Cartney 10 0 Pray , with subpoena to attend trial ... It 0 0 Ruffy Ridley , for defendants , when i n

      London ( H ) ; 10 0 Ditto , to bear his own expences to Gloucester 10 0 Dojle , when in London ( I ) 1 10 o Riilton , ditto ... 1 10 0 Hamey , ditto ... ... 10 0 Parkes , ditto ... ... 10 0 Taylor , ditto 10 0 Arran , ditto 2 0 0 Skevington , ditto 12 0 Beirstow , ditto 0 15 0 White , ditto 07 6 M'Caxtuey 0 6 0 Fenton 2 15 0 Durham ... ••• ••• ••• 0 5 0 Mundin and-witnesses , per Cleave ... 0 10 0 Peplow , by ditto 2 0 0 Cuffsy , by ditto 2 io o

      Total £ 597 11 6 Balance in Treasurer's bands , to meet unsettled accounts ... 334 6 11

      £ 931 18 5 NOTES . A . —The anm ot £ 50 tot the victim fond added io the amount received by me from Mr . Cleave , will make the amount of £ 532 the total received by him . B —There may be some errors , but most of them in my favour , in the Evening Star's account , because Mr . Pray paid several sums , on * account of defence fund received by him , and which are included in the £ 234 ; while I nave not taken credit for any of them . When I have more time , however , any errors that may appear on either side under this head anall be corrected . C—Not one fartking of the money received at the Northern Star office bas ever been used , or placed even to my credit , thongh I have often been hard enough pressed for money . :

      D— £ 2610 s . of the above sum was returned by Peplow , and make * a part of the £ 234 credited from the Evening Star , where it was acknowledged ; and I cannot withhold from Peplow thoseIhanSs which I now teni der him , and to which be is pre-eminently entitled from itha -whole country for the Beat , the ability , and-honeaty he manifested throughout the Special Commission , ^ Coopert « cent protracted trial , an * npon all occasions lyrhenhitaenioBayrenTe ^ aJxed . I mas t fart her state that he is a real working man ; and that ne has not received one farthing for the lots of between thirty and forty days . I donot-wishto ; ertabllBh &badpr « cedent , and one which may subject me to very great inconve iniesce ; but at the same time I admire honesty and love justice , and therefore if it is the wish of the Chartist body , I shall have much pleasure in remunerating Peplow f er his loss of time . I must also observe that Mr . { Roberts has never received one farthing for his services at the Special Commission ; and that independently of

      Untitled Article

      BRIGHTON . —At a public meeting holden at the Cap of Liberty , Portlaudktteet , on Monday last , of the members of the National Charter Association , residing at Brighton , Mr . Page in the chair , it was proposed by Mr . Trower , seconded by Mr . Flaxna&n , " That we approve of the suggestion that Mr . Wheeler be appointed ] General Secretary , pro . tern , tc the National Charter Association . " STOCKPOBT . —On Sundayllast , Mr . C . Doyle , of Manchester , addressed a camp meeting twice ; first , at two o ' clook in the afternoon , and again at six o ' clock in the evening . Onjboth occasions they were well attended , and the auditory highly satisfied with Mr . Doyle ' s method of exposing the existing system . i

      8 TROUD WATER . —The Chartists of this locality are forming themselves into classes . No . 1 class meets every Monday night , at Mr . Pritchard's , near the Cross , High-street , Stroud , ] where true friends to the cause of liberty are earnestly solicited to attend . Members of the Council are requested to attend on Monday evening , July 10 th , ai eight o ' clock precisely , on business of importance . NEWPORT , Isle of Wight .. —At the weekly meeting of the Chartists of Newport , held at the King ' s Head Inn , the following resolution was unanimously passed : " That oar best thanks be given to Patrick O'Higgins , Esq ., for the very able and straightforward manner in which he advocates the principles of the Charter ; and We would also beg to

      intimate that we fully agree [ with the resolution passed at the Dublin Chartist meeting on Jane thel 8 i > h . ROCHDALE . —On Sunday last a camp meeting was holden on Sabden , which was not so well attended , owing to the wetness of the day . The police as usual were in attendance ; one , an inspector from Bury , and another , said to be of a higher rank , from Bolton ; there were besides some fall privates . All , however , passedjjoff as orderly as if there had not been a policeman there . At the close of the proceedings it was announced that another camp meeting would take place [ that day fortnight , on Cronkeyshaw . In the evening Mr . J . Mills leotured in the Chartist Room , whioh was very well attended . \

      On Tuesday last Mr . James Leach , of Manchester , lectured in the Theatre , to a numerous and attentive audience . Mr . Miles Hodson was oalied to the ohair . In a ftiw appropriate remarks he introduced Mr . Leach , who was received with loud applause . Mr . Leach commenced his lecture by remarking on the mole-like position of the "free traders , " attacking their fallacies , especially their darling one , wherein they invariably instance the year 1835 as a year of great prosperity , in consquence of bread being " cheap "; and thajt if we bad " cheap bread" trado would always be in a prosperous con * dition , and our poor comfortably situated . Mr . L . contrasted the prioe of provisions' at the present time with their price in 1835 , remarking that they ara " cheaper" this year than they ) were in 1835 ; yet ,

      he asked ., where was our " ¦ prosperity , " or the " comforts of the poor 1 " Waa it in the increasing amount of poor rates I or in tho amount j of parochial relief which they ( the poor ) received in the Bastiles ? He showed that oppression and misrule were at the bottom of most of the felonies ] committed in this country ; that the working classes had been so far neglected and degraded by tho ^ e above them , that 8 Oio ( i of them had ceased to respect themselves , and therefore could not bo expected ] to respect others . He then dilated on the tyrannical and avaricious disposition evinced by most of our present manufacturers , and instanced their respective codes of striDgent roles , which in nearly all instances ended with so much of a" fine . " He concluded by remarking on the present position of the Government ; that it was anything bat a bed of roses . Ireland was

      doing somethiHg for herself in her own way— " Rebecca s daughters" ( among whom he thought wera some stout men ) were doing something for them-MTOtofcand were saying little about it ; and Englandjnpjier millions of Chartist ' s yet , who would not lei sup an opportunity of procuring justice . XiONDON . —Mr . Mantz lectured , on Sunday last , in the Britannia Fields , to a respectable and numerous audience , who then adjourned to the Star , ia Golden-lane , and had a conversational meeting in which Messrs . Bolwell , Dwain , and several others joined . The following resolution was passed : ^ - "That we send no more money io any fund exoent a general one formed by a body elected by tba country ; and that we agree with the suggestion , that Mr . Wheeler should act as Secretary , prTtem ^ utX ^ ^^ m dmii £

      Untitled Article

      ydrtf ^ ABERDEEN . —On Friday week , the Chartists held an eut-rtoor meeting ' at Oil Aberdeen . A band ol music conducted the New Town Chartists to the place of meeting , and returnei with them . The business of the evening was an inquiry into the causes of the universal distress prevailing in England , Ireland , and Scotland ; as also the backwardness of the Government to listen to the cries of a starving people , who in too many instances are driven to tb © commission of crime through the actual want of the necessaries of life , and who are then punished for not submitting coolly to be famished to death . The meeting was well attended .

      HA WICK . —Oa Wednesday last , the 28 th nit . Mr . Dickinson , from Manchester , gave a long and interesting address to a numerous and attentive meeting , in the Market-place , on " the wrongs of Ireland , and on Repeal / ' Mr . Dickinson gave a rapid sketch of the numerous oppressions and perseoutions inflicted on "the sister canntry j" and pointed ont the benefits whioh wonld result from a native legislature elected by the people . NEWCASTLE . —Mr . Kydd lectured In the Chartist Hall , Goat Ion , Cloth-market , cn Sunday evening last , on " The probable effects of a Repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws under present circumstances . " He clearly showed that the wealth producers would derive no benefit from such measure , so long as labour was unrepresented . He contended that even an increase of demand for manufactures wu no guarantee that the condition of the industrious classes would be rendered more comfortable . In proof of this he adduced

      statistics which showed the amount exported from 1797 to 1841 ; which proved that In proportion as the quantity exported was increased , in like proportion had the wages of the producer been reduced . Let iabonr , the only wealth of the industrioa * classes , be sufficiently protected by the enactment of the People ' s Charter , and he . ( Mr . K . ) would be one of the first to advocate a total repeal , not only of the Com Laws , but of all obnoxious laws ; but until then , he was prepared to discuss the snbject wjith any gentleman in England , and undertaketoprove thata repeal of theCornand Provision Laws would be a curse , and not a blessing , to working men . The chairman said , if any gentleman differed from Mr . K . in opinion , he would procure a fail hearing for him , and Mr . K . was prepared to answer any questisns respecting the subject of his lecture . No one came forward . It was then announced that Mr . Kydd would lecture in the same place on next Sunday evening , at seven O ' clock , and the meeting dismissed .

      Tap Chartists of Newcastle and Gateshead held their weekly business meeting on Monday evening , Mr . Thomas Robson fa the chair . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , a discussion took place respecting the Rev . W . Hill ' s visit to Newcastle , whereupon Mr . Young moved , and Mr . Embleton seconded , — " That the Rev . W . Hill ba corresponded with , requesting him to spend a Sunday in Newcastle , on his tour to Scotland . " ^ Agreed to unanimously . Several other resolutions were likewise agreed to , merely of a local tendency .

      OLDHA 1 VX . —On Sunday last , Mr . Gammage , of Northampton , delivered two lectures in the ChartiBt Rsom , one on the subject of " The Land , " the other on " The Wrongs of Ireland , and Repeal . " The lecturer depicted the wrongs of Ireland in glowing terms , and showed up the evils created by a state chureh establishment under the sanction of law ; and argued that no sect , or party , had any just right to domineer and tyrannise over another ; but that religion ought to stand or fall on its own merits . He likewise made a powerfal appeal to the Irish Repealers , not to deceive themselves with the expectation that if Repeal were granted , it would care all the evils the ?

      are labouring under . They would still have class-legislation as now ; and a Parliament emanating from a middle-claas constituency , without the labouring class being represented , wonld be uioie liable to bribery , and might , as before , sell their country ' s rights . He nrged on them not to rest satisfied without their political rights , viz . a voice in electing the man who is to represent their wants and interests . He hoped tha Repealers would not think the Chartists their enemies ; for he could assure them they were their most sincere friends . The lecturer was listened to with great attention by a respectable audience , and gave general satisfaction .

      MANCHESTER . —Cabpenteb ' s Hall Two lectures were delivered in the above Hall , on Sunday last , by Messrs . Donavan and Leach . The audiences were large and respectable . At the close of the evenings lecture , a collection was made for M'Donail , whioh amounted to £ 2 , The thanks of the meeting having been given to the lecturer , Mr . J . Lane proposed ; " That we do now form ourselves into a public meeting , and thftt Mr . D . Donavan preside . " Carried unanimously . Mr . Dlxon ia a few words moved the following resolution , which was seconded by Mr . Edward Clark , and supported in an able manner by Messrs . James Clark : and James Leach . The Chairman put it to the meeting , and it was carried unanimously ReselTOd , " That we , the people of tfanenestei , in

      pnblio meeting assembled , do solemnly declare one otter abhorrence of the infamous policy pursued by the present Tory Administration in their attempts to pat down the agitation for a Repeal of the Legislative Union , by means so utterly repugnant to tbe spirit of the Constitution as the enactment of Arms Bills , removal of magistrates , and exhibitions of military force ; and we farther declare our firm determination to co-operate with the people of Ireland in their peaceful straggle for the attainment ef a Domestic legislature hoping , however , that it will be based upon such an extension , of the suffrage as will rend er it subservient

      to , and trader the controul of , the whole people ; that notwithstanding' the denunciation of Chartism by the Irish leaders snd their malignant misrepresenta tion of onr motives , we hereby pledge ourselves , fn conjunction with our Chartist brethren generally , t * resist by every legal means in our power any unconstitutional aggression that may be made npon the people of Ireland , while peacefully endeavouring to raise that long oppressed country fromastate of vassalage and dependency , to such a position among the nations as her numerical strength , internal resources , and every principle of justice , so eminently entitle her to maintain . "

      South Lancashire Delegate Meetimo . —A special meeting of the South Lancashire delegates was held in the Chartist Room , Brown-street , on Sunday last , to ascertain the opinions of the Chartist * of this division of the county , as to who were to be the parties to represent them in the contemplated National Conference . The various delegates having handed in -their credentials , Mr . Houghton , delegate from Wanington , was unanimously called upon to preside . The- Secretary read the minutes of the last ; meeting , which were confirmed . The chairman then called the attention of the delegates to the business for which they were met , viz ., the recommending of two fit and proper persons to represent their interests in the forthcoming conference , whenever that

      conference should be called . Mr . Nnttall said that be was sorry that the question had not been taken , np by the country with that spirit which its importance demanded . It was still his ; opinion , and the opinion of those whom he represented , that the first step that they could take was the calling of a conference ; such conference to agree to a plan of organization , and then to elect an executive committee that wonld carry its provisions into operation . This was the opinion of all the delegates present They , at the same time , hoped that their Chartist brethren would not look upon them as dictators , but give the subject that consideration which its importance demanded . They were also aware that the 17 th instant would be too soon ; but they earnestly recommend to the country the necessity of such

      conference as early as possible . Several persons were then pat in nomination , out of which two were to be balloted for , the successful candidates to be recommended to the various localities in South Lancashire as fit and proper persons to be elected at pnblio meetings to represent the division . On the ballot being taken the votes were in favour of Mr . Christopher Doyle and Mr . Wm . Dixon- Mr . Chadwick rose for the purpose of moving a resolution . His object in doing so was to prevent , as much as . possible , one person representing two or more places in the Conference . It would be remembered that in tbe last Conference held in Birmingham , that some of : the members represented two , and some of them as many as three places , yet they were only allowed one vote , which might have proved fatal to

      oar cause had it not been for the large majority of oar friends who were present In order therefore to provide for the representation of all places , he would move the following resolution . — " That we , the South Lanca shire delegates recommend to those counties who think proper to elect delegates to the contemplated Conference to avoid as much as possible from electing those that have already been returned for other places . " The resolution was seconded by Mr . Miller , and carried unanimously . Mr . Millet . said he was instructed by the Chartists ot Oldham t » bring the case of the political prisoners , now confined in Kirkdale , and other gaols , before the meeting .. He ( Mr . Miller ) thought that if they were to petition for one man , they ought to do the same for all . There was many good and honest Chartists

      now in prison who were not speakers ; but they were men—and therefore had as much nght to our assistance as those who were in the habit of speeclMnaking . He would , therefore , move the following resolution : — " That we , the South Lancashire delegates , in County Council assembled , d * recommend . to the Chartists In the various localities of this district to call public meetings forthwith , for the purpose of petitioning Parliament in behalf of the polltical prisoners at present incarcerated in Kirkdale , and all other of her Majesty ' s prisons . " The resolution waa seconded by Mr . Gresty , and carried without a dissentient The delegates then took into consideration ihe letter of Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., which appeared in the Star of Saturday last , July * st ; and , with all due

      deference to that gentleman ' s opinions , they begged leave to differ with him upon the propriety of electing an Executive Committee under present « ircumstances . They thought that it ia Indispensibly necessary that the Chartist body should have an Organization before they proceed to the election « f a governing head . They therefore give it as their opinion , that the unit step towards so desirable an object , is the calling of a Natienal Conference , to agree to a good and efficient plan of Organization ; after which it will be necessary to elect an Executive to carry out the provisions of the plan agreed to by the peopie ' a Tt |> resentatives . The thanks of the , delegates were given to the ^ Chalraan and Secretary , and the meeting adjourned nnfcil Sunday , the 16 cb of July , at one o'clock in the afternoon .

      To The Imperial Chaht1st3.

      TO THE IMPERIAL CHAHT 1 ST 3 .

      This Day Is Published, Price Sixpence, No- I. Of A Pr Ac Tic A-L Work

      THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED , PRICE SIXPENCE , No- I . OF A PR AC TIC A-L WORK

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      VOL- YI- NO . 295 . SATURDAY , JULY 8 , j 1843 . ™ % ffS £ * , t % : % " > r

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      j-^^^_^ i . 1 AND LEEDS GENE 11 L ADYEETISEE .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 8, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1220/page/1/