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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th February 1845, Edition 1 of 4, Page 6, ¦ !¦¦ ii ¦ » ; C&artisft Intdligtitce*

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      Untitled Article

      . MDOTJALL'S CHARGES AGAINST ; MR . O'CONNOR . "' . ' - INVESTIGATION BT THE MAXCHESIER CODJfCIt . The Chartist readers of the Northern Star are aware thatattiierecentinTeBtigatioH beforeae lfanchMter Council , in the case of M'Douall and Leach , certain charges were brought to light * which , if true , placed Mr . O'Connor in the position of a " frattor" to the people . Such a revelation left that gentleman no alternative but io demand a sifting investigation ; and , as the Manchester Councilhadlwen selected by Dr . M'Douall as the party to inquire into the complaints he had preferred against , Mr . Leach , Mr . O'Connor called upon that body to institute inquiries in his case ; aud either pronounce him guilty or innocent , accordingto the evidence brought before them . Tie Council responded to the call made on them . They fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 th , as the day on which they wold Investigate ; and accordingly they desired all the parties concerned to appear before them at ten o'rfocfc in the forenoon of that dav .

      The Council met at the time appointed in the Committee Room , under the Carpenters' Hall ; but uwiag to the excitement produced throughout Lancashire , parties had come in from Bolton , Cliorley , Bury , Ashton-uuder-Lyne , Oldnam , Stalyhridge , 'Mottram , &c ., &c ., to witness the proceedings . The Council , therefore , being desirous that the investigation should be as public as possible , adjourned to the large anti-room of the hall . The names of the Couneilmen were then called over . Each one answered to his name ; and Mr . Thomas Rankin was called upon to preside . Mr . Smith being the person appointed to wait npon Dr . MDouaflafterarecentloeture in the CarpenteKj ' HaB , gave in Ms report , which it is unnecessary to insert , as it has already been made public through the Star . The secretary then read the following correspondence which had taken place betwixt the Council and the parties concerned : —

      so . i . Hulme , Feb . 1 st , 1845 . Dear Sir , —The Council having seen in the Star of January 26 th , 1845 , the charges purporting to ^ bare been made by you against Mr . O'Connor , and wishing to put an end to crimination and recrimination in the ranks , have fixed on Sunday , Feb . 9 th , 1845 , at ten o ' clock in the morning , to hear all charges brought before them , and to decide on their merits or demerits with impartiality and without prejudice : holding all parties innocent until proved guilty . They have

      desired me to correspond with you , and to intimate that TBBX WILL FAT TOUR J 5 XFJBN 3 KS , THAT TOU MAT KOT be at AST loss is iBAVEtLDfG . They therefore request that you will be in attendance at the above stated time . By answering this letter definitely , and with promptitude , you will oblige , for Mr . O'Connor will attend at the before named time . I must also intimate that the Council hare determined to go on with the investigation , even if you are not there , after giving you this notice . I am , yours sincerely , Rich . Radford , Sub-Secretary .

      Mr . P . M . M'DoualL Jto . ii . To ike Seerdary of Hie JHatuiheeUr Committee . Sir , —Having promised to write you concerning Mr . O'Connor ' s case , I hereby inform you that I cannot fix anytime for meeting the Committee until after a complete settlement of Leach's affair ; and that I do not consider closed until your report is published , and the balance of money due to me paid into the Committee , and through them forwarded duly to me . I hope the Committee will see the propriety of finishing that business , and bringing it to a speedy conclusion at once . I am , yours truly , Mr . Richard Radford . P . M . MDoujll .

      so . in . Hulme , Feb . 5 , 1845 . Dear Sir , —The Council having read your letter in the Star , in which , you express your willingness to submit your conduct to the judgment of the Manches ter Council , having perfect confidence that they will , -with impartiality , award such a verdict at their tribunal as your case and justice from man to man demands , the Council have ordered me to write to Dr . M'Douall , desiring him to be present on Sunday , Feb . 9 , 1845 , at ten o'clock in the morning . The have also directed me to write to you , informing you that they have determined to proceed with the investigation at the before-mentioned time . I am , sir , yours sincerely , Richard Rabfobd , Sub-Secretary F . O'Connor , Esq .

      so . iv . London , Feb . 6 , 1845 . Sir , —I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterday's date ; and in reply , teg to say that I shall be prepared to meet any charge to be brought against me before the Manchester Council at the appointed hour on Sunday next . I am , your obedient servant , Mr . Richard Radford . Feargus O'Cokxor .

      so . v . 52 , "W alcot-square , Lambeth . Dear Sir , —From the announcementyou have made me of the intention of the Council to proceed without me , I do not see that any answer of mine was at all necessary ; but since you desire it , lean only say , without wishing io treat the members of it with disrespect , that I have sent a letter to the " Star" in answer to that of O'Connor , in which I intimate my intention of demanding a public investigation by a more national body , or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds . I conceive that my wishes have as much right to be consulted as those of O'Connor . 1 also fully expected that the Council would have suggested and enforced some plan of having the balance of money due by Leach paid to them , and thence to me ; so that all future correspondence and communications on that head , might be effectually prevented . I am , yours sincerely , Mr . R . Radford . P . M . M'Douall .

      so . vi . The following : letter from M'Douall came by the Sunday morning ' s post , and was delivered to the Council after the business commenced—it bears the London post-mark of February 8 th , 1845 .

      To the J&nchester Council . 52 , Walcot-square , Lambeth . Gentlemen , —My letter in reply to Mr . O'Connor was sent to the Star for publication . It was addressed . to the people , and not to yon . Mr . O'Connor has forwarded that letter to you , * and I demand its publication in justice to myself , or its immediate return , so that it may be published . In that letter / have explained all I know in refer ence to Mr . O'Connor . I have likewise given my reasons why I do not choose to submit my case to you , and referred Mr . O'Connor to a public meeting . Tfad I had either time or money to spare , I might nevertheless have been present . [ The Council offered to pay M'Douall ' s expenses to and from London , in

      - order that he might have an opportunity of substantiating his charges . ! I content myself in the mean time with a distinct and positive denial of the truth ef the following assertions of Leach . —to ., that I ever said or wrote that Feargus O ' Connor "had sold the Chartist cause at Lancaster to Government ; " or "thathe had received money for many years from Government for destroying the Chartist cause ; " or "that I had good and irrefutable authority to substantiate those charges . " Ton have my word written in denial ; and you may take it , and use it as you think proper : while I at the samo time do not admit your authority as judges , nor do I desire to have anything more to do with you on the subject . I do this without meaning the slightest disrespect to you or an ; of the Chartist body . Yours respectfully , P . M . M'Douall .

      The Secretary said that as Dr . M'Douall had denied the right of the Council to investigate into the matter , it became Ms duty to read a portion of a letter from Dr . M'Douall , bearing the Carlisle post-mark

      Untitled Article

      of Nor- Wth ; 1844 : ' - "I shall attend , provided the nnestion conrerningmoney matters is to be considered S 6 wn merits !^ I shall attend also i / any second or third investigation is to 6 e enured tnto , after the settlement of the original . I mean to say simply , that if there is any question affecting Leach and myself , let that be entered upon first . And if any shall be entered into betwixt O'Connor ana mvself , lei tan be entered INTO also : but let each be considered and decided on their res pective merits . By this , said the Secretary , Dr . M'Douall admitted the authority of the Council : but now he denies that they have the right to judgeftm . The Secretary then read the letter sent by Dr . M'Douall to the Northern Star for publication .

      IO THE CHAKTI 3 T BODY GENBBAU-Y . Friends ,-You must all have observed , for some time past , a strong disposition exhibited . m different quarters to represent me , my opinionsandmy character in the worst possible light . When a sundanty appears in the mode and method of attack m different rAaees and by different persons every rigbl thinking and calmlv judging mind will arrive at the conclusion that a common design has been worked out , the aim of which is to put me down by a succession of charges each increasing in weight , from the private letters of Mr . Smith up to the imperial charge of Mr . O'Connor . I at least as the party assailedhave a right to think so and

      , thinking so I have surely a right to defend myself and reply- The course pursued by a hostile government towards a persecuted Chartist , or by a prosecuting counsel towards the very basest of criminals is always to lay the full charge and evidence before the Jurvso that the accused party may after hearing allbe able to prepare himself to answer all that may have been brought against him . I have waited , contrary to my interest , for the second impression of the Star , knowing from past experience that in our ranks democratic though our principles may be , something is " enerally reserved in the locker to be discharged against the party denounced , even after his defence is concluded , and new charges preferred to which he cannot of course be permitted to reply . I am glad

      to think that in the Star-of February 1 st the old ground has only been re-trodden and Mr . Smith a second time introduced on the" stage . I may now therefore safely take up the whole 01 the matters and try what a relation of facts has to do with mens conviction . Mr . O'Connor states— " Gentlemen youhaye heard that I have been extensively charged with high treason by Dr . M'Douall , this feet being spoken to by Mr . J . Leach , as honest , as upright , and as useful a member as ever belonged to the Chartist ranks . " "Where did Leach prefer this statement ? before a committee by whom ne was being tried tm the charge of misapplying the public money and at which meeting Mr . O'Connor was present contrary to the wish of

      ihe Manchester council . 1 . protested against Mr , O'Connors name , character , or correspondence being introduced until after Leaches case was fairly settled , because I knew that it was Leaches intention to prefer some charge against me concerning O'Connor and because I was fully sensible that Leaches interest lay in setting O'Connor and myself by the ears so that in the confusion of a counter-charge the original question might be lost sight of altogether . Therefore it was that I contented myself by merely giving a flat contradiction to his assertions and brought the committee back to the real business of the meeting . For the same reason I took no notice of Leaches declaration that O'Connor had told him that I was in the pay of the league in 1842 and that I

      received money from them . Mr . O'Connor explained and I to show up the attempt of Leach read his written opinion of O'Connor which he wrote when I was in France viz . " The letter of the Dr . has given me great pain He has it is true a right to complain of the way he has been treated and M I wish he was the only one that had cause to do so . Such , I am sorry to say is not the case I have been foully and grossly deceived in a quarter I least expected , I read the whole of the letter and O'Connor was there to hear it read whilst lie only heard Leach declare that he had // card me say something against O'Connor . Now any man in his senses must know that Leach would find it his best game to alter , amend his story for the ear of 0 ' Connor , as a species of revenge against

      me . Everything is based in Leach ' s word—Is that authority sufficient for impartial men to proceed upon ? Leach states that I accused O'Connor of being in the pay of government and that O'Connor accused me of being in the pay of the league . Does Mr . O'Connor after that join issue with Mr . Leach , the honest and upright to ruin me in public estimation ? Is i £ error of judgment or is it design ? no matter what itis tome it is neither fair straitforwsvrd nor gentlemanly on the point of O'Connor who says "that for ' now nearly 6 years I have been Dr . McDoaaTlsfriend . " "Why did not Mr . O'Connor then insist on investigation or after that why address the same meeting with myself ? Why could not Mr .

      O'Connor have demanded from me personally , as I have always demanded from him , an explanation ? Why above all things with precipitation launch out his charge in damaged authority thereby causing several localities to be guilty of a gross injustice to me and to the cause . It would be truly laughable to compare the notes of censure in some localities with the numbers present—as laughable as the petition of the three tailors in Tooley street did not the joke assume a most serious aspect when we reflect that the thoughtless condemnation of men . by certain bodies involves the character of the whole of the working men as far as understanding , fail-play , and principle are concerned—one week I am a Patriot , in eight days I am a traitor , in the estimation of some . Will not the enemy take up that as a proof of fickless , want of reason and justice , and

      therefore a most powerful argument against the suffrage . I hold Mr . O'Connor responsible for that , because from past experience he well knew what was likely to be the result ; at all events a bad beginning in this instance is likely to have a worse ending . Nothing is dearer to man than character , nothing more sacrea to a cause than principle . Upon what principle have I been condemned without a hearing by men whose cause I have faithfully advocated for years at every risk and hazard . Is it because I differ with a man or forsake a princi p le , or is it because in some minds persons and principles are inseparable . O'Connor and I may diner because men are changeable , but if I do differ -with O'Connor I am not less a Chartist , nor he a greater one , on that account . I deplore at the same time that I despise irrational censure . I shall now consider the charge preferred—Leach states that— " Dr . M'Douall told him that O'Connor snapped his fingers and said . " there is no

      money for you , at Manchester . " If Mr . O'Connor ever said so to any one it was most assuredly the truth ; but Leach represents that I reported Mr . O'Connor as having advised me to publish Leaches delinquency to the world . Mr . O'Connor on the other hand writes me a note on his return from Sheffield , in which he says " Cleave informs me that Leach says I advised him to spend your money . You may present my compliments , and to that give this answer , never was there a more dastardly he . " At the very time Leach reports me as making use of the assertion against O'Connor I found it necessary to request from Mr . O'Connor an explanation of certain expressions used by him in Carpenters Hall which Leach reported as having been aimed against me It certainly would be rather a singular course for me to pursue viz that of at the same time abusing a man and demanding an explanation from him for abusing me .

      In proof of my declaration I give Mr . O'Connors remarks in answer to my letter " I cannot understand the gist of your note nor am I aware that any portion of it save one requires an answer I mean the communication of your informant as to the terms or some passages of my first speech at Manchester . I can only tell you to convey my respectful compliments to him , whoever he may be and from me say he is a liar" Mr . O'Connor to whom I did not mention the informants name could not know it was Leach , because he remarks in the same letter that he in a ecture given In the benefit of Leach he applauded his gratitude and remarked " those whom he had most served had been amongst his most bitter enemies " but says Mr . O'Connor " I do not think you ( myself ) have been of that class and therefore my observations

      had no reference to you " I make those extracts to show that as far as my character for openness is concerned no man can lay any charge of hypocrisy to mj door because I fairly and justly placed before Mr . O'Connor my views therefore if Mr . O'Connor has been aware for 4 years of the artful manner in which he has been denounced such a charge cannot rest at my door , and shall not , unchallenged . I have no secret places , nor private letters and as I shall shortly prove I never left that strait and open course which I have ever pursued towards all in the movement . The next statement of Leaehistothe effect that Ireported that "O'Connor had sold the Chartist cause at Lancaster to Government and that he had received money for many years from the Government for destroying the Chartist cause "

      A pretty charge indeed to make : If true u could never be proved therefore folly if f alse it could not be disproved therefore mischievous . If I had entertained such opinions O'Connor as he knows well would have been the first to hear of them—In proof—When in France I had reason to believe that someoneconnected with the denunciation of the executive either was serving the government or wanted to do so , and I frankly said so to Mr . O'Connor . In reply Mr . O'Connor said " That every pang which the mention of mv name in the Star had cost me , had cost him a he said in

      thousand" but he declined " taking part the present contest unless forced into it" now says he " as to your insinuation about Hill and the Government of course you could not make so bread an asser tion without authority and I can only say that if your assertion can be provedthat my condemnation would not be wanting in exposing such hellish treason " I have therefore pursued in all cases that course which a manly and gentlemanly feeling would dictate . In the ' Star denunciation of the executive as well a 3 during the trials , in regard to Mi-. 0 Connor s

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      speeches ^ in fact in referencato alland ' siiridry representations , misrepresentations -and erroneous opinions I have sent mine' strait to O'Connor . himself , and generally to him alone . - - ¦ : - . '• ¦ ;; , '• In two instances alone have I had sufficient : reason to be distrustful and disatisfied the first waV in reference to Hills denunciation ; the" second wasduruig the Trials and now a ' -third arises to confirm the impression of the two previous ones—Ihave always been of opinion that Mr . O'Connor laid himself open to a charge of exciting HiU so long as he had ; the power , and did not use it , to check him in his career of abuse . I always was of opinion , and the Trials prove it that , a lawyers compromise was made to : throw , the whole odium of the indictment on my shoulders—Mr O'Connor denies that he accepted the compromise ,

      although he proves that it was offered . ; . It is enough for me to know that others even my own counsel did act upon it , and said that it was quite usual and professional to throw all on the shoulders of the absent to save the persons of those present .. Not being a lawyer I have a different opinion as to its justice , because such heapingon my back of every bodys charges might have been a sentence of . perpetual banishment . The casie broke down and with , it the matter too o compromise and no compromise . Such I presume is the source from which has sprung the charge of high treason and being in the pay of the government If Mr . O'Connor and Leach can throw anymore light on the subject I shall be happy to meet tliem but as the affair has been made

      natural I shall decline local investigation . As it has been made public I shall object to private inquiry' I shall meet Mr . O'Connor in two places either before a council composed of openly chosen delegates ^ from different parts of the country or in public meeting in Manchester or Leeds , bis two strongholds . I shall compel Mr . O'Connor to prove the truth of Leaches assertions and when ho does so he will , have to answer the charge he is said by Leach to have preferred against me viz that I was in the pay of the league . I do not care which case comes first or last , 0 Connor and the government , or M'Douall and the league , both must be considered and examined or none . We are both I presume ready for trial and both have it anneara declined attending all chartist meetings for

      a tune . Let the affair be then settled . ¦ It , cannot fail to do mischief either way , consequently those who started it will find their prudent hopes realised . Before I proceed further I may remark that Mr . Lonsdale who is really all Mr . O'Connor says of him will be able to explain that which Mr . O'Connor makes obscure , and give a meaning where none is to be found now . He will prove the high opinion which I expressed of Mr . O'Connor as a man and as a gentleman as well as the reasons why I entertained a different opinion ' of him as a Politician . If Mr . Lonsdale declines this Mr . West and others who were present can supply his place . At the time I spoke to Mr . Lonsdale I knew him to be O ' Connor ' s friend , that was not going round the bush . I also wrote to O'Connor about Mr . Moirs case of pressing my opposition to his views—that

      surely was open enough and being disatisfied still I neither wrote to spoke to nor saw Mr . O'Connorthai surely does not look like the crawling , sneaking , shoetie licking of some of O'Connors dear friends . After these events I returned to London where in a short time I received through Mr . Cleave a note from O'Connor requesting to see him . I wish to know the purport the visit Mr . Cleave told me to go and see . I did go when O'Connor said he had heard from Mi . Cleave of my intention to enter into some business and he then voluntarily offered his services . He wished to know how much money would be wanted at the same time saying he had no ready cash . Both Mr . Cleave and myself told him that nothing less than £ 100 could possibly answer—Mr . O'Connor thought otherwise at least he said he would put his name to a Bill for £ 50 and give an advertisement 6 months free . » ,...

      I have had reason to regret that I ever . accepted either , because Mr . O'Connor verycooly says I showed you that I had given Mm the small sum of £ 50 . That is writing for effect with a vengeance and I am not surprised that the effect has been produced amongst men who do not know what a bill is and who never saw one in their lives .. The Bill is not yet due consequently Mr . O'Connor has not paid out of his pocket one single farthing of the £ 50 alluded to . He may say that he will have to pay it . If he has to do so his denunciation of me is the very way to make me unable to do so ; but it would have , at least , been more prudent in Mr . O'Connor to have

      paid the money first and boasted of it afterwards No man thinks anything of a bill . It is a mere accommodation for the day and a Tory would do for a Whig or a Chartist that which Mr . O'Connor has considered such a great favour for me , without consideling that the vote or opinion of either was to be at his disposal . If such a principle was admitted in society the Jews and money lenders would monopolise the whole of the representation of the kingdom . In regard to the second demand alluded to I remember writing to Mr . O'Connor stating the outlay and informing him that as Mr . Cleave and I had anticipated the £ 50 would be insufficient . So that no answer was returned nor was one expected * : ;

      The next money transaction has reference to Chester Castle . During the height of the agitation I had occasion to sell some property , belonging to me , in Newtonstewart county of Wigton Scotland and when thrown into Prison I found that some delay would ensue in the payment of the balance due . I was in some alarm concerning my home and as the People of Ashtonwcre in my debt for the salary due to me for services in the convention I wrote to my friend and companion Atken stating my position as I could do to him without much circumlocution . I wished to avoid any tax on the People and merely desired

      accommodation for the time not for myself but for my f amily . Mr . Atken mentioned the case to O'Connor who instantly offered to get me out of the difficulty by seeing that my family did not want . I immediately wrote to Mr . O'Connor that I would accept of his aid on one condition viz that the loan was to be a private one and was not to affect iif the least the independence of my opinions he andlhaving frequently , and materially differed in and out of the convention . Mr . O'Connor agreed to that and gave Ids word that all should remain private and unknown as a simple debt How far he has kept his promise his letter can best testify .

      The third instance of money matters occurs when I was in France , A committee waa appointed to secure me a certain allowance during my absence . I expected a supply with the last boat of the season but nono came and during a period of nine weeks I was thrown on my own resources . I wrote to different parties O'Connor , amongst the rest . He was the only one that forwarded me any money and that is the only instance , during our six years acquaintance that I ever asked Feargus O'Connor for one farthing of money . Everything else he did of his own accord and whatever thanks I owe him for that I owe it to him as a man , but I owe him no gratitude as a Politician nor shall any money ever secure me or bind down the freedom of my opinion . If I owed Feargus

      O Connor any gratitude he has dispelled that by proving that real friendship was not the moving agent mhis generosity but vain glorious notoriety . Who regards that charity which is preceded by kettledrums of sounding sen-praise , and Mowed by a flourish on the trumpet of vanity . There is no . generosity , no charity , no praise due , where ! . th © end is discovered to be popularity . Mr . O'Connor expects gratitude therefore he gave his money for a selfish end , for a political advantage , not for personal pleasure . - The merit of his actions is then torn away and self adulation assumes the place of generosity . The person served becomes a mere foil to show off the qualifications of the donor and the act is the reflector of huzza-hunting

      praise-seeking self esteem . Private esteem will always follow charity when buried , public contempt r eward charity when boasted—Whatever Mr . O'Connors object may have been his private acts have always ended in political quarrels and he seems to have had considerable ingenuity in fixing upon the objects of his benevolence as every one without exception has found it necessary to remind Mr . O'Connor that however much a man may be personally bound down by circumstances he ought to be politically free and if I am not in error one of the cMef ends of the ballot was to protect the debtor from the influence of the Jewish money-lender . Mr . O'Connor boasts of his friendship in advancing me money . He has a peculiar way of showing it because it appears on the face of his charge against

      me that whilst doing me the greatest service he was at the same time employing his clerk to note down my conversation . He has bemide informed me that he has preserved scraps of letters and pieces of conversation , odds and ends of evidence , after the manner of government prosecution who never give the proceeding or succeeding passage of a chartist speech , f Mr . O'Connor brings these friendly reminiscences wfore any committee I can only say that I have no etters save those which concern money matters and legal affairs . At least my rule is to destroy all others and if any escape , it is wore by chance than intention . On the general question at issue no mans lettter or conversation can compromise me as I am fully determined to Bpeak my mind . What is true I shall admit . What is false I shall deny , My Friends I have now I think ran over all tl » matter at iBsue and in concluding ; the subject I may remark that

      a long and systematic attack has been kept up againBt me . You remember Hills long continued abuse which recoiled on the originator ; you have heard of the private letter writing which I detected and exposed : you have heard of the Executive address which failed n its aim ; and now you have O'Connor ' s charge based on the clear and philosophic grounds of—Fear gus O'Connor writes ^ that Leach said that M'Douall told him—On these grounds O'Connor demands inquiry and a verdict oh a case of his own creation-Suppose he acquits himself and condemns me on the evidence of a man particularly interested in doing me a mischief then the People loose one advocate through the machinations of unprincipled men . O'Connor seems afraid of loosing the leadership and Leach takes care to touch him on the tender point of having the movement taken out of his hands . Let me inform both Leach and O'Connor that no man has a right to say , suppose , or aim at having a national movement under individua guidance . The day for

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      kings and subjects , officers and soldiers , Leaders and followers haa passed away from the mind at least and intellect and representation occupy their place . . The combined energies of a whole People can alone direct our movement and if Mr . O'Connor . seeks to stand alone at the helm he must firsi prove himself the monarch of mind and tell us by what compass he , is to guide us , and to what Port he is steering . If we may judge of the future by the past , what from desertion , mutiny , aw walking the plank , the ship runs a serious risk of being left to herself and the helmsman . At all events there is no movement and therefore I am astonished at the fears of Mr ? O'Connor . He may calm his apprehensions and Mr . Leach lay aside his probe as far as I am concerned because I have resolved to retire altogether or until there are better men £ n < better times . By doing so I remove one cause o Vnalousvand prevent my name becoming a bone of

      contention amongst the Chartist ranks . I stated my intention everywhere in Scotland and England therefore Mr . O'Connors letter came a day too late for the van . I have little interest in the verdict which may be given because whichever way the people give It , they only sentence themselves to a logs ; outlet it be so . I care little about it and if a verdict against ine will sooth one who has taken a violent pet I have no objections that my hair be pulled to bring him into a brtter humour . MyFriends , the consolation I have is that I have done my duty and if faction , cabal , private letter writing and denunciation will not permit me to continue in the service It is not my fault as I retire with regret and ^ almost hopeless , at the same time most fervently wishing your speedy perfect and unbounded success , in the attainment of a cause so closely allied with the dearest and best interests of humanity . I remain though censured and denounced the faithful friend of labour P . M . McDouail .

      Mr . O'Connor ' s letter from the Star , detailing the charges , was then read ; after which Mr . O'Connor requested the chairman to give notice that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was there , not only to meet the charges made by Dr . M'Douall , but that any person having auything to urge against him was at liberty to bring charges forward . One of the Councilmen observed , that M'Douall ' s letter objected to the authority of the Council , and the writer demanded that the case should be brought before a public meeting . Mr . Donovan said that Dr . M'Douall might have been present if he would ; for the Council had offered to pay the whole of his expenses to attend this investigation . He had also acknowledged the authority of their tribunal , and had himself offered , in his letter

      from Carlisle , to refer his dispute with Mr . O'Connor to it . They were met for the purpose of entering on the business whioh had called them together ; and they were not to be prevented from doing their duty becau 88 Mr . M'Douall thought proper to absent Mmself . As to the demand for a public meeting , they had nothing whatever to do with it . Their duty was to proceed with the case ; and if , after their decision , Mr . O'Connor and Mr . M'Douall thought proper to go before a public meeting , they could do so . The Council Had nothing to do with it whatever . Mr . William Smith said , if there was any person present that had any charge to make against Mr . O'Connor , now was the time . No one presenting himself ,

      Mi * . O'Connoh rose and said—Gentlemen of the Council , now is the fitting time for me to state the course that I mean to pursue . You have allowed a latitude to the prosecutor , which under no other circumstance than your desire for a full , free , and searching investigation , would have been tolerated . Making , I presume , allowance for our different positions , you have made a tender of his expenses to the prosecutor , while you have compelled the accused to come and go back , whether guilty or not , at his own expense . Gentlemen , anomalous as such a course is , I do hot object to it , because it cuts every ground of complaint from under the prosecutor . Before I enter on the merits of this case , I nnist give a public answer to many private communications which I have

      received , expressing regret that Lshould have thought the charges worthy of investigation ; and others , expressing fear that the inquiry may lead to disunion . Gentlemen , if 1 could be influenced by such representations , the effect must be a tame submission to every slanderer , and a complete surrender of every feeling . As to the constitution of the tribunal to whose jurisdiction the prosecutor now demurs , I shall say a single word . It is not an " innovation , " nor is it even a great novelty . The fiiat brief I ever held was for John Lawless , in the case of O'Connell against Lawless , when the latter was charged with having betrayed the interests of the people . The second case which I adduce was that of one Watkins , who was charged with peculation and treachery by a union

      to which he belonged . O'Brien , Bell , and others were members of the tribunal that tried him ; and I was chairman . The next case is that of the late Executive , which was referred to the Chartist delegates of the Sturge Conference in 1842 . The next is the case of the memorable Conference that assembled at Manchester in 1842 , and which was elected to inquire into all matters in dispute between the Chartist body and the then Executive . Now , gentlemen , such are the " precedents" for such an inquiry as the present ; and I shall next apply myself to the necessity of proceeding in cases such as you have now entered into the consideration of . With persons in my situation it is this—either voluntary banishment from your cause , slowly but systematically produced by

      that impression which unchecked slanders inevitably leads to , or a timely investigation to ascertain their truth or falsehood . Gentlemen , it will be for you to say whether or no the charges are of that magnitude and character to demand any inquiry ; and if so , what tribunal other than that emanating from the people , I could appeal to . I have been tried in Ireland and in England ; I have been tried by Whigs and Tories ; and now I am about to be tried by the Chartists : and in order to place my prosecutor in the very best position that his conduct admits of , you have had read to you his long and rambling letter , sent to the Star for insertion , but ptoperly forwarded by tho Editor to you ; and you must consider it , either as the indictment preferred against me , or in that

      light in which alone I can view it , as a rigmarole of lying hypocrisy , evasive shuffling , and cowardly slander ; not against me , but against James Leach , upon theaupposition , no doubt , that the whole of the present case was to rest upon his unsupported testimony . Gentlemen , in Dr . M'DnualTs letter , his last letter to the Council , there is a dash of importance , a swagger of the bully , which vou will find it difficult to reconcile with his original approval of the tribunal to whom his conduct was to be submitted . In a previous letter it appears that he was ready to proceed ; but when he discovers that I am ready to plead , he turns round upon himself and denies your authority , until you have first added the duties of an Executive to your judicial functions . In short , he

      tells you that he cannot recognize your authority until you have first collected , and sent to him , a balance of money which he avers is due to him . Gentlemen , waa there ever a moro dastardly attempt made to escape that condemnation which he was aware must sooner or later be the penalty of . his lying treachery , ingratitude , and deceit ? Gentlemen , his long shufflng epistle waa evidently written with the intention of damaging the testimony of James Leach ; and , however pure and unhurt Leach may have come out or the recent inquiry , and however my opinion of him may be unchanged , yet 1 frankly admit that I should not , under all the circumstances of the case , have proceeded to public notice upon the mere unsupported « 8 timonv of James Leach . But , gentlemen , it so

      happens that his evidence is now the least important . It certainly may have led in the first instance to a more extensive development of the prosecutor ' s systematic yillany ; but now I am prepared to adduce testimony from various parts of England;—testimony unsought for , but all corroborative of that given by James Leach . Gentlemen , I have not come here for the mere purpose of answering the whisperings and the libels of a disappointed gentleman ; but I have invited you now , in the thirteenth year of my public service , to make proclamation for any ' man who has aught to urge against me : and if you can find it in England , you can find it in this room , because I understand that the excitement is as extensive as

      the publication of the slander , and that nearly every town in Lancashire is here represented by delegates with instructions to bear back your decision . Gentlemen , they must not only hear the decision , but , as you have wisely decided , they must be cognisant of the whole proceedings , and must be satisfied that purity and fair play prevails throughout . Now , gentlemen j suppose that I had not taken notice of the prosecutor's treachery , must not the result have been—first , the destruction o f my character ; secondly , the destruction of the Executive—as honourable and efficient a public body as ever- held office ; and lastly , the reward whieh faction would bestow upon the individual who had tliUB nerved its arm by destroying the popular opposition which is its most inveterate foe ? Gentlemen , can I be valuable to you if I am valueless in my own estimation ? And is it not notorious that ray influence was being unermined ; and if the causes were not checked , would

      have been destroyed ? Let it not be supposed , then , that this is a private inquiry , and one which ought to have been confined to private explanations . Gentlemen , you have already seen , by the flippant denial of every one of the prosecutor ' s Oft-repeated assertions , that the answer that I should have received to any private application would have been an indignant contradiction , while day after . day his venom would have been increasing . But what strikes me , and what will doubtless strike you , as the most inconsistent portion of the prosecutor ' s conduct , is this—he conceives that a matter of private account between himself and James Leach , is of sufficient importance to warrant newspaper publication and pub . lie trial , while he doesn't see what you or the public can have to do with the destruction of public character . Gentlemen , when I appeared as a witness in Leach's case , I did not stray from the question , or allow my mind to be biased by the isclosures made by Leach ; while I do confess the disgust that I felt at beholding the would-

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      be-gentleman pKosKOuiiNo the poor industrious man' Mo had actually perilled his existence rather tlian forsakeHas friend in exile ? Gentlemen , whatxouldl expect from a jealous vain-glorious man , after his bosom companion , whohadworkedfor nimby night and by day , and who had refused to separate his name from a charge brought against M'Douall by Mr . HU 1 , was made the victim of his wants ? That was matter of sufficient importance to warrant public exposure , even after the " debt" had been ten times overpaid by me , and even after the prosecutor himself had told me that on his giving Leach the receipt in lull , Leaoh had offered him all the stock in his shop , and all the property he was possessed of , to pay himself to the last farthing . But , gentlemen , that did not save

      his former friend : and what had I to expect ? I shall now deal seriatim with the several passages in the prosecutor's letter . * Witha cunning peculiar to little minds , the prosecutor would seek to make himse the injured party , and says that he will meet me before a public meeting at Manchester or Leeds to make me prove that he was in the pay of the League . Now , was ever such petty cunning , such disgusting fabrication ? lie know 3 , and the Council that tried the question know , that Leach ' s answer to my question , as to whether I ever wrote a line or spoke a word derogatory to the character of Dr . M'Douall was . that I had told him that one of my reasons for dismissing Mr . Hill was because he asserted that he had reason to believe , from a statement of a Quaker living near

      Ashton , that M'Douall was in pay of the League during the sitting of the Conference in 1849 in Manchester ; and Leach further added that I always said that I believed M'Douall to be one of themost ' useful and talented men in our ranks . Now then , what do you think of the man who would thus ende avour to turn my gratuitous support of him into an accusatory charge ? Gentlemen , great as is the respect that I entertain for you , I entertain a still higher respect for the right of trial by jury : and I at once admit the right of appeal from yourverdict , whatever it may be , to the whole people in public meetiug assembled . And in order that both the prosecutors rights and the ends of public justice may be maintained , I now proclaim my willingness to meet mv accuser or accusers

      on the public platform at Manchester and at Leeds , any time they may enter into proper arrangements for me to do so . Gentlemen , in another passage the prosecutor assures you that upon all occasions of personal difference between him and me he had recourse to personal explanation only ; and he instances two cases—the one with reference to something that somebody told him that I had hinted about him , in one of my public lectures at Manchester ; and the other bearing upon my letter to Mr . Moir . Now what was the fact—that the two cases were below ridicule—rubbish , rank nonsense : the first of which I answered by telling him that I had something else to do than correspond about a repetition of hints that I never made , and telling him to give my compliments

      to Ins informant , and say from me that he was a liar . With reference to the second , Mr . Moir ' s case , lie never wrote me a word about it until he had tried his hand to make it matter of dissension at Huddersfield j and when the honest fellows there rebuked him , aye , and rated him soundly too on the subject , he then wrote to me , intending to anticipate the truth which I was likely to hear . The prosecutor says , that nothing is dearer to man than character . ' . wish he had thought of that before ; and then I shouldn't have been here to-day . But , gentlemen , what follows this piece of untimely sensibility ? Why , the most curious admission that ever came from the pen of devil himself , and one upon which he no doubt relied for protection . He asks you " to what end the investigation can tend" ? " because , "

      says he , "IF ALL MY ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE , THEY NEVER CAN BE DISPROVED" !! Now , did you ever hear of villany equal to that ? A man goes about the country attempting to destroy our cause , and then insolently tells us that he has the protection arising from the impossibility of dispkovikq his assertions ! Why , gentlemen , HE made his assertions and charges ! and it was and is for HIM to prove them , and then it is for me to meet his proofs . But see what a . situation he would place his victims in ! "I charge you , " Bays he ; " and even if my charges arc fake Idefyyou to disprove them" !!! Gentlemen , he would charge me in this letter with exciting Mr . Hill to denounce him : while the world knows and he himself

      acknowledges the fact , m a letter which I hold in my hand , that I quarrelled with Mr . Hill uponhis account , and upon his account solely . In this letter he thanks me for my defence of him . Gentlemen , he next refers to money matters , and most consistently deals with credit as he docs with character . It would appear that I forced one pound a week on him while he was iu Chester Castle , and that he wrote me a very valiant letter , stating that " his high sense of independence would not allow him to accept it unless it was to be considered as & private loan , and was not intended to trammel his opposition to me . " Gentlemen , to this I can only say that every word is a PURE AND UNMITIGATED FABRICATION , He nCVer WTOtC me a line on the subject ; and it would appear that the g ift was-lessened in value from the fact of its being cheerfully given without pressing . But it wasa"loan ; " sucha "loan" asmine have always been :

      for of the thousand such that I have made , I have nevevreceived the fraction of a farthing in return : unlpss , indeed , I am to consider the IxVjDEPENDEiVT EXERCISE of my debtors' own opinions as payment in full . Indeed , it would appear as though every man who has partaken of my bounty had to prove his "independence" by the amount of abuse that he bestowed in turn . Of course , gentlemen , the money that he wrote for from France , and got too , £ 15 , when he said he had no other friend on earth , was " a loau / orced onhim ; " and then-the £ 50 , that it would appear I hunted him up and down begging of him to accept , was another "loan ; " and one to which he refers in most unfortunate and pitiable terms . In speaking of this "loan , " he says it was " ONLY A BILL , " and that Mr . O'Connor should have paid it , before he considered it a " loan , " or before he mentioned it . And then he goes on to

      say "NOBODY THINKS ANYTHING OF A BILL ! " ( great laughter)— "it ' s a mere thing of accommodation ; and if such an accommodation was to shackle public opinion , the Jews would control all political power . " ( Renewed laughter . ) Gentlemen , I think a great deal of a bill , and a great deal about the bill in question , as Dr . M'Douall very candidly admitted this day fortnight before the Council that tried Leach ' s case , that mine was the only good name on the bill ; and that of course I'd have to pay it . Jews are generally particular to whom they lend money ; and I much doubt that a customer who introduced himself as one who thought " nothing of a bill , " tvould receive much grace in their sight . And then , as to not mentioning it until it wa 3 paid . I

      never should have mentioned it at all , had it not been given to cover any damage that Dr . M'Douall might have suffered from the non-payment , or from the postponement of the payment , of the balance claimed from Leach , and had not the receiver of it broken faith with me and Leach . I have given thousands that people have never heard of ; and they never would have heard of the £ 55 , the £ 15 , o * the £ 50 , all "loans , " of course , but for the baseness of the wretch who received them . The prosecutor speaks of my clerk noting down scraps of conversations . Why , gentlemen , the man who is always with nie couldn't have done much less when he saw my confidence so shamelessly abused ; and what he did say he declares his readiness to swear to . But he did not " note" down scraps of

      conversation . He saw the , infamous attempt of the prosecutor , and he then reminded me of facts to which he was privy , and bore testimony to their truth . With regard to letters , the gentleman says that he keeps no letters . Singular enough that he should have " kept" the only one that he thought would damage Leach . And now , gentlemen , just mark the concluding passage of this thirty-nine sheet letter . He says that he doesn't care what your verdict is ; that it can't affect him , because he appeals to all the public meetings that he addressed upon his recent tour both in England and Scotland , to prove that he informed them that he had abandoned the Chartist ranks . altogether . Now then I ask you , has not this man unwittinelv sealed his

      own condemnation ? He makes a tour to announce his abandonment of the Chartist ranks , when Chartism had become too poor to furnish idlers with support : and , determined that the principles shall not survive his desertion , he resolves upon leaving a poison behind which he hoped no antidote would destroy . But , gentlemen , thanks to Providence and to justice , that punishment which sooner or later overtakes delinquency has come upon him before Leach was destroyed — before the Executive was destroyed—before O'Connor was destroyed . If it was my business to defend the Executive in their recent attempt to rescue the cause from this man ' s malice , could I do so more effectually than he has done in this letter ? Had they not a right to be watchful , nay

      suspicious ; and yet although lenient in rebuke , the malcontents would have charged them with precipitancy . Gentlemen , it has been too often the custom to expect a tame submission on my part , whilst the greatest latitude in "denunciation" is allowed to others : but I will bear it no longer . This is not the last pieceof persecution to which I am to be subjected ; I am to face another battery armed with all the freshness of martyrdom : and you shall know it , and through you the people shall know it ; lest I should be expected to remain silent , until in an accumulated form rr too render public inquiry necessary . Gentlemen , I have seen a letter , —not a copy of a letter , but the original letter , —written by Mr . Thomas Cooper of Stafford , signed with his own name , and everv word written bv

      us own nanttY . umting Mr . Mason and others td join urn on his release , in the final overthrow of Feargua O'Connor , This letter , and it is but one of many that have come from the same dep&t , breathes the most malignant spirit . It taunts Mr . Mason with backwardness to join in the sacrifice ; and expresses an anxious desire to see Dr . M'Douall , in whom the writer has more confidence for the work than even Mason andallothers beside ! Two things this modern regenerator had resolved upon accomplishing on his release : the one might be comparatively easy —the " final overthrow of O'Connor : " the other is I fear somewhat more difficult , —his determination "to get into Parliament and no mistake , " ( Roava of laughter . )

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      ~ tine ' oTtlie" " "Council : —Arc vbu ^ I" ^^ $ H Cooper ' s writing , aad was the IetKW ^ l hand ? ¦ ll > an J « m Mr . O'Connor . —Yes . Every wor . H M hand-writing . ¦ I have received so mim ' i 11 ^ H money , beginnuig with " my beloved 0 'Pn le'Q 1 I am perfectly acquaint ^ with his & ' "C ! though not with his present style . Gp ,, h ** "C H me now ask you where is the mducemcn ? hS 1 « H toil as I have toiled ? where the ^ S fo > u H twelve years' labour in this country ? X f ( * i * M pect of the only remuneration that i «« fc ? tlle M M future exertions ? Is it come to ttfthS *» lh fogging perambulator is to live Hp 2 f ^ J i until hAfhinkaim nan wink * . !„_ . V > tft ^ .. " 'SSH

      , sympathy than private charity ? la all « i ? JN ? H done , and all that my struggling fonii , '' f 1 CH feredforthe regeneration of your Otde- t ^ iM be forgotten , before the pigmy breath of ! ^ Mm redeemer ? one whose every track since buSH from France has been marked by a lim % il mind corresponding with the magnitudn 3 ^ fjH lencc ? What . 'isitcometothis , tlia tlSdt « others were to jeopardise and peril 0 II » ¦ % ill rather than hurt a hair of tins un » rlfi 5 y l' « head ? and , as if enough had not ah-eaSff > 11 the man the most guilty , if there was « sSSJ * "SI —after a tour of pleasure , through whidTwl ^ 11

      ported uy my purse and the contrii utf « others , and through whose exertions llc ^ nlH punishment and might have received , ? Kiffl now tells us that 4 e has been couL ^ H Lancaster " -tlmt "he has been sold to C ^ ll ment : " but , gentlemen , he fails to tell you trMii price of that compromise has been comnlet ^ ^ S nity !! Is there not something too ridiculom ? Nii mit of argument in the notion of escape from . ^ Wm charges being advanced as the terms of coidiiiy ^^ OT Ah ! gentlemen , It is ever thus with tWSB men" in your r anks ; they suck you till vou 41 * 111 and then proclaim their " grievance" if ' tlievh •>§ %£ & get their own price for your withered carcases wWm is proof of honour and inteerity ? Is it , a w ; if :. ' < HSi

      to stand before public opinion , boldly touusplli charge , oriait tote found in the disscmiiia tr ^^ a falsehood , and a shrinking on the day oftrial . n ? ' j $ B in having come to you a rich mau , and stani , ? ^ fore you now as a poor man ? Is it in lu ^ Ial curred the rancorous hatred of all , aavc W-WM sons ? Is it to be found in over-confidence ajj ^ ' ^ H rosity 1 If so , I do merit your confidence ; butjf Wm the other hand , you look to the swaggering KiM theiinmethodiseddeclaimcr , who measures l ^ lm by his wants ; who has enthusiasm for the enthfef WM declamation for the ignorant , slander for tfeP- ^ a dropper , and " sacrifices" for the generous ay- ^ ffH ^ h ^'^^ ' j ^ j ^^^^ Sm voimuenuecut ii uuaiuuie

      your . r is ot valjf , S ^ w if its value is enhanced by coining from an infe ^ lajl party , let me call the prosecutor into court , J \ Wm shall speak for me even after he had receive $ Sm documentary evidence establishing my criafev ^ l Gentlemen , listen to this passage : " 1 slmS ' v ^ nonsense this time , with drums and rags , unfefiSfsS people are determined to lack up a mv s tai ' wIjH case I shall not march with any one of im a ^ S except yourself ! I want no Collins andlfuf ^ al I had enough of that folly . " That letter canaSfli " my dear friend , " as it acknowledges the iw « ill money . Now then , gentlemen , if 1 stood in rLPll evidence to character , where could I find moZS elusive ? I abstain from reading any portionnkvilt

      extensive correspondence which IholdiiimrW-iS though it would astonish you . I abstain / feSli even yet I value it as private ; nor should I ] iare # fil that one sentence , was It not strictly in point . Geifeliifl men , I have now done . I have only further to $ Wm that I have never written a line to oiie of tlieCoin |? ill —that I do not know five men upon it : thai I \ w % ? M catered for no evidence , except what chance tWr ' ^^ my way ; that I thus give a prac tical proof of eMM respect for public opinion , while my innocents ctfpl boldens me to rely on the only decision that you ca : fpl give , which will be a verdict not only of acqilitoU ^ p for it appears I am charged with nothing ,- ^ ' ^ M § 1 obiftion as well as Io the conduct of the Dmwm . lyi

      1 shall siniplv rely on such evidence as I shall adfe ^^ in support of the charge of reckless and exterap ||| fi slander , propagated by the prosecutor for noUafffl and evil purposes ; and as you . caiuvjt vm wmm several witnesses , I shall propose as a su ! stiiffj ||| the following declaration : — " I declare , on wjw ® honour , as an honest man , that I will tell tk rfffi the whole truth , touching this inquiry ; andfLat » Jp | I I will true answers give to such questions as mayliil put to me . " . . .. ' IIP Mr . James Leacli was called , and stated asMomlm —Dr . M'Douall told me that Mr . O'Connor had ®§ m the trial at Lancaster to Government . That tem } i | ! leading the people astray ; and had been inck « J || nection with the Treasury Benches for years . iWm said that his informant was an officer of some stais £ iiB 8

      ing , belonging to the English Government , ffliom ! fl || met in Paris . He further added that the Ckarie ^^ movements were all known by Government , » b »^ H ceived their reports from a number of men asionii ^ Sj with the body , at the head of whom was Feats || l | O'Connor ; and that in Manchester every step *§| Sj took was known by the authorities as soon it iss § B taken ; that Mr . Abel Eeywood , of OitaiMiB was one agent , affl the other was" 3 k ft »|| ii Wlieeler , who went to the police office , andRra | lj | twice a day . He ( Mr . Leach , knew thatalraikfgi had taken place , they of course would notfMnkfefySl testimony of much weight ; but they would M& ciJI her thathe had told Dr . M'Douall to his faco . Mslis"' M

      did not deny it . Had he done so , there wereptaff ¦];' M in theroom at that time who could have corroborate / || j what he had said . He did not see them present a . _ . . ' m this occasion ; but if Mr . Charles Taylor waspreiU ~ ; $ 3 he could tell them much . However , If they « anld . ' j || evidence , they had but to ask for it in Todmonk , || j Halifax , Leeds , Huddersfield , Bolton , HcbdenBrils , m and other places . , || I By Mr . O'Connor . —Were there other pcrsonapr / , | » sent when these statements were made ?—That ps' fa concerning the Government officer in Paris was to -Ja | to me alone in the Grove Inn , on the roadtoKtK $ M Moor ; the other part was said in company . ,. " $ M

      Did M'Douall tell you that it was my wishttauj g | should denounce you ?—He did . y $ m Did M'Douall tell you that I sent him two btoi' ^ to France denouncing you ?—He did ; and said "flam he left Manchester that he would send them ^' Sfii first post . After his first letter in the «« r I m ^| H for them , When , in reply , he said I did well ^¦^ H " blackguard" him and then ask for a favour ; « $$ m he had the letters , but would not send them . I ' c af !| $ w said that when he came to Manchester he «* bring them with him . He , however , did not *>* , * IS Mr . O'Connor . —No , he could not , for lie n ever ® jm them . No such letters were ever sent ; and » 1 Council will bear in mind that , when I appeared * ; -m fore them before , I asked M'Douall if I had cversea sm him such letters , and he said I never did . , . il | bered &

      Mr . W . Butterworth called . He remem - $ m time Dr . M'Douall came to Manchester after «^ Sf | from France ; and from statements which he »* j ^ M to me , I thought Mr . O'Connor was a rascal , ^ h knew Leach ' s circumstances ; I knew that »**« poor , but honest man . When I met the 1 « SJ ^ 8 uiew that Leach was not able to pay Mm . J , * UlM him what he intended to do in Leach ' s case- J * jfflm said , "nothing ; he would not so much as spf- * fM a it , for the purpose of disappointing O'Connor . | | S fact , he said , that Feargus O'Connor had m \ gH ( M'Douall ) to Manchester to damn Leach , m "Jfflj O'Connor expected that Manchester wasina ^ igH about itbythattime . HedidnotrecollecthimsJj ^^ that Mr . O'Connor was in the pay of the Govcm » »«| He saw the Doctor have , two letters ; they w «?^| @H table of theroom in which the Doctor ai id 1 >»»|||| were sitting ; and such was the impression w % JI § statement of M'Dmiall had made on liis minfl . " !^^ 1 \ ± - j

      WVHWUUUV SJ- TM . A / UUUIl AlUiU JJluUV v *> *—— , « jraj | he believed it to be true , and that Mr . O'Connor «|^ a very bad man . J || In answer to Mr . Donovan : He did n ° trc ? : , ^ M letters . Could not say whether they were » ' | | | hand-writing of Mr . O'Connor . In fact , he did mm read above a line of them . The impression " \ ysm mind , produced from what the Doctor said , w > « m they came from O'Connor , denouncing Leach- IM Mr . Donovan said his reason for askiue ^ . oiiotHM tionswas , that the Doctor at the tafflfTJI uons was , tnat tne doctor at me uun ; . « " ¦• Mr . IH l

      , denied ever having received such letters W » | | | O'Connor . blDmH Mr . Gray was examined and declared that " . , ijH | never heard M'Douall state anything dispart W ® the character of Mr . O'Connor . . winS Mr . O'Connor said : This will be the prof * ZWB to hand in the evidence of Mr . Hewitt of tyf ! SiH He put in the statement of tha . t gentleman , wW s aM published with Mr . O'Connors letter of the > H | January , 1845 . lWWm The following letters and documents wer HH handed in , as evidence . «|

      NO . I . . <; H Millwood , near Todmorden , Feb . 7 , J f ^ JH My Dear Leach , —This is the first time tm \ $ , Wm took pen in hand to write anything concerning- ' ' ! - ^ OT connected with our movement ; but as the t ° g 8 H of Manchester are to sit on Sunday next , conc « ^ in the Doctor and O'Connor , I think it my duty ^ JW Suaint them with one or two facts . If J ' CMstim [ ley will be of any service , you can lay them ° j JM the Council . The firat time M'Douall !«*> 5 jiS | Todmorden , after lie came from exile , about 'LJM ginning of last summer , he told me that he f ° lJ §| authority to prove that Mr . O'Connor ^ Am to sacrifice him for his own liberty and the » ' [ i $ H [ his brother conspirators ; and that he won * ^ H him smart fnr it . vet . TIir last time the PW ^ m ^ i

      at Todmorden lie told me and several o ^ f jj ^ he had learned something by the committee ^ am quay in Manchester . That Mr . O'Connor , \* m Roberts , and the Attorney-General had an "J : JB with each other when they were at Lancasw - ^ mm that the Attorney-General wanted them to w- 2 am lay his hands on the Doctor , but O'C onnor % ffl | not . He then said that it so far proved that ^ / | || been ( a compromise offered , but it urn not L ( j || B something else that he ( the Doctor ) knew . J «| J | see there is something moro to come out by-am gj | Iam , & ,, yoursinth | ! = V ^ a ¦ , , Mm C Continued in our seventh page . J ^

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      * Note by the Editor . — The writer- seems to have a very confused notion of his own position in relation to this said letter . It wa 3 addressed to «« , and was therefore , wben delivered to us , " ours " to all intents and purposes , to be dealt with as we should deem fitting . This is accordant with reason and common sense ; and the law of tbe land is founded fin thai plain and just principle . No man , not even the most powerful in the land , can lawfully obtain possession of a letter be has written , when once it has passed from his bauds into the post-office . It is an . offence punishable with a heavy fine for a post-master to deliver op to a writer any letter that he may have - confided to bis charge , no matter for what purpose , or how important soever the occasion to him for

      - - which he may require it . And this is on the just . principle , that the letter is , when once out of the - bands of the writer , no longer his property , but the -property of the party to whom it is addressed . Fre-22 dj so in this case ; and therefore the "demand " of Dr . M'Douall to the Manchester Council , that they should " return" what neither belonged to him nor them , was either dictated by profound ignorance of social duties and the amenities of life , or Dy assu rance as impudent as it was glaring . The letter was sent by m | notby Mr . O'Connor , aa Dr . M'Douali states ] to the Manchester Council , with a note intimating w'fiy it was sent , and a directionthat when it bad been read before them at the investigation

      determined on , it should be returned to us , to whom it lx .-Umged . It was not without reason that we so sent it We sawthroughflieirickwiichitwas attempted -. to make us a party to ; and we properly foiled it , by sending the document to be first used by those who - tad determined to investigate into the charges which that docament pretended to explain away . Now we publish it , every word , excepting the P . S ., which relates solely to another and different party , and - another and different affair—4 he Glasgow proceeding . We publish it just as received—making in it neither alteration , addition , nor omission , other than the one just mentioned . Such as it is , we leave it to speak foriteeE

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      \ . M * wiW « irra « afeaTA » . - ** " * « , ¦»~

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 15, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1302/page/6/