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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th April 1848, Edition 1 of 4, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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    • ARREST OF FEARGUS O'CONNOR.
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      Northern Star Office , Thursday Evening , quarter past ten Mr O'Connor has j « stbeen ^ arrested upon ' the Speaker Sr . « sarfant , and taken off in custody to the House of Commons .

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      , # ; .. % < T QiynsB , isi ws eoagaw !" t - - ~ Backward aad we fall 2 TBS PEOPLE'S CHARTER AND NO SURRENDER TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS . Mr Friends , my Dear Friends , Yon will not expect me to attempt any description of my feelings for the last ten days . It would be impossible—utterly and wholly impossible—to convey to you the faintest notion of the state of anxiety and excitement I have been in for that period ; working hard all day , eating but little , and spending sleepless nights .

      but never once resorting to any artificial means to sustain me in the struggle . I declare to vou that my thoughts for the last ten days wo ' uld constitute a life ' s history . It has never been my practice to denounce the ardent and enthusiastic too severely , while you and I have always been the great " sufferers from their intemperance and foll y . I can make every allowance for nevr andjexciting circumstances , producing new and excited feelings ; but while I am thus [ tolerant , I can in nowise consent that that which is dearer to me than life itself , should suffer damage , even from justifiable excitement .

      In health and appearance I am ten years older than I was ten days since , but I am twenty years younger in hopei because , while folly has had its fling , prudence has had its triumph . And with so much of a preface , I shall now describe the reality of the past , and map out for you the future . "When the announcement of our intention to hold a meeting on Kennington Common , and thereto form a procession to escort the National

      Will to the Senate House , was made , that announcement was allowed to pass unnoticed b y the government for many weeks , and , now that we have triumphed in our moral strength , I assert , without fear of contradiction , that that intention would never have been interfered with by the Government , but for the folly of some , the indiscretion , ; of . some , and the treachery of some of those professing to belong to our ranks .

      However , the effect of this folly , this indiscretion and treachery , was evidenced in the issuing of a proclamation forbidding both the meeting and the procession . You may rest assured that theappearance of thisproclamation imposed many hours of serious thought upon me ; and , after anxious deliberation , the conclusion to which I came was , that the abandonment of the meeting would be equivalent to the death of Chartism—that perseverance in the procession wonld have been followed by the death of thousands and the prostration of the cause j and I decided upon violating the law in defence of the Constitution and the cause of the people in the one case , and laughing brute force to scorn in the other .

      Had we surrendered the meeting , we would have had no channel through which to justify the abandonment of the procession ; but a meeting , out of which the proeession was to be constituted , was the constitutional and legitimate tribunal to appeal to . We did so ; and to the honour , to the wisdom , and the prudence of that meeting , it not only consented to , but it approved and applauded , ^ the policy . And so far from the boastings of the government , or the jeers of special constables , being able to eke a triumph out of oar prudence , our resolve sounds the death-knell of tyranny .

      Chartism—heretofore under a bushellaughed at by the Press , and mocked in the House of Commons , now finds a place in every newspaper , and haunts every man's brain ; whereas , if Chartism had made a feeble resistance to an armed force , the principle would have been destroyed . The great , the mighty preparations madeby a strong Government , will prove its terror and your strength ; while your principles—the justice of which no man can deny—are now being extensively discussed by thousands who had never previously heard of them , and tens

      of thousands who previously mocked them . What they say is , " Is this the dead thing ? Is this tne contemptible princip le ^ which so affrig hts the isle from its propriety / and compels the peer to handle the policeman ' s bludgeon ? There must be something in this Chartism ; I will inquire and investigate . " Well , my friends , that ' s all we want—inquiry and inves * tigation , for our principlesjwill stand both ; and even up to this hour ( Thursday ) , I see the fruits of our victory in numerous letters of congratulation , and nnmerous appeals from the middle classes to be allowed to join .

      Again , suppose that our ranks had been brought into collision with an- armed force on Monday ; and suppose I had escaped the vengeance of tyranny—which is not only doubtful but improbable—how weak and contemptible I Ehould be to-morrow night when I enforced the claims of MILLIONS ; It was extensively announced on Saturday , Sunday , and Monday , in newspapers had

      and placards , that Feargus O Connor fled , and left his dupes to their fate . But I sat in the centre of the front seat , in the post of danger , and smiled as we passed through the reserve of pensioners , and the body of foot and mounted police . And , my friends , my prudence did not fail me when I saw assembled upon Kennington Common such a sight as the human eye has seldom seen before .

      And now , in order to prove the truth of the estimate that I have formed of the Press , and opinion , when Chartism is concerned , and when the people are to be counted . I will give you a correct representation of the varying calculation as to , our numbers upon that day . A member of the House of Commons , fcitting in the Library , assured me , with indignant passion , that he was on the Common , and that there were not 4 , 000 people . Sir De Lacy Evans—a military man—asserted , upon the authority of a brother officer—that there were ^ not more than 35 , 000 . Some of the newspapers set us down at 8 , 000 , some at 10 , 000 , some at 15 , 000 , some

      at 20 , 000 , and . one—the Morning -Post—at 150 , 000 ; and the Evening Sun—mark , the first paper to give the account upon the same day , fand not influenced by the Government , the fears of old women , or the speculations of the Stock Exchange—also states the numbers at 150 , 000—as a matter of course , each assuring its readers that there was a large reserve of the idle , curious , and flanked by companies of boys and children ; but you know the form of the " ready reckoner" that 1 have published for the solution of such questionsit is , to add the several numbers given by the several papers , make a total of them , double it and then you will be near the mark .

      Now I think that experience enables me to make a better guess in such cases than the Penny-a-liner , and my estimate of our numbers on Monday is rather under than over 400 , 000 ; and I tell you how I arrive at a conclusion—I carry in my eye a building which will hold a certain number , and I estimate the number of times that the number of persons would fill the building ; and I assert , without fear of contradiction , that the numbers present on Monday would have forty times filled a building capable of holding 10 , 000 ,

      However , be the numbers what they may , the conclusion that you are to draw | is , that the Tressj being the mouth-piece of a faction , has an interest in proclaiming your weakness . However , thank God , they have been baulked of the delicious repast of counting the slain . So much for the meeting , whose obedience ,

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      whose prudence , and whose courage has repaid me for a lonjj life of agitation—of persecution —and of suffering . And now to the consideration of a still more important ] questionthe question of THE ILLUSTRATED "WHIG TREASON ACT . That is the title I have given to the Government gagging Bill in the House of Commons , and as I stated there I repeat here— " It is treason against the Crown , treason against the Constitution , and treason against the People . " It is

      " A BASE , BLOODY , AND BRUTAL BILL ' —A Bill which , if passed inte law , will assuredly create a revolution in this country—a Bill which the proud minister expectad to be law on Tuesday , but which does not yet disgrace the statute book . Men of England , if the power of man can do it , I will scotch the monster until you have the power of proclaiming your horror , and evincing your ccnstitutional opposition ;—and its opponents are not few in the House of Commons-Fox of Oldham , Thompson of the Tower Hamlets , Osborne of Middlesex , Crawford of

      Rochdale , and several constitutional lawyers , are in the ranks of the Opposition ; and if the Irish members , calling themselves liberal , presented a stead y front , it never would be the law of the land . The effect of this Bill , if passed , will be to transport every man who speaks his mind " openly and advisedly , " or prints his opinions , if the Government can procure , within three days , a treasonable conspiracy or plot through hired spies and informers in one case , or if a Jury should come to the conclusion that the object of such speaker Gr writer was to lead to such an overt act , in the . other case . Men of England , this comes from the "base , bloody , and brutal Whi ^ s , " whose boast it is , that the constitution is BASED UPON THE

      BLOOD OF THEIR ANCESTORS , and these are the Reformers for whom your brothers burned and suffered death in 1832 . If this bill is passed , there is an end to the constitution of this country , and whether it passes or not , and however I may be mocked for my presumption and folly , it is my firm resolve to ; move the impeachment of Ministers for their treason to the Crown and the People . For God ' s sake , Englishmen , do not be foolish , and say that you will not petition against this Bill , when I tell you that , by sojdoing , you disarm your friends and arm your enemies .

      Petition by day and by night , and send your petitions to different Liberal members , so that all may be armed with popular power . Humble as I am , you see how my prophecy has been realised , that , from my place in Par liament , I would be able to give circulation to your opinions , your principles , and your strength , which I never would be able to do out of the House ; and if by my poor exertions , backed by your confidence , I have been enabled thus to circulate those principles , will you not now preserve every channel and ^ valve through which the national strength is conveyed to a national representative .

      My friends , Monday has been such a triumph as has struck terror to the hearts of the enemy . Do not weaken it by inactivity—do not sully it by folly . And when you hear speakers telling an unarmed people to rush upon danger and to death , tell them that it is my intention to secure a great moral , a great social , and political triumph for all , and that , upon the banquet day , not one of Nature ' s children shall be missed from Nature ' s feast .

      Let me exhaust my energy , my means , and perseverance , and your patience and confidence , before you abandon the exalted position you now hold . I know how hard it is to offer placid counsel to starving men , but I know , if you use the Easter recess with judgment , the battle , after that period , will commence with an opposition arrayed against the Government , to whose will it must bend and yield . There are now materials , ample materials , in

      the House of Commons , if properly disciplined , to hurl the despotic Minister from power , and to proclaim the National Will . If Young and Old Ireland would surrender their personal jealousies and feelings , and unite , as one man , to fight their country ' s cause , and if the Liberal section of English Members would join with them , we have ample materials to fight the battle of Freedom in the House of Commons , and such a course is now about to be adopted .

      My friends , as I will not be accountable for any man ' s speaking , or for any man s writing , but my own , I now announce to you that again I assume the office of Editor of the Northern Star , and that , disregarding the mystery of the Press-gang , every word written by myself , shall bear my own signature . This is a safe precaution ; this is the manly course ; so that I will suffer for none , and none shall suffer for me . I shall now confine my agitation to the Trails of the House of Commons , as no constitution could bear what I have been in the habit of imposing upon mine , and I entertain the vain impression that you do not want to lose me yet .

      Next week I shall draw your attention to the means by which the present system may be upset , and the present Ministers hurled from office , in one week after Easter . And , having hitherto followed my counsels , and honoured me with your confidence , I am prepared to gay , that you have no right to expect me to join in your rashness if you refuse to

      adopt measures which , by a peaceful and resolute demonstration of your will , maybe effected without violence or bloodshed . But , come what will , though death should be my portion , your admirable discipline on Monday has canvinced me that your cause is worth living for , and worth dying for . On Saturday next you shall have the developement of my whole plan . Ever your faithful Friend and Representative , * Feargus O'Connok .

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      TO THE ENGLISH PEOPLE . Thursday night . ^ My Friends , I now sit down to put you in possession of what has transpired on this ( Thursday ) evening in the House of Commons , and I cannot do so more simply and plainly , than by giving you the following report of the proceedings from the " SUN ; "which , though very incorrect , will give you some notion of the tone and temper of your deliberative ^ assembly . When Mr Cripps had closed his insolent and audacious statement , and when I had replied , I left the House , and sent my friend , Mr Jones , there , with the following'letter : —

      OBborne ' s Hotel , AdelpW , Thursday evening . Sib . —My friend , Mr JoneB , will hand you this letter—he has my authority for acting on jay bshell t -. Tour obedient serTan * . ¦ j . . / Fbarous O'Connor . Mr Jones / repaired to the Honse , and send in bis card twice to Mr Cripps , and received as an answer— "That the hon . member could not leave the House * " It is but justice to Mr Cripps to say , that he was under a pledge Jiai to do so . * I am now writing ADVISEDLY and temperately , and I assure you that such a brutal howl was never heard as that with which I was

      assailed when I rose to defend your petition from its assailants . However , a most dreadful onslaught has been made upon you , and I had not ONE SINGLE SUPPORTER in the House , but 1 HAVE YOU j and now for the result . I have resolved upon not submitting your Petition , or your claims , to the House on Friday ( to-morrow ) , and for this simple reason , because by this course I best serve your interests . I have been charged with falsehood by a Member of the House . I shall be with my Constituents

      on Easter Monday , and they shall judge between us ; and the Aristocracy of this country will learn , meantime , whether constitutional liberty has lost or gained by the base attempt to insult YOUR REPRESENTATIVE . Englishmen , I now leave MY CREDIT and YOUR CAUSE in your hands . If I have been guilty of falsehood or deception , I am unworthy of your confidence ; if I have been insulted as your representative , I have taken the course which honour suggested to defend myself , and the country will acquit me and defend me .

      I have not obeyed the order of the House to attend , because the House violated jits duty , and so did the Speaker , in tolerating language which , if used to any other member would have been scouted . Yours faithfully , Feargus O'Connor .

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      HOUSE OF COMMONS , Thursday , April 13 . NATIONAL PETITION . Mr Thobklxt brought up the report of the Committee on Public Petitions , which stated that upon the 26 th of November last a committee was appointed to report to the house the number of signatures attached to all petitions presented to that house , and that the ; had felt it their duty to make a special report to the house upon the subject of the National Petition , presented on the 10 th of April , by the hon . member for Nottingham , signed by subjects of the British crown . The oommittee attached the ' utmest value to . the right of petitioning and to the exercise of that most important privilege by the subjects of this realm , and felt deeply the necessity of preserving the due exercise of such privilege from abuse , and having also a due regard to the

      importance of a petition so very numerously signed , had made that petition the subject of their present report . They felt bound , in the discharge of their duty , to represent to the house that with respect to that petition there had been a gross abuse of that privilege . ( Hear , hear . ) The hon . member for Nottingham , upon presenting the petition , had stated that the petition was Bigned by 5 , 706 , 000 persons . Upon the most careful examination of the number of signatures in the eommittee , -with the assistance of thirteen law stationers' clerks , who acted under the superintendence of the various clerkaof the committees , the number of signatures attached to the petition does not , in the opinion of

      the committee , exceed l , 97 o . 496 . —( Hear . ) It is further found , that a large number ofthe signatures were consecutively written by the same hand . It was also observed that a large number of the signatures were those of peraoaa who could not be supposed to have eoncurred in its prayer ; among those were the name ot her Majesty , signed Victoria Rex , the Duke tl Wellington , Sir Robert Peel , &c , &c . There was also noticed s , large number of names which were evidently fictitious , such as ' Pugnose , ' ' Longno 3 e , ' ¦ Flatnose , ' 'Puncb , ' ' Snooks . ' 'Futbs / and also numerous obscene names , which the committee would not offead the house or its dignity by repeating , but which evidently belonged to no human being . ( Hear , hear . )

      Upon the motion that the report do lie upon the table , Mr F . O'Cohnor said , that it would be quite impossible for any thirteen clerks to connt , from the time the petition was printed , even 1 , 900 , 000 signatures , and he should therefore move for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the subject . There was an old 8 aying , 'that those who hid knew where to find , ' and he believed that if such abuses did exist , it no doubt was the act of some of the government spies . —( Oh , oh . ) lie fully believed that the number of signatures he had represented the petition to contain was correct . He would apply another test to the petitioa . The petition was contained in four or five large bundles , and it took himself , assisted by four other persons , to lift the largest of the bundles . ( Oh , oh ) He did not believe he should have any difficulty in obtaining a petition upon tne same subject signed by 15 , 000 , 000 , or double or trebla that number .

      MrTnoRSLBY said that the petition was treated with all the respect which was due to one so numerously signed , and if he might take the liberty to speak of an individual so humble as himself , he would state that there were points referred to in that petition with which he cordially agreed , the vote by ballot , for instance . But the house would probably remember what the hon . member was not aware of , that the committee of which he had the honour to be the chairman , was appointed in the early part of the session , and entrusted to report to the house the number of signatures to each and every petition presented . It had been necessary to call in

      additional aid in order to ascertain tke number of signatures to the petition . He believed that that number had been ascertained with perfect eertaroty . ( Cheers . ) The hon . member had referred to the weiehtoftha petition as a proof of the correctness of his statement of the number of signatures to ^ it . That petition had been weighed this morning , and it had been found that the whole of it together weighed 52 cwt . The eommittee was , he trusted , too well knowa to render any further statements upon the Bubjeot necessarv . They considered that they were only aoting in conformity with their duty in laying the statement with respect to the petition before the house . ( Cheers )

      , Lord J . Russkia said , that ho gave fall and entire oredit to the report of the committee upon the subject , and considered that it was entitled to tho fullest credence , ( llear , hear . ) The Earl of Arukdbl and Surrbt said , that among the many falsehoods that had been stated with respect to the meeting on Kenningtop Common on Monday last , tha greatest of all he believed to be the proclamation that had O 3 en issued by the Convention , stating that a glorious demonstration had taken place , aud that a quarter of a million had

      aslembled on Kennmgbn Common . Ho was not there himself , but hehad been informed by these who were that there were not 25 . 000 persons there . He believed th » fc that was an over-statement , and that there were noi more than 15 , 000 persons there . ( Hear , hear- ) Now , he would ask , was it to be supposed that the country would be deceived by a set of men such as formed the Convention , when they dared to tell then such a falsehood ? In his opinion , men who would so act were the greatest enemies of the people , traitors to their country and their Queen , and rebels to their God . ( Hear . )

      Mr Madbice O'CwraEn denied that the Irish Repealers had taken any part in the demonstration that had taken place on Kennington Common . Sir R . H . Inqli 3 believed that such an exposure as had . n 0 W been made , not only of B

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      exaggeration ox the numbers , but of the ch&raoter of the parties signing the petition would at once convince the Legislature how little faith it CJuld place ia such a petition . ( Hear , hear . ) It was clear , from all that had beea [ stated , that the petition of which so much had been said , was Lot worth tho paper or whiob , it was written . ( Hear . ) He thought those who had so grossly exaggerated their statements with respect ; to the petitioa were the greatest enemies of tho right of petitioning . ( Hear . ) He should not move any resolution on the Bubjeot , but he would submit whether , aBa meana of ensuring

      the value of petitions some plans should not be adopted similar to that which existed Borne years ago , of adding to the names , the residences and occupation of those * aigning the petition . ( Griea of' Hear . ' ) He trusted that the government would state , either to-night or to-morrow , what course they intended to adopt , in order to put a stop to suoh demonstrations as they were threatened with on Monday last —( hear i hear )—in order that they might not occur again , and he hoped also thai ministers would do something for those who had ao spontaneously come forward in support of tho government and tho peace of the country .

      Mr Cripps Baid , after what had fallen from the honourable gentleman the member for Nottingham , and tha ' reflections he had oast on the committee , he felt it to he his duty to get up and confirm what had already been stated by his honourable friend opposite . ( Hear , hear . ) When the honourable gentleman made tbeandaeious statement that this petition wafj signed by 5 , 706 , 000 persons —( derisive oheers)—hewenfcfrom his place to examine the petition and compareit with the population returns . ( Hear , hear . ) He was not . aware then that it was signed by women , but he had since ascertained that out of every 10 000 signatures that were attached to tbe petition 8 , 200 were those of women . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He did not wish to thrown obloquy and ridicule upon the petition itself , but ; he did wish to ridicule , and cast obloquy and derision upon the hon . gentleman who had made these monster statements . ( Cheers . ) Mr O'OonkOR roue to order .

      The Spbakbr said , if the hon . gentleman wished to make any explanation npon his personal conduct , he mast wait till the hon . gentleman in possession of the chair had resumed his seat . ( Cheers . ) Mr Cripps proceeded to remark that the statements of the hon . member were unworthy oi credence , and he hoped the poor people whom he had bo ahamefully deluded would now see , in its proper lieht , the character of the man they had dealt with . ( Hear , hear . ) Were these things to be tolerated while parties who he could not say were immediately connected with the hon . gentleman —( cheers )—but who availed themselves of the opportunities he placed in their way to ruin honest tradesmen at such places

      as Camberwell . ( Loud cheers . ) This petition teemed with wickedness and obscenity , and there were words affixed to it that the lowest strumpet in the streets would be ashamed of . ( Hear . ) Upon one of the sheets were written the word ' we could get paid for no more , ' and had he been aware of tbe nature ef the signatures that were attached to it , be would have objected to the petition being received at the time it was presented . Whaft is it to get 5 , 000 . 000 petitioners' names ? They could get any number , definite or indefinite , if they chose to adopt such a course . He hoped the house would sot cast such a censure upon the Committee of Petitions as to appoint another Committee to inquire into the subject .

      Mr F . O'Cohnob said : Sir , I have threa distinct duties to perform—one to the house , one to tho Petition Committee , and one to myself . To the first , I reply , that it would be impossible for me , or for any ether man , to be answerable for every signature to so voluminous a petition ; that I have palmed no falsehood npon the house * nor do I believe tho assertions of tke hon . member for Cirencester ; to the Committee I reply , that I never once charged them with any attempt to practice a deception , but that I did Btate the impossibility of the number of clerks , Baid to be employed , counting the signatures within tbe time specified . I have now , Bir , without being under the influence of that excitement under which the hon . member laboured , discharged my duty to the house and to the Committee . Mr O'Connor then left the house .

      Mr Abel Smith said that he was present on Ken nington Common en Monday , from first to laat , and " he could state most positively that never was theru at any time within the common more than fifteen thousand pereorm . The whole area of the common could not possibly contain more than ninety thousand persona ; y « t the honourable member for Nottingham had himself stated in the house tkat there was not leaB than half a million persons present . Colonel Sibihorf said that as it had been said that his name wss attached to the monstrous petition , he begged most emphatically to deny that he had ever signed the petition , or consented to have his same placed there . He would not so for have disgraced his family by acting in suoh a manner .

      Mr Humb thought that the hon . memberfor Cirencester had taken a very improper course in the remarks he had tnado on the subject of the petition . Rethought that the dignity of the house would have been much better preserved if notioe had been given of bringing the subject properly before the house . He expressed his deep regret that any honourable member , should have made use of anything like irritating language . He believed that it was the rule of the house that every honourable member should be responsible for the petitions which he might present , and that every party who attempted to impose in such a manner upon the house ought to be punished .

      Mr R . TorKb differed from the honourable member for Montrose . He thought the cause of truth waa under great obligation to the member for Cirencester . ( Hear , hear . ) It was true he had used strong language , but he thought he was justified in doing so . ( Hear , hear . ) He had made statements with respect to the honourable member for Nottingham , which he had ot course denied . Lord CASTtERfiAOH rose to order ; he thought that assertion ought not to be made with respeot to the statements of honourable members , when they were not present . There might be many persons who had a different notion of honour to himself in thathousa . but be should think himself unworthy of a seat in it it' he brought charges and made statements against an hon . member when he was not present .

      Mr R . YonxK said that the honourable memberfor Nottingham ' s absence was his own fault . ( Hear , hear . ) He had asserted , and he would assert again , that the statement made by the hon . member for Cireneester was correct . ( Hear . ) Mr B . CocHRiNK wished to know from the noble lord at the head of the government whether he thought , after the diacussipn that had taken plane that evening , it would be right or just to waste the whole of the evening to-morrow in discussing the question of the Charter . ( Hear . ) Lord J . Russell observed , that having stated some days ago that it would bo impossible to give Monday up for the consideration of the Chartist petition , and having proposed that its consideration should be proceeded with on Friday , he certainly could not consider himself at liberty to depart from that arrangement . ( Hear . )

      Mr C . LosniHGTON observed that the hon . member for Nottingham had stated that he had two points to explain , oue of which he had explained there , and the other he said lie should explain in another place . ( Hear . ) Now , his doubt wa * , whether the hon . member , in his explanation in another place , would not put a wrong construction upon what had taken place in that house that night . HrDisHABLt thought It would be exceedingly ridlcaloui it they had , as appeared likely to be the case , a more serious meetJnc in tbat house than had taken

      place on Keemtngten Common . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought that if the hoa . gentleman made a statement grouly Incorrect , and calculated to do mtsohief , it was tbe duty of hon , gentlemen to briny it under tbe connideratien of the house calmly and deliberately . ( Hear . ) Tho hon . member for Cirencester was entitled to praiso for the seal he had displayed in affoiding tho house information upon the subject of this petition , bnt still he had indulged in oxceedlag warm and unusaal language , and he therefore trusted the Speaker would Interpose his authority to prevent tho occurrence of unpleasant ereaU . ( Hear , hear , )

      8 ir Q . Obey would be sorry , because it would be ridlculous , if this debate led to a personal conflict between tho two ton , members , but really ho had benrd nothing to lend him to that conclusion , escept It was that the hon- member far CirenceBter had Bpoken with a good deal of warmth . ( Hear . ) Mr . R . F 4 LHER diitiuctly hoard the hoat member for Nottingham state that there were three things for him to . explain , two of which bo should take notice of there , and tbe other be should leave for another place . ( Hear . ) Lord J . RoasELii Baid , under these circumstances ho should more that the honi member for Nottingham W » taken into custody forthwith . Tbe Spsakeh in calling upon the hon . member for Cirencegter to give him an assurance that he would sot report to ulterior measures la thin matter , took occasion to point out the absolute necessity of hon . membars being guarded in the statements they made to the house , particularly no far asifL-ktid to tholr accuracy . ( Hear , boar . ) Mr Cbipps would readily give tho required assurance , but at the same time he begged to be understood tbat be was sincere iu what he stated ,

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      j ™ After & few wordo from Lord Cabtlebreaqh , Sir De LAcr Evans Bald , tbat he did not in tbe Ions ! degree feel surprised at the feelings of the hoa . member , who was a meiabar of th 6 committee . Bui he truated tbat the hoa . member would at onoa get up In his place , and regret that ho bad UBed laDguage which had given offanoo te any hon , member , Mr Cbipps salJ , thai be certainly deeply regretted having mads use of any language which wight be con-BldereS unparliamentary . The CfBiHCEtiioa of the Excheqoee suggested that some restraint should be put upon the hon , memjb € r for OireatieDter , in order to prevent his leaving the Jlbueo in bis present excited state . ' Tbe motion was then agreed to , tout Mr [ F . O'Connor bo requested to attend ia nig place forth with .

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      SECURITY OF THE CROWN . A . BILL FOR THE BETTER SECURITY OF THE CROWN AND GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM . . [ Note . —The words printed in italics are proposed to bo inserted in the Committee . ) Whereas by an act of the parliament of Great Britain passed in the thirty-sixth year of the reign of hia 1 st ? majesty King George III ., intituled , 'An Aotforthe Safety and Preservation of hia Majesty ' s Person And : Government against treasonable and seditions Praoticea and Attempts , it was among other things enacted , 'That if any person ov persons whatsoever , after the dsToftheparainff bfthst rici , during the natural life of his eaid Majesty , and until the end of the next session of Parliament after the demise of the Crown , should , within the realm

      or without , compass , imagine , invent , devise , or intend death or destruction , or any bodily harm tending to death or destruction , maim or wounding , imprisonment or restraint of the person of his said Majesty , his heirs or successors , or to deprive or depose him or them from the style , honour , or kingly name of the Imperial Crown of this realm , or of any other of his said Majesty ' s dominions or countries , or to levy war sgainBt hia said Majesty , his heira and successors , within this realm , in order by force or constraint to compel him or them to change his or their measures or councils , or in order to put any force or constraint upon , or to intimidate or overawe both houses or either House of Parliament , er to

      more or stir any foreigner or stranger with force to invade this realm or any other of his said Majesty ' s dominions or countries under the obeisance of hia said Majesty , his heirs and successors , and such compaesings , imaginations , inventions , devices , or intentions or any of them ahould express , utter or declare , by publishing an ; printing or writing , or by any overt act or deed , being legally oonvicted thereof , upon tho oaths oi two lawful and credible witnesses upon trial or otherwise convicted or attained by due course of law , then every such person or persons bo as aforesaid offending should be deemed , declared , and adjudged" to bo a traitor and traitors , andj should suffer pains of death , and also lose and forfeit as in cases of high treason .

      And whereas by an Act of Parliament past in the 67 th year of the same reign , intituled , ' An act to make perpetual certain parts of an act of the 36 th year of »'» s present Majesty ' s person and government against treasonable and seditious practices and attempts , and for the safety and preservation of the person of his Royal Highness the Prince Regent against treasonable practices and attempts , ' all the hereinbeforerecited provisions of the said act of the 36 th year of his said Majesty ' s reign which relate to tha heira and successors of his Baid Majesty , the sovereign of these realms , were made perpetual . And whereas doubts are entertained whether the provisions so-made perpetual were by the last-recited act extended to Ireland ,

      And whereas it is expedient to repeal all such provisions made perpetual by the last-recited act , as do not relate to offenceB against the person of the severeign , and to enact other provisions instead thereof , applicable to all parts of the United kingdom , and to extend to Ireland such of the provisions of the said acts as are not hereby repealed . Be it therefore enacted , by the Queen ' s most Excellent Majesty , by and with the advice and consentoi the Lords spiritual and temporal , and Commons , in this present parliament assembled , and by the authority of the same , that from and after the

      pasting of this act , the provisions of tho said aot of the 36 th year of tbe reign of King George III ., made perpetual by the said act of the 57 th year of the same reign , save such of the same as relate to the com . passing , imagining , inventing , devising , or intending deatb or destruction , or any bodily barm tending to death or destruction , maim er wounding , imprisonment or restraint , of the person of the heirs and Bucceaorsof nissaid Majesty King George III ., and the expressing , uttering , or declaring of such cornpassings , imaginations , inventions , devices , or intentions , or any of them , shall be and the same are hereby repealed .

      And he it declared and enacted , That such of the said recited provisions made perpetual by the said act of the 57 th year of the reign of King George the Third aa are not hereby repealed , shall extend to and be in force in that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland . And be it enacted , That if any person or persons whatsoever after tbe day of the passing of this act shall , within the realm or without , compass , imagine , invent , devise , or intend to deprive or depose our most gracious lady the Queen , her heirs and successors , from the style , honour , or royal name of the Imperial Cvown of this realm , or of any otherof her Majesty ' a dominions and countries , or to levy war against ber Majesty , her heirs and successors , within any part of tho United Kingdom , in order by force or

      constraint to compel her or them to change her oi their measures or counsels , or in order to put any force or constraint upon , or to intimidate or overawe both houBes , or either bouse of Parliament , or to move or stir any f 6 reigner or stranger with force to invadethe United Kingdom , oranyotherher Majesty ' s dominions or countries under the obeisance of her Majesty , her heirs and successors , and such coinpassings , imaginations , invention ? , devices or intentions , or any of them , shall express , ntter , or declare , by publishing any printing or writing , or by open and advised speaking , or by any overt act or deed , shall be deemed guilty of felony , and every person so offending , being convicted thereof , shall be liable , at the discretion of the court , to be transported beyond the seas for the term of bia or her natural life , or for any term not less than seven years .

      And be it provided and eaacted , That nothing herein contained shall lessen the force of , or in any manner affect anything enacted by the statute passed in tbe 25 th year of King Edward the Third , Intituled 'A Declaration which Offences shall be adjudged Treason . ' Provided aho , and be it enacted , That if the fact ? or matters alleged in an indictment fer any felony under this act shall amount in law to treason , such indictment shall not by reason thereof be deemed void , erroneous , or defective , and if the facts or mat ters proved on the trial of any person indicted foi felony under this act shall amount in law to treason such person shall not by reason thereof be entitled to be acqtucted of such felony ; but no person tried foi such telony shall bo afterwards proBecuted for treason upon the snme facts .

      And be it enacted , That in the case of every felony punishable under this act , every principal in the second degree , and every accessory before the fact , shall be punishable in the same manner as tho principal ii . the first degree is bv this act punishable ; and ever } accessory after the fact to any suoh felony , shall on conviction be liable to be imprisoned , with or without hard labonr , for any term not exceeding two yeara . And de it enacted , That this aot may be repealed or amended during the present seBBion of Parliament

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      HoLsaooic Moor , Derbyshire . —A camp meet , ing was held , at which Mr George Harrison delivered an address to 4 , 000 people there assembled On Monday , the 10 th , a meeting by adjournment was held in Belper Market-place , at which Mi Harrison addressed the middle and working classes on the present and future prospect of the people , to an audience of from 3 , 000 to 4 , 000 people , at which resolutions in support of the Convention were adopted . :. Oidham . —On Sunday ( to morrow ) , Mr George Archdeacon , an Irish Confederate , will lecture iu thi Working Man ' s Hall . Subject : 'The best meam of obtaining political freedom for tbe people of botli England and Ireland , '

      HEiwooD . ~ AdiBtrictdeIegate meeting will betheld in the Chartist room , Hartley-street , on Sundaj to-morrow ) , at eleven o ' clock , a m . when the following localities are requested to send delegates;—Bury , Bacup , Iloa 8 ( . ndale , Rochdale , and Radcliffe . m Leicester . —There have been Bplendid and enthu Biastio meetings in this town , in ouppert of the Charter and the Convention . NrnvcAfcTLE-upow-TYHS . —A district delegate meeting of the National Charter Association will be held on Sunday , April 16 th , at the Patent Slip Hope Jarrow , at two o clock in tho afternoon . N . B . —Tht secretary bogs to apologise for the error inltw . '< week ' s Star , on the above matter , but begs tostau that he cannot properly account how the error occurred . . ¦

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      MR TATTERSALL . Sunday , Manchester ; Monday , Bury ; Wednesday , Rochdale ; Thursday , Burnley ; Friday Blackburn , MR 8 HAW . Sunday , Leeds j Monday , Bradford ; Wednesday , Barnsley ; Thursday , Wakefield ; Friday Skircoat Moor , near Halifax . MESSRS EDMUND JONES AND SMITH . Sunday , Birmingham j Monday , Bristol ; Tuesday , " jMerthyr ; Wednesday , Swansea ; Friday , Liverpool . MESSRS WILD AND BOLWELL . Monday , Cheltenham ; Tuesday Bath ; Wednesday , Exeter ; Thursday , Plymouth J Friday , Totness .

      MESSRS DONOVAN AND DIXON . Monday , Norwich ; Tuesday , Ipswich ; Wednesday , Bury ; Thursday , Colchester ; Friday , Braintree .

      MESSRS WEST AND LINN EY , Sunday , Stockport , Mr West ; Sundays Bilston , Mr Linney ; Monday , Macclesfield ; Tuesday , Northampton ; Wednesday , Lei ? cester ; Thursday , Nottingham ; Friday , Birmingham . ERNEST JONES , DR HUNTER , JAMES ADAMS . Monday , Aberdeen ; Tuesday , Dundee ; Wednesday , Edinburgh ; Thursday , Glasgow ; Friday , Paisley ; Saturday , Greenock . MESSRS MARSDEN AND BUCKBY .

      Monday , Jvevfcastle-upon-Tyne ; Tuesday , Soutk Shields / Wednesday , North Shields ; Thursday , Sunderland ; Friday , Newcastleupon-Tyne .

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      ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY . The following are the places at which elections are to take place for Members of the National Assembly . Particulars will be forwarded to each of the Secretaries , in the places named , as to the mode of election , and the extent of the District for which each of the places above-named is to be" the _ pkce , of election .

      ENGLAND . No . of Counties . DelegatoB . Places of El ' . ctioc . Berks 1—Reading . Cheshire 3-Sto . ckporfc , Macclepfield , Hjde . Derbyshire 1—Derby . Cornwall 1—Truro . Cumberland 1—Carlisle * Devon 3—Exeter , TotnesSj Plymouth . Durham . 3—Durham , North and Seutb , Shields , Sutherland , and Bishops wearmouth . Essex 1—Colchester . ' Gloucester 2—GloncesSer , CheltenbrfSat Kent 2—Maidstone , Brighton . Lancaster 12—Manchester , 2 ; Salford 1 ;

      Asaton , 1 ; Rochdale , 1 ; Warrington , 1 ; Preston , 1 ; BoltoBi 15 Bury , 1 ; Blackburn , 1 : Li-Terpool , 2 . Lincoln 1—Ilotncastle . Leicester 2—Leicester . Middlesex 8-London . Monmouth 1—Newport . Norfelk 1—Ljnn . Northampton 2—Northampton , Peterborough . Northumberland 1—Newcaatle-upon-Tyne . Nottingham 3—Nottingham , 2 ; Mansfield , 1 . Oxford 2—Oxfordj Banbury . Southampton 3—Isle of Wight , Southampton

      Portsmouth . Stafford 3—Hanley , 2 ; Dudley . Suffolk 1—Ipswich . Warwick 4—Coventry , 1 ; Warwick . 1 ; Sir * mingham , 2 . Westmoreland 1—Kendal . Wilta 2—Devizes , Swfndon . Worcester 3—Worcester , Kidderminster , Stourbridge . Yorkshire 10—Leeds , 2 ; Sheffield , 2 ; Bradford , 1 ; Halifax , 1 ; Hull , 1 j Hudderafield , 1 ; Kei / vhley . 1 BsruBley , 1 . Merthyr Tydvil 1-SCOTLAND . Edinburgh and Leifch , 2 . Aberdeen , 1 . Arbroath , Forfar , Montrose , ( bo ., 1 , DunfermJine—Fifeshiie , 1 . Dundee , Cupar Angus , &o ., 1 . Falkirk , Stirling , Tillicoultry , Alva , Ac , 1 , Glasgow , 2 . Paisley , 1 , Greenock , 2 . Dumfries , and Surrounding Towns , 1 . Perth , Crieff , and AuchterBrder , 1 . IRELAND-8 .

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      Geeenock . —A public meeting was held on Monday evening in the ' Mechanics' Hall , to ' protest against the tyrannical and outrageous course pursued by her Majesty ' s Ministers in their attempt by proclamation to prevent the free exercise of public meeting and procession in London on the presentation of the National Petition . ' Mr . John Neilson , on taking tbe chair said , no interruption had ever before been offered in presenting a petition to the House of Commons ; it was interfering with their rights ; but it was perfectly certain , as Feargus O'Connor said in the House of Commons , that although they should shoot him , it would not

      prevent the Charter being made the law of the land ; ( Great applause . ) A bill had been brought into the House of Commons to prevent their meetings ; and it now seemed a crime worthy of death to speak of anything like the Charter . Mr . George Miller moved the first resolution , expressive of their indignation at and contempt of the conduct of the government , in attempting to suppress the free declaration of public opinion : their undoubted right of meeting and walking in procession ; and their conviction that this was an unconstitutional aggression on their right , as it had never hitherto been acted on . Mr . John Harris seconded , and Mr . Burrell supported the resolution . Mr . Peacock moved that the

      meeting express their entire approval of the policy pursued by the Convention since its sittings commenced , and their earnest desire that the same course might be continued ; also that they pledge themselves to render all the support in their power for the consummation of their long desired object — the People ' s Charter . Mr . George Deanston seconded the motion , which was supported by Mr . Alexander M'Phedran and carried unanimously . Three cheers were then given for Feargus O'Connor , the chairman , &c , and the meeting broke up . The liaU was quite crowded , and the proceedings were conducted in a very orderly wav . — Greenock paper .

      Paisley . —A most important meeting of the electors of this town took place on Tuesday last . The committee that got up the meeting consisted o £ the magistrates and members of the town council , with other electors . They brought forward a resolution approving of an extension of the suffrage . Mr M'Ghee thought it was not definite enough ; however , they agreed to put tbe resolution to the meeting , and it was unanimously carried . They then considered how far the Suffrage should be

      extended . The Charter was moved by Mr M'Ghee ; Mr Brown moved an amendment for Universal Suffrage ; on the vote being put tbe motion was almost unanimously carried . A petition is to be sent to Mr Hastie for presentation , signed by the provost in the name of tbe meeting . Provost Murray , Baillie Coats , and Nairn , MrSterret , J . P ., Mr Galloway , J . P ., were present ; so you will observe that the Charter is all but carried in this place .

      Bilston . —Large meetings have been held here ia support of the National Convention . Hull . —A splendid meeting was held in the Temperance Hall on Tuesday evening . Resolutions in support of the Convention and denouncing Sic G . Grey ' s gagging bill were unanimously carried . Worcester . —Large and enthusiastic meetings have been held every nig ht , to hear the news from London , and in support of the Convention .

      Rochdale . — A public meeting was held in this place on Alonday evening . Mr Thomas Livsey was unanimously called to the chair , and delivered an interesting address , which was loudly applauded . Mr Mitchell proposed the first resolution in favour of the Charter , seconded by Mr Doyle , a Confederate , -snd earned unanimously , Mr Melbourn proposed die second resolution , seconded by Mr Foulds , in favour of mem . orialisitji he Queeni the event of the petition being k d .

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      Nottikgham—The next meeting of the Land members will beheld at the Artichoke Inn , High Cros 3-8 treet , on SnBday evenine , at seven o'clock . Nottingham . —A Frea and Easy will be held on Saturday evening , at seven o ' clock , at the Dove and Rainbow , Parliament-street . The Wallicz Brigade . —A meeting will be held at the Charter Coffee-honse , Strutton-ground , at eight o ' clock on Monday night . Troktill , Bgtierlet . —A meeting of this branch will be holden at Mr Willgooae ' s , Swanwick , on Sunday , the 16 th , at six o ' clock , on business of great importance . Halifax . —Mr B . Rushton will preach in the Working Man ' s Hall , on Sunday , April I 6 th , at tix o ' clock in the evening .

      Halifax . —A district camp meeting will be held od Swilline 'fop Hill , near Brad « haw-lane , on Sunday , April 16 th , at one o ' clock in the afteraeon . Delegates from all parts of the district are requested to meet in the Association Room , Bradshaw-lane , at eleven o ' clock In ihe forenoon , when business of great importance will be brought before the dele-( rates . N . B . —Speakers from Bradford , Keighley , Halifax , and other places , are expected to address the camp meotiDg . A Meeiiko of the committee for the Frost Demon Btration at Westminster Temperance Hall , wil take place on Wednesday evening , at eight o ' clock , at the Bee Hire , Castle Lane , Pimlico , for a settlement of accounts with Mr Wheeler .

      Sheffield —A magnificent Chartist camp meeting will be held on Attercliffe Common , on Sunday , April IGih , at two o ' clock in the afternoon . The Chartists of the undsrmentioned places are requested to attend : —Sheffield , Attercliffe , Rotherham , Masbro , Darnall , Greasbro , Eclesfield , Woodhougs . Thorpe , iielsley , and Sac&wortb ,

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      ROUTE OF THE MISSIONARIES APPOINTED TO AGITATE THE KINGDOM PREVIOUSLY TO THE MEETING OF THE " NATIONAL ASSEMBLY . "

      Arrest Of Feargus O'Connor.

      ARREST OF FEARGUS O'CONNOR .

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      VOL- XL No 547- LONDO ?! , SATURDAY , ' APRIL 15 , 1848 . TM jgTJgSSA , * -

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 15, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1466/page/1/