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Northern Star (1837-1852), 7th April 1849, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, tEfiaititft BUcUirjcme

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    • TO THE OLD GUARDS.
    • j&Attonal lUira gromp&ng.
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      Untitled Article

      Mx Deab , mt Old , asi > Honoubed Com-M SIOXS , —Ihave received very many letters xom Lancashire and Yorkshire from Dudley and Tei gnmouiih , and many other towns in England , and from many parts of Scotland and Wales—all kindly and generously expressing unabated confidence in me , and the "warmest thanks for my advocacy of their cause , telling me that they never ¦ will place confidence in any other leader , and telling me that I shall not resign my commission with their consent ; and in reply to one and all , I answer , that I Trill hold the helm ; and , then * confidence being so warmly expressed , that I will , after Easter , in spite of the Gagging Bill , tevive , in person , an agitation for the

      LA 2 JD AND THE CHARTER . And then I -will show the revilers that I have neither lost my energy nor abated one particle of my enthusiasm . And , to tell yon lie truth , I pant for the revival of the much-reviled animal . I cannot conclude this letter -without submitting to you one that I have received from Bolton ; and , in troth , the perusal ¦ will repay yon , as it is a strong illustration of my oft-repeated assertion , that I have received abuse in the exact proportion in which I have conferred alms—the largest recipients invariably being my greatest revilers . Here follows the letter : — Bolton , April lit . 1849 .

      Most Respected Pbidto of the People , —I haTe no detire to give you any unnecessary trouble by writing thifc letter , but I coander It my duty to let you know what the * iper , Cooper ( the poet ) ha « been saying here . We have had him talking in the Town Hall two nights , about some infamous men that lived 200 jears ago , and when heretired to the Temperance Hotel , he mint needs hare a fling at Mr . O'Connor , I will tell you jusc what he said : "That ie ( Cooper } . waenotin ferour of the Land plan , and did not believe Mr . O'Connor to be sincere in carrying it outthat O'Connor only started that Land plan to recruit his exhausted mean * for carrying on the Star , and that he

      ( Cooper ) never bandied any of O'Connor ' s money . " This may be true , th « t he did not handle any of your money , but we know something about that duty trick . It appears that Cooper u soliciting the patronage of the Free Traders . He has eeen two rows of houses , one called Bright Terrace , the other Cobden Place ; those -teases tunwfe&titiB&il ot the blood , bone * , and sinews of the factory operatives ; and Mr . T . Cooper seems to be quite in love with ttUSCOttOn lord . I should not be surprised if he brings oat a poem in kis praise—that is if he can get some one to pay the printer . Ah , Mr . O'Connor , I could give you a true picture of this same liberal cotton lord , but youknowenough about these tyrants .

      Nineteen rotes were polled from these houses at the last election , all for Walmsley . Yours , in the cause , P . S . —I forgot to tell you Cooper ' s errand—it is the circulation of bis penny paper . He has tngaged a , man to deli var circulars all over the town . Ueu Sot , —In reading the Star hit night , I wag sorry to see a hint about your resignation , but before losing your invaluable services , I should like to know who is to fill up the vacancy . I know of no man living so well qualified for the office , and there is another consideration , it would be » more honourable way of doing business for the people to pay their debts , before they gire you the bag .

      Sib , —Sever mind the vipers ; yon have beaten all the Whigs and Tories in Europe with your Land plan , not forgetting the few Republicans that cannot see quite so far as you . Whether the base , brutal , and bloody Whigs register the plan or not , they cannot undo what is done . Spring-time is come , and they ' re all a growing . Yes , Sir , there is a power on the earth , as well as a principle , whick the things cannot destroy . I thank my Mend for the information , as to be forewarned is to be forearmed , and here is my answer . The Poet waited npon me , with his child under his arm , and told me that

      he had waited upon Dishaeu , Douglas Jerrold , Dickens , and several other literary characters , in the hope of receiving their as-Elatance to bring oat his poem . He told me that they all gave him fair words , but added , with tears in his eyes , that I was his only hope . His tears softened my heart and opened my pocket . I gave him an order npon a printer to print and find paper at my expense . He gave me a hill for £ 26 5 a ., which was dishonoured and has never yet been paid , except in unmitigated abuse .

      Tom is a most comical genius . He has been Protestant , Dissenter , and Infidel—Puritan , Saint , and Atheist—total , teetotal , abstemious , and boozy ; in fact , he is the very impersonat ion of trinit y in unity . He has 'been all things to all men , and God only knows what he may be next ; but I sincerely hope that he never will bemy Post Laureate , or ihe advocate of the Land Plan , as . in such case , I should

      Euspect myself and fear the sterility of the soil . This Poet did more to paralyse Chartism in the midland counties than any other man ; he confessed himself a physical force Chartist , bnt relapsed into moral force resistance ; and , as confession is halfway to repentance , I hope that the Eoulofthe Suicide may escape Purgatory . I remain your faithful friend , Feakgus O'Cojtcob .

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      labour to the cultivation of the soil . Within ihe last four years twenty millions of money have been expended in idleness , and in the suppression of opinion in Ireland ; just as much of your money as was lavished upon the "West Indian slave owners . Let us now see what—as regards the past , the present , _ and the future—that amount of money , if expended upon reproductive labour , would have produced . But let me first make up the amount . Over twelve millions have come from the Imperial Exchequer ; while fifty thousand soldiers , constabulary , and pensioners , together with a host of well-paid

      officials , have been required to coerce starring men into passive obedience and non-resistance . I say not a word of legal expenses , convict expenses , and feeding thousands of able unwilling idlers , in gaols and bastiles ; but if we average this force , including officers , at £ 40 a man—and we are under the mark—in the four years , the pay of these fifty thousand idlers would amount to eight millions of money , or two millions a year , which , added to the twelve millions , makes a total of twenty millions ; and now , instead of making that a Sinking Fund , or rather a Sank Fund , see the effect that its beneficial application , would have had upon Irelandj : and the nation , at

      I will not stand at the four-acre system , as we have not a population to permit of such a subdivision , but I will extend the allotments to ten acres , and hi Ireland , where labour is much cheaper , I will allow £ 20 per acre , or £ 200 for ten acres of good Land ; £ 150 for a good cottage and convenient homestead , and £ 50 aid-money , to every man thus starting . Then what would be the result ? Why just this —that , allowing £ 400 a man , and ten aeres for each , the Government might have located fifty thousand families : and receiving in the

      shape of rent six per cent , upon the outlay , they might have added one minion two hundred thousand a year to the Exchequer , instead of robbing it of twenty millions ; and upon half amillion of acres , op the fortieth part of Ireland , they might have located fifty thousand families , or a quarter of a million of people ; and those quarter of a million would have given an impetus to English trade and manufactures , and a spur to domestic labour , instead of—as now—constituting an idle convict pauper class .

      Now , then , would that not have been a more proper , just , and profitable appropriation of your money ? And can any man forget , or can any man deny the fact , that the twenty millions lavished upon the West Indian slave owners , has but tended to revolutionise our West Indian Colonies , precisely as the twenty millions expended in Ireland has destroyed aU landlord exertion , inspiring the belief and the hope that English money would become the substitute of then * negligence , indifference , and tyranny ? Peel's Plan may be sneered at by

      the visionary , and scoffed at by the interested , but it has already taken fast hold of the mind of agricultural Ireland , and will worm itself into the mind of commercial England . As John Bull , once convinced by an able statesman , in whom he has confidence , that Ireland , if properly governed , can not onl y support its own poor , and cease to be a pensioner upon the British Exchequer , Tout would also become a better customer than all our distant colonies , mill compel the immouiate adoption of those statesmanlike measures by which alone both Ireland and England can be saved .

      My friends , it will be a great jubilee when the Psel staff appointed to carry out the Peel project shall visit O'Connorville , Charterville , Lowbands , Snig'sEnd , and Bronisgrove , to receive practical information from my dupes . But so , depend upon it , it will be . Tour faithful friend , Feargus O'Connor .

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      TO THE EDITOR OF THE "NORTHERN STAR . " Sib , —Knowing that the columns of your valuable paper are open at all times for the defence of the interests of the poor man—as well as the powerful advocate of those principles which would tend to exalt and improve his condition—I have ventured to intrude upon your space , for the insertion of a case of fraud that has been practised upon the members of the Reading branch of the National Land Company , by their secretary , Ephraim Rous , -who has decamped , and left the branch minus of a great number of pounds—the exact amount it is impossible to say , as he has received at his own house a great deal of money . He has either taken the principal books

      with him , or destroyed them ; but we find already , from a return from London , that the defalcations upon the different shareholders who have not paid up , is shameful , and so flagrant , that we believe such an ingenious mode as he adopted was almost without precedent ; more particularly the transfer department . With shame be it spoken , this individual has for some length of time professed himself to be an ardent worker in the cause of human progress . We have—like other branches of the land Company—had many difficulties to encounter , and many of our members have had to make many sacrifices , and adopt many and various " modes , to enable them to become paid-up shareholders , in order , also , to forward the interests of the Company . You

      may easily imagine the dismay and confusion that is spread among our ranks . We would not have trespassed upon your \ jehrons did we not feel that an individual , in his position , taking advantage of the confidence that was folaced in him , and plundering hia fellow-workmen of 'their hard earnings—their small tributes that they had paid , in the earnest hope of being the means of carrying out a system that they , were watching with intense interest , as calculated to improve their condition , and elevate them in the scale of societydeserved exposure , and more particularly as it is the onl y -way we can punish him . Our branch is the first that has been defrauded by any of its officers , that we have heard of . and we trust that our position

      will act as a caution to other branches . "We believe intemperance , with its attendants , have led him to commit the fraud . We would fainly hope that our brother Chartists , andfellow-workmen , will see the necessity ^ endeavouring to bring the weight of their united influence upon society , in 8 uch a manner as to show their good sense , and integrity , and honesty of purpose . With such propr iety of conduct , and a firm advocacy of their principles , they cannot long fail to obtain such a redress of national wrong , and a speedy enactment of such laws a 3 would enahlo every honest man to live by the sweat of his own brow , and become a useful member of society , as well as an ornament to a civilised nation , instead of being steened in degrading habits , which can only serve to

      perpetuate the present system , which is the earnest wish of our oppressors . I hope you will not think we have occupied too much space in your valuable journal upon this occasion , and we also indulge ourselves ia the hope , that should this individual make his appearance in any town amongst the members of the Land Company , he may meet that castigation which he so richly deserves and justly merits . In conclusion , we trust , we shall be enabled to rally our forces together again , under the standard of Chartism , and lead on , ultimately , till we conquer , notwithstanding some impediments and obstructions may be thrown in our way . On behalf of the members of the Reading branch of the National Land Company , H . Ellis , Sec . pro . tern .

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      Severe '' Aggbavahos op Agricultcrai , Distress . —We have heard of a young lady living not a hundred miles from Truro , and exceedingly well disposed to the agricultural interest , who has declined to accept an offer from a farmer until there shall be a better price for wheat th * n at present . She positively will not marry while wheat is below 50 s . a quarter . —Flymouti , Paper . . . . Hong is » Chinese name for the large factories at Canton , where each nation has a separate hong , - hence the appellation of * ' Hong merchants . "

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      The Executive Committee met at their rooms , 144 , High Holborn , on Friday evening , March 30 th ; present , Messrs . Grassby , Stallwood , Clark , and Dixon . Mr . Clark in the chair . Mr . Dixon reported that Mr . O'Connor waB desirous that the Executive Committee should form such a notice aB they would like him to submit to Parliament on the " People ' s Charter ; " and call on him with it . Messrs . M . ' Grath and Clark , were appointed a sub-committee for that purpose . —Messrs . Kemplay and Pike attended from Bermondsey , and informed the Executive that they hoped to get up a lame meeting very

      shortly in Bermondsey , in favour of the Chartist petition . The wish of the metropolitan delegate council having been submitted to the Executive , relative to the non-delivery of lectures in publichouses , it was resolved unanimously , " That the understanding be set aside , and that each member of the Executive be at liberty to use his own discretion in the matter . "—The assistant-secretary was instructed to . draw up and publish through the Northern Star , in the name of the Executive Committee , a short . Address , appealing for funds to enable them to carry out , with effect , the Chartist movement ; after which , the committee adjourned until Friday evening , 13 th April .

      NatVonai , Registration and Election Committee . —This body met at the Two Chairmen , Wardourstreet , Soho , on Monday evening . Mr . Black in the chair . It was resolved , on the motion of Messrs . Stallwood and Arnott , " That a Hand-Book and Guide to Registration and Elections be published , at twopence each copy . " —On the motion of Messrs . Shute and Godwin , " That Messrs . Grassby and Stallwood be a sub-committee for compiling auch work . " - —On the motion of Messrs . Stallwood and Grassby , " That the various Chartist localities throughout the United Kingdom be requested to aid in its circulation , and the consequent registration of Chartists as electors . "—On the motion of Messrs . Grassby and Shute it was resolved , " That active steps be taken in the matter of registration in the borough of Lambeth , with a view to returninff a working man , in coniunction with Mr . Charles

      Pearson , at the next election , "—On the motion of Messrs . Stallwood and Arnott it was resolved , " That the secretary put himself in immediate Correspondence with his brother electors of Lambeth , with a view to elicit their support in the good work . " Westminster . —According to adjournment , the members of the Westminster locality of the National Charter Association met last Sunday evening at their room , but in consequence of a notice in the Star of Saturday , irom Mr . T . Clark , that he could not lecture to such small audiences , we resolved , though very reluctantly , to meet for the future at the Two Chairmen , Wardour-street , Soho , at halfpast eight , on the evening of Tuesday in each week . It is hoped thai the subscribers towards getting a Hall will attend , also the members of the Laud Company .

      Merthtr Tidvil . —At a meeting of the Chartist and- Land members held in ( heir room , back of Wellington-street , on Monday evening last , the following resolution was unanimously adopted : — " That we , the Chartist and Land members resident in this town , express our unbounded confidence in the honesty and integrity of P . O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., and we earnestly and humbly implore him not to give up the holm of the old political ship till she is safe in harbour , as we have no confidence in any other captain with equal and persevering courage to stand the tempest ; we have been so often deceived by so many persons professing great liberality . _ _

      Crippi . kgate . «—Mr . Britcsk delivered an able address on the " Bearing of Relig ion on Political Rights , the evils of a State Church , that great barrier to progress , " at the Assembly Rooms , 28 , Golden-lane , on Sunday evening last . The room was numerously and respectably attended . The lecturer elicited the warmest plaudits of his auditory . We understand that the Assembly Room is open every Sunday and Tuesday evening . Metropolitan Delegate Council . —Ihis council

      met at the Executive Rooms , 144 , High Holborn , on Monday evening , April 2 . Mr . Miles in the chair . The following persons handed iu their credentials and took their seats ,. Messrs , Nicholas Kirby and Ferdinando , from Xjrown and Anchor , Waterloo Town ; Mr . Dodson , from the Commercial Hall , Philpot-street ; Mr . W . Goodman , from South London —Mr , Dixon reported that the deputation apnointed to wait on Members of Parliament , relative to the case of Dr . M'Douall , had written . to several and had obtained » personal interview with _ the honourable member for Manchester ( Mr , John

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      Bwgl «)^ W > promised clo all in . his power to aid tnemajrbjecfc . i-RenoEts were delivered in from the several localities on the state of Chartism in the Metropolis , and the arrangements in progress for holding great public meetings in the City , Tower Hamlets , and Finsbury , shortly after Easter . The several reports were greeted with most hearty applause .-lhe following are the Objects and Rules adopted by the " Metropolitan Delegate Council : " OBJECTS . " That the objects of the Council shall be the furtherance of Parliamentary ' Reform , founded on the principles of the People ' s Charter , by means of a good org&nwataon of all its members , by petitions toparJWMenfc by puWic meetings and lectures , by the diffusion of sound information , by means of the registration courts , and every other means that tha laws of the realm may permit , and wisdom and discretion shall justify , "

      \ nt £ , Counci 1 insist of tvro members from each Chartist locality within the Metropolis and its suburbs , and such of the . Executive Committee residing within the same limits . " " kach delegate shall be elected for six months , but shall be at liberty to resign his office at any timo he may think fit . " .. . .. ' ' " That its members meet for despatch of business at least one evening in the week ; the chair at such meetings to be taken at eight o'clock precisely . " " That a secretary and treasurer be appointed by the eouncil at the first meeting after election . " " TJiatjJuch funds as may be required for the pur * S ^ e ^ fi tihe . council ,. shall be raised . by levy on the

      several localities , in proportion to the number of membevs in each locality , in such way as tne loca « \ ities may deem fit . " " That each delegate , on taking his seat the first time after his election , shall hand in credentials duly authenticated by the secretary of the locality of which he is the representative . " " That on the written requisition of three members , the secretary shall at any time call a special meeting of the council . " " That in the event of any delegate neglecting to attend the council for more than two consecuti ve meetings , the secretary snail communicate such fact to the locality from which the negligent member is sent . "

      " That the secretary keep a register of the names and addresses 6 f the members of the council . " " That at the first meeting in each month , each delegate shall deliver to the council an account of the state and prospects of his locality . " " That two auditors be appointed to audii the accOttnts of the council every quarter . " " That a balanc&sheet be published once in every six months . " Charles Utiing , Treasurer " . Alfred Fennbll , Secretary . Halifax . — On Sunday evening , Mr . Rushton lectured in the Working Man ' s Hall . Previous to the lecture , Mr . O'Connor ' s letter in the Star was read , and also Mr . Cooper ' s fourth letter to the young men of the working classes . Mr . Clissett gave his second lecture on " Competition and Cooperation , " on Monday evening , and gave notice at the conclusion , that his third lecture would be deferred to that day fortnight , owing to Monday next being Easter *

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      Charterville . —The election for parochial officers came off in the parish church of Minster Lovel on Friday , March the 30 th , when the following amicable arrangement was come to between the allottees of Chiirtorville , and the other residents of the parish of Minster Love ] . Mr . Hudson of Minster Mill , and Mr . J . T . Gimblett , of Mitchel-place , Charterville , were elected surveyors of highways for the year ensuingpmd the following four persons were nominated from which the magistrates will select two as overseers for the year ensuing . Mr . Clinch , banker and farmer , and Messrs . Beattie , Pickersgill , and GatharJj allottees of Charterville . Our fair friends here are busy preparing for their Easter festivities , and their tea , concert , and ball , bids well

      to be a , brilliant affair . MOSSIEY . —A meeting 6 f the Lan& Company was held on Sunday last , when it was resolved that the members who " cannot make their payment before tho 1 st July next , or show to the committee their reasons for not doing so , shall be struck from the books and forfeit the monies paid by them to the Company . " 4 ft ** hat'atHne members be requested to attend the next monthly meeting , at their meeting room , Baguley , on the hrst Sunday in May , at two o ' clock . Whittinotox and Cat Branch . —At the quarterly meeting of members of the Whittington and Cat branch of the National Land Company the books of the last quarter NVerc audited , and officers appointed for the ensuisg quarter . It was resolved that the weekly meetings be held on Sunday evenings for the future .

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      wm THE PETITION FOR THE CHARTER . IO MB EDIIOR OP THE JfOBXHBRN STAR , My Dbab Sir—The Executive Council recently resolved to call on the country to petition Parliament for the enactment of the People ' s Charter . The resolution has met with general—although I cannot say hearty—approval . To petition parliament seems to me to be a proper step ; but it » efficiency must rest chiefly with the manner in which the request is responded to . " Whatever ia worth doing , ia worth doing well , " was a maxim of Edmund Burke . It would be well for all of us that we would remember and practise it . Tho Chartist movement has suffered much from a union of causes . It has often relapsed , and excitement has subsided : it has . however , never quite

      lost its vitality—in honest truth , it never can , Lven now it stands out in characteristic relief from all other movements . Suffrage associations out of number have been established , but they have never taken deep root either among the working or middle classes of English society , xhe reason js obvious . Chartism , despised and rejected as it has been by many , has still remained true to itself . It is broad , comprehensive , and generousin its sympathies , and whether its opponents know it or not , the mind of England is drawing towards it . The youth and intelligence of this land are democratic . In the Church and out of the Church , there are sign of progression . What means all this cry about popular education , which I so much rejoice to hear ? It is an

      indication of remote and still powerful causes , showing that popular intelligence is paring the way for popular government . Power is fast passing out of the hands of the few , to be vested in tne hands of the many . No government , no barrier can effectually stop this progress . We may have motions And counter-motions in the ParUaTOCBt—Bisraeli against Cobden—Peel lording it over Lord John . The very difficulties of the state will force aristocratic domination into subjection , and whether the result be profitable or profitless , the trial must be made ; the problem of—Can the many govern wisely and well ? will be solved at no distant day . The time of the solution rests in a principal degree with the people themselves . Therefore it is that I call on my

      fellow-countrymen to take up this question of petitioning in good earnest . Some of you may say , " We are weary of petitioning , " Perhaps you may : but is it wisdom to refuse to apply the power you havo , because you have not a more active and efficient means at command ? Truly , no ; common sense and experience dictate a different course . The battle of the people against the privileged orders must be fought out , and every available and honourable means must be used ou the side of the oppressed . Petitioning is a practicable means within our reach . The Whigs , who have been guilty of many base deeds , have always affected to look on petitioning as a sacred constitutional ri ght of the people . Let the people , then , use this richt . Such a rifftvt efficiently

      and energetically used , will ensure a discussion on the Charter in the House of Commons , a report of which will find its way into the columns of the newspaper press , and cause a general discussion throughout the country on the suffrage . Every discussion on the people ' s claims to political power is of interest and value . Truth and just demands gain popularity by discussion . They grow strong from the antagonism of opposition , falsehood and unjust monopoly lose from the same cause , and the re-opening of the discussion on the organic question of the suffrage , wiH ,, pro ve at this time to be of value to the popular cause . Since I visited the counties of Yorkshire and

      Lancashire , I have seen several signs of revival , The meetings I have attended have , on the whole , been rather satisfactory than otherwise . At Holmfirtb . I was honoured with the most numerous audiencei for two nights that were ever known in the hiitory of Chartism in that district , and I have good reasons for affirming that those lectures have b ^ en of value to the movement . At Oldham , on Sunday last , I lectured to a most numerous and respectable audience , and at Royton , on Monday night , to a crowded house . I do not mention my success from motives of personal vanity . I do so merely to show grOWttS . for my belief tb . at the seeda are yet fa be

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      found thai- wSl ; OM day yield an abtodan $ W $ fi Care and mahaWment , of course , are necessary ; but ' experience ^ -dear-bought experience—has taught some of us a limited share of wisdom . I am impressed with the . idea that the star of aristocratic domination has culminated , never , again to be seen towering in the zenith . An anonymous American writer of aristocratic tendencies , was recently constrained to write , in reference to England , that ' . ' Every year , move and more deference is required to the popular-will . Your present forms may continue to exist ( and I would not that they were changed ); you may still have a monarohv . and

      preserve your three estates of King , Lords , and Commons , but your government , nevertheless , is hastening to virtual democraey-r-a consummation most devoutly to be deprecated . This tendency has now , however , become inevitable . No human might can arrest it . The people never willingly surrender any power they have once obtained , and the day in which they could be dragooned into submission by physical force has passed by . The rule of opinion now stands out in bolder relief , and asserts its sway with a more commanding voice . Opinion of one sort or another , governs the world . Even when it is but a prejudice , an error , there is no power in the moral world comparable to its power . Fruitful in phantoms , it ; borrows all the colours of reality in Order to deceive . Source inexhruiKt . ihta nf annd nnii

      evil , U is through it alone that we see—by it alone that we will antfact . " Although not subscribing to all the views of the writer , and sharing none of his respect for King and Lords , there is a vein of penetrating observation pervading the whole sentiments that cannot be ovorlooked by tlie niasfc prejudiced reader . Democracy iB destined to triumph ' , and the scorned of the past will be the adopted or the future . I am , as ever , your obedient servant , Samuel Kvon , Manchester , March 27 th , 1849 . P . S . —I request all parties desirous that I should lecture or attend meetings in their district , to write immediately to Thomas Ormesher , 52 , Little Bridgewater-street , Deansgate , Manchester . S . K .

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      TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . Manchester , April 2 nd , 1849 . Dbar Father , —For such we acknowledge you to be , we have wrote to request that you will bo with us in Manchester ; but you have not sent us an answer , whether you will be with us or not . Now we have agreed that Good Friday being our anniversary , we hold a public meeting , our bills aro issued , announcing that you will pe there ; thorefqre if you are not in Manchester it will be a great disappointment to the public , and throw discredit upon our council . Hoping you will send an answer by return of post ,

      I remain , on behalf of tho Council , Your sincero well-wisher , John Jackson , Secretary . P . S . —Your answer to this will find me a ^ follows : —John Jackson , No . 51 , Heyrod-street , nea r St . Andrew ' s Church , Ancoats .

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      ¦ w GRAND CHARTIST DEMONSTRATION . ( Abridged from the Edinburgh News . ) Edinburgh . — On Monday week last , Messri . Henry Hanken and Robert Hamilton were liberated from the prison of Edinburgh , having suffered four months' incarceration for having , at a Chartist meeting on Bruntsfield Links , used language " calcU ' lated , " but not "intended , " to excite popular disaffection to lawful authority . About ten o ' clock , h u ndreds of op era t i v es , and others , assembled around the gate leading to the prison , expecting to have an opportunity of greeting the " victims as they came out , but in this they were disappointed , Rankcn and Hamilton having left jail an hour previous in a carriage which waB in waiting for their reception .

      The liberation of these Chartist leaders was considered a fitting occasion by their friends to honour them with an entertainment . Accordingly a fruit toirk took , placo tho same evening in tha Waterloo Room , which was completely filled by a well-dressed male and female audience . On the platform there were a considerable number of local champions of the Chartist cause . Mr . James Greig , blacksmith , Rose-street , presided , and on his right and left wore Messrs . Ranken , Hamilton , and dimming — which last-named individual , it may be remembered , was put upon his trial at the High Court of Justiciary at the same timo with , the others , but the Lord-Advocate abandoned the case against him . The proceedings of the evening were opened by

      the chairman , who remarked that the presence of such a large assemblage on such an occasion could be considered in no other light than as a vote of censure on the authorities , for their conduct in tho late prosecution . ( Loud applause . ) When the Lord Justice-Clerk wns passing sentence on those two friends whom they had that night met to honour , his lordship stated that he had somehow or other gathered the idea in the course of the trial , that when tho prisoners regained their freedom , they would not be found following such a course as has been the means of bringing them before the bar of that court . If the Lord Justice-Clerk thought that by keeping his victims four months in a gaol , he would make them less zealous advocates for the

      Charter , lie showed himself to be little conversant with human nature , at all events he exhibited little knowledge indeed of the stuff of which such men as Ilenry Eanken and Robert Hamilton are composed . ( Applause . ) With regard to the other victim of Wiiggery , James Cumming- ~( cheers)—rarely has a man been , more unjustly subjected to tlie iniquities of the law . After ail the imprisonment he underwent , the vexations he was put to , and aotunlly placed at the bar on trial , the Lord-Advocate had to g ive the case up , convinced that his victim was an innocent man . He ( the chairman ) could not say that the press of Scotland had done its duty on such < tn occasion . With few exceptions , ttte High Court trials were not animadverted on ; but had the

      victims been men of wealth and great influence , all men would have seen them exposed from John O'Groat ' a to tho Land ' s-End . ( Applause . ) Mr . James Gumming then spoke for some time , from the text— " The people , the only source of legitimate power , " Ml ' . M'Dovald commenced by remarking that he felt it to be his duty to inform all present that they had nothing to dread from assembling there that night ; nothing to apprehend from so many out-andout , whole-hog-going Chartists ; there was no necessity for fearing a bombardment of the town ; no attempt would be made to plunder the city —( laughter)—Sut even suppose these to be our intentions , all our plans -would be kicked to Beelzebub , aud ourselves speedily after , by our peace-loving

      authorities . ( Renewed laughter . ) He ( Mr . M'D . ) took the liberty of stating these things because he believed there was a force in readiness , and had been during the day , to prevent any outbreak . But he could tell the authorities that they never yet had it in their power to say tha * the Ohartisti of Edinburgh broke the peace of tho city . ( Loud applause . ) Mr . M'Donald then proceeded to glance at the state of affairs on the continent of Europe . Beginning with the French Republic , he showed that the constitution had already been violated in the death of two men who had fallen by the bloody « e of the executioner , In Austria , there was to ho seen an earnest panting after liberty , and tha Hungarian * wero now extirpating from their territory the invaders of their fatherland . In Rome , the people'that were considered priest-ridden had caused

      the Pontiff to fly rrom his papal dominions , In Prussia , thero had been martyrs to the cause of liberty . There it was that the ever-to-be-revered Robert Blum fell a martyr . ( Cheers . ) In Paris , many hundreds of noble hearts were laid low while beatinff for freedom for their countrymen . Although th ere h ad been no blood shed in Ro m e , still t ha t was no proof there were no patriots . Many there are prepared now , if nped be , to shed the last drop of their blood in the cause of liberty . ( Cheers . ) Referring to the debate in the House of Commons a few evenings ago on the war estimates , Mr , M'Donald animadverted on the remark * of Lord John Russell , that " it was a libel and a calumny to confound the people of England with those who caused the disturbances of last year , " and foir whom it iras necessary to hare 69 , 000 troops to keep in

      Untitled Article

      subjection . If you fail ( said Mr . M'DonaU ) to let the lremier know youv strength , you desorvi , ' to lie under the stigma he lias thrown upon' voii , and 1 ) 8 cont «\ t to ue guilty as libelled . ( Wap » la « w . ) . At tins stage of the proceedings , a cavtttuitv-nrepared and W ) , y eulogistic address , to be presented to Messrs . Rnnkcn and Hamilton , Was re ;! d by Mr . M Donald . Ihe sentiments embodied in the address were much applauded , and at the conclusion it was handed to the keeping of the parties for whom it was prepared ,

      . Mr . IVAUACE remarked that he was much pleased with the address , which was so expressive nnd to the point . After paying a compliment to Robert Hamilton , and Heniy Bankin , Mr . 17311 : 100 sat down by expressing a hope that the meeting would express their approval of the address which had been road b y Mr . M'Donald . Loud cheers followed , fljud three cheers more were giren , ' when sir . HENRr RANKEK * rpse to address the meeting . He said he never rose in the whole course ojfliis lite , to address a meeting with such feelings as- nojf possessed him . He thought that he iu « jL h | sT y | g | Hamilton should almost have been held excused from addressing such a company , because it could not be exnoctedthat thev were very conversant with

      the political aspect of affairs since their imprisonment in November last . Nevertheless , he thanked his friends most cordially for their address . In that address a declaration was explicitly given that the friends of the Charter would never rest satisfied until the demon of tyranny was hurled from its throne —( applause)—and if on any future day the friends of the rights of the people showed a disposition to abandon the contest , because of terror of the Whigs , he ( Mv . Rnnken ) -would hold this address up as a witness against them . ( Cheers . ) It was the tyranny of the rulers that always forced ihe people to ' rebellion . But this meeting is conscious ( said Mr . Ranken ) that wo have been guilty of no rebellion , and though we have raft ' eved tvial and imprisonment

      through the malicious spirit of those who wield the power , yet we do sincerely believe that we havo been guilty of no crime . ( Loud applause . ) Scarcely a dozen hours had elapsed since ho ( Mr . Rattken ) was dressed in his " hodden gvey , " and lie was glad to have once more tho opportunity of lifting up bis testimony in behalf of that , canse which he trusted would yet prevail . ( Cheers . ) He found that the jail had . not been without its use » . The period he had for reflection more than ever rivetted the conviction on his mind that until the people were put in possession of political power , no other species of reform could materially benefit tuem . He was convinced that unless n decided amelioration of the condition of the

      workingclasses was effected , until the evils under which they lay were abated , crime and pestilence would prevail until the country became one vast lazarhouse . ( Applause . ) Though the working-classes were completely enfranchised to-morrow—though they had their fair sharo of political power , they could not possibly put it to a worse use than those did who already enjoyed it . Another thing which he had learned was tiiis—to be chary in jiving advice . It was for giving advice on Bruntsfield Links that he had four months' imprisonment . Ho then repeated what was stated in the Weekly Bisjoatch and D « % News , that this country was bordering on rebellion , and he there told all concerned that while there was misery in the cottago there

      could be no peace to the inmates of the hall . To do 80 , however , , was considered " calculated" to drive the people to rebellion . Jfow , he begged to assure the Whigs that though he saw the whole batch of them sitting near to a barrel of gunpowder , and a match ready to cause an explosion , he for ono would not say a word to them . ( Laughter and applause . ) We were found guilty ( proceeded Mr . R . ) upon a " calculation "—the " intention" was entirely left out . Tiat fust look at the finding in this light . A man who sells spirits sells that which is " calculated" to make people break the peace , nnd rob , and steah But who ventures to bring that man to court ? A person is addicted to the practice of reading in bed by candle-lkrht : he does

      that , therefore , which ia " calculated" to cause the conflagration of the building , but how absurd to punish a man where the evil intent is absent 1 Mr . Ranken then proceeded to show , what also ho had acquired from experience , that there was much need for a reform of our law courts , lie and his friends were imprisoned on a charge of high treason ; they were indicted for sedition , and found guilty on a calculation . " Another point to which he had directed his attention in his retirement was our jury system . He was found guilty by a majority of one only , and as there wereseven for acquitting him , his destiny lay as it were on the judgment of a single man . He did not approve of juries being unanimous , but he thought that no man ouarht to bo

      convicted without the concurrence of at least two-thirds of the jurymen . Mr . Ranken then briefly reviewed : an article on the Reaction of Philantrophy , which appeared in Chambevs' Journal of the 24 th Feb . last , in which the sentiment is expressed tiiat the people ought to be left to their own resources when out of employment . He ( Mr . R . ) considered that if the people were to he 16 ft to their own resources , they ought to have the means of obtaining access to a share of their own property—the land , but of which they had been deprived . The land was locked up , the very rivers were locked up , and a man aged about eighty , who had honourably conducted himself through the world , bein g deprived of employment , was recently sent to jail for the

      period Of ten days for begging ! After accusingthe Finance Association with having the ulc&rior object of throwing 10 , 0 0 0 m en idle , so tli . it thereby they would be brought into the labour market , and lessen the price of labour , Mr . Ranken glanced at the affairs of Ireland . He understood that ten millions had recently been voted to that country , lnit lie wa 3 ( juite satisfied that the half of it would never reach its avowed destination , but be swallowed up in the payments to the TYuigs . Ho next alluded to the twenty millions given away with a view to abolish negro slavery , and remarked that government had not the courage to g ive twenty millions to redeem a whole people from misery , Were the Whigs as anxious to redeem a people as they are to curse

      them , Ireland would soon be a happy country—for they would bring the waste lands under cultivation . Mr . Ranken then directed the attention of the meeting to the subject of the organisation of labour , and in doing so charged the Messrs . Chambers with writing one thing in favour of the working-classes one year , and advocating different and opposing doctrines in a subsequent year . He next called on the meeting to think of Frost , Williams , and Jones , poor John Mitchel , and others , who wove now suffering for their patriotism in distant lands , and to remember those at home who from a like cause had

      two or three years of their existence to linger out in a dreary dungeon . This led him to denounce the system of solitary confinement , and to vcmavkthat if people but just knew what that piinishment was ' they would not cease agitating against it till the system was abolished from the Tana . After alluding to the sufferings of the poor , and showing how frequently they might bo dragged into crime by the thought of a starving wife and family , Mr . Ranken concluded by calling upon his Chartist friends to pursue the even tenoiir of their way with a strong and most determined hope . ( Loud and prolonged cheers . )

      Mi * . Robert Hamilton next addressed the meeting . He considered that the company had that night assembled not so much to honour men as to show their attachment to liberty , He would commence by saying a few words in regard to prison discipline—of which he now knew something—and he had no hesitation in saying that the system on which the prisons of this country were conducted had a iendelldy to increase crime rather than to reform criminals . He denounced the system of solitary confinement , and stated it as a fact that out of 100 prisoners in the model prison of Scotlandnamely the Perth one—no fewer than eighty were sent back every year , lie thought that if the Chamber's had a little practical experience of the system

      of solitary confinement , previously to writing their next article on prison discipline , they would bo vastly the better for it . ( Laughter and applause . ) In reference to the late trials , he had no fault to find with the Lord Justice-Clerk , who acted very fairly througktub , though , had it not been for his interfering with the first verdict returned by the jury , it was not at all likely a conviction would have been obtained . Mr . Hamilton then gave a humorous description of his four months' experience of life in prison , and spoke in no very flattering terms of the food which was prepared for the prisoners . Messrs . Maurice Lothian , Moxey , List , and Brownlee , received a castigation from him for the respective parts they performed on tho occasion of the late trials , and Mr . Brownlcc was denounced as a

      barefaced liar . Mr . Hamilton then addressed himself to the moral elevation of the working classes . He contended that the man who spent his money in the public house instead of laying it past ( when he had it to spare ) was unworthy to have a vote . He was certain that , if tho working classes as a body wero only to become teetotalers , tho fate of the Whigs would be sealed by this time next year , ( Applause . ) But he would also remind them that if they became teetotalers , they would also require to abandon tippling associates . Unles 3 they { did so , they could not adhere to the principle for a month . Ml ' . Hamilton then alluded to the "financial

      humbug , " made a few passing allusions to the war in India , observing that the British " richly merited tneir defeat for they had no business there "—which remark drew forth threo rapturous cheers for the Siklis . Ho , concluded by adverting to the importance of intellectual improvement , a n d the n ece s sit y of standing fast by the principles of the Charter , and sat down amidst great applause . The meeting was afterwards addressed by Messrs Cuthbertson ' and Fraser . The intervals between the speeches were very agreeably filled up by the songs of several abll'Tffcalists , and the performances of the ^ dmSmrlh Wind Instrument Band "' i "'

      . a ; s . ^ Z ., > yiuu . instrument . Dana . z , ¦*/? -a -. * •• . ¦• : . The proceedings , in which all sceme d ^ ^ t | s 8 ;^ . . ; . ;; : lively interest , were protracted to a la ( j ^ 1 igu «^; " \ xr / , . ; u s id C / - ^ v * 4 Hi >?< i ? . »' , 1 V "* ' ! . " - ' ¦ , ' > ui ¦ hwrnwra ¦ i Amm ^

      To The Old Guards.

      TO THE OLD GUARDS .

      Untitled Article

      THE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIA TION TO THE CHARTISTS AND DEMOCRATS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM .

      Bbethren , —In the month of October last an assemblage of delegates from all parts of England and Scotland met at Birmingham , and called the present Executive Committee into existence , for the purpose of re-organising the Chartist moTeraent , and once more reuniting the dismembered Chartist body , and , in the name of the great democratic party , pledged them your support . Your Executive

      Committee , having been thus called into existence , set to work with renewed energy and untiring zeal—devoting themselves to your services . They drew up a " Plan of Organisation , " which met with the most cordialand unanimous support from the Chartists of Great Britain ; they also resolved that petitions from as many par ishes , towns , cities , and districts of the empire as possible , should be forwarded to Parliament in favour of the Charter . With

      this view they have caused copies of the petition to be printed , with which any locality can be supplied at the rate of two shillings per hundred , or any individual , at the rate : < yf oneaalfjpiny each ... . ^ mati ^ . mVtfkio h ^ sub ; nutted to the House or Commons in the month of May next , by the honourable member for Nottingham , founded on that petition . The Executive Committee , therefore , appeal to their brethren , in all parts of the United Kingdom , to be up and doing . Let the petitions be got up in accordance with the instructions recently issued in the " Northern Star . And

      ' now , brethren , . your Executive Committee would fain call your attention to the exhausted state of the Exchequer ; and having fulfilled their engagement to you , call on you to use your best energies during the Easter Holidays to suppl y the necessary funds , and enable your "Executive Committee" to meet the calls made on them to send out missionaries , and to speedily hold such a conference of members appointed from your body as shall be worthy

      of , and tend much to , the advancement of the cause of Chartism—that is , the « ause of justice , liberty , and true political equality , which must and will ensure true and lasting social happiness . Placing before you the annexed statement of our financial affairs , and appealing to yon . to at once remit your subscriptions to the Secretary , at 144 , High Holbora , we subscribe ourselves , Devotedly yours , The members of the Executive Committee ,

      Thomas Clark , William Dixon , James Gbassby , Phihp M'Gtkath , G . Julian Harney , Henry Ross , Edmuni > Stallwood , Samuel Kydd , Secretary . March 30 , 1849 .

      rmNCIAL ACCOUNT OF ME NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION , From November 2 nd , 1848 , to March 31 st , 1849 . £ . s . d . Receipts , from all sources 77 4 11 Expenditure 77 8 7 Dueiothe Treasurer £ 0 3 8 Debts due by the Association , on account of printing , officers ' salaries , < fcc ... 12 8 2 £ 12 11 10 Property in hands of Association , good d ebts , < fec . .: 4 0 0 Balance due by Association £ 8 11 10 April 3 rd , 1849 . —Audited and found correct . John Arnoxt , Johh Clark .

      J&Attonal Luira Gromp&Ng.

      j&Attonal lUira gromp&ng .

      Tefiaititft Bucuirjcme

      tEfiaititft BUcUirjcme

      Untitled Article

      TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . Mt Fbiesj > b , I need not draw your attention to the fact , that now nearly for a fortnight , the whole t ime of the House of Commons has been occupied in discussing ihe Land Question , and I think , without vanity , I may say in discussing the Land Flan . Sir Robert Feel has announced his Flan ,

      which is the location of small farmers with limited capital upon the Irish soil—the facilitating the transfer of landed property—the complete destruction , or , rather , removal , of those legal quirks and quibbles thrown in the way of the transfer of property by artful and designing lawyers—and , still further , the necessity of making leases for ever to ensure the application of the greatest amount of reproductive labour to the cultivation of the soil .

      In fact , every word of his speech was a repetition of those means for ensuring the cultivation of the soil , and , through it , national contentment and tranquillit y , which I have submitted to you one thousand and one times , and with which you are now more familiar , and in which you are better instructed , than the Hight Honourable Baronet himself . My friends , you remember that one of the great difficulties of Ireland was over-popula tion , and that one of the League man ' ms was , "that population pressed hardly upon the means of subsistence . " Well , as in Rush ' s case , murder will out ; and on Monday night

      Bai 6 aT ia the most powerful , the most able , the most pertinent , argumentative , and conclusive Bpeech that lias been made in the House of Commons during the present Session , admitted , and satisfactorily proved , that Ireland was not half-populated , if facilities were allowed for the transfer of property ; if that monster evil—the Law of rrimogeni ture—was abolished ; if the poor , proud landlords were compelled to abandon their destructive sporting establishments , and betake themselves to industrious pursuits , and if the Land was economically sub-divided , ¦ with proper statutory enactments for&e

      encouragement and protection of industry , and the destruction of Land monopoly . There were fire . good speeches delivered upon the subject . Napies's was ingenious , legal , but not pertinent to the point Peel's was comprehensive and statesmanlike , but mysterious and ambiguous ; he was charged for not having supplied the House with details , but in this he showed hie wisdom , as , had he done so , every legal qnibbler and every snarling cur would have had a snap at the lion ' s heels . Height ' s —as I have told you—was powerful , maBterly and to the point;—nay , it would have suited a Chartist meeting . It was much too good ,

      but nevertheless appreciated by the House of Commons . Lord Claude Haiultok ' s was ingenious , and very consecutive , but smacked of the landlords' interest ; and Mr . Hors-^ ax ' s was clever and intellectual , hut not at all to the point However all—one and allwent the length of admitting the indispensable necessity of a comprehensive , practical Land Plan , and we have—thank God . *—furnished them with the only model which the nation ¦ "i ll accept or the people will consent to adopt ^ ow let me show you the value of money expended upon the Land , in the shape of inducing the application of reproductive

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      My Friends , I did not receive your letter till twenty-five minutes past seven this ( Thursday ) evening , or you should have had an answer by post ; but you shall hear my reason for not accepting your invitation , Mr . Jones is only allowed to see visitors once in three months , and his next three months commence on Friday next , upon which day he expressed a great desire to see me and tiro other Members of Parliament , and we made an appointment to call on him tomorrow . I think this will be a sufficient apology . Your faithful friend , Feargus O'Coxnoe .

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      AND NATIONAL TRffiES' JOURNAL .

      Untitled Article

      NO ' ^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^¦^^^¦^^¦^^¦^^¦¦¦^•^¦ sIM ^ BbWBMBI ^ TOL XII f > 9 ft lANflAN SATURDAY APRlfe ?^ JM 9 j-rice fj vepewe Of tVU . All . fl » . tffrO , ^ LUJHJUfl ) OAlUIUJiU , AllXW ^ lrm ^ S . . v ^^;;; ,, , ; . ., gire gwlIl ^ . SIxpeiIC e per quarter

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), April 7, 1849, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1517/page/1/