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Northern Star (1837-1852), 3rd November 1849, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      TO THE CHARTISTS . Mt » EAB FmeNDS . — COBRPTT 1 ,. 'A ¥ ? acrSSS " " ftfc * ^ mS ? ££

      l ^^ ^ aS ^ ^ ilo e manual ort ^ rtJ-LitS fte mental feWer 15 of Talue - JSTto Jf ° Cannotdevot e *>» ^ e amount ttane to the same avocation , but from which te demes the lament o ? fc > -operation rJlow often have I told you that . * ll «„«««< ,

      W governments , and all classes must eventu .: illy come to the legitimate application of the £ l £ f W" * P ^ oseLnamely , the ot only the mother-conntry , hut some of her exetofore most prosperous ' and ohedient chS riBfl ? ^ 5 ^ P t evolution by A * SiS * ^ interference with flienr landed possessions . Li the Ionian ¦ dub your English governor , Mr . Wakd , « determined not to he out-done by the butcher 5 S £ - J ^*" , *^ . * " ** wtunninai

      r ^ s ^ s . a , wnne the Canadians t ^ Te forwarded a memorial to the English Government to sever the connexion with Britain , and to be annexed to the United ^ U The brutaUty of Moke O'Ferbau , at Malta , and the present state of Cephalonia and Jamaica—not to talk of Ireland—will teach a lesson to the Mother-country , and very speedily show ; her that she has more-fean enough to do at home , without interferae in distant lands . • That a great and mighty change is at hand no man can deny , and that you should be prepared to mould that change to national , and not to mere class purposes , you yourselves must Jjomit ; while the only way by which this desired object can be achieved is by a thorough union of your order .

      • Every newspaper—nay , every mouth , is now full of , and belching forth their own Utopian schemes , as to the mode of settling differences and perpetuating . harmony , while you must all understand , that the change made in the value of land by tlie adoption of Free Trade , and the remedy , is now the vexed question with all ; and however you may accuse me of repetition , I tell you , that until the surplus population is placed upon the land you will neither have peace , contentment , a fair developementoftheiudnstryofthecountry , or a legitimate distribution of the profits .

      . I am aware that mechanics , and mill overseers , and the best paid operatives , who measure their wages by the comparative degree , and tailors , and shoemakers , and other classes who are accustomed to live in polluted ah-, in unhealthy slams , -will say , " What have we to do with the Land ?" " bat to such men I answer . " You have just as much to do with it as the man who cultivates it" The application of his labour to the Land reduces your overstocked market ; he becomes a better producer of your food , and a better consumer of the produce of your labour ; and until you open Nature ' s pap for Nature ' s children you wll remain unnatural slaves under the lash of unnatural masters .

      Ihavescores—nay hundreds—oftimesdrawn your attention to the state of Ireland , and have pointed out what the inevitable eftect of Free Trade must be to that country , if not preceded by timely and prudent concessions ; and if you have read the able , the graphic , the powerful , the irrefutable speech of Mi-. Beight , recently delivered at a meeting hi Manchester—and if you contrast the salient points of that speech with my oft-repeated criticisms , you will find that "the folly of iw-day is the wisdom of the morrow ; " and if

      it is necessary that you should understand the value of that speech beyond the impression that its perusal may leave , read the comments of the "Times" and the "Morning Chronicle ;" and from those rubbishing articles you will be able to distinguish the difference between a keen eye that has seen for itself , a kind heart that has felt what it has seen , and a powerful genius to describe it , as compared with the squinting goggle , the flinty heart , and muddle brain of a hired scribbler , with a goose quill in his hand .

      ; You are aware that I performno part of the office business of the " Northern Star , " and therefore I know not whether the speech of Mr . Bright will appeal * in its columns this week ; if not , however , it shall appear next week ; and if you have no sympathy for Ireland , read it and reflect upon it , and then you will be able to estimate its value , as applicable to England also . Let me—not for instruction , but for amusement—call your attention to the following passage from the comment of the " Morning Chronicle" npon the speech of Mr Bright : —

      Xotp , what rational prospect is there , that any possible improvement wliien may be effected this year , ornestyear , or the year after next , in the tenure and management of land , will create an effective demand for the self-support ing labour of these hungry and indigent myriads!—and -dearly , when anything is asserted or denied respecting * OTer-popolation , the standard of measurement to he adopted is not the mere acreage of the territory in question , iior its prospective capabilities of production , but its actual present power of providing employment and food for its inhabitants .

      2 f ow , what does the reader say to that ? Is not that a perfect admission of the propriety of putting the cart before the horse , that isof creating the evil first , and applying the Vemcdy in one , two , or three year 3 after , whereas , if the timely and prudent concessions had been made , and if the horse was put before the cart , the horse would hare been able to carry his load , while now he cannot back it up the hill ? Let me give you another extract from this lucid article . Here it is : —

      If , by the way . Mr . Bright were to try his hand , with the joint assistance of an expert lawyer and a practical agriculturist , at concocting a measure on this last subject ¦ which should not effect about as much harm as good , he would ; we suspect ; be astonished to find Tims very difficult Uzixieimesisto do an extremely simple-looking thing . From the above you must come to the conclusion , that the most simple thing is difficult in practice , when the rights of the poor arc in question , virile the greatest difficulty may he overcome by the sophistry of a lawyer , and the knowledge of an agriculturist—that is of a but the

      Jandlord—when not the mere rights , ' privilege and injustice of landlords is to be tipheld . My Friends , you may rely npon it that tlie Land question is THE QXE , nay , THE O 2 vLY O 2 ? E to which your undivided attention mast now be directed ; not the Land Question in the shape in which political parties will discuss it in the next session of Parliament , but the Land question in that phase in which it must be discussed , upon the broad basis of national requirement I have this

      week received two papers from New South TOta ^ e ofthelSth of May , and the otherof the 2 ml of Jane , eachconiaimng aontM , clir , and able article with reference to the application of the soil of every country , to its le ^ timate purpose . They also shall appear m Jk wceVs " Star , " and to them I invite Vour closest attention ; and , as spade Husbandry is eulogised by all , while my plan is spit npon by all , allow me to give you the tol-. 5 Lh . S extract from the " Daily News' of

      Tuesday , in order to prove the value ol iree labour app lied to ihe Land : — » ^ 4 « m Spade LAEocn—The Rev . T . Bowers , of Auaniarrs fob = " reCently caused fifteen acres of land , Stoke Hammond , tos r « £ fte &r cnltiration by in that parish , tote « uo ^^^ ^ ghoijd e ^ Ssto ^ wa ^ ^^ sasvssssassss

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      farms at more Ktolwwl tte la " «* their some cases the rent is r ^ ni ^ - ^ P -PV per acre . In theaborerental sllS ? l ? ' additi ° n *> savings' bank is the ff ? tosthls ' snch an e *» Uent possessionTfa , wJ * , * " managed , that its give them opMrtwifies of w « T ? *• soU wouId tenants . Inftu ^ tl £ i &r $ instead of second ssg ^ assi t S ° I ' if , by my system * haddeveloped fifty , told the advantages-nay , if I had proved it by practice , not a paper would notice it-aud why i because my plan is intended to make your class independent , while all other plans are intended to ticlde the fancy of a few , without any class benefit .

      I attended a most splendid meeting at ¦ Bri ghton on Monday last , at which the reporter of the " Daily News" says I made a discursive speech ; you wfflread that speech for yourselves , and then you will be able to Judge of itsvalue ; while the way that I estimatedits value was , from the warm and significant ; , approval of the audience ^ who were muchifcetfer ; judges th ^ therepffi ^ l ^ i ^ Sc ^^^ in the commenc ^ enQhat many who toolc a prominent part ' in the movement would much rather he without me , in the hope of enlisting the co-operation of the working classes , upon the presumption that they had abandoned the Charter altogether , and thus cast us into utter insignificance ; merely using our co-operation and strength as a means of doing something for themselves .

      This allusion does not apply to the propounders or the veritable leaders of this movement , who , on my soul , I believe to be thoroughly sincere ; but in all movements , — as in the Chartist movement—the sincere and veritable leaders have to contend against the venom , the spleen , the vanity , or the ignorance of professing friends ; and so it was at Brighton . There was a long pale-faced Quaker upon the platform , who would rather see the " Old Gentleman " there than Feargtjs O'Connor : and had it not been for the

      sound judgment of the people , and the discretion of the representatives of the Association , this fellow would have done a great deal of mischief—but their judgment very speedily put the extinguisher npon him . At the conclusion of the business a vote of thanks to the deputation was proposed , when the audience hallooed out , " And to Feahgus O'CoJiXOlt "— this fellow shouted , "No , no ; " but was soon drowned in a roar of derisive laughter . Now such men as this are calculated to do a great deal , of mischief to the cause which they profess to advocate , and I would recommend the Iwlers in this movement to be more discreet in then * selection of a local staff .

      My friends , I have told you before that every daily paper—with the exception of the "Daily News , " the "Morning Advertiser , " and the " Sun "—either burks , or sneers at this new move ; and wholly regardless of the position that any of these papers , that faithfully report other speakers , may place me in—and believing , as I have often told you , that the Press has the greatest influence upon Government and your opponents , I will now map out the moans by which you may enable those friendly newspapers to advocate your cause , and make it more powerful ; and . my plau shall be very simple .

      I will presumethat nomore than five hundred thousand men in England , Scotland , and Wales are zealous in the cause , and able to pay a penny a week each , to support it against its enemies and the reviling Press ; and as I have always contended for the strictest local management in our affairs , let me now show you how I would so marshal these five hundred thousand troops , as to overpower the antagonist Press-gang .

      I am aware of the difficulty of daily bringing five hundred , three hundred , or even one hundred , zealous working men together . The distance that some would have to walk would be too great , and , therefore , I would limit the number of eachreading club to fifty ; and I will presume , that there are five hundred thousand sterling working who would be able and willing to pay the small sum of a penny a week each ; at this average , the proceeds would be fifty pence , or four shillings and twopence a week . And now , let me show you how I would apply the funds , and , believe me , that no other application would be half as profitable . Each reading club would have four shillings and twopence a week to spend , and I would

      apply it thus—fivepence a day , or two shillings and sixpence a week , for the "Daily News , '' or any other paper that advocated your cause ; five pence a week for any provincial journal that was favourable , and one shilling and threepence a week for three metropolitan journals that advocated your cause . Now , these sums spent hi newspapers , would amount to four shillings and twopence a week , and would enable you to take ten thousand numbers per day of a daily paper , and forty thousand weekly papers . This would enable those papers to make front against the opposition Press , and faithfully to develope the rational mind of this country , whereas , you deserve to be slaves , if , at such a paltry sacrifice , you are not prepared to sustain your

      cause . The papers , when read , may be sold for as much as would pay the rent of . your readingroom , and for coals and candles ; and if , instead of spending two hours in the gin palace , or the beer-shop , the members of each club would assemble and select a good reader to read the daily paper , there would be a perfect developement of the system of mental cooperation ; the two hours would be equally beneficial to all ; and that paper alone may be sold upon the following morning for as much as would pay the rent of the reading room , and which , in no instance , should be in a PUBLIC HOUSE . Indeed , I do not see why one of

      the fifty should not be able to accommodate his companions with a room , or those who are able to do so might take it week about , then , on Sundayjevenings , the dub might meet and read the weekly papers . This would induce young men to learn to read well , and it would give to old men , whose education has been neglected , the advantage of the education of others . And now , do not you think that , as self-interest is the basis of human action , that the very fact of your taking ten thousand numbers of a daily paper , and ten thousand each of three weekly London papers , would very speedily enlist the heart y support of those journals ? So that you see I am quite read y to destroy MY OWN TRADE to serve

      YOUR TRADE . Now instead , like other enthusiasts—for I confess that I am an enthusiast too—instead , however , of measuring your patriotism by the ascending scale , I will measure it by . the descending scale , and suppose that we reduce the number of ardent working men to two hundred and fifty thousand , well then , you could take five thousand copies of the daily paper , five thousand copies of a provincial paper , and five thousand copies each of three London papers . That two hundred and fifty thousand would be but one in eighty of the population of England , Scotland , and Wales , this plan would

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      SS i ° i t your mind > that ifc uld ease to be the butt and the laughing stockof ttrT ^ - ° *? ' if 0 I * » < S # M your order is not prepared to . act upon it , why thenyoumust confess yourselves willing slaves . This was the plan that I had in view when I Wjf thei plan Mr . Wilkinson propped at SSS ^ S I * ? 16 ' abould ^ endtbJr subscriptions to the Metropolitan Committee . RpB&r ipletIiaiVHATis to S £ ? KB EOE THE PEOPLE MUST

      BE DONE BY THE KBOP ^ « 3 f that each locality would derive an advantage from the local expenditure of its own funds ! How many working men are there who spend a shilling and more in a public-house , merely for tuepurpose ofgetting a squint at a daily paper ; and how many public-houses and conee-houses take daily papers with no other view and for bo other purpose than to secure customers for their intoxicating drinks ? V ' Now just one observation in order to prove that if you do not adopt this plan you are ' willing slaves . I leave the gross population ^ toej ^ gdom , oatof ' m& ± and will marai ^^

      ^^ tJ 8 « iit iffli population , not enfranchised , but claiming to be enfranchised ; ready to put their heads upon the block to gain the franchise , and well knowing the happiness and prosperity the franchise will confer upon them ; leaving the presentelectoral body , women , children , andthe aristocracy out of sight , and supposing that there are five million working men of

      twentyone years of age , not enfranchised , the 250 , 000 , the low number , that I propose to establish those reading clubs , only constitutes one in every twenty men of twenty-one years who are zealous to achieve the vote . And now let me ask you , soberly and sensibly , do you desire the franchise , and are you not the forgers of your own manacles , if one in every twenty is not prepared to pay a penny a week to secure the

      freedom of all . Upon the other hand , if the whole number choose to associate , and each paid a penny every twenty weeks , or twopencehalfpenny a year , it would reach the same amount , and if you are not prepared to give up a pint of ale a year , or five pipes of tobacco a year , be slaves , be starved , and be d d . Your faithful Friend , Feaegus O'C'onnob .

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      NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . TO THE LOCATED MEMBERS . On Monday week , the 12 th of this month —November—the several occupants upon the estates . of O'Connorville , Lowbands , Snig ' s End , and Minster Lovel , will be called upon to pay a half year's rent ; and those who have taken possession of allotments without refunding the Company ' s demands will be ejected , as the names of all have been handed over to

      the Solicitor of the Company . Any who are prepared to pay the full amount of rent due will receive their leases . The allottees on the O'Connorville Estate will owe two and a half years' rent upon the 1 st of this month . The allottees at Lowbands will also owe two and a half years' rent . The allottees on the Minster Lovel Estate owed one and a half years ' rentouthe 1 st of September , and tlie allottees on Snig ' s End owed one and a half years ' rent on the 1 st of November . v \

      The half-year ' s rent due , at O'Connorville will be : — £ s . d . Four Acres 6 15 0 Three „ 5 10 0 Two „ 4 5 0 The rent due on Lowbands will be : — Four Acres 7 10 0 Three „ G 10 0 Tavo „ 5 10 0 The rent due on Minster Lovel will be :

      Four Acres . 6 0 0 Three ' ,, ? 5 8 0 Two „ 4 16 0 The rent due on Sni g's End will be ;— . Four Acres C 5 0 Three „ 5 15 0 Two „ 4 5 0 This includes rent of land , after cultivation , interest on aid money , but does not include the interest due upon promissory notes given for

      lojin money . Of course , as a lease is an acquittal for rent , and will be dated from the day jt is made , those who do not pay up the full . rent will not receive a lease ; while those who do pay in full will receive a lease . The scalp of rent that is stated above , applies generally as the interest at four per cent , upon the outlay ; but will not equally affect each allotment , as the land varies in quality , and the rent will be proportionately charged , which for the present will be of insignificant consideration .

      All who have let any portion of their allotments willbe called upon for the full amount of rentdue ; whileallwhoareprepared with the full amount of rent , and wish to have leases , will have the exact value placed upon their allotments : and if the parties occupying—having houses rent-free , a large quantity of firing , some three years' crops , and all , too , without having paid a single farthing—are not prepared to pay the small amounts above enumerated , the Company must look for other tenants , as in this transaction even-handed justice must be done to all , and the least fortunate are not to be sacrified to the whim of the Directors , or the caprice of the more fortunate members .

      It is indispensable that persons anxious to purchase vacant allotments should understand , that any purchase made from an occupant , except through the Directors—who must receive the money due to tlie Company—will not be valid , and that such purchaser will be instantly ejected . Fearchjs O'Connor , Pnnip M ' Grath , Thomas Clauk , Christopher Doyle , William Dixon .

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      TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . - « Honoured and Respected Sir , — On emerging from a felon ' s dungeon my notice was directed to a letter hi the " Star , " written by mo to you , about monies paid by me into the Land Company . The reason that I wrote that letter was through the chaplain ; he came to me one day and said the Land Company would be breken up , and you were resigning your seat in Parliament and retiring into private life . Now my confidence being centred in you , and my wife in distress , and I not expecting my liberty yet—under these

      circumstances I made the application . Honoured sir , I am now free , and hope I shall be able to support my self and family , independently of either clubs or chaplain . Sir , my wish and desire is , that you may go on and prosper ; for I can assure you , rather than prosecute you for any monies belonging to mo , I would be distressed a thousand times . I hope you will insert this letter , and make it known to the public . Yours in the good cause of Right against Might , October 29 . William Winierbotiom .

      From the above Letter—which I read with a mixture of pleasure and pain—pleasure to hear of the liberation of an industrious man ,

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      SKSr ! * political offender ' Pain at 2 ?^?** / y for his gratitadefrom it the reader will learn , that not only S \ S 5 TT ' Press > the Plunders Sftt SChemes ' and my P ° litical a ° P" - SffSST' S ° PP ° sed to the Land Plan ; SiJdtft i ^ ' patn P ered sIu g 8 > whocoi P- eoPMstrong oniy in their power , and only 7 ffeiby ^ union-say how long they will ^ lM ' . eX 18 tence ° f 8 uch a " GODLESS SYSTEM . Feargvs O'Connor .

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      | . REVIVAL OP THE AGITATION ; . (| , FOR THE CHARTER . J 0 s $ ? e desire haT ! nS manife 8 ted itself in Several ^ uwteipi ; .. % . a renewed effort on behalf of % ' fjj 0 £ jSjpgto t , a meeting for , the furtherancqVf « fiat , $ jPicbiyened-. . b >^ York HoteVWellington-atreetj Btrand , Westminster a few days ago , at which were present , F . O'Connor ,

      M . I » ., G . W . M . Reynolds , Esq ., Mr . P . M'Grath , Mr . W . Dixon , Mr . G . J . Harney , Mr . Ivory , Mr . S . Boonhamand Mr . T . Clark . The result of their deliberations was the appointment of a committee of seven , to prepare the necessary machinery for the assembling of a Conference of delegates , re presenting the several metropoli tan boroughs , and whose business it was decided should be , to prepare a plan of organisation of such a naturo as to gather up all thu old and new elements , available for the purposes of a thoroughly democratic movement . The meeting adjourned , leaving all the business for the preparation of the Conference , &e ., in the hands of the Provisional Committee of seven .

      SECOND MEETING . The Provisional Committee met , on Tuesday last at 144 , High Holborn . —Mr . Philip M'Grath occupied the chair , and Mr . T . Clark was appointed secretary . The chief business discussed was the manner of electing delegates to the proposed Conference , and the number of which the Conference should consist ; ultimately it was agreed , upon the motion of G . . \ V . M . Reynolds Isq ., seconded by Mr . Boonham , " That the number of delegates to the Conference shall be Twenty-eioihi in number , and that they shall consist of four delegates , from each of the seven metropolitan boroughs . The reason for fixing the number at twenty-eight was to afford

      each locality an opportunity of making the most fitting selection of proper persons , and in order that the plan of organisation may bo sent forth , stamped with the approbation of the aggregate intelligence of the democracy of the metropolis . It was resolved , on the motion of Messrs . Dixon and Reynolds , that the Conference should assemble on . the fivst Monday in December next . And that in the meantime the most active measures should be taken to procuro public meetings , -in the several boroughs for the election of delegates . It was decided , unanimously , " That the first meeting for the election of delegates , should be held at the Literary InstitutionJohn-street

      , , Tottenham-court-road , on Tuesday next , November 6 th , and that such election should be made on behalf of the borough of Marylebone , and that the several bodies of Ohavtiste , in Mavylebcme , should be invited to co-operate with the Provisional Committee , in selecting candidates for election at the meeting at John-street , on Tuesday next . " A deputation from the Provisional Committee , will be in attendance at . 144 , High IIolborn , at eight o ' clock , on Monday evening , Nov . oth , for the purpose of receiving deputations-from the Chartist bodies in Mavylebonc , in order to make arrangements for the meeting on Tuesday night . '

      Messrs . M'Grath and Dixon were appointed to wait upon the Chartists of the Cripplegato locality , at their meeting on Monday evening next , and to invite their co-operation in the general movement with the Provisional Committee , and also in the election of delegates to the Conference . Mr . M'Grath was appointed to wait upon tho Chartists of the Tower Hamlets , for a similar purpose . Mr . Clark was deputed to wait upon the Chartists of the South London Hall , to invite their cooperation . On the motion of Messrs . Clark and Boonham , Mr . Reynolds was requested to prepare an address to the country , calling the Chartists to their duty , and which labour was readily undertaken by Mr . Reynolds .

      Every arrangement has been made for the meeting at John-street , on Tuesday , and the Chartists of tho South London Hall have given in their adhesion to the Provisional Committee , and will have their meeting on Wednesday next .

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      TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM . FltlENDS ,. The season for inactivity is passed , Every moment tliat is now lost in apathy and idleness , is an additional blow to tho good cause . The middle classes are in the field ; and the industrious millions must not linger on in torpor as if they hugged the clmins of slavery ! In a short time the Parliamentary campaign will open ; and the Pbime Minister will point triumphantly to the lethargic state of the working classes as a proof that they are contented with their lot . But such contentment , under the present system , is impossible ; and , therefore , like the middle classes , ye m-ust be up and stirring !

      The Press has declared that Chartism is dead ! It remains for you to confirm or disprove the statement ! But there are men in London who have faith in tho sound sense and the fine spirit of the working classes , and who will not believe that ye have ceased to contemplate your wrongs with indignation , or will fail to proclaim them with energy . Those men , full of a sublime confidence in the sons of toil , are addressing you now ; and they call upon you to raise your voices throughout the length and breadth of tho land , on behalf of that cause which they believe to be still endeared to your souls .

      The agitation for the Charter must be revived ! But it is to no illegal or unconstitutional struggle that we would urge you on : it ia no example of violence nor menace that we Avould set you , The agitation we call upon you to resuscitate , is a peaceful and a moral one—such an one , in fine , as the law allows , and which from early time has been the exercise of a right possessed by the British people .

      A committee has been formed to adopt tho necessary measures for the revival of the ^ Chartist agitation in London . The initiative step decided upon , is to call on tho working cks £ « 3 in the seven Parliamentary boroughs of the metropolis to elect delegates for an immediate Conference . Each locality is requested to return , at a public meeting , four staunch , honest , and intelligent representatives to take part iu this Conference , which will meet for the despatch of business on the first Monday in December . It will then be the province of the Conference to draw up a plan for a vigorous , but legal , agitation on behalf of the Charter .

      Iu recommending this important movement , we do not seek to mar the progress of tho National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association . On tho . contrary , we believe that a contemporaneous agitation on the part of the working classes will aid and

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      assiBt that society ' s objects so far as they go , and remain as a necessary means to carry on the good work , when that middle-dan movement shall have ceased . We , therefore , invite the patriots of the provinces to be up and stirring in their respective localities , so as to pave the way for a grand national agitation ; while the London districts will , in the meantime , bo doing their duty . &

      " Hope" is now the watchword ; " a good heart" and " an unflinching spirit" are the elements of success ! Let our motto be "Union ; " and let us address ourselves with energy , zeal , and enthusiasm to the gloriouB task ! Our's will be a peaceful struggle , crowned with a bloodless triumph ; andthe trophies of our victory must be unmoistened by the tears of wives or children mourning for captives or for martyrs ! Signed on behalf of the Provincial Committee , Phiup M ' Grath , Chairman .

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      electionreminiscences :::. ^ TO THE EDITOR OP THE DAILY NEWS ., Sir , —As yon have considered a review of Mr . John O'Connell ' s parliamentary reminiscences worthy of public attention , and as my name appears to constitute th e stock in trade of the author , perhaps you will allow me space , not so much for comment as for correction of its fallacies .

      You must not presume that I undertake the task for the purpose of establishing my Milesian pedigree , which is pretty well understood , and which I will dispose of iu a very fewlines . No , sir ; my principal object in soliciting space for the publication—not of my parliamentary reminiscences , but of my electioneering warfare —is to give the public an opportunity of judging of the gtatitudeof my former jirotegee , and as a true history of Irish electioneering , will , I am sure , afford your readers no small amusement , if not instruction , I will critically detail the circumstances connected with some of the

      fiercest contests , commencing with the Youghal election of 1834 , at which John Connell and the son of the late Baron Smith were the candidates ; and if you can allow me space I will continue my series with a faithful narrative of the Meath election , the county and city of Cork election , the Mallow election , the Kinsale election , the Dungarvanand Bandon elections . And as regards one and all of which you shall have an irrefutable narrative . And now to Youghal . Many of your readers will be aware that on the 13 th of February , 1834 , the late Daniel O'Connell made a fierce attack intlieHousR

      of Commons , and succeeded in the appointment of " a select committee to inquire into the conduct of Mr . Baron Smith , in respect of his neglect of duty as a judge , and the introduction of political topics in his charges to grand juries . " About the close of 1834 a general election took place , the Tories having ousted the Whigs —a circumstance -which you are aware gives

      considerable influence to the party iu . power , and that iufluence you are also aware would be strenuously used—nay straiucd , against the son of Daniel O'Connell . Howbeit , immediately before the election , when on my way to Mallow to support Mr . Scully , as a Repeal candidate , against Sir Denham Norreys , I met Daniel O'Connell at the Imperial Hotel . He was in a most doleful mood , and after the usual salutation he addressed me thus : —

      " My dear Feargus , Baron Smith ' s son is to be John's opponent at Youghal . Ho has all the Devonshire interest ; and if John is beaten it will break his mother's heart , as he is his mother's darling . " I replied , "There ' s the carnage and four spankers at tho door , I am going to Mallow to return Scully , ¦ and banish your grief and your fears , O'Connell , as Jolm shall be member for Youghal , if I lose my life by it . " "Thank you , thank you , " replied the Liberator , "if any man can do it you can . "

      I immediately started for Mallow , with Mr . Scully , the cause of whose defeat I shall narrate in another letter , and upon the following evening , after the nomination at Mallow , I started for Youghal , a distance , I think , of over sixty English miles , travelling all ni ght —at my own expense , mind—posting with four horses . I arrived at Youghal a little after ten in the morning , whore I found the town literally a hive , O'Connell having recommended the Roman Catholic clergy to invite tho whole population to attend , but not appearing himself , as eight men were shot dead at the previous eler . tion .

      When I arrived , I drove to the committee room , where a kind of temporary hustings had been erected , with a platform not more than five feet above the level of the street , and just in front of the platform were stationed the ' 4 th Dragoon Guards , with drawn swords . In the rear were two large detachments of infantry , and upon a very broad pier in front stood the officers of the several regiments . There were also 700 police , under the command of Major Jackson , while the town was literally crammed with the most excited multitude I ever witnessed in my life . Their excitement wasroused to madness , in consequence of the son of Baron Smith being selected as the opponent of tlie son of O'Connell .

      As soon as I entered the committee-room a vast number of Romau Catholic clergymen requested me , nay , implored me , for God's sake not to address the people , as we should have slaughter . 1 replied that that was the very thing the enemy relied upon , that we should be intimidated by military force , when I immediately jumped upon tho platform from the window of the committee-room , and such a scene I never beheld . The shouts of the people made the dragoon horses prance and rear and created an impression that they were

      going to charge . I continued to address the people while the drawn swords were within four or fire feet of my face . I called attention to tho difference between the little nincompoop officers upon the pier and the robust soldiers opposite me , I showed the injustice of flogging soldiers for the slightest crime , while their officers were merely repremanded for the most henious offence . I dwelt at some length upon the injustice of granting pensions to the widows and orphans of officers , -while those of the soldiers were allowed to starve .

      In a very short time the soldiers showed evident marks of approbation , laughed at each other , and some even cheered , when , as if by magic , tho word "Right about face , march , " was given , and we had the whole town to ourselves , Well , the election commenced . Mr . Keating , Queen's Council , was counsel for Baron Smith's son , and was entitled by act of

      parliament to a large fee for his services , which he , no doubt , received . I was counsel for John Connell , and was entitled to as large a fee , but I received not , and would not take a farthing , _ but travelled and lived at my own expense into the bargain . During the contest a very knotty question arose as to the admis-Sibility Of freemen living at a certain distance fi'om the town . The point was whether the

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      ^ r ^ Y ^ y ^ Pt a ^^ A ^^ ^ 4 * 4 distance was to be measured by the road or by line . Sergeant O'Loghlen , subsequently Master of the Rolls , came to Youghal for the special purpose of arguing this point . He and Mr . Keating argued the question at considerable length , and during which I discovered that Mr . Fordyce leaned to the argument of ¦ Mr . Keating , but before he gave his decision ; and although quite ready to accept the service of Sergeant O'Loghlen , I stated that I , ' and not the learned sergeant , was counsel in the / ") case , and that I repudiated Ins construction a 3 ^ v well as Mr . Keating ' s construction of the act * N y \ A of parliament . I then argued the question ^ * N myself at considerable length , when the as- \ u *

      sessor decided in my favour , whereupon Sergeant O'Loghlen took mo by the arm , we walked out of the room , and with a hearty laugh he exclaimed , " Well , Feargus , you are the boy to carry the election . " Sergeant O'Loghlen dined with us that day ; and I addressed a multitude of people from the window of the hotel as was my custom , the dragoons , ' in their stable jaokets , constituting a fair pro * portion of my audience , and invariably asking me in the streets at dusk where I intended to ' speak from that night . Well , so the contest went on till two o ' clock

      on the fifth day the poll closing at four . At that hour Baron Smith ' s son was two ahead of John Connell , and the list of voters was exhausted . A Mr . Fitzpatrick , a lame gentleman and a violent partisan of Smith , rushed through the street , hopping npon one leg , ; cheering and waving his hat , and exclaiming-| ' We have it , we have it , we have it !'' AnP immense number of Roman Catholic clergymenwitnessed this exulting exhibition from the committee-room and sighed most dolefallyv 1 asked . them for God ' s sake to leave thecommittee-room to me , and retire to Camp- li&U ' s-Hotel . - They did so , in th . e most dolefulmood , expressing horror that the son of thr Liberator should be beaten by the son of Baron Smith .

      When the room was cleared I sent for Dominick Roynane , the active and energetic agent of the repeal party . I asked him to show me the voting list . He did so , and I discovered that five men had not poJled ; and upon making the observation , ho replied that they had left their houses nine months ago , and that the present occupants were not registered , but were all favourable to the cause . I told him to go himself and get a staff to assist him to discover the five men who

      had previously lived in the houses . He did so , and returned with the five previous occupants . I instantly went with them , cleared every house , put out cat , dog , fire , and furniture in the middle of the street , the then occupants surrendering possession to the previous occupants , whose names stood upon the list . I took them up as a tally—they poll in tallies of five in Ireland , I was well aware of the sensation their appearance would create , and I drilled them how to act . The first man who

      appeared to tender Ins vote was the celebrated repealer Jeremiah O'Lamassney , and I never shall forget the exhibition and the sensation created in the court . Perhaps your readers are not aware that the admissibility of an Irish voter is like a trial at bar . When he appeared there was a general shout , " He ' s left his house nine months ago" The usual oath was then tendered , and I shall never forget the sensation . It runs thus— " I , Jeremiah O'Lamassney , do swear that I am the same Jeremiah O'Lamassney whose name appears in this paper , and that I am still in possession of the house , " and so and so ; and the remainder of the oath being

      smothered in tho most execrable yells . However , the whole five voted , and were objected to ; and a » is the case in Ireland , the question of admissibility was then argued before the assessor . Mr , Keating argued againt those votes at considerable length : the assessor said " Well , Mr . O'Connor , what have you to otter in reply ? " I answered , merely to request you will look at your watch . "Tot \ flv . \ t « " observed Mr . Keating . I rejoined " because his office has expired , and by this act of parliament ho is liable to a line of ioOO if he attempts to exercise his function after tho time for closing the poll . " The asssessor looked at his watch , found that I was vi ght , and although a violent partisan , and notwithstanding thu most impressive appeal from Air . Keatins , he

      allowed the five votes to remain upon the poll , telling Mr . Keating that his only remedy was before a committee of the House of Commons . They did remain upon the poll , and John Uoiinell was declareil "duly elected . The shouting was indescribable ; I ran to Campbell ' s hotel , where the llonian . Catholic clergymen were assembled , they were moaning dolefully , exclaiming , what an unfortunate rcsmlt . I replied . " No , I think it is a capital conclusion . " "What , " they rejoined , "that the son of Baron Smith should beat the son of the Liberator ? " I called them to the window , and pointed out master John in tlie middle of an immense crowd ShOllting , roaring , Cheering , and jumping , and I said , '• There ' s the member , I did it for you * " They embraced me , and their grief , as it by magic , chauged into the most extatic joy .

      Another incident connected with this memorable election , and 1 have done . There was an ejectment pending against one of our voters ; the house was guarded by a double file of infantry , with iixed bryonuts ; the shciiff ¦ was at the back door trying to gut in ; I rushed through the double ' file of bayonets ; got two prods , knocked tne sheriff out of the way , sent tlie door in with my shoulder , took the occupant out of tho front door , and polled him before tho sheriff got possession . After the election , Mr . Tor . dyce , tho assessor , who 1 believe hail been wounded at the previous election , was very much alarmed by the excitement . I took him homo in mv carriage .

      and was obliged to hide him under the seat when wo stopped to change horses at Middlcton . Tho people there Hocked in hundreds and thousands round the carriage , asking how the assessor behaved , and when he would be going through . ? I brought him from under the scat , and said there he is—he behaved like a trump , he gained us tlie election —and they cheered him most heartily . I shall now conclude my narrative of this memorable contest , by merely stating that tho question of John Council ' s election was tried before a committee of the House of Commons in the next session , that , as well as I remember , the five votes to which I have referred were struck off the poll

      , while ei ght non-resident freemen who voted for Baron Smith ' s son , and to whom I objected , were also struck off , thus leaving Master John secure in his seat , 1 think , by a majority of one . I was up night and day during this election . I received yards of blarney from Jolm and . his lather , for my untiring exertions ; and with these observations I concluded , ^) - narrative of the ever memorable Youghal election . In my next I shall give a plain and unadorned narrative of the celebrated Dungarvau election , with reference to which not one of John ' s reminiscences bears the semblance of truth . Your obedient servant , fEMtovs O'COSSOK .

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      THE HEI'OIUI MOVEMENT . TO IHE EDITOR OV THE XORTUEUX KUU . Siit , —In consequence of its having been stated at the Reform meetings that it is the wish of the deputation to enfranchise those only who contribute more or less to the support of the poor , 1 wish to know from what source they derive the information that this limitation will embrace five million of adults ? I hesitate not to assert that it will not enfranchise thvee millions ; and mark , with what ease these men can be disfranchised . Let us suppose a general election to be ncav at hand , and that the white slaves can be registered in the manner proposed , that work in factories . If doubtful of

      their fealty , what can be more easy for tho molochs than to shut up their mills for a few weeks , and thus render solvent electors insolvent mendicants , rather than that their honourable and respected friend should lose his seat . "It is a mockery , a snare , a delusion , " to suppose that a large number of electors will be one whic more independent than the present body , if tho possession of the franchise is contingent upon money payments . Tar be it from me to dictate to others , but 1 am so disgusted at tho homage paid to social distinctions that I will have nothing to do with this new movement , as I have no confidence in the result

      A ith reference to tho state of our unfortunate brethren abroad ( the noble Hungarians ) , I tako this oppor unity of expressing the sincere gratification I have derived from tlie perusal of your letters , so replete as they are with information of a most painfully interesting character , and also to thank you for your exposure of tho hypocrites , all and singular , diplomatic or otherwise , that have effected their downfall . God knows we have need of reform in England , if only to prevent the continuance of that disgraceful indifference to patriotism in distress , for which wo deserve at this moment the severest censure that can be bestowed upon us , but still 1 will hope that there is a good time coining for tiw benefit of all . Your obedient servant , Ugborough , Devon . U . Roderisox .

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      d of other m ^ ZdlS f no T ' 8 ha PPi >» essvmoB . "Sha h ^ e mtLe modest comforts of his

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 3, 1849, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1546/page/1/