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Northern Star (1837-1852), 12th November 1842, Edition 2 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1842.
    • 2Ta 3&e&Xiev& aim ^om^pomreutf*
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      Untitled Article

      3 BIAL BY JTTRY—1794 . On Saturday evening , & dinner took place atRadley ' a Hotel , B .-iase-3 LK * t , Blaokfriars , in ceie ^ rati on of another asiBivtrsary of the acquittal of Thomas Hardy , John Home To ^ ke , and John Ttelwall , ia 1794 , and in commemoration of the institution of the " Trial by Jury . " Shortly after six o ' clock the cludr was taken by T . S- Doncombe , Esq ., MP . Ther « were a ' . so at the upper table CoL P Thompson , W . Costes , E > q ., R . Taylor , Esq ., Major Revell , the Canon R : ogo , A Grallo-¦ way , Esq ., C . P . Thompson , Esq ., P . A . Taylor , Esq ., Dr . Kpps , and J . Coppock , Esq . About 130 gectlemen , well-known for tfceir steady and conrfsU-nt support ef liberal principles , s&t down to dinner . The cloth having be ^ ndr 3 wn .

      The ChaiemjlX rose , and was msst enthusiastically received , fie said he had now to propose the first toast of those which he should have the honour , of submitting to them . It was one of which , out of a meritorious , but mistaken , notion of gallsmry , had of late years been departed from . It was , "The Sovereignty of the People "—( immense cheers ) . He was glad that « nch toast had been placed first on the list , and he was rore that there had never been aaoveTtirnwho was more ready to acknowledge th& authority by which she

      reigned than Qa >; en Victoria —( cbeerinc ) . Whethtr tbe same disposition wa » feit by the wretched faction wbo now unfortunately turround her , and who had forced themselves into power , as much detested by the people as unwelcome to the monarch , he much doubted —( cheers ) . But the circumstance that snch a faction now surrounded the Queen VTas the bes » reason - * hy they should commence with proclaiming that which they should always be prepared to assert— " The Sovereignty of the People "—( lonfi applauw , three times three , and much subsequent cheering ) .

      The Chairman nex ; proposed , " The Qaeen , long may she lite ! to see the condition of her people improved , tie laws reformed , anl the privileges of the people ereatly extended . " tLoud and- long-continued applause . ) The Chaibhaj * said that perhaps tbay would understand the next toast better than he didi it was " An honest Ministry—consistent men—good measures . " He was afraid that , under the present s ^ stem of representation , rach a wi&h was the day-dream of a political enthusiast , but if any believed that such a wish could ever fee revise *! , no one must think that by the toast they intended to p 3 y the slightest compliment , or to allude in the smallest degree , to her Majesty ' s present Government—( cheers , and laughter . )

      Testing the Government by the rule of the toast , that the ministry was an honest one which wa » composed of consifctent * nen , and which gave good measures , what were they ? He would mention one instance : tha rentleman that did them the honour to preside over the Home Office—icheers . and laughter . ) fie ( Sir J . Graham ) bad ooce said , that the very men with whom htaow acted , were " the materials of the worst cabinet that this country had ever produced . " Such was the consistency of the members of the present Amiuistration , and the good or tvil of their measurc-a was proved by the present condition of the country—( cheers . ) Whilst the ruined manufacturer , the dnp ^ rt agriculturist , the starving artisan , were crying ' stamp '

      upon them , they were meeting at a handsome bouse at Windsor—( laughter)—and proroguing tie - Parliament for a still longer period . Th « y cared for nothing tint their own convenience * They wished nothing t > at the enjoyment of country sports . With such men the meeting of Parliament was rejju ' ated bj the partridges more than by the people—( cbet > r 3 and laughter . ) The Parliament had been prorogued when the shooting season commenced , and it vruuld net meet again until the shooting season was over-Hcontinter . cheers and kughter . ) Human nature cruld not be t-zpected to endure evils so intolerable , Tbe only remedy however , was with the people themselves ; and if the people exerted themselves boldly , then , and then enh , would the wish be fulfilled which was conceived jc

      th-toast he had the honour of proposing— " An honest Ministry—consistent men—good measures . " —( louit aud long-continued chwriny . ) The Chaibmas again rose . He said be had now the honour to propose the toast which wejs more imrssdi-» tely the oVj ^ ct of their meeting— " The purity of trial by j ™ ry . "— 'Load applause . ) When ha sat * Limself snrrounded by gentlemen who half a century a ? o bad -witnessed the dismay , tht indignation , and natural sorrow which was excited by the exile of the Scotch p ^ uio ' -s , Muir , Palmer and the others , and the txzltau-m woica the acqoittal of Hardy , Home Tooke , ana TfcelvTaii Lad caused , he could not but regret that this toast had mi proceeded from Borne of them . He , however , belisVcd -hat tbere never had been a period of British history in

      ¦ which it was more necessary for the people to stand by that palladium of liberty than the present To t-: sure the present government came not bo ma ^ ful-y forward as William Pitt had done , to attack * -te liberty of the subject , but he feared they would surrei-. titiotisly ntderxnineit in as dangerous a manner . It was the = sp--c ^ l duty then , of tbe juries who had to try coses cf { -edition—a -efcarge totally undefined by the laws cf the coanirj—to be on their guard , and to defend their oppressed brethren . Persons charged with Lien tieai .-jn , it baa been said , " werecevered with the wbv . le B-rucar of ** be la ^;" but the defence of the man who waa charged ^ ith sedition was at the discretion of the ju 3 ^ -e- —( hear ) He alluded to this fact in com * qcenc-.- cf what bad recently occurred at fee trials at the Special Commission

      in tha counties of Stafford , Chester , and lar caster . He was sure there was not an individual present who bad not read the charge of one of the learned judges who had been selected by the Government for that important duty . If such charges wete allo ^ ea—*{ the ¦ peeial juries were to be directed , as tLa grand jury L .: d been , by lord Abinser , at Liverp ^ :- !—be -would fosrlOBiy ssj tfeat no man * liberty , to man ' s life , -would be nfa , if tried by that individual—( Trfcmendons and ior >> continued cheerier . ) He said , therefore , there n ^ ver vas a tLiie in which it had been more nsce&iary to maintain the independence of the juries— ( applause , l He doubted not that many persons there bad read D ^ n "Swift ' s ' History cf Political Lying . "— [ laughter . ) The Dean there said that the WLies and Tories of M 3 day

      Vere both celebrated for lying , but which had the best of it he found it difficult to s- > . y—( laughter . ; If hs , however , had lived in theso days he would have found as Abinger and a gentiemsn sitting at the Home Office equal to any of them—i&rest cheering ard laughter . ) In illustration of Ms opinion , he would teil them vhat occurred on the evening cf the day upon which tbe commission was sent into the country . In the "History of Lying" to which he had aUuded . the Dean had styled cne lie the " terrifying lie" —( Hear , hear , and laughter . ) This " terrifying lie" the Government had studied , for on the eve of the day of the issuing the commission they had ordered arresis to be made in different parts of the country , as » ell as in London- ( Cheers . ) Several persons whe were called

      Chartists , F . O'Connor and others , were arrested , and for what object ? Why , to terrify the public mind , and to impress upon the juries the idea that a drtadful conspiracy was hatching—that a fearful revolution wa 3 on foot . ( Loud cries of hear , and cheers . ) These were eharged with oSsnces equal to thess alleged aciinst Hardy , Home Tooke , and Tc ^ lwaiL EnomiT . s boil ires demanded at the police ifBces . The trials rook place , and Borne of them were tru-asporued and mat > y imprisoned , which , under the presant state of pticon discipline , wib worse than executio , for it was a iocj and lingering death , ( Cheers . ) Was not snch a system disgraceful to the Goverrmeut ? The time wouid come when it would be impcr ^ -nt to loot intu thii great question . The time bad come whtn jaries ¦ vrbt

      had to try such charges mast not allow tisir prejudices to be aroused , and their judgn . ents to be warptd by the conduct cf the Government L-. « tbem co ; think that the discontent which prevails d amozg&t all classes of the people aros « either from the Chartists on the i ojse hasd , or the Arti-Com Law League on the other—( cheers )—but let them , as they in justice were bound , lay the blame , the guilt , and the culpability , at the door of the House of Cjmaion 3 . iLond . enters j Le : them attribute it to that class-legislation which tia been the cause of misery to bo many thousands of the British people . ( Hear , and imsiense cheeriEg . ) It

      irai fox them—it was for the British people—to put aii end to tbia nefarious and Iniquitous system ; but above all things , they were bound net to allow the conduct of the Government , or the charges of the Judge , to warp or prejudice their opinion , whilst they were sitting upon juries . Many members of the Government woald say that be now was talking sedition . Itv : ^ aot sediton—( cheers )—he was only txercising his ri ^ ht as an Englisman to discuss public grievances in public assemblies . To teppert , sirengthen , and maintain that right he now begged to propose The Purity of Triai by Jury . " ( It was greeted with loud applause , three times three , and continued cheering . )

      Major Reyell said he had to propose " The thre « Jnrieswbo , in 179 i , acquitted Hardy , Home Tooke and ThelwalL "—( Applause . ) He observed that he bad lived in those times , and that such was the reign of terror then existing , tint those who iived in the prc-stut comparatively quiet times could have no , or very imperfect , idea of what then preva- ' letL Tbis wm a period of repose cotnpsred with 1794 , bad & 3 things were ; but then if any one ventnrtd to say anything favourable to the claims and rights of man , he was liable to be insulted , or unceremoniously turned cut of company—( Hear , hear . ) Every preparation was made to pack the Juries , in order to bang the parties accused ; a&d something like impartial Juries were only secured by the names of persons liable to tars having been pot into and drawn out of a hat—( hear , bear . ) He had the greatest satisfaction in proposing the toast— " The three Jarief wbo , in 179 i , acquitted Thomas Hardy , John Horse Tooke , and John Thelw&IL ' ( It was received and honoured with great applause . )

      Mr . Coates said that he had been complimented lrtth having entrusted to him the proposal of a . toast in honour of the memory of those whose triumphant acquittal they bad that day met to celebrate . He bad attended there to show hla gratitude to the departed , and to support their excellent Chairman— ( applause . ) There was not in the House a more honest , straightforward , and independent representative of the people than the gentleman wbo did them the bODOOl to pre-« lde on thspresent occasion —( cheering . ) In Parliament , h » rejected all cold , conventional forms—threwing to fit * winds all points of minor importance—bavinc nothing to do with party ; he spoke plain trnth in a Idaee whee ttu-h w = a rather unii ^ hionable . He wished tbereweTe mere such members in what by a faction vrau-• Kaea the People ' s House of Parliament— ( cheering <

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      In proposing this toist , in recalling the memory of the dead , he could not but observe that he missed many honest faces that used to appear among them ; and it waa painful to know that they had departed for ever . Still ail had not gone . He rejoiced to behold that Alexander Galloway still lingered among them ; he had suffered mush from indisposition , but it was gratifying to see that he bad so much recovered—( cheers ) . He ( Mr . A . Galloway ) had not changed , as many others had done , with every changing gale—he had honourably , steadfastly adhered to his principles—( great applause . ) Besides the gratification of seeing among them so old and steady a friend of the cause , it was most cheering to witness the presence of so many young men , ready , he hoped , and was delighted to believe , to carry on the great work in which snch men as Hardy , Tooke , and Thelwall had straggled—( applause . ) Those m ? n were , indeed , an honour to their country . Reform had in our time become

      something of a fashion ; indeed , it required some courage , even in a Tory , now-a-days , to say that he was against all reforms ; but when those men lived , it demanded much boldness and virtue of no ordinary character , to avow the advocacy of reform—( hear , hear . ) Pitt at tiiat period panted for the blood of tbe Reformers , and had he succeeded , Parliamentary Reform would have besn staved off far an immense period—( hear , hear ) . He had to propose the " immortal memory" of those who , by their bo ' . nness and coumge , had done bo much f ' . r the cause of Parliamentary Reform—who had been charged , and eorae tried , bnt a ! l of whom were found to be " not guilty "—( hear , hear )—and whose memories deservid to be embalmed in odours of never-dying praise—( applause . ) He concluded with proposing " the immortal memory of Thomas Hardy , John Home Tooke , John Thelwall , J . A Bonny , Stewart Kyd , Richard Hodgson , Thomas Holcroft , Jeromlah Joyce , Thomas Wardell , Matthew MooTe , John Baxter , and John Richter . " It was honoured in solemn

      silence . Mr . P . Thompson proposed , " the memory ef Erg tine , tbo gratuitous and able advocate of the accused patriots of 1791 . " Mr . Richard Tatloe proposed "the memory of the London Corresponding Society , " by whose exertions political knowledge had been imparted to the people of this country . They bad advocated full , fair , and free representation , and what did that mean but" Complete Suffrage ?"—ihesJ , hear ) . He confessed he did not sympathise with those who ware satisfied , because they had the franchise ; there ought to be Complete Suffrage ? ( applauii . ) Property was not entitled to exclusiveness of power ; and cs to the land , it had only exercised poxers to relieve itself from burdens , such as land-tax

      and legacy du : y —( hear , hear ) . A landowning P 3 r . iament had plundered the peopla ; it had been au organised body to plunder the rest of the community . That wns ibe plain English of tha matter—( cheerirg and ranch laughter ) . And what liad been the consequences of having a landowning Parliament ? One in thirteen manufacturers was a pauper ; and one in seven of the favoured agricultural clsas was a pauper—( hear , hear . ) There were other countries not so happy as this ; they were destitute of the high" class ; to be sure they were equally rUl of the destitute class—( Jiuijbter and cheers )—and those countries had got rid of those blessings called primogeniture , entails , dec . securing a more equal distribution of property among children . To be sure , those countries had not the

      happiness cf possessing "higher orders ; " they had not an aristocracy ; so that they had not the advantages of possessing the Hertfords and the Franiiforts , who did so much to diffuse refined table and elevated morals ( tremendous laughter and cheering . ) Therefore all questions had their good and bad sides ; so that he feared if they were to get rid of the destitute classes , they would also have to undergo the losa of such elevated examples as those to which he had alluded—( great cheering and laughter . ) The toast he proposed with great pleasure . Though few of the society ( which was suppressed by Act of Part ament !) remained , he had great pleasure in seeing that Alexander Galloway stiii survived —( applause . ) He concluded with giving " The memory of the London Corresponding Society , " which was duly honoured .

      The Chairman added to the toast— " And the repeal of the law that suppressed the society "—( loud applause . ) Mr . a . Galloway ro 3 e to return acknowledgments , but he was so affected by the kind and enthusiastic manner in which he was received , that for some time he waa unable to express his gratitude for the notice taken of himself , and the honour done to the memory of the s-x ; iety . He earnestly enlarged on the useful and straightforward character of the society , and tbe good il had dc : ie . Taey constituted a large political school , and tbey were the first who taught the people the value of political information . It , however , had the mLefortuna to be largely misunderstood ; and , consequently , it had a large share of political oiiam to withstand . It was now , however , well understood , and all who were acquainted with Its character and conduct knew that , the couLtry , the cause of political iiifijnnntion , had been « iacii i ^ debt « l to it —( hear ,

      near . ) j Mr . P . Taylor proposed "Freedom to tradeprosperity to agriculture , " —being doctrines broached by no U-aa distinguished a person than Sir James Graham—C-auxhter aad chfetia)—and advocated by Six Robert Peel—( bear , hear ) The corn laws BtiU continued certainly , bat all argument in support of them had been abandoned—force alone now maintained them . Mr . HorKiKiN proposed " The memery of Margerot , Gerald , iiair , and Palmer , the victims of an arbitary and vindictive Scutch court in 1783 ; " observing that theii prevention showed how uifferent was the state ot yuiitical information in the two countries . In England tbe spirit cf liberty had been assiduously cultivated ; in Sct / t ! acJ , at that period , it wxs not known . And as to juries , they obeyed the direction of the judge . —( Hear , hear . ) A free press did not then exist there ; the spirit of liberty was unknown in Scotland at tbst time . — ( Hear , hear . ) The toast was duly honoured .

      Dr . Epps proposed " Tbe Liberty of the Press , " which was rscived and honoured with enthusiasm . Dr Sjmpso . n proposed " Diniel O'Connell and justice to Ireland . " He did not know any reason why this toast had been placed in his bands , unless it was the fact of Lis being a native of Ireland . Mr . Dunbar , the present mayor , and lately member for Belfast , was in tbe habit of boasting that he bad been a Protestant , and that he had sucked in Orangeism with his mother ' s milk . Like him , he iDr . S . ) had sucked in Protestanism from his mother's breast , but , thank God , it was mixed with Christian charity and love towards his neighbour . Unlike Mr . Danbar , whose bigotry and hatred of Papists increased with his years , every day's experience proved to him ; hat there was as much honesty of purpose aDd goodness of heart among Roman Catholics as among Protestants . He , therefore , felt unmixed pleasure in proposing the toast .

      CoL P . Thomps&n proposed " Radical Reform , " which waa greeted with loud cheering , Mr . Horsley proposed " The immortal memory of Washington , Franklin , and other founders of liberty in the United States . " A Gentleman suggested that tti&y should add Thomas Paine . Tbe Chairman said the toast put in his hand was , " The immortal memory of Wasniugton , Thomas Paine , Franklin ,. &c ";— ( applause )—v ^ hkh was applaudingly honoured . Mr . H . Patten gave " Civil and Religions L berty all the Wi > rld ove < - , " which was honoured with warm api > iause .

      The meeting did not separate till nearly twelve o ' clock . It was one uf t : r-it interest throughout , and so fully occupied and deeply interested were the company , that no singing ras required to pass the time .

      The Northern Star. Saturday, November 12, 1842.

      THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 12 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      THE RASCALLY PRESS AND THE THREATENED SPECIAL COMMISSION . To talk of the justice of this country , or the impartial administration of its laws , has long been a farce disgu-ting to all reasonable and right-thinking men . Bat we live in times when faction seems resolved to do its work , and rush to its own destruction over the trampled remains of British freedom . We submit the following choice morsel from the Dublin Monitor , as a fair specimen of the reckless and devilish career pursued by the whole press of " the establishment : "—

      " There is a report very general that , at the close of the present term , a new commission will be issued for the trial of Mr . Feargua O'Conuor and the othet ChMti 3 ts who have traversed . It is thought that the Governme&t ia particularly anxious to have these cases disposed of previong to the meeting of Pariiament . As to the fate of Die accused , but tilllc dwtbt am be enteriuined , / or int \ Jiarx excited the strongest prejudice * against ( Iiemselves . The Teriw and Whigs rival each other in tkeir detestation , of those most unhappy politicians . The first fear them , because they believe that the ultimate aim of the Chartists is to destroy property ; the Whigs hate them , because they not only refused to aid in the Anti-Cora Law movement , but did their utmost to render it unsuccessful . I have heard some anecdotes relative to their ¦• preachers , " which I purpoeely reserve for another occasion . "

      la tbis deliberato attempt to prejudge the cause of the doomed victims—this crusade against tbe rights of humanity—the whole press of tbe factions , from the Times and Morning Chronicle to the most paltry print which their gold can bribe or their threatening terrify , has done its brst to close up the remotest chance of a fair trial for the accused . Let the country note well the language of the scribbler of the Monitor , and let them recollect that the Monitor is par-excellence , a " Liberal , " not cue of O'Cokell ' s tools , but an advocate of liberty ; and yet this Liberal paper joins with the mott

      Untitled Article

      rascally ot theJConserratiTe journals in seeking the detraction of those who are endeavouring to " undo the heavy burdens , and to let the oppressed go free . " We especially call attention to the fact that the miscreants of the press are doing all they can to prejudge the case , and to force the jury class into the coming to a Terdiot of guilty . We have seen this to be the game for some time ; but the Monitor has overshot the mark , and will not , we fancy , get much thanks from his masters for thus drawing aside the veil , and admitting us to a peep behind the curtain , We are told that the Special

      Commission is to be issued for the express purpose of u trying Mr . Fbargus O'Connor , and the other Chartists who have traversed . " So , bo I the law allowed the victims of malicious treaohery to traverse , but the Government sets itsslf above the law and , by means of a Special Commission , ( for which it is not pretended the state of the country affords the s l ightest occasion , ) the right of traverse is to be Yirtually taken away , and those who constitutionally cannot be put upon their trials before March are to be unconstitutionally compelled to endure all the hardships of winter travelling , and all the horrors of winter confinement , if the prosecutors sucoeed in getting a conviction . Well , we live in an age of improvement , and we suppose this is one specimen

      of it . Mr . Feargus O'Connor must be sentenced ; ( and he will be , and no mistake , if the efforts of one of the vilest of the vile reptiles of "the race who write" can succeed in his murderous design . ) But "Vlr . O'Connoh must have the appearance of a trial , and so must all the rest ; and , in order to keep up the form of law , whilo its spirit is being violated , the country must endure the infliction and ezpence of another Special Commission . The fact is , Government have a case which will not keep ; they dare not leave it to the decision of even middle class jurors , when calm reflection has had time to op-rate , bo they will try the Chartists now , lest when prejudice shall have had time to cool , a verdict of acquittal might be the result .

      That there does exist in the press , and consequently in the minds of the higher and middle classes , of which the press is the index , a prejudice against the accused , is proved by the above from the Monitor . "AS 10 THE FATE OP THE ACCO 3 ED BUT LITTLE

      DOUBT CAN MB ENTERTAINED , FOR THEf HAVE EXCJTeD THE STRONGEST PBEJUD 1 CE AGAIKST THEMSELVES * ' !! ! And has it really come to this 1 ! Is the fate of the victims of a political persecution so certain that a newspaper scribbler can predict , with almost certainty , the fate of the accused ?! The constitution holds every man to be innocent until he is proved to be guilty ; but it seems that reform has reversed the whole affair , and the man is to be pronounced guilty and then to be insulted with the mockery of a trial . Yet , judging from the way in which Government seem resolved to prooeed in reference to those who

      having traversed and entered into the required securities , supposed their liberties certain until March , it does seem that a conviction , with or without evidence , is resolved on ; and the press of every shade of politics is hounding on tbo Executive of the country to its work . Mark the Becret way in which this infamous scribbler tries to influence the jury class . The Chartists ** have excited much prejudice against themselves , therefore the late of tbe accused is all but certain . " That is , in plain English , " the political opinions of the accused are in opposition to

      the opinions and supposed interests of those who have to pronounce upon their guilt or innocence These persons are so much the slaves of prejudice as to let it predominate even in the jury box , and , though sworn to give a true veriict according to the evidence , they will go point blank against it if need be , in order to gratify that prejudice which must be satiated oven at tbe expence of public odium , and corrupt perjury . " If the words on which we are commenting mean anything they mean this ; and if there be one spark of real English feeling left in the bosoms of the middle classes , they will feel and repel with indignation the foul calumny thus heapea

      upon them . Of course it is not for us to say what will be the result of the coming trials ; but we do kuow that a public prosecutor never came into court with a more despicable or paltry case , and we also know that if the jury do really value the oaths they take , a conviction upon such evidence ig impossible . But the drift of all this is clear enough . The charge if left to itself , must fail ; hence it is sought to make it a party question , and to excite strong party prejudices against the acouied , that the verdict which honest conviction would never give , may be secured by an appeal to party prejudice and passion .

      If our readers doubt this , let them look at the concluding portion of the sentence we have quoted : — " The TorieB and Whigs rival each other in their detestation of those most unhappy politicians . They first fear them because they believe that the ultimate aim of the Chartists is to destroy property . The Whigs hate them because they not only refused to aid m the anti-Corn Law movement , but aid thoir utmost to render it unsuccessful . "

      Come , Mr . Monitor , this is speaking out with a vengeance . The Tories fear the Chartiste , and the Whigs hate them . What for \ Because tho first deem them destructives , and the second find it impossible to make them such . Thu ^ the picture of Chartism as drawn by the oppressing factions is destructive and non-destructive at the same time . And so it is broadly intimated that , as the Chartists refuse to become the tools of either faction , it is resolved , without evidence , or in deEanee of evidence , if need be , lo make them the victims of both .

      There is much in the few lines quoted above which should call up the energies of the people , and make them resolve that : he cause shall be triumphant . We have no doubt that " the Government is particularly anxious to have these men disposed of previous to the meeting of Parliament . " No doubt , Government would be extremely glad so to dispose of the cause , as well as the men ; but , thank God , that is beyond their reach . These Chartists being

      at large , and ready to direct tho energies of the people at the opening of Parliament , would , no doubt , be extremely inconvenient to the occupants of Downing-Btreet ; and therefore all decency mu 3 t be set aside , all , even the appearance of M fair-play ' violated , juBtioo insulted , and the '" majesty of the law" once more exposed to the contempt of the whole country , for the noble purpose of precluding the voice of the people from disturbing the sage deliberations of our assemblies of Incurables !

      What fools these fellows are ! Do they think that the incarceration of the leaders in factionruled dungeons will still the storm or hush the raging of the tempest ? As well might they expect to frustrate the laws of the universe by one of their ActB of Parliament , or by a lithograph missive from their renegade " man of all work , " Sir James Grab am . Ne ; Government may be aiZJOUB to get all the people ' s tried friends incarcerated , but the day which consigns them to a dungeon

      will sound the death-note of faction ; and the people will take care that Parliament Bhall not rest upon a bed of down while Buffering patriots ate doomed to separation from their homes and all they love . This anxiety so evidently displayed by Government , and by the masters of the Government , the Tillanous middle classes , is an infallible sign of weakness ; they are falling , and they know it . Hence , in their madness , they catch at anything . But their doom is sealed .

      After all , it must bo admitted that faction fights hard and dies game . It is a most relentless adversary . In its death struggle it can afford to mi 3 S no vantage ground , however cruel or dishonourable the means of Hb attainment . If the purpose of the authorities be rightly surmised by the Monitor and its co-mates of devilism , there ib muoh in this arrangement whi ° h bespeaks the vigilance and the anxiety of faction . Much that shews the fell determination of the factions to " put down the movement" at all risks .

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      It was known that arrangements were being made as fast as the crippled resources of industry permit , for the raising of funds for the defence of the accused , and for the maintainance of their respective families , when the jurieB ' have done their work . " This , the scoundrels for whom the whole of 'Established press" write , would regard as as evil of no small magnitude . The struggle jb for life !; it ia to put down Chartism ; this could be effected probably with more ease if the provision of the people for its " doomed" advocates ebuleV . be interfered with ; and hence the determination

      for a grand effort to get them into gaol now , and starve the viotims in prison , and their families out of it . This triumph the rascals muBt not have . The whole country muBt now arouse itself , and funds must be instantly raised both to meet the expenoe of the ensuing trials , and to provide for the victims and their families , while enduring the privations and Bufferings inflicted by the wicked administrators of class-made law . Let active Committees be ; at once formed in every locality . And let not tbe members of our association be alone called upon to aid in this cause :

      but let every shopkeeper or tradesman , especially those who profess to be Liberals , be solicited ; and let the Chartists adopt , as far as it is practicable , a system of exclusive dealing . - Let / Tor this once at ell events , the pipe and pot be abandoned . Let him who thinks it hard to be deprived of his pint of beer , recollect that the threepence he pays for it might procure bread for the famishing child of a class-made victim of oppression . We see in this persecution an i a fallible test of principle . Let no man who indulges himself in an unnecessary gratification at a crisis like this , dare to profane the name by calling

      himself a patriot . This is no time for talking but for action . Make a bold front , and the reptiles will shrink from you with a humbling sense of their insignificance . But be supine aLd negligent ; let them 6 ee that they can condemn your best friends to slow murder with impunity , and you may rely upon it , the sentence of condemnation will be of no sparing character , while you yourselves will be the next viotims , until not a vestige of your boasted liberty remain . If the people wish to gain their rights , let them them prove by their actions that they are worthy of them .

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      influenced by other motives , which they kept a secret from the parties , afforded the strongest presumption of corruption . " This reasoning must have been conclusive to any Judge on whom reason could make any impression . But it waa all lost upon Mr . Justice Patteson , who has evidently made up his mind to sanction aay stretch of power or perpetration of injustice , provided the offenders be Magistrates and the victims Chartists .

      " Mr . Justice Patteson observed , that upon . the statement of the Learned Counsel , there appeared to be no evidence of any corrupt motive having influenced the Justices in their conduct . That he did not mean to state it as his opinion that the conduct of the Magistrates waa at all proper in the circumstances . The question upon tbe present application was not whether the Justices were juustined in what they had done , but

      whether they were so manifestly influenced by partial and corrupt motives u to be liable to the peculiar and extraordinary proceeding of a criminal information . Before he ( Mr . Justice Patteson ) granted such a rule as that Which « aa now applied for , he must be satisfied of the corrupt intentions and motives of the Magistrates by such conclusive and satisfactory evidence ' as he could not perceive to exist in any degree in the present instance . *

      And then , having thus declared his inability to discover that , which is clear beyond dispute to any unprejudiced mind , this decider upon the conduct of his fellow-men , and who is in the theory of the law supposed to be counsel for the prisoner , and is said to be bound to make prominent every point in his favor , proceeded to institute one of the most viltanous comparisons which ever disgraced the benoh of justice"The very thing which the magistrates had done in the case in question had been formerly done in this court by a learned judge , who rejected a person who was tendered as bail , and who was unobjectionable in reference to the necessary amount of pecuniary ualification , but who kept a gambling house . "

      To which vile attack upon the characters of honest men , the council for tha application most promptly and properly replied that he " Submitted to his Lordship that there was a great difference between rejecting a man as bail because he kept a gaming-house , or wasotherwise liable to the criminal justice ot the country for having committed some indictable offence , and rejecting him for no other reason than his conformity in political opinions with the party for wham he was to be bound . "

      What the Learned Judge might think of this , it is not for us to say ; but we do peroeiva what the people , who are taunted with their ignorance and brutality , will both say and think about such a villanoua comparison . It might be , no doubt , an excellent reason for refusing a man as bail who kept a gambling house , or even a man with the habits of the gambler ; because however rich he might be at any given moment , he might become a beggar within the next halt hour . But are men such as these to

      ie classed with the honest entertainers of political opinions , however unpalatable those opinions may be to those in authority 1 This disgrace must be wiped away , and will be when the people , feeling as they ought to do , their accumulated wrongs , resolve to obtain their rights , and place those whose province it is to administer the law , under the control of public opinion , by making them really responsible to a freely and fully chosen Parliament .

      One thing is clear beyond question , that is , that if the dootrine be admitted that the magistrates may refuse bail quite unexceptionable on such grounds as these alleged by the ] Stafford authorities , the holding moH to bail is a ridiculous farce , and the liberty of the subject a mere name . It is certain that , in a majority of cases , an accused party muBt look for sureties amongst thoso who are of the same opinions as himself , and if this is to be deemed a sufficient ground for refusal , then we may as well be told at once , that it is resolved that no Chartist shall ever be allowed bail . This is evidently what is intended ; and the sooner the doetrine is officially promulgated the better .

      Another inference from this case is not to be lost sight of . If , on such grounds , bail may be refused before trial , it may also be refused in cases where sureties to keep the peace are required after the expiration of the sentence . It is no uncommon thing for the Judge to sentence a political offender to a term of imprisonment , and then to find bondsmen ia a considerable sum for his keeping the peace for a length of time afterwards .

      Now , if Magistrates may thus aot in reference to bail , the transition is easy to the bond required after conviction ; and then it will be in the power of any malignant rascal in the commission of the peace to inflict imprisonment for any length of time he pleasea , by merely declaring that he is not satisfied with the security tendered on the part of the

      prisoner . Let the people look to it , for in it they are most deeply interested . There is a deep and deadly hatred to liberty in the bosoms of all in authority . The movement is to be put down at all risks , and no method , however unjust or tyrannical , will be left untried to accomplish that object . The factions will do their worst in crushing public opinion ; . if the people do not do theirs by a bold , manly , and determined , but peaceful resistance to the usurped authority of their rulers . Let , then , union be our watchword , and by union let us regain oar rights , and give a , blow to the oppressor from which it will be impossible for him to recover .

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      THE QUARTERLY BALANCE SHEET OF THE EXECUTIVE . This important document will be found elsewhere inserted . We oall to it the especial attention of all members of the General Council , and , indeed , of all members of the National Charter Association . We hope that every man will read it carefully , and that every man will refer carefully to the plan of organization , and read them together . Wise , active , and honest public ] servants always thank the people for

      the exercise of vigilance . Nothing is so necessary and especially at this time , as that the people should look well to the conduct of those who have the guidance of their movement and the control of their funds , giving honour to whom honour may be due , and according such censure or admonition , as may serve to keep every foot in tho strait and straight path . If tho people have a fault , it is that they are frequently disposed to be too remiss 5 n surveillance , wheroby small deviations from right prac-

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      tice , too often grow at length into frightful aberr * tionsfrom principle , which compel them to cast 08 parties who with better watching might bave long continued to be good and useful servants . We have neither space nor time this week for the directing of attention to many items in this document which we think specially deserving of regard . Whether wq may do so next week or not , we trust that the people will at all events make themselves intimately acquainted with it > that they will read it carefully along with the plan of organization , and observe strictly the degree of faithfulness with which the

      funds passing through the hands of their acknowledged servants have been appropriated and expended in accordance with its provisions . We think the Executive have aright to require this of them ; it is well and necessary to exhibit palpably the contrast between the mode of management adopted in like matters by the factions over whom the people have no control , and by their own appointed and respon * sible public servants . Nothing tends more forcibly to illustrate the value of our principles than the comparison between reckless class rapacity and stem democratic honesty .

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      Robert TuRNBin-t . —The flaming "professor who told him that to die of hunger was one of the greatest blessings of Christianity is a fool , and something more-Wm Cbany . —That is the right way to meet the " plague " -men . Argument is just the thing they don ' t tike . F . Poppleweli ,. — We have another long letter from W . P ., thin week , which occupies all the space we can now devote to the subject . We will try to find room for him next week . The Executive . —We give the letters o f T . M . Wheeler and Mr . Watkins , tfnitlingfrom the latter one sentence . We hope our friends will

      always try to conduct their discussions in good , temper and without asperity . Where all are honest and mean well this is important . Differences of opinioti will probably always exist among us—nor is it desirable that it should be otherwise : the great thing to be minded is to express our opinions without using unneces ~ sarily offensive terms , and to give all good men credit Jor good purposes . _ A . G . —His question was answered before . He must pay the rent and taxes to secure the settlement . Wm . Blare . —We cannot give him the informationnhe seeks with so much preciseness as he

      seems to require . 'Tis not easily found out . Evan Davies , —We believe that Mr . Edwards does not give anything to the Executive . Samuel Clarke—We have no i » formation on the matter . He must address the Treasurer . Joseph Mokgan . — We have no room . Duckenfield . — We have not room for the long printed address sent . G . A . N ., Sheffield . — We have no wish to question the warmth or sincerity of his patriotism ; but we cannot insert his letter . The day of hard words and strong epithets has gone by ; they are lost upon the factions , who only laugh at them * having no sense of shame ; and they are calcu latedonty to excite in the people a blind fury , which does much harm . We perfectly and

      heartily concur in his urging upon the people the duty of alleviating , so far as they can , by subscribing money for the purpose , the sufferings of those who have expoted themselves and families to the brunt ef battle on their behalf . This is what the peopte ought to do , and what we cannot suppose they will omit to do . We are aware that there is much poverty in the country , and that people need all their money to procure the most ordinary comforts for themselves ; but we cannot suppose there are many Englishmen who will for a moment hesitate to sacrifice something , even of their scanty necessaries , to aid those who have boldly and benevolently braved on their behalf much greater matters of endurance .

      Wm . Porkitt , Bolton . — We have no room . Wm . Lond , of Red- Lion-street , Richmond , Surrey will feel obliged if Mr . Joslyn , late of the Lambeth locality , will communicate his address , as he CMr . Lj has something of importance for him . Bacup . —Any lecturer intending to visit Bacup must communicate with the corresponding secretary , James Pinker ton , to the care of Anthory Marsden , Temperance Hotel , Bacup , and await his answer , otherwise his services will not be aocepted . Bradford . —The person who has this week sent us a lot of news from this place will gave us much trouble , and himself a great deal more , if he will not cut his paper into such small odds and ends . Robert Ramsden , Salford . —Leach was perfectly right . 11 I WILL HAVE MERCT , AND NOT SACRIFICE . " shall

      appear . Nathaniel Morliko will see that the P ^ S . to Mr . Campbell ' s letter , in this week ' s Slat , has made his letter unnecessary . James Maw calls loudly on the Chartists of Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire to bestir them on behalf of Ellis . P . O ' D . —His report of the lecture and discussion is not of a character to suit us ; having no efficient notice of the lecture , only one of the disciissioniste being reported , and no result of the discussion given : we thank him , nevertheless , for his good wili . Wm . Foster . —Yes .

      Will Mr . Wm , Thomason , late of the Vale of Leven , send his present address to John Millar ' , bookseller , Bonhill , ashe wishes to communicate with him ? The Hull Councillors wish to correspond with Mr . West , late of Derby County Gaol . The Letter of Mr . John Campbell in his own Defence . —We feel some apology to be due l « our readers for having , by the insertion of this letter , permitted our colums to be again polluted with a name which we hoped never again to see in them . The unprecedented villany and brutality of such an attack upon men circumstanced as Mr , Cnmpbelt and his fellows are , must furnuh our excuse . It was natural thai Mr . Campbell should feel il . His letter is temperate , mild , and gentlemanly , and by these very qualities , places the hideousness of '" the thing ' in a light so prominent that none but like " things " can avoid loathing it . We have received many ¦ communications upon the subject , exhibiting a spirit of indignance among the people ' , and many resolutions of meetings holden f or the expression of opinion on il . To prevent disappointment , we may as well at once inform all parties concerned , that we will have no more of it . The people may meet if they like : ice think they may find much better occupation for their time ; but that is their affair , not ours : we have certainly much better occupation jor our space ; we know no man to whom we would have permitted any allusion to the matter in our columns but Mr Campbell , and we except him only because of his peculiar position , station , and circumstances . To all other parties we say that it is perfectly useless to send here one word about the starved viper or his slinking cess-pooU We will not permit them even to be named . Samdel Walton , Todmorden . —Write only on one side of your paper for the future .

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      The Portrait of T . Du . vcqmbe will be given to all our Subscribers on November 19 th . They wllll * in the hands of all the Agents by November 16 th ; ' The charge for the Star on the day tfw Portrait of Duneombe ia distributed will be tbe same as the charge for it on the day the Petition Plate was delivered . Yarmouth . —No : it was another person of that name J . Walker , Campsie . —Not strictly : call upon Mr . Da vie , and Bee if you can arrange with him . Buncombe !—Yes . FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENCE FOND . < £ . a . <* . From Bristol , per Simeon ... 0 3 8 „ a few friends at Booking , Essex ... 0 10 0 ^ a few fritnds , Coggleshall , nearKelvedon , per Samuel Harrington ... 0 6 8 ^ a few friends at Cockermouth , per T . Nixon ... ... ... .... 0 5 0 „ Hull , per Mr . Wall ... ... ... 0 3 9 ^ Hull , per Mr . Padget ... 0 2 0 ,. J . H ., Leeds ... ... ... ... 0 0 S „ a poor woman ... ... ... ... 0 0 1 „ E . Pybua , Leeds ... ... ... 0 1 „ a few Subscribers to the Northern Star and the Evening Star , Bradshawgate , Leigh ... ... ... ... 0 3 # _ a few Chartists at Gtolbourne ... ... 0 8 0 „ Holbeck , per J . Daviea ... ... 0 2 10 „ Shrewsbury , per E . Jonea ... ... 0 12 0 . ' . „ ' the Chartists of Sjwerby ... ... 0 7 « „ the Triangle , at Sowerby ... -.. 0 8 0 _ Yarmouth , Norfolk , per W . Troaey ... 0 11 ; & „ tbeChartiatB of Sntton , near Skipton j in Craven , per Wm . Foster ... 0 5 0 ¦ . * , . a few Chartists , BIngley ... ... 0 5 6 ^ Bingley , ( transferred from Contested Seato'Fund ) ... ... ... 0 IS & „ a few friends at Rochester and Stroud 0 8 0 „ * a band of brothers , Shettiestono , near Glasgow ... ... ... 1 . 0 ° „ Mr . Ford , and N . B ., per Simeon , BrlB tol ... ... 0 10 „ Bromley , per Wm . Smith .... ... . 0 » 1 „ the Chartists of Aston-street , Birmingham ] ... ... 0 18 0 „ a few friends , Berry Brow ... ... 0 6 0

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      EXCESSIVE BAIL , ' AND' THE STAFFORDSHIRE AND BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES . In another part of our paper will be found a letter from George White , and also a report of proceedings in the Bail Court , before Mr . Justice Patteson , in referenoe to the refusal of bail fo ^ Mr . O'Neil by the Staffordshire authorities , to I which we beg to call the moat serious attention . all our readers .

      The proceedings of every day tend more and more to convince us of tho intolerable nuisance of class legislation , and of those institutions by which it is fostered and supported . The most glaring injustice is constantly perpetrated by the local magistrates , who havf , in general , been placed in the Commission of tho Peace , not because of their fitness for the important duty of , administering the laws ,

      but because of their strong party bias , and their ignorant and ' rancorous hatred to everything Waring the shape and semblance of popular freedom and independence That this is the case in Birmingham , no one , at all acquainted with the constitution of the Benoh of Magistrates in that town , can for a moment doubt ; and the infamous proceedings in reference to poor White prove that their Worships have no regard eithor for law or justice .

      White tells a tale at which Englishmen ought to blush that such a system of flagrant injustice is suffered to exist in a land calling itself free , and boasting of its Christianity . After stating that he had received two letters , one of which was from the prosecuting attorney , informing him that eight surelies in fifty pounds each were required ; and the other from a friend at Bath , stating that Lfour in a like amount was demanded , he proceeds : —

      " I am unable to say wbfch statement is correct ; but this I know , that tho names and residences of nine sufficient persons wrru handed to Mr . Griffiths on Wednesday last , and on Friday he delivered his decision to my friend to the following effect : ¦—Messrs . Norse and Hemmine were accepted ; and Messrs . Taylor , Watts , Gorbett FoIIowb . Wright and Moule were rejected . Another gentlemen , named Orattan who is a presa-tcol maker , is not yet deo ' . ded on .

      " From the conduct of the Birmingham Authorities , it ' is quite clear that they are determined to keep mo here until the Assizes . From the time of my arrest to the present moment they have acted basely towards me . At tho conclnsion of my examination I applied for bail , which- was granted , tbe Mayor informing me that he should require two Burettes in one hundred pounds each , which , he said , would do for all tho three indictments . I had then two respectable freeholders in court , who were Well known to be worth teu times the amount , waiting for the purpose of offering themselves as my sureties , and informed the magistrates that I was then prepared ; upon which they said they mast cave fortyeight hours notice , although the two persons were as well kown as any in the town .

      " In ten minutes after , I was hurried off to this place . aJdUftaaco of twenty-one miles from Birmingham ; and for some reasons , best known to the magistrates , the men who came unsolicited to tender bail for me , afterwards declined . The next ' time that my friends applied they were told that four sureties , in £ 100 each , would be required , and the Governor of this prison afterwards informed me , that from the manner in which the commitments were signed , he should

      require six sureties m om hundred pounds each , and that the Mayor mud have kuown it from the first , he being the person that signed two of them . They have since then refused about fourteen shopkeepers and tradesmen , who are worth a vast deal more than the Hinuunt required ; and I am informed that the policeman oho was sent to inquire into the qualification of some of those who gave their names as willing to become sureties , threatened and bullied them about being Chartists . "

      Certainly no man in his senses can doubt that the Birmingham worthies are ordered to inflict as much hardship and buffering on their victim as their fiendish minds can prompt them to invent , and their power enable them to execute . But . it ia part of the system , and will continue until the system itself shall have ceased to exist . That the magistrates , though consoious of violating the most sacred rights of the subject , are encouraged to do bo by the certainty of being shielded by the higher authorities . ipf the law , is proved by the proceedings of the Stafford Justices , in the case of O'Neil , who was arrested on a charge of attending an illegal meeting , [ and after examination was

      committed for trial , but as tho law required , held to bail . ' ' Bail of tho most unexceptionable character wis tendered and refused , because they held , or were supposed to hold , similar political opinions with tha accused . After considerable delay this monstrous proceeding was stt aside on an application to Judge Tindal , and the bail at onco accepted . On this a rule has been applied for to compel the justices to acting to shew cause " Why a criminal information should not be filed against them for having illegally , partially , and corruptl y refused to accept bail upon the part of O'Neil , there being no objection made to the persona tendered as bail except that they were alleged to be of the same political principles which were professed by O'Niel himself . "

      1 No one , we should suppose , could for a moment doubt the propriety of this application . It is as clear as noon day , that the magistrates were actuated by party motives in their refusal to take bail , and as the Learned Counsel very properly argued : — " That , as in general , it would not be supposed that persons in the situation of O'Neil could procure bail from any other class of persons except those who sympathise with his political opinions , it would be a most formidable doctrine to lay down that a Justice of the Peace may refuse bail upon the ground of their political opinions being the same as those of the party for whom they proposed to become sureties . " And

      that" It would not weaken the grounds of the application , as the Justices had no right to alter the measure of justice with any reference to the politics of tho parties ; and if they ( the Justices ) had solely acted from political causes , it wa 9 impossible for them to contend that they were free from the imputation of partiality ; whilst it may bo said iu addition that the faot of their declaring that they were

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      After the above artiole had been printed in our first edition , we received the London papers of Thursday evening , and from them we learnt that at the sitting of the Court on that morning , the Learned Judge ( Patieson ) had given his judgment , and granted a rule for a criminal information against the two defendants . We shall now see what answer they will make to the allegations against them .

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      THE STURGE CONFERENCE . The people must not let the multiplicity of the urgent affairs on hand prevent any of them from being duly attended to . Cool heads and even tempers do muoh work with little bustle . This is the spirit we want to see among the people : it is worth all the bluster and rant and botheration of all the mob orators in the world . The feelings of the people may be well and usefully appealed to , and their spirit stirred , in new districts , where our principles may be imperfectly understood , and where an apathy to politics consequent upon an ignorance of their value may prevail , but where our principles are well known , n here they are rightly understood , and the

      only question is , " How are they to be made opera * live ! " the faculty in requisition is cool vigilancethoughtful and constant watchfulness—which turns all circumstances to account . Hence , therefore , while looking to the victims , and preparing for the trials , let not the Conference be forgotten . We had purposed to say something more upon it this week ; but , as Mr . O'Connoe has written on it , we refer our readers to his letter . We intreat them to read that , and to read cur article of last week , and to mind the instructions given . We warn them that if they ore not watchful , they will be " jockied ?' while the Conference may be made "a great oard '' for the movement , if it be but " well played . "

      2ta 3&E&Xiev& Aim ^Om^Pomreutf*

      2 Ta 3 &e&Xiev& aim ^ om ^ pomreutf *

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      4 ^__ THE NORTHERN STAR . . ¦ ¦ \

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 12, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct456/page/4/