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Northern Star (1837-1852), 20th November 1841, Edition 3 of 4, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      PUBLIC MEETING FOR THE *© OPReH OF THE NATI 0 KXE 32 HZn K >* fc * T i ^ nbHcjme tiag vm sapotjwed by £ l _ e 8 » & . ^ JS ? piSeWtbeeveningof M / jSayiMfe *» ' **•*••»* £ of * £ &' Meebattlcs * l 8 JititBtion . f"be-plaee « meeting ^ f c ^ Si ww « aBea to ®*__ ^ i ?* # g 7 t 2 UmthefeKmothptoaawr * & *^_ 2 _ **«¦** £ pemmiBUoaUed on neb « a tatereifiag , and fcBpovt intoccaslon . Ito period at'banA wfi ! appear tm the nee of history as one of the most important , tad the daMBflnt about toteintroduced , arose of the meat

      TT , «™> fo » t records and convincing claims ever set forth , of man ' s debasement , and the just * ee of bis rijgbt The ffattffl i ** Fetftfos ^ oes tnttniw cwnt to ttuf parties lrbo drew it 19 ; but , to mike its character of importan ** , ~ ina practical point of—view , —HN _ uir * B—ttas-exar tioju of the whole bw of productive . industry , combined , concentrated , vl # orba * , trm , and hilly determined inword * nd action . Trie question < rf the right of Unl-Teml Bepreseotatisav 1 s bacbmtnf -general , ud i am happy to see the mett of < a ^ tenb * sa-ao mnas <* live to its importance . _» 1 JeeL much , pleasurew \>\ _ vw ^ w to yosr request , Lul 11 would nave given me Ttmexi grosreT delight to havsaeen one of tbe unw * sh ** V-one ; note the serf of the present iy « ton than myself ; ooe of the preperty-prodaeing slave * , denied ttorfs ^ to ' say-yW

      » u .. ; ti- _ . u .. / J ik _ i . _ l . _ vu . u <> «) or nay in the making of the laws by ^ rhlah b * 1 * go J versed , presiding upon the present « ocasien . The tits bat piated away when the pivot tamed merely to ti » e point of wealth -a * » guide , or for intelligence . The working « laa * es bav * tripped Hp the basis of their selfdufefeed sncMon ' ; aodlr « now fuBy capable of managing their © wn » fl » ir « . Weare rat * » o determine- on petition , praying that the whole male adult population , withir tp exceptions , nay be brought within the pale of the * on * tituieB . Only a mintte portion , no comparison witt the wfcel * bold tb * privilege , asitia termed by the prrvSeged eiders , to the franchise , and those few far from being the most intelligent . I contend that It h no privilege , bat a right , Whieh eom * a with the Individual into the world—hii person being

      the tiOe-de **—tigsed , -Mated , asd --deUnted by the base of OsaipafeeMe . I am one of the ao-ealled priland voters , and have beea slnee the passing of the Bdera ffin , and , therefore , aeeoratog * o electioneering Ab _ , lam one of tt » ¦ ' free and independent electors . " Look at me , you toil-worn vassals , denied the privilege of free dtiaenahip ! In 18 S 2 , and preview to that time , I washeHm civil , or raitoimrivil , bondage . I was a store a slave , miad , like youxselTes . I pay yon ao eoapHment I tell you freely and truly -what yen are —poor , mean , vassiBated , erawttag alaTe *^ too abject absoat to command the least reject—too ptirillaarmoua , appsrentfy , to resist the yoke of yon * oppressors . Hide , O bide your beads , and blush for your Insignificance : Arouse , I say , arouse , and throw off your

      corrodiag ma&aeles ! Por myself , aloe tone of an election , at any rate , I am in a situation to command respect yott without this prMiege an eeesMer « d as serfs—yoa are serfs—yon aid looked upon and treated as the Mtee of society . Still , in a-io&oBa ! point of jietr , I cottfaer it of HtUeattD ; thai I and othert are thus drenmstaneed ; for the veiee of ladepeadtnoe is erentaaBy swamped by persona interested , or influenced in the support of bad OoTBrmment . Still hating a will of ny own , I as a freeman , and you ire slaves . An job aofc sabstned of cm j lug aboot 70 a thia badge of joa » degradstioit ? Are yoa ao saach in k » Te with youx fetfan that yoa will rather hug them to yoar persons thaa dash them to pieces ] It is your own faults , and not that of your oppressor * , that you are beund hand

      asd tot to their chariot wheels ; for whilst they az ^ BBiteoVbotii WHga aacl lorim , in i »» nriog yo » u ttair jtevs > prgperty , yon are , to a etemtuierkbie extent , apathatk ; you are dmded amoag yoorsdres , and thereby baooate their eaej prey . Too bare sot as yet wfllai yxmr emaseipatioB : if you bad , tyranny would fait back abashed , the weapons with which you are assailed would at once become powerless . Hide your beads far shame , you . discomfited , yet disjointed , pasatre , meagre slsres . Your forefathers would bhtsh for you , could ttey witness your taUen * yet dastardly condition . Too deserve to be slsres , I say , so long as 70 a bare not the moral courage to throw off your shackles . The doctrine of cniTersal representation is ne new ereed to me ; it is whatSbaTe adTocated , and done my

      tot to promulgate tor the last thirty years . I contend for it still , but net on the shallow ground of the immediate necessity of the times—the depresskfi of trade , aad the destitute condition of the working classes . I taks my stand on ntsro- lofty , and more ennobling views . I fontgrrt for it , on the eme principles that Tt « po emkodpttion was demanded by the tens ef Uioaanis ol dissenters and other pbHanttiro ^ lsti aome years back . ( Hear , hear . ) It was twaddleit was scouted as a nuisance by those tender hearted and far-sighted Christians , when they were told by the slave-owners that their liTing-engines were wail etobbedasd well-fed . They acknowledged as much , it being consistent that the property of the slave-owner shook ! be kept in repair lest it ahoula too soon wear

      out They contended , and so d * I in this case , that man should be free to have a will of bis own ; and not havrfig that will , ha is a being , though barn free , by Ttyrpwi anthflri ^ y fc " " »» fynned into a beast of burden aad a ^< yy 4 «^ slave . I contend for the emancipa tion of the white slaves of my own country—the vasssli of flrriitt « prfnTn—t > iA place where Christianity rears its majestic bead , denouncing injustice , decrying human slavery ; but where its professors , to a considerable extent , forge the fetters to manacle its indusbious artisans in , oitU bondage . To * emancipators of the black staves bad no direct interest in their captiyity—they have in yours , both parsons and laymen , and therefore their Christianity teaches teem not to " love ese another "—to " be just lad fear not , " but

      to " hold fast that which u good "—for t&emselvea alone . I make a claim for the producer , as well as the cossumev of wealth , ^ or * h «> rmn \ rbe drags from the bowels of the earth natuxe *! choicest treasures ; for *•*** """ - ^^ ifi whose ingenuity enables him to make thai vast store of nature more valuable through his labour and industry ; for the slave who entwines the chastely threaded vest to adorn the penon of majesty , who supplies the acquisitions to make nebility appear noble , and who gives to female beauty all that art can accomplish ; for the toil-worn operative wbo erect * the stately mansion to shelter the pompous aristocrat as well as the bolder of wealth , deprived of his right through barbarous conventionalities;—in fact , I claim for industry its rights , that it may

      receive its dne reward . I ask for property eyerything , and notMag more On whit labour might possess ; bat I ttoni it truly ridiculous and nujtut that one description of property should render a man a slave , and confer through another the freedom of election . I demand for the public virtue , talent , and manly superiority , honesty and integrity , exertion in behalf of the public weal , and the anxiety to relieve human suffering , a full benefit of the honours and rewards , equally and individually , both to rich and pour Look at me and »™ minA me well , you hitherto thoughtless sod passive slaves ; examine between yourself and other individuals evmppsing society . Can you tell where the distinction lies between me and yourself , that I should hold a

      privilege which you are aliens to 1—that I should have & voice in the election of law makers , and that you should have none ? Unravel the mystery if you can . You may tell me that I am more wealthy , and , that its possession confers the privilege ; but it is no such thing , for under the Absurd system of representation which disgraces tins country , a man may be eTer ao 'wealthy , but H * t holding the secessary requisite itself , he is a slaYe in the midst'of it You may tell me that I am more talented or more intelligent ; but talent nor intelligeoee are no test to the qualification , and far from the qualification itself . You may tell me that I am better attired , that I have a better coat on my back ; bat that is not the distinguishing point ; nor , allow me tell you , does a fine coat make & wi 3 e head , or a suit of fine

      clothes make a real gentleman . You may observe that I am la an extensive wsy of business , and move among what file world calls respectable men , but this does not essay the difference . That 1 am a Poor Law Guardian , and therefore know a great deal more than the poor themselves ; but I must tell you , you are still a long way off the mark , and also that it is not always the wisest and beet men who get into office . It is not in myself that I bold this right or privilege , either as an elector , or Poor Law Guardian , but according to the value of the bricks and mortar of which my premises are composed , with the influence of wealth , in the election of the loiter;—so tbst bricks and mortar are tbe qualified sub > ill Is the election of members of Parliament . The qualification literally is in the purse , and not in the

      Tnun ; md tbe right of the mass of clay and lime ii left in abeyance as well as myBelf , under circumstancss and I am rendered incapable , or , in fact , a slave , unti the occupation of fresh premises , for a limited time invest me with fresh powers . The premises 0 £ 9 19 $ . llf d contains a slave—a farthing more entitla the occupier to the privilege of a freeman . The holds of premises -within the testa part of an inch at th < boundary of tije town has » -roter « nd the oectrpant of 1 ten pound rental , within the same distance on tki opposite side of the line of £ i 9 19 s 11 | d . ia cat oi from the franchise altogether . The fortv-shilling free holder , with a ten pound occupation , not his own pro perty , holds the privilege , in many iartancwt , of voting for four Members of Parliament , and an * occupier o premises at three , or five hundred pounds per annum may be retained as a slave through the non-payment o aimlling , oronacoowatof some informality in the entr ; of his name on the list of voters , a wilful or inadverten act not of his own , but that of some hired tool of party

      Tina 700 aee tram these brief and hasty statesmen what trifles interfere , and under what contisgeacia tt Bght of voting exists . I contend that we are in worse situation now , than we were previous to ti passing of the Beform Bill , both as respects the cond tion of the people , and the system of xepresentatio : Under tbe old borough-mongering . system , numeroi Whig noblemen sent individuals of talent and integrit into Parliament , who in those days preached the eree of Radicalism , On the introduction of the new systec the direct power of dictation was taken from tbe men bars of tbe "Upper House , arid- placed under tbe inflj ence of the aristocracy generally in the counties and tt boroughs ; and is therefore not a representative of th people , but of the aristocracy , the peers in Pariiamei being the principal movers in the farce ; job must the perceive from the Ufctie I have said , that we are not pr greasing , but on the retrocade , and it is a fact whic

      Untitled Article

      'frmhiium apparent : day . 'by day , that good governrgmt ran only be produced through universal representation , theiBgEYo ? voting being secured and protected J&SS oUBUMaUBnas Meodown in the People ' s Charter , I contend still further that good government ownoT to for « oy 'tengthanod ^ er&a of Urns In the abseaoe of a searching intelligent , people . "But * a a natural result * f the people atflirgebavinf ttiepoker to depute a ParHMsietifc , tfaat ParUameBt , . as should be fee duty of a « Psrtiament * , woold , lathe firstInstanos , wtiS ' ln its general enquiries consider the condition of the

      great maw of the peepfe , aad at a consequence a practi cal system of education would swoeed or be eontampo * raneous with measures to give an impetus to industryto fee * and clothe the industrious poor . Until such plans and improvsmeBis be Introduced . It behove * the working man M far as means will allow , to improve fiimldf , and p ^ M « n for the eoodag change , for eoine K most , an ! that » i bo very great distant period . Until than , my frfwtrts , eanwatly , nnitediy , aa 4 il *> wmln « dly the more you exert yourselves the sooner will come the pariodr&yofaEdetiveraaee . - ¦ I . ' .

      : Mr . Mcfmn said it was with feeliags of great pleasure he came forward to move the first resolution Be was actuated by no other motive than that 4 f iMding bis humble aid in the great , work of political regeneration . ( Cbeers . ) He trusted that all par ^ would be wtse , and see that . the . time w > s approac ^ when tb « dUtress of the country mast b » remedied . It was a qMstian that concerned the Corn Lair repealer , ttf Chartist , the Sectarian , the Tory , and the W % TJifi working classes were becoming sensible of the state of degradation is which they were plsoed , and which they sever ought to have known . ( Cheers . ) They tell the working ' classes ( said Mr . M . 1 that they are -ignorant , apd not at to possess political power , I deny it But if they aw ignorant , whose fault ti It ? Does

      not the responsibaity rest with the very parties who make the . charge ? ( Hear , and cheers . ) Plans have been proposed to educate the people ; but would the Gflveroment aid in carrying them out ? Mr . Symons put forth bis plan , measuring man's intelligence by his own standard . ( Laughter . ) If the criminal infringes tbe laws of those members over whom he has not the slightest controol , be most pay the penalty , when , perhaps , those very laws caused his crime . ( Hear . ) The people ought to have a . voioe In making the Laws . The present existing distress is the allengrossing topic Ik is an e-ril which presses &to « vny on the rights of Industry : and which , if the people use their moral power , mnst ere long be remedied . I am glad to see so many working men present : it proved

      that a spirit of inquiry had arisen among them ; . It showed that they were no longer the willing slaves of faction or tbe passive dopes of the aristocracy . He hoped they had assembled that night to express their opinions fairly and candidly on the aspect of politeal affairs . They had of tan been told that it was ' no use to petition the House ot Commons for a redress of grievances ; but he wu of opinion that a petition signed by three or " four millions of persons would produce a powerful effect even on . the present Parliameat If it did not , however , it would show to the rulers that there existed a discontent which nothing bat concession could allay- I& the National Petition was embodied tht great principles of Chartism . It claimed that the working man , the middle man , and the wealthy man should alike be repretented in the legislative temple of the nation . Many there were who ridiculed the idea of Universal Suffrage ; but he begged to slate to those indlTida » l » that the greater part of tbe distress in

      this country owes it origin to class legislation ; the working men having discovered that they have resolved to remove it ; but how is it to be removed ? why , by the unceasing efforts of the people—by the spread of Intelligence—by the determination of every iudifidaal to work it , as if success depended on bi » exertioiu alone . The last four years of agitation have worked a great amount of good—it had caused the minds of tbe humbler daraes to understand those principles which before were monopoliudby a few . He called upon them to rally round those who bad courage enough to denounce the oppression to proclaim the superiority of democracy over aristocracy , and to try all their power to convince their opponents by reason and not by denunciations . If they adopted the former course , they would ensure for themselves the approbation of all good men and success for their hallowed cause . After a lengthy and energetic address which was received with great cheering , he proposed the following resolution : —

      " That we vi » w with regret and dismay , tbe daily increasing evOt arising out of tbe present corrupt system of representation . Having witnessed the complete failure of tbe Whig Reform Bill as a means of improving tbe tj ) f" * fi ' ot that Souse , nick-named the Commons' Home of Parliament : —holding that assembly to be equally corrupt with the properly called boroughmongering Parliament of former days ; considering all patchwork expedients as unwise and dangerous ; wishing to see peace , and social order prevail ; anxious for the welfare and prosperity ot ail classes of the people ; acknowledging the right to the franchise as being inherent , and indelibly written on the person of man by bis creator , and that to delay , or annul that right is a serious offence against humanity , we do adopt a petition to Parliament setting forth our grievances , an « pointing » ut what we consider as the effectual remedy . "

      Mr . Wiggins , in seconding th * resolution , impressed on the meeting , the necessity ot becoming sober and temperate , as the grand means by which they could make thsmselves sufficiently intelligent to obtain their just rights , which the aristocratic Government had so long withheld . The « nMijfm . jiH «» could makeafortnne out of the labour of the working man , which was the only prupertj unprotected . They were told of their ignorance , and yet £ 50 , 000 was all they would give to educate tbe whole people , while tko Universities founded for the education of tie poor , were prostituted to teach the sons of the aristocracy how to pnt their hands into the people ' s pockets , with the greatest advantage . ( Laughter . ) They had been told that Chartism w » s dead ; but be trusted that they would show that the day of resurrection—( cheers )—and power was at hand . Tbe resolution was passed unanimously .

      Mr . Milsom said the age of ignorance , fanaticism , priestcraft , and state-craft was last fading away , and in its stead be hoped to live to see the day when the tollworn mechanic might recaive a fair remuneration for his labour , and , unemployed , might find means to live in abundance , and in tbe midst of every comfort . Tradesmen and mechanics were alike complaining ; misery and destitution covered the land . The manufacturer was becoming bankrupt , and oar gaols were being filled witb criminals . Plans bad been devised by Corn Law repealers and Emigration Committees , but the time for pa'liatives was put ; the only remedy for the enormous evils preying upon society was in the adoption of the principles contained in the People's Charter . He would not say that of itself tbs Charter would do all this ,

      and that on its passing into a law all grumbling would cease , all the empty bellies would be filled , and all the backs clothed ; but the Charter must be the basement to support the edifice in which all these good things would be found . He had been out lecturing in an agricultural district for some weeks past on Sundays , and he was astonished to find the feeling which prerailed in favour of democratic principles . He was at Winchcomb on Sunday last , and not less than from four to five hundred persons were assembled , all eager to get political knowledge . His office as a lecturer was no sinecure : he travelled and preached politics at his own txpence ; yet , on Sunday last , the parson of the parish accosted the assembled multitude , and recommended them to take care of their pockets . He could not haTe -wished te convey au idea that be bad a

      design on their pockets , he should suppose ; but of a certainty he was the only erne present who obtained a good salary out of the pockets of the parishioners . The parson was accosted not very courteously , and rode off apparently rather chagrined . Parson Close , of this parish , once told him that working men had nothing to do with the Constitution . It may suit those who wished to deprive the working ™ p . n of the benefits of the Constitution to inculcate such a doctrine ; bat the people were becoming t » o wide awake to swallow it , and if the people exerted themselves , they had the moral power to wrest their rights from those who had bo long withheld them . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Milsom then at great length dilated upon the principles of the People ' s Charter , and concluded by expressing bis opinion that the Repeal of the Union between England and Ireland would be beneficial to both countries . He asked

      them should England and Scotland possess privileges ¦ which Ireland shcald not enjoy ? He hoped they would ' be determined to obtain equal rights and C ^ UOl laVf a , ! and then tyranny would fall , never again to rear its i head . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Milsom having read the petition , ) Mr . GLE 51 STEB seconded it : The Chaibman put it to the meeting , and it was i carried unanimously . Mr . J . F . Bering ion said , with the Chairman's permission he had a resolution to propose , which he was sure would meet with tbe approbation of all present ; it "was a -rote of thanks t » Mr . Duncombe , M . P . ( Loud cheers . ) He wsa a glorious exceptien to the majority of those composing that den of corruption , the majority of those composing that den of corruption ,

      mi&c&iied the House of Commons . He was one wbe j had never treated tbe petitions ef the people u ° ith scorn I or contempt ; and when they considered his aristo-: cratic connections , and situation in life—that he was the nephew of a Tory Peer—that all bis family were 1 Tories , and that , being the younger son of a younger I brother , he was deprived , by the accursed law of primo' geniiure , of that which naturally and morally should be bis—when they considered that be bad so far lesceoded from his nigh' position [ as tbe aristocrat -would say ) , as to preside that very , night at a tea-party 1 i& the metropolis , for the benefit of Carrier , the vic-• fcim of Whiggery , whose release from tbe Whig dungeon I be had been mainly instrumental in procuring , they i must admit that to him , and men Eke him , more

      erati-\ tude was owing than to one ot their own class , wbo ; merely intended taking the burden from others to rer move its weight from himself . ( Cheers . ) I The following resolution was then proposed , and ' seconded by Mr . Wiggins , and was passed unani' mously : — 1 " That the tfntnfcn of **¦<¦ meeting are due to all tbose i patriot * of the present day who . have advocated the ' euM of the working classes ; and more especially , as Member of Parliament , to Thomas Duncombe , Esq ., j for the consistent conduct he has manifested on so many i occasions , and to assure him of their having the fullest j confidence in his political honesty . "

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      Thanks were voted to the Oatrmaa , aaditoawBttag sepaaatedy apparently ~ highly related aV / the ; evening pfoceedtags . 1 < Awaribetfof vd 4 eift > 7 » tdipeartu £ ff <*» middtaelassi were present ; uS < a not a-: dlBB « fttien » . , a » - peared throughout the whoteproeeediajpk . . > : -. - M ? .. > ^ R ¦;/

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      . : ; i~—~— - "' ? ¦'• » i ^ ~«^ ai ? ~ Z = 7 'iOT : ' - '' y ****^) pflr * 'js * . 1 **» ; ¦ '¦ ¦ - •> i ' iiy . it ' - ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ DEFEA . T OP TH& ^ PHaUjE . '' - ^ LOBt ipU 8 , . TRIUMPH OF THB ^ BAHXISm .: * ! h '

      , On Saturday last ; " 1 j& >* WtW # k locMbg p&MaiW announced the ** very important * fact ttSrt -Mr . Wail Dufley , of the Londw Free Trade Association , (?) wwUd deliver two lectures In tb * Town Haift ' ok the evenings ef Mond » y- »» dTue « l « y , Wor » mW 8 tt ' * n < I 9 tfc , ontne subject of Free Trade—these plaeaids were headed , " The Schoolmasters * HomejifaMfce Town Hall , " and pence ! Our old friend tbe Iv&epapJod was not backward in trumpeting the approach of the champion of humbug ,: antiw foUowin * 'paraffaph ,, w ^ l show - — •« Fwe Trade , -W « nwtoataaAttbjat two . ^ fcture * wiU be delivered in tbe Tows HaJl . mi jgeaday and TAtsdajt , in < tof 6 nte « C tbajirindpjes . of ^ re » Tjtade ,, by > Ir . Win . Dufissv of Mas * b « ste « , The tectuatia weHkaowBin

      Liverpool , Manchester , Bradford , and othsr towns ^ for bis services in tbe cause , and lot the ability with which he « neoisi ters it » opp « o « Bt » , . We need only betpea forhimagoodaudimee . aadfiiU ^ lay . " ¦ . -. . ., - - . Well , the ObarUrt * found Mr . Dun % > ' / g (> o 4 audience , " and gav ^ hira' ? fair clay "—what he ~ , did , for bis " csuse" the sequel will show , . Oa . Tuesday to « Council eonsidsred whether tbe Chartists . abou ] d off ? any opposition , and . tbe ' daolsioa nltinwUVj ; ^ on ^ to , was , that the whole thing looking very much Ilk * » job to replenish . Mr . Duffer ' s pocket at the expense of , tine working men , tbe ChartisU should be instructed not to attend the first evening ' s lecture , but to attend us asual at the Association-room , and Uwn appoint a deputation , to wait on Mr . Duffey , for the purpose of reauestlng him to throw open the doors , of the Hall on Tqasday evening for tbe free admission , of the public , a few friends of tbe Charter , volunteering-to bear half th « ex of the HalL - : > .. . ; L

      pense . , ^ F ^^^ V ^^ v ^ v ^ v ^ V ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^ V ^^^^ ^^ i ^^^^ P ^ . ^ ^^ W . Id "' -- - ^ ^ . Monday evening , the Chartist body assembled iq Fig Tree-lane , deputed Messrs , Harney , Marsh , and GUI , to wait on Mr . Duffey with the . above , offer . On reaching tbe ball , a miserable , array of empty benches met the view ; we coasted . the . numbers present , and found there was just eighty-three , one half ot whom were Chartists ; while poor Duffey stood " alone in bis glory , " with not a single friend beside him , to cheer him in his desponding situation . Shortly after nine o ' clock , the lecturer concluded , he had spoken in so low a tone , that during the time we were present , we beard not a sentence distinctly .

      Mr . Harnkt , addressing the lecturer , maid he bad the honor to appear there as on © of a deputatlost appointed by the Chartist body , to challenge Mr . Duffey to a public discussion of tbe Free Trade question , and he was instructed to ask Mr . Duffey whether he would afrea to throw open the do » of the Hall for the free admission of the public ,, he ( Mr . H . ) and bis friends Tolanteering to bear half the expenee ? Mr . Dufpet inquired who would be his opponents ? Mr . Hakkey replied himself and Mr . Gill . After some consideration Mr . Duffey agreed . Some squabbling took place afterwards in consequence of the Interference of Mr . Wardle aad others of the " Plague , " Mr . Wardle sticking to tbe ticket system of admission , and the Chartist Deputation insisting upon

      the public admission of all who choose to come . Tbe Deputation fisally left the Hall , some of the Corn Law Repealers declaring , that notwithstanding Mr . Doffey's agreement with Mr . Barney , they would charge twopence for admission the next night , as they bad done thmfc Bowerer , this the / deemed it prudent not to attempt , for the next morning baudbills were in circulation throughout the mills and workshops of the town , calling on the " Free Traders to attend before fas time and prevent the packing of the Hall 1 " This , as Mr . Duffey would say , was an Irish way of getting the " Free Traders" to pack the Hall . But a darker job remains to be told . Tbe " Free Traders , " anxious to emulate their " prepare-to-meetyour-Ood" comrades of Manchester , sent three- ot four times to the leaden of the Irish Repealers resident in

      Sheffield , urging their attendance , for what atrocious purposes need not be told . But , honour to tbe Irish exiles , they indignantly spurned the appeal of the " Bloodies , " and they may be assured that their manly conduct will not be unappreciated by their suffering English brethren . Mr . Wardle denied to Mr . Hamey that bis party had solicited tbe attendance of the Repealers , tat we have « tnce beard that such wa « the e&as from sa undoubted authority . The Chaxtiata issued no bills , nor took any particular measures to summon their friends . Nor was this needed , for the newt of the intended discussion went through the town like wild-fire , and so early as half-past six o'clock some hundreds « f people were congregated in front of the Hall . The doors , however , were not opened until half-past seven , when a rush for seats took place .

      Mr . Otlet was appointed Chairman on the motion of Mr . Duffey , seconded by Mr . Harney , the free traders offering no opposition , seeing as they did , from the onset , that their case was hopeless . . Mr . Wardle read the regulations of the discussion agreed to between himself ( on behalf of Mr . Duffey ) and Mr . Hamey . It was agreed that Mr . Duffey should open tbe discussion , to speak half an hour 1 afterwards to be limited to a quarter of an hoar in bis reply to Messrs . Hamey and GUI , who were to speak each thrice , for the same period ; Mr . Duffey to conclude tbe discussion . Two referees were appointed to time tbe speakers , Mr . Harney naming Mr . Marsh , and Mr . Duffey naming Mr , Beatson .

      Tbe Chairman made some remarks upon the subject of discussion , and declaring that he would as he had ever done , act impartially in the office they bad done him tbe honour to elect him to , and calling on both parties to preserve order , and show that fair play which should ever characterise an English assembly ; be sat down , calling upon Mr . Duffey to proceed . Mr . Duffey , who was received with slight applause by hU friends , commenced by remarking that it was a great mistake to suppose that the principles of the free-traders were opposed to their own . He had proposed a Chartist for Chairman , and he demanded of the Chartists that they should show him fair play . He contended for free trade as denned by the Chairman . Was it not necessary that something should be

      done to reUere tbe wretchedness at present in tbe land ? The p&opie we * e petisbiBg , taxes and poor-r * tes increasing—and why ? Because trade and commerce , crippled by fiscal restrictions , were fast leaving our shores . He contended that it was not just that man's industry should be limited , that there should be any limit to tbe free exchange between man and man of tbe produce of his labour . ( Partial cheering . ) Mr . O'Brien , whom he knew as a public man and an acquaintance—( oh , oh ) , —yes , an acquaintance , had said that the object of the free-traders was the further degeneration of the people of this country—their intent was to reduce the working classes of this country to the level of tbe Continental labourers—( cries ot " true ")—tbia be denied The object of the free-traders was to give increased employment and cheap provisions to the people of this country . ( Cheers . ) Double the quantity of bread

      could be purchased in New York , that for the same money could be purchased at Clonmel in Ireland , while the wages of a labourer In Clonmel were but sevenpence per day , and in New York four shillings ; yet , Ireland was a ceuntry protected bv a Com Law , while in New York there was no Corn Law at alL His wish was that all should unite to put an end to the monopolising spirit of our legislation . { Cries of " the Chatter . " ) It was said that masters and profit-mongers would reap the whole benefit of a repeal of the Corn Liws ; this he denied . It was not the interest of the master t « reduce the workmen ' s wages . ( Yes , yes . ) He was told it was necessary to get legislative power to obtain a repeal of these laws . He did not see that—( oh , oh )—the voice of public opinion was omnipotent , and if the people willed the repeal of these laws , the aristocracy must succumb . Time being up , Mr . Duffey sat down .

      Mr . M . Keitebick complained that while there was yet room in the hall , a great number of people were excluded from admission , tbe doors being closed against them . ( Cries of " Bhame , " and confusion . ) Mr . Duffet said , if any portion of the public was excluded , it was no fault of his ; be wished for full and free admission . ( Cheers . ) The CHi . lB . ilAN said , the closing of the doors was most disgraceful on the part of the officer having charge of tbe ball j as Chairman of the meeting , be demanded that the public should be admitted . ( Great cheering . ) After some little delay , the doors were opened , another rush took place , and the hall became completely crammed . After tbe confusion had subsided , the Chairman said he had now much pleasure in introducing to the meeting Mr . Julian Harney .

      Mr . HAENET , who was received -with the most enthusiastic and prolonged cheering , said he felt himself placed in an awkward situation , called upon to reply to Mr . Dnffey , and having nothing to reply to— ( cheers ) really he was disappointed at Mr . Duffer's speech . It appeared to him that Mr . Duffey had never entered into the question , but had left it for him ( Mr . H ;> to open the discussion . Well , he would do so ; he presumed he was doing no injustice to the free-traders when he said that Corn Law Repeal was their principal object—well , then , upon this question he joined issue with them . He did TwV believe that jnerely a rene « l of tbe Corn Laws would confer the benefits asserted by the free-traders . The people bad not forgotten what were tbe promises made them in the Reform Bill question ,

      and how miserably they wets duped —( hisses and cheers ) —ttwy bad got the BH 1 , bat ; what had been its fruits . ' like the apples of Sodom , fate to the eye , but .-within dust and ashes . He reiterated tbe opinon that cheap bread meant cheaper labour . ( Cheers . ) For what did his opponents desire Corn Law Repeal ? Why to enable them to compete with the foreign manufacturer ia the markets of the Continent ; but would a single repeal of the Corn Laws enable them t * do that ? No . If those laws we * e repealed bread might be cheaper , out unless labour was also cheapened , the manufacturers of this country could not successfully compete with those of the Continent ; be would let them know what were the wages , and what were tbe hours of labour on the Continent . ( Mr . Harney here read a statement of con-

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      mm 0 ^ m Msental wages , which we have iagii ¦ ww ^ M" **** ? ub tt was saifl Corn Law Repeal ,. w ^ T |»« r « aW {« tfiafcJiictieasef ; dr > tad £ w < mld ; swaU «^ a # t tbe , present 9 urplustatwnr 4 i ti * markeJt and ti * ww *! nf das oould then dktate ; their tatfia . Suppose Own Law Repeal , woukl Wnf sainersas « of tra 4 s \ and that that Jtusreaseaf trade Wttild « mpfey tbe p ^ In tke town * Had'they , forgotten tb * 4 oaat (» r : Tbey knewthslforenr ^ o ^ attttif « iMat ii »^^ of vAaat would osase , to be grown in tbJU t » imtey f whati * M to becoin » of A * men faetetofow empIpyedJa growing the quarter of wheat ? Wooldtbtybaiconiant to lie dpwn on the road aide to die of famine I Would they W content to entw th * ** ur ^ basHfc'the * t 6 be maled to death r No , they would Bock ^

      ftfrtmsnttfecturtng districts , sAd'would the » cdmpefo' -wrttftbe people of the towns at th * loom , to tae : /« eW $ f aU workshop ; th * ftM&fctrould be ^* 6 aHh $ 4 aa * # fewJWM dictate to them , not t&&y to tbMr mas ^ , wiiat wages tt « y should ' wwkfoK ( Qfaft catering ;) Mr . Harte ; r wivJludedbyshowhig . ou ^ aa ^ orityW ^ . PiriaTOi that as trade bad increaasd , the returni for oar etperl bad decreased ; and the cendWon of : tbk wd ^ fld « petofe bad deteriorated . He resumed bis « eit amfdsvten « ral applanmT r ¦ ¦ :: . - . -- —¦ - ¦ - ' ¦ •; /¦> " ¦ . ¦ . :+ <'„ -, & «>¦ : * Mr . Dufpet rose , and was again received with spplanM by hi « friends , He said , Mr . Haroej tells job be , ia no friend to monopoly , but . tiie vrhoto tenpu * of hla ^ remarks have .- been ihe support of mo 4 *|( ply ^ Cheers , hisses , and confu « lon . ) White bflibas 4 b > nounoed the principle of monor ^ . hfl has ndeavou |^

      to show you that iu removal would 4 o no good . ; J 9 e complains that das * JoglalaUon is an evH , and nobody denies it . ( Laughter . ) He ( Mr . D . ) had a » ked fa ti » 'Suffrage .-and it bad been denied him ; they denied , bim the Suffrage on the ground of Ignoranca j but ha woaid tell thalegifllatttre that If they thought him , too Igoorantto have a vote , be knew be wan not top ignorant to eat ( Cheers . ) Mr . Barney had talked about ttaa , wages bn tbe continent Be ( Mr . D . ) would ask did the present system kaep up waget W EnglandT , It , was , not the price of bread that regulated wages—it was supply and demand . He was told be must waltfor th ^ Vhotter . If they bad the power to get the Cnw *«> l « t tb « n ge ^ it . He west before the legislature demanding justice ; be had no wish to benefit theemployer at the expense of the employed , bis widtmi to . we barmons between the two clawes . 7

      Mr . GitL , wbo was reoaivad with cheering , now rose He expressed hi « pleasure at baviiig the honour to address them , but at the same time bU regret that © wfog to a severe cold , be corttd not address them as he eotdd haVe wished : He was surprised at Mr . Duffey ' s speech heliad not replied In a ' single instance to tbe arguments of his friend , Mr . Harney ; . ( Cheers . ) The question was whetbiw they' were to assist in extending and ' strengtbenlngtbe ' tioweT of tbe nioneyocracy of the country ; forhis part , be would oppose to theatmort any enlsrgement of their power . ( Cheer * . ) Mr . GUI here entered into some interesting statements , showing

      the workings of the banking system , and proving that every hundred millions of weafth' exported from this country , was taxed to the amount of twenty millions by the rag money thieves . Mr . QUTs speech was chiefly sUtiBtieal ; our limits will not permit us to give the figures and statements quoted in support of his , pool * tion . Mr . Gill concluded by maintaining that it was machinery that mainly caused the present misery of the people , because it was io the bands of the few , and used by tham for their aggrandisement , and tbe degradation of the many , Be resumed Ms seat amidst gnat cheering .

      Mr . Duffet said he was now called upon to' reply to a speech replete with argument in support of his own position . ( Ob , oh , and great laughter , y Mr . Olll bad thought proper to denounce a worthy and a virtuous class of the community , the traders and manufacturers . ( No , no . ) He stood there to defend the character Of the commercial community . In all ages commerce and trade bad always been opposed to feudalism and despotism , and it was to trade and manufactttres that England was principally Indebted for her glory as a nation . In this strain Mr . Duffey proceeded , concluding his speech , by asking If the Chartists meant'to wait for Sir Robert Peel making the Charter law ?

      Mr . Haenet again rose . He remarked that Mr . Duffey had complained that his opponents bad not shewn wherein they differed from bim . H « ( Mr . fi . ) would leave him no such cause of complaint . First , then , the Chartists believed that a mere increase of trade , unaccompanied by sound legislative changes , would bring no lasting benefit to the people ; seoond , they believed that , supposing a repeal of the Com Laws would confer all the benefits stated by Mr . Duffeythey believed tbe free-traders would never " get that repeal . ( Cheers . ) In T 6 $ 8 the whole foreign trade of this country amounted to but £ ? , 6 oo , oOO export * and imports together : since then our export trade had increased twenty-fold , until we are now trading with bom fifty to sixty states , and sending out of the country from sixty to seventy millions' wortb of real vatue every , sear ; and whom , bad this enormous increase of

      our trade benefltted t Mr . Barney went on to say that the aristocracy had declared , in a manner not to be mistaken or misunderstood , that they would never eonsent to a repeal of the Corn Laws . Bow , tben , would the free-traders get that repeal , ? They might say they would compel the aristocracy to yield , but that was an idle boast , unless'they were backed by the people . Now , standing there , be solemnly called upon the people to have nothing to do with the free traders —( great cheering )—but to bide by their Charter , and swesx never to desert that Charter until they bad made It law . ( Enthusiastic cneers . ) They could only hope to repeal the C » rn Law $ by bringing the country to the verge of a revolution , and aq equal power would carry the Charter . Let' { them not waste their energies in loppinf oflfone branch of cenupUon ' s tree . No , lay the axe to the roots , and bring down the rotten old system altogether . ( Great cheering . ) Mr . Duffey now declined to gpeak , and

      Mr ,, Gill again came forward ; be made an ^ excellent speech and was euthusiasUcally cheered . Mr . Duffey rose for tbe last time , but it was quite clear from bis agitated appearance , that he felt himself beaten ; he teld bis old tale that all that his opponents had advanced only Went to support his position ; be was not opposed to the spread of the democratic principle , on the contrary , he believed that as the people progressed in intelligence , the democratic principle would progress and triumph , at tbe same time he denounced what he was pleased to call the tyranny of the Chartists In forcing every man to be a Chartist , or else opposing all he did for the public good . The discussion having closed , Mr . Barney moved the adoption of tbe following resolution : —

      " That this meeting is of opinion that a repeal of the Corn Laws , accompanied by other just and necessary measures , is unattainable but by and through a Radical Reform of the Bouse of Commons , and this meeting pledges itself not to assist in the agitation of any political question save that of the universal enfranchisement of the people , and will never cease their efforts in the cause of right until the People's Charter shall become the law of tbe land . " Mr . Gill seconded tbe resolution . Mr . Wardle . proposed an amendment , which was seconded by Mr . Bateson , to tke effect that a repeal of the Corn Laws would be of great benefit to the people ; that Free Trade would give to the people increased power to obtain their political rights ; and deprecating all opposition to the question as tyranny on the part of the Chartists .

      This was the substance of the amendment , your correspondent obtained a copy , but unfortunately has mislaid it . The Cuaibmax railed for a show ot bsnda for the amendment , when from sixty to eighty hands were held np . The Chairman then called for the original motion , when one mighty forest of hands were upheld . Tbe number may be estimated when we state that the Hall will hold twelve hundred people , and it was crammed to ovei flowing . Mr . Wardle moved the thanks of the meeting to the Chairman , seconded by Mr . Duffey , and carried by acclamation . Three tremendous cbeers were then given for the Charter , three for O'Connor , three for O'Brien , and three , for Frost , Williams , and Jones . Thus ended this last splendid triumph of principle over humbug , and the cause of right over the machinations of folly and knavery . a > ¦ ii-g > ¦^^¦^ fc ^ B ^^^ a 0 i ¦ ¦ nni-. j ^^ f .

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      BUONTEHTiE O'BBXEN . Pr BLIC MEETING AT WBITECHAPEI ., LONDON . A public meeting was held at the Social Hall , Whitechapel , on Friday evening , to welcome Bronterre O'Brien , to the Tower Hamlets . Tbe spacious Hall was well filled many of tbe audience appearing to be of the middle class of society . Mr . Robson was called to the chair , and in a brief but pointed manner introduced Mr . O'Brien to the meeting , and read an excellent address from the Chartists of the Tower Hamlets , welcoming Mr . O'Brien on his release from his Whig dungeon .

      Mr- O'Buien then came forward and wa » greeted with great applause . The friend who has Introduced me has styled me honourable . God knows from the manner In which this title has been prostituted in Westminster Hall , I have not much reason to be proud of it , but if being elected a member of the House of Commons constitutes one an honourable , I have a perfect right to it I was elected an M . P . by a free , indepent constituency , with a majority of 1100 to 200 , but these receivers of stolen property have usurped my place , have stolen my seat They never even demanded a poll , but because my friends were too prudent to spend £ 2 , 000 in law exposes , they have taken advantage of their poverty ainA their prudence and nave sent a man there to make laws for me , instead of my making laws

      for him , and in virtue of his laws , I msy shortly be sent again to prison for making a good speech ; but I hope the day is not fer distant , when these honourable , these respectable gents ., who never earned asbilling in their lives , who have lived by the robbery of yon , will be compelled to vacate ' tbose seats which they keep from honest men . I have been on a tour through Lancashire , Westmoreland , Cheshire , and Yorkshire . In forty-five days , I have attended forty-one great public meetings ; in some parts I have found an excellent spirit evinced , in others a deplorable apathy . Even where a good spirit exists , I have found them at times ignorant as to the means of obtaining their rights , and also in complete darkness as to the seat of ihe place from whence the evil has sprung . I have everywhere seen the greatest distress existing . At Bamsley , tbe men are only roceiv-

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      ingto « tffOT 5 Wwk ' . 4 J »* 4 M < 5 fWu (»*| f !» 4 fc ^ fc * il 2 s ; f at Stdatport , U » sftsnejra io » onlyig « tta » g 17 * . for w ^ rk IhWarerecdvingfrom Is . to 2 s . for wearing dxtrfiH « f easarjrtej wb * tfes » thsir / faauai bbMnid' io « . j « oif doln ^ Ssw qwBitity . ^ IW 4 »^ lto lam ^ . ! ttiWi | aB , Blackbarn Cotoe , andtafaet , iitalitbs maaufactarliig dlatsittaii ^ boaawda ^ of > waiwava ai 4 ' oBiy r ^ eeMa « fNai viietbntfsiepflfe' weftfc W . ft **** , ^ ?] MM |? 4 MV ' expevianosd thirwductlotta *^ , ^ j * tik **( f&aT Buffering from' : iitt&W&it * m *! ai * tt * ; 9 M abowi ^ dVeadmg ttae ; rls ^ tB of' property . What « a « be mor » saeraii ^ co ptoty tba » tliat wtkic ^ tf-maB earn bylnslabowif' mi 8 SBtte ^ wbx *^ re ( ath i * ootrttieright ¦ Sf * wp ^ w »*« Wi * HM ^ <^ JiB ^ fc » ^ uiaws »^ a »« wa * ei ^ Piart ^ g mm uiMV mir : 1

      . , la Wi ^ n . -haad 166 x 6 mWmM wi oftiy ' eanda «^ s where Ibatr fMft ^ sjarbsa tU * ttd 42 * J &UMZta # tiim rwept awaytdMMh 4 kX > f 9 iat property ; Ah * qaesttin tbe « i « , wboar «^ i 4 i «» er * a * dwiJo r are tt » 'rewTtrer ' 6 f stolan goods . ' Forty -rbarHiaci fiae sarna © ampiaiato were made that n « w > HU # f ^^^ Bitrea * 'w ^ MekWet ! , - «« not so general as-now , : . ¦*» tave ited ia old ntttortes ttat tba sanae s * bttrary « ctr then etlsted ^ tfcifrWageW were then being srtdually pa » a « o «^ i -and eafitellsts enriebsd atthe ' expen »* of >« ie % * Wai % elaifte * - Att tben are agreedthat dlsbwi ' existsv botbefore We eat cure it , we must find the seat and caus * of tti « evU . ilbeUevel have done so ; and ' I * endeavour to toake aU I come to contact with also-acquainted with It I suspect I hav » bit upon- the rlgbt cause—that I have hit

      the right nail upon tbe head- ^ e * ferttmen would not . bare been so anxipus " to ; haye got ; me out of the way ; when tbe men of Newcastle elected' me to keep watch and ward . ovar the , g-refl . t . thleVfis , they bad sent me to keep watch and ward over the Uttle thieve * . Men of the tower Hamlets , I do net come here to lecture or address you , I come here to , talk to you . I do not come here to imake a fine speech , to bfl called an eloquent man . Idont like eloquent , roein ; I generally find the ^ i great ham * / bugs , They ^ re generally either gr « at rogues or great fools , . It spe ^ eb making would cure our evils , never ought * f ouJfLto , tflf be » ft b » P » y , M ^ tt ^ ssei-Iifeland ^ for heTer was a country so blessed witbspe ^ -makers , We want to know wbo robbed tieband-lpem wiavers >

      who robbed the B ^ jricultuM ;¦ j ^ bo «^> ; , w | fo ., rpbb 6 ^ , you ? who is It that causedinenwn of Ashton and other places to walk about tb «> fbpe ^ i ^ ip ^^ tvtt ^ apmriB ^ to be . treated as though they bad not . a right to Uve ? I vrtil tieU yeu vfho ue the partis * . The robbers are ' those who make the laws . Xjie receivers of , stolen goods are those who Uve . ur ^ n lsj ^ a fixed inconies giving the nation notjbing in exchange for tbe Weplt ^ they reoeive . It nuttea not-whether their incoiues are derived from tithes , rents ; funds , or whatev ^ aonro ? so long as tbey give nothing ill exchange . Lord John Kuaseli says that legislat&m cannot cure our evlU , . that Parlianient can do us ao good . The nmedy , he pro * poses is keeping down the population ( not getUag married , I suppose , he means ) , being temperate , sobet , and

      above all , emigration . He states that be doe * not Jllte to raise false hopes , dont like to deceive the people , ( is not this very considerate of him ?) but if we could shoy him any practical grievaaco , he wouia ' givSit htfmost respectful consideratibn . ( Littghter . ) I suppose walk- ' ing about the streets with notbiog to eat , with empty ' bellies , is not a practical grievance . If Lord John *? ancestors had not been lucky in tbe scramble for stolen ' property , Lord John might have been 'Walking about ' withah empty belly himself . I wonder whether he would have considered it a practical grievance . He tells yon that legislation has nothing to do with your distressi and that the Charter would give us ' the power to destooy the property of all other classes , ' and finally to bring down destruction upon ourselves , and these worUs

      were cheered in the House of Commons , and le-ecnoed by Sir Robert Peel . The fines n&A , on tbe mornlnjg after t&e great meeting in Palace-yard , that it was ; idle to talk about Universal Suffrage ; that It would do us no good Vtbat our distress was tba natural result of thfrp ' rogreaa of civiiizstion . This Is monstrbns false . If 1 thought so , I would cease in my efforts for tlie people . Bat I will undertake to prove to Lord John , Peel , tire Timet , and to every man , first , that we owe alt our distress to Acts of Parliament ; second , that through the Acts these' bad men have made , they bite enabled themselves to rob and plunder the people ; thirdly , that I will point out tho « wto of Which I complain ; fourthly , I will show what acts ought to be put in theifplaee . to rfve . wfHi a few hour * labour oer dav .

      plenty to every man in the kingdom that would labour tbeas few hours , and those that would not do tbl * deserve to be in distress . ( Cheers . ) Land , labour , and capital are the three great elements of wealth . The Britiab , nation posseeses more land than any nation iD tb /» world , Russia exceptod , and far more good land than even Ruaaia . We have in Britain seventy-seven millions of acres , which wonld give three acres to every man , woman , and ebild ; and we have , millions upon milliona of acres In oar colonies . We have jnore land than would , sustain in comfort a thousand times our present population . We have , then , an abundance of land . Yon are well convinced we have no deficiency of labour—one-third of oar population are not , at this moment , able to procure work .

      There ia . no country in the world possesses so much capital , either real or fictitious . By real capital I mean houses ,, land , machinery , railroads , canals , kc ., all that has been created by former labour . I need not tell you what fictitious capital ia ; you have the National Debt You surely can never want for capital when you borrowed £ 890 , 006 , 000 for the Christian , humane , and charitable purpose of shooting Frenchmen , and of crushing liberty in other nations . Surely , you would find , no difficulty in borrowing a like sum to purchase land to set the unemployed to work . Thereis no want of capital , my friends i upward * of , sixty billions was invested in railroads in less than two yews , and much mow could be got if they s » w a likelihood of a profitable return . If a Company was got

      up to go in search of Noah ' s Ark , with £ 3 « Q , 000 , 000 of capital , 1 have no doubt it would be immediately advanced , if you only ensured them ten per cent , whether the ark was found or not The Tittus newspaper told us , at the time Sir Robert Peel was turned out of office by the Ladles of the Bedchamber , that the address of condolence which was presented to him , was signed by between six and seven thousand merchants and others of London , wbo alone could pay off the Whole of theNational Debt , and then retain a sufficiency to live in comfort during the rest of their lives ; and these , you must remember , were only belonging to one party , and that the beaten party . These men ; you are aware , were not Spitalfields weavers no , they were those who neither toil nor spin , yet Solomon , in

      all bis glory , could not boast of capital like tbia . I wish these gentlemen would just take it into their heads to pay off this debt , or I wish tbe people would jost take it into their beads to make them . ( Cheers . ) We have , then , the most land , the most capital in the world , and plenty of skilled labour . How , then , Is it we are not the richest people in the world ? ' Simply , because our legislators have robbed us of it by Acts of Parliament Now , then , let me trace the stolen goods to the possession of the robbers . At the time of the Revolution the revenue of this country amounted to fourteen millions ; it is now between sixty-three and sixty-four millions , besides about three millions' worth ef aristocratic timber , cut down every year , and about two millions in quarries , mines , fisheries-, collieries , fitc ,

      making it amount to about eighty millions . When the Norman . Conqueror divided tbe land among his followers , it was tbe surface only ; but they soon found that there were collieries , mines , 4 c ., which would prove valuable . How to get at these without a distinct law , which ¦ would open the eyes of the people , they did not hardly know ; but they set a cunning fell » w , a lawyer , to work , ( for when these fellows want helping out of a difficulty they always send either for a lawyer or a parson ) , ao this lawyer coined them a bit of Latin , which the people could not understand , and by that got possession of the whole . Mr . O'Brien then gave the English of the celebrated Latin sentence as follows : —" Whosver owns the surface te him belongs all that ia under , down to the

      bottom , and all that is abov& np to the heaven "—( laughter );—you may well laugh , to think what they wanted up to heaven ; but tbey were cunning rogues , and they knew there were birds , fee . flying above the surface on which they cast their greedy eyes ; previous to this there was a maxim of the old common laws , that wkich was made by the Commons , " wild animals belong to no one . " What I want is , that the Commons should again make laws ; they would then be for the common benefit Mr . O'Brien then went into a long detail of tbe manner in which tbe property of tbe landlords bad increased ^ bow rants bad been raised ; and stating an instance of a person whose property in Manchester bad within this balf oentory increased to forty tiroes its then value , and . theowner living during

      the whole period in France , and If he had been asleep it mattered not , his property would jbave increased in value equally as well ; and inquiring if they were to go asleep , whether tbey would find their incomes increased ? One man he knew received £ 2 , 000 annually for the rent , of a , Bslmpn fishery for allowing others to catch , that which < Jodsent for all ; and while their property bad thus gone on increasing , the value . ol . the labour of tbepwr hadgone on decreasing ^ showing that , every increase jri the value of their estates had been effected by the robbery of the working glasses by A , cta of Parliament ; if Acts of Parliament were founded injustice , they ' w / ould not allow any one to get rich oat of to labour of the working classes without giving them something in excliapge . Not only had they aq largely increased tbeir incomes , but ^ by depreciatingthe value of labour , they bad enabled one pound tbgofurthe than three pounds did previoiuly ; tbey could bar thrafl

      or four gross of BirmtDgnam goods for tbe same money as they could one ; they could bay . four , five , and six days' labour ; of the hand-loom weavers' for tbasame amount as they could then purchase one day's . ' What was this but robbery ? These are facis you OughVto knowr I defy any man ia tondon or bnB « f £ andon to contradict it These men , not contest with settinc possession of the land by robbery , m « jt make laws to IJ" ^** ^^ T ^ oe , must become receiver * of stolen goods , ^ stolen from tbe people ; and to enable them to retain it must force us to support an army of I 6 O , OO « armed men . This is how the laadowusrs tu ^ e xobbed wSh ^ ES ^ i ^ W ^** ^ «« eiv « . o « strien goods wi ^ wnvI sbaU make ytm acquaintod : don ^ be » i »« med , VbeUewyon are all honest men hew , bat if Oe »* should be one here , I would advise him to make xestittttion to-morrow , and to go and steal no more . I Si . ' ' » Uowin « tn «»» men to retain all they have stolen according to law . I am not for taking it from

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      * - * fbemtt 1 shall' bold aoysnaaita-bB neatly , iaid ^ ari ^ j more ^ lo be « ry wicketti wb » aboali attempt to . Hw ' ' * omthemwbattbeybavego ^ nnlawfBBy poss « ss 1 sSt 5 U * I want is , that thos » wbwtb ^ have rohj * ia * a be allowed to sUndoa tb * sane platfow wilh tSat aelve * , 'tbat « IL sfaaUvba « fnal is t 4 he > ierc « frilMDttw Thea . ethatwdv ^ tff ^ fc lengajWare ;*^ elamwb ^ frequent Throsdnoedle-street , those to whom tob i »* thirty ' MilMTMto-liitoresi sniiiaary te ^ pp k ^ oSt DeUt > Hsrdngdispc * eieC tbelm * ftli « dan , Itttis ^ l u W »« a ^ aot tftm thawatoiet a £ MB ]» ttfctadn 4 a 1 aB * - ! ^ jg ******** " **^^ f 0 do % n . Ifw « ga fead ^ . tol 81 % w * abatt fladS tflioa of ttn % p « *«* si . . wV-Wwsgbt - ^ ftft ia tk , TOSTket ; « oW U woulrl brin ^^ so ^ iie ^ safe of mi

      * pet ** nt ? « woy « aa « B * rtsoase *\ | Isat . > t * isi j 6 JWoabj ^ sa te abaiToa h » v o « r n »» e wittttB ^ 'JooSS JTQT ^ diiMdl . <^ r eet wbicb ^ Vwywttol «^ rf iu « ly « t , durtsft * period , In whisft Urtk&mriu l lnor * a * ed . myp « « nt , . h « adgnt bavV WuilfaeD for all the good be bat don *; be never earned afarth . Ing , and with his £ 90 he caa ^ t uy -flTO or sis times ss tnnenli tarwoidwUb : W » i » Q'f M «• pf «« TqwS , Hamleto , jroa who ar * Uvifl « by > wJaboja > !^ J > S arealavlngfrotb awalng tonigbt . At . j « wt «« r io « or b « bindyoqr coontejta , doa * tbetawfmte any pr ' pettr for yon without you exertions ? Doe * it work fotjon beneflt wbrth « ryoB , woskor » ett / Yoo . may workfor stxyeal * an 4 * e ^ t ** l «! nwH * unUlytm have earned

      | it before band , and not get it then imtil you have earned petftaps Ujcp * n 0 s > yfbr aoo * on * els * . This is what J o » U ^ fojftl pl * y -tbi * is through their takinc upon ttamisftlv ** the trouble tf makla * the UwsT i acknowledge many of yon work too hard ; bUHsjn anarfous to flT * ywu lt % cJto ; a * ote worst TTwanfeyoa to ease them of this trosbleof makln | t the laws , aadi promise you that if yea do that-rrtf . you get that extn labour , that yon shall be « ettMrW ofrthsee-foflrths ol your other laboar , and get battff paid into ; tbe batgaia , and mind ibis , what 14 « iW >> Id ^ rqa ^ tb ^ fundboloS applis * to aU wbo lit * npoa lUrtflJtaieonieij to , atttS HonWe ,, Right Honbl © ,, XJulian ^ WMl RJ « bt Revet « n 4 receivers of stolen goods j IjWSjnt . ^ o aake then * keep theirliands oat ; oCtonr i »« eketsi Perhaps you ban

      not rftflecte * tttbeae tWng « Jbefare ^ sl . wantijotito ' know ; fact * , and not to e * K aboo % ^ fl » e apeeebes . Wboa I was in the town of CarUsat , « dejwtoaon of thebsad . loom wwren waited opon me , and 1 jastntd fcom theia » itii * t opward * of > 'thousand of tbent wweeatn ing onDr e * . 3 d . a week } onfrot this tfcey bad to pay u a weeltforrentof loom , and I tbinkad . in . tfca . ls . foi winding ; How could these m « n * xlse : ttitwa « ijotfor the * l * v « ryof their wive * and children . VSbftaraea are robbed » ^ ithous their /* oti » enV- « obo * d by their em ploysrs . andjfet their femplojrem donetteoeve tbt-bens fit ] for- when wages are lowered , tbire--iii' / g « iiianaiy % manage that iJiofiteahaU fall first ; y « t ttesa men , against their own interest , are sndt a base set , that they would ratherjofai withthe Biabop who ba * £ 15 , 000

      a year to pray that yen ; nay go to beaven , with tht soldier on his black boras who is paid to murde * you , or with tbe landholders wbo will , eventnslly be tht rain of tbein , than join with yea . If tbey sees work iugmaaendeetvooring to gat bis rigbta , Qiey direcMi say , oh , he ia a Chartistr-h * wants to take away ear property } but when tbey see a > laadholder or a fund , holder , they never say , oh , be wants to rob us . I will , , hewever , now show yon bow by arts tt Parliament you' nav » been . sobbed . What create * tbft National Debt ? Acts ( pf Parliament What create the interest ? Acts of Parliament If Acts of ParUv ment had not created these , we should have baft no . thing to pay to the fandholdstv In the year 1694 , tin bank was first estaboaaed by Act of Parliament' If it

      were n « fc fo ^ Acts . < otVPa * Hwnwnit » pledgxng the weariij of the taxes of tbe nation , atRothaaUWl <»* Goldsaddt would not advance a single ducat We have paid br Acts of Parliament intexejbwn pAitton * of the debt t » the enormous ftmottnt of tonr thousand millions , tlthough tbe debt is enly seven hundred- and sixty 4 x millions , and yet though We have paid off ; all this , v » have not wiped off one farthing of tbe debt This a the result of our ; osury law * . ¦¦ F « r upwards ef oat thousand years usury wm ^ field in abbemnee in Eaj land . It was a crime under the old common law to receive * usury . In Edward the Fourth ' s time , it * m punished by banishment : w The canon law of the Chnht punishes those guilty of usury . Our ancestors beUev » the Old and New . Testaments , and they knew & ' f »

      denounced by Moses and the Prophets . The * v ) j fathers of tbe Church didnot allow a man to receiveita rites who bad been guilty of tnury nntil he mad * teal tution . That wife-killing tyrant ; Henry the Bightbthat disgraeeful villain—was the first who made tony lawful ; and , to show his villainy , commenced with t « pair cent . The Parliament had then robbed the duns * and , that they might retain this property , and md » the best of it , they passed this law , bat it was aboliiW in the next reign . The people-rose op in arms sgsiat it ; they weold not have their religton dntied for U » gain of a set of usurers . It was not re-enaeted spb during Edward ' s reign , nor all the reign of M « rcaUed bloody Mary—but Elhabeth , taking advs&tsji of her popolarity , again established it , but reduced it to

      eight per cent ; and the . preamble wf tbe Bill tbat enacts it commences with- " Whereas ; usury is sisM and detestable in the sight of God , " &c , and tben proceedstoenactit ( Load taogbter . ) She was afraid rf the people , so gammoned them by denouncing it . tad then enacted it to pleas * a Parliament wnotsA «« r times changed their religion . Queen Anno tfrtd'Uit five per cent ; and so you see Acts of PWiaoent overthrew the common law of tbe land , '' and dU away with Moses and the Prophets . Am I not light , then , in charging Acts of Parliament with being si to rootofenr evils . If they taever asked ' otfrccBseiit ift borrow this 800 millioM , and even If we bad gins It them , we should not have been such fools as to nddte ourselves with the interest of It If tbey borrow ^ ft ,

      we should make them pay it If yoo borrow , you ¦«* pay , but yo « - « aonot take a pincb of pepper , a es ? d tea , keep a dog ; a bone , or aagbt else , wltaoBtpvfi for that which you never borrowed . If you get tod *! , and cannot pay , - ( a tUngv parbapc , yoa may be pittically acquainted WlUi ) - ^( bwghtBr ) --bemgpodr m «; l dare say you have been battled up to the Court of K » - quests , and made to pay it by instslmeats ; if you'oirtft 18 s ., and arranged to pay . it-weekly attheead of ntt » weeks yon would have paid it ; ywt would not baieb » pelled to pay any usury ; and Why ? because youKiA by Moses and tiie Prophet * . ( Laughter . ) I , who aa called a violent Chartist , i only demand another Art of Parliament , to do avny with that bad one . Sorely If a moaatroos wife killing tyrant , and a Parliament

      representing nobody , could do away with the- * mmm » law , and overthrow Moses and the Prophets , « Parliament elected by the whole people—a ParllamBt elected on Chartist principles has a right to atttUA usury —( load cheers )—and yet because we ask for pofitical power we are called ugly names—the many-booed monster , the an washed , the swinish raoltUadV Thif say yon want spoliation and anarchy , because yon want to keep their hands off your pockets . We know thaw gents are highly respectable , that is , they have mtst done any asef&i act in their lives ; and , being very endderate , we will allow them to keep what they have g « V bat no more thirty millions of usury . We elate * right to have things called by their proper aama—to call a dog a dog , a pickpocket a pickpocket ; tatthef

      have got not only the making of our laws , but of out language also . When they robbed the people of theb common land , they called it waste land , though it , *)* the only land that was hot waste , seeing the people && the benefit of it . This puts me in mind of the Qntk * who said to bis dog , "I will not beftt thee , norbtt tbee , nor « boot thee . I will only call thee mtdoW Real property , which is your goods , the things * whim you have crtated , and which are yonr own , tb » yb * v » given the name chattels ; but land , and money , aw those articles Which God has given for all , tbejlaw dignified -with the name of real property ; landholder they have called landowners ; the harbours , tbedoA yerds , the palaces , &c , which are yours , th « j call the Queen ' s , and they allow nothing ( as Cobbett tntff

      says ) to be yours , but the Debt—that they freely W you have . When you hear of the Treasury yoa s «» P » to think of a heap of money ; but you are sadly oat » you think there is any there . Afcer ten years' WW economy and retrenchment , Sir Robert Peel , ' 9 ^^ ot Baring , says he was angling in a bottomless gatf * deficiency . True , you might find lots of Ezelw ^" Bills there ; but they were the evidence notcta" but of debt I want yoa to have tbe Cnarter , w * means to an end . What that end is is not for meto teu 70 U ; bntl will give yon my opinion © f . wtotaWli&ment Should do elected by the principle of Unl *** Suffrage . I would have them get dominion of «* land and . of the circulating currency . I would not taw —¦¦*¦ •••**• » w * — l ^ f . w ** wfc *«« WM «^ VUttBHVJ * * » r *»*¦ - — — - -I *

      an inck of land from thepreeent proprietors : thlfwoaw produce a civil war . I do not want strict jastice ^ -u ^ is impossible—I only want a change which weald *•» to justice being done . I would leave them in ua * tubed possession of their estates until their de » a when they should be purchased by the nation , ana tw proceeds divided among their heirs . And y *** r advocating this the Government is strongly teeliaed W hang me , and I am as strongly inclined not »* J hanged . ( Loud cheers . ) Ton most look out , or «¦•• these morniBgs yon will mias me . Mr . O'BrieatW "' went into a long detaU of this subject , showing tbstej getting possession , of the land in ttdsfair and « 4 m *** : manner a rental of at least £ 120 , 000 , 000 would aM ^ to thft niMnn . Mid thai thin zmm nnthlnff BMnDBrea W »

      the results which would flow from calUvsttag $ *} in small allotments ; mentioned * farmer on the boi « P who farmed 11 , 000 acres of land ; highly »«« > £ *' : Eeargua OGonnotfs letters on . thlsfsobjectto tte *^ ticej ^ snlained the advantages < rf ik ; --natI «« aI vm > With branches , to our present system . WeehoflM' ^ then allow men : like the Barings t # accomulsW ^ themselves acknowledge ! jW 9 , 00 p , oO 0 from tijea ^ Jg ing transaetiona ; tut what benefit WW derived ? £ r be to ourselves . Mr . O'Brien concluded an ao ^ T which occupied three hours in the delivery , by & >»¦ £ ing them to stand by the ^^ Charter—to have the ««» bog , bristles and all ( Loud cheering . ) - _^ ; -Mr . Cibbieb , in a neat speech ,-moved ^ */ W . thanks to ths > lecturer , seconded by Mr . Watw »

      and carried with threeeheers . < , ¦ .. ? 1 - Three cheere were given for O'Connor m \ }** n three for F * ost , WtiliamB , and Jones , and three iw ?" wbo in any way assisted in the Chartist moveTneiK '

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      Thb Directors of the Manchester , Asbton-an Lyne , and Sheffield Hallway made te « r m »? . the new line to Godby , abont eight miles from *»• Chester , oa Thured * y week .

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      c T ^ B ^ «« D »»« -. MK . K : <» W JKlB . - - % r

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 20, 1841, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct575/page/6/