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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th March 1843, Edition 3 of 5, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      . j . _ {¦ Oes&Kuedffom our&ghth "page . ) ¦ eJB&re CofflBuftee lEraea an address . It was quite ifcttfiat flat address was in-i » -iraylron-drt ieme to JStfjent . itwmot proved . tola-re , been in Ms hands , Si there **» noaanj ^ nate-rer" to -ahow vthat ha Sjjj aBjantgto - "ipTr tttii U » ceneocftofc of it Thii ¦ X ^ S * e 16 ltl ' ?* 8 IIsfc 5 * 2 * lTBi-whsi did ] Said B iseBentioing ? Hernia : ; al the . meting of ^ Conference . 2 * ot one single syllable -was proved to S » &nen from his Tips . Neither CarUedge or Qdffin ^ e 3 » single syllable of evidence except that he wai ^^ dofepenee . IKere wm a resoloHemi passed , and S payed ice jury to attend : to ti » -wordiaj of It , waKse if he understood the meaning of language , his Sit ** there fer the purpose of looking after the

      O ^ rtist organJEiuon , ana j » aeaea ms iearned Friends Vibe other ride to extract anythlnjf prejudicial from Xw spinst him . The xesolntioa-was "Thatwhilst ^ Gaotist body did not originate the present eessa j £ , i . fenn Jabonr ; this Conferenee of Itelegsfes , from 2 £ jonj parts of JBn ^ and , express their deep sympathy -2 &iheir constitaents , the perking men sow on strike , ^ a » t vre strongly approve the extension and eonfissjrae of their present : struggle till the People ' s Char jg . becomes a legislatiTe enactment , and decide , forth * ^ gh , to issne an addresi to that eSecti and -we pledge -flares , on onr return to osr localities , to give a —tper direction to the people ' s efforts . " Had the ^ faence of Delegates no right to express their . irmrathy Tiith their constituents , the "Working ' •^ T' -f ^ f that hadnd

      58 iBiintained they , a = he knew no law jlkk preTented the people expressing the sense of the ^ hhjji , if they had any , and theineonTeniences , if ^ p ewere any , to which these poor people were exposed totfcMtaeke . Had they no right , to . appro-re the ^ jaorion of their present straggle ! He said they had . 5 gyiad a right , as independent men , to stand by any ^ n tft , and ioapprove their conduct in holding out , fill ¦ fc ^ hs dgot a feir Tenrnneration for their labour , pro-•^ ad &ey did not > 3 o that -which was charged against jaueiieDt in tfcisind-yrtment . He did not say that the ^ rtjria -g-cre ijgh . tr He had his own opinions as to ^ issihsr nniTecaLsnf'Erage was a good thing , " or whe-^ r * general ectensTon of the franchise would he a tmBtBrl mearcre for th 9 wrongs ef the / working classes .

      jrflfasylived in * free conntrjj-they had a-rijbtvto jaafcia fee qncstiin of vvagea , and they had a right to g ^ ta fear opinions nj . xm them , though they might ) ilHfc&ed atby » om « , ant 1 attacked and denounced by j £ & He aaintained tbi' * ^ fooke had a right to do ¦^ ,- \ HaXHt , ihmdasi was"' ** opinion that aome of the &nvlthe -Chartist * wen Tfld and Tisiunary , bat j ^ h » d ajdghl toidd those I © pinkim / provided they ^ somaTegsl KQd eonBffliiiat 'oalnanner . Theffwhat jafisenexttheyheardofhii * Sent ? They find him ' ii aeetmf on fte-lgta d ± , ^ S * * o 09 ^ 7 sfter jjtKifingof ttffl Confcrajce . 5 "fea » he was spoken $ if sa& witness as being at a n . ^ 8 "where there isi * good deal of disburbance " and i " *^ tiPmenfc > "where Sffe was no person to keep order , V *?^ "where eTeryjsS was tryingto get a word in "Now , they had

      , . jujj flat at tisat meefingSrooka aaid . ^ "ttepeqple lii . -i » in thonsands to leeds , and " di iven ° ? -801 " &i JrcsB Ae , haraek * . If he had sai d * ° ** -was i Tsy fooBdi thing , hat there was no gn * ter d ^ S 6 isa for a Jnrj to place imp ^ idt rel ^ nce oj " * Mports S oefore lien in transactions of that natur ^ T " ^ J" » ^ hsa had ai lllttstraBon of this in the ot « CTCe ° f B Witness , who said that he eonM not re member ^ sSiistm-waraBsed ^ as — iesoilB ^ aon ^ ajwj ^ YQi "tt&on , " i ^ h M » llsf * case , -srhether itwaa * Hoole" 01 " * ooJ »" ^ b ^ to Mr . Hotiand Hoo ! e , a ^ Magistrate of the tow P if 3 teefeesier . The witness who appeared against ^* g ^ , had said sot a word abonfc the three let * ' ?' > * idi Brooke wasJaid- to laTB referred Et t ™ ¦ fe

      B&g of delegates , as stagng the turnmg ont of tL iJSbs at Leeds , and he supposed " ibat his Leamei gad { the Attorney General ) , " thinking that the since was Tery weak , tailed * witness WproTe iit , copy of the ^ xecotiTe Committee ' s address had iBsfoima at lodmerden , in order to create a snpposi itiiat it hai been taken there by Brooke . How stood ifcet ? It was prored that the address was sot ptsk at Todmorden tiQlhe 27 th , at which fcneSroote sxi Manchester , and had nothing more to do with biSdress than the constable himself . Brooke was glablefox the acts of others . A TPnii hw \ enough to lOT-i ^ fays , to look after himself , and he hoped S tie jnry "sronJd not in consequence of any such g rrtnTTTB eridence as ttai tke ri ^ f ^ rftnTffc Itad been at

      iKEQBg at idsBtheato , and at another at B ^ ln-S ^ IB tBTBtamBg&inst >> iTn a Terdict of guilty . But kim loot iqi a moment at the ^ BxecutiTe address , vL * £ whether it wouldl > ear the terrible construction fcaiadbees put upon it by the Attorney- General . iJSfct be a teij foolish prpdncSon . Why , they lived iStagE of fooli ^ j proclamations j but if the party who BSt flns adarera did so with a good intention , and insfl it to haye a jroper tffect , it ought to be yiewed c » 2 beral allowanee . ^ e submitted to them that \ n an argument in fsrour of &e Charter . There Ei be a hard word here , and a hard word there , bnt gfe maintained that it was . not seditions , as was

      saced on the other ma a "SUbm address which had been io& commented upon an thus— "Brother Char&te , ipeat political troths which have been agitated s = sj . the laat half centmy , hare at length aroused bo ^ raoed and i&KOted whita » IaTes of Eng l and to | b » of * hdr duty to themselyes , ttieir children , zd Suit country . ** White elarta I said Ms learned pfflS , tfee Attanjey-GeneiaL Y « s , he ( Mr . Dnndas ) pSendtbat there were many of the working classes sthe eaeoition of wMte slaTes . Their condition was oetalfe xnd wretebed . SXat-srMch constitnied the iaSKSsee ol Englidunen , and which might be said ¦ Eto msie SIb itself ceshahle— domestic comfort , « &TBy mtani of procuring it , was wanting to & 3 L They were poor , they were in clad , and they bi K 3 e er no education . He did not put the far * vpsn any one—perhaps they night all take a Sflttf the blame upon themselves , hut howeTer that i $ i be , the fact was unquestionable , that a large

      paa of the working classes were steeped in the fe ? at poTErty , and that their education was at the « 7 kr » est Be should not hSTe * aid a word on SJ ^ rt of the placard , if the Attorney-General had £ ** $ exrea to hare expressed bo nmeh astonishment < & . erpresBon of tte terat * "white ah \ Tes . ** The £ bb Trent on— "Tens of thousands haTe flung fe ; tisr implements of labour . Tour task-* e » tremble at" yonr outcry , and expect-SJ sases sageriy -watch thia great crisis ol onr 886 . * Thii was a fpteimen of gracaHoqufiuee—^ the Ito itjle , or that of Buonaparte , —a flourieh with * £ & high Bounding proearoationfl were sometimes 6 > 2 fid in . •* Labour mTist no longer be the common tijsl masters and rulers . Intelligence has beamed psflie mind of the bondsman , and lie has been conae ^ tiat all weaiaj , comfort , aod produce , erery-% nlpable , useful , and elegant , have sprung from iplm of his hand : he feels that his cottage is

      ytj . Mi back is thinly clad , bis children bresdless , * s 2 hopeless , his mind harassed , and Mb body ^ S&d ; that undue riches , luxury , and gorgeous Js ^ r , mi $ ht be heaped in the palaees of the task-- * ftn , " and jljeded into the granaries of the oppres-*¦ Jvatoe , Sod , and reason , have condemned thlj ^ S *» 2 ty , and in the thunder of a people's roice it •* jerish for ever . " He Q&i . JDandasJ conld easily Wae . tiat a poor ¦*•»»< looking at the condifion of « f » E-tiaEt—hiB property— -in ships , in houses , if it ¦ telie , —in machinery , and ie could imagine him 5 * 3 - ^ t these things were protected much more ' 2 a anerdant , than was the sweat of his hrow J . ™ . He might be wrong , but if he ^** & it sincerely , he had ~ wrongs which

      r & . to bi redresjed by the GoTemment under which jfoe d . "Be knows that labour , —the real property F ***^ , the sole origin cf accumulated property , the * - * saae of all national wealth , and the only « up-** - % cefender , and contributor to ^ the greatness of * tstetaji—ig not possessed of the same legal proteo-«* i 5 eh is ^ iTEa to those lifeleES efiBcts , —the houses , SVtrai nsatiimfery , —^ whicb labour has alone created . « i « nn that if labour has no protection , wages can-^• ¦ nphtld ; nor in the slightest degree regulated **< Tery man of twenty-one years of age and sane P * a on the same political leTel as the employer . He ***» thaj the Charter would remoye , hy uniTersal 3 « P » sed inUniveisal SnfErage , the hea-yy load ** B » wkich now crush the existence of the labourer , |* a $ ple thetgbrts of commerce , that it woajd gire ^ loTenunent ai - »«» Tl j « eheaii foftd . hish wages ,

      ?* 3 as low taxes ; bring happiness to thehearth-^ Plenty to the table , protection loz the old , edn-? - * &nie ; ycrangf permanent ^ prosperity to the counj *^ - ^ roiranuea protec&Te power to labour ; and C *^ ^ peace—to exhBTated humanity « nd , TOning Bationa . " 2 fow he ( Ht . Duudas ) was ^ Ptqared to say that the Charter and TJnir ?^ Siffage would be a remedy for all UBa «* uaaer which the working classes laboured . T ^ ia m , t think ao , but he remembered how the * ~** franchise hadheen extended fiirongbout the l &l , and especially in Iheix own country ; hs thought 2 ^ * b nia too bad to aay that he was a bad 7 ™ " » ho wmght for a further extension of it Dif-- W ffienheld difitrent to what weuld bring

      -news as g = _ to the country . Some psrtieB flJOBght 1 hat a -2 P * of the Corn ia-ws would bring ibout a tetter ^* thasgj , ana others laughed ^ t them for s-rowing * pinion . But a tt-. mi had a right to his opinions , g ? would rot be worth while Imng hi England one ganger , if e- ; er they put the law into the hands of v * -5 sn toBDite the opinions of - ^ nether- " Therefore I ^ t we iaTe solEiBnly ^ irwom , and «» and all ^ d . ttatthB wjiaen opportnDitj i » ir ^ thin eui ! & » taanc tpaffliwayfnuUEis , Hid aatthe chance fcj -es afforded ' to ni , T > y a wise and aOseeing . {^^ lioliielDA ilsat thafc we do now nuiTerBafly ^•* J * BCTa "to resume labour nntillahoury grievances

      w ^^"* » ana pratecuon securea-. Mr . » " » " «> wJ « ing wires , and helplesrehiiareni ^ J- the « nact-2 L ? : ttfi People ' s Charter ^ - What ^ was the fair 2 *« tt < m of the meanlDg of thiB- language j ^ K . here was * atrike for wages . What ^^ l *^?? They « 3 i d , "We thinfcthisis a Tery ^^^ e opportunity for earrynig the Charter . The "S * - "hnotttiniTeriflljTre BBTerhad such an opppr ^^^ bel ^ e , isn 3 we- think Htat hjSxxa ' and Jggtihnake g ^^ t oay accomplish onr object . " This > was . the ^ 2 ? , »» bbi construction which he put upon . the 5 * 5 « nd he thought Jhat all to acta of taose Swin tbjBBtrike > aBplyconlb 3 ned himin the -dew ^ S * M » ienof it , « mtdligence has reached ta of

      Untitled Article

      the wide-spreading of the strike , and now within fifty mleaof Jdanchester , every engine ia at rest , and all is sail ; save the millers" aseful wheels and the friendly aickleinthe fielda . " This was very poetical , and it "Was Tery near what was the case . There was nothing ataUfllegal in eying that within fifty miles of Man-Chester every engine was at rest The were at rest ; but who put them in that position Not the meeting of _ delegate * , not his client , » or the Executive Committee . It was the result of a -proceeding which he did not appear there to defend , but which had no connection whatever frith the individual whom he iepreaented . "Englishman I the blood of jonr brothers redden the streets of Preston and Blackbum . " This was a passage which had been

      commented upon -with mnch severity by the Attorney-General . No man could regret more than he did" the unfortunate events that had ^ happened at Preston , and which had led to a lost of human life , hut was it not a moat extraordinary fact that in connection with that lamentable transaction , a small < lvil force amounting to not more than eighty persens , and a few soldiers , had been able to drive away a body of men composed of some thousands ? They would find that Instead of offering any resistance to the authorities , or seeking to place them in collision with the soldiery , by which blood might have been spilled , they peaceably ietirfad- ^ a fact which he thought afforded the strongest possible evidence that the people had no intention of employing physical force for the

      attainment of their object . " And the murderers thirst for more . " " He would admit that this was a -very improper / ward , hut when they took into consideration the drtoxiBtances under which the address was written , and the station in life of the parties , it might be looked upon with some degree of excuse . " Be firm , be oonrageons , he men . Peace , law , and order , have prevailed on our side—let them be revered until our brethren in Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , are informed of- your resolution ; and when a universal holiday prevails , which will be the case in eight days , of what use will bayonets be against public opinion ?" No , of what " ttse would they be . If there was a universal holiday , and people were of one mind , there

      would be nothing at all to fight for . What , then , was the construction he put upon this passage ? Why this — - " H you will only do this for eight days , you will carry the Charter , —not hy bayonets , but by peace , law , and order , we will carry out the work . " This he conceived to be the true meaning of what the writer of this address intendedtoconveybyauniversalholiday . "What tyrant can then live above the terrible tide of thought and -energy , which is now flowing fast , under the guidance of . man ' a intellect , which is now destined by a Creator to eleT&te hia people above the reach of want , the xasconr of despotism , and the penalties of bondage ? The trades , a noble , patriotic band , have taken the lead in declaring for the Charter , and drawing their geld from the keeping of tj rants . Follow their

      - example , lend no whip to rulers wherewith to scourge ^ you . Countrymen and brothers , centuries may roll on , ^ as they have fleeted past , before such universal action may again be displayed . Wehavemadathe castfor ^ iberty 1 and we must stand like men Hie haxaxd of ^ the die . i Let none despond . Let all be cool and watchful , and 'ike the bridesmaids in the parable , keepSjoor lamps ! liming , and let your continued resolutlon ^ fe * heacon . guide those who are now hastening far and wide to . y * ow your memorable exsmpla Brethren , we rely on firmness ; cowardice , treachery , and womanly i fear vould cast our cause back for half a century . ' o man or child break down the solemn pledge , and if ^ ey 3 o , may the curse of the poor and the

      t - ¦» pursue them—they deserve slavery who rid llkdJy COUrt I * '' ThiB ¦*** Oarian again —» J ^ H . vX f proclamation , Tery poetics ] and very pretty , nonnsnu- y ^ wiaamam « Oar jnaeMnftry Is all Sd xad J 0 ur canBe ' - 11 tliree dsya ** ' ~* VT ~ f ^ " ud by all the intellect we can summon to peueaonw . wfcrBj wbilst yon are peaceful , be firm , andwhflBtv ti look to the Liw , remember that you had ciispyi « aking it , and are , therefore , the slaves f . r * " - ^ 1 ' ¦> law . and the caprice of your masters . " w ^ iT ^ i It ¦* - " > tte oP-Dion of many high authoriUerSaTtaxa ^^ ^ "T ^ Z ?* to 8 ° LidXndfL ^ -iey often heard that Mh

      " Laws grind the . POw .- ^ men make laws . " The working class * ' f *? w ^ « " » # * «>¦* ttey had I riSTtolSfce - ** " 5 ? f emselTes . They ^ might SSKJSSSiii ' ^ t pa . age in thl aidresa ^ fcuuuu " * rrr ^~~* he Aa » ociaUon are called upon Si ^ L ^ SSS iSL t ^ e ^ il extension of the move-U > aia ******** ° a >« <> ^^ e . tte w ^ delegates , ment , and toforward all m _ + v « < o *™ t » t . »« « . u ^ , »»»« u- » the eountryStrengthen

      ^ » . . Vho may he pressed ov . rf /^^ "f ^ oar handr at this crisis . Si Vfeave the dedalon to-the riimd -onr sacred cause , am . _ Th « \ ttr \ Tr \ m fJonowil GodofJn ^ and ef Ba ^ , ^ Stfg'ggSSS had laid much stress on the h ^^ te ( Mr fJ ^ JLj and had put » meaning upon it fe ^^ ^ contended it did not bear ,-that tt , against LsTwho people to take arms and do bat ^ ^» t thJa wmd WM might oppose them . He believe * ^ ^ 4 , ^ of ^ applied exactly in tihe same sense a . ^ ' wijia&ee i _ tbe Conference—the battle of justice i + VoaitawKC umud

      w u « . ^ * L ~^ — mo «» J ™"" «^ 6 ' ttCtle Of the TOOT battle of right against might ,-the ~ ° th ^ g ^ igainst Ihe rich , —if it might be , an . ^ tte vvaaget was the construction which he put u , ojrt ^ j ^~ Sa and he did not think it conld be made \ fcerjaae namemeaning which was attached to it by the o ^ 0 ^ ' moral ly , thatU was a physical force battle , am ^ because it battle . He had read through this address o . linden at was proved to bare been posted at Tot T&bx S he which place his client resided , and but Tor ti orations ahtmld aot harre troubled tlie Jnry -witb aay ot . f tfirition debuued theii

      upon it . He was afi&id he bad ^ ^ ^ too long , eapecially as he only appeared for on . ^ ^^ defendants . Be felt a strong sympathy for L ^ jyy . happiness of the working classes of this co te £ Whatever greatness England had achieved as a ^^ Eiercial Bation , —whatever advances she had made i that constituted the characteristics of a great people , ' ^ to whatever point of refinement the means of nation ^ and individual comfort had risen , she owed it all to to skill , the industry , and the perseverance of her aifisans . It was because he felt this that be should be

      delighted in any opportunity of bettering their condition , either hy educating them , by giving them better laws , or by removing the grievances of which they complained , ana enabling them to live happily and contentedly nnder the institutions of the country . The learned Gentleman concluded by asking at thehands of the Jury , a favourable consideration lor his client , against whom , in hiB cons 5 ience , he believed that no charge of conspiracy existed-Mr . Bajitei , for Mr . Scholefleldj Baid that he had occupied very Iftfle of the time of the Court in crossexamination . The case of hiB dfcnt was so plain and simple . If thejorywonld simply apply the rule laid

      down by the Attorney-General , not to convict any one on mex » suspicion , he could have little doubt as to their verdict . He could not help expressing his disapprobation of the course adopted by the Crown . The present indictment was a monster indictment One of a kind -unheawl of before , and -which he trusted would never be seen Bgain . What a hardship it imposes upon each of the fifty-nine defendants , many ef whom « re not defended by counsel , and who are stiU expected tach to examine and analyse the mass of evidence which it had occupied / the Crown five days in laying before them , and to be able to select , and to answer the _ > t a a . * l . —a .. ^ M * k . £ Y « n Vt £ k * i «* t * BTnirtn YT 11 Drift Bcaxierea mwb&h ^

      Tarions facia u »»»* ' — - »—apply to his individual case . Bnt the prosecntaon songht also to apply each of the nine connts to this indictment to eichof these defendants , so that but for the manner in which the record had been shortened , on the suggestion of the Learned Judge , there -would have been no fewer than 531 questions to he submitted to tiiem . Be would nXproceed to consider the case of hisdent . Mr . Bcholefleld was a « i « sentinf clergyman , wUo tad aucceedea ^ Mr . Coward , the founder of the Beet to which he now preached , and he also acted as an apothecary . Mr . Scholefield was , no doubt , a supporter of the Charter . He thonght that the working classes in this country were deeply obliged to Mr . Feargus O'Connor . He claims simply that indulgence for bis opinions which Mr . Pandas had already so eloquently claimed for his client For every tect of political opinions in this country there shonld be the most unlimitedioleration-however mistaken—if argued peaceably , and legally submitted to the choice of the people He would call their attention to a position laid down by the Attorney-GeneraL Theie never were , he must , in the fiat place , say , a set of men who had to » tf-S 8 le with greater pryudices than the defendants at the "bar . He would but refer to the circumstances of the MagistrateTof a whole county , that of Stafford , havingj « it « iaea man as bail amply because he was aChartist there

      It touldheuo offence to a Jury to caution Uiem against Ju ^^^ ces . Se was not ao advocte Sio Ctorte ? . ltwight be right or it might be wron | ; but iT to the ^ aracter of those maintaining it he TOmft fav in common justicej that among them ^ £ \ to £ Home V the b * st husbands and Sber tfatten , amd that theirmoral conductmight ^ e TOsewifeae-acta of every one of the othera , B > mmmsm ther fo ? BefSof tt « - ^ P ^ oti ^^ fJL ? S bSmsiroia to render each of these perBonB liable ^ or ^ Sd ^ ct cf ^ ny one of the others who might SSi ^ by dofcg Bomething illegal h *™ advanc-

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      ing the common cause ? The learned Counsel : then went on to analyse the parUcalar evidence applicable to the ease of Mr . Scholefield . He was not at all affected by the evidence of the xhree first days . It was Saturday before his same was even mentioned . The Learned Counsel then went on to detail the . history of the Hunt procession and Monument , and th& original objects of the meeting of delegates , as already given in the eyidenee . These purposes were strictly legal . The plan was first suggested in the middle of Jane , Jong before these outbreaks . On the 1 st of August , a placard regulating the course ef the procession appeared . The outbreak took place on the 9 th or 10 th . The Magistrates' proclamation did not appear till the i * tb , and the Hunt ' s Monument Committee actually

      anticipated them , and issued a placard putting a stop to the procession as early as the lOtb . On the 11 th a circular was published , stating that the Committee thought it most advisable , hi eonBequence of the disturbed state of the country , not to have the procession , less it might lead to a collision with the authorities ; but that a private meeting would be held at Mr . Soholefleld ' s . On the 14 th the Magistrates issued a proclamation , and on the 15 th her Majesty ' s proclamation appeared . NrvSchole&cld received those late on thel 5 tb , and early on the 16 th a placard appeared , putting off both procession and meeting , and exhorting the people to peace and order . On Mr . Scholefield coming back , after get * ting these placards printed , he found Mr . O Connor had arrived from . London .. Some of the delegates from a

      distance , who ware-not aware of the * ta » of-aings , arrived in the courae of the day , and , of course , went to Mr . Scholefield ' s . They went in open day , from about eleven o ' clock in the morning till four in the afternoon . In the evening of that day there was a teaparty at Carpentera ' -hall . The witness who spofee to w&atMr . Scholefield said came in in the middle of a sentence , part of which might have any meaning that any person might assign to it . On the 17 th , some of the delegates met in Mr . Scholefleld ' s chapel . He was requested to permit them the use of it , for the purpose originally referred to in the notice by which the delegates were convened . He was asked to do bo by Mr . O'Connor , as being a convenient place where they would be least likely to ran any risk of attracting a

      crowd , and breaking the public peace . Even if that meeting had been perverted to an illegal purpose , Mr . Scholefield . at all events , took no part in it Ho passed once or twice through the chapel on his usual business , bnt no word , so far as the evidence went , was spoken in bis presence . Could they , upon this evidence , find him guilty of being a party to a conspiracy , supposing such a conspiracy existed at all ? He confidently left his ease -with the Jury . Mr . Sergeant Muejhy , for Dr . M'Douall and others —He said he thought he might almost leave the case of his clients upon the observations of his Learned Friends . He would confine himself to the evidence which applied particularly to those whom he defended . He must remark , however , that : there was no charge

      known to the Eoglish law which extended ao widely * , or which was so difficult to guard against , as that of conspiracy . By it men were rendered liable , in many cases , for the rash , or wicked , or illegal acts ef others . As to the . particular defendants , he begged them to remember that , in the case of Darham , in many instances where he was spoken of as appearing at these public meetings he repudiated the Charter as an object of the strike , and recommended peace and order to the multitude . His olgect as to the strike was legal—that was not denied—and he had , in the advocacy of that object , recommended none but legal means . It was said he had sat on a Committee for granting these licenses . Did it appear he had written any license , that he had had any conTersatdons on the subject , or that there was

      anything more against him than his having at one time been seen hi the room where those meetings were occasionally field ? Against Railton there was no evidence on which he could lay his finger , except that be was present at the meeting of the Conference . Of that , in itself , as an evidence of guilt , his learned friends had already disposed . The original objects , at all events , of that Conference were legal , and there was no evidence whatever of the share he took hi any of its proceedings . The Learned Counsel went on to show the progress and objects of the strike . Up to the time , at least , of the crowd entering Manchester , the Chartist body had no connection with this movement The trades unions had issued a placard , bat the Chartists had made no motion in that direction . The first act of theirs , by

      which it is sought to mix them up with the strike , is the Executive placard . That emanated originally from the Executive without , as far as appeared , any communication from the Chartist body . He would nqt go overthe ground occupied Djr ^ s'tfianied Frfendf with regard to the legality of that placard . He would , however , join with him in earnestly begging them not necessarily to infer that the placard is seditious merely because ita language is strong . He -would quote on this subject the observation * of Ghitf Jostles Tindal , at Stafford . The language of that placard , as to the misery of the people , was in no degree an exaggeration . It was recognised as true by every one who knew anything of the state of the working classes . The defendants , it appeared , supposed a remedy for this would be the passing of the Charter , and they recommended a display cf peaceful resolution until they could obtain this desirable remedy from Parliament

      It might be the Charter would not be the panacea they supposed , out there was no illegality in entertaining or advocating the opinion that it would . As to the termination of that placard , could they look upon it as more than a mere flourish , using a sonorous epithet without any intention whatever of stimulating the people te outbreak or violence ? The placard was the sole evidence against Dr . M'DouaU . The only other circumstances deposed to related to the meeting with Mr . O'Connor at the public-boose— a meeting held in open day , without concealment , as men might meet on any ordinary business , and which it was ridiculous to suppose was a meeting of conspirators . The Learned Counsel submitted that as to the three parties whom he defended there was no evidence which could justify verdicts of guilty . The Court then adjourned ; it being nealy half-past fix o ' clock .

      I TUESDAY—SIJTH DAY . Mr . Baron Rolfe took his seat this moraine ; at t £ l > o o ' clock . As Mr . O'Connor was expected to "ftfce his speech in defence to-day , the Court was r" rHfided , and there were many ladies present . Vs , Atherton said he wonld take this opportunity S « fciog the Attorney-General whether Nhe had j > "flejied on which counts he would proceed . . Vv 1 Attorney-GeneraL—My Lord , I do not mean + ^ t £ « «*** - BDOn * ne two -ast conn * 8 ; bat I think as Z . fez ^ dxih and seventh , upon looking at them , it » m \ 4 *® o 18 necessary to retain them . In reality , hJnhlv * nothing whatever todo with the riot . It Lrmenra 1 ^ tnat tnev are extremely important with refer < jnoe to some of tQe <» nTiction 8 that took

      " - ""' " -here . place eisev . : gM 0 J | then addregged the Cou ^ and t ™ rmhP ^ of the defendants , James Fentoa % nii . m Stephensoa ; and he Baid , thongh there and wiuum ^^ common t 0 ^ defendants , which bad beei "• ably 8 ° ne OTer and I «»* 0 J « -Pied by which had Deei md fitm fteM wwe distinctions SwSSSJ elta lte * nd the 0 th 6 r de . feDdanto - . wnnld invfoinB ^ the necessity of occupying S # 32 ?« nn . <• He referred to the importance X ^ hta 2 i * 5 Kl . > to 8 aid had been * taowledged ? nMFiSfSL »*• addresB of the Attoxney-& ££ ? H ? cZ \ ^• ed o * - circumstance ' SS - ^ T-Sni ^ fd ; -fe « n - Plaits , living in differ-^ 3 XT 2 & * L % * adnnknpwn to e \ ch other , ent placesacting « £ & £ ? % & »

      . , . ' « « SST S yet included in one . a ^ ^ i& Blumber in his tfSSX ^ £ SiL ^* for the *¦ ° f a man bed might be made ^ p , j ^ e saw ^ the whom , m an probabty , lated b ; hecbarfie nature of the evadence wa m ^ nd tb / iefore it £ . in this ** monster lndictmt . J * iiim ftf t > , ft j nrv w quired the utmost cm . and ^ tSghVto ^' at in expense had been spared 1 f ,. ffoveTnmBnt but getting np the prosecution 01 - * J to S toaefchS fhe defendants had not the m " £ & ££ ^ deft number of witnesses from ? vJrj ^ lZ . Kooa u ^ fendants needed the shield 01 gjj ^ jj JJJfgJ they were individuals , and the g ^ ° TTf f tjj SKaJMsBSS :. tt £ & £ s fflar ^ 1 li £ s political change . The strike origin ^ ^ JjSjJd * Z-u » « r tu irrnVmon nith the w&si •« iney . receivea . of

      S ^ rne of theIZtoSZ the class , * 2 g * «> * J St seem willing to admit , that wages ** . *»* ££ low ebb ; bnt it was clear thev were J * J * S " give general diBsatiBfaotion to tWwori ™* £ efJ ™ Had a legal right to Btnke j and it was . - " { WjgJ to know , that this strike did not ongi . ™* P *** political question by the Chartists 5 Jmt % T « Ae » ct of the workmen themselves . The « onai . V - ^* f laws , " referred to in the indictment , it \ T «* W consisted of the six points , which , being e » W ^ j constituted what was called the » People ' s C . ^ V Tnere was nothing , monBtiouB , or alarming , * Zjr doctriceB of tha Charter , to any man of prv v * p * possessing a stake in the country . There was «•» proposition which had not defenders among . mv ™« the highest rank , the most stable in property , «« - TOOsthigh in intellectual education and refinemtw-Take the three cardinal points of the Chartt * * Annual Parliaments , Universal Sufirage , and Ttot e tn > b . Hm na « t > i&-n nnt t . "hft i \ -mnnutionB WnlCn iwt

      , years had been presented to one of Jhe largest city constituencies in the empire , the constituency ° i Westminster ? Sir Francis Burdett and ^ irJonn Hobhouse . from year to year , and from election * o

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      eleciion , oatne ! before that constituency having those P ^ Bittoa continually in their months . ; JVaa the ot abeggarly . JjMjfc Gade dootrine , only taken up by menhaving nd 1 property 1 Who had kiosk diatin- ? . gmsbM'ib * m ^|| - ^ jr . ; tii 0 ' . ; fi « lVoisaoj of this dpotrihei No satu mhtpe . jt > ut one of the pritne-merohattta ^ if Lombard-street , a man as distinguished for hiB talent , ' as : for ^ ' ^ e ^ l (^ djtafia' « oe /> % 'ii ^ glit ; i ^ er'i ^ p to a NMn ^ Lprd at theUheid of hw own profesaion , Lord ijrougham , who waa not a man whom any one would ^ pect of taking up a crude , untenable , and preppsterous doctrine itBelf in . politics , yet he advocated the doctrine oftha ballot . He might also refer i ^ . ^ 6-ni ^ : otii ^ ri ^ tJmst ;^ d pM ^ piiia ^^ : p who Bpent ^ a long life iffiinvestftratiriff Dolitical aueisthe moat

      tions , to ^ which ha jp ^ eJ- ^ iesewch of laoonouBkjnd rJeremyBenthani-andfromaknowledge of hjiworkB he could swi that there vns not A single point in this muoh-m $ Iiguedoharter , which he had not defended , aud enforced in the works which he had left behind him . ylhet Icearned Counsel dwelt on thereinarkable ab ^ jioiailf injury to life , arjd the very little injury inflickd hj ?< the turn-outs oveta large extent of country : au < i quoted the words of the Attorney- . Greneral jimvhfe ' openjtig speech on this point , asr oxpre 88 iphB- ^? th ¥ ; 8 Jtrength of whi ch he could add nothing ; -Hetheii adterted to the seven remaining oountaoff ^ ind ic t ment . The four firat were tho ^ e on which ajpue it was sought to fix the Cohfetjenine delega'tiO ^ ihiay wer 0 the only politioal counts ra the ibdictmMf , ' and consisted of so many charges levelled against the Chartists . The third count , oa which the proseoution , ho supposed , would

      mainly rely , charged the existence of tumults and violent stopping of works , and that the defendants conspired to abet those tumults . The fourth count charged them simply with abetting the tumults , without conspiring to do so . In each of the four counts , force , direct or indirect , was charged upon the defendants . He contended , that befote the jury could give a verdict against any of the Conference delegates , they must bo satisfied that the act they did was performed by them , with a knowledge that the strike had been in many instances occasioned by force and violence , and that they must , when they published the Conference address , have knowingly aided and abetted in that force and violence . He proposed to read from a particular number of the Northern Star , to shew that there was a very different tendency from that imputed to the address and publications in the case .

      The Attorney-General would not object to any general evidence a . 8 to the character of a defendant , in the event of a jury finding it necessary to look at hiB character ; but he must object to putting in particular publications at a particular time . He had , in his opening address , said he would suppress nothing favourable to any defendant ; and he had adverted to the fact , that up to a certain period , the general tendency of Mr . O'Connor's writings in the Northern Star were opposed to the course with which he was charged in the indictment ; aud he had permitted a witness ( Griffin ) to give in evidence from his knowledge of the Northern Star as a reporter for that paper , a general statement that the object and apparent scope of the writings in it were strongly opposed to any violation of the peace . Ho would willingly give every indulgence ; but must object to any particular publication . ¦

      Mr . Atherton said , he sought to read from the Northern Star of the date which had been put in . The Attorney-General said , his Learned Friend should have said so at once ; though some doubt had lately been entertained : as to whether that could be done , but he would not raise that doubt at all . The Judge said , he must guard himself ; this was doubtless a concession b y the Attorney-General . The Learned Gentleman had a right only to read what went to explain and give a different character to the passage given in evidence for the prosecution .

      Mr . Atherton then read a passage from an article which appeared in a third edition of the Northern Star of the 18 th August , aud a first edition o ' i the 20 th August . In this an opinion was expressed that a cessation from labour tb effect any political object mast be national and simultaneous . It could not but be successful , because indicating the nation ' s will , against which no power could succeed . But a mere sectional display of this most decisive of all the forms of moral force , like a mere sectional display of physical resistance , was sure to be overpowered by the etrengtb of f&otion . If the strike were made a Chartist strike it must become univers&U Sntlua dteluration would be to those concerned , the fiat of omnipotence . But if Manchester , or even

      Lancashire , sustained the struggle singly , it would : be unsuccessful * and in all probability , would retard the movement which it was meant to hasten . The men had a right to strike , but no right to riot ; they had a right to work or not to work , but no right to break windows , destroy property , or Btop factories . Above all things , they had no right to insult the constables , authorities , or soldiers , &o . The Learned Gentleman having read this , theu addressed himself to the evidence , as against Fenton and Stephenson , neither of whom he said , had been shown to be in the Conference at Manchester , or near Manchester at all , during any part of the tumultuous proceedings . He noticed the various meetings in Stalybridge , on the Haigh , &o . beginning with that of July 29 , and

      dwelling on the faot that Fenton was a zealous advocate of the wage question , and opponent of Us being mixed up with the Charter question ; and that on one occasion he bad nearly become a martyr to his zeal ; for , according to the evidence , " they had like to have thrown Fenton out of the cart ; " because he opposed its being made a Charter question . So far from the Chartists being a violent body , according to the whole of the evidence , they appeared to be ah eminently pacific body . " Peace , law , and order " were the watchwords at all their meetings ; and the Attorney-General had admitted , that up to the period of the strike , the organ of the Chartists , the Northern Star , had been opposed to violence . The Jury would be running counter to the evidence if they deemed that the Chartists had been other than eminently pacific . The defendants , during the

      whole of the proceedings , though the crown had elicited the secrets of the Chartists—( and undoubtedly if there had been any illegal practice in their most secret conclaves , those men , Cartledge and Griffin , would have given them in evidence)—and though the defendants must haye felt strongly indignant against these witnesses , if they had been the violent men they had been represented , would they have respected the sacred precincts of this court of justice , and remained silent . Amongst the Chartists , as amongst other bodies , there would be firebrands , and those men had told them there was one law for the rich and another for the poor . In conclusion , he left the case of the defendants with great confidence in the hands of the jury . The Learned Gentleman resumed his seat at twenty-five minutes to eleven o ' clock , having spoken an hour and a

      half . Mr . M'Obbbey next addressed the jury . He said he appeared for the defendants Mooney , Thornton , aud ; Aitkin , but the Attorney-General had withdrawn the proseoution as against Thornton . The Attobney-Genebal—My Lord , it appears to me that he has been only imperfectly identified , and the representations as to his character were snob , as to induce me to withdraw the prosecution . By the direction of the Judge , the jury acquitted Thornton .

      Mr . M'Ocbbet then addressed the jury on behalf of Aitkin and Mooney . ; He adverted to the expression attributed to Aitkin , that " the reckoning day is nigh , " recited the ( verse of the hymn , given in evidence , and argued that it was impossible to believe that men thus engaged in devotion , could rush from the worship of God to defy him by plunging into scenes of violence . As to Mooney , the evidence depended on the testimony of Cartledge , who merely swore that he was present at the Conference at Mr . Scholefield ' s . He ridiculed the evidence of Whittarn as to Mooney ' a declaration of war against the British Government , with " four double-barrelled guns and two single-barrelled guns . " The learned gentleman spoke abotit twenty minutes . Mr . O'Connob said that some of the other

      defendants wished to address themselves to the jury , and had arranged amongst themselves in what order they should speak . The Judge—I have no objection . [ The great length of : the observations of the Learned Counsel employed , and of some of the Defendants , has debarred our own Reporter from transcribing the whole of his notes ; we have , therefore , taken the speeches of Mr . Baines and Sergeant Murphy from the Morning Chronicle , as being the best report we could find ; and the commencement of Tuesday ' s proceedings to this point , we have extraoted from the Manchester Guardian }

      Mr . Gboroe Jdxun Habnet—May it please your Lordship , Gentlemen of the Jury " . —In rising to defend myself from the charges preferred against me , I must crave the indulgence of the Court for any imperfections in my defence—imperfections which are extremely likely to be made , caused by the novel situation in which I find myself placed , and my total ignorance of all the forms of law . Had I consulted the views of many of my friends I wonld probably have , instead of defending myself , employed one of £ he many learned and talented gentlemen around me to advocate my cause , but cobbq ' ww ofmj ionocenceand disdaining the arts of

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      policy—believing that thrice he is armed who hath his quarrel just , " I appear before you to defend my own ; cause , believing in spite of the array of legal talent opposed to me , that I can convince you of my innocence and the injustice of the charges against me in the indictment . Gentlemen , I v asa over the barbarous phraseology of the indictment upon which asa civilian , not understanding the terms employed therein , I might have very fairly commented , I pass by that and many other topics upon j which I would have commented but for two reasons , —first , I feel that I have no right to occupy the time of this Court to the hindrance of the other defendants who have to foliow me ; and second , because I feel that I ought to detain you as short as possible , in

      consideration of the labour you j have already had to perform , and hence , gentlemen ; I will come at once to the question . Allow me here to remark that to me it appears passing strange , that ' while I occupy a prominent place in this indictment , I find no mention made of my name in the opening ] address of the Attorney-General , nor any evidence goffered against me until the morning of Saturday last , when Cartledge gave evidence that 1 was at the Conference Strange , gentlemen , that there should be so little evidence against one of the chief j conspirators Well , gentlemen , I find myself charged with having conspired with a number of persons to the number of fifty-eight / of these fifty-eight I am only well acquainted with one , v i ^ , Samuel Parkes of Sheffield

      with , about fifteen or twenty of the defendants I am partially acquainted , but these I know mostly only byname , while with from twenty-fivejto forty of the defendants , I am totally unacquainted ; I never heard tell of them before my arrest ; when I was taken to Kirkdale gaol I for the first time met ] some of these persons—but still so little do I know of them that were they placed before me now , | and my life depended on the issue , I asf ure you , gentlemen , that I could not distinguish even twelve of them by their names . Some reside in Ashton , some in Manchester , some in other parts of Lancashire ; I reside iu Sheffield ; what connection could there have been between them and me t Letters and papers were taken from me when I was arrested , the prosecution has no

      doubt looked through them , is there any letter from any one of these defendants to me ? A considerable number of the defendants have been treated in the manner that I was , letters were taken ; from them , — is there any oue ^ f these letters from me 2 Can the prosecutor show that there was any connection between me and them ? He cannot ; j what theu becomes of the charge that I conspired with these men —men I never knew—men whom ) previous to my arrest , I never saw 1 I find I am charged with conspiring on the 1 st of August and following days . Now , Gentlemen , no evidence has bfeen offered to shew that there was any strike , turn-out , or disturbance on the 1 st of August , —what then beoomeB of the charge that I conspired on the 1 st of that month 1

      The strike commenced on the 8 th of August , but as has been shewn over and over again , the strike at the outset was for wages , and not for the Charter . In faot , the Charter was never mentioned until the 10 th of August , when at a meeting of trades' delegates held in the Carpenter ' s Hall , Manchester , certain resolutions were passed approbatory of the principles of the Charter and declaratory of the necessity of tbe legal enactment of those principles to secure to the working classes their rights—this was the first time we find the Charter ] even namedthis was the 10 th of August , yet we are charged with conspiring to bring about a great change in the Constitution , and that on the 1 at of August Gentlemen , you have had laid before you a great deal

      of evidence touching these trades' delegate meetings . I protest against that evidence ; we have nothing to do with what the trades' delegates did ; their names are not in this indictment , and hence I suppose that they did nothing illegal ; if they had , I suppose that the Government would have prosecuted them ; well , if thty did nothing illegal , why is evidence of their doings brought against us who had nothing to do with them ? Gentlemen , I have shewn you that the strike did not commence until the 8 ih of Augustthat the Charter was never even mentioned until the 10 th of August ; and now I will shew you that I knew nothing of the strike until ' tbe 13 th of August . Gentlemen , the strike commenced on the 8 th , the march to Manchester was oh the 9 ± : on

      Wednesday the 10 th , early iu the day , I left Sheffield , my business as a bookseller and news-agent compelling ine to occasionally leavejhomer ; I was Ateeai uat&tbtr Saturday , when on my return hosts on the railway I for the first time beard of the strike , but it was not until I reached my home , and had put inco my hands the local papers , that I became fully acquainted with the first movements of the turnouts ; and it was not until the next day , August 14 th , that I became aware that a portion of the turn-outs bad declared in favour of the Charter . Yet , in spite of these well known facts , we are charged with conspiracy on the 1 st of August ! 1

      now come to the 16 th of August , the day on which I left Sheffield for Manchester to attend a certain Conference . Gentlemen , I believe the sum total of the evidence against me is that I attended this Conference . I vrill not deny the- charge , but , Gentlemen , how came I to attend that Conference ; I will briefly answer the question . | It has been already shown that the calling of this Conference was originally suggested by the Hunt Monument Committee ; how it was suggested I will show . On or about the 8 th of June , 1842 , an address from the Committee was published ; in that address is the following paragraph : — j

      " The Committee held a long and proper discussion as to whether we have the power , without being considered to have outstepped the power delegated to us , by offering a suggestion to the members of the New Executive , which ended in a resolve" That , in order to make the gathering of good men from various parts of the country to be doubly useful to the movement , and answer two purposes , we most respectfully suggest that they , ' the members of the Executive , discuss the propriety of calling a National Conference of delegates to be held on the following day , August 17 th , in the Carpenter ' s Hall , Manchester , when perhaps a friendly Understanding aould be established , all ill-feeling and bickering

      amongst leaders , put an end to , the plan of organization read , discussed , and , if necessary , revised , and all jealousy for ever banished from our ranks . Differences arise frequently through misunder . 8 ta . nd ing—men who have done wrong unintentionally are denounced and looked shy upon—who , if remonstrated with , could be made acquainted with their error , and have some chance of reform , and for the want of which , the cause sometimes losses both their talents and influence . If tbis desirable end could be achieved , it would give an opportunity for the delegates when assembled , to adopt other measures which they in their wisdom might deem necessary and prudent for the advancement of the cause . "

      Gentlemen , Griffin , the secretary to this committee , has avowed that he it was who first ] suggested to the committee this proposition of calling the Conference ;—allow me to read the conclusion of this address , it will serve to illustrate the j character of the writer , Mr . Griffin : — I " In conolusion , we intend to do Our duty , and believe that you to whom this humble app al is made , will do yours ; and may you and we ^ work harmoniously together , until every man possess his rights and liberties , and may the Ruler of ! the Creation stamp your and our exertions with the seal of his divine approbation . Until then , " We remain , i 11 In the bonds of Friendship and Brotherhood , Yout humble Servants , H Signed , on behalf of the Monument Committee , " * William Griffin . Secretary . "

      On or about the 4 th of July , an address was published by the Chartist Executive ] Committee , officially calling this Conference—in ithat address the intended business and objects of 'the proposed Conference , were set forth as the following paragraph will shew . —" Organization . The aspect of the movement , and the strength and position of the Association , were taken into mature consideratioa , and it was resolved to draw up a district plan for the whole nation , to prepare a plan for securing commodious meeting houses , to recommend ways and means of defraying tbe attendant expenses of the movement , and for the purpose of practically working these measures , ; and discussing others of equal importance , and ! of devising effectual means of preventing divisions and all squabbles for the future in the National Charter Association . " 1

      All ideas of violence were emphatically : opposed and denounced , witness the following paragraph : — " The Executive haveseriously deliberated upon the distress of the people , and deplore the absence of the Suffrage , which could so speedily exchange comfort for poverty , plenty for starvation , and ] freedom for submission . They do not see any just or wise remedy in violence or insurrection , neither do they Bee wiadem in uncomplaining obedience and servile silence . Therefore they are prepared to recommend peaceful and constitutional ultebioe . measubes as soon as they have gained the legal opinion oft an eminent barrister , at the head of the movement , whose judgment will not be biassed by the ] fear of the government , but whose opinion will be ^ tempered by anxiety for the suocess of the cause , and care for the safety of the people . j H The Executive will , therefore , be ! prepared to recommend measures of peaceful resistance to the

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      /^ H ^^ lsf&sh assembled Conferences of the Association , where they will have the benefit of the opinions pF the leading councillors of the National Charter Association . " is there anything illegal in a Conference so called , It must be remembered that Chartist conferences are not the only conferences that have been held ; a well known , talented , and in the sister country if not in this , I believe a popular gentleman , namely ; Mr Daniel Q'O ) nnell , i 8 in the habit of holding weekly large meetings of his friends and admirers , ' the object of which meetings , we are assured by conservative writer ? , isthedismemberment ' of the Empire , Gentlemen . I don ! t believe this , bnt this I will say , that if Mr . O'ConnelTs meetings are legal ,

      sorely a Conference called as I have shewn ; is at least , as legal . Conferences have been called together by a gentleman well known to the public , viz . Mr . Joseph Sturge , the avowed object of which Conferences was the carrying through the Legislature of tbe Six Points of the Charter . There can have been nothing illegal ia such Conferences , for the Government has not proaecutejd the parties attending them . Surely the Chartist Conference in queation was equally legal . Huge Conferences havs' been held in Manchester called together by the Corn Law Repealers . Great capitalists and dissenting clergymen have in large numbers attended these Conferences . Far be it from me to impute to those parties anything illegal

      tn their acts ; on the contrary , I feel bound to bef lieye that their acts have been strictly legal , otherwise the Government would have subjected them to prosecution ; but I dare challenge comparison of their speeches and acts with those of the Chartist . Conference . If the former were legal , the latter has been a thousand times more so . ' Gentlemen , something has been said of the meeting held on the-Good Fridayof 1842 , at which was laid the . foundation > stone of the Hunt . Monument . I was present atthat meeting , and if there was no harm , no illegality . in attending the meeting at which the foundation stone of this Monument was laid , surely there was no more harm , no more illegality in attending the meeting intended to be held in oeiebrafionM ,

      the completion of that'Monument ; Gentlel men . without further preface , I will now come to the Conference , and the acts of that body . Gentlemen , —It was on the 15 th of July that I was elected to the Conference at a public and legal meeting of the working classes , and others , of Sheffield . Taw was nearly a month before the commencement of the strike , and when by no possibility could I have foreknown the events that were about to transpire . I have Bhewn you that I knew nothing of the strike uatil the 13 ih of August . Well , on the 16 ^ h 1 left Sheffield for Manchester , and , arrived there , I found that not only the procession but also the intended meeting had been postponed by tbe Monument Committee , rather than risk a collision with the

      authorities . Permit me here to remark , that had tbe Chartists wished to promote tumult and insurrection they would have pursued a very different course to that which they did . Had they wished to promote revolution , would they not have appealed to the immense masses of men at that time on strike , to come to Manchester on the 16 th , and then and there avenge the wrongs of a more memorable 16 th of August ? Did they do ee ? No ; on the contrary they forbade the meeting , and gave Up the prOCetision , that there migbt be no chance of disorder or bloodshed . Gentlemen , 1 think you will admit , that I did not go to Manchester for the purpose of engaging in a physical-force struggle with the authorities , when 1 tell you that I took my wife with me to sea

      the Hunt Monument and attend the . festive meetings in celebration of its completion . Had I intended to have gone to war , it is not likely I would have had my wife with me * . I have been sworn to as having been seen in Leach ' s shop . Well , Gentlemen , 1 1 suppose there is no illegality in being Been in a public shop ; that evening ( the 16 th ) I , with my wife , attended the tea-meeting in the Carpenter ' s Hj , U , where the only signs of conspiracy I saw was the apparent universal determination to get rid of the tea and toast as soon as possible . On the 17 th , the delegates met ; it has been insinuated that it was a sort of secret meeting , and that there was an understanding that the proceedings of the meeting were not to be published ; there is no troth in this , gentlemen * the meeting was open to all Manchester , if they could haye been accommodated wit * seats ; indeed , I wished my wife to be present , buv she refused on the very natural ground that there

      were no females present . Now , gentlemen , I think , had the delegates been conspiring , I would not have wished to have brought my wife into their meetingfor , with feelings of the most profound respwt for the ladies present in this Court , I must say , that when men do conspire , they are not in the hab . c of letting the ladies share their secratB . That the proceedings of the -Conference were not intended to be secret is proved by the fact of reporters being present . Griffin was there as a reporter ; and , 5 the whole staff of reporters attached to the Manchester press were not there , the fault was theirs , not the delegates . Griffin took notes as a reporter , and if he did not use . them in the usual Way it only shews that he was there as a spy . Something has been said of the violence of one or more of the delegates ; the prosecutor , has : not brought * and cannot Bring , any such charga- Wfiat says the notes taken from Brooke , of Todmorcten * respecting myself ?

      The Judge—The notes found on Brooke are not produced against you as evidence , they are not brought against you at all . The Defendant— -1 am aware of that my Lord , but your Lordship will 1 know permit me to remark upon them . Of me , these notes say simply this : — " Julian Harney , —No connexion with the middleclass . "—Which can mean no more than this , either that 1 was opposed to any union with the middleclass , or else that I had no hope of the 4 niddieclass uniting with the Chartist body for Chartist purposes , —not much violence there . I now come to the resolution adopted by a majority of the Conference . The witnesses Cartledge and Griffin have both given evidence , that in the Conference 1 opposed

      the resolution , upon which is founded thisprosecntion ; I did not extract these admissions from the witnesses by cross-examining them , I have not said a word to aay one of the immense number of witnesses produced here on the part of the Crown . Yos have then the evidence of these witnesses that I opposed tbis resolution . I don ' t thank these persons for their admissions , nor will I take advantage of them , to endeavour to clear myself at the expense of others . Gentlemen , if 1 did not support this resolution in the Conference , I will defend it here . What says the resolution } It denies that the Chartists originated the strike ; that is a truth ; it has never been pretended by the prosecution , that theChartist 3 did originate the strike : who were the originators 13

      what has never yet been made public ; though the government have instituted an enquiry into the origin of the strike ; why has not the Government mada tbair report of the result of that inquiry ? The resolution expresses sympathy with the men on strike Is there any harm , any illegality in expressing sympathy with our suffering fellow-men 1 The resolution next expresses approbation of the present struggle until the . Charter becomes a legislative enactment ; great stress has been laid upon the word sirusgl < j ,. as though by it was meant a physical foree ^ combat with the authorities . Nothing of the sort is meant . There has never been a resolution pledging the people to continue the agitation for the Charter but in which this word struggle has been

      found . I have spoken at public meetings in support of such resolutions , nay , I have drawn up many such resolutions , and I maintain I have done nothing illegal , tt is the moral struggle of right against wrong , justice against privilege , that is meant by the authors aud supporters of this resolution . The resolution concludes by pledging the delegates te give on their return home a proper direction to the people ' s efforts . Well , Gentlemen , what was my conduct -on my return to Sheffield ? What was the direction I gave to the people ' s efforts { Why , 1 opposed the extension of the strike to that town , and prevented any strike or turn-out taking place . That , I conceived was giving a proper direction to the peopled efforts ; and I rejoice that

      by the influence L possess with the working classes of { hat town , I was able to give such a direction to the people ' s efforts . An address was adopted by the Conference . 1 wag not present when that address was adopted , but I approve of it , and wouid defend it if it were necessary . Much has been said respecting a cortain extraordinary document , as it has been called , ascribed to the Chartist Executive . Not one tittle of evidence has been produced to show that I had any connexion with this address , that I knew aaything of its authorship or publication . Had any evidence been offered against me , I would have defended myself from the charge . None has beea offered , and I disdain to take up the question ; it is beneath my notice . I have done with the

      Conference . On the 18 Jh of August I returned home , and on the ldtlt , 1 reported to a large public meeting the proceedings of the Conference , so little idea had 1 that I had done anything illegal . On Monday , the 22 d of August , a meeting was held in faradme-square , to consider tho propriety of commencing the strike in Sheffield . I attended that meeting ; a resolution was proposed , the intent and meaning of which I understood to be , that the Strike Bhonldbe forthwith commenced . I opposed the proposition ; I moved an amendment against the atrifce j I carried my amendment by a large majority . With your permission I will read my speech that occasion

      upon , aa reported in the Sheffield independent . [ Mr , Harney commenced reading the speech , but was interrupted by Sir Gregory Lewin , who objected to the Defendant reading the speech Ine Judge overruled the objection , and Mr . Harney read fche speech ihrougb , which was strongly couched m opposition to a strike taking place in Sheffield . GentlemeB , continued Mr . Harney , my opposition to the projected strike was Buccessfai , and though for nay conduct I have had the abuse and calumny of some of my own party , I have never regretted the part I played that day . In Shtffidd there has been no disturbances—no collisions of the people and the military—no marshalling of police—no calling out C Continued in onr fourth page * J '

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      , T 0 I- YI . ffQ . 278 . SATURDAY , BABJfr % 1843 . ^^^^ pS ^ ST "

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 11, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct641/page/1/