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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th July 1843, Edition 3 of 5, Page unpag, ( Cfcarttet $ntent$?nc*

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      THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED , PRICE SIXPENCE , No . I . OF A PRACTICAL WORK ON THE MANAGEMENT 01 SMALL FAEMS ; Giving full Instructions respecting Rotation of Crops , Management of Cattle , Culture , &o . BY FEARGUS O'COftZTOB , ! ESQ ., FARMER AND BARRISTER ! Also , now on Sale , ia Two Numbers , at Fonrpence each , the " STATE OF IRELAND , " written in 1798 , by Author OfCoNNoa . A eonrpendiain of Irish History , and a more correct Account of the Grievances of that Country , than any that has appeared upon the subjeofc . i Cleave , London ; Hey wood , Manchester ; ; Hobson , Leeds .

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      5 ! t D : eak Fbiekds , —After having bf > ea entrusted irith lie ieepicg and administration of jour firnds jbr the last ten months , without your expressing any anxJeiy as to file manner I have used them , it incomes my pleasing dnJy to submit ay balance-$ o& 2 dt joar paiisaL Yon wHl find ihail iay © carefnDy abstained from mixing up in lbs aceonnl saj angle itein connected -with my own defence . It is a Ibrinn&te cirenmst&ncathst I am enabled , by yonr goed opinion , to await ine proper time for jepljiu ^ to all ihe slanders of my enemies ; and that liBi so strongly robed in honesty as to feel no over-5 © f

      ^ coetj a refuting falsehoods hired scribblers , yros&nte politicians , and Jealous self-tormentors . OBe charge against me lias been that I have escaped unscathed from the recent prosecution because I ms able to avail myself of the service of lawyers ; jrlrile those whom the ignorant . are pleased to call jny dupes have EoSered from a want of the jsne means . ' Sever was there a store doubly ignorant assertion than this . Firstly ; beeanse it sras against my consent , and against the consent of fee 3 eaders of the Chartist body , that any man , flionEh ever bo humble , belonging to onr party ,

      EhenlagotoiTial "without ihe very besi legal assistance . And this taunt lias been tkrovm out in conseguenee of ihe adoption of a plan against which I hare Invariably protested . I mean the system of raisins separate local defence fnnd 3 , and f ifing ihe amount collected cither to the party accused , or to a committee for the purpose of his defence . 2 > o * t , if it goes Jo-the party , it is generally made prirsffB property of , wMte the accused mppise ? ihat ie best consnlts ins own feelings and the interest of his party , by making his own defence ; or , if It k legitimately expended bj a -committee , some griping Attorney grasps the whole , and afterwards comes down npoo the committee

      for a balance : thus , in either case , committing an injustice upon the contributors . Secondly , I had 20 counsel : Trhile , as I was the priedpal party atiaeted ^ allmy ^ troiber eonspirsters iad the adyszrtags of the testimony of all esj witnesses , as well as of jay poor legal knowledge . It b extraordinary , iowerer , to seethe manner in -which political scribblers blow hot and « old . TFith on ? breath they charge me with iiot defending my poor dupes \ ¦ while TOih the other they associate Chardsm with pickpockets and thieves , and blow upon me when , in the general -eofnnaon , 1 am not able to distinguish between them , and consrqnenily prefer defending boflu

      Ii -srasa charge against us , that at tbe recent Special Commissiens , prisoners were defended who were eharsed with moral guilt ; while had they not been defended , I should have been charged with the ciiae of neglecting my poor dupes . JLgain , iii 1389 and 1840 , almost every man charged mQi political oSences had a local fond subscribed Jsr Hs own defeuee ; "wiBe not one , or scarcely one . of them aaplied one angle farthing to the purposes

      ibr which the monies were subscribed : and I , as imsnrer , was in consequence out of pocket between £ 208 and £ 3 D 0 . Yarions sums from £ 3 , 000 aaS Epirards , io 40 s . 50 ? . and 100 s . hare been thus sibsenbed , without conferring the inteneed benefit upoa tceaccnsed « r the party : while more than 400 prisoners haxe been defended for little mere than fiarry shillings each , by a proper application of the people ' s monies .

      It is now live years since I urged npon you the indispensable necessity of keeping up a National Defence Fond . In 1837 , when the Glasgow Cotton SpioneT 3 were prosecuted , the want of * uch a fund imposed upon-me a month ' s labour in the depih of winter , —which I would sot again undertake for jSojGOQ , —and pat me to an expense of £ 200 . That trial was made a great fuss , about ; it cost between , £ 3 . 000 aud £ 4 , 000 f was swallowed up by law sharks , and did the cause not one particle of good j lor Ihe men were convicted : whereas , had my ad-rice been then taken , the whole of the monies swallowed up by law sharks , delegates , and witnesses would hare been saved , and the men wonld have been acquitted , - ^

      As it is worth while now and ihen to refresh your memories upon these subjects , I will direct your attention to the position ia which the Cotton Spinneis stood . They were charged in an indictmratwiih several offences ; and instead of plead-Ingand going to trial upon £ k > e indictment as it stoodi fiigr lork legal exceptions to it , in which they were gnCeessfEl . That is , they gained a great defeat at a great expense . ^ "When I went to Edinburgh , acd lieard the indictment read , I all bnt wtut down on my knees , and implored the solicitor and the

      committee to withdraw the objections that had been raised , and aBow ihe trial to proceed upon the indiciment , as is then stood . Bat no ; " I was a fool f sod was destined to fool away my time and my manej in supporting ihe folly of others . The result , lowever , proved that I was right , for the Lord Advocate immediately framed men an indictment as counsel for ihe prisoners argued vould have embraeed the efiences with which they stood charged ; and they -were tried npon thejregh indietme 7 ii J cos-VH 3 iU > ¦ epos THTt kew cdhsis , and acquitted upon nay coirni contdmed in ihe first indictment If /

      What would yon hare said , if Mr . Boberts , * our » ile adTiser , had ueeonaQended us to demur , or , plainly speaking , ioiake exceptions to the second , Ifih , and seyenfli connts 5 n the " Monster Indirtjnmlf' in mme of Trhieh there was any renne at aB . "Why , you would hare iqoiced for a moment at bi 3 puny triumph ; while it won'd have been followed by such corrections as could leare no hope of escape . Mr . Hoberts knew of cTery objsetim to the indictment in sufficient time for taking ^ neh course : bnt like " a good General , he waited the 5 tnng opportunity for taking somplete adTantage of Ihe enemi * s indiscretion .

      "Wfll , there ' s a Scotch instance for you ; and I must in justice say that the Scotch people hare not Tery fairly returned the compBment then paid to the Cotton Spinners by ihe English Working classes . ¦ I idH now jriye you a "Welsh instance . In 1839 , ¦ when Prost was arrested there was not a single farthing io apply to bis defence . I had to pay down line hundred Krrareigns out of my own pocket to tsmiDenee Che defence before a farthing wa 3 subscribed ; and again in ihe depth of winter , I was compelled to take a month ' s tramp by mght and by fisy i © procure a Defence Pqnd . If I have before spoken of the apatby of ihe Scotch people with reference to the recent trials , I must do them the jasiice io say that in Frost ' s case , they far outstripped their English -brethren m liberality .

      As 1 hope not to be again compelled to enter upon painful discussions of ibis nature , I embrace the present opportunity of bong Tery explicit npon all money matters . A ramonr has been circulated , then , by some of ay good friends that I borrowed a large amount of money from Mrs . Frost to enable me to defend her husband , and that I never repaid it . I take this oppertanity of stating clearly , how that matter Eiasfis . I never saw Mis . Frost , un £ l December

      1841 . luevsriad communication with Mrs- Frost fora verrlong 6 me after the trial of hjr husband . 2 cercr applied to her for a farthing . I never retarrd a iartbing irom her , directly or indirectly ; she ijcrei became security , in any shape ot form , for any cmey that I received ; and therefore I never lad to pay any back . So , and just so , am I able to sou-wer the vile and villainous report which ha 3 been industriously drculaied of my inducing Mrs . Pros * jo | dve me a large snm of money for her huskasc ' s defence , npon the condition that 1 would

      refciua . "While I state thus much upon my own behalf , I 2 ffi bfund in justice to Mrs . Frost , to say that she was most inhumanly and unnaturally choused out of several hundred pounds for the purposes of the defence , byonewlo shonld lave put a guinea into ia pockei raflxer than take a penny out of it . O ! iow ofienla-yel sghed 3 andBorrowed , sad regretted , fliat I was not acquainted with Mr . Jloberts at the far iad

      time that that fetal occurrence took place I 1 been so fortunate I b-a * e * ° t &e shadow of ^ otfoupon my mind tkat ibeami&ble Jolm ± ^ ost would iavebeencnowlivingamongst as , and aiding BswiihhiB council . But enough of this painful subject . I have said as much as was required for yonr iBstmefeon and my own defence . However , I must * aa © nesenlence to this narative . The only money -iti dchl borrowed condinoBally ^ as most honour-

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      ably thrust upon me by two honest stonemasons living at Cheltenham . They were deputed to hand me a subscription from their locality , when they asked me how the funds stood ; and uponmy replying " very slack , " one of them took twenty sovereigns OUt of a little leathern bag which they had scraped together to take them to America in the following spring , and handed it to me saying : " Here , Sir , take this , and if we don * t want " it in spring , we won ' t recprire you to repay it . " I took the money ; and when they applied for it afterwards they got it by return of post . That ' s a Welsh case for yon .

      I will now give you a history of the state of your affairs just before the last Special Commissions . Hundreds , nay I believe thousands were arrested ; and amongst the rest Ellis was arrested , atd committed for high treason . In minor cases we could rely upon the attendance of junior counsel at Special Commissions , who would be quite capable of defending Chartists against tbe usual charges of conspiracy , sedition , riots , ronts , tnmnlts , and so forth . High treason , however , is a d fferent thing . A Junior Banister is not supposed to understand the term " allegiance" as well as a veteran ; and therefore could

      not be safely entrusted in a case of treason with the defence of one of our party . I received scores of -letters about JBflis ; » eo beicg resolved that no working man ' s life should be sacrificed to this undefined and nndefinable law withont a struggle , I went to Serjeant Tal / bnrd ( before £ 30 vr&s Bubsribed ) to retain him at an expenccof 300 guinea c -to defend Ellis . I learned , however , from his clerk that he had been retained by thB Crown , whtre there was money enough to pay , and for which the Queen had neither to beg , borrow , or traverse the country , as I had . I then went to Charles Phillips ' sj he was at Brighton : and I learned from his clerk that in

      consequence of some expectation of government patronage , he coald not be had . 1 then went to Serjeant Shea ' s ; but it being long vacation he was out of town . I then wect to Sergeant Murphy ' s ; he was in Ireland with his constitutnts . I then went to tha Crown Office , where the business is done better than in any other effice , and where the very cl . rks understand more practical law tfcan one half the barristers ; there I was reminded that Ellis msst have ten days notice , if lie nas to be tried for high treason . So I r « fted satisfied , knowing that 1 should have ample time to prepare in sueh an event , and thus 1 saved you three hundred Euinea ? .

      Before I offer some closing observations upon this subject , 1 must here observe , that in ev ^ ry disturbance in Irtland I was subjected to a like inconvenience . "Wherever the poor people required to be defended , whether at R&thcormac or any where else , there was always a subscription raised at head quarters , which was swallowed up by the patriots ; while for years the drudgery and expence of defending the people invariably fell to my lot .

      You see then J have suffered in England , Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , from the non-performance of that duty which belongs to the people themselves . If however , the frequent sealdiDgs that neglect has given us shall have the tffict of making the per pie more alive to their own interest in future , I am quiet ready to forgive the past . And now , you dear , good , honest , and virtuous fustian -jacket - blistered - hauds-aud-uushorn - chia-Chartists ; yon for whom alone I work , and with whom I will continue to the latest day of my existence to straggle until 1 make you what you ought to

      be ; how can I thank you , the omnipotent people , sufficienfiy for the confidence that you have reposed in me , and the protection which that confidence throws around me 2 Having struggled through sev « n criminal prosecutions within the last six years , I must have fallen under the weight of prosecution , made heavier by the slander of the press than by the vengeance of the law , if your good opinion had sot supplied a shield against the many arrows that have been shot at me ! While my every act has been open and unconcealed ; while I have suffered much pain of mind lest 1 should in anywise beconsidered

      instrumental in bringing about and continuing the Revolution of last autumn ; and while its result has entailed a heavy expence upon me ; yet even all these considerations have not saved me from the venom of the slanderer . After I had boldly fought and fairly beaten the Government what think you of the Liberal rascals asserting " that it had been all arranged be tween Feargus O'Connor and the Tories" 1 In faith it was arranged that I was either to die in a dungeon or be ruined by escaping itl while I had arranged to beat the Government or to advance my cause , if I fell in the contest . What fools these

      drivellers must bell Did they never think of the Jury who could not be brought into our arrangemeniTV . Above all , did they lose sight of the fact that noi only I , but all of my poor" dupes , " as they are pleased to call them , escaped as well as myself ! . ' It nsHally happens that where a flight of duck ? are to decoyed , the decoy duck alone escapes ! while the remainder of the flight find themselves under the net . Withont much circumlocution , however , yon will believe a plain

      tale from a plain man . Firstly , allow me to tell those scandal-mongers , and self-tormentors that the Government would not have suffered the exposure that they received by the Lancashire irialB for one million sterling . There ' s not on legal record an instance of so big a blander ; nor in history one of so great a triumph ! I never consider myself humbled by entering into the most minute explanations w 5 th yon j and especially do I feel myEelf called upon now , not-to undeceive you , but to thank yon for not allowing yourselves to be deceived .

      Hear my an swer then , you working men , given with all tbe solemnity of the most solemn oath : throughout my whole life I have never conspired against any sing le individual ; nor have I ever betrayed any confidence reposed in me by the most bumble ! 1 have never held correspondence , conversation , or communication with any man in office upon any other subject than that which may have been in fulfilment of yonr commands—such as makin g one of a de putation , or presenting memorials in yonr behalf ! while I would have suffered any length of imprisonment , transportation , or even death , rather than condescend to hold communication with the Government , any portion of which should be ashamed to withhold from the public

      ear . I tell you now that / have been Kd / or , and highly bid for , by the Whigs ; bnt never , in the course of mv life , have I had any such offer from the Tories ; and for this simple reason , because they know well that I would expose the in ? uit . They know , as you know-, that all the money in their coffers could not purchase my support : while all the patronage at their disposal wonld be but poor compensation for betraying the meanest of our party .

      I trust that I have now sufficiently explained the whole transaciion about which I write ; that I have embraced the strer&l subjects of moBt vital importance to our party , and given a faithful account of my stewardship . Allow me then to say a word or two by wav of comment npon the manner in which our legal business has been transacted throughout this arduousandpro tracted struggle , byMr . Roberts , It is always most p leasing to me to find myself ia the wrong when the discovery of error has the

      effect of doing justiee to those whom I may have injured , or to whom I m » ybave caused a single pang . AtoneperiodMr- Roberteandlweresofar unknown to each other , aa not thoroHghly to understand each other . I waa foolish enough to entertain a sort of prejudice against him , withont knowing why or wherefore . However , it has since fcUen to my loi to be on a little closer intimacy , and by vMch I have been led to a know , ledge of my former error . At BinniBgnamj where

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      hie support of Sturgeism would have been a heavy blow at Chartism , I was first made acquainted with the real merits of the man as a politician , and his capacity as a scholar . I discovered that the difference betweenhim and me , as regardedSturgeism , was just this : I suspected and denounced the party upon suspicion ; while he thought it more beneficial to the cause of democracy to act with them while they piofessed a desire to serve it . He was the first to desert and expose them upon the commission ot an overt act of treachery .

      It is not here my intention to offer one single encomium upon the manner in which Mr . Roberts has discharged his duties ; to our party during our ten months' struggle with the Government . Suffice it to say , that his conduct is above all praise : while his Z 3 al , anxiety , and watchfulness have characterised him to my mind as one of the soundest , the ablest , and sincerest politicians that ever I met in my life . In conclusion , then , my friends , allow me , once for all , to impress upon your minds the necessity of keeping up a General Defence Fund ; and of abandoning the ruinous system of flying to local attornies , and of raising

      individual defence funds . I know that you arc poor ; and that , —thanks to the infernal blasted machinery , —you are likely to be still poorer ; and after all my trials , persecutions , and expenses , I am richer than a nation of paupers ; and therefore I laj the foaudation-stone of a permanent defence fund , by presenting you with tbe balance of between , £ 300 and £ 400 now in my hands as treasurer , as a nest egg for those who can spare a little , now and then , to lay upon . I say that I present you with this balance as a free gift : because , by all the rules of trade , of commerce , and of ustiee , I Bhould have arisjht to set off ab nt the same amount over-paid

      by me , settled , audited , and allowed , in 1841 , in my balance-sheet as treasurer , for 1839 and 1840 . I do not do so , however ; as 1 can better bear that loss than suffer you to repay it , to the great injury of our cause . The amount set down in the credit side ot my balance-sheet , as paid to Mr . Boberts , has been expended , and I believe more ; while Mr . Robert 9 himself has not , as yet , received a guinea for his services : nor will he render me his account until the battle is finished . In the event of things taking a turn ; should the Court of Queen ' s Bench decide in favour of tbe validity of the fourth count ; we shall , in such a case , be driven to a writ of error , by

      which is mpant the redarguing of the whole case before the fifteen judges . When those -who have subscribed their pence remember what the Government blunders have cost the country , they will surely be astonished at the comparatively trifling amount at which Mr . Roberts has exposed them ; whOe I have no hesitation in saying that , had the several parties been defended by separate attornies . £ 50 , 000 would not have covered the expence , while not a particle of service would have been rendered to the canse . Here follows my balancesheet : and I am your friend and servant , F . O'Connor .

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      E—A portion of the Bum , I believe £ 5 , was also returned by thej honest working man wbo got ii , to tbe Manchester defence committee . F—This amount was paid by me to Messrs . Yates and Turner , in two suras of £ 40 and £ 31 . Q—The several suma paid to the defendants at Lancaster was owing to the length of time that the trial lasted . ¦ Hr-As I understand aorne bickering ; has taken place abiufc this item , | I feel myself bound to state tbe circumstance precisely as it occurred . Mr . Ridley called upon me on the Sunday morning previous to his

      departure for Gloucestershire to take his trial . He asked me for £ 1108 . to defray his expencea there . I told him that in no instance had any of tbe funds been appropriated to such a purpose . I said , if you wish to have council you shail have the best that the circuit affords . No . he replied , I mean to defend myself ; and I then advised him as to his course . He then said , how am I to get thure ? and I replied , tl What' man , can't you walk there ? " and hesrafled . ' Coffie , " said I , "here ' s a sovereign to take you down , and if-it ia objected to when I am passing my accounts , I'll pay it out of my own pocket . " There is the little peg upon which a great story has been bung . :

      I—The several sums paid to the defendants when in London , was inconsequence of the idea ent-rtained in the several localities , that they would be sent back to the respective gaols to which they were committed , at the expense or the Government ; and they were not therefore furnished with the means of returning . By reference to my balance sheet ft will be seen that I have not charged anything under the usual and comprehensive bead of "sun dries ; "although if I had time : in ( l inclination , I have no doubt that I cuulcl put from £ 80 to £ 100 together . I have charged nothing for my own expences , although I was obliged to send my phyb cian and two bondsmen to Liverpool , where they remained for several days . In mentioning this item I must state , in justice to Mr . Cleave , wh » was one of my bail , that although I pressed him to receive

      compensation for loss of time , he declined accepting more than merely covered his travelling exponces . There is no charge for my witnesses ; though I brought two from Ireland , and others from different parts of the country . Mr . Pray w : vs subrcened not for me , but to break down the character of Griffin . There is no charge for a large expenditure paid : on account of all by me at Lancaster . Mr . Roberta paid his own expences ; neither do I take into account the Jarge sum that it cost me in travelling expences to lectnro in aid of the fund . I do not however complain of any of those small lobses . as . the " £ 2 that I fobbed at Nottingham , out of the £ 5 that I received to pay a delegate , " ' will much more than cover them . I bavo now rendered my account as Treasurer of the National Defence Fund ; and trust it will be found satisfactory to those who have so repeatedly honoured me with their confidence . F . O'C .

      Errata . —The £ 2 received from Birmingham should have been £ 2 Us .. It was aent by David Potts , and made payable to Mr O'Connor contrary to his express desire . The post-office order has been lost , but Mr . O'Connor debited himself with it .

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      DUBLIN— Ttie Irish Universal Soflrage Association held their usual weekly meeting on Sunday last , at six o'clock in the evening . Mr . John Kee ^ an was called to the chair . Mr . Dyott , the Secretary , read the rules and objects of tbe Association , and several letters from various parts of Ireland , congratulating the Association on tho good sense and discrimination it had displayed respecting the object of the -leaders of the Repeal movement ; and expressive of sympathy and sorrow for the [ poor , innocent , warm-hoarted and confiding dupes jvho have been , and still are , cheated out of their money under the pretence of Repealing

      ihe Union . A very sensible and well , written letter from Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , was read , and gave great satisfaction to the whole meeting—strangers as well as members . Mr . Self requested to be informed as to the fact whether Mr . O'Connell had voted for the Whig Coercion Act , and stated that some people in Newp rt maintained that All * . O'Connell voted against the Coercion Act in every stage ; while others held tbe opinion that he voted in favour of it . The par ' ties ultimately agreed that a letter should bo written to Mr . O'Higgins upon the subject , and that his decision upon the point should be conclusive —( hear , hear ) .

      Mr . O'Higgins said , that before he should answer the question , he should propose a gentleman for admission , as a member of ( heir association , who wast well known as an honest , indefatigable , and talented member of the } National Charter Association of Great Britain , and who had also been a member of tbe Working Men ' s Association , before the Chartist organisation ; a gentleman who had' always identified himself , as every true-hearted man ought to do , with the working classes ; a gentleman , who in his correspondence with Mr . O'Coanell relative to his treachery against the Glasgow cotton-spinners , had done honour to his head and his heart : he should , without saving more upon that occasion , more that Mr . George Julian Haroey , of Sheffield , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association . ( Hear and oheerB . ) :

      Mr . Joseph Brikrly rose to second the motion . He said that Mr . Harnev had , to his credit , been endeavouring to effect a Union in Sheffield between the Chartists , who are all Repealers , and those who assume the exclusive right to agitate that question ; and who , in their folly , reject the aid and co-operation of their real friends , the Chartists , and meanly beg and pray and fawn for that of a miserable handtul of bigotted , besotted Orangemen—( ' heers ) . Mr . Harney was admitted by acclamation .

      Mr . O'Higgins said he had another member to propose '; and in doing po , he should complain of one great sin of omission by Mr . O'Connell . Ha had often heard him say that Catholic Emancipation would have been bbtaincd some twenty years sooner had h not been for the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Societies . Well , oue would expect that when Mr . O'Connell had hia friends , the W hiss , in power * vvith their commanding majorities of 150 to 174 % — " tyrannical majorities , " aa Lord Stanley called them , —that he would have made an t-ffort to repeal those obnoxious statues . But , no ; he did nothing except get good places for all his sons-in-law—three of them ; 3 place for hia son , who is not a Repealer ; places for his nephews ,

      who are not Repealers : but to do anything , or to propose to do anything for the benefit of his country was out of the question . " Keep tbe Tories out jtill the Whigs provide for my progeny and kinsmen , and you will be all true patriots and good Christians ^ " This was the whole service ho rendered his country from the time he entered Parliament up to t > e present period . Lpt any one who can do it , tell him , Mr . O'liixeins , anything he did , or proposed to do , for the bent fit of his country during his whole parliamentary career ; and he would give him credit for i . Look how his iraek is marked with the blood of his countrymen at every step , from the period of the Tithe slaughters at . Neivtownbarryi on the 18 h of Juiie , 18 S 1 , down

      ; o the murder of Mr . Caffrey , the Repeal dupe and victim , at Clones , in 1843 . Had he made an effort ' ¦ o have the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Societies Repealed , he , Mr . O'Higgm ? , would have been spared the pain of alluding to the man at all ;—a man who had done- more mischief to hi $ country than any man ever did baiore ; a man who had sold counties cities , towns , and boroughs to the enemies of Ireland , "the perfidious Whigs ; " and at the ssme time had the talent to make his countrymen believe that it was all for their gopdil It is necessary that this Association should be on Us guard . When the Whigs

      were in power , Mr . O ' Connell called upon the Whig Attorney-General to prosecute us . He called us " midnight assassins ; " and , in his speech , in Dundalk the other day , it appears that he had the face to tell the people there that which he knew to be false . He said that "the Chartists were covertly and insidiously aiding and abetting secret societies , that they are bound together by unlawful oaths , whioh is n > t true . ' and from that spot he ( Mr . O'Higgins ) begged to refer Mr . O'Connell tr , his cateobism , where he will find it written , Y , y authority of the church , "that no reason ormof ive can justify x hie" I t is clear , from the malign ? tv of this slander , that we muat be cautious ; to r the

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      man who would thus , in trie face of Heaven , tsfl bis assembled countrymen a jbase , blood-thirsty , and brutal LIE , would not hesitate to swear to it if the Tories would jast give a place to his dear little son Johnny . In order to guard tha association against any infringement of those penal statntes and to put it out of the power of any particular informer to swear away the lives or liberties of their neighbours ; he should then state for the gdidance OP ALL TUEIR ENGLISH j CORRESPONDENTS , THAT THOSE WHO WRITE SHOULD ALWAYS BCQ 0 EST TO BE PBOPCSED MI-. HBER 3 OF TKB ASSOCIATION AND WHEN ONCE ADMITTED MEMBERS , THE SIMPLE

      CIRCUMSTANCE OF WHITING TO THE PRESIDENT OR SECRETARY COULD NOT BE CpNBTRUKD INTO A VIOLATION of any penal law . iHear , hear . ) In moving thai Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member , he should tako that opportunity of answering the questions respecting Mr . O'C > nnell 3 votes on the Irish Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against tho j first Coercion Bill in the year 1833 . Bnr , he voted in favour of the renewal of it in 1 B 35 ; add whoa Mr . W / iliam Smith O'Brien moved a clau ' se to the effect that the act should be limited to tw | o years , Mr . O'Conneli moved an amendment that jit should continue for five years , on the ground that it was necessary " to put dovrn agrarian disturbance iu Ireland . "

      Mr . d'Connell ' s ameudmeat ! was carried ; and the Coercion Act remained in full force for five years afterwards ! Iu the next seMou of parliament ; Mr . Won . Sharman Crawford brought forward a mution for the repeal of tho Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against the motion } Oja tho 1 st ofJalj , 1836 , . VI r . Crawford brought forward a motion to the tffjet that all tithes and composition of tithes should ceaso and determine ! in Ireland ; and that the clergy of the ssveral religious sects should be eft for thoir support to their respective ft > cks . Can n bs believed that ( Mr . O'Counell voted against this motion . His name will be found recorded in the votes and proceedings of the Home of Commons ia company with . English and Irish Tories

      upon those divisioud . Let there be no mistake about this : he voted against the abolition of tithes in Ireland , while he led his dupes to believe that ho was tho strenuous opponent of tithes . A baser Whig hack never crossed the Irish p haauel than the loud talking patriot Daniel O'Connoll . Men of Newport ! Chartists of England ! bear in mind that while Mr . O'Connell was thus supporting tho Whi « s through thick and ! thin , he took care to provide for hi * family . His son-in-law , Christopher Fizsiinon , a Repealer , sold the County of Dublin to a non-Repealer for a Whig ( place in the Haaaper office . Another sou-in-Jaw , jMr . French , was

      appointed a stipendiary magistrate . Auoihar son inlaw , Mr . Charles O'ConnelL a Repealer , gave np the County of Kerry to [ Mr . Blennerhaaset , a Tory . Mr . Morgan O'ConnelL the Repeal Member for Meath , delivered up that county to a non-Repealer for a clerkship in th p registry -office . But then this was " an instalment" of "Justice to Ireland ! " After having gone through the whole history of Mr . O'Connell ' s political career-, Mr . O'Higtfinsconcluded by moving that ] Mr . Thoznas Self , ut Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association ; Mr . John Lynbara seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously . 1

      Mr . Dyott , in a very able speech , explained to tho meeting , tho difference between the Repeal of the Union with the present limited constituency of Ir - land , and tho Repeal of tho U ] uion after the constituency , should be extended agreeably to the principles of tho People ' s Chartejr . He proved to th 9 satisfaction of all present , but three , that the Repeal of the Union , unaccompanied by an extension of the franchise would cooler no j real benefit upon the working man . | Mr . Woodward said that h * 3 hould prefer the right to vote to a Repeal of the Union , if it were for no other reason than that tho people would tnen get ri < i of the atrocious Church Establishment —( Great cheering ) . j Several other members gavp their opinion ? , and good reasons too , for preferring Universal Suffrage , as a matter of choice , to a Rf » D | eal of the Union unaccompanied by Universal Suffrage .

      The petition against the Irish Arms Bill was postponed , as Mr . O'Coonell was not in hia place to present it . } Mr . Devitt wished to know whether Lady Elliott o * Lady Stanley , or both , should be appointed to brand Irishmen ' s guns ; and t ^ ere they to derive all the profit of tbe operation—{ great laughter ) . Mr . Burley was oalied to tbe chair , and the marked thanks of the meeting wore given to Mr . Keegan for his gentlemanly conduct ia the chair , after whioh the meeting separated . BRIGHTON . —At a public meeting holden at the Cap of Liberty , Portland-street , on Monday last , of the members of the Nktional Charter Association , residing at Brighton , Mr . Page in the chair , it was proposed by Mr . Trower , seconded by * Mr . Fiaxman , " That we approve of the suggestion that Mr . Wheeler be appointed General Secretary , pro . tern , to the National Charier Association . "

      STOCKPORT . —On Sunday last , Mr . C . Doyle , of Manchester , addressed a camp meeting twice ; first , at two o ' clock in the afternoon , and again at sis o ' clock in the evening . On both occasions they were well attended , and the auditory highly satisfied with Mr . Doyle ' s method of exposing the existing system . j STROUDWATER . —The Chartists of this locality are forming themselves into classes . No . 1 class meets every Monday night , at Mr . Pritohard ' s , near the Gross , High-street , Siroud , where true friends to the cause of liberty are earnestly solicited to

      attend . Members of the Council are requested to attend on Monday evening , July 10 ( h , at eight o ' clock precisely , or business off importance , NEWPORT , Isle of Wight .. — At the weekly meeting of the Chartists of Newport , held at the King ' s Head Inn , the following ] resolution was unanimously passed : " That our best thanks be given to Patrick O'Higgins , Es < j ., fo ^ the very abl e and straightforward manner in which he advooates the principles of the Charter ; and we would also beg to intimate that we fully agree ! with the resolution passed at the Dublin Chartist meeting on June the 18 th .

      ROCHDALE . —On Sunday last a camp meeting was holden on Sabden , which was not eo weli attended , owing to the wetness of the day . The police as usual were in attendance ; one , an inspector from Bury , and another , said to be of a higher rank * , from . Bolton ; there w ^ re b esides some full privates . All , however , passed [ off as orderly as if there had not been a policeman [ there . At the close of the proceedings it was announced that another camp meeting would take place that day fortnight , on Cronkeyshaw . In the evening Mr . J . Mills lectured in the Chartist Room , which was very well attended . j On Tdesday last Mr . Jamoa Leach , of Manchester , lectured in the Theatre , ] to a numerous and attentive audience . Mr . Miles Hodson was called

      Co the chair . In a few appropriate remarks he introduced Mr . Leach , who wap received with loud applause . Mr . Leach commenced his lecture by remarking on the mole-like position of the " free traders , " attacking their fallacies , especially their darling one , wherein they invariably instance the year 1835 as a year of great prosperity , in conequence of bread being * ' cheap "; and that if we bad " cheap bread" trade would always be fin a prosperous condition , and our poor comfortably situated . Mr . L . contrasted the price of provisions at tho present tixne with their price in 1835 , remarking that they are " chnaper" this year than they were in 1835 j yet , he asked where was our " prosperity , " or the " comforts of the poor 2 " Was n in the increasing amount of poor rates ? or in the amount of parochial relief which they ( the poor ) received in the Bastiles ? He showed that oppression and misrule were at the

      bottom of most of the felonies committed in this country ; that the working classes had been so far neglected and degraded by those above them , that some of them had ceased to respect themselves , and therefore could not bo expected to respect othrrB . He then dilated on the tyrannical and avaricious disposition evinced by mest of our present manufacturers , and instanced their respective codes of stringent rales , which in nearly all instances ended with so much of a" fine . " He concluded by remarking on the present position of the Government ; that it was anything but a bed of roses . Ireland was doing something for herself in h ' er own way— Rebecca ' s daughters" ( among whom he thought were some stout men ) were doing something for themselves too , and were saying little * about ii ; and England had her millions of Chartists yet , who would not let Blip an opportunity of procuring jastice .

      MANCHESTER . —The Chartist youths held their weekly meeting on Tuesday evening , in the Chartist Rooip ., Brown-street . The room was filled with a mixrA audience of youths and adults . Mr . William Da ' yon waa unanimously called ] to the chair . Mr , John Hargraves opened the discussion upon ' Toe ' cause of the present distress , and the best reaaedj , " which , had been adjourned from the Tuesday night previous . The following gentlemen took part in the discussion , which was kept up , in the best spirit , till ten o ' clock , —Measrs . fSoholefield , Nuttall , Moor , Carns , and Kenyon . ( The discussion waa adjourned until Tuesday evening nest .

      Untitled Article

      • A 3 . nSJEFN . —On Fri . ' BV w 3- ! r , the Can-Mats fold m <* nM . > 'ir rc * e « ir . ; , ' at O . J Ah-iv ^ n . A inad of music cn-luc ' eil t ' w New T-v ^ n ChanhU t 3 the place of meeting , and returned with them . Tha business of the » . tfn > n ^ was an inquiry into tbe ciusSS ' of the uaiTsre . il distress prevailing in E < i 2 la : id , Iraland , and Scotlan'l ; as also tho backwardness of tha Grovertmenfc to listen to the cries of si starving people , who in too many instances are driven to tbe commission of crime through the actual want of the necessaries of life , and who ate then punisbai for not submitting coolly to be famished to death . Tha mseiinz was well attended .

      »^^ - "" 9 n Wednesday Ust , tha 28 r , h u ! t . Mr . Djckin 8 on , from Manchester , gave a long and interesting address to a numerons and attentive meeting , in the Marketplace , on " the wrongs of Ireland , and on Repeal . " Mr . Dickinson gave a rapid sketch of the numerous oppressions &ud persecutions inflicted on " the sister csantry ; " aad pointed out the benefits which would result From a native Jegislafaro elected by the people . ^ WEWGASTfcB . —Mr . Kydd lectured in the qhar-Wst Hall , Ghat Jos , Cloth-market , en Sunday evening last , on " The probable eflfests of a B # peaJ of toe Corn and Provision Lawsnndiir present circumstances . " He cleacry showed that ? Jie wealtb producers vronlrf derive no benefit from aucb measure , so long as labour waa unrepresented . He contended that even an increase of demand for manufacture was no- guarantee that tha condition of tha indastrieas classes would be rendered more comfortable . In proof of thfc be addnc&d

      etattstics wlrah showed the amount exported froin 1797 to 1841 ; vrbich proved thaSin proportion as the quantity export *} was increased ; in Jifce proportion * had the wages of the producer bees reduced , let Jabou ? , th » only wealth of the industrioca classes , be sufficiently protected by the enactment of the People's Charter and he ( Mr . K . would be one of tho first to advocate a total repeal , not only of the Corn Laws , but of all obnoxious laws ; bnt until thea , he was prepared tc discuss the sa ^ ec ? with any Rentieman in Enckad . andundertaketo prove ibsfca repeal of i&e Corn and Provision La ws would be a cirse , and not a Messing , to working mm . The chairman said , if any gentleman differed from Mr . K . in opinion , ho would procure a fail hearing for him , and Mr . K . wis prepared to a ;> flwer any questions respecting tae sni-jjc-t of his lecture . No one came forward . It waa then announced that Mr . Eyild wonia lecture in the sa me place on nest Saaday " evening , at seven o ' clock , and the meeting dismissed .

      The Chartists of Newcastle and Qateahead held tbeir weekly business meeting on ftlonday evening , Mr . Tbomas Kobson in the chair . The minutes ot the * previous meeting having been read anrt confirmed , a discussion took place respecting the R v . W . Hill ' s visit to Newcastle , whereupon Mr . Yonnc : moved , and Mr . Enbleton seeonded , — ' < TIAt the Rev . W . Hill be corre » pomipd with , requesting him to spend a Sunday in Newcastle , on his tour to Scotland . " Agreed t » unanimously . Several other resolutions were likewise agreed to , merely of a local t 3 »(? . ency .

      OLDHAM . —On Sunday last , Mr . GiEmmge , of Northampton , delivered two lectures in the Charfsfc R- < om , one on too subject of "The Land , " the other on "The Wrongs of IrUactJ , and Repeal . " The leciurer depicted the wrongs of Ireland in glowing terms , and showed up the cvila created by & state church establishment under the sanction of law ; and argued that no sect , or party , bad any just right to domfneer and tyrannise over another ; but that religion ought to stand or fall on it * own merits . He likewise made a powerful appeal to the Irish Repealers , not to deceive themselves with the expectation that if R peal wore granted , it would cure all the evils they

      are laboui ing under . They would 3 till have class-legislation as now ; and a Parliament emanating from s middle-class constituency , without the labouring class being represented , would be more liable to bribery , and might , as before , sell their country's rights . He urged on them not to rest satisfijJ without thair political rights , viz , a voice in electing the man who is to reDrasent thew wants and interests . He hoped tba Rspeaiers would not thiuk the Chartists their enemies ; for he could assure them they wero their most sincere friends . The lecturer was listened to with great attention by a respectable audience , and gave general satiaf i < : tion . ,

      MANCHESTER . —Carpenter ' s Hall . —Two lectures were delivered in the above Hall , on Sunday last , by Messrs . Douavan end Leach . The audiences were large and respectable . At tbe close of the evenings lecture , a collection was made for M'Douall , which amounted to £ 2 . Th 8 thanks of the meeting having been given to the lecturer , Sir . J . Lane proposed : — " Taat we do cow . form ourselves into a public meeting , and that Mr . D . Donavau preside . " Carried unanimously . Mr . Dixon in a f § j 7 words moved the following resolution , which was seconded by Mr . Edward C . ark , and ' supported in an able manner by Messrs . James Clark and James Leach . The Chairman put it to the meeting , and it was carried unanimously . Resolved , " That wa , the people of Vlanchester , iu

      public meeting assembled , do solemnly declare our utter abhorrence of the infamous policy pursued by the present Tory Administration in the ' . T attempts to pufe down the agitation for a Repeal of the Legislative Union , by means so utterly repugnant to tbe spirit of the Constitution as the enactment of Arms Bills , removal of magistrates , and exhibitions of military forca ; and . we further declare onr firm determination toco-operate with the people of Ireland in tbeir peaceful struggle for the attainment ef a Domestic Legislature hoping , however , that it will be based upon such aa extension of the suffrage as will render it subservient

      to , and uader the controul of , the whole people ; that notwithstanding the denunciation of Chartiflu * by tbe Irish leaders and their malignant misrepreasntation of pur motives , we hereby pledge ourselves , ia conjunction with our Chartist brethren generally , t » resist by every legal means in our power any unconstitutional aggression that may be made upon the people of Ireland , while peacefully endeavonring to raisa that long oppressed country from a state of vassalage and dependency , to such a position among Ihe nations as her numerical strength , internal resources , and every principle of justice , so eminently entitle her to maintain . " -

      South Lancashire Delegate Meetin * . —A special meeting of the South Lancashire delegates was held in the Chartist Room , Brown-street , on Sunday last , to ascertain the opinions of the Chartists of this division of the county , as to who were to be the parties to represent them in the contemplated National Conference . The various delegates having handed in their credentials , Mr . Houghton , delegate from Warriogton , vu unanimously called upon to preside . The Secretary read tho minutes of the last meeting ,, which were confirmed . The chairman then called the attention of the delegates to the business for which they were met , viz ., the recommending of two fit and proper persons to represent their interests in the forthcoming conference , whenever that

      conference should be called . Mr . Nuttall said that he was sorry that the question had not been taken up by tha country- with that spirit which its importance demanded . It was still his opinion , and the opinion of those whom he represented , tbat the first step that they could take waa the calling of a conference ; such conference to agree to a plan of organization , and then to elect an executive committee that would cany its provisions into operation . This was the opinion of all the delegates present They , at the same time , hoped that their Chartist brethren would not look upon then as dictators , but give the subject that consideration which its importance demanded . They were also aware that the 17 th instant would be too soon ; but they earnestly recommend to the country the necessity of smch

      conference as early as possible . Several persons were then put in nominatioh , out of which two were to be balloted for , the successful candidates to be recommended to tha various localities iu South Lancashire as fit and proper persons to be elected at public meetings to represent the division . On the ballot being taken the votes were ia favour of Mr . Christopher Doyle and Mr . Wm . Dixon . Mr . Cbadwick rose for the purpose of moving a resolution . Hisobjeot in doing so was to prevent , as much as possible , one person representing two or more places in the Conference . It would be remembered that in the last Conference held in Birmingham , that some of the members represented two , an ! some of them as many as three place * , yet they were onlyallowed one vote , which might have proved fatal to

      our cause had it not been for the large majority of our friends who were present In order therefore to provide for tbe representation of all places , he would move the following resolution : — ""T-hat we , the South Lancashire delegates recommend to those counties who think proper to elect delegates to the contemplated Conference to avoid as much as possible from electing those that have already been returned for other places . " Tbe resolution was seconded by Mr . Miller , and carried unanimously . Mr . Miller said he was instructed by the Chartists of Oldham to bring tbe case ot tha political prisoners , now confined in Kirkdale , and other gaols , before the meeting . Ha ( Mr . Miller ) thought that if they wero to petition for one man , they ought to do the same for alL There was many good and honest

      Chartists now in prison who "were not speakers ; bnt they were men—and therefore had as much right to our assistance as those wfeo were in the habit of speech-making . He would , therefore , move the following resolution -. — " That we , tbe South Lancashire delegates , in County Ceuncil assembled , do recommend to the Chartists ia tbe various localities of this district to call public meetings forthwith , for tbe purpose ot petitioning Parliament in behalf of the political prisoners at present incarcerated in Kirkdale , and all other of her Majesty ' s prisons . " The resolution was seconded by Mr . Gresty , and carried without a dissentient . The delegates then took into consideration th © letter of Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., which appeared in the Star oi Saturday last , July 1 st ; and , with all due

      deference to that gentleman ' s opinions , they begged U&ve to differ with him upon the propriety of electing an Executive Committee under present drcumrt&nces They thought that it is indispensibly necessary that th * Chartist bedy should have an Organisation before they proceed to the election « f a governing head . They therefore give it as their opinion , that the first Btep towards so desirable an object , is the calling of a Natlenal Conference , to agree to a good and efficient plan of Organisation ; after which it will be necessary to eleot an Executive to carry out the provisions of th « plan agreed to by the people ' s rtpresentatives . Tha thankB of the delegates were given to the Chairman and Secretary , and the meeting adjourned until Sunday , tbe 161 a of Jul ; , at oue o ' clock in the afternoon .

      To The Imperial Chabtists.

      TO THE IMPERIAL CHABTISTS .

      Untitled Article

      FEARGUS O'CONNOR IN ACCOUNT WITH THE DEFNCE FUND . Da . £ 8 d By John Cleave ( A ) 485 0 0 From Mr . Pray , through Evening Star ( B ) 234 0 O Meeting in the Hall of Science , Manchester 15 0 0 From the Chartists of Preston 4 0 0 Lnnn , Lancaster ... 10 0 Birmingham , by Mi . Rabeits 2 0 0 Manchester , do . ... ... ... ... 5 11 0 From two men , at Hall of Science , Manchester ... 0 8 0 Received at Northern Star Office ( C ) ... 178 4 5 Received self , from Manchester 4 15 0 PoBt Office Order sent from Birmingham , and made pay able tome ... ... 2 0 0

      Ca . £ 931 18 5 To Peplow , Stafford 50 0 0 Do . ... 10 0 0 Manchester Committee , fer Liverpool Specdal Commission ... ... . 58 0 t ShBe , for Chester Special Commission ( £ / 29 0 D Cash ' paid in fees of office , for removing the trial into Queen's Bench ( F ) ... 71 0 Returned Campbell ... 110 Paid White ' s Cumroittee 5 O 0 To Peplow , for Cooper ' s last trial 25 0 Paid fox do ., for two Subpsanas ... ... 0 12 0 Paid ConncU . self ... 16 10 0 To W . P . Boberts , Esq . ... 310 11 0 Paid on registration or money letters ... ISO Doyle , at Lancaster ( 6 ) 10 0 Leach 10 0

      Turner 10 0 Bairstow 1 10 0 Beesley 1 10 0 M ' Cartney ... ... ... 10 0 Pray , with subpoena to attend trial ... 19 0 0 Huffy Ridley , for defendants , when in London ( H ) 10 0 Ditto , to bear his own expences to Gloucester 10 8 Doyle , when in London U ) 1 1 » 0 Biilton , ditto 1 10 ° Harney , ditto 10 0 Patkes , ditto 10 0 Taylor , ditto ... » 10 0 Arran , ditto ... 10 0

      Skevington , ditto 12 0 Beirstow . ditto ... ' , 0 15 0 White , ditto ... - 0 7 6 M'Cartney 0 5 0 Fenton 2 15 0 Durham 0 5 0 Mnndin and witnesses , per Cleave ... 0 10 0 Peplow , by ditto 2 0 0 Cuffay , by ditto 2 10 0 Total £ 597 11 6 Balance in Treasurer ' s hands , to meet unsettled accounts 334 6 11 xotzs £ 931 18 5 A . —Tbe sum of £ 50 for the victim fund add « d tfl the amount received by me from Mr . Cleave , will make the amount of £ 532 the total received by bun . B —There may be some errors , but most of them in my favour , in the Evening Star ' s account , because Mr-Pray paid several sums on account of defence fuml received by him , snd which aie incluJed in the £ 234 ; while 1 nave not taken credit for any of them . When 1 have more time , bowtver , any errors that may appear ou either side under this head kball be corrected . C Not one fartbing of tbe money received at tbe Northern Star office has ever been used , © r placed even to my credit , thongh I have often been hard enough pressed for money .

      and one which may snbjectme to very great inoonvenieace ; Int at the same time I admire honesty and love justice , and therefore if iti is the wish of the Chartist boay . l riiaTlflSTe mndi pleasure in Temtmeraflng Peplow far his loss of time . I must also observe that Mr . Hoberts has never received one farthing for his services at the Special Commission ;[ and that independently of his attendance there , at Lancaster , » t Manchester for a considerable time getting up his case , and in London for some mouths , he also attended at York and at Darby to arrange the defence of the Chartists la those places .

      D— £ 2610 s . of the abov e sum was returned by Peplow , and makes a part olthe £ 234 credited from thn Evening Star , where it -was acknowledges ; and 1 cannoi withhold from Pet > low those thanks which I bow tender him , and to which he is pre-eminently entitled from the whole country for tbe zial , the ability , and honesty he manifested tiuougbont the Special Commission , Cooper * recent protracted trial , and upon all occasions when his services were reqnired . I must further state that he is * real working ! man ; and that-be has not received one faitbing for the loss ot between thirty and forty days . I do not wish to establish » bad precedent ,

      Untitled Article

      ^^^^^^ AID . LEEDS GENEiAIL ABVEETISEE .

      Y 0 L- YI . HO . 295 . SATURDAY , JULY 8 , 1843 . ^^ SSFT ^^ " *^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 8, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct658/page/1/