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Northern Star (1837-1852), 19th August 1843, Edition 3 of 4, Page 6

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      TfiiAL OF THE *» TIMKS » Full LLBKL ON MB . CCONNOB . UBEU—CCOKHOB V . iAWSOH , TKs CMe , * iidi WM so addon by iltFearjuBCOoi Bra 3 g . ca * t this journal ibjj libel , came on for trial at Crejd » 2 oB JErias ^ ; fcefore 3 Doid Chief Jnsiiee T&dal ami » Special Jnry . The Court "was very much CHJ ^ Ssa . " -- - ¦ - Tt& foJioipiijg' genQemeiL "were empannelsd es Hie Jmy : —Thoinw'AsciclB . 35 sq ; Bijrin IJryant , Bid- ; James Crocker , Bsg . ; John Palrfax Cblnnery , Es £ . 5 Jaaves ' Ji 4 jb-- Conryn , Esq . j Thoma 3 Cnihbert , Esq . ? WRSaai Elgar , : Esq . j Edward Sets Finely Esg . j CfoKiss adbd , Esq . ; John Ibamas Hooper , Esq . ; ¦ WHEsai rTon *™ i , Ssg-j aadCSanmel Jaetooa , Esq . Ihe Jrar having been swam ,

      JIt . James opened the pleadings . Be-said in this case Fergus O'Cennor was the piafntHf , and John Joseph iiwson the defendant . The declaration stated thai , betcrethe publication of the libel on aeconnt of -wijict tia action "was commenced there had been an elects far the "borough of liottiEgharn , at which Jeseph Scnrge and John Walter "were candidates , ana thai the plaintiff assisted at that election on behalf pi the raid Joseph Stage . The declara

      tion rather « et forth that , after the beforementioned stoctlss . it became necessary to have another election Sot the ^^ ngh ^ Nottingham , at which John Wjlter , jnn , scl Mi . ( Hsborae were candidates , snd Ybat the pi € sei . i v-mntiff assisted at that election on behalf of lie Gsborna . It then set fertk jminntely tie libel "WhicL ftrrmed tha suibjeefc of the present action . A thud e-5 * mi set forth that the libel -wanted -what , in legal urais , was called the inducement . The defendant iaaj ^ r ^ ea ' 2 fx >> snaiy . "

      Mr . Segaanfc SH 2 S then said , —May it please your lordship—gentlemen of the jary , I hare lbs honour toa « Mr « 3 you . as counsellor Mi . O'Connor , the plain tiffin tiis action , -who lias fett compelled , in justice toMmsar , and to all ¦ who are interested in hia good Ttffme . to come here Into court to complain of aa "oafonnofd attack en him which appeared " in the columns of the Xi ' niejasrsspsper . { Jenflemen , it la now ten or iwe * = ? jeata . ago since Me . O'Connor first became known ma pa ^ Hc man to the -people of England . He "was intKricealto Xisia that firawtffr ** aa She representa fire cf os ? of the most important constituencies in the alster e ^ nntry , a poiifion -which wools entile any man ¦ whp ^ aeaittpa-rerylarsBahare « f consideration " and

      Jtopect in the estimsticeror a gsnaroas . nation . Qentle-^ nea , It appears that when all tope of justice from her store powerful neighbour had not bejnn to sicken in Irekrd , Hr ^ CGonnOT represented Ms jsafiTe county of Cork is * the House of Commons . As -member for that county Ms condnct on all occasions waa . manly , conaMect , patnotic , and independent , and though Ms © pinion « ja ^ nostaons-Dr pnbSc policy were no * « ieii a 3 fa T » j" * . rr » i ^> m »»» apBw ^» o ^ rT"n men ih that assembly , his deportment wai admitted on all hands to be entardy PrtPTcgptionabla . He never wastanly caused a pang in the breast ol a political opponent ; bis oondoct was Xree from the least tincture if personal objtctionj he 3 nade 2 > o E&ssxsies , ^ th ^ r *** 3 cs £ ajo Wpn ^ . G € Et 2 sn 5 fiz ^ 3 on his retirement from Sarliamect , Hi . OXJoanor did ^

      2 ot d « Hi 5 t BPeefissry to abjure all interest iiTpnblic aSura , xir abstain from ths discussion of public questions . He thought , and In my mind rightly , that if a man usve the heart , the spirit , and the courage to aerTE ids country , he iiray fin so aa well—nay , in some cojJJnnetcyeB perhaps be » tep , \ trithont * h * n -within £ be "walls « x Parfiament . I know that there 1 b a sort of aicMv , faint-heated feeling in Ihe minds of some men , —men i \ rho are unworthy of th 8 blessings they ¦ cajoy , ^—which icdacea them "to condemn in others , and eschew for themselves , the &X 2 XSS * tit those rights -widen axe sccoretl to . them by the constitution—the Tight of meeting in public assem

      blies r-f their fellow eifesns for discussion ; or , as it somt * hc £ sis on other occasions , to awsken ttist fear "whicL baa ofttn in our histcry been the beginning of wisdom in onr niezs , azsd of content among the people . Th » c-arsa , gentlemen , -wiiicli Mr- O'Coheot pazsoEd on that oension was that which was pnsnad by Borke , by lox by Sseriilan , by Grey , by BurdeS , by Brongham , and tL-e rest of ihst long list of jnen whose names win beiKsjesibered -oithiononr in this country when those ^ olfiiTe-prosBfcuted their talents in wriling them hare bfteB H f ' iven Hfce weeds -along fhe stream cf « tt >« . jn pnxsning ibat eourse , Mr . O'Connor obtained the confidence of a Teiy large portion of his fellow-coontxymes HIb "psrJig condnet and pnbHc opinions are , of course , a fair and legitimate su ^ ect cf pubUs erMeism . In the

      esnrse he has ihonght proper to chalk « nt iai ^ hmtrff , lie did sot e ± pect immunity from tb « SLrieAuree cf bo importsnt an organ cf public opinion as The Times Bewjpap-ar- Qemlzmen , 1 im sore you wiQ agree with me thai uerer ance the inTention of printing , and of onrse nerer before , has s power orer men ' s minds , Caen ' s happiness , men ' s fortunes , so abselute , ao irre-» fatrMt » , by priest or castor , by t ^ t «» b or statesman , been wielded si that which is held by the directors of &atj ^> amaL JEtofiy ty the prodigal employment of ' ¦ nboiiBded zestmrces in lite collection from an parti of the wcild cf informalion on subjects of pnbHe interest , partly hj Q » - « jmmand ,-sVany cost , of the hl ^ heat order of literary ability ,, The Tine * newspaper has attam * d a circnMioD , and therefore a eomma&a af

      power , the possesacn of which "may be to the con-< lnctors of It a aource of proud refiection , but which is , %% ? be same' time , attended with an awful aesperaSHgty ; Sach is the power of that journal that th * Bditnr ray on My morning that < ba pleases , by tte dash of to * -pea , destroy the character , the prospects , and the credit of a political opponent . It -would be nijurt to » y of that jramal ttot' it is a libeller by habit , or profession . ? fo , gentlemen , its injustice , ¦ whBBii iscnjust , loses none of its tone and Tieonr by » Tr ^^ ton aaafljcnalitacrasiDdtilgenea . Wtten it strikes , it sHk « 3 ia destroy , or , if it - ^ tTln to destroy , it is -only - ^ ben met bj its opponent as it is here met by Mr . O'Connor ibis day . Now , it happaned thatMr . 0 'Cosdot * s tiews of pabllc affairs differed essentially

      from tfl <« 3 thatlriTB beea ^ flats years entertained by the editors sod proprietors eg The Timrs -ngggpaper . Els experience ia Padiament bad jrodncsfl in his mind &n imprersian that in the eonteit between the two £ i&si partifis who are struggling for plaee and power , ejkI whose strafes ; distract and agitate the empire- the first object of the legislation—the -v&Uieing and lappiccas of tbe great _ b « dy of tie peoplefca been forgotten—that whUa we ™^ 5 hf , gsse with ^ rond' - « n the prodlgiona monuments of the wealth and proijKriiy of tiie country—results of the ucparalled ecmtJEStion of isdestry , sdesce , and xrt , the moral jtnd j-byaealconoition of tfeemaase » isaBTnjparallel aa er-emhese wonders of prosperity themselTes are nnparalit-lfcd—diat while "Jysttth iaa accumulatedi man

      lias i } £ terioz&ted , and that those who see life only throueh what one may call the rose-tints of a drawinf xoom window are not the persons who aie most fit to presence for tfce fiiaease of the state . These were the -siewa of ilx . QXksaux , and hia course Tras in accordance with it We jsib not here to decide whether those fie"K £ V « j right or wxong . 2 ? or do I complain of -the eos € a £% of Tht Ti&a newspaper in any comment which £ he e ^ -i-frr may thiifklli to make orrths political opinions «? 3 Ir , O'Connor . If be jentertains different opinirf ? . he Is justified in on % ring to those opinions el Mi O'Connor a bold , xmSinehiag , and determined leasUEsa- Of xnch opposition Mr .= O'Connor does not semj'ls ^ . But at the Nottingham election for 18 i 2 , ? iTt . 'Walter , r <* BeerTyooa , in 3 Bertshire , was a conaidate , - sesQeman of tetv large ibrtuse , sad whose

      opimo- ^ . on pobiacal qaestiona barmoniza -with those ¦ which for some time past haVe been ad-rocated in The Times u ^ WfpapBt 2 fe J . Sturge , who is , I beliere , of BirEjrny . aam , was also a ' •™''^ » a gentleaum enttrtalnir-c what I hope , withont o& ^ nce , I may call « r ^ 3 £ 33 e liberal opinions . These two gentlemen were at that tij > s capdidatesfor the representation of the town 01 Nottingham . On Uie occasion of a former election Six . Wsltsr had succeeded , and at that time lie had zrnSf-i himself of the assistance td Mr , O'Connor in the puTEu-t of the object of bis ambition . Bat when Mr . "WalJt ^ i $ ood against ilr . Bangs , with whose opinions on ahnost sll pnblic questions those of Mr . O'Connor were in entirt tinison , that gentJsman gart bis support so ilr Stsrgs , ia opposi ^ on to 2 Sr . Walter . Mr . Walter , gent 3 emEn , having been returned , -was afterwards unseated

      on peatSon ; and then Tits son , Hz . John Walter , jnn ., became 3 candidate for the -vacant seat , in opposition to S » ; pr 89 eDir member JTor If oStia ^ iaiD , 3 Ir . GisbozBa Mr- Gisbome lec ^ Ted on that occasion from M » O'Coimor and his Mentis a disinteresrsd and perfectly wnaatsat rapport . Ko-w , geotlemen . with the con-™^ ^ MtO ^ onHar on the occasion of th * t * lechon . TfiXh . his . ^ eaaal ptibBc txmflnet , the editor of The Xj ^ Eewsp ^ eriadaperfect j ^ . to eonoerilWxnie ' ito 3 aAjto * one moms * gassScm the right of The TTO ^^ mtp ^ etiomscaa Gx enors of hi » conduct or ffiSS ^ ssa

      ttat Jar . ? 4 ramnor , ^ he enteriaia those « oiaflons conscientiously , was perfectly ^ ** L aaTocatiB ? aem . On the other hand « « t > wi Hrpre »«^ rojxmloEs . acbose ptiaons may dbImb t ^ . te wbo ^ Onk that fc ans co ^ S ^ i ^ a ^ ghV totAei ^ bijRaflie affi ^ taf ^ j ^ JS ^ ** M ia ^» tod * x » es intothe Hoaae of CommonT jH » d-tt £ n ,-W » eraux the achooiboy ' s marim , ^ ra ^ "Wife iis mouth shut and Ins ^ yes pp * a , BefinK ^ wriai € foa ^ gbt « naSim . CFor By part , 1 aink difllreiiUy ftomtti « eperaan » , Itbini that * man bas a right to

      « omeforwarcr & apubHc assembly , aaa , wbBe ^ serT-3 ng flffl law * lay before ' his fenow-counfaj-men his -riewa on jnbU&policy . IABliB * Be >» 2 SsM , na , l «) B 5 > w 3 » cf tte aan » s-opiman , lmS ^ iia * ^ t ^ iEappreriai of the political conduct of Mr . OHJonnor ; and thinking io jv ha » a li ^ bt ^ to bold him up to pallic execraSon iflt dinia proper . I wonM aabmit te jou that the public jfcante ter of a man and the p » onal honoor and ixttognty of- » man asa two "reiy diRnrtmt snbjecta for comment ? indeed , I would « dbmitto you—I -wonu submit to ttie editor of the JSraeJ himself , if -sre could hwe 13 ara > te « Tn . bis capacity of private gentlemen—Jhat if the powers of Ms pen or of his press have been

      yermAtett-to ™ a injury or tbe personij honour and jjjjCTCtBa fJof anopsoaent , he ought to make xepsratioa . ^ -j ^ g ^ mSa , JBtataicXa-ti apuKicman of baseness mfl dishonesty in money matters cannot be disregazded It ia-among the best features of the state of the society In Which WB live , tiiat so man , however amiable Ids

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      personal qualities may appear ,- or however commanding hia talente may be , baa , yet been able / in ! public iir * , to Trrestle with ~ a taint on his metal * character of pecuniary turpitude . I wm » bowypji that the editor of the Tima new ^ apor liiui endeavoared . 10 fix that damning blot on tt ' e ^ ian ^ te ^ of"itr . 1 C )* COTyipri he-has endea voured to conn&rt Mb name ,-wherever th ^ En glish languag&ahall be r ^ , with the fonlTeproach of fraud and peculation . 2 ask you , gentlemen , if I ahow you that inchias been ii » ease ^ Iadt you if Mr . iO'CoEnbT is not sntilJed eitbCT to reparation from the e ^ tor of the TiinwEewEpaper / ortoTedressfrom yon . iQeiiaemea , I will show "" job' thatiit » TinaT newspaper has been gailiy ot afa ^ DJarttes to Mr . O'Connor . In tie paper of the 16 th of ^ Maj » 181 S an article adverfing to the election to which I have already called your attention

      appeared . It was headed " Secrets of the late Chartist Executive / 1 ITow . l sayoperdy , what Iain Bcre you must approve of , thatin thla jmbllo conrt of jusHca , ot Chartists wo know , and we ought to know , nothing . As far as my little knowledge of political matters goes , of the diEereDti > art \ es m the country , whether Whigs , or Tories , or Ssdicals , or Cbartleta , it would be very hard to say -which has been the most violent when it suited their purpose ; but in a court of justice we don't know one from the otter , their private character is aa sacred before a judge and jury—and I have ; the -highest authority for raying this—as the private character is of any person not engaged in political af&irs , and that they ought to receive on all occasions the same measure of justice at the hands of a jury . Gentlemen , this is the libel eomplaioed of by the nlaintiff : —

      •• SECRETS OP THE 1 ATE CHASTJST FXECOTITE . " It was stated last -week that Campbell ; the Secretary of the Chartist Executive , had decamped to America , taking with him the pooka ot the National Charter Association . Since then it has been intimated -to the Executive that Campbell -bad , previously to his flight , pledged those books , with a large ; number of cards of membership , for the sum of £ 16 15 s . 9 id ., and that they will be delivered up by a ilr . Artbur ' O'Neil as Boon as the lien npon them is paid off . [ The defection of Campbell , O'Neil , and other-firebrands from the Cbftrtiwtat , has destroyed all the confldeDca-which they had formerly in each other . Even Mr . O'Connor himself , who boasts so much of his disinterested services and sacrifices in the cause of Chartism , 1 b charged with

      btdng a venal and time-serving pnWio character . The following charges are made against him : —That he accepted £ 28 for lecturing and assisting at Mr . J . Snnge's contest \ rifcbltr . J . Walter , sen . ; that be demanded £ 3 . 9 from Mr . Rogers for his services at ( be late contest betwren Mr . Gisbome and Mr .. John Walter , jun ; and , though last , not least , that he received from Mr . Sturge'a committee the sum of £ 5 for an active agent , to whom he only paid £ 3 , putting the remaining £ 3 in hia pocket . - Mr . O'Connor , ss a matter of course , denies those charges , bat his accusers allege tbat they can prove them . Seme other circumstances in the lion of the North ' s' character have come to light , which argue aught bnt disinterestedness or sacrifice , and which have lowered Mm very much in the

      eyes of his late admirers . " . iTfciaiatbellbeL Having read it to yon I think I need hazdly detain you with many-comments on its tendency to inflict serionsir jury on Mz . O'Connor . Itlcommences with a denunciation of the grossest profligacy on his part , and of misconduct in money matters—~ lh matters of trust , as one of the agents of the Chartist body . It then proceeds to impute to Mr . O'Connor a meanness utterly inconsistent -Kith Ms own repeated assertions on public occasions , and bis own character for disinterest ectoess , and finally it goes on in ranch circanutantial detail , accompanied by an assertion that those facts can be proved , to charge Mr . O'Connor with ! a piece of direct pecuniary dishonesty—that be pocketed money that was given him to . be handed to another ; that he meanly , in Hie most paltry and dirty way , having

      received £ 5 to psy to an active agent , put £ 2 of it into his own pocket Gentlemen , that is the charge which The Times makes against Mr . O'Connor . Mr . O'Connor met it in the TnnttTwr in which I am sure yon will agree such a charge ought to be met by a man of spirit and honour . He instructed his attorney to issue a writ against Tie Times newspaper , that The Times newspaper , which , as we have seen proved in this very court on a former occasion , would ransack the whole of Europe for evidence in support of a plea of justification , might have the opportunity of proving those statements which , in the libel complained of ,, the editor declared bis ability to prove . He brought his action , The Times pleaded some demnrrable pleas , bat they have sot ventured to take np the challenge f which Mr .

      O'Connor save them -when be afforded them the oppor tunity of proving tbe truth of their statement as their justification for the libeL According to the record , The Tines does sot pretend to say that'that state * ment ia true ; yet np to this moment aot one shadow of reparation have we received from 5 man who writes every day , and publishes to all world every day what be bos So say . Now , I confess I am sot a litUe at a loss to conjecture , and 1 am very impatient to hear , in what way my Learned Friend will meet this case . 1 do not altogether deepnir that be may have been instructed by bis \ clients to take that course which is open to every man whose opinion 3 b worth a thought—a course which Would be most graceful , most becoming in every respect , most

      worthy of the reputation cf his clients . I do not despair that he may have been Instructed j frankly to admit that they have been misled , and were in error , and to say that before the dawn of another day they Tronic compose , for tbe tbtv ear into which the venom of the article had been infused , the antidote which they alone possess for its correction . 2 say frankly , on the part of Mr . O'Connor , that he prefers , a thousand times before any damages that a Jury can give , that description of honourable reparation -which -wiU enable him to leave this Court without a stain on his personal honour and integrity ; and let me v&ft , with a feeling of personal esteem for a political opponent Gentlemen , I am satisfied that this would be the right coarse for the Times newspaper to pursue on tbe present occa

      d sion . The ungenerous and the mean may I grudge tha acknowledgment of « n error , but therjght-minded will repair the wrongs of those whom they have injured . No man of real courage shrinks from tbe noble doty ot redress . I shall be glad if my Learned Pjiend feels himself at liberty to take that coarse . Indeed , until I bear the contrary from the reltciant lips of iny iearned Friend , or from his expresssive silence , I ntver can believe that the editor of the % imes newspaper , who two abort years ago stood in this Court with such a halo of honour round his name , wDl be content to leave it to-day with tbe brand on him of premeditated slanderer ; I cannot believe it tin I bear it from the lips or my Learned friead ; bat if my Learned Friend , or those who instructed him , should prefer the mistaken choice ef persisting In their injustice , then I appeal from them te yon . and through yon to the country . I say that Mr .

      O ' Connor is a pnblic man , and in the same rank and walk of literary occupation as tbe editer of The Times bimself , for Mr . O'Connor is the editor of a paper cf very large provincial circulation ; he is a man of character , of birth , and of honour , -whose reputation is dear to him and to a numerous circle of personal and political friends . He bas received a deep Injury from the editor of the The Times which entitles him ! to redress . I ask you to test by yonr verdict that M ? . O ' Connor leaves this court without a blemish or stain on bianame ; —I askyon-toprovBbyyonr verdict tbat no suspicion even of misconduct on bis part has been justified by the proceedings of to-day ; bat , above all , 1 ask you to prove to all the world that if any man in ( England be injured by the excesses of that pr ^ s , the liberty of which we all prise and value as sracb aa any institution of the country ) that man is sore to have redress if be frankly , fairly , honesty , and at once lays Mb case before a jary of Mb country .

      Formal jjroof was then given of the defendant being the registered printer of The Times . Mi . Serjeant SELEE cbee :-red , that by tbe 6 th and 7 ih of William IT- it was not necessary to prove the purchase of a paper , it was sufficient to show the defendant was the printer ; and the libel was afterwards pat in and read . This being the case for the plaintiff ; Mr Thxsiobb then rose and said—My Lord , and Gentlemen of the Jury , the course-which my Learned Tnemi bas adopted in laying this case before you , is the most extraordinary and unprecedented I ever recollect to have witnessed . Mj learned Tnend has Thought fit to make a -very long and powerful speech to yon , in the course of which he bas made a variety

      of statements ; and after that speech of my Learned Friend , I thinkyou most be surprised at Ms stopping short with the bare proof of ownership of the Times newspaper . My Learned Friend has spoken a good deal &bont the plaintiff , bst after all , I ask you , do yon know anything of Mr . Feargus O'Connor ? What has bees proved , or set before you respecting him , cr bis character , by which yon could form any iieaof the amount of iniury done , or alleged to be done xo his character by the publication of this libel ? Is there an > thing by which you can award the amount el damages to which he should be entitled ? D& you know anything whatsoever upon the subject ? As far as you know ibereis no information of who or what this Mr . F . 0 * Connoris , and yet you are called upon to award damages . Ton- 'sre merefr called npon in a very powerful jspeech to award damages . Why is it that there i » no proof offered in support of the allegations which the plaintiff has thought fit to set forth Jn the

      declaration ; and why , 1 ask , 1 b it : that yon fare merely ralltd npon to give damages , withont belog Informed « r anyining respecting him ? How are you to form a judgment of the amount of injury done to any man ' s caaraeter , -unlan it be by knowing what the character *»» y barne by the individual i »? let us suppose in * tfT ' n ** 5 ^ entan * eanyinf on Imsutt vi ^ J Caar ** London » » 8 » m * whom * » Ubelfl P ^^ « a « g Ing hiia witn fra « a ; would % xM 22 T ^/ ° Vtan **** ok character was untainted : « ad would not the iact of bi » iavfag iLEgfa * hari ^ teJ teZS ^ ZZS 01 *?*?* »» torial leatu ^ toagffa 2 ftf ^ - ^ ^ Bcti *^ «» ' llta « - t BnVs « pio « in ^^^ gss si ^ rJMtl

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      blank sheet , on which he could write whatever he pleased . But , Gentlemen , when : my Learned Friend sajs yon knew nothing of Chartists , does be th ink you are ehildren - « Does he think that you know nothing of those misgnided people , who are excited both at public meetings and by inflammatory writings In the pnblic press ? Does he think it possiblo that you could be ignorant of those people , and of the consequences of their acts ? I agree with my ieamed Friend tbat whatever pe . the political opinions of persons , they have a Tight ftp jexpeia ttem both publicly and privately , provided tbat in so doing they do not inflame

      the minds of the ignorant . I am not one ef those whom my Learned Friend described—( who my Learned Friend means , I know not )—who think that as he says , men should crawl npon their hands and knees Into the House of Commons , in order to obtain the privilege ol txpressiag tiieir opinions . I really do sot know what my Learned Friend means by that allusion . I wish my Learned Friend had spared that observation , and many others also which be thought fit to make use of , because by such remarks as he made this day , my Learned Friend may be supposed to entertain opinions ^ wlth regard to matters passing atound , sach as I am confident are not entertained by him .

      ( Mr . Sergeant Shea shook bis head , apparently in dissent ) ' Mr . THESIGEE continued—And which , if he entertains , wonld make it appear that he is a very different character ; from that which bis friends have hitherto taken him for . But who Is Mr . Feargas O'Connor ? Is he ft person -who bu been shedding his ink that other * may ] shed their blood ? Isheaperson wbo has been convicted of sedition ? Is be one who has been lately convicted , and only escaped punishment through a technical informality ? if this be the character of Mr . Feargus O'Connor , I ask is he a persoa to come here and demand heavy damages at yonr hands ? The law compels yon , in a case where libel ia proved , to give damages to tiiemost worthless—technical damages I may call them ; but observe , that in this case the charge is such that no plea of justification could be put in . Gentlemen , - Mr . O'Connor , my Learned Friend has informsd yon , has applied to the law for redress . I wish fee would follow the same course oftner . I wish he

      would apply much oftner to the law —( laughter ) . But , Gentlemen , my Learned JTriend , after dilating eloquently jipen his subject j seemed to entertain Some misgiving of his cause—he suddenly lowered his tone . He says Mr . Feargus O'Connor comes here merely for the vindicatiou of his character , { and that he merely demands damagea in order todearhis character . Bat my Learned Friend seemed to recollect that after his speech hod been concluded there must be another story to be told , and so he throws out a ' sort of opportunity for the Times to say it retracts , and he affects to believe it ha * been misled , and he gives it ao opportunity to say that it has been misled . 3 ut , Gentlemen , let Mr . O'Connor have his bond—let him b » Te jait what tbe law allows him if the Times was wrong , bnt let there be no compromise with inch a character . Let as see who Mr . Feargus O'Connor is . "My Learned Friend , in his opening speech , told yon something of bis having entered into public

      life at a time of great political excitement , and then he went on with a quantify of matter about Justice to Ireland , and a good deal to that effect , which I shall pass over without any conment , as it ia not very relevant to the present question . My Learned Friend then went on to say that Mr . Feargus O'Connor first entered Parliament as Member for his native county of Cork , and that his conduct whilst in Parliament was of tbat bind and conciliatory nature as to obtain tbe respect of all parties with whom he came in contact Bnt , Gentlemen , he entered Parliament under a fictitious qualification , which he must have signed his name to knowing it to be fictitious , and he was turned out on a petition —( laughter throughout the Court ) . Mr . Serjeant Shek—No , no . No such thing ; be sat for four years . '¦ , Mr . TREsiCER—Ne , only four months —( laughter ) . Mr . Serjeant Shek—Not at all ; you are quite wrong .

      Mr . Thbsigeb—Yea . I was counsel for tbe petitioners against Mr . Feargus 0 Connor on this occasion , and I had the happiness to turn him out—( great laughter ) . The Learned Gentlemen went on—But , Gentlemen , my Lsarned Friend , in speaking of the power possessed by theiZYme * . said , " Where the Times strikes it destroys . " Does it ? Is Feargus O Connor destroyed ? I wish he was—daughter )—and wish my Learned Friend could say ) be was destroyed ? —Mr . Serjeant Sitee—It is not likely . Mr . THE 41 GER—I wish some more powerful antagonist than the Times may destroy him . But , Gentlemen , he Is not destroyed . And now let us see the animus of this libel ! What was the object ? The Times sought to show that tbe Chartist leaders were not those

      disinterested persons that they wished to be thought by their misgnided followers . Now let us see this libel—{ the Learned Cbonsel read tbe part of tbe libel which alleged tbat Campbell had run away with , the Chartist books , and went ; on ) . Is this true , I wonder ?—( laughter ) . Campbell has brought no action . " Confidence in the leaders ia destroyed . " I hope that ' s true—( laughter ) . Mr . Thesiger then read on and said—The charge against O'Connor Ib—what ? An attack upon his public character ? The charge against him ia , first , that be got £ 29 for lecturing at an election . Is this any charge against his private character ? Why it is only a charge that be was paid ; for lecturing . That is not an attack upon his private ! cbaiacter . My Learned Friend said that the plaintiff gave bis help gratuitously to Mr .

      Gisborne and Mr . Sturge , but do peopkr « eyer get paid for their service * at elections 1 I rather think they do . The lost and greater charge against him is , that he received £ 5 from au active agent , and put 42 of it in his pocket . Now what does that amount to ? Just tbat he , in the rapacity of an agent , received tbe money to band to an active ; agent , and that hia own wants were so pressing , that he applied a portion of it at tbe time to his own use . Now what was there in this charge ? What injury can a person who has been living In a storm receive from tills puff of wind ? Tbe assertion is only that be " was charged" with it—not tbat bedW it . We conld not plead a justification to this charge-We could not justify , because it would be no answer to prove that he really was charged with it . The libel only said that he was charged with doing it—I dare say hedidit—ilaaghter ) . But what is the object ? I

      acknowledge it is to Jo wer the character of Mr . O'Connor , in order that his misgnided followers may see what he is , and avoid being led to destroy the peace of society by following the advice of a man who is leading them to destruction . But again I say , who is Mr . Feargus O'Gonnor ? Where are his friendit ? Why are they not produced on thla occasion f unless my Learned Friead was afraid that on the cross-examination of those friends we might ascertain what his character really is . No ; bnt you are called upon to give your verdict of the shilling , or whatever else it may bo , and you are to know nothing farther of him than that he is a Chartist leader , like the other Cbartist lenders , inciting persons to sedition all through tbe country ; and then he comes here to demand damages at your hands for tbe destruction of his character . Such ia the state , the real state of the case , and I leave it entirely , Gentlemen , in your h » T » ri » with the ntmosv confidence .

      TheLOBD Chief Justice said—Gentlemen of the Jury , this is anj action brought by Fergus O'Connor against John Joseph LawBoa , for an injury alleged to have been sustained by him in * coAseqaence of the publication of a libel in The Times newspaper . Now , the libel is one ibat imputes to Mr . O'Connor , that "he himself , who boasts so much of his disinterested services and sacrifices in the cause of Chartism , has beeu charged with being a venal and time-serving public character , and the following charges have been made against him ; " and then it proceeds to enumerate three chargPB—Srst , that Mr . O'Connor had received the sum of £ 28 , for lecKwring and for assisting Joseph Stnrge In his contest withfMr . John Walter ; and secondly , that he demanded the sum of £ 19 for services in the late

      contest between ? Mr . Gisborne and Mr . John Walter , Jnn , Now if the publication bad stopped there , I am notpreparedtoa&ytbat it would have contained anything tbat was j strictly of a libellous nature , because there is nothing either disgraceful or dishonourable in a man seeking compensation for services performed by him . But tbe article goes on to Bay , " though last not least , that he received from Mr . Sturge ' a oommitree the sum of £ i for an active agent , tv whom he only paid £ 3 . putting the remaining £ 2 la his pocket . " Now , gentlemen , I feel that it would be very difficult to say that this is any other than a chance against Mr .

      O'Connor amounting to fraud and dishonesty , for , whatever may be the nature of a man ' s employment , to charge him with receiving money from one man to pay to another , and pitting some of it in bis own pocket , without assigning any reason to explain such conduct , has a natural and plain tendency to impute to tbat mau an act of dishonesty . It is necessary that you should be satisfied that the libel Imputed to Mr . O'Connor that he had fraudulently applied to his own use the sum of £ 2 which was paid to him for the purpose of the payment of an " active agent . " If yon believe tbe meaning of the libel to be that he , acting in his private capacity , had received a sum of money , of which be had reserved

      £ 2 for bis own use , —if yon believe tbat is the real meaning of the statement in the publication complained of ,: then tbe party will be entitled to a verdict to the amount of the injury sustained by him through that publication ; but it is said , on the other band , ) that the statement only appears in tbe form of an allegation that sach and such charges had been made against the plaintiff .. It is true , also , that of ouch a statement no justification could be placed on the record , for ] it most have goae farther Matt said , Oat the charges : so alleged to have been made were true charges . " ilf such a justificatien conld have been pat on the record , and it had been made out , it -would have been an answer to the plaintiff ' a action ; but it is no answer to : that action to * ay tbat became

      the statement represents only that such and such things are charged against the plaintiff , therefore the party malting thai statement is unable to avail himself of the defends wbica » justification would afford . It seems to me > therefore , that ; the only question for yon is , first , whstoer you are satltfied that the meaning of the words is Rush si ft Is ' -Imputed ' to be m tola declaration ; and , secondly , if so , what you shall think , under all the circumitaxiees , a fair remuneration in damages for the injury which the plaintiff has sustained . Now , With-regard to that part of the question , I must say I felt a great difficulty in stating to you any groundsfrom anything that appears on my notes—that would assist your , judgment in calculating the damages to be awarded . I have never seen a case that was launched with , a greater penury ot evidence , for generally there

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      is f somebody put in tbe box to state that the inuendoes of the libel do , in their opinion , apply to th ^ party bringing the action , and . that his allegations founded upon them wen also tone or where the subject matter is pretty well understood between the counsel on either aide , further evidence of that kind is sometimes dispensed ( with . But in this case the learned counsel on either side , whether my brother Shee , who apptara for tbe plaintiff , or Mr . Ttwstger , who appears for tbe defence , Beein t « take very different opinions as to tbeoharater and situation of Mr . O'Connor—opinions which I am perfectly unable to reconcile f with each other . I have not , gentlemen , on my notes any attempt to show which of tbese two biographers is in the right Therefore , all that I can know jadlcailly , and also that can be knovra to you—that Is to say . all that bas appeared bn this trial—is that which ia stated in the declaration , and which is admitted by the demurrer , namely , that there was on election at Nettlngham . Mr . T j HESIGEB—We say In our demurrer that there -was no election . v

      The Xobd Chief Justice—I must take it as on the face of the record , that there was an election at Nottingham , at which Joseph Sturge was ope candidate and Mr . Walter another , and that the plaintiff was present at that election assisting Joseph Starve ; tbat after that came another election , at which Mr . Giabome was one candidate and Mr . J . Walter , jun ., another , ana tbat tbe plaintiff was there on that occasion , assistiDg on befealf ot Mr . Gisborne . I do not know that the proceedings' before us afford the means of gettiog much farther ia the case , because tile declaration does not tell us what tne opinfohs and principles of the parties were , or whether Mr . O'Connor took part as agent gratuitously or not . It appears ; however , that on some occasion afterwards the whole matter appeared in tbe Times . > If tho paper had confined itself to canvassing , however freely , the public character of Mr . O'Connor ,

      whoever he may be , or his conduct on that occasion , which was a public one , no harm would result from it . It has been justly said that i ) 0 man can be written down—his own conduct alone jean destroy him . Bnt if , instead of stopping at that clear and defined line , there is j any personal and individual charge made , tbe law calls that libellous , unless It can be shewn , either from the occasion or from its being a true statement , tbat the party has 00 right to recover . It does not appear that either of these two predicaments are true in the present case , and the consequence is that you must give a verdict for the plaintiff for the publication under tbe circumstance * I bave already stated to you , end which ate so extremely small as presented to our knowledge that we bavehardly any to consider—you must give some damages ^—such damages as you in your own reason and judgment consider the plaintiff deserves .

      The Jury then consulted together . After the lapse of a few minutes , The Foreman ( addressing the Judge ) said , —We wish tojknow , my Lord , what amount of damages will carry costs ? The Loed Chief Jcsticb ( smiling )—I cannot give you any I answer on tbat point , gentlemen . You must judge ofjthe real damage and ! injury according to the evidence before you . The Jury again consulted for a few moments , but did not agree . They retired . After the lapse of about two hours , they returned into Court . The Foreman . —We find for the plaintiff—Damages , 20 s . ; ; Mr . Sergeant Shee then applied to the Judge to certify for tbe coats , Tbe Lord Chief Justice declined to do so . The effect of this refusal is , that the plaintiff pays bis own costa .

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      STAFFORD ASSIZES , Frida y , Aug . li . THB % UBBN t > i O ' NEIL . Mr . Alexander stated the counts of tho indictment y which charged the defendant with having uttered seditious language , tending to bring the laws and government of tbo country into contempt , at a meeting at Rowley Regis , on the 26 th of August last . ; Mr . Serjeant Talfoord proceeded to open the case on the part of the Crown . In the course of the month of August most unhappy disputes had subsisted between largo bodies of workmen and their master ^ with respect to tho rate of their wages ; and although the workmen had a right to combine together f 6 r the purpose of obtaining those wages to

      which they thought thry were entitled , yet it could not but be regarded as a great calamity to find such a state of things existing as that which induced a large niimoer of persona to withdraw from those pursuits of honest industry , by which alone thornselves and families could be , euatained . The charge which he made against the defendant , 'Mr . O'Neil , was , th > t having other vi « wa to eerve , and other schemefi to put into practice than that of the disputes between the masters and their men , he had watched the opportunity Qf-aggravating : those grievances , by inducing the men to leave their work ; and when the calamity had been greatly increased- ^ -when the whole of society in that ueighbourhood had been disorganised and broken up—when hundreds of

      persons were traversing the country , cast out of work , and their minds incensed againsc those above them , that the defendant thought that a fitting time , for those who had certain great political schemes to accomplish , to turn a local dispute to their own servicei a » y to enlist the passioiisaiid sufferings oT those who were in sueh a state of ¦ destitution , for the parpose of . afterwards producing , not by fair discussion , but by { inflammatory speeches , such a movement on behalf of the Charter , that wou ! d strike dismay into those who did not concur in Buoh a change . Mr . O'Neil , i ( who was a gentleman , he believed , residing at Birmingham , but was not engaged in any of tho trades carried on in that neighbourhood ) attended a meeting at Wea bromwioh , in August last , at which

      several { thousand colliers , who were about to strike work , were present . The effects of that meeting were most disastrous , because immediately afterwards largo ba *» d 8 of * men ' ' went begging through the country—the , state of sooiety became disorganised , and more or less terror prevailed . Another meeting was held at Westbromwich on the 20 ih of Augussj at which Mr . O'Neil was not present , but it was announced that he would be as a meeting at Rowley R egis on the 26 th . That meeting took ptaue ; it was attended by several hundreds of colliers who weroout of work . The meeting was announced to take place in the neighbourhood of tie works of the British ! Iron Company , and ; the greatest alarm was felt bv ' those who had tho management of the works

      of that " large body of ironmasters . Mr . Bransbeld tooknoltes of the address of tbo principal speaker , Mr . O'Neil , and would , therefore , be the principal witness against the defendant . Hlv . O'Neil did not come unprepared to this meeting . When he was subsequently apprehended at another meeting , there wereiifty or sixty printed handbills found in his possession , the contents of which , would be beyond all doubt evidence for their considejfauon as to the object with which tho Jaagua ^ e that he ( Mr . Sergeant TaU' ourd ) had referred to was uttered . He submitted that the expressions in those hand-bills ( whichIthey would find remarkably tallied with those whioh Mr . O'Neil uaed in his address on the 26 th of August ) were not tho expressions of a . sanguine

      orator , led beyond his purpose by fcha circumstances of the jiime , but that they Were the deliberate doctrines which he had come to teach . Josepti Bransfield—I am an accountant in the employ of the British Iron Company . I attended a meeting at the iFive WayB on tho 26 lh of August . Arthur O'Nieljthe defetdant , was there . I heard what he said . He asked whether that ) was tho lime for the masters to reduce their wages , when trade waste * viving ! Ho said , 1 haVe myself been a close observer , and I knoT ? trade is improving . I know by inquiries of the < 5 » mef 8 at the railways ; the banks are m ore free in their discounts ; they are relaxing the screw . " He also said , * I consider the Government as in one large room , with an air pump . When ithe pump is first ' applied the inconvenience is not , generally felt . At last some one near the window feels the want of » if . He goes to the window , and finds aDuke of W ellington with Mb great « Wd . -who Dreveuts him from opening it . He gets

      tb another , and finds an Archbishop of Canterbttry , who keeps outsbe a * vnth * surplice ; Wanothcr , and he' finds a lawyer , who etopa iMnth hia ^ wig . The wliole B ystem is corrupt . The House of Commona is rotten . " Inppeaking of the House of Commons ; he asked , ' Vof whaW wm composed J Of lav ^ er s-- < lo they care for thjapepp ^ t Orcut-throat ient iemen , I meamjiilitary ofiiiDers—do they oaro for the people ! Of fox-huntiBg g « ntlenien--dQ they « arefor the people ? " He letated that ** there was once a king who attempted to lay » poll-tax--a polltax is itax paid by every head—and a countryman of mine ; one Wat Tyler , reaisted the tax , and killed the collector . From that time to the present no Governtneht dared to impose a-tax upon each individual . " 11 Know nothing moxd o f the speech . Benjamin Best said that in July the men were peaceable , but ia August they were alarmed and unwillin g to work .

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      A constable named Smitheman , said he found upwards of sixty placards ia the defendant ' s possession , declaring that the rights and liberties of Englishmen were trampled npon ; that Englishmen were enslaved ; that theirlpower had been forcibly taken from them ; and declaring * that therulinfi ! power had filched the just and coastitutional privileges of the people , and that ;' therefore , they refused to pay Charles Small said ! tbat the defendant , in addressing the meeting , told the men that the income tax took 7 d a pound aviray from the master , and tho master in return had fallen back npon the workman's wages ; he said that iron had risen a pound a ton , !—that

      &ad was tbat ft time to rednce men ' s wages the House of Commons was rotten and corrupt , and that Peel was a public robber . Tbe defendant addressed the jury . Ho said he was justified in the language he used on the 26 th of August , when he said the Government was not a good Government . He was nowof the same opinion , and that no allegianiBe was due to them , and , more-OTer , that neither tribute or taxes ought to bepaid tothemi The defendant said he felt that he should be convicted , and he ( was prepared for the punishment , whatever it might be ; but he should not be cowed in spirit , and hA would again fight the enemy . At the elose of the defendant ' s address the trial was postponed till 1

      - *_ \ a _ in SiTTODAT , AtJG . 12 . At nine o ' clock the Learned Judge took hkeeat upon the bench , and ] the defendant forthwith commenced the examination of his witnesses . The first witness he called upon was a Baptist preacher from the neighbourhood ofiCradeley , but on tie oath being proposed to him he j deolined taking it . The conrt refused to admit his evidence . The defendant then called a witness who deposed to the peaceful character of the defendant on all occasions , but , when onjefosa examination by Mr . Sergeant Talfourd , Ihe admitted that he heard the very

      Words employed which proved tho subject of the indictment . | The Rev . Mr . Stokps , of Westbromwich , who had 1 > eon with the defend ant at six different meetings , also spoke to the fae | , that the addresses of O'Niel wer « calculated rather to restrain the psople from violence than to induce them to the commission of it . This being the case for the offence , . , ^_ , Mr . Sergeant Talfourd addresse ^^ ne jary in a speech at great length , in which , he contended that the principal enormity of the defendant consisted in his having made an e ' nthuaiastio religious profession the oloak to his political machinations .

      Mr . Justice WhxiIms summed up at considerable length , and the jury having consulted for not more than two minntes , ( returned a verdict of Guilty . The Learnd Judge } then passed the sentence of twelvemonths' imprisonment in the county gaol of Stafford .

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      Subject— " Organization , and bow to obtain the Char ter . " At tbe close of hia lectare , the meeting gave an uaaolmoKS vote of thanks to him fot having vlaited Aberdeen , and expressed an earnest wish , that he would revisit the capital of the North . l

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      TO THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND . " IEELAND FOR THE IWSH . " Fei . low-Cocmtry . men , —Althongh I have upon a former occasion , used tbe above quotation from the lips of Mr . O'Connell , and I hope proved beyond tie possibility of a doubt that this hackneyed sentence is bnt a clap-trap to catch tbe unwary and invincibly ignorant , I cannot refrain from again returning to the subject It will be remembered that I stated , that unless Universal Sofirage accompanied a llepeal of the Union , IriBhmen would reap the fruits of bitter disappointment . This opinion IJstill hold ; and anxious to arouse the Irish mind to inquire tot itself , and open their eyes to the fallacy of their seeking Repeal without also seeking political power which alone can render it beneficial , I would , with your permision , point out tbe means which NOW your duty to your country and yourselves imperatively demand you to adopt .

      It will be remembered that Chartists have been vilified for their opposition to the Whigs , upon the plea that they placed the enemies of Ireland and Catholics in power ; the Irish people forgetting that the Whigs , upon all occasions , were not only their bitter , bnt base and treacherous enemies ; as witness their ten . years * administration . Forgetful of this , with glaring facts before their eyes , with the reeking aword and flaming faggot exhibited to their memory , and the cries and tears of widows and of orphans ringing in their ears , they blindly , nay , madly , joined in the denunciations uttered against the Tkue friends of humanity . who bad the courage to pluck the " teeth" from the "wolf , ** who under " sheep ' s clothing '' had feasted and fattened on their industry and their blood . Well , Ola point has been of ten and successfully defended upon principles of truth an * justice , which , always was , is , and ever will be invincible f If any circumstance was required to prove the connection of

      Mr . O'Connell and your leaders with the Whigs , the fact of their wincing so much under the lash of Chartist public strength and epinion completely confirms it ; for had they had a sincere desire to truly serve the interests ot the Irish people , or were , as they pretended , is favour of a "fail measure" of reform , they could not have consistently found fault with the elevation of the Tories , knowing , as they mast , wiee the * honest , that it would be easier-to battle with one enemy than . two . But it is o « w a matter ol certainty that Whigs thet were at that period , whatever new-fangled character they may have assumed to themselves since ; and here it may not be improper to ask , what class they 00 really belong to , or what political or technical name would be most applicable to those canting declaimera against " Tory tyranny" anil "Chartist physical force ? " Tories they are not for certain ( at least in name ); although they are Tories ia point of despotic authority , exercised over the will and reason of their deluded victims .

      Chartists they are not honest or patriotic enough to be , or they wonld at once strike at the root of the evil of which the ; complain , by laying the axe of Universal " Suffrage to the trunk from which that evil has sprung , and from which it continues to draw its baneful strength . Then what are they ? Are they Whigs r Eh ? What are they ? Can nobody tell ? What , Whigs ? Impossible ! Monstrous 11 They are so sach thing !!! O'Connell has cut their acquaintance , and bid eternal adieu to the hypocrites ! Bravo , Dan !! "More power to you" ! ! I You did right to kick them out of your esteem , and I hope , now Ireland has got rid of them , somebody , suppose it was even O'HigginB ' s " gentleman in black" and sky-blue , will take them to govern his unruly subjects , or employ them

      as they may be found useful . 1 assure you I would , not , as an individual , have any particular objection to where they may chose to emigrate ; for I , and I believe all , are alike sick of theircompany . It appears , then , that your leaders are neither Tories , Cbartiata , or Whigs . ' Irishmen , what an they ? Are they Socialists ? No ! That would be against conscience ? Are they Catholics ? No ! For they lack charity ! Are they anything you can give a name to ? Yes ; they are Repealers—Repealers of tho Union ! I don't believe a word of it I They are no such thing I O'Connell is NOT a Repealer . I deny it de fado . I challenge him to prove it , or that his present mode of seeking Repeal will ever be successful . '

      Can you not open your eyes to facts as plain as the noon-day sun ? or will you in the face of beaven stultify and degrade yourselves by refusing to exercise yeur reason , even for a moment , upon matters of such importance to yonr interests ! Shame upon you irishmen , that will not inquire what you hurrah and pay your shilling for , or ask yourselves the question , will our shouting and our shillings procure such blessings as are needful and which are so lavishly promised ! Will only one section of you , say the carpenters , who are to be " covered with their chips / ' ask , when are we to have such lota of " shavings" ? How are they to come' / Yes , that is the word 1 ^ How ? For if you know the how , the when will surely follow t Then how is it * Why yousay , by the " next step ! " Ah Paddy 1 if the

      next step be what It promises to be , or should it be like your former steps , you will make but a sorry douce of it , although you may boast load enough that yoa have " paid the pipar" very handsomely for hia labour on tbe drone . You have been well drilled in the art of stepping "—now right , now left—now backwards ; but did your " drill-sergeant" ever teach you to make one proper stride in advance ? Have you ever taken one step in the propeb direction ; or were you not used as "stepping stones' * upon which those very leaders walked into power , and When there forget the services you had done them ? Who can deny it f I will fling Chartism to the winds the instant you can prove to the contrary ; but until such proof be given , I will bold your leaders responsible for every futura misery which it may be your misfortune to suffer !

      Then it ia clear , and "he that runs may read , " that you are not to have " Repeal" by the agency of either Toryism , Chartism , Whiggism , Socialism , Catholicism , cr by any other ISM , save Repeallam ; and this Is , as you must be convinced , the least powerful in its feesent form of any other ism in existence . Yoa have denounced " physical force" -iSM ; and consequaatly " American " -JSH and " French " -ISM ore mere shadows ofsmoke , which may help to blind , but are soon Jost in vapour , and scattered by the " wild winds of Heaven . " All those isms are , therefore , nothing more taan isms ; and all you have to expect , if yen persist in yonr present mode of agitation will be those ISHS with which you have bad too long to contend ; they will be " misery " . isH , " poverty " -iSM , and eternal " slavery * - !*!* .

      Irishmen , I confess I have not patience to write about such thing as these , when I reflect that your apathy and biind indifference to your , country and interests gives not only power to your enemies to oppress you , but opportunities for political adventurers to fleece you of the only remnants of your rights by imposing on your credulity . Of all the slaveries to which man is subject from his fellows , that of yielding blind obedience to the dictates of others Is assuredly the most disgusting ; by doing so you divest yourselves of the noblest prerogative of man and acknowlege yourselves incompetent to judge betwixt the relative positions of right and , wrong . Why then , I ask , do you

      nofcsbake off this disgrace from your shoulders ? Have I not shewn you tbat without , political power Repeal would be a corse , and can you not see that so far as you are , acquinted with the spirit of the Repeal movement , Universal Suffrage , which alone is the political power you should possess , to render Repeal a bless * ing , is so far from being rec > mmended by your leader , tbat it is actually scouted [ rum his political creed ? Ate you not worthy to vote for u parliamentary candidate to tepresent you in the House -of CommonB ; if not , why caaipel you to fight and pay for the support of the state ? If you are worthy , why hesitate to demand what is your , birthright ; and what is sanctioned by the constitution of tbese reams ?

      . O'Connell may " blarney" you as long as you permit him ; bat I tell yoa a day will come when the scales will and must fall from your eyes ; and when O'Connell , like other men , will be weighed in the balance , of pablic opinion ; and if in tbat day his present acts are not found wanting , should I then be alive and you remember , 1 will give my life as a forfeit . I ask wny sbttfta about the suffrage , or who or what shall have it ; whether stones or mortar or man ; whether married men or single ; whether '" BATCHEiiOBS" or " WOMEN ; " when he knows in his heart that all are useless , senseless , and vicious barkings of the question . Gduyou . not see thateven in these multifarious named suffrages ha is inconsistent , standing to no one point , but lying from one post to another , to prop himself against the attacks of

      uncompromising justice whioh will not be hoodwinked , and clinging with , desperate tenacity to his old and profitable institutions . Leave him , unless he changes his position !—Leave him ; I warn yoa in time , but you may find it too late ; but leave him not if he is wise enough to adopt " Universal Suffrage , " as his motto . Remember it is as much your duty to warn him of danger , and to set him right , as it is his to council you . Place such opinions as these before your friends , and I bave not tbe least doubt of the moat . beneficial result ; but above all remember , you . can never , after Mr . O'Conneil ' s rejection ol the Whigs , attempt to give them your suffrage , fie baa declared them to be his and Ireland ' s enemies , therefore you must have dons with them . . ¦ „ --. » .,

      I have shewn you Repeal without the condition of Universal Suffrage would be a curse instead of «¦ : blessing ; and further , that your present mode of obtaining ii Is certain to be attendant with failure anV disappointment ; so knowing this I only ask you to put the question to your bosoms , and if you do Botftdmit the truth of what I assert I shall be much mistaken , ' , in- i » y estimate of thedisposiElons of satn whomasooun&ynien , I lavs , and for whom I wonld make , pa a duly , any sacrifice to national and domestio happiness . Rally , for Repeal and the Chaster , and let your cry be "No Snrrender . " I am , fellow countrymen , Yonr faithful servant , W . H . CLI 9 V 0 M

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      In relation to this trial we have received tho following from oar London correspondent , who was present in Court ;—You will find in tbe Times a report of the case " O'Connor versus Lawson . " This report is pretty correct , with the exception of tho feeling manifested in tbe Court This was decidedly In favour of the plaintiff . Daring the delivery of the extreme partizan address of Mr . Thesiger , it was the general opinion that be far outstepped bis duty as an advocate , and made hia professional station a cloak for the expression of sentimen s towards Mr . O'Connor , which in his private

      capacity he would not have dared to utter . His manner , when speaking of his joy at having bean instrumental in getting Mr . O'Connor ejected from the House of Commons , and of his hope that he should ultimately see him [ destroyed , was so bitter and violent that the disapprobation of the Court" was audibly expreosed . The feelings and prejudices of the Jurors maybe gathered from the fact that one ot them , previous to retiring , hesitated not to express in open Court His de-TERMlNlAlION TO BE LOCKED UP A WEEK RATHER THAN CONSENT TO ANY DAMAGES WHICH WOULD JBRY COSTS ! . ' Yours , T . M . Wheeler .

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      Concerning this trial we have the following from a private friend , who was at Stafford , and heard tho trial : — j Mr . O'Neil was tried here yesterday and this moming . His trial is jast finished ( half-past twelve o ' clock ); and I am sorry to say he is found guilty—( as you may suppose )—and sentenced to be Imprisoned twelve eatendar months . He made a most excellent defence , ao far as speaking truths of a most disagreeable kind to the jury and counsel , and ]' in particular to S . J . Williams , who tried him , weni j He caused his Lordship much uneasiness , when he mentioned the Dorchester Labourers , and said , "Thou art the man" who tried them also ! He also said , "jif Judges could meet together to raise their wages , be could see 120 barm in colliers doing so . " Tho whole of the counsel round the table tittered

      at this palpable hit ; but his Lordship looked very grave . The feeling of bis Lordship was evinced in not ordering theCouttto be lighted up , although Mr . O'Neil had been addressing them jfrom twe o ' clock till a quarter before ten . There was only two small candles in the court , which I think was on purpose to prevent O'Neil from reading extracts from a book he bad , or else to prevent the reporters from taking notes .

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      THE REVEREND WILLIA& HILL AT k ABERDEEN . Mr . Hill having given netiee of his intention to come to Aberdeen c « Tuesday evening week , by the steam boat from Leitb , a considerable degree of interest was manifest among the working classes who had it in their power to meet him . Accordingly Beveral hundreds wexe assembled en the Pier [ and at half-past four o ' clock tbe boat hove in sight , and being in low water tide , came to an anchor in the bay , when as Is usual on such occasions , tbe goods undj passengers are landed by small luggage boats which are kept in readiness for that purpose . At five e ' clockj the aoxiously looked-for gentleman set his foot upon the soil of Aberdeenshlre , and cordially shook hands with the deputation appointed to meet , and convey jhlm to his lodgings . A circutn-Btance occurred , just as Mr . Hill landed , which created a good deal of sport ajid may not be out of place , to be here mentioned . A knot of fisherwives were noticed to

      be huddled together in earnest conversation . Curiosity led some of our friends close to them in order to ascertain what they might be talking about , when one of the wives eagerly inquired , "What had brought so many peopla down ? ' | She was answered , " to see ii Chartist ; who bad just landed from the steam boat . " *• Christ hae watch ' oer uss , " ' said the wife , " is there an it her Chartist landed ? " and immediately hurried away to have a look at him , just as the carriage drove off in which Mr . Hill was seated . Same evening , at eigbto ' clock , the council who were joinedby savers * of the warmest friends of Mr . O'Connor , met Mr . Hill in the hall , 38 , George-street , when , he announced that he was no longer editor of the Star , and went over the causes which led to his ex-editorship . At the sametime he intimated , tbat he would still continue to work with and for the people , in tbat paper as a correspondent ; and that bis articles would always carry hia name uc the bottom of them .

      THE SOIREE . A soiree In honour of Mr . Hill ' s visit to Aberdeen was held in St . Andrew-street Chapel , on Wednesday evening . The meeting , which waa pretty numerous , elected Mr . John Legge to the chair . After the good things which were provided for the occasion had been rendered indlscernable , the chairman rose , and in a few brief remarks introduced tbe first sentiment" The People . " This was spoken to In a first-rate style by Mr . M'Pherson , who dilated at considerable length on the manifold Bufferings which bad been inflicted on them in all known ages of the world by the interested few , who , even in our lime , like their predecessors , keep their unholy grasp , in spite of every warning . He concluded by hoping that a brighter era was neat at hand , when men in all countries would unite with one accord , and unshackle themselves of those despotic laws with which they are so disgracefully bound .

      The Chairman then gave the next sentiment , " Umon . " This was handled by Mr . Henry in his usual brief , concise , and free stile . He contended for an Organization based upon a simple and easily to be understood scheme , to be forthwith adopted , and which Organization ought to embrace ( England , Ireland , and Scotland In one bond of union , ] with an executive to transact its general business . He referred to a variety of cases where sectional unions had failed , and concluded a noble speech by calling on the people to unite with a firm determination t > carry the Charter in spite of all opposition , which he said was only confined to those who sheltered themse ves behind the Treasury benches , and were rioting upon the fruits of the people ' s industry . The Chairman then gave "Tbe guest of the evening , " which was received with every mark of

      respect-Mr . HILL then rose , and after ; i few introductory remarks , announced tliat he had ceased to have editorial connexion with tbe Star ; and read a letter which has appeared iu last week ' s publication of that paper . He dwelt on the causes which gave rise to his separation with Mr . O'Connor , and assured the meeting that no ill-will or malice eiistjed between him and that gentleman . That he would go haad ia hand with Mr . O'Connor , and any mail who did not deal subtilly with the cause of the people . He sat down with tbe btrongest marks of approbation . The Chairman tten introduced Mr . Archibald M'Donald , who epofee to tbe sentiment , "The exiled

      patriots . " Mr . M'Donald , in his usual forcible manner , drew a sad picture of the sufferings of a vast number of patriots who have suffered in bygone days for the cause of tbe people , and of those virtuous men in the present day who aro j immured in loathsome dungeons for having spoken theftrutn . Little or nothing is beard of them , except a solitary cry here and there fox help to their famishing wives and offspring ; and this , said Mr . Jrl'Don ; ild , is not responded to by . the people with that evenh&nded justice , and Christian feeling , as it ought to ba After having solicited immediate aid in behalf of all those suffering for the cause of the people , he sat down , evidently having made a deep impression upon the minds of the ! audience . sentiment of the

      The Chairman gave the last evening— " The Press?—to which Mr . Robert Lowery responded . He adverted to the good or evil which the Press could do ; and showed , that among a truly enlightened people / a | vile and corrupt press could not long exist ; that the press in this country generally represented private interests , and is in too many cases solely set agoing for base , venal , and selfish purposes . He contrasted the press of this country with that of other nations ; particularly that of the slave states in America j clearly showing the vile and pernicious eflBcts it had on the minds of the people there , when it wrought as an under-current against the establishmest of freedom . 1 ' Bating the Intervals , the ba nd played a variety of popular airs ; among these was * tune , composed by Mr . Alexander Murray for the occasion , entitled " The Rev . William HiU ' s welcome to Aberdeen . "

      The Chairmah closed the business of the meeting with a short address , after which three hearty cheers were given for the Charter , and its true advocates ; The married and sedate retired to their beds of rest , while the lightsome hearted and gleesome of both sexes adjourned to the ball room , 38 , George-street , where they joined in ihe merry dance , and "cross ed and cleekit" until three ' o ' clock , a . m . Thursday . —Mr . Hill lectured in the Chapel , St . Andrew-street , to a numerous and respectable audience .

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      n THE NORTHERN STAR .. _^______

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 19, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct664/page/6/