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Northern Star (1837-1852), 5th February 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      TO THE SDITOB . OF THE SOUTHERN STAR . * " fiia , —At a special meeting o ! the Leeos Short Time Committee , holdea on ths evening of Jan . 22 d , 1842 , present , eight of the members , the following resolution ! were" unanimously passed : — 1 *— That foe" Address to the -working men of Yorkshire . " in reply to the foul and unmanly attack of the Editor of the Leeds T » m « , and in justification " of the proceedings of the Ten Hoars' Deputation , ss mow read , be adopted ; and that 2 , 500 of them W printed for immedude circulation in the mills and factories of the town and neighbourhood . Jtai ^ -Xhat the Editor of the Northern Star be respectfully requested to gife the document insertion in the columns of hi * paper ; and that he be kindly thanked for his many former favours .

      Agreeably to the 2 nd resolution , I beg to hand yon a eopyof the address , and in the name of the Committee , solicit at your hands , the favour of ita insertion . I am , Sir , Yours truly , Jos . Hobsoh , Secretary . Leeds , Jan . 26 th , 1842 .

      TO THE WORKING MEN OF YORK SHIRE GENERALLY , AND OF LEEDS IN PARTICULAR , yBLLOW-CotrcfTBTHBH , —The brsxsi attemps now made , by those -who ought to act differently , to injure « s in your estimation , and to retard the measure they as veil as ourselves hare bo long demanded , compel aa to resort to this meant of aelence . The present "Ten Hours' Agitation" commenced in the latter part of the year 1830 . Prom its first

      commencement up to the present hotfr , some of the memoes of the Leeds Short Time Committee have been unceasingly engaged in it . From that period up to the present , Leeds has never been -without a regular oiganised Short Time Committee ; and you , the ¦ w orking men , hare , many times and oft , in public meeting assembled , accorded your confidence to that Committee , thanked them for their exertions , and bid them go on with their praiseworthy efforts to Becure the passing of a measure founded on the principle that labour ought to be protected .

      Brer since the establishment of the Leeds Times newspaper up to -within the last twenty months , that paper has been the known , the accredited organ of the Short Time advocate * . Its columns hare always been at their service . Scores of tames has its Editor eloquently and triumphantly pleaded the cause of the poor oppressed factory children . Scores of times has it met and confuted the steel-hearted and Mammon-prompted objections of the enemy . Scores of times has it lashed the Mercury for its known subserrieney to the owners of machinery and capital ; and scores of times has it asserted that the measure of protection sought for "was necessary to snatch the infant factory -worker from a state of slavery more failing , more demoralising , more debasing , and more injurieusin its consequences , than any other system of slavery the -world ever knew !

      Besides this , the Leeds Times has had scores of peunds « f the money subscribed by you and your iriends to adTaace the Ten Hours cause . His articles have been reprinted from its columns , because deemed worthy of it ; his reports of meetings have also been extensively ¦ circulated -when reprinted ; long advertisements have been inserted in his paper and paid for ; and every means taken by the friends of Short Time to extead his circulation , and establish bis paper as an organ of the - working i ^ ywn , S 3 far as this question , at least , waa concerned .

      Now , however , the scale is turned J Note , the Leeds Times "violently opposes the measure he before so gallantly defended ! Now he treats the agitation of the Ten Hours Bill ai a fraud ; and though ifc -was commenced twelve years ago , he says it is bat just started for the purpose of superseding the anti-Corn Law agitation J Koto he is more violent in his denunciations , more base in his insinuations , and more shameless in his lying , respecting rs -who have maintained our integrity , than the Leeds Mercury himself ! How is this ? Wbat is it , that can , have caused such a chance 1 Sold ! millowners' Gold 11 Free Traders * Gold I I The man hxs been purchased by the enemy ! Hemus : do the enemy ' s work ! !

      Is this true ? It is . Here is the proof . About twenty months ago , the conductors of the Leeds Times had gone almost as far "with it as they could . It did not pay ita expenses . It -was offered for sale . It wai in the market . A bargain was made for it , and a price agreed on , by some parties connected with th > - -working classes . Had it come into their hands , it -would have become more Democratic , and more Ten Hour-ocratic , ( if the latter -were possible ) than it had ever been before . But here -was aH opporfrmity for the enemy not ts miss . To get hold of an " organ of the -working classes" and turn it to their own selfish purposes , might possibly end in turning the -way of thinking amongst the working classes themselves ; or it might , at least , produce division in their ranks . At all events , tht thing was worth the trial . The necessary steps were taken . " It was forthwith announced that I > r . SmUea had been admitted a partner in the proprietorship of the paper .

      Junr , where did Pr . SmiJesgei bis money to " into the concern , " to enable him to become •» half-proprietor ? " He is not known to have had any of his own . " . ? * ?¦ ¦ » *" Where did he get the money from ? Ay ! thereby hangs fte tale . TwoFsctory-lords of Leeds found the money ! TBey exacted certain eonditicms before they did so , as to the line of policy the paper sbould pursue : but they fcund the money ! They insisted thatDr : Smiles should be admitted partner , at a guarantee that those conditions would b » kept : and he was admitted . 'Twas the money wrung from your sweat and bones , that kept the Times in its present bands , to betray you and your cause . '

      Th = conditions which were exacted by the moneyfinders were , that Corn Law Repeal sh » uld be worked so as to make it take the precedency of all other measures amongst the working classes , and that the manufactures should be defended from the complaints of those who groan and smart beneaU \ the " monstrous tyranny '" of the Factory system ! Here is the cause of the change ! Hereis the keyto Represent conduct of the Leeds Times . From the Mercury we do not expect fair-dealing . By him we have always been most bitterly and unscrupulously opposed . But his conduct ttoie , bitter and uncompromising an enemy as he is , is mildness and FArR > 'BSS itself , when compared with that of the Times !!

      The labours of the deputation -we recently sent to Ministers to press upon their attention the measure we are organised to watch over and promote , have strangely excited the ire of **" « purchased gentleman . He finds himself hampered up . Unable to meet their statements and arguments , he is compelled to reeort to the next feest mode of "warfare , impntrng bad motives , and heaping upon the deputation lots of abuse . Amongst other things , he charges them with " artfully beslavering " the Ministers they waited upon , to serve the paity purposes of tHB Tories .

      What are the facts of the case ? The deputation have reported the conversations as they took plase , as accurately as they conld . We have reason to believe they have only told the truth , as to the manner in -which they were received , and as to what passed at the several interview ! . To have told other than -what they have , ¦ would have been to lib : and because the deputation would not do this ; becsnse they would not sacrifice honour , conscience , and duty to the vile purposes of an infamous party , they are abused by the Leeds Times man and his compeers as beslaverers of Toryism ; and the old cuckoo cry "Tory trick" is raised !

      It is no doubt galling to these men that Tory Ministers should have admitted working men to a friendly conference , when they remember the conduct of the Whig Lord Melbourne , who , as principal Secretary of State , refused to see * deputation of workirg men , though sent by a Yorkshire West Riding meeting ! The recollections of these things may be painful : but the Whigs should not require the deputation to lie to get them out of the mess . Well , but then , we are told , the deputation did not press upon the Ministers the adoption of the People '* Charter . And who complains of this ? The Leeds Times man , who has done his little best to swamp the Charter agitation . The man who has omitted no opportunity of doing his uttermost to sow division in the

      Chartist caap ! * ho has maligned the motives , aspersed the characters , and lyingly misrepresented the conduct of the Chartist leaders . ' the man who put words into the mouth of Mr . G- - J . Harney , at the last election . for the purpose of hounding on the VThig physicals to trounce his bones—put words into his mouth which were never uttered , and represented him as uttering them in Leeds , -when he never saw Leeds on the day named ! a man who has systematically traduced the character <_ f J . B . OBrisn , and of Mr . F . O'Connor ! a man who has colled from every Bource all that he possibly could lsy his bands on , which would at all serve his purpose of exciting jealousy and disunion amongst the CnaTtist ranks 1 a inan who is secretary to the Fox and Goose Club , —a society formed for the express and avowed

      purpose of swamping the Charter agitation . This is the man to complain that the deputation did not do that which they were not sent to do ! This is the man to send his toels , two geese ; two members of his Fox and Goose Society , to move at the Leeds Music Hall meeting , that the deputation he censured for not pressing upon Ministers the People's Charter ! This is the man to act thus , when he and his ioolt have schemed in every possible way to overreach and put down the Charter agitation ! The sun who moved tite amendment at the Music Hall , are both members of the Fox and Goose club ; and the " amendment , " so artlessly dictated by the modest mover on the platform ., was concocted , arranged , by the Foxes , before the mover of it came near the

      meeting at alL And these , forsooth , are the aen to complain that the deputation omitted that which farmed jio portion of their duty I Ah I . working men , you will need no spectacles to enable you to see through all this 1 You will need no aid to enable you to divine the cause of this new-born aeal for the Charter , and love of the Chartist agitation . < Not long aso , the party of which the Leeds Times is now the void tool , themselves sent a deputation to

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      the Tory Ministers . Of course T rr . Smiles and his coworkers took care to instruct th > iir deputation to name the People ' s Charter to the Mini iters , as a measure of relief ; of course they took care ' that the Ministers had that subject brought under their notice . Not they , indeed 1 They sent their deputation to press for Corn Law Repeal alone ! and the deputation never mentioned the Charter I Of course Dr . Smiles censured them for this omission . Not a word of it . ' It would not have served his purpose . Apropos . Who sent that deputation » Whom did they represent ! The Leeds Anti-C « ra Law League . And who constitutes the Anti-Corn Law League ! How were they chosen ! Have they had the sanction of a public meeting J and are they a duly recognized public body ? Answer these questions , pray , Dr . Smiles .

      That deputation returned . Instead of all agreeing npon a regular Report of their mission , as the Ten Hours' deputation did , different members began to circulate different statements as to what the Minister had said , upon whom they had waited . Some of these statements , made to serve , not the Tories , but the Whigs at tht expence of truth and fair-dealing , were so outrageously and shamefully false , that other members of the deputation felt themselves hound publicly to contradict the statements , and deny that the language impnted had ever been uttered ! J Such was the way the Whig deputation acted . and because our deputation did not follow the dishonourable example ; because they confined themselves to strictly speaking the truth , they are accused by these same Whigs of aiding the Tories 1 The deputation are also charged with not having whispered a word respecting that system of class legislation , which is the cause of the evils under which the country labonrs . This is a pure misrepresentation !

      The deputation represented that the working people had'had no hand or part in the bringing on of the evils they complain of ; they represented that their position is such , as to leave them entirely at the mercy of tht Capitalist , who does with them whatever he thinks proper ; they represented that the accumulation of evils from this cause had now become so great that they could be no longer borne ; they boldly stated that the time had come , when something must be done for the working people as a class ; and that that something must be a measure calculated to protect them in some degree from the tyranny and power of the other " classes" who have hitherto preyed upon them ! Tbey showed that the evils complained of arose from the fact that , all consideration had hitherto been had to protect Capital , and leave labour entirely at its mercy ! Thus showing that it is ta classlegislation alone to which we are to ascribe the evils the' labourer has to endure !

      Then look at the recommendations of the deputation . They did not prescribe the Ten Hours * Bill as a " final measure 1 " but distinctly named it as a btyinning ! That measure involves the principle , protection to labour ; and this is the secret of the great opposition and loud cry of the Letds Times man aad bis fellows . They know that if this principle be sanctioned , away goes the power of the manufacturing " class" to press you into the dust That principle sanctioned and legislated on , you are no longer -without the pale of the law ! you are no longer at the mercy of the " classes " who have reduced you to your present deplorable condition . . . . . It was expressly stated to the ministers by the deputation that the Ten Hours' measure they recommended to be passed , would not do anything like the

      go od it would have done if passed ten years ago . And why ? Bec-. usa the excessive competition produced by our present system , and the immense aid given to needy speculator . * by the joint-stock banks , had increase ! our machinery fifty per cent during that tsn years ; and that our machinery , if worked no more than ten hours per day , waa more than equal to the glutting of all the markets in the world . The ministers wtre . therefore , duly warned that the adoption of the Ten Houn' measure would not be any thing like a remedy for our many evils ; but that it would be a beginning ; that it would be an earnest that the working class , as a class was at las > t cared for ,- that it would be received in that spirit ; but received only . as a beginning of a series of measures of justioe and protection which the condition of the operative community loudly calls for .

      They also pressed for the immediate Repeal of the New Poor Law , in the same spirit , and for the fame object That law is avowedly fn-unned on the principle that the poor man has no right to lire in the land of his birth ; that nature has doomed him and his progeny to starve ; that she "has provided for Aim no place at her table . The old origiruil Poor Law © f Elizaveta was ioundert on ths principle thai the poor man had a right to tbe first take from the soil . No landlord coulil get a farthing of rent , until the occupier hud first paid tip his rates ! and the rates could be laid to any amount , even to the entire swallowing of the entire produce , if the necessities of the poor required it Under that law , too , every man reduced to poverty could fotce a maintenance ; not a starvation-point existmeut— but a

      Jiving maintenance . Under that law , Poor Homes were unknovm ; there never were any snch degrading things thought of The poor man was to be relieved ai home when he needed it No "ttif of poverty then ! nosubmitting to conditions then , which betpeak the absence of aU independence and manly feeling ; no requiring that a man must prove that his spirit is completely bowed devrn ; that he is utterly coved ; that he is no longer a man , before they would grant hiin relief . He could force a good maintenance when sickness , or accident , or icfirmiry , or want of work , brought him to poverty . That iras the principle of the Old Poor Law of England . The principle of the New one is a complete negation . Ha cannot fotce a- maintenance ; he lias no right to be in the land ; if relieved at all , he must submit to degradation the most complete . Ae&inst such a system every good feeling and every principle of justice wages eternal war ; and it was in that s-plrit .

      tnd for the purpose of removing one of the mostodicua evidences of class-legislafu n , —odious in principle , dious and harsh in its operation—producing misery and degradation UBheard of and unparalleled before ; it was for the purpose of establishing the right « f the working mas to live in the land of his birth , and to stoD the career of desolation and death throughout the land , —for who of spirit but would welcome lieath in a thousand shapes before submission to the indignities and degradations applied as the " test" of poverty ; it was to establish the right to be in the land , sod to arrest the minister ' s lash by which the naked back of honest poverty is scourged ; it was to do these things that the deputation pressed for the immediate jepeal of the New Poor Law , along with the passing of the Ten Hours' Bill , as an evident * that , at last , the poor sbould be cared lor ; that their interests should be in somewise attended to ; that tfceir wants and requirements should be in some measure

      satisfied-The Ten Hours' Bill contains the principle that Laboce kebds Pbot £ CTIon . The old Poor Law of Elizabeth contains ths principle that THE Poor havk A RIGHT TO BE FIRST KEPT BY THE La * D . The establishment of these principles will form a groundwork tor tbe working men to work upwards to that comfortable and plenteous condition which is theirs by right , by reason , and by justiee . Bat were these all the recommendations of the deputation ? Did they suggcit nothing more 1 Yes ! The immediate appointment of a commit ! ea of inqniry , formed of practical men tf all parties , for thepuip « se of endeavouring to ascertain the cause of the poverty , misery , and discontent now in the land . A committee that shouid bo honestly to work to fathom the

      question ; that should examine into the workings of aU portion * of our present system , upon all classes : that should examine more particularly into the workings of machinery , especially during the last fifty years ; that should rtceivw evidence and take the statements of all panies , -workman and master , labourer and employer ciiurehraan and dissenter , Whig , Tory , Radical , and Chartiit . A committee that should examine into , and report npon , all the rneasuses of relief that are proposed . A committee that should endeavour to go to the root of the matter , and devise , from the schemes before them , a plain , simple , but comprehensive measure of relief , adequate to the removal of the evils it has to fupplant , and adequat 3 to the establishment and

      sccuremenl of plenty and contentment throughout every workman ' s house in . Britain . Such was the recommendation of the deputation : and wbat more do the owners of machinery and their advocates want ?! Ar « they afraid that before a committee so constituted , and for such a purpose , they could not make out their cane ] The Chartist will have u » such fear . He dare rely on tie justiee of his case . He dare submit his claims against all comers . The advocates for the protection of labour dare do the same . Who , then , is afraid ? If the C « rn Law repealer is , he will dread tbe encounter < If he is conscious thct he rests bis case upon baseless theory and specious fallacies , he will shrink from examination . But not so the man who

      feels the coiifidtnce Arising from truthful conviction . He dreads no inquiry . He courts it He knows his claims will be heard . He is convinced that the justice of his cause will stand out fully apparent And is not a solemn inquiry of this kind needed ? Is it not ntcessa-y ? Are v ? e incessantly to be stunned by the babble , and din , and confusion worse confounded , arising from theorists and surface-skimmers dogmatically contending that they alone know tbe cause of the evil , and alone know how to apply a remedy ? Is this war of werds to be endless ? Are we to have endless crimination and recrimination , and abuse , and denunciation , and proscription , intt « &d of going to work like men determined to ascertain tbe catse of our -fusnifold evils , and to apply an efficient and comprehensive remedy T

      It was for the purpose of securing a faie hearing for all parties , that the deputation recommended this course . And it must be taken ! Tbe facts connected with the subject must be ascertained , before a remedy can be applied . It may turn out that Corn Law Repeal would accoBplish all Its advocates say it will ; but they must first shew that they know the evils they have to cure , their extent , their depth , and their cause , before we can judge as to whether their proposed measure of relief will at all apply , or whether it would

      not augment the evils already existing . Calm and dispassionate inquiry may demonstrate that the Charter alone , or a plan of Home Colonisation , or both united , may get us out of our difficulties , and enable us to deal effectually with that disorganising power which has -already worked such revolutions is ouz habits , customs , condition , and feelings . But the inquiry must first be had , before the demonstratioa can be given . The truth is , we have no facts , as far as the tremendous power of machinery is concerned , to accurately guide us . It has sprung up amongst as , deranging all

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      our former calculations , upsetting all oar former arrangements , introducing new habits , « nd changing the whole aspect of society ; and yet we know scanely anything respecting it Ita rise ia but as of yesterday , and yet it is already almost too powerful a customer for any Government to grapple with . On one hand stand the advocates for an unlimited extension of it , stoutly contending that it has been an unmixed good to all parties connected with it ; and on the other baud Btand the working people , loudly calling out for measures of regulation and restraint ; for it has snatched the blanket from the bed , the beef from the cupboard , the coat from the back ,. and the child from the home of the

      working man , and doomed the father to unwilling idleness , while it imposes upon the infant toil unceasing , destruction of health * loss of limb , and premature death I It no inquiry needed Here t Should we not ascertain what really have baen the workings of this tremendous power , whether for good or evil , or both ; and to point out the one , and the means of escaping from the other 7 And can any plan better adapted for accomplishing this object be hit upon , than that suggested by tbe deputation ? If bo , let us hear of it ! Till one is broached , let no one complain I And none bat those who are afraid to submit their nostrums to examination will dare to comTjlaln .

      Away , then , with the canting cry that the deputation did not press for a Repeal of the Coga Laws , or far the adoption of the People ' s Charter I They proposed a mode by which all parties , Chartists , Free-Traders , or Home Colonizers , could have a fair and dispassionate bearing and judgment . Does a * y one want more ? Does any one want less ? He is conscious he is a quack , and fears the light ! Such then , Working Men , were the recommendations of the deputation , and such were their reasons for the course they took . What the Mini&terB may do in these matters , we know not But this we know , that if they possess not the virtue and courage to grapple with these great questions , and grapple with them , too , in such a way as will benefit the distressed working people , they

      will soon have to give way to others who are able and willing to remove the burthens from the backs of a troddtn-down people ; A very shtrt time will show whether they have this courage or not : and none will more readily join in hurling the Ministers from office should tbey fail , and in replacing them with better men , than the body who now address you . To the cause of the working people are we wedded . To that cause will we con tin ae to adhere , spite of all political considerations whatever . We have ever professed ourselveg willing to receive aid in this cause from all and every one : we have readily supported all of every party who would support us ; and we have as readily opposed all of every party who have opposed us . To this coarse of action we are determined to adhere ! No

      charges # f " Tory tools , or charges of "Whig tools , " shall divert us from it The man who will support the cause we contend for , PROTECTION FOR Labour , ia our friend . The man who opposes is our enemy . The one shall have our support The othur our opposition . Working Men I we call upon you to be true to yourselves and to your cause ! It never was in so good a position as it now is . ' True , the miseries you have to endure are appalling I True , the operations of our present system have brought you to absolute starvation I True , it has inflicted suffering incalculable upon you : and the system has , at last , reached those who have been fatting while you have been gradually coming to the present pass . True , these things are so ! and that those who have last come to taste the poverty and care attendant upon our present system bear it with an ill

      grace , flounder about , and cry out most lustily , forgettiDg what a deaf ear and indignant denial they gave to your cries long since uttered . True , that these things are so . ' and that heaven and earth are to be moved to proeure an " extenrfon" of the system which haa already plunged all into difficulty and - want . True , that these thicks are bo ! vet be firm ! A little time longer , and the groundwork for your redemption will be laid ! A little time longer , and the cause you have so earnestly and so perseveringly fought for will be triumphant ; Protection for labour must be had , or you must be prepared to run still further down the road of competitien and commercial strife , your rate of wages and . state of * being still and still continually deteriorating , as they have ever doae since you set out upon it ! Reflect ! what will be tke end , if yon have not gone half-way yet !!! I

      Heed them not who cry that many of you would be glad to get ten hours work now ! That is a very shortsighted view of the question . Are there not some now -working more than ten hours ? Would it not be better for more of you , if that work was more equalized ? Ten Hours would do that , if it did nothing more ! Besides , the Corn Law Repealers say they are going to repeal the Corn Laws . This , they also say , will bring us another " roaring trade . " Will it not be better , then , to have toe Ten Hours' Protection beforehand , so that we can ba sure that the greedy portion of the manufacturers do not again work our children to death ! When we had a " roaring : trade" before , they worked infaiiis for eighteen bcurs continuously , with only thirty minutes intermission for test , meals , education , and recreation ! Will it not make our next " roaring trade" lati longer , if we iuu our mills only ten hours a-day , and not run them day and night , while the push IasU , and then have to stand idle till another push comes ?

      With every determination to meet tbe foe in whatever shape he may present himself ,-and : with * a firm hope that the time is not far distant when the measure we have so long asked for , and over and over again proved the necessity for , -will be given ub ,

      We are , your ' a faithfully , The Leeds Short Time Committee .

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      CHELSEA . A public meeting wu held in the Commerci&l Rooms , Royal Bath Gardens , King ' s Road , Chelsea , for the adoption of the National Petition , on Wednesday , January 26 th . The front of the pJace of meeting was illuminated by variegated lamps , forming a large P . C ., tbe initials of the People ' s CharUr . The spacious building was well filled . At ba ! f-pifct seven o ' clock , Mr . S . Ford was unanimously called to the chair , and in n few brief sentences requested a patiest hearing for all who might present themselves , and called on Mr . Whitehora to read and move the adoption of the National Petition . Mr . Whitehorn said it gave him great pleasure to do so , because it contained vqual justice for rich and poor . ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr . L . H . Lei « hs seconded the motion . He said as one of the working classes of this great cemmunity , he seconded it with great pleasure , embracing , as it did , tbe six points of the Chatter . We certainly had no wealthy or titled aristocrat to preside over our meeting ; it was , nevertheless , a most numerous and respectable meeting . The day had gone by for idle pomp , useless glitter , and expensive shows . He would be brief , because he was » are they were anxiens to hear that great and good man , Feargus O'Connor , who was presint ( Loud cheers . ) But he -would , nevertheless , explain tbe bearing of tbe principlts of the Charter ; they would , then , be enabled to give their judgments fairly on the principles brought before them . That Government originated from the people in America , was quite true ; but was it so in England ? How was It here ? Why , it originated from a banditti of petty tyrants , and on this basis was monarchy established . We had now oligarchies of landlords , millocrats . millionaires .

      who each and all claimed to be the people ; but the millions were not the people . He agreed that all ought to be represented . The millions were regarded as respectable bo loag as they served the purposes of faction—( hear , hear )—like the ass , bo loag as they carried the load . ( Hear , hear . ) We complain that the House sf Commons do not tf 11 us what they will or will not do ; no , if they did , it would cement the people together . We had been disappointed by all parties , how was the present state of thirjgs kept up ? by classlegislation . ( Cheers . ) A large array , and a most expensive rural police was maintained at the publio expence ; but when the people become enlightenedwhen in every cottage was to be found an English Chartist Circular , and the Northern Star— ( loud cheers ) —then would despotism cease . ( Reiterated cheers . ) Mr . L . then eloquently denounced the atrocious Poor Law Bill , and lashed alike most . unsparingly Whigs and Tories , as its supporters , and concluded amid the cheers of the meeting .

      The motion was then pat , and unanimously adopted . Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., now rose , amidst the moat deafening applause , again and agate repeated . He said , Mr . Chairman , Working Men and Women , it gives me great pleasure to meet so numerous a body of my fellow men and women on this my second appearance among you . Whether shall we attach greatest importance to the meeting of yesterday ( the Royal christening ) , or to the forthcoming meeting of Parliament ? he was sure the Windsor meeting waa not without ita good effects upen the people . Only think of thn prefuse and lavish expenditure , while thousands of the wealth-producers was perishing ef hunger . ( Hear , hear . ) Now , history , science , literature , and the arts

      had found their way among the people , he was sure these tidings that the Royal tables literally groans with the weight of gold ; and that the streets were carpetted for reyolty to walk on , while twelve thousand persons were perishing in Paisley alome— would spread like an electric shock—and it would be found the schoolmaster had not been abroad for nothing . It ia so difficult to give a name to a Prince that all this fuss must be made—that a king must come so many thousands of miles . But in this chriitening he read sign * of the times . There was not that brilliant illumination there was wont to be , nor such a numerous body « f lamp gaaen ; the middle classes had began to find they were paying too dear for their whistle . ( Loud cheers . ) In a few

      weeks the Petition would he presented to the House , carrying four millions of signatures on ita bosom ;—( bear , hear , )—to this House we had been taight to look for a redress of grievances , and let them not dUappointos . See the effect of Whig fiaality in 1831 , a majority was found to out the boronjhmongew ; ia 1842 , a majority of 01 was found to vphold those Tory Tories . ( Hear , hear . ) We had been told that ft large mass of blue and red soldiers was kept up to keep down the people ; but neither the sabre of the one or the ta-aacheon of the other , would be used unless the money was found to pay them . ( Loud « h « eca . ) He had found the police , especially in Ireland , were employed as pies ; they frw-raently forgot they were dtiasns , and

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      lent themselves to the worst of purposes . ( Hear , hear . ) In Mapractice as a barrister , after baffling all other witneasses , he had found them with their notes carrying a conviction . He need not tell them he placed np reliance on the evidence so giveiv ( Hear , hear . ) The time was fast approaching when royalty itaelf would not feel comfortable , unless the people were happy—unless the people were placed in a position to become consamew , the Exchequer would ftl-f ays be empt £ InW 40 , their petition was presented , signed by two millions , and the Speaker * who ought to be neutral , threw ; hii Weight in the scale , and « verbalan |» d the two millloni . They would now double the number , continue their steady course , and beat the Tories asT they had beaten the Whigs . ( Cheers . ) The ( ftverhmeht w&b as well aware of what they were doing as they did ; it was aecessaiy that we show oar strength—then mere " Reformers " would go with us . The Whigs admit their mess was

      spoiled ; believe him the Whigs would rather return to power for an abridgement of the franchise than for its extension ; but let us determine they never shall return to power , unless as Chartiats . ( hand cheer * . ) Mr . O'C then moat eloquently and laughably anatomised the Midland Counties Charter , amid the loudest applause of the whole meeting , showing the fallacy of its provisions . He had been to leicester , and asked for Mr . Biggs , who bad denounced him in his absence ; but he was not to be found . ( Hear , hear . ) He there had a meeting of at least 4 , 080 ; be put both Charters and the original People ' s Charter was uannimouMy carried . The schoolmaster was indeed abroad , and the people were not to be caught in any trap , neither Poor Law , Corn Law , or any other humbug . He supposed Mr . Biggs agreed with the poet , who said the best time to court a widow was on her return from her husband ' s funeral ; but he thought Mr . B . would have no chance

      of catching the people just after the incarcerating upwards of 400 of their best friends . ( Hear , hear . ) He was to appear to-morrow , for the fifth time , in the Coutt of Queen ' s Bench . He had never travelled a mile or eat a meal at the people ' s expenoe ; and if the Lord , Chief Justice were to aay to him to-morrow , you shall have the Charter , if you willtake it when people shall arrive at twenty-one years and three days , or you shall go to York Castlefor five years and pay a fine of five thousand pounds , he would choose the latter rcther than budge an inch from the people's rights . ( Thunders of applause . ) Bid ever nation present such a spectacle as we did at the present time ? Here we had on the one hand the rich and powerful oppressors united , on the other , a ragged and hungry people beating down

      all opposition ; and why ? Because they registered their vow rather to die freemen than live slaves . ( Great applause . ) We had been fc . Id we could not gain the Charter without the middle classes ; but if they will not go with us , we will try if there is not another most inflnential party learning wit—the trades . ( Loud cheers . ) They had tried everything save the Charter , and had failed . They were now coming out for that . ( Long continued cheering . ) He had to address the masons on Monday ; the shoemakers on Tuesday ; the weavers on Wednesday ; and shortly the tailors . He should then have an opportunity of telling the trades how machinery affected thein—it was ' art against nature . ( Hear , hear . ) The people ' s actions relative to the free trade fallacies had i amply compensated him for all

      his sufferings . There was more money in the country than ever , yet the millocrats complained of distress , and hundreds of thousands of people were starving . ( Hear , hear . ) Machinery worked against manual labour ; that was the cause . ( Hear , hear . ) It was now a gambling affair—a game of chance which had beea going on for the last twenty-five years . Taxation bad increased , and would continue to do so . Machinery had driven people from their birth place to compete with the men of London . It would be better for those in employ to pay those out than allow them to act as a reserve for the masters . Mr . O'C . then passed nn high eulogium on the masons for their patriotism . He ( Mr . OC . ) wag we 1 tried , ; having been many years before them . He left it to them to say had he ever

      been found -wanting 1 \ ( Loud cries of No , no ' ; "' lbuft and reiterated enters . ) Labour would not , or did it require to be represented Without the other classes were also represented . A drunkard reeled along the road the other day ,- a gent said "there , O'Connor , that is one of yourmen , wouldyou give him the Buffrage ? He would ; and why , because if a teetotaller was to be found for a candidate be would be sure to get his vote ; and so were you to extend the Franchise to thieves / &c . * j , they weuld not vote for thieves , knowing them too well . ( Loud laughter and cheers . ) The Charter was the sunshine of liberty , it would moralise the whole ; it was the lever that would raise man to his proper sphere . He thanked them for the kind and enthusiastto manner in which they had received the names of Frosfc , Williams , and

      Jones -when read by Mr . Whitehorn ; it was the conviction that he should live in the memory of working men that induced him to make such etreunous exertions . Mr . O'C . then showed the glaring injustice of the couviction of Frost , Wiliams , and Jones . The ignorance of the juryman ; Christopher Johns , who declared he did not find Frost guilty of high treason , but of being in Newport ; however we should not get them hack until we could send out a frigate with the Charter colours flying . Respecting the Dorchester Labourers , he had told the ministers that they ought to occupy their place in their colonies instead of them . He had aided in restoring them and the Glasgow Cotton Spinners , and he would hring back Frost , Williams , and Jones . ( Great cheering . ) Dont let them mistake ; he did not mean to do it himself ; he Hiusfc have their aid— - ( hear , hear )—• the raillocrats with their millions complained of poverty ,

      and wanted the repeal of the Corn Laws ; but they would never go for the Corn Law repeal if they were to have the Charter with it ( Hear , hear . ) He would pot all the League in that room , and go blindfolded into a meeting of working-men , ¦ '¦ and pick out twenty men possessing more talent than all the League combined . : The League was to have a meeting on the 8 lh of February ; ho would meet them , and convince the people , that they ( the League ) were the only raonopoiiste . They were about to have a little parliament of their own—the Convention ; ( Loud cheers . ) Ho had now performed his duties . Mr . O'Connor now showed cards of the Association , and called on those present ¦ who were not enrolled to enrol themselves forthwith . He would take bis leave , assuring them that be would be always found at bis post ; and should at any time bo happy to come and address the men of Chelsea . ( Loud and long continued cheering . )

      Mr . Mathers then read and moved the address to the Queen in behalf of Frost , Williams , arid Jones . Mr . GDiHfii £ , in seconding it , eulogised the character of Mr . Froati with whom he had been personally acquainted ; it was puti asd carried unanimously . - Mr . R . RiDtEir moved , and-Mr . Warminsteb seconded the motion , " That Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., present it to her Majesty ; " this was carried unanimously . ( . ' ¦ ' . ''_ . - ' . . * * ¦ ' ' ;* ' ' ¦ * \ -V ; ' . . ' . " * ' . A vote of thanks waa given to the Chairman , and the meeting broke up ;

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      RAISING THE WIND . When we are urged to make any sacrifliee with a view to get rid of the existing Corn : Laws , there is an implied assumption iu the exhortation , that by attaining that end we should save the country from impending ruin . The patient , say some , ie in danger of instant death . Doubtless , perfect health can only be restored by . a course of alteratives which shall act upon the constitution ; but there is no time to carry prescriptions of phis character into effect . The country is sinking from exhaustion . Lst our first efforts be directed to a revival of her trade und commerce , and we tnay then proceed at leisure to the great work of political reform . To this we have but two objections ; but then they are formidable ones . First , that we Cannot mnater \» p a sufficient dose of stimulant necessary for securing the revival we need ; ami , secondly , if we could , we should proceed bo very leisurely to amend the -constitution , that ere long the patient would be as bad as ever . ¦ ¦¦¦" . ' - . •¦ . ¦ ¦¦ . - *¦ .. . '¦ - ¦ ¦

      They may doubt this who look upon clasa legislation as a thing of reoent origin , or -who imagine they see in our present restrictive system 119 more than " nature erring from herself . " A slight acquaintance with Parliamentary history will Bet them right From the first moment of the installation of what we may call the landed interest in the supremacy of power until the present time , our legislators have pursued their selfish ends— have aimed at incveafliiyz the value of their ewn property , at the expence of loose whom they were called to govern , with a systematic pertinacity no less than instinctive . Their conduct , from beginning to ^ ndJ— " from morn to dewy eve , " has been consistent With untiring seal they have kept before

      them one object—self-aggrandisement ; with unwearied assiduity they have pursued it Baffled in one instance , they return to the chase with new alacrity—omit no opportunity— spare no vigilance—overleap all the landmarks and hedges of Justiee—turn this whole country into one vast hunting-ground , in which the people are the victim * , laws the hounds * and pelf the end of the pursuit The statute-book is simply a record of the transactions designed to transfer property ftorn the ruled to the rulers . Our Corn Laws ; our Money Bills , our Stamp Act 9 , our Excise Duties , our Enclosure Bills and Game Laws , the Church , the magistracy , the army , the navy , Colonial Governments— all tell one tale , the rule * or rather the misrule , of monopoly .

      Singularly enough , tbe origin of this power , the power of the greater and lesser landowners , was unconstitutional . The Convention of Peers and country gentlemen , which assembled on the restoration of Charles the Second , and proceeded to abolish every enactment of the Commonwealth as illegal , was never summoned by the King ' s writ . TJnder pretence of restoring the monarch , taey changed the constitutional policy which had prevailed from the conquest in 1066 . From the feudal services which they owed to the crawrj , and in virtue of which tbey held their lands , they exempted themselves , and the commutation land tax whiob had been established under the Commonwealth

      in lien of such servioes they refused to re-enact , but granted instead an import on wine , eider , beer , apd ale , and afterwards , to make up the deficiency , poll and hearth taxes . This , it must be confessed , was a hopeful beginning , and gave promise , of that matured selfishness which they have since produced in such ample profusion . They commute the burdens upon their own estates , burdens far lighter than those which pressed upon them when they held their lands from the rown ; and having thrown off feudal homage due to the crown fee lands apportioned to them by the crown , M well as tie money tax imposed in Ueu of that homage , they call upon the people to pay , and shift tbelr debta , aa usmnl , to the country .

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      A word of explanation may not be misplaced here . The origin and nature ef feudal service may not be generally understood . ; '¦¦' . - - ¦ . ' : ; : \ ' .. ; :: ¦ ¦' . ';/¦¦; . ¦ At the conquest all the land of the kingdom waa held to be tested in the Tiotorieua sovereign , who became the lord paramount of tto oil . He divided it among his comites , ot associates , to whom he granted , however , only the occupancy of it , reserving to the crown the fee-simple or proprietorship . In return for the right of occupancy and usufruct , thes * military flsoclatei were pledged to render important Venice . They defrayed the exponces of jurisdiction within their several districts—they maintained order , and . were bound to furnish forth a certain number of men with arms , equipment * , and food , in any military expedition commanded by the monarch . They held their estates from him as the proprietor , with am expreas view to the , performance of these duties . We need not run

      through the history of that process by which the estates were first held for life , then for two generations , and subsequently became hereditary property—nor need we follow all the changes effected in the conditions of tenure . It may suffice to say that the proprietorship of the soil was ultimately wrung from the monarch , and that in place of feudal homage and burdensome services aland tax was imposed . That which was onpe held upon condition of furnishing aid to the king in his military undertakings , and which on that condition alone belonged to the oocuplers of the soil , was during the commonwealth , held on condition of the payment of a steady and unvarying tax , and from all further obligations landowners were released , This obligation , upon ; the restoration of Charles the Second , the illegal convention of the landocracy immediately abolishedfreed their own estates from incumbrance , and threw the burden , in the shape of excise taxes , upon the people . —Nonconformist :

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      - . .- " -: —r ~ . " ¦""""" S" ¦ ! ' •¦¦ - " - . . ¦ - . MISERIES OF EDITORS . I . A kind visitor , whom you would make almost any sacrifice to rather than offend—without the least ill intention in the world , hut merely moved and instigated by mother Eve ' s fatal vice ; curiosity , rummaging your private desk , if it happen te be commodiously open , examining your letters and other correspondence ; resorting to your composition drawer , on the ground of intimate acquaintance ; deranging and inspecting manuscripts , when you bad aa lief he had intruded into your wife ' s dressing-room ; or peeping over the cases , and interrupting compositors , to see the original articles , which you did net intend to show hint ; or anybody eke , except through ; the medium of the weak ¦ ¦ : -: ' ¦ - ; : - - ' : ' - \ - : ¦ : ; ' . ; -. '" , ¦ ¦ '¦ .. ;• ¦ ¦ ¦• ' "¦ ¦ : ; - ¦/ ' : ' : " -

      2 . Receiving a manuscript , of which it seems doubtful whether the writer intended to represent European , Chaldaio , or Chinese characters ; and , after patient attempts to decypher the hieroglyphics , resorting to the author , and hearing his Hnfeigned expression of astonishment that you did not find all as plain and legi ble as a new tin pan . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ •<¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ '¦' ¦ ; ¦ •" . ' . ' ¦ 3 . Just as you are in the busiest part of your daily duties , in preparing your paper , haying an obliging call , with a very verbose communication of a private nature , which you are required not only to receive , but to hear read , amid the din of other calls—' Proof is ready !>— " Waiting for proof , Sir ¦ 1 "—and the prospect of a late paper , and subsequent complaint in anticipation grinding on your feelings . 4 . Inquiries- ^ ' Who wrote that article ? " when you have no fair right to inform , when it seems unkind to refuse , aud incredulous to say you do not know . ¦ ' ¦' - ¦¦ ' - ,- ¦ ¦ '¦ ' ¦ - ; . . '¦¦ ¦ ¦'' '¦ " " . " . ' ¦ - ¦' . • ' '

      6 . In a busy moment receiving a personal lampoon , which you are te solvednot to publish , yet wish to give your reasons , without time to explain them . N . B . — The writer , full of tke justice of his cause , and perfectly incredulous tbat there are twe aides of a question . 6 . A modest request from a good friend , just as your paper ought to be at press , that you would prepare a special article for his particular view . 7 . And lastly , for the present , a quick succession of complaints , such as— " Why was our advertisement omitted ?—That communication will be too late next week .- ^ -The other papers have that news more in detail —I wonder you should publish ao many light articlei , and leave out commercial ones—ThiH is an important time , and politics ought to be your principal object-Literary articles ought to claim a part of your atteiir . tion ; " till ; - with forlorn gaze , you measure with your eye the extent of the columns ' - ' of yourpaper , and wistfully exclaim—^

      " Ye Gods ! annihilate both time and space , And make ub printers happy . " Postcript—Another dreadful misery . —While you are collecting news from a dozen or twenty diffdredt papers , when you have to keep in your mind ' s eye the leading features of all , to have your papers misplaced , and your arrangements all broken in upon by the busy interference of half-a-dozen goodnatured , friendly loungers , who after having agonised your feelings into a high fever , retire , one after another , humming a tune , " What ' s this dull town to me 1 " orgiving some other Indication of their idle propensity or negligenlMre . — New York New Era .

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      YEOyXIi , Somerset .- —A jneeting of the innabitanta of this place was held on Tuesday last , to congratulate the Queen upon the birth of . a son and successor to the British throne . Many of the respectables and clergy of the town and neighbourhood attended , and also a few of the working classes . The Portreve was called to the chair , who briefly stated the object of the iheeting . W White , Esq ., in a ahort speech , in which be eulogised the town for its gteat loyalty , pro * posed an address of congratulation to her Majesty ^ which was secunded by the Rev . W- A . Robinson . Previous to its being put from the chair , Mr . Bainbridge wished to offer a few remarks . He rose for the purpose of moving an amendment , and in doing bo , he could assure them that it was not out of any

      captious opposition to the address itaelf , not out of any ill feeling to the gentlemen who dxtw it up , not out of any want of loyalty , nor a desire to disturb the unanimity of the meeting , but from a feeling of duty to the many thoutands of hia suffering fellow creatures to bis country ; and his Queen .. The amendment was as fol ows : — - " That * & your Majesty ' s most loyal subjects beg . most respectfully to congratulate your Majesty on the auspicious event of the birth of a sou aud successer to the British throne , but we trust it will not be considered as detracting from the affectionate loyalty with which we offer these our umited eongratulationa , if while we rejoice in your joy , we cannot refrain from expressing our deep sympathy with those who weep . It is scarcely neceesary to state to you , most gracious Sovereign , that poverty , misery , and human degradation

      prevails to an alarming extent , in every part of this our favoured land , and wh' . ch if not speedily removed , will , in all probability , lead to results the most fearful to contemplate . Believing that those evils are caused by class legislation , and being earnestly desirous of securing virtue , happiness , and trahquility to your Majesty ' s subjects , aa well as protection to yout Majwity's crown and dignity . We humbly beg of your Majesty to adopt such , measures as ehail destroy the monopoly of political power , and do ample and equal justice to all classes of the community . " Mh Will * briefly seconded the amehdruent . G . Harbin , " Esq .:, agreed that great distress prevailed , but thought that it was f « reign to the obiect of the meeting to bring it forward at the present time . Several other gentlemen followed in the aame etraiu , when the Rev . H . Solsy rose and spoke as follows : —

      Tfa « Rev . H . Solet said he had considerable hesitation in putting himself forward on the present occasion , afraid that , from his having been so short a time an inhabitant of the town , it might be deemed presumptuous in him to offer any observationa .. . Neyerr theleas , he could not remain ah indifferent spectator under circumstuncea that appeared to liim of considerable importance . He could not help feeling that it was of no slight value to couple with their address of congratulation to their Sovereign an expression of their deep sympathy with the millions , who were suffering in every comer of the land . It seemed to him they would not be deing their duty if , while their hearts were full of pity f « r the unfortunate , as he truly be lieved they were , their words were indicative only of

      contentment and joy . They must remember that put of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh , arid they must beware lest silence on the subjeet of such suffering should give rise to the belief that either tbe suffering or the syiripatfey did not exist If they really deeply deplored the condition of their countrymen as it deserved , they could not help availing themselves of such an opportunity of making known their sentiments in a quarter whence relief might possibly flow . But it was -said , ; the present was not a h'tticg occasion for the addition , he would not call it an amendment to the address now proposed . 111 reference to that point , he would quote the precedent of the Wilts county meeting '' .- 'lately convoked for a purpose similar to the present , when the Earl of Radnor had moved an

      amendment relating to the exiting distress , and although other places may not in general have adopted 8 uch a conrie , it seemed to hini peculiarly natural and right that , while they rejoiced with those who rejoiced , they should not forget also to mourn \ yith them who wept Why were they to be tied down by precedents , when the sacred emotions of the heart were the only aubjects involved ? He had very little doubt that hia friend would withdraw his resolution in accordance with the suggestion of Capt Harbin if such should appear to be the decided wish of the meeting , and the use of the room were granted to them for another public meeting , but for his own part , as he wished to see every congra ^ tulatory address threnghout the country coupled with refere

      : to the national misery , he should sincerely regret if the meeting were indisposed to adopt the amendinent , The state of the country was indeed frightful ; even in this tewn where they knew nothing of such misery aa in the middle and north of England , there was much , very much to deplore . Well he knew the charitable disposition of many of the inbabitanto of Teovil , an * has rejoiced in paying his humble tribute of praise to many of the gentlemen now present , for their late exertions in the cause of the poor . Bafc there w * b ioinething better than charity , something stiH auore needed—that was justice—an ounce of justice wa * worth a ton of charity ^ We want to see eur countrymen not in want of charity , but able to afford it to others , and if jastice were done them .

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      could it be believed that inmch a country aa En 5 anS long-famed for iU Industry , its enterprtee , andUta various natural reaonrces ; hundreds of thousand * would be in need of elemosynary supports He need refer but . to one item of the wrengt suffered by the working millions , rjamely , the Corn Law * , to show tba % thafc tttoy were ernelly and most nnjosUy treated , aad ifc was because he saw that the working claues were not protected by others , and were not allowed to protect themselves , that he fel it was of so ninch value to Call the attention of the Sovereign to the duty of a government , to legislate for the benefit of the whole , and not for a few . He knew that he had beea accused of

      interfering in political nutters , bnt in the face of that meet ing he must disclaim belonging to , or hating any coBnection with , any political party . All parties ought to be able to look npon the mhdatera ot tbe Gospel aa their friends , which would not be the case if , thy were ldeutifled with any one of them , bnt there were great eternal principles of right and wrong , " which he trusted he shoald never shrink from advocating ; and certainly not , because good and honest men ( meaning the Chartists ) for doing the tame , were covered with obloquy and / made the victims of persecution . The present occasion did seem to him an opportunity for bearing witness to these principles , for which if they let it pass now , they might be called to accouat hereafter . '

      As it was doobtful whether the original address would be carried or not Every means was used to get Mr . Biihbridge to withdraw his amendment but without effect After much discussion , those lovers of fairplay determined to put the original address , with ont noticing the amendment , which was eventually done , although Msssrs . Bainbridge and Soly protested against such an unfair proceeding , and urged that it was not-an address from the inhabitants of Yeovil , bat of only a few individuals . They carried it by a show of hands . The result of this meeting has created a great sensation in the town , and all cry out against the unfair proceeding of what are called the " gentlemen" of YeoviL ¦ ¦ . ' - ¦ - ¦ . ' ' : . ' . ¦ ¦ ¦ : ' - ; - : :- . " .-. ¦ v- /; ' ¦ '¦ - ¦ ¦" ' - .

      DARUNOTON . —The Chartists of Darlington held their weekly meeting in Biggs' long room , when a vote of thanks was carried unanimously to Mr . Stiran and the Chartists of Bilston , tor their heroio condact ia carrying their amendment against the Vicar and church wardens for attempting to carry a church-rate . KENT . r-PROGitES ^ oe Chabtism— -A puMie meeting in furtherence of the cause waa held iu ths spacious room of the Compasses Tavem , fligh-fltreet , Chatham , ; on Thursday last . The meeting was called for half-past seven ; at that time the room was densely crowded .. Mr . Clark was unanimoasly voted to the chair . He requested a fair and impartial hearing for all who might present themseives , Mr Stallwood , from London , was engaged , and would address them . He was sure , in accordance with Chartist usage , if » njr had an objection to offer , they would be patiently heard , and fully answered . ( Cheera . ) Mr * Stallwood then rose , and was most cordially received . He

      exhibited to them , in a manner not to be mistaken , the principles of the People ' s Charter , showed the inconsistency and fallacy of the Midland Counties Charter , the absurdity of Sturge ' s declaration , and the mischievous tendency of free t ade _ under present cirenmatances—most clearly demonstrated the practicability of the Chartist principles , refe ring to Norway , Switaerland . &s ., as indisputable proofs—showed the Immense mass of corruption , tumult , convulsion , and bloodshed caused by the present system—and that the only remedy was to place political power in the hands of the people—and concluded an argumentative and eloquent address , amid the loudest applause of a deligbtad audience . Opposition waa com ted , ' but none offered . The Petition was adopted , and received many signatures . The Chairman announced that Mr . Stall wood would lecture on the ensuing evening . Several members were added to the locality , and the mestiiig 'dissolved . ' . ¦ . .: ¦ " ¦'¦ ¦ ¦" - '¦ - ' . ' . ' '¦ . -.. ¦ - '' . ¦¦ ¦ ¦' : '¦ ' ¦; . ; - ' : ' - . ¦'¦ ' / :: . ..

      On Feiday evening , the room waa again filled . Mr . Clark was re-appointed to the chair . Mr . Stall ; wood came for ward amid loud applause , and showed the misery , wretchedness , and crime caused by the present system—the inefficiency of our own" institutions" for the present time—that there r was no stich a place as thei Commons House , the House so called being a junior B * ouse of Lords—and the great nece&Bity that existed for a change " . At the conclusion , a vote of thanks was given to the lecturer . The Chairman eloquently supported the views of the lecturer . -: A .

      votd of thanks was . ' passed to . the Chairman . A con-Biderabie addition was again made to the petition , and several converts entered the National Charter Association . Although this locality has only been in existence nine weeks , th » y have aad fcwe : lectorera down from London—held four large , meetings—and obtained six hundred ' . signatures to the National Petition / All that is now required is the presence of Feargus O'Connor to make ;/ Chartism fashionable'here . Then hurrah for the cause in the Government Borough of Chathaml- " . : .. ¦' : ¦ . ¦ •" . ¦¦¦ - '¦ .. ¦ '¦ ' ¦ \ . ¦ ¦ '' : ¦ . ' /¦ ' - ¦ ¦ : ' ¦ : ¦

      NEWCAST 1 VE . ^ -The Newcastle CUartistsheld their weekly business meeting on Monday evening , in the Chartiste Hall , Goat ' lnn , Cloth Market : ^ Mr . ' < Jr 6 theri having been unanimously called to - the chair / Th « secretary read the minutes of last meeting , likewise some letters which he had received from Leeds , respect ing the O'Brien Press fund , and one from York , when thefollowiflg resolutions were agreed to unanimously M » ved by Mr . Cockburn , seconded by , Mr . Sinclair , " That this association highly approve of the exertions of the youths ( in connexion with our body ) in their endeavours to get up a reading room and debating society , and we do hereby promise them our hearty support- ' ' - 'in furtherance of their desirable objects . " Moved by Mr . Cockburn . seconded by Mr . Dees , " That all who may be willing to become collectors for the Convention fund , be furnished with books for that

      parpose ,, and that they be requested to report progress to the Council weekly . " Moved by Mr . Dees , seconded by Mr . Frankland , "That the secretary be instructed to procure twelve collecting books for the purpose , and that none be considered duly appointed to collect with-« ut a mandate , signed by the secretary , on behalf of the Chartifit body . '' Moved by Mr . Bions , seconded by Mr . Cockburn , " That a deputation of three be appointed to wait upoa the two members of Parliament for this Borough aad present them with a copy of the National Petition ( adopted at tbe public meeting in the Guildhall , last week , with the mayor in the chair , ) and a copy of the People ' s Charter , each respectively , and to request tliem to support the prayer of the petition in their places in the House . If they should have left for London , the secretary was instructed to forward the copiesto their addresses in London , with the above request ' - ¦ '• . '" . . ¦""¦'¦" . ' .. '¦ ' ' ¦ ' ¦¦'¦'¦ ¦'¦ ¦ " . ''

      Repeal of the Corn LAWg noi a Politicai , SUBJEC ! . —The ChartiatS of Blaydon waited some time age upon the managers of the Primitive Methodist Chapel to request the use of the chapel to ho'd a Chartist meeting in , but received in answer that it was an Unalterable law with the society , that the chapel could not , on any account , be used for any political object whatever ; bat what was the surprise of the good men . and true of Blaydon when , upon going abroad on last Tuesday moruiug , the village" and . enyirens were placarded ^ announcing that Mr . Liddle , anti-Corn Law lecturer , would deliver a lecture on the Com Liwa in the said chapel , oa Wednesday evening . Ty " ednesday came , and so did Mr . Liddle . ; . ' the Chartists were there too . Mr . L . finding himself in a

      country village , thought he could make them awallow any nonaenae he jruight be pleased to eject-, opened out in a regular tirade of such hackneyed abase as the League generally resort to , when they think they can do so with impunity- ; but the men of Blaydon were too old birds to be caught with chaff ; they offered to dificiisa the subject with him ; but he very -wistly declined . The meeting , which was a bumper ; came to the unanimous conclusion , that all the evils with which society is afflicted is owing to class legislation / and that nothing but a full and free representation in the state can ameliorate the present deplorable condition of the industrious classes . After giving three hearty cheera for the People ' s Charter ; three for F , O'Connor ,

      the friead of the people ; and three for Mr . O'Brien , the meeting separated . Thia said Mr . Liddle placarded the walls of Newcastle , announcing . his intentions of delivering a course of lectures against the Corn Laws in the Ranters * School-room , Nelson-street , on Tuesday eyeninga ; admission 2 d . each . How many do you think at . ended hia first lecture ? exictly . four , including "himself and : the person appointed to take the twopehces when they came . Of coursei there was no lecture ; and after waiting nearly an hour , and seeing no more prospect of any twopenceSj he walked aWay grumbling that " if the ) folks would not come aud get cheap bread , they just must go and buy dear . '' So much far the prospects of the Plague .

      TOJNBRIDGE , ( Kent . )—The cause is progressing witti wondetful rapidity in thia part of the Country Many of the middle classes are now coming out for the CharV-r , A public meeting was held on . Tuesday evening , in the large room of the Association , at the Chequers' Inn , for tbe purpose of adopting the National Petition . The chair was taken by Mr . Payne , a most staunch advocate of the rights of man , who stated at souieltiigth the objects of the meeting , and pledged himself , a » far as he was able , to ensure every one a fair hearing . Mr . Spring moved the first resoiution : — "That the distress "which at present exists in this country calls for the interference of every generous mind . " The resolution was seconded by Mr . Harris The second resolution- — "That all the evils under which the people labour are caused by class legislatiop and that they will never be removed till the people aro fully and fairly represented in the Commons House of

      Parliament , ' * was proposed by Mr . Snelling , andseconded by Mr . Elliott The third " resolution , adopting the National Petition was moved by Mr . Harris , who read the petition , and commented at considerable length thereon , aud was seconded by Mr . Hemaly . The whol « were carried in a iuost cnthusidatic manner , the sentiments of the speakers eliciting the most unbounded applause . This meeting was got up as an antidote to another , composed of Whigs and Tories , held on the same day , to rejoice at the chrUtening of a Prince of Wales : It was the first public meeting held by the Chartists ,, in which all the speakers were members of that body , and we have no doubt it will have a good effect ,. and be the means of extending the glorious principles of the Charter . A lecturer would do great good in Kent , as there are many towns willing and waiting te be enroUed . Agricultural districts have been too much neglected .

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      6 THB HORTHBRir _ aTAll .

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 5, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct740/page/6/