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Northern Star (1837-1852), 25th September 1841, Edition 5 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAB,. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25. 1841.
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      Untitled Article

      MARYLEBONE-WELCOME TO O'CONNOR . e On Friday last , the Working Man ' s Hall , CSrcosstreet , New Road , vu crowded to excess , far the psrpose of meeting Mr . O'Connor . Mr . Christopher in called to the chair . A gentleman , whose name we did not catch , moved ti » following resolution : — " That we welcome Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., on hie release from the dnngeon in which his persecutors had immured Mm , and pledge ourselTea to agitate for nothing ihort of the Charter . "

      Mr . Scott seconded the resolution . B « said it was with pleasnre he saw Mr . O'Conner amongst them after his sufferings . Oar advocates have been prosecuted , Imprisoned , and thrown into dungeons ; some of them haTe lost their lives through being sent there ; every feeling of human nature has bees violated ; but he was glad to find that the public sympathised with- the oppressed ; this meeting was a proof of snch sympathy , and he hoped they would proTe that their friends were held dear by them . The resolution , on being put , was carried unani mously . Mr . O'Cokxob was greeted with great applause on rising to speak ; after which he commenced as follows : —

      After the charing had in some degree subsided , he said it would be six years to-morrow since he had first addressed them at a meeting held net far from the spot on which they were now met . During that period Radical principles had undergone aseTere trial—they had been well tested , and had well stood the test ( Applause . ) The Whigs had succeeded for a time in fliwiTiifcing the Radical body—becaose the Radicals , erer willing to hot > e good , had been determined to giro them a fair trial They had had their trial—the delusion was gone by ; their power to delude had gone with it ; and the people were new one body—firmly united for the attainment of one object ; and that object not the destruction of any portion of society , fcat the destruction of the system by wnich ruin

      was brought on alL ( Long and continued cheering . ) This was why they had gone on increasing , and not decreasing , in number . The Teries of yesterday were the Conservatives ef to-day ; the Whigs of yesterday were the Reformers of to- « sy ; but the Radicals of years gone by were still Radicals . Their principles were unchangeable : the principles contained in the People ' s Charter were precisely the same principles which its advbcates had ever professed . Mr . O'Connor then went on toexplainthe caasesof thedisppoiniments which had been experienced ; he was sorry for the disappointment on Friday , but it was not his fault ; he knew nothing of the meeting till the morning after it had been holden . Again , on Wednesday there was a meeting at the Archery Rooms . Now , on that occasion it had been

      published throughout l < ondon , and in the Siar . a notice had appeared , that he was te be at Brentford on that day ; he could not , therefore , hare been expected at St . Pancras , when it was known that he was engaged elsewhere . He had neTer failed in attending any engagement , however great the distance , or incon-Tenient . Since his release from inearceration , he had been at meetings nearly eTery night ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) He had a great duty to perform , and would not shrink from it ( Cheers . ) While incarcerated his spirit had been still free ; his courage had never failed , and his actiTity had never slackened . ( Hear , hear ) And he might now be well proud , and more than proud , lo contemplate the spirit ani enthusiasm of the people on his reappearance . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheering . ) Meetings such as those which be had lately been habitually attending , were

      exfejliratiBg to the spirit , and might hold up the heart of any man ; though if it were to be nothing but night after night talking and talking , he would aix > n give them up , as a mere keeping of the people from their families . But be saw a something in the distance , a bright sloud of promise , whence he augured results of » character to glad the heart He saw evidences in the appearances of the times , that this moving of the spirit upon the waters was the prelude of a new creation in which all things should be politically good . ( Hear , bear . ) The people were now in power ; the Goverment was defado in their hands ; for be was satisfied that if they bestirred themselves rightly , every measure to be carried in the House must be first carried out of it Be had stated more than once or ten times , that three parties were incompatible with the state ; and now , ? i »« . tiV Qod there were but two parties . The Whigs , as

      ft party , were annihilated ; they were politically dead ; aad their grave was dug deep in public execration . ( Loud cheers . ) The Whigs had ruled us ten years ; coercion for Ireland , and starvation for England , had been their ruling principles . They were now defunct Would the Tories be permitted to rule on like princieiples ? Would Sir Robert Peel rule Ireland by the sword ? Would he make the almost wholly Catholic population bow its neck to the impious domination of the bloated law church ! He might try , but should he fee insane enough te do so , he would surely find that the people who had ousted one faction from the seat of power , would fcurl thence their successors with less trouble and as little compunction . ( Cheers . ) Peel

      had been tried in Ireland ; he began his career there . Ireland was now threatened with a revival of the power of the Orange faction . Shonld he dare it , the people of England would take up the gauntlet -, they would frw ^ -h irishmen that they belie England , -vrbo represent her sons as being nationally averse to Ireland ' s rights ; iha . % they were looking forward to the establishment of those prinoples of universal justice which recogniseed their rights and grievances as fully as their own . ( Cheers . ) He had promised Sir Robert Peel , at the first meeting which be attended after his release from prison , that whenever the sword should be drawn in Ireland the scabbard should be thrown . a ^ ray in England : he now reiterated that pledge . ( Loud and long continued cheering . ) Mr- O'Connor then spoke of

      the slanderous imputations of physical violence so lavishly bestowed upon the Chartists by the factions ; they were called " torch and dagger" men ; their object was avowed to be to equalise property by plunder . Thousands of times had these calumnies been disa-Towed , and yet with simple impudence had they been repeated . This was indeed a pretty charge to come from th » se who had robbed the people of the whole country . ( Great cheering . ) It reminded him of a saying of Mr . O'CanaelTs upon one occasion . In answer to a libel charge made by one of the Beresford's , he said , What , the Beresfords accuse us of a wish to plunder ? The Bereaf ords , who have robbed Ireland of mountains of land I" ( Hear , hear , and great cheering . ) They ¦ did not want to steal the land ; they merely wanted to

      enjoy its fruits , the fruits of their own labour , paying a reasonable compensation to those who with whatever justice , were legally acknowledged its proprietors . They wanted legislative representation , fey which they might be enabled not to rob others , but to protect themselves against robbery . ( Great cheering . ) Mr . O'Connor went on at great length to castigate both factions , and to demonstrate the actual dependsnce of all the so-called bigher ranks of society npen the workin g people for subsistence . He descanted on the anomalous provisions of the law , and the shameful disparity- of its operation with regard to rich and poor ,- and insisted spon the right of a universal participation in the legislative power , as the only safe , certain , and permanent remedy for all the political evils of the state . ( Hear . )

      We must be no longer tampered with ; the rule of justice must be the rule of Government ; the working classes must be rendered happy . If there w ^ re one hundred classes , and , if by Universal Suffrage being enacted , all power fell into the bands of the working classes , I would not con plain , for -the working classes would have an interest in supporting all the other elatses , if useful ; thus the working man would not deprive bis employer of the mesas of employing him ; rather would he support Mi employer ; as it now was , the great body was at the mercy of all the little knots . After repudiating physical force , and giving his definition ef the difference of moral &nd physical force , Mr . O'Connor referred to the challenge of Mr . Hetherington .

      I hope , said Mr . O'Connor , that any gentleman , who may attend at the discussion , will give a patient hearing , and offer no Interruption . Singie handed I will meet them , and try if any differences which may exist eacnot be amicibljarranged . { Hear , and cheers . ) 3 fr . O'Connor thtn referred to an expression used by Mr . Attwood , relative to his iMr . A . 7 s ) not beicg ready to concede to Ireland her rights , tsd which Mr . Lovett promptly met ; and concluded by declaring that though he had every comfort and protection , l \ e would not be satisfied till the people were comfortable an I protected . He found that he was again able to battle in their cause , and he hoped he was destined for m&ny services in the cause . iChoera ) Mr . O'Connor mired amid the npplause of all preseat , and tbe meeting shortly after separated .

      Untitled Article

      SHEFFIELD . ( From our own Correspondent . ; Dr .. il'DorxLL . —This eloquent vindicator of the Tights of the oppressed masses delivered his second lecture in the Town Hall , on Wednesday evening , September loth . Mr . Gill presided , as on the previous evening . The Hall was again densely crowded by an attentive and enthusiastic andience . The lecturer commenced by congratulating the meeting on the downfall of the peifidious Whi ^ s ; at the same time , he could not rejoice in tbe triumph' of their opponents , the Tories , a faction -whom in heart and soul he detested . ( Cheers . ) The lecturer then adverted to , and commented upon , the several panaceas pat forth by the Whigs and sham-Radicals , first taking Household Soflxage , shewing that , under such

      system , a mass of intelligence and worth would be excluded from the franchise , scarcely inferior to that excluded by the present system . Police returns from the town of Liverpool shewed thai there was 17 , 000 person ? residing in cellars , and hving by u disreputable means . " The same returns shewed that there was 45 , 000 lodgers , and 20 , 000 clerks and shopmen living in , and around the town of Liverpool . Now , under a system of Household S-sHrage , the 17 . 000 vicious members of society inhabiting the eeilsj-3 would be enfranchised , while the . 45 . 000 lodgers and 23 . 000 clerks and shopmen would be excluded from the right of suffrage . How preposterous would this be . ( Cheers . ) Yet this was gravely proposed by certain parties who would not Rapport universal Suffrage , because , forsooth , of the ignorance and immorality of a great portion of the working dan . What humbug ! ( Cheers . ) Let tibia kavt ta suffrage extended to every man , and

      Untitled Article

      then while right was established , no evil would result for the honest and intelligent ; the 45 , 000 lodgers and 20 , 000 shopmen would effeetuaUj swamp the corrupt 17 , 000 living by disreputable means . ( Cheers . ) The lecturer then entered at great length into the gubjeoi of Cora Law repeal , combatting the arguments , and shewing np the fallacies of the " cheap bread" gentry in masterly style . In the course of his remarks , he shewed that oar foreign trade , in many parts , was lost , not through the operation of the Corn Laws , but through the villanous competition of the manufacturers with each other . Before the introduction of machinery , and when our cotton goods were made wholly by the hand-loom weavers , the fabrics were substantial ,

      and English good =, before all others , were sought by all the nationB of the earth ; but was this the case now ! No , the millocrats must make fortunes in a day , no matter by what dishonest means ; goods were made rapidly , and of any rubbish they could impose on the buyer . This had disgusted the cheated foreigner , and he was now manufacturing for himself . ( Cheers . ) The lecturer then showed what would be the effect upon the currency by Corn Law Repeal , and adduced some striking arguments ntterly subversive of the theory of the " big loafers . " The Doctor concluded an hour and a half a address , by a fervent and eloquent appeal to his hearers to agitate for nothing less than the Charter—the whole hog , bristles and all—and sat down amidst the most

      tremendous cheering . —Mr . Harney said that , after the able and eloquent lectures of Dr . M'Douall , there certainly could not be two opinions as to the right of the working man to the franchise , and the necessity of making the Charter the law of the land . ( Cheers . ) Tbe question was , how was the Charter to be gotteui —( hear)—His answer was , by union . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Harney eulogised the public character of Dr . M'Douall , and called upon the people to give their support to the Republican Journal . He conclnded by moving the following resolution : — " That this meeting , after hearing the talented discourses of Dr . M'Douall , being more than ever convinced of the necessity of exerting their every energy to obtain the glorions Charter of their rights , do pledge

      themselves to join the ranks of the National Charter Association ; and further , assure the Executive Council of their undivided support . Lastly , this meeting give to Dr . M'Douall their hearty thanks for his services in the cause of democracy , and for his eloquent advocacy of the rights of the millions upon the occasion of his present visit to Sheffield . " Mr . M'Kettrick seconded the resolution . The Chairman took the sense of the meeting , when it was carried . Thanks being voted io tho Chairman , and three cheers given for Dr . M ' Douall , three for Feargns O'Connor , three for the Welsh Yiotims , three for O'Brien and all the patriots , and three for the Charter and no surrender , the meeting dissolved .

      Delegate Meeting . —A meeting of delegates from places in the neighbourhood of Sheffield , took place on Sunday last , in the Association-room , Fig-Tree-lane . The attendance was not so numerous as could have been wished ; still as the beginning of a good and necessary work , the meeting was of some importance . The following were the delegates present : —Sheffield , Messrs . Harrison , Buxton , and Frost ; Rotherham , Messrs . Ramsden and Russell ; Doncaster , Mr . CouIboh ; Ecclesfitjld and neighbouring villages , Messrs . Luun , Nicholson , Boothroyd , and John Nichobon ; Walkley , Mr . Foster . Mr . Harrison was called to the chair ; Mr . M'Kettrick of the Sheffield association was appointed secretary .

      An interesting conversation took place relative to the strength of tbe association in Sheffield , Rotherbam , Doncaster , &o . It was arranged that meetings to extend the association should be forthwith held in the villages of Ecclesfield , and Walkley . On the motion of Mr . Ramsden , seconded by Mr . Buxten , the following resolution was adopted . w That the delegates present do recommend to their constituents , the propriety of making Sheffield the centre for all places within twenty miles of its bounds ; and that the several sub-secretaries do correspond with the Sheffield sub-secretary once in every fortnight , reporting the progress of the cause in their respective localities . "

      The Northern Stab,. Saturday, September 25. 1841.

      THE NORTHERN STAB ,. SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 25 . 1841 .

      Untitled Article

      ATTEMPTED RESUSCITATION OF THE "NEW MOVE . " It is said that there are some kinds of poisonous reptiles which acquire strength by irritation ; and as we apprehend that the "new move" partakes largely of this character , we have regretted , and do still regret , the—to our thinking—ill-judged and unnecessary attack which has recently been made upon

      it . It has merely inspired its dead and almost putrid carcase with an artificial show of life , while it has enabled its persevering concoctors to throw a little oil upon such embers of dissatisfaction , animosity , or personal disunion , as might yet retain anything of warmth ; and has resulted , as we expected it would , in the hsuing of another manifesto from the would-be apostles of disunion and strife .

      ThiB document is something of a curiosity in its way . It is valuable inasmuch as it developesthe character of the party from whom it emanates , beyond the possibility of mistake or contradiction . As it is probably the last " move" of these "knights " upon the Chartist chess board , we have thought proper to bestow upon it some little attention , and , in accordance with our usual custom , to afford no one a pretext on which to charge us with garbling or dishonest quoting , we give the whole thing in another part of our paper , in the nakedness of its own deformity , just as it waB sens to us by the subscribers . Our readers will find it under a like head to that which stands at the top of ( His article .

      We have said that this document betokenB the character of its concoctors , and in truth we feel now compelled to acknowledge the superior penetration of the people , who , as with one voice , denounced the " new move" men for treachery , while we lamented only the aberration of their judgment and their puerility of mind . This document , however , at its very outset , carries on its front an evidence of sueh craft and subtlety as belongs not to the honest prosecution of democratic objects . It purports to emanate from M a mee ; ing of the members of the National Association : " and we doubt not that this

      heading is intended to lead people to suppose—and when read in the Whig papers , which will gladly favonr the trick , it may lead some to suppose—that the National Charter Association is here meant . This may Berve one of two purposes , alike necessary and desirable to the " new move" men ; nay , by some chance it might happen to effect both . It might induce the supposition that the National Charter Association had repudiated the Northern Star , and had adopted or assented to all the abuse thereof contained in this address ; or it might induce the supposition that the National Charter Association was an illegal

      society ; subsisting in branches and acting in sectional parts ; as the subscribers to this document state that they "remain , on behalf of the members of the National Association residing in London . " Indeed , we have soma reason to believe , from the very suspicious circumstances attendant upon the darkling intimation about " liability to apprehension , " given to some active and useful London Chartists ( see our County Council report ) , that the next " move" contemplated by these precious " new move" gentry ,-is the hounding on of the Government to seek some pretext for

      prosecuting that really " National" Association which they ( the " new move" men ) have laboured so hard and so impotcntly to destroy . If this be their object we tell them they will fail . The members of the " National" Charter Association are too well aware of their own position . They know the law , and though they hold it to be an arbitrary and an unjust law , which prohibits Political Associations of a national character from holding local and sectional meetings , they are still prepared to avoid

      its danger . They do not talk of the members of the " National" Association meeting in a tavern ; they meet in their respective localities , not as members of the National Charter Association , but as Chartists each in his individual capacity . The National Charter Association has no meetings ; it exists only in its principles , in its enrolment of members , in its officers , and in the public acts of its Council ; while its objects and purposes , being perfectly legal , are prosecuted by its members individually and in . their personal capacity .

      We like to convert evil into the means of good , where practicable ; and hence , therefore , we take this opportunity of again impressing this legal provi ' sion , which we have before noticed , upon the minds of all the members , and especially of the Councillors and gab-Secretaries of the National Charter Asso-

      Untitled Article

      ciation . A Chartist meeting might be holden , or a trades meeting might be holden , and all the persons attending it might happen to be members of tbe Methodist Society , aad yet it would not therefore be a Methedist meeting , nor , in legal phrase , a meeting of the Methodist Society . It would be a meeting of Chartists , or of "the trade , " as the ease might be . Just so ; tho meetings in the respective localities through the country , though they may be attended principally , or even wholly , by persons who are members of the National Charter Association , are not therefere " meetings of the National Charter Association ; '' they are meetings of Chartists , and as Char tists the several individuals composing them

      are perfectly competent to the discussion of all matters which may affect their interests or that of the cause to whioh they are devoted . We hope tkis will never be lost sight of by the parties who report these meetings for the Star , or who take a prominent part in them . We have no doubt that " friends" are plentiful , and we are exceedingly desirous that not the slightest pretext should be afforded to the enemy by the people themselves . This is oar reason for the digression into which we have thus been led by the announcement of Messrs . HsiHERiflGTON and Lovett , that a meeting of the membersof the " National Association " was held at ( he Globe Tavern , Shoe-lane , Fleet-street , on Tuesday week .

      Our readers , of course , know that this 'National Association" is not the National Charter Association ; it is the " New Move" Association of Messrs . Hetherington and Lovett ; and the faot that a meeting of its members—( the members , mind —not the council , or committee , or officers , but the whole society—the members of the National Assocition)—was holden at a Tavern in Shoe-lane , may help them to some idea of the very flourishing and numerous body which these New Move" Nationals" command .

      The meeting was holden at the Globe Tavern ; whether in the olub room or the Bar-Snug , deponent sayeth not ; the address is signed Henry Hetheringioh and Willum Lsvett , and these gentlemen do not condescend to tell us whether any other persons were present at this meeting of the " National" Association or not . They do tell us , however , that the address was unanimously adopted ; from which circumstance we take leave to suspect that they most probably had the whole thing to themselves . B « that , however , as it may , hero is the address of Messrs . Hethebinqton and Lovbtt

      in the capacity of Nationals . " And a very pretty address it is ! In the early portion thereof , after modestly claiming credit for " having been mainly inetiomental in embodying in the People ' s Charter those political principles which , for a great number of years , were cherished by all true Reformers , " they tell us , we think very justly : — " That the past conduct of a number of those who professed to subsoribe to the just principles of the Charter , was wanting in that integrity , honesty , and justice whioh are necessary qualifications to secure the cooperation of the wise and the confidence of the good . "

      We perfectly agree with this Bentiment , and so we fancy will all who remember that Henbt Hethkunqton and Wh . Lovett have " professed to subscribe to the jast principles of the Charter , " and who look at the " past conduct" of these gentlemen , illustrated as it is by their present conduct in reference to this same " new move" transaction . We are also disposed to believe with them , ' * that the falsehood , exaggeration , and violence of those who were active to scheme , but too cowardly to act , has led to the sacrifice and incarceration of hundreds of

      victims , by which means our cause has bsen retarded and defamed . " We have less fear for the future , and , therefore , lose something of our regret for tho past in this respect . The people are now too " wide awake" to suffer barm from the " falsehood , exaggeration , and violence" of such men as Henit Hetherington and Wii . Lovett ; and our cause now stands npon too firm a basis , and is beginning to be too well understood , both by the operative and the "higher" classeB , to be in danger of any injury from such causes .

      After this very modest , jnst , and veritable denunciation of all persons prominent as Chartists , save themselves ; after thus , covertly , and by insinuation ascribing falsehood , exaggeration , violence and cowardice to all who are not ready to bow to their cap , Messrs . Hbtherington and Lovett proceed to intimate that " accordingly "—that is , because all who had not acknowledged their leadership were " wanting in that integrity , honesty , and justice which are necessary qualifications to secure tho cooperation of the wise and the confidence of the good , "—they , " about five months ago , put forth a proposal for forming a national association . "

      Respecting which proposal they say , after enumerating the objects of their association—to create and extend an enlightened public opinion in favour of the People ' s Charter , among persons of all creeds , classes , and opinions , by the means of missionaries , lecturers , circulating libraries , tracts , &c ; to build public halls in which for the people to hold their meetings , instead of in public-houses ; to establish schools for the benefit of our infant population ; and to impress on our brethren the necessity of devoting to those ennobling purposes those means which had been previously wasted in frivolous efforts and childlike displays : —

      " ThiB proposal , while it was warmly greeted by the press , and received the commendations of a great number of intelligent minds among all parties , was met with falsehood , intolerance , and bitterest rancour , by the most prominent organ ef Chartism , the Northern Siar . Its proprietor and editor jointly denounced it as a production of Messrs . O'Connell , Hume , and Roebuck—as a plan intended to destroy Feargua O'Connor ' s political supremacy , and subvert one which he bad previously concocted . Education wag ridiculed ,

      knowledge was sneered at , facts were perverted , truth suppressed , and the lowest passions and prejudices of the mnltitude were appealed to , to obtain a clamourous verdict against ns . We were denounced by them and their hired partisang as ' thieves , ' 'liars , ' and 'traitors ' to the cause of Chartism , as persons who , if a guillotine' existed in England , would be its just victims . Nay a sermon ! has been preached by one of those professors of freedom to show the necessity for privately ' assassinating ' us .

      " As far as we have been able to obtain insertion for a vindication of onr conduct , through the channel by which we have been calumniated , we have called , but called in vain , for proofs of their base assertions . As far as they have dared to reply to us , they have proclaimed themselves false , intolerant , and reckless in the eyes of every reflecting man . " This is pretty well for the meek victims of " falsehood , exaggeration , and violence" ! It would really seem as if the authors of this document had set themselves to verify their own statement , that " a number of those who professed to subscribe to the

      just principles of the Charter , was wanting in that integrity , honesty , and justice which are necessary qualifications to secure the co-operation of the wise and the confidence of the good . " We need but point the attention of those who habitually read the Northern Star , and who read it through all the discussion consequent upon the first introduction of this new and secret move called the "National " Association , and demand fearlessly whether falsehood , exaggeration , intolerance , bitter rancour , and want of integrity , honesty , and justice , were ever more fully exemplified than in these' two paragraphs ! They are really so perfect a tissue of all these enviable distinctions that

      it is difficult to conceive how they could have been written by anybody , much less any one " professing to subscribe to the just principles of the Charter . " We shall perhaps best answer them by recapitulating , briefly , the reasons on which we have , from the first , grounded our opposition to this new " National " Association ; and which we still maintain , ought to induce the people to disoountonance it . These reasons we have given again and again . Our readers will remember them and will form their own estimate of the charges of "falsehood , intolerance , and bitterest rancour , " brought against us by these meek and dove-like " new move" subscribers to the juBt principles of the Charter . "

      Untitled Article

      Those reasons were—in short—that the Move " altogether was unaccordant with "the just principles of the Charter" whioh it professed to advocate The " proposal" was to establish a " National " Association ; and they went about the establishing of it by sending their" proposal" through the Postoffice , to sueh persons as they theught fit , enclosed in a letter , of whioh the following is a copy : — " London , 118 , Tottenham-court Road , ' March 1841 .

      Dkab Sib , —The following ; address is intended to be submitted to all the leading Chartists throughout the kingdom that we can have access to , in order to obtain their signatures , when it will be printed and published as their joint address ; previous to which it will be considered a breach of honour for any individual to cause its publication . It is also intended that the pbrsows signing it shall form a Provisional Board op Manasbment * o& six ob TwfiLVfl Months , ( as mar be advisable , ) to aidia forming the Association by the sale of cards , or otherwise , after whioh the Board of Management is to be elected by the Members according to the rules and regulations . By returning this to Mr . Lovett , 118 , Tottenham-court Road , signed or otherwise , by return of Post , you will oblige , yours respectfully . " &o . Now , if there had been no national organisation at all in existence at this period , we should have denounced this as a most inconsistent and unwarrantable mode of seeking to establish one . Perions professing to advocate the Charter cannot consistantly do otherwise than aot upon its principles ; but there is in this proceeding a flagrant disregard of those principles . Here is the attempted establishment of a "National" Association without any appeal to the nation . A few individuals take upon

      themselves to act for the nation . The very spirit and essence of Toryism ! Had there been no National Society at that time in existence , and had these parties , instead of creeping thus stealthily and secretly about it , laid their plans at once before the people for acceptance or rejection , we should have commended them as zealous aad consistent patriots . But , instead of that , Messrs . Lovett and Co . send their proposals to Buoh parties as they think likely to act with them , to be returned by return of post ;

      THE PARTIES SIGNING IT TO FORM THE PROVISIONAL BOARD OF MANAGEMENT FOR SIX OB TWELVg MONTHS ! So that this " National" Board of Management was to be , to all intents and purposes , self-elected ; the proposals hinting at the same timo that this selfelected Board of Management was to have the fingering and appropriation of two hundred and fifty-six thousand six hundred pounds of the people ' s money ! Now , we tell Messrs . " New Move

      Nationals" that there is no self-elected body in existence to whom the people ought to entrust the unrestricted management of bo serious a sum . Nay , further , we tell them that it is utterly inconsistent with "the just principles ef the People ' s Charter , ' for any self-elected body to exercise controul either over the funds or the movements of the people . Why , do the people find fault with the constitution of the House of Commons ! Because it assumes the controul

      and expenditure of the national funds , while it is not elected by the nation . Why were the old Tory Municipal Corporations so deservedly unpopular ! For . the very same reason ; because they were fox the most part self-elected , and yet claimed and exercised controul over the people ' s money . And , are wo to be subjected to the abuse and " violence" of Mr . Hethebington and Mr . Lovett , beoause we protest against the establishment of Chartist Associations on the very same principles , and by the very same means , of pure and unmitigated despotism , whioh the Charter is intended to subvert t If this

      be the "intolerance" of whioh Messrs . Hethebingtnn and Lovett complain , we can promise tnem no abatement of that intolerance . We shall ever protest against the principle of assumed power , and for that of self-government . We now deliberately reiterate a portion of our "falsehood , intolerance , and bitterest rancour" of the 17 th of April last : — " There are some very curious facts conneoted with this document . It denounces idolatry , while it assumes leadership . It claims co-operation , while it respectfully resolves that , with or without it , it will use every ' possible effort' for the attainment of its object .

      "Let us ju 3 t ask a question or two . If the names attached to the document had a right to expect so much public confidence , why keep the project secret , except from the 'Leading Chartists' ! Apropos , we imagined that one of tho great objections to modern agitation was Leadership . Why assume leadership ! Why not call a meeting in London , on the spot , and where the pretensions of the six gentlemen were best known , and where , if acknowledged by a public meeting , the thing would have had the stamp of public confidence and the sanction of public approval , not only of the 'Leading Chartists' but of the body of Chartists ?

      " Why have a self-elected Board of Management ? because we find the following most astounding admission : k ( It is also intended that the persons signing it shall form a Provisional Board of Management for six or twelve months . ' Is this Universal Suffrage ! Is this tbe free choice of officers ! Is this Election by Ballot ! Is this vigilant popular controul 1 Here we have six gentlemen

      actually nominating a National Board , writing to and inviting whom they please as members of that Board , Monstrous ! most monstrous !! and asking them to keep the project a complete secret from the people , until the infernal machine shall be sufficiently loaded to be discharged , ( also we suppose in the dark , ) when the country would be told , * ! you are too late , the deed is doue ; why did not you object in time V

      " Here we have a whole nation surrounded in the dark by half a dozen gentlemen , and handed over , neck and heels , to tbe tender meroies of a Provisional Government of their appointment ! But they are all for Universal Suffrage , and , as a matter of course , they have acted upon that principle , and only elected those whom they knew would be acceptable , la faith , it ia marvellous lucky for poor O'Connor that he did not even recommend to such an appointment , or offer funds to a missionary , or he would be called a ' despot , ' and would cease to be an 'IDOL . '"

      Supposing , then , that the plan of these parties had been the best plan in the world , their mode of seeking to establish their " national" society was not oue which honest Chartists could either approve or support . Of this they evince a perfect consciousness in their earnest deprecation of the publication of their scheme before they had become sufficiently strong by the adhesion of " leading Chartists" to cram it down the people ' s throats : — "Previousto which it will be considered a breach of honour for any individual to cause its publication" ! Why this fear of premature publication \ It is not

      characteristic of Chartism . Chartism , " strong in the conscious rectitude « f its principles" ever seeks the light , aud courts public ity . But Messrs . Lovett Hethebington , and Co ., knowing how the people had heretofore been " led" by their simple confidence in men whom they believed to be talented and honest , calculated on the force of this habit being sufficient to induce an overlooking of the iniquitous principle upon which they sought to constitute their society , if they could but introduce tho thing with an imposing array of " leading Chartists . " Hence their dread of premature publication , and their " breach of honour" denunciation . Again , mark the cautious

      haste . The "leading Chartists" whom they did consult were allowed very little time for thought about the matter . The address most be returned , signed or unsigned , by next post . Nothing can show more clearly than does this wily manoeuvre , the consciousness of the " New Move" leaders that reflection would necessarily show to the honest men with whom they corresponded , the impropriety and inconsistency of the whole proceeding . Some who were thus caught complained afterward of the trick put on them . They had been accustomed to pat implicit faith in HETUBRiNOTONand Lovett , and therefore they signed with but slight examination of the

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      general features of the plan . We repeat , that almost every expression ia the short bat most wily letter with which the "New More" men introduced ( heir " proposals , " contains evidence of their perfect consciousness that the proceeding was at utter variance with all their own professed principles . And yet these are the men who , in the address which we now print from them , coolly speak of themselves thus : —

      " Holding the principles of democracy , we will yield to no man ' s dictation : we believe that both England and Ireland have been cursed by man-worship , to the sacrifice and delay of that freedom we are now contend : ing for ; and because we haTe dared to honestly assert oar opinions , we have incurred the highest displeasure of all those whoso vanity expects the homage of a crowd , peculiar patronage , aud exclusive powe& . But warring against inch selfish folly and mischievous authority , whether displayed in the courtly aristocrat or the social oppressor , we shall ever exert our humble powers to prevent individual or social despotism from being introduced ! '

      We have written thus far on the assumption , that there was not then any national concentration of the people ' s energies for the attainment of the Charter . But , to demonstrate still more fully the eharaoter of this " new move , " we must here repeat another portion of our " falsehood , intolerance , and bitterest rancour" from the Star of the 10 th of April , the first article we wrote upon the subject : — " There is already a National Association in existence , embracing all THE OBJECfS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME . This

      AsSOciation , if legally constituted and honestly conducted , supersedes the necessity for another ; if not , it is requisite that its illegality , or its corruption , or the incapability of tbe means it proposes to attain the end sought , should be demonstrated ; that the necessity for another and more effective association may be shown . But the subscribers to this document , do not affect to find fault with the association now in existence ; on the contrary , they say that they have * no

      disposition to oppose' it . This admission at once cuts the throat of the ' new movement ; ' for these parties must know that it is impossible to organise another * National Association' without crippling the energies of that which is already in existence . In fact , none know better than those at the head of this ' new move , ' that its effect , if successful , must be bo to divide the forces of the advocates of right as to neutralise and destroy the operation of their power . * • ?

      " Aud the crowning reason of all is , that the attempt to establish it would necessarily fail , while it would as necessarily jeopardise the whole Btrength and vigour of the movement , by dividing our forces , and frittering away our strength . Let the people stick to the National Charter Association of Great Britain—let them strengthen the present Executive —let the olasses be regularly visited , and the funds collected and placed at the disposal of their own accredited and chosen officers : let a oneness of feeling and purpose be manifested by all , and our success is certain . Let U 3 suffer ourselves to be thus split , and chopped , and divided , and our defeat is certain . "

      In these articles , and in various others written about that timo , we thus gave our reasons for opposing this movement . We shewed that the new plan contains ro advantages whioh are not already provided by the old one ; that every one of the objects proposed to be attained by this new organisation under the management of a self-elected Board of Management is equally easy of attainment by the really National Organisation now existing , under the Management of a General Council and Executive Committee , elected by the people . We shewed that two National Societies cannot subsist without destroying the energies of each other , and that no good or sufficient reason has been

      shewn why the already existing National Organisation should be given up to gratify the tasto for " Man Worship" and personal distinction of Me 8 sr 8 . Lovett , Hetheringtok , aud Co . ; and when these gentlemen find themselves called on for an answer to our reasonings upon tbe subject , they cry out that their proposal , " while it was warmly greeted by the [ Whig ] press , was met with falsehood , intolerance , and bitterest rancour , by the most prominent organ of Chartism , the Northern Star "; and unbluahingly assert that in the Northern Star " education was ridiculed , knowledge was sneered at , facts were perverted , truth suppressed , and the lowest passions and prejudices of the multitude were appealed to . "

      To this womanish abuse it is unnecessary for us to reply . The writers know it to be false , the world knows it to be malicious , and we feel it to be powerless for harm . Those who have read the Star will estimate it rightly . These men prate of facts being perverted ; while they impudently attribute to us the indignant expressions of the people , in their resolutions adopted at public meetings ; ascribing to us the words "thieves , " "liars , " traitors , " and various other epithets applied to them by parties over whom we had no controul , nor any other iufiuence , than simply that which is equally open to Messrs . Hetherington and Lovett— the influence of truthful reasoning !

      These men prate of facts being peryerted ; while they ascribe to the sermon of Mr . Watkins a meaning which no honest man can find in it , and at the same time speak of that sermon , and of eome expressions used in it , is such connection with the Editor of the Northern Star , as amounts to a positive assertion that ws have held out threats of assassination against them 1 ! These men prate of " falsehood , " and of the " ptrversion of facts" ; while they speak of the reception of their " new move" by the country in such a manner as to imply that every one who dis-. approves of it is a " hired partisan" of ours 11 !

      Thesa gentlemen prate of " falsehood ; * while they assert that we have denounced their " new move "" As a plan intended to destroy Feargus O'Connor ' s political supremacy , and subvert one which he had previously concocted . " Why do they not show where and how we contend for any political supremacy for Feargus O'Connor ! Simply , because they know that the only supremacy which we have ever asserted for Feargus O'Connor , is one which he would be most happy to share with them—a supremacy of hard labour—of pecuniary sacrifice , and of consistency of principle and conduct .

      These men prate of "falsehood , " while they assert that they " have called , but called in vain , for proofs of our assertions" ! These men speak of those who have opposed their scheme in the following terms : — * *• Their vanity has inflamed their intellect , their prejudices have darkeiied their understanding , and toleration and charitable feeling have been blotted from their minds . Believing themselves supremely wise , they spuru with Gothic ferocity all knowledge , truth , or justice ; and judging from their actions , they seeem to think that liberty can only be realised by violence and proscription . " And yet they prate of intolerance and rancour !!! These men ask : —

      Whether the best means of obtaining the Charter , and the placing of our liberties on the securest foundation , do not form proper and legitimate questions of inquiry for every man in the United Kingdom !" While at tbe same , time they apply language such as that we have just quoted , to those who dissent from their opinions , and meet the arguments of their opponents with the cry of " intolerance , " "bitter rancour , "— " violence" — " proscription " - — " cunning schemers" - " wily politicianB " -an . d "the political supremacy of Fkargbs O'Connor" 1 !

      These mea talk of the " suppression of truth , " and yet cry out that the Editor and Proprietor of the Northern Star have jointly denounced their pet move as a bantling of Messrs . Hume , Roebuck , O'Connell and Co . ; cry out that they have called aad called in vain for proofs ; and yet " suppress the truth" that , in Mr . O'Connor ' s letter to Mr . Hethebington , published in the Star of the 24 th of April last , proofs of ( this weie given to the following tune : —

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      "Now , I prayyou attend to the summing up of « m » evidence : —Before Christmas I inform the Editorof the &ar of a certain ' move ' which ia to be mad * . £ January a great Household Suffrage meeting is con vened at Leeds . Mr . Collins is invited , and refogM to attend . Mr . Francis Plaoe subsequently writes a letter to Mr . Collins , advising him to attend , for the purpose of forming » union between the two classes . Mr . Collins and Mr . O'Netl attend , and endeavour to have all the resolutions , and the address to the Queen proposed by the Committee of the working mea'i meeting , set aside . They coquette with the enemy They denounce the Committee . They are to be found

      running like pet rabbits in and out of the 2 Vm « K ) ffice the organ of the Association . ^ "On Thursday , Collins attends a meeting of the people at whioh resolutions denouncing Ministers are passed . On Friday , he dines with Mr . O'Conneu and the Association , at a 7 s . 6 d . dinner , and drinks the health of those Ministers , and backs the objects by a speech , which is published in the Leeds Times and when attention is pointed to one of the dedal rations at that dinner . it is attempted to be qualified by Collins ! ^ " Collins , in reply , asks us ( in the very terms of your own observation , ) to point out the difference between Household Suffrage , as he pleases to defina

      it , and Charter Suffrage . Upon the day after the dinner at Leeds , a meeting takes place in the Ro . tunda , where Messrs . Hume , O'Conneu , and Roe . buck deliver themselves as follows : — " Mr . Hume submitted a definition of what he considered Household Suffrage ought to be , which was to betaken into consideration by the association . H $ stated that the leading men of the working classes generally concurred in ^ the definition , and had pro mised to give their assistance , were an aaiUtitn far

      such a Household Suffrage to be set on foot . " Mr . CfConnell cordially concurred in the suggestions of Mr . Hume . He considered it as of the first i m portance that the reasonable portion of the Chartists should be got over to the aid of the rational Reformers . He urged the necessity of some central body being established in London , fsr the diffusion of knowledge upon political subjects . The public mini should be saturated with facts bearing on the present gross defects in the representation of tht people . _^ _ _ _ ¦ ¦

      . . ** Mr . Roebuck said that such a body teas at present in contemplation in London , and he trusted that it would very speedily be set in operation , so as to act ia concert with the Leeds Association . " " New , Sir , here we have Mr . Hume stating : — That the leading men of the working classes generally concurred in his definition of Household Suffrage and had promised it their support ' " Mr . Roebuck said that : — < An Association was being formed in London , for the purpose , and would , he trusted , be very speedily set in operation . '

      "After this , Sir , your battle must be with Mr Hume and Mr . Roebuck , and not with me . Ho says the leaders have concurred , while you and your friends are the only leaders who appear to have had anything to do with the subject ; bo that I call upon you to contradict Mr . Hume flatly , or call upon him to Bay who were the parties , if you and your friends were not . Subsequently to ' this came the negotia tions—aye , subsequently , and negoeiations : —f < jr there were two I Previousl y to the first Vincent was iu prison , and he attended at the second ; but the Leeds meeting not having succeeded according to Mr . Collins ' s instruction , the thing was placed in

      abeyance for christening . "Thus , then , is it not clear that in the beginning of January you were in diplomatic confederacy with Messrs . Hume and Place ; that you were subsequently confederated in February ; that you sent out your address in March ; and now observe that Mr . O'Connell , before it was published ia any paper , announced the very terms of your agreement with Mr . Hume , according to the precise terms of your own letter ; but not one word of this is mentioned in your circular . He says your object is to agitate for Household Suffrage and shorten the duratioi of Parliaments .

      "Pray , Sir , keep the latter object in view , and connect it with yeur adhesion to Triennial Parlia ments . Then , Sir , to this add the fact of Mr . Place being tbe author of a bugaboo document signed ' An Old Chartist , ' and extensively circulated among the' leading Chartists , ' to whom your circular wag sent ; and bear in mind that it was circulated just before the Leeds meeting . The object of that document was to scare all from any connection with the old and established move . Then , Sir , add th » fact of Tillman , the Secretary of the National Association , receiving letters from Place , Lovett , Collins , Richardson , and others , ' plaguing his life

      out , ' to use his own terms , about the ' illegality . ' Then add Mr . Collins' and Mr . O'Neil ' s absolute refusal to allow a delegata to be appointed to consult with their fellows in Manchester , upon the very subject upon which they professed to hinge their only objection . Then , Sir , add the fact , that on the 20 ut March , Mr . Roebuck did me the honour to call upon me , and that he then told me that an Association was about being formed . I replied , that one was already formed . He answered 'Yes , but there are some

      apprehensions as to its legality . ' I rejoined , ' Of course no law will legalise a Chartist Association . " Mr . Roebuck laughed , and said , ' It looks very lik » it ; ' and added , ' They have sent me the rules of their new Association for my opinion . ' Connect this witM Mr . Collins' admission that he ftad applied to Mr . Roebuck for his opinion , and then say if any doubt remains as to the identity of the persons namtd by Mr . Hume and Mr . Roebuck at Leeds , and Mr . O'Connell in Dublin , and to an object agreed upon , but not set forth ia your address . Who told Ml O'Connell 1 "

      We opine that , after this , the "rectitude of prin « ciple'' of Messrs . Hetherington and Lovett will U more than doubted . We were willing , while a shadow of chance for their succeeding with the public remained , to exens ) them , on the ground of an ill-matured and puerfla thirst for leadership , which could not bear to see tat National " Board of Management" in other handi than their own . We adopted this view of the matter as the more charitable one , in preference to that

      of considering thorn deliberate traitors to the cause We find it difficult now to admit this supposition ; and certainly the document we this day publish from them much increases the difficulty . However , we have admitted this notice of their last effort for existence , just to shew " how hardly some peopb die . " We now leave them to repose quietly on tbe bed of infamy and contempt which they have pre * pared for themselves ; and we advise the country and the men of London to do likewise . Let them fulminate their "National" edicts from the back room of

      the Globe Tavern , and amuse themselves with at report of their pop guns fired through their own organ , the apppropriately named " Odd" Fellow . They need send no more to us ; for we do not purpose further to annoy ourselves or the country m ' ti such "Characteristics of the most ignorant and noisy portion of the Chartist body—persons who , without thought or judgment , are empty professor } to-day , but worshippers at any other shrine tomorrow . " We very cordially evince our good feeling ( & Messrs . Hethebington and Lovett , by adopting from their address the following words as an

      appropriate close for this article ; and an answer m the same time to all their bluster about tho "intolerance" of tho Northern Star . — " We believe Hat the great bulk of our Chartist brethren is compost of men whose conviction in favour of tiJ 6 ' . pb . a rtet has sprung from observation , inquiry , and patient investigation regarding the causes of political to " justice and social misery . Men of this descriptio * may bo deceived and ^ misled for a season by mysa * fioation and falsehood ; but their minds , bent on inquiry , and ever open to conviction , will sooo penetrate the flimsy veil which has been drawn over their understanding .

      ** To men of this bharacter we confidently app ** ' ' and we ask them whether the best means of obtaining the Charter , and the placing of our liberties on ^ securest foundation , do not form proper and leg *' mate questions of inquiry for every man in tltf United Kingdom ! Or , is it that the solviDg of the * questions forms the exclusive prerogative of & 1 particular individual or party among the people ?~ thus practically exemplifying in conduct the despotic principles which we seek to overthro " and bidding fair to render Chartism a by-word auderision . "

      We only add to this that we have no fear . W * know the people too well . They will not permit Chartism to become " a byeword and derision" gratify a few «« violent" spirits ; and therefore ** shall hear no more of " discussions on tbe ^ * Move" or of any other notice being taken by tn « people or their friends of the defunct u wily po ^' oians" or their " cunning scheming . "

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      NEWCASTLE . —The Chartists met on Fn « evening . It was determined to send a del egate ^ welcome O'Brien from his cell . Mr . Morgan , . & » county missionary , reported that he had ns »^ Hartley Pans , Seghill , Foreman ' s Row , BWr Bedlington , Cramlington , at all of which P »^ most excellent meetings were held , and where w ° banner of the Charter was unfurled .

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      4 THE NORTflEBN STAB . ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 25, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct863/page/4/