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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th March 1843, Edition 5 of 5, Page unpag, LANCASTER ASSIZES.

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    • LANCASTER ASSIZES.
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      ^ ( G > ntinuedjrom out eigh&i page . ) i ^ eoSTe Ganffiittee Issued an address . It was quite ^ j ^ gafthat address to in aa way brought heme to i ? aes £ It TTsanot proved foliave been iQ ^ handB , SutfeB - ** " JK >>™« "whatever to ihow that , he Srjjad anything to So / witti the concoction of it : Eria * £ <» " - fl » e 16 th « fAngnst \ On ^ the > Ifttirlat did S ^ hia e Efintfolng * Heyna at the meeting of jKijDference . , 2 fot one alngle syllable Iras proved to SUsB ^ airom SU Bps- Keittier OaarEtegga wf ftnfR ^ jfeeJa single syllable of evidence except ihat lie was ¦ f ^ COTfcteno&v- Bi « ejSrM- » - iwlr ti ( mpatiBd 1 : -ibd " Lijayed the jury to attend to th $ " \ r <» diBg « f Jt , S ine if be understood tbe meaning of lasgnage , 2 ua JasS irM there fer &e purpose of loqlSng - after the

      Mjjgtorgaaianon , ana ne aeaea nis . Learned Frienda **^ e other aide to extract anything pwjndidal from J ^ - against hnnv The resolution Toa" That-whilst § j X » srtist » ody did not originate " the ' present C 8 SS& &-frmn labo ^ . ihfe - - Conference of JMefates , feoa Swa'parts of England , express their deep sympathy _ jgi fijeir eoastitnenfcs , the "working men now on itrikB , aJ flat •«« strongly approve the extension and oontafjjnee of their present struggle fill the People ' * Char-Sbwtnnea a legislatrre enactment , tmd decide ; forth . 5 s , to 5 Esne a 11 addresi to that er&ct , and ire pledge -pelves , on onr return to oar . localities , to give a 9 && direction to the people's efforts . * Had the £ J $ jenee of Delegates no light to ~ express their tfjmzihj "with their constituents , the -working classes ? tnai

      jjBtsintainea mey naa , ana ce Knew no latr jjgrpreveiited the people expressing the sense of the Tpfap , if they bad any , and the inconveniences , if ^ were any , ferwhieh these poor people were exposed jrfljiiitrike . Had they » o right to approve the jjjsttBon of their present straggle ! He said tibey iad . jjgyljta ^ TJfTit , as independent men ,- to stand fey any ; ^ jke , and to approve tbeir conduct inholding ' oat , till fcjyhadgotaiair rennmeration for tiieir labour , pro-^ d they did not rio that which » aa charged against jjidfeBtin this indictment . He did not aay tfeat tbe ggtiib vere right . He had hia o-wn opinions as to ^ her un iversal sofeage ma a good thing , or -whe-* p . ii generalExtension of thajfrandEnse" » ould be a r anrrffrt xBsamre for a » - # rangs « f the -working daaea in free

      j ^ they lived a country ; they bad a light to ft&tei Bte Question of -wages , and they had a right to Ujjtets tbeir opinions upon , them , though ^ they might uhnghed at by some , and attacked and denounced by ^ nt Be maintained that Brooks had a right to do ga . " He tMr . Ihmiias ) iras of opinion that some of the # 11 of the < 2 hartisla -were- -wild jand "visionary , but |^ had a right to hold those opinions , provided they $ » m a le ^ and constitutional manner . Then what jHibesfixt they heard of his client ? They find him jji meeting on the 18 th of . August , one day after ^ holding t £ the Conference . There be "was spoken t flj one witness as being at a meeting -where there lit i good deal of fliKhnrbance and excitement , ¦ where jhn --was no person to keep order , and where every

      fefy "was trying to get & -word is . No * , they laad j ^ rd that at that meeting Brooke Baid . that the people j ^ f > n e in tboassnQa to Xeeds , and driven the jh > 1-go firos Ahe bsrracta . - If hs had xsid so , it vas itetj foolish thing , but there "was no greater danger gaa &r a Jury to place implicit' reliance upon reports loi before them in transactions of " that nature ; Why , Sbgrh&d had an illustration of this in the evidence of at wimess , wbo said that he could not remember TflsQiei a -word used-was •« resolution" oi " rCTolution , " siin anoHier < ase , -whether it -was ** Hoole" or * ' fool , " &fixDgio 28 i . Holland Boole , a Magistrate of tha town jHiaccaester . The witness "who appeared against bis Jest , had said sot a -word about the three letters b viich Brooke was said to have referred at the

      vesting of delegates , as stating the tuning out of the rifijers at Leeds , and he supposed that his Learned giaid i&e Attorney General ) , tftinVrn g that the piiaiee was very weak , called a -witness to prove &ti a copy of the Bxeeutive Committee ' s address had Jen found aVTodmerden , in order to create a sappoai-Soniiiaiit li&aT > een taken thereby Brooke , Ho * V Stood 4 eisc « it ttbb proved tbat the address vu not pied at ^ oSmcaasatSIlthe 17 th , at -which time Brooke id it Manchester , and bad nothing more to do -with fie address than the constable TiiTrwif . Brooke -was jet liable for the acts of -others . A mm had enough to H nowi » -days , to look after bimBelf , and he hoped ¦ jiJ . tfcs jury -would sot in consequence of any such Asiatics evidence as that the defendant had been at

      a-gesriug at Msnchesteiy and at another at Basin-] tee ,-ast 8 return agahiBt him a verdict of guilty . But ttiata Jflofe for a . moment a . t the ^ Executive address , flaLsee -Brhether it -would bear the terrible constmefion itjibadbeen put upon it by the Attorney-General 2 « 5 ht be a . very foolish production . Wby , they lived iliesBeoftfaolidiiiroclamations ; butif the party-who ist £ this . address did so -with a good intention , and inia ^^ it to bawe a proper tfFeet , it ought to be viewed Ei . \ 2 iberal %£ lIowaEce . He -submitted Is item that ini aa Afgnment in favour of the Charter . There j ^ S Ae a herd -word here , and a hard -word them , but i 3 fcs zasxxttasaed thst it -vas sot seditions , as -was Btad&l onthB-oLhsr . sida . 'Ihh , aadress-trlnch bad been inth . e > T « rBff > tft ^ apoaan thus— " Brother < 2 aErtJ « ts ,

      Si graat polificil truths -which iave bees agitated Jcsg the iart iaif coulury . haro st Jenjrih aronsed 6 tdegraded and inaolted white slaves of Bngand to jEise of ^^ " ^ na ^ r to themselyes , Ibeir children , sfrfiifiir country . " White slaves ! «» ffi his learned feS , the Attorney ^ QeneiaL . Tea , he ( Mr . Pundaa ) ifined that there Trere many of the working classes a aeconflitinn of -wh 2 ie alaves . Their amdifion -was fiaeaas and wretched . That -which constituted the lotst iics of EngtiiJxmen , and which might be said m to make life itself deerable—domestic comfort , * S * very mean * of procodng it , "was -wanting to Ess . ITbey were poor , they Trere in clad , and they bi J&Z& e ? no education . He did not put the

      Maae open any one—perhaps they might all take a BfcoT the blame upon themselves , but however that t i $$ be , the fact was unquestionable , that a large jeSka of the vorkiBg classes -were steeped in the i ^ st poverty , 2 nd that their education -was at the c ; lowest He should not have said a -word on Sa-psrt of tfcs placard , if the Attomey-Qenetal had appeared to have expreaed so mneb astonishment * fes Expression of tie tfcm " -white slaves . ** The ifcsa went on— " Tens of thnnpanda have flung &n iijor implements of labour . Your task ' ato tremble at your outcry , and expectij Bases eagerly watch this great crisis of our as . " Thi » -wzs a specimen of grandiloquence—the

      « oaitjle , or that of Buonaparte , —a flourish with * £ & high sounding proclamations -were sometimes fej&d in . *» Labour most so longer be the common psj d masters and rulers . Intelligence has beamed t ^ t tha mind o ! the bondsman , and he baa been con-Bedtkat all wealth , comfort , and produce , every-Sqjvslnable , useful , and elegant , have sprung from & pirn of bis band ; be feels that bis cottage is ft ]*; , his back is thinly clad , his children breadless , « Bfi , hopeless , his mind harassed , and his body leahed ; that unfine riches , luxury , and gorgeous feij , might be beaped in the palaces of the task-** fan , sod ioeded into tbe granaries of the oppres-^• _ " S&iSte , Bed , &ni season , ba-rs condemned ibis

      * fOlny , and in the thunder of a people ' s voice it g ped ^ i J or ever . " He ( Mr . Bnndas ) could easiJy **^ ib thai a poor -ma-n looking at the condition of SuBatbant—his property—in ships , in bouses , if it ^ Ske , —in machinery , and he could imagine him * & ? Sat these things -were protected nracb more fi » merchant , Vbw vras tbe sweat of his brow ¦^ a a . He might be -wron ? , but if he fP ^ ac cerely , be had " "wrongs -which ^ to btreoreEsed "by the Government under -which «« Wi "He knows that labour , —the real property '¦ 'fciy , the sole origin of aeennmlated property , tbe ^ . tw » of all national -wealth * and the only snp-J ^ Bi defender , and contributor \ o the greatness of

      * Kaklry , —ig not possessed of the same legal protec-** Jfckhi 3 siren tothoseTifeless effects , —the bouses , ^ ana machinery , — -which labour bas alone created . « no » B that if labour bas no - protection , -wages can-^« J ? had ; nor in the aligitest degree regulated ^ every man of twenty-one years of age and sane ?*»» © a the one political level as tbe employer . He **** that the Charter wonld remove , by universal ^ ppressea in "Universal Snffirage , "the heavy load ^ j OES wMdi now crnih the existence of tbe labourer , ** Oipple fte efibrts of eommerce , that it -wonld gire ? 9 ScTennneiit as -wen is . cheap food , high wages , T ^ a ^ s low taxes ; bring happiness to the hearth-5 £ piai ^ to the table , Broterfion for flie old , edn-^ to tha to Hie

      a young , permanent prosperity eounj ™^ ss-amtnnied piotective power to labour j and ^^ 2 * aaefl peace—to exhausted humanity and ff ^ Jations . * Kow be iMr . Dnndas ) -was ^^ gared to say that the Charter and Uni-* 2 J * _ Suffrage would be » remedy for all £ * feBtts unflej -srhich the -working classes laboured . Xj ™ not tfrTT . k so , bnt be remembered bow the r ™ J 2 franchise bad been extended tiirongbout the ? ° ^ 7 » ana especially in tbeir own country ; he thought ^¦* fc be rather too bad to . say that be ^ was a bad ^^ " ho sought for a further extension of it . l > if-^ ttabeld aifferent views as to what wsuld bring |** rto ^ he country . Some parties thought tbat * g ^** tbe Ctorn Laws ironld bring about a better ^< a ihJBgB , and othera laughed at them for avowing ** i $ ffiion . But a man had alight to his opinions , ** a would rot be worai while living in England one

      ' T'wJige , il everttey put the law into the Bands of £ *» to anite the opinions of another . " Therefore £ ?* & > e have solenuily sworn , and ane and all ^ efl , that the golden opportunity now within eur J ^ i shall not pass awdy fruitless , and that the cbanct t ^ aaries afforded to us , by a -wise and sllseeing S ^ ^ " ^ e l «» t ; but that we do now universally w ^*^ Ter to re sume labour until labour ' s grievances " ^ itttrojed , and prelection secured ioi ourselves , r ^^ fiDg -wives , and helpless children , by the enaefcjT ^ Afee People ' s Charter . * What -was the fair S ? *^ o ! the aeanmg of this language . j& here -was a strike for wages . . Wbat JJ * ** Peqpls ? They said , "We think this is a very ^ f& opporhmity f « carrying the Charter . The j ^ MiOniDit univiasal \ we neveriad snch an oppor-^^^ « ore , and -we think t >»» t by firm and legitimate te * * 7 accomplish our object" Hub yna the {^ ^ gense , construction -which , he pnt upon the ^^ and be thought that all the . acts of those 2 ^*™^ strike , asplyeonflnnedbimin tie view ^ aTaisa of Yk , « mteffigenc& h « s leatbei »» «

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      the -wide-spreadhig of the strike , and now within fifty miles of Manchester , every engine is at iest , and all is still , save the millers * useful -wheela and the friendly sickle in the fields . " This was very poetical , and it "Was Terv-liear whatT-was the ease . There was nothing atallillegsl in saying that within flf ^ mUes of Mancheater every _ engine waa at rest The were at Test ; but -who put them In that position ? . Not the meeting of delegates , not his . client , : nor the Executive Committee . It was the result of a proceeding -which be did not appear there to defend , bnt which had no connection -whatever with the individual whom he represented .- "Englishman ] the blood of your brothers redden the streets of Preston and Blackbum . ' This was a passage which' had been

      commented upon with much severity by the Attorney-GeneraL No man ceuld regret more than he did the unfortunate " events that had happened at Preston , and -which bad led to a loss of humafi life , bnt was it not a most extraordiuarsTfect that in connection with that lamentable transaction , a small civil force amounting to not more than eighty persons , and , a few soldier * had been able to drire a-way a body of men composed of some thousands ? They "would -Bud that instead" of offering any resistance to the authorities , or seeking to place them in collision with the soldiery , by which blood might have been spilled , they peaceably retired—a fact Trhlch be thought afforded the strongfcst possible evidence that the people had no intention of employing physical force for the

      attainment of tbeir object « And the murderers thirst for more . " "He woild admit that this was a very improper word , but when they took into consideraUon the circumstanoes -under which the address was written , and the station is life of the parties , it might be looked upon with some degree of excuse . "Be firm , be courageous , be men . Peace , law , and order , have prevailed on onr side—let them be revered until our brethren in Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , are informed of your resolution ; and wbea a universal holiday prevails , which will be the case in eight days , of -what use will bayonets be against public opinion ?" No , of'whafuse -would they be . If there was a universal holiday , and people were of one mind , there would be nothing at all to fight for . What , then , -was

      the construction h . e put upon , this passage ? Why thia — "If yon will only do this for eight days , yo « trill carry the Charter , —not by bayonets , bnt by peace , law , and order , we will carry out the work . " This be conceived to be the true meaning of what tbe writer of this address intended to convey by a universal holiday . "What tyrant can then live above the terrible tide of thought and energy , which is now flowing fast , under tbe guidance of' man ' s intellect , which is now destined by a Creator "to elevate his people above the reach of want , the rancour of despotism , and the penalties of bondage ? The trades , a noble , patriotic band , have taken the lead in declaring for the Charter , and drawing theix geld from the keeping of tyrants . Follow their example , lend no whip to rulers wherewith to scourge

      you . Countrymen and brothers , centuries may roll on , as they have fleeted past , before such universal action may again be displayed . Wehavemadethe cast for ^ iberty , and we must stand like men the hasard ofjthe die . Let none despond . Let all be cool and watchful , and lTVft the bridesmaids in tbe parable , keep your lamps burning , and let your continued resolution be a beacon to guide those who are now hastening far and wide to follow your memorable example . Brethren , we rely on your firmness ; cowardice , treachery , and womanly fear , would cast our cause back for half a century . Let no man or child break down the solemn pledge , and if they do , may the curse of the poer and the

      . starving pnrsue them—they deserve slavery who would madly court if . ° This was Oasian again—a flourishing proclamation , very poetical and very pretty , but surely not sedition ? . " Our machinery is all arranged , and your causa will in three days be impelled onward by all the intellect we can summon to its aid ; therefore , whilst you are peaceful , be firm , and whilst you look to the law , remember that you had no voice in making it , and are , therefore , tbe slaves to tbe win , the law , and the caprice of your masters . " He believed it was tbe opinion of many high authorities that taxation and representation ought to go hand in hand ; and they often heard that

      • ' Laws grind the poor , and rich men mate the la-wa . " The -working , classes of this country thought that they had a right to make laws for themselves . They might be wrong , but if that was tbeir opinion , they bad an undoubted right to act upon it , and to impress the opinion upon others . The last passage in this address -was * ' All officers of tbe Association are called upon to aid an . * assist in the peaceful extension of the movement , and . *<<> forward all monies for the -use of delegates , who may bO expressed over tbe country . Strengthen our SanSs at * fins crisis . Support your leaders . Bally r « und our sac ^ d cause , and leave tbe decision to the God of Justice , sb ^ ef Battle . " The Attorney-General bad laid much i tress on the last word of this passage , and had put a mea t"n 6 ** P ° n it which he ( Mr . Dundas ) 1 it the

      contended it-did no ^ bear , —that was calling upon people to take arms and do battle against those who might oppose them . He believed that this word was applied exactly in the t 'vm * 8 ense M tDe * dd * eas of the Conference the battle o * justice against injustice , —tile battle of right against n ^ i ^ t , —the battle of the poor against the rich , —if it mi ^ " •¦ & * *> e . ana no othex . This was the construction which ** P ^ P * & * P&aage . and he did not think it-eoul . * ** ^ oui to h * th&t meaning which was attached to it by the other side , namely , that it was a physical force . ^ att 16 . ^ no * a moral battle . He had read through this « Wreas only because it was proved to have been poste 4 ** Todmorden , at which place bis client resided , and bBl f or tt 6 t fact » ie should not have tronbled tbe jury wi to J « y observations upon it . He was afraid hehad detai ' ** weir attention , . , . [ !

      too long , especially as he only appeal **/ ° ' one ° * * e defendants .. He felt a strong sy » pa . ^ fjf * tte *™ f happiness of the woxkfsg classes ot « " * conntr 7-Whatever greatness England had achiev . * *¦ f ™" rnerdal nation , —whatever advances she ha « » ade * ° *" that constituted the characteristics of a gret ' * Feople , — to whatever point of refinement the means i" * ^^ ilr and individual comfprt had risen , she owed it ** jj ° * fie skill , the industry , and the perseverance ° * -. ? f artaans .. It was because be felt this that he ah- ' x *~ jf delighted in any opportunity of bettering their ** f *" t ion , either by educating them , by giving them I " ***¦* laws , or by removing tbe grievances of which l ^*^ complained , and ennW 'g them to li ^ e happily and C » "T * tentedly under the institutions of the country . Ti * Learned Gentleman concluded by asking at thehands o ^ , | , [ ,

      the Jury , a favourable consideration for his client , against whom , in bis conscience , he believed that no charge of conspiracy existed . Mr . Baiheb , for Idr . Scholefield , said that he bad oecnpied very little of the time of the Court in crossexamination . The case of his cllrot was so plain and simple . If the jury would simply apply tbe rule laid down by the Attorney-General , not to convict any one on mere snspicion , he couia have little doubt as to their verdict . He could not help expressing his disapprobation of the course adopted by the Crown . The present indictment was a monster indictment One oi a kind unheard of before , and which he trusted would never be seen s ^ ain . Wbat a hardship it imposes upon each of the fifty-nine defendants , many ef whom still

      are not defended by counsel , and who are expected each to examine and analyse the mass of evidence ¦ which it had occupied the Crown five days in laying before them , and to be able to select , and to answer the Tarions facts scattered through the heap which might apply to bis individual case . But the prosecution sought also to apply each of the nine counts in this indictment to each of these defendants , so thatbut for tbe manner in wMch t heTecoid had been Bhortenea , on thB suggestion of the Learned Jndge , there -woold have been nofewer than 531 questions to be submitted to them . He would now proceed to consider tbe case of bifl d ent . Mr . Scholefield wis a dissenting clergyman , who bad succeeded a Mr . Coward , the founder of the sect to which be now preached , and he also acted as an apoof

      thecary . Mr . Scholefield was , no doubt , a supporter the Charter . He thought that the working classes In this country were deeply obliged to Mr . Feargus O'Connor . He claims simply that indulgence for bis opinions which Mr . Dundas had already so eloquently claimed for his client Tor every sect of political opinions in this country there should be the most unlimited toleration-iowever mistaken—if argued peaceably , and legally submitted to the choice of the people . He weura call their attention to a position laid down by the Attorney-General . Theie never were , he must , in the first place , say , a set of men who bad to Btruggle with greater prejudices than tbe defendants at the bar . He would but refer to tbe droomstances of the Magis trates of a whole county , that * f Stafford , bavingset aside a man as bail simply because he was a Chartist It could be no offence to a Jury to caution them against suah prejudices . He was not there ao ^ advocate the it '

      Charter- ltmight be right or might bf- wwng ; *™ alto the character of those ynwTittrinfag it ^ be must say , in common justice , Oat among them were to -be found some of the best nusband s ^ nd the ^ best fathers , a » d that their moral conduct might be TOoeeed to the position laid 4 own by the Attorney-SS 5 , w to ttKaw of conspiracy , by wbichbe sought tofix every one of a body acting for a common pursr £ 2 u& £ Mtio ? r « s SS ™« S £ m be Representation , would it not le monstrous to render each of these 9 »»^ £ the wicked act of any one of the others who mignt , SS ^ " 4 oing Bomettog illegal be was advanc

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      ing the common cause ? The learned Counsel then went on to analyse the particular evidence applicable to the case of * Ir . Sob < ft 6 fl 9 ld : Trje waii not at- aU affected by :-tbe ;^ dm <» J ^ .. tb ^ vihfeiii flrB b-. dajw . \; -- It was Saturday before his name waa even mentioned . The Learned Counsel then went on to -detail the history of the Hunt procession and Monument , and the original objects of tiie meeting of delegates , as already given in the evidence . These purposes were sfrictly legal . The plan was first suggested in the middle of Jane , long before these outbreaks . On the 1 st of August , a placard regulatingvtte course « f the procession appeued . The outbreak took place on the 9 th or 10 th . / The Magistrates' proclamation did not appear till - the 14 th , and tbe Hunt ' s Monument Committee actually

      anticipated them , and Issued a placard putting a stop to the procession as early as Uie 10 th . On the 11 th a circular was published , stating that the Committee thought it most advisable , in consequence of the disturbed state of the oountry , not to have the procession , less it might lead to a collision with the authorities ; but that a private meeting would be field at ^ fr . Schoiaflfeld's . On the 14 th the Magistrates issued a proclamation , and on the 15 th her Majesty's proclamation appeared . Mr ^ Scbolefltld received those late on thelgtb , and early on the 16 th a placard , appeared , putting off both pro . cession and meeting , and exhortitg the people to peace and order . On Mr . Scholefield cciming back , after getting these placards printed , he found MirOCcpxioE ^ ad . arrived from London . Some of the delegates ^ rVom a

      distance , who were not' aware pt the state of things , arrived in the course of the day ,, and , of course , went to Sir . Scholefleld's . They went in open day , from about eleven o ' clock in the morning till four In the " afternoon . In the evening of that day there was a teaparty at Carpenters ^ -balL The witness who spolre to what Mr . Scholefield said came in in the middle of a sentence , pwt of which might have any meaning that any person might assign to it On tbe 17 th , aome of the delegates met in Mr . Scholefield ' s chapel . He was requested to permit them the use of it , for the purpose originally referred to in the notice by which the delegates were convened . He was asked to do so by Mr . O'Connor , as being a convenient place where they

      would be least likely to run any . ' risk of attracting a crowd , ana breaking the public peace . Even if that meeting had been perverted to an illegal purpose , Mr . Scholefield , at all events , took ao part in it Eo passed once or twice through the ehapel on his usual business , but no word , so far as the evidence went , was spoken in bis presence . Could they , upon this evidence , find him guilty of being a party to a conspiracy , supposing such a conspiracy existed at all ? He confidently left his case with the Jury . Mr . Sergeant Murjhy , for Dr . M'Doualland others —He said he thought he might almost leave the case of his clients upon the observations of his Learned Friends . He would confine himself to the evidence

      which applied particularly to those whom he defended . He must remark , " however , that there was no charge known to tbe English law which extended , so widely * or which waa so difficult to guard against , as that of conspiracy . By it men were rendered liable , in many cases , for the rash , or wicked , or illegal acts ef others . As to the particular defendants , he begged-them to remember that , in tbe case of Durham , is many instances where he was Spoken of as appearing at these public meetings be repudiated tbe Charter as an object of the strike , and recommended peace and order to the multitude . His object as to the strike was legal—that was not denied—and be had , in tbe advocacy of that object , recommended none but legal means . It was said he bad Bat on a Committee for granting these licenses . Bid it

      appear he had written any license , that he had had any conversations on the subject , or that there was anything more against him than bis having at one time been seen in the room where those meetines were occasionally held ? Against Rsilton there was no evidence on which be could lay bis finger , except that be was present at the meeting of the Conference . Of that , in itself , as an evidence of guilt , nis learned friends had already disposed . Tbe original objects , at all events , of that Conference were legal , and there was no evidense whatever of the share he took in any of its proceedings . Tbe Learned Counsel went ou to show the progress and objects of tbe strike . Up to the time , at least , of the crowd entering Manchester , the Chartist body hod no connection with this movement . The trades unions

      had ; issued a placard , bat the Chartists had made no metion in that direction . The first act of theirs , by which it is sought to mix them up with , the strike , U the Executive pl&oard . That emanated originally from the Bxecutive without , as far as appeared , any comma , nication from the Chartist body . He would not go over tbe ground occupied by bis Learned Friend with regard to the legality of that placard . He would , bowever , join with him in earnestly begging them not necessarily to infer that the placard is seditious merely because its language is strong . He would quote on this subject the observations of Chief Justice Tindal , at Stafford . The language of that placard , as to the misery of the people , was in no degree an exaggeration . It was recognised as true by every one who ^ now anything of the state of the working classes . The defendants , it appeared , supposed a remedy for this would be the passing of tbe Charter , and they

      recommended a display of peaceful resolution until they could obtain this desirable remedy from Parliament It might be the Charter-would not be the panacea they supposed , but there was no illegality in enteifcainin ? at advocating the opinion that it would . As to tbe termination of that placard , could they look upon it as more than a mere flourish , using a sonorous epithet withont any indention whatever of stimulating the people te outbreak or violence ? The placard was the sole evidence against Dr . M'Douall . - The only other circumstances deposed to related to the meeting with Mr . O'Connor at tbe public-bouse— a meeting held in open day , without concealment , as men might meet on any ordinary business , and which it was ridiculous to suppose was a meeting of conspirators . The Learned Counsel submitted that as to the three parties whom he defended there was no evidence which could justify verdicts of guilty . The Court then adjourned ; it being nealy half-past six o ' clock . TUESDAY-SI JTH DAY . Mr , Baron Rolfe took his seat this morning at ' nine o'clock . As Mr . O'Connor was expected to make his speech in defence to-day , the Court was crowded , and there were many ladies present . i Mr . Atherton said he would tak ' e this opportunity 'I « f asking the Attorney-General whether he had determined on which counts he would proceed . ihe Attorney-General . —My Lord , I do not mean I o proceed upon the two last counts ; bat I think as t 0 ¦ thB sixth and seventh , upon looking at them , it aD t * sis to me necessary to retain them . In reality , the \ 7 fe * Ye nothing whatever to do with the riot . It appe -V s t 0 me tnat thev are extr . en } ely important with i t&reDce to some of the conyiotions that took iace st i j

      p e . ,. . jj __ j . ii . — _ .. _ . nM M- AtHERTOJi then addressed the Court and Jnrv on behalf « f the defendants , James Fentoa and Willi *** Stephenson ; and he said , though there was much © Eound common to all the * defendants , which had i ^ e ® ably gone over and pre-occupied by his learned fe ^ 1113 ! BliU there were distinctions between his c ^ " ^ 8 * && the other defendants , which would impose ***» M » th j > necessity of occupying some fresh crou " ^ He referred to the importance of this caseTwhi ' •* . ** said had been acknowledged in the able and te «* e » te address of the Attorney-OflTiBTfti TIb rni iBnented on the circumstance of « £ !! £ : ™ 7 rL ^ different pursuits , living in

      diflbrem pkees , acting-l ¥ & « " » ****** " > eaoh other , XrtStod in Sub i . * a * tment . The nature of the fth * r £ fl was snoh that * "TO " 1 eren m slumber in his whom in all probalit ) . & * never saw ; and the X ? e of \ he evidence w « regulated by ^ theoharge in this " monster indictm «* , " and therefore it required the nimost care anu' oaUion of the Jury . No expense had been spared or ihonght too great in getdng np the prosecution o * & * Government ; but the defendants had not them e ** ^ « ^ ¥ a number of witnesses from *^ a - T he de fendants needed tbe shield o * * & > J ™ J J becanse they were individuals , and the peosecutor was the Crown and Government of the eosnwy . The first

      fact established beyond dispute v > •** that the unfortunate strike did not originate \ "& ¦ the ' Chartists . It waa clear that the Chartists vf . w seeking eome political change . The strike origin « tei in dissatisfaction of the -workmen with the ; wagvw * tey received . Some of the witnesses of the clasB i » oasters did not seem willing to admit , thai wages dm been at . a low ebb ; bat it was cleat they were *> iow as to give general dissatisfaction to the work ineo . Iney had a legal right to strike } . and ifc was L > atofactory to know , that this strike did not originivte ui any political question by the Chartists ; bnt w . m the act of the workmen themselves . The ; ohan& ' e la the laws , '" referred to in the indictment , it m \ B owar , ioaiefl

      consisted of the six points , which , being em > i constituted what was called the ¦* People ' s Ch ay ^ Tnere waa nothing monstrous , or alarmingi in * oe doctrines of the Charter , to any man of property * possessing a stake in the country . There was not ;* proposition which had not defenders among men in the highest rank , the most stable in property , and most high in intellectual education and refinement . Take the three cardinal points of the Charter , Annual Parliaments , Universal Suffrage , and Vote by Ballot , were they not tbe propositions which for years had been presented to one of the largest city constituencies , in the empire , the constituency of Westminster ! Sir Francis Burdett and Sir John Hobhouse , from year to year , and from eleotion to

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      election , came before that constituency bavins those p ropositions continually in their mouths . Waa the ballot a -toggarly Jack Cade doctrine , only taken up by men having no property 1 Who had most distinguished hiihself by the advooaoy of this doctrine f No saw cu / o « e , but one of the prime-merchants ^ of Lombard-street , a . man as distinguished for his talent , as for bis wealth and influence . He might refer also to a Noble Lord at the head of bis own profession , Lord Brougham , who was not a man whom any one would suspect of taking up a crude , untenable , and preposterous doctrine itBelf in politics , yeth ^ ad ^ " oafced the dootrine of the ballot . He might also refer to the name ofa great jurist and philosopher ; a man who spent a long life in investigating political

      auestipns , to which he gave vast research of the most laboriouBkind . -JeremyBentham-andfromakuowledge of hii works he could say , that there was not a single point in this muoh-maligued charter * which he had not defended and enforced in the works which he had left behind him . The Learned Counsel dwelt on the remarkable absence of injury to life , and the very little injury inflioted by the turn-outs over a large extent of oountry , and quoted the words of the Attorney-General , in his openiug speech on this point , as expressions to the streugth of which he could add nothing . He then adverted to the seven remaining counts of the indiotment . The four first were Jlhose on which alone it was sought to fix the Conference delegates : they were the only political

      counts in . the indictment , and consisted of so many charges levelled against the Chartists . The third count , on' which the prosecution , he supposed , would mainly rely , charged the existence of tumults and violent stopping of works , and that the defendants conspired to abet those tumults . The fourth count charged them simply With abetting the tumults , without conspiring to do so . In each of the four counfcp , force , direct or indirect , was charged upon the defendants . He contended , that before the jury could give a verdict against any of the Conference delegates , they must be satisfied that the act they did was performed by them , with a knowledge that the strike had been in many instances occasioned by force sad violence , and that they must , when they

      published the Conference address , hare knowingly aided and abetted in that force and violence . He proposed to read from a particular number of thi > Northern Star , to shew that there was a very different tendency from that imputed to the address and publications in the case . The Attorney-General would not object to any general evidence as to the character of a defendant , in the event of a jury finding it necessary to look at his character ; but he must object to putting in particular publications at a particular time , lie had , in -his opening address , said he would suppress nothing favourable to any defendant ; and he had adverted

      to the faot , that ( up to a certain period , the general tendency of Mr . O'Connor ' s writings in the Northern Star were opposed to the course with which he was charged in the indiotment ; and he had permitted a witness ( Griffin ) to give in evidence from his knowledge of the Northern Star as a reporter for that paper , a general statement that the object and apparent scope of the writings in it were strongly opposed to any violation of the peace . He would willingly give every indulgence ; but must objvot to any particular publication . . Mr . Atherton said , he sought to read from the Northern Star of the date whioh had been put in .

      The Attorney-General said , his Learned Friend should have said so at once ; though some doubt had lately been entertained as to whether that could be done , but he would not raise that doubt at all . The Judge said , ha mubt guard himself ; this was doubtless a concession b y the Attorney-General . The Learned Gentleman had a right only to read what went to explain and give a different character to the passage given in evidence for the proseoution . Mr . Atherton then read a passage from an article which appeared in a third edition of the Northern Star of the 13 th August , and a first edition oi' the 20 th August . In this an opinion waa expressed that a cessation from labour to effect any political object

      must be national and simultaneous . It could not but be successful , because indicating the nation ' s Will , against whioh no power could succeed . But a mere sectional display of this most decisive of all the forma-of moral fore * , like a mere sectional display of physical resistance , was sure to be overpowered by the strength of faction . If the strike were made a Chartist strike it must become universal . Such a declaration would be to those concerned , the fiat of omnipotence . But if Manchester , or even Lancashire , sustained the struggle singly , it would be unsuccessful ; and in all probability , would retard the movement whioh it was meant to hasten . The men had a right to strike , but no right to riot ; they had a right to work or not to work , but no right to break

      windows , destroy property , or stop factories . Above all things , they had no right to insult the constables , authorities , or soldiers , &o . The Learned Gentleman having read this , then addressed himself to the evidence , as against Fenton and Stephenson , neither of whom he said , had been shown to bo in the Conference at Manchester , or near Manchester at all , daring any part of the tumultuous proceedings . He noticed the various meetings in Stalybridge , on the Haigh , &o . beginning with that of July 29 , and dwelling on the fact that Fentoa was a zealous advocate of the wage question , and opponent of its being mixed up with the Charter question ; and that on one occasion he had nearly become a martyr to his zeal ; for , according to the evidence , " they bad like to

      have thrown Fenton out of the cart ; " because he opposed its being made a Charter question . So far from the Chartists being a violent body , according to the whole of the evidence , they appeared to , be an eminently paoifio body . " Peace , law , and order " were the watchwords at all their meetings ; and the Attorney-General bad admitted , that up to the period of tbe strike , the organ of the Chartists , the Northern Star , had been opposed to violence . Tbe Jury would be running counter to the evidence if they deemed that the Chartists had been other than eminently pacific . The defendants , during the whole of the proceedings , though the crown had elicited the secrets of the Chartists—( and

      undoubtedly if there had been any illegal practice m their m < fat secret conclaves , those mon , Carlledge and Griffin , would have given them in evidence)—and though the defendants must have felt btrongly indignant against these witnesses , if they had been the Violent men they had been represented , would they have respected the sacred precincts of this court of justice , and remained silent . Amongst the Chartists , as amongst other bodies , there would be fire * brands , and those men hid tuld them there was one law for the rich and another for the poor , in conclusion , he left tbe case of the defendants with great confidence in the hands of the jury . The Learned Gentleman resumed his seat at twenty-five minutes to eleven o ' clock , having spoken an hour and a

      half . Mr . M'Oobrey next addressed the jury . He said be appeared for tbe defendants Mooney , Thornton , and ; Aitkin , but the Attorney-General had withdrawn the proseoution as against Thornton . The Attobnev-Genbbat . —My Lord ,- it appears to me that he bas been only imperfectly identified , and tha representations as to his character were snch as to induce me to withdraw the prosecution . By the direction of the Judge , the jury acquitted Thornton .

      Mr . M'Ocbhet then addressed the jury on behalf of Aitkin and Mooney . He adverted to the expression attributed to Aitkin , that '' the reckoning day is nigh , " recited the verse of the hymn given in evidence , and argued that it was impossible to believe that men thus engaged in devotion , could rush from the worship of God to defy him by plunging into scenes of violence . As to Mooney , the evidence depended on the testimony of Cartledge , who merely swore that he was present at the Conference at Mr . Scholefield ' s . He ridiculed the evidence of Whittam as to Mooney ' s declaration of war against the British Government , with " four double-barrelled guns and two single-barrelled guns . " The learned gentleman spoke about twenty minutes . Mr . O'Connor said that some of the other defendants wished to address themselves to the jary , and had arranged amongst themselves in what order they should speak . The Judge— I have no objection .

      ( The great length of the observations of the Learned Counsel employed , and of eome of the Defendants , has debarred our own Reporter from transcribing the whole of his notes ; we have , therefore , taken the speeches of Mr . Baines and Sergeant Murphy from the Morning Chronicle , as being the best report we could find ; and the commencement of Tuesday ' s proceedings to this point , we hare extracted from the Manchester Guardian J ; Mr . Geobqb Julian Habset—May it please

      your Lordship , Gentlemen of the Jury ;— In rising to defend myself from the charges preferred against me , Z must crave the indulgence of the Court for any imperfections in my defence—imperfections which are extrenioly likely to be made , caused by tbe novel situation in which I find myself placed , and my total ignorance of all the forms of lawr . Had J consulted ihe views of many of my friends I would probably have , instead of defending myself , employed one of the many learned and talented gentlemen around me to advocate my cause , bub consoious of my innocence and disdaining tbe arts of

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      policy—beUa-vinB tbat" thrice be iB armed who hath hl 3 quarrel just , " I appear before you to'defend my own cause , believing in spite of the jar ray of legal talent opposed to me , that I can convince you of my innocence and the injustice of the charges against me in the indiotment . Gentlemen , I | i > ass over the barbarous phraseology of the indictment upon which as a civilian , not understanding the terms employed therein , I might have very fairly commented , I pass by that and many other topics upon which I would have commented but for two reasons , —first , I feel that I have no right to occupy the ] time of this Court to the hindrance of the other defendants who have to follow me ; aud second , because I feel that I ought to detain you as short as possible , in

      consideration of the labour you have already had to perform , and hence , gentlemen , jl will come at once to the question . Allow me here to remark that to me it appears passing strange , that while I occupy a prominent place in this indiotment , I find no mention made of my name in the opening address of the Attorqey-General , nor any evidence offered against me until the morning of Saturday last , when Cart * ledge gave evidence that 1 was at the Conference . Strange , gentlemen , that there should ! be so little evidence against one of the chief conspirators Well , gentlemen , I find myself charged with having conspired with a number of persons to the number of fifty-eight ; of these fifty-eight Ham only well acquainted with one . vi ? ., SainueTParkes of Sheffield ,

      with about fifteen ontwenty of the defendants lam partially acquainted ; bui these I knovir mostly only byname , while with from twenty-five to forty of the defendants , I am totally unacquainted ;! I never heard toll of them before my arrest ; when Ij was taken to Kirkdale gaol I for the first time met -some of these persons—but still so little do I knowiof them that were they placed before me now . j and my life depended on the issue , I assure you , gentlemen , that I could not distinguish even twelve of them by their names . Some reside in Ashton , some in Manchester , some in other parts of Lancashire ; I reside iu Sheffield ; what connection could there have ; been between them and me 2 Letters aud papers were taken from me when I was arrested , the proseoution has no

      doubt looked through them , is there any letter from any one of these defendents to me ? A considerable cumber of the defendants have been treated in the manner that I was , letters were taken Ifrom them , — is there any one of these letters from me I Can the prosecutor show that there was any connection between me and them ? He oannot ; what then becomes of the charge that I conspired with these men —men I never knew—men whom , previous to my arrest , I never saw ! I find I am charged with conspiring on the 1 st of August and following days . Now , Gentlemen , no evidence has been offered to shew that there was any strike , turn-out , or disturbance on the 1 st of August , —what then becomes of the charge that I conspired en the lit of that month i

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

      I protest againBt that evidence ; we have nothing to do with what the trades' delegates did ; their names are not in this indiotment . and hence I suppose that they did nothing illegal ; if they had , I suppose that tho Government would have prosecuted them ; well , if they did nothing illegal , wby is evidence of their doings brought against us who had nothing to do with them I Gentlemen , I have shewu you that the strike did not commence until the 8 ; b ! of Augustthat the Charter was never even mentioned until the 10 th of August ; and now I will show you that I knew nothing of the Btnke until j the 13 th of August . Gentlemen , the strike commenced on the 6 th , the march to Manchester was on tbe tih ; on Wednesday the 10 th , early in tb . 9 day , 1 loft

      Sheffield , my business as a bookseller and newsagent compelling me to occasionally leave home ; I was absent until the Saturday , when on my return home on the railway I for the first time heard of the strike , but it was not until 1 reached my home , and had put into my hands the local papers , that I became fully aoquaiuted with the first movements of the turnouts ; and it was not until the next day , August 14 th , that I became aware that a portion of the turn-outs bad deolared in favour of" the Charter . Yet , in spite of these well known facts , we are charged with conspiracy on the 1 st of August ! 1

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

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

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

      Gentlemen , Griffin , the secretary to this committee , has avowed that he it was who Smi suggested to the committee this proposition of calling the Conference ;—allow me to read the conclusion of this address , it will serve to illustrate the character of the writer , Mr . Griffin : — j " In conclusion , we intend to do our duty , and believe that you to whom this humble app al is made , will do yours ; and may you and we work harmoniously together , until every man possess his rights and liberties , and may the Ruler of tho Creation stamp your and oar exertions with the seal of his divine approbation . Until then , 1 ** We remain , " In the bonds of Friendship aad Brotherhood , "Your humble Servants , " Signed , on behalf of tbe Monument Committee , " Wiiaiam Gkifvin , Secretary . "

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

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

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      ^ 07 ^ 1 ^ 0 ^ ^~ ft&Lh ^ ^ - // yu ^ cS ^ dAJte assembled Conferences of the Association , where they will have the benefit of the opinions of the leading councillors of the National Charter Assooiation . " Is there anything illegal in a Conference 60 called »! i t must be remembered that Chartist conferences are not the only conferences that have been held ; a well known , talented , and in the sister cbuhtry if not in this , I believe a popular gentleman , namoly , Mr . Daniel O'Connell , is m the habit of holding weekly , large meetings of bis friends and admirers , the object of which meetings , we are assured by conservative writers , is the dismemberment of the Empire .

      Gentlemen , I don't believe this , but this I will say , that if Mr . O'ConnelTs meetings are legal , surely a Conference called as I have shewn is at least as legal . Conferences have been called together by a gentleman well known to the public , viz , Mr . Joseph Stnrgs , the avowed object of which Conferences was the carrying through the Legislature of the Six Points of the Charter . There c&s hare been nothing ilfcg&l in such Conferences , for the Government has not prosecuted the parties attending them . Surely th » Chartist Conference in question was cqoaily legal . Huge Conferences havs been held in Manchester , called together by the Corn Law Repealers . Great capitalists and dissenting clergymen have in large

      numbers attended these Conferences . Far be it from me to impute to those parties anything illegal in their acts ; on the contrary , I feel bound to be' lieve that their acts have been striotly legal , otherwise the Government would have subjected them to prosecution ; but I dare challenge comparison of their speeches and actB with those of the Chartist Conference . If the former were legal , the latter has been a thousand times more so . Gentlemen , something has been said of the meeting held on the Good Friday of 1842 , at whioh was laid the foundation stone of the Hunt Monument . I waa present afr that meeting , and if there was no harm , no illegality in attending the meeting at which the foundation :

      stone of this Monument tras laid , surely there was no more harm , no more illegality in attending the meeting intended to be held in celebration of the completion of that Monument . Gentlemen , without further preface , I will now come to the Conference , and the acts of that body . Genjfclemen , ~ lfr wa ? i on the 15 th of July that I was elected to the Conference at a public and legal meet ing of the working olasse ? , ' and others , of Sheffield . This was nearly a month before the commencement of the strike , and when by no possibility could I have foreknown the events that were about to transpire . I have shewn you that I knew nothing of ( he strike until the 13 th of August . Well , on the 16 ' . h I left

      Sheffield for Manchester , and , arrived tnere , I found that not only the procession but also the intended meeting had been postponed by the Monument Committee , rather than risk a collision with the authorities . Permit me here to remark , that had tbe Chartists wished to promote tumult and insurrection they would have pursued a very different coarse to that which they did . Had they wished to promote revolution , would- they not have appealed to the immense masses of men at that time on strike , to come to Manchester on the 16 th , and then and there avenge the wrongs of a more memorable 16 ih of August i Did they do so ? No ; on the contrary they forbade the meeting , and gave up the procession .

      that there might be no chance of disorder or bloodshed . Gentlnmen , I think you will admit that I did not go to Manchester for the purpose of engaging in a physical-force struggle with the authorities , when I tell you that I took my wife with me to see the Hunt Monument and attend the festive meetings iu celebration of its completion . Had I intended to have gone to war , it is not likely I would have had my wife with me . I have been sworn to as having been seen in Leach ' s shop . Well , Gentlemen , 1 I suppose there is no illegality in being seen in a public shop ; that evening ( the 16 th ) 1 , with my wife , attended tho tea-meeting in the Carpenter ' s Hill , where the only signs of conspiracy 1 saw was

      the apparent universal determination to get rid of the tea and toast as soon as possible . On the 17 th , the delegates met ; it has been insinuated that it was a sort of secret meeting , and that there was an understanding that the proceedings of the meeting were not to be published ; there is no truth in this , gentlemen ; the meeting was open to all Manchester , if they could have been accommodated wit 1 ! seats ; indeed , I wished my wife to be present , but she refused on the very natural ground that there were no females present . Now , gentlemen , I think , had the delegates been conspiring , I would not have wished to have brought my wife into their meetingfor , with feelings of the most profound respect for the ladies present in this Court , I must say , that when men do conspire , they are not iu the habit of

      Iettipg the ladies share their secrets . That the proceedings of the Conference were not intended to be secret is proved , by tbe fact of reporters being present . Griffin was there as a reporter ; and , if the whole staff of ieporteiB attached to the Manchester press were not there , the fault was theirs , not the delegates . Griffin took notes as a reporter , and if ho did not use them in the usual way it only shews fcfeafr he was there as a spy . Something has been said of the violence of one or more of the delegates ; the prosecutor has not brought , and cannot bring , any such charge . What sayB the notes taken from Brooke , of Todmorden , respecting , myself I The Judge- ^ The notes found on Brooke are not produced against you as evidence , they are not brought against you at all .

      Tho Defendant—I am aware of thai ray Lord , but your Lordship wall 1 know permit me to remark upon them . Of me , these notes say simply this : — " Julian Harney , —No connexion with the middleclaea . "—Whioh can mean no more than this , either that 1 was opposed to any union with the middleclass , or else that I had no hope of the middleclass uniting with the Chartist body for Chartist purposes , —not much violence there . I now come to the resolution adopted by a majority of the Conference . The witnesses Cartledge and Griffin have both given evidence , that in the Conference 1 opposed the resolution , upon which is founded this prosecution ; I did not extract these admissions from the

      witnesses by cross-examining them , I have not said , a word to any one of the immense number of witnesses produced here on the pare of the Crown . Yoa have then the evidence of these witnesses that opposed this resolution . I don't thank these persons for their admissions , nor will I take" advantage of them , to endeavour . to clear myself at the expense of others . Gentlemen , if 1 did not support this resolution in the Conference , I will defend it here . What says the resolution 1 It denies that the Chartists originated the strike ; that is a truth ; it has never been pretended by the proseoution , that the Chartists did originate the strike ; who were the originators is what has never yet been made public ; though the

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

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

      tne people's ettons ; and Jl rejoice that l > y the influence X possess with the working classes ot that town , 1 was able to give such a direction to tho people ' s efforts . An address was adopted by the Conference . I was not present when that address was adopted , but I approve of it , and would defend it if it were necessary . Muoh has been said respecting a certain extraordinary document , as it has been oalled , ascribed to the Chartist Executive . Not one tittle of evidence has been produced to show that I had any connexion with this address , that 1 knew anything of its authorship or publication . Had any evidence been offered againBt me , I would have ddfenddd myself from the charge . None has been offered

      , and I disdain to take up the question ; it is beneath my notice . I have done with the Conference . Oa the 18 sh of August I returned home , and On the 19 ; h , 1 reported to a largo public meeting the proceedings of the Conference , so little idea had I that I had done anything illegal . On Monday , the 22 d of August , a meeting waa held in 1 aradise-square , to consider the propriety of commencing the strike in Sheffield . I attended that meeting ; a resolution was proposed , the intent and meaning of which 1 understood to be , that the strike should be forthwith commenced . I ; opposed tne proposition ; I moved an amendment against the strike ; I carried my amendment by a large maority Wrth

      j . your permission I will . read my speech upon that occasion , as reported in the Sheffield independent . [ Mr . Harney commenced reading the speech , but was interrupted by Sir Gregory Lewin . who objected to the Defendant reading the speech . lne Judge overruled the objection , and Mr . Harney read the speech through , whioh was strongly couched in opposition to a Strife taking place in Sheffield . Uentlemea , continued Mr . Harney , my opposition to the projaoted strike was successful , and though for my conduct I have had the abuse and calumny of some of iay own party , I hare aerer regretted the part I played that day . In Sheffield there has been no disturbances—no collisions of the people and the militaxy—no marshalling of police—no calling out ( Continued in onr fourth page . ) *

      Lancaster Assizes.

      LANCASTER ASSIZES .

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      3 ^^^^^^^^ , Xt - ^ fc .-M- , i : • ¦ ' - j ~ ff i-r f' . TT ' " ¦ ' .. : AKD LEEDS GENERAL ADYEMIBEft . |

      Untitled Article

      YOL . YIv H ) . 278 . SATXTRJ ) AY MARCH U , 1843 . PWCE »^ 'S ^ p 5 * £±£ "

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 11, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct925/page/1/