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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th July 1843, Edition 5 of 5, Page 1, Cfeavttgt JEntentgencc.

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    • Cfeavttgt JEntentgencc.
    • TO HBE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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      33 t Deab YsxEXDSy—After having been entrusted with the keeping and administration of your funds for the last ten months ,-m&wtTonr expressing any anxiety as to the manner I have used them , it becomes xnj pleading duty to submit my b&lanoe gheesfor jonr perasaL You Trill find thailhSft garefoUj abstjuned from mixing up is th&aceonni jury single item connected -with my own defence .

      It is a fortnnaie circumstanca that I am enabled , bj yonx good opinion , to await the proper time for replying t © all the dandere ot my enemies ; and tltat 1 am so strongly robed in honesty as to feel so overanxietj in refuting the falsehoods of hired scribblers , prostitute politicians , jiad jealous self-tormentors -One charge against me 1 mb T > eea thai I have escaped juiseai iiBd from it © xeeest prosecution because 1 was able to aval myself of the serrice of lawyers ; jrlHe those -whom the ignorant are pleased io call 2 dj dupes haye , si 2 aMd from % 3 rant of ihe sane means . Never -was "there s atn donMy r !

      ignorant assertion than this , y&sfly ; fceeanse it iras against my consent , and against the consent of the leaders of the Chartist body , that any man , ihongh ever so humble , belonging to onr party should goto trial without the Tery best legal assistance . And this taunt has been thrown out in consequence of the adoption of apian against which I nave invariably protested . I mean the system of raising separate local defence funds , and giving the amount collected either to the party accused , or to a committee for the purpose of Mb defence . Sow , if it goes to the party , it is jjenerally made private property x > f , while the accused suppose ? that he best consults Ms own feelings and 'the interest of his party , by Tnatdng' ^ hiB own

      defence ; or , if it is legitimately expended by a committee , some griping Attorney grasps the whole , and aftenrards comes down upon the committee fora balance : 2 ms , in either ease , committing xa injustice open the ^ contributors . Secondly , I had no counsel : while , as 1 was the principal party attacked , slimy brother conspirators had the advantage tf the testimony of all my witnesses , as well as of my poor legal inowledge . It is extraordinary , however , to see the manner in which political scribhlers blow hot and cold , "With one breath they charge me whb not defending my poor dnpes ; while ¦ Hit h the other they associate Chartism with pickpockets and thieves , and blow upon me when , in the general cofuusioB , I am not able to distinguish between them , sad consequently prefer defending iwih-It was a charge against ns , that at the recent Special Commission ?; prisoners were defended who wars charged with moral guilt ; while had they not been defended , I should have been charged with the tmae of neglecting my poor dnpes . Again , in 13 S 9 and 1840 , almost every man charged with political offence had a local fund subscribed Jar hi 3 own defence ; while not one , or scarcely one , © f them applied one single farthing to the purposes

      for which the monies were subscribed : and I , as treasurer , was in consequence ont of pocket between ; £ 3 > 0 and £ 300 . Various snms from £ 3 , 000 and upwards , to 40 s . 50 ? . and 100 s . hare been thns mbseribed , wiihont conferring the intended benefit upon theacensed or the party : while more than 4 W ) prisoners haTe heen defended for little more than Uarty s 3 riffing 3 each , by a propel application of the peopled monies .

      It i 3 now fire years since I urged npon yon the i indispensable necessity of keeping up a National Defence Fund . In 1837 , when the Glasgow Cotton Spinnera were prosecuted , the want of inch a fund ; imposed npon me a month's labour in the depth of ynater , —which I would not again undertake for ] £ 5 , 000 , —and put me to an expense of £ -200 . That trial was made a great fnss about ; it cost between £ 3 , 600 and £ 4 , 000 ; was swallowed np by " law sharks , and did the ranse not one particle of good "; for the men were convicted : whereas , had my advice been then taken , the whole of the monies swallowed vp bj law sharks , delegates , and wituesses -mrald hxre been saved , and the men would have been acquitted . ;

      As it is worth while now and then to refresh yonr memories npon these subjects , I will direct yonr attention to the position in which the Cotton Spinners stood . They were charged in an indictment with several ofiences ; and instead of pleading and going to trial npon the indictment as it stood , they lock legal exceptions to it , in which they were Bnccessfhl . Thai is , they gained a great defeat at a great espenee . When I went to Edinburgh , and heard the indictment read , I all bnt went down on my knees , and implored the solicitor and the

      committee to withdraw the objections that had been raised , and allow the trial to proceed npon the indictment , a 3 it then stood . Bat no ; 1 was a fool f and was destined to fool away my time and my money in snpporfins the folly of others . The result , however , proved thai I was right , for the Lord Advocate immediately framed such an indictment as connselfor the prisoners argned -uxnud have embraced the offences with which they stood charged ; and they tcere tried upon the fresh indictment , casticted rPOS the SEW covers , and acquitted upon retry count contained in the Jirsl indictment / . ' . '

      What would yon have said , if Mr . Hoberts , onr able adviser , had recommended ns to demur , or , plainly speaking , to take exceptions to the second , fifth , and seventh counts in the Monster Indictuient V' in none of which there was any venne at all . Why , yon would have rejoiced for a moment at his pnny triumph j while it won'd have been followed by sneh er-rreetions a 3 could leave no hope of escape . Mr . Roberts knew of every objection to the indictment in Enfficient time for taking Bnch course : bnt like a good General , he waited the fitting opportunity for taking complete advantage of the enemy ' s indiscretion .

      Well , there ' s a Scotch instance for you ; and I must in justice say that the Ssoteh people have not Tery fairly returned the compliment then paid to the Cotton Spinners by ihe English Working classes . I will now give yon a Welsh instance . In 1839 , when frost was arrested there was not a single farthing to apply to his defence . I had to pay down nine hnndred sovereigns out of my own pocket to commence the defence before a farthing was snbseribed ; and again in the depth of winter , I was compelled to lake a month ' s tramp by night and by day to procure a Defence Fund . If I have before spoken of the apathy of the Scotch people with reference to the recent trials " , I must do them the justice to my that in Frost ' s case , they far < ratmipi > ed iheir English brethren m liberality .

      As I hope not to be again compelled to enter npon painfnl discussions of this nature , I embrace the present opportunity of fceing very explicit npon all mosey matters . A rnmonr has been circulated , then , by some of my good friends-that I borrowed a large amount of money from Mrs . Frost to enable me to defend her hn ? band , and that 1 never repaid it . I take this opportunity of stating clearly , how that matter stands . I never saw Mrs . Frost , until I ^ eember

      18 * 1 . I never had communication with Mrs . Frost for a very long time after die trial of her husband . I never applied to her for a farthing . 1 neveT received a farthing irom her , directly or indirectly ; Ehe ae-rer became security , in any shape or forcn , for any money that I received j and therefore I nevi-r had to pay any back . So , and just so , am I able to answer the vile and villainous report which has been industriously circulated of my inducing Mrs . Fre = t to give me a bir ^ e sam of money for her husband ' s defence , upon the condition that 1 would

      retannt . While I state thns much upon my own behalf , I am bcund in jnstice to Mrs . Frost , to say that she was most inhumanly and unnaturally choused out of several hundred pounds for the pnrposes of the defence , by one who Ehonld have put a guinea into her pockei rather than take a penny out of it- O . ' how oftenhavel aghed , aadsorrowed , and regretted , that 1 was not acquainted with Mr * Roberts at the

      time that that fatal occurrence took place ! for had 1 been so fortunate I have not the shadow of : doubt upon my mind that the amiable John Frost * onld hare been now Irring amongst ns , * nd aiding as-rohbiB « onndL But enough of tbiEpamful subject . I have said as mnch as was required for yonr instruction and my own defence . However , 1 mast * 6 d one sentence to this narative , The only money which I borrowed conditionally , was mosthononr-

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      ably throst npon me by two honest stonemasons living at Cheltenham . They were deputed to hand me a subscription from their locality , when they asked xoe how the funds stood ; and npon my replying " very slack , " one of them took twenty sovereignsjont ofa-iitde leathern hag which they had scraped together to take them to America in the following spring , and landed It to me saying : " Here , Sir , take this , and if we don't want it in spring , we won ' t require you to repay it . " I took the money ; and when they applied for it afterwards they got it by return of post . That ' s a Welsh case for yon .

      , I will now give you a histojy of the state of your affairs just before the last Special Commissions Hundreds , nay 1 believe thousands were arrested ; and amongst the rest Ellis was arrested , at > d committed for high treason . In minor cases we conld rely npon the attendance of junior counsel at Special Commissions , who -would be ^ jnite capable of defending Chartists against the usual charges of conspiracy , sedition , riots , routs , tumults , and so forth . High treason , however , is a different thing . A Junior Barrister is not supposed to understand the term ? allegiance *' aswel 2 as a veteran ; and therefore conld

      not- be safely entrusted in a case of treason with the ¦ defence of ene of our party . 2 received- « soT « of letters about Ellis ; and being resolved that no working man ' s life should be sacrificed to this undefined and nndefinable law without a struggle , I went to Serjeant Talfonrd ( before £ 30 was snbsribed ) to retain him at an expenceof 300 guinea 0 to defend Ellis . I learned , however , from his clerk that he had been retained by the Crown , whfre there was money enough to pay , and for which the Queen had neither to beg , borrow , or traverse the conntry , as I had . I then went to Charles Phillips ' s ; he was at Brighton ; and 1 learned from his -clerk that in

      consequence of some expectation of government patronage , he could not be had . I then went to Serjeant Shea ' s ; bnt it being long vacation he was ont of town . 1 then wert to Sergeant Murphy ' s ; he was in Ireland with his constituents . I then went to the Crown Ofilce , where the business is done better than in any other office , and where the very clerks understand more practical law than one half the barristers ; there I was reminded that Ellis mast have ten dayB notice , if he was to-be tried for high treason . So I rested satisfied , knowing that I should have ample time to prepare in such an event , and thus I saved you three hundred

      guinea ? . Before I offer some closing observations upon this subject , I mnst here observe , that in every disturbance in Ireland I was subjected to a like inconvenience . Wherever the poor people required to be defended , whether at Haibcormac or any where else , there was always a subscription raised at head quarters , which was swallowed np by the patriots ; whfle for years the drudgery and expence of defending the people invariably fell to my lot .

      Yon see then I have suffered in England , Scotland , Wales , and Ireland , from the non-performance of that duty which belongs to the people themselves If however , the frequent scaldings that neglect has given us shall have the effect of making the people more alive to their own interest in future , I am quiet ready to forgire the past . And now , you dear , good , honest , and virtuous fustian -jacket - blistered - hands-and-nnshorn - chia-ChartistB ; you for whom alone I work , and with whom I will continne to the latest day of my existence to struggle until 1 make you what you ought to

      be ; how can I thank you , the omnipotent people , sufficiently for the confidence that you have reposed in me , and the protection which that confidence throwB around me ? Having straggled through seven criminal prosecutions within the last six years , I must have fallen under the weight of prosecution made heavier by Ihe slander of the press thanly the vengeance of the law , if your good opinion had not &npphed a shield against the many arrows that have been shot at me ! While my every act has been open and unconcealed ; while I have suffered much pain of mind lest 1 should in anywise be considered

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

      drivellera mnst be V . Did they neter think of the Jury who could not be brought into " bur arrangement" !! Above all , did they lose sight of the fact that not only I , but all of my poor * ' dupes , " as they are pleased to call them , escaped as well as myself ?! It usually happens that where a flight of duck ? are to decoyed , the decoy duck alone escapes ! while the remainder of the flight find themselves under the net . Without much circumlocution , however , yon will believe a plain

      tale' from a plain man . Firstly , allow me to tell those scandal-mongers , and self-tormentors that the Government would not have snffered the exposure that they received by the Lancashire trials for one million sterling . There's not on legal record an instance of so big a blander ; nor in history one of so great a triumph ! . I ne ^ er consider myself humbled by entering into the most minnte explanations with you ; and especially do I feel myself called npon now , not to undeceive yon , but to thank yon for not allowing yonrselves to be deceived .

      Hear my answer then , you working men , giTen with all the solemnity of the most solemn oath : throughout my whole life I have never conspiried against any single individual ; nor have I ever betrayed any confidence reposed in me by the xat > 3 t humble ! 1 have never held correspondence , conversation , or communication with any man in office upon any other subject than that which may hare been in fulfilment of your commands—such as making one of a deputation , or presenting memorials in your behalf ! while I would have suffered any length of imprisonment , transportation , or even death , rather than condescend to hold communication with the Government , any portion of which I should be ashamed to withhold from the public

      ear . 1 tell yon now that 1 have been lid for , and highly bid for , by the Whigs ; but never , in the course of my life , have I had any such offer from the Tories ; and for this simple reason , because they know well thai 1 would espose the insult . They know , as you know , that all the money in their coffers conld not purchase my support : while all the patronage at their disposal would be but poor compensation for betraying the meanest of our party .

      I trust that 1 have now sufficiently explained the whole transaction abont which I write ; that I have embraced the several subjects of most Tital importance to our party , and given a faithful account of my stewardship . Allow me then to say a word or two by wav of comment upon the manner in which our legal bnsinesB has been transacted throughout this ardnons and protracted struggle , byMr . Roberts It is always most pleas-ing to me to find myself } n the wrong when the discovery of erzor has the

      effect of doing justice to those whom I may have injured , or to whom I may have caused a single pang . At one period Mr . Roberts and I were so far unknown to each other , as not thoroughly to understand each other . I was foolish enongo to entertain a sort of prejudice against him , without knowing why or wherefore . However , it has since fallen to my lot to be on a little closer intimacy , and by which I have been led to a knowi ledge of my former error . At Birmingham , where

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      THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED , PRICE SIXPENCE , No . L OF A PRACTICAL WORK --. iJT ' if- ON THE MANAGEMENT OF . SMALL -FARMS ; Giving fall instructions respecting Rotation of Crops , Management » f Cattle , Culture , &o . B-ST FEABGUS O'CONNOR , ES

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      his support of Sturgeism would have been a heavy blow at Chartisni i I vr ^ s first made acquainted with the real merits of the man as a politician , and his capacity as a scholar . I discovered that the difference between him and me , as regarded Sturgeism , was just this : I suspeoted and denounced the party upon suspicion ; while he thought it more benefioial to the cause of democracy to act . with them while they professed a desire to serve it . He was the first to desert and expose them upon the commission of an overt act of treachery .

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

      of flying to local attornies , and of raising individual defence funds . I know that you are poor ; and that , —thanks to the infernal blasted machinery , —you are likely to be still poorer ; and after all my trials , persecutions , and expenses , I am richer than a nation of paupers ; and therefore I lay the foundation-stone of a permanent defence fund , by presenting you with the balance of between £ 300 and £ 400 now in my hands as treasurer , as a nest egg for those who can spare a little , now and then , to lay upon . I say that I present you with this balance as a free gift : because , by all the rules

      of trade , of commerce , and of justiee , I should bave a right to set off about : the same amount over-paid by me , settled , audited , and allowed , in 1841 , ia- my balance-sheet as treasurer , for 1839 and 1840 . 1 do not do eo , however ; as I can better bear that loss than suffer yon to repay it , to the great injury of our cause . The amount set down in the credit side of my balance-sheet , as paid to Mr . Roberts , has been expended , and I believe more ; while Mr . Roberts himself has not , as yet , received a guinea for his services : nor will he render me his account until the battle is finished . In the event of things taking a turn ; should the Court of Queen ' s Bench deeide in favour of the validity of the fourth count ; we shall ,

      ' . ' in such a case , be driven to a writ of error , by which is meant the re-arguing of the whole case ; before the fifteen judges . When those who have I subscribed their pence remember what the Govern' ment blunders hare cost the country , they will l ; surely be astonished at the comparatively trifling amount at which Mr . Roberts has exposed them ; ' , while I have no hesitation in saying that , had the several parties been defended by separate attornies . £ 50 , 000 would not have covered the expence , while not a particle of Bervice would have been rendered to th * cause . Here follows my balancesheet ; and I am your friend and servant , F . O'Connor .

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      NOTES . A . —The ram of £ 50 for the victim fund addad to the amount received by me from Mr . Cleave , will make the amount of £ 532 tbe total received by him . B—There may be soine ' errora , but most of them in my favour , in the Evening Stir ' s account , because Mr . Pray paid several sums on account of defence fand received by him , and which are incluJed in the £ 234 ; while I bave not taken credit for any of them . When I have more time , however , any errors that may appear on either side under this bead shall be corrected . C—Not one farthing of the money received at the Northern Star office has ever been used , er placed even to my credit , though I have often been hard enough pressed for money .

      D— £ 26 30 a . of the above sam was returned by Peplow , and makes a part of the £ 234 credited from the Evening Star , "where it was acknowledged ; and I cannot withhold from Peplow those thanks which I now tender him , and to which he is pre-eminently entitled from the whole country for the ieal , the ability , and honesty he manifested througaout the Special Commission , Cooper ' s recent protracted trial , an * npon all occasions when his services were required . I must farther state that he is a real working man ; and that be has not received one farthing for the loss of between thirty » uu forty days . I do not -wish to establish » bad precedent , and one which may subject me to veay g » 6 a . t inconvenience ; but at the same time I admire honesty and lore jnatice , and therefore if it i « the wkh of the Chatttst body , I shall have much jpleaaore in remunerating Peplow fer his loss of time . I must also observe that > Ir Roberts has never received one farthing for his services at the Special Commission ^ and that independently of

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      his attendance there , at Lancaster , at Manchester for a C 0 a 8 iu 6 T&ble time getting up hb case , and in London for Bome mouths , he also attended at York and at Derby to arrange the defence of the Chartists in those placeB . E—A portion of the sum , I believe £ 5 , was also returned by the ; honest working man who got it , to the Manchester defence committee . F—This amount was pxid by me to Messrs . Yotes anaTrirner , in two sums of £ 40 and £ 31 . G—The sevoral sums paid to the defendants at Lancaster was owing to the length of time that the ttial lasted .

      H—As I understand some bickering has taken place about this item , I feel myself bound to state tbe circumstance precisely as it occurred . Mr . Ridley called upon me on the Sunday morning previous to his departure for Gloucestershire to take bh trial . He asked me for £ l 10 s . to defray his expences there . I told him that in no instance had any of the funds been appropriated to such a purpose . I said , if you wish to have council you shall have the best that the circuit affords . No , he replied . I mean to defend myself ; and I then advised him aa to hiB course . He then aaid , how am I to get there ? and I replied , •« What man , can't you walk there ? " and he smiled . "Come , " said I , ' here"s a sovereign to take you down , » ud if it is objected to when I am passing my accounts , I'll pay it out of my own pocket . '' There is tbe little peg npon which a great story has been hung .

      I—The several Bums paid to the defendants when in London , was in consequence of the idea entertained in the several localities , that they would be sent back to the respective gaols to which they were committed , at the expense of the Government ; and they were not therefore furnished with tho moans of returning . By reference j to niy balance sheet it will bo seen that I have not charged anything under the usual and comprehensive head of " sundries ; " although if I had time and inclination , I have no doubt that I could put from £ 80 to £ 100 together ., I have charged nothing for my own expences , although I was obliged to send my pays cian and two bondsmen to Liverpool , where they remained for several days . In mentioning this item I must state . In justice to Mr . Cleave , who was one of my bail , that although I pressed him to receive

      compensation for loss of tin i , he declined accepting more than merely covered -his travelling expemces . There is no charge for my witnesses ; though I brought two from Ireland , and others from different parts of tbe country . Mr . Pray was subpeened not for me , but to break down the character of Griffin . There is no charge for a large expenditure paid on account of all by me at Lancaster . Mr . Roberts paid his own expences ; neither do I take into account theilarge sum that it cost . me in travelling expencea tb lecture in aid of the fund . I do not however complain of any of those small losses , as the " £ 2 that I fobbed at Nottingham , out of the £ 5 that I received to pay a delegate , " will much more than cover them . I bave now rendered my account as Treasurer of the National Defence . Fand ; and trust it will be found satisfactory to those who have so repeatedly honoured me with thair confidence . F . O'C .

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      DUBLIN—The Irish Universal Suffrage Association held their usual weekly meeting on Sunday last , at six o'clock in the evening . Mr , John Keegau was called to the chair . Mr . Dyott , the fcjeoretary , read the rules and objects of ihe Association , and several letters from varioua parts of Ireland , congratulating the Association or the good sense and discrimination it had displayed respecting the object of the leaders of the R-peal movement ; and expressive of sympathy and sorrow for the poor , innocent , warm-hearted and confiding dupes who have been , and still are , cheated out of their mouey under the pretence of Repealing

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

      Mr . O'Hig gins said , that before he should answer the question , ho should propose a gentleman for admission , as a member of their association , who wa ? well known as an honest , indefatigable , and talented member of the National Charter Association of Great Britain , and who had also been a member of the Working Men ' s Association , before the Chartist organisation ; a gentleman who had always identified himself , as every true-hearted man ought to do , with the working elates ; a gentleman , who in his correspondence with Mr . O'Conuell relative to his treachery against the Glasgow cotton-spinners , had done honour to his head and his heart : he should , without saying more upon that occasion , move that Mr . George Julian Harn . ev , of Sheffield , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage Association . ( Hear and cheers . )

      Mr . Joseph Bbikrlt rose to second the motion . He said that Mr . llarney had , to his credit , been endeavouring tb effect a Union in Sheffield between the Chartists , who are all Repealers ^ and those who assume the exclusive right to agitate that question ; and who , in their folly , rfj' -ct the aid and co-operation of their real friends , the Chartists , and mfanly beg and . pray and fawn for that of a miserable handful of bigotted , besotted Orangemen—( cheers ) . M . r . 'Haruey was admitted by acclamation .

      Mr . O Higgins said he had another member to propose ?; and in doing bo , he should complain of one great sin of omission by Mr . O'Connell . Ho had often heard him say that Catholic Emancipation would have been obtained spmo twenty years sooner had it not been for the Convention 'Vet . and the Act against Corresponding Sooietie 9 . Well , one would expect that when Mr . O'Connell had his friends , the Whigs , in power , with their commandm * : majorities of 150 to J 7 Vi- "tyrannical majorities , "' as Lord Stanley called them , —that he Would have made an effort to repeal those obnoxious statues . But , no ; he did nothing ; except get good places for all his sons in-law—three of them : 9 place for his son , who is not a Repealer ; places for his nephews , who are not Repealers : but to' do anything ,

      or to propose to do anything for the benefit . of his country was out of the question . " Keep the Tories out till the Whigs provide for my progeny and kinsmen , and you will be all true patriots and go id Christians . " This was the whole service he rendered his country from the time he entered Parliament up to the present period . Let any one who can do iit tell him , Mr . O'Higgins , anything he did ^ or proposed to do , for the benefit of his country daring his whole parliamentary career ; and he would give him credit for i * . Look how his track is marked with the blood of his countrymen at every step , from the period of the Tithe slaughters at Nowtownbarry , on tho I 8 ; hof June , 1831 , down to the murder of Mr . Caffrey , the Repeal dupe and

      victim , at Clones , in 1843 . Had he made an effort to have the Convention Act , and the Act against Corresponding Societies Repealed , he , Mr . O'Higgins , would have been spared the pain of alluding to the man at all ;—a man who had done more mischief to his country than any man ever did before ; a man who bad sold counties cities , towns , and boroughs to the enemies of Ireland , " the perfidious Whigs ;"; and at the same time had the talent to make his countrymen believe that it was all for their good ! It is necessary . that this Association should be on its guard . When the Whigs were in power , Mr . O'Connell called upon the

      Whig Attorneyr General to prosecute us . He called us " midnight Assassins ; " and , in bis speech , in Dundalk the other day , it appears that he had the face to tell the people there that which he knew to be false . He said that " the Chartists were covertly and insidiously aiding and abetting secret societies , that they are bound together by unlawful oaths , which is -not tftie ! and from ; that spot he ( Mr . O'Higgins ) [ begged to refer Mr . O'Connell to his catechism , where he will find it written , by authority of the church , " that no reason or motive can justify a lie . " It is clear , from the malignity of this slander , that we must be cautious ; for the

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      man who -would thus , in the" face of Heaven , tell his assembled countrymen a ^ ase , blood-thirsty , and brutal lie , would not hesitate to swear to it if the Tories would just give a place to his dear little son Johnny . In orderjto guard the association against ; any infringement of those penal statutes and to put it out of the power of any particular informer to swear away the jliyes or liberties of their neighbours ; he should then ! state for the guidance OP ALL THEIR E . NQL 1 SH JCOREESPOHDEMTS , . THAT THOSE WHO WRITE SHOULD ALWAYS REQUEST TO BB FROPC 8 ED MEMBERS OP ThE ASSOCIATION ; AND WHKN ONCE ADMITTED MEMBERS , THE SIMPLE

      GIHCUMSTANGE OF WHITING jTO THE PRESIDENT OH SECHETABV COULD NOT BE CONSTRUED INTO A VIOLATION of any penal law . ( Sear , hear . ) In moving that Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member , he should take that opportunity of answering the questions respecting Mr . O'Connell ' s votes on the Irish Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell vnted against the ( first Coercion Bill in the year 1833 . But he voted in favour of tho renewal of it in 1835 ; arid when Mr . William Smith O'Brien moved a clause to the effect that the act should be limited to twjp years , Mr . O'Connell moved an amendment that jit should continue for five tears , on the ground that it was necessary " to put down agrarian disturbance in Ireland . " Mr . O'Connell ' s amendment } was carried ; and the Coercion Act remained in full force for five years afterwards I In t . hn nRit . nnsqinn nf nnriismanr VI « .

      Wm . Sharman Crawford brought forward aouotion for the repeal of the Coercion Act . Mr . O'Connell voted against ( he motion ! O n the 1 st of July , 1836 , Mr . Crawford brought forward a motion to the effect that all tithes and ] composition of tithes should cease and determine in Ireland ; and that the clergy of the several religious sects should be left for their support to ( iheir respective flocks . Can it bs believed that | Mr , O'Connell voted against this motion . His name will be found recorded in the votes and proceedings of the House of Commons in company with English and Irish Tories upon those divisions . Let ] there be no mistake about this : he voted against ; the abolition of tithes in Ireland , while he led his dupes to believe that he was the strenuous opponent of tithes . A baser Whig hack never crossed the Irish ( channel than the loud talking patriot Daniel O'Connell .

      Men of Newport . ' Chartists of England . ' bear in mind that while Mr . O'Connell was ihus supporting the Whigs through thick and ] thin , he took care to provide for his family . His son-in-law , Christopher Fizsimon , a Repealer , sold th ' e County of Dublin to a non-Repealer for a Whig I place in the Hanaper office . Another son-in-law , ] Mr . French , was appointed a stipendiary magistrate . Another son inlaw , Mr . Charles O'Connell , a Repealer , gave i » p the County of Kerry to ] Mr . Blennerhasset , a

      Tory . Mr . Morgan O'Connell , the Repeal Member for Meath , delivered up that county to a non-Repealer for a clerkship in thV . registry-office . But then this was ' an instalment" of " Justice to Ireland ! " After having gone through the whole history of Mr . O'Connell's political career , Mr . O'Higgins concluded by moving tha ^ i Mr . Thomas Self , of Newport , Isle of Wight , be admitted a member of the Irish Universal Suffrage ^ Association ; Mr . John Lynham seconded the motion , which was carried unanimously .

      Mr . Dyott , in a very able speech , explained to the meeting , the difference between the Repeal of the Union with the present limited constituency of Ireland , and the Repeal of the Union after the constituency , should be extended ( agreeably to the principles of the People's Charter . He proveal to the satisfaction of all present , but jthree , that the Repeal of the Union , unaccompanied by an extension of the franchise would confer no real benefit upon the working man . j Mr . Woodward said that he should prefer the right to vote to a Repeal of the Union , if it were for no other reason than that the ] people would then get rid of the atrocious Church Establishment —( Great cheering ) . j

      Several other members gave their opinions , and good reasons too , for preferring Universal Suffrage , as a matter of choice , to a Repeal of the Union unaccompanied by Universal Suffrage . Tho petition against the j Irish Arms Bill was postponed , as Mr . O'Coonell was not iu his place to present it . j Mr . Devitt wished to know whether Lady Elliott or Lady Stanley , or both , should be appointed to brand Irishmen ' s guns ; and ( were they to derive all the profit of the operation —( great laughter ) . Mr . Burley was called ] to the chair , and the marked thanks of the meeting wero given to Mr . Keegan for his gentlemanly ] conduct in the chair , after which the meeting separated .

      Untitled Article

      ABERUEEtf . —On Friday week , the Chartists held an 9 ut- ;! oi :.- mettini ? at Old Aberdeen . A iniiid uf - mus ! c conducted tbe New Town Chartist * to tbe place of mooting , and returned with them . The business of the evening was an inquiry into the causes of the universal distress prevailing in England , Ire- . ) and , and Scotland ; as also tho backwardness of the Government to listen to the cries of a starving people , who , in too many instances are driven to the commission of crime through the actual want of the necessaries of life , and who are tben punished for not submitting coolly to be famished to death . The meeting was well attended .

      HAWICK . —On Wednesday last , the 28 th ult . Mr . Dickinson , from Manchester , gave a long and interesting address to a numerous and attentive meeting , in the Market-place , on " the wrongs of Ireland , and on Repeal . " Mr . Dickinson gave a rapid sketch of the numerous oppressions and persecution ' s inflicted on " the sister osnntry ; " and pointed out the benefits which would result from a native legislature elected by the people . NEWCASTLE . —Mr . Kydd lectured in the Chartiat Hall , Goat Inn , Cloth-market , en Sunday evening last , on " The probable effects of a Repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws under presant circumstances . " He clearly showed that tbe wealth producers would derive no benefit from such measure , so long as labour was unrepresented . He contended that even an increase of demand for manufactures was no guarantee that the condition of the industrious classes would be rendered more comfortable . In proof of this be adduced

      statistics which showed the amount exported from 1797 to 3841 ; which provad that in proportion as the quantity exported was increased , in like proportion had the wagss of the producer been reduced . Let labour , tha only wealth of the industrious classes , be sufficiently protected by the enactment of the People ' s Charter , and he ( Mr . K . ) would be one of the flrat to advocate a total repeal , not only of the Corn Laws , but of all obnoxious laws ; but until then , he was prepared to discuss the subject with any gentleman in England , and undertaketo prove thatarepeal of the Corn and Provision Laws would be a curse , and not a blessing , to working men . The chairman said , if any gentleman differed from Mr . K . in opinion , he would procure a fair hearing for him , and Mr . K . was prepared to answer any questions respecting the subject or his lecture . No one came fctward . It was then announced that Mr . Kydd would , lecture in the same place on next Sunday evening , at seven o ' clock , and the meeting dismissed .

      The Chartists of Newcastle and Gateshead held their weekly business meeting on Monday evening , Mr . Thomas Robson in the chair . The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed , a discussion took place respecting tbe R ^ v , W . Hill ' s visit to Newcastle , whereupon Mr . Young moved , and Mr . Embloton seconded , — " That the Rev . W . Hill be corresponded with , requesting him to spend a Sunday ia Newcastle , on hia tour to Scotland . " Agreed to unanimously . Several other resolutions were likewise agreed to , merely of a local tendency *

      OLDHAM . —On Sunday last , Mr . G 3 mmage , of Northampton , delivered two lectnres in the Chartist Rsom , one on the subject of " The Land , " the other on The Wrongs of Ireland , and Repeal . " The lecturer depicted the wrongs of Ireland in glowing terms , and showed up the evils created by a state church establishment under the sanction of law ; and argued that no sect , or party , had any just right to domineer and tyrannise over another ; but that religion ought to stand or fall on its own merits . He likewise made a powerful appeal to the Irish Repealers , not to deceive themselves with tbe expectation that if Repeal were granted , it would cure all the evils they

      are labouring under . They would still have class-legislation as now ; and a Parliament emanating from a middle-class constituency , without the labouring class being represented , would be more liable to bribery , and might ,. as before , sell their country ' s rights . He urged on them not to rest satisfied without their political rights , viz . a voice in electing the man who is to represent their wants and interesta . He hoped tha Repealeta would not think the Chartists their enemies ; for he could assure them they were their most sincere friends . The lecturer was listened to with great attention by a respectable audienoe , and gave general satisfaction .

      MANCHESTER . —Carpenter's Hall Two lectures were delivered in the above Hall , on Sunday last , by Messrs . Donavan and Leach . The audiences were large and respectable . At the close of the' evenings lecture , a collection was made for M 1 > onall , which amounted to £ 2 . Tbe thanks of the meeting having been given to the lecturer , Mr . J . Lane proposed : " That we do now form ourselves into a public meeting , 3 nd that Mr . D . Donavau preside . " Carried unanimously . Mr . Dixon in a few words moved tbe following resolution , which was seconded by Mr . Edward Clark , and supported in an able mariner by Messrs . James Ciark and James Leach- The Chairman put it to the meeting , and it was carried unanimously . Resolved , " That we , the people of Manchester , in

      public meeting assembled , do solemnly declare our utter abhorrence of tbe infamous policy pursued by the present Tory Administration in their attempts to put down the agitation for a Repeal of the Legislative Union , by means so utterly repugnant to tbe spirit of the Constitution as the enactment of Arms Bills , removal of magistrates , and exhibitions of military force ; and we further declare our firm determination to co-operate with the people of Ireland itt their peaceful struggle for the attainment ef a Domestic Legislature hoping , however , that it will be based upon such an extension of the suffrage as will render it subservient

      to , and under the controul of , the whole people ; that * notwithstanding the denunciation of Chartism by the Irish leaders and their malignant misrepresenta tion of our motives , we hereby pledge ourselves , in conjunction with our Chartist brethren generally , to resist by every legal means in our power any unconstitutional aggression that may be made upon the people of Ireland , while peacefully endeavouring to raise that long oppressed country from a state of -vassalage and dependency , to snch a position among ( he nations aa het numerical strength , internal resources , and every principle of justice , so eminently entitle her to maintain . "

      Sodtu Lancashire Delegate Meeting , —a special meeting of the South Lancashire delegates was held in the Chartist Room , Brown-street , on Sunday last , to ascertain the opinions of the Chartist * pf this division ot the county , as to who were to he the parties to represent them in tbe contemplated National Conference . The various delegates having handed in their credentials , Mr . Houghton , delegate from Warrington , was unanimously called npon to preside . The Secretary read the minutes of the last meeting , which jwere confirmed . The chairman then called the attention of the delegates to the business for which they were met , viz ., tbe recommending of two fit and proper persons to represent their interests in the forthcoming conference , whenever that conference should be called . Mr . Nattatl said that he Was

      Eor-y that the question had not been taken np by the country . with that spirit which its importance demanded ., It was still hia opinion , and the opinion of those whom he represented , that the first step that they could take was the calling of a conference ; such conference to agree to a plan of organization , and then to elect an executive committee that would carry its provisions into operation . This was the opinion of all the delegates present They , at tbe same time , hoped that their Chartist brethren would not look upon thsm as dictators , but give tbe subjecttbat consideration which its importance demanded . They were also aware that tbe 17 th instant would be too soon ; but they earnestly recommend to the country the necessity of such conference &b early as possible . Several persons were then put in nomination , out of which two were to be balloted for , the successful candidates to be recommended to the

      various localities in South Lancashire as fit and proper persons to be elected at public meetings to represent the division . On the ballot being taken the votes were in favour of Mr . Christopher Doyle and Mr . Wm . Dixon . Mr . Chadwick rose for the purpose of moving a resolution . His object in doing so was to prevent , as much as possible , one person representiBg two or more places in the Conference . It would be remembered that in the last Conference held in Birmingham , that some of the members represented two , and some of them as many as three places , yet they were only allowed one vote , which might nave proved fatal to our cause had it not been for tbe large majority of one friends who were present In order therefore to provide for the representation of all places , he would move

      the following resolution : — " That we , the South . Lancashire delegates recommend to those counties who think proper to elect delegates to the contemplated Conference to avoid as much as possible from electing those that bave already been returned for other places , " Tbe resolution was seconded by Mr . Miller , and carried unanimously . Mr . Miller said he was instructed by the Chartists of Oldhara te bring the case of the political prisoners / now confined in Kirkdale , ana other gaols , before the meeting . He ( Mr . Miller } thought that if they were to petition for one man , they ought to do the same for all . There was many good and honest Chartists now in prison who were not speakers ; but they were men—and therefore had as much right to our assistance as those who were in tha

      habit of speech-making . He would , therefore , move the following resolution : — " That we , the South Lancashire delegates , in County Council assembled , d « recommend to the Chartists in the various localities of this district to call public meetings forthwith , for the purpose of petitioning Parliament in behalf of the political prisoners at present incarcerated in Kirkdale , and all other of her Majesty ' s prisons . " The resolution waa seconded by Mr . Greaty , and carried without a dissentient . The delegates then took Into consideration tha letter of Fergus O'Connor , Esq ., which appeared in the Star of Saturday last , July 1 st ; and , with all due deference * to that gentleman ' s opinions , they begned leato differ with him the

      ve upon propriety of electing an Executive Committee under present « ircamstances They thought that it is indispenaibly necessary that the Chartist body should bave an Organization before they proceed to the election of a governing head . They therefore give it aa their opinion , toat the flrat step towards bo desirable an object , is the calling of a Natianal Conference , to agree to a good and efficient plan of Organization ; after which it will be necessary t » elect an Executive to carry out the provisions of tbe plan agreed to by the people ' s representatives . The thanks of the delegates were given to the Chairman and Secretary , and the meeting adjourned until Sonday , the 16 th of July , at one o ' clock in toe afternoon .

      Untitled Article

      FEARGUS O'CONNOR IN ACCOUNT WITH THE DEFNCE FUND . DR . £ B d By JohnCleave ( A ) 485 0 0 From Mr . Pray , through Evening Star | B ) 234 0 0 Meeting in the Hall of Science , Manchester 15 0 0 From the Chartists of Preston ... ... 4 0 0 Istran , Lancaster ... ... ... 10 0 Birmingham , by Mr . Roberts 200 Manchester , do . ... 5 11 0 From two men , at Hall of Science ,

      Manchester 0 8 0 Received at Northern Star OSLse ( C ) ... 178 4 5 Received Mlf , from Manchester 4 15 0 Post Office Order sent Horn Birmingham , and made payable tome ... ... 2 0 0 £ 931 18 5 Cb . To Peplow , Stafford ... 50 0 0 Do . 10 0 0 Manchester Committee , fer Liverpool Special Commission 59 0 0 Shee , for Chester Special Commission < E ) 29 fr 0 Cash paid in teeB of office , for removing the trial into Queen ' s Bench ( F ) ... 71 0 0 Returned Campbell 1 1 . 0 Paid White ' s Committee 6 0 0 To Peplow , for Cooper ' s last trial 25 •• 0 Paid for do ., for two Subpanaa 0 12 0 P « d Council , self 16 10 0 To W . P . Roberts , Esq . 310 11 0 Paid on registration of money letters ... 1 8 0 Doyle , at Lancaster ( Or ) 10 0 Leach 10 0 Tamer 10 0 Bairstow 1 10 0 Beesley ... 1 10 0 McCar tney 10 0 Pray , -with subpoena to attend trial ... It 0 0 Rnffy Ridley , for defendants , when in London ( H ) ... 10 0 Ditto , to bear hiB own expences to Gloucester 10 0 Doyle , when in London tl ) 1 H I ) Ruilton , ditto ... 1 10 0 Harney , ditto 10 0 Parkea , ditto 10 0 Taylor , ditto 10 0 Arr&n , ditto 10 0 Skevington , ditto 12 0 Beiratow , ditto ... 0 15 0 White , ditto « 7 6 M'Cartney 0 5 0 Penton ... . „ 2 15 0 Durham 0 5 0 Mundin and witnesses , per Cleave ... 0 10 0 Peplow , by ditto ... 2 0 0 Cuf&y , by ditto 2 10 0 Total £ 597 11 6 Balance in Treasurer ' s hands , to meet unsettled accounts 334 6 11 £ 931 18 5

      Cfeavttgt Jententgencc.

      Cfeavttgt JEntentgencc .

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      BRIGHTON . —At a public meeting holden at the Cap of Liberty , Portland-street , on Monday last , of the members of the National Charter Association , residing at Brighton ] Mr . Page in the chair , it was proposed by Mr . Trower , seconded by Mr . Flaxraan , " That' we approve of the suggestion that Mr . Wheeler be appointed General Secretary , pro . lem . to the National Charter Association . " STOCKPORT . —On Sunday last , Mr . C . Doyle , of Manchester , addressed a 1 camp meeting twice ; first , at two o ' clock in the afternoon , and again at

      six o ' clock in the evening . On both occasions they were well attended , and the auditory highly satisfied with Mr . Doyle's method of exposing the existing system . STBOUDWATBK . —The Chartists of this locality are forming themselves into ] olasses . No . 1 class meets every Monday night , a <| Mr . Pritchard ' s , near the Cross , High-street , Stroud , where true friends to the cause of liberty are } earnestly solicited to attend . Members of the Council are requested to attend on Monday evening ^ July 10 th , at eight o'clock precisely , on business of importance .

      NEWPORT , Isle or Wight .. —At the weekly meeting of the Chartists oft Newport , held at ( he King ' s Head Inn , the following resolution was unanimously passed : " That our best thanks be given to Patrick O'Higgins , Esq ., for the very able aad straightforward manner in which he advocates the principles of the Charter ; and we would also beg to intimate that we fully agree with the resolution passed at the Dublin Chartist meeting on June the 18 Lh . j ROCHDALE . —On Sunday last a camp meeting was holden on Sabden , which was not so well attended , owing to the wetness of the day . Tbe police as usual were in attendance ; one , an inspector from Bury , and another , said to be of a higher kfrom Bolton there besides

      ran , ; wero some full privates . All , however , passed foff as orderly as if there had not been a policeman there . At the close of the proceedings it was announced that another camp meeting would take pl ^ ce that day fortnight , ou Cronkeyshaw . In the evening Mr . J . Mills lectured in the Chartist Room , which was very well attended . On Tuesday last Mr . James Leach , of Manchester , lectured in the Theaire , to a numerous and attentive audience . Mr . Miles Hodson was calied to the chair . In a i ' ow appropriate remarks he introduced Mr . Leach , who vjas received with loud applause . Mr . Leach commenced his lecture by remarking on the mole-likefposition of the "free traders , " attacking their fallacies , especially their

      darhnsr one , wherein they invariably instance the year 1835 as a year of great prosperity , in consquenoe of bread being ' cheap "; and that if we had " cheap bread" trado would always be in a prosperous condition , and our poor comfortably situated . Mr . L . contrasted the price of provisions at the present ti < ne with their price in 1835 , remarking that they are " cheaper" this year than they were in 1835 ; yet , he asked , where was our " profepierity , " or the " comforts of the poor ? " Was it inhhe increasing amount of poor rates ? or in tho amount of parochial relief \ vhieh they ( the poor ) received in the Bastiles ? lie showed that oppression and miorulo were at the bottom of most of the felonies committed in this country : that the working classes had been so far

      neglected aiid degraded by those above them , that some of them had ceased to respect themselves , and therefore could not be expected to respect Others He then dilated ou the tyrannical and avaricious disposition evinced by awst of lour present manufacturers , and instanced their [ respective code 9 of stringent rules . Which in nearly all instances ended with so much of a" fine . " He concluded by remarking on the present position of the Government ; that it was anything but a bed of roses . Ireland was doing something for herself in j her own way— " Re becoa ' s daughters" ( among whom he thought were some stout men ) were doingfsomething for tbemaeivea too

      , ana were saying little about it ; and England had her millions of Chartists yet , who would not let elip an opportunity of procuring justice . LONDON . —Mr . Mantz Wured , on Sunday last in the Britannia Fields , to a respectable and numerous audienoe , who then adjourned to the Star , in Golden-lane , and had a conversational meeting , in Which Me ^ Bolwell , Dwat i , and wSR&S J ° nvu ; lhe f ? UowiuS resolution waa passed — That we send no more money to any fund except a general one formed by a body elected by the riS ? SC m *? v ?* with the suggestion , that Mr . Wheeler should act as secretary , pr > tern SX&ZS& ** ^ Victim ^ miS i

      To Hbe Imperial Chartists.

      TO HBE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .

      Untitled Article

      - ;| AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVERTISER . I ¦ ¦

      Untitled Article

      ¦ — — - —< - _ - - — .- — ¦ ¦ ¦ " ¦ ' ¦¦ . - - — Y 0 L- YI- JS O . 395 . SATURDAY , JULY 8 , 1843 . """ n ^ SSS . faSST " I

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 8, 1843, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct940/page/1/