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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th October 1843, Edition 5 of 4, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14. 1843.
    • PORTRAIT OF ¥. P. ROBERTS, ESQ.
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      Untitled Article

      Mfc . AITWOOD ^ S KEW V jjOY ^ . Considerable interest lias bsen ^^ ife-ted in Birmingham , by all classes of Sefo ' t 3 erS ) from the frsi intimation of Mr . Aitwood s ' ^ tention to return to pnblio life ; and this feeling nas j > een great ] y heightened by ihe rnvsteijous character which curtained his measure and aesir ^ eTen whea to £ n teniion 5 Hid been publicly rc *^^ thai be was about , once more , to eater on r Je Yasv ife «/« of British politics The wdent antjc- ^ p ^ j ^ jj ftTr Bxfobs epoch , as the » trAofe -Bu / jiti been » failure ; and tee 800 , 000 ! proved inore _; e 0 rrupt than the 200 trieh borougbHion-* ers , in ' . ne exercise of their toost sacred rights . But nsjrpatioa is Frill nsurp-ition . What matter to the " TWTlaesr wisher 200 o &garths , or 800 , 000 merl&ess profit-mongers , make ^ statute laws , and rob

      them out of tireir legitimate earnings 1 Suffering bumanity doth cst caloslate on the progress of civilisation , in this be&etiful expansion of political power- ^ -tbis- sicetj ^ of politic arithmetic . Human tears ¦ Bti ! Hbrr i —hmmfc hearts still bleed—the millions still groan and "srarHrar , and toil and sweat , without hops or happiness—ih&zgh the Reform Bill ~ ktu ieen ( carried . Political Economy has not yet taken account ofMhow , though the Bin . has been in operation these twelve years . Though Macculloch and iPorter have written volumes on this icokoot , the workiBg ssn will not believe in starvation , Brooghamiooiias laboured to establish an enlightened opiniortxa . the scientific advantages , of mudmum production of wealth , and minimum production

      of the operate species ; but all in Tain ; the teoHcvig millions will not subscnb © to the science of ilalthusiasism as defined by the idls tLWSDEStgBS of society . Free Trade is next . On it marches . Desolaucc , ruin , reyolutioi :, follows . It inscribes the epitaph of " expiring empire , " It is the alternativeof -xational despair , under tie present order of things . "Still it fails j matters grow worse . How could ^ be otherwise—it was only Refokh . What a prosj-ect for our mighty ctuntryl Oar tyrants have " , conqaered the world ; they hare conquered us too . "^ Wh&tan appetite hath victory 1 Yetoar hopes were high . The dark a » 4 gloomy clouds which hovered o ' er them mast soon dissolve , and resolution listf-with public expectation , hope and confidence .

      Atterood will reiurn—( he has said so)—to the people and their cause . He © see spoke fiercely for the millions . He will nerer abandon them in the open field , come when he Bay . Confiding Blares ! "When will you rely on year ewn omnipotent power Atiwood will not redeem jeaz yon mast redeem yourselves . Row , to the business of the deputation , and let Mr . Attwood answer for himself . At the time the public address was adopted oy the inhabitants of Birmingham , it was sot known that Mr . An wood was absent from town ; and therefore all farther steps were suspended toll his reiurn . His friends hare not , however , been idle during this period , as they hare , whether real or fictitious , raised signatures to the requisition , to the amount of 10 , 000 . Tnis requisitien was presented to him by

      & deputation of forty , elected at the public office about a week ago . Mr . Salt figured at thi 3 meeting , ( which , by the way , was & very meagre one ) , in the character of a philosopher . He dilateu with a horrifying gravity on the national debasement of the English people 5 that Governments were frequently better than those they goTerned ; and that alter all , he believed , we had as good a Government as we had public patriotism , and intelligence to sustain . * Tis a very consoling doctrine irilhal to tiie hordes of plunderers , who rob the poor of the last eras * of their hard-earned bread , and who do it with Bach magnanimity as to command the philosophic admiration of such politicians as Salt . and Co . On learning of Mr . Attwood ' s return , Mr . . Follows forwarded the following note : —

      " Moninoutti-Btreet Birmingham , Oet 1 , 1813 . "Sib , —A public meeting of the inhabitant * of Birmingham was held on the 8 th of An ^ ost , for the adoption of an address to yoa , expressiTe of their aertiiceiiVs , and to conyey their deaire that yon might again stand forward as the avowed and eminent advocate of the universal enfranchisement of all classes ef tma powerful , yet entering anS degraded nation . The « ddress was passed by as almost unanimous vote of yenr "iellow-townsHifcB , and a deputation of four appointed to present it to 70 a , at tout earliest con-TenieDce .

      " On behalf of the dsput&tion and ths pnblfc , I stall , therefore , feel greatly obliged tj an intimation from yos -when it will be convenient to receive tee deputation , and believe me , " Toms , most respectfully , " J . Follows . " "I . Attwood , Btq . " , To whieh Mr . Attwood replied : — ; M Harborne , 2 nd Oet 1843 .

      " Six , —I lose no time in saying , in reply to your letter , that the movement -which J have in view has no reference whatevec to any reform of the Parliament , sox to the Currency , or the Corn laws ; nor to any other zsbject which ha * yet bees brought before the public mind . It is confined solely to an attempt to forma JTatiooal Union , or general confederation of all classes , for the purpose of bolding the Ministers of tile Crown legally responsible fox the welfare , prosperity , and contentment of the people . Certainly I am not 'disposed to alter this determination .

      * ' After this explantion , if you should be desirous of deliyaaEgTne an . address , from any portion of my fellow-torssmea , I shall be ready to receive the deputation c £ fobt , Itere , to-morrow ( Tuesday )* at my house , convenient to yourselves , between two and six o ' clock , or on Wednesday , between two and four o ' clock . " I am , SirJ your obedient servant , " Thomas attwood " " Mr . 3 . Follows , HonmoaUi street , Birmingham ^* In accordance with this arrangement , tho deputation waited on Mr . Attwood on the Wednesday evening , and had an interview of nearly two hours . In the eonversation , Mr . Attwood declared that every Parliament elected by the Hefona Bill

      constituency were even worse in their composition than , the old rotten-borough Parliaments . Yet he said there was , in his opinion , a possibility of creating a strong power out of the present electoral body , sufficiently disinterested and patriotic to hurl any Ministry from office who enher weald net , 01 could not , devise measures of legislation to secare GESKRAi PSOSFKRITT . It was on the electoral classes alone he rested his hopes of success , as immense funds would be required , which coald only be contributed by the richer Ciasea . On them he would rely . With regard to the svffraget the real object of the interview , he said that be could Bee so means , under present

      circumstances , of doing any-good by coming onton that question . If he called together a Convention , which he would have to do in undertaking a sew suffrage movement , he expected two-thirds of such & body would be wild enthnsiastics and spies , who , instead of consulting upon measures to advance the movement , would , by their folly and extravagance , destroy every chance of success . He was determined on the course he nad projected . He would neither approve cor repudiate in lus measures the principles of any party . Nor would he suggest a remedy . The Ministers , no . matter of what party , should find their own remedies , and if they were incompetent then out veiththem .

      Mr . Maso 5 , one of the depntation , requested" Mr . Attwood to read a paragraph of his mannsoript document which specified the © bjecta of his projected movement . Mr . Attwooi ) then read several parte of the document , the import of which was that so far as human industry and enterprizs could contribute to the wealth of society , that the labouring classes had created , superabundantly , food , clothing , and habitation ; yet they were without food , clothing , or homes in tens ef thousands of instances ; and even those who were net so situated had not an hoar ' s secarity

      That therefore the miseries and suffering of the people were chargeable on the Minsters of the down , who were responsible to the people for the proper dispensation of the comfortB of life , through just measures of Government jand if they were in capable of devking such , then were thejr at once disqualified to hold the high trust ef administrative power . By this means Mr . AtJwood contemplates keeping their Ministerial noses to tha popular grindstone . He expressed a hope that the depntation would esteem nis motives , whatever might be their opinion ? , and . however theymight diferfrom him on othBr matters of policy .

      Mr . Attwood seems not , after aE , to digest the adoress without a Tittle retching . His very courteous denreanour , respect aid familiarity with the depniation , is aiacgel y contracted ly his letter to tae Journal of Saturday on the subject of the interview , lie has arrayed against him nine-tenths of iiis working class admhere , who now-new the once iteulnoiu leader lit the poor , the ilitisirunu associate < ef the rich . - ^ e may -wish , bnt cannot hope , that he will conyeri the rich to justice . It is a Herculean nndertai-TB £ --morail 3 or course we mean . Here iB Mr . AttmoofBletter to the Journal : —

      To ft * Editor of Die Birmisghtm Journal . Barbome , 5 th October , 1 S 43 . , % > -i request the favour of yon to icsert in yoni Jwf . ^ wa&eendMed wniniunkaaon between a body ef CW ** t * 4 fid myedf . Ihe deputation called opon me yesten > y , xhen I repeated to them the determination expreajfc-tf in any letter to Mr . PoIIowb . The deputation re * d Xoraff * Jengaddroz , giving me a good fleil of advies , zni omfrg me to take up the « ause of ¦ what is called the Pe ^ plei Charter . I told them in reply that I had never appzosed the Peopls ' a Charter , bnt tnat I had alvrsys tx ^ rctttd the strongest disapprobation of that jtart of it -srhisi ; jaqposes to change the framework of . the comtituGonj If working tfce elective ftanchise thrdorfia new proeess of / elettcrial dbtrictn , instead of

      . toe andent coHstitutioiial' . system of counties , cities , said boronghs , » part tf ¦ ft -fe- "CQ I cad alwsyj conai derefl as calculated , and prcfc 2 ^ isttaded , to render "the ' sneeesa of any large me = * ur 6 ^ xtfonn not only more difficult and , dangerous , bat iii .- " « liy impossible . 1 fiqtner explained to Item that I iNd never approved S * eondacf ctXfauitei * , -whose prccw ^ issa , I ttosgit , iai 4 ^ UB ' j « A a * Jo jqpubi Xkwh Oi& ^ zub tierj

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      man in En ? l * nd who has the slightest power to csrve toe public cause ; that I was in no waat of advice ; that , if I interfered at all , in any public movement , it ¦ weald be my duty to teach and to guide , and not to be langht and guided ; and that , although I should by no means alight ot ueslect the working classes , for whose relief my humble labours have been principally directed , yet I should mainly rely upon the support of tbe dectora and riches classes of society , who alone possess the political power to influence the House of Commons , and the wealth absolutely necessary to defray the expenses of any great and useful movement of the peopla " I think ; it desirable that these circumstancea should be made public . 111 am , air , yeur © bedient servant , "Thomas Attwood . *

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      GREAT PUBLIC MEETING In tht ^ Mechanic ? Institute to receive the report of the Deputation to Mr . Attwood . On Wednesday evening , an immense meeting was held in the above place to hear the report of the deputation elected for the purpose of presenting the poblic address adopted on the € ; h of August . The greatest anxiety was manifested to ascertain what had beea the result of the interview . Mr . Tussell was called to the chair , and after a few remark b introduced Mr . Meson to detail the principal matter of the conversation . Mr . Masom then rose And addressed the meeting at great length , and was loudly applauded throughout . Mr . Follows next Bpoke , and expressed his opinion that Mr . Attwood had not stood by his old declarations .

      Mr . Mason then moved the following relation , seconded by Mr . Welsfobd : — " That this meeting , after hearing the report of the depntation , are of opinion that , as Mr . Attwood contemplates only an organiz \ tion of those classes who possess electoral power and the pecuniary means of effacting tb * measures he proposes , they feel bound from ever ; principle of justice and necessity to abide by the paramount struggle for the People's Charter ; and though we may not doubt the honesty of . Mr . Attwood's motives , yet as his movement does not aim at the establishment of public liberty , we resolve to urganizs our power mote firmly than heretofore , to secure the legislative enactment of the universal right of electoral power as tbe 00 ) 7 means of attaining permanent national prosperity . "

      Mr . Hink came forward from the body of the meeting , and addressed the meeting in opposition to a part of the resolution . Mr . Hill also came forward , and warmly supported the motion , and entered into a history of the Birmingham Political Union . He was loudly cheered . The resolution was put and carried unanimously . Votes of thanks were given to the Deputation and the Chairman , and the meeting dispersed . Mr . Masoh observed , in acknowledging the thanks

      of the meeting , that every means which prudence oould suggest to prevent ill feeling , ia the event of Mr . Attwood coming before the public with his plans , had been taken ; and every measure proposed by the Council had been submitted : for the approval and confirmation of a public vote . They were , therefore , now fully authorised in taking any future steps necessary to preserve the struggle for the Charter paramount . Mr . Attwood might organize an eleotoral confederation , and they had neither the right nor the power to interfere . The doty of the Chartists was to take care they did not interfere with them .

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      2 dr . O'Cofsob has received communications from many districts in all of which a very great desire is expressed to have a pobtbaii of Mr . Roberts , the people ' s Attorney-General . We cannot wonder that a strong wish should be entertained to possess a Likeness of so truly amiable , talented , and trne a man ; and although we know that 3 Ir O'Connor had determined to givt no more Portraits , yet we have the pleasure to announce that all Subscribers for Three Months , win receive

      X P 0 MBA . 1 T OP W . P , K 0 SERT 3 , THE PEOPLES ATTORNEYGENERAL . We request the several Agents to open lists for the enrolling of names , as none but Subscribe ** will receive a plate . The pr >" ce ef Paper and Plate when presented will be Sixpence ; and none will be sold without the paper .

      The Northern Star Saturday, October 14. 1843.

      THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , OCTOBER 14 . 1843 .

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      IRELAND AND REPEAL . WHAT WILL O'CONNELL DO ! AND WHAT MUST THE PEOPLE DO I We doubt not that many sage politicians were astounded by the electrio promptitude with which the Government have struck the firet blow at the Repeal agitation . Their conduct , however , upon that occasion was in strict conformity w th , and bears a strong resemblance to , that which they pursued daring the last sessionof Parliament . Throughout the whole period they sat and spoke , and Bat and spoke again , tor fallj six-sevenths of ike time ; and closed their career by a succession of rapid actions unparalleled in the history of legislation . The

      question of Ireland was one brought frequently under their notice . The state of popular feeling in that constry was significantly conveyed to them , and they professed to have a thoroagh knowledge of all that was going forward , as well as s perfect reliance opon the ordinary law to suppress commotion or disturbance . To the ordinary law , and toeuch alone , without any auxiliary support from a straining of the law to meet any emergency that might arise , Sir R . P . eel said he would have reconrse . Every project devised by Mr . O'Coksbll for effecting his object was well known to the Minister , and was

      debated in his presence ; but still "he would rely upon theordinary law . " The *• monster demonstrations " had been held ; language more violent than any used since the prorogation had become matter of every day comment ; the aid of America ; the sympathy of France ; the " Bpontinnity" meeting of the three hundred native legislators elect j the defiance to interfere with public meetings of the people ; the declaration of the inability of the Saxon Parliament to do justice to Ireland , even if so inclined : all these circumstances were known to the Minister , who said tiat to tie ordinary hw alone he would have reconrse for tbe preservation of tbe peace . "

      If the Agitation had presented any new and more alarming phase siuce the prorogation of Parliament , there might have been some palliation for tbe abandonment of the Minister ' s constitutional pledge ; while in the absence of any such change , he is chargeable with a gross violation of the constitution , by having had recourse to those means for arresting the progress of Repeal , which , although justifiable upon sudden emergency , cannot be defended under the circumstances of the case . A proclamation , and finch a proclamation , and issued so shortly before it commanded obedience , was not in accordance i 7 ith "the ordinary law . "

      Before we point out the disastrous results to which this tardy proclamation , —tardy in its appearance , if not tardy in its execution , —might have led , we are called particularly to notice one signature , —and , officially speaking , not aja unimportant one , —attached to this document . We there find the namo of Sir E- Scgdek , the Chancellor of Ireland ; and we are at a loss to reconcile its appearance in that place with his former declaration , that * the Irish meetings were perfectly legal , and could not be legally suppressed . " Custom is the foundation of common law ; and an unchecked coarse of the people of a whole nation , continuing for months without the interference of law to arrest or interfere with it ;

      and backed by the opinion of the Lord Chancellor ; in our opinion , establishes a precedent for a continuance in that course as strong as any that custom can sanction . Independently , however , of the individual opinion even of the Lord Chancellor , the right of every British subject to meet to petition for the redress of grievances , is guaranteed by the Constitution . Moreover in the case of Ireland , the right of the people to meet and petition rests upon the

      strongest grounds : because every Minisier , who baa governed that unhappy l ^ d for the lasthalfcefiinry , has unequm > call y admitted tha existence , not of ordinary grievances , but of grievances to the redrea , of which every success Administration , bad pledged itself , but failed iu the performance IJ I ^ f the rtCent ca 8 e » ftat ° " * rulers had sctH&lly determined upon decoying the Irish pwplfl into that position » wMck they wsld wb

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      stitute coercion for the promised rd ^ ma infer thiB-faot from the following sb ^ passage from the Standard : —" ¦ Much must be . connived at ia the beginning , which it may be , necessary t 0 repress in the end . " Wholesome Tc > y doctrine ! We thall now proce ^ to consider the q-iestion in all its bearings . A . mere passing commentary upon bo large and important a subject , woald be unjustifiable .

      THE POSITION OP MR . O COKNKLL we shall first treat of . We cannot too highly commend the use that he made of the Bhort time that was allowed him between the notice and the projected revolution . Of course , all the necessary " information "; all the required ""affidavits , " -of "fear , " " alaruj , " and " anticipated danger , " were legally furnished to the authorities , and did not rest upon the oaths of policemen or persons procured for the occasion . No doubt but Government had all these necessary materials , before they determined on their step ; and no doubt the " advertisements , "

      respecting the Repeal Cavalry , " and " troops / ' and u musterings , " will form no unimp ortant portion of them . Having these , then , as the gronndwork , they struck the blow . That blow might have turned out a bloody one . This Mr . O'Co »« £ li . prevented . He made the best use Of tbe little time he had , to avert that evil . But , notwithstanding his success in that particular , the Government step teas s blow ! And it was one which Mr , O'Cojweu . ought to have been prepared for . It was one he has been asking for , or

      rather provoking , for a long period . In Yorshire , if a father chastises a child , after a Jong perseverance in misoonduct , he follows the castigatiou with " you have been asking for that for a long time , and now you ' ve got it . " When we come to comment upon the nature of the step taken by the Government , we shall speak of it as it deserves ; bat here we cannot refrain from reminding Mr . O'Cosnell that "he has been asking for it a long time , and now he has rot it . "

      We have approved of his prudence in having suppressed the projected meeting ; while after his many darings of the Government to interfere with their meetings ; after his repeated defiance , hurled at the Government " to go to war" mth him , or "to go to law" with him , we had a right to expect , and the country had a right to expect , from him a prompt , immediate , a \ d unequivocal © EVELOPEMKNT OF THOSE HEAP'S BY WHICH

      HE PROPOSED TO MEET AN ATTACK , WHICH , HAVING INVITED , BX MUST HAVE EXPECTED J When we found that he had summoned the Repeal Association for " an extraordinary meeting , " on Monday , we looked forward with no little curiosity for the announcement of his future operations : but alas I we were doomed to disappointment I So far from the assurance that he was prepared to protect the people against the threatened danger , we fiud him transferring all thought of passing events to a consideration of himBelf ! and imploring of the Irish people to smother all sympathy for him in the event of a prosecution , and to testify their loyalty by a continuance of their confidence !! " Felix quern faciemt aleina pericula caulum , "

      "That man is happy who profits by other men ' s misfortunes . " So we say to Mr . O'Conhell ; while we are sorry to find that the misfortunes of others , instead of furnishing an example to him , have served but as matter for jest and angry invective . He now stands upon the brink of : a precipice ; while those , over whose misfortunes he has rejoiced , are tremblingly alive to his danger .

      It would appear from the weak effusion of which he delivered himself last Monday , that he has been floating from the commencement upon the troubled waters , without rudder or compass ; that all the " Monster Meetings" were only intended to be sub * servient to the finance department "; and he has formed no plan whereon to found the promised resistance to oppression . If ever there was an instance of full opportunity being affoided to a Statesman or a General , fcr the organization and completion of his plans , that

      opportunity his been afforded to Mr . O'Con . nei . l . He was aware of his own Btrength . He has told us to surfeiting , that he was aware of the enemy ' s weakness . He told us so , till we believed it . He was aware of the people ' s devotion , patriotism , and heroism : and yet , upon tbe first feeble attempt at resistance , the " legal position , " the " secure possession , the vantage ground , " is abandoned ! and the scene of action is to be changed to the floor of the Saxon Parliament 11 there to contend for " justice to Ireland" ! 1 !

      How soon the language of defiance has been softened into mild criticism upon the grammar and the phraseology of a Proclamation , which , though imperfect in one , and inelegant in the other , appears , nevertbelesBjin its rudeness to have taken him by surprise !!! jt How often have we told Mr . O'Connell , while revelling in Whig patronage , that he was creating for their Tory successors , the most perfect means for suppressing Irish liberty . We not only warned

      him of the comiDg storm , but we announced the hour at which it would bur * t . We told him that Peel would pass all his measures with railroad speed ; would prorogue the Parliament , and then throw upon the Irish Executive , and the Irish Orange faction , the responsibility of tranquilising Ireland , after their own approved fashion , backed by the assurance that the Commons would grant indemnity for the enforcement of measures justified by necessity 1

      Mr . O'Connell equbI have been aware that some such course would have been adopted ; and uhere , we ask , is His PLAN OF defence ? Not defence for himself ; but defence of the millions of bravk ENTHUSIASTIC , DISARMED , UKPKOTECTED IRISHMEN who have , as it were , placed their lives in Mr . O'CoNKEix ' s handB !! This is not the first time that we have had a " Proclamation war . " We have not yet forgotten the year 1839 , when Whig spyism and foul treachery concocted and effected the Newport , Bradford , Sheffield , and Dewsbury riots . Nor can Mr . O'Connell

      have forgotten those times . He has reason for remembering them ! and tho recollection of hia own conduct then , will hot be calculated to add much to his comfort now . He knows that tbe doings of the English Chartists were made into a stalking-horse for Irish loyalty . Their meetings were held to petition for a redress of grievances , at the only hour that their taskmasters would allow them to assemble . Those meetings were suppressed by proclamation ; and their enemies were armed against them . Then ihe " tranquillity" of Ireland not only enabled Mr . O'CoNNELt to tender the services of the Irish

      military force to do " justice" to the Chartists , but he further offered the services of FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND Irish Volunteers to fight the battle of Whig despotism and proclamation lawin England , !! Sergeant Dalt was an Irish boy and the soldiers , who so bravtly slaughtered the unarmed people at Newport had all the honour of bsing mero " Irish rccmits . " We mention these circumstances now as warning to Mr . O'Connell : to teach him for the future that the man who plays the lyrant will assuredly himself come one day or other ander the tyrant ' s lash . Had he fortified Ireland when the

      existence of the Whigs depended upon his breath , instead of preparing all the machinery for her subjugation , she . would have now had fewer truck Baronets and Ca holic placemen , but more power to resist her present oppressors . Mr . O'Connell may have derived some consolation , ia the midst of all his troubles , from the spewy trash vomited by his Sa ? cho Panza : but we would assure the redoubtable " pacificator" that he , too , will bo called to account , and a clo = e one , by the Irish people , for some better value for their money than ho appears as yet to have given them . Having disposed of Mr . O'Conkell for the present , we ehall now consider the POS 1 TJON OF THE GOVERTfjrEM . If a Cabinet Council had beeu assembled for the purpose of ensuring a retreat for Mr- O'Conaxil , and had Mr . O'Conksu . himself being con *

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      suited as to the means , he would have said : — " The meetings having been generally held ; the dispute as to the propriety of holding a second one in the county of Waterford , convinces me that a repetition of Demonstrations would but evince weakness . I am now about to hold the last ; but in the quarter where the Gathering is to take place , we have already experimentalized to the utmost upon their generosity .

      I have got all that ' Monster Meetings' can yield you must change my position : suppress our Demonstrations by proclamation ; and let its appearance be so late that I can justify my course upon the grounds that I was compelled from the shortness of notice to act upon my own responsibility . " Had they consulted him , and had he wished to secure for himself a retreat , this would have been O'Connell ' s language to the Ministry .

      The Ministers must kave been aware that had the Proclamation appeared sooner , they would have had all Ireland : to contend with ; while , as matters now stand , they have only to contend with an individual . Whether they will be satisfied with sharing the triumph over Iieland with Mr . O'Connell , we know not . Their share will be disgraoe ; his will be increased contributions , and perfect indemnity for inaction . in the consideration of this question we must not , however , forget the moat important characters in the drama—the irish people . For months their enthusiastic minds have been led to an almost

      fanatical belief in the success of a project which was ensured to them upon the performance of certain conditions ; every one of which they fulfilled beyond even Mr . O'Connell ' s most sanguine expectations . Will they , then ; will the 1564 brav Irishmen , who went from Manchester to Dub ) in to manifest their devotion to their unhappy country ; will these be satisfied with the postponement of their case , so ripe for hearing , to the next meeting of the Saxon Parliament I Even so , their disappointment may arrive sooner than they anticipate : as it is by no means impossible that the saxon

      pab-LIAMENT MAY MEET IN LESB THAN TWENTY DAYS FROM THE PRESENT TIME I If Sir ROBERT PEEL feels his hands strengthened by the boasted "improvement ] ef trade , " and the further improvement anticipated from the treaty of peace vriih China , he will be emboldened , in connection with foreign allies , to make a deeoisivo stand against the principles of democracy generally , and against the Irish agitation in particular . Should suoh be his course , there can exist but very little doubt ; that a Coercion Bill for Ireland will be the first measure proposed ! and Whig precedent will stand as a barrier to Whig opposition !!'

      In midst of all , it appears that a gleam of reason has beamed upon Mr . O'Connell . " Misfortune , " we are told , " makes strange bedfellows : " and , in his distress , Mr . O'Connell now proposes to court the very party who in his pre . sumed strength he kicked out of bed . " Ireland is able to do all for herself ? ' "France is with us ; America is with us , " but the English to a man are

      against us . r " We refuse the co-operation of the Saxon . " Such was the boastful language of Mr , O'Conkbll , when his unopposed sway allowed him to choose his ** bed-fellows" ; but now that misfor - tune has come upon him , we find him at the Repeal Banquet , which took place on ; Monday last , silent upon American and French sympathy , and imploring the assistance of the

      ENGLISH PEOPLE to arrest tbe despotism of tho present Administration . Ha , ha , Mr . O'Connell . Have you forgotten our words ? Did we not tell you , as early as May last , that in tho hour of danger , and upon the day of trouble , you would at last find more sympathy and protection in English working men's patriotism and love of liberty than in foreign sympathy ? Did we not tell you that atlatt you would come to that 1 We did ; and there at last we find you ! and , in them rests yoar security . Yes , " Liberator ; " although

      a very small extinguisher ha 3 extinguished your large Irish fire , yet you may rest assured , that the English people , for they are nearly all Chartists , will . distinguish between you and the Irish people . What they do will bo for "Ireland aad the Irish ; " and thus will they rescue themselves from the foul aspersions you have cast upon them for the last seven years , since you so far degraded the Irish nation as to identify the Irish name with trick and jobbery of every description .

      Your " pals" have attacked the English Chartists and their " Cowardly Leader ; " but we must remind you that when the Magistrates of the West Riding of York issued their proclamation for suppressing " Monster" Chartist meetings in 1839 , just upon the eve of the great meeting to be held at Peep Greea , the * cowardly Feargus" issued a counter proclamation to hold the meeting , and said that

      he would attend . The meeting took place . The "Cowardly FeakOus" and the "Cowardly F < jargusites"did attend ! Again , when the Whigs issued a Queen ' s proclamation to eupprc-aa torchlight meetings , the " Cowardly Feargi ; s" attended the Bury torchlight meeting , and there , upon the spot , took the sense of the people as to the propriety of obeying the proclamation *

      Mr . O'Connell will bow learn from the tone of the English and French press , that , as we told him , Government will not rest satisfied with extinguishing the match ; they will , if they can , scatter the Pile . In this he will find us correct : and to meet it he has but one course , that is , to throw himself upon men ' s minds instead of upon their pockets . Paid patriots sooner or later discover the faot : " that to win men ' s hearts , you must win

      their minds . " We doubt not that he will reap a golden harvest from tho seeds that Government have sown : but we much doubt that the Irish people will be partakers in the yield . Flattering the vanity of the Queen , who Mr . O'Connell himself says can do nothing , will serve no good purpose . His boast of having voted £ 20 , 000 a-year to Prince Albert more than the Tories would give him , will , with the English people , tend to approval of Toryism , and to his own degradation .

      We have given copious extraots from the several English and Irish newspapers upon the question , together with the reports of Mr . O'Connbll ' b several speeches ; and from all we learn that the Government have been workiDg while ' Mr . O'Connell has been talking , boasting , and collecting : and between both , tbe Irish people have been taken by surprise . We ibL-etold this hasty step . We told Mr . O'Connell more tban a month ago , that " with Wellington it

      would be a word and a blow : that execution would follow upon the very heels of design . " It has been so ; while , with Mr . O'Connell , it has been met by extra loyalty , and an appeal to ihe rejected Saxons !! with an -auxiliary slap at the Chartists by his " man of peace , " who assured us that 1 , 000 , 000 pikes could be manufactured in Ireland in an hour . Hencuforth this bautering of public opinion mint cease in Irdand ! Tho * rag flag" must be struck , and the standard of principle must be raised in its place .

      The sympathy of other nations , stroDg in the belief that Mr- 6 'Connell was prepared for any emergency , will speedily fade before the present gloomy aspect of affairs . He must now shake himself , throw off the rust of Whig brass , and stand before the world as the champion of liberty , or the dupe of faction . In the shock of surprise , he may for a time purchase indemnity for inaction ; but when the thunder shall have passed away , those who have paid the purchase-money of Irish liberty will expect to see his genius shining through the breaking clouds as the eun of national glory .

      If Ministers attempt , to coerce Ireland , 5 , 000 , 000 of English Chartists will remonstrate against this attempt : but they will not again place themselves in the position of being marked as " wretches deserving NOTICE OF THE ATIORNKT-GENERAL . " No } they havo profited by experience , and will perish to a man before they will allow 500 , 000 of their fighting mtn to enlist iu the despote' rank .

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      We told Mr . O'Connell ; two months ago , that under the legal construction of conspiracy , he would be implicated ia every act ' committed by his more enthusiastic followers ; and , in fact , both the Attorney and SoLicfTOE-GENERAL west as far as they could to establish & precedent for the conviction of Mr . O'Connell , when the point of law , arising out of the Lancashire verdict , was argued in the Queen's Bench . : From us Mr . CoNNELt has but little to expect ; and should rejoice at ( receiving " good for evil : ' ' while the Irish people ever have bad aud ever shall command , our sympath y and support .

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      against foreign competition , " There is in fact , in contemplation against us , and some measures taken for procuring ,

      ANOTHER HOSTILE TARIFF . The Times of Wednesday gives the following : — " The Frankfort Journal , anuounoes , that a meeting of mauuiaciurera was held ac Stufcgard on the 27 th xx \ i ., with the sanction of the Government , when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — 1 . " That the honour" and independence no less than the prosperity of Germany , require a system of Protection agaiust foreign manufactures .

      . 2 . "That seen a system is not only justified but rendered necessary by the heavy duties to which German manufactures are subject in foreign countries , and that England is now supplied from her colonies with produce which she formerly imported from Germany . 3 . "Tnat this protection should be moderate , and not calculated to encourage indolence amongst tho German manufacturers , 4 . " That this protection should extend to the raw materials as well as to the manufactured goods .

      5 . " That the duty should be levied ad valoremt and not by weight , to prevent articles suoh as fine muslins entering into Germany , on paying only the duty to which coarse fustian is subject . 6 . " That it is absolutely necessary that a bounty should be paid by Government to the exporters of German manufactured goods . "That all the manufacturers throughout Germany should be invited to join in the above resolutions . "

      Here , then , as old Dicky Botxett used to say ; " here is a weight i ' th ' tother pocket . " In our joy at tbo Chinese Tariff and prospect of " extended " Trade , let not this threatened Tariff be overlooked ! What a queer thing it is , that no nation on earth can be made to believe in , or apply , the doctrines of free-trade , excepting England ! Bat Englishmen were always known to be " the most thinking people on the face of the earth" 1

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      ANOTHER OPENING FOR " PROSPERITY . " Our merchants and ] manufacturers have high cause for gratulatioa in the news of tbe confirmation of the Chinese Treaty ; just brought to England , direct , by the Akbar steamer . In it they will see another field for " foreign trade , " inasmuch as there is embodied in that Treaty a New Tariff , said to be highly advantageous to the speculators . The Manchester Guardian of Wednesday contains the following short review of the principal changes effected by the New Tariff , in the duties previously charged upon European shipping , and upon the principal articles of merchandise exportedjfrom this country to China : — \

      ¦ " In the first place , the redaction in the shipping charges are very Isr ^ e and im portant . Prior to the operation of the New Tariff , there were several dudes levied nnder different names , upon European vessels entering the port of Canton . Amongst these the largest and most burtheosome , usually called ' the present , ' was the same ( upwards of 2 , 300 dollars ) upon every vessel , large or [ small ; and the entire charges upon a vessel of nVe or six hundred tons was 4 , 000 dollars , ] or nearly £ 1 , 000 sterling . All these separate charges are abolished by the new regulations , and one uniform tonnage duty , amounting to about 3 s . id . per ton , is substituted for them ; the result of which is , that a vessel of 600 tons , instead of being taxed £ 1 , 000 in port charges , will be required to pay only about one-tenth of that amount . 1

      "The reductions in the duties upon | the ! different articles which compose the balk of our export trade , to China , whioh are also important , .. are exhibited in the following [ statement : — " Cotton Yarn . —The duty on cotton yarn , formerly about two dollars per pecul of 133 . jib ., is now reduced to one dollar forty cents , or about five-eighths of a penny per pouud . \ Cotton Goods . —The duty on ^ bleached . ' shirtings , formerly about ninety-t woijeeats , iu now reduced to twenty-one cents , or a shilling per piece . The duty on unbleached shirtings ( which were formerly

      arranged in two classes , I chargeable with a duty of forty-two cents and ten cents respectively , and subjsct to the caprice -or corruption of the Mandarines or Custom House officers , as to the class in Which they should be placed ) is now fixed for all qualities at fourteen cents , or about eightpence per piece of twenty-eight ( to forty inches wide , aud thirty to forty yards ia length . Tiioduty on printed goods , formerly about j two to two-and-a-quatter dollars per piece , is now fixed at twenty-eight cents per piece of twenty-four to thirty yards long , and twenty-six to thirty-one inches wide .

      " Woollens . —The duty on woollens , such as Spaniel ] stripes , habit cloth , and middle and suporfine oloths , formerly twenty-five cents per yard is now reduced to six cents , or threepence per yard . The duty on long ells , formerly about two dollars ton cents , is now reduced to seventy cents per piece . The duty on camlets aud bombazetts , formerly about twelve to thirteen dollars , per piece , is now reduced to seventy cents . "Raw Cotton . —The duty on raw cotfcoD , which was about 9 mace per pecul , is now 4 mace , about £ d . per lb . j

      " Unenumerated Articles . —The duty on unenumeratfcii articles of import is fixed at 5 per cent , ad valorem . At the present lowvalue of cotton goods , the duty may be called about 7 A per cent , on the value in this country . j On grey shirtings about 7 . } per cent . On white shirtings , about 10 per cent . On woollens ( Spanish stripes , &o . ) , 6 to 8 per cent . j On long ells , about 10 per cent . On camlets , about 4 per cent .

      On printed cottons , about 10 percent , ( on the class of goods suited to the markets of China ) . Export Duties . —Ttie duty on the export of tea , though nominally fixed by the new tariff at two taels and nve mace per pecul j will , it is supposed , amount ( with the various charges formerly included in the duty ) to about ibur taels and eight mace , or nearly 3 d . per lb . This is about | i . per Jb . more than tbo umouut of duty levied during the last six or eight months . The duty on the exportation of raw silk is fixed at 13 dollars 89 cents per pecul , or about 3 ^ per ceut . on the average value .

      Here then is another opening for " Prosperity . " Having also done ourselves out of every other market in the world ; having ruined our character every where by devil's-dust woollens , paste-daubed cottons , and cast-metal knives ; having arrayed against us "one unbroken line ; of hostile tariffs , from the Guadalquiver to the Neva "; having had " ominous warning of the preoarious position in which stands our traffic in the South "; having seen that " on the Baltic opposition is rendered formidable by extensive and increasing combination "; and that"Persia )

      Westphalia , and Saxony , have each erected their forges , and had the protective care of their respective Governments paternally extended to their newborn interests "; having ] " the Russians now completely independent of us , though England at one time furnished Russia with her cottons , and with the greater part of . her woollens "; having sees too , that " our hold upon America is fast melting away "; knowiug of all these things , our merchants and manufacturers will , no doubt , see salvation in this new Chinese Tariff , and endeavour to draw dreams of" Prosperity" out of itl

      They will act wisely However , if they look at the matter soberly . Undue expectations may be excited ; and cruel disappointment may be found ! We would commend to their attention the following observations of the cautious dog of the Manchester Guardian : — ; " These important reductions , coupled with the extension of tho trade to the ports situated in the most fertile and productive provinces , instead of being confined to a single corner of the empire , will , no doubt , greatly , increase the commercial intercourse with China , ' aud lead eventually to a large export- to that country of the principal fabrics

      of English manufacture . I It is necessary , however , to keep in mind , that this increase must necessarily be very gradual ; lor , however great may be the desire of the people of China to purchase British manufactures , tho extent of the trade must necessarily be limited to the value of the returns whioh that country can furnish , which cannot be immediately inoreased to any very large extent ; and , therefore , any sudden arid extensive shipments which might be made hence , under the idea that a greatly increased demand will closely follow the promulgation of the tariff , would most likely entail seeious LOSSES UPON THE PARTIES MAKING THEM . So Pie

      increase will no doubt take place immediately ; but , wh . n it is recollected that the shipments ot shirtings to China during the present year amount to about a million of pieces direct , from thm country , and about 150 , 000 pieces ; forwarded from Singapore aud Manilla , against about 400 , 000 pieces at the corresponding period ofila « fc year % whilst the shipments of yarn amount to 5 600 , 000 lbs ., being also a very large increase upon the previous year ' s business ; it must be obvious ] that the probable increase has been fully anticipated , and that great caution WILL BE NECSSSARY TO PREVENT THE MARKET PROM

      B&INQ GREATLY OVERLOADED . TO 11 ) 086 Of Our reaaere who remember the disastrous consequences robulcing from the overstocking of newly-opened foreign markets , some thirty yeais ago , Jhtle need be cuid on this subject ; but a new race of merchants and manufacturers have sprung up , to whom the calamities of those days are comparatively unknown ; and tee have been sorry to see slight indications of a feeling of excitement , arising out of the recent intelligence , CALCULATED TO INSPIRE SOME PEAR OP A RtPLTlTlON OP THE ERRORS 1 M WHICH THOSE CALAMITIES HAD THEIR ORIGIN . "

      Our merchants and manufacturers will do well to pause , and act on tho caution here given . It comes from one who is their friend" ; one who seems anxious that the delirium of joy , which the news of tho probability of an " extended" trade is likely to inspire , should not lead j to too " extended" operations . Whether the advice he gives will have effect or not , remains to be seen . If it have , some good may come of this new market ; if it have not , it would have been better that we had never found it .

      But the newa of the week is n » t all joy , not even as far as Tariffs are j concerned . Though the Chinese one may be deemed to be favourable to us , and promotive of " prosperity , " yet there are other nations contemplating measures of a contrary character , for the purpose of crippling our " foreign trade . " Taey are contemplating manufactures for thcR&clvcs ; aad they are asking for fsqtjjctiok

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      TIDD PRATT CAUGHT . —SQUEEZE HIM WELL . The Enrolment is not yet had . Tidd Pratt still refuses . But his refusal has , at last , assumed a more definite ehape . He has had another , and a "fair trial "; and this last trial has caught him . He has put himself between the " Khippers . " The following communication , from the General Secretary , will put the Chartist body in possession of tbe new facts that have transpired since our last : — London , October 11 , 1843 .

      Brother Chartists—Since Tidd Pratt refused to certify the Plan of National Organisation , as adopted by the Conference , we received from Mr . Hobson a copy of the Plan , in juxta position with which wa 3 pasted , on slips of paper , the Communitarian Plan whioh Tidd Pratt has already certified . Oa Monday last we caiied at the office of the legal functionary , and left the altered Plan with his clerk for inspection . The clerk in answer to questions put by us , said , — " He knew that Mr . Pratt ' s mind was mabb UP RRLATIVE TO THE PLAN ; THAT « B WOULD NOT ENROL IT ; and thai the very designation of our Association implied different objects from the Communists "

      We called to-day , according to appointment , for the opinion of the learned and liberal Tidd Pratt . We received it from his clerk , written on tha margin of tho Plan . The following is a verbatim copy : — ' "lam of opinion that the objects and means of the National Charter Association are not within the provisions of tho 10 Gee . IV ., c . 56 , and 4 and 5 Wm . IV ., C . 40 . I consider the rules of the Community Society very different from those of the National Charter Association , although I had some doubt at the time I certified them , whether they came within the provisions of the Friendly Societies' Act . My

      attention has likewise being called to the provisions of tho 39 Geo . III ., c . 79 , and 57 Geo , III ., c . 19 , which provides that every society , except of a religious or charitable nature only , which shall be composed of different divisions or branches , or of different parties acting in any manner separately or distinct from each other , or of which any part Bhall have any gep&rate or distinct president , secretary , or any other officer elected or appointed by or for such party , or to act aa an officer for such party , shall be deemed and taken for au unlawful combination and confederacy . For the above reasons I refuse to certify these rules . " Oct . 11 , 1843 . " J . Tidd Pratt . "

      We have not yet been able to obtain the opinion of Counsel as to the probable result of bringing the matter before t he Court of Queen ' s Bench , in consequence of Counsel being on circuit . J . M . Wheeler , Secretary . Now this opinion fixes him . It happens most unfortunately for hia ** judgment" and his "determination , " thatghe hag certified every portion of the plan , from the beginning to the end , to be " according to law . " In the document laid before him this last time , this was distinctly shewn to be the case . Every section of our plan had , in juxta-position with it , the section of another plan , embracing every particular embraced in ours ; and that other plan h& had himself certified to be in accordance with law

      on th 6 7 th of August , 1839 ! Tflere was not a particular differing . The " Objects" were the same ^ expressed in the very same language . The "Constitution" was similar ; the " Organisation" wa 3 precisely similar ; Conventions ; Executive ; Districts , with District Councils ; Branohes , with Branch-Boards ; Classes , with Class-Leaders : all , all , were contained in the plan he has already certified . The " Funds" were similar ; one'for General purposes ; and the other for Land purposes . Indeed there is no difference between the two codes of rules ,

      excepting in the application of the Land , when it is parchased : the one code of rules providing that the Land shall be held for , and devoted to , Community purposes ; i . o . held as common , and not as individual property : the other code providing that the Land shall be divided , when purchased , into equal portions , and held by each member , individually , for his individual benefit . That is the one , the sole , the only difference , in the application of the Land Benefit : and Tidd Ppatt has wisely , and as a lawyer , come to the conclusion that the former mode is in accordance with law ! and that the latter

      mode is not ! Here is a discovery in law ! Communism is lawful ! Individual property is not !! Well done , sage Tidd Pratt !!! To combine together , in Conventions , Executives , Districts , Branches , and Classes , for the purchase of Land to hold as common property , and to use in common , is " * in accordance with law : " to combine together in a similar manner to purchase Land to divide equally among the members of such combination , to have and to hold for ever , for themselves and their heirs , is not in accordance with law \ < Famous discovery ! Will not the Communitarians present the discoverer with a cap ? They assuredly ought : and we know another party that will adorn it with bells !

      But let us dissect the " opinion" of Mr . Tidd Pratt . " I am of opinion that the objects and means of the National Charter Association are not within the provisions of the 10 th Geo . IV . c . 56 ; and 4 and S Wm . IV . c . 40 . " It happens that the " objects' * and " means" are precisely such as he has already pronounced to be within suoh provisions . They are set forth in the very language which he has before approved of , and certified ! Therefore TiddPrati is fairly trapped . He cannot get out of the mess . If they were not illegal when he certified them to be in " accordance with law , " they certainly are nol illegal now : and this , we fancy , the , Cour t above will soon let him know .

      He then says " I consider the rules of the Community Society very different from those of the National Charter Association . " We have pointed out the only difference : a difference in the appJiealion of the Land . Whether MrfTiDD Pratt ' s discovery , that Land held in common is the only lawful principle of possession in England , will have weight with the Judges remains to be seen . If it ha ? , we would advise Tidd Pratt to look out ! Tiie estate ho " calls his own" will be in no small danger !; But he vouchsafes a piece of most important information . When he enrolled the Rubs of the

      Community Society , he " had a doubt , at the timej whether they cama under the provisions of the law . " But we opine that that" doubt ' was set aside ; was removed , by the act of Enrolling ! You surely . do not

      Portrait Of ¥. P. Roberts, Esq.

      PORTRAIT OF ¥ . P . ROBERTS , ESQ .

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      ^ _ L THE NOR YHERN STAR . .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 14, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct951/page/4/