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^ ^mmmmm —anw—i—i——i heard of million he...
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^U?-S ao -5°* IHE Goal Mikkrs. from ¦»* ...
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^ ^mmmmm —anw—i—i——i THE MINERS' CONFERE...
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PANORAMA OF AMERICAN AND AFRICAN SLAVERY...
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BOYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION. During th...
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ALLEGED USE OF CHLOROFORM. TO THE EDITOR...
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MIDDLESEX SESSIONS. Toe Estreated Recogn...
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Fatal Sieam-boat Accim-nt. —On Friday fo...
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GREAT POPULAR-'DEI#6NSTRA¥lO ' N is?". -...
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! Printed by WniLrAM RIDER. ofNo.5, • JTacc!esfieW-sia«ff*"
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m the parM*hot'8t Anne, Westminster,' at...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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¦ ":" ¦ " '- ' ¦ Monday/; April'29; "V' ...
system , and led naturally to tbe present motion for retrenchment ; _^ tire absolute condemnation of tha system " would follow * in idue season . From the inquiry suggested by Mr . * Henley , ' 'he looked for an economy of , at least , one million a year . Mr . Disraeli proceeded to denounce the ¦ vociferous reformers and the " shadowy _subterfuges" they adopted to countervail the accomplishment of-the very measures they professed to advocate . Adver ting to the railway mania , he treated that brief delusion as a specimen of the wisdom of the government and the business sagacity of the middle classes . Evading the challenge thrown out on a previous night hy Lord J . Russell to bring on a substantive motion for the restoration of protection he . referred the question to the countrv , -which would , he said , ere long , bring it to a final and satisfactory settlement . America had run a career of free trade , and , in spite of its democracy , had undergone a corresponding crisis of reaction .
Lord J . Russell stigmatised the motion for inquiry as being unjust . He had alreadv explained the extent of the revisions that had been accomplished and of those that were proposed , which would include every department of the public service _, _^ withstanding this the proposition was for an address to the Queen , founded npon an assumption that the ministers had refused all scrutiny . It was , in fact , nothing less than a vote of want of confidence . Besides being unjust to the government ofthe day , the motion was unjust to the functionaries . Their incomes would he cut down by a per centage arbitrarily graduated npon the price of corn ; while the usual and proper system of retrenchment was to allow offices to lapse
whenever it was found possible to dispense with the services of employes . The only fair tariff of -remuneration was that assigned by custom for the reward of ability and honesty in other commercial or professional _employments . Asfk , foundation to the motion , theory of distress in the -country had been raised—a complaint which he met by denying its __ truth—allowing , however , that in some ofthe agricultural counties wages were lower than heretofore . He spoke not without a fair amount of information when he declared tbat the general mass of the nation were better off than Before the adoption of the free trade policy .
The motion was bat a manoeuvre in the campaign for the restoration of protection , effected in such guise as to secure tbe adhesion of a few auxiliaries from the camp of thefinancial reformers . He appealed to those members not to follow the standard of an opponent , however fair might be his -promises . By the measures already adopted by the government a large and permanent result of ecomony was promised , while the ' effect of the present proposition would be vague , unpractical , and damaging to the national interests . Sir C . BvRBELh stated his experience touching the decline of agricultural wages . Mr . _Heslet replied , and the house divided :
For the motion' 173 Against ... -. 269—96 Mr . Siaxfoho moved for a select committee to inquire into the restrictions it was possible to enact against the sale of poisons . Sir G . _Geet feared that the inquiries -which such a committee Would have to prosecute were calculated to do more harm than good . He promised , however , to introduce a bill on the subject . The motion was withdrawn by consent . The house adjourned at one o ' clock .
_WEDNESDAY , Mat 1 . HOUSE OF COMMONS . _—Biuth or AsoTiren _Pbixce . —Sir G . Grey , in the absence of Lord John Russell , informed the house that another prince had , -within the last few hours , been added to the royal family of Great Britain ; and made a motion , to which the Commons unanimously agreed , for an address of congratulation to Her Majesty npon the auspicious event . The second reading of the Landlord and Tenant Bill was agreed to after a short discussion . The second reading of the Railway Traffic Bill , -which was moved by Mr . RiCAnno , was opposed by Mi * . Glyn , who objected tothe interference it would sanction with the free action of the railway companies , nnder pretence of stopping injurious rivalry . He moved the usual formal negative to the Bill .
The Bill was negatived without a division . The remainder ofthe sitting was occupied in committee on the Benefices and Plurality Rill , and the house adjourned at six o clock .
THURSDAY , Mat 2 . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Dorr ox Attokxets ' Certificates . —Lord Robert Grosvexor moved the adjourned debate on the motion for leave to bring in a biil for abolishing the duty on attorneys' certificates . Sir _Fbeoebick Tdesiger supported the motion for leave to bring in a bill , entering into elaborate statistics in its favour , and representing that the tax originated in a hostile spirit entertained against the lawyers .
The Chancellor of thc Exchequer did not consider himself bound to go into the detailed defence of a tax which he had not imposed , hut found already npon the list of duties . Having , however , already removed as many taxes as the state of the public revenue would permit , he should oppose the introduction of the bill . Many licenses to trade might , with plausible reason he found fault with ; bnt if the practice of taxing such licenses were to he abolished , it must be done in whole , not in regard to individual items , and as that tax produced upwards of £ 1 , 000 , 000 annually , he could not afford to give it up . The house then divided , and the numbers
were—For tbe motion 155 Against ii 136 Majority against government 19 Leave was given to bring in the bill . On the motion for going into committee on thc County Court Extension Bill , _Mt . ' Keogh moved that it be an instruction to the committee that the bill be extended to Ireland . Sir Geokge Gret did not think that this could well be done , but stated that the secretary for Ireland would shortly introduce a bill npon the subject affecting that conntry . He announced tbat it was not the intention of government to oppose what appeared to be the feeling of the house as to the extension of the jurisdiction of County Courts from claims of £ 20 to those of £ 50 .
Mr . Keogh , nnder the circumstances stated , thought it would be imprudent in him to press his motion . The house then went into committee . The discussion occupied the entire evening , and he house resumed at a quarter-past twelve .
FRIDAY , Mat 3 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —On the motion of Earl Gret , the Pirates Head-Money Bill was read a third time and passed ; and Oa the motion of Earl _Guasville , the Indemnity BUI was read a second time . Their Lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Factort Act . —Lord Ashlet , referring to a report that Her Majesty ' s £ 0-eminent had some intention of proposing a _Scie-ae of __ their own respecting tke Factory question , inquired of Sir G . Grey whether there was such intention , and , if so , whether he had any objection to give , in general terms , an outline of the scheme .
Sir G . Gret Teplied , that after the acknowledgment made by Lord Ashley that ho had experienced unexpected difficulties which had obliged him to abandon the intention he originally entertained , and to propose a new scheme , he { Sir George ) had thought it to he his duty to lay hefore the house a plan on the part of the government , prepared after full consideration , which he thought consistent with the spirit of the existing act , and -which would carry out the object of Lord Ashley , 3 nd be satisfactory to the great body of operatives . He proposed , instead of the existing restrictions , that the hours of labour shonld be between six in the morning and six in tbe evening on five days in the week ; or ten hours and a half a day , ( deducting an hour and a half for meals ) , and from six in the morning until two in the afternoon on Saturdavs . This would give fifty-two hours and a half instead of fifty for five days , and on Saturday half an hornless than at present .
The honse then proceeded to the consideration of the Distressed Uxioss Adtasces _aso Repayment of Ad . _vasces ( Ibelaxd ) Bin , as amended in committee . A further amendment , moved by Mr . Clemexts of a proviso to be added to the third clause ( which provided -that the liabilities of districts shall be charged on the town lands by way of annuity for forty years ) , that the annuity shall not exceed sixpence in the found of the then net annual value of the rateable property , unless the debt would not thereby be paid off in forty years , led to some discussion .- Upon a division the amendment was negatived . _Isisn _Fbaschise Bill . —The house next proceeded to the consideration of this bill as amended in committee .
Other amendment *; ( some of which had been moved sad rejected in the committee ) were moved by Mr . _Axsrur , Mr . JiizrATRicK , and Col . _Chatieb-toj * , and rejected . The -Cock ? of _Chaxcert ( _Irblaxo ) . Bin . —The House then resolved itself into committee npon this hill , the details of whieh / occupied the rest of the evening , .. "' ¦ '" : 7 - , „ " . . The other _prdera having beeil disposed of , the House adjourned at half-past twel _*?*? o ' clock .
^ ^Mmmmm —Anw—I—I——I Heard Of Million He...
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^U?-S Ao -5°* Ihe Goal Mikkrs. From ¦»* ...
_^ U ? _-S _-5 ° * Goal Mikkrs . from _¦»* * . S-fr w _^* - _**" ' accompanied by Mr . - Horatio Sv _feS riew _- wi _Sir-Itoberf Pc _-J _, " on _Aheri » ht ho * " _? f dem » ' _-n-WhitehaU-ganlens , _* _'*** en wdhWsolutiof _^ n _? port t _^ _w 30600 _^ 10 * _*' . n > brought _^ fo _wthefeslslfe : _T ? .. when , c : :. _M-l ! U _. _IX- - _-: 1 ' ' - ¦ - - _' ¦ : - _^ - * ¦ - _; _\ -. rj > T - .. . ; \ ~ ' \ . .. >";* -. " ¦ _V _** * 'i ' i 15 . 2 ' - ' _S r _-- ~ ¦ > " . * * - ' ' ' _- - -- " _- , ¦* " . " _.- " * '' " * ) ' ''
^ ^Mmmmm —Anw—I—I——I The Miners' Confere...
_^ _^ mmmmm _—anw—i—i——i THE MINERS' CONFERENCE . TO THE MINERS-oFgREAT , BRITAIN . - _Jbsaovt Men , — -The long and continued _depres . sion in the wages of the mirer , andthe fearful and ex . _cessive competition which produced these results , have once more aroused the brave , spirits of- the leading mining counties , and from a correspondence which has been going on for some time , between Lancashire , Staffordshire , Nor thumberland and Durham , and several places in . Scotland , it has been determined to hold a Conference on the 20 ih May , --- _**' _^ _^ gSg 5 _g _m—
at Wigan , in Lancashire ; when it is expected all miners who feel a desire to remove the ban of slavery from their clas 3 , and who feel it a hardship to live upon the scantv p ittance of wages which they receive , will Bend " a Delegate to _sutfi Conference , and thus lend a hand to lay the foundation of a system of union and organisation , whose lasting benefits will call down the blessings of ages upon the names of Us founders ; Yours faithfully , M . Jude .
THE MINERS' DEPUTATION . TO THB EDITOR OB THE NORTHERN STAR . Sib , —The Deputation of Miners , now in London , on the subject of Legislative Protection for the Lives of the Miners , had an interview with Sir George Grey , on Saturday last , when the Hon . Baronet stated that the report of Professor Phili p ' s and Mr . Blackwel ' , not yet being ready , he could not give any pledge aa to what extent he
would go in providing inspection of mines . The deputation stated that these repeated delays on the part of the government had resulted in a most extensive impression tbat the safety of tbe lives ot the miners was but slightly thought of by those in power and more especially , when it was recollected , since the last session of parliament a most valuable collection of evidence bad been published in the report of the committee of the House of Lords , which report added to the previous official documents and evidence which from time to time had been laid before tbe government .
The deputation have , however , resolved to test the matter , by having a motion put on the books of the house , on which to found the subject matter for a Bill which it ia intended shall be passed this session , if possible . The Deputation would suggest to their brother miners the absolute necessity of helping forward this cause . The complaints from all parts of the country justify the impression that the attention to the safety of the miners is miserably defective ; and the deputation have testimony to prove that as the principle of competition among the proprietors of collieries have driven down prices , there has been a " corresponding increase in the number of fatal accidents ,
and of those which result in severe injury : Hence , let the miners but stir themselves generally , let each locality that has not yet done so , set to work and petition at once . Do not delay a single day . Get up a petition , signed by as many as possible , and forward the same to a member of Parliament , drawing his attention to the necessity of the question , and thereby ensure his support . Even if denied the above the petition itself will do good . There must be some such effort made , or nothing will be done for tbe miners . Therefore the deputation would implore those who have hitherto been apathetic , to set to work wiih all the spirit and all the soul which forms the chief characteristic of those wbo never
fail to succeed .. Yours , on behalf of the deputation , May 1 . M _^ Jode . P . S . —Many petitions which were promised to he forwarded have not arrived . "Will tbe parties see to it ? The _Deputation acknowledge the receipt of £ 1 from the North Staffordshire miners , to help forward the cause . —M . J .
Panorama Of American And African Slavery...
PANORAMA OF AMERICAN AND _AFRICAN SLAVERY , LEICESTER-SQUARE . This panorama is the production of native American artists , who have made drawings on the spot of the principal scenes exhibited . " The subject—that of Slavery in the Southern States—is an indelible disgrace to the Republic , the abolition of which should not only claim the attention of philanthropists of other nations , but also demands the strenuous exertions of the citizens of America .
The artistic proprietors of this exhibition , actuated by similar motives , have determined tb devote their time and talents to this object , and are , therefore , deserving the support of all friends to human progression . A runaway slave ( an interesting youth of ahout 19 years old ) is p laced before the audience , and his treatment in slavery , and the manner of his flight narrated . Several whips , shackles , and other instruments of torture are also produced , and the narrative lecture , explanatory of the scenes , some of which consecutively form a tale , is well deserving the attention of our readers .
Boyal Polytechnic Institution. During Th...
BOYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION . During the past week Dr . Bachhoffer has been engaged in delivering a series of lectures on the Philosophy of Scientific Kecreation , the subject matter of which is confined to Optics and the laws governing Colour . The learned Doctor commenced by rather a startling announcement , that he intended proving , and he hoped , satisfactorily to all parties , that out of the many accustomed certainties of every-day life , two , if not many more , were incorrect . Then he stated aa follows : — " That none of us see with our eye 3 ; " and
" that seeing is not believing . " This bold arcurious assertion excited the attention of all , and anxiety was evidently paramount to unravel this seeming anomaly . Tho Doctor ' s course of experiment proved , however , the justness of his correction of tbe " proverbs old and general ;" evidently , by illustration , satisfying all beyond a doubt that our present system of reasoning resulted merely from an imperfect tuition , and that tbe commonest operations connected with ourselves are scarcely understood . We must own wo were not so opinionated concerning the two propositions laid down as at first wc had imagined , the Doctor ' s facts settling his assertions beyond a doubt .
Alleged Use Of Chloroform. To The Editor...
ALLEGED USE OF CHLOROFORM . TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES . Sir , —I have seen several cases in your paper , lately , of persons having been rendered insensible by | a cloth being drawn over the face , which is generally ascribed to chloroform . Now , experience shows us that snch a very instantaneous effect is not produced by . this agent ; but yesterday I was applied tofora liquid which I have known to occasion immediate insensibility by simply smelling the hottle it was in , and no one could withstand its overpowering and suffocating influence when applied on a handkerchief suddenly to the face ; itis the Ha . ammon . fortiss . , found in every _droguist ' s shop . The person who applied to me for it was a tall man in a smock frock , and stated he wanted it for a giddiness in the bead . ( Bosh !) . I of course refused the sale of it , and warn all druggists to do likewise , as I believe this to be the agent—and a most sure and effectual one it isused on tbe occasions I have alluded to in your valuable journal . I am , Sir , your very ohedient servant , April 30 th . A Chemist .
Middlesex Sessions. Toe Estreated Recogn...
MIDDLESEX SESSIONS . Toe Estreated _Recognizances of Lola Monies ' s Bail . —Henry Daniel Davies and Daniel Davies , appealed against ah order made by Peregrine Bingham , Esq ., one of the magistrates of the Marlborough-street police court , for the payment by theiri of two sums of - £ -500 , the amount ot recognizances entered into by them for the appearance before the said magistrate , of Maria Dolores , _Contesse de Landsfeld ( Lola Montes ) , who was accused ' _, of bigamy , and failed to surrender . The order was made in October last . "When the case was called on , a document was handed tothe deputy-clerk of the peace , signed by Messrs . Davies , Son , and
Campbell , of Warwick-street , Regent-street , solicitors for the appellants , in which they consented to the appeal being dismissed , the appellants paying the costs . —The learned Judge said that as far as the question involved in the appeal went this was satisfactory , but - he conld not receive it except through counsel . —Mr . Clarkson and Mr . Bodkin , who had respectivel y represented the parties in the matter , said they had not been instructed oh this occasion to take any step whatever . —The learned Judge intimated that , under these circumstances , he would allow time for the appellants to give their consent through counsel . ' - •• ¦ ¦ -
The Court disposed of a number of parochial appeals , the details of which were' of no general interest : ' ' ¦
Fatal Sieam-Boat Accim-Nt. —On Friday Fo...
Fatal Sieam-boat _Accim-nt . —On Friday forenoon Mr . William Carter , coroner for Surrey , held an inquest at . the Royal Oak public-house , Unioriroad , Rotherhithe ,. on the body of Edward Nicholls aged 21 , a waterman ,, who , with James Coode , aged 21 , was run down on Tuesday last , by ; the Nymph Woolwich steamboat . The jury , returned a verdict of "Accidental Death . " The : body , of : the other . man , named Coede , _; was found : on the opposite side of the river , - and . conveyed * to LimehouBe , where Au > ; H 3 _% , the coroner , will hold an inquest on the body ' vwday ( Saturday ) . ? , / -.. ¦ , . _.,, ; . . .. ... .,.. „ . .. ....... / . _- ¦ ... ¦ -, _.-, _- ¦ - _.. _» ' .-.. . '• .- ;¦ , • . - , ' , _-- _. " : ' i _' _i-si ' _-MliXii - : _V-- - . -- . J :- ' ¦ ' _-.-i ) , _- ; ' ¦¦ . . i . ; : ;; . _- >¦ ;;• : _<¦;'
Great Popular-'Dei#6nstra¥Lo ' N Is?". -...
GREAT POPULAR- ' DEI _# 6 NSTRA ¥ lO ' N is ?" . -: _—¦ " •*• _- ¦¦ _thf potteries : "" _- ' _^"— - ¦ _ '
Mohday lastheingthe . day appointed . for opening the People ' s Hall , ; at Hanley , a tremendous excitement existed inthe Potteries . _; Mri O'Connor being announced as _ the person to open their Hall > ' the whole population crowded to the Stoke Btation to meet him , where he arrived at three o ' clock , and was received with the most heart y and enthusiastio cheers . The deputation met him with a carriage and four ; and from the time of departure until tho procession reached Hanley , a distance of two miles ; the multitude , preceded by a splendid bandj continued to increase , and when they reached the town bf Hanley so great was the concourse before and behind the carriage , that the eye could scarcely reach the front or the rear rank . - There were thousands upon thousands assembled , and their cheering was most enthusiastic . . Yates , the veteran , who has withstood all oppression , and several others , as a
deputation , were ui the carriage with Mr . O ' Connor and Mr . Roberts . When the carriage drew , up in front of Simpson ' s hotel , Mr . O'Connor , although not expected to address them , did so for some minutes , many soldiers being present—two hundred of whom had arrived about twelve o ' clock , no doubt in anticipation of a riot . - Mr . O ' Connor told them that for many weeks . he bad been poorly , and that no advice given , or medicine administered by his doctors , had done him half so much good as their hearty reception and the exhibition of their cheerful countenances . 0 ( Lbud cheers and waving of hats . ) Ho told theni he had come once more to weld the mind of the Potteries , to enable them to assert right and break down oppression . ( Loud cheers . ) ¦ lie would have a better opportunity of definiug his and their principles that night , in their own Hall , than out of doors , and ho would then take his leave , thanking them for the enthusiastic and hearty reception thoy bad given him .
MEETING AT NIGHT . At seven o ' clock Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Roberts , accompanied by the leading Chartists , proceeded to the Hall , where they were received with long and continued cheering and waving of hats . Mr _Woollet , a highly respectablo young man , was appointed to tho chair , and opened the proceedings by giving out a few Chartist songs . The Hall was crowded to suffocation , although the charge to the gallery was _sixpence , and to the body threepence . After the singing had concluded , the Chairman _introduced
Mr . W . P . Roberts , who was received with loud and long demonstrations of the . esteem in which he is held by the working classes *; He commenced by congratulating those assemmbled on their possession of the Hall , whose opening they were then to celebrate , and thanking . them that he was permitted to take part in tho . ceremony . It was worth their while , on an occasion such as this , to look back on the course wo : had hitherto , followed , and see whether there was cause for congr atulation . First there was tho fact—the Thunderer of the press would call it a greet one—that the building they were in was a Chartist Hall ; spite of all efforts to deter and divert them they were thero to proclaim Chartist
principles—unchangeable in doctrine , unchangeable in name—glorying in tbat name the more that it had subjected them to peril , calumny , and imprisonment—and . fighting under the same great leader from the first hour of the struggle to the present . We might fairly rejoice , too , that not only here , but in alllarge towns through the country , there were chapels and halls built , or bought by the people , for the encouragement , of democratic , principles . Formerly they were glad of a room in a public-house , .. with the satisfaction of knowing that a certain amount of money must be spent in drink and that their friend , the landlord , would lose his license on the first opportunity . It was satisfactory to , contrast their meetings , as to comfort and security , at the
commencement of their agitation , with the means they were now possessed on A hay-loft and an auditory of six was then a large meeting ; a score or two in the street brought the soldiers , and an indictment for conspiracy . Now tbey had all the advantages of a room that was their own , where with gas , and all the applications of comfort they could meet , not only on occasions of excitement , but as often as they thought fit , for purposes of instruction or amusement . They had gained , too , in safety : no . Inspector of Police could order thom from that building at eleven o ' clock , with a threat of putting them in the lock-up , if they refused to obey his authority . ( " Hear , hear , " from tho Inspector , who sat in the gallery a most attentive auditor . ) Thero were
other signs , too , which marked our progress . , We had successfully resisted the attempt . to divert us from the Charter , to what was called a modicum of reform . * From end to end our reply had been , " No modicums of any sort—wc don't understand Latinthe Charter and no Surrender . " ( Loud cheors . ) And from this firmness had resulted , not only a confidence in ourselves , but a coming over of the party , which , in the first instance , had indirectly opposed us , and which , till lately , had been very shy in its advances . Let any . one compare the speeches of Financial Reformers now , with the sentiments of the same speakers a year or two ago .. At first , tlieir doctrine was , that political _reform-r-an extension oftlie suffrage—was only required , as a means
of working out financial economy . But the shrewd working men , to whom tho bait was held out , were not long iri proclaiming their faith , that no Financial Reform—even , if thirty millions , instead of ten , were offered , as the price for their co-rperationwould be of the slightest utility to them ; that whatever of thc burthen was taken off in one shape , would , assuredly , bo put oh in another ; and the consequence of this brilliant discovery in political economy was , that now there were no better Chartists to be met with anywhere than the Finaiir cial Reformers . If one wanted a thorough-going ultra-democratic outpouring—rich , racy , and strong —wo must , go to a meeting of Financial Reformers ; in the outburst of tlieir long imprisoned zeal , they
went far beyond what we , who had been sobered by prison discipline , were in the habit of advancing . This then was a sign of progress , as to the tendency of which there can be no mistake . The adoption of our principles was the result ofa conviction , that neither by cajolery nor force could we be diverted from them . ( Loud cheers . ) There was progress , too , in other nations in which we were deeply interested , and into which it behoved us to look narrowly and . well . A great social change was at hand , and thc signs of its approach were everywhere developing themselves . In France , there were the party of Red Republicans and Socialists—a party which-was riot to be confounded with what was understood by the term Socialist in this country . Tbe Socialists of
Franca firmly believed in two things—first , that Universal Suffra ? e was a national right , and that if through corruption , stupidity , or fear , a majority in the National Assembly were to vote for a recurrence to the exploded monarchical system , with its long train of corruption and abuses , or to any contraction of tbe constituency , to less then Universal Suffrage ; tbe French Socialist held that a Legislature so constituted was not entitled to allegiance , and ouuht to be resisted . Secondly , the French Socialists believed—a portion of his faith sought by long years of hopeless sufferign—that no political change was sufficient , unless in its result the poor . were relieved froni the necessities of constant want and periodical starvation . They did not ask for what
was called Charity—the word-was , _t' > theirininds , an insult to honest men ; the necessity for charity was , in itself , a proof that the system was rotten ; and , therefore , they asked for such a change as should place within the reach of all industrious men , not merely food and clothing , but all the enjoyment which tbe world could give to labour . And they said , that no mere transfer of political power—even though the change were from monarchy to a republic—was deserving of existence , unless it sought out and accomplished the happiness of nil . Now this was a faith wliich was fast-spreading everywhere , and would soon be universal . It had been kept back in France solely ,, by one circumstance—the fear . of disorder , the general dislike of
violence and bloodshed . Thousands who , in their hearts , were favourable to the principle of fraternity and equality , wero restrained by anxiety , lest their support of these principles should , in effect , bring back a reign of terror , in which -barricades and street fighting would be the substitutes for argument , and the guillotine would be adopted as the speediest and most efficient mearis _' of _rcDlvini ? to _ltS _t ~ _Wli his _? ou by-cutting his head off Now , ho ( tho speaker ) was one of those who believe with the Red Republican party , that no political change is worth having unless it gives the means to tho people of betterfng their coVdi tion-the Charter would givo this power , and therefore he supported it ; and he thought that the
Socialists of-France would have _acteS moro wisely _andxonsistently if they had obeyed the principle of Universal Sufirage , and used . all their _strenS in returning good men to tho Legislature . _Tlfeir violence-their , frequent appeals to' arms-on the contrary drove some of their best men into tho ranks of heir opponents . It mi ght sound all very fine to talk with a sneer of " Ordermongers "• - he ( the speaker ) was an Ordermongei—he regarded the cqntinuance ot order as of moro consequence _thatthe carrying' the Charter ; better that the i _. r er ' ! w , T delayed awhile in its ' onw . _ird course , than that by . terrifying that lar ' eo mass of . _) ; . . . . - . 7 * - _-J'"b ¦ " ¦•<•« _.- " ¦ - _« _III'IOO Ui
„„ ,, . _., manKma who cared much for peace and nothing for political change ; a feeling hostile tooiir advancement should be created ; a feeling that might throw us back for another , half century . ' -The justice of these _retoarlcs' was / proved by what was now going on in Paris . The Socialist party there had avowed their intention" to " rely' solely oh tho power of argument '; several attempts had been mado by the government and tho '' police ' ' to excite them to tumult _^ -th'eir meetings Vore preye ' rited--every newspaper advocating their cause was stopped —every- soldier who -Synipathised - " with tlieni was degraded or transported to Africa- ; but the Socialists had _- -re 8 w ' fed ¦ ' all - "'theso ; attempts , and scores ot ' . aai _;'} _"*•¦ _uM-jii ' - ¦¦• ;¦ ¦ _* . ¦ ' ¦ •' " - _' ¦ * - ¦ i ' - ' i ' !« - «• ¦ ' . ••¦ "< 7 -. ; - _* : « _•*¦ , ' - ¦ il _, ! l-. > _'i .: ; b '< : ' ' v . iX - , '» . _* : :, ¦ . ; . _' !!< > - ' <¦ - _'•'! j - ¦ iW _. Vi ' ¦ -. _¦!•;>[ ' _.- _' _- ' . _- . _*! ¦ . ;• : I _>; _:-. _-- » ii JK :: i ' il _iihv . i'X , UU
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otbers _^ £ . e , very . _incentive , , to _„ _insurrection-. they fiad "" replied with the hallowed word " Peace — and _, the ; _f- _. _conseflu _& _uoeft _. was j that their principles , during ' the last six ' . months _/ had assumed a power whioh he : «( the : 8 peaker );( believed would soori , if nothing untoward * . happened , be , acknowledged through' all civilised Europe . ' But , a few months ago there had been ah election _" in Paris which terminated in the , election , of several , Socialists ; the news had - come like ; a . 'thunderbolt on the newspaper writers ; on both sides , 6 f ; ' the channel . The universal ; cry .. was—'' thero inust be some mistake—the shopkeepers would soon see their error- _^ they ' would give their ears ; . for another opportunity of recording their real sentiments , " . ... . .
and all the rest Of it ; " The belief that the triumph was a mere aocident , was very general _; even the Socialists themselves adoptea it . Well , this " other opportunity " had been granted under every influence arid reason , for the friends of both parties to use their power . Another election' was at that moment going oh in the same ' eity with the' sariie electors . Every argument bad boen used , on both sides , arid every fear and feeling appealed ; to , with this difference , however , that all tho newspapers advocating the' antipopular candidate , were Bold openly , and given away _gratuitously ; all his meetings were ' protected by the police and soldiers ; while every journal . that advocated the path of progress , put forth the claim of Eugene
Sue—( Loud and reiterated cheering . greeted the name of the people ' s candidate)—had been Stopped ; every electoral meeting , even in priVato rooms , had been put down ; every power—every stratagem had been exerted _r _andjet , with all this , and in spite of all this , there is little doubt but that Eugene Sue will be elected . ( Cheers . ) And if no violence ahall follow—if Socialism will condescend to ; the wisdom of proving that liberty may be won without wading through blood to win her ; then , indeed , might it be confidently predicted , that the cry of the poor , that they ought to have food enough , shall have food enough , and must have food enough ; that they wanted homes and infirmaries , wages , not charity ; that they were men , not paupers ;
would gather around iti . all * that was good and intelligent all oyer the world . Three years ago France had taught the lesson that a king could he relieved from tho troubles of government without cutting his head off—lessons whioh had already disarmed much of the opposition to Democracy . She was now teaohing another lesson — that Universal Suffrage was sufficient to obtain universal good , if allowed to work without the disturbance of fear . This lesson should be the subject of deep and continual thought . " We had ihen in our ranks brave and holiest , - who considered it right to hint at the retribution which our oppressors might expect when the opportunity offered . Such language threw back Our cause without- giving us anything in compensation : it was not required for the purpose of excitement , and it added the tiniid
and the ignorant to the ranks of our oppressors . ' The same doctrine that the poor must be protected , and that no political change which did not protect them was worth the having , was rapidly spreading in Germany , and in all other nations . In England our hope was in the Charter , for under that we knew that the representatives of the people would not only have the power , but would _Ije compelled to work out any social change which might-be requisite . - 'After some few words' more , enjoining more active exertions iri municipal and local elections , and alluding "to Mi * . Jeremiah Yates , the " convicted Chartist " and yet the" Surveyor of Highways , " as an instance of what might be done when thepeople were determined and united . ' Mr . ' Roberts sat down ' amidst much cheering .
Mr . _O'CoNNORjOn rising , was received with most en thus ' as tic cheering and clapping of hands . He said that he appeared that night before them in the character of a bishop , to consecrate tbeir place of _veritable worship . — ( tremendous oheering and laughter)—and he looked upon his duty as being more pious , more praiseworthy , and more beneficial to huriianity . than that of a black slug or lawn sleeved snake , who based his duty upon the salary extracted from their pockets . ( Cheers . ) He frankly admitted that he had no confidence in kings , princes , popes , ' potentates , archbishops , bishops , archdeacons , deacons , prelates , parsons , nor curates , who undertook to give theirown version of God ' s religion and coriimandments for base lucre .
( Cheers . ) These wero the men who lived luxuriously and idly—not upon the prejudice of the people , but upon the power of the aristocracy . ( Cheers . ) Although in a poor state of health he felt renovated—he felt . pride and pleasure in beholding the magnificent gathering -by which he was received in the Potteries that day—and he felt the more proud in being then amongst them to witness their union , as disastrous and injurious antagonism had now sprung up amongst their order ; and they should critically understand tbe truth of the old maxim-that _, "A HOUSE DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF CANNOT STAND . " ( Cheers . ) For his own part , so great was his devotion , and so disinterested was his advocacy of the people ' s cause , that
he would neither give co-operation or opposition to either party . ( Loud cheers . ) ' No , his principle ever had been , and ever would be , to allow . every man to discuss his own principles ; and so far from hissing or scouting him , if they were at variance with the principles of the people , he ( Mr . O'Connor ) would leave the platform if the propounder of thoso principles was hissed or unfairly treated . ( Loud cheers . ) The very fact of opposing principles by violence , and not by argument , served to rivot thoso principles more deeply in the minds of tho millions , and for this simple reason—because the ignorant naturally presumed that if the principles were bad and not sustainable , they should be put down by not Diuiai violencei
argument , ana _oy _- . _^ LiOuu cheers . ) Why , the very principles upon which tho press based its power , and the aristocracy based its power , was the withholding _^ he / peop le ' s principles froni the knowledge ofthe ignorant , who ignorantly based their power upon the presumed ignorance of tho enlightened people . ( Great cheering . ) He then held in his hand his commission , signed by Dr . Wade and six others , in the year 1835 , appointing him ... ( Mr . O'Connor ) the leader of tbe party then called the Radical ' party , and these seven were appointed by the radjeal party then in existence ; but as it . never was his intention to offer any , the slightest , obstruction / to any party who was more capable of effecting tbeir object , lie stood
before ' them , and asked them whether thoy still acknowledged hini as thoir leader ? ( Loud and tremendous cheering and clapping of hands , ) He wished them to bear in mind that it was no easy matter for a man of his class to have so long maintained his position and their confidence against tbe antagonism with which he had to contend , but against which , he would , in spite ot all opposition , still contend . ( Loud cheers . ) Now his greatest enemies , and their _' _greatest enemies , wero not the press , the government , the laws , tbo aristocracy , the capitalist , or the middle class ; ' they were their own greatest enemies ; ( Cheers . ) And why ? Because , as hp had told them to surfeit , tho man who cam s two pounds a week looks with contempt
upon the man who can earn but ten shillings ; aiid tho man who can earn ten shillings , looks with equal contempt upon tho man who is consigned to tho bastile . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Ah ! they ought to be ashamed to cheer it ; the fact is cheering to their opponents , while it sickened his heart to think of it . ( Hoar , hear . ) Poor gentlemen , who were too proud to work , and too poor to live without wages , were trafficking in their credulity , catering for their popularity by spouting ' rank rubbish and nonsense , which none but fools could understand , and when they had made a livelihood they snapped their fingers and laughed at their dupes ; while his desire was to'devote ; his whole timo and his whole money ; to tho real . service ; oi
their cause , and to . leavo tlio world better ' than he found ifc . ( Loud cheers . ) ' His Land ' Plan , by ivhich alone their order could bo improved , was scouted and reviled by thoso . who lived upon their labour , and by the press * that supported that order ;—( cheers)—while he told them , _ps he told the men of Yorkshire and Lancashire , in 1835 , ' that ii tho Land was locked up to . day ho would not give a penny for the Charter to morrow : yet , fellows who would not know a cucumber from a handsaw , were the first to denounce it . The land is the only raw material , for which the labourer has capital in his arms to cultivate ; heciinnot , under the present system , compete' with tho smallest capitalist , ho is his serf and ; his ' bondsman ; whereas ,
t the natural field of industry , was open to him aro they aware that ho would be a better _customer to the manufacturer , tho merchant , the shopkeeper , and the tradesman _?' . Are they , awaro - Lthat silk mercers ; milliners , hatters ; clothiers ,, _jailors , clock makbrs , _watchmakers , masons , carpen ters bricklayers ; and-every _ciass . oftrado , would roceivo doublo . the wages that theydo now , because then there ' would be a schrcity of every one of those trade s ; if the valuable riiaterial—the . land- _^ was profitably cultivated ?"; ( Loud cheers' ) Could _. they , or" could he ; Or could any man present to" the public mind a greater anomaly—a greater folly—a
greater act of plunder and rascaUty- _^ _-than the fact pf importing all kinds of provisions thousands i of miles across the ' ocean , while their bastiles wero frill of systciri' -mado paupers , who , ; if employed profitably rfliome , could export food- ;/ aridlive like _fi-eeimeri '' and like gentlemen , under their pwiv . ' vine and their owr i ( fig-trc ' e , ' none daring to riiake ' theHi afraid ? * ( Tremendou 8 cheering . ) Aye ; , ihey ' might cheer ; while the' Holy result , was ' only impeded by theh-own _disunion ' :- ( CheerB . ) _Loofeto , Irolan d ;; Siipxx . j ; iil _.= V . Vj •;¦ . ' . ; . ' _< , V . _V- _* _x k ] '« : i' i . v > . ; _r'J : Vi •;! ' H . _-.- ' v . vii A- ' - -. ' : -.. j ' :-: * :--. ; : * " -- ¦ ' XMv m ' .:
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pose they „ heard of a million ofjjuman heings dying of 8 tarvati' 6 n _^ Prussia , * _; in -France * or , ) in -ahyi other . part of the _world- _^ _-what would be their sensation ? -Would not they ,: and every cla ' _ssin _^ Englarid , express their abhorrence ; and abomination of the Northern Bear , andhis foreign cb-tyrants ;; while every apology'is made for the tyrants at home , who have committed such inhuman slaughter f v ( Great cheering . ) . * He must abandon this : subject ; It raised bis Irish blood to fever—he was : going to say to rebellion height—when he thought : of the sufferings of his poor countrymen—an industrious people , upon a fertile ,--soil-, ' -and a genial ' ¦ climate . ( Loud cheers . ) He abandoned the ' subject because he was resolved that no personal feeling of his should ever ... _ , . . . .... _„„ _,,,. „ hain „ a _Avino
damage the people s cause , lie had _suttered—his father was immured in dungeons until he was nearly rotten , and wasprematurelyconsignedtothe cold grave ; . while his venerable uncle was in the fifty-second year of his banishment . ( Tremendous cheering . ) The recollection of these facts , and their enthusiastic cheering , excited him almost to madness ; but he would abandon the subject , for fear of injuring their cause . He did not come upon the platform to elicit their eheers by lauding the immortal _KosButh—the glorious .-Mazzini—and others who havo suffered in the noble struggle for liberty abroad ; and , although these spouters _, nor no maii on earth , sympathised with them , and more cordially wished that they had succeeded in trampline- down tyranny , yet he acted upon the maxim of
the immortal Shakespeare : "If England cannot keep the dog . from her own door , let her bo worried . " ( Cheers . ) Instead of expressing sympathy —which riiariy do not entertain—for those brave and gallant heroes , let the mind of England bo rivetted to the one question—the question of the Charter—which the united mind can achieve ; then , when you have a Chartist Foreign Minister in Downingstreet , not a shot need be fired on the continent—not a life need be sacrificed—as the united mind of great England would achieve universal liberty—not by the cannon , but by the force of knowledge . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Look to the state of France now . There they had a SPECIAL CONSTABLE PRESIDENT elected as their chief , because he was the nephew of . THE NAPOLEON-not that he had
ability , or standing , or character in the country ; and let them look at that country . - There they were all soldiers , because they enlisted but for seven years ; arid wfere drilled , * there , this hypocrite and his toadies allowed the men of order—that is , the men of plunder—to hold their club meetings and their secret meetings , to promote the election of one _ifhose boast was , that he shot tho people when contending for their liberties ; while _' all meetings , which are calculated to insure the return pf Eugene Sue , the caudidate ofthe people , are brutally suppressed . ( Tremendous cheering . ) The press of this country is ranged against the interest of the people , or that portion which is in their favour is tyrannically prosecuted ; ' but he hoped and trusted in God that'the people ' s cause would ultimately
triumph , while nothing tended so much to weaken tlw tyrant ' s cause as'the people ' s union : and nothing so much tended to strengthen it as the people ' s folly . ( Cheers . ) Again , letthem look to Ireland ; there ; when repeal became hopelesswhen the hope of all regeneration of the country was _banished—rwhen the 1 Whig minister based his power upon the base subserviency of Irish tools ' and Irish toadies sitting in the Ilouse of Commonsand when love of Fatherland drove Mitchel , O ' Brien , and Meagher—a gallant young fellow—( loud and tremendous cheering)—when hopelessness and despair induced those men to anticipate that they could effect by a revolution what had been denied to justice , they were deserted , and expatriated to foreign lands , to sigh over the departed
liberty of their country . ( Cries of " Shame . " ) Yes , but the shame was to those who urged themon and then deserted theiri . " ( Cheers . ) What would have been his feeling if any iiriprudence upon his part at the Kennington Common meeting —( loud cheers)—what would have been his feeling if upon that occasion he had injured their cause by rashness and violence ; arid / what would have been his feeling if any rashness or / intemperance upon his part had consigned the widows and orphans of the . slaughtered to the cold bastile ? ( Loudcheers . ) Perhaps they were not aware that a secret committee of fools , who undertook to lead their cause , some of whom came to London with their hearts in their bands , ready to die upon the platform , but who he ( Mr . O ' Connor ) was obliged to supply with money
to take them homo again —( laughter)—perhaps they were not aware that these gentlemen elected an utter stranger , one of whom they had never heard , an artful fool who had come over from France they _t-lected him as the President of the Republic : and what did they think his salary was to be ? Why threepence a week , he believed , from every one ; but he would only put it down as from the adult population , and he would estimate them at six millions instead of seven , and what did they think the salary voted by the economists would amount to ? four million threepences mane one million shillings , one million shillings make fifty thousand pounds : two million threepences make half a million shillings , * half a million shillings make twentyfive thousand pounds ; so that those
economists complaining of their taxation in their first financial budget , voted that your President should have seventy-five thousand pounds a week , within a fraction of four millions a year ; and if all paid , which I believe was the understanding , he would be entitled to nearly twenty millions a year of your money . ( Tremendous laughter and cheering . ) Now this was one of the great follies against which he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had to contend , and against which he was determined to contend , and successfully too , as neither avarice , rashness , or folly , could again disunite the mind of this country . ( Loud cheers . ) And in order to insure that solid union , he was resolved , when his health improved , and his strength increased , to make a tour of the empire to insure such a co-operation of knowledge as would silence
the cannon ' s roar , and for ever extinguish tyranny . ( Tremendous cheering . ) He was not one to be trifled with ; he understood the present construction of the House of Commons , and the mind outside the Houso ; and ho would so organise that mind as to destroy the present anomalous construction of what was called the representation ofthe people . ( Loud cheers . ) How could the Whigs get on without the co-operation—now of the Peelites , —now of tho Protectionists , —and now of the Free Traders ? No party co-operating with the government , —acquiescing in the policy ot tho government , —but each occasionally supporting the government , — their support not based upon policy , but . upon party antagonism . ( Loud cheers . ) The people were deceived by emancipation ; they were deceived by
reform , and by . free trade . ( Cheers . ) What he meant by free trade was , free trade , not in corn , in butcher ' s meat , in cattle , or in tallow , but free trade in legislation , and for that , and that only , would he contend ( tremendous cheering ); and that could only be accomplished by the Charter , the only principle for which he would ever contend , and opposition to which he would ever resist . ( Loud cheers . ) Some professed to go for the Charter and something more , —ho did notknow what their something moro meant . He wont for tho Charter aa the means to achieve every thing more that the working classes are entitled to , and would then possess ( tremendous cheering ); and however they cheered , let them distinctly understand that thoy were in a different position to any other people in
the world ; they were better instructed , and he hoped shortly to see them better united , and then theywould carry all before them . ( Loud cheors . ) His object was to see the rich richer and tho poor rich , by . tho proper development- of the national resources of the country . ( Cheers . ) And however he might be reviled and abused , and no matter against what antagonism ho had to contend , he assured them after twenty-eight years struggle , not with bluster and bravado , but with sincerity and truth , that he would rather sacrifice his life upon that platform than abandon the people ' s principles and their cause . ( Mr . O'Connor resumed his seat amid choeringand clapping of hands , which lasted for several minutes . ) When the cheering'had subsided he again rose , and stated that he held in his hand a letter from old Daddy Riohards , announcing that he . had received intimation from Mr . Rogers iliat Frost arid hia associates were shortly to return to tbeir native land . ( Upon this announcement the
whole assembly rose , and the building shook again with cheers and clapping Of hands . ) Mr . O' Connor then observed , ' that he wished to God . be could make the same announcement as to the liberation of their young , fervent , enthusiastic friond , Ernest Jones , arid his associates . ( Renewed cheering . ) When the cheering had subsided , Mr . _Cai-ewell , a young , and most eloquent working man , rose to present an address from the Land members of the Potteries tb Mr . O'Connor . He spoke in thc most fervid and eloquent manner , as to the effect that the fair developement of the Land Plan would have upon all classes of society . He said ho . fully concurred in every sentence that had fallen from Mr . O'Connor , with the exception of his assertion that a proper system would make the rich richer ; and , after an able and eloquent speech , he presented the following address froiri the Land members , together with the scripheld by . eacb _, and which was received with loud and _eathusiastic applause : —
TO FEAKGUS ' O ' CONNOB , ESQ ., M . r . " . ' . - ¦ _UBSPBCTEn Sir ;—We , the undersigned , being shareholders in tho National . Land Company , residing in the Staffordshire Potteries , take this opportunity of publicly expressing our utter _abhbrence of the nefarious schemes adopted by your and our enemies , -in order to lessen your reputation as a gentleman ; and the '¦ recognised founder of a plan , which we believe is folly calculated to amend the condition of tho toiling , massasof oui- fellow countrymen . ' ¦ _- . ¦ ..:. •¦ . . . ¦ .. ¦¦ - .. ¦ :. ' , * W 6 havo witnessed with sorrow , the base ingratitude of many ofyour , protessed friend 3 , who , after thefr location on the estates of the National ; Land Company , have connected _, themselves -. with such men (?) as the lnflimous Bradshaw . in striving to ruin you bycompelhiigyoutohave recowie ' . ' to *' expensive _lawJproci-edings . in . vindication of your character . * : "> Vo rejoice that you : did not eliriuk _ifrom , tho ordeal , and arc proud to know that even the jury , while * vi _1-...- - ! :.: ' ! i !> i ; _Wi- ! ' i _:- '' -v" _;'" _. ¦¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ •¦ ¦ _•'¦ ' ¦ ' . > ¦¦ : _[ ' ¦ _' ¦ '
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flndinga verdict for yonr opponent / declare d _yoiirMT _^ ternnimpeachable , _^ _" _-- . = _a-.- , -,.-. „ ,,, ..,. _» ., . J _™ " _-larao In conclusiori , _" "" wempec ( f \ illy . declare ouv _Sitj ¦ dence iri- you , : together-with our / solemn' _detehnjn ( _- confi _' render you all the . assistance in our power , to c _™ . _" " to the designs of your enemies ; and , as a proof of m . " "I ?* - *' tereBted services _: in ' the cause of suffering _hum _3 . ' _" '" '• offer you our scrips , as paid-up members of the _L-u , _!& " _*' pany . to he appropriated Jn any way you may _thinw " _* and we sincerely : hope ' you will continue to ni _» " * i same noble course you have hitherto done , until th *• * ••" people are admitted within the pale oftho Consi ! _. ' , ll () 1 _* " andwhen each and all can ' sit under their own _^ * " ""•> their own fig tree , none daring to make them _afraw . " name bf O'Connor will then be hailed with aecW * and future generations will reverence-bless your n ? atiori i asabenelactorofmankind . ' rn , t , mory Edward Lawton , four acres ; Thomas Brown ... John Brown , four ditto ; Moses Broirn , fon _^ _- ,. v , lt ' o ; : W . Sale , four ditto ; Thomas Corbett i «„ _- ? i " 3 . Samuel Smith , two ditto : William BiliinZ , , tto ditto ; John Boot , three ditto ; Job Clav fn , _•' J tlu '" « W . Daniells , three ditto ; Jeremiah Yates f _™ _JUo _J Thomas Shirley , four ditto ; William _SniT _dl"o ditto ; Robert Perry , three ditto ; _ChristoS . _^ O lri _^ _^ flndinira verdict for _yonfoWonent / deiclare'l tm ,... .
son , two ditto ; _isnsiia Mayer , four ditto . in . " * 2 " _Ptwo ditto ; George Barker , three _dUto w ? jll " f , Adams , three ditto ; William Chotliam fi " ,, llai _» Kichard Williamson , four ditto ; _Mosesifi- 8 fre " ! ditto ; James _Sproston _, four ditto : Jame « n ,. P' ltt » ditto ; John Walker , four ditto ; John _Bnft ¦«¦ ditto j Thomas Weaver , four ditto ; Willia _™ _^ 11- ' »> ditto ; John Sutherland , two ditto ; SteXn _??* tv " . four ditto ; Enoch Mayer , four ditto ; Wn i , _** -. " _. four ditto ; John Corfield , four ditto \\ m _ . _''j _Sn , greaves , four ditto ; John Hulme , three diuX V ar Daniels , four ditto ; James Fornell , two dittn . Si _**> Yates , four ditto ; Noah Yates , two ditto . ' rh _^ Mayer , _senr ., four ditto ; Charles Gerrard < n > , i v ! _***" Thomas Winokle , three ditto ; Solomon ir ,, « . _* ' four ditto ; William Butlers , four ditto : John n _*?? . four ditto ; James Oldham , four ditto cS .., S son , -four ditto * , Thomas Brentwall _, four ditto . p Brunt , four ditto ; George Fickerin _* , ' , four ditto ' _-1 _*" Beeston , two ditto ; George Bestwick , fou- ' _^ uuiiu unsuiiiuur uuiu _iiiuniit
_x- , , s I / OXev four 1 * ' Charles Benington , two ditto , James IIolii ' nsh < ., j 1 ) i ditto ; Thomas Harris , four ditto ; Henrv Pri _«' V ditto ; John Heath , four ditto—Sixty si gnatures' " Mr . O'CoNNon , in returning thanks , express ,. ' v thankfulness for the gratitude of those nnnr 5 who had most of them invested £ 5 6 s , in the h of realising his most darling object . The _addM he received with no ordinary pleasure , while v feelings would revolt if he were capable of accent ing the present now tendered to him ( CrJ , t "No , no . " ) Yes , he must empathieall y declinflif . and it was not only his hope , but his firm convn tion , that every one of those grateful contribut or , would yet receive 20 s . in the pound for the moniM invested . Ho would take this opportunitv of 0 T
plaining the hostility that , the privileged entertained of conveying any , the slightest , Soon uDon the unprivileged . There had been minute inquiries by parliamentary committees , into the affairs of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners , who had to do frith the pious property ofthe Church—or , rather of the people , monopolised by the Church—{ loud cheers ! —into the Woods and Forests , which _belonged to the people : into railway affairs ; and into th ° e ma . nagement of Savings Banks , where the monev _tf the poor people was exclusively invested and stolenin all those transactions , atrocious frauds were digcovered , while sympathy was expressed for tha fraudulent .. ( Cheers . ) But , in his ( Mr . O'Connor ' s ) case sympathy was expressed for the fran .
dulent who had juggled him and the contributors , while every mouth , and every press was open to denounce him ( Mr . O'Connor . ) ( CheerB . ) And why ? Because his object w as to assist the poor , and tho object of the others was to defraud them . ( CheerB . ) There was only one observation . made by the eloquent young man who presented the address , upon which he felt himself called upon to comment , it was the disapproval of his desire to make the rich richer . Now what he ( Mr . O'Connor ) meant by that , was not that he would give them more money , or allow them to take any money from the pockets of the poor , or to traffic in the . dependence of the poor , but that he would relieve them from all taxes , bishops tithes
, poor rates , church cess , army tax , and every other tax as under such a system as he proposed , soldiers may-be turned into workmen ; bishops and parsons may be made to live upon the sweat of tlieir brow * instead of upon the slimo of their tongue ; excise and custom houses may be converted into useful purposes ; and then the taxation of the country would not amount to five millions a year , and no profit would be made upon cither imports or exports . He trusted that he had given a fair and satisfactory definition of the meaning of the term . ( Loud and prolonged cheering . ) The working classes now understood how necessary it was to hear a clear definition of every man ' s principles , and he was move than thankful for the opportunity afforded him for
aebmng his . ( Cheers . ) He could not conclude without congratulating them upon the appearance upon the platform of their friend Mr . Kobert 3 . ( Loud cheers . ) He was a solicitor ; and _altlioujrh he ( Mr . O'Connor ) would most cheerfully freight vessels with every bishop , parson , and solicitor , and consign them to some foreign land , in the hope of creating true religion and veritable honesty in this country—( tremendous laughter and cheers)—yet , nevertheless , as long as thoy were necessary , an honest one was indispensable . _Jvow , Mr . Koberts had had the tyrant ' s fetters upon his wrists ; he had been confined in the felon ' s dungeon in the felon ' s dress ; he had given up friends and relatives , and sacrificed a lucrative business for the promotion of
the people ' s interests . ( Loud cheers . ) lie was no fool . When he and Mr . O'Connor had frequent consultations with able counsel , with reference to the Lancaster trials , these eminent gentlemen laughed at Mr . Roberts , when he declared that there was no crime in the fifth count ; it so happened , however , that the judge who tried the case , and all the judges in the Court of Queen ' s Bench , critically agreed with Mr . Koberts . ( Cheers . ) Well , the miners of Northumberland and Durham appointed him as their Attorney-General ; he went amongst tliem , and lived amongst them . He raised their wages , succeeded in every action against thc masters ; as soon as their wages were raised , through his energy and knowledge , they said , we don ' t want you any more .
lie was dismissed , and immediately upon his dismissal the masters became greater tyrants than over , and reduced the wages of their hands lower than ever . ( Loud cheers . ) Now , he was glad to find this able and honest man—if he could call any solicitor honest —( laughter)—he was glad to find him elected as the legal adviser and defender of the miners and potters of Staffordshire ; and he trusted , that they , gaining wisdom from tlie folly of other ? , would see the necessity not only of gaining , but in preserving their rights when they had gained them . Again , thanking them for the grateful address they had presented , he begged to . assure them thathe never derived greater pleasure than he had from the appearance , or rather the enthusiasm , of the thousands of working men by whom he was that day received , aud from the cordial reception he had
met with in their New Hall upon its opening . Hefore he concluded , he felt himself justified in putting them in possession of a fact connected with the Land Company , wliich would prove his disregard of money . ¦ He had purohased a four-acre allotment at Lowbands , of a ballotted member , in the hope of being able to purchase the adjoining four-acre allotment , and it was his intention to have built a cottage upon the eight acros , and to have practically carried out the Small Farm System . He had paid £ 45 to the ballotted member for his allotment ; tho adjoining allottee refused to sell , and he ( Mr . O'Connor ) ro-sold the allotment he had purchased for £ S 0 , making £ 35 profit , and by the next post he remitted the additional - _**^ " to the allottee from whom he had purchased ; the man was perfectly astonished , and he wondered whether many other philanthropists would do the like . Mr . O'Connor
resumed his seat amid loud acclamation . When Mr . O'Connor resumed his seat , a young ; man in the gallery rose , and begged to propose a ¦ vote of thanks to Mr . O'Connor and Mr . Roberts _,, for tlieir attendance that night , and their able ; _i speeches addressed to thc working classes . This proposition was put by the _ChmihjXs , audi _, followed by most enthusiastic applause . Mr . O'Coxson-rose to return thanks , aad in _conclusion , proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman , i _„ stating that it ' alway ' s gave him greater pleasure to ) i see one of their own order presiding over meetings s of that kind , than to see an aristocrat or _capitalistitl in the chair . ( Cheers . ) And he was surethat theyyi would agree with him , that no Chairman could _dis _* 3 i 1 if I > I M . ¦ Am .
etiarge the duties ot his _ottice with more propriety ?) than tho gentleman who presided that ni ght . Mr . Roberts seconded tho resolution , which ffas _" put , and carried with great acclamation . The Chairman rose , and said that he felt hiniselfll highly honoured by being appointed to thc offices which he filled—he was glad to find to their _satis-ij faction . Ho hoard the speeches of the sevcrahl speakers with pride and p leasure ; there was only onei « pertion of Mr . OConnors speech from which he _par-r tially dissented , and that was his criticism uponn Socialism . He ( the Chairman ) was a Socialist in tne' « true acceptation of the word , which meant co-opeiM '
Uon of labour ; and again congratulating them upouin their gathering and tho speeches they had hearu _. _uj he begged to return them his thanks for the honouui they had conferred upon him . ( Loud cheering aw " clapping of hands . ) Mr . O'Connor again rose , and said that he * very proud to hear the explanation of Socialism !" given Dy _. tHp Chairman ; he always courted J 1 _* - " 11 _^' sion , and it appeared that their views entirely . " v . corded with his ( Mr . O ' Connor ' s ) veritable defim _* - _* tion of Socialism—the fitness of things to _society-ra ' nd he too was for co-operation of labour , but inowi yiduality of possession . ¦ ( Loud and tremendou _* " _* _*) cheering . ) The meeting then separated in the best sp irit .
! Printed By Wnilram Rider. Ofno.5, • Jtacc!Esfiew-Sia«Ff*"
! Printed by WniLrAM RIDER . ofNo . 5 , _JTacc ! _esfieW-sia « _ff _* "
M The Parm*Hot'8t Anne, Westminster,' At...
m the parM _* hot ' 8 t Anne , Westminster , ' at tlie I ™ " !? ' !? : office , 16 , Great _WindmiU-sti-eet _, _HavmwUet _, in tlie WW _ot'Westminstcr , for the Proprietor , FEAKGUS _O'CONJi-J"" ' * Esq . M . P ., and published by the said Wiuuu _IIidi * > _" _>*> the . Office , ' iti ; the . sariie ' street Mid _narish .- _* " Jturu _.-iw . " May 4 th , 1 _^ 0 . ' ! ' ' : : ; '• _- . _"¦ *" _- _*¦• ¦ ¦ -- ¦ •' _-
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 4, 1850, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_04051850/page/8/
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