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W§z ^tMfyzxn eotmtteo*
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rjj . H abebss" seconded / the motion , which was f £ a ufissimondj . ........ tfr O'Cokkob , on presentingWmself , was greeted ffi three tremendous cheers . He said—When Mr naniel O'Connell was addressing a monster meeting '"• Ireland he reminded his audience of the motto der the touch-hole of the volunteers' guES , and SU he put his finger to his nose , bo . ( Loud cheers . ) S& * ifwould be , jxjrhaps , the best thing for me to Ljid JOU of tbe motto under the toncfc . bole of VgraJohn Russell ' s bomb , that is to blo as an to ^ n piemen ' s Land , and pnt my finger on my lips . rtn * i laughter . ) But , however , n otwithstanding
ftat that trap had been baited for the red cap of rhEitism , I tell Lord John . Russell that he is too conning to go into it . ( Lond lang hter . ) It is now o-jttr near ly nine months since I was honoured with Lr ' c °° fidence as y ° ur representatire . I think that vritbi a 'hose n * ne m ° oths I have been brought to bed of a very numerous family . ( Laughter . ) I •" . gte to think that after so many who have been jmnoured Trith your confidence— certainl y in return for their money—that I have acted t part different from those ^ ho purchased that confidence Ih order t ' fill t heir own pockets out of yours . ( Loui cheers . ) 1 thank you for the resolution yon have passed ; but I objec ta little to the tender of yeur sympathy . You
jhould have expressed your sympathy for the House ^ Par li ament , for I gave them as good as I got . { 'Hear , hear , ' and laughter . ) I require nosympjtby ; and the more I am pricked , the more I am roid ' ed , the more I am spurred , the more I am put cp ou my metaL ( Cheers . ) But , my friends , I am jjsppj to find , from your resolution , that in these ^ s ' of danger and dismay , when the rampant'Whigs have kicked down the ladder by which they ascended to power , you think that lhave fearlessly and hones tly discharged my duty . ( Cheers . ) I venture to say that there are few , even ef the liberal memfaen , ' who are willing again to test the opinion of iteir constituents . However , in order to show that
I think the popular voice should he as unanimous as possible , if there are two hundred here in this vast nieeiiDg who are dissatisfied witb my conduct , I will not continue to hold my seat . ( Cheers . ) I dare say the newspapers will state that there are abont 200 or 300 at this meeting . ( Laughter . ) The virtuous press always has one eye clouded and the other shut . As we say o £ the cooks in Ireland , vthen thesoot falls in the broth , they have one eye np the chimney and the other ikimming the pot . ( Laughter . ) Look at what they said ef the meeting of this day fortnight . The most glorious meeting I ever saw one paper said consisted of 4 , 000 and another 10 , 000 . On Tuesday , however , after the Commissioners of
Police had sent a private letter to every one of the proprietors , there was an extraordinary coincidence in their dreams , for they all came out with 15 , 000 . ( Laughter . ) That was the meeting which the government proclaimed should not take place . Thst was the meeting which I wa 3 warned , by policemen and by members of Parliament , if I attended I should be shot . It was , however , held in defiance of the proclamation ; I rode on the front seat , and , thank God ! - I myself was the cause that no blood -was shed . ( Cheers . ) I told that . meeting , whom I addressed , as I do this audience , as my children , that I had too much in store for them to spare one sinde man from nature ' s feast , when nature's feast .
-day shall come . ( Cheers . ) We find all the continental countries bubbling with the new genius of the time . We find despots giving constitutions where a few years ago they would not have made the slightest alteration . We have seen countries placed in the possession of their new-bom liberties who are not so well prepared to ase them as we . And why ? Because they havenot had thepower of speech ; they have not had the power of meeting in public to confer together ; and they have not , as we have for the first time in the history of nations , a good solid system to replace a rotten system . ( Cheers . ) In France ¦ t he errors , or rather the position of the Provisional Gore nmeni is not their own fault . If they are obliged to sustain 100 , 000 of the people in idleness ,
it is not the fault of the government which has now taken the command , but the fault of the tyrant despot who would not allow the people to confer together in order that they might have been prepared to propose a better system than that they were abont to destroy . ( Cheers . ) But I have proposed a better system ; and what I assert here , as in the House of Commons , is , that if to-morrow we had , even for purchase , the land of our birth , I would not leave a man idle who was willing to work ; I would put eTery man to work . ( ' Hear , ' and cheers . ) It is something for England to say , that , unlike all other nations , her agitation his been made in a quiet , peaceful , and constitutional manner , ^ Cheers . ) They may complain of idlers . So do I—of the idlers who live en the sweat
of industry —( cheers)—and to-morrow , if I had the means , I would find labour for those who are willing to work , and every unwilling idler I would have whipped through your streets . ( Cheers ) But I have now a great regard for the Hnwilling idlers , and their wives , and their children—they are made bo by class legislation—as much regard for them as I have for the man who works sixteen hours a'day , became they are not allowed to -win an honest livelihood . ( Cheers . ) They have passed the Gagging Bill , and much good may it do them . ( A laugh . ) I told the government , and I will keep my word they may depend upon it , that if they did pass it , I would traverse the length and breadth of the land ,
by day and night , and that my cry should be ' Down vith the base , brutal , and bloody Whigs . ' I told them that the existence of three political parties in the state is incompatible with peace , law , and order , and told them that public opinion would compel Sir Robert Peel and Lord John Russell to unite , and then we should hare only two parties in the state—the rich oppressor and the poor oppressed . ( Great cheering . ) I reminded the noble lord and his colleagues that what had produced the French Revolution vras what they had been doing the whole session , namely , extracting taxes from the middle and working classes for idlers to live upon . I reminded the Prime Minister—pushed and howled on
by those tax-devourers who sat behind him on the Treasury benches as he was—that this continued draw upon the pockets of the people could not be maintained ; and I asked what was the reason so great a number were starving when the land of the country was capable of supporting five times the population ? If I prove , then , that the land will produce enough for the maintenance of those placed upon it by God , where is the infidel who would compel the laud to be sterile ? ( Cheers . ) Why should we pay £ 10 , 000 , 000 a year to the shepherds while the flocks are starving ? ( Cheers . ) Not a word has been said by the government of reducing the incomes of the idle parsons . ( Cheers . ) Why
should a parson have £ 3 , 000 a year , while he allows only £ 120 to the journeyman parson who saves your souls . ( A laugh . ) Your souls areall saved by journeymen . ( Cheers . ) All the master soul-savers go—not on the Continent now ; it is too hot for them —( a laugh)—to water ing , and other plaees , -and go te hear themselves the journeymen of other neglectful master soul-savers . ( Cheers . ) This Church Establishment cannot stand . ( Cheers . ) I say that t he working classes , and the middle classes , and the Dissenters , will not allow the Church Establishment to stand . They will not allow £ 18 , 000 , 000 to be p aid for the Army , Uavy , and Ordnance , nor £ 4 , 000 , 000 to be expended under the head of
miscellaneous estimates , which means for the support of idlers , lickspittles , and prostitutes , while the faces of old age , which I see before me , are pallid and careworn , and those of the young stamped ¦ w ith the marks of premature old age . ( Cheers . ) It i 3 not according to nature , reason , or humanity . ( Cheers . ) But however I have suffered in my constitution , and though . I look five or sis years older than I did nine months ago , when . I came before you as your earnest , honest servant—- ( cheers)—I again feel the blood grows young again , however pale my faee may look . ( Cheers . ) This atmosphere is rather more wholesome than that of St Stephen ' s . ( A laugh . ) I love to hear those
hearty cheers , and see those smiling countenances . ( Cheers . ) But you have no more idea of what the House of Commons is , than a cock of a holiday . ( A laugh . ) I wish you were a few nig hts in that gallervf ( Cheers . ) But the press never tells the real state of the house . It did not mention that on Friday night every member of the government was noste d and groaned down . They found there were other groaners than the honourable member , for Nottingham . ( Cheers . ) Never were there such volleys of groans as those the government got from those
who formerly were their supporters . ( Cheers . ) The government will soon find out that they are in the wrong box . I am receiving letters every day from the shopkeepers , formerly our bitterest enemies , who are beginning to find out that an empty till makes an ugly wife on a Sunday morning . ( Great laughter . ) These are the principles I have advocated and will advocate in spite of the Gagging Bill . ( Cheers ) These are the principles I have advoeated during an agitation of thirty-five years' duration My resolution now is that no man shall make a fool of me , and that I will not make a fool
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of myself ; and I think you will allow that I have shown both prudence , courage , snd wisdom in my career . ( Cheers . ) I will give them no excuse to pnt me on hoard the hulks , but I will confine my speeches to the House of Commons , and utter them regardless of Gagging Bills , and see if the press will report them . Lord Brougham says that any man who reports , prints , or publishes sedition , mav ba transported b y this Bill ; but I will have a reporter of my own in the gallery , and they shall be printed in my paper . I was told that if I went to tHe meeting os Monday , the 10 th instant , I should be shot ; but I went in the foremost rank upon the car , and I was the means of preventing blood being
shed that day . ( Cheers . ) But suppose I had been shot , and the news had come down to you , what would you have done the next day ? ( An indistinct mannur arose , of which we did not catch the purport . ) That is my protection , because the government knows that if I am touched it will not be because I shall do anything feloniously or illegally , for I always stand on the constitution of the law . But Ihe government are they who act unconstitutionally . ( Cheers . ) Throughout the whole of my life of agitation I have never caused a drop of blood to be shed , but I am determined to go on . If the middle classes do not go on—if they do not go for the whole hog , bristles and all —( a laugh )
they vyl never find me for less than the People ' s Charter , name and all . ( A laugh . ) I shall call on them to proceed . In the olden time , when danger wa 3 abroad , men would shrink back , bnt if I find them skulkiag , I will strut out before tbem . ( Cheers . ) I do not think anything short of inspi . ration cauld have induced me to speak so Isngin the open air . You know what Mr Duncombe ha * suffered from his devotion to the people , and I was attacked by just the same symptoms . But I have a good wide chest , and a good pair of bellows inside it : I shall keep a good deal in till I see how the middle classes come out . ( Cheers . ) The government , however , have met with their match in me .
( Cheers . ) In 1845 , Mr Fox Maule told Mr Disraeli that a commission was sent down to Scotland , to see after thejtate of the crops , and also to report upon the state of O'Connor ' s speech . ( Cheers . ) This Gagging Bill is a trap for me ; but they will not get so old a fox inside it . The honourable gentleman then made an attack upon the reporters , saying he had no doubt one or more were spies of government , and then continued as follows . —At a meeting at Gldham Edge , at which a quarter of & million were present , the press gave us 8 , 000 , and not bad either . ( Laughter . ) In fact , this is the rule I recommend . If there are thirty newspapers , which give different accounts , add all the numbers together ,, multiply
them by two , and you will get about half the real total . ( Laughter . ) At that meeting a gentleman said , ' Mr O'Connor , you are Irish ; you must comt h 2 ckto your own eoantry . ' ' Nay , ' was the reply of an old man who stood near , ' Nay , he ' s oar feyther , and we canna part wi' him . We'll lend him yer , hut yo mun send him back agen . ' ( Loud laughter . ) I shall continue this agitation until I have been the aeans of placing every man who wishes to go upon the land , in a cottage , with land to suppor t him there the remainder of bis days . ( Cheers . ) If there be then any who do not wish
that , the artificial labour market being freed from the present amount of competitien , they will receive twice the amount of wages they now obtain . ( Cheers . ) New , I have to address the tea meeting to-day , and therefore I will not keep you any longer , as I shall then he able to enter more minutely into detail . I have only to thank you once more for the confidence you have reposed in me in having returned me as your Member , and to assure you that I will not cease my exertions until the Whigs are driven from office and the People ' s Charter the law of the land . ( The Hon . Member then retired amidst loud cheers . )
Dr M'Donall and the Rev . Thaddeus O'Malley , were unanimously elected members of the forthcoming National Assembly , which is to assemble on the 1 st of May . Three times three cheers were then given for Mr O ' Connor , three for the Charter and Repeal , aiad three groans for the Whigs , and the meeting dispersed .
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< a ^ - ~ — - ~ GRAND SOIREE ; In the evening a splendid tea party took place at the Exchange Rooms , about 700 sat down to tea . After the tables were cleared speaking commenced . Mr Mott was unanimously called to the chair . The CHAiBiiAK . 'briefi'y stated that the Chartists had met on a previous occasion to celebrate the electien of Mr O Connor , andthat the present festivities were for the purpose of driving the last nail into the coffin of the base crew who had presented a * petition against Mr O'Connor ' s return—a section of the most tyranical set of men that ever existed—the base , brutal , aad bloodylWhigs . ( Loud cheers . ) It would not be in the power of Lord John Russell to gag them with'his Bill ; for if he ( the chairman ) were in'th ' a situation in which thousands were , with their wives and children crying for bread , he should think himself a wretch if he tamely submitted . to be thus deprived of the right of complaint . ( Cheers . )
Mr Robbrw read the following address to Mr O'Connor . ; TO FSABQrS O ' COHKOS 16 $ , H . Pi Sir , —la presenting to you this addms , expressive of oar confidence In your integrity , and onr admiration for the IndefatigsbUity with which you have pursued the political course you advocate for the regeneration of mankind , wo cannet but express oar 6 errow that those labours and exertions bare not met their just reward . We , along with yon , deplore the unconstitutional law pasted by the Legislature , at the inBtigation of government , for the suppression of public speaking , and , consequently , the freedom we haTe hitherto peaceably exercised , of advocating our political rights—rights which arefoHnded in justice , in accordance with the coBstitntion of these realms—which we advocate Bolely for the purpose of mating better Ihe present bad system of legislation . The Legislature , in passing this
unconstitutional law , iave disregarded the great principle , that all government is protection and happiness to all , and that those who are to be benefited are the government—but have governed for the exclusive advantage of themselves . The abuses we complain of have some of them been transmitted to ns from past generations ; and yet it has required the labour of twenty-five consecutive years on your part , to convince the middle and working classes that they are both inseparably connected with the exten-Blon of the franchise—that it Is to better the condition of both , and remedy the evilj they jointly declaim egainst , that you advocate the . People ' s Charter . We glory in yonr advocacy , and all mea . ought to protect and shield you from all attempts that are made to sacrifice you to despotism—the faint glimmerings of Ught which were a few years ago to he observed recalling reason from her darkness , which then obscureS the whole political horizon , now blaze forth , equalling the majestic splendour of the sun at noon day . . .
Wo disclaim d estruction of proper orthe sacrifice of life , and will use onr Halted exertions to prevent both . In conclusion , w « repeat our confidence in your integrity , we promise to support you in all your political strng ^ les for the redemption of mas , and victory , advocated peaceably and morally , is certain . . Mr Harrisos then addressed the meeting , and informed them that he had been dead fourteen dBys , for tbafctae Derby Mebcurt , in reference to the memorabte 10 th of April , had said that he had had a small sod thrown at him , and that he had never been heard of since . Notwithstanding that , he had , how-Iver , been preaching liberty in Derbyshire ever einee In allusion to the Chartist petition , he said that the introduction of obscene signatures was the work of Government ' spies' to fling them into a disgraceful pssitioH . The Whigs had shown themselves capable of such a trick . One circumstance marred the
oleaeuks of tke day ; and that was , that Mr O'Connor was bo unwell , " and looking ten years older than he did one year ago ; but if he did look ill , it was the treatment ho had met with in the house which had caused it , for it was no more like an honourable bouse than hell was like heaven . . ( Cheers . ) He Mr Harrison ) had been in the House of Commons , and the esndnot he had seen there would have been disgraceful te pigs . ( Cheers . ) It had been said in the House that the people would entwine their affect tiona around the constitution like the ivy around the oik . The people had been trying to do this , but such was the rocky , flinty nature of the soil , that it was net possible to do it . Feargus O'Connor , in the words of the old saying , was as soand as an acorn . He was the Irish acorn , transplanted into English soil , and he had grown up into a large and majestic tree , the real oak around which the people of England will entwine their affections . ( Cheers . )
Mr O'Coskob , who said , Mr Chairman—( Thundering applause . My friends , in confirmation of wh » t has fallen from our veteran friend Harrison , I beg to remind you of the words of Sheridan , when he said that the children of this ceuntry were governed by the mammas , that the mammas were governed by the papas , and that the papaB governed the ceuntry . ( Deafening cheera . ) I do not think that he vfas much out when he said that it waB from all male attempts and support that the females of this ceuntry would now be able to carry the Charter . it is not at
Cheers from the femaleB . ) My friends , all unlikely that if the mouth of man should be gagped , and if his tengue should he stilled within his lips , that the unruly instruments of women ,, perhaps , wiil intimidate the government more than ; he violent language of man . ( TremendouB cheering . ) I am also better pleased to be surrounded by women contending for their rights than by men ; and I never felt more proud than when the assailants of tie national petition declared tbat & was signed by a great number of women . Wouli fc@ God that it
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was signed exclusively byrwomen . But , mark the growth , of mind , and the cauBes which have led to this change . In ' 89 , when we contended for our political principles , without the social principles attached to them , it waB to make woman the mistress of her own home , and the mistress of her own castle . ( Graat cheering . ) Then the mothers were nothing to compare with their protectors ; they were not political agitators , because they could not see the sooial benefit that could arise from it ; but now that Inhave shown that woman is no longer to be the slave of man , and that the babe is sot to be turned from the mother ' s breast and given to a straDger ( Cheers ); and when we see the women foremost in contending for their righta and libertiesne must
, hear them . Our veteran haB told ns that he was dead , I have bad the new birth unto [ righteousness . ( Thunders of app ? au 8 e . ) Men that never asked of the Charter before the 10 th of April , now talk of the Charter , and only the Charter . ( Cheers ) Well , then , is not this something to hare accomplished ; and while our friend has told you that the middle classes must either go onward or take their rubbish out of the way , I say I am not afraid of death , I would rather be found amongst the vanquished contending for liberty , than among the victorious who destroy it . But although the Gagging Bill haa been passed , it does not apply to ihe House of Commons ; and I have always told yon of the valneof an organ in that house . I will have a repsrter to report what I
say m tbat house . I havo always teld you that one man in the house is worth a legion out of it ; that the toice of honour , the love of the Charter , the indomitable adherence to the principles of liberty have gone farther thronghont the world than they have for centuries bsforei ( Great applause . ) Well , what now ia the principle that should guide me in your confidence in me , and your love towardame ; mind , when I tell you I would rather die than betray that confidence , yoH are not to look upon me as a demagogue , or trafficking politician . Top are yet my disoiplea—you are my children—( cries of' We are , ' and cheers)—you must leok upon me as one not wishing te destroy the families more dear to me then life . Where conld I find eolaoe . where
ceuld I find refuge , if I disappointed the males , the f enisle . " , and Sie children of this country ? 16 is not for you I feel , it ia for the women , who have performed so much that they ought not to b e worked as they hive baen . It is for the innocent bab 8 con * damned unconHciouBly to slavery . Bnt , my friends , a new day is beaming upon us ; and if there is one description more than another of courage and resolution , it is that which is required by the general . ( Cheers . ) How foolhh would that general bo who was forced by the tactios of his oppeneats into the very position into - . which they : had seeked to force him . ( Cheers . ) I have my own resalatien , and I have sworn to myself , before God , that you ahall have the Charter and the Land . ( Protracted
cheering . ) I hare not joined the movement yesterday—I am ' not lifee . those man , who joined it on Monday and told us on Wednesday they were quite tired of agitation . My friends , if I were tired the cause would have been lest , but I have so organised the mind , that in a great measure must be left to me the carrying out of the principles which I have propounded . ( Great cheering . } Da you think I am so silly , and so foolish —( cries of : 'No , no' )—as to allow recruits , ta force me into collision with an armed force ? No , You might dishonour me if I were to declare myself with enthusiasm , which
would not be warranted of me again ; but I wonld lose my self-reapect , and if once I lost that , your confidence would speedily follow . ( Cheers . ) It does not require a man who wiil talk loudly , and then cower before the first cloud of danger . ( Cheers . ) It requires a maa that will go for universal liberty , ( Hear . ) Well , now , the middle elasaeB , to a certain extent , have joined us . But do yen suppose that I am going to march ia the rear of that class ? Do you suppose that I am going to sire up one bristle of the heg ? Do you think that I am going to pander t 9 that class ? No , my friends . ( Cheers . ) My motto is : — Onward , and we coiqaer ! Backward and we fall . ' TSS PEOPLE'S CHARTER AKD NO SURRENDER ! ( Cheers . ) Why are we in advance of all ether countries ? Because we have had the freedom of speech ; and by that freedom of intelligence and opinion , we have eorae to one unanimous resolution , ft is , thst the idle shepherd should not live luxuriously , while all the flock were starving . There is more than sufficient foe all God ' s , family . ( Great cheering . ) All that is possessed by the idle and luxurious Church belongs to the people , and that people are determined , ¦ ' Ceme wea ] , oome woe , ' como Gagging Bills , or what may , their resolve is to have that property restored to its legitimate place . ( Loud and long-continued cheering . ) If the Land were locked up from the Charter , I would not give you
that for it to-morrow . [ Here Mr O'Connor snapped his fingers . ] I ou must understand that this is a knife and fork question—that this is a question of life and death—as to whether a man , his wife , aed children shalihave a good breakfast , a good dinner , a good tea , and supper , or whether ha shall be a pauper in the bastile , or a beggar at the rich man ' * door . Never lose sight of this question—that the middle classes , who have joined us in our strength , sever asked to unite with us in our weakness ; but now they ask to join ub , proving that we are the power in the ascendant . It required no power in persecation to place you ia that position . I told the shopkeepers that an erap _ ty till on Saturday night , would make an ugly wife on Sunday morning . ]
told the manufacturers they would not find sale for their good 3 . My friends , four out of every ten shops inNottingB&m , are now closed . Why ? Because tbe pauper ia a bad customer at the counter of ihe shopkeeper . Because the pauper is a bad customer at the counter of tha manufacturer . ( Hear , hear . ) 1 ask no more than a 'fair day's wag © for a fair day ' s work . ' ( Tremendous applause . ) Then I will consent to whip the willing idler through' the streets . ( Cheers . ) I will not consent to treat with degradation the unwilling idler , who cannot obtain work , who cannot obtain labour . My friends , sympathise with those who are beaten . Do not sympathise with those who havo triumphed . I have triomphed . Sympathise where sympathy is due—with the House
of Commons—with tho government . ( Cheera . ) What iB the reason wa have triumphed ? Because we have been on the side of liberty . Because we have been upon the side of justice—because we have bean upon the side of labour . ( Great applause . ] Many a thousand , many a hundred thousand men , who seoffed at us , arejnow beginning to think that the People ' s Charter should be considered . It was only . oa Saturday night last , Mr Gladstone attended a meeting , and proposed a humble and loyal address to the Queen . A working man : get up and moved , as an amendment , the People ' s Charter . ( Great cheering . ) But we must not forget that when w « adopted the Charter from principle ; that the principle then was the same as now . That these
persons then were amongst our greatest revilers , and yet , mark pur kindness and wisdom . We are prepared to forgive , but we are not prepared for the retrpgade movement . In the present state of Eurone , when crowns are trembling , sceptres falling , Iain not prepared to see an aristocracy living upon the Industry , of this country . I am eat prepared fer theternis of ' peace , retrenchment , and reform , '' cheap bread and plenty to do . ' I am not prepared to Bee the same amount of taxation wrting from the few who are now employed , as was wrung from the nation when it was supp esed to be entirely employed . I ars not prepared to acquiesce in that , and 1 am resolved , if I stand alone in the House of Commons , my cry shall be' for Labour , for Labour , '
which is the source of all wealth . I told the House of Commons that the woiking classes of this country would not be represented by soldiers , sailors , captains , colonels , railway directors and chairmen ; by bankers , merchants , and manufacturer * , idle placemen and pensioners , who are hanging on the nation . ( Cheers . ) Mind , I do not say before you what I dara not say before them . They did 'bellow they did' boo / and they did' bah / and' groan / and 'laugh ; 'but the more resolute their voices the more resolute my courage . I stood ifc bravely . ( Cheere . ) I was neither unnerved nor intimidated ; and I would not be deserving of your confidence —and I have had many proofs of it—if I were prepared to cower before the grean of faction . This
has for me great charms . ( Cheers . ) This is my teaobing ; that moral power is the deliberative . quality in man ' s mind , and should that fail to secure for him those rights to which as a maa he is justly entitled , should physical force ba required , it will oome to his aid like an electric shock ; buttneman who advises it is a fool and a traitor . ( Cheers . ) To be forewarned is to be forearmed ; but as the Gagging Bill has been passed , I would rather die a freeman than live a slavs . ( Leud oheera . ) My friends , mark me well , and take this home witii you—that wherever there is physical revolution , labour will be the first to suffer . ( Hear , hear . ) But when a moral revolution takes place , labour establishes its own system out of the system that it has broken down . ( Cheers . ) Don'fc do as thoy have done inPrus 3 ia . I told you that the king had thrown ofl the Prussian plume , and that he has taken thepeacock ' s-plume for a moment ,.-to gain a larger army ;
and we now gee tbat the King , of Prnssia ha 3 established a National Guard of the . middle classes ; to keep down the working classes . ( HiBsea . ) Now labour strikes the last blow ; but aiMoon as that blow ia struck , and he is not prepared to receive it , he will be struck down . ( Cheers . ) My whole life has been devoted to the interests of labour . Not an hour , not a minute , not an instant , do I devote to my own affairs—leaving them to chance . ( Cheers . ) Well , then , am I to be led by every-day supporters « No ! Let them follow me . I t > UI take twe steps for their ene , and they shall be forward . { Cheers . ) The man who is leaBt forward in proclaiming his valour is the moat resolute to win . ( Cheers . ) The middle classes have joined us now—the Irish have fraternised with us . ( Cheere . ) But this Gagging Bill ia a violation of the Bill ef Rights . It is a violation of liberty —of freedom ; and wherever tyranny tries to travel upon the grounds of liberty—Jibejty ia aura to cfe-
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tam its rights , ( Great etieoring . ) Let us atk what wlhB government <] ping in Ireland ! They are arming the rich oppressor against the poor oppressed ; but I have never said arm , my friende . lie mind is a thing that nothing can check ; the tongue and the ' pen are the means of expressing that miHd . ( Greatchaering . ) Wb . aU the mind of England tobe gagged ! but they cannot do it , as I told tfie rainiBtew in my place in parliament , that all the bulks of her Majesty would not be large enough to 00 jl 11 * . . treacoeroiis ministry , who now sit upon and behind the benches . I say the ministers have committed treason against the crown—against the people , and against the constitution . Well , who can go further than tell the government 4 kat they aie traitors to their faces , and to repeat it to my constituents .
( Loud oheeririg . ) We marched through thecannen , through the soldiery , through the armed and unarmed , when we digperged , showing ow love of life , rather to sacrifice our life to liberty , than to eacrib ' ce the people . ( Cheers . ) But now even' soldiers , sailorg , and policemen aro inqoiring what does the Charter mean ? ( Great cheering . ) According to the lying pj-eja of the country , the whole of the Protectivei , armed and unarmed , amounted to 250 , 000 men . What were they to b » alarmed at ? ( Leud cheers . ) Now , my friends , I have shown you the value of this ; to-morrow I leave you to go to my' cold , quiet home ; ' I go to receive fresh vigour—to plant beans and peas for thoae who never had one of their own before . I go for the next week , that I may renew my Qealth and vigour . ( Great cheering . ) My friends , I told them if tbe rain lasted Jen iaya longer , the effect would be awful . The wheat is now rotting in the ground . I naveseen it in many counties . ( Cbeers . ) Canyon longercheer—canyou pay £ 80 000 OOOfortoo < l
, to foreign nations , as you did last year ? ( 'No , no . ' } Bat if you had the land , you would have more than wonld supply you . If the wheat retted , the carrots would not ; if the carrots did , the turnips would not ; everything would not rot . ( Cheers . ) 1 contend that wheat is eulogised far above its worth . I contend that a good beefsteak with a oelvidge on it , and some good cabbage , is better than a crust of bread . ( Cheers . ) Good God ! what can be so beautiful as to tee the father going out into his own labour field to gather vegetables . They cannot grow bread , but they can grow vegetables . ( Great applause . ) I have struggled Jong , and incessantly , and honestly , I hope , tor the success of this great eanse ; and' Come weal , come woe , ' although I may bo a martyr te the Gagging Bill , I will smile tyranny out of countenance , and I will die ao I have lived , a pure lover of liberty . ( The honourable genUemen then eat down amidst the most deafeaing applause ever heard withib a bdilding . ) -
Mr O'Connor then proposed a vote oi thanks to Mr Mott as atiocere Chartist , and after three cheers each for the Charter , for the voters for Mr O'Connor for the return of Frost , Williams , and Jones , and for Mr O'Connor , and three terrible groans for the Whigs , Mr O'Connor retired . The reom was then cleared for dancing , which was kept up till a late hour . '"• ¦ '¦ '•
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&t * j £ 0 tt 9 wtr < itountt £ 0 « , Livbbpool—An immense meeting took place on the North Shore , a little way out ef Liverpool , on Good Friday , for the election of delegates to the National Assembly . The chair was occupied by Mr Matthew Platts . — - Mr H . Smith proposed the first resolution . He recounted the steps taken by the Chartists during the last few weeks , and said the government were about to give the people a bill to stop their mouths ; but as the people had mouths and brains it was impossible to cheek the saarch of intellect and the progress of knowledge . Would it suppress the Chartists of England or the Repealers of Ireland ? ( Vehement cries of 'No , no /) The Chartists were about to . memorialise the Queen , and to eleet two properly qualified persons from Liverpool to represent them in the Natisnal Assembly in
London ; and in addition there would be other measures adopted , with a view to the making the People ' s Charter the law . He said he stood before them as one of the 49 delegates now sitting in London . This waa one of very many meetings which were taking place on that day throughout England . The people were now engaged in a tremendous struggle , and never were the people of England and Ireland more thoroughly united than the / wero now , They bad frater&ised , and every effort would be made to achieve tke liberty of the working classes . He was happy te state that the proceedings in London on the 10 th insfc ., were characterised by moral force ; for there , in spite of a base government , the Chartists met in their CocTention-rooms , and proceeded to Kennington Common , headed by that noble-minded man ,
Mr Feargus O'Connor . The horsea and tbe band both belonged to the people , and no money had to be paid for either . The shopkeepers cheered the populace , and hundreds of thousands met on the Common , and such a meeting had never been held in England before . The right to hold public meetings had been established in London . If , however , the Gagging Bill passed , the richt of public speaking woald be made a transportable offence , and he and others would ba pounced upon by the minions of tbe law . Were they determined to support tke National Assembly ? ( Loud cries of ' Yes , yea /) He c § ncluded by moving the firat resolution , as follows : — 'That this meeting views with feelings of disgust the conduct of her Majesty ' s government . and the Petition Committee in their unprincipled attempts to damage
the People ' s Petition ; and this meeting feel that that they have nothing to expect from a Parliament based on any other pr inciple than universal suffrage / —Mr Maclean seconded the resolution , and in doing so , asked what was to be expected from a parliament which numbered 200 persons , who lived upon the honours and emoluments earned upon fields of blood ? Titles he looked upon as nicknames , and the true representatives of the people were the men of mind , intelligence , and industry . Was England to remain quiet ?—was she to lie down in her ashes when the whole continent of Europe , from Rome to France , was successfully straggling to obtain liberty and independence ? C ^' o , no !' and cheers . ) Did they expeet any better treatment from Parliament than they had recentl y received ? Could they expect
others to do their business for them if they failed to do it themselves ? He called on them to aid the great cause of freedom by every constitutional means in their power . The resolution was put and carried amid great applause . —Mr T . JoEe 3 proposed the second resolution , as follows : — That this meeting agrees to memorialise the Queen to dissolve the present Parliament , and dismiss those ministers who have so long abused the power they possess , and call to her councils suoh men as will make the People's Charter a Cabinet measure / Would the people lose if Lord John RusseU fiot the sack ? Rather , would they not be great gainers if honest Tom Duncombe were called to her Majesty ' s Councils and installed in ofiice ! ( ' Hear / and cheers . ) Let the people give a helping hand to raiBe a superstructure of freedom ,
and to elevate the working classes to that position which God and nature intended them to occapy . Let them , like the receding tide , gather freah strength at every , flux and reflux , and wash away every foul and filthy corruption from tbe faee of the earth . —Dr Reynolds seconded the resolution .: He would never be gagged by Lord John Kussell'a bill , and he believed that in England and Ireland the Gagging Bill would fail . ( Cheers ;) He rejoiced that he was an Irishman . The world never contained such a body of men as were now in Ireland ; and if the people of England turned cowards , he would ; go back to his own country , where there were no cowards to be found .. ( Cheers . ) "Several other speakers addressed the meeting , and Messrs Thomas and Edmund Jones were elected delegates to the National Assembly . ¦ ¦ / .
Great Chartist Meeting on Runoorn-bui / , Cheshire . — On Good-Friday last , a Chartist meeting consisting of about ; three thousand persons , was held on Runcorn-hill , Chesire . The speakers on the occasion were , Doctor Reynoldb , Mr Noon , Mr Taylor , Mr Bailey , and Mr Forest , all of whom were listened to with the utmost attention , while enlargingon the merits of the Charter , and showing the benefits that would be derived from it . It is the first meeting of the sort that has been held in this locality ; and several of our working men were threatened to be discharged if they would be present at it ; but these
spirited ra en despised the threats of their imperious masters , and swelled our number . The meeting was conduoted in an orderly manner , and it was evident from the show of hands , the continued cheering , and waving of hats , that all of them were thorough Chartists . We are determined to hold Sunday meetings for the future ; and we wish that some able delegates should be sent to Runcorn , for the purpose of having us properly organised . Their coming should be announced through the Stab . Let them honour us with a visit , and I will venture to say that they will find us as determined to struggle for independence as any other men in the nation .
Chorlet . —At a meeting called by the middle olasass , but which very few of that body attended , the Chartists proposed a resolution , ascribing present evils to the present UDJusfc system of representation , and proclaiming the Charter to be the only remedy . The resolution was carried unanimously . About a score of middle class men have contributed liberally towards the expenses of the Convention . Chartist meetings are held every Sunday evening at six o ' olook , aHd Monday evening at Beveno clock , behind the Rope-makers , Market-street . Cheltenham . —At a public meeting of tho Land Members of this branch , it was resolved that a levy
of threepence per member be made , for the purpose of aBsiBting the present movemeat for the Charter , and that one pound be voted from the funds now in hand for that purpose . „ , Sheffield —On Sundfiy evening , the Coun cil ot the National Charter Association held , a meeting in the Democrats Reading Room , S 3 , Queen-street . Mr James Senior in the chair . Mr Councillor Briggs read from the Northern Stab Mr O'Connor s letter to the Old Guards , which gave geperal satisfaction . On the motion ot Mr Cavill , seconded by Mr omSfix the following resolution was agreed to : — inat tn < s beat thanks of this Council be given to Mb O'Coftiaw , for his manly coudaot ea all ocoaswas , eM more
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especially on the 10 th of April last ; likewise we recommend fco the consideration 6 f tho"Convenfcion , the propriety ; ( if necessary ) of postponing the meeting of the National Assembly , still further , believing as we do ,:. tha . i . the cause will be best served by suoh a course / The letter of . our Ashton frieads was read , and gave the utmost aatistaction . A public meting is talked of to forward its object ? . A very animated camp meeting took place on Atteroliffe Common , on Sunday afternoon , which was , adjourned to next Sunday , at the sarao place . ¦ SHEFfliBU ) . —On Sunday week a camp meeting was held on Afcterelifia Common , when 20 , 000 peo > pie pledged themselves to the following resolution : — That this meeting views with disgust and alarm , the bill brought in by Sir George Grey , known by the
name of the ' High Treason , or Gagging Bill ; and this meeting pledges itself to redouble its exertions tor tUe overthrow . of tbe said bill , likewise to tuakd the People ' s Charter , the law of the land/—At another large and enthusiastic public meeting , held in Paradise-square , on Monday week , Mr Ironside in the chair , the following resolutions vere unanimously pasaed . - —Moved by ft . Otley , seconded by T . Willey : — ' That the people of Sheffisld , in publio meeting assembled , not having received any answer to their address to the Queen , resolye to elect two members to the National Ausembly ; and inasmuch S 3 that assembly will represent the feelings of the united nation , they pledge themselves to be goided
by its wisdom and councils , in the obtainmens of an set embodying tbe People ' s Charter/—Moved by J . T . Grayebn , secpnded by S . Jackson : — 'That Mr Councillor Thoraa 3 Briggs , of Sheflield , and Mr Thomas Clark , of London , be and are hereby eleoted members of the National Assembly /~ Movftd by G . Cavill , seconded by H . Taylor : — 'Tbat » 3 Messrs Parker and Ward have nob complied with the unanimous resolution of a late publio meeting , calling on them to resign their Beats , and as their eonduct is daily becoming more obnoxious to the town , they be again requested to resign , and that Messrs Briggs and Clark , be and are hereby appointed to wait on them withi this resolution .
. Northumberland and Durham . —A district delegate meeting ot the National Charter Association , was held in the conso of Mr Winlow , Patent Siip Inn , Jarrow , on Sunday , April 16 tk , when the following delegates were precent : —Newcastle , Mr W . Byrne ; North Shields , Mr J . Pratt ; Sundorland , Mr H . Hainan ; B ishop wear mouth , Mr W . Dobbiej South ShjeldB , Mr Thomas Richards ; Jarrow , Mr Joseph Mitchell ; Berry Edge , Mr James Reid . Mr John Pratt ia the chair .. The following resolutions were passed : — ' That the counties of Northumber land and Durham be amalgamated in sending delegates to the National Assembly , and that these counties send two delegates to that assembly : — That Mr Thomas Richards be put in nomination to serte as delegate for the county of
Durham , and that Mr James Niabett , be pat in nonunatioH'to serve as delegate , for the county of . Northumberland , in the Natioral Assembly/—That Mr Byrne , of Newcastle , be nominated for the county of Durham and Mr Jeseph Mitchell of Jatrow , ba . no . ruinated for the county of Northumberland , to serve as the . delecates fo ^ these counties , in thejovent of the arrest of Messrs Richards and Nisbett by theggovernment , and that such reserve , delegates be eleoted at the public meetings held on Good Friday , along with the two first named candidates/— 1 That the delegates for these counties ,. be paid the sum of fls . per day while employed upon the business of the assembly , and that they ba paid their-travelling expenses between Newcastle and London , and London and Newcastle , and that they be paid thair necessary cab hire while in London . All the branches are requested to send the necessary funds for the support
of the delegates to M . Jude , the district treasurer , as early &s possible . '— ' That all local lecturers whea addressing public meetings , do show their audiences the necessity of entering into voluntary subscriptions for the support of the delegates while in London /—' That the next distrtict delegate meeting be held in the house of Mr W . Gilroy , Cross Keys , WeBtHolborn , South Shields , on Sunday , April 30 th , at two o'clock in the afternoon , or sooner if necessary / At a public meeting held on the Town Moor , on Tuesday , April 21 at , Mr M'Intosh was electqd on behalf of the Northern Democratic League , and Mr James Nisbett ,. on behalf of the National Charter Association , to serve as delegate for the county of Northumberland , in tho National Assembly .. RADCMFFis . —The following resolution haB been adopted by the Chartists of this locality : —' That we , the members of the Chartist Association and Land
Company , view with indignation the course the House of Commons has pursued towards the National Petition , and our esteemed chief , Mr Feargus O'Connor ; and we hereby deolare our unbounded confidence in Mr O'Connor / South Shieu > 3 . —The publio of South Shields are respectfully informed that the daily papers are read every night at seven o ' clock in Mr Dryden ' s Schojl room , Mill Dam . Apolitical debate takes place every Tuesday evening . 'The council ot the National Charter Association attends every Monday evening , at seven o'clock , to enrol members and transact other business . The council are happy to state that thirty . eeven good men and true , joined the association last night . This is South Shield's first answer to the Gagging Bill . ..
Rochdale . —At a publio mee » ting held on the llTtb , Mr Livesey in the chair resolutions were adopted denouncing the Gagging Bill , aud demanding tho dismissal of the Whig ministers . ; declaring the union of the English and Irish democrats , and voting confidence in Mr O'Connor and the Convention .
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© tie HfSi&tattfc ® tmntit $ . Radford , ' nbar NomiMjHAtf . —The Chartists of this place havo collected the sum of 10 s . for our Irish friends , to be disposed of as they may think well . We think it would soon convince that sapient legislator , Sir George Grey , that wo do sympathise with chose victims of oppression and misrule , it other localities would do the same . Nottingham . —Messrs West and Linney addrea 3 ed a large public meeting in the market placs , on Thursday evening . The weather was very unfavourable , the rain falling in torrents all the time ; nevertheless the most enthusiastio devetedness was exhibited for the Charter and the Convention .
Louohborouqh . —At a public meeting of the in habitants of Loughborougfi , held at tho Wheatsheaf Inn , April 16 ih , it was resolved : — 'That a subscription be entered into tor the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Mr J . Skevington , for his valuable services rendered to the cause ef liberty / A committee was ibrmed for the management of the same , who considered it their duty to issue the following appeal to the inhabitants of Loughborough and its vicinity . 'That this csmmittee , ever anxious that labour should be rewarded and talent encouraged , feel it theiir beunden duty to appeal to the working classes of Loughborough and its vieinity , in behalf of the fund for presenting to their valuable friend and advocate of , the rights of labour , Mr J . SkeviHgton , a testial
moni , as a token of their respeot for the valuable services rendered to the cause of liberty and emanci . pation of labour during the last twelve years . And thie committee do pledge themselves ta stand by him and support him in the present struggle to obtain tho People ' s Charter . Signed on behalf of the committee , William Stevenson , chairman ; John Farrow , secretary . Loughborough , April 19 th , 1848 . P . S . —All subscriptions in behalf of this fund , to be forwarded to John Farrow , shoemaker , Mill Street , Loughborough . ' , . Hanlby . —A public meeting , held | in consequence of excess of numbers in the open air , took place on Tuesday , evening , when the celebrated Joseph Barker delivered a most admirable leoture . At least 5 , 000 persons were present .
Jdedworth , hear Coventry . —At a meeting held at the Nottingham Arms , Callycrpftroad , on the 17 th , the following resolutions were adopted : — ' That this meeting views with disgust , the attempt made by the editors of the News op the World , and the editors of other of the metropolitan newspapers , to cast odium on Mr Feargus O'Connor , M . P ., and the Chartist body generally , relative to the signatures attached to the National Petition ; it being the opinion of this meeting , that the alleged fraudulent signatures have been penned by some enemies of the Chartists . AIbo this meeting resolved to unite with the Chartist body to rally around the great Fathor sf Freedom , Feargus O'Connor , being determined . net to reBt satisfied until the Charter becomes 1 w / At the close of the meeting oeveral new members were enrolled .
Lowbakds . — The Chartists of this place have adopted the following resolution : —That an arras alub be formed forthwith , and a committee of five persons appointed to carry out the same . The proceedings of Monday the 10 th inat ., were highly approved of .
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Ipswich . —A meeting was convened in this town , by a Mr Everett , a membar of the middle classes , on Thursday , April 20 th , for the purpose of coBaiderieg the propriety of petitioning Parliament for an exten . sion of the Franchise , so far as is give oleeters under the Municipal Corporation Aot , a right to vote for members of Parliament . The room ( a large one ) wan full . Mr M , Whimper , a town councillor , occhpied the oaair . Mr Everett strongly incited his searers to lend their aid towards tbe execution of hia
plan , as one more practical than the Charter , which le described aa a mere theory . Mr Booley ( Chartist ) having given aa elaborate reply to the remarks oi Mr Everett , concluded by moving an amoadment te the effect : — ' That the Charter being theonly means for the attainment of the full measure of justice to the people of this country , this meeting determine to agitate for nothing loss / Mr MTherson having seconded , the amesdment , Mr John Cook having supported it , and Mr Everett replied to their remarks ,, the amendment was carried amid three cheere to ? the Charter , with only one dissentient . A publio meeting waa held oa Cornbiu on Good Friday , t » nen
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Mr Francis , our delegate , gave in his report from tho National Convention ,-which was adopted j together with the memorial to the Queen , amid tha acclamations of about 1000 persons . The chair waa occupied by Mr Joseph Bird , and the meeting waa addressed successively by Mr John Cook , Mr Rush * brook , Mr Booley , and Mr M'Pherson . Bkibtol —The meeting here was held in the open air on Brandon-hill , a working man named Nicholls presiding .. The memorial was adopted without diesent . Mr B&rttetb was appointed delegate to the National Assembly .
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fe ^ tSM Newport , Monmouthshire . —At the weekly meeting of the Chartists of this town , at the Fountain Inn , CommeroiahtoeDt , Mr John Williams in tba chair , the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to . Proposed by Thomas Williams , seconded by George Egan : — 'That , in the opinion of this meeting , the base and calumnious attack made by the members of the Petition Committee on Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., in the House of Commons , on Thursday , April 13 th , was brutal in character and unmanly iu spirit . ' Proposed by Jonah -WiU liams , seconded by Thomas Cove : — ' That , as long as Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., pursues the straightforward course he has hitherto done , we pledge ourselves to support hica , to the utmost of our
abilities / Proposed by J . D . Whifcaker , seconded by James Stevens : — ' That the thanks of the Chartists of this town are due , and hereby given , to Reginald J . Blewitt , Esq ., member for tfaia borough , for tho manly and straightforward courto which , he has taken in opposition lo tbe government measure , generally called the Gagging Bill / Proposed by Mr Daniel O'Leary , seconded by Richard Burns : — 'That we suggest to onr brother Chartists thronshout the United Kingdon , the propriety of sending tbe amount of signatures , procured by each locality , te Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., in order that the troth may be ascertained of the exact ; number of signatures / The members of the National Chatter Association beg to inform the working men of this locality , that they meet every Monday night , at tha Fountain Inn , Commercial-street , to transact the general business of the association , asd . enrol R 9 W members .
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' Sfttttoitir , - _ The Edihburgh Wbeklt Expbbbs reports Chartist meetings , attended by numerous and enthusiastio assemblages , at Barrhead , Dunfermline , Hamilton , and Leith , in addition to very lengthy reports of meetings at Glasgow , Dundee , and Edinburgh , abridgments of which we lay before our readers . Coamhavohtom . —The Old Guards now working at Forth Iron-works have sent the sum of ono pound one shilling end sixpence to the Chartists of Coals , naaghion , towards the expenses of the delegate to the Convention . The said sum ia hereby acknowledged by the Chartists of Coalsnaughten . Thouas BlRNTH . '
Glabqow . —Election of Dblegatb 3 . — On tho evening of Good Friday an overflowing meeting was held in tke City Hall—Mr Daniel Sherrington in the chair . Mr Andrew Harley moved a resolution for the dismissal of the present Ministry , along mth a memorial to the Queen for that purpose . Thia motion was seconded by Mr George Adams , and supported by his brother James , the delegate . It waa catried . Mr Thomas Fraser moved tho appoint , mentof James Adams , Andrew Harley , and Me Murray of Dublin ( as frateraisiDg with tbe Bepoalers , ) as delegates to the National Assembly whioh being seconded in a very long speeoh by Mr Kelly , was agreed to . The meeting was also addressed by Mr Ernest Jones , in a lengthy and eloquent speech , which excited tremendous cheering . The usual votes of thanks concluded the proceedings .
GREAT CHARTIST DEMONSTRATION IN QLASGOW . On Monday week a great Chartist demonstration came off on the Green . The hour of assembling was announced to be two o ' clock p m ., but previous to that time & large number of individuals had already taken up their ground . In obedience to the proclamation of the authorities , there was no attempt at proce&Bion , with the exception of a body of men from Parkhead and the vicinity , who ceme in at the east end of the Gallowgate , with music playing and banners flying . From twa till three o'clock , the crowd on the Green received immense accessions to its numbers . The number on the Green was calculated at 100 , 000 . A few constables were drawn up on tha Green , more apparently as a guard to Captain Millar than for any other purpose .
The business of the day commenced about threa o ' clock , by the different detachments falling in sear Nelson's monument , and forming into line . They then marched round the Green , flaying , in ranka about six meu deep , displaying the flap rhicb they we » e eauryir . s ¦ to aa niuoh . atlvintaga &s possible . The inscriptions on the flags , -which might amount to from twenty to thirty altogether , consisted of ouch mottoes as 'The Ghsitor ar . tl No Surrender , " universal Suffrage / ' Wo know our RigLtn , and we wiil have them , ' &c , < Va- A uurabi'v of trioolouv Saga formed part of ibe display , mi ' a the rvmls ' i . ' ibvrly , Equality , and Fraternity . ' After completing fcbtf circuit of the Grceu , tho procession . took their station , according to previous arrnngemoat , around the hustings , which was decorated with full-length portraits of Feargus O'Connor and Mr Duncombe , besides a tricolonr flag .
About half-past three o ' clock , the principal parties ascended the platform ; and on the motion of Me J . Cameron , Mr James Moir was called to the chair . He said he rejoiced t ® Bee so many persons assembled together under the banner of peace , law , and order , to assert their rights as freemen . ( Cheore . Was he to understand that they appeared there 83 attached to the Peoples' Charter ? Were they detert mined legally and peacefully to persevere until they ebtainedit ? { 'Yes , ysB , ' and cheers . ) He was exceedingly delighted to hoar them say 10 , for he had a bit of advice to give them before he stopped speaking . No doubt , that meeting would be as variously estimated as to the numbers attending it as was the meeting in Londen on Kennington Common . He
daresay some liberal gentleman would give them the credit of having assembled there to the number of 6 , 000 ; others would go as far as 10 . 000 ; whilst he had no doubt that some would deolare their numbers to be above 50 , 000 . He was exeeedicgly Bony that after that demonstration had been held , tha number of persons present attached to the principles of the Charter would be just aa much a matte ; of dispute as it was before . That week there would ba two associations . formed for obtaining the People's Charter , and his advice was , that instead of further wasting their time in assembling in that manner , which still left their numbers ta matter of dispute , they should enrol themselves universally as members of one or other of those associations . ( Cheers . ) And let him tell the effect of it . If 50 , 000 of them appended their names to one or both of those associations , and subscribed Id eaoh , they would establish
the fact , that there were 50 , 000 of tho industrious people of Glasgow favourable to the People's Charter , and enrolled for its attainment . ( Cheers . ) But besides establishing that fact , they would leave behind them the sum of . £ 208 6 s 8 d ; and if they came forward to the number of 100 . 000 , they would have a sum of £ 416181 id , which wonld enable their Executive Committee to put a legal gentleman at their head , to conduct their affairs in the best manner , and that without it being felt as a burdes . ( Cheer 3 . ) Mr D . Paul , victualler , said he was prottd to see so many persons assembled on such an important occasion as this . He hoped they would all do their duty like men , m « H worthy of the great object they had in view , namely , the enfranchisement of the preeent united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . ( Cheers *) The motion he had to propose was as follows : —
TVe , tho citizens of Glasgow and the surrounding dla . tricts , in public meeting assembled , having experienced the ruinous effoot of class legitlation on our moral and social position , ore convinced the timo ii now arrived whtn a great orgnnio change must be made in the constitution of these realms ; and H is our decided opinion that tbe surest and best way to effect that object will bs to continue the agitation for the prinolples contained In the Feopto'a Charter , until they Broenaotod as tho low of the land . Mr George Adams seconded the resolution , which was carried unanimously . Mr Robert Wikgasb moved the next resolution : —
That we , ihe citizens of Glasgow and the surround , ing districts , in public meeting asnemblad , Tiew with regret the very great amount of poverty , and consequent discontent , which has existed among the people of Ire . land for the last twenty ye » r » , ana Is daily incr « a « insr , and which Is principally caused by the unnatural union forced upon them ; and we hereby p ledj « ourselves to uso every lawful means in onr power to assist thorn as far qb possible to obtain a Repeal ef the Legislative Union between that country snd Gre »» Britain . Mr Ahdmsw Doncan aeconded the resolution . In condition of
a pithy speech , he contrasted tbe Ireland before the Act o £ Union passed into a law mth what it now was , forty-eight years afterwards , and cautioned the British government not to drive the Jeople past endurance , or they would be answerab e for ' the consequences . The blood of a million of ha countrymen lay at the hands of a Whig government ; but the people of Ireland were now determined to cet their rights peaceably , and he asked the utiins of Glasgow to aid them In contendiDgfor theirjuafc demands . . , . , The resolution was carried uaanimouBly . Mr Thomas Frasbr said he had come there for thy purpose of proposing a resolution upon that moa infamous bill that had been brought into theHouate of Commons by the most infamous governmeni &qo
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AfRiL 29 , 1848 . THE NoRTHERN STAR . 5
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 29, 1848, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1468/page/5/
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