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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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MISS MARY A 2 TS WALKER ON THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER . A crowded and most respectably composed meeiins , convened by pnblic advertisement , was held la = t ilonday evening , in the spacious and elegant > ai 1 of lie ^ National or Complete Suffrage Association , High Holborn , for the purpose of hearing Miss Mary Ann Walker deliver a Jec : are on the social evils which sffiici the Slate , and o ^ the People ' s Charter , as ths remedy , and the only remedy , for the removal of those evils , and restoration of the happiness and independance of Great Brnain and Ker dependeiicifes . The messing was convened for eight o ' clock , and soon afier that hoar ths hail began to fill rapidly in iil parts . The meeting at this time began to manifest impatience to hear Miss Walker , by loadiy stamping on the floor , as a signal to have the chair taken . Among the mass of persons present , was a large proportion of very elegantly dressed ladies , " many of whom irere of the superior classes of society .
At about ten minute * past eight o ' clock , a simultaneous bmst of applause from all parts of the jne » dcg , announced the presence in the hall of iJi ^ s Walker . She was attended by numerous friends , amongst whom we were glad to see the encouraging and supporting presence of maty ladies ; and as she advanced cp the body towards the platform , the applan ? e counting of cheering , clapping of hands , ¦ waving of handkerchiefs , mingled with the loud ^ Hozzi , " and other demonstrations cf _ welcome , became marked aid enthui-iaetlc , almost bevond description . There were a few bad ? pirns in that uan « f the gaiiery to the right of tne platform ; but their dissemient voices or Tather , a :. d the more to their disgrace—Macs !—were overwhelmed in . the reverberating din of acelrmation . On reaching the platform , . Miss Walker was again and again kudjy
cheered , a compliment which rhe acknowledged by inclining repeatedly to the audience . She was dressed in mosrnmu , a habit which i ; is her calamity to wear for the death of her father , cf whom she has not been very many months bereaved . Tae body of her dress was partially and becomir ^ ly 2 ow , " . displaying a vary graceful bust , and teniina to set off to greater interest a Sgnre and form of interesting proportions . She appeared more iLsn usually wan in countenance , the effect , donbiless , of ber anxiety io do jastic ; to her snojeci , and coarey infraction and Sitisraeuon to her audience . S ' r . e w ^ re a light s&r : of crape scarf , or nrg'igts , attached graceiiiJy to , and hanging drapery-Jike from , her arms , the ciL-ci tending tost ! cither costume , eniivciana and cyanastliig -niiij ibe oiick material . A jet neklace , expanding a * ' Cross , "
"Which Jstts mi ^ htkiss , and IaSdels adore . " adorned her bosom , giving a finish to her contour . The anxiety and excitement of the audience was now wound np to the huhes ; pitch to have the proceedings commence ; and , on the motion of JMr . Overtoil , seconded by Mr . Cu _ y , Mr . Balls was mianimously called to the chair . He cocld not , he observed , bnt feel honoured at having been called upon to take the chair on this interesting occasion ; interesting , because they were assembled ihas night xo hear tha great , the fundamental principles of "ThePeople ' s Charier" defined and advocated by one of the softer and better sex ( Applause- ) He considered , as " The People's Cfcarur" was to remove the misery which afljeted and bore down the people of this country , that the
female class osght to be hailed in the can- 'e as tbe be ; : of " propagators . " ( Much laughter . ] He considered , also , that great praise was due to Miss "Walker and Miss luge , for having come forward in the cause of their country , and of humanity . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) Miss Walker had seen the mbtry , and it was creditable to her to come forward in aid of its alleviation , and to show that it was soldj the effects of corrupt " Class Legislation . " ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) She had come forward i © assist the People in advancing fc Tie , People ' s Charter"' ( Cheers . ) "He therefore claimed their indulgence in her favour . ( Hear , hear . ) It was her Srst time—he might almost say her first—of addressing a great public assembly , and he , therefore , hoped they wcuid hear her without interruption . At the conclusion of the address , Miss Walker would answer any qaesiious which might be put io her .
He would not ion ^ er detain them than : o ex press ihs very greai pleasure winch ~ he felt in introducing to their notice , 31 ks Mary Ann Walker , ( Loud and long continued cheers ) , amidst winch Miss Wuliek ro ^ e acd said , she deeply felt the difficulty of her skualion on that evening , but feeling , at the same iime ^ mosi deeply on the subject of her great and lovely country ' s wrongs , and of her fellow-countrymen's and women's sufferings , she ha-d no apology to mase for presenting herself before the * meeting that evening . It was a bold thing , she admitted , for woman to step out of her retirement ; and of course there woaid be always feund persons who woald put foul constructions on her mot ; res in order todeterandthrowherbaek . ( Huar , Lear . ) And if there ¦ were ajiy ia that assembly who asked why she ( Mi «; Walker ) came oat , to nisi she answered , " She came ihere at her countrv ' s calL" If the human miserv
wnich aSici-ed the people of this great country was beyond the pewer of man to control—if it was the ordination of Providence , then would it be man's duty to submit ; but when such was not the case , it was time , she would say , that man nronsed himself , and ought to resist its cause . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) There never was a time wiien _ fc . n ; : Iand possessed such abundance as at present . ( Hear . ) llii-w was it , then , she won ] d ask , that two-thirds of the population werp , ia the face of such a fact , ¦ without food ! ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Kow was it tiit they could nor take cp a paper , ba ; they were shocked and startled to read some frightful and affecting suicide ? ( Hear , hear . ) How was it that bet a fevr days ago , a young girl , of about fourteen years of age , commuted suicide ! And . be it
remembered , she was of a respectable family , but -had disobliged her father—how , bnt because she could not get employment . Kow was it that the women , of England were reduced to make shirts for one penny each , and had to find thread out of that ! ( Indignant cries of Shzme . '" from ail parts of the hali . ) How was is that Mr . Comyn , a surgeon , for whose character she ( Miss Walker ) entertained the highest respect , had recently called a meeting on behalf of those poor shirt makers 1 How came he to know of their circumstances and most deplorable cosdhioiil Alas I through having been called in to one of them , who' ro put an end to her miseries , bad taken
Titnoi . ( L >; ep sensation . ) That poor creature-had Tvorktd for tijrleen hvitrs a day for sixpence ! ( Horlor , aecempaaied by cries of " Shame , S ' r . zme '" pervackd and ran through the meeting . ) This had led to that gentleman saying , those poor shir :-nuiers , " would bi satisfied with one penLyimore . " In that , she ( Miss Wa . ker ) did not agree with him . These poor creatures shonid have a fair remuneiaiive price for their labour . < Hear ,, hear , and applause . ) She inQuired at a shop-kefpers , an employer in this way , ob the subject of the " penny a ^ irt" remuneration , and was informed by him thai the taxes obliged Mm io give thus Ihtli-, and she then set herself to work to lea . ru
¦ Rr . o fiained by those tascs . *• Tr . c Black L'il . " wh : eh shs held in her kand , -rfon ' id snswer . ( Hear , hear . ) And she would acvl ? e everv pocr . ev < . ry working-man to possess hnnr-elfof that li-i . Jir > :, then , let them take the income of £ -i 7 : ' , 000 ayear . or £ i" 2 S 7 l * 2 s . a day . Then there was the Dake of Cumberland , now Kir . 2 of Hanover , wi ; h Kew Palace . ( Groans . ) She ( Miss Wa . ktr ) wcnld ask , why should they keep hjm . ar . c t'ive him ore and twenty thousand a-year , or £ c 7 10- per day . ( Hear , hear , groans for his " Hanuvtrian" M 3 J-.-s : y , and cBefTs for Mi ? 3 Walker . ) Then , thert .- was another Ki ^ g pensioned on them . Leopold of S ^ xe
C < Dboui £ , ( cow King of ihe B ; j ^ -: sn =. " > wi : h Clareinoni Paiace ; why was he recchivs £ 50 , 009 a year from this oppressed conntry . ( Hear , hear . ) Why , she would further ask , were tne peop ' . c of lh . ; eounnj ground down as they were , taxed t kefp r .. Q ^ een Dowager—Qneen Adelaide ! who , besices the Koyal Macor and Palace of Hiiaoton Couit . the park and domains of Biishy , sl ^ o Maribt" : cui ; h House , in Pall Mall , 1 ^ 0 par k-, and three Royal Palaces , drew from the taxes cf England £ K i'VV a-year , or £ 27-4 per cay . ( Shansf , shatne . ) - Wny was ifcat ! And see (> 3 : "? s Winter ) wtt ;; d a ^ k hov < ** an old lady" could £ ; - € ud it . lllear , sud cheers . —UA voice—She gives it in ohari : ;; ' ( Commotion" ) S : e : i 3 is 3 Walier ; wry much que ^ trozred ttsz . H-jtt , thtn . £ be trc-tuda ! - ! :. could tha : " cid iady " ' sr > ca < i £ -2 " ; ± a dsy , from the time she £ ets up till tke tim . sLe goes to bed ! largbter in tie meeting , and much commotion anon ; ascct-c- of Tcrics in the gallery en ihe rkfct . i She ( Miss Walker die rot qcirrel wilhtie Queen Djwager for wtat she cot , fct rhethccELt tiat B yearly salary to keep ter coiEferta ' r-e wculd be ttfficent , and ihat ^ be foie tliis s ^ ctb -sr ^ s 2 ivm h ; r _ . tL- _ trcssen cf England encht to t-. vai-. ; better for tt : r LK . ur . ( Hear , tear , sbu tieeis But the cer . t ' c ^ an in the gallery had ssid thit the Q-rrn D . ¦ wsg = r Ltd gi-vtn a-tray herirccn e : n cti : . ; y l ^ . i : ; . I ; : rr 1 : - « -is ch ^ r&ctEiiriie cf Ei Jilislinpii to to tentrccj ; ln = then tfctv -wisted , EtTtrtbelt ^ s . to stt tfcr r-c : ty tCty give lor - pardcuiar purposes earned . Hei . r , tecr .: Slie < jtisi "PV-iers cure ttere ro trplaia nstionjj abeses trd sc ^ . . il grieTs ^ ciS , acd she was ies- ; jved to explain E =. d tsre ^ e thfia . in Vubiic and pr : vite , and oa eH c : c- > : crs . Cricicf " Era To ! Sl : ss Wilier . '" " Beax , - ai . i } cbetrs . ) MbE Walker tien referred the atUntio :. ci tie lLttticc to xto aluJEes in the >" ew Pocr Liw sjsttTE , ard iiarr _ t < . u , es an ir ^^ Ece cf its iniumsxi ' . y . the < A i-f 3 poor womia \ rLcm she saw rtuuctd to g . ' to tie r-r -Mi- She ( Miss Waie :-. faetf ter- She bid thrt * etvdien , from Hbcm she was separated . [ Mtth jatensj-tioii to the proccediESS frtna " 5 ioceritc ^ kn-jt cl 1 ' -: ) r =- ¦ is tie callery , which cached tie chair :: i ^ a to caii to "• Orda !" ~ 3 id ttreiten to turn acy cue ctt -ffh-Ekbt cii-. urb the jrc-credircs ; and iir . CX ? - } " to oi-strve ttatabetisr trsy would be for ih = y-- ! jrt . > kec fcrwiid at . the e = d cf the lecture . j --:=- " W _ ii . r tei-E-ec . The gect ' ecifa who thus ictcrrtptr-i her "irere "ZEgIii-ti : t 2 ~ — sbsiEe , shanic—and if th y acrer-c 211 irc ; r ; v r ? sveb i- 'rrs i- ^ xr ; : »; : r ^ T = their fdl ' . - w ci—tryB- 'L 7 . ^^ ; iT ¦~/ ¦ ;• : \ - ^ . ' .-: r . ? . - .::. " .-. 1 C . " ycr a y -.- ' - ?\ i ' i , "wi : lt : y ^; va AdtiiV' . c 5-1 * .- ? t-t :-crei ti : uini rocEds s-y ^ r . it y wcr-j r .: o- < . r ; ty L . i
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fXCias Walker ' s ^ notice—( Hear , hear , and lond cheers . ) The poor woman to whom she had referred , was dragged and separated from her children , sent to Nor"wood , and not allowed to be present to dose the eyes of one ef them at its dyiiig hour . She ( Miss Walker ) hesitated not to say that a law , under which cruelty was practised , was a most inhnm ^ n a most barbarous 1 st—i Of :-repe 3 ted cries of hear . ; Bat Jet them look at the provisions of the "vile law , and the expences of working It—( Hear , hear . ) £ . s . d To Three Commissioners at £ 2 , 000 per annum each ... ... 6 , 000 0 0 ¦ . " Shame ! - ! To SsCTctsrv ... ... ... . 1 , 200 0 0 To Assistant Secretaries , one at £ 700 , acd bo forth ... ... ... 1 , 258 0 0 To Asrirtant Commissioners , eighteen
at £ 700 each ... ... ... 12 , 6 C > 0 0 . 0 Travelling expenses those eighteen Commissioners , and salaries to th = ir Clerks ... ... ... 15 . 31 S 1 1 Contrast , she would say , tfcis and other prcSigate expenditure of this oppressive law , with the workhouse dietary for "the abie-bodiei pauper , " and take as an example his Sunday fare :
Breakfast . j Dinner . Bread 7 cz . Gruel 1 * pt . B ± con 2 l cz , potatoes lib
And as to supper , it jnst amounted to a few ounces oi bread and one ou > . ce of clues * . There , she repeated / ¦ was' ¦ Sunday far *'' for an " able-bodied pauper . ' ' But in this thamtfal way was it that the poor uf England were treated , -while the commissioners of the law drew their thousands , and from thousands to millions—1 laughter—from the rate 3 levied on the people for reiitf of the poor . " Oh ! it was too bad ! In this way tfcey went oa , while the poor inSnn persons , ai ; d those E . bDve seventy years of age , were to be allowed One VU \ CS of tea , with milk , seven « tn . ces of sugar , snd three onsces a ^ tfa half of bnrtsr , instead of gruel , weekly . ' Shams . ) There ' s for you , continued Miss Walker , a man of Eevsnty years of a ? e , should be in very good condition to live on that —( hear , hear , ind laughter . ) Divide , for instance , the one ounce
of tea into fourteen parts , and sse how far that would go— 'hear , Lear , and laughter . ) But after all that , the Commissioners , perhaps , in the exercise cf tli&ir economy , carefully c » llect "the leaves , " and send tk&m hack again to their grocers , to be dried and reissued —( loud aud long continued laughter ) . Yet , with all the inhumanity of these workhouse regulations , such as their tearing husband from wife , and parents from children , those : Commissioners called them " Unions . " —igreat laughter ) . TSow , a greater misnomer ms never heard of —( hear , hear , cheers , and laughter ) . Turning back again to the Rjyal palaces , and contrasting these doinrs to the poor , with those within the Boyal mena-je , they found "the expences of the Lord Steward for one year , for the ittm cf trine alone , £ -JS 50 ; for liquors , £ 1 S 13 ; and for ale and beer , £ 2 S 11 . Now that was
pretty well for one year's -work—Oacghter ) . "When she ( Miss Waiker ) read those things , she was not at ail surprised at tbe roja ! nurse being discovered in a state of "intoxication "—( great and continued laughter ; . Bnt she would ask , how it wa 3 that these things were permitted ? How it was that thi 3 system was carried on ? —hear , hear . i . She fonad that it all arose from " class legislation , " and that of all the persons sent to the Honss of Commons , not one was sent to represent the " iForting-men "— , 'kear , hear , and cries of " shame !"/ Monopoly Of all kinds had its protection in that House —; hear ; . " The Army" had its -Detection , " the Xavy , " "the landed interest , '' "the Capitalist , " aid not forgetting " the Church "— , lauehter)—all had their protection , except labour ; and the House itself , in fact , was "the very ' key-stone' of monopoly "—
( hear , hear , hear , chesrs , and mnch laughter ) . It was because she felt that the People's Charter would remedy those and all other social evils , that she stood before that great meeting to endeavour to explain it in all its points . Miss Walker then went over the six points of the Charter , in consecutive order , commencing with TTniversal Suffrage , thc-n proceeding onward to Vote by Ballot , Bribery at Elections , Annual Parliaments , Iso Property Qualification , and Eqnal Electoral Districts , each of which she elucidated in a very able and comprehensive manner , infinitely to her own credit , and greatly to the edification of her audience . Were that document ths law of the land , she S 3 id , soldiers and sailors wonld have 3 vcte as "well as other men , 5 a the representation of the country , and for her ( Miss
Walker's ) part , she did not Bee why those two classes of men , the defenders of their country , the fighters of the Battles of their cenntry , should not have a vote^—( tear , heir , and applause , j Sae fe : t that they onght to havs ; and she hoped they would never rest content urtil they compel the SuSrsseto be extended to them—Enthusiastic cheering . ) If the country , she repeat-jd , had the Charter , it would no longer he disgraced by the use of "bludgeon" and "bayonet" law at elections , drink-ag , treating , &c , for the ballot -would cure all " that ; bribery , under it , with TTaivrrsal Suffrage would be impossible ; for to buy a vote in that case , would be like ' buying a pig in a peke , " —( mnch l&ughler)—and snch men 23 Tvlr . Fearrns O'Connor would be in
Parliament as Tcpiesfcnt £ U 7 cs cf the people . That gentleman , who had done ranch service in the cause of the csiiatry , and who was so faithful to the people , had been el . eted , but was declared disqualified to sit , becausa it was alleged he had not sufficient " Property Qualification . " Could anything , the would ask , be more absurd than that ? ( Hear , hear . ) And what relation there was between the standard of " gold" and " r . teiiigence" she was quite at a loss to know . In Other words , was gold to be made the standard of intelligence ? ( Cheers . ) She would illustrate the absurdity of this property qualification still further , by a reference io ths election of Mr . Hall , of -darxlebone . That gtntttnsan ' s qualification was derived from his -wife . He -oras elected in the morning , she died in the course of the day , snd he was net a member of the
" Honourable Houss" in the evening . She then referred the attention of the meeting to Lord Abing-. r ' s conduct at the late Special Commissions . She was sure , she said , if the Charter was adopted , they wculd not have such , a jud ^ e as that—such " a modern Jiffies "—on the judicial bvccb . 'Hear , hear , hear , great hissing at tbe motion cf Via lordship ' s name , and cries of " GiT- it him , Miss Walker I ") ~ So , such conduct as he wts cn :: ty cf trou-d cot , were that document the law •; f the lar . d , be ahored to pass with impunity—thear , hear >—and the Beach would be thoroughly purified frvm * nch characters . And the Magistrates , would they be'alloWcd , under that document , to play such pranks £ = they had iitierlj been indulging in ?—( Hear , hear , and cries i-f bravo . ' ) On this subject , she alluded to
tic extraordinary and culpable Cecisioa 01 the magistrate tome few days back , in tbe case of the girl " MorgiE , " who was , she said , so shamefully and unjustly cooiicitttd fonie days back , by a country justice , lot hi virg been guilty of the efface of objecting to pass ttruush the men ' s bed-room while they were in their beds . Tcis allusion produced great groaning against tt . EiigirirAte in qnesuon , ¦ w hich was followed np on Miss WaTivr ' s very just criticisms on the committal of ib = pc-.-r iiiri to prison , and the really aeBieralizLpg as w . l : as zuIeges effect on her prospects in life , which such incaiceration , connected with the poverty it iirl ^ hS lead to , might be productive of . She thru referred to tbe church , and to those holy passages in the Bible which pronsunce destruction to the sniciie , and commented on that spec es of
conduct of clergymen of the Established Church , and j ; n . & ^ i&rrates , -which brings poor creatUTes down to po-1 ' veny , and thus leads them to self destruction , the j f Bili of -which , and the peiil c ! their " soul's salvation , " j iLe charged on the heads cf those magistrates and par- j skls . She pexJ alluded to the crusade of the R = v . Mr . j Kjhicson , cf Holborn , ag-iinst his parishioners , seme of i wheni he tva thrown In Chsnc = ry , and exposed to [ ttivy tsptnee ir that most * s . peiisvve court , in pursuit j of his titlits- She h ^ adled the Kev . Gentlen-as very j sevtrsly . She dwelt on the oath he had taken at his J ordination , on the Holy ETangaUsts , to the tfiect , ! ' That it -w ^ s not you or y ^ urs he sonsjht , but you only , " asd urged that he ought to he picsecured foT ; perjury , for violation of that most solemn oath , as ia i the case of throwing his parishioners into Chan eery ¦ ( Tee rcCciMDrEdatioE w ; -s ] ouuly cheered . ¦ Thrn , with ; rci ^ rd to the great expenEiveness of that Court of ; Chancery , she narrittd the result of an interview \ « h : ch she haJ hzd with the Lord Chancellor on the \ s-u ' rjtct of anesting a biil of sale in the case of an a ^ ed friend cf hers , named Jacobs , -who had been most op-. pressively dealt with by a JJr . John Dent , of Crawford-1 street , acd said that his Lordship ' s adtice t 3 her -was to ' tie a " Pill , the nrst step in which would cost £ 20 . H < . r aged friend -was a pool widow , and had lived fiT ; maDy yiars in Jloritagne-square . The brntal treat- meet whith fbe had received was almost btyontl be- [ litf . iHear , hear . ) For three dajs she had been . iept a close- prisoner in her hocse , alaoEt in a state , of starvation , and then eiraegsd thtref 10 m by a police- j ma 2 , and all under the sanction of cla&s made law . She : recommenced these consideiatior ^ to the notice of the * Till ^ i , if the reports * from that paper -were present . Tte narration of the cruelty practised in the above case ,, tbe minati particulars of which press of othti matter now obliges us to omit , excited mingled feelings cf sjmKithy and disgust in the meeting . Jteferrins to the toast made by a gentleman in the gallery of the " Queen Daw ^ er ' s Charity , " Miss Walker put it to the senile- c ? . n -whether she vthe Queen Dowager wtuld vUi * . that poor widow with her charity . She alluded , ia a very indiirc-us vein , to these " godirg ' efficers of the army , wto pnt a bsndscme nniform , -with gold epaulets , ou th ^ n ^ clves , strut iclo drawing rooms , and thrcush the Pai-k *; ard said she -wonld rot have any objection to zhtiT becoming F ; tld Marstals , provided thty " fought tzvir wr . y up to them , " on the principle of" win your laurels and wear them , " but these green creatures , who jurchiie thsir -way up ctet the hsads ct " trave men , " -jxJ -wee rcver snitl ! ed powier , iiie bid co patience with- Such a sxsuin -was as . tfcer cf the bad effects of •¦ Clafs Ieciil 5 . ti . cn . - Lcud chrtrs rr . i niuch ia-gbtf / fcllo'Wcu this gr .. rtic iictci cf tLe prticni t ^ ase ot our atlHj . Sic tSllliri-J tiat Tih = n ihe -w ^ s £ ^ -= t Ora-wn rat in ti : s t- ^ . titicr , ile till ret thought cf jurtir-j h r-= ^ U ^ : v ttv : ; : M : c : tut tlit hid cs ; lia . i cTcuii ^
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been reading of the conduct of lord Abinger in his jadicial capacity on the Special Commissions , ( Groans ) and being in the Chartist Hall when the subject of the Charter was discussed , her excited state of mind and synipatbv with her enffering fellow creatures in that commission , the " Political Victims , " led her to speak on the subject . The Times , oa that occasion , made her the subject of its leading articles , covering her with its scoffs and gibes ; but where it meant to do harm , she was glad to say it- had done much goo-i ( Great cheering . ) Miss Walker then stated that she was receiving letters from all parts ef tbe world
¦ , encouraging her to go on , and at that moment held one ia her hand , -which emanated from a public m&eting in Perth , signed " John Shannon , secretary , ' and tiglily complimentary to her . She concluded by assuring the meeting that if she were satisfied that her coming out had the effect of alleviating the ' trouble of even one poor fellow creature , she -wouM feel herself for life repaid , and would go on in that virtuous course , let tbe obloqny and the consequences that would attach to her be what they might ( Loud and enthusiastic cheers , amidst which Miss Walker resumed her seat )
Miss Emma Miles then moved , and Mrs . Watts seconded , that the thanks of the meeting be given to Miss Waiker , which Were accorded with great acclamation . A young gentleman named Foster , here put two questions to -Miss Walker , namely , whether in her attacks on lord Abinger , she meant to include the whole judicial bench ? and whether in her strictures on the Rev . Mr . Robinson , aha meant to attack the whole of tie clergy of the Church of England ? ( Great confusion , and cries of " Order ! order 1 " "Spoke . spoke ! " The Meeting is over , " &c , followed Mr . Poster ' s questions . )
Miss Walker , however , came -forward , and having assured the meeting that she bad no thought or intention of making a sweeping charge , observed , with regard to Lerd Abinger , that inasmuch as one diseased sheep ! spoils a -whole flock , and as one diseased limb will contaminate the whole body , to prevent which the skilful surgeon weald at once amputate such limb , so , for tne honour and purity of the Judicial Bench , and of the clergy of the Es t ablished Church , she -would havo Lord AkiDger cut off , by removal from the one body , and the Rsv . Mr . Rubinson from the other —( jjreat and long-continued cheering , amidst -which Captain Acherley proclaimed that Miss Walker had nobly done her duty , and protesUd against auy more questions bring put to her . ) Mr . Foster said that he "was satisfied -with Miss Walker ' s answers , though he had nothing else to thazik heT for —( laughter ) Thanks -wcre then voted to the Chairman , and the meeting separated , highly delighted , and much edified with the proceedings . —Evening S ( ar .
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first of all , to say a few words with regard to the late trials . His services in defending the prisoners in the north had showed him many painful scenes ; but even in the midst of these he had cause to be happy , for he fiad thereby become acquainted and had opportunities of conversing with many good and honest Chartists , whom he should probably have never seen . Mr . R . related-a conversation which took place between himself and Mr . Cooper upon the . subject of the sectional ditterences which so unhappily divided the- ' -Chartist body , wherein he portrayed the folly of division , and tne great necessity of union amongst the -working c . asses ^ With regard to the sentiment before theai , he ( lir . K . ) most heartily agreed with it He was not what might be tetmed well acquainted with Mr . Dtincotnbe ; but he could say this of him . —that he
was no section man , but a real Chartist ; and was , in fact , wherever Chartism was to be found ; arid as long as Chartipm was the subject of discourse , he believed he cared not whether it was from the lips of Mr . Stur ^ e , or from those of Mr . O Connor , Mr . Geo White , or any other man . He seemed equally delighted from -whatever quarter it came ; and , though Mr . Dancombe was one of the aristocracy , yet it was not surprising to find the name of Thomas Buncombe , Esq ., in any proceeding of Chartism . Mr . Roberts then gave a vivid description of the Crown and Anchor meeting , and gave a very interesting account of the late trials , in which he explained the reasons for being so asions for separate trials for the prisoners . . Mr .
Baberts thought-the subject of defence ought to be taken np more warmly . A gTeat battle was to be fought , and a large portion of that battle was to be fouthtwith . money . ThelueTouaverses would amount to £ 1 , 500 . He hoped those who were out of prison ¦ would make larger sacrifices than heretofore ^ for What , he would ask , was a few shillings , when compared with two years' imprisonment ? and they were all striving forg one cause , and were as * .-much implicated as those who were undergoing terms of imprisonment and transportation . For himself he should be happy in pissing his whole life in defending his poor and oppressed . fellow-Chartists ; Mr . Roberts sat down aciidst great and unanimous , applause . "
A . TOte ' Of ' thanks to W . P . Roberts ,. Esq . ; " for ' his conduct in defending the prisoners at the late trials was then agreed to by acclamation . After which a recitation upon the desolating effects of war was given by a little boy , and responded to in some very suitable remarks by the grandfather . Mr . Chapel said , ene of the purposes for which they had met that evening , was to couimomprate tha establishmbnt of the Northern Star newspaper . He felt well persuaded of the great benefits to be derived from the press , and ttiiy grateful for the aasiatonce which had been afforded to tha cause of Chartism by thdt excellent democratic paper the Northern Star . They had now another paper , which bid fair to become a powerful organ to their cause , -anil harbinger .:.-of ' good things—he alluded to the Evening $ lar . ( Great cheering . ) He would , however , read ths following resolution , and leave its support to those more able than himself : It was as follows : — : :
" That in commemorating the establishment of the Northern Star , this meeting-bails , with satisfaction the general character and tone of that able advocate of the people ' s rights , and hope that it may long continue the pilot of the people ' s cause , aided by its contemporary the Evening Star . " ¦'¦' . - " Mr . Twite , in responding to the above , said he had at the commencement hailed the appearance of . the Northern Star with the utmost gratification ; he had observed its progress during the five years of its establishment , and he could now say that it had always been the unflinching advocate , of the Charter and th « people's rights , and the protector of the oppressed from the StroEg hand of the oppressor . It Lad been the only true and lasting defender of those lioble patriots who were now suffering for their advocacy of the cause of the
people j and for thia it deserved the warmest considerations of the working classes . He wished he could see the young men of this country come forward more generally and units -with their elders in endeavouring to obtain those rights which '¦ Xha- ~~ S iar ' haA- continued " ably to advocate . It was a disgrace to them that they did not do so . It was the young men and the young women who would hava to suffer most from the present state of things , and if thty did not come . forward now to assist those who had been sacrificed in advocating their rights , they would deserve their suffering ' s , let them como as heavy as they may .. He longed to see the day when the bright light of liberty would find its -way into every cornet of the globe , and tyranny should be heard cf no more . Thoir intentiens had been falsified ,
and calumny after calumny heaped upon them by their opppsers , but they had : fouud a noble defender in ' the Northern Star .. Mr . Twite then related an instance -of a poor man—a Chhr tist , at Devizss—who had been insulted , and even whipped by one fanner , for the sole reason that he was aChattist ; and who had had a small tenement which he had built entirely destroyed , and the materials scattered over different parts of the common by those very persons who have been pleased to stigmatise the Chattists as ¦ " destructiVee . " The man had placed the matter in the hands of an attorney , and was likely to make these persecutors ( who had expressed a desire to compromise the affair ) repent their diabolical outrage . . - ' '• : '¦' . ;¦ : - .. ' ¦'¦'' . ' -,- : ' ¦ ¦ , ¦ - ¦ : ¦ ¦ : ' ¦ - .
Mr . W . J . England ; in rising to support the motion before them , said , that " the freedom of . the press " was at the present time but a byword in this kingdom ; for it could scarcely be aaid such a thing as freedom of the press existed . Though the press' in this country Wis not so immediately shackled by- ; the Government ss in some countries , yet it bore bonds more stout , and -whiclimade . it more injurious to the interest of the people . '¦ ' The great majority of the press of Gfreat Britain , instead of beiug the advocates of the freedom of the many , were the base and pandering slaves to party Bpirit of the most rancorous description , and the upholders of tyranny and oppression in its Worst shape , against the oppressed and ilJused working classes . Many portions of the press , too , were to be found pandering to the
sinister motives of individuals in direct opposition to the public good . This -was a deplorable state of things , and it grieved him to the heart that that which was of so much importance to the prosperity of any country—the independence of the pressshould be found in so low and grovelling a . state , as was at present the case in Great Britain . It seemed so inconsistent too , that those of the press who were continually making ; such lend outcries of their devotion to their country ; and its goverhmentj should be such deadly enemies to any and every thing , the object of which is to raise the civcutnatances qf ' .-the . ' working population , who are the source of all the wealth and all the power of the country , and that they should centinually seek to destroy those without whom their boasted constitution could not exist . Had it not been ¦
for the falsified ' . statements of the press at the time of the trials of-Frost , Williams , and Jones , those noble spirits would never have been banisheU from the shores of their native country . And did the press possess bnt a slight share of true patriotism , the present Government would newr have dared to exhibit their persecuting spirit iri the late unjust proceedings at the trials iu the north . The press , which , when-conducted rightly must be the harbinger of the greatest benefit to the people , ¦¦ and- the mighty- protector of their liberty from the tyranny of their governors , must alEo , when basely applying its influence , be the destruction of every social tie , and of every por litical right , and tbe most certain instrument in making a f . ee nation ; i nation of ( slaves . But though the great majority of the press of
this country may be said to be opposed to the rights of the people , yet there were a few ,-would to God there weve more , exceptions to this , and foremost iii these exceptions stood that paper whicn the motion he had the honour to support referred to—the Northern Star . When Chartism first dawned in this country it was a dark time ; black clouds filled the moral and political atmosphere : but a slight breaking took place , and discovered to the s ) ght : a small portion of cleat blue sky , and this was Chartism . In the . midst of this bright spot appeared the Northern Star , which had realised in its services the truth of ita name , for it bad indeed been the polar star of Chartism ; it had nobly defended the working men from the malignantly asserted falsehoods of their . enemies ; it had piloted them through the storm ; and had been the means ot saving Chartism from spitUEg upon the quicksands of the . many internal divisiucs aihongst themselves Yes , had it not been for the watchful eye of the Northern Star , which ha . d cautioned ike working . Jen of the sophistries of thtir
enemies , he believed Chartists-would have now becurae j extinct as a body , and been divided into a kundred different sections and pattiesl In reference to the late movement , of . the ' Complete Suffwge party he would ask ! if they had showed theuiaelyts to be hone ^ i men ? ( no ) , i He tbought not Fur if they : were truly desirous of ;• obtaining the . Charter , as according to their professions they were , why not have joined the Associations already formed for that purpose ,, instead of forming a separate onefor the same object ?—( hear , hear . ) . They had now , he was happy to say . also a raoit valuable acquisition to their cause in the Eveninj Star ,. ' which , ; like its contempoiary in the North , had for its soto object , the people ' s rights , and if properly : supported by the working millions , " would ' be a means of further en lightening the public mind , and o £ firmly establishing the truth of their cause in the public , estimation ; and eventually making the cause of the people to be proclaimed victorious . Mr , E . then iaipressed upon them the importance oi rnllying round Ihese standards of the Charter , and sat down amidst great cheering .
Several songs , &c . were afterwards sung , and three j cheers for Frost , Williams , asd Jonea , and the rest of ] the suffering Chartists ; - and three cheers forFeargns i O Connor and the Xorihetz and Evening Slars having beengivsn , a vote of thanks-was returned to the Chair- j man , the meeting separated at a late hour , highly gratified , with the evening's entertainment . - I ! ! i
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' ESSAY ON THE PRESENT SYSTEM .-PAJIT V . I . Feeling that GoTernment oppressed instead of proteetiiig them , and that society had grown moat unsocial to them , the working classes were compelled , in aslf-defence and for eelf-preservation , to form unions isucli as trade unioria , benefit' clubs , &c . To support thesej they have to tax themselves in . addition to the taxes which they pay to support . Government , and it is a question whether the good done euSbalanees the sacrificea of tinie-and raoney . We should be inclined to say not , whenwesce men .-who-are z ^ lous sopporters of the system , petronise some of these niiions , Witneas Colonel feibthorp , wUp , I believe , is an Odd FelloWi . Besides these , partial remedies arising from the necessity of the case , so-se disinttrested and some
| self-interested men have proposed others of a more speculati-BB djaracter . Thsre is Robert Owen , but thu best adviaa which he has . to ofer a statving population is to go and buy lr . ad ! He tells us to enter into ' community—to leave ofir competition . The great error of Owen ' s schenie , a 3 af niost other Schemes is , that it lets eoTerniuent alcne ; it ices flat meddle with politifiB—it shrinks , sls Wesley did , from any contact , with the great fountiin-head of . all our miseries , and : teas it renders itsslf non-feffcctWe , for a watchmator might as well thiak of setting a watch right by ' re-iosu . sSructing or remodelling some of the smaller wha 8 lB » and leaving tha mainspring unregulated—the grefti fly-wheel that sets all the rest agoing . We . might as well endeavoar to repair a mill dam vfithoub fisst i tnrningoff tbe stream . Why , as fast as we stopped up and
one hole , the wattr -would burst out at jaMBer »' : overwhelm na even at our "work . Conimunity I what avails it to pen the sheep in the fold , if the wolf can leap the fence ? . 1 * the bnwk sits upon the highest pwch in the dovecot , an . he not make a prey wlien he pleases ? Nor w it fidvisable to do away with competition—eniy vath the excfcsi . of . it . Competition is a principla in human nature that fcxcit 68 to eniuUUou—ta . - nobly decda . i There is not a toy ' s game but dtriyea its zest from comi peUtion . Kcxfc follow the .. te . t 6 UU . ,. . who go upon 1 the assumption that all the vice and ; misery in . the ' world is cauitd by ' ialtniptiance ; . lut what causss '• ' vU-u'penuce ' I Utsitats not to say , it is ' -tUe sjs ' . sm [ vtfdL c 5 rir « many a jjsan to dri ^ k , &y \ tvii . pta all
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others . Are iiot Rin-shops licensed and built with an alluring front ? Does not Goverument . dertye an immense revenue from intoxication , even as the Pope does from prostitution ? Now it is of no use dealing with effsots while : the grand cause of all is left in full , in free operation . No partial remedy can suffice to . cure a general evil . ' Wo must go to the ropt—it matters not topping off : the branches . Others talk of a repeal of tbe corn laws , of the poor laws , of regul « tir g infant labour , of taxing machinery , of emigration , ana I know . ' not what ; bnt none but the eagle- « yed Chartists can look the real remedy in the face , and that ij theaanlike Charte ' r . First , Univerul Suffa ^ ef H 3 V 0 we n » 4 a Universal JPather ? are not all equal iu hia eyes ? do not even the bishops t-ell as that Christ died for all ? that all may inharit heaven . How is it then th ; it suck distinction should bemade on earth ? Ood Is no respect * r of persons—be snffera all—he -showers ' .. his gifts alike oa all . Nature i » a great republic ; nor does it requirarsbre than a year f » r the earth to make its revolution—for the sun to do all the business of all the
seasons . It rs said that the planet Saturn takes seven years to circle the sun , and that the climate there is ia consequence too cold for life . "We find that our senators , who take seven years at a time to do the people ' s business , grow rery cool about it—leave it undone—do enly their own—fall into a . stupor . If we have no property qualincatiod , we must have payment of-members . The geutleraeri that at present serve us in Parliament have no other qu * H 8 cation but a property quslificiition . One would-think they must have a ( treat love for us , for they profess to serve us for nothing , biit we find that tUey are serving theuiSBlvcs all the While , and serving us very scurTiiy . No ; let ua have a personal , in place of a . property qualification—let us pay our servauts—let each man have a voice in their election , and choose whom , he' likes , whether by ballot or not . This is the People ' s Cuarter—by this the people would regain the right * which have been filched from them—• with their rights they would regain power to prevent wrong , and to justify themselves . ' ( To ie concluded in dnr ncJrt . J '
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;¦ THE EXECUTIVE . Brother Chartists , —We have gone through many shocks , and survived them all ; but this It' 3 t shock upon our credit wiil be the most difficult to recover from . I have often observed that the thing which , above . all others ,: keeps men from joining aa Association , is their want of confidence in eaeh other , and their fear that the funds will be miaajiplievl , I was in hepea that those whom we appointed to the highest place of "trusi , and whoni we liberally paid , wuuld net have deceived us ; and very sorry I aHi tj find that they , even they , have not kept their "tongues from lying , and their ringers from stealiug . " ,- ph , it is a sore reproach ^ the treason of the " new movers" was nothiug to this . It is enough to destroy all confidence iii us , and to keep all support from us .
As far as I can see , the Executive hnd no excuse for this peculation I wonder at Dr . M'Douall to , stt such an example . He miist have known thut the " " receive' - is as bad as the thief , '' and that the ten shillings a-week extra , was stolen out of the : funds wanted for better purposes ., ¦ ¦ " ¦¦ ¦;¦ ' ' . ; ' . ' "¦ ' . ¦' . . -. ' . '¦' - . . '¦ : ' ; '¦ . '• -,. •'¦ ¦'¦' The money spent in flying is sadly misapplied , but it appears that money : haaalso beeh misappropriated in other ways by the Executive , and the suspicions of embeszlement raised by several items iu the balancesheet have been converted to certainty by . the manner in ¦ which thesecretary refused to answer inquiries for explanatloi ! . This is very bad , and worse when we coiisiiler that many who subscribed to the funti pinched
themselves to do it . . Surely £ 1 lOs . a-week is wag © enough for doing nothing ^ it is three times as much as the J . ibourers who subscribe to pay it get for . hard Q » ys' -works all tha week . It is now very evident that the Executive are of no use , except as lecturers , and that they could be , wif . hoiit being an : Executive . We want ho sinecures , neither in : Government , nor in Chartism ; It seems that , in addition to ( heir pay aa an Executive , they were getting as niuchand more for lecturing at the samo tirno ; and appear to have been actuated by the desire of getting all they could . We don't blame them , for this , if only they got it honestly , and not by fraud and deception . - But they have made us pay dear for their advocacy of the cause .
Upon the whole I am of opinion ,, with the Editor of the . Star ,- that an unpaid Estcutive would be beat . We should then sea who would serve the cause for loya of ii . aud not Because of the loaves , arid fishes . Something must be done different from : what has been done , or Chartism willsirk . I don't see any great use for a psrmanent Executive ; if they have nothing to do they will do niiscbJef- ^ because they , think they must do something to earn their salaries . The French republic had an Executive Directory ';¦ ¦ . but that was not before , but after , the republic was gained , and then they had the Government of the country to administer . The Secretary and the Treasurer should not be one person , because then there is no check upon him . How the enemy scoff afrus for this affair of the Executive ! They say , we do : not deserve the Suffrage because we cheese men that cheat us . Any man may be onca iltceiTed . They ought to clear their charactsrs or resign for the good of the cause . : : ¦ '¦ ¦ ' ; ¦ ¦ Yoiirs , : . ¦ ' . '"•' .: ¦'¦ _ ' •••¦ . '" A CUARTISr COUiN'CILLOR . . London , Dcir , 7 th , 1842 .
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TO THE MEMBERS OP THE NATlONAr . CHARTER ASSOCIATION . Brother Chartists , —Mr . leach , at tb ' o Delegate Meeting at Manchester , in his defence of the Executive , baying spoken of a plot or plots against thai body , in which ray name is mentioned , 1 deem it a duty to myself to stale , that I have bad . no connection with , nor knowledge of , any plot , and it is -tho first vcord I have heard of my ntinie being put forward as a candidate for a new Executive , or of such a body being in csntemplatipn . ; It la truej havinj observed what T considered improper proceedings on . the part of the lixecutive of 1841 , I joined , with my brother Celegalos at Leicester , in
expressing my disapprobation of the same , and consider that it was myduty so to dp ; for how could I consistently condemn the conduct : of the Government , nnd connive at siniiiar conduct in the head of our own : body f but it is . hot neeess . iry for me to enter into any detail , as the ¦ whole subject has been laid before you by the Editor of the Northern Star , who , I consi < ter # is entitled to the thanks of the people . Thus jnuch I may say , that , as one of the delegates when the plan was reconsitiered , that I have a perfect recollection that Mauchester -was fixed as the place : of its sittings . - . ' '¦'¦ ' . ¦ ¦ ¦ > .- ¦ .. ' . - "¦ / ; : . ' .. ¦ . ; ¦ ¦ - . .. . '¦¦ ' ¦'¦ ¦ "• ¦ ¦
Had the subject : been a mere ' . -personal affiir , I should certainly not have interfered , as I would niOEt willingly bear , anything myself , rather than cause strifp , which I have not done , though I have been connected with the Movement previous to the first Convention ' ; was a member of th ; it body and of the one in : is 4 l ; have represented my own locality in four national delegate meetings , besides local o : es ; hava given ; them my services as lecturer , ghner : illy bearing my own expei ; c » s ,- in -visitinR the villages , and doing my bcat ' -t ' o keep the cause agoing , —and can say I never asked an individual for a vote , or ever sought to get myself put forward as candidate for any office , -which I know has . been practised by others , nevertheless , the people here have -generally , put tne in iioRiination , —tho last time without asking my consent ; , and I believe I have their confidence in a greater degree now than when first chosen to represent them . Trusting that those who seek to destroy corruption will eschew the formor and practice the latter , I am , brethren , ^ Yours in tho cause of right agaicfct might , ' . : ¦ : John SKEVi . ycTOX Loughborongb , Dec . 5 , 1812 . P . S .. The ffiouds here sutigpst that such of the delegates at tho Biimin ^ bam CoiJerehce tbat may happen to be members of the General Council should have the power to investigate Lnd decide upon the subject .
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Robbery at Norwood End . —On Thursday night , five men vrith their faces blactehed , forced an entrance iri ; o the residence of the book-keeper of tlie Chesterfield Canal Company , at Norwood End , and with pistols in thtir . hands demanded the keys ot ' the boxes , desks , &c . Having thus obtained , possession of the keys , they proceeded to Eeircb .. money , and oLtairicd a sum of about £ 200 ^ vviili vFirich tlu-y sot clear off . The officers of justice are , we a : ar , 111 pursuit cf . these daring ; -buvg ! ar ' s , and we hope t&ev w : li soou succ . ei ia capturing tfetiB ,
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BATH . TEA 2 JEETIXG TO COMMEMORATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE "NORTHERN STAR . " On Mssday week a Tea Meeting was held in the Chartist . Rooms , No . 4 , Gr 3 llowsy ' s-buildings , for the purpose cf commemorating the establishment of the Northern Star , and to Eymp&thiza with the late political victims . The meeting was one which bore ample , testimony to the fact that Chartism is sot dead in Bath , for the
crowded room contained many a true Chartiatand tried , and the hereditary genius of democracy showed itself in its proudest and truest bearing , from the grandfather to the grandson ; and the smiles of the Biany ladies , true democrats , Who Were there , showed that the patriotic spirit still held a high station arnougst them , as well as in the breasts of their fathers and their brothers . Tea commenced at sis o ' clock , and true social conviviality abounded ; and at length , on the removal of the rattling apparatus began in true earnest
" The feast of reassn and the now of soul . " On the motion of Mr . Hopkins , seconded by Mr . Twite , Mr . Phillips the father of Chartism in Bath , ¦ was appointed Presidsnt ; Mr gopkina officiated as Vice President . The PiVESiDEST then , in stating the oVject of their assembling that evening , saiiJ , they were met there us Chartists—as men ^ and as women who had the interest of their fellow creatures at heart , and who were endeavouring to obtain ft . r all taeir rightful Share of power in that Government whose laws they were called upon to obey . They were met for a double purposeof commemorating the establishment of the Northern Star , that upholder of the people's rights , which had so ably defended them from their enemies , and piloted them through the storm fer the last five years ; and
also to express their sympathy with these persecuted patriots trho bad been made the victims of a tyrannical Government and of a partisan Judge—( cheers ) . It was too true many had been taken from their ranks , had been torn from their domestic circles , and catt into the cells of prisons ; yet there was another circumstance which was calculated to do more harm to their cause than thia ; he meant , if they allowed themselves to be divided ; for as the Government had imprisoned their best men , all they hwl io do was now to be honest to themselves , and to sympathise with the sufferers for tbtir cause by every means in their power , aad they would thereby alleviate in some measure , the sufferings
of those who were undergoing the sentence of their tyrants , and the causa of the people must become victorious . He believed tlie pressnt Government had do :. e much to forward the Chartist cause by the late prosecutions —( hear , hear ) . Many who before were wavering in their opinions were now he believed , firm Chartists . Their eyes had been opened , and they had become disgusted by those tyrannical proceedings , arid led to see that nothing but the Charter couid bring about a right state of things . He would , therefore , call upon them to uirhe for the one purpose of carrying the Charter ; for it was unity alone which could accomplish this , and every other measure tending to the Wfeliara of their fellow creatures—( applause . )
Song , " Let liberty ' s flag be spread over the werld . " —Mr . Hcpkias . Sentiment , " Tha People—the source of all legitimate power . " ifr . BOLWEi ., in responding to the sentiment , s&id he believed not only that the people were the source of all legitimate powsr , from'his merely having heard so , but he was an observer of men and of things , and from long experience and deep observation he was convincedhe had no doubt on the matter—he knew that they were so , and that the time was not far distant when it wonld be realised in the truest sense of the word—( hear , hear ) . It was but a question of time . He would not say it would occur during his life ; but that it would be realised was certain . It gratified him to see so many happy countenances there to-night —so many patriotic spirits met around the social board
who weie striving foi their rights ; and not only ior their own rights , but for the rights if all . He would spurn the man who sought only for right for himself . They were social beings ; they had shown themselves to be so to-nisht They possessed reasonable faculties , and virtuous affections peculiar to their claps , vthich made them so , and which set them infinitely above the rest of creation . A sacred duty devolved on them all , and especially the female portion of the community , to do what they could for the advancerm-nt of the moral and political dignity of their fellow-creatures . He had said the females especially , because ef the moral degradation of eo lar ^ e a number of . their sex . let them look to Bath , and to the manufacturing districts , and they conld not but be struck with the truth cf his assertion ; let them turn their attention to
• _ london— the city in which tha Queen resided , in which the aristocracy resided , aye , and in which so many of the bishops resided , too , who receive so much money for the purpose of promoting morality and religion ; and there , they were told , by ealculatious 0 : 1 the subject , were to be found no less than 80 , 000 females living by prostitution . Tha clergy tell us this is for want of education , but-why did they not educate the people ? He -would observe that it was uot the education which taught passive obedience and non-resistance that would remedy this state of things ; but they must have that learning which elevated the chdr . cter and showtd man in the form of his Maitr . He believed there were souls present -who made it a practice to read , mark , and inwardly ( iicest . a = d ii was the kuowiedj ; e gained by this means
which fitted a man for a citizen of the world . Mr . Bolwell then pictured the inttllectu . il state cf tha working classes in this country previous to the Chaitist agitation , and showed the progress of intellectual improvement and political intelligence since that period , despite the formidable array of power against it . Mr . Balwell also exhibited the advantageous state of the Chartist body now to what it was five years ago , and thought , when it was considered what they had to contend -with , there was no cause to despond that they had not yet obtained the Chai-itr . The system which the Charter proposed to reform had existed for ages , and was supported by the bigotry of custom . It "was net , therefore , to be supposed that it was to ts altered in a moment . Th * y must be more united before they conld txptet to gain their object , for he was convinced that noihiug but the firm determination of the people to ce free , to its founcatioa
. i ] j j } 5 , ; [ ! ' 1 i j 1 ' , r would ever shake the piesc-nt syet ^ m i Mr . B . urged those present to unite for the Charter , and : i attend the meetings of the Association , and sat down I amidst great appknse . ^ , „ . ... After a patriotic song by Miss Bolwell , " The j Departed Pitriets , " was given as a sentiment , ana » acknowledged in deep silence . _ 5 ilT . Tv ,-ite , an old vetejan in the cause of Chartism , , in responding to this sentiment , spoke with much . eel-; ing , and in trne democratic spirit , of the woxtli and i good qualitus of those patriotic Ckartists who had de-! pa : ted this life eince the commencement of the ag-. taj tion , and dwelt npon the loss which the Bath Associa-I tion more particularly had experienced in the deaths of 1 iless ' . a . Meelicg and * Bartlett [ S-veral patriotic and social songs , duets , and glees ) wtre su ^ g , and sestisnents given and responded to by » \ h 05 c ptcScl ^ t . ' Tpon ' The ntainchii . : Friend of the People , T . I Duncerrbe , E-: q , M . P ., " Wng given , the President : , ci'ied u . - i ¦ = V >\ P . RibtrU , Eiq .., to make a response . 1 Sir . rouesis s ^; a he -was happy to find that though ' ¦ they wei-- astt ; .-r a s : cial iu ' p j « : ct , yet ib-y cad sericus ¦ thoughts . Be tiviubi be micot , tfcf .-efctfe , be allowed
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ORG AN IZA / T ION OF T HE NATION AL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . PttOPOSED AMENDED PLAN OF ORGAXIZ . 1 T 13 H tor the national charter ASsdciATio . n , BT HE , COOPER , SECRETARY OF THE SH . VRSPEARUN ASSOCIATION OF LEICESTER CIUB' ¦ ' " TISTS .. '¦¦ ¦ '¦ : ¦' . - '¦ ¦ " : ' : . ' .. ' ' ¦ .. ¦ ..-¦ '
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAB . . SiB- ^ A few hints given by you in the Northern Star of to-day , and a letter of a correspondent on the subject of on * Organization—impel me to lay before the general body an outline of an amended plan of : organisation which I have v already broached in substance to Dr . . M'Douall ( daring ; oor . brief : companionship at the Sturge contest for Nottingham ); to yuursfelf f during my first interview with you at Leeds ) , to Mi . O ; 0 onnor tin several conversations ) , my beloved friends . Bairstow , Julian Harn « y ,. George White , and Skevington . and to my own brigade , on various Occasions . The fact of thtj outline haying been approved , in whole or for the greater part , by every one to ^ bom I have described it , inclines me still more to offer it to the consideration ! of ; my brethren at a time when so important a subject seems likely to claim their serious attention .
1 . The government of the general body to be vested in an Anniiat Convention , to be assunhled in London , Birmingham , and Manchester alternately , in the first week of April , in each year , and to cIosb its sittings at the end of the third week in each year , or earlier , if convenient-: ' .. ' . ' •"'• ¦ . " ' . ' ; ¦ .. : ' ¦ ' 2 . Ths Said Annual Convention to be cornpo 3 ed of delegates from Chartista districts , the districts to be arranged by the jf 1 st annual convention ; and rearranged , as need may be , in succeeding conventions . * . 3 . The first business of the said Annua l Convention to bs the election of a president , secretary , and treasurer ; and its last business to be the appointment of an Extrulive Committee to be cjmposhd of ths president of Convention , the secretary of Convention , the 'tre , r . * ur * r . ' of Cony&ntioi ) , and two other members of Convention then and there chosen . ¦¦
- •* : The said EixrtUivc Committee of the Annual Con vent ion to assemble together in London for One west 'during ' - ; the ' month of July , —in Birmingham 1 for one week during the month of October—anl in Manchester for one week during the month of January . ' 5 . Ttw Secretary of Convention to be the only annual officer occupying his whole time with ' the general business of the Association , and receiving from its funds a fixed weekly : salary ; otuer members of the Executive Committee to occupy themselves with the general busU u « ss of the Association , and to receive from ita funds an
allowance only for the ; three weeks cf meeting mentioned in article 4 , with travelling expences to and from , to . 6 . The said Secretary to furnish each Chartist locality in Eaglaud and Wales , with a yearly class-book and monthly , class-papers—arranged on an uniform plan , from time to time , by the Annual Conventions ; or the Executive Committees , at their sittings , and also with cards Of membership of the Natioyal Charter Association , and the said Secretary to receive a monthly account of the number of members' in his locality ,- from the Sub-Secretary in each locaiity , and to publish the same for the information : of the general body .
7 . The General Fund of the National Charter Aasociation , from which the expences of the Annual Conventions and of the Esecutive Committees , aa well as the salary of the Secretary , the co 3 t of cards of membership , nniform Cliss-books , ckc , shall be defrayedto be raised by the collection of one penny ,- on the first Monday of each calendar month , from each membar of the Association who c . m-afford the same , by the charge of one penny for each card of membership , and by the payment on the part of the localities , of such a sum for the class-books as shall be agreed upon by the Annual COnveii tion , or Executive Committees . S . The local funds of the Association to be raised by the collection of one penny on the remaining Mondays in each calendar month , from each member of the Association who can affoid the same , —and by such other means as the members of the Geneml Council resident in each Chartist locality may devise .
Without going into the details ot election of general councillors , sub-secretaries , &c . &o , the fore-going may suffice , MK ' Editor , to show the drift of my proposed amendments—if my brethren think lny hints deserve that name . . . ' But what would fee the advantages of the proposed alterations over usages which now prevail ? I answer : Firat , the ; assembling : of aa Annual Representative Bjdy would give an established and imposing charaeter to our agitation , in the public eye , and would train the . unenfranchised class in the important prautice of legislation . The government of ttse Association by such a body would , also , be essentially a government by representative democracy , ¦ while the government by a directory of five may , in its very nature , be termed au oligarchy .
Secondly , the election of an EKecutiye Committee by the great representative body , could not fail to issue in ths appointment of five men of manifest fitness for office : —the men of ' real business , of energy , of pruderice , would be sureto " stand out onthe canvass" of each picture of the Convention ; they would be marked , by their fellow delegates , Thus , the mockery of st-lecJing five men , in the darle , according to present custom , would be avoided . I say : in the dark , for it is nothing better to ' circulate lists of a ecoro of names among the mombers , and to request them ..-. to mark Jive Jit
men , whereas many of the raemsers . have not seen or heard flvei men , of . any kind , out of the score . So much for the mode of electing the Executive : and then the office of the Executive would be freed , at onco , of much of its present irksome character to themselves , and also of all its present apparent irresponsibilitiesi inasmuch as the Executive would be merely the Committee of the Annual Convention , instead of a Government appointed by the people , and would have restricted powers , having all weighty ques-. tions that could conveniently be so left , for the decision of the ensuing annual Convention .
Thirdly , the association of the treasurer with the Executive would tend to give that officer something like his proper share of opportunity for giving advice on the affairs of the general body , and for becoming acquainted with , its condition . At present . this highly iBiportant officer seems to be a mere name . Fourthly , the furnishing of each locality with uniform yearly class-books for the use of the sub-Secretaries—in other words , with registers of the members , describing their names , residences , trades , ages , amount of family , franchise , &c / ( These books to be of various dimensions , so as to be adapted for large or small localities . )
and also with monthly class-papers , ruled and prepared for containing a d ^ ajn or more names to be visited by collectors ; the act of regularity and punctually furnishing each locality with these materials for sound local organization could scarcely fail to secure it . I need scarcely remark that the proposed monthly account from each sub-secretary , of the , number of members in his locality ( that account to be a classified one;—describing the proportion of members of either sex , of what age , &c .,, &c . ' , accprdin ? to a mode fixed by the great BepTeaentative body)—would also promote the same desirable object .
Fifthly , the collection of the primary monthly penny , di $ ti ? icily for the Genera l fund of the Association , would bring , the agitation as a whole constantly before the mind of each individual member , giving it value and importance then , proportioned to its real consequence . The grand National bond arising from this perpetual presentation ot the movement in itB universality—in its giant might—to the thought of each individual ' member would , —or I am a sanguine dreamer , —speedily render us politically omnipotent . Fearing that . I have already tresspassed too largely bnyour limits , I am . , Yours , most respectfully , TUohjs COOrER .
Leicester , Dec . 3 , 1842 r The ChartiiSt delfgates to the approaching Sturge Conference to be empowered by the people to make a tempisrary arrangement of districts for the election of AeiegcteB to the First Annual Convention .
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ScHF . puEBS . have been soryed on the managers of disaen ' . in ^ congregations , r « quirinf ; returns of the seat-rents of chapels , with a view to impose a proporty tax on tb . em . ; ' ' Compa-e : os ' - \ T , e Judge in Texas—A . very learned and compassionate judge in Texas , on passing sentence on one John Jofccs . who had- been convicted o £ murder ; ' concluded his remark ? a 3 f ' oltowB : — " The
fact is , Jt / n ? , that the-Gourt did not intend to order you to be executed befoTe next spring , but the weath « r ia- 7 ery rpld—cur ^ aol , unfortunately , is in ,-a very btid caadttion—much of . the j ? Iass in the windows is broken—tho chimnies are in such a dilapidateebstate tl . at no are can oe aade to render your apartments ' c&mfortable ; betides owing to the great number of prisoner , not more than one Wanket can beal ' jo wed to each—to sleep soundly and comfortab ^ y , thewrfor . e ; will bVeut of the question . 111 con 5 . deratitn of these ch-cumstances , and wishhig to lessen your sufferings ie much as possible , the Court ia tha exercise of . its- humanity and compassion , do hereby order you to ba executed to-morrow moniin ^ a ? soon after breaKfast . as maybe eonrenient to ' . be Bhenaana agreeable io . you ?'—Quebec Gazette .
Railway Accident . —On Tuesday evpning last an attroci& ' as attempt was made to throw the . London mail traia off the Birkenhead and Chttter Kauway , by placiasc a large beam of wood , called a . 'sleeper ,.-. about cine feet in length , in such a , positiou ^^ to come in contact with the engine ; and it had actually penci rated tbe engine , but noi t ' ne boiler , or it miRM have burst . The injury -was not soexiensiye as to prereut the train from pawing to its cJirtiDation , A maj' of the name of Morton ii in custody on the charge of haTiEK been guilty of this wicked act . ROBHERY "¦ CF' TJJE GAE ^ LECOMEti ^ MAIL . —On V / eduesday morning last , as the poi-i-boy was ^ proceedine from Castlecomerto BaUjragKett , with'tho Burrow ah'l , Ballyraf ( go » mail-bags , he was stopped 1 by two men , about tveo miles ircia Ca-tlecocaer , aud 1 deprived of the bat / a . The buiis Wtic kubdcqucnily i found oil' a Tim ^ lcan near the spot . One bag was I ' ui . touched a . ci ' ilie » fi < V . ' . ! ivop . eti ' edI but the letters sus-] taiucd no injury—V , : ni > v pniiiicl , - ¦'''' .. ¦¦¦/¦¦' .
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_ THE NORTH E RN STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 10, 1842, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct460/page/7/
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