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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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TRTft-li OF HIE "TIMES" Jj ^ K LLnk . L ON MB . O'C 02 O ? 0 B . I 2 BEI . —CCOIfKOH is . LAWSoiJ , 3 ! Hse 3 se , which wa » anwtionbyMr . Feamis QXJo--nor sgainss this Journal for libel , came -on for trial at : Crovdon oh Prid&yy before Xord Oriel Justice Tindal and a Special Jury . The Court "was very niucb tsrcwflefl . The rfaUowing- . gentlsnen vere empaniieled ss the Jury i—^ Thomas AtockB , Ebq ; Edwin Bryant , Esq . ; James Crocker , Esq . ; John Fairfax taianery , Esq . ; James Jolm Coisyn , Esq . ; Tbcmas Cuthbert , Erq . j "WaHsni Edgar , Esq . ; Edward Hicks Finch , Esq . ; Charles Hoed , Bsq . j Jata Thomas Hooper , Esq . ; ¦ Vyiliiivm Holland , 22 sq . s and 8 amnd Jackson , Esq . ! Fha Jury havine-l » en room ,
Mr . James opened the pleadings . He nid in this case ^ Fexrgns O'Csnnor -was the . plaintiff , and John Joseph Xawson the defendant The declaration stated lhat , before the publication of the libel on acccaat of -which the action was eammgaced there had been aa election far the borough ol NoKiBSham » at "which J&seph Stnrge said John Walter Trere candidates , sztd that the plaintiff assisted at that election ca hahalf o ! the said Joseph Sturge . The declara tion further set forth that , after the beforsmentioaed election , it become necessary to have another election loitbeboTcngh oIHcffingham , al which John Walter , Jon ., and Mr . Gisbome -were candidates , and that the jireslent -pisSxasS assisted at that election on behalf of Mr . ( JiBbarae . It then set farti minutely lie libel ¦ w hich framed the- snlgect of the . present action . A third count set forth that the libel "wanted what , in legal terms , -was called the inducement . The defendant iad-pleaded "Xolgtriliy .-
m SHrjESnt sbxe then said , —May it-please your lordship—gentlemen of the jury , I hare the honour to address you as counsel fox Ml O'Connor , the plaintiff in ttUB action , who has felt compelled , in justice to himself , and to all -who are interested in his good stame , to come here into court to complain ol an unfounded stt&ek on Mm 'which ^ appeared in the columns -Of the Tanemewrpajper . Geaaemen , it 1 b now tea or tirelveyearsagosinee Mr . 0 * Gonnorflrat"becameknown asa public man to the people of Eagland . Se was Introduced to -us in that character as the representative GfofiBcf the most important consKlneEciea in tht Foster connby , a position -which -would eootileary mas who illled It to a very large share of consideration and xespeet in the estimation of a generous nation .
GssUexbso , it appears that when all hope of justice from her more powerful ssghbour had sot begun to sicken in Ireland , Mr . CTGonnor represented his native county of Cork in the House of Commons . As member for that eozmty his cozidnct on all occasions was manly , coa-Jistent , patriotic , and independent , and thensh his opinions on -questions of pnhlic policy were not tech as to receive countenance from men in that assembly , his deportment -was mftniHwt on all hands to be entirely ^ exceptionable . He sever -wantonly caused a pang in the breast of a political opponent ; his conduct -was free iram the least tZnetaxe of personal © JppcHoa ; lie made no enemies , and he lost no friends . Gentlemen , ontiBietiiamentfrom ParEamen-t , Mr . O'Cocnor did Bot deem it necessary to abjure all interest in pnblic
aSans , or abstainfrom the discussion of pnhlic 'questions . He thought , and in my mind rightly , that if a man have the heart , She spirit , and ' the conrage to serve his country , he may tio so as ¦ well—nay , in some conjunctures perhaps better , "without than within the vails of Parliament . I know that there is a sort of sickly , faint-hearted feeling in the minds of some Tnpn , —men who axe unworthy of the blessings they enjoy , —which induces thana to condemn 3 b otiiars , and eschew for themselves , the exercise of those lights which are secured to them by the eonsUtniion—the right of meeting in public assemblies of their fellow citizens for discussion ; or , as it -BFTPpff"i «>« is on other occasions , to awaken that fear which > w often in onr history been the beginning of
wisdom in onr rulers , . aid of -content among the people The course , gentlemen , wmeh lax . O'Cwmor pursued on / fiat occasion-was that -which was panned by Burke , by ' ^ eiXflfjSheridan , by 6 rey , byBnrdett , by Broagham , andtlterest of tiiat long list of men "whose names will ierenjemberedwithhonoHrin this country when those ¦ who haTe prostituted their talents in reTiliag t > " » m hare ie * n anyen like "weeds along the ^ stream of tlma In pursuing t&at coarse , Mi . O'Connor obtained the coafidence of a * rery lar ^ e portion of his fellow-countrymen Eis public conduct and public opudonB are , of course , a fair and legitimata snbject ef pablic critddsm . In the - eceaaehB has thopgrit proper to ehslk out for himself , te did aot esjwct immunity from the strieteres of so important an organ of pnblic pinion as Tie Times
aewrpaper . gentlemen , I am sure yon will agree with ne that serer since the icTentfon of printing , sod of « OTise nerer before , has a power-over men ' s minds , Ben ' s iapplness , meE * s fortunes , so absalnte , so irreatttthiff , ' byvprJaat or orator , by prince or statesman , b « B lrteldedia ^ t ^ Mch ij held by Ihs iOx ^ a ^ fh&Xjaszn&l . I ^ rtly by the prodigal' employment of vnboosded leEocrcs ^ in the collection from all parts of the irarld of Information on sutijects of pnblic interest , partly by the command , at any cost , of the highest order of Uterary sillily .. The Times netrspaper has jit ^ ned a cir cnlatitJii , sod therefore a command of power , ibe possEsacs of irhish nay he to the « ob € nctois of it a so&ree of procd rtflection , but which Is , at tba . ^ ante lime , attended with an awful
asponmbility , Such is the power of thai journal ttat iC *_ Hditor iBaj en aaymnrning that he please * , "by ti » daditjf his ; pen , dattroy the character , the ¦ proBpeeto , anatiiB credit of s political opponent . It "would be TJ » jwt to say of that jsurual tbat it is a libeller by habit os protewawi . Xt > , gf nilensen , its injustice , when It is -nsjust , loses none of its tone and vigour by a "wanton and -m-. licionfl indnlgence , Wheaitstr&es , 31 aSkes to dextroy , or , if it fniiw to destroy , it is only ^ rfrra TBBt by its opponent as it is here met by 1 b , O'Connor ibis day . Now , it happened that Mr . O'Connor ' s "news of pnblic T ) g » Vrf differed essentially from those Uiafc ha-re been of 3 a $ B years entertained by fits editozsr and proprietors of The Times newspaper . TTW txpaoanca 3 i > IPailiamEnl bad yiodncefl in U »
aund sn iinpresdon Out in the contest between the two gres > parties who aie straggling fox place and power , and "whoaa ^ straggles du&ract and agitate the empire , the first object of the legislation—the wellbeing and happiness of the great body of the peoplehas been forgotten—that -while vs might gate -with "Wonder on the prodigious monuments of the Trealthand prosperity of the country—results of &e unparalled rrm > Tf ' ^^" of industry , science , and art , the moral » nd physical condition of the masses is as unparalleled as even thosa wondera of prosperity StemselTes are unpasallfiled—Ahat -srMle Trealti teas aeeazBulated , jnas T » m detenorated , and tbat those -who- see life only through "what one may cill the roee-tints of a drawing-Toom -window aresotths persons who aremortfit to prejenbe for the disease of the state . These were the TiewB of Hs . O'Connor , and his course was in accordance -sith . it . Wears not hereto decide whether those tie-in oe « ght or "wrong . Uor do I complain of the
conduct of . The Times newspaperln any comment which the editor imy think i . % to make on the political opini ons of Mr . O'Connor . If he entertains different opinions , he is jastified in oSering to those opinions rf 2 ir . O ^ Consor a bold , TiT » fliT »>> iTn g » i > rt determined leeistacoe . Of such qppositian . Mr . O'Connor does not csmplain . Sut at the Nottingham election for 1843 , Mr . Walter , of Bear Wood , in Berkshire , was a candidate , a gentleman of -rery large fortune , and -whose opinions on political questions harmonize with those which iax some time past have been advocated in Tht Times newspaper , ilr . J . Sturge , who is , I believe , oi Einnjngham , -sras also a candidate , a gentleman entertaining -what I hope , withont offence , I nay call extreme liberal opinions . Theoe two gentlemen were at that time an&idstes for the representation of the town of 2 fottingham . On the occasion of & former election Mr . Waiter lad SBCceedea , and at that time he had availed himself of the assistsnee of Mr . O'Connor in the
puBuit of the object of his ambition . Eut when Mr . Walter stood against Mr . Sturge , with whose opinions on almost all public questions those of Mr . O'Connor were in entire unison , that gentleman gavt his support to Mr Stcrge , in opposition to Mr . Walter . Mr . Walter , geafiemea , having been jetnmed , -was afterwards unseated on petition j and then his son , Mr . John Walter , jus ., became a candidate for the "vacant seat , in opposition to the present member for Nottingham , Mr , Qiaboma Mr . Gisbozna received on that occasion from Mr O'CoEDor and bis frieniis a fjiwirterested act } perfectiy CQMHKfcpnt snpport . Now , eenUexnes , "with the
conduct of Mt O'Conaor on Sid occasion of that election , ¦ with his general imblic conduct , the editor of The Times newspaper had a perfect light to concern himself . I do not for one moment question the right of Tht Ttstes newspaper to discuss She errora 4 t his eoadnct or ttBtenaeney of the conduct , or to represent it , if he ^^ proper , toitfae people and to the Qovernment of 2 ffi ^ »? S 2 Sf W 1 ? to **^<* &s ^* , -a « s
« u « r « ffieienuy , tbey have a perfect rkbt t « tag » reesQ « 3 ropinions . Those mhosS . -T * to ^ 3 aa -who think ithat 5 ^^^ ^^ ^ f otakepartfe . public * £ S £££ * £ on hlsTiands aad kneesintothfi Honte ofnnTn ^ T and tten , lerersing the schoolboy ' j ^ aSn ?^^ - wife his moua ^ ii sad ^^ r « T ^^ - ^^ fioa-mlghlBendhim . ^ my pg , J KdS ! rS ? oomefflrward fe * pablic assembly , and , while oW ? ing theJxtn , isy ^ before Iiis fe ^ w-coun ^ ST ^ ¦ riewioa publicjpohey . I beHeve the TinusaemvZ Uoraw-aanwopinion , buithat it ^ isspnwJ oV ^ * < && * ^ w * ^ ™ i **• 0-Con » or ; ud ttimuJX ha * , a-right to bold him mp to public ex » cr » Ooa if it ihSfcfprtgper . 1 ; " »<»^ svbolt *» yoailataj « » Eb ] iB biraetar . of i nuut and the personal ho » onrand i > tMg&af&xrmx& * x » tw « x-t « ry d 2 T « r « rt nbjegta fb-• caaaent ; imdeea , I vosld aabait to yoa—I -would nOaaifc to the « ditor of the 7 ¥ »» himself , u ' xn could
mre him cere 14 iia capaeily of private genUemanfiat if thepewersof his pen or of Ms press have been perrertsd to the injury of the personal honour and ebaracterotanoppoiient , be ought to make reparatiOT . ^ . ^§ U ^^ Si ^ 3 ^ J 3 i 3 Cler cf a pablifl man of baseness S- » n 3 " ojshoBesyK money matters cannot be diartgarded S ^ M ^ anwnglBS ^ eit feajirts of the state-of the society t in which : * e livei Sst no siun , however amiable Ma
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parsoudi qaauuc * may appear , or ho > ever comninnniiig iiia talents may be , has yet . b » en aUe , in public life , $ o -wrestle with a taint on his mer ^ character of pecanlmy tnrpitnde . I will sbowyou that tha « aifco * of tbe Tim « rewspaper has endeaToured to te that damning blot on tie chiracter bf . Mrl O'Ctonnor ; he has endeavoured to connect his name , \ rbeg $ fet the Engliah language shsll be lead , with the foul reproach of fraud and peculation . I ask you , gentlemen , if I show you that such has been the case ,. I ask yon ' if Mr . O'Connor is aot entsaed either to reparation from the editor of the Times nesrapaper , or to redress from you . Gentlemen , I will show you that the Times newspaper has been guilty cf this injnstiee to Mr . O'Connor . In the paper of the 26 th of May , 1843 , an article adverting to the election to which I have already called yorsr attention
appeuecL It was beaded " Secrets cf the late ChartUt Erecntive . " . Now , I say openly , what I am sure you must approve of , that in this pnblic ' court of justice , of Chartists we know , and we ought to know , nothing . As far as my little knowledge of political matters goes , of the different parties in the country , -whether Whigs , or Tories , or Radicals , or Chartists , it -would be'Texy hard to say which has been the most violent when it suited their purpose ; but in a court of justice we don ' t know one from the other , their private character is as sacred before a judge and jury—and I have the highest authority for saying this—as the private character is of any person sot engaged in political affaire , and that they ought to receive on all occasions the same measure of justice at the hands of a jury . { Gentlemen , \ his is the libel complained of by the plaintiff : —
" SECRETS OF THE U . TJ 2 CHJLBTJST EXECUTIVE . " It -was stated last week that Campbell , the Secretary of the Chartist Executive , ¦ had decamped to Aranrira , taking with him the books of the National Charter Association . Since then it has been intimated to the Executive that Campbell had , previously to his flight , pledged those books , "with' a large number of cards of membership , for the sum of £ 16 15 s . 9 ^ d ., and thai they will be delivered up by a Mr . Aithnr O'Neil as Boon as the lien npon them is paid off . The defection of Campbell , O'Neil , and otiaer-firebTaniia from the Chartists , has destroyed all the confidence which they had formerly in each other . Even ! Hi . O'Connor himself , wboboastB so much of his disinterested service and sacrifices in the cause of Chartism , is charged with
being a venal and tims-serving public character . The folio-sing charges are made against ] him : —That he accepted £ 28 for lecturing and assisting at Mr . J . Storge ' s contest with Mr . J . Walter , sen . ; that he demanded £ 19 from Mr . Bogera for jhis services at the late contest betwren Mr . Gisborne &nd Mr . John Walter , jon ; and , though last , not least , that he received from Mr . Sturge's committee the sum of £ 5 for an active agent , to whom he only paid £ 3 , putting the remaining £ 2 in his pocket . Mr . O'Connor , as a matter of course , denies those charges , but his accusers a : Iege that they can prove them . Some other circumstances in the 'Lion of the North ' s' character have come to licit , which argue aught but disinterestedness or sacrifice , and which have lowered him very much in the eyes of his late admirers . "
This is the libeL Having read it to you I think I need hardly detain you with many comments on its tendency to inflict serious injury on Mr . O'Connor . It commences ¦ vrith a denunciation of the grossest profligacy on his part , and of misconduct in money matters—in matters of trust , as one of the agents of the Chartist body . It then proceeds to impute to Mr . O'Connor a meanness utterly inconsistent with his own repeated assertions on public occasions , and his own character for disinterestedness , and finally it goes on in innch circumstantial detail , accompanied by an assertion- tbat those facts can be proved , to charge Hr . O'Connor Trith a piece of direct peenniary dishonesty—that be pocketed money tbat was given him to be handed to another ; that he meanly , in the most paltry and ! dirty way , having
received £ 5 to pay to an active acent , put £ 2 of it into his own pocket Gentlemen , that is the charge which The Times makes Against Mr . O'Connor . Mr . O'Connor met it in the manner is -which 1 am sure you will agree sneh s charge ought to be met by a man of spirit and honour . He instructed his attorney to issue a writ agaioat Tie Tints newspaper , that The Times newspaper , which , as we have seen proved in this very court on a Termer occasion , would ransack the whole of Europe for evidence in support of a plea of justification , might have the opportunity of proving those statements which , in the libel complained of , the editor declared his ability to prove . He .: brought bis action , The Times pleaded some demnrrable pleas , but they have not "ventured to take up the challenge which Mr .
O'Connor gave them when be afforded them the opportunity of proving the truth of their statement as their justification for the libeL According to the record , The Times does sot pretend to aay that that statement is true ; yet np to this moment not one shadow of reparation have -we received from a mas-who writes every day , and publishes to all -world every day "wnxt he has to say . Now , I confess I am not a little at a loss to conjecture , and I am -very impatient to hear , in -what way my Learned Friend will meet this case . I do not altogether despair that be may have been instructed * by his clients to take that course which is open to every man whose opinion is w&rth & thought—a coiree which would be most graceful , most becoming in [ every respect , most
¦ worthy of tbe Trjmtatlon of tils clients . I do not despair that he may have been instructed frankly to admit that they have been misled , and were in error , and to say that before the dawn of another -day they would compose , for the very ear into which the venom of the article had been infused , the ac' . idote which they alone possess for its correction . I ay frankly , on the part of Mr . O'Connor , that be Refers , a thousand times before any damages that jTJury can give , that description of honourable reparation which will enable Mm to leave this Carat -without a stain on bis personal honour and integrity ; and 1 st me add , with a f « ellng of personal esteem for a political opponent . Gentlemen , I am satisfied that this would be ¦ ' the right course for the Times newspaper to pursue on the present
occasion . The ungenerous and the mean may grnige the acknowledgment of an error , but the right-minded -trill repair the -wrongs of those whom they have injured . No man of real courage shrinks from the noble duty of redress . I thail be glad if my Learned Friend feels hfcaaelf at liberty to take that course . Indeed , until 1 hear the contrary from the reUctant lips of my Learned Friend , or from his expres&aive silence , I never can believe tbst the edftoi of the Tines newspaper , who two short years -ago stood in this Court -with snch a halo of : honour round his name , "will be content to leave it to-day with the brand on him of premeditated slanderer . I cannot believe it till I hear it from the ! lips of my Learned friend ; but if my Learned Friend , or those who iustmctea him , should prefer the mistaken choice ef persisting in their injustice , then I appeal from them to you , and through you to the country . I say that Mr .
0 Connor is a public man , and in the same rank and walk of literary occupation as the editor ol The Times himself , tot 3 Ax . O'Connor is the ; editor of a paper of very large provincial circulation-, he is a man of charac ter , of birth , and of honour , whose reputation is dear to him and to a numerous circle fof personal and political friends . He has received a beep injury from the editorof the The Tints which entities him to redress . 1 adfc yon to test by your verdict that Mr . O ' Connor leaves this court without a blemish or stain on his name ; —I ask you to prove by yonr verdict that no suspicion even of misconduct on his part has been justified by the proceedings of to-day ; but , above all , I ask you to prove to all the world that if any man in Encland bs injured by the excesses of that ' press , the liberty of -which we all pri » and -value as ' much as any institution of the country , that man is sure t » have redress if be fraakJy , fairly , honestly , and ' at once lays his case before a jury of his country .
Formal proof-was then given of the defendant being the registered printer of The Times . Mr . Serjeant SHEE obseived , that by the 6 th and 7 th of William TV . it -was not necessary to prove the purchase of a paper , it was efficient to show the defendant was the printer ; and the libel was afterwards putinaad read . This being the ease for the plaintiff Mi , Thbsioeb then rose and i Bald—My Lord , and Gentlemen of the Jury , the conriw which my Learned Friend kas adopted in laying this case before you , is the most extraordinary and unprecedented I ever
recollect to have witnessed . My Learned Friend has thought fit to make a very long and powerfal speech to you , in the comae of which lie has made & variety of statements ; and after that speech of my Learned Friend , I think you must be surprised at his stopping short with the bare proof of ownership of the Times newspaper . My Learned Friend has spoken a good deal about the plaintiff , bet after all , I ask you , &o you know anything of > lri Feorgua O'Connor ? What has been proved , or set before you respecting him , ox his character , by which ; you could form any iiea . of the amount of isiury done , or alleged to be done to Mb character by the publication of this libel ?
Is there any thing by which yen can award the amount ef damages to -which he should be entitled ? Do yon know anything whatsoever upon the subject 7 As far as you know there is no information of who or what this Mr . P . O'Connor is , and yet you are called upon to award damages . Yon are merely caQed jupon in a very powedoL apeecii to award damages . I Why is it that there is no proof offered in support of ' the allegations -which the plaintiff has thought fit to set forth in the declaration ; and why , I ask , is it Xtob you are merely called upon to sive damages , without being informed of anything respecting him ? How are you to form a
judgment of the amount of injury done to any man ' s * baracter , unless it ba by knowing -what the character really beene by the indivldHal i «? let n » * nppoee to * case of % merchant carrying on business m ., ! ™ Citf «* London , against whom a libel is pihlwhed ehajgng hia -with fr »» d ? iroald it sot be Z ^ T ^ J * ?^ *¦»* ** *««*« ' »»» ntristed ; V ? f £% ** * z ** " ^^ ¦»•**»» *«¦*•; S ^^ Sa ? -&tWiS 8 SWSHfittjMfc »¦ = *
B ^^^^^ j ^ sKBSs a-SSSS
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blank sheet , on which he could write whatever be pleased . J But , Gentlemen ,-wheflj ttii Learned Friend itajs you knew nothing of ChartUts , doe * he think you are children ? Does he tbink that you know nothing of thosei misguided people , who are excited both at public meetings and by inflammatory writings in the public press ? Does he think it possible that you could be ignorant of those people , and of the consequences of their acts ? I agree with' ray Learned Friend that whatever ba the political opinions of persons , they have a right to express them both publicly and privately , provided that in so doing they do not inflame
the minds of the'ignorant I am not one ef those whom : . my Learned Friend described—( who my Learned Friend means , I know not)—who think that , -as be says , men should crawl upon their han £ s and knees into the House of Commons , in order to obtain the privilege of expressing their opinions . I really do not know what my Learned Friend means by that allnaion .: I wish my Learned Friend had spared that observation , and many others also -which he thought fit to make use of , because by such remarks as he made this day , ! my Learned Friend may be supposed to entertain opinions with regard to matters passing around , such as I am confident are not entertained by him .
( Mr . Sergeant Shee shook his head , apparently in dissent ) Mr . THESiGBB continued—And which , If he entertains ,- would make it appear that he is a very different character from that which his friends have hitherto taken him for . Bui who is Mr . Feargus O'Connor ? Is be a person whe has been shedding his ink that ethers may shed their blood ? Is bo a person wbo has been convicted of sedition ? Is he one who has been lately convicted , and only escaped punishment through a technical informality J If this be the character of Mr . Feargua O'Connor , I ask is be a person to come here and demand heavy damages at your bands ? The law' compels you , in a case where libel is proved , to give damages to the moat worthless—technical damages I may call them ; but observe , that In this case the charge is such that no plea of justification could be put in . Gentlemen , Mr . O'Connor , my Learned Friend has informedyou , has applied to the law for redress . I wish he would follow the same coarse oftner . I wish he
-would apply nracn oftner to the law—( laughter ) . But , Gentlemen , my Learned * riend , after dilating eloquently upon bis subject , seemed to entertain some misgiving of his cause—he suddenly lowered his tone . He says Mr . Feargus ( O'Connor comes here merely for the vindication of his character , and that he merely demands damages is orderto clear bis character . But my Learned Friend seemed to recollect that after his speech bad been con-: eluded there must be another story to be told , and so he throws ohI a sort of opportunity for the Times to say ft retracts , and he affects to believe it baa been misled , and he gives it an opportunity to say that it has been misled . But , Gentlemen , let Air . O'Connor have his bond—let him have ju » t what the law allows him if the Ttfltu was wrong , but let there be no compromise with such a character . Let ua see -who Mr . Feargus O'Connor is . "My Learned Friend , in his opening speech , told you something of his having entered into public .
life at a time of great political excitement , and then he ' went on ; with a qaantUy of matter about Justice to Ireland , and a good deal to that effect , which I shall pass over without any comment , as it is not very relevant to the present question . My Learned Friend then went on to say that Mr . Feargus O'Connor first entered Parliament ss Member for bis native county of Cork , and that his conduct whilst in Parliament was of that kind and conciliatory nature as to obtain the respect of all parties with whom he came in contact . But , Gentlemen , be entered Parliament under a fictitious qualification , which he must have signed his name to knowing it to be fictitious , and he -was turned out on a petition —( laughter throughout the'Court ) . Mr . Serjeant Shex—No , no . No snob thing ; he sat for fouryears . Mr . Thesigeb—N » , only fonr months—( laughter ) . Mr . Serjeant Shee—Not at all ; you are quite wrong . \ ¦ '
Mr . Thesiger—Yes . I was counsel for the petitioners against Mr . Fesrgaa O'Connor on this occasion , and I had the happineys to turn him out —( great laughter ) . The Learned Gentlemen went on—But , Gentlemen , ; my Learned Friend , in speaking of the power possessed by the Times , said , " Where the Times strikes it destroys . " Does it ? Is Feargus O'Connor destroyed ? I wish i he was—daughter )—and wish my Learned Friend could say he was destroyed ? —Mr . Serjeant Shkb—It is not likely . Mr . THFS 16 ER—I wish some more powerful antagonist than the Times may destroy him . But , Gentlemen , he is not destroyed . And now let us see the animus of thiB libeL What was the object ? The Times sought to show that the Chartist leaden were not those
disinterested persons that they wished to be thought by their misguided followers . Now let us see this libel—( the Learned Counsel read the part of the libel which alleged that Campbell hod run away with the Chartist books , and went on ) . Is this tree , I wonder ?—( laughter ) . Campbell has brought no action . " Confidence in the leaders is destroyed . " I hope that's true —( laughter ) . Hr . Thesiger then read on and said—The charge against O'Connor is—what t An attack upon his public character ? The charge against him is , first , tbat be got £ 29 for lecturing at an election . la this any charge againat his private character ? Why it is only a charge tbat ne-wM paid for lecturing . . 3 Th » t ia aot an attack upon Mb private chaiacter . My Learned Friend said that the plaintiff gave his help gratuitously to Mr .
Gisborne and Mr . Sturge , but do peoplt sever get paid for their services at elections 1 I rather think they do . The last and greater charge against him is , that be received £ 0 from an active agent , and put £ 2 of it in bis pocket . Now what does that amount to ? Just that he , in the rapacity of an agent , received tbe money to hand to an activo agent , and that his own wants were so pressing , tbat be applied a portion of it at the time to his Own use . Now what was there in this chargo ? What injury can a person who has been living in a storm receive from this puff of wind ? The assertion is only that he " was charged" with it—not that he did it . We could not plead a justification to this charge We could not justify , because it would ba no answer to prove tbat he really "was charged with it The libel only isaid that be was charged with doing it—I dare say he did it —( laughter ) . But what Js the object ? I
acknowledge it is to lower the character of Mr . O'Connor , in order that his misguided followers may see what he is , and avoid being led to destroy the peace of society by following the advice of a man who is leading them to destruction . Bat again I say , who is Mr . Feargus O'Connor ? Where are his friends ? Why are they not produced on this occasion ? unless my Learned Friend was afraid that on tbe cross-examination of those friends -we might ascertain what bis character really is . No ; but you are called upon to give your verdict of the shilling , or whatever else it maybe , and you are to know nothing further of him than tbat be is a Chartist leader , like the other Chartist leaders , inciting persons to sedition all through tbe country ; and then be comes here to demand damages at yonr hands for the destruction of jbjs character . Bach is the state , the real state of tb < 9 ' case , and I leave it entirely , GenUemen , in your hands with tbe utmost confidence .
TheLo&D Chief Justice said—Gentlemen of the Jury , this is an action brought by Feargus O'Connor againBt John Joseph L&wboh , for an injury alleged to have been sustained by him in consequence of the publication of a libel in The Times newspaper . Now , the libel is one that imputes to Mr . O'Connor , that "he himself , who boasts so much of his disinterested services and sacrifices in tbe cause of Chartism , has been charged with being a venal and time-serving public character , and the following charges have been made against him ;" and then it proceeds to enumerate three charges—first , that Mr . O'Connor bad received the sum of £ 2 $ , for lecturing and for assisting Joseph Sturge in bis contest with Mr . John Walter ; and secondly , that he demanded the sum of £ 19 tor services in tbe late
contest between Mr . Gisborne and Mr . John Walter , jon . Now if tbe publication bad stopped there , I am not prepared to Eay that it -would have contained anything that was strictly cf a libellous nature , because ? there is nothing either disgraceful or dishonourable in a man seeking compensation for services performed byf him . But the article goes on to say , " tbougb last not least , that he received from Mr . Sturge ' s committee the ! sum of £ 8 for an active agent , tu whom he only paid | £ 3 , putting tbe remaining £ 2 in bis pocket" Now , gentlemen , I feel that it would be very difficult to say ! that this is any other than a charge against Mr . O'Connor amounting to fraud and dishonesty , for , -whatever " may be the nature of a man ' s employment , to charge him with receiving money from one man to pay to
another , and putting some of it in his own pocket , withont assigning any reason to explain such conduct , has a natural and plain tendency to impute to that man an abt of-dishonesty . It is necessary tbat yon should be satisfied that the libel imputed to Mr . O'Connor that he had fraudulently applied to his own use the sum of £ 2 which was paid to him for the purpose of the payment of an V active agent" If you believe the meaning of the libel to be tbat be , acting in his private capacity , had received a sum of money , of which he had reserved £ 2 for his own use , —if . you believe tbat is the real meaning of the statement in tbe publication complained of , then the party will be entitled to a verdict to the amount of the injury sustained by him through that publication : but it is said , on
the other hand , that the statement only appears in the form of an allegation that such and such charges had been made against tbe plaintiff . It is true , also , tbat ofBucb a statement no justification could be placed on tbe record , for it must have goae further and eaid , that the charges so alleged to have been made were true charges . If such a justification could have beenpnt on the record , and it had been made out , it ¦ vrould hare been an answer to the- plaintiff's action ; but it is no &nawer to that action to say tbst because the statement represents only that snch and such things are charged against the plaintiff , therefore the party aukiogtbat stattoiaBt it oaable to avail binuelf of thi
^^ defence which a justification would afford . It seems to nte , therefore , that th « only question for you is , firat , whvtheryou are satisfied that the meaning of the wor d * is such as it Ii imputed to be In this declaration ; tmd / secondly , if so , what you shall think , under all the circumstances , a fair remuneration in damages for the injury which the plaintiff has sustained . Now , with' regard to that part of the question , I most say I felt a great difficulty in stating to you any groundsfrom anything that appears on my notes—that would assist your judgment in calculating tbe damages to be awarded . I have never seen a case that was laaoched with a greater penury of evidence , for generally there
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is somebody put in the box to stata that the innendoes of the libel do , in their opinion , apply to the party bringing the action , and that his allegations founded upon them were also true ; or where the subject matter la pretty well understood between the counsel on either liide , farther evidence [ of that kind U sometimes dispensed vrlth . But In this case the learned counsel on either side , whether my brother Shee , who apptars for 1 theiplalntiffior Mr . Tbeslger , wboappears for the defence , seem , to take very different opinions as to the charater and situation of Mr . O'Connor—opinlona which I am perfectly unable to reconcile with each other . I have not , gentlemen , on my notes any attempt to show which of these two biographers is in the right . Therefore , all tbat I can know judicailly , and also that can be known to yon—that is to say , all that has appeared on this trial—Is that Which is stated in the declaration , land which is admitted by the demurrer , namely , tbat there -was an election at Nottingham .
I Mr . THESiGBR—We Bay in our demurrer that there was bo election . I The Lord Chief Justice—I must take it as on the face of the record , that there was an election at Nottingham , at which Joseph Sturge was one candidate and Mr . Walter another , and that the plaintiff was present at that election assisting Joseph Sturge ; that after that came another election , at which Mr . Gisborne was one candidate and Mr . J . Walter , J an ., another , and that the plaintiff was there on that occasion , assisting on behalf of Mr . Giaborne . I do not know that the proceedings before us afford the means of getting much farther in the case , because the declaration does not tell us what the opinions and principles of tbe parties were , or whether Mr . O'Connor took part as agent gratuitously or not . It appears , however , that on some occasion afterwards the whole matter appeared in the Times . If the paper had confined itself to canvassing ,
however freely , the public character of Mr . O'Connor , whoever be may be , or bis conduct on that occasion , which was a public one ., no harm would result from it It has been juBtly said tbat no man can be written down—bis own conduct alone can destroy him . But if , instead of stopping at tbat clear and defined line , there Is any personal and individual charge made , the law calls that libellous , unless it can be shewn , either from the occasion or from its being a true statement , tbat the party has no right to recover . It does not appear that either of these two predicaments are tree in the present case , and the consequence is that you must give a verdict for the plaintiff for the publication under the circumstance ? I have already stated to you , and which are so extremely small as presented to our knowledge that we have hardly any to consider—you must give some damages—such damages as you in your own reason and judgment consider tbe plaintiff deserves .
i The Jury then consulted together . After the lapse of a few minutes , : I The Foreman ( addressing the Judge ) said , —We wish to know , my Lord , what amount of damages will carry costs ? ; ! The Lord Chief Justice ( smiling)—I cannot give you any answer on that point , gentlemen . You must judge of tbe real damage and injury according to the evidence before yon . > '¦ '' . \ The Jury again consulted for a few moments , but [ did not agree . They-retired . After tbe lapse of about two hours , they returned into Court . The Foreman . —We find for the plaintiff—Damages , ! 20 s . ; Mr . Sergeant Shee then applied to the Judge to certify for the costs . ' Tbe Lord chief Justice declined to do so . Tbe effect of this refusal is , that tbe plaintiff pays his own coats .
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STAFFORD ASSIZES , Friday , Aug . 11 . THB ftJEBN V . O ' NEIL . Mr . Alexander stated the counts oftfia indictment , which charged the defendant with having uttered seditious language , tending to bring the laws and government of iuo country into contempt , at a meeting at Rowley ! Begis , on tbe 26 th of August last . Mr . Serjeant Talfodrd proceeded to open the ease on the part of the Crown . In the course of the month of August most unhappy disputes had subsisted between lars © bodies of workmen and their masters , with respect to the rate 01 mtu ^ . o , a » a although the workmen had a right to combine tocether for the purpose of obtaining tboso \ raafiB to
which they thought they were entitled , yet it could not but be regarded as a great calamity to fiad such a state of things existing as that which induced a large number of persons to withdraw from those pursuits of honest industry , by which alone themselves and families could be sustained . Tbe charge whioabe mado against the defendant , * Mr . O'Neil , was , that baring other views to serve , and other schemes to put into practice than that of the disputes between the masters and their men , he had watched the opportunity of aggravating those grievances , by inducing the men to leave their work ; and when the calamity had been greatly increased—when the whole of society ; in that neighbourhood bad been disorganised and broken up—when hundreds of
persons , were traversing the country , oast out of work , and their minds incensed against those above them , that the defendant thought that a fitting time , for those who had certain great political schemes to accomplish , to turn a local dispute to their own service , and to enlist the passions aud sufferings of those who wer © in Buch a state of destitution , for the purpose of afterwards producing , not by fair discussion , but by inflammatory speeches , such , a movement on behalf of the Charter , that would strike dismay into those who did not , concur in such a change . Mr . O'Neil , ( who was ajgentleman , he believed , residing at Birmingham , but was not engaged in any of the trades carried on in that neighbourhood ) attended a meetine at Wcsibromwieh , in August last , at which
several thoaBand colliers , who were about to strike work , were present . The effects of that meeting were most disastrous , became immediately afterwards large ba »< is of men went begging through the country—the state of society became disorganised , and more or less terror prevailed . Another meeting was held at Westbromwich on the 20 th of August , at which Mr . O'Neil was not present , but it was announced that he would be at a meeting at Rowley Regis on the 26 th . That meeting took place ; it was attended by several hundreds of colliers who were out of work . The meeting was announced to take place in tbe neighbourhood of tbe works of tbe British Iron Company , and the greatest alarm was fell ; by those who had the management of the works of that large body of ironmasters . Mr . Bransfield
took notes of the address of the principal speaker , Mr . O'Neil , and would , therefore , be the principal witnesa against the defendant . Mr . O"Nerl did Hot come unprepared to this meeting . Wheu he was subsequently apprehended at another meeting , there were fifty or sixty printed hand-bills found in his possession , the contents of which would be beyond all doubt evidence for their consideration as to the object with which the language that ho ( Mr . Sbtgeant Talfourd ) bad referred to wad uttered . Ho submitted that the : expressions in those haud-billa ( which they would find remarkably tallied with those which Mr , O'Neil U 3 ed in his address on the 26 th of August ) Were not the expressions of a sanguine orator , led beyond his purpose by the circumstances of the time , but that they wero tbe deliberate doctrines which he had come to teach .
Joseph Bransfield—I am an accountant in the employ of the British Iron Company . I atteuded a meeting at the Five Ways on the 26 th of August . Arthur O'Niel , the defendant , was there . I heard what he said . He asked whether that was the time for the masters to reduce their ; wages , when trade was reviving I He said , " I have myself been a close observer , and I know trade is improving . I know by inquiries of the carriers at yhe rail ways ; the banks are more freo in their discounts ; they are relaxing the screw . " He also said , " I consider the Government as in one , large room , with an air pump . When the pump is first applied the inoonvouience is not generally felt . At last some one near the window feels the want of air . He goes to the window , and finds a Duke of Wellington with his great sworoYwho prevents him from opening it . He gets to another , and fiuds an Archbishop of Canterbury ,
who keeps out the air with a surplice ; to another , and he finds a lawyer , who stops it with bJB wig . The whole system is corrupt . The House of Commons is rotten . " In speaking ef the House of Common * , h » asked , ' of what it was composed f Of lawyers—do they care for the people 1 Of cut-thro » t gentlemen , I mean military officers—do they care for the people 1 Of fox-hunting gentlemen—do they care for the people ;? " Ho stated that" there waa once » king who attempted to lay a poll-tax—a polltax is a tax paid by ; every head—and a countryman of mine , one Wat Tyler , resisted the tax , and killed the collector , from that timo to the present no Government dared to impose a tax upon each individual . " I know nothing more of the speech , 'f " Benjamin Best said that in July the men were peaceable , but in August they were alarmed and » nwilling to work .
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A constable named Smitheman , said be foand upwards of sixty placards ia the defendant ?* possessidn , declaring that the rights andI liberties ' of Englishmen wereitrampled qpon ; that Englishmen were enslaved : that ; their power had been forcibly taken from them ; and declaring , that the ruling power had filched the just and coBstitational privileges of the people , and that , therefore , they refused to pay Charle ' a Small Baid tbat the defendant , in aSdressins the meeting , told the men that the income tax took 7 d a pound away from the master , aud . tho master inretura had fallen back upon the workman s wa he said that iron had risen a pound a ton ,
ges ; and was thai a time to reduce men ' s wages 1—that the House of Commons wa 9 cotton and corrupt , ana that Peel was ] a public robber . . The defendant addressed the jury * He said he wa 3 justified in the language he used on tae 26 tb . of August , when he said the Government was not a good Government . He was now of the same opimoB , and that no allegiance was due to them , and , moreover , that neither tribute or taxes ought to be ^ paid to them . The defendant said hdftlt that he should be convicted , and he was prepared for the punishment , whatever it might be ; W . he should not be cowed ia spirit , and ho would again fight the enemy . At the close of the defendant ' s address the trial was
postponed till Saturday , Aug . 12 . At nine o'clock the Learned Judge took his seat upon the bench , and the defendant forthwith commenced the examination of his witnesses . The first witness he called upon was a Baptist preacher from the neighbourhood of Cradeley , but on tie oath being proposed to Him he declined taking it * The court refused to admit his evidence . The defendant then called a witness who deposed to the peaceful character of the defendant on all occasions , but , when on cross-examination by Mr . Sergeant TalfonrjUlw admitted that he heard the very words employed which proved the subject of the indictment . 1 . . .
The Rev , Mr . Stokes , of Westbrpmwioh , who had been with the ] defendant at six different meetings , also spoke to the fact / that the addresses of O'Niel werft calculated rather to restrain the people from violence thanjto induce them to the commission of it . This being the case for the offence , Mr . Sergeant Talfodbd addressed the jury in a speech at grea ' t length , in Which he contended that the principal enormity of the defendant consisted in his having made an enthusiastic religious profession the cloak to his poll tioal machinations . - Mr . Justioe ! Williams summed up at conBiderable length , and the jury bavin * consulted for not more than two minutes , returned a verdict of Guilty . The Learndj Judge then passed the Bentencs of twelvemonths' imprisonment in the county gaol of Stafford . 1
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Subject— " Organisation , and bow to obtain the Char ter . " At the close of his lecture , the meeting gave aa unanimoiis vote of thank * to Win for Kaviriif irisSted Aberdeen , ana expreswlao earaest wish , that to would revisit fl » capital of the ^ ortfa .
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TO 1 HE PEOPtE OF IBEI . AND . *• IKBLAUD tOBr . THB IBIStt . " FELXOW-CO 0 lirTltTMEN , ~ AWiou |; b ; T bive iipon a former occasion , used tile above quotetibn ; from Uie lips of Mr . O'Gonnell , and I hope proved bey > nd 1 ^ ei » oasibUity of a doubt that tbia baexneyed jmW <» is but a clap-trap " to catch the tuiwairy - and invincibly ^ iorant , I cannot Terrain from again returning to the subject . It will be remembered that I stated , that nnlaa Universal Snfifrsge accompanied a Repeal of the Union , Irishmen would reap the fruits of bitter disappointmefit This opinion IJstill hold j and anxious to arouse the Irlshaiind to inquire foritaelf , and open their eyes to the fallacy of their oeeking Repeal without also seeking political power which aloHe can render it beneficial , I would , with your permiiion ,. point out the means which now your daty to your country and youraelves imperatively demand you to adopt
It will be remembered that Chartists have been vilified for their opposition to the WhigB , npon ttie plea that they placed the enemies of Ireland and Catholics in power ; the Iriab people fergetting that ji ^ Wbigs , upon all pccaSiona , were not ody toeir bl ^ r , but base and treacherous enemies ; as witness ttieJr tenf years ' adminifltratioib Forgetful of this , with glaring facte before their eyes ^ with the reeking wronl anftilamimj faggot exhibited to their memory , and the cries and tears of widows and of orphans ringing , in . their ears , they blindly , nay , madly , Joined in the denunciations uttered agMnst Uie TB . TH 5 friends r of btttnaulty who bad the courage to pluck Uie" teetb" from the Mwolf , " * who under " aheep ' a clothing" had feaated and fattened on their indUBtry and their blood , Well , this poiot has been often and succesBfoUy defended upon prinoiples of truth an * justice , which always was , is , and ever will be invincible ! If any circumstance was required to prove the connection of
Mr . O'Connell and yonr leaders with Uie : WbJgs ^ tbe fact of their wincing so much under the lash of Chartist public strength -and opinion completely confirms it ; for bad they had a sincere desiie to truly serve the iatereits ef the Irish people , or were , at tbey pretended , in favour of a " f alljptteaBure" of reform , they could not have consistently found fault w , ith the elevation of the Tories , knowing , aa they must , were they H 0 NE 8 T , that it would be easier to battle with one enemy than two . But it is n » w a matter of certainty that Whigs thet WBRK at that period , what ever new-fangled character they may have assumed to themselves since ; and here it may not be Improper to ask , what class they do really belong to , or what political or technical name woald be mosb applicable to thosa canting declaimers against " Tory tyranny" and " Chartist physical force V Tories they are not for certain ( at least in name ); although they are Tories in point of despptio authority , exercised over the will and reason of their deluded victims .
Chartists they are not honsss or patriotic enough to be , or they would at once strike at the rootof the evil of which they complain , by laying the axe of Universal Sufirage to the trunk from which that evil has sprung , and from which it continues to draw its baneful strength . Then what are they ? Are they Whigs r Eh ? What are they ? Caa nobody tell ? What , Whigs ? Impossible ! Monstrousilu Theyarenosuch thing ! . ' 1 O'Connell has cut their acquaintance , and bid eternal adieu to the hypocrites ? Bravo , Han ! t " Mora power to you" ! !! You did right to kick them out of your eBteem , and I hope , now Ireland has got rid of them , somebody , suppose it was even O'lliggins ' a " gentleman in black" and sky-bine , will take them to govern his unruly subjects , or employ them
as they may be found uaefttl . I assure you I would , not , . as an individual , have any particular objection to where they may chose to emigrate ; for I , and 1 believe all , are alike sick of their company . It appears , then , that yonr leaders are neither Tories , Chartists , or Whigs ! Irishmen , what an they ? Are they Socialists ? No J That would bo against conscience ? Are they Catholics ? No ! For they lack charity ! Are they anything you can give a name to ? Yes ; they ate Repealers—Repeaters of the Union I I don't believe a word of it ! They are no imch thing ! O'Connell is NOT a Repealer , I deny it de facto . I challenge him to prove it , or that Ml present mode of seeking Repeal will ever be sue * ceasful .
Can you not open your eyes to facts as plain as the noon-day sun ? or will you in the face of heaven stultify and degrade yourselves by refusing to exercise yeur reason , even for a moment , npon matters of such importance to your interests I Shame upon you Irishmen , that will not inquire-what you hurrah and pay your shilling for , or ask yourselves the question , will our Bhoutlngand out shillings procure such blessings as are needful and which are so lavishly promised ! Will only one section of you , say the carpenters , who are to be " covered with their chips , " asfc , when are we to have such lots of " shavings" ? HaW are they to come ? Yes , that is the word ! How ? For if you know the how , the when will surely follow J Then bow is it » Why you Bay , by the " NEXT 3 TEPI" Ah Paddy I if the
next step be what it promises to be , or sboula it be like your former Bteps , you -will mafcfrbut a sorry douca of it , although you may boast loud enough that you ha- » e " paid the pipex" very bauSsoHVB ^ r fox hte labour on the drone . You have been well drilled in the arfc of " stepping *'—now tight , now left—now back--wardB ; but did your " drill-sergeant" ever teach you to make one proper stride in advance ? Have you ever taken one step in the PROPER direction ; or were you not used as " stepping stones '' upon which those very leaders walked into power , and when there forget tbe services yon had dons them ? Who can deny it ? I will fling Chartism to the winds the instant you can prove to tbe contrary ; but until snch proof be given , I will hoid your leaders responsible for every futort misery which it may be your misfortune to anffar !
Then it is clear , and "he that tuns may read , " that you are not to have " Repeal" by the agency of either Toryism , Chartism , Whfggiim , Socialism , Catholicism , or by any otberISM , save Repealism ; and this is , as you must be convinced , the least powerful in its pre * seat form of any other ism in existence . You have denounced " physical force'ViSU ; and conseqasntly " American" -issi and " Freneh " -isM are mere shadows ofamoke , which may help to blind , but are soon lost iu vapour , and scattered Jby tbe "wild winds of Heaven . " All those isms are , therefore , nothing more than isms ; and all you have to expect , if yen persist in your present mode of agitation will be those isms witb which yon have had too long to contend ; they will be miaery-isM , poverty " -iSM , and eternal " slavery " -ISM .
Irishmen , I confess I have not patience to write about such thing as these , when I reflect that your apathy and blind indifference to your country and interests giveB not only power to your enemies to oppress you , but opportunities for political adventurers to fleece you of the only remnants of your rights by im > posing on your credulity . Of all the Blaveriesto which man is subject from his fellows , that of yielding blind obedience to the dictates of others is aasuxedly tto most disgusting ; by doing so you divest yourselves of the nobleafe prerogative of man and ackuowlege yourselves incompetent to judge betwixt the relative positions of right and wrong . Why then , I ask , do you
not shake off this disgrace from your shoulders ? Hara I not shewn you tbat without political power Repeal would be a curse , and can you not see that so far u yon are ocquinted with the spirit of the Repeal movement , Universal Suffrage , which alone is the political power you should possess , to render Repeal » blessing , is so far from being recommended by your leader , tbat it is actually scouted from his political creed ? Aid you not worthy to vote for a parliamentary candidate to represent yon in the House of Com in 003 ; if not , why compel you to fight and pay for the support of tbs state ? If yon are worthy , why hesitate to demand what is your birthright ; and what is sanctioned by the constitution of these realms ?
O'Connell may " blarney" you as long as you permit hint ; but I tell yon a day will come when the scales will and must fall from your eyes ; and whenO'Couaell like other men , wilt be weighed in the balance d public opinion ; and if in that day his presentactsarenot found wanting , should I tben be alive and yoaremember , I will give my life as a forfeit I ask why ehnffla about the suffrage , or who or -what shall have it ; 'Whether stones or mortar or men ; whether : married men or single : whether " batchelobs" or ** ' woksU ; " whea he knows in his heart tbat all are useless , senseless , and vicious buikinga of the question . Canyon not see tbst even in these multifarious named suffrages he is inconsistent , standing to no one point , but flying from ooa post to another , to prop himself against the attacks of
uncompromising justice which will not be hoodwinkedi and clinging with desperate tenacity to bis old and profitable institutions . Leave him , unless he change * his position l—Leave him ; I warn you in time , bat jot may find it too late ; but leave him not if he is wise enough to adopt " Uuiversal Suffrage , " as bis motto . Remember it is as much your duty to warn him oJ danger , and to set him right , as it Is bis to coancil yoa . Place such opinions as these before your friends , and I have not the least doubt of the most beneficial result ; but above all remember , yon * can never , after Mr . O'Connell ' a rejection of the Whigs , attempt to give them yoor suffrage . He baa declared tbem , to W his and Ireland ' s enemies , therefore you must have doitf I with them . *
I have shewn you Repeal without the v e 6 nditiou rf Universal Suf&age wqald ba a ~ mne instead of a blesr tag i and farther , tiuttyonrprewHVmc ^ e of obtaining it ia certain to be attendant with £ » ilure ontf disappointment ; soknowing this j . only ask | b » to put ^ e question to your bosoms , and if yo » do not admit the trutli of what I assert I shall be much mlstalen , ia my estimate of the dispositions of men whom as countrymen ) I love , and for whom I would make , as a duty , any sacrifice to national and domestic happines * . \ Rally , for Repeal and the Cbarter , and let yonr cry be " No Surrender . " I am , fellow countrymen , Your faithful servant , W . H . Climon
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G TH 1 J iNrdRTTTK ^ N j R . T A % j ... . ¦•
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: In relation to this trial we havb received the folflowing from pur London correspondent , who was jpresent in Court : — : ; You will find in the Times a report of , the case ] O'Connor versus La-wson / ' This report is pretty correct , with tbe exception of the feeling manifested in Itbe Court This was decidedly in favour of the plaln-[ tiff . During tbe delivery of tbe extreme partizan address of Mr . Thesiger , It was the general opinion that he far outstepped his ? doty as an advocate , and made his professional station a eloak for the expressieu of sentiments towards Mr . O'Connor , which in bis private
capacity fce would not have dared to utter . His mau-Iner , when speaking of bis joy at having been instru-[ mental In getting Mr . [ O'Connor ejected from the House of Commons , and of bis hope that he should ultimately see him destroyed , was so bitter and violent that the disapprobation of tie Court was audibly expressed . I The feelings and prejudices of tbe Jurora may be [ gathered from the fact that one of them , previous to I retiring , hesitated nat to express in open Court his de-Itebmination to be locked vp a week rather than cowsent to any damages which would « ARHY COSTS !' . YOUIB , T . M . Wheeler .
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Concerning this trial we have the following from a private friend , who was at Stafford , and heard the trial : — j Mr . O'Neill was tried here yesterday and this mom-Ing . His trialj is jast finished ( half-past twelve o ' clock ); and I am sorry to say he is found guilty—( as you may suppose)—and sentenced to be imprisoned twelve calendar months . JHe made a most excellent defence , so far as speaking truths of a most disagreeable kind to the jury and counsel , and in particular to S . J . Williams , who tried him ' , went He caused his Lordship much uneasiness , when he mentioned tbe Dorchester
Labourers , and said , ' " Thon art the man" who tried them also ! Healso said , " if Judges could meet together to raise tbeir wages , be could see no harm in colliers doing so . " The -whole of the counsel round the table tittered at thia palpable hit ; but his Lordship looked very grave . Tbe feeling ofj hia Lordship was evinced in not ordering the Court to be lighted up , although Mr . O'Neil bad been addressing them from tw » o'clock till 9 quarter before ten . There was only two small candles in the court , whfoh t think was on purpose to prevent O'Neil from reading extracts from a book ha had , or else to prevent the reporters from taking notes .
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THE RETEREND W ILL I AM HILL AT ABERDEEN . Mr . Hill having given netice of bis intention to come to Aberdeen jon Tuesday evening week , by the steam boat from Leith , a considerable degree of interest was manifest among the working classes who bad it in their power to meet him . Accordingly several hundreds were assembled en the Pier , and at half-past four o ' clock the boat bove in sight , and being in low water tide , caste to an anchor in the bay , when as is usual on such occasions , the goods and passengers are landed by small luggage boats which are kept in rea'liness for that parpoae . Atflve o ' clock , tbe anxiously looked-for gentleman set bis ' foot upon tbu soil of Aberdeenahtre , and cordially sh « ok hands with tbe deputatietf appointed to meet , and ] convey him to his lodgings . A circumstance occurred , just as Mr . Hill landed , which created s good deal of sport and may not be out oi place , to be here mentioned . A knot of flsherwives were noticed to
be huddled together in earnest conversation . Curiosity led some of bur friends close to them in order to ascertain what th ' ey might bo talking about , when one of the wives eagerly inquired , " Wbat had brought so many people j down 1 " She was answered , to see a Chartist [ who bad juat landed from tbe steamboat " " Christ haejwatch ' oer us 3 , " said the wife , " Is there anither Chartist landed ? " end immediately hurried &WaV to havd n . lnair <\ J . him . JURt a » tho carriage drOTO off in which I Mr . Hill w . is seated . Same evening , at eight o ' clock , | the council-who were joinedby several of the warmest friends of Mr . O'Connor , met Mr . Hill in the ball , 38 , George-street , when be announced that be was no longer editor of tbe Star , and went over the causes which ] led to his ex-editorship . At the sametime be intimated , tbat he would still continue to work witb and forjthe people , in tbat paper as a correspondent ; and that his articles would always carry fais nsma at the bottom of them .
I THE SOIRHE . A soiree in honour of Mr . Hill ' s visit to Aberdeen was held in St . Andrew-street Chapel , on Wednesday evening . Th ' o meeting-, which was pretty numerous , elected Mr . 'John Legge to tbe chair . After the good things which ] were provided for the occasion had been rendered lndiBcernable , the chairman roBe , and in a few brief remarks introduced the first sentiment" The People . " This was spoken to in a first-rate style by Mr . M'Plierson * who dilated at considerable length on the manifold sufferings which bad been inflicted on them in all k ' nown ages of the world by the interested few , who , even in our time , Ilka their predecessors , keep their unholy grasp , in spite of every warning . He concluded by hoping that a brighter era was near at band , when men in ) all countries would unite with one accord , and unshackle themselves of those despotic laws with which they are so disgracefully bound .
The Chairman then gave the next sentiment , " Union . " This waB handled by Mr . Henry in his usual brief , concise , and free etfle . He contended for ah Organization baaed upon a aimple and easily to be understood scheme , to be forthwith adopted , and which Organization ought toj embrace England , Ireland , and Scotland iu one bond of union , with an executive to transact its general business . He referred to a variety of- cases where sectional unions bad failed , and concluded a noble speech ] by calling on tbe people to unite with a fiim dutet mination to carry the Cbarter iu spite of all opposition , Which he said was only confined to those who sheltered themselves behind tbe Treasury benches , and were rioting upon the fruits of the people ' s industry . I The Chairman then gave " Tbe guest of the evening , " which was received with e * eiy mark of tespect Mr . Hill { then rose , and after a few introductory remarks , announced that he had caaaed to have editorial
connexion with the Star ; and read a letter which ha . s appeared iu last week's publication of tbat paper . He dwelt on thejeauaes which gave rise to his separation with Mr . O'Connor , and assured the meeting . that no til-will or malice existed between him aud tbat gentleman . That j he would go hand in hand witb Mr . O'Connor , and any man who did not deal sulitilly witb the cauB 8 of the people . He sat down with tbe strongeat marks of j approbation . The Chairman tben introduced Mr . Archibald M'Donald , who spoke to the sentiment , " The exiled patriots . " Mr . M'Donald , in bis usual forcible manner , drew a sad picture of the sufferings of a vast number of patriots who have suffered in bygone days for tbe cause of the people , and of those virtuous men ia the
present day | who are immured in loathsome dungeons for ha via ; spoken tbe trnth . Little or nothing is heard of them , except a solitary cry here and there for help to their famishing wives and offspring ; and this , said Mr . M'Donal ' d , is not responded to by the people with that evenhanded justice , and Christian feeling , as it ought to be . | After having solicited immediate aid iu behalf of all those suffering for the cause of tbe people , he sat down , < evidently having made a deep impression upon tbe minds of the audience . the Chairman gave the last sentiment of the evening— " The Press" —to which Mr . Robert Lowery responded . He adverted to tbe good or evil which the Press could do ; and showed , that among a truly enlightened people , a vile and corrupt press could not long exist ; that the press in this country generally represented private interests , and is In too many cases venaland selfish
solely set agoing for base , , purposes . He contrasted the press of this country with that of other nations : particularly that of the . slave states in America ; clearly showing the vUe aid pernicious effects it badjoa the minds of the people there , when it wrought as an under-current against the establishment of freedom . { Daring the intervals , the band played a variety of popular airs ,-j among thwe was a tuno , composed by Mr . Alexander Murray for the occasion , entitled " The Rev . WMli&m ] Hill ' s welcome to Aberdeen . " Tbe Cha iKMA . it closed the business of the meeting witb a short address , after which three hearty cheers were given for the Charter , and its true advocates , the married and sedate retired to their beds of rest , white the lightsome hearted and gleesome of both sexes adjourned to the ball room , 38 , George-street , where they joined in the merry dance , and " oross'd artd e ' eekii" until three o'clock , a . m . Thuesdat |—Mr . Hill lectured in the Chnpel , St . Andrew-street , to a numerous and respectable audience .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 19, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct815/page/6/
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