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MR. O'CONNOR TO MR. JAMES B. O'BRIEN.
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Cftarit'tft $ntellwnce.
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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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Lstxkb 11 . [ In onr seventh pajr « ire have given a letter from Mr . O'Connor to Mr . O'Brien , in answer to the communications from Mr . O'B . inserted in oar list . In the following letter Mr . O'Connor continues the discussion of the questions there mooted . J Mt dkaa O'Bbiis , —I &o « rerome the eoniidexv ta « n of the question upon which in are at iwne , and which I take to be this : — " How ii the balance of
pover to be prewired in the hands of the unrepresented clwwt , or transferred to the Hoowof Commons , or made yet more perfect by forcing their representa tion into the House lrhbont prejudice to the pressure ¦ without r Now , that I take to be the questien ; while the objaet of both is the meass of arriving at a aouad conclusion . HaTing said bo much , let me now place before you the two most prominent passages upon the subject , to be found In your letter . In a postscript to your letter to Bowman , yoa write thus : —
•¦ If we vote for either Whig or Tory , we at once recognise the usurpations of the party we -rote for , and disqualify ourselres morally , for fotsre resistance to their domination . We Tote for them , with a full and distinct knowledge of their acts and character , and therefore lose all right , morally , of afterwards calling them to account for the same before the tribunal of pniv . ic opinion . It is only , as I said before , when one or the other puties -agrees to split their votes in faTour
of our candidate , that we can conscientiously orboDonrably , Tote for their candidate . We can do so , then partly because , wbOe ostensibly Toting for them , we sre in reality -voting for oui own man , and om own principles , —but chiefly , because the simple fact of either faction bo recognising our elalms , as to agree to split their Totes with as , is pro taxto , &n abandonment of the usurpation we charge them with , and does therefore , entitle them to our approbation and support in return .
" But no Tote!—no support!—to either batch of the usurpers , —till they first recognise our political f > im 8 ] ! !" 2 a mother of yonr istten ym say that you t > eanflot find words sufficiently strong to express your contempt" for what I did not vcriU , and you say I must be mad . Now , I shall not wse « tie single offensive term towards you , because I trill not offend -you ; and you shall not use one towards me , because I "WILL 501 BB OFTEXDXD . I have & * fear of Hitai ana CoSbetl be / ore sty eyes- ' However , "while I mike bo retort , yon wQl allow me the privilege of taVing a liberty with myself ; and I do most solemnlj assure you ,
that I hire not brains to comprehend the meaning of the first and the last sentence in the aboTe passages , wieH they are taken conjunctively . As they say in "Yorkshire , " I could do with one , but both caps me- " In tbe first yon very properly express a jealousy abont leading public opinion astray . You Bay , that " if we Tote for Whig or Tory , we recognise their usurpation , and disqualify ourselves , morally , for future resistance to their domination . " Now , that I could understand ; but when taken in connexion with the following sentence , I am puzEled ; and I assure you , when I am pmzled , three in every ten of the working people , who have not eo much time to analyse it as 1 have , ¦ will be puzzled also .
You say , " But chiefly , because the siaple fact of either faction k » recognising onr claims , as to agree to split their votes witii as , is , pro ianio , an abandonment of the usurpation ire charge them -with , and does , therefore , entitle them to our approbation and support in retarn . " Now , here you use the word " support" in its legitimate mercantile sense to denote traffic upon terms of mutual conTenience , and in which I agret ; kut the word " approbation" is what is called «¦ cheating the deviL" But I shall reason upon these very important passages . Now , -which do you imagine to be the easiest task , to convince the unrepresented that the Tories were used as mere tools to beat tbe Whigs without the slightest recognition of their principles or approral of their usurpation or domination , or to fersitade the people that twenty Whigs or twtnty
Tories haying , for expediency , sacrificed their lip hatred of Chartism for tbe mere purpose of acquiring the means of perpetuating their usurpation and domination , were entitled to oat approbation and to our belief ; that , " pro tanio , " tfcey bad either abandoned theii -usurpation , or recognised onr title to representation ? Let me tell yon , while you could not convince one in a ¦ lillion that the Chartists supported Whig or Tory from approval of their usurpation , or a desire to perpetuate their domination ; you could not , upon the other hand , by all the logic in the world , persuade one in a million that the Whig or Tory who receives Chartist support upon condition of -splitting Totes had thereby sacrificed one single particle of hostility to the prinaiplea of Chartism , or was entitled to our " approbation , " howeTer self-interest , prudence , and policy may entitle them , pro tanio , to our " support . "
Can you hope to make Whig , Tory , or Chartist understand tbe sentence in any other sense than this ? 3 ! he Chartist who coalesces ' with a Whig or a Tory does , by splitting his Tote , " pro ianio" entitle * him-• elf to their " support asd approbation , " for the abandonment of bis principles and recognition of the claim *— •¦ usurpation and dominion" —of those for whcnJ , * y voting , he testifies his approval . Tou cannot hare a Whig reading , a Tory reading , and a Chartist reading , for the same sentence ; and I assure you I haTe given to it the general acceptation , a * also the proper reading , 41 mutatis mutandis . "
If a Tory , by coalescing with a Chartist , thereby recognizes the Chartist ' s title , and renounces his own " usurpation and dominion , " can any one plain thing , upon this plain earth , be more plain , than that the Chartist who coalesces with , a Tory does thereby recognise Tory principle ! , and renounce his own " dominion * " I cannot otherwise comprehend it ; and 1 assure you that one of my principal reasons for not offering myself as a candidate , was from the Tery fact which the absTe sentence fnlly establishes , namely , that ten thousand versions may be given of a single act .
I tats it to be an utter impossibility in the present state of tie franchise to transfer the balance of power from the exterior to the interior of St . Stephens , and for this reason : —The Whigs , while they hope to do without them , would rather hare ten Tories returned , than one Chartist , and vice vem . Let me show you how the last House waa situated . For three years , * even men hare constituted the balance ef power : Hume , Grote , Warburton , Leader , Molesworth , Duneombe , and Wakley ; but they used it treacherously ;
that i s , they acquired a kind of perssnal popularity for snarling at Whig measures ; but , whvn the question of in or out came to be decided , they invariably , one sad all , Toted for the Tery men whose measures they professed to abhar . Why was their small party inoperative ! Simply , because there was no baek to support them in their assault * against corruption ; because Wing death -was Tory life , —Whig delinquency was Tory triumph . Now , if the Whigs were in opposition we Bhonia not require each a 5 Uff as this ; for the Terj- fact of being in opposition would pnsh all
forwards . When you speak of getting fifty Chartist membew into the Heuse pledged to the support of the Charter , you make my lips water ; and for this simple reason , thirty icouid do ilie trick . ' . ' . ' Thirty would oblige the QoTermnent ta keep more than -would be Willing to remain of a working midtight majority from the k * d , thfe brothel , the gaming-house and the finish . hare , of myself , by perseverance stopped many measures after midnight . I aza now arguing to show the impossibility of transferring the balance ef power to the interior , in the present state of tbe buffrage ; and when I arrive once at that eoncinsion , my second consideration naturally is , * 0 te then are yet U mofce the balaate of pmcer most * fect \ v € in the hanis of the uarep «* fent © d classes ?
Now , 1 shall put this very plainly . The party * pon whom pressure from Without is to operate is the party in power . The parties who are to aid in the operation are the people , by their voice at public meetings , aad by the expression of their opinions through their petitions , supported by an opposition . Well , tbea , or bonoee * is simply to discover upon which party , as » Government , our petitions and the public voice are likely io hire yj * greatest & <* , and who as a »
oppofeteoa are likely to give them that effect . That ' s tht l ** tion ; foe as to talking now of " helping the weaker 1 * ia * t the stronger , " and " men instead of measures , " wt aH moonshine . ' We want tools to work with , and tool * fitting for our purpose . Observe , then ; firstly , * i& rtg&rQ to the right of petition , the Whigs haTe Bade a rcockiry of it ; while , as regards Ike effect proceed upon them , as a Government , by petition , Jet •*« & succeeding year of thtir usurpation speak . Do ¦»« aot find , as I have more than once explained ,
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that tke votes annually taken upon the same question , instance the Poor Law Amendment Bill , hare been in aa exact inverse ratio to the number of signatures , as if to show their contempt for all non-represented interference with their " Honourable House ? " Can I give you a stronger illustration of tbe fact , th > " that presented by the recent debate upon the great National Petition ? Now , suppose the Tories in power , and the the Whigs in opposition , what would have been the result produced by tbe presentation of snch a petition and for such a purpose , the release of political offenders ? I will tell you . If there were 358 Tories and 300 Whig * in tbe House , instead of the man of tbe
neuter gender outweighing 2 , 000 , 000 of the working classes after a shabby palaver for an hoar or so , we should have had a ten night * debate , appeal after appeal made to the injured people and neglected unrepresented to send another and another ; no ; not to send , but to BRING IT in ail their might and strength ; and then we should have the prayer granted to avoid a great organic change . Such would be the result if we had had an opposition ; but the Whigs , assured of back from the Tory tyrants , treated that as they have treated every other petition—wivh contempt ; and but for the importa . nce of the time when it was presented , we should have becrd that H was not constitutionally
worded . Hence , I give it as my opinion , that , in the present state of the franchise , we cannot tranfer the balance of power from the exterior to the interior ; and also , that we cannot hold the balance of power at all , without a popular opposition , and that the Tory party never -will constitute that popolax opposition . How , then , yoa may ask , is the balance of power to be used ? I answer , in the same way that it was used in 1830 , when the people beat the King , the Lords , the Commons , and the factions ; but used for a different purpose now . I conteBd for it that the Whigs did not want Reform then , but were willing to ride it to power . 1 contend for it that although they do not now want the Charter , they will
mount it , in the hope of nding it also to Downingstreet , and there stabling it ; and I contend for it that in that attempt , which will be in less than six months , if they are now in a minority , that we can upon perfectly honourable terms , accord them both eur support and approbation . I contend for it that the hungry Whigs out of office in 1841 , will do as the hungry Whigs out of office have ever doae before ; while the people in 1841 , will take precious good care that the result shall not be the same ; as we will then Mak _ e the BEiua . s of MAS FOR Mis , * '' sine qua non ;•• and let no man on earth persuade you that the Whigs , as a body , would , refuse such a compromise , though a few of the " constitutional" old fogies would pair off and file off .
Never lose sight of the faet that there are two packs- of hounds and only one trough and one mess . The patronage and disposal pill , of army , navy , church , state , royal , civil , colonial , foreign and domestic pickings will be swallowed with an immense proportion of Chartist powder in it ; and the Whigs will swallow it- Indeed the squeamish Barenet , so averse to-strong political drugs , was preparing his mouth to take the Russell purge in 1835 ; and his high bid for popularity , by promising to go much further in reducing
Irish tithes than the Whigs had done , was the very thing that alarmed the Whigs , and so nnceremously sent him , to the right abont They said "this will never do ; this fellow is outbidding ua" But since then the Tories have mustered corruption and constitutionality , benind Whig delinquency ; and now they are too strong to court power by any other than constitutional memnt Let me get them before me , with tbe Whigs at my back , and give me one slap at that thing called " constitutional prerogative , " which , though ridiculed by the Whigs , forms , nevertheless , the precedent for their every act .
Before I take leave of the legitimatists , just let me assure you that we shall have no small difficulty this time in getting in Col . Thompson , Mr . Sharman Crawford , and that noble fellow Gully ; and here , apart from the Poor Law , I must , in a political Bense , add Roebuck . I served with him , and , apart from that measure , I unhesitatingly declare him to be tbe most efficient democrat upon democratic principles , that I have known to hold a seat in the House of Commons since the Reform Bill . I wish he weuld bind himself to a Scottish farmer for six months to learn the capability of the soiL Tou may say , " bad is the btBt ; " but recollect thit he , Thompson , Crawford , Faith / ull , and
myself , Trere all too democratic for the present constituencies ; and now just mark how the villanous , rascally , prostitute Leeds Mercury , bat , nevertheless , the organ of the factions , speaks of Thompson and Gully , and is silent about Crawford . We are led to infer that a Tory is to go in for Hull with Clay , and that Gully only " vxaits a dear stage and no favour . " Men in glass houses should not throw stone * . Gully does not live in one ; and perhaps some of his most insolent , upstart revilers would not long since have rejoiced upon arriving
at Leeds , to be able to boast of a clear conscience and a clean shirt . Now then let such villany open your eyes to the merits of the " weaker rascals" whom you would rather assis ; against the stronger ; while I , in troth , would beat down both at once by pummelling the one with the other . In six monthB , Thompson , Crawford , and Gully , must go a step further , to suit the united Whig and C&artUt standard ; while instead of a choice of evilB at Newcastle , you will be appealed to , on bended knee , to unite with the Whigs . No man can donbt this who is n ot mad .
Now I come to the second branch of my subject , — the Ckartist electors . I fear yon and I use the term in different senses . I use them to denote parties , who , by the exercise o ! popular , power , would be induced from conscience or compelled from interest to vote for our man : hence my recommendation to resort to exelnsive dealing . I fear you use the term in the confined sense of qualified persons , who would from preference , vote for a Chartist candidate . Believe me , that usurpation , tyranny , neglect of registering officers , and disgnst . from hopelessness of being able to effect
anything , has reduced that body to a mere fraction , and that our principal force would be recruited from tbe extreme liberal sectien , who , when pressed , wonld appear to comply from choice , rather than proper direction in the disposal of their trust , bnt who would be most happy to be released from tbe trammels of popular ¦ wilL And obwrve , they would gladly seize upon that portion of your letter , and would , under the name of the body of Chartist electors , embrace the opportunity of damning , and tor ever , the cause which they profess to love , but secretly and heartily detest , and the more so , in consequence of its proper exercise of
authority . Before I quit this branch of my subject , allow me to say a word about your advice to Chartist electors , to remain neuter in case we cannot use them : you might just as well ask a Coghlan or a Howrahane to remain with his hands in his breeches pockets while their parties were , fighting . You don"t appear to me to compr ^ end the great change which the public mind undergoes suddenly during a general contested election ; nor in fact can any man wbo nas not mixed in tbe turmoil and witnessed the working . Now , as I have conducted , and taken part in , more violently contested elections than any man living ; allow me to assure you ,
that nothing but the very most powerful excitement can keep oae in a thousand from voting . Those who enter into the mosl solemn resolution in the morning , are opsbated cpoj * as the battle rages ; and indeed it is not wonderful . Now then , my policy was to get controul over that party ; while yours would leave the coatroul in other hands ! aad probably to be used against u . without reference to any . denned or general plaa of operatioa . I did xot tell them not to v « te , keeauss I know they will vote ; and knowing that I hoped to turn them , as a body , to the best account , for rendering the unrepresented balance of power more efficient hereafter .
Now , as to any coalition , I do , »¦>!>«> God , stand free from all charges of personal motives . I have narrowly ¦ watched the course of events , and the working of men s minds , produced without their knowledge , upon
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the eve of a great political struggle like the present A General Election has it * martyrs . Poor Hunt fell a sacrifice to popular folly in 1832 ; Oobbett fell a . sacrifice to disappointment frora the General Electioa •' 1 S 34 ; O'Council fell a sacrifice , but had not tbe grace or feeling to die , to the General Election of 1837 , and 1841 will flnUfr him . It must finish him , when It is discovered that it has furnished the Irish means of strangling Repeal , . Now , I have resolved that the present contest should not kill me ; and for that reason , I have refused to stand for numberless places to which I have beea invited . The first was from Leicester , when the following question was puk to me : — " Will you coalesce -with a Tory , to insure youi election ? " Answei—¦• No , decidedly not . " That was my answer , adding ;
"but use me as a tool to bring a less hideons devM in , if you can , and they will gladly take a Chartist te get rid of the great devlL" My excellent friends at Halifax also invited me , and offered te pay all expences , bnt my answer was No , still No . Why did I do this ? Because I was reolved upon recommending my party to strain every nerve to get a few into the House ; and if I had allowed myself to be put in nomination upon the plan , it would have given to the principle the complexion of motive , and y <* know how eaiy it it to give motive a bad name , — "mad dog , had dog . " So now , come what will , here am I ready to follow your plan , or any other good plan , to secure in the people's hands the balance of power , and read } to do a man ' s part in directing that power . I have now ne&riy concluded , and you force from me the following explanation : —
In the first place , I hold a Whig opposition to be indispensible to our cause ; and , therefore , should I have used all my influence to place them in a minority , and , again , when I found M'Douall , Vincent , Sankey , and , I hope , my dear friend Moir , and Abraham Duncan , in Scotland , likely to be in the field , I thought how I could best insure so desirable an object as their return , and I came to the conclusion , after many nigbta of reflection , of placing the Whigs upon the horns of a dilemma , I gave them the choice of evils , either a Tory House , or such a God-send as five or six " out and outers , " and 1 threw them out tbe bait to stimulate the hungry devils ; and to give them the first bid , I offered them six , seven , ten , and twenty for one , in order thai we might have the rallying point inside .
Now , yon have my motives , both of them . You have my plan for ensuring success ; and , in conclusion , you shall have , firstly , the steadiness with which I have worked out that plan for yearn , which you now profess to have brought your friends to tbe approval of ; and , secondly , yon shall have the justification of ray plan by the approval of it by so high an authority as the World newspaper . Firstly , then , I beg leave to submit for your perusal the following extract from a letter of mine published in the Star in September , 1839 , and reprinted is the Star of the 27 th of February last , for the purpose of keeping up tbe steam . Here it is : —
"If the Tories beat the Whigs with their own measure , tbe Whigs , in opposition , will not be less craving after pelf , and in less than two months' probation upon the bleak side of the Treasury , all the violence of the persecuted Chartists would fade into utter insignificance , compared with the hungry ho wlings of the revolutionary crew . Then once again shall we see the black flag—the monarch's drooping head—and the executioner ' s bloody axe , demanding a renewal of the Whig lease of Downing-street ; and then shall we take care that every man of twenty-one years of age shall be a party to the bargain . When you look back and consider that we have never held our real position
in society till now , but have always been used to grace the Whig pageant , one moments reflection will tell you that standing alone , the only party who dares to meet—the only party who dares to speak—the only party who defies persecution—that we are one of thi two parties whose power must be acknowledged . Upon tbe next general election , the Whigs cease to exist as a party ; and upon the consequent following agitation , the Tories will degenerate into a faction , and a very few of tbe most wealthy will remain as a memento upon the oppoiition beaches , whose only 'business will be to gratify their own ambition , by endeavouring to affright tbe representatives of the people with the bloody ghost of Toryism .
" Men of Sheffield , —Tbe game is now in eur hands ; the ball is at our foot . If we but play and kick them as our enemies deserve , the next General Election should furnish from 100 to 500 Radical Members . We must be prepared to stand alone . In Sheffield you will do your duty . You have Crabtree , Gill , and others , in whom you can repose confidence . Invite them as candidates—return them as members—and , having done so , chair them through your town , exhibit them in populous places , aud proclaim them tbe representatives of your will . For one moment imagine what must be the result of this cheap experiment It will cost you but one day ' s attendance at the hustings , instead of days of ceaseless agitation . It places you at
once in the ascendant It ttnres you a majority in the representative body ; and if England , Ireland , and Scotland , are n » t prepared for Buch a step , then do England , Ireland , and Scotland deserve the chains of eternal slavery , which their task-masters will impose upon them . "Men of Sheffield , —The press , which has deluded our opponents by laughing at our weakness- ^ -by denying our union and our strength—the press , which is the index and the horn-book of all the factions—will not be able to blindfold tbe several candidates , who themselves shall be made witness of their own defeat No act would ao far tend to give the enemy ocular demonstration of our power , of their weakness , and newspaper deceit " , my friends , I shall conclude by imploring you to stand alone ; and we then must triumph . I
thank you—from my soul I thank you—for the powerful , the orderly , the splendid demonstration of Menday night last It will long be remembered in Sheffield , which I have now made the key to Yerkshire , and with which I pledge myself to open the locked-up treasure , for tbe benefit of the human family . I implore you to watch well the manner in which the Whig and Tory press will dispose of that night's proceedings ; whilst such an exhibition in favour of
either of the factions would have decided the destiny of the nation . Ge on , good men ! onward , and we conquer—backward , and we fall ! Give the watchful and perfidious enemy no handle over you ! Break no law ; and in a very little time , you will make laws which no mas will dare to break with impunity 1 I shall be amongst you from time to time ; for I have vowed , if I stand alone , to accomplish the great principle of Universal Suffrage . "
Now , teen , compare that with my recent advice to stand apart with our numerical strength and displays , and with every word I have written , still holding the distinction between the reformed electoral body and the unrepresented classes , and say who has been on the watch tower—who has been the least negligent—who looked for tbe 400 or 600 representatives , and who recommended the people to chair their Members , and then to ltave the factions to themselves ! Recollect the letters were written in September , 1839 , and
reprinted in 1841 ; while you say , if what is now recommended by the Star had been done three months ago , we should have been in a very different position I think I have done too much ; and if I had only done a man ' s share , bo much would not be expected from me . I have kept dinning , and dinning , and dinning the same old tune into the popular lug for nearly six years ; and when I had fondly hoped that I had not dinned in vain , I am mortified by discovering that all went in at one ear and out at the other , while my only consolation is that I hope the whole has made
some impression . I would not have noticed the charge of madneas , treason , or folly , bnt I feel that the charge of neglect and want of judgment would naturally and justly weaken the ininenee of myself , the Convention and the Star . Is conclusion , if I have erred , I am happy to have erred in such food company as the Convention and tbe whole peeple -who expressed tfatir approval of the
principle to a greater extent than laid down by me , and nobly carried oat by the brave Chartist * of Nottingham . However , when men differ , they should take counsel ; and now , I beg to call to our aid the opinion of one of the profoundest political teachers , and most uncom . promising patriots of the day , the Editor of the World , who speaks thus in last Saturday ' s number of that glor ious paper , destined to be the regenerator of Ireland . He says—
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4 * The dissolution of the dying Parliament ia drawing near , and the rival tufifoha are preparing , for the encounter ; but , jast a * we should have expected , the masses take a * interest } n the electioneering battle , and display a provoking apathy . The Tories entreat them to . cbmeV the rescue of the Constitution , and the WoHf tp < m bended knees , beseech them to arouse in the ^ wgbt , and , by one vigorew effort , frighten away their antagonists from their meditated assault upon Downing-street To the everlasting disgrace of "tbe swinish multitude , " they will not stir , but remain in a state of motionless indifference . What has become of the men of the Political Union , who used to congregate in thousands and tens of thousands , in the market places , and upon the broad moors , to the terror of the Newcastles and WinohUseas ? They
are far in advance , having left the Tories and Whigs to squabble ia the rear , and will not return to take part with either faction . Instead of the millions , tbe Whigs and Tories will be respectively backed by the moral , educated , and middle class electors of such places as Cambridge , St . Aibans , and , might we not add , Dublin , who will vote for the man with the longest purse , utterly regardless what may be the hue of- his principles . In sooth it is a fearful time for candidates , and well may they wriggle and writhe at the prospect of coining to the hustings . The aristocratic Whigs were the Mrst to sneer at political inconsistency—nay , such ornaments of the party as Lords Palmenton and Plunketthave , by their career ,
shown how easily principle can be sacrificed to profit ; < t | la . however , a horrible thing when the unwashed people prove themselves apt scholars . Happily , corrupt electors can only now and . then indulge in their evil propensities , while trading politicians may daily have an opportunity of bartering their principles ; but the former , as if made ravenous by long abstinence , contrive to do a great deal of havoc in a short space , and never , it is said , had they & eharpe * appetite than at tbe present moment . Candidates in every quarter appear to feel thin , and , therefore , those who have little to expect but senatorial-distinction , are skulking from tbe field to seek the comforts of domestic life ; while others , like West , are endeavouring to get a
full-blooded man to aid them in the contest ; or after the manner of Dick Shell , ; preparing to take refuge iu some convenient nnd cheap locality , where its constituency may have a relish for bribes , but dare not insist npon them . Throughout the country we now hear of nothing but rich men and titled striplings coming forward , resolved by the weight of their purse and ancestral pretensions to obtain the privilege cf making laws for u « . Is it not rather remarkable , that if the great object were to obtain the honour of assisting in framing just and equal laws for the whole of the community , such sacrifices should be made , and such immense sums of money squandered away to purchase a laborious , and , if honestly discharged , an
unprofitable duty . Neither under a genuine system of representation are wealthy or titled persons the description of people that ought to be Bent to represent the national sentiment iu Parliament , who can have but little sympathy or acquaintance with the wanta and wishes of the great bulk of society . However , this system , which generates corruption and demoralization is that alone which ensures the upholding of class interests at the expense of the prosperity and happiness of the country . When a better state of things arrives , the people will choose honest and able representatives , instead of looking out for the affluent and high-born . Whatever party may triumph during the approaching
struggle will have very little influence upon tbe great social changes which must soon take place . Should Ministers be able to maintain their ground , they will , in all probability , have learne ' d that their stand still policy can bo longer be persevered in ; and should the Tories succeed them , and Sir Robert Peel assume the reins of power with a majority of sixty , affairs will receive a still greater impetus , as the powerful minority , sustained by the " pressure from without , " will soon tend to convince him that he may as well think to restrain the ocean wave as the onward march of events , which are influenced by a power and intelligence far beyond his control . "
Now ; in the above article you have a full outline of my policy , and I recognise the principles of my country man , whom I glory in , although I am ignorant of His name . I beg of you to read again and again "from the words " should Ministers be enabled to maintain their ground ; " and bear in mind that we must look to the opinions of all ; while , nevertheless , there is no one whose opinions will go farther in guiding mine , when nearly balanced , than those of James Bronterre O'Brien . i Having now concluded all that I mean to say upon this subject , I again subscribe myself , Your faithful associate , And sincere friend , Fearous O'Connor .
P . S . Sorely I may indulge in the news which has just reached me , and which proves that the men of TorkBhire did not wait for the ball to be kicked to them . T wel ve candidates are at this moment assembled in the Leeds Cloth Hall yard—four Wuigs , four Tories , and four Chartists—all upon equal terms—two Chartists for West Riding , and two for the Borough of Leeds . Let that ball rebound , as it is the rebound from the Star ' s four years' exertion—a candidate for each year . Your ' s , & . C , F . OC .
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PLAN FOR CHARTIST OPERATIONS AT AN ELECTION .
[ The following letter was originally published in the Star of September 21 st , 1839 ; and again re-printed in the Star of March 6 th , 1841 . Mr . O ' Connor , in his first letter to Mr . O'Brien ' inserted in our seventh page , refers to it , as the reader will perceive , and here it is again . ] BROIHER RADICALS , —For the same reason that a servant ' s guard of disciplined and armed troops will beat and put to flight a squadron of raw and unarmed recruits , have we been beaten by factions disciplined in the arts of treachery and deceit We must discipline and remedy this evil . We must meet them on their own ground , and with their own weapons . We must organise , and show the front of freemen . In order to effect it , then , I submit the following suggestions for your consideration : —
Peel says " Register , register , register ! " —O'Connell says " Register , register , register ! "—the Whig press and the Tory press Bay " Register , register , register I " and , therefore , there must be some magic in the word " Register . " You cannot register , but you can " Unite , unite , unite ! " and Russell says it is your right to exercise influence over the elector ; while O'Connell says that it is your right to use gentle coercion towards tbe elector . Let us , then , place ourselves in a position to be prepared whenever the struggle may come ; and , believe me , it ie at hand , else would not our enemies be loading their pieces . Let a committee be established in every tow * and village throughout England , Seotland , and Wales , according to the following form , and for the performance of the following'duties : —
THJE FOBM . , Let the electors and non-electors instantly form county , city , and borough-election clubs . Where the clubs consist of several hundreds , let them be divided into hundreds . Let each hundred appoint a chairman . Tbe hundreds shall then be divided into tens , and each ten should appoint a chairman . The chairmen of tbe hundreds should constitute the General Election Committee . The chairmen of every eleven tens should , according to convenient locality , constitute the district or ward committees . The committee of tens should report on every Monday night , to tbe General Committeee , the state of the public mind in their Bevoral districts ; after which , a compendious report should be submitted by placard , handbill , or through the medium of the press . The terms to constitute membership to be one penny per week . The funds to be appropriated as a Finance Committee , appointed by a abow of bands at a general meeting , shall direct
THE DUTIES . The duty of the Election Club will be to select a fit and proper candidate , who shall be vigorous and active } n laying before bis constituents the principles upon which he elalms their support—to read at public meetings , as often as opportunity affords , the reports and resolutions from the several committees . Every candidate should be pledged to support Universal Suffrage and a repeal of the Legislative Union between Great Britain and Ireland , to take his Beat if ntnrned by a ma jority in the house called the House of
Commons—and to restore his trust whenever required to do so by a majority of » conqpittoe to be sailed " The committee of review of public men ' s conduct , " which step must be sanctioned by a public meeting of his constituents . The committee should also appoint collectors of contributions , who should leave the following printed form of application at the house of every voter in their district : — " We , the committee appointed to super intend the managemsnt of the election of . — , do respectfully solicit your support aud interest , and also such contribution as you can conveniently give , to promote the aforesaid object . " A book should be kept
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containing the nine * of all the electors in the seven districts , to be called The canvass and contribution book . " When the whole machinery is compMted , pub lic meetings of the electors and non-electors should be convened , to take into consideration the propriety of appointing a National Election Convention of twentyone , whose duty it shall be to sit in Lendon for { he purpose ^ receiving , and disseminating throughout the coantijjg&lge&ed reports from the several Election Committees . . I think , at a single glance , you will see that the adoption of the foregoing plan will at once raise a safe and constitutional standard round which the friends of Radicalism may rally . We shall then stand upon an equality , in the field of agitation , with both Whigs and Tories ; and , according as we are treated , so shall we
treat the enemy . In this instance the Constitution recognises no superiority ; and if we ace not , prepared to carry out this principle , we are not deserving ef Universal Suffrage . If , upon the other hand , we are prepared , and if , by our united exertions , we can return a majority of the six hundred and fifty-eight , we shall be justly entitled to goto the House of Commons upon the fir * stday-of the nfxt session of Parliament , and . there pass a law directing her Majesty to issue new write for the return of a Parliament upon the principle of Universal Suffrage . This requires no exhibition of physical force , » s any opposition offered to the will of a nation thus manifested would be high treason upon the part of our opponents . The effect of our preparation would be the immediate liberation of our friends from their
dungeons ; for , believe me , that our enemies but await our union . to obey our eommand . I cannot cosssive a more glorious sight than a nation of freemen mareWng to the hustings in sections , divisions , and squadrons , there to show their hands , which are ready to support the dictates of their hearts . My mind is always upon the rack , my invention is ~ ever at work , to learn bow I can best serve your cause ; aud lazy men , who will not work themselves , call me presumptuous—but how much more pleasing and easy would it be for me to remain idle , if those who abuse me would work ; but the work must be either left undone , or done by a few . Instead of constantly nibbling and carping at my propositions , let them suggest , and I will follow ; bat I cannot and will not remain ( die so long as a single
grievance remains unredressed . I implore you , then , my fellow men , by your valour , by your patriotism , and by your humanity—by the love which you bear to your God , your country , your family , and your kind , to awake , arise , and let the voice of freedom be heard upon each passing breeze throughout this sea-bound dungeon ! Let us proclaim the right of the labourer to enjoy the fruits of his labour—of the freeman to enjoy the protestlon of his castle—of the community to enjoy social comfort and happiness—of the poor to live upon the land of his birth—and of the nation to be governed by laws made squally for the protection of the rich and the poor . Let union be your watchword—liberty your idol—and Universal Suffrage , and no Burrender , your motto . For these things I have lived , and for these things I am ready to risk ray life :
and am Your faithful and sincere friend , Feargus O'Connor . Leeds , 20 th , Sept 1839 .
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• VrtAA ^ VvB /
WEST RIDING DELEGATE MEETING . The above meeting took place on Sunday , the 29 th of June , in the Chartist Rooms , over the Co-operative Stores , Dawsbury , when delegates were present from the following places ;—Mr . W . Moseley Stott , DewBbury . Mr . Andrew Gardiner , Fish Shambles , Leeds . Mr . W . Hiok , for the Teetotal Chartists , Leeds . Mr . Edward Clayton , Huddersueld . Mr . Stephen Johnson , Wakefleld . Mr . Thomas Bradley Kuowles , Keighley . Mr . John Shaw , Lepton . Mr . John Helliwell , Sowerby . Mr . John Arran , Bradford . Mr . John Helliwell in the chair . The following resolutions were adopted . Moved by Mr . Gardiner , and seconded by Mr .
Knowles" That Mr . George Julian Homey be re-appointed West Riding Lecturer for two months . " Moved by Mr . Gardiner , and seconded by Mr . Sxott"That two Chartist Candidates be brought forward for the West Riding of Yorkshire at the next General Election . " Moved by Mr . Knowles , and seconded by Mr . W Hick"That Mr . Lawrence Pitkethly and Mr . George Julian Harney be reqsested to allow themselves to be put in nomination for the West Riding at the next General Election . " Both the above gentlemen being present , the question was put to them , when they both answered , that they considered it to be their duty to come forward when called upon by such a large portion of the people of the West Riding , through their delegates . "
It was then unanimously agreed that Mr . Pitkethly and Mr . G . J . Harney be put in nomination for the West Riding . It is hoped that the non-electors of the West Riding will show to both factions that they are no longer to be gulled by either , and that they are determined to support no man who will not give to them their undeniable rights .
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STOCKPORT . —All is here quiet again . Th ^ " Plague" men seem to have profited by their lesson , and the people are suffered to assemble , and disperse peaceably . Mr . Bairstow addressed an assemblage of ten or twelve thousand on Tuesday evening , without the least disturbance . MANCHESTER . —At a public meeting in Tibstreet , on Monday last , it was resolved , in consequence of information having been received that the " Plague" were again mustering their Irish forces for the election , that the Chartists of Manchester would forego their intention of bringing forward candidates at this election , in . order that no pretext for massacre may be afforded to the bloodthirsty villains , pledging themselves at the same time to support to the utmost of their power their brethren in any other town where Chartist candidates have come forward . ^ . ... ¦ ¦ " . ¦ V ^ l *) **¦! . . - ^^^^^ j . ^ j - . ¦ , _
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TO TUB EDITOR OF THE NORTHESI * STAB . Sir , —Ireturnedfrom my Scotch journey late on Saturday last , and was immediately called upon to stand ae a candidate for the representation of the West Riding of this county . Lords Milton and Morpeth having arranged to meet the electors here on Tuesday . An arrangement was entered into that Mr . Harney and myself should , with proposers and seconders to each , have tickets to the hustings ; that Mr . H . should succeed Lord Morpeth , and that I ahould follow Lord Miltor In accordance with that arrangement , I went and presented my ticket for the hustings at the door of awarehouse through which was the only passage to them ; I was admitted , but on my way through the warehouse , Mr . George Crossland , on hearing my name announced .
exclaimed , " No Mr . Pitkethly here , " and suiting tbe action to the word in away that I could sot ward off , struck me a violent blow on the left breast , and collaring me , pushed me back . When I resisted , the Whigs , the only party present except myself , rushed between us , and I was instantly asked if I knew whose premises I was in . I said , "I was there in no one ' s premises—that I came there upon public grounds . " " O 1 " said they , " those are Mr . Cropland ' s premises . " I said , "I could not consent to be considered upon private premises—that the ehairman of their committee had given me an " order to the hustings—and that my right there was as good as George Cropland ' s , or that of any one else . " I went again towards Crossland to demand by what right he had committed so violent and brutal an assault upon me , when another row was tbe consequence , and , standing as I did , alone , of course I was
overpowered , and my entrance to the bastings completely blocked up . I attempted to reach the ear of Mr . Brooke , the « hairman , to explain , but without effect , and on reaching the street I found that daring the Whig exhibition of physical force inside the building , a regularly organised bloody and brutal attack had been made by the Whigs , who were mounted on horasback ; that just before turning the comer , a few buildings from the hustings , they made a halt , when a signal and orders were given by one of the body to galloprigbt down upon the people , an order which was instantly obeyed . Many were knocked down , in their passage through tbe crowd . They struck rightand leftwith whips and other weapons , and many were wounded . In selfdefence the " boys" used some stones , but the Whigs on foot used both bludgeons and stones , and that they broke windows there is ample proof .
I am prepared te prove , by incontrovertible evidence , that what I state ia only a small portion of the barbarity perpetrated on this Whig field of Peterloo , and is demonstrative of what that brutal faction would do if they had the power . I pray my friends never at anytime to put themselves within the reach of Whig treachery , and trusting that they will Be a very small minority in the nexl Parliament , I remain , youra faithfully , L . PlTKBTHLT . Huddersfield . June 21 th , 1841 .
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m ., ;^ : / 0 % ~ , - aH ¦ ; ^ <^ ' U ' , -t —* ¦ —_ . x /// yify ,. : ^ , r ^' PqS ^^^ ^ XJKBP 8 . ~ THa Charo ** Caww » atk 8 . —A pnbfir meeting was called bv placard for ThnwUy evening last , m the VicarsV Croft , for the purpose of enabling Messrs . Williams and Leech , the Chartist candidates for this borough , to address the electors and non-electors . At the commencement « f the y meeting , sucb ins the interest excited , that upwards '
of two thousand persons had assembled . Mr . Brook , grocer , was called to the chair . He spok * for some time in most effective style , reeommen 4 ing the necessity of supporting the Chartisms ; bo was followed by Mr . Briggs , who in his usnal effecttive manner , l « id bare the sophistries ot Whiggeryv and the " expediency" measures of the •* bloodies . * Mr . . Williams , in an address of two hours * duration , tore to pieces the flimsy veil of his opponents , and showed the superiority of the Charter as a safeguard for tho people , alia as the most comprehensive plan for seconcg th » rights and liberties of all classes of the c «* iunity . He was loudly cheered . Mr . T . B . SmJffl £ *
Dolo-Kfsed for the non-attendance of Mr . LeeoflSpio had been unexpectedly detained iu York to Wend as anti-Corn L » w discussion in that city . M * . Andrew Gardiner then proposed a resolution , . jrtedging the meeting to use their most strenuous ^ xeniona to secure toe return of Messrs . Williafes and Leech The resolution was seconded bs ^ Mj ^ jioneg . and carried by acclamation . Thanks were tnen voted to the Chairman , and three tremendous cheers having been given for O'Connor , for the two candidates , tor the Charter , and for the liberation of the victims , the assembly , which then amounted to four or five thousand , quietly dispersed about half-past ten . o'clock .
Leeds Borough Election . —The Chartists' Election Committee will sit in Fish Market from eight till ten this evening , to receive subscriptions from collectors . All collectors are requested to attend and pay over their monies . DEWSBUB . Y . —On Thursday the two Conservative candidates for the West Riding , J . S . Wortley and Beckett DeBisop , Esq ., visited this town and addressed the inhabitants at the Market Cross . The meeting was very numerous , and evinced the greatest possible decorum and attention .
a certain proof that . Whiggery is here at a great discount now , if compared with former occasions , Mr . Martin , late victim of Whig despotism , was present , and did his dnty nobly . He was certainly viewed with suspicion by the Whig Radicals , who knew him not , and the out-and-out Whig * insinuated that he was in the pay of the Tories ; but he did his duty to his country , and we wish many others , professing Chartism , would imitate his example , instead of shewing the cloven foot in favour of Whiggery .
BRADFORD . —Chartist Meeting . —A meeting of Chartists took place on Wednesday evening , opposite the Odd-Fellows' Hall , when it was unanimously resolved to support the election of Joha Hardy , Esq ., for tho borough of Bradford , in opposition to the Whig candidates . Ami-Monopoly Humbug . —For several days the walla of this town vrere placarded with bills announcing a free frade and anti-monopoly lecture , on Thursday evening , by the electioneering Mr . Buckingham ; and as the Whigs , whose tool the " oriental traveller" is , delight in "anti-humbug * and " anti-monopoly , " they generously made the lecture free for the ten-pounders , but "ticketed" the non-electors and starving weavers at sixpence each i However , by some means , the "lads" got hold of a lot of tickets , and attended pretty strongly . The lecturer was heard i ' er some time with patience .
but on his attemping to palm off to a Yorkshire audience , the " amiable" Lord Morpeth , a storm was raised about his ears which disturbed his equanimity , and caused him to inquire the reason ; an answer was ready for him , —he stood forward as the apologist of the Whig starvation and bludgeon-ruling policy . He attempted to proceed , but ii was no go , " and pocketing his lecture , he sneaked off , accompanied by his friends . The " bloodies" looked unutterable things : they saw that their clap-trap had failed and that it was useleBs to contend against the intelligence of those whom they had presumed to " ticket . " They are utterly chop-fallen at this signal failure of their darling scheme . At the close of the lecture , the "lads" proposed and : carried three cheers for the Charter , and three for O'Connor and the incarcerated Chartists , with three tremendous groans for the " base , bloody , and brutal Whigs . "
WXGAN . —Leech has been lecturing here with great success The Chartists here are all right ; they have their own man , a sterling and talented Chartist , Mr . William Dixon , in the field . District meetings are being holden , and the villages Hindley , West Houghton , Leigh , Chowbent , Astley , TyldeBley , Banks , &c . are all alive for the struggle , and determined to shew themselves men .
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WAKEF 1 ELD CORN MARKET . . IBT EXPRESS . ) June 25 . —Our arrivals of Wheat are larger ; the Bale is steady at a decline of Is . per qnartex . Barley nominal . Oats and Shelling as before . Beans aud other articles without material alteration .
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PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION FO $ THE BOROUGH OF LEEDS , JUNE 'AND JULY , 1841 . Borough of Leeds , in the County of York . TN PURSUANCE OF A PRECEPT duly JL directed and delivered to me , WILLIAM SMITH , Esquire , Mayor and Returning Officer for the Borough of Leeds aforesaid , authorising and requiring me to proceed to the Election of
TWO BURGESSES TO SERVE IN PARLIAMENT FOR THE SAID BOROUGH OF LEEDS , I do hereby Proclaim—That I shall proceed to the said ELECTION accordingly , and that the same sh * U commeuce on Wednesday , the 30 ih Day of June Instant , at the Hour of 'fen in the Forenoon , ON WOODHOUSE MOOR , in the Township of Leeds , in the said Borough of Leeds , and in case a POLL shall then and there be duly demanded and deemed necessary , I shall then and there adjourn the paid Election for that purpose , until the Day next following , being THURSDAY , xhb Isr Dxr of JULY next ,
On which said last mentioned day , I hereby proclaim that the said Poll shall comme nce at the Hour of Eight of the Clock in the Forenoon , and that the Polling shall continue during such last-isentioned Day , ( being ONE Day only ) until Four of the Clock in the Afternoon , when the 6 aid Poll shall finally close , unkaa I shall see sufficient cause todeclare the final State of the Poll earlier ; or unless in the meantime it &hall be deemed necessary further to adjourn the Poll , which can only happen in case of ANY INTERRUPTION OR OBSTRUCTION
IN THE POLL by riot or open violence . And in case the said Election shall be adjourned from the said Wednesday , the 30 th of June , to the said Thursday , the 1 st Day of July next , for the purpose of the said Poll as hereinbefore mentioned , I shall thereupon forthwith assign and proclaim the Poll Booths , and the situations thereof , in which the said Electors shall respectively poll their Votes at the said Election , and also make such further regulations" therein as may be necessary and according to law . Witness my Hand , at Leeds , in the said Borough , this Twenty-fifth Day ot June , One Thousand Eight Hundred aud Forty One . "VyiLLM . SMITH , Mayor and Returning Officer for the said Borough of Leeds .
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TO THE ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OP
LEEDS . GENTLEMEN , —The progress of our Canvass is so flattering to ourselves , and so full of promise to the triumph of those constitutional principles which we offer as the pledge of our public conduct , that we cannot hesitate to express our unfeigned satisfaction in finding how much the political sentiments of the great body of the Electors are in unison with our own . The Requisition is more than confirmed by the promises of support since made to ourselves . Our prospects in every quarter are most gratifying , and the only present return we can make for the confidence hitherto reposed in us is the hearty assurance ,
whioh we now give you , of our unflinching perseverance in support of that good cause in which we are embarked—a cause no less dear to you than to ourselves . For the opportunity just now afforded us , through the kindness of the Cloth Hall Trustees , for addressing you in general Assembly , as we have heretofore done in your separate Wards , we desire to express our Thanks ; and we beg to assure you tbat to the opportunities which such assemblies fnraish for the free interchange of opinions , we mainly look tor the advancement of those sound principles on which we believe the safety of the State to depend . .
Gentlemen , the battle is in your hands : we are ready to do our part . The enemy are active and untiring ; be it yours to meet their exertions by your own unceasing efforts , and by that patient perse verance to the Close qf the Poll , which is alone required to ensure the glorious victory now manifestly within your reach . We have the honour to be , Gentlemen , Your obliged and faithful friends and seiTinta , WM . BECKETT . JOCELYN . Committee Room , Albiou Street , ¦ June 22 , 1841 .
Mr. O'Connor To Mr. James B. O'Brien.
MR . O'CONNOR TO MR . JAMES B . O'BRIEN .
Cftarit'tft $Ntellwnce.
Cftarit ' tft $ ntellwnce .
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AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVEIITISEIL
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YOL . IT . NO . 189 . SATURDAY , JtJffE 2 ( y 1841 . * %£ 5 £ ^ cr
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 26, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct858/page/1/
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