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TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS.
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Mt well bblovxd Fbiekbs , —After such & week of agitation , such as I have never experienced in the eonrse of my life , I sit down to give you a digested report of my Scotch tour . You shall hear nothing but the p lan and simple troth from me . On Saturday , ike 9 th , I arrived at Greenoek , * t tiro o ' clock , after a very boisterous passage . I should say that Z left London at six o ' clock on Friday morning . I am a tctj bad sailor , and was xery 2 L However , as yoo hare learned from the ^ or ud Scottish P atriot all about the Glasgow and Greenock Demonstrations , I dull pass them over ,
simply remarking that the demonstration at Glasgow ig admitted bj all , Bare the Whig press , to have baen by far the largest meeting ever witnessed on the Green ; and if you wish for proof , you hare it in the fact that the Whig papers gave to the H'DociiL , Whixs , and Colliks' demonstration 3000 , -while the same Teritable organs gave our numbers on Monday last at from 10 , 000 to 12 , 000 It was a glorious Eight , and no pea can do it justice The fools are compelled to admit that the Soiree in the evening was splendid , " u brilliant , " * magnificent . " Just imagine 2 , 700 persons sitting
down to & Chartist banquet . Two thousand five honored tickets were sold , and about 200 more of delegates and anxious friends were subsequently admitted . The arrangements were perfect , the sentiments rousing , and the speeches of the first order ; but that which justly elicited the most applause was , the presentation of an address and a rsrj vaJuab ] e diamond ring , by three lovely girls of fee Chartist Association . The manner in which Mi& 3 Moir read the address , and subsequently enforced the necessity o perseverance , drew tears from many an eye .
I now pass on to the Greenock Soiree , of which I find you have not had a report . It was held in the 2 £ eeh&nic&' Hall , a spacious building , erected by the working men , and into which they have juBt intnn duced aboat £ 780 vrarth of valuable books . About 700 of the working and middle classes sat down : the bouse would hold no more . It was a splendid treat ; and never was there a more brilliant speech made tarn that delivered by John M ! Crae , M . P . for Greenock ; the whole w&a most glorious .
On Wednesday morning a deputation of the ship carpefiters waited upon me to say that Mr . Scott , a ja&ster builder , had turned off 200 of his hands for attending the demonstration on the previous day . He told them to go to Mr . O'Connor for work . I inquired what he was , and was told that he was * banker ; and I also learned that the society ofcarpenters had £ 500 in his bank , and could probably auiter about £ 500 more of his notes among them . I told them to go with my compliments , and say that I regretted not being able to find permanent work for them , but that I had given them a job , to get gold for their £ 1000 of his rags . TM 3 seemed to be approved of generally ; and I have since learned that a sovereign in Greeuock is thought to be as valuable as one of Mr . Scott ' s notes .
On "Wednesday I went to Paisley , the most distressed town in Great Britain ; and there we h&d a magnificent meeting in the Old Low Church , the largest building in the town , which was crammed to Biffocadon , thousands having goae away disappointed . Mr . Tbomason , the people ' s representatire , wjs in the chair ; our Chartist resolutions were unanimously passed ; an address w& 3 presented to me fcora the inhabitants , and also one from the Cha-tists of Elderalie , the birth place of
Wallace . The proceedings went off in the Bosi pleasing manner . At eight o ' clock , we h&d a very splendid soiree at the great Exchange Booms , which was densely crowded . About 800 sat down . Singicg of patriotic songs and good speaking , with jnasic aad soul-stirring recitations , kept u 3 till between twelve and one o ' clock , when we parted in high spirits at our prospect of speedily relieving the thousands of distressed who are to be seen pining is the streets , and hourly expressing silent censure upon oar tyrant rulers .
On Monday I crossed the Clyde to Dumbarton ; and now I come to an important part of my history . Dumbarton , as Greenock , is a noted place ioi Bhip Duiiding ; and the masters refused the men liberty to turn out ; however , the ship carpenters and apprentices , to a man , struck work . Just one word about the term apprentices . They are not indentured , but are poor broken down fellows , who lock from Ireland , the Highlands , and the overstocked manufacturing market , who work at the trade for fiie years to qualify themselves as journeyaen . They receive not more than six shillings per
w&ek ; and after eighteen months are made to do equal work with a journeyman whose wages are twenty-four shillings a week . Thus the masters , for three years and a half , pocket eighteen shillings a week for their instruction , and thus does machinery * 2 ect even the ship carpenters , aa the market is full of apprentices coming from the manufacturing towns ; and this system has made the men entirely dependent upon their employers . I explained this with great effect to the ship carpenters ; and all now are beginning at long last to discover that steam is the inveterate enemy of man . Oar meeting was nos to have been in Dumbarton ; it was to
hive teen in the Yale of Leven , a heavenly valley , commencing about three miles from the town , acd forming a beautiful Tale embossed in a risuig gronnd , not hills or mountains , bat as it were ,-a radiant boundary of slope 3 . Our meeilsg was to have been held in this sweet spot ; but the tyrant masters , after ha-ring gives their men permission-to astend on Tuesday , recalled the leave on Wednesday at noon . In this dilemma , what was to be done ? Firsi , I ma , ; ^ jj TOa ^ j ^ m 6 eting ^ ^ barton , at two o ' clock , to which the ship carpenters' apprentices , and a portion of the popnUfem marched in procession with music and all the
magma of their craft . We had a very spirited meeting ; but all looked forward to the night—and now , what in ; he dilemma was to be done 1 Well ,, I'll tell yoa ; ; he brave children of the valley thanked Gjd that at night they were free of their tasks ^ -ers , and they instantly set about making hundreds of toreho—&ye , in faith , torches I The night was awfnl ; but at dx o ' clock , the s& P carpenters' apprentices , and a number of good Chartists left Dumbarton with a band of music , to join the procession about three miles onward . I «« ted with the Committee about half-past six , and tos silent rale upon our approach , made the slopes wound re-echo with the shouts of libertywhile the
, onkiaa ; blaze of torch light illumined the valley for miles around . We passed through a town called ** n ton , where we rewired an accession of lu-Buaanss fiags , and a band , and thus augmented , we marched on about one mile and a half twther to Alexandria , where we were met by another wt ^ of jorch bearers , a reinforcement of numbers , * aa another band ; and the procession being thus completed , the Tale presented such a scene as none « its inhabitant * ever before witnessed . As far as e e * Wald reach the smiling countenances of the *»» and daughters of the peaceful valley were to be seen sending forth their jocund mirth in spite of ** A and rain , which fell in torrents .
My frauds , I cannot describe the effect which the «» T elty ofBuehaseene , and the amazement of the ongregaied thousands had upon ail around , there-& * e they shall speak for themselves . With one weord the working men declared that they would *•* hare lost the demonstration for a whole year ' s . **** . Mr . Thomaaon , iLP . for Paisley , who is 7 * * i a tbe Tale of LeTen , and of whose *•* services all bear testimony * nearly lost his ]•*? » d was with difficulty restrained from fraping imi of the carriage a * it went on . Tee nuautee , a set of the most spirited and . fine IT * * « Ter » ei with , were equally delighted , » » id they had never upon any former oeca-*» « eea a teotk part of the number assembled * t
* nt now coaes the * touch and go . " It was 8 ideation of the committee to have gone on to
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Boahill , another town on the other side of the river Leven ; bat , alas , the monopolists have built a toll bridge over the water , and a halfpenny toll is paid by each foot passenger . Just aa we reached the toll-gate , a prodigious procession , as large as ours , was on the bridge on their way to meet us ; and upon the carriage Teaching the gate , the people were thrust back , and not being prepared with halfpence , became desperate . Well , ay friends , you can better imagine than I describe my position . Just pioiure to yourselves a most enthusiastic people intending to join in procession
separated by a large iron gate , while I , in the dead of night and in a strange country , found myself surrounded by thousands and tena of thousands over whom I could not have an immediate control , and where one incautious , or violent , or thoughtless act might have committed me in any mishap which occurred . In this dilemma , and not at all blaming th » gate-keeper , the ship carpenters advanced to the gate with their implements ; the two parties met with the gate only between them , and threatened instant destruction of the gate if it w& 3 not opened . Thus situated , I proclaimed
silence , having first ordered a place to be cleared to the right of the carriage , and directing another party to go to the opposite side and turn the carriage , horses and all , around like lightning . TMb manoeuvre was performed &s quick as thought , and instantly our party left a spi-ee of about twelve yards between the carriage and the gaie » at which tbe Bonhill men still continued to thunder . Hereupon I commenced speaking , having sent about twenty men to kerp order at the gate , and in the space of a few minutes , all could hear , and then I began to reason with them , saying
that I would first address toose at one Bide of the river , and then proceed on the bridge to Bonhill . This h&d the desired effect ,, and upon the close of my address I in&Uted upon all retiring from the bridge ; this order was also promptly obeyed . The gates were thrown open , I joined the procession on the bridge , and thus ended the most anxious moment of my whole life , and one which for some time threatened consequences of which no man eonld see the result . Our second procession soon formed , and onward we marched through the whole town , in brilliant style , to a spacious nestings provided for the occasion .
It had been originally the intention that I should have addressed them in a large church , but it was discovered that one-twentieth of those present could not gain admission , and to the hustings we repaired , where I addressed the vast multitude at considerable length , &cd apparently to their satisfaction . At the dose the procession again formed , and with torches blazing , colours flying , and hands playing , we ' retraeed our steps to Alexandria , where a public supper had bsen prepared ; as we reached the bridge a second time I made my way in advance to the tate , but the toll-keeper very good naturedly
threw il open free to all . I had now—ten o ' clock at night—been at work for twelve hours ; had addressed three out-door meetings ; and proceeded to take my place at the festive board . The people ' s own ro&m was beautifully decorated with the Star portraits , laurels , and evergreens ; &u excellent supper was tastefully laid upon the table ; that be 3 t and most eloquent of men , John M'Crea , was in the chair ; Mr . Thomason , the people ' s schoolmaster and friend , was in the vice-chair . John JrCrea made a splendid speech , as did Mr . Thomason , and they were
pleased to say that mine was not a bad one . I was fifteen hours at hard work , went to bed at half-past one , got up at hatf-past six on Friday , and started { or Glasgow , about nineteen miles ; breakfasted at Glasgow ; and , at twelve , started for Hamilton , in company with the brave , the bold , the indomitable James Moir . The rain fell in torrents , and the prospect of a meeting was nearly hopeless : however , when we arrived within five miles of the place of meeting , Bothwell Bridge , the clouds opened , and the sun sent forth a Buecession of brilliant beams , which gave ub a hope that all would yet be well .
On our arrival at Bothwell Bridge we were met by a large procession , with bands , and a great number of large and splendid banner ? . We marched on in procession about two miles , to Hamilton ; and here again the people , who understand the locality , . shall speak for themselves . Moir stood up frequently and looked at the moving mass , exclaiming that it was truly wonderful ; and all the people declared that they never saw such a demonstration in Hamilton . The ground is uneven , the sun Bhone br ight and clear , and the effect of the procession moving in the low ground as we viewed it from the
heights , was truly grand . At length , after traversing the whole town , we reached a well-made and commodious hustings , where resolutions were passed and addresses presented , and capital speeches made by Moir and several working men . The middleclasses attended , and so great was their anxiety to meet and hear me again , that they offered any reasonable sum for a ticket for the soiree ; but could not procuro one . Many , however , had previously provided tickets ; and at half-past seven , we sat down to an excellent Boiree in the largest church in the town , nearly 1000 in number . Mr .
Hamilton , of Stone-house , was in the chair . Mr Moir and myself were the only speakers . There were several amateur siegers and clubs in attendanco to enliven the evening . Moir made a capital speech ; and I may , from the result , say without vanity , that I did not make a bad one . I say from the result : because many , very many confirmed Whigs , who were my bitterest opponents , gave in their adhesion to Chartism—and as bitterly as ever they denounced me denounced their organs which they said had grossly maligned me , the Chartists , and their principles .
My friends , I speak of facts , and only of facts , which every working man , in Hamilton , can confirm , namely , that some of our bitterest enemies have now declared for the Charter . Let me give you one or two instances : —One gentleman , who was in the habit of denouncing me and my party , on his return from the soiree , went to a coffee-house and took ap ih&Glasgow Jr ^ ia containing a report ofourGlasgow meeting , and which represented me as a wild doclaimer ; he instantly tore the paper ia pieces , and swore he would never read it again , declaring that ih $ Whig press h&d been the ruin of Reformers , in consequence of its Blander of the Chartists . Another gentleman met me and said that he was converted . But hear this : as I was returning from the out-door
meeting , a very gentleman-like person , dressed in black , made his way to me , and in presence of those who accompanied me , rushed up , seised me by the hand , bunt out crying , and said , " Sir , I am , or rather I was , a high Tory . I came thirty miles to satisfy myself . Dear Sir , I am satisfied . God bless you—go on with your holy work . * ' On Saturday morning , as I was about to start for Strathaven , the whole committee assembled at my hotel to say good , bye , and the Chairman did me the honour to say that my visit had rendered Chartism triumphant —thai their old and systematic opponents met them at all corners , shook hands with them , eon * fessed the justice of their principles , and tendered them their support in their accomplishment .
At twelve o ' clock I left Hamilton for StrathaTen , amid the cheers and blessings of the blistered hands . Mr . Gevin , from Straven , ( as they call it for brevityJ came for me : aad in order to make my tour aalita *
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ficial as pnffbTe , the good men of LarUiaU , wlio attended the demonstration on the prerionf day , and marched first in the nnka with Hair white flag , requested mo ta atop and » 4 dfe 83 them . The whole popu ^ t ^ fegiBlWeTIiblod ; and I did address them fagjjju || Kcfl suitable for rural Tillage ™ The nTMjpppwirii attended , and I thick I staggered their fitfth in a Whig Government , or Tory government , or class legislation .. From Larkh&ll , we proceeded to Stone-houge , another large tillage , about three mil « s from Straven ; and there likewise the whole population turned out to hear the " wild Iranian ; " and , I think . I shook th *| r . Qutii alao . ffere
the procession from Strafi ^ M ^^ ip 4 r && ** & a procession it was . Tin Ty ||^ Mi | iil fliii lil 1 as we reached the town our * IJppl ^ i ncreased until at length the whole ^ Maffi on appeared to have congregated . The "irishmen crowd in great numbers to this place to dig the potatoes ; at present there are about nine hundred of my migrating starving countrymen there ; the day not being fit for their work ( as potatoes cannot be safely dug while the ground is wet ) , they all joined our procesaon which at length reached a very excellent hustings .
Mr . Gbvinwm called to the chair . A resolution to petition the House of Commons for the Charter and one of confidence in myself were passed ; and after I had spoken about an hour , the meeting adjourned again to assemble , as many as eo&M find room , in a sptendid new church , capable Of holding about eleven or twelve hundred , and of which Mr . Campbell is the pastor . This gentleman though very young , ia considered the most highly gifted person in the West of Scotland ; he is of very prepossessing appearance , and has a countenance beaming with intellect and humanity , which I am told is a true index of his character .
Here an address was presented to me , which I forward with a request to Mr . Hill , if possible , to make room for it . It is the production of a starving hand-loom weaver who never h&d a vote , and iyt * who is insolently told that knowledge should be the test . If it is inserted , you will then judge of its merits . I spoke for an hour and thirty-five minutes . ' I know that , as the clock was opposite to me . I was the only speaker . The bankers of the town , and nearly all the middle classes attended ; and , as at
Hamilton , I converted all our enemies : and lest those who are prone to falsehood themselves , should suppose me to be guilty also , I have to request ot the men of Greenock , the men of Paisley , the men of the Vale of Leven , the men of Hamilton and of Straven , to meet and briefly to state through the Star and Scottish Patriot , the effect which they believe my visit to those several towns has had upon the very highest of the middle classes . This 1 ask as a favour , and as a means of producing a similar result elsewhere , and also as an answer to those papers which abuse me and my party .
I remained in the Session House attached to the church for a length of time after the meeting , to get cool ; and the most working of the working men assured me , that I had disarmed every one of their bitterest enemies . It was by far the largest demonstration they have ever had . Thus , my friends , commenced , and thus ended my first week in Scotland , daring which I have been travelling to , addressing , and attending publio meetings , tor ninety hours , or fifteen hours a day , for the whole week . In rain and sunshine I have addressed sixteen public meetings ; and am now , thank God , very much better in health than when I landed on Scotch ground .
On Monday morning , Messrs . Moia , Ross , Cullen , Miiaar , and a gentleman whose name I don ' t know , came from Glasgow to Straven for me ; and they had an opportunity of hearing and judging for themselves . While they were present , one gentleman came into the room , confessed his former prejudices , admitted his conversion , and declared that he had been a reader of the Glasgow Argut but would now give it up and for ever .
Have I not now , in part , -redeemed my pledge that without stirring a hair ' s-breadth from the Charter , I would get the middle classes to join you \ I now renew that pledge , and promise you , that without going one hair ' s-breadth to the right hand or the left , we will , in three months , have three fifths of the middle classes with ns . I bave expounded the Charter temperately . I have pointed out your sufferings and their consequent poverty and debasement . I have exposed the vices of the present system , and the advantages which our system would confer upon all . I hare exposed the fallacies of the Corn Law Repealers , and made manifest the absurdity of the remotest hope of resuscitating the Whigs as a party . I have explained to the middle classes the danger
of au impoverished people ; and to the working people I have stated the claims which the Irish have upon them for support for the only measure which they consider would render them ample justice-Upon the whole , my beloved friends , I am vain enough to flatter myself that my visit so far has been productive of great good * I rejoice to tell you that the " Old Gentleman" himself never again will be able to direct public attention from the true and only Chartism . We have resolved , and I think wisely , to allow all the spurious outsbots to live and die unnoticed , as we only give them importance by recognition . Chartism baa increased in Scotland one thousand per cent , since the English persecutions commenced .
I think there is only one circumstance which I have omitted mentioning . At Greenock , the people have a most talented and virtuous instructor in the person of Mr . Thomason ; and , prior to leaving that town , I visited his seminary of from 100 to 150 young Chartists , all brought up in veneration of God and lovo of liberty . I shook hands with every one of them , and blessed them all . Let not my English
and Irish children suppose that because I am enraptured with the Scotch , I therefore , love them the less . No , I love all alike , and will struggle night and day , until I make all happy , peaceful , and prosperous , or I will lose my life in the attempt . Agaiw I Bay that / mill break Oppresiion ' s head , or Oppression shall break my heart . Onward and ire conquer , backward and we fall . " ** Wnivenal Suffrage , and no surrender . "
Let no man mention the words " moral foroe" and " physical force" any more ; we bave in Scotland stripped the hobgoblin naked , and whipped it from the land . I shall next week send you a narrative o the week ' s tour . Meantime , let every man , woman , and child riga the Petition . It is a " whole hog" petition , and bo much the better . We reserve nothing ; and he who is oar friend will sign it . We want no delusion even upon paper . —I am , My dearly beloved friends , Year tree aad faithful Friend aad Servant , Feamcs O'Comtos . Black Ball Hotel , Glasgow , Ort . l 7 th » i « I . -j — .-- ---. ' - _ - ^^ fc^— . ^ . . ^^—— -. ^— - - . ^
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IycncDiAKT Fire . —On Tuesday eTening , about eight o ' clock a fire was discovered to have broken oat in the stable-yard of Mr . Clark , a very respectable farmer , at Kirby-Hard wick , near Mansfield . We understand that thirty-three stacks , tbe entire produce of seven hundred acres of land , were consumed . The fire is supposed to be the work of an incendiary . The property was iasared .
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SBEFFISZrD . CFttoa our own Correspondent . ) 8 UKDAY EvfiVtMo LWyojui ^ - Mr . OUey lectured to a very ropartrife wuttwiDe , « jtofttfgar fWptag , in the room , FifrlreMaM ? < 1 * ie jut&kimMr < U «* wnie waa , " The . WiadMk ^ jj * out It MilflHr ^ B ^ etawr divided bis address . 4 oK > th jp * * piMfeal -jpait ^ vi « . Religion , Philosophy , aa 4 JPoIUlo » ,, aadia ^ ti ^ apartment brought forward mort « rtrao » dlnaty , though wellauthenticated facta , illustrative of the " wisdom , " or tirtber , the jroas folly of " our Ancestors . " finder the bead of " Religion , " the lecturer narrated t&V disputes of the " learned" in the Middle Age « , upon the question of "bowmany angriia coulff dance mi the point of a needle , " adducing many * lsal ] ar proofs of their
wisdom . " Under the bead ojf " Philosophy , " he exposed the absurdities of astrology and alchemy , and the barbarous orjtelties inflicted on hundreds of unfortunate creatures for the alleged crime of ' witchcraft ; « od under the head of " Polities , " be examined the boasted " wisdom " of our fathers , commenting upon tbe well-known mode of settling disputes by " trial by battle , " which the lecturer showed was th « foundation of many of the laws by which we are still governed . * At the eloie of the lecture , Mr . Harne ; read » very lengthy letter from Peter Foden , at the present time in WakeBtU batL The letter , which is much tod lengthy to tnsfcrt , breathes throughout a apart of unbending hostility to oppression . -
Bronterbe O'BniEff , Esq . —On Monday last , this Incorruptible and talented patriot ' visited Sheffield . Splendid green placards annonnced that Mr . O'Brien would lecture on the evenings of Monday and Tuesday , in the New Circus . The magnificent green silk banner of the National Charter Association floated in front of tbe building , white front its summit two beautiful tricoloured flags revelled in the bre < ze . On the doors being opened , at seven o ' clock , a rush for seat * took place , and almost immediately the gallery , pit , and boxts were filled . The Circus will hold upwards of thirteen hundred people . ' Some delay in commencing proceeding * was occasioned by tbe very miserable supply of gas ; the stage was in darkness , while it was with the greatest difficulty that the people in the
gallery could be wen , and this stata of things continued duriDg tbe whole evening , much to the annoyance and discomfort of the audience , caudles being to fee . procured to render the lecturer visible , and allow your correspondent to perform bis duty . The conduct of the parties connected with the gas works was most disgraceful ; ttey demanded a sovereign previous to the lecture , which was paid them , and yet , after all , did not supply tbe gas ; but this shameful work is only another proof of the bitter hostility entertained towards the principles of Chartism by the plundering profltmongers , who fatten on the fruits of the poor man ' s toiL We were similarly tricked by tbe gas company upon the occasion of tho dinner given to Mr . O'Connor , in the theatre , and it would be moat unjust to
those who pay their money to beat and see , to allow such scandalous doings to pass unnoticed . On tin motion of Mr . Otley , Mr . Gill was called to the chair . Mr . O'Brien immediately came forward and wa » greeted with the most tremendous cheering * which , with clapping of hands , and waving of snow-wbito haadkercuiefs , testified the delight of the people on seeing once more their patriotic friend . When silence had succeeded the oft-repeated and boisteroas applause , Mr . O'Brien commenced by remarking , that he had been about to Bay he waa glad to see them til , but for bis soul he could not see them , though they appeared to ba glad to see him—< laughter and cheers ) , —and as one good turn Reserves another he would have been glad to see thorn ; for to see honest people was a treat to him , after
seeing none but thieves and smashers for eighteen months —( laughter );—to give us no gas , looks like a plot to extinguish us—( laughter );—they b&Te tried their hands at that before , bnt failed . I am not extinguishedyou are not extinguished—and the Same ot liberty , that burns brighter than ever . ( Cheers . ) He supposed they all knew that for the last eighteen menths he bad been in quod ; that for that time he had been keeping the company of some very honourable persons—very like a set of gentry in a certain house in Westminsterthieves and blackguards—( laughter);—that now he was bound over in some hundreds of pounds to be of good behaTiou * . and to keep the peace ; his being of good beh&viojjrNneant that be was not to expose the bad behaviour of certain of her Majesty ' s servants ; bis
keeping the peace meant that he was not to denounce the conduct of a scoundrel police keeping the peace by breaking the heads of the people ia the Bull Ring . Well , he was bound to be of good behaviour ; the best proof he could give of his good behariocir was , that , in sixteen days after bis liberation he bad attended sixteen meetings ; aa he had been keeping the company of thieves and smashers , it was only proper to tell them why he was sent to Lancaster Castle , lest they hoald thiDk him as bad as the company he had been keeping . Well , his offence was , that , on invitation , he had attended a meeting similar to this in Manchester ; the meeting was Btrictly legal ; nothing was there said or done opposed to the law . But , twelve months after he was dragged to the bar to answer the charge of
attending a seditious and illegal meeting , and then and there conspiring with divers persons unknown , t ? the number of five thousand or more , to get up rents , riots , tumults , insurrections , and rebellions against our Sovereign Lady th » Queen , nor Crown , and dignity . ( Mr . O'B ; excited roars of laughter by his mimicry . ) Now he had no . connection with the people attending that meetiDg , yet were they all conspirators . Now , all that he had said upon that occasion was approved of by the people , pay , applauded ; but their good opinion went for nothing , against the opinion of tbe miserable wretch who gave evidence against him . Well , they imprisoned him—they confined him in a felon ' s cell ; the cold stone for bis floar—the cold stone for the vails of bis dungeon , and his only furniture a three-legged stool
For tbe first six months he was denied pen , ink , and paper , and allowed to have no books but those given him by the chaplain . Now , he must do Parson Rowley tbe justice of saying that he was a very fine fellow , and much good he had reaped from Parson Rowley ' s prayers . ( Laughter . ) After eighteen months'imprisonment with all sorts of villain * , who at the termination of their confinement were let loose upon society without bond , shackle , or restraint , he was liberated ; but before letting him out , ho waa brought before a magistrate , and asked would he confess he owed ths Queen £ 599 7 He replied be supposed he might as well confess this , for whether he did so or no , he presumed her Majesty would s » y he did . " Just so . " said the worthy magistrate ; so you see what was the
magistrate ' s opinion of our lovely little Queen ' s honesty . ( Laughter . ) Well , the faction that bad imprisoned him had now gone the way of all flesh , but we had but exchanged tyrants ; we bad gotten another act of thieves to rule us in the place of those we had put down . Now , he wanted—and he trusted they wanted the sameto put down thievery and tyranny altogether . ( Cheers . ) He had an idea that the days of the present infamous system were numbered : if the people had honest leaders it could be knocked on the head quicklyleaders Who would give . up their jealousies , abandon their rivalries , and pull honestly together . Let them bave sueb—such to direct and command them , and the infernal system would speedily be brought to tbe dust ( Great cheering . ) He understood the subjects upon
which he was expected to address them were—the means of gaining their rights , and the use to make of those rights when gained . ( Hear , hear . ) Upon another occasion he would give them bis : opinions as to the means of gaining their rights , but now would give them his opinions as to the use they should make of their rights when once achieved , though with many of theii lenders be differed as to tbe remedies for the evils of the present system , yet be contended for nothing but what the law of nature sanctioned , and tbe law of revelation approved of . ( Cheers . ) If the people had the Charter to-morrow it would be perfectly nssieas , unless they made use of the legislative power it would confer on them to obtain for themselves—that is , tbe whole people , a complete and absolute controul
over the land , and a similar controul over the making and issuing of the money ef the country . ( Cheers . ) Th » people bad been taught to look to a reduction of tiu . ituon , or the annihilation of certain monopolies , as the only things needful to restore what was called England ' s prosperity . Now , be was an anti-Corn Law man ; he was for the repeal of the Corn Laws ; he was for reducing taxation—but they must pardon bis saying , for be must speak the truth , whether they liked it or not , that the repeal ot the Corn Laws , the repeal of the soap tax , the repeal of the malt tax , or the repeal of any other tax waa sheer humbug . In his opinion , if the Corn Laws , were repealed to morrow , if the national taxes , aye , and tbe local taxes too were all swept away , no permanent benefit would be reaped by the working classes . Mr . O'Brien then entered on tbe question of the land , and asked , "What valuable consideration do
the landlords give iu return for the sixty millions of rent they pocket ? "" The answer might be ;— " They give the land . " But the land ii not theirs to give . Who made it theirs ? Neither reason nor revelation sanctions the robbery of the soil ( Cheers . ) Here then joa are robbed of sixty millions per year in tbe shape of rental of the land ; you are robbed of about two hundred millions yearly in the shape ot asarj and profits—again you are robbed of yo « r occupancy in the land . They bad all read Mr . O'Connor's letteis to the Irish landlords—they would remember that Mr . O'Connor bad shown that w « s the land let out into mall allotments of ten acres each , a man renting tea acres might support himself , bis wife , and children ia abundance of food , and would have at tbe year ' s ' end , a surplus of £ 45 worth to ispese of in tbe manufacturing market ; now in Itdbuad nine-tenths of the labourers do not , taking the
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year through , get more than sixpence a day ; bat we will suppose they get doable this , say ' s sbM&g a day , this will be £ 18 4 * . for the whole family the year through , thusi instead ot living in abundance and having a surplus of £ 45 to dispose of in articles ot manu fMtare at the end of the year , they have to starve tbe jrej « through npon , £ l 8 ; why , waa this ? because-they ; rpbbedjtf their right of occupancy in the land- If tfcef : ha 4 thft , and that tbey would bare if they got the , Soffrate —( cheer »>—they cou \ d do what Mr . O'Cooaor wishes tbe landlords to letjthem do ; th « robbing of the people of their right of occupancy ia tbe land is a robbery transsendisgr all others ; compared with this the sixty millions of toot is a mere trifle . He repeated that the landlords roft > the people two ways ;
first , rob them to tha tune of sixty millions In the shape of rent He might be asked would h « not take rent if he was a landlord ? He had no dwo&t he would . He did not quarrel with the landlords reeeiTing rent , if a majority of tbe people sanctioned it r what he demanded was that the whole people should have a voice in the political and soeial Arrangements of society , and wfiat he protested against was the landlord * making nse « f the power their wealth conferred to prevent the people , having asy voiee in the formation of the institutions of society . He might be asked would he take the land from tbe aristocracy , no , be would not , bat he would compel them to sell their land to tho Btate . ( Cheers . ) Should he lire to be a member of the House of Commons , and hemsitnttobe —( ereatcheering )—hesboaldfeel it his
duty to propose- that when s man dies , his estate shall tevert to tbe state , that is , that tbe Government tor the people shall purchase the estate from the- belrs of the dead mm , giving to them the full valuation of the estate ; the heirs should not have the land bat the price of it ; for broaching this doctrine , your pred ' ous member , Mr . Ward , bad , in in his miserable , trashy , 6 rreenicre journal , denounced Um aa a spoliator ; the charge was a false and lying one ; be was no spoliator , he had never advocated the taking from any class under the present system—what he advocated was , that under another and a better system every man should have e < $ nal facilities of acquiring property . Now , the law he would propose would not take effect till the man was dead . Would that be robbery ? Did you ever hear a dead man
cry out that be was robbed ? ( Laughter and cheers . ) 022 , but then he would rob the heirs . How could tbey rob a man of what they never bad ? How could they be robbed if they had the fair value of the land ? But how are they to be paid the value ? He woo ? d answer , out of the proceeds of the land . The devil's in it , if the land , which sow returns sixty millions in rent to the landlords , would not then return that and something more . If the land was allotted into small farni ' B of ten , twenty , forty , or fifty acres , the occupiers could far better pay £ 5 per acre than 30 s ., as is paid for many thousands of acres now . The werthy lecturer concluded his remarks upon the land by observing that he was not the inventor of these doctrines , he was only proposing what had been advocated by the great and wise of all
ages , but had never been yet carried into effect , beeause the sword had always been employed by the aristocratlcal brigands to emit * and crush those who dared to defend the rights mi the human race . Mr . O'Brien next took up the subject of the currency . In former times it was treason against the sovereign to make or issue money . But a * the aristocracy aad moneyocracy acquired power they trampled the prerogatives of the sovereign underfoot . Up to the time of Cromwell the aristocracy were compelled to defend the state—to rais 9 and pay troops for the defence of the country , but when they had cut off the tyrant Charles ' s head , they—the greater tyrants—the aristocracy relieved themselves from all feudal services , and compelled too people to perform those Bervicts instead . Now as they held their estates
on condition of performing these services , when they ceased to perform them , they ought to have ceased to bold the estates . Tlie monied classes have increased impower too , to that extent , that , in conjunction with the aristocracy , they now rule the country—the sovereign ia a mere cipher ; they , have taken from her her crown lands , they bave robbed her of her private income , eo tbat she cannot . get even a basin of soup without a vote of the House of CommoDa . It you knew a tithe of tbe villany committed in the United States by the banking scoundrels , you would say that kings , and priests , and lords , and thieves of every other description were personifications of virtue compared with these smashers and robbers , tbe makers and issuers of bank notes . They would , perhaps , imagine that
their burdens had been reduced siace the close of the war , if bo , they wera never more wrong . They were told tha taxes has been reduced from seventy to fifty millions : the Tories in fifteen years took off sixteen millions of taxes ; the Whigs in ten years took off five millions : but now see the villainous humbug of the thing . In 1812 , a £ 100 stock in the Three per Cents would sell only for £ 60 ; now a £ 100 stock will sell for £ 90 . Thus has the fundholders * property increased fifty per per cent ., that is , instead of their burdens being reduced , they had increased ; but this ia not all . Since 1812 , the prices of goods have so fallen , that every £ 1 of the moneymonger's £ 90 would purchase twice the quantity of goods now the same money would have
purchased in 1812 . Between 1812 and 1831 , Birmingham goods had fallen to one-half , or between that and one-third of their cost in the former year . In Manchester , the fundholder could now buy three , and in some cases four , bales of goods for the money it took to purchase one bale in 1812 . Things , he believed , -were not much better in Sheffield . He was told that for setting , that is placing the blades in the handles , a few years ago the workmen could get 4 s . a dozen ; now they could get but Is . a dozen . ( Several voices , " 'Tis true . ' ) Of course all sorts of cutlery had depreciated in price ; and the fundholders and men of fixed incomes reaped the benefit . When Peel passed his infernal Bill in 1819 , he knew well , that in making money scarce he would make it
more vaJuabie . Now if money was m&de scarce , and our means to support the burdens imposed upon us curtailed , it would have been only just , bad the then Government had one spark of honesty in its composition , that it should have reduced our burdens to the like extent . Peel , Russell , and the Times newspaper have declared over and ovor again , that the Legislature is not to blame for the existing misery—this misery , say these worthies , is the inevitable result of the progress of civilisation . ( Ironical cheers . ) " Fools that these working men are , " says the Times to imagine that the Legislature is to blame on thia account : let them show , by legislative enactment , tha dktreas can . be removed . Let them immediately draw up an Act of
Parliament to do away with the distress ; and corrupt and tyrannical as these working men imagine the Parliament to be , we have uo hesitation in Baying the legislature vrill be most ready to sanction suoh an Act . " Such has been the language of the Times ; but , my friends , thia is all humbug . It is not one Act of Parliament that has brought ua to oct present slavery and misery ; nor is it one Act of Parliament will restore ua to liberty and happiness , He was ready to prove—1 st . That all the social evils we complain of are the results of Acts of Parliament— -2 nd . That these Acts were framed for the purpose of robbing the people—3 rd . He wa 3 ready to point out the particular Acts . He would take the statutes at large , and point out , not two or three ,
but hundreds of Acts , passed for the purpose of plundering the people . Ho was ready to prove that the people were plundered tvvo ways—1 st . By not being allowed to earn wealth—2 nd . By being robbed of that they do earn . He was ready to prove that large masses of the people were robbed of fivo-sixtha of their earnings . Mr . O'Brien here B . ated the wages of the weavers of Cumberland , Lancashire , &o . He might be asked , what had the law and the Parliament to do with that ? His answer was , who are the robbers , and who are the receivers of the stolen property ? They were the parties who live on fixed Incomes , whether rents , annuities , pensions , &C . & 0 . The fundholder who , in 1812 , could only get £ 60 , where he could now get £ 90 , could also get
four bales of goods now , where he only could then get one ; this he was enabled to do by the competition among masters bringing down prices ; and the competition among the workers bringing down wages . He would ask , who is it but the Government that gives the fundholder tho taxes ! What have Acts of Parliament , indeed , to do with the misery of the people ! Everything , was his answer . All the loars that have been contracted since 1694 , have been contracted by Act of Parliament . ^ What had legalised usury in this country ?—Acts of Parliament . It waa not till the reign of Henry VIII . that usury was allowed in this country . Usury is denounced by the common law of the laad . Usury waa denounced br the Fathers of the Christian
Church . Usury was denounced by the sacred writers of the Now Testament . Usury was deaoaaood by Moses and the Prophets . But Henry '« infamous Parliament Sung Moses and the Prophet a overboard , and legalised usury entailing upon us its uUBpeakable curses . Bat for Henry tbe National Debt would have t » en long sinoe paid off . As it is , we pay the debt every twenty yean , and yet have it always to pay . I before said tbat the men of filed incomes were enabled to plunder the wealth of the working men—in a great measure throngh the competition in the labour markets—bmt what causes this competition ! The cause ia , that the people bave been robbed of their right of occupancy in the land . Villains talk of surplus population . Xet the surplus population be placed on the land , and see the results . In the first place , those on the land would , as shown by Mr . O'Connor , live in abundance ; secondly , there would be a far greater amount of food rateed than at present , aad , as V matter of
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tfiS-XS- / # 4 / : eoarK , food would be far eft « fcper and thirdly there no longer being the present competition in tho labour market in owe manufacturing districts , the manufacturing artizan would be able to dictate terms to bis employer , and , as a matter of course , his wages woulof advance—or , suppose this not to be the case , Btijr one shilling then will procure aa much food aa three shillings now . ( Cheers . ) Za Naples just now the four pound loaf may * be got for twopence—in London it costs" knpence . Now , why should not the four pound loaf be ' purchased as cheap in London as Naples ! The answer waa , Act » of . Parliament prevent it . He repeated , he attributed to Acts of Parliament , and to Acts of Parliament only , all the Bocial ills that afflict bs . ( Cheers . )
Mr . O'Brien , having spefeen for above twe hours , concluded by 8 ommentiDg » Q the Newcastle Election , ehowing that although the veritable repreeentativa of the people , lw was , by an A « t of Parliament , prevented taking hi 3 seat in th * Hcbso of Commow . Let them , then , poil together , ionestly aad detorV minedly to make Kheir Charter law , and secure far themselves , the earangs of their laWr , unfilohed by the authority of plundering acts «* Parliament . He sai down amidst th * « &-repeated aotf enthusiastic cheering of the meeting * Tuesday Etkmkg . —A select ewspaay of the mends and admirers of Mr . O'Briea entertained that gentleman to dinner is the large room of the Black Swan , Burgess-street . The dinner was served up
shortly after six o ' clock—the provisione Bade reflected every honour on th » worthy hosvMr . Parkes , who is an able and zealous advocate of the good cause . On tho cloth being removed , several patriotic : songs were sung and toasts given , including the health of the patriotic gitesivMr . O'Bries * Uaiver > sal enjoyment pervaded , tire company , until tha swift -winged hours notified 'twas time to- make for the - Circus , whither we proceeded , and &uad it again thronged , to listen to tie words of wisdom andnnstruonon from the lip » of the people ' s- friead . Shortly after eight o ' clock , SlxOiU was agaiaW ^ d totheofrair , aad Mr . O'Briea , who was rewired with tee like demonstrations of applause a » the , preview evening , imtrieduitehr « wnmMioed hi £ "llr
dress by reviewing the remedies-suggested by Pains and Cob 1 bieU , for removing the diMatesa bi * he people , and establishing the prosperity ? of the couatry , showing that their remedies—redaction of . tax » &ea would pe-productive of no pereep&ble or permanent benefit . Mr . O'B . next entered aVsreat length ist » the history and villany of the , funding system , and showing the means , and the only , means by which the National Dabt could be paid ofE Mr . O'Briea then showed the way in which the public propertythe brown lands—the churoh lands—the tithes—th * taxes—tho rates , &c . &o . were plundered from tha people ; and concluded a very lengthy and truly eloquent lecture by inviting discu&sicm ,, an < l expressing his willingness to reply to any question put to >
him . Mr . Hollyoake , socialist missionary , stepped forward ; in-a-brief but beautiful , address , he expressed his admiration of the principles and talents of Mr . O'Brien ; at the same time , he took exeptioa to certain things advanced by that gentleman , as to > the impracticability of the means by which the Socialists proposed to achieve their ends- He ( Mr . H . ) maintained that their schemes were perfectly practicable , and he believed tbat it would be found , ultimately , that the shortest and surest wiiy . , of gaining political equality and social regeneration , was in the adoption of the schemes of the Socialists , at thesama time he should be ready , and he trusted Socialists generally would be equally ready to afford to the Chartists every help and aid in their power , in theiv
striwrgleforju 3 ticoand right . Mr . H . was loudly :, cheered . Mr . O'Briea rose to reply , but before doing so ^ noticed a question put to him from one of the boxes * to tho effect of—** why was he opposed to the Cora Law Rapaa ! ers ? " In answer to this question , he advanced three reasons for his opposition to the repealers . First , that the Repealers do not propose any measures to accompany the repeal , which measures would guarantee the benefit of repeal to the mass of the people . Second , Because the repealers have been the unrelenting persecutors of the GoactiBt body . Third , because the anti-Corn Law movement was got up to put down Chartism . Mr . O'Brien proceeded to speak at great length iu support of the above , exhibiting as ha proceeded , the . yill&ny and rascality , of the repealers . His remarks were responded to by the most tremendous cheering . Mr . O'Brien then replied to Mr . Hollyoake ,, with whom ..
though he differed , he expressed himself as * being highly pleased . Mr . Otley then moved the thanks of the'meeting * -to " - '' Mr . O'Brien . Mr . Harney seconded tho motion , which was carried , by acclamation . Three glorious cheers were then givea for Mr . O'Brien , three for Mr . ' - . O'Connor * , and three for the Charter , when the meeting dissolved . The proceedings lasted , upwards of four hours , it being , past twelve o ' clock , when the chair was vacated . The great length of the proceedings and the Crowded state of our columns must be our excuse for giviiwf but this very brief and imperfect outline' of the business of tbe evening . We mast riot forget to mentioa that a great number of the fair sex were present each evening , and appeared to feel deep interest in the truth- telling statements of the PdorMan ' t Guardian . Mr . O'Brien has done an immense amofint of good by his visit to Sheffield , the fruits of which we trust will be speedily seen . /
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3 UPPOHBEN . —On Sunday lak Mr . Yevers , of liuduersfield , delivered an excellent address to an attentive and numerous audience , aftei-which several persons came forward and enrolled their names as members of the National Charter Association , both males and females . On Monday xast , Mr . Duffy related to us tbe horrors of refined cruelty practised in Northallertoa Hell-hole , and urged on his hearers the necessity of joining the National Charter Association , for the obtainment of Universal Suffrage , which alone could save the working classes from the gnawing fangs of Whig and Tory tyranny . At the conclusion or his address , . three cheers were given for Mr . O'Connor , three for Frost , Williams , and Jones ,, and three hearty cheers for a Repeal of tbe Union ; after which , thirteen more persons came forward and joined the . Association . Our room is capable of holding above four hundred persons , and is crammed to suffocation every time we have & leotuie delivered
n it . HOWDEN .-Mr . Skeviugton lectured here on Thursday , the 14 th , in the Market Place , to a verycrowded audieace , fully exposing the present evils bearing on society by the means of class legislation , the Chartists- of Howden pledging themselves to agitate for nothing less thnn tbe Charter , and to join the Association , - ' WOZ . VERHAJWPTON . —Onr cause increases , and our principles are spreading far and near in these districts . Our meeting was well attended on ; Wednesday evening , and seven fresh members wer » enrolled . On Sunday , in the morning , Mr . Candy , lectured at Bilston , to some thousands of the miner * and colliers . His exertions have been crowned with abundant success—upwards of three hundred good members , and a happy spirit of unity w > d
love to our holy cause ib manifested , and each , member seemB to outvie the other in striving to promote the principles of Chartism . We fully reckon on twenty thousand signatures for the Petition , and are determined to do everything in our power to > induce our noble-minded patriot , Feargus O'Connor , to pay ua a visit . Lads Gravb . —Mr . Candy lectured here on Sunday afternoon to an attentive congregation ; and likewise read the National Petition , and the Glasgow Demonstration . This little place ia quite healthy in the cause of Chartism . Bbadlet and Halus Greek . —On Monday evening , Mr . H . Candy unfurled the banner of Chartism here to a numerous audience . It vrs& fully expected that Mr , Mason would have been able to come ; but not obtaining him , Candy was sent for from Wolverhampton , a distance of five miles .
BAB « SLE 7 . —TheBarnsley Chartists beld their usual weekly meeting on Monday last , when 10 s . were agreed to be sentto the Executive , at Manchester . The . Secretary read a letter from tbe Hon . J . 8 . Wortley M . P ., in answer to a memorial sent to the Home Office , in behalf of Win . Ashton , and Jo » epb Crabtree , of which tbe following is a copy : —
' TO MSt PBTSa HOST . Sib , —With reference to a memorial which I received a short time since , to be transmitted to tbe Secretary of State , in behalf of Joseph Crabtree and William Ashton . I have now to enclose the answer which I have lately received to that application , which I , forward herewith . I regret to find tbat it is unfavourable , I remain , Sir , obediently , J . STDAET WOKTtET . The following is the answer : — Whitehall , 11 th Oc& 2842 . Sir , —Secretary Sir James Graham haviog carefully considered your application in behalf of Joseph Crabtree and William Aahton , I am directed to express to you bis regret , thai there it no sufficient ground to Justify him , consistently with hi * public doty , in advising her Majesty , to comply with the prayer thereof .
I am , Sir , Tour most obedient humble servant , H . Makhbrs SviTOff . The Hon . J . S . Wortley . STONE , Staftobdshibk . —A depvUUoafraaHaav ley visited this place on Monday last , for the pupate of formiig a Charter Association , they were aet by ao interdict , the Tory magistrate forbade tbe landlord , oa pain of loss of his license , from permitting such bane ten u Chartists to open any anociattoa at his bouse , and although the room was properly Jttedvpfbrtte occasion , they were obliged to leave without being able to speak to the people . Bstthomgh aafbtafaltyiuay has prevailed in this ease , yet tha Tisit baa notbetft without good , and though tbey must sot meet at a public-house , yet such is their determination , tibak if they cannot meet in public , they will meet ia private home * aad sow tbe seed of Chartism , even in deianee of tbft power of tyiawueal and haughty magittratefc
To The Imperial Chartists.
TO THE IMPERIAL CHARTISTS .
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— : — .. •* ¦ ' —'¦ . . " . ' .. ¦ Astronomy—Mr . Topbam , ( late of Winchester College , ) delivered two lectares on astronomy , in tie Theatre Royal , Sheffield , on tbe cTenings of Monday and Wednesday laet , to muWOW and delighted audiences .
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AND LEEDS GINEML AivlETISER . - « . ' . .. ¦?_¦? : . ¦ ¦ ¦ -. -- ¦¦ - ¦ . - ' ; : : "" ; — .- ¦¦' - ' ¦ , . v ' -vt - '¦ ¦ ¦ ;•! . ;• ; ¦¦ - : ¦ ¦¦ . * ¦ ¦; ... >; " . ' . ¦ .. .. . ¦¦ : ¦ . ... . : :- ¦¦ _ ¦
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YOL . IT . NO . 306 / SATTJIlM ^ ^ ™ %£ V ^ £% ZZF > '
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 23, 1841, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct866/page/1/
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