The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-24 00:00:00

THE CONVENTION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
HENRY-STREET, HAMPSTEAD-ROAD, SEPT. 19.
Sir,—The Sun being the most liberal of the daily
papers, and, as such, the most extensively read amongst
the great body of Democrats, or Chartists, permit me,
as a working man, and as one belonging to that numo
rous party, to ask them, through its columns, whether
they mean to elect another Convention ; and if so,
whether they think the late delegates fit to be elected
again ? I, for one, unhesitatingly say that, with few
exceptions, they are not. For why ? 1 will tell you.
Because, in the first place, they have most basely de-
ceived us as regards the numbers that were prepared
practically to demand the Charter. Who has not heard
their boastings of their hundreds of thousands ready to
take the Charter by brute force if it were not immediately
granted ? Who has not heard them boast of the
thousands that were determined to shed the last drop
of their blood rather than see a Member of the Con-
vention imprisoned ? I myself heard a Birmingham
Delegate say (at a meeting at the Archery-rooms, New-
road, St. Pancras), that there were fifty thousand men
organized and armed, in the district of Birmingham,
that could be brought together in one hour; and that
they alone were determined to have the Charter, even
if no one else would help them : and as for one being
put into a prison, why it was monstrous to think of it.
Rather than that should be, said he, every prison should
be razed to the ground. But yet, after these declara-
tions, who does not know that two of the noblest of
patriots are now lingering in a dungeon at that very
place, because one of them called the conduct of the
policemen " bloody and unconstitutional," when he saw
them knocking people down for being at a peaceful
meeting ; and yet scarce a voice, let alone an arm, is
raised to resist it f Who has not heard of a Delegate
declaring that there were 100,000 armed men in the
district of Ashton, and yet that very Delegate who de-
clared it is now in a prison. Who has not heard of the
tens of thousands, in Yorkshire, whom Bussey and
O'Connor represent? Who has not heard of the
mighty masses in and about Manchester that were de-
termined to have the Charter ?—The Kersal Moor
meeting to wit. Who has not heard of the warlike
declarations of a Dr. Taylor, and of Harney and his
men marching up to London ? And who does not
know that Mr. F. O'Connor is the greatest political
that ever existed? Why he actually told the men
in Scotland, when on his recent tour there, that he at-
tended a meeting on Kennington-common on the first
of the three sacred days, where, says he," there were one
hundred thousand who were determined on having the
Charter, "when Iwell know that,at the most, there were
net more than from ten to twelve thousand. But
this man seems so fond of exaggeration that nothing
seems amiss to him. I might adduce other
instances to show the unfitness of a large
portion of the late Delegates, or in other words,
to show that they are not to be trusted ; but, as you
must know these things as well as myself, it is perfectly
useless. The financial department might be commented
upon, as there is a considerable degree of suspicion at-
tached to it—a suspicion fully borne out by the Report
in the Northern Star of last Sunday week. But I need
say no more ; enough, I am sure, is known by us all so
as to guide us better for the future. Our plan of action
wtll, I hope, be something like the following :—that the
Convention shall consist of at least two hundred mem-

tiers, each member to represent 5,000, at least, of or-
ganized and payable members. This would be better
than a petition of two million signatures, because half
who sign their names care nothing about it, and in
some cases know not what it is for. But a Convention
with a million of organized men would be able to do
something, for this reason, because it would represent
nearly twice as many as the present House of Com-
mons. Therefore agitate and organize ; get a million
as I have stated and you are free! And to effect this,
direct the whole of your energies to the dissemination of
political knowledge, by means of lectures, discussions,
and giving away tracts.
Sir, I apologise for thus intruding upon your time ;
its insertion 1 can scarce expect, because it is so un-
grammatical. But, how can it be otherwise, when from
my childhood I have worked from 12 to 15 hours per
day? and still continue to do so now ; and when I am
not able to do that any longer, my only prospect is to
end a miserable existence in some Yoor•law Union, with
the degraded name of a pauper. This is my only pros-
pect, except the " Charter" be made to become the law
of the land ; the effect of Which, according to my op i•
nion, will be to better the condition of the working peo-
ple, at the expense of those who do nothing, (or at least
nothing useful to society), but yet are so immensely
rich. And will not this be just? Yes, for most as-
suredly the great Creator who created the mighty
universe, and filled this, our earth, w;,th plenty, never
intended that some should live in idleness, luxury, and
splendour, whilst others should toil frons morn till night,
and from year to year, withotit getting many of the
common necessaries of life. No, no, such a state of
society was never intended, although the Bishops and
rich Parsons would fain make us believe as much.
In conclusion, allow rue to say, that I shall feel
most grateful if you can possibly insert this, because I
entertain an idea, that it will do some little good to
the parties for whom it was intended. Respectfully, &c.
E. HARRISSON.

THE NEW AND POPULAR WORKS OF Ftc-
TioN, just published by Mr. Colburn, 13, Great Ma:ibr,-
raugh-street, and to be had at all the libraries :.-1. Little
Pedlington and the Pedlingtonians, by John Poole, Esq.
2. Morton of Morton's Hope. an Autobiography. 3.
Temptation; or, A Wife's Perils. 4, The Phantom
Ship, by Capt. Marryat. 5. Gurney Married, by Theo-
dore Hook, Esq. 6. The Only Daughter, edited by the
oiCnfr f..;,trihrrniiviea rte ia,f•e,b Talc.y
neighbourhood,
Author of " The Subaltern." 7. The Lion ; a Tale of
the Coteries. 8. Fair Rosamond, by the Author of
' Royston Gower." 9. The Youth of Shakspeare, by the
Author of " Shakspeare and his Friends." 10. The
Also, just ready-12. The Romance
Banished, edited by the Author of " 1-lajji Elha," 11.
arid we have been glad to hear
has been brought to a close
fisNilliessryßurney.
productive one to the fisherman.—New-
-1 castle
that ri i iti
Chronicle.
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