Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-06-25
Tron the Phiiaeeiphis National GsE.tie.
THE CIlARTlSTS.

Dt,ts.n, the powers and objects of which are bot /
hsile understood beyond the kingdom. We must
no, look to the Wing sn6 Tory prints Tor any fair
representation on this subject. Even IN the for
egn correspondence Of several leading American
joarusls. which we have read. there is very par
tel view taken OF the measures and strength Of this
maze Of sdscrssries TO the present system. |, is
. msttcr in which all our intelligent resders should
be Interested 1t 10 slrea6y one OF solemn impor-
lance to The British government, and IL ftsugh:
with Consequences Of he utmost momcn, 10 the
PEOPLE OF The realm.
The name Of chsuisis 10 adopted by the parry,
- the advocates Of the new Charter or Ball OF
Rights. which II is their purpose 10 have passed as
= Fundamental law. The charter we have procutedi
and the prcsmbie 10 10 these words:
" Where's to insure, in az far as il is possible
by human fpre,hough, and wisdom, the just gov
eminent of the people, 1t is necessary to subject
those xho have the power II making laws, 10
wholesome and strict responsibility to those whose
duty II 10 10 obey them when made.
And whereas this responsibility is best enforc-
Cd through the fundamentally Of body which
smcn.,es directly from, and is itself immediately
sobjec, to- the whole people. snG which complete
" represents their feelings and interests:
"And whereas, as the Commons House OF Par
Nsmeni now exercises, in the name and on the sup
,ssed behalf Of the people the power OF making
The avs, il ought, in order To fulfil with wisdom
ssd honesty, Hse great duties imposed on it, TO be
nade the faithful and accurate representation OF
The peoples wishes. feelings and interests:
BE il therefore enacted, &c. &c"
The provisions Of The act are then reci,ed at
length, the essence Of which is UNIVERSAL SUP
MACK, with certain conditions. The mode Of
conducting elections. the duration Of Parliament,
&c., are also sc, forth in full. To further the
adoption of their views the chariists have had this
petition Giro ula,cd with petition to the house Of
Commons for signatures, and the number OF names
already signed amounts to upwards Of a million
and a half. A national convention Of delegates
from this body met in London in March last and
the fpccchcs Of members may be viewed as the ex
prcHeon Of the opinions of .heir political friends.
The meetings Of this assembly held nightly for
| several successive weeks, were attended by i'm
mensc crowds OF citizens, well dressed. respecta-
bic IN their appearance and orderly in their alien
ton 10 the proceedings. Among the speakers
there was no difference of sentiment TO the evil.
Of the existing system Of representation. and de
termination to urge the passage of the Charter
although the expediency Of using immediate force
10 csse cf its rejection by he house of Commons
which was fully anticipated, caused a division
among Them and a final accession Of several mem
bcrs. During ,bc siitngs Of the convention
addresses were characterized by great oraiora
ability. Among The ardent, no terms o
reprosch against the government and the arlstoc
fscy were too fer,d and comprehensive and n
mensccs too daring for open avowal. "Twclv
thousand signatures. said one speaker, "have bee
appended to the petition in my district and "a
every signature there is pike. and for every pix
a stout arm when the hour Of action shall arrive.
We have nov made said another, 'our mark
with quill pen and in black ink-when &c ne'
make them. ii ths petition be rejected, II shall b
with steel pen and IN red ink Such sentence
as these were received with tempest o. epolaus
md whether the hearers would have acted or no
Il is ccr,sin that their feelings were wrought 10 Il
highest pitch of excitement.
Under the operation Of the reform bill, so Gale
the great mojoriiy Of the subjects Of the Bril
crown, find their condition very little better th
under the rotten borough system. We forget q
subject OF debate. but It was recently said IN q
House Of Commons by tory member in his pla
This house. contend. is no, and never was
representation OF the people of England. I
English constitution knows in fact. no such bran
Of government as popular representation. L
House Of commons. like either the king or
House OF Lords. is but one Of The Three Estates
This sentiment repeated by another member
the same party. Mr.. 0Connell remarked in 81
usuee. "a that the assertion WAS literally corree
Ions in grea, Britain. there are less than eight III
dred thousand men who are entitled To vote, ont
this number it is estimsted that at ieas, two h
cred thousand for various reasons, may not es
else the privilege; tina, only one fifth Of the p
pie have even = nominal representation in brat
Of the government.
Ia this state Of things. without voice IN m
ing :her own laws ssddled with national d
ssreing on q thousand million sterling, bled by
arms Of nesriy a hundred thousand men VIII
their own borders. snd r,dSen ay a church est
hshnent costing more than the Evangelism of
ehrisierdosn. IL cannot be matter OF surprise
the inielhges, and industrious classes ofthe Bri
islands should demand change in their poll,
Institutions. radical change. and arm ,hemse
70 exact u in the event OF refusal. II is
taown that the charter docs not embrace the .
nor views Gifts adsveaes. II is the mere co
sone Of new governmental fbfie--of ter
fnt tho equal rights and privileges Of all the pee
With ssiisfsctory asesos Of information, hove
&C do ma sn,ic'ps,e any violent measures a