The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-06-20
From he sslionsl Gazette.
THE CHARTISTS.

jects Of which are bul IiilIe understood
beyond The kingdom. We must not look
10 The Wing and Tory prints for any fair
representation on Ibis subject. Even in
The foreign correspondence OF several
leading American journals. which we
have read. there 10 very partial view Ia
ken Of The measures and Strength Of this
mass Of adsersaries 10 ihe present sys.
TEN. Ii Is matter in which al our in
IelligenI readers should be interested; II
10 already one Of solemn imponsnce 10
The British Government. and is frsughl
with consequences Of the utmost moment
10 The people Of The realm.
The name " Charlisls" is adopted BY
the party. - The advocates 81 q new Char
ter or Bill ri Rights. which IL is their
purpose 10 have passed as fundamental
law. The charter We have procured.
The preamble is in these words:
I" Whereas. 10 insure, 10 a. FAR IS IL is
possible by human forethoughi and wis.
dom. the JUST government Of The people.
IL is necessary 10 subject those who have
The power Of making The laws. 10 q
wholesome and strict responsibility 70
those whose duty ], is TO obey them
when made:
And whereas. this responsibility is best
enforced through the insIrumsnialily OF
body which emansies directly from,
and is itself Immediately subject 10 the
whole people, and which completely re-
presents their feelings and interests:
And whereas. The Commons House OF
Parliament now exercises. in the name
and on The supposed behalf Of The people.
the power Of making The laws. il ought
10 fulfil with wisdom and with honesty
the grea, duties imposed on il, to be made
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 a, length. the essence Of which
is UNIVERSAL SUFFRAGE, with certain
conditions. The mode OF conducting
elections. the duration Of Parliament, etc.
are also sci forth in full. TO further the
adoption OF their views The Chsrlists have
had tins insirumen, circulated With o
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
J in March last, aud the speeches o
members may be viewedss The expression
. Of The opinions OF their political friends.
. The meetings Of this assembly. held
almost nightly for several successive
weeks. we're attended by immense crowd
, Of citizens. well dressed. respectable il
) their appearance, and orderly in thei
. attention 10 the proceedings. Anon
: the speakers there was no difference q
sentiment az 10 the evils of the existing
system Of representation, or Of determine
lion 10 urge the passage Of the Charier
! although The expediency Of using i'm
J mediate force in case Of lis rejection b!
the House of Commons, which was full,
anticipated. caused a division anon
them. and a final secession Of seyers
members, During the sillings oil ih
, Convention. The addresses TO the peopl
. were characterized by grea, orasorica
: ability. Among the more ardent, n
terms Of reProach against the government
. and the arIsIocracy were too leryid an
: comprehensive, and no menaces to
! daring for open avowal.-"rwelve ihous
: sand signatures" said one speaker, shaw
. been appended 10 the petition in m
, district. and Tor every signature there
pike. and for every pike a stout arr
4 when The hour for action shall arrive.
, We have now msde," said another
"c cur marks with quill pen and in blac
4 ink;-when we next make them. IL hi
: petition be rejected, il shall be with
steel pen aud IN red ink. Such sen
+, fences as these were received with ten
pest of applause, aud whether the nearer
: would have acted or not. il is certain tia
: their feelings were wrought 10 the highes
: pitch Of excitement .F
3 Under The operation Of the reform bill
: so called, The great majority Of the sub
+, iecis of the British crown, End thei
. condition very lille better than under III
. rotten borough system. We forget III
, SUBJECT Of debate. but il was recently sal
: in The House Of Commons, by tor!
member, in his place" This House.
: contend, is not and never was,a represen
/. ,a,ion Of the people Of England. The En-
a glish constitution knows in fact, no sucl
e branch Of government as a popula
a representation. The House Of Commons
: like either the King or the House Q
: Lords, is but one Of The Three Estates.
q This sentiment was repeated by ano,he
member OF The same party. Mr.. 0'Cou
nell remarked in substance. /" that Oh
assertion vas literally correct" In .
aggregate population Of abou. 'hirt
b millions i'm Great Britain, there are les
i Than eight hundred thousand men VIII
5 ere entitled to vote; and Of this numbe