Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-04-27

EsoLAsp-Tnr GRrXr CnARrisr MEET
No.-The last accounts from England, in
dcate tina, the movement of the people through
out the other parts of Europe in favor Of more
liberal principles of Government, is sensibly
felt in that country.
A correspondent of tho N. Y. Advertiser,
writing from London, under date Of Apnl 7th,
givts the following particulars in relation to
the great Chanist movement in England.
During the last week OF two London has
been in state Of anxiety on account OF
Chartist meeting appointed to be held at an
open space called Remington common, abouta
mile and a half from the houses o. Parliament,
on Monday next, the 10Th of April, wiyA tho
view of accompanying some delegates Of their
body in the presentation Of petition to the
House of Commons. The objects ofthat peIt-
ion comprise the six points ofwhat is now called
" the peoples charter namely: i. Univer-
sal suffrage. 2. Vote by ballot. 3 No proper
Ity qualification. a. Annual parliaments. S.
Payment Of members, and 6. Equal electoral
districts and it was announced that the pro-
Icession would consist Of 100000 men-an
amount Of course greatly exaggerated, although
tneIc CiIi De nO QucStlOn tndt dCtudi
bcrs would be formidable. To meet this the
Government have found it necessary to resort
to direct interference, and notice has conse-
quently appeared this morning, declaring the
proposed meeting illegal. The Chartjsts have
however, held conference this afterScca and
they have decided TO disregard the probibNion.
In regard to the present position of England,
the same correspondent remarks.
Intelligent minds cannot help recognizing
that we have an ignorant pOpulace,a brutal SOL
diery, and 800 millions sterling Of debt, and
although the Ang)o-Saxon character is essen
tally conservative, it is dangerous a. such d
moment as the present to have little to rely
upon but this uDtaught instinct. What is de-
sired is government that should advance and
not wait to be driven. One that should take
the lead by boldly announcing social and legal
reforms, such as equality Of religious sects;
abolition Of the gross, inequalities and injustice
OF the income tax, stamp excise law and legacy
duty laws the abolition of entails and of prim-
Ogenlture the substitution of Christian in
place of revengefnl code of criminal jurispru-
dcnce, abolition Of game laws general re-
duction Of expenditure; extension Of the suff.
rage, and 80 forth, not in revolutionary spirit
but with the distinct understanding that com
mon sense and common honesty shall be ap-
piled to the amendment of these and all other
portions of our laws and institutions, without
regard to class interests and obsolete ideas.
Such course would be truly conservative,
but it is alleged that the present Government
mean to act on the Numerically opposite prin-
,iplc. They fear rousing the public mind, and
they think by avoiding these topics to get on
ill the storm has subsidcd. TO my appre-
iension no course could be more fatal, and see
ng as do that Throughout, Europe the prestige
IF the old, official, treaty of Vienna style Of
government Is dead and buried forever, and
hat the intellectual and moral nature of tho
people has now revealed its power and become
nsatabe for progress, cannot help recOgnis-
ng that this country, either by the aid Of its
Government or without its aid, will take part,
md great one, in the drama. Already the
over classes are on the move, and it is painful
o see the Government utterly ignorant of the
ature OF their demands or Of the real intel-
'ence whence these derive their force. There
) not. believe, any class Of men more COM
letely blind to the actual views Of moral phi
,sophy which prevail among the more intelli-
ent portion of the operatives Of England than
hose who compose our Legislature, and more
specially the members Of the Government and
encc there is reason to fear constant mistrust
nd perverse delay in every concession, which
'lll increasingly expose US to tho perils ofa
rlsis.
When ! said just now, that we had an igno-
INT population, alluded to the majority, con-
sting of the agricultural laborcr,, but in all
lr towns there arc vast numbers Of active be-
gs who, though stepped in poverty, possess
ose nervous iemperaments which are always
stlcssIy seeking for information, and these
,ople possess clearer sense of the simple,
tonal and eternal principles of morality than
ose above them. Hence feeling Of con-
mpt on their side, as strong and perhaps quite
just as that which they are called upon to
dure from Others, and If this feeling, goaded
want or excited, as now, by an undefinablc
mpathy, should ever unite with and take as
instrument the brutal animal nature of tho
rely ignoTan, portion Of our population, as
9 see IT among our agriculturists and soldiers,
, should then have to reap consequences such
have Eever yet been visited on any land.