Constitutional Whig

HENRY HUNT AND THE RADICALS.

Henry Hunt is peregrinating through the centre of England—haranguing the people—abusing the Whigs—and endeavouring to form a party among the people on the principle of universal suffrage, annual parliaments, and vote by ballot. This is the legitimate radical party—or rather the democratic party of England. The working classes, as contrasted with the middle classes, appear to take a good deal of interest in the movement. In the House of Commons the party can count only Hunt himself, but out of the House, it seems to be gathering strength. Hunt has proposed an efficient organization—distinct and separate from the political unions of the Whigs. The following extracts throw some light on the matter.

[Courier & Enquirer]

HUNT'S VISIT TO MANCHESTER.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 2.

According to the announcement on the walls of the intended visit of Hunt to Manchester, and the triumphal entry purposed to be given him by his partizans, (the people calling themselves the Political Union of the Working Classes,) that body on Tuesday last about half-past twelve o'clock, left Manchester on their road to Stockport, to meet their distinguished orator and patriot, accompanied by the whole of the tag-rag and bob-tail of the town, the principal part of the working classes being at their usual occupations in the factories. The members of this Union extended a considerable distance, blocking up the road on both sides, by linking their arms together. Two bands of music attended upon them, and a number of flags and banners, bearing the following inscriptions, were exhibited. The Manchester and Salford Political Union of the Working Classes. A banner, with a portrait of the Man of the People, with the inscription "See the conquering hero comes—Here is attachment without interest." "The voice of the People is the voice of God, and must be obeyed." Another, "Vigor and determination will do every thing—No Corn Bill—Annual Parliaments—Vote by ballot, and Universal suffrage." A quantity of black flags and pictures of the scenes of the 16th of August, 1819, with flags bearing the numbers of the districts of the Union, made up the complement of favour, with the exception of each member wearing the tri-color.

Upon arriving at the place appointed for the meeting, the arrangements which had been made on the spot did not appear to please Mr. Hunt, and previous to his addressing the assembly he loaded with abuse several carters who had placed their vehicles in the way so as to prevent access for the carriage to proceed to an eligible spot. The carts were filled with men, women and children, and Mr. Hunt very humanely advised the MOB either TO TURN THEM OUT, or TURN THEM OVER, if they did not move out of the way. Silence being obtained, and Mr. Hunt having commanded all to sit down excepting himself, he commenced his address by hoping they would not call silence, for those persons who did made the most noise. He said that he should commence by proposing three cheers, not for the King, not for the Queen, not for the Tories, not for the Whigs, not for the Bishops, not for the Devil—but for the people. (Great applause.) Three loud cheers having been given for the people, Mr. Hunt proceeded. He was sure it was impossible that he could be heard by half of the people present, unless they gave him exclusive attention. He was delighted to find, from what he had heard of the meeting in Manchester, that the people had begun to know their rights, and to exercise them; they had resolved to be no longer the tools of the Whigs, the Tories or the Devil—(a laugh)—those factions being alike hostile to the liberties of the people, though the Tories had never shown themselves half so badly disposed to the rights of the people as the Whigs. (Hear, hear.) Since last he had the pleasure of meeting the radicals on those plains, the naughty Lords had thrown out the Whig Reform Bill, and yet for all that, he did not see any of them crying for its sad fate—(Mr. Hunt here instituted a parallel between the fate of the Reform Bill, in a story about a brick, a child, and the moon, which was so extremely applicable and sprightly, to say nothing of its humour that even his own partisans looked no more than usually grave.) He had been studying ever since he had left Manchester what degree the Whig Reform Bill would be of service to the working classes, in case of its passing into a law, and had not been able to discover that any benefit could arise to them from it. He was sent to the House of Commons by the working classes of Preston, because they thought that he would advocate their interests in that House as faithfully as he had invariably done out of it, and that he had done alone, and would continue to do, in spite of all the falsehoods issued against him by the public Press, which was paid by the whigs out of the secret service money to libel him—(Loud cheers.) Notwithstanding all these attacks he was now in Manchester, surrounded by 20,000 of his fellow subjects, and did he look any worse in health or appearance than when he was addressing them before—(Cries of "no".) No! Lies break no bones certainly. But he would ask those now before him if ever he had done any thing contrary to the interests of the working classes—(Cries of "no, no," and "yes, yes."). Mr. Hunt here observed those present who were of opinion that the Whig Ministry were unworthy of any confidence from the people would signify the same by holding up their hands. This display of mob feeling was also carried to Mr. Hunt's satisfaction. Some person here cried out, "Lord Grey and Co. will use none of your blacking old Hunt after this." The people of Manchester, Mr. Hunt continued, are now stigmatized as mobs, when they meet together to express their opinions. It was only three months ago that they were complimented as the most enlightened, the most amiable people on the face of the earth. He was informed that the Whigs were forming armed Unions for the purpose of carrying the Whig Bill. If that was the case, he thought that the radicals had quite as much right to arm, to carry their Bill, as the Whigs, for what was sauce for the goose, was sauce for the gander. He did not advise the radicals to arm themselves, he wished them to carry their measures peaceably; but if the Whigs conspired together, the radicals must unite also. He intended to propose to them a plan of union similar to the Northern Union he had planned when in prison, each person being a member paying a subscription of one penny per week, and let them choose an officer, and call him a sergeant if they thought proper, and when they become one hundred strong, let the chief officer be termed a Captain or a Centurion. He hoped they would consider of the plan he had broached, and firmly unite together, and by-and-by their fullest wishes would be realized. A Bill would pass without doubt that would give them a cheap loaf, candle, soap, and tea, duty free. He intended in the first week of the next Session to bring before the House of Commons the subject of taking off the Assessed Taxes, and the duty off malt, and substituting a proportional property tax.