Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/391

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DELEGATION OF TURN-OUTS.
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tary upon the people assembled on St. Peter's Field, would be the day chosen by the chartists for their retaliation. A public procession was talked of, and the presence of Feargus O'Connor was expected; but if that was intended, he had caution and prudence enough to avoid the personal risk. A very numerous meeting, however, was held in Carpenters' Hall, of delegates from almost every trade in Manchester and in the neighbouring towns, at which a man of the name of Duffy, a chartist, complained of men who were leaguers one day and special constables the next. The following resolutions were proposed:—"1. That this meeting pledges itself to discontinue all illegal proceedings; and further, that they will endeavour to preserve the public peace. 2. That we cannot exist with the present rate of wages, and that we are determined not to go to work until we obtain the prices of 1839. 3. That each master do pay the same for the same fabric of cloth throughout the whole of the manufacturing districts. 4. That it is the opinion of this meeting thatour political rights are imperatively necessary for the preservation of our wages when we gain them we, therefore, pledge ourselves to act with our other friends, and trades generally, in gaining the people's charter, as the only means of securing the said rights." The result of the deliberations was that 58 were for the people's charter, and would not return to work till it was gained, 19 would wait the result of another meeting, and seven who thought the movement should be solely for an advance of wages. There can be no doubt that this meeting tended greatly to lessen the influence of the leaders of the movement. Tens of thousands saw, instantly, the folly and the impossibility of remaining out of work till the charter was obtained, and earnestly desired to retire from the contest, more especially as the congregated masters had issued a resolution: "That the mills and other public works of Manchester and Salford be not opened for work, until the