THREATENED CRUSADE IN FAVOUR OF THE CLAIMANT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2593, 30 April 1877, Page 3

THREATENED CRUSADE IN FAVOUR OF THE CLAIMANT.

The executive of the Magna ■Charta. Association-have issued a proclamation, signed by Dr Xenealy, M.P.j condemning the course adopted by Mr De Morgan in threatening to raise 100,000 men from all parts of the kingdohV arid march at their head to the House* -of Commons, to demand the : release of the' Claimant from; Partmoor. The proclamation states that the proposition, is 1 illegal and dangerous, and that it.was-.by a similar demonstration in the last century that the Gordon Biots were inaugurated, in which riots London was sacked-by a disorderly mob, theigaoT of JN^wgate thrown open, and lives and property to a large extent sacrificed., All-Magna-Charta Societies are therefore enjoined to take no part in the' proceedings. -Mr I)e Morgan, who is travelling; through, the country on a lecturing tour, said in one "of his recent addresses that he'fully intended ; before the middle of March to'gather upwards of 100,000 men to support him in his demand for the immediate, and unconr ditional release of the Claimant. He was making arrangements with:- all the

railway companies to run cheap trains from all the principal towns. When he gained admission to the House of Commons he should prove to the Speaker that the claimant Might- to be immediately released, even granting for the sake of argument that he was Arthur Orton. He had also written to the Queen, and had taken measures to ensure that it would be read by the Queen her*;; self, and no one else vithout permission. He had been 12 months making his preparations; and he could gather from 20,000 to 30,000 men before the walls of Parliament at a day's notice. -If he should be arrested, Messrs Skipworth and Hutchinson would take the lead, and arrangements had been made to fill the. breach daily for 12 successive days. If the House of Commons., should reject their" demand, they would go to the Queen herself, and take their stand on the Bill of Bights. He would demand the dissolution of Parliament, and a hew Parliament would be elected pledged to effect the release of the Claimant. He should depend upon the assistance of the men engaged in Woolwich Arsena, and4bOQ men who had been drilled as volunteers.. He intended to demand that Colonel. t-Heiiderson and. the other, police officers should be bound over to keep the peace. ; .A circular would be sent to-every soldier, and if he were iudicted.for treason through tampering with the troops, he would go to the scaffold proud to be a martyr.—Daily News, February. 16. • '•■'