THE LATE MR CUFFAY.
To the Editor of the Tasmanian Times.
SIR,—Mr Cuffay was one of those political offenders
who twenty-five years ago were banished their
country for the part they took in the agitation for
the People's Chartet." The Reform Bill of '32
although it gave great power to the middle classes,
still left the great body of the people without tbe
franchise, and then it was that they took a bold
stand for their rights. A movement was organized
headed by Fergus O'Connor, a document drawn up,
embodying the charter, and the working classes were
called upon to rally round the leaders and secure at
any price a voice in the government of the country.
The call was quickly responded to and the movement
assumed great proportions : among those who
then rose and distinguished themBelves was Mr
Cuffey. His speeches in various parts of the nation
—always characterized by fervid .earnestness—were
sought after and read with avidity by the class to
whom they were addressed, and he became a marked
man. When the gigantic petition had been rejected
by the parliament—Lord John Russell declaring the
measure of '32 a final one—the chartist leaders fell
into the futal mistake of recommending an appeal to
arms. A day was appointed for a monster demonstration
in London and so great was the excitement that
an insurrection was apprehended. The precautionary
measures adopted by the Government, however, were
of such a character as to awe the chartists, and
although the inhabitants of London on that day
turned out in such numbers as was never before
seen, the affair passed off without any serious occur-
rence. The Government now determined to crush
out the movement. A Treason Felony Act was
passed, and it was publicly proclaimed that those
who continned in their treasonable designs would be
punished by banishment; but the indomitable
spirit of Cnffay could not be broken. He still hurled
his fiery denunciations at the Government, and at
length with a few others he fell a victim to his own
steal. He was betrayed by employed spies, and after an
exciting trial was exiled the land of his birth In this
island he was not at first permitted to take part in
political questions, but since he obtained his free
dom he has acquitted himself as a good citizen.
His political sympathies have always been on the
side of the class to which he belonged. Till very
recently Mr Cuffay followed the calling of a Tailor,
but at length old age compelled him to fall back on
public charity. About six months since he was re-
ceived into the Brickfields Invalid Station where he
remained nntil his death. In his troubles Mr Cuffay
consoled himself with the cheering thought that the
principles for which he was suiferiug were taking
deep root, and developing iu tuseful reforms in the old
country. "The English people"—he would say,
"are enjoving the fruits of that labour, for which
we are suffering''—so it was with Cuffay, and so it
is with others. Mr Cuffay was a man of respectable
parts, in sentiment he was an advanced age he
always insisted on a high standard of political morals,
and would never act from a meaner motive than that
of pure patriotism. No one would attempt to corrupt
him. On the platform be could express himself with
clearness and sometimes with brilliancy. Cuffay
deserves well of the country :tand let us drop on his
grave a generous and grateful tear.
Yours truly,
J. RICHARDS.
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