The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-04-30 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING AT BRIDPORT.

The electors, non-electors and particularly the
compound householders of the borough of Bridport
were invited to attend a public meeting at the Town.
all on Wednesday evening and to take into considers-
Mod the Government Reform Rill, and it was annouooed
that the Revs. R. L. Carpenter sod H. Callaway, Mr.
Choker. of Yeovil, and others would address the
meeting. A handbill was shortly afterwards limed
asking "What have parsons to do with polite',
who is the Rev. R. L Carpenter, who is the Rev.
H. Callaway, and who is Clinker. ?" This bi I caused
• good deal of amusement, and was, we think, the
means of drawing • large number to attend the
meeting, •rpecting there would be some fun, but we
do not believe there was any intention to disturb
the meeting sod prevent the speaker. brag heard,

and we are given to understood that the uproar and
*infusion which did take place there was owing to
Mr. Salisbury. who is stated to be one of the
orignalsirs of the meeting, saying be understood an
Organieed attempt to distorbthe meeting and prevent
t in speakers being heard had been arranged before-
hand ,and that v•riots persons were there t.r that
express porpt.m. Another till WU also lamed hy
those who got up the meeting, that ,Mr. Mark Pries,
of the National R. form Union, Manehetter, would
deliver an address on the mouton. It vtas supposed
it was intended to denounce the conduct of Mr.
Mitchell, nue of the Liberal members for the borough;
lei voting for the Government in the late division no
the Reform Bill, but very little was said about that,
ethh,r!: e:m, Itn(lii gshh"y the th.l.eih: awlmhe whether eber
' the speakers appearing to be very cautious in what
Lmesrvetire party. Some a the
speakers gemmed determined' to Onersider that the g.m,duchormboiore. ian,teint t. 0.11
must he bad MI it was brought Al by the Con -
“Ctrativee, and to prefer that it should be fliferwts nut
and the question of Reform deferred for an indefinite
time rather than that party should pees it.
Mr. Wasttegr was voted into the chair, and after
• few preliminary remarks he read the following
letters from the borough members :
"18th Apr 11,1867.
"8, St. Helen's Place, London,
"Dear SY, --I have received veer letter of the 16th,
and regret very mach that it will not he in my power
to attenl your proposed meeting.. the 24th instant, as
I cannot leam I,tidon next week.
"You are, no doubt, aware that the amendment
proposed by Mr. Gladstone was (ho subject el much
debate among Reformers, spd that many whose attach'
mem to the came is beyond dispute, were in favour 0
going on with the Bill, hoping by subsequent amend(
meets to make it • good one.
"html I thought, and think, that the Government
clause was bad, heesuse it makes • distinction between
thee.' who are to he admitted to the franchise, and
thme who now enjoy it. That d'rtinotion seems to me
invidious, and unnecessary. I saw no principle in
tenoned rating to comiterbslanee my strong objection to
this, and I, therefore, gave my hearty support to Mr.
Gladstone.
"I remain, yours truly.
"K. 1). HODGSON.
"Mr. George Salisbury, Bridport."

"London, April, 18b. 18177.

"Sir.—Au I cannot attend the proposed sooting on
the 24th, I think it only ri,ht to send an answer to
your letter of the Ifith, which reached me this morning.
The vote to which you object was given on what I
considered the clearest grounds, and with • lively
recollection of the Whip having, in 1859, induced must
of the Liberal party to throw out a Reform Bill, and
then left them seven years without any attempt at a
substitute. I had to choose between two measures, one
that of kir. Oladstooe, supported by the most bigoted
ultra T•ce In the blouse of Commons. Lord rranborne,
which proposed to rloor an invidious di.qualilleation
lmno lor all below £1 rating, and the other that of the
Government, based on what lOrmly believe to be the
only possible, permanent, and final settlement—house-
hold migrate, coupled with personal rating Is oely the
return to the old wars i 4 the constitution. scot and lot.
Even muse Bill now ,t olds, the trouble taken by any
householder to be put on the regietei will be so slight,
that those who will not take the trouble must attach a
very slight v..lue to the franchise. The Bill is, however,
quite open to alterations, and two I shall support.
"lat. That the liousaholder should not be called upon
to pay more than the compound rate, and is thus
subjected to • so-called "eye."
'lnd. That there should he 2...1 difference between
those above and below EIO, as to residence, one
year.
"*-