The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-02-21 00:00:00

THE LANCASHIRE REFORM UNION ON THE

HU DU ET.

A crowded meeting of the Council of the Lancashire
R formers' Union was held on Monday afterni ozi week at
Manchester to consider what steps should be taken in
support of Mr. Glailetone's Budget. Among those pre-
sent were Mr. Bright. M.P., Mr. Barley, M.P., and
many influential members of the Liberal party from
various part* of the country.
Mr. G. Wilson, who presided, said he bad never been
much distinguished for praising Governments (laughter,)
but when he saw in all the newspapers on Saturdav
week that noble treaty with the signature of Richard
Cobden (cheers), and read the statement at the head of
it, that the Governments of England and France were
equally animated with the desire to increase the friend-
ship and extend the commerce of the two nations, he
was inclined to say, "God save the queen (Ciseers.)
It was not long after Mr. Colelen's departure front this
country before we beard something of Owe negotiations
now concluded, which he undertook to say would be of
more benefit to the French as well as ourselves than all
the negotiations of all our ainlimiwolors for years pre-
viously. (Cheers.) Mr. Colalen'a labours. however, would
have been wasted if we had not bail • Chancellor of the
Exchequer alive to the necesities of the ease. (Cheers.)
We might go back to Sir Robert Peel for his equal, but
certainly should not find his superior. ',eking to all
the difficulties to be iiiet, and the numerical divisions of
the House of I 'otuilions,he believed there WAS no instance
in record where a Chaim:nor of the Exchequer au nobly
and feariesaly discharged his duties.
Mr. J. Heywood, late M.P.. moved a vote of thanks to
Mr. Colalea, M. Chevalier, and the associated political
economists of l'arei, for their eminent services in the
cause of free trade.
Mr. Hugh Mason (Ashton seconded the motion, which
was carried unani ttttt usly.
Mr. 11. Ashworth ..... red. and Mr. Itylands seconded
a resolution to the effect that the budget was received
with great pleausure by the meeting, who pledged them-
selves to give it their best support.
Mr. S. Pope, Mr. W. Harvey, Ur. Robinson, and Mr.
J. C. Dyer took exception to some of the ii tails of the
budget, vu hue approving highly the treaty with France,
and desired that the meeting should not be committed to
approve the measure in all respects. Mr. Dyer, especially
protested against this association being made the medium
of confirming the Goveruinent in a system of exorbitant
taxation.
The Chairman suggested • modification of the resole.
lion, to the effect that the budget was approved, subject
to such alteration of detaih as might hereafter appear
desirable.
In this form the resolution was paseed by acclama-
tion.
Mr. John Platt moved, and Mr. R. Stuart seconded, a
resolution, desiring the holding of public meetings
throughout the country in support of the treaty mid the
budget.
The motion having been agreed to, the Chairman said
GM, was huts prelioduary meeting. and, the business
bebre it being now concluded, it was open to any geutle-
man to sugg.,st further proceedings.
Mr. Bright then rose, in answer to repeated calls, and
spoke for about twenty minutes. He said lie was of opi-
nion the more the whole matter was examined the more
they would be obliged to divide it into tao part', and,
as the whole constitution of the world seemed to be of
good and evil, so we might say of this financial ticheuie.
Su far as it referred to free trade it was, in his opinion,
unexceptionably good, and to be applauded ; but there
was another branch of it to which Mr. Dyer referred
which was bad to the last degree, and ought to be con-
demned by everybody. He referred more particularly
to the enormous increase in the military expenditure,
which hail been constantly augmenting since the year
1833. It must not be supposed, however, that this mea-
sure, because it was great, or because in its greatnesa it
wu mainly good, would easily pass the House of Com-
mons. The real fact was that the commercial treaty had
been received with great coldness among those chases
from whom our representatives were chiefly chosen. He
hoped every man in the country who approved the mea-
sure would be earnest in making his approbation known.
(Cheers.)
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