The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-07-10 00:00:00

gisicr to Horace

Longshot
Ericthonius

Merser.
belling .
Cup....

a Sambo (31b)

•
ORDgR OF RUNNING.
2 13 £lOO Plate • 4.25
2 45 IA Derby's Sweepstalus ..3
3 35 Handieap Bweepsti*
...5 40

THE ATTE:OT TO ASSASSINATE A FRENCH ;VOGL--
It will be remembered the President of the Imperial
Court of Toulouse was shot at last month while leaving
the bench, and that the assassin, a diSappointed suitor;
named Guilhem, was then and there tried by the court,
under a special article of the code, and sentenced to im-
prisonment and hard labour fora life. The judgei
admitted in his favour "extenuating circumstances," in
order to relieve themselves from the necessity of pro-
nouncing a sentence of death. The Court of Cessation,
last week, quashed this conviction on the ground that
the prisoner, being sixty years old, was entitled to the
benefit of the law of May, 1854, which prescribes that

"hard labour" shall in no case whatever be inflicted upon
persons of that age and upwards, and that in the case of
such persons simple imprisonment shall be substituted.
The Supreme Court held that the fact of the prisoner
having refused to state his age when interrogated, made
no difference, and that evidence was admissible after
judgment to show what his age really was. The man
will now be tried again by another court, and will, of
course, run the risk of capital punishment.

Tilt cc GREAT MASS MEETING,"
AST

One of the most extraordinary scents ever beheld in
Liverpool might be seen last night in the space between
St. George's Hall and Lime-street Station. Those who
had the misfortunt tee be in the midst of it will not for
some time erase from their trismoey a recollection of the
event, even if they happen to have escaped without
bodily injury.
For some days the walls of the town have been plas-
tered with placards, remarkable for their size, announc-
ing that a " Great new meeting would be held in front
of St. George's Hall, to reotest against the encroach-
ment of the House of Lords fen the liberties of the
people, and to elect representatives to attend the confe-
rence of the Constitutional Defence Association, to be
held in London on Wednesday next." If by " mass" is
meant a "mob," and if the object was to draw together
a congregation, among which discader was the rule and
the contrary virtue the exception, the object was most
effectually attained. A lorry was improvised as a plat-
form; and round this, Ina before the hour appointed
for the meeting, the "mass'` began to assemble, until
the numbers could not be stated at meet less than
ten thousand, Prior to the arrival of the promoters of
the meeting, the vehicle seitieli was to form the under-
standing of the speakers, remained nreoecapiad for some
time, and one of the crowd, apparently averse to allow-
ing so favourable ti opportunity of becoming a
stump orator to slip, dee'encled the lorry, and
commenced to address the assemble'. in proposing
a resolution against the object of the meeting,
the elevated individual Was exceedingly energetic
in his delivery, rushing from one side of the
platform to the other in if pugilistic attitude,
add as his words were drowned amid the uproar,
another Man l'ithout a coat, interpreting his deeds father
than his words, and Nobel* desirous of sharing his
distinction, mounted the platfotine and placed himself on
the defensive. The invader seized the eeeited orator,
and •-abile the gaze of thousands were bent upon the
combatants, d fey' ethers appeared upon the stage, and
during the confusion the steiikei was unceremoniously
thrown from the lorry, followed by the others.
While this prologue to the meeting via,e engaging
the attention of the spectators, cries of "Make
way for Mr. Heyworth," were heard, and
soon afterwards that gentleman, accompanied by Mr.
S. R. Jeffery, Mr. C. E. Rawlins, Mr. Roult (architect),
Mr. S. B. jacked, find sotne others, ascended the plat-
form. Their appearance aft ie the signal for a renewal
of the uproar.
Mr. HEywoRTH attempted to address the &feeling,
but, unable to make himself heard to the foremost of
the audience, he turned his back to them, and addressed
the reporters, oho lied been provided with tables, which,
hoWeiere ttq were tohipefled to relinquish, and which
were"" soon matinted by the-enthusiastic defenders of
the English Constitution. He *as Sindetstoad to say
that the object of calling that meeting *& rescue the
working clasies from slavery. The Lords ateirild gladly
take away the right of the Commons to tax the people ;
and when they had obtained that right themselves, they
would take care not to tax their own class. He was
Preceeding to declare that the recent proceedings of the
Honk of I.4sids Was opposed to common honesty, when
the uproar increast, grid com'p'elled him to desist. The
same individual who had _thrown marl from
the lorry attempted to moujit the platforin (laid, and
had nearly accomplished his purpose, when genie
of the gentlemen pushed him off. In falling, he
injured several who were beneath him, and seizing
Me. Hoyvverth, pulled that gentleman upon his face.
Mr. HeYefOttli, Upon rising, .eapressed the pleasute it
gave him. to fall in the canse of the people, but he stated
shortly afterwards that, his Auger being broken, he
should be compelled to retire, which he did.
A scene of 'indeseribable confusion ensued, during
which several gentlemen upon the lorry, convinced of the
impossibility of continuing the meeting, advised that the
atttempt should be abandoned, and the speakers retire.
The platforni was invaded by some of the mob, who caused
considerable alarm, being suspected of an intention to
throw down the promoters of the meeting, and to Tint a
sudden end to the proceedings. There were some
grounds for these fears ; for .the crowd swayed to _and
fro, and every now and then appeared as if about to
make a sudden rush upon the lorry, and carry away its
occupiers Ify Main force. 'Seine of -the parties on the
lorry pressed fore/ate], and those in front had great diffi-
culty in keeping themselves from falling over. The
police seizednpon a man, apparently one of the principals,
in creating the disturbance, and took him to Hotham-
street bridewell. An immense crowd folloWed, but no
desire was manifested to rescue the prisoner. We ascer-
tained after the meeting that the name of the man was
William Atkinson, an engineer, living at 26, Cldre-
street. Ire was• charged with having assaulted My.
Heyworth, and with having created a disturbance, but
he was set at liberty, and the parties preferring the
charge directed to summon him. This arrest appeared
to encourage the chiefs of the assembly, and Mr.
Williams proposed that Mr. Jeffery should be called
upon to preside. The motion was quite unheard by the
crowd, but Mr. Jeffery stepped forward, and was received
with cheers, hisses, and groans.
Mr. JEFFERY then addressed the meeting. His
opening remarks were inaudible, from the noise and
interference which was being created by a man who was
standing before the cart. After the confusion had
partially ceased, Mr. Jeffery said they had been told
that this meeting was a working man's meeting, and
that none but working men would move the resolutions.
He rejoiced in that fact, because it would speedily be
made known to head quarters that there was not that
apathy and that indifference among the masses of this
country which had been represented to exist. Un-
fortunately, there were a fevt . there whose voices were
familiar to mostof these accustomed to address public.
meetings, and who came for the purpose of making:
mischief, some of their voices, fortunately for the
majority, would only be heard for a few moments longer;
and if that vast assembly could not now hear his
voice, they would ha.vdan opportunity of reading in the
morning in the papers what he said this day. Liverpool,
unfortunately, had been but too celebrated for these
interruptions whenever meetings were called for the
purpose of enunciating prograisive principles. (Hear,
hear.) The subject which that meeting had been
called for the purpose of discussing, was one which had
occupied the attention of the House of Commons two
nights of last week, when probably, for the number of
speakers, more talent was displayed on both sides
than has been displayed for several sessions.
(A great disturbance was here occasioned by the - man
we have before alluded to : he this time attempted to
get on the platform, and protested against the object of
the meeting.) Order having been-restored, the speaker
commented upon the conduat of Lord Palmerston and
his alliance with the Emperor of the French. He then
called attention to one most important fact, which the
debate had brought forth—a fact stated by Mr. Glad,
stone, all honour to him. (Cheers.) That feet- was
that the taxes of the country were borne by three
portions, the labouring classes, trade and commerce,
and property. These were not borne in eq'ttal propor-
tions. Mr. Gladstone had advocated the relief of the
working classes by taking the taxes from them, and thus
rising their wages tothe extent of 10 or 16 per cent. (Cheers
and interruption.) Mr. Jeffery, alluding to the man
who was creating the uproar said he would also have his
wages increased. (The **V alluded to cried, " Three
cheers for the authority of the House of Lords.") Instead
of the three portions bearing their equal share, industry
and commerce bore fully three-fourths of the taxes of the
country. That was not a wholeeome elate of things,
nor was it a state of things likely to promote the real
and true interests and well-being of the -nation.- The
people were new being aroused from the lethargy into
which they had been drawn by the prosperous times
they had enjoyed. Lord Palmerston had sold them in
a Reform Bill. (Heat,-hear.) The House of Commoni
was cajoled, and the people had been juggled. It would
be some time before they had another Reform. Bill,
unless they aroused thepaselves,_and met on occasions
like these to nvike their voices heard by the legislature.
(Great confusion.) After a few more remarks the
speaker called upon .Ir.- Priest to move the first reso-
lution.

'Mr.•PRIEST moved the.first resolution, which was as

That we rejoice to hear that the House of Comisums has
unanimously recorded its opinion, that the right of granting
ai& and' supplies is in the Commons alone, as an essential part
of their constitution, and the limitation of all such grants, as
to the matter, manner, measnre, and time, is only in them.
The motion was seconded-by Mr. DANIEL Guy.
Mr. P. B. SIMMONS having informed Mr. Jeffery that
he was desirous of moving an amendment, was per-
mitted to ascend the platform. He first took off •his
coat, placed it near his feet, and, upon turning to address
the crowd,.was received with loud cheers. He said they
must not expect that he could speak with the fluency of
the gentlemen who preceded him, and who had had some
Weeks to Consider the subject; he would, however, do
his best. He was one of the 'bees of the hive, one of
th

A producers of the wealth of this great country, in
which the gentlemen behind him fattened and wallowed.
They could judge of these gentlemen by the company
they kept, .and: knew that they belonged-to what was
called the Manchester school—the cotton lords. He
happened to be connected with the cotton lords himself;
he first drew breath in Manchester, and when seven years
of agt had entered the factory. Thirty-seven years ago
he was &inflected with the short-time movement, and
glish Sadler, Mr.
These were all
hßaidchtahreahotinascrfltierr,Ofahadetil,nogrdwisthh
afl!tlers.b
aErny.
good. Tories with the exception of that great and good
man, John Fielding. And Orliat was his
.experience at
that time ? Why, there was not; a bill introduced into,
or a motion_ made in, the House of Commens for
the relief of the oppressed and ill-used labourer. against
which the Liberals, to man, except John Fielding,
did not vote. (The Speaker was here interrupted by
loud and unmeaning critti, which proceeded from the
individual who had also Interrupted the speakers on the
other side. The speaker told him "to behave himself
in schOnl ;" and, amidat much laughter, asked upon
which side he was, as she seemed opposed to both par-

7.3.eitscommipeamspic7roar,

ties.? • Thy were told then, as they Were told' now, that
if they woulT n•Sist in' obtaining free fratle,- and tha
-
le nal of the corn l'aisitsittiey:viould have dheapef provi-
sions and higher wages. That *at quite contrary to'
-faet. (Great interruption.) iieliaftiened to be a Sun-
c ly-sehool teacher ; and when one of 14 scholars told
. . •
n
Mtn an untruth, he never believel huh again._ (A
voice "Three cheers for the authority el the
Lords.") He would ask those gentlemen beViend
him whether, if the paper duty Was repealed, it
would be a* benefit to the working classes ? (Cries of
" Yes," and "No.") He said no, and he could prove
it. He lived on bread and beef, and he covered himself
with clothing, but he could not eat paper—(loud laugh-
ter)---nor would 'paper make his clothes. (Laughter -
and•eheers.) If the paper _duty were repealed, would
they, he asked, get their. Daily Times, their Daily Post,
or Daily Mercury for less than a penny ? (No, no.)
But if repealed, the paper manufacturer, and the whole
Bile dealer, who bought paper by the ton, would receive
the benefit. His amendment was, "That this meeting
returns ita grateful thanks to the House of Lords for-
exercising so noble and dignified a discretion as
they did when they pronounceed a negative on
the Paper Duty Repeal Bill." Before concluding
he wished to ask one question more. If there was a
House of Lords, and when the Commons passed a bill,
and sent that bill to the House of Lords, and said, "You
must approve of it ; you must have no discretion,"—then
was Rot the House of Lords a farce, a sham, and a
humbug ? (A voice : So it is.)
The amendment was seconded by Mr. Dowsox, and,
on being put to the vote, was declared by the chairman
to be lost by a large majority.
The second resolution was moved by Mr. WILLIAMS,
seconded by Mr. VARY; and carried. It was to the
folloWing effect :

That the sole right of the Commons 'to ;limit the duration
of a tax has, nevertheless, been violated by the, House of
Lords in an innovation rightly described by the Right Hon.
W. E. Oladstone, her Majesty's Chancellor of the Exchquer,
as the most gigantic that has been attempted in our own times ;

and While our grateful thanks are due to him for his bold and
noble defence of the privileges of the Commons, and his decla=
ration that he is yet open to some "action" by which the
"attempt" should be frustrated, we would as strongly de-
nounce The recommendation of Lard Palmerston that the Com;
mons should tamely submit to the unprovoked.aggression.

An amendment was proposed by Mr. DOYLE, and
seconded by Mr. GEORGE CLEMENTS, but was said to be
lost si a large majority.
• On the motion' of Mr. Jackson, seconded by Mr.
Hobbs, it was- resolved to present a petition to the
Rouse of Commons, and Messrs. Jeffery, Priest, and
C. E. Rawlins were requested to attend as delegates at
the meetingof the Constitutional Defence Association,
which *ill be held in London to-morrow, and to report
to qt adjourned meeting on Saturday next. This
termttXafartlie—ptoceedings, and the crowd big7an-tio--
disperse. Mr, .leffery and his friends on leaving the
ground were followed
.by a large crowd, who hooted or ,

cheered as the spirit moved them. On reaching -the
cab stand, in Lime-Street, Mr. Jeffery got • into a
hansom. There was an attempt made to take the

horse from the cab, but on Mr. Jeffery's earnest

reittopsttances, Seconded by the presence of the police,
the vehicle' was permitted to leave in the ordinary way.
There was a large body of police in the neighbourhood,
in readiness if their services should be required, but
fortunately they were not called upon.