The Express.
London, England, 1852-11-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 4, 1852.

goirass but Ant Ape the house w full soorgh, every-
es -dews with instils% Why sot this ?
2Jsot that ? Are ell the teenier troops to
ii. all the pollettneu, sad all the sailers ? for
If you take phen~ at ese-and.twenty, what possible
dam of hewn lAtises and Scotches's geoid yogi
base the slightest to exclude ? But then it was
MOM the thing Aai sat been sullitiently considered, and,
am of his colleagues were not satisfied, and he should
withdraw it. We I mast say, that if it had happend
to n• first to proper such a reform, and at tbe ant
siting of the house to withdraw it, Mena it had sot
Wes well considotels I de Walt tint toes end id Say Ilb
I mew would ban alba' shoat the esessillag Ink et sva I
weft the unities of eohno, sad sever have reed auy
saes Ass • lectors me theentemee ace and cantles
iddisrliesk he shouldappao•itMolisiss M organic change.
ele.) I repeat, if less tobedp than the language of
priPosseat ministers, takes famenseies with those solitary
Weisser' of legislative skill in the way of reform, I SID
truly it a lees what to expect ; but what I should expect
would be • pertinacious and vehement opposition to what
is most safe and reaunable, and, in some moment of fear
or caprice, ding something oar the table with the most
desperate levity, enough to loosen the foundations of
society. For my own part, as I have said,
I think the question of parliamentary reform is
one which must soon be token up, but it ought to be
taken up by the government ; and I hope, before lung,
to see in office a ministry which will take it up in
' earnest. (Cheers.) I dense), you will not suspect me of
saying so from any interested feeling. The teeth is, in no
ease whatever shall I again be a member of any ministry. I
During what may remain of my public life, I shall be the
servant of none but you. (Loud and prolonged cheering.)
1 have nothing to ask of soy government, except that pro-
tection which every government owes to every faithful and
loyal subjict of the Queen. But Ido hope to see in office
before long a ministry which will treat this greet question
as it should be treated. It will be the duty of that
ministry to revise the distribution of I ower. It will
be the duty of that ministry to molder whether small
constituencies, notoriously corrupt, laid proved to be cor-
rupt—such, for example, u Harwich—ought to retain
the power of sending members to parliament. It will
be the duty of such • ministry to consider whether such
constituent bodies, even less notoriously corrupt, ought
to have, in the councils of the empire, a share as great as
the West Riding of the county of York, and twice as great
as that of the county of Perth. It will be the duty of such
a ministry to consider whether it be not possible, without
the smallest danger to peace, law, and order, to eztead the
elective franchise to classes of the community which do not
possess it. As to universal suffrage—on that subject you
already know my opinions—end I now come before you
with these opinions strengthened by everything which,
since that period, has plumed in Europe. We have seen by
the clearest of all proofs that universal suffrage, even
united with secret voting, is no security against the esta-
blishment of arbitrary power. (Chiles.) But, gentlemen,
I do look forward, and at no very remote period, to
the extension of the franchise, farther than, I admit,
I once thought would be safe or practiceble. I
believe that such an extension will, by the ovule
of events, be brought about in the very best sad
happiest way. Perhaps, I may be sanguine, but I thin'
that good time. are coming for the labouring classes of this
country. Ido not entertain that hope because I ripest
that Fourierism, or St. Simonianism, or Socialises, or Come
menial's, or any of those other " bins," for which the plan
English word is robbery—will prevail. I know suck anti-
meats only aggravate the misery which they pretend to re-
lieve. I know it is possible by such legislation to make the
rich poor, but I know it is utterly impossible to mho the
poor rich. (Hear, hear.) But Ido believe and her that
the progress of experimental science—the further inter-
course of nation with nation—the unrestricted influx of
commodities from countries where they are cheap, sad
the unrestricted influx of labour towards countries when
it is dear—will soon produce, and is beginning to pr►
duce, a great and most blessed social revolution. (Cheese.)
The right hon. gentleman, after some brief but elapsing
remarks upon the progress of emigration and its advese.
tapes colonially and nationally, concluded by saying—l
have only strength to thank you again, from the vary bid
tom of my heart, for the great honour which you have ins
me, in appointing me, without solicitation, to the disda•
au;shed post of one of your representatives. lan lend of
war connezios, and I shall try to act in such a maser that
you may not be ashamed of it. (Mr. Meneday Allenell
kis scat amid load and prolonged cheers.)
On the modest of Mt. U. MACIAILLANS, advocate, tines
dial vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Black for his eta-
duet in the chair; and the meeting, with three cheers for
Mr. Macaulay, and three more for the "History of Eng-
lend," separated.