The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-07 00:00:00

MR. LOCKE AND TNE CONSTITUENCY OP

SOUTHWARK.

Last night a meeting of the inhabitants of South-
wark was held at the Bridge-hones Hotel, for the purpose of
heart/eau address from Mr. Locke, owe of thew repressors
tine in parliament. There was a very numerous atteou -
anon en t►e occasion, and the chair was occupied b 7 Mr.
Hmuazc.

Alter afew remarks from the Csanuthe, explanatory of
the object for which the meeting had been convened,
Mr. Loath, who was received with loud cheers, maid he
did not appear before hia constituents on that mosaics so
much for the purpose of giving au account of Ms stew-
ardship as to call them into counsel with ben
as regarded the state of general and local affairs. And
first as regarded local affairs; although it was to be regretted
that St. Thomaa's Hospital was about to be removed from
that immediate neighbourhood, it was some omeolation to
know that it was not to be removed to a dullest* of sieves
or eight miles, but that it was going to be sail:aloha at
Simple, where it would be easily accessible to the inhabi•
tants of the district. (Cheers.) One of the quarto's,
which at the present moment was most pressing for solution
was that of finding proper and adequate accommodation for
the poor. (Hear, bear.) Mr. Pothody's gift, after sworn-
modeling a large number of persona in Bermondsey. Shad.
well, and Islitigam, would yields revenue of 6,0001. • year,
which would amble the trustees to build new houses for
the poor. He hoped this example would stimulate capital-
ists to proceed in the same direction. (Hear, hear.) Most
intimately connected with this 'object was the
question of the poor-law, sod the care of the casual poor.
The 'object wee fully considered by a committee of the
House of Commons, and he believed that the gentlemen
who composed the sesseriMee threw aside every prejedieis
on the subject. Lord B. Cecil was a member of the tear
mithes ; he was a Wrong tory, but ia thee matter he went as
straight as an arrow. (" Hear' bear," and laughter.) The
committee admitted most of the propositions which had ever
been advocated in that borough, and they admitted the
principle of an extension of the area of rating. When Mr.
Villiers istrodoced his measure, he (Mr. Locke) moved that
the whole metropolis should be considered as use union.
(Cheers.) He always held the opinion that the rich should
contribute their fair proportion to the support of the poor.
(Hear, bear.) With regard to the vagrant poor, the
charge was to be awed oa the whole of the metropolis,
and he hoped that was but the thin pi,' of the wedge of
making the whole metropolis char le for ita poor.
(Hear, hear.) So far with regard tot equalisation of the
pomrate. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the sewage of
the metropolis, that was • most important subject, and it
must Deosesarily be considered by the House of Commons.
All he could say at present was that any proposition that
would diminish the amount peed by the ratepayers of
the metropolis would remise his serious consideration.
(Hear, bear.) With regard to general subjects, it was
agreagle to him that he had always supported a liberal
government. They bad at the head of the finance depart-
ment the greatest minister that ever existed, according to
Mr. Cobden. Mr. Gladetoee bad added to the comfort of the
people by reducing the taxation of the couotry to the estest of
11,000,0001., and by reducing the national debt to the
amount of 6,000,00 W. (Herz, hear.) He might, there-
fore, maids' Mr. Gladstone as • heaven-born minister.
(Hear, hear.) With regard to foreign affths, Mr. Layard
had tilde the best speech be had heard on that subject is
the House of Commons. His (ldr Locke's) opinion was that
England bad adopted the right course in regard to the
Danish question. Non-intervention ought to be the rule, and
interrelation the exception. (Cheers.) But then they
ought not to mix themselves up in foreign matters which
would involve this country in war. (Hear.) With regard
to the American war be was not prepared to express any
opinion on the one side or the other, bet he hoped the
result of the mutest would lead to the extinction of slavery.
(Hear.) He considered the government acted entirely in the
right in not interfering in the American struggle. (Hear.) With
regard to reform, he had no confidence in the toe" party,
and Mr. Dianieli's speech at Oxford confirmed him is that
opinion. (Hear, hear.) He was a lawyer, and there-
fore be might be excused for preferring the opinion of
lawyers upon a question of ecclesiastial law to that of •
churchman, as was proposed by Mr. Disraeli. (Hear, bear.)
As to the ballot, he believed it was expedient, although he
did not Musk it was DOOOII/1/7 for such a constituency as
that of Southwark, where men could express their minnow
with entire freedom. (Hear, tear.) These were the quits-
time which he behaved were most interesting at the present
moment to the people of Southwark, and he hoped that his
views were in accordance with those of the constituency
which he represented, (Clesera.)
Mr. COLWI9OIII moved the following resolution :—" That
this meeting, having heard the addrvas of Mr. Locke, hereby
expresses its entire approved of the course he has panned,
both upon general sad local questions, during the lam
session of parliament, amid declares him to be eminently en-
titled to the continued confidence and support of his
coostitoeste."

Tim motion haviag Deem ssooaded, was put and carried
unanimously,
• . . .

Mr. Lodi acknowledged the complimsat, and swarmed
his gratiboatloo that ►is ens...tact ni the Home of Commons
had met with the approval of Ws constituent& (Cheers.)
The meeting then separated.

COURT OP ALDERMEN.

A Court of Aldermeu was held yesterday at
GuildhalL The LORD MAYOR (Alderman Halo) pragamt.