The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-24 00:00:00

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE SPY SYSTEM.

Last evening a public meeting of the inhabitants
of the parish of Marylebone was held at the Courthouse,
Marylelsone-lane, to adopt a petition to parliament and an
address to the Queen, condemnatory of the unconstitutional
and un•Bnglish employment of the police in disguise for
political wpm+, and of the unworthy and inhospitable
treatment by government of the illustrious Kossuth ; also,
to sympatluse with him both in regard to the annoyances
he has been subjected to by the authorities, and to the
calumnious and cowardly attacks on his character in the
Tunes newspaper. Lord DUDLEY' COUTTS STUART, M.P.,
in the chair.
The CHAIRMAN read letten from Sir Benjamin Hall,
M.P., Mr. J. Bell, M.P., Mr. Apaley Pellatt, M.P.,
Sir John Shelley, M.P., and several other members of par-
liament, regretting their inability to attend the meeting—
the first-mentioned hon. gentleman stating that he had
been engaged the whole day on the Dockyard Committee,
and that business still required his presence in the House of
Commons.

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Mr. P. thartan moved the first resolution;—" That
this meeting has beard with alarm and indignation that the
polies of this metropolis, chiefly supported by local rates,
levied upon the inhabitants solely for the protection of their
persons and property, are employed in disguise by the au-
thorities in the despicable and no-English character of spies
upon the actions of political exiles under the protection of
our laws. And the Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment baying assumed to himself the odium which such
employment carries with it, the meeting cannot refrain
from expressing its opinion that her Majesty's government
would act more in accordance with the wishes and feelings
of the people at large, and would better consult its own dig-
nity by relusiog on all occasions to he at the service of con-
tinental despotism. And this meeting pledges itself, indi-
vidually and collectively, to use every possible means to put
an end to &system which must inevitablycrcate a feeling of
distrust on the part of the people towards the government.' .
The government, he said, bad succeeded in exciting the
indignation of the people, but it should bo remembered that
the spy system was commenced by their predecessors, alio
the object of the present meeting was to evince their con-
tempt for the continuance of such a system. If Louis
Kossuth had been engaged in levying war against Austria,
the government of that country would have discovered it
without the interference of the police of this country, and
therefore they were bound to state their deliberate opinion
that such a proceeding ought not to hays been sanctioned
by the ministry of England. lie had nothing to say
against the government excepting upon this subject, fur,
In other respects, they were di Mg the business of the
country admirably ; but when a ca,e like the present arose
it behoved them to express their detestation of the conduct
of the ministry, for they felt that a great principle had been
invaded by a proceeding which shy weu that the litter:lea of
the people were not sufficiently respected. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. NIC/1,11..\ Y seconded the revolution, obterving that
the people of this parish were called upon to pay 25,0001.
rr annum for the support of the police, and he protested
against the atrocious, unconstitutional, un-E,glish acts of
the government in truckling to continental des; nth
by employing that polite for other yurposes Can the
protection of the persons and property of theme who contri-
buted to their maintenance. lie was at all times ready to
AU ,port the police, but he wished to notice one important
tact, viz , that whenever a policeman was wanted he was
nowhere to be found. (Laughter.) Au admirable instance
of the truth of this assertion had occurred within the last
fortnight, when a distinguished member of the government
had met with an adventure in the street after discharging
' his duties in the House of Commons, and subf•equeolly
so, king relasati,m at the Opera. Ihe honourable gentler
man, In order to relieve himself from a difficulty sAiiods a - l •
4,044%..
beset him, was desirous of finding a policeman, but hg w ,
compelled to walk a considerable distance with,iut sg
mg in accomplishing that object. (Laughter.) Tier( -. '.
li
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v---.• .

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N .v) therefore *instated to Lord Palmerston that it
welsh: le viewable in him to take the police away from
K ',woo. wt., did t waist them, an.l put them upon Mr.
nl ads.,,oe's not naly to protect him, but al o to pro.
test as. As ic sided Lord rulmerst n, he Omit,' I
I i capered a more liberal and enlightemed policy
trot I in ; sod he felt that, notasithstanitrur the
as •Iritr. i.e had f vly rendered to his country, he
h er...tly fallen in public estimation. Odious as the spy
sr+ en a a , the system of opening letters was equally
ode.us, and he need not say how much mischief bad to ca
estssed by that practice under the authority of a member
nl the present government, for it would be recollected thot
We James Graham, acting upon information he had gained
by on ruing letters, hart denoune d the brothers Bandeira
to the Austrian government, and the result was they were
put to death. In reference to an attack none the irib:e
chairman in the Tows of Saturday, he urged that if it bet
been worth whi:o to stotce it, an address of sympathy might
hate heft preseroed to his lordship, passed nut only by the
baba' Banta of this parish, but also by the highest merchants
e'.d East lad's directors—(hear, hear)—but the Times was
t. a CM'maptiMe to notice, for that journal realised the
line of the l act
Like a tall holy lif•s hie bead and :in.
Ileac." and I inghter.)
Rif J19411U.1. WALII/LIV said he came here, not to de-
naun.e the press. nor to dennuore any government, nor
even to logic hi. sympathy with Louis Kossuth, much as
be esteemed that illustrious patriot, but to ask his fellow-
country men to sustain tl.eir own position, and to exert all
their isiergbs to carry out their own good works. No man
could vond the spy system but with detestation. Let
item look armsnd tlbon aid see what was the effect of the
spy gate's. It was demoralising to the men so employed,
aid deenoraEsing to the country is which it was allowed to
exist ; and he believed that so StrOtig was the f cling against
it Chit the cepression of public opinion would put it down.
(Ii •ar ) The system had been long existing because
the pearle had not denounced it. but the time had now
atria when they must denounce it, and he was glad to find
that Inc metropolis 1911 now coming forward to show its
most of the iniquity of the system. The police were a
▪ h sty of men, and it was their duty to support and
protect them, but the police were the servants of the public,
not their masters. (near, hear.) Mr. Mayne was not
their master. our was Lord Palmerston their master.
(Client.) lie would atronply impress up an the people of
Iderylebene that they must strive far the attainment
el the right to regulate and control their own
drain. tend he hoped they would never cease
laght or dray until they had accomplished that object. lie
thanked them for the men they had sent to represent them
In parliament, and he entreated the constituency to aid
them in their endeavours to secure municipal reform.
Tile resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. litercsom moved, and Mr. LANGIIASI seconded, the
oval, resolution adopting an address to her Majesty.
Mr. MACUOWELL supported the motion, which was
agreed to.
Me. D'lcrawora moved, and Mr.lionons seconded, the
adoption of a petition to the House of Commons ,which was
sitreed to ; end the meeting separated with a cordial vote
of thanka to tho chairman.