The Express.
London, England, 1849-05-23 00:00:00

eqaeciil!y to the unenfranohised masses, for whcse social and
polit eat elevation the inundation has been called into exist•
mice. And, deeply interested in the oirence of order. the
pees nation 01 public credit, and the inviolability of the
rm.,ta of property, the cluncl believe that no greater
calamity can betel a nation than a protracted and obs•inate
reastatee en the part of the goeernment to temperate end
moderate demands for the extesaion of civil rights'.
-

The CHAIRMAN then said—Gentlemen, I look upon
this numerous and highly influential meeting as an adc-
qua's answer to the taunt which has been thrown out by
our oepthents—that the middle classes of the City of Lon-
don do not sympathise with the unenfranehised muses in
their desire for the extension of the suffrithe. We
(the council) have issued our declaration of pricaples, and
we have also issued several other documents ; but, to avoid
all doubts and misconceptions as to the objects we have in view
or as to the measures we propose for the attainment of those
objects, the council have thought it desirable to prepare and
to promulgate the report which has just been read to you.
(Heir, hear.) Teat report has the fuel concurrence of every
member of the council, and I tru..t will have the earnest and
seelous support of every mai .nel reformer in the country.
We must Lot shut our eyes to the danger which must
inevitab'y follow a continuance of those evils which are
fast destroying all confidence Letween the governors and the
governed. (Cheers.) There are few amongst us who do
not feel the extreme pressure of taxation ; there ore equally
few amongst us who are not alive to those abuses which are
constantly before cur eyes; there are few amongst us who do
not look with alarm en the widespread and deep-
seat d disaffection which pervades the gnat body
of the unentranchised MUM. (Loud cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, whichever way we look at it, the political and
financial rate o' the country is most unsatisfactory. We see
a rapid and continuous increase in our expenditure—we see
the grossest abuse of patronage—we see the maintenance
in our navy and army of forces totally disproportioned
to our wants—we see a system of colonial government
which has as many lines as the chameleon, and which has
neither nference to the requirements of the colonies nor to
the interests of the mother couLtre— and we see at the same
tine. - ' "
L. watt:n=llMM on rue part of the rowers that
to withstand every de mend on ti""",:r.e. of the great be 43,
of the people for admiteden within the ponds of the constitu-
tion. (Rear, hear.) Unlit such circumstances I believe It
to be the duty of evert good citizen to take measures for
ob,. loin; that control over the public puree and the
public affeirs of the country which meson and com-
mon sense stow to be the basis of good government—
to enforce economy and retrenchment in every department—
to see that property be made to bear its just share of the
!martens of the state—(cheers)—that education be placed
within the reach of all—that the House of Commons be

male the true reflex of the public mind—(hear, hear)—
and thi t public self relisnezt and public economy take the
place of discontent and extravagance. (Cheers.) We seek
those change', by none other than the most loyal and
peaceful means—sod strong in the justice of our cause,
we call for the support of the rational of every clan,
creed, and party. It is our intention to Issue reports
trout time to time of our proceedings, and to 'Diktats&
the people, as we can, by giving them all the informs-
ti sr eve can, and future opportunities will be afforded of die-
curling the subject in still larger meetings—l hope larger
and evening meeting,. (A voice, Yes, at Covent-garden.")
I am sure we shall be ea.used, under ex'sting circumstances,
far Pot having a larger building on the present occasion.
Oa the ne xt—(A voice, "\Ve will have the House of Com-
mons.") Some gentleman whys we shall have the Howe of
Comm,dis, and so we shill, wh n, as 1 trust will be the cats
ore lung, it shall become equally useful to all classes—when
it is mane, as when our principles are carried out it will be
mad;—the permit's house. (Much cheering.)
Mr. R. TAYLOR moved—
" That, is the present cot test between the advocates of a
searching reform in the national fin-nces and the parlia-
mentaly rep resenatlon, on the one hand, and the upholders
of a stinem which favours the few at the expense of the
millions, ou the other, it is important to strengthen and give
fh et to public opinioa through the medium of an assumed
body, muting reformers of ell grades; and that the establish-
ment of the Metropolitan Financial and Parliamentary Re-
form Association is, therefore, a matter not only of expcdi-
eney but like a ise of paramount necessity." (Cheers.)
The resolution did not go into the coeetion en detail of the
objects of this association, but only mated on the meeting to
agree in the establishment of the mess. for giving effect to
those opinions. Ho would not detain the meeting further
than to impress upon the ne the necessity of such a mode of
art' .n us was now, proposed.
W. J. HALL (one of the executive committee) eto-
con if d the r.soluti .r. From a care:ul watching of the Rt.-
torso B it ho was satialied that in a great measure it had been
altogether inoperative for its object. When he saw the
wasteful extravagance in the public departments—in the
Exch. qu, r—in the Trinity corporation—when 400,6001. or
400,0. ad. war collected to meet a legitimate exp, n.. here of
acme 60,000/. or 100,0001., the rem inder being spent in
eating and drinking—when he saw them abuses in almost
et ery public department, he could come to no other condo-
..iara than that the Reform Bill had failed. And when he saw a
fellow-coun•ryman incarcerated in a gaud by the prosecution
of a Ca r:stian bishop—(hear, hear, and cheers)—he could,
not but ark the question how long would a really reformed
parlieruent sanction such a course t (" Not a day.") He
did n .t blame the bishop tor carrying out what appeared to
be the law —(" we do"); but what he said was that if the
• propl, were properly represented, laws so totally opposed to
'be popular feelings could not exist. It appeared to him
the' th• time Ltd srri•;:: •„;.;;;; ---!Ay as th;!ahould
, La .7.;•gen!sed, and, they fore, he cordially seconded the ta•
' I solution

Tee CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, adding that
an amendment had been placed in his Lamle, to which a
e valvular' was anxious to speak. the amendment was in
he followieg terms:—" Whereas the association is celled
the Metropolitan Fie:mein' and Parliamentary Reform As-
sociatien, it bo now called the Metropolitan Parliainentrup
and Fin ineial Reform Aseociatioc." (A laugh.)
A gentleman, named ELLIOTT, was then put for-
ward by the chairman, and Legged to propose the amend-
inert which be had paced in tLe chairman'e hands. (Hear.)
Mr. OSBORNE, member fur Middlesex spoke nearly as fol-
fmrs t—lt was originally proposed, I believe, by the council
of selection, that I should speak to the first resolution which
you have had hroueht before you by Mr. Taylor, and an ably
beclouded by Mr. Hell. But, air, since the gentleman has
move.' this amendment, an amendment b..twern which, and
the reso'ution I can pa“ibly see to difference except in the
trim"l*^*i'i"tt of Swot'', I can have no hesitation In seconding
each amendment, because I think we may well inquire--
wheel-II differeme there si,o+liti be
Tuba tweetthdum and twoedkdee.
I cannot but call to mind, having read of it this
very morning, a period 70 years alio, when there was a
crest cry tor financial re form in this country.
A' that period, in 1779, Mr. Burke, prior to his becoming a
ronscryatirc, or being frirhtened by the French revolution,
in bringing forward his motion for economical reform in the
House of Commons, complained that while the people of
that day, eat of doors, were animated as one mall ler the
ref, tin of the financial system, the House of Commons was
operated on by no such feelinge ; and it.. members were alone
sluggish, while the whole peoolc were roused to action. I
csnnut help feeling, though 70 veers have since elapsed,
that the same feelings pervade that house now ; for while
you have all met here with one heart and hand to aid the
.ommit.ee and council in carrying out this useful, this neces-
sary reform, I grieve to say that there is a lamentable want
of feeling en this subject in that house, of which lam a
humble individual and retires, ntative. While there are many
men holding and representing. popular opiniens in that house,
I grieve to say, that at this minute (and it would hardly be
believed in the 19th century, in the year of our Lord 1849),
there is no such thing as a popular party existing in the
Howie of Commons. (Hear, hear.) There are true end
enod men there; bat I grieve to say that sickness and
docile have been busy smongatthem. The great patriarch
of all reform, if I may so call him, my predecessor in this
county, is, I regret to inform you, grievously ill. The
two members for Finsbury—those honest and independent
representatives—are not able, from the Name e .use, to take
their seats; and Sir B. Hall, one of the members for Maryle-
bane is also, I believe, ill. But, gentlemen, there M apathy
in that house—(hear)—there is eistryst amongst the re-
formers themselves, and I repeat what I set out with, that
there is at this moment no popular party, no leader, no
popular principles well expounded is the House of Com-
mons. I throw it out for the comideration of this
meeting and the country in general, whether it is quite
fair, when that government which obtained office by a
popular cry, and mounted into Buckingham Palace as it were
.n the thisulders of Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bight—(loud
cheers)—whether it is fair that they should have thrown cold
water upon those men and their party, and have made the
cabinet the perquisite of their friends and of the oligarchy
which rules this country. (Cheers.) Now, I have as great
respect for men in a high station who deserve that respect
for their talent and honesty as any man can have ; but I do
think it is owing a little to you, the middle classes, who can
see no wisdom except in a lord—(cheers)—no probity except
in an estated gentleman ; and I think the tendency ie, to
make the House of Commons a great barrow for titled rabbits
to ledge in. I find that in 1830—the year when the Duke of
Wellington's government was turned out, mark you, on the
score of economy, when the whips canvassed the consti-
tuencies and got a majority in parliament on the very princi-
ples of financial reform—the public expenditure amounted to
54,000,0001. and upwards; but there was a surplus of income
mantarokuntthedat,tao
ettrovevrieux.penidiatug4isis ththaet
pytteharheofele,p7eluldrault.e-
-58,000,0001., and there was an excess of expenditure over in-
come of 3,000,0001. (C.ies of "Shame.") Not only that;
but the interest of the debt has been reduced in the
meantime—and what else have you got ? An in-
come tax of five and a half malletu laid on upon false
pretences. (Cheers.) Yee, false pretences, for you were
told that it was imposed for three years. Introduced in a
time of peace, it was opposed by the present government ;
but when they came into office they coolly turned round,
and I.st year proposed to increase it—and if you had not put
your hands into your packets and rather found a deficit
there, and commissioned your members to speak out on
the subject, you would have had the income tax increased by
the present government. (Cheers.) But that is not all. I
find that in 1830 the estimates for the army, navy, oldnance,
and miscellaneous service—in which latter there are lots of
,
things unexplained which nobody can make out, including a
gate for Buckingham Palace, since pulled down, 80,0001.—
(shame)-6001. for a bishop making a tour of tie island of
Jamaica, and such like matters, which we who sit there and
are called the controllers of the public purse cannot understand
—I find, I say, that the estimates for army, navy, ordnance,
and miscellaneous in 1830, amounted to 17,500,0001. Well,
when they get into office upon our reform f rincipl
necessary to do something—they must givt
something—se, i
mething—se, actually in 1835 the m esti • ars ..
faie.
fleeced upward,. of 3,000,0001., and became 14. • 4
they bad since increased 9,000,0001. find! 1834 dad. at 1#104,, .-
sent actually amounted to 23,315,80'21. (Leetd•lteert, stiff, ':
voices " shame" and "horrible,") Compare that with 181.
4t

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