The Express.
London, England, 1849-10-05 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS,

year's residence. (Hear, bear.) But they might depend upon
i• that the broader they extended the of the represen-
tation, the more secure would be the government of the
country, and the lies &agar of violent change. (Hear,keer.)
Samos at some heath compared the numb •r of elector&
with the ustuaber of rognesuatatives, as also the taxation of
diffweat amok, as* boosughs, he went on to say that
Ohm said asiblhoodog metrics were at this mosieat na-
bob( Orson Goma esamirions, onossomeat uponthe ab-
stain of that whims. check white we had under ths
fork of war BM* osostitutiou—(hom) —with the QUl** at
the Mod as Os dist ms le wary oat tho law, and
the Hosted Dads end lono to snake the law. But
that dm*, to be goomwarbb ,lholuld, smut be perfect in
all its perm (Bum.) He db ram want to deprive the
House of Lords of their privilege. hot the/ must not inter-
fere with the rights of the Onmassoek (awl Whet he
wanted was, hr the Comm, es have their r sham of
control and their mow bilosoto ; than parts of the
onstitation would go right. If they desired peace,
order, nod prosperity in the land, it was to be
obtained by the cheap new prcosod—(choom)—
and he believed by that means may. (Hear, hoar.) his
was the first reform meeting he had attended in the county
ef Norfolk. Hitherto be Mid masidatel Norfolk so far
gone as to be scarcely worth looking after. Bat now he
saw that • Mango had taken place he should bas ready as
any man to give his wistarias in [unitarian of the new
views &the people of that county. But to show what sort
of representatives Norfolk had hitherto seat ft parliament,
he would ashy to • list which had been mods out of the
diviskos In the I modimerat. Of 20 &videos whisk bad
taken phew an the goodies of reresehment Ind reform,
out ot the 10 sombses rogrossating the amorg mai the bo-
roughs of Nerwisbaaremads, Thmkrd. lko. boo odes alai
oat of the 200 Irbil& those memben poommed Is time
weed divisions, mil tined in Item of ewe make 11140,
MINN while them IMO wake Sid 146 het eZtipther, in
moneosenis of the almenes of*. amehome. (Bbame.) 36
voles, io fee, only were given out of 200. Therefore, if any
most, was Interested is the movement for imp:orlon the
mbeessM it was surely Norfolk ; and be was confidant
eon of that night that they would find the
Norfolk people, and especially the inhabitant of Norwich,
ithe most ardent supporta, the move-

menk7 Ohne%)
Ilk J. WALWILILY, who was also warmly grested,next
addemseil the meeting. He melee steady as folkws Whilst
I gesestelly thank you for this reception.
feel that it is not
Ys Amager who stands before tenths cause he is dui-
nae lo advocate, which your Wheelbase, and
amber tits amplimeed destWir Valuable. It the name,
meet behalf of the mina of the National Parliamentary
eel rimaial Rehm AmeriaMmA,Tbig to thank you forted
matted awl very gratifying sweet in which you have been
pinged to restive their representatives. The knowledge a
your seal and enthusiasm is the mute in which they have
'embarked will be carried on the wings dike press from this
meeting to every pert of the kingdom, and cannot fail to
have an important influence on every liberal coratidoesay.
(Rear, hear.) It will at the same time give viper and
MUM to our own eonaelle, sad facilitate that triumph whirl
meat ultimately crown mu efforts. (Chest%) Personally
I pray yea to overlook the insignificance of the individual
is the importance of the objects be seeks, and if those oblates
Dogumbr all that the most earnest reformer cm desire,
of him tae,o remember that conosmion is not compromise,
sad that in aiding the views which the council have deemed
the most practical, he is net advancing his own. (Hsu,
hair.) The intensity of feeling which mini amongst the
emenfranchind masses in favour of a large extension of civil
rights is little understood, certainly is not appreciated by
those whew privilege it is to administer to the requirements
of the people. Were it otherwise, or could our rulers be
pram* Km& meetings as the pined, to witness your zeal
end red seem; your feelings of kindness and gratitude,
SISS IS those who can do no more than sympathies with the
griseemeas of the manes I am persuaded those grievances
in
wadi set remain lung :redressed. (Cheers.) The council
our elms I have the plume and honour to preside, after
met M sunset consideration, and with a full knowledge
of Ma responsibility which devolved upon them, have de-
taresimed to mek such an extension of the suffrage SI shall
give to every adult male occupier of a tenement,
or part of a tenement for which he shall be
gated, or have claimed to be rated to the relief
of the poor, the right to be registered as au
"lector. (Loud cheers.) The adoption of the vote by bel-
let—(chogre)—the limitation o tie duration of parlia-
ments to three yeare—(cheen)—f such a change in the
electoral divisions as shall produce a mere equal apportion•
went of representatives to cotituents, and the abolition
of the property qualificationns for members of the
House of Commons—(recewed and continuous cheers)
as was observed by my hon. friend, Mr. Hume, these de-
mands are based upon and are consistent with the old Saxon
law, which pee to every man who paid soot sad lot a voile
in the common-weal. (Hear, hear.) To concede them
would raise the number of electors from one million to five
million, and would gather a large majority of the adult males
of our population within the pale of the constitution,
*cable the elector to exercise his right in accordance with
the dictates of his cons.ience—give to the constitneurse a
greater control over their representatives, and remove tine
monstrous political inequalities through which a territorial
oligarchy contrive to subvert the spirit of the constitution,
and to trample on the rights and liberties of the people.
The county representation, like oouety meeting* or the show
of hands on the day of nomination, is little better than a
' mockery, being for tWo moat put under the control of • kw
whig or tory landowners, whose combined will, as far ma the
I coostituencies are concerned, is law. (A voice— " That's
true.") When their interests cannot he made to coeleme,
the tensat farmers are complimented by a voting paper, nu-
, taking the name of tee blue or red candidate, and ad
accordingly, being subsequently driven to the hustings like
' sheep to the shambles. (" It is eo.") Bush is our system of
representation in relation to population; if we examine it
' with respect to property, we shall find the same preponde-
rating power in the hands of the governing few. One
half the annual value of property in England u represented
by nine counties and one hundred and sixty-ono members.
The other half by thirty-one counties, and three hundred
and ten members. Again, ono half of the members of the
House of Commons represent property to the annual value
of six millions two hundred thousand pounds; the other
half represent seventy eight millions of yearly value. If
we compare a large borough with a county, both as respects
population and property, the tame inequality exists.
Liverpool, for instance, contains throe to four hundred
thousand souls, is essessid to upwards of a million and •
half to the poor 's raw, and returns two members to paella-
ment, whilst Bucklogbamshire, with one hundred and
seven ty thousand of population, and mused for half the
amount of Liverpool, ends eleven members to represent her
interest. ("Shame, shame.") Were we to inquire into the Irish
representative system we ehuuld find it still more unjust
then that of either Hogland or Scotland. (Hear, hear.)
Out of eight millions of populetion there are less than eighty
thousand electors, end the qualifications so various as to be
almost incomprehensible ; out of the 656 members who com-
pose the lower house, not one-third can be truly said to be
popularly elected. (Cheers.) If these things be so, and
they have never been contradicted, although frequently
asserted in the House of Commons, we may fairly steams
that, as at present constituted, the House of Commons nei-
ther represents the population, the property, nor the intelli-
gens of the country—(hen, hear)—and we are therefore
justified in seeking to redress the evils. (" Cheers," and
cries of "We will do it.") It has been well remarked that
the House of Lords represents the oligarchy, and that the
House of Commons r,presents the House of Lords. ("Hear,
and a laugh.) Yet we are assured by high authority
that to amend these inequalities would endanger that har-
mony upon which the existence of tee three estates depends
—(.• Oh loh " and laughter)—an assertion which can only
be trued upon the supposition that an hereditary peerage
and hereditary legislation are necessarily identical and
essential to the happiness of the people. (Hear.) We en
superciliously asked what good would aria* out of the
measures of justice which we seek ? As well might the
thief ask him whom he has robbed, what good would he
derive from the restoration of his property. (" Hear"
and loud laughter.) We are prom*atiog no new
tangled notions--(hear, hear)—the doctrines upon which
we act have had the appieval and advocacy of the good and
great of all times. (Hear, hear.) They had on their side
the genius and eloquence of Erskine, of Dundee, of Tierney,
of Burdett, of Fox, of Sheridan, of the late Bari Grey, and
of many other tiosiehonoured names. (Hear.) In 1797,
we find a minority of ninety-two members of the Howe of
Commons voting or household suffrage, triennial
parlia-
mints, end a more equal apportionment of members to popu-
lation, Lord Grey (then Kr. Grey) loudly demanding that
which has now beams our re/lying cry—a full, free, and
fair representation of the people. (Hear, hear.) In the
same debate Kr. Erskine remarked " If our political oppo-
nents require illustrations of the effects of withholding wise
concession to just popular demands, let them take a re
troepective view of what took place in our relations with
America. Once a dolour, she sought only the reasona-
ble privilejes of an integral part of the empire.
We refused to redress her grievances whilst they were
curable—the sense procrastinating spirit prevailed thou se
now, the same delusion is to the effects of terror and coer-
Woo. Lord Chatham's warning voice was rejected. Give
satisfaction to America, said that gifted statesman. Conci-
liate her affections—do it to-night, do it before you sleep.'
But we did it not, and America was separated from us for I
over." (Chinn.) Lst our statesmen turn their eyes to con-
tinental Europe, where, from the proud rejection of maxims
of prudent and just policy, governmues are tumbling into
ruin by the sudden violence of their people, instead of being
wisely changed by timely and peaceful reformation. We
would pray our rulers to ponder these things—to open
their eyes to the rips of the times—(loud cheers)
to the spread of liberal opinions; to the aspirations for
liberty and free institutions ; to the sfirit of the ass and the
ktereased intelligence of the people. Let them
ask themselves, is it possible to en still ? Cm England,
once the pioneer of freedom, continue a laggard in the nosed
civilisation sad progression ? (Cheers.) Will the MONS of
this country consent to remain in their present degraded
political condition, wiehuut • voice ia those laws by which
they are governed, held responsible, taxed at will, and yet
deemed too poor and too ignorant to be admitted to the rights
ioptlafreece.nfudinlewnanel dea(CucOh'eeins°natli)oulironallustinleThe.e: uPilitcywn:o
lit end
Thea mistake
rpi enr the
the
nfenlongoorytibefaloiondi
sayon lacko oorofr4ennuelymEnthor
cheering.)d. azi
tophuresstrijotnnkariigvhidtsuaofmouenrixtertirnuloontt buoupoworenue
thrr,tondfenorepptithndautheogithhi
tot,
tierthttifpootiti:
ourte
cease. We must rely upon oureelves—(bear, hear)—upon
and
vt:Cblishhf.a.edvcoergenni.allattesyLo,fhefthedoerff7Lowwhereahialchyhtiareaoevabe:rdeaveikatillirmlogonrtsininyo.dvarin shfitilullgnanbpsciartakiftfrevresoe-fi
holds, must be sustained and carried out. (Hear, hear.)
form, or on the tit:marines of the present system, not be-
cause I am not deeply impressed with their necessity, but
because I deemed it more desirable to occupy the time is the

r eat of the evil. (Hear.) Because, too, I believe there are
higher and holier aspirations nnueded with the objects we -
seek than any of a mere pecuniary character ; and, because,
I am persuaded were the people fully, freely, and fairly re-
presented, they would nut only remedy these evils, but they
would accord an equal measure of justice to ell.—(The boa.
gentleman resumed his seat amid loud and long protracted
the e ries.)
J. W. PARRY, Esq., who was loudly welcomed newt
spoke. He said, that having had many opportunities of ex-
plaining what were his opinions on the subject of parliamen-
tary and fleanotal reform, and having addreseei them on the
subject in February last, he should not detain them at any
length on the present whams. Ho still adhered to thou
opinions on which he had ventured to fight the last election
ter Norwich, and whiab, though than annteceadul, would
ultimately prevail. (Cheers.) The great object of the
mw ting there that night he believed—and it was an object
in which he fully concurred—was conciliation. (Cheers.)
Conciliation amongst all emus of reformers, to be bend on
the entire destruction of the present representative system,
on the ground that it was far too narrow to represent
fairly in the wishes and feelings of the people. (Hear,
hear.) Dodd's Par/io nernfary Companion stated openly
that in many of the boroughs, as Lymingtoo, Maims-
bury, Nortballerton, Marlborough, and many other
parliamentary boroughs, the influence which returned the
members to parliament was not that of the electors, but that
of certain Whig or tory lords or landowners; and in one of
those places he found from the same authority that • lady,
a Miss Piens, a relative of Mr. Wrightson, had considerable
influence. (Laugher) This proved that, notwithstanding
the Reform Bill, and the destruction of the boroughmooger
tisstem, the system was almost as bad as ever. In conversa-
on last night with Mr. Tillett, he put to me a case illus-
trating the comparative it fluence of a vote in one place and
of a vote In another. Thetford returns two members, and
has 180 registered voters ; Norwich, which contains between
4,000 and 5,000 registered voters, returns also two members
—(a voice, " Only one and • half ;" laughter)--so that an
elector of Thetford has 27 times the power of an elector of
Norwich, and 180 times that of an elector of Blanchester.
The reforms which were necessary for the welfare of this
mitietry could be obtained under a proper system of repre-
sentation without violence, and without that expensive and
isoonvenient agitation which all true reformers would be
glad to avoid if they could. With a representative system in
1 which the voice of the people was fairly expensed did they
[ suppose that • man who had laboured for his country like
Joseph Hume would have been always excluded from the
government ? (Loud cheers.) Had he no practical expe-
rience or political wisdom to qualify hint for a teat in the ad-
ministration ? (Cheers.) The reason he had not been
selected was that he wee not a Grey, or an
Billet, car a Ransil—Ransil—became—
. he had not " hanger-
able or " right honourable " prefized to his
same, bat had sprang from the people and raise I him-
self to his present position by his own energy, ability, and
honesty. (Hear, hear.) It was high time that this system of
governing the country by a family compact amorget the
I aristocracy should mese, and that England should no longer
laMiegraced by denying the common rights of hospitality to
time whose only came was the having petaled their lieu
he illoir country's freedom ; nor the safety of the empire
I wined by the stubborn denial of political rights to the
tamer of the people here, and by tyrannising over our
enkedes until they were driven into rebellion and revolution.
(Ijieses.) He could tell Lord J. Russell what, perhaps, he
was sot aware of, that if he were to abandon public life to-
morrow it would be a calamity the people of this country
could endure with • considerable amount of patience.
I (Cheers and laughter.) In conclusioe, he advised them all
to unite heartily in this movement, as the readiest means of
procuring a better system of government; let them proceed
(as Sit R. Peel would say) in the open path of the e. ratite-
ties, using no violence, no thread—not adopting the advice
of Bari Eitswilliant during the reform agitation, to refute to
pay taxes, nor of the Times, when it soggesiell that the
members of the govnitment should be assailed with brickbats
and bludgeons—but let them proceed orderly, peaceably, and
constitetdmially—(hear, hear)—but at the same time heartily
and determinedly, and success was oereain. (Cheers.) They
were told that Europe wee convulsed, and that this wcs not
the time to demand reforms ; but it was to save Borland
from those couvubions under which the Continent was la-
bouring that the government were urged to make thou con-
cessions to which the people were entitled—(cheers) —and he
hoped the government would yet see the propriety of doing
that which they might now do with grace, but which, if they
delayed, they would be compelled her.after to do with dis-
grace. (
OCheers.)
Me. 'CONNOR congratulated the conference in having
seeceeded in joining all claims in the movement fur • full
and fair representation of the working-classes. (Hear.) He
rejoiced that he now saw foreshadowed a real co-operation
and union between the working and the middle claims—
(cheen)—and that Norwich would not be behindhand in
assisting Lord John with that little 'gum as from without:of
1 which last session he appeared so desirous. (Cheers and
laughter.) He was happy to say that, throughout England
and adot_cil
no(wlereariter—
nilea
be the last man to nand in the way of such a combing-
ad he would
woiethlde
tkn foe goad. (Hear, hear.) True, he had on pre-
view easoinis opposed the middle-etas movements—he had
midati chasesti a red,
in everythis c"mrotilvei m he
:Trthem in free trade,and had advised the chartist' not
in that eg:tation—but that was not because he was
sot a free trader, but because he knew that free trade in
legislation was the first thing necestery befere they could
sorry sat any other free trade measure tor the benefit of the
=He joined this association not because it was a
dal rearm association, for he believed if they reduced
the expenditure of the counter ten millions, and the House
of C smote remained constitut,d as it was now, thy people
would derive no benefit, But tuts movement embraced four
of the principles of the people's charter, and if they onto
obtained thou they would have a quadruped to go upon In
their efforts to obtain the remiiairot point% (" Haar"
and a laugh.) He had stru2gled loos and a talotely
in the cause of the working climes, and they know it, and
he would now tell them that, rather than surrender one
' point of the charter, or oppose this t .ovement of fraternisa-
tion with the middle chases, he would resign life. (Cheers.).
Mr. G. THOMPSON, whilst expressing himself favour-
able to the fullest extension of popular rights—even to all the
points of the charter—bailed the present movement with
pleasure, as a first step le which all classes could unite for
the attainment of the common object. (Cheers.)
Mr. Hvna proposed, and Mr. O'CoNtroa seconded, a vote
of thanks to the chairman, which having been carried and
duly acknowledged, the business of the meeting concluded.