The Express.
London, England, 1849-11-21 00:00:00

PARLIAMENTARY

AND FINANCIAL REFORM

GREAT MEETING IN EDINBURGH.
In compliance with a requisition signed by upwards
bSOO of the most influential of
Music-hall,
MAP:hones of Edin-
rgh, a meeting was held in th e usic-hall, Edinburgh, on
Nadal night, to receive Lotd Dudley Stuart, M.P., Sir
join Wilmeley. Joseph Hume, Esq , M.P., and
Osage Thompson, Esq., ILP., who are at present in Soot-
hed as a deputation from the National Parliamentary and
Fiasainl Relent Association. The admission was by
liners, sad notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the
weather (a deinly rain falling during the evades), the
begs hall was crowded to overfloring. The misting, Ia
bet, was equal to any ever held in Edinburgh. Amos;
Tess ea toe p'atform were—The Lord Provost, Bailie
Selina. Dean of Gadd Wilson_, Councillors Fyffe,
mond. Gray, Redpath, Miller. Hay, and Anderson Drum.
Da. Nimble, Piaci*, and "Meson ; Rev. J. R. Campbell
Mr. Muir (Leith), Rev. Mr. Crawford, and Rev. Mr.
gsmsrvnLe ; Desna li•lesrea, Esq., William Tait, Esq.,
!home Inland, Esq., J. H. Stott, Esq., Thomas Russell,
14 J. W. M Alms. B q., F. 0. Mitchell, Req , James
Euelost, Esq., Peter Waxes, Eser , ika.
pa the moduli of Councillor OZAT, the Loan Paovosr
yes failed to the chair.
The LORD PROVOST, after taking the chair, add that
he was very glad to have this opportunity to most with
Ina as immerse camber of his fellow-eitions is that large
MIL Goes.) The meeting were aware that wane be
impeed hewer of presidiog on this occasion, he
Tot
so that ansplearos by stating that he should be
give hi sera *aim upon the questions to be
Ohs eat. lie hod, however, sines thought that, in the
int place, it would be very Inczpedient that he should do
to; sad, in the seenad plows, that it would not he courteous
be were in say way so attempt to discuss these mitten
with the honourable entleneon who were to address them,
sad therefore hi scald min himself simply to this state-
mat, that he was in as way identified with the associatin
which them geatlemes represented. (Disapprobatiom, and
ASIA ahosirlat) He did isat mind a little of that work,
as it was very wholesome. (Lemiht. r.) lie bad
bees with other movements hitherto ; sad he
might be snowed to my that whilst he thought
it was the birkright of those whom his was now
addressing to have the matters that wen to be brought Ne-
in them folly and fairly discussed, it was also his right to
dissent, Uhe thought proper. (Cries of " Her, hear."
end cheers.) He knew that the very gesilsemea who were
to address them to-might was willing to nos pt a dividend
of whet they wished; and if be was inclined to go so for
with these gest:man, he though: he, was at Itiosrif to say
so. Having stated this. he would cell oa Baiilie Stott to
real a Letter from Joseph Rune
Oren Yarmouth, Bromley Hall, Nov. 14, 1849.
Deer Bw,—Your letter of the Bth instant has been for-
warded to me here, and 1 hasten to Wenn you that I
an much peened to learn that there are mopes:muss
of vitality in E iinburgh, as restuds Parliamentary mid
Financial Reform. It is quite evident that the present
minis:en will do nothing although they were
nee the advocates for reform and rode into office on
the people who placed confides:me in them, and believed
that they would, whilst in office, tarry out all re.
quoin reforms, until the power of the people should be
established in the Commons House of Parliament to regu-
late and coatrol both the taxation and expenditure of the
moan. Lord John Russell's declaration, on which the
reformers relied, was, that glass legislation should Gems, and
hossination to the Mown of Commons, by say influents, or
power, except by the electors, should ha dome away with.
A pledge was ginn that no representation should be In any
MO less than 300, sad that the Jumpier should be fairly re-
presented Ia parliament, Ac. It is not neceseary that I
should Demise say facts or statements to convince you of this,
m the itate of taxation and of expenditure sufficiently prove
that the people have little to say in these matters.
The inequality of the representation of the places
where members are elected has given a complete In-
anely of political power to the aristorracl, who in
sulky, govern the country for their own interest,
is their own way, isaviag the largo mass of the adult
Mslatioo unrepresented, unequally taxed, and greatly dike
I have alwsys regretted that Edinburgh (when
in I:914 parliamentary reform was strongly agitated by
men who dessonsurated the necessity of extensive reform to
plot e the country in a mate of contentment and repose)
should have been so backward at this juncture to join in the
monotone for parliamentary reform. I enclose copy of the
notice I have peen for the ensuing sesdon, and I don't
believe that any less extensive scheme of reform can meet
the wishes of real reformen, or enable them to carry out
the reneges which have become necessary in the present
suite of this country sad of the world. The day may be
palmed, but there is danger in postponement, which
man me unions to me the reform progressive, and
to be carried out without delay. I have not altered
my opinion (eine I placed the Inscription on the
mooniest of the political martyrs on Carlton-
bell) of the cause of parliamentary reform, and as
kag r I have health I shell be the humble and zealous
advocate of that change. But the situation I am in here
*dils private asks precludes me from incepting the in-
*trim you give me to visit Edinburgh, and to assist at the
Palofit meeting to be held in furtherance of parliamentary
and financial reform. It is painful to all those who laboured
ter!lace the whip in power to find them now *gaunt those
r--forms which they ia other days, when out of power,
asserted were necessary to the prosperity of this country, and
I expect the people will have to look to Sir Robert Peel and
other rasa for the improvement that is now wanted in this
country. Bat we shall not have reform from any class of po-
heical men, whether whig or tor y, until the middle-clue
electors (who have the power, if they would honestly •ZOT-
Ole it, of forcing on the timely reforms I have pointed out)
shall join *oldie-11y. I can only wish you success and unse
*laity in your proemdinis.—l am, &C., JOSEPH Hum..
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY, M.P., after passing a worm
eulogises on Mr. Hume, whose absence he regretted, said
it wax he slight source of gratification and encouragement to
the National Porliamentary Reform Association, of which his
bon. friend (Mr. Georg, Thompson) and himself were the
representatives on the present occasion, to know that the
highly intellectual inhabitants of this great city, in common
with many of the burghs and 66' of the north, felt a deep
and lively interest in the objects which the association was
endeavouring to promote—onjects which they believed in-
vo.ved ant only the politial rights of millions of their fel
low-men, but the peace, happiness, and prosperity of their
common aoltatry. (Applause.) It would be his (Sir J.
elaseley'sj dirty. on the present eocasion, to submit, as
timely and es plainly as he eesld, the objets and proposi-
trim wbkhtbe Parliamentary aad Financial Reform Associa-
tion endeavored to carry out ; and he should leave it his
fellow-labourer ii: this good rue to explain and to support
the - (Applause.) The hon. amber then went on to explain
iltat the oijectof the deputation was to promote the cause of
Parliamentary mons, with a view to the attainmeat of such
amendments in their financial, fiscal, colonial, and mododastio al
Wm as should be is atrorderes with the whim and feel.