The Express.
London, England, 1848-06-15 00:00:00

MEETING AT PRESTON.

A public tea party was held in the Corn Exchange,
Preston, on Tuerday evening, in support of the new reform
movement. Sir G. Strickland, Dart , and Mr. C. P. Grin-
tell, the members for Preston, and Mr. James Heywood,
M.P. for North Lancashire, were present.
Mr. J. Guonant, manufacturer, was called to tho chair,
and on taking his seat said that this mewing was a manifes
ration of public opinion in answer to Lord John ltosaell's
statement that the middle and lower classes were not favour-
able to reform.
Mr. OtLi.otie, manufacturer, moved, seconded by Mr.
Charnley, a resolution to tho effi et that the recent declara-
tion of Lord John Russell in :he House of Commons as to
the alleged indifference of the people to leather political re-
form was a misreprescntation.—Agreed to.
Mr. FRANELAND moved the next resolution:
That the enormous increase in the expetaliture for the last ten
years; the threatened lecrease of the same for the future; the runt
number of the eriltocreey maintained out of the public purse; the
ohatinate Maintenance of files' political amain, with many tither tit-
comet:moos, all tend to show the neecasity of a reform In the repro-
eilltatiTe ny-tern of this country. That as as important step towards
the full eutrauchivement of the people. and the realteataal of the
nforeut d relorm in the representative system, this meeting records Its
apptural of Mr. Ilume's proposal about to be made to the Mouse of
Commons in favour of household suffrage, vote by ballot, triennial
part intents, and equal electoral districts.
He did not wonder at the immense public expenditure,
when he considered the vast number of the aristocracy
supported out of the public purse. They were now met to
tell Lord John Russell that they, the people, di I want re-
turns; and, whatever the dispositions of the men of the
south might be, the min of the north were anxious for and
were determined to have reform.
The resolution was seconded, and was unanimously
agreed to.
Mr. J. LIVESEY then moved, seesnded by Mr. CLIFF :
That this meeting urgently requests that the two members for
Preston, Sir G. canalised and C. Y. °rented, , and Jas. Hey-
weed, Esq.. di P. fur North Lancashire, will support Mr.
motion of the Roth inst.

Agreed to, with loud applause.
Sir OEOBOB STRICKLAND, M.P., then said he bad pre-
sented to parliament many household petitions, and he had
presented them with satisfaction, because he cordially agreed
with the objects they had in view—namely, the improvement
of the state of the country and the representauve parlia-
ment. Lie thought that the state of the nation loudly call. d
lir a retrenchment of public expenditure. That expenditure
wai annually increasing, million up.in million, above the re-
sources and income of the country in ISM the army and navy
cost the enormous sum of 11,000,0001. annually ; and though
since that year we had had undisturbed peace, the army had
increased till it now amounted to 200,000 men in arms,
and the expense of maintaining the a•my and navy was
now, in 1848, no less than 18,000,0001., or more than
6.000,0001. per annum above the cost of the army in 1835.
The only excuse he had keard made for our large standing
army was that our colonies were more extensive than they
were formerly, and therefore must have a larger army to
protect them. Now, he had always thought that our colo-
nies were one of the sources of our strength, and were not
to be considered • drag and expense upon us. (Hear.)
But if they were each an expense, why eheuld we not do
that which the colonies wished for and would be thankful
for, namely, emancipate them, and let them firm govern-
ments for themselves ? (Loud cheers) We could then meet
them on the principles of free trade, and thus extend our
own commerce and riches. With respect to Mr. Hume's
motion, he could only tell them that all his political life had
been spent in supporting questions of reform in parliament.
The question of restoring triennial parliaments had frequently
been brought forward in parliament by Mr. T. D'Eyncourt,
and he (Sir G. Strickland) bad always voted for it. (Cheers.)
He had always been a strenuous advocate for an extension
of the suffrage to household suffrage, because he thought
that the head of a family, inhabiting a house and paying
taxes, should have a voice in returning representatives to
parliament. He was well known to be in favour of the vote
by ballot; but on the questien of equal element districts he
must declare that he did not know what was intended by
that term. He was inclined to extend it as far as upon dis-
cussion it could be made out. At present he did not know
whether this measure would not give an inordinate power
to the City of London, which he should deprecate, because
already they had had • great deal too much centralisation.
. (Loud applause.) lie could only lay, that he would

support Mr. Hume's motion, reserving for him-
self the right of considering this pennon of the
measure. In conclusion, he trusted that they might
succeed in obtaining reform, and that they might
always have the one great object in view, namely, to
Cattle the measures of government to be more in consistence
with the wishes, the feelings, and the (minims of the people.
(Loud applause.)
Mr. C. P. GREY FELL, M.P., next addrauted the meeting.
He said he appeared before them that day as firmly
dtsposed to maintain radical reform as Sir George Stack
land or soy other gentleman who had -p .ken to the en. If,
however, be differed with many of his constituents as to the
xtent and the period of carrying tut that reform, he hopes
the el, store of Poston would do him justice for his honesty
in asserting his optnions, rather than veiling them under
vague premises. He was prepared to carry out many of
the points alluded to in the new charter of reform ;
end the fast of those was household suffrage. Of that he
was a m st conscientious supporter, and he would draw their
attention to the fact that there were many householders in
the counties in England precluded from voting even though
they occupied 101, 151., and 201. houses. He was not pre-
pared, however, to say that every person ho kept a room,
no matter whether he paid lent or not, should have a vote.
The next question was the ballot, and of that he hail already
expressed hi. approval. Ile agreed upon the next question
with Sir G. Strickland, that he did wit fully comm.. hens
what was meant lay equal electoral districts. If a certain
amount of population was intended to s• nil a certain number
of members, the counties of Middlesex, York, end Lance
shire would return one-half of the parliament. He could
not certainly support any measure having that for its object.
On the fourth question in the new cheats. he would honestly
avow that he was not a friend to triennial parliamen.a. Mr.
errata] rat down amidst much confusion, several gen-
tlemen putting questions to him.
Mr. he. HY.YWOOD, hi Y., in a lengthy address, agreed
with Sir George Strickland that government should tidoe
measures to reduce our expenditure, ni.,l that the co!onie s
ought to be i mancipated when possible. He felt Fetish(
that considerable retrenchment might be made in the enor.
moos expanse of governing our colonic, if such colonies
were allowed to choose governors of their own to make
their own laws, and lay their own taxes. (Cheers.) Such
colonies as C male and Jamaica would cert tin'y he better
oble to govern the rose:lves than we were to govern them.
With regard to Mr flume's motion, he was not prepared to
go as far as household suffrage, though ho certainly wished
for an extension of th i suffrage. On the question of trien-
nial parliament, he was dispos, it to ogres with Mr. Gren
fe I, end prefer a five years' par:iament. If the duration oi
parliament was reduced to five years, I e believed the gene.
cal average would be but three years. He fully agreed with
them ;n the vote by ballot. One of Napoleon's great prin-
ciples when in be,tle was to attack one point with all his
force, make himself secure of it, and then attack another.
By e trrjing the vote by ballot he tlp.ught they would be
securing a greet object, and there fore he had supported
it. He might mention that a very extensive saddler
In Bath had, at the late el,ction, voted for Mr.
Roebuck and Lord Duncan, and, after he had given
that vote not less than seven country gentlemen sent in for
their bills. In consequence the poor mats was obliged to
close his shop, and take another in a emu II back street, where
he was now living in comparative poverty, and all this occa-
sioned by the vote he had given at the late Bath election.
It only in gratitude to his constituents n member ought to
prote ct them from being injured through Rising a corscien-
lions vote, and ax a lover of freedom and justice he (Mr. H.)
would supp rt the vote by Fagot Upon the question of
electoral districts he was not as yet prepared to etre any
opinion, but, if possible, he tlv.ught it would be highly boa-
ficial to divide South Lancashircinto two divisions, the Salford
and West Derby, and return two members for each division.
He considered it was not right that such a place as Kensington
should be unrepresented, and that a town like Burnley
should have no member. He thought the army and navy
might now be reduced. He concluded with a hops that
some measure conducive to the welfare of the commercial
prosperity of this country would he soon adopted,
A Mr. FKANKLAND having spoken,
Mr. o.os moved, seconded by Mr. Bull, r
That this meeting approrm of the efforts now bring made in this
town for the promotion of reform principlra, and avecially ot the
nornrroun tinily petitions which burr I drip been pent op to the
Motor of Commons in favour of Mr. flame's motion ; and would re-
commend a proaccutinn of the sun , and other constitutional means of
agiLtion, until the object be accompliabed.
Agreed to.—Votre of thanks to Sir G. Strickland, Mr. Orm-
an, Mr. Heywood, and the chairman, closed the proceedings
at a quarter to 12 at night.