The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-15 00:00:00

NATIONAL FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.

MEETING AT READING.
A public meeting took place in the Reading Town
Hall on Thursday evening, to could, r the mtabliehment of
a branch freehold land society. The Hall was densely
erowded with an audience consisting of almost every clue ot
perm= in the town. The chair was taken by Euwaten
Catnort,Esq , and he was supported on the platform by
William Morley, Esq., 0. E. Hennes, Etq., solicitor to the
seekty, 0. Kapott, Esq., secretary of the Westminster
Peedesid Land Society, B. Cowderoy, Esq., T. Gregory,
lea., and several gentlemen belonging to Reading.
CHAIRMAN having opened the bunnies of the
meetiner_by explaining its objects,
Mr. ILUGGETT, at the re quest of the Chairman, pro.
seeded to make a statement of the priadples upon which
the Westminster Freehold Land Society was bleed. (These
principles have been so often explained in this jcurral that
they need not be repeated In a report of Mr. Huggett's lucid
statement]
Mr. COWDEROY moved :
" That this meeting is of opinion that freehold land
societies offer to the industrious classes a most profitable in-
vestment for their savings, and are efficient agents for ele-
vating their moral and social condition, by engenderirg
habits of forethought and a spirit of independence. And
this meeting recognises, in the general establishment of the
moieties, a meet efficient mode of gradually and legally ex-
tending the suffrage, by increasing the number ot voters for
county members; and is of opinion that it behoves every
man who is anxious to extend the representation ot the
people W contribute by all means in his power to their
encouragement and support."
Mr. GREGORY seconded the etiolation.
Mr. WILLIAM MORLEY then moved :
"That inasmuch as the Westminster Freehold Lend So.
dirty embraces within its operations th^ Home Counties—
Berkshire being le:eluded—this meeting considers it worthy
of being cordial.), supported by the people of Reuling."
Mr. THOMPSON, M.P., seconded the motion. He said
' that there wee something delightful in revisiting a place
where he had, end others had been, engaged in a contest,
where happily after awhile those feelings which the occasion
provoked bad passed away, and they looked upon each other
with more complacency than before. They cum together
on neutral ground to advance an object respecting which
• there could be no controversy, and which did not aim at
I lowering any individual, much lees at exalting him for the
advancement of any particular political principles, but aimed
at putting him in a position that would dignity him as a
citizen, and increase his political influence, whatever his
party predilections might be. He would not stand there nor
any where else to advocate a land scheme that did not throw
, open its doors widely to men of all political opinions. (Cheers.)
I Ile would extend to men of extreme opposite opinions the
same facilities as to those who held opinions identical
, with his own. (Loud cheering.) They were not there as
• party politicians, but to propound a scheme by which the
I working man, through the exercise of aniline,' and
frugality, might become possessed of • small freehold, and
have a stake in the land of his native cenn•ry, and with the
possession of this property to proceed to the discharge of
t those duties from ibich. they were excluded while linen-
franchised. (Hoer.) This could be done by working men
• laying ups small sum periodically while 'elfin employment,
and no more easy trey could be found than by denying