The Express.
London, England, 1851-11-07 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING AT LEWISHAM.

A meeting was held on Tuesday, at the Black Bull
Tavern, Lewisham, Kent, to receive a deputation from the
National Reform Association ; G. Hoorn's, Esq., Syden-
ham, in the chair.
After some remarks from the CHAIRMAN,
Mr. MATSON said that the National Parliamentary and
Financial Reform Association had sprung from one which
was established in 1848 to obtain equal taxation, their ob-
ject being to WO the taxes oil the necessaries of life, con-
sidering those taxes the cause of the distress, and substituting
a tax upon property. At a general meeting of the mem-
bers it was, however, considered that the only means of
obtaining a 'enaction and equalisation of taxation would
be to obtain a reform of the !louse of Commons, and it then
became a question what measure of reform was the most
likely to be obtained. After much thoughtful considera-
tion, it was ultimately resolved to adopt the principles of
Mr. Hume's motion, that having received the support of a
large number of members of parliament. He spoke very
highly of the zeal, exertions, and liberality of Sir J.
Walmsley, and hoped the meeting would support his
exertions by not only enrolling themselves as members of
the association, but by contributing to its funds.
Mr. WRIGHT rose with great pleasure to propose a re-
solution: "That in the opinion of this meeting the Na-
tional Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association
well deserves public support. This meeting, therefore,
pledges itself to do all in its power to forward its objects."
Mr. CARTER (a working man) had muck pleasure in
seconding the resolution, which was carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks having been passed to the deputation
and chairman, the meeting separated.

MEETING AT STAFFO6O.—On Monday evening
upwards of eight hundred of the reformers of Stafford as-
sembled in the Shire Hall to receive a deputation from the
National Parliamentary Reform Association in London, in
the persons of R. Kettle, Esq., and If. J. Slack, Esq. The
chair was taken by T. 11. Elley, Esq., the mayor, who ex-
pressed his conviction that it was of the utmost importance
for the people to take the present opportunity of declaring
their opinion upon the great political question of the day,
upon the proper solution of which the future prosperity of
our country would so much depend. A resolution to the
effect that nothing short of the principles of reform embo-
died in the annual motion of Mr. Hume would satisfy
the people was proposed by George Sidney, Esq.,
a magistrate for the county, in an able speech,
which was received with great applause, and having
been admirably seconded by Mr. Peplow, was
spoken to at considerable length by Mr. Slack. In
the course of his address Mr. Slack reviewed the history
and present state of our representative system, and con-
cluded with a glowing picture of the benefits that would
arise to our country at large if the voice of the people was
fairly heard. Mr. Silvester then proposed a resolution of
eonffdence in the National Parliamentary Reform Associa-
tion, and its president—Sir J. Walmsley, M.P. The me-
lion was seconded by Mr. Allwood. Both resolutions
having been carried unanimously, the meeting separated,
after a vote of thanks to the mayor.