The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS. FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 26, 1851.

neentelietffilisir eappreers to feel unwed they would wily
bo the how to regain a little of their isst ty by
earther therasives in favour of further political
perm Bat the whip, be it ore net the
*dr Party i the Mates tbough, by oninathe awl meth
dent, they have the fended ef pub& aim
The radical members of the Hemel et C-- -.
more and more supported by the caelliimie of the
people, are daily increasing as an important meths sof
the legislature ; and, if they cannot supplant, can. when
united; urge forward, and compel the tenants of the tneenry
bench to go on, or to go out. But separate and lilt
from all that is called liberal there is • ;powerful p=
who, it is understood, when the time shall come le
overtures, will not be outbid in their offers for
rpport. Of this ministers may be certain, that tr 2r
e
friends of the people, in and out of the Haase et GPM-
mons, will think far kss about the name of the party by
whom a measure of real reform may be tendered, than of
the value and importance of the measure itself. Still I
believe reformers would prefer to see their cause in the
House of Commons headed by the noble lord who has go
often led the van, and sometimes the forlorn hope, in that
cause in times gone by. The champ:onship of the came, I
by such a man, would be natural end becoming, and fal
keeping with a career begun in the cause of freedom, and
consummated by the acknowledgment of the noel politi-
cal
rights of all his fellow-subteen. Having glanced at
the opiuiona of men and parties, we come to consider that
which is of greater importance, what under all the Mecum-
stances the people should do. Am 1 asked what I would
have them do? I answer, I would have them save the
minister the trouble of deciding that question for them- I
selves, and by making the carrying of their measure in the
legislature inevitable. If asked how they should du this, I
answer, look back twenty years; see how it was the Whigs
were able to beat the boromthmongers in 1831 by 1,832, and
re_ and do likewise. Practise the lesson in '6l that your
Whig advisers taught you in le3l, and do that for your-
selves now which you did for others then. Are the working
me• of England fewer now than then ? They are vastly
mere numerous, more intelligent, more enlightened. Them
they were deceived; now they know by experience they
meet trust none but themselves, and aid in no reform w
mese eel include themselves. The advice given twenty I
years ago was to be united, to be firm, to he resolute. The
advice was taken. What was the result? The great cap-
tain of the age was deposed. The boroughmongers were
defeated in the House of Commons, and when the whip
resigned through the opposition of the peers, the people
brought Lord Ore y back to power in ten days. If these
things have been done once, they can be done again. You
are multiplied in numbers; you are wiser from experience;
you have ein/need in knewledge and intelligence ; you
have a better aequainuince with your own grievances and a
clearer insight into their causes. The middle classes are
aware that it is only through the concession of your rights
that their burdens can be alleviated, and they are many of
them willing to join you. What, then, is to prevent you
achieving your objects if you are consolidated, and pre-
pared to sustain your claims in the omnipotence of your
numbers and moral power ? Intelligent working men, let
the next four months be sacred to the cause ot your own
political advancement. Men of Lancashire, set an
example to your brethren throughout the kingdom.
From this great hive of industry let your voices be heard,
calling upon the industrial masses everywhere to be up
and doing. If you speak, your own chum will hear, respond,
and obey. 1 have spoken of favourable indications; they
should lie interpreted only as encouragements and incen-
' byes. They are indications of what may be accomplished,
but the labour of accomplishment rests with ourselves.
Once more, let your petitions crowd the table of the House
of Commons. In times past, it may have been wise to
abstain from sending your petitions to a house where they
were despised; but it may be equally wise to exercise this
eunstitutional right now, and thus to sustain those who will
' have to tight your battle* on the floor of perliainent. But
if done by one, it must be done by all ; not only must the
city petition, but the town, the village, the hamlet,
the workshop. Let their name be " legion. " Let
there be no mistake whether the people desire re-
form, and none as respects their determination to have
it. Many other practical measures must be carried
out, in order that when the day of conflict comes, the
friends of the people may be found at their posts.
Let the representatives of the people be well looked after—
let them know what the people want, what they expect, and
what they have determined to achieve. Your opponents are
looking to the registration ; you must do the tame. They
are alive to the importance of filling every vacant sent with
men after their own hearts. You must imitate their example,
and he prepared to tight a battle in the right cause. I have
spoken of sacrifices: let them be made trecly, promptly, and
by all—l ant prepared with mine, be each of you prepared
with yours. There must ho concessions of opinion where
principle is not compromised. Above all, we must lay aside
our ancient animosities—be henceforth comrades and fellow-
labourers. A great contest is at hand, and we shall only be
equal to it by entire union. Money will be required, and
efforts must be made to supply it. The question must be
settled at onee, and, for the sake ot future example, we must
tumid, the sinews of war now. In this mat ter we might learn
a w.efol lesson from the example of the friends of freedom
in other countries, whose sclf.denial and devotion, might
well rebuke our indifference. In the remarks which I
shall now bring to a close I have addressed myself prinei•
pally to the producing classes. Let me end with a word to
those who con:pose the trading and mercantile portions
of the community. The objects you have hitherto been
seeking can only Ist permanently realised by the speedy
concession of the constitutional rights of the disfranchised
millions. 'limn, and not till then, when justice is done to
the great body of the people. will you attain the objects you
have et heart. In times past they aided you against the
enemies with whom you had to contend, and with their
1 assistance you conquered. To-day they ask you to aid
them meting their opponents. Their triumph will be your
great and permanent advantage. Than may you hope for
eheap and good government, the blessings of unshackled
' Industry, and the removal of those abuses which you seek
to abolish. Aid them, then, in this great and good work,
and let the struggle be twice blessed ; the blessing of recon-
ciliation, union, and indissoluble friendship, in its progress,
and the blessing of • peaceful and pathetic victory at the
end. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. J. C. DYER moved the first resolution: " That the
First Minister of the Crown having intimated his intention
to introduce a measure of parliamentary reform during the
next session, the people ehould lose no time in giving effec-
tive expression to their wishes; this meeting Both there.
fore declare that say measure which does not re-arrange the
electoral districts, extend the franehise to every occupier of
• tenement, protect the voter by the ballot, shorten the
duration of parliament, and abolish the property qualifica-
tion required of members, will fail to satisfy the just ex-
pectations of the people, will be ineffectual an preventing
the corruption. intimidation, and oppression, now prevail-
ing at elections' and in securing the full and free represen-
tation of the people in the ;Coalman House of
Parliament." He wee glad to see this crowded
meeting, because it was to meetings of the people
like this that the small number of honest and talented re-
formers of the House of Commons must look for that cordial
and energetic action necessary to sustain them in • great
struggle for the people's right*. The body of men who
really supported the people in the House of Commons was
very small, consisting of something fewer than 100 men—
though there were, doubtless, many nominal reformers, and
honest worthy members who considered that the support of
that cause required them under ell circumstances to support
the existing ministers. He thought the measure of reform in-
dicated in this resolution was • very reasonable one, and that
the people should certainly be satisfied with nothing lees.
He would remind them that he fought with them for the
Reform Bill 20 years ago, and told them that that was but
an instalment of what they ought to have. The time was
now come for the other instalumett, owl they must remem-
ber. that now as then they would require to rouse them-
selves ere they became the omnipotent power which must
coerce an unwilling Rouse of Gemesne into doing them
justice. (Cheers.)
Mr. HEYWOOD, of Hairs, smonded the resolution.'
W. J. FOX, Esq., M.P., them iese to support the resolu-
tion, and was received with proisszed eheering. He said—
ilr. Chairman sad gentlemes,- Weis peat meeting is worthy
et the great cause which yes in arethegated to support.
The weirdly reformer who all eumploined (as what
speaker may not complain ? et the halftime of his voice,
is=li
in addressing so vest a bet it has been well said
that " one voice has edam" It is always so when
that one voice, se trans, time great truth, lentla Kee
noble right which below te bums name, the panoriosi
of which is claimed sr ermines Mr human nature; and if
IMO votes ea robed lee may tams, how mast It be with
the Totem of Selnlearled thounands, each as are here as-
emalied ? And whet is the cis to their assertion of public
sisid and judos but the Sideedion of millions declaring
IMO they have waited lorsg aesmA for the possession of their
kuphimeta inheritance ? (Loud &SM.) Sir, we have heard
hod: letters which were seal to this meeting, and we
in other ways, that the labours of the last
Senile have required relaxation ter the restoration of the
Wit and strength of the members of the House of Cote-
ntin& It was a very laborious session. (Cheers and
.) The House of Common heaved with the throes
rre-aiseatain in labour, sad brought forth the little
Meek mime of a theologiml seastmont. (Great shesoieg
mid lawgittor.) Bet if indiViikil members of pediamest,
who hare on their own shooldme the bertha and -
hilityof their constituency and their elsocissese,nnelhey
Orel the need of change of air for the rooovatioa of their
leysical and moral and intellectual sedition, how mast it
with those on whom devolves the yet heavier responsi-
Wily of guiding the destinies of the umiak, and conducting
the policy of the British empire ? (Hear, hear.) If Kr.
Home, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Bright, and others need change of
air, bow much must Lord John Russell need it ? (Laugh-
ter.) And I wish he were here to enjoy it. (Loud cheers
and laughter.) He would fiad this • very different atmo-
sphere to that of St. Stephen's, and one which would
do him much rod. (Cheers.) If he could be put
under • course of Manchester meetings, I think his
weak sicklinees might give way to the strength and,
energy of • real reformer, and ho might become strong
enough for his place. (Loud cheers.) Sir, the fact c
be well denied, that the atmosphere of this meeting and of
any large meeting of the people of England, is a very dif-
ferent one from that of the House of Commons. A dif-
ferent class of feelings prevails : other principles are con-
templated, and other sympathies are glowing in the bosom.
Why, sir, look on many of the leading points which now
interest the public mind of this country and of Europe. In
the H (louse of Commons the sympathy is with large military
and naval armaments, and their enthusiasm is unbounded
when an officer gains a victory and gets a pension er a title,
while your sympathies are with peace and the works of
peace ; you look to that whichthey regard as ebinaerieel sad
:Utopian, you are desirous of that great brotherhood of
nations, when swords shall be beaten into pospobares.
(Chem.) There you always dad a millers for voting
sway millions of the people's meressy, shoed as a
'in formal &natter, whilst here the sympathies are