The Express.
London, England, 1848-05-08 00:00:00

THE REFORM MOVEMENT.

MEETING AT ROCHDALE.
Ou Thursday last a meeting, called by circulars to
the electors of the borough, was held in the Public Hail,
Rochdale, for the purpose of takiag into consideration the
prooriety of forming an association fur effecting a thorough
reform in the representative system, and a reduction of the
national expenditure.—W. CHADWICK, Esq., having been
appointed chairman, opened eh. business by reading the me-
cular coneesing the meeting; after which be said that after
' the 101. franchise had been tried about 15 years, and the
stational expenditure was still increasing, he thought they
were justified in coming forward for an extension of the
suffrage, In order that the people might be more fairly
represented.
H. KIMBALL, Esq., J.P., moved the first resolution, to
the effect that as the public expenditure was gradually in-
creasing, it was highly requisite that a change should take
place. There was no class of people who did not complain
of the enormous taxes they had to pay, and no permanent
g.od would be done until the people of this country were
fairly represented in parliament. The expenses of the army
and navy had increased several millions a year. The
government had been petitioned on the subject, but so long
as the people were unfairly represented, they would be
unfairly taxed. There was no hope of a reform under pre-
sent circumstance' ; hut if the franchise was extended, and
if the electoral districts were equal, many of the evils would
be removed.
0. AsitWORSH, Esq., seconded the resolution, and the
Rev. W. Bunenzu., baptist minister, supported it. In the
course of his addrms, he said he thought that all men of
sound mind, at the age of 21 years, if not stained with crime,
ought to have a voice in the representation of the country.—
The chairman put the resolution, which was carried unani
=misty.
Mr. J. Bimini', jun., moved the next resolution, which
was in favour of houseold suffrage, vote by ballet, triennial
parliaments, electoral districts, and no property qualifica-
tion for members el parliament. In the course of his sp. ch
he said they had met for the purpose of passing a verdict
upon the legislators of this country ; and if a tree must be
judged by its fruits, they could easily come to a decision on
the verdict. There was only one clam but would agree on
the verdict. It was true that distress existed to a great ex-
tent, both in Ireland and this country, and that was owing
to the mismanagement of our legislators. There were 260
members of the House of Commons receiving the public
money, either directly or indirectly, and there were not 200
that could be said to represent the people of this country.
The sovereign must obey the majority of the House of
Commons, and so long as that house conflated of a ma-
jority of men who did not represent the people, there
would never be anything good done for the country. The
expenditure was about 04 millions annually; the national
debt about 28 millions. That debt had been accumulated by I
the aristocracy of former days. The last 34 years the average
expenditure of the army and navy was about 16 millions an-
nually ; but the last year it amounted to 22 millions. It was
true there were many troops in Ireland, who bad misted the
landlords to collect their rents ; but it Ireland had juice
done they would not require soldier, to keep them quiet,
It was calculated that out of every 20s. earned by. a working
man he paid ss. for national purposes. The tortes of Koch-
dale had begun to comolain most bitterly of the heavy taxes
they had to pay, and many of them had declared they would
join in getting a reduction of the expenditure; but there was
no doubt but the aristocracy would send paid agents amongst
them, in order to divide the middle and working classes. The
new move was for equal rights and equal taxes; and the
working class would be justified iu opposing the: et. w re-
form party if 'hey did not advocate equality in everything.
Mr. J. Movie, corn dealer and late chief-constable,
seconded the resolution, and said every mar. who paid taxes
ought to have a voice in the making of those laws by which
he was governed ; and the household suffrage cause would
he a great wedge, and he would assist in pushing it further,
until all men were free and fairly represented. He would
support the ballot, for there was no master but had influence ;
he would also support the no-property qualification for
members of parliament, short duration of parliaments, and
tne formation of electoral districts.
Mr. T. LIVLBRY was called upon to support the
resolution. He sail he had long been an advocate
for the people's charter; he was yet a chortle; but
he would assist the gentlemen of Rochdale in the new
movement. The whip of former days bad talked of equal
taxation and equal representation ; it was high time the mid-
dle and working classes should unite in removing the burdens
which so heavily prem. d upon the people ; and he hoped all
chartists would assist in obtaining an extension of the fran-
chise, and then march forward for the whole of the princi-
p.es contained in the people's charter. The time was arrived
when the aristocracy must either chow they had a claim
upon the rights of the people, or they must be removed from
office. Joseph Hume was the leader of this new move, but
he hoped he would be more zealous than he bad been is
many other things; and as the electors of Rochdale were
progres,ing in reform, be hoped they would look strictly
atter their leaders. The new ref em movement was progress-
ing rapidly in Lancashire, Yorkshire, Birmingham, and
other places.
Benin the resolution was put to the meeting, a man in the
gallery, addressing the chairman wished to know if one of
the non-electors would be allowed to ask Mr. .1. Bright,
mover of the resolution, a question 2—The Chairman replied
it was a meeting of electors, but as he had consulted some of
his friends, they advised him to allow the question to be
askcd.—The man said he wished to know if a person was
returned to parliament who had no property, how he was to
live, or where must his wages come from?—Mr. Bright re-
plied he had no doubt but the constituents who sent the man
would pay him his wages.—Mr. E. Taylor, druggist, said
there was a law that members of parliament should receive
wages, and that law had never been repealed.
Mr. S. 'Taylor, cotton-manufacturer, moved that a par-
liamentary reform association be formed in Rochdale.—'The
motion was seconded by Mr 0. Orntrod, and carried
unanimously.—Mr. J. Petrie, jun., read a list of officers and
committeemen to carry out the objects of the association,
amongst whom were W. Chadwick, Esq., u president
Fenton, Esq., and several other magistrates, as