The Express.
London, England, 1860-01-07 00:00:00

(Stamped ld. Additional.)

OBILIT REFORM MBBTING.iAT
BIIIMINGBAIL

BIRMINGHAM, FAIDAT Niour.

This meant a pablic meeting was held in the
Town-ball, Birminghaes, for the tarpon of giving
se aggerentp se the mensontative" of the borough,
Mr. Schoisield, ILP., end Mr. Bright, MX, d ezPrt•sia3
their sentimeehi ea the mestion of reform. TM hall wee
dna* tweed& la eery pert, and the meeting was alto-
gether of en inthaslastie olteraeter.
The Mayor of STINTIGICAU (Mr. Lloyd) occupied the
their, end me supporeell by Mr. Height mad Mr. lobar
fisid. Than were also nesse* Mr. G. Rd:meads, Aldermen
Baidwia, Aldermen Stump, Mr. Wright, Mr. Holland, &c.
The *term me crowded by • vast Amber of gentlemen
who take en interest in the quastion.
The Meo' having lakes the chair, called upon Mr.
Aldermen Baldwin to moire the following resolution :
"That the thmessity of parfitheentery reform beisg adorer
lodged by all the greet political penes, and her Majesty's
pvethenent bang pledged to iatrodnoe a reform bill during
the amnia( ension, it is the opinion of this meeting that
any biU, to be easel to the country and satirfactory to the
people, must provide for • large extension of the suffrage,
for vote by ballot, and for • better apportionment of members
to population."
The neelnica wee eeeeoded by Mr. G. EDDIONDB, and car-
red Midst the cheers of the meting.
BCNOLIFISLD supported the 111101UtiOn. In the pre-
sence ol Mr. Villiers and Rt. Gibson in the present cabinet
might sad would entertain the hope that the Reform
8111-to be Tntrodnoed in the next saitillon of parliament would
be based on s sound sod honest panel*. For his pert he
would swept an honest Bofors Bill, without the ballot.
With all its fade, he admitted that the present House of
Commons was the noblest representative assembly in the
world ; but it would be much improved if some men obened
mate who more directly represented the working alma'.
Mr. BRIGHT, who wee most ellanisialtinatly received, said
he felt sure they meld all egreir with him that it wee a
wholesome thing fee comalteencies and their repreeentatiths
to meet periodically, as they had mot on that mono; for
the purpose of disouseing great questions of vital interest to
the oommunity which meth very soon come before parlia-
ment. But, if there were great questioes affecting
the vital interests of the community, which were to be
denuded, and could only be determined, by pens-
ment, how merseary did it seem that parliament, to whom
jurisdiction those quadkas were referred, should fairly
norms& the great interne and intelligence of the people
of the country: He thought, he said, that he did sot ever-
state the cam when he mid that for many yens past them
had been • growing conviction, not among the unrepresented I
classes, but among all clues, that the Moose of Commons— I
the chief house of legislation in UM country—did not truly
include within its repromatatithe all the 'streets of all time
which belong to the greet concerns of the great population of
this kingdom, and they had the most conclusive evidence of
the accuracy of this opines In the fact that without any
great agitation from any combination or eerie" of combina-
tions throughout the ematry the whole country had come at
lest to the onviordou that another reform bill was needed,
whet thane Wenn emit as extended franchise se would
swam • mole sample's regresentatlon of the people. It wee
not until twenty yews after the Reform Bill had been paned
that Lord Jahn Russell—by far the most eminent, the most
distinguished, and, In his opinion, the most trust worthy of
his party en this question—folly admitted the neces-
sity that existed for en extension of the suffrage,
and in 1852 his bill wee introduced. Mr. Bright
went on to discuss the circumstance" which lad to the with-
newel of the meson in that year, and the sabeemmat in-
liedeetion of • reform bill under Lord Aberdeen's govern-
, men. The withdrawal of the bill on the occasion was
=eat ee on being slowed to drift ism • needless sad
ary war. He Went on to refer to the rosin of a
reform bill by the first administration of Lord abeerston,
and referred to the mounre introdnad by Lord Dert7's go-
' vernment, hex the discussion of which, he said, be would
not enter, out of compassion and charity to its authors. The
slectio• which followed, the effect of Lord Deny's Reform
Bill, be deseribed as ehareeteriesd by • power of corruption
which he supposed had sever bees equalled. He alluded to
• the meeting at Willies Room, In which pledges bad been
given that a better messre in every way than the re-
amed one of Lord Derby's goverment should be brought
; formed by thee" who were expected to take pert in the
• goverment. The bill would, he supposed, be soisethhig fe
the hap of a mametwees. It would, he expoced, be •
more moderato memo then ens which had been introduced
by M. Pip 70 years spa; It would be mare moderate
then use of Yr. Grey's (Bari Grey) 60 yen ago;
it would he mere mama than a bill of Lord Dorhatn'a
brought is 30 yews ego. Such, ho presumed, would be
the charades of the measure to be introduced in
the Roues ef Commas in February next. He took
it for granted that all places like Birmingham, Man-
' cheater—full of manufacturing activity like Wolverhamp-
, tom-mad other pleas in Lthiosehire and Yorkshire, •
61. rental franchise would double or in some Instances rather
more, the existing number of slters. In the other town. the
Increase in the number of electors would be comparatively
small. The hon. gentleman entered into 'entice on
the questa°, sod expressed an opinion that s 61. franchise
in towns and 101. in counties would not tacreese 60 per cent.
I to the entire constituency. The present constituency
amounted to s Mlles, and if a bill gem • 61. franchise for
towns and 101. for counties, it might amount to a million
sod a half. My bill of last year (he mid) would
have left • large nese of the working doses unrepresented.
To show bow moderate wee my protheition, and how anxious
I am to obtain something substantial and went I will state
the sent to which I proposed to go, whisk will justify me
in riving ray assisteare to the government if they adhere us
their measure. mid courageously rise it ce parliament. I
believe the bill which I proposed would not have dose much
more then the government MB. It geld not have dominate
than doubled the samba of electors, generally
Isseenes, although it might hen don so in bm.oenrsitb,t
would not have added months& 200,000 to the ooesty cow
alituncies. My bill would have raised the present million of
&thereto two minces. What would have been the sten ?
Lore John Russell's bill would have left four millions and •
half unrepresated—ethe would hathleft par ems

If Lord ishn RunsWs MI wedi bne Ish
seaS7tirit raillionemi • ken of the Apepuistbn .
tee
walk hew WI twisty imMlatic tad,
How madirate, Men, wee my molest ; sad how ma emit, hew
Madam ban ho s. how , gad w mailigmat were the Merges
am& agebet me la easamies with that bill. (Orem
sheinieg.) Thin an here prevent many thiesiadm who
ma mower set oily_ kr themaives but for Moir mesh-
boars, and I week sit dins sad any prim who
may be dimpemei M be Mhos), this quokka are
the people d Ilds wiser, as • whok so 'gnome;
so brutal, es disMeilles se iinecterses, that Mesa I male&
tenuity dams and Lad Jobe Rawsell szaledes mtweeds of
twenty-Me o esty thou b still danger to my valuable
lamitatims dem What is the monarchy trot*?
Whet bibs Hess' of Cammom I.
worth P What the se-
tabliabid shim% worth ? Nothing. After these ismiltations
have maid in this comb, for so many centuries, the popu-
lation Ise issoreat wad dostradive, sod so untrestworMy,
WM Mies Swesty-two millions are put aids, sod sot
taktelel wkh the trembles, there is still danger la the
admlialmia ef thereon remainder of the people. (Cheers.)
If my ow apposes Ws, pat this anal epos him, that bm la
spire sigiensteMn sbeggiber, that If he lived is • country
Is ebbe km mans put be would he against par-
limeasta, that H he WM Mike the Reform Bill he would
Lave hem spirt the Hear= Bill, sad that in discussing
quelbes if rekrsa his *Men is of no value for the settle-
mat at suck • quake. lam of opinion that than are
missy mend the tarymett la the House of Commons who will
segmet reform snit seder. Not a few of them p
timemselves to a N. ',sashimi before the last alsetko,2e t
met always give coedit to Mr. Disraeli that after all I. hr
been • great Maher of the piny with whom I. is aoanseted.
They mei him et Ma is wreak their venoms against
Mr Rebut Peg, but Isom then he has way ato-
eaetdtb ned km. (Lather.) He rarely maim a
apmr Tin Minh Is does sot say something mace more
=ball Oar Me of the house then on Wown,!_and I am
Mthick that those speeches from which I read the
mama altanted a good skald foresiabt, and he woo prohshly
yes ldst tbrweel le the NMI. of 1880, when this geodes of
mink kirks Is.. dished—get pa away as lumber, but
selkd k swum • way that ft weld not be brought forward
steak slier session-1r Mt this he would hare • batter
*Mee Is his aantestise rr sees against the whips than
he has while Itcsellse ramie in its present state. Is
the Hones of Me—secs In s that reambly, where day-
light °sly kooks as it were through the chicks and
Aare mast be ems eke Imewperfeetly well thatalter
Meekstilen has bee patois the mak of the Qualm, erasion
attar miliscessit haltedmitling that It is • question which
snit Is isellsi. NUM are men k bet house who will among
• mein., MIMI& I ell sat myself myself for Anything
dewy wilds It AW, .di I km; ma sot without hope that,
as fa past those, whin the ssement arrives at which they are
M est sy• sr he, *Lyles the "No " does not appear te
be allays sidatribabis ask it is possible that they may
▪ " Ays." GM do the bill 'will pm& (Earl Oily
kelt at hie kik In the Um el Lack What • iseguiloseit
kwel tb _m fealley--• position sot always
kr knemiess, ier I ilon't h ohms fortu-
nate is b. as ',mhos* ;, mikes sot always Whisks for
their smiselpsee: meet et Mimi ham 11114 FOUises:
keel ea ammay, and poems via

[TWOPENCE.

all ever the country. Can they shut out from
their oiled' that whatever is great or good in England °omen
from whatever we have enjoyed of personal and political
lilmety? Their position has not base needs worm but better
by all that has taken place, and it may be that if they world
accommodate themselves' to the growth of intelligence, and
thew tbsenselees In favour of some of the olumcg as necessary.
Ow might maintain or
a co me to me—es they
have ahead, occupied it—a position equal be that which they
sew Mid useeng their fellow-men. (Hear.) If 11010‘11-
Ma ma se they went 250 years ago to Armies, or to any
British eolony, they take with them the British mastication
and the right of voting. If he goes to Australia, if he goes
to Canada, if he goes to Van Diemen's Land—wherever be
emigrates under the crown of Eagland—le whatsoever colony
he becomes a resident, he is possessed of a franchise which
be cannot have in this country. Now, I mat to ask you. la
England to be the only country in which the manual and
inalienable rights of Englishmen, according to the constitu-
tion, shall be denied to them ? (Cries of "No, no.") Can
that which ia good for America, for Canada, for Van
Diemen's Land, for the Cape, be an evil for this country ?
("No.") I cannot understood what men mean by this
dread of admitting a large somber of their countryman
wields the franchise. There is nothing in the history of the
pall to justify this fear, bat there is everything to encourage
them in any forward am they may make. If parliament is
geed for anything, it is good to preserve the peace, to
monege national fonds with economy, to levy tale-
nts fairly. Look et what we have dose within the last
20 I wee looking over some figures the other day, and
I Uacevatsl this astounding fact, that we are paying now
ihe Watery expenses above 10,000,0001, a year more than all
of every kind, military and naval,
Mir =, rat =lnoue' debt in both instances; and
although we are doiag this, what is the humiliating positica
in which we fled ourselves. We sometimes see amusing
characters of John 8011, which make :nen laugh. Suppose
you saw a caricature of this kind, that John Bull lived in •
pariah in Mich the rates were twice as heavy as in any
other, that the polies force was such that there was not a
aide of a hones which wee not watched by a policeman or a
sentinel, and that such was his constant state of alarm
that this unfortunate Jahn Ball was forted to sit night
after night at his window with cocked pistol and loaded re-
volver, and could not get a wink of Mop.
_(asar, hum)
Saab is the present condition of England. We have been
told of the enormous coat of the navy, but in 20 years more
it will be double if you permit it. (Hear, hear.) Taxes are
the mesas by which governments provide for the expendi-
ture of a country, and you may depend upon it that so long
is that expenditure is allowed to be considered a justification
for taxes, so long will the vast expenditure for the naval and
military serviced continue—if your Minister of War—a cabi-
net minimise—sits in his room, and alarmed generals and
affrighted admirals coma in, and the talk is about nothing
but breath-loading guns, rifted cansions,:and volunteer corps,
until he becomes himself so bested in that rarided time-
share that he is unable to take a calm and rational view
of the question. I do wish that Englishmen had a little
more coolness, and that we were not so easily Led away by a
red herring on a string before us. After spending 26,000,0001.
last year, which was twice as much as the Duke of Welling-
ton and Sir IL Peel thought necessary in 1836, the moment
parliament rise three-fourtha of the newepapers—who don't
give you a single fact that can be relied on—get up agitating
statemente, and then just before parliament meets, when they
know the whole thing will be blown to atoms, they tell you
that the reasons by which they excited your fears were no
MUMS at all, but merely to prove en entreat proposition,
that although you had sprat 26,000,0001. for others to
defend you, you must defend yourselves. One word
more and I have dose. Twenty years ago the voice
of the 6,000,000 of unrepresented people in this country—
the voice of 5,600,000 working men me heard in angry
mood that is no longer heard, became the distress which
premed upon them has been removed. But the working
men have associations. They can get up formidable strikes
against apital Sometimes it may be on real, sometimes an
heeled grievances. I ask, why are not these trade °restar-
t/am made use of to obtain their political rights. I hope it
may not be necessary to make sea of them, but if the quer.
Hon is not fairly Nettled in the coming session, I do hope that
the working people of this country—those 'seat bodies of
artisans whose labour ells all our warehouses, all
our shops, all our ships, will take some step to
bring shoat what I may call a convocation of working men,
with • view to bring their influence to bear on parliament at
an early period. (Cheers.) I don't for • moment mean to
use thelen=uffemenses, for I think that parliament re-
=tie of menace lees probably than at say
time, but trait that in the session of 1860, the go-
vernment will be honest end courageous, and that the paths.
mat may be more sound than It Ms been before. I have
been mailed as being beetle to oar political institutions!, and
especially to the aristocracy of the country. I freely admit
that I am hostile to institutions which exclude live-sixths of
my fellow-countryman from any shire in the representation,
and I am hostile to that supremacy of the effete-
cracy, which' is no pert of the °Destitution of this
country. All I want is that the population, the
intelligence, the industry, the property of the country,
should ha fairly represented in the House of Commons. The
aristocracy themselves have not always been very particular
in their contests with a power above them. Two hundred
ago, or somewhat less, they were discontented with an
lisp monarch, and what did they do ? Our greatest of
, Shekspeare, has put into the mouth of an unfortunate
prince this esetiment—
tt Not all the water in the rough, ride see,
Can wash the beim from an anointed King."
Yet the aristocrecy of this country, being discontented with
• king, expelled him from his throes, and by • force invited
from abroad, expelled him from his country. I am making
no charge against them for this; but I say that we are not
proposing to treat them in a manner so harsh. We have
no objection to their occupying that place m the con...initial
which the constitution has awarded them. We touch them
not, we only ask that the nation shall choose Its represents-
tivee Sc sit in parliament—(shuts)—which they have • right
to do as fairly and as undoubtedly as the peers have • right
to aft in the House of Lords. (Chem.) This is • funda-
mental principle of the English omatitution, and I can tell
this great and influential meeting, that the struggle on my
part to obtain that right for the people shall never be aban-
doned until It has been attended with complete success. The
hon. member resumed his seet amidst loud cheers.
--

A vote of thecae was then cordially given to Messrs.
Bobo'afield and Bright ; and a petition to parliament in
favour of reform having been adopted, the proceedings
terminated.

METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS.

Yesterday the ordinary weekly meeting of the
bond eras held in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, Mr. 1.
TIIWAITZB in the chair. The net cash balsams in bend
amenated to 56,41181.