The Express.
London, England, 1858-02-24 00:00:00

TILE CONSPIRACY TO MURDER BILL.

PUBLIC MBETING IN SHEFFIELD.

On Monday night a public meeting, convened b
requisition to the Mayor, was held in the Town-hall, Shei.
field, too:wider the provisions of Lord Palm:estop's Con•
Mracy Murder Bill. The meeting was originated before
e defeat of Lord Pah:lonian was known, and it was deter •
mined that, notwithstanding this event, the meeting should
be held, in order to obtain an expression of opinion. The
place of assemblage was full some time before the hour fixed
for commencing. R. JACKSON, Esq., Mayor, presided. The I
whole of the meantime were carried unanimously, amidst
cheering.
After reading the requisition calling the meeting the
Moron said that since he consented to convene that meeting
very important changes had taken place in the political
world. The then government has ceased to exist. (Applause.)
The bill has been virtually thrown out ; but, notwith-
standing
this, still the promoters of the meeting
deemed it necessary that the meeting should take place.
(Hear hear.) He was one of those who held, and
had always held, that the Anglo-French alliance
was one of the utmost importance. (Hear hear.) That
alliance was one which would be of benefit not only to
the two nations immediately concerned, but also to the whole
of Bumps, and to the whole of the civilimed world. (Applause.)
And he regretted that anything should take place—he did
not know that anything had, ho hoped not—which would
have a tendency to weaken that alliance. (Hear, hear.)
But the question for them to consider was am of great
importance. It was not as between the House of Commons
and the Prime Minister—it was not as between this country
and France ; but—and he believed he was expressing the
sentiments of the leaders of every party in the House of
Commons—it was to the advantage of this country, of
France, of Europe, end of the civilised world that they should
be friendly one towards another. (Hear, hear.) Ile hoped
that every speaker who had to address that meeting would be
careful not to give estimation to any offensive remark either
in reference to the Emperor of the French, the French
government, or the French nation. (Hear, hear.) The Mayor
concluded by calling on
Mr. Fiestas te propose the first resolution, " That in the
opinion of this meeting the bill brought into parliament by Lord
Palmerston for the purpose of altering the laws relating to
conspiracy to murder is uncalled for, and at variance with
the real principles of criminal legislation; therefore for these
run= this meeting expresses its hearty thanks to the two
members of this borough, J. A. Roebuck, Esq., and G. Had-
field, Esq., for their uncompromising opposition to the mea-
sure." (Applause.)
Mr. Councillor HARVEY seconded the motion, and said be
regretted, with the Mayor, that any rupture, or the signs of
any rupture, should have taken place between this country
and the people of France. He believed that Hour minister,
had on this occasion treated Count Walewski's despatch in a
proper manner—in the manner in which it deserved to be
treated—(hear, hear)—they would not have been there that
night either to discuss the bill or the downfall of the minis-
try. (Hew, hear.) He contended that there was power
sufficient already for the purpose of meeting the require-
ments of any rewash", government in the world. (Hear.)
If Englishmen were to give a little honest advice to the Em-
peror of the French It would be this. Instead of adding
preasure to the laws of your country, give a little more vent
to the safety valve, and it will go on better. (Applause.)
Had there been any honesty of purpose with the Emperor ?
DA not he allow his generals to bully the people of this
country in the Ifenikur, and to insult this country with
language unbecoming any country in the world P And
then to expect us to be on good terms ! (Hear.) Had
the Emperor, spoken to his (revert& of that language ?
Did he say, England is my ally ; you must not bully and
insult her." No. If he had done so oar parliament
would have been satisfied, and then they would have listened
to any reasonable bill that might have been brought forward,
and the nation would not have been in the podtion in which
it now wee. (Applause.) He admired Lord Palmerston;
but mach as he admired him he admired the liberties of his
countrymen a great deal more. (Applause.) Whether it
was Lad Palmerston, or Lord John Rumen, or the greatest
. 4xtriet that ever lived, be should never shrink from protest.
the alteration of those laws of his country that
theirattatthere had fought and bled so dearly for. (Ap-
planes) And hewn quite satisfied that Lord Palmerston
on this occasion bad played the part of anything but an Eng-
lishman. (Applause.) He had said, "I am not the minister
of Austria, or of Russia, but I am the minister of England."
Would that he had been the minister of England, instead of
truokling to the despot of France I (Applause.) He was
quite sure that had the noble lord taken that dignified posi-
tion—if he had had the common honesty to keep up the cha-
racter of an Englishman, which he prided himsell so much on,
theeonntry would not have been brought into its tdi-
lesessa
• humiliating position we now stood In, by the
Hone of Commons passing the other day, by an immense ma-
ty, a suggestion from a despotic government to hunt like
.Wites men who could not stay at home. (Applause.) He said
that Lord Palmerston deserved on that occasion the census
of the people of this country; and he had no doubt, however
they might respect that individual, that he would be a long
time before he got quit of the censure. (Applause.) He
did not think It worth his while to communicate his reply to
the House of Commons ; and it was not the first time that
be had set the House of Commons and the people of this
country at defiance. (Hear, bear.) His insolence and over-
hieratic* had been anything but worthy of a statesman and
an Englishman. (A use.) He was quite proud that
Lord Palmerston had been turned to the right-about, and
would do his utmost to remove anybody whom he consi-
dered had been doing wrong. He had bem several times
Aimed by gentlemen saying to him, " What ! are you
ring to turn Palmerston out for such a trifling thing F"
Was it a trillim thing to have the thin edge of the wedge
driven in ? Wee it a trifling thing to take instructions from
the Emperor of the French ? (Applause ) Redid not want
to go into the private character of the Emperor—(laughter),
it would do no good. (Renewed laughter.) Should we, at
that man's dictation, take bills in such haste through the
House of Commons ? (No.) It was highly desirable that
the people of this country should have good trade—they re-
EZdlt; and the best mode of securing it was to keep on
ly terms with nations like the French ; but he said, let
trade perish before this nation stooped to do tillage of that
sort. (Loud applause.) He was proud that Loud Palmer-
'ton bad been removed from office ; and whether Lord Derby
or Lord John Russell would oppose the encroachment of
Louis Napoleon, or any other Louis that might attempt it,
he knew not ; bat be was quite sure that there was common
erase enough in the Howe of Commons and the country to
remove as many ministers as were elected, if they did not
bear out the feeling of the country in a proper manner.
Mr. Councillor BROADBENT moved the following resolu-
tion That this meeting believes that the bill was intro-
dared in esioniance with the request of a foreign power, and I
that to take, to any degree, the initiative of our legislation
from such • 80113.01 would, in the opinion of this meeting,
strike • fatal blow at oar national independence, and serve as
a dangerous precedent for fttnre time.."
Mr. G. L. &immolate seceded the motion.
MUM. I.IIONSTDI and 'MPH MI supported the motion.
Mr. ConneMor Banc mowed " Tint this ousting con-
siders the late government of Lord Palmerston was deficient
in judgment and dignity in not having at ono returned •
soutanes but firm refusal to the dispatch of Count Walewaki,
and that as his hedehles administration rested the remand-
Why of havkg pint the House of Ottawas= and the
people of this asmaby la a false and undignified position."
Mr. Hatay TITIMITOX seconded the seceica.
Mr. Cooed/be Boo= pored the neat reeolcation :
" That while this asestbet 'Wel not wish any diaoourteity to
be oared le the defesks gounamant of Frame, and desires
to mows, of Mame TIM the pee* of that Mosby, it
hob -b beond ewes the add bill, baivleg that it might be
perverted in ke apeentima so as to interim with its sacred
right Of sallata wYi this country has war boa proud to
offer Or pealed WWI of eery perry and cessatry ; sad that
Wflelbstetag psalm becamas— le he pessated to
Mao et Osemsas by beebesdh Bee., Ind
one to the AWN et lads 4lfl itaerdgempieg. TIM tie
seem Muse' beheld of sawing, sod Imam& Wee
ter pea
—Kt. C. BAOSIRAW secesded the 1111M10116
fla~i with • vale ed thanks to the
aged