The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-16 00:00:00

REFORM IR SHROPSHIRE.

A meeting of voters amongst the working men
and others was held at Minsterley, in Shropshire, on Tues-
day last, to consider the reform question. At seven o'clock
the Rev. J. Seas, of Pontesbury, was called to the chair.
In opening the proceedings he congratulated the meeting
on the rapid growth in political education since the general
election. Ile said that till Sir Baldwin Leighton fathered
the iniquitous game law on them and in otherways rendered
himself obnoxious, the people in that district thought
little and cared less about politics, but the efforts made by
small landlords, &a., to force a man upon the constituents
of whom they did not approve, had aroused them to
thoughtfulness, and commenced that education of the
neighbourhood in political matters which was making
such rapid growth. He congastulated the meeting upon
the steady adherencerto the cause of reform displayed by
Mr. R. J. More—(applause),—during the last session, and
was glad to be able to state that Mr. More stood pledged to
support the people's cause during the present one. He then
proceeded to read the following letter from Mr. More:—
House of Commons, Feb. 9.—Dear Sir,—l am unable to
accept the kind invitation I have received to be present at
the meeting of working men at Iliusterley, because, as
you are aware, my parliamentary duties detain me in
town. I take great interest in all meetings in Shropshire,
where opinion is outspoken on public affairs. The great
increase of population since 1612, the large amount of
yearly-increasing sums voted by parliament for national
education since that time, and the experience derived
from my own personal acquaintance with them, has long
ago convinced me of the desirability and safety of extend-
ing the franchise amongst the working classes. I think
we shall serve the best interests of the country ,
by aiding the speediest settlement of the reform
question that we can consistently support. Party
men may be disappointed if reform is not
carried by that party which for more than a generation
has used its beet efforts to promote it ; but we must re- ,
member that, if the desired concessions are offered by
those who until very lately were believed to be opposed to
them, we can recognise in this the strongest testimony to
the truth and success of liberal principles.—l am, dear sir,
yours very faithfully, R. Jaaeza Mote." The letter was
well received ; having been read, the chairman stated that
• letterwas in course of signature by the voters of the
district, to which nearly forty names were already ap-
pended ; and as that letter, though written before Mr.
More's arrived, was suited to be a reply to it, he would
read it, and the meeting would be at liberty to adopt it
as their own. The following is a copy of the letter :
"ToR. J. More, Esq., M.P. for South Shropshire.
Dear Sir,—At the commencement of another session
allow us to thank you for the steady support you gave
during the last to the government of Earl Russell and
the Hon. W. E. Gladstone. We feel proud of our repre-
sentative, and rejoice that we have not to
search for you in the ' Cave of Adullam.' Poe-
sessingthe legal qualification to vote for therepresentation
of the southern division of Shropshire ourselves, we are
anxious that many of our neighbours should possess the
same privilege. We therefore respectfully request you to
oppose the continuance in office of the present govern.
ment, unless they will bring in a reform brill as liberal in
its character as that rejected by them last session. Know-
ing you wish to be acquainted with our views, we respect-
fully suggest that a general support of the late govern-
ment will meet with our approval, and that no measure of
reform will be satisfactory to us that is less liberal than
that proposed by Mr. Gladstone last session. We trust
that if Lord Derby's government, contrary to their ante-
cedents, should bring in a really liberal measure, you will
give the support it deserves ; but if, as we fear, their
future resembles the past, we pledge ourselves to support
you as you oppose them.—l{ith every sentiment of re-
spect, we remain Yoga CoNSTITUINTI4." Numerous
speakers then addressed the meeting, which was of a most
enthusiastic character.

BRADFORD AND THE MINISTERIAL RESOLUTIONS.
—A committee meeting of the Bradford branch of the
National Reform Union was held hat evening, at which
the following declaration was adopted, after a discussion of
the government resolutions on reform :—" That while se-
veral of the reform resolutions introduced to the house by
ministers (viz., Nos. 1,2, 6,8, and 12) might be harm.
less, and even just, if carried out in the interest of the
commons of the United Kingdom (of which the present
government is evidently incapable), they are condemned
as a whole by the 3rd, fith,ith,and 13th propositions,which
this committee repudiate and denounce. And this
committee is of opinion that the ministers who can offer
such terms for the settlement of the reform question
are not entitled to confidence, and are unfit to control the
business of the legislature. Arrangements are in pi o-
gress for a public meeting in Bradford, when resolutions
founded on this deeleratirm will be discussed.

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