The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-05 00:00:00

NATIONAL REFORM UNION.

The monthly meeting of the executive was held
on Tuesday afternoon, at Manchester; Mr. WILLIA4
WARBURTON in the chair. The minutes of the preceding
meeting, and the minutes of the finance committee, were
read and confirmed, and all accounts owing by the
executive, which had been examined and found correct,
were ordered to be paid. The agent, Mr. J. D. Morton,
reed the usual monthly report of the operations of the
executive, from which it appeared that there had been
more than usual activity amongst the various auxiliaries,
acting in conjunction with the central executive, and that
the strongest possible feelings of dissatisfaction were ex-
pressed on all hands by the active members of the union
against the measure at present before parliament. One of
the largest and most crowded meetings that ever took place
in the Free-trade Hall was held by the executive in that
building on the Ist of March, for the purpose of con-
sidering the reform proposals of the government, at
which resolutions were passed expressing doubt in regard
to the sincerity of the government on that question,
and calling upon all true Liberal, to be watchful
lest a dishonest Reform Bill should be carried by the House
of Commons ; and immediately on its being known that
Mr. Disraeli would introduce his " bill to amend the re-
presentation of the people," on the 114th ult., the execu-
tive convened a special meeting to consider the bill, and to
report to their numerous branches and members' the deci-
sion arrived at. Themeeting expressed its strong disapproval
of many points of the bill, including the residential re-
strictions, the prospective disfranchisement of compound
householders, the absence of any lodger franchise. the amount
of rating proposed for the county franchise, the dual
voting, all fancy franchises that are substituted for a
genuine extension of the suffrage, and that nothing short
of household suffrage, pure and simple, would be accepted
as satisfactory. The report showed that meetings had
been held during the past month as follow : At Little-
borough, Rawtenstall, Glossop, IVorsley, Moines, Liver-
pool, Leamington, Platt Bridge. Leek, Hindley Green-
Beawick, Crewe, Blackley, Smalbridge, Dewsbury, Levens,
hulme, West Leigh, Macclesfield, Bolton, Tottington,
Wigan, Farnworth,elaury, Warrington, Slaithwaite, Orrell,
Heywood, Rochdale, Hanley, Middletoo, Stoke, Burs-
lem, Hollingworth, Pediham, New Mills, Tintwistle,
Rainfurd. Twelve other meetings were arranged to be
held within the next few days, and eleven new branch
associations bad been formed in the month of March.—
The Chairman said be had had much pleasure in visiting
London, at the request of the committee, twice during the
month, to do what he was able to assist the executive and
the cause in which they were all interested. He had seen
and conversed with many liberal members of parliament,
some of whom thought it was just possible that Mr.
Disraeli's bill might be altered to a shape that would
enable it to pass, but many others were of opinion that it
was quite impossible to do anything that would change it
into an honest and satisfactory measure. He assured the
executive that there was a large number of gentlemen in
London who thoroughly sympathised with the objects of
the National Reform Union, and that they were quite
reedy to aid the executive in carrying on the agitation. It
was felt on all hands that the main, if not the only diffi-
culty in the way of obtaining an effective and satis-
factory settlement, is the fact that a considerable
number of members of the opposition are not sincerely
desirous to obtain a good measure, and do not support Mr.
Gladstone heartily. The utmost vigilance on the part of
all reformers would be required to avoid being tricked and
deceived. It was a great mistake to regard the object
secure and the battle won. The meeting was then ad-
journed until after the meeting of the liberal members,
to be held at the house of Mr. Gladstone.

THE PERMISSIVE BlLL.—Yesterday morning the
Secretary of State received a deputation, correlating of the
following gentlemen :—Mr. J. Candlish, M.P. Mr. Cheet-
ham, H.P., Mr. B. Whitwoeth, M.P., Mr.: T. Barley,
M.P., Mr. Blake, M.P., and about fifty other magistrates
and gentlemen, who presented a memorial in favour of
the adoption by go‘erniiient of the "permissive prin-
ciple" in granting puhlie-house licenses. The Rev. R. A.
Steinthal read the memorial, and spoke in support of the
principle of conferring upon the people of each district
the power to veto the issue of licenses: thus enabling them
to protect themselves from the evils and public burdens
inevitably resulting from the sale of intoxicating liquors.
After several gentlemen had followed with arguments to
the same effect, Mr. Walpole said he world give his best
attention to the subject. He quite agreed with the depu-
tation that the matter was of importance, and that it must
be taken in hand. The deputation, having expressed their
thanks to Mr. Walpole, withdrew.
MR. NEIVDEOATE AND THE NONCOIVFORXISTF.—
Mr. Newdegate has this week made a pitiful appeal to
seine lading nonconformist ministers to support him in
his parliamentary efforts. He drew a melting picture of
his own forlorn position as leader of the protestant party
in the House of Commons since the death of Mr. Spooner.
He bad nobody to act with him now, be said, except Mr.
Whalley ; and Mr. Whalley was worse than useless. His
words, however, fell on stony ground. What Mr. Newde-
gate regards as treason to the constitution the friends of
religious equality regard as sound progress ; what he vene-
rates as the bulwarks of protestantimn are to nonconfor-
mists but props of intolerance, and hindrances to the
spread of true religion. They admire Mr. Newdegate's
honesty, but have nothing in common with his ultunate
principles.—Erseish Independent.
A DAINTY DlBll.—Two French sailors belonging
to a vessel lying at Penryn-wharf were on Tuesday con-
victed by the Penryn magistrates of stealing a favourite
at belonging to John Tregellee. They were fined
11. 18s. 6d., including the value set upon poesy. The eat
was missed last Saturday, and her owner, having a shrewd
suspicion as to her destiny, went on board the vessel and
demanded his cat. The crew were unanimous in their
protestations that no such animal was on board ; but a
police officer, who was then sent for, found hanging up a
dead cat, skinned and trussed, ready for cooking. The
crew were thus disappointed of their dainty dish.— Western
Morstiy News.

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