The Express.
London, England, 1867-08-08 00:00:00

rvoRM MEETING IN THE CITY.
(THIS DAY.)

ilav a public meeting of the citizens of
held in the Guildhall, the Loan %von in
'..t the purpose of pulsing resolutions on the
• .. hom,:ind petitioning parliament sgainq the in-
had and leasehold qualifications from (d. to
~ ming papers, the partial disfranchisement
• ,t,.,. iu the rityof London and certain other boroughs,
• .tirliNini; their representation and depriving them
f t b. it votes under the name of the representation
and the requirement of the payment of a
r borough rate in addition to the poor rate. The
called by requisition, and was very nu:
Ateudyd. Amongst those present were Mr. R.
ford, M.P., Mr. &when, M.P., Mr. Thomson
r. my., Mr. J. Locke, M.P., Baron N. M. Roths-
My., Mr. Alderman Lawrence, M.P., Mr. H. Labou-
my., Mr. G. Moffatt, M.P., Alderman Hale,
If. s. Waterlow, Sir F. Lycett, Alderman
Lawrence, Mr. John Helms, Mr. J. H. Fry,
• e. 1:eol, Mr. J. F. Bantams, Dr. Parker, Mr. J. Sure,
Nl...tett, Mr. R. Stapleton, Mr. M. Seward, Mr. J.
.nlson. Mr. J. Horner, Mr. T. Webber, Mr. J. G.
.1.. Mr. Thomas Smith, Mr. G. Walter, Mr. R.
s. Read, Mr. Robert White, Mr. T. G. Foster,

Lonn MAYOR, in opening the business of the meet-
.Li•l that its object was explicitly declared in the no-
iteg , them together, and se the petition which was

mee,rl must be presented ht two holies' time, they

I, . -.
i i ..re the necessity of expedition. (Hear, hear.)
1r IL L onticiimit, M.P., moved the adoption of the
wing petition :
numbly sheweth,—lnat certain amendments in the
for the Representation of the People have been made
•:.,. MOWS of Lords, to which your petitioners earnestly
~, per honourable house will not agree. That in par.
-.fir, let. The raising of copyhold and leasehold qualin•
.-.e.s from rw. to 10/., while it unnecessarily contracts
des of enfranchisement, is calculated to diminish the
representation of property relatively to that in respect
:relation. 2. Whatever may be said in favour of the
.tract principle of polling by means of voting papers,
• orangemer ts proposed by the upper house for giving
,nct are calculated to facilitate corrupt practices and
• ,cercise of undue influence, to increase the expense of
.tuna, and to aggravate the tendency, already too
, dent, of making their results dependent lees
n the real convictions of electors than upon elaborate
-:aisation and dexterous management. 3, That while
.h difference of opinion prevails on the subject of the
:,•eotation of minorities, it is enough for your petition-
- to aiy that the mode by which that object is proposed
. .. effected by the members of the upper home affords
...funky for the practice of abuses for the evils of which
suppoeed advantages in the principle itself would yield
,!oluate compensation. That it is doubtful whether
r any cireuuotauces the measure would accomplish
• end proposed, while it is certain that it offers
~ scope for ministerial corruption, for the sinister loge-
:.:y of election agents, for the man euvres of
d faction and for private intrigue, that the
oviaible purposeof the measure would be frustrated by
I proposed meehsuilain of its operation. That your peti-
t cos earnestly protest against the injustice of being
~ 4. at once the objects and victims of a mere local cape-
r eat. directed apparently chiefly to partial disfranchise-
,t of the electors of the greater boroughs of the kingdom,
4! calculated to neutralise their representation by pairing
f their representatives. 4. That the requirement of the
spent of the borough and county rates, in addition to
at poor rate, a. the condition of the franchise is a vexatious

,triccion of it, irksome and difficult of application wand
.newest, and imposed without regard to the technical
•;Ktions to which it is obnoxious. Oversew'', charged
tb the preparation of the lists of voters have
„lance and control over the poor rate alone, while
r borough and county rates may be in the
ds of persons who, either in reference to
cement, noting, or collection, may be irresponsible to
poochial authorities, the ratepayers, or the revising
.tern. For these and other reasons your petitioners
estly tru4 that it may please your honourable house
d,isuree to the amendments of the Howe of Lords to
Rd for the Representation of the People.
"And your petitioners will ever pray," acc.
- -

nu not necessary for him to say much on these mat•
n. so the time for action wu come. (Hear*
it.) Ile addressed himself to each of the
rats in turn, and contended that it was necessary
" "

hi 1.
ve the Lords' amendments expunged from the bill
IWO to be a satisfactory and complete measure. The
resolution more especially affected the City of Lou... and he thought it very improper that the
it of London and other of the large constituencies
the kingdom to try an experiment upon. (Hear.) He
arced the three-cornered constituencies, and the allow-

4 of an elector to vote for two candidates only, would have
ost prejudicial effect,end lead to political apathy amongst
:largest constituencies of the kingdom. If they passed
resolution, he had no doubt that their representatives

Wild present the petition, and support it by solid win-
att.

It. Alderman J. LAWRENCE said that the reform bill
one of compromise, and if it now passed in an
:.tisfactory and an incomplete state it would lead
t.eaewed agitation, which he was sure the lords would
I:be first to deprecate. (Hear.) The people of this country
r., a° politically educated that they were fit to exercise
franchise with prudence and safety. The meaning of
P-grsoitiog minorities was simply that of misrepresenting
udritio. (Cheers.) A parliament representing mino-
n,, would not show what was the feeling or opinion of
it majority of the country. TLe doctrine of representing
:..rorities was against the principle and pnur
of the constitution, and he hoped that
E.,re would be a universal protest against it. (Hear,
Fur.) The practice of voting papers would not
maitre to the independence of the voter, but would lead
t bribery, corruption, and intimidation of all kinds.
Clem) He had great pleasure in seconding the reao.

lir. J. LOCKE, M.P. for Southwark, in supporting th
:evolution, expressed the pleasure which he felt in taking
sit in such a meeting. At a moment like that, when •
pest measure was placed in jeopardy, he considered it his
rhtt to add his humble voice to the potent ones heard
Longboat the ootuitry against the propositions of the
Rome of Lords, and endeavour to prevent their being
tuned into effect. (Cheers.) As regarded the copyhold
041Se:sties, he voted for W., and be should do his best to
ratan the clause to the state in which it went op to the
Rouse of Lords. As to the voting papers, that was not
the first time the question was mooted. Some years ago
I bill was carried authorising the use of them
is ease of the two universities. He (Mr. Locke) voted
quest it, and predicted that an attempt would be made
a extend the system. He believed that if what was now
Imposed became law a further extension would be pre-
load. Nothing could be worse than for an elector
:0 he called upon to sign • paper the meaning of which
might not understand. (Dissent.) What he meant was
to the electors under such a system would not be.
Ito aware of the questions at issue and the
units of rival candidates. By voting papers,
'Lich men might be induced to sign in some
• by over-persuasion and in others by coercion,
2 liberties of the country would be endangered. As to
representation of minorities, he deeply regretted that
o many able and philosophical men had argued for
= He agreed in this matter with Mr. Bright
stTreat cheering) who stood] by the coned
',two. (Hear, hear.) He had himself always voted
:lour members for the City, and he had always seen
lain their place in parliament when wanted. (A Voice—
Three of them.") They were all ready with their vote
t! ea it was required. (Cheers.) In conclusion the bon:
'aber declared his determination to support the object
'f :he meeting in the House of Commons.
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. R. W. Owens:din, M.P., asked the meeting not to
tfound the principle of voting papers with that of the
:dot. The object and intent of the ballot was
viable men to vote according to their opinions, the
...ct mid intent of voting papers was precisely the reverse
-Lear, hear) -to bring an old influence to work through
:::*methods. As to the representation of minorities, the
'let of the bill was to enable their opponents who were the
',porky to return • member. In that city the result
• be, if they were successful, that there would
• three representatives of the majority, and
• t of the minority. Some who owed much of
Political distinction to their connexion
':h the City were now found advocating this
'.:.ction.ible change. (Hear, bear.) The City of London
o,q honoured by being specially dealt with in the bill in
NMI to this matter, it being provided that no elector
'-ould vote for more than three candidates. He had sap_
Vrted the Reform Bill during its progress because he
L'.ieved it would work well, and he would support the
,I,rt to undo what had bean done in the House of Lords.
Mr. &witty, M.P., Is seconding the resolution, oh-
", el that no single constituency in the country would be
little affected by the Redeem Bill as that of the City of