The Express.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

THE REFORM LEAGUE.

A meeting of the council of the Reform League
was held last evening at the offices in Adelphi-terrace.
Mr. Beaks, who presided, maul Le stood before them under
circumstances which he might fairly look upon with justi-
fiable satisfaction. He said it was impossible to conceive
a more marked contrast than was presented last Monday
between the feeble, insulting conduct of the govern-
ment and the ruling classes and the admirable, orderly,
peaceable, self-posaessed, and dignified conduct of the
people. It was a great moral triumph—a triumph
greater than any language of his could express. Mr.
Baxter Langley moved, and Mr. Henwood seconded, the
following resolution, which was agreed to :—" That this
meeting rejoices in the numerical and peaceable success of
the great demonstration in Hyde-park, and especially re-
joices that the pretended and most insulting fears of the
tory party have been shown to be utterly groundless as to
the orderly habits of the people, who have abundantly jus-
tifies' the confidence of this council, and have afforded addi-
tional proof of their perfect fitness for the franchise, whilst
the government have demonstrated in an equally clear
manner their unfitness to use the powers entrusted to them."
Mr. Cooper proposed, and Mr. Bull seconded the next re-
solution, which was agreed to—" That this council pro-
tests, in the strongest manner, against the passing of Mr.
Walpole's Royal Parks Bill, and desires to point out to
those members of the House of Commons who are not
blinded to the dangers of such a course, that the
unoonstitutional suppression of the right of the people
of London to meet in the park, and to attempt to wake
that unlawful which is now admitted to be lawful, will
thereby seriously increase the irritation of the people, and
endanger the peace of the metropolis." On the motion of
Mr. Odgers, seconded by Colonel Dickson, a resolution
condemniug the conduct of Mr. Neste, and other professed
liberals in the House of Commons, was agreed to. Mr.
Guedalla moved, and Mr. Hill seconded, and it was agreed
arm 0.n., "That the council of the Reform League earnestly
calls upon all Englishmen desiring to uphold the honour and
preserve the fair fame of their country, to aid in saving the
lives of the patriotic, if misguided and mistaken, men who
are now lying in Dublin under sentence of death." The
Chairman said them could be but one opinion as to the
propriety of the resolution. He had been requested to
I prepare a petition to parliament on the subject, and he
would have much pleasure in doing so. Mr. J. Baxter
I Langley moved. " That this council of the Reform
League have learned with the greatest autistic-
' tion that the reformers of Sheffield have re-
solved to make an effort to wipe away from their borough
the political disgrace of being utiiirepresenksl by Mr. J. A.
Roebuck, and this council urgently advises all tnio friends
of progress at once to organise and select a candidate for
I the next election who will vindicate their principles in the
House of Commons." The resolution was agreed to unani-
meas. Mr. Mieheson moved, and Mr. Richardson
seconded," That this council of the Reform League, at its
first meeting after the demonstration in Hyde-park, on
Monday, May the 6tb, desires to express in the strongest
I manner possible its admiration of the legal ability and un-
tlinching courage displayel by their president, Mr.
Edmond Bailee, M.A., in his conduct of the cause of
the people on the question of the right of meet-
ing for political discussion in the pubic parks, and all
questions affecting the right of the people." The resolu-
tion was carried, as also one expressive of the thanks of
the League to The O'Doneghue, M.l'., for his attendance
at, and support of, the Hyde-park demonstration.

ASSOCIATION OF TRADE PROTECTION SOCIETIES
Cr THE UNITED RINGDOR.—The annual meeting of repre-
sentatives of this Association was held at the Westminster
Palace Hotel on Tuesday, and continued yesterday. Re-
presentatives were present from three London associations,
Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Liverpool, Sheffield,
Leicester : and several societies were represented by
letters. The following members of parliament and
others were present :—Viscount Galway, Lord F.
Caveedish, Lord Amberley, Sir S. M. Pato, Messrs. G.
Hodgkinson, T. Barley, C. M. Norwood, W. H. Bar-
row, S. H. Graves, and G. S. Beecroft ; the Lord
Provost of Edinburgh, Alderman Sennat, of Man-
chester, Mr. Councillor Dawbani, of Liverpool, Mr. G.
T. Batheyte, kc. The secretary reed the report,
which referred to a number of measures adopted
by or now before parliament, including the bills referring
to bankruptcy, judgment debtors, debts recovering
(Scotland), auctions, bank shares, turnpike trusts, rail-
way securities, bills of sale, kc., also the assimilation and
codification of the commercial laws of the United King-
dom, km The inquiries made during the year, 75,000 ; the
debts applied for, over 60,000 cases ; and the anionnt re-
ceived, over 200,000/. The Lord Provost Chambers was
elected president; Mr. R. Wells, vice-president; Mr. Coun-
cillor Dawbarn. treasurer; Mr. Robert Mellon (of Notting-
ham), secretary ; Messrs. Itassington, Pocock, Bath-
gate, Hawkins, and Hardwick, committee. A report
of an interview with the Attorney-General with reference
to several bills was read. The Bankruptcy Bill was
discussed, and the distinctions between trades and non-
trades were strongly condemned. It was considered de-
sirable that during the seven days allowed a bankrupt
to dispute adjudication, the provisional trustee should
be in possession of the estate. The place of meeting
of creditors, it was thought, ought not to be confined to
public courts ; that certain provisions should bo made
where there is real estate in Scotland; that work.
men ought to be entitled to four weeks' wages and
not to 40s. merely ; that it was unnecessary to tax bills
of costs where not required by the inspectors, and then
it should be by the taxing master in London ; that clauses
should be introduced, to include the winding up of the
estates of deceased insolvents. A majority of the re-
presentatives approved of the continuance for a limited
time of the commissioners and of the bill as regards the
Court of Appeal ; most of the other general features of
the bill were discussed and approved. Upon the Judg-
ment Debtors Bill it was considered desirable that the
writ of espies should in the same way as the warrant
run in any part of England; that the time and pub-
licity required in executions over 50/. should apply to
amounts of 20/. and upwards; but it being reputed that
other sections would be introduced into the bill, its further
consideration was deferred. Various resolutions were
adopted referring to the organisation, internal workings,
and extension of the associations both at home and abroad,
sad for endeavouring to revue the adoption by the govern-
ment of the views above indicated.