The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-25 00:00:00

NATIONAL

REFORM ASSOCIATION.

PUBLIC CONPERENCL—BacoND DAY.
The Coot ef Delegates (ae stated is retie,
day's Express) reamed ita aiding asterday nessubst at 10
o'clock, In Crosby Hall, Sir 'mark& WALHaLnY, M.P., Pre-
sident, is the ehalr. attendance was exceedingly ns-
aad unapt the oesapeats of the gallery were sr
viral ladies.
The SECRETARY (Mr. T. Bags) having read the
minutes of the previous day's penceediags, whisk being duly
ad,
he CHAIRMAN anawasseed that the first balsas to be
proceeded with was to ask the various gentlemen representa-
tives present to give snob informed in, of a practical nature,
to the solusell as they might dam desirable on the various
*objects on whisk they was met, as also to report on the
stag of feelinf on the embattle of parliamentary and financial
reform in their venous localities. It had boon arranged that
the Conference should sit until oat o'clock, then adjourn to
two o'eloak, and continue sitting to five o'clock.
Mr. BIGGS said he bad mach pleasure fa stating that the
tat of feeling in Leicenter oa political copies was sound.
(Hear, hear.) They had rinse the passing of the Reform
Bill, with one exception, returned radicals to parliament.
(Hear, heir.) At present they had a parliamentary and
financial reform usosiation and offices. (Hear, hear.)
Th., also had held two public rairetiap on the question,
where resolutions approbatory of reform in every sense were
passed. Their registration wog well attended to; they were
prepared to meet the enemy, and in the event of an election
to re•urn two men of their own choice. (Hear, hear.)
They bad no interest ha the a xisting Waists" ; and it they
went out of office to-morrow deers would be no lamentation
on the port of the people of Leicester. (Hear, hear.) The
principles of the association, IA net forth in the programme.
recommended themselves strongly to the people of
Leicester. (Hoar.) In his opinion London had not
played the part it ought to have played in the political
fortunes of the Country. (Hear, hear.) It was the largest,
the wealthiest and most commercial city in the world, and
should contain many men of public, spirit ; yet it hod allowed
many provincial (owes on important and interesting occa-
sions to take the lead. (Hear, hear) London could sot he
looked to as the Visa where originated any of the great
measures of reform that had taken place with the last 30
Dears. (Hear, hear.) Catholic emancipation was won by
üblin and O'C mired. (Hear, hear.) To the men of Bir-
mingham they might be said to owe the earning of the
Reform Bill; whilst the men of Lancashire were ever iden-
tified with the repeal of the corn laws. (Hear, hear.)
Therefore he wanted that London should address itself to
I the business of the country. (Hear, hear.) London had an
important mission and should therefore act up to the mag-
nitude of her destiny. (Hear, bear.)
Mr. ADAMS, of Derby, being next called upee, said that
in his locality they started on the right principle of having a
due admixture of the middle and working classes—(bear,
hear)—and unless suck were the case everywhere, they
could not hope to possess the cordial confidence of the coun-
try. At present, the association formed in Derby was
way in its infancy ; bat ia • short time it would flourish
and become powerful. Their members represented every
shade of liberal opinion ; and as regarded the reformers of
Derby, he should say that, whether Lord John Russell
advanced or retrograded, they were determined to proceed.
(Cneen.) He should state that the chartists in Derby,
although not abandoning their claim to univenel suffrage,
gave tats movement for parliamentary and financial reform
their most cordial support. (" Hear,' and cheers.)
Mr. MU/RATH, of Dublin, maid he came there for the
purpose of informing the Conference that the gentlemen with
whom he was in the habit of co-operating in public affairs
tendered their active sad sealous support and co-operation to
the dIUSO which I'm had taken up. (Hear, hear.) They
were glad to find that one of the rank and intelligence of
their chairman had united himself with the people for the
purpose of obtaining the people's rights. (Cheers.) It had
bees stated yesterday that it would be better that the House
of Commons wen abolished altigether than allowed to
north as at present. (Hear, hear.) Was that house the
house of the people's representatives ? (No, no.) Then it
was the business of the people to reform that house. They had
a church establishment imposed on the people of Ireland.
(Cries of " Shame.") Tee people of Ireland required that
they might be permitted to worship as their consciences dic-
tated, and conceded the same right to every man and was it
fair that the ministers of a different end hostile church
should come down and make that people contribute to
their support? (No, no.) The ministers of that
hostile church were ever arrayed against liberty ;
and it was therefore with much pleasure he
had learned that the great majority of the people of
England were as opposed to the pas meat of the church
in such a way as were the people of Ireland. (Hear, hear.)
He felt grateful for that and he thought the more closely
the people of both countries united the better for them.
There wee moth. r qu• stion that referred intimately to the
condition of the Irish people, namely, the land question. A
commission had been issued by government in reference to
it, which cost the country some 600,0001 The commissioners
reported that one-fourth of the 221 millions of acres of Ire-
land were waste. Tay also stated that if rents were fixed
at a low scale the people would not alone be able to pay them,
but also the sum which had bees expended in their rectitude
lion. Mar, hear.) But notwithstanding that report,
as well as others issued by scientific men, the government
had not advanced one step to the adoption of the suggestions
entertained in them.

Mr. ABRAHAM JONES, of Merthyr, South Wales,
said he attended trom the great iron emporium of Merthyr,
the Manchester of Wales ; and he hailed with great pleuure
an assemblage so distinguished as the present. He bad been
requested by the committee in Merthyr to present to that
assemblage their warmest sympathy as regarded retrench-
ment, the freehold land scheme, and ell the other projects
that helped to snap asunder the existing political chain, and
to diffuse abroad the principles of civil and religious liberty.
(Hear.) He hoped, therefore, the present movement would
go forward until they had succeeded in reforming the Hluse
of Commons ; for until that reformation should be effected,
they could not haps for civil or religious liberty. (Hear.)
Mr. H. LEWIS, of Stroud, on being called oa by the
chairman, said he believed it only required a little stimulus
to rouse the people of Stroud into activity from the apathy
into which they seemed to have fallen latter the passing of
the corn-law measure.

Mr. ADDISON 'made a few observations confirmatory of
the statements of the previous speaker.
Mr. WHIT WELL, of Peterborough, said an association
had lately been formed in the town which he represented to
tarry out the principles of financial and parliamentary reform.
It had only been formed about two montbs,but he would refer
to an incident that would show the temper of the neighbour-
hood, and might induce a more charitable feeling towards
the farmers He would make one suggestion, but he
would rather put it as a propasition, that the association
should have their own periodical journal.
Toe CIiAMMAN said any gentleman intending to pro.
pose a resolution must hand it to the business committee.
A DELEGATE observed that the matter was under the
consideration of the eommittee.

Mr. JOHN THWAIT/11, of Southwark, said he appre-
hended their business wee rather to make suggestions wain?'
might be useful to the admiation than to take • canter on
any political point. One object they had was to increase
as much as possible the number of electors. For himself,
it we. pm well 1111.)W12 that he was an uncompromising
advocate of manhood suffrage. Mr. Thwaites then went on
to suggest that • change should be made in the constitution
of the council, by casting to admit members on it merely on
the contribution of IW. to the funds; and that the council
should be elected annually by the delegates from the most
active spirits of each neighbourhood.
Mr. C. GILPIN said he was one who bad taken his seat
at the council by virtue of his payment ; but he must say
there was one point of which his friend was evidently
ignorant, that no small number of the council were elected
members without any more payment than • shilling per
annum, end the question of the payment of IW. was simply
• question of funds.
Mr. THWAITES, in explanation, said that there were
DOOM eloctiveNamnben, but there were many independent
members who do not like to go among them; they felt the
were not equal to the other members who had paid their 101.
Mr. WADE, of Deptford, as one of the elected members
of the comma, said tor the reasons stated by Mr. Thwales
be did not like to take his seat in the counciL
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., roes and said—Gentlemen, I
am not wrong in assuming that you have come to London
frog the several localities where you reside, because you are
dissatisfied with the doings of the House of Commons.
(Hear, hew.) You think that the large majority of that
boom are not doing all the things that they ought to do, and
that they are doing a greet many things which they ought
net to do. I presume that they are neither going so last in
the right direction as you could wish, and that in many cases
they are going wrong altogether. That I believe is
the opinion you have formed of the House of
Commode ; that is the reason why you have left
your homes to meet together in this united assembly. Well,
from the votes that I have recorded in the house, and the
very unsuccessful motions that I have sometimes made in
the house, I should have been a very insincere representa•
tive of my constituents and a great hypocrite indeed if I did
not join with you in that opinion of the House of Commons.
(Heat, hear.) The result of the divisions in the House of
Commons, so fez as they have been tested, in questions in
which I take an interest, has been to give me precisely the
same opinion which you have formed of the House of Com-
mons. I asimase, moreover, that you come hers with a
convictioa that by a change in the representation of the
House of Commoos, by giving to the people of the country •
huger influence and control in the election of members of
the House of Commons, I presume I am correct in assum-
ing that you believe that would give us •
better House of Commons. Well, I should be a great
hypocrite, and every man in the country who professes
to be an admirer of our constitution would be • hypocrite
who did nut agree with you on that subject. What is the
theory of our constitution ? That the House of Commons
repreeer.te the people—that we ere a people who govern our-
selves. But if we fled that in many cases this representation
is a complete sham and • delusion and a fraud, why every
wmt who unites with us in admiration of a constitution which
hes for its basis • free representation of the people must agree
with us that we should improve the House of Commons by
carrying out that theory. But I will go further, and assume
another object. You call yourselves • parliamentary and
Financial Reform Association. I assume, there( .re, your
belief is, that by a fair and just representation of the people
t will ensure greater economy in the edministratioseef°&
I affairs of the state. There again I say the theory of set
constitution is entirely with you. That man must be •
I traitor to those principles who dose not believe that the
people themselves are the beet guardians of the ptople's
purse. And here we con have an appeal to experience, not
in this country completely, bemuse we hate never had in
this country • fair represestatios of the people ;

bet I !mantel& la oppositiou to all those who
doubt whether a fair representation in this coun-
try wouM give us • mere noarnaleal ionisation—
that exprrieees in other countries justifies the belief
teat If yen have • full awl fair representation, you will
heve a wise seesaw la the admialstration of public affairs.
'I will take the Hine countries where the people have the
largest names In the peasant, the United States ;of
Amain, Bwita slated, and Norway, the three countries
where the mass of the people have the greatest influence. I
do not mean to say that in all these cases they has universal
mirage, but ti ey have a larger Winona than in aay other
errantry, and I point to these three 00t/strial as the models
in modern times of a wise and economical administration of
financial affairs. Well, then, agreeing lash these premises,
You baveconte here anxious to lay the (exudation—for I give
you coedit, se men of diseernmentand as sturdy Englishmen—
of • movement that shall effect these objects. You come here
to forma basis by which you shell effect such a change in the
representation as shall give you a better government, and
especially guarantee to you a more economical adminiatta-
Son of tne country. Now, when you call yourselves finan-
cial refasten as well ss perliaineutary reformers, you are
not mixing up two things that are homogeneous, because
the financial business of the eountty is entirely
in the House of Commerce. If you have say
other object, you must go to the House of Lords as well as
the House of Commons. Yoa cannot, for instance, ensure
the passing of even so humble a measure of religious liberty
as ti let one of the Hebrew persuasion into the House or
Comenons—(hear, hear)—although ho has been returned es
member unanimously by the largest city et the empire. But
when you come to questions of finance, it wants but a reso-
lution of the House of Commons toemit you a tax, or to reduce
your expenditure. The House of Lords never touches it, never
meddles with it. Get a vote of the House set Commons, and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer will on that vote remit any tax.
In understands perfectly well there is no appeal from the
House of Commons is matters of finance. Therefore in
dealing with the House of Commons you are dosing with
the only tribunal to which you need go in order to have a
reduction of your expenditure. And wain I say this, bear in
mind that I bring home to the House of Commons the re-
sponsibility. I tberefors come back to the point.that you
have to deal with the House of Commons alone if you wish
to deal with financial affairs, and the only question is bow
you are to accomplish the object you have in view. Well,
I have but a quarter of an hour to talk with you. (Cries
of, " 0 t on. ')
The CHAIRMAN.—The council have made a special
exception in his favour ; he is not to be limited. (Cheers.)
Mr. COBDEN.—I must protest ; it is worse than a pro.
petty qualification. Now I peer ume, from the character ci its
heads 1 see before me, for I am s oliewhe: of a phrenologist,
and I have been examining your organs—(laughter) —I know
I em speaking ton body of logical men, and that you will
sot be afraid to face the difficulties that naturally spring
oat of an attempt to effect a change in the administration of
affairs in this country. It can only he done by long and
estatinuous and hard work. Then is no other, no royal
read to • change in political affairs. Anybody who dreams
that any great moral change can be effected by a coup de
Main, or by aay other means than hard labour,
continual effort, is not worthy of joining you. (Cheers )
Yon set k to effect a change by moral means alone, and you
look about and ask what are the means at your commend.
Now we have made no change whatever in our representa-
tion since the time when Sir Robert Peel in 1833 raised the
sty of his party, when they were in a miserable minority,
rased the cry of " Register, register, register." The whole
source of political power comes from the registration courts ;
sad if you would effect any change in this country
by legal and constitutional meant, it must be
by the registration of electors. Gentlemen trom all
parts of the et:emery who use assembled here will when
they return home in order to carry out this obiject form an
association fur the purpose of registration. Cheers ) If
you form an association for the purposes of registration, and
pay some attention to registration matters, that will give you
• voice in the election of candidates who are to represent
yen, and I know of no other way in which you can obtain
that voice. I should say, therefore, that gentlemen who are
anxious to promote these objects should, as • first measure,
tsks care that in every locality there be a registration ass+
station formed, shoos object shall be to effect the return of
npresentstives who are pledged to curry out this measure of
reform. Now this cannot be done loy a centralised body. The
parliamentary debates show that your great obstruction is
the county representatives ; the county members stop
the way in the House of Commons of all progress. (Hear.)
Yon may ia a contest for a borough bring popular feeling
to bear. That influences largely the election for • borough,
but it is a difficult thing to bung popular interest to bear in
a county tautest. The population is so scattered that it is
not easy to concentrate them, arid you cannot easily raise an
excitement to carry an election. It must be done by other
means, it must be done by infusing the popular element into
the registry of voters, and you have an opportunity of doing
that by the multiplicity of small freebolds. I speak from some
experience on this subject, for you know that after s'ruggling
en for fiveyears with an agitation for the repeal of discern laws,
after every species of meeting and excitement that we could
devise, alter spending money in lectures and in tracts, to an
amount unparalleled in the history of the world, yet at last
we came to this—we had to concentrate our efforts on the
lac:nese of county constituencies. And my fi to Inlet is that
the very fact of its being known that by that means we had
already enured the election of a represenntive of our
principles for South Lancashire, the West Riding of York-
shire, East Surrey and Middlesex—l am firmly persuaded
that it was that fact which enabled S.r It. Yeti to prevail on
pasty, and to induce them to consent to the repeal of the
men laws. Now I am anxious, as one who had to go
Alweerb many blunders and learn experience at great
eat of labour, I am anxious that you should not go on and
depend on probably more fascinating modes of carrying your
point—modes that may recommeud themselves to you as
more enticing, more agreeable, or what is mare according
to your sense of justice; but I exhort you not to be
dazzled by any of those delusions which I fell into,
sad continued in for several years, after the commence-
ment of the anti corn law agitation, but that you will
avoid them. (Hear, bear.) You have a base to stand
upon, which we had not. We had no voice in the election
for South Lancashire; we had no strength in the West
Riding of Yorkshire; we had no power in Middlesex or in
Best Surrey. But we set to work and changed the con-
stituencies. I always said in the anti-corn law agitation give
we these live counties, the counties representing the greatest
wealth and population of the country, and we will repeal
the corn law. You have gained that position, and little
effort will be remelted to keep it in those counties', but what
you have to do is to create fresh constituencies in other
isounties. Boar in mind, that not one in eight of the adult
males in England has the county franchise. I do not think
that in Yorkshire, where we have the largest constituency
le the country—West Yorkshire has 37,000 electors on the
register-1 do not think that more than one in ten of the
male adults is a county voter. You have therefore seven-
eighths of the men to appeal to. There is scarcely
a county in England and Wales (I am sorry
the same principle will not hold good with re-
gard to Scotlnd and Ireland) which may not be wen
over to the popular side by means of small freeholds ; and
the people will have only themselves to blame if they
do not avail themselves of this ready, this cheap, this
almost nominal franchise, whereby they may wield
the power of the country. I am a vice-president
of a freehold land society, whose offices are in Moor-
gate-street, in the city. I make it my business regu-
larly to attend the meetings of the committee as one of them.
The committee have been geed enough to have their weekly
meetings on Saturdays for the accommodation of members of
pazliament, for that is our only holiday? end I feel great
pleasure in giving my attention to the working of this associ-
ation. We have been but • few months in existence. We
have purchased throe eaten. We have made allotments of
as much land in East Surrey as will give 340 votes. (Hear,
hear) We are prepared to buy landed property to
the extent of 10,0001.—(hear, hea)—ail tor the purpose
of qualifying men with votes for the county. Now, I have
seen enough in the course of my little experience in this
association to be satiated that • very great interest is taken
upon the subject of these county votes. For instance, here
is aa illustration of it. Although this freehold land associa-
tion was formed for the purpose of enabling people to qualify
themselves in • sales of years by small weekly payments,
yet we have upwards of 200 of oar members who are anxious
to buy their qualification cut and out, to pay their money
down at once, and become instantly qualified. And we
believe that the people will be anzious to qualify as
Get as we have the means of enabling them to do so, for
hitherto our only difficulty has been to find the property for
the papoose of qualification. But I have found out another
seer* too. I believe that these freehold land associations, if
th
for
and honest efrainistered-1 mean administered
for e purpose of enabling people to make a small invest-
meat in building land or in garden allotments—l believe it ,
may be made • very profitable investment for people who
become connected with these societies. The difficulty of ob-
Minaland in consequence of the way in which it is bound
the wend its conveyance, is one of the great evils
Imisty in this country (hear, hear) ; and it is only by
mem el associations formed for the purpose of buying cos-
paratenly large pieces of land, and dividing them amongst
the people, that you can enable the people—or, at least, a
portion of the people—of this country to become interested
tea the possession of land. (Rear, hear.) What I wish
above all things is to see all classes in this
esantry interested in the ownership and possession
of land, and in emery species of property. (Cheers.)
Now I am aware that the plan of oar operations
does not extend to Ireland or to Scotland. But
I am happy at being able to say that we are in
acrefBoirm.
hanfocrhileretolantbde.
what you want to do here—it is the first step in the dine-
cotoariticanlss.."(itCnigsheourrstried)a miteutoisugrieveot proposed to do in Ireland
don of your principle, for it is
.proposed to make the poor
rate the basis of the county registration in Ireland. This
is goings great way to get red of the chicanery, the delu-
sion, the less of time and the waste of money, now to be
encountered in the registration courts. (Hein, hear.) And
where I am sorry to see there is nu alternative, but
W incurring expense and wasting money in *m-
iming the efforts on the part of your opponents. (Cheers.)
The measure that is about to be auopted tor Ireland, although
k dm not go far enough in my opinion, is ventilate, inas-
much as it is a step towards the recognition of your princi-
ple. (Hear.) 1 have heard it stated that the 81. franchise
in Ireland will give 20,001) voters to counties where there
were now not more than 2,000. (Hoar.) And if that mea-
sine paws—and it is attain it will par through the House of
Commons—lnto a law this year, it will be a capital argument
in favour of Scoffenti demanding &Smiler measure next year.
If you create • party to carry oat a thorough parliamentary
and financial Team, you will stand almost alone ; for there
is no other party who say that they want to carry oat any-
thing. (Hear, bear.) There are parties, indeed, who want
put
a 'labia:lilt tha spar oaist the
as
wheels
a
to go back, who would wish to
acid stop
onk t obuopd.7
toeymi except
that
anythingwhichee
e er
fe
eps
meted.
(buyearth:

hear.) If you begin by taking possession of the registries.
you will soon have OM with yen who do not now go with
yen. (Hear.) People who may laugh and sneer at you
now, will soca change sides. And, when pine= see you persevering, and going forward towards success,
they who moral at you before will be as ready to fawn
upon you then. (Hear, hear.) I know that well from ex-
perience. (Load cheery) Just in proportion at you stea-
dily with in • brat MIUMO and make progress towards its
ultimate scones will you be respected. (Hear, hear.) I
remember when the League was denounced by certain par-
ties, who denied that there was, a clean shirt among the
whole body. (Daughter.) As we gained strength, and we
gained it only by hard work, we gained power; ss ere
gained power we became fashionable, and in the end, instead
of not having a clean shirt Amongst us, we were the cleanest
shirted men in all England. (Laughter and loud cheers.)
If you wish to see a perfect state of Inflated) Plgetledy, you
have only to look at the pr. sent state of parties in this country.
Why there is no man, however full of talent, however high
in station—there is no public man—no great leer er, er com-
bination of great leaders, who can secure a majority of the
House of Commons from day to day, because the old rela-
tions of party are broken up and niandainised. (Cheers.)
The old party ties are scattered to the winds, end )00 could
no more form the old parties anew than you cool) collect the
dust of the Great Nor. h of England Road and put it into the
shape of its original granite. (Loud cheers.) That is
not a stato of things is which the government of this couatry
can be carried on for any time. (ll.sr, hear.)
If no public man or combination of public men
can awry on the government of this country, then I ray it is
necessary that there should to some change. But you can.
rot have any change in the House of Commons except you
change the constitution of that body. By hard arguments,
by appeals to facts such as you can use—for you hive all the
facts and logic on your side—to on as you have begun ; and
you will carry this great reform as you have carried other
great reforms ; and which, once carried, are carried (Cr ever,
so that you need Defer go beck or look back. The hot . gen-
tleman resumed his seat amidst loud and long.continued
applause.
Mr. C. LUSHINGTON, M.P., said that were it not that
he was deeply au. zealously attached to the cause of reform,
he should not be there that mo-ring, for le assured them he
laboured under severe indisposition. The meeting would,
therefore. he honed, excise him it he felt obliged to address
them bat for • very short period. (Hear, hear.) In con-
sequence of that indispoction, which had been In-
d by the necessity of attending his place
in parliament, in order to bring for *aril a motion
which was of gnat interest and importance to •
large body of their fellow subjects. (Hear, besr.) That
proposition had for its object to allow the people rat Australia
to rtgulat their relieious affairs nod to appropriate the pro-
duce of their taxes as they pleased, without being interfered
with by Downing street officisle. (Hear, hear.) But he
regretted that out of a house of 666 members be could only
obtain 64 votes for that reasonable proposition. Ile hoped
the 'model; would excuse his continuing at greater length.
(Hear, beer.) H- should therefore conclude by proposing
the following resolution:
That as the freehold Land Sochtles have been proved to be power-
ful auxiliaries to the cause of reform, by adding to the number of
voters in the county conmituenehr, and as they are a means of pro.
noting thrifty and provident habits among the working elhmee, this
con'erenee Is of opinion that they are worthy of the ease-t aupport
of every reformer, and may be made greatly instrumental in promos..
lag the reform movetat nt.

Mr. LATTIMORE seconded the resolution, which ho
said he did with great pleasure, because he was etrao:ed from
past experience to concur very heartily in the principle
which it laid down. He spoke of the experience which he
had of a freehold land society which existed iu the
county in which be resided, and of which he
was president. Trey were young, but he trusted
they were pro7reming. These societies tended to
promote forethought, moderation, economy, and integrity
of character. lie stood before th?rn as representing an agri-
cul•ursl body, and the principal obit ct of his political life
was to see the barriers which separated the egricultoral and
commercial classes broken down, and a union effected between
them ; and, as no natu:a: hoe ility existed between those two
classes except what had been caused by artificial means,
such as were discrt ditable to those who promoted it, and
destructive of the best intervals of all, he saw no reason why
they should continue to be separated, and why they should
not be united in feeling, as they were naturally united in
interest. (Cheers ) lie did not however indulge in any
extravagant hopes of as immediate uuion between the
two classes &caul., it was impossible that the prejudices
which had been generoted and fostered frontage to age could be
swept away in the course of a single year. (Hear. bear.)
It was necessary that the farmers of the country should have
full and fair security for their capital, end that the exciseman
should be removed from their fields and property. (Hear,
hear.) He could cot give a better proof of the utter hope-
lesene as of getting anythirg from the present House of Corn-
moms tarot past experience. For forty years the agricul-
tural body had been trying to get rid of the molt
tax and the hop tax, and there c:uld be no doubt
that those who said they re' resented the agricul-
tural body could, if they were sincere, relieve
that body from these taxes. (Hear, bear.) But the
kraus of this country would not be baurboczl_ d in this way

'The CHAIRMAN here read a letter from Mr. T. Dun-
oombe, M.P., expreseiog his regret that a cold caught whilst
attending his ditties is the House of Comm tan prevented him
from attending the meetine, in the objects of which he en-
tirely concurred. (Cheers )
Mr. M'GREGOR, M.P., then addrested the eneetinz, and
said that he must plead the same cause as Mr. Ludington
for not addressing them at any great length on the present
occasion. Hs entirely concurred in the necessity of a re-
form in parliament, because as the House of Commons was
at present constituted, there was little hope of any large
measures calculated to promote the general toad welfare of
the country. The result of the division with respect to in-
flicting religions endowments on the people of Australia
showed how little interest was taken by the House of
Comm3na in questions of that sort. (Hear.) Some time ago
he lead been requested to bring leeward a proposition
for the purpose of enabling four large parishes in the neigh-
bourhood of the metropolis, with a population of 320,000,
and 15,000 houses rated at 101. and upwards, to send two
representatives to parliament, but that reasonable proposi-
tion was rej 'cited. (Hear.) There were in the House of
Commons at that moment SS members whose united carati-
tuencies did not equal the number who dwelt in these
parishes. (Hear.) If he took the city whica he had the
honour to represent, and divided the number of its inhabit-
ants by the number of individuals who sent repro.
sentatives from other towns, it ought to be repro-
seated by 153 members in parliament. (Laughter.) Under
these circumstances what were they to expect unless they
could bring public opinion out of doors to bear upon parlia-
ment, so as to effect parliamentary and tinencial reform.
With regard to expenditure, they never wculd obtain any
thing from the House of Commons an it was constituted.
Public opinion must, therefore, he broucht to bear upon it,
and he had no doubt that the opinions expressed at that and
similar meetings, and by the liberal members in parliament,
when circulated throughout the country by the :se acy of the
press, had their effect on the country and an the government.
The chairman here vacated the chair, which was taken
by the vice-president in his absence, who announced that a
gentleman, Mr. Reynolds, intimated he bad a question to
put Strewth the chairman. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. REYNOLDS begged to propose the two following
resolutions:
1. That this conference is fully impressed with the forte of the
numerous practical objections is a suffrage hosed on a rating goalie.
cation, and especially recognises the flagrant impolicy and grain in.
Justice of excluding any mete adult from the exercise of that franchise
which is a natural and rational right, Inasmuch as those who perform
the duties and bear the burdens of citizens ought to be represent.
while no scenee of the community ought to be governed without
beteg represented; end therefore this conference is of opinion, that
the programme of the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform
Association should be so far altered as to base the right of suffrage
upon "a claim to be registered," instead of " a claim to be rated.
2. That this casferesee, entertaining the most earnest and sincere
desire to behold the rights of the working classes properly defended
and their interests effectually represented—and believing that these
aims can only be accomplished by affording an opportunity be men of
the highest intellect belonging to the ranks of labour to attain an
entrance into the people's parliament —reannmeads the addition of
the principle of " payment of members'" to the programme of the
National Parliamentary and Financial lieform kmuciation.
Mr. TILLHTT, of Norwich, rose for the purpose of
stating why these resolution should be rejected. As had
been remarked by the President, Sir Joshua Walmaley,
they were met for the purpose of considering the best means
of carrying out the movement in furtherance of the prioci•
pies on which the Reform Aseoenation was based. (Hear,
hear.) They were not met for the purpose eel discussing
the merits of the patenciples on which it was loud, bat to
carry them into edict. (Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN, in patting the question on the reso-
lutions, said the business committee, in arriving at their
determination, aided most conscientiously.
The resolutions were thee put and rejected.
Mr. GEORGE BURTON, of Winchester, next addressed
the conferees's lie said that yesterday Winchester had been.
called a rotten borough by a gentleman who had addressed
the conference, and, as it was a rotten borough, it was, there-
fore, the more incumbent on them to de something to re-
deem themselves from that odium. (Hear, hear.) Winchester
wax mu* celebrated fur its antiquity, but for nothing else.
(Laughter.)
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., then rose to address the confereeco,,
and wee reoeived with enthusiastic and prolonged acclama-
tion, on the cessation of which he said-1 feel I ought to
apologisei to the gentlemen of the conference that I have so
tardily made my appearance amongst them. ("No, no.")
I intended to have been here at yesterday's sitting, but tho
poet having brought me a letter of importance connected with.
my constituency, just at the time that I should have been
here, and a gentleman who left London by return of train
also having business with me, I was prevented from attend-
ing the sitting of yesterday. (Hear, hear.) 1 feel some
difficulty in rising to address an audience like this on the
subjects for which it is assembled ; because 1 em sure * ere
is so much agreement—so much unity of sentiment, the.t it
seems rather a compliance with a matter of form than a uti-
lity or necessity that speeches should be made. I think in the
ahnedar ati we ought
cat tain if
that which we are promulgating is sound and capable of
to prosecutionteisdetst a ndw of
the
el 1 owbjheaett
it
is which we
ors doing,
bays
doin.
g at
defence, and then, in the ***** of its being so, to adhere to
it. (Hear, hear.) That we ought not, unless we had we
are in error, depart from it : and by acting in this manner re-
ermemend the principles which we entertain to the greatest
iciest possible to an intelligent and enlightened community.
(Hear, hear.) The object of the association, as well ea
embracing financial reform, also includes reform in
SW representative system, based on the principles of
the resolutions submitted by Mr. Hume to the House
Osamoos in past sessions. (Hear, hear.) Starting from
that point, we should understand whether we are agreed
upon the propriety of that being the basis to be offered to the
people; and then, having settled that, we should otter that
basis in such a manner as would make it least objectionable
to the more distant and timid amongst the classes of our
countrymen. (Hear, hear.) We know t getoc.4
slams that will slider with regard to the ag
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