The Express.
London, England, 1850-05-01 00:00:00

NATIONAL REFORM CONFERENCE.

The address of the National Reform Conference to
the friends of parliamentary and financial reform throughout
the kingdom, ha. been dr►wn up in acee.rdanc • with the
unmimou, resolution of the conference, by the Butinese
Committee :

The Conference was convened to deliherate on the means
of promoting the ledislative adoption of those principles
which constitute the basis of the National Reform Associa-
tion, and which have already received in the present House
of Commons the sanction of more than one hundred and
twenty members. _

Delegates assembled on Tursday last, representing almost
all the principal cities and towns of the empire, and
also a large and growing section of the agricultural papu-
lati,n. The utmost earnestness and unanimity narked its
proceedings.
Too Conference, having unanimously passed a resolution
approving the principles of the association and the prcceed-
ings of its council, then adopted a series of resolutions, urging
the employment of Ircturers, the distribution of tracts, and
the formation of local committees.

The Confe mice attached g;eatimp.irtance to the employ-
ment of every available means of increasing the number of
reform electors, by a strict attervion to the registra,ion and
by a persevering support of the freehold la- d movement.
I•ae Conference strongly recommended that movement to
the earnest support of everyrelormer throughout the empire ;
not merely f r the political results which it was accomplish-
ing, but also for the inestimable moral effect which it was
producing on the industrial classes.
Many misconceptions being entertained as to the extent of
the electoral reforms which the associ►tion seeks to promote,
particularly on the subject of rating, the Conference rectum•
mended that a bill should be drawn, ready to be laid b:fore
p.rliament, con,aining all the enactments, in h gal form, re•
quisite to give effect to the cbjects of the usociation.
An important alteration in the mode of construing the
council was also recommended.

Aber these and other practical rrcemmendations, the Con-
ference paswd the following resolution
That this Conference is of opinion that every means
ought to be employed to enlarge the present county and
borough eonstituen i,s to the utmost rxten•, and that it is
desirable to form, in the several localities, committees, with
a permanent machinery, to watch seal superintend the regis-
tration ; and that it be hereby recommended to the re'orm
associations throughout the c:untry, particularly where
established in districts not satisfactorily represented at the
present time in parliament, the urgent imp:rt■uee of being
prepared, whenever any victory occurs in the representa-
tion of any boroughs or divisions of counties with which
such associations are connected, to nominat.s thoreugh re-
formers, and thus incresse the number of reform members
in the House of Commons, or at all events aid the develop-
ment of public opinion in support of the princip:es of this
aasociation.

The above statement sufficiently indicates the practical
mutts of the Conference.

The committee now earnestly appeal to the ref • reners of
the United Kingdom to carry into effect the resolutions of
the assembled delegates, and suggest the foLowiLg practical
course of proceedieg :-
Ist. That in every town where any number, however
small, of earnest reformers resides, a local committee with a
secretary be itnmediati ly appointed; such appointment to
be notified to the secretary in Loudon, who will, without
delay, send cards of membership, a supply at tracts, &c.
2. That periodical meetings of memn,rs be held to con-
verse upon and discuse the public questions involvi d in this
movement, so as thereby to interest the active spirits in the
locality. At these meetings a prominent object should be
the enrolment of members.

3. That lectures and public addresses explanatory of the
principles of the association be delivers i as extensively ant
regularly as possible.
4. Thu it be regarded as an important duty of such local
committees to give strict attention to the registrati,n, and
also to facilitate by all possible means the acquisition of
small freeholds, either by the agency of fret-114i land so-
cieties or otherwise, as may be deemed bast in each locality ;
the mos' scrupulous care beine taken that all pecuniary
transactions are conducted with the utmost regularity and

5. That in every parliamentary borough not satisfactorily
represented at present, and in every ceuntv or division, the
immediate attention of the friends of this movement be
directed to the necessity of a determined and independent
electoral policy, and that the reformers in every locality
should look out (if possible, from amongst themselves), for
diitable men to support their principles in parliament, and
that, wherever a phalanx can be formed in arty contituency
to give effect to this policy, a resolution should be adopted to
nominate and support such cendiJates, regae.less ot it, im-
mediate success, or of its operation on either of the aristo-
cratic parties. This course of action, if carried oat in a firm.
and yet conciliatory spirit, will speedily win 0..2. thousands
to the cause who never have faith in any principles until
their advocate, have proved their earnestness, sad that they
are not manoeuvring for mere party purposes. The resolu-
tion ti adopt this policy, when once uetermined on, should
be publicly avowed. It appears from cominuoiratians made
to the Conference, that the legal expellees of conducting eke--
lion contests are considerably lens thee is generally supposed..
and it is extremely important that such a economi,ml plan,
electoralof
6a.c tTiohna ss will fact:Rote the.
shouldpelvicclry ezr?r: ds
0.1
iy
...apdpheneadlree
d to
made to those who is
distinct orgentsa.ions are urging various grievances en public
attention to unite in this effort to courruct in parliameat
such a tribunal as, bring 6 eely chosen by, and fully respon-
sible to the people, shall 'rive an attentive ear to their com-
plaints; and no longer played by class considerations, shall
deal out impartial rustlers to all. This sucg. at ion applies to
the rapidly increasing advocates of financial refortu—reli-
nimas cquality—peaee- —modifications ot the penal code—re-
forms to the administration of the law—and to all who are
striving to allay the discontent or add to the comforts of the
great mass of the people.
Many other p tactical measures will suggest them-.
selves to the friends of the movement through-
' out the kingdom, according to the ercumatonsis
of the severe', localities. The council of the association.
j energetically • Imported by the warnt spproval and cordial,
sympathy ut the Reform Conference, will proceed with re-.
doubled energy to the work which lies before it. In the
opinion of men of all parties, a measure ot electoral retinue
has become a necessity. It is for the people of the l'..tted
Kingdom to determine, that the question,wh• a ono.: opened,
shall not be finally settled until there is a cured for them a
complete control ov.r the taxes tLey to pay
and the laws by which they are gositued. Sigued on NOW(
of the business committee. . _

_J. HENRY TaLLrTT, Chairman.
London, April 27th, 18.50.
Sived on behalf of the Conference,
JusHvA WALlismit,

THE COPTHOLD COMMlSBloN.—Yesterday a return
(obtaint d by Mr. Aelionby ) wu pr;nted of all eldranchise-
merits, &e., tattier the C. mhold Conswiosi..n. rs, and the Wit
of the commission. The number of enfrasehiseme,,ta and
commutations was 308, and 13 more were in progress. The
cents of the commission, from 1811 to 1'49, was
12 ;,3301 15s. Bd. ; which sum was paid out of the consoli-
dated fund.