The Express.
London, England, 1850-03-04 00:00:00

MEETING AT WORCESTER.

On Friday evening a public meeting was held in
the Corn &change, in the city of Worcester, to receive a
deputation from the Nstionel Reform Association. The
attendance wee large. and amongst those pew rat were some
of the most Influential of the ci.mons—men who have Oak n
an active part lo pr meting the liberal cause for many years.
It was remarked that many gent/emen who have hitherto
taken part only with the more moderate section of 'taxmen
came forward on this occasion and lent to this movement
their sanction and co operation. On th- platform there
were no less then sin gentlemen who have filled the office of
mayor of the ci.y during the last ten years ; Mr. Goodwin,
the city sheriff ; Mr. Waters, the clerk of the peace ; and a
considerable nu • of the members of the town council
Mr. Alderman Panntoter presided.
The deputation, con•istiog '
of Sir F. Koowles, But., and
Mr. Getrge Thompson, M.P. were received witn the
utmost cordiality ; and the mutingting having been formally
opened by the Chairman,

Sir FRANCIS KNOWLES having explained the prin.
cfples and objects of the association he represented, said—
Give a man the franchise, nd his nature became changsd ; he
was no longer the selfi II being he had previously been;
he felt himself compelled to think, and to take a more
comprehensive view of affairs; to inform himself on sub-
jects of which he had before been ignorant; to inquire, to
read, to leans, and to understand, but Lone of theme things
would he do so long as he was excluded from all share of
civil rights. (Cheers.) It was for the people to put down
a system which gave to the taw the power and the privi-
lege to of press the many ; but they could only do that by
union—by extubitit g their firinness—their intelligence—
their determination—for in these coasisted their power.
(Hear.) Beyond that they were asked to make no sacrifice;
this association ha, been called into existence fur the inte-
rests of the people and the people alone ; its purpose was
explicit and declared to the world; the object of his hon.
friend and himself in coming there that night was to ask the
aid of the people of Worcester in support or the moverneLt it
they were oiesatisfied with things as they were. (Hear.)
They came amongst them recruiting, and the spirit mans.
tested that night enured him that they would not
be unsuccessful ; supported by the people the asso-
ciation would agitate unceasingly until it obtained
for teem their full share of political power.—(Cheers).
Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON, was received with
loud applause. The hon. gentleman commenced his speech
by adverting to the division on Mr. Hume's motion, which
took place en the previous evening ; they had gained, he
said, some slight advantage; the numbers voting in
the minority were something more, and those voting with the
majority were something less, than on former onnisions ; it
was satisfactory too, to know, that the friend, of reform had
everything their own way in he matter of argument : and it
was singular, that the two chief opponents of tho motion in
the House oiCommons, were the two leading members of
the so-called Liberal administration. The spa ch of Sir
George Grey was unworthy, both of his intellect and his
heart ; he n fired the principle at issue, he did not take
up a single argument employed by Mr. Hume, but contented
himself with cavilling at various expressions; ineulged in
something very much like special pleading, an t after occupy-
ing a certain amount of time, driven to his wit's
end for anything to say, sat down, leaving the
real facts entirely untouched. The speech of I" rd John
Russell he admitted to have been calm, impressive, and
statesmanlike; it was at the same time courteous, snd
indicative of • willingness at some future time to take into
consideration the question of further reforms; but his lord-
ship did not go beyond thin, and, like Sir George Grey, left
the arguments in favour of • change of the present system
wholly undisturbed. (Hear, hear.) The only two points
in the Premier's speech worthy of being noticed were,—first,
his fear that by adopting our scheme we should diminish the
it.fluence that preponderates in the House of Commons; and
secondly, that it would endanger the existence of those
institutions which he (Lord John Russell) considered it
highly essential should be preserved; there!, re he (Mr.
Thompson) thought he was justified in making the assertion
that all the argument wss on the side of those who were
seeking to remodel the Commons House of Parliament.
(Cheers.) What was the object of their meeting that night
It was to do justice to all her Majesty's subjects, and to
advance the interests of our common country; he denied
that thy people were represented; he denied that
there was a House of Commons, he utterly denied
that there existed • boon fide representation of
the people in this country. (Cheers.) If they would
snow him how fifty or sixty members elected by the perple
resident in lame towns, with sr other 600 representing only
themselves or the clue which r- turned them ; if, he repeated,
they would show to him how a body so composed represented
the people. he would see something that he
before. (hear.) Now that this was the tact was beyond all
doubt; the constituency of the three kingdoms WAS some-
thing like a million; and it was a fact that the adult male
population numbered from seven to eight millions: did
those mea believe that they were represented under the
existing system ? (" No.") Did rot the non.electere say
that they had leafleted in a spirit to oppress the working
classes, n jering them instead of benefiting them ? (Hear.)
Did nut the working class know that when soy great
measure affecting the interests of the nation at large was
proposed, that it was carried by this millions of the people in
public meeting assembled ? That when it loss found con-
venient to pass any measure of vital importance, it was
only dune by an appeal to the millions. (Cheers.) But sup-
pose that the 800,000 electors of Scotland, and Wales, and
England, were thoroughly patriotic and disinterested,
sympathising with the people, had they an opportunity)
of carrying their wishes into effect? Nat at s .
The hen. gentleman, after expressing an opinion that
the House of Commons should be a fair in.tex
of the mind, and with and wishes of the people, remarked
on the fact teat all the great questions which had agitated the
public mind had been carried after excessive agitation, after
twin; been submitted to the people, and their judgment
emphatically expressed, although now it was pretended they
were not lit to exercise the elective franchise. He was'
not there (he said) to appeal to the passions or
to excite angry feeling, but to appeal to them as reasonable
men, and to ask for their calm consideration and judgment,
for by the force of reason after all could the great question
be decided. (Hear.) They would have the peers with them
yet, although the Duke of Richmond said they shouldn't
have either cheap bread or reform of parliament, the Duke s
grandfather would have conceded annual parliaments and
universal suffrage, but the present poitiessor of the title was
the very clouted cream of tory ism, although he went throush
the mockery of calling the people together to get their MIK'
sion to his resolutions, knowing well that they dared not
express an opinion opposed to his sovereign will. Such was
the hypocritical manner in which our legislators crowned
their chaplets with the people, who they declared to be ludic
to exercise the privilege which was their birthright. (Cheers.)
The hon. gentleman concluded with one of his most stirring
and elcqueut appeals. He warned them that it was only by
their most strenuous and united exertion that reform was to
be obtained; they would net get it (he said) too
soon for the peace of the country, nor tco soon
for the safety of ex:sting institutions, nor for
the curtailment of that excessive taxatitn which op-
pressed and impoverished the people. He commended this
cause to the Christian' for it was his cause—to the philan-
thropist, for it was his cause—to the conservative, for it
wss alike his, to aid in securing for the people their due
share of poli•ical rights. That people who had made Eng•
land the mother of nations, and wherever they had gene
had shown their &nem to govern themselves.lie implored
the middle class to unite with the working class in this
great and important struggle—to suffer no enmities or past
differences to interfere, but to treat each other as men and
as brothers. Of all the meetings he had attended on this
subject, not one disputatious or offensive weed had been
uttered; the people exhibiting the docility of a child had
readily seized the hand of kindness, and had shown how
grateful they c told be to those who were disposed to look
kindly upon them. And they said to the working class,
put aside every feeling of towartle those
placed above you unite with them hand ano
heart, exert yourselves peacefully, but strenuously, to
obt•in for 'ourselves a real representation in the
Commons House of Parliament. (Cheers.) For his part he
hoped the struggle would be a short one ; hints thrown out
by Lord John Russell were significant of a diap:esi'ien to
yield, and, armed with the people of the whole empire at his
back, he hoped that the day was not very far distant when
even the present prime minister would come forward and
say that to the people must be extended their full ohm: in
the government. Th. hon. gentleman sat down, atter having
spoken about an hour and • quarter, amidst enthusiast c
applause.
Mr Alderman Ovame then briefly moved, and Mr. Alder-
man Haul seconded, the following resolution : " That this
meeting desires an immediate refer= of the House of Corn-
mono, as a necessary step to secure financial and colonial
reform, and to prevent the wasteful and profligate expendi-
ture of the public money."—Carried.
Mr. Ald. E LOIS moved the following resolution:—
" That this meeting cordially approves of the principles
and policy of the National Parliamentary and Financial
Reform Association, and pledges itself to support it in its
patriotic efforts, until the great object of its formation shall
have Its en accomplished ; and recommends the immediate
formation of a Parliamentary and Financial Reform Associa-
tion in this city."
Mr. Councillor ARROWSMITII, of the Dire -eatery/sire
Chronicle, brie fly seconded the resolution, which, having
been put, was carried unanimously.
Mr. GOODWIN, the City Sheriff, moved a vote of thank.
to the depot itie,n, which was seconded by
Mr. LASLETT, one of the largest landed proprietors in
Mt
the Thhi hratys
stt
nscee degreecho damnutton}t unjust thl eloquentlyiet one
existing
depriveisrtdian.extensioncordially
l expressed.
concurredhezyiilrosemot therefore
hdp
ele so iuf I t all
th
aweghuteeh a
cordiallyiprivilege
h eo
onlysi e
p t-.
ported this movement. Sr satisfied was he, moreover, of
the advantage that would result from the Freehold Land
Amociations, that if a fund were immediately raised for
ghweivihnogldvniort° life, ger,eahtenuermobeuldr ofh imthseelfPealLribbey mleoa,noool
(Cheers.)
Mr. THOMPSON, M.P., in acknowledging the vote of
thanks, urged the people to exhibit their sincerity and roe-
neatness by enrolling themselves as members of the national
association.

Thanks were then toted to the chairman, and the meeting,
which had been of a molt enthusiastic ohmmeter throughout,
terminated at II o'clock.

Tile ASYLUM Fon IDIOTS. Her Majesty the
Queen has lawn pinged to honour this charitable asylum
with her patronsga ; and to constitute his Royal Highnen
the Prince of Wales a life subscriber.