The Express.
London, England, 1857-03-24 00:00:00

MEETING OF MR. ROUPELL'S FRIENDS.

Th; ra;;;;Ltei;t M. re tin • gcver witiSeesetlie
Lam-
beth was held last night in the Surrey Music-ball, every
portion of which was densely crowded, end it was calculated
that not lees than from 0,000 to 10,000 persons were present.
The chair was taken by Mr. F. 111.11:LTON' who, in =appro..
pride address, introduced Mr. 'teepee to the assembly.
Mr. Koveret in alluding to the large aftemblage, laid
that it reminded Lim of the tremendous responsibility de-
volving upon any ono aspiring to the 'maiden of their repro-
aestetive. Although that position was one of which any-
OM might be Mad) proud, yet he should not have sought it
but for the representations of many of the electors that the
principle. winch he held ewe in accordance with those of
the majority, and that he ought be enabled to advance the
interests of thin borough. (Chem.) The experience
of the past 'sock had proved to him that the
groutplc
bulk in
nof the "elerTors,were
and it had
confirmed him in the opinion that they would prefer to
confide their interests to one of their body rather than
to the hands of stranger.. (Loud cheers.) Haring been
connected with the borough for nearly thirty years, the last
Mn of which had been weed in varied experience, he had
been brought into conneeion with every elms of its inhabi-
tants. That connexion bail taught bun the went; and As-
eished opinions of the elector., and he had gradually been
imbued with their ft:temente. His social and political ideas
were of no artificial growth. They keel not been hastily
tam up to serve a purpotte, only to be epeedily cad away
when that purpose had been served. They had been instilled
into hie mind in childhood. and he trusted they were destined
to be fully developed and carried into practical remelts.
(Cheers.) If any other reason were wanting aa an apology
fir his coming forward it would be found in the fact that the
two late members had alined invariably voted against each
ether, and therefore there apmered to be a clear o for
a third candidate—an independent candidate. And it was as
an independent candidate, in the strictest pease of the I
word, that he appeared before the elector.. (Loud cheers.)
Without entering into a detailedexplanation of all his political
opinions, he would say that the anomalous condition of our
=tative eystem w the one question paramount above
here, as
because it influenced all others, to which he would
devote his bed clergies rind attention. (Chem..) It would
be his special objets to ail in such measures of reform as
would make the House of Commons what it was not, but
what it ought to be—the people's house. (Loud cheers)
With the simple tot before him that only one-seventh
of the adult nude population were at present represented,
surely no argue ant WWI Dererfirl7 to prove the necemity of
some large and epeedy lONISUre of reform. (Cheer..) Dar-
ing the last week he had had the idolater of addressing
large bodies of the working classes, and felt something akin
to humiliation and chance when ho reflected that these
earnest meld. and honest hearts were treated by the state as
mere automata and smirk. machines. Any measure,
therefore, tending to remove this scandal from our repre-
sentative erode should hare his hearty and earnest
support. (Cheers.) He had found in business life that the
way to get men to art as men was to treat them as men. And
so he would ley in reference to this question, let the state
recognise the NMa principles and then our working men, so
far from being a source of deeper, would become the beet
bulwark. of our conditution. (Owen.) One of the princi-
pal object. which he had in view was to witch the intemets
of the working clftent—to shorten their hours of toil, and
lengthen their hour* of intelligent reereation—(cheers)—to
abolish the horrid truck system, and to adopt such mermen
as would Pretext the poor factory girls and children from the
demoralising effects of exceedvelabonr. (Loud cheers). A.
a commercial ULM, he was deeply alarmed at the low code of
morality which was fast spreading in the country, which was
producing discredit epee us both at home and abroad. What
was the remedy P M. by, the passing of laws that would pro-
tect the public from tileee colossal swindlers and execute
vengeance for such breeches of trust. (Cheer..) He
was anxious to say ono word upon that part
of his address in which he elhided to Lord Palmer-
atzr.fLouli cheers and partial hisses.) While he
admired
the firninees and national character which the noble
lord bad displayed in times of great difficulty and
M danger,
yet ha could not go into tho Louse of Commons merely
as a supporter of Loud Pahnereton. (Cheers.) Ile could
not forget that Lord Palmerston left the ministry of 1853
because the Menu Dill then proposed by Lord J. Russell
was too liberal for him. (Hoar, hear.) He could not forget
that Lord Palmer -don had again and again voted against the
abolition of church rates. (Hear, hear.) He could not for-
get that Lord Palmerston had recently voted against Locke
!Ceres motion for the extenders of the 101. franchise to
counties. (Heft, heft.) And, therefore, he should go into
the Home of Commons prepared to support Lord Palmerston
so far only as the noble lord was prepared to support those
principles of which he himself was the advocate. (Cheers.)
While national queetions should have due attention, he
would not be minindful of thone local interest. in which all
persons connected with the borough were mutually eon-
, cs raid. (Cheers.) Although be might enlarge upon his
political opinion., yet it was penbable that ho might leave
untouched the eery points most interesting to many Fenton.
present, and therefore, porker., it would be better to invite
their inquiets and quediorm. (Loud cheers.)
In reply to a question as to his opinion on the Sunday
question,
Mr. Roveree raid, whilst there was no one more anxious
than himself to adapt any measure. which should have for
their object the proper intelligent recreation of the working
dames, lie looked at the Sunday League or an attempt to
rob the poor man of his day of rest by • side wind. (Cheers.)
What the working classes redly required, and what would,
be to them a real benellb was a Saturday half holiday.
(Cheers, and cries of ho, no.") He could not vote for
any measure the object of which would be to relax those so,.
and religious ties which were the poor man's best edge
gaard. (Cheer.)
Mr. WHITELOCK Inquired if Mr. Roupell would support
Sir John Psichigton'e .ducatien Bill.
Mr. Roveate replied that he was prepared to support
any well-digested scheme of national education, oln long as it
could he carried out without too much centneittation, and
be left in the hands of the local authorities. (Cheers.) He
had been asked whether be would support any measure
' having for its object a compulsory power over manufac-
turers to protect the lives of their workmen. Al a =UM-
fseturer, deriving an income from the labour of his men, he
would say that the manufacturer. ought to be compelled to
take allpopr precautions to protect their workmen.
In y to question as to whether he would vote spinet
As Maynorith grant,
Mr. Review. replied thet he had no prejudice against the
Roman catholic., and did not take up that question es a reli-
gious question. Ito was opposed to the Msynooth grant on
the ground that it was a religions endowment. (Cheers.) He
objected to the Regime Dona= and all other grants for
ecelesiastical porpores.
If Lerner wished to know Mr. Roupells opinion upon
the China question. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.)
Mr. Rot/vete said that, although he looked upon war as
the greatest calamity and curie that could betel a nation, yet
with the limited means of information at his disposal ho was
to say that if he had been in the house he should
pr with the ministry.
Its reply t• • question ea to whether he would vote for the
abolition of church rates,
Mr. Rouesee said he thought it would get rid of a great
deal of unchristian holm if church rates were totally ales-
lished. (Cheers.)
In.IO Pi* le other gridans,
gag he vie mewed to nipped any.mea-
of
theedeik=veeddis obieet
ass era .I pod a.terthe grednel..opitrolottwith
residuum dikes er Ni enures What be meant was beet
hp the lorm nidential voting.
ri=nitimmodemetion by the mime individ (Chan.)ual,
yr.mil-o. If you do me the honour to return
room ywrr.prueetaftve I well introduce that and other Adel
!or 70r0001.
emi)
forife thlemitit.n ask if he would vote
(Lmisitta.)

That appeared to him to be too large a sum—but, u
bachelor, he was presumed to know nothing about such mu-
tate. (Loud laughter.) With regard to the income tax, he
was prepared to vote for its abolition so far as regarded all
incomes under 150/. If it should be found impoasible to do
without the income tax it ought to be readjusted, so as to
fall heavier on real than on other property. (Loud cheers.)
Ha should be prepared to support any measure for the equit-
heads, of the poor rate which did not, contain too met a
dose of centralisation. (Cheer's.) He was a decided advocate
of the ballot. (Cheers.) If elected he should he happy to
give an account of his stewardship every year, because the
more he saw of his constituents the more be should Nice
them. (Cheers and laughter.) He was prepared to Cote for
triennial parliaments, and for the reduction of the duty on
inurances, which he considered to be • tax on prudence.
(Cheers.)
Mr. Box& then proposed the following resolution
"That the political principlos of Mr. Itoupell, as explained
by that gentleman tbia evening, sre such as fully entitle
him to the confidence and support of the electors of Lam-
beth ; and this meeting pledges itself to exert its utmost in-
Ounce to return hien to the Commons house of parlbonen&"
The resolution was setended by Mr. Outer, end carried
amidst immense cheering, not more than some half dozen
hands being held up against it.
proceed terminated with the usual vote of thanksto the