The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-09 00:00:00

THE PWRAPSi FRIRSX Aralintititi't OMBllika9, 1868.

tsar. C(J ofP LaNDinmrox iu.s LA ITorir' Asa
nwe •
An important special oonferenoo of the Oeutrill
and Ward MOW and Committees, of • prelleinette
character, wee held yeslerday slteniecia at the Oily Ter-
minus Hotel, Cames-deest, "to &Vim roPO6
be submitted to the consideretlea ofhe
minim saes of the easomtesmemts of the sitting
aid dew eaaaSdates, end of the altered dream ire 101
the City as affected by the restriction of the freaddee to
three Tette." •
Among those preamt were Baron Rothschild, Y.P., the
Right Hon. G. J. Goodien, Mr. R. W. Crawford, M.P.,
Mr. Alderman Lawrence, M.P., Mr. John Locke, M.P.,
Mr. Ayrton, M.P. Mr. Alderman J. C. L 111.109, Mr.
Samuel Motley, Mr. J. W. Omelett, Sir J. lesook,
Mr. P. Banbury, Kr. Charles Reed, Mr. J. Spicer,
Mr. R. Hall, do.
On the motion of Mr. R. W. CWVIOIID, M.P., see ended
by Sir J. Lomocz, Sir lIIIMJAXOI S. PZILLIPS was called
to the chair.
The Qumran, in opening the
the
alluded tp
the disadvantageous position in weh the Ctihy Mobile
were placed in Meg able to vote for only candi-
dates, adding that he believed that if the literal party_ ht
the City acted unitedly they would nevertheless be enabled
to return four members. (assers.)
Mr. 8. Monza' moved the iirstresolation, r—" That
this meeting desires to enter its mephitis protest against
that act of disfmnehieement which deprived the Miens
of London of one of the four •011111 UM hays exercised
for upwards of 600 years, and as the most practical method
of giving effect to their objections to eing made, the
victims of a partial experiment of the representation of
minorities, the electors present pledge themselves to use
their best exertions to secure the return of the four
sitting members, who have served their constituents
faithfully and consistently, and with whale opinions
the great body of the electors are entirely identified."
He said if there wore no nomination boroughs, or if there
were electoral distrieta, the representation of the minority
might possibly be a fair proceeding, but at present it was
unjust. Minorities were already represented indirectly.
(Hear, hear.) He had no hesitation in saying that he
intended to vote by order. (Cheers.) He might have
personal preferences, but he would give up his power of
choice to meet a great emergency, and he would recom-
mend other, to vote for any three of the candidates as
might seem most deeirable at the time of the election.
The 'incise mode of accomplishing the object was matter
for further consideration. The wards should tl6&/ with
the question themselves, instead of leaving it to agent.%
and do their utmost to rectify a t weenie Ile should
confide his own interests convected with the City electiOn to
the hands of the four candidate@ who had hitherto so
well represented them. ((Tbeet's.) It was not desirable
that everyone should he a great or a frequent speaker in
the Muni of C.ommons, and the votes of their represeutae
tires had ell been of the tight kind. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. W. GABBIOIT, in seconding the resolution, said
the great danger to be guarded against wee the exercise
of too much independence. (Hear, hear.) That was not
a fault of their opponents; they all voted for the man
with a white waistcoat (Laughter.) He, like his friend
Mr. Morley, was determined to vote es he might be di-
rected. (Hear, hers.) The liberal electors constituted a
very large majority, and a proper division of their votes
would ensure succees. lie never seconded a resolution
more cordially in his life.
The resolution was then pained unanimously.
Baron Itarmicitnn, who was very warmly. received, said
as senior member for the City be had the privilege of pre-
senting himself first • and he must say that he felt deeply
grateful for the confidence which had been reposed in him
by the electors. It was mainly owing to the course taken
by the City of London in connection with religious liberty
that be and others who occupied a similar position had
been enabled to sit in parliament. (Cheers.) He believed
that the electors could now carry the four candidates ; but
it must be by merging their natural preferences for par-
ticular policing. (Hear, hear.) He placed himself in the
bands of these, who would manage the election, and should
be quite satisfied whatever might be the result. For five
years he had been unable, from weakness, to address a
public meeting; but his health bad now improved.
(Cheers.) lta conservative were returned, that would, it
should lie remembered, practically reduce the liberal re-
presentation of the City to two votes. (Hear, hear.)
Supposing the electors wished to see the Reform Bill fol-
lowed by good measures they should adopt the cowrie
now recommended to them. (Cheers.)
Mr. R. W. OUR-FORD, M.P., who was also greeted
cordially, expressed his determivation to leave himself
entirely in the hands of the liberal party, and to lend
them any assistance in his power. This was not a
relieve' question, and he hail never been guided by per-
pone/ motives in regard to such matters. During the
thirty-eve years which had elapsed since his father was
first elected there had been eight general elections, and at
every one either his father or himself had been • candi-
date. The honourable member then reviewed some of
the leading pleasures of progrgr passed in the
period mentioned. After which, glancing at the future,
Le remarked that the new parliament would have,
among other things, to do away with the personal pay-
ment of Mesas • condition of voting, andwith nomination
boroughs. He ridiculed the notion that the disestablish.
meat of the Irish church would lead to attacks on private
property. Disestoblishment was in fact • measure of
absolute justice; and as a churchman he believed no
measure could be more likely to benefit the established
church than the withdrawal from it of all state oonnec
tine. (Hear, bear.) As regarded the immediate question
before the meeting, be should have much preferred, under
ordireiry circumstances, every elector being left to his own
.judgment ; but having regard to the result, he hoped that
his own paitinn on the poll would not be considered
so much as the grand object to be secured. He
concluded by paying a warm tribute to the merits of his
colleagues in the representation of the City.
Mr. G. J. limicines, M.P., followed. Ile observed that
the clause which had necessitated the meeting wee an ex-
periment. to be tried at one of the moat critical periods in
the history of the nation. (Hear, hear.) Why was this
unjust experiment proposed: The censers-Rhea; felt that
uominatiou boroughs were in danger, and so they wanted
nomination minorities. (Hear, hear.) He did not think
eye n the advocate of minorities could say that the experi-
ment bud succeeded if there had been no contest wherever
it was tried. The difficulties of managing elections under
the reibority clause was in itself a sufficient condemna-
tion. (Hear, bier.) The system of our constitution had
given the minorities sufficient power through the mall
boroughs; and why, then, should the power of the large
cities be weakened ? Mr. Thomas Benne, Mr. Hubbard,
and Mr. Barnett, all men of great influence in the
city, were already in parliament. It was unfair
to try such an experiment in five of the largest cities in
the empire; but he ventured to predict that if they all
five returned liberal members only very little more would
be heard of the advantages of the minority clause.
(Laughter and cheers.) The representation of the minori-
ties would lead to the greatest difficulty and confusion,
and if England was to retain its constitution the clause
must be repealed. (Cheers.) Nothing more contrary to
the constitution con] be conceived. (Cheers.) If it led
to anything it would lead to personal instead of local re-
presentaten ; it would, in fact, bring about electoral
districts. They were there, however, to consider how
they were to win in spite of • minority clause.
(Hear, hear.) It was their duty to fight the battle,
sinking all persona/ considerations. " Vote's you are told
to do," Lad a very disagreeable ring in the car ; but the
electors must either do that or see a conservative member
for the City. (Cheers.)
Alderman L•wameco, M.P., next addressed the meet-
ing. He expressed • hope that the liberal electors would
follow the advice now offered to them, and he had con-
fidence that in that case there would be four liberal mem-
bers in the new parliament. Let the city of London now
point the way, as it bad hitherto done, to the whole
country. (Cheerer)
Mr. J. LOCKE, M.P., moved the following resolution :
" That in pursuance of the foregoing resolution an ad-
dress be issued to the citizens of London in the name of
the meeting; that the electors be respectfully invited to
become members of the committees of their respective
wards ; and that a central committee be authorised and
appointed to take all steps necessary to secure the return
of the sitting members who have already recorded their
vette, against the act of disfranchisement, and are pledged
to the restoration of their eucient rights to the consti-
tuents." After testifying from observation to the faith-
ful manner in which the present members for the City had
discharged their duties, the hon. and learned member ex-
pressed hie approval of the course of action now under con-
sideration. No doubt, be said, the great majority were
willing to obey ; but they must all pull together in order
to secure their object. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) With a
little dexterity in the management of the wards, victory
was certain.
_ .

Mr. Deputy REED, in seconding the motion, concurred
in the opinion that the question was simply ono of
management, adding that he believed the liberal electors
as a body would follow the advice given to them by that
conference. Considerable labour, however, would, he
thought, be required to educate some of the electors up to
the proper point, and this could only be done by careful
action in the several wards. (Hoar, hear, and cheers.)
The resolution was then adopted.
Mr. Avirrow, M.P., moved the following resolution :
" That the central and ward committees forthwith declare
their sittintei permanent ; that public meetings be addressed
by the sitting members in each ward ; and that a diligent
canvass of their constituents be forthwith commenced."
The bon. member entirely concurred in the object of the
meeting, and observed that if the electors generally did
the same the rejected conservative candidates would
be excellent representatives of the minority clause.
(Laughter.)
Mr. Porjeant Thrum Arxrinioar briefly seconded tho
resolution. and it was then adopted.
Mr. It. W. CsswrM.P., moved a vote of thanks
to the chairman, ands having been carried by accla-
mation, the meeting ted.

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