Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-18 00:00:00

..GEO.-AiSENACTI and SON, I

HISTORY OF THE 'IVORKIN(
Evex

Saturday, in the Non

CLASSI

AMERICAN -SOLACE.

'nor DAILY Tit

kMERICAN SOLACE.

AMERICAN SOLACE.

ILES TURMEAU

AMERICAN SOLACE. j

AIIgRICAN SOLACI

TtiRMEAt

CHARLES TURMEAT

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Under no circumstances can we insert communicatioi
accompanied by the author's real name and address, not
sarily for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith.

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &e.—THIS DAY
ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE—Madame Celeste.
IDENOLEIVS CIRQUE VARlETE—Miseellaneo
THE PARISIAN GALLERY OF ANATOMY, Paradise-st
ROYAL COLLOSSEUM.-31iscellaneous Attractions.
semi= Pew riartieulars see advertisements on Bth page

Ehr Atirtiont Zino

FRIDAY,

MARCH 18, 1859.

--a--

THE DAY'S NEWS.

The-news of this morning will, naturally, centre
in :the reform movement, and especially in the great
and successful demonstration made last night in the
Amphitheatre. Contrary to a very general opinion,
the house was crowded ; and notwithstanding
that, as usual, there were a few persons who
attended evidently for no other purpose than to
create confusion : the whole proceedings passed off
with the greatdst unaminity and good feeling. The
chair was occupied by Thos. Brocklebank, Esq., who
opened the-meeting with a short but neatly expressed
address, which was well received, and in which he
stongly denounced the Government Bill. The first
resolution. was moved by William Earle, Esq., and
seconded by James Steams, Esq. The address of the
latter gehtleman was at once argumentative and
convincing,. and exhibited in a forcible manner the
fallacy of calling the Government Measure a " Reform
'He showed how it would effectually disfran-
chije4bout .7,000 of the present voters of South
Lancashire,. and thus deprive the county of the
sm•yictes of such men .as Messrs. Brown and
Cheetham . as its representatives. :He foreshadowed
what in ~his opinion would be an acceptable, and
practicable measure of reform. He would extend
the franchise in boroughs to six pounds, and in the
counties- to- ten pounds. At the same time he would
gig permissive power for the use of the ballot. The
second resolution was moved by James R. Jeffery,
ESq., and seconded by S. G. Rathbone, Esq. The
address of Mr.. Jeffery was elaborate, and illustrated
in a great variety of ways how the government
measure would restore to the hands of the aristo-
cratic classes • a great . .amount of influence of
Which the Reform Bill of 1832 had deprived
them. He proved very satisfactorily to the meeting
how the adoption of the principle of the voting paper
would open .the door to fraud and tyranny. He
declared himself in favour of the ballot, and said, in
allusion to a call in the meeting, that if the people
acceptedthe bill they would make a " wreck of
themselveS." The third resolution, which embodied
a petition to the House of Commons against the
bill, was moved by James Multeneux, Esq., seconded
by Walter F. Macgregor, Esq., and supported by P.
Rathbone, ,Esq. J. C. Ewart, Esq., M.P., then
addressed-the meeting, and his speech was listened
to with great attention. He alluded to the resignation
of the .essrs. Walpole and Henley, and stated that,
had the Bill now• before the house contained the
propositions those gentlemen recommended, he would
have voted for it. He was of opinion that the
question should be settled, as its constant aoitation
was detrimental to the industry and quietude of the
country. A fourth resolution was proposed
.by Mr. Charles Holland, and seconded by
Mr. Robinson, after which -the usual vote of
thanks was proposed to the chairman, and the
meeting broke up. Perhaps not the least important
incident in connexion with this meeting was the
appearance, we believe for the first time, of two of
the sons of those veteran reformers—the Rathbones,
as political speakers, and if their efforts of last night
may be taken as any criterion of their ability and
power, why, then, we may anticipate that the name
they bear will .continue- to exercise a powerful
influence in the reform ranks in Liverpool. A
reform meeting was held at Ashton on Wednesday
night, at which a letter was read from Mr. Milner
Gibson, in which he says—" The reform measure of
the Government, called a Bill to Amend the Re-
presentation of the People,' is about to be submitted
next week to the judgment of the House of Com-
mons. If to amend' means to change anything
that is wrong to something that is better,' the title
of the measure is, in my
opinion, an improper
one, for the bill alter
the r.presentation
system for the worse, if passed as it now.
stands. To withdraw a portion of the freehold
electors from counties, and to create a new class of
non-resident freehold electors for boroughs, would
be injurious to both conbtituent bodies.nehmTo make no
reduction in the 101. occupation
franchise
eiparopsa
citieso
l
and boroughs is a strange and indefensible
h find in any scheme of reform at the present time.
.
'Lore are, however, provisions of the
Government
nimsure, and which Ministers cannot Aire
comnittee, without violating their principlee uin
of
auifeimity of franchise in boroughs and courtie
to WhiCh they have announced their intention
of adhering. I think, therefore, there is a casevotin7, for Lord John Russell's resolution
e moved by way of amendment to the
second reading of the Bill. I feel confident
that this opposition to a most unsound measure for
altering without improving our representative sys_
tem will meet with the sanction of my constituents.
A peal Reform Bill will have ultimately to be carried
by the reform party. Its extent and value must
depend on the amount of public opinion which' can
be brought to bear upon the legislature." Other
meetings have been held at Derby, Nottingham,
South `shields, aml other places, at all of which

to b(