The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-23 00:00:00

RESTORATION OF POLAND.

BIRMINGHAM, THURSDAY.
A meeting, presided over by the Bayer, was held in
the Town-hall here last night, on the subject of the re-
storation of Poland as an independent nation. The hall
was immensely full ; and after the proceedings had been
opened by the Mayor, the following extract of a letter
was real from Mr. Soholeield, M.P,, excusing his ab-
sence :—" But I need not say that if you think any
assurance of my sympathy with the object of the meet-
ing can be useful, you have my full aethority to say how
heartily I join in the proposed movement. Every day
but strengthens my conviction that not only is the re-
suscitation of Poland preliminary to the successful con-
duct of the great war, Leif the best, if not the sole
guarantee of a lasting peace."
Mr. T. C. SALT moved the first resolution, recognising
the importance of the restoration of Poland as a nation.
He rejoiced (he said) to find that the hearts of his
fellow-townsmen were still warm on the subject of
the restoration of Poland. There were many per•
sons in this country who wanted peace at all cost ;
to such he would say,—no pea ;e at the cost of murder ;
no peace at the cost of oppression ; no peace at the cost
of the liberty and the oppressed of nations. Russia bad
taken Poland, invaded Prussia, and laid hands on Fin-
land. Ye believed that there was so much baseness
in the Government of England, that if Russia seized the
Isle of Wight, England would submit to it. The nation
now came forward with blood and treasure, prcolsircicx
felt that the Government had-betrayed them ; and they
that a baraer shall be pnt to despotism, and that nations
shall be free. This was a mission from which we ought
not to shrink ; but whilst our army, even in the midst
of the greatest extremity, never turned their backs upon
the foe, it was for us at home to take care that all our
sacrifices of blood and 'treasure was not made in vain.
He asked what all this contest was for—whether it was
merely for a bit of parchment treaty, that would leave
us where we were t Let who would be sent to Vienna,
there was no man, if the voice of the people was distinctly
heard, who would dare sign any treaty that would betray
the best interests of England. (Cheers.) What were
they but the interests of Poland ! The first crime of
Russia was the destruction of Poland, and establishing
on its ruins despotism. Our first crime was standing by
and looking on. (Hear, hear.l We stood while Poland
was oppressed, Finland taken, and now Turkey was
attacked. We were roused to action a' .ast. Russia
must not only be stopped, but she must be driven back.
Poland must be restored, Finland given back to Sweden,
the Caucasus have independence, the Black Sea free,
and the Danube open. These were the objects, or ought
to be the objects, of the war, and he hoped the sword
would never be sheathed uctil they had been attained.
(Cheers.)
Mr. J. M. LANGFORD seconded the resolution, which
a napraying t
e
was seconded by Mr. J. WRIGHT, and carried unani-
mously.
Mr. Ald. BALDWIN moved that a petition to both
Louses
independence Parliament,pii ce
for the restoration of
Polish
formation of a Polish le-
gion, be adopted, and be entrusted to Lord Harrowby
add Mr. Muntz for presentation. He observed. that
although a man of peace, yet, as we were at war, let
us try to make the best of it. That, he] conceived,
could only be done by restoring Poland to its place
amongst the nations as a barrier between the aggressions
of Russia and the western nations of Europe.
Mr. T. H. GILL seconded the resehition. In the
course of a most fervid address, he warned his auditory
against placing too great confidence in Lord Palmerston,
and he reminded the meeting that the Whigs bad never
been friends to the Poles; that in 1794 Pitt, the younger,
would have helped them but for Fox and his fri ends ;
that in 1330 France, Turkey, Sweden, end Persia, were
ready to help the Poles, but Lord Palmerston and the
Whigs were hostile ; and in 1849 the noble lord, then
Foreign Secretary, refused to recognise the Hungarian
envoy.
The meeting was subsequently addressed by . Mr.
Laba, a Pole, and other gentlemen.
The resolutions were carried unanimously, and with
much enthusiasm, and the petition to Parliament pray-
ing for such measures as might tend to restore Poland
to a state of independent nationality, was unanimously
adopted.