The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

STATE REFORM.

A meeting was convened by the committee of the
State Reform Association, at the Freemasons' Tavern,
last evening, "in order to take into consideration (as an-
nounced in the advertisement) the propriety of present-
ing a loyal and dutiful address to the Queen, praying
her Majesty to dissolve the present Parliament, as un-
worthy of public confidence." There was a numerous
attendance.

Mr. JONATHAN DUNCAN, baying been requested to take
the chair, said the meeting was called in pursuance of a
pledge which was given at the first meeting, that there
should be another within a fortnight, to discuss the
question of Parliamentary reform. He contended that
manhood suffrage was not such a revolutionary and de-
structive principle as some timid people seemed to appre•
hend. The existing system had, by the repeated encroach
mentq of the territorial aristocracy, been rendered little
better than a mere oligarchy, by which the crown had
been deprived of its prerogatives and the people of their
rights. After some historical references in illustration
of this remark, he argued that the working men of Eng-
land were entitled now, by every lawful and constitu-
tional means, to elevate themselves in political society,
as the old nobility had contrived to obtain their own
aggrandisement at the expense of other classes. The Re-
form Bid of 1832 was not really intended for the enfran-
chisement of the working classes, but for the advantage
of the Whig party, who retained as many of their own
pocket boroughs as they decently could ; and a shameful
fraud was thus committed on the people. Now be (the
chairman) did conscientiously believe without flattery,
that 658 working men could be found of better in-
tellect, more varied knowledge, greater patriotism, and
purer virtue, than the 658 men who now sat in the
House of Commons. (Cheers.) It would be well for
them to observe, however, that they had not only the
old enemy of the landed aristocracy to encounter, but
also a new enemy, the monied oligarchy, which had
coalesced with the others to deny the people their rights.
Mr. Duncan then expounded the currency question, and
the effects of the resumption of cash payments of 1819.
He concluded a discursive speech by declaring that man-
hood suffrage and general education were the reasonable
demands of this time. He stated the character of the
resolutions to be offered to the meeting ; and, in reply
to a question as to whether it was intended to propose
to the meeting such a petition for the dissolution of Par-
liament as had been announced in the advertisement, he
said that was a mistake, and the object of the meeting
was only to discuss the question of reform.
Mr. HAMILTON then moved the following resolution—
" That, as it is unjust and unsafe for any one to with-
hold a right from others which he claims for himself, and
as the franchise is the inherent right of every man who
contributes to the support and welfare of the state, this
meeting proclaims its adhesion to the principle of man-
hood suffrage, and pledges itself to secure, by all lawful
means, the exercise of the vote to every male adult, 21
years of age, of sound mind, and not undergoing punish-
ment for crime." He spoke at some length upon the
matter.

Mr. WILLIAM JONES seconded the resolution with
energy, declaring that universal suffrage was the law in
America and in the empire of France, and that English-
men were noways inferior to the people of those coun-
tries, and ought not to be excluded from the same privi-
lege. _ _ _

Mr. ERNEST JONES, who was most vociferously wel-
comed, spoke next, forcibly declaiming against exclusive
government, and insisting upon the importance of this
occasion, as uniting the different advocates of progress
in one common effort, swearing fealty to the cause upon
the altar of universal suffrage.
Mr. BRONTERRE O'BRIEN said he knew nothing of this
movement, but would give it a fair trial, though he had
seen the people so often deceived that he was a believer
in Swift's ninth beatitude, " Blessed are they who ex-
pect nothing, for they shall never be disappointed." He
was for universal suffrage, but he would not seek a spu-
rious popularity there, that night, by claiming it on the
grounds advanced by the last speaker. He could not
agree that, wherever universal suffrage had existed, the
people had been free and happy ; for it was not so in
some of the United States, nor was it so under the repub-
lican constitution of the French Convention. He would
watch anxiously that the working classes were not cheated
again by false promises. If their professed friends of the
middle classes were sincere, let them return a few working
men for Birmingham, Manchester, the City of London,
or the metropolitan boroughs, which could be done with-
out universal suffrage. (Cheers.) That was the test he
would impose; and he declared it was atrocious and mon-
strous that the millions who contributed in their blood
and money the largest proportion of the resources of this
horrible war had not one single representative in the
House of Commons. If this movement turned out
what he should wish it to be, he would strain every
nerve in its support.
A gentleman named COLLUM wished to move an
amendment, but as it was past the time (half-past nine)
fixed as the limit of the discussion, the chairman refused
to hear him ; and after a vain attempt on hiv part to
make himself heard, amidst considerable uproar and alter-
cation, the resolution was put from the chair and carried
unanimously.
Mr. ELT moved the second resolution : " That this
meeting approve of the objects and principles of the
State Reform Association, and pledge themselves to
support it to the utmost of their power."
Mr. LOCKHART seconded the resolution, which was
passed amidst great confusion, and the meeting
separated.