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

STATE REFORM.

A meeting was convened by the committee of the
Stata 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, having 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 he 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
rnentA of the territorial aristocracy, been rendered little
better than a niece 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 After some historical references in illustration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, be argued that the working men of Eng-
land were entitled now, by every lawful and covstitu-
tional means, to elevate themselves in political et ciety,
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 classe,, but for the w'vantage
of the Whig party, who retained as many of their own
pocket boroughs as they decently could ; and a shameful
fraud was thus committed nn 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 patrio ism, and
purer virtue, than the 658 men who now >at in the
House of Commons. (Cheers.) It would be well for
them to ob-Prve, 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 conclud d a discursive speech by declaring that n.an-
hood suffrag,- and general education were the rea-onable

demands of this time. He stated the chatact,r of the
resolutions to be offered to the meeting and, in reply
to a que tion as to whether it way inte•Aed to propose
to the meeting such a petition for the dissolution of Par-

!lament 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
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 nroclaims its adhesion to the principle of man-
ho suffrage, and pledges itself to secure, by ail 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
Ina; t-r

Mr. WILLI.Am JONES seconded the resolution with
energy, declaring that universal suffrage was the law in
America ftnd in the empire of France, and that English-
men were no ways irferior to the people of those coun-
tries, an,t ought not to be exe!utled front 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 till,
occasion, as uniting the different advocates of progress
in one common effort, swearing fealty to the cause upon
the altar of universalsuffra.ge.

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, "Bles,ed are they who ex-
pect nothing, for they shall never be di:appointed." 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 bad 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 Lemioe,
or the metropolitan boroughs, which could be done wt%-
out universal suffrage. (Cheers.) That was the test he
would impose; and he declared it was a'rocious and no al-
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 COLLII3I wished to move an
amendment, hut as it was past the time (half-past nine)
fixed as the limit of the discus=ion, the chairman refused
to hear him • aed after a vain attempt on his part to
make himself heard, amidst con -iderable uproar and alter.
cation, the resolution was put from the chair and carried
unanin►ously.
Mr. ELT moved the second resolution : " That this
meeting approve of the objects and principles of the
State Reform Association, and pledge themselves to
suppot t it to the utnioct of their power.
Mr. LOCKHART seconded the resolution, which WaS
passed amidst great confusion, and the meeting
separated.

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