The Sun.
London, England, 1830-12-07 00:00:00

'MERCHANT COMPANY.

Yesterday a very full meeting of this Company was held
in their Hall, Hunter's-square, agreeably to a requisition,
calling upon the Company to take into consideration the
propriety of petitioning Parliament on the subject of Re-
form in the House of Commons, &c.
gr. J. F. naccaataxsaidi the ,object of the requisi:
tion was, to consider the propriety of petitioning Parlia-
)nent for Reform in the representation of the country.—
Ile, had some doubts as to the, propriety of it, and bad,
when applied to' on the subject about three weeks ago,
declined, taking part in the proceedings-rbut, on reflec-
tion, lic!was satisfied not only of the propriety, but also
of the necessity of coming forward with a statement of
their opinions; for although they bad now, Most fortu
nately, a.Government pledged to Reform, yet that Reform
was not to bit accomplished by a word—it would require
the most strenuous efforts to carry through such a Reform
as would be either beneficial or acceptable, to the country.
But all hesitation was removed by the extraordinary de-
claration of the Right Honourable W. Dundee, respecting
the indderence of Scotland for Reform. Mr. M. here
read Mr. Dundas's letter to Mr. Henderson, and remarked
that it, was abundantly plain from this letter that unless
they came forward now, they, must be content to sit
under the charge of indifference brought against them
by Mr. Dundee in the most complete ignorance of the
fact. In prefacing some resolutions on the subject,, he
proposed that they should first' state what they con;-
ceived the House of Commons ought to be, and he
conceived that it ought to contain a full and equal re-
presentation of all classes and interests of the community—.
not one to the exclusion of the rest—but all united in
such a manner, and elected on such principles, as would
eecure attention to the interests of the people. A Reform
was plainly necessary—they could not Reform the Lords,
although that Honourable House had exhibited a singular
spectacle, in the facility of the conversion of a great majo-
rity when the Minister thought fit to insist on passing the
Catholic question. But in speaking of Reform, he cer-
tainly did not wish any thief; that could have the most
remote tendency to injure the Constitution—he would call
it the glorious Constitution of the country. On the con-
trary, be wished to strengthen and improve it. In Scot-
land the number of voters was few—thirty-three counties
only returned thirty members, six of them performing the
duty alternately. Why had each county not a member ?
True, the number of voters in these was small. Why not
enlarge them ? In burghs it was still worse. One burgh
alone could boait of a member; and in his election the
citizens, as such, had no voice. And fourteen members
were divided amongst sixty-five other burghs.' Thus
Glasgow, one of the principal cities of the kingdom, had
only a fourth share of a member along with three other
burghs, insignificant in comparison with it. In such
eases an extension of the elective franchise was quite
indiapensitile.—(Hear.) Ediuburgh, and Glasgow, he
ahought, should have two members each ; at any rate the in-
Inthinnits ought to have the right of voting in the election.
Looking to the frequent ehanges which had of htte years
taken piece in his Majesty's .Councils, ,he thought it quite
possible that, unless they succeeded in obtaining whit they
now desired, these might be followed by the establishment,
of arbitrary power; for . when was there a time when a
corrupt Ministry did not find as corrupt and complying a
Parliament?—( Hear, hear.) There was also a fear of an
opposite kind, which influenced him most. There was
a spirit at present abroad in the country, which unless put
a atop to by timely concession, would, he Pared, bring
about not a reformation, but a destruction of the Constitu-
tion. It was this that had led him to come forward on
the present occasion,' for'up to the present moment he had
never tiken any interest in the question, and had never
signed any petition for Reform. But he was decidedly of
opinion; that if all who had any property to lose, or had
any regard for the welfare and heppinessa of their country,
did not now come forward. and with united and temperate,
yet firm and persevering efforts, endeavour to obtain such a
Reform as would secure the blessings of our free Constitu-
tion, there was much reason for alarm lest that should he
forced upon them which would spread dismay and ruin
far and wide.—(Hear, hear.) He purposely avoided pro-
posing any particular plan of Reform—that he conceived
under the present circumstances might he left in
the hands of the Ministry ; neither would he say any
thing of the mode of election, though he would remark in
passing, that the opinion in favour of the vote by ballot
seemed to be increasing in a wonderful degree.—(llear.)
Mr. A. CnacritivroN seconded the resolutions.

Mr. GRIEVE thought that the resolution regarding the
election of Magistrates of
.burghs was out of place, and
ought not to be mixed up with the business for which the
meeting was specially called. If the company deemed
it advisable to petition for burgle Reform, it would be more
proper to take that question into consideration at another
meeting.
The Mama directed the attention of Mr. Grieve to
the terms of the requisition, whi'ch were to talce into con-
sideration the propriety of petitioning both for Parlia-
mentary and burgh Reform.--(hear,hear.)
Mr. R. B. BLYTII expressed his disappointment with
the resolutions, which he expected would have gone far-
ther. He considered that petitions to Parliament would
be of little avail, if they did not state distinctly what they
wished. He hoped that not only the company, but the
whole of Scotland, would take Mr. Dundaa's hint, and let
Parliament know distinctly what it was they wished.
In asking for the extension of the elective franchise, he
(Mr. Blyth) would be inclined to go down as far as 101,
rents. To come, therefore, to some point on this subject,
he proposed that they should express a hope th it the fran-
chise would be extended to 301. rents. There was ano-
ther point on which they ought to express an opinion—
namely, that no extension of the franchise which could be
given, would he complete and effectual, sinless it were
accompanied by vote by ballot. This was the most vital
part of any petition for Reform, and he should propose an
addition to the resolutions to that effect,
Mr. Serrrar. differed in opinion with Mr. Blyth. They
had been told by the highest authority that their strength
lay in their moderation ; and if they went to Parliament
asking for this, that, and the other thing, the chance was
that they would get nothing at all.
Mr. Ar4uanw Scow hoped Mr. Blyth would not press
a division.
The MASTER read the fifths resolution, which he thought
contained all that could be wished on the subject.
Mr. G. Baowt; said, it was so seldom that the com-
pany were so cordial and unanimous, particularly on a po.
litical question, that he, thought it would be a pity if they
should lee called upon. to divide on any minor point.—
(ilear, hear.)
Air. Berm thought the question of such vital impor-
tance, that be could not prevail upon himself, with all his
respect for the gentleman who suggested it, to withdraw
his amendment.
Air. Citeroan was by no means opposed to the plan of
voting by ballot, but lee was decidedly averse to the meet-
ing expressing their opinion so minutely as was urged by
Mr. Myth. If Mr. B. divided the company on the ques.
dun of voting by ballot, he would compel many of those
on the ground of expediency, to appear-in seeming oppo-
sition to that of which, they approved. They ought now
La smite in making one grand effort to obtain an extension
of the a ight of voting for a Member of Parliament. If
that were once get, any error in the manner of voting
Would-be 6,14' coirected, lie would therefore humbly
oroPose that that these words be added to the lath resoles-
that the moth of voting will be such as may

beat stcdre the free an unt)iatsed opinion of every elector."
--(General approbation.)
Mr.. Bi.mt had no objection if this was agreed to, to
withdraw his resolution ; and Mr. Macfarlan having ex-
in.essed himself also satisfied with Mr. Gifford's proposi-
ion, it was unanimously agreed to.
It was then revolved that petitions founded on the reso
'utions should he drawn up, and sent for presentation to
Lord Brougham in the Lords, and Mr. Kennedy in tl e
Commons.—Adjourned.