The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-26 00:00:00

it now was, he would defy them to make it worse, or
more diametrically opposite to the true interests and just
administration of the country. (Applause.) He was in hopes
now that that House could be talked of in such a manner,
that something might be done; formerly, if a poor printer
had ventured on such expressions he would infallibly have
been had up to the Bar of the House; now, however, if
they could swallow such a camel of an article as that to
which he had alluded, there were hopes that they would
not strain at any future gnat that might be forthcoming.
Since then the corruption was as notorious—he had al-
most said, more notorious—than the sun at noon day__
since it no longer remained unseen, and no one could be
found with sufficient face to profess a disbelief in it—since
the public might now see as it had long felt its evils—it
was to be hoped that they would no longer submit to its
thraldom, the most ignominious that could be placed on the
neck of any people. With respect to the Catholic ques-
tion, he had no doubt that the Minister would find,
though at the time it had been •physic in his mouth, that
it had conferred more real strength upon him than any
other measure that had been passed; but if they owed the:
.Ministry a debt on that score, it had been handsomely
paid, and it was now fit that they should renew the
strnggle for those other public objects which had been
kept in abeyance by this question—(Hear, hear)—and he
trusted that the spirit of Parliamentary Reform would
very soon universally pervade the kingdom. They bad
already seen that it had shown itself in one of the most
central parts of the kingdom—in the town of Birming-
ham; and he trusted that it would spread on all sides,
so as to form one general movement. He did not
wish to say it invidiously, but the public must
be pretty well convinced that, tid that question was
carried into effect, all other exertions were futile. Let them
look at the indefatigable exertions of Mr. Hume—(Cheers)—
exertions for the remedy of the grossest abuses towards the
public. Of that gentleman it might be said, that labour was
his pleasure; and he thought no undertaking too tedious that
presented the possibility of working a ly.ppy conclusion. Yet,
after all, What had been produced by these labours ? The re.
turn of it all might be expressed in the old Exchequer term
" ;" it was, indeed, nothing ; and it was a question whe-
ther the expences of the inquiries and the printing of papers
(proper as all that was) that had taken place, were not greater
than any saving that had been effected.—;Hear, hear.)—Why,
then, should the people go on labouring in ♦ain ? Who could
hope to persuade people to give up their pensions and salaries,
as long as they retained in their own hands the power to keep
them ? Therefore, while the House of Commons was in its pre-
sent state, whatever efforts were made must prove inefficient.
Unless they were steady to the great question of a reform in the
House of Commons all would be in vain—without reform in Par-

Bement they could have no effectual reform in law—without re-
form in Parliament they could have no eifectual reduction in the
public expenditure—without reform in Parliament the character
of the country could never be raised again, and much had it sunk
by its late foreign policy in the eyes of the world—and without a
reform in Parliament no honest Government could or would be
carried on in England—whoever undertook or pretended to the
public that he could carry on an honest Government with-
out reform, either deceived himself grossly or was seeking to
deceive the world. Without a reform in the House of Com-
mons, Mr. Pitt had said, on a former occasion, no honest man
could be Minister. That then ought to be their universal
theme, and he trusted that Englishmen would lay aside all
minor objects, and resolve for the sake of that to concentrate all
their energies. He understood that the Member for Clare in-
tended shortly to bring into the House a motion for Reform, on
its widest and broadest basis. It would be a motion on the prin.
ciple of universal suffrage; and as he had formerly introduced
a similar motion, this would have his hearty concurrence. He
hoped, however, that the Member for Clare would be more for.
tunate in finding supporters to his motion than he had been,
though he was afraid that there were not more than half a dozen
Members in that House who would be found bold enough to
stand by such principles. He was ready to afford his support to
this or any other measure tOr reform, though he had no doubt
that something short of that proposed by the Hon. Member
would be equally effective for all public purposes; but as the
object of the Government was to abridge the political rights of
the people, so their object should be to extend . them as far as
possible. He had been charged with inconsistency, because,
after having supported reform on its broadest basis, he had
since reduced the measure to householders who paid
direct taxes, who appeared to him calculated equally to
act as a check on the Government. He was, however,
ready to give his vote for that which he saw most eagerly
supported by the people themselves, and he therefore
thought it desirable that unions should be formed among
themselves. It was for this reason that he had re.
juiced in witnessing the formation of the Birmingham
Union, because he thought that it was calculated to call forth
the energies of the country, and that the consequence would be,
that at last some one plan would be brought forward, so that
those who introduced it to the House of Commons would be able
to say—here is what will satisfy—and nothing short of it can sa-
tisfy the people of England. This was the point to which he
wanted to see this great question brought; and to this Birming.
ham Union, therefore, he was anxious to direct their attention,
in the hopes that unions might be formed throughout the whole
of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Lord John Russell also in.
tended to bring forward the question of reform, but this
would be a plan of different dimensions ; but even that plan,
small as it probably would be, would be far too much for the
strength of the stomach of those who would be called upon to di-
gest it. He hoped that the electors of Westminster would not be
the last in this glorious struggle. He, however, thought that
after all it rested with the people; they had only to be firm, de-
termined, and united, and they would yet succeed in obtaining
that only thing which could remedy their grievances—a fair and
full representation of the people in the Commons House of Par-
liament.—(Applause.)
Mr. MONCK, in a highly complimentary speech, proposed
" The health of Mr. Hobliouse."
Mr. Hoatiottse returned thanks. The Hon. Gentleman al_
luded to the motion for reform which the Marquis of Blandford
had,brought forward at the commencement of the present Ses-
sion, and observed that it had been thought right by the old re-
formers to give place to him, because they were glad to receive
recruits from any quarter, and more especially from the ranks of
those who had formerly been most vehemently opposed to every
thing of the kind. He was very sorry that the Marquis of Bland.
ford was not present. His Lordship had been invited, and it
would have afforded him great pleasure to have seen him at such
a meeting. Reform was now evidently gaining ground. He had
no doubt it must eventually be carried into effect; and as he had
been elected for Westminster on that point, he trusted that they
would find as he had begun, so he would end.—(Applause.)
Mr. O'CONNELL rose to propose,;" Civil and Religious Liberty
throughout the World." It was by the formation of associations
in Ireland that the Catholics had gained the objects of their
wishes ; and in the same manner it was by associations and
unions that they must endeavour to obtain Reform, without
which all other civil rights were of no avail. He gloried in
proclaiming himself a Radical Reformer, by which he under-
stood Universal Suffrage, Vote by Ballot, and Annual Parlia-
ments. He advocated Universal Suffrage because the poorest
man paid taxes indirectly, and was liable to militia enlistment.
He advocated Vote by Ballot, because by that alone could they
be sure that the clectir was not influenced or overawed ; amid
he advocated Annual Parliaments, because it was by the short,
ness of elections that Members would really be made to feel that
they were the Representatives of their constituents.
Towards the close of Mr. O'Connell's speech, Sir Francis
Burdett fainted away. The Hon. Baronet did not appear, when
he first entered the room, to be in good health, and we were
sorry to observe that he was obliged to carry his arm in a sling,
On'his fainting away, every attention was paid to him by the.
gentlemen who surrounded him, and the windows were opened
so as to admit air into the room.
The next toast was—" Mr. Byng, and the Reformers of
Middlesex."
Mr. BYNO returned thanks. .

Sir Francis Burdett 11;Z;; by this time partially recovered,
quitted the roomoccompaniod by Mr. Jones Burdett, his brother.
Mr. HosuousE was then UnamMously called to the Chair.
Mr. CULLEN proposed, " A Speedy and Efficient Reformation
in'the Law." •
The next toast proposed was—" Mr, John Wood, and the
Reformers of Preston."
Mr, J. Wool) returned thanks.
Mr. CITwAVCAyE (his health having been drunk) returned
thanks. As long as he held a seat in Parliament lie lookecfhpoU
it as a retaining fee In promoting the rights arid liberties of the
people. He would support Reform to the last day of his political
life—rwhether on the broadest or the narrowest scale ; and he
trusted, that whenever they might get the wedge in, they would
sae it driven home to the very head.
The:neZt toast wag," Mr. A. Dawson, the Member for Louth.'
Mr. A. DawsoN returned thanks.
Colonel JONES ptoposed, " The health of Mr. O'Connell."
Mr. O'CONNELL briefly rettimed thanks. -
After one or two ether toasts the chairman vacated, and the
company broke up.