The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-19 00:00:00

THE MEETING.

The CHAIRMAN (G. F. Muntz), after reading
the advertisement, calling the meeting together, ob-
served that, as the present was a ►meting of the
Political Union, no one could be allowed to take
part in its proceedings wept members of that
Union.

Mr. EIBIoNDS came forward and said, he
should for the present content himself with moving
the adoption of the report about to be read, and
reserve his right for addressing them until its con-
clusion.

Mr. HADLEY then proceeded to read the re-
port ; in which he was relieved by the Chairman.
Mr. EDMONDS then rose to address the meet-
ing. The report did not denounce a constitutional
reform, but merely advocated the propriety of de-
manding what the law clearly acknowledged ; rights
under which their forefathers were a powerful and a
happy people, and which it was not dangerous for
them to enjoy. The Council thought that it was
not right in directing the popular mind that they
should propose measures disputed as a pa►t and
parcel of the Constitution—nor that the happiness
of millions should be endangered by rash experi-
ments, founded on a theory not clearly acknowledged
in any of their historical records.—(Cheers.)—
They, therefore, wished that all should co-operate
in their exer,ions to obtain what was clearly laid down
as our right—laws which granted equal privileges
and protection, and would be equally beneficial to the
rich and the poor; with the exception, indeed, of
those grubs and caterpillars who now lived and fat-
tened upon the poverty of the people.— (Cheers.)
JOSHUA SCHOLEFIELD, Esq. said the subject of
the Political Council was simply to direct the ener-
gies of their fellow townsmen; to induce them to
look to themselves and the protection of their own
interests; and to make their complaints known to
Government in language they could not misunderstand
or ultimately dare to resist.—(Cheers.)—That man
must indeed be destitute of both head and heart,
and lost to every feeling of humanity, who could
deny the general prevalence of distress at this
period. Those who possessed property found it
daily diminishing, while the middle classes of so-
ciety were fast sinking into the depths of poverty.
Happily there were some bright spots in the dreary
desert presented to their view. Some little atten-
tion was paid to the minds of the people; and
through the instrumentality of the Laucasterian
Schools, the exertions of Dr. Birkbeck, and that
great luminary of modern times—Mr. Brougham—
the poorer population of the country were making
advances in knowledge, if they were retrograding in
the domestic comforts and enjoyments of life.—
(Cheers.)—He was a friend of universal suffrage.
Mr. BIBBS moved an amendment, condemnatory
of the declaration of the Council, in favour of Lord
Blandford's Bill, and sat down amidst considerable
cheers.

Mr. EDMONDS replied in a short and powerful
speech.
The motion was then put by the Chairman, and
carried with only about six hands raised in opposition.
Mr. Biaßs then said, seeing that the great ma-
jority of the Meeting were opposed to his amend-
ment, lie should not further waste their time by
opposition, but beg leave to withdraw it.—(Cheers.)

Mr. ATTwooD then rose and said—When last he
had the honour of addressing them, he had occasion
to congratulate them on the effect produced by the
meeting in May last year. Now he had the plea.
sure of congratulating them on the success of the
great meeting held in that place on the 25th of
January last. To him it was a great satisfaction
that the effect produced had not been confined to
this neighbourhood, but that it resounded through-
out England, and throughout Europe. They might
be assured they had given the \ enemy a tremedous
blow, and made him reel, as the boxers said, from
one side of the stage to the other.—(A laugh and
cheers.)—By their permission they would repeat
the blow again and again, until they were enabled,
by God's blessing, to give then what the French
called the coup de grace, or what they, Englishmen,
called the "finishing plow."--(Cheers and laughter.)
—What was the cause ? It was not their numerical
strength, although it was a glorious and magnificent
sight to behold them on that occasion; but it was
produced by the Council's prudence, caution, strict
legality, system, organization, firmness of purpose,
and of determination.—(Cheers.)— These were the
qualities which struck terror into the breasts cf their
enemies. It was the great mass of the people,
brought forward in cordial and affectionate union
with the middle classes, their natural friends and
protectors, which alarmed the enemies of their
country, and gave them to understand that the
day of their domination was drawing to a close.—
(Loud cheers.)—In accomplishing this, the Council
had had to struggle with innumerable difficulties,
surrounded on every side by such a confused mass
of inexplicable laws, that it was scdrcely possible for
human wisdom to escape the,e numerous devil-
traps.—(Laughter and cheers.)—lie could assure
them, that but for their great prudence they should
have been destroyed like the reformers; and he (Mr.
A.) piked out from amongst them, and in all pro-
bability lodged in a dungeon.—(Cries of "No, no.")
After a few more observations to the same effect, Mr.
Attwood said, he would read a few lines from what
he might term the Constitutional Ac: of their Union,
intending to show the duties of the Council and the
Members of the Union. For this purpose, he parti-
cularly pointed out, that at page eighteen, they had
bound themselves in their faithful duty, " to obey
strictly all the just and legal directions of the
Political Council, so soon as they shall be made
public, and so far as they
can legally and conveniently
he obeyed." For what purpo.e did the Council re-
quire this obedience ? Not certainly for any private
purposed of their own—(Loud cries of" No, no.")—
for they were themselves the mere breath of the
people, creauld by the people to-day, and annihilated