The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-09 00:00:00

by side with Relhicirters iha.t he is n 0.., pladed in that com-
manding 17,,,iti0n, ~bich 'compels tl:e coral-
., to oilerLitt)
their Ili-milling rn
lioagev---<lien.r.) We elairn
or Sir Robert Peel, 11 in no small defr,n..,";.: a triumph ci li-
beral opinions., benaii-se n'e) mrltt Wino did tot bold s'neh opi-

nions, could, in this v.eenlitr), and, nt the present
receive such a triumph. Where theti trie proof of re-
action
? nits the Beforni OA ',est its power, when we ;
can trace its Worki;t4e 'atm in the camp of the Tories. We
fear bbt, but that it will be made effect eel Pe 'l.l,;(iiY pur-
pose nf good government. II 14`;', ttuse of Peers to be
zlewekl to int ermse a je.."2- against the progress of Reform
Is it eonsistet,t''.4.-An the true meaning and spirit of the Bri-
tish Centlitution that a few hundred individuals, possessed
privileges which mark them as a separate .class, should
have the power of obstructing the measures demanded by
the vast majority of their countrymen.—(No, no.) It is
obvious to every candid mind, that the Constitution never
contemplated vesting in the Peerage more than a suspensive
power—a power to controul the ardour of the popular will,
and to insure deliberation and inquiry into the measures
proposed for the aeption of the Parliament. But the
Peers are not tontented with this. The,y tneintalo that the
House of Lords is a separate and io&Vnendent branch of the
Legislature, and that, in eittne of that independence, they
may reject with eenvernely and disdain, with or without a
reason, the I..s,`,'st-devised means for the advantage of the
Stete. This is the great question at issue between the
Lords and the country. If the country shall submit to the
Lords, then shad we need say the Reform Bill is worthless
--there is a re-action. Most unfortunately their Lord-
ships not only maintain their own independence as a specu-
lative position, they have acted upon it practically, to the
insult and injury of the country, and to an extent that is no
longer tolerable. We call upon the leaders of the people;
and more particularly on the Ministers of the Crew, who
profess to be the leaders of the people, to dirlise a speedy
remedy. We warn them that the 'patience of the country
is almost exhausted.--(HPar, hear.) If manifest risks
and perils have beer. incurred by the reckless proceedings
of the Peers, are the Ministers of the Crown altogether
blarnelen ? Be this as it may, there is now but one
course to follow, and it must be followed with energy and
without delay. The House of Lords must be brought
into harmony with the House of Commons.—(Great
cheering.) But it is the condition of Ireland which renders
it necessary to act with energy and promptitude. Who
can guarantee the peace of the empire till justice is done
to Ireland ?—(Hear.) Will a third part of th popu-
lation of the British Isles consent to remain under pro-
scription—denounced by the leittler of their Lordship's
House as aliens in language, in blood, and in religion
Justice to Ireland cannot be accomplished but by a reform
of the Peerage ; and justice to Ireland cannot be refused
but at the imminent hazard of the peace of the country.—
(Cheers.) Are their Lordships prepared for this alterna-
tive—will they back their reckless leader at the risk of con-
flagration and civil war ? We would make it no question,
in the present urgent circumstances of the country, by what
means a reform of the Peerage is to be accomplished ; we
are willing to accept of any measure which may be found
most easy and most effectual, The hereditary principle
should be abolished. Men are not born lawgivers, there-
fore there should be no huliscriminate vocation in any class
to the making o( tews. Need we say, in an assembly of
educated men, of men of intelligence and right feeling, that
we bear no grudge against the Peerage ? We would not
cur tail one privilege which they possess that is consistent
with the public safety. I have to propose "An effectual
Reform of the House of Lords."—(Tremendous applause.)
Sir JOHN returned thanks.

Mr. OSWALD, after a high eulogium on his merits as an
old and consistent Reformer, gave the health of the Chair-
man, Sir John Maxwell.

Mr. JOHN DENNI3TOUN rose and said—Although in-
volving no great political principle, yet I am persuaded there
is not at the present moment a question of deeper impor-
tance to the cause in which we are engaged than what is
contained in the toast which has been allotted to me,
namely, " A cordial union among all classes of Reformers."
It is needless to deny the fact, that 'certain divisions do
exist, and it is equally true that if there is not something
done, and that too before long, to enable the whole Reform
party to act in unison, we shall be handed over to the tender
mercies of the Tories. We hear a great deal of the dila-
toriness and want of firmness of Ministers. Now lam no
partizan of Ministers. On the contrary, I think, that
even with the power they possess, they might have accom-
plished much more than they have done ; at the same
time, in candour, I must admit that the fault lies not
wholly with them ; we ourselves, Gentlemen, are quite as
much to blame.—( Hear.) What, I ask, have we, or
the Reformers generally, lately done to strengthen their
hands, and cheer them on to victory ? Absolutely nothing.
It is, however, not yet too late, if Reformers would only
rouse themselves from the lethargy, that confidence in
their overpowering strength, if exerted, is but too apt to
carry along with it. It', I say, they would only exert them-
selves, there is yet time. Let every city and every county,
and every village in the empire meet and tell Parliament,
that is on the eve of meeting, in firm but respectful lan-
guage, that they see; no, hope of peace or contentment
being established in the country till full and ample justice is
done to Ireland ; till the odious monopoly of bread is abo-
lished, which eats into the very vitals of the country, and
is indeed the poor man's curse ; till the law is purified front
its many abuses, and justice brought to every man's door ;
and that these and many other reforms, which kis needless
at present to refer to, may have some chance of being car-
ried into effect, let them add, that they see no hope of per-
manent improvement being obtained till the Commons are
made really to represent the opinions of the people by
adopting the vote by ballot, and the Lords be brought into
harmony with them, by making them responsible for their
conduct. A mortal struggle is at hand, and its depends
upon ourselves whether we are to reap the fruits of that
reform which has already been gained, or whether we
are to be once more bound hand and foot and dra-
gooned into obedience under the reign of intolerance.
Let us not deceive ourselves. The Tories of to-day are
the same in spirit as they were during the darkest periods
of the past century. Let us not deceive ourselves either
as to their want of power. They have the Court—the
Peers—the Church—and all but a majority of the Com-
mons ; and, whether truly or not, they believe in re-action
throughout the country, and this very belief is equal to
half the battle. Is this, then, a time to quarrel about
trifles, or to stand out for what at present are unattainable
ends ? I do not hesitate to declare, that deeply as I am
impressed with the imperative necessity of reforming the
Peers, or the equally vital question of adopting the ballot,
still to endeavour to obtain their immediate adoption, I
consider as secondary, at the present, to the momentous
question of giving justice to seven millions of men.
Tile toast wail then drunk amidst great applause.
Mr. ROBERT GRAHAM, of Whitehill, formerly Lord Pro-
vost of Glasgow, rose to propose " Reform of the Church,
and the extinction of its political power." That the
Churches of England and Ireland were in danger, and
must be reformed, was as clear as the sun in the firmament.

The CHatastAx next gave " Mr. Speirs, M.P. for Rich-
mond, and the liberal electors of Renfrewshire," to which
Mr. Thomas Speirs, in his absence, returned thanks.
Mr. WEIn, Advocate, said he hoped to see seminaries
of education for the learned professions, locally accessible,
substituted for jealous and inefficient local monopolies of
practice. He hoped to see encouragement to studious
minds for training themselves to the discharge of the func-
tions of teachers. He hoped to see the highest seminaries
and the most elementary linked into one organic whole.
The Liberals were of opinion that every man knew his own
trade best, and deprecated that meddling spirit which had led
some governments to trammel the teacher with directions
how he was to set about his business. The Liberals saw
the deadening influence of that narrow spirit which would
make schools but the means of perpetuating traditional un-
expanding knowledge. They left free the Professors.—
(Hear, hear.) They wished them to advance in their pre•
lections with the advance of science. They reverenced the
real academic freedom—freedom of thought—freedom of
tuition—free trade among rival teachers. They thought
it was possible so to organise and regulate the economical
and literary departments of our educational institutions as to
combine the efficacy given by a systematic state support
with the voluntary principle.—(Hear, hear.) The offices
of minister of religion and the schoolmaster could no
longer be discharged by one person. The functions of
one of them Was enough, and often mere than enough.
for one individual. Besides, while all were agreed as
to the necessity of elementary and professional educa-
tion, they could not agree in their religious tenets. No
sect had a right to dictate to another. In providing for
the education of the people, the Legislature must avoid
trenching on the rights of any sect. Mr. Weir con-
cluded by proposing " Universal Reform and a national
systm of education without reference to creed."
The CHAIRMAN, 'amidst much applause, gave " Mr.
(Mon and the Liberal electors of the Airdrie District
of Burghs."—(Cheers.)_ _ _

Mr. GILLON returned thanks for the honour they had
done the District of Burghs he represented. There were
men in these districts who would yield to no, one in the
cause of Reform. This Reform, which they bad battled
for so well, was expected to procure them good and
cheap government, but as yet, although they bad pro-
cured the means, they had not obtained the end. The
Hon. Gentleman next went on to expatiate on the abuses
which existed in Ireland, where the people were ruled
by British bayonets, and where sacerdotal pomp and
misgovernment was the order of the day. He then went
on to descant with scorn on the political delinquencies of
Lord Lyndhurst, and. pronounced the House of Lords to
be the last refuge of corruption and despotimi, retardirg, as
it did, the wishes of the people. That House must be
reformed, not by an addition to its numbers, but by a bene-
ficial alteration of its constitution. The Times had very