The Sun.
London, England, 1862-05-20 00:00:00

The meeting of the delegates from various parts of the
country took place at the Whittington Club, for the pur•
pose of considering the basis of a new measure of reform.
W. ye,
B.
M Poster,.P., Mr. Taylor,m.pMr.
M.P., Among those present were Mr. Bazley, M.P., Mr.
Baines, M.P., Mr. Kershaw, M.P., Mr. R. Mills, M.P.,
Mr.
.p Air,
Lawson,stanfe M
Padmore, M.P., Mr. IL Pease,
M.P., Mr. Cox, M.P., and
about 100 delegates. •
Letters of apology, some of them
siciP, Mr.s v
containing subscrip •
tions, were received from Lord Londesborough, Mr. R.
Cobden, M.P., Sir C. Douglas, M.P., Robertson Glad-
stone, Esq., Mr. Thos. Baines, M P
- -.1 Mr. John M'Adam,
of Glasgow, Mr. A. Coosham, Mr. B. Miall, Mr. Potter,
M.P., and Mr. P. Ryland.
Mr. GEORGE WILSON, of Manchester, was called to the
chair. In opening the proceedings he commented at some
length upon the various measures of reform that had been
introduced into Parliament by the various Governments
during the last fel, years, and contended that her Majest3
having expressed a wish that a measure of reform should
be introduced, it was the duty of the House of Commons to
negotiate a measure which should meet with the just expeo•
tations of the people.
Mr. COOPER followed the chairman. He spoke of the
insincerity of the present Parliament. He thought there
was not a delegate present but would agree with him
that the present administration was composed of overt
Tories, stagnant Whigs, and torpid Liberals, headed by a
leader who did the work of the Oppcsition. He thought
the delegates ought to adopt, as the basis for a new Reform
Bill, an exteesion of the suffrage to all males in b)roughs,
rated or liable to bo rated for the relief of the poor, to all
malet; in counties who occupied land to the extent of £lO
a-year, a redistribution of seats, the ballot— (hear, hear)—
and shorter Parliaments. (Hear, hear )
Mr. JEFFERY, of Liverpool, said he was of opinion that
the members of the present House of Commons were not
honest in their endeivours to remedy end improve the aye-
tem as it existed at present, because the possession of a seat
in the house, under present circumstances, was not a ques-
tion of talent or honesty on the part of the candidate who
sought for the honour, but entirely and simply one cf the
breeches pocket. He thought that a reduction of the pub •
lie expenditure was imperatively necessary, and that the
present time was moat opportune for an agitation for such a
question ; that a wise and comprehensive measure was
absolutely required, as the proportion of those who at presen
exercised the franchise was only about lin 7. He objected
to so small a number exercising so important a privilege to
the exclusion and prejudice of the unrepresented. (blear,
hear.)

Mr. SARELL, of the London Political Union, objected
altogether to a property qualification for the counties, which
had been suggested. He was of opinion that registered
manhood suffrage was what was urgently required to place
the working min in his proper position ; and as to the bal
lot, he thought it was of no use at aU to the poor man.

The CHAIRMAN said there was at present no arranged
plan for their prOeeedings. He therefore called upon all
the delegates present to come forward and give expression
to their opinions in the most unreserved mintier, in order
that the greatest amount of information on the subject
which they had met to consider might be elicited.
Mr, FRASER, of Edinburgh, said what he thought was
required was a huge and comprehensive plan of reform,
which should be acceptable to the working man and worthy
of the support of the middle class. He was in favour of
the basis that had been thrown out by Mr. Cooper, although
he was prepared to go a step further.
Mr. BAINES, M.P., said the object of the Cohforence had
his earnest sympathy. That object was to obtain such a
large extension of the suffrage as would give the working
class the privilege of giving a vote for those who made their
laws. He thought that if they were to attempt to define
any particular measure, they could not remain a united
body. He thought the wisest course for them to adopt *as
to leave every portion of the country to petition for that
plan of reform which.they approved, and he would there-
fore advise those present to seek for organised action be-
tween the middle and the working classes, so that they
might be in a position, at the commencement of the next
session, to submit a more condensed and comprehensive
reform bill to Parliament.

Mr. WASHINGTON Winks thought that if the present
movement was to result in a success, they must inscribe on
their banner manhood suffrage—a vote for every man; and
every man wbo had not a vote would re echo the cry, and
resistance to such a demand would be futile and useless.

Mr. TAYLOR, M.P., E•ai(l. Le was an advocate for univer-
sal suffrage; but he thought that at present they ought to
be content with as much as they could get. What was
wanted in the first instance was to get the thin end of the
wedge in the House of Commons, and if they could get 30
or 40 mere sincere adv cates in the House of Commons
there would be some chance of success. Out of doors he
counselled them to rale() the standard of absolute right and
universal suffrage, and then leave to others to say how
much of the demand they would concede.
Mr. LIICRAFT was in favour of manhood suffrage, being
the rallying cry for a new Reform Bill.
Mr. M'Enn, of Liverpool, thought they ought to enlarge
even manhood suffrage. In addition to that vote, he con-
sidered that a second vote ought to be given for property
situate within the borough or county in which it is situate,
and a third vote lie thought ought to be conferred for con-
tributions to the State in shape of taxes.

After a few words from Mr. WHITRIIRST, of the Ballot
Society.

A discussion took place upon thq appointment of a busi-
ness committee, to draw up resolutions for the acceptance
of the delegates, but before the proposition was disposed of
the mid-day adjournment took place.