The Sun.
London, England, 1831-03-04 00:00:00

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never been found guilty of any crime. On constitu- •
tional grounds therefore the rights of that useful body of
persons ought not to have been sacrificed. The rights
of those individuals ought to be treated with as
much respect as those of any i other class of
freeholders. He respected the opinion of the City of
London, and he hoped shortly to hear the opinion of the
whole country expressed ; but let that opinion be what it
might be should follow that line of duty which in his
conscience he thought right.
' Lord MORPETH said the distance he was from
the great body of his constituents made it impossible
for him to state accurately their opinion as to the measure
of Refoi m introduced by Government, but from informa-
tion lie had received, he believed he was peefectly war-
ranted in stating their cordial approbation of the plan,
and that they were grateful to his Majesty's Ministers for
the boon about to be bestowed.—(Hear.)
An Holy. MEMBER, whose name we could not learn,
said •the city of London was not the only corporation
that feel grateful to his Majesty's Ministers for the measure
they proposed, for lie had a petition to present, signed
by the Mayor, Recorder, and corporation of Chiches-
ter, which expressed their delight and hoped
that the measure might be carried. If it was not, they
trusted Ministers would throw themselves on the country
by a dissolution of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. JOHN SMITH said that from one end of the
country to the other all classes were unanimous in their
approbation of the great measure of Reform. Numerous
as the petitions had already been in its favour, he had no
doubt there would be still more.
Mr. SYKES confirmed the statement of the Noble
Lord (Morpeth). He was confident that Yorkshire,
almost to a man, was in favour of Reform.
Mr. CALVERT said, the borough of Southwark was
unanimous in their approbation of the measure introduced
by Government. A meeting was to he held in the Town-
Hall, and be had no doubt, in a few days be should have
to present - a petition on the subject, signed by many
thousands.

Mr. HUNT said the Bill would disfranchise many of
the livery, himself amongst the rest, as he did not reside
in the city, but he thanked God and his Majesty's
Ministers that such was likely to be the case.—(A
laugh.) The great body of the city of London would meet
in Common Hall on Monday next, when ke had no doubt
they would express their must cordial satisfaction at the
plan pro Posed by Miniateri —(Hear.)—He, however,
did not think the Van went quite far enough. It
should have embraced all classes. The people ought to
have universal freedom. No Government had a right to
say to one, " You are a slave ;" to another, " You
are free." The Bill, as it now stood, would totally
deprive three fourths of the most useful parts of
the people,—lie meant tl.e mechanics,—of their" elec-
tive franchise. The worthy Alderman (Wood) said
he had often beard Lim (Mr. Hunt) talk about Re-
form in the Common Hall. He had done so, and be
thought that his talking was quite as much to the purpose
as the worthy Alderman's preaching.—(Laugliter.)
Mr. Alderman THOMPSON said, -it certainly
was true the petition had been carried almost unani-
mously. He was present and expressed his apple-
!tension that the mea.ure was one attended with con-
siderable danger. In dojos, that, he had only done his
duty, and the meeting had a very different opinion of the
measure to what he estimated. If the Bill passed into a law,
it would disfranchise a large and respectable body of those
who had always had a voice in the election of Members fur
the city of London.
Mr. DANIEL W. HARVEY, as a liveryman of
the city of London about to be disfranchised, could not
but express his most cordial approbation of the measure.
Ile had also very great pleasure in saying that in
the place he represented, the plan d Reform proposed by
his Maj, sty's Ministers had given the greatest
s itisfaction ; and if the measure should have the
effect of closing the door of the House against
him for ever, he should be still proud of the high
distinction, and of the recollection that he once was in a
situation to give a vote in favour of a measure calculated
to confer such great benefits on the country.
After a few words from Mne CAPELL, who was under-
tow' to say that he should not oppose the Bill,
The petition was read, and ordered to be printed.
Alderman THOMPSON had given notice to present a
petition from the ship owners this evening, but in conse-
quence of the importance of the debate on which they
were about to enter, he should postpone it till Monday.
Sir R. FERGUSON presented a petition from Lon-
donderry against a repeal of the Union. The Hon. Ba-
ronet said, that, in his opinion, if a repeal were to take
place, Ireland must be ruined.
Mr. O'CONNELL—If the repeal did not take
place, Ireland would at' no • distant period cease to
be pert of the empire. Perhaps he had better
information on this subject than the Hon. Baronet. He
had considered it year after year. The more he was con-
vinced of the nscessity, and the more universal was that idea
becoming. There was no safety for Ireland, if not pro-
tected by a Legislature of its own; but he believe" that
a repeal of the Union would be beneficial to both coun'ries.
He would not then enter into the question of the pro-
priety of arming the Irish Government with more
authority. The Lord Lieutenant had now the power
to forbid all meeting., even if they were called for
the purpose of charity. How far he had exercised prop-ray
that power on a late occasion, he (Mr. O'Connell) would
nut then inquire.—( Hear, hear.)
Sir R. BATESON said, if the discoreent existing in
Ireland, some time since, bad been allowed to go on,
that country would soon have been in a state of
revolution. But the present Government by their prompt
and decisive measures had done much to conciliate that
distracted country. He wi-bed the late Administration
had been equally decisive.
REPEAL OF THE UNION.
Mr. VILLIERS wished to ask the lion. Member
for Waterford whether it was or was not his intention to
bring the question of the repeal of the Union Lgore Par-
liament ?
Mr. O'CONNELL said that that would entirely de-
pend upon the fate of the Reform Bill. It the Reform
measure passed, he should not bring forward the
question 'at the present time ; but in case it failed,
he should undoubtedly and very soon bring forward a Bill
for the dissolution of the Union.
Mr. HUNT presented a petition from Keighly, com-
plaining of the situation of the labouring classes of society,
and prayirg that some measure might be adopted for their
relief.

REFORM. MEASURE.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL having moved the Order of the
y for resuming the adjourned debate on the Reform Bill,
Mr. GISBORNE rose to address the House. He felt
it became him to address the House modestly after the-
brilliant speech, he might say the overpowering speech of
the Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) on the opposite:side of the
House. It was not for so humble an individual as him.
self (Mr. Gisborne) to answer all the- arguments of the
lion. Baronet, but he should state ina few plain words what
his opinions were upon the subject. The Hon. Baronet had
assumed that we were in a state •of the._ greatest
prosperity—that we were Ruing under the hap-
piest and most glorious Constitution, and that, in
fact, either we were happy and did not know it, Of
enjoying felicity, and would not acknowledge it. Ile l►ad'
assumed that what he was pleased to call the clamour of the
country, was not the cry of the people, but was the
effect of an excitation produced from some unworthy mo-
tive, and that it was not proceeding from the natural
feelings of the people., so that that House ought to
take notice of it. The whole of this pros vadol
n the most fallacious noti► n of the state of the country
and the condition of the people. If the representa-
tii es, too, of the people appeared in that House to
state the grievances of their constituents, they were
decried as exciters and agitators—(Hear, hear, hear)—
and not only so, but the whole blame was either thrown
upon the cause itself, or else upon the Members or
Ministers who brought forward the complaints.
When it had Leen so broadly stated that prosperity
reigned throughout the county, and the Constitution was
one of the happiest, he (Mr. G.) thought he might make
some small inyui►y into the manner in which the House
had performed its duties. Originally the House, as it was
s►id was composed of two Boards—a Board of Trade and a
Board of Taxation—which were afterwards united, and
from that time the two, no doubt, formed the principal
consideration of the House. Now it became the house to
show, that in the discharge of its duties every attention had
been paid to the expenditure of the public money, which it
would be impossib!e for any H►•u. Memb-r or Hon.
Baronet to slim bad been the case. Let the Hun, Barow.t
opposite (Sir R. Peel) take the two hooks that were on

the table-Lthe book of the pensions and the Ina of places,
and say whether or not, from the state of those books, a
Reform in Parliament was not loudly called for.—(Cheers.)
The public money had been most wastefully expended,
and taxation had been levied with the most oppressive
hand. The House had been told too that there were already
symptoms of reaction ; but be (Mr. G.) would be glad to
know what those symptoms consisted. He believed that the
reaction Was only known or its symptoms to the Hon. Ba-
ronet and a few others his side of the House. He
present
tionary measure, He (Mr. G ) wished to say nothing nu-