The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-27 00:00:00

Mr. MILLS then rose to reply.—Mr. Jones has
brought forward a charge which he cannot substan-
tiate. If it suits Mr. Jones's logic to attach his
name to a document, and afterwards give himself
no trouble respecting its details, he ought not,
surely, to come here and make a charge of having
been deceived. Three times the requisitionists have
been called together, when the subject has been
debated; three times Mr. Jones has been summoned
to assist them in maturing their plans; yet Mr. Jones
never condescended to attend either meeting; N-
serving himself until the present moment to offer
his very lucid objections. If I had not known Mr.
Jones, and that he was apt to act upon the impulse
of his feelings, I should have concluded that he
had been sent into our camp by the enemy, for the
purpose of throwing amongst us the apple of discord.
Mr. F. JONES—Mr. Mills ought to have known
me better than to have suffered such an insinuation
as that he has just uttered, respecting me, to have
passed his lips; I will, howevtr, argue that point
with him in private. I have moved an amendment,
and it has been seconded ; does the Chairman mean
to put it to the meeting?
The amendment was about to be put, when Mr.
P. ROSE suggested the leaving out of the obnoxious
sentence of the original resolution.
The CHAIRMAN—That can be done with the
consent of the mover.
Mr. REYNOLDS—I consent to withdraw it.
Mr. F. JONES then said, as he had obtained his
object, he should withdraw his amendment.
Mr. LUNELL also withdrew his amendment; and
the amended resolution being put to the meeting, it
was carried amidst immense cheering, and with only
six dissentient voices.
RICHARD Asti, Esq. then rose to move the fifth
resolution.

G. AMES, Esq. felt great pleasure in seconding
the resolution, which was put from the Chair, and
carried unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN derived the highest satisfaction
front pe.ceiving so numerous and respectable a
meeting express their perfect confidence in the King
and the Goverment in such a unanimous manner.
JOHN HARE, Jun., Esq., in rising to move the
sixth resolution, said—Mr. Chairman, I, Sir, ap-
prove of the vote by billot, and my opinion is
strengthened by the scenes of corruption and tu-
mult which. degraded our late election.—(Cheers
and hisses, cries of question.)—Mr. Hare then con-
cluded by saying, I believe it is the ballot alone
which can secure to the people the free choice of
their representatives in Pulliam ent.
C. PINNEY, Esq. seer tided the resolution.
Before the resolution was put from the Chair,
Mr. HERAPATH suggested that Instead of canvassing
the conduct of the absent Member ; it would be
better to call upon the one present for a declaration
of his sentiments.
J. E. BAIELIE, Esq , then rose and said—lf it be
your pleasure to entrust me with the charge of pre-
sewing your petition, I can pleege myself that
your confidence shall not be misplaced.—(Cheers.)--
If I know my own sentiments, no part of my po-
litical creed is more consonant to your own, than on
the great question of Parliamentary Reform. I can
appeal to many gentlemen present that I have
adopted that sentiment from my first appearance in
public life. I advocated it when it appeared des-
perate, and without the smallest probability of its
ever being cart ied ; and I ask you if I am likely now
to falter in the race ?—(Cheers.)—lt is in the
knowledge of gentlemen whom I see near me, that
I have made sacrifices to that question which few
persons are aware of. I had the power of being in
Parliament for a part of the country most acceptable
to me, if I had not been a strenuous supporter of
Reform. With regard to the subject of ballot, I
am perfectly satisfied that every person who values
the independence of Parliament, will agree with me
that I ought not to go pledged to any particular
measure of Reform.—(Hisses, which continued a
long time.)—lf you will_hear trio patiently.—(Up-
roar )-4 can solemnly say that I have no objection
to the ballot, which can be vouched for by my friends
who know me; but I should consider it derogatory
to the dignity conferred upon me by my fellow
cit zens.—(Cries of " No excuse;" " Give As a
pledge ")—I should feel it derogatory to my dig-
nity if I pledged myself to any particular mode of
Reform.—(Renewed noise, arid cries of " We will
have nothing but the ballot.")—Let me tell those
who say they will have nothing but the. ballot, that
'they are endangering the whole question.—(Hisses,
the Chairman called " Order," but ineffectually 5
cries of " Heat"—" We will mot hear.")—Have
I (continued Mr. B.) said any thing against the
ballot ?—(Yes—No.)—Who is the man that says
I have? It is not so. I merely claim the Consti-
tutional privilege of entering the House of Com-
mons unfettered.—(Great clamour.)—There are
those present who know my sentiments on this
question.—(Then tkeow them—He has avowed
them.)—lf you will not hear me, I will sit down.
lam desirous there should be no misunderstanding;
Meyer declared against the ballot. There is
one
point you appear not to be aware of should
accept any and every Reform in Parliament, that -
goes to increase the popular voice; because, by
giving the franchise to large unrepresented towns,
You lessen the power of the Aristocracy, and increase
the probability of a more increased Reform. If the
elective franchise were given to Birmingham, would
you not then be in a better situation to claim the
vote by ballot.—(No.).—l ask,:if 40 or 50 Members
were added to the House of Commons, whether
you would not sooner be likely to obtain a still purer
system ?—(No,- and great uproar.)--You are now
like children, who will have nothing because they

possess income;but, to support the dignity of office,
they must live up to it, and save nothing; and there-
fore the system of superannttations and retiring pen-
,;ons has been adopted. (Mr. R. here moved the
lout t h resolution, arid !hen proceeded )—Sir, I believe
that the adotion of the ballot, in the tthoice of Mem-
bers of Pailiament, is the co!y efficient protection
to freedom of election.—(Enthu,iastic cheering con-
tinued for some minutes.)
JOHN HARE, Esq., seconded this resolution.
Mr. F. JONES, on presenting himself to the meet-
ing, said—Mr. Chairman, I have two amendments
to propose to this meeting, which I shall beg leave
to read. The first is in favour of the ballot—the
second in favour of universal suffrage, and they are
as follows :
" Resolved, that as well for the security of the peace, as
to prevent. the depravity by bribery and corruption which
usually takes place on the election of Members of Par-
liament, there appears to this meeting no method so effi•
dent as the ballot."
" Resolved, that every man being born free, Ivhen he
enters civil society, gives up only so much of his natural
freed,m as is Li ce.sary to secure the rest. Therefore this
meeting recognizes the right to vote to be vested in man-
hood, or eighteen years of age, sane, untainted by crime,
and not living on public charity."
The first of these proposition's was received wi!li
cheers ; the second excited great disapprobation, and
the Chairman suggested the propriety of taking them
sing! in order to,expedite the business.
Mr. F. JONES-1 have no object on to that; and,
if you please, we will take the ballot first. He
concluded by moving his first amendment relative to
the ballot.
It wits seconded by Mr..G. Hountin.rOk.
J. E. LUNELE, Esq. Sir, I also beg to move an
amendment to the resolution now before the meet-
jvg. Fully according with the sentiments expressed
of confidence in the present Ministry, I think it ‘vil
be best to leave the whole question of Parliamen-
tary Reform to their wisdom.—(Cries of " No."
mingled with groans and hisses.)
G. JONES, Esq.—Having spied my name to the
requisition, I consider it due to myself to state that
I did so upon an understanding that the question of
Reform would be entertained on general principles,
and that no specific measure respecting the ballot
would be brought forward. I conceive it to be my
duty to protest against any petition embodying the
sentiments of the resolution before the meeting;
and I conceive it would be better to wait and see
what his Majesty's Ministers will do,----(Disappro-
bation.) I beg leave to second Mr. Lunell's amend
ment.