The Sun.
London, England, 1849-01-12 00:00:00

gr
b eat mass of the people. And when I see what has
een done by restricted and uneqoal representation,
when I see what all the education oi Oxford has sent to
Parliament—(Hear)—even for generations back, I will
never believe that classic lore, or the great knowledge of
history, or great literary skill, are necessary to the
honest and intelligent exercise of the elective franchise.
--(Great cheering.) When these men are enfranchised
you will find that they will be actuated as you are.
They will choose men whom they believe to have com-
mon sense and common honesty—(Hear, hear)—men
who have done some service to their country or to t'aeir
district; such men as they would trust and confi le in
the management of their own private and individual
affairs•—(Hear, hear, and applause.) As they do in their
parishes, as in their unions, as in your municipal cor-
porations, would they do in the election of members to
Parliament. And I would never believe that a Govern-
ment restricted to a small number of the aristocratic
class, to an oligarchy like ours, could be so good and so
wise, and so beneficent, as a Government which rests on
the good sense, the good feeling, and the intellieence of
the great mass of the population of this United King-
dom.—(Great cheers.) It is, then, because I believe
this, and because I am unwilling that this great, this
extraordinary meeting should pass without some signs
of action, without some sign of cementine• the power
which does exist in the country for great an6d good pur-
poses, that I come forward to propose this, which I be-
lieve will be the last resolution read to the meeting:—
" That, whether with a view to the speedy success of
the efforts now making to reduce taxation, or to secure,
by means of a real representation, a guarantee against
future attempts of Government to return to the present
extravagant expenditure, the most effectual mode of
proceeding is that adopted by the late Anti-Corn-law
League—viz., the extension of the franchise by the 40s.
freehold qualification, and a careful attention to the re-
gistration in boroughs and counties ; and the chairman
of this meeting is requested to take the necessary steps
for the formation of an association to carry out this ob-
ject, in conjunction with such constituencies as may be
willing to unite with it."
Now that is distinct and explicit. Objects are con-
templated which we all approve of, more or less. But
that object of increasing the electors' list by these
means, every honest and Intelligent man must of neces-
sity approve. I ask you, then to give your sanction
to this resolution, and when you leave this hall, consider
that it is your bounden duty, so far as you can, in the
county in which you live—and, with respect to others,
to induce them to do it in their counties, to baffle the
attempts of the ruling classes to keep any of you from
the franchise, by investing -.yourselves with that power,
and by doing so you will obtain the power of imposing
your own taxes and the expenditure of your own money;
and you will be able, I believe in my conscience, before
long to give peace and contentment to this country, and
to do away with the slightest pretence for the necessity
of a large standing army and naval force either in Great
Britain or Ireland.—(The Hon. Gentleman resumed his
seat amidst deafening cheers.)

Mr. Alderman KAY briefly seconded the resolution,
which was carried, like the rest, by acclamation..
The meeting closed at ten minutes past eleven o'clock.

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY. - The Arrop;ant steam-
frigate, Captain Robert Fitzroy, arrived this morning
from Woolwich, and lay to at the Knab for some hours
in consequence of the violence of the gale. About ten
o'clock she got up steam and came into harbour. Oar
Woolwich contemporary has so minutely and ably de-
scribed the performances of the ship on her leaving and
progress from Woolwich that we shall not give any fur-
ther detail of the voyage, which resulted as it began,
most satisfactorily for all parties concerned in her wel-
fare and character.