The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-22 00:00:00

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. ourt 0 l'''',‘i.'",uitto
suy OFFICE, Seven o' Clock.

THE TROPOLITAPi FINANCIAL

AND PAULI A \tENTARY REFORM. AbbOUIA.
TION.— (VMS DAY.)
The first pubac meeunt; of this asr.ociation was held
dfternoun at the Llodon Tavern, liishopsote-

street. It was most numetously attended, and amongst
those who occupied seats on the platform we observed—
Arthur Anderson, Esq., M.P., Ralph' Bernal Osborne
Esq., M.P., John W interns. Esq., M.P., B. M. Wilcox
Esq., M.P., Colonel Thompson, M.P., Lawrence Hey-
worth, Esq., M.P., George Thompson, Esq , M.P., J. A.
Roebuck, Esq., M.P., Thomas Prout, Esq , William
Arthur Wildman Esq., Treasurer, W. Wiliiams, Eeq.,
William Clark, isq., William John Hall, H. Tindal
Atkinson, Esq., Summers Herford, Esq., William
M`Rae, Evq,, Frederick Gaskell, Esq , Robert Russell,
Esq., Rupert Kettle, Esq., Sir Francis Knowles, Bart.,
H. C. Messingham, John Matson, Esq., T. K. Pritchard,
Esq., G. W. M. Reynolds, Esq., H. G. Rubinson, Eeq.,
Samuel Harrison, Esq., J. M'Euteer, Esq., John Caeriell,
Esq., G. E. Denues, sq., William White, jun., E.
John Watered, Esq, D. M'Doneli, Esq., J. A. Lyon,
Esq., John Collett, Esq., William Hewer, Esq., W. H.
Ashurat, Esq., Richard Taylor, Esq., Ward, Esq„ of,
Liverpool, Professor C. G. Kries, of Breslau, Jesse Cullum,
Esq., James Barringer, Esq., J. G. Phillimore, E. q.,
Luke Embleton, Esq.,l)r.Kinnaird, Dr. Longstaff, Joseph
Phelps, Esq., Edwin James, Esq., H. M. Drummond,
Esq , T. Rhoads, Eeq., J. G. Rhoads, Dee., W. J.
Harris, Esq., Rev. G. H. Stoddart, George Hyde,
E,q., Joseph Sturge, Esq., Charles Gilpin, Esq.,
Thomas James Serle, Esq ,Wm. Whitaker, Esq., John
Downes, Esq., of Ware, George Webster, Esq., A. L.
Saul, Esq., J. C. Howett, Esq., T. Satterley, Esq.,
Richard Dixon, Esq., H. Harper, Eli.; Messrs. Roberts,
Murray, Alford, Aitken, S. P. Clark, of Princes Risbo-
rough, Shillibeer, Colvin, Edwards, Harbord, Howatel,
Manning, Harding, Hough, Coupland, Ward, Purvis,
Allen, Landley, &c., &c.
At one o'clock the:chair was taken by Sir Joshua
Walmsley, the President of the association, who was
greeted with loud and prolonged cheering.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the business of the day,
read the placard convening the meeting and then pro-
ceeded to speck as tollows:—Gentlemen, in taking the
chair on this occasion, on behalf of the association, I
have to request a fair and impartial hearing fur every
man who may choose to address you upon the subject
we have met to consider.—(Hear, hers.) Let me remind
you that it is necessary that, in order thet each man
should be heard, we must remain perfectly silent and at-
tentive, and I hope you will not call continually
for silence, as she never came by calling.—(Cheers and
laughter.) I shall first cull upon the secretary, the ho-
norary secretary, to whom we are deeply indebted fur
the active and zealous service which he has rendered the
association, to read a report which the council
have thought it necessary to ptepare, that there
may be no doubt or question whatever as to the objects
of this m eting.—(Cheers.)
Mr. TINDAL ATKINSON then read the following re-
port:—
"The council have the gratification to state that the
steps taken to establish a Metropolitan Financial and
Parliamentary Reform Association upon a firm, en•
during, and cumprehensive basis, have been attended by
striking, unequivocal, and continuous success.
" The council believe that success to be mainly owing
to the conviction which is hourly forcing itself upon
even reluctant and unwilling minds, that the present
undue pressure upon the industry and capital of the
country has its origin in the evils which spring out of
class legislation.
"'I he council are strengthened in that belief by the
fact that the association, in existence scarcely three
mouths, is daily receiving large accessions to its num-
bers, and already comprises the flumes of many of the
oldest, ablest, and most distinguished advocates of the
extension of civil rights. Funds have been contributed
emply sufficient to meet the demands of the present.
Numerous district societies, springing out of the central
association, are iu active and vigorous operation in dif-
ferent parts of the metropolis, comprising several
thousands of zealous and ardent reformers, all engaged
in aid of the common object. And London, which in
the early part et the year was behind the provinces in
the growing agitation for Financial and Parliamentary
Reform, now occupies that leading position to which it
is entitled, not more from its population and its wealth,
than from its public Epic and its pervading intelligence.
" Deeply impressed with the conviction that no effec-
tual nor lasting relief from the present unequally impost d
and heavy burden of taxation can or will take place
until the taxpayers have a more aired influence in the
election of the representatives who have to deal with
the national resources, the council, after much anxious
solicitude and careful deliberation, came to the conclu-
sion that the agitation tor Parliatneutary Reform should
precede that for financial ameliorations. In adopting this
policy, the council were tulle, aware that the great
difficulty to be met and overcome lay in the difference
of opinion which prevailed among their fellow-reformers
upon the subject of widening the suffrage. The council,
upon mature consideration, have decidedupon advocating
such an extension of the franchise as wiii give to every
male occupier of a tenement, or any portion of a tene•
went, the right to be registered an elector; the only
condition coupled with that right being, not the payment
of rates, but the fact of being rated or having claimed to
be rated for the relief of the pour in respect of the qua-
lifying premises. The effect of such a measure in
strengthening the popular voice in the House it Com-
mons may be inferred from the fact that the present
constituency of the United Kingdom at uld be increased
by that addition of up ards of Leo miiituus of voters.
The council seek to invest this extended right of
voting with the shel:er of the beau!. ; and
in order to keep actively alive that sense
of responsibility, which, in the public business of the
nation as in the private affairs of lite, secures the faith-
ful exercise of a power held in trust, they advocate the
return to the old consitutional system of triennial Par-
liaments: while another and not less important change
sought for in our representative system will be that
which will give a more equal appe'rtionmeut of Members
to constituents. The council believe that sueb an ex•
tension of civil privileges is due nut more to the increased
intelligence of the people than it is celled fur by the
peculiar exigencies of the times; they believe that that
legislation is fraught with wisdom which concedes duf-
fing a peno of comparative tranquillity rights which
have been too lung withheld; and that no policy is more
pregnant with danger than that which yields only to
force what is stubbornly denied to a sense of justice.
" Looking to the history of the past, the council be-
lieve that neither of the two great parties in the state
will concede te' the popular voice the reforms demanded,
until the appeal acquires consistency and force throi.gh
the medium of a powerful and numerous combination of
all classes of reformers. Under this impression the
council enter into a well-considered system ut vigorous,
extensive, but strictly legal agitation. They will en•
deavour to enlist in the cause they have embraced all
the available elements of moral power. District and
periodical aggregate public meetings will be held, tracts
will be distributed, aid will be imparted to the various
metropolitan registration societies now in existence for
watching over the interests of liberal voters, and impor-
tant facilities will be offered fur the acquisition of 40$.
freeholds in the surrounding counties.
" The council have now briefly stated some of the
more important objects to be accomplished, and the
means by which it is proposed to attain them. They
appeal, in conclusion, to the two great bodies of the
community—the middle and productive classes—for
zealous co-operation, and active and energetic support.
They appeal especially to the uaenfranchised masses, for
whose social and political elevation the ass,ciation has
been called into existence. And, deeply interested in
the existence of order, the preservation of public credit,
and the inviolability of the rights of property, the coun-
cil believe that no greater calamity can betel a nation
than a protracted and obstinate resistance, on the part of
the Government, to temperate and moderate demands for
the extension of civil rights."—(The reading of the re-
port was repeatedly interrupted with bursts of applause.)
The council whom he had the honour to represent had
alluded with considerable anxiety to the result of that,
the first meeting of the association.—(Hear, hear.)
They had looked to it, indeed, with that anxiety which
they considered proportionate to the interests at stake.
Ho was persuaded that they would unite with him in
expressing their gratification at witnessing that great
and influential response which had been just given to
the cause.—(Loud cheers.) That numerous and highly
influential meeting was a proof that the middle classes
of the city of London sympathised with the unenfran-
chitsed classes in their efforts to obtain an extension of
the suffrage.—(Loud cheers.) He thought that earnest
response was a sign uf future success, and that it would
give new zeal and energy to the executive which had
hitherto worked so zealously for the object which they
had met to promote.— (Hear.) Under ordinary cir-
cumstances it might be desirable that he should offer
some explanation why a comparative stranger, poss• ssing
no local standing, nor the latent of many whom he saw
around him, saould occupy the prominent po,itiou
which had been `conceded to him on that occisicun
Their time was, however, too \valuable and too important
to give place to personal ex plans tione—(lit ar, hear)—and
he should content himselt with saying, that
as he did not seek the position, neither would
he hesitate a moment to relinquish it when-
ever the interest of the cause they advocated should
call for such a change.--(Loud cheers.) A declaration
of their principles and several documents had been sent
the objects of the association,
as to
forth by the council, but to avoid doubt and miscon-
ceptionainmeltit:
0 ofr thoseth the m
objects,ea su r s woleti.c
councilh they
had proposedthnufor theit
desirableat
just been received. That report .
.
prepaie and promulgate the reporitldwhtinceh had
i
hherionotthethitarrnechotunacnidl.
concurrence odf
that
teriyt
would
rid
and he trusted
zealous support of every reiormer.—(Hear.) There
were those among them, and he hesitated not to deciare
it, as one who looked even beyond those principles in the
report—(Loud cheers)—who , desired to divide them
in opinion. They had given tho best consideration to
the subject, and adopted those means which they thought
must desirable and advisable to carry out their great ob-
jects, vie., the greatest extension of tee sufft age aceordine
to those with whom they had poe to deal. The policy
of those who opposed theca would te to threw discord
and contention into their rails. But they must avoid
that, and must endeavour to prevent them Causing distrust
on the one hand and tear on the totter. But it the people
were uni•,ed their reply to all taunts et omit be. that tileY
would have a full, tree, and fair trial for their prin-
ciples.— (Loud cheers.) The property classde.
a(anLtdidauigutisistittr:icgre.e)touiu.
But
tuhtttoirthteeoaeupss,,laletee:iiitiatuisnteiaosse eooff the
nounced their policy and agitation as subversive
ccooct;uuonnrctdrdes!.....,
theirsufficient
answer to all they could say.—(Hear, hear, and cheers,)
He hoped they would nerer cease their agitation so long