The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-01 00:00:00

NATIONAL POLITICAL UNION.

A very important meeting of the inhabitant house-
helders of the metropolis, for the purpose of form
g themselves into a Political Union for the pro-
motion of the great measure of Reform lately dis-
cussed in Parliament, was held yesterday at Lincoln's
Ten-fields. Sir F. BURDETT in the chair.
The meeting was originally convened at the
Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand, but not
even the largest room in that establishment could
accommodate a third of the crowd which besieged
all its avenues long before the hour appointed for
commencing business; and accordingly it was found
necessary to adjourn to Lincoln's-Inn-fields. This
change in the arrangements led to some unavoidable
delay and confusion with respect to choice of place
and substitute for platform for the chairman and
speakers; but owing to the prompt courtesy of Mr.
Walters, a gentleman residing next door to Green's
Hotel (the proprietor of which, by the way, re-
fined the use of his balcony for the purpose), all
difficulties on this head were removed by his grant-
ing permission to the Chairman, Committee, and Re-
porters of the public Press, to occupy the platform
on a line with his drawing-room window. The
entire south-west angle of Lincoln's-Inn-fields was
densely crowded.
Sir F. Bustmerr, on taking the chair, said the
object of the present meeting was the adoption of
the best means for securing the success of the all-
important measure of Parliamentary Reform, which
Lad been so long sought for, so long delayed, and
which for months back had engrossed public atten-
tion. Among these means none appeared so feasible
and efficient as a great National Union, having for
its sole object the obtaining of good Government
and preserving social order.—(Hear.) Hence the
present meeting—which simply proposed to itself
the uniting of all good citizens arid lovers "of their
country in one body, for the purpose of effecting
that great object, without which there could be no
good government nor no permanent social order,—
samely, a full and efficient representation of the
people in the Commons House of Parliament.—
(Hear, hear.) He said, a National Union, and he
spoke only of the people, because be would not ad-
mit of a distinction of classes, so far as political
rights were concerned,—there being but one class,
nation--(Hear)—there being but one use of
Government—the promotion of the nation's general
well-being,—and there being no t;ght. civil or poli-
tical, bestowed by the Constitution, which lied nor
for its end the nation's good.—(Cheers.) Their
enemy was a formidable enemy, arid was only to be
vanquished by firmness and union. But vanquished
he would be, and that, toe, effectually, and soon.
What with a patriotic Sovereign devoted to their
welfare, stanch to the cause of his people, after
a large majority of the House of Commons had de-
clared so signally in favour of an extensive plan of
Reform, and with the public feeling out of doors so
intensely bent on the success of the plan, was it to
be for a moment thought of that a faction, whom he
had long ago stigmatized a boroughmongering fac-
tion, should persist in depriving the people so united
and so supported of their constitutional rights ?
(Continued cheers.) On former occasions, when
speaking of this boroughmongering faction as one
that had usurped the people's rights,—that rioted
in the abuses of misgovernment,—it was thought by
many that he had dealt somewhat in the language
of exaggeration. What was the opinion now ?
(Hear, hear.) Was it not felt that that faction
existed only at the expense of the people—that if
was a monstrous political anomaly in our Constitu-
tion, as being alone above the law and beyond the
controul of the people ?—(Hear)—that it was a fac-
tion which by long habits of rule—he ought rather
to say gross misrule---hart attained a rank growth,
which rendered it a difficulty even to a popularly
elected House of COMMOO3 to contend with ? He
really knew not how to describe these persons. Nor
being particularly conversant with craniology, he
could not say what organs were prominent on their
skulls ; but he should infer that they were not the
bumps of observation or redaction, and should be
inclined to believe that their craniums were so im-
pervious to impressions, either from within or with-
out, that it would not be possible to make them feel
till their hercli were actually broken.—(Laughter.)
But this, he repeated, was no longer to be borne,
It should be recolleet`ed that many of the aristocracy,
and that, too, of its mos' anc;ent and opulent mem-
bers, had nobly declared thesmsetees for the cause of
the nation. See what a libera' retuen the head of
the Peerage, the Duke of Norfolk, had made them
for the act f justice, long delayed jus:.'"--(Rear,
hear.) Regardless of all mere personal cr2."aieleras'
tions, that noble Duke had promptly expressed
approbation of a measure which would deprive him.
self of great borough patronage.—(Cheers.) Nor was
his conduct solitary : other noble borough proprie-
tors, among whom it was but jUst to make distinct
mention of the Marquis of Cleveland, who had sacri-
ficed at least half a million of borough property on
the altar of his country's weal—(Loud cheers)—
had followed up the excellent example. Nor were
the less wealthy possessors of suffrage-privileges be-
hind-hand in their patriotic anxiety to merge all mere
personal advantages in the consideration of the na-
tional welfare. The Hon. Baronet proceeded next
to say, that he was confident a measure of Reform
less extensive and efficient than that lately rejected
in the House of Lords would not, and ought not to
satisfy the people of England—(Loud cries of
" hear")—and he therefore trusted that they would
all act in cordial union to the accomplishing such an
sffieient treasure. The lion. Baronet then stated
that the immediate object of that day's meeting was
simply to declare the expediency of a" well-organized
and comprehensive organization of the people," the
details of the plan to be discussed on a more conve-
ient oceasion.
Mr. THELwALL thought be might take this
Ir erty, baying, through a long life, through good re-
port- and bad report, been the uncompromising ad-
Tecate of the rights of the people—(Cheers)—hav-
-41. had t.lie honour of being tried for high treason
in 1794, in ;he good old times of Pitt, and Eldon,
and Toryism.—(Laughter and cheers.) While he
urged them to minse in favour of the Bill brought
in by Ministers, he begged to be understood that
he did not call upon them to place a blind confi-
dence in any Ministry, or to relax that vigilance of
the conduct of their rulers whieh was the best gua-
rantee for its being generally beneficial, but only to
avoid such needless splittings into parties as could
only serve to advance the designs of the enemies of
good government.—(Hear, hear.) He, for one,
would blindly trust no public man—not even
Francis Burdett—their long-tried end often proved
champion—(Cheers)—but be would ttoc be jealous
when Owe was no occasion, nor refuse confidence
*where it was wanted.
The Rev. Mr. Fox rose to move the first resolu-
tion—that expressive of the expediently of a well-
organized association. Uniou was ad that was
wanting to make the cause of the people triumphant,
and that, too, in spite of holy alliances and ail the,
impious machines"' of despotism..-.-(Cheers.) Let
them consider for a moment the consequence of per-
sisting in withholding from the nation its constitu-
tional rights. " Confusion sszesse confounded' se,o,uld
stalk the land, and the enemies of Reform, through,
whose machinations it was stopped far a time in its
progress, vr )uld be taught—probably with tongues
of flame, m ire eloquent than tiny tongues of speech—
the danger ofresisting the united will of an indignant,;
and intelligent, and united people.—(Cheers.) Per-
haps they would be told that such scere,es could nor
occur if the executive called upon the military forces
of the State ? Were they sure that the military
-would act against their fellow-citizens for seeking to
obtain their common right?—(Hear.) He was „D.
viewed they would not ; he was sure that the citizen
awd the freeman were not opposed to the soldier;
anal he doubted if even the conqueror of Wisteria()
Isimeelf gave the command, that the sword would
obey his bidding; and if even his bidding were
,(E. obeyed, he was convinced that the weapon of the
Lis' soldier would be found inefficient, and would
be struck own by the sword of _Reform, wielded
es: ,by the arm of liberty and wisdom, if madly