The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-02 00:00:00

DURHAM
.REFORM COUNTY MEETING.

A public meeting was held on Monday last, the 31st
of October, in front of the Court-houses, to adopt reso-
lutions of thanks to the King, his Alinisters, and to the
Commons House of Parliament, for their support to the
measure of Reform rejected by the House of Lords.
C. J. CLAVERING, Esq., High Sheriff, in the Chair.
The CHAIRMAN said, he had called the present meeting
in compliance with a requisition to that effect from a
body of about 300 freeholders of the county of Durham.
The requisition, when it was first presented to him, after
stating the first object of the meeting, went on to say, "or
to adopt such other measures as might be deemed expedi-
ent." The word " or" stuck in his throat, and he refused
to comply with the requisition till some alteration had bi en
made in it. This was immediately done, and he then
felt it his duty to call the meeting.
G. H. Wiecussore, Egg., then rose to move the first reso-
lution, expressive of thanks to his Majesty, and praying him
to continue to place confidence in his Ministers. If their
former meetings were important, the present was ten-fold
more so. Their enemies had for a season prevailed. Ile
wished them joy of their victory.—(Cheers.) They had
taken a false step ; entertaining the belief that the House
of Commons needed regeneration, they had forgotten that
the House of Lords needed regeneration first.—(Cheers )
But time was a great physician, many healing properties
might be infused by operations into the aristocracy as at
present consituted. Rash and hasty men were for imme-
diately erecting new Peers, with as little ceremony as the
Nobles of their children, which were put into the oven
ready gilt and varnished.—(A laugh.) They ouglet to
give place to reason and reflection. There was no occa-
sion to resort to desperate remedies. They had a majority
of 131 of their representativea in their favour. The King
would stand firm to his Ministers ; and the people of
England would continue unanimously to express their
determination. If this, and if the working of this
lever by the royal hand did not bring about
the fulfilment of their hopes, there was some more potent
kind of machinery must be had recourse to. The screw
must be had in operation, and it must wind them to the
sticking point.—(Cheers.) The Learned Gentleman then
showed that several Peers had been created in the reign of
Queen Anne under a Tory Administration, to subdue a
restive majority in the House of Lords, and the present
Ministry were sufficiently justified in a like course on the
present occasion if other means failedoen(Sheers.) The
tErst step for the people to do through their repreven,a-
lives was to refuse the supplies and suspend the Mutiny
Act.--(Cheers.) He dare not look beyond this: he
dreaded the consequence of the continued obstinacy of the
Lords.—(Cheers.) How did the enemies of Reform jus-
tify their conduct? Mr. Wilkinson then went at some
length into the reasons assigned by several Noble Lords for
their opposition to the Bill, and exposed the fallacy of
their arguments.
J. HARLAND, Esq. then rose. rin had not expected
that there would be any necessity for another meeting for
Reform, except to celebrate its triumph. He w&s, how-
ever, disappointed; but he did not despair. They must
place na reliance on the moderate Reformers, but upon
the King and his Ministers. Indeed, what claims had
those bit-by-bit Reformers on their notice? The words
of the Duke of Wellington against Reform of coy kind
or degree were still ringing in their ears. The votes
of Peel and his party were fresh in their recollection,
and therefore they could not receive proposals from
etteh men otherwise than with suspicion and distrust.—
(Cheers.) The object of the Duke was no doubt to get
into office again, and then instead of granting them Reform
they would only put a gloss and specious appearance upon
the monster of corruption, and render him the more dan-
genaus because the less unsightly.—(Great applause.)
Their opponents had declared themselves averse to all
sweeping measures; for seventy years had this measure
been prayed for, and for seventy years their prayers had
been treated with contempt. They bad met to return
thanks to Earl Grey and his colleagues. They ha,.l taken
office at a very seasonable time, and to them their especial
thanks were due. It had been said that the Reform mea-
sure would not cheapen bread, if it did not do so nomi-
:Airily, it would do so really, for in the end it would leave
more money in the pocket to buy that bread with.—
(Cheers.) Their choice was not between two evils, but
between evil and good.—(Cheers.) He concluded by
reading the first resolution, which was put and carried
nuanimously.
C. RIPPON, Esq., then rose.—He said on the ac-
cession of the present Government to power he had ex-
pected much ; in the Reform Bill his expectations had
been more than realised.—(Cheers.) It was therefore
with much pleasure that he had to propose an address to
them, thanking them for their exertions in the great cause
of Reform. If the King continued true to the people.
and the people true to themselves, they must eventually
succeed. Their hope., however, had hitherto been un-
fidfilled. The Lords had rejected the Bill, not because it
was not just and reasonable, but because it was their will.
If they persisted in their obstinacy they would find that
as their indignation was not easily enkindled, so, also, it
was not easily extinguished.—(Cheers.) They were ready
to chew that there was still blood enough in their veins to
make a stand against tyranny and oppression. He prayed
that the Temporal Peers would consider the consequences
likely to result from their rashness, and retrace their
steps before it was too late...—(Cheers.) Mr. R. then
proceeded to animadvert on the conduct of the Spiritual
Lords. He rejoiced that they had thus acted? because
they now appeared in their true character, and, uninten-
tionally indeed, bad paved the way for their own ejection
—(Laughter and applause.) Their conduct had been the
same in every part of their history, and they never sup-
ported a liberal measure except when their own interests
were endangered. He concluded by moving the second
resolution, which was briefly seconded by SHAFTO,
Esq., and carried unanimously.
HEDWORTIE LAMItTON, Esq., then rose to propotse the
third resolution, of a vote of thanks to the House of
Commons. He would first notice, however, the eminent
men in the Upper House who were entitled to their grati-
tude. Earl Grey, by his patriotism, deserved the civic
crown; and who did not feel proud in having such a cham-
pion as Lord Brougham ? He would not have them
to forget the Bishops of Norwich and Chichester, the
only men of that class who had voted for the Reform
Bill.—(Cheers.) He devoutly hoped that it would re-
trace its steps when the Bill was again brought before
the House. Mr. Lambton then passed a high eulogiurn
on the county Members, Wm. Russell, Esq., and Sir 11.
Williamson, Bart., for their exertions in the great cause.
It had been said by the borough faction that Great Britain
owed its greatness to the nomination boroughs. With as
great truth might it be said that Durham sewer was the
notsree of the Wear,—(Cheers and laughter.) What had
the boroughs to do with the formation of the wise laws of
Allred, the Magna Charts., or the Bill of Rights ? Nothing
at all.—(Cheers.) Mr. L. concluded by moving the third
resolution.
T. C. GRANGER, Esq., in a long address, seconded the
resolution. He said when they sent petitions they were
charged with indulging in a spirit of intimidation—ashen
thly sent no petitions they were represented as not caring
iIIIP Reform. If they went in small numbers they were
disregarded, and if they met in large numbers, as on the
present occasion, they were designated as an ill-intentioned
and deluded mob.—(Cheers.) Mr, Wilkinson had depre-
cated all intimidation. He differed from his Learned
Friend. Nothing but intimidation coutd ever move the
House of Lords ; and nothing but intimidation was moving
it now. Indeed, what did the word expediency imply, but
the necessity ofgiving up what could no longer with safety be
kept? And in consequence the only question with the Peery
now was, how little will the people be setisfied with
Earl Grey had been accused of stirring up the spirit of
Reform. Much as he was disposed to thank Earl Grey,
he could not accede to him that hoeeer. It was the spirit
of Reform that brought them into exisitoee. Instead of
being the creators, they were only the creAurfs of the
Bill.—(Cheers.) One objection which had been wed,: by
Lord Wharnclille was, that the mecenre would make the
House of Commons ix° much the mirror of the people.—
(A laugh.) This is what it ought to be ; what even
themselves admitted in theory, end why not allow it to he
so in practice ?—(Great applause.) ;Mr. Grange con-
cluded by seconding the third resolution, which was car-
ried unanimously.
Wm. Russell, Esq., M. P. for the county of Durham,
then rose to return thanks for the flattering manner in
which his name had been mentioned, Serious illness had
prevented bins from attending as he could have wished to
his Parliamentary duties. He would, however, make
every exertion, when the Parliament again met, for this
and every other cause of public liberty.
Sir H. Wleezesrsole, Bert , L.P.A for the county, and
ALP. foe. the city of DurinaWs
W. R. C. CHAYTOR, Esq.,
also addressed the meeting, and stated their determi,nation
to use all their endeavours in furtherance of tia..2 %cause of
Reform. Sir H. Wieetnelsow also returned thanks.
G. BAKER, Esq., then moved that the address to his'
'.Majesty should be presented by Earl Grew ; which was
Britrkiil by iG. T. Fox, Esq.
;*-64 .74w45-ituze, Esq., and Cer&RLES ATTWOOD, Es.,
..-...v0t0 laddyi4 the meeting. The latter gentleman stated
his be-lipfjlslt ere was something goine on behind the
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