The Sun.
London, England, 1831-11-04 00:00:00

PRICE 7D.

-BIRMINGHAM POLITICAL UNION,

Since the rejection of the Reform Bill, all the
weekly meetings of the Council of the Birmingham
Political Union have been most numerously at-
tended. The large room of the Globe Tavern is
filled almost to suffocation, and several hundreds,
nay, upon some occasions thousands, who are unable
to gain admittance, remain in the street. On Trice-
day, the 25th inst., Ot way Cave, Esq., late M.P.
for Leicester, was present., and delivered a powerful
sateeeh, which he concluded by declaring, that what-
everaneastires the Union might take to insure the
- of the Bill, he would with the Union stand
,
or fall; This sentiment, and indeed the whole of
his speech, was enthusiastically cheered. At a late
meeting, Mr. Hadley, the Honorary SeCretary of
the Union, noticed various donations. On Tuesday
last the following letter wa received from Mr.
Parkes, Who:is not a Member of the Union, and read
to the Council and audience :
" Sue,—A truly Noble Commoner, a distinguished and
long-tried friend of the common cause of Parliamentary
Reform, has sent to me the inclosed contribution of 50/.
onwards the funds of the Birmingham Political Union,
with the injanction th.A I should not communicate the
name of the donor. Ihe the favour of your aekrww-
ledgment of its receipt.
" \Vitk sanguine and fervent hopes of ultimate mid
peaceful success in our public and constitutional efforts to
restore tire rights of the people in the Commons' House of •
P.trliament, " I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH PA 11K ES
" Birminglyint, 20. Temple-street, Nov. 1, 1831.
" To Mr. B. Hadley, Honorary Secretary of the Bir-
mingham Political Union."
In reply to this letter from -Air. Parkes, which
was received with loud cheers, the following reply
was forwarded to that gentleman:—
" DEAR have the honour to enclose you a copy
(if a vote of thanks passed last ni;;ltt by acclamation at a'
meeting of the Council of the Birmingham Political Union,
to your patriotic friend for his munificent donation of 501.
for the use of the Birmingham Political Union, in further-
ance of the great cause of Parliamentary Reform. Permit
me to say that the Council, with myself, is very sensible
of the obligations which are due to you for your uniform
aril able advocacy of the cause of the people.
" I am, dear Sir, yours, very faithfully,
" BENJAMIN HADLEY,
Secretary to the Birmingham Political Union.
" Bay Cottage, Nov. 2, 1831.
" Joseph Parkes, Esq."
The reso'ution alluded to is this :
" Ti at the gra`eful thanks of this Council be given to
the Patriotic Donor of 50/. presented this day by our
public-spirited town,man, Joseph Parkes, Esq., and that
the Council assure the donor, that such donation shall be
-mployed in the cause of Liberty, Justice, Humanity, and
Pmilic Order."
Another donation of 51. was forwarded from Cle-
neut Esq.—The friends of the Union
will duly. appreciate this well-tinted liberality ; the
great and still increasing exertions of the Union re-
quire corresponding pecuniary exertions on the parts
of its friends. Two of the donors, in their com-
munication, expressed their thanks to the Union as
greatly instrumental in preserving the peace of Bir-
mingham during the late excitement, from the salu-
tary influence which it exercised. A letter was also
read from the Political Union at Bromsgrove, con-
veying a vote of thanks to Mr. Attwood and the
Council, for their exertions in general, and for the
late, addresses which they have issued in particular.
Political Unions are everywhere starting into exist-
ence. Since the rejection of the Bill, no less than
fifty applications have bees made to Members of the
Council for copies of the rules arid regulations of the
Birmingham Union, on the basis of which to form
Unions in other towns. The greater part of these
applications have been from the South of England,
many front Cornwall, and several have been received
from Scotland. On Tuesday a letter was also read
from Mr. Wheble, of Wooley Lodge, Berkshire, re-
questing that the rules and regulations might be
immediately forwarded to him, to assist in forming a
Union for the county over which he has so much
influence, and in which he is so much respected.
Similar letters have just been received from Ludlow,
from R edditch , and from other places, some of which
have hitherto been marked as the strong holds of
Toryism and lioroughmongers.
In commenting upon the late unfortunate riots and
excesses at Bristol, there was little reserve. The
language of the speakers was strongly condemnatory
of the acts of violence and incendiarism on the part
of the molts, and equally condemnatory of the sense-
less insolence of those persons who did not shrink
from bringing the certain causes of unavoidable ex-
citement into insulting, collision with the already too
violently exasperated feelings of the populace.
But the most striking feature in the proceedings
of the meeting was a proposal to form the Union
into a National Guard. It was proposed by one of
the most influential members, in order, that if the
arm of the people should ever he wanted to defend
justice and the law, it might be prepared to act with
vigorous promptitude. It was not proposed to arm
against any party, or for any other object than to
preserve the peace of the town, to protect the lives
and property of individuals, and to defend the Go-
vernment and liberty of the nation. Many sugges.-
tions were thrown out by different individuals, and
one gentleman proposed that the " United Irish-
men" should be taken as a model; with the essen-
tial difference that no secrecy should be observed—
that all should be done in, open day—that no steps
should be taken but such as were calculated to assist
the present Ministry, and that Government itself
should be informed of every proceeding, in order to
remove every gims(' of suspicion. The country
has nothing to fear, butt much to hope, from the car-
rying of such a project into execution. It would be
the principle of the body thus organised to uphold
law and justice. 'lt must, indeed, be granted, tit
such a measure is suggested, if not dernturZed, by
the conduct of those who, in their rap.psition to the
Reform Bill, set the people 4: defiance. Upon this
point, the language 01 the Council was tetnperate,
though strc,t;tg It was stated that Lord Plymouth
htid placed cannon in his entrance hall; that Lc:l;A
Warwick and the Duke of Newcastle had *also, purr,
chased CallllOn j that Lord Londonderq carried arms
nitwit his very person; and th t the 1124?)ing Post,
the organ of tire party, isi cLallisig upon the borough-
mongers to tel.:e_ cep Mme against the people. Why,
then, was asked, should not the people, who have
ae. equal interest in and right to safety, and wets
have an equally important stake at issue, wi ahotdd
not they imitate the precaution of sv:sich thsty have
such unexceptionable exameeleabefoee them ?: Why
should not they fa:: ulr arms to defer,, their homes
and their country from any att,:tc,..s, which may be
made upon tliem—Whc.iereT measures the Bir-
mingham •Tflior,,, may take, no danger need be appre-
hen.(l-0, if they arm, it will be on the side of law
and justice; it will be to protect persons ty;cl.
petty from rash violence, as well as ft-one delibeatsta
encroachment s; it will, in feet, he to. (14re‘lt the power
of the people from arts cf. tioting and plunder, to
-
that of which always capable, and of which, '
rightly iji,ected, it is always desirous—the pro-
eection of property, and the preservation of the public
order, right, and tranquillity. The subject wihsagajn
be considered by the Council on Moraday, next. We
shall report the particulars, The general proceed-
ings of the Council are marked with a prudence which
merits the highest praise. Mr. Attwood presides
easfi paternal influence, supported by many gentle-
Men of opulence and personal influence. The
meeting, to be held at Warwick on
engages attention. It will be
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