The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-15 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE RATE-PAYING

CLAUSES.
A public meeting of the inhabitants of the metropolis
Was held yesterday evening tit the Crown arid Anchor
Tavern, Strand. for the purpose of passing resolutions
condemnatory of the r tte-payirg clauses, and for adopting
petitions to Parliament in favour of Mr. Duncombe's in-
tended motion for the expungement of these clauses
from the Reform Bill.
Mr. Geesue was called to the chair, and said that he
was sorry to see so small a meeting, but this was is
some, mtasure owing to the circumstance of there being
three or four meetings that evening on the question of
education. The question which they had met to discuss
was one that involved the rights of the subject. There
were very few persons who could, under existing cir-
eumstanci a, make use of the opportunities tliatihad been
ifferded them. It was necessary fur them. to give the
Government some intimation that they, would not b:
contented with finality. The dissolution that would
shortly take place would have the, effect of testing those
gentlemen's popularity whtesaill that they were not en-
:itled to a more extensive voice in the representation.
The SECRETARY here 'read letters from the foilowing
sent:emelt, whO stated chat they 14-great-AI their inability
to attend, but exprissed their sympathy with the object
of the meaning; suet their deterntiostion to support it.
vii.:—fir. Wakley, M.P.; Sir C. Napier, M.P.; Dr.
3owrire-, M.P.; Sir W. Clay, M.P ; Mr. Sharman Craw-
tore, M I'.; Captain ?eche!), M.P.; Mr. Bright, M.P.;
and Mr. Fox, M.P.
Mr. SAVAGE proposed the fell.iwirg resolution:—
'` That it is the opinion of this me 'ting that certain Acts
passed in the reign of his late Mojesty King William
IV , intituled, • Acts to amt.nd the representation of
oeople in Great Britain and Ireland,' having failed to
fulfil the just expectations of the people; and, a. such Acts
are not and cannot be hnal, it is expedient to amend the
earne by the repeal of the rate-paying clause, and by
other alterations celcelated tie present all undue in.
fluences in counties, cities, and boroughs, and subversive
iif the fair representation of the people in Parliament."
One-half of the' ffect of the Reform Bill was stultified by
he clause which retained the preperty qualifications.
That was a fraud upon them. An effort was made to
raise the fredoin of choice, and the principle was
sled in Mary lebone, the expense of which
had been defrayed by tradesmen like him-
-elf. The resson that they tied not been succe se-
rail arose from the framing of the Reform Bill. On
that occasion 2,000 voters were struck . tithe poll for not
having paid their tate up to the hour. Now the in
turitius tendency of these clauses wee, that a powe.r was
vested in the cell cotes of tales to duqualify by their
,•otiduct voters. To contend with the Conservative in-
terest it was necessary to form cemmttoees. The ves-
ries, in cone. qiienee of the law, became the real elec-
tors ; the) were virtietily in no better position than
they h.d been under the system of r-tteti boroughs.
In
consequence of the cemplicated machinery cut the Re
Oral Bill, reiteithstanding the partial geod it had
M eted, it had felled
to carry out the promise that it
tield forth to the Peep', at large. Under the present
-) stern they were nut enabled to select their representa-
tives from men of integrity and we rib, but those who
amid bear the a xi. wee of an election. Now a practical
means of doing away with that would by by making
e,ch ele.eor pay a portion of the expenses of the election;
and an office might be estalilished in each borough where
every information might be sitie.ded to the ele eters. But
'hese practical measures were altogether lust sight of
by the Government, and it was only by au agitation,
originated with the people, that any improvement could
be hoped for.
Mr. SKSLTON seconded the resolution. He contended
that a property qualification was an eeidence that the
people of this country were not in their proper position,
for the wcalth• producing portion of the population were
entitled to a voice in the representaticn. That prin-
ciple could only be carried out by an agitation amongst
themselves, for the cause which they had met to edvo-
este was net oue of general popularity.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. ERNEST JONES then moved a petition to
Parliament, deprecating in very strong language the im-
perfections of the Reform Bill, advocating the principle
of progressive reform, and pre; ing for the total and im,
mediate repeal of the rate-paying clauses, and for the
extension of the electoral frauchise.
Mr. COCHRANE, in seconding the resolution said, that
the rate-paying clauses in the Reform Bill were con-
ceived in a spirit of cowardice, and carried in a spirit of
treachery. lie could conceive nothing more unjust than
these clauses, by which, if a person could not meet
punctually his rates, he was to be deprived of his politi-
cal frauchise. The time had now arrived when the
people could propose their own terms to their repre-
sentatives, for a general el• ction was at hand. He was
of the same opinion as mime of the [receding speakers,
that the suffrage should not be subjected to the present
unjust limitations.
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. T. DUNC,SIBE, M.P., who was loudly cheered,
next addressed the meeting. The Hon. Gentleman
:add, that on the last occasion that he hail the honour of
meeting them in that room they were assembled fur the
purpose of agreeieg to a petition in favour of this Bill.
lie had then to ask the House of Commons for leave to
intro:tuce that very Bill, which had for its object the
abolition of the rate- paying clauses. t!e thought it was
right that he should explain to them what had become
of that petition and that Bill. The petition was duly
Presented to that Honourable House.— (Laughter.) Atter
is preseetation, he rose for the purpose of eski: g per-
iiiission to bring in a B 11 for the abehtion ell the rate-
paying clauses, which went to a greater a xtent of incon-
e. nietwe than litany were aware of. In that v. ry city
ef Westminster, it they did tiot let) to the exact, time
that the rates fecatne due. they were disqualified, tied
,hat, too, by the treachery' of the colt ctsts, or some
other uniair means. They %tee, in cons' queued, placed
‘ri a worse positien than before the passing to the Reform
Bill; for till then hey had only to show the rice p s for the
rates for the past y' ar. Ile was teld, whit tie rose on
the occasion to which he had untitled, namely, to intro
&ice his Bill, that if he said es little us possible on that
Rill that Minister. weuld 'anew his to introduce it.
There was et t tainly one obj. et gain. d -by its introdee-
nen. lie afterwards asked the ni whether they would
stifle it at its birth, or v heater they would allow it. to
go into Cemmittee 'They replied, shat as tht y did not
approve of the principle of the Bill they should oppose
it. He then braid, that the sooner they fought the battle
ihe be tter. lle atterwards tooted for a couilitissien, and
stated the re•asens diet he had heard urged there and
else... h• re in favour et the measu• ee, when Lord John
Russell rose end said he could nut hear of that Bill, for
it was a gross innovation if, arid did violence to, the
censtitution of Elegised. They knew the result of the
division that selected, d. Ile (Mr. Duncombe) was oe-
eated by a majerity of tweety. He must say that upon
hat oeca•ion he was grossly disappoitotd at the
conduct of several gentlemen, Membeis et the House o•
because he saw those who had voted with
him for the introduction of the Bill oppose it, and wit-
nessed ge7dieuien then voting it, direct ceetradiction to
the pledges they had given to their constituents. Even
those very gentlenat n who had attacked Lord John
Russell her his finality doctrines, he saw do what, in hie
opinion, war worse tit an a manly opposition, skulking
and running sway. He would not eame thote on that occa
son to whom he referred, for another opportunity would
be given them of reine vine their character. The occa•
snit, of bringing that Bill before Parliament rya* not the
first, and, pet haps, it would not be the last, time that
he had been defeated in figment: the cause of the peopae
—(Cheers.) He had giv. n notice of another mitten,
which would have the a ffict of testing the opinion of
the House of Commons as to whether or not, Jn the
words of the petition, tee Re form Bill bad disappointed
tl,e hopes of the people of England, and whether it was
or was not to be u final measure. He knew these were
very unplesant words to Lord John Russell.—(A laugh.)
His motion would also test whether or riot it was in-
tended to do away with what was obnoxious in the.
Reform Bill—all that was iejurieus to the rights of
the people. He considered that they were not
to be contented with the abolition of those
rate-paying clauses. '1 he tenant-right should be
done away with ; they should also have the protection
of the ballot. He was happy to say that in Finsbury
he believed the electors did not care two straws for the
ballot, because they were too numerous to be bribed,
and too honest and independent to be intimidated from
giving a conscientious vo:e. That was because they had
not hanging over them the same same corrupt influence
that existed in that aristocratic portion of the metropolis
(Westminster). They should analyse the divisions that
had taken place. If they were in favour of finality, let.
the:m vote for those who had oppesed his motion ; but if
=hey were in favour of progression, let them to a man
,support those Members who voted in favour of his
motion, for they to ght depend upon it thaw the former
were not deserving of their confilence. Thy must let
the House know that the principle centeeded for in the
Bill which tie had introduced was no crotchet of his, but
proceeded from the great body of the people. They
sheuld call on teeir representatives to act in conformity
eith the wishes off those vette elected them; and as for
him (Mr. Dulicombe) he was ready again to fight the
nettle in behalf of tree pe plc whenever they thought
proper, so that upon them, hereatier, upon the exlebi-
lion and demimatration which the people of England
mould make on the present subject, would depend the-
question oi further tefor m. Ile was It. ppy, in conclusion,
to state, that he tied received commuiticatiens from all
parts of the United Kiiigilien, even front Ireland, approv•
.rig of am principle upon welch ih• y hied proceeded, tin.
' e did really belii Se tnet the next division of the House
of Commons would be n uch more salistactory to them,
stud
q,w
d ail independent electors. than when they first mooted'
the
fur the coiedileretion of welch they he
assembled them that evening.
Ant r a vote of thanks to the Chairman the meeting
eeperated.

DARING INTREP IDITY.— An instance of courageous
-drepitia), tiy +6l.iett the life of a hilow•crvature wa
saved, was displayed on Friday last by Mr. William
Poole, .second mate of the stidatri-ship Phoenix. It ap
pears that Mr. Thoinai Benyon, of Spitniati-sure, t, Car•
triaraten, was a passenger on board t,•e PI cells iron.
.iristol, and upon the atrial of the vessel al. re:tby hi
-ocidiAtiAly Celt overt) .ard int , t•te sea betty* en t•.'
leadier and the pier. Quick as thought Pool •1. ap
!t after him, but d d not steered in reaehing hint ma;
~.• was in ittonitteot da..gt r. having sunk three tiine..i.
1, d bring d 1-
1"'",1,1"t, ly . xh.tn,,ted hustle mom,
si Js.. him by hit- collar, aid h• ti held on to a chain cubit
,tam! a boat wac sent, to his ti,„si.ta, ce, when both wort
-etlieved from their perilous situati.m. This is, we
understand, the ninth indieLual that Poole has rescue.;
-trout a watery urave, and it would tut he rewardin;.
;rue c• urtige and determined gallant.), if the Royal
Humane Society awarded lain. a medal in honour of hi.
phdanthropie achie.•ements.— Welshman
BE JUST BEFORE You ARE GRNEROUS.--4 shep-
herd in the county of Caithia-ss lately I.,st two or three
of his master's she,p, and, being determinA his employer
should not be a loser in the matt. r, stole the same num-
im ber fro!' neighbour, for which he has just been com-
mitted to ttle gaol of Wioli.—,Rass-shirs Advertiser.