The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-19 00:00:00

but I am not ready to pay the price that that hostile
enactment demanded for it--( Hear, hear, and cheers)—
for they would not only purge the list of dead men and
men of straw, but have reduced, through its instrumental
lity, the mambo- of the substantial and real body of the
freeholders, against whom the finger of party could not
point out anything objectionable—( Hear. liesr)—they
would have reduced them to one-hall the number they are
now.—( Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I like the ground. we
have assumed this day. We come forward to call for equality
with the people of England—(Cheers)—to that we are
entitled, and less than that we will not taler.—( Cheers.)
We arc here to day to give expression to the univerael—l
may almost say the universal voice of Ireland—to
direct the current of public opinion, to accrue the hippi-
nessof the people, and the permanency of public institu-
tions, by placing them in harmony with educ,tion and
morality, and, I may add, the just wishes of an enlightened
Hatton.—(Cheers.) The re,olutim I have to propase
is—
" That Ireland, as an integral portion of the Bilis!'
Empire is entitled to a perfect eqevility of franchises and
institutions with England and Scotland."
Mr. Grermsnew in au able speech seconded the reso:
lution.
The resolution was put from the Chair and passed una-
nimously.
Sir NV. Somenett.en, M. P., came forward, and was re-
ceived with loud cheers. The Honourable Member said
—My Lord, Hitherto we have b.,en engaged in removing
abuses, in destroying monopoly, and puttemg down corrup-
tion ; but to-day we are met here fur the purpose of
preventing the destruction, not of any antiquated
monopoly or overgrown abuse, but the devrtection
of the liberties, rights, and franchises of the Irish
people.—(Cheers.) And shall we tamely submit to this
attempt ?—shall we, without a struggle, hand over those
franchises, so dearly bought, to Lord Stanley or any other
person who would trample upon them for no other purpose
than that he and those who act with bhn may obtain
those offices for themselves which are now held by
a Liberal Government? There is no other reason why
a disfranchisement Bill was not brought forth.—( Haar.)
I read lately in the public papers the speech of Mr. Gillon,
the Member for Falkirk burghs. Ile says that the counties
of Scotland swarmed with fictitious votes to such an ex-
tent that corruption now existed there to as great an ex-
teat as it did before the passing of the Reform Bill.
(Hear.) Why not put down this immorality ?—(lleara e,
hear.) I suppose you know: 1241:h tit4,ratk .
.:4
on the Tory side.; and; if the immorality in Ireland nerd
ten times that amount, and it tended to uphold Toryism,
you never would have heard a word of disfranchisement.—
( Hear.) Why, I ask, do they not attack the immerelity
that coerces a tenan•ry to vote against their conscience?—
(Hear.) That is the immorality I would put dawn. I
would put down the immorality that would make a man
starve or else degrade himself beneath the level of a beast.
—(Hear.) Let us put down this ieminorality—Seotch im-
morality—lrish immorality—in high places; but let us
not inalle an allegation of immorality against the
poor man, and make that an excuse to trempie on
his dearest rights and deprive him of his franchise. 1 at-
tend here at some inconvenience; fur myself I live no-
thing to fear, 1 have nothing to hope, I have nothing to
gain.—(Cheers.) Belonging as I do to the faveured
class, I thought it ungenerous, even at. what -vet- imenive- •
nience to myself, I say I thought, as a Protestant, it everuld
be ungenerous in me to hold back on the present (meals on,.
and not lend my aid whenever the rights and liberties of.
my poor and Catholic fellow-countrymen were attacked.—
( Hear, bear.) The Hun. Baronet concluded by proposing
the resolution, which was seconded by Mr. M'rre i, of
the county of Longford, and adopted.
The Hon. Colonel WESTF.NRA, M. P., proposed f eat
resolution, reprobating Lord Staeley's attempt to ars-
', franchise the Irish people.
Mr. LETHBRIDGE (son of Sir Thomas Lethbridge) se-
conded the resolution. In reference to the question of re-
peal, he said that he could not see the objection which
many did to the measure Mr. O'Connell was now agitating
in this country.--(The most uproarious cheering followed
this dcciara:ion, and continued for some minutes.) Not
only did he see no objection to it, but as far as God had
given bins the power of observation, ie was calculated to
do good, and to serve England as well as Ireland ; while,
instead of causing separation, it would more closey unite
the two countries.
Time meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. Thomp-
son Tennent, Mr. Peter Purcell, Mr. O'Connell, Mr.
Halchell, Q. C., Mr. H. Grattan, M P., Mr. Prerse Ma-
hony, Sir Percy Nugent, and others, and did nut term..
nate until a quarter past seven o'clock
The remaining resolutions read at the meeting were as
follow :
" That we stand pledged to the adoption of every con-
stitutional means in our power to secure a just and equit-
able extension of the elective franchise in Ireland upon as
liberal and extended a principle as is now or may be here-
after established for England or Scotland.
" That we, the Reformers of Ireland, sincerely desirous
of correcting those evils which have been produced by the
present faulty laws of registration and election, and of
promoting such a Bill as rosy both secure the free exercise
of existing rights and extend their basis, do hereby express
our deep abhorrence of the measure proposed in the last
Session of Parliament by Lord Stanley, the effect of which
would be to reduce the franchise within the narrowest li-
mits, by opposing a multiplicity of vexatious obstacles to
its attainment.
" That the principle of enfranchisement laid down and
adopted by the Reform Act lips failed, after a full period
of eight years' trial, to establish an electoral body in this
country proportionate to its wealth, its wants, and its
resources. That we, therefore, call upon the Irish people
to join with the Reformers of Great Britain in socking for
a more simple and extended basis for the franchise,
whereby property and numbers may be duly represented ,
and the electors protected in time legi:irnate exercise of
his right, from the attacks of those who now seek to des-
troy it.

" That the system of ree.istry or enrolment of electors,
also c:;t:lblished by the Reform Act, is vexatious, hara,sing,
and oppressive, and subjects the claimant to unjust and
unconstitutiomil el:Maui:les in asserting his rights We
titer efore are of opinion that a more practical and easy
system shoulp be adopted, whereby the right of voting
should, without difli,:ulty or trouble to the elector, be con-
ferred upon hint, to be exercised afterwards at hi. °An dis-
cretion.
" That the safety and advantage of extended franchise
for the people being fully aecer ;lined by experience of the
past, we invite the Reformers of the empire at large to a
united and uncompromising effort by all legal and consti-
tutional means, to extend our exi..sting frAnebises, and to
facilitate their attainment.
" That we congratulate the Reformers of the empire on
the fortunate and cordial unanimity of all sections of Re-
formers in Ireland upon this occasion—a unanimity which
warrants a sanguine hope of continued national cxcr.ion ler
national ol:jce!s.
" That, in pursuance of these our sentiments and deter-
minaticns as now expressed and declared, we call upon
every class and denomination of the Reformers of Ireland
to come forward and aid with purse and person, and by
every means in their power, the struggle for that equality
with England and Scotland without which it is vain to el-
pect general and enduring contentment.
" That her Majesty's present Government being, as we
believe, sincerely desirous to sustain the rights, and to ex-
tend, as we confidently hope, the franchise of Irishmen,
are entitled to our confidence and support.
f• That we join our fellow-subjects of this great empire
in loyal and affectionate congratulations to our beloved
Queen and her illustrious consort on the birth of the
Princess Roya:, affording, as this happy event does, the
trope that a race of Sovereigns would be continued to this
country, educated us our beloved Queen has been—and
therefore disposed to advance and protect the interests
and rights of Ireland ; and that the address now read be
presented to her Majesty and Prince Albert by our Noble
Chairman.

SWITZERLAND.

The state of Switzerland continues unsatisfactory. We
have already announced that disturbances had taken place .
at So!cure, and that about thirty persons had been arrested:
in that town, as also at 13alstal and (Men. The He!vale
de 1840 of the 12th states that M. Scherer, the principal '
editor of the Sentinelle du Jura, had been taken into cus-
,`
tody, and aM. Gugger. It seems that troubles had also
brok, n out in the canton of Argau. The Paris Constitu-
tionn4 of Friday has a Berne letter of the 11th, asserting 1!
that the insurrectional movements in the cantons of '.
Argovia and Solcure have arisen fromagathiteisviteuittnhhiaodntbo.ifrtwelti,alt
are called the Papistical and Aristocratical par.ics against
the Liberal party. The Argauvian Government bad sent
an express to the Vorort, which had assembled and de-
spatched reinforcements to the scene of action. Gulignani
says :-
6:
Government Another account
Argau,state 2 ,thatthesoo st r
ot troops under
had
marchedder or d e Tr,
Into
the insurgent districts (those of Muri and 13}
crermgarten,
t I rebels
where the Catholics had taken arms
con-
stitution), and had come to an engagement ,
near Wohlen. The latter are stated toi
hadw ic:a%lll'eadd outni only
killed, and the Gover:mentßefornrcees
. Ni-obien. The Prefect and all
wounded, took possession of
sthuer
officersgents obattalions,
was expected that
marched four two companies of
ro of
forcedpoliee
thoadoe,.i titer been imapiruilsoanerslibuyadtrh,:n iro..k.
troops, and had .
~,,
caraninehersd, four,,
is The cantons of Zurich and Basle/
cavalry, upon Argau...
riday last, in its
country a
• would break out in the canton ul
disturbances sbeaatttearsiessistoatncaert.itieriy;
Lucerne."
~ c hronique de la Quinzaine," has the following key to
The Revue des Deus Alondes of F
the agitation existing in Switzerland :.....
.. Fresh disturbances have been on the point of break-
ing out in Switzerliaid, in the canton of Solcure, Switzer-
land, with her old federal organisation, is like a river when
its dikes have not been repaired for some length of time.
The water escapes on all sides, sometimes oy one gap
and sometimes by another. P • antics are daring enough for
anything, because they do not feel that there is above them
a strong and regular central authority. The Federal Direc-
tarN is compelled to intervene as it can. It maintains public
order by coups d'etat. It saves the old federal constitution
by violating it. The power of Switzerland is vested entirely
in her customs and usages, in the family organisation and
that of the commune. Her strength consists in the vices
which she does not possess. Being disjointed, democratic, and
dispossessed of great towns, great properties, and large for-
tune, she knows not the value of greet personal influence.
Ile who can agitate his commune is unknown at two leagues
from his sphere of action ;
it would be perfectly ridicu-
Lrs f )1, him to try to make his influence to be felt at a
greater distance, than the shadow of the belfry at liil vil-
lage. Such a disjoiature of everything is intended with
scri,ua inconvenience, which nothing car, completely rut.-
tily. It has also its advantages. The evil is propagated
with quite as much d•tliculty as the good ; everything is
local, even the spirit ut insurrection and revolt. The re
have been twenty revolutions in Switzerland since 1830;.
and
yet it cannot be said that Switzerland has been revolu-
Conised. The Federal Directory is at present at Berne.
M. iCeolians, the President, is an enligleened man, as he
possesses a resolute spirit. The canton of Berne is, by its
population and resources, the first of Switzerland. The
fallen aristocracy would choose a lend moment if it dreamt
of a coaator-rovolutiou at the present time."
)
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