The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-23 00:00:00

gilt HUM, Esq., M. P., then rose amidst great
cheering. The trumpet having sounded to order, the
Honourable Gentleman thus commenced :—Gentlemen—
(Noise)—it is quite impossible that I can express to you
any of those opinions that I entertain, if this, is to be test
manner in which I am received—(Cheers and hisses, and
sense confusion.)
Mr. PITKETIILEY, of Huddersfield, then came forward
and said :—Gentlemen, I entreat the meeting to hear Mr.
Hume, and when he has spoken. then to hear one on the
opposite side of the question. (This speaker was also in-
terrupted by cheer!, groans, catcalls, hooting, and various
discordant noises.)
Mr. COLLINS, of Birmingham, next came forward and
exclaimed :—Are ye men ? I ask the question, are ye
men ? If so, prove it by your conduct.—( Hear, he-.r.)
Listen attentively. It is one. of ;he most important sub-
jects that ever could bring you together. Hear every
speaker.—(Cheers.) By so doing you will afford the best
proof that your arc true patriots and lovers of your country.
—( Applause, followed by comparative silence.)
M-. HI-ME resumed—l hope, Gentlemen, that the ap-
peal which has been made to you will be successful. 1
unsure you that I appear here an old and a tried Reformer
( Hear and applause,succeedcd by groans and hootings from
the Chartists)—one who would not have appeared at this
meeting if I had rot a hope of seeing all classes of Re-
fie- Isere united in furtherance of the great object of Parlia-
menta-y Reform. I have, therefore, been anxious that
every man, whatever opinions he may entertain on this im-
portant question should be fairly and fully heard—( Hear)
—for which ptrpose I have been instrumental in asking
thine gcntlernen (erivecates of universal suffrage) here to
attend, in order that ac might have the benefit of their
opinions; in order that we might express our opinions; and
thus see whether the re is not one common gerwral sill-eject
on which we can agree, in order to obtain for the people
of this country that greet and important elective franchise,
on which the cent of our liberties must ultimately depend.
—( Applause.) Gentlemen, we have one common of ject
in view—good government. We want equal laws and equd
j Eice to all classes of the community. Up to this hour.
we have out enjoyed, we do no,. enjoy, these. We
are met to-day for this object; and I am pleased,
beyond measure, to find that so important a cum-
munity as that of Leeds should set the example of
calling together Reformers of all classes to see whether
there is not one common ground on which we can meet,
and proceed together, until we shall obtain that which
shall give us, I should say, that increased suffrage, so that
every man who pays taxes in this country should be repro-
tented, and should himself vote for his represeutatives._
( Appleuse.) Gentlemen, I have come here for no other
purpose than in the hope that I may be able to assist in
promoting that union amongst Reformers, without which
we must continue to be trampled under foot by the aris-
tocracy who now prey upon ua and the people at large.—
( Noise to the Chairman's right, in one corner of the
meeting.) lam extremely sorry that my friends in that
corner do not observe the extreme hoarseness under which
I labour, and that I can hardly raise my voice sufficiently
to be heard ; and unless they do me the favour of being as
quiet as possible, it will be utterly out of my power to ex-
press my sentiments as lam desirous to do. The Chair-
man has placed in my hands a resolution to lay before you.
To that resolution I hope to find the unanimous concur.,
renco of this meeting ; and I am quite satisfied that
there is not one here, the foremost friend of freedom
amongst you, who is more desirous than myself
to go on rapidly, provided that we go on se-
curely, arid provided we can obtain the great and im-
portant object which we are this day met to promote.--a
(Great applause). I consider the step which the Leeds
Association has taken as one of immense importance,
as a beginning—for it is only a beginning.—( Chartist ap-
plause.) It is as such we meet.—( Considerable sensation.)
I cone, Gentlemen, to call youriattentioa to the circum-
stances under which we meet. Those who have watched
and who have attended to my proceedings for the last ['hilly
years, know that I have never turned my back to the
people's rights; but that I have invariably stood fot ward
to demand for the millions that which they have not the
opportunity by themselves to demand or obtain.—( Ap-
plause and noise.) I shall indeed be obliged to the gen-
tlemen if they will only listen to me. I will be as brief as
possible; but I can assure you I am anxious that'we should
now meet in this immense assembly to consider these mat-
ters ; and I tell you that the eyes of the whole of this
kingdom are upon your proceedings to day, to see if you
should conduct yourselves (as has been properly stated by
Mr. Collins), so as to prove yourselves to be men worthy
of the suffrage.—(Applause.) Na man can be ignorant
of what is unfortunately every minute before our eyes—the
state of difficulty, distress, privation, and want, that covers
the land almost at all quarters. Is it not therefore a fit and
proper question to discuss, while so many men are suffering
when others are at ease ?—( Applause.) But let us all, be we
at ease or be we suffering--let us see if we cannot unite to
go to obtain those advantages and that relief which must
result from good government to the millions who are now
esuffering by what I pronounce to be bad and imperfect
government.—( Cheers.) Such being the case, Gentle-
men, what is it that we have to consider? We have to
consider under what circumstances, living under a repre-
sentative government, we are placed. Are we represented ?
Are the millions represented ? I say no.—( Cheers.) Who
dare deny this ? Who can put his hand to his heart and
say that the millions are represented—that they here a
Voice is the assembly called the Commons House of Par-
liament ? Is it, therefore, too much to ask you to lia-en
for a few moments to one who has now devoied a large
portion of his life to forward those great and mighty ob.
jects ?--(Applause and confusion.) Gentlemen, I repeat
we have but one object—those of us who are sincere R:-
formate have but one object in view ; and there is not one
man in this assembly—there is not one upon that bench
(the one assigned to the advocates of Universal Sat-
frage) beside me here—ardent, however, as they
are of freedom—whom I can allow to hsve an
opinion% more favourable to the mass of the com-
munity than 'myself have.—(Hear, hear, and aprtauee.)
I will now read the resolution which has been put into my
and. than I you wilt allow me, the
mode by which we ought to arrive at the results which this
resolution points to. The resolution is—" That the great
experiment made by means of the Reform Bill, to improve
the condition of the country, had failed to attain the end
desired by the people ; and a further reform having, there-
fore, become necessary, it is the opinion of this meeting
that the urlited efforts of all Reformers ought to be
directed to obtain such a farther enlargement of the fran-
"hise as should make the interests of the representatives
identical with those of the whole country, and by this means
secure a just government for all classes of the people." Is
there one man in this assembly who looks forward to au
honest exercise of the power of the ler), esentative. who can
wish more than that those men who are sent to Parliament
to represent the people in tne House of Commons should
act on feelings identical with the people ; that they should
consider their wishes, wants, and interests, arid make the
measures to which they consent the means of carrying out
those great objects which we are striving for? This i 3 the
resolution which I now am requested to propose. Gen-
ttlemen, we have amide means of discussion here ;
)1 am not afraid of discussion; from discussion the
truth must be elicited,and if there is one question upon which
I place more reliance than another, it is in the justice
of tlie cause. The people donated that they shsll not
have their packets picked by persons riot authorised by
themselves to take money from them ; but on the other
Land they are willing to opt:sent to all taxation deemed
necessary by men enjoying their confidence and esteem.
That is the oilject for which we are now met. 1-lad 1
taken, I will say, not all inactive part in publ.c affairs, pc-r-
-baps there is no man present—l will scarcely make an ex
ception of any man—who has bad such an opportunity of l'er-
etting out and exposing the misconduct of past Governments,
and shooing the teanner in which the public have hereto-
:tore been plundered.—(Loud applause.) No man has
sendeavoured to do this mere than myself (standing singly,
Centlemenefor I belong to re party, or, if there is Pay
party to which I belong, it is the party of the people) ;
-.seeking justice for the weak, wbo cannot command it for
themselves; while, unfortunately, the rich protect them-
selves; and I trust you will give me credence that,
throughout, my motives have been such—(Hear, hear)
—and my conduct to the end of my days will show
that I have no other object in view. I think it is
of importance that we should understand the grounds on
which we go. I am one of those who have supported a
Literal Government, because I expected that they would
ileel liberally towards the people ; I was one of those who
laled the Reform Bill, when all classes of Raw-ours
joined, and, by a mighty effort, consummated that reform.
Whildid Ido so? Because, having acted with men who
prof ed to be Inc friends of freedom, 1 had every reason
to expect that they would exercise the power which they
bed obtained by the union of Reformers of every grade, so
as to exert it fur the benefit of those who bad placed them
in power. I regret to say that I have been disappointed ;
and I stn quite prepared to concur with the meeting here,
that the results expected from the Reform Bill have alto-
gether heen fruitless.—( Hear, hear.) That good must
be done no man will deny; but that all the good we are
entitled to has been cone, few will be bold enough to say,
sir in tir's respect to differ from what the resolution states.
Hear, hear.) I wish you would allow me to state what
the Reform Bill promised. Few people are aware what
it ready did promise, And what d d those who brought
in the Bill state that it should do ? lam one of those
who heard the whole proceedings, who attended the House
throughout these proceedings, and who were glad to
support this measure of reform, but who only took that
which was then given as a portion of that which we were
.entitled to receive ; declaring, as I did on the instant, in
lily place in the House of Commons, that while I acceded
to those reforms which were propose d to be carried out by
that Bill, if it did not answer the purpose of giving good
government to the people, I should consider myself war-
ranted to move again for such further reformations as the
wants and wishes of the people required.—( Hear, hear.)
I shall not trouble you with many extracts, but there are
two observations of two men amongst the authors of the
Reform Bill, that I think I am entitled to state to you, in
order that you may see whether the events and results pre-
dicted and promised by them have been obtained ; and if
not, may then consider whether the whole country is not
.called upon to join us in our efforts, and to continue to aid and
peomete those effortsetill those benefits which were then pro-
mised them shall be obtained. Lord J. Ruseell, on asking for
leave to introduce the Reform Bill is the House of Com-

roo', what was his statement? says—" The ancient
constitution of our country declares that no man shall be
taxed for the support of the State who has not consented,

by himself or his representative, to thtitiposition of taxes ?"
Is there anLman here who Oenies that proposition ? No;
When he brought in the Bill, what was his state-

went ?—( A voice, " Speak up.") If Gentlemen will be
silent, I will do my best to be heard, and I can do no
wore. Oa tha Ath of June, 1831, Lord John Russell,
in introducing the Reform Bill, said, " I propose a Re-
form in Parliament, to put an end to the nomination of

..the representatives of the people. I propose that they
isicsould send into this House their real representatives ;
they shall have in fact that which at present exists only in
theory ; I promise you that laws shall no longer be passed
for the benefit of governments, classes, or interests."
Gentlemen, what more would the most ardent Reformer

wish ? lie further promised—" We will identify this
MUM with tho people of the
,three kingdoms, and that
wo will eitend to this great, powerful, and enlightened
people, the tight of having their legitimate representa•