The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-11 00:00:00

MR. TV. WILLIAMS AND HIS CWVSTITUENTS

Last night, at the invitation of Mr. Williams, M.P. for
Lambeth, a number of his constituents met him at the
Lecture-hall, in order to hear from the hon. gentleman an
account of his Parliamentary conduct during the past ses-
sion. Mr. Williams, on entering the hall, accompanied by
many of his leading supporters, was received with loud
cheering. •
Mr. F. DOULTON, who presided, observed that although
all the constituents of Mr. Williams might not approve
every vote be had given, he was sure they would all feel
thankful to their hon. representative for affording them
the opportunity of meeting him on that occasion, and of
ascertaining his opinions upon the subjects which were
likely to be brought before Parliament during the ensuing
session, while they were enabled to express their views
candidly and openly upon any public questions in which
they were interested.
Ur. WerseieMs said he had invited his constituents to
meet him in order that, if they thought fit, they might
have an opportunity of demanding any explanation of his
conduct, as their representative during the last session of
Parliament. He might state that he had attended in his
place in the House of Commons every day and every night
throughout the session, without a single exception. During
the last session Parliament had done less than during
any session since the passing of the Reform Act to meet
the wants and wishes of the people. The session, however,
had not been a very short one, for it lasted exactly six
months; but many measures which had led to protracted
discussions had been introduced without any real intention
on the part of their promoters to enrol them on the sta-
tute-beok. During the early part of the session the Go-
vernment were occupied in the negotiations for peace, and
as the sympathies of both houses of Parliament! were with
them very little business was done; but peace was con-
cluded on the 30th of March, before the time when the
work of the session ordinarily commenced. The negotia-
tions, therefore, had not prevented either the Government
or individual members of the House of Commons from pro•
posing important measures of reform; but there had been
a disposition to procrastinate and to consume time without
effecting these legislative improvements which were de-
manded by the country. Peace had, undoubtedly, been
regarded by all as a most desirable object, and it was a
great blessing; but in his opinion there was great cause
for dissatisfaction with the peace which had been obtained
by the sacrifice in two years of 00,000,0001., and by the
sacrifice also of the finest army that had ever left the I
shores of England, not in conflict with the enemy, but
through the gross and shameful mismanagement of the G,.-
verninent at house, and of the officers who had been ap-
pointed by Vast Government to command abroad. (Cheers.)
He would, however, do her Majesty's Government thejus-
tice to soy, that he believed the decision of the questions
which were the subject of negotiation did not rest entirely
with them, but that the Government of France had much
to du with the abandonment of those important de-
mands which, iu his opinion, ought to have been made
conditions of peace. The armies 311 fleets of Franco ane
England were no sooner withdrawn from the territory and
coasts of Rustic than she repudiated sonic of the more im-
portant conditions of the peace. Another Congress was
consequently to be held. Some people were apprehensive
that fresh hostilities might take place, but Russia had not
money to go to war with—(hear, hear) —and, although he
had no doubt there would be a good deal of talk, he hoped
that a settlement would be effected in accordance with the
principles formerly laid down by her Majesty's Govern-
ment. (Cheers.) Some 12J acts had received the assent or
the Legislature during the last session, but there were few
of them in which his constituents would feel muchiuterest.
Among those acts was one important immure—the Joint
Stuck Companies Act —which established the principle of
limited liability, and enabled persons of small capital to
embark in business without risking more thau the sum
they actually subscribed. (Hear, hear.) Some of jectionable
measures were thrown out, while other objectionable
measures were passed, and a great deal of mischief was done
by the rejection by the House of Lords of important bills
which had received the assent of the House of Commons.
Among these was the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill, which
was intended to remedy the notorious defects of the House
of Lords as a court of appeal. Another measure, relating to
a subject in which the great macs of the industrious classes
felt deg) interest, was thrown out. The Government
brought in a bill for the removal of the National Gallery,
upon which enormous sums had been expended, from Tra-
falgar-square to Kensington-gore. (Hear.) That project
wan promoted by Prince Albert and his party in the Court
—(hear, and cheers)—it was supported by the Government
and all their. tools, and it was also supported by the Oppo-
sition, headed by Mr. bierieelitand ,iii,h}ltagols- (cheers
and laughter)—but the independent members were too
strong even for that combination, and the gill was thrown
out. (Renewed cheers.) If the bill had been carried it
would have led to an enormous outlay of the public money
and to the entire exclusion of the great body of the
people from the gallery containing those treasures of art
which were the property of the nation, for a man would
lose nearly the whole day in walking from Lambeth to the
proposed site at Kensington-gore and back again. (Cheers.)
Few persons besides those who kept carriages, or who
could afford to pay for vehicles, would, therefore, have
been enabled to visit the Gallery. Ho was sorry to sey
that there was a strong desire, which was increasing year
by yeer, among the aristocratic class, to keep the people
at as great a distance from them as possible, and to de-
prive them of enjoyments to which they were entitled.
The Kensington-gore job was one of the grossest of which
he had ever heard. 347,0001. had already been spent in
the purchase of land, and, although he had made inquiries
of the Government, they would not say what further
amount they meant to
.expend. He could, however, as-
sure his constituents that he would oppose the scheme to
the very utmost of his power. (Cheers.) The removal of
the Gallery was defended on the ground that in Trafalgar-
square the pictures were injured by smoke ; but experi-
ments had been made by Professor Faraday and other
tacnhae
eioeirsttasi,mwl
yh, who
edreinnige d
at hgar
et a
tsmokepolt
iaoffne cot
fe affected
ht
eh e
ypeiacr-
et
umriense ,n•
tinheTrerawfaaisgeo.qs.emiui:re. (Cheers
hsmokeht liimd laughter.)ensington- The Housereastherew oas
f,
Lords struck out of tke Cambridge University Bill a clause
inserted in the House of Commons, admitting Dissenters to
the University, and giving them important privileges
(cries of "Shame !")—and their lordships also threw out a
bill which had passed the House of Commons for admitting
Jews to seats in that House. (Hear, hear.) Several im-
portant clauses were struck out of the Metropolis Local
Management Bill in the House of Lords, and he had
voted for disagreeing with the Lords' amendments. The '
most objectionable measure passed during the last
session was, in his opinion, the Counties and Boroughs
Police Bill, which rendered the establishment of a. police
force compulsory, and conferred upon the Home Secretary
the power of making such regulations for the government
of the police as in point of fact gave him the entire control
of that force; but the measure encountered so much oppo-
sition that Sir G. Grey withdrew some of the more objec-
tionable clauses. He (Mr. Williams) thought this was a
movement which ought to be cautiously watched, or they
mighthave such a police as now existed in France, in Aus-
tria, abd in Naples. (Cheers.) After the bill was passed the
reason of its proposal became known. The Government was
about to concentrate the army, which was now scattered
over the country in great camps at Aldershot, Shorncliffe, I
the Curragh of Kildare, and other places, where, in imita-
tion of the plan pursued by continental despots, the sol-
diers would be kept entirely from contact with the people.
No less than 1,600,0001. had been voted during the last two
years-for building barracks and huts for the soldiers in
those great camps, and it was stated that accommodation
eves to be provided at Aldershot for from 30,000 to
40,000 men. A splendid pavilion had been erected for the
Qteen in the midst of that great camp (laughter)--
aed her Majesty had remained there with her Court for
days and nights, entertaining the officers at dinner,
and inspecting the soldiers on parade. A few weeks ago
lie saw an account in the public newspapers of her Majesty
having gone down to the Pavilion, and having witnessed
in the camp a theatrical performance, the players being
officers of the different regiments. This he thought was a
novel course to be pursued by a Sovereign of England.
Last year upwards of 40,000 men—soldiers of the line and
militia, including artillery, cavalry, and infantry—were
stationed at Aldershot, and the Government obtained a
vote from the House of Commons of 7,3001. to pay the
Hampshire and Surrey police for taking care of these
40,000 soldiers. (Laughter.) It was reported, and he was
sorry to say with some foundation, that the Government
intended to saddle the country with a much larger army
than had formerly
been maintained in a time of peace.
(A Veice—" We wont have it.") (Cheers.) That would
depend upon the people, (Cheers.)raeraeyrd to the discipline and
was
ewtaost
as al
liyd
itnheamt
ewi
ehnetn
the late war broke out the ,
and so it was, except with g
bravery of the soldiers, who saved the credit and honour
of the country when the officearea
said
dne were incapable of
discharging their duty. It w
placed in a more efficient state, but
he ventured
army would be
unfortunate to assert
te army,
itnhvaotivifedthiins
wcoeurnwtriythsihnofiuvledybeoetefromthis
time enough to be
as far as the officers were concerned,
wouldm be me hfoundt just
aristocratic
as unprepared for war as it was at this
omen
whole management would fall into incompetent and
its
hands. After referring to the necessity for a
consolidation
of the statute law, and the reformation or abolition of the
ecclesiastical courts, and complaining of the wasteful expen-
diture of,public money by Governments, Mr. Williams
said
he would only refer to one more subject;--tile iricoeue tax.
He had always regarded the assessments of the profits of
trades and professions at the same rate with landed property
as unjust, and he had during the last session voted for the