The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-16 00:00:00

THE CONSPIRACY BILE.

Last evening a very crowded public meeting was
held at the Freemasons' Tavern to pro Fest against
the bill introduced by Lord Palmerston on the
iubject of conspiraoSt to murdir. The assemblage
was a-mixed one—a number of -those present being
foreigners of various nations. Mr. A. B. Richards
was called to the chair. •
Letters were read from Sir Da Lacy Evans,
U.P., Mr. W. J. Fox, Mr. Wyld, M.P,,
ttoupell, M.P., Mr. Cox, M.P., Mr. '&1101481d,
M.P., Mr. O. Gilpin, M. P., r. Bright, M.P.,
'dr. Bright, M.P., Mr. White, M.P., Mr. Cob-
,en, and other gentlemen, expressing their in-
.bility to attend, but their hearty concurrence in
:he object of the meeting.
Sir De Lacy Evans says :—" The question is
not one to be briefly treated. I shall confine
myself at present with stating thot the deport-
ment of our- gowrnmeut. in the transactions has
Jecasioned me the deepest regret and pain."
Mr. Bright says go heartily with the op-
position to the Conspiracy:Bill. lam very anxious,
'iowever, that any opposition to it should be con-
,lucted so as not needlessly to cause irritation be-
tween this country and the people or the Govern-
ment of France. Our business is simply with
our own Government. We have to condemn
them for a total want of dignity in this matter,
tor their shrinking from the duty of giving a
proper and respectful but firm reply to the French
lespatch, and because they have brought forward
a bill which can have no influence in adding to
the security of Emperor of the French, or of any
ther person, and can only be pointed t) as a
hasty and humiliating concession to a hasty and
needless demand. We have for years past been
judging the governments of other nations, it is
now time for us to examine the condition of our
own."

The CHAIRMAN said they were met that night to
exercise the privilege at present possessed by Eng-
shmen, of speaking their mind—(bear, hear)—
but how long they would be allowed to exercise
such a privilege it rested with Englishmen them-
selves to determine, by the expressions of feeling
they gave utterance to at such demonstrations as
that. He wished, at the outset, to state that that
meeting was a purely and thoroughly English nv-et-
lug, and not in any way in favour of any conspiracy,
or of any refugees, beyond the desire of ace( rding
to the latter those rights which, as Englishmen, we
have ever thought fit to confer upon them. (Cheers.)
He believed that none pie'sent had any sympathy
with assassination. The- measure now before the
country was one involving the most pernicious con-
,equences, and which, if passed into. law, would
render the life—or rather (for they knew what im-
prisonment by a despotic government was) would
render the liberty of every man in this country
.n-ecure.- (Cheers.) It had been suddenly brought
before them by intimidation, and as it were upon
compulsion. We might disguise the fact as much
as we liked, but there was no doubt but that act
was attempted to.be passed in consequenC:, of the
threats and menaces, of the French government. It
admitted of.no sophistry. It would, not do to say,
" The act itself is good." The reply to that was,
" We will inquire into it at leisure, but at this

moment such an act was _most insulting "and de-
grading to the coun'ry." There was no occaPion
whatever for such a measure,- and he looked upon
it as part of the despotism which is BJ insidiously
being enforced upon us. (Hear.) With regard

o the menaces thst he had referred. to, and Which
appeared in the French official organ, the Montteur,
they had never been denied in the Moniteur. It
eas stated that an apology had been made by the
FrenchEresperor. That apol gy, if they could so call
it, had been sent to this country, but had never
been printed in the French papers—(hear, hear)—
and while that state of things existed, be contended
that it was most inopportune to give the measure
the least consideration. It had been said that the
articles were inserted accidentally ; but it appeared
that they were inserted on successive days and
even after the apology was made, another insulting
menace appeared from one of these French colonels.
They had not, in Lord Palmerston, as English
minister. (Hear, hear.) He might be blustering,
bullying, or trafficking—(hear, hear)—but when it
came to the point, he was found, rs far as any act
goes towards establishing despotism, to be craving
and conniving. (Cheers.) He considered that the
legislation of this country had tended towards that
point for sometime past. (Hear, hear.) The cry
of the Government was more power to the police.
In Lord Campbell's act, the Lodging-House Act,
and others of a similar character, the object had
been to enable the police to institute domiciliary
visits, and to turn their bulls-eyes upon men and
women sleeping in their homes—(shame)—and that
was the motive of the proposed measure. What
was the reason for the recent menaces of France
being bowed to at this moment ? Was it from
connivance or was it from feat ? If from fear, what
should they say of the minister who had left the
country in such a state ? But he thought there was
uo occasion for fear at all. (Hear, bear.) In con-
clusion, he again declared his belief that this act
was part of a great despotic system traced in the
influences that surround the court, in the conduct
of the minister, in the conduct of the cabinet, and
everything they do. (Cheers.) That was the key
to those insults which our Government has so far
submitted to on the part of the French. He hoped
such meetings as that would be held throughout
the country, and awaken an expression of feeling
which would not only overthrow this, but prevent
any similar attempt for the future.
Mr. LATIRENCH in moving the first resolution,
protested strongly against any legislation at the in-
stigation of a foreign despotism. He hoped, how-
ever, that there yet remained a feeling of national
honour sufficiently strong to oppose successfully
any such attempt as the present to infringe the
rights and liberties which had ever been the boast
of Englishmen. (Hear.) He concluded by moving,
That any alteration of the laws of England under
the menacing dictation of a foreign power is calcu-
lsted to endanger the national character and inde-
pendence." (Applause.)
Dr. SEXTON seeonded the resolution. Ho said,
let them snow Lord Palmerston that Englishmen
were resolved to endure him no longer, and that
the Government of the nation Must be placed in
the bands of those who would be more jealous of
the nation's honour and the people's rights.
Mr. ERNEST JONES rose to address the meeting
in sup ),:)rt 'Of the motion amidst great applause.
The qusstion for consideration was—first, is such a
measure as the one proposed necessary or not ; and
secondly, under what circumstances is that measure
endeavoured to be forced upon us ? (Hear, hoar.)
The now Alien Bill had not yet passed, and yet
they found a reward of 2001. promised for the arrest
of one man, the house of another searched at mid-
night, and a third bad been arrested in broad day,
in the midst of London, on suspicion of being con-
cerned in conspiracy. (Cries of " Shame.") If
these things could be done under the present law,
he contended it was manifest that no stronger law
was necessary. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BARE, amidst some confusion, proposed an
" addendum" to the resolution, as follows :
" In the opinion of this meeting Englishmen
ought always to countenance all lawful demands
made at the hands of a Power iu unity with them."
(Groans.) The propbssr attempted to address the
meeting, but the feeling was so strong against him
that he could not s.btain a hearing.
The resolution was then put and carried amidst
tremendous applause.
Mr. W. WILKES moved the second resolution,
" That, fur this bill, and other acts both at home
and abroad, this meeting declares Lord Palmerston
and his colleagues to be unworthy of the confidence
of the country." (Applause.) It had been nobly
said by Lord J. Russell that he would be ashamed
and humiliated at the thought of voting for this bill.
(Hear, hear.) Lord John Russell was at least an
Englishman • he remembered at least that he has
had an ancestry—that, moreover, he may have a
posterity ; and ha hoped that his ancient name, so
entwined with the, ancient glory of England, would
have a bright place in the history to come. (Hear,
hear.) But, for himself, he said he was ashamed
of the possibility of such a measure ever being pro-
posed, and still more so of the Parliament which
s,
would uphold a. Minister who could bring it for-
ward or give it; his sanction. (Hear, hear.) He
called upon them in the name of liberty, and tf the
fallen nation of
Europe, to do their utmost both