The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-24 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING IN LEEDS.

L A public meeting of the electors and non-electors
• of Leeds was held on Wednesday morning, in the
Town Hall, Leeds. About I,oooversons were pre-
; sent. The meeting was called in accordance with
a requisition, signed by 626 electors, for the purpose
of considering the propriety of expressing their
-opinions on the desirableness of reform in the
representation of the people in the House of Com-
mons, and of petitioning Parliament in favour of
such rcfbrm. The mayor (Sir P. Fairbairn) pre-
sided, and was supported by the leading members
of the Reform Registration Association and a large
body of the requisitionists. Being in the position of
returning officer for the borough, he felt a delicacy
in giving an opinion on the question under consi-
deration, because there would doubtless be a new
Parliament called during the ensuing year ; and he
thought he should best discharge his duty, and ?most
conscientiously, by abstaining from discussing the
subject. His worship then read a letter from the
Right Hon. M. T. Baines. The communication,
dated from Lancaster, said that the hon. member
was glad to see that the Mayor had been requested
to call a meeting by a requisition so numerously
and respectably signed. It then added—" I hope
you will permit me to express through you my
hearty concurrence in the object of this meeting.
The question of Parliamentary Reform is one which
must receive the earliest consideration of the House
of Commons. Two bills have becu already- announced
and there may possibly be others. I presume these
bills will be laid on the tables of the house imme-
diately, and consequently every member will have
the opportunity of examining them, and of judging
which bill is most deserving of the approbation of
the Legislature. I can assure you that my own
judgment will be fairly and conscientiously formed.
(Hear.) In the meanwhile, I shall consider it a
great. advantage to know the views of my contitu-
cuts with regard to the principles on which a new
Reform Bill should be framed ; and I need not
assure you that I shall consider these views as
entitled to my most earnest and respectful
attention. I will only say at present as to the
principal question—that of the franchise—that I re-
tain the opinion I generally and repeatedly ex-
pressed at the last election. There ought to be a
large and liberal extension of the franchise. It is
now more than a quarter of a century since the
last Reform Bill was passed. Within that interval
the progress of the people in knowledge has been
wonderful and unprecedented. The franchise then
given would be inferior, in my opinion, to what
might now be safely granted, and be granted also
with great advantage. (Hear.) Actin; upon this
view, I supported, last session, the bill of Mr.
Locke King, and also a bill for the extension of the
county franchise in Scotland. It is unfortunate,
though true, that notwithstanding all the efforts
made in progressive education and otherwise, there
still remains a largo class of our population who
are lamentably ignorant. On this ground I can-
not support universal suffrage. There are other
points to whieh it may be desirable to direct the
attention of the legislature, and I now have to
repeat that I shall be happy to know the views of
my constituents on the various points connected
with this important question, and I will thank you
(the mayor) to communicate to me a copy of the
resolutions passed and the petition adopted." Scmo
discussion took place as to the propriety of adjourn-
ing the meeting until the evening, for the conveni-
ence of the working classes, who could not attend
in any numbers a morning meeting. This was
agreed to, and last evening was fixed for the pur-
pose.

2HE GALWAY AND AMERICAN LINE
OF PACKETS.

DUBLIN, THURSDAY EVENING.
The Freeman of this evening contains a most
hamoupslee
threispaoraty, offor
athe meeting
purpose hoefl ds e
eaut
rthl
postal facilitiesTbh eetwe e
ngAinfacriestilosend
Qll this country and America Galway, meeting was one of the most
influential that has b
It represented been held lure for a long period.
and classes of the com-
mercial
community. The Right Hon. the Lord
Mayor presided,
and the meeting was addressed at
considerable length in support of the several reso-
lutions by Lord Talbot de Malahide, Mr. Codd,
Mr. Ennis, M.P., Mr. Grogan, Mr. Vance,
M.P., and Mr. Hatchet!, M.P. Mr. J. 0. Lever,
in obedience to the unanimous wish of the assembly,
also addressed the meeting. The resolutions, which
were passed without dissent, went to express the
necessity that exists for increased postal facilities,
the great advantage which the Galway route pos-
sesses for such, and the thanks of the meeting to
Mr. Lever for the enterprise and energy he has
displayed in getting up this line. It was also re-
solved to forward memorials to the Lord-Lieutenat t
and the Irish peers and parliamentary representa-
tives for their co-operation in the movement. Sir
James Power, Bart., Jonathan Pim, and John
Jameson were appointed secretaries to carry out
the object of the meeting.