The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-13 00:00:00

NATIONAL REFORM UNION.

,The following appeared in our late edition of Saturday.)
A deputation, numbering about 200 persons,
waited upon Mr. Gladstone, at his residence,
Carlton-house-terrace, this afternoon, for the pur-
pose of laying before the right hon. gentleman the
views of the Union at the present moment, and
also for the presentation of a large number of ad-
dresses from the various branches of the Union in
the North of England.
Amongst the members of Parliament accompany-
ing the deputation were Mr. Bright, Mr. Hadfield,
Mr. Ayrton, Mr. Fawcett, Mr. Gilpin, Mr. Foster,
Mr. Potter, Mr. Bazley, Mr. Stansfield, and Sir J.
Gray.
Mr. WILSON, of Manchester, president of the
Reform Union, introduced the deputation, which
he said represented 300 branches of that associa-
tion, the objects of which were to obtain a mea-
sure founded on household suffrage, a lodger
franchise, a redistribution of seats, with
a due consideration for population and pro-
perty, the ballot, and the shortening the
duration of Parliament. The deputation wished to
cnivey to the right hon. gentleman their great
satisfaction at the noble stand he had made in their
behalf, and their earnest wish that he would still
continue to urge their cause, and that in
any steps that he might take for the future to
assure him that he would receive the support of the
great majority of the people of the United Kingdom.
The addresses from Leeds,
.Preston, Rochdale,
Blackburn, Stockport, Longton, and a number of
other places, having been presented,
Mr. GLADSTONE said the great disappointment
that he felt at what had happened in the House of
Commons was more than amply compensated by the
addresses and assurances of support that every
post brought from all parts of the country. The
Government had succeeded in carrying the material
portions of the Reform Bill, although he had au
one time thought it impossible for the house to
have rejected the amendment of Mr. Hibbert. He
could assure the deputation that he still was deter-
minedly averse to the principle of personal rating,
and that, on that ground alone, he for one refused
and rejected the bill, and he hoped the country
would use every constitutional measure to get rid of
it. He was sure the bill could not be for a moment
be looked upon as a settlement of the question, and
that instead of resting from their labours they
were only entering into a newstruggle, and that they
would not rest satisfied until they obtained a popular
measure of Reform ,f ounded on solid principles. `What
he advised was that every effort should be used to
strike at the odious principle of the measure. He
was sure it would altogether fail as a bill, and
he for one refused to acknowledge it as
The, measure was founded on a delusive
,oundation. It might as well enact that men with
one leg only should have a vote, as to provide that
every working man should only be admitted to the
franchise who should consent to alter the tenure
upon which he held his house. It was
a pretended enfranchisement and nothing more.
He had attempted to propose a £5 line, but
that had gone, and could not be revived. In deal-
ing with the question for the future he reserved to
himself perfect liberty, taking the best advice he
could before he committed himself to anything. He
should still continue his efforts to secure for those
whom they represented their undoubted right, and
he doubted not that everything perfect a com-
plete triumph would crown their efforts.
Mr. BRIGHT, in obedience to loud calls, addressed
a few observations to the deputation. He said he
thought it yet possible if meetings were to be held
petitions, it was not yet too late to in,
all over the country, and the house inlkunedtaht
ei edbwllitah
great and good measure.
don of Mr. Bright, and then withdrew, raising
fr.
The deputation said they would adopt thesugigoeusd-
and hearty cheering for • Gladstone as he
quitted the room.

one,