The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-22 00:00:00

PAR, lAMENTABY REFORM.

MEETING AT HUDDERSFIELD.
On Wednesday evening a well attended meeting
of the inhabis ants of Huddersfield was held in the
Philosophical-hall convened by Joseph Shaw, Eeq.,
chief constable, in compliance with a requisition,
signed by 480 magistrates, merchants, manu-
facturers, tradesmen, and others, to consider the
question of parliamentary reform.
The CHIEF CONSTABLE, having opened the pro-
ceedings, said he did not remember any requisition
so numerously and influentially signed having been
got up in Huddersfield during a residence of forty
years in the borough. He read a letter from Mr.
Akroyd, M.P., in which that gentleman stated, in
a manner too abrupt and curt, without giving his
constituents any sort of reason, that he was unable
to attend the meeting. (This announcement oc-
casioned some expressions of dissatisfaction in the
meeting.)
Mr. C. H. JONES moved the first resolution :
"That this meeting, coinciding with her Majesty's
the
representation of the people,
government as to the necessity of amending
is of opinion that the
franchise in boroughs &•oeld in extended to every
male l'rsen of fall age an I no sutiset, to any legal
incat acity, who shall occupy
as wiier or tenant
any premises within a borough which are rated to
the relief of the poor." He declared fr ankle that
he was not afraid of an extended s'lffi age' as laid
down in that resolution.
(Applause.) It was
precisely the same suffrage as now ex's' ecl for elec-
tion to municipal offices ; and if it were safe to elect
the cowmen council of a horoughby such a stiff. age,
surely it was equally safe for the election of mem-
bers of parliament. He confessed that he had more
confidence in the poorest working man in that as-
sembly—sober, honest, and prudent—and the con-
sequences that would flow from his vote, than he had
in the peraons who wattlel attempt to corrupt such a
man. They had had e little of that in Hudderefield , as
he could hear testimony. He had been to parliament
as a petitioner against certain individual., for doing
certain things. He had ben behind the scenes ;
and if he were to unfold the budget, altheugh they
bad heard a good deal that was black and d irk, yet
he could tell them far more than they at present
kue tv—he could tell them that these parties had
sp- nt thousands of pounds in corrupting persoes ;
that he and his friends had spent thousands • f pounds
to upset their proce, dings ; and he could tell them
further, that all the d bti were paid. (Hear, hear.)
With regard to the resolution which he had the
honour to propose, it was right he should explain
that it would be followed by a resolution in favour
of what ought to accompany
any extension of the
franchise—the ballot. (Loud cheers.) Give him
that suffrage, and give him the ballot with it, and
he had no fear whatever of
evil consequences aris-
ing. (Hear.) He was ready to admit that mis-
takes would continue to be made even when they
had a reform bill upon this besis•, that a time might
come when working classes would be so prosperous
as to be indifferent to political matters, and allow
other people to do fur them what they ought to do
for themselves. He could also conceive that there
might be times of great distress, when the working
classes would go to the other extreme, and elect
idtu were
ce as a consequence,
demagogues, whose only qualification would be the
extent of the noise they made. Both those things
might occur, and in each a mistake would be made.
But both these things occurred now. (Cheers.)
What was occurring round them at the present day?
Did they not find all sorts of sham men put up—
(renewedcheering)—and
returned, a
misrepresented (Vehement cheering.) There was
edertihneg)c-0
nasitt
danger in each case ; but of tee two he would choose
the least, and that would be that every honest,
every independent man, should have a vote, and
the ability and protection to exercise it to the best
advantage.
Mr. W. CROSSLAND said that Mr. Jones' resolu-
tion spoke of a tenant. Did it include a man who
was part tenant?
Mr. JONES replied that the resolution certainly
meant that a man who was on the rate-book should
have the fr inchise, whether he was occupier of the
whole or part of premises.
Mr. GEORGE BARKER seconded the resolution in
a speech of some length, in the course of which he
said that he thought that the time had arrived
when the middle and the working classes should
uuiie for the great object of procuring an adequate
measure of parliamentary reforin—(applause)--
which would leaf on to good government. (Re-
newed cheers.) Did any one there think that if
they had possessed such a franchise at the last elec-
tion as was proposed by the resolution, Mr. Cob-
den would have been defeated at Huddeisfield 1
(Loud cries of " No, no," and cheers.) After
their present member, to Mr. Ackroyd's disadvan-
tage, he expressed his belief that there were +et,
many lawyers and military mon in Parliament.
(Hear.) Mr. Barker next alluded to the enurtuous
expenditure of public money, and the facility with
which the House of Counno ,s voted away initnetspie
sums—ooni resting the readiness with which 40,00 W.
and 8,0001. a year were voted for the Princess
Royal's dowry, with the niggardly refusal to con-
tinue to pay 15s. per week to the workmen in the
dockyards, on the plea that it could not he afforded.
He found, upon looking at the financial accounts
furnished to Parliament, that 2,000,000/. were set
set down for miscellaneous. What did that mean I
Was it secret service money used at the last election
for turning out such men as Cobden, Bright, and
Milner Gibson, and putting in their place Govern-
ment hangers on. (Hear, hear.) Thanks, how-
ever, to Birmingham, Ashton, and other boroughs,
Messrs. Bright, Milner Gibson, and Fox, and
other real friends of the people and the country's
advancement, were resuming their proper places
in Parliament, there to fight the battle of the
People. (Applause.) He urged the working classes
to be up and doing ; for if they allowed the pre-
sent opportunity to go by, it would probably he
ae
many years before it ain occurred. (Hear, hear.)
Ministers were pledged to introduce a Reform Bill,
and if the middle and working classes would unite,
they might secure a good sysf7era of representation,
and be able to send a man to Parliament who would
look after their interests. He implored the work-
ing classes to strive earnestly for the franchise ;
and,
as a first step, advised them to avoid the
"..lerrY shops," which, he said, did more than any-
thing else to defeat the man of the people at the
last election. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
Mr. War. CROSSLAND
franchise,
oposed his amendment in
. rating
favour of a 5/ or the possession of
100/. a-year.
Mr. D. GLEDHILL ridiculed Mr. Crossland's
ideas of the franchise, and amidst much laughter
asked how many of Mr. Crossland's workmen pos-
sessed 100/. a-year
The amendment fell to the ground for want of a
seconder, and the resolution carried with only
was
two dissentients.
Mr. BOOTllROYDconsidering
"That proposed,
the great and increasing evils which attend the pre-
sent system of open voting—considering that in
msny cases bribery, intimidation, and other illegal
and unfair influences are made to overbear the
honest expression of the opinions and convictions
of electors—and considering also the satisfaction
which the adoption of the ballot has given to the
parties in our Australian colonies, this meeting is
of opinion that the ballot is absolutely indispen-
sable to any measure of reform deserving of the sup-
port of the country." Owing to the non-protection
of the voter by the ballot, the popular candidate
had never been sent from Huddersfield but once,
and then Lord Gederich was returned. (hislord-
ship's name was received with vociferous cheering.)
Mr. J. RRODES, in seconding the motion said
that an extension of the franchise was no boon to
the working men without the protection of the
ballot. (Cheers.)
The third resoluti
son, moved by Mr. JOSIPH
WOODUEA.D, was—" That iu the opinion of this
meeting there should be such a re-apportionment
of seats as shall make such an approach to an
equalisation of constituencies as shall give in the
United Kingdom a majority of members to a majo-
rity of electors." In a forcible speech he gave a
number of statistics, showing the anomalies exist-
ing in the present system of representation.
The fourth resolution was this :—" That this
meeting considers the duration of Parliament
should not exceed three 3 ears ; and that the Scotch
law, which requires no property qualification for
members of Parliament, should be extended to the
United Kingdom."
On the motion of Mr. W. WlLLass, a petition to
Parliament in favour of these measures was adopt-
ed. Mr. Willans lamented the absence from that
meeting of some old reformers and spoke of those
who, in 1832, shouted for the Reform Bill, but still
remained outside the charmed circle of the fran-
chise. Could, be asked, any mars who had ob-
tained the franchise by the aid of the working
classes refuse to extend the privilege and return
the service so willingly rendered ? The admission
of the working classes within the pale of the con-
stitution tended to the security and consolidation
of the whole nation. He advocated the extension
of the franchise upon general grounds, and argued
that it was the interest and duty of Government to
concede reform to a quiet, and not leave it to be
extorted by an excited Poople. He read a letter
from Mr. Cobden, who argued at length the ques-
tion of giving the working classes a share in the
government of the country, and said that the work-
ing men's voices had been raised on every great 0e-