The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-14 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM REFORMERS' UNION.

A meeting of the supporters of the new reform move-
ment was held at Birmingham, in the Public-office, on
Tuesday evening. Mr. George Edmonds, the Clerk of
the Peace, presided.
The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, traced his
own career in connexion with parliamentary reform, and
said he did not repent one atom of the part be had borne
throughout. He observed that the Reform Bill of 1832
had inserted the thin end of the wedge, and if they
exerted themselves now they would most assuredly
succeed in driving the wedge home. He had always
been a❑ advocate for the widest possible extension of the
suffrage, but at the same time he counselled them, if they
could not at once get al they were desirous of obtaining
to accept with thankfulness such concession as might be
made to them. He considered the present was a parti-
cularly favourable time for a reform agitation, and what
he advised was, that their efforts should be combined,
and that they should be as unanimous as possible in the
demand they made, in order that the government might
be compelled to introduce as liberal a measure as they
could possibly expect from them. Whilst he thought the
dignity of a man entitled him to a vote, and much as he
should like to see it conferred upon every one of them,
he thought that an equitable distribution of the electoral
districts was far more important. (Hear.)
Mr. J. S. WRIGNT thousht the time had now come
when, if they were all united, they might obtain a very
wide extension of the suffrage. It all depended upon
the demand which the people were prepared to make,
1 and it only required earnestness and determination to
obtain all they desired. (Cheers.) There were 25,000
working men in Birmingham who were entitled to a
vote, but who were deprived of it under the existing
state of things. Many of those were as well able to exer-
cise the franchise as he was. After some remarks upon
the laxity of the present representative system, and the
evils that followed, not the least of them being the great
patronage improperly exercised by the Government, Mr.
Wright said they could not hope for improvement in
this respect until they obtained a wide extension of the
suffrage ; and if they succeeded as far as he trusted they
might, and as they might if they would only exert them
selves, they should some day wonder how such a state
of corruption had been end tired. (Hear.) Let them not
be led away by the Syron voioe of Lord Palmerston. (A
laugh.) Let them not depend upon an Educational
Franchise Bill, or auy specious promise of the kind ;
but keep their eyes and ears open and be cautious.
Every man must enrol' himself in the new Reformers'
Union. Each one of them must give time and money in
due proportion. Let them deny themselves a couple of
pints of ale a week in support of the cause ; and it they
did not choose to do this, they diet not deserve an exten-

aimere 'Union is established, pledge tleemsizAses to give it
meeting, lof the u
having s if g
i aheea; d lie
the
basis therefore
uponin owvhe idch ' t‘ eh aRt Ref this-
or
their earnest support." (Cheers.)
Mr. WALKER seconded the proposition.
Mr. J. P. HOPPS supported ile and in doing so took
occasion to express his belief, OM-the first clause of the
basis of the union would extend the franchise as far as
any of them could wish to see it.
waTehmeieCtere stet! de
meaninghe
of h
thei s f ri
firsten de
litelere. 0 He
fo pt
the
proposed scheme of reform, and explained that the real
object of it was to extend the franchise to every occupier
In"asANto
in part or whole of premises rated to the relief of the
poor, whether the rate was paid directly, or, by means
of the compounding clauses, through the landlord.
Mr. RADFORD condemned the injustice of the rate-
paying clauses, and advocated the redistribution of
electoral districts. Though as warm and thorough a
chartist, he said, as ever, he was disposed to go heartily
with the present movement, and he hoped all his fellow
working men would take the same view. (Cheers.)
Councillor J. TAYLOR, in an able address, contended
that under the first clause of the scheme, any working
man who occupied as lodger any part of premises rated
to the relief of the por—and what premises were not I
—would be entitled to a vote. He had been confirmed
in this interpretation of the clause by a member of the
executive in London. who had been visiting him ;
and if
this definition were correct, was there any member of the
chartist body who would not support it. (Cheers.)
Mr. Taylor maintained, with much spirit, that if this
proposition would enfranchise from 23,000 to 25,000 of
their fellow-townsmen, they ehoutd throw aside all old
differences, and give a
"long pull, and a strong pull, and
a pull altogether," to convert it into law. (Cuero.)
He ridiculed the idea that the Premier would introduce
any bill that could commend itself to their acceptance.
Mr. Taylor closed his remarks by appealing to the
working men of all shades of opinion to unite in a
common effort to obtain an object which would promote
the benefit, liberty, and happiness of all. (Cheers.)
Mr. BEDDOWS, who followed, hoed that every one
present would give a tangible proof of its adherence to
the principles on which they
unani-
mous, by taking tickets of membership, which had been
provided for the purpose.
ing would be held next week,
The resolution was then put from the chair, and was
carried by a loud shout ~ " •There were only 3
of Aye.
or 4 dissentients.
Mr. WRIGHT
RIGHT afterwards intimated that another meet
would be
appeareda
that
t stepsto b e so
taken to call an aggregate meeting at the Town-hall
prior to the meeting of parliament, at which both the
borough members would be invited to attend.