The Sun.
London, England, 1867-06-04 00:00:00

LONDON AND WESTMINSTER WORKING
MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

Last evening a public meeting was held at the
Pimlico Literary Institution, Warwick-street, for
the purpose of inaugurating the London and West-
minster Working Men's Constitutional Association,
which has for its object the uniting the friends of
constitutional principles in resisting the encroach-
ments of democracy on the prerogative of the
Crown and the privileges of the people, and to re-
turn to Parliament such members as represent these
principles.

The meeting was presided over by Mr. William
Henry Smith, the president of the association, who
was accompanied on the platform by Colonel Hogg,
M.P., Mr. Powell, NI.P., Mr. Garth, M.P., Mr. R.
N. Fowler, Dr. Worthington, &c. There was also
present a deputation from the Manchester Consti-
tutional Association, consiiting of Mr. Ambrose,
Dr. Boyle, Mr. W. E. Slater, and Mr. H. Chad-
wick.

The CIIAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said
that the principles on which the association had
been established were those of the Constitution
itself under which this country had flourished
and prospered until it bad attained a pitch of
prosperity to which no other country on the face of
the earth could lay claim. (Hear, hear.) He did
not by any means wish to call in question the Con-
stitution or the laws of any other country ; he
wished them all to manage their own affairs ; and
he trusted that they would always permit them to
do so ; but, at the same time, he could not help
thinking and feeling that under the Constitution of
no other country in the world was there so much
real liberty enjoyed as under the Constitution of
England. (Cheers.) Here they had liberty to think
and speak and write to any extent they pleased, so
that they did not interfere with the rights and li-
berties of any other man. Their Constitution gave
freedom to all, and imposed restrictions on none ;
and this association was formed for the purpose of
upholding that Constitution by preventing rash
and unprincipled inroads upon it, and at the same
time introducing from time to time such improve.
ments as the condition of the country and
the state of society required. A considerable
change was being made in it at the present
time, but he had no doubt that such change
would be conducive to the well-being of the
State. But the circumstance of that change taking
place rendered it all the more necessary that such
associations as these should be formed th;oughout
the country, as they would enable all classes to
take counsel together as to the men they ought
to send to represent them in Parliament, and to
deliberate on other matters affecting their inte-
rests as members of a free State. He would not
go the length of saying what was said at a meet-
ing recently held at St. James's Hall, that the
changes now in the course of taking place
would have the effect of raising the working men
up to the rank of the middle class men. There
must always be an honourable working class in the
world ; but labour was honourable, and they would
be ever ready to pay respect to the man who
could give value to that which, without labour,
was altogether valueless. He rejoiced, therefore,
at the promotion of this association and others of
a similar nature throughout the country, and he
had no doubt they would be of the greatest benefit
in,preserving the Constituticn and in protecting
the rights and liberties of the people at large.
Mr. BENNETT then moved a resolution to the
effect that the meeting repudiated the statements
made by certain political agitators, that the work-
ing men of this country were of the same political
opinions as themselves, and that the association
which they bad met to inaugurate deserved the
support of all who were desirous that the present
Conservative Government should remain in power.
Mr. W. CorroN having seconded the resolution,
it was supported by Colonel HooG, M.P.
Mr. AMBROSE, one of the deputation from Man-
chester, also supported the resolution, which was
then put from the chair, and adopted amid loud
cheers, only two hands being held up against it.
Mr. BROOK next moved a resolution iu effect that
the present Government far exceeded their prede-
cessors in the manner in which they conducted all
affairs relating to matters of home, foreign, or
colonial policy. _ _

Mr. IfußnY having seconded the resolution,
i M.P., supported it ; and, on being
put from Pom"th'ELeLch'air, it was adopted unanimouly.
Another resolution was next proposed in the shape
of a vote of thanks to Mr. Disraeli for the able
manner in which he had conducted the Reform Bill
through Parliament.
To this resolution a Mr. PATRICK moved au
amendment to the effect that the meeting had still
every confidence in the Liberal party ; but the
amendment not having found a seconder, fell to the
ground, and the vote of thanks to Mr. Disraeli was
adopted amid much applause.
A deputation was then appointed to wait on the
Earl of Derby and Mr. Disraeli with the resolutions
which had been adopted by the meeting, and the
proceedings terminated with a cordial vote of thanks
to the chairman.