The Sun.
London, England, 1858-02-04 00:00:00

F•EBRUARY -4, 1. 58.

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Lion. The third propoaitin fi in your list adopts this
principle, and I only dwell upon it because I know
that Reformers are too much accustomed to look
upon the suffrage as if it were the all important,
or the only important point in their creed.
" With regard to the ballot it is worthy of remark
that no meeting has been held for many years in
favour of Reform at which the ballot has not been
strongly insisted on. If Reform is to be granted to
gratify and content Reformers ; if their judgment
and unanimity are sufficient to justify or to force
its concession, then, surely, the ballot can net be
denied to us, and I feel certain it will not long Le
refused. The ballot is not so much a principle as a
convenience. It does not bestow the franchise ; it
only guarantees that which the law has already con-
fen ed. A voter goes to the poll in a cab because it is
easier and sometimes safer for him than to struggle
through an excited crowd on foot ; why should he
not be allowed to vote by ballot, to shelter him from
the more serious annoyance he may be, and is now,
often subjected to, from the importunity,or threats,
of his landlord, his creditor, or his customer ?
" When the 200 men now in the House of Com-
mons who are pledged to support the ballet, or when
100 of them, or when 5G of them are iu earnest, and
tell the Government they are resolved to have it,
and that they will leave any Government that will
not grant it in the hands of the Philistines on the
opposite side of the house—then, and probably not
till then, the ballot will be conceded. I dread to
think of the consequences of a wide extension of
the suffrage in our manufacturing districts should
it be obtained without the ballot. It will tempt
employers of labour to a hateful tyranny, and it
will doom multitudes of the employed, I fear, to a
not less hateful condition of political degradation.
" I write this letter chiefly that I may warn you
against the pitfalls that are in your path. Your
cause is not in the hands of friens. Your forces
in the Parliamentary field are commanded by men
taken from, or chosen by, your constant and natu-
ral opponents ; and they lead them, not for your
purposes, but for their own. I beseech you to watch
well what is proposed and what is done. Be the
measure great or small, lot it be honest in every
part. Include as many as you can in the tight of
the franchise. Insist upon much a distribution of
seats as shall give the House of Commons fairly to
the industry, the property, the intelligence, and the
population of the country. Demand the ballot as
the undeniable right of every man who is called to
the poll ; and take special care that the whole
constitutional rule and principle by which majori-
ties alone shall decide in Parliamentary elections
shall riot be violated.
" I give my hearty support, as I have heretofore
done, to the propositions contained in your circu-
lar. I lament that I cannot join you in your meet-
ing to-morrow, for I esteem it a great honour to be
permitted to act with the inhabitants of Birming-
ham ou that question which a quarter of a century
ago they did so much to advance, and on which
their potent voice is once more about to be heard.
" I am very sincerely yours,
"JOHN BRIGHT.
"To George Edmonds, Esq., Birmingham."
The rea.dine of the letter was followed by great
cheering, and Mr. Edmonds' call for " three cheers
for John Bright" was heartily and with a good will
responded to. Mr. Edmonds afterwards read a
letter fr. Mr. Joseph Sturg-, excusing his absence,
but catreeying his pleasure to find the people of Bir-
mingham again moving in the cause of obtaining
for non-electors their political right, and his un-
changed conviction of the right of every man to a
vote in the selection of those who made the laws he
was bound to obey. (Cheers.)
Mr. EDMONDS afterwards proceeded to say that
it now became his duty to fulfil the task imposed on
him of aoving the first resolution. It was to the
following effect :—" That, in the opinion of this
meeting, the time has arrived when a large and
liberal measure of reform should be conceded by the
legislature, in which the claims of the industrial
population should be prominently recognised. That
patient, temperate, and wise conduct of the people
proves them capable of using the franchise so as to
advance the general welfare of the nation, and
greatly augment the security of the State ; and this
meeting, therefore, declares that no refortn will be
efficient or satisfactory, unless it shall include :-
1. Tne extension of the borough franchise in Eng-
land and Wales to ' every male person of full age
and not subject to any legal incapacity,' who shall
occupy, as owner or tenant, in part or in whole,
any premises within the borough. The extension
of the county franchise in England and Wales to
all 101. occupiers at least. The assimilation as far
as possible of the franchise in Scotland and Ireland
to those of England and Wales. 2. Protection to
voters by ballot, on a plan similar to that adopted
in the Australian colonies. 3. A re-appoiritment
of seats that shall make such an approach to an
equalisation of constituencies as shall give in the
lanitedKiugdom a majority of members to a majority
of electors. 4. Abolition of property qualification
for members. 5. The calling of a new Parliament
every three years," (Loud cheers.) With respect
to Mr. Bright's letter, he said he could not allow
it to pass without saying that a more clear-sighted
document he had never read. It brought More
them the greatest point that could possibly engage
their attention—he meant the insisting upon such
a redistribution of seats as should correspond with
the numbers that formed the constituencies. Upon
this great question he would read to them a statis-
t tical statement which they could rely upon. He
found that seven boronghs—namely, Chippenbarn,
Marlborough, Richmond, linaremboreugh, Har-
wich, Deptford, and :Tavistock, which comprised
2,000 voters, returned no less than 14 members to
Parliament, whilst Manchester, Liverpool, Bir-
mingham, and Bristol, containing altogether 45,000
electors, only sent eight.
(Shame:) This showed
the unjust operation of the present system. (Re tr.)
What was thi use of giving the suffrage to these
45,000, when in fact, it they deducted 12,000 who
sent 14 members, there would be loft 33,000 prac-
tically and entirely unenfranchised ; for, although
they appeared to exercise the elec•orel right, the
utmost they could do was to return eight members,
to be outvoted by the 14 members sew by the 2,000.
(Cheers.) Did not that demonstrate the absurdity
of an extension of suffrage, without insisting on a
redistribution of electoral districts. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Edmohds then quoted from a speesh made by
Lord J. Russell in 1832, which, he said, went to
prove that in proportion as the constituencies are
nurner tus the members sent by those constituen-
cies were proportionately economical and protective
of the interest of the people ; and added that he
brought this to their notice as affording another
argument as to the overwhelming importance of a
re-adjustment of the constituencies. (Cheers.)
After also referring to a passage in Mr. Cobden s
letter to Mr. Williams, in which that gentleman
combatted the notion that if the whole of the rate-
payers were admitted to the franchise the country
would be subjected to "the Lyrae ny of the million,'
he concluded by c tiling upon themen of Birmingham
to adopt the same policy they did in supportitig the
old Reform Bid, namely, whilst claiming what was
their right, to throw aside petty personalities, and
to take care, as they did tinder the wholesome ad-
vice of Thomas Attweod, to insist only upon what
was legal and peaceful, the Government would yield
to the omnipotent voice of the people. (Cheers.)
Thauk God we had a free press, and the press and
the people, if they were unanimous, firm, and
peaceful, might do all they chose to attempt, and
he wished them success in their present movement.
Mr. J. A. LANGFORD seconded the resolution,
He observed that it had b?en with much propriety
arranged that old Birmingham should move thefirst
resolution on that occasion, and he supposed it had
been thought right that young Birmingham should
follow. (A. laugh.) However that might be, ono
thing was very certain, it was an answer to those
who said that England did not want reform.
(Hear.) It might seem strange that at this time of
day they should be found supporting a programme
of reform such as that embodied in the resolution,
but it was the character of the English nation that
they never made leaps and starts—they went on
gradually step by step, holding their way inch by
inch, and never retrograding. (Cheers.) The Re-
form Bill was a step, and they had never gone lank
from it. (Hear.) Had it not been for the Reform
Bill they never would have got the repeal of the
corn laws, nor of the Teat Acts, nor a free press,
nor would Birmingham have had a representative.
(Hear, hear.) These were things worth working
for, though it was now found that more was re-
quired. Still let them advance by degrees, and if
the new programme now submitted did not go far
enough to please them all, let them not forget the
past, but accept it as as an instalment, and then go
ler afartlier one at soiue fut ni e time. (Loud cheers.)
On this ground he should advise that, if Lord Pal-
merstou's promised bill was not so comprehensive
as they could n 9 sir,—if it embrace I any fresh ele-
ments of reform—let them he content with it for
the Present. LA them set a definite ohje,:t before
thew, and let not their efforts relax until they a•-•
tamed it ; and though they might rerhaps succeed
only by degrees, the end would be at last achieved.
(Cheers.) Having commented upon the different
clauses of the programing., he said there was
enough in it to unite them on the grand quest ion
of reform. Ile ureed the reformers of the town to
be unanimous, as any difference would bo taken
advantage of to withhold even a measure of conces-
sion ; and concluded by expressing his conviction
that if they peisisted firmly and unitedly iu de-
manding what was embodied in the resolution, they
should succeed. - (Loud cheers.)
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD. M.P., who was greeted with
three times three and prolonged acclamation, said
the subject calling them together that evening was
one of deep importance to the political interests of
Birmingham and other large towns iu the kingdm.

If they had any expectation that Lord Palmerston
wa s about to introduce an efficient Reform Bill
there might be some reason for waiting for that bill
to come; but those who anticipated that Lord Pa!-
mentors would bring forward such a measure would
he thought, find themselves greatly mistaken.
(Cheers.) Mr. Bright, in the admirable letter
which they had just heard read, did notdeem it at all
impossible that Lord Palmerston might propose a
large addition to thefranchise. He(Mr.Scholefielcl)
confessed he did not share ill any such anticipation.
He did not believe that either Lord Palmerston or
Lord John Russell were prepared to make any
very large addition to the franchise, and be
therefore thought it of the utmost importance
that they should meet to lay down some principles
on which they considered a new reform bill ought
to be based. At the same time he would repeat
what he had before said, and what bad been urged
with great force and clearness by Mr. Langford,
that in proposing this large measure of reform,
which they considered should be the standard of a
new hill, he was not prepared to say he would abide
by that or nothing, but if he could get a good mea-
sure of reform short of this he would accept it grate-
fully, and would, with their kind assistance, exert
himself afterwards to get more. (Cheers.) He did
not know that he need enlarge materially on the
subject calling them together that evening, for they
had heard in the first place the admirable letter of
Mr. Bright, and the excellent addresses of Mr.
Edmonds and Mr. Langford, and they had gone
over the ground so completely that little was left
for him to add. Thirteen years ago he told them
what his political opinions were on the various
points referred to in the resolution • and be stood
there now with those opinions en.irly unchanged,
and he said this despite that which might in the mind
(.f some men less attached to reform have shaken
their convictions. Some recent experience he had
had in the United States. There he found that a want
of a well regulated system of registration, a loose
mode of administering the law of elections, and a
loose method of taking the votes, had led to a state
of things as, he confessed, was conducive neither to the
character or dignity of the American people ; and
he for ono would not exchange the liberty we en-
joyed in this country, imperfect as it was, for the
much vaunted and superficial liberty of the United
State. He firmly believed we bad one great ad-
vantage over America—perfect freedom of opinion.
Af regarded the first point referred to in the pro-
gramme—the extension of the franchise—he need
not say it had his entire concurrence. It was pre-
cisely the shape in which Mr. Sturge advocated re-
form many years ago. He never doubted that it
was the proper basis of the franchise, and although
he would takeless, he would never do less than con-
tend for that. With regard to the assimilation as
far as possible of the Scotch and Irish franchises to
those of England and Wales, he knew that the effects
of the 40a freehold movement originated by their
friend Mr. Jas. Taylor, had in this country been
great and important, and when it had been proposed
to him in the last session of Parliament to lend his
name to a similar movement in Scotland and Ire-
land, he readily concurred. And now, with refer-
ence to the protection of the voter by the ballot, he
had always been favourable to it; and whenever the
question had been brought before Parliament he
had always voted in its favour, and always should.
But as he had told them before, he could not regard
the vote by ballot as that large and important
question which some reformers thought it, with
the present restricted right of voting for mem-
bers of Parliament. But give him a large extension
of the franchise, and there would be no firmer sup-
porter of the ballot than he would be. As regarded
the appointment of seats, that had been so well
argued by Mr. Bright, and illustrated by Mr. Ed-
monds, as to leave him but little to say, more than
that he was decidedly in favour of such a step.
With regard to property qualification, he quite
agreed with the remarks of Mr. Langford, wh pre-
ceded. At the same time let him (Mr. Scholefield)
assure them that the property qualification was a
mere sham, for there was no man in that assembly
who, if he were put forward as a candidate for Bir-
mingham, could not obtain a property qualification
to-morrow. It was the easiest thing in the world
for a man who had not sixpence of his own to ob.
tain a qualification by having one lent hoe.
(Laughter.) And though this step might deter an
upright
and conscientious man, it never kept back
an unconscientious one. Moreover, in Scotland
there was no property qualification, and there could
not possibly be men sent to Parliament more inte:-
lectuelly or socially qualified than those members
who came from Scotland. (Applause.) He had now
come to the last proposition, viz., the duration of
Parliaments. He had never advocated shorter Par-
liaments than three years; for his own conviction
was, that if they were to elect a man every year,
they would have representatives who would not
know their duty. The year was not sufficient to
enable a man to become sufficiently acquainted with
the routine of thehouse. If they could note lect men
whom they could trust for 3 years it was a poor
case, and he must say their choice was very limited.
In conclusion, he said that neither he nor Mr.
Bright would ever shrink from an avowal of opinion
vvlich they knew the people of Birmingham had
adopted, and which they believed the people would
permanently stand upon. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. BEDDOWS also spoke in support of the reso-
lution. He was extremely gratified to see so large
a number of his fellow-townsmen there that even-
ing. It showed that the mon of Birmingham had
not 1 st the love of reform, but were still prepared
to advocate it fully and to its proper degree. The
proposition before them contained all that they
could desire. If there was one thing more than
another that they should strive after, it was the
reconstitution of the House of Commons. (Cheers.)
When the people neglected their duty the House of
Commons grew rampant, and hence it was neces-
sary for the people to be always on their guard. In
speaking of the ill-adjustment of rewards, the
speaker said he would be the last to deny rewards
to such men as General Havelock, and the other
gallant men who had fought and saved India to
this nation. But ho would sleny any reward to
those men who had -only family connections to
recommend them. After an allusion to the manner
in which petitions, dec., were treated by Lord Pal-
merston and the House of Commons, he hoped the
vote of the meeting would be one ungy and not
disunion, and that no man would come forward
with any single ideas regarding different degrees of
suffrage, for the great question of union ; and he
trusted they would not be bothered with amend-
ments upon a question which the good sense of
every man there would tell him was properly and
fully treated in the resolution. (Applause.) He
would, in conclusion, put it to the good sense of
the meeting, if the bads proposed was not one
which would meet all classes--the higher as well
as the lower.
The MAYOR then put the resolution, and it was
carried.
Mr. J. S. WRIGHT, in a forcible speech, moved
the next resolution :—" That a petition to the
House of Commons be signed by the Mayor, on
behalf of the meeting, and that our borough mem-
bers be requested to present the same, and support
the prayer thereof." Mr. Wright then read thin
petition, which was based upon the resolutions. He
was favourable to manhood suffrage, but thought
the most direct means of, obtaining it was by the
course they had adopted. He neat remarked upon
the re-distribution of the seas, and said that if
Birmingham had the number of members her popu-
lation entitled her to, she would have six r.lpre-
sentatives. After some re:narks upon the general
necessity for an earnest and willing exertion by the
people themselves in the cause of reform, Mr.
Wright concluded .by proposing the resolution,
amidst loud chews.
Mr. MOCARDIE seconded the resolution.
An amendment was moved in favour of " man-
hood suffrage," but it was not seconded.
Mr. Alderman BALDWIN deprecated any division.
He (Alderman Baldwin) had before now said that
he did not believe Palmerston to be an honest politi-
cian, but at that time Mr. Scholefield thought dif-
ferently. (Hear.) If gentlemen like Mr. Schole-
field gave way in the slightest degree they, would
never carry, the measure they wanted. (Hear.)
He (Ur. Beldwiu) had always been, and was still;
an advocate for the charter, but be knew that a
largo nuruber of people throughout the country
would be satisfied if they got the measure pro-
pounded that evening. (Cheers.) He hoped,
therefore, the chartists would join heartily in at-
tempting to get it.

Mr. JAMES TAYLor. denied that any genthmea
had ben in favour the charier. No ono had
spoken in favour of annual parliaments, or p Ay.
meta of In,unb,rs. (Hear.) Mr. Hayward mid
the measure now proposed wa not extensive enough.
Why it would take in 32,000 of the 40,000 adults
of BirminOta,m. (Cheers.) What was the Lond
of those • Frpetqal amendoients ? Were they any
ncarr.r the ()Latter than thoy were 1.5 years ago ?
Palmerstnn was one of the greatest hutnbug3 of the
present day, and they need only expect Dona him
as much reform as he was compelled to give in
obnlienee to the will of the nation. (Moore.)
The resolution was carried.
The.procoodings concluded with a vote of thanks
to the Ma} or.

POLYTEOEINIC.—The approact.isig solar eclipse fur-
nishes Mr. Pepper an opportunity of explaining in a
very interesting lecture the leading phenomena of the
solar system, which he also illustrated by a number of
admirable dissolving views. The subject is one that
admits cf being well treated i❑ this wanner ; and Mr.
Pepper's astronomical lecture will no doubt at this
juncture prove a considerable addition to tLe attractions
of the establishment.