The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-17 00:00:00

GRAVESEND.

Last evening a crowded and highly influential
public meeting of the inhabitants of the borough of
Gravesend was held at the Literary Institution,
Harmer-street, for the purpose of expressing an
opinion on the merits of the Government Reform
Bill. On the platform, in addition to three of the
borough magistrates and several members of the
corporation, were Messrs. C. W. Martin and J.
Whatman, the members for West Kent, who were
received with loud applause. R. Oakes, Esq., was
unanimously called to the chair, and commenced
the proceedings by observing that a meeting had
recently been held to petition Parliament to confer
the Parliamentary franchise upon the borough of
Gravesefid, and this boon was yielded by the
Government bill. As a sincere reformer, much as
he desired to see Gravesend enfranchised, he would
not accept the bill, because it contained this provi-
sion, as he believed that it was a sham, and
unworthy of the support of the reform party. Dr.
Hyde Clark moved the following resolution :
" That the bill introduced by the Government into
the House of Commons disappoints the just expec-
tations of the country that a large portion of the
working classes should be admitted to the enjoy-
ment of the franchise, and while recognising the
claims of Gravesend to be constituted a Parliamentary,
borough it disfranchises more than 400 freehold
county voters resident within the borough, admits
as voters for the borough any number of non-
resident freeholders without requirin g their presence
even at the polling-booth, and by not extinguish-
ing any of the existing sniall boroughs it confers
on Gravesend, with its 16,000 inhabitants, only the
same privilege as that which is retained for thir-
teen English towns having each less than 5,000
inhabitants. For these reasons, this meeting is of
opinion that the bill should be rejected at its second
reading." After entering into detail upon the
various items of the bill, the speaker observed it
was perfectly evident that it was framed with a
view to add to the conservative interest, and whilst
it pretended to give the franchise to large numbers,
it practically curtailed the operation of the suffrage,
and entirely ignored the political rights of the
working classes. The Rev. E. Pryce seconded the
motion, and remarked that only one thing could be
done with the bill. It was too bad to be considered
in detail, and should be rejected on its second read-
ing. He believed the county members present
were prepared to adopt this course ; and if it re-
sulted in a change of ministry the country might
obtain a comprehensive measure of reform.
Whether Lord John Russell would accept the
reins of Government, or Lord Palmerston, would
soon be seen. In his opinion Lord John Russell
was the man for the coming crisis. (Cries of " No,
no," and cheers.) He believed that Lord John was
earnest on the subject of reform, and if he was well
watched—(laughter)—would present a reform bill
acceptable to the nation. At all events, let the next
ministry have the same chance as the present, and
if they deceived the country :they must go out of
office too. My. C. W. Martin, M.P., and Mr
Whatman, M.P., both addressed the meeting, and