The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-14 00:00:00

. . . _
The MAYOR (Mr. Charles Atkinson) occupied the
chair. In commencing the proceedings he said,—
Gentlemen, I have the honour to introduce to you
our respected members, John Arthur Roebuck and
George Hadfield, who will address you on the pre-'
sent state of political affairs, and, I have not the
slightast doubt, much valuable information will be
elicited, that will lead to measures of an important
nature during the ensuing session of Parliament.
(Hear, hear.) I have to request that you will give
that patient attention which the interest and merit
of the several subjects reqiiire. Withoiit saying
Ty more I will introduce to you Mr. Roebuck, who
will speak for himself. (Cheers.)
1 Mr. ROEBUCK, on rising to address the meeting,
as received with great applause, and when silence
Nias restored he said :—Mr. Mayor,—We are met,
SFr, at present upon a momentous question, and I
think for a most important object. It has been told
u in various ways that her Majesty's present Mini-
sers intend to propound to Parliament a plan for
tie reform of the House of Commons. You, Sir,
have asked
_us
.to come down, as -I suppose, to tell
our views about this proposed reform--=•what we
think it ought.to be, and then to state to you what
afe our opinions with respect to the chance of your
elver getting it. (A, laugh.) Now then, before I pro-
c ed to discuss these two points, .I must beg a calm
a d a favourable consideration, for it so happens, I
b lieve, that I shall say some things that may not
bp palatable to everybody here. (Hear.) It has
always been my custom through life, and I thirik
s with you, to speak out my mind openly. I
hive always thought that the safest policy was
the most honest one. (Hear, hear.). I have
always, when dealing with my fellow-countrymen,
t ld them what my opinions are. If, then, it should
1
s happen that I should say things to-day which
1 ay not be palatable to you all, I cannot help it.
( laugh.) I will tell you what I think.. If you
n't like it I shall be sorry, but I cannot help it.
( laugh.) It has been told to me—l have heard it
s id that my hon. colleague and myself are to come
wn here to take your instructions. Now, that is
tmy opinion. (Hear.) lam here respectfully to
ar anything you can say ; . but when you have
s id your say, it is my own conscience and my own
i tellect that must decide upon my own course of
nduct. With these preliminary remarks I will
woceed at once to speak about the proposed reform.
( ear, hear.) Now, let us at first Understand one
Other about certain great principles; andi when
N e have done that, I take it that the conclusion-We
ay come.to will not be very difficult of deciding,
1, d we shall not have much difference :of opinion.
...' ow, it so happens that most of the means and al):
I liances of life and of happiness depend on labour,
ey are the acquisitions of labour ; but labour is
lain, and every man endeavours as much as pos •
• ble to escape from pain. There are, as regards this
bject, two ways of proceeding—viz., to work for
• ourselves, and obtain for yourselves the means of
life and of happiness • or to force others to work for
you. (A laugh.) And it so happens that it is the
constitution of man, that he will if he can adopt
the latter course. There is in man's heart a desire
tp make others work for him rather than he for
himself. (Hear.) In order to prevent the strong
from oppressing the weak, men have combined to-
gether and delegated a certain degree of power to
others. This power is government. But the very
same peculiarity of the human mind which renders
government necessary, also induces Government to
take the place of the invader, and be itself
the strong oppressing the weak. Therefore
on must have some watchmen to watch -the
ateher. :You must have somebody to protect the
1 eak against the Government: Now, then, comes
tlie great question—hoW shall we attain that
end .? Anbient nations did it _by the people doinr, it.
ations at that time were small—at .east--thole to-
'hich I am now referring. They were usually con-
ned within the walls of the city. The whole people
rtiet together and judged in their united capacity of
the conduct of the Government. But it is clear that
if this were the only means in man's power there
could be no great free state. (Hear, and cries of
'i Adjourn.") I hope you will not stop me now. [A
scene of tremendous uproar took place, a small but
noisy section in the room being resolved not to hear
the lion. member unless themecting were adjourned
to a larger room.]
The MAYOR—I trust you will be silent while the
hon. member is addressing you. (Adjourn, adjourn,
and interruption.)
Mr. RoEnuoKl'll go on when you'll allow me.
(Adjourn, adjourn.)
Mr. Councillor NADIN—I beg to move that we
adjourn to the Townhead-street Temperance-hall.
Mr. Councillor A. BOOTH—I move that we ad-
journ to the Surrey Music-hall. (No, no, and great
noise.) - -
Mr. W. Rtslinn, sen., here rose, and moved that
they remain where they were. (Cheers,' and inter-
ruption.) He proposed that for this simple reason
—that there was not a room in Sheffield that would
accommodate all who' wanted 'to be present, and
therefore Somebody Must be out. Go where they
would there would not be sufficient accommodation
for all, and they would, be no better off even if they
did adjourn.
Mr. ROEBUCK—I am in the hands of the meeting
and will do anything you like. . (Cries of "Go on,"
and " Adjourn.")
The MAYOR—Let us go where we will -not be
placed at a disadvantage. (" There is plenty of room
in the Surrey Music hall ; it will scat about 4,000
persons : let us go there.") .
The MAYOR—I will put the question to you,
whether you will remain here or adjourn?
It was then put to the meeting, and an immense
' majority were for remaining where they were; but
there were still cries of " Adjeurn," and interrup-
tion.
The MAYOR—The majority must carry the day,
and I call upon you to take your seats and remain.
The Mayor here requested Mr. Roebuck to stand
on the table and addre -s the meeting, but,
The Hon. Member objected to this, and replied,
" I can't and I won't." . .. . ...
• Mr. Alderman H. E. HooLE now came forward,
and was greeted with applause. He said—You all
want to hear your members, and they are anxious
for as many to hear them as possibly can. Are
there people outside that want to come in P What
is the state of things outside, because you are not
inconveniently crowded here ?
Mr. Councillor SAUNDERS—There are about 20
people outside.
Alderman H. B. TIOFLE—The members will' ad-
journ, or do anything you wish ; but what is the
use of adjourning if there is room? (" There is 'tom
in the gallery for a hundied people.")
Alderman H. E. HOULE then introduced Mr.
Roebuck to the meeting amid great interruption.
Mr. ROEBUCK—I will put this question to- you,
is there a man in this room who does not hear me ?
You can hear everything I say. Very well, then, if
you will allow me I will to on. (" Go on.") . I
cannot proceed if you talk, and what is more, I
won't. (Laughter and commotion.) When you are
quiet I will go on, but I won't before. (Renewed
uproar.) Be quiet and hear me. If you will be
quiet I will proceed. I was stating—(uproar.) I
shall not proceed while there is a row. (Continued
interruption.) Now, I want to know if you will
allow me to go on, because if you will not I'll take
up my hat and go. (Great uproar.) Mr. Roebuck, I
whose remarks hadbeen utteredwitlimuch warmth,
then took up his hat as if with the intention •of
leaving the room.
The MAYOR interposed, and besought the meet-
ing to give Mr. Roebuck a hearing.
Mr. HARVEY—Don't allow yourmember to retire
from the meeting, and so show your unfitness
for the franchise. (Hear, and hisses.) If Mr. Roebuck
is_to retire, shame to the men who won't hear him !
- Mr. RoEBUCK—Now, sir, I will go on. (Renewed
uproar from the centre of the room, caused by a knot
of men who were intent upon an adjournment.)
The MA-iron—Gentlemen, for goodness' sake be
quiet. (Uproar.) .
Various other attempts were made to restore
order, but all in vain. The weak state of Mr. Roe-
buck's health, the disgrace of refusing to hear him
after he had come all the way from London, were
urged as inducements to silence, but without effect.
Mr. Roebuck then promised to attend another meet-
ing in the evening for those who could not gain
admission into the room, or could not remain with
comfort ; but there were about a dozen or 20 per-
sons in the body of the hall who were determined