The Sun.
London, England, 1832-05-10 00:00:00

IZEFORSI.

NATIONAL POL ITIC A L- UNION.-
An extraordinary meeting of the National` Political
rnion was held last night at Saville-houss, - Leicester-
square, to consider what steps should be pursuid%at the
present crisis. The large room was crowded to a degree
of great inconvenience. The intense anxiety that fills
the middling classes was evidenced by the fact, that
1,200 new members joined this Union last night. The
body of the meeting was composed of decent, well-
dressed tradesmen, and the demeanour of all present indi-
cated the keenest indignation, so that a stranger on first
entering the room might mistake the enthusiasm for
violence; hut their proceedings were conducted with per-
fect order.
Mr. CHURCHILL was called to the Chair.

Mr. Munnty said, that at the last meeting an address
to his Majesty had been ordered to be prepared, humbly
requesting bim to create a sufficient number of Peers.
But it was now no time for idle talk,—they met to do
service to their eountry. He would move that the reso-
lution of the last meeting be erased. This was seconded,
and passed amidst loud acclamations.
The Rev. Mr. Fox, who was received with cheers,
came forward to propose the first resolution—" That the
betrayal of the cause of the people was not attributable to
Lord Grey or his Administration, but to the bass and foul
tre,chery of others."—(Great applause.) He said he came
to address them under circumstances without a parallel in
history. He felt deeply—solemnly—this tremendous
crisis. The question was not about any particular mea-
sure or party, hut whether the community was to enact
laws for the benefit of the community ? The whole prin-
ciple and power of legislation was at stake. It was not a
question about a change of dynasty—(Great cheering)—
but whether the aristocracy which could once change it
were to retain their excessive power for the oppression of
the people,—whether the King's Government was to be
brought into disgrace and peril not paralleled except by
the deposition of James and the execution of Charles.—
(Tremendous cheering.) He had hoped that night to
stand forward and aid in the general expression of loyal
gratitude to the Throne for the noblest °fall conquests,—
the conquest of the rights, liberties, and permanent im-
pravernent of the people, from the hands of a faction. But
they were thrown on their own resources, and there was
nothing for them now, after the resignation of the Mini-
stry, to confide in but their sound and determined prin.
eip'es.—( Hear, hear.) The conduct of the Conservatives,
a. they called themselves, bad been productive of much
good, for it excited reflection, and caused a keen investiga-
tion of the system which produced so many wars, so many
crusades against liberty, and which tended to the utter de-
gradation of character. He trusted all felt the necessity of
pledging themselves on this occasion as became a great and
enlightened people ; but let there berm impotent efforts of
physical force—let them trust to the weight of public
opinion, which would achieve a permanent deliverance for
them and their posterity.--(Cheers.)
Mr. HARRISON having seconded the resolution,
Mr. MURPHY suggested the withdrawal of it, until
the statement of Lord Grey and the Ministry in Parlia-
ment should be known, and the Meeting could pronounce
where the treachery lay. The time for resistance was
come. The taxes were in course of collecting; would the
whole of the people say what be did to the tax-gatherer,
" Until the Reform Bill is a law, one penny of my money
sou shall not have?"—(Cheering and waving of hats for
several minutes, with cries of " Bravo, we will.") They
may carry us into the Exchequer; let them se 1 our goods
and we will pay them a commission for it ; but we will
replevin, and appeal to a jury of our countrymen.—(lm-
mense applause.) Then we will try the question, and see
what twelve Englishmen will say to a brother contending
fur his rights. The House of Commons had declared
not to be the representative of the people, and the
people ought not to ply taxes which were imposed by an
illegal authority.
.11r. Nana' did not disagree with the observations of
t! e 1-st speaker as to the payment of taxes, but he deci-
e!eilly opposed the withdrawal of the resolution. That
very evening Lord Grey said in Parliament that be ten-
shred advice to the King, recommending the creation of
ere, but a patriot King disregarded it. Now be would
ray that the individual, whether man or woman, who
e'ood between Lord Grey and the King, deserved the
block better than any person in history. The resolution
pointed out those on whom the just indignation of the
people ought to fall.
The Rev. Mr. Fox replied to Mr. Murphy, and the
tesolution passed.
Mr. Poss am. moved the next resolution, which recom
mended meetings in every county, town, and parish through
the kingdom, which. by inducing compliance with the
unanimous wishes of the people, might prevent the mis
ehief that would otherwise result from the general in
Jignation. The people were resolved to put an end to a system
wt jell caused thedebt that now weighed on their energies,
which outraged common sense by its gross inconsistency,
and violated so many of the dearest rights of the subject ;
this they were resolved to abolish, though Hell itself were
leagued for its defence.—(Loud cheers.) But they would
use ne swords, nu arms, for that purpose, their weapons
would be their pockets.— (Cries of " Hear.") An old
tietttleman said to him that day, " The Tories will cajole,
—they will make fine offers,—they will say any thing you
please ; but, young man, button up your pocket.--
(Cheets and laughter.) Refuse the pensioners of the pub-
lic,—give nothing to those who, were it not for the peo-
ple, would not be able to buy a quartern loaf. Pursue the
plan which theiVbrnmon.ball of the city of London mean
to do." Let commissioners be vested with the supplies.
It might be illegal to come to a resolution to pay no taxes
in money ; but no law could reach a man's determination,
and let them see who would dare to purchase the goods
distrained thus.—(Cheering, and waving of hats for some

time.)
Mr. WAKEFIELD seconded the resolution. At the Mary-
lebone Refoirn nutting he called William IV. the great
reformer, but he would never do so again until he re-
deemed his character ; he would call him plain Duke of
Clarence, and ;et him have the benefit of that. He was
influenced by the Tories, whose situations gave them access
to him, and by female powers—(Loud cries of " Hear")
—who, if they ever stepped from their domestic sphere,
ought to do au for the purposes of beneficence. As to the
Reverend hypocrites—(Great cheers)—as to those knaves
in lawn, who united with the Waverers to trip up the Mi-
nistry, he would not waste time by descanting on the de-
merits of that mass of iniquity wbich was comprised in
the title of Church militant, and which they were ready
to display in the basest of all crusades,—tbat against the
rights of their fellow-subjects.
The resolution then passed unanimously.
Major REVELL rose to move the adoption of the re-
solution which had been agreed to by the representatives
of 240,000 persons at the east end of the town (though it
was unrepresented in Parliament). It was to this effect—
that a petition be presented, praying that Commissioners
receive the supplies, and that until the Bill pass they be
not managed by the Lords of the Treasury. This admi-
rable resolution was adopted from that passed by the
House of Commons in 1642. The House to•day nerd
not allow one shilling to pass through the hands of the
Treasury Lords and then what would become of the
poor, it,iserable, pauper Peers, who were themselves, he
would stain repeat it, unable to buy a qnartern loal?
(Hear, hear.) Lord Lyndhurst, for instance—(Loud
groans)--who obtained place by his splendid consistency.
might attend as amicus curia in the Exchequer, but it
should be gratis, until Reform was passed. Now he would
tell them, that if the opposition thought the people were
in earnest, they would never have dared to reject their Bill.
Mr. DaTitostert seconded the resolution. The p-ar
ple, he said, were deceived by the man in whose breast
they placed their hopes, and Unlit look to themselves and
their tried friends. But dal they despair ? Was not they,
this happy circumstance attending their situation, that
they now felt the absurdity of trusting to hereditary wis-
dotn?—(Applause.) Dues not every act bring the time
nearer when the folly and wickedness will be universally
acknowledged that is engendered by such a system?
Never was there a time when the people more needed as.
sistance. Goaded by miseries, how necessary was i•
that those they loved should be near to direct their ener
gins—that friends and foes might not be swept away in-
discriminately ! This was not a moment for seclusion ,
mere sympathy, hearthaide co-operation would not do—
they must take a prominent, decided part, and guide the
phystual strength of the people. Why do our ene
mire rely on the army? Why should they be reads
to brave the worst ? He (Mr. Detroiser) was n.
advocate fur war—least of all a civil war. None but
a bad bold man could desire it. He must be ti
hardened ia retch who would shed the blood of his coun-
trymen is order to deny them a good and efficiero
tsovtrnment ; but there were circumstances and a moment
when it became a duty to face the cannon.—(Cheering,
and waving of hats.) They depend on the army—do
they forget Colonel Breretun.—(Applause.) Is humanity
confined to one bosom ? Are not soldiers men and
brethren? Will they become instruments of massacre in
the cause of despotism ?—(Cheers ) success certain ?
Let them take care that the people, as they have wan
worm-like, may not adder-Liar be revenged. But thi
we spot, of peace is in our pockets. The determination ti
pay tto tuxes is not confined to the Ivans of the peovle. lie
kntw perstma in the House of Commons who would take
their part in this also with their eotiuY r , sod refuse theta.
rb,y pay no toot. tests --(trnmtenke applause, tvl,h

was renewed several times.) There is also a flimsy piee'
of paper, of which the value depends on public opinion
.We may refuse to accept one of these.—(Hear, hear.
Will you abide by these reslutions. If a brother he mad,
a victim, will you support him ?—(Cries of " We will,'
from the whole meeting.)
The resolution then passed unanimously.
Mr. WAKLEY moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Attwoo,
and the inhabitants of Birmingham. In moving this
and with a view to show by individual instances the mon-
strous oppression of the present system, he detailed a cast
of what he described as gross cruelty committed by a ma-
gistrate of Hertfordshire; but as it is in a course of legal
investigation, we decline inserting it.
The resolution then passed by acclamation, after which
the meeting gave three cheers for Reform, and separated
at eleven o'clock.