The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-08 00:00:00

The New Reform Bill.

DEPUTATION TO EARL RUSSELL.—THIS DAY.
A very numerous deputation from the National
Reform Union and the deputation appointed at the
recent meeting held in Leeds, waited by appoint-
ment to-day on Earl Russell at his official residence
in Downing-street, in order, if possible, to ascer-
tain the nature of the measure about to be intro-
duced into Parliament. A great number of the
Liberal members of tho House of Commons accom-

panied the deputation. Mr. G. Wilson introduced
the deputation, and informed his lordship that it
consisted of various members of the National Re-
form Union, which originated entirely on the part
of the working men who desire to become enfran-
chised.

Mr. WAINWRIGHT addressed his lordship, and said

the movement which was now taking place with re-
spect to Reform, was now in the hands of those in
wnom tne wonung etasseh Wall LUC giaLc.,, wun-
dence ; but any measure which did not admit a
arge proportion of the working class to participa-
tion in the government of the country would not be
received at all. (Hear, hear.) The working class,
ho begged to inform his lordship, had fully made
up their mind to reject all sham measures. It
had been said out of doors that the difficulty
that existed was whether the new Reform Bill was
to be based on a £6 rating or a £6 rental qualifica-
tion. Now the number of working men that would
be admitted to the exercise of the elective franchise
if a £6 rating was adopted would be so small that
it would not be worth accepting. The time had come
to test the sincerity of the Liberals, and that test they
hoped his lordship would apply. The proposition
of a £lO rental for counties and a £6 rental
suffrage for boroughs would be geierally accept-
able for the present. It would settle the matter

for some time, but a £6 rating qualification would be
generally and universally rejected by the working
class, than whom a more loyal class of men did not
exist. He hoped his lordship would insist upon such
a measure as would satisfy the working class. If
he did so they would rally round him by millions,
and create such a movement that all opposition
would be useless and futile. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. PRICE said he claimed the franchise for the
working class as a right, because their united income
amounted to £250,000,000 per annum, whilst that
of those who opposed them did not come up to
anything like that sum. (near, hear,) The work-
ing men of the north of England were ready to
accept any bill, supposing it to be anything like
that which his lordship had on a former occasion
promised the working class. (Hear, hear.) He
advised his lordship to take a firm stand on
the enfranchisement point—on that alone—and the
working men would give him such a support
that would break down all opposition and sweep,
away every obstacle. The men in the north recol-
lected his lordship's declaration in 1831, and he felt
a more fitting close to a long and glorious career of
statesmanship could not be than the carrying of a
bill which admitted a great body of the industrious
classes to the exercise of the elective franchise.
(Hear, hear.)
Sir F. CROSSLEY said, as a member of the Liberal
party in the House of Commons, he thought it better
his lordship should know what measure would be
acceptable before it was brought forth. No true
reformer could be in favour of a rating clause, and
therefore it was but wise and prudent to adopt that
which would meet with the greatest support. He
knew the difficulty there would be in passing a £6
rental clause through the House of Commons, but
whether it be that or a higher figure that was adopted
—(no, no)—an admission to the franchise of a
great body of the working class was now urgently
demanded.

Mr. HIBBERT, M.P. for Oldham, and several
othera n extension gentlemen o having
suffrage,
f
the
Earl RUSSELL said he had listened with
great interest and pleasure to the various
ving spoken on the subject of
speakers who bad addressed him. He did
not require to be reminded of the industry,
providence, forbearance, loyalty, and attachment
to the honour of the country by the industrious
classes. Of that he was well aware—(hear,
hear)—and the ability with which he had
been addressed showed most convincingly
the state of intelligence in which that class
had advanced. (Hear, hear.) It could not be
expected that he could state the nature of the mea-
sure Government proposed to introduce into Par-
liament. He would take care that the statements
he had heard that day should be placed be-
fore his colleagues, and the deputation might
rely that they would adopt the measures best
adapted for the welfare of the country. He would
carefully consider the whole of the statements that
had been made to him.

The members of the deputation, having thanked
his lordship for the attention he had given them,
withdrew.

PROVIDENT CLERKS' ASSOCIATION.—We beg to
direct our readers to the 'very satisfactory report of this
Association, whose 25th Annual General Meeting is re-
ported in our columns of tc-day.