The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-09 00:00:00

TELLERS

Bi_RMINGIIAIiI RADICAL REFORM

LEAGUE.

The members of the above league, of which Mr.
Charles Sturge is chairman, held a meeting at the
offices, Bennett's-hill, on Monday—Mr. J. Taylor,
jun., in the chair. The provisional coinwittee's
report stated that they had been iu communication
with reformers in many towns, and although so
short a time had elapsed, the most encouraging and
satisfactory replies had been received, and a large
number of subscriptions had been announced. Let-
ters from societies working for the same objects
had been received from London, Newcastle-on-
Tyne, Carlisle, Norwich, and other large towns,
while at Banbury, a similar league had been formed,
expressly to co•operate with that at Birmingham.
The report recommended that all subscribers should
be members ; that it should be managed by a com-
mittee and officers elected by the members; that its
objects should be to obtain a measure of reform
which should include manhood suffrage, vote by
ballot, and equal electoral districts. 'The report
was approved, and the following resolution unani-
mously passed, "That the deliberate and dishon-
ourable abandonment of reform by her Majesty's
Government having again thrown the question
before the country, it is the duty of reformers of
all classes 'promptly and earnestly to combine to
force upon the attention of the House of Commons
the national desire for a thorough reform. This
league, therefore, calls upon the people in every
town in the kingdom to petition Parliament during
the present session, praying for an immediate con-
sideration of the subject, and for the adoption of a
measure which shall satisfy the just requirements
of the people by including manhood suffrage, vote
by ballot, and equal electoral districts. That the
league further recommends the adoption of memo-
rials to individual members, calling upon them to
endeavour by all means in their power to procure
an immediate settlement of the question ; and ear-
nestly exhorts the people, by the promptness of
their union, and the energy of their proceedings,
to strengthen the remnant of real reformers in the
House of Commons." The meeting theruseplrated.

PARLIAMENTARY REIORIII.

MEETING AT NORWICH.

A meeting of working men was held in a room
at the Free Library, Norwich, on Tuesday even-
ing, for the purpose of organising a movement in
favour of their enfranchisement.

Mr. C. J. BUNTING, having been called to the
chair, said that for some time past there had been
an opinion in Norwich that something ought to be
done to give expression to the feelings of the work-
ing classes with respect to the present state of the
reform question. When they looked at recent oc-
currences in the House of Commons, they could not
but feel that they had been insulted by one party
and betrayed by another. He did not expect to
have seen the time when a Liberal Government,
placed in office almost for the purpose of passing a
Reform Bill, should repudiate the measure on the
ground that in the present state of public feeling
it was inexpedient. The question would never be
the leading question of the day till the working
classes took the matter up for themselves, for if
they did not move on its behalf, who could be ex-
pected to do so ? There might be a difference of
opinion on the subject, but he was sure they were
all agreed that it was time that the national dis-
grace, the non-enfranchisement of the industrial
classes, should be removed. (Hear, hear.) For this
object they should combine, and should, he thought,
revive the old agitation for manhood suffrage, for
they had of late been limiting their demands to
such.an extent that they had become almost infini-
tesimal. (Applause.) But, in addition to this, he
might add that, when the working man had got a
vote, he would want protection for its exercise,
and therefore he was an advocate of the ballot.
(Cheers.) Whether or not it might be prudent to
organise such an association as he had alluded to
was now the subject for consideration ; at any rate,
he felt that they had done right in convening that
meeting, and he would now leave the matter in
their hands.

Mr. BLACKBURN then moved the following reso-
lution :—" That the continual and systematic ex-
clusion of the working classes from the elective
franchise is a direct violation of the principles of
justice, and a standing reproach to the boasted
freedom of the British constitution." He said that

in 1845, during the Chartist agitation, Lord J.
Russell urged that the suffrage could not be granted
at a time of agitation, and in compliance with a
popular demand ; and now they were told that the
people did not demand it, and therefore did not
desire it. A week or two ago he had a vote, but
his rent now being under the standard, he had not
one.

Mr. ROBERTS seconded the resolution, which was
carried unanimously.
Mr. BUNTING read two letters, one from the Lon-
don Reform Union, and the other from the Bir-
mingham Political League, thanking the people of
Norwich for what they had already done in sending
up petitions (of which about 40 had been presented),
and urging them to increased activity in the same
direction. _ _ _

Several other persons having expressed their
views on the subject before the meeting, the follow-
ing resolution was proposed by Mr. J. WINTER :
" That in the present state of political parties it is
important that the working classes who are
especially interested in - the great question of
amending the representation of the people, should
organise for its effectual and speedy settlement. It
is therefore resolved to re-establish without further
delay, the Norwich Political Union." Mr. Winter
then proceeded to say that they should put them
seles in such a position as to be able to concentrate
all their efforts when the proper time arrived,
especially as Government had said that it was their
own fault that a bill had not been brought forward
this session, inasmuch as there was no prospect of
popular support.
Mr. SCARLE expressed his opinion that an error
had been committed in asking too much from the
Legislature, and he considered that if their demands
had been moderate, and had been backed by suffi-
cient energy, they would have had more success.
Several persons having expressed themselves of
a decidedly different opinion to the last speaker,
Mr.-ADAms briefly seconded the resolution, which
was then adopted.
Mr. G. LYNES next moved that "The union re-

cognises' no settlement of the electoral system as
final which does not provide for the complete en-
franchisement of the people, voting by ballot, short
parliaments, a just apportionment of representatives
to population, and the means of returning members
without personal expense ; but that as progress
towards this consummation must be gradual, the
union stands pledged to support every well con-
sidered effort which may secure an instalment of
its claims, and that every person accepting the
constitution of the union and subscribing not less
than ls. annually to its funds, be entitled to regis-
tration as a member."
The resolution, having been seconded by Mr. W.
KING, and discussed at some length, was ultimately
adopted.