The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-30 00:00:00

TIIE MANCHESTER PARTY.

NiA.NCHEirER, THIMSDAY NIGHT

The annual meeting of Vreetraders and friends of
political pro4ress was fild at the Free-trade Hall to-
night. :t.t was a nurnerous,.but not a crowded gathering.
Mr. George 112!so-n, presided ; and there were present
Mews. Gibson, Heyday , Cheetham, and Hadfield,
members of the Legislature.
The CHAIR3fAN, in opening the proceedings, passed a
high eulogium upon Mr. Bright, and adverted to his
long parliamentary services.
The following letter from Mr, Bright was read to the
meeting :

"Rochdale, Nov. 5, 1856.

" My dear Wilson, —[ mentioned to y)u a few days
ago that I was abut to leave England for a considerable
tone, probably for several months. My health, as you
know, is greatly improved during the past six months-
-40 much so as to afford strong reason for the belief that
a further period of relaxation, and change of obj,-cts and
interest,, will so far restore me as to enable me again
to at.end to public business. I have consulted physi-
cians of extensive prac ice, and eminent in the pr .fession,
and their opinion. all concur in this—that a complete
rest from public labour, for a longer period, is nPeessary ;
~nd that this, it may be hoped and believed, Will gi is me
renewed health and strength. Acting upon this advice.,
which my own judgment entirely approves, I ,m about
to leave home for some months, and I shall, therefore,
1, all probability, not be able to attend the House of
Commons during the next session of parliament.
" I think it my duty, under the-e circumstances, to
writs to you in your capacity of chairman of the com-
mittee which undertook the management of my election
in 1852. lam very sensible of the kindness shown to
me by my constituents, inasmuch as I believe they freely
consented to my absence from parliament during the
past session. In absenting myself for another session,
however, I feel that I am bound to enter into a more
public and definite explanation with them.
" Incapable, as I am at present, of performing any of
the duties of their representative, it would seem to be
my duty to resign my seat in parliament, and to give
the opportunity of elec-ing my successor. I feel, how
ever, that the wishes and convenience of the constituency
ought to he consulted before I decide. If we were at
the beginning, instead of being, as we are, very near the
end of a parliament, the interests of all concerned would
probab'y be best promoted by my immediate resigna-
tion ; but as a general election is likely to take place
during the year 1857, it may not be thought desirable
to have two elections for Manchester during the same
year. This is a point which lam anxious to refer to my
friends iu Manchester before I do anything which
would make an immediate election unavoidable.

"You will greatly oblige n,e, therefore, if you will
take such steps as appear to you best, to ascertain the
wi-hes of my constituents as to the course I should
take. I shall be guided by their decision, either to
vacate my seat in Parliament on the opening of the
coming session, or to retain it till the dissolution of
the Parliament, which may come in the sprint, and is
almost certain to come in the autum❑ of 1857.
" I hope I am not too sanguine in believing that a few
months more of rest—rest of the faculties which have
had almost no rest during the past 15 years—will re-
stere to me the power, as I still have the will, to
labour in that field in which so much of my life has
been spent. If I am nermitted to recover my former
strength before the occurrence of a general election,
I shall then hope for a continuance of the confidence
which the electors of Manchester have so long placed
in me ; if renewed health be ❑ot granted to me, I
shall then withdraw from public life, remembering, as
long as I live, how much I owe to the kindnes, and
firbearance of those in whose name, and on whose
behalf, I have acted for nine years past in the House
of Commons.—Believe me, very sincerely your,
" Jourr BRIGHT."
The following resolution was next moored by the
Chairman :

Resolved—" That this meeting, in expressing its pro-
found regret at the circumstances which unhappily ne-
cessitate the absence of its esteemed representative, J.
Bright, Esq., M.P., desires to record its unabated con
viction of the signal ability and high moral courage,
universally acknowledged, with which he bas hitherto
represented this great metropolis of industry in Parlia
went ; that it hereby begs respectfully to express its
admiration of the undeviating consistency and unflinch-
ing firmness with which he has adhered to those great
principles on which he was elected, as well as its warmest
gratitude for the eminent services which he has rendered
to the nation ; that, while deeply sympathising with him
under the serious indisposition which has compelled him
to retire, for a season, from public duties, it deri% es the
sincerest satisfaction from the prospect that he will be
able ere long to re-enter upon them ; and that, while
cheerfully conceding to him the interval of repose which
may be nece•,sery for the coinplete restoration of his
health, it requests him to allow the continuance of his
Parliamentary connection with this city, in the earne-t
hope that the cause of popular rights, of social progre-s,
and of international concord, may soon regain the
assistance of his disinterested and distinguished advo•
cacy in the House of Commons."
Mr. BAZLEY seconded the resolution, and it was car-
ried unanimously.
The Right Hon. T. MILNBR GIBSON, M.P., then ad-
dressed the meeting. Adverting to the late war, he said
that opinions &tiered as to whether the results of that
war were glorious or disgraceful to the country ; but we
knew with certainty that an increased expenditure and
increased taxation were among its consequences. He
trusted that we should now return to a peace expendi
tura. He objected, on principle, to a large standing
array. As there could be no great reduction in the civil
expenditure we must look mainly to economy in the
army, navy, and ordnance departments to lessen the
burthens of the country. He observed, it had been said
.hat we must not be unprepared for war, as we were
unprepared before ; but he denied that the disasters it)
the Crimea had resulted from a want of the necessary
means. Those disaster., took place because, although
the people of this country could supply immense sum'
of money, they would not supply those who had the
management of it with brains. (Cheers.) He did not
join in the cry now raised against the income tax. The
indirect taxes were nearly forty-two millions sterling,
levied upon the great mass of consumers, or nine-tenths
of the people ; and as these taxes were paid before the
articles reached the consumers, ten millions more might,
be added as the cost of collection, and as deducted from
the profit and interest upon capital employed in trade.
de did not deny that there was an injustice is the mode

of levying the income tax ; but it was the only means
of fairly reaching the fundholder and the land wrier,
and it ought not to be wholly abandoned. He moved
—" That in the opinion of this meeting the re-eql-
blishment of peace renders it the imnerative duty of
the Government to dirnini,h at once the existing load of
taxation, which, by injuriously affecting the industrial
interests of the country, is seriously detrimental to the
material well-being and social happiness of all classes of
the community ; and that while pledging itself to relax
none of itsexertions to produce a wise, efficie•,t, ar,d econ,-
a-deal expenditure of the national resources, it looks to a
just and comprehensive measure of parliamentary reform,
as the only adequate means by which the acts of the
legislature may be brought into permanent harmony
with the convictions and interests of the people."
Mr. CHEETHAU, M.P., seconded the motion, which
was carried.

Mr. HADFIELD, M.P., and several other gentlemen,
also addressed the meeting.