The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-18 00:00:00

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a removal of the duty on paper, Ina ne ..sv
the electors of Southwark would support 'nm-zn S
saying that the House of Lords should not tax the
people of this country. (Hear.) The hon. gentle-
man then referred to an interview which he'had with
Mr. Cobden in Paris in the course of the present
year, and said that that gentleman had warmly eulo-
gised the Emperor :of the French and the Govern-
ment of that country for the loyalty they had dis-
played in abiding by the treaty, and in doing all
they could to make it effective. (Hear, hear.) Mr.
Locke next referred to the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners Bill—a measure which had been originally
introduced by Mr. Horsman, and he had done good
service. Under this bill an alteration had been
effected with respect to the incomes of the bishops,
and arrangements were made for improving the
small livings of clergymen. When the bill came
before the house last year he and others who acted
with him, endeavoured to get a clause introduced,
the object of which was to oblige the commissioners
to spend the money arising from estates in the me-
tropolis upon all such places in the metropolis where
spiritual destitution existed, instead of the amount
being handed over at once to a fund wbich would be
made generally applicable to the country. This was
an arrangement which he thought was but fair and
just, but they could not get the clause inserted in the
bill. (Hear, hear.) There was another question
which came before the House of Commons last year
in which he took a great interest—he meant the
bill for the reform of the Corporation of London.
That measure he opposed, and it was ultimately
withdrawn by Sir George Cornewall Lewis, the
Home Secretary. Now he did not see that the
Metropolitan Board of Works were doing what was
expected of them. It was true they had pulleddown
some houses in Southwark, and there they left
them. (Hear, and a laugh.) But his opinion was
that the whole of the metropolis should be divided
into wards of the city of London, and that the
metropolis, so divided, should represent, in one
grand body, the interest of the whole metropolis.
But Sir G. Cornewall Lewis objected to this, as
it would make the metropolis too powerful
against the Government. The hon. gentleman
then referred to the Sale of Gas Act which
he had been instrumental in passing, and said that
the question of the Thames Embankment was a
subject to which the attention of the people of
Southwark ought to be directed, and he should be
happy to co-operate with them respecting it. As
to the equalisation of the poor rates, he could only
say that he would be ready at all times to support
a measure for such a purpose, for it was only just
that the rich should be called upon to support the
poor of the country. That was the principle upon
which the old poor laws were based. He trusted
that the policy of Lord Palmerston and Lord John
Russell, with respect to non-interference in the
affairs of foreign countries, would receive the sanc-
tion and approval of this country—otherwise they
might be driven into a war, which every right-
minded man must deplore. (Hear.) He wished

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to see Italy for the Italians as much as he wished
England for the English, and if the policy of the
Government were supported by the people, he be-
lieved such would be the case. (Hear.) With
respect to China, he hoped what had occurred there
would give satisfaction to the people generally, for
he believed that the effects of the treaty with that
country would produced advantages not only to
England but to China itself. He thought that
there ought to be great retrenchment effected in
the financial concerns of this country, and he thought
that might be done without in the least impairing
the military and naval services of the country; and
here he was at issue with the 40 gentlemen who

signed a paper presented to Lord-Palmerston in
relation to the question of retrenchment. In con- '
elusion, he had to say that while he would do all in
his power to control and limit the expenditure of
the country, he would do nothing that would in the
least be calculated to interfere with its honour or
its prowess. (Cheers.)
The Hon. Member, in reply to an elector, said
that the question of doing away with toll gates was
a question for the inhabitants of the borough, and
whatever they decided to do ho would support.
In reply to another question on the subject of
the bankruptcy laws,
Mr. LOCKE said he believed a bill on the subject
would be brought in in the course of the session,
and would no doubt become law. He also, in reply
to another question, said he was in favour of in-
creased protection being given to miners engaged
in coal mines. He likewise stated that he always
voted against church rates in Parliament.
Dr. MURD OCH then moved the following resolu-
tion :—" That this meeting having heard with
satisfaction from their representative, John Locke,
Esq., a statement of his conduct and votes in Par-
liament during the sessions of 1859 and 1860,
hereby tenders him its best thanks for his past ser-
vices, and expresses at the same time its cordial
confidence in his future exertions in the advocacy
of all liberal measures, and the interests of his con-
stituency."
Mr. OASTLER seconded the resolution, which was
unanimously adopted.

Mr. NEWMAN then moved the following resolu-
tion :—" That this meeting views with alarm the
excessive expenditure of the Government, and calls
on our representatives to use all their power to re-
duce the army, navy, and civil service, in order to
avert the wholesale bankruptcy which is overtak-
ing our trade and commerce, by withdrawing so
many millions of money in excess of former years.
And further, that they will press on the Govern-
ment the necessity of removing those burdens
which weigh so heavily on the people, in the shape
of taxes on tea and sugar, and on the manufacture
of paper, whereby at least 200,000 of the labouring
population are deprived of remunerative employ-
ment. And that the hon. member present will fail
to represent the electors and non-electors of the
borough if he should neglect to bring in or support
a bill for resident manhood suffrage to all who claim
it, with the protection of the ballot."
_ _

Mr. SARELL having seconded the resolution, it
was agreed to.
Mr. LOCI E then returned thanks for the vote of
confidence passed in his regard, and proposed the
thanks of the meeting to the chairman, who ac-
knowledged the compliment, and the meeting
separated.

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