The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-09 00:00:00

MR, BRIGHT AT lIUDDERSFIELD

MANCHESTER, THURSDAY NIGHT.
The recent election of Mr. Leatham for the
borough of Huddersfield was celebrated this even-
ing by a public banquet, at which upwards of
3,000 ladies and gentlemen were present. The
chair was taken by Mr. Hales, the chairman of
Mr. Leatham's committee, and among the guests
were Mr. Bright, M.P., Mr. Baines, M.P., Mr.
Crossley, M.P., and the most influential members
of the Liberal party in the district. The company
were accommodated in the same large tent in which
the soiree to Mr. Cobden was held a few weeks ago
at Rochdale. Letters of apology for unavoidable
absence bad been received from Mr. Cobden, Mr.
Bazley, and Mr: Hadfield.
After the usual pitliminary toasts, Mr. WILLIAMS
move', and Mr. MELLOR seconded the following

resolution :
" That this meeting regards the election of Mr.
E. A. Leathern as a most valuable accession to the
ranks of the Liberal members of the House of Com-
mons; recognizes with satisfacticin the accordance
of Mr. Leatham's political opinions with those of
the great majority of his constituents ; rejoices
with hint on the successful termination of the
arduous conflict through which he has honourably
and triumphantly passed, and hereby assures him
of its confidence and support."
Mr. LEATHAM addressed the meeting at consi-
derable length, but his speech related chiefly to
local politics and the circumstances of his recent
election. He was loudly cheered.
Mr. BRIGHT proposed the following resolution :--
"That in the opinion of this meeting the great
question of Parliamentary Reform, involving a more
faithful representation of the people, greater purity
of election, a wiser and more economical expendi-
ture of public money,.and an administration of na-
tional affairs more consistent with national in-
terests, demands the immediate attention of the
Legislature, and ought not to be postponed beyond
the first opportunity for a satisfactory settlement."
He said,—Although it is a most formidable under-
taking to address so vast an assembly as that which
I see before me, yet I can but thank your commit-
tee for the invitation which has enabled me to be
here to-Right, that I may be a witness of that cor-
d al and enthusiastic reception which you have given
to my excellent relative, who is now your represen-
tative in Parliament. lam delighted to be permitted
to witness a meeting of some thousands of the inha-
bitants of this thriving and important town come
together, not for the sake of an evening's amuse-
ment, but having a strong and zealous feeling for
the political questions of the day. (Cheers.) There
are persons who say that politics are at an end in
England—that there is no such thing in Parliament
as party, and that there is no real or essential dif-
ference between the various sections of the commu-
nity who fight the contests at our general elections.
I believe, on the contrary, that political contests
are not over in England,but that some most impor-
tant and hereafter to be regarded as memorable
conflicts are only about to begin. You are, a por-
tion of you, at least, represented by one member in
the House of Commons, but only a part of you are
entitled to vote in the election of your representa-
tive, although I know that my hon. relative will
endeavour honestly and fairly to represent you all.
(Cheers.) But the vast mass of your population have
no real representation. To them Parliament is a
strange thing. They have nothing to do with its
manufacture. They have nothing to do with its
choice; they have almost nothing to do in directing
its course, and I believe to a large extent Parlia-
ments care very little about them. (Hear, hear.)
We have a Government that professes to be consti-
tutional and representative : it has all so-rts of tes-
timonials as to character—it has, in fact, everything
in the world that you could desire of that kind, but,
unfortunately, you are not able to discover in its
conduct anything that justifies its bold pretensions.
(A laugh.) Nothing can be worse in my opinion
than a representative government in name,
which is not a representative government in
reality. (Cheers.) If you compare the composi-
tion and opinions, the votes and the policy of the
English Parliament with the wishes and rights
of the people, you will find they bear very little re-
ference one to the other. Let us go back for a short
time to see how our legislation has proceeded since
the great Reform of 1832. At that time there was
excitement enough for the opponents of Reform,
Who, indeed, were near* frightened out of the little
sense they had left. (A laugh.) In the election
immediately after the passing of the Reform Bill,
there was a numerous majority of the so-called
Liberal members returned to Parliament, and in
consequence of that, carried on as it were on the
wave of that great. excitement, there were several
most important and beneficial measures passed by
the House of Commons, and forced upon an unwill-
ing House of Lords. (Hear.) But 10 years after-
wards, in 1841, the Tory party had recovered its
strength in Parliament, and the late Sir R. Peel be-
came Prime Minister with a majority of about 90.
In 1846 that majority, and the party to which it
belonged, were broken up by the force and pres-
sure of public opinion and' of a great public neces-
sity, in the matter of the Corn Laws. From that
time to 1852 there was no real majority in Parlia-
ment in favour of any Government or of any parti-
cular person; but, as a consequence of the corn law
excitement, the same thing took place that had
taken place after the passing of the Reform Bill.
Several most beneficial measures were enacted con-
nected with the freedom of trade. Almost imme-
diately after the abolition of the corn laws the mo-
nopoly in sugar was destroyed, and Parliament re-
pealed those laws which professed to protect the
shipping of England, but which interfered most
materially with the commerce of the nation.
(Cheers.) There was. another general election in
1852, when Lord Derby came into office for the first
time. What was the composition of the House of
Commons when the new Parliament assembled?
Lord Derby was turned out by a majority of exactly
19 in the House of Commons. That showed that the
returus 1 R pgrliament had been nearly balanced.
and that ten members transferred from one side