The Sun.
London, England, 1861-11-19 00:00:00

JOHN WHITE, Manufacturer, 228,71104 - dilly.

I, GREAT MARTHLBOROUGH-STRE PANTHEON. ET, W., NEAR
E
DR. CULVERWELL, Member of the Royal
College of Surgeons, Licentiate of Midwifery, and Apo-
thecaries' Hall, London, can be consulted daily (only) as
:hove, on all cases of Nervous Debility, Languor, Incapacity,
Loss of Memory, Sterility, and all Functional Derangements
at both Sexes, emanating from early and excessive "indul-
ganoes,
Hu Just published, price le. ;- by poet, 1$ stamps;
18 sealed,
No. 4,
An entire now and original Work, entitled
OURSELVES.
Synopsis: The Physiology and Anatomy of our Generation
—The Origin of Disease—Symptoms, Treatment, and Cure.
also, an Exposition ot. and Remedy for, all Urinary Derange-
ments and Marital Disqualifications,
MALE.
The modern treatment of Syphilis, Stricture, Blennorrhagla
Gonorrhcea), Spermatorrhcea, Impotency, and all Diseases of
the Urinary Organs, with Prescriptions, Jill
FEMALE.
The Physiology and Anatomy of Women--Functional Tr-
rezniarities in Health and Sickness—Choice in Marriage—
Their Expectancies and Disappointments—Tb,l Cause and
Removal of Sterility—The Theory and Symptoms of Gesta-
tion—Uao of the Speculum. Also,
No. 1.
HEALTH, HAPPINESS, and LONGEVITY;
On Debility, Nervousness, Dyspepsia, and Indigestion,
their Obli No. 2.
gationLBC:VE AND MARRIAGE :
Happiness, and Disappointments; Love
aid other Matches. Sterility Removed, and Healthy Off-
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No. E.
THE CASE BOOK':
100 Cases of SPERMATORRIIMA,
Their Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment, Confessions and
urn oy t,auterisations,Galvanivin, &c. &a
To be had of Mann, 39, Cornhilt ; and the Authors.
Advice to the Working Classes fee Half-a-Guinea.

(SPECIAL NOTICE.)
Or. Culverwell is the only legally qualified medical practi-
tioner living of that name, and can be consulted (only as
stove.)

Alderman BROWN, of Bradford, took the chair,
and expressed his gratitude to the working men for
making such an effort in the cause of reform. He
hoped the occasion would lead to a union among
the most intelligent of the working men in this
country, for if the cause of reform must succeed the
working men themselves must be the foundation of
that success. (Applause.)

Messrs.Hickes and Geves, of Leeds,were appointed
secretaries, together with Mr. Derry, of Birming•
ham, and Mr. Cowan, of Newcastle-on-Tyne.
A business committee was chosen, consisting of
the following persons ;—Messrs. Hickes, Sugden,
Derry, Cowan, Cooper, Hanson, Alderman Baldwin
(Birmingham), Walker, and Alderman Brown. The
committee having retired for the despatch of busi-
ness,

Mr. FINNIE read letters of apology for non-atten-
dance from the Earl of Carlisle, Earl Russell, Lord
Londesborough, Sir J. V. B. Johnstone, M.P., Mr.
Bright, M.P., Earl de Grey and Ripon, Mr. H.
Cosham, of Bristol, D. M‘Laren, of Edinburgh, Mr.
Tillott, of Norwich, Mr. Stansfeld, M.P., Sir C.
Woad, M.P., Hon. C. W. Fitzwilliam, Mr. G. Had-
field, M.P., Mr. It. Palmer, Solicitor-General, Mr.
Brown, M.P., Mr. Vyner, M.P., Mr. Greenwood,
M.P., Mr. W. Aldain, Mr. Clay, M.P., Mr. Cobden,
M.P., Mr. Schwann, Mr. Westhead, M.P„ and Mr.
Whitehurst, vice-chairman of the Ballot Society.
The letter from Earl Russell was as follows :-
4, Foreign-office, Oct. 29.
" Sir,—Earl Russell has desired me to acknowledge the
receipt of your letter of the 19th inst., thanking him for his
answer to your previous communication, and expressing a
hope that he would give a further reply, showing how far
the proposed reform conference proceedings met with his
sympathy; and in reply I am to say that his opinions on the
subject of parliamentary reform are ajready well known and
do not require to be repeated. But he is convinced that any
expression of the wishes of the working men ought to be
entirely spontaneous, and not to be elicited by any outward
encouragement from Ministers of the Crown--I have, &c."

Mr. Cobden excused himself on the ground of its
being necessary for him to abstain from addressing
public meetings for some time to come, with a view
to avoid the recurrence of the bronchial attack from
which he has been lately suffering.
Mr. J. Bright wrote :

" Rochdale, Nov. 4.

"Dear Sir,—l am glad to hear of your progress in the ar-
rangements for the reform conference. It is unfortunately,
however, fixed for a time when it will be most inconvenient
if not indeed quite impossible, for me to be present at it.
"I have engagements for the whole of the week, begin-
ning on the 18th inst., and particularly for the 18th and 19th
inst., engagements which are so depending one upon another
that I cannot well put them by.
"I do not think it important that I should be with you.
No one will doubt that I shall willingly give any assistance
in my power to further the object you are seeking to pro-
mote, and it will give me great pleasure to hear that you
have an influential gathering, and that the movement you
are commencing is taken up with spirit by the population
of the country, and especially by the people of Yorkshire
and Lancashire.

'' 'Wishing you all the success you can desire, and thank-
ing you for your labours in the good cause, I am, &c.,

" JOHN BRIGHT."

Mr. G. WILSON, of Manchester, then delivered
what may be considered the inaugural address. He
said the reproach had often gone forth that no effort
was made to assist the working classes in obtaining
an extension of the franchise. He would not discuss
that point, but say that long ago he had made up
his mind that until the working classes themselves
offered to aid and co-operate with those who were
anxious to promote their interests and success, it
would be in vain to carry on any agitation on the
question of reform, Self-dependence was the basis
of action in this life, and the moment the people felt
their self-dependence in this question that moment
they were on the way to obtain that which was
their right. The working men of Leeds, he rejoiced
to say, bad cast away all that reproach, so far as
they were concerned. The question they were met
to consider had engaged a great deal of attention
already, and the present state of the representation
of this country was what no man could support in
his conscience. On making a division of the people
into voters and non-voters they presented two very
great inequalities. At present the voting power of
the country was 1,221,000, 950,000 being in Eng•
land, 101,000 in Ireland, and 170,003 in Scotland.
If each of these voters represented a family of five
there would be six millions who would be directly
or indirectly interested in the election of members,
but taking the population of the United Kingdom
in 1861, exclusive of the Isle of Man and the Chan-
nel Islands, at 29,000,000, there would remain
23,500,000 unaccounted for, who had no more con-
nexion with, and were no more recognised in the
election of Parliamentary representatives than a
foreigner. Of those, at least six or seven millions
grown-uppr
se d people,
six-sevenths
who h
an
fo
the
ionfgy young
voting,ung
andwer e who commen of the country_ But the present distribution
of electoral districts he considered of still more
importance. In Thetford, a place of 4,000 people,
two members were returned by 216 voters, and
each of those members had as much power in Par-
liament Baines, who represented 7,000 or
8,000
voters. Mr.
He m
ght be told this was an ex-
treme case, but he found 24 members returned by
in
witlh2
atownss whereas 12 other
population of 205,970,
constituencies,
v o t ereturnedrs the same number of members. He
would advise the advocates of a redistribution of
seats not to cease for one moment from their exer-
tions. The counties most injured by the exist-
ing state of things were Lancashire and the West
Riding. These two constituencies returned4s mem-
bere, although their population was equal to that of
18 counties which sent 167 members to Parliament.
It might be said population should not be taken
into account, but he maintained that property and
population went together, and that in the two cases
he alluded to they were synonymous. (Applause.)
He then gave some statistics showing the dispropor-
tionate number of representatives of Lancashire and
the West Riding, considering the increase of popu-
lation, and asked if, in the face of such facts, re-
formers were prepared to endorse the present ar-
rangement of electoral districts ? Was it not time to
declare aloud that all such inequalities should cease?

The great feature otthe ion was, whether
the conference should e ions in favour of
manhood suffrage, univen •age; household
suffrage, or a £6 franchise, with vote by
ballot, triennial or annual : cents, and equal
electoral districts. . The ma., of the speakers
appeared to hold nearly the Le of those prin-
ciples, but many of them-cc Led that the con-
ference should support a me, of Parliamentary '
reform of itliss..extensive cl ir.
Mr. BAlNEiliFpfpssed his ion that the day
Ave measure of
pfoarrpliaasmsienngtaa grryiteaetfoarnmd c
ho ma
dI
td away, but he
thought Reform was still to Ad by bit and bit.,
The first object was to get 1 franchise lowered; '
and then other things would \w, 'Ho thought
at present there was no eh; obtaining house-
hold suffrage. He had just . Mr: Forster how
many members he thought in present HOuse-Of.
Commons would vote for IL ld suffrage.- He
replied, " Perhaps 15." He Baines) - ieci, _
" Would there not 25?" 'Mr. ester said, "" Cer-
tainly not." A £6'franthise ild increase the
borough constituencies 50 per ~ In conclusion,
he expressed his willingness to ng forward again
his Bill of last Session, if desirable: -. He
counselled that the members' of the confetence
should sink their indivldual differences, but retain
their own opinions, uniting in declaring themselves
in favour of such a measure as was likely to obtain
the assent of the Legislature.

Mr. BARNES, M.P., said that his opinion was
that in the present House of Commons there was
not so strong a feeling in favour of household
suffrage and vote by ballot as there was
in the Parliament elected in 1852. He in-
stanced the question of Church-rates, too, as tested
by what had taken place in the late Session as
one on which the feeling of the House of Com-
mons was not so liberal as formerly. He said
he had lately been at Birmingham and Liverpool,
and at both places he found even among pro-
fessing Liberals that there was not that affection
for further Parliamentary Reform. People thought
the Reformers, such as Mr. Bright, were going too
far. In conclusion, he advised that there should be
a united effort to procure a Reform Bill. But nothing
to compromise principle. He expressed himself in
favour of a £ti franchise for both counties and
boroughs. There would be no inconsistency in
uniting to support such a bill as that brought in by
Mr. Baines, and at the same time for individuals to
petition Parliament for manhood suffrage, for such
conduct would help on such a bill. He was glad he
was present at so intelligent a conference, and he
would do all in his power, both in and out of Par-
liament, to get an efficient Reform Bill enacted.
Mr. Orrell, of Bolton ; Mr. Willis, of Ackworth ;
Mr. Plante, of Liverpool; Alderman Pocking, of
Salford ; Mr. W. Chadwick, of Arksey ; Mr. Snow-
don, of Halifax ; Mr. Robson, of Leeds ; and Mr.
Fleming, of Leeds, addressed the meeting in suc-
cession.

In reply to Mr. Cowan, Mr. BAINES said he
meant a £6 rental, and not a £6 rating in his bill,
for the latter would be equivalent to an £8 rental,
and a £6 rental was what Lord John Russell pro-
posed in his last bill.
The CHAIRMAN said, if nothing was done which
would exclude the co-operation of certain Reform
associations, the objects of the conference would
be half accomplished. He recommended after this
another conference should be held before the meet-
ing of Parliament, and then delegates should be
authorised to operate in London. The question
should be put directly to the Government whether
they intended bringing forward a Reform Bill or
not this session. If a negative answer was returned,
then steps should be taken for bringing forward an
independent measure.
Mr Baines, M.P., Mr. Barnes, Mr. Forster, M.P.,
Mr. Smith, of York, Mr. Dodson, of Hull, and Mr.
Hobson, were added to the business committee, who
were instructed to bring in a definite proposition on
the subject of Reform.

The first day's sitting of the conference termi-
nated at 7 10 p.m.

The conference will assemble again to-morrow
(Tuesday) and will conclude with a demonstrative
meeting in the evening.

The following letter was received on Friday from
Mr. Bright, M.P., by the Secretary of the Glasgow
Council of United Trades :
" Rochdale, Nov. 13, 1861.
t 4 Dear Sir,—l have received your letter with much plea-
sure, and I need not tell you that I regard your movement
as most important and most wise. It is now nearly three
years since, on more than one occasion, I advised the unen-
franchised classes to take the course which your Council
has now adopted, a course which, if followed by the trades'
organisation throughout the country, cannot fail to bring
about a speedy concession of the suffrage to a very consider-
able number of those to whom, up to this time, it has been
denied.

" At this moment there are at least six millions of men
in the United Kingdom who have no more political power,
through any sy stem of representation, than they would have
if they were inhabitants of Russia or Austria ; they are
more in number than all the men in the new Italian king-
dom, and they are purposely excluded from every political
franchise in a country which professes a groat anxiety for
the establishment of representative institutions in other
lands.

" Up to ne year 1832, the year of the Reform Bill, the
Government of England was entirely in the hands of the
territorial aristocracy. They formed, as they still form, the
House of Lords ; and in the House of Commons they were
supreme through the influence of rotten boroughs. The
Reform Bill destroyed many rotten of the boroughs, and
gave a limited suffrage, and a number of seats to populous
towns ; it also increased the numbers of county members,
confirming the power of that branch of the representation
in the hands of the territorial proprietors by extending the
county franchise mainly to the occupying tenants of farms
without affording to them the security of the ballot.
"Looking at the Reform Bill in the most favourable
light, it left many boroughs whose population is too small
to secure their independence; it continued a distzibution of
seats without any regard to industry, wealth, or population
and while it cut off several channels by which working men'
enfranchised themselves as freemen in boroughs, it effec-
tually barred them out fawn the new franchises it created
by the high range of rental in counties and boroughs which
it fixed as the line below which the right of voting should
not be permitted to descend.
" Nearly 30 years have passed since the Reform Bill be-
came law, and it is, I think, universally felt that the
arrangement then made can no longer bo defended or main-
tained. Three Whig Governments, one Coalition Govern-
ment, and one Tory Government have within the last ten
years admitted this. The Queen has admitted it by express
declarations in several speeches to Parliament, and by con-
senting to the introduc ion of Government bills proposing
to extend the franchise to £lO occupiers in counties, and to
,E 6 occupiers in boroughs.

"Last year, in the session of 1860, a bill was brought in

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