The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-27 00:00:00

REFORM MEETING AT 11 UDDERS.
FIEZD. • '

Last evening, a meeting called by the Huddersfield
Registratiot Soci , was held in the Philosophical Hall,
Huddersfield, for the purpose of considering Mr. Baines's
bill for.t. e reduction of the borough franchise to £6. Mr.
Benjamin Robinson ;took the chair. There was a very
large attendance.
The Rev. R. Baucz moved the first resolution, which
was as follows :
" That this meeting, while expressing its regret that
her Majesty's Government has not fulfilled its pledges on
the subject of Parliamentary Reform, and that the House
of Commons has rejected Mr. Locke King's bill for the
extension of the county franchise, rejoices in the introduc-
tion of Mr. Baines's measure for the extension of the
borough franchise, as an important step in the direction of
such a comprehensive reform as the country needs."
Mr. JOSIAH RHODES seconded the resolution.
Mr. LEATHAM, M.P., rose to support the resolution, and
was greeted with deafening applause. He said when he
last had the honour to address them they met together
to promote th 6 Reform Bill of Lord John Russell. That
was a Measure mild and moderate—a measure which, con-
sidering the position of the House of Commons and the
circumstances in which the Cabinet were placed, but.
more than all the strong attitude of indolence which the
great nials of the people maintained with respect to the
question of reform, they felt they ought not to reject
but ought to accept as an instalment. Introduced
late in the session, overlain by other Government
bills, the measure fell at last before the supineness
of the Government, the unwearied hostility of the oppo-
sition, and before the lukewarmness of the people. But
when the measure was allowed to fall, it was with the
distinct understanding that it was to be renewed at the
earliest possible opportunity. (Hear.) During the recess,
and more especially as the time approached for the re-
assembling of Parliament, ugly rumours began to circulate
to the effect that the session of 1861 was not to witness
another Reform Bill at all. Those rumours were confirmed
and contradiated until people hardly knew what to be-
lieve. But, amidst all the contradictory rumours, there
was no one who judged so ill of Lord John Russell,
there was no one who had so thoroughly measured the
matchless audacity of Lord Palmerston—(a laugh)—there
was no one who had become so thoroughly convinced
of the prostitution of our public men, or of the per-
fidy of the Government, as to believe, as to venture for
one moment to foretell that that which had occurred
would occur—that after the Government had taken their
seats only upon the question—(hear, hear)—had thrown
out another GoVernment upon this question alone, and
had 'given every possible promise and pledge which men
could give—after they had recommended this measure
from the august lips of the Sovereign herself—no one
imagined that this despicable and delinquent Govern-
ment, flinging to the winds its faith, its honour, and
its reputation, and casting on one side the confidence
of those whose support was vital to its very existence.
There was no one, he repeated, who had the hardihood
to fortell that without a pledge to the nation, without
even attempting to hold out one specious hope for the
future, they would renounce, with a sneer upon their
lips, the whole policy upon which alone they had
been made a Government at all. (Loud cheers.) He
did not hesitate to say that there was nothing more
painful in the whole history of Ministerial failures than
the prodigality with which Lord J. Russell had cast aside a
great political reputation, had disappointed the expectations
of half a million of his countrymen, expectations which he
himself had been the first to raise, and which, when it suited
his purpose, he was the first, with simpering jocularity, to
betray. (Applause.) These were bold words, but he meant
them to be so. There were times when boldness became a
virtue, and this was one of them. They had arrived at a
crisis when there was only one course open to straightfor-
ward Liberal politicians. It might be a coUrse.which they
would follow with reluctance, but it was a course which
was imperatively and conclusively demanded if they were
to maintain those great principles which were dearer to
them than the flimsy ties of party, or than the security
of a renegade Administration. If, some fine morning
after Easter, he read over his breakfast table amongst
the other deaths in the paper the announcement of the

death of Lord Palmerston's Government, he must confess

for himself that his appetite would not be very materially
impaired thereby. (Laughter and cheers.) Mr. Leatham
reviewed the way in which the Government had dealt with
the great questions of the ballot, which was laughed out
of the house by Lord Palmerston—the Church Rates Abo-

lition Bill, on which subject the one great speech against
the bill had been made from the Treapury benches—the
Lords' Aggression and the Reform Bill: If this were a
Liberal Administration, all he could say was, from hence-
forth might Providence protect them from Liberal Admi-

nistrations. (Cheers and laughter.) put it, was said
that it was the foreign policy of the Government, and
mcie_esßeciallY.the course they had 44n, with regard to
Italy, which was to blind the people 1110. errors. He
contended that' the policy the Government had adopted
ibi_ _

h regard to that -country was the irrevocable policy of
the people of England, and that neither Lord Derby nor

anbother man could have pursued a different course.

(Applause.) But what had been their policy with regard to
Hunger)/ Why Lord John Russell was never weary of be-
spattering with praise the most contemptible Government
on the rite Of the earth—the Government of Austria—(hear,
hear)-and only within the last few weeks, this great and in-
dependent Government of England had condescended to
do that which was odious in the eyes of Englishmen.
(Applause.) They had become so far embued not only
with the love of Austria, but also with Austrian notions,
that they had condescended to play the spy on Louis
Kossuth. (Loud applause.) It, was also said that they
Must keep Lord Palmerston in, in order that they might
keep Lord Derby out. (A laugh.) Now, he had yet to learn

that these were the only two Men whom Providence had

fitted to conduct the Government of this country.
(Cheers.) But, granted that it were so, he would venture
to affirm that Lord Palmerston was capable of doing more
injury to the cause of liberal opinion in one year than
Lord Derby was in five. (Hear, hear.) Nay, he would

go further/ aifd' say that Lord Palmerston had done more
injury to the cause of Liberal opinion in England during

the past year than Lord Derby had done during the
whole of his _past life. (Applause.) If, Lord Derby came
in it would be on sufferance, and he must keep peace
with Frarice, must take % right course with regard to
Italy, and must refrain, above all, from bringing forward

party measures. Mr. Leatham concluded an eloquent
peroration by urging upon the working men to take the
nastion of Reform in their own hands, to petition from
every village and from every mill, aid to register a
solemn vow that night to • give no slumber to their
eyelids, and no rest to their eyes, until they had ceased to
be the slaves of other men, and to be the victims of

other men's taxation. He sat down amidst enthusiastic
cheering.

The following resolutions were subsequently proposed,

and carried unanimously :

" That this meeting is of opinion that the intelligence,
morality, and patriotism of the working classes, impera-
tively demand such an extension of the franchise as shall

give lo these classes a fair share in the election of represen-
tatives to Parliament."

" That a petition ernbodying the previous resolutions be
immediately prepared, and that Mr. Leathern be respect-
fully requested to present it to the House -of Commons."

THIS DAPS MARKETS,

-

CORN EXCHANGE.

The arrivals of English grain, fresh up, to this morning's
market, were considerably on the increase, and in compa-
ratively fiiir condition. All good and fine qualities were in
steady request, at fully Monday's advance in the quota-
tions ; but inferior sorts moved off slowly, on former
terms.

The imports of foreign wheat were tolerably extensive ;
nevertheless all descriptions met a steady consumptive in-
quiry, at full quotations.
In the value of floating cargoes of grain no change took
place. .

Fine malting barley was held at 455. per quarter, but all
other kinds were very dull and difficult of sale.
Malt changed hands to a limited extent, at late rates.
The oat trade ruled steady, at full currencies for all good
and fine corn.
Beans and peas realised Monday's quotations, with a
moderate demand.
Most kinds of flour were in steady request, and prices
were well supported.
Next Friday, being Good Friday, the market will be
closed.

ARRIVALS THIS WEEK.
Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour.
Encr115h........ 1,880 ( 1,240 1,940 lOO I 1,150
Ira
F0reign........ 13,470 910 9,250 1 700saaks
11,340 brls.