The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-10 00:00:00

MEETING AT OLDHAM".

On Monday night, a meeting, convened by he
Mayor in compliance with a requisition signed by
12 members of the Town Council, and about 100
inhabitants was held in the Town Council, Oldham.
for the purpose of consietering the propriety of peti-
tioning parliament in favour of Mr. Baines's bill
for a*X6 borough franchise. The Mayor (A. Leach,
Esq.) took the chair. The room was tolerably well
filled.

The MAYOR said, in reviewing the reform ques-
tion, they must all admit that during the past few
years the people of this country had appeared to be
rather apathetic as compared with the feeling ma-
nifested on this question ten or twelve years ago.,
It was for the meeting to take the question in their
own hands, and to show by their votes whether
they thought that the franchise ought to be ex-
tended to the £6 householders. (Applause.)
Mr. JOHN TAYLOR moved the first resolution :
" That this meeting views with regret and indigna-
tion the abandonment of the question of reform by
her Majesty's present advisers, thus failing to fulfil
those pledges under which they accepted office,
thereby forfeiting the confidence and support of the
great liberal party both in and out of parliament:
This meeting, therefore, pledges itself to use every
constitutional means to compel either the present
government or any other government to make the
reform question a cabinet measure." He ascribed
the apparent indifference of the people of this
country on the question of reform to the repeated
disappointments they had experienced, which led
them to think that there was no measure of reform
to be obtained from a Palmerston government.
(Hear, hear.) He had no faith in Lord Palmer-
ston, any more than he had in Lord Derby, and of
the two he believed Lord Derby was the most
honest. (Hear.)
Mr. ROBINSON seconded the motion.
Alderman PLATT supported the resolution, and
said it was no matter whether the people were in-
different or not, the government were pledged to
bring forward a reform bill, and they having aban-
doned the subject, the country would be fully justi-
fied in repudiating the present cabinet. (Hear, hear.)
In Oldham they had one member who was favour-
able to reform and one who was unfavourable. It
would not do to go on this way, because now the bo-
rough was entirely neutralised. (Applause.) Whilst
in Italy manhood suffrage was established ; and
whilst in France they had a suffrage which was
almost as extensive ; while Austria was also widen-
ing the basis of her constitution, it would indeed be
singular if this country, the cradle of liberty, were
to retrograde, or to stand still. For his own part,
he would not be sorry to see the Palmerston Go-
vernment turned out to-morrow. (Applause.) He
was quite prepared to see a Tory Government in
power. It was better, in his opinion, to have honest
opponents than insincere friends. He, however,
would be very sorry to condemn all the Ministry
with the present Premier; because he was certain
there were persons in the Cabinet who had the
well being of the country at heart. He had only
to mention one name—that of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer—(cheers)—and he was sure they would
all agree with him that Mr. Gladstone, though
brought up in a great measure as a Conservative,
had shown a mind that could not stand ail
(Applause.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Alderman BoYD proposed the following resolu-
tion :—" That while this meeting considers no Re-
form Bill complete which does not include manhood
suffrage, the ballot, annual Parliaments, and a more
equal distribution of seats in proportion to popula-
tion and property, yet it will not withhold its sup-
port from the bill at present before the House of
Commons for a reduc!ion of the franchise to 1:6
householders in cities and boroughs, introduced by
Edward Baines, Esq., M.P. for Leeds."
Mr. DRANSFIELD seconded the motion, which was
carried.

Other speakers addressed the meeting, and the
proceedings were brought to a close by the usual
vote of thanks.

MEETING AT DEWSBURY.

On Saturday evening a meeting to consider the
general question of reform was held in the large
room at the Royal Hotel. There was a numerous
attendance. Dr. T. Thompson occupied the chair.
After a powerful speech by the Chairman,
Mr. NicHoLsoN moved the following resolution :
—" That in the opinion of the meeting an exten-
sion of the suffrage which will at least confer the
franchise on every male person rated to the relief
of the poor, together with vote by ballot, a more
equitable distribution of seats, and shorter Parlia-
ments, is a necessary measure of reform."
The resolution having been seconded by Mr.
FRANCIES, and supported by Mr. HARRISON, of
Batley, was carried unanimously.
Mr. STEAD moved the second resolution :—" That
in the opinion of this meeting her Majesty's Go-
vernment having taken office under a pledge to
carry a more comprehensive reform bill than
that of Lord Derby's Government, is morally and
honourably bound to pass such a bill without delay,
or to resign their trust."
Mr. R. CLARKSON seconded the motion, and in
the course of his speech adverted to Mr. Baines's
Borough Franchise Bill, which he most cordially
recommended.

Mr. ‘VooDHEAD supported the proposition,
which, when put to the vote, was approved by the
meeting.
It was then resolved to forward to Mr. Frank
Crossley, M.P., for immediate presentation, a peti-
tion based upon the foregoing resolutions, and
sigred by the chairman on behalf of the meeting.
Addresses condemnatory of the course pursued
by her Majesty's Ministers, and by many members
of the House of Commons (especially animadvert-
ing upon the recent letter of Sir J.Ramsden) were
delivered, after which a resolution was adopted to
the effect that an association be formed to agitate
until a satisfactory measure of reform. is obtained.

MEETING AT BRADFORD.
The petition recently in course of signature at
Bradford, in favour of Mr. E. Baines's bill for the
exteusiori of the franchise in boroughs to £(3 house-
holders has received more than 20,000 signatures,