The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-07 00:00:00

" ' That, as the recent demonstrations throughout the
country justify the conclusion that the nation is strongly
in favour of the principles of this association, it is now
the special province cf the Council to develope the
feeling which unquestionably prevails, and that this
should be done as speedily as possible, so as to produce a
timely influence on the proceedings of Parliament.
"'That it is necessary, as a preliminary measure, to
extend the organization to every town in the kingdom,
and secure local committees, to promote everywhere the
enrolment of members, the delivery of lectures, and
the holding of public meetings. That, to arrange this
organisation, and to incite the friends of Reform to
active and simultaneous efforts, this meeting recom-
mends to the Council that the kingdom should be divided
into districts, and gentlemen be deputed from the Coun-
cil to each of such districts, to superintend, according
to special instructions, the necessary organization, and
report from day to day to the Council.'
" It was moved by Mr. T. J. Searle, of London, se-
unded by Mr. T. Clarke, of London, and carried—
" That the Council be requested to consider the best
means and the most appropriate time to promote the ex-
pression of public opinion, by embodying in a petition the
principles of the association.
" It was moved by Mr. W. J. Hall, London, seconded
by Mr. T. Prout, Westminster, and unanimously agreed:
" ' That, for the purpose of carrying out the objects
of the Association, an appeal be made to the Reformers
of the country at large, to raise a sum of at least 10,0001.
for the year 1850.'
"It was moved by Mr. M'Pherson, of Aberdeen,
seconded by Mr. William Biggs, Leieester, and unani-
mously carried—
" That it be a recommendation to the Council to
convene a conference of persons, delegated by committees
or public meetings of Reformers in all parts of the
kingdom, to be holden in London, not later than the
month of March next, and that the members of the
present consultation pledge themselves to use their best
exertions to advance the objects, and to insure the
success of the principles, of the association.' "
Mr. S. MORLEY rose to move the first resolution—

this meeting, convinced of the necessity of a
general agitation of the United Kingdom on the question
of Parliamentary and Financial Reform, with a view to
an early and universal expression of public opinion on
that subject, would record its cordial and emphatic ap•
prove' of the plans proposed by the Council of the Na-
tional Association for that purpose, and pledges itself to
render immediate and efficient co-operation."
lie yielded to none in his desire to promote the hap-
piness and welfare of his fellow-countrymen. The
objects of the association should receive all the support
in his power.—(Hear.) The association had nothing
to do with party politics—(Hear, hear)—and the
belief that this was so, and that people were begin•
ning to think for themselves—that the people were
shaking off their connexion with individual political
societies, and looking at " measures" rather than
" men," that he came forward to join the movement.
(dear, hear.) He believed that the return of Sir
Robert Peel to power would be hailed with acclama-
tion.—(Hear, hear.) For Lord John Russell's
sympathies with the class to which he belonged were
too great, and had rendered him most unpopular. Sir
R. Peel, looking at the sacrifices he had made, would
move with the spirit of the times and carry out those
popular demands which the association had been
organized to obtain.—(Hear, hear.) A voice had
lately come from Lombard-street which had attracted
considerable attention, since the gentleman who uttered
it was well competent to write on the subject. Mr.
Samuel Gurney showed that unless financial reform
took place, the disturbance of our foreign relations and
other causes would lead to financial embarrassment
—(Hear, hear.) The object of the association was not
simply to reduce the financial burdens which pressed
so heavily on all, but to place the taxes, which must
in any case be levied, equitably on all, and to make
hem fall heavier on those better able to bear them
(Hear, hear.) He read a statement put forward by
a society of working men, which stated that such was
the high rate of taxes that the main produce of their
labour was to swell the revenues of the state, and
prevented them from educating their children as they
wished. He differed, however, as to the conclusion
of the address issued by these worthy men, which
seemed to favour education at the hands of the State,
as he wished to place the education of the rising ge-
neration under the direct control of their natural
protectors.—(" Hear," and "Question.") This was the
question, for he wished to have no State education, and
to prevent the State spending a million a year
to rear up children to support state establishments.—
(Hear, hear.) He cordially supported this associa
tion because its object was to reduce the taxation on
the poor.—(Hear, hear.) Thanks to God bread was
cheap; but if a poor man's wife went to a grocer'a
shop and spent 45., the half of it went in taxation.—
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. W. LEIGH seconded the resolution most
heartily, and intimated that he concurred in all that
had been said by the preceding speaker.
Mr. FEARGUS O'CONNOR said he looked upon the
applause with which he was received as a very cheer-
ing and satisfactory new year's gift, and he was pre-
pared to brave the obloquy and abuse which had been
heaped upon him by false and foolish men for his
joining this movement.—(Cheers.) The Chartist
party had cleared the way for the present agitation,
and he was extremely glad, therefore, to give the
association his entire co-operation.—(Hear, hear,
and cheers.) Let, then, the law maker le
the tax payer, and things would speedily
be made straight in this country.—(Cheers.) The
Times had an announcement this morning that an
extension of the franchise would be proposed in the
Queen's speech next session, but he would recommend
them not to place much faith in this, for the object of the
Ministry was, no doubt, simply to tickle the fancy of
the people, without any intention of' proposing any real
relief. But they would take care to be in the watch-
tower and prevent the people being imposed upon.—
(Hear.) As well might they expect to return to a
system of jog-trot travelling by coach, and do away
with railways and steam navigation, as go back to
the old bull-frog system of protection.—(Loud
cheers.) There was another thing to be de-
stroyed besides protection, and that was their
enormous and bloated Church.—(Loud cheers.)
Their great object was to organize well the public
mind, and he trusted they might look upon Sir
Joshua Walmsley as a fit and fair exponent of
it.—(Loud cheers.) He (Mr. O'Connor) had no
respect for mill owners, or for great money lords,
more than great landlords, for each of them lived on
the blood and sinews of the people ; but s% hat h 3
wanted was men who would 'generously, faithfully,
and honestly represent them in Parliament, and
then he would pledge himself that the rich would
be richer and the poor rich.—(Loud cheering.)
Mr. Cobden they had heard intended to meet Mr.
Disraeli at Aylesbury on Wednesday, and with
God's blessing he would be there also.— (Laughter.)
lie knew something more about agriculture than
Mr. Disraeli, who was simply a financial writer and
declaimer of the Arabian Nights' school. Give that
gentleman 100 acres of land unless he could live like
Nebuchadnezzar, upon grass, he would soon die.—
(Hear and cheers.) He (Mr. O'Connor) entirely
aggreed with the resolution, and he would ask them
to offer no antagonism to the present movement,
which had been so ably propounded by their excellent
chairman.— (Cheers )
The resolution was then put and carried.
Mr. HOWARD, the secretary of the Southwark Re-
form Association, wished to say a few words upon an
important question. He had listened to the report of
the chairman With feelings of unmixed satisfaction,
and he had every reason to believe that the movement
would ultimately triumph.—(Hear, bear.) The so-
ciety to which he was attached had recently dined
together, and after dinner they discussed the ques
tions which were being raised by this society. The
result of that discussion now induced him to trespass
upon the meeting. He bad to present to the chairman
301., the money subscribed at the dinner, which he
should mention did not represent all Southwark, but
only thelparishes of St.Olave's, St. Thomas, and St. Sa-
vour's. Nor was this all that ley intended to do. They
proposed to hold meetings all over the borough; and he
had no doubt the result would be an addition of 1001.
to the funds of the association.—(Hear, hear.) One
,cord more and he had done. He had only to say to
the meeting, " Go ye and do likewise."—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then announced that nearly 1,5001.
had already been subscribed towards the 10,0001. fund.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS then rose to move the second
resolution, which was as follows :
" That this meeting earnestly recommends to the
friends of Parliamentary reform throughout Great Bri-
tain and the colonies to furnish prompt and liberal as
sistance to,the Council;of the National;Association, by the
holding of public meetings, the passing of resolutions,
the formation of committees, the employment of local
Lgents, and the contribution of funds." _ _

Having briefly adverted to the early struggles of the
association, he went on to say, that if the citizens of
London would now come forward and support the
renewed movement about to be set on foot, it would
give a contradiction to the assertion of their Member,
Lord John Russell, that the middle classes of this
country wanted no further reform.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, were they satisfied with the declaration of Lord
John Russel, that the Reform Bill should remain
a final measure ?—(Hear, hear.) The Bill had
actually increased rather than diminished the
evils of the social system ; and, although
it was said to be a final measure, it gave
only one eighth of the male population the
tight to vote for representatives in Parliament.—
(Cheers.) We were now living under a Government
of military and police, and the army at this moment
numbered, 105,000 more than it did in 1830, the last
year of the unreformed Parliament, and unless the
people supported the movement of this association,
there was no hope for any improvement in this abo-
minable system.—(Hear, hear.) The poor man paid
a tax of 300 percent. on rum, 500 on whisky, 100
on malt, 300 on tea, 100 on sugar, and 1,200 on
tobacco, and this state of things could only be got
rid of by baying a reform—a thorough reform—in
Parliament.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HALL cordially agreed in all that had been
said by those who had preceded him. That was
purely a business meeting,.and the sum the Council