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

Xbittott

NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY and
FINANCIAL REFORM ASSOCIATION.—(THIS

DAY.) . -
A public meeting was held this afternoon at the
London Tavern, to enable the Council of the National
Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association to
explain their intended mode of operation during the
present year. The large room was crowded
as en the last occasion of the society
holding a meeting in the City, while very
many were unable to obtain admission. A few ladies
were accommodated with seats in the gallery. On
the platform we observed, amongst other well-known
Reformers, F. O'Connor, Esq., M.P., W. 'Williams,
Esq., C. Gilpin, Esq., D. W. Wire, Esq., W. Bunin,
Esq., J. Irving Scott, Esq., G. W. M. Reynolds
Esq., W. Clarke, Esq., and W. Miall, Esq., Brodie
Dl‘Ghie Willcox, Esq., M.P.
At one o'clock Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P., ac-
companie db y the other members of the eouncil
entered the meeting, and were received with loud
cheers. Sir J. Walmsley was voted to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN opened the proceedings by calling
upon H. Tyndal Atkinson, Esq., the Honorary
Secretary, to read the advertisement convening the
meeting.
This having been done, the Secretary read the
treasurer's report, from which it appeared that the
receipts from the 29th of January to the 31st of last
December, 1849, amounted to 1,980/. 175., and the
expenditure to 1,8791. 6s, leaving a balance of 101/.
105. in hand.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that a vast number of
letters had been received from many staunch friends
of the people, who were unable to attend, but he did
not propose to take up time by reading all of them.
He,however, proposed that some of them should be
communicated to the meeting, since it had been
charged against them out of :doors that they never
had any of their old reformers present at their as-
semblies. These letters would answer that charge, and
prove beyond all dispute that not only the views but
the purses of a numerous body of well-tried Re-
formers were with them.
The SECRETARY then read the following letters,
which were listened to with much interest, and
occasionally interrupted with applause as particular
passages agreed with the feeling of the meeting :
" 103, Westbourae-terrace, Jan. 7, 1850.

My dear Walmsley,—l have been confined to the
house for a couple of days with a cold, and am sorry I
can't be at your meeting. I am engaged to appear
in Buckinghamshire on Wednesday next—(Loud
cheers)—and unless I nurse myself so as to be
well enough to go, the Protectionists will say lam
afraid.
"By the way, what better proof could be had of the
necessity of an alteration of our representative system
than is to be found in the ;simple fact that the
Protectionist party are claiming to have public
opinion on their side in favour of a revival
of the corn-law ?—(Loud laughter.) They tell us
to look at the reaction in the late elections for Kidder-
minster and Reading, where a few hundred men, more or
less, under influence, returnediProteetionists. Now, I
would ask, how many members would they return
in favour of a bread tax, if the constituencies numbered,
as they ought to du, 10,000 voters at least.—(Cheers.)
The necessity of :placing the Howe of Commons more
under the influence of the people few will deny; the only
question is, how to accomplish it. I can only say
that whether it be attempted by a direct vote of the
House of Commons, or by as many as possible of the
people arming themselves with the 40s. freehold franehis),
whatever plan may be resorted to it shall continue to
have my hearty support.—(Cheers"„ All I ask of the
pubic is not to delude themselves with the idea that a
tew Liberal Members of the House can accomplish any-
thing without the co-operation of the great majority of
the people out of doors, and I remain, very truly yours,
"RICHARD COBDEN.

" Sir Joshua Walmsley, M.P."
(The conclusion of the letter was received with
great applause.)

" Ftllenberg House, Stamford•hil7,
" Jan. 5, 1850.

"My dear Sir,—l have just returned from Cambridge-
shire, and regret that I shall have to return on Monday,
bef,re the ime your meeting assembles, or it would have
been highly gratifying to me to have taken part in your
proceedings.

" During the week I have:addressed fivo important
meetings in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, which
meetings have been largely attended by farmers; and,
although I found many farmers who still believe in pro-
tection, I obtained an enthusiastic re,,ponie to all my
appeals in favour of Parliamentary and Finaucial Re-
form.

My deliberate opinion is, that as soon as the farmers
discover the hopelessness of obtaining protection, they
will be the most earnest reformers in the nation.

" Heartily wishing you success, I am yours, sincerely,
" HENRY VINCENT.
" To Sir Joshua Walmesley, M.P."
" London, Jan. 5, 1850.

" Dear Sir,—Although I have for many years zea-
lously advocated the principles of protection, as
doubtless you are aware, and although my
views thereon remain conscientiously unaltered,
yet as 'free trade' is no longer a mere pro-
position, but a fact established by the laws of our
)untry, I feel it my duty to abandon from this time
forth all controversy on the subject—(Cheers)—believ-
ing that the most judicious course for every Protection-
ist to adopt is to use; his utmost exertions towards the
removal of those burdens which oppress the people, so
as to enable them to take advantage of their altered
position. Moreover, I consider a restoration of
the protection laws utterly hopeless—(Cheers)—
from the fact that those who are now endeavouring to
rekindle the agitation possess, with very few exceptions
neither the spirit to adopt, nor the brains to appreciate.
--(Laughter)—the only possible means that could
afford the remotest chance by which that object could
be attained; while by their virtual rejection of the only
just species of protection, viz., Protection for all, or
protection for none' (which was always my motto), they
render tolerably apparent that the protection they
now seek is not so much protection for British
industry as protection for British idleness.—(Cheers.)
Hence, if any one fancies that the protective laws will
be restored he may rely on it he is building his hopes
on a broken reed, which will only pierce him the deeper.
The course I am now adopting does nut, I conceive, in-
volve any inconsistency on my part, for both publicly
and privately, orally and in my publications on protec-
tion, I always said, Whenein r free trade becomes the
law of the land, we must then have a cheap executive;
the burdens of the people must then be removed; more-
over, that whenever that event should occur I would, in
that case, advocate as z:alously the removal of those
burdens as I was the❑ pleading the cause of protection.
" Desiring to act consistently with these predictions
and declarations, I am determined to use nay humble
ability in the cause of financial reform; and as I fear that
cannot be obtained without Parliamentary reform, then
I say common justice towards the people demands the
latter also.—(Loud cheers.)
" Will you, therefore,ldo me the honour of enrolling
my humble name as a member of yeur society.—l have
the honour to be, dear Sir, yours very faithfully,
" W. W. SLLIGH, M.D."

The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting as
follows :—Citizens of London and Gentlemen,—lt is
nine months since I had the honour of presiding
over a meeting similar to the present convened in
this room. The Object of that meeting was to cele-
brate the birth of the Metropolitan Parliamentary and
Financial Reform Association. I meet you to day to
congratulate you on the rapid and unexampled success
of the movement which you then so cordially sup-
ported.— (Cheers.) Not many months had elapsed, after
our meeting in this place before we felt it to be our du'y
to convene an aggregate meeting in Drury lane
Theatre. By this time it had become evident that
the feeling in favour of reform, 'which had been dis-
played throughout the districts of the metropolis,
pervaded the country at large, and it was therefore
resolved to change the name of the association from
that of " Metropolitan" to that of " National."—
(Hear, hear.) Subsequent events have confirmed
the wisdom and propriety of this step, and have
proved that when we became in name a " National"
body, we did but anticipate the feelings and wishes of
the British nation.—(Hear, hear.) Since the meeting
referred to the Council of the association have, to the
extent' of their limited means and the agencies at
their command, taken measures in keeping with the
name they had assumed, Deputations have, amongst
other places, visited Northampton, Norwich, New-
castle, Sunderland, North and South Shields, Car-
lisle, Paisley, Greenock, Perth, Glasgow, Aberdeen,
Denbigh, Wrexham, Stockport, and Wolverhampton.
In no instance have the representatives of the associa-
tion failed to meet a friendly and enthusiastic recep-
tion. Large and influential committees have been
formed in all these places to carry out the objects of
the body. In the towns and cities which have been
f
named, as well as in many other
places,_or the friends of
representative improvement are
ready
will look to this assembly for counsel action, and
the influence
and example.
I think I may say with truth that t which
this association ha; been able to exert has been owing
less to any peculiar merit in the plans w
been concocted, and still less to the rank oritcuhlen have
the individuals connected with it, than to the circuttne-f
stance that the country, at the time this speietY came
in. ex'stence and promulgated its scheme of reform,eine
was already convinced of the necessity fur the change
proposed, and ripe for a great and united movement in
i s faveur. In a word, the feeling had not to b~ created,
it was already engendered, and had but to developed
and conc...ntrated upon some practical proposition.—
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, if when the issue was doubt.
ful the Council of the associatiun felt it to be their
duty to advance, how much more so, when
they had the unquestionable proof before them, that
the friends of progress in every part of the
kingdom were with them. They were desirous,
however, to proceed with discretion, and in concur-
rence with the views and opinions of men of expe-
rience and judgment in other parts of the country.
They accordingly invited a select number of their
tried supporters to a preliminary consultation. The
meeting took place on the 20th of last month, when,
after mature deliberation, three things were

•
unanimously agreed to ; first, that a fund of
not less than ten thousand pounds should be
raised to be devoted during tithe present year to
the purposes of the association ; secondly, that im-
mediate measures should be adopted to arous e by
simultaneous meetings, the entire country ; and,
thirdly, that a great conference should be convened
in London in the month of March next.—(Cheers.)
What was jointly resolved upon at this consultation
the Council are determed to carry out, and if possible
accomplish.—(Hear.) Of the ability of the Council
to fulfil the second and third resolutions there can be
no doubt, if the first should be realised, and of the
practicability of doing this there is no cause for fear.
—(Hear, hear.) Before, however, making a general
appeal to the country for pecuniary aid, the Council
deemed it their duty to set an example of liberality
themselves, and also to convoke this meeting as a
"committee of ways and means." Not many days will
elapse after the termination of our proceedings here
before a similar appeal will be made to the next
city of the empire.—(Hear, hear.) A list of
those who have already contributed to this fund will
be read to you, and you will be invited to swell that
list by additional contributions on the spot, that it
may be known to the world to-morrow that this
great metropolis, forward in every work of national
philanthrepy and commercial enterprise, is foremost
also in this great work of representative regeneration
—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, while I am: on the sub-
ject of money, and while I return my fervent
thanks to those who, since this association was origi-
nated, have been ever ready with their purses to help
ui, let me not forget the essential service which has
been rendered by gentlemen who have given us more
than money, namely, their time, their intellect, and
their effective labours and eloquence in our cause.
Thus far the harvest has been truly great, but
the labourers have been few; but let me tell
you, for your encouragement, that we shall
not for the future lack men to go forth and reap
every part of the wide field which is before us.—
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, it is my confident belief that
before many months have passed away, the expres-
sions of sympathy with us will not be confined to
the British Isles—we have fellow-subjects in every
section of the globe, as virtuous, as intelligent,
aye, and as discontented with the present state
of things as ourselves.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
In every essential particular, their cause and ours is
the same.—(Hear, hear.) They are wholly without
representation in this country, and in the majority of
instances their so-called representation in the colonies
is a mere name and a mockery.—(Hear, hear.)
They are burdened beyond their means ; hey are
tossed trom Governor to Governor,sand from Minis
ter to Minister ; and are the victim and the sport of
the schemes of first one theorist and then of another.
They are made to pay inordinately for the gewgaw
pageantry of courts, which are maintained only for
the benefit of an idle and tax-devouring aristocracy,
and worthless officials.—(Cheers.) Our redemption
from class legislation in Great Britain will be their
acquisition of responsible self-government abroad.
This they will clearly perceive ; and in this
home movement for a real reform of the
House of Commons we may reasonably rely
upon the effective assistance of our misgoverned
fellow-subjects throughout the whole of the British
dependencies.—(Hear, hear.) Thus, gentlemen, we
have before us the prospect of an association no
national merely, but comprehending in its purposet
the polity of the empire.—(Hear, hear.) Gentles
men, let me call upon you to-day to survey th-
elements of mighty power lying everywhere state
tered around you. The conviction is deep, uni-
versal, and intense, that the House of Commons
is no real representation of the people, but on the
contrary, the representation only of class interests,
the aristocracy and those who profit by corruption
and monopoly being predominant. This is one great
element of your strength.—(Cheers.) The burdens of
the people are intollerable, and they see no effectual
alleviation save through a reform of the House of
Commons.—(Hear, hear.) Behold, then, another
powerful element in your favour.—(Hear, hear.) The
agricultural classes are fast becoming convinced that
they have been duped and misled, and will soon cease
to put their faith in squires and landed oligarchs, and
will trust only in themselves, and seek relief, not in
a restoration of protection, but in fair rents, in just
and equitable leases, in the abolition of game-laws,
and a reduction of national expenditure and taxation.
—(Cheers.) They will join your ranks, and be
another and important element of strength.—(Hear,
hear.) The middle classes have thought and reasoned
themselves out of the fears awakened by politic Home
Secretaries and that portion of the press which supports
misrule, and are fast learning that the industrious
classes are as much the lovers of order and the
respecters of property as themselves. They are now
generally in favour of a large extension of the suf-
frage, and are an element of vital strength in our
cause.—(Cheers.) To the honour and credit of the
working classes let me say—and I say it with deep
gratitude and thankfulness--that without abandon-
ment of their principles they are willing to be our
fellow-labourers in the work of making the scheme
which we have propounded the law of the land.—
(Cheers.) They are ready to unite with us because
they perceive that they will, upon our basis, be
assisted by the vigorous and essential co-operation of
large and influential classes of persons of less extreme
political opinions, but equally convinced of the
imperious and absolute necessity of a real Parlia-
mentary reform.—(Loud cheers.) Need I point
to the fact of a cordial union with the working
classes as an element of vast power—(No)—ena-
bling us as it does to show a united front to our op.
ponents, and to speak with the authority and majesty
of a reconciled and consolidated people ? There is yet
another source of strength to which I must allude.
There are numerous parties of earnest and
thoroughgoing men, who have for years been
grappling with individual gigantic abuses.—
(Hear, hear.) They have hitherto laboured all
but in vain. These men are with us—they see that
we have taken hold of the lever of accomplishment—
they see that we are pioneers for them—they regard
us as the forerunners and harbingers of their success,
and they will aid us, that they may eventually secure
their own objects.—(Cheers.) Such, Gntlemen, are
the elements of our power.—(Hear, hear.) I
take upon me to say, that never in our history were
elements more mighty, combined to effect a peaceful
political change. They will be at command for all
practical purposes. They will be employed for the
purification and freedom of counties by the 40s. free-
hold votes; for the renovation of boroughs by the 101.
household register and tke enfranchisement of com-
pound householders, and they will be at command at
every election which may take place from this time
forth for the purpose of overthrowing mere party men,
and returning real and true reformers.—(Cheers.) But,
gentlemen, while we will neglect no practical
agencies, we have faith in the potency of public
opinion, when constitutionally and universally ex-
pressed. We believe this measure may be carried by
the force of public opinion alone, and our belief
rests upon the numerous recorded triumphs of
public opinion upon other great questions. We shall
seek to elicit in the shortest possible period of time
such an expression of the mind and will of the people
as will be irresistible by any Government or Parlia-
ment.—(Cheers.) Finally, gentlemen, I call upon
you to set a noble example to the country this day.
This is the first meeting of 1850, and, as is fit, it
is held in the metropolis. Show the people of this
great country what they should do, and, my word
for it, they will do it. Tell them what they should
give, and set them an example, and they will give it.
—(Cheers.) Place yourselves in the van of this
movement and we will place millions of the people at
your back. The national response will be hearty
liberal, and universal as your own conceptions and
acts are generous, comprehensive, and majestic. I
now sit down, expressing my hope and belief that
this meeting in its objects and its issues will be one
of the greatest and most momentous ever convened in
the city of London, but also strong in confidence,
that whatever may be the acts by which the ,proceed-
ings of this day may be characterised, the heart of
our country is set upon the achievement of the end
we have in view, and that as surely as our cause is
just and patriotic, so surely will our victory be glo-
rious and complete.—(Loud cheers.)
The SECRETARY then read the following document
in explanation of what the Chairman stated at the
opening of his address :
"At a meeting of reformers, convened for the purpose
of consultation, and as a preliminary to a National Con-
ference, held at the King's Head Tavern, City of Lon-
don, on Thursday, December 20, 1849, present Sir J.
Walmsley, M.P., in the chair; thirty members of the
council: W. J. Fox, M.P., B. M'Ghie Wilcox,
Esq., ALP., A. Anderson, Esq., M.P., G. Thomp-
son, E.: q., M.P., and Messrs. James Humphreys
(Saffron Walden), Jasses Waller Luton, Bed-
fordshire), Hobart Norris (Redland, Bristol), Thomas
S. Gilbert (Bristol), William Biggs (Leicester),
Thomas L. Harman (Southampton), Timothy
Falvey (Southampton), Edmund Clemson (Eynsford,
Kent),
(Nor-
wich), SpencerJW.lll.lli.amTille J. D Smith (Nor-
es Jackson (Great
t (N o
r(wCioc 'she)! trjya)i,n
Yarmouth), Ralph Walters (Neweasctle on-Tyne), al-
ward Gpla.nd (Chehnsford), the Rev. Thomas Spencer,
A,ll
-.2 the Rev. William Linwood (Sydenham), Messrs.
W. J. Birch (Pudlicote, Oxfordshire), John Shoard
(Bristol), Josiah Hunt (Almondbury, Gloucestershire),
John til'Pherson(Aberdeen), Martin Blackmore
.m.
(Wandsworth),
John Thwa. James Grant, David Parker ( ipories),
John Carvell es
Williams
Bthwark),Thomas E. Bow kett Woplar)
t (Blackfriars), Frederick Doulton
(Lambeth), WilliamE .Weir, Stephen Bird (Kensington),
Thomas Clarke,
William A. 11. 110 Crowe, Edward Lane (Alderegate)
(Iligh Bailiff of Mows (Shoreditcb), William Pritchard
Southwark) A 1 e ey Pellatt (Black-
friars), Richard Reify (R s •
(Royal Exchange-buildings)—
" It was moved by the Rev, T. S
seconded by Mr. J.
_ad' . pencer, of Notting-
hill,e of Deptford, and unani-
mously carried,:that the r • • eporteof the Council be adopted
and confirmed.

"It was moved by Mr. J. 11. Tillet, of Norwich,
seconded by Mr. Norris, of Bristol, and unanimously
carried—

THE SUN,