The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-01 00:00:00

MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM.

-- - -
TUESDAY EVENING, FIVE o'CnocK.—Since Mr. Dun-
combo's disclosures in the House of Commons respecting the
Grahamising, as it is termed here, of the letters passing
through the Post-office, the utmost desire has prevailed
amongst the working classes to pay that gentleman a tri-
bute of respect for his conduct in bringing to light what is
deemed by all as a most gross violation of those rules which
ought to govern so important a branch of our national esta-
blishments as that of the Post-office. With a view to carry
out their feelings, a committee of working men was ap-
pointed last week to make the necessary arrangements, and
they obtained the use of the Town- hall, and the consent of
Thomas Weston, Esq., Mayor, that he would preside on the
occasion of a public meeting to receive Mr. Duncombe. To-
day was accordingly fixed for the meeting, and at one o'clock
the Mayor took the chair, amidst very great cheering, which
lasted for some time. _ _

The MAYOR explained the object of the meeting, and
paid the working classes some high compliments for their
conduct.

Mr. CLARKE came forward to move the first resolution,
and in doing so, said they were met that day to do honour
to the man who had presented a petition signed by three
millions and a half of the men of England—the man who
had in fact proved himself the greatest friend they ever had
in the House of Commons. They were assembled to do
honour to that man who, above all others, had done more
towards exposing the oppressions of the labouring classes in
the House of Commons than any other man who now occu-
pies a seat in that House. They honoured Mr. Duncombe
not because lie was more honest than he ought to be ; but
now that they had so few honest men in the House of Corn
mons, they ought to appreciate the man who had courage to
come forward as Mr. Duncombe had done. He had uobly,
he had honestly done his duty ; and he (Mr. Clarke) felt
great pleasure in proposing the followingresolution :—" That
we, the inhabitants of Birmingham, in town meeting assem-
bled, having with inexpressible pleasure the presence
amongst us of Thomas Slingsbv Duncombe, Esq., M.P.,
take this opportunity of thanking him in person for the
manner in which he has advocated the cause of the persecuted of
any class or country, but particularly for the services which
he has rendered the working and industrious millions of this
empire by strangling that monstrous specimen of tyranny,
the Masters and Servants' /3ill, and for his conduct in bring-
ing to light the most disgraceful act of which the honesty
of our country speaks—nem:4v, the opening of letters in her
Majesty's Post-office, which department, we consider, ought
to be held as sacred as the innermost recess of the closet of pri-
vacy. And wefurther hope that Mr. Duncombe will not rest
satisfied until there is a full and public exposure of all the
circumstances connected with this most most disgraceful
transaction."

Mr. DUFFY seconded the resolution, attacking the Bir-
mingham Whigs for not having joined the working classes
at the late election, when Mr. Sturge was candidate for that
borough. But theymight
taught the Whigs a lesson which they would never forget.
de on it the people had
pe end u p
They would keep this party down now they were down, and
never, until they came forward in favour of the great object
of the people's affections, would they receive the support of
the masses.

Mr. DUNCOMBE,
M.P., then came forward, and was re-
ceived with great cheering, which lasted a long time. He
said the Mayor had told him the more he saw of the people
of Birmingham, the more he respected them. Now, he (Mr.
Duncombe) could assure them that the more he knew of the
people of England, the more he respected them, and the more
fully convinced was he that they were justly entitled to those
rights and principles for which they were contending. He
could not but feel extremely grateful for the distinguished
mark of respect they had paid him ; and if he should at any
time stand in need of a stimulus to renewed exertions, he
would find it in the recollection of the exceeding great kind-
ness he had received at the hands of the working classes dur-
ing the last few days. Time day before, he met in the town
of Sheffield thousands and tens of thousands of the working
classes, all of whom were actuated by the most intense de--
sire to promote those great principles which had been so fully
and forcibly laid before the people during the last four years.
He could with great truth say he saw the day before an im-
mense demonstration—a whole riding turned out to welcome
him, and do honour to those principles of which he had
been the humble advocate. They might depend upon it the
spirit of the people was most decidedly in favour of liberty,
and it only required combination to insure success. The Hon.
Gentleman then proceeded to the consideration of the two
important points in the resolution they had just passed,
namely, the Masters and Servants' Bill, and the Post-office
delinquencies. In reference to the first measure, he said it
was a most iniquitous attempt to tyrannise over the working
classes. With respect to the Post-office regulations referred
to in the resolution, the Hon. Gentleman said it had been
pretty well ascertained that the Government, aye, that the
Queen herself, had beers made instrumental in spying into the
letters of unfortunate men, who desired the welfare of their
own country. England had been, without all doubt, engaged in
spying forforeign despots. But it was not only foreign letters
that were opened; but he believed it had been proved before a
Secret Committee of the House of Commons that letters had
been opened in England. Yes ; in Manchester letters had
been opened, in the year 1842, when the strike for wages
took place amongst the working classes. Whatever might
be the result of the Committee now sitting, it would yet be-
come a question whether the people of England would allow
the Government to possees the power which they now enjoy,
from an absolute and base Act of Parliament. This, however,
they must make up their minds to do—they must resolve
upon union.—( Hear, hear.) They must sink all small diffe-
rences. They must insist upon their representatives demand-
ingn thet
cordiallyremoval
work
oe ft thosek
togetherA cwt sht;
which
ahvnl
gad
ac,
evaebinot
eNo'ne
aai
nnl
yl the
Hsthings,et it.tyts they
eh yef
that would have the effectof creating
their lives.—(Loud cheers.) He
Commonsmostse
cre
could not say anything
horror of the
in their minds a greater iniquitous system which
has been pursued by the Government, than what already
existed; but he considered it right to tell them, that what-
ever' ht be the result of the Committee now sitting on the
infa-
mouspower and
teepen defrauding
their
might
the Government should have the power they had been so long
nextthe Minister,statute-b owokh,eeovrerthheye
mightwould
subject, it would still rest wi.th the people to say whether
who
throa nws uctl!dl oelntiantswes orissi:
in the habit of exercising. They must cause those Acts under
which Sir James Graham took shelter to be repealed—they
Hon. Gentleman, after delivering
be, would not practise the same outrages upon their feelings.
effective speech, sat down amidst repeated cheering,
a very
and was followed by
Mr. RI CHARDS, who,
havemust nb oe security swept awt
al
iYa t
after briefly addressing the meeting,
proposed a resolution in favour of the Charter; which having
—(Great cheering.)
been seconded, and Mr. F. O'Connor having addressed the
meeting, the resolution was carried.
fromTthhee
Thanks having been given to the Chairman, the meeting
separated:

Thursday last; and from a re-
turnotnh sports of the day, but which -
WORKINGTON ANNUAL ATHLETIC MEETING.—This
annual display of the strength and agility of the men of
t length, it appears there was no
lack of competitors in the field. The prize was for light
we Cumberland,
rew e
have
unable t
roetoocke
ig placevievde
of
a
weights, not ex:.eeding 14 stones ; and in the first round
no less than 28 couples and an odd man were engaged ; in
the second, 14 couples and an odd man; in the third, 7
couples and an odd man ; in the fourth, 4 couples ; in the
fifth, John Ivison, of Carlisle, threw William Spark, of
Threlkeld ; and Joseph Holloway, of Penrith, threw Jona-
than Robinson, of Seaton ; and in the sixth and final round,
Holloway threw 'viol). twice, and Wa.l cunsequeutly declared
the yieter.