The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-26 00:00:00

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FESTIVAL.
A public Festival, in celebratiun of the opening of the Hall
of tie National Association, took place last evening, at the
Hall, 242, High Holborn. J. T. Leader, Esq., was in the Chair.
'lie room was extremely full, and more than half of the
audience were ladies, whose bright eyes and flowing lorks, gave
an additional charm to the entertainment. Several excellent
vocalists were amongst the company, and at intervals enlivened
the meeting with various selections of vocal music, which added
greatly to the pleasure of the evening. The tea, coffee, &c.,
were excellent, and certainly did credit to the parties who su-
perintended the " getting up," and the company evinced their
gratitude by doing ample justice to the fare.
As soon as the cloth was removed,
The CHAIRMAN rose, and was received with loud
cheering. He said he saw around him many who were
accustomed to attend public meetings, and he had no doubt
that all of them had heard speakers say a number of things
which they did not feel quite so sincerely as they expressed
them. But he begged of them to believe that on that occasion
he expressed the sincerity of his footings, when he told them
that he never felt so much gratified at any public meeting in
his life as he did on that occasion.—(Cheers.) There were
several reasons for his peculiar gratification, and one of then,
was—and that not the least—in seeing so many of the fairer
and better sex adorning that meeting with their presence.—
( Cheers. ) He felt the more gratified at seeing them there,
considering how much depended upon them in carrying out
their opinions and views, as in a great part the reduction of the
rising generation depended upon their exertion.—(Cheers.)
Another reason for his peculiar gratification was that.
he should have been selected for the great honour of
presiding on that occasion—viz., the opening of that hall for
the purposes of the workingclasses.—(Cheers. ) But the chief
cause of his gratification on that occasion was, that he ex-
pected great things from the establishment of that hall. They
had now got their own Exeter Hall, and though it was large,
and though, perhaps, they would not have so many Lords and
great people holding forth in that hall, yet he truly believed
that a better doctrine would be preached there.—(Loud cheers.)
He believed that there would be more true Christian charity
preached in that hall, and a sounder doctrine raised for the
benefit of the mass, than ever was preached in Exeter Hall.—
( Cheers.) He had been called upon to speak to the first sen-
timent—the sentiment was good in idea, as it was happily ex-
pressed. He had very great pleasure in speaking to the senti-
ment, because this was of all others the time in which they
ought to strive to get rid of the evils complained of in that
sentiment. It run thus :—" The People—may all men per-
ceive it to be their duty to investigate the causes of social mi-
sery and political oppression ; and may they be speedily united
in the holy endeavour to make their country prosperous, en-
lightened, virtuous, and free." He had often heard in another
place that the House of Commons was the representative of the
intelligence, the morality, and wealth of this great country.
He (Mr. Leader) had denied it there, and he denied it louldly in
that hall.—(Cheers.) It was not now the denial of a single
man—it was not the denial of any person who might be con-
tradicted by any other person, for they had sound Parliarrentay
authority for saying, that in the House of Commons there sat
Members who had no right to their seats—their seats had been
secured by disgraceful compromises—their seats had been se-
cured by profligate bribery, and what he considered another
species of bribery, wholesale intimidation.—(Loud cheers. )
For his part he considered that the country owed a debt of
gratitude to Mr. Roebuck—(Loud cheers)—for the bold, the
successful, and admirable manner in which he had charged
those Members with delinquencies, and exposed them to the
world at large.—(Cheers.) Many of them knew that it
was notorious in Parliamentary circles, as they were called,
that corrupt compromises had taken place for years. This
had been often asserted in public meetings, and as often de-
nied by those interested in denying it. Then it was mere as-
sertion against assertion ; many persons believed that such
things existed, but there was no good evidence of its existence.
But now they might go with the blue book, containing Mr.
Roebuck's report, in hand, and they might see the great borough
of Nottingham disgraced by bribery, and mote disgraceful
compromise. There was Harwich, Lewes, Reading,
Penne, with equally disgraceful cases of bribery and
compromise, and he would tell them that they might judge
sixty or seventy other places by the exposition of these six
places. This exposition proved how the representatives of the
morality, intelligence, and wealth of the country gained their
seats and kept them.—(Cheers.) He believed that the Bill of
Lord John Russell never could put down bribery and intimida-
tion • nothing but a large extension of the constituencies ever
would have that effect.--( Tremendous cheering.) He believed
that the remedy was not in making men take an oath at the bar
of the House of Commons, nor by making. the poor elector
perjure himself after having taken a bribe ; this was nos the
remedy to be applied to the representative system—the only re-
medy was by increasing the franchise—(Loud cheering)—
and until the franchise was extended, there would be no remedy.
class legislation was destroying and overwhelming this country.
The term " class legislation" was very unpalatable in a certain
high place. It was unpalatable because of its perfect truth
and application. He believed that there was no remedy but
universal suffrage--(Cheers.) He was extremely sorry to be
under the absolute necessity of leaving town very early that
evening, or he should remain there until the meeting broke up.
Thanking them for the attention with which they had heard
him, he begged to conclude with the sentiment which he
had read.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. Thomas, the Barrister, was then proposed, and took
the chair.
Mr. LOVETT read letters of apology for non-attendance at the
meeting, owing to previous engagements, from Col. Thompson,
Mr. T. Duncombe, Sir J. Easthopc, Dr. Bowring, Earl
Radnor, Mr. Sharman Crawford, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Williams,
Mr. Elphinstone, Mr. Wynn Ellis, and others.
Miss Hick then favoured the company with a song, which
was much applauded.
Mr. PARRY rose to propose the next sentiment :—" May
our rule] s and legislators soon be made responsible to the
people; may class legislation be destroyed, political corruption
removed, and unjust laws abolished; and may the objects of
rational legislation be speedily realised—namely, the promotion
of industry and the just diffusion of its blessings, the preven-
tion of crime, the restraining of evil doers, and the encouraging
of those who do well." The saddest sight under the sun was
a man, able and willing to work, unable to find employment.
'There was a revolution pending in this country, which could
not be averted except by universal and comprehensive justice.
—(Loud cheers.) They must have a re-organisation of the
system. The rights of woman were as sacred as the rights of
man.—(Cheers.) The present system was rank with abuses.
One of the great excrescences of the State was that overgrown
nuisance the Church of England.—(Loud cheers.) He be-
lieved that it was one of the worst establishments in Europe.
Talk of Popery—Popery, in its worst time, never displayed
anything so sordid and selfish.—( Hear, hear.) Popery did do
some good to the vrorid, but lie thought it was difficult, indeed,
to find that any good had even emanated from the Church of
England. He thought this subject was not sufficiently dis-
cussed at public meetings, and he believed that the Church
pinched them as much as even the Corn-laws did. Look at
the great revenues of the Church. They were at least twelve
minions sterling. Why did this money not go to enlighten the
ignorant people of the country ? He hoped they would all unite
in one firm bond and demand their rights.—( Cheers.)
Mr. W. J. Fox spoke to the sentiment, and was received
with tremendous cheering. He said the opening of that hall
was throwing down the gauntlet to the aristocracy of this
country, calling upon them to come forward to prove that the
working people of this country were unworthy to exercise the
rights of citizenship. What a contrast there was between that
hall and another house. In one house they were discussing
how they should enslave the poor child in the mines,
while they in that hall were discussing how they could
exalt and ennoble him.—( Loud cheers.) Was the poor
man born to be enslaved by the wealthy peer or the profligate
commoner. Were they not all born with one common human
heart? They were met in that hall for the benefit of all classes.
The universality of the suffrage was the great and primary
article of their faith and creed. What absurdity it was of a
man, like Stanley, saying that he and fifteen otkers were fledged
that the suffrage should be allowed to go no further. But for
all this the light of reason must prevail—their agitation must
succeed

" To teach the peasant his own mind to scan,
And learn to know and view himself a man."
—(Cheers.) He hoped that hall would realise all the expec-
tations of its founders, and be attended with an the success its
most devout friends could wish. He hoped they would hear
there from time to time the first principles of universal justice,
npon which alone could be founded true social order, and upon
which only can a legitimate Government be supported. For
no Government could be legitimate unless it was based upon
peace with all the world. and unless its laws were founded on
the principles of nniversal justice and the well-being of huma-
nity, the foundation of the rights of man.—(Cheers.)
Song—" Law and liberty."
Mr. Lovrrv, who was received with loud cheering, said the
sentiment he had been requested to propose, was, " May all
D:eformers perceive the importance of Education—the best in-
strument fur effecting liberty, the surest guarantee for recur•
ing it—the best foundation of good laws; good morals, national
prosperity, and individual happiness." It was their duty to do
all in their pewtr to advance education amongst the people.—
( Hear, hear.) The most important part of education, in his
opinion, was, that which taught them to choose wise and good
governors.—(Cheers.) Were it not for• bad rulers public cor-
ruption could not exist.
Dlr. VINCENT, in a very eloquent speech, but which want
of space compels us to omit, supported the sentiment.
Mr. HETHEhINGTON, in proposing the next sentiment, said
that the Hall would be open to Members at a subscription of
Bd. per month. Ladies would be admitted to the concerti and
ctures free.—( Cheers.) The sentiment that he had to pro-
pose was, that " The National Association for promoting the
political and social improvement of the people; may their ob-
ject be generally appreciated, and their just intentions speedily
realised. "—( Cheer s. )
Mr, CLEAVE proposed " The Press ; may it speedily be-
come pure and unfettered, an honest herald of truth, a bold as-
serter of right, and an unflinching defender of justice." He
hoped the working men of England would support The S,,si,
and other papers which had been instrumental in the.r cause,
arid which had fought their battles.—(Cheers.)
Miss Thornton then favoured the company with a song,
which was encored.
Several glees were then performed, and the company sepa-
-1 at ed shortly after 11 o'clock, apparently much delighted.