The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-02 00:00:00

ANNIVERSARY OF THE WARRINGTON OPERA-
TIVE CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION.

The operative conservatives of tne good loyal town of War-
ringtdn • asseMbled at the Market house, on Tuesday last, to
celebrate the first anniversary of their association. The mem-
bers, amotinthig to-about tour hundred, sat down to a substan-
tial dinner, provided for the occasion by Mr. Kay, of the
Nag's Head. The room was tastefully decorated with appro-
priate banners, and a temporary gallery was up for the re-
ception of the ladies, many of whom, the wives and daughters
of the operatives, were present during the greater part of the
evening. This association has been on foot only about twelve
Months, and was called into existence solely by the exertions
of a few noble-minded operatives, in order to counteract the
evil effects of radicalism, which was at that time beginning to
rear its head in the town of Warrington. The society now

numbers upwards of five hundred members The consternation
in the radical camp, caused by this great acces:ion of the opera-
tives to conservatism, showed itself in scandalous placards which
were plentifully distributed. throughout the public•houses, and
posted on the walls of the town, previous to the meeting, charac-
terising the dinner then about to take place as a " tory feed,"
and other equally stale assertions, always in requisition by the
radical faction throughout the country.
Mr. 'flimflam Wilson, an operative, occupied the chair,
and Mr. Henry Ibbotson, also an operative, was the vice-chair-
man.

Among the gentry present of Warrington. and the surround-
ing neighbourhood, were J. I. Blackburne, Esq., M.P. for the
borough, Mr. Parr, banker, Mr. Fitchett, Mr. Nicholson, C.
Wilkins, Esq., barrister at law, Mr. Wagstaff, Mr. Garnett,
Captain Clare, and the Rev. Mr. Baines, Mr. Todd, and Mr.
Jackson.

After the cloth was removed, the Chairman gave " His Ma-
jesty, the Duke of Lancaster," which was received with immense
applause, and drank with three times three.
The national anthem was then sung by the professional gen-
tlemen present.
"The Queen, the ornament of the throne." Three times three.

Glee— Hail smiling morn."
• "The Princess Victoria, on the other branches of the royal
family, and, may they never forget the principles which seated
the House of Brunswick on the throne of these realms."
tilee—" Hail, star of Brunswick."
" Our glorious constitution in church and state." Three times
three. _

" The House of Peers as an independent branch of the legis-
lature, and may they ever prove themselves the friends of the
people, by maintaining our glorious constitution." Four times
four.

Mr. MALLEY, an operative, rose to respond to the toast. He
begged to assure them that it was with feelings of considerable
embarrassment that he rose to address them, and more particu-
larly so when be saw around him so many individnals whose
rank in statinn and in life were so much superior to that of the
humble individual who then stood before them. He would

claim their attention for a few moments only, as the present
state of his physical powers prevented any great exertion on
his part. Yet, weak as he was, he was willing to spend and be
spout in the glorious cause they were that day met to celebrate
—the cause of conservatism. However, he said, they might re-
gret the necessity for the formation of associations like the pre-
sent, there would be a still greater reason for regret if the evils
which then threatened, and would certainly soon come upon
the land, were not averted by the powerful and organised means
of defence with which such societies surrounded its threatened

institutions.- He contended that it was the duty of every man,
who professed to have any respect for the glorious constitution
under which he lived, to come forward in support of that consti-
tution, now that it was assailed by the united forces of popery
and infidelity, hut which, notwithstanding, had stood for ages
past, and would, under the blessing of God, yet stand—the ad-
miration of the world.

The speaker sat down amid loud cheers.
"The honourable and' highly esteemed representative of the
borough, John Ireland Blackburn, Esq."
The announcement of the toast was received with loud cheers,
which continued for.several minutes. When the enthusiasm
of the meeting had soinewhat subsided,
Mr. Bt. AC K licnN rose to respond to the toast. He said it was

the first time he had had au opportunity of meeting so large a
body of his constituents since the last session of parliament.
The flattering manner in which his health was proposed and
received, gave him a confident hope that his conduct in parlia-
ment hail met with their approbation.
Song by Mr. Ibbotson,--" The fine old English gentleman."
The CHAIRMAN next gave in a neat speech the bishop and
clergy of the diocese.
The Rev. Mr. BallaEs, curate of the parish church, rose to
'return thanks. He said he felt considerable diffidence in re-
sponding to the toast which had just been drank in so enthu-
siastic a manner. He was convinced that the enthusiasm with
which they had hailed the announcement of the toast was not
a mere ordinary compliment to the bishop and clergy in general,
or to himself and brother-clergymen in particular. He felt
convinced that the thoughts of those before him had at that
time reverted in affection to that church of which they were the
humble ministers, and which church had hitherto formed part
and parcel of that glorious constitution under which they
lived. ( Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN then in a brief speech introduced the health
of their respected guest, Charles Wilkins, Esq., and the con-
servative bar.
This toast was responded to with great enthusiasm.
Mr. WILKINS rose amid deafening cheers. He began by
stating that conflicting feelings in overwhelming torrents poured
in upon his mind, and he feared that his self-control could not
restrain them within those limits that rhetoricians had prescribed
to the speaker. He felt that he durst not invite the scrutiny of
criticism, and if he occupied much of their time it would be
rather in compliance with their kind invitation than in obedience
to his own judgment. The circumstances attending their invi-
tation, whilst they flattered his vantiy, afforded proud proof that
,in these troublesome and dangerous times his efforts for the pre-
servation of all that Englishmen should hold dear had not been in
vain, The compliment thatthey had paid to his judgment should
teach him humility from a consciousness of the responsibility
which heaven had' imposed upon hint, and beget renewed exer-
tions to the cause of good order and citizenship. There was
another, to him, rich source of gratulation, that of being placed
in juxtaposition with a body of men pre-einittent for their pro-
found learning awl high sauce of honour. He would assert,
with the pages-of history lying before bias,. in the presence of
titters, purer philauthropists, and more exiftettVatiribts
any other institution in the world. Of course he confined not
,his attention to the, bar of the present day. He had in his
mind's eye the sages of bygone days,lhe light of whose minds
still shone on our statute books and volumes of records. (Hear.)
When he spoke of lawyers he meant not men merely conveisant
with the rules of process and the technicalities of detail. He re-
ferred to men who by deep study, never-ceasing inquiry, and the
closest application, bad made themselves acquainted with the
requirements of society, and had framed laws to meet those re-
quirements—men who understood the philosophy of the law,
whose minds were caskets of imperishable principles. This was
the man who in the largest sense of the word was the lawyer.
Such men had always been in the true sense of the word Con-
servatives.---(Loud cheers.) At one time braving the threats
and temptations of royalty when exercising its prerogative for
the oppression of the subject, at another loyally and strenuously
enforcing the powers of the law in defence of the throne against
the lawless attacks and unreasonable demands of the traitor.—
( Hear.) Ile was not ashamed to acknowledge that an acquaint-
ance with such minds had wrought in him a total change of po-
litical sentiments, and with truth he could declare that he never
retired to the quietude of his chamber without lifting up his
heart in gratitude to that Being who had spared his life to be
convinced of error, and hail given him opportunity to atone for
it.—(Loud cheers.) He saw before hint a motto of "king
lords, and commons, and no invasion."—(Loud cheats.) That
motto was entwined . around his heart, and he would say, as a
lawyer, though a young one, with all the confidence that cer-
tainty could give hun, that he who should dare to infringe upon
the integrity of :he constitution described by that motto, nay,
even to remove one stone or oriniment, violated the implied
compact entered into with his constituents, broke the solemn
oath taken On eutering the seuate, and was a traitor to his king.
And, should he at any time obtain a seat mu St. Stephen's, (and
arty the thing was not improbablit,) if any man should presume to
attack a
braneh of the constitution, if he stood alone he would
impeach him in the presence of his country.—(Loud cheers,
during whiyn the coutinencentetit of the next sentence was
lust.) When silence was restored, Mr. Wilkins was heard to
that the Pnvihie.cs of the peers were as intangible, inviolable,
and sacred as the crown. The lights of the three estates of the
empire wale co-equal, and to be effective must be co-existent.—
The learnedeoguettilltilueeindit;(l)
(Hear, hear.)
siwrrtstei,veral minutes..
sot down amid the most enthusiastic
cheers, which
. After the lap.e of a tie, Mr. Wilkins again rose, and
in a very brief though highly c( '
coin speech, proposed
time health of their worthy cd • ' • • tatrinun, which was received with
loud plaudits.
Mr. WILSI,N rose to return thanks fur the honour conferred
upon hint. He took .occasion to give a concise f
history o • the
rise and progress of the society up to time present hour • from
which it appeared that he (the chairman,) actuated by true con-
servative principles, had, on the 11/th Nov., 1835, after much
labour and assiduity. which had been rendered weak from the
apathy or unwillingness of indivtduals to come forward, sue-
dad in-nine members, and e 11. them
as tiro mg
as the Warrington Operative Conservative Association. Since
that time they had gradually increased, and now numbered about
five hundred members. He concluded by pioposing a toast,
"The Lancashire witches."
Glee—" Here's a health to all good lasses."
" The army and navy" was next given, after which the
CHAIRMAN gave the health of John Wilson Patten, Esq., and
the Conservative members of the House of COMIIIOIIII.
Mr.-BcacKeHUN e, M.P., iu an 'eloquent speech returned
thanks fur the honour conferred upon himsylf and colleagues,
and apoiogized for the absence of Mr. Patel', who had unavoid-
ably been, prevented from attending at the celebration of their
first anniversary by ribaudden call to town. He beg-'ed to assure
them, that, although absent, the heart of Mr, Patten was with
the society. He concluded by proposing. as a toast, " Pros-
perity to the Warrington Operative Conservative Association,"
which was received with three times three.
Mr, luthrrsoat, an operative, theu rose and addressed the
meeting,
The CHAIRMAN then gave, "Success to the Operative Con-
servative Associations throughout the Kingdom.
Mr. li. S. So wiate, of Manchester, responded to the toast.
Mr. WILKINS here rose, and after observing that he was al-
ready a member of every conservative association throughout
the county except two, presented the treasurer with his annual
siibscription, and was forthwith elected a member of tile War-
rington Operative Conservative Association.
"The illustrious Duke of Wellington" was then given from
the chair, and received with nine distinct rounds of the Kentish
tire."

Song—" We .h.lll never see the like again."
The litcy-PitystoENT then gave "The Donors and Sub-
scribers of the Warrington Operative Conservative Associa-
.:...

Air. WILKINS, as one of the subscribers, rose to return
thanks.

" The nod reformer of the age, Sir Robert Peel." Received
with great applau6e,
Mr. SilWLEit. in a complimentary speech. proposed the
health of Mrs Blackbarne and family.

Mr. Bt. '(;'K Bl' It N I?, returned thanks, and regretted the absence
or Mrs. Blarkintrtie and her daughter, who had purposed to
have been present, but were prevented by the inclemency of
the weather.

The eII:IRMAN next gave " The Parent Conservative As_
sneiation of South Lancashire." .

, piej C j, K. it] very enerizetic and able speech. returned
thanks. Ile cuuclud-d iiy privising the health ut the Couaer-
vdtive members t)I the ununty. _ _ _

11 r. PA It a. as a magistrate, returned thanks. He took a cur-
sory review id the devices and stiata goems used by their oppon-
ents to undertnine the constitution. In Liverpool the Scriptures
Were expounded by a socinianized quaker. and the light of rea-
son was about to he imparted to the universities of Oxford and
Cumbridue by the Alavor of Liverpool.
The Conservative members of the county were then proposed.
The Cti A IRMA N next proposed the.he.alth of the Ea ri uf Eldon.
(flee--" For he's a hearty good fellow,"
Several other toasts fulloN...vl,
.ajtj The meeting serarated,
they hart conducted themselves, it; a .vei y utdurly and satisfactUi
manner.