The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-04-30 00:00:00

OPERATIVE CONISFIRVATIVT:
ASSOCIATION.

Last evening a special general meeting of the members of
the Operative Conservative Association was held in the large
room attached to the York Hotel, in Tarleton-street, for the
purpose of receiving some communications of interest, and
for other purposes. The meeting was numerously attended.
DANIEL LEDSON, Esq., president of the association, en-
tered the room a few minutes past eight o'clock, and was re-
ceived with great cheering. After having taken the chair,
he was again greeted with loud cheers. He spoke nearly as
follows :—The first duty which devolves upon me this even-
ing is to read to you the answers which I have had the honour
to receive from the Marquis of Normanby and Cnl. Anson,
in reply to the congratulatory addresses which were agreed
to at a recent meeting of this association on the occasion of
the birth of the Princess Royal, and which were duly pre-
sented by our representatives, Lord Sandon and Mr. Cress-
well, to her Majesty and Prince Albert. (Hear, hear.)
" Buckingham Palace, Feb. 21st, 1841.

" have this day-had the honour to lay before
Prince Albert the congratulatory address from the Liverpool
Operative Conservative Association, upon her 2tiajesty's safe
delivery of a Princess ; and I am commanded by the Prince
to convey to you, and all who concurred in the address, the
expression of his royal highness's sincere thanks for the
gratifying sentiments it contained.
I haVe the honour to be, sir,
" Your most obedient servant,

" G. E. ANSON
" Mr. Daniel Ledson, Chairman of the Committee,"

" Whitehall, March Ist, 1841

" SIR,—I have had the honour to lay before the Queen
the loyal and dutiful address, on the occasion of the birth
of the Princess Royal, from the members of the Liverpool
Operative Conservative Association ; and I have to inform
you that the same was very graciously received by her Ma-

" I have the honour to be, sir,
" Your obedient servant,
" NORMANBY

" Mr. Daniel Ledson, Chairman.'

And I am quite sure that there is no one in the room but
who will join me in the fervent hope that the royal infant
may prove in after life a blessing to her august parents and
an ornament to the country. (Loud cheers.) Since I had
last the pleasure of meeting the association, nothing of any
particular local importance has occurred, with the exception
of the introduction into the town of the new poor-law amend-
ment bill. In smaller townships I am aware that the bill
has worked well, and been of considerable benefit; but when
I remember the admirable working of the late system here,
when I reflect on the vast number of individuals who daily
receive medical relief at our institutions and hospitals, and
when I am convinced that, consequently, the poor in the
town have had no cause of complaint, I do trust that the
legislature-may be prevailed upon- to exempt Liverpool
altogether from the operation of this bill. (Loud cries of
" Hear, hear.") Bnt if they should not think fit so to do,
we have at least the satisfaction of knowing that the
powers of the act are delegated to twenty-five gentlemen
who, I believe, will conscientiously perform their duty.
(Loud cheering.) I, for one, at least, can say, as a very hum-
ble member of the newly-elected Board of Guardians, that I
will on all occasions, without distinction of sect or party, be
ready to lend an impartial ear to all well-founded claims, and
so lessen the burdens which do press so largely and lamenta-
bly on the poorer classes of the community. (Cheers.) And
here, gentlemen, I might sit down—(cries of " Go on")—for
there are here gentlemen who will move the resolutions this
evening, who are more competent than I am to expatiate
on the leading topics of the day, to congratulate you on that
signal triumph which has conferred honour on the whig-
borough of Nottingham. (Loud laughter and cheering.)
Aud yet more on that glorious victory which was achieved
by the conservative party on Monday night in the House of
Commons.- (A burst of cheering, which lasted for some
time.) But while lam speaking 1 may as well allude to,cer-
tain rumours which are abroad, that Mr. Oresswell will no
longer be returned for the town of Liverpool. (Loud laugh-
ter, and great cheering.) I feel the more confidence in ad-
verting to these reports, as I stand here in the presence of
an association which has done good service to the conserva-
tive cause, and which has proved more than any other cir-
cumstance that I am acquainted with, that the principles
which we advocate are not the less popular because they are
connected with the preservation of order, and the defence of
our institutions. (Cheers.) It is through the efforts of this
association that the town has been gradually relieved froni
that sort of vassalage to Whig-radical opinion to which our
opponents would willingly reduce it. (Hear, hear.) It has
been through the courage of the operatives of Liverpool that
the town has ceased to return representatives who would
move and act only in accordance with the beck and bidding
of her Majesty's present ministers. (Cheers.) It has not
been, I say, without courage that the working classes have
lent their aid to bring about this change, for they have had
not merely to arouse themselves from the political dreams of
wild aberrations and theoretic amendments to which they
were invited, but they had likewise for some years past to
contend not only against government influence—(hear, hear,)
—but against that all-pervading local influence which the
corporation of Liverpool had wielded against them, and
which comes home to the door of every man, and more or

less affects every man's domestic interests and affairs. (Loud
cheers.) It is no trifling matter to fight against a public
body which has in its patronage so many precious and plea-
sant gifts, and which holds with such a nice hand the
balance of licenses and inspectorships. (Cheers and laugh-
ter.) But, gentlemen, from these thick clouds and darkness
we have escaped, and what a triumphant independence we
have acquired ! (Hear, hear.) It will not do now for the
treasury to send forth its imperious mandates to the town of
Liverpool—(hear)--even if those mandates were indorsed
by the retainers in the Town Council,—to foist upon us
some strange candidate of its own peculiar selection—(cries
of " hear, hear")—some obsequious lord of the bedcham-
ber peradventure—(loud cheers)—kept in special training for
the supply of a surprised and distressed constituency.
(Great cheering and laughter.) It is not to Liverpool that
they can appeal for any addition to that flickering majority,
if majority it may be called, which still faintly upholds the
ministry, and still feebly attempts to sustain the work of the
revolution in the House of Commons 1 (Cheers.) No, gen
:lemen, I am inclined to think that even if a man not in the
strictest sense of the word a treasury candidate—(hear)—if a
man, I say, not yet a lord of the bedchamber—(hear, bear)—
if a knight, gentlemen—(loud cheers and laughter)—and I
do not know but there may be such an one even domesti-
cated among us, who may venture to offer himself to your
choice—(cheers and laughter)—l rather think that he will
fail to push from his stool the honourable and learned gen-
tlemen who now represents you in Parliament. (Great
cheering.) The seat which Mr. Cresswell occupies is inde-
pendent and secure. (Tremendous cheers.) That confidence
which we once offered him out of respect for his abilities, and
from sympathy with his opinions, is now secured to him, be-
yond all chance of interruption, from the experience of his
political career, and our gratitude for his legislative services.
(Immense cheering.) I therefore trust that we shall conti-
nue to increase in strength, and be still enabled to combat for
those constitutional principles which have been the means of
elevating us in our present position as a nation, and
which have proved at once our glory and our strength—
(great cheering)—for in the defence of our national in-
stitutions rests the only sure pledge of our commercial
prosperity. (Cheers.) lam glad to see so many gentlemen
here who are staunch supporters of the cause, and who testify
by their presence this evening, the hearty alliance which sub-
sists between all classes in Liverpool who are engaged in
forwarding conservative yiews. (Hear, hear.) And here I
cannot refrain from referring to Mr. James Aspinall,—kloud
cheers)—who has not been able, from other engagements, to
be with us this evening, and who has done as much as any
gentleman whom I can think of inithis town to promote
those principles which are connected with all that is sound
in politics and sacred in religion. (Great cheering.) He
and others whom I could name, have been for a long time
the objects of the rancour and attacks of the opposite party,
but allow me to say that thes#weapons of offence fall short
of their mark, for calumnies are without point, and reproach
without shame, when there is a cause, as there is now, which
c mverts censuninto praise, and brightens obliquy into glory.
—The chairman then resumed his seat amid tremendous
cheering which lasted for a considerable time.
The CHAIRMAN then introduced the excellent member for
St. Ann's Ward, Mr. Parker, to move the first resolution.
Mr. PARKER then stepped forward and was received pith
enthusiastic applause. He said he could bear testimony to
the exertions of the operatives in the conservative cause, for
he was most indebted to that class of all others for the honour
of representing St. Ann's Ward. It was said when North
Toxteth Ward was won by the conservatives, it was won by
the great and influential merchants, the aristocracy of this
commercial town, who, by their influence, had brought in
Mr. Alexander Smith. By whose influence was it, however,
that he (Mr. Parker), a humble tradesman, had been returned
for St. Ann's Ward—was it by the rich merchants and in-
fluential men ? No, it was by the tradesmen and operatives
of the ward. He begged to move the following resolution :
" That this meeting tenders its best and most warm-
hearted acknowledgments to Lord Sandon and Mr. Cress-
well, for their very valuable services in parliament, to' the
conservative party and cause, and particularly to their great,
ready, and early attentions ever paid to all the local calls of
the great community they represent; and this meeting begs
further to tender to Lord Sandon and Mr. Cresswell, a vote
of confidence in their political conduct, and by all lawful
means to support them in any contest for the representation
of Liverpool in parliament."
(Loud cheers.) The chairman could not have put into his
hands a resolution that gave him more delight and pleasure
in moving than that which he held in his hands, for he was
sure every class of the community were under great obliga-
tions to the two gentlemen named in it. The attention of
Lord Sandon to every thing, not only by conservatives, but
by men of all parties in the town, had made his praises ring
from one end of it to the other. (Hear, bear.) Mr. Cress-
well, he (Mr. Parker) knew from personal observation, was
indefatigable in everything that could promote the interest of
the town of Liverpool ; his professional engagements cer-
tainly did not allow him to devote so much time as Lord
Sandon, but with such a coadjutor as the noble lord, Liver-
pool could not be better represented than by those two gen-
tlemen. (Hear.) When ,he (Mr. Parker) entered the
room he found the worthy president alluding to the attempt
which had been made to introduce the new poor law bill into
Liverpool. Prom conversation which he (Mr. Parker) had
had with Mr. Cresswell, he found that he (Mr. Cresswell)
and Lord Sandon had still great hopes that this evil would
vet be kept from our community. (Cheers.) It never was
the intention of the poor law commissioners to put in force
that bill in this town, which it was well known was a model
for every town in the kingdom in its management of the poor.
But by whom were they induced to bring the bill down here ?
By our political opponents ; Mr. Earle at the parish vestry
had acknowledged that to be the case ; and they cared not
what the result was if they could do anything to lessen the
conservative interest in the parish, well knowing that tha
conservatives had possession of the parish—and why should
they not? (Hear, hear.) The fact was, it was the political
jealousy of our opponents which had introduced it. He was
glad, however, that all the guardians were good conserva-
tives. (Cheers.) If this bill should come into operation,
instead of a rate of ls. 6d. in the pound, we should have one
of 3s. 6d. or 4s. 6d., because there must be a building erected
capable of holding 8000 or 9000 persons, as no out-door re-
lief could be granted. (Hear.) Mr. P. then referred to the
recent successes of the conservatives in the municipal elec-
tions, and said he looked forward to increased success next
November, when he hoped they would be in a situation to
elect a conservative mayor. He said the municipal act was a
Protestant and Church of England act. (Hear.) This was
tne first time he had had the honour of meeting their re-
spected chairman. He had often heard with pleasure the
eloquence of a Holmes, but be thought the association had
much reason to be proud of a Ledson. (Cheers.) He begged
to move the resolution.
Mr. J. SMITH seconded the resolution, and it was received
with nine times nine cheers. Three cheers were afterwards
given for Mr. Parker.
Mr. JOSEPH CRISP moved the second resolution, in a
spirited address, in which he commented upon the apathy
manifested by leading and wealthy conservatives in support
of the conservative cause and the conservative press. The
following is the resolution—
" That this meeting, knowing the sterling worth of James
Aspinall, Esq., and his praiseworthy and noble exertions i:
the conservative cause, and for its interest, beg respectfully
to tender el, him their most grateful acknowledgments."
Mr. Crisp then paid a high and well-merited compliment to
the zeal and energy of Mr. Aspinall; and said he would have
strong claims to be elected the first conservative mayor of
Liverpool. lie then mentioned that on Wednesday next a
meeting would be held of the Protestant Association to agree
a petition in support of Mr. Colquhoun s mqtton with re-
spect to Maynooth College, at which the Rev. Hugh DV Neile
and the Rev. Hugh Stowell would be present. This *D