The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-11 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATISM,

As we have not space to give a full report of the high-
ly interesting proceedings of the great constitutional
meeting recently held at Birmingham, we deem it our
duty to subjoin the following important resolutions,
passed on that occasion. The Earl of Dartmouth in the
chair :

"Ist.. That this meeting, firmly and unalterably persuaded
that christianity is the only true bond of political society, and
convinced from all experience that the church of England em-
bodies the living principle of the religion of the bible, and is
the sole unfailing guarantee of just and rational freedom in
matters of conscience and in secular affairs, have seen with the
utmost apprehension and dread a system of hostile aggression
on this the only enduring safeguard of national peace, prosperity,
and happiness, by persons openly professing the principles of
popery on the one hand, and of republicanism on the other,
aided by the ministerial party, who, for the avowed purpose of
retaining power in their own hands, have deserted their former
constitutional principles, and counteracted their own political
professions, and do therefore declare their utter detestation of
such c'mduct, and avow their constant and unchangeable reso-
lution to maintain the efficiency and usefulness of the protestant
church now established in these kingdoms; to preserve the con-
nexion which subsists between the church and the state, by
which the best security is offered that the government will be
conducted according to the equity of christian principle; and
to oppose, by every lawful and constitutional means, the inva-
sion of the civil and religious liberties of their fellow country-
men, by persons who seek to compass their destructive purposes '
either by a direct assault upon the integrity of the constitution,
in an attempt to overthrow the House of Lords; or by daring
and atrocious endeavours to destroy the present established pro-
testant church of England and Ireland."
"That this meeting, regarding the general aspect of public
affairs at the close of the last session of Parliament, see great
cause of satisfaction in the manifold proofs tbatexist of a strong
and decided change in the public mind in favour of the tried and
ancient institutions of this country, as evinced more particular-
ly in the recent instances of populous and important consti-
tuencies sending as their representatives to Parliament persons
distinguished for their attachment to the limited monarchy of
Great Britain, and their devoted zeal in support of the princi-
ples or the Protestant religion, and its connexion with the state;
and this meeting, being also of opinion that these happy results
have been greatly promoted and expedited by the establish-
ment of associations for loyal and constitutional purposes, and
are attributable in a more especial manner to the diffusion of•
sound constitutional knowledge through the medium of the
public press, hereby express their entire approbation of the
establishment of news and reading-rooms, for the gratuitous use
of the general body of Conservatives of all ranks, and desire
emphatically to impress on the minis of their friends the para-
mount necessity for more strenuous and unwearied exertions,
and more liberal support, than has, they regret to say, been hi-
therto accorded to those associations through means of which
the present political struggle in favour of the British constitu-
tion can alone be maintained."

" That this meeting, fully convinced that the maintenance of
the privileges of the House of Lords, as an independent branch
of the legislature of these kingdoms, is indispensable to the con-
tinuance of the happiness and liberties of the people, regard
with the highest admiration and respect the dignity and firmness
with which the peers have resisted all attempts, by threats of
intimidation or clamour, to influence the wisdom and justice of
their decisions : and, reverting to the business of the last session,
they see especial reason for thankfulness in the manifestation
of those liberal, enlightened, and conciliatory principles of go-
vernment which guided their deliberations in regard to the pro-
posed measure for reforming the municipal corporations in
Ireland ; in their firm and decided opposition to that democratic
party .in the state who have lately evinced such implacable
hatred to the protestant religion and the general interests of the
United Kingdom; and in the anxiety and willingness they have
ever shown to adopt every sound and practical measure presented,
to their consideration for the correction of any proved abuses,
and for the real improvement of our ancient and venerable in-
stitutions."