The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-13 00:00:00

`putt LIVERPOOL STANDARD

MEETING OF T,HE TRADESMEN'S CONSER,
VATIVE ASSOCIATION:

Last evening a special meeting of this association was-held
at the Large -Room, at the King's Arms, for the purpose of tak-
ine into consideration the extraordinary and tyrannical pro-
ceedings which transpired in the council on Wednesday last,
and also for the piirposeeof testifying their approbation of the
manly, straightforward conduct of Mr. James Heyworth, who
was made the object of au unprecedented attack. The Large
Boom was nearly filled, and there could not be less than WO
people present.
Shortly after seven o'clock, the time appointed for the meet-
ing, Mr. Wilkinson was proposed to the chair.
The CHA 11::11 A N then said, the tipsiness on which we are met
this evening is one of the greatest importance. We are assem-
bled for the purpose of recording our disapprobation of the re-
cent proceedings in our Town Council, to express our strong
repugnance to the system of exclusion which they have thought
fit to adopt, and to strengthen the hands of the conservative
members of the Council, in their opposition to the tyrannical'
and unjustifiable policy of the majority against which they have
to contend. I shall not anticipate, by any remarks of my own,
what will be urged on your attention by the gentlemen who are
about to address you. I have no doubt that you will be unani-
mous in the expression of your opinions respecting our liberal
Town Councillors; and I have a firm conviction that that ex-
pression of your sentiments will lead to beneficial results. It
will lead to the humiliation of the self-styled reformers who now
want to have their own way -in all things relative to the govern-
ment of our good old town, and it will tend to hasten the tri-
umph of sound conservative principles in the administration of
our municipal affairs. • He was sorry Mr. Holme had been un-
expectedly prevented from attending the meeting. He had re-
ceived from him a letter which he would read to them.
" Renshaw-street, Monday Morning, Fi,e o'clock.
"My dear Sir,—Being under the necessity of setting-off this
morning for London, to fulfil an appointment made before our
meeting was fixed upon, and one which I could not evade without
causing much inconvenience to other parties, I have to beg that
you will supply my place this evening, and state to the meeting
why 1 am absent.
" It being our duty to oppose tyranny and mischief in every
shape, however respectably those evils may be personified, I
think that, as a body united for loyal purposes, we ought net,
and cannot, pass over the conduct of the Council on Wednesday
last without remark and reprehension. Mr. Heyworth mast be
supported, and well too, in his virtuous attempt to lay open to
the public gaze the secret ,rottenness and the base selfishness;
which characterise our popularly-elected Councillors. Honesty
of purpose requires no concealment—it fears not the face of day
—it can walk abroad in the light, and bid defiance to suspicion.
But mischief delights in secresy—it broods in darkness—and
fears the light becauee its deeds are evil. ' •
" If the Council were honest in its intentions it would need
no previous meetings with closed doorse For years the party
now in local power, (for a short time only,) bawled out most
lustily against the old Corporation because no reporters were
admitted. Now, however, they try to blind the public by eVad-
ing free discussion:- -If; after the resolutions of our society, they
still continue to -meet at the Angel, I hope, fur decency's sake,
they will alter the sign. - It requires no great stretch of imagi-
nation to point out oneeitore suitable for such deeds of darkness.
" I do hope that no one will in any degree soften down any-of
the resolutions—they have been well considered—and; as trades-
men, we want- no circumlocution, but plainness of speech.
" We will net allow these men to triumph over principle, but
will keep a watchful eve over their proceedings, and boldly
challenge them with their egregious folly and perverse and in-
consistent conduct, as often as they shall act the part of tyrants
and hypocrites.
" As public men who have made large professions, and who
have always invited scrutiny, it is our duty to freely canvass
their actions as a proof of their motives, and to hold them up to
censure when we are convinced they deserve it.
"Ifwe do not this, what is the use of our association.--I am,
my dear sii, yours very faithfully and toryisticallv,
" SA M L.' HOLME."
Mr. ODELL rose to propose the first resolution. He said he
felt a degree of diffidence in addressing so large an assembly,
especially as he knew there were many others present more
fitting for the task. Let men be of whet principles they might
—of any party in the town, whether conservative, Whig, or
radical, he must look with pity and concern on the recent con-
duct which had distinguished the town council. (Hear, hear.)
In the annals of Liverpool there never had been consummated
so great a disgrace as had been inflicted on the town on Wed-
nesday last. The most inveterate enemy of the old system
could not bring to their charge anything so disgraceful in its
nature as. the proceedings in the council of last Wednesday.
( Hear.) It appeared that Mr. Aldermau Brown was tlinder-
struck that any gentleman could make such a charge against
the Town Council as had been made. Poor foolish man He
would now tell him, and, if there would, tell him to his face, that
there were hundreds in the town that would reiterate the charge;
and they were prepared to prove that the charge was true.
It appeared from the reports of both the tory and radical press,
that not one in the council, however they might deny the charge,
could disprove it. It appeared that Mr. Evans was very sore
about certain terms being applied to. the council—that they
were termed "a servile majority" and "a political cabal," and
that they had brought "deep dishonour" upon themselves and
the town. 'lles, did not like -the word " cabal." That word
took its origin in the reams of Charles 11. Perhaps the country
was never so likely to be brought to-a fatal termination in all its
institutions as when the affairs of the state were under the guid-
ance of what was then termed " a cabal." The mime took its
origin from a number of men (Buckingham and others) who
took upon themselves to direct the affairs of state. It was a term
-that applied to a part only of the executive. He thought that
the history of the unfortunate reign of Charles 11. must, have
flashed across the memory of Mr. l-leveorth when he applied
that term. There was so great a similarity in prieciples and reli-
gion with that unfortunate cabal for this country with those men
in the present council, that he really. thought a inure happy
allusion could not have been made in reference to` the caoal-
istic meeting at .the Angel Inn. (Loud and lottg-continued
cheering.) He would ask was it ever meant to be known to the
constituency what was carried on at that. meeting? It was com-
pletely a fortuitous circumstance that brought it to light. That
hole and corner meeting was never meant to come to their
knowledge. He thought so far they were justified in calling it a
cabal. It was met on a particular question, on which, perhaps,
-the town of Liverpool felt more warmly than any other, if there
was any one question wore than another which affected the in-
terests_of a Liverpool man. It was the proper choice of pessons
to fill the duties of the office of the dock trust. Those omen woo
had been the loudest to brawl about liberty and the admission of
reporters into the council-room, had managed to ' convene
a majority of the council at a meeting at an hotel,
to decide on one of the most important questions relating to the
welfare of the 'town. They concentrated all their force, they
fixed on the men who on their character are afterwards chosen,
and who, in the plenitude of their wisdom, they think the most
fit, and all discussion in the council as to the qualifications of
the members chosen was thereby avoided. The euhlic never
could have become acquainted with their capabilities if they
were unknown to them; because all discussion with 'regard to
them was avoided by a preliminary hole and corner meeting
Now, as to the cowardice of the thing; it was the most cow-
ardly and uu-English like action that ever was committed.
There would have been some extenuation for it if theme had
been any equalization of parties, six of Tory and six of Whig,
and if they had had very talented opponents to beat; but such
was net the case. They knew that they had a majority—they
had no fear that the men whom they would propose would be
carried, and it was the lowest cowardice to cheat the public of
the discussion of the merits and demerits of the men they in-
tended to propose. He hail never been more struck with the
conduct of any gentleman than he had been with that of Mr.
James Heywortn. How he could have withstood the systematic
attack that hail been made upon him he could hardly imagine.
He must have the heart of a Hercules. It was evident that there
must have been "a preliminary meeting" to arrange the "uniform
attack that was made upon him. Mr. Heyworth had nobly set
himself against the establishment of a dangerous precedent.
He asked the Mayor to show him the power of the Council to
investigate his conduct, and he would be thetaprepared to sub-
mit it—(cheers)—but 'he was unable to do so, and sneaked out
of the question by Saying "he would put it to the sense of the
Council." Here they had a gentleman, in as high a station as
a burgess could attain to, succumbing himself to the purposesof
faction. Tim do justice to the late Mayor, W. Wallace Currie,
he did think that had he presided that discussion would
never have been allowed to proceed. (Hear.) He was always
willing to award praise where it was due. (Cheers.) tie re_
wetted to find that that gentleman had sat still and quiet
throughout the whole of the meeting, and then came out as a
peacemaker. He had listened to the whole tirade of abuse that
had been heaped upon one of their body, and then drew a com-
parison between Mr. Heyworth and the other members of the
Council. He said, "It is scarcely worth while to notice
the speech, considering the quarter from which it came." He
thought there was scarcely spy one member who could be
placed in competition with Mr. James Heyworth, and such an
expression did Mr. Currie very little credit. (Hear.) But
there was one person named Coglan in the council (loud
laughter;) they were the most ungrateful men in the world not
to discover that he was the greatest man that the age had ever
produced—their history recorded nothing like him ; Scipio
Africanus was nothing to him; they must go to Roman history
to find his equal—they were a most ungrateful set of tnen
not to admit him to be the greatest patriot that ever existed in
Liverpool. Mr. Coglan felt very acutely for the situation in
which Mr. Heyworth was placed, and gave hint every chance of
creeping out of it. But he was not the man they imagined..
He stuck to the point, and they could not put him down. He
reminded him of a verse which he had read, and which was
strongly brought to his mind :
" The man whose mind, on virtue bent,
• Pursues sunne-greetly good intent,
With undiverted aim,
Serene beholds the angry crowd,
'
Nor can their claMours fierce and loud
His stubborn honour tame."
Mr. Odell concluded by proposing the first resolution :
" That the secretenieetings of a majority of the Town Coun-
cil at the Angel Inn, are unsatisfactory and disreputable, calcu-
lated to defraud the public out of that knowledge of Corporate
affairs which the majority of the members for many previous
years so loudly demanded; that public discussion is thereby
evaded, and a secret system adopted inconsistent with honesty
of purpose, and repugnant to the feelings of Englishmen."
Mr. HA aDISTY briefly seconded the resolution, which had his
most hearty concurrence.
The Cii AIRMAN put the resolution to the meeting, and it was
carried unanimously.
Mr. SMITH then lose, he said he was not accustomed to come
prepared with a speech in his pocket, like Mr. Jcshua Walins-
ley. and he mi"lit therefore be supposed to be rather in a
quandary, in addreising such a meeting. He had no doubt,
however, but that Mr. Evans would be as much surprised on
this occasion, as he haul been on the occasion of Mr. James
Heywor:h's speech. To think that any person should rise in
"so numerous an assembly as that, to propose a vote of censure
on the Solons of the Town-hall. Such, howeVer, was the
case, and he had had a resolution put into his hand which
went to find fault with those " potent, grave, and reve-
rend senigiors." He wished be could go the whole-hog; and say,
"My very approved good masters," but he could not. Even
though their deliberations were enlightened by the "light of
reason" of Mr. William Earle, jun., who sat amongst them,
and shed around him the bright radiance of his light. (Loud
cheers and laughter.) He should confine himself as closely as
he could to the subject of the resolution, which was the appoint-
ment of their political partizans to all places of importance.
When they came into office they opened a crusade against every
tory officer. lo the first place, they turned out Mr. Foster, the
Town-clerk, and why? They found that they could not make
a tool of Mr. Foster. Ile was a man who would not be dis-
graced 1)y such proceedings as have emanated from the Coots-
.6l; with regard to him, however, they had believed with
some degree of fairness: They had said that they had
turned him out because he was a tory. They accordingly did
so, and because they wanted-a snug birth for Radcliffe, the pre-
sent town-clerk. '['hey then wanted a deputy town-clerk, and a
suitable person wits aeon found in Mr. Crook. Who had worked
hard for them by signing hundreds of objections against tory
voters; therefore they had appointed. him to that situation.
A Coroner was wanted, and they soon found a while peculiarly
qualified for the office, in the person of Mr. Curry. Mr. Foster.
the surveyor, was a tory, and very unable, therefore, to survey
buildings, and far that reason they had found a genii...roan, a
wing or soutethiog more,of the mine rif Fraukliiii to' *ll his

situation. They then wanted a treasurer, and, of course, Mr-
Case, a tory, would not do : although there was no imputation
against him he must make room for Mr. J. Wybergh, who had
been chairman of the radical association. But the treasurer most
have a clerk, and they had picked mit a gentleman named Mr.
'Alexander Neilson. It was rumoured in the town, that he had
not been put into this office for any peculiar fitness, but because
he had been 4. very active canvasser. He mentioned-this there
to give him an opportunity of contradicting him. Then a very
worthy man of the name of Roicoe wanted a situation, and
they turned out the old sergeant at mace, ostensibly, because
-be could not find securities, in order to make way for nim. The
-same principle had guided them in the appointment of magis-
trates, without embodying one single conservative. Those very
men v. ho so loudly had cried out against the tories for electing
only tones when they were in office. They hail received a
sharp rebuke, however, from the Secretary of State, although
a whig, fur he had appointed five tories amongst the num-
ber. They had been actuated by the same principle in the
election of the dock committee. They had refused to elect
men well qualified to represent the interests of the town in
the dock estate becase they were tories. He would adduce Mr.
Bibby for instance, whom they had refused. They had shown
their liberality by appointing whigs and radicals to every place
of importance. They had then appointed Mr. Harvey as soli-
citor to the dock estate; and many had voted against Mr. North
for party purposes, who on former occasions had voted for him.
When a new head had been wanted for the police force, they
had turned out Mr. Parlour, who, as a tory, of course, would
not do. and bad promoted Mr. Whitty—(`•a clever man too.")
He was happy to hear them give honour where honour was due.
He believed Mr. Whitty to be a clover man, and-it was very
currently reported that the speech which was delivered in the
-council-room by Mr. Walmsley, and called his speech, was
;written by Mr. Whitty. (Cheers, and loud cries of " True,
,true.") He was happy they had so .clever a head to the
police force. Ou looking at the joints of the police tail they
found " metal less attractive." They found a Lyons—(loud
cheers)— a man who came 'from Ireland, without friends,
and was appointed, underthe Reform Association, as canvasser,
at 258. per week, and be then was appointed on the police force.
This showed also another thing, that the Reform Association,
with all their boast, employed paid clerks to do their work—a
circumstance which he was not aware a single Conservative
ward did. He had heard that day, that notwithstanding the
recent disgraceful disclosures with regard to Lyons, that he had
been reappointed on the police force. (Loud cries of " True.")
Had there ever been such a disgraceful occurrence. (Loud
cries of "Shame.") He trusted that they would show that there
were eleven or twelve hundred men in Liverpool who looked
with a jealous eve upon the proceedings of 'the Council. He
concluded with -proposing the next resolution.
"That the Town Council by appointing only political parti-
zans to public situations, have evinced an utter disregard of
impartiality, and pursued that course which they formerly con-
demned in the old Council."

Mr. RICHAED PATTISSON said, it was with no ordinary satis-
faction that he rose, for the first time, to address the assembled
tradesmen of Liverpool, and especially did he congratulate them
On that wise act of policy which had presented such an imposing
front; in opposition to the enactments of their local legislature.
He was not going to indulge them, like their friend of the Clo °-
nide, with a selection from .tEsop's fables. They had compared
Mr. James Heyworth to the frog who, in attempting to rival the
size of the .ox, had destroyed himself. He was willing to award
to Mr. Evans, the instructive properties of the ox ; but as the
Comparison was instituted between their respective proportions,
he could not yield to Mr. Evans such an advantage civet. Mr.
Heyworth. Nor would the meeting readily believe that, if Mr.
Heyworth was in size but a frog, Mr. Evans was an ox. He
was not going to amuse them, like the Albion of that day, with a
descriptive account of a "Spanish Bull-fight," nor the adven-
tures of a "Donkey Driver ; for although this might please the
fancy, it would assuredly fail to influence the judgment. But
as their opponents had indulged in fable, he might tselect one
which was inure immediately applicable. Most of them would
remember the fable where the servants conspired against the
life of the cock, because it. gave intimation of the approach of
day by its crowing, and which now regulated their hours of
sleeping, fancying that when the cock was dead their slothful-
ness could not be discovered. (Cheers and laughter.) In
seconding the resolution which he held in his hand, he might,
with the permission of the meeting, avail himself of the privi-
leges which, as a member of that society, he possessed of com-
menting upon the circumstances which had brought them to-
gether. '4e disclaimed on his own part, and on the part of the
members of that association, that any purely factious motives had
influenced them in their opposition to the enactments of the Town
Council. If they censured them, it was because they deemed them
deserving of reproof—if they arrayed themselves against their
policy, it was because. they conceived their measures injurious
to society,•and fatal to the happiness of the country--if they op-
posed their measures it was because they had forfeited all claim
to the respect of their fell Ow-townsmen, by selecting men to oc-
cupy situations of trust, who possessed no other qualification but
the strength of their lungs and the recklessness of their prin-
ciple. (Cheers.) tie was exceedingly flattered by the reception
which the tradesmen of Liverpool had given him. The resolution
with which he had been entrusted was of such a nature that it
rendered it imperative on his part, as an honest man, that the
meeting shonld be put in possession of sufficient evidence, be-
fore the motion was submitted to their approval. It was of a
two fold character—it charged them with partiality and with in-
consistency. The former part of the charge had been substan-
tiated by the speaker who had preceded him, who had supplied
the detail of the various appointinentssand he had left but that
part which affected their moral character, in violating those
professions which they had uniformly made previous to their
accession to office. There was one circumstance especially to
which he would allude, and one which he was persuaded would
-he taken advantage of by their opponents—he referred to the
wording of the resolution. It was stated that they had only
appointed to offices of trust and honour men who entertained
the same political opinion with themselves. He was pre-
pared to justify that phraseology, inasmuch, as it was
uniformly adopted by their opponents. The act of the majority
was always considered as the act of the whole and as such
recognized. They would recollect than at the meeting on
Wednesday last, Mr. Egerton Smith complained that any
charge of partiality should be preferred against them, since they
had appointed Messrs. O'Kill, Ellice, and Shuttleworth. to
situations
,under the Corporation. Now this was very well as
far as it went, but they 'would bear in mind that the Whigs al-
ways asserted they had the voice of the country with them be-
cause they possessed a numerical superiority,—that is, they
possessed the suffrages of the people. Now, perhaps, there was
iu weird of such an extensive, and at the same time of such a
destructive meaning. They asked, who are the People" Were they
the landed proprietors? "No!" Were they the residents in
our seats of learning ? "No l" Were they our industrious
mechanics or out plodding artisans ? "No I" If they asked
them who are the people,—what answer did they receive?—
None whatever. They were obliged to put the question and
find the answer. The people were that incongruous mass who
professing no principle in comumn,—bound together by no com-
mon tie,—held by no common interest,—but who were associ-
ated to further the interest of some licentious demagogue, and
to advance a lino of poliey of which they knew nothing and
cared as little. ( Loud cheers.) Allusion has been made to
the private meetings held at the Angel Inn, to pre-arrange and
select nien who were afterwards approved by their, in the Coun-
cil, and this conduct they were told was honourable and straight
forward and in accordance with their enlightened policy. He
would ask, what was to be understood by the display of jesuiti-
cal artifice and sophistry, which was practiced in the Council.
Either that they relied upon thelguerance or credulity of their
constituents or confided in the violence of their partizanship. But
he would ask, did not such conduct prove that the obligations
of morality were relaxed in exact proportion with the advance
of liberality of political opinion—that moral delinquency and
political partisanship were closely identified. And no other
reason could be given fur their secret meetings at the Angel
than that they shrank from any investigation of their conduct.
And it was because Mr. James Heyworth had acted the part of
an honest man, and had exposed their wicked designs, that they
had become infuriated, and held him up to the scorn and con-
tempt of his feilow-men 'l' he circumstances under which they
they met together were of the most pleasing character. They
were associated together for the defence of their principles, and
it was their duty to support those men who came forward boldly
as the champion of those principles they professed. (Cheers.)
And they tendered to Mr. James Heyworth their ir eed of praise,
because he had had the manliness to oppose the policy of
their opponents, and expose the mischievous character of (heir
designs. Their opponents had shown their inconsistency in
shpporting an officer from the borough fund, a principle which
they opposed when out of place; and although they had in one
'or two instances appointed men of conservative principles to
situations under the corporation, it was because they could not
find men connected with their own party to occupy those situa-
tions: (Cheers.) That meeting was of public importance; the
influence of that association had been felt throughout the town,
and its influence would have a direct bearing upon the local le-
gislation. In seconding the resolution which had been so ably
Moved by Mr. Smith, he had only to suggest that, as sufficient
evidence had been afforded to justify the approval of the meet-
ing, he hoped that every man interested in the prosperity and
happiness of the town of Liverpool would not fail to give the
resolution his suppbrt. (Loud cheering.)
The. CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, which was carried
unanimously amidst loud cheering.
Mr. T. M. GLADSTONE then rose and was received with
cheers. He said the warm and enthusiastic manner in which
they had received his name emboldened him to offer his sentiments
on the subject of the meeting. Ile did not doubt but that he
should receive their attention. He moved the next resolution
with all sincerity, and he hoped that it would strengthen the
hands of the conservatives and show the feeling which actuated
the town. They need not be surprised at the proceedings in the
council on last Wednesday, when they considered the consti-
tuent parts of which it was made up. Tue people had been im-
posed upon in the men who had been returned. On that
occasion there was seen " patience on a monument smiling at
grief" in the ',emit] of our worthy chief magistrate. There was
a noble air in the bearing of Mr. Heyworth, standing at hay as
he did at the odds of six to one, having for his support the
foundation of truth and equity. He bore out the quotation, that
" Twice is he armed that hath his quarrel just,"

and stood nobly in defence of the constitution of our country.
(Cheers.) His reply to Mr. Evans's vituperation, that he had
a moral principle and religious sentiment to do that which was
right, showed the man. He was bold enough to say he feared
God and honoured the king, and would not be placed before the
Council in the light Mr. Evans chose. He concluded with
proposing the next resolution:—
"That the conduct of the majority of the Town Council on
Wednesday last, was most inquisitorial and tyrannical towards
.fames Ileyworth, Esq., and utterly at variance with their for-
mer professions."
The resolution was received with loud cheering.
Ma. LLoyn, in seconding the resolution, said, Our radical
town councillors strongly remind toe of a bed of nettles.
(Laughter.) You ate all aware, gentlemen, that the nettle is a
most nauseous and contemptible weed, which, if timorously
handled, produces a most unpleasant sensation, but which, if
vigorously grasped, is as harmless as a cabbage leaf. (Laugh-
ter.) Precisely such is a radical town councillor. Handle him
with a timid delicacy, and he will sting you to the quick ; but
seize upon him with energy and determination, and he shrinks
under your gripe incapable of inflicting the slightest wound.
(Cheers.) That this comparison is by no means far-fetche hi cor
exaggerated we have abundant proof in the proceedings wh
have led to this meeting. Hitherto the servile majority have
met with but few checks on their reckless and dangerous course.
The opposition to them has been necessarily feeble and in-
efficient. • But since the accession of so many additianal con-
servatives to the minority matters have taken a different turn.
(Cheers.) Mr. Heywortla.- in particular, has fearlessly trampled
upon our corporation nettle-bed. (Cheers.) He has grasped the
most towering of these despicable weeds with the hand
of a giant, and they have yielded to the pressure,
_and left
him untouched by the poison of their stings. ( Cheers. )
But, leaving metaphor aside, let us take a more serious vievr.
of the scandalous and tylannical proceedings of Wednesday
last. lam not sorry—however disgraceful to the town of Li-
verpool such proceedings must be considered, and whatever de-
gree of dis;zust they are calculated to excite-1 am not sorry
that the ludicrous farce of Wednesday has been enacted. lu-
deed, I am glad that it has .been nerformed, although it must be
a "cause of deep regret that such a respectable gentleman as
Mr. James Hevworth has been an involuntary actor in these
truly laughable scenes. Why should we be glad that they
have been gone through ? Because they have served Co
evince the innate despotism of the radicals--
(cheers)—because