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

they have opened to view the secret and corrupt motives by which
our self-styled reformeri are actuated—(cheers)—because they
afford us a useful lesson to warn us of what we may expect from
the further ascendancy of repiiblicans and anarchists. (Cheers.)
The essential character of radical reformers is-now fully de-
veloped before the eyes of the Liverpool public. They have
proved themselves the deadly enemies of freedom of discussion
they have shown themselves to be proud, arrogant, asset-fling,
conceited, and overbearing tyrants; they have gloried iu being
selfish and corrupt; they have endeavoured, by brow;.beating
and cowardly intimidation, to silence the voice of truth, be-
cause it ventured to-proclaim their own baseness and incon-'
sistency. (Cheers.) And yet these men, who have emulated
with so much zeal the conduct of the congenial inquisitors of
popish Spain, were formerly the apostles of freedom. They
formerly declaimed with the utmost vehemence against every
species of tyranny and oppression—their incessant clamour was
about the iniquity of excluding the public from all kuowledge of
the Town-halt doings—they most zealously preached against what
they called the corrupt exercise of patronage—they most vir-
tuously exclaimed against the division of office among poli-
tical partisans. But what have they done since their accession
to their present offices? They have uniformly given the lie to
their previous professions—they have acted in diametrical
opposition to their avowed principles. (Cheers.), They began
their career by electing sixteen of their fellow radicals into
office as aldermen, including among these several who were re-
jected by the people. (Cheers.) Thus they began their reign
by offering a deliberate and gratuitous insult to the people of
Liverpool. This act of theirs has been well followed up. They
have subsequently dismissed the old and true servants of the
corporation for the sake of installing into office their own creatures
and dependents, men of at least questionable abilities, but possess-
ing, the indispensable qualification of being prepared to " go
the whole hog" with their liberal patrons. (Hear hear, hear.)
They have converted the Cerporation Schools, formerly fre-
quenkd by children of all denominations, into exclusive nurse-
ries of Popery and Socinianism. They have acted on the most
exclusive system in the appointment of the Dock Trustees—a
measure-against which they had eloquently declaimed for years.
They have concocted all the real business of the Corporation in
secret conclave at the Angel Inn—(cheers)—subsequently
meeting in the Town-hall merely to record their predetermined
arrangements, evidently in reluctant compliance with an indis-
pensable formality. (Cheers.) Mr. Heyworth has had the
courage to detounce all this, with his usual ability, at a meeting
of his constituents. For taking such an unpardonable liberty
with these dignified personages they call him to account. Yes,
for daring to give expression to his honer 4 opinionsforavow-
inig his independent convictions—for publicly animadverting on
the public acts of public characters—these babbling teachers of
freedom and equality assail him with the grossest virulence.
(Cheers.) They attack him with every species of abuse which
personal hatred and political rancour can suggest—and for
what ? For merely doing that, in doing which they claim
i:nmunity for themselves. (Loud cheering.) By this shame-
less inconsistency they have made the sacred name of li-
berty a byeword among their neighbours. But how did
Mr. Heyworth treat the attack upon him? Not by shrink-
ing from the subject, and screening hittiself behind the unfor-
tunate reporter, as many do when similarly circumstanced,
No ! he boldly met his assailants foot to foot—he distinctly
authenticated the report by verifying its substantial accuracy—
and he clinched every urgument in his previous speech with
fearless and persevering energy. (Cheers.) But he did this
-like a gentleman and a christian. He did not forget what Wail
due to his character. He did not return railing for railing.
He opposed truth to falsehood and misrepresentation—he op-
posed argument to abuse. He braved the storm or their dis-
cordant howlings without being moved. lie shook off his puny-
assailants

" Like dew-drops from the lion's mane."
And was not Mr. Heyworth to be supported iu this independent
line-of conduct ? Would not the public of Liverpool respoud
to this appeal to their patriotic feelings, and come forward io
support of conservatism? Would not they strengthen the hands
of the minority in the Town Ganicil in their noble opposition
to the servile majority ? (Cheers.) Though the minority was
comparatively small at present they looked forward with hope
and satisfaction to the future. They knew that sixteen radi-
cals, unalloyed by a single conservative, would have to go outof
office next November. They knew of the exteut of the reaction
which was then in progress, and which would enable them to re-
turn at least 10 at the next election. This; with a further addi-
tion of 8 at the next subsequent election, will give the conserva-
tives a practical majority in the Council, after the retitement
of the 8 aldermen whose period of office will then terminate.
Then let us go hand in hand fur the purpose of achieving that
consummation; and never rest satisfied until ali the radical
members of the council have slipped away quietly from their
seats. Among these would depart the present Mayor, who had
acquired-no additional honour to his character since his eleva-
tion to the civic chair. He had indeed on the recent occasion
done every thing to degrade himself in the eyes of the commu-
nity. He had not acted the part of chairman or moderator
over the council—he had rather increased the disorder which
he was bound to repress. He had himself become a party to the
attack upon Mr. Hevworth, and had assailed him in as many as
3-1 speeches. Übe had acted at all as a judge, it was
"To judge the strife, and more embroil the fray." (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then put .the resolution to the meetitig, and
it was carried unauimoosly,
Mr. James PARKER said, since he had entered that room he
had had a resolution put into his hands; though last it was one
of the most important before that meeting that evening. They
had heard a very eloquetit definition of the word people from
Mr. Pattisson. He should like to hear Mr. Morecroft's defini-
tion of that word. Mr. Mm recroft told them, th-tt as Councillor
for Lime-street Ward, that he was the people. They would
suppose from that that he had been returned without a dissenting
voice. On the contrary, the majority by which he had obtained
his seat was very trifling. The resolution he had to- propose he
was quite certain would be responded to. lie concluded with
proposing
"That our best thanks are due to James Heyworth, Esq ,
for his fearless independence and public spirit in exposing
the partizanship of a 'servile majority' of the Council, whose
secret acts can only be designated those of a political cabal,'
and that he may depend upon the sympathy and support of thou-
sands, while he honestly and fearlessly exposes the public con
duct of that majority."
Mr. H texts briefly seconded the resolution. He said they
owed many thanks to Mr. Heyworth for having taken the bull
by the horns as he had done.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, and it was carried
by acclamation, followed by three cheers.
Mr. RICHARD DAWSON, on being called for, rose He said
he was not prepared to expect the honour they had conferred
Upon him. He conceived that the Tradesmen's Conservative
Association of Liverpool had given the general tone throughout
the kingdom of Great Britain to all similar societies There
was no one in the town of Liverpool who had better performed
his duties than their worthy chairman • and he conceived that
the "meed of praise" was due to Mr. Wilkinson for the ardu-
ous task he had undertaken. and of which he had so well acquit-
ted himself. It had been suggested to him that a deputation of
the Tradesmen's Conservative Association should wait upon Mr.
Flevworth to communicate their congratulations on his recent
conduct. He begged to propose that the deputation should be
appointed at that meeting, abd that it should consist of Messrs.
Wilkinson, Cooper, Hardisty, and Byford.
These gentlemen were then unanimously chosen as a depu-
tation.
After this three cheers were given for the chairman.
The company then, after singing " God save King," in
which Mr. Holden sung the solo, separated shortly after nine
o'clock.