The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-06-20 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING ON REFORM.

Yesterday evening a meeting took place at the Portico,
to consider the propriety of petitioning the House of Com-
mons, in support of Mr. Flume's motion, for the adoption
of " extended household suffrage, equal electoral districts,
vote by ballot, and triennial parliaments." The placard
convening the meeting was signed, on behalf of the com-
mittee, by Lawrence Heyworth, Esq., and seven other
gentlemen of standing in the town. The room was filled,
as was the stage, and the greatest unanimity prevailed for
some time.

Mr. CHARLES EDWARD RAWLINS was called to the
chair, and in his opening address, said that he most
cordially agreed with Mr. Hume in putting off the
debate on his motion until it could be fairly heard
and appreciated. He (the speaker) would have preferred
a measure of larger extent ; he wished, in fact, to have
the full extent of " manhood suffrage." He thought this
was due to every mand of sound mind. and unconvicted

of crime, and that all such ought to have a vote in the
election of their representatives. Annual parliaments
might be too short, and seven years was too long, but he
was inclined to give support to Mr. Hume's motion so far
as it went, until they could obtain all they required,
" manhood suffrage."

Mr. JonN SMITH, of the Mercury-office, after an
argumentative address, moved the first resolution. He
was of opinion that not only housekeepers, but lodgers,
should be possessed of the elective franchise.
Mr. ROBINSON (stated to be a working man) seconded
the resolution in a spirited address, which was listened to
with much attention and applause. He noticed the
extravagant expenditure of the Government,—the pen-
sions, royal palaces, sinecures, over-paid churchmen,
patronage, &c., which deprived the people of their
due share in the representation. Out of six hundred
members in the House of Commons, 423 were
influenced by interested motives. He enlarged upon the
injustice and extravagance of the Government and the
Royal Family, without, however, blaming our gracious
Queen, for whom he claimed all due respect. They asked
for reform constitutionally, and gradually. It was for
them to tell Lord John Russell that they had a will of
their own, and that they might yet achieve universal suf-
frage. He prognosticated much from the mind and pro-
gression of the people, and urged peaceable and moral
force to accomplish all they desired.

Mr. WILLIAM RUSIIIO,.N spoke in favour of moral re-
form. He observed upon the present extravagance of the
Government, who spent about sixty millions a year—a
larger amount than ever before was known. This was
not a reform, and they people would have no `more of it.
An allusion made to the obtaining the whole of the charter,
was received with loud cheers. The free traders had had
their turn, and now was the time for the Chartists to have
theirs. He believed that if the wealthy wished to enjoy
their substance in peace and quietness, they must exert
themselves in doing justice to the industrial classes.
He contended that no good could be effected without a
reduction of the taxazion.

The motion was put and carried by loud acclamation—
not a dissentient hand held up.
Mr. FERRAR moved the second resolution, in a
lengthy address. He knew not the points of the Charter,
but be believed that every man untainted by crime
ought to have a voice in the choice of their representa-
tives. (Cheers.) He had looked forward for something
good from the present parliament, but he was disappointed.
In the reign of Tiberius, several of his subjects in the
provinces, it was thought by his ministers, might be taxed
a little more, His noble reply was, "It is the property
of a good shepherd to shear his sheep, not to skin them. '
He read an extract from a letter which he had intended
to send to Lord John Russell before the recent revolution
in France, and which embodied, in strong language, the
rights of free-born Englishmen, and urging a reverting to
first principles, and a freedom from the burthen of the
national debt. •

The petition was read by Mr. JACKSON, and was unani-
mously adopted.

It Was agreed that it should be presented by Joseph
Hume, Esq. _

After some other remarks, by various speakers, a young
man, (from Manchester,) apparently about eighteen years
of age, presented himself on the platform, with a greasy
card in his hand, and began, with great self-possession, to
preach about the six points of Chartism. He was called
to order by the Chairman, but the meeting seemed to
be strongly inclined to listen to him, and some
confusion arose. The Chairman said, with a view to
conciliation, that the meeting, though called for a specific
subject, would, no doubt, hear the gentleman at the
proper time, after the resolution was seconded.
Mr. L. HEY WORTH seconded the resolution.

A purely Chartist amendment was moved by the well-
known Jones, who, amidst several attempts to interrupt
him, advocated the six points, in opposition to the ori-
ginal motion ; and another Mr. Jones rose to second the
amendment, when Mr. Thomas Bolton rose to order, and
contended that - -t could ' T'

no amendmen ue put. _ meet-
ing became uproarious, and the seconder proceeded ; and
from his prolixity we were compelled to leave. There
seemed little doubt that the pure Chartists would have the
majority. The demi-Chartists on the platform seemed
throughout not a little put out by the false position in
which they had placed themselves. To enable our readers
to judge of the strength of the two parties when put
together, we ascertained that whilst the Reformers (?)
Chartist and demi-Chartist put together,—only filled the
little Portico, the Sparring-match in the Music-hall, close
by, for the benefit of the Tipton Slasher, was a bumper.

that "the House of Commons does not truly represent
the people," and that " the motion of Mr. Hume is to
be regarded as an important practical advance towards the
lull, free, and fair representation of the people." The
petition prayed that every male hotheholder in the
kingdom may have the right of voting for members of
parliament, with the protection of the ballot, and that
members of parliament may be returned from equitably-
adjusted electoral districts throughout the country, and
for a period not exceeding three years."

FEELING IN LIVERPOOL TOWARDS THE
MINISTERIAL SUGAR BILL.

We never remember observing, during our acquaintance
with this port, so unequivocal a feeling of general con-
demnation as that which has been bestowed upon the
sugar measure of Lord John Russell, received here on
Saturday morning. A slight hope had been entertained
by some parties, excited by the tone of several recent
articles upon the subject in the London Times, that at
length something approaching fair play was about to be
shown to our free-labour colonists. Tbis previous hone
has increased the disappointment which is now felt ; and
the only plank to which they have to cling is the proba-
bility of the ministry failing to carry their project through
the house. The slight modification made in the duty as
to clayed sugar and foreign Muscovado is by some con-
sidered as an improvement, though not of material value;
but the other changes are scouted as a mockery and an
insult. Of course some of our ultra free traders condemn
Lord John as having gone too far in the trifling step
which he has made. Moderate men, however, even of
that party, are not unwilling to acknowledge the peculiar
case of the colonists and their claim to be placed in a
just attitude.

By those irarnediately interested in the sugar question,
a protective duty even of 10s. is not thought to hold out
any great encouragement to renewed enterprise, without
being accompanied by a material change in the system of
colonial policy, as well as the certainty of a continuous
supply of labour. They complain of the inefficiency of
the laws for preventing vagrancy and squatting by the
free negro, and the perfect impunity with which he is per-
mitted, at his caprice, to leave his unfinished tasks and
either idle or transfer his labour to another estate. With-
out a complete revision of the colonial law in this respect,
by which the planter may be put upon the footing of
other employers of labour, the most abundant supply of
immigrants which could be afforded them would not save
him. When neither this boon nor a fair protective duty
is afforded, they conceive that to expend the offered
£500,000, to be laid out in importing labourers, would be
sheer insanity.

The Times of yesterday says that in the city it is ad-
mitted, "on both sides," that the £500,000 " might as
well be sunk in the sea."

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(BY EXPRESS.)

MONEY MARKET

-YESTERDAY

The English Funds have been rather firmer this morning,
and there has been a steady business doing. Consols for the
opening have been 83i to 832. The speeches delivered by the
Ministers at the Mansion-house banquet, on Saturday, have
afforded much satisfaction. The New Three-and-a Quarter
per Cents. have been 812 to 84a. Bank Stock is quiet at 191.
Exchequer-bi Is have been 375. to 41s. premium,tbeing scarcely
so good. India Bonds are iss. to 19s. premium.

LONDON CORN MARKET,

YESTERDAY

The demand for all kinds of Wheat' of home produce was
steady, at an advance in the quotations realized on Monday
last, of from Is. to 2s. per quarter, and at which a good clear-
ance was effected. The supply of foreign Wheat on show, not-
withstanding the liberal importation of that article last week,
was by no means large. Selecteffparcels moved off steadily at
2s. per quarter more money, while the value of the middling
and inferior kinds advanced quite Is. per quarter. A few float-
ing cargoes were disposed of at a trifle more money. Scarcely
any English Barley was brought forward, but the show of foreign
samples was very extensive. Fine parcels were in moderate re-
quest at late rates, but infeiior grinding sorts sold at in some
instances, a fall of is. per qr. With Malt we were fairly supplied.
Most descriptions moved off slowly, but we have no alteration
to notice in value. Oats were in good supply. Fine sound
Corn produced late currencies, but the damp and otherwise
weathered parcels were quite 6d. per quarter cheaper, with a
very inactive demand. A very large quantity of foreign Beans
was brought forward, and which met a heavy inquiry, at a re-
duction in value of is. per qr. All kinds of Peas were in
moderate supply, and moderate request at last week's prices.
Indian Corn and Meal were neglected, but not cheaper. Flour
was in better request, but we have no improvement to notice in
its value.
SMITHFIELD CATTLE MARKET.—YESTERDAY.

Although the attendance of buyers was somewhat extensive,
the Beef trade was excessively dull, at, in some instances, a
further decline in the quotations of 2d. per 81bs. However, a
few of the very primest Scots sold at 4s. per 81bs. At the close
of business a large number of Beasts left the market unsold.
Although the supply of Sheep was moderately extensive, the
Mutton trade was steady, though not to say brisk, at prices fully
equalo.utt(tiotnhosreopdaid. orrn Mondayiod lLst,.stshewpaionue:tawcnuiralts
number of producing 4s. 41:y. no Means heavy for the time thee
year. All breeds met a fair demand, at fully last week'sprices.
Prime small Calves moved off freely, at full prices. Otherwise,
the Veal trade was in a very sluggish state. Pigs sold heavily,
at last week's currencies.

It appears by letters received from Copenhagen, that
the Danish authorities are proceeding with the con-
demnation of the German vessels laid under embargo,
partial exception in some few cues being made in favour
of cargoes.