The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-06-23 00:00:00

MEETING OF YOUNG FREEMEN.

A meeting was convened, by placard, on Saturday last. in
the Large Room at the Golden Lion Inn, of the unsworn free-
men of the town.
T'ee business wag then opened by
Mr. H. STATHAM, who advanced to the table, and said, that
the meeting was convened for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the propriety of petitioning Parliament on behalf of
the rising generation of freemen, whose rights were threatened
by a clause in the bill at present before the House of Commons.
He begged to propose that Mr. Jacques Myers take the chair.
This motion was then seconded, and carried by acclamation.
Mr. Myses, on taking the chair, said he must regret the
absence of a.gentleman who would have filled it much more
ably than he could do • but he would perform his duty to the
best of his ability. Mr. Myers. after having touched upon the
purport of the clause in the bill alluded to by Mr. Statham,
said a report had been circulated, that the present meeting had
been called at the instigation of the persons composing the
Corporation of Liverpool. This he begged distinctly to deny.
The business had been altogether concocted by him (Mr.
Myers) and some of his- friends. He believed that there might
be persons present of opposite opinions to those which he
and these about him professed, but he trusted that the business
would go on smoothly, without disturbance, audainchecked by
any display of party feeling. In allusion to the present situa-
tion in which he stood, in common with those who had been
looking forward to the time when they should become burgesses,
be thought that no member of the House of Commons could
think it right to disfranchise those who had been accustomed to
look upon their freedom as a birthright inalienable, and as
much theirs by descent as any property which their fathers
might have acquired.
MC.. E. CORIIIE, jun., then came forward for the purpose of
moving the first resolution. He prefaced it by merely alluding,
in nearly the same words as Mr. Statham and Mr. Myers had
done, to the clause in the Municipal Bill which went to dis-
franchise them.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. A.LEXANDEII SHAND,
and earned. unanimously...--. • -
Mr. JOHN FOSTER, jun., moved the second resolution. After
informing the meeting that their next duty should be to resolve
upon the means best adapted for carrying its wishes into effect,
be said that they should naturally hope that those who had in-
flicted the blow would prevent it, It was not just, he said, that
they should be included in a deprivation of right for the sins of
others. Ha did not know whether the present freemen had
done anything wrung or not, but it was evident that they had
not, for they had. never had the power—they had never been
tried.
-Mr. KEAR seal, seconded the resolution without comment. It
was carried unanimously.
Mr. STATHAM said he should have the honour of proposing
the next resolution, whieh was to the effect that a petition be
read and adopted, and sent, with a request for their support on
its presentation, to Lord Bandon and Mr. Ewart, and the mem-
bers for the county. ¶Strong symptoms of disapprobation were
manifested on the mention of Mr. Ewart's name, which were
instantly checked by the chairman.l Mr. Statham then pro-
nounced a glowing eulegium on the petition. which, he said,
would be found to meet the cases of every class of young freemen
present—of those under twenty-one years of age, of those who
who bad not yet taken up their freedom, and of those who were
yet apprentices. Mr. Statham next proceeded to read over the
petition, the several clauses of which were much applauded.
Mr. Statham concluded by sgaiu bestowing warns praise on the
petition, which, he said, he did not believe contained any thiug
that any person, of any party, could possibly object to.
The resolution was seconded by Kr. Hosk (es.
Mr. MTERs then said that he had intimated, at the com-
mencement of the meeting, that it was his wish that no party
spirit should be displayed. He trusted those present would
coincide with him, and refrain from any expressions that might
have a tendency to show the predominance of that feeling.—
(Applause.) he resolution was then pet and carried.
Mr. STATHAM now announced that the business of the meet-
ing was concluded.
Mr. MY sus, who performed his duties in a very sensible and
Fentlemanly manner, then modestly said that he trusted that
if any part of their proceedings had appeared out of strict rule,
it might he attributed to the youth and inexperience of himself
and his colleagues.
On the proposition of Mr. WARNER SHAND, the thanks of the
meeting were voted to the chairman. The parties present were
then invited to advance and sign the petition. and.requested to
wake the matter known to their friends, that they might do
likewise.