Meeting Of The City Of Ca...
The Times, 1824-10-15T00:00:00

On Wednesdar evenina a Mleetinsg of the Freetnen of the cit7 of Canterbury, resident in london, to6k place at the George, hlon- nouthstreet, for the purpose of formiing an association to secure ~tie xlte%sta and independelnce of tbat Cty in the ensuing election in iParliament. The meeting consisted of respectable mechanics. Z The CHrrArT.MAs, in ad lressing the assembly, said, he regretted Ito perceive that tO city, county, ort orough in die Uingdom, with the exception of that of which they were natives, had shown a dis- pnOsition to make necessary preparations for the security of their in- dependence. It wss the practice of electors to remit their labours in cases of election urtil the very last moment, when it was tOO late to put into effect the object of those who entertained a proper sense of the qualifications necessary to constitute a%A iadrpendent organ of thc public mind, and who were anxious to have a proper correction of public abuses adininistered. This delay had frequently interfered with the free return of members to serve in ParlmamnerAt, and electors were often astonished, at the termina- tion of a contest, that the popular candidate was thrown out, and a return made in the teeth of their wishes and interests. Had associ- ations for the purpose of counteracting the efforts of those who con. sulted their interests, without nny regard for the interests of their countrymen, been fornmed at a proper time, and conducted with due spirit, the Houce of Commons would, in all probability, pre- sent a more cleering prospect-a liberal spirit of inquiry would start into existence-and the principles of reform would in. evitably mix itself in all our institutions. For the purpose of remedying the great evil so generally complained of, it appear- ed to be indispensably necessAry to go to work in the business of elec. tian some considerable time before tbe disselution of Parliament. The mertts ot candidates could be delibemtely examined, and the constituents would not have to reproach themselves with a defeat of their plans, arising from want of activity in defence of their rights. There were certainly nwany persons in'Canterbury who, although independent in one sense of the word, were completely depend- ent in another_ who were so craiiiped in circumstances, and un- fortunately so much in subservience to the Aristocracy, asto be de. barred even from the utterance of those feelings> which did honour to them. This state of thhngs in their city made the obligation upon thoie who were renmovetl from that dependence to labour torthebene- fit of their fellow-citizens now more peremptory. London contain- ed a vast number of freemen who were quite scparaied from the local interests alluded to, and was the place where the freemen of every part of the em pire were at liberty to say what thev thought of those who put forth their claims as candidates for the representation of the country. le (the Chairman) had, at a former meeting, as- semabled with the objectof forming a society, stated those reasons for brtinging forward the subject. It was there moved, that an As- r sociation should be formed for the better security ot' the indepen- denceof the city of Canterbury. and an adjournment took place, in order to, -;?e more time for consideration. It was to be hopetl that the exsze, e set by the city of Canterbury would be speedily follow- ed by anthe other cities, counties, and boroughs in the empire-- RLAaM applause). The motion for the formation of titeAssociation was then put, and earried unanimously. A conversation took plare, in whiclh several of the f-reemen joined, upon the propriety of' mecting at different houses in the metropolis, ibr the conyenience of many of the freemen who lived at distant parts of the town : and it was agreed. tihat the next meeting should be at Inwvgate-hill, at the house of 5fr. Pa3plet, one of the freemen, on \Vednesday next; and that the following meeting should be held on Wednesday, the 27th instant, at the George, in Mlonmouth-street. Tthe names of the electors were then taken down. The CHAIRMMAV stated to the meeting, that if any gentleman in the room wished to object to the conduct of the present members, he might do so upon this occasion ; at the same imoe, that perhaps it would be more proper to leave the discussion upon the merits of candidates to a future day. This latter suggestion was adopted; but tie stTongest determina- tioIn was manifested with respect to the sort oF men iwhom it is the {nrention of the Society to support. MEBTINC OF THr CITr OF CANTERRURY PREEMEN. MRS_