The Sun. — 1855-02-23 (London, England)

RESTORATION OF POLAND.  BIR AINGHAM, THURSDAY. A meeting, presided over by the Mayor, was held in the Town-hall here last night, on the subject of the restoration of Poland as an independent nation. The hall was immensely full ; and after the proceedings had been opened by the Mayor, the following extract of a letter was read from Mr. Scholefeld, M.P., excusing his absence :—" But I need not say that if you think any assurance of my sympathy with the object of the meeting can be useful, you have my full authority to say how heartily I join in the proposed movement. Every day but strengthens my conviction that not only is the resuscitation of Poland preliminary to the successful conduct of the great war, but the best; if not the sole guarantee of a lasting peace. Mr. T. C. SALT moved the first resolution, recognising the importance of the restoration of Poland as a nation. He rejoiced (he said) to find that the hearts •f his fellow-townsmen were still warm on the subject of the restoration of Poland. There were many persons in this country who wanted peace at all cost ; to such he would say,—no pea ;e at the cost of murder ; ne peace at the cost of eppressioa ; no peace at the cost of the liberty and the oppressed of nations. Russia had taken Poland, invaded Prussia, and laid bands on Finland. Me believed that there was so much baseness in the Government of England, that if Russia seized the Isle of Wight, England would submit to it. The nation felt that the Government had betrayed them ; and they now came forward with blood and treasure, proclaiming that a barrier shall be put to despotism, and that nations shall be free. This was a mission from which we ought not to shrink ; but whilst our army, even in the midst of the greatest extremity, never turned their backs upon the foe, it was for us at home to take care that all our sacrifices of blood and treasure was not made in vain. He asked what all this contest was for—whether it was merely for a bit of parchment treaty, that would leave us where we were ? Let who would be sent to Vienna, there was no man, if the voice of the people was distinctly heard, who would dare sign any treaty that would betray the best interests of England. (Cheers.) What were they but the interests of Poland The first clime of Russia was the destruction of Poland, and establishing on its ruins despotism. Our first crime was standing by and looking on. ([Tear, hear.) We stood while Poland was oppressed, Finland taken, and now Turkey was attacked. We were roused to action ar .ast. Russia must not only be stoppesd, but she must be driven back. Poland must be restored, Finland given back to Sweden, the Caucasus have independence, the Black Sea free, and the Danube open. These were the objects, or ought to be the objectr, of the war, and he hoped the sword would never be sheathed until they had been attained. (Cheers.) Mr. J. M. LANGFORD seconded the resolution, which was seconded by Mr. J. W RI"; and carried unanimously. Mr. Aid. BALDWIN moved that a petition to both Louses of Parliament, praying for the restoration of Polish independence and the formation of a Polish legion, be adopted, and be entrusted to Lord Harrowby and Mr. Muntz for presentation. He observed that although a man of peace, yet, ars we were at war, let us try to make the best of it. That, he, conceived, could only be done by restoring Poland to its place amongst the nations as a barrier between the aggressions of Russia and the western nations of Europe. Mr. T. H. GILL seconded the resolution. In the course of a most fervid address, he warned kis auditory against placing too great confidence in Lord Palmerston, and he reminded the meeting that the Whigs had never been friends to the Poles; that in 1794 Pitt, the younger, would have helped them but for Fox and his fri ends ; 08L8:4eoeden,rd Palmerston and the and Persia, were readyth a t int 018h3e01 pFrance, theP orefasu:ds Turkey, ebidln 19cogthneisneottlee Hungarian envoy The meeting was subsequently addressed by Mr. eFnoyroeyi Whigs.g n were Secretary, hostile; Laba, a Pole, and other gentlemen. The resolutions were carried unanimously, and with much enthusiasm, and the petition to Parliament praying for such measures as might tend to restore Poland to a state of independent nationality, wax unanimously adopted.