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TJn .473. AprtHS, 1859.1 THE I/EAPEB, 43...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Mr. R Bernal Osborxe, M.P.—On Friday Las...
—The hon . gentleman next appeared at Manchester , where a meeting of the LancashmrKeformers ' Union was held in the Free Trade Hall . On that Occasion , alluding to the Reform question he said : — Iliave proceeded in the discussion of this question in the belief that there is throughout the whole of the middle and working classes of the country a positive and unchangeable conviction that the Parftiment , as it now exists , is not careful of the people ' s money , and that ifc does not adequately or truly represent the public mmd . Lord ; Derby who bv virtue , not of Parliamentary majorities , but of Parliamentary accidents , is for the time Prime Minister of England , stands up-in the House of Lords nd makes a speech some columns in-lengtii , in which
a .- ¦•¦ a ;_~ . —„ l « n + « . r » n + c ! flira r » r > r » nfr » - ^— with he treats this question as he treats tjie people—with absolute contempt . We know perfectly well that Sere is no monopoly of loyalty in his ( Lord Derby ' s ) order We know perfectly well that . the time may come ' when his order and ours may come in closer conflict . If his alone were left in these islands , where would be the British nation ? Our order may be left here and left here alone , and the British nation mav be as great and free as it has ever been in the past ages of our history . If Lord Derby chooses from that eminence which he occupies , and from the floor of the House of Lordsto east his taunts upon us ,
, upon our order , upon the people in the United Kingdom let me tell him from this floor that there is a power greater than his power . We have had from Lord Palmerston some expressions as to his views on this question , and I don ' t think they are of a nature to create much confidence in him as a I . arliamentary Reform leader . I have never had , ns you know , any kind of faith in the politics of Lord l . alnierston . There is a considerable section of the House of Commons who are very much disposed to follow the leading of Lord John Russell with regard to this question ^ I am sorry to say he has differed Judin
from them on the question of tire ballot . gg , however , from the language- of his address to the City of London , I cannot but believe that if , . the constituencies of the kingdom -were to add to the present ballot vote in tire House fifty or sixty more votes , ; a man of the experience and the sagacity of Lord John Russell would at least stand out of the way , and be no obstacle to the adoption of the ballot in any bill which may receive the sanction of Parliament .. Mr . . Bright proceeded to say that the constituencies of the kingdom ought now so far as they were free , intelligent , and virtuous , to speak out their opinions in language which could not h * e mistaken on this great and vital
question . At Rochdale on Wednesday he attended a meeting held to forward the election of Sir . Cobden for that place . After a highly eulogistic sketch ' of that gentleman ' s political career , he added : With regard to the question of reform , they knew well how far Mr .. Cobden . went , and that his programme was the same as his ( Mr . Bright ' s ) . With regard to Lord J . Russell , he brought the question of reform before the house j'ear after year , when none but himself sincerely advocated it . He ( Lord John ) had
then shown a real sympathy for reform , although he was born in the ducal palace . They must therefore make an allowance for his shortcomings , if ho did Dot march at the speed they could wish . The hon . gentlemen then spoke of Mr . Cobden ' s visit to the United States , which he said was mainly on his own private business ; and he concluded by . say ing that , although he should give Lord John Russell ' s bill a favourable consideration , ho ( Mr , Bright ) had not given up the thought of bringing in , at some future day , his own , if he were again returned to
Parliament . Mr . KinvAiiD Batnrs . — - About 2 , 000 of the electors of Leeds assembled in the Town-hall on Tuesday night , for the purpose of selecting two Liberal candidates for the borough . Mr . Buines and Mr . i ^ orster having been proposed , Mr , Baines addressed the meeting . Ho approved of the measuro of which a , sketch hud been given by Lord John Russell . He approved of the extension of the county franchise to £ 10 occupiers , and of the extension of tho borough franchise to £ & . That was a measure which at once
was liberal and wise . It would bo a great extension of the franchise ) to those classes which had entitled themselves to it j would it not be ' , therefore , a great Advantage to our glorious constitution that its pale should bo so extended that those who wore now outaide of its privileges , and therefore , in porjodsof discontent and agitation , assailants of the constitution , should be brought inside and become defenders of tlio . constitution ? It was with awe and with noK'innity that ho looked to the gathering of the thunderclouds which seemed so likoly to burst in terror and destruction upon the Continent . In that easo ho must declare to them that ho was most doliberatoly and resolutely of opinion that it was the duty of this country to maintain neutrality and peace It was the first duty of the Ministers of England to maintain it in a state of such efficiency that England Wight bo able to look on soronoly even tunvlnst ft world in arms . There was nnotnor , tuple upon
ged School , on Tuesday , to explain his political viewsi . He said- ^ -He was confident that no Reform Bill would give satisfaction to the country that did not ; grant to the honest working-man an extension of the siiffrage and the protection ¦ of the . ballot . There was another reform which must be had , the sweeping- away of the small rotten boroughs , which wer & bought and sold like sheep . He Considered that there should be a lodging suffrage of 2 s . 6 d . per week . He had always been the friend of the working-man , and understood their wants , and was therefore , a fit and proper person to take charge of their interests ' . in the House of Commons . Mr . Watkis and Mr . Young , M . P .- ^ - On Mondaynight the liberal candidates addressed their supporters at Great Yarmouth . -Mr * Watkin contended , with reference to the assertion that the Reform Bill of the Government might have been modified iri committee as to its details , that the Liberal party ; quarrelled not with its details , but with its main principles—the disfranchisement of county freeholders resident in boroughs , the non-reduction of the borough franchise , and the retention of nomination boroughs . —Mr . Young , M . P ., said , in the late division he had voted with the majority , and he was ready to stake his election upon the issue . Taking into account the territorial influence the Bill of the Government would have created and maintained , he believed , if it had passed , the people would have been worse represented . tlian at present . Adverting to the ballot , Mr . Young said he had always been of opinion that elections should be conducted on that principle , having witnessed its successful , quiet , and peaceable application m Australia , where intimidation and bribery werei unknown , because every man was independent . la the course of the proceedings it was stated that Mr . M'Cullagh had abandoned all idea of offering himself as a candidate for the borough . Sir Charles Nafiek , M . P . — -The gallant Admiral addressed his supporters at St . George s-halJ , Southwark . He said he was in favour of household suffrage , because every man who had a house otig-ht to have a vote ; also that because a man could not pay his rates and taxes he should not lose that vote . In respect to the ballot , he was sorr 3 ' to say that there was not such attention given to it on the prevous night in the House as he shouklhavc wished ; but it was , gaining ground . He should certainly support the ballot ; he should also vote for the abolition of church-rates . .
Sin S . M . Psro .- ^ -On Thursd ay night a meeting of the supporters of this gentleman was held at 1 ' reemasons 1 Hall . Sir Samuel declared himself to be an . ardent and sincere reformer , and had he been in the House of Commons on the Reform debate he would have voted for Lord John Russell . He had been , asked whether he would vote for manhood suffrage , jut he felt there must be a gauge , because we must have -something indicating intelligence . He condemned the Reform Association who had thus
questioned him and tolg him he was found wanting , and thought no self-constituted body ought to have the power to dictate to the candidate or voter . Being asked whether he would vote for opening the British Museum and Crystal Palace on Sundays , Sir S . Peto replied that he should feel it his duty nt all times to do everything in his power which would prevent the desecration of the Sabbath ; and , in answer to another elector , said the moment he found his business affairs interfere with his parliamentary duties , that moment he would return the trust into
their hands , Mb . T . S . Dl-ncomke , M . P . — A meeting of Mr . Duncombe ' s friends was held at the Music Hall , Store-street , on Thursday night , at which tlio hon . yemIonian said , ho was proud to saj' that he was the only metropolitan member who had sat continuously from the first reform parliament to the present time . Less than a month since ho met thorn to consider .. the so-called Reform Bill , which was denounced as a sham and an imposture ; and that opinion hsid boon re-eehoeil throughout the breadth that hu
which , for a special reason , he wished to say a word . It was solely upon the abolition of church-rates . He was favourable to their ; entire abolition There was one word which was the key to his opinions upon most of the subjects which could be brought before them ; That one word was " Freedom . " Did they ask what were his principles of legislation concerning trade and industry ? He answered " Freedom . " What was his rule in regard to conscience ? He answered "Freedom . " What was h is principle in regard to the press and public opinion ? He answered , " Freedom . " What was his opinion in regard to religion and education ? He answered , " Freedom . " What was his principle on the opinion he entertained with regard to the mode of voting ? He answered , " Freedom . "
ALDERsrAN Salomons , M . P . —At Greenwich , this gentleman has been addressing his constituents . He said "he had voted in favour of Lord John Russell ' s resolution . He believed the vote he had given would meet with their approval . His op inion was that it was rather hard , because the House of Commons refused to take a bad-article prepared b y the national workmen , that they should all be kicked out . If again returned as their member , which he had no doubt he should be , he would take care that in any Reform Bill winch might be " proposed the rights of county voters should not be interfered with and taken away ; that a large extension of the suffrage to boroughs should be made ; and , above all ,
for that borough , that the rights of men employed by the Government , whom the Government had proposed to disfranchise , should not bo destroyed . Mr . BinviN James , M . P ., asd Sir B , Nau , M . P . - ^ On Monday a dinner was given to Mr . James . his Marylebone supporters , on which occasion . 'he " defended the -course he had taken in , the late debate , and added , Ministers have thought proper to take upon themselves the serious responsibility of dissolving Parliament , because Lord Derby had alleged in the House of Lords that an ignorant and factious majority in the House of Commons had voted for the resolution and against the bill . It was the prerogative of the Crown , certainly , to dissolve
Parliament , but it must be exercised , on the responsibility of the Minister , and Lord Derby has chosen to take upon himself that which X believe . to be a most serious responsibility—the dissolution of Parliament —thereby paralysing trade , putting a stop to commerce , and causing the people to ask of one another , upon what principle does this dissolution take place , for there is no defined principle upon which the Government appeals to the country ; and in the address which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has issued to his constituents of Buckinghamshire , which I suppose is . a sort of Government programme , " not one word is mentioned about a reform of the representation of the people . The
Government have , therefore , taken upon themselves , at the present conjunction of circumstances to dissolve Parliament , without giving to the country any definite principles upon which they intend to act ; and I trust that the Government—though they may recklessly , like gamesters , throw away the cards of the old Parliament and call for fresh ones in a new Parliament , with which to play a desperate game — will be told that the people ' s love for a substantial and comprehensive system of reform , is as great as ever . — Sir Benjamin Hall said—With reference to a dissolutionI think the Government have a right to
, a 1 vise the Queen to do so ; but they must take the responsibility . But I think , at this time , when wo hear of war , when we hear of the Austrian troops crossing the Tieino and entering Sardinia , it is not the time when Great Britain should bo without a Parliament , and without a responsible Government ; because at this timo we have no Government . We are told by the highest authorities in -the House of Lords and House of Common ? that thero cannot be war so long as the Earl of Malmesbury remains at the War Oflloe ; but I don ' t quite agree in that proposition , nor do I believe in the inviolability of the noble earl .
Mb . Montacju Ciiambeks . —At Greenwich a meeting has been held for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Mr . Montagu Chambers for his former services , and for the adoption of measures to return him at the ensuing election . Mr , . Chambers referred to the present position of political parties and the question of Reform . Ho was still an aclvouato of a largo extension of the sullVwgo and the vote by ballot , and ho-considered that the proposal to deprivo the dockyard artisans of politlcul rights was in ovory respect atrocious . He could only say that should it over occur that ho was ro-cloctcnl as their representative , that tlay would bo the most triumphant day of his life . A resolution was then adopted , requesting Mr . Chambers to become a candidate , and pledging the electors to support him i \ t tho poll . Mr . A jp isU 3 T PjfiuuLATT . —This gontloman attended a meeting of working men at tho BurmoncUoy
ltngand length of the land , llo denied was generally so unwell or so ill—for it was put both ways- —as to he utterly incapacitated for service :, ami denounced the ' nssvrtion as an artifice of a- dirty and insidious desire to send him to tho wall . Ho honed they would never allow this . ( Hour , Ueiu \> When he did become iueupiioitniuil ho should return them their generous trust ! ami . if at any tune no should botrny tlmt trust ho would , on such a . representation being mado to him , resign wit Inn sw hours . In the now parliament he would endeavour to obtain ' ft Government ruully representing tho
people , Mk Cox M P . —Tho hon . crontloman , at a meeting of J ' -lnsbury olcc-toro . on Thursday night , said , " Ha was in favour of tho ballot , ol' a larger extonslon , of tho suilrage , of tho formiition of electoral diatneta with « v proper apportionment of electors to each , and of all those reforms that wero conducive to tha
Tjn .473. Aprths, 1859.1 The I/Eapeb, 43...
TJn . 473 . AprtHS , 1859 . 1 THE I / EAPEB , 439
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 16, 1859, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_16041859/page/9/
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