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of a common national good . They would , therefore , entreat their brother reformers everywhere , to respect the independent convictions ' of those who ( from motives , probably as patriotic as their own ) may jn some degree differ front them ; but , at the same time , they exhort all uninfluenced by past alliances , or personal friendships , to ndopt the most energetic and direct means to secure a victory for their own principles . " Mr . Oockerell , of Cambridge , moved that the address be adopted , which ' was secendecl by Mr . Sisisson , of Hull , who complained of the absurdity of having 15 , 000 clergymen to teach the people religion , while there were not above 3000 of them who knew what religion was . ( Laughter . ) He held that every sect ought to maintain its own ministers . ( Hear , hear . )
Mr . Bunting , an operative from Norwich , supported the address , and informed the meeting that the people of Norwich did not appreciate the honour of being represented by the son of the Duke of Wellington , and that it was intended to elect a reformer in his place . ( Hear , hear . ) After a few observations from Mr . Watts and Mr . Lockhart , the address was agreed to unanimously . Mr . Aldcrcnan Cullen , of Nottingham , moved the fifth resolution : — " That this conference conveys its
hearty thanks to the active members of the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association , especially to the president , Sir Josliiia Walmsley , M . P . — ( cheers)—for the indefatigable exertions which , they have made in the cause of reform during a period presenting so much difficulty , and earnestly recommend them to prosecute with increased vigour the object they have in view / ' Mr . Thornton Hunt seconded the motion , which , after a flattering panegyric upon Sir Joshua from Dr . Burns and other gentlemen , was carried with acclamation .
Mr . Tahcon , of Eye , moved the next resolution" That a duty especially incumbent on the members and local associations is to augment the funds at the disposal of the association to the largest possible amount , since the success of so extended a machinery must in a great degree be proportionate to the means of keeping it in active motion . " Mr . Jackson ( Yarmouth ) seconded the resolution , winch was adopted , Mr . Hinton ( representing the King ' s-eross district ) proposed the following resolution : — " That the conference recommend to all reform constituencies to
support the return of no candidate for a seat in the Commons House of Parliament at the forthcoming election unless he pledges himself to use all the power the constitution allows to throw out any administration that will not bring in a bill for the extension of the franchise and vote by ballot / ' Mr . Ayrton would support the resolution in an amended form , by which they would merely pledge themselves to call upon the candidates to refuse their confidence to any government who would not support the measures referred to in the resolution . The resolution , as amended , was adopted , and the meeting separated . TIIE AGGREGATE MEETIN G . At half-past seven o ' clock in the evening , St . Martin ' s Hall was well filled in every part ; many ladies wore accommodated with pouts on the platform . On the motion of Sir Joshua Walmsley , seconded by Mr . McLcod , the chair was taken by Mr . Hume , who in his address recapitulated his views with regard to tho advantages of our form of government , the abuses which required remedy , nnd the various points of reform contemplated by the association . As their opponents now occupied tho garrison , it was absolutely necessary that reformers should unite , and he asked all present to give
some credit to those who had devoted their whole lives to tho cause of reform . ( Cheers . ) There was not a Chartist in that room who win more ultra in his Chartism than some inombovs of parliament ; but as they could not expect to carry out their will on every point , it became thorn to endeavour to unite . In 1840 , seventy members of tho Hou « o of Commons came to an agreement to demand an extension of tho suflrago to every householder and every lodger . ( A voice-- "All , " followed by loud cheers . ) Ho said all , if they could
have it ; if not , all that they could got . ( Cheers and laughter . ) As regarded tho question of annual parliaments , ho believed that under mv \ i a regulation tho country would never have a man flfc \ for parliamentary duty ; ( Dissent . ) With respect , to tho payinont of inomborH , ho wished " 'to say that there was an act ' of parliament , yet unropenled ' , by which that might bo curried into practice . Ho concluded by an treating that tlioro might ho such co-operation as was exhibited during tho struggle for tho Itoibvm Bill . ( Choors . )
Mr . Ayrton moved tho following resolution : " That this meeting believes radical parliamentary reform to bo tho great practical want of tho day ; and while desiring the maintenance of free trade , records its conviction , that freedom of triido would have boon impregnable if the suffrage had boon placed upon a truly
national basis ; and that , in common with other equally important questions , free trade can only be finally decided when the House of Commons is made a real representation of the people . " Mr . McCullagli , M . P ., seconded the motion , which was supported by Si ? Charles Napier and Mr . McCuliagh , 'M . P . . ' .. .. ¦' . ¦ . - ' . ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ Mr . Bezer , on coming , forward , was received . with loud and repeated cheers . lie said that he agreed with the greater portion of what they had heard from the members of the National Reform Association . The working classes , even the poorest among them , were
amenable to the laws ; and he would tell them that those who were amenable to the laws ought to have a voice in the making of those laws . ( Tremendous cheers . ) He agreed with the gentleman who last addressed them , that by divisions they could never win , but he demanded fair play for the poor man . ( Hear , hear . ) He concluded by moving the six points of the Charter as an amendment to the resolution ,-objecting to any compromise on the pretext of expediency . Mr , Shaw seconded the amendment . Mr . G . J . HolyOake said that it was very well for Mr . Bezer to say he did not mean to make divisions , when he did that
which had that effect . ( Cheers . ) Both Mr . Bezer and himself were Chartists , but while he agreed with that gentleman as to what was right , he came there to help to attain what was possible . ( Cheers . ) He confessed that the term " manhood suffrage" was hateful to his ears , precisely on that ground of " expediency" which Mi \ Bezer professed to repudiate , for it stopped short of including womanhood suffrage . ( Laughter . ) They must waive some opinions to secure union , and he believed that household suffrage went as far as the will of the nation would allow them to go . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Ogden and Mr . McLeod supported the original resolution .
Mr . Ernest Jones rose amidst great cheers , mingled with hissing , and spoke in favour of the amendment . He challenged Sir Joshua Walmsley to come forward and discuss withluin , either in that hall or elsewhere , the question of the number who would be enfranchised by the plan of the Reform Association . He believed that if their plan of reform , were carried , at least four millions of male adults would still remain without a vote . Sir Joshua Walmsley referred to various documents , lists of houses , and computations of the number of male adults in the kingdom , " and stated that ,
after all deductions ; he did not believe there would be more than a quarter of a -million left without the franchise . Mr . George Thompson deprecated dissension , and staked his reputation on the assertion that , under the scheme of the National Reform Association , the suffrage would be easier of attainment than in the United States . ( Cheers , and cries of No , no . ) He had travelled all over tho States , and could demonstrate the fact . The amendment , after a show of hands , was declared lost , and the original resolution carried ; and a vote of thanks to Mr . Hume , tho chairman , terminated the proceedings at about eleven o ' clock .
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THE LEAGUE HAS RISEN AGAIN . MANCnESTETt saw its old League revive on Tuesday in all its former strength . The men who attended were convened to take such steps as might be necessary to defeat tho " inad and wicked attempt" to rcimpose a tax on corn , a fact now placed beyond dispute by tho accession of Lord Derby to office , pledged to restore tho corn-laws . There were present , besides representatives from twenty towns , the pith of tho old leaguers , nino members of parliament—Mr . Bright , Mr . Milner Gibson , Mr . fJobdcn , Mr . Henry , Mr . Korshaw , Mr . C . Hindlcy , Mr . 11 . Milligan , Mr . Brotherton , and Mr . J .
Hey wood ; sind occupying tho chair was the same " Goorgo Wilson" who sat there of yore . Mr . Wilson explained that tho old council of tho League had been called together in order to decide whether thoy should reconstitute that formidable organization , —in fact , to decide whether tho League should rise again . Mr . Cobdon was ( tailed to inovo tho first resolution . Ho began by an eulogy of thoLcnguo ; how that it had kept faith with tho public , and how tho men who had worked it hud not sought any favour or recompense from tho government . Ho said Huh because ho wished it to bo distinctly understood that what ho now proposed was to sorvo no party of politicians . lie
disavowed any such intention whatever . He came there to fight for a cause which experience had shown to bo worthy of their oH ' orta , and if it pleased them to renew their labours , ho proposed that it should bo under the name ruins and regulations which led them triumphantly to victory on tho lust occasion , and that thoy " should Htrietly confine thoniHolves to tho object for which thoy had now met together . " Ho would not mix up with froo trade any other question' whatovor . " It cannot bo concealed that thoro aro many gontlomon who press tho body of men who aro aHHomblod on tho proflont occasion , to enter upon other questions m well as upon tho question of tho corn-laws . Thoy my , Why don't you
go for a lar&e measure of parliamentary reform , \ vhieh would not only enable you to carry free trade in corn but a great many other measures ? ' In ow , it seems to me ' that the fallacy that'lies -under this , argument or entreaty is this—it is assumed that because we are going to mate an effort to put an end for ever to this controversy upon free trade , that therefore we intend to exclude other . people from ( entering upon the consideration of other questions Now , 'we do not say that , because gentlemen join-in the movement of the Anti-Corn-Law League again , - they are to abandon other principles or neglect other movements but what we do say is this , that , having shown you the vast social benefits that have arisen fromthe establishment
of the principle of free trade in food , and the advantages that have resulted to the great mass of the people from that measure , we do not feel justified ^—while we are morally certain that in a few months we can put this question for ever out of the category of controversial questions—in placing ourselves backwards , by taking up other questions upon which the public is not so well informed or so completely united—we , the men who have had the responsible duty of taking an active part in this agitation before , do not think it justifiable that we should change our position in the House of Commons from that . of a majority to a minority , and so retard the definite settlement of this question from a period of three or four months to . probably a 3 many years / ' ( " Hear , " and cheers . )
As they wished to bring the question at once to an issue , he advocated the immediate dissolution of parliament after the necessary forms had been gone through of voting the supplies and passing the mutiny act . Iu reply to those who urged the impropriety of precipitating the question , he said , " he had the strongest belief that we are safe from everything butxlelay and the tricks of politicians , which would be practised during that delay . " You cannot keep the same enthusiasm alive for a number of months ; but while it is cooling your enemies are pursuing the arts of deception and misrepresentation , and ons of their arts will be to try to mix other ques *
tions up with this , and , if possible , to thrust some other question before it . ( Hear . ) Already I see the enemy hoisting a flag , trying to raise up again the banner of religious intolerance in this country . ( 'Hear , hear , ' and a laugh . ) You may have Protestantism and Popery thrust before the question of the bread-tax . It is the old thing over again . Your enemies will try to be religious ( a laugh ) ; they will pretend to be the only religious part of , the country . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and laughter . ) They who tax the people ' sbread will profess to be the great champions of religion . You know that in old times they who ' . devoured widows' houses for a pretence made-long prayers / ( Laughter and cheers . ) Now , from what I have
seen of the men who fought and won the battle of freetrade in corn , they were practically and essentially the most pious men I have met with in the course of my career in life ( hear , hear ); but you will have accusations of infidelity , and Popery , and all sorts of charges made against those very men , if b y that means their opponents can change the issue from the question of free trade in corn to some other . Why , I should not wonder if they tried to raise the issue of the monarchy . ( A laugh . ) I have seen it already put forth that tlie monarch y is in danger if we are allowed to organize and succeed in our objects . ( Renewed laughter . ) You in Manchester and Lancashire , who showed , not many months ago , by a demonstration which only Lancashire and Manchester men can make , which astonished royalty , and those attendant
on royalty , who had witnessed the great pageants of Europe for thirty years , your loyalty and devotion to the institutions of tile country—ay , you will be denounced by these brcad-taxers as being enemies of the monarchy and promoters of revolution ! ( Laughter and cheers . ) lou need not be surprised at any charge that may bo brought against you with a view to divert attention from this question , if you will only give your enemies time . N ° ^» I say , give them no time . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and loud cheers . ) He combated the notion , at great length , that wo should try the Protectionists a twelvemonth , to give them tho opportunity of ^ abandoning their professions and principles . ' That was a new morality to preach in England . It was the firsfc-thno he had over heard such a policy openly advocated , and recommended to a
government . " I tell you candidly , " he exclaimed , " I do not beliovo that Lord ' Derby and hia colleagues aro half so buso as thoHo advisors tako them to be . " What ! will tho men avJio hunted that illustrious statesman almost to his grftvo for having abolished tho Corn-Laws—tho man whoso eo \ o political capilal from that time to this has been tho sarcflum and tho obloquy with which thoy have covered his nnm <> and fame , and tho abuso and denunciation with w « cii they havo loaded " tho gontlomon of tho ManoJiofltoi school" ( laughter and cheers)—will thoso men do , » oc what Sir Jtobort Pool did , but ton times worao . "
For Peel did givo tho Whigs a chance , and declare that ho was not tho man to carry tho repeal of tho Corn-Laws . Ho wont back to powor when tho Whigs failed , and ho carried all his colleagues , save o" ° > 1 ) acIc with him—that ono was Lord Derby . Ho bcliovca Lord Derby would bo as good ' as his word ; and for that reason ho and others liad consulted together , «»« tho result of their consultation was tho notice of mot . " made by Mr . Villiors ; and if thoro should bo any dunculty in bringing on that motion , ho hoped , ami Jio boliovod , that Mr . Villiors would bo tho iivst to movo ft voto of want of confidence in Ministers , rather than allow this question to remain undecided . , . "It has boon said that this is a very wrong tuno * dissolvo Parliament . ( Hoar , hear , and a laugh . ) X >
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216 T HE LEADER . [ SATijRPAy ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 216, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1925/page/4/
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