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    216 THE LEAD Eli. ^Saturday,

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    THE LEAGUE HAS RISEN AGAIN. Manchester s...

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    An Address From The Conference To The Co...

    of a common national good . They would , therefore , entreat their brother reformers everywhere , to respect the independent convictions of those who ( from jjotives , probably as patriotic as their own ) may in som ^ G gree : differ from them ; but , at the same time , they exhort all uninfluenced by past alliances , or personal friendships , to adopt the most energetic and direct means to secure a victory for their own principles . " Mr . Cockerell , of Cambridge , moved that the address be adopted , which was secerided 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- Alderman 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 Joshua 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 , which was adopted . Mr . Hinton ( representing the King ' s-cross 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 . THE AGGREGATE MEETING . At half-past seven o ' clock in the evening , St . Martin ' s Hall was well filled in every part ; many ladies were accommodated with seats on the platform . On the motion of Sir Joshua Walmsley , seconded by Mr . McLcoci , the chair was taken by Mr . Hume , who in his address recapitulated his views with regard to the advantages of our form of government , the abuses which required remedy , and the various points of reform contemplated by the association . As their opponents now occupied the garrison , it was absolutely necessary that reformers should unite , and he asked all present to give nnmo . credit to those who had devoted their whole lives

    to the cause of reform . ( Cheers . ) There was not a Chartist in that room who was moro ultra in liifl Chartism than some members of parliament ; but as they could not expect to carry out their will on every point , it became them to endeavour to unite . In 1849 , nevonty members of the House of Commons came to an agreement to demand an extension of the suffrage to evury householder and every lodger . ( A voico— " All , " followed by loud cheers . ) He Hiiid all , if they could

    have it ; if not , all that they could get . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Ah regarded the question of annual parliament , ho bolioved that under hucIi a regulation the country would never linvo a man fit for parliamentary duty . , ( Dissent . ) With respect to the payment of inomhcrP ) he wished to nay that there was an act of parliament , yet unrepealod , by w . hich that might bo carried into practice . He concluded by ontronting that there might ho such co-operation as was exhibited during the struggle for the Reform Bill . ( Cheers . )

    Mr . Ayrtou moved tho following resolution : " That this meeting boliovcs radical parliamentary reform to bo tho great practical want of tho day ; and while desiring tho maintenance of frco trade , records its conviction , that freedom of trade would havo boon hn < - pregnable if tho suffrage hud 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 . McCulIagh , M . P ., seconded the motion , which was supported by Sir Charles Napier and Mr . McCullagh , M . P . Mr . Bezer , on coming . forward , was received with loud and , repeated cheers . He 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 . 6 , 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 Mr . Bezer professed to repudiate , for it stopped short of including womanhood suflrage . ( 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 with-him , 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 do ^ cuments , 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 the 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 , the chairman , terminated the proceedings at about eleven o ' clock .

    216 The Lead Eli. ^Saturday,

    216 THE LEAD Eli . ^ Saturday ,

    The League Has Risen Again. Manchester S...

    THE LEAGUE HAS RISEN AGAIN . Manchester 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 the " mad 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 the corn-laws . There were present , besides representatives from twenty towns , the pith of the old leaguers , nine members of parliament—Mr . Bright , Mr . Milner Gibson , Mr . Cobden , Mr . Henry , Mr . Kershaw , Mr . C .

    Hindley , Mr . It . Milligan , Mr . Brotherton , and Mr . J . Heywood ; and occupying the chair was the same " George Wilson" who sat there of yore . Mr . Wilson explained that tho old council of the Leaguo had been culled together in order to decide whether they should reconstitute that formidable organization , —in fact , to decide whether tho League should rise again . Mr . Cobden wan called to move the first resolution . He began by an eulogy of tho Leaguo ; how that it had kept faith with the public , and how tho men who had worked it had not sought any favour or recompense from tho government . Ho said this because ho wished it to bo distinctly understood that what ho now

    proposed was to sorvo no party of politicians . Ho disavowed any such intention whatever . Ho enmo there to fight for a cause which' experience had shown to bo worthy of tlieir efforts , and if it pleased them to renew their labours , ho propoRed that it should bo under the same rules and regulations which led them'triumphantly to victory on tho last occasion , and that they " flhould strictly confine themselves to tho object for which they had now mot together . " Ho would not mix up with frco trade any other question whatever . " It cannot bo concealed that thoro aro many gontlomon who press tho body of rnon who aro assembled on tho present occasion , to on tor upon other questions as well as upon tho question of tho corn-Uwfl . They say , ' Why don't you

    go for a large measure of parliamentary reform , which would not only enable you to carry free trade in . corn but a great many other measures ? ' Now , it seems to me ' that the fallacy that lies under this argument or entreaty ia this—it is assumed that because we are going to make 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 from the establishment f d

    of the principle of ree trade in foo , 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 £ ut 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 chan ge our positi on in the House of Commons from that of a majority to a minority , and so re , tard the definite settlement of this question from a period of three or four months to probably as 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 . In reply to those who urged the impropriety of precipitating the question , he said ,. " he had the strongest belief that we are safe from everything but delay 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 if ; is cooling your enemies are pursuing the arts of deception and misrepresentation , and one of their arts will be to try to mix other questions up with this , and , if possible , to thrust some other question before it * ( Hear . )"" Alread y 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 « ver 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 ' s bread will profess tojpe 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 ireetrade 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 by 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 the monarchy 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 the country—ay , you will be denounced by those bread-taxers as being enemies of the monarchy and promoters of revolution ! ( Laughter and cheers . ) You need not bo surprised at any charge that may bo brought against you with a view to divert attention from this question , if you will only g ive your enemies time . Now , I say , give them no time . ( ' Hear , hear , ' and loud cheers . ) He combated the notion , at great length , that we should try the Protectionists a twelvemonth , to give them the opportunity of abandoning their professions and principles . That was a new morality to preach m England . It was tho first time ho had ever heard such a policy openly advocated , and recommended to a

    government . " I toll you candidly , " ho exclaimed , " I do not behove that Lord Dorby and his colloaguos aro half bo base as those advisers toko them to bo . What ! will tho men wlio hunted that illustrious statesman almost to his gravo lor having abolished tho Corn-Laws—tho raon whoso sow political capital from that timo to this hn . i boon tho sarcasm and tho obloquy with which they havo covered his namo and fame , and" tho abuse and denunciation with winca they havo loaded " tho gontlomon of tho Mancliosior school" ( laughter and choors)—will thoso men do , not what Sir Robert Pool did , but ton times worso . ' For Pool did give tho Whigs a chance , and declare of the

    that ho was not tho man to carry the repeal Corn-Laws . Ho wont back to power when tho Whigs failed , and ho carried all his colleagues , save ono ,, uocK with him—that ono was Lord Derby . l Ho bohevcu Lord Dei-by would bo as good as his word ; and wr that reason ho and othors had consulted together , w » a tho result of their consultation was tho notice of motion inado by Mr . Villiors ; and if there flhould bo any < nn > culty in bringing on that motion , ho hoped , ami n bolioved , that Mr . Villioru would be tho first to inovo vote of want of confidence in Ministers , rathor torn allow this question t <> remain undecided . , " It han boon said that this is a vory wrong timo dissolve Parliament . ( Hoar , hew , and a laugh . ) ssow ,

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06031852/page/4/