The National Union held what is called an ordinary meeting
on Wednesday night. The circumstances of the times, however, bestowed on it all the marks of an extraordinary meeting ; for so great was the anxiety of the public to learn what was to be the result of the Council's deliberations, that no fewer than 1,200 new members joined in the course of the evening. The room in Leicester Square where the Council meet, will not, we should suppose from its size, accommodate above 500 or 600 ; and the overflowing numbers had no means of grati- fying their curiosity but by a sort of alternate attendance. Accordingly, during the whole of the meeting, there was a constant eddy and stream • of persons going in and coming out, while a great many hundreds who were afraid of the heat and pressure remained in the square opposite to the place of meeting, to learn from those that had listened to the speakers the tenor of the resolutions passed. The resolutions were in substance as follows-
" That the betrayal of the cause -of the People was not attributable to Lord Grey or his Administration, but to the base and foul treachery of others." " That meetings he recommended in every county town, and parish through the kingdom, which, by inducing compliance with dm unanimous wishes of the People, may prevent the mischief that would otherwise result from the general indignation."
" That a petition be presented to the House of Commons, praying that Com- missioners receive the supplies; and that until the Bill pass, they be not managed by the Lords of the Treasury." It is not necessary to give the speeches of the various gentlemen who .addressed the Council, or, to speak more properly, the members; a few extracts will show their spirit.
The Reverend Mr. Fox said—" It was not a question about a change of dynasty, but whether the aristocracy which could once change it were to retain 'tfieir excessive power for the oppression of the people,—whether the King's "vernment was to be brought iuto disgrace and peril not paralleled, except by the deposition of James and the execution of Charles."
Mr. Murphy observed, that though the taxes were voted, they were not paid. -He called on the whole of the people to say what he did to the tax-gatherer- " Until the Reform Bill is a law, one penny of my money you-shall not have !" 1Cheering and waving of hats for several minutes, with cries of" Bravo! we sea" He might carry them into the Exchequer ; he might seize their goods; they would replevin, and appeal to a jury of their countrymen.
Mr. Perry said—" the individual, whether man or woman, who stood be- tween Lord Grey and the King, deserved the block better than any person in history."
Mr. Powell admitted the illegality of combining to resist the payment of taxes—" It might be illegal to come to a resolution to pay no taxes in money; but no law could reach a man's determination, and let them see who would dare to purchase the goods distrained thus." ( Cheering and waving of hats.) Major Revell noticed the effect of placing the supplies in the hands of Par- liamentary Commissioners—" Not one shilling would pass through the hands of the Treasury Lords; and then what would become of the peer, miserable, pauper Peers, who were of themselves unable to buy a quartern loaf? Lord Lyndhurst, for instance ( Tremendous groans), who had obtained place by his splendid consistency, might attend as aaticas curice in the Exchequer; but until Reform was passed, he would not receive a penny fur his labours."
Mr. Detrosier asked—" Why do our enemies rely on the Army ? Do they forget Colonel Brereton? Is humanity confined to one bosom? Are not sol- diers men and brethren? Is success certain? But the weapon of peace is iu our pockets. The determination to pay no taxes is not confined to the mass of the People. He knew persons in the H011Se. of Commons who would take their part in this also with their country, and refuse them. They will pay no more taxes. (Immense applause, which was renewed secrral times.) There is also a flimsy piece of paper [a 51. note], of which the value depends on public opinion. We may refuse to accept one of these. Will you abide by these-re- solutions ? If a brother be made a victim, will you support him?" ( Cries of " We will," from the whole meeting.)
Another meeting of the Council took place on Thursday; when a petition to the Commons, in terms of the resolutions of the previous evening, was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Hume presented it last night. Nearly two thousand additional members were enrolled on Thursday.
On Thursday, at a numerously attended meeting of the Union of the Working Classes, it was unanimously resolved to pay no taxes in money to an Anti--Reform Ministry. A similar resolution was unani- mously adopted at the Householders' Union of St. Giles, and St. George's, Bloomsbury.
A meeting of the electors of Westminster took place yesterday, at one o'clock, at the Crown and Anchor Tavern. Sir Francis Burdett entered the room amidst the most tremendous cheering, at cue o'clock. Among the gentlemen on the hustings, were, Sir M. Doyle, Mr. O'Connell, Colonel Jones, Colonel Evans, Mr. Byng, Mr. Beckett, Mr. Adams, Mr. Sturgeon, and a number of other intlueLtial gentle- men favourable to the cause of Reform. The large rcom of the tavern was filled long before the time appointed. Sir nerds Burdett kspologized for Sir John Hobhouse's absence, of which, le said, he was the cause, as he had advised him not to attend, for deli( acy's sake. A petition to the House of Commons, calling on them to refuse the Supplies until the Reform Bill was passed, was unanimously agreed to.
So many other meetings have been held during the last forty-eight hours, both in town and country, that it would fill whore columns titer ely to enumerate them. The feeling and the expression .0f. it are everywhere the same.
Upon the news of the resignation of Ministers becoming known on Wednesday, the company at the Black Bear and Chester Home, in Piccadilly, in whose room there is a transparency of the King, imme- diately came to the reiolution of taking him down, and placing him in the window with his heels upward.
Previous page
