Lord John Russell's "declaration" has roused the Reformers of Dundee.
A requisition, numerously signed, having been presented to the Provost to call a public meeting, it was discussed in the Town- Council, and decided in the affirmative that the Provost should comply with the request. The meeting was accordingly summoned, and held on Tuesday week, in the largest room that could be bad; which was crowded some time before the business commenced. In the ne- cessary absence of the Provost, another of the Magistrates presided. The first resolution stated,
" That her Majesty's Ministers, by their avowed determination, as recently expressed by Lord John Russell, to maintain the preponderance of the landed interest in the Commons House of Parliament, and thereby manifest their intention to resist all further reform in the representation of the People, and to preserve the present unjust Corn-laws—by their extravagance in voting such an enormous Civil List, Pensions, and Secret Service-money to her Majesty, contrary to their former declarations of economy and retrenchment—and by their violation of the constitutional rights, and their coercive measures to stifle the complaints of the Canadians—have given cause for the withdrawal of that confidence which the British Nation formerly reposed in them."
Carried nem. con. amidst loud cheering.
The second resolution-
" That this meeting are of opinion that the Reform Bill has entirely failed in proem ing a just representation of the People in the Commons Houseof Parliament ; and that, in order that the People may be fairly represented, it is absolutely necessary that the votes at the election of Members of Parliament be taken by Ballot; that the duration of Parliaments be limited to three years; and this meeting assert and demand the right of every man to have a voice in making the laws which he is hound to obey."
This resolution was opposed by Mr. John Bell ; who had some difficulty in prevailing upon the meeting to hear him. He moved an amendment-
" That Universal Suffrage. vote by Ballot, and Triennial Parliaments, are premature; and that the resolution should be confined to a more equal distri- bution of Members."
After a little delay, the amendment was seconded ; and on the ques- tion being put from the chair, only three hands were held up for it. The original resolution then passed.
Mr. Penny moved a supplementary resolution-
" That it is the opinion of this meeting, that a more equal system of repre- sentation is necessary; and that, in place of boroughs or counties, as at pre- sent, the population should be divided, in equal divisions, each having its representative."
This resolution was unanimously carried ; as also another--
" That a committee be appointed to attend and watch the conduct of our public men, and the measures brought before Parliament; and that they shall take proper means in order that the sense of the public may be taken and fully expressed thereon." A petition to the House of Commons, founded on the resolutions, was adopted • to be transmitted for presentation—not to Sir Henry Parnell, but kr. Hume.
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