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ELECTION MATTERS. Me. Dren.AEi/i'9 addre...
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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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The League Has Risen Again. Manchester S...
+ p 11 vou ca ndidly—and it is a secret coming from amp if > of Parliament—that I never yet knew the proper time the eves of members of Parliament for a dissolution . ^ Tauo-lite r . ) If . 'bj any possibility , two or three months \ m be sained , such is the dread of a large portion of the rPDresentatives of the people at being returned back to thpir constituents , that they are willing to ^ make almost !« v compliance or sacrifice they can m order to put off the evil day for a time . I think the constituencies of . this country have very much to . do with , and very much blame to bear for , this state of things . " \ .
He thought Lord Derby ' s threat of dissolution would have a great effect on certain members unless the pressure from without showed that the people were awake to what was going on . They must be prepared for any objections which would cause delay . ; but he thought that the greatest of all evils was to leave the question of the Corn-Laws unsettled . " Then our opponents say of us , ' What would these men have ? These are men / they say , ' who are looking for some other form of government . They will not allow any Government to exist , and , if the present Government is riot to remain in power , what Government can you have ? Why , by the bye , they will be asking Mr , Bright if Tip is willing td so to the Horse Guards ( great laughter ) ,
and they will probably be stipulating that Mr . Cobden shall become Lord Chancellor . ' ( Loud laughter . ) But are there any such consequences necessarily involved in this matter ? Our opponents say , ' You cannot carry on the business of Parliament unless you have either Protectionists or Whigs in office ; ' but they forget that when this question is settled , the Protectionist party will disappear . ( Laughter and cheers . ) You only have one dissolution in the question , and you will never find another politician who will tie the tin kettle of protection to his tail afterwards . ( Great laughter . ) They are all anxious to get rid of it , no doubt ( a laugh ) , and when you have abolished the Protection party , you may probably find it will not be so difficult to carry on the government in the House of Commons . ( Hear , hear . )"
There lay the difficulty—the existence of that firm , compact party , led on by the new Chancellor of the Exchequer . "I say , have a dissolution , abolish this Protectionist party , and you will no longer suffer inconvenience from this compact body trippingup Ministers as before . Put the question of protection out of the way upon a dissolution , and I answer for it you will never have a party in Parliament founded on that question . You will have all parties moving on fresh ground , None will be able to claim merit as Free-traders when all are Free-traders j and those , politicians who now pride themselves upon their support of the free-trade question will have to shake out a reef , and
throw oat their sails to catch the gale in some other direction . I have confidence enough in the patriotism of the Protectionists to believe that the y will find something else to engage their attention , quite as much to our interest as to their own . Get rid of this difficulty , and you will get rid of the objection that we are going to render government impossible . We have a plain and straightforward course to pursue . We won our battle before by pursuing a straightforward course , regardless of the interests of all political parties . I am not surprised that , taking that course upon a great question which involved the interests
of tho whole community , the effect should have been the breaking up of parties and of governments . I have always eaid , and said seven years ago , that we should destroy two or thrco governments before this question was settled ; and now I say , without caring for consequences , —not dreading consequencos , —fooling certain that tho consequences will be useful to tho country , —lot all classes unite , the humbleat as well as the richest , and lot us put the Government to ono of three courses . Either they must recant fully and completely their principlo of protection ; or they must rosign their seats in the Government ; or they shall dissolvo Parliament . Ono of thoso throe coursos wo will
compel thorn to take—( loud and continued cheering )—and when you havo accomplished cither of these objects you will havo effected all that I havo in view . " " Loud cheers , " of course , accompanied Mr- Cobden , as , moving tho following resolution , he sat down : — " That an Administration having been formed committed » y every plodgo that can bind the honour of public men Jo attempt to reimposo a duty on corn , it is resolved that tno Anti-Corn-Law League be reconstituted , under tho rules and regulations by whioh that body waa formerly organized . " j j j
Seconded by Mr . Ashton , of Hyde , tho resolution was unanimousl y carried—that is , if we except tho fanatical opposition of a gentleman , who then , and nitorwiirdo , endeavoured to got up a " currency" discawsion . Tho noxt resolution was moved by Mr . Milner Ul »« jn , M . P ., and seconded by Mr . J . Hoy wood , M . P . "That tho council of tho League bo roquosted to put Wn l - ,, into imm « diato communication with their IlVni V ? ftl 1 pavta of tUo kingdom , urging thorn to immo-Miaia action to prevent tho roturn to parliament of candi"„ | . nvour of tho re-onaotmont , under whatovor procorn » ° " ' any duty upon the importation of foreign
Mr . Cobdon bad oxlmnstod the nul > joet , and little rojnainod for the subsequent speakers . Mr . Milnor Miuson , howevor , mado merry on the absence of tho worn protection" from the addresses of tho now Mi-I i „ to thoir constituents . Mr . Hoywood touched "gntly m \ d delicately on parliamentary reform . Less Hummed , Mr . Bright , in moving the third resolution , wont boldl y into tho subject , and attacked those Minis-, w » ° represented rotton boroughs—like Midhurst , "ore Lord Egmont returns tho homo secretary ; and
Drqitwich , where the colonial secretary returns himself , The resolution moved by Mr . Bright served as the foundation of the following memorial to the Queen : —
• "To the Queen ' s Most Excellent Majestt . " May it please your Majesty , —We , your Majesty ' s loyal and devoted subjects , conscious of the earnest solicitude which your : Id aj esty feels for t \ xe welfare and happiness of your people ,, and impressed with a deep sense of the danger which now threatens the security of those great measures of commercial policy which , during the last four years , have conduced so greatly to the prosperity and social contentment of all classes of your Majesty ' s subjects , have seen with distrust and apprehension the accession to power of a Government pledged by all the obligations of personal honour and public duty to attempt the restoration of odious restrictions on the trade and industry of this
country . " That your memorialists , while recording their solemn and emphatic protest against any and every attempt to reimpose , in whatever shape , taxes on the food of the people , are firmly persuaded that an overwhelming majority of the British people are , by every . constitutional means , prepared to resist and defeat such a policy as an unjust and dangerous aggression on the rights and industry , the freedom of trade ° and commerce and the social welfare and domestic happiness of the great mass of your Majesty's subjects .
" That your memorialists believe that doubt and uncertainty on this subject are calculated to disturb and jeopardize all trading and industrial operations ; to keep alive a spirit of agitation and restlessness throughout your Majesty ' s dominions ; to foment false hopes , and foster injurious apprehensions ; and that very sound reasons of state policy demand an immediate and decisive settlement of a question fraught with such manifest elements of disunion and disquietude to all the great interests of the nation .
" Your memorialists , therefore , would loyally and respectfully beseech your Majesty not to suffer the interests of your subjects to be postponed to the exigencies of a temporizing Administration or any party difficulties that may conflict with Sdund maxims of constitutional policy ; but that yonr Majesty , in the just exercise of your Royal prerogative , will cause the great issue now pending between the responsible advisers of the Crown and the people at large to be forthwith and finally determined by a speedy dissolution of Parliament . "And your memorialists will ever pray . " The memorial , seconded by Mr . Bazley , was unanimously carried . When Mr . Bazley told Sir Eobert Peel , a few days before his death , how well the freetrade measures had answered , Sir Robert replied , very
emphatically , "I am exceedingly glad to hear what you tell , mej take care to keep what you have got . " An anecdote which elicited immense applause . At the conclusion of the meeting , it was resolved to commence a subscription , which in twenty-five minutes realized 27 , 50 ( W . ! The meeting separated with three hearty cheers for the revival of the League .
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Election Matters. Me. Dren.Aei/I'9 Addre...
ELECTION MATTERS . Me . Dren . AEi / i ' 9 address to the electors of Buckinghamshire is remarkable . After announcing the fact of his acceptance of office , and again claiming their suffrages , he proceeds as follows : — - " The late Administration fell to pieces from internal dissension , and not from tho assault of their opponents ; and notwithstanding the obvious difficulties of our position , wo havo felt that to shrink from encountering them would bo to leave tho country without a government , and Her Majesty without servants . Our first dut y will bo to provide for tho ordinary and current exigencies of tho public service ; but , at no distant period , wo hope , with
the concurrence of the country , to establish a policy in conformity with tho principles which in opposition wo have folt it our duty to maintain . " Wo shall endeavour to terminate that strife of classes which , of lato years , hna exorcised so pernicious an inuudnce over tho wolfaro of this kingdom ; to accomplish thoao remedial me asures which great productive interests , suffering from unequal taxation , havo a right to demand from a just Government j to cultivate friendly relations with all foreign powers , and socuvo honourable- poaco ; to uphold in their spirit , as woll as in their form , our political institutions ; and to increaso tho efficiency , as woll as maintain tho rights , of our National and Protestant Church .
" An Administration formed with theso objects , and favourable to progressive improvement in ovory department of tho State , is ono which wo hopo may obtain tho support and command tho confidenco of tho community , whoso sympathies aro tho best foundation for a strong Administration , whilo they aro tho boat security for a mild government . " Some of the nowly appointed Conservative officials havo reason to feel uneasy about their ro-olcction . A now candidate for Kildiiro , in opposition to Lord Niuw , has appeared in the person of Mr . William Cognn , ' a Roman-catholic gentleman of tho county . ; preparations niro mado for un" earnest contest , and there tiro many cluuices that tho Irish Secretary will not obtain his soat . Mr . Whitosido and Sir Emerson Tonnont also appoar to bo in some danger for Enniskillen and Lisburn .
Immediately on Sir Frederick Thosigor ' rt name being made a ( lxturo on tho list of official appointments , General Caulfluld , his antagonist in two former contests , appeared in tho field for Abingdon . Tho note of challenge , however , had scarcely sounded , when a
capitulation was effected in favour of the Attorney-General " for this occasion only / ' on condition that he should abstain from all opposition to Gener Caulfield at the next general election . The Conservatives of Bath applied lately to Sir Frederick Thesiger to be their candidate at the general election , but he declined , and recommended his friend Mr , Whately , Q . C ., who has been in due course requested to visit Bath to give an explanation of his views . Mr . Whately is said to be a Protectionist . But there is little reason to think that , either of the present liberal members will be displaced . The new Colonial Secretary , Sir John Pakington , has issued his address to the " independent" electors of the " ancient borough" of Droitwich . He reserves tne explanation of his political views fo . the time when he shall be able to meet them " at their homes nnd afc the
hustings . Tir-ere is no sign of opposition at present to the reelection of Lord Henry Lennox , now one of the Lords of the Treasury , for the city of Chichester : the ducal influence of the house of Richmond is strong there . A Cordial reconciliation has taken place between the two sections of Liberals in Leeds , and they are resolved to return two decided reformers and free-traders . Lord Frederick Fitzclarence and Mr . Serjeant Gaselee are rival candidates for Portsmouth , Sir George Staunton retiring ; Serjeant Gaselee has addressed a public meeting of the electors , and declared himself in favour of household suffrage and the ballot , free-trade , abolition of abuses in the church , and reduction of
expenditure-Mr . J . Vance , a Conservative member of the Irish bar , is to start for Dublin in company with Mr . Grogan , and it is said that that party are quite sanguine about their success at the general election . Various names are mentioned as candidates on the Liberal side , however , and the contest will certainly be severe . Mr . Mowatt does not intend to offer himself again to the electors of Falmouth and Penryn . Some Whigs of the borough of Colchester , in then ? anxiety to oblige a wealthy landowner of the neighbourhood , Mr . € L Rebow , have damaged the chances of a successful opposition to Lord John Manners . Mr .
Wingrove Cooke , Lord John ' s opponent at the last election , was to have been nominated ; but as soon as Mr . Rebow intimated his desire to stand , some of the " more prudent" members of the party decided to support him . Mr . Cooke , not wishing to divide the liberal party , withdrew . But at the last moment Mr . Rebow required that Mr . Hardcastle , the present liberal member for the borough , should not stand in his way at the next election , and this not being conceded , he refused to stand . At the solicitation of his friends , Mr . Wingrove Cooke has gone down to Colchester again , bufc whether he will be able to retrieve his lost time is
doubtful . Mr . R . A . Christopher has addressed the following letter to the electors of North Lincolnsliire : — " GENTLEMEN , ^ -Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to entrust to my care the seals of tho Duchy of Lancaster , I again appeal to your suffrages . I accept office under tho administration of tho Earl of Derby , from a conviction of his sincere desire to re-verso that
financial and commercial policy which has proved so injurious to native industry and capital . It is on this ground that I confidently rely on your support in again conferring on mo tho proud distinction of representing your interests in tho House of Commons ; and enabling mo to give my humblo but earnest aid to a government which will maintain tho honour of tho Qucon , and the permanenco of our sacked and civil institutions , London , 28 th February , 1852 . It . A . CimiSTOl'irira .
Unlike Mr . Christopher , Mr . Henley , the new Pre- > nident of the Board of Trade , hns written an address to the electors of Oxfordshire , succinctly relating by what steps the old government was broken up and the now one formed , but not vouchsafing a single word as to his policy or principles ! Mr . J . C . llerries , tho new President of tho Board of Control , will not be opposed at Stamford , as the Marquis of Exeter ' s influence in tho borough is too strong to ttft'ord any liberal candidate a chance . Mr . William Coninghnm has issued an address to the electors of tho Tower Hamlets , announcing himself as a candidate for tho general election . His views are woll known to o \ ir readers , both on political and social questions .
A large body of the liberal mombors of tho Houso of Commons luvvo been invited to meet Lord John Russoll on tho 11 th hint ., with a view to some determination on tho present position of public affairs . " Sir John Pakington was returned unopposed on Thursday . Ho adhered rigidly to tho Derby policy in his speech , professing his individual opinion to bo in favour of a fixed duty on corn , but ho wh « willing to abide tho verdict of public opinion . Ho mado much of the Protestant cry , declared his intention of voting ngainst tho Manooth grant , and dwelt longthily on differential sugar duties . On tho same day , Lord John , Manners was returned for Colchester , after a talking
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_06031852/page/5/
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