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No. 474, Apbjl 23, 185Q.1 THE LEAftEE ^ ...
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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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Me. Viixiers'and. Smr. ^Ethfeife^At Wolv...
Mkssbs . Cheetham and Hetwood . — These gentlemen , the Liberal candidates for South Lancashire , addressed a crowded meeting at Manchester on Tuesdav . Mr , Cheetham said—What then should be the course of the Liberals in future ? The Reform question could no . longer remain in abeyance , and he recommended that the united support of the Liberal party should be given to -the statesman who should introduce a measure for extending the franchise to those classes in counties and boroughs which they had all ceased to doubt the . propriety of placing ¦ on the register . At the same time there must be « uch a redistribution of seats as would give a fair -balance of representation , and give greater power to tthis county . On the question of the ballot , he
conceded that it was an evil , but it was required to counteract a still greater evil . He feared it was now impossible to avoid the great evil of a continental war but his view was that this country ought steadily to remain neutral ; and whilst he had little faith in -the French Emperor ' s sincerity ; with regard to Italian freedom , we ought to depose any minister who should seek our interposition on behalf of Austria . —Mr . J . Pemberton Heywood said : —With Tcmrd to his views of Reform , he should not be satisfied with less thai ! fifty seats for redistribution , and he trusted that a substantial and a comprehensive measure would be introduced by Lord J . Russell , which would settle the question . He had long been in favour of the ballot ; he believed , however ,
it would neither lead to a millennium nOr a ^ despotic republic , and that unless it . were made compulsory , ninety-nine out of every hundred Englishmen would insist on voting openly . After declaring himself resolute for the abolition of church-rates , Mr . Heywood concluded by expressing his belief that greater political power would certainly be obtained by the people , and he trusted they would use it wisely , prudently , and cautiously , being satisfied with " Queen , Lords , and Commons , " looking at ^ France on one side and the United States on the other , and recollecting that ?' equality" did not always end in liberty . ad
Mr . itoiTPELrJ . —On Tuesday this gentleman - dressed the electors of Lambeth . lie said the Government had sent no Tory into Lambeth . They had requested no incipient Lord of the Admiralty to contest this borough . , They could congratulate themselves in being a . free and independent constituency , and in not being at the mercy of a few seedy statesmen , who met in a frowsy back-parlour-, in a ricketty old house in Downiiig-street , to settle the affairs of the nation . Referring to the question of Parliamentary Reform , he reminded them that in Lambeth was the cry first raised . against the Government Reform Bill . He asked them to ratify the decision they had come to on the former occasion . What but
they wanted was not a set of fancy franchises , a measure that would redress the various anomalies which still existed in their representative institutions . Against the use of the ballot they had Tanged only the same stale , musty , fusty , antiquated arguments that had been advanced again and again in the House of Commons , and as often ignominiously refuted 5 and in its favour they had the best of .. all arguments—the fact that ; wherever tho ballot had been fairly tried , as in South Australia , it had been found eminently successful . He hoped to see Lord John Russell before long the earnest advocate of the ballot . ( Hear , hear . ) . IJut he was afraid that would not bo until tho country had loudly ami
fully declared itself in its favour ; and lfo could assure the noble lord that the Liberal party would never be united while thoso who aspired to be its leaders wore in direct antagonism on this great subject to tho bulk of those whom they expected to follow them . Ho was hot what was called apoaccat-any-prico man , but he did not hesitato to avow his detestation of war as tho greatest calamity that could afflict tho human race 5 and to assure thorn that lie would uso his oarnest endeavours to secure the maintenance of peace . M » . Ayrton .- * -In addressing tho inhabitants of tho Tower Hamlets , on Tuesday , the lion , gcntloman said ho'had that day soon Parliament brought to a close , and therefore ho thought ho could not appear before them uta moro iittinir poriodto rondor
an account of his conduct . At the vory moment when tho people expected Parliament would pass a law , to reform thomsolvos , they brought forward a measure founded on a thrice eondonmod basis , and the result was that tho House rojoctod that monsuro introduced by LIlo Government . JIo rogrottod that tho Government had' determined to tiisnolvo tho Parliament , fcafltng that they had shown thomsolvos unfit to deal with tho question . He condemned In strong- terms tho language of tho Queen ' s spooeh dolivorcd that day . With regard to tho late measure of reform , without going into its details , ho had no hesitation in saying that ho saw nothing like reform in it , and its only ofloct would bo to place Parliament in tho hands of a chosen few , ITov himself , ho aid not wish that Parliament should doscond into ilia hands of uneducated mont but , at tho saino tiino ,
for years past by all thinking men ? Why , in consequence mainly of the Improved intelligence , education , and morality of the working classes , who should be admitted to a share of the franchise . He was not in favour , of any sweeping and extensive change ; he was not in favour of universal suffrage . He believed that the wisest course to pursue was to adopt the same plan they had hitherto done , and which had enabled them to enjoy a greater amount of freedom , liberty , and prosperity than had been the lot of any other country under the sun . ' He was for taking the Bill of 1832 , mending its defects , and extending it so far as subsequent experience and improvement had shown to be desirable . He was he entered at
opposed to household suffrage ; and some length into his reason for that opinion . An educational test had been proposed , but he did not think this would ansAver the purpose . He believed they must come to the test of the state and condition , in life to which the working classes had raised themselves . He quite agreed that a 10 ? . house was far too high . Two bills—one in 1852 and one in 1854—were proposed to Parliament . He was one of the Government of the day , and responsible for those bills . In both the franchise was based upon a rated value , arid his opinion was that it would be a great advantage to establish the franchise upon a rated value He knew the objections to a rating franchise ; he believed
but if it could be carried into effect , it would be the best arrangement j and he should be prepared to support a Si . rating , which he believed to be equivalent to a Ql . rental , winch was the reduction he supported in 1852 , as one of Lord John Russell ' s Government . -The . worst bill the Liberals would pass would be infinitely better than any measure the Tories would give them , and there was nothing to prevent them in the future pressing for what they thought desirable . He was of opinion that a large measure of reform was better , safer , and more conservative than a small one ; but , after all ; . they must look to those measures which there was a prospect of carrying , and not to those which ' would have the effect of sending a great number Of Liberal members into the to the ballothe said
Tory lobby on a division . As , he had always opposed it , believing that the best securitv for the right discharge of any duty was the influence of public opinion . If the ballot ^ were adopted , however , he had not the slightest fear ot what was called democratic changes ; he should still be satisfied of the permanence of their national institutions . He believed no effort would be spared by the Government of the country , in whatever hands it mi ^ ht be , to preserve the peaco of Europe . He knew that the declarations which were made by the leading statesmen at the opening of the present session produced no inconsiderable effect upon foreign Powers ; ami he considered that we should look * with infinite disgust and disapprobation upon that Power , be it which it might , that broke the
the existence of the right of the working classes ought not to be overlooked . By the late bill , however , they were overlooked , and > therefore , he said it was no measure of reform . S ' m Charles Wood , Sir J . Ramsden , and Me . F . Crossley . — -On Monday Sir J . Ramsden and Mr . Crossley , the Liberal candidates for the West Riding , met the electors at Bradford , and also at Halifax . At the latter place Sir Charles Wood was present , and said , " I address you as a brother elector of the West Riding , I address those who are my brother electors , those who I hope will be so soon ^ and those also , whether electors or hot , who cannot but take an interest in this district , of which
we are all inhabitants . I am anxious as a landowner to address you as a manufacturing body , and to tell you that we are as anxious as you are that both our candidates should be returned together to Parliament . I tell you that in one respect lam sorry , because a better friend and colleague than my colleague , man could not have . I am sorry to part with him as a colleague-, but it will be some satisfaction and comfort , which , however , depends partiv on you , that though lie will no longer be my colleague , he will henceforth be my representative . I am anxious that they should both- be returned . The Government have brought in ; a bill—miscalled a Reform Bill . The House of Commons decided
against that bill , and they have appealed to the country . Three candidates are before you for the Riding—one voted with the Government for the bill , and two voted against it , as a sham and a de ^ - lusion . Which of the men will the electors of the West Riding return to Parliament ? I cannot doubt for a moment . But I wish also to say that I , a landowner , in conjunction with the whole body of the- Whig landed portion of the Riding , ana anxious to see a manufacturer as a colleage of Sir John Ramsden ; we are anxious to prove that our prosperity depends on you— -that agriculture , trade , and commerce are indissdlubly bound up together . People deny that sometimes ; but do you send a of Great Britain
proof from the largest constituency that a landowner and manufacturer are sent together to represent the joint interests of the Ridinginterests which are those also of the whole empire . Gentlemen , you must exert yourselves . Our opponents are strong . You must be united—landowner hh-1 manufacturer . Every' calling himself a Liberal must not shrink from trouble or exertion . It will be a hard struggle , and will require all your exertions . " Sir John » Ramsden said that they should not be surprised at any moment to hear that war had broken out , and they knew what would , be the character of that war . In a war . the object of which was to free a down-trodden population from the oppression of a foreign and despotic master—they knew that the sympathy '' of the great English people would be heartily and cordially given—but they of that charac
knew that this was not a war - ter . If England was to interfere at all , it must be in the character of a mediator , and not of a combatant . Speaking of reform , ho said , as regarded the county franchise , he had always hitherto voted for the reduction of the franchise to . £ 10 occupiers , and it was probable he should continue to do so . He thought the £ G borough franchise would be a safe and proper extension of the franchise . He was disposed to go further than the Government in the disfranchisement of boroughs . Mr . Crossley said that he should be inclined to give Lord John Russell ' s' proposition his heftrty support —^ to reduce the . qualification in counties to . £ 10 , provided lip had a safeguard that not less than onehalf ofthat qualification should be a house , and with regard to boroughs , he should bo in favour of the franchise being 1 reduced from £ 10 rent to £ C > .
peace of tho world . . Sm James Graham . —The right lion , baronet addressed the electors of Carlisle on Wednesday evening at a great open-air meeting in front of the Town-hall . After enlarging upon the mutual friendship existing between himself and the men of Carlisle , he proceeded to dissect the royal speech by paragraphs . Ho styled the present ministry a " provisional government and a government by suffrage . The case of Lord Derby is that he , being in a minority , attempted to rule this country , and appeals from tho House of Commons , where he was in a minority , to the people , to see if they will send him a favourable majority . There is no mention of reform in this speech , and still more , there is no promise whatever on the part of Lord Derby , if he continue Minister , that ho will undertake another Reform Bill moro liberal and more popular than that
Sm Cuaulks Woow . —Tho right honourable baronet made a second speech on Thursday at Halifax . The right hon . gentleman commented somewhat in detail upon tho courso pursued by that party which now governed ' thin country on tha discussion upon the Conspiracy to Murder Bill , the defeat of whioh led to tho resignation of Lord Palmers ton ' s Ministry . Ho then criticised the Government failures , with their India Bill , nnd their ehnreh-rato measure . Coming to their Reform Bill , lift said its provisions wore monstrous . One of the most sorious dofects was tho proposal to abolish the freeholders' franchise . The danger to county
roagainst which I voted and for which my present colleague , Mr . Hodgson , voted on tho second roading . The question really to be submitted to you is this—Will you have Lord Derby , witliout reform , to rule over you ? The issue of reform—the especial issue of reform is abandoned , and the general issue of confidence in Lord Derby pleaded . In Purharwjentary languago it is a disingenuous innnamvre , — that is , what in homely parlanoc wo should ciilinn " artful dodge . " In' 52 tho Durbyitos | n the cities woro all Free-traders ; now they two all Koformers . In ' 53 in tho counties they were all the » farmer ' s friends ; " now in tho counties tho »«> Unites nro the enemies of" revolutionary chanyo v Upon tho foreign policy of the G" ™™" . " ; ° , fffiwn "It was my lot to listen to thoMlnistor of thoCiwn on Momuly last , when ho announcedto ^ Xu Za xn Commons of England that , our relations with ioroign Power . wore most disturbed , and that it was most doubt ill whether the pence of Kuropo would bo preserved Ho pointed to tho neutrality of England , but obaorvoil It must bo an armed neutrality . So much for tho preservation of peace under the ausi cos of Lord Dorby . " Sir James adverted , to tho onarffo brought by Mr . Hodgson , tho opposing candidate , that ho ( Sir Jamas ) was trying to make a
presentation was , that it should fall exclusively into tho hands of a fow great landed proprietors j and the security against this evil was to bo found in tho existence of the independent freeholders , tho number of which Government intended so seriously to -reduce . In a sn ^ ill county , they would soo at onco that sacli a rnonsuro would render tho representation as closo and as safe as in old times it was in tho boroughs of Midhurst and Old Surutn . The same principle , in fact , was extended to tho borough * , because ic was as easy to create a 40 u . frouholU us a £ 10 occupation , tho difference being that they could , mako five of ono at tho cost of ono of the other . Why had any reform ivt all been thought necessary
No. 474, Apbjl 23, 185q.1 The Leaftee ^ ...
No . 474 , Apbjl 23 , 185 Q . 1 THE LEAftEE ^ 521
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 23, 1859, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_23041859/page/9/
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