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and the whole of this session , had exercised a factious sway over the House of Commons by the consciousness of having the power of dissolution in his liands . Why were members afraid of going to meet their constituents ? One main consideration was the enormous expenses in which they were mulcted for the elections , especially in Scotland , where , even with the purest constituencies , the members were subjected to heavier legal and other charges than in England . If we had three years' instead of seven years' Parliaments , the Parliaments would came to be considered as of lonajide duration ; for it must be a great crisis indeed that would render necessary a dissolution before the time , and there would not be the same capricious exercise of the power of
dissolution . This xeform , coupled with that of the ballot , would save a vast amount of turmoil and strife , as the effect of the ballot "would be to put an end to the practice of canvassing at elections , and the more frequent recurrence of elections would be considered by men of all parties as a great boon . He observed that his hon . opponent ( Mr . Akroyd ) had a plan for permissive ballot ; but he ( Mr . Cobden ) was for compulsory ballot . He would make everybody vote by ballot , with permissive open votingthat was , any man who chose to put the name of his favourite candidate , Cobdea or Akroyd , on his hat or on his back was at liberty to do so . " ( Cheers . ') He afterwards stated that lie was " in favour of lousehold suffrage , the late-book to be the register , and every man rated to the poor to have a vote . { Rounds of applause . ')
He was of opinion that , if a leader in the position of Lord John Russell were to introduce a Reform Bill , with the ballot included , he would trip up the heels of his opponents , take the wind out of their sails in a very clever and very successful wa }' , and break the ranks of his adversaries in the counties . ( Hear , hear . ) The qualification for members was only a fiction , and he would vote for its abolition , as in Scotland . " Mr . Cobden then went over several other political grounds , including the late Russian war , which he said had had no other effect than to increase the standing armies of Europe , and press down the peoples . In answer to questions put to him , he stated that he should , after their recent vote in favour of the Canton massacre , vote that the Bishops be excluded from the House of Lords . He should not vote
for the opening of the Crystal Palace or Crystal Palace grounds on the Sunday , nor "would he vote for the Maine Law . Mr . Shavv ^ constable of Huddersfield , proposed , and Mr . Thomas Mallinsbn seconded , Mr . Cobden as a fit and proper person to represent the borough ; and the resolution was carried by an overwhelming majority . The result was received with rounds of applause . —Mr . Gobden addressed another meeting on Tuesday night , "with the same result . A meeting of electors at Colchester was addressed on Saturday by Major the Right Hon . William Beresford , one of the candidates for North Essex . That gentleman explained his reasons for not going with his party in the recent China vote . Those reasons were
chiefly contained in a letter which he had -written to some Conservative friend , and portions of which he read to the meeting . " In the first place , " wrote the Major , tl I do not like the company which ; you have lately been keeping or endeavouring to keep . I will not enter into the controversy of whether it is a coalition or an agreement , or an approximation . I do not like such company . It must bring discredit , and will bring bad principles with it . In the next place , I foresee and fear very disastrous results to our military position at Canton and to our national prestige if a resolution , of the
House of Commons should go out , repudiating the conduct of our forces there . Beware of that . Further , I must look at the consequences of such a vote in its results here at home . A change of Government is unavoidable j nay , you acknowledge that such is the object in view . Here I must confess that I am opposed to turning out an existing Administration unless I see plainly a fair chance , at least , of establishing in its place a better one , which has a reasonable prospect of holding its ground . Now Lord Derby has proclaimed io the country that he cannot form such a Government wii . li Sir . ( ilnclatmin
and Mr . Sidney Herbert . If he has had no communication ( as I am told ) with them ,, how cam he make sure that they will not again decline ? and if they do join , will not such a coalition bring more discredit than strength with it ? Another and a very strong objection which I entertnin to the change at this moment is the conviction in my mind that the first act of this coulition , as a Government , will be to cut down the military estimates , and to reduce the army again to that state of inefficiency from which it has only just emerged—an
inefficiency for which botlv Mr . Gladstone and Mr . Sidney Herbert were in some degree accessory and answerable for . " Mr . Dcjcani :, the other Conservative candidate , also addressed tho meeting , observing that , though Axq thought the conduct of Sir John Bowri ng roprelieusiDTc , he wns inclined to support Lord I ' nlincrstou in pro-Becuting tho war vigorously , and bringing it to nn honourable and satisfactory termination . Resolutions were then udopted , pledging tho meeting to do all in its power to secure the return of the two candidates .
man , Lord Charles James Fox Russell , gallantly defended the claims of his kinsman . In tlie course of his speech , he said : —" With regard to the question of the ballot , he had authority to state that the vice-president of the Ballot Society in the City , the treasurer , and several of the committee , had determined to support Lord John Russell , notwithstanding his opposition to the ballot , (// ear . ) But was his brother so determined an opponent of the ballot as some gentlemen seemed to suppose ? He had heard his brother say that in the abstract . he was favourable to open voting , but that he might be driven to the ballot . ( Disapprobation , and a cry , " He never will be . " ) What did his brother say at the London Tavern the other day ? He understood him to say that , when Mr . Hume stated that only one man in seven enjoyed the franchise , he thought it only right that the other six should know how the
elector voted . But his brother now went a step further He wanted to carry a large extension of the franchise ; and when two men out of seven , instead of one out of seven , had the power of voting , the argument against the ballot would not be quite so strong in his brother ' s mind as it was . ¦ ( Applause 1 , and partial disapprobation . ) . . . It was only last night that his brother , not speaking upon the China question , but alluding to Lord Pahnerston ' s address to the electors of Tiverton , said , ' He is a little hard upon us hero , for lie says that no one ventured to impugn the policy pursued by the Government at Naples . But I took exception to it on the first night of the session , and spoke to Lord Minto on the subject ; but I did not do more , because if I had brought forward a motion , the Tories would have voted with us , and we should have put the Government in a minority . ' This would show tliat his brother had no animus against Lord Palmerston . "
Another meeting of the supporters of Lord John . Russell was held at Crosby Hall on Thursday . The proceedings presented no features of interest . Mr . Looick , one of tho candidates for SouTirwAUK , addressed the electors on Monday , and indicated his approval of Lord . Palmerston ' s foreign policy , as well as his ( Mr . Locke ' s ) intention to support ttie further extension of the franchise , the abolition of church-rates and Jewish disabilities , the spread of education , the opening of the British Museum , &c , on Sundays , vote by ballot , tlie abolition of the law of settlement , the equalisation of the poor-rates , and other measures of enlightened progress . A vote of confidence was unanimously passed . Mr . Pisllatt appeared before his JSouthwark constituents on Tuesday evening , vindicated his recent opposition to the Government on the China question , and obtained a vote of confidShcc .
Sir Charles Napier addressed his Southwark supporters on Wednesda } ' night . He approves of Lord Palmerston ' s conduct with respect to the Chinese business , but thinks the people should refuse to support his administration unless he shows himself a genuine Reformer . Mr . Routeix , met iiis Lambeth constituents on Monday . lie declared himself in favour of a more democratic House of Commons , and of any measure tending to advance the interests of the working classes , to lessen their hours of toil , and lengthen their hours of intelligent recreation , to abolish the truck system , and to protect children in factories from the demoralizing effects of excessive labour . He denied that he was an ultra Palmerstonian . A resolution expressing confidence was passed with only two dissentients .
of Lord Dudley , as he was sure they would have considered him a foolish person if he had not solicited the countenance of one who exercised such great political influence in the district ; but be was perfectly unshackled . He then professed principles of a moderate Liberal shade ; and a resolution approving of his views was carried by a small majority . An adjourned meeting of electors of South Staffordshire was held last Saturday afternoon at the Swan Hotel , Wolverhampton ; it was attended by about fift y representatives of the leading interests of the district . Mr . Sidney Cartwright , of "VVblverhampton , presided . Mr . William Mathews , an iron master-near Dudley , and a Mr . J . W . Foley , son of the Mr . Foley who represented East Worcestershire in the last Parliament , expounded the principles on which they solicit the suffrages of the voters . Both are Liberals , in favour
of an extension of the suffrage , vote by ballot , and the abolition of compulsory church rates . The former , however , is opposed to the admission of Jews to Parliament , while the latter favours it . The names of two other candidates , who are now absent from Englandviz ., the Hon . F . Calthoki'E , and the Hon . Arthur AVrottesley—were mentioned , and a statement of their political sentiments was made to the meeting . Sir . Mathews was at once accepted as a candidate , and a division then took place on behalf of the other three candidates , when there were—For Mr . Foley , 25 ; the Hon . Arthur Wrottesley , 19 ; the Hon . F . Calthorpe , 1 ; and the meeting pledged itself to vote for Mr , Mathews , and Mr . Foley . The chairman was authorized , to publish throughout South Staffordshire the decision to ¦ which the meeting had come , and to recommend Messrs . Mathews and Foley to the general constituency for election .
The Liberal party of Norwich held another great meeting on Friday week in St . Andrew ' s Hall . Lord Bury and Mr . H . W . Schneider , the Liberal candidates , attended the meeting , and were received -with great enthusiasm . On the following day , Lord Bury and Mr . Schneider attended in the Corn Exchange , and were favourably received . The farmers and merchants present in the Exchange were also addressed by Mr . Charles Buxton , on behalf of his brother , Sir Edward North Buxton , who 19 now a candidate for the representation of East Norfolk with Major-General Windham . Business was for a time suspended , and the scene was one of much animation and interest .
Mr . James WYle > addressed a large meeting of the electors of Bodmin in tlie Guildhall on Thursday week , Mr . Sergeant presiding . He said that , though on many great questions of policy he should support Lord Palmerston with all his strength , yet , as representing an independent constituency , there were times and seasons when he might differ from him , and he was sure that such was the nobleness of Lord Palmerston that he would not seek a support given without thought or discrimination . A resolution approving Sir . Wyld as a candidate was unanimously agreed to .
The electors of Finsbuky had a crowded meeting at the London Mechanics' Institute on Monday , when Mr . Duxcombe stated his political principles , and promised that he would vote for an equalization of poor-rates and land-tax . He then defended Lord Palmerston from the charge of being a Tory . The proceedings concluded by the passing , amidst acclamation , of a resolution pledging the meeting to return Mr . Duncombe free of expense . —Mr . Serjeant Paruy , Major Reed , and Mr . Cox , the other candidates , addressed the constituency on the same day in various parts of the borough . —Mr . William Cox addressed tlie Finsbury electors 011
Tues-1 he friends and supporters of Mr . Williams , at Lambeth , were addressed by that gentleman on Tuesday evening . A resolution was passed , pledging the meeting- to support his candidature' to tlio utmost . —Mr . Williams also addressed his constituents on Thursday . Mr . Wilkinson explained his opinions to a meeting of Lumbctli electors on Wednesday evening . He justified his vote in favour of ministers on the China question ; intimated that there tire great difficulties in the way of readjusting tlie income-tax ; paid he would support Sunday recreation ; and accused Mr . Williams of being very changeable in his opinions .
day evening , and spoke in favour of the ballot , the admission of the Jews into Parliament , innocent Sunday recreations ( though on this subject he would bow with submission to the opinion of the Bishops ) , a reform of the bankruptcy laws , and a 51 . franchise . He would not vote for the extravagant annuity of 7 O , O 00 £ a year to the Princess Royal . He agreed with Lord Palmerston's conduct in connexion with the China question , but dissented from nine-tenths of his political opinions . A resolution to support Mr . Cox was passed amidst loud cheers . —Mr . Cox addressed another meeting-of his supporters on Thursday .
At Stocki'out , on the evening of Friday week , Mr . Kickshaw , who spoke at considerable length , explained Iris reasons for not voting at ull on Mr . Cobden ' s motion in reference to tlie China question . On carefully perusing the papers relating to that Biibjcct , ho felt that lie could not conscientiously support tlie Government in tho course that had been pursued , while , on tho other Iiand , he felt that by voting for Mr . Cobden ' s motion he might be aiding to overthrow Lord I ' nlmcrston ' s Government to make room for a Tory Administration . — Mr . J . B . . Smith explained tho grounds on which he voted for Mr . Oobden ' s motion , He considered that ho
Mr . Serjeant Parky" and Major Kicki > , ex-M . P . for Abingdon , again addressed the electors of Finsbury on Wednesday night . Both are Liberals . A district meeting of the supporters of Baron itoTiisciiiLD , Sir Jamics Diikk , Mr . Chawkord , und Mr . Haikes Cuituiis , candidates for the City oi <> London , was held on Tuesday evening , at 21 , Cannonstroot . The chairman , Mr . Ingrain Travels , said that a great apath y exists in the City as regards the election , and that probably only u . small number of the electors will vote . Kothing of importance transpired in tho speeches of the candidates ; but some aniunomnnt was created by Mr . Currie denouncing Lord John Russell ' s reference to him as " a young man from Northampton , " which ho described ns a specimen of 4 l that miserable pigmy wit" for which tho noblu Lord , ho said , is distinguiihcd .
was not Hunt to I ' arhnment to vote with tho Ministry under nil circumstances . The Government whipper-in onco complained that lie had not voted with the Ministry on a certain occasion , lie replied , "I always voto with you when you arc right . " ' Thank you for nothing , " was the rejoinder ; " wo most need votes when we arc in tho wrong . " JIo wished to It now whether Lord Pulincreton would yiuldtha ballot , extension of the suffrage , shortening of the duration of Parliaments , and reduction of taxation . He considered that Lord Pahnomton could not nuk for support until lie had answered that qucBlion satisfactorily . Votes of
con-Anothcr meeting of the supporters of tho four confederated candidates for London took place on Wednesday . There was also n gathering of the adherents of Lord John Hubbkll , at which the brother of that
noble-Mr . Sandauh , the now candidate for Dudley , addressed si public meeting of the electors of the" borough in tho Old Town Hall on the evening of Friday week . He confessed that ho had asked and obtained tho support
Untitled Article
March 28 , 1857 . ] THE LEADEE , 2 £ 3
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), March 28, 1857, page 293, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2186/page/5/
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