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    The General Election. The Notes Of Prepa...

    to the industrious hives of the north , the working people there would thank the electors of the Tower Hamlets for having given them a representative of their interests . ( Loud cheers . ) He would raise his voice in behalf of the working man whenever he was oppressed . Property was sufficiently protected and represented . ( Cheers . ) There were hon . baronets and lawyers enough in the House of Commons . ( Laughter . ) But the interests of labour were

    not represented ' in that House . The hon-elcctors of the borough had not resorted to exclusive dealing to influence the electors , but had used nothing but argument and reason to induce them to vote for him . They had found the electors willing to give to labour a representative in the House of Commons , and he felt confident that , by the united exertions of electors and non-elector . s , ho should stand to-morrow night in the proud position of their representative . ( Loud cheers . )

    Afr . Onslow , the returning officer , then called for a show of hands . For Afr . G . Thompson a very large majority of hands were held up , and the demonstration elicited great cheering . For Sir W . Clay hardly thirty hands were held up , and most of these belonged to persons in carriages at the outskirts of the meeting . For Air . Ayrton there was a more numerous show than was anticipated , although it fell far short of the demonstration hi favour of Mr . Ga Thompson . For Air . Butler about as many hands were held up as for Sir W . Clay ; but for Mr . Newton an extraordinary demonstration was made , and it really seemed as if every hand in the densely-packed assembly were raised in his favour . The deliarht of the crowd broke out in

    irrepressible shouts and enthusiastic waving of hats . When order was restored , the returning officer declared that the choice of the electors , as evinced by tbe show of hands , had fallen upon Air . W . Newton ( tremendous cheering ) and Air . G . Thompson . Here the cheering was renewed , but not so enthusiastically as that which greeted William Newton . Wednesday was fixed for the poll . Air . Child announced tbe numbers of the votes for each candidate on Thursday , which were as follows : — Clay 7728 Butler 771 S Thompson 45 G 8 Ayrton 2792 Newton .... ; ... 1095

    WESTMINSTER . Covent Garden Market , tbe scene of so many proud triumphs of the people of Westminster , was occupied on Wednesday by the rival candidates aud their supporters . A hustings was erected in front of St . Paul ' s Church , extending the length of the portico , and upon it . were standing the gentlemen who were to be put in nomination . It was a fine specimen of a popular election . Sir John Shelley and his friends occupied the extreme left , looking from the hustings , and facing the west entrance to the market . He . is a man with a good presence , genial countenance , with a high , bald forehead . Next , him stood General Evans , dark ,

    louring , and cloudy , with an anxious , imperious expression office . When he spoke , he put on the forced Parliamentary smile , so different from the , broad , generous , honest , look of bis ally . Sir John . In the centre sat the high bailiff . Air . Sinedley , an astute , good-natured looking man , who bore the uproar with that placid aspect which years of experience gives a strong man in ofiice . On his right band , leaning against , one of the uprights of the building , . stood the tall , knightly figure of

    William Coningham . He is upwards of six feet high ; his face is dark , his hair black , bis bearing manly , yet unassuming ; and the expression of his features was one of great soul-felt earnestness . Next fo liim stood Lord Maidstone , tbe Prophet of " ihe Deluge" a , weak looking gentleman , with grey hair and an imperial . He was surrounded by a .-. of of lords anil gentlemen , who scorned fo relish the fun . The crowd below was a genuine Westminster mob- hearty , good-humoured , and noisv ; and for the most part , composed of artisans

    and workmen . When the preliminaries of the nomination bad been gone through , Air . Sinedley called on General Evans . I !)) rose tbe dark General , and opened bis lips . This was the signal for fhe greatest uproar whistling , yelling , cries of nil kinds , rendering the candidate inaudible , except by the reporters . What , he said to thein consisted of self laudations , uttered with an apparent good humour and a good deal of suppressed p assion . At length lit ; gave up ; und was succeeded by Sir John Shelley ,- who was greeted with a good deal of applause . lie was heard , there being no uproar , and he having" a good voice . lie declared himself u free-trader of long standing ; in favour of au extension of the franchise , vote by ballot , and civil and religious

    liberty " The noble lord ( . Maidstone ) had one serious thing to answer lor . In order that , he might lie strongly supported , some of the beauty anil elegance of London hud been going about , in this extreme weather destroying their complexions and the roses on their cheeks . ( Laughter . ) The noble lord would agree wilh him that if was lucky there was uo Protectionist duty on Rowland ' s Ka-

    The General Election. The Notes Of Prepa...

    lydor , Circassian cream , and other articles that were deemed good for female complexions . ( Laughter . ) There was , however , a moral in all this . He did not believe that these fair ladies , when they went about among tbeir tradesmen and tried to get them to vote against their consciences , were aware what they were doing . Why , they were impressing more strongly on the minds of thepeoplo than all the efforts . of Reformers could do , the necessity for tho ballot ( cheers ) , and he thanked them . for having so warmly espoused a cause which was thought by many to be necessarily connected with the free expression of opinion in returning members to Parliament . " ( Cheers . ) As to the " Deluge , " there were other men quite as able as Lord Derby to conduct public affairs , and among others he might name Lord Palmerston .

    Lord Maidstone then rose , and took oft his hat , but such a furious uproar commenced , that nothing he said could be heard . He contented himself with making a private speech to the reporter of the Morning Herald , who stood quite close to his lordship , and whose head his lordship seemed constantly to aim at , as he clenched his fist , and thrust it from him towards the crowd . At length he , too , gave up ; and when William Coningham bowed to the people , a storm of applause of ringing , hearty " hurrahs ! " burst from the crowd , such as is only to be heard at an election , and on the battle-field .

    He assured the electors of Westminster that he had not come forward to divide , but to conquer ( cheers ) , and he felt confident that their suffrages would place him triumphantly at the head of the poll . Lord Maidstone had told them that after Lord Derby the deluge . But he said that after Lord Derby , if they did not take care , thoy would have the Whig happy family back again . ( Cheers . ) He wished to rescue Westminster from the grasp of a small section of the constituents , who had too long held it in domination . It was his wish to emancipate them , and ho came forward as the liberator of the ancient city of Westminster . Look back to the history of the past . ( Hear , hear . ) Look at the long list of illustrious names

    who have represented your ancient city in Parliament . You will see then how much you have degenerated from your forefathers . Remember the Whig—tho AVhig who was worth fighting for , Charles James Fox . ( Cheers . ) Remember that he , unlike the pseudo reformers of the present day , did not come forward merely to emancipate bricks and mortar , but that he came forward to represent the principle of manhood suffrage . ( Cheers . ) He stood before them , that day as an advocate of the same principles . If was because he wished to represent the manhood of Westminster that he came forward upon the present occasion . ( Cheers . ) There had been an attempt to blast his character , but he had lived over the storm . Although an humble and an unknown soldier , as the standard of

    freedom had fallen into his hands , it should never be disgraced by him . ( Cheers . ) Upon that banner were inscribed the principles of civil and religious and commercial freedom . Ho upheld the principle , that the ' suffrage should be extended , and that it , should bo exorcised according to the conscientious opinions of tho voter . ( Hear , bear . ) fie laughed to scorn the ridiculous objection that the ballot was an un-English practice . At the city election yesterday , when a question was put to Lord John Russell , in order to test , him , and when he was asked whether he -was prepared to protect tho tenant-farmers in the exercise of their electoral rights , he met , the question with an evasive reply . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) lie , was certainly

    therefore not , fit to be a leader of the people . Alnnhood suffrage was tho principle that must be laid down , and il they did him tht ; honour of returning him as their representative , he would make the walls of . Parliament ring with that question . Me would never act as an obstructor of any practical reform measure which might , he brought before the House . Ho was in favour of annual parliaments ; but he would not object to triennial , as that was a question of detail . He supported equal electoral districts , where every mini should have one vote and no more . He told Sir . John Shelley ( hut ht ; was equally a _Free-1 radcr with him . lie was not , a Free-trader in corn only- lit ; was a free-trader in money . First came ( lit ; loai ' , ( hen came money . Tho great , question of Free-trade was not . merely an Knglish one . It , involved the interests of every _eounta-v upon the fact ; of the globe . II is excellent

    friend , Mr . Walker , the Secretary for the Treasury in tht ; Coiled Stall's , who took an active , part , in the great , question of commercial freedom , had informed him that , in tht ; approaching struggle in the States , tho democratic interest , which was in favour of Free-trade , was certain to prevail . ( Cheers . ) With regard to France , she had unfortunately relapsed into despot ism . If the principle of universal Hulfrage had been adhered to by the Assembly , he wa . s convinced lhat the cottp-di ' etttt would never have ; been accomplished . If was not . until after thai , coup was successful that Louis Napoleon re-established universal hiA ' - frage . ( _Iltair , hear . ) Last your , at . the Manchester Conference , when Mr . Wright ' s Reform Hill was discussed , he was the only man who protested against , it , and ( old them that the only good thing in that , bill wa . s the vole by ballot . The show of hands was then taken . For Sir I ) , L .

    Evans not , more than n couple of do / ens were raised aloft ; Sir , J . Shelley bad a . very fair display ; Lord Maidstone was less fori una ! e , anil not . more than 40 or f > 0 were helil up for him , but thousands wen : flourished aloft , in the air for IMr . Coningbnni , and tht ; high baililf , amid much cheering , declared Ihe latter gentleman and Sir . 1 . Shelley fo be elected . Hut , the poll was fatal to the popular caiitlitlate . Shelley _45 _SN 1 Evans : » 7 . . H Maidstone ' . YAW Coningham 1717

    The General Election. The Notes Of Prepa...

    About five o ' clock on Thursday , the candidates , with the exception of Lord Maidstone , made their appearance upon the hustings . Sir John Shelley and Sir De Lacy Evans attempted vainly to make themselves heard . Mr . Coningham ' s supporters had however mustered too strong , and notwithstanding his urgent entreaties a storm of hisses and groans was the only reception which the successful candidates received . Mr . Coningham , who wag received with loud cheers , said : —

    " _Gehilemes , —I have boon beaten in the battle which has just taken place . Rut it was a fan- up-stand fight upon my part . ( Cheers . ) I have coalesced with no party . I have stood independent of the Whig Rump , as well as of the Tory party . ( Cheers . ) Although I have conducted my contest in a fair and honourable manner , I cannot say so much of my Whig adversaries . ( Cries of ' shame . ' ) I have been attacked , not merely after an electioneering fashion ; anonymous libels of the basest description have been issued from the Whig central committee . When they found that their accusations fell harmless to the ground , these pretended advocates of civil and reli gious liberty have attempted to raise a bigoted no-Popery cry

    against me . ( Loud cheers . ) For an honest no-Popery cry I have a certain degree of respect . But when a man comes forward on the broad principles of civil and religious liberty , and then raises a no-Popery cry to serve his personal interest , that man is a traiter " to his country . ( Cheers . ) Therefore , I say , Sir De Lacy Evans is an unfit man to represent the constituency of Westminster —( cheers )—therefore , I say , Sir John Shelley is not true to his colours when he allowed them to be united with those of a traitor to the cause of freedom . ( Loud cheers . ) This question is not a personal one . The question which I have raised is whether the people of England are to b governed by aristocratic authority , or whether the

    democrats of England are to assert their social rights . ( Cheers . ) I have hoisted the flag of democracy in the second city of the empire ( cheers)—I have flung it abroad , not only to the people of England , but to the people of the _vyorld . You will see that the people of France and America will respond to the cry which I have raised . The question is whether you are to have an Anglo-American and French alliance , or whether you are to bave an alliance with the despots of the North , with Russia , and with Austria ( loud cheers ) . Whether we are to have Lord Palmerston for a foreign minister , or the minion of the Austrian Court . ( Down with Alalmesbury . ) I have been accused of being a communist as well as an anarchist . I am neither . I want to carry my views by peaceful means . I do not want to r > ut the musket into every man ' s hands ;

    I only want to put the vote . The cry of manhood suffrage which I have raised will be re-echoed throughout the country . ( Cheers . ) Let me , above all things , warn you against Whiggery . Tho Whigs are traitors to the popular cause . I have , not coalesced with the Tory . I refused to coalesce with any ono . Let mo tell you , however , that ari honest Tory is better than a traitorous Whig . ( Loud cheers . ) The fact , of it is , the Whigs are frightened out of their wits . They wish to retain power , and the Radical party go too far ior them . When a deputation of the coalitionists came to mo to-day , and asked me to resign , I stated that I stood upon my own ground , and that I would leave the Tory No-Popery man and the Whig No-Popery man to fig ht , it out , between , them . I came forward to fight your baftk > , and if was not for me to resign tho contest . ( Loud cheers . ) #

    ENGLAND AND WALES . Akkyoijon .- —General Caullield ( Liberal ) in the room of Sir F . Thesiger . Angi _. kska . —Lord George Paget , unopposed . _AiUfNiiuii .- —Lord Edward Howard , son of tht Duke of Norfolk , eleetetl without opposition . Asu burton . — Mr . George Moffat wa . s elected without tt contest . _ANirj'ON-VNJi'NK-Lv . N . J ... —Air . Charles Hindley , un opposed .

    A _' vr . KsnuitY , which has within thin ten years become decidedly Liberal , declared , by show of bands on Tuesday , in favour of A 1 r . Layard , the Nineveh excavator , and Air . _Hofhell , famous in the Court of Chancery . These two are opposed by Captain WcmI ,, of tho Grenadier Guards , and Dr . Ray ford , well known in tht ; Keclesiasfieal Courts , and the contest , began in the canvass , and carried out on tht ; hustings , was fought oil Wednesday in the polling booth , and ended in flit election of , and at , the bead of the poll . The numbers were—Layard , ) 5 H Hothell 525

    Hay lord 447 West 4 : 55 _lli-. Di ' oui _) .- - Mr . Henry Stuart ., lato of * Newark , was the Tory candidate here . His Liberal opponents were Air . Chishohn Anstey and Air . Whilhread . Air . Stuart and Mr . Anstey had the show of hands on St . Peter ' s Green , A poll was called for . St unit 5 | H Whilbreiid 4 . 50 Anstey .... ..... 252 P . _KHWICK returns Mr . M . Forst . er and Mr . Stapleton , two Liberals . Hnvkiu _. i . v . Tim Honourable 15 . Law ley and Mr . Wells carried the show of bauds , aud Ihe poll . L . i u ley ( HI Wells ' r _. HK Glover 4 l ) K

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• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), July 10, 1852, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10071852/page/4/