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    toil vhii ca ndiaiy ^ -and it is a secret coming from a memwnf Parliament—that I never yet knew the proper tune flip eves of members of Parliament for a dissolution . / T ^ nliter" ) If , by any possibility , two or three months & ^ ed ! ixl is &e dread 6 f a large portion of the representative s of the people at being returned back to rtmr constituents , that they are willing .. to make almost any comp liance pr sacrifice Jhey Can in OTder to put off fh evil day for a time . I think the constituencies of this «^ Tifrv have very much to do with , and very much blame S ^ for , this state of things /' .- ^ , threat of dissolution would

    He thought Lord Derby ' s have a great effect oh certain members unless the pressure from without showed that the people were awake to what was going on , They must be prepared for auy 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 anr Government to exist , and , if the present Government is not to remain in power , what Government cap you have ? Why , by the bye , they will be asking Mr . Bright if Iip is willing to go to the Horse Guards ( great laughter ) ,

    and they will probably be stipulating that Mi * . 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 . x "I say , have a dissolution , abolish this Protectionist party , and you will no longer- suffer inconvenience from this compact body tripping up Ministers as beforei 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 ; and those politicians who now pride themselves upon their support of the free-trade question will have to shake out a reef , and

    throw out their sailsjto catch the gale in some other direction . I have confidence enough in the patriotism of the Protectionists to believe that they 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 the whole community , the effect should have been the breaking up of parties and of governments . I have always

    fiaid , and said seven years ago , that wo should destroy two or three governments before this question was settled ; and now I say , without caring for consequences , —not dreading consequences , —feoling certain that the consequences wifl bo usoful to the country , —lot all classes unite , the hurablost as well as the richest , and let us put the Government to one of three courses . Either they must recant fully and completely their principle of protection ; or they must resign their seats in the Government ; or they shall diseolve Parliament . One of thoso three courses we will compel thorn to take —( loud and continued cheering )—and when you havo acc omplished either of thoso objects you will havo effected all that I have in view . "

    " Loud cheers , " of course , accompanied Mr . Cobden , as , moving the following resolution , he sat down : — " That an Administration having boon formed committed by ovory pledge that can bind the honour of public men to attempt to roimposo a duty on corn , it is resolved that tho Anti-Corn- Law League be reconstituted , under tho rulos and regulations by which that body was formerly organized . " 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 niter wards , endeavoured to get up a " currency" discussion . Tho next resolution was moved by Mr . Milner Mibson , M .. P ,, and seconded by Mr . J . Hoywood , M . P . " That tho council of tho League bo requested to put luomaolvoH into immediate communication with their menus all parfca of tho kingdom , urging thorn to iminoiiato action to provonfc tho roturn to parliament of candiuiuob in iuvour of tho ro-onactmont , under whatovor procorn" m ' ' duty upon lilie iml ) C > 4 aticm ot > foreign

    Mr . Cobdon had exhausted tho subject , and little rolnainea *» the subsequent speakers . Mr . Milnor Gibson , howovoiy made merry on tho absence of tho wom « protection" from tho addressos of tho now MiniHtora to thoir constituents . Mr . Hoywood touched gutly and delicately on parliamentary reform . Lobh restrained , Mr . Wright , in moving tho third resolution , wont boldly into tho subject , and attacked thoso Minisors who represented rotten boroughs—like MidUurst , awq Lord Egmont returns tho homo secretory ; and

    Droitwich , where the colonial secretary returns himself The resolution moved by Mr . Bright served as the foundation of the following memorial to the Queen :- ^—v

    "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 Majesty feels for the welfare and happiness of your people , and impressed with , a deep sense of the dangerwhich 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 ate , 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 sound maxims of constitutional policy ; but that your 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 . 'I " And your memorialists will ever pray . "

    The memorial , seconded by Mr . Bazleyy was unanimously carried . When Mr . Bazley told Sir Robert Peel , a few days before bis death , how well the freetrade measures had answered , Sir Robert replied , very emphatically , " I am exceedingly glad to hear what you tell me ; take care to keep what you have got . " An anecdote which elicited immense applause . At the conclusidn of the meeting , it was resolved to commence a subscription , which in twenty-five minutes realized 27 , 5002 . ! The meeting separated with three hearty cheers for the revival of the League .

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    ELECTION MATTERS . Mr . Disbaem ' s 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 the assault of their opponents ; and notwithstanding the obvious difficulties of oUr position , we havo felt that to shrink from encountering them would bo to leave the country without a government , and Her Majesty without servants . Our first duty will bo to provide for tho ordinary and current exigencies of the public service ; but , at no distant period , we hope , with

    the concurrence of the country , to establish a policy in conformity with tho principles which in opposition we havo felt it our duty to maintain . " Wo shall endeavour to terminate that strife of classes which , of lato years , has exorcised so pernicious an influence over tho welfare of this kingdom ; to accomplish those romodial measures which great productivo interests , suffering from unequal taxation , havo a right to demand from a just Government ; to cultivates friendly relations with all foreign powers , and ciocuro honourable pcaco ; to uphold in their spirit , as woll as in their form , our political institutions ; and to increase 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 one which wo hopo may obtain tho support and command tho confidence of tho community , whoso sympathies are tho best foundation for a strong Administration , whilo they aro tho best security for a mild government .- " Some of tho newly appointed Conservative officials have reason to feel uneasy about their re-election . A new candidate forKilduro , in opposition to Lord Nans , has appeared in the person of Mr . William . Cogan , a Raman-catholic gentleman- of tho county ; preparations aro made for an earnest contest , aiul there aro many chances that tho Irish Secretary will not obtain Inn seat . Mr . Wlutobido and Sir EinoiHOn Tonnont alHo appear to bo in Home danger for Enniskillon and Lisburn .

    Immediately on Siv Frederick ThcHigcv's name being made a fixture on the list of official appointments , Gonoral 'Caulfield , his antagonist in two former contests , appeared in the field for Abingdon . Tho note of challenge ,, however , had . scarcely wmuded , 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 General 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 Droitwieli . He reserves the explanation-of Ins political views for the time when he shall be able to meet them " at their home 3 and at the hustings . "

    - Fi' -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 re * solved 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 arementioned ascandidates onthe 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 their anxiety to oblige a wealthy landowner of the neighbourhood , Mr . ~ G . 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 Lincolnshire : — " Gentlemen , —Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to entrust to my caro tho "Seals of tho Duchy of Lancaster , I again appoal to your suffrages . I accept office under the administration of the Earl of Derby ,

    from a conviction of his sincere desire to reverse that financial and commercial policy which has proved so in ~ Jurious 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 Ilouso of Commons ; and enabling mo to give my humblo but earnest aid to a government which will maintain tho honour of tho Queen , and the permanence of our sacked and civil institutions . London , 28 th February , 1852 . It . A . CltRISTOl'HEIt .

    Unlike Mr . Christopher , Mr . Henloy , tho new President of tho Board of Trado , has written an address to tho electors of Oxfordshire , succinctly relating by what steps the old government wns broken up and tho new one formed , but not vouchsafing a single word as to his policy or principles ! Mr . J . C . Horries , tho now President of the Board of Control , will not be opposed at Stamford , an the Marquis of Exoter ' s influence in the borough is too strong to afford any liberal candidate a chanco . Mr . William Coningham has issued an address to the electors of the Tower Huinlcts , announcing lrimBolf aa a candidate for tho gonoral election . His views are woll known to our readers , both on political and social questions .

    A largo body of the liberal members of the House of Commons have been invited to meet Lord John Russell on tho 11 th insfc ., witl ' i a view to some determination on tho present position of public afluirM . Sir John Pakhigjton wa « t returned unopposed on Thursday . Ho adhered rigidly to tho Derby policy in his speech , professing his individual opinion to be in favour of a fixed duty on corn , bufc ho woh willing to abide the verdict of public opinion . Ho made much of tho Protestant cr y , doclarod his intention of voting against tho Manooth grant , and dwelt lengthily on differential sugar duties . On tho same day , Lord John Manners was returned for Colchester , after a talking

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    ^ j ^ m B ^ $$ ^ yy ¦ ¦/ ' \ ' . _ THE LEADEE ; 217

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), March 6, 1852, page 217, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1925/page/5/