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Leader (1850-1860), 23rd April 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 520, Untitled Article

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      Mr , "Vfri ^ iERS SirB . Bethe . —At Wolverhatnpton . these gentlemen have been addressing the electors . Mr . Villiers said , that the grea . t defect in the House of Commons was , that the rural interest exercised an almost o verwhelming influence in Parliament , so that it took a ten years' agitation to carry an important measure , and then it was effected by the influence of force and fear rather than reason . Glancing at the necessity for a more adequate recognition of large populations , and at the question of the necessity of the ballot , as a means of protection from coercion , he urged that reform should be at once dealt with . but while they extended the suffrage , they should do it gradually , as had always been the

      custom in this country , and not as in other countries , ¦ w here they attempted to gain everything at once , and lost everything . Mr . Villiers concluded by passing a warm eulogium upon Sir Richard Bethell . Sir R . Bethell spoke of Wolverhampton as being the birth-place of free trade ; and referring to the dissolution of Lord Derby said , such conduct called for the condemnation of every wise , discreet , and patriotic man , to whatever party he might be long . They had dissolved Parliament at that critical moment , and lef t England without a Government , because the House of Commons had ¦ : rejected their Reform Bill ; but , instead of appealing from that House to the country , they stated that they did not

      mean to re-introduce that measure , on the ground of the rejection of which they chose at that important period to throw the country into the paralysis which must attend the period of a contested election . An attempt to effect too great a change would retard all reform by awakening the fears of those who possessed property ; , but he had no doubt that in a few years political freedom would be extended to every householder in the land . After advocating a more equal distribution of representatives , Sir Richard said a reformed Parliament was only a means to an end , that end being the general good of the country ,

      and he hoped some of the results would be the maintenance of peace , a wise and economical management o f the finances of the country , and above all , that office , place , and political power would no longer be the mere inheritance of a few political classes . He pointed out the stritihg defects in the present state of the law which required the amending hand , the simplifying hand , and the condensing hand , and , above all , a department for the administration of the law , and for the steady progress of law reform required to be established . ( Applause . ) It was to promote such objects that he asked them to send him to Parliament us their representative .

      Right Hox . James Stuart WbRixET . ^ -At a meeting of the electors of the West Riding , held at Leeds on Tuesday , the right hon . gentleman said—[ am told that I am unfit to represent the West Riding because I am inconsistent—because I formed a . member of the administration of Lord Paimerston . Lord Paimerston is not at this ; moment among the ranks of the Conservative party . Don't be too sure of that 1 If I read aright the late speeches of Lord Palmerston , he is not on the other side . What is the great question before you ? It is reform . The question is between Birmingham reform and real reform . I thought it was unnecessary to pass such a resolution as Lord John Russell devised , and that

      it would be better at once to proceed to the consideration of the Government Bill . Was this the case ? Could it have been made a-good measure ? What were the faults of it ? I thought that it put the county franchise too low . Well , what was so easy as , in committee ; to have turned 10 / . into 12 / ,, or into 20 / . ? And what was so easy as to have turned the 101 . for boroughs into a 6 / . ? Though 1 am not responsible for the Government , I can undertake , I think , for their intentions not to shrink nor shirk from the question of reform ; but , now that they know the opinion of Parliament and the opinion of the country , to frame such a measure upon the ancient principles of the constitution as shall at onco preserve inviolate all the rights of the freeholders , and make a moderate transfer of seats from the

      smaller boroughs to the large counties ; at the same time so to extend the franchise as it shall , not only reach the present constituency , but by some other mode to reach that class who , hitherto have been kept at the portals of the constitution , but who form , in a great measure , the marrow and strength of our country , the worst feature in the Government Bill was the iUsfraucbising—the transfer , I should rather say--of the votes of freeholders within boroughs from counties to boroughs , X did nothositato to denounce that provision in my place In Parliament » but this would jiavc been wholly changed in committee . It ¦ yras but to strike out one short clause , nnd that Jt > lotcl \ was gone for ever . I believe the neelnojlders , not only in t , l ^ a county , but in all the counties , to le the most independent class of voters that wo have ( cheers ); and I , therefore , shall bo found among the

      most determined opponents of any one who attempts to disturb the rights of that class of the community . There is one topic which occupies all pur minds—the present critical state of Europe . The Ministerial explanations seem to me to indicate that the danger is still swelling and increasing , and at any moment may burst in all the fury of war over the face of Europe . Such a time is not for party faction or struggling , however honourable at other tunesstruggling in comparative petty ambition for place and power . It is a time for giving effectual support to the Crown . I believe , whatever party may be in power , that upon this question , they will earnestly and honestly exert themselves to maintain the dignity of the nation , but also to secure peace . And my will be to assist in giving

      earnest endeavours every strength to her Majesty ' s Ministers winch it is possible tor a loyal Parliament to give . In answer to a question , the right hon . gentleman said , I have always voted against the ballot , and I cannot foresee the time when I shall be willing to vote for so dishonest a plan . I believe it would be no protection to an honest man , and no benefit to anybody but an accomplished hypocrite . I believe it would destroy public opinion . It would destroy the responsibility of members of Parliament , and the very springs of action which give courage , nobility , and truth to our nation , and woxild degrade us from a class of honest men to a parcel of deceivers and hypocrites . More than this , I don't believe that five honest men would exercise the ballot if they could .

      Sir Guarles Napier . — At a meeting of his friends in Southwark this week , the gallant Admiral said he had . no fear of the result of the election , for he was sure the electors of Southwark would not act so inconsistently as to turn out a man they had two years ago returned by a majority of 1 , 480 , and who had always done his duty , He was in Parliament when the China war was discussed , and supported Lord Paimerston in carrying on a war which had opened up to our commerce the great empire of China , and had since resulted in opening up to us also the empire of Japan . He had opposed the bill brought in in consequence of the attempt of Orsini . Englishmen had no right to interfere with

      the Government of Prance , but their Emperor was not justified in dictating what laws we should pass . As he disapproved of the Conspiracy Bill , he voted against it , though its effect was to turn Lord Paimerston , who -was his personal friend , out of office . He could safely say he had never given a factious vote against Lord Derby ' s Government . Upon the reform question he was in favour of triennial Parliaments , but did not believe that annual Parliaments would be advantageous . He was favourable to the widest extension of the franchise in boroughs , and would give to every man who had a house over his head and paid rent the right to vote . He was for maintaining the defences and upholding

      the honour of the country ; but he complained that under that pretence large sums were annually wasted , With an effective fleet England might always defy the world in arms . Mr . Cox . —This honourable gentleman , in the course of a speech to the electors of Finsbury , informed them that at the lust election he plumped for Duncombe , he did not vote for himself , because he was then an untried man ; but he now felt that he was the right man in ' the right place , and should decidedly vote for DuncombQ and Cox . Mr . Cox also pointed out that he had performed the largest amount of sittings of any njember of the House during the session . For four years Sir S . Peto represented

      Norwich , and during that time ho voted 139 times in 866 divisions . He ( Mr . Cox ) during three years , voted 840 times in 388 divisions . If the people of Norwich were satisfied with SU \ S . Poto ' s votes , ho ought to go back to Norwich , Sir Sawtjjux Puto . —Addressing the electors of JTinsbury the baronet said , that as to the late Reform Reform Bill , if he had had a seat in the House , he would have given his support to the amendment of Lord John Russell . The . £ 10 franchise in counties was the lowest ho could admit . Ho could not desire to see a lower county franchise . Ho would not consent to see the upper and middle classes trodden down by the unintelligent mob . Ho knew his

      sentiments were too Conservative for somo peoplo , but lie begged them not to override the privileges of Englishmen , and neither allow him or his friends to speak . They wanted other things besides a Reform bill—economy of expenditure , and good government in every department of the State . With regard tp foreign affairs , he thought the position of the country at the present time should be non-intervention . Their duty was , ho thought , to keep the nation nt peaco . lie knew that ) some of his Church friends made a point of this fact , tltat he did not support church-rates i but ho was not so rabid a Dissenter as not to help to build a church . Ho was desirous to see the Church prosper . Sir B . Hall and Mn . Ej > win Jam us . —Thcuo gentlemen addressed the electors of Marylebono on Wodneoday . Sir 1 ? . Hall said , his conviction wiva

      that , in any coming Reform Bill , a large distrib ution of seats was absolutely necessary , as well as a . large extension of the suffrage . He did not entertain these opinions as a mere political claptrap , but he h ad always held them . He had always stood in the House of Commons in the proud position of an unpledged and unfettered representative , and , although that had been the case , he believed he had ever dfscharged his duty faithfully to his constituents and the country . Mr . Edwin James said , he was glad to hear that the rumour ' was unfounded , that their representatives were to be " nailed " to some

      particular reform scheme , as that would be a kind of slavery which was a disgrace to such an influential and independent borough . The hon . gentleman then proceeded to comment upon the provisions of the Government Reform Bill , which he urged was a miserable measure , and not worthy the consideration of several weeks , and hence it was at once rejected . They did not want any revolution but a peaceful revolution , and in conclusion he . earnestly . hoped that the present agitation would lead to the passing of such a measure as would be another bulwark of the freest nation on the globe .

      Mr . F . Doultox . —At a meeting of the electors of Lambeth , this gentleman said , he should < jo to the House of Commons prepare ! not to support- the bill of Mr . Bright , of Lord Derby , or Lord J . liussell , but to support such a bill as he should deem best for the interests of the country . He did not a ^ ree with John Brisrht in everything , but he believed that , if ever they ' 'had an efficient Reform Bill , it would be rather from John Bright than from either Lord Paimerston or Lord J . Russell , lie feared that , before Parliament met again , Europe would be

      engaged in war . He was for non-intervention , but we should be prepared to defend our own . lie could not disguise from himself that 'England hail a neighbour in whom her people had not implicit confidence . Looking at that man ' s antecedents , he thought he should be wanting in his duty as an Englishman did he not support all efficient preparations for eventualities . Entering upon the subject of Mr . "Williams ' s recent decision not to withdraw from the rci > resentatioa of the borough , lie characterised that gentleman ' s conduct as mean and dishonourable , and expressed his determination not to-, succumb . and Mit

      Mu . Berkei . ky , Mr . ' Laxctox , . F . W . ¦ S Ut ) E . rr-On Monday a crowded meeting of the electors of Bristol wnis addressed by Messrs . Berkeley and Langton , the Liberal candidates . Mr . Berkeley , after contrasting the present condition of the electors with the time when they were " ground under the heel of Tory despotism , " proceeded to disparage the Conservative candidate , Mr . blade , as being a barrister , which class , lie suid , were a bore in the House of Commons . Barristers have more to gain by a seat in the House than any other class of men . There arc more rewards for barristers ; there is service the

      looming in the distance for political- position of Lord High Chancellor of Lngland , the Attorney-Generalship , the Solicitor-Generals up , situations of nidges in the East and YY est Indie * , revising barristers , and so forth . Mr . Langton echoed what Mr . Berkeley had su . nl respecting Jawyors . The snmo evening . V ,, r ? 1 o . . ^ , , ° candidate for Bristol , Mr . IVodenck " v \ ilhum blade , addressed a meeting of the electors . In the course of his speech he suid that Berkeley was a political quack , und Langton was a dull and dmi * »'" g ° [ Berkeley . Islington never gave anything but a silent

      ^^^^ . ^ cuovx . -Tho Conservative . candidate for Leeds , in addre ssing his constituents , saidtwa points were selected upon which the ownwonts at Government made an attack on their b I . A at this nittuoouvro was a clover one , no oiio wo d « , but who would assert that it was a liur ai d euiulia one ? It was not so intended , it was mean J ° » ° * lurgo-mcshod net to catch «*»! actions niul oory individual who could be enclosed withm it . » o » rmtd term dbin

      part , ho thought it , to use a v ery , -genuous in the extreme . He did not for « . «*>» « JJ prbteud to say that he agreed with nil the l >™ >* lon " of the Government measure . Ho do" ^ Jjg f ^ J Government could frame a bill on tl 10 * Xf ' , comprehensive na to coramimJ . in us %% *" ffi tlie acquiescence of nil its supporters . 1 . o ^ o 1 < no soe why a man who owned two 0 . hoi « s « < borough , and only occupied one , shouIdJiny { JJ votes j while , if he owned a hundred houses wiinw ; fO ii . « Va , j , n Bi . nnl . l nnlv havo one voto j but . iu i «

      iame time lie fbaHd tliXt the freeholders oJ bojo , u possoaflod the double vote , und ho was u «»«»» " ^ j deprive tliom oftheir vestod rights . A [ T \\ fT ^ the borough franchise , it vas his fee iff tU « t Breater number of liitelHgent ami ro-puctnblo mu they could admit to a share of . it the Uottor . *» occupation franchise was to » omo oxtont i » onor , qunimontloii ; und a property qunlillont Iff , to uo any value , must bo limited to n roosonn l < ' «»» ° ^ i Ho did not object to some roduotloi , and ho ^ every ronson ¦ to think tlurt flJino £ W , U joiioibbiw vould lmvo been mixde by tho Govornnic-iu .

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      POLITICAL POEESHADOWINaS

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      5 ^ 0 THE LEAD ER ; [ No . 474 , April 23 , 185 9 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 23, 1859, page 520, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2291/page/8/