The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1866-05-15 00:00:00

THE REDISTRIBUTION SCHEME

ADDRESS OF MM. T. A. MITCMFLL, M.P.,

AT BiimebßT.

?be Government redi.tnbution scheme, proposing to
male one elestetal distrfet of Brldport, Lyme Heels,
and lioniton, with only nos member, has stetted
general disapprobation throughout all classes in this
Deigbloarbood. The members for Rithpori, who at,
tborunghtgoing Reformers, stiongly oil. et to it, and
they arranged to roofer with their oonatittlents as to the
mune they should adopt in regard to it last
Friday. Mr. Mitchell arrived on Thin-.day evening,
and was greeted as usual by the ringing of a merry
peal, bet Mr. Hodgeno was detained in London by the
ananolal trials. boos after six on Ftiday evening ea
expectssit crowd amenibled to front of the Hall Hotel,
cumbering some 600 or 7(). Mr. bliteltell made bin
appearance at one of the lity window, and delivered
the following address, wbkh avpeated to giro general
satidaction.

Mr. Mr swid : I Terri extremely to imwe to
come before you again PO early after my lest visit. aod
on what I meet call • in re detrering °cession ; I also
regret that citumstano s lure prevented my re•m-ct- d
colie.ine from being bees with me, although he shares
the bulk of my opinion.; I allude of course to the Dna
which aria now before Parliament with reference to the
reduction of the franchiro and the reedistrihntion of
seats and one of thou Bills affects so greedy and In a
manner which I °insider so orandalonsly unjust the
eonatiminig) to which I bre been attached now by the
Ilse of • quarter of a century. and doh I also bit.-.. I.
attach• el to nie- -(bmar, hear), that I hone thought it
my duty to Corlir uown to yOt to/ exploit my •teirs on
the .uhject of the re.distl ihotlon of seats, to hear your
opintoos, and to state what course I mean to take In
the further pi osecotion of thou moo-u es before Parli•-
ment. In the Arab place, allow we to bay •
Nw words on the redurios of the frano.hise
Bill, for the mead reading of which I voted.
I ham for many years psis{ been onuirsitted
torober with live or six moor olive Gresnments to.
Bill embodying POMO, although not any ',natively
defined, rednotion of the fnuielime. I thought that the
time was come, and I think still the time has come, for
cling some reduction , first, because, I f--el that the
G ventmenta of both sides of the House would disgrace
then,selt.s Ind lower thentrime in the npinion of tlie
ptiblie sits etbar, if oPer brloglog forward so many
MooPteelll, they do not, either by sombibitlou, Or In
some other Aar, carry a measure for the wenn., of
the (mediae. Secondly. beat-se I think that ditrlti
the lad 20 or 30 years sines the lad Retina Bill was
carried, th.le he. been sue), • spread of education and
general enliebtentuent in this country, that the time
haa arrived to wand in the mimics of the country •
larger body of Cot rs than at present exist. Therefore,
I do not regret, even now, the vote I ea., for the @mood
reading of the Bill *bleb simply and in • gene-at way
Implied a reduction of the French)..; but, I aro bound
to say. that since the @mood Bill hu been brought
forward I have been a HMIs further eoltghtebed vrlth
regard to the motives a the Government in introducing
by itself the firm Bill. 'Pb. thirty Mardi who
opposed that measure openly threw in the fate of the
Government that they had kept back the Bill for the
recbstribation of seats with the intention of getting
umbers to commit themselves to the principle of
regd. Mon of the franchise, • than knowing how far the
second Bill would affect the different custiruencies
with which they themselves were connecter'. I believe
that charms to have been perfectly correct in fact,
Shot suit-tout was made sit weeks before the meeting
of Parliament by the Adviser of the 0 'eminent - and
who I cannot help
Lulling their very mieshientus
wlviser—l mean Mr. Bright- (hear, hoar). That hon.
gentleman publicly stated that his adrke to the
Government, in order to diatoms oppoeition to it,
was, not to let the b.roughs know befoieh•ns what
would be done with them in the matter of redistribution
of mete. I think any Government that adopts such a
line of conduct le very much to blame. However, after
the wal d wood reading e Franchise Bill, followed that
for She redistribution of seats, and it la upon that I
have tome to eobsult you, and to state dearly what
eourse I mean to pursue myself, beasuse I °porder that
you have been treated end mantialoies injutioe such
iajustlce, that so farm lona snake cut from the returns
laid before Parliament, no other eoutiteeney In the
country has asperieneed. And I mut drat remind yov,
that them is no fume why &Apo"t dwell be treated
wore, than any other oonetltuney. I don't want
to letter you—l have not come bore for that pupae—
but I may remind you that for 25 years there hes not
been a charge of bribery made aided your members
since my first unhappy elution hire. (In explautios
of the term "unhappy election," It may be well to say
that at the time referred to the borough was Contested
by Meeare Warborton (deoessiel) and Mr. Cochrane
(Dow M.P. for Hoodoo), the old members. and Mr. T.
4. Mitchell, a new candidate; Messrs. Warburton sod
Mitchell were elected, and the Muds of Mr. Cochrane
petitioned against the return on the ground of bribery.
Under the.. circumstances Mr. Warburton (the old
member) withdrew, and Mr. Cochrane took the gut]
Bridport has been a thriving and !nursing town, sod
everybody knows it is soon nomination borugh, but
one as independent se Ada dried In the unntry—
(applau.e). Corequeetly, there wu less region for
this borugh being treated with rub trolls ifittletiew.
Now, we find that lay the proposal of the Government
we am to be clubbed with two other boroughs, makisig
together a toted population exceeding that of any other
classification of boroughs existing in the country, which
it is proposed to represent by one member; but, before
going into that, I dead say I un not at ail satiated
with the reasons Oven by the Government for the
general coarse they ham mites in the matter of redis-
tribution of rata Upon the same principle apperenly
that Vey followed the edifies of Ifr, Bright, and did
not bring fordard the 0111 for rat re-distribution till
they hod got to pledged to a rednation of the franchise,
'bey afterwards simply endued that there fhould he
no direnfransitimmeent of boroughs at all, bet that
boroughs should be mixed OD together, in the hood that
the semoty-nioe members whit* will be affected by
thou measures, in consideration of the boroughs they
repro...ant not being diemfranchissd, might be per.
waded to vote Inc the Bill—llrosioal cemerinal Ido
not think that a principle on which any Gov Foment
on him bring forward • Measure of this kind--(epplanse).
I think It • principle unworthy of say Government.
I should have been better prepared to support a Bill
which wottlt totally dianfranobl.• some of -tbe smaller
boroughs of the country—purely nomination borough.,
ugh as the decaying places of A shburtoo aid Arundel
--the tutu bayou • population of only 1,200 and
nearly the whole place belonging to tits Duke of Nor.
folk—which would deprive sorteht moderato-a-art towns
of one member, sad transfer the orate obteised to
large unrepresented towns In other parts of thee...ritzy.
But such • cure is not proposed by do pretiont Bill.
Of the 49 agate which ere 40 be tranferrel by the,
Ooversureat Bill Mar. to be given to eurtiere-in ethos
words Ire gives to latadl oda, and of the rentaitribg 23
there are only 8 gives to moderate-dud santmesececed
tows.; it leaves out altogether the very large p'
lion of towns of about 10 000 Inhabitant, • hat are wS
unrepresented. arid wil be swallowed up la.
county cordito.ncl.s. I may name as mum es In dim
part of the sound, Yeovil and Trowbridge, be=
thriving and oidefeolering towns, auk otintaintag
norm& of 10,000 Wildblood& If delaying Masse
hoe unto Ashburton More dbonfrunehised, and •
moderatteased town like Bridport, though trivia&
✓edmied to one member. arid • fair proportion
of the seats so created transferred to ttomprounted
towns in the remainder of the monody, that would have
be.. amasses Imo objectioaahle thee the peanut o
But the Government, on the principle of popularity
bunting, isII seems to we, nod Raisin all the senor,
they can, have chiliad emu honied"; toreiber, dir
enfranchised nobody, made a preerat of ball the seats to
the ennaty members who au chiefly Conservatives. and
as to the remainder, they may fare as well as they au.
Let me allude to your own special una. It is nolo pron
pond to mix together the throe boroughs at Bridport,
Lyme Regis, and Bonito., whist'. wording to the
population, returns, will form the largest constitsenoy
of all the groups to be re resented by ooememberonly,
that is 14,1110, tly of that, you are not con-
joined with any near neighbours. One slight not so
marsh have objected to being eonneeted with the neigh.
barring borough of Lyme We, old& is only eight
della away; but Bridport is to be mixed up also with a
plece called Hendon, with white nate of you are
connected, and of whish„ 1 Wave. DODS of us know
anything—at lout, I aas sure Ido not—(laughter). Hat
why is this? Beoutas it don't suit Um Government to
unite Hondas. which is sot in this county bat in
Devoe, to another loa ol trigy timayed boroughs with
Tomos, for that is the pocket horosei of • Cabinet
toinieter—the Duke of Somerset That is only a
epic line. of the injuatiee which it is proposed Bridport
shell sustain. I cadges myself that I aloud think it
would be better to low the franchise altogether than for
Bridpert—a thriving independent borough —to be mixed
up with • essayed plus like Hutton -(aPPlsesteh
But, independent of that, I will joss mention to you a
few other boroughs to show the sort of imparteallty
with which the perent so-called Liberal Government
hoe traded you. The fart is, as I mid before, that the
Government Is simply a popularity hunting
meat' the ministry lost their popu'arity when
they loot Lord Palmerston, and they are doling their
bed to satrap it again le on way they can—(a .us).
The dud& venues, upon whichthe two bdom
Parliament have been bred, dem the population
ago rang to tbe *POSY of I=l, sad also the somputed
popelstion of 18118, grometied, I indium os rearms
derived hoes °Maid tourer In sash borough, and I find
that the estimared population ot Bridport ia Heil is 7727.
sad that Dumber of inhabitants it is proposed to unite for
Parliamentary purposes with sut or seven doused
more in two other plum, with cue of whisk, at diet,
Bridport bag no aarthdy eonsestion. I will reed pia •
list of boroughs to show yen that places of inferior
Population to Bridport are left simply old identiaelly
on their own bend, witbout any aommingling of °them
Boodle,. b•ang • papshition of &WA is /aft with ooe
membor,a Whig laded proprietor ; Brklionorth. having
7744 lahrabband,risies mainember;
w.th a popalatioo of 7.414, has one member;
feeder, °attaining 7.773 inhabitants, reads two
rumbas, widest any intorlersouse; Coodermouth,
whose population I. 6,980, Mem one member;
Droityieb, numbering 7,081, whisk is the pocket
borough of Br Jobs Pekingese, on* of the
eblef opponents of the Ounnement, has use
member' Hertford, with M 163 rebates Heofilallf•
don. having • prided= of &M. Imp one ; Idehdeld,
with 5,1214 lakalits, mains ows ; Marlow. nembering
6.4113, amoebae pedal borough has on. • and littenticask
are el the mod notorious pocket balite% In the
wintry, bedsit,' lo the Mario" of Masam, Maine
two members. The Mei of all is that two of those
boroughs, which are Werke to Bridpert, retain their
two members sea teedieterbed, sad the other at..
have on, orandier sub without being mined up with
any other ommillemenu. I say distinctly that it is pro-
wood to trout you with scandalous injustices. As for '
myself, my mind le made up. I lieu felt It to be my
I duty to eau down dm to eleie to yes my Aiwa, and
to give in, GOMM, and Tamil be very loopy Weed If
yes support ins, widest so far ae you ow ape, the fade
I have lamed. See al etre part 1 then feel It to be
my daty to oes the BM from bashed's to god, and,
if We propelled wheats affeeliae !WOK It
I shall do my beet to term the moat Gerersterile ttita
—awed appleese). Dome Mated to you diettsetai toy
ohm, and shell be happy to ammo: soy quolieo• rot
nay Mak it pi to otea•Oteer, boo).

Mr. BdooNsa aaktql what *bout the won mats to ha
trennforied from llngli..nd to flessoand.
M. .
1. I totalled royal( aim* to latitlead,
ono ern .ones* in atettog that tie towns of Moderato
Me- in Eneland only agure for sic new womisbere; but
ibere are four inevrberi tofue oda/Mb very large tonne%
So rthand, end three to &Ash men' ; the Wanes
I. 18 oot of 49 rate are tradaderra4 from Boaliali
boroughs to moral. a. load we all arrow bow toanty
seats are getietslit givro—(mar. bier).
No other question bele( pnt te the boa. gentleman,
be thong. d the burgesiss for Usti, ettemdaceo at tbal
meeting and withdrew.
Mr. N. M. Loden thou spoke. Bo rwitarhad (ball
he did not present himself as a member of Parliament,
but as the repremitativ• of une—lbear, hear, and
liughter). He vas very aorry to tell Maim that the
other member. Mr. K. D. Hodoan, was noobin to cm".
to Rrelport as advertised in conequeoce of tiro state of
attain. is the Ananias' world. The het was that money
watery short in ',Dam+, and be dare s.y tarn was the
ease with many of them. A monetary cried bad
oerorr.-d. and Mr. Hodiata, Wing • direetor of the
Boot of England, which ermined to and money for every
body, bad nova very important duty to perform. If
be had tame sway dn. 'vault ini,rhi have bees.. serious
as to affect them in Artriport. Me staying in Lendoe
was to do his duty to the country and to them. He bad
sent • letter to Imo by especial noweenger that be would
reed to them, and which he felt eon they wool.' coe•
storm a soMciant eacase for hie absence. Mr. Loggia
then mad as follows :

I.)ftir Br,—fl. panic and confusion eowitgomit on
the failure of Over...lid, Gurney, aid CO.. is likely to be
so great that the Clarionnor of the lischedatr hae made
me • request, almost amounting to a command. to
retn.i• hers to-day, as it may be necessary to tall
nrompt and immediate stops to prevent • most f.arfal
amnion:4l and iln•neial ceisi.. You must apologift to
my friends, sod tell them I hope to come to them lwfore
I tote, and take their opinions on this Se-distributiou
ail, which appears to me most unjamit a. regards us.
Nothing but the etrongem menet of ditty beeps me from
coming to-dat, and I hate had tot much experience of
me coostotnents' kindness to doubt tliCit forgiving my
spin:cot neglect.
Yours Vert truly,
K. D. HODGSON.

Fr(Jay Morning, Ile, Broolreitseet, London.
Mr. 'engin said he wu sore that Mr. Bedpan would
have been there if he poesinly could, and he would still
mine down if the voting on 'he mature was not brought
Oh Neter* he hat time to do so. But Mr. Hodgeon
vroaid read what was don* at ti.. meeting that night,
and if be were enable to c.nias nioong4 them he scald
that se a guide to not spon—frppliineel.
Three cheers were then sailed for Mr. Miteiwill, and
they were siren, and the meeting terminated.