The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-06-18 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH ELF.criow.

During Saturday and Monday there were rumours in
the town that • Coeservativ's candidate would be forth.
coming and a contest for the vaosnt seal; bet,
we are iofortried on good authority, that there was never
the slightest ground for mush reports. The result
is, that for the first time within recollection, Wey-
mouth has had an uneooteeted election, lb. formal
tatanz:eat inm"t=tl7. stbw- im;r"s
were opened. The Mayor, as returning
sided, supoorted by Mr. R. Cottenill (msglasare). Mr.
Reigate, Mr. Beater. Mr. Masers, Mr. R. N. Howard,
Dr. Tigard, Mr. Moon, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Bally. Mr.
Darling. Captain Slade, and Mr. Roberts. The tune
occupied by the oeremoey was lees than lialf-an-hoor,
but if the speeches were brief they were exceedingly
" tall," as our report will show.
The Town Clerk having read the writ for the
electioc,
The Mayor took the oath against bribery, end then
said that in accordance with the writ they bed beard
read, they were culled upon to exercise one of the most
important rights of Englishmen, Ms., to clout a member
to serve thin ancient and loyal borough in the Commons
House of Parliament—(hear, bear). As the returning
direr, be had only to request—and he felt sure they
would accede to it—that they would give Ovary person
who addressed them a fair and Impartial hearing—
(hear bear). With throne remarks he would leave the
matter in their bear, and be should be pleased to bear
any proposition, as to the election of a representative—
(hear hear).
Captain Blade said he begged to propose his friend
and theirs—Henry Edwards, Esq., as the nember for
the borough. He would only aid that he had never
heard of an election at Weymouth before without •
oontest—(lond applause).
Kr. Haggett seconded the nomination, and remarked
tbst ins. doing a person should be *pared to show
where) the gentleman came from, who he was, and what
his principles aere—(hear, bear). But he thought it
would be • waste of time for him to dwell upon those
topics. Mr. Edwards was no stranger to him: he was
no stranger to themselves, nor to the various institutions
in the town, for to cash he had liberally contributed
from time to time—lappleuse). He need not tell them
that Mr. Edwards was a gentleman in every sense of
the word. He (the speaker) had visited his boom in
Berkeleyoquare. and be had visited his dace, and he
was sure, that if ever he f.-It honoured, It was at hl4
cordial reception by Henry Edwards, Mg. He told thst
gentleman when he shook hums with him, that that was
ample oompensation for anything be might have done
in his (Mr. Edwards') interest in this borough. He was
glad that he had lived to me that day, for it rejoiced hie
heart to observe the unanimity of feeling that prevailed:
there was at least something like peace in the long
troubled waters of electioneering in this town. He
highly appreciated the union betwixt them and the
Conservative party in this borough. He sought no
no man's honour, and no man's applause but he believed
the present was a fair and just election. They had
before them an honourable man—one touched with the
feelings of humanity—one who would listen to the
oomplsinte of the poor and diet/eased of this town.
Whet did they want more?—(a voice, plaintively: " A
home for dogs I") Mr. Edwards was • man whose
principles had been tried, and they had heard how well
he was spoken of in London. In the metropolis he sto,cl
A 1 amongst the merzhante. He, therefore, with the
warmest, most comfortable, and meet peaceful feelings
of his souL hoped that Henry &ward. Lei.. would be
returned as their repregentative-*ca:t. cheering).
_ . .

The Itetorning Officer then asked if any gentleman
had any other proposition to make at that election
and, them being no response save a yokes " Where's
Mr Frederick J he mid, it wee his 'deeming
duty to declare Henry Edwards, EN. of 63, Bethel.?
Eq...,.. rival/ and pruyrrly rBtanNIC to verve t
i nia
ancient and loyal borough n the Commons Bowie of
Parliament --(sheers). He songratulated Hr. Edward.
personally on attaining the proud position of being one
of the members for Weymouth, and he songratulated
his brother electors on having returned him unopposed
—(spplimie). /tow that the election was over he felt
sure there was no law to hinder his .:pressing Ips eon.
fldent opinion that they had got "lb. right man in the
right place." and that the more they knew Ig.r. Edwards
the bettor they would like bin), and that if they bad
fiearched through every bounty in lfautlend they
could not bars obtained a better member—(applause).
Mr. Edwards, who was greeted with much cheering.
mid :--Gentleman-1 feel myself quite incapable of el.
pressing my gratitude to you for the honour which you
have conferred upon me this day In returning m. as
!our representative to the - House of Commoos—
. .

. -.--
(applause). 1 amure you that lam Oen', oPprest with
the responsibility attaching to the trust you ham is.
posed in me, and I beg moot earnestly to ware you
that I shall do all in my power to metit roof caisfidenee
and esteem—(aboms). You are doubtless aware that it
is no light end easy task I have undertakes —(hear.
hear)—tnit il by My close attention to my doting in
Parliament and to your local interest. in partieolu
(bear. bear) —I can retain your regard and coolidenoe.
I shall feel highly gratified- (applause). lam looking
for and to the pleasure of enterion the Home of
Coinsioas on Thursday evening, with an earnest desire
to &mitt in p-aing that great measure of Reform which
is now occupying the attention of Parliament—
(”heers). I ant one of those who have never
dreaded an extension of the franahise—(epplause).
The growing intelligence of the people demanded
• very great extension, and I am very glad to say that
the measure now 'recopying the attention of the Howe
of Commons is one so ~et that I believe it will settle
the great matter of It form on • firm and perm•••ent
basis- (cheers). nentlemen, Ido not think I can dwell
very much on other topics to-day, but I beg to immure
,I you that your Interests shall be In! interests, nod I do
hope that I am going t. Parliament really and truly as
neative—(loud applause).
"Yr.Metrrant came forward in response to calla from all
parts of the hall. He said he congratulated them all
mast heartily on what they bad done that day. He
felt sure that the OhOira they had made in Henry
Edwardt, Esq., Was one they would never have occasion
to regret. In • large town like Weymouth, having
~,,,,,ely 1,000 electors, there must be politicians of various
shades of opinion, bat as • newspaper lately remarked,
they were all becoming one happy family le the House
of Commons, soParliament badset them agood example.
A man went into Parliament a Conservative and came
out. Liberal—fa voice : "What about the Liber•l•ll—
the Liberal came out Conservative • but what had
done ill thisl the greet desire to do good to th- Beglisit
nation. Parliament had felt for some Urns that
domestic matters had troubled than, and proventod
the goose . ivies that attention to f. 'reign &Noire and
other public questions which thew nusht to receive,
and the present Home determined they would get rid
of this home subject of Reform, and if one party in the
House cool I not carry it through the other party would,
and thus the measure had been brought to it. present
pakten, and he felt confident that he might say their
friend sad member Mr. E hoards would do hi. utmost
in anointing ne finish what had been se nnill begun—
(pnillol). He witn satisfied that they mold not bate •
better nieinher than Mr. 13 iwords, arid that he was •
madman who would be often amongst them—
(*polecat.). If thet great proposal abould be again
brought forward is Parliament which their late
tepresentativa, Captain Gridley, was the only member
from Dorset to supeort —one of the gallant 76—he
was sure that Mr. Edwards would at all times do his
utmost for the benefit of that important Portion or the
nommonity—(applause and langhtm).
Mr. Robins was aloe called upon by the steeling.
He said he had only to eongratulate them on the
ethnics the, had made, and on the manner in which
they had done it—+Oldatimil. He wasted to see this
horough independent—fah...el—and the first step
towards that woe purity of election. He was glad
on that oarasion they bad bison aeouresof action. which
he hoped would be followed till they had p1.,41 two
selves in the proud position of being not only a free
and Independent mostitseney, bat one of the pant,
free, and independent mostituenaiee of thbi country—
(applame). Re wee phased they had escured the
warriors of such • genatusan as Mr. Edwards, and from
what ho had heard he was satisfied that he would Wail
all the 'apostolic'ss they had formed respecting him
Their lets represeatetive ((rain Gridley) was • man
to his word ,• be did his duty well, and in retiring front
Weymouth be tarried with him the reaped of every
GNAW who gave his vote for him at the time he wsa
sleeted. sad he was satisfied that when the time came
—and it would not be long-- when Mr. Edwards
would present himself again before thou, •• •
oandid•ts for their suffrages, it would be shown
that he had fully justified the hopes raised respecting
him, and that be woold again rwolve at their hands
that full season of sonadontio which would lend him
back again to roprooset for along time them and their
Interests I. the. Cummeas House of Parliament—
(applause).
In MOMS te Yr. Rialto, observed that he
could only wag lci" . exceedingly pboaod at their
sb
at
olesx wed wee eiliti could not nave unlisted a
bolter COM tiMst" ha. sa me, s-- (*pp] .us. ).
Kr. 114 wardr, *2., odd It only noaainod to ropes" a
rote of thanks to their Chairman end returning Alper
for the kind way in which he had presided over them.
This had Seen • Imo peseefal meeting. and he hoped
that the Illappr.might preside over mottos, similarly
riNew ill 16110 Preetedings for • hag time to nom.—
onaaaso).
Three cheers were then Mina fee the Wiwi and
three for the Ten, Citiir,
nye 'Mirk ili . sakaMiledikts 169 oompllasont, said
be trashed that es Meg ash. had tile bosom et GObig
that chair , he sbewhil de his dulg—
arm (apatlanee).
Tus 'had the primaediage and the mesa* Tie*
ed. .