The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1866-12-01 00:00:00

MR. DOULTON M.P., AND THE "DAILY

TELEGRAPH"

On Monday in the Court of Queen's Bench, Mr.
Field, Q.C., said he moved on behalf of Mr. Doulton,
M.P. for Lambeth, for a rule calling on the Daily
Telegraph to show cause why criminal information
should not be filed against the printer of that paper
for a libel. Mr. Poulton, on whose behalf he moved,
had been for some years M. P. for the borough of
Lambeth, and al,o a member of the Metropolitan
Board of Works. He was returned for Lambeth as a
supporter of the late Lord Palmerston's Government,
and he oontinned to support that and the subsequent
Government, with the exception of voting for the
last Reform Bill. That gentleman, with many others,
conscieutiously objected to certain portions of that
bill, and for what they did in consequence they re-
ceived the name of Adullamites. For any stric-
tures on his public character he did not, and
would not complain, however severe, unless
they imputed to him dishonesty of conduct
likely to affect his private character. Believing, there-
fore, that the article complained of went beyond the
fiirmer, and attacked the latter, he felt bound to come
' forward and ask their lordships to grant the rule.
The article, which was a very long one, appeared on
the 21st of November, and commenced by referring
to a speech delivered by Mr. T. Hughes, the other
member for Lambeth, on the previous evening, at the
Walworth Institution, which ne-sting Mr. Poulton
dui not attend because it was called by Mr. T. I fuel.*
without any reference to hini (Ir. 1).00ton). the
article, after praising Mr. T. Hum ties for his political
honesty, then proceeds to sinimaiivert in very severe
terws en Mr. Doulton and his conduct in Parliament.
The learned counsel then read the article at length,
and the following are some of the passages complained
of by Mr. Poulton i—" Representative has come to
mean in certain mouths a senatorial personage who,
on false pretences, end-it zzles a seat with hypocritical
addresses in order that he may misrepresent his elec-
tors on the flimsy plea of indepet deuce." "Those
who mouth the word ` independent ' while they
swindle the people that give them a stage for
their political knavery to strut upon, would do
well to note two passages in the address (Mr. Hughes)
delivered on Monday night at the Walworth In-
stitution." "Pare any of the spurious independents '
of the time say such things in such a position? Their
own measures and scales are vile with too much self-
interest—fraudulent with too many bidden make-
weights, to allow it. They have to stop at home, like
Mr. Donlon, because the new-fashioned honesty of the
present House of Commons passes muster there, but
is found out and called a sham in less delicate assert'.
bliea" "He represents his potteries and not the
borough, and his proper place is among them." "If
the borough possessed a dock for political swindlers
his proper place would be easier to point out, and he
would then have a good right to be heard." "This
new Judas of the modern Potter's Field crept inhi the
confidence of Lambeth in the days of Palrueretonian
premises and petty performanciii, picked the pockets
of the Lambeth men of their votes, embezzled the seat
for the borough, and then made it a sort of branch
establishment for his own private opinions and ends."
"The wisest thing the man has ever done since he
filched the appendage of M.P. has hereto give up say-
ing one word to palliate his condition."
The Lord Chief Justice said it was a disgussion of
Mr. Poulton's public conduct, and did not attack his
private character.
Mr. Field said it imputed improper conduct to Mr.
Poulton, who had retired from his pottery business in
order the better to discharge his Parliamentary duties.
The Lord Chief Justice said the article meant that
Mr. Poulton came in on certain expressed principles
which the electors really assumed to be held by him,
hut instead of that he voted against the Reform Bill
of the late Government, and had thereby violated his
pledges to the electors. The court would be lowering
the character of its summary jurisdiction in matters of
libel if they granted a rule on this article.
Mr. Field submitted that the article charged Mr.
Poulton with acting for his private ends.
The Lord Chief Justice said that meant politically.
Public men must not be so thin-skinned. All came
in now-a-days for their share of public censure or
praise. The court could not entertain the application.
Application refused.