The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-01-31 00:00:00

TO THE ELECTOIRS
OF. THE

PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGH OF DUDLEY.

GENTLEMEN -

Her Majesty having dissolved Parliament, you will
be called upon forthwith to elect a representative for
your large and important Borough. Under these
circumstances I venture once more, and for the fifth
time, to offer myself to you for election.
It in now nearly 17 years since I was first sent by
you to represent your political views and interests in
the House Of Commons, and whilst indulging in the
hope that I have faithfully discharged the trust re-
posed iu me, I would remind you of some of the
most important of the questions which have been
settled during that eventful period :
Church Rates have been abolished.
A Reform Bill has been passed which gives to
every Householder the right to vote in the
choice of his Representative.
The Ballot has been established, ;without which
au extension of the Suffrage might in satiny
cases have heen„aluseless, or worse than use-
less privilege.
The great Universities of the Kingdom have been
thrown open to all classes of persons, and
Dissenters relieved from many disabilities
which for generations have pressed upon them
. with severity and injustice.
A vast reduction of Taxation has been effected,
Act yet to be amended, has been passed re-
particularly with reference to articles of food.
Au
cognising the right of the masses to be edu-
cated.
Flogging has been abolished in the Navy.
The Army has been re-organised by abolutionof tits
objectionable system of purchasing COII.IIIIiI3SiCIIIS
and Promotion,
Religious Equality in Ireland has beau secured
by the disestablishmeut and disendowmeut of
the State Church.

These great eufrancbising and ameliorative
measures of Political and Social relief, it has been
my good fortune by my votes, as your Representa-
tive, to assist in passing,

Maifyof theseouestions, though part of the politica
programme which was before us in the that years of
our connection, were then more mattos of aspiration
than of actual anticipation; but they have come to
pass, and we may fairly congratulate ourselves upon
them, for they have tended to improve and to elevate
the social cosdition of the People, and to render
more solid and enduring the framework and the
bases of our institutions.

With reference to matters especially and locally
affecting the Borough of Dudley, I may, without pre-
sumption, I trust, be permitted to say—
That at your request, I obtained for you the
power of appointing a Stipendiary Magistrate,a
power which, happily, there has been
no
occasion to put in force.
I aided you to the best of my ability in your
effort to obtain the High Levet Railway com-
munication with Dudley.
When the Reform Bill was before the House,
with the assistance of Mr. Blight, I succeeded
in enlarging the Borough, and giving to the
inhabitants of Brierley Hill, Peusuett, Crad-
ley Heath, &e., the right of Borough Voting.
When the Trading Classes of Dudley expressed
their indignation at the mode of assessment
under Schedule Dof the Income-tax Act, I
assisted them in changing the assessor, und
pledged myself to use my best exertions to
obtain the repeal of that most ,obnoxious tax.
his
er
Forlai if ius r coed:,
it.oofr
trti nti:dloeya Pledge,
e.o.euvik aliaitga ly.
voting
took
against the Tax, but that, in the Session be-
fore last, I submitted to the House of Com-
mons the following :Resolution, viz. In.
conic-tax That a Select Committee be ap-
pointed to consider the advisability of re.
1,,„.1ing that part of the Income-tax Act which
relates to Incomes derived from Trades and
professions, exceptite, Joint Stock, Chartered
and other incorporated Companies, and sub-
"ofainil'iliqvuidisuiftriaMie.m" hers of the House
stittniug for such revenue other taxes less
grie
T fitle.
t II and the general voice of the
now
mi
ratulate you upon the, announce.
at length prevailed, and I may
mea
Income-tax is part of the Government pro-
gramme for the ensuing Session.
With reference to the interests of the Mining
population of the Parliamentary Borough
of Dudley, I eau Bay that I have acted with
Mr• Macdonald in all his efforts to improve
their position, and that I heartly cumin
with him in his desire to alter the law oi
Master and Servant, and the law of Conspir-
acy ; further, I have endeavoured to secure
their personal safety by the introduction ol
a Bill for a Government Inspection et
Steam Boilers. .

And,: now, having referred to the wise and
beneficient laws which have been passed slate
M
e
m
y tob
e
,
and to the services I have
d render you, it may not Le
oelunitil'3‘colaviiuetl
leacy.oeliflio• call
I here enumerate the Bills I per-
sonally have submitted to Parlianent, and the
Acts which I have been permitted to pass during
the same period—some of them being. I venture
to suggest, esteemed of value and importance
both by Parliament and the country; they are
The Stipendiary Magistrates Act.
The Sale of Gas Act, protecting the consumer
against the incorrectness of the measure-
ment of gas consumed.
The Abolition of the Duty on Fire Insurance.
The Investment of Trust Funds Act.
Joint -Stock Companies Arrangement Act,
giving power to take Companies out of
Liquidation.
The Inspection of Steam Boilers Bill,
The treatment of prisoners on remand.
The Establishment of Smoking Carriages on
Railways,—
The Communication between Passengers and
Guards on Railway Trains.
The motion to abolish Schedule D of the In-
come-tax Act.
And the Lodgers' Goods Protection Act.
. _ . -

And now as to ale future; although the time I
have been your Representative has, by your indul-
gence, been unusually long, and although the day
is not far distant when I must look forward to
retirement from the coxes and anxieties of public
life, my political desires would would be greatly
disappointed if you were not to grant me the pri-
vilege, as your Representative in the next Parlia-
ment, of taking part in the work which is imme-
diately before us; that work should be, amongst
other things, the Repeal of the Income-tax; the
Diminution of Poor Rates in localities such as
yours by an equalization of the rate ; ;an alter-
ation of the law as to Masters and Servants;
an alteration of the Law Conspiracy; an amend-
ment of the Education Act and Repeal of the 25th
Clause; a Repeal of certain Clauses of the Act
Affecting Licensed Victuallers; an amelioration
in the treatment of Prisoners on Remand; a
further reduction of Taxes on Food; the inter-
ference of the State on Railway matters with a
views of to lower charges and increased security
to travellers a re-arrangement of the vast reven-
ues of the Universities, so as to make the honours
and emoluments available for students of all
classes; an alteration of the Game Laws, and the
law which regulates and inpedes the transfer of
land; a fair settlement of the Established Church
Question; the extension to Counties of the Borough
Franchise.

Many of these questions will be settled in the
next Parliament, Some of them I have already
voted upon, and if you once more honour me
with your confidence, my past votes on these mat-
ters, and on all questions of Liberal policy is the
best gurantee I can offer that 1 will be faithful to
your political desires in the Parliament to came.
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your faithful Servant,
HEN RY B. SHERIDAN.

EAST WORCESTERSHIRE ELE CT lON

The TEMPERANCE ELECTORS ire eartestl)
requested to WITHOLD the promise of thtir VOUS
for a few dept. Farther steps will be promptly an-
nounced.