The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1868-11-03 00:00:00

District Mins.

MB. POWELL,
_Q.O., AT

WEYMOUTH.

Mr. Powell, the Independent Liberal candidate, spin
addressed • crowded public meeting, at the Bunion
Aseesehly Room, on Friday arming. Mr. S. Brown
presided, supported by members of the "Anti-Compact
Amotiation." The Hon. Evelyn Ashley moompanied
the hoe. candidate. There was great enthusiasm
ormaifested throughout the meeting.
The Camases briefly introduced Mr. Powell, inti-
mating that the learned gentleman had concluded his
canvass, and would now inform than of the result.
Mr. Powell, who was greeted with the heartiest
catering, said: Me chairman, ladies, and gentlemen—
Having siMtaatially completed my eanwase—fm I
believe I ham Maid upon every elector, and propose to
call again upon those whom I have not yet been so
fortunate as to meet at home—l have requested your
&Deadens* this evades in order that I may announce
to you the moms which has attended me, and elm say
a few words to you on the prompt &epees of political
affairs within this borough. As to my canvass, I Can
bat' ameribe the promises I hive received in the words
of Falstaff, they have been "as plenty as blackberries,
and as to the important question how fa they con be
relied on. I trust I may rely on them implicitly, and
Ice this mama, that not one of them has beea given
"on ocimpulsion"—(eppleuse). For ten days from ten
In he moaning until a late hone in the evening, I have
walked your streets, penetrated your marts, and
climbed your hills, from Wyks to ltadipole, and froa
the esplanade to the back water, min have been received
almost everywhere with welcome, and everywhere with
coattail—(sben). The only painful feelings during
my canvass have been mused by two totally different
classes of electors, each of whom I shall presently
allude to more particularly ,• namely (1) those who for
anions better understood then expressed, would not
promise either way; and (2) :hose who, earnestly desiring
to support me have nevertheless been unable to promise
is. their votes: The tesult of the whole MIMS' leave/ In
the opinion of those heat qualified to form one, no
doubt of my sucoess—(applause) and those moat
familiar with the borough and Its election contests
assure me that no candidate whoever canvassed
it, has had anything like the ansuraeme of support
which hays been given to me—(applatme). I beg
to return to the electors my beady thanks
for it; I thank those who have met my eppli-
cation with a ready "yes." I beg also to thank those
who have as frankly answered with • manly "no." I
thank with all my heart those honest men who would
support me if they dared. I trust that by abstaining
to press them, as I have invariably done, I have proved
to them that I thank them by my conduct, as well as
by my words; sad I assure them that I will labour
without ceasing in their cause, until the framable* given
So them shall be a franchise in deed and truth, and not,
as it now is, • mockery • delusion, and a snare—
(wiener). Gentlemen, I feel that I should be most
novae( al, if I did not also acknowledge—and that not
as • mere form, but in all sincerity—the invariable
kindness I have received, day after day, from the wives
of so many of the electors of the lebourin classes—
(laughter and applause)—who though call from the
eridie the washing tub, the Ironing board, e attic, or
the beck kitchen, where they have been Industriously
employed ill the performance of domestic duty, to
answer my Importunate knock, instead of scowling at
me, as I fear I have deserved, self I were the trouble-
some taxes, or the plaguy water-rate—(laughter)---
have accepted my apologies with • ready cheerfulness,
and have satisfied me that as I hope to be the men's
champion, so I am certainly the women's candidate—
ilaSnowter anaddecheers and cries
ere to the p 'poi' bravo ) strensttireuggmet
we are waging. That wee primarily, is you know, a
struggle for the Independence of the Borough. In my
printed address to you I told you that I felt assured the
result of the contest would be victory. Did any one
think that tholes were vaunting word.? Why this part
al tbe contest is over—(applause)—the compact is
dissolvoi—(cLeers)— the borough is now free and
indepeudent, the victory is already won—(great
abeerieg). The Compact is already so much a thing of
the past that its very existence has already been dis-
puted and there has been controversy and confusion
enough about it to gratify the curiosity and justify
future researches ?of the antiquarian smnety—(laughter
and applause). But, although these may amuse you
elsewhere they shall not detain you this evening. The
Compact is dead and buried—(lamehter)—end the sooner
It Is forgotten, the better for all parties -(applause).
I won't nay • word about it that shall keep up irritation
or create ill will. All I will do is to pronounce it.
epitaph—(laughter). I gave you one for the innocents
who were to hare been slaughtered by it; I think you
might adapt one for the compact from that which a
Gloueestershire farmer placedon the tomb stone of his
molding wife :