The Express.
London, England, 1852-06-26 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 26, 1852

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.
WESTMINSTER.

Yesterday a meeting of the electors of Westmin-
ster, in the district of Pimlico. was held at the Assembly-
rooms, Vauxhall-bridge road, to hear an address from Wm.
Coningh am, Esq., one of the candidates fur the representa-
tion of the borough.
CltAe. tart:maw:4, Eq. (one of the candidates fur Not-
tingham), was in the chair, and introduced Mr. Coninxharn
as a candidate, who was independent of any party and pre-
pared to be the representative of the wants of the people,
and of the working claws in particular.
Mr. CONINWIAN, who was received with much applause,
said he understuud that that which wise called the Radical
Rump," in Westminster, made it an objection to his caa-
didature that he was unknown, and asked who was Mr.
Coningham ? lie could tell them what he was not. lie
was nut an unsuccessful general, or one who once hod been
a red hot protectionist endgame preserver—(cheers)—but his
was brought up in the tenets of William Cubbett. (Cheers.)
The hon. gentleman thee' stated that he was of 160 s descent,
but burn in Hertfordshire, had been in a Dragoon Regiment,
but disliking the life in a barrack-yard, left the army and
travelled over Europe, end on his Muni settled at Brighton,
fur which place he bad been an unsuccessful candidate at the
last election, but would have been returned bad those who
were not allowed the suffrage had then had vi tes, and he
determined tierce to rest till he had contributed its obtain-
ing for that class what he thought was the right of miry
Englishman. (Loud cheers.) The borough of Weettniu.
stir had once been celebrate : fur returning radicals to par-
liament, and he hoped that in a crisis like the present the
radical party in W-estminster would give such an impetus to
reform OM a sufficient number of members would be re-
turned to parliament to defend the interests of the people.
(Cheers.) With regard to the question of religious liberty,
ho was not satisfied with the word " toleration," but he
would el. muud for all :wets the full right to exercise the
practice of their religious rites, and to follow the bent of
their religious opinions. (Cheers.) After a few further
observations, Mr. Coningbam said he shouid be happy to
answer any questions that might be put to him. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wikkovolinv expresses! his surprise that, at a meet-
Mg of the electors of Westminster, there should be is bud
of catholic priests on the platform. (" Oh," and conlusi
(This remark was produced by the dress and appearance of
two gentlemen on the platform which very much resembled
that worn by Roman catholic ecclesiastics. It was, how-
ever, esplained that they neither of them were members of
that body, and that one of them was Mr. Thornton Runt.
klueb laughter and interruption ensued, which was greatly
increased by Mr. Willouohby's asserting that Mr. Coning-
ham offered himself as a candidate in Use Roman catholic
interest, in consequence of his protesting against the Eccle-
siastical Titles Bill.)
Mr. CONIN4IIIIAII explained that:be was by education and
conviction a member of the church of England, and that
be hail no sympathy with the Roman eatholice as a sect
beyond obtaining for them as fur every class of disseuters
perfect freedom. (Cheers.)
In reply to a question put to him,
Mr. CLIMINUIWA stated that he would not select the
Maynooth grant alone fur opposition, but would include
it in his opposition to all grants for religious purposes ;
that if any tangible proposition was brought forward for
the reparation of church and state, ho would support it.
He was in favour of tenant right, and would support Mr.
Sharman Crawfurd's bill, with some modifications, and
added, that although he would not at once pledge himself
to go to the pull, yet if the Tenho( that meeting was such
as to justify him in doing so, he would give such a pledge.
Mr. T. iliac moved a resolution to the effect, that the
choirs of caudelateis belonged of right to a constituency,
and that it was unbecoming in any 'mad self-elected body
to dictate to the mass of their fellow-citizens who should
represent them in parliament, and that the meeting having
heard the statemeut of Mr. Coningliam as to his views,
political and economical, begged to thank him for giving
an opportunity to the independent electors of Westminster
of exerciang their privileges, and pledged themselves to
use every legitimate means for securing his triumphant
return fur the borough."
The resolution was agreed to, with only one dissentient.
A revilution that a local committee, principally of non-
electors, should be formed, was then moved and carried ;
and alter Mr. Coningliain had returned thanks, amidst
loud cheering, the meeting separated.

Importation of the necessaries of lift angers not WI great
material advantages, hut that It presages the hightail as.
tides of a people through the moral Whencee that flow
from an abundant and easy satisfeetima of their physical
wants. In a word, free trade has neeemplished the aim of
the statesman by enriching and strengthening the elation,
whilst it has fulfilled the desire of the philanthropist by
carrying comfort and happiness to the homes of them, who
live by the daily labour of their hands. In expressing
these sentiments I am giving utterance to the con-
victims and ridings of nineteen-twentieths of the popu-
lation of the kingdom. How, then, in the face of this fact,
do we witness the strings anomaly of a protectionist party
in power, a !louse of Commons feebly asserting a free trade
policy, and the Queen appealing to the doctors for their
opinion upon a question on which the people have come to
an all but unanimous decision ? The causu of this state of
things must he sought in the imperfections of our electoral
symtem, which seems to be ingeniously contrived to prevent
the majority in parliament from reflecting with
ease end accuracy the opinions of the majority of the
nation. Let me illustrate this by one fact. In an
assembly professing fairly to represent the country, I find
myself associated with a hundred members, the aggregate
of whose constituencies does not equal in number, and still
less in intelligence and wealth, the constituency which 1
have the honour to represent; and yet every one of them
counts for as much as your member in a division list.
Under such a system, majorities depend, in ordinary and
tranquil seasons, more upon toe skill el parliament-
ary tacticians, the interests of powerful individuals,
and the corrupting influences of wealth and patro-
nage, than upon the force of public opinion. Such a re-
presentative system, instead of assieing the judgment of a
minister anxious to ascertain and meet the wants and wishes
of his countrymen, is calculated to embarrass and mislead
him ; mad if a patriot statesman, disregarding a parliamen-
tary majority, resolve on some great occasion to consult the
welfare of the people in opposition to the tidiest, of the in-
terested and powerful few, he is either thwarted in his
efforts, or punished, if successful, by banishment from Al-
oha life, whilst the people who ore raising monuments to
We fame are powerless to present his opponents from oc-
cupying the seat of power from which they have expelled
him. Such a state of things is neither satisf .etory awe se-
cure. Our representation is not what it prufeoces to be—it
will not bear investigation; and it does not work well. If
it did, there would lie no necessity for a dissolution to de-
ride the fate of a protectionist administration. Ihe true
test of the worthiness of a people to enjoy fete institutions
is tluir capacity, by timely and wise amendments,
to adapt them to the changing and advancing circum-
stances of the age. I tract that the people of England still
(or their nest task undertake that reform in our electoral
system which is called fur by the stet, of public effigies, and
which is necessary to bring into harmony the theory and
practice clout free constitution. Fur the present, however,
it is onrduty, by one more strong and united expression of
opinion, to establish upon an imperishable foundation the
principle of commercial liberty. That the advocates of mo-
nopoly should have made another special appeal to the
country necessary, and thus retarded other important
public questions, is to be regretted, so far as our domestic
interests are concerned. But let us console ourselves with
the belief that the decision now about to be come to by the
electors of England will have a salutary influence abroad.
Hitherto, other nations have regarded only as an experi-
ment our free trade measures, the reversal of which
they have seen constantly threatened by the party now in
power. They will shortly see • second protectionist govern-
ment repudiate protectionist principles. Then will com-
mence the influence of our example upon foreign countries.
I do net shrink from avowing my belief in the universal
though tardy triumph of a principle which has been demon-
strated, in our own case, to involve the well-heingof the
people Ind the prosperity of the government. Vi ith the
general diffusion of liberal commercial principles, I shall
expect with confidence the growth of a more frank and
generous international spirit ; and, in spite of the back-
sliding' of some from whom I had expected better
things, and who have involved us in the cost of fresh
preparations for war, I do not hesitate to declare
my conviction that the final triumph of free trade,
which England is now about to consummate, will
he the strongest guarantee that human hands lan give for
the observance of that divine precept which enjoins ° peace
on car;h, and goodwill towards men." Gentlemen, I have
said that in tranquil and ordinary seasons the policy of
governments is made subservient to unworthy and sinister
influences. Not so on an occasion like the present, when a
ripe rational question is about to be submitted to the ordeal
of a general election. At such a crisis ministers and public
men look for the final settlement of a great controversy to
the larger constituencies, and especially to that of the West
Kidirg, whose numbers, extent, and wealth raise it so far
above every electoral community. I know that when the
moment comes for recording your verdict it will be, as it
has ever been on all great occasions, on the side of hu-
manity, peace, and freedom. I have the honour to remain,
your faithful and obedient servant, itICIIAILD COODEN.—
London, 24th Jane, 1862."

Mr. Denison, in his address, recalls to the recollection of
the electors, that in the eleven years during which (with a
short iaterruption) he has been their representative, he hu
" constantly endeavoured Di act independently both of po-
litical snit personal bias—voting for or against all the three
governments that have held office during that time, accord.
mg as their meager., appeared to me to deserve support or
opposition." The hon. gentleman states that he voted for a
reductim of the duties remitted by Sir It. Peel, and shall
he ready to support a prudent extension of the same
system.