The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-25 00:00:00

HUDDERSFIELD ELECTION.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO CORIUM?

PRACTICES.

On Wednesday evening last, a crowded public
meeting of elector', and non•electors of Iludderstieid was
held in the Philosophical Hall, convened by placard, which
set forth that—" At a meeting of the friends and supportersof the petitioners against the late return of W. C. titans-
yfieesday, a resolution
ldterE'q.umember ofparliament for the borough, held
was adopted to the following effect:
That it be proposed to the friends and supporters of W. It,
C. Stansfield, Eq., at the last election, to leave the choice
eta candidate to represent this borough to a majerity of
the electors of the borough, at a meeting to be eons coed as
seen as preadble ; and that the candidate so selected shall he
supported by the friends of both parties.' Such resolution
Was forwarded to the friends and supporters of Mr. Stans.
field, and their written reply requested." And the meet-
ing, it was further announced in the same phnerd,
"To take into consideration the said reply ; and al., to
adopt such other proceedings as may be accessary to secure
the fair and honest representation of the borough:*
Mr. Josern BRIBRLEY, alma a quarter past seven
o'clock, was called to the chair, and having read the
placard calling the meeting, said that a crisis List arrived is
the electioneering affairs of the borough, and (eery nem
amongst them was called upon as earnest, holiest, and
honuurabla burgesses, to take their position into immediate
and most serious consideration, and devise such means as
they might deem best to solve their difficultioe (Hear,
hear.) Ile expressed an earnest hope that the two conflict-
ing parties in the borough might yet In reconciled, and
that soma man might arise who would unite them into
one phalanx of earnest reformers; for as they were on all
great questions united in sentiment, it was most linuntable
to see their present position of antagonism ; and he would
be mast happy if some means could be devised kr bringing
about so desirable a consummation as their unity and con-
cord. (Applaase.)
Mr. JOSEPH BOOTRUOVD proposed the first resolution,
which was as fallaws That a petition to the House of
Commons, praying for a commission of inquiry into the COT.
rupt practices at the last and former elections fur this bo-
rough, be prepared and signed by the Electors and inha-
bitants generally of the borough." (Applause.) After re-
ferring to the corrupt practices at the last election fur the
borough of Huddersfield, and reading the report of the
House of Commons committee unseating Mr. Stansfield for
having, through his agents and friends, been guilt y'eif treat-
ing, intimidating, and corrupting voters, Mr. Boothroya
said that the allegations in the petition were, " that Mr.
Stansfleld had, by himself, his agents, or friends, been guilty
of bribery, treating, intimidation, personation, arid corrup-
tion of voters ;" and though enough had been proved before
the Commons committee to unseat Mr. Stan-field, yet
all who were acquainted with the extent of the corrupt prac-
tices at the late election were aware that the evidence bad
not by any means developed these hideous practice. to the
extent that was demanded by every consideration of mora-
lity. (Applause.) It was alma alleged by &outfield's de-
fenders and friends, that Mr. Winans had, at the last
election, been guilty of extensive bribery, treating, corrup-
tion, intimidation, and personation; and that parties had
voted for Mr. Winans who had laid wagers ou the event of
the election, and thus disqualified themselves—a practice
against which the speaker strongly warned all voters for
the future. Now, Mr. Willans's friends denied the allega-
tions of corrupt practices made against them, and it was
therefore requisite that there should be a stringent investi-
gation into all the treating, corruption, and other
practices resorted to at the last and preceding elections for
Huddersfield. (Applause.) Originally the petition against
Mr. Stansfield claimed the seat for Mr. Willans ; but that
was abandoned, as it was found that it would involve a
scrutiny, which would bring with it an expenditure of fully
5,0001. on each side; whereas the last contested election
cost Mr. Willans's party no more than 4021. (Loud ap-
plause.) Therefore, as they could fight their oppuneats ten
times for less money than one scrutiny would cost, they had,
wisely in his opinion, abandoned that part of the petition
which involved a scrutiny. (" Hear," and cheers.) The
truth of the alleged bribery and treating by Mr. Willane's
friends might be estimated by this one tact of the election,
protracted as it was over four months, costing no more than
4021. ; for Cut of that they had to pay 1001. for printing,
601. es their quota for polling booths, besides other
legal charges which were Inseparable from a contested
election. (Hear, hear.) Where, then, was the money for
bribery, if they bad been disposed to bribe ? (Applause.)
But as regards the corrupt practices on the other side, the
corruption had not been proved by any means to the ex-
tent they were prepared to prove it. (Hear, hear). The
organ of their opponents said they had not shrunk from the
contest in parliament. Let them show that they are not
afraid of the whole truth coming out, by joining in the re-
quest to parliament to grant a commission of inquiry on the
spot, when the whole of the corruption would be disclosed
without reservation, and all the facts come out in their

disgusting enormity. (Applause.) He hoped that all par-
ties would concur in taking measures for a further and
more searching investigation. (Hear, bear.) If they obtained
this commission they would out be put to the enormous et-
penee of taking witnesses to London, but the commiseioners
would sit at Huddersfield, and every man who was eta•
mined would be protected from prosecution for anything
they might have done, whereas in the House of Commons
they were liable to be prosecuted if they mado any admis-
sions against themselves. (Hear, hear.) Collateral evi-
dence, too, could be taken, and in this way they would get
at facts which no parliamentary committee could elicit.
(Hear, hear.) For the credit of the borough and for their
own honour they were bound, one and all, to unite in the
demand for this investigation. (Cheers.)
Mr. JOHN itonrssox seconded the resolution.

The resolution was then put from the chair, and carried,
with three dissentients only, amidst great cheering.
Mr. Janes HANSON congratulated the meeting upon
having decided to petition parliament for a commission of
inquiry, which would thoroughly lay bare the corrupt
practices that had. hitherto prevailed at the elections for
this borough. It was not quite certain that the House of
Commons would grant that inquiry, and therefore they
could not stand still. In tho House of Commons they had
defeated the party they could not defeat at the poll-booth.
They all knew the reason why. (Cheers.) The sentence
which had been pronounced proved that the majority of
those persons who voted fairly and unbiassedly were sup-
porters of Mr.Willans. Mr. Stansfield had only 3.5 majority,
and yet among his voters were no less than 60 publicans.—
(Cries of "Disfranchise them.") Mr. Willana was returned
member for Iluddersfield, and should now have been sitting
for it. No doubt the same was the cue in MIL but Mr.
Stansfield complacently congratulated himself on sitting so
long as the representative of the beer barrel. (Cheers and
laughter.) It was now clear to the world that the publicans
and beer sellers had carried the two last elections in Hud-
dersfield. (Cries of " Disfranchise them.") When Mr.
Stansfield was unseated, Mr. Willans ought forthwith to
have been elevated to the seat. They had not prosecuted
the petition to a resenting, because they found they could
carry out a dozen elections with the mosey which the Km-
tiny would have cost. They were justified in what they
had done by showing that their candidate had the majority
of honest suffrages.
Other resolutions for promoting the objects of the meeting
having been carried,
Mr. G. BILOOKE stated that to his knowledge there were
at the last election cases of direct bribery, where two 51.
notes were paid for a vote, and proposed a committee, con-
sisting of Messrs. Heaps, Hanson, Carr, Appleton, Jackson,
Beardsall, and C. H. Jones, to carry out the first resolution.
This was seconded by Mr. ROUERTS, and &greed to.
Mr. WILLANS proceeded at some length to address the
meeting.
The meeting wan subsequently addressed by other gentle-
men, and, after some conversation, Mr. Willans consented
to become a candidate. A contest is therefore inevitable,
as Mr. Starkey's friends express their determination to go
to the poll.

Loss OP TIIREE FISHERMEN.—A very melancholy
accident happened at Blyth, a town eleven miles north of
the Tyne, on Monday. The weather had been very
boisterous and stormy on the Northumberland coast during
the previous week, with snow showers, but on Monday
morning it seemed to clear away. Two fishing boats put
out from Blyth in the morning, but had not been to sea
more than two hours when the storm came on again. They
put back. One boat got across the bar, but the second one,
in taking the bar, it is supposed in consequence of having
too much sail on, upset. A tug steam-boat put out to the
assistance of the men, but before it could reach them they
were drowned.
ROYAL SEA-BATHING INFlRMARY.—Yesterday the
half-yearly court of governors was held at the Lou-
don -Tavern; Mr. Warre in the chair. The minutes
of proceedings since the last half-yearly court were read
and confirmed, including the new rules (with the ex•
caption of Rule 4), which were agreed upon at the extraor-
dinary general court held last week. The only other busi-
ness transacted consisted in the appointment of the presi-
dent, vice-presidents, directors, and officers for the ensuing
year. Mr. Pugh, the Rev. Dr. Russell, Mr. Baker, Mr. P.
NV. Cobb, and Sir B. Br ea were added to the list of vice-
presidents. Of the old list of directors ten were unani-
mouslT re-elected, on the motion of the Rev. Mr. Hodgson.
Mr. Vi eller then proposed that Mr. Alsager, Mr. Coach-
man, Mr. J. Curling, Mr. Paul, and Mr. Rowsell be the re-
maining five; on which the Rev. Mr. Hodgson proposed
the following names instead : Mr. Tidd Pratt, Mr. W. R.
White, Mr. Skeene, Mr. It. A. Heath, and Mr. T. L. Do-
naldson. The latter list wan elected by a majority of 33 to
14. The old auditors were reappointed. Mr. White gave
notice of motion, for confirmation by the next general
court, to the effect that in future the governors be allowed
to veto by proxy. The Rev. Mr. Curling and Mr. J. Curl-
ing pretested against the proposition as a dangerous innova-
tion. Several of the governors having expressed a hope
that the proceedings of the charity would in future be con-
ducted with greater harmony than was heretofore the ease,
the meeting adjourned.
Goon FRIDAY IN LIVERPOOL—This day, together
with the next (Saturday), is intended to be kept by the
cotton merchants and share brokers of Liverpool as a holi-
day. The produce markets will also remain closed on the
above days. Owing to the usual Liverpool grain market
falling on the above date, the earn merchants hold no
second market this week.

FOREIGN MAILS DOW arrive at the General Post-
once at almost all hours of the night. As soon as flew, of
their approach to London reaches tbs. General Cast-office
from the outporta, by electric telegraph, a staff of clerks as
summoned by messengers, and the mail is got ready for dis-
tribution. By this arrangement the whole of the temp
mails arc delivered in Loudon and despatched by the morn-
ing wails, instead of being left behind, as was ota. n the case
when the former did not arrive in London before four er
five o'clock in the morning by the regular night mails.