The Express.
London, England, 1847-08-02 00:00:00

wily, it is nearly 20 years Ones I have hied anything to do
with twiner; and when were those cheeps at former eon.
tested elections ? (Hoar, hear.) They are Was, and I chat-
tier my accusers to the proof (Londeltien.) Well, then,
I my, that if the great mass of voters, who, admitting that
they knew nothing of me, were most unjustly and design.
ow:trammed against me, had pernaally asked me for
on, those who know ms wall say that t have
sever reftwed them on any public question. It is on these
geemais, I soy, that my defeat was not ettiumph of prin.
eepie bat an accident, for this and for other remoras which I
Maitak• the liberty to explain. I understand some very
goeloassemlieneen say that Mr. Hawn; voted for the May-
wood& grant, and that, for en doing, he is no longer eligible
to represent this borough. Why, Mr. Ilawft voted for that
goer every year for fifteen successive years, and the charge
:W. Twee Itouglit ageing him. (Cheers.) So much, then,
for the seal of those who allowed such question. to slumber
in my hands through four parliatneota, and only bring them
girth whin they think they will arouse prejudice and pea.
sins. To come to another point. Some of those reverend
gentlereen, of whom I wish to speak with all teepee?, but of
whom I will speak, say, " Mr. Hawes is not to be trusted
for a moment ; be voted for a grant of 100,0001. to educate
the people of England." What is my answer to that ? Be
silent, and I will tell this great meeting, who have not
always the opportunity of hearing the plain truth told them
in the face of day, defying contradiction. (Loud cheese.)
I'll tell you my answer. From the dissenters of London,
the preehyterians, the independent., and the baptists, repro-
entice a district twelve miles round us, I presented a petit
tins to the House of Commons, in 1839, when the education
question was first under discussion, and that petition made
the following prayer It began by stating that the voluntary
efforts of individuals had failed in sustaining the education
of the people, and prayed for parliamentary aid. It prayed
that that aid might be extended ; and lastly, it approved of
the system then introduced for the first time, celled the
minutes of the council of education, as " The meet liberal
wad comprehensive plan that had ever been proposed by any
minister." (Cheers.) And yet, this is the point upon which the
gentlemen who stand forward as the champagne of principle
attack one. But I must he just to them ; they have only done
their duty in opposing my return, if they considered it right
on principle to do so, and they have conducted their opposi-
tion u men, as gentlemen, and as christians. Well, gentle-
men, so much for the Maynooth grant and for e location.
it won't do.") I'll make it do before I have done. You
brought me up yourselves, I am one of you, have lived
among you all my life, and let me say as a conclusive answer
to the calumny to which I have alluded, that in my own im-
mediate neighbourhood, where I am best known, where I
have been discharging important 'public duties for 30 or 40
year., I am happy to say that I have a majority on the poll.
(Hear, hear.) There is another subject on which I am
anxious to say something. Since I was elected I have ac-
cepted office in connexion with the government. It has
been openly said that a man connected with the cavern-
aunt is not fit to represent a large constituency. (" No more
is he.") Is he not? Then I tell you you have east a
stigma on the gentlemen you have elected. What! are men
to be precludedimm the fruits of honourable ambition ;
from the chance of rising from a wide sphere of usefulness
to one still wider, in which they can at once serve the people
and assist in governing the empire ? What ! is the man of
the people, the man sprung from the middle claws, the man
reared in rade among you, never to aspire to a share in the
direction of affairs?? (Hear, hear.) Must such honour he
left to the nominee of rotten boroughs, or the heir to some
splendid title who has no service to show foe the honours
which providence has bestowed upon him ? (Loud cheer.)
One ground of this objection is that being in Offie 3 I am
deprived of the power of serving you. You have sanctioned
that opinion Ey your vote, and I now beg you to consider the
mounds of your opposition. Was I not to take the post,
if honourable, which was offered to my? (No.) Let
those gentlemen who say " No" give me Nome valid
reason. Was I not fairly entitled to connect myself with
the government, which had ever been in the van of that
progress of public liberty which has been ateadi'y going on
during the last re) years s Why, if I had joined another
government if I had gone back on my principles—left
my party—you might have some just cause of complaint ;
but I here officially joined those I had ever joined in public
life, and that connexion you have in mum/wave contested
elections recognised. On that sanction I fall back for doing
what I have done; and I say that, on all the questionl
have enumerated, there has been no true verdict against me.
am not here to 'venetian of your verdict, but of course to
submit. You have exercised your undoubted right, and, in
listening to me as you have done, you have done me ample
justice. (Hear, hear.) I have little more to say. lam happy
that my right honourable friend retains the place in your
favour which he has so long enjoyed ; and I hope, also, that
the honourable gentleman, whom you have placed in so die.
tinguished a position on the p will deserve the high
honour that hoe been conferred. I am no• going to complain
of him or to enter into the squabbles of committee-rooms;
not I. I treat them as the idle wind of an election day,
which may pass away and safely be forgotten. I hope you
have obtained members who will faithfully represent your
opinions, and do one thing more which I have done, end that
is,arholly to stand against you if they think you are wrong
(Cheers.) For I never have, never will, pander to popular
prejudice for the sake of floating along on it to public favour.
(Loud cheers.) Yes, I s iy, that while you have honourable
and able men to represent you, I hope they will be patriots in
the best sense of the word—true friend. of the people,
ready to assist them when they are right, to instruct them
when they are wrong, and to lay down their honours at any
time, if they cannot conscientiously retain them. (Loud
cheers.) Gentlemen, a friend whispers " Something about
the ingratitude of the electors of Lambeth." (" Don't throw
stones.") I 'moot going todo so. (Laughter.) The elec•
tors have a perfect right to anew ; the choice ha. not fallen
on me, and I bow to the decision ; but I here tell you that
if by any man, clam, or bed y, public or private, my humble
aid or assistance be required', that aid shall be as fully arid
freely given in a private station as ever it was in a public one.
(Loud cheers.) I now come to a conclusion, I heartily
bid you farewell. I have no desire to disturb the teats of
the sitting members while they deserve your confidence. I
do not know how soon there may be another election. My
right bon. friend hopes it may ba in three years.
Perhaps the wish is father to the thought ; but come when
it will, I shall be guided wholly and entirely by the advice
of that great body of electors who have tendered me their
honourable support. I think you for your kind and candid
hearing, and I can assure you I go in no anger whatever
against the borough or a single individual. Permit me, in
parting, to say that I hope and trust your local interests,
general prosperity, happiness, and welfare will be attended
to as sedulously as, with all humility, they have been by the
humble individual who now respectfully bids you farewell.
(The hon. gentleman withdrew amid ouch loud and general
cheering as indicated a complete revulsion of feeling in the
vast meeting.)
Thanks were then voted to Mr. Onslow, the returning
officer, for his able and impartialconduct, and the proceed--
infixof the Lambeth election terminated,