The Express.
London, England, 1847-07-29 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 29, 1847.

to see in mixed political questions what was right,
and never to depart from it. But be would tell them
what ought rather to shake public confidence In public men--
it was when public men bad not courage to change their
course when convinced of their error. It would subject this
country to peril if public men were to say, " We will steel
our minds against conviction—we will disregard the progress
of public opinion—. we will listen night after night to debates
in parliament, and, having bad out ears open to what is said
on our own side, we will close them to all that may be said
upon the otber,and we &rep:waived that not alone en questions
of religious or constitutional policy, but on mere questions of
trade we will adhere firmly to our own opinions ; that we
will nail our colours to the mast; and that whatever may be
the change of opinion, whatever may be the weight of ergo.
raeni, we rather than change, will sink with the sinking
ship. (Cheert.) That was no doubt the way to conciliate
the good will of a party, and to telly round the minister
those who looked to party interests as the first conaiderit'oca•
To change an opinion for the purpose of maintaining power,
or for party purposes, was to bring dishonour on a public man ;
but if he (Sir It.) had changed his opinion, he had changed it
in favour of the interests of those who could make him no
other return than that of their silent gratitude. If he had
changed his opinions, he had renounced the goodwill of the
powerful. By a contrary course, he could have maintained
himself in power ; he could have combated the Anti-corn-
law League fur four or five yearn; and if he had lost power,
it was because he had conscientiously believed that the mode
by which he could have retained it was injurious to the inte-
rests of the empire. Mr. Huskisson, the author of the sliding.
scale, had changed his opinions on the subject of the corn-
laws more than once. And a statesman for whom he had
the greatest respect the noble lord who had suc-
ceeded him in power— had, in the year lBi2, se-
vere)y censured those who laidi the foundation for subvert-
ing the principles of the corn bill altogether and introducing
foreign corn at all times into the market, and said, " That if
foreign corn were admittsd, even if we had scarcely any
taxes to pay, it would not be easy for the farmers of Eng-
land, who required to lire in a certain degree of respect-
ability and comfort, to compete with the lords of Poland and
Russia, whose vassal peasantry were unacquainted with the
wants of a civilised state."—Yet, in 1816, when
his attention had been drawn to the potato disease
in Ireland, he was of a different opinion. In his letter
from Edinburgh, in that year, Lord J. Russell said
the struggle to make bread scarce and dear, when it is clear
that part at least of the additional price goes to increase rent,
is a struggle deeply injurious to an aristocracy, which (this
quarrel once removed), is strong in property, strong in opi-
nion, strong in ancient associations, and the memory of irn. '
mortal service,. Let us, then, unite to put an end to a
system which has been proved to be the blight of commerce,
the bane of agriculture, the source of bitter divisions among
classes, the cause of penury, fever, mortality, and crime
amongst the people." Having dilated to some length on the
advantages of free trade amongst nations, illustrated by
the free interchange of commodities between towns, the
right hon. baronet concluded by a powerful appeal to the
principles of free-trade as being far better calculated than
the vain glories of war, or the lust of conquest, to promote
the happiness and welfare of mankind. He was loudly
cheered on resuming his seat.
Mr. W. Y. PEEL explained his opinions, which coincided
with those of his right hon. relative, and expressed himself
favourable to the application of the surplus revenues of the
church to the increase of small stipends.
No other candidate appearing, the mayor declared Sir R.
Peel and Mr. W. Y. Pet I duly elected.

LIVERPOOL.
Ten o'clock yesterday morning was appointed 17 the
mayor for the nomination of candidates to represent Liver-
pool in parliament. As all parties, however, had agreed to
avoid election display, there was neither music nor proces-
, sins.

Sir THOMAS BIRCH was received with mingled cheers and
hisses, and a slight waving of hats. He said that he had
been connected in some degree with their affairs, and there-
fore he looked with confidence to their support. He be-
longed to that party, a liberal party, whose motto was pro•
gramme legislation. (Cheers.) The object of that legisla-
tion had been to extend our commercial intercourse—to re-
duce taxation—to ameliorate the criminal code—to effect for
the people reform in parliament, and also give them a
system of education, by which the morals of the people,
their social improvement might be promoted. He had been
asked if he would support a property-tax instead of
the income-tax. His answer was, that he should, with
all his heart, although be himself should suffer. As to the
endowment of the Roman catholic clergy, he thought
there was a sort of armoury somewhere where election cries
were treasured up. The present cry had come in with Mr.
Pitt, and had been treasured up for forty-seven years ' • and
it had served the purposes of a certain party, when there
was no better cry, to go to the box, and bring out this.
(Laud laughter.) The Roman catholic clergy was divided
into classes, and it was impossible that the lower class could
be included in the grant. It must not be suplesed that
he had any disrespect to his Roman catholic fellow-
countrymen. There was no one in Liverpool who could not
bear testimony to the patience and drudgery of the Irish la-
bourer. In regard to the navigation laws, they had been
revised again and span. He did not understand their
details, nor had he yet found any gentleman in town who did.
Their niterest and his were closely bound, and he should be
happy at every time to consult their interest. All his pre-
dilections were worthy the people of Liverpool. His grand.
father was a merchant here, his father was also a shipowner,
and a great deal of what he possessed was also derived from
the same source. (Applause.)
Sir DIORY MACAWORTH next stood forward, but amidst
the cheering of his friends and the booting of his opponents,
not two consecutive sentences reached the reporters.
Lord JOHN MANNERS then came forward, and was re-
ceived with several rounds of cheering, with Kentish fire.
As soon as sileace Gould be obtained he remarked that the
acute researches and the literary tastes of those gentlemen
who have acted as friends to some of my competitors, and
the untiring energy of their bill-stickers in this town, have
already placed the great body of the Liverpool people in
possession of all his demerits. It has been said, continued
his lordship, that, when a younger man, I published
some poems, of which the sentiment was some-
times faulty, and of which the taste was some-
times bad, and of which the poetry was worse still. It has
been said that in other publications I have expressed with
ovemfranknees my opinions and my principles on various
subjects ; and it has been said I have not the honour of being
a native of this great town, and that I have not the staid
satisfaction of having passed the grand climacteric.
(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I admit all this, and own
it demands explanation and apology. The explanation
that I have to give is, that older and better men than
myself have written indifferent poetry. That, perhaps,
in public life, more mischief comes from an over-desire
to conceal one's thoughts than from an over-hastiness in
üblishiag them ; and, I believe, that when I, a native of
Leicestershire, am seeking your suffrages, you, the people of
Liverpool have no right to complain, for a native of your
great town is now seeking the suffrages and soliciting the
support of the constituency of Leicester. (Loud cheers.) I
suppose it is the Spirit of commercial freedom which has in-
vited Sir Joshua Walmsley to solicit their suffrages, and has
brought me here to address you. (Cheers.) But, gentle-
men, it is not upon these private, personal, petty grounds
that I came here. I come to vindicate great public princi-
ples; and I ask you to throw away these minor eon-
siderations, and decide this election upon public princi- '
ples and upon public interests alone. (Cheers.) As
one of that great constitutional party which for 200 years
has studied, through good report and through evil
report the best interests of the people of this country, I
ask you now to say whether you are prepared to support the
national party of England and a national policy, or whether
you are prepared to give in your adhesion to a policy which
would make no difference between the interest of Prussia
and the interest of England, or if you will support a system
of legislation which has promoted the social, physical, and
intellectual improvement of the people of England, or will
you give in your adhesion to the system which is founded
on the dogmas of an experimental philosophy. As a test
of this gnat argument, I will take the question of the
navigation-laws. We regard the navigation-laws as a code
which have provided honourable. employment for great
masses of the industrious English population, as laws
which have secured IL magnificent mercantile marine for
this country, and in securing that mercantile marine have
afforded for ages a nursery and storehouse for the tailors
who man our English fleets and our English navies in
times of war and danger. (Loud cheers.) We say that
we aro perfectly aware that the navigation-laws are in
theory and in practice highly repugnant to the philosophy
of the political economists, although I know it will be said
that free trade may be compatible with the existence of the
navigation-laws. I know it may be said that it is only free
imports of corn, cotton, and cattle that a great party in this
country are disposed to consider as free trade. (Hear) I
will take, for instance, the town of Coventry—and we heard
a geed deal at Coventry about free trade. They were for
fete trade in corn ; but when they found out that free trade
meant the free importation of French ribbons. they sent up
to London to remonstrate against that which they thought
would be their ruin ; and, what is remarkable, the gentlemen
from the town of Peeping Tom were successful in their re-
monstrance, and Coventry is protected by a duty against
that dreaded French invasion. But the people of this
country have been labouring under tome delasion in this
matter. I have no desire to uphold enormous and oppres-
sive duties. No such thing. (Cheers.) I wish to see a
truly national commercial policy which thinks it right and
fitting to take moderate duties on foreign produce and
foreign manufactures, and by the help of the revenue thus
created, to repeal exorbitant and oppressive duties which
cramp the energies et oar own iedustrial population.
Now we have not heard much lately upon the subject of
the big loaf and the little loaf. (Loud laughter.)
But we heard a twelvemonth ago of a most beau-
tiful picture drawn by the prime mirister of this
country, which was reproduced the other day before the
electors of the City of London: in one corner a farmer
of the Ohio is seen looking with satisfaction at the
surplus producer of his farm, and, in another corner, is dis-
covered a Manchester manufacturer gazing upon his super-
fluous productions that were to clothe the Ohio farmer in
return for his corn. This is indeed the feature of broad
Utopia, in spite of broad Atlantic. (Laughter). And now, is
it not the fact, that the corn of the Ohio has been paid for
not by English manufactures, but by English `old?
Five years ago, I heard Mr. Irving, one or the greatest and
shrewdest of English merchants ay—" People may ray what
they please about this barter between England and Ainerith,
but I know enough of America to know that nothing but
gold will be taken in return for our manufactures. Now,
merchants and practical men of Liverpool, I ask you, is it
true that the exports of English manufactures have not in-
creased in consequence of the repeal of the enro•laws ? Is
it true, or is it false, that far the first five months of
1435 the exports of cotton manufacture' amounted to
10,300,000 i. in round numbers, and in the first five
I months of let; they had dwindled down to 9,820,000/. ?
I I will ask, had not a similar reduction takeu plane

in the value of linens and woollens exported ? I will leave
it for others is answer the question. (Loud cheers )
I say we are not prepared, and I never said I was prepared,
to re-impose heavy duties on any article. I have told
you that I am most anxious to reduce to a moderate
amount the outrageous duties upon tea and upon tobacco ;
and I believe that, by a wise and systematic tariff—by
placing some lo per cent., for instance, upon the manu-
factures of France and of other countries, and by carry-
ing out a system of modern import duties of that nature—
we can raise a sufficient revenue to permit us gradually to
modify and then to repeal those anomalous and vexatious
laws which at present make a poor man pay 2d. a pot more
for his beer and 2. per pound for his tobacco than he would
otherwise pay, and that which warps and fetters the industry
of our own people. (Cheers.) On the subject of religion
and religious convictions I must trespass for a moment on ;
your time. Great and injurious suspicions prevail upon this ;
subject. No one is more att:.ched thzr. I em to the church of
Engl2:.e., tier forr,iularies, and her discipline. During the
short time I have been in parliament I have suppoited every
measure which was brought forward for the surceased
efficiency of the church of England. I hear in the
crowd the word "endowment." Should • national endow-
ment of the Roman catholic church in Ireland out
of the funds of the established church be proposed
—and everybody doubted that—or out of the consoli-
dated fund, or out of • tax levied compulsory on
the land in Ireland, that proposition I will heartily
oppose. (Loud cheers.) I agree with one of the
speakers who has previously addressed you, that you must
almost be sick of hearing these questions discussed and de-
bated; but I have now told you fully end frankly tay
opinions on that subject. (Loud and continued cheering.)
Now, gentlemen, I owe you an apology for saying so much
upon the matter of self; for, after all, gentlemen, it was
not to gratify any personal wish or vanity of my own that
I came to Liverpool, but to tight a great battle, in
which f believe the interests of every man in
Liverpool is concerned. (Cheers.) It is fought by IMO,
though fought by a most inefficient and experienced soldier
—(" no, no,") ; and I ask you now, if you believe my
heart is in the right place, if you believe that system
of national policy which I have endeavoured briefly to
sketch out, is that policy which is most conducive to the late-
eats of all classes of this great community—(a voice " no!"
responded to by cries of "yes, yes")—if you think the
church of England ought to be permitted to increase her effi-
ciency, so as to meet the increased spiritual wants of the
people—if you think a policy should be adopted and sanc-
tioned which places in the van of the duties of government
attentions the physical, the material, and the social wants
of the people —if you are not disposed to place everything
at the mercy of • new angled system of political philo-
sophy (laughter) if you are opposed to that system
of a centralised bureaucracy, and new fangled depart-
ments of state —if you think the old immemorial
local and parochial ins'itutions of the country,
and these which have tended most to make this great
English nation the independent, the energetic, and the active
nation ebe has become—then, gentlemen, although I fairly
and fully admit my own great personal deficiencies, I ask
you to disregard them, and to give me your suffrages to.
morrow—(applause)—and to enlist under that glorious and
triumphant blue banner which for many years, on so many
contested eleetisns, has waved in triumph over the docks
and quays of this great emporium of commerce and of trade.
(His lordship retired amid loud and protracted applause.)
Mr. CARDWELL next presented himself, and was received
amid great applause. After a few preliminary remarks, he
said he rejoiced that the phraseology of party had fallen into
something of disuse but he would endeavour to state plainly
the grounds upon which he had ventured to ask for their
suffrages. They had been referred to a beautiful picture,
in which they were told the farmer of Ohio was on the
one side of the water and the operative of Manchester on
the o:her,rejoicing in the interchange of the produce and the
manufactures of each other. Of commerce, no lees truly
than of mercy, it might be said, it was twice blessed, its
quality was not strained,—it blessed both he who gave
and he who received. He thought, however, the picture was
not complete. If they had drawn it in this part of the world
there would have been a third person of considerable import-
ance introduced. They would have placed the farmerofohioon
one side, and operative of Manchester on the other, with the
merchant, the shipowner, the shipwright, and the artisan of
Liverpool in the centra; they who were the means of trans-
ferring the coin of Ohio to the industrious operative of Man-
chester, and *ho transferred the produce of Manchester to
the families of Oh'o, and who derived maintenance and
we ilth by the reasonable payment for doing so. He had been
perfectly astonished when he heard, at this particular junc-
ture, theiparticular question was selected for the advocacy of
the restrictive principle. They laboured under an unprece-
dented scarcity of corn and of cotton, two of the direst visit-
ations to which a country like ours could be subjected. Yet
much as they had suffered, no other nation had been so
greatly blessed, in commanding the granaries of the western
world (Applause.) It had been said, on the other hand,
that our exports had fallen off. Of course they had in some
degree; but let him ask them in what degree? The gen-
tlemen about him would be able to tell him the figures—but,
he might venture to say, not a tenth of the exports had
fallen off. (Hear.) Had the noble lord (Lord J. Manners),
taken the pains to analyse these export+ ?—to nay bow much
of the falling off were due to the impoverishment of other
countries like ourselvei. A more conclusive case in reference,
to extending our commonly.' intercourse with those countries
—to substitute the cloth manufactures of England for the
corn of America, could not by possibility have been given.
Prejudice had been attempted to be excited against him upon
the supposition that he meditated a change in the navigation
laws prejudicial to their Interests. He had given upon every
occasion the most impressive negative to this. Would they
be blinded by a cry, or would they be guided by facts. (Cries
of "facts.") He reposed in their judgment with the meet
perfect confidence, and felt assured they would look with
pleasure upon the adoption of the measures which had
tended to increase their commercial prosperity, and benefit
so materially the shipping trade of Liverpool ; and
seeing him with the chairman of their docks upon his
right hand, and the chairman of the shipowners associa-
tion on his left, they would know by the company he
kept that he was sincere in the advocacy of their commertial
prosperity. (Applause.) Hie gallant predecessor (Sir Digby)
hadsaid the proper way to extend their commercial prosperity
WAS to make a railway from one side of India to the other.
(Much laughter.) He (Mr. Cardwell) would be glad to see
a railway from one side to the other; but he should not be
content to wait for the amplification of our commercial re-
sources, for the increase of our commercial prosperity, until
the mouatains of Tebit should be tunnelled, and until
the vast plains of the Inc us should be embanked. (Tre-
mendous applause.) So much for the commercial principle.
He would ask them plainly whether they were for going
backwards or forwards? (Cries of "Forwards!") Gentle-
men (said Mr. Cardwell), the varlet of the state rides upon a
stormy element, and has to conflict with much danger ' • by
the blessing of God upon the skill that guides her, and the
energeticel hands that man her, give her sea-room and she
must be safe. There are two things she must not do, she
must not be allowed to make sternway, or suffered to
take ground upon any of the shoals of prejudice.
I (Applause.) These were - his commercial principles,
and upon them he would stand or fall. (Loud
cheers.) Mr. Cardwell then made allusion to the comple.
mentary terms made in reference to him by Mr. Earle, which
called forth tremendous confusion, and great tumult ensued.
If, in the order of divine providence, he was pleased that a
large sandbank should be formed at the mouth of the Mersey,
they would think it the severest trial that could be inflicted
—would they, then, he would ask, allow parliament to frame
laws by which the great estuary of that noble river should be
effectually closed to free trade? (Much cheering.) He came,
knowing the difficulty ho laboured under, to offer himself to
represent this great town, and he begged leave to thank the
electors for the patient and candid hearing which he had
received.

An ELECTOR here asked for Mr. Cardwell'e opinion on
the endowment question, which was met by cries from the
opposite party of " Bring Sir Digby forward."
Mr. CARDW SILL, however, came forward, and said that the
course he had adopted was, that be would not intrude his
sentiments, but, on being asked, would not withhold them.
He bed stated to hundreds what he had stated to thousands,
that he did not approve of it, but not being asked, he thought
it his duty to maks as little reference as possible. (Cries
of " the Peel shuffle.") He was not easily intimidated, cad
he stated it with plainness. (Cries of " Let Sir Digby route
forward, and "No, no.") There were some who called
" No," who appeared to him to resemble the mutes in an
Eastern tyrant's train, who reserved their breath to strangle
others. He would make this remark, in conclusion, though
he appeared before them young, he would, he hoped, lire to
see the pesio.l when religion. feeling would no longer be ex-
ercised to influence elections. (" Heir, hear," and cheers.)
Mr. HARDY, L. an elector, then asked Sir Digby Mark-
worth if he would be prepared to vote, if returned, for the
removal of the remaining diaabilities on the Roman Catholics.
—Sir Digby : No, sir.
Mr. D. HODSON then rose and put a similar question to
Mr. Cardwell.—Mr. Cardwell said he had already stated that
he would vote for the removal of all obsolete and offensive
penalties. (" Hee?, hear," and cheers.)
Mr. 1101)080x endeavoured again to put a question to Mr.
Cardwell, but could not succeed, from the commotion which
ensued.—The mayor here interposed, and said that when, at
the commencement, he allowed any question to be put, he
distinctly stated that it must be clearly expressed, and the
answer requird a decided " Yes" or " Igo."
Mr. J. SMITH asked Lord J. Manners whether he was
prepared to vote for the removal of these disabilities. Lord
J. Manner Quite prepared.
WOODROOFR asked Mr. Cardwell if he was prepared
to vote fur the endowment of the Roman Catholic church,
either out of the funds of the state or otherwise ? Mr.
Cardwell said that he did net approve of it, and therefore he
would not vote for it. . _ _

The MATOR then called for a chow of hands, which was
declared in favour of Sir. T. B. Birch and Sir Digby Mack-
worth, and adjourned the meeting until to-morrow morning
at S o'clock.

DUDLEY.

The nomination took place yesterday. Lord Ward's in-
fluence predominates; and the general expectation was that
Mr. Benbow, his lordship's nominee, would base bein re-
elected without oppoei'ion, but the chartists brought for-
ward a candidate at the latest hour. After the usual
ceremonials had been gone through, the Rev. Dr. Brown
stepped forward and put Mr. Benbow in nomination. The
grounds upon which be asked for a renewal of the confi-
dence of the constituency for the hon. gentleman were, that
he had given them a new burial-ground, which (be said)
was the best gift Dudley ever had; that he had been the
means of various school-houses being erected; that he had
been instrumental in providing accommodation for the
magistrates, and for the public as well. [The rev. gentle-
man referred to the erection of a now gaol.] Further, he
declared that Mr. Benbow was ready to do as they asked
him—to sacrifice his own feelings to their wishes; and to
leave any thing undone which they asked him to leave
undone; in short, said the doctor, "he will vote

3

for anything." —Mr. Cornelius Cartwright seconded
this nomination ; after which Mr. Cooke, a chartist, came
forward, and put in nomination Mr. Joseph Linney, an ope-
rative of Bilston.*: This was seconded by en elector named
• Parsons ' and theteupon a warm altercation took place be-
tween the chartist candidate and the returning officer, the
latter objecting to allow the former to address the electors
unless be produced his property qualification. Ultimately
the officer gave way, and it was agreed that Mr. Linney
should be allowed to speak. Thereupon Mr. Beabow came
forward and proceeded to addreu the electors; but as the
hon. gentleman could not speak louder than a whisper, Dr.
Brown undertook to repeat aloud every sentence be uttered
This was proactive of a ludicrous mistake or two. In ono
part of him speech, Mr. Benbow remarked that he should en-
deavour to promote the trade of the town: his expositor
bawled oat, "He'll vote for railways to go everywhere."
This was too mush for the honourable gentleman,
so the Doctor explained. There was little in Mr.
Benbow'e speech worth reporting. He said, he was in
favour of the established church, but friendly to religious
liberty. He declared himself ready to vote for all measures
which might have a tendency to promote the trade of the
country, and to ameliorate the condition of the people ; that
he was opposed to any grant of money to the college of Msy-
nooth ; in favour of the gradual removal of all duties, and of
a more equitable system of taxation. He denied that he
was the nominee of Lord Ward, and concluded by declaring
his complete abhorrence of the doctrines of the chartists.—
Mr. Linney neat addressed the electors in advocacy of the" six
points." A scene of considerable uproar ensued, in the midst of
which a show of hands was taken, which the returning-officer
declared to be in favour of Mr. Linney. A poll was then
demanded on behalf of Mr. Benbow; but the chartist can-
didate not being provided with the funds to pay his share of
the expenses, Mr. Benbow was declared elected, amidst
groans and laughter. The proceedings thereafter terminated.
—Mr. Benbow was elected four years ago as a tory and a
protectionist; but having supported Sir Robert Peel's mea-
sure', he succeeded in conciliating the respectable members
of the liberal party in the town, to which fact may be attri-
buted his unopposed return on :his occasion.

WWAN.
The proceedings yesterday resulted in the return of the
Hon. Col. J. Lindsay (one of the former members), and
Mr. Thicknease, an extensive coal proprietor in the ntigh-
bonrhood. Mr. Crosse, a tory, who was unseated after the
election of 1841, retired front the field last night, finding
that from the state of his canvass there were no hopes for
him. A mere formal opposition was offered in the nomination
of Mr. Dixon, a charust, whereby an opportunity was given
him to enunciate the principles of chartism, which he did at
considerable length. The show of hands from about 5,000
people assembled in the market-place, fronting the Town-
hell, was almost unanimously in his favour; about two-thirds
held up their hands for Mr. Thieknease ; and not more than
100 for Col. Lindsay. A poll wax then demanded on behalf
of the bon. colonel, which was accepted on the part of Mr.
Thicknesse, but declined by Mr. Dixon.