The Express.
London, England, 1853-03-29 00:00:00

HUDDERSFIELD ELECTION.

Up to the present time, says our correspondent,
there is only one candidate befire the electors—Mr. J.
Starkey, an influential nienufmeturee of Huddersfield. In
his address he avows himself • thorough free•trader, an ad•
vocete for an extension of the suffrage, of so.ns national
system of 'duration, and declares himself a convert to the
ballot. Mr. Winans, who was defested at the last election
by the treating and bribery of Mr. Stansfieltrs friends, is
strongly urged to appose Mr. Starkey, but in consequence
of what took piece in London during the examination
before the parliamentary committee, Mr. Willans
doubts whether he can with honour comply with
the wishes of the elector.. There is no doubt that
Mr. Willans would be the popular candidate, although
in polities his opinions are much the same as those avowed
by Mr. Starkey; the only essential difference being on the
question of elocation ; but this is not to be made a point of
difference in the approaching election. Mr. Willans. on
Saturday, issued an address to the electors, in which Le
says--
"At the meeting held in the Philosophical Hall, on
Wednesday evening last, by an almost unanimous vote, you
invited me again to become • candidate (or the representa-
tion of the borough, and yin declared that I was bound in
honour and consistency to accept the invitation. Since the
election in July last, at which I was defeated bye small
majority, obtained by means which • committee of the
House of Commons has unveiled, reprobated, and exposed
to the special notice of psrliament, I have never concealed,
but have frequently expressed, my determination nut
again to become a candidate. It is, however, urged that a
number of subscribers to the fend for petitioning against
the last return paid their money under the impression that
I should be willing to replace the unseated member; and
I should be sorry indeed should it be supposed that
I am insensible to obligations arising from such • source.
I should, therefore, at once have accepted the call
which you made upon me, and should at once have placed
myself at the disposal of the electors present, provided
that both they and I could have felt satisfied that I had
not precluded myself from coming forward at the ensuing
election without a breach of honour. The case was this:
With the sole and exclusive object of preventing the ao-
muse and irritation of going into the:petition against myself
before the committee sf the House of Commons (which
petition, so far as I was concerned, was perfectly ground-
less) I authorised a friend of mine to assure Mr. Starkey
that I should not rani for the borough at the next election.
I, however, strictly prohibited:my friend from making my
not standing the condition of giving up their recriminatory
proceedings. The recriminatory proceedings were given up,
but whether the power of recrimination was worth any-
thing!' or whether, if worth anything, it was really given up
in consequence of my communication, is very uncertain.
After learning from Mr. Barrett, solicitor, the p• rticulars
of the case, the meeting concluded that I might honour-
ably accept their call, and that I ought to do so.
I should, as I expressed, have felt far more confidence
in the decision of the question by some other tribunal ;
and in giving way to the call made upon mo to become •
candidate, I was not influenced solely by the decision ufthe
meeting. I was in possession of a positive assurance on
which I was bound to place great reliance, that Mr.
Starkey had generously set me quite at liberty to do as I
pleased with reference to the election. Before, however,
issuing an address, or taking any other active measures, I
thought it my duty to endeavour to ascertain from Mr.
Starkey himself that his intentions had not been misunder-
stood. For this purpose I deep:nee d a letter to Thorp
Arch yesterday. I have waited for the answer until it is
time to send this address to the press, and it hes not ar-
rived. I would glad: y have waited another day, if I could
have done so with due regard to the just expectations
of the oonstitueney. At this hour I will not say more
than that my opinions upon political questions remain
the same essentially as when I had last the honour to
address you. The abeolcte necessity of the ballot in
Huddersfield has been strikingly demonstrated by re-
cent disclosures: and it will be the duty of your repre-
sentative to endeavour earnestly to obtain the exteesiou of
the boundaries of the borough, and an additional member.
In concluding this hasty address, permit me to say, that
those who think I can come forward at this election with
propriety, and can serve them with advantage, will find me
grateful (or their support and ready for their service. In
the prospect of a contest, which I have been wishful to
avoid, by referring the choice of a candidate to a meeting
of the electors, I have evinced my disposition for peace,
and I pledge myself to discourage, as much as in my power,
every deed and expression calculated to excite bitterness
and strife. Having no personal objects to attain by a seat
in parliament, my only wish will De that the borough may
return the representative who can best promote its inte-
rests. . " WILLIAM WILLA/IS."
P.B. Since writing the above, Mr. Starkey's answer has
reached me, and I regret to find that its contents differ
materially from the statements on which I had relied. This
discrepancy places me in painful emharramment. For the
present, however, I have no alternative but to send what I
have written to the preen, and to assure the electors that I
will strictly adhere to an honourable emus*, and will strive
to discover W.—Huddersfield, March 25, 1853."
Mr. Starkey is looked upon as the nominee of the party
who seek to uphold the Ranisden interest in Hudderefeld,
and on that ground be is objectionable. Then, again, his
supporters refuse to abide by the decision of a general
meeting of liberal electors as to the choice of a candidate,
and this alone may necessitate a contest. Should Mr.
Witless ultimately decline to be a candidate, it is said that
some other gentleman will be called out. Lord Godericb,
one of the unseated members for Hull, has been mentioned
as likely.

BLACKBURN ELECTION.

KORB RIOTS, AND THB MILITARY RB CALLED.

The election terminated, or was supposed to have
terminated. on Thursday evening, and the military were
discharged, and departed en the following morning to
Burnley. The feelings of hatred and revenge engendered,
however, by the contest, unhappily outlived the ordinary
time, and on Saturday evening soma very serious disturb-
ances again took place. It appears that in Blathbuth there
are about eighty Scotchmea who make their living by tra-
velling with drapery and groceries, and the whole of these
parties voted for Fielders, the liberal candidate, on the
morning of the election ; and what gave more umbrage to
the other party than the simple feet itself was, that having
to leave town early in the morning of Thursdaythey all
voted nearly at the Name time, thus giving the liberal can.
didate the lave majority he obtained at the opening
of the poll. The houses of these Scotehmen were
the first selected fur attack on Saturday night.
It was a dark night, and the gas lamps not being
lighted (a moon being calculated upon by the authorities),
marauders of this kind were much favoured by the state of
the weather. Several houses were attacked between 8 end
9 o'clock, and their windows and shutter+ were completely
smashed in by the Hornbyite, or conservative, partisans.
About half-past 7 Mr. James Johnston, son of Mr. James
Johnston, Lark-hill, a liberal voter, was attacked in Penny-
street with brickbats and bludgeons. The young man ran
into the hones of Mr. Smith, ironmonger, for refuge, but
his assailants followed him there, and he was beaten with a
poker in Mr. Smith's house till the scalp at the back of his
head was frightfully lacerated, and he had dropped in a
state of insensibility. He is still alive, but in a dangerous
state. Another Scotchman during one of these attacks
fired upon the mob, and wounded one of the ruffians with a
quantity of small shot, eleven of which had yesterday been
extracted. The man is not dangerously hurt. The
riots continued until a late hour, but the small po-
lice force at Blackburn could not deal with a mub
whose movements from spot to spot were rapid, and the
military had to be sent for by the magistrates. A company
of the 4th Regiment arrived about eleven o'clock, but there
was then no occasion to act. The town was yesterday
(Monday) in considerable excitement, and 400 epeciel con-
stables were beimc sworn in by the magistrates. A man
taken in one of the riots was brought before the magistrates
and bound over for prosecution at the sessions.
The magistrates were taking other measures for insuring
the peace of the borough, and had yesterday issued the
following circular to the millowners and other large em-
ployers of labour:

" I have to request that you will use your personal in-
fluence with the workmen in your employ, to induce them
to abstain from assembling in groups, either in thestrees or
public-houses, and to maintain perfect sobriety, as by such
conduct they will afford the best assistance to the magis-
trates in preserving the peace of the borough. To secure
this result I respectfully request you will address your
hands to the above effect before they leave their work to-
morrow morning."

ELECTION PETITIONS WITIIIntAWN.—NOtietiI have
been given that it is not intended to proceed with the peti-
tions in the following cares:—Tipperary, Knaresborough
(defence of return of B. T. Wuodd), Southampton (return
of Mr. Cochrane), Westmeath, and Meath.