The Express.
London, England, 1866-10-02 00:00:00

BRECON ELECTION.

The nomination for the borough of Brecon, with
Llywel, took place yesterday amidst unusual excitement.
This election, it will be remembered, arose in consequence ,
of the death of Lord Camden, and the oonsequent eleva-
tion of the Earl of Brecknock to the house of peers. The
candidates were Mr. /towel Gwyn, in the conservative
interest, and Lord Alfred Churchill in the liberal interest.
Party spirit runs very high, as was pretty clearly mani-
fested by the character of the proceedings. The
Guildhall was packed long before 12 o'clock, and the crowd
was very uproarious up to the commencement of and
throughout the proceedings.
The writ having been read, and the MAYOR (Mr.
Prothero) having addressed the ineetthg,
Colonel Pzancs, K.C.8., proposed Mr. }towel Gwyn as
a fit and proper person to represent the borough of Brecon
and town of LlyweL Mr. G. CAURICK seconded the
nomination.
Dr. Lewis then proposed Lord A. Churchill. Mr. W.
Ds WrirroN seconded the nomination.
Mr. GWYN addressed the electors. Having expressed
his sympathy with the family of Lord Camden for the loss
they had sustained he went on to observe that the only
question of importance which excited the public mind at
the present moment was the vexed question of reform.
He should give • cordial but independent support to the
'armament of Lord Derby. Of course whether a reform
bill was to be received or not depended on the present
government: but should they bring a measure forward no
doubt it would be a safe one, one that ought to satisfy
every one, as no doubt it would do, except the member for
Birmingham and the other democrats of that school, with
probably • few members of the late government, who fan-
cied that no reform bill ought to preened from any ono but
themselves. (Applause hisses.) He ahould give a fair
consideration to any measure of this sort, feeling that
reform to be just must be safe. He would give a vote to
the well-conducted and educated working man, who by
steadiness and sobriety showed himself worthy of it. He
maintained that any one who was respectable, and savinl
and industrious, might secure the franchise for bimse't,
by taking • piece of land on a long lease and
building a house upon it. Great credit had been taken
by Mr. Gladstone and his party for being the fiends of
the working men, but he should like to know who had
ever shown a greater sympathy for them than the conser-
vative party of this country. What had. Mr. Bright or
the Longue ever done for them to improve their social and
Moral oondition? Mr. Gwyn added that be was in favour
of • policy of non-intervention in the affairs of foreign na-
tions, except where the honour and dignity of this country
was concerned, and he expressed his belief that Lord
Stanley would thoroughly carry out this policy. He was
also for strict economy in the administration of public de-
partments. and especially in the navy, where for years
p....5t the greatest recklessness and extravagance had pre-
vailed, but at the same time he would not advocate a
" penny wins and pound foolish" policy, but world main-
tain our army and navy in full efficiency. In conclusion,
be was in favour of • mooed education of the working
classes, but would not consent to confining it to a secular
education alone—it ought to be combined with religion.
Lord A. CHURCHILL then addressed the electors, and
war .iking when our report was necessarily despatched,
to catah the last train to London. His lordship
advocated the total abolition of church rates as the only
remedy for settling a question which he says is calculated
to continue the bitterness which exists between the Church
of England and the nonconformists. As to reform, he
considers the growing intelligence of the working classes
justifies their claim to a larger participation in the fran-
chise than they have hitherto enjoyed, and, if elected, be
would support any measure for effecting this obi: et which
may meet with the approval of the liberal party.
It was with great difficulty that either candidate could
obtain • hearing. Great excitement prevailed, and we
learn by telegraph that a poll was demanded, and f tad for
to-day.