The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1853-11-30 00:00:00

are we called upon to do ? If we hand it down to those who
come after us in a solvent state, with a balance besides, what
more than that do they require of us ? (Hear, hear.) The
leasehold of the corporation may be taken at from two to
three millions. Now upon that amount, £20,000 would
be but 1 per cent. Put the property into the hands of an
actuary, who understands these things, and I am quite
satisfied that very much more might be made of it. How-
ever, in all this, I must not be supposed to allude
to the finance committee. They have a most able
and highly honourable chairman, to whom the town is much
indebted for his long services. (Hear, hear.) lam not a
member of the finance committee. Of that, however, I do
not complain ; but I venture to bring these matters before
you in order that you may turn them over in your minds, if
you have not already done so. There is another matter to
which I wish to allude. The accounts of the corporation
are printed and published yearly, and I believe they are con-
sidered to be pretty well kept, but there is no member of the
council who can tell you, or who has the means of ascertain-
ing, what the property of the corporation in the streets of the
town is. I say such a list should be in the hands of
every member of the council, which would tell him every
yard of property they had in every street in the town.
(Hear, hear.) And I will tell you, gentlemen, why I propose
that course. Because I feel that if that property were my own
I would do so myself. Now, what is good for one's self,
is
generally speaking—although, of course, the rule will not
always hold-good for the public. (Hear, hear.) That is,
I am sure, a sound principle in itself. Now there is file
other matter to which I wish to make allusion, which
is this —I hope I shall not excite any unfriendly feelings in
alluding to it : It is unfortunately the case that the corpo-
ration churches, after giving credit for the very small amount
of rent received, cost something like £3,400 per annum.
Now I think those churches might be disposed of. The
appointments are gone. Perhaps you would ask who would
buy a number of churches which are bringing you into debt
each year. But I have faith in the management of
private individuals over public bodies, who are generally
imposed upon, and I think if these churches were once
disposed of—and at present they are an eyesore to almost
every one who knows anything about them—l think it
would be a happy circumstance for the Corporation. (Hear,
hear.) Now, just one other point, gentlemen. I know and
I have felt that having for a long series of years differed
from those whom I now see around me, both upon political,
municipal, and other matters, it is only fair that 1 should
now state that when I changed my views it was from con-
viction. (Great cheering.) The first occasion upon which
I felt the raponeibility- of my position, and that I could no
*longer regard society, as divided into classes, was the occa-
sion upon which I was made mayor of Liverpool. I then
seriously saw that, however honest I may have been, how-
ever I may have acted, in the cause which I then advocated,
it must have been in practice only for the benefit of a few,
and not for the benefit of many. When I came to look closely
into matters, I saw at once that plenty was better than scarcity
—that protection might answer, and I don't think it did
answer very well for the few, but that it was destructive to
the many. (Cries of hear, hear, and loud cheers.) I felt that
it was a gross injustice and a tyranny to the poor, that it
was an exercise of power which no man or men had any right
to claim, and I could not reconcile it to my conscience to
continue to advocate the political views and principles which
unfortunately had occupied a very great portion of my time
and thoughts. (Cheers.) Well, now, gentlemen, Ido not
blame those who in this very ward make faces at me as I go
along. It is natural that they should feel, herhaps, hurt
that I am not dragging along in the mire, as they are.
Let me say this, that on the day I changed, I
yielded to what I believed to be right, and I feel no dis-
grace. (Cheers.) It reminds me of the occasion when I
opposed Mr. Earle. I opposed Mr. Earle with the same
honest purpose with which I now support him, and I am
ready to acknowledge my error, and to proclaim it at the
cross. (Loud cheers.) If a man does what is right, he
never need be ashamed. But, gentlemen, I have to say
this, and I would hold it out as an olive branch to those
who differ with me now in opinion, that since I joined the
liberal party, I have never once been reminded of my former
misdeeds. (Cheers.) I have been treated with the most
gentlemanlike feeling, and I wish that others would follow
my example in joining this party. (Cheers.) lam sure
that if they did, they would ever feel gratified at the change.
They may assure themselves that it is not possible to carry
any measure—such is the freedom of this country—which is
calculated to be injurious to the good of the whole commu-
nity. (Cheers.) I say that it is not in our power, or the
power of any one else, to do so, and fortunate that it is not ;
and, therefore, when we see any man, tory, whig, or radical,
let us know that his heart is right; find out whether or not
he would yield to the persuasion of men as parties ; whether
he is sincere and honest, and if you assure yourselves that
these different points are in your favour, it is in vain
to talk about politics. (Loud cheers.) If you get men who
hold honest views politics will always be controlled by their
voices. (Hear, hear.) Now, gentlemen, I have troubled
you too long. (No, no.) I feel that some apology is due ;
but I assure you, that if my conduct has been satisfactory to
the town at large, and to you specially, my kind friends of
the Abercromby ward, I feel highly gratified, and can only
seatot.
assure you, that my best endeavours shall be, to merit the
rusm to
JUMP
wase resumed
called
upon
his
good opinion which has been so generally expressed here
this evening. (Loud and enthusiastic cheering, amid which
Mr.
Mr. )propose, " The volunteers
from other wards, who rendered us essential service."
(Cheers.)
The toast was responded to by Mr. Kirkus and Mr.
Corkhill.
Mr. OwENs, in a lengthened and eloquent address, pro-
posed " Prosperity to the town and trade of Liverpool."
Mr. JEFFREY responded in an able and practical speech,
in which he eulogised Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Earle, and
pointed to several errors committed by the town council.
He alluded to several defects in the sewerage of the town, of
which he gave a practical instance which came under his
own experience. He also alluded to a recent appointment
of an alderman by the council, a gentleman who, he stated,
was always remarkable for his bitter political partizanship,
an d stated that an insult was offered to the public in the
manner of that gentleman's election. He dwelt upon the
great importance of good municipal government, and showed
how, with an improved ruling body, Liverpool might rise to
even more surprising prosperity than she had as yet attained.
Mr. Jeffrey was loudly applauded.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN gave " the Non-electors." (Cheers.)
Mr. CHARLES WILLMER briefly responded.
The CHAIRMAN proposed " the Press."
Mr. BAINES returned thanks.
" The Land we Live in " was the next toast, which was
spoken to by Mr. DA.LZIEL, in an address of remarkable
eloquence and power, which was loudly applauded.
" The Ladies" was replied to by Mr. F. HULL.
Mr. EARLE in a few words proposed the health of the
Chairman, which was received with all the honors.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks.
Mr. ROBERTSON GLADSTONE proposed the health of the
Vice-chairman, which was also received with enthusiasm.
The VICE-CHAIRMAN having expressed his thanks, the
formal list of toasts was declared closed, and the company
shortly after separated.