The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-24 00:00:00

ST. ALBAN'S ELECTION.

ST. ALBAN'S, Dec. 23.
The nomination of the candidates for the vacant
satin parliament othasioned by the death of Mr. Raphael,
the late member, took place today. The candidates were
escorted to the beatings by their respective friends, and at II
o'clock the proceedings were opened by Mr. Bleog, the town
clerk, reading the writ end the other formal documents.
FRANCIS ROBERT SYLVESTER, Esq , the mayor,
then stood forward, and exprewsd a hope that the eke ors
would perform their duty in an honest and independent
manner, and that they would select es their representative
the candidate who was the host calculated to further their
interns both in and oat of parliament, The public 'the-
lion had been • good deal attracted to their barough, and
he hoped they would exercise the sacred duly they were
now called upon to perform in such • manner as would
place their borough before the public in a 131.411 satisfactory
light, and would show that they were not the mercenary and
unptincipled voters they were generally represented, and he
wmaftaiii were believed to be.
Mr. T. KINDER then proposed Mr. Jaeob Bell as a fit
and proper person to represent the borough in parliament,
and said that if he was elected, he felt leisured that he would
not only watch over the general interest of the county, but
that he would also be induced to do all that laid in his power
far the advantage cl the borough.
Mr. T. BOWMAN seconded the nomination. Ile said
that during Mr. Bell. canvass, he had been relived in the
meet flattering manner by the electors, and the ready re-
plies he had given to all the questions that were put to him,
with. regard to his political opinions, had obtained the coo&
dense of 'be great majority of the electors. Hie position
and his groat philanthropy made him most eligible to re-
present their borough in parliament, a,31 the citcums'enee
of his bevies been created me of the commiseionen for the
Great Exhibition that was to take place in the spring, showed
clearly the high estimation in which his abilities were held in

other quarters.
Kr. F. SCARANCHE proposed Mr. Alderman and
Sheriff Carden, outtasid be war proud at haviag to introduce
that gentleman to them se their future remeneutseive. The
, high position be filled in the City of London was a aueranee
Ohio conduct and character, and he was the more entitled
to their support on the present' ovation because be ante
forward to advocate and carry out the important prineiiele
of poriiy of election. It was the interest of eve/ Mend of
the borough to relieve it from the dark cloud that had so
long bung over it, and which bad been so detrimental to its
but interests.
Mr. J. BENNETT seconded the nomMatioo, and said
that he pelt Mr. Alderman Carden's determination to 'tend
solely upon the free and unbiassed suffrages of the
*team, entitled him to the support and utistance
of every well wisher to the borough. On of e ride
be was quite satisfied there would be no bribery, but
If any one were to inquire et the pawatireken' shops is
the town, or of the landlords of a good twiny of the cottages
occupied by voters, he would find that there had been •
peed des" of mo
oney expended by some one or other. They
should ell be aware that bribery could not be kept secret,
and the records of the poll books would show who among
the electors bad sold their franchise, and who bad exercised
it in a menly and independent
Mr. T. RiCHABDOON, as an elector of the borough,
begged to be allowed to make a few observations upon whet
had fallen from the last epeeker. It bad been broadly stated
by that gentleman that the friends of Mr. Bell had been
guilty of bribery, but he defied them to bring forward a
unpile instance where it bad been practised. (" aver, hear,"
and cheers ) He was quite sure that if be
the mi
nt
et
melt an humors it would have been made the
Hti had talked a rod deal about bribery, but not a word
was laid about intimidation in the attempts that had beea
made to merreethe electors.
I.lr. GRESHAM. said it had been stated that Mr. Bell
was a catholic, but he did not believe it. Mr. Bell would,
however, no doubt give them an mower to that question.
Mr. BELL then stood forward to address the electors. He
raid that %hoe the subject of bribery he tegrettrd to see so
many gentlemen connected with the borough apparently se
anxious to cry stinking fish, but ho should cerionly nut join
in the cry, nor in any way sdd fuel to fire, but ho should
keep to the business of the day, and the object for which
they hat 'trembled. Upon former occesions when he had
the honour of adereseiog the electors he believed that the
great majority of them were satisfied with hie poli-
ties' minions, and he had einee hart the widget-
thin of hearing many of those who differed with him at
first, new express their intention to Rive him their etipport.
(A cry of " How was it dam ?") Why, he had wined this
result by sound solid argument. (" Oh, eh.") If they
elected him u their representative, they must allow him to
act in that capacity recording to his own judgment of what
was best for the general interest, and he would not suhmit
to be shackled. It was impossible for any coustituence to
have a member who could represent every shade of opinim
entertained by different parties, and the utmost they could
expect was to have a man who represented the opinion• of
the majority, and he believed that he should do to if he were
returned for the borough. They were already aware of hie
opinions upon the moot important political subjects. With
regard to the extension of the franchise, be was favourable
to an . sees on of that right to she people, but he thought at
the • Imes time that it ought not to be granted until they
had the advantage of a sound and religious education
to enable them to ate it properly. Tint there were
existiog defects in their constitution he was not prepared to
deny, but at the same time he wee satisfied that the consti-
toll en and laws under which they livid were far superior to
that of most other countries. He was also generally favour-
able to the principles of the present administration, but he
begged at the woe time to state that there was no ground
for calling him the government candidate, as he was deter-
mined to act fearlea•ly and independently if ha were elected
as their representative. The hon. gentleman then alluded
to the French revolution of 1848, sod reek' that if the great
majority of the people had not been 'maenad with the present
government they would not have coe forward as they did d
upon that occasion to support them. m
Ile therefore &resee
himself upon general principles favourable to the pelhey of the
present govethnient, but in soy case where Lord J.ltus•ell was
not ready to go forward in accordance with the require-
ments of the people, he should be the first to lend a hand to
push him so. His opinion had been seked upon the subject
of church Wel. Now ha would tell them how these things
were merged by the Society of Friends, of which he was
a member. They bad no oompalsory rates ; but their elders
went mind to the congregation,
pl.and each gave what he
seed, according to his mean., more or less; and they
never had a deficiency. He therefore objected to the system
pursued by the church of England, of levying these rake
compulsorily from those who had to supoort their owe
church. He did not complain of the system, if it was coo-
fin
veed may to thou who went to church ; he thoht it
ry hard upon those who did no t; and but
see it med u
tgo his
very much like telling a man, titer he bed paid his owa
buteher's bill, Oast he must pay anether butcher over
the way. from om he had never re ceived any meat.
Hear," and slwouhgh.) Let them lock at the condition of
the Church of Ragland at that moment, and sale themselves
if it was rector. It was known that it wae not, and he be-
lieved that if those matters were altered the position of the
church was most estiefactory. Allusion bed been made to
bit harigit paid a visit to the Somas catholic priest in that
tows. It was true be bad done so, as be felt it big duty to
canvass all classes of the electors; and although he objected
to the recent proceedings of the Pope, as interferitg with
the rights of the Severelge, yet they must understand that
he looked with es much respect on a Roman
a religi Au point of view se he did any other dissenter
mad he wished entirely to separate the civil from the
religions part of the question. It bad been said that he
(Mr. Bell) had boon • Roman catholic for seven
years. He could only ley that if he had, he did
not know it, and he did not believe he had ever entered a
Risen catholic chattel, or bad matting to do with the reli-
gion in any form. He should like, however, to give the
catholic the same privileges as soy other class of dis-
senter.; and he thought the sooner the present dispute was
settled the better. He kid been oleo asked whetter he was
favourable to the emancipation of the Jews, and his reply
1441 that he should be glad to see every Jew converted to
Christianity, but he maa quite certain this would Lever be
done by persecution, and that it was much more likely to
be effected by showing a liberal' Christian se iene
Thim
would have much more effect th any coercive measures.
On the subject of free tradean he mutt confess he
differed from his hon. opponent. It appeared to him that
at present this country had not met any return from
forego nations, but that, on the contrary, our own
liberality bad been met by hostile tariffs. An altera-
tion ought to take play in this ; but it could only
be effected by showing other nations a noble exam-
ple, such as England now had done, and he believed
that the great Exhibition of the neat year, at which the
manufactures of all nations were admitted, would ge
far to show to foreigners the necessity of making Gams
alteration into
their present system, and that they
would be inducted to follow the liberal exempts set them
by this coon'ry. The hon. candidate then avowed himself
favourable to an immediate repeal of the window-tax, and
propaid he had no doubt that it the government was
tily pressed upon the subject, they would give up
this odious tel. He then referred to a portion of the
e,ddres of Mr. Carden, mentioning that bribery had been
made U 64 of in his behalf to secure his election He in-
dignantly denied that there was any foundation for the
assertion. He said that he wag in the field long hetore
Mr. Carden, and bad resolved promandhe is sufficien
doub t
the
t to se
cure
ethey
his election if they were kept, had no
would be. In fast, he said, it appeared to him that
booonreeblo gentleman would not stand the beet chance
neloss he resorted to some of those tricks and proceediees
which be had charged upon others. Mr. Bell concluded
his le:dres. by erestin • confident hope that on the
'Atomise day bzpe should hue to addros the electors se
their repreeentative
Mr. Alderman CARDEN then addressed the electors.
He had tome down at the invitation of many of the most
influential electors of Bt. Albans. lie had been proposed by
a churchman and conservative, and 464411 led by a diesenter
and 'theca. He thus stood before them as a liberal cooler-
vetive. Against his opponent he bad nothing of a personal
nature to say, but the proceedings of the gentleman who
• ad int r_duceet him to the borosgh were most extraoediortry.
It bad been opeoly sewed that their late member gave
4,0001. for the sea' ; and that on the day of his election he
was told that it scold not be secured unless 7001. more
wee paid, and seas parties acteiely limed up to town
and br mght down 700 'ens kle was told this by the
sun who did the job biotal. (Cues of " Name.")
He was nut permitted to give the name, but he pledged
him eell to the statement having been made. He would
tell them more. Before hi had any intention to offer him--
salt as a candidate, • gentleman called it his uffice, sad