The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-10-24 00:00:00

A public meeting of the friends and supporters of Mr.
J. R. Jeffery was held at eight o'clock, last night, in the
•F'reemason's Hall. Lime-street. The hall was crowded
to excess and as for the persons on the platform, their
"namewas legion." The chair was taken, amid general
cheering, by Mr. Thomas Haigh. Among those present
we noticed, Messrs. Thomas Haigh, Esq , Robertson
Cl!a.dstolle, Esq., It. W. Ronald, Esq., J. Kitchen, Esq.,
Tindal Atkinson, Esq., John Bighana, Esq., Henry
rernie, Esq., John Robinson, Esq , Kinder Liversedge,
.„Esq., A. C. Stewart, Esq.. J. Gillham, Esq., Henry Tate,
•nise., Edward Graham, Esq., Charles Sharp, Esq., S. B.
Jackson, Esq., Thomas Cope, Esq., Charles Rowe Cope,
„E•sq•est, George Goulding, Esq , A. C. Jeffery, Esq., Joseph
•b, Esq., Walter Cross, Esq., D. J. Kelly, Esq., and
Thomas Burton, Esq.
The Chairman rose, and was received with great
'cheering. He said he felt greatly obliged to the meet-
log for the respect that had been paid to him by calling
him to preside over such a large and respectable an
essenahly—(hear, hear)—and threfore he felt much
honour in taking the chair. He certainly could have
wished that some person more competent than he was
had been chosen for that duty, but to the very best of
his ability he would render them whatever service was
In his power. (Hear, hear.) They were all aware of
'the objects which had called them together that evening
--it was announced by placard. [He then read the
notice calling the meeting.] It was his duty, however,
to inform the meeting that, about twelve days since, a
few of the burgesses of the ward met to consider what
steps were necessary to secure the return of a Liberal
representative to the council at the forthcoming election.
About fifty persons were present on that occasion, and
they, after deliberate consideration, came to the unani-
mous determination to select a reformer to represent
them in the council. (Hear, hear.) That meeting also
Came to the determinatirn to present a requisition to J.
Jeffery, Esq.,—(load cheers)—asking him to become
their candidate. (Hear, hear.) That requisition was
signed, in a. brief period, by 308 persons in the first two
bights—','near, hear)—and since that time a great number
?f nandes, he might almost add, double that number of
°°.rgesses had signed it—(loud cheers)—and, what was
'letter, still more friends were signing it. On the second
Might, after the requisition was resolved upon, it was
Presented to Mr. Jeffery, and his reply to that they had
before them. (Hear, hear.) He (the chairman) had
little mere to say than that lie fully concurred in the
°Pinion of the burgesses, that Mr. Jeffery was a fit and
proper person to represent his brother electors in the
row?' Council. (Loud cheers.) The present meeting,
an numbers and respectability, was a sufficient answer to
any one who said a wrong step had bean taken. It was
!.proof that the liberal interest was the right interest in
-!Attie-street ward. He had nothing more to add, but to
introduce Jr.meeting.—Mr.. Jeffery to the eeting.—Mr. Jeffery, come
iftorward. [lmmense chee'ring followed, and Mr. Jeffery
forward.
`present
cheer hing.]ed imself, and was greeted with the most
fferous
Mr. J. R. Jeffery then came forward, and was received
with a burst of applause, which was kept up for several
Initiates. He said—Mr. Chairman and brother electors,
thank yon most sincerely, most cordially, for the warm
'eeeption you have given, first, to the announcement of
nattne.., and, secondly, to my responding to such a
eart-Falt call as came from the breast of my friend, who
presiding on the present occasion. (Hear, hear.)
oZtlemen, we have met for the purpose of discussing
earrYing into practice, I hope, a most sacred trust;
b'.;eore I enter upon that important—all-important
4 Pinestion to us as burgesses, and electors, and ratepayers,
t. t 1 Lime-street ward—l must ask your indulgence, and
4 ara sure you will give it me with patience, while I give
3'°ll a counter statement to the speeches which were
delivered a night or two since from this very
Platform. (Cheers.) Now, gentlemen, I must
'ear?), you back for a little while to the days when there
"ere two committees existing in this ward, as are existing
this ward to-day. These committees were fighing
cinder different banners—the one was the red Tory
ntler, the other the white and blue Liberal banner.
aeh 'etc] its standard, and they fought at last for
phantoms and for shadows. (Cheers.) The chairman
here observed Mr. Robertson Gladstone in the body of
l
"e hall, and requested him to come on the platform.
Mr. Gladstone then ascended the platforrn amid the
most enthusiastic applause.
Mr. Jeffery continued : Gentlemen, I was saving there
WereW two star;iards. Each party was fighting under its
then stand-drd, and each party thought it desirable that
fou,t.WCI should unite into one ; and, of course, having
dot tinder separate standards, it became necessary
that they should seek a standard under which the
tv,Q Parties could unite cordially, naturally, and, as they
elieved, for the benefit of the electors and burgesses at
lay eyed,
[Considerable interruption was here caused
the '
misconduct of some individul at the lower
-11" of the room.] Well, gentlemen, beastandard that
we raised for the united committee was that of ignoring
Politics in the council chamber. That committee did
tne the honour to elect me its chairman, and as soon as
iiht°ok the chair, I stated as plainly as I am able to use
jr, English language—[here the noise at the end of the
`ati interrupted Mr. Jefiery] -when it had subsided, he
continuedthe : I stated, on taking that chair, as plainly as
„,t, English language would permit me to do, whoever
thent into the council chamber under the auspices of
That cocanaittee, would not be permitted to use his
ti "Ilicipal position for the promotion of party poli-
,,fai purposes. (Applause.) Gentlemen, for six
''.`•ars that principle remained unviolated as far
I know; and, to the honour be it said
each member of that united committee, I believe
there Was no attempt to deviate from the strict path, hut
banil was kept on both sides, and by both, and I believe
nY eve!), individual member of the committee. (Cheers )
r?t, sir, it was left for one of our representatives to vio-
'gm that pledge—(hear, hear)—and it was left to him to
L'lel t• a eat, too, after a promise—a special promise, that he
rould not do it. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) John
Lloyd, my opponent at present, made known the
,Inetier ;
n.ght, a conversation which he said took place
tween him and me, in my counting house, and he
tated also, that he had called at my place of business,
er business, and that my speaking to him upon the
B.a ject in, question, was a somewhat accidental dream-
Bnee---that he accidentally called at m countin '
osse, and that he was quite unprepared for g it, that I
e to be his statement here (holding up a newspaper.)
.st4w,gentlemen, I have no hesitation in saying that that
atement is not a correct statement of what passed
~,etftweert us. (Cheers.) It is a long time ago, gentlemen,
11" am willing to believe, that Mr. Lloyd has led
.."r ..."11self to believe that it was possible or that he
°Uld like now that that conversation did' occur. But,
unfortunately for him, 1 have evidence that it was not
'very likely to occur, and I have evidence that he did
not
l call on me for the purpose which he states, and that
)18 conversation with me was not an accidental one, but
Inat he called for the purpose of returning a call, which
had been made on him by myself, and our esteemed friend
/v„,°o now occupies the chair. There was a vacancy,
"Pon the death of the late Alderman John Holmes—
There was as aldermanic vacancy in the council to he
Cited up. It was rumoured that Mr. John Bold [A
nice (indignantly): Tom Bold.] (Great laughter.)
Mr. Jeffery : Well, it was rumoured that Mr. Thomas
told would be a candidate for the aldermanic vacancy.
4Now, as the chairman of the united committee, con-
stituted under the principle to which I have referred,
that politics should be ignored in the council
Chamber, I considered that, as chairman, I was the
!onservator of the principle of that committee, and that
';‘t was my duty to take the initiative, if initiative were
necessary, to protect it against any injury that might
possibly arise, either from incaution or otherwise. (Hear,
11:.".,?•nd cheers.) I consulted with my esteemed friend
roW :,aigh, who occupies the chair, and he agreed with
vial Coat it would be desirable that we should, together,
nuder.wl4,l,r. Lloyd, to remind him of the circumstances
Ward -"Mh he had been elected as a member for the
elect; and to call his attention to the fact, that the
of Mr. Bold, or rather, his voting for Mr. Bold,
itei‘c'i'd be a violation of the principle under which he
kr. his seat. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Unfortunately,
left• Iloyd was not in his office when we called, but we
Nvo ''°l4 With his clerk that we had called, and that we
be glad if he would let us know when it would
zgoiti convenience to receive us, and we would call
'attar u. Instead of sending us word, in reply to
he °all, on his way home in the evening,
thus
called on me, to know why we had
ti,la called on him. Now, gentlemen, compare
ileo two statements if you please. (Applause.) Mr.
p, Sd says that he called at my place of business for the
h:P°ses of business, leaving you to infer that it was for
t;_ Purpose of making purchases, and that our conver-
t_uu yeas accidental. I tell you it was not accidental,
eat ler,
nave Haigh and I called on him for the purpose!
mentioned, and that he called in return to know
11''e;,0113jeet of our call. (Applause.) I will give you, as
y as my memory serves me, the conversation that
1, Place between us in my counting-house. He said
to and Mr. Haigh called on me to-day." I said,
said'
,d.id—take a seat." He sat down close by me. I
staour object was to call your attention to the cir-
braes under which you were elected. We have
been
nc,
told that your friend Mr. Bold is to be elected to the
Zeareertnanic vacancy. Now that is clearly a political
service
it
is
clearly a municipal reward for political
of the 3; and for you to vote for him, is a direct violation
there principles which constitute the committee, and
will be danger of the disruption of that committee
You support him."
eorre •
(Hear. hear.) He said, " I believe I
et in saying I won't." But it would appear that
was rather fast in giving utterance to the word, for
e T "id _ immediately, " I will pair with Mr. Gregson."
tdm not I iolating any confidence when I mention names
? 3'°". mention that name to you, in order that you
seat be able to judge of the
entire circumstance, and