The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-03-13 00:00:00

THE GENERAL ELECTION•

THE CITY OF LONDON,

Lord John Russell has issued his address to the electors
of the City of London, offering himself for re-election. The
following is the address in full :
Gentlemen,—Sixteen years ago I was called upon by a
considerable body among you to come forward as a candi-
date to represent yon, It was supposed that my election.
for the City of London would contribute to the promotion
of free trade and the cause of civil and religious liberty.
Accepting your invitation, I relinquished a seat which was
highly henoureble and independent, and shortly hectains
one of your representatives. The measures which I haid
brought forward and sunported during that time have
generally met with your favour. The reduction of import
duties—the repeal of the corn laws—the eboli ion of the
differential duties on sugar—the repeal of the restriction 6
contained in the naNigaticn laws—have been approved by
the great maj Hitt, among von. I have laboured earnestly,
with your concurrence, though without success, for the
removal of the disabilities affecting the Jews. Equal favour
has not attended the course which I have recently pursued.
Before I speak of it, you must permit me to observe that,
w' er popular or otherwise, my votes have been the result
of deep conviction formed on no inconsiderable experience
of public affaira. I will not venture to sty that I mar not
have been frequently in error. All I can pretend to
is a laborious study of the questicrs in agitation,
and an honest desire to promote the honour and welfare
of the country. The time has not arrived for exnlaina-
ing fully the. course I took after the conferences at Vienna.
I believe it would have been impossihle to have made C
peace which would have satisfied the expectations of the
country before the tall of Sebastopol, I could not, howettera
decline the mission which was proposed to me in the nam
of my Sovereign, and it is my opinion thet the terms I watt
prepared to recommend would substantially, though in an.
inconvenient manner, have secured Tatkey against the
aggressions of Russia, and would have been honourable to
Great Britain. 'Whether Russia would have accepte:
them is doubtful. The question of hostilities in
China has made it the duty of parliament to examine
how, and for what purpose, those hostilities were
commenced. On looking carefully over the papers
relating to this subject I found that in the miserable affair
of the Arrow, reprisals had been resorted to, and reparation
offered. The Chinese commissioner had proposed an
arrangement for the future which was declared to be " very
proper" in a letter of Consul Parkes of the 22d of October,
But on the 24th, when all was on the eve of adjustment,
Sts John Bowring wrote as follows to Sir Michael Seymour:,
eint,,:t doubt that the Imperial commissioner will
now feel the ti.erlute necessity of complying with
the demands which Ins7n
been made, and I have teradd that if your Excellency anythe Consul should concur
with me in opinion that the circums:Znee' are auepicioue
for requiring the fulfilment of treaty 0b1igaa....719 as regards
the city of Canton, and for arranging an official ..reefing
with the Imperial Commissioner within the city walls,
shall willingly come to Canton for that purpose," Sec.
The consequence was a demand for an official meeting
with the Imperial Commissioner within the city walls,
and that demand not having been complied with,
fare was opened on the Commissioner's residence at
1 p.m, of the same day upon which the demand bad been.
made. Illy objections to these proceedings are-Ist. That,
the new demand was grafted upon a q iarrel which might
otherwise have been amicably settled ; 2nd, That it led to
scenes of bloodshed and destruction, wherein many inno•
cent persons perished ; 3rd, That such a demand ought to
have been addressed to the Emperor, and that due time
should have been allowed for an answer; 4:h, That before
hostilities were commenced due preparations should have
been made in concert with the authorities at home for the
protection of the lives and properties of Briti.le subjects ;
sth, That the demand of access to the Commissioner was
not authorised by the instructions of the Stcret oty of
State. When the tidings of these events arrived in
England, the ministry had a question of some difficulty to
determine. There :.;a some hazard and some discourage-
ment attendant ripen disavowal of public servante
performing their duties at a dia,leace. On the other bands
the entire and complete adoption of the proceedings at
Canton involved the discredit of sanctioning zi,.!s of violence
which justice could not approve, and the danger or :,Ifend-
ing partial hostilities into a sanguinary war. It would see:
that the error of either course might have been obviated by
despatching a person of superior authority to Hong Bong,
with instructions to defend the liva s and properties
of Britsh subjects, and and to restore as soon as possible
a state of peace. This, it appears, is now intended; but
one is at a logs to perceive why a course advisable on the
10th of March should not hive been taken on the 10th of
January ; or, if Sir John Bewring was wor:hr of entire
approval in January, why he should be virtually super-
seded now, when his policy and his conduct remain the
same ? I need not allude to the charge of combination and
conspiracy against the majority of the House of Commons.
This was the falsehood of a day, which a few hours of re-;
flection must dispel. For my own part, I took the same
view of these lamentable affairs as Sir Francis Vatting;
my old friend and colleague, and I willingly borrow'
from his vindication of his vote the following passage:;
" 1 had no choice left, and deliberately, and as if I had been
in a jury box, I gave my vote that the papers laid upon the
table failed to establish satisfactory grounds fer the violent
measures resorted to at Canton on the late affair of the Ara
row. I shall be told that, however true these words may be,
still the motion was practically a censure on the government,
and it was my duty to vote against it. I have been a party
man all my life, and am willing to underrate party con-,
siderations. In many cases .i.- perfectly understand that,
weighing the evils or advantages of izo alternatives, it
may be perfectly justifiable to prefer retail;::! a good
government in office rather than the carrying any
particular motion, however good. But there must be
some limit to these party feelings. I cannot rate war and
all its horrors as a light matter. Fo- the shedding of the
blood, even of our enemies, I believe we are responsible
to a higher tribunal; we have no right to go to war
without a justifiable cause, and I do not reckon as
justifiable cause the desire to keep nay friends in office.'
Then, again, it is said, that although the Canton hostilities
might not be justifiable, Lord Palmerston ought to be
supported in continuing them, because he conducted
the war against Russia with great vigour, and brought
it to an honourable termination. I cheetfull
applauded his vigour in carrying :on the war, Mid
his moderation in making peace, but to suppoat
wanton
and unnecessary hostilities on account of the merit of the
minister in a contest which is past, seems to me a model
of testifying national gratitude utterly indefensible. It Is
not probable, however, that the concerns of Chitia wilt
occupy much of the attention of the new parliament. Bid
the conduct of foreign affairs is closely connected with our
policy at home. By a course at once firm and conciliatory;
the steady maintenance of our own rights, and a just
regard to the rights of other nations, we shall best preservd
peace. By establishing peace on lasting foundations, we
shall obtain the means of enforcing economy in the
public expenditure. With peace and economy we shalt
obtain leisure to pursue the work of legal, social,
ecclesiastical, and political reform lam perfectly aware
that the terms peace, economy and reform have for the
moment lost their charm to the ears of the present gene-
ration. But I must yet declare that, if again elected
your representative, you must not expect from
me an abjuration of my old creed. In office and
out of office I have pursued the objects which
those three words aro intended to designate. The present
Government, althouola they may be followed_ ...r
--...es rengivun ituercy, cannoa
round their power permanently on any other basis than
that of the good old principles and the good old cause.
Whatever may be your determination, it is my purpose to
adhere to them for the remainder of my life. I have great
pleasure in expressing to you on this occasion, my grateful
sense of the support I have received from you during
the eventful period I have served you as your repre-
sentative. Come what may, I shall always look hack with
pride on our long and honourable connection. With this
explanation, I leave the election where the constitution
has placed it, in your hands. Should von think fit to
return me again as your representative, 1 shall endeavour
to the best of my abilities to fulfil the arduous' duties
belonging to that situation.—l remain, gentlemen, your
bring forward faithful and obliged servant,
S Liberalso ur u l
ba J. Russenr...
!Tun. dwy. hraysanrse.tirTedh.e TCon-
servatives are looking out for a successor to Mr. Mundy.
THE WEST Rintace—The Liberals have determined to
fling out Lord Goderieh and not to oppose Mr. Dennison.
Noawtcu.—Viscount Bury is the new Liberal candi-
date.

LEEDS.—There are four candidates. The Whigs and
Liberals support Mr. M. T. Baines and Mr. Carbutt, the
Radicals Mr. Foster, and the Conservatives Mr.. Hall,
Recorder of Doncaster.

TYNEMOUTIL-Mr. Hugh Taylor has declined. Mr.
Lindsay is the only candidate. •
MIDIIURST.-Mr. F. D. Hadvert, of the Northern Cir.
cuit, will oppose Mr. Warren.
LEICESTER.—Mr. Harris will opposo Sir. J. Walmsloy.