Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-09-29 00:00:00

an adoption of the " Declaration" as a matter of

compulsion, not acquiesence

The municipal electioneering campaign has at
length been fairly opened. One gentleman, whose

term, of office expires on the Ist of November
next—Mr. Shimmin, who has deserved so well
of the constituency for his valuable
.services in
the Markets' Committee, and also for his other-
wise independent and useful aid in conducting the
business of the town, was waited on last night by

an influential deputation, for the purpose of re-
questing that he would allow himself to be again
put in nomination for Vauxhall Ward, and
pledging themselves to use every lawful means to
secure his return, as well as declaring that they will
not allow their interests to be made the sport of
rival politicians. We are glad to understand that
Mr. Shimmin has cordially responded to the call.
Conservatives and independent voters of all classes
should put their shoulders to the wheel, and se-
cure the return of this gentleman, who has shown
himself so fully able to cope with the difficul-

ties by which a faithful discharge of public
duties is beset. On the other side, we perceive
that a candidate is in the field for Great
George Ward, in the person of Mr. John H.
Wilson, of the firm of Bathgate and Wilson,
brassfounders, who has issued an address to the
electors. This gentleman's address will, of course,
be scanned by the electors with that amount of
curiosity which such documents generally elicit ;
but as a man little known to 'the constituency,
and coming forward under auspices not very
assuring, his pretensions will, of course, be
narrowly investigated before the craving of his
address is favourably considered.
The naval and military services of this country
are so generally appreciated, that friendly inter-

course with the members of either service is
eagerly cultivated by all classes. With feelings
of much pride, therefore, we refer to the fact
that a very interesting—indeed charming—

festivity was prepared last night by the officers of
her Majesty's ship Donegal, now in the Mersey,
and participated in' by a large number of the in-
habitants of Liv erpool and Cheshire.

Blue Book just issued, containing the
minutes of evidence taken before the Select
Committee of the House of Lords, as to: " the

" present operation of. the law and practice

" respecting the assessment and the levy of
" Church Rates," is an . important publication.
We find from it that, the Duke of MARLBOROUGH
having been elected chairman of the Committee,
the first witness called was Dr. HALE, Archdeacon

of London. This reverend divine is known to
have paid great attention to the question of
Church-rates;, and the testimony which he gave

with reference to their origin and history, as
well as with respect to the ulterior object sought

by their abolition, is most interesting and impor-

tint. The Archdeacon suggested an_ arrange-
ment which, while it would relieve the dissenter

of any violence done to his conscience by pay-

ment of the rate, would, not deprive the Church
of her legal right. The antiquity of the Church-
rate is coeval with tithes, and dates from the
Anglo-Saxon period. The Marquis of SALISBURY
asked whether the right to Church-rates was de-
duced from the time of King CANUTE ? To which

the Archdeacon replied, that he, believed the
right to be coeval with the Common-Law obliga-
tion to provide for the maintenance of roads and
bridges. This prescriptive right of the Church,