Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-08-10 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM ELECTION.

Mr. Bright is now the only candidate in the field, his
opponents, Messrs. M'Gsachey and Webster, having re-
tired from the contest on Saturday last. The nomination
is fixed for this day (Monday), when no doubt Mr. Bright
will be elected without further opposition. The hon.
gentleman issued the following address, which gave almost
general satisfaction:—

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF

BIRISINGS_IM.

GE'TLEMEN,-

I am informed that a very influential portion of your
body is wishful that I should become one of your Repre_
sentatives to fill the place of the independent and faithful
Member you have recently lost, and I have seen in the
newspapers, that at a very large Public Meeting my name
has been received with great favour.

You are doubtless aware that it has been my intention,
at least for a time, to keep out of public life, that I might
have an opportunity fully to recover from an illness which,
for more than a year, has made it necessary that I should
abstain from mental labour, and from the excitement which
attends public affairs.

I have therefore not sought to be returned to Parliament,
but have endeavoured to evade all invitations to become a
candidate for the suffrage of any constituency.

I feel, however, that after tho steps that have been
taken by my friends in Birmingham, I am not at liberty
to reject the honour and the responsibility which :they
are disposed to offer to me, and I have intimated to
them that whilst, strictly speaking, I am not a candidate
soliciting your suffrages, I cannot withhold such co-oper-
ation with them as may enable them best to sustain
position they have taken in reference to the approaching
Election. It is on this ground, and with this explanation,
that I venture to depart from my original intention not to
interfere in any way in the contest in which you are now
engaged.

After fourteen years of service in the House of Corn
mons, having spoken and voted on almost every great
question which has been discussed during that period, I
feel it unnecessary to write at length and in detail as to
my political opinions and my public course. You will
not require to be told that I am a warm supporter of
such measures as shall render the representation of the
nation more real and complete in the House of Commons,
and that I shall value any scheme brought forward by the
Government in proportion as it is extensive in its scope
and honest in its intention, and that I shall regard a wide
extension of the franchise as shorn of half its virtue if it
be not accompanied by the safeguard of the Ballot.
I need hardly say that I strongly approve of a principle
which 1 cannot doubt is dear to the people of Birmingham

—that of local control in all matters of local interest. I
would entrust more to the inhabitants in each local*,
and less to the Government officials and to the Home
Office. s 4

With regard to a question which some time ago excited
interest among a portion of your body, viz , the disposi-
tion of the Government to manufacture arms and other
articles for the public service, and thus to compete with
or to destroy the private manufacturer, I have only to
refer you to my course on that subject when it was before
Parliament. I think Government manufactures wrong in
principle, and always wasteful of the public money.
There is another question, which at this moment occu-
pies and absorbs public attention—the revolt in India.
Whilst I deplore this terrible event, along with the rest of
my countrymen, I am, perhaps, less surprised at it than
most of them are. For twelve years I have given great
attention to the subject of India. I have twice brought
it before Parliament, once in moving for a Select Commit-
tee, and once in moving for a Royal Commission of Inquiry ;
and I took an active part in the debates on the Bill recently
passed to continue the powers of the East India Company,
and held public meetings in several of our largest cities
with a view to excite public interest in the great—question
• of the Government of India.

The success of the insurrection would involve anarchy
in India, unless some great man, emerging from the chaos,
should build up a new Empire, based on and defended by
military power. lam not prepared to defend the steps by
which England has obtained dominion in the East, but
looking to the interests of India and of England, I cannot
oppose such measures as may be deemed necessary to
suppress the existing disorder.
To restore order to India is mercy to India, but heavy
will be the guilt of our country should we neglect here-

-
after any measures which would contribute to the Welfare

of its hundred millions of population. I hope that the
acts of the Government will be free from the vindictive
and sanguinary spirit which is shown in many of the
letters which appear in the newspapers, and that when
the present crisis is over, all that exists of statesmanship
in England will combine to work what good is possible out
of so much evil.

I will say no more. The kindness shown to me by so
many amongst you I feel deeply. I value your good
npinion as you would wish it to b 3 valued. I have sought
private life. and quiet for a time is needful for me. You
have called on me to occupy a very honourable position,
and if I am placed in it by your free choice, I cannot
refuse it, and I shall strive to give to you and to our
country a faithful service.—l, am, with the greatest
respect. yours faithfully, JOHN BRIGHT.
Tamworth, August 8, 1857.

SUICIDE.-0a Saturday morning a ferrate named Mary
Oliver, cut her throat in a holm: in Norman-street. An
inquest will be held this day, when all the facts will be
elicited.

CRA.ROI3 of EMBEZZLEMENT. —On Saturday, detective
officer Laycock returned from Ireland, having in hie
custody a young man named John O'Connor, whom he
arrested on a charge of having embezzled £95 from
Messrs. Grimshaw, of Goree Pijzza, in whose employment
he was. lie will be brought before the magistrates this
day.
ACClDENTS.—Yesterday, a little girl named Sarah
Porlgett, was received into the Northern hospital, having
received a severe contusion from accidentally setting her
foot upon a piece of orange peel, which caused her to fall.
David Spence was also received into the same establish-
ment, having received a severe bite from a dog. Both the
parties are doing well under the able care of the surgeons
of that establishment.
- -

TAI NEWFOUNDLAND STEAMERS.—The steam ship
Folsersonese, which was to have left Liverpool on Saturday,
for Newfoundland, has been chartered by government for
troops to India. The mails intended for the IChersonese
were consequently detained. The owners of the Kher-
sonem have chartered in her stead tha new and beautiful
screw steam ship General Williams. She is appointed to
sail on Wednesday next.

THE LATE It. V. YATES.—We understand that a sub-
scription Ist is about to be opened to defray the expense
of a handsome Memorial Fountain, to be erected in
memory of the above-named lamented gentleman. This

is Lo,hing but right: Mr. Yates philanthropy is well
known. His conduct with regard to:the Prince's-park showed
that he consulted the benefit of the people of Liverpool
more than his own personal adVantage.

We are glad to learn that Mr McGregor Laird, chairman
of the African Steam Navigation Company, has most
handsomely off2red to the Cotton Supply Association to
convey np the Niger, free of charge, one or two hundred
gins and a press, the transmit of which would otherwise
cost some £3OO. If we are asked what 'good can this
association effect, we point to this very liberal offer of
Mr. Laird's as an indication not without significance.—
Manchester Guardian.

The Great Western's reduction of dividend to I per
colt. per annum is one of the most remarkable finetuations
of railway finances. It may, however, be attributed to
heavy rates of interest on loans received, and the unde-
veloped lines to, ►he with, which create a large guarantee.
At present itese lines are limited in productiveness to local
traffic. Until free access be obtained to Manchester, Liver-
pool, and Bilkenhead, the managers, able though they are,
cannot expect to realise their reasonable calculation' of
successful working.