The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

BEPIiESENT.ATION OF SOVTIIIV.ARK.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER.
Yesterday evening a public meeting of the electors of
Southwark was held, at the Literary Institution, Bo-
rough-road, for the purpose of hearing an address from
Sir Chas. Napier, the lecture room being inconveniently •
crowded. Sir Charles was received with the greatest
enthusiasm on his appearance, and was loudly cheered
during his speech and at the close of the proceedings.
21110- CYRUS LEGGE occupied the chair, and in a few
observations introduced the business of the evening. In
alluding to the loss t`.,e Borough had sustained by the-
death of Sir W. Molesworth, he said that at the last
election while Sir William was speaking, a person in the
crowd stated that " that Ras his last dying speech and
confession," and that person probably little thought how
soon the fulfilment of his prophecy would come to pass.
They had now to look for the best man to supply the
place of their late representative, and he had great plea-

sure in introducing to the electors Sir Charles Napier.
(Cheers.) That gallant gentleman's address was before

them, and he thought they would agree that it was
manly and straightforward, and they should also not
forget that he left the election entirely in the hands of

the electors, desiring that they might exercise their right
without undue influence being brought to bear upon
them. The present election was a question between the
employed and the employers, for it was said that those
who supported Sir C. Napier were not respectable enough~
to support Mr. Scovell—(hear, hear)—who was said to
have with him all the wealthy and influential persona

in the borough. It had been said that our recent battles
were " soldiers' battles," and he trusted that they would
show that this election was a " people's battle." (Hear.)

Sir CHARLES NAPIER then came forward amidst loudL
applau.e, and observed that before he said one word

aim.ut the election he wished to make himself clear on.

one point. He perceived that there was some inaccuracy
in some of the reports of his speech on the previous even-
ing ; from which it appeared that he rather blamed Ad-
miral Dundas for his conduct before Sweaborg. He
did not say that Admiral Dundas ought to have brought
his fleet up to Sweaborg, but what he meant to say
was that he blamed the Admiralty for not having
taken care that the whole fleet was brought up too
attack the place after the explosions caused by the mor-
tar-boats, and that Admiral Dundas would not have
been discreet to have gone on with the attack with the

small force he bad at his disposal. It was the Admi-
ralty, and not Admiral Dundas whom he blamed, and
be was most anxious that the inaccuracy in question

should be corrected. [lt will be seen on reference to the
report in this journal that Sir Charles's statement is in:
substance the same as that which he made on the pre—
sent occasion.] He had also been told that his object in.
getting into Parliament was to attack Sir Jas. Graham.
That was not his object, as he looked on Sir James
Graham as entirely smashed. (Hear, hear, and'
cheers.) He was beneath his (Sir Charles's) contempt,.

and as far as any blame cast on bim by Sir J. Graham-
was concerned, he believed he was already fully'
justified in the eyes of the public. (Hear, hear.) There
were a great many candidates fur the representation of.
the borough—he believed another was announced that.
night. The first and principal one was Mr. Scovell...
He (Sir Charles) did not think it right to make,
any attack on his competitors, for they were, as Cicero-
said to Hortensius, courting the same lady, and ought;
to treat each other with respect. Mr. Scovell had said_
of him that "he found he was to be opposed by a
gallant admiral, who certainly was not the right man to
claim their suffrages. He wished to speak of the higheat
respect of that gallant admiral, but he considered that,,
being more than 70 years of age, he was not qualified to-
represent that borough, which required a man of great.
energy and activity." It was true he was not far short.
of 70, but he thought he had some stuff left in him yet.
—(cheers)—and Mr. Scovell must certainly have a very
good opinion of himself, for he described himself as a man
of " energy and activity." He had never seen Mr. Sco-
wl!, though he should no doubt see him in the course of
this contest, but be thought he could stand as much work
as that gentleman. With regard to the other candidates,.
hardlyhe knew their names, and as they had said nothing
of him he should not bring them on the carpet, The
chairman had said that the electors had to choose the
best man, and also that the contest was between em-
ployers and employed. Whenever there was such a con-
test, which was never desirable, the masses generatly
carried the day, and he thought they would do so notes
in Southwark. Ho had always heard that the electoral
of Southwark were famous for their plain-speaking and'
independence. If all the voters in England were in the
same position, there would be no occasion for the ballot,
but as that was not the case, the franchise was of little
use without the ballot. Having given some illustrations
of the difficulties which tradesmen and others had in
voting independently under the present system, he pro-
ceeded to say that he was for ;in extension of the suf-
frage, not for universal suffrage, but, on the whole, be
thought that every man who paid rates and taxes should.
have a vote. Mr. Scovell had said that he (Sir Charles)
was not fit to represent the trade of the borough ; but
was not there in it the port of London, crowded with
shipping, and who was better fitted to represent the
shipping trade of London than a sailor l (Hear.) He
thought, too, that the sailors wanted a representative
who would stand up for their rights. With reference
to sailors, he then proceeded to describe the difference
between the present volunteer system of manning thee
navy and that of press-gangs in the last war—a system
which he was always opposed to, and which had been
done away with. He complained, however, of not giving
the volunteer seamen bounties, and said that the sailors
in the Baltic fleet were not provided with necessaries as
they ought to have been on their entering the service.
He had done his best against the system of keeping sailor*
for a whole year out of their pay in the hope of prevent..
ing desertion ; and that system no longer existed, but
they were regularly paid every month, and desertions
were far less than ever they were. He had also
opposed the cruel punishment of flogging round the
fleet ; and that, too, was gone, while corporal punish-
ment in any shape was fast going out in the navy. At
the same time he would not take away that power, as
such changes should be made gradually, and eves,
sailors themselves said that some such means of coer-
cion was necessary among large numbers of men of d if
ferent characters. On the whole, he believed that the,
sailors of the navy were happy and contented. He
wanted to state how things had been conducted by the
Admiralty. When he got the Baltic fleet the ships were
badly manned; they were got together in all directions ;
no bounties were given, and able seamen were not very
likely to leave the better pay of the merchant service.
However, the fleet was manned, and somehow there
was a feeling in British seamen in time of war which
caused them to come to the navy, even though at less
pay. The fleet was short of officers; there was a great
deficiency of mates and midshipmen. He advised that
mates and well-educated men from the merchant ser-
vice should be taken, for the purpose of supplying the
want. But, no ; the Admiralty refused ; and now was
found the necessity of such a course, and only yesterday
an order was issued admitting that class of persons from►
the merchant service into the navy. (Hear.) That;
was another proof that the Government wanted the,
spur, for, like old post horses, they must get heated.
before they would go. Again, during the whole of last
war, and during the two years of the present, in the
cases of officers in the army who had purchased their
commissions, and were killed, all the money they had
paid was lost to their families ; and it was only yesters
day that a warrant was issued, allowing the widows of
such officers to receive the benefit of the money they paid
for their commissions. Long ago he had proposed that
if au officer who had any of the decorations of the order
of the Bath was kilted in battle, his widow should be
allowed to wear his order. He believed it would be a
great consolation to the widows of such officers to be
allowed to do that, and be had no dobbt that would
come to pass too. The hon. and gallant gentleman then
took a review of the war and of the Crimean expedi-
tion, and urged that no peace should be made with
Russia till she sued for it, and added that he wag not.
sure that the payment of the expenses of the war
ought not to be a condition of any peace.
He then touched on the topics relating to the opera-
tions in the Baltic in the same strain that he had done
on former occasions, and urged that the present Admi-
ralty had exhibited so much stupidity that they ought
rn,t to be trusted with the conduct of the war in the
Baltic again. After what he had said last night he could
not expect much favour from her Majesty's Ministers..
He did not, however, cast equal blame on them all.
There was Lord Palmerston for instance; and by the
bye, how could Mr. Scovell get on with that noble
lord as Prime Minister, when he was two years older
than he (Sir Charles) was ? (Hear, hear, and laughter.)
He did not say a word more against the ministers
than they deserved. Some of them, flu doubt, were
very well ; but still a little censure now and then
did them good, and would perhaps cause them to
put out their energies to camry on the war wit)
Russia. He had come forward as a candidate for the
borough at the request of a considerable number of elec-
tors. He was a stranger to them until the last election,
when he opposed Sir W. Molesworth, not with the in-
tention of putting him out, but principally with the view
his
of making some public statements. He had so wish to
displace so excellent a man, and he only hoped that they
would get as right a man in place. (Heir, hear.)
He then proceeded to say that it was impassible for him
to electorso v ea
iea cards
rds personally, and it was of no
use
at their doors. He
however recollected seeing ladies take a number of invi-
tations with them to parties, which they distributed to
their friends whom they met there, and as he thought.
it a good plan he had put a few cards of invitation to
vote for him into his pocket, and he would now hand
round a few. (The hon. and gallant gentleman here
pulled out a bundle of electioneering cards, and scattered
them among the audience amidst great cheering and
laughter.) He then urged on his supporters the neces-
sity of forming committees in all districts of the borough,
and concluded by saying that he had a very active oppo-
nent, with a long purse, and if they wished to return
him (Sir Charles) the masses must exert themselves to
win the battle. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. A. SMITH moved, and Mr. F. SMITH seconded,
the following resolution :—" Believing, as this meeting
does, that the war we are now engaged in with Russia
is not conducted to the satisfaction of the country at
large, and that the cost is increased by inefficient ma-
nagement ; and having heard the sentiments expressed.
by Sir C. Napier on it and other matters, think that h
is a very fit and proper person to represent this borough
in Parliament. That this meeting approve of the manly
and strsightforward address of Sir Chas. Napier, 'and
pledge,, iise;f to use every effort to secure his election."
The resolution was carried ; and, after a vote of
thanks to the chairman, Sir Charles retired, amidst great
applause, and the meeting terminated. -