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

REPI?ESESTA TION OF SODTHWARK.

SIR CHARLES NAPIER.
Yesterd-.y evening a public meeting of the electors of
Southwark was held, at the Literary Institution, DO-
rough-rowl, 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.
Mi. Cmrrs LEDGE occupied the chair, and in a few
observations introduced the business of the evening. In
alluding to the loss the 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 was 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 persons

in the borough. It had been said that our recent battles
were " suldiers' battles," and he trusted that they would

show that this election 'was a " people's battle." -(Hear.)

Sir CHARLES NAPIER then came frrward amidst loud
applause, and obscrved that before he said one word
about 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 Fay 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 14
attack the place after the explosions caused by the mote
tar-boats, and that Admiral Dundas would not have
been discreet to have gone on with the attack with the
small force he had at his disposal. It was the Admi-
ralty, and not Admiral Dundas whom be 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 be 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 him by Sir J. Graham
was concerned, he believed he was already fully
justified in the eyes of the public. (Hear, hear.) Thera
were a great many candidates fer the representation of
the borough—be 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 highest
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 greaS
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-
vell, 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:,
he hardly knew their 'Arne?, 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 generally
carried the day, and he thought they would do so now
in Southwark. He had always heard that the electors
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 as extension of the suf-
frage, not for universal suffrage, but, on the whole, he
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 borougfe ; but
was not there in it the port of London, crowded with
shipping, and who was better fitted to represe et the
shipping trade of London than a sailor ? (Hear.)\ He
thought, too, that the sailors wanted a represent ative
who would stand up for their rights. With refer 'once
to sailors, he then proceeded to •de4cribsi the ditrer,Snce
between the present volunteer system of manning the
navy and that of press-gangs in the last war—a syst em
which he was always opposed to, and which bad be en
done away with. He complained, however, of not giviog
the volunteer seamen bounties, and said that the sadovs
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 cerp6ral 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 even
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 merc,hant 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 aoTvised 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 admittieg 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
oommissions, and were killed, all the money they had
paid was lost to their families ; and it was only yestero
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 an officer who had any of the decorations of the order
of the Bath was kil.ed 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 he 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 ne peace should be made with
Russia till she sued for it, and added that be was 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 don*
on former occasions, and urged that the present Admi-
ralty bad exhibited so much stupidity that they ought
net 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. Sow of them, no doubt, were
very well ; but still a censure now and then
did them good, and would perhaps cause them to
put out their energies to carry on the war with
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 be opposed Sir W. Molesworth, not with the in-
tention of putting him out, but principally with the view
of making some public statements. He had no wish to
displace so excenent a man, and he only hoped that they
would get as right a man in his place. (Hear, hear.)
He then proceeded to say that it was impossible for him
to canvass all the electors personally, and it was of no
use hiring persons to leave cards 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
ahem 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 bad 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 cheese.)
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 k 3
is a very fit and proper person to represent this borough
in Parliament. That this meeting approve of the manly
and straightforward address of Sir Chas. Napier, and
pledges itself 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.