The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-07 00:00:00

FINSBURY.

A meeting of Mr. Wyld's supporters was held last
night in the sohool-room, Cowper•street, City-road, Mr.
Justin in the chair. The numbers present were estimated
at from 800 to 900.

The CHAIRDIA.N stated that a placard had been put
forth containing a libel on Mr. Wyld and the committee.
It was headed" Lies, lies, lies!" and charged them with
making a series of calumnious statements affecting the
character of Mr. Alderman Challis. As chairman of
the committee, he declared, upon his honour, that the
committee- had issued no placard reflecting on the cha-
racter of Mr. Alderman Challis, and the only thing of
the kind that had appeared emanated from a gentleman
on the committee, who, the moment the placard was
traced to his authorship, was requested to resign; and
he did resign.—(Cheers.)
Mr. WYLD, who was received with great cheering,
then addressed the meeting. Referring to the placards
to which the chairman had alluded, he said he could
assert that, during the whole contest, he had not
authorised. the publication of a single word calum-
nious towards his opponents, nor had he at
any public meeting used a single word to their dispa-
ragement.—(Cheers.) He felt it to he a point of prac-
tical Christianity not to bear false witness against his
neighbour, and if any man directly or indirectly con-
nected with him had presumed to write the statements
which bad appeared in placards, he would thank that
man never more to be officer of his. Finding a bill
' which stated that Mr. Alderman Challis had employed
a clerk on a Sunday posted in his committee.room._ a
he
indignantly tore it from the walls. Ile had received
letter froma son of Mr. Alderman Challis, asking
whe-
ther he was a party to that bill. He replied that he was
not, and that he did not believe any one connected with
him was so. The moment it became known to the mem-
bers of the committee that an individual acting on it had
some hand in it, that man ceased to be a member of the
committee. Referring further to the mode in which
the contest had been conducted, the Hon. Gentleman re-
marked, that they had had tux-gatherers, men in office, of
power and position, soliciting votes and bringing their in-
fluence to bear on the humble electors. If any man had
reason to feel the necessity of the ballot, he would have
had it if he had stood in the position he (Mr.
him that he
Wyld)
occupied. It had been charged upon
as fit to be their representative, and
had had the audacity to present himself before the elec-
tors of Finsbury
that his coming forward was to displace an old and tried
servant. Was that true or not? When the annals of
the election were written it would be seen who was the
delinquent. Had he known that the late representatives
for the borough had still the intention to sit he should
have been the last to como forward. It was said there
was a vacancy. He was asked in 1851, having bad a
connexion locally with parts of the borough, whether he
would allow himself to be nominated a candidate. What
was his reply." You have two men who have done good
suit and service in time past, and I will not come for-
ward; but, should other circumstances arise, and you re-
quire an individual energetically to advocate your rause,
command my services," When the election of 1852 oc-
curred a requisition numerously signed ws presented
he
him. He said, befbre he undertook that great trust
would go through the borough, and ask whether his opt°
nions were in consonance with those of the electors.
held 15 or 16 meetings, and it was not until sever i w
andidate.
elapsed that he presented himself as
all
was to be
He asked the electors whether their boroug
to manage
made a pocket-borough, whether a clique was.
independent
it? As he had been brought forward by an
body of the people, he had been made the butt of calumny i
and scandal. He then proceeded n forcible tetrms re-
ion being
e bills relating to m
Mr
capitulate his political view i
s. (Soe
occasioned by the distribution
o ntleman en observing.
the bills
Alderman Challis, the HOD. Gewho had
and ex-
Mee had any.
their character begged that those ph,
into circulation would cease di,etrbucti3golt.hern,
pressed his hope that none 1" his
thin to do with thew) 13434=113g hip statement of

[PRICE SD.

political principles, he avowed himself opposed to State
payment for any religious teaching. A grant to a par-
ticular al :cowed to be made the cheval de bataille.
The general principle should be laid down that no creed
ought to be enpperted by the State. A firm believer in
the doctrines tt e Established Church, he had always
regretted thee the union between Church and State was
E.n intimate. It would he better for each to mange its own
ageire. There was a !ergo amount of patronage in the
hands of the Lord Chenceller. Such matters, he though',
would be better administered by the Church itself.
What usually occurred at present? When the Whigs
were in power the patronage was distributed to Whigs;
when the Tories wore in power, to Tories; and if their
own party were in power, they would probably distri-
bute the patronage to Radicale.—(Laughter.) That
was an impfoper state of things, to which an end should
be pee, fer the interest 4 neitl,er of the State nor of true
religion were advanced by the present system. The
lime Gentleman then expressea his views in favour of
free trade and a reduction of taxation. He thought tee
on ht to he allowed to govern and defend them-
solvee—(Lond cheers.) It was the characteristic of
this nation to love fair play; and they should give to
the colonists what they had themselves—self-govern-
ment.—(Renewed cheering.) He vindicated himself
from the charge with which he had dealt at preview
meetings respecting the number of his votes, and also
from a charge which had been made, that he had been
a member of the Coeservatlve Club. At the time
he had been stated to be a member of the Conser-
vative Club he was a member of the Free-trade Club;
within • three months after Parliament met he at-
tended a meeting, over which Sir J. IValmsley pre-
sided, for extension of the suffrage, vote by ballot,
&c. ; ho had all his life had the happiness to hold liberal
opinions ; he was the son of a man who held the same
opinions, who was a Dissenter, and took a great part in
promoting. tht removal of the Tetteand Corporation
Acts. In further confirmation of his long-continued ad-
herence to liberal principles, the Hon. Gentleman
stated that be had been a member of the Birmingham
Political Union, and adverted to the exertions he had
made on behalf of the Poles, many of whom he had em-
ployed in his own occupation. In 1847 he was a member
of Lord D. Stuart's and Sir B. Hall's election committee;
he was also a member of the Westminster Reform Asso-
ciation, and had always voted for the Liberal candidates
in Westminster, Middlesex, and the City. During the
whole of his Parliamentary career he had acted from no
personal motives, but with the honourable ambition of
taking a share in the management of the affairs of this
great country,—(Cheers.)
Mr. FOSTER moved,
" That this meeting, approving of the political senti-
ments of James Wyld, Esq., pledge themselves to use
every possible exertion to secure his return to the ensu-
ing Parliament."
He urged the electors to return Mr. Duncombe and Mr.
Wyld.—(Loud cheers.)
Dr. SEATON seconded the resolution.

In reply to questions,
Mr. WYLD stated that he would support the repeal of
the law for billetting soldiers on licensed victuallers
and beer-shop keepers. He had always supported Sir G.
Peahen and Captain Boldero in their efforts to secure
fitting accommodation for assistant-surgeons in the navy.
With respect to persons subjected to punishment for
political offences, he, thought the Crown ought at once
to condone those offences and allow those individuals to
return to their families.
The resolution was adopted all but unanimously, two
or three hands only being held up against it.
Mr. NEHA3f drew a contrast betwee❑ Mr. Wyld and
Mr. Alderman Challis very much to the disadvantage of
the latter, but concluded by declaring his intention to
plump for Mr. Duncombe.
Mr. WYLD tendered the expression of his admiration
and esteem for one who adhered to an old friend,
though he might himself suffer, and repeated his discla-
mation of having come forward with any intention to
interfere with Mr. Duncombe's re-election. He enter-
tained very little doubt that before Friday he would be
honoured with the trust of being one of their repre-
sentatives.
After three cheers for Mr. Wyld, three cheers for Mr.
Duncombe, and a vote of thanks to the chairman, the
meeting separated.