The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-17 00:00:00

THE SUN,

always feel the deepest respect on that account to- '
wards him ; but the question now is, can the taxes
of fifty millions a year be paid after relieving
such articles as tea, sugar, paper, &c., from
duties. I say they can, and that is by ,
taxing fixed property—(Applause)—it is the
leading principle in legislation to take off the taxes
from the necessary articles of subsistence and in jus-
tice to the masses who never had any voice in agree-
ing to the taxes that were levied.—(Applause.) If
his principle of taxing fixed property was adopted
land and houses would increase in value instead of
decrease. I will proceed to another point the
ballot—but in what I have hitherto said, I hope I
have been anticipating Lord Derby and Mr. Disraeli
in their measures, end as free trade in corn was ob-
tained through a Conservative Government, I trust that
we shall obtain from the present Conservative Govern-
ment measures of improvement ; but if I am returned
as your representative I shall look always to measures
and not to men upon all questions I am called upon
to give my support ; and this I shall do for your
sakes. At one time he had scarcely believed in the
ballot, and had not admitted its necessity. Changes
were generally, to some extent, an evil, and re-
quired to be looked at with care ; but he
was now convinced the ballot was not required
so much on political as social grounds ; and
it was required in order to induce those men who
had votes to apply their minds on occasions like the
present, to give their opinions.—(Cheers.) A man
who exercised a vote at an election, and used it con-
trary to his opinions, was similar to a man in a jury
box who returned a false verdict—he is de-
graded.—(Loud cheers) If the ballot were in
existence they would be freed from all bickerings,
and if thirty years ago it had been in operation the
depression of trade, the revolutions of parties would
not have happened, for they would long before have
bad free trade. As voting now stood, men
abstained from reading and thinking on public mat-
ters;
there were those above them consideredwho
the
country could be better governed by compelling
elec-
tors to follow their ideas; but he would say to the
highest in the land, relieve yourselves from thinking
for me let things take their natural course, and let
us think for ourselves. If there is one cross-grained
man who thinks wrong on matters, there are ten
hi
who differ from
..m, and thus
matters would find
their natural level, and so
front thinking for me. IlDfrais, rwelaiasvea yNo.uotresrelvle.ns
this place so long as open voting existed, and I speak
from bitter experience, I would never look at a
newtpaper ; I would say to the dominant party I am
obliged to give my judgment into Tour bands. I pin
my vote to your slieve, and 'I know I must vote tic-
' cording to your direction. I.don't knew that there is
that sort of coercion here. If so, I can only say
iI am sorry that he whom I have considered one of the
natural friends of the people should exercise this sway
over your actions ; and if it is obnoxious here, how
much more so must it be in other constituencies—if

you repudiate interference in your political views from
a friend, how must it be to those who are constrained
by a]versefparties? Whenithe Queen's writ goes forth
for the election of a Member here, the deepest respon-

sibility is placed upon the voters of. this city
to the millions in our colonies and in all parts of the
world, who look to this country for protection and
laws, and are relying upon U 3 in every way, and re-
quiring any man's vote, that man says, " No, I vote
against my conscience," can that man feel he is
worthy of the right to be au elector ? Is he worthy
of his country and the liberty of an; Englishman
when he has done his best to deprive all those mil-
lions who depend upon his conscientious voting
of the benefit of it? In my own neigabourhood 1.
bad seen enough of the system of open
voting; I saw how emesculating it was, and
those who had given their votes against their
conviction and conscience felt as degraded
as those who had upon jury given a false verdict.
He would say to them by all they held most veluable,
by all that was right, far God'a sake, for the
sake of religion and morality, avoid such a de-
gradation—and that was why he favoured the
Ballot.—(Applause.) What I have stated in
support of the Ballot will be sufficient to induce you
to agree with me as to its necessity ; but I will
give you au instance of what took place at one of the
Montgomeryshire boroughs at the last election. Four
of the most respectable people in the town came to
me at the dead of the night and told me they were
compelled to vote against their consciences : they
have since packed up their goods and quitted this
kingdom for Australia, hearing with them the hateful
conviction that in this country, with its boasted free-
dom, they were not free men. I will, having tres-
passed at some length upon your time, leave my
opinions on any other matters to be elicited by ques-
ticn.—(Long and loud applause.)
Mr. R. J. HEAD—What are your views, Mr.
Whalley, upon the question of church-rates ?
Mr. WHALLEY—I should like to see them entirely
abolished—(Loud cheers)—and without compensa-
tion. I would vote for their entire abolition. I have
been myself a churchwarden, and the question of
church-rates is entirely a disputed point. I have
looked a great deal into the history of the Church.
The churches should be repaired out of the tithes ; it
would be much to the interest of the Church if such
a source of grievance was removed.
Mr. HEAD—I would ask you, do you conceive it
responsible to give a grant to Maynooth ?
Mr. WHALLEY—In my opinion all such appropri-
ations of the public money are utterly wrong.—
(Cheers.) Such grants are ridiculous as well as un-
justifiable. I would voae certainly for taking it away,
although, in my opinion, that is but a meagre way of
staying the Romanist oppression. The way to meet
that properly is to reconstitute the Church Militant, to
organize the Church against Roman invasion, as the
militia is organized against other foreign invasion.
Mr. HEAD—How far are you prepared to extend
the suffrage ?
Mr. WHALLEY—Without the ballot, to extend the
suffrage would only be an extension of evils. I have
such confidence ;in all classes of my countrymen
that I would almost support its extension
to all classes. The House of Commons is
the medium through which taxes were raised,
and therefore the taxation should be identical with
the representation, but as I hope to see fixed pro-
perty alone taxed, household suffrage is the extent to
which I should propose to go.
Mr. HEAD—Would you vote for Mr. Miall's mo-
tion for the separation of Church and State?
Mr. Wnaeaer—l am not prepared to vote for any
such question. It is one that is not before the country.
I trust the Church will be so organized as to be as
offensive against vice and immorality as defensive
against Rornanism.— (Applause.)
The CHAIRMAN—Ii there any other gentleman
who desires to make any observation upon what has
fallen from the Hon. Gentleman before you.
Mr. Scnorale—Would you, Mr. Whalley, vote
for the removal of taxes upon knowledge ?
Mr. WHALLEY—Most certainly all such taxes I
would remove, and impose upon fixed property.
Mr. SCHOLEY—WouId you vote against universal
suffrage ?
Mr. WHALLEY—Against it.
Mr. JOHN WHIT WELL—Mr. Chairman and gentle-
men,assured, as
I trust this meeting will fully acquit us of at-
tempting to obtain a vote upon any informal or
false grounds. We who have introduced Mr.
Whalley here appear for want of better men, but rest
his keeping, Wlaalley, the other opportunities occur, to hear Mr.
which I reg'rlens
moresee and hear of him, the more
you will like
him. Your
will
. Your local interests
certainly him you will find a friend, a protector,
amongst ygou. to say has not hitherto been the case
not been used. tort,hon former occasions, if you have
purposes of other people, your
opinions have
opinions of other been moulded to the
It is something to be
who responds to your
proud of to have a 141:ptileem.
an
sympathies as Mr. Whalley has done, and who comes
forward thus manfully y
to -id
express your opinions2whenou in
Was your rig
ever
ht to
you before?choice
permited I trust the decision
of this meeting will ring through
will make the
country—that it is known to the
Empire that Peterborough determined no longer to
be dictated to by another person, but determined to
choose her representatives for herself. se
ouse ,e --
ap-
plause.) To remain as we have been We shall be
worse than if we had no opinion at all—we
shall
not be men, but the mere shadows of men. Aa
John Miller used to say at the Board of Guardians
—lf there is a difference of opinion let them be
shaken together and they are
sure to turn out right.
Perhapsd terred us f *
Perhaps deference to great men has sure
ef
freedom of
exercising our undoubted privilege o
choice. Have we ever been represented ? I say
not ! Other people have always chosen and thought for
us. There should beno party here to monopolise the re-
presentation • neither the Financial RefortnAsgociation
nor Noble Lords,' nor Tories, nor Whigs. Upon this
point let all parties unite. You are secure of Mr
Whalley's sympathy. I have now to discharge a
more pleasing duty than I did a month ago. I now
therefore move—
* " That this meeting, having heard the exposition
offered by Mr. Whalley of his political views, and bee
lieving them to accord with those entertained by a ma-
jority of this constituency, considers him fully entitled
to the
confidence and support of the electors of Peter-
borough."
Al r• A .._.LDGATE—I cordially second that resolution.
The CHAIEMA DN— oes any gentleman wish to
make any observation before I put the resolution to
the meeting ?
After
a pause of five minutes, and no one offering
any remarks,
The eueseN N
which wag QathlA • put the resolution to the meeting,
Mr. WriALLtusiastically and unanimously carried.
Chairman, and Ttorose to move a vote of thanks to the
listening to him so thank them at the seine time for
them again andpatiently, and he cordially thanked
again for the most satisfactory and
triwnphant accomplishment of
every object he had in