The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-07 00:00:00

it at once. (A laugh.) There were so many interests
involved, and so many important considerations
mixed up with it, that it was a question of great dif-
ficulty. He believed the inhabitants of that borough
were the most disinterested people in the world—(a
laugh)—for they would not take the trouble of under-
standing a question that so nearly concerned them.
The next question to which he should call their atten-
tion was that, of the houseless poor, for whom a rate
was to be levied on the entire metropolis, which was
he contended a step in the right direction. (Hear,
hear.) This as to the sewage question, he had been
asked by Mr Brady to b 3 a member of the corn.
mittee ; but he candidly confessed he did not under.
stand it, although it was one of enormous import-
ance. (Hear, hear.) Messrs Napier and Hope had
a plan of taking the sewage of London down to
Shoeburyness, and there were other plans proposed,
but,as he said before, he did not really understand it.
The next question was that of Thames Conservancy.
A VOICE— Ile what? (A laugh.)
Mr LocKg—The Thames Conservancy, and he
could assure that gentleman who interrupted him
that this was of more importance than he deemed it.

(Hear, hear.) They were probably not aware that
the whole of the Conservancy formerly belonged to
the city of London, but he had great pleasure
in telling them that six men not in the City were
recently added. Then, as to his political princi.
pies. He had always endeavoured to support the
present Government, and now that a Parliament
elected under the auspices of Lord Derby was about
to expire, he would tell the result. In the first
place they had, according to Mr Cobden, the best
Chancellor of the Exchequer that ever existed.
(Cheers.) The amount of taxation remitted by that
right hon. gentleman within the last few years was
on food and clothing five millions, and to the middle
classes, by a reduction in the income tax and the
abolition of flan paper duty, six millions, making
eleven millions, and a reduction of six milliuses in
the national debt. (Hear, hear.) Mr Pitt was called
a Heaven-born Minister, but as far as regards the
working classes of this country, Mr Gladstone was
equally so. (Hear.) And while such a mail and his
colleagues continued to act as they had hitherto
done, they should have his cordial support. (Cheers.)
As for foreign affairs, they had, to use a vulgar
phrase, "a go-in"—(a laugh)—the other night from
his friend and colleague, Mr Layard, and he should
not, therefore, go into it at very great length.
With respect to the Danish question, Mr Layard

made one of the best speeches he ever heard in the
House of Commons, (Hear, hear.) The question
then was peace or war. (Hear, hear.) In 1852
this country did what he hoped she would never do
again : she entered into a treaty with Austria,

France, Russia, and Prussia—Powers, he might
add, in whom they could have no confidence. When
the question of the succession arose, however, it
was said that treaty was no guarantee for the in-
tegrity of Denmark, and so when France and Rus-
sia refused to have anything to do with it England
acted quite rightly in the course she pursued,
(Hear, hear.) Now that they were done with Den-,
mark, and the lonian Islands likewise, he hoped
the doctrine would i❑ future be nun-intervention,
and that this country would attend to its own af-
fairs. (Hear, hear.) With respect to the Ameri-
can war, he said four years ago he could give no
opinion upon it, but whether the North succeeded
or not slavery was doomed for ever. He thought
the Government acted perfectly right in the course
they pursued in not interfering with either
party, and deserved great credit for the course
they pursued. Then as regarded reform, he should
wish them to go on faster; but the people them-
selves must do something. (Hear, hear.) He always
had, as he said, supported the Government, because
he had no confidence whatever in Mr Disraeli.

(Hear, hear.) He read his magnificent speech the
other day at Oxford, but, after all, it only came to
the question of whether, in Church matters, they
should be ruled by lawyers or by bishops. (A laugh.)
For his own part he was no great judge in such
matters, but he preferred any day the opinion of a
lawyer to a bishop. (A laugh.) He (Nix Locke)
supported Mr Locke King's bill last session, and
was also in favour of the ballot. A few years ago
Mr Childers, now a member of her Majesty's Go.
vernment, entered the House of Commons, and as
he had recently returned from Australia, where the
ballot was adopted, he was expected during the de-
bate to explain how it worked. From that expla-
❑ation he (Mr Locke) was of opinion the ballot was
the best system ; and although, perhaps, it may not
be so necessary in the large borough of Southwark
as in other places, as a general rule it would be
most beneficial to the country. (Cheers.) In con-
clusion, he thanked them most sincerely for the
kindness they evinced towards him, and hoped their
connexion would never cease as lung as he had
health and strength to act in their service. The
hon. gentleman then resumed his seat amid loud
cheers.

Mr COLLINSON baying warmly eulogised the zeal
and activity of Mr Locke in attending to their local
affiirs, read the following resolution :—" That this
meeting, having heard the address of Mr Locke,
hereby expresses its entire approval of the eourse
he has pursued, both upon general and local ques•
lions during the last session of Parliament, and da-
clares him to be eminently entitled to the continued
confidence and support of his constituents."
Mr DARNELL seconded the motion, and it was
passed with acclamation,
Mr LOCKE briefly returned thanks, and the usual
vote being passed to the chairman, the proceedings
terminated.