The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-23 00:00:00

Mr. Cox, M,P., and his Constituents.

Last evening Mr Cox, one of the representatives
of the borough of Finsbury, addressed a very large meeting
of the electors and non-electors of that borough in the
Agricultural Hall, Islington-green.
Dr WILKINSON having been voted to the chair, briefly
opened the proceedings, when
Mr Cox presented himself to the meeting, and was re-
ceived with much applause. He remarked that he had
appeared before them to explain to them the manner in
which he had discharged his duties in Parliament, and if
they gave him a fair and proper hearing he should be pre-
pared to abide by their decision without fear or trepidation.
(Hear, and cries of • " Stansfeld.") He had made out a
programme of the subjects on which he wished to touch,
and he could assure them that the question as to his con-
duct in the case of Mr Stansfeld was among the number.
(Cheers.) He did not wish to shirk that question; but
would come to it in its order. (Hear, hear.) Wel', then,
he would proceed with his programme; and first as to the
Danish question. That was a party question, and had
the Government been beaten upon it Lord Derby would
have come into office. It was deserving of being placed
in the foreground. He was one of those who did not
altogether approve of the conduct of the Government
throughout all the stages of that question. He consi-
dered that at one time they had goaded Denmark on to
resistance to the German Powers, in which they were not
prepared to back her, and which had no doubt proved
very detrimental to her interests. When, however, the
question reduced itself into the form which it did when it
was brought before the House of Commons, namely, as to
whether they were to assist Denmark by armed intervention,
and inveigle this country in a war with the German Powers,
and when the Government had decided on not entering
upon such a war, he considered that they were bound to
support the Government, as had they entered upon a war
with Germany, no one could predict where it might have
led them. Ile therefore voted with the Government against
Mr Disraeli's motion on that question. He had also assisted
iu obtaining an alteration in the fire insurance duties, and
which he had no doubt would be the means of bringing
about further concessions from the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer in respect of them. The next question ho had pat
down was that of Reform, (Loud cries of " Stansfeld.'')
Well, as that matter followed it, he would indulge the meet-
ing and refer to it at once. It was a question which he had
no doubt must create a deep interest in a borough like Fins..
bury, and he should therefore give a full and free explana-
tion of his conduct respecting it. Well, then, having read a
report of a speech made by an official of the French Govern-
ment holding about the same rank as their Solicitor-General
which appeared to him to contain a charge against not only a
member of the Government and of the House of Commons,
but a member also of the Radical party in that house, to
which he himself belonged, and being in friendly corarou-
nication with that gentleman, and sitting on the same seat
with him, he thought it but right for the sake of that gen-
tleman to take some notice of it; for he considered that
when a charge of conspiring in a plot to murder was
brought against such a man, it was the duty of those; on..
netted with him to take notice of it. Ho would put it to
any one whether, when such a charge was brought against
anyone member of a party, end that:party a small one, it
was not the duty of the others connected with that party
to inquire into the truth of it?
A Voice—Did you believe it?

Mr Cox—lt did not matter as to belief. The charge was
made. Plot or no plot, complicity or no complicity, there
was the charge ; and a charge of such a nature against an
innocent man was of more importance than against one who
might be guilty of it. He, therefore, resolved to inquire
into the truth of it. For that purpose he went down to the
House previous to the Speaker coming in for prayers in
order to see Mr Stansfeld. That gentleman had not then
arrived, but he saw Mr Brand, of the Treasury, and he
asked him if he had seen Mr Stansfeld, as he intended
putting a question to him on the subject of this charge.
According to the etiquette and courtesy of the House of
Commons it was customary to give notice the night pre-
vious of the intention to put a question to any hon. mem-
ber, and such was his intention on that occasion, but Mr
Stansfeld having come into the House soon after, and Mr
Brand having told him of his intention, the former gen-
tleman came to him where ho was sitting and said, " I
am glad that you intend to ask a question as to the charge
preferred by the Procureur-General of France, and I wish
you to do so to-night without giving any notice on the sub-
ject." He accordingly put the question as Mr Stansfeld de-
sired, and that gentleman answered it. (Hear.) That was
all he did. It was what he considered it his duty to do, and
yet for doing that he had, as old Mr O'Connell used to say,
been the best abused man in the three kingdoms for the last
three or four months. (Loud cries of " What as to your
vote?") Well, he would tell them as to that as well. The
motion which was made on the subject was, " That the
statement made by the Procureur-General against a mem-
ber of that house on the plot for the assassination of an ally
of this country was deserving the serious consideration of
the house ;" and believing that it was a matter which did
deserve the serious consideration of the house, he voted for
the motion, He considered that in justice to the man him-
self, it deserved consideration, in order that its groundless-
ness might be proved. There was a case in point in respect
to Mr Lowe. When that gentleman was accused of alter-
ing some report of the Commissioners on Education he at
once demanded a committee of inquiry, and it was granted.
In this case, therefore, he considered the same course should
have been pursued, and that was all he intended. (Cheers
and hisses.) If, therefore, there was anyone present dissa-
tisfied with his explanation, he would, before proceeding
further, pause to allow any question being put to him re-
specting it.
Mr DOWNING, amidst considerable confusion, said he had
on two previous occasions given a plumper for Mr Cox, but
he was so dissatisfied with his cenduet respecting the
Stansfeld affair that he could no longer consistently support
him.

Mr Cox—l am ready to answer any question, but at pre-
sent I cannot allow you to make a speech.

Mr DOWNING—Then I must wait until the resolution of
approval of your conduct is put at the close of your address,
and move an amendment to it. (Cheers and uproar.)
Mr CARTWRIGHT—Bid Mr Cos, when he put that ques-
tion to Mr Stangeld, believe that the charge made was
false, and that it was a fabrication of the Imperial Govern-
ment ?

Mr Cox—l did believe it to be false, and I put the quee-
tion to give Mr Stanafeld an opportunity of repudiating it.
(Loud cheers.) The hon. member then proceeded to say
that he had never given a promise to the electors of Fins-
bury but what he had kept ; and if the constituency con-
tinued to him their confidence, he should act as he had done,
independently and honestly, and never be subject to the
influences of any Minister or any party whatever. He had
promised to the electors he would bring the case of flogging
and branding in the army before the House, and he had
taken the occasion of the introduction of the Mutiny Bill
to carry out that object. He had given notice when that
bill was in committee that he would move that flogging and
branding in the army and navy should be abandoned, and
the result was that forty-two voted with him and forty-
five against him, a circumstance which showed the
lamentable state of the present House of Commons,
when only 87 members could be found in the house
to vote on so important a question. He had that
morning received a letter asking whether he would
approve the second reading of the Permissive Bill next ses-
sion, as he had done last session, because if so the writer