The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-29 00:00:00

PORTSMOUTH ELECTION.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
PORTSMOUTH, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29.
The elevation of Mr. F. T. Baring, one of the Mem-
bers for this borough, to the high and disting.ished
office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, having cre_ted a
vacancy in the representation of Portsmouth, the ' iends
of the Right Honourable Gentleman and the supporters
of Liberal principles here have for the last few days
been on the qui vice to secure the return of Mr. Baring
at the ensuing election. With this view they have
formed themselves into district Committees in the various
divisions of the borough, and have acted with so much
energy and effect that the Tories have been completely
frightened from the field, and the confident expectation is,
that the Right Hon. Candidate will walk over the course
without any opposition. If anything were necessary to sus-
tain this view of the matter it would be found in an address
to the electors from Dr. Quarrier, the leader of the Tory
party in the borough, in which he declines to come forward
to contest the vacancy with Mr. Baring, alleging as a
reason, his belief that that gentleman " from his high
character—his station as Chancellor of the Exche-
quer—and from the confidence reposed in him by the
Ministry, is more likely to benefit the towns of Ports-
mouth and Portsea than he was." So we think too,
and so we believe think the great majority of the
electors ; but be that as it may, should the Conser-
vatives, urged by the entreaties of the Standard, be mad
enough to risk a contest, they may depend upon it they
will be beaten to their heart's content; for not only are the
friends of Liberal principles " up and stirring," but they
' have with a wisdom, quite worthy of the cause in
, which they are embarked, merged all minor diffe-
rences in that of the great principle of se-
curing the return of an honest and efficient Re-
former as the representative of this town in Parliament.
Mr. Baring arrived here late on Monday night, and it hav-
ing been arranged by his friends that he should address the
electors the following day, at the Guildhall, in this town, a
meeting was accordingly convened at an early hour, which
was attended by a large number of the respectable electors
of Portsmouth, and at which the late Member and present
candidate appeared. Mr. Alderman Carter was called to
the chair.

The CHAIRMAN having stated the object of the meeting,
begged to introduce their old and tried friends who would
be happy to answer any questions that might be put to him.
Mr. BARING then came forward, and after a short speech
in which he stated that he was not placed in his new situ-
ation by either intrigue or interest, and that in accepting
the office he did it on public grounds, concluded by saying
that he was ready to hear any question or remarks which
his constituents might address to him.
In answer to questions from Mr. JEFFERY,
Mr. BARING said he had voted against the Ballot at the

last discussion in the House of Com-mons, and he had seen
no reason to change his opinion, though he had joined a
Cabinet, that were willing, to make it an open question.
With regard to the Corn-lags, he was in favour of a fixed
duty, as that would produce more good to the com-
munity, without injuring the grower, than any other.
As to flogging in the army, he was of opinion that it ought
to be left in a great measure to the prudence and discretion
of the military authorities to say how far or in what degree
that species of punishment should be carried into effect.
He was not therefore, prepared to say that corporal punish.
ment could be entirely doneaway with in the army—at the
same time his opinions in this respect must be considered as
entirely disconnected with the punishment in question, and
sure he was, that with the present disposition of the officers
of the army, and of the acknowledged humane disposition
of the Judge-Advocate, Sir George Grey, a relation of his
own, it was not likely that military punishments would be
exercised in an improper manner.—( Hear, hear.) He
then thanked the gentlemen for their attendance, and
called on them not to relax their effort?, but to act as if
there had been really an opponent in the field.
Thanks having been given to the Chairman the meting
separated.