The Sun.
London, England, 1837-08-03 00:00:00

The re-election of Lords Howick and Ossulston, for this
Division of Northumberland, took place at Alnwick this
day, the 31st July.
The High Sheriff, W. J. Charlton, Esq., opened the pro-
ceedings on the hustings, by requesting the gentlemen would
proceed to the election of two representatives, and that all
parties might have a fair hearing.
C. W. BIGGE, Esq., Chairman of the Magistrates of
Northumberland, rose and said that the decease of our late
beloved Monarch, which had caused universal regret, had
occasioned a vacancy in the various representations of the
country, and it was with much pride that he proposed Vis-
count Howick once more to represent that division of the
county in Parliament. He would not detain them with a de-
tail of his various merits, which had so justly gained the
favour of the great bulk of his constituents. His Lordship
had redeemed every pledge which he had given on his former
election ; he had assiduously attended to his duties in Par-
liament ; and Mr. Bigge appealed to the electors of all par-
ties whether his Lordship had not punctually attended to
every local business on which his assistance was requested.
Her Majesty has reposed her confidence in Lord Mel-
bourne's Government, and Mr. Bigge relied on the people
in strengthening their hands by electing as representatives
those who are advocates of the principles which it is desir-
able to be carried into practical effect.
P. J. SELBY, Esq. seconded the nomination.
Wm. BURRELL, Esq., in proposing Lord Ossulston, said
his great merit consisted in seeing the danger as well as
advantages of political changes, and whilst his Lordship
would assent to every necessary improvement, he would
steadily oppose organic changes which were fraught with
danger to the country.
Wm. ORDE, Esq. (of Nunnykirk) said this was a most
important crisis for the well-being of the country, for on the
result of the elections, as expressing the will of the people,
questions--which he called vital questions—depended.
They had lost an admirable Monarch, whose sole object
was the good of his people—and they had now a Queen,
young and inexperienced, but who, he trusted, would
evince the firmness which characterised her father, the
late Duke of Kent. She has confided the Govern-
ment of the country to Lord Melbourne and his col-
leagues, not because she approves their principles, but that
they may await the determination of the people. Mr. Orde
then passed a high eulogium on Lord Howick, although he
differed from him in political principle. Mr. Orde said he
was himself a very moderate Tory ; and, wherever he could,
was happy to give her Majesty's Government credit for their
measures ; but, said Mr. Orde, " it is evident they do not
rest on a bed of roses—they have been during the last ses-
sion in a state of suspended animation ; and I cannot but
feel for the pain which Lord Howick must have expe-
rienced in being a Member of the Government, which de-
pends for its very existence on that Milesian mountebank
who abused his father." Mr. Orde concluded by seconding
the nomination of Lord Ossalston.
Lords Howick and Ossulston were then declared duly
elected.
Lord Howicx—Mr. Sheriff, and Electors of the
Northern Division of Northumberland :—My warmest
acknowledgements are due to you, for restoring to me once
more the trust which for six years I have held. I rejoice
in meeting you again, to lay before you some general state-
ment of my political conduct as your representative. The
last time I had the pleasure of meeting you, I declared
frankly and fully the principles by which my conduct should
be regulated on all important questions. As your repre-
sentative, I have to the best of my ability acted up to the
principles to which I then avowed my attachment. It is
not, I am sure, expected that I should go minutely into a
detail of all the measures brought before Parliament dur-
ing three laborious sessions, for this would weary your
patience and attention ; but a general statement you may
reasonably expect.—(Cheers.) From the period when
you kindly elected me, on my acceptance of office—and 1
thank you for dispensing with my personal attendance,
when it would have been inconvenient for me to have left
my official duties in London—my conduct has been iden-
tified with her Majesty's Government.--(Loud cheering.)
The gentleman who seconded the nomination of Lord
Oseulston has, in a very good-humoured manner, expressed
his sympathy in my behalf, with reference to the support
the Government received from a person whom he was
pleased to designate a " Milesian mountebank." Now,
this is like the taunts I am accustomed to hear in other
places, and is merely a repetition of the charge so often re-
futed, that the Government of Lord Melbourne hold their
offices solely through the support of Mr. O'Connell. 1
readily admit, that if many of the gentlemen who vote with
the Ministry were to withhold their votes merely because
they do not on every question agree with the Government,
undoubtedly we would sometimes be in a minority. But
I am yet to learn that it is a disgrace to a Government to
receive support from those who do not agree with its po-
licy on all occasions, and who on particular questions may
differ from it. What Government in the history of .this
country ever existed, which received the uniform support
of the members of its party on all subjects, and on every
occasion ? I own it will be a disgrace to us when, for the
purpose of obtaining the votes of any individual or iudivi-
duals, we compromise our opinions and adapt our policy,
against our convictions of its propriety, merely to retain of-
fice by the support we should derive from the abandonment
of our principles. Has this been the course we have pur.
sued ? Have we not resolutely and unflinchingly opposed
some of our supporters on measures which we could not
approve ? We have pursued, and shall continue to pursue,
a straightforward and steady course, in bringing forward
measures which we deem necessary for the welfare of the
country ; and have opposed, as we shall continue to oppose,
measures by whomsoever brought forward, which we con-
sidered and may deem of a contrary nature. We have been
told that the Government has, during the past Session,
bean in a state of " suspended vitality."--(Ne, no.) Well,
" suspended animation ;" perhaps the difference is rather
nominal than substantial. I know what that means—it
means that we have not succeeded in passing so many mea-
sures as it would have been desirable to have seen com-
pleted. But, if you look back, you will find that the last
three sessions have not been barren of useful legislation.
Vsre came into office in April, 1835, and although we had
our arrangements to make, in the course of that year we
carried Municipal Corporation Reform for England.
Changes were certainly made in another House—changes
to the great injury of the original Bill, and which, the more
I see of its workings, the more I regret them ; but yet,
with all its faults, it has wrought a most auspicious change
for the better in the corporate government of the towns in-
cluded in the measure ; and in Newcastle alone I had oc-
casion the other day to see some portion of that improve-
ment in the superior state of its police. But there are
other measures of a valuable and important nature. We
have carried a Bill for the Registration of Births and
Deaths, and for enabling Dissenters to celebrate marriages
independent of the Church of England. That Bill gives
increased facility for tracing descents and ascertaining the
rights to property, which will prove valuable to all parties.
The next measure to which I will briefly call your atten-
tion is the Bill for the Commutation of Tithes. The necessity
for some measure of that kind was universally admitted; more
than one attempt was made to effect an adjustment of the
question, without success ; and even Sir Robert Peel, after
one measure was introduced, had so little confidence of its
success, that lie declined to take an active part in its de-
tails, and had another measure ready in case of the failure
of ours, merely for the voluntary commutation of tithes. In
spite of all the auguries against it, it now forms a part of
the law of the land. The vexatious impost of tithes, always
fluctuating and harassing, forms a fixed charge—the most
constant causes of dissension between the Clergyman and
his flock are removed—and his usefulness will thereby be
increased—a further beneficial effect will be found in the
improved condition of the land. These are some of the
measures which we have succeeded in carrying into effect,
and more I could add if it were required. In the last Ses-
sion, during which we have been represented in a state of
" suspended animation," we have carried a Bill for amend-
ing the Criminal Law—taking away the penalty of death in
certain cases ; and while we have followed the dictates of
humanity, wo have provided more effectually for the re-
pression of crime. The lamented death of the King stayed
many measures in progress ; but, as was truly observed in
her Majesty's Speech, the discussions on those measures
have not been thrown away. One measure, of which we
cannot over-rate the importance, is for the relief of the
destitute poor of Ireland. Of all the measures requisite to
raise Ireland from the state of misery and degrada-
tion to which a long course of bad Government has
reduced her, none is better fitted than a law for re-
lieving her destitute poor. 'We have grappled with
the difficulties of that subject—some have complained
that one measure goes too far—others that it'ofalls short. In
this conflict of opinion, however, it is gratifying to find the
measure treated with an absence of all party spirit, and that
it has received the decisive approbation of the House of
Commons ; and I hope it will speedily pass into law. True
it is, however, that we have been prevented from carrying
other measures; and I deeply lament, tlmon4st them, the