The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-28 00:00:00

CARLISLE.

On Monday the election contest at Carlisle, which
is expected to be severe, was commenced. The sit-
ting members, Mr. Potter and Mr. Lawson, having
arrived in the city in the morning, their addresses
were issued, and canvassing was commenced at mid-
day. In the course of the afternoon Mr. Hodgson,
of Newby Grange, who has before represented the
city, issued an address, offering himself for election
in the Conservative interest. Except references to
his connection with Carlisle, the question of reform
is the principal topic touched upon in his address.
On this he says :
" The present Government have been in office six years,
but have evinced no serious intention or honesty of purpose
in carrying out that scheme of reform which was made by
them the pretext for ejecting from power the Government
of Lord Derby. I am prepared, as I ever have been, to
consider and support any such extension of the franchise
as would confer that privilege upon those whom property,
education, Mid intelligence render fit persons to exercise
this trust with independence, consistently with the general
welfare."

At night a crowded meeting was held, at which it
was announced the sitting members would address
their constituents. Mr. G. G. Mounsey, of Castle-
town, chairman of the Liberal committee, presided.
He announced that Mr. Potter was prevented by
illness from being present, but he hoped in a day
or two to meet his constituents. Mr. Lawson, how-
ever, addressed the meeting at some length. He
said that, looking at the representation of the county
of Cumberland, including the boroughs of Carlisle,
Cockermouth, and Whitehaven, he found the whole
county returned nine members, of whom five belong
to the party of progress, and four to the party of
obstruction. 'Therefore at present the Liberals pos-
sessed the odd man. But if a fortnight hence they
displaced one of the members for this city, they
caused the voice of the county to be given, not for
progress, but for obstruction. If a personal question
were at issue he would yield to Mr. Hodgson, but

the question was the old question between the
Liberal and Tory party. The Conservative party
was in favour of government for the people ; the
Liberal party was in favour of government by the
people. Most warmly was he in favour of govern-
ment by the people. (Cheers.) Self-government was
the glory of this country, but it was in a most im-
perfect and unsatisfactory state when four-fifths
of the adult males had no share in it. That was
the state of things the real Liberal party wished to
see altered. He reviewed the position of the Reform
question, and asked whether the electors of Car-
lisle would return two members who would sup-
port a thorough and earnest measure of Reform, or
only one, and with him one who would neutralise
his voice? The hon. member praised the Govern-

ment for avoiding war with America and preserving
neutrality in the Danish dispute, and in conclusion
said he had been true to his political convictions,
and asked for a renewal of confidence. (Loud

cheers.)
On the motion of Captain FERGUSON, a vote of
confidence in both members was unanimously
agreed to.
Mr. PorrEß, in his address, thus refers to the
question of Reform, which he says the next Parlia-
ment must necessarily take into their considera-

tion :
" The Liberal party must be prepared to support their
cause earnestly. The Conservatives will not promote or
support any broad measure of Reform, but will oppose it
both openly and insidiously; and I believe with as little
soundness and discretion, and with, I hope, as little suc-
cess, as in 1832. Reform, however, we must have, a
the present time seems to me one peculiarly suited for Car.
rying out a sound measure. I think the franchise ough
at once to bo extended to a very large numbor who are at
present unenfranchised, but who are equally qualified for
it with those now possessing the privilege. I have no fear
whateverof any but a most beneficial result from a bold,
frank measure, carefully considered with reference to the