The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-30 00:00:00

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE•

CITY OF LONDON.
Last evening Mr. Crawford, MT., Mr. Goschen,
M.P., Alderman William Lawrence, three of the
four candidates for the city in the Liberal interest,
and Mr. Nathaniel Rothschild, representing his
father, Baron Rothschild, M.P., the fourth candi-
date, attended a large meeting of the Liverymen and
other electors convened in Farringdon-hall, Snow-
hill. Mr. James Harvey, a leading inhabitant of the
ward of Farringdon, was called to the chair, and
in-
troduced the candidates to the meeting. With
respect to Baron Rothschild the mention of whose
name was received with great respect by the meet-
ing, he took occasion to remind them that the Baron
was first elected for the city of London for the asser-
tion and maintenance of a great principle. (Cheers.)
Baron Rothschild, unfortunately, from indisposition
had been as yet unable to meet the constituency on
this occasion, but for himself he (the chairman) was
prepared to support him as warmly as he did on the I
first occasion, and he believed the men of Farring-
don, as throughout the city, would do the same.
(Renewed cheering.)
Mr. CRAWFORD, M.P., who first presented him-
self to speak, was received with cheers. It was now,
he said, between eight and nine years since he was
first elected a member for the city of London. He
was then a comparatively unknown man, though he
had sat in Parliament a short time for another con-
stituency. He was elected at that time on the decla-
rations of principle he submitted to the citizens of
London, and those declarations had since constantly
governed his conduct as a public man. During that
period he had been actively engaged as their mem-
ber, and there was hardly any man who had been
occupied with the business of the Houseof Commons
that had done more to uphold the interests of
the citizens. In all the great leading questions
which had engaged the attention of Parliament in
that interval he had endeavoured, to the best of his
ability, to take the part which became him as a re-
presentative of a great city, especially,whenever any
of the rights and privileges of the city had come
under consideration, and notably the question of the
City Police. He had always claimed a fair consi-
deration for the Corporation at the hands otParlia-
ment, and he had taken a considerable part in the
discussions in reference to property affected in that
particular part of the city by the authorisation of
extensive public works, sympathising, as he did,
with people who were turned out of their houses and
places of business, and left to find others where
they might. There was another matter which he
knew had been very much discussed in that particu-
lar ward ; he meant the principle involved in the
Union Chargeability Bill, which had just passed
both Houses of Parliament. (Cheers.) He recol-
lected being called on in that hall some years ago to
state what course he should take in reference to the
equalisation of the poor-rates. To that principle he
had always been friendly, and when under another
name the Union Chargeability Bill was introduced,
which did away with the monstrous iniquity that
prevented a man carrying his labour, which was his
capital, to whatever market he chose, he hailed it as
a great boon to the humbler classes of the commu-
nity. One thing only remained to be done in that
direction, and that was to enable a poor man, who
might find it necessary to apply to his parish for re-
lief, to receive that relief in the place where he hap-
pened to be at the time, and not be carted off to his
place of settlement, so-called. (Cheers.) They
were on the eve of a dissolution of Parliament, and
the nomination for the city of London would pro-
bably take place on Monday week, and the polling
on the following day. He therefore called on the
constituency to be prepared to discharge the great
public duty which would so soon devolve upon them.
Adverting to a recent statement of his friend Mr.
Thomas Baring at a public meeting of electors,
to the effect that the Liberal Reform Registration I,
Society, on the resignation of Sir James Duke, had
presumed to dictate to the constituency who should
fill his place, Mr. Crawford explained that Mr.
Baring was in error in that respect ; that Alderman
Lawrence, on Sir James announcing his intention to
retire from the representation, of his own motion
issued an adress to the electors ; and that it was not
until Friday last that the Registration Association
held any meeting in referenc.3 to the fcrthcoming
election. It was the game of the Tory- party to re-
present that the Registration Association assumed
to dictate to the constituency. (" That is the feel-
ing.") That might be the feeling, but the Associa-
tion took no steps whatever in the matter until two
Tories presented themselves, and they met together
for the legitimate purpose of considering the course
they should take. Do not, therefore, let it be said
again that the Liberal Association had assumed, or
had dared to assume, any power to dictate to the
electors of the city of London. (Hear, hear.) For
himself, if the constituency should not think him a
fit and proper person to represent them he would
retire into the ranks, stipulating only in that event
that he should be at liberty to fight for the Liberal
party ; but he should assume as a fact that the
electors were again prepared to support him. One
of their members, Baron Rothschild, was not pre-
sent. It was 18 years since Baron Rothschild was
dragged out of the privacy of his business occupa-
tions in the city to be the living exponent of a great
public principle. (Cheers.) They would recollect
the memorable occasion in 1847 when he was called
out to fight one of the great battles that then re-
mained to be fought for civil and religious liberty—
(cheers) —and how he fought it--how he resigned
his seat again and again in order to give the electors
of the city of London an opportunity of re-elect-
ing him—how he was returned again and again,
until at length a great principle of religious liberty
was completely and signally vindicated in his person.
(Cheers.) During the whole of that struggle he was
unable to give a single vote. For eight years he had
been their member. (" How many votes has he
given ?") He (Mr. Crawford) had not got fingers
to count them. Baron Rothschild had been inca-
pacitated, by an illness which they all hoped to be
temporary, from attending Parliament ; but the
duties of a member of Parliament were not alto-
gether to be measured by his attendance, or the
number of votes he gave. He asked whether, in all
the great contests that had been fought for the free-
dom of commerce and the furtherance of the rights
and interests of the people, the moral influence and
the name of Rothschild, representing the city of
London, were not more felt than those of a man
who, on going to contest the representation of a
borough in the country, took with him a little por-
manteau. He regarded Baron Rothschild as a man
who had been faithful to all his principles and pro-
mises, and it would ill become the citizens of London,
now that ke was temporarily laid on the shelf, to
forget or to ignore the strong claims he had on their
consideration. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. NATHANIEL ROTHSCHILD briefly addressed
the meeting, and took occasion to say that the health
of his father was improving (cheers), and that he
hoped under the providence of God he would soon
be able to take his place, as he would like to do ;
but that, should he eventually not be able to do so,
he would be prepared to resign the trust the electors
of the city of London had so often committed to his
hands.

Mr. Goscau next presented himself to the meet-
ing and received a most flattering welcome. They
did not, he said, on this occasion appear on the hust-
ings with any party cry to
rally either the Liberal
or the Conservative party. Parliament was simply
expiring from the lapse of time ; and what did that
prove ? He thought it proved that the majority
in the House of Commons fairly represented the
majority of the nation—(cheers)—that the Liberal
party had got a majority in the country, and that
the Conservative party for a long time
had been
unable to deal any blow at her Majesty's Govern-
ment. That Government might have had short..
comings. He was an independent representative ;
he was not a party man. It showed the Govern.
ment had been able to command a majority in the
country and in the House, or long before this
Parliament would have been dissolved and an ap-
peal made to the country. The constituencies could
now elect their members calmly and look at their
views on general principles. They were not obliged
to elect a member because he held a peculiar opinion
in reference, for example, to a war in China, or to
any Such matter, but they were able to elect their

members on general principles. But for that reason
he hoped the Liberal party would not be more
supine than if any great question were before them.
Suppose the Government had dissolved rarliament
on the question of the Budget, and said they would
appeal to the country whether it was satisfied with
their financial measures. The Government would
have had a vast majority on such a question ; but
Parliament had not been dissolved, and they came
now simply before the country on the question
whether it was fairly satisfied with the Government
and the Liberal members. Was, then, the country
fairly satisfied with the Liberal members? (" Yes.")
Then let it return them again, for their work was
not yet concluded ; they had a great deal more to
do. Considerable prosperity had been achieved,
but the harvest had not been gathered in, and it
was not yet time for them to rest on their oars and
say, as there was nothing more to be done, they
might as well hand over the Government of the
country to their enemies. The country was at
peace, and this was a time when they might make
internal reforms. Such reforms must be under-
taken in moments such as these, and when we
were at peace with all the world we might make a
war on pauperism. (Loud cheers.) That war on pau-
perism had been commenced. The Union Charge-
ability Bill had passed ; that was one step ; but pau-
perism must be stopped, not by relieving it, but by
rooting outthe causes of it. (Cheers.) We must root
out pauperism by encouraging further habits of thrift
among the labouring classes, and the Chancellor
of the Exchequer had assisted in doing so by his Sav-
ings-banks Bill, and another way was by fostering
education. When so much yet remained to be done,
could they say that they might " rest and be thankful ?',
They could not. There was a good deal of small ob-
structiveness in the country. He repudiated the
charge that the Liberal party in England was violent
or revolutionary. (Cheers.) The Conservatives
exaggerated everything that the Liberal party at-
tempted to do. If they wished to extend the freedom
of religious worship, they were told they were destroy-
ing the Church ; or if they attempted to extend the
franchise, they were upbraided with destroying the
Constitution. Whatever the Liberal party did the
policy of the Conservatives was that of exaggeration.
It was said that they were in favour of sudden and
violent changes. Sudden change was impossible in
our political Constitution. If the Liberal party, for
example, were in favour of the abolition of church-
rates, would that be a sudden change, considering
that they had been working at it for years ? The same
might be said of Mr. Baines's Bill. Those were not
sudden or violent changes. If they proposed a small
measure of Reform they were taunted with attempt-
ing to introduce the thin edge of the wedge, and so
they were caught both ways. (A laugh.) Now, the
Liberal party did claim to be in favour of moderate,
well-considered, and gradual changes in the country.
They were not violent, and not revolutionary ; but
they must have a certain amount of " go" if they
wished to make progress. The greater the harvest,
the lighter the taxation, and the more neces-
sity was there to keep the Liberal coach going.
When the country was in a state of prosperity, it
was told the men who had brought that prosperity
were no longer wanted. Any fool could have said
that. (A laugh.) One of their opponents at a
meeting on the previous evening quoted a Swedish
maxim to the effect that it was wonderful by how
little wisdom the world was governed. The go-
vernment of this country was comparatively easy,
but any mistake, any collision with the ship of the
State, or any derangement of its intricate machi-
nery might bring about a calamity such as Conser-
vatives would not wish to face. He said, then, it
was not true that little wisdom was required to
govern this country, and he trusted the Liberal
party would remain true to its colours. He stood
there as a humble member of that party. He pleaded
that the citizens of London should send four Liberal
members to Parliament, and as they would probably
be the first constituency who would return repre-
sentatives to the new Parliament, he urged them to
set an example to the country—(cheers)—for by so
doing they would retain the services of those who,
during one of the longest governments ever known,
had shown how to maintain the honour of England
abroad and its prosperity at home. (Loud cheers.)
Alderman LAWRENCE followed with abrief speech,
dwelling chiefly on his long and intimate connec-
tion with the city as a member of the corporation of
London, in which he had filled the highest offices
from time to time, and his consequent familiarity
with its varied interests. The meeting gave Mr.
Lawrence a very cordial reception.
In reply to questions put by the meeting, Mr.
Lawrence said he was in favour of the ballot ; Mr.
Crawford stated that he had always voted for it ;
and Mr. Goschen said he also had done so. He
should prefer personally to be elected by open vot-
ing, but where voters said a certain amount of pres-
sure would be put upon them, recourse should then
be had to the ballot. Mr. Alderman Lawrence further
said he was decidedly of opinion that there should
be an extension of the suffrage that should take in
large classes who were now deprived of it.
In reply to Mr. G. Brookes, a Liveryman, to
whether, if re-elected, he would move for a commit•
tee to consider the destitution of the metropolis
which afflicted every humane heart at times,

Mr. GOSCHEN said since he had been in Parliament
there had been no question which had more occupied
his mind than pauperism, and he pledged himself, if
elected, to apply his best energies to the subject,
without, however, at that moment committing him-
self to any particular course.
On the motion of Mr. LUSHER, a member of the
Common Council, the meeting passed with acclama-
tion a resolution approving the views of the four
candidates, and pledging themselves to unite to secure
their return.

SOUTHWARK.

Mr. Layard has issued the following address :

"As the dissolution of Parliament will shortly take place,
it becomes my duty to inform you that I shall again seek
the honour of representing you in the House of Commons.
I must, in the first place, express to you my gratitude for
the confidence which you have hitherto placed in me. When,
in 1861, Lord Palmerston did me the honour of naming
me Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, I accepted
that office with your unanimous approval. My official duties
have prevented my appearing as much among you of late
as I had opportunities of doing during the early part of my
connection with you : but I trust that in no instance have
I neglected your local interests. With the assistance of
my esteemed colleague, Mr. Locke, I have carefully watched
over them in Parliament, and hare done my best to pro-
mote them. The Parliament which is abcut to expire has
passed many useful and important measures. Religious
liberty has been advanced by several bills, which have re-
lieved Dissenters and Roman Catholics from previously
existing disabilities. Laws have been enacted for the im-
provement of the condition of the working and labouring
classes, especially the Union Chargeability Law—the first
step, it may be hoped, towards an equal metropolitan rat-
ing. By a wise and liberal treatment of our finances the
principles of free trade have been extended, and the revenue
has been increased to an unexampled extent, while the bur-
den of taxation has been greatly reduced. These measures
of progress and reform would have been still further extended
but for the unfailing opposition of the Conservative party,
which has just defeated the Catholic Oath Bill, and has
thereby refused an aet of justice to onr Roman Catholic fel-
low-subjects. Abroad events of the highest importance have
occurred during the existence of this Parliament. A united
and free Italy has been added to the great Powers of Eu-
rope, and Lord Palmerston has represented the feelings of
the English people in aiding with all the weight of the
moral influence and sympathy of this country that illus-
trious nation in achieving its independence. During the
lamentable civil war in the United States of America the
Government has maintained, in face of the gravest diffi-
ties, a policy of strict neutrality, which has received the
full approval of the country. Showing an honourable desire
to fulfil treaty engagements, the Government of Lord Pal-
merston endeavoured to prevent an unjust aggression of
the United German Powers upon the weak State of Den-
mark ; but when all its attempts to maintain peace had
failed, it refrained from involving England alone in a war
in support of treaties to which other nations, as well as
herself, were parties. Tho commercial interests of the coun-
try have been greatly extended, and our international re-
lations placed on a firmer footing by treaties of commerce,
the best guarantees for peace, with France, Turkey, Italy,
Belgium, Prussia, and the Zollverein. I may feel a legiti-
mate satisfaction in having been a member, however
humble, of a Government which has done so much to merit
the
approval of the country. My opinions upon the princi-
pal political questions of the day are too well known to you
to require any fresh statement of them. I wilt only say
that I adhere to all th3se, especially with regard to the
suffrage, which I expressed to you when you did me the
honour of electing me your representative. If you should
again honour me with your confidence, you will find me
equally devoted to your interests, and equally desirous of