The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-24 00:00:00

LIBERAL DEMONSTRATION AT DERBY.

A number of gentlemen assembled some time ago for
the purpose of devising some mode of expressing to
Mr. Moss, the chief magistrate of Derby, and Mr.
Madeley, the sense in which their laborious and gra-
tuitous services were held by the Liberal party in the
borough. It was considered that the most appropriate
course was to present each gentleman with a handsome
testimonial, and a committee was formed for that pur-
pose. The result has been most gratifying to the pro-
moters, as well as to the gentlemen to whom the Liberal
party were certainly under weep obligation. A service
of plate, value about 5001. was subscribed for.
The testimonial to Mr. Moss consisted of an elegant
massive candelabrum of elaborately chased burnished and
frosted silver in high relief, so formed that it is converti-
ble into an epergne. The pedestal is divided into three
compartments, upon which are engraved the armorial
bearings of Mr. Moss, the arms of the borough of Derby,
and the following inscription :
" Presented to John Moss, Esquire, by his friends
and fellow townsmen, in- acknowledgment of his disin-
terested exertions to establish purity of election within
the borough of Derby. October 18, 1853."
The other portion of the testimonial consists of a pair
of massive wine coolers.
The testimonial to Mr. Madeley comprised a tea and
coffee service, consisting of a tea-pot, coffee-pot, sugar
basin and cream ewer ; also a salver, with richly em-
bossed scroll border and feet, the centre elaborately
chased, on which is engraved the following inscription :
"This silver salver and service of plate was presented
to Mr. THOMAS MADELEY by his friends and his fellow-
townsmen, in acknowledgment of his disinterested exer-
tions to establish purity of election within the borough

of Derby. October 18, 1853."
There was also a silver cup, gilt inside, with orna,rnen-
tal chasing and inscription, and a large service of plate.
The whole were enclosed in two massive polished oak
cases, lined with fine purple cloth, and strongly bound
with brass.
About half-past five o'clock, on Tuesday last, the
time appointed for the presentation, a large number of
subscribers assembled. Mr. Bass, M.P., presided, and
Mr. Alderman Peat occupied the vice-chair. Mr. Moss
and Mr. Madeley sat on the right and left of the chair-
man, and among those present were—Mr. Lawrence
Heyworth, M.P., Mr. Alderman Sandars, Mr. Alder-
man Forman, Mr. Alderman Haywood, Mr. Dunnicliff,
Mr. Bingham, &c., &c.
After the usual loyal and constitutional toasts,
The CHAIRMAN said his hon. colleague and himself
were greatly indebted to their two friends, the worthy
chief magistrate of the borough and Mr. Madeley, who
had devoted considerable time and labour to a cause
which their patriotic efforts had crowned with success.
It was quite impossible for him to speak of his friends
as he could wish ; but that assuredly was in itself the
most eloquent recognition of their valued services, and
the beautiful display of plate before him was an earnest
of their sincere appreciation and gratitude. After advert-
ing to the offence of briberyand corruption whichhad gra-
dually grown so general, that it was winked at by many
persons in a respectable position in society ; and after
expressing a hope that ministers of religion would in-
culcate the duty of electors exercising a free, pure, and
unfettered choice in the selection and support of repre-
sentatives ; the lion. gentleman said it was quite clear
that the public mind was at length becoming fully sensi-
ble of the danger of any longer tolerating the pollution
that has so long stained the political annals of this coun-
try. All parties in Parliament agreed that some remedy
is necessary; and they would all agree that the friends
on his light and left had contributed greatly to fix pub-
lic attention upon this subject. He (proceeded the hon.
gentleman) who bad watched the whole course of their
proceedings with anxiety and attention, was delighted
with the remarkable tact and judgment displayed ; and all
who had any communication with them, from Sir Alex-
ander Cockburn to Mr. Sergeant Kinglake, Mr. Cop-
pock, and others, admitted that no case that had ever
been brought before the tribunals of Parliament was
better, or so well, prepared and carried out as that which
was principally arranged by our two friends. (Applause.)
Nothing but honourable and patriotic motives could
have sustained them during the trying ordeal through
which they have triumphantly passed, and they have
justly merited the respect and esteem of all who appre-
ciate right motives of action, and who manifest an inte-
rest in the exposure of an evil system with a view to its
future annihilation. (Applause.)
The testimonial was then presented, and the healths
of Mr. Moss and Mr. Madeley drank with three times
three cheers, and "one cheer more."
Mr. Moss was received with loud applause. He said
it was impossible to find words adequately to express
the feelings of gratitude under which he laboured, or to
thank them as he ought for the superb testimonial which
their kindness had placed before him. The pleasure
which he experienced, however, was not unalloyed with
regret—regret that his native town should have been so
disgraced by acts which must make the guilty ashamed
and the innocent sorrowful. (Hear, hear.) He regretted
that men in a respectable position should have given
their sanction to so nefarious a system, and that those
labours of Mr. Madeley and himself, which Mr. Bass
had too kindly delineated, should have been rendered
necessary to protect the electors from being misrepre-
sented in Parliament and to secure the triumph of just
principles. (Hear, hear.) Having been chairman of
the Finance Committee at b•th Messrs. Bass and Hey-
worth's elections, he could state most emphatically that
not not one penny was expended improperly or illegally
in order to secure their return. (Hear.) From intimations
which they received just prior to the last election, they
were convinced that an attempt would be made to de-
fraud the free and independent electors of their choice by
illegal practices. When, however, the whole scheme was
divulged to them on the eve of the poll, it far surpassed
anything that could have anticipated. It was, as the
committee now knew, a wicked conspiracy against the
rights and liberties of the people. His friend :Mr. Madeley
and himself, having once entered into the prosecution of
the inquiry, considered themselves in duty hound to go
through with it, neither swerving to the right nor to the
left, nor heeding the malignant calumnies by which they
were constantly assailed. (Hear, hear.) by
felt, as
sincere Reformers, wishful for the improvement of the
institutions of the country, and the destruction of that
hydra-headed system which was a stain upon the consti-
tution and a disgrace to the age in which they lived.
(Loud applause.) They were, however, repaid by the
satisfaction afforded to their own consciences by the dis-
charge of a duty. They were repaid by the gratifying
reflection, that they had, by the flagrant exposure laid
before the public, directed public attention more keenly
to a system which cannot any longer be suffered to exist,
and a remedy for which must be provided by Parliament.
(Applause.) He need not assure them that but for the
valuable and untiring assistance of Mr. Madeley, the
enquiry would not have been prosecuted to a successful
issue. (Hear, hear.) When he (Mr. Moss) was called
upon to fill the office of Mayor, it would not have been
seemly in him to have taken a prominent part in the
enquiry ; but the zeal, tact, and perseverance of his
friend were if possible redoubled, and his honour and
integrity were as great as his services. (Applause.)
No point occurred on which there was the slightest dis.
ruption of feeling or difference of opinion ; and it was
this union which imparted strength, and which ulti-
mately led to a success the fruits of which he trusted
would not be confined to this borough, but extended to
the whole country. (Applause.)
Mr. MADELEY was received with loud cheers.
After returning thanks for the flattering testimonial,
he said—l entered upon the duties unconscious of
what those duties involved. I had not the least
idea of the task I had undertakes; if I had, I must
have shrunk from it. But having once put our
shoulders to the wheel we should have been cowards to
have run away from our duty. It is true we succeeded,
and came off triumphantly; and why? because we had
truth on our side. (Applause.) It was purity of elec-
tion against bribery and corruption; it was justice against
injustice. (Applause.) One of the greatest of men has
said—
" Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked ,though locked up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted."
Our opponents were naked, although locked up in the
falsehoods imposed upon them by those who were bite-
rested in keeping them in the dark, and I cannot but
believe that the honest and respectable portion of the
Conservatives rejoice at the exposure. In all I did,
I was prompted more by the carrying out the great prin-
ciple of purity of election, than the support of persons ;
and that however much I admired the principles or
'valued the services of those gentlemen, I was urged,on-
ward still more by an earnest desire to free the electors
of Derby from the stigma that had fallen upon them by
exposing the bribery and corruption of the last election,
and thereby freeing them from the trammels of Toryism.
(Loud cheers.) I believed that not only would Derby
receive a benefit, but that the constituencies throughout
the country would have their attention turned to the
vile practices of the most politically debased Minis-
try England ever saw. (Loud cheers.) There ap-
peared not a doubt that the Derby case upset the
Derby Government. (Hear, hear.) I was told upon
good authority that the decision of the select com-
mitt(6e lost to the Government on the night they were
defeated, at least 20 votes. (Hear, hear.) We fully
proved all our points. It was allowed to be the most
complete case of the session, and we did not fail in one
single instance; no cross-examinations, however severe,
could shake a tittle of our evidence. (Hear.) And
why ? This was the grand secret ; we did not pay for
y
that evidence which may be said to have been all volun-
tary, though some were unwilling witnesses. was
over and over again offered evidence if I would pay fori t,
e varying
caseob/.,bu hastl in theinvari leastablyi-ecfounse trid.
H.
hear.) If
Sc.th tepoe
buted to arouse the legislators of this country to the ne-
cessity of a remedy being applied to the evil and corrupt
practices at elections, if our exertions have a beneficial
hearing on the promised Reform Bill, we shall be amply
repaid. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. W. M. COOPER proposed the healths of Messrs

Bass and Heyworth. - -
Mr. BASS, after thanking the company for the kind-
ness of his reception and expressing the pleasure he

al ways had in pUblicly meeting his constituents, begged
to offer a few remarks upon a matter which, originating
in the borough of Derby, had grown into a question of
great public interest and importance—he alluded, of
course, to proceedings still pending in a high court of
justice, and which arose out of the detected conspiracy
to corrupt and debase the constituency of Derby. (Hear,
hear.) He confessed that he, in common with many of
those arocnd him, did entertain very strong convictions
as their course of public duty, in endeavouring to
expose and punish such practices as were attributed
to the '• Derby Conspirrtors ;" but because he had
freely expressed his reprobation of such conduct, it had
been imputed to him, that he was actuated solely by
vindictive motives. Now, once for all, he utterly and
entirely disclaimed these insinuations. He had not the
honour of the personal acquaintance of Major Beresford,
and he might safely appeal to those who knew him best,