The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-24 00:00:00

not, the power is but, a sham power—a delusion and a
mockery. I say it is a sham power, unless the voter is
protected on the exercise of it, and I believe in the neces-
sity of the ballot in this, as in other towns here, more
especially, perhaps, on account of the intimidation prac-
tised. (Cheers) I repeht that,' to 'give a man' trust;
and not to secure him in the exercise of it, is virtually
not conferring upon him political power, but rather in-
flicting upon him political degradation, and creating want
of confidence and between the elector and the
elected—a want of confidence created by the intimi-
dator, a man who should be placed foremost in the rank
of corruption. (Loud cheers.) It has been my lot is
my position as counsel to be consulted on the best means
of suppressing intimidation, and with the view of making
the position of the intimidator equivalent to that of one
who tendered a bribe, with the view of entailing condign
punishment upon the unscrupulous party who resorted
to it ; but there always was, and would be, practical
difficulty in the way, as the intimidator, reaching his
victim through the means most generally adopted; with.
held his custom, for which there was no legal remedy—
a loss most severely felt perhaps by the offending party.
It was difficult to reach the offending party, as he could
say, with reason, " Why, I am but dealing with my own
property, and there is no obligation upon me to deal with
you, or, in the words of Shylock—

" I shall not answer that ; it is my humour."
I have well considered the subject, and can see no way
in which the voter can be practically and really pro-
tected excepting by the ballot. (Loud cheering.) I
maintain that this is not a party question. I believe
that its adoption would most materially alter the consti-
tution of the House of Commons. I believe it to be a
social question only, and say that if you gift a man with
political franchise, you must give him the means of exer-
cising it freely and conscientiously. With reference to
the subject of education—a subject of paramount im-
portance here—l trust that the practical result of the
late University Commissions will be to throw open the
Universities, and make them as they were intended to
be by their founders,—the means of the dissemination
of learning, and not, as at present, the means of its re-
striction to a class. (Cheers.) I trust, I say, that the
barrier will be removed, which inhibits the application
of Dissenters to the fount of learning • and though it
may be well that certain oaths should be administered
to parties entering upon the ministry of the Church of
England, yet no such oaths ought to be imposed upon
a party upon entering the University, or proceeding to
a degree. (Cheers.) But this maybe allowed to pass;
for I believe that the result of the late Commissions
will be to render the University really the seat of learn-
ing and Jeducation. (Cheers.) I need hardly allude
to the war, though a subject of great moment, as I
I believe that the country was never more united than
on that subject—(loud cheers) ;—but I agree with
Dir. Alowatt that war once undertaken should be
prosecuted with vigour and determination (cheers) ; and
if any of my hearers were in the Commons House of
Parliament, I should like to put to him the question,
" Why is it that the Duke of Cambridge and my Lord
Raglan are amusing themselves at the present moment
at the Opera of Paris ?" (Cheers.) I say that the war,
and a great war, undertaken should be prosecuted with
all the vigour and determination which we, as a great
country,
can apply to it. (Cheers.) The same aggres-
sion, the spirit of which induced the Empress Catharine
to sing her blasphemous "Te Deums" over Warsaw
and Ismail, the same spirit of aggression which induced
the division of Poland—a division redounding to the
eternal disgrace of Englishmen—a fall well characterised
by the poet—
- -•

"0 foulest picture in the book of time,
Sarmatia fell, unwept, without a crime t'
(Loud choere)—the same spirit of aggression now dia•
racterises the same power that effected it ; but I believe
that the alliance between the greatest maritime and the
greatest military country in the world, provoked by this
aggression into a league in defence of the liberties of
Europe, must lead to great social results, and, at all
events, cannot fail to prove to those two nations that
a union of their interests is the best for each of them.

Returning to the question of education, I say that
the Universities should be open alike to the Church-
man and the Dissenter. It may be a question whe-
ther education should be entirely secular ; but the
holding of, no peculiar tenet by the parents should
not deprive a child of the right of education. It is the
duty of the State to educate all its children without re-
striction, and no religious tenet should debar a child. of
the right to be educated. What, speaking from my own
experience, is the constant tale upon the circuit ? Why,
scanning the calendar, we read continually, " Can neither
read or write," or, " Read and write imperfectly." I
say that this reflects disgrace upon the country, and
when we hear a judge lecturing a child at the bar on his
having fallen into crime, what an answer it is, " I am a
dissenter's child, and I could not participate in the edu-
cation which would have taught me better." (Cheers.)
Upon church rates I entertain the opinion that it is in-
consistent with the dignity and position of the Church
of England to receive from a dissenter a rate towards
the repair of the church. The revenues of the Church
of England amount to four millions annually, why then
cannot it maintain the repair of its own establishments t
As a member of the Church of England, I should be
sorry to see the day when there should not be a church
and a pastor in every parish, believing as I do, that the
question is not one of religion alone, but one of great
social importance, as where the pastor does his duty, its
performance operates as a great safeguard to the poor
against those who would oppress them on the other side
—(cheers) ; but I say it is an anomaly that the
dissenter • should be made to contribute to what he
stigmatises as the " luxury of the Church." I am
surprised that in a reformed Parliament the oppor-
tunity of so branding his contribution has so long
remained to him, but am convinced that ere long this
question must occupy the attention of the Legislature.
I have now stated to a certain extent my views, and I
trust that if I do not succeed in winning your suffrages,
that I shall not suffer in your estimation by having done
so ; but I claim as a right—as that to which every Eng-
lishman is entitled—the privilege of placing before you
my views upon the political questions of the day. It has
crossed my mind that I may be told that I am a barrister,
and that I only come here to suit my own purpose—that I
may be told that I want to be Solicitor-General or some-
thing else, and that it may be said by the constituency,
"0, we have had enough of that--we have had Sir Fitz-
roy Kelly and Others on a similar errand !" Now, I
should be guilty of the greatest hypocrisy if I said, that
-if by rent:in of the discarge of my humble abilities I
should have the good fortune to obtain the recognition
of such discharge in the patronage of the Crown, that I
should no be proud and happy at such recognition ;
but I feel that I should be the basest of men if, in order
to the obtainment of such a position, I 'sacrificed one
tittle of your interests either political or social. (Cheers.)
And while on this head, I may perhaps be allowed to
observe that I differ from one of the points of the New
Reform Bill which would dispense with the necessity of
an appeal to his constituency by the recipient of office ; I
hold that when a member of the House of Commons has
received the approbation and patronage of the Crown,
that such approbation and patronage should receive its seal
in the sanction of the people.- It should be sealed by appeal
to his constituency. If I should so far receive your
sanction as to become a candidate, I should unhesitat-
ingly support the strongest Government ; and, though
now there may be such chit chat as that there is' coquetry
on the part of Lord John Russell, who, it is said,
threatens to resien one day and withdraws his threat the
next—that Graham does not speak to Palmerston, or
that Palmerston does not speak to Graham—l say this
matters but little if the whole machine goes on. The law
is not altered, but is it not of the first importance whether
a Denman or a Jeffreys administered the law ? There
may be little differences, but the machine under the pre-
sent Government goes on, and the country is socially
happy. (Cheers.) With regard to the question of Pro-
tection and Free Trade, I need only say, that my views
are in the most perfect concurrence with those of him,
the battier for reform in early times, and one whose
name, in every assembly such as this, is entitled to every
veneration and respect—a man whose almost last sen-
tenceshould be engravers on every heart, and form the
homily of every homo; who said, "It may be that I
shall be clespibed by a small and interested oligarchy,
may
but it also be that I shall be respected in the homes
of those who earn their subsistence by the sweat of their
brow, avid who shall recruit their exhausted energies with
abundance of food, the sweeter because it is not leavened
with injustice." I
,can look forward with confidence
because the past proves that there is no danger in trusting
tttLih eksn
opeocotfoouptnhlettierl,
ye
morala Itc believewhich
d\loesocial
s thateloai aindgd nor
hiseG advantages so Ni• etl
sarennl mdf
oetufno:tot
iNhnlv9ei
tl Iphppeople.
lastoodmpi
laioenl
believes that he is stopping time in his_ onward progress,
like to him, and similarly nonsensical, was the statesman
who, at the present day, should think that it' rested in
his 'power to stop the moral, political, and social pro- -
gross of the people. I trust that after so long a disfran-
chisement that I may meet you again under happier 'aus-
Piece, that I may yet meet you in company with those
who have never yet possessed the feaechise. ,but if I
should never meet you more, I assure you that you have
my best wishes for your welfare, that the measure now
incumbent.on you to; adopt. with regard, to ,the choica of
your candidate, as well as the measures now under the
consideration of the legislature, may tend, as 1- believe
they will, to the advancement of the interests of every
class in this great country. (Mr. Janice resumed his
seat amid rounds of applanse.) ' - •
Ald. H. Hallanuis proposed—
That this meeting having heard the- observations of
Mu. Adair, Mr. Mowatt, and Mr. James, and'a letter from
the Hon. Mr: Campbell, hereby stands adjourned until an
early day, of which due notice will be giveu, then to as-
semble and decide upon the gentlemen to be selected as
candidates at the ensuing election."
Ald. H. S.' FOSTER seconded the reselution.
Mr. A. C. BARRETT moved that they should shseide by
ballot as to who were fit and proper persons to become
candidates for the ensuing election.
Mr. W. COCKERELL seconded the amendment. •
Mr. Ald. Huaras then altered his resolution in ac-
cordance with the feelings of the meeting, leaving it to
be decided by duo public notice on what day the choice
of candidates should take place.
Mr. ADAIR proposed, and Mr. MowAn seconded, a
vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried una-
nimously, amidst much acclamation, when this orderly
and well-conducted meeting quietly dispersed

CONCENTRATED BEER FOR THE ARmv.--'-The Infantry
li the experiment of brooding
rgatheirlodsse-nofbGeeuraii'llgthaeltbryaing
barracks. The process is most
simple, and requires only a certain quantity of hot
water to yonder the concentrated beer palatable drink.
Ton non-commissioned officers are told off to try its
effects. They are allowed to drink as much as they
please, but restricted from drinking.aity, other beer, or
i
spirits. The porter is much approved of, but the ale s,
not yet a favourite. This introduction is most impor-
tant to the troops now proceeding to the East.—tnited
SerciCC OcLette.