The Sun.
London, England, 1825-10-22 00:00:00

To the GENTRY, CLERGY, and FREEHOLDER of the

COUNTY of BEDFORD.

GENTLEMEN,
HE rumour of another Contest for .the RE.
-41- PRESENTATION of the COUNTY of BEDFORD,
whenever a Dissolution of Parliament shall take place, calls
upon me for an explicit avowal of my intentions towards you.
Having some time ago publicly declared my sentiments on
the disgraceful and disgusting scenes which arose out of the
expenditure of money for carrying on the last election for this
county, I at the same time expressed my determination ofnever
again offering myself as a Candidate for any seat in the House
of Commons, except on the condition of an entire cessation of
all such practices. I shall adhere both to the letter and the.
spirit of-that declaration; and it will be for\the Freeholders
of Bedfordshire to decide, -whether it is a prinitiple on which
they are willing to support me. As far as regards myself, lam
resolved it shall net again be laid to'my , charge, -that have
given encouragement if) drunkenness and jmmorality, to Se-
cure my election to Parliament.
Whatever be the event of acting up to this resolution, I shall
never regret having made the attempt to bring about an impor-
tant reformin the mode of electing yosr Representatives; and
I look not only with confidence, but with pleasure, to the day
of honourable contest, which is to bring this principle into ac-
tipn, and put it fairly to the test. ,
When. I am appealing to the enlightened and independent
Freeholders of a County, in which I have now so long resided,
I will not anticipate the possibility of losing their support, by
having made this declaration : I cannot bring myself to believe,
that they will reject the services of one who has represented
them honestly, and it not conscious of have forfeited their con-
fidence : merely because he will not act in contradiction, both
to the law of theland and spirit of the Constitution.
But if, contrary to my expectations, defeat should be the con-
sequence, I shall console myself by reflecting, that it is far
better to fail by. doing right, than to succeed by doing wrong;
and I shall then retire into private life, ,with the heartfelt satis-
faction of 'having attempted to Put a check to one of the most
shameful abuses•of our representative system. On the other
hand, if success should crown my hopes, you will have the
credit of having set a noble examnle to the other counties of
England : and you will thus establish amongst yourselves, by
your own er.,n.tions, and to your immortal honour, the founda-
tion-stone of that reform, which the Legislature has hitherto
sltewn so little disposition to adopt.
When first I offered myself to your nptice, Iprofessed myself
a friend to Civil and Religious Liberty : whether I have truly
supported that character, in the opinion'of my Constituents,
will be for you to determine, whenever a dissolution shall hap-
pen. Any proFrs,ions from me, now, After having represented
.you in the last three Parliaments, would be idle words; I must
refer you to_tny puhlic conduct during that eventful period.

1t is not my intention, on this occasion, to canvass the
county. To Ciosc who have watched the course of my political

life, and apisaw,e of the principles on which I act, such a cere-
mony would 11? needless. If, however, you are resolved man-
fully and independently to exercise your rights, you will not
only require no solicitation from me to come cheerfully to the
poll, hut. you will affotd every facility (without infringing the
principle I have laid down), to those poorer Freeholders in
your immediate neighbourhood, who may wish to avail them-
selves of the constitutional privilege of electing their Represen-
tatives.

By so doing, you will act in a manner worthy of English
Tt.reeitolders in former times; while you will transmit to your
children this important lesson—that-the simple duty of an Elec-
tor in the discharge of his sacred trust, is to come to an election
with a clear htad and an honest heart: and to give his vote in
favour of those candidates to whom he is most willing to con-
fide the protection of his property, his religious liberties, and
civil rights.
I rer,nain, Gentlemen,
Your faithful friend and servant,
Oakley; Oct. 17, 1825. TAVISTOCK.