The Sun.
London, England, 1840-01-24 00:00:00

'OF BIRMINGHAM.

4. Having been no party to my name being brought
forward as that of a suitable person to represent you in
Parliament, and not having attended a single meeting of
the Committee appointed to promote that object, I hope
my absence on the day of nomination will not be con-
sidered any Kant of respect to you, but as merely carry-
ing out the principle of nonvnterference on which alone
I have stated
.1 wonld consider it my duty to represent
you in the British House of Commons. I am ignorant
of much that may have been written during the discus.
sion of the question, and I am of. course not responsible
for the acts of others ; but I should be ex:Ternely sorry
if anything should have appeared that could either be
fairly construed into unjust blame of an opposing party,

or if a single vote should have been obtained for ■e by
withholding any part. of the truth.
" There are two points in my former letter to you in
which it has been suggested my silence may be liable to
misconstruction—the Temperance and Police questions.
"In regard to the first I am so strongly impressed
with the dreadful evils of intemperance, that I have
long believed it to be my imperative duty, both by ex-
ample and persuasion, publicly and privately, not only
to recommend moderation in the use of intoxicating
drinks, but total abstiaence from them. Ido not, how-
ever, see it my duty to promote by legislative measures
the prohibition of the sale of all spirituous liquors, and
am decidedly opposed to any laws which shall give one
part of those who are engaged in this trade a preference
over another.

"In regard to the second, nothing can be more incor-
rect than the report that I am opposed to an efficient
police. I would, however, wish to give all those who have
a right to the elective franchise a control over them. This
would necessarily secure to them the support and confi-
dence of the people,witbout which in times ofdifficulty and
popular excitement they must be comparatively power-
less. Such a system would lam persuaded make the
use of mortal weapons by the police themselves unne-
cessary, and also remove one great excuse for keeping
up a military establishment, which not only greatly
increases the taxation of the country, but will, I be-
lieve be ultimately found as impolitic as it is opposed
to Christian principles. But while advocating the
adoption of moral instead of physical force in the Go-
vernment of the country, I deprecate in the strongest
possible terms the resort to violence on the part of the
people, for the redress of these evils however great ;
and I am fully convinced that not only is such a course
forbidden by the Gospel, and would be injurious to them-
selves, but that they can place their liberties on an im-
moveable foundation only by peaceable and constitu-
tional means. I will only add that if I did not consider
the principles of George Frederick Muntz on
several important points, widely different from mine,
and that some distinct expression of preference had
been obtained in his favour from a majority of your
body, it is due to those who wish me to represent
them not to interfere, I should before this time have
publicly requested my name to be withdrawn. lam
very respectfully, "JOSEPH STURGE.

" Edgbaston, Ist month, 22d, 1840."
Mr. MUNTZ then came forward amidst much up-
roar, and commenced by complainini, of the conduct pur-
sued by Mr.Bturge in not coming forward, as he wished
to have put some questions to that gentleman.
The HIGH BAILIFF said, if it was the wish of the
meeting he would send and solicit the attendance of
Mr. Sturge.—(" Send for Sir Charles Wetherell.")
Mr. EDMONDS inquired whether Sir Charles We-
therell was present ?

The MAYOR said, there was no legal necessity for the
candidate being present.
Mr. MUNTZ—I never said there was ; but I never
knew an instance of a candidate proposed, being in the
town, and refusing to come forwardat the nomination.—
(Uproar.) He would remain there till morning, until they
heard him. He defied every one of them, man, woman,
or child to put him down.—(Yells and hisses.) If
they wished for Universal Suffrage, let them show that
they were deserving of it by their conduct. He knew
the minds of the people had been poisoned by the To-
ries against their best ftiends, and when the Tories had
succeeded in urging them on to a breach of the law,
they called upon the former friends of the people to
punish them. Is not this the case ? He asked what
had he done to merit the reception he had met with
that day ?

Mr. -BsowN—lt lies in the simple fact (Uproar.)
The reason why—(Renewed uproar.)
A man in the crowd said it was because he had de-
clared against Universal Suffrage—that was one reason.
You said the people would never get their rights till
they had the Suffrage, and yet you have said nothing
about giving them the Suffrage in your address. A
respectful petition was also brought to you the other
day—a Christian petition—and you had the audacity
to refuse your signature to save a man's life."
Mr. MtrNTz—lt is a rascally falsehood. I never
was asked to sign such a petition.
Mr. ACLAND (the Corn-law lecturer) came forward
and said he had asked Mr. Muntz whether he would
sign such a petition—a petition to save the life of Frost.
Mr. Muntz's answer was—" No, I will not."—(Loud
cries of " Shanic.")
Mr. MUNTZ—It is not the truth—you have not
given my answer correctly.
Mr. ACLAND—The answer was—" No ; for I con-
sider an example necessary."—( Loud cries.)
Mr. MUNTZ—He (the speaker) is an infamous scoun-
drel, and ought to be hanged up. I will tell you what I said.
The only mortification he felt in the business was, to
find Mr. Acland was such a dirty scoundrel.—( Hisses.)
He hoped that Englishmen would hear him, before they
condemned him.

Mr. EDMONDS wished for fair play. He was sorry I
for the strong manner in which Mr. Muntz had ex-
pressed himself.
Mr. MUNTZ—I am not. If you attend a moment,
I will tell you exactly what passed, and then you
will judge whether the conduct of Mr. Acland was such
as he had described it. Mr. Munta then explained
that he went to the Public-office on Monday evening,
to hear Mr. Acland on the Corn-laws, and when he
was leaving the room, Mr. Acland said, " Will you.
have any objection to sign the petition in favour of
Frost ?" I replied that it was a serious question, and I
could not give an immediate answer. What, think you,
said Mr. Acland ? His answer is characteristic of the
man, and I challenge him to deny it. His reply was
this, " Well, then, I will not say that I have asked
you."—(Great uproar.) He (Mr. Muntz) bad never
heard a syllable about it since, and never had a petition
presented him by any one.
A VOICE—WiII you sign it now ?
Mr. MUNTZ—Yes, I will sign it.—(Cheers.) He
would sign it on the principle of his objection to the
punishment of death. What did Frost do ? He gets
together a quantity of men to attack an inn—
A Woman, with violent gestures, in the front of the
gallery, " He never did."—(Loud laughter and uproar.)
Mr. MINTZ—Mark what I say—
The Woman—Tell the truth,

Mr. MUNTZ—It was stated by all parties that Mr
Frost arranged with a party of men to make an attack
on an inn ; is that true ?—(" No, it is not.") Is there
not evidence to show he directed the mob to fire on the
people in the inn ?—(" No ; there is not.") Did he not
after that, run away ?—(" No, be did not.") There is
evidence to prove that he did. He wished the law for
the punishment of death to be done away with as much
as any man, but it was a serious thing while
that law existed, how they interfered with it.
They were quite mistaken if they thought his disposition
more cruel than that of other men.
Mr. ACLAND here said he could substantiate what
said upon his oath. He called upon the High Bailiff
to make Mr. Muntz retract the offensive expressions
he had used.
Mr. MUNTZ said he would never do so. Great
blame had been attributed to him for comity, forward,
and it was asserted that he was a nominee of Mr. Att-
wood. Now, he never heard from Mr. Attwood but
once on the subject of the representation, when he
wrote to him, saying that he was anxious to retire, and
wished him (Mr. Muntz) to succeed him. His reply
was that he declined to do so, and impressed on Mr.
Attwood, from the position of the country, the
importance of retaining his seat. This was the
only letter that had passed between them, and it
was only after repeated application from parties—and
Radical parties too—in the town, that he at length con-
sented to stand, in order to keep out a Tory. He was
placed in circumstances beyond his control. What
would they say if a Tory had come in ? Who would
have been so ready to blame him as those whom ha
now addressed ? But now that be had come forward,
and travelled 200 miles to be grinned at, he would not
retire without grinning in return, and doing his best
to promote the cause of his friends, He trusted they
would now acquit him of the charge of creating division
amongst the Reformers. (Mr. Muntz here refer-
red to some strictures in the Staffordshire Ex.
aminer on his address, in which he complained
that his views and opinions had been grossly misrepre-
sented. His words had been misquoted, and argu-
ments and conclusions drawn from incorrect premises.
He cared little for himself whether they sent him to the
House of Comtnons or. not. It was said by Mr. Taylor
that he was a Republican. He acknowledged it, but
it came only to this—if be had to model a
form of government it should be a Republican
one, but it was a very different thing to
attempt to change the institutions of a Monarchy to a
Republican Government. This he would never attempt
todo. Ifto tdhiezhgsaerntehs himi tdutoPyarliarnent, he would en-
deavourfaithfully ; he believed
he knew as much about trade and commerce as any
man in the House, and that knowledge would ever be
toetliejevotegdoodof
the interests of his constituents, and
the country at large. (Mr.
Muntz here adverted to the state of their corn
and monetary enactments, and, in allusion to the
slave trade, observed that it was far less cruel than the
system under which the great mass of their artizans
were placed. In referring next to the law that affected
the beer-sellers, he contended that they could not de-
prive them of the privileges they now enjoyed without
inflicting upon them a gross wrong. He concluded by
saying that he was unchanged in political opinion, and
that if elected he would faithfully serve them—
but he did not thank them for sending him to
Parliament, for it was very well-known that they
were the obliged party, as lie made sacrifices in coming
forward far greater than any honour he could receive
by representing them.—( Hear, hear.)
The Mayor inquired whether Sir Charles Wetherell
was present.
GEORGE BARKER, Esq., rose as his representative,
and said, if they would return Sir Charles to serve in
Parliament, they would elect a man no less distin-
guished for ability than for his indep,,nderice.
Mr. ALLEN, the seceding candidate, here addressed
the meeting, stating that he felt it due to those electors
who had signed the requisition to explain his views,
although he declined coming forward as a representa-
tive for that borough.

E VNING

The MAYOR said that Mr. Allen having retired, they
had now before them Mr. Joseith' Sturge, Mr, George
Frederick Aluntz, and Sir Charles Wetherell,l3art.

The Returoing Office;sheTecxpressed their opinion
that if any gentleman wished to address the meeting, it
must be after a show of hands, as they
_could not other-
wise decide this important question fairly, if they
postponed it for ten minutes more. He' would put it
'to'the meeting whether they should have an imM2dtate
show of hands or not?

The question having been carried in the affirmative,
the Mayor called for a for a show of hands-to decide
on the merits of the respective candidates. Tile meet-
ing appeared to- be pretty • equally divided be-
ween Mr. Muntz and Mr. Sturge, but with
the exception of the Conservative gentlemen
on the hustings, scarcely a hand was raised in
favour of Sir °narks Wetherell. As there appeared
to be a doubt in reference to the two liberal candidates,
they were again put to the meeting, when there ap-
peared to be a decided majority in favour of Mr.
Muntz. The- Mayor then declared in form that G.
Muntz was duly elected.
Mr. EDMONDS said he had now a communication to
make to the electors, which he was convinced would
elevate Mr. Sturge, in the highest degree, in the esti-
mation of every Reformer in that dense assembly, and
he confessed, if anything tended to exhibit, in a stronger
light than another, the magnanimity of his character, it
was the course that be was now about to adopt.—
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Sturge had come forward on prin-
ciple, and on principle he now retired from the contest.
—(Loud expressions of approbation.) Mr. Sturge had
determined, that even if there was a tnnall ma-
jority of electors in favour of going to a poll,
that he would have retired from the contest ; and as
the Returning Officer had declared that he was in a mi-
nority, he was relieved from all responsibility in the
matter.—(Hear, hear.) Englishmen had a right to
exercise their opinions, and no one rejoiced in the free
exercise of those opinions more than Mr. Sturge.—
(Cheers.) He (Mr. Edmonds) had now an opinion to
give expression to in reference to himself in his indivi-
dual capacity, and without any connection with Mr.
Sturge's Committee or Mr. Surge himself. They had
now got a Tory in the field, and he knew that the result
of this attempt on the part of the Tories would be as
contemptible as their victories generally were.—(Cheers.)
They were aware that he had avoided assailing the
fitness of character of Mr. Muntz; although some gen-
tlemen had done so ; but the great question now was,
whether a rampant Tory, such as Sir Charles Wetherell
had proved himself to be, should be returned to repre-
sent the independent Electors of Birmingham ?
(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Edmonds) would now say de-
cidedly that he should vote for Mr. Muntz.—(Loud
cheers.) Mr. Sturge had declared that he would not
go to Parliament with a majority of the electors them-
selves if he had not a majority of the non-elec
tors ; and he trusted whenever they found a Tory come
into the field, they would lay aside their petty differeaces,
and magnanimously come forward and make war against
the common enemy.—(Loud applause.) One word
more, and he had done. He declared that he felt sick
at heart from the division of opinions amongst Reform-
' ers, and so acutely did he feel this at the present moment,
that he believed the present would be the last occasion
on which be should interfere in political matters in Bir-
' mingham.—( Loud cries of " No, no.") Whether it was
so or not, he would ever stick to the great principle of
' the representation of the masses of the people.
—(Loud cheering) Let their cause be conducted
peaceably. Cast physical force to the winds ; despise
all who talk of violence, and they might rest assured
that their cause would triumph, even though he him-
self should be in the grave before that triumph was
achieved.—(Mr. Edmonds concluded amidst the plau-
dits of the meeting.)
JAMES TAYLOR, Esq. then came forward and moved
a vote of thanks to the Mayor and other Returning
Officers, for the impartiality with which they had con-
ducted the business of • the day, particularly as
regarded the very delicate position in which
one or two of the gentlemen were placed—the
Mayor being brother to one of the candidates, and the
Low Bailiff ehairnian of Mr. Muntz's Committee.
Wm. Bouursee, Esq., seconded the motion.
The Low BAILIFF, previous to its being put to the
meeting, explained that, the moment he had been
named, contrary to expectation, as one of the Return-
ing Officers, he had ceased to become connected in any
way with Mr. Muntz's Committee.
The resolution was then put to the meeting, and
carried with acclamation ; and three cheers having been
given .for Mr. Muntz and Mr. Sturge, the dense as-
sembly peaceably dispersed.
The town was perfectly quiet at the hour our ex•
press left (six o'clock) and the dbubts and regrets of
Reformers appeared to have given place to a firm de-
termination to drive Sir Charles Wetherell out of the
field.

SPORTING INTELLIGENum

TATTERSALL'S—YEsTERD.kY.

If the attendance was thinner, and business less brisk than on
Monday, it did not fail to realize a few changes of striking in-
terest. Those in the Derby affected Muley Ishmael, Glen-
orchy, and the Lady Sarah colt ; and that in the Oaks the re-
cently made favourite Black Bess. The odds quoted against
Lady Sarah colt and Black Bess speak so clearly, that it would
be waste of time to dwell upon them. Glenorchy was priceless,
simply because no one would back him. It was rumoured that
he was amiss, and an offer to bet 5 to 2 on Muley Ishmael
against him would give a colour to it, but nothing transpired of
a sufficiently definite character to justify our vouching for the
accuracy of the report. Muley Ishmael was backed at 18 to 1,
and left off as good a favourite as anything bar Theon and An-
gelica, who temained precisely as on Monday, and v cre not
backed. Launcelot advanced to 17 to 1, or takers to a point
more, and Confederate was repeatedly mentioned, not backed, at
18 to 1. Bokhara gave way a riint, and Wardan, although backed
several times, did not sustain the previous quotation. Grey
Milton rose to 30 to 1, takers, and Chamean to 40 to 1, layers.
Nothing else occurred worth particular notice.
TWO THOUSAND GUINEA STAKES.!
8 to 1 agst Confederate—taken
8 to 1 agst Wardan—taken
8 to 1 agst Ottoman—taken
14 to 1 agst Grey Milton—taken
50 even between Confederate and Wardan—taken
From the number of Derby favourites engaged in this stake,
in addition to Crucifix, it is expected to be a good betting
race.

THE DERBY.

14 to 1 agst Theon
15 to 1 agst Angelica—take 16 to 1
17 to 1 agst Launcelot—take 18 to 1
1/5 to 1 agst Muley Ishmael—taken
18 to 1 agst Confederate—take 20 to 1
18 to 1 agst Bokhara
24 to 1 agst Ottoman—take 25 to 1
28 to 1 agst Wardan—taken
30 to 1 agst Gambia—taken
30 to 1 agst Grey Alilten—taken
40 to 1 agst Fitzroy
40 to 1 agst Chamcau
50 to 1 agst Monops—taken
50 to 1 agst Assassin
1000 to 10 agst Lady Sarah—taken
1000 to 10 agst Janus—taken
500 even between Muley Ishmael and Launeelot—taken
500 even between Muley Ishmael and Bokhara—taken
600 to 500 on Ottoman agst Wardan—taken
600 to 500 on Wardan agst Grey Milton—taken
8 to 1 agst Theon and Muley Ishmael—taken

THE OAKS.
500 to 100 agst Scott's lot—taken
12 to 1 agst Rowton's dam—take 15 to 1
30 to 1 agst Black Bess—taken, and afterwards offered