The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-21 00:00:00

official position, to te
questions apart from any
giving of pledges, because I have seen in my. time
the unfortunate re..iitg both to themselves, to
the character of t:-ie [Luse .uf and
the reputation of tho:e piedged. I Lave, seen many,
Wgton,
many persons pledge themselves never.to,egrie 4-cr ci-
removal of Catholic disabilities—(Cries of " -
—but when that great man the Duke of
with his sagacious observation, perceived that theellin time
was coire to remove those disabilities or to encounter
civil dissensions, those gentlemen, preferring the safety
of the country to keeping their own pledges, wisely, but
nut very much -to their own credit, voted against the
engagements they had entered into.—(Cheers.) I have
seen gentlemen a little later pledge themselves to take
off the malt- tax ; but when the Prime Minister declared
that the malt-tax was indispensably necessary to be re-
tained, they voted for its retention. I have seen also
but very lately gentlemen who had some to the House of
Commons, having but very lately declared that they
thought the sliding scale essential for the interests of the
dountry; yet, when a wise Minister declared that the
corn-laws should be repealed—(Great cheering)—l have
seen them follow that Minister, and utterly forfeit the
pledges they had given. I think, therefore, gentlemen,
generally speaking, that pledges are not for the credit of
those who give them, and they tend nothing to the se-
curity of thoso who require them.—(Cheers.) But,
ifhtoteurledd thinkmy
gentlemen' I will say further, that standing iu the posi-
tionse which I do as the Minister of this great country, I
ofomwynselfh.anudn,cleservin n
thatot a
trust
liberty
usti
gn at any I
to give to m
y Soverei
I will
'sere
welfare.—(Loudand
ntornael tyq au
say
ei
dc ef
uo wnrthhti
echrhe,
that I think pledges which have
subject of Roman Catholic endowmn are peculiarly
unnecessary— (Cheers)—because, as fa
of its being proposed.—(Cheers and
for that purpose to Parliament, nor do I
knowaas I am
nac-
quainted, there is no intention of proposinrg ythmateathsuerere
cisouanntyerperohbeaerbsil.)ity Thus much, gentlemen, I have said,
but I must say further, with respect to all these subjects,
that I think the Roman Catholics are fully entitled to all
the privileges which the rest of the community possess.
and that a man's religious opinions should be no bar to
his obtaining that to which he would otherwise have a
fair and just claim.--(Great cheering). Now, gentle-
men, with respect to general subjects 1 can only profess
that which I have always proeessed—that I am upon the
one hand zealously attached to the institutions of the
country—arid, upon the other hand, I wish to see those
institutions-fromliMe to-time.eonforini.d to ttartipirit of • -
the age and to the advance of knowledge and liberty—
an advance which must take place.—(Tremenelouscheers.)
Gentlemen, I ask you then for your outrages upon the
ground of the general agreement of our opinions.—
(A Voice—" No endowment.") I will not be bound to
endeavour to make every opinion of mine—to make
every advice which I easy give to the Crown—to make
every measure which I may propose to Parliament
square with the opini,ms which may be the prevailing
opinions among my constituents. All I say is, I trust
that there is identity in our general opinions. I think
that you would gain no advantage i y having merely
servile representatives. to exercise no jte g wait of their
own—who will not ventur., if the occasion calls for it,
to state what in th• it opinions the safety o. the country
requires, and trust t that country to confirm or to
reverse that opiniou.—(Cheers.) Gentlemee I stand, as
I said, in a position which is one of great responsibility—
one of great erninunce—but one e htch is by eo means
one i,f ease or pletisure.—(Cheers.) It has been asked
poetically
___

- " What is grandeur, what is power,
But heavier toil, superior pain?"
I confess, however, with that very " toil"—with that
" superior pain"—there are charms in power to which I
do not profess myself insensible. It is a charm to be
able to advance in any way the prosperity, to promote
the interests, or to enlarge the liberties of such an
empire as the British empire.—(Loud and protracted
cheering.) It is for such objects, pursuing my own
conscientious course, taking counsel always from
all that public opinion can teach me, of that
which is just among an enlightened public, but
judging of that opinion mai the force of my own un-
derstanding, however imperfect that force may be ; but
thus judging, and by the dictates of my own heart, and
the results of my own understanding, I shall endeavour
as I have hitherto endeavoured, to promote those great
objects.—(Loud cheeis.) And as in former days I have
had the honour of moving and carrying the repeal of
those disabilities which affected the Protestant Dis-
senters with degradation—as in former days I have had
the honour of opening to Manchesti r, to Leeds, to
Birmingham, and to the vast proportion of the house-
holders of this country the power of the franchise, while
at the same time I succeeded in disfranchising Gatton,
Old Sarum, and other seats of corruption, so it is in the
same spirit that I shall hope in the future, if elected by
your suffrages, to endeavour to subserve the best inter-
ests of the country.—(Loud cheers) It will be for you,
gentlemen, to decide. So long as I can hold power—so
long as I hold the post of being a representative for the
benefit of this great country, I am content, and even will-
imitoehold.44 ; when I can no longer do so, I shall refer
fin proudssettsfaction to my having acted with a pure
"VonAbience in eery respect.
The Noble Lord sat down amidst loud cheers, which
lasted for some minutes. When the cheering had par-
tially subsided,
• • Mr. PATTISON came forward, and Avagtreceived with
renewed cheers, and stated that the meeting had heard
the, speech of his noble colleague, which he bent ved
would not soon be forgotten ; and when they would cad
it to-morrow in the newspapers, they would think over
it again and again. For himself, the IlOn. Member said
he had but little to say to the meeting. tle was
as he had always been, except that he was a
good deal older.—(Cheers.) The Honourable Member
then proceeded to state to the meeting the course which
he had felt it his duty to adopt with respect to the prin-
cipal measures which had been recently brought before
the public.
The meeting was subsequently addressed by Sir G.
occasions,rLe ac erpn tlnyt ,
pa
unt
bdhleißci
rlayr
so
eannd Ltdi
rmi oe nes
nseelt
dsd et
hßeo thschild, who having so
must, electorse f
ee
course, be
bvearwioeulsl
known.
Other gentlemen having addressed the meeting amid
considerable uproar, a resolution was agreed to approving
of the four Liberal candidates being put forward to
represent the city of London in Parliament, and pledging
the meeting to support them at the ensuing election.
The meeting then broke up.