The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-01 00:00:00

EAST SURREY ELECTION.

A public meeting of the friends of 111 e. Alecck took
place on Friday at the Spread Eagle Tavern, Wands-
w•oith. The .Lib..:rals of the town and neighbourhood
mustered in great numbers. The large room of the
tavern was crowded to excess, and the utmost enthusiasm
was manifested. The chair was taken soon after seven

o'clock, by George do Larpcnt, Esq. Mr. Alcock, ou
ascending the platform, was received with the molt

thusiastijcheering.
The CHAIRMAN felt great pleasure in having the °lvor-
tueity of introducing to his brother electors of the Liberal
interest a gentleman whose principles, character, and
conduct lie was sure would meet with the approbation of
an enlightened commurety.—(Cheers.) He ( Mr. de
Larpent) bad lately contested the representation of the
borough of Ludlow with that gentleman, and had lied
many opportunities of becoming intimately acquainted
with his public sentiments, which he was sure would prove
amply satisfactory to every eound and judicious Reform-
er.—(Cheers.) He (Mr. de Larpent) had been re-
quested to offer himself as a candidate for their suffrages
on the present occasion, and Mr. Alcock amongst others,
had put his name to the requisition. He had, however,
declined to do so, for private reasons, which it was unne-
cessary for him to mention publicly. He had referred to
the elections at Ludlow, because a report had got abroad,
and was industriously circulated by the opposite party, that
the decision of the Committee of the House of Commons
with respect to that election reflected discredit upon the
character of Mr. Alcock, and rendered him unworthy of
their suffrages. Although himself opposed to that Ho-
nourable Gentleman on that occasion, it afforded him sin-
cere satisfaction to be able to state that all that he knew
of his character and conduct, during that election, re-
dounded to his honour and credit.—( Loud cheering.)
The present contest, no doubt, would be an arduous one.
Their opponents were aware of their exertions, and were
making proportionate endeavours to secure their own
success. Now was the time for every honest and in-
dependent elector to be up and doing.--( Cheers.) They
had the influence of both purse end name arrayed
against them. That should only arouse them to in-
creased exertion. If once that young gentleman ( Mr.
Antrobus) was allowed to fix himself on the county, there
would be the greatest difficulty to get him out on a future
occasion.—( Hear, hear.) But that was not the cnly or
even the principal reason that should induce them to make
a bold stand on the present occasion. When they con-
sidered the vast importance of the questions about to be
discussed in Parliament—questions, the right decision of
which involved the ruin or prosperity of the trade and ma-
nufactures of the country, the peculiar unfitness of the
Tory candidate must be apparent. He was possessed
neither of years nor experience —( Hear, hear.) On the
other hand, he offered them a man of maturity of ego and
judgment, and one who had made those great questions
the subject of his peculiar etudy and observation.—
(Cheers.) The truth of these remarks was so evident
that he need not press it further upon their attention—
( Hear, hear)—and he would now conclude with asking
their cordial support for Mr. Alcock during his present
arduous struggle for the representation of the county of
Surrey.—(Cheers.)
Mr. AI.C;CIi then rose : he was received with loud and
reiterated cheering. He could assure them that he had
not rashly embarked in his present contest. He had at
first been unwilling to come forward, feeling (hat there
were many amongst the Liberal gentry of the country who
might have greater claims to their eupport.—(Cries of
" No, no," and " Alcock for ever.") He could assure
them he felt flattered by the warmth of his reception.—
( Renewed cheering.) Ile felt the importance of the in-
terests that were at stake. He had not come forward
without due and proper deliberation ; riot until an influen-
tial popular demonstrat'on had been made in his favour.
And finding that none other of his party offered, he deter-
mined no longer to suffer their interests to remain unre-
presented, and to come boldly forward.—(Cheers.) Hav-
ing done so, they might depend upon it that he would
fight it out to the last. —(Cheers.) Having once
mounted the saddle, he was resolved to ride to the end
of the journey.—(Tremendous cheering.) They would
now naturally expect some short explariation of his poll
tient sentiments. With respect to the right of voting,
he should continue favourable to the Ballot until he saw
some way in which every elector could vote in a
manner perfectly unbiassed.—( Hear.) if it was decided
that landlords should have influence, the natural way
would be to give each so many votes according to the
extent and value of his property. While tenants had votes
they ought to be obits to dispose of them according to their
consciences.—(Cheers, a d cries of " Hear, hear.")
From the opinions he entertained respecting the neces-
sity of a change in the Corn-laws, he was told that he
should be sadly mauled in some of the agricultural dis-
tricts of the county. His sentiments were designated as
rash and violent, and certain, if carried out, to bring
ruin upon the farmer and agriculturist. The truth was
the very rashness attributed to him his opponents
themselves were guilty of.—( lear, hear.) If any one
would be ruined he would be amongst the first that would
suffer ; and he could assure them he had not adopted
a resolution so (as was alleged) contrary to his own in-
terest without due deliberation. He would not mind ar-
guing; the subject, and while he had reason on his side,
be did not fear to meet any body of men, however for-
midable they might be represented. But the fact was
that this was a trick of the Tories to intimidate, if
possible. But they would be disappointed, for he had no
fear whatever on the matter; for wherever the question
was coolly discussed in an unprejudiced manner, his im-
pression was that the impolicy of the Corn-laws would be
evident.—(Cheers.) They brought total destruction on
the for, ign trade of the country. How was It possible to
compete with labourers abroad when the price of food
there was scarcely one-half of what it is at home ?
(Hear.) He supported the Church, but not its abuses ;
and he had great expectation that during the present Ses-
sion Church-rates, especially as respected the processes in
the Ecclesiastical Courts, would be put upon sonic better
footing.---( Hear, hear.) He bad been asked some ques-
tion at a former meeting at Clapham about the window.
tax. While he recollected it he would say, that with re-
ference to taxation generally his principle was that those
who had most should pay most.—( Continued applause.)
As the case stood now, the miser, and the absentee who
spent his income in foreign countries, saved their property,
but did not contribute one farthing to the Treasury.—
( Hear, hear.) As to the right of voting, it was so absurd
that a man paying 301. or 401. or 4til. a year rent for his
house should not have a vote, that it did not require any
argument. Assuredly the time was not far distant when
such a state of things must be amt nded.—( Cheers.) He
now offered himself as a candidate to represent them in
Parliament, where, if returned, he trusted he should not
be found wanting in furthering the great princHi le
re-
form in all points of the constitution. The .
t.
ponsou of
aGentleman resumed his seat amidst most enthc
usias
applause.
to secure the return to Parliame o. a ,
A resolution to the effect " Thatnt
it is highly
Le
hsleyntnaetcivee forssary
pendent
proposedY. the next
this division of the comity of lib,. r.heellaratrilldy
tion
come
for-
ward
prisn
0"
mwAass tchvenNvAcaßrpriecdouLnEallnßioinooKus
tchaenindniate. He could not
allow thatenn to be
expressing his own hearty
resolution,
ins u p whichpo rt of called
the present
iutphooll u
t hear,' and cheers.) He rejoiced
etlee._man so intimately connected with the agricul-
tural interests of the county had come forward, and made
so manly a stand against the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.) That
he should have so openly and honestly declared for a total
repeal, when it might in many parties have created a pi e-
coausl
dwaolrstoh ynootf
irtehf
re highest praise.—
Ho al u
from expressing
j(uAd
pi cpol
aaugsaei.7 t was
the extreme satisfaction he felt at the sentiments which
Mr. Alcock had uttered respecting the great principles of
cheers.)
c .
religious liberty:—( Hear, hear, and h ) These
two
questions came home so nearly to every man connected
ith the Liberal interest, that i '
t was quite unnecessary to