The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-11 00:00:00

ought to be imposed for revenue alone—and that neither I
nor any other landlord had any right to ask that your food
should be enhanced by protecting duties.—(Hear, hear.)
But there is one body of men to whom we are mainly in •
debted for our exertions being crowned with success. I
allude to that body of men, the most distinguished mem-
ber of which is Mr. Richard Cobden, who, having banded
together for no party purpose, but for the good of our com-
mon country, have suffered themselves to be diverted to
no other object, but by the publication of pamphlets and
speeches have striven to enlighten the minds of their fellow-
subjects, and have brought together the mass of opinion
which has had its due weight with both Houses of the Legis-
lature, and effected the consummation now happily attained.
It is but fair to them that the weed of approbation and
applause should be given to that body, because I feel that we
are more indebted to them than to any previous endeavours
for this end. Now, I will only say that we come into power
for the parpose of carrying out those principles which we
have always advocated, whether in power or in opposition.
We intend—Lord John Russell, in point of fact, before he
was Minister, gave notice of that which he intended to pro-
pose with reference to the sugar duties, namely, the aboli-
tion of that distinction which now prevails in the duties on
the sugar of different countries, and the ultimate extinction
of the differential duties. That will be one of the objects
to be attempted by the present Government ; and as I
stated to you two nights ago, there are other matters to be
brought under notice, as soon as the state of the revenue will
admit of the reduction of other duties. Of course it would
be improper in me to go into detail on this subject. Teti
know the course which I have always taken on this subject
of free trade. I can only say that I am in no way what-
soever prepared to depart from that conduct, and to dis•
appoint those hopes which such conduct may have ex-
cited in your minds We know perfectly well that on many
of those questions we shall be opposed by great and pow-
erful interests. We know that we have not now a majority
in Parliament ; but this we do know, and on this we do
rely, that no Ministry, no set of men, no party, how-
ever strong, can long resist the deliberate expression
of public Opinion in this country.--(Hear.) We have
seen many measures carried in Parliament by those who
were friendly to their principles; we of late seen nearly
as many carried by those who have hitherto been opposed
to them. And why? Because the enlightened opinion of the
people of this country, constitutionally and deliberately ex-
pressed—expressed partly by the voice of the representatives
of the great manufacturing districts, upon whom the power
of sending representatives to Parliament was bestowed not

many years ago—partly by those organs which convey to the
whole community of the districts in which local organs exist,
and by those of London, express the opinions of the whole
community of this empire and of the world. I say that by
the spread of intelligence through these means public opinion
does press upon all statesmen and all parties with a force
which may be checked for a time, but which cannot ulti-
mately be stopped. I say, therefore, believing the public
mind to have been directed to these measures, and that it
will constitutionally express its opinion in favour of those
principles—the principles of common sense—that we may
safely rely upon that support and as.istance which will enable
us to bear down in Parliament any opposition which may
be threatened to such measures. They are the principles
upon which I believe all sound legislation must proceed.
In some quarters, upon some questions, there has been of
late rears a still greater disposition to interfere, far be-
yond what I think the Legislature is justified in doing.
Upon all these matters you are the best legislators for your
The less Parliament interferes in matters of that
sort the better. Taxes and duties must be imposed,
because the interest of the public debt, the charges of
the public service must be defrayed out of the taxation
of the country. But the taxation of the country, or rather
the imposition of those taxes, ought to be so managed as to
raise the greatest amount of revenue from the public with
the least burtben and inconvenience to the people of this
country.—(Cheers.) That is the legitimate mode of imposing
taxes, and it is one to which, I hope, as speedily as may be
consistently with the maintenance of the requisite revenue,
the taxation of this country will be brought. There is but
one other topic upon which I will say a few words, and
which has been alluded to both by the gentleman who pro-
posed me and the gentleman who seconded me. I mean the
condition, and especially the education of the lower orders
of this country.—(Hear, hear.) I hold that there is no subject
of greater importance than that the mass of the people of
this country should be properly trained in their early youth.
The more we rely upon the expression of public opinion, the
more necessary it is that that public opinion should be
trained and formed by well-educated people. Ido not consi-
der mere book learning to be the essence of education ; but
a proper moral training is desirable, and of far more real
value to the youth of this or any other country, and to
that subject the early attention of her Majesty's Ministers
will be directed.—(Loud and continued cheering.) It is
impossible that I can conceal from myself the practical
difficulties by which that question is surrounded. Efforts
have been made in various directions to promote and extend
the education of the people, most of which have failed,
because they have been based upon unscund principles, and
an unjustifiable interference with the liberty of conscience.
It is a difficult task, no doubt, so to frame any system, as to
meet all the views which may be entertained by the different
classes in this country. Hitherto we have been able to do
little more than afford partial aid to those who were able to
aid themselves, and perhaps it may be impossible to do much
more than that, though I should hope that a consideration of
the deep importance of the subject will induce all persons, all
classes, and all persuasions to co-operate, as far as may be, in
objects which all admit to be of primary and vital import-
ance. This I say, as you may have seen that the Noble Lord
(the Prime Minister), in his address to the citizens of Lon-
don, his constituents, has already said, there are men in the
Ministry who hold this to be a principle of the greatest im-
portance, and who never will be parties to any measure which
will infringe in the slightest degree upon liberty of conscience.

I hope thit by these means our youth will be trained up by
improved knowledge, by improved morals, and by an im-
proved sense of the responsibility resting upon all men to do
their duty in their respective stations and that instead of
popular outbreaks, we may have deliberate public opinion.
That, I say, is the best guide for all statesmen to follow; and
I think that the experience of the last four or five years
having shown that the attention of the public has been directed
to changes of one sort or other, not for merely visionary
objects, but to objects of substantial, moral, social, and com-
mercial improvement, is the best proof of the improved tone
of public feeling, from the spread and increase of which I
auger most favourably for the improvement and welfare of
this great country. With regard to my own conduct, I can
only say that I trust I shall pursue that course which has
hitherto obtained for me your confidence, and shall endeavour
to carry out those principles which I have always professed,
and which I believe to be for the welfare of the community.
I shall, so far as lies in my power, endeavour to devote what
time I can to promote your local interests, and the benefit of
this town and its neighbourhood. I say again, most un-
affectedly, that I feel most deeply the responsibility of the
situation to which I have been called; and I only hope that,
under the blessing of God, I may be able to do my duty in
that situation, as I have endeavoured to do in whatever other
situation I have been placed in.—(Loud applause.)
The returning officer, C. NORRIS, Esq., then announced
that the name of Mr. Smith, who had seconded the nomina-
tion of Mr. George White, was not on the register of electors.
He, therefore, declared the Right Hon. Charles Wood duly
elected Member for the borough of Halifax.
The indenture of the return having been signed in dupli-
cate, the Court was declared dissolved, upon which Mr.
White commenced an address to the spectators assembled ;
but the returning-officer, with Mr. Wood and his Committee,
left the Piece Hall, and the assembly soon after broke up.