The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-05 00:00:00

MR. WILSON PATTEN AND HIS

CONSTITUENTS.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE NORTHERN DIVISION OF

LANCASHIRE.

Gentlemen,—The important measures recently pro-
posed in Parliament by her Majesty's Government, in-
volving the repeal or material diminution of all protec-
tive duties on the importation of the productions of
foreign countries, render it incumbent upon me to ad-
dress you publicly at the present time.
Under ordinary circumstances, or even under eirzum•
stances of more than ordinary importance, I should hesi-
tate to take this step, but should act under the convic-
tion that, in electing me as one of your representatives,
you had entrusted me with fall powers to exercise my
own jndgment, according to the emergency of each case
which might come under consideration, and that you
considered me responsible to you for the exercise of that
judgment only on that occasion when you might be con-
stitutionally called upon to select your representatives.
If I depart, then, from my usual practice upon the pre-
sent occasion, I need scarcely assure you, that I do so
under an overpowering conviction that the peculiar cir-
cumstances of the present time absolutely require it
of me.

The change which it is proposed to effect is of such
magnitude, it involves such grave and weighty conside-
rations, it is moreover so great an alteration of the
system which existed at the period when you last did me
the honour to elect me as one of your representatives, that
I consider it a duty which I owe to you, us well as to
myself, to make to you an open and explicit avowal of
my views and opinions, in order that if you disapprove of
them, I may enable you, in a constitutional manner, to
exercise your own judgment in the matter.
It is with this object, and under these impressions, that
after waiting a few days, in order to afford time to you
and to myself to give that attention and consideration to
the matter which it requires, I now lay before you the
result of that consideration on my part.
The present position in this country of the great ques-
tion of protective duties, renders it, in my opinion, pecu-
liarly incumbent on a representative, that, in considering
its intrisic merits with a view to an adjustment, he should
at the same time weigh well the general bearing and
future effect which his vote may have upon all the great
interests committed to his charge.
It would be dishonourable in me to state (because such
is not my opinion), that I believe that that adjustment
of this question is practicable which, abstractedly con-
sidered, would be most satisfactory. I do, however, con-
scientiously believe, that an adjustment of it is so essen-
tial to all the best interests of the community, that, as
your representative, I enter upon the consideration of
the government measure with a determination, if possi-
ble (even at the sacrifice of former opinion, and in the
spirit of that measure), to attain this, in my opinion,
desirable object.
I frankly own that the reason which mainly induces
me to take this course is tha prospect which I think I
see before me, if an adjustment should not now be made
—a prospect which, contemplated in the most favourable
light, exhibits years of contest and uncertainty, of jarring
interests, of continued apprehension of evil on all sides,
and the consequence of this, a continued want of confi-
dence, which must be equally prejudicial to all interests
--rendering, on the part of the agriculturist, all bene-
ficial arrangements between landlord and tenant most
difficult, if not impossible.
It also appears to me, looking to the great political
movements of the last few months, connected with the
formation of a Government, that there is no reason
whatever to expect, at any future time, a more satisfac-
tory settlement than can now be effected ; indeed, I
must own, that the consideration which I have given to
these movements, has led me to a directly contrary con-
clusion.

I also consider that, as regards agriculture, the pre-
sent state of the corn market is more than usually
favourable to an adjustment.
These being my opinions, I hasten to lay them before
you, and I beg at the same time to assure those of my
friends who have hitherto, in a more especial manner,
given me their kind and active support, that I shall
give a wide interpretation to any intimation which I
may receive, that it is their wish, under these circum-
stances, to confide the trust now reposed in me to other
hands.

Allow me, in conclusion, to submit to you (the only
claim which I have to make upon you), that you will
place the same fair construction on my motives which
you have hitherto done, during the now long period in
which I have had the honour of being one of your re-
presentatives.—l have the honour to be, gentlemen, your
obedient servant,

J. WILSON PATTEN.

London, Jan. 31, 1846.

MR. TOWNSHEND r,JAINWARING.
The Member for the Denbighshire boroughs has ad-
dressed the following letter to his constituents:—
"Gentlemen,—The great importance of the Bill which
her Majesty's Ministers intend to bring into Parliament
respecting the relaxation of duties upon articles of food
and clothing, induces me to address you, in order that
I may ascertain your sentiments upon this great sub-
ject. I feel myself bound to adopt this course, as I
distinctly sought your support upon the principle of
protecting native industry. I cannot, however, with
honour, withhold the avowal that Sir Robert Peel's an-
nouncement of the Government measure has had the
effect upon my mind of changing the opinion I have
hitherto held. Under these circumstances, I respectfully
ask you to allow me to approach the consideration of the
vast subject unfettered by the restraint which my own
address to you at the last general election imposes on
me, otherwise I must take immediate steps to vacate my
seat in Parliament. I can most honestly assure you
that no party feelings have influenced me in forming the
views I now entertain. Few, perhaps, have more re-
proached the Government than I have, for, as I con-
ceived, unnessarily stirring up this question at a moment
when their own previous measures were working so well;
few either have more deprecated their conduct in giving
way, as it appeared, to agitation. Better motives lam
now inclined to believe have actuated them. With
them, I believe the measure they have proposed may
diffuse comfort and morality amongst the labouring
classes, may invigorate trade, may permanently extend
commerce, and that agriculture itself may derive a
healthy stimulus from the encouragement which their
measure proposes to give.
' " Relying upon the kindness I have ever received
from all political parties since my connexion with the
Denbighshire boroughs, I cannot doubt that you will
put the best construction upon the course which I feel it
my duty to adopt—assuring you, that as I have much
♦alued that connexion, I shall much regret whatever
occasion may sever it.

" I remain your obedient servant,
" TOWNSHEND MAINWARING.
"London, January 28, 1846."

RESULTS OF A DISSOLUTION.
(From the Liverpool Times.)
If it was not for the interruption to business pro
duced by a general election, the free traders would be
quite as willing to have an appeal made to the people as
the Duke of Richmond or Mr. George Banks can pos-
sibly be. So far from fearing the result, they feel con-
fident that it would end in the utter rout of the mono-
polists. At the last election the latter put forth their
strength in the counties, and: won so many of them
that they have nothing now to gain in that quarter.
whilst in the cities and boroughs they would have no
chance even of holding their present position. Suppos-
ing the free traders of the Liberal and Conservative
party to act together, there are several large and popu-
lous districts, such, for instance, as Lancashire, the
West Riding of Yorkshire, and Middlesex, from which
scarcely a single monopolist member would be returned
to Parliament, whilst it is impossible to point out a
single district in which that party could gain any con-
siderable aeccssion of strength.
With regard to Lancashire, we feel pretty confident
that the result of an appeal to the people would be a
declaration in favour of free trade in every constituency
in the county. At the present time, professed free
traders are returned by Manchester (2), Oldham (2),
Stockport (2), Preston (2), Bolton (2), Ashton (1),
Rochdale (1), and Wigan (1). Of the Lancashire Con-
servative members, Lord Francis Egerton, and Mr.
Cardwell, Member for Clitheroe, are known to be
favourable to free trade, and Lord Sandon and Mr.
Greene, of Lancaster (the Chairman of Committees),
are understood to be so. Amongst those who are still
doubtful are one county member for south Lancashire,
vro for North Lancashire, ono for Liverpool, one for
*Warrington, one for Lancaster, one for Wigan, and
two for Blackburn. Several of these gentlemen ss ill
most probably vote with Sir Robert Peel, and of
those who do not it is very doubtful whether a single
one of them will be re-elected. South Lancashire is
well known to be surd for two free traders; North Lan-
cashire is less so, but the probability is that Mr. Wilson
Patten will vote with Sir Robert Peel, in which case the
free traders and the moderate Conservatives will easily
secure his re-election. How his juvenile colleague, Mr.:
Talbot Clifton, will act, no one pretends to know, but
his wisest course will be to go with the Government, for
his hold on the division is very slight, and would not
outlive a serious contest. We consider the return of
two free traders certain at Liverpool. At Warring-
ton, the old Conservative party, once so strong, is
much divided, a large sectionbeing furious against'
Mr. Ireland Blackburne, for his Maynooth vote. From
this cause he will be beaten, if he should stand on the
monopolist interest, though he would have fair chance
as a free trader, and be sure of his election, if no one
else was brought out on that interest. Mr. Marton's
position at Lancaster is much the same as Mr. Ireland
Blackburne at Warrington. He has very little chance
of being elected on the interest which last returned him,
but might come in handsomely as a convert. Both the
Conservative members at Blackburn are connected with
trade, and will most likely vote with Sir Robert Peel, in
which case their seats are secure. So that there only
remains that strange, incomprehensible place, Wigan, of
which we feel any doubt. At present the free traders
return one member, and the Earl of Balcarres the
other. It is barely possible that the monopolists may
continue to return one member, if the Lindsays, who,
however, have a great respect for the powers that he
should think it prudent to go into dead opposition to
what their countryman, Sir Pertinax, would have called
" the great mon.' ,
The above resume does not hold out a very brilliant
prospect to the monopolists. Still it is quite true, and
and if they are wise they will take stock in other
counties besides Lancashire before they go into a fight
with Ministers and the free traders.

A THE rT FllOl5l llErt INIAJESTT.--A t Greenwich
Police-court yesterday a workman employed in Deptford
Dockyard was charged with stealing an old iron staple, the
property of her Majesty, the values f wri9 eAimated
at tive-sixtcenths of a farthins:. 1 the man had di been s•
missed from his employment in consequence, the magistrate
considered that sufficient punishment for the offonce without
inflicting any penalty.