The Sun.
London, England, 1848-11-27 00:00:00

SIR CULLING EARDLEY AT LEEDS.

LEEDS, SATURDAY.—This forenoon Sir C. E. Eard-
ley, Bart., the candidate who has been brought forward
by the party of Dissenters who compelled the retire-
ment of the Hon. Charles W. Wentworth Fitzwibiam,
made his debut in the yard of the Coloured Cloth Hall,
and explained to a meeting of electors and others
there assembled his political creed. Sir C. Eard-
ley then proceeded to state that he thought free trade
was a principle required by the interests of the country,
and that it ought to be carried out in its integrity.
His opinions as to the endowment of religion were not
the result of superficial, but of very long examination by
him. He believed that men, as individuals or in the
aggregate, were utterly unable to distinguish between
man and man, but he did not consider so with regard to
the word of God, which he believed to be as intelligible
as the sun at noon day; and he held that Parliament, or
the Executive, was bound to act according to the word
of God in a Christian country. On that subject he
thought it was not the duty of Parliament to take any,
action at all, but so long as the habit and practice ex-
isted of taking action, he held that Parliament was bound
to act according to the principles of the word of God;
and as there was such a thing as error, it was his duty
to oppose error, and the endowment of religious error.
Although he was not a Yorkshireman, every sixpence he
possessed was derived from the land; he was on the com-
mission of the peace for four counties; and if any man
had a right to feel attached to the interests of the land
he had that right. He concluded s long speech by ex-
pressing a hope that the landed gentry and electors of
the county were not changed from their attachment to
liberty and popular reform.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Calor= said he thought the Honourable Candi-
date had explained his opinions so fully that be did not
need to be questioned, but it would only be common fair-
ness to put the same questions to him as were put to the
late candidate. He then asked Sir Culling—What are
you prepared to do with regard to the differential duties
on colonial produce?
Sir C. EARDLEY—I think we are bound to carry free
trade out, and that whether produce comes from our
colonies, or from foreign countries, the laws ought gra-
dually to be brought into that state that it should come
free from each.
Mr. GARBUTT—The second question which I put to
the late candidate is—What are you prepared to do with

vote for it or not." "We don't want to bo soaped over
in this way," and " He's a humbug!") They must
allow him to judge of the order in which these things
were to be introduced. If he saw a feasible proposal by
which he felt sure the two things could be obtained
simultaneously, he would support it, but unless he saw
that feasibility they might be leaping out of the frying-
pan into the fire. Therefore he was not prepared to
voce for any such measure.—(" Take him home.") The
Hon. Baronet then made some observations in reply to
Mr. Barker's speech, who, he complained, had miste-
represented his views. He declared that he would abolish
church-rates, but when they asked him him in the lump
whether be was prepared to ♦ote for the abolition of
the Church Establishment, be told them that there was
not that state of public opinion which demanded it at
present.—(Cries of " And never will be.")
Mr. BARKER having moved that Mr. Carbutt should
be appointed chairman, and the proposition having been
assented to, proposed that the meeting should declare
..n opinion by show of hands, whether they were in
favour of Sir C. Eardley's views regarding the extension
of the I.uffrag:, or whether they desired something more
extensive?

The Crum:nos demurred to the question being put
to the m,eting, but at last he consented to put it on con-
dition " that it should not prejudice the question as to
whether they would have Sir C. Eardley for a repro-
seEtative."

A large majority of hands were held up in favour of a
greater extension of the suffrage than that for which the
Hort. Candid.te declared himselt willing to vote at present.
Mr. Alderman BowEa said, the question was—Did
the meeting think that the candidate was a likely man
to represent the West Riding of Yorkshire?—(Hear.)
He (Mr. Bower) thought he was a likely man.
Mr. A. MEGSON wished to ask the lion. Candidate
whether he shared the opinions of Sir Andrew Agnew
and Mr. Plumptre in regard to the prevention of Sunday
travi Ring and Sunday recreation?
Sir C. EARDLEY—Ii. I agreed with Sir A. Agnew on
the subject, I believe I should be Member for Edinburgh
at this moment, and it was because I could not agree
with him that I retired from Edinburgh. Though I
honour the Sabbath day, and wish it should be honoured,
and though I wish the amount of Sabbath desecration
could be diminished, yet I do not think it should be in-
terfered with by law, and I will never be a party to in-
terfere with it by law.
Mr. MaosoN—Referring you to the recent case in
which the Duchess of Sutherland was prevented by the
intolerance of certain railway directors from attending
the deathbed of her father, and seeing that railway di-
rectors have obtained a virtual monopoly of the public
conveyance, would you support a measure which would
compel them to afford to the public reasonable means of
travelling on Sundays ? _ _

Sir C.EARDLEY ir,aid he would not compel trains not
to run, and, on the same principle of free trade, he would
not compel trains to ran. He thought the subject ought
to rest with the railway company, and if he had been a
director he would have held up his hand in order that
the Duchess of Sutherland might hare had a train on
that occasion.

In answer to another question,
Sir C. EARDLEY said, he was decidedly of opinion that
the municipal system of voting ought to be introduced
before the system of household suffrage was adopted.
Mr. Alderman BOWER then proposed, and Mr. Alder-
man RICHARDSON seconded, a resolution to the effect—
" That S►r C. Eardley is a fit and proper person to re-
present the riding in Parliament."
Mr. BARKER proposed as an amendment—" That hay-
ing beard Sir C. Eurdley's answers to the questions put
to him, it is the opinion of this meeting that he is not a
fit man to represent the riding in Parliament, but that
it is desirable that a person of more democratic and po-
pular principles—namely, Mr. J. A. Roebuck—should be
brought forward."—(Cheers.)
Mr. W. BROOK seconded the proposition, and said,
that Mr. Roebuck had been slighted because he was too
independent and honest.—(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN wished to say a word upon the point
before the meeting. Mr. Roebuck was not here as a
candidate in opposition to Sir C. Eardley. Therefore
the only proper course for the meeting to pursue would
be to express an opinion as to the fitness of the gentle-
man before them. If that opinion should be favourable,
then the matter would be decided; if unfavourable, then

it would be a matter for future consideration whether
any other candidate should be brought forward
(" Where was Richard Cobden when he was carried?")
As chairman of the meeting he (Mr. Carbutt) could not
put the amendment.—(Great disapprobation.)
Mr. BARKER claimed that the amendment should be
put, and was more convinced now than ever that Sir C.
Eardley and his advisers were temporising and trim-
ming.—(" Send him home.")
The Cwastari would ask this question of Mr. Barker
and Mr. Brook. If they would pledge themselves to
bring forward Mr. Roebuck supposing the amendment
should be carried, it was then a legitimate one, but not
otherwise. Were they prepared to bring Mr. Roebuck
forward if the amendment should be carried?

Mr. BARXER wished for an expression of opinion on
the subject. If Mr. Roebuck should be carried they
would correspond with him.