The Sun.
London, England, 1834-12-26 00:00:00

ELECTION MOVEMENTS.

LORD JOHN RUSSELL.
MPORTANT MEETING OF DEVONSHIRE ELEC-

TORS AT TAVISTOCK.
On Monday last a public meeting of electors of the
Southern Division of this county, resident in Tavistoek
and its vicinity, took place at the Bedford Hotel, Tavis-
tock, in order to meet that tried friend and consistent ad-
vocate of every liberal principle, the Right Honourable
Lord John Russell. As might be expected, every part of
the spacious room set apart for the purpose (the assembly
room) was crowded ; while the attendance embraced the
most influential and respectable gentlemen and yeomen of
the town and neighbourhood. Upon the entrance of his
Lordship the most enthusiastic cheering prevailed for se-
veral minutes, accompanied by every demonstration of at-
ta Aiment and respect.
JOHN CARPENTER., having been called to the chair, by
acclamation, proceeded in a very brief speech to address the
electors, and to state the object of the meeting.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL then rose, amidst the most un-
bounded plaudits, and spoke to the following effect :
Gentlemen, I was anxious to meet you on this occasion.
It was my particular wish to return you thanks, having had
no former opportunity to do so, for the great support you
afforded me on the occasion of the late election, when
though a contest took place, I was returned as one of the
members for the Southern Division of this county ; I am
glad likewise at the opportunity thus given me, because I
cannot forget that I had once the honour to be connected
with this town as its member ; and although the franchise
at that period was not so extended as it is at present, I be-
lieve I may state, that as your member, I was attended by
the general good will of the inhabitants.—( Hear, hear.)
Gentlemen, there are other reasons also why I wished to
address yon. We now stand in a new and most important
position. Events have lately taken place which deeply
affect the interests and the liberties of Englishmen.—(Hear,
hear!) We are about to witness the dissolution of
that House of Commons which was
.elected immediately
after the passing of the Reform Bill ; and let me ob-
serve, the dissolution of that house puts an end to all
the rumours and surmises which have been entertained
as to the nature of the Government which has suc-
ceeded that of Lord Melbourne. Gentlemen, stories have
been circulated as to the cause of the dissolution of the late
Ministry, which have been contradicted elsewhere, and
which, not being repeated, I shall no further refer to them,
therefore, than to state, whatever semblance of truth there
may have been in those reports, they form no ground of
complaint against the House of Commons.—(Hear, hear,
hear.) That House gave the late Ministry their support,
so far as they had condence in them, and so far as they
were convinced they were honest in promoting the great
ends of reform. If, therefore, a dissolution and a dismissal
of that House of Commons takes place, as is now positively
asserted, you may rely upon it, that dissolution will take
place because the majority of its Members are too firmly
attached to popular principles, and were prepared to carry
forward next sessions, great and important measures, which
I sincerely believe would be favourable to the liberties, and
conducive to the prosperity of this country.—(Cheers.) We
can have no doubt either, that if a dissolution follow, it will
be with a view of obtaining one if possible, less favourable
to every species of reform.—(Hear, hear.) lam far from
saying that there may not arise cases wherein the Crown,
nding its prerogative invaded, and its rights attacked, may
not appeal to the people for defence ; but no such charge
can be made by any rational man against the present House
of Commons. There are some who consider—but I must
confess I differ in opinion—that the representatives of the
people were too scrupulous on some subjects wherein the
prerogative of the Crown was concerned—l may mention
the Pension List as an instance—and that with regard to
those matters, they stopped short of their duty ; but it
would be extremely difficult to find any large body of men
who would aver that in this particular they had gone too
far, and therefore, if' the present House of Commons is dis-
solved, it will be because they are too zealous in the cause
of reform—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) Gentlemen, I will
not go further into that topic, but will content myself with
sayingthat it remains for the people of England to consider
whether they will choose for their representatives those who
voted in the late House for reform, or whether you will
select men who evinced every inclination to check and op-
dose reform measures altogether.—(Cheers.) The next
topic upon which I shall touch, is one upon which I am
anxious to speak, because it is one in which my personal
honour is concerned. At Totnes, when I addressed the
electors, after passing in review several of the mea-
sures introduced by the Ministry, of which I was a
member, I made some observations in reference to the
subject of tithes, which have been commented upon in a
high quarter. I will now read you the extract from
the letter of the Right Reverend Bishop of this diocese,
in answer to a memorial on the part of the Archdeacon
and Clergy of the Archdeaconry of Exeter. After
other remarks, which do not concern us at present, the
Right Rev. Prelate observes :—" In the report of a speech
delivered at a numerous meeting in this county, by a mem-
ber of the late Cabinet, the Bishops have been arraigned
for bovine. repeatedly thwarted the endeavours of his
Majesty's Ministers to settle this most perplexing question
(of tithes) ; and for having thwarted them on pleas of a
very qnestionable character. It is there said, that, In
the session which has just passed, there was one, and more
than one proposition, with regard to tithes, which, on
being submitted to the heads of the House of Lords, con-
ceiving they were injurious to their interests, we (the
Ministers) did not think they were injurious ; but we
thought it useless to force through the House of Com-
mons, a measure which would have been defeated in the
House of Lords.' Whether the words reported were
really spoken, it is not for me to say. It is enough that
they have not been disavowed by the noble person to whom
they are attributed, and that, under the authority of
his name, they have obtained circulation, and of course
credit throughout the kingdom. This has imposed on
me the unpleasing duty, a duty which I owe to my
brethren, to myself, and to the Clergy at large, of
availing myself of the opportunity which you now give
me, to deny in the strongest terms, not only the accuracy
but also the entire substance of this statement. No pro-
position on the subject of tithes was submitted to the
Bishops ; no declaration of our intention to oppose any
such measure of the Government was made by us, nor by
any one authorised by us, nor by any one whatever, so
far as I have heard or believe—certainly not by any one
who, from his station or influence, could be reasonably
supposed to be the organ of our opinions. I make these
assertions, not on my own recollection merely, but after
previous inquiry in quarters where any failure of memory,
or defect of information on my part, could be abundantly
supplied. If, lthwever, lam wrong, I rejoice to think that
the means of correcting my error must be within reach of
him who is alleged to have made the ehar,go, I cannot
doubt, that if he indeed made it, he will, for the sake of
that cause, which must be dearer to him than any other,
the cause of truth and justice—he will state plainly what,
and by whom were the propositions made to us—who it
was that declared our intention to oppose them in the
House of Lords, and to whom; and when, such declaratioq,
was made." Gentlemen, allow me to refer to the speech
thus observed upon. After summing up the measures
which had passed through Parliament, and others which
had demanded our attention during the two past
years, I stated that some of those measures were of
such importance, and had occupied so much time,
that they had prevented us from proceeding with
other measures to which we attached great importance.
Among these I placed foremost the tithe question. I
then proceeded nearly as follows :—" Of the various
propositions that were made, with regard to tithes,
there was one at least, if not more, which, on being sub-
mitted to the heads of the Church, they declaml should
have their opposition in the House of Lords, conceiving
they were injurious to the interests of the Church. We
(the Ministers) did not think they were injurious to the
Church ; but we thought it useless to force through the
Hew of Commons, a measure which would have been de-
feated in the House of Lords," You will perceive, I did
not allude to the last Session, in speaking upon this suNocti
and instead of the words " injuring' to theft` lotorests:'
which might h@ eciptun
4
' 4., the words I made use of were
" injurious to the interests of the Church." I did not wish•
to say that the Bishops were opposed to our proposition
from any questionable motive. I have always paid them
the respect to believe that they were actuated in their con-
duct by sincere attachment to the Church ; and far be it
from me to attribute to thorn any thing like a questionable
or merely personal motive. With regard to the substance
of what took place, I will now make a statement ; but
which, although it is mac from recollection, yet that re-
collection is perfectly clear on the subject. After the
Reform Act had passed, and at the beginning of the year
1833, among other measures calling for the attention of
(loyernmnntOhn 9ne§tion of tithes Ivy pile And knowing
how deep 4-e
interest was hilt in this county, with regard to
tithes, and how intimately it concerned a great num-
ber of my constituents, I felt bound to give my utmost
attention to every discussion ig the caVmet 411
ject. 4t length tl4O Ministry were so far agreed, that a
proposition was framed, as that sub-
far
basis for a measure upon
tithes, The person authorised to submit that measure to
the heads of the Church, was Earl Grey the head of the
Ministry ; and the person to whom he submitted it, the
Archbishop of Canterbury,
one unauthorized, or devoid of " station or influence;
liqaF, 4ar.) do 11(3.t kpalv what eeptl that most. Rev.
relate took to ascertain 'tife seglet4 of
who could not be regarded, as
e6mues his high authority as a prelate, the
Archbishop, both for his piety
as a religious man, and the
general mildness and benevolence of his character, deserved
the utmost respect from the Ministry. The answer of that
most reverend prelate mut, that bo could not ve his 42-