The Sun.
London, England, 1860-11-24 00:00:00

ELECT ON INTELLIGEA CE.

Mr. Layard having accepted the invitation to
come forward as a candidate to fill the vacancy in

the representation of Southwark, caused by the
death of Sir C. Napier, met his friends yesterday
evening at the Queen's Head Tavern, Borough.
Mr. NEWMAN having been called to the chair,
opened the proceedings by explaining the
reasons which had induced a large number of
the electors to invite Mr. Layard to become
a candidate, and stated that in consequence of
the resolution adopted at a meeting on Wednesday
last a deputation waited upon that gentleman, who,
after some little prudent hesitation, consented to
allow his name to be put forward. After referring
to Mr. Layard's antecedents as proving his fitness
to represent the important constituency of South-
wark, the chairman concluded by introducing the
lion. candidate to the meeting.
Mr. LAYARD, who was enthusiastically received,
then addressed the meeting. The hon. gentleman
commenced by stating that he had only returned
from Italy on Tuesday night, and found Mr. New-
man and other gentlemen waiting to request him to
tome forward. He hesitated to give a decided an-
swer, but was pressed, and on Thursday he was
called upon by a deputation appointed at a public
meeting on the previous evening, and he could no
longer refuse the invitation. He was always disin-
clined to divide the Liberal interest, and that was
one reason for his hesitation. Another reason was
that he had been led to believe that an election in
Southwark would cost more money than he could
personally afford, and more than he thought any
candidate ought to be called on to expend. (Hear.)
In coming forward now, when there were already
two Liberal candidates in the field, he was only
following the example of Mr. Scovell, who did the
same thing, and therefore what was good for the
goose was good for the gander. (Laughter.) With
respect to expense he had told the gentlemen who
came to him very honestly what his opinion was,
and, although there were certain expenses which a
candidate must incur, yet he would not be a party
to those costly elections which were a stigma upon
our representative system. (Hear.) He had heard
it said that one of his opponents was prepared to
go to any expense to gain the election, but that, if
not a mere brutum fulnzen, would not alarm him,
and he hoped his friends, instead of being intimi-
dated by a spirit of corruption, would endeavour
to intimidate their opponents by a spirit of
purity. (Hear, hear.) Referring to the two other
candidates for the vacancy, Mr. Layard observed
that Mr. Scovell based his claims upon local con-
nection, but he (Mr. Layard) thought those claims
although deserving of consideration, were allowed
too much weight in the present day. A House of
Commons composed of men who represented local
interests would be a mere vestry—(laughter)—and
would exclude from that assembly men who had
given their iettention to subjects of mere general
importance 'co the whole nation. (Hear.) Of the
other candidate, Mr. Fawcett, he desired to speak
with the highest respect. That gentleman was a
man of the highest honour, endowed with an accom-
plished 7!lind, but labouring under an affliction
which many electors thought was a disqualification
for a member of Parliament. Therefore, under all
these circumstances, he (Mr. Lavard) would have
been indulging in false delicacy if he had refused to
come forward. because the field was pre-occupied.
The electors wou!d wish to know what his opinions
were. He was what was called a Radical—(hear)—
and he thought he need not be ashamed of a name
which their former distinguished representative and
his esteemed friend Sir W. Moles worth had gloried
in adopting. (Cheers.) If he entered the House of
Commons again, it would be as he was before—an
independent member. (Hear.) It was all very well
for gentlemen to call "hear," but they did not
know what it was to be an "independent member."
(Laughter.) An independent member meant a man
who was to be bullied and carped at by every one
—a man who was always saying disagreeable things;
an independent member was one who spoke what
he believed to be the truth, and who in so doing
incurred obloquy as a bore, but who for his encou-
ragemest must have the high privilege of enjoying
the confidence of those whom he represen`,/ed. He
should, therefore, if elected again, be an indepen-
dent member, but would gladly give his support to
any Liberal Government which he thought hon-
estly deserved it. He entertained the highest re-
LepeCt for Lord Pahnerston—(hear) —who he believed
represented the bold, outspoken character of an
Englishman. He believed that Lord Palmerston
had properly represented the feelings of the coun-
try in his foreign policy, which had to a great extent
influenced the popular movements upon the conti-
next. (Hear, hear.) He had no reason to flatter
Lord Palmerston, because when in Parliament be-
:tore he had the misfortune to fall out with that
noble lord, and, being the weakest, of course got
tho worst of it. (Laughter.) He would give his
support to the Government, but would reserve the
right to oppose it if it introduced any measure of
importance which he believed to be opposed to the
public interest. Unrm thp,c7re:lt 1)110S1 lb]) of rai..n,
Ile could only then say that he had always thought
that a measure ought to be introduced to admit to
a share in cur representative system-that large body
of intelligent working men who were now unjustly
excluded. Considering the great efforts and vast
sums that had been expended during the last 30
years in the extension of education, he could not
understand why they had not permitted to take
part in our representative system those men who
had most profited by those efforts and that expen-
diture. lie thought that as long, as any property
qualification was required a franchise was a
:fair proposal, and he would have accepted it, but
of course not as a finality measure. He, however,
agreed with their former representative, Sir W.
olesworth, that any extension of the franchise
would be worse than useless which was not accom-
panied by a system for giving protection to the
voter. He supported the ballot, and thought that
some means could be found to insure secresy. As
to municipal institutions, he regarded them as the
foundation of liberty, and when in Vienna some
seven or eight years ago he was told by Count
Esterhazy that it had been a great misfortune for
Hungary that she had allowed Austria to take
away her municipal institutions. He (Mr. Layard)
would therefore keep the mayors and aldermen,
notwithstanding all jokes against them, as he be-
lieved centralisation to be a dangerous evil. With
respect to foreign-policy, he believed that questions
of the highest importance must speedily arise, and
that belief was one of the principal reasons for his
desire to re-enter the House of Commons at the
present time. He was well acquainted with the
state of Europe, and knew that a moment was ap-
proaching when great changes must take place,and it
was of the highest importance that the foreign
policy of this country should represent the true
feelings of the people—a sympathy with the popu-
lar institutions in other countries, and not the nar-
row minded, bigoted, foreign policy of 30 years
ago, which made us the ally of despots and not of
peoples, and which had brought Europe into its
present condition. (Cheers.) He had seen one
despatch of Lord J. Russell which he did not much
approve, but the noble lord had since written an-
other which had produced an excellent effect on the
public mind of Europe. The moment, he repeated,
Was approaching when great changes must take
place. Peoples were beginning to understand that
they had rights as well as kings, and would not
fail to
assert those rights. Italy was a good ex-
:cm:ll%. Eighteen_ months ago that country was a
the far despair—grass growing in the streets of
but no,li'M cities, the people reckless and soured ;
full of busife and vigour abounded, the cities were
hosts of InYenpeople, railways were progressing, and
to defend theZere presenting themselves prepared
excite the sympathies land. Such a change must
of this country. He did not
desire war-_f4,influence of RegilturTu it, but we wished the moral
warenato be exerted on behalf of all
nations which
which we enjoyed. Zggling to obtain:that liberty
questions of vast Jul' heel's.) There were Indian
• in that must receive an
early consideration
Patlireent, and he certainlydesired to take part in the
tions. He must say he ayes isenetil..ssinn of those ques-
Toerd to believe that
great had great crimes to answer
In al:_n India, and a
g responsibility to care for
(fiall!_ig with the
destinies of 130 millions of men.
about the Lords' aggression ?"1 Ti7eril" What
gression was a past event, and he hoped 118'
not
recur. net
recur. Had he been in the House at the time he
should have been disposed to take more notice
of
it than had been done. He had always been
friend to the removal of all duties which pressed
upon the extension of information or education
among the people. [" The equalisation of Poo.,
rates ?"] He was strongly in favour of an_. equali-
sation of poor-rates, but there were difficulties
which had not yet been satisfactorily met. Mr.
Layard concluded, amid loud cheers, by expressing
his willingness to answer any questions that might
be put to him.

Sin DREDGE said he was authorised to state
that Mr. Fawcett would give Mr. Layard a week
to canvass, and at the end of that time he would be
willing to withdraw if it could be shown that his
success was improbable, and hoped that Mr. Layard
would agree to the same arrangement.
Mr. LAYARD expressed his appreciation of Mr.
Fawcett's kindness and courtesy, who, he hoped,
would receive the same from his friends. (Cheers.)
Mr. HOWARD moved the following resolution :
"That this meeting, having heard the political opinions
of Mr. Layard, as explained upon the present occasion, are
of opinion that he is eminently fitted to become the repre-
sentativeorof this ancient borough in Parliament, and, there-
f a individuallyforthco g
and collectively, pledges itself to support
e,
lie
election."
Mr. WlLlslizlt seconded the resolution, which