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

BLEC2I :ON E

TELLIGEN GE

Mr. Layard hav'ing accepted the invitation to
some forward as a candidate to fill the vacancy in
the represen+ atio:fa of Southwark, caused by the
death of Sir C. Napier, met his friends yesterday
evening ata the Queen's Head Tavern, Borough.
Mr. N-EWMAN having been called to the chair,
opened the proceedings by explaining the
reasons which had ind:uced 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
hon. ce.ndidste to the meeting.
Mr. LAYARD, who was enthusiastically received,
then addressed the meeting. The hon. gentleman
entnmenced 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
come 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 coat 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 fulmen, 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. Seovell 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 attention to subjects of mere general
importance to 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 mind, but labouring under an afliction
which many electors thought was a disqualification
for a. member of Parliament. Therefore, under all
these circumstances, he (Mr. Layard) would have
been indulging in false delicacy if he had refused to
come forward because the field was pre-occupied.
The electors would 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. Molesworth 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
—amen 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-
ragement must have the high privilege of enjoying
the confidence of those whom he represented. 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-
spect for Lord Palmerston—(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-
fore he had the misfortune to fall out with that
noble lord, and, being the weakest, of course got
the 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. Upon the great question of reform
he could only then say that he had always thought
that a measure ought to be introduced to admit to
a share in our 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. He thought that as long as any property
qualification was required a £6 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.
.I'lolesworth, 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 Couut
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 reenter the House of Commons at the
presemt 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
pfslicy 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 Ein ope into its
present condition. (Cheers.) He had seen one
despatch of Lord I. 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-
ample. Eighteen months ago that country was a
scene of despair—grass growing in the streets of
the largest cities, the people reckless and soured ;
- hat now life and vigour abounded, the cities were
hall of busy people, railways were progressing, and
east, of
men were presenting themselves prepared
LO defend their native land. Such a change must
deaT the sympathies of this country. He did not
inCeilvsar—far from it, but we wished the moral
, nations" of England to be exerted on behalf of all
which :Lich were struggling to obtain:that liberty
question: :pled. (Cheers.) There were Indian
early consid vast importance that must receive an
desired to tat tion in Parliament, and he certainly-
tions. He raeatPart in the discussion of those ques-
we had great crireshe was inclined to believe that
great responsibility to answer for in India, and a
destinies of 130 milliZe_are for in dealing with the
• about the Lords' ag:e'f.men. (Hear.) [" What
salon ?"] The Lords' tie.-
gression was a past event sed h
recur. Had he been in the ,oe hoped would not
t..-L-la.Fse at the time lie
should have been disposed
it than had been done. Hue had more notice of
always, been a
friend to the removal of all duties
extension of informationwill'el/ pressed
upon the
p, The equalisat•
or •
favour of education
an equpali-
di faculties
among the people.
ion of
oor
rates ?",1 He was strongly in
cation of poor-rat+, but there were
which had not yet been satisfactorily met. m_
Layard concluded, amid loud cheers, by expres,iiirg
,his willingness to answer any questions that might
be put to him.
Mr. 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 be would be
willing to withdraw :f it could be shown that his
success was improbable, and hoped that Me . Lriyard
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-
sentative of this ancient borough in Parliament, and, there-
fore, individually and collectively, pledges itself to support
him at the forthcoming election."
Mr, Wlta,sura seconded the resolution, which