The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-04 00:00:00

MANCHESTER ELECTION.

On Tuesday evening Mr. Bailey addressed his
committee and the electors of St. John's Ward, in
St. Matthew's Schoolroom, Liverpool-road, which
was crowded.

Mr. A. M‘DouGALL, who presided, announced
that it was not likely that there would be any op-
position to Mr. Bazley ; but, notwithstanding, it
was Mr. Bazley's expressed wish that he should
meet the citizens in their respective wards, so that
they mifht have an opportunity of asking questions
and receiving answers and explanations. Which could
not be satisfactorily done at a general meeting in
the Free-trade Hall. (Applause.)
Mr. J. THOMAS proposed Mr. Bazley as a fit and
proper person to represent the citizens in Parlia-
ment. In eulogising him, he stated that Mr. Baz-
ley did not attempt. in any shape or form, to coerce
his workpeople to vote for the side he voted at the
last eleetion—(cheers)—and he would pay attention
to all deputations wbo waited upon him.
Mr. T. SCOTT seconded the nomination, and said
that as a commercial representative there was no
abler or better than Mr. Bazley in Manchester.
.The Rev. WILLIAM HUNTINGTON, rector of St.
John's, supported the nomination, and, in recom-
mending Mr. Bazley, spoke of his acquaintance with
him for 30 years. He was the worthy son of a
worthy and respected parent, and attended to the
best interests of the operative class. He supported
schools for the eduCation of that class which many
other gentlemen in the same station did not ; and
from his knowledge of the wants of Manchester,
and his business habits, he was undoubtedly the
best representative they could have.
Some questions were then put to Mr. Bazley,
who, the chairman said, would answer them all in
his address. They were—Whether he would sup-
port the Permissive Bill of the United Kingdom
Alliance ? (Loud laughter, groans, and a cry of
" Gammon.") Whether he would support the open.
jug, of places of amusement on the Sabbath ? How
far he would go in support of a government plan of
education ?

eE
eYr, w i
ngho , wa s re
said
heaedivtehde wslitttnyfacloutidonanodf
conMtirn.ueßdAzchL
learning that a contest was not likely to take place ;
yet it was his duty to attend the various ward
meetings of this great municipality, with the view
of affording every possible explanation not only to
the electors, but also to the non-represented.
(Cheers.) Mr. Thomas had incidentally stated that
411s---L
mont ago, wen the first intimation reached him
through the public press, that his friends would
bring him forward as a candidate to represent Man-
chester in Parliament, he sent for his manager, and
told him that if he (Mr. Bazley) should be brought
forward, he should not inquire how his workpeople
voted—(applause)—and desired him to beg them to
exercise their franchise with perfect independence.
(Cheers.) [A Voice—lt is quite correct.] Having
alluded to the part he had taken in the repeal of the
corn laws, and touched upon the subject of peace
and the defences of the country—(matters upon
whichhis opinions are already known)—Mr. Bazley
said it was especially requisite that our foreign
representatives should be peaceful in demeanour
towards the countries they were sent to, so
that they might be missionaries of peace and intel-
ligence, to communicate to their own country
everything that would be likely to ratify the bond
of peace. With reference to the affairs connected
with our home institutions, he would like to see a
general system of education established, either
through governmental or municipal agencies. He
would thankfully receive any general system by
which young people could be trained in the ways
of virtue and industry, because unless they had an
intelligent substratum to build upon, they could
not expect to have an intelligent community. Of
course he should like to see any system prevail that,
would lead to more sobriety than at present existed.
He hoped he was temperate himself ; but he con-
fessed that he took that good advice that Paul gave
to Timothy, that he was to take a little wine for his
stomach's sake. (Great cheers and laughter.) At
the same time, he should wish excess to be pre-
vented ; but this would best be done by moral
training and good school discipline. Of those
drinking palaces which, if entered, (certainly de-
graded, he would support every possible means of
obtaining a diminution ; but, whilst he wished to
diminish the great evil of intoxication, he would
not like to deprive the workman, who might re-
quire some stimulant after his fatiguing work, from
refreshing himself with a generous glass of beer.
(Great cheering.) On the question of the desecra-
tion of the Sabbath, he would not be so sanctimo-
nious as to wish to deprive persons from breathing
fresh air and enjoying the light of the sun ; but he
was not in favour of the opening of places of public
amusement or dissipation. As to the application
of the Maine Law, he did not think temperance
could be enforced by Act of Parliament ; and if
such an act were passed he thought it would be
productive of hypocrisy, and would not prevent
drinking in secret. On the question of reform he
would go for household suffrage. Perhaps a house-
hold suffrage upon a .X 5 -rental would be the
lowest entertained by the House of Commons.
(Applause.) Vote by ballot was indispensable
—(cheers)--and he would give his reasons.
In voting sometimes in private matters he voted
by baltot himself ; therefore, he did not see
why the labourer and industrious man should not
have the same security of voting secretly by ballot.
(Cheers.) Another reason was that after the last
election for Manchester he met, at the residence of
a friend, one of the largest employers of labour in
the whole community, and, in discussing with him
the results of the election, he (Mr. Bazley) inti-
mated to him that he feared there had been in some
quarters intimidation. (Hear, hear, and disappro-
bation,) " Intimidation!" said the gentleman,
" Intimidation !" he again emphatically repeated,
" why, if I had a man in my employ who didn't
vote as I voted, I would _discharge him from my
premises." (Cheers aid 'cries of "
was a declaration of coercion of which he (Mr.
Bazley) was ashamed. He was, therefore, tho-
roughly in favour of the ballot. (Cheers.) It had
been tried successfully in Australia, and why not
in the United Kingd9m? (Applause.)
Upon
another point connected wi th Reform, viz., the
duration of Parliaments, he found that their ave-
rage duration was four, ,years and, therefore, he
,
'
was in favour of triennial Parliaments—(hear)—
inasmuch as it would make the representatives
conduct. Considering
more circumspect in their
perhaps
that he might himself return upon
_ithem
l
in a few months he must be exceed ng ycircumspect
in his conduct—(laughter)—
and not only must he
carry out his principles but apply them judiciously,
if he should be sent to the House of Commons.
(Cheers.) He should endeavour
to promote the
best interests of his fellow-citizens and the pro-
sperity of the empire at large. (Prolonged ap-
plause.)
The following resolution was then unanimously
adopted :—" That this meeting desires to express
its thanks to Mr. Bazley for his visit to the elec-
tors of St. John's Ward, and, laving heard-the ex-
position of his political views, is of opinion that he
is a fit and proper person to represent the import-
ant
intt,,--cests of this city iu Parliament."