The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-09 00:00:00

4101 f •
'AC* Pk =4 al.a •
-
• 4 lc' `,:"1.1,101
—•,,v • • • •
; •
,* • - it) „ •
"19 /
• •
(
(W;-:•-617,":. if
JP :1,1 • 1?). ,1*: ).•"
;';'-:
•kk
---
'Ogg
~...,4*(4 6s 3, Lt. . ,
I.e

.

LONDON, WE

SOITWEPPE'S SODA WATER, MALVERN
SELTZER WATER, POTASS WATER, and LEMONADE.
Every Bottle of the Alkali Waters is protected by a Label over the
cork with their signature. Sold by all respectable Chemists, Con-
fectioners, and at the leading tlotels. Manufactured at London,
Liverpool, Bristol, Derby, and Malvern Wells.

[Plum 4D. SrrxD 51) ]

in town. I had no time to hunt up my country
friends and consult them, and I think you will
admit that I actedies became a true representative
of a party and as a loyal gentleman when I said at
Once, "Rather let me forego this high appoiut-
ment than incur the slightest possible risk of in-
flicting any damage, in the chance of a contested
election, into which I had no time to inquire, on
the cause which I desire to assist and the friends
who have sought to do me honour. (Cheers.) I
repeat that it I had .then had 12 hours to con•
eider, I should have come to a different decision.
But'l had not an hour before me; and I am sure
there is not a smock-frock in that crowd who will
blame a member for Hertfordshire if he was no
greedy hunter after pl Ice, but WAS over timid lest
he might injure hie friends, and over eiger tosacii-
fice what is gsnerally deemed a high object of am-
bition to the safety of the common cause. (Hear.)
That, gentlemen, was the reason, and the only rea-
son, coming entirely from myself at the spur of
the moment, why I did not accept office in Lord
Derby's Government when it wee- first formed.
Well, but a few days ago Lord Derby again asked
me whether I would accept the same office which
he had offered me before, in consequence of the re-
cent changes in his Cabinet. Then the case was
altered. In the meantime I had ample leisure to
ascertain what was the state of public fi cling in the
country. I had received overtures of the most cor-
dial support from all sides, and though I. was then
told that I should have a vehement and expensive
opposition to encounter, do not believe that on this
occasion I could have the meanness to boast when
I say, I had not the smallest fear of that opposi-
tion. TnerefOre, gentlemen, I at once accepted,
and Lord Dbv was good enotigh to recommend
my name toper Majesty for, the office which I have
how the honour to fill. I need only say that there
fare Liberal gentlemen all around me who will, I am
sure, join in the contradiction which has just been
given by Mr. DiMsdale to the absurd report that
there is any kind of understanding between any
'persons whatever on either side with regard to Mr.
brosvenor being wiehdrawn on this occasion.
give you my honour that no such idea was ever m-
ter ained. Anticipating a severe, or at all.events, a
warm contest, I• commenced my canvass the day
'after my seat was vacated ; and permit me to ex-
press my most cordial gratitude to those Mends
who so promptly came forward in my behalf. In eo
previous instance did I ever meet with so kind a re-
ception or receive so many expressions of sympathy
and regard. In the evening of the same day some
.gentlemen of the Liberal party in a very hand-
some and very considerate manner hastened
to say that all opposition would be wile-
drawn. A mean and spiteful opponent might
have delayed that iuforma'ion in order to
give me at least as much f•tigue and ex-
pense es possible. But I beg to acknowledge
the frank and er lo.ful manner and spirit in which
that eorniciunic Alen was made at once—a spirit
which I agree with Mr. Radcliffe in thinking was
worthy of the high character of the Whig gentle-
men of this county, and which is also honourable
to the straightforward candour of my fellow-coun-
trymen, the Liberal electors. (Ilear, hear.) Gentle-
men of the Lib -ral party who m ly be here-present, .
' I thereto e beg you to acc apt ficen me this ac-
knowledgment as from man to man. In the arena
of political strife there can be no haepier m-eneut
than when both parties lower their arms, but not
the'r fl ge,.and when generous opponent; can ex-
cbanee cortrte4es -which compromise no eolitical
principle, while they preserve the bonds of,pris-ate
friendship and esteem. (War.) On etich an ccca-
sion, then, you. will underztand thit it would very
i'l become me to touch more than I can help on :my
irritating party topics, since there is to be no irri-
tating party contest. And when I recall the per-
sonel lc,ndress which I received in early life front
Lord Melbourne—ef whem no man ever heard me
speak except in terms of affectionate respect—l own
that it does pie 'se mo to think--wit clever I may
have done in the House it Commons whelk I was
face to face with Lord Palmerston—whatever I
may, do again when I shall bi once more face to
flee with him—thst I am not called upon before a
Hertfordshire audienceto say behind that noble
lord's back anything which might wound his fi ieuds
and relations—thetrleeds and relatons of a man
who was Lord Melbourne's intimate associate and,
nosy connection. As long as a public man is alive
he is always judged by the last thing he glees. (A
laugh.) When he is tio more he wilt be judged by
the lmst things he has done. And vt st-over may
cr may not have been the faults of Ler& Palmer-
ston's reu-nt Administration, there can be no doubt
that posterity, looking to the bi;st things which he
has done, will regard him as one of the most re-
markable men of our age, or that this country will
hereafter be proud to think that by connection and
property he was a Hertfordshire man. (Ceeeis )
You all know how Lord Palmerston's Govern-
ment fel', and how L rd Dirby's Governor int
acceded to office. 'There is no doubt that the new
Administration had many ditliculries to contend
with, but its main difficulty was plainly this :—they
last election had turned on points about which
Conservatives differed—their strength had not been
fairly tested, and Lord Derby could not rely fur a
working majority on his own adherents alone in
a Parliament which had been chosen under the Ad-
ministration of his predecessor. It was nece nary
that he should also trust to the forbearance of those
independent Liberal members by whose aid ho had
been placed amid ueforeseen an I unsolicited respon-
sibilities; and I am bound to say that by a large
proportion of the independent Liberal monbers of
the House of Commons that forbearance has hen
hitherto shown with a manly generosity which is
honourable to those who display it, and not dis-
creditable to those who receive it. (Hear.) lam
sure that any one who has watched the temper of
the House of Commons during the last few years
must have noticed that between the Conservatives
and some of the most eminent men among inde-
pendent Liberal members there has grown up a
disposition to regard each other's views and policy
with mere fairness, more freedom front prejudice
than formerly exist: d, when party was split up only
into two obstinate and unyielding divisions. During
the last few years you will find that Conservative
and independent Liberal memb-rs have spoken on
the same side and voted in the same lobby. In the
absorbing interest of the Russien war their hearts
beat in the same cause, they mourned for the same
disasters, they exulted in the same achievements.;
and in the course of that national sympathy they
discovered that, while there were indeed points on
which they materially differed, there were points in
domestic and foreign policy on which they could
honourably agree. It is quite true that the Con-
servatives are distinguished ,by a love for our
ancient institutions ; but the more a man loves
his own house the more he must desire to keep it
in repair, and so far adapt it to modern conve-
nience as to give his children no excuse to pull
it down. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Well,, nothing
can be more natural than that when Lord Derby's
Government came into power the independent
Liberal members, not being able to form a Minis-
try of their own, and not at . all wishing to restore
the Ministry which had just been defeated, should
have desire I to give those men against whom they
have no violent prejudice a fair English trial and
fair English play. (Cheers.) Yet, while they have
valued that support, while it is a support which
every Government must be very happy to receive,
I trust no one will suppose that we should thereby
alienate our own tried and faithful adherents. It
is the policy of.every wise party to extend as far
as it possibly can the range of its numbers. It ie
the policy of every wise Government to occupy
the largest space it honourably can do in public
opinion. But neither a wise party nor a wise Go-
vernment will ever be untrue to its friends or ever
covet power at the sacrifice of honour. (Cheers.)
I trust that her Majesty's Government will not
leave behind, but will carry along with them, in
that path of temperate progress which every Gc-
vernment now-a-days is compelled to take, those
friends who now cheer and encourage our effort!,
(A. Voice—" How about the ballot I")
that 1 would not touch on irritating pa!tver,t,7lc
I have. !este!
I will, therefore, not allude to Mr. Cart dal d done
mo-
tion. I regard that question as j)
with. Still, as the Government intheascourse of the
late debate were charged with the w
and power, they have a tight nsaatnert,of‘cWapeachittcyd'
the capeeiteeend the power which to
answer,
were denied to
cur 'pi.edecessere. We had the capacity and the
power to withdraw the Conspiracy 13ill, and yet to
preseive amicable relations ions with France. (Cheers.)
We had the
capacity to obtain the
)im-
mediate releaso"eorefr and capacity
men front a Neapoli-
tan
to frame a b
prison. (Cheers.) We had the power and cape-
get which was received with
city
general favour, andu which kept faith with the
country on the master grievance of the income-tax.
(Elea.) And when a vote of censure was raised
against us our opponents had not the power and
capacity to carry that
I shall now turn fi one the past and glance very briefly
at some of the measures which must be reserved
for the serious consideration of the Government
•First, with respect to the important subject of law
reform. We have the good fortune to have for our
laW office's men of the highest eminence in their