The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-28 00:00:00

Yesterday a meeting, convened by circular, was
held in the committee room of the Town-hall, Bir-
mingham, for the purpose of hearing an address by
r. T. Hughes, M.P., with respect to the proposed
prosecution of ex-Governor Eyre by the Jamaica
committee. The Mayor (Mr. G. Dixon) presided,
and the meeting was a large one. •
The MAYOR, in opening the proceedings, expressed
his opinion that at present there were two classes
of people in the country. On the one hand they
had the Jamaica Committee; and on the other they
had a class of people who believed that if Governor
14:37te had done wrong he had simply made a mis-
take, and therefore he deserved sympathy instead
of censure. Apart from these there was a class of
people who, though they had read much and thought
deeply on the subject, were yet unwilling to com-
mit themselves to an opinion on the grave legal
questions involved. To this class the Jamaica
Committee appealed, and for that purpose Mr.
Hughes had been invited to come to Birmingham.
Mr. T. HUGHES, after stating the circumstanees
attending the formation of the Jamaica Committee,
said he believed it was owing to the pressure
exercised by them that the Government had
determined to suspend Governor Eyre, pending
the inquiry which was made by the Royal Com-
mission appointed for that purpose. He thought
that report disclosed a frightful state of things,
which made the deliberations of the committee
most serious. But when it became evident that
they must face the probable necessity of placing
Governor Eyre on his trial for having taken away
life, which would, according to the English law, be
murder, many who had previously acted on the
committee withdrew their names. He thought
they had acted in a harsh and unadvised manner,
for nothing personal entered into the matter. It
was not a question of Governor Eyre or Mr.
Gordon, but one involving the moat precious birth-
right of Englishmen. The present Government
bad refused to take up the matter, and Mr. Disraeli
had given a refusal of the most contumelious kind
to their request, his answer being that such acts
were under martial law, and when martial law was
proclaimed all other laws were suspended. The
committee had determined, therefore, to take up
the matter themselves, and they wished to obtain an
authoritative judgment on the law as it bore upon
the case. Their first pcsition was the English law
as it had been since the great Charter. The sove-
reign had no power to declare martial law in any
of the English dominions, and that being the case
had no authority to delegate it to any representative
of the Crown in any of the British colonies. Mr.
Hughes then gave quotations to show that the law
in this country as founded in the great Charter and
the Petition of Right remained unaltered, and that
it had been declared so by the highest legal
authorities. In Jamaica itself there had been a
Militia Act, which gave authority to establish
martial law, but as he apprehended it was
martial law to be employed only in case of
invasion by a foreign power, for by another
statute passed side by side with that, and re-
newed from time to time, and which was then in
existence, the ordinary civil courts were to remain
open, and to them all civilians were to be brought
to trial for criminal offences. Having referred to the
proceedings in Jamaica, Mr. Hughes appealed to the
country for aid in order that a question involving
in such a great degree the rights and privileges of
their fellow-subjects in all parts of the world might
be set at rest, and expressed his opinion that the
Chief Justice of England would repeat charges of
other chief justices in stating the la +v to be that no
exercising the prerogative, as in this case, coald be
made in violation of the law, for he considered the
question was one of law as against prerogative.
A resolution, expressing sympathy with the ob-
jects of the committee, and forming a local com-
mittee, was confirmed, and after a vote of thanks to
the mayor for presiding, the meeting terminated.

THE WATERFORD ELECTION.

(From Saunders'A Xews.)

The election for a knight of the shire to represent
the county of Waterford in tLe Imperial Parliament
was held in the county Court-house on Wednesday.
The court was densely packed at an early hour with
the friends and supporters of the rival candidates.
At half-past ten o'clock the High Sheriff, Mr.
Robert Thomas Carew, D.L., accompanied by the
Sub-Sheriff, entered the court. He was followed
by the lIon.W. C. Talbot, R.N., conservative can-
didate, accompanied by Sir Robert J. Paul, Bart.,
(proposer), and Captain Palliser (seconder)
and friends; and Mr. Edmund De la Poer (liberal
candidate) accompanied by Sir Richard Musgrave,
Bart. (proposer), and Mr. John Bagwell, M.P.
(seconder), and friends.

The writ having been read a long discussion took
place as to which candidate should be proposed first
when

answer,
The Hon. Captain TALBOT rose to address the
electors, but was received with a perfect storm of
groans. It was many minutes before he was allowed
to proceed. When quiet had been comparatively
restored he proceeded to say that he regretted that
owing to a trick—an electioneering trick—of his
opponents, the entire duty of answering all that had
been said on the other side devolved on him. By
this trick he had been deprived of the able assist-
ance of the two gentlemen of stake in the country
(Sir R. J. Paul and Captain Pallisser), who had
consented to propose and second him. With
regard to the charge of Fenianisw, which had been
made against Mr. De la Poer, he (Captain Talbot)
denied indignantly that he or any of his party ever
had anything to say to the authorship or promulga-
tion of the statement. Neither he nor his party were
in anywise accessory to it. (Cheers and groans.) He
regretted that the hon. baronet who had proposed
Mr. De la Poer had seen fit to make the very serious
charge of bribery against his (the speaker's) party);
but he begged, in the most emphatic and indignant
terms, to repel a charge so gross and unconstitu-
tional. (Cheers and counter cheers.) He begged,
with every respect for Sir R. Musgrave, to say that
charge was a fabrication. (Uproar.) It was got up
for a political purpose, the same as the incident
that made such a serious charge against Mr. De la
Poer had been turned to political ends by Mr. De
la Poer's friends. He would repeat that neither he
nor his friends had anything to say to the unfortu-
nate report which had been circulated respecting
Mr. De la Poer. (No, no, Aye, and groans.)
Neither had they anything to say to the foul charge
of bribery.
Sir R. Musetnavn—lt can be proved. (Cheers
and uproar.)
Mr. TALBOT continued to say that he would defy
any man to substantiate such a charge against him
or his friends. (Great tumult.) He (Capt. Talbot)
had to deplore the means taken at the other side to
prejudice the mass against us by " stumping" from
town to town, raising up exploded and senseless
party cries to excite the fary of the people against
him and the house of Curraghmore, with which he
had the honour of being closely allied. The Beres-
fords had ever been good resident landlords, and
spent immense sums in the employment of labour and
the improvement of the country. (A Voice—" What
of the pitch-caps and triangles ?") (Groans.) They
had won the affection of their tenantry by their
generosity and kindness to them. (Confusion.)
Whit had the Whigs, to whom Mr. De la Poer gave
his adherence, ever done for this unfortunate coun-
try during their almost uninterrupted rule of 25
years? They had increased the taxation inordi-
nately. They played with all the great questions,
but never attempted honestly to settle any of them.
The Whigs always claimed to be the friends of the
people, but what had they ever done for them ?
They never seriously grappled with the tenant-
right question, and their late leader (Lord Palmer-
ston) said tenant-right was landlord wrong. (Groans.)
Lord Derby's Land Bill of 1852 is now admitted to
be the best land bill, and the justest ever laid before
Parliament; but the Whigs defeated the bill, and
drove the aovernment out of office for their own
selfish party motives. The Lold Lieutenant of the
present Government recently stated, in reply to a
deputation from the city of Waterford, that his Go-
vernment recogxised the deep and growing neces-
sity of dealing with the land question, and that the
Government were preparing a bill on the subject,
which they would submit to Parliament next session.
Would it not be better to give a fair trial to such aGo-
vernment than go back to the old, vicious, mischie-
vous rule of the Whigs ? The true interests of
landlord and tenant were identical, and the con-
duct of men who for pure party motives set
them one against the other should be stigma-
tised. (Great uproar.) What is beneficial to the
landlord serves the tenant, and what is injurious to
the tenant hurts the landlord. He (Capt. Talbot)
was prepared, if returned to Parliament, to support
any measure of tenant-right which would secure to
the tenant his money laid out on bona fide improve-
ments of land and buildings. He felt it most im-
portant that every facility should be given for grant-
ing leases, and every inducement to landlords to
grant them. (Cheers and counter cheers.) Mr. De
la Poer might call himself an independent member,
but he should side either with Lord Derby or Earl
Russell. The last named Government had done
irreparable injury to the country. (Great noise.)
The speaker having referred at great length toWhig
rule, and to his own exertions when before in Par-
liament, concluded by asking a generous support,
and announced that his canvass had been so suc-
cessful that he felt confident of victory.
wil‘thirg.rDea cheering, Et
LaProjEnag,, on rising to speak, was received
which was kept up for several
eat
'd, on quiet being restored, that he
linvailit. He
in soliciting the sustainment of the Liberal
party, no stranger in
the throperty,or H
kindred,e
h
or
upd l t
beial
false
t
connection.l:ir (Great applause.)traditions of his family if
should
c
he were untrue to the great Liberal cause.
(Renewed cheers.) He was too young a
elaborate discus-
"
speaker to enter into a long
gw would, twheerraeedf
hodrirsee,sysis.eimw
sion of the great political questions of the
confine him-
ye
thought the
in addition to
sdealyf ,toansdtalitien
those contained in his
first and most pressing question of the day was
tenant right. (Cheers.) He thought a fair, com-
prehensive, and equitable adjustment of that ques-
tion would do more than anything else to settle the
disturbed minds of the farmers of Ireland. (Hear,
hear.) It would stimulate the industry of the
farmer when he felt conscious of the certainty of en-
joying the fruits of his toil and capital. (Hear.) It
would largely increase the prosperity, the capital,
and peace of the country. (Cheers.) A measure
to settle this question fairly, no matter from what
Government it emanated, would have his warmest
support. As to the church establishment, be looked
upon it as an institution that in its present state
was utterly indefensible. It was indefensible that
the church of the minority should monopolise the
entire of the ecclesiastical revenues of the country.
These revenues were originally intended for, and
belonged to, the Catholic Church—(hear, hear)—
and the Catholic Church was still the religion of the
majority. Ireland had over four millions of
Catholics to about 600,000 Protestants. He (Mr.
De la Poer) thought every church should be self-
supporting. (Cheers.) lie was also in favour of
denominational education, and that the members of
each church should bo brought up in their own re-
ligion, and have equal opportunities of academical
degrees. While he would, if returned, consider his
chief support to be due to the great Liberal party in
the House of Commons, still he should not hesitate
to give an honest support to every measure that
would advance, improve, and render the country
more prosperous and happy. (Great cheering.)
The High Sheriff then took a show of hands,
which was enormously in favour of Mr. De la Poer,
and was so declared.
Captain TALBOT called for a poll, which was fixed
for Saturday next.
A vote of thanks to the Sheriff was proposed by Cap-
, taro Talbot, seconded by Mr. De la Poer, and the
meetingseparated peacefully.
Several speakers addressed the mob in the even-
ing from Mr. De la Poer's committee rooms. The
excitement is calming down.

Mr. 3. J. Shee, a supporter of Mr. De la Poer,
rose and proposed the Hon. Captain Talbot in the
following terms :—He said as there appeared to be
a squabble as to which candidate should have the
honour of being proposed first, he would put an end
to it by proposing the Hon. Captain Talbot.
(Groans and cheers.) He proposed him, although
he hoped he would not win. (Laughter and cheers.)
It might appear strange to them for him to do so,
but he felt called upon to act thus from the turn
affairs had taken. He concluded by proposing the
Hon. Capt. Talbot as a fit and proper person to re-
present the county in Parliament. (Cheers.)
Mr. M. A. ANTHONY, J.P., another supporter of
Mr. de la Poer, seconded the nomination. He said
he had no idea he would be placed in the position
he then stood in to-day, but when he found the
business of the day was intended to be clogged by
the opposing party, he could not stand by and allow
it when asked to assent. He was about to second
the nomination of the Hon. Mr. Talbot—(hisses)—
who he trusted would be beaten—(groans, cheers,
and counter cheers)—and he also also trusted that
his tongue would fall from his mouth if he gave him
a vote. (Laughter.) The hon. captain was not con-
nected with their county, and he hoped they would
show him what they thought of him when the time
came, by recording their votes in favour of the gal-
lant young Power of Gurteen. He could speak of
Dungarvan only, and he could assure them that there
they would do their duty. They had given example
there in the election of Charley Barry, which it would
be well for them to imitate. He wished to say he
felt constrained to second Capt. Talbot to misre-
present their county, and concluded by formally
seconding the nomination of Capt. Talbot, amid
groans, cheers, &c.
Sir RICHARD MUSGRAVE then rose, and was re-
ceived with vociferous cheering, which lasted some
time. He said—Mr. High Sheriff and gentlemen
electors of the county of Waterford, I have the
honour to propose Edmund De la Poer, better known
to you as the son of Johnny Power of Gurteen—
(loud cheers)—as a fit and proper person to repre-
sent you in Parliament. [A Voice, "If I had a
sister I'd give her to him."] (Laughter.) He did
not wish to say anything personal. This was the
first time he had taken any part in elections in the
county, being a man of moderate opinions, although
a Protestant. But when he saw an attempt made to
tarnish the fame of a young man just entering life,
he felt he could not stand aloof. (Cheers.) This
was not the course adopted by the Liberal party
when another young man, just entering life, sought
their suffrages a year or two si •
nce. (Hear, hear,
and groans for Talbot.) The speaker then alluded
to M. de la Poor's little affair with Sir E. Kennedy.
lie proceeded to say that Mr. Talbot came forward
as the supporter of Lord Derby's Government—a
Government that was always averse to anything fair
and just with respect to the people. It was the
Derby Government who app
ointed Whiteside
(groans and cheers)—a het which would speak
volumes. Lord Tyrone was returned for the county,
professing liberal sentiments, which were carefully
ventilated by his supporters. But when he got into
Parliament, after pledging himself on the hustings
to give his vote in favour of abolishing the vexed
question of the Roman Catholic Oaths Bill, he voted
against the measure for abolishing it, and with Lord
Derby's Government. (Hisses and cheers.) Sir

Richard then went on to speak of the many dodges
T. Hughes, M.P., on the Prosecution
of Governor Eyre. I adopted by the Conservatives to win. Among the
rest was that of bribery. He could assure them he
did not think for one moment that Captain Talbot
was aware of what his underlings were doing.
He was sure he was far too honourable a man
to connive at such practices ; but still he
knew it to be the case, and could prove it, that they
offered one farmer £2O to vote for Talbot. He un-
derstood that Captain Talbot was only coming for-
ward to act as a warming pan for a junior member of
the house of Beresford—Lord Charles Beresford—
(hear, hear, and cheers)—but he was sure Captain
Talbot was too honourable a man and too gallant
an officer to be spared by the service and by his
country for such a use. (Laughter.) He concluded
by proposing Mr. De la Peer as a fit and proper
person to represent the county in Parliament.
Mr. BAGWELL, M.P., seconded the nomination.
The SHERIFF then asked if any gentleman had
another candidate to propose, and there being no