The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-11 00:00:00

SIR E. BULIVER LYTTON.

Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton's address to his con-
stituents will be found below. It will be seen from
this document that it had been the intention of the
Colonial Secretary, on account of the state of his
health, to retire for a time from public life.
Several of the most important of his constituents,
however, having come forward spontaneously to
beg him once more to present himself as a caididate
for the county, promising at the same time to re-
lieve him from the canvass and other fatigues of an
election, Sir Edward Lytton has consented to be
placed in nomination and to try 'whether a tem-
porary repose at Malvern may not restore his health
sufficiently to enable him to retain his seat :
" TO THE ELECTORS OF THE COUNTY OF HERTFORD.
" Gentlemen,—At this moment lam suffering in health.
For that reason I had intended to resign the seat in Par-
liament I owe to your favour, feeling unequal to the
fatigues of a canvass and fearing that they would incapaci-
tate me for the discharge of my duties towards you if re-
elected.
" I have been, however, urged by many among you
whose names carry weight with all parties and ranks in our
county, and with a warmth of sympathy and kindness
which any sacrifice on my part could but scantly repay,
once more to place my services at your disposal.
" They assure me of your indulgence if I am compelled
to take such repose as I can obtain between the expiration
of this and the meeting of the next Parliament, and if I am
therefore unable to wait on you in person.
" Under these circumstance I leave it to you to decide
whether you will renew the trust with which you have
thrice honoured me, and which, if permitted by Providence
to recover the health and strength which now fail me; I
shall continue to task every effort to deserve.
" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
" Your obliged and faithful servant,
" E. BULWEIt LYTTON.
" Park-lane, April 9, 1859."

TAUNT° IV BALLOT SOCIETY AND
MR. LABOUCHERE.

At a meeting of the above-named Society, held
at the Phoenix Inn, Taunton, on Thursday, the
31st March, William Beadon, ]sq., in the chair,
the following resolutions were unanimously
adopted :
".Resolved,—That the prompt and courteous
reply of the Right lion. H. Labouchere to the
memorial of 287 registered electors, urging him to
support the Ballot, be and is hereby acknowledged,
reciprocating his expressions of regret at a wide
difference of opinion on an all-important question.
" That as Mr. Labouchere reasonably declines to
argue the Ballot within the limits of a single letter,
he be invited to a calm discussion of its merits.
" That as at present informed, we believe free-
dom of election (without which the great principle
of representation is clearly a nullity) can only be
secured by secret voting, and that no other mode of
protecting the honest voter has been suggested or
can be found.
_ _

"That Mr. Labouchere's reply, although written
in opposition to the Ballot, furnishes abundant
evidence of its necessity.
" That the fact stated by Mr. Labouchere that
"as a landowner" he has always " left his tenants
as free in use of their elective franchise as he is.
himself," implies that his non-interference is
optional and accidental, and shows the existence of
a power over the minds of others With which no
man can be safely trusted in a free, representative
country.
" That the intimation contained in Mr. Labou-
chere's letter that he is uninfluenced by selfish
motives in his opposition to the Ballot—because, as
he is informed, and he believes truly,' its adop-
tion would increase the number of his supporters—
is an acknowledgment that many who are desirous
of supporting him dare not do so under a system of
open voting.
" That, being of opinion that the Ballot is the
only practical means for the effectual removal of
evils so great and so humiliating, it does out-
weigh' all other considerations with us ; and we
further believe that any Reform Bill which extends
the franchise without protection to the voter will
tend to the increase of political tyranny, and is
therefore not to be desired.

" That while we fully admit the force of Mr.
Labouchere's statement that it would be unworthy
of him to vote contrary to his convictions, we feel
it would be equally so on the part of the electors ;
and that it would not be treating Mr. Labouchere
with the frankness and candour which he solicits
were we to refrain from saying that very many of
his old and tried supporters will not be prepared
again to vote for him, or any other candidate
whose opinions are opposed to the Ballot question,
on which Mr. Labouchere was for many years
neutral.

" That, upon the question of general coincidence
of opinion, we cannot forget what occurred at the
last general election, when Mr. Labouchere's
speeches and the conduct of some of his leading
supporters had the effect of damaging the Liberal
candidate (the Hon. W. F. Campbell), and of
giving confidence and support to his Tory opponent.
" That we are of opinion that, under present
circumstances, nothing less than a large reliance on
what is called the Tory party in this borough
would admit of a favourable reply being given to
Mr. Labouchere's appeal to the majority of his
constituents, as given in his letter.
Lastly, that a copy of these resolutions be
forwarded to the Right Hon. H. Labouchere."
By order of the Ballot Committee.