The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-10 00:00:00

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

SUFFOLK (EAST).
The official declaration of the numbers polled was
made yesterday at Ipswich, and the attendance on
and about the hustings was as numerous as on the
occasion of the nomination.
The HIGH SHERIFF stated that the numbers
polled for Lord Henniker—(cheers)—were 2,677 ;
for Sir Fitzroy Kelly—(cheers and groans)-2,517 ;
and for Colonel Adair—(cheers)-1,883. He there-
fore declared Lord Henniker and Sir Fitzroy Kelly
duly elected.
Lord HENNIKER, in returning thanks for his
election, said the present was the seventh occasion
on which.the electors of East Suffolk had returned
him as their representative to the House of Com-
mons. The result of the contest showed that the
opinions of the constituency were the same as when
he first appeared before them in 1832. (Cheers.)
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL, on coming forward,
was received with cheers and groans. He said—
Gentlemen, once again I stand before you to return
you my sincere thanks for having now for the fifth
time elected me your representative. My gratifica-
tion is still higher, because I feel that it is not to
the humble individual who now addresses you that
you have extended your confidence, but, looking to
the majority on the poll, I feel that you have
supported those great principles of the constitution
of the country—(cheers)—which I have affirmed,
and which you have declared to be your own.
(Cheers, cries of " No, no," and considerable inter-
ruption.) In this moment of triumph it is impos-
sible to look upon the state of Europe and upon
the state of England without the deepest anxiety.
Now that you have once more sent me to Parlia-
ment as your representative, I feel called upon to
declare to you, in a few plain and explicit words,
the line of policy which I propose to adopt. I trust
and believe that as long as is consistent with the
safety of England the Government of the country
will preserve a perfect and absolute neutrality in
the great conflict which is now raging throughout
Europe. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) It is impos-
sible to look with favour and perfect approbation
upon the conduct of any one of the allied Powers
—I mean the allies of England who are now
engaged in mortal conflict upon the continent of
Europe. Undoubtedly the Empire of Austria ought
to be maintained in its power and independence,
because it is the only barrier between Russia and
Turkey---the only stay by which the great power
of Russia can be prevented from overrunning or
overwhelming Europe. I trust, therefore, whatever
may be the event of the great battle which we are
destined to witness, Austria will remain firm and
unhurt in her independence. (Cheers.) But, while
I declare this opinion, I also say, with perfect sin-
cerity, that I earnestly hope, should Austria attempt
to interfere with the perfect freedom and indepen-
dence of the States of Italy, that she will be defeated
in such an enterprise. (Cheers.) If no other good
results from the great contest in which so many of
the Powers of Europe are engaged, I hope that be-
fore many months are past that we shall see Tuscany,
Naples, and the other States of Italy at least in a
state of freedom and independence. (Cheers.) When
we turn to Sardinia, the ancient ally of England—
allied in blood also, as the Royal family of that
country are to our own most gracious Sovereign—
while we cannot but condemn the precipitancy and
temerity with which Sardinia has allowed her
States to be not the refuge and the asylum, but the
stronghold and castle of all the malcontents and
rebels of Italy, still we must look to Sardinia as a
country in which the seeds of foreign freedom are
sown. (A Voice—" We want them sown at
home")—and I hope those seeds will sprout and
blossom till the entire independence of Italy, under
the guardianship of Sardinia, shall be secured.
With regard to France, the Sovereign of that coun-
try has certainly hitherto been a firm and faithful
ally of England ; and although he reigns despo-
tically over that great country, I venture to say to
you that we ought to be content with the freedom
which we enjoy ourselves, and let us in no way
interfere with the affairs of any foreign country.
In the coming conflict throughout the continent of
Europe we shall see perhaps Sardinia against
Austria, and Russia and France maintaining and
supporting Sardinia ; but, whatever be the result of
this, be assured that the Government of this coun-
try—at least, so long as her Majesty shall leave it
in the hands to which it is now committed—will
secure the honour and independence of England,
and endeavour to preserve that absolute neutrality
by means of which this great country will be
enabled to support the cause of liberty and justice ;
and I trust when the war shall come to a conclusion
we shall find the honour of England untarnished,
her finances unimpaired, her power undiminished,
and that she will have shown herself, as she ought
to be, the arbiter of the world. (Cheers.) Now, a
word upon the subject which we have so often dis-
cussed together within the last fortnight, I mean
the great question of reform. I will, in a very few
plain and explicit words, declare to pit the line of
policy which I intend to adopt upon that great and
leading question. (Hear, hear.) Whatever my
enemies may have told you, I have always been the
sincere and consistent friend of reform. (Cheers.) I
have borne my part in all the reforms which have
taken place in this country since I first took my
seat in the House of Commons ; and, with regard
to the representation of the people, I now declare to
you my determination to support any measure which
I shall think consistent with the security of
the great institutions of the country and the sta-
bility of the British constitution. (Cheers.) I shall
begin by a wide, large, and perfect enfranchisement
of the whole middle classes of the country. (A
Voice," Why not the working classes ?") For why,
as I asked you two years ago, are you, the inhabi-
tants of the borough of Ipswich, to possess votes
and return members to Parliament, while the inha-
bitants of equal worth and merit of Woodbridge,
Lowestoft, and half a hundred other towns in this
county and throughout England are without the
franchise ? (Cheers.) I shall therefore endeavour
both in town and country to enfranchise the people
by granting the elective franchise in the first place
to the whole middle classes of the country yet un-
represented. In this manner not only shall we do
justice to those who are entitled to it, but we shall
create a counterpoise to that flood of democracy with
which you are threatened by the party to which
my hon. and gallant friend (Colonel Adair) belongs.
(Cheers and groans.) I heard my hon. and gallant
friend declare his opinions to be still favourable to
the ballot. If there was any question upon which
I should have expected a gallant soldier and defen-
der of his country, like my hon. and gallant friend,
would have exhibited the straightforward and inde-
pendent feeling which is inconsistent with the bal-
lot, it is this. The ballot would be no protection,
because it would fail to secure secrecy, or, if it did
secure secrecy, it effects the object at the expense
of truth. I will never be a party to any measure
which will convert the whole body of English elec-
tors into cowards. An Englishman and a coward
are two words that cannot stand together. (Cheers.)
I have only to say that here and elsewhere through-
out this realm of England I am ready to meet you.
Once more, gentlemen, I return you my sincere
thanks for the honour you have for the fifth time
conferred upon me. As long as you shall call upon
me I shall be ready to reappear here, confident that
with your support you and I together shall main-
tain the honour of our country's name, and that you
will do justice to the principles which you profess
by returning as your representative in Parliament
those to whom you can safely commit a share in the
great destinies of the'country. (Loud cheers.)
Col. ADAIR, who was received with loud cheers
and groans, next addressed the electors. The gal-
lant colonel said the minority in which he now
found himself was 500 less than at the election
which he contested in 1843, and he had to thank
the great body of the Liberal party for the noble
manner in which they had supported him.
Lord HENNIKER proposed, and Colonel ADAIR
seconded, a vote of thanks to the High Sheriff.
The proceedings then terminated.

SURREY (EAST).
DECLARATION OF THE POLL.
Yesterday morning the official declaration of the
poll for the Eastern division of the county of Surrey
was made.
The HIGH SHERIFF announced the following as
the result of the polling :
Mr. Alcock 2,953
'Mr. Locke King . ... .2,926
Mr. Cleasby
He therefore declared Mr. Alcock and Mr. Locke
King duly elected knights of the shire to serve in
Parliament.
Mr. ALCOCK, after thanking the electors for the
honour they had conferred upon him, proceeded to
touch upon general questions. As to the result of
the dissolution of Parliament, he believed it would
be found that about 25 members would have been
added to the strength of Lord Derby in the House
of Commons, and as about a million of money had
been expended in the elections, every new adherent
gained by Lord Derby would have cost about
£40,000. When _Sir Wm. Jolliffe laid before the
noble lord a list of the 25 new men, he thought the
noble lord would be of opinion that many of them
were very bad bargains, and certainly not worth the
price paid for them. (Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. LOCKE KING expressed himself greatly gra-
tified with the progress which the Liberal cause
had made in
East Surrey. In 183'7 the Conserva-
tives polled at a contested election 2,1'16 votes , • in
1852 the number decreased to 2,004 ; and in 1859
there had been a still further reduction, notwith-
standingped that a larger number, of electors had
than on any previous occasion, (Cheers) In 1837
he only polled 1,865 votes ; in 1852 he polled
2,508 ; and on the present occasion he had polled

2,926. That afforded clear proof of the rapid pro-
gress which the Liberal party were making in
East Surrey, and it must not be forgotten that
upon this occasion the Conservatives had ontested
the election under circumstances of peculiar advan-
tage. A candidate standing singly hid a great
advantage over joint candidates, and had it not
been for the fortuitous circumstance th it the polling
for East Surrey took place on the same day as that
for West Kent, the majority for his hon. friend
(Mr. Alcock) and himself would most likely have
been increased by 300 or 400. (Cheers.) The hon.
gentleman opposite (Mr. Cleasby) had stated in his
address that he was determined that East Surrey
should have an opportunity of expressing its opi-
nion on the present state of affairs, and they had
had the fullest opportunity of doing so, inasmuch
as he (Mr. Locke King) had stated in the strongest
terms that he did not feel that the honour of Eng-
land was safe in the hands of Lord Malmesbury.
The sense of the country had now been taken upon
the question, and the result was that he (Mr. Locke
King), against whom the principal opposition had
been directed, had been returned, and he would tell
them that the first vote he should give when he had
the opportunity would be to turn out the Ministry.
(Cheers and disapprobation.) He would repeat the
declaration which he had already made in the House
of Commons, that he had always considered the
Government of Lord Derby a provisional Govern-
ment, holding opinions diametrically opposed to
those of the majority of the House of Commons.
He had been charged with attempting to do away
with a law which had been in force 800 years ; and
what had the Conservative party done ? They had
attempted to do away with one of the most ancient
laws on the statute-book----namely, that by which a
freeholder possessed the right to vote, and the esta-
blishment of which was the first dawn of freedom
in this country. (Hear, hear.) But, supposing
the law relating to the descent of landed property
had been in existence for 800 years, by whom was
it first introduced ? Why, by a savage and
barbarous body of conquerors, whose object was
to keep the land in a few hands, so that every land-
owner should be able to bring a vast number of
dependents into the field, and thus protect his con-
quest. Our old Anglo-Saxon forefathers divided
the land equally among all the children, and not
among the sons only, according to the general idea
of gavelkind. He denied that he had held up the
French code as a model to be adopted in this coun-
try. All he did was to complain generally of the
state of the statute law in this country, and to urge
the necessity of separating the dead from the living
law, so that the people should have ready access to
the statutes, and be enabled fully to understand
them. The Americans had proceeded wisely in the
matter, but all we had done had been to appoint
commission after commission, the only result being
to squander the money of the nation. Instead of
asking the House of Commons to adopt French law,
all tiat he had done had been to remind them that
the French code was accessible to every Frenchman,
and at the cost of about i 3d. (Cheers.) The hon.
gentleman then concluded by thanking the electors
for the honour they had done him in again return-
ing him as their representative.
Mr. CLEASBY, the unsuccessful candidate, then
briefly addressed the electors amid considerable
interruption, thanking them for the support he had
received.
A vote of thanks to the High Sheriff brought the
proceedings to a close.

KENT (WEST).
The official declaration of the poll was made
yesterday at Maidstone by Sir Edmund Hoare,
acting as the deputy of the High Sheriff of the
county. There was a very large assemblage, and a
good deal of excitement prevailed, the Liberal
party being excessively mortified at their defeat.
The numbers were declared as follows :

Viscount Holmesdale . 3,769
Sir Edmund Filmer 3,684
Mr. C. W. Martin ....3,584

Mr. J. Whatman .

. 3,460

Sir E. HOARE therefore declared Viscount
Holmesdale, and Sir E. Filmer, Bart., duly elected
to serve as knights of the shire for the western
division of the county of Kent in the ensuing Par-
liament. (The announcement was received with a
tremendous volley of cheers from the friends of the
successful candidates.)