The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-22 00:00:00

SOUTH STAFFORD ELECTION.

(From the Morning Advertiser.)
Wolverhampton, Thursday, May 21.
The cause of Reform still progresses as the warmest friends
of good government could wish it.
Colonel ANSON yesterday addressed his constituents here
from the front of the Peacock Inn, where, despite the incle-
mency of the weather, there were at 4,000 persons assembled,
, by whom he was most warmly cheered. He said the contest
would be an arduous one • but, if the people did their duty,
all the associations formed their interests would inevi-
tably be overthrown.—(Cheers.) He had been much sur-
prised to see a handbill signed by the Chairman and Deputy
Chairman of Sir F. Goodricke's Committee, which had been
posted through the county to the effect, that any of the tenants
of the Duke of Sutherland, who had been influenced to vote
against Sir F. Goodricke, had been influenced without any
authority from his Grace. He did not wish for the influence
of Peers to contribute to his election, he preferred to depend
upon the free votes of the freeholders of the county..—(Loud
cheers.) He had not come forward as a candidate for their
suffrages without first consulting his friends as to the pro-
bability of success, and the Duke of Sutherland was one
of the first persons he had applied to, by letter, before he
(Colonel Anson) came down to Staffordshire. The an-
swer he had received from his Grace was, that " agreeing
as I do with you politically, you have my best wishes
for your success." Those assembled might consider his
astonishment then, when he saw the placard to which he
alluded. He felt great difficulty in contradicting it, but
he at last determined to take that responsibility upon
himself, and he had done so in the terms with which most of
them were acquainted.--( Cheers.) He afterways wrote to
the Duke of Sutherland, Mentioning the step he had taken,
and had received a reply, an extract from which he would read
to them, which did honour to the feelings of his Grace, and
was calculated to rivet to him the affections of his tenantry ;
his Grace stated, " I am sorry that my name should have been
brought forward in any way that could be prejudicial to you.
I have taken measures to inform my tenantry of my wishes for
your success, and I can assure you that if I were a commoner,
I would give you my vote."—(Loud cheers.) He (Colonel
Anson) would ask why the Duke of Sutherland would give
him his vote unless he agreed with him in politics ?—(oikeers.)
He would now read to them another paragraph from the same
letter, which rendered the writer an example which he wished
was followed by all'the landlords in the empire. His Grace
went on to say, " I have always made it a rule not to con-
trol the votes of my tenants, further than to inform them
of my wishes—those wishes are for your success, and in
any way in which you cart constitutionally make this known,
my name is at your service." —(Loud and continued ap-
plause.) He (Col. Anson) would now, therefore like to know
by what authority the placard of his opponents had been put
forth, being, as it was, totally destitute of truth ?—( Cheers.)
With regard to his claims to their support, he could refer to
his political conduct in the House of Commons since he had
been a Member of the Legislature, and he could say truly and
proudly that during that period, he had never given a vote which
he regretted.--( Cheers.) An attempt had been made to raise
the cry of " No Popery," and " the Church is in danger," in
the country ; and attempts were thus made to throw out insi
nuations against the sincerity of the faith he professed. He
had also seen the walls covered with placards, inscribed " Good-
ricke and no humbug ;" but he would ask who was the best
friend of the Church, the man who sought to reform abuses,
which confessedly existed in the establishment, or he who
pledged himself to their preservation ;thus rendering it obnoxious
to the great mass of the people ?—(Loud applause.) His op-
ponents, not only content with asserting that they were the
friends of the people, professed themselves also to be
the farmer's friends, but he thought that the farmers had re.
ceived a sufficient lesson as to the truth of those professions at
the last general election : and he would ask how had those
professions, so liberally made on the hustings, in December last,
been fulfilled by them in the House of Commons? Let their
votes on the malt tax, and upon other measures involving agri
cultural interests, be looked to, and let it then be said how far
they had justified the confidence which had been reposed in them.
Sir R. Peel had, in a very clever manifesto to his constituents
in Tamworth, stated the improvements he wished to be carried;
but, from none of those was any substantial relief to be ex-
pected. He ( Sir Robert Peel) proposed an alteration in the
tithe system of England ; but what did this alterotion amount
to ? Why, merely td a voluntary commutation of tithes.—( A
voice in the crowd, " Are you in favour of the ballot?") He
had been asked what were his opinions upon the ballot. He
was not for it, and yet he could not say that his opinions were
against it, for he saw much in favour of its adoption. He had
been altogether against it, but for months past circumstances
had combined to cause it to gain ground in his favour—
( Cheers.) He had always voted against it, and he did not
seek to screen his opinions. He saw the defects which the
ballot might remedy; but they had got the Reform Bill, and
they saw their Representatives returned by the voice of the
people, and so long as this continued he was content that
things should remain as they are ; but let the corruptionists
look well to their proceedings--for, if they pursue their
present course, the ballot we must have—and ere long too
—for if we cannot get on without it, I bill be the first to
change my opinion, and vote for it.-4 Tremendous cheering.)
With respect to Corporate Reform, he was one of the strongest
advocates for it ; he had always seen the evils which resulted
from corporation monopoly, he bad himself suffered from them,
and he felt assured that no corporate system would be a proper
one, until its, members were elected by a constituency of the
towns in which corporations existed, bemuse the people had a
right to choose the trustees of the property which was origi-
nally granted for the general benefit, not for that of pritate
individuals.--( Cheers.) Until this, therefore, was achieved,
the Reform Bill would not be perfect, because, until then,
individuals would possess an undue power to return Members
to Parliament.—( Cheers.)
Colonel Anson was heard throughout with approbation, and
was hailed with renewed applause as he left the balco.ny.

The Preston railway is progressing rapidly.