The Sun.
London, England, 1835-05-04 00:00:00

SOUTH DEVON ELECTION.

EXETER, FRIDAY, MAY I.—ln the course of an hour after
the proceedings at the nomination had terminated, the friends
of Lord John Russell, to the number of 300, assembled to
dine at the Subscription-rooms, where a plain, but a very sub-
stantial, repast was provided.
Lord Ebrington presided, having Lord John Russell on
his right, and Lord Seymour on the left. Sir Wm. Moles-
worth, M.P., Mr. Charles Buller, M. P., Dr. Bowring, M. P.,
Captain Buller, Mr. Newman, Mr. Hamlyn, Dr. Carwithen,
Mr. Tyrrell, and many others of the most eminent county
gentlemen were also present.
The cloth having been removed, and the usual loyal toasts
drunk,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of Lord John Russell.
The toast was drunk with the utmost enthusiasm.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL, in returning thanks, recapitulated the
sentiments be had uttered upon the hustings, and again de-
clared that in the opposition he had afforded to the late Go-
vernment, he had been actuated by no factious motives.—
( Cheers.) The Noble Lord concluded by proposing the fa-
vourite toast of Mr. Fox, " Civil and Religious Liberty all
over the World."— (Cheers.)
The next toast was " Earl Grey"—(Great cheering); and
this was followed by the health of " Lord Melbourne and the
rest of his Majesty's present Ministry."—( Cheers.)
Lord SEYMOUR returned thanks.
" The Irish Church," " The Liberty of the Press," and
" The Health of the Members of Lord John Russell's Com-
mittee," were the next toasts.
The CHAIRMAN then gave " The Health of two of the Re-
presentatives from an adjoining County (Cornwall), Sir Wm.
Molesworth and Mr. Charles Buller."—(Cheers.)
Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH, in returning thanks said,—l
trust that the success which accompanied our contest with the
Tories in the House, will equally accompany us in this con-
test. I supported the Noble Lord, and I wished to see him
reinstated in office. I desired to see the Whigs, and the
Noble Lord their leader, in power, because the Whigs have
ever shown themselves more inclined to liberal principles,
more favourable to popular opinions ; because they can now,
with ease, with safety, and with honour to themselves, effect
those much-needed, and, in themselves, beneficial changes in
our institutions, which the people demand. I must observe,
that the same feature which has marked all the last con-
tests in England, is still more displayed in this contest. I
speak from my own knowledge—l appeal to the experience
of each gentleman sitting at these tables, and I assert,
that every species of threat, intimidation, and falsehood has
been employed in the most lavish manner by the Tory land-
lords—(cheers)—their agents, and the Clergy of the Church
of England—many of the Clergy have, indeed, shown them-
selves to be the determined supporters of all abuses--the reso-
lute foes of all liberal and enlightened principles—the profli-
gate propounders of the basest falsehood, where they can gain
their ends by such means. Such efforts have been very suc-
cessful. Many voters will either be kept away from the poll,
or will be obliged to vote contrary to their real inclination and
wishes. If, said the Hon. Baronet, turning to Lord John
Russell—if, my Lord, you lose this election, you will lose it
simply by the means of intimidation, for the majority of the
electors are, undoubtedly, in your favour ; but they dare not,
nor can they be expected, even for conscience sake, to incur
utter destruction and ruin.—(Loud cheers.) Their responsi-
bility to their brother electors—their responsibility to their
own consciences—is as nothing, when compared to the respon•
sibility which they are under to their imperious landlords,
to the tithe-extortioning Priests ; the one, my Lord, is a
mere name—the other is something in , dread and terrific
reality. If, my Lord, you gain your election, you will
gain it with difficulty, by the self-sacrifice of many, and
some of your truest and most undaunted supporters will
rue the day of your return ; for they will suffer, as has
been the case in other counties, through the anger, the
and revenge of their infuriated landlords. --(Cheers.) Now,
my Lord, these considerations deserve your most earnest at-
tention, in order to apply the fitting remedy to these enormous
evils. The only remedy is secret suffrage.—( Great cheer-
ing.) Now, my Lord, bear these considerations in your mind ;
remember this contest. Remember the electors of Devon,
and the evil which they will endure, when you will have here-
after to give your vote on this subject—when you will have to
say aye or no for the ballot.—(Renewed cheering.) The
ballot, my Lord, is the only remedy which will strike at the
root of this pernicious influence, of these enormous evils, of
which we most justly complain.
Mr. CHARLES BULLER could not help taking advantage of
the moment when all the Noble Lord's warm and kindly feel-
ings were called into action by the generous zeal displayed in
behalf of him and his glorious cause, by the personal sa-
crifices which the electors of Devon were undergoing in
order to secure his triumph, to call on him never again
to impose such sacrifices on them.—(Loud Cheers.) Give
the ballot, and the generous feelings which prompted
them now, at the hazard of their own personal interests,
to uphold the cause of freedom, justice, and civiliza-
tion would impel their conduct still. But they would
operate unimpeded by the influences which now counteracted
them : the elector would obey the impulse of those better feel-
ings, but he could do so without injury to himself.—( Cheers. )
" Why," exclaimed the Hon. Gentleman, " how should we
stand now in this county if we had the ballot ? Should
we have to be nicely examining returns, weighing the con-
sequences of such a squire's ratting, or counting the number
influenced by fear of the tithe-proctor? No; we should rely
on the ballot-box exhibiting the same result as that we saw in
the Castle-yard to-day—(Great cheering)—and giving the
Noble Lord a majority of three to one. I saw the supporters
of Mr. Parker enter the town to-day—l know the look of the
Devonshire farmer when going about a business of which his
conscience approves. I am sure such was not the look Of
those who came in to-day under the guidance of the parsons
to vote for Lord Rolle and the Bishop.—( Loud cheers. )
These men came to vote against their inclinations, and I
would not have feared with the ballot to stake the result of the
election on the votes of those very men. I have urged these
topics on the Noble Lord in no unfriendly feeling ; but
when the question comes under consideration, I beg him
to recollect this exhibition of feeling on the part of his con-
stituents—to recollect the situation of those who sacrifice their
personal interests in order to vote for him, and of those who,
at the expense of their feelings and consciences, are compelled
to_vote against him."—( Loud and enthusiastic cheers.)
The party separated soon after eight o'clock.