The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-05 00:00:00

resolution was founded on the view of the meeting
after they had heard my speech, the fact is that the
concoctors of that resolution condemned me first,
and then came into this room, and s,-me of them
with great impatience heard m . afterwards.
(Laughter and cheers, mingled with I isses.) Under
these circumstances I say that I did not meet with
justice. I hope you will be kind enough to give
me justice to-night. (Cries of " We will.") lam
here at your service and command. You may sug-
gest your own topics, and put to me any question
which you please, or ask me for any explanations,
for I am not disposed a second time even to run the
risk of pleading before a jury that has determined
on a verdict before they have heard the evidence.
But if you want any explanation, if there are any
points upon which you wish to examine my con-
duct to any extent, you will find that I shall not
flinch from being probed to the utmost. I leave you
to open the discussion, and at the conclusion to
come to any resolution which you may please, but
which I am riot so sanguine as to latter myself will
be perfectly favourable to me ; but I will bear it as
I have borne everything, knowing that it comes
sincerely from your judgment and your hearts.
(Derisive cheering.) I shall therefore treat it
kindly, and with the greatest possible respect.
(Loud laughter, cheers, and hisses.)
Mr. FLINT explained that several resolutions had
been prepared on the previous day, and it was not
until the proceedings of the meeting had consider-
ably advanced that the resolution adverted to by
Mr. Horsman was placed in the hands of Mr. Bow-
ley. (Cheers.)
_ _

Mr. BRIDGES, on rising to move a resolution, be-
lieved that the position of Mr. Horsman resembled
that of the criminal who, in reply to his demand for
justice, was told, " Yes ; justice you shall have, for
you shall be hanged on Tuesday." (Loud laughter
and cheers.) Mr. Horsman in his speech had alto-
gether overlooked the question at issue, It was
neither more nor less than this :—He had entered
upon the representation of Stroud, the electors
believing him to be a politician of one kind, and
he had turned out to be one of a different descrip-
tion. While telling them he had fought their bat-
tles and acted as a faithful representative, the voice
was the voice of Jacob, and the hands were the
hands of Esau. (Cheers.) Mr. Horsman entered
the borough as an advanced Liberal, but when
the surface was removed from his character he
proved to be a concealed Conservative. (Cheers.)
It was quite clear that kis opinions were not in
accordance with those of the great body of Liberals
throughout the country, and he had done all ho
could to oppose a Governmenf which his constitu-
ents approved. If the last session had been barren
of results a considerable portion of the blame was
attributable to Mr. Horsman, who no longer justly
represented the borough in Parliament. (Loud and
prolonged cheers.) Entertaining these opinions, ho
begged to move,—" That this meeting having heard
Mr. Horsman's explanation of his votes and speeches
in the late session of Parliament, are decidedly of
opinion that his views and conduct are so much at
variance with the Liberal constituency of Stroud
that he no longer represents them in Parliament."
—(Loud cheering, mingled with a few hisses.)
Mr. BOWLEY, in seconding the resolution,
remarked that Mr. Horsman had not advanced any
satisfactory reasons for opposing the Government.
He had advised the country to accept a Tory Reform
Bill, on the ground that it was the best that could be
obtained. But why? Because such men as Mr.
Horsman would not support a better. (Cheers.) It
was quite clear that a good Reform Bill would never
be obtained so long as Liberal constituencies were
represented by such men as Mr. Horsman. (Cheers )
Constituencies were greatly indebted to men of
talent who undertook the laborious duty of repre-
senting them in Parliament, but when they did not
represent the people fairly they ought to withdraw
from the representation. (Cheers;) The electors
of Stroud were willing to release Mr. Horsman from
his laborious duties. (Great cheering, and some
cries of " No, no.") •

Mr. HORSMAN—I am willing to abide by the
challenge which I yesterday gave to Mr. Bowley,
and will resign my seat if he will point out any one
principle which I have abandoned during the last
25 years. He says that I don't represent hint—that
I have ceased to represent him—(cries of " Us, us")
—and he is so kind as to offer to release me from
being his representative ; but will he inform
me whether I was more his representative
when I was last elected than lam now ? Was lof
his opinion at the last election, and has what has
occurred since that time made him my opponent P
(Yes, yes.) Now, with respect. to Mr. Bridges, who
was so playful as to become almost ridiculous.
(Loud laughter, and cries of Oh, oh.) He judges
me by my votes and speeches in Parliament. Ac-
cording to the pledge which I gave you when
elected I appear before you, and if he will show me
any one principle or opinion which I have aban-
doned I will resign toy seat. I think that is a fair
challenge. (Cheers.) Upon that challenge you
ought to vote upon the resolution before you. If
since I was returned to Parliament I have changed
no opinion and abandoned no principle, and you
censure me, it is you that are apostates and not I.
(Strong marks of disapprobation.) With respect
to what has been said about my recommending the
acceptance of a Tory Reform Bill what are the
facts ? When that measure was proposed the
Liberal party had a majority of 140, and could
have made any amendments they pleased. I there-
fore recommended that we should take Lord Derby's
bill, remodel it, make it a Liberal bill, and pass it.
I said if you do that those whom you wish to admit
to the franchise will become voters at the next
I election.

Mr.BOWLEY—Why do you think that a Tory bill
could have been amended and remodelled, and that
one brought in by the Liberals could not hive been
carried at all ?

Mr. HORSMAN—Because it is notorious that the
leading members of the Liberal Cabinet were strong
anti-reformers. (Groans, and loud cries of " No.")
Who made the strongest speech in favour of Lord
Derby's Bill, and for the retention of rotten and
nomination boroughs ? Why, Mr. Gladstone.
With Mr. Gladstone and Lord Palmerston against
Lord John Russell and Mr. Bright a good Reform
Bill could not have been passed. And with respect
to the charge of impeding the progress of the bill of
, last session, all I can say is that the delay was not
attributable to me, for I did not open my lips upon
it. (Hear.) [The right hon. gentleman then pro-
ceeded to comment upon some observations made by
the preceding speakers, which we are unable to
give at length. He said]—With respect to the
French getting the command of the Channel, people
are too apt to forget that every day of the year
there are goods to the value of £50,000,000 belong-
ing to England, and two of our admirals during the
last session told the House of Commons that the
French Emperor, if he had the command of the
Charinel—(cries of "If, if," and laughter)—no one
doubts that he would have it if a war :were to break
out soon, and all he would have to do would be to
put three or four iron-plated ships at the chops of
the Channel, and then he could intercept every
vessel, and stop our cotton and corn, and other
articles, and starve us out. (Loud laughter.) Mr.
Bridges censured me for not voting for the resolu-
tion respecting the paper duty. On that occasion
I went into the lobby with Mr. Gladstone, Mr. M.
Gibson, and Mr. Bright, and I do not see how I
am liable to censure for acting along with his
friends. (Cheers.) With respect to ;ny conduct
towards Lord Palmerston's Government great in-
justice had been done me. The first time that I
ever made a speech that brought me into collision
with the noble lord Was when I was liYing, on the
most intimate terms with him, and when I was a
strong supporter of his Government. In 1846 I
condemned and protested against his system of
secret diplomacy. I never lost sight of that ob-
jection, and have since that time repeated it. I as-
sisted in driving out Lord Aberdeen's Governmdent,
and when Lord Palmerston's was formed he offeredt
me the Secretaryship of Ireland, and I accep e .
offer, believing him to be the most fitting Prthe
ime
Minister for the country, when the matter rested
between him, Lord Aberdeen, Lord I. Russell, and
Lord Derby. I voluntarily resigned that office some
time afterwards. I voted against Lord
Palmerston
on the Conspiracy Bill, and that vote was acquiesced
in by the whole nation. I objected to the abstract