The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-01 00:00:00

reign.

Mr. J. NEWMAN seconded the nomination.
As no other candidate was proposed,
The HIGH SHERIFF declared, amid general applause,
that the choice of the electors had fallen on Mr. Disraeli,
Mr. Da Pre, and Mr. Cavendish.
Mr. Du PRE expressed his acknowledgments for his re-
election, and said he hoped that none of his votes—not
even the last vote he hat given—were deserving the cen-
sure of his constituents. (Cheers, and slight disapproba-
tion.) lie could not conceal from his constituents that
he did not find himself a member of an united Opposi-
tion. Various causes had produced strife and schism in
their ranks, which time might repair, but their principles
were unchanged and unchangeable. For his own part,
he would strenuously racist all hasty and ill-considered
changes in the constitution. Many of his friends ap-
peared somewhat dazzled by the popularity of the Minister
who now guided the helm of the State, and some of them
seemed impatient to offer him allegiance and to pro-
claim themselves his devoted followers ; but the policy
of that noble lord was too uncertain and indefinite,
and the composition of his Government was too
unsatisfactory, to justify him (Hr. Dupre) in pledging
any uniform or cordial support to the noble lord. At the
same time he would offer no factious opposition to Lord
Palmerston, but would give all the measures of his Govern-
ment full and fair consideration. That noble lord had
many claims upon the gratitude of the country. He had
certainly accepted the reins of Government at a time when
it was difficult to find a person to undertake the duty ; and,
aided by the intrepidity of the British army, and the en-
thusiastic feeling of the British people, he had carried the
country through a glorious war to a successful peace.
(Cheers.) He also honoured the noble lord for enforcing the
conditions of the treaty, for when our late enemy was dis-
posed to evade its terms, and when our most powerful ally
showed no alacrity to enforce them, the noble lord, as was
said of Pitt,
" Stood to his country's honour fast,
" 3 lad neiFd his colours to the mast."
(Cheers.) They were in complete darkness as to what
would b 3 the policy of the Government in the new
Parliament. Ho did not know whether that policy
would be Conservative or otherwise, but he sincerely
trusted that the measures of reform in their institutions
which were required by the country would not be post-
poned by perpetual cries_for Parliamentary reform. He
was anxious that provision shouldebe made for the exten-
sion of education, and to see reforms effected in the law,
an alteration in the law of settlement, a reform of the mi-
litary establishments, and more salutary regulations
a lopted with regard to beerhouses. He also thought the
Legislature ought to take such measuresas would secure the
abolition of the income tax at least in 1860. (Cheers.)
Mr. CAVENDISH briefly returned thanks, and declared
his continued adherence to those Liberal principles which
he professed when he became the representative of the
county 10 years ago. In answer to a question, he declined
to support the ballot.
Mr. DISAIELI then came forward, and was greeted with
loud cheers, on the subsidence of which " One cheer more"
was demanded, an l heartily rendered. He said Gentle-
men,—l beg to return you my• thanks for the great honour
you have done me in returning me for the fourth time to
Parliament as your representative. You know how much I
appreciate that honour. I think it the greatest which I
shall probably ever leo able to possess. I do not pretend for
a moment that I i:serve it, but I assure you I will, as
heretofore, endeavour to merit it. I cannot pretend to
disguise that I am also very much satisfied with the very
good-humoured and calm manner in which the proceedings
of this day have been conducted. You have sent me to
Parliament with two colleagues whom, political considera-
tions apart—and we need not always dwell on them—l find
extremely satisfactory; and whether it be Mr.Dupre or Mr.
Cavendish, whenever the interests of Buckinghamshire are
concerned, I find in them invariably the same sympathy and
support; and though I cannot pretend to conceal that in
this as in every other instance I should be very happy to
see members returned who agree with me in political opin-
ions, yet I can tell you that it is a very great satisfaction to
have to deal with colleagues between whom and youleelves
there is great mutual confidence and reliance, which never
fails you whenever the affairs of the place which they repre-
sent come into question in the Houseof Commons. (Cheers.)
know that on occasions like the present you expect from
your members some account of their stewardship. Ido not
wish at all to evade that subject. A law was passed which
much changed the manner in which elections used to be
carried on in this country. I know that some are dissatis-
fied with that change, but lam not. Instead of the noise
and nonsense which charecterised former days it is better
that between electors and elected there should be opportu-
nities of frank communications. (Cheers.) I see before me
many men on both sides perfectly competent to form an
opinion on publicaffairs--who read the journals of the day,
and think over what they read ; and I think they have a
right to expect from me on aa occasion like the present that
I should communicate with them without reserve, and that
instead of taking refuge, as in old days candidates were too
much accustomed to do, in some claptrap of the moment, I
should address you with the same seriousness as if I were
addressing the House of Commons. (Applause.) It is in
that spirit that I shall make a few observations this day.
I cannot suppose that every one in this ball will agalbe with
me—for there are two great parties in the country repre-
sented here—while I advert to the past, and in some de-
gree to the future ; but, as I hope I shall speak with tem-
per and say nothing I tie not believe to be true, I am sure
I shall receive forbearance and a fair hearing on all sides.
(Applause.) I have to give you an account of my steward-
ship, and also to hold out to you the course which I shall
probably feel it to be my duty to pursue hereafter. (Herr.)
When I last had the honour of addressing you I was in the
responsible position of a Minister of the Crown, and I think
I told you that, if returned to Parliament, I would endea-
vour to introduce, with my colleagues, measures which, in
my opinion, would be for the advantage of the commit-
nity,—measures which I considered would bring the
greatest happiness to the greatest number. (That's
right.") lam not conscious that I did not en-
, deavour to fulfil that pledge. Now that the heat
of party is past I may advert to what I at-
tempted to do in fulfilment of that pledge. (Hear.) The
Government, at the bead of which was the Earl of Derby
—(we may be permitted to allude to a subject which at the
time it was impossible to treat with the frankness we
are now at liberty to do)— the Government of the Earl
of Derby acceded to office when the position of the country
was of a much more critical nature than was generally
supposed at the time. Our relations with the Republic of
France were of a character to be described even 39 menac-
ing, and at the same time there was a feeling in England
that the defences of the country were iu a frost unsatisfac-
tory condition ; and we had, therefore, to endeavour to get
our relations with one who afterwards became our great
and much-cherished ally in a satisfactory state, and yet at
the same time to make the people of this country feel as-
sured that England was no longer in that neglected state
with respect to her defences which it is now universally ac-
knowledged she then was. Gentlemen will recollect we came
into office on this issue—whether it were possible or not to
raise the great militia force of this country on the volun-
tary principle. The Whig Government were of opinion
that that was totally impossible, and sooner than attempt
it they relinquished office. e were of a different opi-
nion, and I appeal to you whether the result did not prove
that our opinion was the correct one. (Cheers.) Never
was anything more successful than the Militia Act, bed'
which we raised a [force distinguished by effiejaaqirioun
patriotism at a cost not exceeding one-fourth of a ,
per annual• That was our first measure- (Greet galas '
We found the defences of our country, our nava. _as
the land forces, in an unsatisfactory state, and -England
was alarmed last she should be invaded. W e had uo
afosupnecitatchlee
Channel fleet ; when Lord Derby's Fir avoid of the Ad-
miralty, the Duke of Northumberrlguncdl,. Wlvase
:estsare almost impossible to
of which every Englishman
Ityleoua
Ordnance of the country in
be credited at the present
gcciledheidstotoryomffiacye
in the country fit for use. It
describe it. (Hear, hear.)
R hen
there were not 50 field Pisces
is a remarkable fact, but true, that at the funeral of the
Duke of Wellington—it being customary that when a Field-
public military honours 17 field-
Marshal is buried with
pieces should attend his funeral—not 17 gun-carriages
were to be found in the country adequate for the purpose.
(Sensation.) Well, we left the Ordnance with 200 field-
'aces and the artillery corps in the most excellent condi-
P.L" (Cheers.) These were our measures for the de-
tlol3.
fence of the country ; but so successful were our negotia-
tions with the Republic of France that these preparations,
made in some anticipation or fear of an invasion from
France, served to strengthen and protect us in the war
which afterwards ensued with Russia, when France becan_
our efficient ally. (Great applause.) Let me, also, very
briefly tell you what took place with respect to Fiance.
When we came into office the utmost jealousy existed be-
cause the refugees from every nation of the world, stirred
up by the revolutions of 1848, were in our inviolate island;
ever safe and free. We had demands made on us by the
head of the French Repulic, and also by the Emperor of
Austria, to deliver up those refugees who were political
criminals iu their own country, many of them being dan-
gerous characters. But did we deliver them up ? On the
contrary, we said that, so long as they remained in this
country and acted in deference to the laws, we would pro-
tect them. (Loud cheers.) Not only this, but Switzer-
land, which at that time was also a country to whicl!