The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-08 00:00:00

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

BURY ST. EDMUNDS.

The election of a member for this borough to sup-
ply the vacancy occasioned by the elevation of Earl
Jermyn to the Marquisate of Bristol, took place
yesterday in the Guildhall. The Mayor (Mr. G. P.
Clay) presided as returning officer.
Mr. H. J. OAKES proposed Lord A. Hervey as a
fit and proper person to represent the Borough ; Mr.
C. C. SMITH seconded the nomination ; and no other
candidate being proposed, the Mayor declared the
noble lOrd duly elected.
Lord A. HERVEY, in returning thanks, said he
was opposed to organic changes in the constitu-
tion. Those who wished to introduce violent
and fundamental changes in our institutions
might profit by the example of a neighbouring
country, where the germs of constitutional govern-
ment were established and enjoyed in former years.
But if he held extreme opinions, if he wished to see
the monarchy upset and a republic established, he
should rejoice to see the Conservative party reso-
lutely refusing every reasonable concession and
change. The true policy of the Conservative party
was to grant every reform which could reasonably
be demanded, to endeavour to extend the trade and
commerce of the country, and to promote the educa-
tion of the lower orders, and the general prosperity
of all classes of the people. The first and most im-
portant question upon which he should be called to
vote would be a measure of Parliamentary Reform.
He had stated the difficulty which he felt in ac-
knowledging the leadership of any individual in the
present divided state of the House of Commons;
but he had no hesitation in declaring that he did
not mean to enlist himself as one of the followers of
Mr. Bright. With respect to the Government mea-
sure of reform, ho could not but entertain very
grave objections to portions of it. He could not
help thinking that it was unwise to destroy the
distinction which had hitherto existed between the
county and borough franchise. He should have
preferred leaving. the county franchise a little
higher than it was proposed to make it—say £2O
—and reducing the borough franchise. He thought
also it was most unwise to propose to disfranchise
county voters living within the precincts of a
borough. But while expressing himself in opposi-
tion to these details of the measure he felt bound
to say that he regretted the sort of combination
which he fancied lie saw existing to throw the bill
out on its second reading. The bill contained many
provisions very similar to those of Lord J. Russell
under Lord Aberdeen's Government; it contained
also clauses to which no reasonable man would en-
tertain any great objection ; and he (Lord A. Her-
vey) could see no reason which ought to prevent the.
house from entering upon a fair discussion of the
measure and going into committee upon it. He
had been asked in the course of his canvass
whether he was in favour of the ballot, and with
regard to that question he thought that in every
department of the state publicity and responsibility
were the very essence of our constitution, and that
to this we owed probably much of our greatness and
national prosperity. He could not, therefore, con-
sent to depart from the principle of publicity in
elections of members of Parliament, for he did not
believe that the ballot would have the effect which
its supporters anticipated. The noble lord, having
expressed his intention to endeavour to discharge
his duties diligently and conscientiously, proposed
a vote of thanks to the mayor, which was carried
by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated.