The Sun.
London, England, 1857-03-19 00:00:00

go, guided and gagged, into the House of Commons,
and not be swayed by my own opinions as to what
was best for the interests of the country. (Hear, hear.)
lam sure such a course must be for your benefit. Yon
have found it before better to have a men thus nnpledged
and ready to act according to his known opinions and
past conduct, than to accept any number of pledges or
opinions on any subject at the time of his election.
Let me say this one thing further. In 1807, fifty years
ago, a dissolution took place upon a cry that was in-
tended to deprive our Roman Catholic fellow-subjects of
that equality of civil privileges which they have since
had, and to which they are fairly entitled. (Cheers.) That
cry met with the assent of the country, and it was not
till 1829, that the Duke of Wellington, in prospect of a
civil war, took off those disabilities and restrictions by
which nearly one quarter of the population of this empire
had felt aggrieved. Let me go further back and say
that some 80 years ago there was a dissolution just at
the commencement of the American war, and the
Minister of the day afterwards stated in the House of
Lords that the Ministry had hurried on the dissolution
purposely that the question of the American war should
net be thoroughly sifted and examined before the elec-
tions took place. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, we know
that a parliament was elected that approved
of the war with America. We endeavoured
by force of arms to subdue those who were
then our brethren and fellow subjects, our now inde-
pendent neighbours of the United States of America.
(Hear, hear.) We know, gentlemen, that with respect
to the first question, the hasty decision in re-
ference to the dissolution of Parliament tended
to aggravate feelings that partook of alienship of our
Irish countrymen. We know that the cry of dissolution
of the former day has even to this time produced an
effect of rankling—l will not say enmity, but of rankling
distrust amongst the people of the United States of Ame-
rica against the people and Parliament of Great Britain.
(" Hear, hear," and cheers.) If such are the baneful
consequences of an election conducted in the
midst of cries without sufficiently weighing and estimating
the consequences, I ask, I shall ask the electors of the
United Kingdom to weigh thoroughly on this occasion
the merits of the men who come before them for election
purposes for the next six years to come— to consider not
whether this man calls out for the present head of the
Government and reform, and another for the present
head of the Government and the Conservative
cause, but to consider what men yon can find
who, by their past conduct and character, are
likely to promote the cause of progress. (Cheers.)
I say the cause of progress, for it is my conviction that
not only is progress healthy, but that it is likewise
Conservative—as mach more Conservap than stagna-
tion as,the flow of the healthy current is more advan-
tageous than the stagnation of the unwholesome marsh.
(Hear, hear.) I believe, therefore, you ought to look
for men who will promote progress—and who will pro-
mote progress so as not to disturb or unsettle—for I
have always held, and I have beeo called backward and
slow on that account—in such a way as not to disturb
the intricate and complicated relations of men to leach
other, and to substitute disorder and confusion for
harmony and peace. (Hear, hear.) That progress should
embrace an amelioration of the condition of the people
carefully considered, an increase of the popular fran-
chise) and an increase of popular power, but at the
same time accompanied with the increase and diffusion
of education. Gentlemen, I look to the diffusion of edu-
cation as the security for our institutions, as the best and
ablest men of the United States look to the diffusion of
education as the best security for the peace and
order of the community. Gentlemen, if these
opinions,-- if these declarations are approved by you, I
hope to have your support at the forthcoming election. But
gentlemen, dearly as I prize your approbation, dearly as I
value the honour of being returned for this city in
Parliament. Much as I should rejoice in being able to
take my seat as representing you, and expresing your
sentiments in Parliament, and little as I am disposed to
bow to the dictate of a clique—for no such prize,
for no such honour, should I be inclined to
forfeit the approbation of my own conscience. (Loud
cheers.) I am sure that you, as Englishmen, will
respect that avowal. If you cannot agree with me—
if you think my opinions and declarations render me
unfit to receive your votes, withhold them at the poll, but
if you think me fit to continue to represent you, I hope
no insidious manceuvre will deprive me of the honour
of becoming member for the city of London. (The noble
lord sat down amidst loud cheers.)
Mr. WHITESUIRE, chairman of the Ballot Society
asked his lordship to express his views on the ballot,
and in doing so alluded to the state of the Continent and
his lordship's former expressed views at Guildhall.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that his views on the ballot at
Guildhall was this, that he thought that in the present
state of the representation, there being, according to
what Mr. Hume frequently stated, only one in six of the
adult male population in the United Kingdom
who had a vote for a Member of Parlia-
ment, that it was not fit that every sixth
man should exercise that power unknown to
his fellow countrymen. (Cheers, hisses. and cries of
"It won't do Johnny.") Whether that reason be
good or bad, I have told yeu that I do not
propose for the sake of getting votes at this election
to change my opinions. I have formed that opinion, not
from reference to what happens in Sardinia, but a good
deal from what happens in the United States of Ame-
rica, and what I have heard with respect to France,
where the ballot was introduced ; and believing myself
that the ballot would not hays those beneficial effects
which those who are its advocates represent, I shall nut
pledge myself to vote for the ballot. (Cheers, hisses, and
three cheers for the ballot.)
Several gentlemen proposed to put questions to his
lordship, but the chairman ruled that it would be better
not to do so then, as the electors would have other op-
portunities for doing it. _

Mr. F. BingsocH, in a powerful speech, called upon
tho elictori to rote for Lord J. Russell in the ensuing
election, and concluded by moving the following resolu-
tion :

" That this meeting have beard with satisfaction the
manly determination of Lord John Russell, to appeal to
the free suffrages-of the independent electors of the city
of London. That they hold this course to be such
as becomes a candidate for the representation of this
important constituency, and looking at Lord J. Russell's
eminent past services in the cause of civil and religious
liberty, and in the full confidence that he will continue
to be the advocate and promoter of liberal measures,
they pledge themselves to give him their utmost support."
Mr. G. MOORI seconded the resolution, which was
carried, four hands only being held up against it.
Thanks were then voted to the chairman, and after
three cheers for " reform, retrenchment, and peace" the
meeting separated.

WARWICK RACES—(This Day).

(BY ZLECTRIO TBLEORAPII.)
£4O HANDICAP PLATE.

Plausible .
Garnet ...

Four ran.
ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE.
Weathercock
Minerva
Sting
Niue ran. Won in a canter. Screw broke down.

HURDLE RA.CE.

Jean d Quesno

Five ran.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS.—(This Evening.)
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wool-
sack at 5 o'clock.

Lord DONOUGRMORE presented a number of
petitions from several places in Ire/and in fa►otvr of the
totel abolition of the income tax, and also praying that
the salaries of medical officers, in connection with the
poor laws, might be paid out of the Consolidated Fund,
instead of, as at present, out of the poor rates.
The LORD CHANCELLOR presented a petition
from the Society for the Protection of Trade, praying for
an extension of county courts in Liverpool, and also for
the appointment of an additional judge.