The Sun.
London, England, 1826-06-21 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

D AMY EXTRACTS FROM THE MORNING PAPERS.

JUNE 21, 1826.

[THE TIMES.]

The progress of the election at Coventry luo been
such as could not lead to any different result from that which we
have now to communicate—namely, the defeat ofthe popular can-
did-atett,•-ri et annie, by a banditti of hired ruffians, and the return
of two members to Parliament who, according to all accounts,
Were not cloven by a fair majority of voted. - We have never seen
or heard of any thing more revolting than this election for Coven-
try. The procession of Lady - Godiva, exhibited by one of the
shameless creatures- of the day for sixpence, is not more disgraceful
to the delicacy of the heroine, or to that of the females who be-
hold it, than has the'reckt brutality of the Corporation-mob at
Coventry been to the political character of that city. That the
voters for particular candidattsa should have exclusive access to the •
hustings—that the voters for those candidates whom the Corpora-
tion did not condescend to favOur should he treated with positive
outrage, and be sent home bruised and mutilated under the noses of
the magistrate*, without even the satisfaction of nlisteriug their
names upon the poll-hooks,—that this should on the very first day
of the election have proceeded eo far as that the popular candi-
dates could only bring up four or five votes in opptiqinn' to
hundreds of their adversaries; and on the last day so far as to
compel an Hon. Gentleman to terminate the election rather • than
risk the personal safety of hie friends,---we do say again, that,
making-all allowances for the occasion, such barbarism goes to the
root of the Constitution--that it is a stigma not only on the
honesty of our Magistrates, but upon the cwilimtion of England.
We do sincerely trust Mr. Ellice rte armed with full evidence of
the transactions which have been detailed; because, if so, a peti-
tion to. PneliaMent becomes on his part a step of imperious duty,
and of infallible success; it being impossible that an election can
stand, when actual demonstration can be adduced that force," not
free-will, has determined it. With regatil to the question of who
bus been guilty of inciting 'or screening such malpractices, -we
take the liberty of assuming, that primp facie—if the accounts
be true—the returning officer is to blame. This functionary
has legal authority for preserving the order and' privileges of
his own Court; but if lie he a partisan, clothed with power,
he is no better than a public nuisance, and nn enemy et
once to the Pediment awl the people. It will he seen by the
report of the proceedings at Brentford which we publish, that in
Middlesex, ua in other counties, our Tory cotemporaries have
preyed but middling prophets. There is no contest for this inf.
portant county. The old members have been returned unani-
mously, and with loud acclamation*. Neither of them being
certainly a very eminent man, the anti-Ministerial spirit of the
electors is thereby shown ..in a mintier the more conspicuous.
Under the bead of " Berkshire" may be seen an account of what
occurred at Abingdon on M,Mday• last, where the circumstance,
almost novel in our times, of u Catholic gentlentan coming for-
ward to speak at a county election, will attract. the ettentionof
our readers. We must add, however, that the novelty of Mr.
Eystnn's address was not its only charm. The sentiments of the
worthy gentleman were finch as would do honour to any cotn-
vitition : and we cannot help feeling an additional pang at the
exclusion of so respectable a class of men from privileges which are
often enjoyed by mean ones, whenever a Catholic of principle and
talent takes the trouble to expatiate on his wrongs.