Star.
London, England, 1831-03-18 00:00:00

ARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE SOCIETY,
P
instituted to promote the RETURN of FIT and PROPER
MEMBERS to PARLIAMENT.
COM MITTEE.
Jeremy Bentham, Esq. Dr. Mackinnon
3lajor A. Beauclerk John Marshall. Esq. of Leeds
charles Beauclerk, Esq. Daniel O'Connell. Esq. M.P.
Charles Buller, Esq. M.P. Erskine Perry, Esq.
A. Buller, Esq. John A. Roebuck, Esq.
E. Lytton Bulwer, Esq. Mr. Alderman Scales
Sir Francis Burdett, Bart. M.P. Charles Brinsley Sheridan
John Crawford, Esq. Col. T. Perronet Thompson
Thomas Hobbouse, Hag. Thomas De Vear, Req.
Joseph Home, Esq. M.P. Daniel Wakefield, jun. Esq.
Colonel L. G. Jones
Francis Place, senior, Esq. Treasurer.
Robert Gouger, Esq. Honorary Secretary.
AD DRESS.
The measures of Reform brought forward by his Majesty's Minis-
ters, which have been enthusiastically welcomed by the whole king-
dom, will require the exertions of the people themselves to obtain the
grand object of a legislative body identified with the popular interest.
Hitherto, the men best fitted, by their intellectual and moral worth,
to be representatives of the people, have usually shrunk from a popular
election. The expense, corruption, and degradation attending on that
hitherto debasing proceeding, have deterred t e honest minded, and
but too often left the field open to those who have had much wealth
to squander, and few scruples to overcome.
It is hoped that this vicious system will no longer prevail; that
places will be thrown open in which the honest candidate will have to
stoop to no immoral sets, to practise no corruption, to truckle to no
commands; and, that the people will be able to choose those who, by
talent, industry, and probity, are fit to be popular representatives.
This power, however, will be of little avail, if it be not judiciously
exercised. Unless the electors be made acquainted with the character of
the candidates who propose themselves—unless the men most worthy
be brought to their notice—improper or inadequate selections will
again be made ; the same neglect of duty, the same corrupt practices,
the same extravagant expenditure, which have hitherto been our de-
gradation and our curse, will continue.
To prevent this evil, two things are reqaired—
I. To collect all necessary information respecting the character, to-'
lent, conduct, and connexions, of all persons who may be proposed as
can idates for seats in the Legislature.
11. To lay this information, when obtained, before the public.
Experience has taught us that, separately, individuals cannot per-
form this task. Applications for information have often been made by
various bodies of electors, desirous of choosing honest and enlightened
representatives. But no one being prepared to answer their inquiries,
the praiseworthy wishes of the electors have been frustrated. The idle.
vain, and profligate, have too often been chosen in place of the indus-
trious, upright, and enlightened. The unprincipled political adven-
turer, swayed only by personal interests, has usurped the post of the
honest, single-minded patriot; and a people harassed, plundered, and
oppressed, have but too well attested the vicious operation of a badly-
selected Legislature.
Similar applications will again be made; and unless care be taken,
they will again prove fruitless.