The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-10-11 00:00:00

TO INDEPENDENT BURGESSES OF.
SCOTLAND WARD,
' • .''-.GENVLEMEN
.VU O have been pleased, through the medium 'of a nu-
-1.. Onerousiy attended Public Meeting-of the-Bnagesses ef
the' \Yard; to express a unanimous desire that -I sliould offer
nits elf as a Candidate for your suffrages at thavapproaching
Isfubiciptil Election.
14ad I.consulted my own feelings- al9na., I should- have
reqiectfully declined an invitation whiclif; in its acceptance,
Might assume the character of presumption, orbe attributed
to adeSire to gratify a spirit of self excitation at the expense
'of those prudential considerations which usually deter private
individuals from entering the troubled arena of public life ;
but I trust to be able to show, within the limits, of this ad-
dress, that higher motives have induced me to solicit your
votes for the responsible situation of one of your Represen-
tatives in the Council of this Borough.
T,he.long.straggle on the part of the people for local repre-
seritative.goverament has ended in securing for England and
Scotland MuniciPal Reform Aet ; but the Legislature, in
aaaking preperty the basis, Of the franchise, has given an in-
fluential and forMidable minority- opposed to then extension
of popular rights, the means of obstucting the progress of
those liberal, and ,lightened views of legislation which would
place the institutions of the Country in unison with the im-
proved spirit and superior -intelligence of the present age.
Hence the conflict of two antagonist principles, formerly con-
fined to the elections of Members to the House of Commons,
has been introduced into the contests for the-less distinguished,
but important, office of the' Town Councillor; and every
Municipal election since 11.835 haS been distinctly understood
to involve the triumph of one or other of the two great parties
whO divide the Opinion's and support of this.rapidly increas-
ing town, The people can alone determine how long this
system is to continue : but ivbile the a4cendancy of Liberal
principles is in the slightest degree made dependent' on the
"result of our local elections, it becomes the duty of every in-
dividual, who from any circumstance may be 'enabled to
serve the political principles
.to which he is attached; to
waive his own feeling* and • even his interests, to promote
that cause which he has' embraced, from a strong sense of
its .justiec and its truth. I may be excused in stating that a'
conviction of this-nature has induced me to stand forward
upon this occasion the humble but. sincere advocate of those
principles through the success of which you have been placed
in the'situation of weighing deliberately and deciding fairly
between the relative -merits of the two Candidates for your
suffrages.
From a sense rof justice of what is not only due to myself,
but to those Gentlemen who have taken an interest in my
nomination, I have entered thus at length into the motives
which influenced me to solicit your votes at the ensuing
Municipal Election. I hate not sought the honour of my
present position ; as little Will I shrink from its remotest
consequences. The (ies:don stripped of its personal rela-
tions I believe to be this,—whether the numerous and intel-
ligent body of the middle classes are to take advantage
of that measure of Municipal Reform, which, when it in-
vested: them with civil priviliges, by fixing a moderate pro-
pertylualifiention for , the office of a member of the Town
Council, clearly contemplated the elevation by themselves of
those of their own class, in whose integrity and capacity they
were inclined to placecontidence.
The same- substantive measure of Reform which swept
away the 'old .a.viciotts principle of self-appointed for life of
an irresponsible body of Town Councillors, has rendered the
clear and distinct exposition of the sentiments of the Candi-
date for the. suffrages .of his felloW-citizens not only neces-
sary but inevitable, more particularly with reference to those
subjects which interest and divide public opinion.
I hold that the Town Councillor is merely the trustee for
the time being of those whom he represents, accountable, in
the strictest sense of the term, for his share in the manage-
ment of the great interests placed under- his control, and
consequently under the imperative obligation of giving the
utmost publicity of every act. in which his relations and
duties to his constituents are in every degree Concerned.
Feeling deeply that the best security for the preservation of
order and obedience to the laws—the inviolability of the
sacred relations of property end the rights of -labour—are to
be found in the cultivated iutelligence and high moral tone
of the people, arising out of the means of general education
being made available for all, I.am an advocate for the appli-
cation of such a portion of the surplus of the borough fund
at the disposal of the Council as may afford educational as-
sistance in such districts. in which the population are in most
need of aid, that aid being given without distinction of sect
or creed. .
While I would not, unless upon the most indisputable
evidence, apply public money in any manner which might
tend to injure large masses of capital, invested in a particular
form upon the. faith of an acknowledged system,. I would
warmly support any measure which had for its object the
giving to the trading interests of this port increased facility,
and more powerful means of competition with the other corh-
inercial t owns in the kingdom.
It will be scarcely necessary for me to observe. that I am
an advocate of such a system of economy and retrenchment
as may be found consistent with adue regard to the improve-
ment and efficient discharge of the duties of our municipal
institutions.
It now only remains for me to. add, in conclusion, that in
submitting_ my claims for your, support, I have not under-
valued the extent of that . active and unremitting hostility
which _he must be prepared to submit to, who, trusting to
his own honesty of purpose, looks to the principles of party,
rather than to the men of -whom it is. composed, and has
determined upon the hazardous experiment of thinking and
acting for'himself on
_all subjects connected with the.moral,
civil, and social relations of society. . •
I have the .lionour to remain, Gentlemen,
Yonr,obedient.servant,
H. T. ATKINSON'.
Uppej• Stanhope-street, ect. 2, 1839.-