The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-10-25 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL. STANDARD.

going to propose was " The health of their worthy and respect-
able chairman." (Loud cheering.) Ile was better known to
them than to him, and he had no doubt that, as he understood
it was the first time he had attended a public meeting, and the
first time he had tilled the situation of chairman, and though a
young chairman, he was fully satisfied that in heart and princi-
ples he was an old conservative. He begged to propose the
health of the chairman, with nine times nine. (The toast was
drunk amid loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN, in rising to return thanks for the toast, and
the handsome manner in ;which it had been received, regretted
his inability to convey in sufficient terms the expression of his
feelings. He was not accustomed to attend public meetings,
tint he would do his best, and the best could do no inure. The
association had been established only twelve months, and fol-
lowed close.on the heels of that which they had recently cele-
brated. The Operative Conservative Association did not amouut
in numbers to the members who were enrolled in the other as-
sociation, but they were progressing—they had eight hundred
feet among their supporters—(hear, hear)—and they were de-
termined to maintain the church and the king. (Cheers.) He
was sorry to see that some of the churchmen were lending their
support to the dissemination of those principles that were calcu-
lated to bring down the church, and he doubted not that they
would go further if they were not stopped in their unholy and
their unjust career. ( Aear, hear,) Referring to an observa-
tion which was made by Mr. Bolton, in the council, when the
question respecting the salary to the singers, organists, &es.,
was under discussion, of ‘' slates and grindstones," which, it
should be stated, very few except Mr. Bolton can understand,
the Chairman said he thought there was something more in that
observation than met the eye. It seemed as if there was an itch-
ing for business, and, for ought he knew, there might be some-
thing in the shape of a commission in it. (Hear, hear.) lf
they began to unroof the churches who knew, as slates were a
mercantile commodity, that they might not he exported to
America. (Hear, hear.) A lot of one description of goods
might'not, however, suit all persons, and some might prefer to
buy a lot that included several things in it. He recommended,
therefore, that when the slates and grindstones were parcelled
out a few grave-stones should be added, and the sellers might,
in exchange, he enabled to obtain a few bags of cottou.—
(Laughter.) There were some respectable men in the council,
but they did not think they were gotnWtoo far in proposing such
things as those he had mentioned. It was not his (the Chair-
man's) wish, and he helieved it was not the wish of churchmen
generally,
~to interfere with dissenters, and he did not see why
dissenters should interfere with the church. ( Hear, hear.) The
Chairman then adverted to the attacks that had been made
upon Orange Societies, and said he wished to impress upon
Lord Sandon, and the ether honourable members who were pre-
sent, the necessity of narrowly watching Mr. Hume in the house
next session, otherwise he would attempt to introduce a bill to
put down conservative associations, as he did to put down
Orange societies. The conservative associations, however,
were too strong, and had too many feet to support them.
The CHAIRMAN then said, he was about to propose a toast,
which was given twenty years ago, and he believed the man,
who then gave it was now living, and was a true Conservative.
The toast was—" Theigenuine rights of the people: may they
never be crushed by despotism, nor rent in pieces by 'demo-
cracy." (Cheers, amid which the toast was drunk.)
Mr. W. E. GLADSTONE said, he should venture to use the
freedom of commencing the few remarks that he intended to
address to the meeting, in an unusual manner, namely by re-
plying to a portion of the speech they had just heard. The
Chairman had charged the members of parliament who were
in the room to take care that Mr. Hume, next session, did not
introduce a bill to suppress conservative associations. He
begged to remind their worthy Chairman of what he appeared
to forget, but of which every person in the south was perfectly
aware, that a dissolution of parliament was near at hand, and
that Mr. Hume had no more chance of being returned for
Middlesex, than he had for any other place at the next election.
(Hear, hear,). He mentioned this to quiet the mind of the
Hon. Chairman. With reference to the sentiment contained iu
the toast, it was one to which he would respond with all his
heart. Their opponents were fond of representing it as an in-
consistency for the Conservatives to speak of the rights of the
people. 1 he Conservatives when they spoke of the rights of
the people, did not mean those -wild, theoretical, anti abstract
rights which had deluged the country with blood; and if their
doctrines were persevered in would end again in the same re-
sults, but they supported the more equitable rights of the people
from the highest to the lowest, and were anxious that they should
receive all the benefits that could be secured to them by the in-
stitutions of the country, so that, in fact, the upper classes com-
pletely identified themselves with tho lower classes of society.
What was the difference between them, and their opponents?
Was it not this, that their opponents were perpetually creating
false, and invidious distinctions between the rights of the
lower, and higher classes, whereas the conservatives maintained,
and justly, that they were identified. And, however much it
might appear a plausible and popular thing, to give to the'one
for a moment a preference over the other, yet the inevitable
conclusion of such a course must be always ruin, and destruc-
tion to the well being of society. They were engaged in pre-
serving those rights against a combination which had been
called most unnatural. l'he conservatives maintained that while
they adopted the conservative side of politics they maintained
the several rights of the people both against depotism and demo-
cracy. But when they recollected that those who kept the
ministers of the crown in their positions did nothingbut revile
the institutions of the country, were they not justified in calling
that an unnatural combination? Most weakly had it been at-
tempted to retort on them that they had an unnatural combina-
tion : they said, " true it is that Lord John Russell, and Mr.
O'Connell sit together, but do not Sir Robert Peel, and Lord
Stanley sit together ?" Such was the argument they con-
descended to use; but need the conservatives condescend to
refute it? What! was it to be borne by mankind, of whom
common sense had been stated to be their predominant quality,
that this comparison should he set forth as argument which
was no comparision ? Were not the differences between
Lord John Russell, and Mr. O'Connell, greater than those
between Sir Robert Peel, and Lord Stanley ? Were not the
the differences between Sir Robert Peel, and Lord Stanley
evanescent, and by-gone ? And did they not now unite to
maintain the substantial institutions of the country ? (Loud
cheers.) Was that the case with Lord John Russell, and
Mr. O'Connell ? Was it not, on the contrary, true, that all
their differences lie in the future, and relate to measures that
are to be brought forward, and must be brought forward? They
would allow him to say that in the fonder combination there was
nothing absurd. Suppose, for instance, that a man came from
London to Liverpool, and another from Manchester to Liver-
pool, and they wanted to get to Dublin, there was nothing ab-
surd in both taking a passage in the same boat; but the com-
bination of Lord John Russell, and Mr. O'Connell was like a
man who wanted to go to Greenock, and another to Dublin,
and yet both taking their passsage in the same boat. (Great
cheering, and laughter.) Lord John Russell constantly main-
tained that he was seeking the preservation of the church esta-
blishment. So were the conservatives. " Then" said they,
" take your place in the same boat with us." " No, no," says
Lord John Russell, "Mr. O'Connell is anxious for the destruc-
tion of the church establishment, I will take my place in the
same boat with him." (Cheers and laughter.) This union
ought to be kept in view by all the conservatives, and at no time
with greater propriety than the present. There never had an at-
tempt been made more full of gross injustice than that attempt
which his noble friend had alluded to—the disfranchisement of
the freemen of Liverpool. (Great cheering.) On ordinary
subjects he would not venture on any thing which might savour
of repetition, or weary them with any topic, which he (Lord
Sandon) had handled with such great ability. But, with re-
ference to this topic—the disfranchisement of the freemen of
Liverpool—it could not be too often mentioned. When their
opponents talked of popular rights, they should be reminded of
what they did for the freemen of Liverpool; and, above all, when
they asked them for their votes, at the next election, they should
ask them what they had wanted to do with their votes. (Cheers.)
What was the course which their opponents had adopted? First
of all, they brought on the town the disgrace which it incurred
in 1830—and then, having caused the sin, they modestly pro-
posed themselves to he the parties who should administer the
punishment; and what was the penalty itself? Was it a right
one ? Did they propose to punish the guilty, and those only—
to disfranchise those wbo had received bribes ? If they had
done that, he did not think a single voice would have been
raised in opposition to it. Did they propose to disfranchise the-
town? He could have understood that. There would have
been great severity in such a measure, and some injustice—in
punishing the innocent with the guilty. There were two objects
to be attained in the administration of justice—one was to
punish the guilty, and the other was to save the innocent. One
of these objects would have been the result of both the previ-
ous projects. But neither of these courses had their opponents
adopted. They had proposed neither to obtain punishment fur
the guilty, nor to spare the innocent. What did they do?
They introduced a bill to establish, as the law of the hula, this
principle—that every man, who was able to phy £lO for the rent
of his house, might receive a bribe if be chose, and vote; but
that every man, who could not pay £lO a year rent, might not
receive a bribe. The effect of this monstrous proposition was,
that, while the innocent freemen were punished along with the
guilty, the guilty ten-pounders were spared with the innocent
ten-pounders, and the rights of the innocent freemen were alto-
gether set aside. (Hear, and ()beers.) They had heard speak
of the aristocracy—of the invidious preference—the pride which
sometimes characterised it—and of wealth generally predomi-
nating; but did they ever before hear of a grosser case, in which
so invidious a distinction was proposed to he made—of such a
monstrous political crime, as was proposed to be perpetrated by
his Majesty's government? (Loud cheering.) They knew to
whom they owed the deliverance of the town from that measure
—they knew they owed it to the House of Lords. (Cries of
"Yes," and cheers.) He mentioned that topic only to remind
them that at the dissolution of parliament which would soon
occur, the question which would lie fur their consideration would
he this—whether they would return to parliament his noble
friend who now represented them, and his hon. friend, the mem-
ber for Warwick—(loud cries of " we will," and tremendous
cheering, the company simultaneously rising and waving their
handkerchiefs, in which display of enthusiasm they were joined
th
(loud
professcries
by the female part of the audience)—or whether they would re-
otfo reform " No
re-
turn, on the other hand, two friends of "popular rights"—
no,")—twoHouseo friends r dr
Lords, e
byf
way o
"popularf e
enlarging
who
the "privileges of the people." Would not the freemen of Liver-
pool rather say to those who had the audacity to ask for their
votes under such circumstances, " No, we will not, as, had you
reformed the House of Lords six years ago, we should have had
no vote to give you?" (Loud
cheering) They would allow
.1y him most heartily to congratulate them on that splendid mani-
festation of their opinions. Their opponents were sadly chag-.
rined and incredulous—he did not think they expected, be-
fore Tuesday last, that this town would then have given
such an exhibition of attachment to the institutions of
its country. But he must confess that, on Tuesday last,
he himself could hardly have expected that, within so 'short a
time, Liverpool could have afforded such an immense assem-
blage, ready to meet them in manifestation of their feelings.
Their opponents were sadly vexed with incredulity. He had
seen it stated that morning that his hon. friend had not the
shadow of a chance in any coming election. (Loud laughter
and cheers.) Was it not true that, in the election of 1832, his
noble friend had only secured his seat by a very small majority
over Mr. Thornely, whilst Mr. Ewart had greatly headed him
on the poll ? Was it not true that, at the last election, his,noble
friend and Mr. Ewart had changed places? His noble friend
was then at the head of the poll, and Mr. Ewart had a most
narrow escape from being defeated by Sir H. --Douglas. He
spoke of Mr. Ewart in his political capacity—he would say
nothing disrespectful of him in other respects—it would ill be-
come him to do so. But he must say, that as the progress of
conservative principles ;vas found to be enormous between 1832
and 1834, so might the progress of the same between 1834 and
1837; and as Mr. Ewart had commenced to change places with
Lord Sandon, so might he terminate by changing places with
Mr. Canning. (Tremendous cheering.) He had detained
them quite long enough. There remained to him the duty of
proposing a toast. He was sure that few of those who were as-
sembled there could be ignorant that that day was the anniver-
sary of one of the most glorious victories that had ever dis-
tinguished the annals of this country—he meant the victory of
Trafalgar. He would tell them that the anniversary of that
victory was a fit day on which to celebrate conservative princi-
ples, those principles which they believed to be opposed to des-
potism and anarchy; because the victory of Trafalgar was gain-
ed against the French arms, which were at once the arms of
despotism and anarchy—they were the arms of Napoleon—they
were the arms of a popular man, commencing with the profes-
sion of popular principles, 'and who ended by declaring that he
himself was the sole represeutative of the people, and by estab-
lishing a military tyranny with which they were as well ac-

quainted as he was ; and therefore, upon this ground, when
those arms were defeated on this day—when the, wooden walls
of old England were found once more ready, as they ever had
been, by the blessing of God, to be the means of securing the
laws acid the safety of her sons—en this day, with 'great pro-
priety, did they celebrate their political principles and contend
in the civil contest to preserve those laws and principles ; and,
most of all, in a town whose commercial marine was so exten-
sive and had raised her hardy sons, first of all, to trade and in-
crease their wealth, and then to protect it. It was, therefore,
wish great propriety that they should celebrate the victory of
Nelsen, whose life was almost cempeusation (and he could
say no inure) for the splendid victory of Trafalgar. They
would agree that the mention of his name raised solemn ideas
in the minds of them all—that they were " strangers and pil-
: (=rims" on the earth—end, though lie proposed to them to drink
—the memory of Lord Nelson, it would be more becoming to the
character of their own feelings and to the nature of the subject
that it should be drunk in solemn silence.—The toast was drunk
accordingly.
The CHAIRMAN then said that he had in his eye a gentleman
who would favour them with an appropriate song to the senti-
mental toast proposed. He called upon Mr. Joseph for the
" Death of Nelson." (Cheers.)
Mr. Joseph then sang the recitative and sang with much effect,
and was greatly applauded.
The CHAIRMAN said, that had he the eloquence of Mr. Glad-
stone, or Mr. Canning, or the greatest man of the age, he should
find a loss to express his feelings on the occasion of the toast he
was about to propose. The toast was one that would come home
to the feelings of all present to whom their homes were dear.
He would „owe them the valiant defender of their homes, that
distinguished- warrior the Duke of Wellington. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drank amid immense and reiterated cheering.
The next toast, the CHAIRMAN said, was that of a loyal, pa-
triotic, learned, and revered lawyer, one of the most brilliant
stars that ever shed a lustre on the bench, or illuminated the
senate. It was "The health of the venerable Lord Eldon, and
with it the conservative members of the House of Lords. (Great
cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN then gave "The health of the Right Hon.
Sir Robert Peel," which was received with as deafening cheers
as the previous toast.
Mr. CANNING then rose and said that he trusted the ladies
(and more especially to the ladies did he address himself on this
occasion) would pardon him. for what might appear a want of
gallantry, in stating his regret that a previous engagement of
himself and his noble friend precluded the possibility of their
having much longer the pleasure of their company that evening.
It was painful to tear themselves away so early, but the engage-
ment was one of long standing. Before, however, he departed,
he begged leave to propose to them a toast which the chairman
had kindly given him permission to give. He would take ad-
vantage of the privilege by proposing to there the " Lancashire
Witches." (Cheers.) He would take the liberty.of coupling
with that toast "The health of that portion of the witches of the
county that he then saw before him," may they keep their hus-
bands in the right path. and train up their children in the way
they should go." (Loud cheers.)
Band—" Here s a health to all good lasses."
The Cu a firm ass said they were greatly indebted to gentlemen
present who had most indefatigably exerted theniselves to make
the arrangements comfortable for the rational and convivial
meeting, which had congregated within the walls of the theatre
this day. He alluded to the vice-presidents and stewards, and
he begged leave to give their healths.
Mr. C. S. llowl.as DS rose to respond to the toast. He said
he regretted that a inure able individual in that large assembly
had not been selected to do honour to the toast. So much had
been said of their motives for assembling there in that great body
that little remained for him to say. The reason of their assem-
bling was the same as when the captain of a vessel saw a storm
approaching; he called his crew to his assistance and manned
his vessel, preparing to meet the approaching storm. Thus it
was with them; they had met there to preserve the vessel of the
state—they were there to rally round the standard of Old Eng-
land, and their determination was to defend and stand by it,
because they thought it in danger. (Cheers.) The British
standard whenever it was endangered—whether its pennant was
endeavoured to be stained by either domestic or foreign enemies
—would ever find a loyal majority of the people of England to
rally round it. (Cheers.) They considered it in danger from
their assembling this day ; and although they might prefer their
home fire-sides to attending public meetings they could not re-
frain from joining heart and hand in a cause on the success of
which"depended the happiness of themselves and their families.
With these views it was a duty that every man owed to his God
and his country to attend. (Cheers.) He hoped they would
always be found at their post, ready and willing to defend the
institutions of their country whenever they were attacked. He
would conclude by giving" Prosperity to the Tradesmen's Con-
servative Association of Liverpool—the parent of the Operative
Association." (Cheers.) They would allow him, in proposing
that toast, to observe with regard to that association, that the
manner in which they had come forward and assisted them on
several occasions displayed a spirit which was highly creditable
to them—a spirit which he was sorry to say had not in some
cases been displayed by those who had greater opportunities.
The toast was drunk amidst loud cheering, and loud calls for
Mr. Holme.
Mr. S. Hoists then presented himself. When the cheer-
ing with which he was received had subsided, he said, if he had
been permitted to consult his own private feelings, after the
exertion he which had undergone the other night, he should not
have come forward on that occasion to respond to the toast. He
could not, however, resist the call which their partiality had
made upon him to return his most sincere thanks on the part
of himself and fellow tradesmen for the manner its which they
had drunk success to their association. When the Tradesmen's
Conservative Association was formed, it was for the purpose of
forming a connecting link between the operatives, on the one
hand, and the merchants on the other. (Hear, hear.) They
felt that in this free country the interests of all classes of so-
ciety were intimately identified and connected ; and they
thought that, by forming the Tradesmen's Conservative Asso-
ciation, they would be setting an example to the country, which,
he hoped, would be followed by good results. So that they would
be setting an example both to the great, and influential (and he
was proud on that public occasion to bear his testimony to their
worth,) and to that great, and valuable body the operatives of
Great Britain. (Loud cheering.) He was not going, and never
would, whatever situation in live he might be called on to oc-
cupy, to deny that he had sprung from them: He never would
be ashamed to own that he had sprung from their ranks, and he
hoped he never should forget the many happy and pleasant
hours he had spent whilst serving his apprenticeship to his trade
in company with hundreds, and thousands of operatives of
Liverpool. He hoped never to be unmindful of the kindness
he had received from them, and while he thanked them for the
kindness which they had always manifested to him he would
likewise congratulate them on the formation of their associa-
tion. (Cheers.) Did they desire to share domestic comfort with
those they saw around them ? did they wish to see their children
brought up in the paths of religion, and virtue? did they wish
to see the children of their poorer neighbours educated in scrip-
tural principles? (Loud cheering.) Did they wish to see the
word of the everlasting God excluded from the free schools—
(loud cries of " No, no")—if they wished the former and not
the latter, let them not be led away with the crude opinions of
the liberal philosophers of the present day. Such theories had
been preached by the philosophers of the French revolution,
when, as the page of history recorded, the greatest misery fell on
the land. Such opinions, if successful in this country, would
produce similar horrors. The opinion of the republican was
simply this, he would pull down every thing that was above
him, but never elevate anything that was beneath him. (Cheers.)
He had heard the freemen of Liverpool maligned, but could he
banish from his recollection that the freemen of Liverpool
chose a Canning, and that the ten pounders chose—a Ewart.
(Loud cheering.) Oh! " look on this picture and on this."
(Continued cheering.) He hoped that they should with one
heart and soul become united, and they should then place, as
their representative, in the House of Commons along with Lord
Sandon, the hon. gentleman whom he saw on his right hand.
(Cheers.) He was sure he would do honour to their choice—
he was sure he would represent their opinions faithfully. When
the next election arrived, which he did not believe could be far
distant, let them be united and resolved, and not led away by
fanciful theories, but taking a plain matter of fact view or the
question before them, let them return those who would preserve
the institutions of the land—institutions which it was their pri-
vilege as well as their duty to hand down to the latest posterity.
(Loud cheers, and cries of " Canning.") He would not at
that late hour, and in the state of exhaustion in which he felt
himself, detain them. He thanked them most cordially for the
honour they had conferred on their fellow-tradesmen, and he
hoped that the two conservative associations would work toge-
ther, having one end in view. If they then persevered as they
ought to do, victory would crown their path, and Liverpool,
like the southern division of the county, would return two con-
servative members to parliament. (Tremendous cheering.)
There was an old proverb, that " a rolling stone gathered no
moss," and there was much truth in it. Let them not be of
those who were continually desirous of change. They were
told to " beware of those who were continually changing." He
would not in the toast he was about to propose, draw any invi-
dious distinctions, in proposing it he was not going to make a
hole in the toast, but was going to butter it. (Laughter.) He
would not speak of any invidious distinctions—he would not
draw any comparisons between the gentlemen who were elect-
ed to the seats of the council chamber, and those who had been
unceremoniously turned out of them. (Hear.) He would
simply propose to them " the health of Sir Thomas Branckei
and the old corporation." (Great cheering.) In doing so he
hoped he was not actuated by any desire of drawing any invi
dious distinction between the parties—both were before them;
he spoke of them merely as public men, let them choose for the
future which they would have. (Loud cheering, and cries of
" the old corporation.")
Sir THONIAS BR ANCKBR in reply, said, while he thanked the
assembly for the compliment paid to the old corporation, he
would draw no comparison between the old and the new corpo-
ration, but he hoped the present would endeavour to perform the
duties appertaining to their official situation with as much zeal
and attention as the old. He hoped that the new council were
actuated by the same honest motives as the old were. He
would say that the late council were actuated but by one feel-
ing to discharge their duty to their fellow townsmen for the
good of their country, and conduct themselves like honourable
men. (Cheers.) As their noble and distinguished guests had
an engagement which they must leave to fulfil, he would not
trouble them with any further remarks of his, but give them the
well-known favourite toast of "the good old town of Liverpool,
and the trade thereof." If he bad given it in the ancient style
he should have said the "good old loyal town of Liverpool."
Under existing circumstances, he gave it as he did, and might
it soon require its old title of loyalty.
The Band played the new Conservative March, which has re-
cently been published in Liverpool.
Lord SANDON then rose and said, that on his visit to Liver-
pool from year to year, he continued to see the town increase
in prosperity. New docks, new streets, and new ships, were
rapidly on the increase, and new branches of trade Were daily
opening with different parts of the globe. He hoped this might
long continue; he hoped they should be able to resist the
theories of the political philosophers who preached that trade
was as well carried on, and as beneficially to this country when
done so by the ships of other countries. He had not yet
learned this new doctrine; he was of the old school, and was
strongly inclined to propose the good old toast of "Ships, Co-
lonies, and Commerce."
Band—" Rule Britannia."
Lord Sandon, the Hon. C. J. Canning, the Hon. Bootle
Wilbraham, and several other gentlemen their retired amid the
loud buzzes of the company.
The CHAIRMAN then rose and said, that as their honourable
guests had left the room, he wished to show then some mark of
respect in their absence, and proposed three times three cheers
for Lord Sandon and Mr. Canning, which was most enthusias-
tically responded to.
Three cheers were then given for the old corporation, three
groans for the new, and three groans for Ewart, which were
given with tremendous effect.
The CHAIRMAN afterwards, in a very neat and appropriate
speech, proposed the health of Mr. Charles Horsfall, which was
drunk with three times three amid unbounded applause.
Mr. HOLMES, one of the vice-presidents, in a very handsome
speech, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Horsinan, for his able
and indefatigable conduct in the chair that night. It was need-
less to say, that the announcement NV RR received with great
cheering, shortly after which the chairmen left the room, arid
was succeeded in his post by Mr. Sanders.
The company separated shertly after ten o'clock, in ,a quiet
and orderly manner.