The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-11-16 00:00:00

open question to accommodate one individual, ani one
alone. That individual was certainly a great man, of
whom he would speak with great respect, inasmuch as
he was now no more. He alluded to Mr. Poulett
Thomson, (the late Lord Sydenhani) who was then
Vice-president of the board of trade and member fur Man-
chestor, because he happened to represent that place ; but
then came a question, whether a minister of the crown, who
happened to be a representative of a large constituency, was
to obey the will expressed by a large Majority of the nation,
or the will expressed by that particular class of the commu-
nity who happened at the time to represent, (hear, hear.)
Now, as he had always thought that it was the duty of every
minister of the crown to promote to the utmost of his power,
the interest of the nation at large, and not that of any one
particular class, so be would say that the government of the
day should have given but one option to Mr. Poulett Thom-
son, either to resign his office as the minister of the crown,
or as the representative of the town of Manchester, (hear
and cheers.) That, gentlemen, [continued the noble Lord]
was the only thing that could have been done, but all those
difficulties were fully foreseen by the wisdom of their
ancestors, who established that wholesome and salutary
measure, and constitutional doctrine of compelling every
member of Parliament on accepting office under the crown,
to vacate his seat, and thereby give to his constituents an
opportunity of re-electing him or not as they think fit. But
was it possible to suppose that such a question as the Ballot,
that such a question as universal sufferage, or Triennial
Parliaments, the corn laws, or any such questions as these
were to be left to mere chance, and not to be taken up by
government in some way or the other, as it was imposible
that those questions could be finally settled unless they were
taken up by government, so he, (Lord Darlington) would
say, that it was their duty to take some distinct line of action
or other, and so strongly did he feel on that point that he
would never give his support to any government who should
make open questions of such measures as these (cheers.)
But he confessed he had a higher opinion of the present
Premier than to suppose that he would deviate from that
line of conduct which he felt to be right for the purpose
of hooking a few wavering votes for the purpose of
his own conscience, or at the expense of his own good
sense and independence (enthusiastic cheering.) He
confessed that he (Lord Darlington) put greater confidence
in the known integrity of Sir Robert Peel, in his sincerity,
and in that fertile genius with which by nature he was en-
dowed. (Loud and long-continued cheering.) He must
also, at the same time, put great confidence in the composi-
tion of his ministry, for never, he believed, in the history of
the country, did they possess an administration endowed
with more eminant or statesmanlike views than the present
government. (Applause.) Never, he believed, did it fall to
the lots of a statesman to form a stronger cabinet, without
succumbing to political opponents, and at the same time
without making any sacrifice or concession of principle ; and
if any proof were wanting that the country approved of the
choice, it would be found in the circumstance that of the
twenty-seven members who vacated their seats on the ac-
ceptance of office, not only the whole of them had been
re-elected, but not one of them had been opposed. (Great
cheering.) With these observations, and knowing as he did,
how many others there were who equally with himself,
thought it their duty to address them upon the occasion, he
would not trespass further then on their patience ; but he
was anxious to take that opportunity of stating, that it has
long been his intention, (a purpose which was known to
many of his friends,) of not seeking again at their hands
that trust which, for a period of nine years, had been so
kindly entrusted to him. In making this brief announce..
went, he assured them that it was done with feelings of the
deepest regret. (Hear, hear.) How was it possible for
him to feel otherwise in alluding to a political separation
which had existed so long, and he trusted that they would
believe him that this expression of feeling was not affected
on his part. but that he entertained a lively sense of
the kindness manifested towards him, by every individual
elector of the county from the highest to the lowest, although
however their political connexion might be severed, he hoped
that as long as life lasted he would never be separated from
them in the interchange of their social relations of private
friendship. The noble lord concluded an eloquent and most
effective address amidst enthusiastic and general applause.
George Tomline, Esq., M.P. also effectively replied to the
toast.

Several other admirable speeches were delivered on the
occasion.