The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-01-22 00:00:00

LORD SANDON AND THE LIVERPOOL TRADES-
MEN'S CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION•

On . Tuesday evening a special meeting of the Liverpool
Tradesmen's Conservative Association was convened in the
large room of the Golden Lion, for the purpose of Meeting our
worthy and excellent representative, Lord Sandon, now on a
visit to his constituents. - At eight o'clock, the time appointed
for tee mee lug, the room was densely crowded with an assem-
blage of respectable tradesmen and persons of the middle class,
as well as many gentlemen in the upper tanks of life. It is
computed that there were considerably mote than one thousand
persons present.
Previous to the arrival of his lordship several members were
proposed and admitted, amongst them Mr. Charles Lawrence
and Mr. 'l'. 13. Horsfall, whose names were received with loud
cheers. At this stage of the business Lord Sandon entered,
accompanied by Mr. C. Lawrence Mr. John N. Wright, Mr.
John Moss, Mr; Smith, of Fulwood, Mr. N. D. Bold, and Sir
Thumaa Braucker. The entrance of his lordship was the signal
fur vehement and reiterated bursts of applause, which continued
while he made his way through the room, (a matter of some
difficulty.) and took his place beside the chairman, when the
cheering was renewed even more enthusiastically than before.
On its subsiding,
SANIOEI. HoLNIE, the president -and chairman, rose and
announced to the meeting that. their noble and excellent repre-
sentative, Lord Sandon, having signified his wish to meet the
Liverpool Tradesmen's Conservative Association, a special
meeting had been summoned for that purpose, and' he was
happy to see not only so numerous, but so respectable au atten-
dance. (Hear.) When they had looked abroad, and had seen the
spirit of destruction that was at work, and the reckless desire for
change which was now exhibited, they had considered it right to
focus themselves into au association for the purpose of preserv-
ing the institutions of their country. (Cheers.) They were
associated for the purpose of preserving the rights of the altar
and the throne—for supporting the legitimate rights of the pert-
pies but not less the rights of our hereditary legislators. (Loud
cheers.) They saw a spirit afloat which tended to the subver-
sion of their country's greatness; and while they were not op-
posed to those natural and necessary changes which nations as
well as the very face of nature must undergo, they would desire
that those changes should be gradual and free from violence, so
that the rigtits and liberties of all should be respected. (Ap-
plause.) As he saw around him many abler men, he would not
further detain them, but leave it to the noble lord to make. his
-own introduction to the meeting. (Applause.)
Lord SAN DON then loresented himself, and was again enthu-
siastically cheered. When I first heard, obServed his lordship,
that a Conservative Association of this nature was established
in Liverpool, I was naturally anxious to ascertain on what
principles it was founded, what where the ties which bound it
together, and what the objects which it professed to have in
view. For this purpose 1 applied to-your worthy president to
put into my hands the declaration of principles upon which
your society is based. With your permission I will take the
liberty of referring eo-ethatedument. I find you are most
anxious to avert, as far as lies in your power, " the great evils
arising from the attacks with which, year after year, the best
institutions of the country have been assailed, and which at last
threaten not only the existence of one branch of the legislature.
but also the separation of church and state." (Cheers.) I find
that you resolve to use your best exertions, in your several
stations, " to promote and encourage loyaity to the King, at-
tachment to the House of Lords, as one strong bulwark of the
liberties of the people, and an increasing desire to return to the
Commons' House of Parliament men of conservative principles,
men who will resist the rash innovations of theoretical states-
-men, and, above all, will secure to the people of Great Britain
and Ireland undiminished and unimpaired, those means of
instruction in the protestant religion which they now so freely
possess." (Renewed cheering, which lasted sometime.) When,
gentlemen, I had read this declaration, I said to myself, these
are the real principles which will preserve the state,—(hear,
hear,)—and if Ida find a great mass (tithe community, not only
of the leading merchants, not only of the tradesmen, but of the
operative classes also, the three grand divisions of a great com-
mercial community, united heart and hand in support of
these great principles, I cannot think that, the constitution in
church or in state is really in danger. (Hear, and cheers.)
When 1 see before me what do see, and when I see and hear
what I have seen and heard in this town, I do indeed really be-
Jieve there is strength around us and amongst us to resist the
dangers with which we are menaced,. I do believe, that while I
see such a body around me—men who feel no jealoesy of those
whom the accident of birth or wealth has raised above them,—
who have no desire to deprive them of the advantages which
'Providence has affordel them, but who look on those'advan-
tages as means of raising every order in the state, even the
lowest, by the noble emulation they create—when 1 find these
principles prevailing amongst such classes, I think, indeed,
that the welfare of our country is not to be despaired of. (Loud
cheers.) With regard to political matters, you, gentlemen, I
am persuaded, can have no doubt, that if we were to concen-
trate all power in the hands of one elective body, or to diffuse
that power through the medium of another elective body, which
is now the favourite theory of him who would he king not only
.of Ireland but of Great Britain also—(tremendous cheering)—
if you were to concentrate all power in such elective bodies,
there would no longer be any security for the liberties even of
the lowest class. You would find those bodies carried away by
sudden passion, or becoming the prey of some needy, and cun-
and unprincipled agitator. (Cheers.) And you will find
those bodies under such guidance, more ready to sacrifice the
liberties of their fellow-countrymen than ever King or House of
,Lords was found to be. (Renewed applause.) I think, gen-
.tlemen, I need not Fay much to -recommend to your attach-
ment that constitution uud r which you have so long lived artd
flourished, which has gained the admiration of all other nations
—which other nations have striven in vain to imitate—and
which, as vet, no other nation has attained to. (Cheers.) If
you look a-broad—eel many of you are travellers, many read
what is going on its foreign countries—you see other nations
struggling year after year fur liberty, but which have never at-
tained the stable liberty that England has so long enjoyed.
(Hear, hear.) You have seen Spain, Italy, France,.and the
South American republics, striving and sighing in vain for that
•bnlightened liberty, combined with perfect security to property,
which England has long enjoyed. 'Seven that greatest of free
states, that noble descendant of ourselves, the United States of
America, can we envy the degree of liberty that they enjoy ?
Fan we covet that perfection of personal freedom which sub-
jects any one uttering a sentiment displeasing to the ruling
petty, to be taken up and tried by what they call Lynch law?
Not by the tedious process of grand jury, petty jury, recorders,
aldermen, and jud,,es of the land, but sum'. l and
hanged at the first amp-pust. (Hear, hear.) "loirrlif tried,
happen to he a particularly merciful humour, only !:11redoein)d
feathered and banished for life. (Laughter and cheers.)t- Ido
not mean any disparagerneut to our friends un the other side of
the Atlantic. I believe they have done
what,
perhaps, suits best
po peculiar situation in which they found themselves; but I aro
certain, from the events of the last few years, that we have no-
thing for which to envy them. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I be-
lieve that one of the stragest ties Which draw us together—
. which makes us feel a community of interests, combining in
one the high and the low, hesides "being one of the best securi-
ties for person and property, is an attachment to the Establish-
ed Church of .this country, (Loud cheers.) I mean no dis-
respeet for other religions. Thee, h'ave their merits, and lam
glad to admit that many who dissent from us are able, 'learned,
good, and pious men. ( Hear, hear.) But I claim for the
- Church of England, at least no inferiority in any one respect I
-to the numerous sects surrounding her. (Lout cheers.) And
I claim for her a superiority, at least in one respect, above them
all, namely, that she furnishes unpaid, to the poor in every
• quarter of the country, -the means of religious instruction.
(Much applause.) This is the great superiority of the Esta-
blished Church. Go into any, the remotest quarter of the
country and You find a church; ancr where you find a church
there you find a minister, administering spiritual consolation to
his flock; and even to those of a different persuasion, to whom
be is denied the pleasure and the privilege of administering such
consolation, he is the temporal friend succouring them in their
necessity and advising them in their difficulties. (Loud
cheers,) I do not pretend to say that that noble frame-
evork has been fully filled out; I do not pretend to
say that there are no portions of our land where the
growing population has outstripped the means which the
.church has been able to supply. I do not mean to ex-
empt our. church, more thau, any other human institution,
from the defects which grow about it from the negligence of
'those to whom its interests have beets entrusted. (Hear, hear.)
But whatever abuses may have grown up, whatever corruption
. may have crept in. whatever deficiencies that institution may
manifest, in consequence of not having adapted herself as vet
to the increasing wants of the population, let us work together
o remedy those defects, to supply those deficiencies, to extend
er means of usefulness, and not pull her down and destroy the
means of usefulness she already possesses, and which she is ex-
erting herself to extend more widely. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
I would hold out the hand of friendship to every one who would
join with me in this object, whether agreeing with me on every
-point of doctrine and discipline or not. But to those who co-
operate with she io leading men to the divine truth, to thern I
would most willingly lend hand of fellowship. I say it not
theoretically-1 say it not as a vague promise, as an electioneer-
ing trick. 'Have I' not acted up to it? ( Yes, yes.) Have I
not supported every measurelor the extension of religious free-
dom? Hare I not contributed, perhaps some of my friends
may thick too far, to striking off every shackle hanging round
the freedom of religious thought? Having gone so far, have
1 not a right to say. after giviutt liberty to my fellow-country-
men of another persuasion, I will stand boldly in the breach
and prevent them making an invasion on the property of the
church? (Reiterated cheering.) Gentlemen, I have gone as
far. as can safely be done with safety to the church and safety to
the state. At this (mint I will- stand. (Vehement cheering.)
I will go no further in concession. I will not endanger those
'institutions which I hold to be the prime blessing of my country.
(Applause.) I believe I need not go much further. I have
touched on the common bond of our union, on the main-spring
of our common action. I trust that, all minor differences being
thrown aside, whether of creed, or politics, or local government
perchance, we may
enlist in an unanimous determination to res-
cue the government of this country from the degrthlation of I
being merely a slave and a tool in the hands of an Irish agita-
tor. (Great cheering.) I recollect at the last election. on the
hustines before the Town-hall, I took the liberty of saying that
I thought the time was at hand when, without great care, the
- -destiny of the empire was likely to devolve into the hands of
Cale daring and unprincipled agitator. 1 remember at the mo-
ment several persons, now members of the town council, cried
out—" What have we to do with O'Connell? What is O'Con-
nell to us?" I told them they might think they had little to do
with him then, but I had seen enough to know that Mr. O'Con-
nell held in his hand the destinies of this country. Whenever
Parties became nicely balanced, a bold and unprincipled man,
with
a firm band of thirty or forty followers, would throw his
weight as suited the prosecution of his own designs, and so ac-
tually sway
perfectly the councils of the nation. Was the prophecy not
correct? (Yes.) Have we not seen that very party
in the state, which before the last session professed hostility to
O'Connell's views, as soon as it was a question of power, unite
themselves in the closest bonds of alliance with him ? (Hear,
hear.) What-does O'Connell say himself? He says, "Have
I changed? Not a bit. The wings of the present day are no
more the Whigs of five years ago than"—l forget his illustration
—than, suppose, the dress of our day is the dress of a hundred
years ago. • And so it is. I regret to say it : men whose names
have been respected in the land have sacrificed their principles
for the sake-of a paltry and disgraceful continuance in office
and-submitted to an alliance with him. (Loud cheers.) We are
now going again to that great scene to renew the struggle for the
liberties of our country, for the independence of England, for
the defence of protestantism. We are going, if we possibly
can, to rescue three countries from the dominion of one single
man. (Loud cheers.) I shall go up much comforted, much
cheered by what I have seen. I shall up encouraged and sup-
ported by the recollection that I have seen collected around me
the ranks not only of merchants, but of tradesmen also—that I
have seen around me those who have most extensive connexions
with other classes with those below and with those above them—
men whose habits of business furnish the beet means of profit-
inn by such connexion—men whose opportunities for reading
and reflection give them the means of acquiring knowledge. Let
Me hope that gentlemen possessed of these sources of influence,
these ncilities for acatiiring iliformation,viill exert that influence.
avill diffuse that information, and thus endeavour to unite under
the flag of the British constitution every class of this great com-
'nun ity. I heard, gentlemen, last session, with horror and disgust,
one leading man, iVho calls himself a representative of the people
--a liberal phitesopher of the day, talk in the House of Commons
Of the "antiquatest farce of the British constitution." (Groans

and hisses.) Would hot your blood run cold at such en ex-
pression. What ! That constitution which is the object of
jealouey and adaiiratiou to all nations, to be held up to con-
tempt by a miserable, a pitiful, a puny philosopher of the pre-
sent day! (Loud cheers, and cries of " Name, name !") Such
principles as this will not find great extention among the seh-
sible people of this country. They will not embark ou an open
and untried sea, to try if they cannot discover something better
than that "antiquated." constitution under which they and their
fathers have lived and flourished, and under which they hope
that their children and their children's children will live and
flourish, or to try experiments in order to satisfy the dreams of
men who speculate on paper. (Loud applause.) Gentlemen,
Ido not wish to intrude further on your time. (Cries of "Go
oiL) .1 have had the greatest pleasure in meeting you on this
occasion. I shall go to my parliamentary duties much strength-
ened by the confidence you have placed in me, as I feel assured
that while such meetings as this can be collected the cause of
the country need not be despaired of.
His lordship's speech was followed by several rounds of en-
-thusiastie cheers. When silence was in some degree restored,
Mr. WRIGHT, having been called upon, presented himself to
the meeting, and was warmly cheered. Heesaid that he little
expected to have received' so much kindness at their hands,
inure particularly standing as he did, in the situation of one of
the rejected. (Cheers.) He did not consider himself disgraced
by what had happened lately, inasmuch as it had given him an
opportunity of experiencing their kirlduess. He had had no an-
ticipation of being called upon to address them, otherwise he
might have been more prepared, but he knew. that when speak-
ing to men of Liverpool they would rather have the sentiments
of his heart than any set speech he could make. (Cheers.) He
therefore said at once, that he was delighted with what he had
heard from his noble friend, and with the manner in which they,
had welcomed hint once more amongst them. He. said se,'
because there was but one feeling amongst them; they would
go like liberal men—though the opposite party had taken that.
n hue upon themselves—to that point at which they km.ny safety
ceased. (Hear, hear, and exclamations of assent.) He was
sure they would all go with him in what he was about to pro.-
pose,—a vote of confidence in the noble lord who had that night
honoured them with his presence. (Rapturous applause.) He
was sure he need Malan it'to them: . and though some of those
old men who had been accustomed to vote for them, and for the
freemen of Liverpool, had been turped to the right about as
mere cast-off, waste paper, still some had a right to speak to
them, and he for one would say to them, "Trust those who
have served you like Lord Sandon, and don't trust any of the
philosophers of the present day." (Cheers.) He should be
very sorry to bring forward anything relating•to himself; but
there was a justice due to himself as well as to the public at
large. Would it be credited,—could it be conceived, that there
were men so low, so degraded, that after turning him off after
twenty-three years' service—he did not complain of that; many
of the twenty-four might be much better men than himself—
but he had a character at stake, and he would not suffer it to be
taken away by underhand, assassin-like conduct :—would it be
believed, he repeated, that wretches had descended so low as to
write-to his wile,:charging him with the basest, the vilest acts.
(Hisses. groans, and cries of "Name !") No, he could not
name, for, a sufficient reason : the letters were anonymous.
(Renewed expressions of disapprobation.) He declared, on his
honour, that every word contained in those synonymous epistles
was false. They did him one justice;—they stated that lie was
Out of office. That was true. Then they said, "We have no-
thing to allege against your public character," For that he
thanked them. "But," they said, "we have an eye on your
private character, and the association is looking after you."
They are all dated' from the Central Reform Association. Was
this, he asked, to be borne? This was the liberality of those
who called themselves liberals. He had said over and over
again, he thanked God he was not a liberal; but still he had
the liberality to think and hope that every one acted according
to the best of his judgment and ability, and as he had to answer
to his own conscience. (Cheers.) These were the principles
of the conservative society; to do their duty to God, to honour
the King, and to speak of their neighbour as they would wish
him to speak of themselves. (Loud applause.) They were the
conservative society. To them he addressed himself; and he
declared he would not belong to any society not having such
principles for their groundwork. On these let them raise their
superstructure; and acting on these he believed the noble and
honourable gentleman before them would have their support
when there came a contested election. (Loud cheers, and
cries of " Sandon and Wright!") He apologised for having
said so much, but before he concluded, he reminded the meeting
of the resolution to which he wished them to come, namely, that
Lord Sandon had the utmost confidence of the Conservative
Association, and that that association bound itself to support
him in any future election. (Cheers.)
Sir Ttioares BRANQKIiR said that he, like his friend, the late
Alderman Wright, was one 'of the rejected; but that did not
render him the less inclined to stand by his fellow-townsmen
and the freemen on all proper occasions. (Cheers.) A most
praiseworthy resolution, had been proposed to them, viz., that
they should support the noble lord in any ensuing election, and
aid him with their votes and influence to the utmost of their
power. (Cheers.) They were not philosophers, he believed;
therefore they would abide by the constitution as they had en-
joyed it, and their forefathers for ages. They would gain
nothing by the change. ("Nothing good.") Oh, they might
get something bad. (Laughter.) Well, then, if a man was
to get nothing good by a change, he took it, he had better re-
main as he wee._ (Cheers.) After the eloquent and impressive
speech of the noble lord, and the excellent address of the gen-
tleman who had succeeded him, it would be needless for him to
eiderWright.ne further. He concluded by seconding the proposal of
Mr. W
The Chairman having put the resolution from the chair, it
was carried unanimously, with much acclamation.
Lord SANDON then rose and said, after the vote of confidence
just passed with so much unanimity,—after, the very cordial
manner in which they had expressed their determination to
support him in any ensuing election—whether far or near it
was beyond any power of his to calculate—he was sure it would
equally find them ready and at their posts;—after such a vote
it became him to express the deep sense of gratification which
he felt. • (Cheers.) But he hoped they would not be content
with merely voting for him; that they would see in him only a
feeble and inadequate personification of a great cause, and that
whoever-came forward they would not look either to the right
or the left as to whether lie might be a friend of this great
man or that, bet lend him equally their heart and their hands.
(Great cheering.) He would not say more then, but would
finish with,setie proposal,—that they should give three cheers
for their excellent president, so well fitted to preside over an
assembly of intelligent and right-minded men. (The cheers
were given with every demonstration of satisfaction.)
Mr. HoLNIE replied.—He would indeed be Ungrateful if, after
the manifestation of kindness they had shown him, he did not
return them his heartfelt thanks. The tradesmen of Liverpool,
in the present day-, occupied a prominent and important situa-
tion; and for himself he might say that, much as he loved the
privacy of domestic life, and it was always with pain that he
emerged from it; yet if he possessed any influence at all, he
could not remain quiet iu these spirit-stirring tunes. Feeling that
the tradesmen of! Liverpool did possess, a
.great influence, he,
for one, was anxious to give his humble support in favour of our
glorious constitution in church and state; believing, as he did,
most firmly, that such principles as they had heard laid down
by Lord .Sention were the very principles of the constitution.
anti those which would bring the greatest biessinge on the
greatest number of iasiividu.iis.( Loud applause.) He would
uot, for he dared not .trust himself, to speak of their political
antagonists. -He woulde herefore pass them over, only express-
ing a hope that Lord Sandon would receive that support to
which he was entitled. All they saw and heard was calculated
to make them redouble their energy on a future day. (Cheers.)
He.did hope the ellhrt of the conservative representative would
not be neutralised by the classical Mr. Ewan. (Tremendous
cheering and laughter.) And as their opponents seemed very
sure about returning two, he thought they might very probably
be shooting over their own heads, and not return any at all.
(Much cheering.) The elective power was now in the hands
of the great bulk of the middle classes, and he hoped that a
more conservative spirit was abroad amongst that class. If
that Were, the case, they should be indeed victorious. Let
them, however, use every exertion. As fire kindled fire, so
did mind animate mind. lilvery one might be useful in the sphere
in which he moved. Let every one exert himself to preserve
the institutions of the land, fur ia preserving them they were
preserving their own domestic happinese anti tranquillity.—
(Loud cheers.) • He begged to thank them for their kindness,
as well as for their attendance there, although the speech of
their noble representative would amply repay them for their
trouble. He begged leave to propose, before sitting down,
"Three cheers for Church and King."—After the cheers had
been given, Mr. Rohm, resumed.—He had forgotten to men-
tion, that one of the great objects of the association was to
form a connecting link between-the merchants and operatives;
and in this it followed the very genius of the constitution.
(Hear.) He would take this opportunity of correcting an
error which had found its way into the press. He had stated
on a former occasion that the merchants of Liverpool had
"shrunk into their hiding-places." He was always 'willing
to pay honour where honour was due: that was the-first duty
of a conservative ; and he wished not to say anything disre-
spectful towards a body to which be was under so many obli-
gations. In the report, however, the word had been printed
"slunk," and a radical newspaper, by way of improvement,
made it "skulking." (Hisses and lauughter.) It would have
been exceediugiy improper haul he made us of it. He was glad
of this opportunity to defend himself, especially as he saw so
many of the mercantile body present. He would make free to
hook some of them. (A laugh.) It was the privilege of the
chairman to nomivate members, and therefore he should have
pleasure, in the first place, in nominating Lord Sandon. This
announcement was received with thunders of applause.
Mr.:Holuie subsequently nominated Sir T. Braneker. Mr.
Wright, .11r. John Moss, Mr. Wm.. Smith, Mr. N. D. 'Bold,
and Mr. Wm. Wright.
Lord SANDON again returned his most sincere thanks for the
high honour of being admitted a member of their club. He
feared he would make a bad tradesman, beginning too late in
life. (A laugh.) However, with the changes and chances
now going on, it was not improbable that he might be obliged
to take tu. seine trade or other. (Laughter and cheers ) If at
any future period he should. be looking about him for that pur-
pose, he should know where to come to. He was sure he should
,i(fLhaeughtalterilt.lo )
find a friend or two in Liverpool who would put him in the way
t a perfect knowledge of the
of
Ntui
1.7 iiingo
inupseusaniVv,
noble lord, he should recommend the noble lord to take up
the trade darn agitator, for it was much the most profitable.
(Shouts of laughtei.)
Mr. WRIGHT unfortunately did not belong t the class of
merchants, a batch of which 'had just been proposed to them.
he called himself a " chip of
Ire fact, he could scarcely tell what he was—whether fish, flesh,
e of his radical friends had
or good red herring.. (Laughter.) But to adopt one of his
the
en
oalsds e rbtlioocnks.,ip t
(lice th
taken up that too, and hinted that he was more block than
chip; but such as he was, he returned them his thanks for
veeerrsy)rhoonin,
electing hint into so excellent and liberal a body, and when
they found him deserting their colours, they might kick him
omit as soon as they liked. • (Cheers and latiehter.)
The noble lord then •withdrew, followed by his friends, and
seemingly much delighted by the gratifying nature of his re-
ception. -

LITERARY, SCIENTIFIITU TIO, ANDN. CONIMERCIAL
INST

it being his first offence, to deal mercifully with him. He *as
sentenced to be imprisMied six calendar mouths.
Jamg.'s Fagan, aged 17, charged with having on the 23d of
November stolen
,a jacket, the property of Martha CuinruinS.
The jury found the prisoner guilty. He was sentenced fo
lie
imprisoned twelve months in Lancaster Castle and kept to hard
labour.
Edward Austin, aged 14, and William Hughes, aged 11, Were
charged with having on the 23d of November stolen a brass tap
and 2 lbs. weight of lead, the property of Mrs. Mary -Baines.
Mr. Abbot, the tenant, having had several depredations coin-
mitten was on the look out: On the night iu question his
clang-liter saw the two prisoners miter the yard, and Austin be-
gan cutting the lead piping with a knife, they then went away ;
at this moment her father came in at the yard door and suet the
prisoners with the lead in their possession. A certificate of a
previoitS convicihin flir felony was read against Austin. The
jury found the prisoners both guilty. Sentence—imprisoned
'twelve monthg, and to be once whipped.
Daniel Tullent was charged with having on the 24th of No-
vember last stolen thirty-five wards of flannel, the property of
Mr. JaMes Blackwell. diaper,-in London-road.
John Thursby, pOliceman, deposed, to having seen the pri-
soner on the night in question with the flannel on his shoulder,
in Quay-street. He asked him where he got it. He said he got
it from hit.: master's shop at Copperas-hill. On asking his mas-
ters name he could not tell; he then took prisoner into custody.
Mr. Cooper, Mr. Blackwell'S assistant, identified the-flannel,
and deposed to missing it front the shop on the night iu ques-