The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-12-21 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STAND ARD.

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they were wrong to begin to put up fortifications all
along the coast ; and, moreover, he had stated that the
great item in which they could make any reduction for
the advantage of the country, was that horrible expendi
ture of £17,000,000 a-year for the support of our army and
navy. (Cheers.) If they could not make a reduction there
he did not think they would ever make any which would
be sensibly felt in the pockets of the people. (Applause.)
That, however, must be done by a change in the principles
of the people of this country. (Loud cheers.) Since he
came into that room a gentleman had put into his (Mr.
Cobden's) hands a paper with reference to the duty on tea.
He had not read the paper, but he supposed it was in fa-
vour of a reduction from 2s. to ls. Suppose that was
brought about, some would say, then comes the question
how is the revenue to be made up ? (Hear, hear.) He
(Mr. Cobden) perfectly concurred with them that it would
be of advantage to make the proposed reduction—nay more,
if it could be accomplished he was of opinion it would lead
to a much greater extension of our trade with China than,
in sending out two or three ships of war, or taking pos-
session of some territory in the Indian Archipelago to
serve as a half-way house batween this country and China.
(Cheers.) But they wanted to raise. money to make up
for the deficiency, and he (Mr. Cobden) thought that they
could not reduce taxation without also reducing the army
and navy. They might shift-it, but shift it as they would
the load would still be upon the shoulders of the people.
(Hear and cheers.) If free-trade principles were allowed
to prevail he (Mr. Cobden) was of opinion that it would
have the effect of doing away with that spirit of jealous
rivalry which had, long existed against this country, the

result of monopoly ; but the moment their ports were
opened—the moment you allow the ships of all na-
tions to enter them—the moment your colonies are
open (for at present they claim the right to trade
with all the world, though they wish for exclusive
privileges for themselves), the moment they did that
other countries would be ready to enter into that pacific
career of amity as they were now to cultivate the opposite
spirit. (Cheers.) This, however, was condemned as im-
practicable, as utopian. He (Mr. CAden) contended
that they were anything but utopian, for they were the
very same as be had always held, and such as he had ad-
vocated in pamphlets, published twelve years ago. (Loud
cheers.) Free-trade with him had only been a labour
of loveto carry out the views he had always entertained, and
he believed the time was fast approaching when it would
be found that it was not by warfare nor hostile tariffs that
the interests of this country could prosper. (Loud ap-
plause.) He did not like to be continually holding out to
other nations unfriendly hands or the stinging nettle, but
the olive branch of peace and sincerity ; and if they did so

their example. (Continued cheers.) There was no
country in the world growing under an enormous debt,
which would not be ready to relieve themselves in such a
manner as he had mentioned, namely, a reduction of the
army. Take France for example. She had not a larger
army than Russia, Prussia, and Austria. They were all
armed because they were all equally jealous of each other,
but they were all equally burthened—France, Russia,
Prnssia, and Austria were just the same. He wanted
England to take the lead in a partial disarmament
of Europe. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Instead of
sending diplomatists to the Continent for the purpose of
of settling some squabble about the marriage of some boys
and girls, or about an invitation to dinner, however he
wished them to go and say to France and the other powers
of Europe—" We have reduced our army and navy ;
instead of increasing yours, let us agree, like human be-
ings, to a pro rata reduction of our armies and navies.
We shall then be all alike, and if we should be plunged
in war, all will be the better prepared for it." (Cheers.)
Was there anything Utopian in this? (Hear, hear.) It
was common sense, and if our government would adopt
it, he was satisfied, from personal information and perso-
nal intercourse with many of the principal persons in fo-
reign countries, that they would lead the nations of
Europe back into that course from which they had only
departed to the injury of their people, and the great scan-
dal of Christianity. (Loud cheers.) He was sorry to
have occupied so much of their time ;—(Cries of " Go
on")—but as what he had stated at Stockport had been
misunderstood, he was anxious to set himself right. After
some further observations, the hon. member concluded
by. proposing Alexander Henry, Esq., as a fit and proper
person to represent the Southern Division of the County,
and sat doWn amid loud cheers.

Wm. R:ATHBONE, Esq. came forward to second the
nomination, and was received with loud cheers. After
some introductory observations he said he rejoiced that so
practical a man was going to represent the manufacturing
and commercial interests of the county, on which, he ven-
tured to think, the prosperity of the land depended. After
some observations in favour of free trade and economy,
the speaker made an attack upon the grand jury at the
late assizes, for not taking up the question of education,
in the course of which he said he considered it a profana-
tion of religion to permit all the souls of the young to go
down to hell, when those in authority would not take tip
the subject because of their religious differences, and con-
cluded by seconding the nomination.

ALEXANDER HENRY, Esq., then came forward to ad-
dress the electors, and was received with loud cheers. He
said, in appearing before them as a candidate for their
support to send him to parliament as the representative
of that large and intelligent division of South Lancashire,
he trusted they would permit him, in the first place, to
return thanks to the gentleman who had introduced his
name to them. He considered it no small honour to have
been proposed by that great ar►d distinguished philanthro-
pist, who had, through evil report and good report, advo-
cated and established the principles of free trade, upon
which he then stood before them.. (Hear and cheers.)
He was very sensible of the deficiency he laboured under`
in being elected as their representative, and he by no
means possessed those qualifications which they had a
right to expect in the person they sent to parliament.
(Hear, hear.) No one could hold a more humble opinion
of those qualifications than he who then addressed them ;
but in him they would find a zealous determination to
carry into effect the great principles which he had stated
in his address to the electors, and, under such circum-
stances, he trusted they would be disposed to overlook
deficiencies of less importance. He then went on to
declare his political principles. He was the friend of civil
and religious liberty, in the largest acceptation of the
word. He was favourable to the utmost diffusion of edu-
cation without regard to sect or party. He was an advocate
for the utmost extension of commercial freedom, and for
the abolition of all monopolies and exclusive privileges.
(Cheers.) If they sent him to Parliament his constant
efforts would be directed to carry these principles into
effect. They necessarily wanted the passing of just and
equal laws, the enlightenment and moral improvement of
the people, the abolition of unjust monopolies, the culti-
vation of peace and good order, and the practice of the
most rigid economy in the public expenditure. (Cheers.)
From the result of his canvass he had a right to conclude
that these principles were those of a majority of th 3
electors of South Lancashire, for when was it known that
a candidate professing those principles had been allowed
to be elected without the most fierce opposition. (Cheers.)
How did it happen that an humble individual like himself,
without family connexion in the county, should be al-
lowed to become the representative of such a com-
munity without a contest ? (Hear, hear.) The answer
was, that they were tired of party politics, and were de-
termined to give a fair trial to the principles he professed.
(Cheers.) After thanking them for the reception he had
met with during his canvass, he said he had observed the
prevalence of three great points during his canvas. First,
the diffusion of education and the instruction of the
people; second, the doing away with all monopolies and
exclusive privileges, and the establishment of the princi-
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and interests of the community
°l represent.trTeionws enevleey had written to him to know whether he
intended to come forward ; for if he did, he (Mr. Towne-
ley) would not oppose him. (Cheers.) After apolo-
gising for his imperfect address, Mr. Henry concluded by
again thanking them, and retired amid loud cheers.
The Candidate was then catechized by an elector,
whose name we could not learn, and also by J. R. Richard-
son, a chartist, from Manchester, in answer.to whom he
stated that he was in favour of a more just imposition of
the revenue tax, of laying the probate and legacy duty on
real as well as personal property, for the extension of the
suffrage, vote by ballot, shortening the duration of Par-
liaillent; for secular education disconnected with religion,
and against Church rates and the Holy Alliance.
The High Sheriff having inquired whether there was
any other Candidate, and no one replying, declared
Alexander Henry, Esq., of Woodlands, duly elected.
Wm. Bnoww, Esq., M.P., then came forward to ex-
plain his sentiments on the Ballot. He said he had not
said anything against it, but that from his experience in
the United States he believed the measure would not be
productive of all the good which was expected from it.
(Hear, hear.) It was well known there to a man's neigh-
bours long before he gave his vote how he intended to
exercise the franchise.

Mr. HENRY then briefly thanked the electors for the
honour conferred upon him, and concluded by proposing
a vote of thanks to the High Sheriff.
Mr. BROWN, M.P., seconded the motion, which was
carried by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated,
having lasted about an hour and a half.
JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL. Among those who
voted for this bill on Friday were—Sir T. Birch, E.
Cardwell, J. Heywood, Lord G. Bentinck, R, Cobden,
B. D'lsraeli, W. Ewart, W. E. Gladstone, Lord R.
Grosvenor, W. Jackson, Sir J. Jervis, Earl of Lincoln,
Sir R. Peel, G. Sandars, and Sir J. Walmsley. We find
the following names in the list of the minority who
voted against the measure :—Lord Ashley, Lord Brack-
ley, Marquis of Douro, W. T. Egerton. H. Goulburn,
J. W. Patten, Col. Peel, Col. Sibthorp, K. Spooner, J.
Tollemache, and Sir R. Inglis.
SAVAGE ASSAULT.-At the police court yesterday, five
men, Michael M`Laughlan, Patrick Quin, Patrick Kelly,
William Kelly, and Michael Kelly, were charged with a
violent assault on the person of Bartholomew Monaghan,
who appeared with his head bound up, and in an evident
state of debility from the injuries he had received. The
complainant stated, in effect, that some four years ago,
while he was in Ireland, a cock fight took place, out of
which arose an affray in which one man lost his life.—
Complainant related the savage manner in which the de-
ceased met with his death on that occasion, and that he,
having witnessed it, was afterwards called up as a witness
against the aggressors, who were friends of the parties
then in the dock. Some of the party had sworn they
would some time or other have their revenge, and having,
for the first time since, seen him on Saturday night, in
Henry Edward-street, they had kept their word. He was
severely struck, and was, moreover, stabbed in two places
near the neck, with a knife, by two of the prisoners, who
were brothers. On the case being fully gone into. Patrick
Kelly, against whom there was no evidence, was dis-
charged. The other four were committed .to take their
trial at the nest wires.