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

sour"' LANCASHIRE ELECTION,

This election took place yesterday at Newton. There
being only one candidate, and that the nominee of the
League, the affair did not excite the least interest ; and
had it not been that the body granted free tickets to
Newton and back, to numbers of their minions from this
town and Manchester, there is great doubt whether the
sheriff's mandate, summoning his special county court,
would have drawn together a dozen freeholders. As it
was, about eighty persons travelled from this town, and
somewhere about the same number from Manchester. The
members of the Radical press were also supplied with free
tickets, of which the Manchester Guardian, distrusting,
we suppose, the talents of any single reporter to do full
justice to the proceedings, availed itself of no less than
three. We imagine one of our reporters quite capable of
affording as comprehensive a report of the affair as the reader
will thank us for, premising, however, that the cost is at
the expense of the proprietors alone.
Shortly after ten o'clock the High-sheriff, Win. Gale,
Esq., of Laburnham House, Ulverston, with the Under-
sheriffs, Mr. F. Yarker, solicitor, of Ulverston, and Mr.
Wilson, solicitor, of Preston. arrived in the room ; and
also the candidate and his friends, amongst whom we
noticed Wm. Earle, Esq., W. Rathbone, Esq., Wm.
Brown, ..Esq., of Liverpool ; R. Cobden, Esq., M.P.,
S. P. Robinson, Esq., George Wilson, Esq., W. Rayner
Woods, Egg., Thos. Bazley, Esq., chairman of the cham-
ber of commerce ; Alderman Hervey, of Manchester ;
E. Ashworth, Esq., Bolton ; T. B. Addison, Esq., Pres-
ton, &c., &c.

The usual preliminaries having been gone through,
The HIGH SHERIFF rose, and said he certainly little
thought that, in his short year of office, he should have
had to preside at another election for the county. They
were aware that a few months ago they elected two mem-
bers to represent that division of the county in parliament.
One of these having been elected for another place. had
chosen Wolverhampton instead of the Southern Division,
consequently the power was again placed in their hands,
and he (the High Sheriff) trusted they would be more
fortunate on the present occasion, by the election of a
man who would not Only be willing to represent their in-
terests, but would also take his seat when elected. He
claimed for them all perfect liberty of speech, and for
each candidate a fair and impartial hearing.
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., then came forward, and was greeted
with loud cheers. When it had subsided, he said they
had met that day for the purpose of returning to Parlia-
ment a representative of the Southern Division of Lan-
caster, in place of the Hon. Charles Pelham Villiers, who
had been well described in her Majesty's w'it just read as
" nor well-hplovpd and faitlifill enhinot " ~,.4

been able, for reasons which had been explained to them,
to take his seat. Deeply as he (Mr. Cobden) regretted
the position in which his hon. friend, Mr. Villiers, was
placed, upon public grounds, he for one did not regret
that the Southern Division of Lancashire did itgoklf the
honour and him (Mr. Villiers) the justice to return the
hon. gentleman, because it had enabled them to perform
their duty in the face of the country and the world, and
to manifest their sense of gratitude towards a faithful
servant in a good cause. (Cheers.) They were that day
met to find a proper substitute for their friend Mr. Villiers,
and he frankly confessed that it was not an easy task. He,
however, begged leave to introduce to them the name
of a gentleman well known in Manchester, and he (Mr.
Cobden) believed also in Liverpool, as one of the most
extensive merchants in Manchester, who had contributed
more than any other to forward the great principles they
pis utmost to give employment
le trade of that neighbour-
vat wealth for the advantage

prolessec
to those

s surrounded. (Hear, hear, and
loud cheers.) He was a gentleman amiable in all the re-
e, but that, he (Mr. Cobden) should not con-
Tit if he did not possess other qualifications.
(Hear, hear.) The gentleman was well known to all.
Who had taken a more prominent part than he had, but
who still had felt the strongest sympathy for the political,
social, and moral progress of his fellow-countrymen. He
had always been ready to give the most substantial proofs of
his zeal in the onward movement, and if he had not come
forward more publicly he (Mr. Cobden) looked upon it as
the greatest proof of his sincerity, for he left to others the
eclat of all the public proceedings. (Hear, hear, and
cheers.) He begged leave to propose Mr. Alexander
Henry as a fit and proper person to represent the Southern
Division of Lancashire in the Commons House of Parlia-
ment. (Three times three.) It would be in the recol-
lection of many present that on a former occasion there
was a meeting held in Manchester—not so numerous,
however, as that he was then addressing—at which the
name of Mr. Henry was proposed and adopted as a candi-
date for that division of the county. That committee
comprised the names of all those who were members of
Mr. Villiers's former committee. Circulars were sent to
each of them to enable them to assist in the choice of a
candidate, and he mentioned that in order that it might
not be supposed that Manchester arrogated to itself the
right of selecting a candidate. They, however, did
think that committee was the very body to nominate a
candidate in the place of Mr. Villiers, and he thought it
not an invidious selection in any way, for as a colleague to
Mr. Brown, who comprised not only the highest qualities
with amiability in private life, and the largest experience
in mercantile affairs, who so fit as a gentleman equally
qualified in all those particulars ? He, (Mr. Cobden)
therefore, did say that there was nothing invidous in
Manchester and Liverpool sending their two first mer-
chants to represent South Lancashire. (Loud cheers.)
But since he (Mr. Cobden) had the honour of proposing
Mr. Henry at the meeting to which he alluded, that
gentleman had paid some visits throughout the dis-
trict. Ile had seen the friends of free trade and
liberal opinions, and they had been afforded the
opportunity of making themselves acquainted with
his principles. (Hear, hear.) But what were the
principles he maint ined ? He was the friend of civil
and religious liberty, and favourable to vote by ballot.
(Hear, hear, and loud cheers.) He (Mr. Cobden) was
glad to hear that cheer in favour of the ballot. (Loud
cheers.) He never beard any rational objection to the
ballot. (Continued cheers.) To be sure, he had heard
some people say it was un-English ; but those who called
it un-English, were generally such as came down to the
house from the Carlton or Conservative clubs, from the
East India House or the Bank of England, where they
invariably elected their members by ballot. (Loud
cheers.) But he believed there were those who said the
ballot was a very revolutionary measure. Well, then,
the Carlton and Conservative clubs must be very revolu-
cionary, for they always elected their members by ballot.
(Cheers.)
A VOICE.—How do you like that Mr. Brown ? (Cheers
and laughter.)
Mr. COBDEN.—Whv, it was not only in America that
they voted by ballot, but almost all over the continent,
as he (Mr. Cobden) had seen during his recent tour.
(Cheers.) When he was travelling in Spain, he saw the
elections going on, and the mode of voting was by ballot.
When in Russia, he found in every parish there were
municipal bodies elected, and the system there was house-
hold suffrage and vote by ballot throughout the whole
empire of Russia. (Loud and continued cheers.)
Something had been said by an honourable elector about
Mr. Brown's opinion on the ballot. Now, if he under-
stood the sentiments of his hon. friend aright, they were
these. It was not that he cared how people voted, they
might vote as they liked so far as he was concerned, be-
cause he was the free choice of the whole body of electors,
but he had his doubts as to the consequences of the bal-
lot. Mr. Brown had his doubts whether it would be pro-
ductive of all the advantages its advocates anticipated.
He, (Mr. Cobden) however, said the ballot would remove
a great deal of pain and suffering from a large body of
electors who at present were subject to improper influ-
ence. (Applause.) It would enable them to vote as they
pleased. It would probably enable a great number to
support liberal opinions who at present were compelled
inclinations.
to exercise their franchise contrary to their
All he (Mr. Cobden) contended for wasthat
vote as they wished without being subject to impro-
per influence. (Loud cheers.) But Mr. . Henry was also people should
j
a Church and State Reformer, (loud cheers) and he (Mr.
Cobden) believed the best way to support the Church, or
any other establishment, was by reforming its abuses, and
it was those Mr. Henry would reform. (Applause.) He
believed too that was what the friends of the Church
themselves would do, as a great many members of it were
now doing in Manchester, who had evinced their anxiety
to reform the pecuniary affairs of the church in that
town. (Cheers.) Well, but Mr. Henry had also de-
clared that he was a warm advocate for free trade, and
he would be able to deal with the subject in all--its vari—
ous ramifications because he had that experience
not only with this community, but with the world at
large, which would enable him to carry out its principles
to the fullest extent. (Cheers.) He was also a friend to
the abolition of the navigation laws. That was a subject
upon which Mr. Henry, as well as Mr. Brown, were
quite as competent to judge as any who could be found.
During the present session, too, they would have the
sugar question under their consideration, and, notwith-
standing the outcry of the colonists for protection, it was
a subject which must undergo revision. The cry of the
colonists was for protection to get them out of the diffi-
culties by which they were surrounded ; but he (Mr.
Cobden) asked what it was which had brought the colo-
nies into those difficulties ? Was it not protection ?
They had been the children of protection for the last
thirty or forty years, and what was the result ? Look to
the condition of their large houses—look at the condition
of the planters ; and they would find the utter worthless-
ness of that rotten prop, protection. (Loud cheers.) But
there was another view of the system of protection which'
he (Mr. Cobden) was anxious to press upon their consi-
deration. He wanted free trade not merely in corn, and
sugar, and shipping, but what he wanted was to see the
spirit of free trade enter into the hearts of the people of
this country, and what it necessarily implied when pro-
perly understood. (Hear, hear, hear.) What was free
trade ? They proposed the abolition, or at any rate a
great modification of the navigation laws—to admit the
ships of all the countries of the world to enter our ports—
they proposed not merely to admit corn, cotton, and
sugar, but to throw open our ports to all the commodi-
ties produced on the face of the earth, without regard to
any differential duties or protection to native industry—
(applause) what did that imply but a growing sympathy
between the people of this country and the people of all
other countries in the world. Would not that conduct
spread abroad the spirit of amity and peace throughout
the world. (Loud cheers.) If that be the mere tendency
of their principles, and he (Mr. Cobden) should never
have given even a year's exertion in their behalf if it were
not so,—what was the use of increasing the army and
strengthening the defences on our coasts. (Hear, hear.)
He found on this subject what he had stated the other
day at Stockport had been misunderstood. He ven.
tared to state something with reference to the increase
of the army and the increase of our fortifications, and he
found it had been thought that he proposed to same no
less than £17,000,000 a-year by the reduction of our
army and navy. He (Mr. Cobden) had not pro Posed
anything so good for the country ; what be reallY dui say
was this, if they were right in theip free trade principles.

ations o

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, bear.) 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. C4bden) contended
that they were anything but utopian, for they were the
very same as he 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

depend upon it the rest of the world would be glad to fol-
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
arms

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,
Prussia, 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. RATHBONE, 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 up
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 and 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 tho
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-
mpnlieitnysaottflofrnreetoeufrttnrhatdaotepc;:armniimdanet,hreeniirtataiawp.pieoaanbriietfdrasecttaoplbrientelthn:edeprdzel:treccile-i.
f themseives—men who, by their
o ybe supposed to have some knowledge of the wants
may
interests of the community he was called upon to
represent. (Cheers.) He was authorised to state that
Mr. Towneley 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-
liament,. 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. BROWN, 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 ht; 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.
JEwtsu 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, R. 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 Ale ne4t wipe,

FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL SUMMARY.
The confident assurances which have been hazarded
during the past month that the commercial difficulties of
the country were surmounted, have as yet received but
slight confirmation from actual fact and experience. It is
true that money is to be procured at easier rates ; the
hoarding which was remarked during the existence of the
panic has in a great measure ceased ; the large mercantile
firms have gone through their course of purgation,
those of them who have stood having had to submit,
in order to extricate themselves, to sacrifices of capi-
tal to an enormous amount. But it is apparent that
further sacrifices must be submitted to enable im-
porters and holders of every description of produce
to realize, in the face of a limited consumption, and
a disinclination on the part of the trading classes to
add to their stocks. The colonial markets during the
week have been very dull; and in every case, where sales
have been pressed, and a great anxiety to realise has been
manifested, low prices have had to be taken. The public
sales of the Mauritius and Bengal sugar this week in
London have been very heavy ; and transactions have
been noted in Penang at extremely depressed rates ; ordi-
nary quality, or low damp, having been sold at the al-
most runious price of Bs. per cwt. in bond. Large quan-
tities of coffee have been brought forward, of which only
about two thirds have been sold at a decline of Is. per lb.
With respect to cotton, we are assured that for some
weeks' past the sales made at this port have been, on the
average, at a loss of £50,000 per week to the holders.
The disposition to press sales above noticed, and the
feeling of anxiety existing amongst a portion of our mer-
cantile classes, may in part, perhaps, be accounted for by
the fears prevailing as to the next advices from India, in
reply to the mails which carried out accounts of the com-
mercial disasters at home. We may expect, in a few days,
to have this important question in part solved, as the mail
will be due on the 22d (to-morrow), and, on its result will
probably depend the occurrence of more suspensions in,
this branch of commerce, or a considerable revival of
confidence. The following information, as to the extent
to which the state of affairs at home would be known at
the departure of the coming mail, in India, derived from
a correspondent of the Morning Chronicle, may interest
our readers :
" The wails from hence, of 24th September and 7th
October, had reached Bombay prior to the despatch of
the Moozuffer with the extra mail of 12th November;
but the mail of 24th September, from hence for Calcutta,
left Aden on 17tli O. tuber, and arrive at Calcutta