The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-07-06 00:00:00

SIR DIGBY MACKWORTH ON 'CHANGE.

On Tuesday last, according to appointment, Sir Digby
Mackworth made his first public appearance on 'Change.
JOHN SHAW LEIGH, Esq., briefly introduced the gal-
lant candidate to the notice of the electors, expressing him-
self in the highest terms as to his character and abilities.
Sir DIGBY MACKWORTH, on presenting himself at the
window, was hailed with loud and enthusiastic cheering
and waving of hats. When silence had been restored, he
proceeded as follows :—Gentlemen, electors, the send-
ments`which I have ventured to put forth in the address
to you, which is now posted up on your walls, are those
that I desire to maintain through life. It is quite ne-
cessary, as a total stranger to Liverpool, except to a very
few of your brother electors, that I should explain what
my views are on other points as well as on those alluded
to in my address. It is quite clear that there are two
points more prominent than all others, so far as I have
heard, in the minds of the electors of this great town.
The one is, the protection of our Protestant religion.
(Vehement applause.) I am thankful, gentlemen, for
that cheer, for it shows that there is a strong feeling for
the defence of our Protestantism, as the great Palladium
of England, not only in its opposition to those who would
introduce a religion leading to slavery, but as advancing
the principles of this country in the great negotiations
and all the great affairs connected with this government.
(Cheers.) I trust when Protestant principles are tho-
roughly re-established, we shall have no more expediency,
(hear, hear,)—but that we shall act up firmly to those
principles. (Renewed cheers.) Gentlemen, on the sub-
ject of Protestantism, I can hardly speak without most
unwittingly and undesiringly giving offence to some of
those who, though themselves Roman Catholics, I wish
always to regard and treat as brethren. I come not here
to condemn Roman Catholics, but to condemn the re-
ligion which enslaves them. (Hear, and applause.) I
wish them to share in those glorious liberties which we as
Protestants enjoy, and which were never enjoyed in a
purely Roman Catholic country. (Hear, and renewed
applause.) Protestantism is in itself the very genius of
liberty. Every free institution really owes its origin to
it ; and I do earnestly desire, that, by laboring in the
Protestant cause, we may soon be capable of admitting
our Roman Catholic brethren to the same freedom which
we all enjoy—freedom which we all admire, whether in
the throne, the priesthood, or the people. (Hear, hear.)
We desire that we may be preserved from any kind of
tyranny ; and there is no tyranny which has shown
itself so intense as that which the Roman Catho-
lic principles have impressed on the nations that have
wholly adopted them. (Loud applause.) I would, there-
fore, here declare, in the most solemn manner, the earnest
desire I have to see that this country should never con-
tribute towards the support of the Romish priesthood, or
the education of the Romish people in those tenets which
we know will prove injurious to them. (Great applause.)
Admit them readily and heartily to the benefits of scrip-
tural education. The people of Ireland avail themselves
of such an education ; and if we were firm in maintaining
that great principle, we should find the Roman Catholics
o
eltf rordoeumol:
aunratdsil
eol
blnqvyuei
nfsa
o.r
tst
het
er(orslsi
(Hear.)
ghap
rrr o.
I)necgi
tyranny
iwge.
as tnnwongi
tcuoohfr
tthshhaceevh
epombor
iileessesc
a,
itlai
lisnl
Priesthood.
beneficial
neveralit
will of tdhoe. age,(A therep lau (Applause.)
beenTliat anga
maettie,amspbteet on governplayed
for a long series of years ; and I would ask ycli, whether
any beneficial results have accrued from it, el the
poor Irish themselves, or to the govermenterot;? this
country. (None.) Every concession has been met by
a
corresponding increased demand, and so it will be to the
end. If we wish to govern Ireland openly, firmly, and
peacefully, we must govern the priests who govern the
people. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, I shall now touch
upon another point, and that is one which must necessa-
rily be of high value to a city like Liverpool—the first
commercial city in the universe—l mean the maintenance
of those navigation laws which have been the great means
not only of fostering commerce in Liverpool, but of main-
taining the superiority of our navy over that of all other
nations, and which has raised England to the proud • posi-
tion she now occupies. (Hear and cheers.) Though my-
self a soldier, I have learned, in the situation in winch
England is placed, geographically and constitutionally, to
regard the navy as her proudest bulwark against all her
foes ; and if the navigation laws were removed or seriously
altered, it would soon tend to encourrge foreign compe-
tition, and the superiority of England would be diminished
in a great degree. I, therefore, look to see the navigation
laWs of England maintained, in order that the prosperity
of the country may be increased in the ratio in which it is
now increasing. (Great applause,) With regard to free
trade—a point which also must necessarily be of great im-
portance in Liverpool—we, gentlemen, in this country,
having a large national debt, are taxed beyond the people
of other countries. Now, in order that we may start fair
with other countries, there must be some check put upon
the absolute freedom of trade, just sufficient to make us,
at first starting, equal to other countries, and, therefore,
rendering us capable of contending with them advantage-
ously ; for if once put upon an equality with them, there
is that in the high and noble qualities of Englishmen
which will lead them to surpass other countries, and to
produce better manufactures, and Consequently to spread
England's name all over the world. (Applause.) There
is another point on which I desire to say a few words,
which must also necessarily be interesting to you ; and, as
a stranger, and asking the honour of representing you in
the ensuing parliament, I desire you should know all the
main points of my views, such as they are, and if I omit
any matter which, in your eyes, may seem important, it
will give me sincere pleasure to answer any question you
may be pleased to put to me. (Hear, hear, and applause.)
On subjects concerning principle, I shall answer at once :
but if you ask me any questions concerning matters of a
local nature, I must crave time to enable me to make in-
quiries, in. order that I may give you an honest, straight-
forward answer on another occasion. (Hear, hear.) Now,
with regard to the tea trade, I am of opinion that a very
large reduction ought to be made in the duties 011 tea,