The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-12-06 00:00:00

The Chairman_then gave a The health of John Hard

Esq., our worthy Representative." The toast was drank with
nine times nine, and one cheer more, attended by loud and
hearty plaudits.
Mr. Hardy rose amidst the most enthusiastic cheering. When
it had subsided, he said—Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, if upon
former occasions I have been overcome by.those emotions which
the welcome reception that von have given to me on those
occasions were but too much 'calculated to excite; if I was so
welcomed at two tables of guests consisting of the constituency
of this town and their friends in the year 1831; if in 1835 that
number of lables were increased to three, and I received the
same welcome; what must be my feelings when I see as-many
gentlemen as can be crammed into this spacious room, welcom-
ing me in the same manner ? (Loud cheers.) As the load of
obligation increases, of course with the number of those favours
which you confer, and the impossibility of making a .due ac-
knowledgement increases with that difficulty, I am happy to
see now convincing proofs that my parliamentary conduct dur-
ing the four sessions that I have sat in parliament has met with
the approbation of those who sent ins there: (Cheers.) Gentle-
men, it was not in pursuit of your approbation that I went there;
it was to discharge nay duty conscientiously to my country; not
with a view of running alter that approbation, but in hopes that
it might follow me. (Hear and cheers.) It has done so, iam
happy to say, and the cheers which you have now given me
will be like music to spur me on in that career. (Cheers.)
(The hon. gentleman then entered upon an elaborate review of
the proceedings of the House of Commons in reference to the
Carlow Election affair, which, we regret our limits will not per-
mit us to insert. We give the conclusion of his speech.) lam
satisfied that the approaching conflict, from every thing that
pertains, will be a conflict of religious principle; and it will be
the duty of all to support our religion. If you wish to have good
masters or good servants, good husbands, or good wives, good
parents, or good children, send them to their Bible, and let
them learn their duty there. (Loud Cheers.) Don't tell us
that religion has nothing to do with politics. He was sorry to
see the present 'attempt to overthrow the Established Church;
but it would fail. The prime movers wanted to introduce or-
ganic change into the Constitution. They wished to have an
elective instead of an hereditary House of Peers. And why
shonld we expect anarchists and revolutionists to let the matter
drop. He had had his attention called to a neighbouring paper
in which was a defence of the house of Lords, and the writer
invited the prime movers of the movement to lay aside their
intention at present. But why at present? If they were not to
go on with it, why go on at all. It was disgraceful that they
should. The editor argued the matter in a syllogistic form. He
said " The Reformers do not, and obviously cannot agree on the
question of Peei age reform; a division among Reformers would
Inevitably bring the Tories into power." If that be true, the syllo.
gism may be stated thus "To press peerage reform is to press re.
volution;" (Loud sheets) I hope, therefore, in conclusion, that
those who are friendly to the constitution of their country, that
those who know that no person in this coutry can be molested
whilst slitting tinder his own vine and his own fig-tree, will re-
member the admission of the hon. editor himself, in his article of
the 17th Sept. He says that the question of Peerage reformlsa
question urged by no necessity, as all the riohts of the people and
all their reformed institutions are safe. Why are we to have a
gentleman coming from Ireland to meddle with the constitution
of England, Let us not submit to it.' Young men of England, I
hope you have the feelings of those Ofsour ancestors who trans.
milted our constitution from by-gone times, and that that asser-
tion which was made upon the field of Runnymede by the bold
barons of ,lii`egland finds an echo and response in your hearts and
that you will all swear that the constitution of England shall not
be changed. (Lieid and enthiniastic cheering, the company
simultaneously rising from their seats.) Mr. Hardy proceeded,
—Gentlemen, I beg leave to apOlogise—(cries of " No, no")
and shall now conclude with proposing those who have enabled
me to represent you in a humble and yet a satisfactory manner
in the Commons' House of Parliament. (Cheers.) I mean the
611 independent electors who placed me at the head of the poll,
413 of them plueopers; and I know there were nearly a hundred
more unable to come to the poll, in consequence of Mr. Hadfield
retiring three hours before the time that he said he would keep
the poll open. These nobly supported me, and I hope that tu
supporting me they supported your cause. They are still behind
me, and I hope they will ever be ready to push me to duty,
(All the company rose and cheered for some time.) " The 611
independent electors who placed Mr. Haedy at the head of the
poll, and those staunch friends who were prevented front doing
so by the early close of the poll"—four times four.
Song—" Hardy and Independence," by Mr. Parrett.
Several other gentlemen subse-quently addressed Mein—feline
in speeches characterised by the most fervid eloquence. The
company separated, after keeping up the harmony and con-
viviality of the evening to a late hour.