The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1847-06-29 00:00:00

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF
LIVERPOOL.

GENTLEMEN,
IHAVE have had the honour of receiving a commu-
nication inviting me to become a CANDIDATE at the ap-
proaching General Election, for on the vacancies created
by the resignation of your presen embers.
In accepting this invitation, el most sensibly that I aspire
at once to nearly the highest d most honourable distinction
in public life ; for such an e I hold to be the representation
in Parliament of a constit ney so important as that of Liver-
pool, as well by its num rs and intelligence, as by its industry
and its wealth.
Had this choice fa n upon some one eminent in the State,
and whose time and ttention had already been devoted, with
success, to the public service, I should have rejoiced, upon your
own account, at the selection; but as I have been thought wor-
thy to receive this very flattering proposal—one peculiarly gra-
tifying, as opening to me a prospect of representing my native
town, I accept the offer, in the hope that I may, by a zealous
and imirrendent dicrlinrrp of any duties in Parliament, and an
unremitting attention to your interests, justify, in some degree,
the compliment that has been paid to me.
My opinions, I trust, are well known to you to be those which
have long guided the supporters of a liberal spirit of legislation;
nevertheless, on some questions, which are at the present mo-
ment of peculiar interest, a more particular explanation will be
naturally expected from me.
Although, by the enlightened policy of the present Parlia-
ment, duties and restrictions have been removed from the
leading articles of consumption,. and the statute book now re-
cords the triumph of the principles of commercial freedom,
diligence and attention will still be necessary to secure to the
people the full benefit of these important changes, and constant
exertion will be required to obtain for them the advantage of
still further progress.
Should I have the honour of becoming your Representative,
I shall be proud of the opportunity, through you, of contending
for the practical extension of the principles thus already ad-
mitted, to every article of use, comfort, or convenience, and of
giving my best assistance to the completion of a tariff, the
operation of which would not only contribute to our prosperity
at home, but, by the enlargement of our transactions with fo-
reign countries, strengthen the feeling of mutual dependence,
and secure to us the inestimable blessings of peace.
Whilst actively engaged in urging forward these improve-
ments in our commercial code, as calculated to foster the
industry, add to the comforts, and advance the prosperity of
the Country, I should always take the deepest interest in those
measures which, by diffusing instruction, and raising the peo-
ple generally in the scale of civilization, would have an equally
direct and even a more powerful tendency to promote their
permanent welfare and happiness. Strongly impressed with
this feeling, I shall be happy to be found associated with you,
in assisting to establish the most efficient system of moral,
intellectual, and religious education.
I know and admire the cheerfulness with which you are
bearing the severe pressure upon your industry, occasioned by
the late fearful calamity in Ireland, and I join in the general
approval of the measures taken for the relief and for the im-
provement of the people of that country; but should the enact-
ments now passing through Parliament be found insufficient to
protect this country, and particularly you, against the recur-
rence of the unjust burdens under which you are at present
suffering, I should think no efforts too great to secure such
alterations and amendments as may do justice to your interests.
I should also cordially support all future measures calculated
to encourage in Ireland a love of good order, a spirit of indus-
try, and a feeling of self-reliance.
I have no personal objects to serve, nor any feeling of ambi-
tion to indulge, that would not be fully gratified by the distinc-
tion of being your Representative. My freedom from all other
engagements would enable me to devote my time and attention,
almost entirely, to your Parliamentary and Local Interests, and
for any exertion I might be called on to make, I should find
ample recompense in the belief that I had obtained your confi-
dence. _ _

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I have the honour to remain, Gentlemen, your very obedient
Servant, THOMAS B. BIRCH.
10th Jane, .1847.