The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-06-15 00:00:00

adopted the most judicious plan; they had felt the mortifi-
cation of the disappointment, and Liverpool, he trusted,

•
would never be troubled with them again. (Cheers.)
Mr. CHRISTOPHER I'OSC to second the resolu-
tion which had been proposed by Mr. Shand. He felt with
Mr. Hodgson that they had arrived at a most important cri-

sis, such a crisis as per'hars had never been remembered by
the oldest elector present. They bad upon that occasion to
determine whether the clap-trap proceedings of the govern-
ment lately thrown before the public in the shape of anti
corn-law and sugar duties agitation—were or were not to

carry the conservative electors'away from their path of duty,
and to prevent them from giving, as heretofore, their warm
and unyielding support to those glorious protestant institu-
tions of the land which were the solid foundations of their

happiness and prosperity. (Cheers.) The present ministers,
with more tact than honesty, had doubtless calculated that
an appeal to the passions, and not the judgment, of the peo-
ple, that by taking the nation by surprise, by witholding
time for reflection on the great social questions which have
been rashly and recklessly put forward with the sole view to
the maintenance of the present ministry in power and place,
that by these time-serving and unconstitutional means, the
electors would be ensnared into the sacrifice of those conser-
vative principles which have during- the reign of radical mis-
nile, been the only true support of the altar and the throne.
(Loud cheers.) But he trusted the conservative electors of

Liverpool were too well known for him to suspect for
a single instant that such plans as those would succeed.
(Hear, hear.) Was it to be supposed that although the
electors differed on subjects of commercial policy, they were
to forget their institutions ? 1n bringing Lord Palmerston
down from London, and in nominating with him Sir Joshua
Walmsley, it was intended to throw division and dissent
among the conservative party ; but he would ask the meet-
ing to show him that man, whether he were a merchant, a
labourer, or a mechanic, who would say that for the sake of
any personal interest he might possess in the carrying of the
corn-law or sugar questions, he would vote againt his prin-
ciples? (Hear, hear.) Where was the man who would dare
to stand up and show his face at the hustings, and delare
that although he was the avowed supporter of the protestant
church and the protestant throne, yet for the sake of his in-
terest in his business, or rather the supposed interest—he
would sacrifice the church and the constitution. He thought

that although taunts had been thrown in the faces of the con-
servatives about the number of conservative signatures which

had been obtained to thetteqZitiontothe radical candidates,
and although Sir Joshua Walinsley, in his address, calculated
that from the number of the signatures to the requisition
presented to him, his return was secured, they would find
_ .

themselves mistaken ; for he (Mr. Bushell) was satisfied that
certainly not two-thirds of those who had signed the requi-
sition were electors at all. (Hear, hear, hear, and continued
cheers.) As his time was short, he would proceed to offer
one or two remarks with respect to the gentlemen who had
been offered to the notice of the electors on the opposite side ;
and first, he would ask, who was Lord Palmerston? Who,
but a member of that administration which had:done all in
its power to sacrifice the interests of the country ? (Loud
cheers.) Was his lordship coming to Liverpool calculating

on support from the acts of that ministry? 'lf so, he would
discover that those acts would meet with their reward. (Re-

newed cheers.) He was satisfied that he would not meet
with any support from the conservative electors from any

..
acts which the ministry had performed in their attempts to
degrade the constitution. If he calculated that he should
meet with their support upon the ground that the ministry
bad advocated the principles of free trade, he would be also
mistaken. (Loud cheers.) What was free trade? For free

trade so far as it could be carried with safety to the country
he (Mr. Bushell) was the decided advocate; he knew that
we must have an alteration in the tariff ; and, from the enor-
mous increase of our population, as well as from other causes,
it was by no means improbable that some modification of
the corn laws might be necessary ; but these were gigantic
subjects, and not to be lightly. dealt with—not to be used as
firebrands to excite and inflame the passions of the people,,
nor to be used as the means of keeping any particular set or
party of men in power, but for a far more holy purpose,
namely, the increased comfort, happiness, and prosperity of
the vast population of this great empire. (Cheers.) Enter-
taining as he did the most supreme contempt not only for the

politics-al character but the business ability of our present mi-
nistry, he could not consent to trust the settlement of such
important questions_to such men, lacking, as they do, in

every sense, the confidence of the country.—This trust must
be reposed in abler hands. If free-trade principles were to

be carried to the extent demanded by the already too wealthy
manufacturer, from what source was our revenue to be derived?
If during the present period, when they were oppressed be-
yond measure with taxes, they had government labouring
under a deficiency of seven millions, what would be the case

were the principles of free trade adopted? (Hear, hear.)
Why, then it would be all deficiency. (Hear, hear and a
laugh.) After observing that it was the intention of the go-
vernment to deprive the public of the protection they already
possessed, Mr. Bushell proceeded to make a few remarks
with reference to the address of Sir Joshua Walmsley, with
the view of showing how jesuitical it was. That Sir Joshua
must have been taking some lessons from O'Connell, he was
quite prepared to believe. (Hear.) Sir Joshua had com-
menced by telling the public in jesuitical language that he
thought enfranchisement should keep pace with intelligence.

If he had asid he was an advocate fOruniversal suffrage, the
electors would be better able to understand him; but he
thought he should be able to catch a few votes by expressing
himself in less direct terms. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bushell
next adverted to another passage in Sir Joshua's address,
with respect to the securing of the independence of the voter,
argued that if the worthy knight had plainly stated that he
was an advocate for vote by ballot he would also be better
understood. (Hear, hear.) Ile (Mr. B.) wished to know
whether the conservative electors of Liverpool would support
a man who was an advocate for universal suffrage and vote

by ballot? (Loud cries of " No, no," and cheers.) In
reference to the corn-laws, the people had been induced to
believe, that if they could have cheap bread they would be
perfectly happy, and that it would bring about the mille-
nium ; but what, he asked, would be the effect if the object
of the present ministers were carried, and that the agricultu-
rist and the manufacturer were brought into collision ; Could
the manufacturer flourish if the agriculturist were depressed ?
(Hear, hear,) And if the agriculturist were depressed, how
could he find money to pay his labourers? And if the
labourer received only half his present wages Cr' pay for the
loaf, it was manifest that his position would not be improved.
(Hear. hear.) With those few observations, and addressing
himself as he was to those who, he was sure, would stand the
test, he had only to entreat of them not be carried away by
any of the clap-traps of the present base and profligate ad-
ministration, who, if they had been sincere in their profes-
sions on the question of free trade, had the opportunity long
since to have carried such professions into practical effect.
After the carrying of the reform bill, why was it that they
had not introduced those changes? (Hear, hear.) He
(Mr. B.) would tell them why. It was because they were
not sincere. (Great cheers.) When they had the power
they lacked the desire, but now that they bad ceased to have
the power they professed to have the desire. (Renewed
cheers.) Would the public believe them to be sincere under
such circumstances, seeing that they would not serve them
when they could, and that they professed themselves willing
to serve them when they could uot. (Hear, hear.) He
trusted that every voter would feel as if the coming contest
rested on himself, and that his vote, however humble, was
just as valuable as that of the highest merchant ; a vote was
but a vote, whether it came from a blue jacket or from
broad cloth, and would tell its tale upon the poll. Mr.
Bushell resumed his seat amid loud cheers.
The resolution was then carried, amidst enthusiastic ap-
plause.

Mr. CHARLES LAWRENCE moved the third resolution_
He said, that after the able speech of Mr. Hodgson, he
should be ashamed to enter into further observations. He
was satisfied that there was no individual who bad had any
business to entrust to either Lord Sandon or Mr. Cresswell,
who had not had the greatest attention paid to him. The
efforts of the hon. gentlemen had given satisfaction to the
community to an extent which, be believed, few other towns
could boast. (Cheers.)
Mr. Joni,' SHAW LEIGH said he had great diffidence in
addressing so large an assembly, but he felt some confidence
in perceiving that all present concurred with him. After the
well-deserved eulogies paid to the present representatives,
he should content himself with seconding the resolution.
The CHAIRMAN put the resolution, which was carried.
Mr. SAMUEL HOLUB was next called on by the chairman,
and rose amidst loud cheering. He said—lt was indeed
pleasant to reflect, that in the midst of our political differ-
ences there were, like the oasis in the desert, occasionally
bright and sunny spots, on which both parties might bask,
and there were sentiments in which all might concur. There
was one sentiment which had been often expressed to him,
and which he had seen in the whig press, and it was this :
" The crisis is arrived." In that he cordially concurred;
and he believed that it now lay with the electors of this great
empire to resolve the problem—whether is England to have
an established, a Protestant established church, with its
chaste and beautiful, and tolerant worship,. with a national
recognition of religion, such as becomes a christian land ; or
must we, amidst the specious theories of the day, have,
amongst other things, a free trade in religion - (Hear, hear.)
mighty Was the constitution of this empire to be preserved_
P
as a monarchy, or were the rinePe 1 sof democracy to predo-
minate in the land ? (Cheers )Was the tree. of British
liberty, which had struck its ronts deep in the favoured soil
of British affections, to be rudely torn up • and were Popish
and Protestant principles to predominate 'in the councils of
our beloved country? (Hear, hear, and cheering.) Was
the prophecy of Napoleon about to be fulfilled, that England
would never be ruined except by her own
parliament?
(Hear.)
He admitted the importance of the corn-law
poor-bill, of the timber and sugar duties
alterations
and no one wished more fervently than he did that these im-
portant questions were settled on a safe and sure basis. But
these were after all only questions of detail, the vital ques-
tions were monarchy or democracy ? An established church
or none ? Protestantisin or Popery? (Cheers.) These were
the vital questions—these were the life-blood of the British
constitution. The present ministry were a degraded, un-
principled ministry. (Flear.) They reminded him of so
many eels—(laughter) ;—cut off their heads, dock them of
their tails—(continued laughter), throw them into a frying-
pan, such as they have been in during the last week or two
in the House of Commons, and yet they exhibit tenacity
without motion, and existence without vitality. (Loud
laughter and cheers.) Whilst we possess such men as Wel-
lington and Peel—(cheers),—Stanley and Graham, Ashley
and Sandon, Follett and Cresswell—(loud cheering)—surely
we may take the reins of government from such imbeciles,
and give them to abler and to better men. (Hear.) He
said, therefore, to the electors : if you wish to see our mari-
time supremacy destroyed, and our colonies, which are the
lungs of England, ruined, then send to parliament Lord
Palmerston and Sir Joshua Walmsley. (Hisses.) The
acts of the latter being in some measure public acts, as
he had chosen to become a public character, he had no other
course than to take them as such, and which he did with
regret, for he had been personally acquainted with him from
his boyhood, and was sorry to see him the mere dupe and
tool of the popish faction. (Loud cheers.) As to Lord
Palmerston, he was at a loss to know how to designate him.
He could only liken him to an old wife's counterpane—
(convulsions of laughter)—for his political opinions were like
a piece of patchwork, of every colour and of every hue.
(Applause.) But if they, the electors, desired to preserve
the balance of the British constitution—to give each estate
its own just rights, and no more—(hear, hear)—to preserve
integrity, secure from the oppressive en-
each estate in its
croachments and preponderating power of the other two—if
they were anxious to preserve the glorious institutions of
England, hallowed by the growth and tested by the experi-
ence of centuries—then they -.-aust return Lord Sandon and.
Mr. Cresswell, who were friendly to those institutions, who
had served them diligently and faithfully, and in whose
vigilant hands they might with security commit such mighty
interests. (Great cheering.) Much had been said, both by
many persons and by one portion of the public press, about
a commercial town represented by a lord
the folly of having
and a lawyer. (Hear.) He hesitated not to meet the ques-
tion. (Cheers.)
He
.said there openly, that he had no
respect for individuals bearing titles, unless the individuals.
so honoured were of spotless reputation and of virtuous
character. (Cheers.) But in the case of the excellent noble-
man to whom he alluded, and to whom this town was so,
deeply indebted, whether he viewed him in his public or his
private character—in reference to his commerciul know-
ledge or his business habits—he did not hesitate to say, that
he shed a greater lustre on the title he bore, than the mere
title did on
him. (Great cheering.) But what were the acts
of the objectors? Did not they, some years ago, bring for-
ward the late Lord Sefton, and which they were quite right in.
doing, and
was not he a lord? Did they not propose to give
us Lord Nugent, and was not he a lord? And are they not
now proposing to cram Lord Palmerston down our throats,
and is not he a lord ? (Laughter and cheers.) In reference
to Lord Sandon, he declared that Liverpool never had a bet-
ter man of business; and when Sir R. Peel came into office
—as come he assuredly would—(hear)—there was not a fitter
man in the kingdom to fill the office of president of the board