The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-01-16 00:00:00

exercised the suffrage, hut rather from their heine imper-
fectly instructed in the nature of their duties, and but im-
perfectly informed as to the nature of the privileges they
enjoyed% Happily for the country that blot did not re-
main on its history long—happily for them, reflection and
experience had led them to correct the error into which
they had fallen, and to return to those principles, and
practices, and morals, from which they had temporarily
fallen. (Applause.) It was no doubt an apparent fact,
that their political opponents did not form their principles
on the truths of revelation, and in consequence of that
omission, they were incapable of coming to anything like
a sound conclusion en the subjects submitted to their con-
sideration. (Hear, hear.) There had, however, been a
return, from some cause or other, and he could not
but hope that it had been brought about by Providence,
who, in his wise arrangements of human affairs, generally
provided a corrective to the evil which abounded. (Hear,
hear.) He, therefore, trusted that many had come to the
conclusion of forming their opinions upon that only true
and infallible commentary upon human life, namely, that
which the Scriptures supplied—(cheers.)—for he felt con-
vinced that any who derived their knowledge from any
other source were equally unfit to govern or to obey.
(Applause.) He did not merely rejoice because power was
transferred from one party to another, but because
a different principle was acted on. Of what use was it to
them that the transfer of power merely had taken place.
if they did not take care that their principles were carried
out. Now that these wards enjoyed peace, let them em-
ploy it for the general good. He was unwilling to trespass
upon their time on this festive occasion,—(go on)—but
he thought he would not stand well with them if he did
not justify to them and to their political opponents the
reasons that actuated him and others who acted with him
in their votes in the council. Since he had the honour to
belong to that body he had been called upon to give his
vote on several important occasions. He had given his
vote for the election of Mr. Sands to the mayoralty. The
subject was one which had been much discussed out of
doors; and he would state for himself that if he had
thought there was anything improper or dishonourable in
that gentleman's conduct, he, for one would not have
given a vote in his favour. (Cheers.) He was as jealous
as any one of the uprightness and integrity of public
officers,—and especially of mayors; and if he hal thought
that that vote went to prejudge Mr. Sands case, or to ar-
rest enquiry into it, he would not have given that vote.—
Had he thought as Mr.Blackburne did, he certainly should
not have voted for the election of Mr. Sands ; but when
he found that gentleman asserting his own innocence of
the charge and demanding inquiry, and more especially
when he was assured from other parties that the charge
could not be maintained, he felt that he could give his
vote for him With perfect sincerity, as he was convinced
every other member of the council did. (Cneers.) On
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condition of a juryman who awaited the hearing of the
evidence. There were difficulties in the way of forming
a second judgement on that question, and he considered
it the most proper course to wait until he could read the
statements of the case,—until, too, he had the advan-
tage of the discussion that would no doubt arise in the
public press, which might correct those who were in error,
or remind them of what they might have forgotten.
(Cheers.) Standing there as their representative he would
say that he had not withdrawn his confidence in Sir R.
Peel, though the ministry certainly appeared to him
to exhibit a want of firmness and courage on the
question of Scriptural Education so essential to
the well-being of the people. (Hear, hear, and cheers.)
The people had delegated them to instruct and to direct
them, and it became their first duty to promote moral
and religious instruction. Ile knew that ministers had
difficulties to contend with, but they did not appear to
him to entertain that cordial feeling for the church, on
which depended our national prosperity and stability. He
would not have said so much, but he considered it his duty
to state his opinions candidly on matters on which his con-
stituents had a right to know what views he entertained.
He concluded, after a feeling allusion to the benefits of
' Scriptural education, by thanking them for the honour
conveyed by the toast. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. SHEPPARD proposed the health of the vice-
president, to which that gentleman ably responded.
The CHAIRMAN then gave, in connection with " Ships,
colonies, and commerce," the health of Mr. Rankin,
who was deeply interested in the prosperity of the trade of
Liverpool as a large, perhaps the largest, shipowner in the
world. (Applause.)
Mr. RANKIN responded.
Mr. ALEXANDER Smrru proposed that the next toast
should be in a bumper. It was to the health of a gentle-
man who had been of essential service to the conservative
cause in those two wards, and in bringing about the
effect he had already described, They were all aware that
an able secretary was of essential importance to every
cause—(applause)—and it was their good fortune to have
enlisted in their cause a most energetic and able one, who
had taken the deepest interest in conservatism, who had
worked night and day to promote the cause he had at
heart, and who had now the satisfaction of seeing his
efforts crowned with success. (Loud applause.) There
was no doubt but the person who stood forward to bear
the brunt of the battle as their secretary and treasurer had
done, deserved their warmest applause, and this was due
to Mr. Inman. (Tremendous cheering.) The reception
of the name of Mr. Inman convinced him that not another
word need be said in his favour, for they all seemed fully
convinced of the importance of the services he had ren-
dered. (Cheers.) The friends of the cause had thought
it right to present him with a substantial testimonial of
the value of his services, which he would now request the
chairman to present to him.
A very handsome silver tea and coffee service was here
introduced, bearing the following inscription :
" Presented to Mr. Thomas Inman, by a number of
his political friends of North and South Toxteth Wards,
in acknowledgment of the valuable services rendered by
him during many contested elections, both parliamentary
and municipal, which have resulted in the return of two
Conservative members to Parliament, and of the six
Conservative representatives of these wards in the Town-
Council. _ _