The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-01-09 00:00:00

WIGAN ELECTION.

( Prom our own Correspondent.)
The election of two members for this borough took place on
Wednesday last; the returning officers are John Lord, Esq:,
mayor, and Messrs. Carter and Caldwell, bailiffs, who took their
seats at the Moot Hall precisely at ten o'clock. Shortly after
the three candidates, John Hodson Keareley, Esq., Richurd
Potter, Esq., the late member, and Charles Standish, Esq., of
Standish Hall, a Roman catholic, arrived. By the excellent
arrangements of the mayor, both for the accommodation of the
'candidates and the manner of proceeding with the election, a
great contrast was observed on the present occasion to what has
occurred at former elections. The firmness, manliness, and
good humour manifested by his worship contributed greatly to
the preset vation of the peace of the town, and carried dismay
into the ranks of the agitators. After the usual preliminaries
had been complied with,
Mr. Heron came forward to propose Charles Standish, Esq.
as a fit and proper person to represent the borough in the en-
suing parliament, and stated as the principal cause why he de-'
served the support of the people, that he would be a determined
opponent of Sir Robert Peel and his administration.
Mr. Hardman seconded the nomination.

Mr. John Orton, gen., then came forward to propose Mr.
Potter.

Mr. Reece Bevon seconded the nomination in a speech is
which he recommended Mr. Potter to them on account of his
services to the town in the last two sessions of parliament.
Henry Gaskell, Esq., then came forward to propose John
Hodson Kearsley, Esq. There had already been proposed two
candidates to their notice, and he had the more pleasure in pro-
posing Mr. Kearaley, because he was directly opposed in poli-
tical opinion to the others. (Cheers and hisses.) This gentle-
than was extensively engaged in trade amongst them ; he had a
large property amongst them, which, together with his being a
townsman, was a sufficient guarantee to his performing the du-
ties of a representative with faithfulness and fidelity. He was
a gentleman who had resided amongst them until his house was
demolished by one of the most foul, wicked, and diabolical
transactions that ever disgraced this or any other country—
(uproar and cheers)—a measure which had reflected eternal
infamy and disgrace on all the parties concerned iu it—a mea-
sure which had reflected such a stigma on the town as would
not easily be wiped off. (Cheers.) What had Mr. Kearsley
done to justify such a wanton attack on him and his property ?
Why nothing more than daring to eowe forward to offer him-
self for the borough at a time of difficulty and danger. This
was the sum and substance of his offending, but iu those reform-
ing days that was a high and heinous offence. lie did trust that
there would be found in England electors who would act con-
scientiously—who would return to the House of Commons men
who were of similar principles to those of his Majesty's present
ministers. Mr. Kearsley's politics were the same as those of
the present administration—they were the opinions which ought
to prevail, and which, he H'oped, would prevail throughout the
whole country. (Loud cheering, and cries of " Hear, hear.")
—There was much said about his Majesty exercising his pri-
vilege of turning out his late ministry and dissolving parlia-
ment; and the cry was, to turn out the present administration.
This was all very good from the Whigs, who for the last four
years had been constantly eulogising his Majesty. The fact
was, his Majesty had tried them (and during the last four years
we had had three or four editions of them) until he found they could
go on no longer, and then he did the duty of a straightforward,
honest monarch; instead of keeping in office men who would
destroy the institutions of the country he turned them out.
(Cheers.) Mr. Gaskell, after adverting to the conduct of the
wings whilst in power, concluded with putting in nomination
John Hodson Kearsley, Esq.
Mr. Alderman Eckersley seconded the nomination.

Mr. Standish then came forward to address the electors, which
he did in a speech of considerable length. He said he was, in
every sense of the word, a reformer; having obtained the bill,
the whole bill, it was necessary for the; safety of the British
constitution, for the preservation of the monarchy, that we
should acquire, as speedily as may be, all those reforms conse-
quent upon that great measure. (Cheers.). He was for a deep
„Awl searching refill-31.1_0f the church, and were he a member of
a he should pursue reform in it with a more unsparing hand.
He was fur the vote by ballot, for a repeal of time septennial act,
for cheap bread, by a searching reform qf those abuses in the
corn laws, which, without being a benefit to the grower, acted as
a clog on thecunsumer. (Cheers.) "'file crying abuses of the
present corporate system, should ever meet with his most cordial
opposition, and were he honoured witlt their confidence there
would not be a vote he should give with greater pleasure than
for a radical reform of those sinks of tory corruption." Ile then
re:erred to the address of Sir hobert Peel, in which he said he
obi-erved a disposition to cling as much as possible to abuser,
and to reform as few as poJiie. They had, however; passed the
emancipation bill, but theylyere forced to that, and ever since
that time they had been determined opponents of reform. Such
men could not have his confidence. (No, no, and cheers.) If
they would place him in the situation of their representative
they would ever find him a most determined supporter of the
rights of the people. (Cheers.)
Mr. Potter then came forward to address the electors. He
referred them to his first services in the two last sessions, as a
pledge for his future conduct—a printed statement of which he
had put in the-possessiou of every elector at the commencement
of his canvass. In the former session measures effecting the
ematicipatiou of the negrues, the Bank charter, " the opening
of the trade to the East India Company," and a considerable
amount of the taxes had been repealed. He need hardly say
to them that to all those questions he gave Nis most strenuous
support. (Cheers.) Ile then referred to his conduct on several
local acts, which he stated he and his colleague (Mr. Thickness)
had been the means either of successfully opposing, or intro-
ducing clauses to protect the town ; and, in conclusion, referred
them the to manner in which he had performed his duty, stating
that, if elected, he should still pursue the same line of conduct.
(Cheers.)
Mr. Kearsley then addressed the electors. He said, aim had
consulted his own feelings, under the heavy affliction with
which it had pleased Almighty God to visit his family, he should
not have appeared there • but he felt it a duty he owed to his
friends to appear before aim on the present occasion, as the
advoca e of the rights of his fellow-townsmen, whe bad come
forward so handsomely and realily to tender him their support.
Others, disappointed in their expectations from the promises
which hail been made to them, and not a few disgusted with the
tyranny which on a former as well as on the present occasion
had been put in exercise, by means of exclusive dealing and
other equally unconstitutional proceedings to secure the suc-
cess of the object of their choice, hail attached themselves to
his cause, all agreeing that it semis a sacred duty which ought
not to be tampered with. His Majesty bad_ appealed to his
people, and he trusted the appeal would oe answered by return-
rug men who would support his Majesty in the exercise of his
just prerogative. To this class he belonged, and on those
grounds it was that he ventured to solicit their support. (Cheers.)
Mr. Thickness thou addreesesl the electors, ettddsing the

address of Sir Robert Peel; bit he wet with a most excellent
and warm reply from Mr. Gam'keil.
The show of hauls was then taken, and the mayor declared
it in favour of Mr. K.ea.rsley and Mr. Putter. Mr. Baiik, Mr.
Standish's attorney, then demanded a poll, which commenced
shortly after, and was continued until seven o'clock at night,
when the numbers were—
K.earsley 2BG
Putter 174
Standish 147
There remained only 44 electors to vote, so that Mr. K.'s
return is quite beyond duabt.