The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-09-24 00:00:00

Sept. 24, 1844.

NORTH LANCASHIRE ELECTION.

Friday was the day fixed for the nomination of a candi-
date for the vacancy in the representation of the northern
division of this county, caused by the elevation of Lord
Stanley to the house of peers. The High Sheriff opened
his court about half-past ten, when the usual formalities
being gone through, he briefly addressed the electors on
the nature of the duty they had to perform. He had no
doubt the event which called them together on the present
occasion was as little expected by them as it was by him-
self, and, although, it had the effect of dissolving the con-
nection which had existed between them and the noble
lord,
who had so long and so ably represented them in
the House of Commons, yet, still there was ground for
congratulation that, happily, the county was not deprived
or his services, but that they were transferred to a higher
tribunal, where he would stillhavc the power of attending
to the interests of the county of which that division formed
80 important a part. He then asked if any freeholder had
a candidate to propose, on which
Mr. R. TOWNLEY PARKER came forward and was
received with loud cheers. He commenced by paying a
high tribute of praise to the talented and alai,' manlier in
Which that division of the county had been represented,
and its interests attended to by the Right Hon. Lord
Stanley. (Cheers.) In order to supply his place they
were called upon to elect another representative, and to
whom would they go? Would they choose him from
among that body of visionary theorists—from among those
visionary political speculators, two or three of whom
were probably there present? (" No," and hear.")
Would they select him from among those who dogmati-
cally advanced principles at variance with the well-being
of the county? or, would they allow him to be thrust
down their throats by the hired lecturers of the League ?
(Cheers, and cries of " No, no.") No they were a body
of free electors, and were determined to have an indepen-
dent member. They would have a representative who
would use his endeavours to reform all proved abuses,
whilst at the same time he would preserve the constitu-
tion inviolate, and maintain for the people the rights of
national liberty. Such, he was convinced, was the view
of those gentlemen who had signed the requisition to
Mr. J. Talbot Clifton—(loud cheers)—a requisition which
contained the names of eighty gentlemen as highly beloved
and esteemed as any in the land. The hon. speaker, after
noticing the report of Mr. Clifton having been brought
forward as the seat-warmer for the son of Lord Stanley,
which he strongly denied, pressed upon the electors
the claims of Mr. Clifton, whom he should not have had
the liberty of recommending to them, had he not been
convinced that he possessed talent and industry sufficient
to represent their interests in Parliament. He concluded
by nominating that gentleman. (Loud cheers.)
CHARLES SWAINSON, Esq., in seconding the nomina-
tion said, as the hon. candidate had been proposed by a
gentleman solely connected with agricultural interests, he
thought it not unbecoming in him, not being at all con-
nected that that interest, but with the trade and com-
merce of the county, to come forward and second the no-
mination. He was convinced that both agriculture and
Commerce must flourish or fall together, and it was be-
cause he thought that their interests would be best ad-
vanced by a conservative government, and because Mr.
Clifton had pledged himself to support such government
that he seconded his nomination. (Cheers.)
The HIGH SHERIFF.—Has any gentleman any other
candidate to propose ?
Mr. BROOKES said he wished to call Mr. Livesey, and
called out " Is Mr. Livesey in court ?"
Mr. LIVESEY.—Yes. (A voice from the crowd, " Aye,
and it's an impudent trick on thee ;"—(great laughter)--
at" Mr. Livesey's reception was anything but satisfac-
°,l either to himself or his party, which certainly were
somethingw like Falstaff's raged regiment, with which he
The"t march through Coventry.)
H
conti SHERIFF, on the opposition to Mr. Livesey
• nuiing,nt/
said, " Gentlemen, I insist upon you allow-
ing mr
• Livesey to address you." Without this intima-
n that gentleman's speaking would have been like

the flower that's born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
Mr. LIVESEY, on silence being obtained, proceeded,
and delivered a long, tedious,an absurd harrangue, in
favor of free trade doctrines. We make no excuse for
omitting Mr. Livesey's speech by the lump, because there
was not a proposition hazarded by him that has not been
„a.nswered a thousand times. He ended by proposing Sir
Potter, but the name was withdrawn, and the High
Sheriff declared Mr. Clifton duly elected.
Mr. Cl,lErem then came forward, amidst tremendous
cheering, and said—Mr. High-sheriff, gentlemen, and
brother freeholders, to say that this is the proudest mo-
ment of my lire might not be saying a great deal, but when
I assure you that it is the proudest moment that ever will
be in my life is saying something. (Cheers.) It is true
that I have come forward as a candidate to meet the wishes
of one of the most numerously signed requisitions that
was ever sent to any gentleman, in any county. It was
not only signed by country gentlemen, but by all classes.
It was signed by the holders of the land, and it was
signed by the holders of the commerce of the country.
(Loud cheers.) It was signed, gentlemen, by men of all
religions (continued cheering), and, gentlemen. in accord-
ance with that requisition, here I am to return you my
thanks for having made me a Knight of the Shire. lam
aware that I have not the eloquence of the noble lord,
your late representative ; but I hope I may be allowed to
say, that I have that integrity,: that firmness of pur-
pose, that willingness to do you good, which I trust will
cause you to give ine your attention. (Cheers.) I have
sated
to you my political opinions in my address, and it
is gratifying to me to know that they are in accordance
with your own, by permitting me to have the honour of
now standing before you in the proud position of your
representative. Gentlemen, I tell you that I shall sup-
port a Conservative government. Why, according to the
admission of the other side, the government has followed
out the principles of free trade as far as a government
ought to do. (Cheers.) I believe, gentlemen, that the
present government is a strong one, and that it is fit to
rule this great and mighty nation. It is a government
which has taken care of the revenues of the country.
(Cheers.) Trade I think was never so prosperous, and
for that reason, if that only, a conservative government
ought to be supported by those interested in the prospe-
rity of the commerce of England. (Loud cheers.) Gen-
tlemen, I came not here to make promises. If I am not
at liberty to act upon free principles, I am not fit to be
-one of the representatives of one of the finest counties in
England. (Loud cheers.) lam not a political bigot to
support any man or any measure of a certain party. I
come here to support a conservative government, eschew-
ing the evils of party, and supporting that government so
long only as it supports the true interests of the country.
Mond cheers.) Gentlemen, I will not have the imperti-
nence to detain you so long as some persons here have
done. (Cheers and laughter.) They (the Leaguers), at
all events, in considering your mighty interests, have
never given a thought to your precious time. (Laughter
and cheers.) Gentlemen, I will not admit what Mr.
Livesey says to be true respecting his visits to farm-houses
in the Fylde, and finding no meat in them. I have also
visited farm-houses in the Fylde, and I have found meat
in them, and I think my word is as good as Mr. Livesey's.
(Loud cheers.) Mr. Livesey began by praising my father,
and ended by abusing him as a landlord. Was there ever
Zeh consistency ! (Loud cheers.) Then Mr. Livesey
C.-eie s a quotation from the prayer-book, but the next
he does so let him quote correctly. (Cheers.) There
Ere /1,0 uch words as cheapness and plty," as quoted
Mr.s Livesey from theh prayer-book e
:n the words are
Peace and plenty." (Loud cheers.)
...
LIVESEY.—It is true that the words are " cheap-
ness and plenty:,
it CLlFTON.—Gentlemen, take my word for it, that
'8 not true—(great cheering ;)—and, gentlemen, take my
Icaord for i
trade—(cheer
again, we canr. have no farmer pros
is, if we
ve free e—(cheeng contin ued)—that if we admit
the produce of foreign countries into our own markets,
whilst they prohibit ours from entering their own. Such
roreigo imposts are now laid upon flax, that it is almost a
prohibited article. It is very easy for Mr. Livesey, and
thse who come forward with him, to make asserti,
but ito is very difficult to support them. Althoughons my
°,Pinion in particulars may differ from those of some
around me, our interests are the same. It is as much my
Interest to keep up the manufacturing prosperity of the
7cuntry as that of the agriculturists ; they must rise and
together. (Cheers.) lam not an advocate for taking
f waY protection from agriculture. I am for eating the
11", grown in our own country. (Hear, hear.) If we
va" free trade, supposing we went to war, with all our
eird, ceUty of tillage, where could we procure food ? It is
t
d " to say that such and such things should be so
the ; hut we must legislate for men as they are, not as
I tif ° ught to be (Cheers.) lam going to tell you what
'lnk will be a.happy fact—" The League is on the de-
a. ,
thate (Vehement cheering.) Where now is the boast
will they would contest every seat in parliament ? And I
f 2 also tell you why—they have no money. Your eyes
°ndave opened, and you will subscribe no more to their
are for you now know that cheap bread and low wages
one and the same. What is the use of cheap bread, if
ajbjaenecan get nothing to.buy it with There is one other
trod 1, religion ; and it is one of a delicate nature to in-
-cob uce• lam a supporter of the Established Church—
but I am also for religious freedom, and for
evocnry
.tnan to worship according to the dictates of his own
leayscience. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I will now take my
time
of you ; but I will tell you that as this is the first
lam • my appearing before you, believe me it is not my'
tativ If I live—(trernendous cheers)—and as the represen-
-3,0„ e of a
togreat and mighty county, I again beg to thank
Withand take my leave of you. (Cheering continued,
oiciwavios: of hats and handkerchiefs, that made the
mr Hall" ring again.)
upon ' Joniv. BROOKES then came forward, and standing
gads the table in the inner circle of the bar, strove to
r.leot_s_ the vast assemblage, and thus began—" Brother
'word `",--Before 1 commence—" No sooner were these
ing
*shuttered than he was greeted with the most deafen-
them ou_ts..from all parts of the hall, and he repeated
e A. t last he obtained a'hearing, by aid of
to B,._"eillt, and said—Before I commence I don't wish
made
here under false colours. An observation was
torii 0Y Mr. Townley Parker which gives me an oppor-
tfi.." ‘l3e refo na n.
exxpolawnlatbioeng.thlsabyave been called a specula-
that I am not pay
i°M £l7OO to XlBOO in wages every fortnight, which I
es
kr—Y,rent. lam called " a visionary speculator."
his.!.vOrds
ere i sPi awryoAn Rt
h he
oe rr ies t stating that
thaNirt• BROOKS then addressed Mr. Clifton, and asked
that gentleman what he meant by saying in his address
f_to be would not consent to have protection withdrawn
the land
airtr. CLIFTON replied that he meant that he would not
Nlvrt duty to be taken off foreign corn.
clifton
bitooxs connued to ands questions to Mr.
Passed touj gai9ed mothing. a vote of thanks being
he High Sheriff the court broke up.
On th
tl .
one Ist alt., a passenger jumped off the Banff and
when gin coach , as the horses were running away with it,
a a t of the wheels passed over him and killed him
riter.