The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-05-01 00:00:00

CONSERVATIVE DINNER AT DEVONPORT.

A dinner }vas given at the Town-hall, on Friday last, to the
Risght Hon. George Robert Dawson, the unsuccessful candi-
date for the representation of the borough at the last general
election, and the late secretary to.theAdmiralty Board, by the
electors of Devonport. The company assembled was very nu-
merous 'and highly respectable. Mr.. Parker, the gentleman
who is opposing Lord John John Russell's re-election for the
county, was present.
The health of Mr. Dawson having been drank with great en-
thusiasm, the right hon. gentleman returned thanks in a speech
of great length, from which we take the following extraet.:—
" At this moment when the whole country is convulsed owing
to the dissolution of a ministry against which no imputation
could with justice be made, beyond what party malice and dis-
appointed ambition could suggest, I trust you will allow me, as
an humble individual, but at the same time as one who, though
humble,'selected by you for the proud distinction of being your
represenlative, to call your attention to the perilous and awful
crisis in which; we are placed. (Cheers.) We are now stand-
ing on the brink of a precipice. and events are accumulated,
and things are coming to pass, long since predicted by those who
have slr.wn themselves the enemies of uncalled-fur innovation,
which unless averted by your good sense and patriotism, must
ere long sink us in the lowest abySs of misery and despair. Let
any man who has been a calmobserverof politissalevents during
the/last five years, ask himself what have been the ehicf
characteristics of the times. His answer must be, a slow and
„!,oql out at the same time a sure and 'over-
whelming increase of democratic, iottaare.- (Heal, irear:s 111
-
olden times it was the boast of 4nglishineu that our constitution
was so nicely
.balanced that the excellence of every one of its
component parts was called forth to correct the defects of the
whole, and, rice versa, that the influence of the combination
prevented the occurrence of defects in its hi anches. 'I he dear-
bought experience of ages has limited the authority of kings,
lords, and commons, within certain bounds; and so perfectly
were those bounds prescribed that we find abuudance of inci-
dents in history to illustrate how promptly our ancestors took
measures to reprass the over-influence of one part lest the safety
of the whole might in consequence be risked. It can,-however,
but be evident to every observer of public events that within the
last five year's the equilibrium has been disturbed, that we
are hastening, and will soon, unless we exert ourselves to check
the spirit of insubordination abroad, arrive at an entire change
in every part of our system. Tyranuy is hateful to every ear;
it matters not whether originating, with a king, an aristocracy,
or with the people—all kinds of tyranny are equally subversive
of the liberty of the country and of the subject. (Hear; hear.)
Tyranny has been fur centuries unknown in Engtaud; but I
tell you there is now progressing, under the guise of liberty, a
tyranny which, unless checked by you, and that speedily, will in
the course of a few years lead, your country into endless and in-
exhaustible confusion. (Cheers.) Whence does this tyranny
arise ? It arises from the encroachments of one of the com-
ponent parts of our system of constitution; it arises from the
preponderance of democracy over the king and the aristocracy.
(Hear, hear.) For my own part I confess I fear far more
the dominion of a mob than I do the despotic sway of a
single ruler. I dread far more the venom of the hydra with an
hundred heads than I do the sting of the single serpent. I trem-
ble more at the braying of a flock of wolves than at the roar of
the noble lion. (Cheers.) The tyranny to which I allude is
making rapid strides in every part of our system; it advances
with overwhelming force; and it will never retrograde until
'Englishmen unite together to give it a spirited resistance.
Already has the prerogative of the crown been assailed, and it
requires very little encouragement to

"Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs fif war"

upon the privileges of the aristocracy. The patronage of the
Crown is already attacked: he King is not even Permitted to
select his own representative at a foreign court. ( Hear, hear.)
-I do not intend to depreciate the merits of the reform bill, but
this spirit of encroachment to which I allude, I must say has
beeu greatly increased by the democratic tendency of that mea-
sure, and it will requite all the good sense and all the patriotism
of Englishmen to check the ill effects of its provisions: (Hear.)
There are two parties in operation at the present moment, the
one composed of daring and fearless innovators, urged ou by
the restless love of political experiments, and blinded by a mis-
chievous confidence iu their own infallibility; the other party,
whose ruling principle is a strong attachment to the constitution
of their country, whose practice is to prefer existing advantages.
over specious but imaginary doctrines, to improve where im-.
provement is wanted, and to resistaltOration where it is not re-
quired, and, though last not feat, to-support with spirit and for-
titude their King, their constitution, and their church.. (Loud
cheers.) The one party would lead to a revolution, the other
to preserve every thing dear to Englishmen. On the one side
are-arrayed the desperate and the reckless—the advrinturei in-
politics and the trader in religion—the man who live: but 'fromt
hand to mouth—the man who has nothing to loose anctimich to
gam---the political juggler; who is to be found in the cabinet of
.the_King, end the parliamentary impostor, who is Job hornet.,
in the councils of the nation. (Loud cheers.) I ant porry to
say that these characters are aided in their designs by many
men of rank and wealth in the country—men Who ought to
know better, but whose disposition is of so mercurial- ri'charac-
ter as sometimes to induce them to lend the weight'of their ,
names and station to the lowest and most, despicable artifices of .
faction, and too often to barter their principles and opinions for
' the momentary gratification of ambition or caprice. (Cheers.)
On the side el' the other party stands in array. the wcidth, the
renk, the property, the intelligence, and the independence of
the country—almost all the professions—men who love the con-
; stitution from a recollection of the practical benefits they have
received .fromit—men who respect the property of their neigh-
Wore because they have property of their own to lose—men
who abhor spoliation because contrary to the laws of God and
mien—men who will not alter their opinions or barter their prin-
ciples front the love of power or the gains of office. (Cheers.)
These, gentlemen, are the two parties at present in conflict in
the country, and I leave to von to choose between them.
(Cheers.) What bas already Leen the result of that conflict?
Look to the frequent changes of the executive government.
Within the last four or five years we have had no less than five
changes in the government of the country. Everything has
been unsettled, everything is at sea. No man, whether in com-
merce, trade, or profession, could calculate to-day what might
_turn up to-morrow. The tradernen has been id dismay—the
merchant. in constant terror of change and alteration. Now,
let me ask you, what is the cause of this perpetual conflict?
was trio cause of the overthrow of Earl Grey's govern-
ment—a government which, it was boasted, was calculated to
last for half a century? Was it the withdrawal of the King's
confidence? No. \V al it occasioned by a vote of the House
of Commons? No. How, then, was it occasioned? By the
treachery of his own associates, and by the power which he
called "the pressure from without," but which, in point of fact,
meant the submission which those associates paid to democratic
power—a submission which lie (Earl Grey), as a senator, and a
man-learned in the lore of the constitution of the country, knew
was inconsistent and hostile to that country's safety. (Loud
cheers.) Lord Grey's government was followed by that of
Lord Melbourne. Could there possibly have existed, could the
mind of man have conceived, anything more contemptible,
. more utterly despicable, than was that government? "( Hear.)
It wanted every qualification which could make it respectable
'or even toleiatiie. It Was altogether compOsed of men clingoig
to office for the fruits of office; of uteri who had neither name
nor character in the country to qualify them for the situation
tbev succeeded in obtaining. Well, then, this goVernment
being dissolved by the act of his Majesty himself, what was
next done? " His Majesty applied for counsel to one of the very
,first men that ever adorned any ceuntry. ie man who hail the
ietinour and glory of England as much at heart as he had proved
his love and attachment fur its institutions by his unparalleled
deeds in arms. (Loud cheering, which lasted fir sortie minutes.)
The .King, I say, applied to the Duke of Wellington for advice,
and that illustrious individual counselled his sovereign to apply
IA Sir Robert Peel to form a new government, and by the sup-

port of the great party with which he was connected to stein the
torrent of democratic feeling, anti once more to conduct the
government on the true print Iple of king; lords, and commons.
(Cheers.) What was. the fate of that unblemished man—fop
unblemished he is—cloud and retreated cheers)—upon his obey-
ing his Majesty's summons? Was he not assailed float the
very first moment of his appointment by those false and un-
meaning cries of "secret influence" and "court intrigue,"
which have been on so many former occasions raised, but
which, on my conscience, I believe were never more unfounded
than in this instance. (Cheers.) Next, when he'atlvised the
King to dissolve parliament—which he did from a conviction
that it was absolutely necessary to appeal to the people upon
the propriety of his appointment—was he not again assailed?
His intentions every one knew were honest, and such as be-
came him; but as it slid not suit the object of those who were
politically opposed to him that they should be so'cMisidered,
and as he was in possession of that power which they coveted,
but which they feared to undertake, the appeal which he made
to the people was described as most uncalled for anti unconsti-
tutional. Well; the result was found in a great degree suc-
cessful to the constitutional cause, and a parliament in due
time assembled. What then took place? Let me ask you was
ever the spirit of faction so undisguisedly evineed as igloo the
occasion of the first . meeting of that parliament? (Cheers.)
The opposition seemed to have desired to evince the utmost
spirit of opposition, unalloyed with the least possible sense.
(Hear, and a laugh.) It was easy to account for their doing
so; they did so because their mastels, the political unions,
in a voice of 'thunder ordered them, not as free and inde-
pendent representatives,
_ but as obsequious delegates, to take
the course they did. They were the servants of hard task-
masters, and as such were obliged to submit. their judgments to
the tyrannical dictates of those whom they served.
Captain FANSIIAWE proposed the health of Mr. Parker, the
candidate for South Devon. The toast having been received
with warm expressions of satisfaction,
Mr. PAIIKKK said it was with feelings of the deepest emotion
he rose to return thanks for the flattering Manner in Which his
health had been honoured. It, was a proud situation for him,
unworthy as he knew he was, to be able to stand forward and
with every prospect of success aspire to the honour of repre-
senting his native county. (Cheers.) He had been asked; or
it had been asked of him, who he was that .hail the audacity to
oppose one of the present ministers of the crown—who he was'
that should dare give a factious opposition to a minister before
his measures were Ascertained; he was not known, he regretted
to say, to that portion of the county in which Devonport stood,
but lie was not unknown to the county of Devon. ( Hear.) Ile
was no alien—he was not a stranger who came forward to re-
present the county upon the invitation of a few equisitiunists.
He was'a free and indei,endent country gentleman, born and
bresl in the southern division of the county, and every atom of
property he_ possessed in the World was within its hounds.
(Cheers.) He would never, he was determined, Put himself
forward with anything like the appearance of 'faction, but this
he would say, that, feeling oppOse I as' he disl to the principles
of the present administration, he would to the best of his endea-
vour thwart and oppose the re-election of Lord J. Russell, tiho
wail one of its component parts... (Cheers.) He was a decided
enemy to abuses, and would, without hesitation, assent to their
reform when ascertained; but he would nos change first, and
begin to think of the expediency of the measure after it was
perfected. He was as anxious as any man could be that the
church should be based on a permanent and firm foundation,
but he never would consent to a proposition which would go to
establish a principle hostile to its efficacy. It was a great and
important trust which he asked from the electors, but neverthe-
less he thought it was one to which he could do 'justice. The
circumstances under which he applied for it were peculiar, and
this must be his excuse for the application. In his address to
his constituents he had stated that the agricultural interests ot
the county of Devon would be his pecidiar care, bUt he desired
to be understood as.not intending to regard those interests to
the.exclusion of- others, 'in the prosperity of which the'South
Devon constituency were concerned. Every interest connected
with the prosperity and well-being of the county should receive
from bins equal and indiscriminate attention. " Very short
commerce so long as we preserve the constitution," was a saying
of the late Mr. Wyndham; but he (Mr. Parker) s lid " Preserve
commerce, agriculture, and trade, and the constitution will not
require you to take care of it." (Cheers.) He begged, in conclu-
sion, to assure the meeting that the reception he had hitherto met
with, and the successful accounts he had received front all quar-
ters, inspired him with the most lively prospects as to the result
of hie canvass. (Cheers.) It was not in any one particular
district alone that he had beard a re-action had taken plate. In
all quarters he held his own, and ill many places he had gained
'considerably over his opponent. (Cheers.) In fact, from all he
had heard and seen, it was his opinion he should be carried
through with success. Whether he was so, however, or not; he
begged to assure the meeting that it would ever be to him a
feeling of the highest gratification to be able to boast of having
been called forward at the hour of need as the humble instru-
ment of the Devonshire c,aistituenry; and should, his exertions
not prove ou the present occasion successful he should live in
hope that on some future occasion they might be so. (Lcu
cheers.)