The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1835-01-20 00:00:00

honesty to every elector or non-elector who had been pleased
to 'examine him. He had endeavoured to meet, certainiy not
always with the same success, those general questions the dis-
cussion of which usually folioed a portion of the business of an
election. (Cheers.) He, therefore, would dismiss them on the
present occasion. He had seen posted on the walls iu different
parts of the county which he had visited placards stamping him
with names, ensue of which he was witting to accept, while there
were others which lie felt bound to reject. There had been ap-
plied to .him the name of " tory, bigot" and other terms of
ordinary election attack. If he could believe that these epi-
thets and imputations were confirmed by his past conduct,—if
he could believe that they would he confirmed by the voice of
the county, then he owned he should feel some surprise and
compunction at the situation iu which he had now the honour
to stand. (Cheers.) He should feel some compunction when
he looked round, not to his opponents, but to his friends,—to
the gentlemen who had done him the honour to nominate and
to second his nomination ; and he should ask whether it was
that because he was the inflexible advocate of religious intoler-
ance he was introduced to this division of the county of Lancaster?
(Cries of" No, no.") He would point to a.strong justification of
one great measure in the person of the hon. gentleman who pre-
sided this day—a gentleman well known by many now present,
standing as they respectively did in the relations of landlord
and tenant—(loud cheers)—a measure of which it miniiht be
presumed, from what the electors had heard of him, that he had

been the unflinching opponent, whilst on the contrary he had-
been, whether mistakenly or otherwise, its honest though feeble
supporter. Was it then to his advocacy of commercial intoler-
ance, (as it was called,) restriction, and monopoly that he owed
this his introduction to the county. Certainly not. With regard
to personal recommendations, it was not for him now to discuss;
those were considerations which he should leave to the unpre-
judiced opinions and decision of the electors of the county.
But the electors had been told upon authority, which he should
not now stoop to question, that of the noble lord to whom he
had the misfortune now to be opposed, that his (Lord F. Eger-
ton's) political opinions personally Elisquaiitied him for the re-
presentation of this county in Parliament. If that attack were
personal to himself, if that sentence of exclusion Irons Parlia-
ment was to be endeavoured to be enforced against him indivi-
dually, he could submit to it with little regret; but he viewed in
that indictment framed by the noble lord the application of a
principle put forward by one party with a view to effect the ex-
clusion of another party from the councils of the nation, and as
such he would venture to try the question by the voice of the
county, and to put it to the test of a poll, only regretting that it
could not be tried in the 'person of an abler advocate than him-
self. (Loud cheers.) lie considered the enforcement of that
principle involved the defeat of the exercise of the king's un-
questionable prerogative—a prerogative recently exercised with-
out any pretence or a shadow of ground for saying that it was
influenced by faction and intrigue. (Renewed cheers.) That
principle would exclude from power those very men whom the
voice of the .country acknowledged in every respect to be able,
proper, and fit to wield it: (Cheers, and souse disapprobation.)
He did not acknowledge the justice-of such a call on'the part
of those who, with impotence to do good, had forgotten their
impotence to avoid mischief. (Continued eheering.) Such.
however, was the claim of thepartv who sought to.effect his re-
jection, ou the ground of the political conduct and opinions
which he had ever followed, and which he still entertained. It
was true that this might be accomplished by the application of
that oft-tried. nostrum, reform; that Shibboleth, by which every
man, forsooth, was to be admitted into, or excluded from, the
councils of his country. (Renewed cheering.) Upon such
_grounds rested the claims of these self-constituted Levites, who
sought the exclusive service and right of transport of the ark of
the constitution ; of those who told them, " Stand by, we are
holier than you!—we number in our ranks "nen who have
served on that vessel, have borne it through fire and flood, and
saved it from the host of surrounding Philistines." In turn, he
however demanded the right for himself in connexion with
every other member of the community, to .canvass and question
the claims of those parties to the exclusive management and
protection of the state. Aud he also demanded the, right to look
to whom and to what parties that responsible task was now con-
fided, (loud cheers,) and to inquire how far they had endea-
voured to soothe the apprehensions which it was easy to trace
depicted in almost every countenance, and whose return to
power was met by the admission, that every class and every
body of reformers iu this kingdom were knit together more
closely than ever by that event. Did those who made this ad-
mission reflect upon, or had they ascertained to what extent
other reforiners besides themselves went in their demands? Had
they considered that this union, having for its object the over-
throw of the government of the. Sovereign's choice, might include
christian dissenters and professed atheists, (cheers;) had they
considered that in such an union might be found in those ranks
the best of men and citizens in combination with such charac-

ters as Messrs. Robert Taylor and Richard Carlile. (Tre-
mendous cheers.) Hence it was that bethought recourse had
been had to means and, agencies which those who had sought
for and adopted them would be unable to control. Let this
party be assured that, if they should succeed in their attempt to
affect the return to power of those now in the councils of the
crown, the loss of many acres would follow to those now in pos-
session, who must then take rank, not beside, but beneath the
levelers whose assistance they sought. (Cheers and partial
hisses.) It was in vain tu thiuk that they could benefit by such
assistance, or that, having used it, they, cowd get rid of those
whose aid they had sought and attained by cajollery or menace,
reward or presecution; on the contrary, he believed they would
find that the dissolution of the partnership they had-formed
would not be so easily and suddenly effected, (cheers;) they
would discover that the facility by which these, like the minis-
ters of forbidden arts, could be dismissed when once aroused was
very far from perfect. (Continued cheers.) These were the
dangers to which he looked forward; and if he knew the length
(of which he was anything but certain) that the other candi-
dates who had addressed the meeting would go, if the power was
committed to their hands, he should feel less disposition to come
forward on the present occasion. It was in contemplation of
such dangers that he owned that he clung with increased attach-
ment to the essence of the institutions of the country ; and,
while he acknowledged the necessity of change, repair, or reno-
vation in their forms, he wished rather to confide the change or
repair to men who see and acknowledge these dangers than to
those who would do it by ill-timed attempts. It had been ob-
served, with what truth he knew not, that he who dwells amidst
the storm and in the neighbourhood of the avalanche clings with
double affection to the home endeared to him by the visible ap-
prehension of danger, and possible impending ruin, than he
manifests whose abode is in the peaceful valley.
•
Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms;
And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms,
And, as a child, when scaring sounds molest,
Clings (lose and closer to the mother's hreast,
So the losid torrents and the whirlwind's roar
But bind him to his native mountains more.
So the feelings which are peculiar to this state of nature are
those which impress me. I cling to the institutions of my
country, which have stood many a blast ; and white I hear the
demon of democracy at the door, I consider this no time to cower
at the earth in indolence, while the attack may doom its social
fire to extinction. (Great cheering) But, gentlemen, I would
not neglect the task to strengthen, to improve, and to repair ;
but on the contrary, loving that hearth as I do, I see the more
reason for that repair or reform, or call it what you will; and I
may be but a feeble instrument, but I assure you that I am not
blind to its necessity. (Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, some ob-
servations have been made by an hon. gentleman at the other
end of the hustings, to which- I feel called upon to reply. The
question has been asked, it. I understoOd it rightly, whether we
were prepared to disallow the claims of the dissenters to a uni-
versity education. Now, 1 for one would disallow no dissenter
from procuring the best education that be could obtain ; but I
would disallow his claim to an entrance into the universities—
(hisses from the whigs, which were overpowered by cheers from
the conservatives,) which I believe would not only be iucom-
patible with, but destroy that system of religious instruction
which is there established. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, these are no
new views of mine, for I have explained them in almost every
town I have visited during my canvass (loud cheers ;) and 1
would ask the hon. gentleman who has alluded to this subject,
and who is well acquainted with the progress of an institution to
which I am a subscriber, I mean the London University—
whether it has not been found impossible to connect any system
of religious instruction with that institution ? Gentiemen, I
believe that there are few other differences between rue and the
dissenters on this subject; en that ground only I object to their
admission to the universities. The principal difficulty with re-
gard to dissenters appears to be their subsequent advancement
in lay professions ; but I trust these difficulties may be removed;
and 1 shall use my best endeavours in assisting to removethern.
(Cheers.) Gentlemen, there is another observation which ap-
pears necessary for me to make, and I thank my hon. opponent
for giving me the opportunity of making it. It has been said.
and I have seen it repeated in newspaper paragraphs, that I
have spoken with disrespect of a certain class of opposition that
I have met with. 1 admit, that from some remarks in a Loudon
newspaper my spirit dill rise, and that I .expressed myself
warmly to thd effect that the representation of this division
should not be left in the hands of two or three fainiies. Gen-
tlemen, if in those remarks that I made, and I cannot recollect
every word I said on the subject, I should have said anything
discourteous to the noble family alluded to, I hope that this will be
taken as a recantat ion, if necessary, or at all events as an apology.
But, gentlemen, the subject has b-een aggravated by an allusion
to a visit that I paid to that family on my first arrival in this
country. I had thought that my connexion with the family,
and my personal acquaintance with a distinguished member of
it, gave me a right-to enpiain to. them 'thy- eireemetetteee iu
which I stood; and, without asking fur their support, of stating
the grounds on which, yrobably, I should conic forwaid as a
candidate fur this division. Gentlemen, the allusion that has
been made to this circumstance has made this explanation per-
haps necessary, but it requires no apology from use. Exhaust-
ed as, no doubt, you. must be, gentlemen, and exhausted as is
my own strength, I shall not detain you longer. You all know
the circumstances under which I have come forward as a candi-
date for your suffrages. My opinion of my own abilities is such
as would never have induced ine'to put myself forward on these
hustings, unless I had been invited so tuedri (Loud cheers.)
If the success which we anticipate (treinendoes cheering, which
lasted several minutes) amid the prospect of which could only
have justified me in disturbing the peace of the county, should
attend our efforts, you will find in me a willing instrument in
promoting all your local interests in parliament, seciug that
with them my own interests are so entirely bound tip. The
noble lord concluded by thanking the electors for the patience
and good feeling with which they had listened to hiin.—The
conclusion of the speech was followed by three loud cheers.
Mr. WILBRAHAM then came forward and said, Mr. High-
Sheriff and gentlemen, it is with extreme diffidence that I conic
forward to address you. for never in my lire did I in the open
air address so numerous and so respectable an assembly. But
new as 1 am iu politics, and stranger as I comparatively ant to
the county, it is necessary that I should state the grounds on
which I solicit your suffrages. Gentlemen, the reason that
induced me to come forward was the coalition, avowed or dis-
avowed, between the noble lord and the 'inn. gentleman who
has addressed you. I was called forward not by my own
wish, but at the earnest request of a numerous. and respect-
able body of the constituency of the county ; amid yet, though
politically opposed to Lord Molynetix and dr. Wood, I enter-
tain for the one feelings of friendship, and for time other those
sentiments of resrect to which he is entitled for his good sense as a
commercial man. My political priticiples are those of a con-
servative—(cheers)—arid, gentlemen, 1 stand, here as the diem-
pion of the church and the constitution. (Cheers.) Whilst
speaking of the church, I would say, that I atn sorry in any way
to have offended the two gentlemen who are opposed to by
what fell from me in the beat of argument at a meeting at St.
Helen's. I bad no wish to interfere between themselves and
their God; but with respect to Mr. Wood, I wished it to Le be-
lieved that the bill which he introduced for the admission of
dissenters into the universities was an indirect way of under-
mining the church. ( Loud cheers.) And with respect tim the
noble lord, (Molyneux,) what I said was, that he had no p?iti-
cuter care about the elm rch. lam glad that those observat emus
have given him the opportunity of explaining his attachment
to the church—(laughter)—an attachment which 1 presume to
think was rather equivocal. ( Laughter and cheers.) Geutle-
men, it is scarcely necessary for me to take up vour time in
explaining the priuciples upon which I come before ; but
there are one or two points upon which it is perhaps necessat y
that I should speak. The first is the grievances of the dis-
senters. I entertain a sincere respect for them as a body, but
while I would nut go so far us Mr. Wood, I would join uny
measures which would give them the same advantages in lay
professions as churchmen : and I will consent to the removal of
everything- that is objectionable to their relieious sciuples, tape-