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THE GENERAL ELECTION. The notes of prepa...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The General Election Has Been Going On F...
agreed to waive the candidates of their several sections , and in General Pierce they found one "who had been removed from recent dissensions , and was yet illustrious in the esteem of l ) is countrymen . It would appear , thkt the Whi g party was not possessed of an illustrious retired so suitable for the purpose in question ; audit has , therefore , necessarily been content with the ordinary process of putting its candidates to the vote . Of Mr . Webster ' s abilities no one entertains the sli ghtest
doubt ; but the vote has proved that , as a candidate for the Presidency , he had not the confidence of any large proportion of his countrymen . President Fillmore mi ght have enjoyed the compliment of re-election , had it not been necessary for the party to put forth a candidate able , if possible , to secure all the Whig votes , and a few more . General Scott ' s military achievements have rendered him popular with those ardent citizens , who
already see the Republic of the West rivalling in vastness and power the republic of the seven hills . The contest now lies between General Scott , with Whig support and military popularity , and General Franklin Pierce , with a great civil as well as military reputation . But even the Whig supporters of General Scott are not quite in accord amongst themselves , and some members of the defeated sections still talk of voting independentl y of the decision of the convention .
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The General Election. The Notes Of Prepa...
THE GENERAL ELECTION . The notes of preparation which have so long sounded , have been silenced in the boroughs this week by the commencement of an active campaign , and the real work of choosing members . Among the first in the field was
THE CITY . As our readers are aware , a section of independent Liberals , distrustful of the nominees of the Reform Association , Lord John Russell , Baron Rothschild , and Sir James Duke , brought forward Mr . Crawford . Various meetings of his supporters were held , and negotiations carried on with him . The result of this was , that lie resolved not to net either directly or indirectly in advancing his own cause , but at the same time intimating that if elected lie would serve . On Monday a large meeting of the chiefs among the Liberal party , was held at the London Tavern , and after a great deal of talk , they resolved to send for Mr . Crawford , and ask hi in to retire . Rut lie was not to be found , and matters remained in this state until Tuesday the
ISO Ml _"NATION DAY . Early in the morning there were crowds in the open courtyard , facing the entrance fo the Guildhall ; at 10 o ' clock the candidates arrived ; the doors were thrown open , and the large hull was instantly filled with people . Among the notables present were three of the . sons ol" Louis I'hilippi the Due D'Aunude , the Due de Nemours , and fhe Due de Moiitponsicr . Lady John I { . asset 1 also was ( here to encourage ber husband
by her presence , and witness his success or defeat . Mr . llankcy , tho Coventor of the Hank of England , proposed Lord John Russell as a ( it , and proper person to represent the city in Parliament ,. He laid it , down that the present election turned upon the question of _I'Yee-trade or l _' roleefion . One purl , of his speech is remarkable for the originality of the illustrations it allbrds of one of the points iu dispute between tin ; contending parties . JJe said :
" it was well known that one of Hie most alarming prophecies of the Protectionists was , that , under a system of I ' roe-trade the first evidence of its full development would In- a drain of all the gold from I lie Hunk of Kngland . Now , iih this was a point on which lie might lie supposed to lie somewhat familiar ( ' hear , ' and a . laugh ) , lie _licgged to fell them If in f , at the present moment , thorn was gold enough in tin' vaults of the Bank of Kngland t o cover wit li a very nice sheathing of gold an _ordinary-si / cd road all round ( lie equator ., and he was not very sure that they had not . enough fo gild the whole world . Perhaps it . was to the vaults of ( lie Hindi of Kngland that ( he ( 'hancellor ol Ihe Exchequer was alluding when lie said that , lie saw
something ' looming in the distance . ' He could fell him that if he would apply hiH telescopic inst ninieiif in the direction uf those vaults , he would see a sight ( hat would malm a . very pretty object for his glass . ( Cheers and . _¦ _yO _^ _Ajaighter . ) But he must beg al , the same time lo remind _L- <""* _"ib a that , all that gold had been purchased with the results _|^; , _?\ _x . iij \ J . _i'iti .. h industry , and tho greater part of if under a jUJ _^ _Y _- _^ _OWiVcm of free trade . ( Hear . ) And lie would , moreover , v _ArttH'"' to predict , that all the unusual supply of gold now _" ,, _7- ' _^) , Up QI > Hi > vaults could he as readily parted with as if had ' '« /( yOtW ' ' uluu ' cd , and without the smallest disturbance ol a _<* _^^ _tgBjprdiiiarjy functions of the Dank , whenever the demands •* "V ¦ y
The General Election. The Notes Of Prepa...
of the people of this _country showed that they were desirous of exchanging that gold , now merely placed there in temporary deposit , for articles produced elsewhere , and which might be _cbitsidered of more immediate and essential use in this country . ( Loud cries of ' Hear , hear . ' )" Such -being the case , said he , do not endanger the maintenance of Free-trade by a single vote , and support Lord John Russell , and trust to his pilotage . Mr . John Dillon seconded the nomination on the same grounds , adding that Iiord John represented the principle of reform in England . Mr . Prescott proposed Baron Rothschild , and _supported his nomination on the ground that it was of the greatest importance that the City should continue to vindicate the principle—that religious opinion should be no bar to the exercise of political rights .
For the same reason , Mr . Alderman Wire seconded his nomination . Saluted by groans , hisses , and cries of " No Protection , " Mr . Masterman was proposed by Mr . Ellis , and seconded by Mr . Heath . A similar reception was given to Mr . Martineau and Alderman Lawrence , the proposer and seconder of Sir James Duke . These both , attacked the supporters of Mr . Crawford , and urged the claims of Sir James , on the ground that he was a tried and known advocate of civd and religious liberty .
Mr . Crawford was proposed by Mr . W . J , Hall , and seconded by Mr . Bateman . Mr . Hall bitterly attacked Lord John , and declared that all his measures were shams ; while Mr . Bateman , who for a long time could not obtain a hearing , wound up by asserting that " Lord John was used up . " Here the nominations ended , and Lord John Russell made his speech to the multitude . He ran through the usual stock subjects of his hustings speeches , telling them how he had brought about the repeal of the Test and Corporation acts ; supported Free-trade ; carried the Reform Bill ; and acted with consistency and success , At one period of these remarks , the well-known chorus of " For he ' s a jolly good fellow , " followed a burst of applause .
" Now as to the future . With respect to religious liberty , the measure of religious liberty was not yet complete , because there -was a class of their fellow-subjects , faithful and loyal subjects of Her Majesty , who were excluded from office , and from seats in Parliament , on account of their religion . ( Hear , hear . ) He had done his best to remove that disability , but let him tell them that that was a question which did not depend on him , or any ono advocate of that cause , —it depended on the people oi England to settle that question . ( Loud cheers . ) And he felt assured that , if the people of England sent a large majority to the House of Commons to remove all religious disabilities , there would bo found no obstacle to the consummation of their wishes . ( Applause . ) With respect to Free Trade , there was not one of the late members of the city of London , nor one of the present candidates , who
wished to represent the city , that was not favourable to Free Trade . But , more than that , throughout the country the Protectionists were ready to give up that battle , and , like tho garrison of a besieged place , _wei'c only about to muster their forces for the purpose of laying down ( heir arms . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Re was aware that it was proposed to make some sort of capitulation before those arms were piled ; but the terms of that capitulation must be narrowly looked at , and ho said for himself that he should vote for no relief to a particular class , hut , if tho revenue could afford relief he thought it should he given to the community at , large . ( Loud applause . ) His belief was , lhat that groat , class of their fellow-countrymen , a most , deserving and respectable class , who were engaged in the pursuits of agriculture , would find their best , advantage in that , which was to the benefit of the community at
large ; aud this was not a mere theory or a mere sentiment , because ihey all knew that , the agriculturists were employed in raising food ; and that the more people there were who could eat that , food , and ihe more people there were who had money to buy that food , the better it would be for those who raised it . ( Cheers . ) lie believed , therefore , I hat , no person would come forward iu tin ; new Parliament to . say that the people wen ; suffering from the cheapness of bread , and that , tlwy had got iv plan to add something to the price of ( he loaf . ( Laughter and applause . ) Ho doubted very much whether any one would even propose to make sugar dearer , but , if such a proposition wore made , lie did not think that ( hose who liked fo
have _Niigur with their tea would hi ; apt , to countenance and support , it . ( Kenewcd laughter and applause . ) Then he came to another question , to which he had already alluded —namely , the question of Iteform in Parliament . He now declared in that , hall his opinion , which ho had before , declared in tin ; House of Commons , that then ; ought , to he an extension of iho siilfrnge . ( Cheers . ) Ho believed likewise that , in proposing the K < form Hill , iih he and the Ministers at , Ihe time did , in it great emergency , tluiro were _defceifi ( hat , required lo be amended in that measure , and he , for his part , should be ready fo consider every proposition fur that purpose , with tin ; view to g ive the people a more complete representation . ( Cheering , and a cry ol < What , about , fhe ballot i _' )"
As to his errors no doubt be bad committed many , Cor bo was fallible ; but what , he hud done lor good they oil knew , and he trusted they would pardon bis mistakes and give him credit for his good will . ' 11 is object , if elected fo the new Parliament , would bo to remove remaining religious disabilities ; and to take care that thoonth , which member ** of Parliament were obliged
The General Election. The Notes Of Prepa...
to take , should he one and simple—the same for persons of all _rjfeligioufe _fdjttis \ tKt . t religious faith should no longer be any disqualification , and that , as there should be no longer an oath kept up for tho purpose of excluding the Jews , so neither should an oath be maintained which in many of its parts insulted and injured the Roman Catholics . ( Applause . ) He was for men of all religions having equal rights to serve their country . ( Cheers ; a ciy of 'No Popery . '' ) He heard some , one call out ' iNo Popery ! ' His principle upon that subject , was very clear . Blc never would allow any interference with the supremacy and independence of the Crown and of the nation ; but , on the other hand , ho would never punish any man for his religious opinions . ( Loud cheers . )"
Being asked by Mr . Beunoch how far he would extend the suffrage and shorten Parliaments , he replied hy asking them to trust him , and if they trusted him to leave those matters in his hands ! As to the Ballot he was quite opposed to it . _Next in order came Baron Rothschild , who was received with groans , cheers , and hisses . His speech mainly turned upon the advocacy of his own cause . Towards the end , however , the Baron , who is , remember , the Consul General of Austria , got upon another theme .
" He would now refer to a circumstance which had keen made use of against him on this occasion , —he referred to the loan which had been contracted with his firm ( hisses and cheers ); and in doing so he did not wish that it should be considered that he was in any way making an excuse for the manner in which he , the representative , had been acting . But he wished to take advantage of that opportunity to state , that in Austria the Jews now enjoyed the same privileges and rights enjoyed by all other religious persuasions . At present there were two Jews who had very high situations in the Austrian Government . Aa regarded , therefore , civil and religious liberty , Austria was already in advance of this country . ( Hear , hear . )"
Mr . Masterman followed . His address was very short . As regarded Protection , he thought he might say that he had voted for all the relaxations that had been proposed in our commercial tariff ; and that , if a renewal of the duties on corn should ever be proposed he , for one , would never give his consent to it in any , way . ( Cheers . ) Upon other subjects he pleaded that in his votes he had the good of the country at heart . Sir James Duke , hissed and cheered , put in the same plea , and contended that he had acted out his principles in the most straightforward and honourable manner . He complained that some one had issued a forged letter declaring that he had resigned .
Mr Crawford made a brief speech , stating that he felt bound by every regard to consistency , honour , and to those conclusions which he came to on a careful consideration of all the circumstances , not to present himself _thei-e to them as a candidate . ( Hear , _liear . ) On the otber band , he was bound not altogether to ignore the spontaneous exhibition of feeling which had been manifested towards him , bumble as he was , within the l _; ist few days . ( Cheers and some confusion . ) So he remained neutral . After this , M * Bennoch and Mr . Dak in commented on the various candidates . The former standing up for Crawford , the latter defending Sir James Duke .
When the show of hands was taken , it was declared in favour of Mr . Masterman , Lord John Russell , Baron Rothschild , and Mr . Crawford . Sir James Duke demanded a poll . Mr . Crawford begged of his supporters not to take his name to the poll , but he did not succeed . The next day , amid great excitement , the electors proceeded to the poll . Tbe Sheriff announced tbe state ol" the poll on Thursday to be as follows : ¦—Mr . Miistermiin . : . . . ( 1195 Lord John _Itiissoll .... 5 _f » ii 7 Sir James Duke 5270 Baron Rothschild 4748 Mr . Crawford tf 7 ( i 5
FINSHURY . The nomination took place on Wednesday , on Clerkenwell-green . The candidates who came to the scratch were Mr . Duncombe , Mr . _Wyld , and Mr . Alderman Chullis . Mr . Diiiicoinbe , who was unanimously and loudly cheered , came to the ground in a quiet carriage and pair ; Alderman Cballis sporting four greys . Mr . Duncombc ' tt opinions an ; too will known to need recapitulation in our columns . _IJesidcs a _slatcmeiit of bis political principles , be stated bis own personal position us opposed by two gentlemen who bad come into the field before Mr . Wakley resigned , and therefore , lie presumed , hostile , to him .
" He confessed that ho wished this struggle Imd not been a . contest of Liberal against- Liberal . 11 would have been more creditable to their cause , and more satisfactory , be thought ,, to the constituency of _Kinsbury ; hut , as if was , lie had , acting on tho defensive , been obliged to unfurl the old blue and bull' now waving on the breeze . ( Applause . ) Those colours had never been defeated yet ( A voice , " Nor sullied " ) and they would not bo defeated now . ( Loud cheers . ) Ho therefore claimed then
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 10, 1852, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_10071852/page/2/
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