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Leader (1850-1860), 1st January 1853, Edition Town of 3, Page 4

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      Untitled Article

      believe that I shall best promote the cause to which my political hfo has been devoted—that of rational and enlightened progress . It is to progress that all our efforts will be directed . " I look to the extension of education , of civil and religious liberty , of commercial freedom , and of political rights , as the true means of preserving those institutions under which we have enjoyed so much happiness . "I b-ave the honour to bo , gentlemen , your grateful and obedient servant , " J . Russexl . Chesham-place , Dec . 27 , 1852 . "

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      TO THE ELECTORS O ? TtVEKTON . "Gentlemen , —Her Majesty having been graciously pleased to signify her intention of entrusting me with the Beals of the Home Department , my seat in the House of Commons has become vacant , and I beg again to present myself as a candidate for a renewal of that confidence with which you have so long honoured me . In the present posture of affairs , it is manifestly desirable that an administration should be formed , combining within itself as many elements as possible of strength , and I trust that the new Government will answer the just expectations of the country . My political principles are so well known to you , that it cannot be necessary for me on the present occasion to make any declaration on that subject , but such as you have found me in the past , such also you will find me in the future . —I have the honour to be , gentlemen , your most obedient and devoted servant , " Palmebston . "

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      " TO THE ELECTORS OF SOTjTTI WILTS . " Gentlemen , —The few weeks which liave elapsed since the last general election have been marked by important political events . " Soon after the meeting of Parliament the complete abandonment of Protection and the intention to act upon Free-trade principles were announced by Lord Derby's Government , and I rejoiced at the prospect of the termination of this great controversy by the solemn adoption of a resolution pledging the House of Commons to the maintenance of our recent legislation .

      " Of three different forms of resolution proposed for this object one appeared to me , though otherwise unexceptionable , to contain words unnecessary for their purpose , and which might be considered humiliating to many whose acquiescence it was most desirable to obtain , and for whose character I felt the highest respect . I , therefore , supported another resolution , which , though framed with studious moderation , contained the fullest assertion of principle , and which was ultimately accepted by her Majesty ' s Government . " At a subsequent period the late Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the financial measures of the Government .

      " By those measures it was proposed to surrender an amount of taxation fur larger than the surplus of our revenue above expenditure , to compensate which a sudden increase both of the area and the amount of direct taxation was to be enforced , falling for the first time , and with a double severity , upon the farmer , the tradesman , and other persons of small means engaged in industrious pursuits . " Not were the advantages to be gained by the reductions at all equal to the sacrifices which it was necessary to make for their attainment .

      " The proposed changes wore therefore in themselves undesirable . There was , moreover , grave reason for doubting whether the revenue * would recover from these changes to the extent reckoned upon by the Chancellor of the Exchequer ; and unless his calculations were realized the country would have been left without a surplus revenue to meet any sudden and unexpected expenditure . " To meet this diflieulty it whs proposed to treat as income money due ( o the extinction of debt—a proceeding which appeared , in time of peace , to be most objectionable . " The existence of an ( insured surplus drawn from legitimate sources is never unimportant for the public ; service , nor is this moment an exception to that rule . The maintenance of u full exchequer , and u strict , adherence , to the principles by which public credit is secured , give the best hope of ultimately effecting such reduction . * of the capital and interest of the debt as would greatly lighten the

      public burdens . " With these views J felt it my duty , at nil hazards , to oppose a . budget , important parts of which went subversive of those principles on which ull prudent financiers have hitherto acted , and an adherence to which I believe to be necessary to the stability of the State . " The * result , of the rejection of those ; measures lias been the abandonment of oflice by the late Government . Upon the propriety of the course which they have so adopted f offer no opinion , but I protest ngninst the assertion that , the Government were displaced by a combination of iiarlies effected for that , purpose . --

      * — ,. — s ^ ^ ill " In tjie present . emergency , however , it is necessary that ¦ very ellort should be liuule to re-establish our financial MysUiin , which cannot , but . httve been shaken by the announcement of the intentions ofUie late Chancellor of the Kxehcquer . At such h moment 1 have felt that it is not , my duty to Htand aloof from the Queen's service , and I have ( lion-lure , joined the Administration of the Karl of Aberdeen , u noi > l <> inaii whose wisdom and rectitude I have Itiiirjit , to honour during tin- many years I have acted with him , and wil . li whom are associated some of the most

      eminent of liviiifr HtiitcHiui-n , with whom I can cordially co-oixruWi in fwillunuxn of the public good . "In the month of l « V | , ruarv , I Hr > 1 , Her Majesty was pleased to recommend to | l ( . Parliament to take into its consideration the state of 11 , ( . | ,, vv h concerning the repre-Hentatioii of the people , and i | , w ;|| )„ , (| u . duty of the present Government carefull y nnd deliberately to consider what improvements it , may 1 ,,, practicable to introduce into our representative . HyHt . em , with n view to the increnttod . inability of our iu « titutiun » uu , i tt COntiuued

      harmony between them and the advancing morality and intelligence of the people . "I still believe , as I always have done , that in the maintenance of public credit , in the promotion of the comfort of all classes of the community , in the dissemination of sound education , and in tho advancement of well-considered reforms in all departments of the State , lies the best security for tho permanent conservation of our institutions . " In the conviction that the new Administration will honestly and deliberately direct its efforts in furtherance of these gre . at objects , 1 have accepted office under the Crown .

      " By the rule of the Constitution this acceptance vacates the seat which I had the honour , as your representative , to hold in Parliament , and I offer myself again for your suffrages , trusting that by your verdict I shall be enabled at a moment of public difficulty to render my humble but faithful service to the Crown . " I have the honour to be , gentlemen , your obedient and faithful servant , " Sidney Herbert . " Belgrave-square , Dec . 27 . "

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      TO THE ELECTORS OF CARXISLE . " Gentlemen , —At the late election , when you did me the honour of returning me to Parliament , I stated that the promises which were made by Lord Derby ' s Government , with respect to taxation , appeared to me illusory . I could not believe that any scheme on anew principle could be devised which would give relief to a particular class , and at the same time deserve the approbation and support of the community . " An attempt has been made to fulfil these promises . The budget has been produced . Protection has been abandoned ; and the claim of land to compensation for local burdens has been repudiated ; but the repeal of . half the malt-tax in favour of land was considered a poor equivalent for a double house-tax , and for an extension of the income-tax ; and the entire scheme of new taxation has been rejected by a decisive majority of the House of Commons .

      " In consequence of this defeat , Lord Derby and his colleagues have resigned their offices , and the Queen has commanded Lord Aberdeen to form a new administration . " Lord Aberdeen was the trusty friend and faithful colleague of Sir Robert Peel , Whether in or out of office , he uniformly acted in strict concert with that great Minister . He stood by him in all his difficulties ; and Lord Aberdeen has constantly supported the principles of Free-trade . " If the formation of the new Administration had failed , power must have returned to the hands of Lord Derby ; although , in a Parliament recently elected under his own influence , the House of Commons has refused its sanction to a plan of finance , which was brought forward , after much deliberation , with the whole weight and authority of the Government .

      " In these circumstances , when Lord Aberdeen informed me that , he desired my assistance in the sorvico of the Crown , I could not withhold an endeavour to give all the support in my power . Not only my former colleagues in Sir Robert Peel ' s last Cabinet are associated with me , but Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston are reunited in the Administration ; and I am about to act with those who repealed the Test and Corporation Acts , who emancipated the Catholics , who abolished slavery throughout the British dominions , who passed the Reform Act , who repealed the Corn-laws , and who at length have finally succeeded in establishing Free-trade as the rule of our future commercial policy .

      "In a Cabinet , so led and so constructed , tho past is the surest earnest of the future . What has been done we shall steadily maintain . What , remains to bo done we shall endeavour to accomplish by cautious but progressive reforms , based on a desire to improve the condition , to extend tho education , ami to enlarge the liberty , both civil and religious , of the great body of the people . " For myself , I have spoken to you so fully and so lately , that you know well my wishes and opinions . 1 sen no reason to modify or to change them . The time and tho manner of carrying them into effect must be left to my discretion , in concert with my colleagues , if I still enjoy your confidence . "U appeal to you without apprehension : and I entertain the hope that 1 shall receive the stamp of your approval , and the renewal of a trust which I highly value . " 1 have the honour to be , gentlemen , your faithful and obliged servant , " ' R- <«• Gkauam . "

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      " TO Till ! KIKCTOKS OF HOUT 11 WAUK . "Gentlemen , — Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint , me <<» fheoflice of Kirst ( . ' ominiHsioner of Works and Public Huildings ; therefore , according to the laws and constitution of our country , my seat in Parliament bus become vacant , and you will have again to exercise your right of choosing a representative . I ask you to exercise that , right , in my favour , and to express your approbation of my appointment , by re-electing me . " i have accepted office with pleasure , because 1 think that , to an Knglishmnii who has made politics the chief

      study of his life , it is a worthy and becoming object of ambition to obtain , by honourable means , the power of serving his sovereign and his country My object , in Ink ing oilice is to aid in giving practical effect , to those principles of political science which I believe to be wise , just , and beneficent , to which I have adhered during a Parliamentary career of nearly twenty years , and which have thrice already gained for me the distinguished honour of being one of tho members of tho liorough I menu the principles of I'Vee-trade , religious liberty and equality , rational progress and reform , and colonial Helf-governinent .

      " In accepting otlice I have become the colleague of men of enlightened understandings , liberal opinions , acknowledged ability , great Parliamentary experience , and distinguishcd administrative talent . Itclween my colleagues and myself there oxia (« u tfouoml ugrocwout , of opiuivii afl

      to the manner m which the affairs of this country ought to be cond ucted in these critical times . That general agreement of opinion will , I believe , enable us to act cordially in honest practical concert for the benefit of our country . " I have the honour to be , gentlemen , your obedient servant , "William Moleswokth . " 87 , Eaton-place , Dec . 27 . " Mr . Cardwell stands for Oxford in the room of Sir W . Page Wood . He met the electors on Wednesday , and was very well received . But as ho declined to pledge himself to vote for the Ballot , a resolution was adopted to the effect that no candidate should be supported who would not vote for the Ballot .

      Nothing important has occurred at present at any other constituency except Leeds , where Mr . Baines is again accepted as the candidate of the Liberals , and where the Tories have decided to offer him no opposition . Our readers will have remarked the retirement of Captain Howard from the representation of Morpeth . Almost simultaneously , Sir George Grey has issued an address to the electors , so that the transfer is as obvious as that of Oxford . It is believed that Admiral Berkeley will be opposed at Gloucester , and that an attempt will be made to eject Mr . Gladstone from his seat . The former is far more probable than the latter .

      Some opposition is threatened in other boroughs . Mr . A . B . Cochrane has issued an address to the electors of Southampton , and Mr . Henry Edwards to the electors of Halifax . There is also eome talk of bringing Mr . Trelawny out again for Brighton . A meeting of extreme Liberals was held in the City on Thursday , when it was intimated that Lord John Russell had promised " a large measure of Reform , " thorough revision of the Customs , and further , that the Government would push a resolution to admit the Jews through the House of Commons , with the concurrence of the Lords .

      Most of the elections will take place next week , except Southwark , Hertford , and Scarborough , which comes off on Saturday .

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      ARCHDEACON DENISON AND MR . GLAD . STONE . The following letter was published in the morning journals of Wednesday : — " East Brent , Western S . Mare , Christmas Day , 1862 . " My deab Gladbtonk , —The day on which I make this communication to you adds more than I can express in words to my deep pain , and to my sense of responsibility in making it . After a week of anxious suspense , the fact of tho existence of a coalition government , * . e . < of a government in which you are joined with Lord J ohn Russell —with Lord Lansdownc in the cabinet *—may be Baid to be ascertained . I wish to use few words where every one I write is so bitterly distressing to me , and nrtist , I cannot doubt , be little less so to yourself , and to many others whom I respect and love . I have , then , to state to you , as one of your constituents , that from this time I can place no confidence in you as a representative of the University of Oxford , or as a public man . I have read and re-read your published letter to It . Pliillimore . I am obliged to say that it appears to me to bo a matter of no importance at all , and quite beside the question , whether tho ' concert , ' or ' combination , ' or coalition was effected previous to , or at tho time of , or subsequent to the late division . I reserve to myself tho right of forwarding this letter for publication b y Tuesday ' s post , and also any reply which you may make- to it . I will only say , by way of anticipation , that any amount of guarantee which may have been taken by you , in accepting office in tho new government , for non-aggression upon the church of England , or for tho concession of her just claims , in , in my judgment , absolutely valueless when weighed against the fact of the coalition .

      " I < aithfully and affectionately yours , "CJijohok A . I ) i : nihon , Archdeucon of Taunton . " Kiyht lion . W . JK . Glailntou © , M . I ' . " Probably Mr . Denison's position mny be made mora distinct by the following letter to the Morning Herald : — "Sir , —Under the extraordinary circumstances in which we are all placed by the coalition of Pe » lilen , WhigH , and Radicals and , 1 conclude , Irish Roman Catholics—for tho purpose of forming a ( Jovermncnt of moderate progress , ' 1 allow myself to hope that you will kindly publish what I now write , with the enclosed copy of a letter in answer to the correspondent , of the Mommy Chronicle , ' I ) . C . L . ' " Your obedient , servant , " ( Jkouor A . Dkniron , Archdeacon of Taunton . " Kast lironf , Iiuioccnl . H ' -diry , lHf > 2 . " ' To tho JCditor of the Mommy ( 'lironiclv . " ' Nnt , ~ - I hope I am not one of those -who are content to sever upon light , grounds the . public ties which have bound men together in a great cause . " ' 1 do not dissent from your correspondent , " I ) . C . 'L , " when he nays , " Churchmen should have , no politic */ ' in the sense iu which 1 suppose him to use tho wordo . " Vile will not dissent from me when 1 . any that Churchmen should havo uurralitu . "' Churchmen who support tho " coalition" Government will be hard put to it to defend their support upon any recognised moral principle .

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      " Sir William Molesworth ' s acceptunuoof olllco with a seat in tb . 0 cubinci proucnto tho ' couutioju * undur ouo mor « aspoct . "

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      4 THE LEADER . [ Saturda y ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 1, 1853, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1967/page/4/