The Election of Nov., 1868.
In consequence of the passing of the New Reform Bill in 1867, this election had been long anticipated, and preparations for it had been for some months in progress by the re-organisation of the three parties—the Conservatives, the Whigs, and the Radicals, the last of which was now numerically the strongest of the three. At the commencement of the year, a general committee of forty delegates, five from each of the eight wards, was formed in the Tory interest, in order to be prepared for the coming struggle. This general committee, consisting of middle-class and working-men, was intended to supersede a junta of the more influential men of the party, who were accused of having mis-managed every election for the last twenty years; and they set to work at once to form a general Conservative Association, and to some extent, succeeded, while the old leaders kept aloof from all the proceedings, Mr. G. Johnson, Mr. E. Field, Mr. F. E. Watson, Mr. J. S. Skipper, Mr. F. Brown, Mr. J. B. Morgan, Mr. H. Morgan, and others, who had been active partisans, seldom putting in an appearance at any political meetings. After re-organising their party, the new committee of forty cast about for a popular candidate, and fixed upon Sir R. J. H. Harvey, Bart., the late member for Thetford, which had just been disfranchised, but after a long consideration of the matter he politely declined, and though again and again solicited, he still refused to come forward. After various fruitless negociations with other parties, the new committee however at last requested Sir Henry Stracey, Bart., of Rackheath, to contest the representation of the city; and though he hesitated for some time, at last he consented to do so, and issued a short address. He attended many ward meetings of his party at different places, and one great meeting in St. Andrew’s Hall. Sir S. Bignold presided and spoke strongly in favour of the hon. baronet, who declared himself to be a Protestant churchman; a friend of church and state, and of all the time-honoured institutions of the country; a supporter of Disraeli’s ministry; and an opponent of all radical changes. Sir Henry also, by request, attended a meeting of the Licensed Victuallers, at the Hop-Pole Gardens, and having promised to oppose the Permissive Bill and to vote for a redress of their grievances, the meeting passed a resolution to support him at the coming election.
During the autumn, the Whigs held several meetings at the Royal Hotel, and after much discussion resolved to support the old members, Sir William Russell and Mr. Edward Warner. Those gentlemen accordingly came to Norwich by the invitation of the Whigs and addressed the electors, but were not favourably received by the meeting, most of those present being advanced Liberals. In consequence of this, they retired till the Liberals should be more united. The working-men, in fact, had also held many previous meetings, and were resolved to have their own candidate, and they nominated Jacob Henry Tillett, who had laboured for them for so many years. To achieve their end, they formed a very extensive Organization, embracing all the wards in the city; canvassed the electors, and registered every one in every parish who promised to vote for their candidate; and in a short time they registered 4000 voters for Mr. Tillett, and were very confident of success. The consequence was that when Sir Henry Stracey came forward, the Whigs, in view of a strong contest, agreed to combine with the advanced section of the Liberals, and a meeting was held of both sections, who resolved to support Sir William Russell and Mr. Tillett—Sir William Foster, presiding. Those two gentlemen accordingly issued a joint address, promising to support the same Liberal principles and measures. The Conservatives too, in view of the coming contest, forgot their past differences, and worked together most energetically.
The nomination took place on November 16th. As soon as the sheriff (J. Robison, Esq.) had taken his seat, the Guildhall was filled with a roaring, shouting, and groaning crowd, who exercised their lungs most vigorously, to express their approval or disapprobation of the views of the different prominent members of either party, as they made their appearance by twos and threes at the magistrates’ entrance to the court. For aught that could be said to the contrary by those a few feet distant, the reading of the writ and the administering of the oath to the sheriff seemed to be but dumb show.
After the sheriff had opened the proceedings, Mr. H. Birkbeck nominated Colonel Sir William Russell, Baronet.
Mr. John Youngs seconded and Mr. S. Daynes supported the nomination.
Sir S. Bignold said he begged to nominate Sir Henry Josias Stracey, Baronet, of Rackheath, their opulent neighbour and brother elector.
Mr. W. J. U. Browne seconded and Mr. J. G. Johnson supported the nomination.
Mr. J. J. Colman said he had great pleasure in nominating Jacob Henry Tillett, Esq., of the city of Norwich.
Mr. A. M. F. Morgan seconded and Mr. C. J. Bunting supported the nomination.