This ambiguous address of Colonel Lygon’s created a vehement outburst of opposition from the reformers against him, thus—
TO THE FREEHOLDERS OF THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER.
Brother Freeholders,
A factious opposition, and the intrigues of the selfish Boroughmongers, have postponed that highly beneficial and absolutely necessary measure of Reform introduced into the House of Commons by His Majesty’s Ministers. Our patriot king, however, highly approving of the principles of his ministers, and determined that the Bill shall not be crushed, or his own and his people’s rights longer withheld by the vile machinations of the Wetheralls, the Lygons, and the other partizans of corruption, has exercised his undoubted right of dissolving the Parliament, and “England now expects every man to do his duty.”
On every occasion when Col. Lygon has voted he has opposed Reform in every shape—however bit by bit—however moderate—and now he adds to his political delinquencies, Insult and Hypocrisy. In his Addresses, “he begs most explicitly to declare that he is friendly to moderate and constitutional Reform, to remove any abuse or improper innovations which time may have introduced.”
Yet he voted against transferring the Elective Franchise of East Retford (convicted of gross bribery and corruption) to Birmingham!
He is friendly to a moderate and constitutional Reform, yet he opposed the Marquis of Blandford’s Bill!
He is friendly to a moderate and constitutional Reform, yet he voted against Lord John Russell’s motion to transfer the Elective Franchise from boroughs (convicted of corruption) to Leeds, Birmingham, and Manchester! Is not this hypocrisy? If not, what is it? With these facts before the public—facts known to every individual in the county—he insults them by sending forth An Address, of which the assertions above quoted form a part, imagining that the Freeholders in the County of Worcester have minds so contracted, and understandings so degraded and debased, that a shallow hypocritical device like this would dupe them for a moment.
Freeholders, this Colonel Lygon again solicits your votes, that he may again oppose the beneficent and patriotic intentions of His Majesty’s Ministers—again oppose every measure beneficial to the people. You know your answer.
A FREEHOLDER.