Whilst these angry elements were getting ventilated amongst the irritated electors, it was known to a chosen few that the wire-pullers were at work, and that a ready cut and dried candidate “was bottled up not far from the Priory,” ready to be let off at any moment, hence, at the fitting time, out came his address.
TO THE INDEPENDENT ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF DUDLEY.
Gentlemen,
The retirement of Sir Stafford Northcote having created a vacancy in the Representation of your Borough, I venture to offer myself as a Candidate for your suffrages at the approaching Election.
In doing so, I am anxious to state, with perfect candour, the political views I entertain on some of the important questions of the day.
I am in favor of that system of progressive Legislation which has for its object the Reform of all existing abuses, without having recourse to violent and organic changes in the constitution of Church and State.
During the period I had the honour of a seat in Parliament, at a time when the policy of Free Trade was much questioned, I felt it my duty to support and advocate the system of Commercial Freedom introduced by the late Sir Robert Peel.
I rejoice to think that this policy has tended to promote the comfort and welfare of the People, to inspire confidence in the justice of Parliament, and to augment to such a wonderful extent the Trade and Revenue of the Country.
While the partial diminution of the Income Tax is a matter of congratulation, I am strongly of opinion that it is the duty of the Government, by means of well-considered reductions in our expenditure, to make provision for the final extinction of a Tax, valuable in time of war, but unjust as a permanent burden on the energies and property of the Country during a period of Peace.
With respect to the vote on the Chinese War, which has led directly to the present appeal to the Country, while I deeply regret that hostilities should have been carried to such an extent without the knowledge of the Government, I am nevertheless strongly of opinion that it was necessary for the honor of the Country, as well as for the security of the lives and property of our fellow-subjects in that distant quarter of the Globe, that the Government should uphold and defend, with that courage and determination which has ever characterized Lord Palmerston on such occasions, the conduct of its Officers, until the adjustment of the points in dispute shall have been obtained.