While I feel my own individual claims to the honor of representing you in Parliament have not even been called in question, and am deeply sensible of the kind manner in which I have been generally received, I cannot disguise from myself that in the present state of feeling in the Borough, arising from misrepresentation, and a disinclination on the part of the Electors to calmly consider the actual facts of the case, the result of a direct appeal to the Constituency would be doubtful.
Under these circumstances I have resolved to retire from the contest, persisting in which would occasion an unusual amount of ill feeling, and be painful to those, who, having hitherto acted together during the whole of their Political life, would on this occasion be found ranged in opposition to each other.
Time, I trust, will convince you, that I came forward on purely Independent grounds, as a supporter of the energetic policy of Lord Palmerston, to uphold which I believe to be the real wish of the Electors of Dudley.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. SANDARS.
Dudley, 27th, March, 1857.
NOT WANTED! “THE WEAKLY PRESS-GANG!”