TOWN HALL & HIGH STREET, DUDLEY. 1832.
DUDLEY POLITICS.
To the Editor of the Birmingham Journal.
Sir,—I was much surprised on receiving your paper of last Saturday, to find a most impudent statement made by Mr. John Williams of this town, relative to his exclusion from the Bowling Green. In my opinion, he only met with his deserts, for it is an invariable rule with us to cut any person who differs from us in politics. It was our wish that Colonel Lygon should have been again returned to Parliament for the County of Worcester, and of course expected no opposition; it was, therefore, with feelings of the deepest indignation, that we saw Mr. Williams’s name announced as Chairman of the Committee of a rival Candidate, in direct opposition to Lord Dudley’s agent, the meek and amiable Chairman of Colonel Lygon’s Committee. Yes, Sir, Mr. Williams is right, in saying it was the election and that alone, which was the cause of his expulsion, and surely it was enough to rouse the blood of Englishmen (accustomed as we have been to rule the town) to find our power gone, and our influence laughed at by the party which Mr. Williams espoused. Our feelings are so tremblingly sensitive on this point, that one of the gentlemen whose names have been so unwarrantably exposed, actually dined with Mr. Williams, at his own table, and from it walked down to the Bowling Green Committee, and voted for his expulsion, so that we do not allow private friendship to interfere with public duty; and as we have, besides, the sanction of two intelligent County Magistrates, we have little to fear.
It is a source of poignant regret to us, that none of the other members of the Reform Committee could be punished in the same way, for although for the most part composed of highly-respectable individuals, yet as we wished to keep the “Green” select, we did not send them any invitation to join us, for we have been long accustomed to love unanimity, and if persons thinking differently from ourselves on public matters, were to be admitted, there would be no end of discussion, which we much dislike, having but few talkers amongst us, and others not choosing to give their opinions to be carped at by their opponents.
We have been taunted with having signed the Reform Petition a few months since; but what of that? Surely we have as much right to support and vote for an anti-reform candidate, as we had to sign a petition praying for reform. And, moreover, what has supporting a candidate to do with our having signed a petition? What if Colonel Lygon has opposed all reform? What if he be an enemy to Civil and Religious Liberty? What if he has been the undeviating supporter of the reckless expenditure of the people’s money? What is all this to us? We could always afford to pay the taxes! We have thriven under the old system! and yet we are to be told, forsooth, that we have forfeited our consistency, in supporting a man, than whom a more consistent being does not breathe. He subscribes a few pounds annually to our charitable institutions, and we are really fearful lest these should be discontinued now that his political connexion with us has ceased. Such are the consequences to be dreaded from this new state of things. It was very strange Mr. Williams could not take his dismissal quietly, without publishing his disgrace in the newspapers, as it never was intended, out of a sincere regard for his feelings, that it should be known beyond our own circle.
I am, Sir,