The Borough Election
Until the 28th of April, the day before the nomination it seemed impossible to prevent the retiring members from being returned unopposed, but the result of a deputation to Lord Harry Vane, secretly and perhaps hurriedly planned, was made known on the morning of the 29th, by the issue of His Lordship’s address.
The Nomination
All parties assembled at the hustings at about 11 o’clock, and after the usual preliminaries, the Mayor said – for the first time that morning he heard that the election would go to a poll. He hoped, therefore, that the speakers would have a fair hearing.
E. Vernon Harcourt, Esq., in nominating Mr. Robinson (surely this should be Robertson?), said that he himself had never yet voted for a member of parliament in consequence on his having lived a good deal abroad, but which residence had given him an insight of the world’s politics. He had lived amongst a people enchained by the shackles they themselves had forged. There was a tyranny of despotism and a tyranny of democracy, and of the two evils he regarded that of democracy as the worst, because the most delusive. We had only to look across the water to see a great nation led on by specious bribes of the ballot and universal suffrage, into resigning its liberties altogether. He had always returned to England more than ever thankful for the civil and religious liberty which it was our happiness to enjoy. Gentlemen calling themselves Liberals should not arrogate to themselves an exclusive right to expound liberty. It was part of a Conservative policy not to endanger liberty by rash experiments, but to secure the largest measure for the people by a discreet use of it. In France the Republicans had been the means of extinguishing liberty; and he would have Mr. Bright and others beware of embracing principles which were not sustained by the spirit of that Constitution of which we are so justly proud. These were perilous times, and we could not look abroad without seeing that the heavy cloud which was hanging over Europe, and which had already burst into a tempest of war. It was the admiration of foreigners how England on great emergencies could sink their petty differences and unite in one common cause for the public weal. In such times we required honest men to represent us, [Hear, hear!] and such a man was Mr. Robertson. He was no doubtful politician. He begged therefore to propose Mr. Robertson as a fit and proper person to represent them in Parliament [Cheers!].
Mr. H. N. Williams had pleasure in seconding the nomination of one who in his private and public character deserved their support. He was sound in Protestantism, and would aid in crush-
