'Ube Vrobinces.
The members of the North Staffordshire Reform Association dined together at Neweastle-under-Lync on the 13th instant. Mr. Edward Diller, M.P., and Colonel Anson 'M.P., were present, and addressed the .company. Mr. Bailer declared ;hat he was ready to make great sacri- fices in behalf of the Liberal cause, and in support of Ministers— He had now for several years had the honour of representing in Parliament the Northern Division of the county of Stafford; and it had been said by his honourable frieud in the chair, that he had sacrificed his time, his health, sap his purse in the cause of Reform. He had perhaps made some small sacrifices ; but this Ile could say, that they were still heartily at their disposal. He was fully aware by this time what were the attractions of the situation which he hail the honour to hold. Ho had hail experience of the many drawbacks attached to it ; and after having devoted his time and attention, and done his utmost to promote their interests and the interests of' his country, he knew what it was for men to turu round upon him and condemn the course he had pursued, But at the same time, he knew what it was to be supported by a good conscience, and to feel that he was fighting in a just and good cause ; and under such circumstances he must be a wretched anti miserable individual who would not be prepared to make great sacrifices. It was needless to tell those around him—those who ityproved of his political conduct—that lie had felt it a duty incumbent upon him to give a general, hearty, and cordial support to her Majesty's present Ministers. Ile had given that support, because he felt that the attacks which had been made upon them at public meetinos, not only in this county but in various other quarters, were unjust and unfounded. Hewhad afforded them his support, because he considered that they were highly honourable and talented men—men who had made great sacrifices on behalf of popular rights, and who had shown a determination to uphold all the institut Cons of the country in that shape and character which made them consisten- with the feelings of the people. It was not for him to take upon himself the defence of the policy of the Government. He had not been behind the scenes. He knew not their secrets. Many of their measures and motives were, perhaps, not aulliciently known • but could he, professing the principles he did, consistently with truth and lionuur desert them? He could not at the present moment refrain from mentioning the name of a member of the Government to whom the people of this country were under tlie deepest ob- ligations. If the name of any individual would live in the records of history— the name of ono, whose great exertions to improve the institutions of this country had been signal and most important—one whose triumphs in the cause of civil and religious liberty were entitled to be handed down to posterity with sentiments of grateful delight—the name of that individual MU Lord John Russell—that individual who formed one of the subjects of attack at the Tory meeting that had recently taken place at Stone, under the denomi- nation of " weak," vacillating," " mean," " shabby," and " ignorant." Such were the terms applied by a noble lord at that mooting to those teen who composed the Government. That individual had led the House of Commons , for five years, through a period of' unexampled difficulty ; and had carried for- ward the public business against an Opposition unparalleled, in such a man- ner as to retain the confidence of all his friends, and also with the unqualified ' approval of hhi Opponents when they spoke their genuine sentiments among their friends, not when they-came down to create a sensation atstt dinner at
Stone.... . . .
Colonel Anson taunted the Conservatives with their timid.and caus tious tactics in Opposition, and exulted in the Queen's. support of the Whigs— If they were to take the Tories upon their own showing, what, he would ask, became of their tirades? 'What became of their unqualified reprobation of almost every Ministerial proceeding ? They reprobated all that had been done' but they had not proposed one single measure : those paragons of wis- dom bad not dared to point out one act that they would do—one measure But they would enact. And if Ministers were so unpopular in the country.if their measures were really deserving the reprobation bestowed on them by the Tories—if they really were so injurious to the country as the Tories repro, seated them to be—why did they stand. idly by ? why did they not come boldly forward and impeach those Ministers? Why did they not test. their own and Lord Melbourne's popularity by such a measure as that ? They dared not do it. How much more bating, them to give Ministers credit for what the' had done, and to disdain the language of the Bradshaws and the Robys, which so shamefully outraged decency and perverted truth. It was a great misfortune that many measures which had been proposed by Ministers had not been carried ; but he would ask, to whom was this owing?' To whom did they owe it that the Irish Municipal Corporation Bill had not been carried? why was it that Canada was without a constitution? And why was it that Jamaica was allowed to Oppose the will of the Sovereign Legislature ? Ireland, Canada, and Jamaica, all required the interference of Parliament, Faction had prevailed, and the wrongs of both Ireland and Canada remained unredressed, and the contumacy of 'Jamaica almost disregarded. If, however, Ministers had not accomplished all they wished, they had one merit—they had kept the Tories out of office and _prevented them from doing. mischief. They had only to look to the Hsi' Reform Bill to see what the Tories would do : they had fixed on so high a franchise that it would have had the effect of establishing a kind of oligarchy in every corporate town in Ireland; and he believed they wished to see Ireland governed by an oligarchy, as it had been. Had it not been for the firmness of' their youthful Queen and excellent Sovereign, they would have seen a Tory Administration restored. He could not pass by the mention of the name of their beloved Sovereign without saying that the Liberals of the United Kingdom owed her it debt which they would never be enabled to repay.
Colonel Anson avowed himself favourable to the Ballot, and an alter- ation of the Corn-laws ; and approved of their being made "open questions "- If they were to bare a Liberal Government, and on a broad basis—if its ob- ject was to advance Liberal principles in politics and in commercial affairs— there were several points they must leave open to free discussion ; one of these was the Ballot, and the other was the Corn•laws. He knew that as a county Member he was touching upon ticklish ground ; but those two questions stood preeneuently prominent, and they must be agitated. Every one knew that by a part of the Government these questions were supported ; and this, toge- ther with the present state of public feeling MI the subject, was a reason why they might be proved to be good or shown to be bad. He had never before the last session voted on either of these questions, but he had then voted in favour of both. It was not, however, through the force of public opinion that he had done so; Ile had not been urged by his constituents to either vote. They had returned Inin without any pledge. They had let him alone, and had not sod- cited him in any shape. But though they hall not done so, he could not shut his eyes and ears to what was going forward. When he had seen the intimidation that was used, he became convinced that to work out the fair benefits of the Reform Bill we must have the Ballot. It was known to them all that lie was not himself a great landholder ; all his connexions, however, were deeply and extensively connected with the soil; in fact, he might say that there was scarcely a Member hi England or Scotland who was more deeply connected with the landed interest than he was; but, at the same time, he felt satisfied that the present Corn-laws were not good in principle. The persons who
w i
were benehted by those lairs were those who were speculators n corn. To the farmers they were of little good. If any interest did suffer by a change, the occupiers of land, he was sure, would not be the parties.
The anniversary of the first open election for the borough of New- port, Isle of Wight, was celebrated by a party of Liberals on Thursday week. Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Blake, Members for the borough, were present, and both delivered speeches in praise of Ministers ; of whose continuance in power they professed to have no doubt.
The Cambridge Whigs gave Mr. Gibson a public dinner on Wednes- day. Mr. Gibson delivered a long speech, from which it would be difficult to make selections worthy of his reputation. He repeated much that he had said before against Sir Robert Peel, the Tories, and the Corn-laws.
The Tories have had "demonstrations" at Birmingham, Lichfield, and Warrington.
Lord Ingestre having been charged by the Staffordshire Examiner with using treasonable expressions towards the Queen at a Tory meeting, sent a letter to the Wolverhampton Chronicle, protesting against the con- struction put upon his language-
" I distinctly deny having given expression to a single sentiment not breath- ing the must devoted loyalty to may Sovereign. If the Queen's name is, ac- cording to the Liberaldoctrine, so identified with that of her Ministers, that, in exercising the birthright of an Englishman of censuring their administration, I am supposed indirectly to reflect upon Englishman, Majesty, the fault is not mine. I was at first disposed to treat this contemptible attack as personal, and with entire indifference; but as through me an attempt is made to impugn the loy- altyof the party with which I have the honour to act, I have thought proper to give this public denial to your assertion, and trust to your candour as a poli- tical opponent to give this letter a place in your paper."
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