gbe Vrobinces.
inhabitants of Leeds, to explain his vote on t79hEeatJonams
Sir William Molesworth has addressed the following letter to the
qauitterae ,Betiti■. qauitterae ,Betiti■. . May 1829. ." Fellow Citizens—As I think it desirable that, on all important occasions, a body of electors should clearly understand the conduct and opinions of their Representative, I now take the liberty of addressing you. Commons that her Majesty's Ministers had brought the Colonial Empire into a You will remember that last year I attempted to prove t o the the majority they obtained, they were obliged to resign. I opposed the measure to ye:lan:esur cot,: the Government for r their want of diligence and forethought, most critical state; mid that I called upon the I louse or Commons guided the West Indies. Then it did notsuit the convenience of ffictions to pronounce upon them the condemnation they deserved. At length, however, they have been called to a tardy account. You are, without doubt, aware that the Whig Ministry have been dissolved, in consequence of a late vote of the suspend the constitution of Jamaica, and in consequence * 'louse of Commons on a portion of their colonial policy. They east smallness to f introduced by the Government for two reasons ; first, because I have always entertained, and still entertain, strong feelings of aversion against interfermg with the constitution of any colony except on grounds of the most urgent necessity, mul such grounds were not, in my opinion, made out with regard to janinica; secondly, because the measure in question would only, in my humble judgment, tend to augment the political difficulties of the West Indies, and to defeat the principles of the Emancipation Act, of which I have always been strenuous supporter. " Though these were the reasons which determined my vote, I did not over- look the probable consequences of the division. I anticipated that the result would be the dissolution of the "Whig Ministry, and I feel it my duty to de- clare to you that I in no way regret the dissolution of the Ministry, nor do I conceive it to be an event m any way injurious to the cause of progressive Reform.
"The last time I addressed you on questions of general policy was at the commencement of the first session of this Parliament. It was in consequence of the declaration of Lord John Russell that the Reform Bill was a final mea- sure. 1 then warned you that the Government would, in order to retain their places attempt to persuade the Tories that Tory objects could be better pro- moted them than by a Tory Ministry. I appeal to tlpieeioveitsoirfZe,t that
last
two sessions in confirmation of the correctness of may anticipation. events of period the Conservative Oppositiou has really governed the country-; on all the most important questions of reform in our institutions, they have enabled the Ministry to defeat the supporters of the Ministry. Every measure of any mag- nitude that of late has become law, has been altered in some of its most im- portant particulars in order to please Sir Robert Peel and his followers; pies- tions of the greatest public interest have been neglected in order to avert Tory hostility ; and measures which the Tories could not have proposed, without exciting vehement opposition, have been carried by a union of Whigs and Tories. Thus the real authors and directors of the proceedings of govern- ment have been the Conservatives. This will no longer be the case. The first and most valuable consequence of the change of Ministers will be, that the Conservatives, instead of belly, the irresponsible, will become the responsible rulers of the country. They- heretofore controlled the Government— henceforth they will, to some extent, be influenced by the Opposition. same policy which, emamating from the late Ministry, was called Li at once be perceived to be -Conservative when it once comes front Tories. Things will at last be called by their right names ; parties will be ranged under their appropriate banners ; and there will no longer exist that glaring contrast between the principles of the Liberal party and the conduct of the Ministers whom they maintained in office, which was that bringing into disrepute all per- sons connected with the Government; which has caused a feeling of indiffer- ence towards them throughout the country ; and has produced amongst certain classes of the community that apathy which has been mistaken for a reaction in favour of Conservatism.
"Now is a fair opportunity for the Liberal party, unshackled by connexion with any Administration, to regain the confidence of the people by means of self- reliance, of independent action, and by steadfastly and earnestly seeking those constitutional and administrative reforms which have found many but luke- warm supporters in Parliament. " Again 1 repeat to you that 1 do not regret, but rejoice in, the consequence of the vote of Monday last. Perhaps, however, you may disapprove of my conduct ; you may dislike the opinions which I have expressed. If this should unfortunately be the case, let me recall to your recollection that when at your request I became one of your ripresentatiyes, I, of my own accord, declared to you that if nt any time the majority of those to whose votes I owed my elec- tion should cease to be satisfied with me, 1 would at once resign my seat. This declaration I now repeat to you. I desire to be your Representative as long as you wish me to retain that office, and not one moment longer.
"I have the honour to be, your obedient humble servant
"WILLIAM Mot.rswornat.” At a numerous meeting of the members of the Wellington Club, Ipswich, on Tuesday last, it was resolved, "That Thomas Milner Gib- son, Esq., has forfeited the confidence of the Conservative electors of this borough, by his recent conduct in Parliament, and that he be not supported at any future election."—Sufiblh Herald.
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