Mr. Edward John Stanley, Clerk of the Treasury, Whig Whipper-
in, and a considerable dispenser of Government patronage, dined at Stockport on Wednesday, with a large party of his constituents, the North Cheshire Liberals. The immediate cause of this muster was the canvass of that division of the county by the Conservative candidate, Mr. Cornwall Leigh. The Mayor of Stockport was in the chair; and Mr. Henry Coppock, TowneClerk of Stockport, officiated as Vice-President. The Court toasts having been given, the Mayor proposed " Her Majesty's Ministers," in a few commonplace phrases about the necessity of supporting them, and the blame which attached to the people for not supporting them with sufficient energy, &e. &e.
Mr. Stanley, in returning thanks, dwelt upon the superiority of 'Whigs over Tories. Hardly one great measure for the amelioration of the country had passed which had not the support of Whigs and the hostility of Tories. In proof of this, lie could refer to the repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts, Catholic Emancipation, the Reform Bill, Municipal Reform, abolition of Slavery, mitigation of the Criminal Code. It was necessary in public affairs to advance or recede ; and he perceived symptoms of the determination of the Tories to go back. Influential men in their party avowed the necessity of repealing the Catholic Relief Act ; and it was said that Sir Robert Peel had repented of his error in 1829, and was about to retrace his steps. Then there was Lord Stanley's Irish Registration Bill— Of all the atrocious bills, as far as lie understood the natare of that bill, it was the worst. The object of it was to disfranchise one half the people of Ire- land. It was a bill of pains and penalties to any elector who !night endeavour to rret that franchise which the law gave hint. Why had this bill been brought beef It had been brought in because the electors of Ireland were not sub- servient to the Tories. It was to punish the people of Ireland because they Lad returned men to Parliament determined to support her :tfajeste's Minis- ters, because those Ministers had rendered the connexion of Ireland' with this country a blessing for the first time these six hundred years. No inan could say that that country returned men who did not represent its feelings. He might satisfactorily prove that the motives of the Tories for bringing in this bill was to bring, them back to power. There was a letter front the worthy secretary of a Tory association in Cork, in which he sues o Our only possibility' of returning a Censervative Member &penile on this 01 being passed." Thee slight perhaps think that this was not their case—thst thee IO:ta nothino to tfo With Ireland; but the battle of English freedom was to he fought on Irish ground. If it succeeded there, it might not be long before it was their turn. A Ruceessfal tight against the franchises of Ireland v.-oula lead to a successful fight against the franchisee of England.
Had the Tories the confidence of the House of Commons, or of the Queen ?—
They tried a vote of .confidence at the beginning of the eession, and were de- feated. They tried again at the end of the seseeou, and seemed not more likely of success thus before. Had they the eonfidenee of her M:.im•sty ? They seemed to think that of no consequence just now. Tea re se.ented to lie no prospect of is change in the Government. He believed tleo the opiniuus enter- tained by her Majesty's Ministers were the opinions of the great majority of the people; and lie believed and trusted that the people of this country woult, not withdraw their support.
His own health brought Mr. Stanley ,_:tin before the company ; when he spoke briefly, and the only noticeable part of his speech re- lated to the Corn-laws-
lle was not in thvour of a total and unconditional repeal. He thought it would be unjust to reduce those who had been depending on the Co u-laws to a free trade in corn all at once ; but he was for a moderate fixed ditty, which lie thought would be sufficient tier the purposes we had in view.
The other speakers were Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Henry Marsland. Mr. Charles Ilindley, Mr. Henry Coppock, and Mr. Caskell. Mr, Brocklehurst said lie had voted both ways on the Corn question : he had been a supporter of the present laws, but. after reading many pamphlets, was now convinced that they must be altered. Mr. Mars- land avowed himself a supporter of the present Ministers: thonelt he disapproved of their conduct in some respects, he thought them better than the Tories. Mr. }Hadley called attention to the relative strength of parties in North Cheshire, and seemed to admit that his own opinions had lately veered towards Conservatism- " You have known me matey years; we have fought tnectlter. brother elec- tors, ninny arduous battles. You, gentlemen of Stockport, know how many fights we have fought in order to get rid of certain ditliestitks conneeted Whit the Church. We have fought, and we fought triutdphantly ; and we shall
: fight still, and go on to victory : but at the same time, 1 must say that at the present moment I think we ought not to be ton sanguine. 1 must now breathe the language of caution. The time has been, utter the passing of the Reform Bill, when my opinion was asked respeeting the bringing forward of two Re- form candidates thr North Cheshire. I sob!, let its bring thrward two candi- dates. Well, we brought forward Admiral Tollent wbe hi conjunction with Mr. Stanley, and we tried the county. We were then in the heat of the Re- form Bill—we brought forward two candidates, and were defeated The ques-
tion now is, what course ought we to pursue on the present tweashia We are threatened with two hostile candidates. Is it your wish that we should
bring forward a second Reform candidate? (('ries ") I wish we had a Chatter. I am not for any compromise of opinion. 1 could wish to have a second Reform candidate alotig with Mr. Stanley. (Crims try.")
It you do try, gentlemen, you will lose both : you try, you will lose both. B) earliest advice to all my brother electors of this dim ision tif the comity is, us be satisfied if we can only return Mr. Stanley. e Cries " Mar,
Ann.!" and " ! Why do I oar so ? Why, people of Stockport, ran lau room two Reform Members for Stockport i ( Cries of " Yes: ") Then do so—( Loud cheers and lanyhter)—and, at the election arer. I will give you leave to try for two Reform Members for the county. 'Fhb, is a county meet- ing, out not merely a Stockport meeting. Cum you carry t wo Reform Mem- hers for Macclesfield? (.1 pause.) I say no. I say, when you look to the County constituency, it would be the height of folly and madness to try two Reform candidates, till you have secured two Reform Members for both your towns. I felt particularly anxious about this, because, since I have gone to Parliament, I candidly tell you my views have undergone some change. Some people say they have changed to Conservative or Tory. My sole desire is to see the welfare and happiness of the people secured ; and I care nothing about Whigs or Tories, except in so far as I conceive their views and intentions are calculated for the welfare of the people of England."
Mr. Coppoek thought it was premature to decide whether they should have two candidates or one ; and Mr. Gasket' reconnuended early pre- paration at all events.
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