20 June 1826 Cumberland Election - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

20 June 1826 Cumberland Election

GENERAL ELECTION.
                                   ------------------
                                   CUMBERLAND.

                                                    CARLISLE, June 16.
The election for the county of Cumberland took place this day. At an early hour
the note of preparation was shown by different bands of music stationed before
the Globe Inn, as the yellow house, and before the Sun as the blue one. Various
flags, having appropriate inscriptions, were also displayed from the windows of
several public houses, some of which, it was understood, were opened for public
visitation. About half-past nine Lord LOWTHER arrived, and quartered at the
Globe, without exciting the least interest. Several of the blues waited at the
entrance of the town, with banners and music, for Mr. CURWEN; and as soon as he
entered the town, he was received with immense acclamations. Continued cheering
issued from the crowd as they accompanied him to the Sun; but during the whole
time the really busy and excited spirit of a Carlisle election seemed not to
intrude into the lukewarmness of the county election.

When Mr. CURWEN went into the dining-room, and appeared at the window, the
cheering of the crowd was tremendous. As soon as silence could be obtained, he
addressed them in the following words: - "Permit me to return you my most
grateful thanks for the reception which you have this day given me. I trust and
hope that the people will always find me what they have always found me - their
warm and zealous friend." Then turning round, the hon. gentleman addressed the
company in the room: - "I wish to say one word to you, gentlemen. It is
necessary for me to do so, because several rumours have gone abroad not at all
creditable to my character for consistency and independence. I allude to what I
said respecting Mr. BROUGHAM and the Westmoreland contest. It is construed as if
I meant to give my support to a party whom I have all along opposed. I certainly
said this, - that I could not conscientiously recommend any one to venture into
such a contest; but if he did, he should certainly have my support. And I
declare I would support him as much as any man. What! I support the LOWTHERs!
No! After 40 years' opposition, it is not likely that I would turn to their
favour just as the last spark of my life is going out. Gentlemen, need I say I
never cringed to any man? I never will cringe to any man, much less to them. I
declare I never would accept of a seat in the house, however valuable, on such
terms. If I have a seat in the house, it shall be given to me by the public
voice, and by that alone." (Cheers.)

At a quarter before 12, the gentlemen ascended the hustings, and as soon as Mr.
George SAUL, as under-sheriff, read the act, and other necessary preliminaries
were gone through,

Sir PHILIP MUSGRAVE addressed the freeholders. I have the honour to propose Sir
John LOWTHER as a fit and proper person to become your representative in
Parliament. The hon. baronet has, you all know, for many years been actuated by
a zeal for the interests of his constituents, and if you look upon his conduct
in Parliament, I am sure it will afford you a sufficient proof that he has
always studied the best interests of the county. (Applause.)

THOMAS HENRY GRAHAM, Esq., seconded the nomination. He considered the hon. bart.
a man as much distinguished for his private worth as for the talents which have
made him conspicuous in his public capacity. I have the greatest satisfaction in
appearing now to support the nomination which you have just heard. (Applause.)

Sir JOHN LOWTHER. - During the time which has elapsed since last I had the
pleasure of addressing you from the hustings, I am not aware that in any part of
my conduct I have deviated from the principles upon which I have always rested
my claim for support on offering myself for your representative. My principles
are well known; I have always steadfastly adhered to that course which I
considered the best to pursue for the constitution, the church, and the state.
In this conduct I have always persevered, - in this conduct I will always
persevere. If you are disposed again to elect me as one of your representatives,
I pledge myself that my utmost efforts shall be exerted in order to preserve the
prosperity and to support the interests of the county. (Applause.)

JOSEPH DYKES BALLANTYNE DYKES, Esq. - Freeholders! You are now assembled to
exert your power, and in the exercise of one of the most valuable privileges
that can exist in this or any other nation whatever. Because, gentlemen
freeholders, you will have great pleasure in choosing at this opportunity, for
one of your representatives, a man who has honestly fulfilled the duties of his
important office; he has exerted himself in behalf of his constituents; he has
fully answered your expectations, and can conscientiously say he has done his
duty. Six years ago, when my hon. friend near me was proposed by me as a fit
person to become your representative, he then named his principles, and since
that time he has strictly adhered to them. Gentlemen, those principles were
independent. (Cheers and hissing.) I hear a hiss. I confess I am astonished at
this reception. I confess I was quite unprepared for it. I must say, however,
that if I thought the freeholders would express themselves in the manner they
have, I should be ashamed to be one of them. But I will come to the subject for
which I stand up to address you. Gentlemen, then, I have the honour to propose
Mr. CURWEN for your representative - a man who has advocated those principles
which have been always the best support to liberty. (Cheers and groans, which
continued for some time; Mr. DYKES in vain endeavouring to obtain a hearing.)
Gentlemen, I must say (continued Mr. DYKES, very warmly) that a more uncandid,
unmanly, and disgraceful interruption, I never heard of in the course of my
life. It is most shameful conduct. I wish to know whether it is to me or to my
hon. friend that you pay this marked insult. If it is to me, I say, for 60 years
I have been among you, greater part of which I have been one of yourselves; and
I will say that I have always, always, done my duty. Spite of this interruption,
I repeat, that I propose Mr. CURWEN for your representative. I proposed him six
years ago, and you then cheerfully accepted him. Since that time I know no
deviation from principle, no dereliction of duty that you could in the least
disapprove. (Cheers.) Look at all parts of his political conduct, there is every
thing to admire. In fact, I know not in what terms to speak of him. For nearly
half a century has he done his duty to you as public character. You all know
him, freeholders, and of his character you are as competent judges as I am. If
any man have anything to allege against him, why I will answer for my hon.
friend that he will boldly and satisfactorily answer the charge. Though it is
not my intention to go through a history of his political conduct, yet I will
just remind you that he has always been an advocate for economy in the public
expenditure. He has always opposed the expenditure which has a tendency to clog
the wheels of Government unnecessarily. He has always endeavoured by his
assistance to lessen the taxes which might press more immediately upon the small
farmer. (Great applause.) He has always supported their interests whenever
necessity required it. I know there have been rumours abroad inconsistent with
the words which I now address to you; but, gentlemen, these rumours were
unfounded, and time has proved that he is the friend of the people, their
advocate in the hour of need, their safeguard in the hour of trouble. I now turn
to my friend, the Sheriff of the county, and however much I wish to put every
thing in its regular order, and not retard the regularity of business, yet I
must say that it was necessary to give a reply to the disgraceful interruption
which you have witnessed. I therefore, gentlemen, propose John Christian CURWEN,
Esq., as a fit and proper person to become your representative in Parliament.
(Immense cheering.)

The Rev. Henry BARWISE seconded the nomination.
Mr. CURWEN now came forward amidst mingled groaning and cheering; the latter,
however, greatly predominated. "Freeholders!" - (The noise absolutely prevented
the hon. gentleman from proceeding for some time) - "Freeholders! After a life
of forty years, spent in the service of my constituents, I shall content myself
with saying a few words respecting my placing myself here to offer myself for
your representative. During the lengthened period it required, more especially
at the earlier part of it, some courage to withstand the difficulties of the
times; it required some courage to oppose Ministers in whatever plans they might
wish to bring forward. (Groans and cheers. - Mr. SENHOUSE called for silence.) I
say, gentlemen, that he who at that time had the hardihood to attempt to oppose
Ministers in their plans was considered to be an enemy of the State. But, thank
God! thank God that those times are passed! Every one in those days, the more
effectually to secure their measures, prophesied for future times, ruin,
devastation, and want. Those random prophecies were held out as an incentive;
but would to God that those prophecies were absolutely and wholly false; but
some of them, alas! are too true. The duties which in my time I have had to
perform are now comparatively easy; and this is effected by the present system
of government. I must say, that the present ministers, (mind, gentlemen, I am
not in the most distant degree connected with them by any tie, direct or
indirect,) - I say that the way in which they perform their duty is for the
benefit of the country at large. (Bravo, from the hustings. Cheers from the
crowd.) I have opposed them when I considered their measures were injurious to
the country; and I have supported them, - ay, I have supported them, whenever I
thought their measures were beneficial to the country. It is some satisfaction
to me to look back upon past times and past dangers. In those times I have been
accused of being a Jacobin; and of the other party - ay, and of every party,
however different their principles; but no one has ever yet shown, no one has
yet imputed to me that I ever had any object of gain to myself or to any of my
family. As I think you are fully convinced that my motives never have been
corrupt, I am sure you will believe me when I declare to you, that I never would
be elected as a representative in Parliament, but by the people at large -
never, but by the voice of the people, as it was directed to me wholly
unshackled and uninfluenced. I have always supported those measures (I repeat
it) which I considered in my own mind were good for my country. But if upon
great public questions I differed from my constituents, then I have always had
their voice to direct me. I declare that if I unfortunately differed from you, I
would even then obey your instructions or I would surrender up to you that trust
which you had placed in me. Gentlemen, such have ever been my opinions, such are
still my opinions, and such they shall ever be. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, I will not
say much more. There is one question, however, upon which I consider it
necessary to address you. I allude to the corn question. I say, and have always
said, that the best interests of the plough are in perfect unison with the best
interests of the manufactures; but I do say, that it is a question which should
be discussed with the greatest possible coolness. A system should be devised so
as to render the operation of the law alike beneficial to the landholder and the
manufacturer. (Cheers.) (Crowd, 'Put down the power-looms.') I hear a cry of
"Put down the power-looms." I say in opposition to this, that if the power-looms
were put down, the mischiefs which exist with them would spread far wider
without them. I would do you injury instead of benefit. At one time you know
that every member of the House of Commons was called upon to discuss the great
question when a cry was made for a tax upon machinery. But, gentlemen, even
those who suffered by machinery well knew that by so doing the injury would
spread the wider. They, therefore, opposed the tax. That the country has
suffered, grievously suffered, is too true; but there is too much intellect, too
much energy in Britain, that we should suffer long. One other subject and I have
done. I am sorry, very sorry, that any one should fancy for a moment, and
painful it is to me to mention it, that any one should think I would temporize
with the independence of the county. Appleby shall be the place where I shall
say more about it, and where I shall be certain to free myself from that which
has been urged against me. I do say, however, that I would not advise any man to
enter into that contest. I say that we should concede to the house of LOWTHER a
part, in order to secure the rest. It is for your interest to coalesce with the
house of LOWTHER; and if you have one representative, to give them the other. To
conclude: - If you return me to Parliament, I pledge myself zealously and
faithfully to do my duty. But if there should hereafter be any part of my
conduct of which you might not approve; if you will then, at a county meeting,
demand an account of my conduct, I pledge myself that I will either account for
it satisfactorily to you, or I will yield up those honours with which you have
intrusted me, and which have always been the highest object of my ambition; but
which I would, under such circumstances, cheerfully resign." (Immense and
continued cheering).

Mr. SENHOUSE. - There being no person nominated besides Sir John LOWTHER and
John Christan CURWEN, Esq., I do hereby declare them to be duly elected to serve
in Parliament for the representation of the county of Cumberland.

Sir JOHN LOWTHER returned thanks in a very few words.

Mr. CURWEN did the same, but added - "As for the gross attack just made on me, I
have only to say, which I am sure will be a sufficient reply, that the gentleman
(pointing to his own forehead) is wrong in the upper story." (Repeated cheers.)

Sir JOHN LOWTHER then entered the chair, and forsooth went his way up the town.
Mr. CURWEN then being booted and spurred, and girted with the Knight's sword,
entered the chair, and followed Sir John. They went through the borough amidst
immense cheering; and Sir John returned to his quarters, and Mr. CURWEN to his.

The dinners, toasts, speeches, &c., afterwards took their usual course.