The Welshman

IIAVEKFORDWEST ELECTION. I Friday, having been fixed by the High-Sheriff of the I Town and County of Haverfordwest, for the nomination of a Burgess to serve in Parliament, the streets d unwonted bustle from an early hour, and about half-past ten o'clock the two Candidates, J. II. Philipps, Esq., the late member, and W. Ilees, Esq., were conducted to the Shire Hall by a body of their supporters, the procession accompanying the former being composed of the most in- fluential of the profession and trade of the town. The usual preliminaries having been gone through, Mr. James Iliggon, of Scohon, proposed, and Mr. Richard Williams, tanner, seconded, the nomination of Mr John Henry Philipps as a fit and proper person to represent the borough in Parliament, Mr. Walters, Banker, pro- posed, and Mr. JosepuMarychurch, seconded Mr. Hees. Mr. Philipps, who was received with loud and prolonged cheering, came forward and said: Gentlemen, Five years have nearly passed away since, upon a similar occa sion to the present, I first presented myself with this and the united boroughs connected with it, and time has brought with it its accustomed changes. I was then a candidate for a new position, and I am now the defender of that which you then in your kindness assigned to me. Before I advert to the particular circumstances connected with the present contest, I shall think it right to make some comment, as briefly as I can, upon the principal events which have occurred during the last, I may say memorable, five years, and to explain my own public conduct, in connection therewith. But, before I do so and while the observations of Mr. Marychurch are fresh xu my recollection, I wish to make one or two remar ks upon what he has said. lie addressed this meeting in a tone and temper, that I think no human being could find fault with. (Hear, hear.) He was kind enough to express himself in terms of respect for me, and I am perfectly willing to re- ciprocate those expressions of respect. (Hear, hear.) I have no fault to find with him as a man, or his conduct towards me as a politician he has a right to express his own v iews, and I have no right to find fault, but I wish to make one or two remarks now, lest Lis observations should escape me in the course of the remarks it is my intention to offer. Mr. Marychurch seemed to make some particu- lar reference to the necessity of sending up a person connected with the details of business to represent you in Parliament. Now, it is necessary to remember that there cannot be special legislation for particular towns. (Hear, hear.) I am not aware that measures affecting Haverford- west can be speedily passed. (Hear, hear.) The business of a Member is to consider what is good for the whole nation, those of Haverfordwest must of necessity be in- volved. (Cheers, and cries of What about the ballot ?') In reference to the ballot I shall reserve my observations to a more advar;ced stage of the remarks I have to offer. (Hear, hear,) With regard to the last five years I may with justice say that few men ever entered Parliament for the first time under circumstances presenting more diffi- culties than have occurred to me. No less than three successive administrations, and I may almost say four, for so great were the internal changes that they almost constituted a new government, took place. Now constant changes of government are at all times a great misfortune to a country because they necessarily interfere with any well sustained course of rational improvement. But when a country is unfortunately engaged in war with a first class power like Russia, and when it is carrying on that war in concert with new Allies, between whom and us there might be reason to apprehend, from old causes of animosity, outbreaks of jealousy, that misfortune becomes aggravated to a calamity. Gentlemen,—I felt that was no time when I could look to mere party combinations and attachments for the regulations of one's conduct inre- ference to the mighty questions pressing on one's conside- ration for I felt that the safety of the country was at stake, and that it was necessary to avert that danger. (Cheers.) In a crisis of the utmost peril, and when the Queen seemed to be deprived of any government, the Present head of the Ministry (Lord Pahnerston) took the conduct of affairs, and upheld the principle which, however sOme may now be disposed to look on as less valuable, was tbenof theutmostimputtance to the country—the good old principle of not running away and leaving affairs to to take care of themselves. (Loud cheers.) I must say, also, that to him is due the merit of having maintained a firrn aspect and tone of confidence at a time when men's heart were sinking within them, and of inspiring £IP511 "Ir,fideiice into the minds of the people of England. (Cheers.) For this reason I think he had claims on the support, so far as this war was concerned, of those per- sons who entered Parliament not looking on themselves as IIttached to his Government. (Hear, hear ) I gave my undivided support to all measures necessary for carrying On the war and or, )ne question-The Turkish Loan Dill -1 have the satisfaction of now thinking that my vote Was one of a majority of two, which decided a question that, as far as public opinion can be collected, would, had. it been adversely decided, have imperilled the safety of the alliance with France, and the safety of the I urklsh Army. (Cheers.) In times of war the progress of internal legisla- ti." is necessarily subordinate, such was the case in the last Parliament. Still, at the commencement, when what I consider to be useful improvements were effected on the dehcate subject of taxation, the assessed taxes were re- duced and simplified, the duties on tea and sugar were also reduced the excise duty on soap was abolished, and the duty on stamps, hitherto of a varying amount, was reduced to a uniform sum, to the great advantage of trade. (Hear, hear.) I mention this to show that I have not opposed measures likely to be of benefit to the internal interests of the country. (Applause.) But with the war our agree- able task of reduction ceased, and it was necessary to pro- vide for extraordinary expenses. To tax and please is, we know, as impossible as to make lovers wise. (A laugh.) Still, when we consider the sums to be raised, or the sudden and pressing emergency, I think that on the whole the financial atlairs of the country have not been managed in a way to cause undue pressure, or, as events have proved, to interfere seriously with trade and commerce. (Hear, hear.) With regard to improvements in legislation I certainly cannot say there is much to boast of, but I must beg you to remember that one of the principal features of the last Parliament was the introduction of a number of lawyers who did nothing bu, find fault with each other's work, and I don't think that you will advance the cause of legislation by adding to the present number. [Loud laughter.] When I last addressed you I promised to uphold sacredly the pMnciple of toleration in all religious matters, and I defy any man to say that I ever violated that pledge. [Cheers.] In the course of my canvass I have met with some diffi- culty in consequence of obloquy attempted to be raised because I have upheld that principle of toleration in its Pristine integrity. I say if the principle of toleration is to be upheld in this country it must be upheld with reference to those with whom we differ, otherwise it ceases to be a Pliuciple of toleration at ail. [Cheers.] Some objection has been raised against me because I have upheld a reli- gious grant—that of Maynooth—which was sanctioned by act of Pailiament, and considered as part of the union between this country and the Irish nation; but I will appeal to facts, and prove by figures, that Protestants have II o right to complain of any undue advantage given to their ftoman Catholic fellow-country-men, who have a right to be considered as well as themsel vcs. [Cheers] I will give you facts from which you can judge, and they are com- prised in a return moted for in the House of Commons of all grants for religious purposes made within the lest five Jears, which comprehends the time during which 1 have been in Parliament. Those grants, amounting in the ttggregate to £643,902 19s., are as follows :-to ttie Church of England JE203,296, to the Protestant Dissenters £ 202,243, to the Church of Scotland E106,452, to the Church of Rome t 13 1,000,- [clieers] there fore, out of a the sums which have been granted in five years, £.,)10,000, has been granted to Protestants, and only 1<>1,000 to Roman Catholics. [Cheers.] I think, when you consider what the number of our Roman Catholic elh)w-8ubjects is-situated principally in Ireland,—no one can say that that is an undue or an unfair amount. L.ar, hear.] We must think a little of the effect of the withdrawal of the grant upon the feelings of the people. [Hear, hear.] Ireland is a country which, I am sorry to say, has often been a source of weakness instead of a source of strength but better times have lately appeared tranquillity seems to be revived in that once unhappy country, and I should think myself not only the weak- est, but the most wicked of men, if I did anything to endanger that tranquillity or to stir up the embers ot re- ligious discord again. [Loud cheers.] At a time when Irishmen were contributing their full amount to the soldiers who were fighting our battles in the Crimea,—when they were shedding their blood in the defence of their common country as freely as Protestants,—I do'nt think, I say, that that was a time when England should have been a party to anything that would have been considered as in- sulting to the people of Ireland,— [cheers]—and when that war has terminated buccessfully it would be ungenerous to say, We will do in the moment of safety that which e were afraid to do in the time of danger." [Cheeis.] That is the sum and substance of all I have done in the ??y of religious grants, and I will defy you to say thoe is ^ything at variance with what I promised. [Hear, hear J y ° ?ay differ with me, but I believe you will give me crcd It f Cr1j" for acting from a clear and conscientious conviction. TQ, fets ] It necessary to allude to t?e last vote I s?e in ? ?'?'nent because the subject has caused a dissolution. It Va on the question of Mr. Cobden's motion lespectirg e alf the Of Ch:n., and I can truly say that nner, in the o'c Course of my life, did I give a vote after more care- ful ?"?''ration and with a more painful <;nnniet cf op?"?' I have expressed in my address the reasons tbat influ*11061* me to give it, ? as I now find that geutlelEen whoWere absent on th&t occasion are aving what vote ey would h J thy °?? ??? given had they been preseot and as I Sndth. ei-r vote coincides whh the Tote lhategi?en, I am Botu ?'-?? ? say that my vote was in general unison ?'"h  It I' to say that my vote was in general unisorJ  ?""?''?? sentiments of the people of England. [Cheera^l I ??? in hopes I mi?ht have found that the "()tes 1 had 8'?en were in unison with the sentimmts of 'be corisr•' i Uei\'8 ?? the?e boroughs- [cheers and cries of *'Sothp? .? '?howe?er I was doomed to be disappointed, On  On comin f °Wn here I found that an opponent had sud- de ly e n el (, > "?° ? field, in which he had been engaged ? some d? and probably for years, fllcar, hccr, and ?"gbter.] ? ????mpn, I must "aya few words with re- ference t0 ^^iC°nteEt "? COl1trst to the last in which 1 Was enga ed state facts-facts which defy con- ??dietion. p., state facts—facts which defy con- R(ldre(M,i which^ 'ale °PP0Dent and friend issued hi. .dd,4,,?, I I '"? a l ways tbink prematuie a?d h.- ? ??'  4?.1tr ?d 1. ?t:iMe that, ttM?itM Jug hMt?u being, directly or indirectly but certainly, on the pre- sent occasion, a different system seems to have been pursued. (Hear, hear.) I cannot help saying that it appears to me as if some net work of legal and pecuniary entanglement had been cast over a portion of the persons resident within these boroughs, who by some curious coincidents happened to be voters, so that the treble cha- racter of client, voter, and debtor were often harmoniously combined in one. (Cheering and laughter.) Often too, in the course of the refusals which I have met with it has seemed remarkable to me how few have been made on ;groliiid,i that were political or on grounds personal to 'myself. (Hear, hear.) I have heard some-I will not make my pieviotis remark too sweeping-who have ex- pressed themselves in the same manly and intelligible terms in which Mr. Marychurch expressed himself, but the ;majority of the refusals have been grounded on a totally different basis. The refusals in many instances have been attributed to promises carelessly made, in reply to ques- tions not carelessly put, but carefully remembered and exacted. (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, Mr. ltees has pub- lished his address, and I must come to that document— promising faithfully that I will not travel out of the record. That I must look upon, as he is a new opponent to myself, either in the ligkt of a bill of indictment against me, or as a promise of superior performance on his part. And I must consider that in either light it is rather meagre in i's details. (Hear, hear.) There is only one political measure specially alluded to, the measure made reference to by Mr. Marychurch—I mean the ballot. I will briefly explain my sentiments upon that point. (Hear, hear.) We must consider that, however convenient it may be at different times to vote in a particular way, we cannot pass acts of parliament with regard to particular times, but must think what upon the whole and in the long run, is for the benefit of the country. I cannot-nor can Mr. Rees—undertake to predict what would be the con- sequences of voting by ballot, but we have a power to juclge-lvhat has been the political state of things in the particular countries which have adopted the ballot? The two principal countries, by unanimous consent, would be considered to be France and America. In France we have seen all constitutional Government put down and an absolute monarchy established (hear, hear); and in America the last triumph of the constituency was the ascendancy of slave holding States. (Hear, hear.) There is also one other consideration to which it is necessary to advert. Mr. Marychurch has alluded to the rights of other people, but he forgets that their rights may be compromised by the adoption of the ballot. We must remember that if the franchise were extended to the furthest degree that the wildest agitator could dream of, by no possibility could the number of those who voted bear anything but an extremely limited proportion to those ii ho, by the force of circumstances are prevented voting, but these have still the privilege of exercising the influence of opinion on those who have the power com- mitted to thrnl-nnd are you to deprive them of that pi,ii;ilc-ge ?(flear, hear, and cheers.) There are many occasions when secret voting and debating would be of advantage, and even secret votes in Parliament would sometimes be given more conscientiously than open votes, but that is an exceptional cace. I have still less doubt, again, that if speeches made in Parliament were not re- ported, the public business would be better conducted, for then we should save that time which is often occupied by speeches, not so much addrcssed to me SUUJLCI, LO the public out of doors; but %i e are not to consider what is occasionally advantageous, but to take broad and genera! views, and in matters of legislation to legislate in the way that is best for the benefit of the country. (Cheers.) The ballot is the only measure to which Mr. Rees, who caused this contest, has alluded. He has said he is for safe and judicious' reforms. Well I suppose everybody is for safe and judicious reforms. (Laughter.) The question is, what are safe and judicious r I don't think we advance much in the region of argument by coming to the conclusion that people are all in favour of safe and judicious reforms.' (Renewed laughter.) He is for retrenchment in the expenditure, and in the abstract we are all in favour of retrenchment. (Hear, hear ) I dou't profit by the taxes any more than Mr. Rees does (laughter), and I have no more pleasure in paying them than he has; therefore my interests are as much bound up in the reduction of expenditure as are his. (Hear, hear.) But does he make so sure that by extending the popular influence the expenditure will be so materially reduced ? I don't think it necessarily follows. (Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the course of his very able speech on the budget, made some very sensible re- marks on this subject, pointing out that in the great in- crease in the miscellaneous expenditure a very small portion could be attributed to corruption, but that it arose from quite another quarter, viz., from the multiplicity of demands which seemed to be prima facie -fair and reasonable, and which the authors of them thought they were entitled to press, but which proved in their aggregate result totally inconsistent with anything like economy, (Hear, hear.) Mr. Rees would soon find, if he were in Parliament, that the mission of a lepresentative is of a strangely contradictory character. He is to call for the reduction of taxation generally, and generally to enforce an increase of expenditure in the district with which he is connected. (Hear, hear.) I am no exception to this. I have petitioned against the income-tax, and I have waited as a deputation oil the Postmaster-General to retain ihe present mode of transmitting the mail bags by railway, which had been threatened to be suspended oil account of the heavy expense. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) My Fishguard friends sent me to the First Lord of the Admiralty (then Sir,, James Graham) to point out to him the propriety of making a harbour of refuge there. (Laughter.) I stated my case and lie assurred me that on financial grounds it was impossible—I state this to shew that my mission was one for increased expendituie. Then again, my Fishguard friends were angry with me for what was beyond my control, I allude to the removal of the County Court. I remonstrated with the Treasury on the matter, and they sent me a statement which showed that the county court in that town had been a considerable loss to the revenue. I don't say I will not do all in my power for its restoration, but I state the fact to show that the missions of a member of parliament are of a con- tradictory character, that is, they are to reduce the general and increase the particular e-xpenditure. (Hear, hear.) I was also invited to join in a request made by the adjoining borough of Pembroke for a fitting yard in addition to the building yards now established. (Laughter.) In the adjoining borough of Cardigan the member (Mr. Lloyd Davits) brought forward a vote for the construction of a harbour of refuge at Fishguard similar applications have emanated from the eastern coast of England and members who find fault with the expense of the Metropolitan Board of Works, I have found voting money by thou- sands fur Buttersea park and Chelsea embankments. After other and general remarks, Mr. Philipps pro- ceeded--I now come to a subject,—the last on which I will touch, which is of a more painful be- cause rather of a personal nature. I am not going to say one word of private and domestic character,—I have never laid mvself open to such an imputation,—but when a bill of indictment is preferred against me fer the promise of a superior pez-foriiiancc,-vilieti, in legal parlance, an action of ejectment is brought against me, I have a light to examine and cross-examine the witnesses brought into court. (Ilear, licar.) Befote proceeding to that I must make a remark on one point to which I have omitted to rcfei- ;-that is the statement made by Mr. Ilees in his address in regard to the church. He says :— An outcry has been raised against me, for an obvious purpose, that I am a leveller of the Churches of our land. This I deny: I would not destroy or injure a single Choich, but I avow my desire to correct every abuse con- nected with those Churches." Well, and so far as mere vvoids are concerned we shall all agree there. [A laugh.] I don't wish to obstruct or level a church, — [a laugh]-—or to retain an abuse, but I wish to ask this plain question—" How, in a climate like ours highly promotive of structural decay, is the destruction of our edifices to be averted if you deny the means of re- pairing them r" I have in my possession returns of the different parishes of England and Wales, where church- rates are and are not levied, and in connection with the latter I found two entries that were peculiar. No church-rate levied church in ruins for twenty ycars, therefore there is some connection between the refusal to grant funds and the decay of a church. [Hear, hear.] — No church-rates levied but a number of trees in the yard cut up for the purpose of repairs." [Hear, hear.] That is not creditable there ought to be some better means enforced of repairing these edifices. I have often expressed myself ready to join in any well considered measure to remedy any abuse connected with the church, and as far as members of t-ie church are concerned it is no fault of thehs that such an end has not been attained. Two bills have been introduced into Parliament; one went to exempt dissenters upon certain conditions,— another was introduced by Mr. Packe for the limitation of the rate to mere repairs of the fabric-I will not go into the merits of either, but I quote those facts to show that there were attempts made to try and meet the wishes of Disscnteis, lut they were strongly resisted by the repre- sentatives of Dissenters, and whose fault was that? [Hear, .rear J I have always expressed my objection to a person who has inherited a property subject to a certain charge being al.owed to put that money into his own pocket, when it cannot be proved that any good could be obtained by it. ihere are many places where, if you were to do without these rates, Dissenteis would not be the least benefitted, but some absent proprietor in a distant 'locality, probacy professing to be a churchman would put tbe mOlley in his pocket. (Hear.) These are considera- tions which ought to weigh with people and make them consider befoie agreeing to a measure for the abolition of churches,whether if they are doing I.omething to meet conscientious objections they are not doing a great deal more to serve individual selfishness. (Cheers.) I con- sider the word diseelitct' to be comprehensive, to include several clnsscs within itself-sotre ai)ptoacii it in the shape of a conscientious difference of opinion, and for those our rcspcct and indulgence ought to be shewn, and I am happy to say 1 am supported by many of those gentlemen. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] There are others who approach it in the aspect of a medium for mere ,llO al'p 0" I political purposes, and there are others who adopt it as a line of advertisement in the way of business. I don't know what line Mr. Rees has found, but I can hardly believe he belongs to the first, because if he did I should not on this day have encountered his opposition. [Hear, 1 he 11 J lIe ¡:JI): I "I hate net lived amongst you, and you we well acquainted with my public life, which has not been of a very short duration, and I hope it will be a sufficient guarantee for the correctness of my future conduct." Now, with regard to living amongst you, I presume I cannot draw any other inference than that he considers the fact of his being a perpetual resident in his town is i 1 itself a strong claim of superiority over me who am not .a perpetual resident, but still sufficiently here and living near enough to feel strongly interested in the prosperity of the place. The train of thought suggested is rather of a peculiar nature, and deserves consideration. I,, ap- tpears to me that the inference to he drawn is the severance of the connection between this town and the adjoining districts. Now, I am sufficiently connected by property 'and occasional residence in the town to be identified with its interests, and to feel a strong interest in its prosperity. (Hear, hear.) And let me tell you you cannot rashly ;sever the connection between the town and the adjoining districts. I am not speaking for my own interests, but I I believe that the prosperity of Haverfordwest—seeing that it is not a manufacturing town—materially depends upon the intimacy of its connection with the adjoining districts, and that it—and every town of a similar character— must flourish in proportion as it became the centre, or jhe metropolis as it were, of the district surrounding it. (Hear, hear.) Every time any person is brought here to prosecute the business of the county, or join ia its amuse- ment, I consider the town benefitted. (Hear, hear.) I may say in the words inscribed on the monument of Sir Christopher Wren- Si monumentum re queris circumspice.' The very hall in which we are assembled is used nine times by the borough where it is used once by the county, though it was built entirely at the expense of the latter. (Hear.) In the town and county there is a gaol and lunatic asylum; and by an Act of Parliament the expense of repairing the former fell on the county, and that of the latter on the town; but some years ago the asylum attracted the attention of the Commissioners in Lunacy, and it would have been indicted had not certain repaits and improvements been effected and what share think you the borough paid in this ? One-Jijlh, and the rest was paid by the county and by private subscription. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) I make these remarks to shew that I am not, iildulgixig in vain statements, but appeal to facts accessible to all. (Cheers.) I might refer to bridges- to one mainly built by subscriptions raised in the adjoining districts. (Cheers.) Then I say do not rashly sever the connection between the county and town, and do not consider the mere fact of a person living in the town as a reasonable ground of superiority over one living in the adjoining district, if he be near enough to take part in the duties which devolve upon him. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Rees has referred to his own public life, and when a person calls his life, into court against me I have a right to examine it. (Hear, hear ) The only part to which I will advert is his public life, and I want to know whether it will stand cross-examination. (Hear, hear.) My idea of his public life is that he has done that for which he has been paid (Hear, hear.) I support what I say by facts. Per- haps the greater portion of those around me remember the contested Election of 1 S31, when Col. Greville was supported by the Libera! party of this county. On that occ&sio n Mr. Rees was an active agent of Sir John Owen's. (Cheer8.) 0. the ?3K L occasion, in the contest between L?)rd 11 i?lf. I and my uncle, Colonel Scourfield, he was engaged on the opposite side, and I believe that on both occasions his services were not entirely gratuitous, but left a very lively impression on the minds of those who had engaged him. (Laughter and Cheers.) One word with regard to his professional life, and here I beg not to be misunderstood. We live in a country where a career of honour and wealth is open to all classes, and I think it is to the benefit of the community that no avenue to those distinctions should be crosed to talent properly exercised and to integrity properly applied (Cheers,) but there is a tendency in our day to overrate success as such (Cheers) without reference to the benefit of the Country or the value of the particular exer- tions connected with that success. We must measure out rewards with due discrimination. The labourer and the artizan turn the products of nature into articles of neces- sity, luxury, and profit, and their success is generally attended by advantage to the country at large. The merchant traders take an active part in the distribution and diffusion of those articles, exporting those which are un- necessary, and importing those which are necessary, and their success is also identified with advantage to the country. But with regard to the particular profession which my adversary exercises, I say it is upon the fulfil- ment or non-fulfilment of certain conditions that it must depend whether that profession is a benefit or a curse to the community. (Immense cheering.) I ask whether those conditions have been invariably fulfilled ? (Renewed cheering.) They are,-that a person following the profes- sion should not attack without cause or defend without justice,—(vociferous cheering)—and that he should not, in the conduct of his common atfairs, raise frivolous and cap- tious objections to interfere with the due progress of the business of the country. (Cheers.) I am not indulging in vain declamations, but will refer to facts,-I will advert to Uvo. On a very recent occasion, in an action which concerned a gentleman well known to us, and lately removed by death,-(I allude to the late Lord Milford,) — Mr. Rees maintained a defence which completely failed in fulfilling the conditions of a defence on proper grounds, and after aggravating his conduct by Nmducting the ease in it way extremely irritating to a man of weakened nerves ani shattered health, as his early subsequent death proved, Mr. Rees did not ventrire to maintain the action. (Hisses and groans.) It is also well known that, in the conduct of a defence, he materially embarrassed the operations of justice in this county by impugning the jurisdiction of the magistrates of the adjoining hundred on a ground which proved to be perfectly untenable. [Groans and hisses repeated.] It may be urged that this was done in the way of business, but if that be so let the person who does so stick to his business, and not claim the gratitude of the community when he conducts his business in a way which is prejudicial to its interests. [Immense cheering.] Gentlemen, the case is in your hands; I must only beg of you to remember one thing, that you are not to try 'me by some abstract fanciful standard of excellence, and accept me or reject me in proportion as I conform to it, but to form a practical judgment and to select between the two Candidates presented to your notice. [Cheers.] I think I may say I have never shewn myself the enemy of pro- gress, provided it be combined with a due regard to order and it is upon the happy combination of these two prin- ciples that the safety of this country intimately depends. [Cheers.] Gentlemen, I endeavour to steer clear of any personal remarks. [" Hear" from Mr. Rees.] I have alluded to matters of a professional nature. This is an ancient town and not unconnected with historical traditions it is referred to in one of the works of our greatest dramatic poet; it has probably undergone strange mutations of fortune, but the strangest event that will ever have hap- pened to it will be that of sending Mr. Rees to Parliament. [Rapturous applause.) If we look upon a representative of this town as a mirror in which the constituency sees itself reflected, I cannot help thiiiking that if the town should select Mr. Rees as it representative, it would on some future occasion, w tivii the first fever of excitement and love of novelty hd pissed away, on contemplating itself in its representative s*y, in tile words of the old song— Oh, dear me, I'm sure it can't be I.' [Loud laughter] I am unwilling to trespass longer on your attention—one reuiaik, and one alone I have to make. Whatever the issue of this contest may be, it will be a source of satisfaction to me to reflect that I have upon this occasion been sustained by the support of old and tried friends, with the addition of many who were formerly opposed to me. [Cheers]. To use an expression often quoted, I cannot think a large assemblage in my favour of men of tried worth and long conncxioll with the country such as we have seen upon the present occasion can be construed as a mere 'fortuitous concourse of atoms— [cheers]—but I accept it as a token that they feel some confidence in me — [cheers] —that they are inclined, con- sidering the great difficulties I have experienced, to judge favourably of me, and to think that in all the varying and difficult circumstances which I have had to encounter, I have done my best for the safety and honour of the county [Loud cheers.] It was in accordance with the wishes of friends, probably too partial, that I first engaged in the political career which now, for the second time, involves me in this scene of strife. Still I think I am not at liberty to abandon with levity the post which their favour has assigned tne- [cheers] till I receive their assurance that they would consider themselves benefitted by the change. [Cheers.] To such an assurance I would readily submit, but upon this occasion I have received un. mistakable assurances to the contrary, and encouraged and supported by this conviction I fearlessly abide the issue of the contest, which it remains with the electors to decide. (Loud and protruded cheering.) Mr. Rees on rising was received try louu cheers from his supporters Before 1 enter upon the few remarks that I intend to make to you in respect to this contest, I feel it incumbent on me to refer to the two attacks made upon me and my public character as a professional man by the late member of this borough. A more unfounded attack,— a more disreputable attack,-was never made upon man. It was made in bad taste it certainly was not the act of a gentleman to attack a professional gentleman in the way in which I have been attacked to-day. [Cheers], I envy not the feelings Mr. Philipps must possess before he could consent to such a degradation as that. [Cheers.] He referred to my defence of a recent action brought against a very respected client of mine by his friend and he has chosen to designate my conduct as unworthy of a profes- sional man, such as I ought to be held up to public ridicule for. What are the facts ? [Great uproar.] I beg you to bear what I have to say. The late Lord Milford was the owner of a farm in the parish of Uzmaston, which was leased out to my respected friend and client, the Rev. Thomas Mutin, upon a lease for lives. III the course of events the livts dropped, and the leases consequently expired. The lease contained a covenant on the part of the lesHc that he should keep and lea\e the premises in tcnantHbterepair. Upon the death of the surviving life, Mr. Martin, as under tenant, had to quit the farm, and upon that occasion the landlord applied for dilapidations in respect of the premises. Parties were appointed on both sides to examine into their state, and make their estimate of the value of the needful repairs. They dis- agreed as to the amount. On behalf of Mr. Martin my partner and myself offered to refer the matter to parties competent to jedjie, but our (iflers were rejected, and we were reqoired to pay the full rroouwt of the estimates on the oihei fa>ue. -believing those t0 have been iiuprouui 1) [ made, "J ç1ita u ¡ wü1 m (9 fa; nglo I than I ought to pay," and the result was that an action was brought which we had to defend, and which we did defend. The case was ripe for trial, and just a few days before it would have come on for trial I took up the matter and suggested to Mr. Martin that we should again try to arrange without coming into court, and on that he acted, directing me to propose that the amount of our valuation should be actually put at two hundred guineas, but that we would not pay to them any portion of the costs of the proceedings that had been taken. We telegraphed, and made the offer, and the immediate answer came that an attorney should be seen, and the money taken i[Cheer.] What was there wrong in my conduct in :defending this actIOn? Was I to allow my client, i;b.acause my opponent was the Noble Lord of Picton, 'to submit to this immense claim when he appealed to me for protection. When he was my client and required my defence, it would have been a dereliction of duty if I had done so. [Cheers.] I therefore with all cheerfulness and desire to serve him, defended him, and the result was that the plaintiff went out of Court without costs, taking the amount of our own estimate and being satisfied therewith. (Cheers). If my conduct be assailed in this public wa y on this account, I say it is unworthy of the individual making the attempt. Another indictment has been preferred against me by the Hon. Gentlemen, and it was this, that having to defend a prisoner I took some legal objection to their administering justice in this Hall, and if a point struck me or my Counsel, was it not my duty to take the objection. (Cheers.) Was there nothing in the objection -was the Judge able to decide upon it ? (Cheers.) If that were so, surely my public conduct ought not to be publicly impunged in this fashion, and I am sorry that Mr. Philipps, administering justice as he does, should have descended to such a mean attempt to cast aspersions upon me. (Uproar and cries of You did it to move gentlemen off the Bench.) I will now refer to the cause of our being brought together. On this occasion we are met to exercise a very great and important constitutional privi- lege. It is the nature of a trust committed by the nation to us, and it is our duty to perform it, and discharge our duty in relation thereto in a way worthy of ourselves and beneficial to the country. (Cheers.) I did not commence this opposition from any personal hostility to him-I never had any, never felt any, but I opposed him upon public grounds alone. His political views and mine, and I believe the political views of the great majority of the inhabitants of this town, are at variance. (Cheers, and overwhelming cries of No.') At all events, we are coming to the contest, and we shall see. I have said that his political views and mine are at variance. I will refer to few instances of that variation. I am for vote by ballot—he is against it-he has voted against in the House of Commons. (Cheers.) He is for upholding the system that you see practised and that has been practised in this town for the last few weeks. He wishes the same system of coercion—the same system of tyranny-to be upheld that you have seen exercised upon so many inhabi- tants of the town for the last two or three weeks. His return, if he succeeds.in getting in, will be the result of that tyranny. (Cheers, and' No, no, no.') I am anxious, with your aid, to prevent it. I think, gentlemen, we shall prevent it. (A voice Five years convassing won't do it Mr. Rees,' and laughter ) You have noticed what the Tory squirearchy of this county and town—what their agents—what the agents of great and noble families have done, how they have violated their engagements, and how they have attempted to coerce, & intimidate,voters to swerve from their words and to bully the constituents. (Laughter.) Some gentlemen on the other side laugh at this. Gentle- men, it is a matter of regret that people think some per- sons have 110 consciences. (A voice, I think you have none.") That system has been pursued during during the last fortnight to a fearful extent. Gentlemen on the other side know it-they have many instances of the fact that system I wish to put down. (Cheers.) Something has been said by my honourable opponent as to an extension of the franchise. I am an advocate for it and for a very great extension of it too—(Cheers) —but I cannot see that it will be of any great benefit to you without you can exercise it fieely and fully without coercion; and till then you had better be free without it than slaves with the pos- session of it. (Cheers.) I advise you to primarily vote for ti e ballot, then get your franchise increased, and you will do well. That is one of the questions on which Mr. Philipps and myself are at variance with regard to political matters, and I will give yon another Mr. Philipps is the advocate of church-rates. Now church-rates have been condemned, in almost all the large towns and cities of the kingdom they are almost altogether abolished, and in all large manufacturing districts. They are opposed in the smaller towns they are opposed in this town. I have not myself paid church-rates for the last seventeen years. (Hear, hear.) They are opposed in the rural districts; they are condemned by the voice of the representatives of the people in the House of Commons, and but for the trickery and treachery of the man who represented the adjoining boroughs of Cardigan the bill for entirely and totally abolishing church-rates would have been passed but the man who had stood before his constituents and said- I am opposed to church-rates, and wLl do all I can to abolish them," violated his engagement, and does every- thing he can to sustain them. He actually got up in the House of Commons, and talked several hours against time that the bill might be thrown out, and he is now meeting with his reward, for the people of Cardigan have turned him jut. (Cheers.) I told you that Mr. Philipps was anxious to continue the system of church rating. I am opposed to it, a-id in that respect there is a variance in our political views, and I say that the church itself would be infinitely benefitted if this system of bickering and un- pleasant feeling was done away with. (Cheers.) By- means of church rates no good can be done, but by adopt ing the voluntarily principle great good can be and is done. Look at the parish of St. Mary in this town, bear in mind the state it was in under the old system of rating-why, it was dirty and filthy, but look at it now in its beautiful renovated condition, aid what was the proportion of the outlay raised by rate-why not one-tenth. Look at St. Martin's restored and renovated, was it done by a rate, or could it have been done ? Look at the recent improve- ments and renovations of St. Thomas's Church, beautiful as it is, and how was that accomplished-by rate ? Seeing these instances before our eyes, I say the Church of England would be very much benefitted if this system were laid aside of compelling others to vote to sustain their religion, and they sustained it out of their own pockets. We, as Dissenters, never refuse aid properly applied for, but we will no longer allow you to compel us to sustain your religion. Mr. Philipps has referred to grants bv parliament for ecclesiastical purposes in Ireland, and one would have thought that he was anxious to make an apology for uuiiing in a pitiful grant to the Roman Catholics. What are the facts ? The Roman Catholics in Ireland constitute about five sixths of the whole population of that kingdom, and the pitiful grant made by Parliament for the education of priests amounts to E26,000 a year, while the regium donum-the grant to the Presby- terians of Ireland is E40,000, and to the members of the Established Church, nho are not more than one-tenth of the population, is granted from public property, not less than a million a year. So that while the Roman Catholics get what is about equivalent to a farthing a head for teaching, the Established Church gets about twenty-five shillings; and this is the system Mr. Philipps is anxious to perpetuate, and which I am anxious, not to destroy, but to improve. (Cheers.) Then Mr. Philipps talked about the reduction of the taxation, and he appeared to intimate that it would be almost impossible to do that. We all know that a sovereign is made up of twenty shiiings, that a shilling is made up of twelve pence, and if we look at pence and shillings in every case we may possibly when we look at the aggregate find we have made a reduction to a very large amount, and this is very wise. He thinks that reduction cannot be effected on the con- trary, I think it may. I think the list of parties who have been fattening upon the public purse should be looked into. I think it should be inquired into why a gentlemen of this county should for thirty years have re- ceived a pension of £75 a year for doing nothing. I observe that that gentleman is present and I should like to hear him explain how he came to receive what he did and what he did to merit it ? If there are 100 cases of this description, would it not be well to enquire into them, to see if you can reduce and adjust the taxation properly. I belong to that class of persons that do not enjoy all the advantages that other members of the community do enjoy. Till a very recent act of parliament passed, I could not have entered thp Town Council but was proscribed from affording any aid I might give in the management of the affairs of the town. At present I am not eligible, if I were young enough, to enter the Universities. I may enter them, but I cannot enjoy all the advantages which the members of the Established Church can enjoy and I again ask I is that right?' (I No.' and cheers.) Dissen- ters, as the law stands at the present day, cannot have all the advantages of a Grammar School that other members of the community have. These are things that require correction. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Philipps has made some allusion to my observing that I was for safe and judicious reforms.' I would not recklessly go about anything, and should adapt the end to the means, inquiring what needed correction, and then inquiring the best mode of doing it. (Hear, hear.) I am not rashly going to destroy the in- stitutions of the land, but I should like to see them im- proved and corrected. Mr. Philipps referred to my desire to improve the Church. I am desirous of improving it. I should like the Ministers of our Church to enjoy a good competency, and I should like them likewise faithfully to discbarge the duties which devolve upon them, and—[the remainder of the sentence was lost.]—There are other things connected with the Church which I should think every member would wish to see improved also. If I should be fortunate enough to be sent to Parliament I can only say I will give every measure all the consideration I possibly can afford it, and I shall be anxious to discharge my duty to you and to satisfy my own mind in discharging that duty- (Hear, hear.) Whatever may be of use or benefit to the country will receive my hearty aid, and when I meet you again, if I should have that opportunity, I hope I shall meet with your approval for what I have done. The poll commenced on Saturday morning at eight o'clock in each of the three Boroughs, and continued in Haverfordwest with unabated ardour up to the very moment for closing-tour o'clock. In Fishguard and N arberth the polling finished early, and but little excitement was manifested in either of these Boroughs. In Haverdfordwest, however, the excitement was considerable, so close was the contest. Up to the very moment of four o'clock it was uncertain which candidate would win. It was soon dis- wypre-do IIQW#Yorjl Wt XLT. Vkwppo W4 a majority "t W over his opponent. The proceedings of the day terminated very orderly. There was but little drunkenness and very little disorder in the town. The general feeling seemed to be that it was a hard fought and well sustained contest. The Sheriff having fixed Monday, at ten o'clock for declaring the state of the poll, the hall was filled to over- flowing long before that hour. The two candidates appeared surrounded by their friends and admirers, and were each most enthusiastically greeted by their party on enter- ing the Hall. Some time was necessarily occupied in casting up the books, during which the audience behaved them- selves most seemly and decorously. Some discussion arose on the bench between the lawyers on either side as to the retention of an illegal vote on the list. The party it appears voted for Mr. Philipps on a qualification which had been polled for before. The sheriff decided that he had no power to erase the name. He then declared the state of the poll, and said-Gentlemen, -_having cast up the numbers I find that in the first booth 99 voted for Mr. Philipps, and 106 for Mr. Rees in booth No. 2, for Mr. Philipps, 116, for Mr. Rees, 97. At Narberth, 25 for Mr. Philipps, 17 for Mr. Rees. At Fishguard, IS for Mr. Philipps, 36 for Mr. Rees. Making a total for Mr. Philipps of 258 and for Mr. Rees of 256. I therefore declare and proclaim John Henry Philipps to be duly elected a burgess to serve for Haverford- west in the next Parliament, Mr. Philipps said he had to return them his thanks for having a second time confided to him the important trust of representing them in Parliament. Although from the numerical majority he could not call it a triumphant victory, still he could not help remembering that some of the most important measures in the country had been decided by small majorities, He could not help attributing, when he speculated on the cause which had led to the small majority in proportion to that by which he was elected before, that it was the result of a canvass carried on for three weeks, in contrast with a canvass carried on much more deliberately for that number of years. (Cries of "No! no!") If he had been at all disappointed at the opposition which he had encountered on one side, he could not help feeling more surprised and gratified by the zeal and assiduity which that opposition had called forth on the part of his faithful and disinterested friends. It was not to his great merits that he attributed those devoted exertions. He did not wish to speculate as to the motive for any person's vote it was sufficient for him that he had received the support of his friends and whatever the feelings towards him might be- whether he had received greater or less confidence or approbation, for their exertions he was gr&teful, and to preserve their interest he was most anxious. He might stand there for a long time and make the most splendid list of promises of performances, but when he looked back to the last five years, and remembered how suddenly events occurred to disturb all political calculations, the best course he could pursue was to promise them to do what was right to the best of his judgment. If what he had heard was correct —if it was true that satisfactory news had already arrived from China-he felt that that was one great difficulty re- moved in the way of the country, and was an assurance that the affair was coming to a satisfactory solution. If the peace of this country could be preserved with other countries, and order and industry reigned at home, he was sure that it was on the exertions and good conduct of the people themselves that their own prosperity must exist. He was well aware that no human being could give satisfaction to everybody. People must have credit sometimes given to them in deciding between two difficult alternatives. He did not believe that in the present state of this country, when the weight of public opinion was so great—that any- thing in the shape of a real abuse, or a strong and well substantiated political grievance, could long stand uncor- rected. It was considered that an Englishman was entitled to grumble, and he thought he could not breathe a wish more ardent for the future prosperity of this country than that all real happiness might attend the people, with a sum- cient supply of imaginary grievances, that they might have the glory of martyrdom without any of its inconveniences. He would now tender them his expressions of gratitude, deeply sensible as he was of their kindness. Now the con- test had terminated, he considered all, whether his friends or his opponents, bad an equal claim to his attention. Mr. Rees said: Mr. Sheriff and gentlemen.—My honora- ble opponent appears to find fault at the efforts which have been made, he says for the last three years, to take away this seat from him. Gentlemen-it may be within your memory that the seat was wrested from a Liberal Member at the last election. The honorable gentlemen, as well as- myself, has from that time to the present been working to effect a difference in the registration. I have on the one one hand done so in every way I could in the Registration Court from year to year. I have gone there single handed, but have been met by five or six agents on the other side, who did as much for their side as I did for mine, and they find fault with me for given effect to my own intentions, while the honorable gentleman—by means of three, four, or five agents-has endeavoured to give effect to his. Gen- tlemen-I did what I bad a right to do-I did what every Elector had a right to do-and no gentleman ought to find fault. The contest now, according to the decision of the sheriff, is ended. A majority of two is declared against me. What a striking contrast is number TWO to number NINETY- FOUR at the last election. Don't the gentlemen on the other side feel it ? Can't you administer a little comfort to them ? Two against ninety-four I was met in my canvass at Narberth by an honorable gentleman-a brother chip—the brother-in-law of my respected opponent-and I am glad the gentleman is present to answer me. He said, What right have you stand up and oppose John Henry Philipps ?" My answer to that is in numbers—256. That is my answer to -1 my right" to oppose Mr. John Henry Philipps. The same gentleman said in the exuberance of his fancy, Oh! we will beat you by a majority of 150." Now, gentlemen, if you take 2 from 150, what remains ? Where are they gentlemen ? Well, gentleman, the sheriff has declared that r there is a legal majority of two against me. I take excep- tion myself and protest the declaration. I say the sheriff has recorded one vote at Narberth contrary to law on behalf of my opponent. I do nQt, however-and I am sure you will all agree with me-ofiarge the sheriff with partiality. I think he is mistaken in the law of the question-which is that of a person coming up to vote for the same premises that another had voted for. One "voter had voted for the house in question, and his vote was recorded-a second came to vote for the same premises and his vote was also recorded by the sheriff. Now, I say, under the Act of Parliament it was the duty of the sheriff to have entered the vote without recording it, leaving it to a Committee of the House of Commons to decide; but, gentlemen, that is a matter for future consideration. However, taking it as the sheriff has declared there is a majority of two against me, and how has that majority been obtained ? Gentleman, how has that majority been obtained ? (General cries of the screw and zel fr a wheelbarrow). It has been obtained gentlemen- and I declare it in their presence—by the exercise of the grossest tyranny and oppression that one man can exercise against another. Men ?Eression that one man can exercise against another. Men have, by their oppression, coercion, any tyranny quaked under them, and have been compelled, after promising to vote for me, to give their votes to the other side. Twenty-one in number have been compelled to do this under the coercion of that educated class on my right. (Uproar.) Mr. Philipps: Gentlemen, hear whatJMrs Rees wishes to say in silence. Mr. Rees I have told you, and I tell you again that 21 voters promised me and afterwards were compelled to vote for Mr. Philipps; and I now tell you that nine who pro- mised to vote for me were compelled to stay at home, and that there were twelve persons who promised to remain neutral who were compelled to vote for my opponent—in fact, no less than 42 in Haverfordwest have violated their consciences. (A laugh.) A gentleman on the other side laughs at conscience— indeed they believe in no conscience. The men of moral worth and intelligence have no consciences, or do not attend to the dictates of the monitor within. But conscience, gentlemen, will ultimately have its proper weight. I should be ashamed, gentlemen, to hold a seat obtained under such circumstances. I would not hold it if I could at such a price. In addition to the items which I gave you just now in regard to Haverfordwest I can give you more with respect to Fisbguard and Narberth-tbe same work went on there gentlemen. At Fisbguard promises were violated to the number of four. At Narberth six were not allowed to ex- ercise their suffrage jand fulfil the engagements they had made with me. Had all the engagements been fulfilled the difference would have been 75 more in my favour. Such are the lacts of the case-facts patent to every one of you- and I can see many in court who could testify to it, although opposed to me. Think of this gentleman oalling upon a first cousin of mine and compelling him to come to the poll against me. (Uproar, and cries of It is true" from the voter alluded to.) Gentlemen, it affords me great personal satisfaction that during the whole of my canvass—meeting with all the difficulties I bad to contend with—1 never asked a man to break his word. (A laugh.) I observe a reverend gentleman laughing, can he deny it. Mr. Mathias. I can. Five minutes before the poll closed on Saturday Mr. Rees asked a man to vote for him after he had declared his intention of remaining neutral. Mr. Rees proceeded—I stated that during the whole of my canvass I never asked a single man to break his word, and I dare any gentleman present to contradict me. A gen- tleman has done so, and got up as a witness against me. He says that I, knowing a man had promised to be neuter, asked him to come and vote for him a few minutes before the close of the poll. It is true I asked the man to come and poll for me, he also said he had not promised on the other side, and wished to be neuter. Is that correct Mr. Mathias ? [Mr. Mathias replied in the affirmative.] Is there any other witness in court ? I feel grateful to you, and thankful that I have not forgotten my responsibility in this matter. I have taken it up as a person influenced by what I thought WBS right. I have completely avoided creating anything like a disturbance. I came forward, re- presenting, as I thought, the feelings and wishes and intelligence of the town of Haverfordwest. I am grateful beyond description at the result of this contest. Gentle- men, the legal triumph may be theirs, but where is the moral triumph ? Never mind, gentlemen, treat them after all as fellow beings pity, and forgive them. To the friends who have supported me on this occasion I cannot be too grateful. I do, with all my heart, thank them for the support they have afforded me in this trying work. Es- pecially thankful am I to the working man. The men who have failed me—the men who have belied their promises- are men in a higher position of life than the working man, and men from whom we had a right to expect better things. I am proud to say that not a single working men upon whom I calculated failed me. -I am proud of this, I say. I am sprung from a working man myself, and whilst some of my opponents think they are persons very much superior to many of us, they really after all have no right to feel much gratified on that account. If you proceed with the good work you have commenced, you will not have another contest. 94 at the last election has been reduced to two at this-if you go on progressing at the same rate, gentlemen, where will they be next time ? Gentle- men, if you will stick to me I will stick to you, and I can inform the honorable gentleman, my opponent, that from this day forward I shall be at the same work as that of which they have complained. I give him notice, let him do the same, and we shall see what the result will be. I hope if you don't all wish to be slaves you will persevere, and get vote by ballot. That is your safeguard and pro- tection—we shall have no class legislature then-we shall have proper men to manage the affairs of the nation, and when we have that measure my opponents will not attempt to coerce you. Immediately on leaving the hall, Mr. Philipps and party perembulated a portion of the tpwfI. preceded by a band of ,ir. PLii, vuUe oa hurbeback, aud waA accoux- gwUwwa.