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There will be no contest for the representation of Carmarthenshire at the Election which takes place to- day at Llandilo. Mr. Pugh is now the only candidate and he will be returned without opposition. The address of Mr. Lloyd Davies to the Electors, announcing his retirement, appears in another part of this paper. He says, the junction of opposite parties against me not holding out that certainty of success which I anti- cipated, to persevere under such circumstances would be to uselessly trouble my friends and divide and weaken the Conservative Interest, which I, in conjunction with others, now no more, laboured hard to establish." These are the reasons then for giving up the contest, and Mr. Lloyd Davies has certainly acted with admirable con- sideration in refusing to disturb the tranquillity of the county. We are aware it might be said that he has selected the least humiliting course, as in the event of a poll the number of voters would have been four to one against him. Well, admitting this assertion to be true, he might still have created political strife, gained fresh triumphs on the hustings, and taken hold I of an excellent opportunity to defend his political con- duct, and to make more clearly understood his opinions on those public questions which must shortly be dis- cussed by the House of Commons and the Country. But he abandoned this course which was open to him in deference to the opinion of his friends, and for doing so he is entitled to some credit. However, it is rather singular that Mr. Davies should imagine the Conservative Interest" at the time of the Reform Bill and further back even than that, to which he alludes, can by any possibility resemble the political principles of the present day. The questions which at that time separated political parties have been long since finally settled, and are now more than acquiesced in by those who were the most violent opponents of every progressive measure. Du- ring the last quarter of a century the country has made rapid strides, and perhaps nowhere is our advance- iment more plainly seen than in the abnegation of trifling distinctions for the purpose of political coali- tion on broad principles. In the Aberdeen and Palmer- ston administrations are seen the wisdom, strength, and power of this union. In the House of Commons honourable members do not so frequently as in the good old days" follow the leader blindfold. Men and combinations of men learn to act independent of party, and wherever independence is recognized by the con- stituents they respect it, even where there exists a differ- ence of opinion between the represented and their re- presentatives. When Sir Robert Peel forfeited the con- fidence of his party he obtained national approval, and won for himself imperishable renown. Lord Palmerston was by almost universal consent-literally by the voice of the people chosen First Lord of the Treasury, in consequence of his freedom from party and his thorough independence. The constituents of Carmarthenshire like the inhabitants of other counties have moved in the right direction, and can appreciate the more liberal sentiments which now reign in every heart. The latter portion of Mr. Lloyd Davies's address speaks for itself, and will excite feelings throughout the country unfavourable to him. We give it in full. I beg to otTer" he says "to my numerous supporters whose favourable opinion I so highly appreciate, my grateful acknowledgements, with the expression of my hope that those qualifications they so kindly gave me credit for, will be found in the selected Candidate, whose repudiation of the decision arrived at by the Meeting of the 3rd instant, whereat he was represented by his Friends, and his subsequent indecision when waited upon by a Deputation from the Meeting, does not, to say the least of it, augur favorably." At the Conservative meeting Mr. Davies uttered words very dissimilar to these when he referred to Mr. Pugh, who was perfectly justified in "repudiating the decision arrived at by the meeting"—we should have said, a small portion of the meeting. But, then, the decision was arrived at in a very extraordinary manner. Mr. Pugh was not present, and his political opinions were, to use the mildest term, obscured by the friends of Sir James Hamilton and Mr. Davies. And at the moment of the greatest obscuration two papers only (one for Sir James and the other for Mr. Davies) were sent round the room for sig- nature. Then it was that Mr. Pugh's supporters con- sulted, and as no one appeared authorised to act decisively Mr. Lewis, of Gwinfe, protested against the proceedings. Had there been no misrepresentation of Mr. Pugh's opini ons, it is confidently asserted that he would have had a majority at the meeting. But, if the Conservatives were convened, as Sir John Mansel observed, to select a candi- date most acceptable to the constituents, the alleged re- jection of Mr. Pugh was a grave error. We repeat that Mr. Pugh ought not to have been bound by a meeting protested against by his friends; consequently, the "re- pudiation" cannot "augur unfavourably." From the first time we saw no chance of success for Mr. Lloyd Davies, who had rendered himself objectional to the electors by his Parliamentary career, to which be himself referred then for his opinions. We have long associated with the electors and know something of their political views, and the accuracy of our knowledge has been confirmed in the almost unanimous selection of Mr. Pugh to represent the County. It is absurd to talk about a declaration of opinion on certain abstract questions. What more effective declaration could possibly be made than in the unfettered choice of Mr. Pugb who has plainly stated that he will act independent of parties while favourable to safe progressive reform ? Just as the nation did when Lord Palmerston accepted the Premiership this county spontaneously ratified the nomination of Mr. Pugh. And what is the result ? Why, the establishment of what may be termed an in- dependent party, whose influence will not terminate with this election. The coalition was perfectly natural. The Liberal party as we have repeatedly stated do not as a bouy advocate extreme measures. They do not ask for five or ten points in any charter. They do not seek the destruction of our venerable constitution. They do not dream over an Utopia. They recognize plain, broad principles, and the bond of unity is not eccentricity, but a strong desire for the conservation and extension of the privileges we enjoy as a nation. Here then was identity of sentiment with very many in the Conserva- tive ranks, who readily subscribed to Moderate views" so that when Mr. Pugh's address appeared it was re- garded by these, and all the Liberal Party with feel- ings of satisfaction. It was everywhere repeated, Mr* Pugh is the fittest man to represent this county his prin- ciples are those of the majority, and his election will obliterate many distinctions which should not exist." Mr. Pugh's declaration in favour of Lord Palmerston's foreign policy is most explicit, and in accordance with the liberal opinions he holds. The country-in fact, all Eu- rope-approves the conduct of the Premier in reference to the Chinese War, so that every State will be repre- sented by armament of some sort or other in the Ce- lestial Empire. But we shall probably have occasion to refer to this subject at no distant period, and shall con- clude our remarks by congratulating the county on being spared the unpleasantness of a contested election.

CARMATHENSHIRE.