A meeting of the delegates of the several wards in
Leeds, elected to submit to the constituency the names of proper persons to represent that borough in Parliament, was held on the 6th instant. A resolu- tion that Mr. Baines was a fit and proper person, was carried unani- mously. Some discussion then arose respecting Sir William Moles- worth's religious opinions ; and Mr. Cummins read the following letter' received from Sir William, in reply to one of inquiry as to his belief.
" Launceston, 34 December 1836.
" Dear Sir—I beg leave to acknowledge your letter of the 26th of last month, in which goo inform me that some of the electors of Leeds are desirous of knowing what are my religious opinions. I should feel obliged to you, if you would state to them. that I ac- trier/ledge myaelf responsible on that subject to no human being ; and consequently I velum, in the most decided manner, to give them any explanation of any sort or descrip- tion. To satisfy them upon the subject of my religious opinions, would he to acknow- "edge that they have a right to know what they are, and that there are circumstances isi which one man is accountable to another for his religious belief. I have no doubt it would be for my personal interest, as far as the representation of Leeds is concerned, to satisfy them upon this subject ; but by so doing I should act in opposition to my de- clared principles. Placed in the position in which I am towards the electors of Leeds. I feel it my duty to tell them, that the question which they seem inclined to put to me on this subject, is one which no person of Liberal principles ought to put to another, sad which it would be a dereliction of principle on my part to answer. My only con- nexion with them, and their only knowledge of me. results from my strongly advocating certain principles--first and foremost amongst which is that of religious equality ; from which minciples you may be assured I will never flinch. The etcetera of Leeds un- doubtedly have a right to know what are my political opinions, and I have a right to know what are theirs, in order that we may detetniine whether, in the relative position ot representative and electors, we should suit one another, and whether I could perform my duty toward them in the Mouse of Commons ; but as there are no religious duties to perform in the Senate, and as the conduct ot the legislation towards all sects ought. RI my opinion, to be precisely the same, I have no need to know the religious mantis anent' re the electors of Leeds, and they have no right to question me as to mine. I hold the prieciples of religious equality to their fullest extent, namely, that no man has A right to call another to account for his religious tenets; that the followers of every sect 5,4 religion ought to have equal rights. and that the legislation ought not to interfere in matters of religion. These principles have gaided my conduct both in private and in political life. In the House of Commons, I voted against Church-rates, against au Established Church, against a Predominant Church in Ireland ; I voted for a redress of the grievances of Dissenters, and for an emancipation of the Jews. In private life, my conduct to all religious sects has been the same : whenever, as a landowner, I have been requested to give land for the building of Dissenting chapels, I have made it a rule to comply with the wishes of the community, and sometimes have aided them by sub- scription. Reference has been made to my connexion with the London Review. That review was established by my friends and myself with the object, chiefly, of expressing our political opinions. For those opinions 1 feel and shall feel myself responstble in a certain degree to the public ; and, with a few slight exceptions. I trust that it ade- quately expresses the political feelings of the party to which I belong. To the numbers of it I refer yourself and others for any political explanation with regale, to myself which you may require : the articles marked with my initials are the only 011V3 foe which 1 acknowledge myself absolutely responsible. I am neither the editor nor the conductor of the review, but merely chief proprietor. As our grand object has been to make it the political organ of the Liberal party, when there had been a diversity of opinion amongst the members of that party, articles have been inserted into our pages of the most opposite tendency, in order to open a free field for discussion. Thus, with regard to Church establishments, some wish to unite together all sects of Christians in one universal church (in my opinion a most chimerical scheme); others again wish to pay the ministers of all sects; articles have appeared in our review advocaat ing each of these opinions. For myself, I am in layoug of the Voluntary principle; and in the general political articles you will, I believe, end that principle supported. I know full well how customary it is for the holders of one set of opinions to apply every epithet of abuse to those who differ from them ; and if I had not made up my mind to endure_ every species of abuse with utter indifference, I should not have taken the part I have"- in public life, nor have connected myself with periodical literature, by acting as I have. I hope I have done sonic good, and trust I shall yet do more. At present lean do nos thing better than recommend yourself and my other kind friends to read the ',undo* Review, and to judge of its tendencies fairly and impartially ; and I have no doubt, though errors tnay be detected in it, and its opinions may be misrepresented, that you will acknowledge that its sole aim is to advocate the cause of the people and to diffuse sound political knowledge. "Believe me, dear Sir, yours truly,
WILLIAM MOLESWORTH."
A Mr. Hubbard thought, that Sir William Molesworth, in his capa- city of a candidate, might properly be questioned as to his religious opinions by an elector. The majority of the meeting thought other- wise: and it was mentioned, that when Mr. Marshall and Mr. Macaulay were asked respecting their religious belief at a public meet- ing, Mr. Marshall took no notice whatever of the question ; and Mr. Macaulay said, " Who is the man that dares ask such a question?" Several delegates cordially approved of Sir William Molesworth's letter; and, after some discussion, it was agreed unanimously-
" That, with the information at present in the possession of this Committee, it is their opinion that Sir William Molesworth isa most fit and proper person to represent this borough in Parliament, in connexion with Mr. Baines ; and that a Sub-Committee be appointed to obtain the fullest and most accurate in- formation as to his Parliamentary and public conduct, in order that his cha- racter and claims may be brought with the best possible effect before the electors."
In reference to Sir William's letter, the Leeds Times says- " Had Molesworth met the objections as to his religious opinions in any other way, he would have been degraded. As it is, he stands in a proud posi- tion, the unswerving defender of man's noblest and dearest right—the right of free opinion—a right which men for their own purposes called, in his case, into question, though it was their only safeguard against persecution. The orld owes him a debt of gratitude for many of his actions, and for this more than all : it is a reproof which the shallow and hypocritical slanderers might feel to their heart's core—if they have hearts, which is doubtful. As to the silly ob- jections repeated at the meeting of delegates against Molesworth, we have but one word to say. Does any man suppose that if he had been a Whig, one of these objections would ever have been heard of? There is not a man in Leeds who does so ; and the real objection is, that he has been brought forward by the people, and not by the clique. We speak plainly, because if this is to be the way in which the efforts of the Radicals to maintain union are met, the time for speaking out is nearly come. There are bounds to human endurance, and in this matter they are almost reached. If Hubbard's objections to Molesworth were brought forward in ignorance, we blush for him : if they were brought forward from ill design, he should blush for himself. The truth is, nothing can be found against Molesworth ; so calumnies must be invented ; and the inventors know that, though they may ultimately be proved false, they have done their work."
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