A public dinner \ VAS given at Sheffield on the
6til 1sta/it, to Mr. Samuel Bailey, the accomplished author of Essays 'on the Forization and Publication of Opinions, and one of the unsuccessful candidates !Or Sheffield at the last election. About ninety gentlemen were present on this occasion. Mr. Bailey addressed the company in a speech which did no discredit to his high reputation. After expressing his gratitude for the honour conferred upon him, he referred to his conduct previously to and during the last election.
" From the time when ! first accepted the invitation from a numerous hotly of my- 11-Ilow-lownstiten, inviting Ine to collie forward as a candidate Mr t I ie representat I in of this borough at thi• last election, there was a lapse of about lateen months. During like greater part of that time, I reinaineit in what may be termed the amphibious state of a caialidate; or rather. I should say, living only in one element, anal that not of the plea- santest kind—I mean list water. (Leveyhter and cheers.) 1 ilevor a .keil. during the whole of that tinne, fur a single vote. I resorted to none of t he unw oft hy tricks of the old system of election. I had recourse to no intrigues, cajolery. flattery, or solicitation. to gain ;Lay interest for myself with the electors ; and I made iis.• of no nwans or in- fluence. but the plain and simple expression of my political opinions. I lighted up no ignus pules, or blew any bobble to pleaso their fancy. I sent up no halloo/is to catch
their at and draw their eyes front the ground on which they were standing. I
treated the electors of Sheffield as Innen of sense, who had an important ditty to perform for the first time, afal whose duty it was not to is swa yed by any tow for fiLvonr, nor intimidated by any OM as slaves to do that which they felt tt as degrading to their judgment and their conscienees. According to the prineiples which I iiiil pio- mulgated to the world long betbre I had the least expectation of becoming a candidate for Sheffield or any other place, I could not conscientiously ask for It vole as a personal ktvour. The electors I maintained, hail the elect be franchise confided to them, not to give votes as personal favours, but according to their estimate of t lie fitness t f a candi- date. How, then. could I with consistency ask ;my elector to give me that vote which he would refuse to give without asking?" (Cheers)
Though he failed in gaining a seat in Parliament, lie thought that he had gained what he valued more highly, a place in the esteem of every honest and intelligent man. He was prepared alike for success or defeat.
" I recollect (he continued) that Dr, Watson, Bishop of LlandafT, who adopted a very independent line of polities, mot very agreeable to the Court, justly lost a consid,rable part of the honour anal credit arising from this iodependent course of conduct, by con • tinually stating that it impeded his professional arbancement. A no less celebrated tkian,—the Reverend Robert I tall. of Leicester,—said of him, that Dr. Watson married Public Virtue early' in yontin. anal had been (Illatrelling ss ith his wife ever since. I might lie under a similar imputation, were I to allow my iuterest to interfere with my duty,. When I view tie expedients usually resorted to by candidates, they appear not only lialicrou:, but highly vicious Many of you, as well as myself, have sceu con- tested elections at York, Loudon, and other places. Who would suppose they were ra- tional beings assembled for a rational purpose, and engaged in the discharge of an im- portant duty ? " • * • "'fire time is come when electors ought to be more careful in the performance of the duty which it is incumbent upon them to discharge in a proper manner, anal when candidates ought to lay aside intimidation, flattery, and cajolery, and opposition should only proceed from the most cool, calm, and dispassionate conside- ration. I host that the time is not far distant, when we shall conduct the whole busi- ness in a manner befitting a rational nation intent upon an important act."
He called attention to the great changes in the state of society which are now impending.
" When I look around our own country, and sec the population growing more and more sensitive of the burdens which oppress them, it is lolly to think that tranquillity Call much longer prevail without a change. As well might we think that sleeping on the brink of the crater would prevent the eruption of the volcano. In tlibt state of things, there is only one path which can he followed with safety. These contending interests can only be settled on the immovable ground of justice to all parties, and all parties fully understanding the justice of the settlement which is made. Timis is sound political knowledge; and so long as there is a defect in the justice of the settlement, so long will society be subject to agitation. The laws must be altered which euable one class of society to thrive at the expense and oppression of another. These sentiments form a great part of my political creed."
We consider it as highly discreditable to the electors of Sheffield that they should have been influenced by feelings of jealousy or bigotry to prefer any man in England for their Representative to Mr. Bailey, who is universally acknowledged to be the principal ornament of their town. It would be difficult, among the present Members of the House, to find a person more thoroughly qualified for a seat in it. The country had a right to expect that he would have been elected for Sheffield. For their own credit, and for the good of the community, we trust that the Reformers of Sheffield will not let slip another opportunity of returning Mr. Bailey.
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