REPRESENTATION OF MARYLEBONE.
A PORTION, perhaps a majority, of the electors of Marylebone are dissatisfied with something in the state of the representation of that borough. Into the causes of their discontent we do not mean to enter at present. They may be just or frivolous, reasonable or the reverse ; but certain it is that the electors are dissatisfied, and, like other men under such circumstances, are bestirring themselves to better their position. We apprehend that if' one thing in polities is more clear than another, it is, that the mem- bers of a constituency have a right to find fault with their re- presentatives, and to replace them with men whom they prefer. The right admitted, all fair means of enforcing it must be conceded ; and among those means the most obvious are, to select other can- didates, and to ascertain their principles by holding frequent com- munications with them. This is the course taken by the Marylebone electors. They have called upon Mr. HALL, now Member for the Monmouth Boroughs, to come forward as a candidate fur Maryle- bone. Mr. HALL has complied with their request, and has had several opportunities of making known his political opinions to the constituency. As far as we have observed, the affair has been conducted in a manner as little offensive to either of the sitting Members, Mr. HENRY BULWER and Sir SAMUEL WI/amity, as could be expected. Mr. ThILW2/1., however, hes thought proper, to lecture his constituents on what he appears to think a very premature and impertinent manifestation of their wishes. He has addressed a letter, in form to Mr. Jour& Ivimev, but really to the electors, which that gentleman, fairly interpreting a suggestion by Mr. BULWER, has sent to the news- papers. This letter, the relative situation of the writer and of those whom he addresses being considered, seems to us a mar- vellously cool production. Recommending union, Mr. BULWEIL says- " If we are all to go quarrelling and fighting about who is to be the precise person to be returned to represent Reform, each thinking nobody can be so proper as himself, the vanity or interests of individuals may be satisfied, but it must he at the expense of the public advantage. You are now splitting your- selves into a variety of petty sections and divisions, each with its favourite and its chief; and what will be the result ? Why, when an election does come, every one will have got so pertinacious as to the excellence of his own views or Ms own claims, that you will find it impossible to unite in selecting those per- sons who may be upon the whole the best to fight—not their battle, but yours. " I may be unpepular with some of you—of course I don't think I ought to be so, but wo are bad judges in our own cause. To be sure, I hare not been telling you like other !milkmen, that I am by far the best representative you can have—that there is nothing like me: I don't happen to see the practical advantage just now of patty from public meeting to public meeting hailing oree with the scum nty own approbationt. But the great body of the people is just as likely to judge rightly of us as we are of ourselves—at least this is my opinion, even it' it goes against myself; and it is just as likely to judge rightly of us, if we have really done any thing by which it can tudge quietly and calmly, as if we are for six months previously fussing and lidgetting forward with all the atoms of our wonderful merits sorted and collected fill' exhibition. " Well, then, why should not we remain spirt and calm until the time Of= electing do as rice, with only this one resolve present to us all—viz, that you are then to decide as to which of the c ouliasses is the best suited to the exi- gencies of the moment—for that is the real question : every candidate, of course, thinks himself the most worthy, and it is right he should do so."
Mr. BULWER would seem to forget that there is such a thing as taking a constituency by surprise—that the eve of an election is precisely the worst time for that quiet and calm choice which he
recommends. But it is present to the electors of Marylebone, that constituencies have been in runny instances under the neces-
sity of taking up with ineligible candidates solely from want of time for making a better selection. It appears therefore discreet in the electors of that boroagh to take time by the forelock, and to be prepared for a sudden dissolution,—or, what is perhaps as likely to happen, the sudden resignation of his scat by Mr. BUL- WER. It is probable that the movements of the Marylebone electors may have been quickened by the rumours prevalent in Downing Street and other official circles— for it is no secret— that the attachment of Mr. IIEDIRY BULWER to the MELBOURNE Ministry, will at no distant period be rewarded by an appoint- ment, the duties of which must be exercised on a different field from that of Parliament. Suppose a vacancy should occur in this way, either at the end of the present Parliament or sooner, official Whigs, and the Tories, would at once have their candidates in the lien; while the Independent Reformers, who require some- thing more than the use of a few party phrases, would be at sea, and compelled to support the Whig as better than the Tory, merely for want of a candidate of their own principles. Against this contingency they are wisely taking precautions ; and hence the lecture of their Member, which displays as much modest assurance as any document of the kind we remember to have read, and as much cool disregard of the circumstances in which he stands as, we will venture to say, was ever manifested by a Member of Parliament when addressing an independent mad numerous constituency.
Previous page
