We hope the electors of St. Alban's duly appreciate the
worth of their distinguished Representative, Mr. Ward. They may search far and wide without finding his equal. There can be no misunderstanding between them, for Mr. Ward's language will not admit of a double meaning; and his conduct in Parliament is of a piece with his profes- sions. He not only has the merit of being perfectly independent in his politics, but he possesses, what so many of the Independent patty are sadly deficient in, both judgment and tact. He does not speak too often, nor too long. He never blusters, but he may be relied upon to go through with what lie undertakes. His address to his constituents, which we copy at full length—for it deserves to be read as a whole--is a model for other Members, who have nothing to conceal, whose opi- nions on leading subjects are matured, and who Meal' to act upon them. there were a time when it was essential that a good understanding should exist between t he !Wide and their Representatives, upon IIIOSO great quest it us w: inside the public mind, it is the present. Their strength consist a in mutual L.:464%o; and. where coutidence ceases, the connexion ought not to endure. I feel miti I! ouol, thirst-lore, at a moment, when the Empire is called upon ti pronounce st iito conflicting principh•s, not to shrink front expressing my political sentiment.: ; and it must then rest with you to determine %% Maher those sentiments are stitheirtaly is unison unit your ono, to entitle me to the honour of your future support. " In the lirst place, let me avow myself, most distinctly and unettutifl,:illY, at' r.pp). nent of the Administration about to be formed untli•r the auspices of the 11:!ke of Ni!elliugtun. It matters not what the exact composition of that Adni inistee :en may he, or what pn.fessions of Liberal intentions it may put forth : no Retie tuff call them Ilk C011:111VITCO, because we know that twither the Duke nor tl.ose is hi st it TWOS. 1ISSOCiaTed Wit It Isis can follow out any one of those measures which nil -I ins 1i ■TI regard as the legitimate consequences of the Reform Bill, is ithout such a sioluh !! political honesty as I should be sorty to impute to any honourable man. Uwe h ee2 a Conservative Government, it tnust be colt:Meted upon Constavatii e upon no principles at all. If Sc.' support the men, we must support the4 Ises,e also; for we have had ample notice or their mien ions, and have no tight to stipi..,,,, that they mean to abandon them. The Country, therefore, must make its ehasti.,:i between things as they are, and things as they ought ta he—between the mot t he pert Wbutt ion of abuses. e Now I hold, gentlemen. and I tell you so without reserve, that things :ire net a hat they ought to be, in this country. I hold that it is essential to the welikeius the empire, that there should be such a reform in our Municipal system, as will to the People of England and Ireland, in all our corporate towns, the right of deo it,e atinually, t heir own Magistrates, and of controlling the expetalkure of their OAT nu1,111,L. I hold that the Dissenters must be adnatted, not merely to the halls, but to the Messes of our Universitiee ; and that they must have the means of registering legally th..iz births, marriages, and deaths, without homing upon them a compliance eith the taw, of a church front which they comeientiously differ. I hold that, for the sake s.i the Establieliment itself. is filch I ruin'; sue as sincerely as any matt. Tab..; tuust be commuted; Church-rates, the source of never-eudine, anintesities, cx. tinguish, 41; and tillat rerorms effeeted with respect to Pluralities, Nom 0-sidense, ahd the remuneration of the Working Clergy, as mill bring back the Church of England to the pure principles of its Founder. As to the Irish Church, my opinions ale beinreti2 amid ; and those opinions I neither retract nor modify. I believe tInth if we th! ti render the Unions anti Englund a blessing, and not a curse, to that ill-fated e,,lary. we insist begin by reducing the Protestant Establishment to a scale CO111,1, strictly with the wants of the Protestant population. I maintain that the Leg has a distinct right to do this; and that, iiue regard twine shown to the elaaas existing incumbents, it may regulate, diminish, or recall altogether, the provisioa as- signed tty the State for the support of the Clergy. whenever the interests oh this- commu- nity require it. I admit that such changes ought not to be made lightly ; but I think that, under the present circumstances of Ireland, they are indispensable, and that a fearful responsibility will attach to those, who withhold them. " It is ler venturinna to profess these opinions. ana for advocating them with thit earnestness, which befits so grave a stthject, that I have been denottneed to you in hums Npou wbieb 1 disdain to comment. I now repeat to you that my siesta emanate un- changed ; and that, with tltese views, it is impossible for me to support a Consts vs- tive Government. I do not stop here. I tell you, that if I should have the Mwour cf a scat in the next House or Commons, I am prepared to take such steps as will reiehr a Conservative Government impossible, and give a decided ascendancy to the the Publicity of Divisions. and givirw to the Elective Body the mutection of the lilt.
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„ids, principles of our Constitution. by shortebing the duration of Patliantents. t g Things cannot go on as they are. °YOU 111114 choose between the influence of the Many, and the influence of the Few—the government of an Oligarchy, or the govem- mezit of the People. " You now know, Gentlemen, the terms upon which I again solicit the honour of re- • presenting you. If you approve of rey principles, and are resolved to be tree to vote. selves, I shall be proud to fight nith you, once more, that great battle, in %Weil we have been already victorious. If not, I shall, at once, bow to your decision, nit'. a grateful sense of the support whiclt 3 ou have hitherto afforded me, and a sincere wish that you may replace me by an abler and a better man." Mr. Ward has an able and independent colleague in Sir Francis Vincent. The Reformers of St. Alban's ought to coalesce and insure the return of both their Members. We trust they i are above the cor- rupt and abominable practice, which is common n many places, of starting a third candidate, in order to force all three to spend money. Wherever such tricks are resorted to, it is to be hoped that really inde- pendent men will refuse to be " pigeoned," and seek more worthy con- stituencies.
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