PETERSFIELD ELECTION
This event came off on Friday at the Town-hall. The Mayor, as returning officer, presided.
There was no opposition.
J. H. Waddington, Esq., proposed Sir W. G. Hylton Jolliffe, Bart., as a fit and proper person to represent the borough.
The nomination was seconded by G. E. CORYTON, Esq.
Mr. ELKINGTON enquired of the mayor if, as an elector, he might be allowed to address the meeting without proposing a candidate, and on being answered in the affirmative said, that whilst he entertained the highest respect for Sir Wm. Jolliffe as a private gentleman, he dissented entirely from the mover and seconder in their estimate of his public services. Mr. Elkington then proceeded in the most gentlemanly and courteous terms, but, at the same time, with the most straightforward honesty and frankness, to call the hon. Baronet’s attention to the following three questions, viz. :— The admission of Jews to parliament, Mr. Locke King’s motion on the county franchise, and church-rates; trusting that he would give them his best consideration on his return to parliament.
No other candidate being proposed, the mayor declared Sir William duly elected; upon which the hon. bart. returned thanks, and after going at some length into an explanation of his parliamentary votes, more especially on the late Chinese question, proceeded to notice, seriatim, the three points raised by Mr. Elkington, stating that he could not consent to the admission of Jews into parliament, nor did he believe that as a nation they desired admission, but such craving was confined to a few millionaries among them. With regard to county franchise, he would never sanction the introduction of constitutional changes on the motion of any private member, as he considered that all such changes should be based on the responsibility of the government for the time being. As to church-rates they were about the oldest form of direct taxation with which we are acquainted, dating back from the Heptarchy, and he would not be a party to their total abolition, without some other arrangement for securing the maintenance of those sacred edifices that are scattered over the land. At the conclusion of his speech the hon. bart. moved the thanks of the meeting to the mayor, which was seconded by Mr. Elkington, and carried by acclamation.
F. DARWIN, Esq., proposed three cheers for Sir William, which were heartily responded to.