Having been solicited to offer myself as a Candidate to
represent you in the next Parliament, I have deemed it my duty
to comply with the request. In offering myself to your notice,
I think it right to state my views, with which I believe many
of you will be acquainted, as they are views which I have
entertained and avowed for many years. I am an advocate of FREE
TRADE to the utmost extent.
I am an advocate for the Shortening of the Duration of
Parliaments, Complete Suffrage, _Protected by the Ballot_,
and an appropriation of Members in proportion to Population.
I am for the ABOLITION OF CHURCH RATES! and entire Religious
Freedom. I am an advocate for the greatest economy in our
national expenditure, and strongly opposed to our interfering
in the affairs of other Nations; and believing the Military
Bill passed by the present Government an ill-advised and
unnecessary measure, if elected I will vote for its repeal!
I am an advocate of EDUCATION, and I think the best means to
obtain it would be to remove from the Press all taxes which
would reduce the price of Newspapers and Literature generally,
so as to bring it within the reach of the whole of the People.
GENTLEMEN, the above are in substance my political principles,
which I shall be happy more fully to explain when I appear
before you as a Candidate for your suffrages, and shall be glad
to give, on that occasion, whatever further information you may
require.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
JAMES BALDWIN.
_Committee Room, July 6th, 1852._
The nomination day arrived in due course, and each side marshalled
its force of electors and non-electors to hear the speeches, see the
farce, and join in the banter and fun of the day. This election,
however, was different in respectability from the last miserable show
of Chartistism; because both candidates were gentlemen, and in their
individual position men of high moral character and standing, which
cannot always be reported about Dudley candidates for Parliamentary
honours.
The election came off July 8th, 1852, with a few black eyes and damaged
hats, and the result was,--
Mr. Benbow, Conservative 400
Mr. Baldwin, Liberal 231
----
Majority for Mr. Benbow 169
Thus it was that Mr. Baldwin trotted back to Birmingham (rather
crest-fallen) with his paper waggon and fiery steeds, whilst Mr.
Benbow, the member (_not of the electors of Dudley_), returned to his
books and his papers in Mecklenburgh Square, London.
Died July 22nd, 1852, Mr. John Holland, Builder and Contractor, Dudley.
This melancholy death took place suddenly in a fit at a gipsy party.
Aged 58 years.
Died August 18th, 1852, Sergeant Paine, an old Peninsular soldier,
having hung himself in a fit of insanity. Aged 64 years.
September 15th, 1852. Died at Walmer Castle, that most illustrious
commander and hero, the great Duke of Wellington, of an epileptic fit,
in the 84th year of his age, universally regretted by the whole world.
The nation gave the Duke a public funeral on November 18th, 1852. His
remains were laid in St. Paul's Cathedral.