The retirement of SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE having created a
vacancy in the Representation of your Borough, I venture
to offer myself as a Candidate for your suffrages at the
approaching Election.
In doing so, I am anxious to state, with perfect candour, the
political views I entertain on some of the important questions
of the day.
I am in favor of that system of progressive Legislation
which has for its object the Reform of all existing abuses,
without having recourse to violent and organic changes in the
constitution of Church and State.
During the period I had the honour of a seat in Parliament,
at a time when the policy of Free Trade was much questioned,
I felt it my duty to support and advocate the system of
Commercial Freedom introduced by the late Sir Robert Peel.
I rejoice to think that this policy has tended to promote the
comfort and welfare of the People, to inspire confidence in
the justice of Parliament, and to augment to such a wonderful
extent the Trade and Revenue of the Country.
While the partial diminution of the Income Tax is a matter of
congratulation, I am strongly of opinion that it is the duty of
the Government, by means of well-considered reductions in our
expenditure, to make provision for the final extinction of a
Tax, valuable in time of war, but unjust as a permanent burden
on the energies and property of the Country during a period of
Peace.
With respect to the vote on the Chinese War, which has led
directly to the present appeal to the Country, while I
deeply regret that hostilities should have been carried to
such an extent without the knowledge of the Government, I am
nevertheless strongly of opinion that it was necessary for the
honor of the Country, as well as for the security of the lives
and property of our fellow-subjects in that distant quarter of
the Globe, that the Government should uphold and defend, with
that courage and determination which has ever characterized
Lord Palmerston on such occasions, the conduct of its Officers,
until the adjustment of the points in dispute shall have been
obtained.
Subjects connected with the reform of many social evils must
shortly engage the attention of the Legislature--the extension
of the blessings of Education--the Reformation of Juvenile
Offenders, and the Policy to be pursued towards those under
sentence of Penal servitude.
To all these measures I will give my best attention, believing
that they are the questions which touch most nearly the
best interests of the Country at the present moment--the
consideration of which can no longer be delayed, and for the
speedy carrying out of which it is necessary, in my opinion, to
strengthen the hands of the present Ministry.
Gentlemen,--Having no mere Party or personal motives to
gratify, my conduct, should I have the honor of being returned
to Parliament as your Representative, will ever be governed by
the best judgment I am able to form of what is conducive to the
honor, welfare, and commercial prosperity of the Country.
I may be permitted to add, that it will always be my wish to
attend to your Local interests, and to forward those measures
which you may think necessary to the prosperity of Dudley and
its neighbourhood.
I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. SANDARS.
_15, Eaton Square, March 18th._
Mr. J. Sandars' address was read with a good share of criticism by
both parties, but as it was hatched at the Priory it would not go
down the throats of the ultra Tories, and as for the ultra Radicals
they were determined to fish out a candidate of their own liking.
Mr. J. Sandars (it came out on investigation) had represented Great
Yarmouth for a short period as a Palmerstonian supporter, that he had
been rejected for Bewdley, and was willing to do the "Ward Trick" for
Dudley, if elected. Just at this juncture of events the Earldom of
the house of Himley was looming in the distance, and any support that
could be given to Lord Palmerston's government was of moment to the
interested parties; but another strong element was also engaging the
minds and inclinations of some of the most active politicians in Dudley
on both sides of the question, and it was determined to make a bold
and resolute effort to shake off the "unhallowed incubus" which had so
long sat upon the backs of the Dudley so-called free and independent
electors. This extreme measure was successfully effected by a "Public
Coalition" between the ultra Tories, lead on by Mr. Isaac Badger, Mr.
Wm. Haden, Mr. J. G. Walker, &c., and the ultra Radicals, headed by
Messrs. T. Wood, G. Wood, Wm. Insull, Samuel Cook, and others. After
this "happy family" had been wrought into working condition, its first
business was to fraternize after Dudley fashion, and then bring out
an "Independent Candidate that could lick Lord Ward." The greatest
desideratum believed to be advisable was to secure a local man, one who
knew something about the iron and coal trades. Three or four highly
eligible gentlemen hereabouts were interviewed without success, so that
there was no alternative but sending up to London for an enterprising
young gentleman willing to stand for Dudley.
On March 21st, 1857, a supple candidate to suit both parties was
brought down from London, equipped for any emergency, in the person of
(_a time-honoured name_) Mr. Henry Brinsley Sheridan, Barrister-at-law,
the Inner Temple, London.
Mr. Sheridan's address appeared at once, and as it smacked a good deal
of the learned lawyer, and promised to abrogate questions which both
the Tories and the Radicals were anxious to see expunged from the
Statute Book, its appearance was hailed with a jubilee of satisfaction,
and the crowning period of Dudley's Political Freedom was foreshadowed.
Strenuous efforts were made to induce Mr. Charles Shaw, of Birmingham,
Merchant, to come forward on moderate Conservative principles, which
was thought by some might conduce to heal the Tory breach in the
Borough; but Mr. Shaw was too shrewd a gentleman to be dropped betwixt
two stools, so he declined the honour with thanks, and left the
Electors of Dudley to fight the battle of political freedom in the
candidature of Mr. J. Sandars and Mr. H. B. Sheridan.