The aspect of this Election has assumed a character of a purely
personal nature, in which Politics are entirely forgotten.
While I feel my own individual claims to the honor of
representing you in Parliament have not even been called in
question, and am deeply sensible of the kind manner in which
I have been generally received, I cannot disguise from myself
that in the present state of feeling in the Borough, arising
from misrepresentation, and a disinclination on the part of the
Electors to calmly consider the actual facts of the case, the
result of a direct appeal to the Constituency would be doubtful.
Under these circumstances I have resolved to retire from the
contest, persisting in which would occasion an unusual amount
of ill feeling, and be painful to those, who, having hitherto
acted together during the whole of their Political life, would
on this occasion be found ranged in opposition to each other.
Time, I trust, will convince you, that I came forward on purely
Independent grounds, as a supporter of the energetic policy of
Lord Palmerston, to uphold which I believe to be the real wish
of the Electors of Dudley.
I have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servant,
J. SANDARS.
_Dudley, 27th, March, 1857._
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