At a meeting of Conservative Electors of the Borough, held at
the Hotel, Dudley, on Wednesday the 20th day of April, 1859, it
was resolved:--
"That under existing circumstances, it is deemed expedient that
the Conservative Electors should support the sitting Member, H.
B. Sheridan, Esq., and this meeting therefore pledges itself to
use all proper means and exertions to secure his re-election.
Ordered, that the above resolution be printed and circulated.
Signed,
THOS. BADGER, Chairman.
_The Hotel, Dudley, April 20th, 1859._
It was always considered that the decision of the Conservative party at
this meeting secured the re-election of Mr. Sheridan; although he was
well known to be in bad odour with many of the leading Conservatives
in the Borough. The recent opposition in the county election, where
many of the Conservatives supported Mr. Calthorpe against young Mr.
Pakington; had so soured the rigid old Tory party in the Borough, that
they became reckless about the future consequences of their shameful
political delinquencies; the result was, that these very resolute
disclaimers of the Priory influence, spited their own cause by again
returning a candidate they did not appreciate, and unwillingly helped
to ring the death knell, not only of the Priory veto, but also of
future Tory dictation; and placed this Borough in the advance guard of
full blown Liberalism, with Mr. Sheridan as its Member still.