[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 02 Mar 1816 - Election (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 02 Mar 1816   (p. 3, col. 1-3)

 

THE ELECTION. 

 

[continued] 

 

Mr. CURWEN rose, but some persons in the back part of the Hall endeavoured to raise a clamour. 

 

FREEMEN!—I trust that you will not disgrace yourselves by any ill-manners and illiberality, but conduct yourselves in a way becoming
this most important and most solemn occasion. I offer myself to your notice as a candidate to fill the vacant seat in Parliament,
with a full conviction of its important nature—and particularly at this alarming crisis of general depression. Thirty years ago, I
came at your call, and represented you in the Legislature; and I have been now some years enjoying a happy retirement on my farm,
from public life, determining within myself, not to mix in political bustle again. But on this occasion, being called on in the
generous and independent manner I was—I could not resist.—If I had not obeyed the call, I should have thought I had committed an act
of the grossest injustice—and a dereliction from an evident and important duty. I now present myself before you, not to serve any
ends or views of my own—I do not come forward for self-gratification—Gentlemen, it is your cause that I now espouse. If I am
returned to Parliament it shall be by your unbiassed suffrages. I never bribed a man or bought a vote in my life. If I applied to
any Freeman, and found that he had promised his vote, and was willing to keep that promise, I always applauded him for it; I
commended him, and encouraged him to continue his honourable line of conduct. In a period of difficulty like the present, it behoves
every Freeman to give his vote conscientiously, and to think and act for himself, free from any influence on the one hand or the
other.—Gentlemen, I will make no professions—my political conduct is before the world, and is well known; but as there may be many
young men present, who have have [sic] not had the opportunities of learning my opinions on some heads, I will state to you what I
conceive to be the principal duties of a Member of Parliament. A Member of Parliament is sent up to represent those who elect him;
and he should truly be the bearer of their opinions, if these are reasonable and just. In cases of a particular nature, a Member
should vote according to the wishes and instructions of his constituents, and in all others according to his judgment and his
conscience. These are my ideas of the duty of a Member of Parliament; and in unison with these I will ever act. While I am
addressing you, I will take the opportunity of replying to some of the calumnies of my enemies, who have been very industrious in
spreading their malice abroad—but for what I know not.—In the first place it has been said, that I promised the farmers to raise the
price of corn to £3 per bushel. I defy any one to prove I had ever such a wish. On the contrary, in all that I have said or written
on the subject (and I have written a great deal) I never advocated any other price than should be a fair remuneration to the grower.
This, many can prove; and beyond this, I never wished to see the price of corn extended. As an agricultural man, I have a claim to
speak on the subject; and I would remind you that there was a time when Cumberland was the highest district in the Kingdom; but by
the exertions of a few individuals it is now become the lowest: and I hope I may claim some little share in bringing about this
desirable alteration. 

 

Mr. CURWEN repelled with much feeling an insinuation which he understood had been made, that he was an enemy to the Church—that on a
late occasion (alluding to the celebrated Tithe Cause last Assizes) he was biassed in the verdict he gave, at a time too when under
the obligations of a most solemn oath! It was not necessary for him to disclaim a charge of this nature—it must defeat itself by its
malignity. Was it possible that any opinions of his could have influenced such a body of respectable and honourable men as were on
the Jury on that occasion? Certainly not. The idea would be disgraceful—monstrous! He then adverted to the conduct of his opposers
on the present occasion, which he denominated as shameful and dishonourable in the extreme. He was particularly severe on the agents
of Mr. STEPHENSON, and censured the resolutions entered into at the Bush, a copy of which he then held in his hand. But he said he
was not at all surprised at their conduct and unmanly opposition to him; when he reflected on their behaviour, he could expect no
other! Mr. CURWEN here entered into political remarks, declaring his detestation of BONAPARTE, in the strongest terms, whom he
considered as a "heartless man;" one who delighted to trample on the freedom and rights of others, and who never cared what means he
resorted to, so that the end proposed was attainable. He regretted that after 20 years of war, we should be placed in such a state
of distress. He considered that a peace might have been made with BONAPARTE years ago, on as good terms as we now had. He dwelt in
very energetic terms on the merits of the heroes who fell at Waterloo—who had gained to the country immortal honor. But he could not
put honor in competition with blood. Still he felt the necessity of keeping up the honor of a country; for when that was gone the
country was lost; but we could have done it at a less price. He repeated that a peace might have been concluded on as good terms
years ago. Among other accusations brought against him, was one, that he was not Constitutional. Could ever any thing be more
absurd? He appealed to his whole public conduct if he had been guided by any thing else? And if that was not sufficient, he again
declared his attachment to the Constitution as founded on the Revolution of 1688, which established the present family on the
throne, and as long as that family upheld the Constitution, so long would he be their firm supporter. Mr. CURWEN here adverted to
the peace establishment which he considered enormous. What! said he, are we to pay 19 millions of war taxes now that we have the
blessings of peace restored? It was these things that bore hard on the people in their present distress—a distress universal. Ask
the Agricultural Interest when they were worse off than at this moment? Ask the Manufacturing Interest when they ever felt heavier
depression, notwithstanding their exports were greater than ever they were? He would tell the reason. The present distress had taken
off three millions of home purchasers. The times bore so severely on Agriculture that they were not enabled to purchase more than
one half what they had been used to, and reckoning the Agricultural Interest, of all degrees, at six millions, consequently three
millions of purchasers were thrown out of the home market; the best for the manufacturer. This proved a very important truth—that
the Manufacturing and Agricultural Interests were woven into each other—the depression of the one must be the depression of the
other; and if one failed both must do the same. Whatever men might have thought before now, this was become a proved fact. The
friend to one was the friend to both. Mr. CURWEN would only add one observation more, which would shew the arts his enemies had
resorted to, to injure him in public opinion. He had applied to one gentleman for a vote, who promised him, but observed, that he
should be censured for giving it. Mr. C. naturally enquired the reason, when his friend replied, "I understand you are an enemy to
education."—"Good God!" exclaimed Mr. CURWEN, "I an enemy to education! I was always a strong advocate and zealous promoter of
universal education, and to it I look for that amelioration which I hope in 20 years more, will extend over the lower classes of the
people. I hope to see the time, when the poorest amongst us, will be enabled to read and understand his duties to God and man. It is
to education that I look for the extension of civilization and principle—for all those endowments which make us respectable.
Gentlemen, to the event I look with confidence; I fear no opposition—it may be vexatious, but it will not be effectual. I fear not
what my enemies may invent against me; I have already met calumny face to face, and am prepared to do so again. Gentlemen, I have to
apologise for taking up so much of your time, but justice to myself demanded that I should appeal to you—that I should come forward
with facts in opposition to slander, and repel it. Whoever comes forward to oppose me, I shall meet him in a frank manner face to
face, and let my enemies do the same by me.—(Loud and continued applause.) 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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