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BRECKNOCK COUNTY ELECTION.

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BRECKNOCK COUNTY ELECTION. Early on Monday morning, the 17th instant, although no opposition could be anticipated to the return of the late excellent Representative, Col. Wood, some hundreds of the friends of that gentleman, from the different parts of the county, arrived at Brecknock, anxious to testify their regard for him. Soon after ten o'clock, the gallant Colonel, with a highly respectable and numerous party, walked in procession from the Priory House to the Shire-Hall, preceded by a band of music. The Court was immediately opened, and after the preliminaries had been gone through, Henry Allen, Esq. of the Lodge, rose, and after some prefatory observations, said—" Brother Freeholders and Electors of the County of Brecon, to most of you I have repeatedly given my reasons for recommending to your choice the worthy Gentleman I am now about to propose to joil, as in every way a fit and pro- per person to whom so sacred a trust may with safety to our best interests be confided. Although six and twenty years have flitted over the heads of many of us since I first recommended to the notice of the freeholders of this county my friend and relative, I then grounded my reasons in justification of that recommenda- tion upon the excellency of his private character, of which I had then an earlier and better knowledge than the freeholders of that period I, therefore, then enlarged upon it; it is now unnecessary for me so to do, because that character has been now for more than the fourth of a century before you, and I defy the breath of calumny to sully it. Yet, my good friends and brother electors, though I do not now wholly build upon his private worth, I do as I have repeatedly done before, hnd would eves do, lav that as the best foundation on which to raise the superstructure.( Cheers). His public character is now before you, and though I will never lose an opportunity of declaring my heartfelt conviction, that on the stage of life public actions are best prompted by private virtues, I will confine myself to tho-e requisites which form his public character.-( Hear, hear ).-Dispositions and abilities to serve us—indefatigable industry in that service-unwearied attention to the duties of that service-constant attendance upon the House, to which we have so repeatedly sent him,—absent only when every feeling mind, every heart in the formation of which there is the smallest drop of the milk of human kindness, would applaud his absence.-( Great cheering).—Another most essential attribute forms part of the worthy Candidate's qualification. Honourable independence, of which I say without fear of con- tradiction, even from his enemies (if any enemies he has), that no man has manifested more ample proof. The father of a nume- rous family, refusing emolument when tempting him, declining honors when courting him—preferring the honor of representing independently his larger family, the electors of the county of Brecon.-( Cheers. )--Again, another attribute,—experience in the business of the Commons House of Parliament-twenty-six years' experience—practical experience, not sitting and voting silently, not attending merely when the intervals between the chace, the turf, and the table allowed him time for, brother freeholders, there are Senators, and would-be Senators, of that description, but they are ill suited to these awful times, to this momentous crisis—" Non tali auxilio, nec defensoribus istis tempus eget."— (Cheers).—No, we want men who have know- ledge of the value of our unrivalled, envied, hitherto blessed, Constitution; resolution to exert their abilities in its defence; integrity and impartiality to support an Administration, when in their judgment its measures are for the country's welfare reso- lution to oppose it when its plans are adverse to that welfare. These, my brother electors, are the attributes I hold to be essen- tial in the formation of a fit Representative of Britons in Parlia- ment, but based upon spotless private worth, without which talent is mischief, abilities are dangerous tools.( Cheers).- After some further observations in praise of the gallant Colonel's Parliamentary conduct, Mr. Allen proceeded-" He will, I am confident, to use his own language, advocate in Parliament ample toleration for all denominations of Christians, will do his utmost to maintain the Church, uphold the Throne, and preserve the true liberties of the people. Confident that he will so exert himself, and that God has gifted him with the requisites for such exertions, I propose to you, as a fit and proper person to represent the elec- tors of this county in the ensuing Parliament, the Gentleman who has for more than six and twenty years been honoured with that trust,—Thomas Wood, Esq."—(Immense cheering). John Wilkins, Esq. of Cui, seconded the nomination, and de- clared his firm conviction that Col. Wood was a most fit and pro- per person to represent the county of Brecon in Parliament. No other Candidate being proposed, the High Sheriff (Major Gwynne Holford) declared Col. Wood duly elected. This an- nouncement was received with general approbation. Col. Wood then rose and addressed the Meeting as follows:- Gentlemen, Freeholders, and Electors of the County of Brecon, I stand ap in this Hall again to return you my heartfelt thanks for having re-elected me your Representative—for having for the ninth time, at this critical period, confided to m v hands the im- portant and all-paramount duty of representing you in Parlia- ment. Circumstances, over which I could exercise no discretion, have prevented my paying you those attentions and compliments which are usually paid by a Candidate to Electors on the eve of a dissolution of Parliament. Duties of an afllicting nature devolved on me to perform, and from which I could not withdraw myself. You have dispensed with my attendance until a very late period, and from the bottom of my heart I thank you.-( Hear, hear).— Gentlemen, elected in the kind manner in which I have been, and extending, as some gentlemen have done to me, the greatest courtesy, I shall be anxious to render any explanations in my power of the view I take of many of the important questions that must early come under the consideration of Parliament. I shall render to you those statements in the character of explanations, not of pledges-( Hear ).- The county of Brecon send me to Par- liament, not as their delegate but as their Representative, and never will, under any circumstances, require of me pledges dis- graceful for me to give, and improper for them, as free Electors, to receive.-( Cheet-s).-I shall, therefore,explain to you the views I take at present of all the great questions that must come under our consideration, reserving to myself the right of deciding on each question according to the circumstances of the case, when "'ynoraent for decision arrives. 'CorL important questions. I am ready to express my views on each of them frankly and without reserve. The first question is, whether I will vote for the discontinuance of the monopoly of the East India Company's China Tea Trade? A Committee of the House of Commons sat during the whole of last Session, taking evidence on the subject-reported on the China Trade, and took evidence on the whole subject of the Charter, but gave no opinion on the subject of its renewal. As far as I can understand that report, I do not see an objection to opening the trade with China; but from the evidence already adduced with reference to the Charter, I am of opinion that the conduct of the affairs of the great Continent of India ought to be left in the hands of the Company. This is the present view that I take of this delicate and important question but when Parliament assembles, and the subject is brought under consideration, should I enter- tain different impressions, I am quite sure that every honest man would wish me to act on such conviction. (Hear, hear.) The second question is, whether I am prepared to vote for the speedy abolition of the Slave Trade, consistent with the safety of the Colonies? That question is dictated by the best feelings of our nature; and many excellent persons are most anxious for im- mediate abolition. This is a question that must be treated with the greastest caution, or it may entail on the unfortunate persons who we desire to relieve from slavery and bondage the greatest possible calamities.—(Hear).—Every man who feels as a man would wish, not only to emancipate the black inhabitants of our own colonies but in every pari of the world.— (Cheers.)—We, therefore, should not limit our views merely to emancipation, but by declaring all trallic in slaves piracy, effectually prevent the transport of the black population of Africa from the shores of that country to the colonies of any other nation —(jH'M!)—With re- spect to immediate emancipation I should be prepared to vote that the black population of our own colonies should no longer be liable to be seized tor debt and exposed for sale like cattle in our markets, but should be affixed to the soil and converted into serfs, such as we were many generations back,—what the Rus- sians are at present, and from which, in the march of events, all nations will be emancipated in proportion as the Christian reli- gion and civilization advances.—(Cheers). The third question is, whether I will vote for the repeal of the malt tax and substitute a property tax? By a propertv tax we must understand a tax upon income; and if such a tax should be generally approved of by the county, I have no objection to sup- port it. Such a tax must in its nature be inquisitorial, and will expose the affairs of every man, particularly those in trade, and J.ery doubt whether such a tax would be generally accept- able. With respect t.o the malt tax I should be most happy to see it taken oft, if the finances of the country would bear it; but I nave no hesitation in saying, that that tax does appear to me too high, and if half of it could be taken off, and some other substi- tuted, I shall be glad to support such an arrangement. Two other questions have been submitted to me, but on which the gentleman has courteously not pressed me to explain my views. I do not however hesitate at once to give my undisguised opinion on both. <, The first is*- whether I am prepared to vote that the Bishops shall not continue to sit in the House of Lords. I have no hesi- tation in saying that I never will vote for their exclusion. That question deeply afrects all ranks and classes of society, as well the higher as the lower. Every man who hears me will be of opinion, that the higher ranks of society stand just as much in need of religious advice and instruction as the lower, and I never can be party to any measure that shall at all tend to place at a greater distance from theirsociety those venerable personages who have commanded the respect of all ag"S.—(Cheers.) But who are the persons thatare generally elevated to the Bench of Bishops Why, in every three cases out of four, the Bishops are taken from the humbler walks of life, and I will not consent to cut off from them that channel by which pious and excellent persons are at once elevated to the highest and most respected stations in the lalld.-( Cheers. )-. I will be no party to such an injurious altera- tion, nor will I consent to make so formidable a change in the British Constitution.-( Clteers.) ° The last question is—whether I will vote for triennial Parlia- ments. We have of late had annual Parliaments, and durino- the 26 years I have had the honour of representing this county in Parliament, the average duration of each has been under 4 years. If we have by law triennial Parliaments, my opinion is, that the first sessions would be occupied in investigating petitions affectino- the returns—the second might be employed in the business of the Country- the third in trying so to shape each representative's course, totally regardless of his country's best interests, as to enable him to find his way back to the House of Commons. (Laughter.)—The period of dissolution had, therefore, much better be left in uncertainty, and I have no doubt before three years have elapsed I shall once more have to render to you all an account of my conduct, and which I sincerely hope will be satisfactory to you.-( Ilear.) There are other important subjects alluded to in my address on which I shall be happy to explain myself. First, with respect to tithes. I have been long of opinion that the payment of tithes ought to be placed on a more satisfactory footing, boih^ to the Clergyman and his parishioners. In my opinion the time is arrived when a composition must be effected on permanent valuations, converted into corn rents, payable by the owners instead of the occupiers. This arrangement would remove the top frequent collisioa that takgs place between the Pastor and his flock, by which tha cause of religion is most materially injured.—(Hear, hear.) Now, with respect 10 the renewal of the Bank Charter This is a most important question, and if a false step be taken in it, it may involve in ruin the best interests of the country. In my opinion the renewal of the Bank of England's Charter is intimate! v connected with the prosperity of the commerce, manufactures, and finances of the country. My present impression ia,, that the Bank of England's Charter ought to be renewed, limiting its range to within 50 or 60 miles of the metropolis, and without that circle the system of banking carried 011 in Scotland might with safety be adopted.-(Hear.)-If the system of Scotch banking be good for the counties north of the Tweed, why may it not descend to the Humber, or be permitted to be carried on still further southward. Poor Laws for Ireland. Need I advocate in this charitable country, the necessity of a legislative provision being made for the poor and the destitute of our sister kingdom. Shall we, whilst the impotent and destitute in England and Wales are maintained by charges on our lands, permit our highways and villages to be disgraceful by the wretched stragglers who come from Ireland in a state of destitution and want, whilst the lands of Ireland are free from those charges which for years have been borne by the landed proprietors of Great Britain ?— (Cheers.) Factories' Regulation Bill. Wheneversuch a Bill is introduced, I shall conscientiously give it my support,- (Hear.) One more subject remains, on which I must say a few words. I am sure, however, I need not in this county advocate a stricter observance of the Sabbath day. It is not by the passing of laws that that desirable object can be attained. Let the higher ranks set the example, and they will be readily followed by our poorer bi-etli ren.- (Hear, hear.) I fear I may trespass too long upon your time. I can only assure you that I will go into the consideration of these and all other great questions, regardless of party or private views. Private considerations have never influenced my decision, and never shall influence them on any subject. On this I am sure you are convinced, or you would not, as over and over again you have, re-elect me your Representative.-( Hear, hear.)-But the time is now arrived when all party feeling must be laid aside, or at least placed in abeyance. It now becomes the bounden duty of every man, whether he be Whig or whether lie be Tory, to unite and resist the movement of a third party, which, I am sorry to say, appears to be growing up in the State, and which party I will not nickname, for I do not know exactly what a nickname implies, but I will designate this third party by an appellation which no man can mistake, namely, Revolutiopary .-( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member, after some comparisons on several parties in the State, which our space will not allow as to give, concluded an admirable speech, amidst the most enthusiastic cheers from all parts of the Hall, which was crowded to excess. The usual ceremony of charing followed amidst the unanimous huzzas of the populace, and in the evening, exclusive of those who were entertained at almost every Inn in the town, a large party, consisting of 151) freeholders and electors, amongst whom were many of the most respectable Gentlemen and Yeomen of the county, joined the Colonel at the Castle Hotel, where they sat down to a sumptuous Dinner provided by Mr. Edwards.

--BRECON ELECTION.

jPEMBROKESHIRE ELECTION.

--MONMOUTH, NEWPORT, AND USK.

CARMARTHENSHIRE ELECTION.

To the EDITOR of The CAMBRIAN.

Family Notices

SHIP TJJ5-WS.

! ' GENERAL ELECTION.