304

LIFE ow

UOBDRN.

country, this is the eourse I she 11d pursue mader yowe circu”
stances. I would contrive to make it so far a judgment of the
electors upon mv own conduct as a Minister, as to secur®
support to myself in the next Parliament to carry out my
principles. I would say in ray place in Parliament to Lord
George Bentinck and his party,—‘I have been grossly msligned
 in this House, ard in the newspsper press. I have bee?
charged with trenchery to the electors of this empire. My
motives have been questioned, my character vilified, mY
policy denounced as destructive of the national interests.
I have borne all this, looking only to the success of what I
deemed a pressing public measure. I will not, however
stand convicted of these charges in the eyes of the civilised
world until, at least, the nation has had the opportunity of
giving its verdict. I will appeal to the electors of thi
empire; they shall decide between you and me--between
your policy and mine. By their judgment I am content to
stand or fall. They shall decide, not ouly upon my pest
policy, but whether the principles I have advocated shall be
applied in their completeness to every item of our tariff, J
am prepared to complete the work I have begun. All I
ask is time, and the support of an enlightened aud generous
people.’
“This tone is essential, because it will release the
members of a new Parliament from their old party ties.
The hustings cry will be, ¢ Peel and Free Trade,” and every
important constitnency will send its members up to support
you. 1 would dissolve within the next two months, Some
people might urge that the counties would be in a less
excited state, if it were deferred ; but any disadvantage it
that respect would be more than compensated by the gait
in the town constituencies, I would go to the country with
my Free Trade laurels fresh upon my brow, and whilst the
grievance under which I wag suffering from the outrages of