Page:Volume 3 1840.pdf/21

From Historical Hastings
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up his house to let [shame]. They required gentlemen who represented them to keep up some establishment. Mr. Hollond had always been found at his post to support the Ministers when he considered them right, but when he held them to be wrong, he voted against them. On the Poor Law Bill, he had cared for the poor, but how had Mr. Planta acted? [Hear, hear for Planta]. Mr. Hollond voted against the paid Commissioners or giving Guardians more power that they might control the dietary tables in the Union Houses. He voted that the widows should not be forced into the house, but that they might be allowed out-door relief. He voted in the Division against the Government, and all on the right side. The Liberals were not Destructives. The joined not the Chartists for bad measures, but the Tories like the Chartists, were Destructives. The present measures of the Government were good, the greatest proof of which was that they were opposed by the Tories. Mr. Putland concluded by seconding the motion of Mr. Hollond.

Mr. Planta, who was received with cheers said - Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, It falls to my lot to perform the grateful task of thanking you and my friends who have proposed me to be again your representative in Parliament. It also becomes me to state the grounds on which I have again ventured to ask that favour at your hands. I had hoped that at this election where are seen to be only two candidates, it would be in the nature of things for us not to be opponents to each other, and that all proceedings might have been carried on in good temper, without aspersions on any gentleman, which while they conduce to no good purpose, cannot fail to be personally offensive. I will now ask Mr. Putland what right he has to interfere with my private arrangements? If I choose to let my house, or to sell any property I possess, it surely should be my business, and not his. But, gentlemen, what is the real history of this affair? When I left Place, it was solely because I could not inhabit it with comfort during the winter. I therefore came and took a house in Hastings, where I lived the whole of the time that I could spare from my parliamentary duties. If, then, Mr. Putland has so much the good of the town at heart, he should have been gratified at my coming to abide in the delightful town of Hastings Mr. Planta might have added that by letting his house, he brought another family, Mr. C. B. Ponsonby's to Place]. But the object of Mr. Putland was to hurt my feelings by this ungenerous attack, which he was not justified to do. I do not believe there is another man on the hustings who would resort to such a course [Hear hear!]. I will dismiss the subject with the remark that I am sorry that he who did it was the man who seconded Mr. Hollond's nomination. I now come to the ground on which I again solicit your confidence to be returned as your representative. As consistency is the virtue in which some gentlemen take delight, I can say that I have ever been consistent in my conduct from the first time I met you. You have known me long and my conduct is before you. My late honourable colleague in his address to you, has stated that all the votes he has given in Parliament have been opposite to mine [Mr. Hollond, my honourable friend is mistaken]. Notwithstanding the disclaimer, I repeat those were the words used in his address.

But I also declare that I do firmly believe that the votes I have given have been for the good of the country and the happiness of the people. Now let us review the questions before the country. In the first place, there is the loyalty to the Throne, which is felt by all honest subjects of this realm to be desirable; but I do not consider it to be right to introduce her Majesty's name into electioneering arguments. If anyone questions my own loyalty, I will defy him to prove that there ever was anything in the conduct of my family (who have been for three generations in the service of the Crown) that for loyalty could be questioned. That they have by their services proved their devotion to King and Coun-