MR.GLADSTONE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 676, 6 October 1852, Page 3

MR. GLADSTONE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

The following Declaration was in course of signature, and had already been signed by about live hundred non-resident Members of Convocation. Several of the Heads of Houses and a number of resident Fellows had also expressed their entire concurrence : — OxronD University Election. — The undersigned Membeis of Convocation of the Univeisity of CHfoid, while they deem the practice which continues m his seat in Pailiament a repiesentjtive once elected too useful to be lightly disturbed, are }et more ji-nlous of their individual rights and of the honour of CMbid, than to believe that a conventional rule, however snlutaiy, is of gieater intrinsic value t! an the actual and just repi (mentation of the Univeisity. At the vacancy which occured in 1047, a very latge mmo r ity recoided then votes against the election of Mr. Gladstone, while a further and considemble poition of the constituency declined to proiuote^that gentlemen'a return, although they did not vote /oi his opponent. Mr. Gladstone's supportois behoved that, on most quost'ons of moment likely to aiise his opm. ions would i'anly jppresent those of the Univei»ity. Since th.it perioil Pailianient and thecountry have been called upon to decido among older inipoitant matters, two questions, involving fundamental punciples, and of special significance in the eyes of a constituency who, beloie all otheis, take a peculiar inteiest in the religioa of the country, and in the beanng of political nieasuies upon it and our ecclesiastical institutions. '1 hese questions were— the admission of Jews into Parlament, and the aggression of ihp Chinch of Home ou tho prerogative am! liberties ot England. The latter question touched so deeply the na 1 ion.il feeling, as well as the leligious con vie' ions of the community, that the emotion winch it cilled forth h peihaps without a paiallel in the bi^toiy of i>nliticnl excitement. That the UniveiMty ol O\loid fully participated in the mineral indio nation was shown, not only by the pioreedmgs of her members, cl^ncal and luy, thioug'houl the countiy, but b^ hi'i own coipoi itu and foimal appioach to the thion>> >\il!i won]-, of dutiful appeal to the Roynl Pu-iogdiiw, an I < <uro^l pi'liUon lor represbive nuabuies. Yet (Ik- \iu\\s wlncli

Convocation expressed upon this subject were not only m>t lepresented by Mr. Glndstone in Parliament — they wtii railed in question and resisted by him with a tenacity and a vehemence quite as remailcable as the unanimity and intensity with which the Church and the nation gave utteiauce to their feelings on the subject. The question of the admission of Jews into Parliament, ultimately involving, as it was felt to do, momentous changes m the character of the Legislature, engaged the deep interest of Mr. Glad&tone's constituents. The Unirersity, by her judgment in Convocation, pronounced strongly against the pioposed changf. On this question also, Mr. Gladstone, in place of representing the known opinion- of the great majority of his constituent?, took a part most strongly and painfully opposed to them; and (his, notwithstanding the assurance j_ivcn bv many of his fnpnds at the lite election, and ]uMified by his previous Parliamentary career, that he would pursue a coui&e fhe vpry re\eisf. That Mr. Olnd«tonoV views on the if lations of the Church to the Suie 'i.ivh, since 1841, undergone a change, little anticipa'-d even by bis then .^uppoifprs, many of his best fripnds regretfully admit; and probably all who have read his recent letter to the Bishop of Aberdeen, or the commpnts by Dr. Wordsworth (of Glenalmond) upon Mr. Gladstone's views of ''Religious Liberty," as therein propounded, will agree that the abandonment of the Church's connexion with tho State is necessarily involved in the legitimate development of tho principles he now advocates. With a divergence of opinion thus fundamental, it would be idlo to say that Mr. Gladstone represents the University of Oxford. That any will require that he should again returned unopposed, and that one of the highest constituencies in the United Kingdom should be resign themselves to a state of things which nullifies representation, and would make it a mockery, can haidly be imagined. IVot without reluctance the undersigned electors have resolved to adopt measures to secuie the return, at the approaching general election, of a member, in place of Mr. Gladstone, who may be trusted, fairly and safely, and to the satisfaction of moderate men on. all sides, to represent the University in Parliament.

Sir Harry Smith at Portsmouth. — On Monday afternoon, Sir Ilany Smith, late Commander-inChief at the Cape of Good Hope, who, (as we have stated elsewhere,) anived at Portsmouth by the Gladiator steam-vessel on the previous day, received an address of congiatulation from the Corporation of the borough. The gallant General acknowledged the compliment in a speech which may be regarded as a brief defence of of his condnct. He said, — "Sir and Gentleman,— l thank you with the grnteful heart of a veteran soldier ior the address you have just presented to me. The most gratifying thing to a soldier 16 to know that whilst serving his country his services will meet with his comiudes'and his country's approval. (Loud cheeis.) In the midst of the many difficulties which surround the soldier he is ever cheered by knowing that whilst he is doing his duty, if even bo is not quite so successful in the performance of that duty as others may think be ought to be, he is ever cheered by the belief that the country will do him justice. (Cheers.) You have well touched on the peculiarity of my position in South Africa. Without egotism, I may say, and I do assert it, that no man was ever placed in greater difficulty than I was when first placed in command in South Africa. (Hear, hear.) I was a goveinor without a legislative body, and I was a commander-in-Chief without an army. (Loud applause.) I will admit I was one cause of the stnallnesa of that army ; for if I had to furnish reasons whether the army should be reduced or increased, I could better have furnished leasons for reducing it than fonncieasing if. My wish was as far as I could, to save tho xnonpy, and blood of my country from bein^ uselt's-ly squandered in a distant coloiiy. lam ready to say that the minister of the clay suportcd me wi'h reinforcements: I asked for none from home or from the neighbouring colonies- I was endeavouiing to bold my giound, as others had recommended, feeding that if ihe mimstei of the day wished to retain Kaffrana, he would furnish me with the men to do so, whilst if he did not want to keep Kaft'raia a good retreat might he made with less disgrace, with a small army than with a large one. (Hear, hear.) But reinforcements arrived, and I had ro extend the scene of my operations, which then assumed a formidable character ; but great difficulties then arose. 1 had not only 30,000 or 40,000 warlike savages to contend with, but I had a large body of Hottentots, who were supposed to be our friends — if savages ever can be friends — but who now turned against us. I then stood alone in a storm, in which I maintain no other man ever did before in our own time, (Cheers.) But the ministei sending out forces, time should have been given me ; Inn ne, like mj self, of an aident temperament, bel'evinf* I was slowly acting — though I was not asleep — (cheers) — was dissatisfied. Still I was doing as much as could undone, and I speak now the opinions of a general who has been in every description of warfare (Hear.bear.) The measures I had commenced I left to the gallant officer, my successor, who relieved me with the greatest courtesy and kindness, and 1 left him in command of an intiepid. irmy, in as good a position as could be desired — (hear, hei.j) — for the enemy Lad been driven over the Kei. And I &hll think that my ! measures will ultimately be those which will bring peace, tranquillity and prosperity to the colony." (Cheers ) Sir Harry Smith concluded by again expressing his dunks to the -inhabitants of Portsmouth for the reception -they had given him, and stating that under any circumstances he shonid evei feel the proud conscientiousness of having done his duty. A public meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Portsmouth i over which the Mayor presided, was held yestarday morning in the Town* Hall, for the purpose of presenting an address to Sir Harry Smith, embodying the general sentiments held towards him. Sir Thomas Ralph moved and Mr. Wright seconded the adoption of the address, which was carried unanimously —Watchman, June. 2