Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/29

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CROSS-EXAMINATION.
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be favour me with an answer, Yes or No? (Loud cheers.) Mr. L.: I would have supported the principles of enfranchisement and disfranchisement, and would have voted for schedules A. and B. (Great hooting, and cries of

"why don't you say Aye or No?" and faint cheering on the hustings.)—Mr. P.: Well, well. Allow me now to ask Mr. Loyd if he will vote that electors be protected by the Ballot? (Cheers.) Mr.L.:The Ministers who brought forward the measure of reform, and by whose exertions it was carried, have repeatedly declared that it is a full, sufficient, and satisfactory measure, and I trust that it will lead to the accomplishment of much good; and I have a confident expectation that when it has been fully tried, it will be satisfactory to the people. (Cheers on the hustings, and loud cries from all other parts of the meeting of "why don't you answer the question?")—Mr. P.:I repeat my question. Will Mr. Loyd say whether he will support the Ballot or will not? Mr L.'s Friends: Don't answer the question, you have answered it already. Mr.L: I conceive I have already answered the question. (Loud hootings.)—Mr. P. Will Mr. Loyd vote for the repeal of the Septennial Act? Mr. L.'s Friends: Don't answer him; there is no end to his questions. Mr. L.: (obviously in very considerable perturbation,) I conceive that the answer is implied in my answer to the previous question. (Great disapprobation.) Mr. P. That is to say you will not vote for the Ballot or the repeal of the Septennial Act.—Mr. P.: Should a Police Bill be brought into the House, giving to every rate-payer in Manchester the right, which every rate-payer in the township of Chorlton Row has, of voting in the choice of police commissioners, will he support it? (Loud cheers.) Mr. L.: It seems to be expected of me that I should begin to exercise the duties of a legislator before I get into the House. (Loud expressions of contempt from the meeting, vainly attempted to be drowned in wild cheering from the hustings.)—Mr. P.: Mr. Loyd will give me an answer to my question. (Cries of "you have had it," from Mr. Loyd's friends.) Well then, I will put it another shape. When he is in Committees of the House of Commons, on Police Bills generally, will he recognise the principle that every payer of rates should have a vote in the choice of the persons who are to expend his money? Mr. L: (who had now become exceedingly dogged and looked as black as Erebus) said this was only asking the question he had answered already. (The storm of contempt now completely overpowered the expressions of approbation from the hustings, and symptoms of preparation for retreat became manifest.)—Mr. P.: Will Mr. Loyd, in order to remedy the abuses of the legislature on local affairs, refuse his support to any Local Bill which has not received the support of the majority of those whose interests it affects? (Great hubbub on the hustings.) Mr. L.: It seems a reasonable proposition,