GENERAL PEELThe question I am about to put to the noble Lord the Member for Tiverton arises out of the following account of the recent election for Tiverton, which appeared in The Times newspaper of the 29th of March:—
The election was fixed for 2 o'clock at the Town Hall to-day; long before that hour the streets were crowded, and the excitement was heightened by the presence of the Tiverton Rifle Corps, a very fine body of men, commanded by Captain Heathcote Amory, a near relative of the late Mr. Heathcote, M. P., who sat so many years for the borough. Lord Palmerston was escorted by the Volunteers from the Three Tuns Hotel to the Town Hall, where the ceremony commenced about half-past 2 o'clock. The election took place within the building, but Lord Palmerston afterwards addressed the Electors from one of the windows. The Rifles were drawn up in front, and the strictest order was maintained.822 My object in asking the question of which I have given notice is to prevent the establishment of a precedent upon what if true was certainly a very novel and, in my opinion, a very improper proceeding, and I hope to obtain from the noble Lord an assurance that an order will be issued from the War Office to the lords-lieutenant of counties to prevent the appearance of Volunteers at elections. I have no hesitation in saying that I should be prepared myself to go much further, and to say that with the exception of drill and exercise and everything connected with them, I should wish to see Volunteers prevented from appearing in arms on public occasions without the previous consent of the lord lieutenant of the county to which they belong. I do not think it ought to be left to the Volunteers themselves to decide to whom and upon what occasions military honours are to be paid. But be that as it may, I think the House will agree with me that their appearance at elections is most undesirable, and that whatever objections are felt to the appearance of regular troops are increased with respect to the attendance of Volunteers, who are much more likely to be influenced by local causes and party feelings and are not subject to that military discipline and subordination which can alone render safe the presence of armed men in crowded assemblies. I have no doubt I shall be told that this was not a contested election, and that the object of the demonstration was to pay a mark of respect to a very distinguished individual, to a man whose connection was a great honour to the borough. But in that sense if they had taken another occasion, so far from finding fault with them, I should be one of the very first to approve of what they have done. I can assure the noble Lord that it is from no want of respect to him that I make these remarks. But to say that an election is not to be a contested election before the question has been put by the returning officer is hardly justifiable. How could it have been known that Mr. Rowcliffe would not be a candidate and—though it was not likely—he might have been intimidated from becoming the opponent of the noble Lord, At any rate, a man of less nerve than Mr. Rowcliffe might be intimidated under such circumstances, and prevented from acting up to what he felt to be his duty at that opportunity? Nothing but the reliance I place on the general accuracy of the reports in The Times could make me believe that the 823 Volunteers drew up in front of the hustings, and that the noble Lord actually referred Mr. Rowcliffe, not to the electors, but to these Volunteers, to know whether it was wished that the army should be reduced, and that that reference was met by cries of "No, no." I do not mean to say that much harm was occasioned by the presence of the Volunteers on this occasion, but I wish to prevent the recurrence of such an event, and I think it ought not to he passed over in silence, in order that we may ensure its not occurring again. If they have a right to support one man they have a right to support another; and what would be the case supposing a popular colonel of a Volunteer force were to become a candidate in a locality with which he and his corps were connected? I mean no disrespect by these remarks to the noble Viscount. I mean no disrespect to the Volunteers. No man can feel more interested than I do in the Volunteer movement, because I am responsible for recommending the acceptance of their services, which had been refused by the previous Government, but I certainly wish to see them relieved from occupying such a position as that which they filled at the last election for Tiverton. I wish, therefore, to ask the First Lord of the Treasury if it be true that at the recent election for Tiverton he was escorted to the hustings by the Tiverton Volunteer Rifles, and if it is the intention of Government to sanction the attendance of Volunteers with their arms at elections?
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI am sure, Sir, I have no ground, nor do I think that the Tiverton Volunteers have any reason, to complain of the manner in which the the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has asked his question. I quite admit that as a general principle it is improper that armed bodies should participate in an election; though I do remember, undoubtedly, that in the borough of Sligo, upon the occasion of an election some years ago, the police were put into confinement, the militia were ordered out of the town, and the regular troops were brought in to ensure freedom of election. But these are exceptional cases. It is perfectly true, as stated by the right hon. and gallant Officer, that I found, upon going from my hotel to the Court House, where the election was to take place, that the Tiverton Volunteers—a remarkable fine body of men, whom it would have gladdened the right hon. and gallant Gentleman's sol- 824 dier's heart to see, as likewise the accuracy of their movements and soldierlike appearance—wished to accompany me to the Court House. I really thought that, as there was no contest, and no probability of one, it would have been a sort of political pedantry and prudery if I had objected to walking with them, and I certainly accepted the honour they intended to do me. As to intimidation, there certainly could be none. The gallant Officer said that Mr. Rowcliffe might have been a candidate, and might have been intimidated; I can only say for my friend Mr. Rowcliffe—for, notwithstanding our occasional sparring matches, I call him my friend—that, in temper of mind, he is a true-born Briton, and
Si fractus illabatur orbis,Impavidum ferient ruinæ.He is the last man to be intimidated even by the Tiverton Volunteers. Having marched with me to the Court House, the Volunteers then went to deposit their arms in the usual place of deposit, and attended to the proceedings of the election, though in uniform, like the rest of the unarmed population; and it was not until the election was over that they marched with me back to the hotel. This was an act of kindness on their part, which they carried further, for in the afternoon they insisted on going the first stage with me by railway, and while I was waiting for the train at the Tiverton junction, they performed several admirable military movements, and gave me some excellent volleys. I wish it, therefore, clearly to be understood that the Volunteers did not attend the electon at Tiverton as an armed body, but in their capacity as citizens. With reference to the latter part of the question, I may add that it is the intention of my noble Friend Lord Herbert to send a circular to the Lord Lieutenants of counties to the effect that he does not think it desirable that volunteer corps should in any way take part in the proceedings at elections.