ABSTRACT
A seat for Dudley was vacant. There was little chance of success for any but a monopolist candidate; and few men will fight without success being probable, the desire, “the laudable ambition,” as it is called, to be in the House being generally stronger than the desire to spread right principles. Dudley is a manufacturing town, containing about 30,000 inhabitants, who are chiefly employed in iron, glass, and nail manufactures. A part of the town and the principal part of the surrounding mining district belongs to Lord Ward. From the possession of this immense property, great numbers of the voters were in his employ; and it was always a condition that they should vote for his nominee. At every election a note was sent to each elector, under the direct influence of his lordship, couched in the most courteous terms, respectfully requesting the vote and influence of such elector in favour of his lordship’s candidate. This request was understood; and if not complied with, the offender was visited with the summary punishment of discharge from employment, or notice to quit land or premises, as the case might be. His lordship, in addition to his direct, exercised perhaps a still more powerful influence indirectly; the mines chiefly belonged to him, and were let on leases to the ironmasters. These leases, however, afforded no security for independence on their part. There were so many conditions attached to them that they were exposed to constant loss and annoyance from an ill-natured and unfriendly agent; and, therefore, on occasions of election contests, it was always the interest of the ironmasters not to offend his lordship by opposing his nominee. The ironmasters gave employment to large numbers of the electors, and many of the shopkeepers were dependent on them. The same influences which were exercised by Lord Ward over his dependents were exercised by the iron-masters over theirs, and these influences were united to return whomsoever Lord Ward pleased to appoint. Under these circumstances, there would be no contest, unless a candidate could be found who cared less about his own success than to avail himself of the opportunity for promulgating the principles of free trade.
