The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-08-20 00:00:00

113orset Count!! (Expo
TUESDAY. AUGUST 80. 1867

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

Nioe days after the oommencement of the groan
lemon, several weeks after the closing of the two
opera houses, and when at least nineteen4wentiethe
of the "upper ten thousand" have flitted away to far
different emcee, our weary, jaded legislators at last
see the end of their extraordinary toil daring the
remarkable session of 1867. Not that our honourable,
right honourable, and noble senators have by any
means carried out the varied programme placed
before them by the ministry at the beginning of the
esaion, all their energy haa been devoted to the
one Bill of the year and other matters have
either had to stand aside, or to be done in • luke-
warm end half-hearted manner. Many questions
stand over for next session, and more for the new
Parhatneet in the following year; for not only ia •
Scotch, and perhaps an frig), Reform Bill to be
diagnosed next year, but very likely the Redistribu-
tion question wilt be re-opened, for debate at least.
Bat din Parliament bee no cause to fear a repetition
of the severe and protractad labour of this sessios,
the closing of which is hailed, even by the most
industrious and indomitable of Parliameotariena, es a
welcome relief.

One of the gusstions for future legislation, and
which will probably be left to a new Parliament, is
that of Trailas Unions; but that Parliament will be
more different from the present thee most of us
expect, if it legislates according to the vie, of
Sheffield men. The Law Grinders' Union, so far
from repudiating Broadhead, and dismissing him
from office in their society have, at a recent meeting,
virtually taken epos themselves the responsibility
of his deeds. They say that they decline justifying
such things, "bryossd asserting that they are the
effects of a cause—the want of some properly
regulated legislative measures binding men in some
degree to what is honourable, just, and good." They
therefore "decline to disgrace themselves as oowards
by deserting the men who have taken upon them-
selves the task of risking their lives and liberties
[read assailing other persons' lives and liberties]
for what they behaved to be the good of the institu-
ting," If this is not • defame of rattening and trade
outrage,* a frateraiziag with the villain

awl the ruffian Crooked, this we have no *vanity
Tot construing language. If this ix the spirit of the
Sheffield men, no wonder that a member of trades in
London and Dublin have repudiated all fellowship
with them. The only wonder is that all the trades
in the United Kingdom do not at once arouse them-
selves and pretest again** such atrocious sentiments.
True, the saw grinders express a wish that trades
aaidaista will disoontinne rattaning and all species of
outrage and violence, but only became they have
"full confidence that it is the intention of the
legislature to give the labour question that considera-
tion to which it is entitled" in,the opinion of Sheffield
workmen—which means, of course, that the anions
will leave off owning non-moiety men and their own
members, en the preposterous condition that the
legislature shall undertake the teak.

After expensive and prolonged litigation the
House of Lords has at WA decided, in reference to '
the °reread, Gurney, and Co. appeal caws, that
shareholdees, who incautiously allow their names to
be pet on the register of a company, are not to get
rid of their responsibility to the company's creditors
because the promoter. have boon &nifty of fraudulent
misrepresentation. This decision meets general
approval. Tire shareholder. in such vamped.up
concerns Would readily take the profits if they
were fortunate enough to get any; and it asunot
be right to give them • remedy against innocent
creditor. because they have been cheated by
fraudulent promoters. Nitta* these latter gentry
are responsible perecos or they are not. If they I
are, the delnded shareholder@ should seek their i
remedy against them. If they are not, what
jastice would there be in removing from the register
perhaps all the solvent shareholders, who have
undertaken a risk with their eyes open or volno•
tardy shut, and throwing all the loss upon creditors
who have really trusted in the list of shareholder,'
which it is proposed be =Jubilate?
Nowhere can it be mid With greater truth that
"coming events cast their shadows before" than in
the United States. The shadow of the Presidential
election of ISO has already fallen upon the wire.
pullers and politicians of that country, tea not only
I. the great event talked abosit lint several names
are proposed as candidates. The characters of the
various individuals nominated afford • pretty fair
idea of the current of opinion now existing in the
States. There is first of all General Grant, whom
a large section regard as the beet possible secoessor
to Andrew Johnson. Eels popular as a soldier,
and is known to be remarkably straightforward.
He pommels, moreover, the advantage of not
having committed hinistleto any party. Be is on.
of the silent order, does not tell all he knows, and
Is by no meins anxious to reveal what he thinks.
This reticence, indeed, amounts almost to taciturnity,
and puzzles much the professional agitators If
elected, he will be the first sphyniz ever known on
American soil. There has been, however, to much
talk, and so very much profession on the part of
past candidates that it is not at all unlikely the
nation may for once put it, faith in i man who
knows how to hold his tongue. But if General
Grant is puzzling the political world by his silence,
there are plenty of other candidates who are
exhibiting an opposite tendency. No one would
venture to find fault with Frederick Douglass for say-
ing too little, or with Mr. Sumner, who !teems
to be looked upon., a Fiamible VicerPreeident, if not
• Preeident. It would be a strange turn of affairs
which brought the first.named to the head of the
American nation nothing less, indeed, than
retribution. The greatest of abolitionists, a negro
himself, he would be the very embodiment of the
principles for which America has fought end bled
and triumphed. But startling as political events
oftentimes are, we can scarcely bring our minds to
Imagine that the next President of the States will be
a coloured man. More likely of the two is it that
Sumner is the oomicg man ; for, although ma an
orator be cannot be compared with Douglas., as a
parliamentary tactician be is far superior. More-
over, be would have to encounter less prejudice, for
the Americans are hardly yet prepared to see at
their head • member of the negro race. We have
named the soldier, the negro, and the politician, as
candidates for the honour of President. There
remain the financierand the doctrinaire, who appear
in the persons of Mr. Chase and Mr. Wade. With
regard to the former, all that can be said is that he is
• first-rate man at figures. He taught the nation
not only how to borrow money during the war, but
how to repay it in times of peace. His successor
is hut carrying out hi. views, and it is because the
policy of the country for some time to come mast Be
more or loss mixed up with the finance, that Mr.
Chase's name is put forward by an influential section
of the people. We have left Mr. Wade till last.
perhaps on account of his being the least important,
though certainly not because the principles be
represents are of any ordinary kind. This gentle-
man goes in fora general division of property, and
the forcible elevation of labour over capital. Without
underrating his ability either as @thinker or a speaker,
we may safely assert that his views are impracticable
even in America just yet, and are not likely tube
supported by an eminently practical people. It does
not used • reverence for class distinctions to make •
man anxious to preeerse his *AM, end A megrims,—
republicsan as they are—possess • pretty keen notion
of the difference between Ineum and Num. Mr.
Wade's party may enter him for the twos, but he
stands little chains of becoming a "favourite."