The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-26 00:00:00

MINISTERIAL POLICY.

IN the days of the notorious Coalition it might be
doubtful to define Ministerial policy, inasmuch as the
Ministry consisted of every phase of political parties
excepting the genuine Conservative ; every question
of importance was made an open one, and principle
was banished to the winds. About Lord PALMBBSTON,
however, there can be no such uncertainty, for his
administration appears to be applying the wedge in
every direction dangerous to the Constitution ; so that,.
unless the voice of public opinion be allowed to make
itself heard, there will shortly be no security for any—
thing, and the nicely-poised balance of our limited
monarchy, the growth of centuries, and the envy of the
civilised world, will have degenerated into a Ministerial
despotism. There is no mistaking the symptoms, for
with characteristic recklessness they are applied in all
directions, and should be resisted at once before they
have become too powerful to overcome. The creation
of a life peerage, in the instance of Lord WENSLEY•
DALE, has been nobly met, and the integrity of the.
House of Lords vindicated by the steady determina-
tion of our ablest Conservative statesman, Lord LYND-
HURST, and those who have acted with him. On
Friday, the House of Lords, sitting in Committee for
Privileges, resolved, by a major ity of 92 to 67 that the
letters patent by which Sir JAMES PARKE was created
a baron for life did not entitle him to sit and vote in
Parliament. Had the decisign been contrary, and the
experiment of Lord PAEMEESTON successful, a prece-
dent would have been created of which such a minister
as the present PREMIER would not be slow to take
advantage, in order to swamp the House of Lords
whenever he met with opposition to some sweeping
measure passed by a Radical House of Commons.
The value of the Upper House as one of the safe-
guards of the Constitution would have been effectually
destroyed ; for, instead of independent legislators, the
majority would be composed of the tools and de-
pendants of an unscrupulous ministry.

The same insidious intention to revolutionise the
country is evident in the attack on the Liverpool Town-
dues, upon which we have commented more at length
in another article. The movement is couched under
the fiimsey pretext of affording a boon to the shipping
interest ; but the design is evidently to afford a prece..
dent for the confiscation of all corporate property
under some equally shallow excuse, so that immediate
and energetic resistance has become urgently impera-
tive, or those who now look on with apathy will find
their own interests in danger when too late for a
remedy.
We might also allude to another innovation in the
appointment of the Ven. Archdeacon COURTENAY as
a coadjutor to the Bishop of Jamaica, under the title
of Bishop of Kingston. There are many who may
argue in favour of such an extension of the episcopate,
but into the discussion of that question we have no
need to enter. Whatever may be the advantages to
arise from such a change, the danger is in the mode of
its accomplishment at the mere will of the Minister,
without reference to or the consent of recognised au-
thorities. If such an innovation be allowed, some
further experiment on popular forbearance may be
attempted, until our boasted constitution will have
become the mere despotism of a self-willed Minister.

RIFLE-BALLS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SlB,—Last Saturday afternoon I was walking among the
trees above the rocks at Dingle Bank, when I heard the
sharp click of a rifle, and the less pleasant sound of a rifle-ball
whistling through the branches not far from my head. On
turning round, in the direction from which the ball came, I saw
two gentlemen on the shore, at the distance of little more
than a quarter of a mile : I joined them ; and, I must
confess, they received my expostulations very courteously.
One of 'them acknowledged that he had fired the shot, gave me
his name, and expressed his regret as strongly as he could.
But he admitted that he had never used a rifle before : as,
indeed, was very evident, for he had fired at a great stone,
immediately behind which were the grounds connected with
a private residence. I am bound in honour not to mention
his name : but I request you to do me the favour to insert
this letter, that some caution may be given to those gentle-
men who entertain themselves with powder and ball in the
neighbourhood of houses and gardens. A rifle is a dangerous
toy, and amateur homicide a very unsatisfactory amusement.
—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Collegiate Institution,
Feb. 25, 1856

J. S. HOWSON.

ROBBING EMPLOYEBS.—A man named James Mack, who
had recently been employed as foreman to Messrs. Bathgate
and Wilson, brassfounders, in Canning-place, was brought
before the magistrates yesterday, charged with having stolen a
quantity of copper. From the evidence it appeared that the
prisoner had been watched by detectives Carlyle and Sullivan,
who, on following him to a house in Back Bond-street, found
about Sibs. of new copper and some brass on him. These he
confessed he had stolen from the premises of his employers.
Mr. Wilson gave Mack a good character, and said he had
brought up his family in a respectable manner. He expressed
his opinion that indulgence in drink had led the prisoner into
this trouble. Mack was sentenced to be imprisoned for
fourteen days.