The Express.
London, England, 1852-10-22 00:00:00

that the national honour is now pledged to the per-,
mutant suppression of the slave-trade. Ass proof
of their sincerity the Chambers voted a credit for the
construction of four war steamers, in addition to the
eleven already engaged in tho service t and by the
last advice@ tho most stringent rules had. it appears,
been adopted to prevent any clandestine importations
of new Africans into Brazil under the protection of
passports, granted only for the transmission of old
slaves from one port to another on the Brazilian coast.
Such acts, we say, in the minds of rational men
do inspire confidence; and it is by prompt and gene-
rous expressions of confidence in a nation, as in an
individual, that persistence in a great and good
career is best encouraged.

THE partisans of Lord DERBY endeavour to con-
sole themselves with the persuasion that as the Libe-
ria opposition is divided to sentiment upon a variety
of theoretical subjects, it cannot act with unity or
concert on matters of practical importance, and that
it cannot consequently displace the present infirm
Administration. Tory infirmity of numerical strength
in the Commons is no longer denied ; but hopes are
fondly entertained that because the majority of
the representatives of the people consists of
('hurelimen and Dissenters, new Ballot-teers and
old-fashioned Suffragists, members of the Peace
Society, and defenders of defensive armaments—the
regime of incapacity, shuffling, and jobbery which
accident inaugurated last March must continue un-
disturbed, and that the country will passively permit
the affainrof its Church, its colonies, and its commerce
to be made the sport of such a cabinet of marplots,
as NIALMESBURT, IVALPOLE, PAKINGTON, and their
associates.

However cruel it may be to dissipate rudely such
well-bred illusions, we are bound to tell the waiters
in Lord DeaDv's ante-rooms, that they had better
make the best use of their powers of importunity,
far the dap of his lordship's burlesque premiership
are numbered. Let no official organ deceive them
with vain words. The Liberal party are indeed
divided in opinion, as they have ever been and wo
trust will ever be, on points of speculative interest
and personal preferences. We should be very sorry
if they weakly affected to bo otherwise. It is tho very
essence and vitality of progress that is made manifest
in such diversity. Toryism, or the gospel of things
as they aio or were, admits of no earnest
originality of thought, of no tentative change
in institutions, of no faith in progress. True
Tories ought to be always unanimous. True Liberals
cannot, from the very nature of their creed, pretend
to be so; for Liberalism is the Protestantism of po-
litics,—the assertion of the right of private judg-
ment in matters of law, government, and empire,—
the realisation of that sacred freedom of civil con-
science which its old antagonist, Toryism, treated
as sedition as long as it was able, and now idiotically
laughs at as a sign of weakness,—not comprehend
ing that it is, in fact, the very soul o: popular
strength.
We published yesterday a letter from Mr. Hume
explainiug certain differences of view just now
discussed between two sections of the Radical party.
Some are in favour of urging the immediate con-
cession of the Ballot as tho one thing needful at the
present juncture; while others, admitting fully the
importance of efficient protection for tho humbler
class of voters, argue that an extension of the suf-
&ego is equally indispensable, and that it were im-
politic to lay exclusive stress on ballot alone. And
the dull Tories cannot see that the practical result
of this disinterested and legitimate difference of
opinion as to the best way of securing an increase of
democratic rights is likely to be the creation of a ge-
nerous emulation between the two friendly sects of
Reformers—the one taking care to pledge every new
candidate at the hustings to vote on all occasions for
the ballot, and the other insisting on an equally
unequivocal promise to advocate the extension of the
franchise. It is worthy of note, moreover, that the
entire discuesion appear, to be carried on, upon the
'
point of tactique, between honest and tried men,
everyone of whoa have uniformly supported both
claims on the part of tho people. They are per-
fectly of accord as to the duty and necessity of
knocking the present system of corruption and in-
timidation on the head; but some are for striking the
first blow on the left side and oiliers for dealing it on
the right. And then we hear the abettors and accom-
plices of electoral corruption chuckling at its imagined
safety, because, to all appearances, it is likely to receive
its double death-blow in or about the same time !
The parliamentary biography of Mr. Hume is in
itself the most triumphant answer to the absurd cry
of division among the Liberals. The veteran mem-
o ber for .Montrose has probably voted oftener in small
minorities than any other man that ever sat in the
l House of Commons; yet he has lived to see point
after point conceded in the successive ripening, and
' harvestings of liberal opinion; and we trust he will
yet behold the accomplishment of many more
righteous anticipations, before he ceases from
his useful labours. Where would the Liberal
cause have been now, had there not been
at all times during the last thirty year,
a certain number of devoted and unselfish men who
felt more ardently and spoke more vehemently than
their more mations allies, and who at the risk of
many an unequal struggle and throughout the dis-
couragement of many an unsustained assault upon
Toryism, stimulated at last the courage of the rest of '
their party, and dewed them the way to victory
after victory ?
But what do we behold on the ether side I How
comes it that among a Intim who lave nothing to
do but to remain stationary, or if possible to retrace
the steps they have lately been unwillingly forced
to tread—bow wines it that dismal= 11041 divi-
sion prevails aassagst then; air winnien
do we hear the wrangling of &met is the ante el
the only orthodox shrine P Iced Duey teak ides
with pompous predisions eland for the "lodisation
and fortification of the Established Church ; but
already half his partisans are en the brink of mutiny,
on the paned is in hears with that notion
when they eill tltiteri, sad that if he continues to
take amuse! of then who bar, persuaded him to
roman Convocatiaa their duty as onagelini Chris-
tian will be to real his asseetwes wed Assert his
'naiad. Division she la the assegai gam not in
oun. ladependeanef *aims gives rigor to Liberal
insult. bat &animist Lord DZILBT's ranks must be
sure death te his ,lists.