The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-02 00:00:00

TO TR) IDITO) 01P TIT DAILY III1W).

Sts,—Thu dignity of the crown, the mainten-
ance of public credit, and the safety of the
country, are points of common interest to every
Englishman. These moat be provided for, and.
it is the duty of Lord Derby to propose, and
of the legislature impartially to consider, what-
ever measures he may suggest, having immediate
reference to these objects. The proper arrange-
ment of the regular forces, whether naval or military,
and any requisite increase of our national defences,
are questions which can be left safely to Lord Derby,
however hostile his principles may be to those which
are coosistent with the present state of society.
However doubtful his judgment, no one will
question his loyalty or his patriotism. But. "to
this extent, no more," should forbearance be shown
to the present ministry. It would be treason to the
liberal cause to carry through the business of the
session in ordinary rote—to give to the Chancellor
of the Exchequer not only a year's taxes, but the
ability to carry on the establishments of the state for
another twelvemonth and to render it impossible for
the country to be relieved of the present administra-
tion until the spring of next year. This suggestion
of postponing the dissolution until the autumn,
which would of necessity involve these results, is an
impudeut insult to the people, and a total subversion
of the most ordinary constitutional principles.
Public safety may require that a ministry—con-
feesedly opposed to the majority of the people's
represeutatives—should excrciso the functions of
their high position for a short time before an appeal
be in.de to the country for its decision under the
present peculiar circumstances; but it is essential
that the period of such doubtful existence should be
as short as possible. The plans put forward for a
contrary course aro untenable and absurd. One
minister has resigned in consequence of the neglect
of his general supporters having placed him in a
minority. Is his successor to rule while his general
supporters arc unable to place him in a majority ?
One minister avows his conviction that an extension
of the electoral franchise is necessary,—and the
Sovereign concurs with him ; but his measure
does not meet tho views of the entire liberal
party by reason of its incompleteness. Are
the liberals to stand by and permit the continuance
of the acts directly to assist a ministry, whose boast
it is that they will not sanction any extension of the
franchise, nor punish even proved corruption, nor
propose stringent remedies against future similar mite
dee& ? Such are the parties who by their organs be-
speak a forbearance which will confer upon them the
possession of Downing-street for at least twelve
months. Liberals and free-traders are expected tamely
to sanction for so long a time the management of our
foreign relations by one who abroad is the personal
friend of the author of the coup d'etat, and at home
the patron of the notorious Chewier; and we are
expected, moreover, to permit the colonies to be
superintended by one who has expressed his senti-
ments as to the mode of their government so freely
as Sir John Pakington has done.
Under circumstances so grave, it behoves the libe-
ral majority to act cautiously, but decidedly. The
motion of Mr. Villiers is useful to test the de-
sire of the present government to re-impose the
tax on bread; but it will not at once induce the
retirement of the ministry. It is useless to move a
vote of want of confidence against a ministry which
admits that it does not possess the confidence of the
house. It would be unwise, by factious votes, to
compel an immediate dissolution while there was
business which ought to be transacted by some
executive. But there is a mode by which the
safety of the empire can be provided for, and
the rights of the people can be protected ; and
that mode is, by the refusal to renew the Mutiny
Ants for more than a limited period. These acts
expire on the 2.3 th April, and if renewed for
either three or four months, Lord Derby would be
compelled to dissolve so soon as the immediate pub-
' lie service shall permit, and the opinion of the
country would be obtained at the earliest possible
moment. Let, then, all liberals unite in this deci-
sion, which cannot be attended with injury. If the
tories succeed in gaining a majority, they will
'be justified in attempting whatever their rash-
ness may dictate, and the people must bide their
time fur redress against any grievances which
they mny perpetuate. But if the suffrages of the
people reiterate the demand for a continuance of
cheap bread and an extension of the franchise,
the year will already be lust for the latter purpose.
The time lost in party warfare will prevent the
passing of a new reform bill, and popular representa-
tion will not be improved, and electoral corruption
will remain unchecked until the session of ls. 3—
if not longer.

WHEN SHOULD PAHL]
DISSOLVED ?