The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-11 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 11, 1848.

legislative separation should be considered in de-
tail. A large, and in every respect influential, majo-
rity not of English members only, but of Irish
representatives, voted against it then—how much more
likely are they to do so now ? Mr..l. O'CoNxtu, is
just the sort of man that is not well qualified either
by natural or acquired endowments to impart new life
to well-worn subjects, or to undermine, by the sub-
tlety of persuasion, the well-founded convictions that
are opposed to him. He possesses as little of his
father's imagination as of his reasoning powers, and
inherits as little of his humour as of his fo-ce. Re-
peal will, therefore, be argued at considerable disad-
vantage, as far as its proposer is concerned ; and how
many of his followers are likely to excel their chief,
remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, we are most sincerely desirous that
the question should be fairly and forbearingly dis-
cussed upon its merits, and upon these alone. De-
ceptive and delusive as are the hopes raised amett,g
certain classes of the people of Ireland regarding it, it
ought not to be forgotten that these hopes have long
and fervently been cherished, and that they are en-
tertained by multitudes of deeply and justly discon-
tented men. It will not do to meet a motion of the
kind by a cold and contemptuous negative. The de-
mand for repeal springs from the misery of vast
numbers of the population, and from the resentment
inspired by the Infatuated and iniquitous refusal of
equal rights and franchises to the two kingdoms.
The only way of honestly or wisely dealing with the
demand for repeal, is at once to grapple with these
shameful facts, which cannot be denied, and must not
be eluded. So long as these things are, so discontent
among the richer, and disaffection among the poorer,
classes hi Ireland will continue to subsist; and their
feelings, if not expressed in "Ilurrah for the repeal!"
will be uttered in some other, perhaps less in-
noxious, way. Mr. J. O'CoNNEWs motion may be
got rid of by "the previous question ;" but the
alienation and distrust engendered by the causes we
have adverted to, can only be got rid of by a prompt
and cordial endeavour on the part of the imperial le-
gislature to begin at length to do its duty towards
Ireland.

What, for instance, can be more senseless or absurd
than the obstit.ate refusal to the inhabitant house-
holders of the great towns in Ireland of liberty to
pave and light their own streets, as the bursesses of '
every town in England and Scotland are enabled by
law to do? What more foolish or offensive than
the exclusion by tests, founded on pro-
perty and taxation, of the mass of sueh
inhabitants in the poorer country, when no
such exclusion is recognised in the wealthier?
Or why should the corporations of Scotland and Eng-
land be invested with privileges, such as those relating
to the nomination of sheriffs, which the municipali-
ties of Ireland are declared unfit to share? Again,
how is it possible to expect political content under
I the existing state of the elective franchise, a state
which, fairly contrasted with that subsisting in the
other portions of the empire, can only be correctly
designated as a mockery and a force ? The parlia•
mentary franchise created by the soio/isauf Irish
Reform Bill was narrow and inadequate from
the beginning ; but resting as it did alto-
gether in counties upon the possession of leases,
the landlords soon found a way practically to &nude
the people of their lawful privilege, by w.t iholding
from the occupiers of the sod that tenure which would
alone qualify them to vote. In a few years the
effects of this scheme became apparent, and the legis-
lature was called upon to interpose its authority, and
to amend the law, (1) as to secure a bona fide consti-
tuency to the Irish counties. But, though urged by
the Whig administration of 1839 and 1840, the united
parliament refused to do this manifest act of justice ;
and to the present hour it remains undone. Mean-
while the constituencies have gone on daily diminishing
in numbers; and there is actually more than one
county in Ireland at this moment whose registered
electors do not exceed a few hundred persons, amid
populations varying from one to two hundred thou-
sand. If leave is to be refused to bring in a
bill for the dissoluti -n of the united legislature, let
some distinct pledge be given that such inequality
and injustice shall henceforth cease. There is no
meaning in a united parliament, unless there be a
united kingdom.
Above all, however, we trust that the intolerable
abuse of the principle of ecclesiastical endowment, too
long and mischievously maintained in Ireland, will at
length be rigorously reformed. We are no zealots
for an abstract theory in this mat'er ; but common
sense and common justice cry aloud against the per-
petuation of a vast church establishment for the ex-
clusive benefit of a minority of the population.

on the 4th, caused by the Italian traders there.
The national guard soon, however, restored order. In
all the provinces recruiting is proceeding rapidly, and
as Hungary has promised, not 10,000 men as was
erroneously stated yesterday, but 100,000 men, it is
stated that the Austrian force will shortly amount to
600,000 men.

The news of the declaration of independence of
Hunga-y, made at Festh on the 3lst, is confirmed.
The official bulletins of the Austrian force in Italy
made by Field-Marshal Welden, and dated Inns-
pruck, Aprit 3, will be found under the head of Italy.
The Emperor has appointed Field-Marshal Count
Auersperg to the office of General in command of
Lower Austria, at the same time conferring on him
the dignity of Privy Councillor.
BAVARIA.—Our news from the capital is to the
sth. The King has determined to grant assistance in
men to the duchies against Denmark. Six officers
have gone to the scene of war. The Bavarian Cham-
bers have also elected the ministers for the assembly
at Frankfort. The senate held a sitting on the sth,
in which a project of law for the foundation of the
new constitution was brought in.