The Express.
London, England, 1856-07-16 00:00:00

LONDON, WDDNESDAY, JULY IL

Tax Paucraurros Ministry seems destined to
inaugurate a new theory of the duties end respoesi-
bilities of a Government. Of Late years it has been
topsider,/ the province of the Government to initiatal
snob manatee of public importance as were deemed
impatient or likely to pan; and so generally has this
idea prevailed, that only a few private member
have bad the courage to introduce bills, and fewer
still have had the good luck to carry them. But the
present Cabinet memo disposed to repudiate this
view of the duties of a Government. Government
bills are introduced not to be pawed, bat to be with-
drawn. Not lag ago it wee considered a serious
thing for the Government to be defeated on a measure
of importance; bat now, ca the eve of a defeat,
or even after an adverse division, the adroit Pis-
til= rises, and with the most jaunty air informs
the House that the bill in pasties will be
referred to a committee upotain, or is to be
withdrawn. It would be di salt, indeed, to ley
that the rojection of any measure, however 120111 ell•
tome, would determine the fate of the present Ministry.
The °sly poseible means of driviog the lively Vie-
emit to wader his resignation or to dissolve Parlia-
ment would be to stop the supplies. No doubt this
ilippast masa has its advantages. It is of coarse
gratifying to any man's vanity to be the Prime
Minister of England. He enjoys great place. His
weekly soirees are transformed into weekly
levies. He is courted and flattered. Hie owe sada,
hem and the ambition of others are gratified. His
dexterity in the management of his supporters
ham full scope. Even to the members of the Heusi
of Commons this shallow trifling with power bee its
ma. The House is transformed from a place of
grave deliberation into • debating society. Mem-
bers are relieved from responsibility. If they do not
like shill from any private motive, or if approving it
themselves they fear their constituents, they either
stay away or vote against the Government. They
are certain that no harm will come of it. They need
not make up their minds, or they may give up their
own principles and gratify the loyal prejudices of their
constituents. This system may be convenient, bat
at the same time it is most demoralising. In short,
Lord PALUIRITOI4 object, now the war is concluded,
seams to be, not to govern the country according to
any principle, bat to keep his seat. His Lordship
memo to think that the country was made for him,
not be for the country.
Them remarks have been forced from us by the
result of Illosday night's division on the Partnership
Amendment Bill. This is one of the most important
bills of the session. A few days ago, an amendment
precisely similar to that proposed on Monday night by
Mr. J. G. PllllllllOlll wee rejected; and yet on Mon-
day night the very same provision was carried, in the
teeth of the 0 rant, by a majority of 6; whilst
oat of the whole house jest 208 members were present.
It is absurd to suppose that if the Goverment had
really been is earnest about the matter, they
could not have negatived the amendment. Bat it has
bees the same thing throughout the session. The
Testamentary Jariadietion Bill, the Appellate Bill,
the Mercantile Amendment Bill, and many others,
have been withdrawn, rejected, or mutilated. In
short, except the Pollee Bill and the Joint Stock
Companies Bill, there is scarcely a measure which the
present Ministry bas mmoseded in passing.

It is vela to Waist that the How of Comma is
idle or indifferent. Let it be dissolved, and let a mots
efficient body be collected. If that will not de,
Whig in a new Reform Bill. The trek is, Lord
Rumanerow is not in @week and the members
know it. If it were understood that the meseures
',traduced by the Government were introduced with
a serious Westin of being carried, the division list
week' preset a vei7 different *tare. The nose of
danger and of respossibility weld be wosdnrfally
sharpened. Until the Ministry shows souls determi-
nation their supporters will be lukewarm. The re-
melt of the present state of Wigs is that Lord PAL-
marrox, instead of being the head of • dissiplised
body of supporters, is the temporary leader el us
usesrtain horde of Beht-Bespoke who follow his bad
Ow the sight or for one parties's:gentle in a night.
Be is not a statesman with a party and a policy—ha
le a wee Member of Parliament of popular meaner@
sad some admits's* is managing the Hove.

But there is another reams for the weakness of
the Goverment, tad that is the pedantry and per-
seed sepopularity of some oldie subordinates. There
onset two cleverer men is the HARM than Mr. Lows
end the Boucirol-Osiriam. There ere met two
ma mere unpopular or mimed with a smeller
maw= ef memo sense. They nem with
the Has. of Comma as if the am-
bers were logical mains' the feet bring that
the majority of the House ere incapable of appro.
dada, tba form of so abstract argumest. These
members of the Legislature are not the sort of pm-
pie to swallow a remedy is its pm simplicity. Like
children they prefer to have it disguised. It
most be Irrupt op is some sweetmeat or wafer-
paper. Bet these two stem logicians will
sesdascasd to so such arts. They seize the
prissiple end drive it home. They *sore preja-
dimes sr ride rough.thod over them. Bet besides
this, it seems pretty abalone that these olleials are so
great favourites with their colleagues. It has indeed
bees Mated that then lea sort of oonspirecy among
the more exclusive members of the °eminent to
brio, down lath mss ea Mr. Lows and the Bois
cnoz•Giurzam.. They think that a defeat dose such
ma good. They are parvenue, sad the same sort of
bells( smog some of the Opposition which greets the
diasmdtere of DisaAnit is supposed to gratify some
of atwitter members of the Ministerial party whoa the
Vics•Phinithatcr of the BOARD of TSAI)! MOW with
a rebel. Bea wretched jealousy, however setasi,
is far from being worthy of a great polities! pan!.
From the Passim, at least, we hope it remits to
essatesenes.

Moos who relied opus the promise or a Mods.
plaited eastensporary, that yesterday wising \the
Hesse of Commons would be the setae of "an Irish
I row" will be very Inuit disappointed by a permed
of the Was sod ahead Wield tone of the diessuiss