The Express.
London, England, 1859-04-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 4.

IT seems to be generally understood that in come-
queue of what took place cm Friday last at the
sadism* given by HER MAJESTY to Lord DERBY,
the Niels Earl has for the last two clays been
engaged In an attempt to strengthen his Administra-
tion, with a view to its resumption of power.
Whatever may be the precise extent of the disclo-
sures which the Premier may feel himself war-
ranted in making to-night as to his reasons for
making this attempt, it is felt on all hands
that the situation he has taken up is in every respect
so exceptional, if not so unprecedented, that Minis-
tan will need no ordinary justification in the eyes of
Parliament and the country. Even with partial
internal modifications, it will be &strong thing for a
Orrvernment to withdraw their resignations and con-
dense in office, at the suggestion of the Sovereign,
after 4 vote so adverse as that which was carried in
the Commons on Thursday night by a majority of
thirty-nine. It was open to Lord DERBY to appeal
from that sentence to a higher tribunal ; but he has
not thought fit to do so. His prudence in not re-
sorting to such an appeal we do not question ; but
far from qualifying the weight of the jade-
meat already given, it emphatically confirms
it. Loon talk about general inconvenience to
members, and unwillingness to interrupt the
London season, will not do, when the grave
question is put and pressed—as pressed it will inevi-
tably be—how is the retention of power to be jus-
tified by men who have been beaten on the one great
measure of the session by more than an absolute
majority of the House of Commons, after a debate of
seven nights' duration ? On the face of it this is no
easy position to defend; and Lord DERRY, if he has
indeed seriously undertaken its defence, ought
to be prepared to show not only that he
has sought and found additional strength to
enable him to do battle better against his powerful
and elated opponents, but that he has truly and
eatesetly repented him of his recent legislative
and that he is prepared frankly to accept the deci-
non of Parliament respecting the extension of the
franchise in towos as well as counties, and loyally
to bow to the clear expression of its prevailing senti-
ments on other points. In a word, Ministers must
avow themselves prepared to ignore all that they
have most stoutly contended for during the last
month, and offer to carry into effect the will of the
Liberal majority, without fail or faltering. Nothing
short of this can get them a patient heariag in the
Lower HMSO ; how it will suit the tumour of their
adherents in the Upper, time mast be left to tell.
The first question that will be asked out of doors
will be—is there, or is there not, to be • real and
substantial measure of Reform laid forthwith upon
the table, in lieu of the absurd and abortive Bill now
happily extinguished? Unless this interrogatory
be answered plainly in the affirmative, it is vain for
Lord Deter to reckon on the forbearance of thews
whose rightful places in • party sense he is said to
be content to occupy by no higher title than
that of adverse possession. There can be, and
there must be, no mistake about the mat-
.ter. It is an unquestioned portion of the
prerogative of the Crown to select and
prefer individuals as the objects of its trust; but it
is the equally unquestionable right of Parliament to
refuse its confidence or to withdraw it, upon good
and adequate cause. A constitutional Monarch can
eke the mistake of endeavouring to carry on
the government by men who do not at least profess
their desire to win the confidence of the Legislature.
To ask for • second trial immediately after a signal
failure, is no light request, and one which might with
perfect constitutional propriety be peremptorily re-
fused. Should it, however, be acceded to in the
present instance, it will be because on the part of
the Liberal party in general there is • genuine
anxiety to have something practically done without
further delay in the direction of Reform; and
because they are willing for the sake of prompt and
effectual progress to waive for a time all personal
pretensions, however indisputable and just. Oa the
ether hand, they have not merely a right, but they
are bound se honest men and faithful stewards of the
people's heritage, to insist that there shall be
ere mistake about what is wanted, and what
meet be done, the time. Lord DERRY hasa
by his tender of resignation, admitted that
his Confidence Account with the House of Commons
was closed upon the 31st of March ; if he seeks to
re-open it on the 4th of April he must be ready to
offer unexceptionable dills to be placed to his credit,
and to show that he Is about to take into his firm
partners who will bring additional strength and
working power. The names of Mr. GtsbuToNe, the
Doke of NEWCASTLE, and other individuals of more
or less note, have been freely mentioned in connexion
with the negotiations presumed to be going on with
a view to reconstructive arrangements. We deem it
no portion of our duty to discuss in detail rumours of
the kind. Our business is with the Administrating
u it may be n•habilitated, not with the private and
sectional motives that may facilitate or hinder par-
ticular combinations.
Rumours are, however, afloat respecting the re-
appointment of Lord Daanr and his friends to
office, which we cannot altogether forbear to notice.
It is alleged by some that the noble Earl is prepared
to risk his re-assumption of power, not exclusively,
or even mainly, on the wish ascribed to an Illus-
trious Personage, that he should conform to
the judgment of Parliament in matters of
domestic reform, but upon the difficulties which
it is pretended a change of Ministry would throw in
the way of negotiations to preserve the peace of
Europe. We trust that no foundation exists for the
reports to which we have referred. The slightest
hint that any suggestion of the sort was made by
the outgoing Minister to his confiding Sovereign,
with the obvious view of poisoning the counsel his
successor might be called upon to offer regarding