The Express.
London, England, 1866-03-02 00:00:00

DOCKYARD VOYMUS AND THI MORN BILL.

The Times observes that there was never a time
when stash questions as those which are involved in the
matter of the Devonport election petition could be more
alvantagemudy raised than now. As to the particular eir
cunastanoes, the Tines sees nothing reprehensible in the
permission accorded by the Admiralty to serve the
Speaker's warrants oa the workmen on the dockyards,,
but that such advantage was undoubtedly taken of the order
as gives reason for inquiry if not for censure. The
superintendent, if the accounts of his conduct be correct,
mistook or neglected the teuour of his instructions. In
permitting a large number of men to be kept from their
work, and examined singly and at length about matters
with which the government has no right to interfere, he
has given countenauce t, the charge that the inflames of
the Admiralty has been used for the advantage of the
petitioners. Though the case looks suspicious, the Times
is inclined to believe that there was no such interference,
and that the error was that of the Devooport authorities
alone. But, as Kr. Gladstone confessed, the act " savours
somewhat of influence," and is to be regretted. With
regard to the general question whether it is expedient
that those dockyard workmen should retain the franchise, the
resents which brought the committee appointed to con-
sider the raalpra3tices committed when the late Duke of
Northumberland was First Lord of the Admiralty to

recommend the disfranchisement of the dockyard officials
and workpeople, still bays their force, and it is to be
trusted that the subject will receive consideration in any
general measure of electoral reform.

Various returns obtained in 1864 by Mr. White, and
curtain 'Wirth* furnished by the Registrar-General,
are referred to by the Tides with the view of showing
that the figure@ at tbat date were not on the whole
favourable to the prevalent impression that the suffrage is
sow practically more restricted than it was 30 yeses ago.
In the large boroughs the spontaneous development
of the constituendes has in molt eases signally
outstripped that of the population. If it were
not for such exceptions es the city of Landon,
Westminster, Liverpool, and Preston, the general rate of
increase In the borough constituencies would be startling.
Nor is it true, unless we exclude Middlesex from the cal-
culation, that the north of England, in proportion to its
population and property, is much lees fully represented
than the south. It would not be possible to adjust
with sernpalous nicety the geographical basis of oar repre-
sentative system except by wild schemes which do but divert
the public mind from the correction of the anomalies cull
bited in the returns before us. While such places as Hopi-
ton, Tomes, and Ripon are returning two members apiece,
the West Riding of Yorkshire, with its 40,000 eleesors, re-
turns but four, and South Lancashire and Manchester, each
with more than 20,000 electors, return bet two apiece.
These are defects in our representative machinery which all
can understand, and which practically affect the oonapcsi-
Eon of the House of Gammons. To lower the franchise
without redressing these would be the very rednetio ad
absurdum of bit-by-bit
The Daily New speaks of the opposition as has:ng been
in high spirits last night t,rough their discovery of a piece
of genuine political scandal. Mr. Gladstone distinctly de.
dined to defend the proceedings, while he showed that the
Admiralty bad never intended to author:se them, the
Duke of Somerset's meanie being designed to give just what
it expressed—leave to enter the yard and serve the
Speaker's earrant—no more. But Mr. Disraeli only marred
the effect of Sir John Pakington's fairness and models.
tion when he went laboriously over the whole case in the
spirit of a nisi prim lawyer. As he him elf was constrained
to admit, the error of the Admiralty was not a great error.
The mistakes committed were made by local and subor-
dinate authorities, and the censure pronounced by Mr.
Gladstone applies so everything with which the opposition
could fairly find tarot.

The Herald infers from the blunders of the government
in the Cattle Plague Bill, from their repentance in Captain
Coles's MKS and their treatment et the Davenport elration
matter that ministers will he unable to cape much longer
with the vacillation, contradiction, and dissensions which
exist in their midst. The articles in the Times, the Herald
says, bare an importance which the immediate organs of
Lord Russell seek In vain to deny. The Timer has always
had an instinct which tells it when the ship is sinking, and
it. articles do not express the mere judgment of its eon-
doctors. The connexion of the Timer with several mem-
bers of the administration is a guarantee that it has ex-
pressed opinions in which several .f Lord Russell's col-
leagues share, and although it misled the public in an-
nouncing Lord Russell's resigestiou, it tells plainly enough ,
that the cabinet is thoroughly divided, and that we are
upon the eve of another ministerial oriels.
Alluding to Mr. Gladstooe's announcement last night
that the reform bill will be introduced on the 12th inst..
the Telegraph says the inquiry into the facts and figures
connected with the working of the existing electoral forms
, has been employed to obtain correct sad authentic data for
the construction of a practical measure. The preliminary
I discussions out of doors have not had the effect of daunting
the leaders of the liberal party, but have confirmed their

intention to proceed forthwith. The cabinet bas not found
it impossible to agree upon the nature or dAails of the
measure, bet will ley it before parliament with all the

force of uoion.

The Star assumes that the box, volume of statistics
which the government is prepariog for our iostruotion
will net be published before the end of next week, and
perhaps may not be in the hands of members until the day
following that on which the Chanoellor of the Exchequer is
to make his statement in moving for leave to bring in the
bill. Bat the Star ridicules the idea that the government
has hid to wait for the returns of all the rating distriets
of the country before feelmg quite sure whether they
ought to lower the present franchise or not. Of last night's
debate the Star remarks that such personsl soma are too
suggestive of undsrlyieg political immorality to be enjoyed
for the mere fon or excitetneat eoeneeted with them, and
it is painful that a number of English gentlemen, stumbled
in parliameat, should dimes mocha subject simply under