The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-18 00:00:00

/RON WATZI AT WSDON ORM&

DZi oralig.—ift:43l;77.AtiineWar L. 17a.
1411111110 W —Morning, bti. SUL Miasma. Ob. slm.

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 18.

Tuxes is happily an end at last of the pro-
tracted debate on the Budget. It began with
caution approaching to timidity ; warmed by
degrees into vehemence and invective; and has
finally burnt out in dim confusion and discomfiture.
More than three weeks have elapsed since Mr.
Thomism Itaxixt; warily insinuated his doubts as
to whether there was any surplus to dispose of,
and since Mr. Morrarr ingenuously intimated his
preference for tea over paper, as the most de-
serving object of fiscal remission. But as the
discussion proceeded, the existence of the surplus
gradually came to be admitted first by small men,
land then by great authorities, so that the leader of
the Opposition began to perceive that it would
never do to risk the bailie of a party struggle on
a point about which his followers were so
ill agreed, and that it would be safer to rely
distinctly and avowedly on the question of tea.
This was at least a practical matter of contest, or
it looked like one ; and the event proved bow
much better, as a matter of tactics, it is to rely on
a plain and palpable ground of dispute than upon
doubtful calculations of world-wide finance, or con-
stitutional theories resting on antiquarian research.
The only actual engagement into which the op-
posing parties in Parliament have been drawn was
that in which the uninventive Mr. Honsyssz. led
the attack ; and, considering that upwards of three
hundred members were worked up to the point of
voting for tea in preference to paper as an object
of financial relief, it must be owned that for once
a gleam of hope brightened the cheerless way
of Opposition. But even on that vaunted
occasion there were symptoms of defection,
ominous from their number and importance.
Not even all the members of the Derbyite
Cabinet that was, and that would fain again be,
could be induced to hold together against the
policy of Mr. ti LA DMTON E. Sir BULT/ZIL LYTTON
was found amongst the supporters of the DEAN-
CELLOR of the Exenzquaz at the most critical mo-
ment of the campaign ; and when the controversy
had subsequently subsided into one about parlia-
mentary usage and precedents of privilege, the
authority of Mr. WALPOLE was honourably added
to those who argued that Ministers are walking in
the ancient ways of the Constitution. So nnoonceal-
able indeed have become the important defections
from Mr. DISRAELI'S standard in the course of this
prolonged debate, that in the speech with which
it closed the leader of the Opposition daringly
and adroitly tried to convert these numer-
ous alienations into a ground for taunting
the Liberal party with having been indebted for
their majority of eighteen to the votes of men
usually arrayed against them ; the right hon.
gentleman forgot to mention that some set-off
ought to be put down on account of thous
puzzle-pated Whigs who helped to swell the ranks
of the minority. It was clear, however, from the
eats of feeling that prevailed during the last week,
both in the House and out of it, that to have ha-
unted a division on the second reading of the
Bill would have been au act of folly on the part
of the Opposition ; and that there was nothing for
it but to keep up for * couple of nights more a
tantalizing discussion, in which every man, in
brains'sr fashion, should be left at liberty to fire
at whatever mark he pleased. Thus we
haws seen Messrs. M ACDOROGH and Warns-
sins denouncing the form of the Budget
Bill as an infraction of parliamentary law
sad an offence to the Peers, while we have bad
Sir STA/FORU NORTHCOTE7 and in a certain sense
Mr. Datum.' himself, discarding each °menders-
lions, or treating them as of secondary importance.
And yet it was only a fortnight last Wednesday
that Lord DERRY was boasting of the unity of his
party at the Manakin House.
The most signal proof, however, of the want of
discipline and unity which prevails in the party of
obstruction and reaction, was that presented by
Mr. Hosairms. One can hardly conceive that a
man who has been so long in political life, and who
must have long survived mere boyish dreams of
solitary chivalry, should deliberately set up and
elaborately defend a principle of party faith and
party action round which he had no reason to be-
lieve that his allies and comrades would rally. The
Member for Stroud is certainly not wanting in
hardihood ; but we acquit him of the crazy and
nucalculating courage that would go privateering,
when he might sail in company with a numerous
fleet. To change sides and to enlist under an-
other flag is no new thing in party warfare ; but
to haul down one's old colours without hoisting
new ones, and to commence tiring point blank at
one's old friends without making sure of the sup-
, port or protection of those who were once adver-
series, is a sort of lunatic egotism we should never
" think of imputing to the right hon. Member for
Stroud. On the contrary, we doubt not that
both last session and this he knew better what he
wee about than to propound theories and schemes
distasteful to his new confederate*, and that
' when he enunciated last year the principle
, which he has reiterated with equal frankness
in the recent debate, that the Lords should be ad-
witted to the exercise of a co-ordinate power in
matters of taxation, he knew that ha was only