The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-05-11 00:00:00

BUCHANAN'S harangue, it was equally evident
that there was not a unanimity of opinion
respecting the justice of our hostilities in China.
General TRO3IPSON replied to Mr. BUCHANAN,
and entered a fiery protest against the doctrines
of the hon. member for Glasgow, and plainly
hinted, that the question must yet, be' subjected, ;
to another inquest of the country. At this
juncture it became a matter of policy for some
of the out and out supporters of Lord PALMER
STON to allay the acrimonious feeling which
began thus early to exhibit itself. Accordingly,
Lord ROBERT GROSVENOR did this by deprecat-
ing any debate on the Chinese question, and
urging a Reform Bill, which brings us to the
second remarkable incident connected with the
debate, namely, Lord PALMERSTON'S announce-
ment of a ministerial measure of Parliamentary
Reform for next session. Gratifying as this
statement may appear, we have our, doubts as to
their realization. No man living 'can act the
part of a political fencer better than the noble
Lord, the member for Tiverton, and the reasons
which he advances for the p4stporiernent
next year, evidently show,-, that, as yet; neither
he nor his colleagues have made up their minds
as
,to the nature or extent of their proposed
measure) for, says, Xis,lor4l4,i !!.71,rT' Majesty's
GOiternittieht r Otte ''artrOit, ,that be their
duty,_ during,'the : period' that' will intervene
between the' conclusion of the present session,
and the commencement of the next, to take that

subject into their fullest consideration." Be
this as it may, Mr. Rotincx's ihreatened motion
respecting the representation of the people, forced
the minister from his haughty reserve; and com-
pelled the declaration of the pledge just :quoted.
No one supposed that a bill for the reform of
the representation of the people could be proposed
with any success during the present session, but
it was felt that some concessiOry by Ministers on
that subject was due to public .morality. The
Premier, who is well aware of that valour
which "fights' arid runs away," has bad the` good
Sense to exercise " discretion:! and beat a timely
retreat, thereby averting for the moment the
political storm that was gathering over hit head.
By a tactique of mere nezative he has escaped,
for the time being, the grapple of his political
rivals, but the time will come, yea, ,it is at hand,
when he will be compelled not only to give
practical effect to the promise of Thursday night,
but act on other pressing matt9rs, and then it
will be -geen whether he can, with'` the same easy
facility, get rid of the demand for "Peace" and
" Retrenchment," as he has disposed of that for
Reform." It would appear, however, that
Lord PALAimtsToN produced sponsors for his
good intentions about a new Reform Bill. The
the .daroco
in the House of Lords, told the assembled peers
that " the noble lord at the head of the Govern-
ment would give their lordships quite as much of
it as they desired." That may be so, and after
all the country would get but a small modicum
of their just share in Parliamentary representation.
Hereditary legislators cannot be expected to
sympathise with the lower orders, nor to have any
desire to extend their political rights. The
supreme character of their order must be main-
tained at all hazards. An extension of the
suffrage, or an adoption of the ballot, would
render them politically powerless, and a Parlia-
ment would be chosen which, despite the opposi-
tion, or the influence of aristocracy, would not
rest satisfied with a reformed Parliament, but
proceed in the enactment of just and salutary
measures, which would ultimately confer upon
the nation the fullest and most acceptable
measures of " Peace" and " Retrenchment."
We have glanced at the proceedings of the
first week of the first session of the new Parlia-
ment. Considering 'that the address in both
branches of the Legislature was unopposed, we
need not be surprised that the discussion should
have been brief. The .` Speech" was so formed
as to leave nothing to be talked about, hence the
oratorical amunition of both parties was soon
expended, and Lord PALAIERSTON having made
his pledge about a Reform Bill, the members
got over the business as soon as polible, and
broke up at six, p.m.

IT has long been foreseen that the American
Slave System would one day become a sore trial
as it has always been a shameful inconsistency
and a deep disgrace to free institutions. There
is now another rising spot in the Far West of
America ; it may at. present seem only a small
cliud, no bigger than a man's hand; but it may
grow into a vast and overshadowing evil to curse
the land. We . refer to the community of the.
12ormunites in the territory of Utah. Their
doctrines and practices, if only the half of what
we hear is true, are adapted to strike a horror
into all Christian and civilised people. Under-
standing certain passages in the Hebrew Scrip-
tures literally, they attribute human parts and
passions to the Supreme Being. They are said
really to believe that GOD exists in human form,
and with the wants and defects of humanity. It
appears incredible that such a superstition could
prevail in the nineteenth century ; but when men
abandon common sense and reason in the high
there is no. absurdity or extra-
sphere of religion,
varrance into which they may' not be betrayed.
Grano had long ago remarked that there is no
opinion so absurd but it will hold by some sect
and some philosopher. A gentleman, appointed
by the American Government to a high office in
the Mormon territory, has just startled the world
by his disclosures; and even supposing them to
be somewhat exaggerated, yet if they are nearly
or partially true, a nuisance and a moral plague
exists side by side with freedom, which no civil-
ised community can tolerate. Polygamy is
openly avowed and practised ; ten or twenty
wives are. claimed by some of the faithful : the
'degradation of woman is reduced to rule; and
the sanctity of marriage and the purity of home
are desecrated. There is established a kind of
theocratic or priestly Government which controls
the civil power. Judge DRUMMOND has resigned
his office because he alleges that the authority of