Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-28 00:00:00

Saturday, January 28, 1860.

life is spared, the execution of it, we opine, is
merely a matter of time.
For the benefit of Mr. Bright, and all those
who, like him, are lost in admiration of Re-
publicanism as developed in America, the Times
of yesterday devotes a leading column contrasting
the business-like promptitude of the British
legislature with the dilatoriness and confusion of
the American Congress. Three days have sufficed
to set our legislative machinery in full and
rigorous operation ; while two months have
been spent by the Republican House of Re-
presentatives, without being able to agree
upon the preliminary question of who is to
he the Speaker,—and, consequently, the whole
business is in a dead look, and many urgent
matters are necessarily left in abeyance. Nor is
this the first instance of such embarrassment in
that body—for which it would be in vain to seek
a parallel in the annals of our own Parliament.
The other day, indeed, the American Legislature
was urged by one of its own members to take the
British Parliament as an example ; and what gives
weight to the allusion is the fact, that it was well
received by those to whom it was addressed.
4` Indeed," says the leading journalist, "it would
be the ruin of any political section in this country,
if it could be clearly established that the affairs
of the country had suffered through its proceed-
ings, as American affairs are suffering now." The
truth is, that with all their boasted political purity
and freedoM, we see that political selfishness and
a factious spirit are far more rampant in the
model republic than under our good old English
Constitution, with all its imperfections. What a
ow rful contrast in favour of this country is
fforded by the patriotic conduct of the present
onservative Opposition in Parliament, compared
with the reckless obstructiveness of political
parties in the American House of Representatives.
'Who would desire to see such a state of matters
imitated by English statesmen ?

An interesting as well as sad observance was
yesterday brought prominently before the public,
in the marked attention paid to the remains of
Captain Harrison, late commander of the Great
Eastern, whose death, under very melancholy

circumstances, took place, as we have previously
narrated, on Saturday last. The obsequies of
captain Harrison received an amount of general
'3lnPathy and countenance beyond that which is
accorded to many men. The mournful procession
Was, as recorded in our reporting columns, headed
by the carriage of his Worship the Mayor. The
managing committee, officers, and a numerous body
'of the members belonging to the Mercantile Marine
Association, walked immediately in rear of the
laayor's carriage. These were followed by a de-
tatchment from the Seamew war vessel, now in
the Mersey. Immediately following the hearse
'was a number of the captains and officers of the
*Cunard Line of Steam ships, under direction
'c'f Captain Sudkins. A devoted band of the
Cunard Steam-ship Company's sailors walked
on each side of the hearse ; and a large
number of the gentlemen connected with the
commercial departments of the Cunard Company
followed close after the hearse. To these suc-
'eeeded a large and influential body of the most
respectable inhabitants of Liverpool and else-
Where, including aldermen and other members of
tile Town Council. The day was wet and un-
-Propitious in the extreme, notwithstanding which
there was not only a very large funeral procession,
but the whole line by which the melancholy
-cortege proceeded, was completely filled up ; and
a general feeling of regret for the unexpected
loss of one so extensively esteemed was freely
-expressed on all hands.

ACII succeeding mail from America continues to
bring its special indication of the phases and for-
-tunes of that great question in which the whole
brotherhood of civilisation, and the whole profes-.
won of Christianity have a special and great

' QOncern. To many persons, the madness and sel-
nshness of American despotism seem to be
arming themselves with all the confidence of des-
Peration, and resolving to put a bold face on the
%atter before the world. Unable to vindicate
the justice or beauty of its sentiments, it is
IltriVing to outface the united opinion, and laugh
down the innate convictions of Christendom ; and
flourishes its blood and standard as an irrevocable
and all-conquering sign before the eyes of all
ltien.
-"'hen we, of all others, consider the con-
-BaliguinitY With ourselves of these missionaries
0f
an at least very questionable and very sus-
-4.▪ leinns principle, it becomes a serious question,
what is the true meaning and interpretation of
'e sentiment of liberty which is supposed to dis-
ti
ellitnish the Anglo-Saxon race ; and is it, in
:11trast with the peculiar form of imperial des-
anything but the selfish and combined
mill of a people in contradistinction to the selfish
'ingle will of an individual tyrant ?We have
put this question before ; and it concerns the
Ango-Saxon race to answer it, as it
evolves much grave comment upon several
kindred questions of the day.
Whatever be the cause, it is evident that the
Tate
r°-slaverY party of the United States have dof
Put on a more systematic and more morally
Their
look, than they had been accustomed to.
Licir advocacy of slavery in its most naked and
extreme forms and in its ugliest associations has
taken cunning advantage of that character of
‘onstitutionalism which is generally a virtue in
8:t
thl.ttes, and is strangely put forth as a virtue on
s c'ee"i°ll.
The objection to the political
character or official fitness of any public man on
the o. •
61 ound of his anti-slavery opinions, takes the
appearance of objection on the highest principle
that can influence public policy, cr animate the
in. oral judgment. The ingenuity of malice cannot
'lndeed fasten upon the advocate of freedom the