The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-06 00:00:00

lONIAN ISLANDS.
On 'the occasion of the dissolution of the lonian
h Cr ,r issued a

Parliament, the Lori Hign iommissionel
proclamation, dated the 22d nit., of which the fol-
lowing is an abstract :
After reciting the object that her Britannic Ma-
jesty has in view in dissolving the Parliament is a
modification of the existing constitution, seeing that
the reforms introduced two years ago into the consti-
tution of 1817 have utterly failed in producing the
good effects anticipated, and that, with the best inten-
tions on the part of the Government, and the most
sincere co-operation of a majority of members
in the late Assembly, little or nothing has
been done for the benefit of the people,
the Lord High Commissioner declares that it
is her Majesty's desire to see a well-regulated
system of constitutional liberty established in the
islands, and that he is consequently authorised to pro-
pose certain modifications to the next Parliament,
with a view to remove whatever stands in the way
of the fair operation of the late constitutional
changes, " provided always the result of the next
elections be an Assembly disposed to accept her Ma-
jesty's liberal concessions in a proper spirit." The
modifications proposed are—lat. The substitution of
an annual to a biennial session, in order thus to put
an end to the dissensions between the Senate and the
Assembly, concerning the constitutional right of the
Senate to make regulations having force of law
during the recess, with the consent of the Lord High
Commissioner. 2dly. The modifications of those ar-
ticles, which regulate the present organization of
the Senate, in order to increase the responsibility of
its members, and to regulate its duties. idly. The
addition of a fifth judge to the supreme council of
justice, in order to enable that body to decide all cases
by an absolute majority, instead of by the casting
vote of the President of the Senate and the Lord High
Commissioner. 4thly. The permission to introduce
a Bill for the better regulation of the powers of the
local government. sthly. The substitution of
powers defined by an Act of Parliament to those now
exercised under the name of the High Police, in
virtue of Art. 4, sect. 9, c. 7 of the Constitution,
which the Lord High Commissioner will recommend
her Majesty to abrogate, provided the lonian Parlia-
ment be disposed to join with him in the adoption of
measures "which the experience of the last two years
has prored indispensable. These," continues the docu-
ment, "are the great and pacific changes which a power-
ful Sovereign offers a people under her protection, at a
time when popular rights, rapidly and violently
obtained in 1848, are as rapidly disappearing all
over Europe. The fate of these islands is now in
the hands cf the lonian people. By a wise exercise
of the power with which it is invested by the Con-
stitution, it may combine peace in the interior with
security from foreign aggression, encouragement to
commerce, improvement in agriculture, a better sys-
tem of general education, the use of its native
language in all public affairs, wise economy in the
administration of the commonwealth, and the most
perfect liberty of discussion with the adoption
of every measure which may, practically tend
to improve its social condition.'The Lord High
Commissioner then concludes with expressing a hope
that such real and palpable benefits will not again
fell a sacrifice to anarchical factions ; he adds, that
although he has very extensive powers for the pur-
pose of upholding the rights of her Britannic Ma-
jesty, and punishing those who might presume to
infringe them, but that he cannot do the good he
wishes without the co-operation of a Parliament
emanating from the free choice of the lonian people.
He trusts the next Parliament will cordially co-operate
with the Senate for the good of the country, but de-
clares that should that not he the case, or should new
insurrections break out, the responsibility of the con-
sequences shall lie with the people, not with him.