The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-27 00:00:00

TIIE

traceable affinity between these occupants of the
cross benches ani 1 the occupants of the benches of
the Opp )sition tb an between the former representa-
tives and the strenuous upholders of the DERBY
Adrairdatration.. Upon the one great question of the
dey—the quest ion upon which Ministers originally
entered office- —One dominant and absorbing ques-
ti sn of Free Trade—the Liberal Conserve-
-1 lives are identical in their sympathies with
the leading r nen of the Opposition. Upon
tire yet more remarkable questions of reform in re-
ference to the organization of Parliament, and the
1 extension of the franchise, and the better distribution
of electoral districts, the Peelites are more intimately
associated wis.h the ultra-Liberals cf the Opposition
dlan with the ultra-Conservatives of the Administra-
tier. Whatever may be the result of the delibera:
lions now going forward in the camp of the " Doubt-
fuls"—there can be little hesitation on their
part, when the " tug of war" commences,
as to whether their votes shall be given to the mea-
sures of the Cabinet or to the measures of the banded
foes of the Government.
Foremost among the difficulties of the Opposition
is obviously that of its divided leadership. Never-
theless, while in this particular there are discoverable
the provecatives of divisions among the anti-Minis-
terielists—a similar source, first of confusion and aub-
SEquently of disnendment, may be discerned in the reeks
not so much of the Mauls, erialisrps themselves, as of the
very members of the Administration. An extraordi-
nary variety of subjects might be enumerated in re-
gard to which the different members of the Cabinet
are diametrically opeoeed to each other upon prin-
ciple. Insomuch has this proved the case ever since
February, that the leaders of the Government have
delayed the necessity of clearly defining their
dpolicy from time to time by a series
ofn t e n
adroit and singularly ingenious postpone-
ments.id
It was maintained by them to this end,
for example, that the Cabinet would re-
frain from speaking out plainly and with any
degree of generally satioactory explicitness until
such time as the country had pronounced its
decision, either in the negative or in the. affirmative,
as to the continued existence of the DERBY Govern-
ment. As if the necessity for a Ministerial expla-
nation were no greater before than after any such
national demonstration ! As if ;,he patriotic course
could be other than a candid avowal of the views
of the Ministry prior to the dissolution cf the
Parliament ! As if common justice did not
require that the appeal to the country
should be preceded by the announcement of the
views entertained by the councils of the Govern-
ment ! But no—in the silence preserved in this
emergency by Lord DERBY, his prudence and not his
patriotism was implicated. He could not by any
possibility have framed a Ministerial document an-
nouncing their intentions, upon which be purposed to
carry on the affairs of the Administration, without
instantly scattering confusion amongst the other-
wise apparently compact body of his colleagues. In
this respect the Cabinet has been situated as a man is
situated who is labouring under the affliction of mo-
nomania. Talk to him upon the ordinary business
of life and he is agreeable enough, and rational
enough for practical purposes. But whisper a word
about the themes upon which he happens to be
dazed, and there are speedily evidenced the most irre-
, fragable testimonies that the silver chord is frayed
1 and jarring, if it be not altogether loosened, and that
the golden bowl is cracked, if not irreparably
broken. So with the Cabinet. It maintains
a decent appearance so long as the routine
business of administration is all that is required to be
accomplished by its members ; but so soon as it be
compelled to define, with something like accuracy, the
nature of the principles upon Wbich it builds up the
scheme of the new Government, so soon will the signs
of its inherent incongruity become visible. The Op-
position will then appear a compact and cor-
dially united body, when compared with the
divided views and interests of the Administra-
tion. The Opposition, thereupon, will not only
appear, it will actually become " compact and
united" in the hope of destroying the energies of a
tottering and hesitating Government. It is with
these confident anticipations that we look forward with
eagerness to the first assembling of the new Par-
liament. Daring the brief session of the ensuing
autumn it is possible, no doubt, that the Ministry
may gain their Ligny—but after Ligny, in the more
'ormidable session of 1853, comes Waterloo!

All honour to Mr. Commissioner PHILLIPS I Al-
though firmly convinced of the propriety and justice
of the rule which he bad established, " not to admit
any insolvent to bail who had accommodation bills
or liabilities for other: persons on his schedule," he
has bowed to the decision of his brother Commis-
sioners in order to obtain an uniformity of proce-
dure in all such matters. This is as it should be.
The Hon. and Learned Gentleman, by so doing, has
made no inconsiderable addition to the many valuable
services which he has rendered to the community. It
requires no ordinary amount of moral courage to ac-
knowledge a fault, but there is a still higher quality, a
readiness to yield in a matter where you are still
satisfied of the correctness of your own views, and the
beneficial results that would attend their general
adoption. There is a forbearance in the act deserving
the highest approbation, and which we have no doubt
will be generally appreciated.
Although we differed from the Learned Gentleman
on the propriety of the regulation, we freely and
willingly admit the fearful extent of the nuisance
which it was intended to abate ; most justly and
truly it was designated as t. a desolating system"—
a desperate expedient of propping up a tottering
credit with delusive paper. Anything that could
even mitigate, if it could not altogether abolidi, the
glaring gtievance, would be exceedingly valuable,
not only to the parties who are defrauded by means
of such acceptances, but even more so to the un-
thinking end luckless young men, who seal their own
ruin the moment they become parties to such trans-
actions. It was with the hope of inflicting a heavy
blow and a great discouragement to the entire system,
of checking the "fatal facility" which has lured and will
still lure aa many victims to the eecrifice, that the re-
gulation
was acloptt-d and propagated. In that respect
the mo • tile was unimpeachable, and we could scarcely
object to any
means that could achieve the great
desideratum. Bet, as we have already stated, we do
not believe that it would have the intended effect;
first, because it would have been only partial in its
operation, and secondly, because it would add to the
number of the tempters, by giving additional secu-
rity to their demands. Men who become involved in
such transactions seldom contemplate insolvency. They
are still disposed to hope against
hope, to believetothtahte
some almost miraculous occurrence will lead
liquidation of the liability. The hope may appear
perfectly absurd to any 'prudent and reflecting mind,
but it is indulged in ; and, we are thoroughly con.
vinced that the only way of diminishing the evil--it
can never be wholly eradicated—is to direct all the
powers of the tribunal against the creditors in place
of the debtors, unices the former can come into court
with perfectly clean hands, and show that their con-
duct in the transaction has been entirely blameless.
There will always be borrowers if lenders can be
met with. The latter are generally of prudent and
calculating dispositions, they charge sufficient to
become their own insurers, and to provide amply
against any possible loss. But if satisfied that the
victim must undergo a lengthened imprisonment,
either by
way of a remand or by the refusal of bail,
they will consi,ler it
enter more freely into such transaction.
as an additional guarantee and
There is a wide difference betweendifferent classes
of accommodation bills.
through a desire A' father may' become in-
volvedrum, or a son to rescue hie parent.
his child
tchheildparftyrotmo
whom the security is given be teaar
of the transaction he cannot be
ouienjuarfedt,hennoratcuarne
he
ejustly
complaim of
the
the debtor, who may have been
influenced conduct of his
highest and purest feelings and
ghby
there principles.
although Again, there may be cases where,
no such extenuating circumstances, there is are
deception, theyet no
creditor being pefectly nognizmit of
of the
all the circumstances
transaction. There un-
questionably is a grievance, bat both parties are in
fault, both are worthy of
punishment, but which will
best serve as an example to
deter others from of-
fending in like manner.
We do not, of course, allude to commercial bills,
which should be treated in a totally different