The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-23 00:00:00

Obienbut

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1849.

Like the question of the Ballot in 1848, the ques-
tion of Triennial Parliaments in 1849 has received
the approval of the House of Commons. We are
progressing. Little by little we are grasping the
skirts of those glorious reforms which have hitherto
seemed to be as impalpable as theories, as inacces-
sible as the mountains of the moon, and as unattain-
able as the aspirations of a dreamer. On the evening
of Thursday, August 8, 1848, the division in the
Lower Chamber of the Legislature presented a ma-
jority of FIVE in favour of the Ballot. On the even-
ing of Tuesday, May 22, 1849, the division in the
same great assembly presented a majority of FIVE in
favour of Triennial Parliaments. Small as
those majorities may appear, they are decidedly a step
en avant, and, as such, are deserving of our serious
felicitations. To render the triumph of course the
more decisive, it must be remembered, that in both
instances the propositions come from Members apart
from the Administration, and that, in fact, the prin-
ciples embodied in those propositions are directly an-
tagonistic to those constituting the policy of the
present Government. Yet, in spite of that formid-
able opposition—an opposition embracing those who
are ranged on the Ministerial benches, and those who
confront them on the benches of Conservatism—
both the advocates of the Ballot and of Triennial Parlia-
ments have, within ten months, been successful. Nay,
it will go hard but what the approbation of the Com-
mons shall be pronounced, both on the one and on the
other, within an interval of little more than forty-
eight hours. For it can scarcely be forgotten that
the motion of the Hon. Gentleman the Member for the
city of Bristol is to be repeated again this session,
and to be repeated moreover to• morrow evening.
Doubtless, the decision pronounced last night upon a
congenial proposition will act as an additional encou-
ragement to the supporters of the motion of the Hon.
HENRY BERKELEY. The felicitous result which has
followed the endeavour of the Right Hon. CHARLES
TENNYSON D'EYNCOURT cannot assuredly affect the
promoters of the cause of radical reform otherwise
than as a direct and very stimulating incitement.
It is objected to those who, like ourselves, look fa-
vourably upon the project of diminishing the duration
of Parliaments to three instead of. seven years, that,
to say the least of it, the difference is of comparative
unimportance. In other words, it is maintained that
the representatives elected by the possessors of the
franchise are not more identical in opinion with
their constituents at the beginning of the
seven years, than at their termination ;
and that consequently no adequate reasons are appa-
rent to justify the Legislature in making an experi-
ment calculated to produce such frequent periodical
excitements. Such are the arguments of no mere
amateur politicians, of no mere dilletantis in the
science of legislation, they are the opinions ex-
pressed by men who have acquired reputation for
their statesmanship. The Prime Minister of Eng-
land, the man who had the glory of introducing
the Reform Bill into the House of Commons,
reiterated those opinions and those argu-
ments as recently as last evening. Now,
without entering into any very profound
line of reasoning, we do think that it will be anything
but difficult to demonstrate that the views enter-
tained upon this point by my Lord JOHN RUSSELL
smack somewhat too little of that sagacity of judg-
ment which is essential to the First Minister of the
Crown, and somewhat too much of that ever-detestable
and abominable Finality which is the abhorrence of
the whole British Empire. For proof of this we
shall go no further back than the time which
immediately preceded the transference from the
• shoulders of the ,Right Honourable Baronet

the Member for Tamworth, to those I )( the Noble
Lord himself, of all those prert )gatives and
responsibilities which devolve upon the First Lord of
the Treasury. Take the situation of a ffetirs as they
then stood, End answer if that situati on does not
testify in a rather startling manner the i tecessity for
some alteration of the present system, i n considera-
tion or the:peril, the actual peril, in which the country,
the Legislature, the very C nistitution itst if is placed
by the existing arrangement. Supposing —and this
is by no means an extravagant call upon our
imagination—supposing that some people bad
had less magnanimity than, to their eternal
glory, they then evinced ; supposi'ng that
Sir ROBERT PEEL had shrunk from that m agnificent
sacrifice which he did actually make for ti le good of
his country ; supposing he had clung with desperate
tenacity to office ; supposing he had, closed his eyes
against the glaring deductions of experiet Ice; or
posing he had preferred the retention of the allegiance
of an obsequious but bigotted faction to the approval
of his own conscience and the homage of the people'
and the admiration of posterity—what would have
been the consequence ? There was the colinnuniti
of an entirely different opinion to what it ,had held
on the occasion of the last general election. At the
period of that election it had, in the blindness of a
very prevalent prejudice, sent to Parliamemt as its,
representatives a large majority •of men devote('
to the cause of what was believed to be $
blessed Protection, but what was, in fact, a
most grinding Monopoly. Reason, logic, reflection'
t
facts, and, among other facts the " Great Fact " of
the Anti-Corn-law League, had opened the eyes of the
multitude to the recognition of the truth of the file'
trade doctrines some time before the expiration of the
inexorable seven years of the Parliament. Supposing'
therefore, we repeat, that while the peoitle bad
emerged into the new light, their Protectionist rePre;
sentatives had continued obstinately in their
darkness ; supposing the leader of the majority °'
those representatives had been a man without this
large heart and capacious intellect which were esseo.
tial for the emergency, and both of which Sir R. I)ss/:i
showed that hopossessed in a manner that mut reclouni;
to his imperishable honour—what we repeat would
have been the consequence ? The People and OW
so-called representatives would have been placed in
direct antagonism. And there were no lack, be "
remembered, of causes inciting to a still further es;
trangement between the masses and the Government!
There was a frightful dearth arising from the pototf
rot—a dearth that in Ireland literally resulted'
famine. There was an increase of mortality. There
were embryo discontents in England, and others "'
the sister country so far advanced towards
state of maturity that somewhat later and they Oa°
a flame little short of the conflagrations of rebelliell.
There was a stagnation of trade in the manufactarleo
districts. After that came, as the whole world knolls.:
the repetition of bad harvests; and then the appalling
explosions of revolutions all over the Continea
Common sense tells us that we have been saved frollis
the extraordinary dangers of this prolonged oria.
—by what ? By the system of Septenolat
Parliaments ? No : but in spite of that 00
perilous system, that system which has hurried a
to the very brink of destruction ! We 136111 e
been saved from the most awful of ball
calamities by those men who, under the guidance
the illustrious patriot, the late Prime Minister of Eng-
land, conquered the difficulties and the almost /Writ
mountable obstacles of the septennial system by their
magnanimous disregard of obloquy, and overthr°"l
and misrepresentation !
And yet it is with a recollection of these gret
things before them, that men are still blind eoe"a
to assert that the difference between septennial If
triennial Parliaments is one of comparative uni".
portance!
Happily there are others in Parliament who thin
11/
exactly the reverse, men who like Lord Dune
STUART are not only capable of recognizing the force
of the arguments in favour of triennial
Parliaments,
but are capable also, like that Noble Lord, of entin;
elating their views with dignity, perspicuity, an
emphasis on the floor of the Commons. Thanks
such bold and consistent Reformers as Lord DvDil
STUART and Mr. SHARMAN CRAWFORD, the rad°
propositions of the Right Hon. TENNYSON D'ol4:
COURT and of the Hon. HENRY BERKELEY have 'l2
successive years obtained the approbation of far'

liament.
Let the triumph of yesterday be borne in mind '1
the supporters of the Ballot tomorrow evening.

FHE FRENCH REPUBL

We have received the Paris papers of yesterdss:iio,
The Moniteur announces that accounts of by
turbances at Montpellier have been received the
telegraphic dispatch. The elections are said to be the
pretext for these agitations. The hotel of ere
Prefecture was menaced, and the authorities WAt
compelled to order the arrest of several persons...,,te
Cette there were some disturbances, which " the
quickly suppressed. On the night of the 19th,
Attorney- General of the Republic at Lodefe Dot
killed by a pistol•shot. The Government We

_ .
received any further details. juts
La Patrie states that, although Several
of a new Ministry were circulated in the NetL° et
Assembly on Monday, no arrangement has beeti log
concluded, the PRESIDENT of the 'Republic 11100
again declined to receive as yet the resignation °'
Cabinet. .4 8
The Evenement says that Marshal BUGEKUP 1; the
principal pivot of the combination preparing Iliist•
Elysee, and which is said to meet with great reipot
ante from M. ODILON BARROT. It is quite trnetioo
M. DUFAURE has not received any official prop ay of
of any kind; bus it is also certain that the frier' to
M. ODILON BARROT are in the field endeavourinSg.
effect an arrangement which would include "Ti t ird
DUFAURE, LAMORICIERE, and even, it is said, $ "JO,
member of the old Executive Government, in 6.411'
nistry with which M. ODILON BARROT WOUld
ingly associate himself." 40,
It is said that the intention of the PitusiDEN!„bsi
to form a Ministerial combination, of which Xi. , I Pi9s
-
BUGEAUD should be the chief, while A 1191,130,
BROGLIE and MOLE should have seats in the Cr ot
The appearance of the ukase of the EinPer%iio
Russia., justifying Russian interference in the 11700
of the West, renders the appointment of M. SO
extremely imprudent. It would be throwing o'g9t
mask too soon. With regard to Marshal Buns' -00
the PRESIDENT has determined to test his taint; (10
larity, by ordering a review of the National GL—„a
of Paris, at which Marshal BUGEAUD will assists-
ye
unless the Marshal is very badly received indeed'

will be appointed Minister. pit
The following letter was addressed by the - aft
DENT of the Republic to General CHANG4OOIIs
the review on Monday :
"My Dear General,— beg you to testify to the 411,e:e:II
corps which I have to-day reviewed, my lively
at their tine appearance, and my gratitude for their si
thetic welcome. 'll 5°12
" With such soldiers, our young Republic *ll liodeli,f
resemble the old one, that of Marengo and of Nobel) a
if foreigners should drive us there. And at 101-o'ooll
anarchists should raise their standard they will bee
reduced to powerlessness by that army, faithful to du
cls
to honour. 0°
satisfy
" To praise the troops, is to praise the chief who cote
them. "
" Will you, my dear General, cancel punishments
may have been inflicted for breach of discipline. 010 g to
" I am rejoiced at having this opportunity of exere,mbip4;
you my private sentiments of warm esteem and frierwl,.
"Louis NA POLZON
Every effort is made both by cajolery and C'etiollt
to induce the troops to join the ranks of the retinie
and also to misrepresent the troops and the Pet)r
each other. .00!
A vast appearance, of enthusiasm for the rs,s;,-ntlo4
was " got up' by order, at the review on I", ""crie`,;
Each company, as the PRESIDENNT passed it' 0141
out, at a signal from its captain, " Vive NAP°d is
and then at once became silent. They mile"iesse;
obedience to the orders of General CHANOtitivill!
and, as they had been drilled to cheer. 1; the,/
obeyed orders by crying " Vive NApor,E°rls
obeyed their own desires by:crying " Vive
public," which they did continuously. APPellber
The National, in describing the splendi-i, to
ante of the troops at the review, says, °Li" "ps Ye
regretted that our glorious PRESIDENT that
found no better part fur them to piay tl3lll
soldiers of the POPE." f .ritslb
The Ministerial journals all raise a song
on the occasion of the review. nce ,
Letters from Toulon of the 18th
whiu"
return of the steam-frigate La Pomone, deP
ji
veyed 111. LEssErs to Civita Vecchia. At tb°. 1,0
ture of the Pomone from Civita Vecchia, on ttel 01.5
inst., it was reported that General Ontd_riL'orded,
again about to attack Rome. The fact Nos the con'j.
however, as improbable. The fleet and title
sbiro
nand of Admiral 13Aunm `
, composed of c_coppe9f
the line the Friedland, Jena, Hercule, an €'.,-sioncl °,
and two steam-frigates, had anchored at the tau
to
had
Hyeres. The steam-frigate Vauban, weed
lately left Italy, has been ordered tn_Pr!:.
Gaeta, to be placed at the orders of the ror., tw
It appears that the Cabinet bits been br 1,‘,1)17100v
consequence of the intrigues of AL D. 'c

That cunning partisan of the Jesuits was the origna-
tor of the expedition to Rome, which was for a long
time opposed by M. ODILON BARROT and M. PASSY,
and their consent was only obtained on condition
that the expeditionary army should remain at Civita
Vecchia, and should not advance to Rome. No
sooner, however, had the expedition been ordered,
that M. DE FALLOUT, contrary to the understanding
entered into with M. M. BARROT and PASSY,
Wrote to his brother the Abbe DE FAL-
LOUX at Rome, urging him to make
such representations as should induce General
OUDINOT to advance, and it was upon the false repre-
sentations of those brothers FALLOUX, who have sacri-
ficed the honour of France to the interests of the
Jesuits, that General OUDINOT was:induced to under-
take his unfortunate attack upon Rome—and so
careful is the PRESIDENT of the Republic of the
honour of France that he would fain retain M. DE
FALLOUX as a member of his new Cabinet, over
which Marshal BUGEAUD is to preside, and from
which all but Legitimists are to be excluded—not even
a Bonapartist is to be admitted. Marshal BUG EAUD
has refused to permit either M. CHAPPERE or
M. DE PERSIGNY to be appointed, although both
are friends of the PRESIDENT. If the PRESIDENT
should continue in his present state of " judicial
blindness," M. DE FALLOUX will betray him as
he has already betrayed M. ODILON BARROT
and M. PASSY, and, as in the affair of the letter, he
betrayed the PRESIDENT himself. It is to be hoped,
however, that the eyes of the PRESIDENT are at
length opened, and that he now knows who are his
real enemies. It was rumoured in Paris yesterday
afternoon that MM. ODILON BARROT, DUFAURE,
and PASSY had coalesced to form a new Cabinet,
Which would be joined by General BEDEAU, as Mi-
nister of Foreign Affairs, and General LAMORICIERE,
RS Minister of War.
General SCHRAAIM will, it is said, be appointed
Commander of the National Guards of Paris.
It was rumoured in Paris yesterday that General
OUDINOT had again been defeated.
The French Government having been apprised that
the British Cabinet has protested against the treaty
concluded between Russia and the Ottoman Porte,
has decided, it is said, upon making a similar protest.
KISELIFF has been accredited as Chargé d'Af-
faires of the Russian Government to the French Re-
Public. M. Herr, who left St. Peterburgh on the
12th inst., has been received as attaché to the
embassy.
PARIS BOURSE, TUESDAY, MAY 22.
THREE o'CLoca.—The panic of the last three days
has passed away, and the Funds recovered their tone to-
day. It will be seen that there is a considerable rise
both in Rentes and Railway Shares. Exchange on
London (30 days), 25 52i ; ditto (90 days), 25 35.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE. MA-r‘22.
Boulogne and!Amiens, 634 ea coupons—Northern of France,
Bi—Greatia Ipdian Peninsular, 58—Ditto, %—Namur and
lege, 7—Pails and Rouen, 18%—Paris and Strasbourg, 4
Central of France (Orleans and Vierzon), 12—Rouen
and Havre,
9k—Tours and Nantes, :3.