The Sun.
London, England, 1831-07-14 00:00:00

discussed, Lord Althorp (lid, on the one band, agree to
postpone the second reading to the day which appeared to
he most suitable to the opponents of the Bill, and that Sir
Robert Peel did, on the other, undertake for himself and
colleagues in opposition to the Reform Bill, that the main
discussion should take place on the second reading, and
that if teaten on a division, they should offer no opposi-
tion, except in endeavouring to procure such a modification
of its clauses in a Committee, as might, in their opinion,
render it less harmful and revolutionary. The Ministers
had every reason to trust to this undertaking on the part
of the Hon. Baronet; for the Anti-Reformers had put
him forth as their leader, and Lord Althorp had, in con-
sequence, a good right to consider his bond as sacred, on
the one hand, as his own was on the other. But how
was the bond fulfilled ? How did the Anti-Reform fac-
tion ratify the treaty made by their leader? Did it per-
mit the Ministers to carry the Bill at once into a Commit-
tee, for the purpose of having its various clauses discussed,
and amended where amendment was necessary ? No. They
began by first getting up a petty opposition respecting tie
borough of Appleby, and when defeated on that point as
they ought to have been defeated, proceeded to move one
silly amendment after another, for the purpose of delaying
the progress of the Bill, and for no other purpose that any
human being can imagine, until even a majority of the
party became ashamed of their proceedings, and left the
House, lest they might be considered as belonging to the
ultra branch of the opp s'tion. How far they kept faith
with:-their friends in adopting this course, it is not our
object to discuss ; and as little do we feel inclined to ques-
tion the privilege of a Member of Parliament to take
advantage of the forms of the House, for the purpose
either of ousting an unpopular Ministry, or oppos-
ing an unpopular measure ; but there was no ex-
cuse on either of these grounds for the repeated
amendments—eight in number—which were moved in
the course of Tuesday night and Wednesday morning;
for, on the one hand, there never was a mare popular
Ministry than that which his Majesty has entrusted with
the reins of Government, and, on the other, there
never was a measure proposed for the consideration of any
Parliament, which commanded, in every respect, such a
decided majority in its favour both in and out of the
House. What, then, but a factious spirit of the most
malignant description, could have dictated the conduct of
the Anti-Reformers on Tuesday night,—conduct so dis-
gusting to the country, and pursued in direct breach of
the undertaking entered into by their leader ? Secondly,
let any one but reflect for a moment, that the minority on
Tuesday night beclme gradually less and less, until, at
last, it dwindled down to about an eighth part of the majo-
rity, and what other opinion can he entertain but that the
opposition to the Speaker's leaving the Chair for the pur-
p.ise of discussing the clauses of the Bill in a Committee,
was one of faction and annoyance, and not of benefit to the
public? The following list of the divisions will prove that
we do not make the assertion without sufficient grounds:
I.—For the Motion
Against it '2B4
Majority in favour of Ministers --l7
2.—Against the Adjournment 328
In favour of it lO2
Majority in favour of Ministers 226
3.—For the Motion 286
Against it 9O
Majority in favour of Ministers —l96
4.—For the Motion
Against it 235
Majority in favour of Ministers —l72
s.—For the Adjournment 44
Against it
Majority in favour of Ministers —l7o
6.—Noes
Ayes
Majority in favour of Ministers —l66
7.—For time Adjournment 25
Against it
Majority in favour of Ministers -162
B.—For the Motion 24'
Against it
Majority in favour of Ministers --163
Lastl* what object could be gained by this paltry, piti
ful, and Most contemptible opposition ? The Anti-Re-
formers said that they wanted discussiou ; but discussion
could not be their object, for the Ministerial Leader prof-
fered them discussion to their hearts' content in the Com-
mittee, and they would not have it except in a shape which
tended directly to delay the passing of the Bill through the
House ! But it, is needless to weary the patience of our
readers on a topic on which their minds have been already
made up. lndignation at the unworthy attempt to frus-
trate the Reform Bill—contempt for those who made
have sunk deep into the minds of all classes of his Ma-
jesty's subjects, and were we to write volumes on the sub-
ject, we could only say, in effect, that these feelings were
never entertained to such a degree towards any party as
towards the factious party of Tuesday night. They have
immortalized themselves by their conduct ; but what an
immortality is it to have their names handed down as the
opponents of the country's voice, in a matter which so
deeply concerns the peace and good order of the commu-
nity—nay, the prosperity of the empire itself?—Morning
Advertiser.

The result of the firm conduct of the Opposition yester-
day morning was, that Captain Gordon was allowed to
speak without interruption last night on the motion for
going into Committee, and delivered one of the very best
speeches that has yet been made against the Ministerial
Measure. After demonstrating the inevitable tendency of
the 13111 to undermine and destroy the Established Church,
he proceeded to draw a striking parallel between the effects
produced in this country by the first and the second French
Revolution. He showed that those effects have been pre-
cisely similar; that now, as then, Revolutionary Societies
and Unions have sprung up, the avowed objects of which
are to prepare the means of open and organized violence
against the established institutions of the country. " But,"
as the Honourable Member impressively added, " the So-
cieties which sprung immediately out of 'the first French
Revolution were encountered by a Constitutional Minister,
who was zealously supported by a Constitutional Monarch,
and who fearltssly applied those repressive measures which
destroyed those societies, and preserved internal peace,
prosperity, and happiness to this country." And nothing
but the unremitting exertions of that Constitutional Mo-
narch and that Constitutional Minister saved England, at
the former period, from Revolution and Anarchy. Un-
happily for these times the picture is reversed, and we now
see an Administration which, after proving its utter inca-
pacity to conduct the affairs of the country, rather than
resign the power it was unworthy to possess, took advan-
tage of the excitement prevailing in the country, and, by
bringing forward a plan of extensive change and spolia-
tion, enlisted on its side the passions of a tempeiltrily de-
luded people, and the brute force of all the Revolutionists
and no-property men throughout the kingdom. The des-
perate scheme has for the time been successful ; and but
for the counteracting power which is happily ve►ted by
the Constitution in the hereditary, and therefore conserva-
tive, branch of the Legislature, there would be but little
hope remaining for the happiness, the power, or the later-
es of England.—Morning Post.

The printed " Orders" of the House of Commons,
even more than the report of the debate, present the
public with the singular proceedings of the Anti-Re-
formers on Tuesday night ; and if they do not excite
disgust in all rational minds, we know not what will.
" Question again proposed that Mr. Speaker do now
leave the chair" (that the House may go into a Com-
mittee); " debate arising thereupon, motion made and
question put, that the debate be adjourned till this day ;
the House divided—ayes, 102 ; noes, 328 ;" and this
process repeated seven times, till at last we come to the
" House-that-Jack-built" question, " that Mr. Speaker
do now leave the 'hair, put and agreed to." Did, then,
the Opposition gain any thing by this factious course?
Nothing ; they merely consumed valuable time, which will
at last consume them, without making them wiser. The
Speaker did leave the chair, and the Committee was
formed ; which might us well have been done at ten o'clock
on Tuesday night, as at seven o'clock on Wednesday morn-
ing. But, they may say, the Bill is delayed ; that means
only, that public impatience is increased, and dissatisfac-
tion embittered. And if it be advantageous to the Oppo-
sition to produce such results, they are welcome; the
friends of the Bill will nut be the losers. As to the heir-
ing of Counsel at the bar of the House on the claims of
Appleby, the proposition is ridiculous, and the Anti-Re-
formers knew it was ridiculous. If Appleby possesses the
requisite number of voters, this may easily be shown in
the Committee : it is not a matter of law to be argued,
but a mere matter of fact to be ascertained, which always
goes to the Jury. We Sod there is a requisition in the
Lcity for a.meeting, to call upon Mr. Alderman Thompson
to resign his scat, in consequence of his freaks upon thi
occasion. The ardour of the country generally for the
Bill will be excited, as they see the unworthy arts
which the boroughmongers are attempting—not to defeat