The Sun.
London, England, 1822-04-27 00:00:00

[BRITISH PRESS.]

The result of the debate on Lord John Rus-
sell's motion on Thursday night, in the house of
Commons, must claim a very large share of pub-
lic interest. The minority who on this occasion
voted in favour of a reform in the mode of re-
presenting the people was unusually large, and
evinced very distinctly the rapid progress which
this question has made within a few years in the
reflecting mind of the people of England. A
tone of decisive firmness upon the expediency of
an extensive alteration in the present system spoke
in the proceedings of the numerous county meet-
ings which were recently held in various parts of
the country, and the effects were made apparent

- .
in this last vote of the House of Oothmons— .The
measures pursued by the present Administration
have too clearly shewn to the public that but lit-
tle sympathy subsists between the feelings of the
Cabinet and the sufferings of the country. This
Cabinet, however, enjoys the fullest confidence
of the House of Commons, and the people want-
ed no further evidence to convince them how ne-
cessary it was to instruct such Members of the
House of Commons as were truly their repre-
sentatives, to promote the only effectual means
of restoring the prosperity of the empire.

[MORNING HERALD.]
The question of Parliamentary Reform seems
to have gained an accession of strength. Scarcely
any thing new has, or indeed could have been
said upon it in the debate. The Noble Lord
who introduced the question stated some statis-
tical details (if they may be so called) of the
progress of-knowledge—or of the progress of the
faculty of reading, which are not only interest-
ing in themselves, but bear strongly upon the
Merits of the question. It is quite evident
that this reading and judging spirit which
has gone abroad must be admitted to its share of
political power, or else it will be" a busy devil,"
ever tormenting the Parliament, the Govern-
ment, and the gation, until it be satisfied. The
sense of the public, too, seems in favour of a safe
Reform, in accordance with the changes which
have taken place in commerce, wealth, knowledge,
and population—and with a view to the prerention
of the glaring instances of bribery and perjury which
under existing circumstances are too frequent.
There could be no possible danger in such a sub-
division of an extensive district as would tend to
diminish the confusion and expence,„ of con-
tested elections. Where great commercial towns
have sprung up, with every faculty to exer-
cise the elective franchise, and with numbers
and interests to entitle themlo their proper Repre-
sentation in Parliament, it is difficult to conceive
what danger could be incurred by the admission
of such new Members into the great electoral
family. Upon the disfranchisement of boroughs,
some popular writers have been disposed to
question the competence of the Legislature—
at least without committing a constitutional in-
justice. That point, however, has been decided
by the exercise of this power; and the only ob-
jection remains against a sweeping disfranchise-
ment, of which there seems no probability,
even if the, opinions out of doors were called
to decide. There is a vast class of 'persons in
-the middle and industrious conditions of life,
desirous and competent, and entitled to exer-
cise the Elective Franchise, yet excluded from
it ; and there is a proportion of the Members
of the house of Commons returned by the
mere breath of a certain number of indivi-
duals, in their individual capacity and interests.
Both these are anomalies which should and may
be-corrected, without the slightest innovation of
the Constitution, but rather in accordance with
the developement of its powers and principles.
It is observable that Radical Reform—which,
indeed, would, render the march of the British
Constitution impossible, and open the way for des-
potism, as a refuge from anarchy—found no
organ in the tliscussion. The debate was con-
ducted with- more than usual moderation, and
perhaps also with somewhat less than the usual
portion of earnestness and talent.