The Sun.
London, England, 1841-08-07 00:00:00

rous and striking instances, both of distress and
discontent, such as the condition of the hand-
loom weavers and the prevalence of Chartism,
were known to the whole community. To them
was added the deficiency of the revenue, which
was of itself enough to ensure from any reason-
able opposition, a calm and proper consideration
of any plan suggested by the Ministers as likely
to lessen the distress of the people, and contri-
bute to fill the public exchequer. Such a plan
would have been deserving attention at any time,
but it particularly claimed that from the House
of Commons, under the present painful circum-
stances of the country.
The Tories, however, far from giving the Mi-
nisterial plan calm and due consideration, rallied
all the monopolists to one cry of alarm ; and,
without taking its bearings into consideration,
without even allowing all the propositions to be
' brought forward, they crushed the scheme that
was to relieve the public distress and add to the
public revenue, on the miserable and factious
pretext that it might interfere with negro eman-
cipation. We never defended the details of the
budget ; we have throughout said that the duties
both on colonial and foreign sugar should be
much more reduced; that insfead of the duties
being raised on Canada timber, they should be
lowered on Baltic timber, and that the tax on
corn should be totally abolished. We are not
at present disposed to defend the details of the
budget more than when it was brought forward ;
but we unhesitatingly affirm that it was the duty
of the Opposition, under the circumstances of
the country, to have taken all those details into
its consideration, and to have shown that the
Ministerial calculations were erroneous, and the
Ministerial expectations unfounded. The Oppo-
sition, however, factiously rejected it in toto, for
reasons wholly foreign to its merits in relation
to the present condition of this empire.
And what now do we see ? The journal which
led the Opposition—the journal which speaks the
sentiments of The larger number of the Tories=
the journal, wanting whose aid they would
not have succeeded, and will not now be able to
carry on the Government—that journal tells us
that the most obnoxious part of the Ministerial
budget must be speedily passed in order to save
the country from a bloody convulsion. Three
months have not elapsed since the Tories would
not allow the question to be discussed in Parlia-
ment, and by not allowing it to be discussedthey
defeated the Ministers. In the meantime they
have obtained a majority in Parliament; they are
secure, they think, of being in office; and now
they most impudently tell us that there is no hope
of the Conservatives being able to govern the
country unless they adopt, and speedily adopt,
the Ministers' plan for placing a fixed duty on
corn. Such extraordinary proceedings seem to
us equally alarming for the morality of public
men and for the future welfare of the country.
Events press on us, and the public welfare is
Immediately at stake. To preserve the Govern-
ment and the Constitution—no longer resting on
unshaken prescription, and having no basis in
reason—it is indispensable that public men merit
and obtain public confidence. Here, however, we
have the Tories arresting all public business, re-
fusing all relief to the people, and breaking up
the Ministry, because they would not alter the
Corn-laws, and in less than two months de-
manding that alteration as essential to the
safety of the State. We care not how high
the rank, how great the distinction or the
talents of those who pursue such a course
of conduct, we say that it is scoundrel
policy, and the men who practise it are scoundrel
politicians. We care not either how numerous
be those who approve of such conduct. If the
great majority—if the bulk even of the nation
shall give its sanction, which we do no believe it
will, and the conduct we have stigmatized is
only that of a few leaders, who have made the
many their dupes,—but if the bulk of the nation
should sanction such a course of conduct, it could
not make it other

3 svia

like all scoundrel conduct, it must be fol-
lowed by great evil. To disorganize the
whole Legislature in the mouth of June,
because the Corn-laws must not be al-
tered, and in the month of August to declare
hat only the alteration of those laws can save
the country from convulsions, is such untrue, in-
sincere, and unfaithful, or such fatuous conduct,
that the approval of the bulk of the community
would be a certain indication that dishonesty had
completely mastered the public mind, and that
the dissolution of society was at hand.

The Tory Journals assail the Manchester Con-
ference of Ministers with great vehemence,
thereby testifying to its utility. We feel assured
that the observations of our Contemporaries will
only make the ministers of all denominations
more zealous to fulfil the solemn task they have
undertaken. To rebuke men in high places is
the duty of ministers of religion, which they must
now perform with reference to the Legislature, or
the nation will perish in the midst of bloody con-
vulsions. It is supposed by our law-makers that
there is no other law than their will. The moral
law written in man's heart, the law that is older
than the ages of nations, the law which the Legis-
lature is constituted to support, the law of pro-
perty—for property existed before Legisla-
tion, and the circumstances which gave
birth to it exist and modify property at this
moment as they at first created it—all these are
overlooked by the Legislature, and it continually.
violates the law and right of property, which it
is constituted to protect. To recal the Legisla-
ture to a sense of its duty is the business of the
ministers of religion, and to execute this business
with effect the Conference of Ministers at Man-
chester seems likely to be efficacious. They are
beginning wisely by collecting numerous proofs
of the turpitude they propose to brand; and we
have not the smallest doubt that they will end
successfully.

We have seen a list of two hundred and fifty
gentlemen who have already announced their
intention of attending the Cen.ference, and it con-
tains the names of some of the brightest orna-
ments of the ministry. It is expected that five
hundred or more will assemble, and the inha-
bitants of Manchester are prepared to give them.
all an hospitable reception. The ministers of
every denomination and from every quarter are
inveinteuds,eadndto all feasible and proper means have
oeuld country,
a ai
s the invitation to every part
bofestil:
hol/4e',erthtleiecirendfeelii.ebcnercereaett
wiofianlnisd orderly spirit preside
numerous as they will
'become more renowned
in history than. any
write that not lightlo
to prove that the
religion, grievously
are the only safe basis for legislation.bY
therefore, if it do anytliin
rely on their fancies and eon'
theT General Councils. We
lightly, The Conference is called
violated
of morality and
the Corn-laws,
It will,
g, teach men net to
will establish legislation on a new
joerctures, ' which
they dignify with the name
unimportant task
to reconcile
expediency,
foundation.hlisters, Nowlie
are.
and it
haveand sat
Chartists and Socialists to society. Undertaking
fheesem
and beginning their labours, as we have
„ no
doubt they will, with in appropriate prayer,
they will be guided by the wisdom they will sun'
plicate to a just conclusion. No one of them
will, we trust, engage' in the great work they
have in hand, without a due and thorough emir
viction of its present and future importance.
. - •

The Tory journals have lately boasted very
much of the new plan of the Bishops to raise
money by voluntary subscription, to set up
Bishoprics in the Colonies. No doubt it is as
striking an example as is generally met with of
the piety of the Church, which mainly consists,
in the congregations paying enormously, and
in the parsons, who dispose of the wealth, liv-
ing splendidly. In this instance the true spirit
of the clergy is abundantly manifested, for they
are to have all the incomes and all the appoint-
ments. In the Church of England the ap-
pointment of the 13shops is in the hands of the
Crown?. as safeguard against the ascendancy .of