The Sun.
London, England, 1847-03-11 00:00:00

_ill iyi4,
51,111 t

LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH ii, 1847.

The Comm,ms met at Twelve.
The second reading of the Edinburgh and Perth
Railway Bill was postponed for a week.
Sir W. BARRON moved the second reading of the
Arrest for Debt (Ireland) Bill, the object of which was
to assimilate the law of arrest in Ireland to the law in
England, by abolishing arrest for debts under 201.
Mr. MONAGHAN opposed the motion, as interfering
with the rights of property in Ireland.
Mr. SHAW paid a high complement to the Solicitor-
General for Ireland, for the manner in which he had
conducted his opposition to this Bill, and would support
him in such opposition.
Mr. M. MILNES supported the Bill, as did Mr. SHAR-
MAN CRAWFORD.

Mr. GROGAN trusted the Bill would be withdrawn.
A short diseu*sion ensued, which ended in the with-
drawal of the Bill, after an assurance on the part of Sir
G. GREY, that the subject was under the consideration
of the law officers of the Crown, and a short consultation
between Mr. LABOCCUERE and Sir H. W. BARRON,

The Dra'.unge of Land Bill passed through Committee.
On the motion for bringing up the report on the land-
ed property (Ireland) Bill, various amendments were
proposed by Viscount. NEWRY and Lord COURTENEY,
which were negatived without a division, and the
further consideration of the report was postponed to
Friday.
The Loan Bill was read a third time and 'lased, and
the House adjourned.

Winter has so far elapsed without the settlement
of the intestine differences of Portugal. What is to
be the ultimate condition of that portion of the Pe-
ninsula—whether it is to receive a liberal constitution,
under the sovereignty of Dom MIGUEL, or to be or-
ganized as a republic, or to be tranquillised by the
military supporters of MARIA DA GLORIA—StiII re-
mains very questionable. Nor are the leaders of
either of the belligerent parties taking any very
active measures for the termination of this important
and disastrous quarrel. One delay after another
occurs, originating at one moment in the Royalist
Cabinet and at another in the Junta of Oporto, until
the war is protracted to an almost hopeless length.
So much ingenuity is lavished upon this procrasti-
nation that there would absolutely seem to be a ge-
neral anxiety to extend the embarrassments of the
nation for certain individual advantages. The suppo-
sition is most irresistible; but from the enormity
of the turpitude which it would imply we are loath
to place any serious weight upon those first
impressions. We would prefer pinning our belief
down to the almost incredible notion that these delays
have arisen from the incapacity of some or all of the
antagonistic chieftains; and we term that notion
" almost incredible," because it would indicate a
weakness very nearly amounting to imbecility in
those leaders. Either there is knavery in the cha-
t
racter of SALDANHA, or he is showing himself alto
gether incompetent to undertake the championship of
an inexperienced SOVEREIGN. His conduct i 3 not
explicable on any other consideration. The policy of
DAS ANTAS is immeasurably more rational; there is
a certain compactnesss and unity in the course pur-
sued by that insurgent commander which we can
comprehend and appreciate. There is a progression
and an accumulative energy in his movements
which promise excellently for his success, and,
aided by popular enthusiasm, there is little
doubt but that his weapons of offence and defence
must prove most formidable, and possibly most de •
structive to his less able or less ingenuous opponent.
While Marshal SALDANHA is dallying with time
in the seclusion of Oliviera de Azemcia and of
Vendas Novas, it would appear that his active
tntagoniAs in Oporto are mustering all the forces of
the aroused population and of the Miguelites upon
one centre and under one guidawfe. By this means
a superior army to that of SALDANHA, both in nu-
merical power and general discipline, will be oppcsed
to the embarrassed and conflicting councils of the
royalists. The result of this proportion, it' not re-
versed by some extraneous and unforeseen circum-
stances, must inevitably lead to the triumph of the
people over the QUEEN ; and this consequence, we
maintain, will, in the event of its coming to pass, be
attributable, first, to the overwhelming hostility of
the revolted populace; and, secondly, to the dilatory
system adopted by the Duke DE SALDANIIA.
Whatever may be the upshot of the pending struggle,
it will be unparalleled in the records of Peninsular
revolutions, seeing ths.t the hostile armies were per-
omitted to fight i - out together without the ped
dling or ambitious intervention of foreign s.ddiers
This tee cannot but regard as an indication .of the
progress mada in the popular ideas regarding the
i necessity of alliance in battle. It is a significant sign
of the disinclination of modern Governments to rush
into every quarrel and complicate thereby still further
the complications of the parties originally en-
gaged. " Red battle stamps his foot," but
nations now-a-days do not " feel the shock"
further than by sympathy. But a few years since,
and Europe would have been plunged into war for
lesser crimes than the purloining of an Infanta, or the
occupation of Cracow. Aided by experience, and
improved judgment, and a widened humanity, we
are less disposed to partake in the iiiiseriss of
every pugnacious principality. We are acquiring
the practical philosophy of contenting ourselves with
the ills imposed upon us by PROVIDENCE, and of sedu-
lously avoiding any unnecessary participation in the
sufferings peculiar to otl.ers. In this it is impossible
to deny that there is considerable wisdom and no
very inconsiderable benevolence; for while we are
relieving ourselves from the woes consequent upon
an engagement in foreign conflicts, we are manifestly
abstaining from a proceeding which is calculated so
much to lengthen the existence and multiply the evils
of the strife. Hence we are disposed to regard with
peculiar satisfaction the neutral behaviour of the
Russell Administration, from the very first outbreak
of the present insurrection in Portugal. To the
nation itself is left the right of bringing the
contest to a conclusion. In the hands of the Portu-
guese people reposes the gift of victory ; and accord-
ing as that people are influenced by the contending
powers will that boon he awarded. Ilitherto
:;ALDANIIA has done nothing but what is cal-
aulated to estrange l-,is fellow-cuun7ryien from
Tus banners, from the cruelties practised upon the
prisoners of Torres Veiras to the exhibitiori of pusi-
lanitnify made by him in not intercepting DAs
ANTAS in his recent passage from Vianna to Oporto.
DAS ANTAS, on the contrary, has displayed through-
out a consistency, a valour, a perseverance, and a
tcenerosity of action, certain to ensure to him-
self and his colleagues the admiration of the
community.
cie
May we not discern in this dis-
parity of skill the difference. e
of the purpose and
p the rin 's
les of the •-belligerents? May vs
riot perceive therein how marvellously
tutional Government has become a coasts-
weakened by