The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-23 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1847.

That supreme authority over the character of the
Legislature, which is periodically confided to the dis-
cretion of the multitude, entails with it a supreme
responsibility. Rashness is culpability, indifference
is culpability, not less than dishonesty and corruption,
in an elector. For it must be remembered that the
proper exercise of judgment in the selection of a
Parliamentary representative is absolutely requisite
to ensure permanence and wisdom to the national
councils. Under this consideration it becomes obvi-
ous that the possessors of the elective franchise are in
effect the creators and guardians of the House of
Commons ; to them is traceable the disposition of our
representative assembly, the bias of that assembly,
the tendency of its members, its disposition, its mo-
rality, its capacity, its subtlety of comprehension, the
eloquence of its discussions, the keenness of its per-
ception, the comprehensiveness of its experience—all
are attributable directly and essentially to the people.
It is by the people that the character of the House of
Commons is formed ;as emphatically—to use, not
irreverently, an old scriptural expression—as the clay
in the hands of the potter. Is the Parliament one of
popular
selection. honesty? It is owing to the
selection. Are its Members competent to de-
cide upon measures of legislative improvement ?
Their capacity has been originally detected
by the enfranchised people, and their ser-
vices consequently enlisted in the cause of the
entire empire. Whatever may be the prevailing
tone of a Government—whether it be of a pernicious
or a beneficial influence—whether it be profligate in
Principle or conscientious in practice--that tone
has been born from the aggregated voices of the
electors.icetir This was deplorably manifested in the last
on, yes, in the last generation, as well as in
its predecessors : the rotten boroughmongering sys-
tepemrvadimicingregnavici sstoeudstnheeCommons with a venality and a
most consonant with the cor-
ruption practised amongthe pocket constituencies.
Now, however, that boroughmongeringl is almost
rendered impracticable, the
a better opportunity for
evincingateetors are permitted
once their inde-
pendence, their
incorruptibility,
and their discretion.
Their responsibilities are, moreover, enormously in-
creased.
m
Never, we distinctly affirm it, never has a
election approached under circumstances
re general
cal
fated to afford the constituencies of the Unitedoßg in cleu-
o
a chance of selecting at their pleasure from among thme
various candidates who will present tlemselves upon
the hustings, the most patriotic and elalightened body
of representatives. The opposition which is pre-
sented to you, Liberal electors, is either so odious in
PurPose, or so splintered by divisions, or.so contemp-
tible in its numerical disproportion, that failure will
°lll3' be attributable to yourselves. Union--and the
'7 is not only yours, but the seven you's are yours.
Combination--and the' shadow of Conservatism, or
rather Toryism
'The old disguised,electioneering war-
will be discomited for elier.
is forgotten war- whoop of " ..I.3rantic
misnomer. se
No poeery of the derision cast upon the
e
it. That " pudding-headeP, chosen imstead. Sc, be
would call it. that cry, as .J.V.T
-cry so t . CARL ,YLR
l
is obsolete and thoroughly yupsicad of evervthing that
-..-the wretched faction O% of
the Syllabi )1 of
PP .1
'courageously and confident'
We us. Onward, o.4en,
be victorious. y, and • .
must eentai Sly
Activity is already visible in a large number of
our cities, boroughs, and shires. The th