The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-29 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Viere is much truth in the communication from Sheffield by
\V. F., but he must be aware that it is frequyntly inexpe-
dient, and sometimes dangerous, to speak the language of
common sense.

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LONDON:
FRIDAY, MAY 29, IS4O.

The Lords having given themselves a holiday till next
Monday, did not meet yesterday.
The Commons were more assiduous, we wish we
could say more beneficially employed, to the country.
After the presentation of petitions, including one
about that unhappy victim of E2clesiastical persecu-
tion, THOROGOOD, notices were , given by Captain
PEcHELL of a clause to ho introduced into the Rating
of Tenements' Bill, to allow the evidence of piri.sh offi-
cers ; by Mr. MILDMAY, of a Clause in the Bribery
Bill to disfranchise every person convicted of bribery ;
dila by Mr. BAINES, of a motion for returns concerning
the aborigines in our colonies.
Sir R. PEEL, on behalf of Lord STANLEY, whose pri-
%este business will not allow him to follow up his feud
with Ireland, and whose ire and im>-called patriotism go
to sleep when that is convenient—postponed the
Committee on the Irish Registration Bill from
:the 4th till the 11th of June. The monstrous
evils, as described by the Tories, of fictitious
votes in Ireland, are to remain uncured for a
week because Lord STANLEY is engaged. Lord Joux
RUSSELL, in consequence of this change, fixed the
Canada Government Bill for Thursday instead of
Friday ; and in reply to Sir R. PEEL, stated that no
recent despatches on the subject bad been received from
Canada.

Mr. H (TT T moved for a Committee to inquire ua,ler
what restrisstions corn might be ground in bond. On
this su'ojz.ict. into the merits of which, as it was amply
discussed last S
rcssto, we will not enter, a consickr-
able numbe.ofMembers
Dspoke. Some of the country
gentlemen-41c Earl
of
supported it ;,others, like Mr CHRISTOPHER, for example—
PHER, opposed
it. Several Members who
were against Mr. VILLIERS'
ruotlon, like Lord SANDOw ,voted for tie Committee,
sjahich -Mr. WA.RBultTom sneered, as a very useless
pruceeding. On a division, the
.12t) to 54. motion was carried by
We believe with Mr. WARBURTON that Bill, ro •
one should be recommended by the Com
willmittce‘ to carry
f
Mr. HUTT'S intentions into effect, ever pass
through Parliament. Last year such a Bill was op-
posed because, by a remote
possibility, a pound or two
of foreign flour might have found its way into the c
somption of the working classes, Whom we believe it is
the intention to humble and to starve by keeping them
short of food; and this Session the same reason-
ing will prevail. A regard was laA year professed

for certain opulent CORlmaciai classes. They
may perhaps victual their ships somewhat cheaper,
or be able to supply our colonies with flour, but not a
single thought was bestowed on the great hulk of the
people by the landowners, except how food may be kept
from them. Nevertheless, we hope Mr. MIT may
carry such a Bill through Parliament ; but the land-
lords are too determined to keep up prices by keeping
the supply of corn limited, ever to consent; till they are
terrified out of their injustice, to any such a measure.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL next moved for leave to bring
in a Bill to prevent bribery, the provisions of which he
has already explained. He proposes, however, in ad-
dition, that if bribery be proved against a candidate, or
his agents, every vote given for him, after a notice
served on him that he or his agents are bribing, shall
be null and void. The Bill also provides for an in-
vestigation into charges of bribery, independent of the
candidates, and not at their expense.
Mr. WYNN and Sir R. PEEL expressed doubts whe-
ther such an enactment as that described by the Noble
Lord could be made to operate.
After a brief conversation, leave was given.
Mr. HawEs obtained leave to bring in a BA!, to
subs; itute affirmation for oaths.
Mr. COLQUHoUN moved for papers connected with
the tracte to Java, and the negotiation to induce the
Dutch to consent to a more equitable tariff, which were
ordered.
Mr. LANGDALE obtained leave to bring in a Bill to
authorise a Registrar to grant a certificate for the
solemnization of marriage at the nearest place of wor-
ship belonging to the religion professed by the parties
out of his district, provided there be no place of worship
of that religion within his district.
Mr. PICOT, the Solicitor-General for Ireland,
moved for leave to bring in a Bill to remove doubts
with respect to the qualification of voters in Ireland, and
establish a tribunal of appeal to try questions of doubt
as to the qualification, the provisions of which he ex-
plained.
Mr. LITTON opposed the Bill, as dealing an
underhand blow at the administration of justice
in Ireland. The Hon. Member read a correspondence
between Chief Justice BUSHE and Lord DENNIAN.
No opposit;on, however, was offered to the intro-
duction of the Bill, and after some explanations by Lord
JOHN RUSSELL and Mr. SHAW, leave was given.
Leave was afterwards given to bring in a Bill for
settling the Canada Clergy Reserves question, the nu
ture of which Lord JoHN RUSSELL explained at con-
siderable length.
1 The House sat till Twelve o'Clock.

A public meeting will take place at Exeter-hall
on Monday, the Ist of June, to take into considera-
tion certain plans for the extinction of die slave
trade and the civilization of Africa. The meeting
originally was fixed for Wednesday, 27th inst., and
the long-tried friend of the negro, Mr. T. FOWELL
BUXTON, was to have taken the chair ; but a new
arrangement has been made, alike creditable to Mr.
Bux'row and the Illustrious Individual who has
consented to occupy his place. His Royal High-
dess Prince ALBERT will take the chair on the oc-
casion. He has not yet presided at any public
meeting in this country, and all the friends of hu-
manity, and, we may add, all the subjects of her
,`lest Gracious MAJESTY, will hail with delight an
event which identifies his Royal Highness with
a cause so sacred, and which will bring him before
the public as the patron of an Association formed
for mitigating the sufferings of the most helpless
and the most ill-used portion of the human race.
Such an example will not be without good effect in
England, and, we trust, also in every slave-holding
and slave-trading country :in the world. We will
give a full report of the proceedings in The Sun of
Monday evening.

Bill brought in by Loid JOHN RUSSELL
to make furi4.her provision as to certain rightsof voting
ment in England and Wales
fcr Members at ic..grlia
ery short, which is more
has the merit of being
istizttion Bill. It enacts
than we can say for the Reg,
that no joint lessees and joint occupiei, shall be en-
titled to vote for County Members, unlessthe clear
yearly value of the joint occupancy shall be so
much, that, if divided by the number of occupiers,
the share of each will be sufficient to confer on him
the qualification. Such a clause, honestly carried
out, will put an end to some fictitious votes in coun-
ties. We will not, on that account, praise it, for
no measure that in :any way restricts the franchise
or prevents an Englishman dwelling in a district
from having a vote in it, whether be have an in,
come of twenty shillings or a thousand pounds,
shall ever receive our support. We no more require
a diminution of the franchise in England than in
Ireland. _ .

By the second clause of the Bill that part of the
Reform Act which requires the payment of rates in
boroughs prior to registration is repealed, and by
the third clause registration is made contingent on
the payment of borough and poor-rates according
!o some other Bill (the Registration Bill) to be
passed this Session. This clause is obscure, hut
we suppose it to enact that all the poor-rates must
be paid up for the yelr ending six calendar months
before the last day, whatever that may be, which
is allowed for paying the arrears of rates. If this
clause apply to the period when collectors issue
distraints, the time may be very different in diffe-
rent boroughs, and may in some he put back
indefinitely. As the clause stands, not one
elector in ten thousand will understand it,
and a more definite and precise time, up to which
rates must be paid, if the payment of rates is to be
made necessary to voting, should be substituted. Is
it nc.t enough if a man pay not that his property
is taken away ; and, if it be enough, why deprive
him also of a vote for those who are to make laws
affecting his liberty andlife?
_

The next clause provides that no person shall be
entitled to vote for a borough in respect of a shop
or building occupied jointly with land, unless the
shop or building be of a clear yearly value of not
less than five pounds—a clause intended, we b_-
lieve, to relieve certain great landed proprietors and
propt ictresses from contro-lling the elections of certain
boroughs, by building their tenants a pig-stye or
stable in the town in conjunction with the land they
occupy in the neighourhood. To destroy the
sinister control and influence of mere wealth, which
cares not how much it degrades man if its own
selfish purpose be served, is worthy of all appro,-
bation.

Another clause repeals that part of the Reform
Act which requires the returning officer to ask any
voter whether he have the same qualification as
that for which his name is registered ? Persons
will not be excluded from voting by no longer pos-
sessing their original qualification, provided the
parting with it entails no legal incapai.!ity from
voting. These are all the enactments.
We shall not now analyse the provisions of tle
Registration Bill, but we must express a wish that
it had been made more simple, and that the right
to vote had been made rather to depend on some
common-sense criterion, ascertainable by the liuM-
blest shopkeeper, than on legal technicalities
which can only be decided by " ba:risters
of seven years' standing." It is sorrow-
ful that we must, in disputed cases, call in
lawyers to settle and adjust our cavil rights.
Our political rights ought to stand perfectly clear
from all such interference. The humblest citizen,
that he may be ready to maintain such rights, should
know what they are; and it is, we believe, a per-
fectiv modern and grievous innovation on the
English Constitution and practices that lawyers are
now continually called in to determine our political
rights. The citizens should be taught, encouraged,
and even compelled, if necessary, to decide these
by and for themselves. The other course makes
the people the slaves of one profession.

\Ve insert the petition presented to the House of
Commons on Wednesday evening by Sergeant
TALFOURD relative to Mr. VINCENT. He is quite
as badly treated as Mr. O'CONNOR, if not worse.
His own clothes have been taken from him, and he
is clothed in the prison dress. He exists on the
prison diet. He is continually shut up in a cell, ex-
cept a short period in each day. His books are
taken away, he is debarred the use of pen, ink, and
paper, and can only commumce.te with his friends
once every four months. He is doomed to the worst
treatment of a felon, if not to slew death-. His offence
is political, and the special jury who tried him re-
commended him to mercy ; yet such is the treatment
he receives. It is equally foolish and criminal, for no
severities or cruelties ever yet put down an opinion.
It is impossible for
,us, after what we have
said of Mr. O'CONNOR s treatment, of the treat-
ment of Messrs. LOVETT and CoLLINs, and of
the
n treatment of
Mr. M'DouAL and his com-
panions, silent concerning Mr. VINCENT,
aitoriels:m to be
We rejoice that Mr. Sergeant TALFOURD has
we trust that the Mi-
ntaken and
rsu pw
ill be convinced that it. is alike inconsis-
tent with their power and their honour to be more
Tory than the Tories.
Will the Morning Post,
s complaint, because he
Mr. O'CONNoft' is a gen-
tleman, and his case could be made the means of