The Sun.
London, England, 1848-06-07 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
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THE WEATHER.—SuN OFFICE, JUNK 7.
THERMOMETER, Lowest, 50 ; Highest, 66; Noon, 64.
BAROMETER, 29.94. WIND S.S.W•; fine.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE THIS DAY.
Morning 59 min. after 5 I Evening •• 25 min. after 6

tEturniaa v 1.111;)
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1848.

The attention of both Houses of Parliament was on
Monday night directed to the tumultuous and disorderly
assemblages that have for some time disturbed the
tranquillity of the metropolis, excited the terror of
the well-disposed and peaceable inhabitants, and ma-
terially injured the business and damaged the property
of the tradesmen in the districts where these meetings
have been held. Assurances were given on behalf of
the Government by the Marquis of LANSDOWNE in
the Lords, and by Sir GEORGE GREY in the Com-
mons, that the most effectual means
would
adopted to prevent the recurrence of such b
proceed-
ings,e and it was intimated that if the existing law
was not sufficient for that purpose, the attention of
the Legislature would be directed to the subject, with
a view to the creation of an effectual remedy.
Nothing can be more
mischievous
whe areor thus silly thanexei t
itehge
course pursued by the parties
the multitude to riot and disturbance. They are
playing most effectually the game of the ultra-Tories,
and doing more injury to the cause of progressive
reform than its most enthusiastic opponents could
possibly effect. The trading and commercial classes
are thoroughly disgusted by the annoyance they
have sustained, which has at length become a positive
nuisance. The military and police, and also those
who have arrayed themselves on the side of public
order, are harassed by constant demands, not only
by day, but by night, upon their time and atten-
tion. A natural feeling of irritation has arisen
against those who have cccasioned such needless in-
convenience that must be productive of evil
consequences, should any collision unfortunately
take place. One of many communications which
we have received on this subject, and which appears
in another column, clearly indicates the ;Banner in
which these vexatious proceedings- are regarded by
the great majority of the industrious inhabitants.
Indeed, all classes appear to be firmly resolved to
submit no longer to the nuisance, and should the
threatened demonstration of the 12th instant be per-
severed in, and multitudes assemble together for the
purpose of coercing their fellow-citizens, by violence
or intimidation, we doubt not that the result will be
most decisive, and such as will effectually prevent a
repetition of such untoward occurrences. We should,
however, deplore that matters should be suffered to
proceed to extremities, or that Englishmen should be
arrayed against Englishme/b in open hostility, that
the undoubted right of the people to assemble
together, and to discuss their grievances in a peaceful
and constitutional manner, should receive so formi-
dable a blow as would be the inevitable result of a
continued abuse of the salutary privilege.
The law as it at present stands is, as we believe,
amply sufficient to prevent such disturbances and
to punish severely the participators therein. The
well-recognised principle " Sic utere tuo, ut alienum
non ladas," is in accordance with the dictates of
common sense, and constitutes the perfection of true
liberty. You may enjoy your own property, or
exercise your own privileges in any way you think
proper, provided no other person is in any degree
injured thereby. The comfort and convenience of
your neighbour must be consulted. You have a
right to express your own desires, to declare your
grievances, ax..d to ask for the adoption of such mea-
sures as may appear to be for the benefit of the king-
dom in . general, but you cannot coerce others by
force, or intimidate them by threats, to juin in
such views, however praiseworthy or justifiable
they may be. The attempt which you might
conceive to be in furtherance of your own liberties
would really be a direct invasion upon those of your
neighbour. Physical force can never be resorted to
under any circumstances, except for the purpose of
repelling unwarranted and illegal aggression. No
end or object, however meritorious, can justify the
adoption of such means. It is dear that any change
or improvement in the law cannot be sought by such
an auxiliary. Any meeting for the purpose of peti-
tioning Parliament or otherwise, or processions of
great numbers of persons, under such' circumstances
as to excite reasonable apprehensions in the minds
of men of ordinary nerve, are therefore illegal, and
may be suppressed by the authorities; and every
citizen is bound to render his aid for that
purpose, although he may really sympathise
with the objects which the parties desire
(we should rather say profess to desire) to advance.
Every circumstance of the case—the time, the place
and the manner of the meeting, and the state of the
country, are to be taken into consideration in coming
to a just conclusion as to the legality or illegality of
the proceedings. We do not suppose any rational
and conscientious man, if placed in a jury-box, and
regarding all these points, could say that the recent
meetings have been lawful ; the leaders hnve therefore
brought themselves within the scope of the law, more
especially those who have advocated assassination, or
sought to set the different classes of society at
variance with each other. Let that law be
strictly enforced— let a few of the most vio-
lent suffer the punishment they have so
richly merited, and the public tranquillity will no
longer be disturbed, and the peaceful citizens incon-
venienced by the seekers after notoriety.
As a general rule, we admit that Government
should be slow to avail themselves of the powers
they possess, or to institute what might be termed poli-
tical prosecutions, but matters have now proceeded to
such lengths that further forbearance would be an aban-
donment of the duties they are required to discharge.
There will, however, be no such dereliction of duty
on the part of the Executive. Already several arrests
have taken place, and some of those who used the
most inflammatory and seditious language will be
compelled to answer before a jury of their country-
men fur the offences of which they have been guilty ;
while many of their wretched dupes have been com-
mitted to stand their trials at the Central Criminal
Court for breaches of the peace, assaults, and other
violations of the law occasioned by those illegal pro-
ceedings. Instructions have also been sent from the
Home-office to the several metropolitan police-courts,
that for the future persons so offending are to be se
for trial in place of the cases being dealt with in a
summary manner. This is as it should be. A firm
and resolute administration of the law will teach
these misguided men the folly of which they
have been guilty in listening to the wicked
harangues of professional agitators. Every per-
son who takes part in, or even attends, those
illegal meetings, subjects himself to severe punish-
ment, although he might have been influenced by
motives of curiosity alone. He may be regarded as
a violator of the law, and as his presence and apparent
sanction would encourage others, he cannot complain
if he should be selected fur prosecution. We there-
fore call upon every person to abstain from any even
the slightest participation in these proceedings. It is
perhaps more incumbent on those who de-ire exten-
sive measures of reform to di2countenance by every
means the excitement, w hich must retard the accom-
plishment of their legimate desires. Let them recol-
lect that it was by reason and argument alone that
free trade and other great popular victories have been
achieved, and let them regard all those who may
counsel any violation of the lA as the most mischievous
opponents of liberal and constitutional reforms.

No circumstance in the whole of the late French
Revolution excited so much indignation as the ex-
pulsion of the English artizans and labourers by the
citizens of a Republic whose boasted symbol - was
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. In that indignation
we sympathised heartily. And yet, notwithstanding
our disgust at these barbarous prejudices of
nationality, we are inspired with feelings of not one

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