The Sun.
London, England, 1833-05-25 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

Mr. Bernal, as Chairman of the Hertford Bo-
rough Election Committee, brought formally un
&r the notice of the House, the gross bribery
and corruption which were practised at the last
election for that place, and in consequence of
which the Cominittee declared the election to be
null and void. After stating the leading features
of the case made out in evidence before the Corn-
niittee over which he presided, Mr. Bernal moved
two resolutions.: the first merely declared that
the disgraceful occurrences he had detailed de-
served the serious consideration of the House ;
and the second was to the effect, that a Select
Committee should be appointed to inquire into,
and report to the House, the best means of pre-.
venting bribery and corruption in the borough of
Hertford for the future. This very moderate
proposition—far too moderate, as we think, and
as we are sure the vast mojority of the people
will consider it—was strongly, opposed by " the
Conservatives." Although it was proved on oath
that a majority of the electors of Hertford were
bribed, and that treating was practised among them
to an unlimited extent, these worthy gentlemen
were of opinion that there had not been cor-
ruption enough at Hertford to justify even the
thought of purifying it. The morality of this
doctrine few can fail to appreciate, and the cle-
verness of it, in men who, by refusing all ame-
lioration of the boroughmonger system, were
compelled at last to submit to the Reform Bill,
. which annihilated that system, shows that the
" Conservatives" are not less wise than they
are virtuous. However, the House of Com-
mons, not being " Conservative," carried Mr.
Bernal's resolutions by a majority of 172, the
numbers being 227 to 55, and the Committee
was, consequently, appointed. The notice
which Colonel Evans gave of a motion to apply
the ballot to Hertford may furnish the Commit-
tee with a salutary hint, and show them the
consequence which must inevitably result if they
do not devise and' recommend an efficient re-
medy as well to the corruption of the borough
as to those equally dangerous obstacles to purity
of election at Hertford—the influence of. Hat-
field-house in general, and the Marquis 9f
Salisbury's 14 days' leases in particular.
Times.

'Mr. Bernal, after giving last night a very lu-
minous view of the corrupt system pursued in
the borough of Hertford, concluded by moving
two resolutions—the first, that " the bribery and
corruption which had prevailed during the last
election for the borough of Hertford, deserved
the most serious consideration of the House ;"
and the second, " that a Select Committee be
appointed to consider and report upon the best
means of preventing bribery and corrupt prac-
tices at all future elections for the borough of
_Hertford." Mr. Bernal wishes to avoid the re-.
sponsibility of deciding himself the extension
which ought to be given to the borough to in-
fuse new life into it, and he therefore proposes
that the matter should he inquired into in a
Select Committee. This country must view
wiih satisfaction this giadual improvement of
the condition of a number of boroughs as cor-
rupt as any in Schedule A, but which could not
be disfranchised in the Reform Bill. Where
gross bribery is notorious,the remedy, of course,
when practicable, is the addition of such a number
of sound electors as will render it difficult to
practise bribery with success in future. The ar-
gument against the extension of the limits of
Hertford is a very poor one indeed. The innocent,
it is said, ought not to be punished with the
guilty. But the electors of Hertford are not
punished by associating them with a number o
other electors. As well might it be said tha
the increase of any of our great towns, by whicl
the number of voters is increased, is a punish.
ment of the old voters. If the freemen o
_Hertford value the franchise only for what ii
brings them in in hard cash, then, indeed, an ex-
tension in the limits, by which their vote will
sell for little or nothing, is a punishment.--
If, however, they have only honest objects in
view, an extension of the limits is no punish-
ment. But the question is not the punishment
of the freemen of Hertford, but how they may
exercise the trust reposed in them beneficially
for the community. As Mr. Clay observed,
" the only way in which the House could retain
a hold on the affections of the people, was by
instituting a strong and searching inquiry into
all cases of corruption which might arise." The
Attorney-General, in the same spirit, observed,
that it was incumbent upon the House to
follow up the principle of the Reform Bill—
purity of election ; and the House must allow
of the inquiry, or they would be disgraced
throughout the country." The division gave a
majority of 227 to 55.—Morning Chronicle.
Ministers appear to be very much in the
situation of persons who, having had good
cards dealt to them, do not know how to play
them, and the people in that of certain elderly
ladies, who, themselves understanding the game,
are apt to grow exceedingly indignant when
foiled and obliged unwillingly to draw their
pursestrings, owing to the repeated blunders of
their partner. " Sir (we think we hear one of
these latter warmly exclaim), " the game was our
own if you had but led your king of diamond,
instead of the knave." " Really, Madam, I
lid not see I had the king." " Well, Sir, hut
why give your adversary the lead in clubs ?"
" I thought, Madam, the clubs were with you."
" Then why revoke the heart " For that,
Madam, I have to apologise, but I really over-
looked the heart." The lady at length ends
the colloquy, somewhat indignantly, as she parts
with her money, exclaiming. " Really, Sir, if
people have such cards dealt to them as you
had, and cannot play them better, they ought
not to attempt to play at all ;" and then walks
from the table, frowning unutterable things.
Such, or something very like it, is the situa-
tion of Ministers with the country at this mo-
ment ; and, if the truth were known, we are
persuaded that there are not a few among
their hitherto warmest adherents who have not
either openly or silently made some such ex-
glairioation as the above imaginary dialogue closes
with, and in as much as the game of politics,
or, in Dater words, the government of a
great nation, excels the trifling objects to
which the simile refers, so ought public
men to feel and profit by the censure which their
mistakes draw from those whose interests they are
sacrificing. It is the part of true wisdom to take
timely warning, and, measuring the present by
the past, not only to avoid the shoals and quick-
sands which are legible upon the chart, but to
steer clear of dangers which, though not seen,
are not therefore the less to be apprehended. It
is true that in private life we frequently see men,
reckless of every warning, rush on ruin as if it
were their object ; but of how little value must
become those higher attainments which have
been deemed necessary to constitute a statesman
if he bring to the government of empires no
better discretion than that which belongs to the