The Sun.
London, England, 1846-07-22 00:00:00

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LoNDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 1846.

Having already :Worded the unanimous return of
free-trade representatives ay the two most extensive
constituencies in the kingdom---namely, the West
Riding of Yorkshire and the City of London,—it is
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constituency of South Lancashire. The electors Of
this most important locality assembled yesterday at
Newton, and returned, not merely unopposed, but
with acclamation, as their representative in Parlia-
ment, Mr. WILLIAM BROWN, whose name is so
honourably associated with the demonstrations for
commercial emancipation made at Manchester and
Liverpool. Did any uncertainty exist in the minds
of individuals as to the intellectual efficacy of the
League—as to the popular opinion having under-
gone a thorough transformation on the subject of
political economy—as to the irresistible under-current
of public opinion having safely borne the vessel of
commerce over the sandbanks and breakers of monopoly,
by which it was hitherto surrounded and endan-
gered—as to the satisfaction, and not only the satisfac-
tion, but the gratitude with which the English people
have watched the recent proceedings of their states-
men—that uncertainty would be altogether dispelled
by the attendant circumstances of each successive
election. These circumstances we have already had
the gratification of particularising in a variety of in-
stances. We have, as evidenced in the re-election of
Viscount MORPETM, observed the passive, and the
more earnest, because the more passive, unanimity of
an enfranchised community, seated in deliberate
tranquillity under the shadow of roofbeams, and re-
turning—unhesitatingly and earnestly—a free-trade
candidate as the exponent of their opinions in the
House of Commons. We have observed these
things, and have meanwhile borne in recollection
the fact that those identical constituencies were
wont, formerly, to assemble in uproarious multitudes
out of doors, to elect, in that same responsible capa-
city—sometimes with opposition, sometimes without
opposition—the upholder of the most stringent system
of miscalled protective imposts. Such are the moral
changes which have transpired even within our own
immediate recollection—changes as startling and as
impressive in their operation upon the intellect of a
whole nation as the alterations effected in the
material crust of this globe by volcanic eruptions and
convulsions. Geology does not unfold to us a more
astonishing series of phenomena than that disclosed by
history in the intellectual and political fluctuations of
a people. Insomuch are we impressed with the accu-
racy of this notion, that we are persuaded the advo-
cates of the protective system will, before many years
have rolled away, be regarded with some such cu-
riosity and astonishment as an Ichthyosaurus and a
Megatherium—monsters of a by-gone age—to be
labelled in the compartments of a museum ! Almost
equally striking, we repeat it, are the transformations
observable in the annals 'of geology and of political
history.

Of this circumstance no more conclusive evidence
could be adduced than that afforded by the election
of Mr. BROWN for South Lancashire. When
it is remembered that this constituency was
only vacated by the elevation of its Tory represen-
tative to the House of Peers—that this identical
free-trade candidate, Mr. BROWN, was formerly re-
jected by this identical constituency—that it had
hitherto through its Parliamentary mouthpiece en-
deavoured to perpetuate the despotism of monopoly—
and that now Mr. BROWN appealed to them for their
suffrages, after having been entreated so to
do by a requisition enforced by the signatures
of considerably more than half of the entire consti-
tuency—when these remarkable circumstances are
borne in mind, and coupled with others of a similar
character which have transpired in various quarters
of Great Britain, no one will deny the accuracy of
our original position. With these irrefragable
facts staring them in the face, no one will now
have the audacity to maintain that the League has
not worked marvels on the popular intellect, that an
under-current of public opinion has not urged on-
wards the adoption of free-trade measures, that the
people of this country are not animated by sentiments
of gratitude towards the statesmen who have con-
ferred upon them a boon so precious.
Although the cautious opinions expressed by Mr.
R. H. GREG upon the occasion of this interesting
election were unquestionably dictated by a sagacious
forethought, we cannot sympathise with that
gentleman in all his anticipations as to
the disappointments and chagrin which have
still to be encountered by the advocates of unre-
strieted commerce. Our expectations have not a
colouring so sombre and lugubrious. We believe
that a machine has now been set in motion which
human ignorance can never stop, and which all the
petty obstacles of a discontented clique can
never by possibility retard. Some minor hitches
must undoubtedly be felt in the first workings of a
machine so colossal, but, saving these, it is con-
structed upon a principle so noble, so natural, and so
symmetrical, that we believe implicitly that the ag-
gregate of its produce will be found to be—happiness.

The new Member for South Lancashire has at
' once proclaimed his antagonism to the differential
duties on sugar, his anxiety to see Ireland treated as
an integral part of England, his yearning for a re-
orginization of the Poor-laws, his interest in the
sa:►itary condition of the populace, and his resolve
to facilitate, if possible, their better education.
By explaining himself thus candidly and liberally
upon so many exigent points of legislation, Mr.
BROWN has worthily responded to the feeling of his
constituents, and is justifying. even in his inaugura-
tive address the wisdom which has guided them in
their selection.

Mr. WILLIAMS deserves much credit for the manner
in which he called the attention of the House of
Commons, on Monday night, to the present system
of naval punishments. Most cordially do we agree
with him on the improper and undue severity of the
entire code, and the imperative necessity that exists
for its revision and amendment ; in fact, the articles of
war should be altogether remodelled, and an
extensive alteration and reform should take place
therein. We trust that the opportunity will not be
cast away by our liberal Government. By their past
conduct they have afforded the strongest testimony
that abuses and grievances will not be suffered to
continue in force merely because they are ancient,
an have had an existence for centuries; and they
have it now within their power to sweep away the
grossest and most crying evil—the most flagrant in-
fringement on the liberty of the British subject.
The entire system of naval impressment is repug-
nant to the feeling of every man of common humanity,
of every one who thinks that his fellow-man should
be treated with common justice. Philanthropists
condemn in the strongest terms the practice of steal-
ing men and selling them into slavery, and we
hope and believe that there are few Britons,
certainly not one worthy of the name, who
could sanction or support so atrocious a practice ;
and vet that which excites our deepest indignation,
and demands and receives our warmest sympathy for
the unfortunate victim, when perpetrated on those of
other countries, colours, and languages, to frequently
takes place within our own dominions, on our
fellow-subjects, on British citizens, whose liberty
we are bound ti,protect, without attracting extraor-
dinary notice, or calling forth any general and indig-
nant remonstrance, without inflaming the public mind,
and producing an universal outcry and demand for
its immediate redress. The British sailor, who has
been absent for years from his native country, who ,
has, perhaps, just returned with his hardly-earned and