The Sun.
London, England, 1833-06-06 00:00:00

nistry under present circumstances was not
deemed a matter worthy of serious consideration.
We were astonished to find how little importance
was everywhere attached to the vote of the
Peers. We could hardly have believed that in
so short a space as that which has elapsed since
the passing of the Reform Bill the change
in
the way of viewing that branch of the Legis-
lature could have been so great. The Peers, un-
der the shade of their former power, and carefully
avoiding all wanton and unnecessary collision
with the people, might have continued to fill a
large space in the public eye. But nothing can
be so impolitic as, when the power no longer
exists, to threaten mischief. The Oligarchs
with their long list of rotten boroughs might be
hated, but we could not afford to despise them.
But a House of Peers without rotten boroughs to
fall back on is impotent when opposed to the
nation. This sas it ought to be : for no three
hundred individuals, be they whom they may,
ought to have the power of controlling twenty-
four millions. Quern Deus vult perdere pries
dementat. Think only of the insanity of at-
tempting to throw out Ministers by a vote in
favour of Don Miguel—a vote in favour of
despotism ! The very idea of having a Don
Miguel Ministry would rally all the spirit and
independence of the country against them. We
confess we are rather surprised that the Tories
have on this occasion displayed so little cunning.
Seeing as they must have seen, that every con-
cession made to them by the Whigs bad the
effect of lowering the Whigs in general estima-
tion, they should have avoided nothing so much
as putting themselves forward without a strong
cause. Knowing the failing of the Whigs to
be an over anxiety to shape their measures so as
not to offend them, they ought to have practised
as much as possible on this weakness, and waited
till a strong body of the Reformers was out of all
patience with Ministers, when they might have
assisted in playing off the two divisions against
each other. By manaeuvring in the House of
Commons, they might at last have fairly broken
up the Ministry, when, as a Radical Ministry
could not be found, they might have lightly
vaulted into power ; and then, by a few ambi-
guous and hypocritical declarations of a wish to
enforce economy, and improve our institutions,
they might have lulled the country, for a time,
into a sort of indifference to their movements.
But to advance against Ministers under the ban-
ners of Don Miguel, is to range every honest
prejudice of the people against them. The vote
of this night will reach the heart of every inde-
pendent man throughout the United Kingdom.
Don Miguel's volunteers, -though led on by the
great Captain of the age, will find no favour with
Englishmen. TLe honest accents of Lord
Ebrington will be responded to by every honest
Englishman. A majority against an Adminis-
tration, of which the Bench of Bishops should
form a part, would always rally the English
people round that Administration. When the
people see the Bishops in the list of the majority,
they inquire no further. The great Captain of
the age will find that it is one thing to fight
with the British nation at his back, and another
when opposed to that nation. The English
people are not yet so tired of their independence
as to wish his aid to destroy it, and rivet their
chains. 't hey are not yet partakers of hisinfatuation
with regard to Don Miguel and the Inquisition.
The King, too, has no desire to be more than a
constitutional Sovereign. His love to his. people
and a regard for his own peace and tranquillity
are sufficient guarantees that we shall be spared
the infliction of a Wellington Administration
at this time. His Majesty must be as much
surprised as other people that the Tories should
have so bedevilled themselves at this time for
the benefit of the'Whigs.—Morning Chronicle.

With reference to our notice of Monday, we
have to observe, that Mr. Benett's motion for
further inquiry into the alleged corruptions of
the borough of Liverpool, which stood for Tues-
day night, could not come on, from the circum-
stance of the House having been counted out.
We trust that the friends of reform will do their
duty, and support the motion of the Member for
W iltshire, when the subject comes next before
the House. His determination and zeal in this
case entitle him to the highest praise. All the
corrurtionists and conservatives are on the alert
to prevent further inquiry. The proposed in-
quiry is an attack on the outworks of corruption
and conservative interests, as they are called ;
and all those who dread inquiry—the men who
have profited by the gross corruption at Norwich
and Bristol, as well as those who are smarting
under the exposures respecting Stafford, Hert-
ford, and Warwick—all these persons will reso-
lutely resist Mr. Benett's motion. Some of
them will say it is late in the session ; and
others, having become pro hac vice economical,
will plead the expense ; in fact, no one of the
corruptionists will assign the right reason for the
opposition which they will give to Mr. Benett's
motion. The reason is, that such persons fear
the case of Liverpool will prove the folly of the
plan of leaving the old corrupt constituency in
possession of their votes ; and they also know,
that if inquiry be granted, corruption will be
destroyed, and thus some of the chief towns and
cities will be • lost to the Tories for ever. Our
readers, who are in Parliament, will remember
that the inhabitants of Liverpool, on the 21st of
February last, presented a petition to the House,
which contained, inter alia, the following alle-
gations
Gross bribery and corruption have prevailed at the
Liverpool elections for the Chief Magistrate and for the
Representatives of the Borough, for a long period of time.
" Of late years, these debasing and unconstitutional
practices have become so frequent and so notorious, that
they have almost ceased to be accounted disreputable ; and
thus, A powerful demoralizing influence has been allowed
to infect the whale constitution of society, both in its
political and municipal relations.
" The primary source of this crying evil is to be found
in the elective franchise (hoth in reference to Mayor and
Members of Parliament) being vested in a class of men,
to a great portion of whom drunkenness is familiar, and
who, from their dependent station in life, are easily swayed
by, bribery and every species of undue influence.
" Your petitioners looked forward to the passing of the
Reform; Bill, for the recognition of popular rights and
the extenskm of constitutional freedom ; and for the ter-
mination of a system of exclusion as regarded themselves,
and of degrading corruption, as regarded the old burgesses.
4. The experience of the late election of Members for the
Borough has grievously disappointed these just and rea-
sonable expectations. That the new electors, a large and
respectable body of men, have exercised their franchise in
an upright and independent manner ; but their voice has
been rendered powerless, and. their efforts of no avail, by
the votes of the old burgesses, very.many of whom were
supported to the hustings in a state of complete intoxica-
tion ; whilst others acted under the direct temptation
of
bribery, or of sdme equally corrupt influence:,
In ronseqi.fence of the assurance given in the
Elause by Lord Sandon, on the presentation of
- this petition, that no bribery had taken place at
the last election, the petitioners were restricted
from proving the general allegations of their pe-
tition' until theyhad first proved bribery to have
existed at:the last election. The petitioners were
aware that the bribery at the. last election was
less than on former occasions, for this plain
eason—t here was not the slightest competition.