The Sun.
London, England, 1834-03-12 00:00:00

ELECTION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,—It is confidently believed that we are on
the eve of an election in Manchester as soon indeed
as the arrangements can be completed for the eleva-
tion of Mr. P. Thomson, one of our representatives
to the Presidency of the Board of Trade. The
consequences of a defeat, should such a thing occur,
will be disastrous to the ministry in the extreme, as
it will imply a vote of censure upon them from a
numerous and enlightened body of men. The friends
of the right hon. gentleman are already canvassing,
but so far as the public temper has yet been tried,
it is very doubtful if his return can be secured. The
neck and neck contest at Leeds, between a long
tried Reformer, and an avowed Ultra-Tory Nets one
lesson, and the rejection of Sir J. Ces'Aphell at
Dudley another still more striking, and should these
be followed by the defeat of a tniulsterial atticl e
here, the moral hold of the present Government
upon the country will be materially loosened. This
we shall regret on account of the great cause of libe-
ral principles, but it will not surprise us. The mi-
nistry, by a strange frtality, has been progressively
alienating its friend% and strengthening the hands of
its enemies, and the battle has every appearance
awe of ending in Whig discomfiture. One thing is
quite certais:l—that if any gentleman of moderate
principle's enters the field here, unconnected with
the Cabinet, he will be returned by a triumphant
majority, and it is even questionable whether a Tory
weuld not be equally successful, as that interest is
powerful, and he would be supported by the Ultra-
Radicals, and by many individuals who are deter-
mined, at almost any sacrifice to get without the
ministry, constituted as it now is.
The mode in which Mr. Thomson's election was
secured when his party were riding on the gale of
popularity, when, indeed, to be connected with go-
vernment, however remotely, was a certain passport
to public favour, is well known to all those who at-
tend to political affairs. He had been returned for
Dover in opposition to Mr. Halcomb, who is now
in the house, and was got in here by the aid of the
dissenters, and by the split of votes amongst the
other candidates. It was a well-managed contri-
vance, but though successful it was considered only
as a pis alley, by the intelligence of the town. But
bow do ministers stand now ? The corn laws
strictly upheld, a miserable pittance of relief granted
to dissenters, in fact, a mere nullity, such half and
half measures being worse even than nothing, and
the decided expressions of Earl Grey upon the dif-
ferent points at issue between the church and dis-
senters. These have completely destroyed the hopes
of this influential, or rather all powerful, class as to
any fair relief to be obtained from the present Ca-
binet, and have roused the ire of the most moderate.
Added to these are other and wider causes of com-
plaint. An impression is abroad that there is a want
of sincerity, or at least of unanimity, amongst mi-
nisters. important questions are brought forward
so loosely as to indicate either lamentable weak-
ness or the most culpable negligence, and hence
they ever appear bordering on destruction. This
weakens the confidence of their best supporters, and
men of talent and intelligence are anxious to see
some modification which would give them a govern-
ment having the appearance of stability. The mis-
chief caused by this vacillation and uncertainty is
inconceivable, and if ministers still hold the belief,
that by having passed theßeform Bill,they have se-
cured a !ewe of their offices, and may repose in su-
pine security,they are mistaken. Many of the bills
brought forward, too,under their auspices,hear marks
of such haste and crudeness, that all men of reflection
unite in condemning them. One pressing particularly
upon the manufacturing interests is of this character,
the Factory Bill, and it is exciting the most invete-
rate hostility towards its framers. Mr. P. Thom-
son, may, perhaps be able to explain away these
things, and a variety of other discrepancies which
have been witnessed with pain and contempt by the
well wishers to government. We would give them
one hint, that tinkering bad bills, is not what is
wanted; we require statesmanlike views and sound
measures.

There is another point connected with the present
unfavourable position of the ministry, and this is the
extraordinary distribution of the patronage placed in
their hands. We look upon this as a public trust,
and one which, if properly managed, is well calculated
to benefit its directors and the country at large.
-What has been the conduct of the administration in
this respect ? Where nepotism has not swayed it,
the best recommendation has been nullification and
opposition, but the most certain mode of procuring
attention is a word from a Tory leader. The ques-
tion resolves itself into this, is it intended by go-
vernment that liberal measures should be pursued ?
and if so, is it not absolutely necessary that official
situations should be filled by liberal men ? How
does the case stand ? The appointments of Mr.
Gleig, Lord Ingestrie, and a multitude of others,
are a sufficient answer. But it is not these open
and avowed examples that do all the mischief, the
same system pervades the whole frame of govern-
ment. We have lying before us a list of upwards
of thirty names attached to appointments within a
small circle around us, some more, some less im-
portant, and what are they ? With the exception of
half-a-dozen, who are of the illustrious obscure, all
are laudatores tenzporis acti, except in so far as their
present situation is concerned. Now we know that
several gentlemen of acknowledged talent, men who
have employed body and soul to secure the tri-
umph of the good cause—men who have
devoted all their mental energies, through the
medium of the press, to awaken conviction, and to
proselytize their immediate neighbourhood—men
who have nobly sacrificed private feelings and preju-
dices to principle ;—we say that we know that such
men,relying on their services, have applied, in more
instances than one, for situations to which their ta-
lents and information gave them an overwhelming
claim, totally independent of every other considera-
tion, and yet these men have never received the
slightest notice, not even the civility of a reply,
whilst others, utterly incapacitated, have walked
comfortably into them, on the strength of Tory re-
commendation ! Well, indeed, may this party re-
joice; well may it sneer and laugh at those in power.
And is this right—is it reasonable ? We can only say
that Mr. P. Thomson will find, that it is considered
neither right nor reasonable, and that several who
have more than once devoted their services to his
support, will either remain neuter, or, if any proper
person is brought forward to oppose him, will throw
the whole weight of their influence against him.
For ourselves and others we declare, that if
any government ever owed gratitude to the
press, it is the present. It lives only by the
force of public opinion, and it has been rescued
from annihilation once and again by means of this
organ,
aided simultaneously by the intelligence and
activity of its contributors. Has it repaid this debt ?
We say, no, and what is the consequence ? These
men, if not dirippointed, are bitterly offended. They
see patronage lavished upon individuals whose sole
merit is, being connected with the opponents of free
and enlightened institutions, and can it be wondered
at that they are beginning to hold aloof ? They
argue, either that government is insincere, or so
weak as to be obliged to bribe its enemies. A weak
government, which has yet the elements of strength,
is not worthy support. A government, to be stable
and respected, must have one guiding and presiding
spirit, the Ate: o; ::ca of the Pythagoreans.
This is deplorably wanting in the government as it
now stands. Every man, like Harry Wynd, seems
fighting for his own hand, and weakness and divi-
sion are the consequence. A government that is
obliged, in order to retain its position, to truckle to
its opponents, and play into their hands, and which
all men can see is kept there solely till events are
ripe to displace it, every honest and enlightened
man will lend his aid to overthrow.

We are, and have been, fiiends to government,
and the above remarks have been written rather in
sorrow than in anger. The political occurrecces of
the last few weeks ha'e, however, galled us to the

liulek. We have se•en, with shame and sorrow, an
administration Which, a few months ago, had almost
the e: Lire power of the nation to support it, bandied
about from hand to hand, and at length forced to
throw itself on the mercy of an unorganised party.
The noble confidence once felt and expressed in its
favour has been frittered away by a series
.of imbeci-
lities utterly unworthy any gov6nment. Its actions
have been suicidal, and have destroyed its best
friends. We would warn ministers to be wise in
time. Mr. Thomson's rejection is certain unless he
comes amongst us prepared for explanation. Let
him tiOt flatter himself with the idea that the mere
party that floated hm through before, can do so
again. 'We tell him that it cannot, the conditions of
the tyro periods are widely dissimilar, and a defeat
iii this quarter will be hailed as a victory calculated
to lead to the most important results.
March 6, 1834. MANCIINIENSIS.

SECOND EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'clock.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT,

THIS EVENING.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the chair at a quarter pact five.
Mr. TYNTE presented a petition on the subject of the
law of libel.

Mr. TANCRED was proceeding to give notice that
he would move for the committing of a petition which had
been presented yesterday, when he was interrupted by

The SPEAKER, who reminded him that on Wednes-
days orders took the precedence of notices, and conse
quently any member who wished to oppose the bon. gen-
tleman's notice would he taken by surprise, from its being
introduced in that unusual manner, upon which Mr. Tan-
cred withdrew his notice.

Sir FRANCIS VINCENT presented a petition on the
Tats of libel from a person named Richard Morrison.

Mr. BROTHERTON moved for a return of the num-
ber of causes in the Court of Requests, and the sums
expended thereon during the period from 1805 to the
present time, distinguishing the sums each year.
Lord GEO. SOMERSET presented a petition from
Chepstow, which the noble lord said was respectably
signed, in favour of the established church ; and one like-
wise from the borough of Hertford hoping that that bo-
rough would not be disfranchised. The petition was
signed by upwards
,of 300 persons; it was adopted at a
meeting during the last summer, though the presenting of
it was delayed till the present time.
BRIDGE OF ATHLONE (IRELAND).

Mr. LITTLETON presented a petition from the Grand
Jury of the county of Roscommon, praying the house
would devise some means to have the bridge of Athlone
putiin a proper state of repair.
FISHERIES (IRELAND).

The hon. member then presented a petition from the
fishermen of Thntry, complaining of the want of em-
pioyment, and praying the house to take their case into
its early consideration ; also a petition from the inhabi-
tants of a parish in the county of Stafford, for the bet-
ter observance of the Lord's Day.
Mr. O'CONNELL begged to ask the right hon. the
Secretary for Ireland whether his Majesty's government
intended to adopt any measures relative to the Irish
fisheries?

Mr. LITTLETON said be was tnot aware of any
measures being in contemplation. . .

Mr. IIALd0:11B moved for certain returns relative to
the state of the harbours on the coast of Kent.—Ordered.

CHURCH ESTABLISHMENT.

Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from the inhabitants
of Bridgewater and its vicinity, in support of the esta-
blished church. The petitioners conceived that they were
called upon at the present time to show their devotion to
the interests of the established church. The hon. baronet
observed that the petition presented a very strong contrast
to some that had been lately presented on the other side.
The petitioners were not adverse to any alterations in
spiritual matters:which the lapse of time, or other cir-
cumstances, might render expedient, but they respectfully
prayed that such alterations may not take place under
secular but spiritual authority.—(Hear, hear.) They
were not adverse to a proper distribution of the revenues,
but they protested against any alienation of the property
that had been bequeathed by the piety of their ancestors
to the established church or to any other purposes.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY would regret if there were not
petitions of a very opposite natnre presented to that house.
What did that petition suggest? Why, that the religious
belief of the people of that country should be determined
by some convocation assembled to decide upon spiritual
matters.—(Hear.) He trusted the dissenters would well
understand the objects of that petition, and he for one
would protest against such an absurd proposition.
Sir R. PEEL said the hon. member had totally mis-
taken and, by a natural consequence, totally misrepresented
the prayer of the petition. There never was so great a
mistake as the hon. member had made.—(Hear, bear.)
The petitioners did not propose that any religious convoca-
tion shou!d he assembled, and the hon. member need not be
under any alarm, as he should still be at liberty to en-
tertain whatever religious opinions he pleased.—(Hear,
hear.) All they suggested was, that, if alterations were
necessary, they should be made under the direction of the
spiritual superiors of the church.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY, notwithstanding what the right
hon. baronet had stated, considered that he was perfectly
correct in representing the hon. baronet as having said
the petition wished to have all proceedings regard-
ing spiritual matters referred to a spirifual body,
and he would only farther tresapass upon the house
by returning his warm thanks to the right hon. baronet
for the expression of his disposition to allow him and all
his Majesty's subjects to entertain whatever creed of faith
they might think proper.
Sir R. PEEL had said, which he repeated, that the
hon. g,ntbaman'ts statement was a complete misrepresen-
tation, inasmuch as he had stated that the petitioners
desired to dictate to others the creed of faith they should
entertain.

Lord SANDON presented a petition from an inha-
bitant in Liverpool, praying that he, as a voter for that
borough, and others, against whom no crime had been
imputed, might not be deprived of a valuable right in
consequence of the misconduct of others.
DISFRANCHISEMENT OF THE BOROUGH OF