The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-25 00:00:00

Mr. FAGAN opposed the Bill, which he regarded as
an emanation of Protestant hate.
Mr. SMYTHE considered the measure as a Bill of sham
pains and penalties, to repel a sham Papal aggression.
Mr. MONCKTON MILNES considered that an aggres-
sion had been committed, and would therefore support
the measure.
Mr. SA.DLEIR contended that the establishment of a
local hierarchy was necessary to protect the Roman Ca-
tholics of England against, the designs of a bad or an
ambitious POPE. He vindicated the appointment of Dr•
COLLEN as Primate in Ireland.
Mr. HENRY BERE.ELEY supported the Bill, but con-
sidered that the conduct of the POPE was excusable,
when it was considered how strong were the temptations
which had been held out to him by the Puseyite clergy
of the Established Church. Puseyism was Popery
in the chrysalis state. He trusted the Prime
Minister would act up to the principles of the Durham
letter, and bring in some measure to prevent the intro-
duction of strange and unprotestant doctrines into the
Church. _ _

Sir J. YOUNG could not support the measure, which
he considered an infringement on the principles of
toleration.

Mr. H. GRATTAN opposed the Bill, because it was the
commencement of an anti-Irish system of legislation.
Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY protested against the lair
guage which had been used by Mr. 11. DRUMMOND, and
accused the Hon. Gentleman of believing in ghosts. He
should support the measure.
Lord CASTLEREACH considered the Bill as a measure
that would satisfy nobody, and would render the go-
vernment of Ireland impossible.
Mr. A. B. HOPE opposed the Bill.
Mr. T. HOBHOUSE moved the adjournment of the
debate, which was opposed, and on a division negatived
by a majority of 350, the numbers being—ayes, 64;
noes, 414.
Mr. M. O'CoNNILL moved the adjournment of the
House, but
Lord J. Russzlz, having consented to adjourn the
debate to this day, the motion was withdrawn.
A discussion ensued on the question whether the
debate should be renewed at noon or at the usual hour.
A division was called, when there appeared—
For twelve o'clock ... ... 306
For five o'clock ... ... ... 43
Majority ... ... ... —263
Some further discussion resulted in half-past four
this day being fixed for the resumption of the debate.
The Designs Act Extension Bill was read a second
time, after a short discussion.
The House adjourned at Two o'clock.

The debate on the Ecclesiastical Titles Assumption
Bill has again been adjourned. After a protracted dis-
cussion of eleven days, six on the question of leave
to introduce the Bill, and five on its second reading,
we find the Hon. Gentleman the Member for Mayo in-
forming the House, as a reason for further adjournment,
that " the discussion should not bear the appearance of
heat, haste, or hurry, and that it should proceed in the
usual way." If that be the "usual way" in Parlia-
mentary proceedings, if it could be con-
sidered as symptomatic of either " heat, haste,
or hurry" if the division had been then and
there taken, we can feel no astonishment at the
number of measures mutilated or withdrawn at the
annual "massacre of the innocents." The only sub-
ject of surprise appears to be that any progress is
made, or that any disputed questions are decided on

in any year.
We know not what the minority propose to them-
selves by these proceedings. They know the feelings
of the country, and they must also know that there
is an overwhelming majority of their brother
representatives against them. If any doubt could
have existed on that subject the divisions of last
night must have completely removed them, and
convinced even the most sceptical.

In an unusually crowded House, in which 478
Members were present, there was a clear majority of
350 against any further postponement—the numbers
being for the adjournment of the debate 64, against it
414 ; and on the second division, when the announce-
ment of the intended factious opposition had rapidly
thinned the House, there was a majority of 263 on
the question that the debate should be resumed at 12
o'clock this day. On both points, however, the large
and overwhelming majorities were compelled to yield
to the dictates of the tyrant minorities, and new
illustrations were afforded of how completely a few
persons, reckless of the estimation in which they may
be held by their fellow-citizens, can obstruct the bu-

of the country, and putt a total stop to every
ueseripciun of
Is this unquestionable grievance absolutely without
remedy ? Must " the many" always succumb to
"the few ;" and matters of the most vital consequence
to the nation be delayed and procrastinated, if not

totally set aside, through the wanton and reckless
conduct of a small and insignificant clique? If,
indeed, the salutary power vested in a minority of
preventing a matter of real importance from being
hurried through the House, or passed through one of
its stages by surprise, should frequently be so griev-
ously abused, it will become necessary to
change the ordinary rules and to restrain the privi-
lege within fitting limits, which could not be trans-
gressed under any circumstances. A repetition of
such proceedings as those of last night must inevita-
bly produce such an alteration—abusus non tollit usum,
—what is really valuable will be sacrificed,

Irough the injudicious and improper mode in which
t is resorted to.

Once more we ask what do the minority propose
to themselves from such proceedings? They cannot
hope to get rid of the measure itself that has provoked
their wrath. Under any circumstances that will be
pressed for ward so as to have a decision on its merits.
It is other Bills, in the success and progress whereof
they themselves may feel deep interest, that will be
damaged by the delay. What can be done for
Ireland ?—for promoting the industrial occu-
pations of that unhappy land, and deve-
loping its wonderful natural resources. Can
they not perceive that they are retarding the
Securities for Advances Bill, a measure better, cal-
culated to render the sister kingdom prosperous,
happy, and contented, than any other that has ever
been brought before the Legislature ? That Bill
which would, if in practical operation, have left
balances to many ruined families after the sale of
their inheritances under the Commissioners for Sale of
Encumbered Estates—that would have given many an
unsatisfied creditor full payment of his just

claims, which are now totally and for ever lost
through the inadequate sums for which properties
have been disposed of, was withdrawn last year from
want of time to pass it through its various stages.
Are the sufferings of the country to be protracted
for yet another year through the culpable folly—aye,
worse than folly—of its own children ? Already have

seven weeks of the session elapsed, and nothing, li•
terally nothing, has been accomplished ; and yet we
are told by the Honourable Member for Clonmel,
while modestly disclaiming " any factious opposi-
tion," " that of the sixty-four who voted for the
adjournment at least one-half intended to
speak." This will give at least sixty
additional speeches, as it cannot be supposed that the
thirty-two dissentients can be allowed to have it
all their own way, or that the House will listen for
several successive days to one-sided arguments. We
have the business then cut out until Easter. The year
1851 will thus turn out a legislative blank, a
hiatus valde deflendus. But, seriously speaking,
this farce must be brought to a speedy conclusion.
Sufficient time has already been thrown away. Let
the majority for once be firm, and insist on a division
this very night. They have the power in their own
hands, and the community in general expect that they
will exercise it.

The abolition of the passport system is still unfor-
tunately among the dreams of those who indulge in
the hope of ultimately realizing a political millennium.
Nothing whatever can be accomplished in this parti-
cular, of course, until the feelings of England on the
subject are sympathised in by the nations of the Eu-
eaocontinent. Without the co-operation of con-
temporaryop. States, the Government of the United
Kingdom is necessarily powerless to Carry out any
such comprehensive scheme of international improve-
ment. It is consequently requisite to restrict our
efforts at reform in the regulation of the system in
question to such desirable changes as are practicable
without the aid of foreign Cabinets. Happily for
Great Britain, her inatersteasttses;n everraoughout the world are:o
insure
watched
thesafety,over by
and to facilitate the movements, of
her children in all territories alike without
any distinction whatsoever, no matter how remote

THE SUN,

their place of sojourn may be, whether in the eastern
or western hemisphere. Actuated by this patriotic
ambition to render the fact of citizenship a sufficient
protection to every Englishman, Lord PALMERSTON
has never once hesitated to interpose in behalf of his
fellow-countrymen abroad upon all occasions where
they appear to have been subject to injustice. Having
by his bold and effective policy surrounded our com-
patriots abroad with the egis of nationality, the
Noble Viscount has recently striven to remove the
impediments which have hitherto prevented many of
the inhabitants of these islands from penetrating be-
yond the frontiers of continental Christendom. It
was in furtherance of his wishes in this respect that
an official notice appeared, on the 20th ultimo, in the
columns of the London Gazette, reducing the price
of the Foreign-office passports from two guineas and a
half to seven shillings and sixpence. Coming as this
reduction did, at a moment when it was least ex-
pected, it had about it all the grace of a really
spontaneous concession. Fully appreciating the merit
of this almost, or at any rate for the time being, un-
solicited reform, the Noble Lord the representative of
Hertford took occasion, on Thursday evening to offer
his tribute of acknowledgment to the Foreign Secre-
tary, when laying before the House of Commons his
own more comprehensive scheme of improvements in
regard to the system of passports.
Although the Noble Viscount, her MAJESTY'S
Foreign Secretary, rather humorously compared the
reference to a Committee of the matter in question, a
matter scarcely worthy, he thought, of so much seri-
ous consideration, to the employing of four horses for
the purpose of slicing cucumbers, we cannot but
regret that the motion of Lord MAHON was so readily
withdrawn. Nevertheless, we are still sanguine that
the revival of the complaints alluded to by the Noble
Member for Hertford may prove in the end produc-
tive of no inconsiderable advantages, more espe-
cially after the assurance given by Viscount
PALMERSTON, that he would readily, when-
ever he discovered ;an opportunity for so doing
carry into effect any of Lord MAHON'S more practi.
cable suggestions. With a declaration of this some.
what vague, but still satisfactory character, the nation
is compelled to rest satisfied, confident, however,
that her MAJESTY'S Foreign Secretary will strive
with perseveiing consistency to ameliorate, in some
measure at least, the grievances still weighing heavily
upon a large, body of innocent travellers. Already
we have had brilliant testimonies of his readiness to
forward the course of improvement in this direction,
and the aspirations of the most sanguine are
enforced by the opinion very explicitly pro-
nounced by the Noble Lord on Thursday,
that it would be well for the nations of the
earth if they were to abolish altogether a system so
injurious to the cause of civilization. Coinciding to
the full in those sentiments we regard with little
better than impatient complaisancy, any changes,
however otherwise desirable, in the form of existing
regulations. It were better, of course, for instance,
to equalize the price of English passports both at
home and all over the continent of Europe, than to
vend them in London at 7s. 6d., when no such
amount would be demanded if application were made
at the French Embassy for a passport to Paris, and
subsequently on arriving in that metropolis, atthe resi-
dence of Lord NORMANDY for another to a different ca-
pital . Satisfactory in the highest degree any such inno-
vation would, of course, prove to English travellers
generally, but even under that improved arrangement
the burthen of the system itself would still weigh in a
manner altogether intolerable. Coupled with Lord
MenooN's suggestion for an equalization in the price
of passports is another project not less desirable,
namely, the establishment of an office or department
for the issue of those same abominable documents.
All things considered, however, it must be confessed
that with these improvements perfected in a way the
most agreeable to the wants of the population,
the perpetuation of the system in its novel and
ameliorated condition would still amount to a
very enormous grievance. In reality the change
would, contrasted with the evil it effected, be little
less than imperceptible. It would be only loosening
the pressure of the chains, but those chains would
weigh as heavily as before, and would hamper the
movements of travellers quite as much and as incon-
veniently as prior to any attempt at innovation. Civili-
zation, indeed, can never be carried out to the utter-
most until the system of passports has been altogether
abolished and swept away among the obsolete usages