The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-03 00:00:00

On Wednesday Mr. CLAY'S Bill for the abolition
of Church Rates is to be read a s3cond time, and
Lord JOHN MANNERS is to move that it be read a
second time that day six months.
We hope the House will this time give its assent
by a majority which will settle the question for
ever. It were, in every point of view, wisest to
do so. Churchmen may be as stubborn as Rus-
sians, but they are as certain to be beaten. Even
the Archbishop of CANTERBURY has lowered his
flag half-mast high. Mr. PACKE has done some-
thing very similar, but both may be quite sure
that, could they carry the measures they have
proposed, it would not be a settlement.
ACcording to the Archbishop's Bill, the parishes
which rebel successfully are to become exempt--
according to Mr. PACKIeS, all parishes are to ix,
liable for repairs .f the church and its fittings,
and for nothing else. The prelate divides the
parishes into tributary and non-tributary ; the
country squire divides the expenses, and subjects
Dissenters to capitation tax, for oue half, while
he exempts them from the other. The peaceful
divine would leave the great rebellious towns to
enjoy the immunity they have earned, but unfor-
tunately would set hundreds of parishes fighting
for similar exemption. The rural member
would renew the war in all the large towns
where this ecclesiastical fire had burnt itself out.
Manchester will never again pay for the repairs
• of churches, let Mr. PICKS do what he may ; and
none but priest-ridden rural ptrishes will long
submit in patience to the rates, if by continued
and successful opposition they can get rid of them
finally.
Mr. CLAY'S Bill provides for the immediate and
entire abolition of Church Rates. It saves them
only till debts incurred on the security of them
are extinguished, or salaries of individuals depen-
dent on them drop by death. It provides for
and authorises voluntary collections by the Church-
wardens, arranging the mode of audit and quali-
fication of auditors. Sir WlLLtam's Bill is there-
fore simply a real abolition bill, saving life in-
terests, and the rights of those who have been
induced to expend their money on the security in
question. In accepting these qualifications the-
Dissenters have done themselves credit ; they
have shown that they are actuated by no mere
fanaticism, which overlooks any passable claim
of vested interest, and if Churchmen be prudent
they had better accept the proffered terms at once.
Should the contest be prolonged a future Act may
consist of but one clause.
Last year Sir WILLIAM beat the Government
by a majority of 28, and on the question of ping
into committee gained a majority of 58. After
this even a defeat would but bring on a yet more
vigorous attack the following session. Honour-
able members who last year voted right can hardly
reverse their votes, or even absent themselves
from the division, this year. Indeed they
will do wisely to think of their seats..
If peace be concluded a dissolution may
be vety near, and many a member will find that a
considerable knot of his supporters, sufficient to
turn his election, can fight the battle of obstinacy
with him. Liberals must not rely pn sham libe-
rality at another election. The country will be in
a mood to judge its legislators by their works. It
will be in vain to allege the insignificance of the
question ; the reply will be that if insignificant
the ex-member might have conceded it to his sup-
porters, but that no nuisance, no grievance is in-
significant. Still worse would it be to talk of its
importance, for the ready reply would be ; yes,
too important for us to endure a wrong vote upon

Taus DAY—Morn. 23 min. aft. 10—Evening 18 min. aft. 11
Tn..,Sionnow—Morn. 0 min. aft. 0 —Evening 12 min. aft. 2

THE WEA.THER—SuN OFFICE, MARca 2.

THER3fOIIETER, THE. SHADE. •
47 highest since noon yesterday.
41 - oweld this morning and dueng the night.
47 -this day at noon..

Bkarr.trrEß—`,,lo
WIND, N.E. - Fresh, with dull, cold weather.

MARCH 3.
41—highest since noon yesterday.
42 —lowest this morning and during the night.
4G —this day at noon:

BAROMETER, 30'62.
WIND—N E. to N.N.E.—Fresh, with bitter cold wind
and hazy weather, with glimpses of sanshine.

64.111
t
,_.;

L')NDON, MONDAY, MARCH 3, 1356.

Notwithstanding the extraordinary precautions
adopted against any leakage from the salon, of
C mgt WALEWSKI, the alleyel proceedidgs at the
different Conferences are openly canvassed is
Paris,' and statements are made not only as to
the questions under discussion, but also as to the
tine of argument, and even the demeanour of the
different Plenipotentiaries. The fact of the
armistice was officially announced in the organ
of the French Government. That, however,
was a tangible fact, which was disposed of for the
time being, and which could not be withheld
from the public. But much more has been com-
municated. It is more than hinted that a Rus-
sian view of the armistice was suggested that led
to a serious debate. C )unt ORLOFF is said to
have insisted that the armistice should not
merely occasion a total suspension of hostilities,
but of all preparations for their resumption, and
all transport of stores, troops, (t-e. This, how-
ever, was too one-sided a view of the case.
Russia could of course do what she pleased in
her own territories. She could recruit her al-
most exhausted resources to the utmost possible
extent--could procure men, money, ammunition,
and previsions, while France and England, that
were conducting the contest at a distance of 3,000
miles from their chief ports, were to abstain
from sending either troops' or stores ; so that,
if these extraordinary suggestions had been re-
cognised, there would be an unprofitable con-
sumption of articles of primary necessity,
which
there would be no possibility of replacing,
until
some weeks after the termination of the truce.
The navy was, however, virtually excluded, and
the arrangement was only concluded between the
armies of the belligerents. And it was also sti-
pulated that it should not have any effect on the
blockades established,or to be established. We know of no decent excuse for prolonging
It was also asserted that the portion of the the contest further. Every argument has long
point referring to the " rectification of the Rus- been exhausted. The popular determination is
elan territory was questioned, the Russian Pleni- clearly manifest. The very, petitions in
potentiaries declaring that it was framed without favour of the impost this session by the
reference to topographical considerations, that the unknown plates whence they originate, and
chain of mountains referred to in the Austrian the shabby condition of the signatures, as re-
proposition only existed for a very short distance, ported to the House, attest the character of the
and that the line to the sea was altogether ima- I opposition. Ministers ought to take the matter
ginery. That would seem, however, to have been up, to adopt Sir WILLIAM'S Bill, and to give
merely a preliminary protest, showing that the parish repose , thus far to the country. It is
acceptance by Russia was of a qualified character, I really a pity to waste further the time of Parlia-
and that further discussion would be indispens- ; ment ; we have not too much work done in a session,
able before a final settlement of the vexed ques- and why should time be annually wasted on a
tions could be completed, i demand which must as certainly be granted as
The next meeting, that of the 28th ultimo, is those for the great reforms of the last thirty years
described to •fiave been of -a graye,, not- to say -have already been ? We advise Honourable
oolatentious, character. The Times' correspondent .1 Members to be at their post on Wednesday at