The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-03 00:00:00

amendment of Mr. HADFIELD, to include Shef-
field among the places which had a third member,
and deprecated the notion of Mr. ROEBUCK that
he had supported the Government through fear.
He had hoped that he was under the influence of a
more tender sentiment. The right hon. gentleman
took this opportunity of acknowledging the course
pursued by the hon. member for Sheffield during
this session, and declared that the Government had
been very sensible of " the honourable, disinterested,
and spirited support which very often, during this
great struggle, they have obtained from him, and
coming from one who has gained so much of public
respect, and who speaks in this house with such
authority, they have duly appreciated." This tri-
bute to Mr. ROEBUCK was well timed, for the hon.
member has displayed great courage in the
part he has played, which makes us the more
regret that any contretemps should have arisen.
However, it may fairly be presumed that when this
irritating point is settled he will continue his valu-
able support, and thus perfect the work already so
ably performed. Mr. LAING'S remarks were very
sensible. He said that he felt rather in an awkward
position, since he had himself originally anticipated
the addition of Sheffield and Bristol, but then he
had accepted, in the " spirit of conciliation," the
concession of Government in the matter. The hon.
member very truly said that the Government ought
not to be taunted, as they had a very difficult part
to play in carrying through this Bill without a de-
cided party majority in the House.
As for Sheffield, he wisely remarked that it
would be unsuitable, under existing circumstances,
to proceed with this proposal ; peculiar circum-
stances hrid lately transpired with respect to that
town, and we entirely agree with the hon. mem-
ber for Wick that although it must not be sup-
posed that the majority of the constituencies are
tainted with the spirit that has occasioned these
dreadful outrages, yet it is not advisable to
choose this time to confer a particular
benefit upon a town while a spirit of this
kind had gained ground. Mr. GLADSTONE
again appeared as the champion of the rowdy
cause, and seemed determined to say the utmost he
could to defend the amendment. It seems difficult
to understand how the right hon. gentleman could
have worked himself up to believe in the justice and
truth of the cause he advocated with so much fer-
vour. One might almost be excused in fancying
that he thought the deplorable circumstances that
have been revealed in Sheffield were an
additional claim for increased representation.
Here again, however, the good sense of the
committee rescued the House from the error into
which mistaken individuals would have led it ; and
while we can sympathise With the members of
Sheffield in their disappointment, the case is so
strongly against them that, after the first annoyance
is passed, very likely they may see the advisability
of postponing the matter until another opportunity
arises. The proposition to include Bristol in the
additional representation was also defeated by a
large majority, but not quite so considerable as
that which decided against the claim of Sheffield.
This was as well, because though the same objections
do not apply to that place it is not desirable to take
so many in this arrangement of their members.
After the confusion worse confounded that has
been made by some, who ought to expedite the pro-
gress of the bill instead of retarding it as much as
possilole, it is really quite refreshing to peruse the
remarks of Mr. AYRTON, who spoke out boldly to
the purpose, and denounced the course pur-
sued by the Liberal side of the House. 11
Mr.
was making endless objections to the proposal of
the Government about distributing the four seats
lately given by the llouse, and Mr. GLADSTONE
seemed inclined to insist upon beginning the whole
discussion over again unless a far greater compro-
mise was given. Whereupon Mr. AYRTON said that
it would soon be necessary to ask if this bill was to
be passed this session or not, and that if anything
impeded its success the country would hold the op-
position side responsible for the failure. The hon.
member for the Tower Hamlets deserves the thanks of
the House and of the country also for the bold and
spirited manner in which he came forward to speak
the truth, which is very often the most difficult thing
to do. The time for these senseless discussions has
gone by, and let the committee unanimously resolve
to have done with them and proceed to the main
question. The last week or so has been most
vexatious and wearisome, and the country
will not readily forgive those who are put-
ting these impediments in the way of progress. It
is quite necessary that a now leaf should be turned
over, and that nothing of a factious character
should be allowed to occupy tho time of the com-
mittee. We should think that the most ardent
admirer of long discussions had had nearly enough
of them by this time, and that there can hardly
be a second opinion in the House as to the
importance of settling the question of Reform
this session, as speedily and as satisfactorily as
possible.

The difficulties of administration in the Southern
States appear to be increasing rather than diminish-
ing, and the military commanders find themselves
placed in unexpected perplexity by the recent de-
cision of the Attorney-General. Mr. STANBERRY,
it will be remembered, declared that they had ex-
ceeded the powers conferred on them by the Recon-
struction Act, and this decision has mot with the
approval of the majority of the Cabinet, including,
as might be supposed, the PRESIDENT himself. Mr.
STANTON, indeed, dissented from his colleagues on
the principal points, and it is even said, he is
going to resign ; • but we have been told this
very often before upon former occasions of disagree-
ment with the President, and yet the Secretary has
never made up his mind to abandon the pains and
pleasures of office. The military commanders,
however, seeui inclined actively to resent Mr.
STANBERRY'S decision, one of them, Gen. SICKLES,
having already resigned his command, and de-
manded a court of inquiry into his official acts.
General SHERIDAN, however, is troubled by no such
scruples. Ho has removed several petty officials in
Texas, and even contemplates, it is said, removing
Governor THROCKMORTON. The Attorney-Gene-
rad decision has, as might have been expected,
produced some agitation in Radical circles. Mr.
SCHENCK, chairman of the Congress Republican
Committee, has addressed the 'louse, urging the
members to be present at Washington on the 3d
July (this day) to form a quorum, in consequence
of Mr. STANBERRY'S decision. Various indications
of popular feeling are recorded from different parts
of the country. The Connecticut and New Hamp-
shire Legislatures had tendered the hospitalities of
their States to the PRESIDENT, who was about to
visit Boston, and this is a token of good-will not to
havebeen relied upon from the New England States.
The Vermont Democratic Convention, too, has
passed a resolution condemning the present heavy
taxation and the military government of the South.
If the shrewd heads of New England begin to as-
sociate the two, there is no hope for the South yet.
On the other hand, Radicalism is still active.
The lowa Republican Convention demands the
punishment of Mr. DAVIS, and the immediate re-
assembling of Congress. The Ohio Convention
%has passed resolutions endorsing the Congressional