The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-09 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1858,

Two hundred and twenty-two consistent Libe-
ral; including tellers and pairs, last night sup-
ported the principle of secret voting. Of these
199 were in the House, and the remaining 23,
although absent, still contrived each to remove
an opponent. It certainly was not quite as
satisfactory as if they had attended personally,
but the absence of gentlemen who adopted that
precaution may be excused, and themselves re-
garded as steadfast supporters of the measure
which can alone effectually check bribery and
corruption, and totally abolish every species of
intimidation. A question, that numbers so large
a proportion of the independent Liberal party
among its supporters, should surely command the
respectful attention of any person pretending to
be a leader of that party. Nor could any
Minister who was sot prepared to accede to the
wishes of so numerous and influential a body,
reasonably anticipate that they would join in any
party dispute, for the purpose either of retaining
•
or reinstating him in office.
True, however, to their aristocratic instincts,
Lord PALMERSTON, Lord J. RUSSELL, and Sir G. C.
lawn delivered speeches strongly opposing the mo-
tion. It is thus manifest that, should they regain thei r
places, there will not be the slightest prospect of
" the Ballot " being included in any quasi Reform
Bill which either of them may be compelled to
bring forward ; and without the Ballot, all else
will be of but little practical utility. They may
give some carefully concocted scheme, calculated
to promote Whig interests, but nothing that will
benefit the great body of the People—nothing
that will ensure an independent Parliament, or
the adoption of really good measures. Surely,
then, no sound reformer can render party sup-
port to these men. From the present Govern-
ment much may be hoped. From their prede-
cessors, if restored to office, with an infusion of
Russellism, nothing—literally nothing.
Mr. HENRY BERILELEY, as usual, put the sub-
ject in a clear light. He cited, with his usual
felicity, many instances proving its necessity ;
nor were his arguments the less sound and forcible
because, divesting himself of the solemn pom-
posity which some men seem to consider indis-
pensable, he contrived to keep the House in good
humour, and to amuse, while he instructed, the
Members on both sides. Surely, such a speech
is far better than a dreary and prosaic oration,
which clears the benches, and acts as a soporific
on those who feel bound to remain within hear-
ing. He was ably sustained by Mr. MARTIN, Sir
A. ELTON, General THOMASON, Mr. &TILTON, and
Mr. BRIGHT. The latter gentleman made one of
his happiest efforts. Indeed, it must have
carried with it conviction to any unprejudiced
and disinterested person. He was perfectly right
in arguing the question on domestic grounds ; for
in no part of the world—even in Australia or
America, where it is in operation—do the condi-
tions of society so urgently require protection for
the poor voter, not only from those who would
seek to coerce him, but even from himself. The
landlord and the priest were too frequently op•
posed, and in that case the unfortunate elector
was placed in a truly unfortunate position. He
had a soul to be saved, and a body to be starved.
He trembled between the conflicting influences,
certain that in either case he must suffer severely.
How bitterly must he deplore the possession of
the franchise, that involves him in such a disagree-
able dilemma ! The shopkeeper in a country
town is scarcely better off. He may
have customers blue and buff, all of
whom he would desire to propitiate ; whatever
course he adopts, some will be offended, and
purchase their goods from persons whose politi-
cal views are more in accordance with their
own. The wholesale trader, by whom he is
supplied, may also interfere, and, if displeased,
can find sundry means of putting on the screw.
The clerk or artisan was in a similar position.
His employer thought that for a scanty salary,
he acquired not only a right to his labour and
services, but also to control the conscience of the
elector, who should vote as he thought proper,
or resign a situation for which he was in every
way qualified, and by which he provided for his
family. Surely, anything calculated to arrest
or even mitigate such evils should be eagerly
adopted, and if a suitable remedy ware not dis-
covered, one should be earnestly sought for.
Lord PALMERSTON spoke in his usual contemp-
tuous manner of the supporters of the measure, as
if they must, as Mr. BRIGHT said, "b© dolts or
idiots," for daring to differ from himself, and yct
it is but a short time since he felt aggrieved
because those 222 independent gentlemen wouh

not join in a factious proceeding for the
purpose of rendering him an irresponsible
cule on the subject, subje
dictator. o
t,endeavouredbut
it to tr e
coihow l
erdagariindsit
himself, and the result of his speech of last night
will be, that he may exclaim—
"A long
farewell to all my greatness."
It is absurd to say that there should be a
cessation of political
discussion, or of per-
SODS proclaiming their principles. Men may
speak and act precisely as they do at present.
They are Lot punished for thinkingospeiankitnigie,
but for voting. That is the grievance
eyes of the intimidator, whatever nuo, be the
nature of the screw which he applies. Any man
that thinks proper to proclaim his opinions may
do so, provided only his vote be privately given.
As to the notion that the franchise is a public
trust, and must therefore be exercised publicly,
it is too ridiculous to require serious argument.

Under Lord DERBY'S Government the Church-
rate Abolition Bill has gone vp to the Lords.
Dissenters—we should rather say, all hearty
Liberals—will rejoice in this fact. It is true, the
present Premier, with his predilections for old
Church ways, may not be very favourable to
entire and uncompensated abolition ; but neither
was Lord PALMERSTON ; and Liberals will remem-
ber, too, that if many of the present Ministry
voted against the measure, so did many of the
late One.
•
We have not, however, this time been
3lited and joked , we have not had amend-