The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-03 00:00:00

sures, by all sorts of insinuations, by all sorts of
trifling with the'time and patience of Parliament

and the people, they seek to tire out the promoters of

this moderate measure, and so to get rid of it alto-

gether. I say that, after successive Governments
have pledged themselves to Reform, after the
people have been allowed year after year to look
for a measure of Reform, it is something like a
fraud on the people to attempt thus to set aside en-
gagements so often and so solemnly made, and to
escape the fulfilment of promises by all sorts of
delays and equivocations. If they believe that this
little measure would subvert the institutions of the
country, then they are bound in manlihess and
honesty to come forward, put their sentiments in
the form of a decided negative, and move the entire
rejection of the bill ; but if, on the other hand,
they do not believe that the bill would have this
effect, they are bound to consider it, and in com-
mittee to adopt such amendment as may make the
measure more in harmony with their views. But
their idea is to put off the bill, and to wear out its
founders, in the hope that the question will be
altogether lost sight of. This has been the fatal
error of politicians who have obstructed Reform in
every age: You know perfectly well that this has
been their mistake in regard to the measures which
have come before us in our time. You know also
that in the time of our fathers the same mistake
was made in regard to the American war. By re-
sistance to proper appeals, by forcing upon the
Americans measures whish were hateful to them,
they precipitated the collision which cost us a
fearful war, and led to the loss of important terri-
tory. I was reading only the other day that
within two years of the war of independence,
WASHINGTON declared that not one thinking
man in all North America desired a
separation from the mother country ; yet so
blind and infatuated were our rulers that
they excited a feeling of discontent, and within
twelve months of the time when Washington made
this peaceful and moderate declaration, he was ap-
pointed. commander-in-chief of the insurgent forces,
and the triumphant people of North America de-
clared that their States were henceforth " a free
sovereign, and independent republic."
In such sentiments every reasonable man must
concur ; and for obstruetives they ought to have
the moreweight am the consequences of resistance
to Catholic Emancipation, the first Reform Bill,
and the Repeal of the Corn-laws ; in all of which
cases much less concession, if made earlier, would
have satisfied the claimants.
At this meeting the Lords' Committee to inquire
into the condition, habits, and so forth, of the work-
ing-man was denounced as an impertinence : it was
thought that a committee to inquire into the taxa-
tion of the working-man, and into the habits and
practices of their lordships, would have been much
more appropriate. A working-man, Mr. C. J.
BUNTING, denied that there was any danger of
political combination among working men. There
was, he said, just as much difference of opinion
among them as among other classes, and they were
not to be moved in their opinions by Trades' Unions.
Adverting to their being objected to as liable to in-
timidation and to corruption, he asked " would any
one propose to keep back a man's wages because
some pickpocket might rob him. Give working-
men," he added, " the franchise, and the ballot
would be their remedy to prevent intimidation!,
He did not, as a working man, feel particularly
anxious about the passing of the bill, for he was
, certain that " if the feelings of the country were
longer trifled with a much larger measure would
be demanded. Still he was for accepting the bill,
and if the result did not show that the working
classes were worthy of the franchise, he for one
would never open his mouth more on the subject."
Another working man thought that the proposed
extension of suffrage was worth contending for;
and another denounced in the strongest terms the
language of Lord ROBERT MONTAGU and Lord
ROBERT CECIL, in regard to working men, as
" grossly insulting. The working class, if they
got power, would use it properly."
It may be well worth while for the obstructives,
who seem bent on delaying and on getting
rid of the bill by underhand tactics, to note these
things. The country sees through their policy,
which, indeed, is transparent enough—and it is both
despised and resented. Let this bill be evaded or
refused, and they may be assured that they will soon
have another to deal with of far more formidable
dimensions.

Whatever may be the fate reserved for the
question of the second reading of the Reform Bill
this evening in the House of Commons—the Ag-
gravated Assault Act Amendment Bill of Lord
RAYNHAM was carried through its second reading
yesterday by a majority of 24 in a house of 199
(including Speaker and Tellers)-85 being against
and 109 for the reconsideration of the measure in
due course in Committee. The difference of opinion
expressed by the twelve members who yesterday
afternoon took part in the discussion was some-
thing remarkable in its way, if regarded merely
superficially. Everyone, as a matter of course, in
his heart's core, felt profoundly the need there is
to guard, as tenderly and effectually as it is at all
possible that the law can guard them, those unfor-
tunate victims, the wives or mistresses of the more
brutalised class of the bully-ruffians of the popula-
tion. As Mr. HENLEY very judiciously intimated,
however, it is requisite, first of all—before we pro-
ceed to more stringent legislative interference in the
matter of these domestic brutalities—it is quite
clearly and obviously requisite that it should be
shown, by returns, that there has been an INCREASE
in the number of aggravated cases, since the law
had been rendered more rigorous in regard to this
particular offence in the distribution of punish-
ment. Besides which, it would be well to consider
likewise, as the right bon. gentleman added, that
if anything additional is to be done the case ought,
in such instance, to be sent on at once to a jury.
Instead of which the noble lord, the promoter of
this measure of most mistaken humanity,
endeavours thereby to empower magistrates
to authorise the summary infliction upon
adult males of the galling lash and of all the igno-
minies of corporal punishment. Against any such
precipitate extension of authority to the magis-
trates Mr. CLIVE objected yesterday afternoon
strongly and energetically, moving in fact the
amendment upon which the house eventually di-
vided—the customaryandproforma amendment that
the second reading of the bill should be postponed
six months, or, in other words, that it should be
forth with thrown overboard. Although the objec-
tions of Mr. CLIVE were sympathised in and sup-
ported by Mr. HENLEY and Mr. SOTIIERON EST-
COURT, by Mr. WALTER, and even by Sir GEORGE
LEWIS, her MAJESTY'S Home Secretary : although
as many as 85 went into the lobby in support of Mr.
CLINE'S amendment, it will have been seen how
by a clear majority of twenty-four that amend-
ent was negatived, the bill being thereupon read
a second time, and thus secured for the next
stage o► legislative gestation, that of detailed
scrutiny in Committee. Gladly, of course, eagerly,
and with peculiar solicitude, would we support any
amendment act that promised to strengthen the
`arm of justice in dealing out punishment judiciously