The Sun.
London, England, 1832-06-25 00:00:00

ebr Anit,
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S' • 4, . `IV

LONDON,
MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 25, 1832.

Every man, who under the Reform Bill
enjoys elective franchise, and who shall give his
vote in favour of any candidate, without first
obtaining solemn pledges that he will support all
the leading measures Reform was intended to
attain, will be guilty of a gross dereliction of
duty to himself, his country, and posterity. The
Reform Bill is but « a means to an end," and
the people having, by great exertions, acquired
the means, must not relax in their exertions till
the end shall be accomplished.
The abolition of pensions—a reduction of
the public expenditure—a reduction of taxa-
tion—a revision of the corn laws, (which
operate as a grievous tax on the community
at large, for the benefit of a few, while the
benefit they derive is not equal to a fourth part
of the evil occasioned)—the destruction of
monopoly in all its Proteus-like and hateful
forms, are (never forgetting tithes and the
Church), among the many objects to which the
public attention is directed, and on which they
must admit of no reserve, no c, wavering" in
the pledges given by those they return as their
representatives. But the subject on which, as
paramount to all others, a pledge should 'be re-
quired in clear and express terms, is, that the
candidate, if elected, shall support an immediate
return to the ancient constitutional practice of
TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS.

The Septennial Act was, and is, a daring
usurpation,—a disfranchisement of the people
for four years out of seven—a gross violation of
one of the first principles of English represen-
tation, and Reform is only half accomplished,
while that Act remains unrepealed upon the
statute-book. Previous to the passing of the
Septennial Act, the people of England enjoyed
the right of frequent new Parliaments, both by
usage and by declaratory enactment. Till the
reign of HENRY the Eighth, Parliaments were
generally annual, but never continued longer
than three years, and their longer duration has
always been fraught with evil to the Crown or
the people, or more properly to both, for the
real and permanent interests of the Crown and
the people can never be severed. The interest
of courtiers, indeed (the most worthless of the
community in all ages and all states), is very dis-
tinct from both ; they have ever been, and will
always be, ready to sacrifice the best interests of
their Sovereign and their country, to their own.
The Long Parliament, under CHARLES the
First, led to the tragical end of that Monarch ;
the Long Parliament, which deservedly acquired
the appellation ofthe "Pension Parliament," under
CHARLES the Second, led to the expulsion of
his successor ; the Septennial Act, operating
with other corruptions in the representation, ied
to the present load of debt and taxes, and the
manifold abuses of Tory Governments.
Sir JOIIN ST. AUBYN, who once seconded
a motion for the repeal of the Septennial Act,
and a return to triennial Parliaments, truly said,
" Human nature is so very corrupt, that all
obligations lose their force, unless they are fre'
quently renewed. Long Parliaments become,
therefore, independent of the people ; and when
they do so, there always happens a most dange'
rous dependence elsewhere." JUNIUS says, ill
the dedication of his letters,—

" TO THE ENGLISH NATION.
" With regard to the influence of the constituent n'ref,
the conduct of the representative, there is little diffeienfe-
i)etween a seat in Pailiament for seven years and a seat i°dr
life. The prospect of your resentment is too remote ; 87.),
110110 the last session of a Septennial Parliament