The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-09 00:00:00

WEDNESDAY. MARCH 9, 1859.

Another—let us hope the last—postponement of
the long-wished-for reform with a view to the total
and permanent abolition of tolls upon our metro-
politan bridges, as well as upon the turnpike roads
within a radius of six miles from Charing-cross !
On Tuesday, the 22d ult., according to announce-
ment, Mr. ALCOCK moved than an humble address
be presented to her MAJESTY, praying her MAJESTY
to direct further instructions to this effect to the
Royal Commissioners now sitting for the investi-
gation of the problematic question of the Turnpike
Tolls of the Metropolis. The motion, seconded by
the hon. member for Boston, was subsequently
withdrawn, in Obedience to the suggestion of the
then Mr. Secretary WALPOLE, who deprecated as
untimely any such enforcement of this sufficiently
obvious reform upon the attention of the Royal
Commissioners. At the same time the Rome
Secretary acknowledged plainly, in so many words,
that, " for his own part, he was perfectly alive to
the inconvenience which, in more than one instance,
resulted to the inhabitants of the metropolis from
the maintenance of the tolls to which the hon.
gentleman's motion related ;" adding, that "he
should be very glad to find that some reasonable
remedy for that inconvenience could be provided."
Mr. WALPOLE'S chief argument was, that a com-
pliance with the suggestion of Mr. ALCOCK might
possibly, would probably, necessitate a delay in
the completion of the report preparing by the
Royal Commissioners. "Let us wait," Mr.WALPOLE
observed, "until we have seen that report to ascer-
tain whether the abolition of bridge tolls, and tolls
on the turnpike roads, as proposed, would or would
not be practicable." There would be great difficulty,
the Home Secretary reminded ns—nf course there
would—in procuring the funds which would be re-
quired to be raised in order that the suggested aboli-
tion of tolls should be effected. Not a moment's
doubt of this. But surely, important and con-
siderable though that difficulty might be, it cannot
in reason be regarded as in any way insuperable—
if only by reason of this paramount consideration.
Firstly—the universal application to all classes and
individuals, without distinction, of the advantage
inevitably resulting from such an abolition.
Secondly—the wealth of the great capital it is cal-
culated to benefit so instantaneously and perm.
nently. The powerful argument advanced in
deprecation of the motion, and the urgency with

which it was addressed to Mr. ALCOCK by the
late Home Secretary, left the former gentleman no
alternative. The motion was withdrawn. The
Commissioners of Turnpike Tolls are not to have
their attention distracted for a moment from the
preparation of their report until the completion
of their now pending "...investigation. So soon,
however, as that report shall have been submitted
to the consideration of Parliament, we do earnestly
trust that the project advocated by the motion
withdrawn on Tuesday, may be at length pushed
home upon the attention of the Government. It
has been evaded already by too easy and too tanta-
lizing postponements.
The abolition of the tolls upon the metropolitan
bridges and upon the turnpike roads, north, south,
east, and west, within a radius of six miles from
Charing-cross, we have long regarded as the first
requisite among all our great metropolitan improve-
ments. It is to the scheme of these improvements
what the Ballot is to the complex problem of the
Reforms of Parliament. Having opened up, for
once and for all, free of tolls, the turnpike roads of
the capital to a distance of six miles in all direc-
tions from the Nelson Monument—having broken
down entirely the barriers hitherto obstructing the
traffic to and fro across Waterloo-bridge, across
Southwark-bridge, and across the old and the new
bridge at Battersea—then, but hardly till then, let
us set earnestly about the realization of all the
other grand metropolitan improvements. Once rid
of these tolls, we may prepare in earnest for all the
N
other innovations A New National Gallery,
devoted exclusively to the purposes of a National
Gallery. A new pair of fountains in front of it
worthy of the name of fountains. A clear sweep
of the block of houses filling up the space between
St. Clement Danes and St. Mary-le-Strand. A
clear sweep, also, of Middle Row, Holborn. A
Palace of Juctice in the midst of the law courts,
with a flying bridge across Fleet-street connecting
the new building with the Temple. A central
railway terminus connecting all the trunk lines
together, either upon the site of the old Fleet
Prison, or in the neighbourhood of Lincoln's-inn-
Fields. A magnificent collection of Government
offices, affording a fitting home to the different
departments of the Administration. An effectual
scheme for the purification of the River Thames,
accompanied by a rational and comprehensive sys-
tem of metropolitan drainage, such as may hence-
forth secure the rational application of our present
wasted, and, indeed, worse than wasted, treasures
of alkalies and anunonias to the wondrous and
beneficent purposes of agriculture. These and
other projects tempt the energies of our national
eedileship. But first of all—to begin with—let us,
in the name of common sense, clear away these
obstructive toll-bars upon our metropolitan bridges,
and upon all turnpike roads to a distance of six
miles from the great central point of London and
Westminster.

We have always hitherto cordially supported
Mr. BERKELEY in all his efforts on behalf of the
Ballot. We are very old advocates of the measure,
while he has been successor to Mr. GROTE on the
question, and we have had, on the whole, no reason
to differ with him in regard to his practical opera-
tions. We have wished, indeed, sometimes that he
had confined himself less to humour, that he showed
whatever earnestness he felt in the cause, and did
not give even the slightest occasion to opponents
to suggest that he looked upon it rather as a capi-
tal affair for a joke than as serious business. The
justification is indeed obvious enough. Opponents
furnish no arguments worth replying to. They
deserve to be answered according to their folly ;
and, with Mr. BERKELEY'S powers for awarding
them their deserts, it is natural he should be in-
clined to give it. We are, however, a grave busi-
ness-like people, and no measure can be carried
with us by the light artillery of fun and joke. Con-

fessedly, the Ballot has now arrived at its business
stage. Two hundred and thirty-eight Liberal
members are pledged to it ; every public meeting,
every assembly of Reformers, great or small, puts
the Ballot in its programme. We believe that

even Lord JOHN himself is ready to own that its
adoption,is but a question of time, and at no dis-
tant time ; and the offer to the nation of a Reform
Bill, of which it forms no part, while the speech of
the introducer of the bill did not even advert to it,
has rendered the moment critical.

It is now the part of Mr. BERKELEY and his
supporters to render the position of anti-Ballotmen
—and of Liberal waverers especially—as untenable
as possible. It must be made unpleasant for them
to vote wrong. A harassing fire, such as Mr.
MILNER. GIBSON kept up on the Advertisement
Duties and the Newspaper Stamp, is the course for

success. Awkward questions must be put to
Ministers, pseudo-Liberals must be placed in false
positions, no rest must be givn to the sticklers for
open voting, if opportunities occur which may faci-

litate an exposure of the weakness of their cause
In a word, the Ballot movement must now be per-
tinaciously worked in the house ; and if honourable
members think it a bore they must be apprised
that they will be bored with it yet more, till they
get rid of it by sending it to the Lords, and thus in
no long time to her MAJESTY. Above all must
nothing, nothing whatever, be conceded to the con-
venience of Whig cliques. We know pretty well

the mind of the elect few who form the House of
Commons body-guard of Lord JOHN RUSSELL and
Lord PALMERSTON respectively ; and well do we
know that with uplifted eyes and hands they will
beseech Mr. BERKELEY not to embarrass them just
now. "Do but just let us whip these Tory place-
holders out, and let us get in, and we will honour-
ably arrange about the Ballot afterwards." But
Mr. BERKELEY must be stern. He has the most
important clause of any Reform Bill in charge.
The country has not assigned him his present poli•
tical status Merely to smooth things for the old
Whigs or the young ones either ; the country asks
him to make things as uncomfortable for them as
possible, till they choose to hearken to the country.

With these views we confess we were not a little
annoyed to see Mr. BERKELEY give notice last
a motion on the Ballot for the wrong
time. The motion was good enough—g, That, in
the opinion of this House, no extension of the
suffrage will be deemed acceptable to the people,
as a complete meature of reform, unless it be ac-
companied by vote by balk ~
t.
But
bir. BERKELEY
proposes to make this motion on the House goino•
into committee on the bill. What the country,
however, wants is, that every member, in the event
of a dissolution, should have been required to
register himself either for or against the 13allot
in reference to a second Reform Bill. The country
has a right to ask this ; and it is the part of a
leader, on any question in the House of commons,
to see that the country secures its wishes. Should
the amendments which it is said Lord JOIIN
RUSSELL will propose, be carried, and should the
Ministry resign on them, Lord JOHN will gain the
immense advantage of appealing to the country on
an issue of which the Ballot forms no part ! Tho
samse would be the result should a motion for "the
bill to be read a second time that day six months"
be carried. It might not be so easy to get in, now,
a ballot motion prior to the motion for the second
reading of the bill, but if this cannot be done, the