The Sun.
London, England, 1859-04-09 00:00:00

MONTROSE BURGHS.

Mr. Baxter has addressed his constituents, and
is visiting the burghs. He is not likely to b•
opposed.

PERTH.
The Hon. Arthur Kinnaird has issued an address
offering himself for re-election.

BELFAST.
Sir H. M. Cairns, her Majesty's Solicitor-General,
has issued an address to the electors of Belfast, con-
taining an elaborate defence of the policy of Lord
Derby's Government. After reminding them that
it is somewhat, more than a year since, on the occa-
sion of his taking office under the Crown, that they
renewed to him the high trust of representing them
in Parliament, he proceeds as follows :
" I may be allowed to glance back at the course of public
affairs during the interval which has since elapsed. There
has seldom been a period during which so many questions
affecting the psace of Europe and our own friendly relations
with foreign Powers have presented themselves for solution.
In the solution of these questions the national honour has
been maintained ,• the inestimable blessing of peace has been
preserved ; and this country, by the firm and conciliatory
course adopted, occupies at this moment the place of me-
diator between those great European Powers where mis-
understanding has arisen. The Home Government of India
has been placed upon a new, and I hope a wise and perma-
nent basis. The great Indian rebellion has, under God'a
blessing, been extinguished. Means have been taken to
promote the internal improvement of India, and to disen-
tangle and amend her intricate system of finance. The de-
fences of the country have been completed ; the efficiency
of our army and navy has been increased ; and yet, not
only has there been no sensible addition to public burdens,
but those reductions in taxation which the public were led
to expect have taken place. Measures of social improvement
and progress of the greatest importance, and affectin every
part of the kingdom, have been introduced and
vecarried. Law
reforms, long desired and long negleetedbahttn by been
f
eronethnets pro-
posed,foafctntehinratMtliao-
and have been accepted with app
wiofthi°avnerijilindviTitt.agheavtoe
all parties. The testimony of the op-fpoo-
jesty's Ministers may be appealed to _ _ e
been
43
conducted
naddumetiedniswitrathtivaen
the law has been
hate shown
former period. In Ireland administered
the public service which will bear comparison with any
to our native country
with firmness and impartiality; and the public measures
deenpeargrtymeanntds
that the development of her resources is to be looked upon
proposed with regard
as an Imperial question, and judged of in no narrow or
niggardly spirit. Gentlemen, refer to these matters, not
in any spirit of boasting, but because of their bearing on
the subject now before you. Her Majesty's Government,
in order to meet expectations which had often been raised
and often disappointed, introduced into the House of Com-
mons a Bill to amend the present law of Parliamentary
representation. On the details of a bill on so great a sub-
ject there would naturally arise much difference of opinion,
and many alterations of those details might fairly be looked
for in the passage of the bill through the house. It was
open to the opponents of the Government either to propose
specific alterations in those details, or to urge the rejection
of the bill altogether. The course, however, which was
taken was, if not irregular, almost unprecedented. A small
combination of statesmen, avowing their desire to con-
demn both the bill and the Government, proposed and
Carried a resolution framed in a manner so vague and
ingenious as to obtain the votes of many members
who—differing from the proposers of the resolution—desired
to promote the bill and to maintain the Government. I ven-
ture to think that the course thus taken was an unpatriotic
course—that it tends to bring Parliamentary warfare into
discredit—and that it will not be atproved by the country.
The result, however, of this vote renders it impossible that
the Government of the country can be carried on without
an appeal to the constituencies, made by means of a disso-
lution of Parliament. The question on that appeal is
narrow one, as to the particular provisions of a Reform Bill
It 11
It is the much greater question whether a Govern
public
pub
earnestly and successfully endeavouring
to
conduct
*t the
affairs with advantage, is to be supported agai •ni
that agreement
fac-
tious movements of those who are Without
another
and union which would enable them to form
Go-
vernment in its place."
The hon. hon. and learned gentleman concludes by
Belfast for the courtesy. t
have extended to him, and so hey
ing the electors of re-elect op
their hands.