The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-15 00:00:00

MR. MACAULAY.

It will probably be in the remembrance of our readers,
that, a few weeks ago, at a large and influential meeting of
the constituency of Edinburgh, it was resolved, that when-
ever another election take place for that city, anti-corn-law
candidates shall be started for its representation, should the
present Members not before then give in their adhesion to
the cause of total and immediate repeal. The resolutions
adopted at this meeting having been transmitted to Mr. Ma-
caulay, as well as the other Member, he has addressed a long
and elaborately-written letter to his constituents by way of
answer. The Hon. Gentleman avows himself an immediate
and entire repealer, and as a consequence intimates his inten-
tion of voting for the coming motion of Mr. Villiers. Ne-
vertheless, his letter in different parts betrays the deepest
mortification that the corn-law repealers of Edinburgh
should have presumed in any way to interfere with the course
which he might deem it proper to adopt on the corn-law
question. Such interference is, by implication, denounded as
an unjustifiable attempt on the part of the constituency to ty-
rannise over and dictate to Members. Mr. Macaulayis mistaken.
Such an interference with Members is perfectly justifiable.
When a majority of the electors of any place, whether borough
or county, have made up their minds that the adoption of a
certain line of conduct, on any great question, is essential to
the well-being of the country, they have a clear, undoubted,
constitutional right to call on their representatives to give
effect to their views. Adopt the opposite opinion, and what
follows? Why, that the terms member and representative,
instead of being, as they are conventionally supposed to be,
synonymous, are, or may become, as opposite in their import
as the words black and white. To apply the term repre-
sentative to a man setting at defiance the wishes of his con-
stituents, is a glaring perversion of language. It is to dis-
regard the obvious and legitimate meaning of words, The
Member who sets up his own views in opposition to those of
his constituents, on any of the great questions of the day,
does, in effect, insultingly tell them, that they elected him to
be his own representative, not theirs. Are the constituencies
of England prepared to submit to this attempt to seal their
lips against all further remonstrances with those Members
who venture to set at nought their well-known views and
wishes ? Are they to be put to silence by the supercilious
sneers or open insolence of those very men who on the
hustings protested that it would be the end and aim
of their legislatives lives, to give effect in Parliament
to the principles which their constituencies entertained I,
If Mr. Macaulay's notions are to be adopted, political elec-
tions will become a mere mockery. There was at least more
consistency, if less virtue, in the old nomination borough
system, when a man, if he purchased a seat, was considered
the representative of his breeches pocket, or if he received
the seat as a gift from some Peer of the realm, considered
himself bound in honour to represent the views and -wishes
of his noble patron. But good is oft en educed from seeming
evil. We anticipate much benefit from that portion of Mr.
Macaulay's letter in which he advocates the right of Mem-
bers to act according to their own views, however much
their notions may clash with the views of their constituents:
The effect will be to make the electoral body more careful
hereafter as to the kind of candidates on whom they bestow
their suffrages. The electors, as regards the future, have
the remedy in their own hands. If persons presenting them-
selves as candidates, refuse to carry out the views of a par-
ticular constituency, let them be summarily ordered about
their business. No terms must be kept with such persons.
If the electors are not to have the right of taking all needful
precautions for the effective representation of their prin-
ciples in Parliament, why, we beg to ,ask, did the Legisla-
ture confer the franchise on them ? With the construction
which Mr. Macaulay thinks proper to put on the duties of
the constituent body, the framers of the Reform Bill, in ex-
tending the franchise, offered a gratuitous insult to the new
constituency which that measure created. If Members are
not prepared to give a practical expression to the principles
of the electoral body who elected them, it is a piece of un-
warrantable impertinence, to solicit the suffrages of such
electors. To prevent all misconception in future, as to the
relative duties of the constituencies 'and the candidates who
ask their votes, let the electors, before giving any candidate
their support, obtain from, him a written pledge that he will
vote in.a particular way on the great questions of the day—
these questions, and. the manner in which Members are ex-
pected to vote on them, being stated in a way which can
leave no room for doubt, evasion, or equivocation. While
Mr. Macaulay intimates his intention of voting in favour
-of Mr. Villiers's motion for the immediate and total re-
peal of the corn-laws,, the sole object of his letter seems to
be to persuade the country that it ought most thankfully
to accept of a fixed duty. This is Whig-like. Whoever
yet knew a Whig that was in his heart, whatever he might
be in profession, in favour of any truly popular mea-
sure ? It is clear, that if Mr. Villiers receive the support of
the Member for Edinburgh, it will be from expediency, not
from principle. It is equally clear, that were Sir ko, bert
Peel to sacrifice his sliding-scale and propose to substitute
for it a moderate fixed duty, Mr.- Macaulay would at once
abandon the cause of immediate and total repeal (to which
he has, with evident reluctance, conditionally given in his
adhesion), and support the Tory Premier. All such time-
serving Members ought to be marked men—persons who are
to be suspected. They are black sheep, who do immeasur-
ably more mischief to a cause than if they had never pro-
fessed to identify themselves with it. Hollow-hearted friends
are always more to be dreaded than open enemies. The letter
of Mr. Macaulay is not only calculated, but is manifestly in-
tended, to do irreparable mischief to the Anti-Corn-law agi-
tation. He labours hard to underrate the influence of the
League. He affirms that its power is exceedingly limited.
We trust that it will join issue with him here, and furnish
such a proof of its influence as even he shall not be able to
resist. Let the League put forth its energies, and convince
Mr. Macaulay of what it is capable of doing, by turning him
out of the ,representation of Edinburgh whenever an election
for that city take place.—Advertiser.

FUNERAL OF MR. NANTZ, OF THE VICTORIA
TIILATRE.—On Monday afternoon the remains of the above-
named gentleman were removed from his residence in Stam-
ftwd-street, to the burial-ground of SL John's, Waterloo-
road. The funeral was a walking one, of gentlemen connected
With the establishment, including Messrs. Osbaldeston,Freer,
Seaman, Hicks, &c.

The town of Redditch has this week been thrown
into a state of great excitement by the disclosure of circum-
stances leading to the suspicion that a female servant in the
house of Mr. J. Warriti, needle-manufacturer, had on Sunday
last clandestinely given birth to a child, which she after-
'Wards deitrOyed by burning it: The wiman is now in cus-
tody, and has undergone an examination by ldr. RoystOrt,
surgeon, which leaves no doubt of her recent delivery and
the appalling rumour has received further confirmation by
Allday, the constable, after a diligent search on the premises,
having , succeeded in discovering the head of an infant
Worcester Herald.

CONSCIENCE MONEY.—The. following letter, with
2/. 10s. enclosed;-was delivered to Mr. Dowsop at his house
in Houghton-lerSpring, on Saturday evening last Sir,—
The enclosed is a restoration for property destroyed in the
garden belonging to the late .Mr. Elliott, by a person then
living near to him. The real value of the property is un-
known, but the enclosed will more than meet it.—Yours
respectfully, GUIAELMUS —To the heir of the late Mr. El-
liott, surgeon, of Houghton-le-Spring.-4th of May, 1844."
—Durham Advertiser.
DUE PROPORTIOXS.—" Jock," said a farmer's wife
to the herd callant--" Jock, come in to your panitch—the
flies are drowning themselves in the milk."—" Nae fears,"
replied Jock, moving very deliberately towards the scene of
action; " Nae fears ; they'll wade through't."—." Od, you
little rascal, do you say you dinna get eneugh o' milk ?'
" Ou ay, plenty for the parritch."
A FEMALE LABOURER,—At the corn mill in course,
of erection by Messrs. Potter, corn merchants, a woman is
now working as a bricksetter's labourer. She was formerly
a drawer in a coal mine, but ja now prevented following that
occupation by the recent statute prohibiting boys' and female
labour in coal mines. The contractors and architect speak
of the very great strength possessed by her as equal to a
man, and the ease with which she carries up a " burn" of
bricks or mortar on her head to the top of the building. The
females residing near have expressed their indignation of the
step by hooting, but she says she must do it or starve.—
Manchester Courier.

THE LASH AT WOOLWICH.—On Monday, before
seven o'clock, another of those disgusting exhibitions took
place at the rear of the Royal Artillery Barracks. The whole
of the" troops were assembled on the parade, to hear the sen-
tence of a garrison court-martial read, which had been held
upon gunner and driver Bell, of the 7th battalion Royal Ar-
tillery, for having sold his regimental necessaries, also steal-
ing other regimental accoutrements belonging to his com-
rades, and also absenting himself without leave from his
quarters for some days, till compelled to return under charge
of an escort—of all which charges he was found guilty, and
sentenced to receive 150 lashes, and then to be drummed out
of the service. Yesterday the culprit was tied to the tri-
angles to receive the punishment awarded him, and the
scene of horror commenced. After the punishment was over,
the culprit was marched off to the Ordnance Hospital ; and
when he is well enough to leave it, he will be drummed oui
of the service.

A woodcock was shot a few dap inc at Reddings,
by John Tuddenham: bye of the, gamekeepers of Sir Jame;
Graham and near the pice three young birds were fgund—a
circluid4llo 4-14Mit without precedence in tliie district.