The Sun.
London, England, 1844-11-01 00:00:00

[RCULAZION, at ONE CHARGE.

the matter the subject of a disse"rtZtion, in which it
ingeniously contrives to insultjohe Premier, the Duke
of Buckingham and Chandos7ffie Earl of Powis, and
Lord Ashley. The Premier, it says, prostitutes the
highest honours of the Crown, to corrupt the three
noblemen named; the noblemen being bribed by these
honours to desert the causes of the parties who had com-
mitted theme selves to their guidance and protection.
This is the plain meaning of the dissertation to which
we refer, and to sit down to gravely answer such a
charge would be to descend almost to the level
of those who make it. What is the truth of the
case ? Out of office and in office the present
Premier has for many years had the zealous and
most valuable support of the three distinguished no-
blemen associated with him in the calumny referred
to, and each of these noblemen is, party claims
aside, confessed to be entitled to the highest ho-
nours the Sovereign can bestow; but each has,
upon one or other question, thought differently
from Sir Robert Peel, and opposed him, it is
n A denied, with vigour and sincerity, upon
that question on which each differed from
him. the Prime Minister, supported by the Par-
liament, prevailed against each, but without any
compromise on the part of him who was defeated.
We may think the Prime Minister and his Parlia-
mentary majorities in the wrong—and in the case of
the factory Bill we do think them decidedly wrong
—but they who think least favourably of the de-
cisions of Parliament upon the modifications of the
corn-laws and the tariff, the suppression of the
Welsh bishopric, and the Factory Bill, must surely
owe an obligation to the noblemen by whom these
decisions were ingenuously, though unsuccessfully
opposed. How, then, does the case stand ? Sir
Robert Peel finds among his most zealous, most
valuable, and his most honoured general sup-
porters, three noblemen who prove the honesty
of their general support, and, if possible, en-
hance its value, by opposing him as independent
members of the Legislature, but not as mem-
bers of a faction, upon questions on which they
differ. How are they to act? Is Sir Robert Peel
to withhold from these noblemen the honours to
which they have a fair claim, and which, but for
the isolated differences spoken of, he would be ex-
pected to offer to them ; or are they, on the other
hand, to reject the proffered honours, because coming
from a Minister with whom they had each of them
once differed ? Would not such conduct on the
part of a Minister, justly expose him to the charge
of treating his supporters as slaves? Would not
such conduct on the part of the three noble-
men prove a factious resolution to enslave the
Minister ? Such is not the relation subsisting be-
tween Sir Robert Peel and his supporters ; they
are cordially united in maintaining the same sound
principles of government, but at the same time they
are reciprocally independent. There is, we are
aware, some novelty in this state of political
relation ; but, though perhaps new, it is that which
best suits the candid genius of our people and
the free spirit of the British constitution. The
Duke of Buckingham and Chandos received
the Order of the Garter from Sir Robert Peel's
Government, as his father had received the same
order from Lord Liverpool's Government, and his
grandfather received it from the Government of Mr.
Pitt. We cannot go back to count all the garters
in the Noble Duke's illustrious lineage, but putting
one one side his Grace's royal ancestors, we do
not hesitate to say that from John Chandos down-
ward, not one of their race ever presented higher
personal claims to the favour of a Sovereign and to
the gratitude of a patriotic Minister than its present
representative. The Duke differed from the Premier
upon a particular question, and thus differing, he
felt it to be due to himself, to his colleagues
who out-numbered him, and to his Sovereign,
to resign the high office (the second or third,
we believe, in dignity) which he held in the
Cabinet; not resigning, however, in hostility or
anger, but upon the plain and just ground that he
would not be responsible for a measure or measures of
which he disapproved, or exhibit to the country the
fatal phenomenon of a Government divided upon any
great question. Having disencumbered .himself of
office, the Duke gallantly fought the battle of his
own opinions, and was beaten. Was he, therefore, to
go into opposition, and to enrol himself in a party
with which he had a hundred living differences,
in hostility to a Ministry with which he had
had one difference, but that dead and buried ? Yet,
without his Grace going into opposition, Sir Robert
Peel could scarcely withhold from him the Garter,
and he, without declaring a perpetual war, could
as little refuse it. The case of the Earl of Powis
differs from the Duke of Buckingham in this
that the Noble Earl had no office to surrender ; but,
in other respects, it is nearly alike. The Premier
does not proscribe the Earl of Powis because
of a single difference ; the Noble Earl does not
feel that, by such a difference, he is " fore-doomed
to wage perpetual war " against the Queen's
government. But we now come to the most
honoured and beloved nobleman in the United
Kingdom, and the public man in the wide exteut
of that kingdom most worthy of honour and love.
This description would at once point out Lord
Ashley, even had we not mentioned him as involved
in the slander that has challenged these remarks.
Lord Ashley refused office, that he might be free to
assert the claims of the factory labourers. He did
assert those claims, with what ability and zeal the
country knows ; and the country also knows how
near he was to a complete victory. That he failed
of that victory was surely no fault of his, but couli
suspicion light upon the sincerity of such a man,
what is there to support it ? Lord Ashley has
received no Garter—no office—no favour of any
kind. He refused office, as we have said, and still
refuses office, though it would be as gratifying per-
sonally to the Sovereign as it would be to the
country to see his Lordship in the highest
station, and the bearer of the proudest ho-
nours. Is it not like the very wantonness
of spiteful impertinence to affect to sneer at such a
man as Lord Ashley ? We are rejoiced, however,
that the offence has been committed, because Lord
Ashley can easily bear such an attack, and the attack
upon that nobleman brings out in the boldest possible
relief the malice and the meanness of the writer with
whom we have to deal.

THE SPANISH REFORM BILL.
CHAPTER 1.-OF SPANIARDS.

Art. 1. Are Spaniards—all persons born within the
Spanish dominions ; children of either Spanish father
or mother, if even born out of Spain ; foreigners who
shall have obtained letters of naturalisation, or who
have obtained rights of citizenship, or shall have esta-
blished their domicile in any town or city in Spain.
The quality of Spaniard is lost by naturalisation in a
foreign country, or by taking employment in any fo-
reign service without permission from the Sovereign.
Art. 2. All Spaniards may print and publish their
opinions with previous censorship, if in conformity
with the laws.

Art. 3. Every Spaniard has a right to petition the
Cortes and the Sovereign.
Art. 4. The same code of laws shall exist and be in
force throughout all the Monarchy.
Art. 5. Every Spaniard is eligible to public em-
ployments according to their merits and capacity.
Art. 6. Every Spaniard bound to defend his
country in arms,when duly called upon by the law, and
should contribute according to his fortune to the exi-
gencies of the State.
Art. 7. No Spaniard can be arrested or imprisoned,
or taken from his dwelling, or his house searched,
bat in the regular form and manner established by
the law.

Art. 8. Should circumstances require the tempo-
rary suspension of the preceding article, it must be
ordered by a law. _

Art. 9. No Spaniard can be tried or condemned,
but before a competent tribunal, and by the forms
prescribed by the law.
Art. 10. No confiscation of property shall take
place ; no Spaniard shall be deprived of his property,
except for well justified public utility, and after hav-
ing received a fair indemnity.
Art. 11. The religion of the Spanish people is the
Roman Catholic Apostolic. The State takes upon
itself to support public worship and its ministers.
UIIAPTER lI.—OF THE CORTES.

Art.l2. The power to make laws is vested in the
Cortes, with the Sovereign.
Art 13. The Cortes is composed of two legislative
bodies, equal in power—the Senate and the Chamber
of Deputies,
CIIAPTER TIL—Or THE SENATE.
Art. 14. The number of senators shall be unlimited
—the nomination is with the Sovereign.
Are. 15 and 16. No person shall be eligible to be
senators S.Baniard4, who, besides haying attained
the age of *i years, shall belong to one of the follow-
ing classes, viz. :----Presidents of legislative bodies,
senators of deputies who have been so three times, and
who possess besides a revenue of 30,000 reals in landed
property, or official situations of which they cannot
be deprived without an inquiry, or retiring pensions.

The Ministers of the Crown, councillors of state,
archbishop, bishops, grandees of Spain, captains ge-
neral of the army or navy, ambassadors, ministers
plenipotentiary, presidents of supreme tribunals,
judges or King's procurator of the said tribunals,
grandees of Castile, possessing a revenue of 60,000
reels, persons who pay annually more than 8,000 reals
of taxes, and who have been senators, deputies, or al-
caldies of localities of a population of 30,000 souls,
and persons who have rendered signal services. The
conditons necessary to be named senator may be mo-
dified by a special law.
Art. 17. The function of senator is fur life.
At. 18. The Sons of the Sovereign, and the imme-
diate heir to the Crown, are senators at the age of 25
years.

Art. 19. The Senate, independently of its legisla-
tive functions, shall exercise judicial functions :-Ist.
When it shall have to try Ministers in virtue of an
act of accusation by the Chamber of Deputies. 2d.
When it shall have to take cognisance of offences
against the person or dignity of the Sovereign, or the
safety of the State. 3d. When it shall try its own
members.

CIIXPTER IV.—OF THE CPIAMBER 01 DEPUTIES.
Art. 20. Each province shall appoint one deputy at
least for each 50,000 souls of population.
Art. 21. Deputies shall be elected directly, and
may be re•elected indefinitely.
Art. 22. To he deputy it is necessary to be a Spa-
niard, belonging to the secular state, to be 25 years of
age, and otherwise qualified according to the elec-
toral law.

Art. 23. Every Spaniard united in these conditions
may be named deputy for any province.
Art. 24. Deputies shall be elected for five years.
Art. 25. The Cortes shall assemble every year. It
belongs to the Sovereign to convoke, prorogue, or
dissolve the Chamber of Deputies; but under the
necessity to convoke a new Cortes within the space
of three months.

Art. 26. The Cortes shall be expressly convoked
when the throne shall become vacant, or when the
Sovereign from any cause shall be unable to govern.
• Art. 27. Each of the Chambers shall draw up its
own rules and regulations for its own internal govern-
ment; the Cortes shall inquire into the legality of
the elections, and the qualifications of the persons
composing it.
Art. 28. The Chamber of Deputies shall name its
president, vice-presidents, and secretaries.
Art. 29. The Sovereign shall name the presidents
and vice-presidents of the Senate ; the Senate itself
shall choose its secretaries.

Art. 30. The Sovereign shall open and close the
Cortes, either in person or by the ministers.
Art. 31. One of the legislative bodies shall not be
convoked without the other, except in the case of the
Senate having to exercise its judicial functions.
Art. 32. The legislative bodies cannot deliberate in
common, nor under the eyes of the Sovereign.
Art. 33. The sittings of the Senate and the Cham-
ber of Deputies shall be public ; no sittings can be
secret except under peculiar circumstances.
Art. 34. The Sovereign and each of the Chambers
may take the initiative with laws.

Art. 35. Resolutions will be adopted by an► absolute
majority of votes : but in order to vote laws it is ne-
cessary that at least half the number of the Chamber
be present.

Art. 36. If a Bill be refused sanction by the Sove-
reign, no other Bill of a similar nature can be brought
forward.

Art. 37. In addition to the legislative powers exer-
cised by the Cortes conjointly with the Sovereign, the
following powers shall belong to them :-Ist. To
receive from the Sovereign, from the immediate suc-
cessor to the throne, and from the Regent of the
kingdom, the oath to observe the Constitution and
the laws. 2d. To decide on any doubtful point, either
in fact or law, which may occur with regard to the
succession to the throne. 3d. To elect the Regent of
the kingdom, and to name a guardian to the Sovereign
minor, according t) the Constitution. 4th. To render
effective the responsibility of the Ministers, who will
he indicted by the Chamber of Deputies and tried by
the Senate.

Art. 33. The Senators and Deputies are inviolable
with regard to their votes in the exercise of their
functions.

Art. 39. Senators and Deputies cannot be prose-
cuted or arrested during the sessions of the Chambers,
without permission of their respective bodies, except
when taken in flagrante delicto, but in this case they
may be arrested after the closing of the Cortes.
Art. 40. Deputies accepting public places or ap-
pointments must be re-elected.

CHAPTER VI.-Of THE SOVEREIGN.

Art. 41. The person of the Sovereign it sacred and
inviolable, and cannot be subject to any responsibi-
lity. The Ministers are responsible.
Art. 42. The power of executing the laws is vested
in the Sovereign, according to the terms of the Consti-
tution and the laws.

Art. 43. The Sovereign sanctions and promulgates
laws.

Art. 44. Besides the prerogatives attributed to the
Sovereign by the Constitution, there shall belong to
him :-1. To publish decrees for the execution of the
laws. 2. To provide for the due execution of justice.
3. To punish offenders according to the laws. 4. To
declare war and ratify treaties of peace, rendering an
account thereof to the Cortes. 5. To dispose of the
army according as their services are required. 6. To
direct diplomatic and commercial relations with other
Powers. 7. To regulate the coinage, on which his
effigy and name shall appear. 8. To direct the pay-
ment of funds, destined for each branch of the public
service. 9. To name public functionaries, and gives
titles and distinctions. 10. To appoint and dismiss
the Ministers.

Art. 45. The Sovereign must be authorised by a
special law to do any of the following acts :—To yield
up or exchange any portion of the Spanish territory ;
to receive foreign troops in the kiugdom ; to ratify
treaties of foreign alliance, special treaties of com-
merce, grant subsidies to foreign Powers, quit the
kingdom, abdicate the Crown in favour of the imme-
diate successor.

Art. 46. The Sovereign, before contracting mar-
riage, shall apprise the Cortes, to whose approbation
shall be submitted the stipulations of the matrimonial
contract, which shall be the object of a law. The
same shall affect the marriage of the immediate suc-
cessor to the throne.

Art. 47. The dotation of the Sovereign and of his
family shall be fixed by the Cortes at the commence-
ment of each reign.

CHAPTER VII.-Or THE SUCCESSION TO THE

THRONE.

Art. 48. The legitimate Queen of Spain is Donna
Isabella 11., of Bourbon.

Art. 49. 'The succes,ion to the throne of Spain
shall take place according to the order of primogeni-
ture and representation, preferring always the elder
branch to the younger.
Art. 50. In case of the want of legitimate descen-
dants to Donna Isabella 11., shall succeed, in virtue
of the order just established, her sister, and her
uncles brothers of her father; and their legitimate
descendants, whether male or female, if not otherwise
excluded.

Art. .51. In case of the specified lines being extinct,
the Cortes shall make fresh appeals, according as it
shall suit the nation.

Art. 52. Persons declared incapable of governing,
or who may have acted in a way to merit the forfei-
ture of right to the Crown, shall be excluded from the
succession by a law.
Art. 53. When the reigning Sovereign shall be a
female, her husband shall have no participation in the
government of the kingdom.
CHAPTER THE MINORITY OF THE SOVE.

REIGN AND OF THE REGENCY.

-
Art. 54. The Sovereign is a minor until the attain-
ment of the fourteenth 3rear.
Art. 55. When the Sovereign shall be a minor, the
father or the mother, or, in default of them, the nearest
relation, shall exercise the Regency during the whole
time of the minority.
Art. 56. The nearest relatiVe, in order to exercise
the Regency, must be a Spaniard, and be twenty
years of age.
Art. 57. The Regent shall exercise royal authority,
and shall publish the Acta of the Government in the
name of the Sovereign.
Art. 58. •The Regent shall exercise the royal autho-
rity, and shall take an oath before the Cortes to be
faithful to the Sovereign, and to observe the Constitu-
tion and the laws. If the Cortes, in such case, be not
assembled, the Regent shall convoke them imme-
diately, and in the meantime shall take the oath before
the Council of Ministers, engaging, at the same time,
to repeat it lietbre the Chambers.
Art.s9. If there shall be no person on whom the
Regency devolves of right, the Cortes shall appoint a
Regency, composed of one, three, or five persons.
e
Undl this nomination shall take place, ace, the Council
of Ministers shall govern the kingdom provisionally.
Art. 60. Shall be guardian of the Sovereign minor
twhe..
vr
person,.nam_ by the deceased Sovereign in his
,0i idea he be a Spaniard by birth. If no

Chapter X. relates to the powers and functions of
the judges, which are defined and guarded; and the
judges are to be responsible for all infractions of, the
law; justice to be administered in the name of th•
Sovereign.
Chapter XI. relates to the provincial assemblies
and ayuntamientos. _

Chapter XII. relates to the revenue, and points out
how the contributions are to be imposed, collected,
and applied.
Art. 75 provides that the public debt is to be untkr
the especial safeguard of the nation.
CuArma XIII.—Or THE ARMED FORCE.
Art. 76. The tortes shall, year by year, on the pro-
position of the Sovereign, fix the amount of the armed
force by land and by sea.
Additional Article. The provinces beyond the seas
(colonies) shall be governed by special laws made in
each case.

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THIS EVENING, NOVEMBER 1,
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