The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-13 00:00:00

his mind that it would be better to in-
crease the staff of the inspectors instead
of appointing sub-inspectors. Mr. NEATE, the
chairman of the committee, while he deplored the
postponement of the legislation on this question,
desired that the inspectors should be increased in
number, and that the managers of mines should be
examined. At any rate, something has been gained
by all this discussion on the subject, and we may
confidently expect that when the subject is actually
before the House some important changes may be
made, and the safety of the workers in mines more
duly provided for. Every now and then we are
startled from our propriety by the intelligence of
some terrific accident having taken place in our
mines, but after a time all thought of such a thing
is put aside by the constant pressure of our day's
news, and the result is that each year leaves us as
it finds us to all intents and purposes as regards
the mining districts. The only remedy will be
found in exacting the same natchfulness on ordinary
occasions that is employed when the danger has
come, and thus we may hope to ward off the liabi-
lity to them which unhappily exists at present.
Some remarks were made on the subject of the
Inland Revenue, and the manner in which it ad-
ministers the law regulating the registration of
newspapers. The Attorney-General defended the
conduct of the Board, and said that while
the law remained as it was ;it would
be necessary to enforce it. Mr. GIBSON made
some sensible remarks on the question, and said
that if such a law were desirable it ought not to be
administered by a department that only existed for
the collection of taxes. It would be a good thing
if 'some change was made in these laws next year,
for at present they seem very imperfectly understood,
and while they press hardly on some no notice is
taken of the infringement of the rules prescribed
by others. Mr. GLADSTONE'S Suspensory Bill oc-
casioned a dispute in the order of precedence. The
Secretary of the Treasury said that they had put it
first out of courtesy to Mr. GLADSTONE, and also in
conformity with the convenience of the House.
Some mistake appeared to have been made in the
matter, and Mr. DISRAELI, with his usual
tact, frankly acknowledged it, instead of
seeking, as some would have done, to
persist in explaining it away. Mr. GLADSTONE
very readily acknowledged the kindness of the Go-
vernment in so frequently giving precedence to his
bill. For this the Ministry has shown great dis-
cretion, and it would have been an act beneath their
dignity to have taken advantage of their power
over the business of the House to interfere with the
progress of the bill of the Opposition leader. To
go against it in the letter instead of the spirit would
have been quite idle, and though their attempt
to facilitate its progress was the cause of some
awkwardness yesterday, we feel sure that the
House and the- country will fully appreciate the
motives that animated them. The third reading of
this bill was fixed for Tuesday next, and but little
discussion took place on the matter, with the ex-
ception of Mr. VANCE moving that the part of
the now clause respecting the Regium Donum be
struck out. He met with scanty support, and a divi-
sion was taken. Mr GLADSTONE, iu a brief reply, put
the case amusingly before the House by comment-
ing on the descriptions given by Mr. VANCE him-
seff. The hon. member said that the first part of
the clause as related to Maynooth was unjust, and
the second part, which related to the Regium
Donum was absurd ; but be " appeared to be more
scandalised by the absurdity than by the injustice,
for he proposed to omit the absurd part of the clause,
and to retain the unjust part of it." Some
discussion took place on Mr. MoNK's Disabilities
of Revenue Offic_s Bill. The hon. member wished
to proceed with it, but the Government objected to
proceeding with it in consequence of the lateness of
the hour. On that resistance was made to the pro-
posal of adjournment, however, and not until these
attempts were made to continue did the House con-
sent to wait till a more favourable opportunity
occurred. It must be admitted that the hon. mem-
ber for G'oucester was more zealous than wise in his
efforts to go on with his bill. As at present settled
it will be brought on again for discussion on Mon-
day, which was the best way of disposing of the
complicated system. It may be observed in pass-
ing that it is not often that, in the course of one
evening's debates in the House of Commons, there
arises ten knotty points to be settled, such as occur-
red yesterday, with respect to the right of the Go-
vernment to put the Suspensory Bill forward, and the
privilege of private members to force on their
measures irrespective of the lea lent on both sides
having come to an understanding that the question
would not come on that night. In both in-
stances the most desirable conclusion was come to,
and although it is to be regretted that any alterca-
tions of this kind should take place, it is impossible
at all times to prevent some misunderstandings
when there is so much to be done in a short time.

The Senate of the United States appears to share
the anxiety suddenly manifested by the House of
Representatives for the admission of members from
the long-excluded Southern States. On Thursday
the Senate passed Mr. STEVENS' Bill, providing for
the representation of both the Carolinas, Georgia,
Louisiana, and Alabama to representation in Con-
gress, on condition that the Constitutions of those
States shall never be so amended as to deprive of
the suffrage those now entitle,' to vote—a tho-
roughly characteristic STEVENS' qualification. For
a country which boasts of continual progress such
legislation for the future is somewhat inconsistent,
and as it will need no more than a fresh act of Con-
gress to admit the States in question to representa-
tion on other terms there is no :protection for the
Radicals in it. A generation which has witneased
the sweeping away of all the old conditions of the
domestic institution can hardly foretel what its
successor may choose to do in the way of change
and innovation. Another movement of the Senate
in respect to the Southern constituencies indicates
the eagerness of the Radicals to retain their politi-
cal majority. On the 3d of June a resolution was
introduced, excluling the Smthera States from
participation in the Presidential election, unless
such States had been admitted to the Union under
(he Reconstruction Act before the Presidential
electors were chosen. This anxiety about the
coming contest is natural enough, seeing that the
Radicals are daily losing ground throughout
the country, but it is amusing to see the
petty spite which the potent, grave, and reverend
seigniors of the Senate Court do not scruple to show
respecting the result of the Impeachment trial.
The Senate have passed a vote of thanks to Mr.
STANTON for his public services by 37 to 11,
and by 30 to 11 have ref asecl to vote the
thanks of tho House to Chief Justice
CHASE fur his conduct during the trial.
Further, the Senate have rejected Mr. SrAN-
BERRY'S nomination as Attorney-Gen-ral. It will
be remembered that Mr. STAN-UMW resigned his
office on purpose to conduct Mr..JonNsoN's case,
though his illness unfortunately interfered.
Mr. JOHNSON has now nominate,' him
anew for the office, but the Senators,
smarting under their failure, refuse to sanc-
tion the appointment. General SCHOFIELD,
however, has overcome all obstacles, an I is fairly