The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-07 00:00:00

eittinintl c411t11:

LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1850.

As we had anticipated, the second reading of the
Marriages Bill was yesterday carried by a clear and
decisive majority of 52—no less than 182 Members
having recorded their votes in favour of the removal
of the unjust and impolitic restriction now in force,
while 130 persons only appeared to sustain the ex-
isting law. This is as it should be. The British
Parliament will not abandon the proud position it has
assumed of high liberality and universal toleration.
Mr. STUART WORTLEY must not, however, in any
degree relax his exertions. He has bold and unscru-
pulous adversaries, who will not hesitate as to the
means by which their objects may be achieved.
Every advantage that can be taken of the rules and
farms of the House, every species of Parliamentary
strategy will be resorted to in order to pro-
crastinate and retard the progress cf the measure.
The Fabian policy must especially be guarded against,
and every attempt at delay must be strenuously and
vigorously resisted. The Hon. Member for Bute is
placed in a position of no ordinary responsibility.
The future happiness of thousands of his countrymen
and countrywomen depends on the result. The status
in society of tens of thousands of innocent children
is involved in the issue. His clients are numerous,
and the subject is indeed one of vital impor-
tance to them. He must reflect upon these un-
questionable facts, steel himself against the insidious
blandishments that may be made use of, and reso-
lutely refuse any compromise. If
hhis he succeed,to, and
bring the matter entrusted to
a happy termination, "great will be his glory,
and he will be rewarded with the praise
and blessings of many faithful hearts. But
if he should fail, through any error or mistake I
on his own part, the censure and reproach to which
he will be subjected will be of equal magnitude. We
trust that this warning is unnecessary, and that the
measure will be passed with all convenient speed
through the popular branch of the Legislature, and
that it may be sent to the House of Peers with the
sanction of a majority at least as decisive as that
which yesterday affirmed its principle.
Nothing was, perhaps, more remarkable in the
debate than the complete absence of any of the
ordinary rules by which votes are influenced. Taro
persons, from whom we should have expected the
most liberal sentiments on every questhn bearing on

t 'e religious liberty of the subject, arrayed them-
selves among the opponents of the Bill, and
made by far the most powerful speeches
against its principle. It is true that the Honourable
Memberifor Sheffield and the Right Hon. the Master
of the Mint, abandoned the high ground of Scrip-
tural or canonical prohibition, and rested their case
solely on the "social inconvenience." They did not
claim for any particular church or sect the right of
binding the consciences of their fellow-subjects, and
.f excluding without the pale of the constitution all
who ventured to differ from the opinions of the do-
minant party. But was not such practically the
consequence of their rote,, and might not any act of
bigotry and intolerance be justified on similar
grounds? Might not the removal of the Catholic
disabilities or the enfranchisement' of Dissenters
hare been resisted with Equal force for the very same
reasons?

If we were dissatisfied with the arguments of
Mr. ROEBUCK and of Mr. SIIEIL, we were most
agreeably surprised by the admirable address o' Mr.
SPOONER. That lion. Gentleman, in a speech that
did bim infinite credit, brought forward the clearest
and most statesmanlike views. He depicted the case
of a poor man whose wife had died, and who, labour-
ing under that painful deprivation, found it utterly
impossible to attend to the wants of his children,
with a sister in-law in the family of such "a person,
almost his only companion. It was contrary to nature
to suppose that such a connexion could exist without
affection springing up between the parties, and yet
they were restrained by the consideration that it was
against the law of man, while at the same time they
did not feel it to be contrary to the law of GOD ; and
he boldly asserted the proposition, that " they had no
right to put a restriction on the marriage of such
persons, unless they could prove that it was founded
lon the Word of GOD, or necessary for the social
happiness and comfort of the large mass of the people.'
On such a question no mere balance of convenience
would be sufficient to justify the restriction, although,
if such were the case, it could easily be shown that
the preponderance was at the other side. The Hon.
Gentleman also clearly explained the melancholy
state of immorality in which many ,persons lived, in
consequence of the existing law, " to an extent that
would horrify and distress every man of right feel-
ing and proper mind," and he proved that " that im-
morality was attributable to their imperfect human
laws, and by taking upon themselves that which they,
in his judgment, had no right to take."
Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT also most ably proved that
the House was not justified in resting the question
solely on religious grounds. He would not himself
enter into such a connexion, and as far as he was
personally concerned, he gave a cordial and unhesi-
tating assent to the deprecation of such marriages ;
but he did not therefore consider himself warranted
in legislating for others whose views were altogether
different, and he truly declared that "the House- of
Commons was not a convocation or council, and that
they bad no right, as they had no competency, to dis-
cuss nice theological questions, or matters of eccle-
-1 siastical law. Let them not interfere with respect to
,
the laws which the Church of England had esta-
blished for her own government, which were left
untouched by the operation of the Bill. But with
respect to other religious bodies, who had no such
laws, who had no canons to restrict them from con-
tracting marriages of this description, these were
clearly restrictions which prevented them from con-
tracting marriages which, according to their own re-
ligions, were perfectly justifiable, and those restric-
tions should be removed without any delay."
The Honourable Members for Pontefract, South-
ampton, Youghal, and the West Riding, also placed
the question on its true basis, and made most con-
vincing argumentative speeches, that must have been
perfectly conclusive to any unprejudiced mind. The
result was the satisfactory division to which we have
alluded, and which must bring the matter to a happy
termination, if Mr. STUART WORTLEY be true to
himself and to the just and holy cause of which he
has come forward as the advocate and champion.

Tuesday having witnessed the swearing-in of Lord
CampBELL as Lord Chief Justice of England, we
trust that his Lordship will very soon afford the
country a guarantee of his determination to emulate
the bright example of his predecessor by voluntarily
and spontaLeously abandoning all association with
the present Government. Such a proceeding on his
part would be a brilliant augury of his judicial
career in that post of the previous occupants of which
he has so recently rendered himself the annalist.
Historian of the "Lord Chief Justices of England,"
and now Lord Chief Justice himself, his ju fg-
ment must be peculiarly alive to the large
and heavy responsibilities devolving upon him
in his new character. Erudition and observation
have alike impressed upon him the paramount neces-
sity of abandoning all political predilections imme-
diately on his entrance upon the new and venerable
office to which he finds himself elevated in the autumn
of his reputation. The recognition of this fact in his
instance no longer requires argument, and hence,
with a due recollection of his personal and prcfss-
sional antecedents, we cannot remain for an instant
in doubt as to his determination. Lord CAMPBELL
will of course at once sunder himself from all con-
nection with the Cabinet. He will
.insulate himselt
and his present lefty responsibilities from all the
agitating influence of Ministerial partizanship, aware
that by so doing he can alone succeed in that "con-
stant endeavour" which, en being rung out of Lin..
coin's inn, he avowed his resolution to make, "to
set Lord DENMAN'S bright example before his eyes,
in the hope of following him, though at a distance."
The fulfilment of this resolution is due, we aver, to
the eminence already attained by Lord CAMPBELL
in so many and such varicus cap:.cities.
Taking a retrospective view of the career of the
present Lord Chief Justice of England, we are satis-
fied that all will coincide in opinion—that it is
due to himself, by reason of all his previous successes,
that he should thus prove himself, in all par-
ticulars, sedulous in the emulation of his illus-
trious predecessor. From the period of his
being called to the bar, in 1807, nay, we might
almost say from the time of his first en-
trance into Lincoln's Inn as a legal student,
Lord CAMPBELL has betrayed a laborious application
to his.profession, such as entitled him to all his sub-
sequent advancement. His celebrated Nisi Prius
Reports would of themselves be a sufficient attesta-
tion of this, even if his toiling assiduity as a legal
reporter had not been followed by his forensic labours
and his arduous literary occupations. Out of the
latter have proceeded, within a very recent interval,
thcee biographies of the Lord Chancellors of England
which have tended so materially to enrich the already
fruitful stores of our national literature. It
has consequently come to pass that Lord
CAMPBELL has himself eclipsed his reputation
AS a legal reporter by his reputation as a legal histo-
rian. Let us hope, that having now ascended the
judicial chair of the Lord Chief Justice of England,
he will surpass all his previous achievements by the
dignity, the benignity, the impartiality, and the so-
called "indifference" of his judicial administration.
In following immediately upon the retirement of
a personage of illustrious character, no matter in what
capacity, whether as a lawyer, a statesman, an orator,
or a Lerd Chief Justice, there is of course always to
the successor a blending of advantages and disadvan

tages. Among the advantages the principal is that
of possessing a brilliant and appreciable example to
emulate. Among the disadvantages the most conspi-
cuous is the probability of perpetual and depreciative
comparisons. These will doubtless be agreeably and
disagreeably experienced by the present Lord Chief
Justice of England. Yet we believe the coun-
try, and especially the profession, will have
that confidence in Lord Caltrnem. that they are not
in his case prepared for any disappointment. On the
contrary, we are satisfied that both the public and
the profession have an implicit reliance upon the ca-
pacity of the Noble and Learned Lint to fulfil to the
uttermost extent his many severe and honourable re-

sponsibilities. They are conscious that here, at least,
the Government hare not been precipitate in their se-

lection, but, that Actuated by a profound solicitude
to compensate as much as possible for the heavy loss
experienced in the retirement of Lord DENMAN in con-
sequence of his increasing infirmities, they have
chosen as his successor the man of all others, in their

opinion, best qualified to follow in bis majestic

footsteps.
While the popular heart will find a large sense of

satisfaction in this elevation of L"rd CAMPBELL to the
Chief-Justiceship of England, it will be some matter
of regret th It the consequent elevation of the Eirl of
CARLISLE to the Chancellorship of the Duchy of
Lancaster may possibly militate injuriously against the
continuance c f his beneficent labours as a sanitary re -
former. In such a doubt, however, we are
sanguine that the people may find themselves
to have been altogether deceived ; believing, as we
do, that that good and distinguished sta'esman will
apply himself as energetically to the amelioration of
the condition of the poorer inhabitants of our more
densely populated cities as when he participated in the
labours of the Parliament, simply as R'presentative of
the West Riding of Yorkshire, or as when he shared in
the reformatory- efforts of the Cabinet, simply as the
principal Commissioner in the Woods and Forests De-
partment. A philanthropical legislator such as
Lord CARLISLE is not to be daunted from
the pursuance of a noble course by
the mere circumstance cf a change in his minis-
terial position. Nay, we are persuaded that, having
adventured upon the labour of effecting a vast sani-
tary improvement throughout the country, he will not
pause in his endeavours because of his having attained
an accession to his influence and dignity as Chancellor
of the Duchy of Lancaster. But fur his removal from
the seat of the Legislature by his appointment as
Ambassador to France, the Marquis of NORMANDY
would never, we are sure, have relaxed in the
same generous efforts to improve the social
comforts and physical situation of the commu-
nity. Unlike the Marquis of NORMANDY, the
Earl of CARLISLE still fortunately possesses the
capacity to advance the cause of sanitary reform in
the House of Lords on every available opportunity.
That he will do so the public may rest confident;
and hence it is we are persuaded that the nation will
find no more reason to regret his elevation to the
Chancellorship of the Duchy of baneaster than the
simultaneous elevation of Lord CAMPBELL' to the
Chief -Justiceship of England.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

'We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
At the sitting off.fife National .assembly on Tues-
day, M. Dupin, the: President, announced that he had
received a requisitory from the Attorney-General, M.
Baroche,' asking to be authorised to take legal proceed-
ings against M. MiChel de Bourges; for having on the
Ist of March, in the commune cf Montmartre, ad.
dressed a speech to an auditory, composed of 800 per-
sons, assembled at the Hermitage, in which he attacked
the principle of property in the following terms :
" The day after their triumph the people will inquire
into the origin of fortunes and capital, and proceed
to wind up the accounts of the bourgeoisie.
They will be justified in so doing, after examining
the accounts of royalty, unless the- bourgeoisie
should voluntarily consent to the sacrifice, which
I strongly recommend them to do. The people
produce everything, and it is to them consequently
that everything belongs. Let us accordingly unite,
and we will come out victorious from the contest.
It is for that reason we entreat you to be
peaceable, in order that we may one day
say to our enemies—' Do as we have done; we
have too long submitted to you.' You may rest
assured that they will do so. Is our present
social state possible or durable ? Are there not, in
our society, many individuals who live in comfort-
able idleness, whilst others work very hard and lead
a wretched existence ? The Republic, as it exists to-
day, is a mere empty word. The possession of man
by man must at last cease," &c.
This communication was received by the L, ft with
loud murmurs, and one of them cried, "This is an
electioneering manoeuvre."
M. Michel de Bourges, having ascended the tri-
bune, said that he had thrice spoken at electoral meet-
ings, es an elector, and not a representative of the
people. He protested on his honour—and five of his
colleagues, and 2,000 citizens of Montmartre, who
had heard him, would attest, that the words
imputed to him had not been uttered by him. He,
on the contrary, preached conciliation, and held out
the list adopted by the Opposition as a pledge of re-
conciliation between the bourgeois and the working
classes. He defied the Ministry and its agents
to substantiate their charge. He had said that
it was time the misunderstanding existing be-
tween the bourgeois • and the people should
cease, and that both should take each other
by the hand. The speech ascribed to him by
the Constitutionnel was a fabrication. He had de-
scribed the Socialist list as the symbol of three
principles—the improvement of the people by
science, by 'the electiiin of Vidal, their moral
amelioration by education, by that of Carnot, and a
moral and material interest, that of justice, by
the election of Flotte. The greatest order and
dignity had -prevailed at all the meetings, and
he defied -any man to ''cite a single word pro-
nounced by him on that occasion, or during his whole
life, against religion, property, or family. He had
not read the Constitulionnel, or he should have in-
stantly protested, as he did two days afterwards,
when the forgery was made known to him. At the
meeting on the Boulevard Bourdon, held on Satur-
day, he had said that if the labourers gave their arms
and the bourgeois their capital, they would form a
great association, which would save society. This
was very different from the expressions placed in his
of capital—(Laughter)—
wasemy not unlawful to inquire
bmuotuht he.
thought H e was n
that o
ite n
into its origin.
M. Rouher, Minister. of Justice, said, that having
read in a proces-verbal, drawn up by a judiciary
officer, an attack against the principle of property,
he had considered it his duty to propose to the
Assembly to authorise proceedings against M. Michel
de Bourges, to whom it was imputed. The Assembly
was the sole judge, and would decide if the explana-
tions entered into by M. Michel de Bourges were suf-
ficiently explanatory. Ai to what the latter said re-
specting the three candidates, inscribed on what he
he (M. Rouher) re-
gcaalrldededththeemlisatsofthceonccainldiaidtiaotnes
of ignorance, insur-
rection, and labour, organized on the principle laid
down by the delegates of the Luxembourg, and he
trusted that the good sense of the people would dis-
criminate between their real and perfidious friends.
The Assembly, on being consulted, declared ur-
gency, and afterwards decided that the requisitory of
the Attorney-General should be referred to the
bureau, which should appoint a special committee to
examine
The President next read a letter of the Minister
of Justice, including a report of the Commissary
ofn ot Police of
LI
Villetteof Villette,
in
which M. Bancel,
br representative the Ztfontagne, was
stated to have wed language offensive to• the
Legislative Assembly, which he divided into two
another
hostile camps, the one representing monarchy and op•
pression, and the other republic and emancipation.
He had declared that the former, composed of 500 in-
dividuals, had deprived the people ('f the sacred right
of meeting, of liberty of the press and thought, and
advocated the legitimacy of the expedition to
Rome, &c.
Bancel admitted having used that language, and
said that he was ready to appear b. fore his sovereign'
judge the country.
The Assembly, on being consulted, unanimously
decided that the language used by M. I.3Ancel was.not
offensive,and passed to the order of the day.
The Assembly then proceeded to discuss the Bill
authorising the PREAIDENT of the Republic to ratify
the treaty of commerce with Chili. The Bill was
read a second timet„
The majority of:tbe Committee on the Bill which
purposes to give to, the Government the appointment
of the mayors and deputy-mayors in the provinces
are unfavourable to the Bill, This result has been
brought about by the coalition of the parti-pretre
with the Reds. It would appear, however, from the
statement of the Journal des Debats, that the Legiti-
matists have already repented them of their victory.
The Electoral Union has published the official re-
turn of the preliminary election'. The number of
votes given was 61,292, and the canditates who
have obtained the greatest number stand in rotation
as follows :

General LAIIITTN,
M. BoLI.7IIAUt
1%1. FOY,
General LAEITTE obtained a considerable majority
over the other candidates. MM. CIIMBREL, CHAMEAU,
ARIZIGICI DE PADUA, THAYER, and MARI:MAU, who
were candidates on the list of the Electoral Union,
have announced their withdrawal from the competi-
tion in compliance with the obligation they had con-
tracted, and in the interest of the cause of order.
M. COMBAREL DE LEYVAL presented the follow-
ing amendment to the Paris and Avignon Railway
Biil :

- - ---
" The Minister of Public Work; is authorized to con-
cede, under sealed tenders, and on the general condition,
of the cahiers des charges.
"First, the railway from Paris to Lyons on the re-
imbursement to the Sate of a sum not less than 60
millions of franca; and, secondly, therailway from
Lyons to Avignon, with a branch paid by the State
which shall not exceed 50 millions."
The steam-frigate Prong, intended to form part of
the La Plata expedition, has sailed for the third time,
from Toulon.

A court-martial in the 6th military division has
sentenced to death five soldiers of the 17th Light
Infantry, for refusal to obey orders in Lyons on the
lsth of June.

PARII BOURSE, MARCH 6.—Latest Prices.—Five
per Cents., Rentes,_96l. 150. ; Tnree per Cents., ditto,
; 13Ank of Fame, 2,29Jf.

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE. AlAucri 6.
Boulogne and Amiens, —Central of France (Orleans
ana Vierzon), 12%8—Northern of France, 13%—Orleans
and Bordeaux, 31A3 —Dutch Rhenish, 2.