The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-09 00:00:00

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fj P (whet answers the invidious, insulting, and,
y.a, believe, unjust inference that the gentlemen
question were objected to as Roman Ciath elks)
explaining that every man, of the twelve
,b}.-qqed to by the Crown Solicitor. whether
itoman Catholic or Protestant, is a mem-
ber of the Repeal Association. If this be
0—:111/1 the excellent character of the Dublin)
Evening Packet is sufficient warrant for the
strict truth of all its statements—there is surely
no just ground for complaint. It may be the
misfortune of the Roman Catholic middle class
of the citizens of Dublin, that they have been
misled to join the Repeal Association, and it is no
less a public misfortune if the fact be so ; but it
does not follow from their error, that the funda-
mental principle in the administration of justice,
which forbids a man to be " actor et judex," can
be dispensed with. If there be guilt in the acts
charged against the traversers in the state trials,
every member of the Repeal Association is in
specie, though not in degree, as. guilty as the
gentlemen named in the indictment. Every
member of the Association has, in fact,practically,
and therefore most unequivocally, recorded his
judgment upon the very question to be submitted
to the jury this day week—the legality and the
moral propriety of the association and of its pro-
ceedings; for about the facts of the case there
will, we presume, be little ground for dispute. It
is, we repeat it, a great public misfortune if
Repealism and Romanism are co-extensive
among; the middle class citizens of Dublin ;
but though there is, no doubt, the example
of a Pope who condemned himself to the
flames, we must not look for such he-
roical self-devotion in our day, and ask
a man to sit in judgment upon himself merely
because he is a Romanist—least of all in such a
matter as that of the State prosecutions in be-
hind, which is, in fact, a defence of public
liberty. For if these prosecutions fail from any
default in the adminstration of justice, or are
suspected to fail from any such default, there
can be no doubt of some legislative proceeding—
of course involving an abridgement of the freedom
now enjoyed by the people-,-in order to put down
a movement so mischievous and dangerous as the
Repeal Association. The Irish Attorney-General
has to vindicate the law in more senses than one—
he has to enforce its authority, and also to show
that it is sufficient for the protection of the public
peace and security; but this last duty he certainly
would not discharge with fidelity, were he to try
persons whom he considers offenders against the
law by a jury of their confederates. We do not
wish to intimate any opinion as to the verdict
to which a fair jury will probably come, but
it a single Repealer were on the Jury, and if
the verdict should be an acquittal, or if no

;,rerdict should be obtained by reason of a
non-agreement. of the jury, there can be
little doubt to- what such a. result would be

ascribed, and how much responsibility would
rest upon the principal law officer of the
Crown. We have no question that to object to
so many Roman Catholics, whether they are
eleven or nine, has been extremely painful to
the Irish Attorney-General; but his duty lay
straight before him ; he was to procure a fair
trial, and that lair trial he certainly could not
procure, had he allowed the confederates of
the accused, whether these confederates were
Roman Catholics or Protestants, to con-
stitute the jury to decide upon the guilt or
innocence Of their common confederacy. The
insult, for a gross insult indeed there is, has
not been offered by the Attorney-General, but
those who complain of his conduct. They surely
insult the Protestants of the empire as well as
the Protestants of Dublin, when they say that
twelve Protestants, against any one of whom
personally they have been able to offer no
objection, though they have had opportunity to
object to every man of them, do not constitute
a jury sufficiently honest, intelligent, and im-
partial to try a case in which no question of
Protestantism or Romanism arises. This is un-
grateful as well as insulting, because there has
been repeated proof of the inflexible inte-
grity of the Protestant juries of Dublin, even in
cases where Protestant feeling might be supposed
to operate.

FROM THE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.

ADVERTISER.—The Complete Suffrage
movenient is making rapid, though comparatively
silent progress. Everywhere it is hourly re-
ceiving the adhesion of new friends. Persons
%eh° a few years ago—in some cases so late as a
few months—treated the idea of the extended
electoral rights for which the Complete Suffrag-
ists are contending, with the utmost scorn,
are now numbered among its warmest friends.
The Complete Suffrage feeling is, indeed, spread-
ing throughout the country with a rapidity which
as seldom been paralleled. Twelve months more
of the success which for the last year has attended
the efliirts of its friends to propagate the great
principle that every man untainted by crime has
a right to the elective franchise, will compel the
Legislature to meet the national wish, -by con-
ceding a really national representation. We
referred last week to the metropolitan efforts
which are making to promote the cause of a full
and fair representation of the people. We
particularly alluded to the establishment of
Complete Suffrage Associations in Finsbury
and Southwark. These boroughs do not stand
alone in time good work. The Tower ,Ham-
lets are taking an active part in extending
the popular fieling in favour of complete
suffrage. In that division of the metropolis there
tire two Associations, both of which have been in
active operation for some time. The one em-
braces Hackney' Stoke Newington, &c.; the
other e übraces Whitechapel, Stepney, Wap-
ping, Shadwell, &c. This is well. But what are
the other boroughs about ? Where is Maryle-
bone ? It used to be among the first of the
metropolitan boroughs in every popular move-
ment. I;s inactivity in the present case is a
source of surprise as well as of disappointment
to the friends of the people throughout the coun-
try. We know it is an aristocratic borough, but
it is not more so than formerly. On all great
questions like this the vestry of that borough
were accustomed to take the lead. How shall
we account for their present supineness? We
leave it to themselves to answer the question.
Then there is Westminster—for a long period the
refuge of popular principles, when they were
exiled from almost every other locality in Eng-
land. How happens it that we hear of no note
of preparation in that city in reference to the
complete suffrage movement? Has Westminster
ceased to be " England's pride ?" It looks
very much like it. Certain it is, that if it
remain much longer in a state of inactivity,
it will forfeit the liberal character it has
enjoyed for more than lialfa century. We hope
it will not incur this reproach. We trust that,
e:.e long, the Crown and Anchor will become
the scene or striking demonstrations in favour
or that efficient representation of popularprinci•
pies and popular interests for which it has so
ionx been celebrated. Latnbeth, too, is behind-
hauil in the great movement. As yet we per-
e..ive no symptoms of any demonstration in that
l»rough. This is strange, for it is one of the
most liberal and enlightened boroughs in the
k mOOlll. There are many truly patriotic men
in it—men remarkable for their earnestness,
their sincerity, and their readiness to make self-
sacrifices for the cause of the people. All that is
wanting to get up a powerful complete suffrage
association in Lambeth, is that the first step
should be taken by one or more men of note, in
whom the unrepresented masses have confidence.
Perhaps there is less room for surprise at the
I,mi-existence of a complete suffrage association
bi the City. And yet we see no reason why
there should not be an association there. In no
part of London, perhaps in no part of the coun-
try, have really Liberal principles made more
marked progress of late than in the City.
Witness the triumph of Liberalism in the person
of Mr. Pattison, under the most unpromising cir-
cumstances in which an election contest was ever
iiiugh!. In the City there are many choice spi-
rits. All that is wanting to make their voice
(ffectually heard in favour of a complete repre-
sentation of the people is, organisation and unity
of action. We are aware that on several occa-
sions within the last twelve months, meetings
have been held with the view of promoting the
principles of complete suffrage ; but these have
been for the most part thinly attended. Besides,
occasional meetings never contribute in any con-
siderable degree to promote an important cause.
Great questions have always been carried by an
organised and systematic course of action being
brought to bear in their favour. What we want
to see is the example of Finsbury, the Tower
Hamlets, and Southwark, followed by all the
other districts of London. We want to see each
borough establishing one or more complete suf-
frage associations. Mr. Joseph Sturge and se-
veral other distinguished friends of a perfect re-
presentation of the people, are to visit the me-
tropolis in ten days or a fortnight, for the pur-
pose of advocating the complete suffrage cause,
and also of directing public attention to Mr.
Sharman Crawford's project for stopping the
supplies. We trust one of the results of the visit
will be the formation of complete suffrage asso-
ciations in all the metropolitan boroughs in which
they do not already exist.
TIMES.—We feel it our duty to call attention
to a case of mutder which was lately tried at the
Liverpool Assizes, and has left five men under
sentence of death. It appears to have been just
one of those cases of fatal collision between
poachers and runckeepers which have so often