The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-19 00:00:00

SPIRIT of the PUBLIC JOURNALS.
/stoic THE DAILY PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
GLOBE.—The vote of Friday night on the Sugar
Duties, by which the "strong Government" of Sir
Robert Peel was left in a minority of 20, in a full
House, if it) did not take the country by sur-
prise, at least roused it from the state of apa-
thy in which it has too long indulged re-
specting public affairs. All kinds of rumours
were rife during Saturday, Sunday, and yesterday, as to
the course which Ministers would take under circum-
stances at once humiliating and embarrassing —so
strongly condemnatory of their policy by their
own supporters, and consequently portentous to
their existence as a Government. Cabinet Coun-
cils were held daily. The Carlton Club was
convened by special summons. Its drawing-room was
crowded. Consternation was strongly depicted in the
countenance of many of its Members ; by whom the
possibility of a dissolution of . Parliament was re-
garded with dread—an event not merely fraught with
the loss of legislatorial privileges, but involving an
abandonment of pleasing hopes of more substan-
tial advantages, by which they have been sustained.
As the hour at which the House of Commons com-
mences business approached, the neighbourhood of the
House became the scene of considerable attraction. A
long double line of well-dressed persons from Palace-
yard to the door at which the Members enter the
House, was formed early ; while groupes of ten or a
dozen were seen in warm debate as to what was likely
to be the result, or listening to some one who pretended
to a clearer insight into things to come than those
around him. An unusual number of police were in
attendance—a precaution that was deemed necessary,
by the authorities ; but their functions were wholly un-
called for. The crowds were perfectly peaceable, and
indeed good-humoured. Some yokes were indulged in at
the expense of the Government, which recently appeared
to bid defiance to assault, but now seemed tottering to
its fall, from sheer inability to keep its professed sup-
porters [together. Whatever might be the feelings of
those within the House, those assembled without ap-
peared to anticipate the disruption of the Ministry rather
with satisfaction. Scarcely an expression of regret was
uttered for its position. All seemed to concur in opi-
nion that an early termination of its career was inevi-
table ; and to glory in its supposed inextricable diffi-
culties. Within the House of Commons the scene was
interesting and even impressive. The strangers' gal-
lery was filled immediately the door was opened. At
• least a hundred, who had obtained Members' orders,
were compelled to remain in the corridor, where they
waited, in hope that by the retirement of some who had
been more fortunate than themselves, they might get
admission before the debate at which they desired to
be present had come to a close. The lobby was inconve-
niently crowded ; and the police in attendance had coh-
siderable difficulty in keeping a passage for the ingress
and egress of Members. The seats under the gallery
were early filled with gentlemen who had obtained
Speaker's orders ; among others, we observed Lord
Ntorpeth, who, we are happy to say, appeared in good
health. His Lordship took a marked interest in the
scene. By half-past four the House was filled. By a
quarter before five it was inconveniently crowded in
every part ; the Members' galleries not less so than the
body of the House. The reporters' gallery was also
filled, several of the editors of the public journals having
obtained admission thereto, that by personal observation
of what passed they might form a more correct idea of
the actual state of the Ministry, its intentions—the
disposition of the House—and the probable effect upon
the country, than a mere perusal of the debate could af-
fon'. Precisely at five o'clock Sir Robert Peel ea-
tered the House. He proceeded to his accustomed
seat with a slow step ; and evidently under the in-
fluence of subdued, if not depressed feelings. His coun-
tenance indicated—at least so we thought; and the im-
pression was confirmed by the expressed opinion of
those more familiar with his appearance than
ourselves—intense anxiety. Not a solitary cheer
from the Ministerial benches greeted him as he
passed. lie took his scat in silence. After a pause,
the Premier moved that the House resolve itself into
Committee on the Sugar Duties Bill. This was
carried pro forma. The Speaker left the chair, and Mr.
Greene, the Chairman of Committees, took his accus-
tomed seat. The Premier then rose, amid a silence in
so large an asFembly truly impressive. Every eye was
fixed upon him. His manner was embarrassed and
his voice tremulous. For what he said ee refer to tile
ample report of his speech, which we give in the
accustomed place. The only passage-of interest, in a
speech of more than an hour and a Lalf, was reserved for
its close. The oration was dull, stale, and unprofitable.
It was a mere recapitulation of what had been much
better said in support of the Government propo-ition
of Friday, which had been negatived by the House,
and was now re-urged as a justification of the Go-
vernment, ,in adhering to their plan, and calling upon
the House to re-consider and reverse its decision.
The humiliation of Sir Robert Peel was not com-
plete when he closed his disjointed and dull oration.
The silence with which it was listened to, unbroken by
a single cheer to exhilirate his depressed spirits during
its delivery—if we except one from Colonel Peel,
which, though evidently given as a hint as to what was
,expected, was not responded to—was but the precursor
.of severe reproofs, cutting sarcasms, biting reproaches,
and significant warnings, from Members who rose in
succession on his own side of the House, interspersed
with, and relieved by, crushing arguments, and blistering
-reminiscences, from the Opposition benches. Lord
Russell, in a speech of no ordinary excellence,
vindicated himself, and the Opposition generally, from
Oa futile charge of combination which Sir Robert
V 44 had brought against the majority by which his
seneosition had been negatived on Friday evening.
The government obtained a reversal of the vote of
•
slight, and carried its proposition • but in a way
Friday . abated nothing of the sting 'of the defeat
which has eme originally sustained. A majority of
which its ace
twenty-two tool,:ted its plan. The most extraordinary
p/osed by the Government to gain this
efforts were em
majority. The cater of several of the Mem-
bers of the House has been stamped with in-
consistency, and has received damage, past all
hope of repair, in the estimation of the coun-
try. Nor is this all. Eleven Members of the Op-
position benches—the leaders of the Anti-Corn-law
League—conceiving that the Ministerial plan promised
to advance with greater rapidity the abolition of all
import duties --voted with the Government. These
eleven gentlemen, ultra free-traders, reckoning twenty-
two on the division, constituted the precise majority by
which " the strong Administration" of Sir Robert Peel
was saved from defeat, and consequent dissolution!
And yet the Right Honourable Baronet had the indis
cretion to talk of unnatural combinations of parties
hostile to his Government! Can any imaginable com-
bination be more unnatural than that by which he is
• preserved from the necessity of putting his threat of
resigning office into immediate execution?
' STANDARD.—In the House of Commons, last
ni,ght; Sir Robert Peel stated at great length the reasons
of the course which he had proposed with respect to the
suglr,duties, and the line which he had resolved to pur-
sue if the "louse should persevere in maintaining the
vote of Friday night. It is wholly impossible to do jus-
tice in au abridgment to either portion of Sir Robert
peel's speech. The proof of the sound policy of
the Ministerial arrangements, and of the mischief
that must' follow the adoption of Mr. Miles's resolution
was complete.' The Right Hon. Baronet's treatment of
the political bearing of the late vote was not less success-
ful. Sir Robert Peel, as a Minister of the Crown, pro-
, poses an arrangement in the gravest part of his duties
as a Minister, which arrangement he thinks the beetfor his
Sovereign and country; and which, as he proved last night,
is in strict conformity with all the opinions thathe pro-
' fessed when a leader in opposition, and when the party
to which he belongs recommended him to the favour of
the Grown. Mr. Miles, and a few of the Right Ho-
' *nourable 'Baronet's professing friends, fancying that
this arrangement might "touch their breeches pockets,"
-snake themselves strong by an alliance with the old de-
_ clarectenemies of their party, and, by a surprise, stcal
a vote against the Minister. The Minister declares
that. if this vote be not rescinded he will not remain in
office ; and what unfledged biped, except a Whig; would
' ;submit to the ignominy of remaining in office without
power'? Yet this is called tyranny on the part of
t3ir Robert Peel. ' Now it seems to us, that the
tyranny is all on the other side, all on the side of
' those who, by concert and arrangement with their
.own and his political enemies, would compel a
Minister to act according to their will. Mr. MileS
and-. his friends they were who placed the question
- , Lithe position that the minister must obey the party, or
clerty the minister ; and the minister would be, in-
„uew, ellasvorth of his station if he should submit to them.
irerc are a`great many circumstances essentially dis-
idling 'this case from the cases of the Factory
13_ 'Dill
ild,tem-Disaenters' Chapels Bill, on both which
we think the Government might have Yielded without dis-
. credit: 'The Factory Bill and the Dissenters' Chapels Bill
• we're not Mee
sur s necessarily within the routine duty of
thee Geeernment ; any Member of either House of Par-
liament iii- free _to; ring in such Bills—to abandon
either, therefore, would not be to neglect an
tiuty. The revers9,iri all respects, was the case with the
Augur Bill. The opposition that, the Government met
-with upon the Factory and DisSenters' Chapels Bills was
not factious, was certainly not intended for the purpose
of either displacing. or bullying the Government,
or working any private job. The names of the
leaders of that opposition prove the perfect purity
of the motives which urged it. Lord Ashley and Sir.
Robert Inglis are not men to soil themselves with
the"mime- of faction ; and the hundreds of thou.
sands. of petitions out of doors, even without the
vouchers of such high and spotless names, must
acquit •the opposition to the Factory and Dissenters'
r'ilaapels Bills of being the effect of hostility to
the Government or of any unworthy, intrigue. Mr.
Miley s resolution had no high names to vouch for
its hon gstY, had no support out of doors to prove its
national 'popularity ; and so ill concealed had been the
disgraceful '-intrigue which led to the coalition move.
• anent, that it was known in the early part of last
-week —on IFiiday we ourselves copied from the
:?Kerning Herald a very angry article denouncing
tte trick, at least, sixteen hours before it was
played. This was a kind of hostility to which no
'Minis ter could submit, and to which no Honourable
party c,'Nuld suffer itself to be permanently committed ;
stecortiqett4.leqiist njght_Mr. Miles's resolution was, upon a
motion of 614 t• Robert Pe-A, in effect rescinded, by a ma-
ef 255 s'e 233. The debate was long and aniinated.
s We ha.vi'aireitsie- spoken of the speech of Sir R. Peel, the
sinialext best speed; sew Lord Stanley's ; but Mr. liemble
sae tut the whole seseasseee in en admirably clear light, by a
r,lew words which procsiti eed a great effect. Mr. D'lsraeli
••
made a speech which iterPrieed some, but whiCh will not
imistonish any one who true; appreciates this empty over-
:leafed person. Ile, Mr. 131VrainlYivraeli wa -of
pleased
Lo talk of the servility of the Ces:servatise r ty'of m
(sus the Chancellor of the Exchequer happily ;20En rkd
44 at least Mr. D'lsrael's equals in point of rank,
eeis
)
station, and birth, and in the consideretion of the
t senntry." They had need to be tilat,. certainly