The Sun.
London, England, 1821-05-14 00:00:00

THE LONDON JOURNALS.

[DAILY EXTRACTS FROM THE MORNING PAPERS.

[MORNING HERALD.]
There is every appearance of actual and pros-
pective quiet at present on the Continent, where
there was recently so much of effervescence and
alarm. Perfect tranquillity is said to prevail in
Sicily and Naples. In the former, it is stated
that the Cardinal Gravina has conciliated all;
whilst, at Naples the people are celebrating the
Easter solemnities with " no drawback upon the
public gladness, but the absence of the heloved
King." The Austrians have occupied the whole
of the places of strength throughout that king-
dom, and are about to extend their protection to
part of the Papal territory. In the latter there
is also every symptom of a return to the usual
state of things under the Government of his
Holiness ; the most unequivocal of which
is the re-appearance of several bands of
highwaymen in the vicinity of Rome. As
to prospective tranquillity, the strongest in-
dication is the undoubted halt of the Russian
Army within the frontier of that empire, and the
arrest and abandonment of military preparations
in Austria, pursuant to orders from Laybach.—
Spain is still vexed and stung by bigotted or de-
luded banditti, inspired with criminal hopes by
the recent events in Italy, and the reported ap-
proach of a Russian army. But the Government,
local • authorities, and militia, are proceeding
against them with vigour and just severity. The
Cortes have taken an important step. It appear-
ing that ecclesiastics were the chief fomenters of
rebellion, a Committee has been formed to exa-
mine and report on their conduct generally.

[MORNING POST.]
The question of privilege lately brought be-
fore the House of Commons has naturally excited
a deep and extensive interest ; and it is not un-
reasonably expected,' that, in various ways, much
good, as well public as private, will result from
it. It has been justly observed, that there is an
unmitigated depravity of heart necessary to the
practices lately resorted to (we may say on both
sides, by the degraded portion of the Press),
from which every well regulated mind must turn
with loathing. • When fair and manly opposition
degenerates into moral. assassination—when do-
mestic peace is assailed, either from the base mo-
tive of lucre, or the wretched desire to wound a
public opponent—when the memory of the dead
is blasted, because the honour of the living is
unimpeachable—when even truth itself is utterly
disregarded; and the ready lie forged to supply
its place—when these practices are resorted to,
in the pursuit of, a pretended political end, it
were surely impossible that any other feelings
should -be excited than those of abhorrence and
disgust, which, to -the honour of our national
character, we now find so generally pervade the
'land. The course pursued by Mr. Bennet in the
present instance has been not only perfectly jus-
tifiable, but highly necessary to the cause of mo-
rality and truth ; and we augur much public and
private good from the pledge which it affords with
respect to the-future conduct of that Hon. -Gen.
*lernan. Libels are too common, not merely
upon individuals, both public and private, but
upon Parliament itself. It is therefore plainly
advantageous to have a Gentleman of Mr. Ben-
uet's vigilance and earnestness, virtually pledged
to lend his assistance in repressing and correct-
ing them ; and that by this proceeding Mr. Ben-
net has so pledged himself is equally clear ; for
it is impossible to suppose that in. what he has
lately, done he has been actuated less by public
than by private feeling or, consideration. When-
ever, therefore, the public tranquillity and wel-
fare are struck at through the character of Par-
liament, which he must equally regard with his
own—whenever ruffianly assaults are made either
upon the leading individuals or the general body
of the House of Commons in particular, which
has the most irksome duties to -perform—whe-
ther the mischief be attempted by pamphlet, news-
paper, or by any other mode—we may now safe-
ly hope and trust that Mr. Bennet will be among
the. foremost to exert his faculties in vindicating
the character not only of individuals of both par-
ties, but that of the House itself, and holding up
to. just. reprobation its pestilential -assailants of:
every description.

[THE TIMES.]
The exercise of the power of commitment by
ithe House of Commons always gives occasion to
ail extremely unpleasant feeling out of the House
and through the country. Nothing can sound
softer in men's ears,or look prettier upon paper,
'than such expressions as these :---,that the ' pri-
vileges of the House are the privileges of the
people ;" " that they are for the good of the
people;" " that the law of Parliament is ,the law
of the land ;" and various other apophthegms of
similar moment. That -the privilege of the
House is in one. sense the privilege of the people,
we will readily acknowledge : the House has
the privilege of making laws for the people ; and
if it performs this its most important duty uith-
'Out obstruction, it seems to have all that is ne-
cessary for its functions : for be it observed, that'
if certain Members of the House of Commons
were ever so scandalously vilified for giving their
support to a Bill, still that Bill, having received
the subsequent sanction of the House, and of the
Lords, and King, would be equally binding upon
-the subject, and be as much the law of the land
as if every Member of the House of Commons
had been the object of the most ardent praise
while the measure was under consideration. It
is clear, therefore, that obstruction' s the. only,
thing which can prevent the House from exer-
cising those functions for which the House of
Commons exists as a part of the Legislature ;
and that abuse or libels may be left to the Courts
of Law without invalidating the work of legis-
lation. This. is a privilege which no one will
contest is for'the general good : .but a privilege of
imprisoning the people, without judge, jury, plead-
ings, counsel, or trial—it would be very difficult
(whatever the fact may be) to persuade the people
that this is a privilege for their benefit or advantage.
Let us look to the election. of -Members, in cases