The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-09 00:00:00

a: ;n,

LONDONr
SATURDAY MORNING, JULY 9, 1842.

The debates on Mr. WALLACE'S, and on Mr. BANNER-
MAN'S motions, are some of the most important of the
Sesiion. Their measures certainly want the one great
recommentlation of all Sir ROBERT PEEL'S measures, the
certainty; namely, of being carried ; but they have never-
theless the higher virtue of being eminently useful. They
have turned the thoughts of Members of Parliament and
of the public in a right direction, and they have convinced
even the Members themselves of the uselessness, if not
ofthe mischievousness, of the measures which they have
passed, because they had the single merit of being pro-
posed by Sir ROBERT PEEL.
Only now, apparently, has any knowledge of the true
state of the country penetrated into the House of Com-
mons, and all the Members, Premier and all, seem

suddenly awakened and alarmed at the consequences of

their own actions. They can no longer disguise from
themsebies the existence of terrible and wide-spread dis-
tress ; nor for one moment doubt that the measures of
Sir ROBERT PEEL have. increased our calamities. Mr.
WA Lt. tCE and Mr. BANNERMAN will not be able to inflict
new laws on the community, but, they have establisheZ.
some important truths. This is one prodigious advan-
tage which the debates they have provoked have had
over most of the preceding discussions.
They seem also to• have had the effect of sifting and
separating parties. -Mr. MoNcEToN MILNES on Thurs-
day spoke and voted against Sir RonEnT PEEL. The
upright and sincere amongst his followers begin to
perceive that-party considerations must give way in the
present awful. state of the country ; and very soon other
re-11,,ctinv tnerslike, Mr. MONCKTON MILNES, will shudder
at bacritieing the peace of the community at the shrine
of Sir ROBERT PEEL'S unprincipled ambiCon.
Lord J. RUSSELL voted one way, Mr. I.it.AcAut.Ay and
Lord Howie': another. The two latter prefer the pub-
lic safety to technical considerations. They come more
to the popular side as their former leader sides with the
Tories. Lord JOHN RUSSELL seems to prefer the Go-
vernment to the community, and he trusts to Sir RO-
BERT PEEL rather than vote for a law which might com-
pel him to act. He speaks and votes under the -respon-
sibility of being soon again in office, and he would
forego the substantial benefit to the public for which
Mr. MACAULAY and Lord HowicE voted, rather than
infringe the power he expects again to wield.
There are, indeed, rumours afloat of a coalition. be-
tween him and Sir ROBERT PEEL, but were it to take
place, what more could their united strength in Parlia-
ment accomplish than has. been accomplished by Sir It.
PEEL ? All his measures are carried, and at the very
moment and height of his triumph in Parliament events
Itve.cc.)inpktely defeated him. He has succeeded in the
'ouse of Otunmotts, but failed in the country. UnSup-
ported by the Press, surrounded by followers
who no longer trust him, shunned and dis-
liked. by opponents, whom he has deprived of
.olliee; while he has been compelled to adopt
einciples of their policy; he is obviously in a far
VOT.,:ft Position after the most brilliant Parliamentary
succor , than when he entered office. A union between
itim and Lord Jon); RUSSELL could not increase their
; and, were it to take place, it would only
Alemage the character of both, without enabling them
vornbined to conquor those events to which Sir IL PEEL
:singly has succumbed. If Lord JOHN RUSSELL cannot
)kope by any union with Sir RoBERT PEEL to enable
fill e. Government to master events, the preferable course
for him is to become, if possible, the loader of that
polio, which is adapted to them, and which is stronger
dtart the present strong Government.
.sir 11. PEEPS dictatorship forced his Bill through the
lla
are
i
~0 of Commons, and thtosaenmweha:nartehse;z
er more
in pro.
as
cuft iedafter they are passed than
orei s. It is singular, too, that before the session is