The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-24 00:00:00

//1 ~~`~2~~~~

-erring man is not, and another undeserving man is,
rewarded ; the distribution of patronage cannot
please the disappointed ; but when that is nearly
all that ever is or can be urged, we are bound to con-
clude that the Executive Government is mild, honest,
and impartial.
Nor is there much to complain of in the adminis-
tration of affairs in other respects, in which, perhaps,
the law lays down no rules. Peace has latterly been
preserved under difficult circumstances, both at home
and abroad, without any extraordinary means: The
army is in a good condition; the navy is safficient for
all present useful purposes; the police is effective; the
magistracy are vigilant; and all the functions of the
Executive are diligently performed.. If there be aught
to complain of, it is that the Government meddles too
much, though its motive's be humaae. We desiderate,
too, that the Government should trouble itself less
about other nations ; but with these exceptions, the
Executive Government not only administers the law
firmly and impartially, but where its discretion is re-
lied on it acts discreetly and prudently.
Though this is a fair description of the Executive
Government, and completely exonerates her MAJEATY
from all blame on account of the condition of the
people, the Government, considered as a whole, is ne-
vertheless responsible for the terrible calamities which
now oppress the lower classes. In truth it combines
both the legislative and the executive powers, and it is
by making laws, not by executing them, that h ceases
these evils. The thebry of our Constitution is the
complete separation of the legislative from the execu-
tive powers (and many fine sentences have' been
turned to show that the Constitution would he over-
thrown when the Legislature was more corrupt than
the Executive) ; but the practice of our Constitution
is to unite both the legislative and executive powers
in the hands of the same Minister. The instant he
ceases to control the Legislature he is obliged to resign
his post as Minister. Sir ROBERT PEEL, tor example,
and his Cabinet, are exclusively the authors of the
Income-tax, the present Corn law, and the Tariff; and
they will carry these laws into execution. We re-
peat, therefore, as a truth of some importance, that
the executive power in England executes the laws'
fairly and honestly, and it is the legislative powek
placed in the hands of the same Ministers who wield
the executive power, by which the -evils we suffer are
caused.
It would be inexcusable, in fact, in any Minister
who can govern the Houses of Parliament, to strive
after any end without their sanction. Why should
he be a tyrant against law, when he can clothe his
will, be it what it may, with the solemn s6netion of the •
law ? Why, for example, should he summon the Lon-
don bankers, and compel them, on pain of imprison-
ment, or banishment, or death, to give him any sum
he requires—as the Grand Vizier calls to him the Ar-
menians of Constantinople—when he can, by means of
an obsequious Howe of Commons, procure a laW to
make every man give him 3 per cent. of his income 1'
Or why should he trouble himself, like a celebrated Ca-
liph, to visit his city at night to notice that order is
observed, and put an end to licentiousness, .whets he
can, from apparently the best motives, proeure a law
to close all public-houses at any hour he thinks fit ?
It is not the executive, therefore, it is the legislative •
power—it is the law itself, not the mode of adminis-
tering it, which is, we conclude, the source of the
public unhappiness.
The complaints of the people, at presents consist'
tently with our remarks, are not directed against the
throne, nor against the Ministers as the servants of
the throne, but against class legislation. The laws
are faulty, whether they be the offspring of sordid
selfishness or of ignorance. 'The Monarch and the mo-
narchical power are the creatures of the laws, and, to
produce prosperity and happiness in the oommunity,
the laws must be amended. That we should imme-
diately have better laws by enlarging the basis of the
constituency, and new forming the Legislature, we
are not prepared to say ; but when we find the bulk
of the people sunk in poverty and 'wretchedness, we
are driven to the conclusion that even the mob could
not make more injurious laws than those which •now •
exist. We are somewhat afraid, while the notion is
encouraged that every possible evil can be repressed
or cured by laws, that, by recasting the Legislature,
we should rather effect change than ensure improve-
ment.

It is now plain that there are too many laws, and
that a Legislature, consisting of a great body of ac-
tive, busy, stirring men, such as the two Houses of
Parliament, or such as we should have under any
more popular mode of constructing it, must add to
the evil. For this prurient desire to encumber the
statute-book with new regulations, which is only a
mode of one man meddling with the affairs of an-
other•, we confess we know no remedy ; but we hope
something from the conviction of their inutility,
which experience will bring. We shall only hint
further, that laws to protect rights, to do justice be-
tween man and man, are very different from lawi to
regulate trade. It has been often demonstrated that.
trade has laws of its own, while the passions of
man require to be regulated and subdued.
Though it may be necessary, therefore, f3r the
lawgiver to prescribe and enforce the duties of man
to man, for him to regulate trade is mere, surplusage.
It is a wanton interference with that which natare
has ordained and regulates, by establishing different
climates, and adapting different countries to different
productions. When we are able to keep the law-
maker from interfering with trade, however the
Legislature may be composed, we shall h.are obtained.
the means to relieve the statute .book of a vast num-
ber of unnecessary laws.

THE TARIFF,—The Customs Bill has received in •
Committee four additional clauses, three of which are
important. Clause B declares that all manufactures of
Jersey, Guernsey, Sark, or Man, made of foreign mate-
terials liable to a duty when imported, shall be con-
sidered for the purposes of duty as the produce of, and hr.-
ported from a foreign country. Manufacturers of Arlen
and cotton in the Isle of Man are exempt. Clause C
establishes a drawback for foreign rough rice when ex-
ported which shall have paid duty on entrance. Tho
drawback is to be equal to one-fourth of the duty paid
on the rough rice. Clause I) gives a considerable ad-
vantage to the holders of foreign corn in bond, by allow-
inn a certain per centage for waste. On wheat, barley,
and rye, kept in bond o e month and less than three
months, 14 per cent. is allowed ; three months and !me
than six, 2 per cent ; six months and less than twt(lve,
24; twelve months and upwards, 3 per cent. On oats
the allowance is, one month and less than three, 2i per
cent.; three months and less than six, 3 pt r cent ; six
and less than twelve, 4.1, ; twelve and upwards, 5 per
cent. On Spanish wheat, barley, and oats, and wilco%
and barley kiln dried abroad, the allowance is only one
half ; on rye kiln dried there is no allowance. This
regulation will render the owners of corn liable to pay
less duty on dm quantities they hold by the per centag..3
we have mentioned, according to the length of time it
has been warehoused. No such regulation we believe
previously existed, and it will confer a groat advantage
on the corn dealers.

The Memorial de Rouen, in order to show the in-
jury done to the French linen trade by the increased
amount of the imports of English threads and cloths,
quotes the following as the imports received at the Rouen
custom-house only the first five mouths of 1841,
the quantity of linen threads imported amounttd to
1,235,000 kilogrammes, and, in the corresponding period
of 1842, to 2,177,000 kils. The quantity of linen cloths
in the tire months of last year, was 7,440 kits., and of
the present year, 124,089 kils., so that, says the Memorial,
the quantity of thread has been doubled within the year,
and that of cloths has been increased seventeen times.
The exports from the same port
,have, on the contrary,
diminished, for, during the first five months of 1841
the quantity of thread exported amounted to 81,100
kils., whereas, in the present year, it has only amounted
to 1,880 kils.
THE EARTHQUAKE KS ST. Dostiseo.—\Ve have
received further interesting particulars of the late extraordi-
nary earthquake. It was felt on the 7th ult. at Jeremie, but
no damage sustained. The water changed from four to six
feet in the course of a few minutes. Whether the ride rose and
fell, or the island settled, and resumed its position again, and
proeuced that effect, was subject of much speculation. The
destruction of Cape Haytien was complete, only two buildings
left standing. The earthquake happening on a market day,
great numbers of persons were in the city from the ceuntrv,
together with mules, so that the loss of life was greater. It
vas thought that 4,000 persons perished, besides great numbers
of mules and other animals, and such was the stenek arising
from suth a m,ss of dead bud es, that no persrn could long re.
main in the place. lt is said that Port au Platt was entirely
destroyed, though but few lives were lost. The mountain m
the resit- of St. Mares vas rent asunder, so that teams
passed
through the aperture.—New York Herald, Jane 5.
The steam ships of the Antwerp Company, which
arrived at the St. Katharine's Wharf, Tower, on vved
needai
and yesterday, were the Bruges, Captain Main, from Osten
and the Antwerpen, Captain Jackson, from Ant n The,
passage from Ostend was made in 1212 hours, sad
ours, luau Lout
Antwerp in 19 hours.
The Radcliffe Trustees have .
given a donation of
one hundred pounds, to that useful
pe institution, the Royal Dis-
pensaryf or Difeases of the Ear an-street, Soho-square.
,VARRIAGE IN HlGllE—Y.esterday moaning
the marriage between Sir Thlormas. —Winnington, Dart., and
Miss Dotnvile, the accomplished daughter of Sir Compton and
Lady Domvile, was solemnized at St. George's Church, Ha-
nover-square, by the Archbishop of Armagh, before a select
circle of relations and friends of both parties.
Dying the thunder-storm yesterday afternoon, we
regret to state that the electric fluid struck the spire of Colon
Church, and did owe damage.— Cambridge Advertiser.