Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-04-23
9s Scbaas oarn S1aSS6M.
SATURDAY Morning, .IpriE 1:s.
ENGLAN ..

second reading in The House OF Commons by a ma
J''y OF one vote ayes Coz COL the fullest vote
oy 20, ever taken in the House OF Commons and The
very iuiiness OF which. shows the high excitement
ot the public mind The debates which preceded
IT, were also of unparalleled duration for I'm, body
winch generally dispatches questions which Affect
The world. IN less time than Virginia Icgsla ,urc
requires 10 debate road bill The fate OF the Re-
form bill vas uncertain Another vote was 10 be
taken IN the Commons, and Il nigh, there be rcjec
tod In the House of Lords, it appears unrea soma
Die to our minds to calculate uron It's success S,r-
Nng at the Ars'ocrocy, tina, House must naturally
resist it. Passing by so slender a majority If II
should pass i'll the House of Commons il would pro
sent itself TO the Lords backed by too little moral
force 20 intimidatc them into compliance. This how
ever, may be supplied by the state Of things III the
ccuntTy-by tho unanimitv and excited state o. pub
c ieelng-by the Press, winch supports reform in
the proportion Of five to one. If tho ministry failed
IN carrying the measure, would be the first instance
we think where a ministry had failed sustained both
by the throne and the people; and thus sustained
they would not resign in other cases, where they
were left in mInoritics. Holding still that power IN
Parliament, which they have lost in moral point Of
view, the ArIstocracy may defeat ;hrs immediate
Ming, the vast majority of the nation and tho prn-
cip'cs Of the age they cannot hold on, long Upon
the contingency Of the loss of the bill, the London
Courier Of the 22d March, has the following spc-
cuation:
"To-nIght, probably, the discussion will close and
not in1probably, the opponents OF reform will have n
temporary triumph, for It'sis not TO be expected,
where there are so many personal motives for oppo-
Suoh' that measure OF SO extensive nature, will
pc IN Ire !rst instance, carried by the ministry.
dissolution of Parliament. however, will oniire,
change he face Ut things, for In, ministers will not
OILY have the " crty boruuglis now IN the hands of
the cX Minister'S from the exercise OF their patronage
"heh III olhcc, but an accession of noariv forty
menbcTs for counties and open towns, the present
representatives. of which have sIGnfied their ncn-
t!on OF ing against the bill, but whose constltu-
cnts nave declared against them the reform ques.
ton These. added To the increase Ireland would
give large majority IN favor OF the bill and unless
matters have changed materially within the last Two
ho.rs, TO morrow will bring Ministerial trump, or
dissolution OF Parliament"
! But whai Is the nature and what will be the con
sequence of the reform proposed if it take eject
1t IS pronounced Revolution in the Government.
SIT Robert !ng!ess IN opposing it, said 'if the
sure were carried, whatever intention the Noble
lord (itussci) might feel to allow the Peers to sit
quietly III their House, IT would sweep tic House Of
Lords clean in the of ten years." Sir Charles
WcthetIii said Gin Cromwclls times Their, was IN
troduccd what was called purge of the IIousc of
/ Commons "a augh.) This was called Col Pridc's
pnrge but within the last few days purge had
been introduced which he would designate Russcl's
purge (Grsat Laughtcr) and, continued the learned
member, say that Russcs purge i, rcpujNcra
III It's bGsls II; basis destructive Of the principle
/ OF the Constitution" MIR. Barring said, the mea-
sure not merely alteration in the Legislature
but would have the effect Of giving ncrC Consii,-
Gon 10 The country" Mr.. Duucsmbe pronounced
hc plan Of reform, Revolutionary with respect Il
the Constitution and Government of the Couatry.
Hr. TCnnyson sad 'the King and the People o
England wcrs at length, happily united in the same
cousc. The King and Ministers were at length. rhc
true friends Of the people! The battle to be fought
vas that Of he King and tho People against the Oh
igarchy, and government would not shrink from then
proposition" The Lord Advocate or Scotland
Jeffrey stated the point with the most acute dciica
cy md truth "Thn difference, he SAID between tic
friends md opponents Of reform was thisthc friend,
OF reform were afraid Of the consequences TO tho
comiry, of denying the people their Just rghts-thc
opponents we're afraid Of tho consequences Of grant
/ ing thcm 10 hems,lrcs -
Who does not read in t,.cso indications, the true
nature of the pending struggle? fail 20 per-
ceyc, that Reform is but another name for RcPub j.
cansm--to the introduction Of which into the Go
vcrnmcnt of England things arc setting with cur
rent steady, accumuntng, and which mast finally
become irrcsiatible2 The reform proposed docs ro
destroy tho principle Of tho English Constitution-
on tho contrary it completes The concc ption-roi
that conception was that tire Coumons should cnIoy
the nscendcncy in iher House. which the Peers
held in the House Of Lords--wlilo tho Executive
the Ais ocrocy ara the Commons, the co'atcs con
si'uiiug the Government, coch dschorging tie ap-
proPriac functions, wcro to opeInie q check on,
upon tie other, in the practical administration o
the Government. TO wrcst the boroughs from ,ac
Arsitocracy-tO enlarge the number Of suRagons
and rhus 70 fuil and fair and real rcprcson-
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