Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-04-15
Corruption In English Elections.

eectment quite unknown IN the history OF the federal
or State legislatures Of this country Thirteen mem
bers of Parliament have already been Is unseaed, ),
and, from present appearances. many more are likely
to the fale-in other words, to be expelled
from the House for procuring their election through
bribery and other illegitmate influences This is
what is meant by unseating' member The phrase
is delicate synonyme for expulsion
From developments recently made before special
committees of the House. it that the practice
of brbing the honorable and independent" consti:u-
encies of England is almost of universal prevalence
The Times boldly that faithful and thorough in
vestigaon would unSeat" at least one ball OF the
House of Commons while it expresses the opinion
that, out Of 656 the total number of members, at least
600 indebted 10 corrupt agency for their cleo
ton.
member of the Derby administrations The Min
lister of War-was publicly censured for cofrHpt tam
pering with the electoral body The Spectator is in
dgnant al the disgracefu practice and gives the fol-
lowing sarcastic advice to members: ''T they have
cleaned their House of this foul stain, venture TO
suggest that they should prefix dis aud similar mega
ves TO the ordinary ephels they so bespaer one an
other with and far their preliminary careers is
concerned the public will not dispute that the d'shon-
orabe member for SwiIlborough, the ungaant admi-
raj, the member for Cheaem, the ignoble lord. the
member for Guzzleown, would be far more appropri-
ate and candid titles of courtesy" This is severe
but not unmered rebuke. The evidence before the
committees exhibits the dishonorabIe ungal ant. and
ignoble members of Parliament, as well as their
thy constituencies, in very unenv able and disgracefu
associations
1t is amusing to see the various shifts, crafty devil
ces and ingenious suberfuges, by which the corrupt
purchase of is sought be concealed One cleo
tor goes into his sisters chamber, looks the bed,
and there finds ten POUNDS He knows not whence
the money came, whose it is, but pockets it-and
votes right Another eIec,or backs into a room with
his hands behind him. and comes out again with mo-
ney in his palm OF course he is ignorant of his gen.
benefacor Another elector buys cattle of one
of the candidates at unaccounable low prices at
very high prices, with an indefinite credit. BY all
such eXpedlents do The honorable members of Parlia
contrive to cloak The bribery and corruption by
which they their seats. OF course then are ig
norant OF the unworthy acts of their agents they
ly know that in the end The representation of borough
COSTS pretty round sum.
Various remedies, more or less stringent, sug-
gested for the suppression of this growing evil 1t is
evident that it is not enough merely 10 disranchse
the borough g unseat' the member. An extension
OF the right of suffrage and the substitution of The bal
lot box for the poll, would doubtless work the
This is the remedy proposed by the liberals out with
very little chance of success the public sentiment of
Great Britain is not ripe for the reform.-Wah. I'm.
Highway of the Ocean.
An article in Chambers Journal, entitled 'Steam
around the Cape" contains the following explanatory
remarks
"Persons who do not pay special attention to nau.
tca matters are likely enough 10 suppose that,
face of the great be dotted over, almost in
every part, with the sails of the countless fleet. This,
however, is not the case the ocean, like the land has
its frequented highways and its wide regions Of lone
illness. If an observer furnished with forty Her
scheeIescope power of vision, conld be elevated TO
height great enough TO give him view of the
whole AT antic he would be struck by behoding hun
dreds OF vessels following one another upon certain
lines along very irregular course, while very
large portion OF the surface not sail would be vsl
bic.
Thus he would see the ships which leave this
country for the Cape India pursue at the first a
south westerly course until they reached the neigh
horhood OF Madeira, then keep more directly 10 the
south, at safe distance from the African coast, until
they crossed the line then stretch away again to the
south. west, in the direction of South America till
they gain the of westerly winds; and finally,
making rather sharp turn into these winds, go how
ling along before them to the eastwa d till they arrive
at the Cape, else, if directed pass the south
ward of it.
"On the return voyage similar crcui,ous route is
pursued although the courses are in extent re.
versed the widest circuit, deviation from the direct
ine being made in the northern instead of tie south
ern hemisphere. In The extensive spaces either
side of these frequented routes few vessels will be
seen Here and there an African trader might occa-
slonaliy be perceived, dodgng from port to port
SLAYER scud ing swiftly the ocean-perhaps
with royal cruiser following steadily upon her track,
like fierce bloodhound in pursuit.
HoRRoRs OIL THE NORTHERN CITIES Within the
last week or two, the annals of crime in the Northern
cities have been swelling by of the bIackest
and most startling deeds. We have seen the rare ex-
ample of giving his testimony against his father
and convicting him OF horrible murder in Phladel-
phla. followed by another son giving his testimony
in New York against his father, and that father the
murderer of his own wife in the most brutal manner
Then there is the mother in New York stranging her
babe, from shame of its complexion, it being the
offspring of ANAL yamation. Then horror of horrors
we have the mother endeavoring to destroy her little
hoy, three years old, because she had nothing 10
give him TO eat, and had rather kill him than see him
suffer! These horrors under the very noses of
those self styled phanthropiss who ever busying
themselves in the behalf of the poor slave who does
not know what misery is until he gets into their hands,
Let these look around them. The Greeks are all
out doors %
A BEAR SHOT WITH A CANDLE.-..A A few DAYS ago j."
says the Toronto Coonist &c large bear, owned by
Mr.. Privat, who resides the Peninsula, opposite
Toronto, was shot in rather novel manner-a COM
mon candle having been put in place of ball into the
gun. The candle entered Immediately behind the ear,
and almost Instantly deprived the animal Of life The
carcase was afterwards exhibited BY the purchaser
Mr.. Steers at the of the market block 1t was
very fat, and was about four years old We have no
noubt but Mr.. Steers will do we'll by his purchase"
N. Y, Spirit of the Times
ETIQUETTE "A correspondent of the New York
Tribune, writing from Havana thus notices the GER
emony attending turn out to a fire in that city:
"A Spaniard, who arrived at the place soon after
the fire showed itself found the 6remen of the place
ranged front of the building inactive, while the
flames were devouring everything in their way. He
asked why they did not commence to extinguish the
fire They replied that their chief had not come
and they were waiting his commands In quarter
of hour the chief appeared and ali the other au-