The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-03-02

charges of corruption against Irish members,
and the by-blow at King Hudson by Tom
Duncombe, will throw some light on transae-
tions such as it is the declared object OF this
measure to render impracticable hereafter !;
but ali, benedicite! men are but men, and the
act OF Parliament was never yet framed, and
never will be framed, that could put an end to
sordidness meanness, rascality, bribery, and
prostitution. Education will do something;
but even education is no certain cure for the
depravity of human nature. The millennium
is not yet quite at hand; but, nevertheless, 1t Is
an excellent thing to 60 on improving or try
ing to improve, though the arguments may
smack largely of the sanguine and exagge-
rated.
A codifcation of the statute and common
law, it appears, from discussion in the Lords
is also advancing. Ii may be thought full
time that 1t should, when we learn that of
between 10000 and IL 900 statutes, which load
the books, or oracles of the law, only $500
are operative, or, as the report phrases it
living acts" Surely the Ia 900 dead ought
to be dscently buried. If you walked into the
vicinity of any of the courts sitting at the
present time, and saw the hundreds Of law
yers' clerks harrying to and fro, every one
laden with masses of papers 30 bulky that
they stagger under their weight, faint idea
might be conceived of the enormous burden of
legal proceedings in an old law over-ridden
and oppressed country. The evils are enor-
NOUS and an allopathic remedy is loudly
called for.
Upon an important public subject, the claim
OF mercantile firm against the Government of
Portugal, Lord John Russell, on Thursday, re-
ceived oheck-lesson in the House of Com
mona commOn-sense division outvoting the
Ministerial resistance to inquiry by 126 to IA.
The fluctuations in the funds continue to
mark the fever of the times. On Saturday
they rose to one and half per cent. and since
then day has scarcely passed without vari-
ations to the amount of one per cent.
The condition of France is far from satisfac-
tory. Trade is at q low ebb, and all that Gov
eminent can do cannot prevent much misery
among the lower orders.
Ii may be ludcrous, but it is O real, critic
riOn of the evil effects of foreign uncertainties
and home strikes upon the daily business as
well as tho general commerce of the country,
that the demand for VALENTINES at this time
hardly amounts to one-quarter of the custom
airy sale. Cupid has not been declared an alb
Dictated potentate, his church and religion are
not, like the Greeks, in need of protection, but
the loyalty and worship has from some causes
or others fallen off, and the post Office revenue
will suffer IN consequence.
America, as well as England, will regret to
hear that Hollam, the historian, has been struck
by a serious disorder.
The overland Indian mail has brought some
intelligence, but not yet decisive.
The insurgents are stated to have advanced
within eighty miles of Pekin. At Annoy, mat
tiers have returned to their ordinary channel,
and Shanghai has partly persisted under con-
fagration raised by the Imperial forces.
The Governor General of India has arrived
in Burmah, where affairs still seem to require
the presence of superior authority, if not of
military achievements. Capt. Latter has been
assassinated at Rome, and in one quarter we
hear of 5000 dacoils threatening Martaban
and other places garrisoned by our troops.
The death of the Emperor of Japan, reported
by Russian vessels, has been confirmed, and
they say that the Japanese will see nobody for
two years to come, in consequence of the GER
emonials required for 80 great a loss. Will the
American fquadron refrain from their visit on
this account! We hope not
Of Cuba there has been some notice in Par
lament. Our Government are to try the new
Governor for WHILE to ascertain if the slave
treaties are to be observed, or set at nought as
by his predecessors as yet, he has given no
cause of offence.