Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-05-15
PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT.

/ FROM me London Tunes -iprtt 20.
We arrived at that period of the session in
which the business OF Parliament is usually more or less
interrupted in order give time for the ordinary number
of party conflicts Slightly defined irregulary traced
the limits of party are there il still enough of its
ancient tradition Remaining to make it requisite
who are To 90 To the country at the next election the
representatives of opinions distinct from OF the o..
cupant OF the Treasury bench enter into few grand
conflicts inthe OF the year in order 10 prove To
their bcwdered constituencies that such differences of
opinion do really aid actually exist. To those indeed
perusc the debates scan the divisions of tbc
House of Commons without having before their ewes IN.
actual position occupied 10y the speakers the present
avoWcd differences at party would appear be utterly ill.,
comprehensive. Whatever be the question that l..
raised the violent differences of opinion would seem m
he not between the supporters of Ministers the oppo
ston but between the Ministry aud their supporters
tile hand and the respective leaders of Opposition o
the other Whatever he the question between the dit
fnt sections OF the Opposition at least the most
differences exist On the MAMMOTH question we hay.
the leaders o the Conservative party carefully abenng
themselves while the party itself follows the night the
safe aud moderate guidance of Mr. SpoOner the ed
ucation question have Mr. Henley taking side and
Sir John PIkiugiOn the other On the Jewish question
VI Dsrel votes with the Ministry against his party an
example IN which hc l. la follow. and In
many surpassed 10y the rrcpresibe liberalism the con
sentative Lord Stanley Very necessary il therefore
for both parties to rally to their standard i'm order
convince themselves and the country that there still
parties, aud their points of agreement still more
numerous than those of divergence.
Yesterday Lord Palnerston and Lord Derby rallied their
respective hosts in order Ia animate Tor the coming
conflict and to breath into them il possible the shirt of
accord aud unanimty. We divine the topics which
these eminent respectively used the flag
gine zeal aud counterfeit the giowing dsuniou Of ;eir o
lowers. We may however, he permitted offer on be-
half OF the public OF those observations which occur
TO the minds OF all Who, apart from the Influences While:
party exercises contemplate from national point of view
the proceedings OF our representatives III Parliament No
member OF the House OF Commons, We apprehend ought
toioget that il his duty to consider every question
double point OF Vie~rst it relates his convictions
aud interests an individual member secondly il re.
ae 10 the conduct 10 he observed 10y the House of Com
ia its corporate collective capacity. The House
ought 10 have conscience, principles consistency aud
conduct Just a. much A. one of it, members II each
man IA To think only OF himself, and not all OF
bly, of whcl he forms part, there is little reason 10
fear that whatever becomes of individuals the duty of
the whole will be i'll performed Now that Peace has re-
turned II -, We apprehend, OF no very great
quence to the country whether the rns OF government be
placed ia the hands OF Lord Palmerson Or Lord Derby
but IL ~ al tie very last consequence the maintenance
of our Parliamentary system that, whatever Government
the House of Commons decides support it should sup
port with rnness, cons;ancy, and loyalty To profess
confidence in Minister and yet To place him continually
ia minority matters small in themselves but very
important to the prestige and durability OF his Govern
men to Us the greatest Of all possible absurdrs
Yet that il exactly the which the present
House OF Commons pursues, and has pursued from the be-
ginning. Each Government IN succession has been weak
ened and damaged 10y series Of small defeats Were il
that the House Of Commons had Withdrawn confidence
from the present Government aud bestowed other
party, could not Of course, have word say against
]
place, If they pleased Administration led by Lord
Derby and Mr. Disrae and then u await the opinion OF
the country to the proprety Of the charge. What
complain of is tia, without such intention appa.
reuily without serious intention all the House
| OF Commons j. perpetualy, either by lukcwarm SUD.
port Opeu detection weakening the very Government
which. upon the whole, il desires retain in Office
Ministers often placed IN the dilemma Of choosing
between being beaten in the attempt propositions
Gkc that for reforming the civil service or beaten m thu mere
attempt carry them out. The House will force Govern
ment to do what IL has made up it, mind ought 10
he done, nd wiimpede the execution and ritter the
effect o the principles II has adopted Bills that look
formidable the second reading pared down into mo-
thing ~ committee, and IL T. unusual see the Hp
poinment Of select committee agreed to- aud then the
committee packed with members VIGOROUSLY adverse TO
the views with which the inquiry desired.
We have said that such tactics nov habtuay prac
tised against every Government, and have firm con-
vcon that II they continue tn be bad recourse
tonly aud unnecessarily they will very seriously impair the
efficiency Of Parliament II members determined to
cOncede nOtling-f every man is be the slave of h.
individual prepos-essuns aud cOnvicons-f every dyi
sion il to be- regarded with reference hi precise estimate
oits ncrt- Government is only to be- supported when
II exactly hit the views Of each Of it, our
members may indeed be able to give to their constituents
satisfactory account 0 the divisions ~ which them names aI-
pear but thew will give very Indifferent account Of the
great trust committed 10 thcm-thc maintenance 81 our *
i-tng Constitution and the support OF party pledged 10
certsncar aud definite objects. IT, che present. INSTANCE
the Of which Lord Palmcrston has 10 complain
has IN something peculiarly ungacous Tho Government
OF Lord falmerstOn has not indeed, been able To- ter.
nate the with glory. but II has saved the die.
imposed on Vienna. Yet T. the war over
than supporters become lukcwarm aud advcfSafes alert
aud there scrius sna danger that the House Com.
mons will break up our present Ministry without providing
ANYTHING like cieHt substitute. Gratitude know
has little place h. politics. but something We should have
thought, uight have been conceded o the memory 81
such services Lord PsmcfsOn has rendered ~ toe
country especially the notifications 81 the Psarc which
he ha procured ior have only just been exchanged a.
though The benefit itself APPEARS to have been totally tor
gotten.
a letter from Geona dated the 18th Of April SAYS:
"An American clipper Of 800 bnrthen wis on the
" point Of standing Tor Chill. Democratic ideas had il ap
pears lkem lea.IOn ~ le mInds OF The Nm