The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-04-15
EUROPEAN INTELLIGENCE THE NIAeARAs



The European mails by the steamer Niagara reached this
CITY ON Monday evening The London Times OF March 26
furnishes the following comparison between the popular
forms of in the United States and Great Brit
ain: .ae
By coincidence of occasions the great Angloaxon
communities of the world WILL in the space OF single
month"; have laid the foundations Of new governments io
their respective countra In America these altenatons Oh
policy proceed according to fixed laws and Win tue reg
lay OF machine After four years OF Office the PRESIDENT
and administration of the United States are absolved rom
their duties on the 4h March, and the clock strikes
IL that day the existing government gives place 10
another In England the course OF affairs Is different Inc
Usher OF the Black Rod can indeed convey to our egisa
tive body brief words the tdngs that dispersion
awaits them the event. except that 1t must occur once
in years is not assigned to any liked season or pc
Rod 1t Is accident alone which this occasion has
brought the constitutional soemnties OF the two countries
into signal and striking contrast nor do we think that
upon temperate reflection comparison OF the rival nsti
tnons will leave much TO repine at on this side OF the
Atlantic.
The American Congress, according to pure democratic
theory may certainly appear be absolutely Gre
alton the people than the British House of Commons for
the numbers of constituency determine the numbers Gifts
representatives votes taken by ballot and members are
paid We do not pretend indeed to doubt that Congress
does give effective representation of American opinion
but Congress not the only in the State established
by popular election The President himself the head Of
the administration is alao appointed in the poing-booths
of the country and have recently witnessed the thor
oughy eeconeerng character of which this mighty con-
yond all question person the choice of the people, but the
suages given without power of revocation and they
commit the great constituency Of the Union for four years
together many most important points, to the guidance
and policy of single man. An American adminisira-
ton cannot except by solemn and express renewal OF
public confidence last longer than four years but four
whatever may be its mistakes its Incompetence or its per-
versy nor is any opportunity afforded to the public of
reconsderng its resolution There is no "appeal to the
country consultation of "the Constituencies swami
of confidence vote practicable At the appointed PERIOD
indeed the constitutional fabric will be submitted to the
people for reconstruction but until that hour arrives the
electoral decision cannot be rescinded President Pierce
might if he had pleased have disturbed or destroyed
the relations Of the Union with State in the universe
sganst all the opinions of his constituents but until the
4h of this month his authority could not be mpeached
his policy eectualy controlled The attributes and power
of this great appointment derived true in the first
instance from the voice Of the whole community but when
the community has spoken the word the VOW is reyocabe
and for certain term of the President and the
pie are indssoluby joined together
With these institutions compare The office of
Prime Minister depends virtually upon the votes of Par
lament could it be retained without the confidence of
the House of Commons but from this House of COM
mons there lies at any time appeal to the constituencies
and Lord Palmerston is at this moment challenging the
judgment of the country as completely as Mr. Buchanan
did last autumn II the verdict OF the constituencies
proves to be such there every TO anticipate his
Iordshp the first minister of the Crown will represent
the decision of the electors with as much fahfuness
the American President Here however the resemblance
ends and the contrastas think to the advantage of
Engand-wl be found to begin Not only do our insti-
gel Of the State when careerng under the impulse of popu
lar will but this will ITSELF is open at all times to
ton revocation. Not only the House Of Commons
be reconstructed but without reconstruction and while
composed of the elements it withdraw at brief
notice. that confidence which the administration relies 1t
is under necessity of waiting for fixed period of endu
ring the miseres of isarred union till the appointed
hour divorce and release vote Of of
fdence be moved by any member in the house. and il
carried will subyert the government Such creature as
ed only In the OF Mr. Golden Applied to Ameri-
Institutions the phrase might indeed be justfa-
BILE for there the country stands inextricaby to its first
vote but in England the offices Of government always
held during pleasure. The very Parliament which Lord
Palmerston will have to meet, however his popularity
soon a the s eSas sSnasn %
proceeding the opinion Of the country would support
it. The appreciation justly yielded to the Premies past
services gives him no kind of impuny rresponsbiity
for the future His security does not extend to bis forth
coming policy, except in so far as that policy shall con-
tnue receive public approval The country will not be
tied bound to him in any way whatever. He cannot
commit to any unpopular unpatrotic II in
stead of despatchng such renforcements to China as win
place our counymen beyond the risk of HARM and esab
sh relations with the Chinese safe and respecta
BILE footing, he to adopt the alternative he has him
self described and ender the honor OF England to those
truculent barbarans Parliament would terminate his ad
mnisration without waiting for the 4th of March, 1861.
The country is answering the appeal OF the government
not exempting that government from future accounts
bty voting it definite lease Of power but simply
acknowledging service rendered, and accepting it
pledge for We only augur the future from the
approval of the country by what they have DONE and is
not only in the hope but what is far important
the notorious condition that their policy shall continue to
be satisfactory that the surages of the constituencies
we confidently expect will confirm them in power
We cannot but consider that in the balance of those in
situations the scale of British freedom preponderates and
we believe indeed Notwithstanding the demonstrations
the contrary which might be offered paper that
in the enjoyment OF much genuine political liberty
than transatlantic kinsmen. They stand commit
ted, regards their foreign policy to Mr. Buchanan
of high abilities, doubt and PROFESSIONALLY the
him. they must also keep him. whereas electoral judg
ment however strongly pronounced, will commit to
Lord Palmerson any further than regards the approval
of his past If his foreign policy should become pu-
sllanimous perlous weak wanton, turbulent"
aggressive in the eyes of the legislature he will lose
the support at which he leans and the impending
verdict of the constituencies will avail him ot II
this week recorded in favor of his policy he would be
promptly told that the favor in question: to be worth
thing, must be continuous and that whatever willingness
to support him might have been entertained by Parlia
ment at Its first assembling the confidence of that body
could only be retained by the merits which acquired
ion deserved the appreciation of the constituencies and
believe they will obtain it, but they will not be taken for
better or worse for four years to come.
THE ENGLISH ELEcrIoNs 1f
The Liverpool Times sums up the progress and pros
poets of the contest in the following paragraphs
alt will be seen by reference to our election news that
Lord John Russell mad the largest show Of hands at the
city of London nomination that the popular candidates
Manchester tested by the same standard Messrs.
Bright and Potter being al the nomination
that Mr.. Massey in Salford had the show Of hands
Sir C. Armitage; that the show of hands Sheffield was
in favor OF Messrs Roebuck and Hadeld that the show