The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-05-23

most respectfully ask the patronage Oh our
friends
THE ENGLISH REFORM BILL.
Our brethren beyond the sea, it seems, have
their political incubus somewhat analogous 70
the complicated difficulties connected with the
Reconstruction question in this country; at
least in so far as they have both been on the
tapis for considerable period, and are the
source of violent and perpetual agitation. Be-
yond this, we do not desire to push the parallel
The Reform Bill is the rock on which Earl
RussELL's government foundered. BY it, the
present ministry has already encountered sew
eral defeats, but as this WAS doubtless expected
at the time of the accession Of the Earl Of Derby
he and his eoadjutators have not followed the
custom, usual upon such a contretsnps, OF re-
signing their Office. Mr.. DIsRAELI, who ls
the ministerial pilot of the Reform Bill in the
House of Commons, on the beginning Of pre-
sent moath, suffered defeat at the hands Of
his opponents, wings and liberals combined
The particular question that brought the differ
.ence to focus, was Mr.. AYRToN's aEis1G.
ment. Mr.. D1snAEt1-- proposed two years
residence il ooroughs as qualification for
..55tting. The amendment proposed one year,
and was carried by majority Of eighty
one. The Premier, however, had pro-
vided for the contingency by stating that
it was entirely for the House to decide whether
the term of residence required in boroughs
should be year, or year and half, or two
years. Then why, it may be asked, did the
Government not give way ct once, and thus
save the contest, which one would think can
not but weaken their position. because it
had duty to perform" +" says the Saturday Re
risw, ssto the ghost Of conservatism, and that
duty was to seem to fight and be beaten, and
then accept defeat, courageously and cheer
fully, of course, but still as serious and
solemn thing. The leaders Of party must
often go through performances Of this sort,
which are .notsery pleasant to the performers,
but which keep the party together: The Com
servatives, now that they are beaten, do not
mind discovering that they never cared about
the duration Of residence, but they could not
endure toconfess beforehand that they were
Indifferent to any of the restrictions they had
invented" "But this debate, continues the
Rerieso, chad, in one respect more Importance.
It united the Liberal party, for the FIRST time
this session, in defence Of one of the great
doctrines of the party. The speakers against
the Government, and especially the most emf
nent Of them, Sir; RousDELL PALMER, rested
their case mainly on the necessity Of not treat
ing the poor voter in a different way from that
in which the rich voter is treated"
But if the Liberals are so much unit, we
do not see how they can throw the ministry on
any questions. connected with the Reform Bill,
seeing that those old and astuts managers pre-,
fer to yield their prejudioes rather than their
portfolios. They first tried " resolutions" and
failed They next brought in a Bill, against
which there Was to be nothing said on the first
OF the second reading. Thus far they carried
their point But now comes the tug of war.
The Bill is now being submitted to be voted for
by sections. A majority Of 81 against it was
the first reply from the House. The Saturday
Reviewer says: "The Government now knows
about what sized majority it has to face, and if
it was honest in its repeated assertions ct the
beginning of the session., that all it wished for
was to be guided by the House, it ought to be.
very glad to be guided in such an unmistake-
abla way" j -.
" In the further debate on this amend
ment, about the compound householder" on
the evening Of the 9Th, Mr.. BRIGHT said: "The
right honorable gentleman Mr.. DIsRAEII] is
evideply making little progress, and perhaps
if We postpone the matter for a day or two, We
might come to some agreement" And again:
81 want to suggest that we should not 60 into
these points tonight, for, after all, they are
the great points Of the Bill, and the committee
should go into them, thoroughly comprehend: :
ing the changesthe Government now propose,
so that we might, if possible, come to some, it
might be even unanimous, vote. Laughter.
don't despair at ALL" Mr.. BRIGHT then con-
tinued - ,'is:. 80, -" =
It is quite clear the Chancellor OF the EIche-
quer is more disposed to take the House into his
counsel than he was few. weeks ago, and it is
clear, as his friends perceive, that they might as
well swim oyer the river as swim back again. One
is at least as safe as the other il We are really
coming to an agreement. y don't despair that we
may get over this difficulty Of the compound house.
holder altogether and treat him, as is, as goo1
as his neighbor. The right honorable gentleman
said: "Why should We hayea man differently
treated from his next door neighbor ?" using the
language of the right honorable gentleman, the
member for South Lancashire, and others uttered
in this debate. I have sort Of feeling that il
honorable gentlemen opposite would be little
more bold-the least in the -Qaughter)-
after what they have done they need but one more
effort; viii undertake to say that tho Chancellor
Of the Exohequer, though I know nothing but
what have gathered from sitting opposite to him |
in this session, will be more pleased il you give
him power to do o-and he knows as well as know |
what is right than he will by any effort you may
make to keep him from making this bill a great |
1 -.LI- Qo.