Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1868-05-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE SCOTCH REFORM BILL. THZ DITIST OF WIFITTKII.9.  The Times say- :—lf he vote of last ni.l.ht really represents the opinion of the House of Commons, the Government can have no choice—it must either resign or dissolve. But it may fairly be denied that the House has clearly determined to adopt household suffrage without any qualifications whatever; acd before any farther step be taken, the committee on the Scotch Reform Bi'l should have an opportunity of reconsidering their decision. It would be manifestly ahindrd to appeal to the coustituencies, supposing an immediate appeal were in any case admissible, from a decision not ascertained to be the real judgment of the House of Commons. If it should turn out, on a di•iRion, after due notice, and with full knowledgs, that the House coofirms the vote of the committee of last night, the Government must definitely elect between the two ways open to them of terminating the present crisis. The Post says :—We must await the result of the next Cabinet Council before we can safe:y say whether last evening's proceedings will have the effect of modifying the scheme of reform, forcing the resignation of Ministers, or precipitating a dissolution. The Daily News asks what result Can a Minister in a minority anticipate except defeat? If it is Mr Disraeli's desire to meet the wishes of the House. he must acquiesce in its decisions, and will doubtless do so. Ultimately, a defeat more or less, and the surrender of another vital principle, can make very little d.ffereoce to a Governme .t which lives by defeat, and by the extinction of its vital principles. The Standard says :—The present attitude of the House of Commons towards all important political questions affords abundant joatifieation for the determination of a Ministry to make every effort to dissolve as speedily as possible. The Herald says :—lf there could be any further reams for wishiog for the dissolution of the present Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity, it would be afforded by the factious pertinacity with which the majority, which tiow blindly follows the lead of Mr Gladstone, persists its stultifying one after another the resolutions voted, the princiides solemnly affirmed, in the same House. and by similar majorities, last year. After the division list ni2ht the position had become serious, and the tiovernment will now consider the course it !mould adopt. It is whispered in political coteries that the new Ministerial crisis will pass over, but that it will probably be sac iceeded by another, which will result in immediate dis...du ion. So fsr as relates to the difficulty caused by the division on Mr Bouverie's amendment in committee on the Scotch Reform Bill, it is stated that " terms" have been agreed to—that the Scotch members will propose an amendment to disfranchise all who are too poor to pay tow rates, and that the Government will accept it. A in we serioa.s difficulty, however, is anticipated from the oppo-ition ot the Government to Mr Uladstone's :Suspensory Ha and the Owl says that if they are defeated they , wilt at once dissolve, as Mr Disraeli has made up his rrind that he will not resign. The Owl also states that Set. jeiut Armstrong has been informed that no encouragement 11 tse given to his vote of want of confiience by the Opposidoo.  Mrs Grosamith, the wife of a coffee-house keeper in Norton Folgate, London, who was so severely beaten by a youth, named Arthur Mackey. emp:oyed in the house, has died from the injuries she received. The murderer still eludes the police.