The Sun. — 1847-12-14 (London, England)

NORWICH. coercive measures, and declared that they hoped to appease the disturbed districts by penal enactments of extraordinary stringency, then, indeed, there would be justice on the side of the Irish Members when protesting against such a course. But such is not the desire of the Executive. Several measures of great importance have already been announced. The monster grievance of Ireland is to be abated—the state of the relations between landlord and tenant is to be placed upon a better footing—facilities are to be afforded for the disposal of encumbered estates, and a more solvent proprietary given to the country by means thereof. The Grand Jury laws are to be remodelled, and although there are many other points on which legislation is required, we have no reason to suppose that the Ministers will stay the progress of the necessary reforms, or that they will not proceed with all due diligence to the enactment of such laws as may be required by the condition of the country.. All, however, cannot be done in a moment. Some time must elapse, even under the most propitious circumstances, before the beneficial effects of the proposed ameliorations can be fully realised. In the meantime, from whatever causes they may have arisen, crime and outrage have attained a fearful height in some localities. The restraints not merely of the law are set aside, but every dictate of religion and morality is violated. Human life is disregarded, and blood is unhesitatingly shed on the most trivial pretexts. We do not believe that the people generally are implicated as consenting parties in these sanguinary transactions but that they are intimidated by a few miscreants,, who, already stained with every crime, and with their lives forfeited to the offended laws, unhesitatingly commit any new atrocity. Granting to the fullest extent that this state of things has arisen in consequence of the bad government and the unjust laws of former days—assuming that its origin has been accurately pointed out by the opponents of the Bill— surely that forms no valid reason why the reign of terror should continue, and the assassins be permitted to pursue their murderous course without molestation, until more equitable laws shall have produced a better state of society. The contemplated remedial measures form the strongest grounds for the concession of the moderate powers demanded. The outlawed disturbers of the peace must be taught that the law is sufficiently powerful, and cannot be violated with impunity—its majesty must be fully vindicated. They must not be permitted to boast that the measures which have emanated from the justice and equity of the United Legislature have been extorted from their fears, or that a course of reckless illegality will be more effectual in procuring the desired ameliorations than one of honest industry, and the proper discharge of the duties incidental to their several positions. Mr. JOHN O'CorisiELL and his associates, however, insisted that nothing should be done to put down those outrages, to protect the peaceable inhabitants, or to enable the proprietors of the soil to reside on and improve their properties, until the other measures were introduced—measures in which no effectual progress could possibly have been made until after the recess. They appeared to forget that Parliament had been assembled under most extraordinary circumstances, and at a most unusual season of the year ; they would make no allowance whatever, but wasted the public time in opposing a Bill, against which no valid or sufficient objection could be assigned, and thereby materially damaged their own characters and destroyed whatever influence they might formerly have possessed in the House and with the country. The loss of the late lamented LIBERATOR was never more apparent than when the Member for Limerick attempted to act as leader o: he Opposition against the present Bill.  always been perfectly sane, and he was restored to society. All these cases prove that an inquiry before a jury is the only safeguard for the liberty of the subject, who may chance to be accused of insanity, and we confidently trust that the present reforming Government will not suffer this crying grievance to remain much longer unredressed.  To the Lord Bishop of  The Yesavio steamer has arrived at Marseilles, bringing intelligence from Sicily to the Ist. At that date considerable agitation prevailed in Palermo, and the Governor, to appease the people, had been obliged to promise the immediate adoption of measures of reform.  The Madrid mail had not arrived in Paris when the post left.  We have received the Paris papers of Sunday. It was rumoured in Paris that