The Sun. — 1839-07-25 (London, England)

THE. SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1839.  BtriictUre. Many noxious systems, we are well aware, have had no better origin than a temporary event shattering the nefves of eritiiihal Politicians \ but such a general fact is rather a warning than an encouragement to pursue the same course. If it be affirmed that there are many other circumstances, in the present condition of the people, such as the prevalence of Chartism, which justify these new measures, independently of the Birmingham outbreak, we answer that Most of them were well knoWn three months ago, and that nothing has lately happened, except it, to give such a sudden impulse to coercive legislation. If these circumstances make the measures necessary they ought to have been brought forward before ; and it at once throws suspicion on the motives of their authors, that they profit by a moment of terror -to procure the passing of laws which ought to he calmly debated, and can only be justified, if founded on circumstances as permanent as the laws themselves. The best weighed legislation is very imperfect ; laws made in a hurry must be mischievous. A sonnet thrown off at a heat may be excellent, but a law so manufactured makes the short-sighted evil passion of a moment the rule of an empire for many years. Shallow men, who are caught by words, and whose reasoning consists in ill understood analogies, exclaim Would you stand reasoning when the house is on fire ? First of all put out the fire, and then deliberate on what else you shall do. The answer to them is, that the fire is out—Birmingham is secure—the ebullition, the row, is at an end. But do these gentlemen ever reflect on what caused the fire ? Large armies, burdensome police, heavy national, county, and parochial debts, are the sources of the national difficulties and the national discontent. Men hate to be coerced even for their presumed benefit. To be plundered, though in the name of the public good, excites their anger. All the measures proposed are additions to the causes of the evil. Those who bawl out arc, in fact, adding fuel to the flame. They may heap such a quantity on as to extinguish it, but the greater probability is, that the air will blow through, that the storm will arise, and the conflagration be extended. Gentlemen who reason from analogy should examine all the circumstances, or when they handle fire they may burn themselves. The particular measure of the three, on which we shall say a few words more, is that for establishing a police in Birmingham. It is plain that this town is torn by factions. There are Tories as well as Whigs and Chartists in Birmingham. The Tories hate the Corporation, as is plain by what has been said in Parliament. They say, in their Address to her NIAJEsTY—  " The Incorporation of the town has not promoted the good order, or conduced to the prosperity of the inhabitants; but, on the contrary, local agitation has been increased, and local feuds engendered, offices of honour and emolument have been monopolized, general dissatisfaction prevails, and the inhabitant. of this populous and important borough are threatened with heavy rates to support a Municipal Government which is entirely destitute of their confidence."  The Corporation party, however, is anxious for the police and the rates ; and the Ministers seem desirous to serve them. The consequence will be, that the police so obtained will be regarded as a party force, and noc have that respect and con• fidence which a force intended for the preservation of order ought to have. Established as an opponent of Chartism, the Chartists, many of whom are respectable citizens, though misled politicians, will hate the instrument of their protection, and the police will be inefficient. Its main and permanent object is to repress crimes, to prevent thefts, murders, and outrages ; such a force should have the cordial support of all honest men ; and the inevitable tendency of forming it on the spur of the moment, on the demands of the Whig Mayor, and out of dread of Chartism, is to enlist against this useful instrument of order, all the Tories and all the Chartists. Such will be the consequence of legislating in a hurry and from fright.  If the object which the Marquis of LONDONDERRY had in view in bringing the state of Spain under the consideration of the House of Lords on Tuesday evening, was to create a public diversion in favour of Don