The results of the ten months session are before us,
ant the time for retrospection has arrived. It cannot be said that Parlia- ment has been altogether idle. Though much has been left un- done which needed despatch, something has been accomplished.
But bow ? The following list of the principal measures of the Government, of whatever men composed, decidedly Conservative . Imprisonment for Debt, in November last—who said, " Wait till the Ballot," and yet Juvenile Offenders,
Benefices Pluralities.di The measures which haveTheen dropped or rejected are chiefly contemptuously tried to shake them off—even these credatees. these—
Controverted Elections Tribunal, There have been important discussions on— show of it, which they once made, the leading Ministers seem The principal Committees have been those on— augmented ascendancy of the Hereditary House is connected.
These tables will refresh the memory of the reader ; and it is it stronger every session. They have not bragged and then not necessary to recapitulate the particular merits or mischievous crouched ; they have not bullied and then sneaked. They have qualities of each bill or proposition. Parliament has granted a executed their threats, and vindicated their assumption of supe- Civil List of unprecedented extravagance. A partial inquiry, riority over the Commons, by deeds of resolution. With an excess conducted but not absolutely controlled by Mr. SPRING 10,,-;„' of stniedity or impudence almost inconceivable, some Ministe- has been made into the less objectionable portion of the Pension- rialists have recommended that a cry of Peerage Reform should list. It is to be expected that the Civil List will be the source of be got up by the people against the Lords, in revenge for the de- much future unpopularity to the Royal recipient ; while on the molition of the DURHAM Ordinances—as a punishment for their other hand, the Pension-list inquiry, though suspiciously indul- interference to prevent the violation of legal forms, and the este- gent, and productive of little present benefit in the Hay of blishment of arbitrary precedents, where persons accused of state economy, will prevent future jobbing in pensions, and ultimately offences are to be dealt with! Why, the Lords—Tories as the effect a considerable saving of money. The bills for regulating Irish Tithes and Pluralism in the English Church are disgraceful majority arc—in this instance have discharged what was once the Whig-Tory jobs. The Irish Poor Bill, inefficient as it is, must honoured function of a Whig Opposition. There is much encourage- ment in the present state of public feeling, is there not, to moot the not be wholly condemned ; since it is likely to open the path to a Reform of the Lords! No, no; it is not on Peerage Reform that larger measure, and certain to invite close public attention to a the country is now intent,—though that toa is a permanent ne- subject too long neglected. The Imprisonment for Debt Bill, though cessity, not to be erased from the tablets of consistent Reformers falling short of the reform needed, is perhaps the most really useful albeit the " Reform" Ministers and the " Reformed " House of measure of the session. The Juvenile Offenders Bill may be coo- Commons have bent their necks to the yoke. mended as a step in a right direction. The Slave Act Amendment The session has been discreditable to the Whigs, and disgust- is, we trust, rendered unnecessary by the entire abolition of the ing to the Radicals—how have the Tories hired ? Very much as Negro Apprenticeship. The Canada Bill, though not standing we expected. In a paper on " Government by her Majesty's alone, is preeminent in infamy. It was a clumsy contrivanc, and Conservative Opposition, •h we warned the Tories that office was has proved unmanageable in the hands of its authors; whose not within their grasp : " Patience, good Tories; carry on the squabbles as to its real intent and true interpretation are a fitting Government for a year or two through the Whigs, without pay or finish to a session in which it figures as the first act. patronage, and then indeed you may come at the pay and patron- Much time has been devoted to the trial of Election Petitions • ?. age." Such has been the policy of the Conservative leaders. in the result of which, more real interest was felt, in the House of They have resolved not to snatch office prematurely, but trust to Commons, than in any other proceedings; for on them depended, a more gradual and sure process of removing the obstacles to a to many individuals the upholding or prostrating of personal long possession of place. This plan of operation, though wise consequence, and to parties the possession or relinquishment of and certain of success, is by no means to the taste of many mem- office. Election Committees, as at present constituted, are said
to be tainted with almost every vice that could exist in tribunals hers of the party. They regard power without pay or patronage pretending to be judicial: yet, though this was admitted on all as of very slight value. They arc galled by the constant intro- sides, sion of Whigs into offices in Church and State, which they have only a very feeble and unsuccessful endeavour to improve them was m Whig leaders talked largely on kindred. Their exclusion from Court favour is another source the subject, and did nothing. The radical vices of the electoral of mortification. And all this must be endured for soma time. system remain untouched; and little has been done to improvePatience, the administration of justice in England. " Patience, good Tories," again we say. Pay and patronage are Valuable information has been collected and published by some The summary of Parliamentary performances and omissions, specting the real character and policy recalling the manner in which each question has been treated, would have sooner passed away ; and
Tor - C` - ' t Spectator, 26th August 1837.
The Civil List Bill, bribery and intimidation—of the Peerage as it is, and of the Canada Coercion, Church as it is." The prediction has been but too completely Canada Indemnity, verified. Even they who would not be convinced by Lord JoHe Irish Poor, RUSSELL'S deliberate and reiterated declaration of Conservative Irish Tithes, principles, provoked by Mr. WAKLEVS amendment to the Address . Imprisonment for Debt, in November last—who said, " Wait till the Ballot," and yet Slavery Act Amendment, would not give up their delusion when Ministers voted against Mr. GROTE—who clung to Lord MELBOURNE when the Premier
The measures which haveTheen dropped or rejected are chiefly contemptuously tried to shake them off—even these credatees.
persons could no longer deny the charge of Ministerial Conserve-.
aim when the Irish Tithe Bill appeared shorn of the Appropshe
The Irish Municipal Corporations Bill, Post.office, tion, and the Whig officials carried a measure in no important re- English and Scotch Prisons, spect at variance with that which they gained office by opposing Lord's Day, in 1835. As regarded measures, they reached the lowest depth County Rates, of subserviency when they submitted to pass the emasculated County Courts, Tithe Bill ; but it was not till the 10th of this month, when Lord Bankruptcy Courts, MELBOURNE, as a consequence of his defeat on the previous night, Copyright, announced his readiness to disallow the DURHAM Ordinances, and Custody of Infants, became a Marty to the gross affront which the Tories inflicted Qualification of Members, upon the Governor-General of Canada, that we saw the extent Bribery at Elections, to which they would endure personal degradation rather than Election Expenses, quit office. In the history of modern politics there is no parallel to this meanness. Lord MELBOURNE cannot, we believe, name Registration of Voters, Sheriffs' Courts, one of his predecessors, since the Revolution, who would not Trading Companies, have spurned office rather than submit to, and without resent- Parochial Assessment. ing, such a disgraceful blow. With political honesty, or the There have been important discussions on— show of it, which they once made, the leading Ministers seem The Ballot, to have lost the feelings of gentlemen. They have become the The Corn.laws, fawning lackies of the Duke of WELLINGTON ; and bend to Breaches of Privilege, do, with whatever loathing, the scornful Lord BROUGHAM'S hid-
The Appropriation Principle, ding. He it is, their cheated Ex-Chancellor, who now tramples
Colonial .Misgovernment, them in the dust, amidst the jeers of the triumphant Opposition. Foreign Policy. With the political and personal abasement of the Ministry, the The principal Committees have been those on— augmented ascendancy of the Hereditary House is connected. The Pension List, The most striking feature in the Parliamentary history of the Joint Stock Banks and the Bank of Ireland, year is the growing power of the Lords. They not only dictate the Railways, measures of Government, with the full admission of a RUSSELL, Church Property, leading the Commons of England, that it were vain in Ministers Police of the Metropolis, and the Commons to contend against them, but they actually Combination, maintain a better position in the country than the House of Com- Transportation, mots itself. They am more respected. They have kept the po- sition they took up after the passing of the Reform Act ; rendering
These tables will refresh the memory of the reader ; and it is it stronger every session. They have not bragged and then not necessary to recapitulate the particular merits or mischievous crouched ; they have not bullied and then sneaked. They have qualities of each bill or proposition. Parliament has granted a executed their threats, and vindicated their assumption of supe- Civil List of unprecedented extravagance. A partial inquiry, riority over the Commons, by deeds of resolution. With an excess conducted but not absolutely controlled by Mr. SPRING 10,,-;„' of stniedity or impudence almost inconceivable, some Ministe- has been made into the less objectionable portion of the Pension- rialists have recommended that a cry of Peerage Reform should list. It is to be expected that the Civil List will be the source of be got up by the people against the Lords, in revenge for the de- much future unpopularity to the Royal recipient ; while on the molition of the DURHAM Ordinances—as a punishment for their other hand, the Pension-list inquiry, though suspiciously indul- interference to prevent the violation of legal forms, and the este- gent, and productive of little present benefit in the Hay of blishment of arbitrary precedents, where persons accused of state economy, will prevent future jobbing in pensions, and ultimately offences are to be dealt with! Why, the Lords—Tories as the effect a considerable saving of money. The bills for regulating Irish Tithes and Pluralism in the English Church are disgraceful majority arc—in this instance have discharged what was once the Whig-Tory jobs. The Irish Poor Bill, inefficient as it is, must honoured function of a Whig Opposition. There is much encourage- ment in the present state of public feeling, is there not, to moot the not be wholly condemned ; since it is likely to open the path to a Reform of the Lords! No, no; it is not on Peerage Reform that larger measure, and certain to invite close public attention to a the country is now intent,—though that toa is a permanent ne- subject too long neglected. The Imprisonment for Debt Bill, though cessity, not to be erased from the tablets of consistent Reformers falling short of the reform needed, is perhaps the most really useful albeit the " Reform" Ministers and the " Reformed " House of measure of the session. The Juvenile Offenders Bill may be coo- Commons have bent their necks to the yoke. mended as a step in a right direction. The Slave Act Amendment The session has been discreditable to the Whigs, and disgust- is, we trust, rendered unnecessary by the entire abolition of the ing to the Radicals—how have the Tories hired ? Very much as Negro Apprenticeship. The Canada Bill, though not standing we expected. In a paper on " Government by her Majesty's alone, is preeminent in infamy. It was a clumsy contrivanc, and Conservative Opposition, •h we warned the Tories that office was has proved unmanageable in the hands of its authors; whose not within their grasp : " Patience, good Tories; carry on the squabbles as to its real intent and true interpretation are a fitting Government for a year or two through the Whigs, without pay or finish to a session in which it figures as the first act. patronage, and then indeed you may come at the pay and patron- Much time has been devoted to the trial of Election Petitions • ?. age." Such has been the policy of the Conservative leaders. in the result of which, more real interest was felt, in the House of They have resolved not to snatch office prematurely, but trust to Commons, than in any other proceedings; for on them depended, a more gradual and sure process of removing the obstacles to a to many individuals the upholding or prostrating of personal long possession of place. This plan of operation, though wise consequence, and to parties the possession or relinquishment of and certain of success, is by no means to the taste of many mem- office. Election Committees, as at present constituted, are said
to be tainted with almost every vice that could exist in tribunals hers of the party. They regard power without pay or patronage pretending to be judicial: yet, though this was admitted on all as of very slight value. They arc galled by the constant intro- sides, sion of Whigs into offices in Church and State, which they have only a very feeble and unsuccessful endeavour to improve trade. The Tory and been long in the habit of monopolizing for themselves and their them was m Whig leaders talked largely on kindred. Their exclusion from Court favour is another source the subject, and did nothing. The radical vices of the electoral of mortification. And all this must be endured for soma time. system remain untouched; and little has been done to improvePatience, the administration of justice in England. " Patience, good Tories," again we say. Pay and patronage are not for you just yet. Feast on the " substance of thingz hoped fin." of the Committees. The Report from Sir WILLIAM MOLES- Unsatisfactory as were our anticipations of the session just WORTH'S Committee on Transportation as a punishment, furnishes closed, on one point they were even too faeourat'le. We did ex- important and original matter for benevolent legislation, pest that the delusion of the honest portion of the Liberals re-
Commons, who could have cl oc. the present Ministers ours, now a twelvemonth old,* it was predicted that the session !,tat a small but active and suggests reflections on the state of parties and of public feeling. independent phalanx would have
which kas just ended would exhibit Conservatism in the ascendant. .oeen formed in the House of In an often-remembered and once grievously-vituperated paper of placing them. But th 'ecked Ministers in their career of
We warned the reader, that there would be " a Government of tint to exercise the power of dis-
Toryism by a known deter
greys has been made point has not yet been reached. Pre- Cystoettiii1ie Ascesis,laucy ; " Spectator, Nib August 1537. ..uera Opposition. Had there been, Sir «11.- C unmasking the deceivers ; but there is Tory principles and practice, whatever its professions may be; a nothing like a V 1 cit. Wm-
u hl would not have stood altuo-t alone a hen he
114- d the very useful service of exposing Lord GLENELG'S perform(' unfitness to govern the Colonies. Sir WILLIAM'S motion de- .-1-„Tes an undeniable truth—at least one which many who re- fused to vote with him admitted. Were that question again isugbt lanyard, it is probable that some who could not be pre- vair9led upon to oppose Ministers then, would not now feel the same obligation to save them from harm. The abandonment of the appropriation has released them from their last bond of at-
tachment to the Whigs. sik
A similar process has been going on " out of doors." Men who even a twelvemonth ago were indignant at the exposure of lysig treachery—who imputed base motives to those Liberals wham Whig professions did not cheat, but who dared to exercise their own judgment on what they saw—are now silent and sub- missive when Ministerial backslidings are shown up. It is a gall- ing but a just remark of Lord BROUGHAM, that though it might be difficult to obtain an extensive popular demonstration against the Whigs—although the people will not bestir themselves to turn Ministers out—yet they would not make the least exertion to keep them in. Nay, it is now a common enough question among Liberals, whether, on the whole, it would not be advisable to " let in the Tories." Many " moderate Radicals" begin to be of that opinion. There is, moreover, a new spirit awakened in a portion of the masses ; who are busied in discussing the second Reform Bill—a" People's Charter" based on Universal Suffrage and the Ballot. The Morning Chronicle the other day talked we fine words about the coming shock of " armed millions : " we hope the arms meant nothing harder than the People's Charter or the National Petition. The Chronicle also announced "a most formidable organization of the working classes : " it might have added, that the object of the classes so organized is the over- throw of the present system of Whig-Conservatism. The " work- ing classes," distrusting their old leaders, are setting up for them- selves. In the next great agitation for political changes, Lord JOHN RUSSELL will have less chance than the Duke of WEL- iiNGTor of being a popular chieftain. Political discontent has been growing since the overthrow of the popular expectations in the first session of the GREY Parliament after the Reform Act ; its progress during the last six months has been rapid. It seems to be less noisy, but more earnest than in former times. Ministers are anxious, it is believed, to strengthen themselves during the recess. But how ? By adopting a popular policy ? by seeking to conciliate the disgusted Liberals ? Oh no ! Their views extend no further than a little chopping and changing of offices, and perhaps the engagement of some hanger-on like the Duke of RICHMOND: the Appropriation being disposed of, they bad better recall the noble STANLEY, with GRAHAM of the Bright Sword. To manage another session in the same way as the last, mole believe to be possible; so there will be an attempt to patch up the rieketty concern by some new jobbing alliances. Mr. ABERCROMRY, for instance, may leave the Chair; and Mr. SPRING RICE will try to step into it. His colleagues will push him with all their force ; not because of his fitness for the Speakership, but because of his unfitness as a Chancellor of the Exchequer. He whom his colleagues pronounce "too bad" for their own dishonoured Cabinet, is good enough to be palmed upon the House of Commons as their model man. That this p!ot should succeed is not very likely. It nevertheless shows the kind of resources with which it is con- templated to meet Parliament next year, and the Ministerial meafis of strengthening their position in the country. When we see the powerful Conservative party on one side, the indignant masses of the Radicals on the other, with the timid shuffling Whigs in the middle, the plan of Ministers, and their preparations for encountering the gathering storm, appear even more ludicrous than contemptible.
sees.'"
